Deeds

Ashland — Gladys A. Clark to Joann Clark; 1829 Market St.; $1.

Butler Township — Wells Fargo Bank NA to Brian Engleman; 630 Fountain St., Fountain Springs; $27,000.

Citimortgage Inc. to Barry and Lauren McGurl; 57 High Road, Lavelle; $133,000.

Coaldale — Wells Fargo Bank NA to CR Properties 2015 LLC; 208 W. Ridge St.; $10,560.

East Union Township — David and Mary Carlino to Jamie and Sonia Palermo; 369 Phineyville Road, Phineyville; $45,000.

Columbia Hose and Steam Fire Engine Company No. 1 to Robert A. Sr. and Patricia A. Sekula, Mary Sekula and Anthony Sekula; 5.3-acre property on Route 924, Brandonville; $21,000.

Frackville — Matthew Mikita and Kristen Elise Mikita to James and Mistie Clark; 136 S. Broad Mountain Ave.; $85,500.

Hegins Township — Terry L. Troutman and Tab R. Troutman to Robert L. and Dolores J. Troutman; 1612 W. Main St., Valley View; $1.

Renee R. Reiner and Darryn R. Reiner to Renee R. Reiner; 1122 W. Walnut St., Valley View; $1.

Minersville — Virginia L. Adams to Jamie E. and Tessa M. Mayeresky; 206 N. Fourth St.; $69,900.

Freeman H. Ralston to Barbara J. Ralston; 227 Oak St.; $1.

North Manheim Township — Edward K. Adams to Edward K. Adams and Joseph and Jodi Hill; 50 Fidler Ave.; $1.

Palo Alto — Sophie L. Loskill to Frank A. Raczka; 0.0861-acre property on Tuscarora Street; $2,500.

Frank A. Raczka to Frank A. Raczka; 91 Tuscarora St.; $1.

Sophie L. Loskill to Sophie L. Loskill; 1.3682-acre property on Tuscarora Street; $1.

Pine Grove Township — Sandy L. Phillippy to Cindy L. Zimmerman; 0.43-acre property on Route 443; $1.

Sallie A. Thomas to Mark J. and Christine M. Thomas; 10-acre property; $1.

Thomas D. Sr. and June Stuber to Thomas D. Sr. and June Stuber and Travis D. Stubeer; 54 Autumn Lane; $1.

Mark W. Sr. and Tina Marie Weinus to Bayview Loan Servicing LLC; 23 Spruce Drive; $1.

Pottsville — Federal National Mortgage Association to Imobiliaria LLC; 500 W. Race St.; $7,500.

Kenneth and Christine Staller to Felicita and Juan F. Nunez; 431 Harrison St.; $40,000.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs to James R. Coulson; 1349 Mount Hope Ave.; $28,000.

Rush Township — Marie E. Konstas, individually and as attorney in fact for Gus P. Konstas, to Marie E. Konstas; property on North Maple Street, Hometown; $1.

Denise P. Haluska to Wayne Headley; 158 Grier Ave., Barnesville; $53,500.

Shenandoah — Adolph and Elizabeth Wychulis to Janet M. Dellinger; 219 S. Jardin St.; $1.

Raul Martinez and Ana Reyes to Benedelcia DeAza; 229 W. Oak St.; $5,000.

South Manheim Township — Wells Fargo Bank NA to William and Rosanne Zimmerman; 420 Woodland Drive; $98,000.

Tamaqua — Marie E. Konstas, individually and as attorney in fact for Gus P. Konstas, to Marie E. Konstas; 46 W. Broad St.; $1.

Marie E. Konstas, individually and as attorney in fact for Gus P. Konstas, to Marie E. Konstas; 325 Rowe St.; $1.

Tower City — Dennis R. Cox to Justin R. and Stefanie L. Casner; 826 E. Grand Ave.; $62,000.

Walker Township — Bruce R. and Julia C. Schock to Bruce R. Schock; 696 Valley Road, Lewistown Valley; $1.

Rose T. Canfield to Michael and Marigrace Canfield; 7-acre property; $1.

Washington Township — Dennis R. and Patti S. White to Dennis R. and Patti S. White; 7 Turkey Farm Road; $1.

West Brunswick Township — Federal National Mortgage Association to Gerald E. Jr. and Pamela C. Jolly; 4045 Village Road, Pinebrook; $179,900.

The Gratz Bank, administrator d.b.n.c.t.a. of the Estate of Clair W. Reed, to Ralph E. and Carol A. Ascione; 2301 Village Road, Pinebrook; $99,500.

GTI Associates LP to 70 Pinedale LP; property at Township Road T-723 and Industrial Park Road; $1.5 million.

West Penn Township — Thomas Scott Wood, individually and as executor of the Last Will & Testament of Violet J. Wood, Dennis Wood, Robin Wood and Karen Wood to Karen Wood; 520 Blue Mountain Drive; $1.

Daryl W. Nothstein Sr. to Daryl W. Nothstein II; 3.952-acre property on Township Road 908; $146,000.

A Carbon County man will not have to spend more time in prison after being sentenced Monday in Schuylkill County Court on two sex-related charges.

Michael C. Gallagher, 35, of Jim Thorpe, was sentenced by Judge Charles M. Miller to time served to 23 months in prison with immediate parole in one case and two years consecutive probation in the second. Gallagher also must undergo sex offender treatment, Miller said.

“It is extremely important that you follow through with sex offender treatment,” Miller warned Gallagher.

Miller imposed the sentence, which is concurrent with one Gallagher is serving in Carbon County, after revoking the defendant’s probation, which he admitted violating by being convicted of another crime.

Gallagher originally pleaded no contest on Sept. 24, 2014, to indecent exposure in one case and indecent assault in the other. Prosecutors withdrew eight additional counts of indecent assault, one additional count of indecent exposure and two counts of corruption of minors.

At that time, Miller placed Gallagher on probation for three years, and also sentenced him to pay costs and $100 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Schuylkill County detectives charged Gallagher with exposing himself to a girl on May 1, 2009, and indecently assaulting the same girl on Oct. 1, 2010.

By pleading no contest, Gallagher did not admit committing the crimes but offered no defense to them, agreed prosecutors could produce enough evidence to support a conviction on them and agreed to be sentenced as if he had pleaded or been found guilty.

In other county court action, President Judge William E. Baldwin on Wednesday accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Antonio L. Sinnerard, 27, of Lebanon; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; two to 12 months in prison with immediate parole, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $176 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. Prosecutors withdrew a second charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Kayla A. Weikel, 25, of Shenandoah; two counts of retail theft; 24 months probation $10.04 restitution and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of disorderly conduct and one of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ronald C. Wilson III, 21, address not known; two counts of receiving stolen property and one of possession of a controlled substance; 24 months in the intermediate punishment program, $500 fine, $50 CJEA payment, $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, 20 hours community service and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

All defendants who were sentenced must pay costs as a part of their sentences.

