n Branchdale: St. Mary Church, Route 209, will have a piano concert and dinner from 7 to 10 p.m. June 24 featuring concert pianist Andrew Malanowicz. The cost is $20. To RSVP or for more information, call 570-815-4543.

n Frackville: An open house in the Frackville Museum, located in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, 42 S. Center St., will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. June 30. The event will feature new displays regarding the musicians of the area. Donald Bricker will speak about flags in remembrance of Flag Day. For more information, call Kathy Kraft at 570-874-3531.

n Mahanoy City: The Washington Hook and Ladder Fire Company will have a car wash from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the firehouse, 35 E. Mahanoy Ave. The cost is $5 for exterior only and $15 for exterior and interior. All are welcome.

n Minersville: The annual Minersville Fire-Rescue block party will be held from 6 to 11 p.m. July 7 to 9 at 300 North St. Entertainment on July 7 will be by Another Side, on July 8 by Tool Shed Jack and on July 9 by Hooligan. The event will also include rides, homemade food, refreshments and games of chance. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-6029.

n Minersville: The McCloy-Frew reunion scheduled for July 13 at the home of Robert McCloy has been canceled. Questions may be directed to Audrey Spangler at 570-544-4394.

n Mount Carmel: The annual Divine Redeemer Parish Summer Festival will be held at the parish picnic grounds and in Divine Mercy Hall in the 400 block of West Cherry Street from 5 to 10 p.m. June 17 and 3 to 11 p.m. June 18 featuring food, raffles, games, homemade baked goods, refreshments and entertainment by The ’60s Boys June 17 and Into the Spin June 18. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-339-3450.

n New Philadelphia: The Holy Cross Kitchen is open noon to 5 p.m. every Thursday at Holy Cross Parish Center, 99 Lombard St. A variety of homemade food is available. Patrons must call ahead for homemade kugeli from 8 a.m. the day of sale at 570-640-8750.

n New Philadelphia: The Actors’ Guild of Schuylkill County will present “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]” at 7 p.m. July 1 and 2 at the Simon Kramer Institute Theater, 15 Alliance St. The cost is $15 for adults and $10 for students under 18. The event is a comedy that portrays all of Shakespeare’s works in a “90-minute romp,” according to a guild release. The presentation is not recommended for children under age 10. For more information, call 570-691-4602.

n Pottsville: The Schuylkill County Bar Association Scholarship Fund is accepting applications for aid for Schuylkill County students attending law school, according to an announcement by Attorney Leonard G. Schumack, county bar president. To be eligible, applicants must be county residents for three consecutive years and either must be enrolled in a law school accredited by the American Bar Association or have taken law school aptitude tests and applied for admission to a law school. Applications may be obtained from the office of the of the county bar fund, Law Library, Court House, 401 N. Second St., Pottsville, PA 17901-1756 and submitted by July 31. The fund directors will study the applications, make the awards and notify the successful applicants. This is the 39th year for the scholarship aid program, according to a bar association press release. Last year, awards were made to 12 law school students.

n Schuylkill Haven: The fourth annual summer barbecue bash sponsored by Liberty Fire Company No. 4 is set for noon to 9 p.m. Saturday at the firehouse, Columbia and St. James streets. The event will include a pig roast with food and beverages available all day, a Chinese auction featuring a 50-inch flat screen TV, a poker run at noon, a hose and barrel at 1 p.m., musical entertainment and a fire truck parade at 5 p.m. All are welcome. For more information, go online to www.libertyfireco.com or visit the company’s Facebook site.

A Shenandoah church is appealing the denial of a tax exemption for property it owns in Butler Township.

In a petition filed Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court, Glory of Faith International Church, 117 W. Oak St., alleged the county Board of Assessment Appeals ignored state law when it refused to grant it the exemption for its property at 12 N. Fifth St., Frackville.

“The real property is entitled to an exemption as a place of religious worship pursuant to the General County Assessment Law,” according to the petition.

In its petition, the church asked the court to reverse the board’s decision and grant it the exemption, which would mean it would not have to pay property taxes to the county, township and North Schuylkill School District.

The church alleged the three-member board, which heard the case May 10 and issued its decision May 12, erred in denying the exemption for the following reasons:

• It uses the property regularly as a house of worship, prayer and teaching.

• It establishes fellowship among members of the congregation.

• The pastor uses the property for religious counseling for members of the congregation as an office to administer the church’s religious matters.

