SCRANTON — A prosecutor described Stephanie Tarapchak, D.O., as a liar and a drug smuggler who caused one man’s death — and nearly her daughter’s, too — with her reckless prescription writing.

Her defense attorney said the doctor is the victim of a disorganized office and drug-addicted witnesses angered when she cut them off.

The vastly different takes on the Schuylkill County physician were offered during opening statements in the second day of her trial Tuesday in Lackawanna County Court.

Tarapchak, 46, is accused of several crimes, including sneaking drugs into the Lackawanna County Prison in her rectum when she was ordered there for being in contempt of court, overprescribing powerful pain medication to a man, leading to his death, and Xanax to her daughter, leading her to overdose.

“What this case is about is drugs,” Deputy Attorney General Robert Labar told the jury in his opening statement. “Lots and lots of drugs.”

The state prosecutor noted that the defendant ran a family medical practice in Ashland, not a pain-management clinic. Yet she was prescribing thousands of powerful painkilling opioids such as OxyContin and Percocet.

“The doctor’s role is to be a gatekeeper to that, to prevent people from getting addicted,” LaBar said. “In all aspects, she failed miserably.”

Among many other crimes, the doctor has been charged with drug delivery resulting in death, a first-degree felony, for a patient who overdosed on one of her prescriptions.

In his own opening statement, the court-appointed defense attorney, Bernard Brown, told the jury that both the Schuylkill County coroner and the investigating pathologist ruled the death “accidental.”

The public defender also pointed out that Tarapchak’s office had fallen into disarray after a trusted administrator had left for a time, blaming the prosecution’s claims of the defendant stealing pills on bad bookkeeping.

“If you ask yourself, ‘Is what Dr. Tarapchak did illegal?’ then that’s a reasonable doubt,” he told the jury.

Brown also pre-emptively attacked the credibility of witnesses the attorney general’s office would be calling, including an ex-boyfriend to whom the doctor prescribed drugs.

“Are they somebody you would trust when acting on a matter of the highest importance in your life?” he asked. “Or do they have a motive, a bias, an interest in the outcome of the case?”

Prosecutors began building their case Tuesday by calling a DEA agent who had audited Tarapchak’s medicine stores and found pills missing, leading to the suspension of her license. In his cross-examination, Brown countered that his client was legally prescribing the medication, and the missing pills could have come from theft or disorganization of the office.

The trial will continue today.

One of the keys to improving the overall quality of a neighborhood is the enthusiasm of its landlords.

With that in mind, Pottsville officials are going to host a symposium in an effort to encourage the more than 40 property owners along the West Market Street corridor downtown to take more of an interest in their buildings, the neighborhood and the city’s historic downtown area, Amy S. Burkhart, executive director of the Pottsville Area Development Corp., said Tuesday.

The city and the Pottsville Area Development Corporation will host the first West Market Street Landlord Symposium at 6 p.m. Oct. 8 on the second floor of the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St. The public is invited, and officials are working to bring in guest speakers, Burkhart said.

“Landlords are encouraged to attend to learn about the goals of the West Market Street Improvement Area as well as to become involved in the process. Attending the meeting will be representatives from Pottsville City Hall, Pottsville police, the Pottsville Housing Authority, the Pottsville Parking Authority, realtors and current landlords of the West Market Street Improvement District,” Burkhart said during a meeting of the Landlord and Tenant Responsibility Committee held Tuesday night at PADCO’s office, 1 S. Second St.

For two years, city officials have been working to revitalize the section of West Market Street from North Centre to North Sixth streets, a six-block corridor.

A list of priorities were developed at public summits held July 16 and 17 at the Pottsville Free Public Library. So were a few committees, including the West Market Street Landlord Responsibility and Tenant Issue Committee.

That committee’s priorities included making the public aware of the city’s quality of life ordinance and fines associated with noncompliance and developing an inventory of tenant problems and property maintenance, according to Burkhart.

It held its inaugural meeting July 28. At that meeting, Justin D. Trefsger, the city’s code enforcement officer, said there are 66 buildings in that corridor and “between 60 and 70 percent of them” are apartments run by landlords.

With that in mind, the committee came up with the concept for the symposium.

On Tuesday, Burkhart unveiled a tentative schedule for the one-hour event:

• 6 to 6:15 p.m., review of West Market Street Project Area and Planned Initiatives.

• 6:15 to 6:20 p.m., review of tenant-related concerns that were addressed at the summits: loitering, window treatments, littering and on-street behavior.

• 6:20 to 6:35 p.m., discussion on creating market-rate housing and the benefits.

• 6:35 to 6:45 p.m., discussion of hurdles to creation of market-rate housing.

• 6:45 to 7 p.m., creation of short-range goals to move the corridor toward the Market Rate Occupancy Goal.

“We want to make sure the landlords are educated and know what it takes to have good rental units. And we want them to encourage their tenants to maintain their units the way they need to be maintained. We have many people who do that, but we have had some issues in the past. It’s not that people want to have to problems, but not all of them know what they need to do to comply,” City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Tuesday night.

“Ultimately, that corridor has to move forward in a uniform style, which will help them decide where they want to go. The incentives could be increased property values, increased revenue off their rental units, increase occupancy from those units and the marketability of the corridor as a whole,” Burkhart said.

Burkhart encouraged people interested in attending the Oct. 8 symposium to register by calling 570-628-4647.

PPL Corp. has formalized the process by which nonprofit organizations can receive funding through its community foundation.

And in giving out grants, the Allentown company is targeting programs that could turn out future mathematicians, scientists and other employees the company needs.

