Information not clear

Since Pottsville Area school board rejected Gillingham Charter School’s proposal for a second five-year charter on Dec. 2, the public hearings on the matter will be required, Casey Smith, deputy communications director with the Pennsylvania Department of Education press office in Harrisburg, said Thursday. In Wednesday’s edition, she indicated otherwise since she was unaware of the complete history of the case.

n Frackville: The Frackville Elks Lodge, 307 S. Third St., will have a mackerel breakfast from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Tickets are $8 each and include a full menu. For more information, call 570-874-2500.

n Orwigsburg: The Orwigsburg Lions Club will again host “one of the area’s most hilarious and fun-filled events” — the Miss America Pageant — April 1 and 2 in the Blue Mountain High School Auditorium. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and the pageant will begin at 7:30 p.m. The club holds it every five years and the contestants “are made up of male Lions members that invest months of hard work to get ‘swimsuit ready’ and perfect their various talent and dance routines to compete” for the crown, according to a Lions press release. The “beauties” in the 2016 pageant will feature “strong, glamorous talent in the 180- to 250-pound weight class.” The pageant, according to the release, is a club tradition that dates back to the 1960s and has become a Lions tradition. All money raised will go back to the Orwigsburg community. Over the last six years, the money has benefited the Veterans Memorial Building, food pantry, walking trail, library, MDA, Easter egg hunts, Albright Woods maintenance and Little League lights. Tickets in advance are $15 for adults and $12 for senior citizens 65 and older and students. Tickets at the door will be $18 each. Tickets are available from any Lions club member or at the following sites: Pottsville Provision, 415 N. Seventh St., Pottsville; Healthy Habits Natural Market, Route 61, Orwigsburg, and Market Square Coffee House, 118 W. Market St., Orwigsburg.

n Pine Grove: The sixth annual Pine Grove area “Hugs & Kisses” Chinese and bidding auction will be held beginning at 8 a.m. April 9 in the banquet room of the Pine Grove Hose, Hook & Ladder Fire Company. Food and drinks will be available. A shop-and-drop will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. April 8. Featured items include golf, museum, baseball, zoo, caverns, a wild animal park, photo studios, dinner theaters, bowling and a huge selection of restaurant gift certificates. Additionally, the event will feature a firemen’s quilt, jewelry, a homemade doll house, guns, artwork by two local artists, barbecue grill, pressure washer, child’s bike and a Toro trimmer-sweeper. Proceeds from the previous auctions, organizers said in a press release, were put back into the six communities that make up the Pine Grove Area School District. Last year’s proceeds exceeded $26,000, enabling Hugs & Kisses to give the six fire companies $2,000 each and to buy six sidewalk trash receptacles which are bolted into concrete, have special rust-proof paint and cost $600 each. The group also set aside money to build a small park on the corner of Laurel and East Pottsville streets. Missy Witherow, Hugs & Kisses president, said plans are nearly ready for submission to the borough council for approval and then forwarded to FEMA. Most of the 2016 proceeds will include the park, the fire companies and the burn building at the Schuylkill County Fire School near Frackville.

n Pottsville: The Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center will have a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at the SARCC parking lot-Donor Coach, 17 Westwood Road, to mark Sexual Assault Awareness Month. To schedule an appointment, call 570-628-2965 or visit www.GeisingerBloodCenter.org.

n Saint Clair: The Saint Clair Community and Historical Society will have a soup sale beginning at 10 a.m. April 9 at the society building, Nicholas Street. The cost is $7 per quart and $3.50 per pint. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-429-1850. The society will also sponsor a Family Fun Night at Friendly’s Family Restaurant near Fairlane Village mall, Route 61, from 5 to 8 p.m. April 25. A portion of the eatery’s dine-in and take-out proceeds will benefit the society.

n Shenandoah: To celebrate the community’s sesquicentennial this year, the borough wants to celebrate the people who have lived longest in their hometown. Residents of Shenandoah age 90 or older are asked to share their stories and photographs from the years that made “Shenandoah Strong.” Residents or people who know residents of this age are asked to contact chaikowskylavoie@hotmail.com or call 570-906-1257.

In less than a month, the new CVS Pharmacy in Pottsville will be open, Stephanie Cunha, public relations manager with CVS Health, said Tuesday.

The CVS Pharmacy at Fairlane Village mall in Norwegian Township will close at noon April 24, and the new CVS Pharmacy down the road on Claude A. Lord Boulevard in Pottsville will open at 9 a.m. April 25, Cunha said.

“There is no grand opening scheduled at this time,” Cunha said.

A year ago, officials from CVS Pharmacy started filing paperwork with the city to relocate its store at Fairlane Village mall to the east side of Claude A. Lord Boulevard, which is state Route 61.

The store at Fairlane Village opened in “the mid-1970s,” Michael J. DeAngelis, public relations director for CVS Pharmacy, said previously.

“We’re going to relocate it out of the mall, where we have about 7,000 square feet, into the new store when it’s ready to open. The new store will have more than 11,000 square feet,” DeAngelis said March 23, 2015.

Over the summer, the former Big Jack’s-Little Bob’s Brewer’s Outlet and a Sands Ford dealership were knocked down to make way for a new CVS Pharmacy.

The development includes the construction of an 11,970 square foot one-story building on a 1.62 acre lot, DeAngelis said previously. That will cost $1,049,780, according to a construction permit Pennsylvania CVS Pharmacy LLC, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, acquired from the city’s code enforcement office March 19, 2015.

Speedwell Construction, Manheim, Lancaster County, was the general contractor.

“It has 64 parking spaces. This new location will also feature additional services not included at the old location, including a drive-thru pharmacy, a digital photo lab, and an expanded selection of healthy snacks, health and beauty products. The store will have about 20 employees, nine of whom will be full-time,” Cunha said Tuesday.

The store hours at the new Pottsville location will be from 8 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sundays. The pharmacy hours are 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Cunha said.

The store manager is Charles T. Denis and the pharmacy supervisor is Linda Muclada, Cunha said.

CVS has two locations in Schuylkill County. The other is the CVS Pharmacy at the Cressona Mall. It opened in 1991. In October 2010, it relocated to a new 13,225-square-foot building at 212 Pottsville St., across the street from the mall.

SHENANDOAH — The Shenandoah Valley school board held a special meeting Wednesday and voted to hire Brian K. Waite as the new district superintendent.

Waite was in attendance when the school board voted 8-0 to fill the vacancy left by the death of Stanley G. Rakowsky, Ph.D., on Nov. 6 after serving as superintendent for 22 years.

Waite was hired at a starting annual salary of $115,000.

“The motion passes. Welcome,” board member/secretary Karen Kayes said, followed by a round of applause from the board and administration. “We’re really happy you picked us.”

“I’d like to thank the focus group for helping us, along with the board members, and Mike (O’Pake, solicitor) and Tony Demalis (acting superintendent/business manager), who spent a lot of time,” board President Daniel Salvadore said.

After the meeting, Demalis said 15 applications were received, and six were selected for interviews, but one withdrew before the interview was held. The focus group mentioned by Salvadore had teachers providing input in the selection of a new superintendent.

“We had a focus group meeting with the teachers,” Demalis said. “The board asked for the input from the teachers on what qualities would be good in the next superintendent and what would they like to see. There were a couple of elementary teachers and a couple of high school teachers and they offered some potential questions to ask. That helped in the search.”

Waite, 51, of Mountain Top, spoke about his background before the meeting began. Born in New York, he lived only briefly in that state before his family moved to Pennsylvania.

“I call Harrisburg home, but I have lived in Mountain Top for almost 19 years,” Waite said.