Glory of Faith was incorporated April 10, 2013, and bought the Butler Township property on Nov. 28, 2015, from Elissa J. Vieni for $92,000, according to the petition. It is a nonprofit corporation.

Robert Hornig said he does not mind the heat and sees no need right now to use an air conditioner.

“I don’t really use one,” Hornig, Palo Alto, said Monday in the parking lot of Lowe’s Home Improvement, Pottsville.

He said he likes to be outside when the weather is nice. He does own two air conditioners but rarely uses them. Temperatures in the 80s don’t bother him, although he said that when his children request he turn on the air conditioner,, he usually does.

Air conditioners are big business right now with the temperatures climbing as summer approaches.

“Once the heat starts, we sell a lot of things that cool people off,” John Lewis, assistant store manager for Lowe’s, Pottsville.

The store has 15 models of air conditioners, 12 window units and three portable ones, Lewis said.

Prices vary from $130 to $500. The most popular models are between 5,000 and 8,000 Btus. Lewis said the store started selling a lot of air conditioners about a week ago when temperatures were in the 80s. They sell air conditioners up to 25,000 Btus.

“There already has been a run on air conditioners,” he said.

He said the store got another shipment of affordable air conditioners when they ran out. There are plenty of air conditioners on the shelves for customers, he said. When deciding what air conditioner to buy, customers should know the window dimensions and square footage of the area they want to cool. Customers should also make sure their windows are well-insulated to prevent the cold air from leaking out from the window area.

The traditional window units are still popular, but they now can be high tech. A model at the store features wireless connectivity, meaning consumers can use cellphones to control the air conditioner, Lewis said.

Scott Reinoehl, owner of Mayer & Kehler TV & Appliances, Valley View, said they also are selling a lot of air conditioners. The largest size they sell is 25,000 Btus. More recently, the larger ones, 12,000 Btus and up are the hot sellers. He said people are buying new ones because “they are old and worn out. They don’t work anymore.”

Kevin Fitzgerald, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, State College, said Schuylkill County residents should not expect a lot of high temperatures in the near future.

“It doesn’t look like any heat waves in sight,” he said Monday.

Monday’s high was in the mid-80s, he said. Last week, an area of high pressure off the East Coast produced the higher than normal temperatures. This week temperatures are forecast for the mid-70s and even low 60s for Wednesday.

SHENANDOAH — The Shenandoah Valley school board formally adopted its 2016-17 fiscal year budget Tuesday that includes a real estate tax increase of 2.085 mills.

The school board approved the budget in an 5-3 vote, with two board members stating that school districts continue to deal with unfunded mandates from the state that places more and more of the financial burden to provide educational services to district children.

The general operating budget plan of $17,841.653 (originally $18,124,150 in the tentative budget approved at the April meeting) includes an increase of $64,102 over the budget in the current fiscal year ($17,777,551) that will end June 30.

Real estate taxes will increase from 54.89 to 56.975 mills. Each mill brings in about $73,000.

Before the vote, board member Richard C. Zimmerman had a prepared statement that he read for the record.

“Again I must rise up and voice my disapproval with this tax increase,” Zimmerman said. “I know the district needs the money to run operations, but I also know the people no longer can afford to support the state’s inability to pass a budget.”

Zimmerman continued on about lack of funding and spending issues at the state level, including unfunded mandates, and “massive” pension increases for elected officials, teachers and state employees without a source of income to support the increase.

“When the stock market went south, people lost half of their retirement, but not the state employees. The taxpayers came to the rescue, but no one came to the rescue of the taxpayers,” Zimmerman said. “There is less money to spend, but still the taxpayers had to come up with the money or lose their homes. All the elected reps did was to kick the problem down the road with a promise to fix it. Still no fix, just a promise.”

He concluded, “With that being said, until elected officials come up with a fix to this problem, I cannot vote to increase local taxes to support a state problem.”

Board Secretary Karen Kayes also voiced her opinion on the funding matter.

“I just want to make it a matter of record that I don’t feel it is proper or correct that the legislators have again put the burden onto the board of education to solve their problems in Harrisburg,” Kayes said. “We’re here to do a job. Our job is to help get the best education for our kids, and the legislators are just sitting back passing the buck down the line to all the school boards in our state.”

Board President Daniel Salvadore asked for a motion to formally adopt the budget. Vice President Thomas Twardzik made the motion, seconded by Salvadore.