PORT CARBON — An Ashland area man charged with trying to kill another man in Gordon earlier this year is headed to Schuylkill County Court.

Jamie M. Zulkowski, 38, of 16 Malones Road, appeared for a preliminary hearing Monday morning on charges of attempted criminal homicide, aggravated assault, burglary, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, terroristic threats, possessing instruments of crime, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault.

Prosecutors withdrew a charge of discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure and after hearing more than two hours of testimony during a preliminary hearing Monday Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko ordered the remaining offenses held for county court.

Butler Township police Lt. Daniel Holderman charged Zulkowski with assaulting and trying to shoot Joseph M. Monaghan about 2:40 p.m. Jan. 12 at the man’s 515 McKnight St. home.

Monaghan said he was in the bathroom when he heard someone banging on a door and then found Zulkowski inside his home.

“It sounded like King Kong at the (side) door,” Monaghan told the court.

He testified that he drew a .22-caliber revolver he had after an enraged Zulkowski came to the bottom of a set of steps and began to approach him.

As the two men eventually made it to a room on the first floor of the home, Monaghan said a struggle ensued with Zulkowski taking the weapon from him.

At that point, Monaghan said, he began to run back up the stairs, while Zulkowski was chasing him and shooting the weapon.

After running through the house, Monaghan said, Zulkowski eventually caught him in the kitchen where he assaulted him by kicking, hitting and stomping on the man, all the time threatening to kill him.

While he was on the ground, Monaghan said, Zulkowski fired two shots at him before the assault stopped when someone knocked at another door of the home.

Zulkowski’s attorney, Joseph Nahas, Frackville, asked Monaghan why he had a weapon on his person at the time Zulkowski entered the home.

Monaghan said he received threatening text messages from Zulkowski and that he feared for his life. However, during additional questioning by Nahas, Monaghan said the messages did not specifically contain threatening language and the threats were written in “code.”

Nahas also questioned Monaghan as to why he was not shot by Zulkowski, who he said fired the gun at him two times at close range while he was on the ground.

After Zulkowski left the home, Monaghan told Nahas, he did not immediately call police but instead retrieved a shotgun and went looking for Zulkowski to “talk to him.”

Holderman testified that after the assault he found Monaghan not at his house but outside of a tavern in the borough.

The lieutenant said the man had no shoes on and was bleeding from his lip and appeared to have scratches and abrasions on his head and hands.

Under examination by first assistant district attorney John Fegley, Holderman said investigators found two bullet holes in the home, one near a stairway and one in another room.

When asked by Nahas, Holderman said neither Butler Township officers nor a state police forensic expert found signs that shots were fired in the room of the home where Monaghan said he was shot at twice at close range.

“We could not find any bullet holes in the room where the alleged assault took place,” Holderman said.

Although Monaghan said that a total of six shots were fired by Zulkowski during the incident, Holderman said police only found evidence of two shots fired.

During cross examination by Nahas, the lieutenant said the revolver owned by Monaghan and used by Zulkowski had not been found.

In closing, Nahas told the court that the commonwealth failed to prove a prima facie case since there was not premeditation to support the attempted homicide charge, theft cannot be proved since the alleged weapon is missing and that the injuries suffered by Monaghan are not considered “serious” bodily injuries needed for the aggravated assault charge.

He said that since Zulkowski often went to the home and entered on his own with permission on prior occasions, burglary should not be considered since he entered the same way he did in the past.

Fegley countered by saying Zulkowski firing the gun at Monaghan shows an intent to kill him and that witness accounts of Zulkowski banging loudly on a door of the home indicates he knew he was not allowed to enter thus proving the burglary charge.

Plachko agreed with the theory of the prosecution and ordered the charges held for court. After the hearing, Zulkowski was returned to Schuylkill County Prison where he is being held in lieu of $750,000 bail set at the time of his arrest.

Police investigate

2-vehicle crash

Pottsville police investigated a crash that occurred about 10:30 a.m. Monday in the northbound lanes of Route 61, just north of the intersection with Route 209.

Police said they determined that a 73-year-old Pine Grove woman was driving a Toyota Rav4 north in the right lane when a Lincoln Navigator driven by Gloria Beaver, 29, of Lost Creek, pulled into the highway from the parking lot of Pottsville Auto Parts and drove into her path.

The Pine Grove woman complained of chest pain and was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street by Schuylkill EMS.

Beaver and her passenger complained of back pain but refused medical treatment at the scene, police said.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene and police said Beaver will be cited for Vehicle Code rules governing vehicles entered a roadway.

Man jailed

on warrant

TRENTON — A Mahanoy City man was jailed after being picked up by state police at Frackville on an outstanding warrant about 5:30 p.m. Saturday on High Road in Delano Township.

Police said while investigating an unrelated matter they encountered Robert M. Thomas, 37, and a subsequent check determined he was wanted on a warrant from Lebanon County Domestic Relations.

Thomas was taken into custody and transported to Lebanon County Prison, police said.

Summit Hill man

cited for litter

NEW PHILADELPHIA — A Summit Hill man is facing charges by state police at Frackville stemming from an incident about 7:40 p.m. Saturday on a railroad right-of-way, southwest of the intersection of Route 209 and Ridge Road in Blythe Township.

Police said they were investigating a private property crash and saw Scott Peterson place a glass bottle on railroad property.

A non-traffic citation against Peterson was filed with Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, police said.

None injured in

1-vehicle accident

MAHANOY CITY — Two people escaped injury in a one-vehicle crash that occurred about 5:40 p.m. Sunday in the southbound lanes of Interstate 81, in the area of mile marker 126.7 in Ryan Township.

State police at Frackville said a 16-year-old Carlisle boy was driving a 2002 Buick Regal south in the left lane when he fell asleep, causing the car to go off of the road and strike a guide rail. The car continued south along the shoulder, damaging about 90 feet of guide rail before it became disabled when the passenger’s side wheel assembly and strut were torn off.

The teen and his passenger, Matthew S. Strub, 48, also of Carlisle, were not hurt and police said the teen will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic as a result of the crash.

Man charged for

being drunk

WICONISCO — An Elizabethville man was charged by state police at Lykens with public drunkenness after an incident about 12:15 a.m. Thursday on Route 209, near Pottsville Street in Wiconisco Township, Dauphin County.

Police said Troy L. Miller, 38, will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Margerum, Elizabethville.

Police said Miller was walking along Route 209 when he was seen by a passerby stumbling into the roadway.

Police arrived and determined Miller was intoxicated. He was also charged with pedestrians under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances as a result of the incident.

Woman faces

felony charges

McADOO — A 45-year-old borough woman is facing felony charges of burglary, forgery and theft by McAdoo police in connection with incidents that occurred between Oct. 1 and Nov. 15.

