St. Jerome

Christina Walko, a seventh-grade student at St. Jerome Regional School, Tamaqua, is one of the semifinalists eligible to compete in the 2016 PA National Geographic State Bee. The contest will be held April 1 at the State Museum, Harrisburg.

This is the second level of the National Geographic Bee competition, which is now in its 28th year. Christina won the SJRS bee held in January with fourth- through eighth-grade students.

School champions then took an online qualifying test. The National Geographic Society has invited up to 100 of the top-scoring students in each of the 50 states, District of Columbia, Department of Defense Dependents Schools and U.S. territories to compete in the state bees.

Police ID driver

in R&J lot crash

CRESSONA — State police at Schuylkill Haven have identified the woman injured when she crashed her vehicle about 7:30 p.m. Friday into the R&J Transportation building, 326 Chestnut St., North Manheim Township.

Police said Heather Felmey, 29, of Pottsville, was driving a 2005 Kia Spectra north on Chestnut Street when she traveled off a left curve in the road, across the center yellow line and struck a traffic sign off the southbound lane before continuing into the parking lot of R&J Transportation and hitting a parked vehicle. The vehicle then traveled another 140 feet through the parking lot and hit a building before coming to a final stop.

Felmey was not driving at a safe speed, police said.

Police investigate

robbery attempt

MIDDLEPORT — State police at Frackville are investigating an attempted burglary that occurred sometime between 6 p.m. Wednesday and 1 p.m. Saturday at the Schuylkill Valley Falcons Teener League field, Nicholas and Saint Clair streets.

Police said someone broke a lock in an attempt to gain entry into the concession stand/field equipment shed at the field. However, all food, money and tools are removed from the shed following every sporting event and nothing of value was in the shed.

Williamstown pool

defaced with paint

WILLIAMSTOWN — State police at Lykens are investigating vandalism that occurred about 10 a.m. Thursday at the pool in the borough, Dauphin County.

Police said the borough authority reported that someone spray painted “2015/16 Diamond Gernad” on a concrete block filter house and the concrete block restrooms and metal tank had the word “cool” and a diamond insignia spray painted on them.

Anyone with further information regarding this case is asked to call state police at Lykens at 717-362-8700.

Road rage assault

probed in Gratz

GRATZ — State police at Lykens are investigating a simple assault that occurred at 4:42 p.m. Tuesday at East Market and Chestnut streets in the borough.

Police said the road rage incident involved a 46-year-old Sacramento woman who injured a 58-year-old Lykens woman by hitting her with her vehicle.

1 charged, 3 hurt

in 2-vehicle crash

MINERSVILLE — Three people were injured in a two-vehicle collision that occurred at 3:48 p.m. Monday at Route 901 and West Lawn Road, Branch Township.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Laurence F. Fox, 67, of Pottsville, was driving a 2006 Buick Terraza north on West Lawn Road and pulled out from the stop sign to cross the road directly in front of an eastbound 2007 Nissan Sentra, driven by Jackie L. Sep, 26, of Minersville. Sep attempted to swerve her vehicle, but struck the front driver’s side of the Buick with her Nissan’s front passenger side.

Police said Fox; a passenger in his vehicle, Charles Marquette, 79, of Pottsville; and Sep suffered minor injuries. Fox and Marquette were transported to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street.

Fox was charged for a stop sign violation.

Police: 2 trespass,

offer owner drugs

MAHANOY CITY — Two men were charged with criminal trespass by Mahanoy City police after an incident about 12:05 a.m. March 12 in the borough.

Police said Tyler J. Smith, 29, of 290 Park Place Road, Mahanoy Township, and Christopher M. Reed, 28, of 215 E. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City, will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Police said the two entered the home of Priscilla Rang, 716 E. Centre St., without permission, at which time Smith pulled drugs out of his pocket and asked the woman if she had baggies.

After being told by Rang that she does not do drugs, police said, the men left the home.

2 charged with

theft at Cocoa Hut

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City police filed charges of retail theft and disorderly conduct against a borough man and woman after an incident about 12:20 a.m. March 9 at Cocoa Hut, 101 E. Centre St.

Police said Brian W. Creamer, 27, and Gianna Julian, 18, both of 107 E. Mahanoy Ave., will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Police said Creamer is charged with stealing items valued at $19.10 and Julian with taking items valued at $11.45 without paying for the merchandise.

Pottsville driver

facing charges

PORT CARBON — A crash that occurred about 6:20 p.m. Thursday at Pike and East Norwegian streets was investigated by Port Carbon police.

Police said Kyle M. Majikas, 41, of 1238 Pottsville St., Pottsville, was driving a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder west on East Norwegian Street when he lost control of his vehicle along a curve near the intersection with Pike Street and drove into a concrete barrier.

As a result of the crash, police said, Majikas will be cited for careless driving and will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.

Just a few weeks after she turned 17, Danielle Burgess was diagnosed with colon cancer.

Burgess had been noticing blood in her stool for several years, but she shrugged it off after consulting Dr. Google and self-diagnosing hemorrhoids.

By the time she went to the doctor to have a colonoscopy, she was diagnosed with Stage 3 colon cancer.

“It wasn’t great, but they gave me a lot of treatment options,” said Burgess, Kansas City, Missouri.

Six months later, she was cancer-free. Doctors continued to monitor her colon (large intestine) every three years. In 2009, when she was 25, a growth on her colon once again tested positive for cancer.

“Luckily, they caught it early,” said Ms. Burgess, now 32.

Colorectal cancer, a malignancy that occurs in the colon or rectum, is a leading cause of cancer deaths. This year, it’s expected to claim the lives of nearly 50,000 people in the United States.

It’s also largely preventable. Screening tests can detect and remove abnormalities before they have a chance to turn cancerous — or spot problems in the early stages, when the disease is more responsive to treatment.

The American Cancer Society and other groups say that screening for most men and women should begin at age 50. Even so, many choose to ignore this advice. Roughly one-third of the country’s eligible adults haven’t been screened for colorectal cancer as recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC estimates that if everyone age 50 and up had regular testing, at least 60 percent of deaths from this cancer could be avoided.

“In nearly every case, colon cancer begins with a small growth called a polyp, which over time turns into a large polyp, and eventually turns into cancer,” said Dr. David Greenwald, director of clinical gastroenterology and endoscopy at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. “This process takes many years to occur; if polyps are removed when they are small or even when they are big, but before they turn into cancer, colon cancer is prevented.”

If found in its earliest stages and if the cancer hasn’t spread, the survival rate beyond five years is 90 percent, said Dr. Durado Brooks, managing director of cancer control intervention for the American Cancer Society. If it has already spread, the survival rate drops to 12 percent beyond 5 years.

“Our treatments are much, much more effective at the early stage,” Brooks said.

There are numerous ways to screen for colorectal cancer, and several organizations have issued their own guidelines.

