A Tower City man charged with raping and assaulting a woman in Tower City during the early morning hours of Nov. 21, 2015, is among those scheduled to plead not guilty Thursday during arraignment in Schuylkill County Court.

Clyde A. Fesig Jr., 31, of 226 E. Wiconisco St., was arrested by state police Trooper Thomas Robin of the Schuylkill Haven station and charged with rape, burglary, aggravated indecent assault, criminal trespass, terroristic threats, indecent assault and simple assault.

Robin charged Fesig with unlawfully entering a home on East Grand Avenue, breaking into the bedroom through a locked door and looking through his female victim’s cellphone. Fesig then allegedly began to have sexual contact with the woman, but she broke free.

Robin said Fesig went to the kitchen where he got a steak knife and again confronted the woman, telling her not to report what he did, and then began stabbing the walls, causing the blade of the knife to break.

Others scheduled to plead not guilty, and the charges against them, include:

Justin T. Richards, 33, of 135 Albert Blvd., Pottsville — DUI, DUI-high rate, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, careless driving and driving at an unsafe speed.

Eric B. Miller, 41, of 23 Judy Drive, Cressona — DUI, DUI-high rate, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked and exceeding the speed limit.

Donald F. Cielinski, 45, of 420 Coal St., Minersville — DUI, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, careless driving, traveling on cultivated land, restrictions on alcoholic beverages and failure to use seat belts.

Audrey C. Spickler, 45, of 324 Park Road, Valley View — driving under the influence of drugs, careless driving and failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic.

Pablo E. Padilla-Troche, 27, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving a vehicle without an inspection certificate and failure to be licensed.

Erica A. Bertasavage, 21, of 27 E. Main St., Apt. 2, Tremont — delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Courtney L. Schweikert, 19, of 94 New Philadelphia Road, Kaska — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Adam R. Drobnick, 31, of 116 Lake Front Drive, Orwigsburg — criminal attempt to commit theft by deception and false, fraudulent of incomplete insurance claim.

Robert E. Michael Jr., 27, of 609 N. Second St., Apt. A, Lykens — delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Charity L. Miller, 34, of 210 Sweet Arrow Lake Road, Pine Grove — delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy and possession of drug paraphernalia.

William F. Nichols III, 34, of 19 S. Third St., Apt. 5, Minersville — possession of a controlled substance.

Annie Cragen, 46, of 332 W. Columbus St., Shenandoah — terroristic threats, simple assault, resisting arrest, recklessly endangering another person, institutional vandalism and harassment.

Tyler Kostak, 25, of 248A W. Broad St., Tamaqua — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christine L. Slate, 47, of 301 Lewis St., Minersville — forgery and access device fraud.

Nicholas J. Forte, 43, of 30 St. Ann St., Barnesville — theft by deception.

Michael S. Klinger Jr., 39, of 305 N. Keystone St., Muir — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Devon M. Cooper, 22, of 120 S. Tulpehocken St., Apt. F, Pine Grove — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and misbranding a controlled substance.

Michael J. Dinger, 55, of 115 N. Goodspring Road, Box 381, Hegins — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Mark Kessler, 44, of 126 S. Second St., Frackville — harassment, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.

Shane Lopez, 21, of 216 W. Atlantic St., Shenandoah — possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Jeffrey Najunas, 45, of 236 N. Jardin St., Shenandoah — prohibited possession.

Amanda L. Mooney, 27, of 334 W. Centre St., Mahanoy City — prohibition on loaning or lending or giving a firearm and obstructing the administration of law.

Christopher C. Schnoke, 22, of 7 Roedersville Road, Pine Grove — receiving stolen property.

Michael J. Zulkowski, 32, of 100 Pennsylvania Ave., Shenandoah — terroristic threats and simple assault.

Nathanial P. Shea, 33, of 1398 West Penn Pike, New Ringgold — possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, unsworn falsification to authorities, application of firearms-false statements and disorderly conduct.

Abdelrahman M. Yassin, 20, of 23 S. Kennedy Drive, McAdoo — unauthorized use of automobiles.

Johnathan C. Hindermeyer, 37, of 227 Pine St., Apt. 1, Tamaqua — conspiracy, theft from a motor vehicle and corruption of minors.

Joshua M. Canfield, 24, of 32 St. John St., Apt. 1, 3rd Floor, Schuylkill Haven — recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct.

Steven M. Hasenauer, 37, of 226 Maple Blvd., Orwigsburg — aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment and recklessly endangering another person.

Geoffrey C. Garrett, 35, of 27 E. Union St., Schuylkill Haven — possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving a vehicle without an inspection certificate.

Rayanne K. Ferhat, 21, of 18 Centre Ave., Schuylkill Haven — simple assault and harassment.

Ashley M. Stumhofer, 25, of 416 Harrison St., Pottsville — defiant trespass.

Howard Miller, 29, of 403 W. Arch St., Pottsville — possession of a small amount of marijuana, public drunkenness, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Robert D. Schappell Jr., 44, of 13 Centre Ave., Schuylkill Haven — theft by deception, receiving stolen property, theft of services and deceptive business practices.

Justin Mosolino, 29, of 713 W. Market St., Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

John J. Bennett Jr., 28, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, contraband-controlled substance, resisting arrest, defiant trespass, criminal mischief, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Jessica L. Grubb, 42, of 66 Back Road, Barnesville — unsworn falsification to authorities and applications of firearms-false statements.

Bruce G. Benjamin, 47, of 1820 Market St., Ashland — possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Addison J. Hummel, 22, of 58 N. Fourth St., Frackville — terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment.

Tracy R. Vincent, 19, of 1326 Spruce St., Ashland — disorderly conduct and underage drinking.

Angela M. Dolla, 46, of 31 N. Tulpehocken St., Pine Grove — retail theft.

Heather L. Rhoad, 30, of 144 N. West St., Williamstown — simple assault and harassment.

Shawn F. Sukeena, 38, of 58 Sculps Hill Road, Orwigsburg — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, illegal possession or use of firearms, carrying firearms without a license, driving an unregistered vehicle, failure to be licensed, driving without insurance, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Ronald G. Sticker Jr., 35, of 181 S. Tulpehocken St., Pine Grove — burglary, terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment.

Jared A. Raczka, 24, of 334 N. Front St., Minersville — theft and resisting arrest.

Jeanette L. Hadesty, 34, of 31 S. 10th St., Mahanoy City — interference with the custody of children, false reports and concealment of the whereabouts of a child.

Ronexon Collado, 22, of 115 N. West St., Shenandoah — disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Jody D. Forker, 43, of 373 Davos Circle, Zion Grove — theft.

Diane M. Kutsko, 46, of 318 W. Poplar St., Shenandoah — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Andrew K. Spencer, 21, of 12 Centre Ave., Schuylkill Haven — possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Neal E. Burgos-Lawson, 47, of 16 E. Union St., Schuylkill Haven — possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Ryan P. Ganter, 36, of 18 Pine Terrace, Schuylkill Haven — theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and defiant trespass.

Aloysius P. Carroll, 26, of State Correctional Institution/Frackville — burglary, conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Bret B. Ritchie Jr., 34, of 82 N. Berne St., Schuylkill Haven — restrictions on alcoholic beverages, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Ashley N. Fry, 24 of 3 Beech St., Cressona — false identification to law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Stephen F. Campbell, 45, of 105 Rear Tennis Ave., Schuylkill Haven — false alarms to agencies of public safety, false reports, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Peter R. Kropf Jr., 65, of 1391 Penn Drive, No. 2, Andreas — defrauding secured creditors.