Voting against the budget were Zimmerman, Margaret Shustack and Anita Monahan. Voting in favor were Salvadore, Twardzik, Kayes, Joseph Buchanan and Helene Creasy. Absent was Joseph Alshefski.

The vote included the following tax schedule with no changes from the current fiscal year. Taxes marked as “shared” are divided for distribution, with 50 percent to the school district and the remainder to the school district’s municipalities (Shenandoah and West Mahanoy Township).

• Earned income tax (Act 511) — 1 percent (shared). Levied on salaries, wages, commissions and other compensation.

•Realty transfer tax (Act 511) — 1 percent (shared).

•Per capita tax — $5 (As per Section 579).

•Per capita tax — $5 (As per Section 511).

• Local services tax — $5.

•Occupational assessment — $50 (As per Section 579).

•Five percent tax upon gross of any person/entity engaging in culm processing business.

•Ash disposal fee of $5 per ton for any cogeneration facility, person or other entity engaging in the activity in the school district.

As for the cost to property owners, Demalis said after the April meeting that the median assessed value (50 percent of the actual market value) in Shenandoah is $7,740 per property, which comes to a tax increase of $16.14, which means half of the taxpayers will pay $16.14 or less, with the other half paying more than $16.14 for the year.

In West Mahanoy Township, the median assessed value is $16,790, with the median increase at $35.01, with half paying that much or less and the other half paying more.

ALLENTOWN — The Most Rev. John O. Barres, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, announced on Monday that Pope Francis has conferred a papal honor on the Rev. Francis P. Schoenauer, rector of the Cathedral of St. Catharine of Siena in Allentown.

The pope has named Schoenauer, 70, a chaplain to His Holiness, which carries with it the title of reverend monsignor.

The new monsignor was born in Lismulladuff, County Donegal, Ireland, in 1945. He moved to the United States the following year. He was educated at St. John the Baptist Grade School and Nativity BVM High School in Pottsville. He prepared for the priesthood at St. Charles Borromeo Seminary outside Philadelphia, where he earned a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained a priest on May 19, 1973, at St. Thomas More Church in Allentown by Bishop Joseph McShea.

He was a professor at Allentown Central Catholic High School in residence at Our Lady Help of Christians Church and St. Stephen Church, Allentown, and St. Ann Church, Emmaus. He was an assistant pastor at St. Ann Church, Emmaus, and Notre Dame Church, Bethlehem.

Schoenauer first became a pastor at St. Fidelis Church, Mahanoy City, in 1983. Over the next 33 years, he has also been pastor at St. Richard of Chichester Church, Barnesville; St. Mary, St. Boniface and Ss. Peter & Paul churches, Saint Clair; St. Margaret Church, Reading; St. Nicholas Church, Walnutport; and St. Francis of Assisi Church, Nesquehoning. He has been rector of the cathedral since August of last year.

Barres surprised the new monsignor by making the announcement at the 4:15 p.m. Mass at the cathedral Saturday. Formal ceremonies recognizing the conferral of the papal honor will be held at a later date.

n Barnesville: The Daniel G. Sleva Jr. Memorial Foundation will sponsor The Great Hunt from 4 to 10 p.m. June 25 at Lakeside Ballroom, 40 Crystal Lane. The cost is $25 in advance and $30 at the door. The adult scavenger hunt will have participants hunting for various prizes included alcohol and wine, store/restaurant gift certificates and sporting event tickets with a cash grand prize starting at $500 — the more participants, the higher the grand prize will go. The beneficiary will be the Sleva Foundation to fight Type 1 diabetes. For more information, call 570-573-3987.

n Hamburg: The Hamburg Community Wildlife Habitat Committee will stage the fifth annual garden tour from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 25 based at the Hamburg Park Pavilion, Second and Island streets. The cost is $5 and the tour will include five gardens in the Hamburg area featuring spiral herb and keyhole gardens, organic vegetable and herb gardens, tea patches, hanging baskets and a wetlands garden. Light refreshments will be served and door prizes drawn at 1:30 p.m. The tour will go on rain or shine. For more information, call Kay Greenawalt at 610-562-4329.

n Minersville: A Chinese auction to benefit Leslie Rutecki, who has ALS, is set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the New Minersville Fire Company, 500 Line St. Rutecki, Minersville, is a mother of two who was recently diagnosed with ALS and requires round-the-clock care, has a feeding tube and is bedridden. A shop-and-drop is slated for 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and the drawing beginning at 2 p.m. during the auction Saturday. For more information, call 570-691-6225.

