Ronald H. Tobias Jr. is headed to state prison after admitting Thursday in Schuylkill County Court that he sexually abused a preteen girl in June 2014 at his city apartment.

Tobias, 39, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to three sex-related crimes, including aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors. Prosecutors withdrew charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault.

President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted Tobias’ plea and immediately sentenced him to serve seven to 14 years in a state correctional institution. Baldwin also sentenced Tobias to pay costs and have no contact with his victim.

Baldwin also ordered the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to evaluate Tobias to help determine whether he is a sexually violent predator. That ruling, which Baldwin will make at a later date, will affect the Megan’s Law sanctions that will be imposed on Tobias after he leaves prison.

Tobias said little during Thursday’s hearing, during which he wore a prison jumpsuit and handcuffs, except that he understood the details and consequences of his plea and was entering it knowingly and voluntarily.

Pottsville police charged Tobias with assaulting the 10-year-old girl between June 1, 2014, and June 30, 2014, when she was visiting him at 306 W. Market St. Apt. 1.

The incident came to light when the girl told a counselor that she had been sexually abused, police said.

Police said that when they interviewed Tobias, he said he had indecent contact with the girl, corroborated details of the incident that would have been known only to the victim and the perpetrator, and admitted telling her not to tell anyone else what had occurred.

Defendant: Ronald H. Tobias Jr.

Age: 39

Residence: Pottsville

Crimes committed: Three sex-related crimes, including aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors

Prison sentence: Seven to 14 years in a state correctional institution.

ORWIGSBURG — Humility.

It can be expressed in many ways, from simply being polite to your neighbors to making much greater sacrifices in an effort to put others before yourself.

The parishioners at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Orwigsburg, observed that value by adding something new to its traditional Holy Thursday worship service, the feet washing rite.

“This is a first for this congregation. They’ve never done the foot-washing rite. I’m a new pastor and we have a new choir director and we said ‘Let’s try it,’ ” said the Rev. Lee A. Diefenderfer, who has been pastor of the church since September 2014.

Justin McClure, Kaska, has been the choir director and church organist since April 2015.

“I think we wanted to include another element that’s very true to the evening. You’ll hear it in the Gospel passage,” McClure said, referring to John 13:1-17.

“Humility. That’s what the foot-washing service is all about. This is an act of servanthood. In the Gospel, Christ must wash feet, though Peter balks, to communicate that he truly came to serve as a prelude to Good Friday, the ultimate servanthood. We are called to follow Christ’s example as we care for one another, especially the poor and unloved,” Diefenderfer said.

Mary Ellen Hering, Orwigsburg, said she appreciated that the pastor added the rite to the service.

“I think it’s something that will add to the service because it’s something that Jesus did,” Hering said.

More than 75 people came out to Thursday night’s service at the church at 215 N. Warren St., and five of them volunteered to participate in the foot washing rite, which the pastor conducted.

The first was Gail Rarick, Orwigsburg, then Tom Wehr, Orwigsburg, stepped up.

“I’ve been a member of this church for about 16 or 17 years. And I think this is something interesting,” Rarick said.

“I’ve been a member about 30 or 35 years. I think it’s great that they’re adding this to the service. We’re doing more and more at our church right now that really pertains to what the church should be doing. And this is part of it,” Wehr said.

Thursday night’s service also included Holy Thursday traditions including the “Laying on of Hands” and the “Stripping of the Altar.”

“This marks the transition from the Eucharistic celebration to that of Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. It symbolizes Christ’s humiliation at the hands of the soldiers,” the pastor said.

During his sermon, Diefenderfer discussed his effort to improve the church.

“I said to church council in a very specific way ‘We need to get together a few people who will work with the staff with nothing but love, care and support. And I promised council that I would bring those people together, and that I would have an outline for them about how they would go about their work to keep all of us healthy and wrapped in care, concern and love,” the pastor said.

It took time to put that support team together, he said.

“It was about two months ago, we gathered our team. We talked about what we needed to do. And, if people do what they promised, and I really feel they are, you’ll have a staff who will receive love and support,” the pastor said.

Today, the church will observe Good Friday, and the church will observe “Tenebrae” at 7 p.m., the pastor said.

n Branchdale: The Citizens Fire Company, Route 209, will have a penny party auction from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 3 at the firehouse. “Bring your spare change to take chances,” organizers said in a press release. Items valued at $1 to $254 will be chanced off and people may buy as many chances as they wish. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-862-2157.

n Frackville: A bereavement support group sponsored by Covenant Home Care & Hospice will gather at noon April 6 at Broad Mountain Skilled Rehab, 500 W. Laurel St. The six-week support group will include local speakers on issues related to grief and loss. RSVP is required. For more information, call 800-726-8761.

n Girardville: Rangers Hose Company, 6 E. Ogden St., will have a gift card bingo from 2 to 5 p.m. April 3 at the firehouse. The cost is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Doors will open at noon. For tickets or more information, call 570-276-6922 or 570-276-1358. The company will also hae a wing night beginning at 5:30 p.m. April 9. Wings are $8 per dozen, fries are $3 and fries with any wing sauce, $4. A wide variety of wing flavors will be available. For more information, fcall 570-276-1406.

n Hazleton: The Greater Hazleton Concert Series will feature the Borealis Wind Quintet at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Hazleton Area High School Auditorium, 1601 W. 23rd St. Tickets are on sale now. For reservations or more information, call 570-788-4864. More information also is available at the series website at www.hazletonconcertseries.org.

n Mahanoy City: A “Head to Soul Makeover,” a free 10-week program open to teenage girls in Schuylkill County, will begin from 6 to 8 p.m. April 3 at Zion Baptist Church, 400 E. South St. hosted by Care Net of Schuylkill County in partnership with the church. It will take place on Sundays until June 12 — except Mother’s Day. The character makeover is a confidence-building program for girls ages 11 to 17, according to a press release. For more information, call 570-728-2135.

n Mahanoy City: The Mass in the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite — Tridentine Latin Mass — will be celebrated at St. Cecilia Chapel, South Catawissa Street, at 3 p.m. on Easter Sunday. The Rev. Edward B. Connolly will be the celebrant. Latin-English missals will be provided to assist in praying the Mass. The public is welcome. After the Mass, there will be a time of fellowship in the chapel hall. The Latin Mass is celebrated at 3 p.m. on the last Sunday of every month.

