McADOO — Two young residents and a longtime public servant were recognized for recent accomplishments.

McAdoo Borough Council and Mayor Stephan Holly took time out from their monthly meeting May 10 to honor Christina Walko, Victoria Carrell and Fire Chief Bob Leshko.

A daughter of Joseph and Julie Walko, Christina Walko was honored for a letter she wrote about her ideas on how $100,000 donated to McAdoo should be spent.

“The ideas you thought would make the town better were all good,” Holly said. “It (the letter) was very well-written and very selfless. You were thinking about so many others. It makes me proud as the mayor of McAdoo to see somebody in our town to put something positive up.”

Holly presented her with a certificate of appreciation which read, in part, “Christina Walko is being recognized for her caring vision that would better the youth and less fortunate in our community. We hope you continue to succeed in all you do. You are a shining star.”

Councilwoman Mary Labert said around the same time Walko wrote the letter — which was published in the Standard-Speaker as a letter to the editor — she achieved other things.

“She won first place in the Standard-Speaker’s Create-An-Ad contest,” Labert said “She is a semifinalist Pennsylvania National Geographic Bee and first at the Academic Bowl.”

Labert presented her with a large picture frame with mementos of those other achievements.

A daughter of Richard and Catherine Carrell, Victoria Carrell was cited for achieving the Girl Scout Gold Award.

“You’re another resident we are all very proud of,” Holly said. “Not too many achieve that.”

Carrell will get the award at a ceremony in Harrisburg in the near future.

The council also sent a recognition to Harrisburg, which read, in part, “We make this presentation with great pride and pleasure on your great accomplishments in receiving such a prestigious award. Devoting your time and compassion with such commitment proves to all that you are a self-assured individual with a wonderful and bright future ahead of you. You, Victoria Carrell, are and will always be a positive force with the ability to understanding the needs of others. The good people of the Borough of McAdoo are fortunate to have you among us. Good luck in all your endeavors. It’s touching to see something so positive.”

Leshko was lauded for “his dedication and success in unifying the emergency responders for the safety for all within our communities.”

“I think with the combination of the three, you could react quicker than you guys already do,” Holly said.

Leshko said the most recent talk of the merger began Oct. 19, 2014 — the day after his son passed away.

“They wanted to cancel the meeting, but I said this was too important,” Leshko said. “It was the fourth try between the fire companies to merge.”

Leshko said the new, merged fire company — still called the McAdoo Fire Company until other changes are made — still maintains the three fire company buildings.

“We are in the process of doing some upgrades,” Leshko said. “We have some grand ideas in the making. We are in the process of doing something potentially to consolidate equipment in the very near future, Hopefully, by the end of the year, we will have something to report on that.”

One product of the merger is that there will be only one summer bazaar, since McAdoo a and Keystone used to each have their own.

The McAdoo Fire Company’s annual bazaar will be held June 16 to 18. The following weekend, the fire company will host the annual Six County Firemen’s Parade from June 24 to 25.

n Frackville: The Frackville Economic Development Committee will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the borough council chambers, 42 S. Center St. Members will discuss development of a downtown economic strategic plan, the Hometown Heroes project, the potential for hiring a borough manager and continuing problems with blighted properties. Committee Chairman Paul Klevis, who also is a councilman, said the meeting is open to the general public with constructive input always welcome.

n Pine Grove: St. John’s Lutheran Church, 222 W. Tulpehocken St. (rear), will have an all-you-can-eat spaghetti dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children under 8. The event, which is the eighth annual benefit for the memorial scholarship fund of Alicia Marie Gurski, will also include a Chinese auction and lottery tree raffle. For more information, call Jeanne Gurski at 570-640-8371.

n Pottsville: The Pottsville Kiwanis Club will sponsor a Kauffman’s chicken barbecue from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. May 28 at the Boyer’s Markets store, 22nd and West Market streets. The cost is $8. Meals will include a half chicken, baked potato and roll. For more information, call 570-622-4080.

n Ringtown: The Ringtown Valley Fire & Rescue Company will begin its 2016 fund drive with members canvassing Ringtown borough and Melanie Manor Trailer Park. Letters will placed in residents’ doors. Union Township residents except Melanie Manor will have letters sent via mail. All businesses in the borough and township will also receive letters in the mail. In a release, company officials reminded residents to make sure they have address numbers on their properties. The numbers should be visible from the road an emergency vehicle will enter. “This may be on the building or at the end of their driveway. It should be visible both day and night in all directions,” they said in the release. People are asked to fill out the bottom form of the letter, detach it and return it with the donation, which is tax deductible. Anyone who didn’t receive a letter but wishes to donate should call the fire station at 570-889-3245 or Fire Chief Raymond J. Dunsavage at 570-590-3153.

n Shenandoah: Planning is underway for the fifth gathering of the Shenandoah J.W. Cooper High School “Super Cooper” multi-class alumni reunion. Officers have been elected to coordinate the event, which will be held Aug. 19, 2017, at Genetti/Best Western facility, Hazleton. The fifth gathering will be expanded to include classes that graduated from Shenandoah Valley High School but attended school in the Cooper building. For updates, visit www.supercooperreunion.com.

n Shenandoah: The Shenandoah Valley High School Student Council will conduct a special dedication ceremony at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the high school auditorium to honor 49 Pennsylvania State troopers from the Shenandoah area who have had careers in law enforcement. Shenandoah Valley is the only school in the state to have initiated such a dedication program, according to a release from Robert C. Yudinsky, school district public relations coordinator. Twenty troopers — most of whom attended the former J.W. Cooper (Shenandoah) High School and Shenandoah Valley High School — will attend the program. The honorees will receive special certificates presented by state Sen. David G. Argall, R-29. Edward Kleha will also make a presentation on behalf of state Rep. Neal Goodman, D-123. Another program highlight will be the unveiling of a plaque that was designed and constructed by retired teacher Walter Choplick that will be hung in the high school lobby listing all the troopers with local school roots, recognizing their service with a special engraving. Other program participants will include Andrew Szczyglak, Shenandoah mayor; Daniel Salvadore, Shenandoah Valley school board president; Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker; and a state police color guard from Hershey to present the colors at the beginning of the program. Family and friends of the school and honorees are invited to attend. Doors will open at 1 p.m. for the public via the front lobby. Project coordinators include Anthony Pytko, SV Student Council coordinator, and Yudinsky.