On Sept. 14, the company announced formation of the PPL Foundation with plans to dole out money to organizations twice a year in its 29-county PPL Electric Utilities Corp. service area. The company’s goals are aimed at improving education, workforce development and community revitalization, spokeswoman Lissette Santana said.

PPL has helped communities through much of its history, Bill Spence, chairman, president and CEO said.

What’s new, according to Santana, is that applicants must go through a more official process to receive grants.

“In the past (organizations) did have to apply, but it wasn’t as formal,” Santana said.

The company has spent the last year creating an online application system and metrics for tracking the donations, she said.

The PPL Foundation will offer “major grants” between $25,000 and $100,000 and “sustaining grants” between $1,000 and $25,000 to eligible nonprofits. Money for the grants comes from PPL shareholders, Santana said. No ratepayer dollars are used for the foundation, she said.

Under education, grants will go to nonprofits in distressed areas focusing on early childhood education and the STEM programs — science, technology, engineering and math.

The foundation will have two application cycles per year, according to the news release. To learn more, go to www.pplcares.com.

One of two Lehigh Valley-based Fortune 500 companies, PPL distributes electricity via its PPL Electric Utilities subsidiary to about 1.4 million customers in Pennsylvania.

A Pottsville man is not a sexually violent predator, although he possessed child pornography, but will be subject to Megan’s Law sanctions for more than a decade, a Schuylkill County judge decided Tuesday.

Michael P. Tellez, 50, is a Tier 1 sexual offender under state law and must comply with the sanctions for 15 years, Judge John E. Domalakes ruled.

Domalakes’ decision followed the conclusion of the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, which also decided Tellez is not a sexually violent predator, and was not contested by prosecutors.

“Is it the commonwealth’s position that that is the case?” Domalakes asked Deputy Assistant District Attorney Robert I. Lipkin.

“Yes,” Lipkin said.

The Megan’s Law sanctions will require Tellez to provide his name, address, employment, any schools he might attend, registration of any vehicles he owns and other information to the Pennsylvania State Police. Any violation of the sanctions would be an additional crime and subject Tellez to further prosecution.

Tellez pleaded guilty June 17 to sexual abuse of children-child pornography. At the time, and in conjunction with the terms of a plea agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, Domalakes sentenced Tellez to spend three years on probation, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

The state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation charged Tellez with possessing the pornography Jan. 17, 2012, in Branch Township.

Megan’s Law was enacted in Pennsylvania, numerous other states and at the federal level after the July 29, 1994, murder of Megan Nicole Kanka, 7, in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Jesse Timmendequas, Kanka’s killer, was one of her neighbors and a twice-convicted sex offender; his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after New Jersey enacted legislation to abolish the death penalty in that state.

MOUNT CARBON — With flag-wavers directing traffic and milling machines kicking up dust, workers from the state Department of Transportation started repairs Tuesday to the main thoroughfare in the borough.

“Our crews were milling some blacktop,” Sean A. Brown, safety press officer for PennDOT District 5, Allentown, said Tuesday.

But today, the crews will be paving the rough surface beneath the railroad bridge at Mount Carbon Arch Road.

It’s not being done in response to any complaints about potholes there, he said.

“This was scheduled maintenance work,” Brown said Tuesday.

Mayor Jeffrey J. Dunkel was pleased to hear the news.

“That’s great. I knew they had something in the works and it was going to be done before the end of the year. It’s good they’re getting on it,” Dunkel said Tuesday.

The road is the stretch of South Centre Street from the city line, which, at the railroad bridge, becomes Mount Carbon Arch Road. It leads to Route 61.

“The area is almost 2,000 feet, from PA Route 61 to the Pottsville line,” Brown said.

But that entire stretch isn’t being milled and paved, Brown said.

On site Tuesday afternoon were eight PennDOT road workers and several vehicles.

“We ... had a couple PennDOT dump trucks, a crew cab, a Bobcat, all PennDOT owned, and a rented milling machine from Schuylkill Paving,” Brown said.

On Tuesday, certain areas of the stretch were being milled, he said.

“They’re spot-milling. They’re milling certain areas,” Brown said.

Just after noon Tuesday, the machines looked as if they were digging a trench along the northbound lane.

“We are not doing any trench work,” Brown said.

Not all areas milled will be paved.

“Not as of yet. Some of them were rough areas, or areas that needed to be milled down to make them smooth. The paving is specifically at the arch bridge,” Brown said.

The bumpy road under the bridge was also milled Tuesday, he said.

Brown was not sure how much the project would cost.

“This was maintenance work by PennDOT workers, and a cost cannot be calculated at this point,” Brown said.

CareGivers America, a home care agency that provides services to those in need, has moved into the former Union Bank and Trust Co. building at 23 Centre St., Pottsville.

Since October, they were at the Schuylkill Mall but moved for a more centralized location, among other reasons.

“We tried the mall location, but there’s not a lot of foot traffic in that mall,” Tracy Cadden, vice president of the Clarks Summit-based company, said.

Elaine Maneval, Schuylkill Mall manager, said the company did have a space at the mall.

“They were a short-term tenant” and rented about a 1,000 square foot space, she said.

Cadden said the company is looking to expand.

“We are looking to be across the whole state in the next three years,” she said.

The company has a three-year lease for the building on Centre Street, she said.

Craig Shields, Barefield Development Corp. chief executive officer, confirmed those details Tuesday. He said the lease was signed last week and starts Oct. 1. After three years, they have the option to renew in one-year increments. He declined to say how much rent is paid for the space. Barefield acquired the property in 2013 after Riverview Bank, Halifax, donated the property consisting of two buildings, 23 and 25 S. Centre St.