Police said a woman reported that her elderly mother had been the victim of a theft and provided officers with 15 checks brought to her attention by First National Bank.

Police said it was apparent that several of the checks were not signed by the same person and also that several had been written while the woman was in a hospital.

It was determined that the person using the checks was the elderly woman’s former caretaker — Christine A. Segila — and after a lengthy investigation, that woman was interviewed and confessed with entering the elderly woman’s home with the intent of stealing the checks.

Segila then took the checks and wrote them out to herself without the owner’s permission, police said.

Segila will now have to answer to the charges against her before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.

Woman faces

theft charges

ELIZABETHVILLE — A Lykens woman was charged with retail theft by state police at Lykens after an incident between 7 and 9 p.m. Feb. 16 at Wal-Mart in Washington Township, Dauphin County.

Police said Heather Overdier will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Margerum, Elizabethville.

Police said the woman tried to remove a pair of boots from the store without paying for the item.

Opening argument concluded, and testimony started, on Monday in Schuylkill County Court in the civil jury trial of a medical malpractice lawsuit involving the 2010 death of a Girardville man.

The Estate of Thomas Barrett is suing Dr. Stephen O. Slusser, a gastroenterologist, for unspecified monetary damages for what it alleges was the doctor’s negligence in treating an ulcer. The trial, over which Judge James P. Goodman is presiding, is scheduled to resume at 9 a.m. today with the estate continuing to present its case.

Barrett died June 29, 2010, at age 56, and the estate’s lawyer, Frank A. Rothermel, Philadelphia, said in his opening argument that his death was Slusser’s fault.

“Dr. Slusser violated the first safety rule,” Rothermel said. “It’s not a thorough exam. He doesn’t measure the ulcer.”

Instead, Rothermel said, Slusser sent Barrett home with only a prescription.

“You cannot just let it go. You have to surgically treat it,” he said. “That patient is in great danger of bleeding to death.”

Furthermore, Slusser did not ask other doctors for help, even though he said he had not seen anything like Barrett’s ulcer before, according to Rothermel.

On the other hand, Kyle N. Thompson, Allentown, Slusser’s lawyer, said in his opening argument that the doctor gave appropriate and reasonable care to Barrett.

“He employed all of his education. He employed all of his knowledge,” Thompson said of his client. “He’s anything but a cavalier doctor.”

Furthermore, Slusser was reasonable in discharging Barrett, and the patient’s death was not the result of negligence, according to Thompson.

“It’s unfortunate,” but not a consequence that Slusser could have foreseen or prevented, Thompson said. “(Slusser) was absolutely careful.”

Dr. Richard P. Bindie, pathologist at Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, testified that he stands by his autopsy report that a hemorrhage caused Barrett’s death.

“It was there, and it was inflamed,” Bindie said.

Barrett was found unresponsive on the floor of his home, according to Bindie, who said he has performed more than 7,000 autopsies in his 45-year career in the county.

Schuylkill County Judge Jacqueline L. Russell gave each side only part of what it wanted Monday at the end of the hearing in Pottsville Area School District’s lawsuit against Gillingham Charter School.

After a hearing that lasted about 45 minutes, Russell directed Gillingham, the county’s first charter school, to allow Andrew M. Klein, Lancaster, to examine its records during the week of March 14 for 16 students selected by Pottsville Area.

The names of eight of the students will be given to Gillingham before Klein starts his evaluation, while eight will be given to the school when he begins his work, Russell ruled. Pottsville Area and Gillingham had agreed to that procedure.

“It’s a reasonable compromise” on advance notice, Ellen C. Schurdak, Bethlehem, the district’s lawyer, said.

However, Russell declined to order Gillingham to allow Klein to sit in on its classes, although he said his observations would help the district perform its duties under state law. Russell said she could not order Gillingham to allow such observation because the district did not ask her to do so and, by Schurdak’s own statement, it will not bring irreparable harm to Pottsville Area if it is not ordered.

“I hope everything resolves to everyone’s satisfaction,” Russell said to conclude the hearing.

Russell’s ruling at least temporarily ended the squabble between Gillingham and the district over access to the records, which Pottsville Area said it needs to conduct its review of the school’s application to renew its charter.

Pottsville Area filed the lawsuit Nov. 16, 2015, asking the court to issue an injunction requiring Gillingham to allow it to inspect the records of its special education students in conjunction with the school’s application to renew its charter. The district alleged it must inspect those records in order to fulfill its duties under the state School Code.

Gillingham, 912 Howard Ave., Pottsville, has asked for renewal of its charter, which it received in 2011. Pottsville Area hired Klein, who has worked with charter schools, school districts and parents on special education, at a rate of $200 per hour to review those records.

Klein testified Monday that his classroom observations would help him perform the evaluation. He said he will need three or four days to complete his work.

“I then can match up the instruction with (a student’s individualized education program),” he said. “There’s a heavy substantive aspect. I would focus primarily on the special education records.”

He also said he signs confidentiality agreements that should alleviate any of Gillingham’s fears about making private information public.

“I’m trying to be as responsive as possible,” Klein said.

SCRANTON — A judge postponed sentencing Monday in Lackawanna County Court for a doctor convicted of illegally prescribing pain pills and other medication after she said she no longer wants to be represented by her court-appointed attorney, her third in the case.

Visiting Senior Judge John L. Braxton set a new sentencing date of March 10 for Stephanie Tarapchak, D.O., 47, of Ashland, with a stern warning there will be no more delays.

“If I am breathing and living that day, I will be here doing my job,” the judge told Tarapchak, who appeared via a video link from the county jail, where she has been held for two years.

A jury convicted Tarapchak on Oct. 6 on corrupt organizations, drug delivery resulting in death and six other charges for prescribing thousands of powerful painkillers such as oxycodone and Percocet from 2008 to 2011 through her Schuylkill County practice. She potentially faces decades in prison.

Attorney James Elliott, who on Jan. 20 became the third lawyer appointed to represent Tarapchak, told Braxton he met with the doctor Friday at the jail and left thinking he was her attorney. However, he received a letter later in the day telling him he was fired.

Under questioning by the judge, Tarapchak confirmed she does not want to be represented by Elliott and asked for different counsel.

“The county cannot give you any more attorneys,” the judge told her. “We’ve given you three.”

Although he said he believes Tarapchak is deliberately attempting to avoid sentencing, Braxton granted a motion by Elliott to postpone the proceeding. He told the defendant that whether she chooses to represent herself, hire private counsel to represent her or use the services of Elliott, the March 10 hearing will have “only one purpose.”

“That purpose is for you to be sentenced,” he said.

Deputy Attorney General Robert LaBar, who prosecuted Tarapchak, objected to the postponement. He cited a pattern of delaying actions by the defendant, including doing “everything in her power” to get rid of one competent attorney after another.