The state Department of Transportation, Buckle Up PA, state police and police from Tamaqua, Rush Township, West Penn Township, Butler Township, Kidder Township and Lehighton are taking part in the national “Click It or Ticket” seat-belt enforcement initiative.

This initiative began Monday and will continue through June 5, according to Carol Alonge, District 5 regional coordinator with the North Central Highway Safety Network.

Alonge said the enforcement effort will focus largely on nighttime enforcement, between 9 p.m. and 4 a.m. using various enforcement techniques including roving patrols.

She said police will also use Traffic Enforcement Zones, which combine stationary enforcement and checkpoint tactics on roadways with high numbers of unbuckled crashes.

Citations will be issued to motorists who are caught unbuckled or transporting unrestrained children.

According to statistics compiled by PennDOT, there were 13,627 unrestrained crashes that resulted in 383 fatalities in 2014.

Motorists are reminded that Pennsylvania’s primary seat-belt law requires drivers and passengers under 18 years old to buckle up, and children under the age of 4 must be properly restrained in an approved child safety seat, Alonge said.

She added that children 4 to 8 must be restrained in an appropriate booster seat and children 8 to 18 must be in a seat-belt when riding anywhere in the vehicle.

In addition, Alonge said that drivers and front-seat passengers 18 or older are required to buckle up.

“If motorists are stopped for a traffic violation and are not wearing their seat-belt, they can receive a second ticket and second fine,” she said.

The 2016 enforcement effort includes 370 Pennsylvania municipal agencies and supplements the national “Click It or Ticket” mobilization.

As part of the initiative, PennDOT distributes federal enforcement funding from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

For more information on seat-belt safety, visit www.JustDrivePA.com.

A complaint representatives of The Community Mission filed against the city of Pottsville in April will be the topic of a “fact-finding conference” to be presided over by a representative of the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission on June 1, according to a letter the PHRC recently sent to the city.

In April, David J. Petravich, city building code officer, condemned 2-4 N. Centre St., a downtown building occupied by The Community Mission, stating it was “unfit for human occupancy.”

In response, the owners of the building, Robert J. “Pastor Bob” Alonge and his wife, Renata L., who were residing there, filed a complaint with the PHRC, a civil rights agency, alleging discrimination.

Alonge refused to provide a copy of the complaint to the newspaper when contacted Tuesday and refused to comment.

City officials also would not provide a copy of the complaint.

“We cannot provide that information at this time since it’s an ongoing investigation,” Merideth Hannon, secretary to Mayor James T. Muldowney, said Tuesday.

Petravich said the same thing Tuesday.

The city will be represented at the fact-finding conference by Christopher P. Gerber, an attorney with Siana, Bellwoar & McAndrew LLP, Chester Springs, Chester County, according to Hannon.

Gerber could not be reached for comment Monday or Tuesday.

“In accordance with the statutory mandate (PHR Act Section 9) for a prompt investigation of all complaints of discrimination, the commission has scheduled a fact-finding conference on this complaint,” John Means, a PHRC human relations representative, said in a recent letter to the city.

The fact-finding conference is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. June 1 at the PHRC Regional Office, 333 Market St., 8th Floor, Harrisburg, according to the letter.

“A fact-finding conference is a meeting (face to face) at which the two parties of the complaint present evidence and documents about the issues raised in the charge. A commission representative, called a human relations representative, will preside over and conduct the conference. The purpose and goal of the conference is to achieve either an early settlement or a prompt investigation of the complaint,” Means said in the letter.

Means is the human relations representative assigned to the case, according to the letter.

Means could not be reached for comment Monday or Tuesday.

The Community Mission has offices at 254 N. Mill St., Saint Clair. Earlier this year, it opened a pre-K to grade 12 school for “accelerated Christian education” — The Shepherd’s Fold Christian Academy and Bible Institute — at 2880 Pottsville-Minersville Highway, Suite 110, which is part of a strip mall, Miners Plaza.

On Jan. 29, Alonge and his wife bought the property at 2-4 N. Centre St. from Mike Ghannoum, Pottsville, for $155,000, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator.

They have been advertising The Community Mission’s services with fliers in the front windows, but the mission did not have an office open there.

“We bought the property as a single family home, that has a commercial property on the first floor, that we will eventually use as such. As for now, we are living as a family that we are. We are not a program — just a family — large as it is and complexly made up. Our other sites serve our other ministries,” Robert Alonge said April 15.

Petravich said he learned there were “up to six people” living in the property, and that prompted his investigation.

He said he discovered:

• Violations of the 2009 International Property Maintenance Code, in particular sections 108.1.3, 503.2, 704.1 and 704.1.1.

• Violations of the City of Pottsville Zoning Ordinance.

MAHANOY CITY — The North Schuylkill Landfill Association delegates held a special meeting Tuesday that included discussion of the transfer station sale.

The association held the meeting due to the lack of a quorum at the regular April 26 meeting. In addition to regular business, President Franklin Fetter, the delegate from Ryan Township, asked solicitor Jeffrey M. Markosky about the transfer station, which had been owned by the association and sold to North Schuylkill Transfer Station LLC, a Rich family company.

“We still don’t understand what the situation is here, who is responsible, who owns it,” Fetter said. “The original agreement was with JMB and then the ownership changed with JMB at 74 percent and Kreitzer at 26 percent. Then Kreitzer was supposed to pay us and they were falling behind, and now it’s County Waste.”

“I spoke with Kreitzer’s lawyer, and Kreitzer is going to continue to pay us and honor the original contract,” Markosky said.

“Do we have any way to guarantee it?” Fetter asked.