Waite attended the meeting with his wife, Debbie, a native of Wilkes-Barre. The couple have two daughters, Megan and Abby.

Waite is currently the acting superintendent at Crestwood School District, Mountain Top. Before taking on his current position in January, he was the assistant to the superintendent for 8 1/2 years.

“Before that I was the middle school principal at Crestwood, and prior to that I was in administration,” Waite said. “I taught third and fifth grades in Maryland and in Southern Lehigh School District in the Allentown area.”

There is no date when Waite will take over as superintendent since when he becomes available will depend on the Crestwood school board.

“I don’t know if the Crestwood board will hold me for 60 days or not,” he said. “I had a conversation with them last night, but they haven’t given me an indication whether they will hold me or not.”

The first priority will be to learn all about Shenandoah Valley and the community.

“What I am really looking forward to do is come in and get to know the faculty and staff, the community and to do some analyzing of what our strengths are and look at areas for improvement. Try to enhance our strengths and minimize our shortcomings,” Waite said.

In other business, the school board voted to approve board member Richard Zimmerman to serve on the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 board for a new three-year term from July 1, 2016, to June 30, 2019.

FRACKVILLE — A preliminary hearing for a Frackville woman charged with assaulting her husband last month was held Wednesday despite the fact the victim and the arresting police officer wanted to drop the charges.

Janice Huth, 54, of 503 W. Arch St., was arrested by Frackville police Patrolman Devin Bodman and charged with one misdemeanor count each of simple assault and resisting arrest and a summary offense of harassment after the Feb. 16 incident.

Assistant District Attorney Kimm Montone told the court the commonwealth wished to drop two counts of simple assault but was informed by Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale that only one count of simple assault was filed. Montone amended his request to have the sole simple assault charge withdrawn.

Montone then said the commonwealth was prepared to move forward on the count of resisting arrest.

Before testimony started, Huth’s attorney, Frederick Fanelli, Pottsville, told the court that the woman’s husband, Joseph Huth, did not want to proceed since the couple is working on reconciling.

Fanelli also said he spoke to Bodman and Patrolman Travis Dissinger, both of which said they wanted to withdraw the remaining charges of resisting arrest and harassment.

“This is outrageous and unquestionable,” Fanelli said. “The victim and police told the district attorney they do not want to proceed.”

Fanelli said that in all his years of practicing criminal law, he has never had a case move forward when both the victim and prosecuting officers wished to withdraw the charges.

Montone admitted that he was told by both Joseph Huth and Bodman that they wanted the charges withdrawn but that he planned to proceed despite that fact.

“These are crimes of violence, an assault on another person,” Montone said.

When asked by Hale if he was told by both the victim and police that they did not want to proceed, Montone said he was.

“Then what are we doing here?” Hale asked.

She also asked Montone why in every other case without a victim he requests the charges be dismissed.

“The district attorney’s office wishes to proceed on these matters,” Montone said, to which Hale replied, “OK then, let’s move forward.”

Both Bodman and Dissinger testified they were called to the home of Joseph Huth at 126 W. Frack St. for a disturbance and heard Janice and Joseph Huth yelling. Bodman said that, after the two were separated, Janice Huth was told she was being arrested but refused to leave the residence.

She said Janice Huth had to be pushed from the home and then lifted into the police vehicle, refusing to get in on her own.

When questioned by Fanelli, both officers said that although Janice Huth resisted, it did not require a substantial amount of force to get her out of the home and into the police vehicle and at no time was there a substantial risk of bodily injury to anyone, the officers or victim.

Robert Phillips, who was at the home when the argument between the couple began, gave an account similar to the officers’.

In closing, Montone asked the court to hold the charge of resisting arrest to Schuylkill County Court based on the testimony presented.

“We ask you hold the evidence favorable to the commonwealth,” he said.

Fanelli said the testimony speaks for itself in presenting the fact the evidence did not support the charge.

“I don’t need to waste your time with an argument,” he told Hale.

Hale dismissed the charge, telling Montone the testimony presented did not prove there was a substantial risk of bodily injury to anyone at the home and that it did not show that substantial force was needed when placing Janice Huth under arrest.

Joseph Huth did not testify at the hearing.

Hale said the final summary charge of harassment will be addressed in her court at a later date should Frackville police wish to proceed with that offense.

When asked after the hearing why the commonwealth chose to proceed with the case despite the victim and police wanting the charges withdrawn, Montone simply said “no comment.”

TAMAQUA — The topic of heroin and prescription opioid use had about 300 people at the Tamaqua Area Middle School on Wednesday.

They were there to listen to guest speakers on how to help those dealing with addiction and help the community. The meeting was sponsored by the Tamaqua Area School District and the Tamaqua Area Student Government Association.

Todd Zimmerman, an adjunct history professor with Lehigh Carbon Community College, thought of the idea after watching a “60 Minutes” episode. A town hall meeting was also held in Jim Thorpe in December. He introduced each of the speakers.

“In Pennsylvania in 2014, almost 2,500 individuals died of overdoses and that’s from the Pennsylvania’s coroners report and that’s probably underestimated depending upon how it is reported,” state Physician General Dr. Rachel Levine said.

She said the data from 2015 are likely to be worse with more overdoses. She said “almost 50 people a day die from overdoses” in the nation.

Levine, Secretary Gary Tennis, with the state Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, Schuylkill County Judge James P. Goodman, Carbon County Judge Joseph Matika and Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman each spoke for about 15 minutes. The public was also invited to ask questions.

Levine talked about prescription opioids and heroin. She also spoke about naloxone, a fast-acting overdose antidote that blocks the effects of heroin and opiates on the brain.

“Naloxone is a unique medication. It saves lives. It’s not addictive in any way,” she said.

Tennis said police have used naloxone 750 times to revive people from an overdose.

“Addiction is a disease. This is a medical condition. This is not a moral failing. This affects one in four families in our state and across our nation. These are our children. These are our sisters and brothers, parents and loved ones. We have to save their lives,” Levine said, adding they also need treatment.

She said heroin has made in roads in America.

“This crisis is rural. It is urban. It is suburban. It is everywhere,” she said.

A woman from Carbon County, who did not give her name, said the stigma is real and needs to be overcome. To learn more about what makes people become addicted, she said, people should talk to those on the front lines of fighting the deadly battle.

“Ask the addicts. Talk with the addicts. There’s answers there,” she said.

People she knows talk about addicts like they are castoffs of society.

“I think people are afraid of addicts. I don’t think people think they have anything valuable to say,” she said.

Levine said those affected by this disease need to know there is hope for them.

“We have to treat people like the human beings that they are,” she said.

Travis Snyder, Schuylkill County, introduced himself by saying, “I am a human being in long-term recovery,” he said.

He asked the panelists “Can a group like ours (Skook Recovers) feel confident in your support as we take a fearless approach to inspiring our communities getting our recovery stories out in the public and bringing the essence of our spirit into schools and public institutions?”

Tennis and others said yes.

Holman talked about what the District Attorney’s Office is doing to address the drug problem in the county. She provided statistics about the county and how cases have increased that involved drugs. She talked about the drug task force and what it does. She also mentioned drug prescription drop-off boxes in various locations in the county including the sheriffs office.

“We are looking to deter the use of drugs,” she said.

She urged the public to get involved.

“Be part of the solution and strive to make our county a better place,” Holman said.

Tennis talked about drug courts and their role in rehabilitation. Schuylkill County does not have a drug court. Tennis also talked about naloxone.

“Naloxone is one piece of the puzzle. They need further treatment,” he said.