n Port Carbon: Registration for the Port Carbon July Fourth Firecracker 5K is underway. The first 200 to sign up before June 15 will receive a T-shirt. Pickups will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. July 3 at the Gazbo. T-shirts can also be purchased for $10 by calling Deniece at 570-573-1946. Proceeds will benefit the parade and fireworks.

n Pottsville: A signing of the book “Sheppton: The Myth, Miracle & Music” by author Maxim W. Furek will be held from 7 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Schuylkill County Historical Society, 305 N. Centre St. The book documents the mining disaster that occurred more than 50 years ago. People will have the opportunity to meet the author and hear about what prompted him to follow the story. For more information, call 570-622-7540.

n Pottsville: A meatloaf dinner at Trinity United Church of Christ, 316 W. Market St., planned for Saturday, has been postponed due to work on the water main by the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority. The date for the reslated dinner will be announced.

n Schuylkill Haven: William B.J. Folk III, borough recreation manager, said movies will be shown during free movie nights at the Schuylkill Haven Recreation/Senior Center, 340 Haven St., at 7:30 p.m. Thursday with “Zootopia” and July 21 featuring “The Peanuts Movie.” Another movie, still to be announced, will be shown on Aug. 18. The movies were made possible by sponsors including the Schuylkill Haven Lions Club, Diakon Community Senior Services Schuylkill Haven Center and the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Department. For more information, call 570-385-1313, ext. 11.

n Shenandoah: The Coal Cracker 10K and Fun Run is set for Saturday starting in the first block of North Main Street. The annual race, which over several decades has gained a reputation as one of the most grueling in the state, is coordinated by Dan Lewis and Tom Talerico of the Shenandoah Flites Running Club. Beginning at 10 a.m. runners will head south on Main Street onto the Gold Star Highway (Route 924), past the Gold Star Plaza and down the off-ramp to Gilberton. Runners will head eastward through Gilberton to Route 54 and then back into Shenandoah on East Centre Street. After a difficult uphill run on East Centre, the race will end at back at Main Street. The Fun Run will precede the 10K. Afterward, 10K runners will get to enjoy the traditional “Pierogie Party.” For more information, call 570-462-0389.

Hector Rico never changed expression Thursday in Schuylkill County Court as he watched a solemn teenage girl describe how he raped her on several occasions in her own home.

“He started telling me to take my clothes off,” the girl, now 13, testified to the jury and Judge Jacqueline L. Russell about Rico, 34, of Shenandoah. “I didn’t want him near me.”

The girl was the first witness prosecutors presented against Rico, who faces 32 sex-related charges for what Shenandoah police allege were several rapes of the girl during the 2014-15 school year. Prosecutors have concluded their case, and the trial is scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. today.

Among the charges Rico, who has not yet decided whether he will testify, faces are four counts each of rape of a child and aggravated indecent assault.

Shenandoah police allege he committed his crimes against the girl during the 2014-15 school year in her home and that, as a result, the girl became pregnant and had a baby.

“He left the house. In a few minutes, he returned” with a bag, the girl said when questioned by Assistant District Attorney Debra A. Smith. “It was a pregnancy test. He told me I needed to take it.”

Haltingly, occasionally fighting back tears, the girl said Rico had to be the father.

“I didn’t do anything else with anybody. I wasn’t that type of person,” she said.

She said Rico had sex with her on several occasions, in her room, her parents’ room and in the attic.

“It was twice a week. It happened more than just one month,” she said.

Sometimes, she said, Rico took her clothes off, while at other times, she took her own clothes off.

“Why would you take your clothes off?” Smith asked the girl.

“Because he told me to and I didn’t know anything else to do,” the girl answered.

“Did you want to have sex with him?”

“No.”

When cross-examined by Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins, Rico’s lawyer, the girl said the incidents started when she was 11 and she did not tell anyone about them because she was fearful of what might occur.

“It bothered me, but I didn’t know how to tell anyone,” she said. “I was scared that he might hurt my mom.”

The girl’s mother testified her daughter took the test, and they learned the results, on March 19, 2015.

“It was the worst day of my life,” she said between sobs. “I said, ‘What happened? Can you tell me what is going on?’ ”

She said Rico told her what had occurred and sought her forgiveness.

“He put his knee on the floor and started begging me, ‘Please forgive me.’ ”

However, she testified she wanted no more of Rico.