“We have the original contract, and if he wouldn’t, we can still use that to sue them,” Markosky said.

Fetter explained to the newer delegates about the landfill and transfer station.

“The association is responsible for the landfill,” Fetter said. “The original agreement with the state about the landfill permit is a three-way street. Girard Estate owns the land. We lease it from Girard Estate until the landfill is officially closed, which it is not. So we still pay Girard Estate $10,000 a year until it is officially closed, and God knows when that is going to be. It could be never the way things are going with the state.”

The NSLA consists of 17 member municipalities in the northern Schuylkill County area had been operating a domestic waste landfill south of Shenandoah on Girard Estate property from 1971 to 1990, when DEP enacted new rules requiring a double liner for landfills. The rules prohibited the landfill from accepting garbage. At that point, the association built its transfer station and was operating it near the village of Turkey Run, accepting waste material from member municipalities, commercial customers and private citizens and hauling it to the Commonwealth Environmental Systems landfill.

In April 2009, the NSLA was notified by letter from Michael J. Rich that the lease on the Rich-owned property where the transfer station is located would not be renewed. At the time, the deadline to cease operations was June 4, but negotiations began between the two parties, which led to a sale agreement that has North Schuylkill Transfer Station LLC paying the association $5,000 per month for 10 years for all transfer station assets, which were buildings and equipment. The payments are deposited into the NSLA dedicated account for use in the official closing of the landfill as prescribed by the state Department of Environmental Protection and to monitor it for 30 years afterward. Currently, the association has about $2.8 million for that purpose.

The NSLA and NSTS agreed to the sale September 2009, but both parties could not change ownership until the transfer of the NSLA operating permit to NSTS was approved by DEP. The transfer was approved in early June.

Due to the delay in the permit transfer, the agreement between the two parties was amended to allow for depreciation of transfer station assets by $10,000, reducing the payment to the NSLA to $590,000 over the 10-year period. The NSLA has received $290,000 in payments.

After the meeting, Markosky said the transfer station sale was recently discovered.

“We just found out about it and looked into it and discovered it,” Markosky said.

Even with County Waste taking over Kreitzer’s operation and transfer station, Kreitzer will continue the payments.

“Kreitzer is responsible and has given us a verbal promise that it will continue to pay, and he has been paying and is up to date and actually ahead one month,” Markosky said.

Markosky said there is no issue about the sale of the transfer station to Kreitzer.

“As long as they’re paying us, there’s no problem. That’s what is going on, and I hope it continues,” Markosky said.

CRESSONA — A 72-unit apartment complex might soon become reality in North Manheim Township.

A township zoning hearing board scheduled a hearing for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the township municipal building, 303 Manheim Road, Pottsville, for an application by Grande Land L.P., West Lawn, for the Chesnut Hill Apartments complex. A legal ad in The Republican-Herald recently said the applicant is seeking a special exception to build eight multifamily structures for a total of 72 dwelling units. A ruling could be made at the meeting.

The application was submitted to North Manheim Township in March. The proposed area is on Route 183, west of Cross Creek Road and south of Stony Run Road. An addendum to the zoning application states the apartments are to be located on about 12.9 acres. About 11.4 acres of open space is included for a total area of 24.3 acres.

Barbara G. Miller, secretary/treasurer for North Manheim Township, said Tuesday that the housing development there now, Chestnut Hill, is owned by the same person who wants to develop the apartments. She said a prior plan approved in the late ’80s or early ’90s had four phases of development for homes, which are now complete. She said there was a section that was reserved for apartments on the plans. The use of the apartments is permitted by special exception but an application must be made to the zoning hearing board. The area is in a R2 zoning district, medium density residential.

“Although there is no specific land development approval granted to the subject area, the master plan did show that the area was intended for multifamily construction and that it would be proposed to be one hundred and twenty units (120). The township and the residents were aware that the subject property would be developed for multifamily housing,” the addendum reads.

A call Monday to Grande Land L.P. was not returned, and no one was available to speak Tuesday. A call to Joseph J. McGrory Jr., the attorney for Grande Land L.P., was not returned Tuesday.

Steve Bensinger, a land surveyor with Stackhouse Bensinger Inc., Sinking Spring, who made the plans for the apartments, said the apartments will be two bedroom. He did not provide additional information.

A copy of the proposed plan submitted as a zoning exhibit shows one apartment building with four units, four with eight units and three with 12 units. The site will use public water and sewer. The plan shows 184 parking spaces.

Brad A. Moyer, who tried to ram his car into a state police sport utility vehicle in North Union Township, will spend at least nine years in a state correctional institution after being sentenced Tuesday in Schuylkill County Court.

Moyer, 31, of Pottsville, formerly of Zion Grove, must serve nine to 22 years in a state correctional institution, President Judge William E. Baldwin ordered after determining the deadly weapon enhancement provision of state sentencing law applied to his use of the car.

“Those two officers could have been killed,” Baldwin told Moyer, who said nothing either during or after the hearing. “They have people who love them and depend on them.”

Baldwin also sentenced Moyer to pay costs and a $300 fine and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. He made Moyer’s sentence concurrent with one the defendant already is serving in connection with the incident at his parents’ home that eventually led to the confrontation with police.

After a two-day trial over which Baldwin presided, a Schuylkill County jury on April 8 convicted Moyer of four counts of aggravated assault, three of simple assault and two of recklessly endangering another person, but could not reach a verdict on two counts of attempted homicide and two additional counts of aggravated assault. Baldwin found Moyer guilty of one count each of harassment and criminal mischief and not guilty of a second count of each.

Prosecutors decided not to retry Moyer on the four counts on which the jury could not reach a verdict, a decision necessary to allow sentencing to proceed on the other charges relating to the incident with police. Because there was no verdict, they could have retried Moyer on those charges without violating the constitutional ban on double jeopardy.

State police at Frackville charged Moyer in connection with both cases, which were tried together and concerned incidents that occurred on the same date.