He said he could sense that there were people in recovery who were attending the meeting. That did turn out to be true when Matika asked people to stand if they would who are confronting such issues. About eight people stood up. He said a large part of crime is related to some form of addiction.

Drug courts have a role to play in helping those facing addiction.

“Drug courts are proven and effective,” he said.

One woman talked about how private insurance can be limiting where someone can go for treatment. Another talked about if there is more to do to help people who have overdosed. Several audience members said there needs to be more beds and care facilities for those in need.

Goodman and Matika also talked about drug courts. Goodman said a committee has been formed in Schuylkill County to deal with the possibility of a drug court.

“Many counties have these drug courts and they are successful,” he said.

He said a program would be 12 to 18 months. He said certain offenses would not be eligible for the program.

“The drug court is not the sole answer but hopefully it is a tool we will use to fight the drug addiction problem,” Goodman said.

Matika said in 2015 about 90 percent of cases in Carbon County involved alcohol or drugs.

“With drug courts the result is restoration,” he said.

He said 75 percent of drug court graduates remain arrest free after completing the program. He said there are benefits to the county in terms of saving money.

Susan Wapensky, Carbon County, said her son died of a heroin overdose in 2012. He was 33. Her daughter-in-law told her of his death.

“I just went into complete shock and denial,” she said.

She wants people to know that the death affects the whole family but their is a chance for recovery.

“There is hope out there,” she said.

Melissa Chewey, Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol program administrator, said she was thankful so many people turned out for the event.

“I think we need to continue to bring awareness,” she said.

State Rep. Jerry Knowles has joined three of his Republican colleagues in introducing three pieces of legislation they believe will combat illegal immigration in Pennsylvania.

“The whole situation with illegal aliens is just such a major problem,” Knowles, R-124, said Tuesday. “We refer to it as the illegal alien invasion. It’s an issue we need to address.”

Knowles said the bills will make it harder to hire illegal aliens, require law enforcement to report people they believe are in the country illegally to the federal government and compel all state agencies to certify that anyone receiving benefits is a legal resident of the state.

“All three are good bills,” he said.

One bill, House Bill 1894, sponsored by state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-Butler, would require state employes and governmental entities to confirm the validity of prospective employees’ Social Security numbers using the federal government’s E-Verify program, according to Knowles.

“All the fences and border agents in the world will remain ineffective as long as illegal aliens know that once they have infiltrated our nation’s borders, there are unscrupulous employers waiting to hire them and sustain their unlawful presence,” according to Metcalfe.

If that bill becomes law, any business that fails to comply with it would have all of its state licenses, permits, registrations and certificates immediately suspended.

The second bill, House Bill 1885, would impose criminal and economic sanctions on any city that declares itself a sanctuary for illegal aliens.

“The last session, I was actually the prime sponsor of the sanctuary city legislation,” Knowles said.

However, he said he now will let state Rep. Martina White, R-Philadelphia, be the bill’s prime sponsor this session. He said this is in response to Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney’s declaration that his city will be a sanctuary city and not turn over illegal immigrants to federal officials.

“I applaud Representative White for introducing this important legislation,” Knowles said. “This legislation is about public safety and it’s long overdue. Even if this bill saves one life, isn’t it worth it?”

Under the bill, any sanctuary city would be held responsible for damages to persons or property resulting from criminal activity by illegal aliens. It also would require all municipal police officers to report to federal officials anyone whom they arrest that they reasonably believe to be in the country illegally.

“We cannot have rogue elected officials and municipal employees refusing to enforce any laws they disagree with,” according to White. “So-called sanctuary cities place themselves above the law and allow illegal immigrants who could have a criminal background to remain safe from detainment and federal deportation. This is a very real threat to public safety and sets a dangerous precedent that we must not tolerate.”

Finally, the third bill, House Bill 237, sponsored by state Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-Carbon, requires any state agency that administers benefits to certify that they are being paid only to legal residents.

Knowles said Heffley did this in response to an incident where illegal aliens were found in Carbon County with Access cards but police were not able to confiscate those cards.

“By making sure that state and local benefits are only paid to those who are legal residents of Pennsylvania, we are assuring that those Pennsylvanians most in need of public assistance are able to receive it,” according to Heffley.

Bills 237 and 1894 have been referred to the House State Government Committee, Ty McCauslin, a spokesman for the Republican House Caucus, said Tuesday. Bill 1885 has not yet been referred to that committee, he said.

Knowles said he did not know whether Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf would handle the bills, but that does not mean GOP legislators, who hold majorities in both the House and Senate, should not pass them.

“You’ve got to do what you think is right,” he said. “You’ve got to do your part.”

PINE GROVE — Crews may begin erecting poultry barns in Washington Township in mid-April that could eventually house 108,000 broiler chickens, operator Brian Musser said Tuesday.

Musser and his wife, Amy, received approval for their Final Land Development Plan at 173 Hickory Road, Pine Grove, from the Schuylkill County Planning Commission on March 16. The vote was unanimous, with David Briggs absent, according to Susan A. Smith, director of Planning and GIS.

Musser has a contract with Bell & Evans, he said, which owns the broilers and supplies the feed. Musser said the operation will receive one- to two-day old peeps, and raise them until they are five- to six-weeks old. The birds will then be picked up by a truck and shipped for meat processing. According to the plans, Musser doesn’t expect more than one truck per day on site.

There will be no processing of the chickens at the Washington Township site, he said.

Initially, two 63-by-500-foot poultry houses with concrete floors will be built, with plans for a third poultry house to be constructed in a few years, according to Musser. At that point, with the three houses in place, there would be a capacity to have 108,000 chickens.

Musser said he’s still awaiting a zoning permit for the poultry houses, and once that’s received, the construction can begin. The construction process will take about four months to complete, he estimated.

Musser grew up on a poultry farm in Bethel, and works as an electrician. His family will live on the new poultry farm in an existing home, which is being renovated on the 83.3-acre lot.

“I used to hunt up here, and I really like the area,” Musser said.

The Mussers purchased the Washington Township property in a private sale from the former operator of Schneck Farms, Fred Schneck. The site was already zoned “A - Agriculture” and already had several agricultural barns and outbuildings on it.

The Mussers have an existing well for their home, but will dig a new well for the poultry operation, he said.

The Schuylkill Conservation District, Musser confirmed, has also reviewed and approved the erosion and sediment control plan, nutrient management plan, and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System stormwater management permit. The Federal Clean Water Act and the Pennsylvania Clean Streams law requires wastewater dischargers to have a permit establishing pollution limits, and specifying monitoring and reporting requirements.

Musser’s 15-page final land development plan, dated July 7, 2015, was presented to the county’s planning commission, with Red Barn Consulting Inc., Lancaster, serving as engineer of record. It was also reviewed by WJP Engineers, Pottsville. The plan’s last revision was Feb. 8.

“With our office, he would still require a zoning permit for each of the proposed barns. I cannot speak to any other agency approvals that he may need,” Smith said.

When municipalities don’t have their own zoning officer, like in Washington Township, the county’s zoning office serves in that capacity.

Smith said that once the plans for the subdivision and land development of those municipalities is received, the office does the following:

• Determines if the plan is administratively complete. If it is administratively complete, the office proceeds to step 2. If not, it is returned to the applicant.

• Sends an “administratively complete” letter to the applicant/landowner/surveyor or engineer of record. The municipality is carbon copied on this letter. The municipality also receives a copy of the plan for their review. This signals their opportunity to provide any comments or relate any concerns to the county planning commission.

• Moves for technical review by the office’s engineer, exchanging comment letters depending on the nature of the plan.