“I grabbed my car keys and my daughter,” the mother said. She also said she contacted police, told them what had occurred and then went to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, where tests confirmed her daughter was pregnant. The baby was born May 16, 2015.

Shenandoah police Patrolman David J. Stammen testified that in an interview with police, Rico alternately admitted and denied what he had done.

“It was only three times,” he said during the interview, a recording of which was played to the jury. Later in the same interview, however, he denied having sex with the girl.

However, Stammen said that in another interview, Rico admitted he had gotten the girl pregnant.

Other prosecution witnesses included:

• Kelly Beatty, a senior DNA relationship analyst at the Marshall University Forensic Science Center, Huntington, West Virginia, who discussed the DNA evidence in the case.

• Michael J. O’Neill, the prosecuting officer who is now a student at the state police academy, who contacted county Children & Youth Services about the case, urged the mother and daughter to go to the hospital, and obtained and packaged for testing the DNA samples of Rico and the girl.

• Schuylkill County Detective Kurt E. Montz, who said he obtained and executed a search warrant for a blood sample from the baby.

• Shenandoah police Patrolman Travis Bowman, who testified he received that blood sample from Montz.

Defendant: Hector Rico

Age: 34

Residence: Shenandoah

Charges: 32 sex-related offenses

The Majestic Players will bring another classic musical to life.

The group will present “Fiddler on the Roof” at 7 p.m. today, 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St., Pottsville. Tickets are $15 and available by calling 570-628-4647.

“Fiddler on the Roof” follows the story of Tevye, father of five daughters, as he tries to maintain Jewish religious and cultural traditions during a period of change for Russian Jews. The milkman is tested by his elder daughters’ actions in choosing husbands for themselves instead of leaving it up to the matchmaker, while facing growing anti-Semitism in Russia.

In the Majestic Players version, the lead role of Tevye is played by Greg McGovern, Pottsville.

McGovern said it is his eighth time playing the role.

“Somebody made a joke that I’m the traveling Tevye,” he said.

While familiar with the role, this will be McGovern’s first time performing with the Majestic Players, and this opportunity has helped him develop a clearer vision of his character.

“Doing it so many times, I find something different about the character and that’s partially because of the cast and crew,” he said.

McGovern said he is drawn to the role because Tevye is a father figure who is trying to marry off his daughters in accordance with Jewish tradition, but they have found love in a different way. It’s a path that has him questioning the meaning of love.

McGovern said “Fiddler of the Roof” also brings to light the Jewish communities struggles in Russia. McGovern said many people know the troubles the Jewish community had in Germany, but they may not know there was a similar story in Russia.

“We have a great group of talented people to bring this show to the stage. Hopefully we will enlighten the audience, and we do our jobs as actors and they leave the theater feeling good,” he said.

Other cast members include Tori Correll, Zehn Schropp, Alysa Schappell, Jared Kehler, Skylar Gunning, Emily Sterner, Joshua Peckman, Tyler Rossi, Sean Bennett, Loretta Murphy, Steve Durkin and Karen Durkin.

The musical is under the direction of Dan Mock, while Sandy Kost-Sterner serves as producer. Lisa Gillespie is the assistant director, and Mindy Hoopes and Katrina Calvin are music director and choreographer.

Formed in 2015, the Majestic Players are in their second season. Although young, the group has been ambitious in its work to grow and sustain a healthy theater scene in Schuylkill County.

In addition to “Fiddler on the Roof” the group brought popular musicals “Rent” and “Aladdin” to the stage. The latter was the junior production, showcasing the young talent the county has to offer.

The Majestic Players have two more musicals on their 2016 schedule. “Back to the 80s” is slated for July 29 to 31, and “Seussical Jr.” is planned for Nov. 11-13.

For more information, visit www.majestictheater.net or its Facebook page at Majestic Theater.

Blue Mountain School District is looking for a new principal for Blue Mountain Elementary East.

David Zula is the current principal of the school. He did not return an email or a call for comment Tuesday.

Superintendent David Helsel confirmed that Zula was still employed by the district as of Tuesday, but the district has posted the position as an anticipated vacancy on the school district website, www.bmsd.org.

“That’s the position we anticipate being open,” he said, adding the screening of applicants will start later this month. About 10 applications have been received.