n Pottsville: The Crimson Tide girls’ softball and boys’ baseball teams will stage “Quartermania” from 2 to 5:30 p.m. April 3 in the cafeteria of the D.H.H. Lengel Middle School. The fundraisers is “a cross between an auction and a raffle where participants bid to win prizes,” according to a press release. Local vendors will be represented and a full concession stand will be available. Admission is $5 per person. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-429-2716, ext. 207.

n Pottsville: Diakon Living and Learning has a host of activities, classes, workshops and creative initiatives on its agenda to be held at a wide variety of locations. For more information regarding costs and types of sessions, call Susan Long at 570-624-3018 or email her at longs@diakon.org. More information also is available online at www.diakon.org/community-services/Living-Learning-After-50.

n Shenandoah: The Glover’s Hill Ladies Auxiliary is sponsoring a bus trip to Sands Casino Bethlehem on April 10. The cost is $23. The bus will leave at 9:30 a.m. and depart from the casino at 5 p.m. for the return trip. To make reservations or for more information, call Angie Salvadore at 570-462-2465.

n Shenandoah: The Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society will gather at 6 p.m. April 5 at the 201 S. Main St. history center. Speaker Karen Esak will focus on Sophia Cox, “Angel of the Anthracite Fields.” Admission is free, the public is welcome and refreshments will be served.

TAMAQUA — Careless smoking caused a fire that damaged a four-home row in Tamaqua and displaced five people early Thursday morning, borough Fire Chief Tom Hartz said.

Flames raged out of the second-floor bedroom windows at 116 Center St. and melted electrical wires, which were arcing when firefighters arrived just after 3:30 a.m., he said.

Hartz credited borough police, who were first on the scene, for putting out a second page for firefighters and evacuating residents from 118 Center St. before fire crews arrived.

Firefighters brought the blaze under control in about 20 minutes, Hartz said. Crews made a good interior attack, preventing the fire from spreading across the attics and common space near the roof, he said. Firefighters remained on scene until about 6:30 a.m., he said.

The home where the fire originated, 116 Center St., sustained the most fire damage, Hartz said. The home next door, 118 Center St., sustained smoke and water damage, he said. Both of these homes were occupied, while the homes at either end of the row, 114 and 120 Center St., were vacant, he said.

All of the homes except 120 Center St. sustained smoke and water damage, Hartz said. He believes the homes can be saved, but the owner of two of the homes did not have insurance, he said. The owners and residents of 118 Center St. had insurance, and the residents of 116 Center St. were not insured, Hartz said.

The American Red Cross and Salvation Army were on scene to assist those displaced. No one was injured, he said.

Crews from Coaldale and Anthracite Rapid Intervention Team assisted Tamaqua firefighters, Hartz said.

Center Street, which is also Route 309, was shut down for the fire operations, according to reports from the scene. The highway was reopened later Thursday morning.

MCADOO — A woman suffered injuries in a two-vehicle crash on East Blaine Street in McAdoo on Wednesday afternoon.

A box truck headed east on East Blaine Street and a silver Chevrolet Cavalier going west collided just before 1 p.m., restricting traffic on Blaine Street. After impact, the truck hit a trailer full of wood parked on the side of the road in the 600 block of East Blaine.

The driver of the Chevrolet, Theresa A. Honeywell, 54, of McAdoo, was flown to a regional trauma center for treatment, McAdoo police said, while Stephen Day, 23, of Berwick, who was driving the box truck, complained of pain but refused treatment on scene. Honeywell was flown from a location on Washington Street.

According to officers, Day told police Honeywell veered into his lane and he swerved to avoid her and hit the trailer. The crash occurred not far from the Kline Township line near Tresckow Road.

The truck sustained driver’s side front-end damage and the Chevrolet sustained heavy front-end damage.

McAdoo police, fire, ambulance as well as Kline Township police responded, as well as American Patient Transport Systems Inc.

T he message of Holy Week will play out in the streets of Gordon again this year.

The 38th annual Trek of the Cross, a re-enactment of Jesus carrying the cross to Calvary for his crucifixion, will be held at noon today, beginning at Simpson United Methodist Church, Biddle Street. The trek will move east on Biddle, turn left onto Hobart Street, then move to McKnight Street and back to Biddle. The trek will stop at the Methodist church for a 1 p.m. Good Friday service, conducted by the Rev. James Christman, pastor. The public is invited to walk along the route.

The trek was started in 1979 by Elmer Yost as a way to get the message of Good Friday to the public who didn’t or couldn’t attend church. His wife, Rose Yost, has participated in almost every trek and plans to walk again this year.

“I intend to walk it unless something happens and I can’t move my feet,” Yost, 82, said.

Yost’s great-nephew, Jeffrey Nemeth, Frackville, will portray Jesus again this year.

Elmer Yost played Jesus for the first 10 years. He had planned to do it for 12 years — one year for each apostle — but shortly after his 10th trek, he passed away. His nephew, Edward Labie, took over the role to complete Elmer’s goal. He continued the tradition until 2009, when he passed it over to his nephew, Nemeth.

Rose said Nemeth plans to keep the tradition in the family and pass it on to his son. She said that will be awhile as the boy is only 7 years old.

“His son is going to take over when he is old enough,” she said.

After almost four decades, Rose said people still accept the message they are sending with the trek. She said it’s similar to when Jesus made his walk. He picked up the cross and the people followed.

Rose said the trek has been affected by the weather in the past, specifically the first year Labie walked the trek. She said the event had to be cut short because it was raining so hard.

According to the National Weather Service, rain showers are likely with wind gusts up to 25 mph. Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 50s.

“God willing we have a good turnout and good weather,” Rose said.

Police: Woman

shot roosters

ASHLAND — Borough police have charged a woman for allegedly shooting and killing two roosters earlier this month.

Jenna Marie Caso, 21, of 224 Walnut St., was charged Tuesday with two misdemeanor counts of cruelty to animals, one misdemeanor count each of recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct, two summary counts of criminal mischief and three summary charges of violating the ordinance prohibiting the discharge of firearms within the borough limits.

Patrolman Philip Schlegel charged Caso with shooting the birds to the rear of her home about 6:20 a.m. March 8.