Kay M. Leymeister, 54, of 10 Guy St., Ashland — retail theft and receiving stolen property.

With the recent balmy temperatures that have followed an overall mild winter, it’s hard to deny that spring is in the air.

But that’s not all that’s on the horizon.

Stuffy noses, itchy eyes and sore throats will soon, too, be in bloom, according to a prediction from AccuWeather.

Meteorologists said that the mellow weather of the past few months, combined with the early March warm up, could birth an earlier-than-usual and intense allergy season.

“These conditions may allow trees to pollinate earlier than usual,” according to the AccuWeather report.

Already the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology is reporting high concentrations of tree pollen in cities such as Charlotte, North Carolina, and Birmingham, Alabama.

While southeastern states should expect the worst pollen concentrations, the entire eastern half of the country should prepare for a difficult allergy season.

Dr. Jane Lagan of the Lehigh Valley Health Network offered tips to better deal with symptoms.

Sufferers should avoid spending time outdoors on warm, breezy and dry days, said Lagan of the Lehigh Valley Physician Group Family Medicine practice on Claremont Avenue, Hometown.

“Anything to reduce exposure to triggers of allergy symptoms will be beneficial,” she said. “When working outdoors in the yard or garden, frequent hand washing will help remove allergens that will inevitably end up near the eyes and nose. Masks are another option if you need to be outside on high pollen count days.”

Sufferers might also want to try over-the-counter medications such as Zyrtec, Allegra, Flonase or Nasacort. Generic versions are less expensive and also help treat symptoms, she said.

“While television commercials for these allergy medications urge individuals with allergies to start and take these medications throughout the entire allergy season, patients should always check with their doctor or health care provider before beginning any daily medication regimen,” Lagan said.

She added that skin or blood tests for specific antibodies may be useful in certain cases for allergy management, especially for patients with allergic rhinitis or asthma who receive no relief from standard therapy.

“These patients would benefit from learning the specific allergen or allergens that cause their symptoms so they can avoid these whenever possible,” Lagan said. “Results of testing may also help guide immunotherapy, so these individuals should seek out more information from their health care provider or allergist.”

While the allergy season could start soon, AccuWeather meteorologists said that occasional bouts of wet weather will help by “washing” pollen out of the air. April’s weather will lend itself to the trend with occasional damp days, long-range meteorologist Paul Pastelok said.

Before a concert at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church in Pottsville on Sunday, Mark P. Thomas gave the Schuylkill Choral Society a little push.

The society is an 82-member chorus, but only 52 were available for Sunday’s concert, which was an important one for fans of the group. “Rome to Normandy” was a preview of the group’s upcoming European tour.

Before Sunday’s show in Pottsville, the group practiced in “Our Lady’s Chapel” in the lower level. After hearing them try Alessandro Scarlatti’s “Exultate Deo,” he spoke up.

“Step it up! Let’s be aggressive and go after this thing,” Thomas said.

And the members of the chorus gave it their all.

The choral society is under the direction of Thomas, accompanied by Kimberly Breiner Stoudt.

More than 140 people came to the concert at the church at Fourth and Mahantongo streets Sunday.

The group performed Franz Schubert’s “Mass In G,” with soloists Christine Schaeffer, William Sugrue and David Watson.

After an intermission, the group also performed G.P. da Palestrina’s “Adoramus Te,” Giuseppe Pitoni’s “Cantate Domino,” Andrea Klouse’s “Kyrie,” G.P. da Palestrina’s “Sicut Cervus,” Buryl Red’s “In Remembrance,” Scarlatti’s “Exultate Deo,” John Rutter’s “The Lord Is My Shepherd,” G.F. Handel’s “Halleluja Amen,” and Theodore Dubois’s “Christ We Do All Adore Thee.”

The society will perform all of these selections in its upcoming European tour, Thomas said.

The show included two violinists, Dana Weiderhold and Esther Plotnick, a viola player, Mary Snow, and a cello player, Angela Dowd.

The Schuylkill Choral Society, formerly the Schuylkill County Community Chorus, was formed in 1973, according to the society’s website at www.schchoral.org.

The society has performed European tours four times before, in 1991, 2002, 2006 and 2010.

In July, 60 of its members will fly to Europe for the society’s fifth tour there, Thomas said.

“I think we leave July 10. Our first performance is at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican,” Thomas said.

“I’m really excited! I’m hoping to play on some of the keyboards over there,” Allison Kline said.

Kline is an alto from Barnesville and the society’s assistant accompanist. This will be the first time she will travel with the society on a European tour.

Sharon Kolenick, a soprano from Pottsville, said she traveled with the society to Europe twice, in 2006 and 2010.

“We’re going to sing in the Vatican! I’ve never had the chance to sing there, and I’m excited,” she said.

“Then we’ll go to St. Mark’s in Venice. We’ll have two performances in smaller cities, then we’ll go to Paris to perform at Notre Dame. It’s like every night we’ll be moving somewhere else. I think we’ll be out there for 13 days. It will be bang-bang, really quick,” Thomas said.

“They’re having a special event at Normandy Beach toward the end of July. We’re going to be there representing the United States. We’re going to be U.S. Choir and we’ll sing ‘God Bless America’ and the national anthem. So during that tour in July, we’re not going to sleep a whole lot,” Thomas said.

Locally, the Schuylkill Choral Society’s next performance will be “Aquarius” at 3 p.m. May 22 at Schuylkill Haven Area High School.

“We always end our season with a pop concert. So we’re going to do all ’70s music,” Thomas said.

HARRISBURG — State health department officials moved on several fronts to improve nursing home care oversight during the past year, including making it easier for citizens to file complaints about poor or substandard care.

The department prefers to work with nursing homes to improve care rather than having to close them if they don’t make improvements, Health Secretary Karen Murphy, Ph.D., told lawmakers last week. A typical nursing home can have from 200 to 300 residents and many of them think of it as their community, she said.

“To move them is a real hardship,” Murphy said.

The department ramped up its oversight efforts following a lawsuit filed last July by the state attorney general’s office against a chain of nursing homes owned by Golden Living National Senior Care LLC in Pennsylvania.

The lawsuit before Commonwealth Court alleges inadequate care of residents at 25 nursing homes operated by Golden Senior Living, including ones in Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Tunkhannock. The homes were understaffed, leaving residents hungry, dirty and sometimes unable to summon help to meet basic needs, the lawsuit said.

Golden Senior Living officials said the allegations are baseless and without merit.

Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane first targeted 14 Golden Living homes in the lawsuit and then amended it last September to list 11 more.

The lawsuit seeks fines for violations of laws and restitution for consumers.

The legal action spurred Murphy to create a task force to recommend changes in state regulations, laws and policy governing nursing homes. A report is expected this summer.

At the department’s request, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is conducting an audit of nursing home oversight to identify potential improvements.

An initial department review showed that nearly 40 percent of the nursing homes in Pennsylvania received just a one- or two-star rating in the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services five-star rating system, and there was a decrease in nursing home complaints.

The department reinstated a policy of accepting anonymous complaints and made the complaint form more visible on its website, resulting in a one-third increase in the number of overall complaints, spokeswoman Amy Worden said.

Other actions include revising the complaint intake process and mandatory retraining for nursing home facility surveyors. The department annually inspects 710 nursing homes without prior notice and more frequently if complaints are filed.

While there was an increase in the number of nursing home complaints, there also was a corresponding decrease in the number of complaints substantiated by the department during the past year, said Russell McDaid, CEO of Pennsylvania Health Care Association and Center for Assisted Living Management representing more than 423 long-term care and senior service providers.