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends screening using high-sensitivity fecal occult blood testing, sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy beginning at age 50 and continuing until 75, at which point the decision to continue screening should be made on an individual basis depending on the person’s overall health and screening history. The tests the task force recommends:

■ High-sensitivity fecal occult blood test (FOBT) or fecal immunochemical test (FIT) to detect blood in the stool, a possible sign of cancer. People get a kit and collect small samples of stool that are sent to a lab. This test should be done annually.

■ Flexible sigmoidoscopy, in which doctors use a thin, flexible, lighted tube called a sigmoidoscope to examine the interior walls of the rectum and the lower third of the colon. Should be done every five years in conjunction with FOBT/FIT every three years.

■ Colonoscopy, similar to a sigmoidoscopy but uses a longer colonoscope tube to look at the inside walls of the rectum and the entire colon. Should be done every 10 years. During the procedure, tissue samples may be collected for further testing or polyps may be removed. Colonoscopies are often performed as a follow-up if abnormalities are picked up by other screening methods.

Doctors say they’ve heard a plethora of excuses from patients who’ve put off screening.

“Some excuses for not undergoing screening include a fear of being diagnosed with cancer,” said Dr. Andrew Chan, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and gastroenterologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. “Other patients do not want to undergo endoscopic screening tests because they are afraid of pain or discomfort. For these patients, I explain that the vast majority of patients do not experience discomfort since they are given sedatives and pain medicines during the procedures.”

The American Cancer Society’s recommendations include additional screening options, such as an X-ray of the colon and rectum called a double-contrast barium enema, and a CT colonography (virtual colonoscopy), in which X-rays and computers create images of the entire colon. Both require that the colon is completely empty before testing, so patients need to do a colon-cleansing prep, same as they would with a standard colonoscopy.

MINERSVILLE — The Easter Bunny hopped aboard the train Saturday at the Minersville Railroad Station.

The Railway Restoration Project 113, a Minersville-based nonprofit organization, and Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad’s Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway sponsored train rides led by the CNJ 113 steam engine.

It was the second year children had the chance to join the Easter Bunny on a train ride. There were trips at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m.

“We have strong numbers in Minersville,” Matt Fisher, general manager of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, said. “We want to try and expand the business and people really enjoy riding trains, especially with their families around holidays.”

“I think a lot of people also want to get out and enjoy spring,” Fisher said.

Fisher said it is a privilege to work with the Railway Restoration Project 113 to bring the train rides to Minersville.

Rob Miller, Collegeville, said he was working for PPL in the area when he saw the steam engine in the station and learned about the event.

“I like trains and I got a 3 year old and he loves trains, too,” Miller said.

Wearing a train conductor’s hat, Evan Verdensky, 4, couldn’t wait to board the train.

“He loves trains,” his mother, Amanda Verdensky, Saint Clair, said.

It was also his first time riding the train with the Easter Bunny. He last rode the train in December with Santa Claus.

“I think the train rides are great,” Amanda said.

John Wagner brought his son, Thomas, 6, and daughter, Addison, 4, to watch the train pull out of the station.

“My son is a big fan of the CNJ 113,” Wagner said.

He said that his family has donated toward the restoration of the steam engine, which is one of a kind.

“They actually don’t want to ride the train because they said they can’t see the engine when they are on it.” Wagner said.

PORT CARBON — Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and Port Carbon police are asking for the public’s help in identifying the person responsible for a suspicious incident in the borough on Feb. 24 involving a 12-year-old girl.

Police said the child reported getting off a school bus near Jackson and Washington streets between 3:15 and 3:25 p.m. when a late model light green Ford Explorer stopped on Jackson Street while she was walking toward her home.

The child reported a white man, between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 10 inches tall, exited the passenger’s side and grabbed the girl by her shoulder, police said. The girl swung her shoulder back, at which time the man said he was sorry and jumped back into the SUV that then sped away, making a left turn onto Coal Street.

Police said the man was described as having a thin build, short salt and pepper hair, possibly missing teeth and was wearing a brown jacket and black sweat pants. The SUV, police said, had a black star sticker and a yellow star sticker with words on the back.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information on the identity of the man responsible for this incident or on any unsolved crime in Schuylkill County.

Callers are asked to refer to case 03-20-16 when calling with information about the Feb. 24 Port Carbon investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 877-TIPS4SC (877-847-7472). Callers can also relay their information directly to Port Carbon police by calling 570-628-3792.

All information will remain confidential.

Elizabethtown

Sage Garvey, Auburn, a sophomore health and occupation major, and Brady J. Morgan, Ashland, a sophomore biology major, earned Emergent Scholar honors at Elizabethtown College.

Students at Elizabethtown who are named Emergent Scholars have attained at least a 3.75 cumulative grade-point average at the end of their first three semesters.

Kutztown

Beathann Kulp, Hamburg, and Sarah Berry, Schuylkill Haven, recently were initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, at Kutztown University.

The honor society is a national one that recognizes all academic disciplines.

Easter is next weekend. Don’t let the holiday go by without enjoying some family fun events.

Treat your little ones to a ride with the Easter Bunny on Saturday. The train departs from Union Station for a 70-minute round-trip ride towards Port Clinton at 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Tickets are $13 for adults and $9 for children. Kids under 3 ride for free. Tickets can be purchased in advance by calling 570-628-4647.

Schaeffer’s Harley-Davidson will hold its Big Easter Eggstravaganza at 11 a.m. March 26. There will be pictures with the Easter Bunny, a community Easter egg hunt, kids carnival games, food for sale and more.

Just a reminder, your local fire company and other entities may still be selling Lenten meals, Easter eggs and other seasonal delicacies this week. Now is the time to support those who support you.

The Avenues Foundation will host its seventh annual Yuengling Beer Tasting Dinner at The Greystone restaurant on March 31. Seatings are at 5:30 and 7:45 p.m. Call Stephanie at 570-622-7920 for details or to reserve your seat.

Calling all bakers and tasters. Cupcake Wars will be held at the Schuylkill Mall on April 17. Cupcakes will be available for tasting/judging, with bragging rights to the winners. Judging will be based on best presentation, best looking, best tasting and grand prize. The competition will be divided into those under age 18 and those 18 and older. There is a tasting/judging fee of $5 to participate. Deadline to register is April 1 with a $10 registration fee. Contact your local library for details.

There will be blood drives at the Tamaqua Salvation Army on March 23 and at the Tremont Health and Rehab Center on March 29. Everyone who is in general good health who weighs at least 110 pounds is encouraged to give.

SWIC’s most wanted list for shelter residents for this month includes girls’ clothing and pajamas in sizes infant to 5T and brooms. Contact the shelter at 570-622-3991 for delivery arrangements.

Community Volunteers in Action is the volunteer center for Schuylkill County. Use the preceding contact information for those specific opportunities and search other listings on our website at www.schuylkill.us/cvia. Find us on Facebook. Call us at 570-628-1426 or email to jjohnston@co.schuylkill.pa.us.

Golf tournament

volunteers

Time: April 29, minimum of 2 hours.

Responsibility: Help with a variety of tasks.

Skills: Friendly and reliable.