• Makes a decision to place the plan on the agenda. By state law, the Planning Commission must vote on the plan within 90 days of the meeting next following the date of the plan submission. At the public meetings, both the municipality and the general public are welcome to provide public comment.

• Holds a vote at County Planning Commission to “approve,” “conditionally approve” or “disapprove” a plan.

“So, while I did not speak with anyone regarding Musser’s plan directly, the township was provided a copy of the plan for their review and had the opportunity to provide comment,” Smith explained in an email.

No one from Washington Township returned calls Wednesday to The Republican-Herald.

In the approved minutes from Washington Township supervisors’ Sept. 21, 2015, meeting, it states that “Terry and Bobbi Maier were present to discuss the abundance of chicken houses being built within Washington Township. They questioned the board regarding regulations and enforcement. The board stated that since Washington Township does not have its own zoning it is very hard to dictate what is being controlled. Supervisor (Wendell) Gainer addressed the Maiers regarding their concern and stated he would contact Susan Smith at the Schuylkill County Planning and Zoning Office and set up an appointment with her to discuss the matter.”

Calls to Gainer and Dawn Koch, township secretary/treasurer, were not returned Wednesday.

Deeds

Branch Township — Nancy A. Hrenyo to Wicks Outdoor Advertising Inc.; property on Township Road 199; $5,000.

Coaldale — Theodore Thomas Lewis, individually and as executor of the Estate of Faye R. Lewis, to Michael C. Thompson and Ethel Thompson; 30 E. Ruddle St.; $22,090.

Sandra J. Miller to Alexandra J. Miller; 206 W. Phillips St.; $1.

East Union Township — John and Lynette Callahan to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 15WC, Eagle Rock; $20,573.70.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Dante Padunan; Lot 15WC, Eagle Rock; $49,428.48.

Frank P. Jr. and Karen E. Pellegrino to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 13WSS6, Eagle Rock; $37,803.60.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Charl and Maude C. Le Roux; Lot 13WSS6, Eagle Rock; $52,462.51.

Gordon — Robert and Donna Opie to Brian Wagner; property at Biddle and McKnight streets; $80,000.

Mahanoy City — Frank M. and Charlotte P. Monberger to Wallace Spencer Rice III; property on Mahanoy Avenue; $9,950.

North Union Township — Ernest and Alma C. Begonia to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 40A, Eagle Rock; $4,581.96.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Jeannette B. Dacayo; Lot 40A, Eagle Rock; $49,933.39.

Val Gomez and James Diola to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 23AV1, Eagle Rock; $3,282.36.

Vilma C. Bautista to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 17AV2, Eagle Rock; $3,939.30.

Adele G. Bischoff to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lots 49EA and 50EA, Eagle Rock; $17,200.

David MacDonald to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 174WS, Eagle Rock; $9,000.

Palo Alto — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Jessica M. Gelbutis; 14 W. Bacon St.; $23,300.

Pottsville — Connie Brown, executrix of the Estate of David N. Keefer, to Dan Deibler; 329 Morgan Ave.; $11,000.

Jason M. and Tara J. Halupa to Jason M. Halupa; property in Mount Hope; $1.

Schuylkill Haven — Phillip D. and Michelle F. Reed to Letitia A. Alvarez; 114 N. Berne St.; $90,000.

South Manheim Township — Karen A. Funk to Scott and Autumn D. Irwin; 1476 Bearcat Cove, Lake Wynonah; $135,500.

Scott and Autumn D. Irwin to Ronald A. and Tracy A. Frederick; 765 Cheyenne Drive, Lake Wynonah; $215,000.

Stirs LLC to Mark and Kelly Gift; Lot 2237, Lake Wynonah; $8,500.

John R. Whitfeldt and Nancy J. Whidtfeldt to John R. Whitfeldt; 626 Wynonah Drive, Lake Wynonah; $2.

Kris E. and Kimberly A. Fager to Kris E. Fager; 957 Schuylkill Mountain Road; $1.

Tamaqua — Elsie D. Rita, by attorney in fact Rita M. Repinec, to Elsie D. Rita, Rita M. Repinec and Stephanie P. McCarroll; property at East Mauch Chunk and Patterson streets; $1.

Christina M. Jensen to Christina M. and Randell Duane Jensen; 128 Mahanoy St.; $1.

Robert E. and Bettye F. Bannan to Allen P. and Maude E. Keich; 238 Spruce St.; $60,000.

Tremont — Lila H. Arbogast, by attorney in fact Ammon L. Esh, to Garry Baser; 17 E. Main St.; $10,000.

Wayne Township — Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB to Mary E. Larsen and Jason Michael Larsen; 41 Papoose Drive, Lake Wynonah; $56,175.

Virginia K. Henderson to Dennis R. and Janet L. Mackley; 509 Coyote Drive, Lake Wynonah; $155,200.

Angela Smoyer to Joshua and Anastasiya Chmura; 1179 Custer Drive, Lake Wynonah; $131,000.

Ray D. Hoover to Michelle Y. Hoover; 1.12-acre property; $1.

Crysta L. Zimmerman to Stephen J. and Crysta L. Zimmerman; 55 N. Front St., Friedensburg; $1.

West Brunswick Township — Richard C. Rees and Paula Dodds, co-executors of the Estate of Nancy M. Rees, to James F. and Ruthann S. Moyer; 1601 Village Road, Pinebrook; $112,900.

West Mahanoy Township — Federal National Mortgage Association to Karen Williams; 49 S. Spencer St., Altamont; $18,000.

Rebecca Margerum

Defendants whose cases Rebecca J. Margerum considered on March 24, the charges against each one and the judge’s dispositions of the matters included:

Christopher M. Snyder, 20, of 524 N. Second St., Lykens; possession of drug paraphernalia, false identification to law enforcement, failure to carry registration, vehicle registration suspended, driving without a license, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility and seat belt violation; defendant pleaded guilty to all charges.

Emily N. Troup, 20, of 31 S. Market St. Apt. 2, Elizabethville; possession of a controlled substance, DUI, disregarding traffic lane, careless driving and reckless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

James A. Whitall, 28, of 147 N. Stone Road, Millersburg; DUI, disregarding traffic lane, careless driving and operating vehicle without valid inspection; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Anthony J. Kilker

SHENANDOAH — A Shenandoah man charged with trying to stab three people and throwing a glass cup at a police officer at the West Street Pub in Shenandoah on Feb. 22 waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.

Anthony J. Swetavage, 32, of 201 W. Centre St., Room 2, was arrested Shenandoah police Patrolman Joshua Pastucka and charged with nine counts each of aggravated assault and simple assault, four counts of recklessly endangering another person, two counts each of disorderly conduct and harassment and one count of criminal mischief.

By waiving his right to a hearing, Swetavage will now have to answer to all 27 charges in Schuylkill County Court.

Pastucka charged Swetavage after an incident at 238 S. West St. business about 6:30 p.m., where he allegedly tried to stab Loretta Swetavage, Vincent Swetavage and David Dower with a knife and also throwing a glass cup at Patrolman John Kaczmarczyk.

In addition, Pastucka said, Anthony Swetavage destroyed various items inside the business, including a bar stool, pool sticks, glasses and a juke box. In the process of the crimes, Pastucka said the man punched Dower and threw Loretta Swetavage to the ground.

Other court cases included:

Joseph J. Michaels, 25, of 1049 Barnesville Drive, Barnesville; held for court: DUI-controlled substance and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Anthony J. Swetavage, 32, of 201 W. Centre St., Apt. 6, Shenandoah: withdrawn: simple assault and harassment.

Paul D. Compinski Jr., 31, of 905 W. John St., Frackville; held for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Danielle Kapes, 35, of 312 W. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City; waived for court: DUI, DUI-controlled substance and careless driving.