Consumers have a right to file a complaint and then it is the department’s job to investigate it, he said.

“The (department) has always been very aggressive in enforcing regulations,” he said.

NEW RINGGOLD — A hit-and-run driver who caused an accident in East Brunswick Township in February turned out to be someone who entered the country illegally from Mexico, state police at Frackville said Sunday.

On Friday, Daniel Napoles Herrera, 38, who resides in Reading, Berks County, was charged with numerous traffic violations, including accidents involving damage to an attended vehicle, driving without a license, failing to observe limitations with overtaking on the left, failing to observe no-passing zones, careless driving and failing to render aid, police said in a public information release.

Herrera was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $10,000 straight bail, police said. A detainer was also placed on Herrera by the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement Department, and he is awaiting possible extradition back to Oregon and possible deportation back to Mexico, police said.

Herrera’s problems in Schuylkill County began with the incident that occurred 4 p.m. Feb. 26 on Clamtown Road, state Route 443, about a half mile east of New Ringgold, police said.

Herrera was driving a 1994 Honda Accord west when he tried to pass a westbound 2013 Dodge Dart driven by Denice M. Frederick, 46, of New Ringgold, police said.

Herrera attempted to pass on a double yellow line around a left curve. When he attempted to move back into the right lane, he cut the pass too short and the right side of his Honda collided with the left front of the Dart, police said.

When both vehicles entered New Ringgold, Herrera tried to flee the scene by turning left and heading to the south end of the borough and into a public park. Frederick followed him and, at one point, was able to take a photograph of his registration plate with her cellphone, police said. However, Herrera managed to flee the scene, police said.

At 6:43 a.m. Friday, police observed Herrera traveling east on Route 443 outside New Ringgold. Police initiated a traffic stop in the area of Schuylkill Road near Hecla. The description Frederick provided of the vehicle that struck her on Feb. 26 matched the vehicle Herrera was driving Friday, and Herrera admitted being the driver in the Feb. 26 incident, police said.

Herrera was taken back to the Frackville barracks and fingerprinted. Using those fingerprints, police discovered Herrera was wanted in Oregon and that he is a citizen of Mexico who illegally entered the United States, police said.

FRACKVILLE — As raindrops tapped the top of the 125-year-old stone marking the grave of the borough’s founder, Schuylkill County Judge John E. Domalakes offered some insight into the history of the man and the community.

“You can see it’s an old sandstone monument, the kind they used up until the 1930s. So now you really can’t read the inscriptions,” Domalakes, 68, of Frackville, a volunteer hike leader for Schuylkill on the Move, said to a group of 12 who followed him Sunday on “The Frackville Foray,” a tour of some of the borough’s landmarks.

The foray began at St. Ann Church, 49 N. Line St. Frack’s grave is across the street in “the Lutheran Cemetery,” Domalakes said.

“Many people don’t realize that cemetery was there long before the church was there and it has nothing to do with the church,” Domalakes said.

In 1849, Daniel Frack Sr. bought 166 acres of land from Joseph C. Stephens, Domalakes said.

At the time, the only building in the area was a sawmill. Frack converted the mill into a home and hotel. In 1852, Frack moved there from Saint Clair. Then he divided the acreage he bought into lots and called the community Frackville, according to the “Joseph H. Zerbey History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County,” published in 1936.

“Due to the rapid growth of the community it soon became desirable to organize it as a borough. The charter was granted April 10, 1876. The town and vicinity was then incorporated under the name of ‘Frackville,’ ” according to the Zerbey history.

“One of the more interesting aspects of Danny Frack’s life was he was the son of a Hessian mercenary who fought for the British during the Revolutionary War. And, like many Hessians, they liked it here in Pennsylvania and stayed and became citizens. What is also interesting is that his wife, Mary Balliet, for whom Balliet Street is named, was the daughter of a French Army officer who fought for the American cause in the Revolutionary War. So what could be more American than that, a couple with parents who were Revolutionary War foes,” Domalakes said.

Frack was born Sept. 23, 1803, and died Nov. 7, 1890. The plaque put in the ground by the local historical society recognizes that he “FOUNDED FRACKVILLE, PA 1852.”

“Is his wife buried here too?” Larissa Holowaty, Frackville, asked.

“Yes,” Domalakes said. Then he directed the group’s attention to a smaller grave marker. “This would have been her’s. You can hardly read it, but it says ‘Mary Frack.’ She was born in 1803 as well. And she died in either 1860 or 1885. I don’t know. It’s hard to make out. They didn’t have the technology to engrave granite until the 1930s. So the stones were made out of a softer material, like sandstone or marble. But they didn’t weather well. That’s why you can’t read things like this,” Domalakes said.

Others on the tour included Carol Cuttic, Frackville, Don Schneider, Minersville and Pat Reoder, Shenandoah. Some brought walking sticks and, with the overcast skies and occasional drizzle, some also packed parkas and umbrellas.

After the visit to Frack’s grave, Domalakes led the group about a quarter-mile to the edge of the borough. On the way, they passed the Irish Cemetery.

“This was the cemetery for St. Mary’s Parish in Mahanoy Plane. It’s an old cemetery. I don’t think anyone’s been buried there recently. They buried people there in the late 1800s and the early 1900s,” Domalakes said.

Then they passed “the O’Brien House.”

“It’s a very old house in Frackville. It’s in pretty good shape. But the interesting aspect of that is that in front of that house is the old road from Mahanoy Plane to Frackville. And the people who resided in that house could recollect the funeral processions with the horse-drawn hearses and the mourners following it, ascending the mountain from Mahanoy Plane to that cemetery for the burial of their loved ones,” Domalakes said.

Domalakes led them to the edge of a cliff overlooking state Route 924 into the Mahanoy Valley.

“One of the reasons that I planned this hike for March is that earlier in the year you run into snow and ice and it’s sometimes impassible. Later in the year, the leaves on the trees block your view of the Mahanoy Valley,” Domalakes said.

When he took a recent hike to that cliff, he found that neither snow, ice or spring leaves were in the way.

“It’s a spectacular view of Mahanoy Plane, Maizeville and Ducktown, that part of Gilberton, as well as East Bear Ridge and Shenandoah Heights,” Domalakes said.

From there, Domalakes took the group about a mile northeast toward Mahanoy City along an old railroad bed. Then they turned onto a path in the woods called Copperhead Lane.

“That’s what we always called it as kids, for obvious reasons. Again, at this time of the year, there’s not going to be any copperheads there. So that’s another reason to do the hike at this time,” Domalakes said.

The group saw a pond with chirping frogs, then doubled back to Frackville and the cemetery where the foray began.

A Lackawanna County judge ruled Monday that charges against three teens accused in the homicide of a Scranton police officer can move toward trial.

Judge Margaret Bisignani Moyle must now decide whether the teens will continue to be charged as adults or if they should move to juvenile court.

The stakes are high. Should any or all of the trio move to juvenile court, they would face a maximum of about three years in a juvenile facility because all three have turned or will turn 18 this month and the state can only retain custody until an offender turns 21. But a second-degree homicide conviction in adult court could come with a life sentence in state prison.

Nasiir Jones, 18, Tanner Curtis, 17, and Isiah Edwards, 17, have also been charged with murder of a law enforcement officer, involuntary manslaughter and armed robbery, among other crimes.

While pursuing the trio on July 11 for the suspected robbery, Scranton Patrolman John Wilding jumped or fell over a short wall and dropped 15 feet into a deep concrete landing, striking his head. Wilding, 29, died from his injuries a day later.