“Here we are two years after this case started and it’s ‘Groundhog Day’ for her,” LaBar said.

Braxton denied a second motion filed by Elliott at Tarapchak’s request to recuse himself as the judge in the case.

The jury also found Tarapchak guilty of insurance fraud, theft by deception, perjury, endangering the welfare of children, distributing prescription drugs to a dependent person and refusal to keep required records. She was acquitted on four other charges.

Another charge accusing Tarapchak of smuggling drugs into the county jail was dismissed by Braxton during the trial for lack of evidence.

Schuylkill County could see some federal disaster money if President Barack Obama signs a disaster declaration for the Jan. 22 and 23 snowstorm.

Gov. Tom Wolf requested Obama declare a major disaster in the state Monday.

The disaster declaration would free up federal money for costs associated with the snowstorm. A maximum of 75 percent of costs could be approved.

“Our numbers so far show that municipal, county and state agencies spent more than $55 million to respond to this storm,” Wolf said. “In many places, it wiped out an entire year’s budget for snow response and removal, and winter isn’t over yet.”

Criteria for federal aid requires a record or near-record snowfall within the county; snow removal costs to the county and municipalities and other related costs must meet a certain limit; and costs for all counties must exceed the state benchmark cost of $17.9 million.

John Matz, Schuylkill County emergency management coordinator, said Monday there was “about $700,000” in economic impact to the area, exceeding the benchmark of $500,000, which is based on population as specified by Federal Emergency Management criteria. Municipalities, municipal authorities, school districts, hospitals, colleges and other entities are eligible to apply. Matz said about 66 percent of the municipalities in the county submitted information to the Emergency Management Agency. He does not know why the remaining municipalities did not, but said it might be due to the short window of time for the paperwork. They can submit at a later date if they meet the criteria. An exact breakdown of municipalities and costs submitted for the storm was not provided. Information was sent to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency a little more than a week ago, Matz said. He said information is then sent to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Several snow emergencies were declared in the county.

So far, 31 counties have submitted information. The counties that have met record or near-record snowfalls and county costs include the following: Adams, Bedford, Berks, Blair, Bucks, Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Fayette, Franklin, Fulton, Huntingdon, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Mifflin, Montgomery, Northampton, Perry, Philadelphia, Schuylkill, Somerset, Snyder, Westmoreland and York, according to the state.

Some counties have not met the county threshold, but workers with PEMA are coordinating with them in the event that the president grants the disaster declaration.

In Schuylkill County, anywhere from 20 to 28 inches blanketed the area.

“It went on for a while,” Kevin Fitzgerald, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, State College, said.

Matz said if the president signs the declaration, meetings (applicant agent briefings) will be held with applicants and PEMA at yet-to-be-determined locations. Matz said that all municipalities did not have to meet specific dates for cleanup but did have to submit their highest 48 hours of continuous snowfall costs.

“Once the declaration is signed, PEMA will contact us,” Matz said.

The potential for reimbursement is good news to the county, officials said.

“Any help that we can get to help take care of the expenses is very much appreciated,” Schuylkill County Commissioners Chairman George Halcovage Jr. said.

Tom Whitaker, Pottsville street department supervisor, was happy to hear the news. He said 28 inches of snow fell at the city garage during the snowstorm. The snowstorm cost the city $70,621.96.

Robert Williams, Orwigsburg borough manager, said the cleanup from the storm will cause the borough to tap into its reserves. Borough workers and others worked tirelessly to remove snow.

“It took us a week to clean up,” he said of removing a large majority of the snow.

He said the money would be a help to the borough.

“We are keeping our fingers crossed,” he said.

Kathy Mengle, borough bookkeeper, said the borough submitted costs to the SCEMA totaling $10,898 for the storm. The borough spent $17,350, she said.

Minersville Borough Manager Robert Mahalchick said the borough also submitted costs of about $32,000 to SCEMA. He said it took about a week to remove the snow to a lot near the school and the compost site in the borough.

“We were all taken by surprise due to the magnitude of the snow that we had,” he said.

Stephen J. Bayer

TAMAQUA — A borough woman charged with forging three checks in October had charges against her held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.

Laura Redner, 33, of 66 Bowe St., was arrested by Tamaqua police Cpl. Henry Woods and charged with three felony counts of forgery and three misdemeanor counts each of theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

Bayer determined that the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered all nine charges against Redner held for Schuylkill County Court.

Woods charged Redner with cashing three checks made out to her at Wells Fargo Bank in the amounts of $160, $250 and $200 on an account of Ruth Wagner. Wagner, who reported the thefts, said she did not know Redner nor did she issue them or allow Redner to do so, Woods said.

Other court cases included:

Shawn E. Martin, 36, of 66 Bowe St., Tamaqua — held for court: theft by deception and receiving stolen property. Waived for court: bad checks.

Chelsea L. Walters, 23, of 175 Orwigsburg St., Tamaqua — withdrawn: false identification to law enforcement. Waived for court: retail theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.

Edward L. Rivera, 30, of 214 Race St., Tamaqua — held for court: driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and theft by unlawful taking.

Kevin O. Leibensperger, 52, no known address, Tamaqua — waived for court; stalking and harassment.

Jesse Lincovich, 34, of 71 Bowe St., Tamaqua — held for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, public drunkenness and disorderly conduct.

Taryn Depos, 29, of 216 Owl Creek Road, Tamaqua — held for court: possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

Samantha M. McGeehan, 24, of 402 Arlington St., Tamaqua — waived for court: retail theft and receiving stolen property.

Care Net of Schuylkill County will be hosting the Love Run 5k on April 30 at the Landingville Trail.

The event is one of the largest fundraisers of the year for the county nonprofit organization.

Although Care Net of Schuylkill County has previously held walks since 2000, they held their first 5k race on the Bartum Trail in Landingville in 2012. Pretzel City Sports, Reading, is managing the race.

Last year’s race featured about 200 participants and 40 volunteers, Care Net Director Cheryl Cresswell said. One of the 5k races raised about $12,000.

“I think runners love to support a cause and do their thing and the walkers can still be a part of it,” Cresswell said Monday.

There will also be a scavenger hunt during the race.

“The kids love that,” Cresswell said. “There is something for the whole family and it is a flat race, so it is definitely for beginners.”

“It’s been really successful,” Sarah Hahner, teen health director at Care Net, said. “The Landingville location has really been great. It is a central location and people really like it because it is flat.”

Care Net is a crisis pregnancy center assisting women in unplanned pregnancies with free pregnancy testing, parenting and material support without prejudice and has been serving communities in Schuylkill County for more than 15 years. All services are free and confidential.

The race will start at Faith Reformed United Church of Christ pavilion, 8 Church St., Landingville. The event will also feature a post-run lunch for all participants.