Robert H. O’Hazzo Jr., 21, of 106 E. Blaine St., McAdoo; waived for court: DUI-controlled substance.

Jelani Agosto Aguayo, 21, of 2424 Main St., Mahanoy Plane; withdrawn: possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, display of plate card in improper vehicle, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without insurance and driving a vehicle without a valid inspection.

Joshua D. Joseph, 30, of 119 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City; held for court: recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Jayro M. Castellanos, 19, of 57 W. Market St., Box 335, Sheppton; withdrawn: possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and no headlights.

Andrew W. Zeiders III, 38, of 408 W. Market St., Mahanoy City; waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christopher Metz, 17, of Box 153, Mahanoy City; withdrawn: robbery, conspiracy and aggravated assault. Waived for court: firearms not to be carried without a license, terroristic threats, possession of a firearm by a minor, crimes committed with firearms, possession of a weapon and simple assault.

Schuylkill County Children & Youth had its new home dedicated Wednesday.

About a month after employees moved into the building, county and state officials joined agency employees to cut the ribbon at 324 N. Centre St. Blue and silver pinwheels were also on display for Child Abuse Prevention Month outside the agency’s new location for April.

Maggie Maskerines, who was adopted through the agency at age 6, cut the ceremonial ribbon. She is currently a teacher at Child Development Inc., Pottsville.

“I just think she is an example of what it is to persevere, to go through things and be a positive inspiration to others,” commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said. “The success stories outweigh the problems. We need to talk about foster families and the employees at Children & Youth. They have the toughest jobs in the county.”

Maskerines said the county agency has stayed in touch with her since she was adopted by her foster family. She has also served on the agency’s advisory board and volunteers for agency programs.

“I think if more people were involved, they would understand all the good that Children & Youth does,” Maskerines, Pottsville, said. “They are my other family.”

Her parents, John and Linda Maskerines, encouraged more people to become foster parents.

“Children need our help. They are our future,” John said.

“We are so proud of Maggie. She overcame so much,” Linda said.

Jacqui Maddon, northeast regional director for the state Department of Human Services, also shared remarks along with current foster parents Gloria Smulligan and Danette Bixler.

Lisa Stevens, Children & Youth executive director, said there are 99 employees in the new building. They started moving from across the street in February. The agency was located at 410 N. Centre St. for about 30 years, Stevens said.

“It has been a roller coaster ride since the new laws went into effect,” Stevens said.

In 2015, new laws and regulations aimed at improving child abuse prevention and detection in Pennsylvania have dramatically increased the workload for county agencies. To keep up, many agencies had to hire more employees.

However, the Schuylkill County agency ran out of space at its old building. Stevens said the agency’s departments were scattered around the building and had problems finding space to conduct private interviews.

The new location has four interview rooms and departments are now grouped together on two floors, Stevens said.

“They were excited to get here,” Stevens said. “It was a long time in the making.”

The county has been looking for a new home for the agency for about 10 years. Stevens pointed out that the new location is still close to the city police department and county courthouse. Agency employees also use the Capitol Parking Garage.

“This building was the perfect location,” she said.

The county acquired the 0.46-acre property in January 2012 from Dale F. Schoeneman and Franklin K. Schoeneman through the power of eminent domain, the right of a government to take private property for public use. Empire Beauty School moved out of the city in November 2012 after renovations were completed at the Empire Education Group headquarters near Fairlane Village mall in east Norwegian Township.

Under law, the county had to pay the fair market value of the property as determined by an independent appraiser. That cost was $740,000, which consisted of $455,000 for the building, $200,000 and $85,000 for two parking lots.

The interior of the building was cleared out in January 2014 and renovation contracts were awarded in April 2015. Renovations totaled nearly $2 million and wrapped up by January.

Richard Yutko, of WJP Engineers, designed the building. It has three floors, including a basement. Each is about 7,000 square feet.

n Frackville: The North Schuylkill HighRailers will have an open house from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Blum’s Auction wing of the Schuylkill Mall. Admission is $1 for all ages. An O-Gauge train display based on the local coal region is the feature. For more information, call 570-205-6275.

n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy City Public Library will have a story hour from 10 to 11 a.m. April 16 with Robyn Sincavage for students in pre-K to second grade. The event will feature a story, bingo, a craft and snack. Space is limited to the first 20 children registered. To register by April 12, call 570-773-1610.

n Millersburg: A Gallery Cabaret: An Evening of Celebration and Song, will be held at 7 p.m. April 9 at the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art. The cost is $15 per person and center members can use coupons to get $2 off of the admission. The event will be an evening of live musical performances. For tickets or more information, call 717-692-3699 or go online to www.nedsmithcenter.org.

n New Ringgold: Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center Inc. is looking for volunteers to help with its special program of therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with special needs. The center, which offers special riding lessons on Monday and Wednesday evenings from May through October, is located 10 miles south of Tamaqua near Route 309. There is a required volunteer training session set for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 16 at the center. Anyone who wishes to volunteer to help with the riding lessons must attend the hands-on training. To become a volunteer or for more information, call Jane Ostroski at 610-298-2546 or email jeohhtlc15@gmail.com or call Elaine Smith at 570-386-5679 or email at elshhtlc1@gmail.com. The center’s website is at www.horsesandhorizons.org.

n Pine Grove: The Friends of the Pine Grove Theater support group will stage theater fundraisers April 10 featuring “The Sound of Music” with intermission and May 9 featuring “Steel Magnolias.” The cost per show is $5 and food will be available. For more information, call the theater at 570-345-0426.

n Pottsville: Foursquare Gospel Church, 2300 Mahantongo St., will hold a collector books and art sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. Food and baked goods will also be sold. The event will benefit the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

n Pottsville: Libraries in the Pottsville Library District will participate in “Cupcake Wars” beginning at noon April 17 at the Schuylkill Mall near Frackville. Tickets are $10 for baker and $5 for taster. Bakers must bake three dozen cupcakes. Proceeds will benefit the local libraries in honor of National Library Week. For more information, call 570-366-1638.

n Pottsville: Service Access Management Inc. and Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 will stage an Early Childhood Fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 16 at Fairlane Village mall, Route 61. The fourth annual event will include crafts, activities, prizes and learning about the community available to serve young children in Schuylkill County, according to a press release. For more information, call 570-621-2700.

n Ringtown: The Ringtown Area Library will host free preschool storytime sessions at 11:30 a.m. for children ages 3-5 on April 7, 14 and 28. Children must be accompanied by an adult. All local families with preschool-age children are invited to participate and have youngsters socialize with other children to gain essential pre-reading skills through stories, crafts, games and activities. On April 28, the library will celebrate the PA One Book Every Young Child initiative by reading this year’s book selection, “Kite Day” by Will Hillenbrand. All families in attendance will receive a free copy of the book plus fun early literacy resources. People should register in advance at the library.

The Mahoney Brothers will bring some of the biggest musical acts in history to Mount Carmel this weekend to salute veterans from all branches of the U.S. military.

The musical impersonation act will present “Jukebox Heroes Live!” at 7 p.m. Saturday at Mount Carmel Area High School. The show will feature music from Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, Neil Diamond, Buddy Holly, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Beatles, The Beach Boys and more.

Tickets are $20 for general admission and are available at Academy Sports Center, Mount Carmel, and Subway in Wal-Mart, Coal Township. They will also be sold at the door on Saturday.