CareGivers America has 20 locations in the state, according to its website, www.caregiversamerica.com. The company offers nonmedical home care, providing assistance with daily living activities such as laundry, transportation, companionship, in-home nursing services, rehab services and others.

The Pottsville location will provide mostly nonmedical home care and will be the only one in the county, Kathie Carter, regional director and nurse, said.

Carter said the company is looking to hire “a lot of new people.”

An exact number has not been determined, but it could be as many as 30 to 40 people, Carter said. Certified nursing assistants and others are needed. Medical certification is not necessary as training is provided. Those applying must have reliable transportation. Contact Danielle Deas, care coordinator, at 570-622-2225 for more information.

Shields said the use of the building is good for the city.

“It’s good for downtown Pottsville,” Shields said.

About 4,000 square feet is still available for rent, Shields said.

“I don’t have any other signed leases,” he said.

Those who want to learn more about the space available may call realtor Eric Seitzinger at 570-385-3456 ext. 166 or 570-617-1362.

MAHANOY CITY — A Barnesville man was jailed early Tuesday and charged with fleeing from Mahanoy Township police.

Leonard J. Blachock, 43, of 11 Nolania Road, was arrested by township Police Chief Brandon Alexander and charged with one felony count of fleeing or attempting to elude police, two misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person, one misdemeanor count of DUI, and one summary offense each of careless driving and no passing zone violations.

Blachock was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $10,000 bail.

Alexander said the incident began about 8:20 a.m. on Vulcan Hill, just east of Mahanoy City.

The chief said he was on patrol when he saw a dark SUV driving at a high rate of speed almost hit another vehicle. Alexander said he activated his warning signals and tried to pull the SUV over, but the driver, later identified as Blachock, drove east on Route 54 down Vulcan Hill toward Barnesville. The chief said Blachock reached speeds in excess of 90 mph, drove into oncoming traffic while passing a vehicle in a no-passing zone and almost caused that vehicle to lose control.

Alexander said Blachock failed to pull over for about three miles and, after making two turns, stopped on Nolania Road.

When Blachock was taken into custody, Alexander detected a strong odor of alcohol on Blachock’s breath and body and advised him he would be taken for a blood alcohol test.

After being read his rights, Alexander said, Blachock admitted drinking beers. Two empty beer cans were on the floor of the man’s vehicle and six unopened cans of beer were in a cooler, the chief said.

Blachock was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street where he refused to submit to a blood alcohol test and was then returned to the Mahanoy Township station for processing.

Police from Mahanoy City and Rush Township assisted, Alexander said.

n Brandonville: Schuylkill On the Move will sponsor a walk in the forest from 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday along the north slope of the Locust Mountain, titled “Lofty Dam and Pumping Station.” Tom Pesock will lead the seven-mile excursion that is rated moderate. Participants will meet Pesock on Route 924 above Brandonville, near the windmills, about two miles northeast of Shenandoah. The rain date is Sunday. The hike is free and open to the public. Hikers should wear comfortable shoes, bring snacks and dress for the outdoors, according to a release. SOM promotes positive steps toward good health through walking. It is a project of Schuylkill County’s VISION in partnership with the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau, the Schuylkill County Conservancy and the Schuylkill Conservation District. For more information, call Patrick M. “Porcupine Pat” McKinney, environmental education coordinator with the conservation district, at 570-622-4124, ext. 113 or email him at porcupinepat@yahoo.com.

n Llewellyn: Cub Scout Pack 600 will sponsor Join Scouting Day from 1 to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Llewellyn Scout Building, 318 Willing St. For more information, call 570-449-5046.

n Millersburg: The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art will sponsor Fall Family Fun Day from noon to 4 p.m. Oct. 10 at the center, 176 Water Company Road. Admission is $5 for people 2 and older. The first 100 children with family membership with the center will receive a free pumpkin. Families may download a coupon for one free adult admission at the center’s website at www.nedsmithcenter.org. For more information, call 717-692-3699.

n Pottsville: The Pottsville Free Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorial donations: For Joanne Dudick from Joseph A. Radomile; for Celene M. Larkin Fidler from Dr. and Mrs. William R. Davidson; for Mary Gill from Dr. and Mrs. William R. Davidson; for Joseph A. Grabowski from Dr. and Mrs. William R. Davison; for Dr. David Harvey from Robert and Kathleen Connelly, Gerald and Margaret Curran, Deevee and Mark Pearson, Schuylkill Medical Center–East Norwegian Street, Schuylkill Medical Center–South Jackson Street; for Ronald C. Heffner from Marilou Wilson; for Robert Hummel from Dr. and Mrs. William R. Davidson; for Catherine June Klema from Dr. and Mrs. William R. Davidson, Rosie and Carl Raring; for Elsie Krisa from John R. Mansell; for Janice Kulp from Philanthropic Club; for Agnes E. Marchowsky from John Mansell; for Joseph H. Murton V from Claudine Bachman, Gail and Kent Hatter and Laura Brong, Lisa Von Ahn; for the Rev. William Onushco from Diane McCully. The library also acknowledged the following honors donations: For Elizabeth Boyer from Peggy Jaeger; for Mary McGinley from Jake Powers.

n Pottsville: Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of doing good, will take place in Schuylkill County the week of Oct. 24. Janice Johnson, director of Community Volunteers in Action, in a press release called on residents to “Join thousands of your neighbors to help improve the quality of life in our communities. No project is too small and every effort helps someone.” To register a project or put forth ideas, call Community Volunteers in Action at 570 628-1426.

n Shenandoah: A Friendly’s Family Fun Night to benefit Shenandoah’s 2016 sesquicentennial celebration will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 5 at Friendly’s Family Restaurant near Fairlane Village mall, Pottsville. A portion of the restaurant’s dine-in and carry-out proceeds will go to the Shenandoah Sesquicentennial Committee. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-429-1199.

n Shenandoah: The revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc. will sponsor a soup and sausage sale beginning at 10 a.m. Oct. 15 at its downtown center, 116 N. Main St. The cost is $5 per quart and $2.50 per pint. Soups will include chili, pasta fagiole, split pea, New England clam chowder, chicken noodle, beef vegetable and kielbasa. Hoagies will also be available for $3.50 each. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-462-2060.