Prizes will be awarded for the top three men and women in the following age categories: 14 and under; 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59, 60 and over. There are also prizes for oldest and youngest finishers.

For more information or to register, call Care Net of Schuylkill County at 570-624-7244 or visit the organization’s website at www.freepregnancyhelp.org.

n Girardville: Rangers Hose Company, 6 E. Ogden St., will have a wing night beginning at 5:30 p.m. March 12. Wings are $8 per dozen and fries are $3 and fries with any wing sauce, $4. Wing varieties will include hot, mild, honey mustard, house, ranch, spicy ranch, hot garlic, barbecue, garlic parm and teriyaki. Patrons may eat at the firehouse or take wings out. Beverages will be available. For more information or to order, call 570-276-1406.

n Mahanoy City: Good American Hose Company, Eighth Street and Mahanoy Avenue, will hold a bleenie sale Friday, beginning at 4 p.m. The cost is $9 per dozen or 75 cents each.

n Millersburg: The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art will host the Ann Kerstetter Band at the Twin Valley Players Colonnade, 269 Center St., for a performance at 7 p.m. March 11. The admission fee of $25 includes a cocktail buffet from Swing at Lykens Valley. A cash bar will be available. For more information, call 717-692-3699 or visit www.nedsmithcenter.org.

n Minersville: The Minersville Area Skatepark Association will have a fundraiser at the Reading Phillies at 6:35 p.m. April 5 at the showcase between the Fightins and Lehigh Valley. The cost is $5 plus a $1.50 processing fee. Proceeds will benefit the association.

n Pottsville: An Easter candy sale to benefit St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church is underway. The cost is $10 per box, orders are due by March 14 and flavors include butter cream, peanut butter and coconut cream. To order, call 570-622-1802, ext. 0, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Pickups will be March 19 and 20 during the Palm Sunday bake and candy sale.

n Ringtown: St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 100 E. Main St., will hold a chili sale March 1. The cost is $6.50 per quart and a container is not necessary. Pickup will be from 4 to 6 p.m. at the church. To order, call Janice at 570-889-3494. The deadline to order is Friday.

n Shenandoah: Columbia Hose Company No. 1 will hold a “Paint and Sip” event from 4 to 8 p.m. March 13 at the firehouse, 700 W. Centre St. All paint supplies and snacks will be included in the $40 admission that will benefit the company’s equipment fund. Class instruction will be by “Make Your Mark.” Participants must be 21 or older. A cash bar will be available. There is a limit of 50 tickets. For tickets or more information, call 570-462-9574 or stop in at the bar during regular hours. The company will also sponsor a motorcycle run on June 4 (rain date of June 5) with registration beginning at 10 a.m. on the day of the event, although advance registration is preferred. The run will begin at 1 p.m. at the firehouse. The cost is $15 per bike and $10 for a passenger. The event will include disc jockey entertainment from 3 to 7 p.m., shirts sponsored by D.G. Yuengling and Sons Inc. Brewery for sale, food and beverages, prizes and a 50/50. For more information, call 570-462-9574 or 570-590-4958.

n Tamaqua: An American Red Cross blood drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Tamaqua YMCA, 1201 E. Broad St. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 800-733-2767.

n Valley View: Hegins Township supervisors recently gave the OK, with some stipulations, for the Crackerjacks Fireworks Club to stage a public event at Valley View Park on May 20 and 21. During a supervisors meeting, park association President Dave Williams thanked the community for its support of park activities and introduced members of the Crackerjacks group, which hosted an event last year at the park and donated $1,600 to the park. Club President Jeff Kline and Vice President Wes Bradley said the Crackerjacks club is one of the oldest clubs for pyrotechnic enthusiasts in the U.S., established in 1976. The club must notify the proper fire departments and advertise when the event will be held so the public is aware.

GIRARDVILLE — The borough council voted to open the code enforcement officer position at its Feb. 11 meeting before making an appointment to the position.

The position has been held by Jeffrey Wilson, but due to a non-job-related injury, he has been off for about three months. During the reorganization meeting in January, Wilson was not reappointed, and the council tabled the matter until the February meeting, which Wilson attended.

When the floor was opened to the public for comments on agenda items, Sandy Wilson walked to the podium to speak on what she believes is unfair treatment by the borough against her husband in not reappointing him and having him reapply for his position. During the last three months of 2015, Jeffrey Wilson was drawing his part-time salary while he was unable to work, but it was stopped in January when he was not reappointed.

During the past three months, the code enforcement duties have been covered by Councilman Rick Miller and borough Fire Chief Frank Zangari. Neither have been paid a salary, but have received $20 for each code enforcement citation issued.

“Who is getting the salary now?” Sandy Wilson asked the council.

“No one is,” Miller said.

Sandy Wilson asked Councilman Daniel Heiser if her husband’s position had been put on hold at the reorganization meeting.

“I was under the impression that we were not going to reappoint Jeff because of his injuries, but I didn’t know if it was official,” Heiser said.

At the Jan. 4 reorganization, no nomination for code enforcement officer was made. Council President Charles Marquardt requested that an alternate be appointed to cover the code enforcement officer’s duties. Councilman Joseph Kessler motioned to appoint Miller as the alternate, seconded by Marquardt. The vote was 3-2, with Marquardt, Kessler and Miller voting in favor, and Heiser and Robert Krick voting against. Marquardt said the move was temporary until Jeffrey Wilson’s status could be determined.

Sandy Wilson asked about a meeting called by Miller to discuss her husband’s position. Miller called the meeting as the code enforcement committee chairman and included Zangari and Jeffrey Wilson. Marquardt also attended the meeting. Sandy Wilson asked borough solicitor Christopher Riedlinger if there were any violations of the Sunshine Law since Krick and Heiser were unaware of the meeting.

“Under the Sunshine Law, no,” Riedlinger said. “Members of council can get together for executive session to deal with personnel matters outside of a regular meeting.”

Miller said, “I called this meeting with Frank Zangari and your husband to discuss code enforcement and to discuss landlords. That’s what the original meeting was for. Charlie (Marquardt) walked in on it.”

Riedlinger added that no official action could be taken unless there was majority of council members present at an advertised meeting.

Sandy Wilson also questioned another agenda item about adopting a revised duties of a code enforcement officer list.

“How can they be ‘revised’ when he (Jeffrey Wilson) never got a list of duties?” she asked.

Marquardt said, “When Jeff was hired, like anybody else who is hired for a position, they were interviewed, they were told what their responsibilities would be. It was never put in writing.”

“It does not necessarily have to be revised from something that was in writing,” Riedlinger said. “It might be revised from something said orally.”

Heiser read from the minutes of the reorganization meeting about the vote to appoint Miller and no decision was made on Jeffrey Wilson’s status at that time.