Tickets for veterans are $10 and will only be sold at the door. Veterans are asked to bring some type of identification, such as driver’s license, a hat with their branch of service or any form of veterans ID. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Joe Cesari, organizer with the Kulpmont Cruise Association, said the show will honor veterans of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard. Toward the end of the first set, a tribute is planned with representatives from each branch to carry their flag into the auditorium as their theme plays.

“The guys’ ages are between 69 and 92,” Cesari said.

The tribute will also feature students in fifth and sixth grades from Mount Carmel Area Elementary School singing along with a recording of Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” They will be under the direction of music teacher Meranda Moyer.

Fort Indiantown Gap will also have representatives who did tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan dressed in their Desert Storm uniforms, and military vehicles will be on display outside the auditorium.

Cesari said he was fielding calls this week from people around the region, who are interested in attending the show, including Schuylkill County, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Sunbury and Harrisburg.

“They have a pretty big following around here,” he said.

Billed as “The World’s Greatest Musical Impersonation Show,” the Mahoney Brothers created “Jukebox Heroes Live!” after their success as a premier Beatles tribute band. Over the next almost three decades, the group has expanded the show to include music from six decades ranging from Benny Goodman in the 1930s to Garth Brooks in the 1990s.

For more information, visit the group’s website at www.mahoneybros.com.

In November 2014, Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley gave Talal M. Rajha, Whitehall, time to figure out what to do with a blighted structure he owns in Pottsville, a fire-damaged property at 446 E. Market St.

Seeing no progress, Reiley on Thursday ordered Rajha to demolish the building and fined him $1,000.

“Time has gone by. Nothing is being done. The city can’t keep coming back here. Something has to be done,” Reiley told Rajha at a summary trial at his courtroom at 200 E. Arch St., Suite 125, Pottsville, on Thursday.

Reiley said Rajha has 30 days to appeal the case.

Walter E. Morrissey, an attorney from Bethlehem who represented Rajha at Thursday’s summary trial, said Rajha will appeal the case to Schuylkill County Court.

“It’s a victory at the magistrate level, but it’s a step in the right direction I guess. But I can’t say it’s a victory until it’s done. It could be overturned up at the courthouse,” David J. Petravich, city building code officer, said.

City officials established the Pottsville Blight and Nuisance Task Force on April 17, 2012, to deal with such properties. The building at 446 E. Market St. is No. 11 on the city’s blight list, Petravich said.

City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Thursday he was pleased with the judge’s decision.

“We’re very happy. We put a lot of work into these properties in trying to identify what we can possibly do to correct problems the neighborhood are experiencing. This is one of those bigger buildings that has a large negative impact on the community. It’s definitely a disincentive for any kind of investment in that neighborhood. And if we can get the courts to compel him to take that property down, it would be a huge victory for the court system, for the blight task force, for our code enforcement office and, most importantly, for the neighborhood,” Palamar said.

Rajha bought the three-story apartment building at 446 E. Market St. from Kenneth A. and Leslie G. Bucker on Jan. 14, 2012, for $47,500, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator.

It was vacant March 5 when an accidental fire caused flames to roar up from its basement, causing more than $50,000 in damage, city Fire Chief Todd March said that day, according to the newspaper’s archives.

Rajha was planning to renovate it and restore it to an apartment complex.

But since the fire, little was done to improve the structure.

On Aug. 20, 2014, Petravich issued Rajha a citation.

It stated the building was in violation of the 2009 International Property Maintenance Code, Section 110, Subsection 110.1. Petravich said the defendant failed to make the structure safe and sanitary through repairs or through demolition and removal of the structure.

A hearing on that citation was held at Reiley’s court Nov. 25, 2014, according to Petravich.

“And it was continued, but at the time the judge didn’t set a date,” Petravich said.

Petravich continued to issue Rajha citations regarding the building.

“The defendant failed to repair or replace structure after three years,” Petravich said in a citation filed Sept. 29, 2015.

“The defendant fails to make structure safe and sanitary with repairs or to remove structure,” Petravich said in one filed Jan. 21.

The attorney for the owner of the Schuylkill Trust Co. building in downtown Pottsville said Thursday engineers are studying sections of its facade which are reportedly crumbling.

With that, Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley decided to continue a summary trial on a city citation related to the matter. The owner of the building at 101 N. Centre St., James J. Curran Jr., an attorney and president of Schuylkill Land & Realty Inc., Pottsville, thanked the judge.

“An engineering study is being done. We’d like to continue this matter to allow that to be completed and to estimate the cost of repairs as outlined by the violation notice,” the attorney Curran hired to represent him, Frank R. Cori, Orwigsburg, said at the hearing held at Reiley’s courtroom at 200 E. Arch St., Suite 125, Pottsville.

“Do you know how long it will take?” David J. Petravich, city building code officer, asked.

“I don’t know the answer to that, Dave,” Cori said.

“Do you want to reset it for 30 days?” Petravich asked the judge.

“I have absolutely no problem with granting that. The best thing for everyone is if there is no problem. Unfortunately, we do have a problem. And, by far, the best course to chart is one that’s dictated by expert testimony. A report on the matter will determine what we’re dealing with and what the best course of action is,” Reiley said.

“Thank you, judge,” Cori said.

Reiley said he will check his court schedule and contact the parties with a tentative dates for the summary trial.

“Please keep us apprised of the engineering study,” Reiley said.

Curran did not have the names of the engineering firms with him at the hearing Thursday. “They’re from out of town,” he said.

Cori advised Curran not to talk to the press about the matter.

On May 29, 2015, the city’s office of code enforcement received a complaint when a section of the building’s facade dropped to the sidewalk. Petravich said it was a section of the roof, part of the east side of the building where a plant was growing out of the side. During an inspection in May 2015, Petravich also noticed wear on numerous window sills.

On Aug. 25, Petravich issued Curran a notice of violation.

“From that point, he had 30 days to repair the structure,” Petravich said March 21.

But Petravich said the work was not done.

“The building is in violation of 2009 International Property Maintenance Code Section 304 Exterior Structure subsection 304.6 exterior walls,” Petravich said Sept. 8.

“The defendant failed to make repairs in a timely manner,” Petravich said in a nontraffic citation he issued Sept. 25.

In September, the building’s only tenant aside from Curran, Wells Fargo Bank, took precautions to protect pedestrians from potential falling debris. The bank hired Beth-Allen Ladder & Scaffold, Allentown, to build a covered walkway over the sidewalk. It runs along the North Centre Street and West Market Street sides of the building.

“We continue to pay for scaffolding you see at the building,” Kevin Friedlander, corporate communications manager at Wells Fargo & Co., said Monday.

The Schuylkill Trust Co. building was built in 1924, according to “Pottsville in the Twentieth Century,” a 2003 book in the Images of America series by Leo L. Ward and Mark T. Major.

It’s a 16,500 square foot property that sits on 0.38 acres, according to information provided by Angela D. Toomey, director of Schuylkill County Tax Claim Bureau.

The landmark has been experiencing troubled times in recent years.

Curran hasn’t paid taxes on the property in three years. As of Thursday, $101,343.87 is owed in back taxes on the property, Toomey said.

That included $35,715.89 in back taxes for 2013, $34,195.14 in back taxes for 2014, and $31,432.84 in back taxes for 2015, Toomey said.

SAINT CLAIR — On Wednesday, the demolition of the former Ritz Theatre will begin, Roland Price Jr., the borough secretary, announced Thursday night.

“The demolition is scheduled for next Wednesday. That’s when it’s going to start,” Price said at a special council meeting to review issues and finance at borough hall.

Nicholas M. Panko, Saint Clair, who owns the former theater building at 31 N. Second St., will have until Tuesday to remove any items from the building, Price said.