Watch live streaming video of Pope Francis' visit to the United States.

Check the below the video player for the schedule.

Sept. 23, 2015

9:30 AM: Pope Francis participates in the Welcome ceremony at the White House and meets the President of the United States of America

11:30 AM: Pope Francis meets with the Bishops of the United States of America at St Matthew's Cathedral.

4:15 PM: Pope Francis presides at celebration of Holy Mass for the Canonization of Blessed Fr. Junipero Serra, on the occasion of his apostolic visit to the United States

Sept. 23, 2015

9:30 AM: Pope Francis participates in the Welcome ceremony at the White House and meets the President of the United States of America
11:30 AM: Pope Francis meets with the Bishops of the United States of America at St Matthew's Cathedral.
4:15 PM: Pope Francis presides at celebration of Holy Mass for the Canonization of Blessed Fr. Junipero Serra, on the occasion of his apostolic visit to the United States


Sept. 24, 2015

9:20 AM: Pope Francis visits Congress of the United States of America,where he will deliver a discourse at a joint session, on the occasion of his apostolic visit to the country.
11:15 AM: Pope Francis visits the Parish of St. Patrick's Charity Center and meets the homeless, on the occasion of his apostolic visit to the United States.
6:30 PM: Pope Francis celebrates Vespers with Clergy, Men and Women Religious in New York, on the occasion of his apostolic visit to the United States.



Sept. 25, 2015

8:30 AM: Pope Francis visits the Headquarters of the United Nations in New York.
11:15 AM: Pope Francis participates in the Interreligious Meeting at the Ground Zero Memorial in New York, on the occasion of his apostolic visit to the United States.
4:00 PM: Pope Francis visits the School "Our Lady Queen of the Angels" and meets children and families of immigrants in New York, from Harlem, on the occasion of his apostolic visit to the United States.
5:30 PM: Pope Francis presides at the celebration of Holy Mass in New York, on the occasion of his apostolic visit to the United States.



Sept. 26, 2015

10:30 AM: Pope Francis presides at celebration of Holy Mass with Bishops, Clergy, Men and Women Religious of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, on the occasion of his apostolic visit to the United States.
4:30 PM: Pope Francis participates in the meeting for religious freedom with the Hispanic community and other immigrants in Independence Hall, on the occasion of his apostolic visit to the United States.
7.30 PM: Poep Francis participates in the celebration for families and vigil of prayer at the B. Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.



Sept. 27, 2015

9:05 AM: Pope Francis meets the Bishops, guests of the World Meeting of Families in the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary in Philadelphia
10:50 AM: Pope Francis visits detainees at Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia
3:20 PM: Pope Francis presides at celebration of Holy Mass concluding the World Meeting of Families at B. Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia
6:50 PM: Greeting to the organizing committee, volunteers, benefactors, and farewell ceremony at the International Airport of Philadelphia.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The burial site and bones should stay where they are.

That is the recommendation from the state Department of Transportation and state division of The Federal Highway Administration about any remaining bones along Route 61 in North Manheim Township and near the Army Reserve Center, according to Kevin Mock, archaeologist with PennDOT Engineering Districts 4 and 5.

Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III said he spoke with Mock on Wednesday, who said there are additional burial sites in the area surveyed in September. In August, human remains were found near the road while workers were doing the Route 61 widening project through Schuylkill Haven. Ground-penetrating radar was used at the site earlier this month to collect any data. The land was once home to the Almshouse. Some people think that there are remains of victims from the 1918 Spanish Influenza buried there.

Moylan said Mock told him “the ground-penetrating radar study would support the presence of at least 100 burial sites in the area that they surveyed.”

Mock did not return a call for comment Wednesday.

In an email to Moylan and Eric Mika, solicitor for the coroner’s office, Mock explained the recommendations given by FHWA and PennDOT:

• The remaining burials will remain in place. The exposed earth should be covered with a geotextile, stone and grass seed, which will be done by PennDOT workers.

• The remains that were removed should remain in the custody of the county coroner for possible identification and reinterment. Burial plots were offered to PennDOT for the remains.

• Because of the local interest and public comments regarding a memorial or marker, the FHWA and PennDOT will contribute toward the creation of one. The marker cannot be on PennDOT property but could be on county-owned land. Schuylkill County can complete the memorial with funds from the FHWA and PennDOT.

“We received an overwhelming response to leave the remains in place, but surprisingly many people voiced an opinion about having a marker. Based on the GPR survey, PennDOT has also identified three large clusters of burial remains and many, many more isolated graves on the Bachman property within just our survey area,” Mock said.

Moylan said no additional action has been taken on the site yet.

“We’re still exploring the possibility of carbon dating,” he said, adding exactly how any such process would be paid for has not been determined.