“Nowhere in that does it say that Jeff is basically fired,” Heiser said.

“We never said he was,” Marquardt said.

“That’s the point she’s trying to make. He was told he was (fired) and that he needs to reapply for the position,” Heiser said.

“Who told him he was fired?” Marquardt asked.

“At the workshop, he was told that he had to reapply,” Sandy Wilson said.

Heiser said a request to Jeffrey Wilson was made to get a letter from his physician that he could return to work, and the letter was received by the borough the next day.

“I think this was handled wrong,” Heiser said.

“And Mr. Miller, if you thought he was doing something wrong, why didn’t you open your big mouth and say at that time?” Sandy Wilson asked.

“Let me tell you a little secret,” Miller said, “I’m going to tell you that for months I got crap from this council about complaints about Jeff. I stuck up for him. I went out with him. I stuck up for your husband every time, and I don’t have to sit here and get ridiculed for it now. No way.”

Marquardt asked Jeffrey Wilson, “Is that true?”

“I don’t know what the complaints were,” he said. “They were never put in writing.”

“What did you do to help Jeff?” Marquardt asked Miller.

“I went with him and worked with him, wrote tickets,” Miller said.

“The matter is that Jeff was off injured,” Marquardt said. “For those whole three months, Jeff was paid. Now, Frank and Rick got together with Jeff to find out his intentions. It’s on the agenda tonight that we have a set of (code enforcement officer) guidelines in writing, and we want to open the position. Jeff is more than welcome to apply for the position. Jeff was never fired from the position. It is an appointed position by council.”

Marquardt added later in the meeting, “This thing is getting blown way out of proportion. The exact thing is that Jeff was off and we should have taken action three months ago and we didn’t. It’s my fault as much as anybody else who sat on this council prior to Dan and Robbie coming on this council. Somebody was off injured and we should have filled the position because he couldn’t do the job. Frank stepped up to the plate and started helping out. Rick was already was doing it for quality of life and assisting.”

Later in the meeting, the borough council voted to open the code enforcement officer position on a motion by Krick, seconded by Heiser. Applications must be submitted at the borough hall by 3 p.m. March 4, with interviews to be done the following week and possible appointment made at the regular meeting March 10.

In other matters, Marquardt announced the committee assignments.

“I put a list of committees together and I hope that everybody can work together,” Marquardt said.

• Street committee — Kessler, chairman; Heiser.

• Police committee — Miller, chairman; Heiser.

• Finance committee — Miller, chairman; Kessler.

• Personnel committee — Krick, chairman; Kessler.

• School building committee — Heiser, chairman; Miller.

• Building/property committee — Krick, chairman; Kessler.

• Lighting committee — Heiser, chairman; Krick.

• Parks and recreation committee — Heiser, chairman; Miller.

• Recycling committee — Kessler, chairman; Miller.

• Code enforcement/quality of life committee — Krick, chairman; Heiser.

“If anybody has any questions or concerns involving any of these committees, contact those councilmen or call borough hall and Candice (Squires, borough secretary) will get the information to them,” Marquardt said.

Two groups will be hosting cleanups along the Schuylkill River during the annual Schuylkill Scrub this spring.

The Schuylkill Scrub is an event that takes place from March 1 to May 31 every year. The Schuylkill Action Network coordinates the initiative with many partners with the common goal to clean as many miles of road, streams and parkland in the Schuylkill watershed, according to the Schuylkill River National & State Heritage website at www.schuylkillriver.org.

The event encourages and supports cleanup events throughout the entire Schuylkill watershed from the headwaters in Schuylkill County down to its confluence with the Delaware River in Philadelphia.

Two groups more than 100 miles a part — state Department of Transportation’s Schuylkill County Maintenance District and Dave Brindley of Not in Philly —are recruiting locals to pick up litter that might otherwise wash into the river’s estuary. Both are hosting cleanup events throughout the entire Schuylkill Scrub campaign.

“I am organizing volunteers because our block has many children on it,” Brindley state in a press release issued Monday. “I hate the hopelessness that trash-strewn streets convey to them.”

Tom Davidock and others at the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary have helped to expand the Schuylkill Scrub since 2010. One way they have done this is by collaborating with like-minded group from local environmental advisory councils to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful. Another way is offering prizes and support.

“Anyone who leads a cleanup can enter to win free prizes along the Schuylkill River, like a moonlight kayaking tour,” Davidock said. “They can also take advantage of free trash bags, gloves and vests donated by PennDOT. And free or discounted trash disposal is available for Pick It Up PA Days, from April 16 to May 9.”

Visit www.SchuylkillScrub.org to join or register a cleanup. Locals can use this website to suggest and find places in need of cleaning. For more information, please call Virginia Vassalotti of the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary at 800-445-4935, ext. 121.

SHENANDOAH — The Shenandoah Valley school board approved the hiring of Lesley Matus as the new elementary vice principal at Monday’s meeting.

Matus, who will also serve as special education coordinator at the elementary school, was hired in an 8-0 vote and will fill vacancy left by Jessica Savitsky, whose resignation was accepted at the Jan. 27 meeting.

Matus has been with the school district for about nine years and is the district psychologist.

Acting Superintendent/Business Manager Anthony P. Demalis Jr. said after the meeting that five applicants were interviewed. The district received about 10 applications.

Matus’ starting annual salary will be $59,456.

“Lesley still needs to complete her schooling to be the elementary vice principal,” Demalis said. “She is working towards her principal certificate. She has her experience in special education, which at this point is what we need. We anticipate she will have certificate in the near future. I talked with PDE (Pennsylvania Department of Education) and we’re OK with that. The four-person committee that interviewed and recommended her said she scored the highest. I believe she’ll have her certificate by July. The critical issue is the special education aspect, which is a good part of the job.”

Demalis said Matus’ move to the new position will take some time.

“She will start transitioning because there are time lines that have to be met with her as a school psychologist for special education,” Demalis said. “She just can’t immediately leave that position because there are guidelines that have to be followed for special education. It will depend on how quick we find someone to replace her.”

In a related vote, the school board approved advertising for the now-open psychologist position.

Deeds

Ashland — Sun West Mortgage Co. Inc. to William D. Henry and William J. Maher; 1100 Brock St.; $9,000.

St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, Boardman, Ohio

To Dustin and Kristin Corneliussen Barrett, Austintown, Ohio, a son, Feb. 12. The mother is formerly of Mahanoy City.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Mackenzie McVicker thinks a career in the health field may be for her. Since her aunt’s an emergency room doctor and pediatrician, the Tamaqua Area High School junior has spent time considering the possibility, she said.

Courtney Earnest, too, believes a degree in medicine may be in her future. “My mom’s a nurse in Reading, and that’s what inspired me,” Earnest, 16, a Blue Mountain High School junior, said.