Location: Schuylkill Country Club, Orwigsburg

Contact: Amber Shamonsky, SWIC, at 570-622-3991 or ashamonsky@s-wic.org.

Road to Recovery

drivers

Times: Flexible. Choose own availability or location.

Responsibility: Drive patients to and from treatments. Use own vehicle or agency vehicle if available.

Skills: Must have valid PA driver’s license, good driving record, a reliable vehicle and vehicle insurance. Background checks and orientation required.

Location: In and out of county.

Call: Dee Mathis, American Cancer Society, 570-874-1458

Library helper

Times: Flexible.

Responsibility: Help with general library tasks such as checking out and stocking books, helping at front desk, more.

Skills: Friendly and reliable.

Location: Tower-Porter Community Library

Call: Library, 717-647-4900

Bloomsburg

Emily Weaver, a freshman health science major, achieved dean’s list for the fall semester at Bloomsburg University.

A 2015 graduate of Pine Grove Area High School, she is a daughter of David and Christen Weaver, Pine Grove.

Michigan Tech

Rachel Sitler, Williamstown, majoring in theater and entertain tech, made the dean’s list for the fall semester at Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Michigan.

She is a 2015 graduate of Williams Valley High School.

George Mason

Mitch Myers, Orwigsburg, a junior accounting major, made the dean’s list at George Mason University School of Business, Fairfax, Virginia.

Northampton

The following local students made the dean’s list for the fall semester at Northampton Community College, Bethlehem:

Sarah Muinos, Hamburg; Lee Walasavage, Hegins; Katelyn Donley, Lykens; William Wirtz, Mahanoy City; Emmeline Knowlan, New Ringgold; Jenna Renninger, Pine Grove; Violet Knight, Pottsville; John Ferrara, Tamaqua.

Penn College

Ryan A. Oswald, Tremont, made the dean’s list for the fall semester at Pennsylvania College of Technology, Williamsport.

He is a son of Richard and Angela Oswald, Newtown, and a 2015 graduate of Minersville Area High School.

Saint Francis

Alicia Brown, Pottsville, Shelby Sanko, McAdoo, and Vanessa Valovage, Lykens, were named to the Provost’s List at Saint Francis University, Loretto, for the fall semester.

Anthony Damiano, Tamaqua, Brianna Dixon, Frackville, and Sarah McDonald, Tamaqua, were named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Saint Francis.

Penn State

Brandon and Josh Scheibley, both mechanical engineering majors, have been named to the dean’s list at Penn State Harrisburg for the fall semester.

They are 2012 graduates of Pine Grove Area High School, and twin sons of Jim and Pam Scheibley, Tremont.

Alexa Wallauer, Ashland, made the dean’s list for the fall semester at the Smeal College of Business at Penn State University, University Park campus.

Alexa is a 2012 graduate of Nativity BVM High School.

Jimmy Saunders, a registered nurse major working toward a degree as a nurse anesthetist, has been named to the dean’s list at Penn State University with a 4.0 GPA.

He has been accepted at the Reading Hospital School of Health Sciences. He was the 2013 valedictorian of his graduating class at Lighthouse Christian Academy, Lyons Station.

Jimmy is a son of Jim and Judy Mekunis Saunders, Kempton. His mother is formerly of Port Carbon.

Shen Rotary

Erick Rooney, a Shenandoah Valley High School senior, was named student of the month for January by the Shenandoah Rotary Club.

Erick served as a Spring Queen escort and is a member of student council, drama club, baseball team, National Honor Society and Talent Search. His community service includes Shenandoah Christmas Lighting crew, Powder Puff football announcer and American Red Cross blood drive.

He has volunteered for the annual Kielbasi Festival, Heritage Day, Schuylkill Keep It Pretty cleanup, Special Olympics, Christmas fair and elementary school book fair. He has also participated in a fundraiser for a student who passed away and fundraisers for SPCA, Toys for Tots and a fire victim and canvassed for the Shenandoah Christmas Lighting Fund.

Erick has also participated in numerous student council service projects and served as a school representative at the ADL Youth Conference.

A son of Francis and Lisa Rooney, Shenandoah, he plans to attend college.

Frackville Rotary

Alex Mazur, a senior at North Schuylkill High School, was honored as Frackville Rotary Club student of the month for February at a meeting at Cracker Barrel Restaurant at the Schuylkill Mall.

A distinguished honor student, he has received honors in both math and English courses. He is a member of the varsity basketball team, Future Business Leaders of America, Teens Against Tobacco, Students Against Destructive Decisions, Presidents club, student council and social studies honor society. He serves as class treasurer.

Alex is an altar server at St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, Frackville. He has been awarded an academic scholarship from St. Joseph’s University Haub School of Business, Philadelphia.

He is a son of Stephen and Karyn Mazur.

Pine Grove Area

Sarah Micklo and Emily Greeninger were named students of the month for February at Pine Grove Area High School.

Sarah, a daughter of Heather Fischer, Pine Grove, studies in the college preparatory and advanced placement curricula. Her school activities in-clude the Cardinal Marching Band, concert band, JROTC, art club, Lions Club and CEF Good News day camp.

Sarah plans to attend Millersville University to pursue a bachelor’s degree in graphic design.

Emily is a daughter of Michele Turner, Pine Grove, and Bruce Greeninger, Hershey. She studies in the honors and advanced placement curricula.

Emily’s activities include National Honor Society, recycling club and varsity cross country. She plans to attend York College of Pennsylvania for respiratory care to become a registered respiratory therapist and later go on to get a doctorate degree.

For filmmakers Justin Stevens and T.J. Chinaski of Tamaqua, there is no better place to call home than Schuylkill County.

Ask the duo why, and they’ll tell you that no matter how far you travel, there’s no other place that has the same cultural and historical stories.

Stevens, 29, who has lived in the region his entire life, says it is the ethnic food combined with the history right on his block that tells a big part of the tale.

“Where else in the country can you find cultural homemade ethnic foods at a local church bazaar such as bleenie, halushki and scrapple?” Stevens said. “I also look at the row homes on my street that were built by anthracite coal miners back in the 1920s, compare them to the more urban areas up the block, and it’s fascinating to me how you can literally see not only where the urban growth started, but where it spread out in time as well.”

Stevens added that the families of those coal miners still live in the homes, calling themselves “coalcrackers” in honor of their coal mining ancestry, which tells the importance of history within the area.

Chinaski, 42, who moved to the area in 1979, enthusiastically agreed but added that the story also develops from a culture where everyone is connected in one way or another.

“It’s that small-town charm aspect of the area where you’ll find that even though there’s a large influx of families who moved from places like New York City and New Jersey, people become a part of the town in which neighbor really does know neighbor,” he said.

Put those two stories together along with a Panasonic Lumix DMC-GH3 digital camera, and you develop an idea for a cultural and historical documentary series titled, “Skook Tales: Written By You.”

The project will be filmed by the group’s independent film company, Lavender Lady FX Group.

Stevens, with Chinaski, are asking Schuylkill residents to join them for interviews that they will be holding throughout the county, allowing residents to share their own personal “Skook stories.”