“We don’t anticipate any issues. Once this program starts, if there’s an issue with it we have to contact Alfred Benesch & Co. and Alfred Benesch & Co. will contact the contractor,” Price said.

Alfred Benesch, based in Pottsville, is the engineering firm that serves the borough.

On Feb. 16, the borough council hired Affordable Construction and Demolition LLC, Coal Township, Northumberland County, to tear down the former movie house for $63,199.

Federal Community Development Block Grant funding the borough received from Schuylkill County will cover $60,000 of that, and the borough will cover the rest.

In other matters at Thursday’s meeting, representatives of Saint Clair Little League asked the council if they could install a batting cage the community baseball field at 415 E. Hancock St.

Matt Filiac, the league’s president, and Bob Houston, the league’s secretary, said the cage and the installation will cost the league “about $4,000.”

“We’re looking to install a batting cage at our field and we’re looking for permission from council to kind of get the project moving. It’s 55-feet long by 14-feet wide. And we’re looking to station it in left center field behind where the walkway and the fence is, the wooden fence. There won’t be any cost or liability to the borough. But, since the field is borough property, we want to go about this the right way,” Filiac told the council.

“We have the cage. We just want to make sure it’s OK. It will be just beyond the wooden fence, past the walking trail,” Houston said.

“So the asphalt won’t be disturbed?” council member John R. Burke asked.

“No. We’re going to lose, probably, four or five parking spots. But it won’t disturb anything else,” Houston said.

“It’s going to be semi-permanent. We’re going to pour a nice concrete pad and dress it up with a sign. Eventually we want to put something around it so it doesn’t get damaged by vehicles or anything else,” Filiac said.

Saint Clair Council President James D. Larish said the council will take action to approve the request at its next regular meeting, slated for 7 p.m. Tuesday at borough hall at 16 S. Third St.

Larish remembered how Filiac once played on the team. “It’s good to see the former players come back and take charge,” Larish said.

“It’s fun. And we had a lot of good mentors growing up,” Filiac said.

Spring has sprung and good things are happening!

Today marks the beginning of Celebrate Schuylkill Spring Thaw Arts Tour. The tour encompasses Walk In Art Center in Schuylkill Haven, Mud & Maker in Pottsville, Tamaqua Community Arts Center, The Arts Barn in Orwigsburg, Our Town Hamburg’s Art & Craft Gallery, Gabriel Youth Orchestra’s Spring Concert at the D.H.H. Lengel Middle School in Pottsville and much more! It’s three days with more than 250 artists and vendors at 10 venues.

Go to www.celebrateschuylkill.com for complete information and support these fine organizations that bring so much color and vitality to our little corner of Pennsylvania.

I always say that April is art and nature month in Schuylkill County, and I say that because it’s true. Each year it seems to be our overriding theme.

Some of the arts you can revel in this month are: Schuylkill County’s High School Gallery Show at Schuylkill County Council for the Arts on April 10 and the Blue Note Cafe at the Schuylkill Country Club on April 15; The Majestic Theatre’s “Arsenic and Old Lace” today and Saturday and Schuylkill Ballet Theatre’s performance of “Cinderella” on April 16 and 17 at Schuylkill Haven Area High School auditorium. Tamaqua Community Arts Center hosts Lester Hirsch in Concert on April 16 and a Big Benefit Concert on April 22. The Gabriel Chamber Ensemble will be performing at Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Schuylkill Haven, on April 24.

The art scene continues to flourish with Block of Art from April 22 through 24 and as usual, it’s brimming!

This year, Block of Art is celebrating Pottsville in years past and is featuring the downtown Pottsville of the ’20s, ’40s and ’60s. Plan to stop by to see historic photos of businesses throughout the community. Listen to music from these eras at the opening reception at the Ramada on April 22, complete with swing dancers!

The weekend includes an architectural tour and a John O’Hara tour on Saturday. Our own Schuylkill County Historical Society is home to an excellent ethnic folk art exhibit. As always, there will be plenty of music, poetry and art of all types throughout the weekend. You can find out more details at www.block-of-art.org.

More than a few artists have told me that their art is often inspired by nature and it’s easy to see why. Mother Nature has the best elements of structure, shape, color palette, movement, grace and light. Nobody does it better than her!

April offers many opportunities to get outside and enjoy nature. Our friends at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Pine Grove, have several happenings in store for you beginning with an Opening Day of Trout Breakfast Saturday, a Disk Golf Tournament on April 16, ZooAmerica on April 19, Family Fun Fishing Event on April 24 and a Rain Barrel Make-n-Take on April 26.

Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Drehersville, is a-flutter in activity with a Wee Ones Walk on Wednesday, Owl Prowl on April 8, Teen Trail Day on April 16, Night Walk to South Lookout on April 21 and the Wonder of Wildflowers on April 30.

Schuylkill On the Move’s got your yen for guided hiking covered with the West Mahanoy Township Nature Trail on April 10, the ever-popular Roaring Creek Tract Hike on April 16 and a Spring Wildflower Walk on April 30. Details for these and all other Schuylkill On the Move hikes can be procured by emailing porcupinepat@yahoo.com or calling 570.622.4124 x113.

The Yuengling Light Lager Jogger on April 9 is another chance to get outdoors and enjoy spring in our community while supporting local organizations.

Thirty-five hundred runners from 33 states take to our historic streets for the only 5K that starts and finishes at America’s Oldest Brewery. The post-race block party features local organizations including It’s Just Barbecue, Care Net, Avenues and Roma Pizzeria just to name a few. And did you know that $2 from every registration goes directly to Operation Gratitude to help fund the creation and shipping of care packages for our service men and women oversees? Well, now you do!

In fact, I believe the good folks organizing the event are still in need of some volunteers. If you’re thinking about helping out, go to www.lagerjogger.com and click on the volunteer button. Everything you need to know about the event and volunteering is right at your fingertips.

Speaking of volunteering, the 2016 SKIP/PENNDOT/Great PA Spring Cleanup is April 21 through 24 and they need help. This is an excellent program that promotes good stewardship of our natural resources and anyone can join in. Information and registration forms are online at www.skiplitter.org or you can email ddolzani0531@gmail.com.

I’ve really only scratched the surface of all that’s going on throughout our beautiful county in April. As always, for a more complete listing of events, as well as the Outdoor Recreation Map, Trails Directory and other resources, go to www.schuylkill.org and remember to get out and enjoy the brighter and warmer days of spring!

(Gargano is executive director of Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau)

Man charged for

scattering rubbish

MAHANOY CITY — State police at Frackville charged a man from the borough with dumping several full trash bags in neighboring Mahanoy Township recently, police said Thursday.

The incident occurred at 3 p.m. March 25 on Mahanoy Street, 500 feet west of state Route 54, police said.

While state Trooper Thomas Powell was on patrol, he spotted several full trash bags in that area. An investigation revealed Hector Trinidad, Mahanoy City, put the bags in that area without permission from the property owner, police said.

Charges of scattering rubbish were filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, police said.

Police announce

checkpoint results

North Central PA Regional DUI Enforcement Program released the results of three enforcement initiatives in their coverage area last week.

A sobriety checkpoint was conducted on Route 309 in West Penn Township on March 25 by 14 officers from eight departments.

There were 619 vehicles contacted, 30 detained and five drivers tested for DUI resulting in three DUI arrests.

The officers also made 13 traffic arrests, one criminal arrest and issued one seat belt citation and 10 warning notices.

That same day, 14 officers from eight departments conducted a sobriety checkpoint on Route 443 in West Penn Township that resulted in 132 vehicles contacted, 21 detained and three drivers tested for DUI.

The officers made one DUI arrest and 14 traffic arrests along with issuing one seat belt citation and four warning notices.