In the first case, they alleged Moyer harassed and assaulted his father, Randy Moyer, during a confrontation on May 28, 2015, at the home he and his parents shared at 264 Ridge Road, Zion Grove, Union Township.

In the second, they alleged that after the confrontation with his parents, Brad Moyer drove his 2014 white Chevrolet Malibu at the SUV occupied by driver Trooper Brian O’Connor and passenger Trooper Matthew C. Barrett on Ringtown Road.

Baldwin criticized Moyer for his actions, saying they could have led to a tragedy for O’Connor and Barrett.

“You seem to be suggesting ... that that night you were trying to kill yourself,” Baldwin said. “You chose to drive (your car) into another vehicle. They were trying to save you from any injury.”

He said that even if Moyer did not know the vehicle was a police one, his actions were completely wrong.

“You certainly knew at the time ... that there was a vehicle being operated by another person,” Baldwin said.

On May 2, Baldwin had sentenced Moyer to serve one to 12 months in prison, and pay costs and a $300 fine, for the incident involving his parents.

Claude A.L. Shields, Pottsville, Moyer’s lawyer, said he would talk with his client about whether to file an appeal, but otherwise declined to comment on the cases.

District Attorney Christine A. Holman, who tried the case along with Assistant District Attorney Kimm Montone, said she was happy with Tuesday’s result.

“I’m satisfied that the court recognized the travesty that was inflicted upon these two officers,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that Mr. Moyer took his anger and frustration out on two innocent people who were, in fact, police officers.”

Defendant: Brad A. Moyer

Age: 31

Residence: Pottsville, formerly of Zion Grove

Crimes committed: Four counts of aggravated assault, three of simple assault, two of recklessly endangering another person and one each of harassment and criminal mischief

Prison sentence: Nine to 22 years in a state correctional institution

SHENANDOAH — Trinity Academy students known as “The Ciszek Players” will take to the stage this weekend to perform the school’s first musical for a fun time for the audience and the actors.

“Adventures of a Comic Book Artist” will be performed at Annunciation BVM Hall in Frackville on Friday and Saturday with the curtain rising at 7:30 p.m. both evenings. Admission is free.

The musical is directed by sixth-grade teacher Mary Kate Sternik through the Drama Club, which was created last school year by Sternik, who has an interest in the performing arts.

“When I interviewed for the position for the sixth-grade teacher, one of the questions I had for Sister Mary Ann (Spaetti, IHM, principal) was whether or not there was a drama club,” Sternik said. “I have always been active in theater, but I started in middle school and I think that is a really good time to introduce kids to it because it is a time when they can do different things and experience new things that they might not have done already. I was involved in theater in middle school, high school and college, and I have a concentration in my certification for theater.”

Sternik, who is completing her second year at Trinity Academy, said the Drama Club was formed last year, though no show was produced due to another commitment.

“We started last year, but since I was directing at Nativity, that show was taking precedence,” Sternik said. “We were meeting and practicing different things like monologues, but this year is the first year we’re doing a show.”

The musical revolves around Stephanie, a young girl who aspires to be a famous comic book artist, but for now is working as a janitor for the comic book company of D.C. Wunderman. During her time with Mrs. Wunderman, Stephanie and the staff of Wunderman Comics encounter powerful pens that make their creations come alive. The staff accidentally creates a villain, Dr. Shock Clock, who is slowly taking over the town and has plans to take over the world. It is up to Stephanie and her Fabulous Four to defeat Dr. Shock Clock, but will they be able to stop the villain and will Stephanie finally become a comic book artist will be answered amidst songs and dance numbers.

The story and song lyrics are by Pat Lydersen, who has a master’s degree in theatre from Penn State University and more than 20 years experience as an actress, director, teacher and playwright. Music is by Wendy Woolf. Sternik obtained the script and music from Pioneer Drama Service, which is a leading play publisher for schools and community and children’s theaters.

Sternik had been searching for a show to fit with students from grades 4 to 8.

“I have been flipping through the catalog since last school year that has shows for kids this age,” Sternik said. “The show is just over an hour long and it’s just enough to give them the experience of a show. I wanted something that would be fun and be somewhat relevant, and I thought that something with comic book heroes would be good just because of all the hype they’ve been receiving with The Avengers and Batman vs. Superman movies, and the Wonder Woman movie coming out next year.”

Sternik said the cast is made up of about 40 Drama Club members. The club has about 50 students.

“We have the Drama Club, but the show is featuring our Ciszek Players,” she said. “That’s what our actors and stage crew are called.”

For the students to be in the show, there was a formal audition where they sang a song of their choice and Sternik gave them a part of the script to read.

“Then I had another round of auditions for the callbacks where I gave them a song from the show they had to perform,” Sternik said. “It was very formal. It wasn’t like we pulled names from a hat. I was so pleased that they treated it like it was a serious audition.”

Rehearsals before this week were held in Sternik’s classroom, but this week they were moved to the hall in Frackville, which is providing a different experience for the students to actually be on stage.

“We have definitely two, maybe three, students who have been involved in community theater outside of the school,” Sternik said. “They’ve all come a long way.”

Thomas J. Petrousky must spend the rest of his life behind state prison bars for killing his roommate in April 2014 in West Mahanoy Township, a Schuylkill County judge ruled Tuesday.

Petrousky, 55, of Altamont, will serve life in prison for the fatal beating of David R. Halaburda, President Judge William E. Baldwin decided. The life sentence is mandatory under state law and does not include a chance for parole.

Petrousky said nothing either during or after Tuesday’s sentencing hearing.

“He’s elected to remain silent this morning,” Chief Public Defender Michael J. Stine, Petrousky’s lawyer, told Baldwin. “I don’t have anything else to present.”

Deputy Assistant District Attorney Robert I. Lipkin confined his argument to asking Baldwin to impose the life sentence and order restitution.

After a three-day trial, a Schuylkill County jury convicted Petrousky on March 9 of first-degree murder, possessing instruments of crime, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and two counts of aggravated assault.