Some examples the pair have heard include a former teacher that Stevens had who drove his mother to the hospital to have his younger brother and having a fun experience of attending a “bush party,” — a gathering with friends in the woods, over a fire, while sipping Yuengling lager.

The way Stephens and Chinaski met is a Skook tale in itself.

Eight years ago on a Thursday night, Stevens walked into Schick’s Cafe in Tamaqua for the “Sink or Swim: Are You In?” drink special. Once he got his beverage, Steven noticed the bar was jammed and no seats were available except for one. Chinaski, who was the door guy on that night, had a stool sitting next to him in which Stevens asked if he can join. Chinaski graciously accepted, saying that nobody ever sits with the door guy.

The two later found out that Chinaski was friends with Stevens’ grandfather who Stevens never had the chance of meeting. Stevens’ grandfather was also godfather to one of Chinaski’s siblings. Chinaski said that for them, there is no better example of a Skook tale and in some ways Stevens reminds him of his grandfather.

Along with the personal tales of residents, “Skook Tales” will also feature interviews with historical society members, sharing some history of areas within the county.

Some of those areas include Tamaqua, which was the staple of the coal mining industry back in the 19th century; Girardville, named after Stephen Girard, who owned land in the area while donating a wealth said to be at the time, more than Bill Gates to charities once he died; and Shenandoah, that not only turns 150 this year but also operates half of its town by wind farms.

According to Stevens, the term “Skook” is a slang term defined as a Schuylkill County resident who has regional pride in the area.

He added that like their coalcracker generation, it’s their way of being proud of their roots.

“Skook” sometimes has a negative connotation associated with it for being unintelligent. However, for him, it’s a way for the generations to come together.

“No matter what we call ourselves, it’s nice to know that no matter how far you move away, you can always come back and experience the same smells, food and people,” Stevens said. “It makes me want to trademark coalcracker and Skook.”

Chinaski added their message to the public is to be proud to show off your “Skook,” and show your hidden cultural talent.

“Our generation and the generation of the future needs to know that this area isn’t bad,” he said. “We want to inspire others who may be afraid to come out of their shell and get a chance to share their talents with us.”

They hope to eventually show their series on PBS or WVIA, which helped inspire the group to get into documentary filmmaking.

For now, the film will have a YouTube release on their channel before the end of the year that can be found at youtube.com/undeadlavender. Follow the progress of the series by liking Skook Tales and Lavender Lady FX Group on Facebook.

For those interested in participating in the series, call Justin Stevens at 570-573-8687 or email undeadlavender@gmail.com.

n Ashland: The borough offices will be closed Friday in recognition of Good Friday. Ashes will be picked up on Saturday.

n Fountain Springs: Tickets are on sale now for the North Schuylkill High School Theater Arts production of “Guys and Dolls” slated for 7:30 p.m. April 1 and 2 in the high school auditorium. People may buy tickets from any cast member or they may call the school at 570-874-0495 for more information.

n Frackville: The Frackville Economic Development Committee will meet at 7 p.m. March 28 at the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, 42 S. Center St. Committee Chairman Paul Klevis said in a release the group will discuss the recent land bank agreement, the proposed downtown beautification plans including the tribute to Hometown Heroes. It is a cooperative effort involving the committee and the Frackville Business and Professional Association to attract new businesses to the downtown and to tout the annual community wide spring cleanup. The meeting is open to the public and proposals for enhancing the community are always welcome.

n Orwigsburg: Schuylkill Masonic Lodge 138 will have its 11th annual fish dinner from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday at the Schuylkill Masonic Temple Association, 1000 E. Market St. Meals include baked haddock, choice of french fries or baked potato, macaroni and cheese, string beans or corn, applesauce, pepper cabbage, bread and dessert. The cost is $9.50 per meal and free for children 12 and younger. Takeouts will be available. For more information, call 570-366-1385.

n Pottsville: McCann School of Business & Technology Pottsville campus will host a free Easter Bunny event from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday. Guests will have the chance to have a picture taken with the bunny while enjoying refreshments and snacks. Admissions representatives and financial services representatives will also be available to answer questions about McCann programs, financial aid qualifications and the application process. For more information, call 570-391-3010.

n Pottsville: Students of the month Shelby Hahner and Mykaihla Sternick of Pottsville Area High School, Clement Rushanan and Veronica Rutechy of Minersville Area High School and Kaitlynn Esemaya and Adrian Datte of Nativity BVM High School attended a recent meeting of the Pottsville Rotary Club. They told the Rotarians about their school and community activities and plans for the future. Rotarian Pete Yasenchak advised the students about Rotary International and its goal of eliminating polio from the world.

n Pottsville: A free children’s theater workshop will be held on Wednesday at the Majestic Theater, North Centre Street, for children ages 5-12. Students, according to a release, will be introduced to all aspects of musical theater including acting, singing and dancing. Advance registration is required. Participants will be put into time slots based on age. For more information, call 570-628-4647 or email majesticplayerspottsville@gmail.com.

n Pottsville: A Nativity BVM High School Drama Club fundraiser is set for 4 to 9 p.m. April 4 at Roma Restaurant, 116 W. Market St. A portion of the eatery’s proceeds from all dine-in sales will benefit the club, which is preparing for its spring musical, “Legally Blonde.”

n Shenandoah: Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Parish, 224 W. Cherry St., will mark Divine Mercy Sunday from 3 to 5 p.m. April 3. Devotions will include exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, midafternoon prayers from the Divine Office, various other prayers and readings, a homily, periods of reflection, hymns, procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction. There will be no confessions or Mass celebration. There will be a Mass of healing at 7 p.m. April 1 in the church. For more information, call 570-462-1968.

SHENANDOAH — The Polish American Fire Company No. 4 is searching for names on three old photos to be used for its 100th anniversary commemorative book and seeks the help of the public.

The first and only Polish American fire company in the country celebrated “100 years of taking the heat” in 2015 with the plan to publish a centennial book after the celebration ended in early September of last year.

The photos are about 60 or so years old, according to former fire company President John Lorah Jr. There are a few people in the photos who can be identified, but most have not been.

“We’re hoping that when we get them in the newspaper, somebody out there can identify them” Lorah said. “We know one or two guys on each photo, but we don’t know everybody. One way or another, they’re going in the book, but if we can find out who they are, that would be great. Those photos are from the late 1950s to mid-1960s.”

The chairman of the history book committee John Morris has been going through old photographs to illustrate the history of the fire company.

“We’re up to page 74 now, and we’re next working on pages for the 75th and 100th anniversaries, and then the miscellaneous pictures,” Morris said. “The book will be over 100 pages, with most of it filled with pictures with captions. That’s why we’re trying to get the names.”

“Hopefully, we’ll have everything to the printer by April 17,” Lorah said. “It should be ready by the end of May.”

Morris said all members in good standing will receive a history book at no charge. He said the cost is $20 per book for non-members while supplies last.

Anyone who knows the names of the men in the photos, call Morris at 570-788-4498.