He said there will be “minimal impact on county funds.”

He said “a whole scale excavation will not be performed,” but it is possible additional bones could be excavated.

Moylan said he has not received a final report on the bones found at the site and examined by Mercyhurst Forensic Anthropology Laboratory, Erie. The bones found were classified as concentrations. One involved part of a right leg and foot. Another involved part of a jawbone and part of skull. One involved a vertebra, left femur, a rib and other body parts. Lastly, one involved part of a jaw and lower part of an arm.

Those remaining bones will likely be cremated, Moylan said. A local crematorium, Riverside Cremation Services, of Ebling-Stabingas Funeral Home, Schuylkill Haven, has offered to do the service for free, he said. A local cemetery, Schuylkill Memorial Park, has also offered an area for the remains.

Joan Bachman, who lives on the land with her husband, Charles “Dutch” Bachman, said she is not surprised at the news. She did not want to say anything else about the recommendations until she spoke to Mock.

A 9-year-old boy and his family are excited to go to Philadelphia to the World Meeting of Families today.

Andrew Verchick, a third-grade student at Assumption BVM, Pottsville, said he is looking forward to the trip. Pope Francis is in the United States for the first time and arrived in Maryland on Tuesday after visiting Cuba. His itinerary includes Washington, D.C., New York City and Philadelphia.

“They want to go with me,” Verchick said Wednesday of the students in his class.

He is going to tell them about his experience when he returns. He has been to Philadelphia once before, when he went to a Philadelphia Phillies game.

The World Meeting of Families consists of speakers, discussions and Masses where those who attend can strengthen and learn more about Catholic faith. Children can do fun, interactive events and meet children from other countries during the Youth Congress. The event is held somewhere different every three years. The first one started in 1994, having been the idea of St. Pope John Paul II. It was held in Rome, Italy twice; Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; Manila, Philippines; Valencia, Spain; Mexico City, Mexico, and Milan, Italy, according to www.worldmeeting2015.org.

Registration is held daily. The opening ceremony started Tuesday. The event concludes Friday.

Dale Verchick, Andrew’s mother, said someone from the Diocese of Allentown called and asked if they wanted to attend.

“This was a great opportunity for us to do this,” she said.

Despite not seeing the pope in person, she said, they are looking forward to the occasion.

“Just the excitement of knowing that he is here praying for us,” she said, is worthwhile.

Greg, Andrew’s father, said they are all anticipating the trip.

The Diocese is taking two buses to the event, Matt Kerr, communications director for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, said Wednesday.

Verchick said they will get up about 4 a.m. today to get ready for a 6 a.m. bus leaving Reading for the event.

Teresa Keating, principal of Nativity BVM, said the pope being in the United States is historic.

“It’s exciting because we have been talking about the visit of the pope and how special it is,” she said.

Dale Verchick said she will likely share the experience with members of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, which she attends.

Debbie Walker, Mahanoy City, a member of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Parish, said she would like to see the pope. She is also going to the World Meeting of Families today on a bus.

“I’m bursting. It’s such an awesome privilege to even be in the same area. Just to be involved in all this is amazing,” she said Wednesday.

Walker is driving to a parish near Philadelphia on Sunday, then taking a bus with a local parish to attend the Mass. Pope Francis is scheduled to celebrate Mass at 4 p.m. Sunday on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

“It’s practically right in our backyard. It is an honor for all of us just to witness this. He’s just a great Holy Father,” Walker said.

Walker does not have tickets, but she wants to get as close as she can for the historic opportunity. This is not the first time she went to see a pope. She saw St. Pope John Paul II in Denver.

Kerr said there are buses from three area churches going on Sunday, from St. John XXIII, Tamaqua, St. Richard, Barnesville, and Divine Mercy, Shenandoah.

Gov. Tom Wolf said the event will be one to remember.

“The World Meeting of Families and papal visit is a once-in-a-lifetime event for Philadelphia and the entire commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I’m looking forward to seeing Pennsylvania shine across the world as visitors come to Philadelphia and watch the event across the globe,” he said.

Deeds

Cass Township — Joseph P. Close Jr. and David A. Close to Melissa Walerski; 146 N. Maple Ave.; $3,000.

Estate of Paul Nagg, by attorney in fact Gary Killian, to John Radziewicz; 24 Oak Lane; $2,000.

Coaldale — Matthew McFarland and Meghan Milkovits to John E. Lane and Linda C. Chen; 44 E. Phillips St.; $25,600.

Mary Hudak, by attorney in fact William J. Hudak, to Jane E. Frankel; 224 Fisher Ave.; $17,500.

East Union Township — Russell F. Singley and Karen Walsh to Wesley John Palermo Jr.; 138 First St., Oneida; $6,000.

Frackville — Paul and Elizabeth A. Kessler to Martina and James J. Digris; 222 S. Nice St.; $58,000.

George H. and Diana J. Evans to Paul and Elizabeth A. Kessler; 219 S. Third St.; $160,000.

Girardville — Dennis Cope Jr. to Michael A. Cope Sr.; 207 E. Mahanoy Ave.; $1.

Hubley Township — Wenger’s Feed Mill Inc. to Hegins Valley Farm Real Estate LLC; 255 Pine Hill Road; $175,000.

Tanner J. Manhart learned Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that he must spend at least three years behind state prison bars after admitting he robbed a Mahanoy City pharmacy in October 2014.

Manhart, 20, of Ashland, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, robbery, theft, resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judge John E. Domalakes accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Manhart to serve three to six years in a state correctional institution, pay costs, $100 each to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $1,368.70 restitution to Rite Aid, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Domalakes made the sentence effective at 1 p.m. Oct. 2.