According to police, Caso said the birds had woken her up and had previously threatened the animals on social media. Police said the birds had gotten loose from the Pioneer Tunnel property and did not pose a threat or danger. Moreover, they had not received any complaints about the roosters previously.

Caso will receive a summons in the mail informing her of the charges and will then have to answer before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale during a preliminary hearing set for 10 a.m. May 4 in her Frackville courtroom.

Man died of self-

inflicted wound

HAMBURG — State police determined that a man found dead in his vehicle Wednesday near the Kernsville dam died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Police investigate

near burglary

Pottsville police are investigating an attempted burglary that occurred some time Monday or Tuesday at 1312 Mahantongo St.

Police said someone tried to pry open several locked doors and there was no evidence that someone gained access to the living area of the home and nothing was reported missing.

Police ask that anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact the Pottsville Bureau of Police at 570-622-1234, Ext. 332.

All information will remain confidential at the request of the caller, police said.

None injured in

1-vehicle crash

Pottsville police investigated a crash that was reported about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the area of the Coney Island West, 2286 W. Market St.

Police said their investigation determined that Tanya Viars, 39, of Pottsville, was driving a 2002 Ford Ranger east on Market Street and prepared to turn left into the parking lot of the restaurant.

The woman said that while doing so she bent over to grab her wallet, took her eyes off of the road and struck the cement planter along the south edge of the restaurant, causing disabling damage to her truck.

Police said that no injuries were reported and that Viars will be cited for careless driving as a result of the crash.

BARNESVILLE — A man was flown to a trauma center for burns he suffered Friday in a fire at his Ryan Township home.

Firefighters from Ryan Township and surrounding communities were called to the 74 Grier Ave. home of Frank Osifat about 12:15 p.m. for a fire in a second-floor bedroom.

Crews managed to bring the fire under control in a matter of minutes and contained the majority of the damage to the bedroom where the flames originated, officials said.

Osifat’s son, Peter Osifat, 22, was home at the time and suffered burns to his hands, feet and back.

He was treated at the scene by Ryan Township EMS and then taken to the Ryan Township Fire Company, where he was placed aboard a MedEvac helicopter that transported him to the burn unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest.

Ryan Township police Chief Richard Sinton said he spoke with Peter Osifat prior to him being taken to the landing zone. Sinton said Osifat reported having a candle lit in the bedroom. Osifat said he left the room and returned to find it on fire.

The chief said Frank and Peter Osifat and two others lived in the house and that only Peter was home when flames broke out.

Assisting Ryan Township firefighters were volunteers from Quakake, Hometown, Mahanoy City and Delano.

Grier Avenue was closed to traffic during the fire and drivers were detoured by fire police from Hometown and Ryan Township.

Deeds

Ashland — William F. and Inez M. Sierdzinski to Thomas D. Sierdzinski and William Sierdzinski; 122 Centre St.; $1.

Barry Township — Leroy J. and Debra J. Berner and Kelly S. Crosby to Barry L. II and Kelly S. Crosby; 1373 Deep Creek Road; $1.

The Country Church to Jordan and Brandi Carl; 8.42-acre property on Legislative Route 53115; $105,000.

Blythe Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Mark V. and Pamela D. Baddick; 138 Sunset Lane; $12,000.

Cass Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to JMAC Realty LLC; 55 High Road; $8,074.

Cressona — Eric M. and Meghan E. Prock to Dorothy M. Salata; 25 Marsha Drive; $147,000.

East Brunswick Township — Fern Moyer to William Charles Moyer and Fern Elaine Houser; 1/18th interest in 100.058-acre property; $1.

East Union Township — Jamie E. DePaolis to Jamie E. DePaolis and Daniel D. Noel; Lot 90WS, Eagle Rock; $1.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Bank of America NA; 17 W. Market St., Sheppton; $1,131.97.

James C. Jr. and Judith A. Sparr to James C. Jr. and Judith A. Sparr; 1150 Center St., Sheppton; $1.

Elvin Maley to Yomaris E. Peralta and Sagrario A. Muñoz; property on Pine Street, Sheppton; $10,000.

Steven Kobza to John D. and Kara L. Rudden; 155 First St., Oneida; $18,500.

Frackville — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Peter and Phyllis Szturmay; property on Middle Street; $16,000.

Gilberton — Helen W. Evans, by attorney in fact Susan Berezwick, to Joyce A. Hereshko and Derek J. Flail; 2204 Main St.; $15,000.

Kline Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to 185417 Registered Portfolio Trust; 23 Fifth St., Kelayres; $1,251.

Mahanoy City — Evelyn Reed to Evelyn Reed and Kimberly Ann Reed; 510 W. Centre St.; $1.

McAdoo — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Federal National Mortgage Association; 101 S. Sheridan St.; $1,169.24.

Dale E. Dietrich to Daniel Derflinger; 124 N. Sheridan St.; $65,000.

Mount Carbon — Susan B. McCord, executrix of the Estate of Barbara A. Kull, to Susan B. McCord; 72 Main St.; $1.

New Philadelphia — Odell Roy Inc. to Wealth Maximus LLC; 34 Water St.; $3,150.

Port Carbon — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to U.S. Bank NA; 19 Pike St.; $1,266.01.

Pottsville — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Federal National Mortgage Association; 512 Howard Ave.; $1,133.37.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Ditech Financial LLC; 509 Carbon St.; $1,124.86.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Riverview Bank; 821 Water St.; $1,541.89.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to CACL Federal Credit Union; 254 Wallace St.; $1,261.51.

Scott D. Forney to George Manning and Brian Manning; 1340 W. Norwegian St.; $30,000.

Joseph P. Holahan to Eric M. and Meghan E. Prock; 1322 Howard Ave.; $159,400.

Ryan Township — Gary M.J. and Yvonne A. Moss to Gino M. Tedesco and Kathryn Smith; 8 E. Chestnut St., Barnesville; $126,500.

Saint Clair — Mary Prokop, executrix of the Last Will & Testament of Ann Hesse, Charles Mizenberg and Geri Lynn Mizenberg Singh to Mary Prokop; 1.44-acre property; $60,000.

Schuylkill Haven — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to U.S. Bank NA; 98 S. Berne St.; $1,291.28.

Shenandoah — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Bank of America NA; 21 S. White St.; $1,193.04.

JPMorgan Chase Bank NA to CR Properties 2015 LLC; 307 W. Poplar St.; $3,100.