Q: How is it that big game hunting can actually be good for wildlife?

— RONNIE WILSON,

FORT MYERS, FLORIDA

A: When Minnesota dentist Walter Palmer killed Cecil, a much-loved wild 13-year-old black-maned lion, with his bow and arrow in July outside a protected section of Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park, animal advocates were outraged.

The University of Oxford’s Wildlife Conservation Research Unit team had been studying Cecil and his family — protected as long as they stayed within the invisible borders of the park — at the time. In response to the extensive media coverage and public fury after the incident, Delta, American and United airlines announced in August that they would no longer allow hunters to transport big game trophies, including buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion or rhino, on their flights.

Cecil’s death also helped draw attention to big-game hunting and its effects on wildlife populations and their ecosystems. Globe-trotting big-game hunters imported more than 1.26 million “trophies” — the part of the animal they keep for display — to the U.S. between 2005 and 2014, according to a new report by Humane Society International. That’s an average of 126,000 trophy imports a year, or 345 a day.

But hunting proponents found the sudden backlash over Cecil’s death unsubstantiated. Dr. Alan Maki, conservation chairman at the prominent hunting group Safari Club International, argued that, considering that Africa’s human population is projected to double to 2 billion in the next 25 years, more and more land will be needed to support this growth, resulting in lots of lost wildlife habitat. Safari hunting, a $200 million annual industry, provides substantial value to wildlife, he said, by paying for anti-poaching patrols, national park operations and conservation programs that support local communities.

“We’re too busy showing everyone what great hunters we are, and we’re not doing enough to show what kind of conservationists we are,” said Ivan Carter, an African hunting guide and host of “Carter’s W.A.R.” on the Outdoor Channel. “We have to change the perception that we are just trophy killers, and we’ve got to focus on the fact that we’re conservationists, and we do that by having and sharing the right information and research, and taking the time to post properly on social media.”

Of course, not everyone agrees that trophy hunting is benign, let alone beneficial. HSI maintains that widespread corruption in some of Africa’s most sought-after big-game destinations means that money raised from trophy hunting in places like Tanzania and Zimbabwe is more likely used to line officials’ pockets than to help ailing wildlife populations. This unavoidable corruption was part of the reason Kenya banned trophy hunting altogether four decades ago.

HSI also points out that trophy hunting may be more about ego-stroking than conservation, with wealthy American hunters willing to pay top dollar to compete in contests to kill the most wildlife for awards (such as the “Africa Big Five” — lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and Cape buffalo).

HSI, which has published several reports detailing the negative effects of trophy hunting on wildlife populations, is working to get more airlines to refuse passage to hunting trophies, and has helped introduce legislation to Congress calling for a ban on the importation of large animal trophies altogether.

While it appears that the debate is not going to be settled anytime soon, animal advocates maintain that upholding laws protecting species does much more to protect animals than killing them ever can.

EARTHTALK is a trademark of the nonprofit Earth Action Network. For information or to make a donation, visit www.earthtalk.org. Send questions to question@earthtalk.org.

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy Township is the latest Schuylkill County municipality to jump on the bandwagon to change to energy-efficient street lighting and save money in the process.

The township supervisors approved a resolution at Thursday’s meeting to participate in the lighting upgrade program of PPL Electric Utilities Inc. Township solicitor Eric Lieberman explained the resolution and the agreement document from PPL.

Within the past month, Ringtown and Girardville boroughs have approved agreements with PPL for installation of the LED lighting, and the Gordon Borough Council discussed investigating the program at its March meeting.

“Basically, the gist of this agreement is the upgrading of the township’s lights,” Lieberman said. “There is an attachment to the agreement identifying all the poles where the lights will be improved. Apparently the lights will be brighter and more efficient in terms of the energy that’s used. It’s a win-win situation for the township.”

Lieberman said the initial cost to the township is $847, which is for five lights that are fewer than 10 years old. Lights older than 10 years will be replaced at no charge. Vice Chairwoman Faith Ward said a total of 161 street lights will be replaced throughout the township, saving the township about $53 per month in electrical costs.

Chairman James Stevens said once the signed agreement is returned to PPL, the light replacement work will be scheduled, which should be within two months.

“They’re (PPL) basically going from municipality to municipality and upgrading,” Lieberman said.

Kline Township has also contracted with PPL to replace its lighting.

Township Secretary Cheryl Backo read the report from William N. McMullen, project manager with ARRO Consulting Inc., the township’s consulting engineer. Pipe for the storm drainage pipe replacement project was delivered on March 14 to the Skytop Coal Company facility on the Morea Road. The company will install the pipe and inlets in the villages of Morea and New Boston.

McMullen wrote that a formal change order was provided to Skytop for an extension of the contract completion time to May 20.

In another matter, McMullen wrote that ARRO has completed the application for resubmission to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for funding of Phase II improvements to the Parente Family Park in the village of Park Place.

The supervisors approved a resolution giving Stevens, as board chairman, the authority to sign grant application signature page on behalf of the township. The supervisors will also submit a letter to DCNR confirming the commitment for the municipal contribution of the project.

McMullen said that the application package and plans were revised based on ARRO’s discussion with the regional DCNR recreation consultant. The application will be submitted to DCNR prior to the April 13 deadline.

At a previous meeting, Stevens said that in order to give the application a better chance for being approved, the township was asking for letters of support for the project from the township recreation committee, the planning commission and from residents in the Park Place area. The head of the planning commission, Allan Jones, attended the meeting to offer his support of the grant application.

“This is the third year we’ve been trying to get the grant,” Stevens said. “We have a paper here in the office for Park Place residents to sign in support of the park project. If anyone from Park Place wants to sign, we have it here.”

After his monthly report, police Chief Brandon Alexander introduced Patrolman Jonathan Troyer, who was recently hired, to the public.

Resident John “Bucky” Byer thanked the police for tagging illegally parked vehicles in Park Place. Stevens said the police will be tagging vehicles throughout the township.

Byer also asked Alexander about someone going to homes trying to sell vacuum cleaners and asking people questions about personal matters. Alexander said the man was contacted and cited for soliciting and was advised not to return to the township. Stevens said if there is someone suspicious selling merchandise or asking questions to not give out any information, do not let them inside and call the police.

Stevens advised drivers to watch for the township work crew as they do their work.

“The road department will be out cutting trees along the roadways and doing pothole patching. Please be careful, give them room and don’t try to rush by them,” Stevens said.

In another matter, Stevens said, “The code officer will be getting started issuing warnings. If anyone has a complaint, please come to the office and file it on paper so we have it for our records and look into it. We have the complaint forms here.”

Byer asked about the need to file a written complaint. Lieberman said the paperwork provides a document trail that could be helpful in prosecuting violations if it becomes necessary to go to a local magisterial judge.

During the public portion, resident Betty Goodolf thanked the police and township officials for helping to get a neighboring property owner to begin cleaning his property. Goodolf spoke to the supervisors at the February meeting about the problems. During that meeting, the supervisors appointed Samuel D. Brobst as the new code enforcement officer. He began working in the position this month.