Second-degree murder is defined as a homicide taking place in the act of committing a felony.

At the conclusion of a preliminary hearing Monday that began Friday, Moyle ruled prosecutors had met their burden of proof and she moved all the charges against the teens forward toward trial.

Anyone accused of homicide in Pennsylvania must first be charged as an adult. The teens were all 17 at the time of the incident.

A psychiatrist testifying on behalf of Jones, who is accused of sparking the entire incident by holding up a man with a shotgun, said the teen reported wanting to do “one more bad thing” before getting a job and straightening out his life. Jones has a long juvenile history of mischief and crime, including assault and car theft, psychiatrist Dr. Larry A. Rotenberg said.

Testifying by speaker phone, Rotenberg said Jones had suffered from abuse as a child and struggles with a learning disability. Yet he has a “reasonable chance” for rehabilitation by the age of 21, noting much of his impulsiveness can be attributed to his adolescence and the lack of positive adult figures in his life. His father has been incarcerated and his mother has struggled with addiction.

In an aggressive cross examination, Deputy District Attorney Gene Riccardo questioned the reliability of Jones’ responses to the psychiatrist’s evaluation, noting the teen had left out many of his bad acts at various schools. The prosecutor also said Jones had another incident where he flashed a handgun at a group and threatened to shoot them.

Dr. Stephen M. Timchack, a psychiatrist called by the defense for Edwards, recounted the severe physical abuse, neglect and transience the teen had suffered at the hands of his father, as well as a mother who has been incarcerated for a significant portion of her son’s life. As a result of the abuse, he suffers from post traumatic stress disorder, Timchack said.

At the end of his testimony, the teen’s attorney Robert Trichilo asked the psychiatrist if his client could be rehabilitated in a juvenile facility.

“I believe that if the quality and intensity is good, chances are he’ll have a favorable response,” Timchack said.

The psychiatrist was not cross-examined Monday because the prosecution had only received his evaluation the night before and needed more time to prepare, District Attorney Shane Scanlon said.

The teen’s father, Shawn Edwards, would not appear on his son’s behalf, Trichilo said. His grandmother, Joyce Edwards, 60, of Queens, New York, took the stand and tearfully explained the boy’s troubled upbringing. She also expressed her belief that her grandson could be rehabilitated.

Moyle will hear testimony today from more defense witnesses on the third defendant, Curtis, as well as testimony from witnesses called by the prosecution.

A New Ringgold man must be subject to Megan’s Law sanctions for 15 years, a Schuylkill County judge decided Monday.

However, Dylan A. Bachert, 21, is not a sexually violent predator, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin ruled in accordance with the recommendation of the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board.

As a result, Bachert will not be subject to lifetime sanctions.

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

Bachert pleaded no contest on Dec. 9, 2015, to corruption of minors. At that time, Dolbin sentenced him to serve three to 12 months in prison, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, undergo the board’s evaluation and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

West Penn Township police charged Bachert with having sexual contact with a 15-year-old girl at 10 p.m. March 3, 2015, at a house in Andreas. Police said the girl told them of the incident.

By pleading no contest, Bachert did not admit committing the crime, but offered no defense to the charge, agreed prosecutors could produce enough evidence to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and agreed to be sentenced as if he had pleaded or been found guilty.

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.

When Rubi Wahhab Nicholas visited her alma mater, Pottsville Area High School, on March 8, she quickly discovered a few things had changed since the last time she visited its locker-lined halls in 2003.

“I have to what?” Nicholas asked, when introduced to the visitor management system the district implemented in 2013.

Representatives in the high school office asked her to spell her name, then asked her to stand in front of a camera so they could make a visitor badge for her.

“This is cracking me up. I can’t believe the security. That’s mind-boggling. It’s a bit excessive. But I love that there’s security,” Nicholas said. “Who’s the principal?”

“It’s Mr. Knorr’s daughter,” said Jan Kurtek, administrative assistant to the high school principal, Tiffany L. Reedy.

“What?” Nicholas said, rather amused.

Reedy became the high school principal on July 1, 2012.

When she was in school in the 1980s, Rubi Wahhab Nicholas knew Reedy’s father, Fred Knorr, as a Spanish and German teacher.

Nicholas will perform at a “Comedy Night” scheduled for 7 p.m. April 23 at Pottsville Area High School’s Robert W. Wachter Auditorium. Tickets are $20 each, and the event will include hors d’oeuvres prepared by local businesses. Profits from the event will benefit the high school girls’ softball program, according to Eileen Kuperavage, treasurer of PAHS Softball Booster Club.

“I wanted to coordinate an event for the team that the entire community could enjoy. Mrs. Wahhab kindly connected me with her daughter, Rubi, and the comedy show fundraiser became a reality,” Kuperavage said.

“I’ll do more of a PG-13 show, but we’ll still have fun,” Nicholas said.

“This event has the potential to raise more than $10,000 for equipment, uniforms, banquet, senior gifts, beverages for all games and other items for the team,” Kuperavage said.

A first-generation Muslim woman of Pakistani descent, Rubi Wahhab Nicholas is the daughter of Dr. Abdul and Zarina Wahhab, Pottsville.

She graduated from Pottsville Area High School in 1987. She earned her liberal arts degree from Villanova University in 1991 and three master’s degrees from Temple University, one in occupational therapy in 1996, one in management information systems and one in electronic commerce in 2002.

She started her comedy act in 2005. In May 2006, Nicholas earned the coveted title of funniest mom after winning over celebrity judges in Nick At Nite’s “Search for the Funniest Mom in America 2.” She received a $50,000 prize for the Nick At Nite competition.

She also penned a children’s book, “My Mom’s Not Cool.” It was published in 2008 by Blueline Publishing LLC, Denver, Colorado, and features illustrations by Maia Chavez Larkin, according to Amazon.com.

In 2007, 2009 and 2012, Nicholas performed at the Majestic in Pottsville.

She resides in Lancaster.

Kuperavage said 500 tickets are available for pre-sale and can be bought from booster club officers, who can be reached at the following phone numbers: Kuperavage, 570-449-6208; Chris Eagan, 570-617-6462; Michele Turnitza, 570-294-2587; and Charles “Coach” Rinaldo, 570-294-4261.

As Nicholas walked through the halls of the high school March 8, she peeked into the trophy cases.

“Hey! Where’s the nerd cabinet? Where are we?” she asked.

“The nerds are everywhere,” Reedy said. “Were you in the honor society?”

“I was president of the honor society,” Nicholas said.

“In what year?” Reedy asked.

“In the year of our Lord nineteen-hundred and eighty-seven,” Nicholas said.

“There it is,” Reedy said, pointing to a red plaque in a trophy case, recognizing the “Pottsville Area High School National Honor Society” in the “Class of 1987.” The members were listed in alphabetical order and among them is “Rubi Wahhab.”

“There you are,” Reedy said.

“There I am! And these are my peeps,” Nicholas said, referring to everyone else on the list. “It doesn’t say that I was the president, but I was the president. And Mike Grieff was the vice president.”

Reedy allowed her to take the plaque out of the case, and Nicholas dusted it.

While walking the halls, Nicholas met one of her former teachers, Howard Merrick, a social studies teacher.

“She wasn’t afraid to express her opinion. That’s what I remember about her in class,” Merrick said.

“I was a bit contrary,” Nicholas said.

MAHANOY CITY — The warm winter forced Blaschak Coal Corp. to lay off 27 of its full-time workers Friday, J. Greg Driscoll, the organization’s president and chief executive officer, said Monday.