West Mahanoy Township police charged Petrousky with fatally beating Halaburda, 50, on April 28, 2014, in the 256 S. Wylam St. residence the men shared.

Police said Petrousky piled numerous items, including a mounted deer head, on top of Halaburda’s body, and put a T-shirt over his own blood-stained sweatshirt to try to conceal his crime. They also said there were bloodstains, including bloody shoe prints, all over the first floor of the residence.

Stine had argued at trial that Petrousky was legally insane at the time he killed Halaburda, and thereby not legally responsible for what he had done. Stine also said his client had a history of mental illness.

After Tuesday’s hearing, Stine said he would file an appeal on behalf of his client but otherwise declined to comment on the case.

District Attorney Christine A. Holman said the two prosecutors, Assistant District Attorney A.J. Serina and First Assistant District Attorney John T. Fegley, did a fine job presenting the case.

Under the terms of Baldwin’s sentence, Petrousky also must pay costs and $7,622.50 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Defendant: Thomas J. Petrousky

Age: 55

Residence: Altamont

Crimes committed: First-degree murder, possessing instruments of crime, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and two counts of aggravated assault

Prison sentence: Life

Christina E. Hale

FRACKVILLE — An inmate at State Correctional Institution/Frackville charged with assaulting a staff member at the jail on July 16 had charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale.

Warren Easley, 29, was arrested by state police Trooper Alan Zulick of the Frackville station and charged with one felony count of harassment by prisoner and a misdemeanor offense of criminal mischief. Hale determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered both charges against Easley held for Schuylkill County Court.

Zulick said a staff member of the mental health unit approached Easley’s cell when the prisoner threw a mixture of what appeared to be blood and milk on his legs and feet. When prison officials opened the cell door they found Easley with large self-inflicted cuts on his arms that he had packed with his own feces after defecating on the floor.

Other court cases included:

Ronald G. Malacusky, 62, of 72 Swatara Road, Shenandoah — waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, obscured plates and no rear lights.

Justin D. Blume, 43, of 16 Golf Road, Barnesville — waived for court: DUI, disregard for single traffic lane, careless driving, violating hazard regulations and operating or permitting operation with unsafe equipment.

Ronald G. Sticker Jr., 35, of 52 Camp Road, Apt. 2C, Tremont — waived for court: harassment.

Joshua Le Derk, 26, of 1434 Spruce St., Ashland — waived for court: burglary and conspiracy.

Trevor Mitros, 18, of 220 Centre St., Ashland — withdrawn: possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.

Debra Ann Sewinsky, 43, of 436 Columbia Ave., Aristes — held for court: possession of a controlled substance, manufacture of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Marriage licenses

Brian R. Menchey, Minersville, and Jennifer L. Liptok, Minersville.

Anthony Lee Pugh, Frackville, and Marisa Lee Buhl, Mahanoy City.

Damian M. Vega, Cumbola, and Ellen P. Schwartz, Cumbola.

Barnesville man

charged with DUI

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City police charged a 43-year-old Barnesville man after an incident about 9:10 p.m. Sunday at Main Street and Mahanoy Avenue.

Police said Justin D. Blume, 16 Golf Road, was charged with DUI, careless driving and duties at a stop sign.

Police said officers stopped a vehicle driven by Blume after seeing him fail to stop at a stop sign and then cross into the oncoming lane on two occasions. Inside the vehicle, police said, officers saw an open beer bottle between the seats and Blume only opened his window about an inch when asked for his license and registration.

Officers detected an odor of alcohol from inside the vehicle and police said Blume refused to exit the vehicle when asked. After being taken from the vehicle, police said, Blume refused to submit to a field sobriety and also to a blood alcohol test.

Charges against Blume will be filed with Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Police investigate

power tool theft

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a theft that occurred between 5:30 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Monday at 34 E. Abby Lane, North Manheim Township.

Police said someone removed a Stihl drop saw from the open bed of a pick-up truck while it was parked in the driveway.

Anyone with information regarding this matter is asked to call state police at Schuylkill Haven at 570-739-1330.

Police charge 2

after pursuit

ANNVILLE — Two Pine Grove residents were charged by state police at Lykens after a pursuit about 10:10 p.m. Monday in Annville Township, Lebanon County.

Police said they were called to assist Annville Township police in a pursuit involving a stolen vehicle. The pursuit began on Route 422, continued to Route 934 and then onto Interstate 81, where it ended in the area of mile marker 89.5 where the vehicle crashed.

Police said both Brandon Scott Beatty, 22, and Alisha Jane Yoder, 25, were taken into custody and charged with driving under the influence of drugs, fleeing or attempting to elude police, endangering the welfare of a child, receiving stolen property and numerous traffic offenses.

Police: Woman

stole food items

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — A 23-year-old Schuylkill Haven woman was charged with retail theft by state police at Schuylkill Haven after an incident about 6:30 p.m. Monday at Redner’s Warehouse Market, 191 Manheim Road in North Manheim Township.

Police said Jasmine Leilani Phifer will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg.

Police said they charged Phifer with stealing numerous food items valued at $50.47 and then trying to leave the store without paying.

The Stamp Out Hunger food drive Saturday in Schuylkill County collected 42,950 pounds for the less fortunate in the community.

Greg Andregic, coordinator of the Stamp Out Hunger food drive in Schuylkill County, said the amount collected likely surpassed last year. He attributed the donation increase to more awareness and the plastic bags that were dropped off along with the postcards. Andregic is also union steward of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 500, based in Harrisburg. The nationwide food drive looks to feed the 48 million Americans who go hungry every day. The event was coordinated by organizations such as the National Association of Letter Carriers, U.S. Postal Service and National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association.

“Look at all this,” Capt. Kevin Polito, of the Salvation Army of Pottsville, said Tuesday.

The Salvation Army received about four tons of food. He said the food will get the organization through the summer and the fall. It will be given to those in need. Polito and four others collected the food Monday from the post office in three trips in a van.

“My heart is swelled over with gratitude. That’s a great response by the community,” Polito said.