On March 26, five officers from five departments conducted a Roving DUI Patrol that resulted in 42 vehicles contacted and detained and five drivers tested for DUI.

There was one DUI arrest made along with 21 traffic arrests and two criminal arrests and also issued 24 warning notices.

The Schuylkill County Courthouse is being checked for mold and radon.

On Thursday, Keith Roe, president of Air Care & Restoration Co. Inc., Bethlehem, was at the courthouse performing tests. The company has submitted a proposal for mitigation that the commissioners will likely vote on during their next scheduled meeting Wednesday. If approved, the county plans to start mitigation between April 9 and May 28.

“There are protocols in place to make sure we do what we need to do to maintain air quality in the courthouse,” county Administrator Mark Scarbinsky said Thursday. “Obviously the board is concerned about the employees that work here. We are being very prudent in our actions to relay any fears that management might have.”

Radon

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas produced by the breakdown of uranium in soil or rock, according to the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov. It is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas to which people are always exposed, as it comes from the earth. Radioactive particles from radon gas can become trapped in lungs which, over time, increases the risk of lung cancer.

Radon is measured in picoCuries per liter, or pCi/L.

Radon levels deemed to require action vary greatly by agency, Roe said. The lowest safe level is 4.0 pCi/L, as recommended for homes and schools by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. However, only areas exceeding 25 pCi/L require posting under Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations.

In an email sent Thursday to elected officials, office directors and employees at the courthouse, Scarbinksy said internal radon testing was done in early January, which is the EPA’s National Radon Action Month. Following those results, Air Care & Restoration was brought in to further evaluate the courthouse and provide a plan of action.

On Jan. 22, Air Care & Restoration and Next Step Environmental Services LLC, Barto, reviewed the radon testing sites and basic structure of the courthouse to plan further testing to find the source of the elevated radon levels.

From Feb. 3 through Feb. 5, evaluations were completed at 28 sites on three floors, including sample readings in nine ground level areas. The county received the results Feb. 10, Scarbinsky said.

The average results were greater than 4.0 pC/L in seven areas of the basement with levels reaching as high as 9.6 pCi/L.

“These results, although cause for concern, do not create a work environment risk,” Scarbinsky said in the email.

The last air quality testing was done at the courthouse in 2009, Scarbinsky said. After which, the county cleaned air vents, he said. He was not aware of any previous radon testing at the courthouse.

“There is no requirement at all from OSHA or any agency that requires you to do any of this (mold or radon) testing,” Glenn Roth, assistant county solicitor, said.

Mold

According to the CDC, some people are sensitive to molds and exposure can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing or skin irritation. Those with serious allergies to molds may have more severe reactions, including fever and shortness of breath. Those with chronic lung illnesses, such as obstructive lung disease, may develop mold infections in their lungs.

Sheriff Joseph G. Groody has brought up the topic of air quality at the courthouse for discussion at recent county safety committee meetings.

“It’s been an issue for quite some time,” Groody said Thursday. “That was a great concern to me and I know other offices are concerned as well.”

His office did an independent mold test last week after people in his department have been getting sick. The petri dish used for the sample clearly had mold growing in it Thursday. Groody said that the courthouse is an old building, but it still has to be safe for the employees.

“I was elected to protect and serve the people and that includes the employees at this courthouse and that is what I’m going to continue to do,” Groody said.

Across the hall, Clerk of Courts Maria Casey also has a lot of questions, noting that many employees at the courthouse have had upper respiratory problems.

“Why were not all the elected officials and judges informed there was radon in the building so we could alert the staff?” Casey said Thursday. “It’s very concerning to me that the administration did not alert the elected officials and judges after getting the test results (on Feb. 10). It’s only through the efforts of the sheriff’s office, primarily, followed by my office and the District Attorney that it is being addressed.”

MAHANOY CITY — Helping teen girls build character and confidence in a world filled with so many conflicting messages is the focus of the free “Head to Soul Makeover” program that will begin Sunday in Mahanoy City.

Care Net Pregnancy Center of Schuylkill County is sponsoring the 10-session program that will be held in Zion Baptist Church for teen girls ages 11-17 at 6 p.m. Sunday evenings. Each approximately two-hour session is designed as a character-building, confidence-gaining makeover program and that is open to all girls in Schuylkill County.

According to a program flyer, the Head to Soul Makeover “is an amazing 10-session program that will guide you and help you develop humility, confidence, courage, self-control, patience, contentment, generosity and perseverance” and deal with the struggles involving “stubbornness, anxiety, insecurity, stress, irritability and envy, which can be crippling.”

Care Net Teen Health Director Sarah L. Hahner said the makeover program has been held several times before in Pottsville and was very popular with those who participated in it.

“The purpose of the program is basically to help teen girls build self-confidence, character, things like that, and help them to form a connection with Care Net in the community,” Hahner said.

Hahner goes to schools and talks to teen girls about the issues they can face, and Head to Soul is one more way to reach out.

“A big part of the my job is that I go out to the schools to meet with kids who are high risk for becoming pregnant, so we feel that this program is great way to reach them in the program in a friendly way,” Hahner said.

The sessions will be held on consecutive Sundays, the last being June 12, with the exception being May 8, which is Mother’s Day.

“Each week is based on a different character quality,” Hahner said. “For example, there’s a session on confidence, another on contentment, another one on perseverance. They’re all on different character qualities, and we work on one character quality during a session. There is a lesson that goes along with the character quality, a little quiz that the girls take and it’s very interactive. A lot of times they’re in small groups and talking about things.”

Hahner said because of the large age range, the girls may be divided into smaller groups depending on how many participants there are.

“Back in the summer I did this program at the Schuylkill YMCA in Pottsville, and we had about 20 girls, so we split it into an older half and a younger half,” Hahner said. “We had it at the YMCA twice and they were great to partner with. They let us rent space for free.”

She added that the Head to Soul Makeover is a faith-based program.

“Most of our programs in the community are secular, but this one is a faith-based program, just so people are aware. We are a faith-based nonprofit,” Hahner said.

Hahner said the program is coming to Mahanoy City because of a request from a teacher from Mahanoy Area High School.

“She contacted me and said that there was a need for the program other than Pottsville,” Hahner said. “That has been our goal at Care Net to expand to other areas all throughout Schuylkill County. Zion Baptist Church agreed to hold the program there.”

She said that with increasing requests for the program, a volunteer team has developed to present programs. Requests for the makeover program have come from Pottsville and Ashland, Hahner said, but nothing has been scheduled.

Hahner said volunteer Dana Oravitz, Frackville, will coordinate the programs in Mahanoy City. Oravitz assisted Hahner with the two program at the YMCA, and when the request came to hold a program in Mahanoy City, Oravitz volunteered to conduct it since she is in the area.

“Pastor Sharon (Mullin) of the Zion Baptist Church will be helping me, along with another person from the church,” Oravitz said.

Oravitz said the program is based on a book entitled “Head to Soul.”

“It’s a scriptural, Bible-based curriculum that is for the tween and teenage girl,” Oravitz said. “You can basically do one lesson only from the book, or you can do all 10 lessons. They’re based on popular TV shows like ‛What Not to Wear,’ ‛American Idol,’ and things like that. Then the girls take a character test about pride, about fear and then we discuss it.”

The church is located at 400 E. Market St. (Fourth and Market streets) in Mahanoy City. For more information, email carenetteenprogram@gmail.com. To reserve a spot, call 570-624-7244 or email. While reservations are preferred for Care Net to plan, walk-ins are welcome.

Information on Care Net can also be found on Facebook and Instagram.