Alicia Moran and Blas M. Jimenez to Alicia Moran; 112 W. Laurel St.; $1.

Michael Daka to Leonard O. Jr. and Wendy L. Veach; 123 S. West St.; $12,000.

South Manheim Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Federal National Mortgage Association; 1439 Wynonah Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1,159.48.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.; 1598 Lightfoot Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1,139.19.

Tamaqua — Stephen McGregor, executor of the Estate of Irene L. McGregor, to Robert F. McGregor and Stephen and Shelley McGregor; 21 Lafayette St.; $1.

Wayne Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Branch Banking and Trust Co.; 319 S. Front St.; $1,412.07.

West Mahanoy Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Deutsche Bank National Trust Co.; 153 S. Line St., Altamont; $1,252.70.

West Penn Township — MBV on Dorset LLC to Esterly BV LLC; 2.4124-acre property on Route 895; $150,000.

In recent Schuylkill County Court action, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin on Wednesday accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

William A. Griffiths, 32, of Shamokin; four counts each of access device fraud and theft by deception and one of theft; two years probation, $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Account payment and $50 bench warrant fee. Prosecutors withdrew five counts of receiving stolen property and one of criminal mischief.

Daniel C. Groves, 40, of Pottsville; prohibited possession of offensive weapon and driving under suspension; 18 months probation, $200 fine and $50 CJEA payment.

Jonathan R. Kechula, 41, of Barnesville; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of driving under suspension.

Heather A. Kessler, 30, of Mahanoy City; improper furnishing of drug-free urine; 12 months probation and $50 CJEA payment.

Kody A. Kirkland, 23, of Pottsville; retail theft; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment and $50 bench warrant fee.

Justin Knoll, 28, of Frackville; possession of drug paraphernalia and false identification to law enforcement authorities; time served to 12 months in prison with immediate parole, $100 Substance Abuse Education Fund payment, $50 CJEA payment and $50 bench warrant fee.

David P. Riegel Jr., 21, of Coaldale; theft of lost property and theft; 12 months probation, $100 in CJEA payments, $500 restitution and 10 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of receiving stolen property.

John A. Sadusky Jr., 48, of Pottsville; simple assault; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment and $50 bench warrant fee.

Karissa L. Shumgart, 26, of Tamaqua; two counts each of access device fraud, identity theft and theft of lost property and one each of theft from a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property; 23 months probation and $100 in CJEA payments.

Joseph G. Spangler, 20, of Tower City; DUI and stop sign violation; 72 hours to six months in prison, $1,025 in fines, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $400 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and 10 hours community service.

Nicholas D. Weiss, 31, of Pottsville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; 23 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Rikki J. Williams, 20, of Pottsville; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $50 bench warrant fee.

Randy A. Zimmerman, 56, of Pottsville; DUI, driving under suspension and improperly entering intersection; six months probation, $525 in fines, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and 10 hours community service.

In other recent criminal court action, a Pottsville man will have his freedom restricted for two years after being sentenced Tuesday in Schuylkill County Court on six drug-related charges plus one traffic offense.

Keshon L. Canyon, 24, will spend two years in the intermediate punishment program under the terms of Judge John E. Domalakes’ sentence.

“Don’t get into any more trouble,” Domalakes warned Canyon.

Domalakes also sentenced Canyon to pay costs, $400 in fines, $100 to the SAEF, $50 to the CJEA, $431 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Harrisburg and $51 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Canyon pleaded no contest on Jan. 26 to three counts of possession of a controlled substance and one each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a small amount of marijuana and driving under suspension. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of operating vehicle without required financial responsibility.

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

Shenandoah police had charged Canyon with possessing cocaine, heroin and marijuana on Oct. 15, 2013, in the borough.

“The defendant has an admitted narcotics problem,” Domalakes said.

Also on Tuesday, Domalakes sentenced Thomas J. Paris, 51, of Sheppton, to spend 23 months on probation consecutive to his current sentence, pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment, and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.

“You do have an alcohol problem,” Domalakes told Paris.

Paris originally pleaded guilty on Jan. 26 to receiving stolen property. East Union Township police had charged Paris with possessing a stolen check on Jan. 19, 2015, in the township.

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

Pottsville’s plan to upgrade the sidewalks near Garfield Square is on track, and the city council hopes to advertise for a contractor in July, City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Thursday.

“If everything goes according to plan, the new sidewalks will be installed in that area by the end of the year or in the first quarter of 2017. If the weather holds it up, it will be started this fall and finished in the spring. It will include new sidewalks and lighting and trees, very similar to what we’ve done in the past on North Centre Street,” Palamar said.

For more than two years, city officials have been working to revitalize the section of West Market Street from North Centre to North Sixth streets, a six-block corridor. There have been talks about improving sidewalks there and finding the funding to accomplish such a project.

This year, city officials believe they can afford to replace the sidewalks on the north and south sides of West Market Street from Fourth Street to Sixth Street. Palamar and Karen B. Parish, senior project manager for Mullin, Lonergan & Associates Inc., Camp Hill, discussed the project Thursday.

“Karen helps us with all of our CDBG projects,” Palamar said.

The city had hoped to pay for the entire project with federal Community Development Block Grant funds, but the rules which control that kind of funding influenced the city’s decisions regarding the project.

“The way we fund curbs and sidewalks has changed significantly. Karen, the manner in which the state allows us to spend money on downtown curbs and sidewalks has changed. What was the crux of that?” Palamar asked Parish.

“Up until 2013, they were using 2000 census data to justify low-to-moderate income. Then HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) finally issued new data based on the 2010 census. And since the census didn’t list income, they used American Community Survey data. And that was changed to represent the low-mod. So the city was no longer considered overall low income. That designation for the city went away then,” Parish said.

“So what we had to do was rethink West Market Street. The blocks of West Market near Garfield Square are more residential. It’s low-mod income. It’s eligible,” Parish said.

“So we decided to do the area near Garfield Square. As we look forward into the future, we can look at, perhaps, bringing additional funding sources in to do those sidewalks closer to the downtown,” Palamar said.

Palamar wasn’t sure when the sidewalks in the project area were installed and doubted they were put in as part of an initiative like the one the city is about to do.

Garfield Square is a tourist attraction in the city. It’s a grass-and-memorial-filled island in the 500 block of West Market Street. Its centerpiece is the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Monument, which was sculpted by an artist named August Zeller in 1889, according to newspaper archives.