Mahanoy City police charged Manhart with robbing Rite Aid Pharmacy, 15 W. Centre St., about 6 p.m. Oct. 10, 2014.

Police said Manhart, who was carrying a BB gun, stole $1,368.70 worth of two painkillers, oxycodone and Xanax, from Rite Aid.

When caught just minutes after the robbery, Manhart resisted arrest but eventually was subdued, according to police.

Police said they searched Manhart and found two needles on him.

Manhart said little during Wednesday’s hearing except to indicate that he understood his plea and was making it knowingly and voluntarily.

As part of the plea agreement with Manhart, prosecutors withdrew a second count of robbery, two counts each of terroristic threats and simple assault and one count each of possessing instrument of crime, receiving stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.

Police arrest man

in chase, crash

HAMBURG — A Reading man was arrested after leading state police on a high-speed chase that ended in a collision with a truck at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday near exit 29 on Interstate 78, Tilden Township, Berks County.

State police at Hamburg said an officer attempted to stop a 2011 Toyota Matrix driven by Wilfredo Quirindongo-Rodriguez, 48, for speeding at the Sharlesville exit. The driver accelerated the vehicle to 100 mph and used the center median and right shoulder to pass traffic, police said. As the vehicle approached exit 29, the driver attempted to pass a FedEx tractor but struck the back of the trailer, becoming stuck, police said. The vehicle was drug about 0.1 of a mile until the tractor-trailer stopped.

Quirindongo-Rodriguez was taken into custody at the scene, police said. A passenger in the vehicle, Trisha Lee Hoffa, 34, of Reading, suffered a large laceration on her arm. Both were transported to the Reading Hospital and Medical Center, West Reading.

He was charged with felony fleeing and eluding, two counts of misdemeanor recklessly endangering another person and a slew of summary traffic offenses.

Eastbound lanes on Interstate 78 were closed about 30 minutes until the crash scene was cleared.

Schuylkill County has officially closed its drop-off recycling site in Saint Clair.

The county commissioners approved the termination of the lease Wednesday for the site in the borough. The recycling bins were removed Wednesday.

The borough starts its curbside recycling program today. Thanks to a $204,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Protection, the borough recently bought a recycling truck and 1,710 25-gallon recycling bins for every household in Saint Clair.

Recycling pickups are every Thursday and Friday morning. The routes will be split as they are for garbage pickups — half the borough on one day and the rest the following day.

The commissioners also terminated the lease with Cressona at the request of the borough when it expires at the end of the month.

The board approved two budget resolutions. The first was for a $149,307.30 reimbursement for unused insurance premiums for Rest Haven employees. Investment 360°, Lakewood, New Jersey, took ownership of the former county nursing home earlier this month after agreeing to buy it for $10.9 million in May.

Paul Buber, county finance director, said that money will be moved into the county general fund to help offset the $500,000 allocated from the fund to Rest Haven earlier in the year to help pay for day-to-day operations.

The second budget appropriation supplies matching funds for a grant awarded to the Mahanoy Creek Watershed Association for a nature trail. The county’s match was $10,417.60. No further information was available on the project as of press time Wednesday.

The board approved change orders on two road work projects. The cost of repairs to county bridge No. 30 on Spittler Road over Swatara Creek, Pine Grove Township, increased $301.50 due to additional concrete being needed. Heim Construction, Orwigsburg, is in charge of that project.

The other change order was for $11,288.02 in additional paving on county bridge No. 113, also known as the Rock Covered Bridge, in Washington Township. Deblin Inc., Mechanicsburg, completed the work to preserve and restore the covered bridge in May. Deblin Inc. started the project last year. The entire project was covered by a federal National Historic Covered Bridge Grant worth $1.1 million. The county will be reimbursed through the state Department of Transportation for the additional paving.

There will be no commissioners’ meeting next week. The next meeting will be a work session at 10 a.m. Oct. 7.

Ronell L. Leary must spend at least three years behind state prison bars for stabbing a man exactly one year ago in Mahanoy City, a Schuylkill County judge ruled Wednesday.

Leary, 32, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and possessing instrument of crime, with prosecutors withdrawing two counts of robbery, one each of conspiracy, possession of a weapon and recklessly endangering another person and an additional one of aggravated assault.

Judge John E. Domalakes accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between Leary and prosecutors, sentenced the defendant to serve three to six years in a state correctional institution, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Leary is headed to prison for what prosecutors said was his stabbing of Joseph Lumia, Mahanoy City, about 3 p.m. Sept. 23, 2014.

Mahanoy City police said Leary stabbed Lumia near 334 W. Centre St. Police said Leary chased Lumia, tried to hit him with a baseball bat and then stabbed him in the left side of the abdomen.