Tuesday, both teens had the chance to explore their educational options in a new dual enrollment program during an Open House for Emerging Health Professionals at Penn State Schuylkill.

Through a partnership of Schuylkill Technology Center, Penn State Schuylkill, Blue Mountain Health System and Schuylkill Health, the innovative dual enrollment program combines interactive, university-level classroom learning and observation in a health care setting. The program is designed for high school seniors interested in the health care field and allows students the opportunity to explore careers in health care firsthand. In addition, the program is designed to prepare students for post-secondary education by offering college-level science courses.

Shannon M. Del Conte, coordinator of continuing education, welcomed students and their families to the open house. She and Tracey Picht, STC guidance counselor, explained how the pilot dual enrollment program would work. Also present was Darcy Medica, Penn State Schuylkill director of academic affairs; Kurt Lynch, STC vocational director; and Kelly Puzzi, adjunct professor of anatomy and physiology.

Emerging Health Professionals is a half-day program that runs the duration of the school year.

Students spend two half-days a week with Penn State faculty and the STC instructor at Penn State Schuylkill from 8 to 10:50 a.m. Mondays and Fridays. They also spend two half-days a week participating in job shadowing activities from 8 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students spend one half-day a week participating in a health curriculum taught by an STC instructor from 8 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays. Basically, students spend their morning hours away from their home districts and return to their home schools at 12 p.m. every day until the end of the day. Students are responsible for their own transportation.

Participants in the program are offered a total of eight Penn State credits: in the fall semester, (Anatomy) Biology 129; in the spring semester, (Physiology with Lab) Biology 141 and 142.

In addition, students can earn two high school honors credits for the PSU courses and one STC high school credit per year. STC classes reinforce concepts taught at Penn State Schuylkill.

During the open house, Puzzi showed visitors her physiology classroom and answered questions about the hands-on curriculum.

“We’re going to be thinking beyond the books,” Puzzi said. A course syllabus highlighted topics in cell structure, muscle physiology, blood testing and typing, cardiovascular system, respiratory function and renal physiology.

“I wish I had something like this when I was in school,” Mackenzie’s mother, Michelle Sitoski, West Penn Township, said following the open house. “I think this sounds like an amazing program,” she said, noting it would give her daughter insight into a potential major and may help the 17-year-old decide what she wants to do. Joining Mackenzie were her stepfather, Mike Sitoski, and 4-year-old brother, Jaxon.

“Even if they decide the medical field is not what they want to do, they still have those eight credits,” Mike Sitoski said.

Courtney’s dad, Jeremey Earnest, and her sister, Brittnay Earnest, all of Schuylkill Haven, also joined her for the visit. Brittnay, 19, already attends Penn State Schuylkill, majoring in business.

“Realistically, if she’s able to get an early jump on those college credits, that’s great,” Jeremey Earnest said of Courtney’s interest in the dual enrollment option. “I think she could probably do anything she chose to do.”

The integrated model provides a strong framework for drawing connections between classroom learning and contextual, real-world application, and for exposing students to the variety of careers in health care, according to Picht. Penn State Schuylkill courses are taught by doctorate and master’s level science faculty. Del Conte said students participating in the dual enrollment program receive 50 percent off their tuition costs.

Medica said an on-site dual enrollment program was offered at the Schuylkill Area Haven High School in the fall of 2015, where a PSU faculty member went to the school to teach a psychology course. There’s also on-site enrollment courses planned at Schuylkill Haven Area High School in IST/computer, human development and family studies; and for criminal justice and psychology courses at Blue Mountain and Pottsville Area High School, Medica said. The dual enrollment program discussed Tuesday is similar to successful programs run in the Lehigh Valley, she said.

High school juniors who attend participating Schuylkill County school districts are eligible to apply. They must have a 3.0 GPA or higher and should have completed one year of high school biology and chemistry and must have a written recommendation from their guidance counselor. Interested candidates must submit their application to their high school guidance counselors by the March 11 deadline. They will be notified by the end of April of their acceptance, so they could begin taking classes as seniors for the upcoming fall semester.

For more information, email Picht at picht@stcenters.org, or call 570-874-1034 or 570-544-4748.

Information incorrect

The Pine Grove JROTC traveled to Dover Air Force Base. The information was incorrect in Monday’s edition.

Dianne Dougherty, technology director at Pottsville Area School District, has a plan to provide more cutting-edge equipment to the district’s students and teachers.

“This is going to be a huge step for us,” Dougherty told the school board at its Feb. 17 work session.

Apple Inc. has offered the district a deal of $1,607,304. In particular, it will allow the district to put Apple iPad tablets into the hands of all of the district’s students a year earlier than the district anticipated. And the school board may hold a special meeting next week to vote on that proposal before a discount expires on March 4, Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel said Tuesday.

For 45 minutes at the school board’s work session Feb. 17, Dougherty explained the proposal with help from Tim McHugh, an account executive with Apple, Harrisburg.

“About four years ago we started, with small steps, using the iPad 1-to-1 initiative. We began at the elementary level. We’re currently K to 3 and grades 5 and 6. And we’ve had a lot of support through local business people because of the extensive use that the iPad is finding itself in industry across the country. But we’re also beginning to see it here in this county. And we’re trying to be as progressive as we can. But also, we have to think about the fiscal end of it,” Zwiebel told the board.

Pottsville Area has 1,275 iPads, which are utilized by students in grades K through 6. “The remaining iPads are in shared carts at the middle and high schools,” Dougherty said.

The district has 661 desktop computers which are used in grade 4 and in grades 7 through 12, as well as labs in the elementary, middle school and high school, she said.

The district also has 314 laptop computers which are shared in the middle and high schools, she said.

Pottsville Area has three lease agreements with Apple. And if the district continues paying into those, it could spend $2,222,157 over the next four years: $482,035 in 2016-17; $603,671 in 2017-18; $589,433 in 2018-19; and $547,018 in 2019-20, according to figures provided by Dougherty.

“When Dianne contacted Tim McHugh, our rep, a couple weeks ago, the intent was to look at expanding the program to grades 4, 7 and 8, so that by next year the entire elementary and the middle school, all students, would have an iPad to utilize,” Zwiebel said.

“In our conversations with Tim, we learned Apple was about to roll out a program they have never ever done before. With that, we ended up having several in-house meetings and phone conversations with Tim and we crunched the figures. And I’ll let Tim share all that. The bottom line is we have an opportunity here next year to provide every student K to 12 with an iPad Air 2, a year earlier than when we thought we could. And we’ll save approximately $400,000 in doing so, as opposed to the way we’re moving the program now,” Zwiebel said.

That includes a $200 off each iPad if the order is for more than 2,500 of them, Zwiebel said.