To afford to replace the sidewalks on West Market Street between Fourth and Sixth streets, the city had to set aside CDBG money budgeted over the past four years. Palamar had a list of how much was put aside: $20,964.45 from the 2012 CDBG program; $166,000 from the 2013 CDBG program; $126,511 from the 2014 CDBG program; and $190,090 from the 2015 CDBG program.

The city hasn’t received its 2015 CDBG allocation yet.

“The Community Development Block Grant program is federally funded and has continued to be processed through the budget impasse. The City of Pottsville has received an annual CDBG entitlement allocation dating back to 1984. The city was last approved for $288,311 in funding as part of the 2014 federal allocation and the 2015 application is currently under review,” Daniel Carrigan, press assistant for the state Department of Community and Economic Development Communication Office, said Wednesday.

Despite that, the city is moving along with the project.

“Right now, all the preliminary engineering is being done,” Palamar said.

Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville, the city’s appointed engineer, is working on that project.

“The highway occupancy permit is also being developed by Benesch. That’s the most cumbersome part of the project. We’re also looking ahead to tree placement. We have a little community group working on that,” Palamar said.

That group includes Joseph T. Orlowsky, chairman of the Pottsville Shade Tree Commission, and people who work and reside in that area, including Paul J. Datte, who has an office at 450 W. Market St.

“They’re going to get a bunch of people together to help us purchase and select the trees,” Palamar said.

In other matters, the city council on March 14 approved the salaries and wages of appointed office holders, elected office holders and employees of the city.

The chief of police and the city administrator received 3.5 percent increases this year.

In 2015, the police chief received a salary of $87,500. In 2016, the chief will receive $90,562.50, according to the city salary ordinances from those years.

In 2015, the city administrator received a salary of $82,909.87. This year, the city administrator will receive $85,811.72, according to the city salary ordinances from those years.

The salary increase percentage was not across the board.

For example, the following employees will receive a 2.5 percent increase, according to the city salary ordinances from 2015 and 2016:

• In 2015, the fire chief received a salary of $53,524.31. This year, the fire chief will receive $54,862.42.

• In 2015, the deputy health/code enforcement officer received a salary of $34,717.94. In 2016, that employee will receive $35,585.89.

• In 2015, the assistant code enforcement officer received a salary of $30,900. In 2016, that employee will receive $31,672.50.

• In 2015, the health officer/animal control officer received a salary of $35,343.51. In 2016, that employee will receive $36,227.10.

SHENANDOAH — The commemoration of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ on Good Friday had an added dimension in Eastern Rite Catholic churches this year with the celebration of the Feast of the Annunciation on the same day.

One of the churches to mark the two important religious events was St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Shenandoah with a Divine Liturgy celebrated by Monsignor Myron Grabowsky, pastor, assisted by the Rev. Thomas DeSimone, a Roman Catholic priest from the Archdiocese of New York.

The Annunciation feast marks the announcement almost 2,000 years ago by the Archangel Gabriel to Mary in Bethlehem that she would bear a son who would be the son of God. When Mary agreed, Jesus was conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit and became man (The Incarnation). It is celebrated on March 25, nine months before the birth of Jesus on Dec. 25.

While the Annunciation, which is a holy day of obligation in the Eastern Catholic churches, is a fixed day, Good Friday and other days in the Lenten and Easter seasons are movable on the calendar, and occasionally the Annunciation and Good Friday coincide. In Roman Catholic churches, the celebration of the Annunciation is moved to after Easter. This year it has been moved to April 4.

Normally, the Divine Liturgy/Mass is not permitted on Good Friday, but Eastern Rite churches make the exception for the celebration of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom with Vespers for the Feast of the Annunciation on Great (Good) Friday. The last time the Annunciation and Good Friday were on the same day was in 2005. The next time it will happen will be in 2157.

Most of the prayers in the Divine Liturgy were those from the Annunciation liturgy, but the Gospel reading included portions of three Gospels (Matthew, Luke and John) that included the narratives of the Annunciation and the Passion of Christ from his judgement by Pilate to his burial.

After reading the Gospel, DeSimone gave the homily. He spoke of Judas’ betrayal of Jesus and how Satan entered Judas when he opened himself up to him.

“Every time we say ‘yes’ to a sin, we are allowing him (Satan) to come in,” DeSimone said. “Confession pushes Satan back out, but we have to be aware of that. Why do you think it is easier to sin the second time with the same sin? Each time it gets easier and easier and easier. What are we saying yes to? Who are we saying yes to? Are we saying (to God) do unto me according to your word, or do unto you according to my word?”

The conclusion of the Divine Liturgy led to the procession of the Holy Burial Shroud (Plaschanicja) of Christ, which contains a depiction of Christ at his burial. According to the explanation in the prayer booklet, the priest takes the censer and incenses the Holy Shroud from each of the four sides of the altar. Grabowsky gave the Holy Shroud to Sam Litwak, Michael Fufla, Fred Koch and Edward Mohutsky, who carried it through the church in a procession that included most of those who attended the services. The procession went around the inside of the church three times. The procession symbolizes the funeral procession of Christ to the grave, stopping in the center aisle. After prayers before the tomb (a wooden stand large enough for the shroud and surrounded by flowers), Grabowsky placed the shroud in the tomb and the Book of the Gospels near it, and invited everyone to come to the front and venerate the shroud. The church remained open into the late evening for people to pray. The church will open at 10 a.m. today for veneration until Resurrection Matins and the Vigil Divine Liturgy are celebrated at 4 p.m.

MINERSVILLE — A woman was burned critically when flames tore through the apartment building she lived in Friday afternoon, leaving a total of 16 people homeless.

Firefighters were called to the three-story building at 2 Sunbury St. about 2:40 p.m. and found heavy fire to the rear of the structure.

Firefighters quickly pulled Crystal Peterson from her second-floor rear apartment and turned her over to Minersville EMS for treatment of burns.

The woman was taken to a helicopter and flown to the burn unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest. Minersville police Patrolman Jeffrey Bowers said Peterson suffered burns to 65 percent of her body and was admitted in critical condition.