Police said Leary fled to Philadelphia after the stabbing. He was taken into custody by Philadelphia police after a fugitive warrant was obtained, according to police.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Leary said little except that he was entering his plea knowingly and voluntarily, and that he understood its consequences. He wore a prison jumpsuit and handcuffs during the entire proceeding.

n Altamont: The Altamont Fire Company will sponsor an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday at the firehouse, 215 Green St. Tickets will be available at the door. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-449-1932.

n Friedensburg: The fourth annual Brad Huber Memorial Shoot & Pig Roast sponsored by Friedensburg YHEC is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Friedensburg Fish & Game Club, 169 Stone Mountain Road. Tickets are $12 for the clay shoot and $12 for the pig roast. There will also be a Chinese auction, prizes for the top shooter, door prizes and a gun drawing. For more information, call 570-640-6690.

n Gilberton: The borough office will generally be closed for the next six weeks due to the absence of borough Secretary Tina Antalosky for personal reasons. During that time, borough council President Daniel Malloy will open the office from 3 to 5 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays to accept sewer and garbage bill payments. Antalosky will work from home and continue to receive phone calls and emails, according to a press release. The email address is gilbertonboroughhall@ptd.net. Calls to the office number – 570-874-4790 – will be transferred to Antalosky, officials said in the release.

n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy Area Historical Society will present “Drone Flights Over the Mahanoy Valley” at 6 p.m. today at the Sen. James J. Rhoades Downtown Center, Centre and Main streets. The program will begin with the outside demonstration of a drone by its owner, retired New York City firefighter Frank D’Amato, who will then discuss his hobby inside. All are welcome.

n Minersville: The Mountaineer Hose Company will stage a breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to noon Sunday at the firehouse, Third and South streets. For more information, call 570-544-9622.

n Pottsville: “Brakes for Breasts” to benefit the Cleveland Clinic Breast Cancer Vaccine Fund will be held from 3 to 5 p.m. Oct. 8 at AAMCO of Pottsville, Route 61, Pottsville-Saint Clair Highway. People can get free brake pads with a brake service purchase and 10 percent of the proceeds will benefit the fund. For more information, call 570-429-1414.

n Shenandoah: Schuylkill County’s oldest continuous downtown open-air farm market will continue from 8 a.m. to noon through November along the first block of South Main Street, east side, and first block of East Centre Street, south side, near the more than a century-old Bolich & Burke Building. Mark Bernardyn has chaired the Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce Farm Market Committee for 21 years. The market features fruits, vegetables, plants and, at times, Amish-style baked goods by local growers and sellers. It was started in the 1970s as the brainchild of the late chamber Director Samuel Schutawie as a way to increase pedestrian traffic downtown. Since then, the market has become a staple for local residents and visitors seeking fresh produce. Anyone wanting more information about the market may call Bernardyn at 570-462-2734. More growers are always welcome by calling Bernardyn.

n Shenandoah: The Shenandoah Area Public Library, Washington and Main streets, is selling Lottery calendars. The calendars are available at the library, at the Downtown Shenandoah Inc. center, 116 N. Main St., and at Betty Ann’s Total Image Design & Hair Replacement Salon, South Main Street. The library also is hosting a dinner Oct. 4 at the Fountain Springs Country Inn. Cocktails are at 1:30 p.m. followed by the dinner at 2 p.m. The cost is $50 per person. For more information, call the library at 570-462-9829.

n Tamaqua: The 19th annual Land of the Running Water Marching Band Adjudication will be held at 7 p.m. Oct. 3 in the Tamaqua Area High School Sports Stadium. The gates will open at 5:30 p.m. and general admission is $5. The Tamaqua Area “Raiders” Marching Band will host the event and the following high school marching bands will participate: Bangor, Exeter Township, Mahanoy Area, Minersville Area, Pottsville Area, Southern Lehigh and Wilson. All are welcome to attend.

The Hillside SPCA board of directors voted two members off the board after one of them filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service, according to one of the former board members.

The nonprofit organization is governed by a board of 12 individuals. Ten board members met for about an hour Tuesday night at Luther Ridge at Seiders Hill, Pottsville, and voted to remove Desiree Muench and Karen Blackway from the board. Blackway and Muench, volunteers at the shelter, joined the board in April.

Joseph Chiaretti, board president, said Wednesday that Blackway was unanimously voted off the board. He said she was recently involved in an altercation with Barbara Umlauf, shelter manager.

“Her conduct was unbecoming of a member of the board,” Chiaretti said.

Blackway did not want to comment on the incident Wednesday.

Seven people voted Muench off the board while three abstained, he said.

“She misrepresented the truth in making her claim to the state,” Chiaretti said.

Neither Blackway or Muench were able to attend the meeting Tuesday.

“I think at this point we let the enforcement agencies move on and conduct their investigation and allow them to determine who is misrepresenting the truth,” Muench said Wednesday.

Muench was a cat volunteer at the shelter and has been fundraising for them since 2013. She was named runner-up in the national Purina Cat Shelter Volunteer of the Year contest in May and won $5,000 for the Hillside SPCA. The shelter also received a $1,000 donation in food and cat supplies from Purina.

Muench’s complaint, dated Aug. 13, to the Department of Treasury’s Internal Revenue Service, addresses concerns that “directors/officers/persons are using income/assets for personal gain,” the organization is engaged in deceptive or improper fundraising practices and the person filing the complaint was facing expulsion from the board for calling the state Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Charities regarding funding. It lists Chiaretti, Umlauf and Barbara Graf as those involved.

The complaint lists 18 concerns regarding finances and board procedures. Muench also included meeting notes and emails between the board members to support her claims. Among the concerns listed in the complaint were that board members are being denied the ability to review financial information; advertising as a “no-kill shelter” despite 67 percent of cats taken in during 2014 were euthanized; donations being improperly funneled into Joe’s Fund, which exceeds $500,000; Joe’s Fund being exclusively controlled by Umlauf; a car purchased exclusively for Umlauf’s usage months before it was discussed with the board; salaried employees receiving overtime and bonuses without board approval; not following bylaws and Robert’s Rules of Order; inadequate means to care for the number of cats the shelter accepts; prohibiting employees from saying the shelter is at capacity to keep donations coming in; payroll sky-rocketing from 2010, reaching an all-time high in 2014, although animal populations remain nearly the same; and cat food donations being given away at the discretion of the shelter manager to employees to be used at home.