He said the food pantry had a couple of weeks of food left to distribute. They were out of soup, canned vegetables and even peanut butter. Food distribution from the emergency food pantry is done between 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Call 570-622-5252 for more information. Polito said about 25 families a week are helped by food from the pantry.

The Salvation Army was not the only recipient of the generosity of others in the community. In Pottsville, Servant’s To All-My Father’s House and United Presbyterian Church also received food. 3,200 pounds and 4,000 pounds respectively.

The following post offices participated in the effort: Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven, Port Carbon, Cressona, New Philadelphia, Orwigsburg, New Ringgold, Shenandoah, Frackville, Minersville, Tower City and Saint Clair. Food collected in Pottsville, Port Carbon, New Philadelphia, Cressona and Saint Clair was taken to the Pottsville post office for distribution to the three Pottsville locations. Donations collected in the other locations stays in that area. Andregic provided the amounts collected by each post office that participated.

The amounts collected were: Pottsville, 15,700 pounds; Schuylkill Haven, 2,850 pounds; Port Carbon, 1,240 pounds; Cressona, 900 pounds; New Philadelphia, 1,100 pounds; Orwigsburg, 5,800 pounds; New Ringgold, 1,310 pounds; Shenandoah, 4,500 pounds; Frackville, 3,100 pounds; Minersville 2,450 pounds; and Saint Clair, 2,000 pounds.

Tower City and Muir residents collected more than 2,000 pounds of food and products for the Williams Valley Food Pantry.

Andregic said he was surprised at the amount collected. He said it goes to show the “community supports each other. This year was a really good collection,” he said.

A national tally was not available as of Tuesday.

VALLEY VIEW — You don’t have to wait until Independence Day to see celebratory pyrotechnics light up the sky.

The CrackerJacks Inc. are coming to Valley View Park this Friday and Saturday and will host a public showing of fireworks Saturday.

CrackerJacks, with about 125 members, is the largest pyrotechnics club on the East Coast, according to Jeff Kline, club president and operator of Tri-Valley Pharmacy, Valley View.

“They were in the Valley View Park last year but were not able to allow the public into the park because of their insurance,” David Williams, park event coordinator, said. “They got additional insurance for this year’s event and the public will be allowed to come and watch the competition fireworks on Saturday night.”

“It is important to keep local people informed because of the noise associated with fireworks. In particular, knowing how to prepare pets for the fireworks,” Williams said.

40th anniversary

The CrackerJacks will be celebrating their 40th anniversary. The public is invited to watch the special competition fireworks that will be held on Saturday night in celebration of this anniversary. The park will be open to the public at 7 p.m. Saturday, with the firework show starting at 9:15 p.m.

Four groups will be competing for the best fireworks show of the night. Each group will be given approximately 10 minutes for their fireworks show, which must be choreographed to music.

There is no charge to watch the fireworks. The Valley View Park will be providing donation buckets to help defray the costs of maintaining the park, according to Williams. Some parking will be available in the park. Overflow parking will be available at the Valley View Gun Club grounds. Hegins Valley Fire and Rescue will be on hand for the event.

Enthusiasts

The CrackerJacks is a club that was formed in 1976 for people who like fireworks, according to Kline. Their members range from professional fireworks manufacturers and shooters to dedicated hobbyists and are from all the states on the East Coast and as far away as Washington state.

They hold events in northern Virginia and Pennsylvania. Members make firework safety their first priority and learn how to setup a display, manufacture rockets, shells and shoot both 1.4G (Class C, consumer) and 1.3G (Class B, professional) fireworks. Every member is required to know, understand and follow the safety guidelines. All club activities are closely supervised by their safety team to ensure that members can safely enjoy their mutual hobby of pyrotechnics.

Safety training is provided to club members and others on a wide range of topics, including storage, handling, transportation, display setup/operation and manufacturing. The Pyrotechnic Guild International, which is also dedicated to fireworks safety, developed the PGI Display Operator Certification also know as the PGI Shooter’s Course. This course is regularly offered by the CrackerJacks.

The CrackerJacks is a registered nonprofit corporation that holds a Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives license that enables the club to store, manufacture and use fireworks. All events abide by the rules, laws and regulations of federal, state and local agencies such as BATFE, the state Department of Transportation, National Fire Protection Association and the fire marshal. The CrackerJacks regularly offer the Pyrotechnic Guild International Display Operator Certification Courses and also train people to become PGI Certified Trainers.

Fire marshals from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio and New York have also received training.

CrackerJacks’ members build some of the most advanced and spectacular rockets, girandolas, ball shells and other pyrotechnic devices.

Several seminars are offered at each shoot covering everything from electrical firing and choreography to the latest fireworks manufacturing techniques. In the past, several seminars have covered classic fireworks designs, plastic shell construction and end-burning drivers. Seminars are taught by members ranging from experienced hobbyists to leading experts in the field, including members who participate in world-class firework competitions, PGI Grandmasters and those who worked on the largest firework shows ever.

Some fireworks create loud sounds. In particular, fireworks known as “Salutes” create a loud noise that sounds like a cannon being fired. The CrackerJacks will be limiting these fireworks to a time period from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.

Watch pets

Loud noises from fireworks may frighten animals and pets. The SPCA offered several tips to help minimize any discomfort to pets. Some suggestions are as follows:

1. Know when the fireworks are happening and mark the dates on a calendar. Make sure that your pets’ ID tags and microchips are up to date. Prepare pets for dealing with the noise by exposing your pets to other sounds by playing appropriate music.

2. Prepare the house to become the pets’ safety zone by keeping lights on, closing curtains and playing the television or music.

3. Prepare a suitable room where the pet will stay. An inner room that is least impacted by noise is ideal. It should be a room that can be closed off to prevent the pet from running around the house. Make the room comfortable by adding clean bedding and familiar toys. The room temperature should be pleasant.

4. Pets can become upset by reacting to their owners’ anxiety. Keep calm in front of your pet.

5. Provide food and hydration to your pet. If your pet has access to water, it will help calm him, and food supplied in your pet’s regular portion will make him feel like it’s a normal day.