Taken to an area hospital was Rose Toney, who lived in a third-floor apartment. Also living in that apartment and not injured was the woman’s husband, Nate Toney, and their daughters, Kaila and Brittany. Another resident, Steven Harmer, and two people who were visiting — Kyle Nelson and Mallory Wentzel — also escaped injury.

Residing in another apartment on the second floor was Terry O’Shaughnessy, while Sandra and Joseph Klusman resided in yet another second-floor apartment.

Living in the first floor rear apartment were Budd Houser and Daniel Houser; Mike Greenawalt and Liza Calvin lived in a first-floor, alley-side apartment and Tina Pauley resided in another first-floor apartment.

Besides Peterson and Rose Toney, no one else living in the building that contained a total of eight apartments was injured.

Minersville Fire Chief Eric Eichenberg conducted the investigation into the cause of the fire with the assistance of state police fire marshal Trooper Thomas Finn and Bowers.

The investigation determined the fire started in the area of the stove in the Peterson apartment and has been ruled accidental.

Firefighters arriving at the scene found heavy fire coming from the Peterson apartment to the rear of the building. Crews managed to quickly knock down the flames containing the majority of the fire damage to that one apartment.

All of those displaced by the fire are being assisted by the Tri-County Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Patty Daley, disaster team captain, and three other Red Cross representatives were at the scene and spoke with residents of the building, obtaining information and determining what type of assistance each needed.

Assisting Minersville firefighters were volunteers from Pottsville, Llewellyn, Hecksherville and Frackville along with the Schuylkill Haven Rapid Intervention Team.

n Ashland: An American Red Cross blood drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. April 7 at Christ United Lutheran Church, 437 Airport Road. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood. For more information or to make an appointment, call 800-733-2767.

n Branchdale: A piano concert and dinner will be held at St. Mary Church, 72 State Road, from 7 to 10 p.m. April 22. The cost is $20. Composer/pianist Stuart Ryerse will present a solo concert that will include his original music. The dinner will follow. It will include baked ham, roast beef, green beans, carrots, potatoes, Italian cake and Philadelphia cheesecake and a complimentary glass of wine. For reservations or more information, call 570-815-4543.

n Frackville: The Frackville Area Senior Citizens group is sponsoring a bus trip May 11 to the American Music Theater, Lancaster, for “The Crooners” show. The cost is $65. For reservations or more information, call Marie at 570-874-2774 or Grant at 570-874-3531.

n Pottsville: The Majestic Players will present Joseph Kesselring’s “Arsenic and Old Lace” at 7 p.m. April 1 and 2 at the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St. For tickets or more information, call 570-628-4647.

n Pottsville: Courtney Fasnacht, executive director of the Manufacturers and Employers Council Inc., the nonprofit 501(c)3 branch of the Manufacturers and Employers Association, recently spoke to members of the Pottsville Rotary Club. The association was started in Schuylkill County in 1964 “to provide services and programs to large and small manufacturers in the county,” Fasnacht said, according to the Rotary Bulletin. She said the MAEC goal is to “help develop a qualified workforce” and one of the ways is through the Your Employability Skills program, which targets seniors in high school and is a one-credit program covering 120 hours taken during the regular school day. It is an elective that provides students with “real, hands-on training that will be applicable to the actual workplace.” Fasnacht said YES program topics include communications, health and safety, personal development, quality and technology and teamwork. MAEC, she continued, also coordinates the Schuylkill County Career Fair, which will be held this year in Martz Hall on April 19. The fair provides students with the opportunity to speak with local employers, post-secondary educational institutions and the military about careers.

n Seltzer: Seltzer Hose Company officials in a press release thanked everyone who donated to the company’s annual fund drive and issued a reminder to members that dues are overdue. Members who have not yet paid should do so as soon as possible at the firehouse or by mailing a check to Seltzer Hose Company, P.O. Box 4270, Seltzer, PA 17972. The company will hold its 15th annual deer roast on April 2. The event is by ticket-only and for people 21 and older. For tickets or more information, call Bev at 570-544-6448. The 2016 company officers are Frank Melenchick, president; Beverly Holley, vice president; Maryann Lascala, secretary; William Kurtek, treasurer; Frank Sylvester, steward; Robert McClintock, fire chief; Michael Kitsock, assistant fire chief. Trustees include Dana Murray, Kim “Tips” Holley and Brian Murray.

n Shenandoah: The Polish American Fire Company, 115 W. Centre St., is taking orders for its 100th anniversary history book. The books, which have more than 100 pages, are $20 each. For people who want to have a book mailed to them, there is an additional $5 fee for postage. Payments should be made by check in an envelope that includes your name, address and phone number, marked “Attention History Book Committee.” The envelopes can be left at the company grill after 3 p.m. daily or mailed to the fire company. The deadline to order is April 17. For more information, call 570-788-4498.

HARRISBURG — By large margins, Pennsylvania voters support a severance tax on natural gas production and increased tobacco taxes which affect smaller proportions of taxpayers as a way to balance the state budget, according to a Franklin & Marshall College poll released this week.

However, voters by similarly large margins oppose hiking the state personal income tax to get Pennsylvania out of a $2 billion built-in revenue deficit. Opinion is divided closely on extending the state sales tax to include more items, the poll found. For example:

• 73 percent of respondents support a severance tax compared to 22 percent who oppose it.

• 79 percent support new taxes on the sale of cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and cigars compared to 18 percent who oppose them.

• 69 percent oppose hiking the income tax compared to 28 percent who support it.

• 45 percent support expanding the sales tax to include more items compared to 51 percent who oppose it.

Nearly half of the respondents (44 percent) favor both spending cuts and tax hikes to deal with the revenue deficit, while 35 percent favor cutting state programs and services only and 12 percent favor increasing taxes only.

The poll was conducted between March 14 and Sunday, just days before a nine-month budget impasse ended when Gov. Tom Wolf allowed a $6.6 billion supplemental budget bill written by Republican lawmakers to become law without his signature. The bill provides $200 million more for public schools and contains no tax hikes. Wolf said it leaves the budget $300 million out of balance.

The poll surveyed 828 registered Pennsylvania voters with a margin of error of plus or minus 3.4 percentage points.

Many of the same fiscal issues that set the Democratic governor and GOP-controlled Legislature apart during the impasse are present in the ongoing debate over the next budget for fiscal 2016-17.