“We believe this will be a temporary six-week layoff,” Driscoll said.

Blaschak Coal was started in 1937. It was acquired by Milestone Partners, Radner, Delaware County, in 2009.

Its headquarters is at 1166 W. Centre St., Mahanoy City, according to its website at www.blaschakcoal.com.

Blaschak operates three active strip mines: Centralia, Columbia County, Primrose, Schuylkill County, and Lattimer, Luzerne County.

Blaschak employs “approximately 150” full-time workers, Driscoll said. In spring 2013, Blaschak’s laid off about 100 of them for a month. On June 16, 2014, the coal company laid off 100 workers again, but brought them back to work later that summer.

Friday’s layoff is the first Blaschak’s has had since 2014, Driscoll said.

“And if I had my way we’d never have another one, but the market doesn’t work that way. We did execute a layoff of 27 individuals on Friday,” Driscoll said.

The workers who were laid off were heavy equipment operators and off-road truck drivers, he said.

“All of the layoffs occurred in our mining operations, all but three. There were three individuals that we laid off in our St. Nicholas operation,” Driscoll said.

He was referring to the Blaschak Breaker at the village of St. Nicholas.

“The rest of the layoffs were of workers in Centralia, in Primrose and in Lattimer in the north end of Hazleton,” he said.

“The layoff is really related to the current state of the anthracite market. Sales were down. We need to manage our costs relative to the low demand and the very low pricing that’s in the market today,” Driscoll said.

“It all relates back to the very warm winter we had. Even last week it was in the 70s. It’s not typical March weather. As you know, anthracite is used quite extensively in home heating around the country. And that was pretty significantly impacted by this past winter,” Driscoll said.

“This is a temporary step that we’re taking. We expect that we’ll be back in full production in a few weeks, four or five weeks or six weeks, maybe. We told our workers it’s planned for six weeks. We told them we expect it to be a six-week layoff. This is not permanent. It’s all related to the market. We’re not sure we’re going to bring them back in six weeks. We might bring them back in four or it might be extended. But the current plan is for six weeks,” Driscoll said.

“And we will continue to operate our processing units and we will continue to sell coal into the marketplace. We want to be a good neighbor and we want people to know the facts,” Driscoll said.

Meanwhile, Blaschak’s is continuing to find new markets for anthracite.

“It’s hotter and cleaner. It burns without smoke. So it has a lot of advantages. And we sell it into the residential market through dealers. We bag it for that market as well. And we spend money on research and development looking at new market opportunities for anthracite, not only as a fuel. Anthracite is used as a water filtration agent. Anthracite is the fuel used in coal-fired pizza ovens,” Driscoll said.

“While residential heating is a very important market, and one we take great care of, it’s not where we sell most of our coal. I’d say most of our market is industrial. Our coal goes all over the country for the steel industry. Anthracite is also exported to Europe, South America and the Far East for those types of steel-making, industrial accounts or more chemical applications. The material is also used in municipal water filtration systems all over the country. And while we don’t sell anthracite directly to those municipalities, we sell to firms in the region and elsewhere that prepare the coal for the filter beds. Anthracite coal from Pennsylvania goes all over the country in that application as well,” Driscoll said.

“I would estimate that 70 percent of our coal goes into industrial applications,” Driscoll said.

Stephen J. Bayer

TAMAQUA — A 78-year-old Tamaqua man charged with a sexual assault in the borough appeared for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.

Thomas Rockwell, 318 Lafayette St., currently in Schuylkill County Prison, was arrested by Tamaqua police Cpl. Henry Woods and charged with one count each of criminal solicitation to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 16-years-old and criminal solicitation to commit indecent assault of a person less than 13-years-old, six counts of indecent assault and two counts each of indecent exposure and corruption of minors.

Prosecutors withdrew the charge of criminal solicitation to commit involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person less than 16-years-old while Rockwell waived the remaining 11 charges to Schuylkill County Court.

Woods charged Rockwell with having sexual contact with an 8-year-old child between the summer of 2013 and Aug. 19, 2015, at a home in the borough.

In a separate case, Rockwell waived six counts of indecent assault and one count each of corruption of minors and indecent exposure to court as well.

Other court cases included:

Rabia Adeel, 34, of 210 E. Jackson St., McAdoo — withdrawn: endangering the welfare of children and simple assault. Moved to a non-traffic citation: harassment.

Tiffany Pagan, 22, of 238 Ohio Ave., Shenandoah — dismissed: DUI-controlled substance, failure to keep right, disregard for single traffic lane and not using low beams.

Venessa S. Hauptly, 22, of 318 Washington St., Apt. 3, Pottsville — dismissed: retail theft.

Bonnie J. Muscle, 39, of 435 E. Elm St., Tamaqua — waived for court: receiving stolen property.

Deb Barbosa, 23, of 403 W. South St., Mahanoy City — waived for court: retail theft and receiving stolen property.

Robert M. Beaver, 52, of 3 Apple St., Ringtown — withdrawn: driving with a suspended or revoked license and driving with an alcohol level of 0.02-percent or higher while having a suspended license. Waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate and no rear lights.

Edward J. McAloose, 60, of 10 Bayview Ave., McAdoo — waived for court: driving without a license, driving without insurance, driving an unregistered vehicle and fraudulent, altered, forged or counterfeit title, registration or insurance.

Lisa V. Kudelin-Wilson, 47, of 212 S. Kennedy Drive, Rear Apt. A, McAdoo — waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate, period for requiring lighted lamps and driving a vehicle without a valid inspection.

Kimberly Hons, 35, of 739 E. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City — waived for court: DUI, DUI-controlled substance, driving at an unsafe speed and careless driving.

Frederick B. Cross, 40, of 5 E. Lehigh St., Coaldale — waived for court: retail theft and receiving stolen property.

Christopher Keer, 26, of 23 W. Ruddle St., Coaldale — held for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

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

Vanessa L. Miller, 38, of 503 N. Railroad St., Apt./Suite 3, Tamaqua — waived for court: theft and receiving stolen property.

Timothy J. Welker Jr., 26, of 251 Lafayette St., Tamaqua — waived for court: retail theft and receiving stolen property.

Craig Filer, 28, of 114 E. High St., Coaldale — withdrawn: fleeing or attempting to elude police and improper class of license. Moved to traffic citations: not wearing property headgear on a motorcycle and no eye protection devices.

Jason Stephens, 22, of 424 E. Broad St., Apt. 4, Tamaqua — waived for court: retail theft and conspiracy.

Brenda Fetter, 54, of 318 Penn St., Tamaqua — waived for court: forgery.

Cory M. Whitley, 23, of 107 Washington St., Tamaqua — held for court: selling a controlled substance with a known trademark.

Jerry Velazquez Quinones, 46, of 653 S. Kennedy Drive, McAdoo — withdrawn: simple assault and harassment.

Thomas J. Kehl, 25, of 123 Park Place Road, Mahanoy City — waived for court: retail theft and receiving stolen property.

About 100 pounds of spent grain spilled onto Mahantongo Street on Monday after a valve broke on a holding tank at D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc.

A Yuengling employee named John, who declined to give his last name, said a valve broke on a tank about 6:30 p.m., causing the yellow mess to run from the building at Fifth and Mahantongo streets to Centre Street.

Joe Spotts, environmental and safety manager with Yuengling, said the spent grain would be cleaned up and Yuengling was going to pay the cost. He couldn’t recall something like this happening at the brewery.