6. Keep an eye on your pet, and if possible, stay with your pet. Comfort your pet by talking to it. Be friendly but don’t fuss over your pet too much; this can increase its anxiety if it picks up on yours and can reward and encourage fearful behavior. Allow your pet to hide somewhere in the room if wished. It’s your pet’s way of coping and dragging them out of a safe spot can increase their anxiety levels. Don’t fuss over your pet too much.

7. Check on your pet after the fireworks. Reassure him as long as you’re sure that the loud fireworks are over. Let your pet have free run of the house to see how it behaves before considering letting your pet return outside. Check for signs of stress in your pet.

The CrackerJacks regret any discomfort animals and pets may experience because of the event and request that owners review these helpful suggestions. The CrackerJacks want everyone to enjoy the fireworks, Kline said, and invite everyone to come to the Valley View Park to enjoy the show.

For more information, visit www.crackerjacks.org.

Already in state prison for other crimes, Jordan A. Zulkowski will return there after admitting Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that he assaulted a Shenandoah police officer in June 2015 in the borough.

Zulkowski, 26, of Shenandoah, pleaded guilty to one count each of aggravated assault and possession of drug paraphernalia and two of simple assault. He also pleaded guilty in a separate case to possession of a controlled substance.

Judge Charles M. Miller accepted Zulkowski’s plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced him to serve nine to 24 months in a state correctional institution and pay costs, $200 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $100 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account.

Shenandoah police charged Zulkowski, who is an inmate at SCI/Pittsburgh, with assaulting Patrolman William A. Moyer and possessing a pipe and baggies on June 11, 2015.

“I was high,” is how Zulkowski explained his actions.

In the other case, Shenandoah police charged Zulkowski with possessing synthetic marijuana on May 8, 2015, in the borough.

Prosecutors withdrew a charge of resisting arrest, two counts of harassment and one additional count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia against Zulkowski.

Zulkowski has a criminal record dating back to 2009 and consisting mostly of drug-related offenses.

The defendant

Name: Jordan A. Zulkowski

Age: 26

Residence: Shenandoah

Crimes committed: One count each of aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia and two of simple assault

Prison sentence: Nine to 24 months in a state correctional institution

The Schuylkill County commissioners finalized an agreement Wednesday to house inmates at the Centre County Correctional Facility, Bellefonte.

On May 4, the state Department of Corrections ordered that the Schuylkill County prison can no longer take any additional prisoners sentenced between six months to five years until its average monthly inmate population is at or below its approved capacity of 277. Schuylkill County has been sending male inmates to the George W. Hill Correctional Facility, Thornton, and female inmates to the State Correctional Institution/Muncy since March.

The agreement has already gone into effect and will end Dec. 31, but has renewal options. The per diem rate is $65 a day per inmate. Ten women were transferred to Centre County on Saturday.

“We do have options to send males there also,” Warden Gene Berdanier said.

Meanwhile, 22 men are being housed at the George W. Hill Correctional Facility while none remain at Muncy. The county also pays $65 a day per inmate as part of those agreements.

Commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage said the prison board is also discussing housing agreements with Columbia and Berks counties. The state DOC will review its order in three months. The average inmate population for April was 282, according to the prison report Wednesday.

In other news, the county has applied for another grant for its proposed drug court.

The adult probation office is seeking a $100,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency to pay for a full-time drug court coordinator.

Last month, the county applied for $350,000 grant from the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance to establish the drug court by hiring a full-time probation officer and part-time additional staff.

The county had already received a federal grant for training the seven to nine members on the drug court committee, which includes members of the district attorney, public defender, adult probation, and drug and alcohol offices. The specialized court will put non-violent drug offenders through an alternative program involving comprehensive supervision, drug testing, treatment services, immediate sanctions and incentives.

The county also received bids for a community development block grant drainage project on Hancock Street in McAdoo. Four bids were received: Arthur “Pat” Aungst Inc., Pine Grove, $84,600; Luzerne County Site Contractors, Hazleton, $73,465; Sikora Bros. Paving Inc., Hunlock Creek, $58,946.05; and M&J Excavation Inc., Bloomsburg, $52,293.

The contract will likely be awarded at the commissioners’ public meeting Wednesday.

Chevonne M. Martinson, who is serving a state prison sentence for burning down her residence in Shenandoah, admitted Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that she intended to sell marijuana in June 2015 in the borough.

Martinson, 31, of Shenandoah, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

Judge Charles M. Miller accepted Martinson’s plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced her to serve six to 12 months in prison; pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem; and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Miller made Martinson’s sentence concurrent with the one she already is serving.

Shenandoah police charged Martinson with possessing a salable amount of marijuana, plus paraphernalia, on June 10, 2015, in the borough.

On Wednesday, Martinson said she is on medication but understood her plea and its consequences.

She is serving one to three years in state prison for violating her probation and parole in the arson case. She is serving her sentence at State Correctional Institution/Cambridge Springs in Crawford County.

Martinson originally pleaded guilty on Feb. 19, 2014, to arson endangering property and risking a catastrophe. Prosecutors withdrew three additional counts of arson, three counts of criminal mischief and nine of recklessly endangering another person.

At that time, President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted Martinson’s plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced her to time served to 23 months in prison with immediate parole, plus 12 months consecutive probation. He also sentenced Martinson to pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $154,685.17 restitution, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Shenandoah police alleged Martinson set the fire at 432 W. Centre St. in the early morning hours of Jan. 19, 2013, after an argument with her live-in boyfriend, Luis E. Ramos.

The blaze destroyed 432 W. Centre St. and damaged homes at 430, 434, 436 and 438 W. Centre St., according to prosecutors. No one was injured in the blaze.

Baldwin revoked Martinson’s probation and parole on Aug. 5, 2015, and imposed her current sentence.

Mount Carbon

burglary probed

MOUNT CARBON — A burglary at Mystic Screen Printing & Embroidery is under investigation by state police at Schuylkill Haven.