Supervisor Jason Dudash told Goodolf that he has been in contact with the owner and has resulted in the cleanup work starting.

“If it is not cleaned up, we will come back in another week,” Dudash said.

“We’re going to keep a close eye on it,” Stevens said.

Jones informed the supervisors that there is a road collapsing at the village of Buck Mountain after work was done by the Hazleton City Authority to repair a fire hydrant. He said a retaining wall has shifted due to the work and the hydrant is not operating.

“We’ll make sure to look into it tomorrow,” Stevens said. “Their permitting was submitted to our engineers. I’ll have our guys go up and check it out and I’ll call Hazleton.”

Stevens announced the annual Easter egg hunt will be held for township children today at 2 p.m. at the municipal building. He thanked everyone who donated and those who have volunteered to help.

It’s now 35 years since a corkscrew-shaped bacterium was identified as the cause of Lyme disease. But we still have no safe and effective vaccine, no reliable diagnostic test and no adequate therapy.

What we do have is tens of thousands of lives annually devastated by significant health, personal and financial costs.

The National Institutes of Health, the leading funding body for biomedical research in this country, should scale up research funding for Lyme disease. In its absence, nonprofit organizations like ours have taken up the challenge, while hundreds of thousands suffer in misery from a spring fever that for some may not end.

Lyme disease, first described more than 40 years ago, now infects more than 320,000 Americans each year, and has been identified in every state. Transmitted by black-legged tick bites that peak in the warm months, Lyme disease is now the country’s most common illness spread by a bug bite. Symptoms range from skin rashes to fatigue and joint pain, and for most people, a few weeks of antibiotics are enough to clear the infection. However, researchers at the Lyme Disease Clinical Research Center at Johns Hopkins University have shown that about 10 percent to 20 percent of those infected progress to chronic multi-organ illness, such as severe musculoskeletal pain, cardiac failure and neural impairment, including memory and cognitive loss.

Although the causes of post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome are unknown, its devastating toll is well-documented. It’s a condition that can mean months and even years of disability. Recently, it was estimated that health care costs for Lyme disease patients exceed $1 billion per year, according Dr. John Aucott of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

Early diagnosis, then, should be key to reducing this health and economic burden. What complicates the treatment of all Lyme disease patients, however, is the lack of a definitive diagnostic test. The standard blood test detects antibodies that recognize the Lyme bacteria, which is called Borrelia burgdorferi. This test is laborious and lacks sensitivity, correctly identifying only 29 percent to 40 percent of patients who have a skin rash commonly associated with tick bites. Furthermore, at least 20 percent of patients do not even develop a skin rash.

Lyme infect anyone — young, old, military, civilian, sick or healthy. We already have the research and medical infrastructure ready to work toward understanding and curing them, and with additional funding, we will be on our way to better diagnosis and treatment.

HARRIET O. KOTSORIS, M.D., and MAYLA HSU, Ph.D., are at Global Lyme Alliance, a nonprofit that raises funds for research on Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses. They are based in Connecticut at Globallyme

alliance.org. They wrote this for the Hartford Courant.

SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS — The Girard Estate demolition program in West Mahanoy Township will continue in 2016 with six more dilapidated properties being razed.

At Tuesday’s meeting, the West Mahanoy supervisors approved the demolition list of six abandoned properties in the villages of William Penn, Lost Creek and Brownsville. The vacant structures are located on leased land owned by Girard Estate, which pays the demolition costs.

In order to qualify, the houses have to be abandoned for years, are not half of a double-block structure unless both sides are being demolished and there are no taxes or a lease being paid.

This is the sixth year for the demolition program partnership. Girard Estate has demolished 30 structures in the past five years.

The following six houses were approved for the 2016 blight project:

• 1145 W. Coal St., Brownsville.

• 1160 W. Centre St., Brownsville.

• 55 Mount Olive Blvd., William Penn.

• 91 Mount Olive Blvd., William Penn.

• 23 Elliot St., William Penn.

• 19 Colorado Road, Lost Creek.

Township Chairman Paul “Pepper” Martin said the demolition work has not been scheduled.

Martin said the deadline for police chief applications to fill the vacancy left with the resignation of Chief Shawn Tray was Friday. The supervisors approved the advertising for the position at the February meeting.

With the warmer weather, Martin said many people will be doing work around their properties, and reminded them to contact the municipal building for any building and/or maintenance permits that may be necessary.

“They should call the township to get the correct permits,” Martin said.

Martin also reminded landlords and tenants that a township ordinance requires occupancy permits for rental properties. The supervisors adopted the 19-page ordinance in 2013.

The ordinance (2013-3) titled the “West Mahanoy Township Rental License and Inspection Code” requires the licensing and inspection of residential rental properties, payment of licensing and inspection fees, suspension and revocation of rental licenses, along with penalties and enforcement.

Hotels and motels are excluded from the ordinance.

The ordinance states the requirement for a rental license:

“It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy, allow to be occupied, advertise for occupancy, or solicit occupants of any residential rental property within the township without a rental license. The property owner or agent of each rental property shall register each rental unit with the code department and shall pay the required registration fee.”

Martin said it is necessary for the rental property owner to report to the township when there are new tenants.

“Occupancy permits are necessary,” Martin said. “If someone is renting a property, the owner must report in to us so we can inspect the building and the rentee must register with us. This is just a reminder to people.”

GIRARDVILLE — It may have been a “wee bit” chilly Saturday, but it was not cold enough to keep the Irish from donning their kilts and marching in the 13th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians John “Jack” Kehoe Div. 1, Girardville, the parade was dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Easter Rising in Ireland. The parade also saluted the local coal miners’ union labor movement of the 1870s.

“Although it’s a bit nippy, it’s a beautiful day in Girardville,” Philip McCarthy said over the loudspeaker at the former St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church.

McCarthy was joined by Phil Groody, both members of the Girardville AOH, in announcing the parade as it made its way down Main Street.

“It’s the lucky Irish number 13,” McCarthy said about the 13th annual parade.

Thousands of people dressed in green lined both sides of the street Saturday as the State Correctional Institution/Mahanoy honor guard led the march through the borough. Following the honor guard was the parade’s grand marshal, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Mike Stack. Joe Wayne, president of the Girardville AOH, presented him with a plaque as they reached St. Joseph Church. Stack, who also participated in the parade last year, said his grandfather was a “coal cracker from Girardville.”

“I’m honored to be the grand marshal and happy to be back in Girardville,” Stack said. “We love Girardville. It’s the best parade in Pennsylvania. You are all so warm and supportive, and it feels like home.”

Before the parade, Mass was celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Vincent de Paul Roman Catholic Church, North Second Street. An award ceremony was held after the parade at the Hibernian House. The best overall entry was awarded to Thomas Sullivan Funeral Home for its float with band Another Side. Mahanoy Area High School band won the school spirit award.