Spotts notified John Matz, Schuylkill County emergency management coordinator, about the incident, but added the material is not hazardous. Spotts said Jennifer Yuengling, the brewery’s assistant operations manager and daughter of the brewery owner and president, Richard L. “Dick” Yuengling Jr., had been notified. He did not know if Dick Yuengling had been told of the malfunction.

Womer’s Towing, Pottsville, Felty’s, Pine Grove, the Pottsville street department and Yuengling employees cleaned the mess. The grain will go to a local farmer, according to brewery employees.

Pottsville Fire Chief Todd March said he was coming back from the Pottsville City Council meeting at city hall when he heard about the incident and blocked the road near the brewery with his vehicle. Mahantongo Street was blocked from Second Street to Fifth Street.

In his forty years as fire chief, March said he never witnessed such an event.

“Obviously, it’s quite a mess here,” he said.

The Good Intent Fire Company and American Hose also responded to the scene.

RINGTOWN — In about two months, the new energy-efficient street lighting in Ringtown will be installed and cost the borough only $172.

Borough council President Julian Milewski updated the borough council at Monday’s meeting about the project to have PPL Electric Utilities Inc. remove the current incandescent bulbs and replace them with LED lights. The borough submitted an application to PPL to become part of the program and was approved in February.

“It’s only costing us $172 to get all the street lights upgraded,” Milewski, a Republican-Herald employee, said. “Renee from PPL called me on Friday afternoon and said they had received the check, it was deposited and cleared, and she signed off on the contract and sent it off to the contractor. They have 70 days to begin installing the lights.”

Milewski said the borough is the third on PPL’s list to have the LED lights installed, so he believes the work should begin in the near future.

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 less than 10 years old. The other 96 bulbs will be replaced at no cost.

According to PPL billing rates, the borough would save $440 annually in electric costs. However, since the borough receives its electricity from another generation company, the savings are expected to be higher.

During the public portion, resident Daniel Grow spoke to the council about participating in meetings sponsored by county District Attorney Christine Holman discussing ways to more strongly deal with blighted properties. Grow presented the borough with an information file explaining ways to get municipalities up to code, explaining what codes are, how they should be enforced and related items.

“I strongly encourage a representative from council and/or (borough foreman) Scott (Schuetrum) to attend the next meeting (March 16) because the information presented is invaluable,” Grow said.

Grow also spoke about the Schuylkill County Land Bank and encouraged the borough council to become part of it.

“This association is being formed to promote abatement of nuisance properties, and they’re trying to give municipalities the leverage that they need to move forward on these properties,” Grow said. “There is a $1,000 entry fee on that, but I think it’s the best $1,000 the borough can spend.”

Mayor Albert Breznik Jr. also spoke during the public portion, explaining that the area around the county drop-off recycling bins has garage and trash illegally placed there, with the loose materials being carried by winds onto neighboring properties, including his own. He said a metal sign that marks the recycling center fell over and was then carried by the winds and hit his brother’s pickup truck, causing about $1,000 in damage.

“There is an issue with the liability on that piece of property,” Breznik said. “The borough’s insurance doesn’t cover the damage, the county doesn’t want to cover the damage, and the landowner, Jeld-Wen, doesn’t want to cover the damage.”

Milewski pointed out that the county leases the property from the landowner. The borough is not involved with any lease agreement with either the county or Jeld-Wen.

“There is no liability to the borough if we don’t own the site and we don’t lease it,” borough solicitor S. John Price said.

Borough Fire Chief Ray Dunsavage read the annual activity report for 2015 for the Ringtown Valley Fire and Rescue Company and presented a copy to the borough secretary to be filed.

In other business, Milewski announced that the borough will receive $29,423.60 of liquid fuels funds, and will receive a fuel road turnback of $440 under the maintenance payment agreement with the state Department of Transportation.

Milewski said the two front springs on the small dump truck were replaced at a cost of $1,322. One spring broke, which required that both springs be replaced. Schuetrum added that a windshield wiper motor was replaced on the large dump truck, and he said a tire blew out on the small dump truck and had to be replaced for $350.

“I’m just going to say that none of these trucks are brand new,” Milewski said. Schuetrum said the large truck is a 1998 model, and the small truck is from 2001.

Milewski said the Ringtown Recreation Board is short one member, and Breznik suggested Matthew Swartz be appointed to the vacancy. The council unanimously approved the appointment.

An advertisement will be published looking for summer help.

Noting the spring-type weather, Milewski said, “With the warm weather, I’ve seen a lot of people outside walking and the kids are out running around. Please watch when you’re driving in town.”

Company incorrect

The Independence Square project in Orwigsburg is being developed by Barefield Development Corp. The information was wrong in a photo caption in Sunday’s edition.

The bust of Gen. George A. Joulwan in downtown Pottsville now has railings along the concrete wall and designated seating area.

Matt DiRenzo, owner of the Park Hotel on Centre Street, owns the area. Michael Cardamone, chairman of the Pottsville Historical Architectural Review Board, said Monday that DiRenzo spoke to the HARB board months ago about ongoing concerns in the area.

“He had a public safety concern,” he said.

He added that DiRenzo noticed there was a lot of debris and trash accumulating in the area.

DiRenzo did not return a call for comment Monday.

Cardamone was unaware the railing was installed Monday but said DiRenzo did previously get permission from HARB for the barrier.

City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar also did not know the installation work was done. However, he said, the city council gave approval October 12, 2015, for a fence.

“It seems to be less restrictive for the downtown,” Palamar said of the choice of railing instead of fencing.

DiRenzo had spoken to the Pottsville City Council in April about the area needing more attention. The city moved the bust, which was originally in front of Schlitzer-Allen-Pugh Funeral Home on West Market Street, to its present location, according to newspaper archives. In September, DiRenzo installed plastic fencing in the area.

Marriage licenses

David G. Arispe, New Philadelphia, and Frances C. Bybee, New Philadelphia.

Ronald C. Wilson Jr., Cumbola, and Brandy M. Whalen, Cumbola.

Tyler A. Stetler, Macungie, and Storm M. Hughes, Coaldale.

David M. Correll, Saint Clair, and Joan R. Paul, Pottsville.

Graeme P. Sinko, Minersville, and Samantha L. Kline, Minersville.

James R. Gumpy II, Tamaqua, and Jessie L. Timony, Tamaqua.

Miguel A. Peralta, Mahanoy City, and Felanlly Mendoza, Mahanoy City.

David R. Dross, Frackville, and Jennifer M. Probition, Frackville.

Bradley A. Lengel, Pine Grove, and Jamie L. Harnish, Pine Grove.

Careen Smith, Huntingdon, and Jenny R. Stapleton, Boalsburg.

Alberto L. Torres, Huntingdon, and Jenee N. Watson-Banks, Chambersburg.

Antonio Palino Ford, Minersville, and Kathelyn A. Collazo, Port Carbon.

Robert G. Miller, Pottsville, and Kaitlyn M. Hess, Pottsville.

Brian S. Kemp, Shenandoah, and Danielle L. Smith, Shenandoah.

Andrew L. Riegel, Pottsville, and Stacey Gordon, Pottsville.

Kerry House, Port Carbon, and Nancy L. Reinert, Port Carbon.

Justin M. Yemm, Gilberton, and Amy G. Newlin, Gilberton.

Divorces granted

Marian Omlor, New Smyrna Beach, Florida, from William Miller, New Smyrna Beach, Florida.

Janet Nitka Kowalsky, Frackville, from Leo Kowalsky, Shenandoah.

Heather Ridge, Pottsville, from Russell Ridge Jr., Pottsville.