At 6:49 p.m. May 15, two males climbed onto the roof of the printing business at 1108 S. Centre St., kicked in a styrofoam-covered window and entered the building, police said.

The actors rummaged through the office desks and took a plastic bag containing $20 in change, a pack of gum and a bag of cashews, police report. The pair then exited the building through the rear boiler room door.

Anyone with information can call state police at 570-739-1330.

Man cited in

1-vehicle crash

PINE GROVE — A man from Pine Grove escaped injury when he drove off a road in Lebanon County on Wednesday and struck an embankment, according to state police at Jonestown.

At 11:40 a.m., Dakota A. Hiester, 22, was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer north on Gold Mine Road in Cold Spring Township when he failed to follow a right curve and hit the embankment, police said Wednesday.

After impact, the vehicle spun counterclockwise then rolled over three and 1/2 times. It came to rest blocking both travel lanes, police said.

Police cited Hiester for failing to stay in his lane.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — He refused the hot dog and hamburger but went away well fed.

That’s how Patrick F. Moran, education and outreach coordinator for Schuylkill EMS, explained an encounter he had with a visitor during National EMS Week.

Moran said when he offered the man some lunch on Monday, the visitor instead said he wanted to know how to work an automated external defibrillator and asked about how to do the Heimlich maneuver and hands-only CPR.

Moran said the man explained he had just started driving a van transporting older adults, and he wanted to learn more.

“He said, ‘You fed me what I needed to know,’ ” Moran said, while flipping burgers Wednesday at the Schuylkill EMS facility at 480 Haven St., Schuylkill Haven.

As part of the national celebration, Schuylkill EMS is hosting an open house from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at all three stations it serves. That included 320 N. Ninth St., Pottsville, on Monday and Schuylkill Haven on Wednesday. The final open house will be Friday at 500 E. Market St., Orwigsburg.

The event gives visitors a chance to look at the rescue equipment, ask questions and meet some of the providers.

“The community is so supportive of us,” Moran said.

Earlier in the day, Schuylkill EMS received a proclamation from Schuylkill County commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr., Frank J. Staudenmeier and Gary J. Hess proclaiming May 16 to 21 as Emergency Medical Services Week and encouraging the community to observe the week with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.

Moran said representatives from the boroughs and municipalities served have also issued similar actions of recognition and appreciation.

Schuylkill EMS handles close to 15,000 calls a year, with 65 full- and part-time employees, EMTs, paramedics and pre-hospital nurses, and serves Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven, Orwigsburg and surrounding communities, according to Moran. Schuylkill EMS has 11 vehicles and works as a backup to West Schuylkill ALS and Shenandoah ALS.

Before becoming merged as Schuylkill EMS, Moran said the service was actually three, individual operations run by the Pottsville Lions, the Schuylkill Haven Lions and the Orwigsburg VFW. Pottsville and Schuylkill Haven joined first, before Orwigsburg came along in 2014. The EMS is served by a 12-person community board of directors.

John W. Reiley, a Schuylkill EMS board member from Orwigsburg, said the merger brought better equipment and accessibility to staffing.

“The merger was the best thing to happen to the community,” Reiley said at Wednesday’s open house. “We used to have to wait to get paramedics out of Schuylkill Haven, and now we have paramedics in-house.”

William Corby, a volunteer and trustee with Rainbow Hose Company, Schuylkill Haven, attended the open house with his daughter, Elizabeth Corby, 1.

He’s been a volunteer since 1991.

“I just love doing it, and it’s a family thing. My dad, grandfather and uncles all did it,” Corby said.

Another volunteer with Rainbow and a member of Schuylkill Haven’s Water Rescue Team, Scott Riegel, also stopped by the Schuylkill Haven event.

Riegel is currently in training to become a certified EMT. He works at Sapa in Cressona, which runs an EMT program offered through Harrisburg Area Community College. His course runs two nights per week from 6 to 10 p.m. through October. When he’s finished, he’ll become a certified EMT and will be able to respond to emergency needs at Sapa.

A subscription drive for Schuylkill EMS is currently underway, according to Garry Laubach, Schuylkill EMS executive director. The service provides community CPR, AED, first aid and safety training, as well as training for businesses and medical professionals, he said.

“We have patients come in and say thank you,” Laubach said.

For more information, visit www.schuylkillems.org or stop by the Orwigsburg open house Friday.

Shavinskin N. Thomas, who faces far greater legal trouble for his alleged killing of a Pottsville man in August 2015, admitted Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court in a separate case that he trespassed in a city parking garage in July 2015.

Thomas, 22, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty Wednesday to defiant trespass.

Judge Charles M. Miller accepted Thomas’ plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced him to spend 12 months on probation and pay costs.

Pottsville police charged Thomas with trespassing on July 15, 2015, in the Mahantongo Parking Garage, South Second and Mahantongo streets.

Wearing a prison jumpsuit, Thomas said little during Wednesday’s hearing except that he understood the terms of the plea and was entering it knowingly and voluntarily.

The plea and sentence have no effect on the homicide case against Thomas.

In that case, Pottsville police alleged Thomas and his co-defendant, Joshua M. Lukach, entered Brock’s 14 S. 12th St. home in the early morning hours of Aug. 6, 2015, fatally stabbed him with a knife and a box-cutter knife and took his debit card, which they used at an ATM later that day in the city. Brock was the owner of the now-closed Pottsville Bike and Board Shop, 125 W. Market St.

Thomas and Lukach, 19, of Pottsville, each are charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, conspiracy, robbery, burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, access device fraud, recklessly endangering another person, possessing instruments of crime and two counts of aggravated assault.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty for Thomas, but not Lukach.

Judge Jacqueline L. Russell has scheduled jury selection in Thomas’ homicide trial to start on Sept. 12, with jury selection slated for Sept. 7. Russell has not yet scheduled Lukach’s trial, since prosecutors are appealing to the state Superior Court her decision to suppress certain evidence against the defendant.