Apple is offering Pottsville Area the chance to close out its current lease agreements for a new one, a $1,607,304 lease-to-own agreement over the next four years: $396,864, 2016-17; $403,480, 2017-18; $403,480, 2018-19; and $403,480, 2019-20, according to figures provided by Dougherty.

She explained what the district would get in the deal:

• 2,800 iPad Air 2 tablets, one for each student in grades K through 12 and all teachers and administrators.

• 220 MacBooks for teachers and administrators.

• 25 IMac computers and five MacBooks for the publications room in the high school.

• Mobile device management system and licensing, professional development for faculty and Apple professional services and support.

“Are we talking lease or purchase?” board Member William R. Davidson asked.

“It’s a four-year lease, but at the end of the lease we do own those devices,” Dougherty said.

Since March 2012, the district has generated thousands of dollars by selling used items through Ebay, she said.

“We have $20,000 in our Ebay account and I thought we could put that money toward paying the existing leases that we have,” Dougherty said.

“This is a large purchase for the district. Would Apple entertain any sort of a discount on existing leases for the payoff?” board President John F. Boran asked.

“As far as Apple discounting, we’re doing that with the new equipment. We don’t do that with the old. This discount in this case is approximately half a million dollars. You’re talking about $490,000 in discounts towards the new iPads. So, when Dr. Zwiebel said this is unprecedented, he meant it. I don’t have another transaction where we’re discounting at this level,” McHugh said.

“What is the useful life of those? What happens at the end of year four? Are we going to have to start all over again in buying 2,800 iPads?” board Vice President Karen E. Rismiller asked.

“When you get into a lease cycle with technology, you should assume and you should plan for that ongoing expense. As far as what the average life is for an iPad, I’d say some people will get four or some people will get five years out of them. I don’t recommend that. In that fifth year, I would plan on renewing. I can’t speak to what the promotions would be at that time,” McHugh said.

“Are we going to see an educational plan for the use of these iPads in every subject?” Davidson said.

“Yes. Absolutely. We’re going to iBooks. We’re going to create books on the iPad and we’ll be able to use those instead of buying textbooks. We’ll have something that our teachers have created that will match our curriculum,” Dougherty said.

From 2013 to 2015, Penn State University conducted a study to determine how effective the use of the iPad Mini was on education at Pottsville Area’s John S. Clarke Elementary.

On Friday, Jeffrey A. Stone, an IST instructor at Penn State Schuylkill, offered insights into the results.

In short, he said the district was working to slowly incorporate the use of the new technology with its existing courses of study, and progress was slow but sure.

“The iPads were being used primarily to augment and/or replace traditional tasks and, in some cases, for more authentic learning and non-traditional activities. The data showed widespread stakeholder support for the iPad program. Implementation challenges included the need for ongoing teacher professional development and new avenues for teacher collaboration, as well as the need for a sustainable budget for hardware and software. Given the iPad program is still in its infancy, the integration and positive impact of the program can reasonably be expected to increase over time if these challenges are addressed. I think the iPad program has a lot of potential to make a positive impact on JSC students, and I observed many people working hard to help make the program a success in the long-term. However, like any significant organizational change, it will take time to fully realize the potential benefits,” Stone said.

“Technology is an effective teaching tool, if implemented correctly. JSC is trying to make that happen, but large scale change takes time. It does not happen overnight. JSC is definitely moving in the right direction, based on my observations,” Stone said.

RINGTOWN — The street lighting in Ringtown will be a bit brighter and less expensive to operate once new energy-efficient bulbs are installed in the near future.

At February’s meeting, the Ringtown Borough Council discussed the program from PPL Electric Utilities Inc. to remove the current incandescent bulbs and replace them with LED lights. Council President Julian Milewski said an application was submitted for the PPL program.

“PPL called me back to say they accepted our application and they’re drawing up the contract,” Milewski said.

The borough has 97 streets lights. The savings will be $36.59 per month in total. The total installation cost to the borough is $172, which is the cost of replacing one bulb that is fewer 10 years old. The other 96 bulbs will be replaced at no cost.

According to PPL billing rates, the borough would save $440 in electric costs, but Milewski said the borough receives its electricity from another generation company, so the savings will be higher.

“So the minimum amount of savings will be $440,” he said.

The bulb replacement should begin in about two months, Milewski said.

“Last longer, less cost, less electrical cost,” Milewski said, adding that the new bulbs will be brighter. “We’re getting them all changed at one time and we’ll save a buck.”

Councilman David Seresky made the motion to accept the office, which was seconded by Councilman James Compton Sr.

In other business, Milewski read his prepared report to the council and the public about where the borough stands on different matters.

“First of all, I would like to thank all of you for the trust you have placed with me once again and for your continuing support,” Milewski said. “Considering our size, Ringtown Borough is in good shape. Our water system has been upgraded, and the majority of our roads are in decent shape. I have some reservations on the state of the sewer system. Hopefully that will be addressed as time goes on. But there is still work that needs to be done.

“Tonight I would like to set a few goals for council to work toward over the next four years,” he continued. “Working as a team, together being the central point, we can make things happen. The committee assignment roster shows little change. Each committee assignment will still have two members. Per Roberts Rules of Order, the president serves on all committees. As before, with your approval, the day-to-day operations of the borough remain the responsibility of the council president and vice president by consensus of council. We are currently working on a stormwater drainage area on East Main Street in need of remediation. Hopefully we can get that done in 2016 using liquid fuels funding.”

Milewski said, “Then there is The Ringtown school building. Again the disposition of the building and property needs to be completed with the benefit going to the borough. Together, with cooperation, I feel we can get there. I am asking all council to band together and push for these goals and any others that we as council may come into as the year goes on. With your help and support, together we can get this done.”

During the citizen’s petitions portion of the meeting, a complaint was received about the County Waste trash cans being left on the sidewalks or the roadway.

“Get your empty containers off the sidewalks because if they’re blocking the sidewalks, you can cited for obstructing a walkway,” Milewski said. “Council is kindly asking people not to leave their empty garbage cans and take them in as soon as possible. I came home from my church on Sunday and there’s a church right up from me and people had to walk out on the street to go to the church.”

Resident Dennis Bauer told the council that there are feral cats on the east end of Main Street and they are getting into his garage. He asked if the borough could do anything about the issue. Milewski said he will talk to the health officer. Bauer also complained about drainage issues in front of his property and said stone needs to be put there again. Milewski said it will be addressed in the spring.

Seresky received a request for the girls softball team to use the school gym for practicing. He was told that there is no power, no bathroom facilities and no heat in the building. Since it is also a liability issue, the organization is welcome to see if their insurance would cover it, but the council is not in favor of them using the facility because of the above mentioned reasons.

Borough Christmas lighting committee member Roger Brouse inquired about storing the Christmas lights in the school. This issue was tabled until the borough solicitor and insurance company could be contracted.