Nonprofit organizations are required to file tax exempt forms, or 990 forms, each year with the IRS regarding finances, activities and business structure. Norman R. Lettich, of Lettich and Zipay CPAs, Pottsville, has filed that information each year on behalf of the Hillside SPCA since 2010.

The IRS also randomly audits larger nonprofit organizations every year. However, public complaints may also warrant an audit, according to the IRS website at www.irs.gov.

Chiaretti said he received a letter from the IRS about representatives from the office stopping by the shelter in October to review information on its small games of chance license. He said the letter described the investigation as “routine.”

Chiaretti also said the Department of State has asked the board to supply them with additional information on different items in the 990 forms. He said the board is working to gather that information and will be seeking legal advice on the situation.

“We are pretty comfortable where we stand right now,” Chiaretti said.

Twelve board members are listed on the organization’s most recent 990 form in 2013: Joseph Chiaretti, president; Barbara Umlauf, vice president; Lynne Neal, secretary; Rebecca Moyer, bookkeeper; Terri Tasto, treasurer; Rose Chiaretti; Gwen Holden; Lenny Hoak; Jill Rabuck; Barbara Graf; Sylvia Nabholz; and Shirley Schaeffer.

Hoak and Schaeffer are no longer on the board.

Nine are voting members. Joseph and Rose Chiaretti are married. Three of the board members are paid employees. Umlauf, shelter manager, worked an average of 40 hours a week for $34,100 over the year. Moyer, the shelter’s bookkeeper, worked an average of 40 hours a week for $30,680 over the year. Graf also received $4,080 over the year for an average of 20 hours of work.

In 2013, the Hillside SPCA paid 59 employees $654,408. The shelter’s total expenditures for that year were $1,012,393.

Chiaretti said Wednesday that the shelter has three managers and approximately 15 full-time and 15 part-time employees. He said the number of part-time employees varies because they are constantly coming and going.

HARRISBURG — State Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane’s legal jeopardy has put the spotlight on a never-used provision in the state Constitution for directly removing elected officials from office.

It provides for joint action by the Senate and governor to remove certain state and local elected officials for “reasonable cause.” This option has existed for 141 years in the shadow of the better-known method of removing public officials through impeachment.

The temporary suspension of Kane’s law license this week by the state Supreme Court is lifting Article VI, Section 7 out of obscurity.

In addition to facing criminal charges for leaking secret grand jury information to a reporter, Kane is now limited in what legal actions she can take as attorney general with a license suspension.

Even before that action, Senate attorneys started quietly researching what the framers intended when they inserted the direct removal provision in the 1874 Constitution, how the 19th century wording applies today and what precedent would be established if it’s invoked now.

The key sentence is:

“All civil officers elected by the people, except the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, members of the General Assembly and judges of the courts of record, shall be removed by the Governor for reasonable cause, after due notice and full hearing, on the address of two-thirds of the Senate.”

The Senate is in no rush to judgment, officials said.

“We are not going to act rashly,” said Drew Crompton, counsel to Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati, R-25.

He emphasized that no decision has been made whether to proceed with the direct removal option.

While Kane faces significant legal problems, the Senate is aware of the enormity of removing someone from higher office, Crompton said.

The senators will be fully briefed in advance of initiating any action, he added. Kane would have a forum to present her case for remaining in office.

Senators were advised this week to be careful about commenting on the Kane case or options for removing her from office, Sen. John Yudichak, D-14, said.

“Being in the Senate you may have the unique circumstance where you are sitting in judgment as a jurist,” he added.

Kane thinks any action to remove her before the legal process ends would be premature, spokesman Chuck Ardo said.

“(The) action taken by the Supreme Court is further proof that Attorney General Kane can no longer perform the duties of her office, and as the governor has said, she should step down,” Jeff Sheridan, spokesman for Gov. Tom Wolf, said. “In the event she does not, it is premature to comment on other options.”

During the 1872-73 Constitutional Convention, delegates considered ways to remove an official for being incompetent or derelict in duty but not necessary in trouble with the law. As a result, direct removal was added to impeachment, which dates to Pennsylvania’s colonial era.

“They foresaw occasions that might warrant removal even without a conviction,” Crompton said.

It’s a lesser punishment, he said. Someone ousted through direct removal can’t run for that particular office again while an impeached official can’t run for any public office again, he added.

Senators also have to consider what would happen if the House impeaches Kane. The Senate would try Kane on the impeachment charges and the senators would be the jury.

“We have multiple constitutional issues in play simultaneously,” Crompton said.

A Schuylkill Haven man will spend time in prison after admitting Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that he operated a methamphetamine laboratory in May 2014 in North Manheim Township.

Jason L. Moyer, 34, must serve nine to 23 months behind bars, Judge John E. Domalakes ruled.

Moyer pleaded guilty to operation of a methamphetamine laboratory, possession of red phosphorous, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Schuylkill County detectives filed the charges against Moyer, alleging he operated the lab on May 22, 2014.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Moyer, who wore a prison jumpsuit and handcuffs throughout the proceedings, said little except to indicate that he was entering he plea knowingly and voluntarily, and that he understood its consequences.

Under the terms of Domalakes’ sentence, Moyer also must pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $1,571 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. He also must submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Defendant: Jason L. Moyer

Age: 34

Residence: Schuylkill Haven

Crimes committed: Operation of a methamphetamine laboratory, possession of red phosphorous, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia

Prison sentence: Nine to 23 months