Wolf has proposed a $33.3 billion budget for next year which calls for boosts in education spending and other programs and $2.7 billion in new taxes, including a severance tax and hikes in the personal income and cigarette taxes. GOP lawmakers strongly criticized hiking taxes as a way to address the state’s fiscal problems and focused on cutting public pension costs and selling state-owned liquor stores to private operators instead.

Terry Madonna, Ph.D., the poll director, called the severance tax and tobacco taxes “niche taxes” since they apply to narrow segments of the spectrum of taxpayers.

The problem is that niches taxes don’t generate the same kind of revenue needed to erase the deficit that would be available from hiking the broad-based income and sales taxes, he said.

This creates headaches for politicians trying to plug the budget deficit amid warnings of more downgrades for state borrowing from credit rating agencies, he said.

“They’re on the horns of a dilemma here,” Madonna said. “Voters want services. They are reluctant to pay for them.”

GORDON — The tradition of the “Trek of the Cross” in the borough continued on Good Friday for the 38th time as a remembrance of Jesus Christ carrying the cross to his crucifixion and death.

For the seventh year in a row, Jeffrey Nemeth, 41, of Frackville, prepared for his walk through Gordon, putting on a crown of thorns, a white robe and purple sash. As is the tradition, he wore no shoes for the trek, walking barefoot as had the two other men who portrayed Jesus in the first three decades of the devotional.

The trek began at noon from Simpson United Methodist Church with participants, some in period costumes, others in regular clothing, gathering at the church near the former parsonage that was used for getting into costumes. Nemeth led the way, flanked by two Roman centurions portrayed by brothers Daulton and Tanner Smith, Gordon.

The trek moved east on Biddle Street, turned left onto Hobart Street, then moved to McKnight Street to walk its length back to Biddle Street, ending at the Methodist church for a community ecumenical Good Friday service at 1 p.m. by the Rev. James Christman, pastor.

For more than 30 years, the trek’s route was the shape of a cross, with stops at St. Paul Lutheran Church and Our Lady of Good Counsel Church, both on Biddle Street, as part of the crossbar where Jesus’ hands were nailed. Since both churches are no longer being used for services, the trek route was shortened.

Nemeth was thrilled to see the weather clear just in time.

“I said that the good Lord was going to turn the water off and turn on the sun for us,” Nemeth said. “It poured rain this morning to wash the streets off for us.”

Accompanying Nemeth was his son, Jeffrey Jr., who may take over in years to come.

“I figure when I can’t do this anymore, he can take over,” he said.

There were new walkers this year, but also some regulars, including Rose Yost, Gordon, whose husband, Elmer, began the tradition in 1979. “Moses” also walked in the procession along the streets, being portrayed by Jeanette Horner, 70, of Weishample. A member of Barry Salem United Methodist Church in Weishample, Friday was her second time participating, her first being last year.

“I walked last year, but not in this,” Horner said, referring to her costume. “Last year my girlfriend said she was coming to the trek and invited me. I decided to do it again this year because I loved it. It’s important to think about what Jesus did walking with that cross on his back.”

The tradition began in 1979 when Elmer Yost, Allentown, picked up a large cross and walked through the streets portraying Jesus Christ to bring the salvation message of Good Friday to Gordon’s homebound. The first year, Yost did the trek by himself. The second year he had a friend come from Allentown as a soldier. On the third year, he rented two soldier costumes.

When he started the trek, Yost was an Allentown resident, but made regular visits to the borough and was a member of Simpson United Methodist Church. The pastor at the time was interested in re-enactments and supported Yost’s idea.

Yost had planned to do the “Trek” for 12 years — one year for each of the 12 apostles, with the hope that it would continue beyond that time. Shortly after the 10th trek, Yost passed away. In order to complete the intended 12 years of treks, Yost’s nephew, Edward Labie, Girardville, picked up the cross in 1989 for the two remaining years. Those two treks became 21 treks, his last in 2009. Nemeth, who is Labie’s nephew, took on the role of Jesus in 2010.

Over the past 37 treks, only two have been adversely affected by weather. It snowed during one of Yost’s treks, which he still did in bare feet. The other trek was the year Labie took over for his late uncle when a heavy rain fell throughout the event. Many Good Fridays began with rain, but as with yesterday, it was rain-free by noon, with the sun breaking out from behind clouds just as the trek began.

Gordon Fire Police provided traffic control.

None injured in

2-vehicle collision

ORWIGSBURG — Three people escaped injury in a two-vehicle accident in North Manheim Township on Wednesday afternoon, state police at Schuylkill Haven said Thursday.

A 2016 Ford Fusion driven by Doris B. Dawson, 84, of Tomball, Texas, was westbound on West Market Street, state Route 443, at 1:36 p.m. Wednesday, and attempted to make a left turn onto Route 61. While she had the green light, Dawson failed to yield to an a 2005 Buick LaCrosse driven by Carol Rathgeber, 83, of Honeybrook, headed east from the jug handle across Route 61, police said.

The left front end of Dawson’s vehicle hit the left side of Rathgeber’s vehicle. Dawson’s vehicle sustained a broken tire rod and could not be driven from the scene. It was pushed to the parking lot of a nearby business, the Freeze, police said.

Richard L. Coller, 55, of Schuylkill Haven, was a passenger in Rathgeber’s vehicle, police said.

Dawson was cited with a traffic violation, police said.

Woman cited in

2-vehicle accident

SUMMIT STATION — No one was injured in a two-vehicle accident Sunday in Wayne Township, state police in Schuylkill Haven said.

James M. Cooper, 46, of Schuylkill Haven, was driving a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado southbound on Route 183 at 12:02 p.m. when he was stopped at the intersection with Firehouse Road, waiting to make a left turn.

Pauline A. Schuller, 52, of Saint Clair, was traveling southbound, approaching Cooper’s vehicle from the rear, when she did not realize that Cooper was stopped, police said. Schuller attempted to swerve and applied the brakes to stop prior to colliding with Cooper’s vehicle, but was unsuccessful. Schuller’s 1999 Pontiac Grand Am struck the rear driver’s side of Cooper’s vehicle with its front passenger side, then struck a guide rail with its front end, coming to final rest on the northbound shoulder.

Cooper’s vehicle came to final rest on the southbound shoulder, after being struck.

The drivers, as well as a one-year-old female passenger in Schuller’s car, were not injured, police said. All were properly restrained with lap and shoulder belts, or child safety seat.