Robert Houston, Saint Clair, from Jennifer Houston, Pottsville.

Randall Bain, Tremont, from Kassandra Bain, Wilberton.

Donna Hill, Orwigsburg, from John Jill Jr., Orwigsburg.

Terry Fetterman, Pine Grove, from Marcy Fetterman, Pauline, South Carolina.

Melissa Heisler Gensure, Barnesville, from Gregory Heisler, Tamaqua.

Tracey Geist, Hegins, from Marshall Geist, Klingerstown.

Susan Buffington, Pottsville, from Todd Buffington, Minersville.

Katielynn Milbrandt-Montag, Minersville, from Jonathan W. Montag, Pottsville.

Sommer Sallada, Valley View, from Nicole Ann Sallada, Linwood.

Deeds

Pottsville — Dennis Jr. and Theresa Gudinas Kristoff to Valerie and Kyle Greene; 419 Boone St.; $1.

Krull Holdings Inc. to Christina I. Rich; 1104 W. Market St.; $18,275.

Ray D. Hoover to Michelle Y. Hoover; 1311 W. Norwegian St.; $1.

Shawn P. and Carolyn Tobin to Donna and Earl Yeager; 1507 W. Market St.; $115,000.

The Pottsville City Council appointed several people to positions at its regular monthly meeting Monday.

Brett Clark was appointed to serve on the Housing Authority for the city to fill the unexpired term of former Mayor John D. W. Reiley, which will expire April 7, 2018. David Eckert was appointed to serve on the zoning hearing board. His term will expire Jan. 9, 2017. He is filling the unexpired term of Michael Dwyer. Charles Cook was appointed as a heavy equipment operator for the streets department at $21.82 an hour, effective immediately.

The city council also approved a certificate of appropriateness to John Onufer/Real Estate Investments LLC for a sign at 306 N. Centre St. City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said the sign for the real estate business will be improved.

The council also voted to authorized Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney to execute a workforce agreement for the upcoming 2016 summer internship.

Also approved was a salary ordinance during a second reading for city personnel. Palamar said no salaries or hourly wages were changed. The ordinance is something approved every year, he said.

Police investigate

stolen vehicle

Pottsville police are investigating the theft of a vehicle that was reported to their department about 8:20 a.m. Monday when officers were called to Miller’s Reconditioning Shop at 215 Mauch Chunk St.

Police said their investigation revealed that about 7:30 a.m., someone drove off in a black 2013 Buick Verano that had been left running and unattended on the property of the business.

Police said the vehicle did not have a license plate affixed to it at the time it was stolen.

Anyone with information on this incident is asked to contact the Pottsville Bureau of Police at 570-622-1234. Caller’s identity will be kept confidential if requested.

Woman crashes

car while asleep

SAINT CLAIR — A Mahanoy City woman escaped injury when the 2016 Chevrolet Traxx she was driving crashed about 3:15 a.m. Sunday on the Burma Road in Blythe Township.

State police at Frackville said Demetria A. Shemansik, 30, was driving north when she fell asleep and lost control, causing the vehicle to go onto the east berm of the road and hit a utility pole splitting the pole in two.

After hitting the pole, police said Shemansik’s vehicle rolled onto its roof and came to a stop on its roof facing south.

The woman will be charged with not driving on roadways laned for traffic, police said, adding that Saint Clair firefighters and EMS assisted at the scene.

Man vandalizes

woman’s car

GIRARDVILLE — A man from Mahanoy Plane spray painted the word “SCUM” on the side of a car in the borough, then detonated a firecracker near the windshield, causing $1,199.09 in damage on Feb. 19, state police at Frackville said Sunday.

The car, a 2000 Buick Century, is owned by Theresa Kulbitsky, Girardville, police said.

The incident occurred at 2 a.m. Feb. 19 in front of 105 N. Reed St. in Girardville. William Thomas Jr., 21, of Mahanoy Plane, vandalized the vehicle using orange spray paint. Then he placed an M-80 firecracker on the windshield and detonated it, police said.

The blast caused significant damage to the windshield, cowl, wipers and hood. The total pecuniary loss was $1,199.09, police said.

Police charged Thomas with a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief, and it was filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, police said.

Police investigate

hit-and-run crash

HAMBURG — State police at Hamburg are investigating a pedestrian hit-and-run crash that occurred about 3:25 a.m. Saturday on Route 61, just north of Birch Hill Road in Perry Township, Berks County.

Police said James R. Watts, 45, of Hamburg, was struck from behind while walking north along the shoulder of the road by what was described as a purple passenger car that immediately fled the area.

At the scene, police said they found purple debris from the front bumper as well as a broken headlight lense.

Watts, who dialed 911 from the scene, was taken by ambulance to Reading Hospital for treatment of a severely broken leg, a broken arm and head injuries, police said.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of the hit-and-run vehicle or the identity of the driver is asked to call police at 610-562-6885.

Woman suffers

injuries in crash

CRESSONA — State police at Schuylkill Haven believe a Pottsville woman suffered a minor injury in a two-vehicle accident in North Manheim Township on Wednesday, police said Sunday.

At 6:44 p.m. Wednesday, Maureen T. Adams, 73, of Pottsville, was driving a 2010 Toyota Corolla south on state Route 61 when she struck the back of a 1990 Toyota Corolla stopped at a red light, police said.

The driver of the stopped vehicle was Edward T. McGuire, 58, of Holtsville, New York, and his passenger was Jacqueline A. McGuire, 54, of Holtsville, New York, police said.

Police were assisted by Schuylkill EMS and Schuylkill Hose Company 2. Police charged Adams with careless driving, police said.

Two charged

with retail theft

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — State police at Schuylkill Haven charged two women with retail theft for an incident Friday afternoon at Redner’s Warehouse Markets in North Manheim Township, police said Sunday.

At 5:17 p.m. Friday, Malea Schoffstall, 22, of Minersville, and Heather Heckman, 24, of Pottsville, were at the store at 191 Manheim Road. Schoffstall was drinking a 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi she took from the store, then left the store without paying for the drink, police said.

When state police arrived, Schoffstall provided a false name and date of birth. When she eventually revealed her correct name, police found she had several warrants out for her arrest, police said.

Meanwhile, Heckman had been arrested Nov. 15, 2015, for retail theft and was banned from the store, police said. Heckman was charged with criminal trespass, police said.

McADOO — Two residents called for the borough council to pass an ordinance to allow police to crack down on trucks that leave mud and fly ash in front of their homes.

At the council’s meeting March 8, Dave Gaughan and John Perhonitch, who live on South Kennedy Drive, expressed concerns that visible orange fly ash can be seen in the cracks of the road along with coal mud that is getting all over their homes.

According to Gaughan, who said he has been working on this issue since last summer, the fly ash is cluttering up the neighborhood.

“You want people spending money on their homes such as planting flowers, putting a new porch up and planting trees. But people aren’t going to do that when their houses are covered in black coal every three days,” Gaughan said.

Gaughan said he has been working with the state Department of Environmental Protection, which sent personnel to his residence twice but told him to have the borough deal with it.

He called for the council to pass an ordinance to fine trucks that are not in compliance with state law, which states trucks need to be cleaned off before they hit the road.

However, according to McAdoo Police Chief Jeff Wainwright, the magistrate is telling him along with the council that if it’s just dust, not to bother bringing it to the courts.

“They are telling us that unless it is a big rock, then there is nothing they can do,” Wainwright said. “I would also have to provide proof and send this material to a lab to prove that it is (where) the orange dust is coming from.”