To bring more floats back into the parade, a contest was held with monetary awards. There were two classes — floats created and sponsored by nonprofit organizations and those for for-profit organizations. The best nonprofit group float was awarded to MCA Area Think Big Dance Marathon. Thomas Sullivan Funeral Home won best for-profit group float.

The 2016 parade T-shirt featured the names of the organizers of the 1916 Easter Rising and the local miners’ union movement of the 1870s.

“This is my hometown so I travel every year to come to the parade,” Kim Gonzalez, Mechanicsburg, said. “I’ve introduced it to my daughter, so hopefully it will be a tradition for a long time.”

Her daughter, Isabella, patiently sat next to her as she waited for the sounds of the bagpipes to make their way closer.

“She’s excited,” Gonzalez said.

With temperatures about 40 degrees Saturday afternoon, Verna Lapachinsky and Grace Groody, both of Ashland, kept warm during the parade with a blanket, some boilo and Irish coffee.

“We love the parade,” Marilyn Quick, Bloomsburg, said.

Quick and her friends, Mike Girton, Scott Henry and Kim Shannon, all of Bloomsburg, said they come to Girardville every year to watch the parade at the Girardville American Legion.

Jen Hertz, Pottsville, said she has attended the last several parades, while Rick and Rose Mills, Fountain Springs, said they have been at nearly every one.

“We have been here in all kinds of weather,” Rose said.

Last year, more than 5 inches of snow fell the night before the parade.

“It’s like a homecoming,” Rose said. “Everyone gets to see everyone again and some people you see every year at the parade.”

Editor’s note: This is the third of a three-part series examining the effort being made by Blythe Township and a private entity called FKV LLC to develop the Blythe Recycling And Demolition Site (BRADS), and the battle the neighboring Borough of Saint Clair is waging to stop it.

The BRADS landfill project started with a pact between friends.

“Al and Adam and I started this and we’re just finishing what we started,” David A. Ventresca, one of the partners in the development firm FKV LLC, said March 10, referring to two of the supervisors of Blythe Township, Albert J. Lubinsky Sr. and Adam J. Nothstein.

If the township can get through the appeals filed by the Borough of Saint Clair, the township will have to secure a bond to pay for the development of the construction and demolition waste recycling and disposal facility it wants in Silver Creek.

That will cost more than $20 million, Steven Field, one of the partners in FKV, said March 10.

“And that includes paying us back,” Field said, referring to the private money FKV spent so far on engineering, legal and expert witness fees. So far, FKV spent “in excess of $2.5 million,” Field said.

FKV would not release its invoices to The Republican-Herald. Field said FKV is a private firm and since the township has not yet covered the cost of those invoices, they are not public.

Edward J. Brennan, solicitor for Saint Clair, isn’t sure how the township will find the money.

“This all hinges on them getting financing. And they say that’s not going to be a problem. I think Blythe Township, by itself, doesn’t have the ability to finance this. They’re going to have to use the promise of making a lot of money in this landfill to get financing,” Brennan said March 8.

“We’re working on that right now,” Field said.

Recently, township officials and FKV representatives offered insights into the project, their contract and what the project will mean for the township. And they are looking into whether or not the debt question will have to go on the ballot.

“The Local Government Unit Debt Act, administered by DCED, provides the procedure for Pennsylvania’s local government units to issue debt and tax anticipation notes. The act also provides the borrowing limits for the local government units,” according to the website for the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

“Right now, the township is in receipt of a final non-appealable permit. The permit is still pending before the Environmental Hearing Board. I think, to some degree, it’s a little premature to discuss financing. But I would envision that any future financing would be non-recourse to the township. And if there are any requirements regarding LGUDA, they will be complied with. But so far no referendum has taken place. I wouldn’t envision a need for one,” Gino O. DiNicola, Pottsville, township solicitor, said Monday.

Origins

Blythe is a township with 987 residents, according to www.census.gov, and its 2016 budget is $396,264.69, according to Lubinsky.

The landfill concept was proposed by Lubinsky and Nothstein. On Jan. 9, 2003, the township entered into an agreement with FKV LLC to develop the landfill on a 252-acre site. Since then, the township acquired the land from the Blythe Township Municipal Authority, Lubinsky said.

FKV is made up of three principal investors: Field, West Brunswick Township, the president of Weiner Iron & Metal of Pottsville; William F. King III, Princeton, New Jersey, president of a real estate development firm, King Interests; and Ventresca, Pottsville, the former owner of Pottsville Sanitation.

Ventresca retired from Pottsville Sanitation in 1988. Since then, he’s become an investor and developer, and projects he’s been associated with include the development of the Pine Grove Landfill and Seiders Hill.

King’s firm “built Luther Ridge, an assisted living facility at Seiders Hill,” Ventresca said.

BRADS was inspired, in part, by the development of the Pine Grove Landfill in the 1980s, according to Ventresca. But, while Pine Grove Landfill LLC sought to develop an independent operation, FKV is developing one that will be paid for and owned by Blythe Township.

“If this is such a good deal, why isn’t FKV doing it on their own and simply promising to pay Blythe Township $1 a ton as the commonwealth does in Foster Township?” Brennan asked.

“Al and Adam and I started this and we’re just finishing what we started. FKV was started because when Al and Adam approached us to do the landfill, I went to Steve and Bill and said ‘Look, these guys are good guys. Let’s help them, but let’s do a public-private partnership.’ And that’s what we did. We did a public-private partnership,” Ventresca said March 10.

“Before that, we were going to put a regular municipal landfill in, and that would have included East Norwegian Township. It was going to start in East Norwegian Township down below and work its way up,” Lubinsky said March 10.

Commitment

Since 2003, the township has had two contracts with FKV. The second was approved in October 2007.

“The reason it was amended was a representative of the DEP was persnickety about the relationship between the township and FKV,” Field said.

In the contracts, that relationship is described in numerous ways.

“Consultant,” Ventresca said, describing FKV.

“Developer,” Field said, describing FKV.

Primarily, FKV is the “seller,” according to the contract.

FKV signed on to develop the landfill, be responsible for all sales and marketing regarding it and “periodically audit the operation and maintenance of the facility,” according to the 2007 pact.

The township is listed as the “buyer” and “will be responsible for the operation and maintenance of the facility. Financing of construction and equipping of the facility will be made through Blythe Township,” according to the October 2007 contract.

If the township is ultimately allowed to install the landfill, the township will have to pay FKV for its services to date. That can be done in two ways, according to the October 2007 pact:

“A sum equal to the greater of seventy-five cents per cubit yard of permitted capacity for the first pad or phase of the facility or the actual cost shall be due and payable at settlement hereunder, as adjusted in accordance with the agreement, to be funded from the proceeds of financing and repaid as a portion of the debt service component of operating expenses.”

Brennan believes the “greater” sum would end up being the “actual cost” FKV spent working to establish the landfill since 2003.

“Actual costs shall mean the actual costs as itemized by invoices and incurred by seller associated with the acquisition of the property and development of the facility, including without limitation, all permits and approvals and financing for the facility and an interest cost of five percent per annum of such actual costs,” according to the October 2007 contract.