Schuller’s car was towed from the scene by Moyer’s. Cooper’s vehicle was drivable following the collision. Summit Station Volunteer Fire Department assisted.

Police cited Schuller with not driving at a safe speed.

The Minersville Area School District is thankful the 2015-16 budget will become law Sunday.

The board met Wednesday for its monthly meeting, the same day Gov. Tom Wolf announced he is going to permit the budget to become law without his signature. By doing so, he said funding will be distributed to schools and other entities that need it. He warned there are hurdles ahead that must be overcome, including a $2 billion deficit. He said a balanced budget is needed for the 2016-17 budget.

Minersville Area Superintendent Carl McBreen is relieved the long wait is over.

“Obviously all the school districts are extremely satisfied that there is relief in sight,” he said.

The district’s budget is about $16 million. Of that, the district gets about $5.7 million from the state. Thus far, it has received 45 percent of its state funding, amounting to $3,663,365.

McBreen said Friday that he did not know when the district will receive the rest of its funding.

In a press release, McBreen said the district is operating on a partial budget because the budget had not been passed and money was being used on only major priorities. The district did not have to take out a loan during the budget impasse.

Al Wank, school board president, said the district had to delay making payments to vendors because of the budget impasse.

“We are going to be fine now,” he said.

Both McBreen and Wank said they do not want to see the same thing happen for the 2016-17 budget.

A tractor-trailer knocked over the pole holding pedestrian crossing signals in downtown Pottsville on Friday morning, according to a witness at the scene.

The incident occurred at 10:02 a.m. Friday on the sidewalk in front of the Thompson Building at West Market and North Centre streets, according to a supervisor at the Schuylkill County Communications Center, Pottsville. Pottsville police are investigating.

The tractor-trailer was eastbound on West Market and was making a right turn onto North Centre when its tires crept up on the southwest sidewalk, a witness, Ken Beury Pottsville, said.

“Right here are the tracks. Right here are the tire marks,” Beury said as he pointed out the tire tracks crossing the corner of that sidewalk.

The impact tipped the signal pole south and it smashed against the sidewalk.

Beury said the driver of the tractor-trailer stopped to evaluate the damage, then got back into the vehicle and continued driving south on Centre Street.

James K. Reiley

Defendants whose cases Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley considered, the charges against each one and the judge’s disposition of the matters, included:

Stephen W. Baney, 30, of 488 Peacock St., Pottsville; waived for court: dissemination, photographing or filming child sex acts, child pornography and criminal use of a communications facility.

Jeffrey W. Tellez, 44, of 1423 Bunting St., Pottsville; dismissed: bad checks.

Rebekah R. Johnson, 32, of 1107 E. Arch St., Ashland; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia

David A. Fegley Jr., 26, of 252 E. Bacon St., Pottsville; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, signaling improperly and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

James J. Moran, 18, of 620 W. Market St., Orwigsburg; waived for court: obedience to traffic control signals and DUI-controlled substance.

John M. Smith, 21, of 723 W. Market St., Apt. B, Pottsville; waived for court: criminal mischief.

Jeffrey A. Najunas Jr., 21, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville; held for court: contraband, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Anthony J. Kilker

SHENANDOAH — A 25-year-old Barnesville woman charged by Mahanoy City police with an Oct. 23 theft waived her right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.

Lauren Ann Garrett, 23 Williams St., was arrested by Mahanoy City police Patrolman Thomas Rentschler and charged with theft, receiving stolen property and theft by deception.

By waiving her right to a hearing, Garrett will now have to answer to all three charges against her in Schuylkill County Court.

Rentschler said Garrett and John Via borrowed a vehicle owned by Stephen Miersky and were to return it in about and hour or hour and a half.

When Garrett and Via failed to return the vehicle, Miersky tried to call Garrett but kept getting a message that the number was changed or disconnected. Miersky reported the theft and Rentschler said the charges were filed after the vehicle had not been returned by Oct. 27.

Other court cases included:

Ashley C. Forker-Duran, 29, of 307 W. Coal St., Shenandoah; possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving without a license and turning movements and required signals.

Stephen J. Kronkowsky, 46, of 220 W. Poplar St., Shenandoah; held for court: DUI, DUI-controlled substance, possession of marijuana, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without a license and restrictions on alcoholic beverages.

Joseph Polaconis, 28, of 1149 W. Lloyd St., Shenandoah; withdrawn ; possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Steven A. McField, 59, of 132 N. Bower St., Apt. 3, Shenandoah; withdrawn: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Amy Dower, 41, of 34 W. Penn St., Shenandoah; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG — A West Mahanoy Township woman is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving her right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges resulting from an incident in October 2015 in Wayne Township.

Stacey M. Pukiewicz, 40, of 43 Lost Creek Road, Lost Creek, faces charges of receiving stolen property, theft from a motor vehicle, criminal trespass and public drunkenness.

Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over all charges for against Pukiewicz after the defendant waived her right to the hearing.

State police at Schuylkill Haven allege that Pukiewicz stole a Garmin global positioning system device at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 18, 2015, from a 2005 Ford Escape sport utility vehicle at 1609 Long Run Road. Police said the device has a value of $130.

Police said Pukiewicz was intoxicated when she committed the theft.

Pukiewicz is free on bail with electronic monitoring pending further court proceedings.

Other defendants whose cases Ferrier considered on Tuesday, the charges against each one and the judge’s dispositions of the matters included:

Matthew J. Fenstermacher, 27, of 308 Parkway, Schuylkill Haven; driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving and failure to notify police of accident; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of careless driving and failure to notify police of accident withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Jennifer K. Gernert, 38, of 19 Main St., Kaska; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to display certificate of inspection; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Joshua R. Hippert, 27, of 252 S. Tulpehocken St., Pine Grove; possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating vehicle without valid inspection; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Sabrina L. Hunt, 20, of 325 Maple Blvd., Orwigsburg; possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Travis J. Riegel, 31, of 31 Fairview Ave., Schuylkill Haven; DUI, driving unregistered vehicle and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Tracy A. Wagner, 42, of 2824 Hillvale Ave., West Lawn; theft by deception and bad checks; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Robert H. Yarima, 49, of 935 Cressona Road, Pottsville; DUI, disregarding traffic lane, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving and seat belt violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.