He added that another borough had a similar ordinance but it ultimately was shot down by the state Superior Court.

Gaughan shot back, telling the council it needs wording attached to the ordinance that’s enforceable such as “no visible fly ash or coal mud should be seen on the truck once they leave their work site.”

Mayor Stephan Holly reminded the council of an incident in Lansford in which a woman was killed because a tractor-trailer she was driving behind did not have ice cleaned off its loft properly. He told the council it can possibly attack the situation in that fashion.

“Maybe this material is not going to kill anyone, but if we can show that this is a nuisance, we can head in that direction,” he said. “I believe the last time we spoke about this Ed Missal of (Northeastern) Energy promised that he would wash the trucks.”

But Perhonitch said he has pictures and video to prove that is not the case. He said that although he can see how it’s hard to prove where the coal dust came from, the fly ash is unique to the site because McAdoo doesn’t have 20 cogeneration plants around the borough.

Missal, manager of the cogeneration plant, told the Standard-Speaker in January that plant personnel are trying to better manage the black mud that falls from the trucks, but was unaware of the orange dust.

The Standard-Speaker reported in January that the DEP plans to conduct air quality tests along Kennedy Drive for a year.

Perhonitch added the ash is a health concern for residents.

“The state littering law includes fly ash and this stuff is going into the air, into our homes, and we are breathing it in,” Perhonitch said.

Perhonitch also raised concerns about the cracks in the road. He said that the way the sewer line was put in, it’s going to cause the cracks in the road every couple of years. Due to the poor condition of the road, he told council that when trucks pass, it wakes him and his neighbors up.

“The trucks are so loud because of the condition of the road that they are waking me up at 4 o’clock in the morning,” he said. “We’re also worried about the structure of our homes because the shake so hard.”

Holly addressed the sewer project, saying it was the responsibility of the state inspector to pin the concrete down. He added that he worked for Mericle for seven to eight years and watched them not pin the concrete down.

“When I was watching them not pinning the concrete, I approached the state inspector and told him that I smell alcohol on his breath,” Holly said. “When I said this to him he ran to his car and took off. Mark my words that we’re going to have the nicest Kennedy Drive in 2017, but every road that has a lateral going across is going to lift because the concrete was not pinned.”

The state Department of Transportation plans to reconstruct Kennedy Drive, which is state Route 309, and will solicit bids for the work in the spring/summer 2017.

Perhonitch added that DEP is saying the orange fly ash is coming off the trucks due to the condition of the roads.

The council said that they will look into the matter, talk to the borough solicitor to see what can be done in regards to an ordinance and keep the public informed.

Dog ordinance

In other business, the council voted to not pass an ordinance requested by Denise Giranda of Tracey’s Hope Dog Rescue that would have required owners to bring their pets indoors during extreme weather conditions.

The decision was made due to a state law that says owners are only required to have shelter and food for their pets.

Councilwoman Mary Labert said police are doing the best they can based on the law.

“I think we should table this due to the state law and I can’t see spending $300 to $400 to advertise an ordinance if police won’t enforce it,” she said.

Wainwright said the weather issue can be covered under the state law and that officers have used it and continue to do so.

“What we always do and what we will continue to do is knock on the doors of these pet owners and tell them to bring their dog inside if it is too hot or too cold,” Wainwright said.

Council members said they believe borough police have the situation under control and will look into it again if they find it necessary.

Curfew

Resident Alberta Bumbulsky asked Wainwright to have police enforce the curfew for kids due to the vandalism she is seeing them do to the street signs on her block.

Wainwright said officers do cite plenty of youths and that they will continue keeping their eye out for any mischief or vandalism that is being performed.

Other business

The council approved a number of other items at the March 8 meeting, including:

• Changing the classification and rate of pay for street department employees for 2016. The street foreman will receive $12 per hour, the part-time street employee $11.50 per hour, and new employees will start at $10 per hour.

• Hiring a substitute crossing guard.

• Adding the population of Banks Township to the state worker’s compensation policy and bill the township accordingly, in relation to the recent fire company merger.

• Starting the bidding process to fix the alley behind Fegley Mini Mart and D Street.

n Altamont: The Altamont Fire Company will have an all-you-can-eat breakfast featuring a regular full menu plus variety of pancakes from 8 to 11 a.m. Sunday at the firehouse, 215 Green St. Patrons may pay at the door. For more information, call 570-449-1932.

n Frackville: The Frackville Ministerium Food Bank will be open from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday to serve eligible residents of the borough. New applicants will need proof of eligibility — a Frackville borough address. The food bank is located at Zion Lutheran Church. People must use the downstairs entrance by the parking lot on South Beech Street.

n Heckscherville: Clover Hose Company, 8 Clover Road, will have an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon Sunday at the firehouse. The cost is $8 for adults and $3 for children. For more information, call 570-294-0612.

n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy Area Food Pantry is open from 3 to 5 p.m. the third Sunday of each even month with an additional one on the third Sunday in November, at First United Methodist Church, 400 E. Mahanoy Ave., according to the site contact, Greg Reser, who can be reached at 570-462-2322.

n Mahanoy City: The Active Christian Teens In Our Neighborhood Youth Group is holding a food drive for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry using the Internet. Go to the website www.yougivegoods.com and look for “A.C.T.I.O.N. Youth Group” to donate online. Click on “SHOP NOW” to buy the food you would like to donate and select the food items to donate. Donors will be emailed a tax receipt at the time of purchase. At the end of the drive all goods ordered online will be shipped directly to the food pantry. The online drive will run until April 29. The goal is 500 items.

n Mahanoy City: An Easter egg hunt for the children of the Mahanoy Area School District ages 2 to 6 will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at the school complex, sponsored by West End Fire & Rescue Company. For more information, call 570-778-6118.

n Pine Grove: The Pine Grove Temple Association will sponsor a meal that offers beer-battered deep-fried haddock, steak, roast pork, grilled chicken breast or roast turkey with waffles plus dessert from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Pine Grove Masonic Lodge, 23 Oak Grove Road. The cost is $12 and the dinner is open to the public. Children platters will be available. For more information or takeouts, call 570-345-0165.

n Pine Grove: Indian expert Dave McSurdy will have a slide presentation and program at 7 p.m. March 22 in the clubhouse at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park regarding the civilization of the Mississippi before Europeans arrived. The program will include the huge Monks Mound near St. Louis, the strange Serpent Mound and Cahokia, the city of 15,000 Indians. The program is suitable for teens and adults.

n Pottsville: A sale of Easter candy to benefit St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church is underway. Orders were due Monday. For those who placed orders, pickups will be Saturday and Sunday during the Palm Sunday bake and candy sale.

n Ringtown: Aurand Memorial United Methodist Church will hold a St. Patrick’s ham dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in the church social hall behind the church, 217 W. Main St. Patrons may eat in the hall or take meals out. The cost is $10 per dinner. Tickets are available now. For tickets or more information, call Morgan Hetherington at 570-590-4495 or Robin Hetherington at 570-889-3197. Proceeds will benefit the church organ fund.

n Shenandoah: American Legion Anthony P. Damato “Medal of Honor” Post 792 is accepting lottery tickets, gift certificates and monetary donations for the post’s ongoing basket raffle. Donations are needed by April 8, according to a post release. The basket winner will be picked on Shenandoah Heritage Day, Aug. 27. Donations can be mailed to the post, 116 N. Main St., Shenandoah, PA 17976 or can be picked up by calling Gordon Slater at 570-527-9653 or Gino Monahan at 570-590-5441. All proceeds will be used to help with the post’s community projects.