When the landfill is operational, FKV will make 50 percent of net operating revenue and the township will make 50 percent, plus $1 a ton, according to that contract.

“There’s a dollar a ton host municipality fee on MSW (Municipal Solid Waste) sites. There’s no dollar a ton host fee on C&D (Construction and Demolition Waste) sites. We chose to give the township a dollar a ton host municipality fee. And we restricted that dollar. The supervisors recognized they won’t be supervisors forever, so what they did is they took the dollar and they divvied it up, so much to the water authority, so much to the public works, so much to the police department,” Ventresca said.

“And the senior citizens and the fire company,” Nothstein said.

Lubinsky believed the township would make “a million or a million and a half” dollars on the project.

“Well, we hope so. Again, with any business enterprise there’s no guarantee. We’re very optimistic on the viability of the project,” Field said.

“Part of the original deal was this concept that the project, when financed, has to be done in a way so that there’s no real financial chasing back to the taxpayers if there’s an issue,” Field said.

“Are you familiar with self-liquidating bonds, like for sewer authorities? That’s what they do,” Ventresca said.

“The collateral will be land and the facility itself with all the improvements and all the contracts and the revenue streams,” Field said.

“Right. That’s the collateral,” Ventresca said.

“If we really got in trouble, we’d probably have to sell it. It’s like any other business,” Field said.

“There’s no guarantee the landfill will succeed. And if it doesn’t, under the terms of this agreement, Blythe Township is left holding the bag,” Brennan said.

If Saint Clair manages to defeat the township’s quest to build a landfill, Field said FVK may negotiate with the township to turn the 252-acre site into a residential development.

“But that’s not really viable,” Field said.

Field remains confident in the project, and has kept case files regarding Saint Clair’s appeals. State Environmental Hearing Board Judge Bernard A. Labuskes Jr. wrote the following comment, when one appeal was dismissed May 20, 2015:

“St. Clair’s lack of credible evidence is fatal to meeting its burden of proof. As we reiterated in Brockway Borough Municipal Authority v DEP, when an appellant raises technical or scientific objections to the issuance of a permit, it must then substantiate those objections with technical and scientific evidence.”

Soon after the arrival of the Easter Bunny on an antique fire engine, groups of children stormed onto Alumni Field on Sunday for the city’s annual Easter Egg Hunt and Bonnet Contest.

Sponsored by the Pottsville Recreation Commission, about 4,500 plastic eggs were scattered across the football field, Mary Quirk, commission director, said. About 400 children attend the event each year.

“That’s what the organization is about, the youth of the city,” Quirk said.

The eggs were filled with candy, prizes or cash. Three hundred eggs had $1 bills in them.

There were also coupons for prizes and for Rita’s Italian Ice, Dairy Queen and Friendly’s Family Restaurant. There was also free pizza, a drink and a chocolate bunny for each child and a flower for mothers.

Children were divided into four age groups for the hunt: 2 years and younger; 3 to 4; 5 to 6; and 7 to 8.

There were three categories for the bonnet contest: funniest, most original and prettiest. Each winner received $10.

Gracie-Anne Holley, 2, of Pottsville, won funniest in the contest with a carrot bonnet.

Her grandmother, Susan Holley, Pottsville, said both the egg hunt and bonnet contest were a tradition with her daughters and now her granddaughter.

“We always do the bonnet contest,” she said. “It adds a little more fun to it.”

Kayla Becker, Pottsville, brought her two children. She was helping her son, Silus, 1, at his first egg hunt.

“I have two kids and this is fun for them,” Becker said.

Crystal Jones, Pottsville, said the annual Easter egg hunt has also become a tradition for her family. She was there with her son, Da-Shawn, 4.

“I think it’s great for the kids,” she said. “It’s nice that they have this because there isn’t always a lot for them to do.”

Additional sponsors for the event included: Housing Authority of Pottsville, Pottsville Lions Club, DeAngelo’s Pizza, Betty Wagner Flowers-Designs by Edie, Dairy Queen, Rita’s Italian Ice, Something Sweet Candies and Friendly’s Family Restaurant.

2 youths charged

in fight at school

LYKENS — Two 11-year-old borough boys were charged with harassment and disorderly conduct following an incident at 1:57 p.m. Friday at Upper Dauphin Area Middle School, police said.

State police at Lykens said the principal of the school reported that the two boys had a physical altercation with another 11-year-old boy in the hallway. Police investigated the incident, resulting in the charges filed.

Man, woman face

charges in Lykens

LYKENS — A man and women were both charged with harassment following a domestic incident at 3:08 p.m. Tuesday at 207 North Street in this Dauphin County borough, police said.

State police at Lykens said a 26-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman were involved in an argument that turned physical. Police did not identify the man or woman.

Charges were filed with Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum, Elizabethville, police said.

Assault results in

arrest in Mahanoy

MAHANOY CITY — Two Hazleton women were arrested by Mahanoy City police and charged in connection with an assault that occurred at 11:25 p.m. March 11 at 118 W. Mahanoy Ave.

Police said Tessa J. Schoch, 21, and Ariane A. Coleman, 26, who both have a last known address of 132 E. Maple St., will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Schoch was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault, three misdemeanor counts of simple assault and one summary count of reckless driving while Coleman was charged with two felony counts of aggravated assault and a misdemeanor charge of simple assault.

Police said officers were called to the home for a domestic assault where Jayson Hierro-Delacruz reported that Coleman, the mother of his child, and Schoch came to the residence with Coleman accusing him of having a woman there.

As Hierro-Delacruz tried to get back inside to his children, Coleman “jumped him” on the sidewalk and began punching him and scratching his neck, police said.

As the man called 911, police said Schoch pulled out with her car, hitting Hierro-Delacruz throwing him over the hood, onto the windshield and then to the ground.

Police said Coleman was eventually contacted on her cellphone and said she and Schoch would come to the station and provide a statement but never did.

One person hurt

in 3-vehicle crash

One person suffered minor injuries when three vehicles collided on Route 61, just south of Tunnel Road in Norwegian Township, about 5:05 p.m. Thursday, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Robert J. Rulavage, 43, of New Philadelphia, was driving a 2008 Subaru Outback north on Route 61 when he failed to see stopped traffic and ran into the back of a 2012 Toyota Tacoma driven by Thomas F. Hale, 67, of Ashland. The impact pushed the Hale vehicle into the back of a 2004 Jeep Liberty driven by Janet E. Kasmari, 63, of Saint Clair, police said.

Police said that Hale suffered “suspected” minor injuries while Rulavage and Kasmari were not hurt.

Rulavage will be cited for driving too closely, and police said Pottsville firefighters and Schuylkill EMS assisted at the scene.

Tires slashed

in Port Carbon

PORT CARBON — Port Carbon police are investigating a criminal mischief incident that occurred to the rear of 311 Coal St. between 5 and 7:45 a.m. Wednesday.

Police said Thomas D. Beachley reported someone slashed the two rear tires on his 2004 Dodge Durango while it was parked to the rear of his home and fled the area.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-628-3792.