The job posting says the following: “BMEE Elementary Principal — beginning the 2016-2017 school year. The successful candidate must have demonstrated effective instructional leadership, skills in curriculum and assessment development, the ability to create a master building schedule, past experience promoting a positive school climate and parent involvement and successful student behavior management. Interested candidates should include a letter of interest, PA standard application, certification, transcripts, reference letters, clearances and any other information the candidate would like the selection committee to have. Please email application information to Dr. David Helsel, superintendent, at dhhelsel@bmsd.org.”

In other matters, the school board held a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday to approve a separation agreement with “employee 1276,” pending final review and approval of the solicitor. Helsel did not name the individual.

“It’s not been cleared,” he said, declining to elaborate further.

Board member Michelle Vesay voted “no.” Board member David Lafko was not in attendance and thus did not vote. Board Member Mark Hoover attended by phone and voted.

The Schuylkill County Municipal Authority will be performing a necessary repair on a water main beginning at 10 p.m. tonight in Pottsville.

Some customers residing on or between Laurel Boulevard and Mahantongo Street from Third to 15th streets may experience a loss of water. Upon completion of the repair, a boil water advisory will be in effect for those who do experience a water outage. Service is expected to resume by mid-afternoon Saturday.

In preparation, SCMA suggested that customers fill containers for use during the water outage.

Judge Charles M. Miller accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

William M. Sheeler, 29, of Fleetwood; attempted theft and criminal mischief; 12 months probation and $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Account payment.

Whitney L. Sutton, 24, of Muncy; false identification to law enforcement; one to 12 months in prison concurrent with current sentence and $50 CJEA payment.

Joshua M. Tassone, 26, of Schuylkill Haven; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 Substance Abuse Education Fund payment and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of retail theft.

Miller dismissed charges of simple assault and harassment against Dakota S. Whitman, 21, of Minersville.

A Pottsville woman faces possible prison time after a Schuylkill County jury convicted her Monday of two-drug related offenses stemming from an incident in June 2015 in Mahanoy City.

Donna L. Hartranft, 42, did not react as the jury of eight women and four men found her guilty of possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jurors deliberated a little more than an hour before reaching their verdict.

Judge John E. Domalakes, who presided over Hartranft’s one-day trial, ordered preparation of a pre-sentence investigation scheduled sentencing for 1:30 p.m. July 19 and allowed Hartranft to remain free on $10,000 unsecured bail.

Mahanoy City police charged Hartranft with possessing .88 grams of marijuana and a pipe on June 28, 2015, in her then-residence in the borough.

Borough police Patrolman Thomas J. Rentschler identified the marijuana and pipe he found at Hartranft’s residence.

Andrew B. Zelonis, Barnesville, Hartranft’s lawyer, said in his closing argument that his client did not possess the marijuana and pipe. Instead, he said, another person in the house possessed them.

“Why would she even let the police in if she knew it was there? She didn’t possess it. She knew it was there,” he said.

However, jurors accepted the argument of Assistant District Attorney Kimm Montone, who said Hartranft convicted herself.

“She admitted to possessing the drugs and the paraphernalia,” he said. “It was in her living room in her house on the coffee table.”

Montone also said Hartranft told police she had bought the marijuana.

“You buy drugs with a purpose ... to get high and to use them,” he said.

Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of a controlled substance.

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

Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street

To Kevin A. Jr. and Heather Potts Reber, Schuylkill Haven, a daughter, June 3.

To Loren B. II and Sierra Firestone Devine, Tremont, a son, June 6.

MAHANOY CITY — Bordering a narrow street in one of the borough’s residential sections is a former printing house.

The three-story structure at 337-339 W. South St. was once home to first Lithuanian newspaper in America. The stories of its heyday can be found in newspaper clippings and other histories. Nothing on the facade indicates there’s anything special about the building, except maybe the weathered clapboard siding.

It’s a 19th century relic and looks like one.

“It’s aged, but it’s buttoned up. Structurally, it looks old and looks beat up, but it’s probably more sound than quite a few other buildings in town,” Daniel L. Lynch, borough manager, said Wednesday, noting that the windows have been boarded up securely. He didn’t think it was a concern or a fire hazard.

Paul T. Coombe, Mahanoy City, a historian and treasurer with the Mahanoy Area Historical Society, has a collection of articles about the newspaper published there.

“It’s a footnote in history, which just happens to be in town,” Coombe said Thursday.

The Saule was a Lithuanian newspaper that was established in 1888, according to “Schuylkill County Pennsylvania: Genealogy-Family History-Biography, Volume I,” published by J.H. Beers & Co., Chicago, in 1916.

The title is Lithuanian for “Sun,” Carol Luschas, Bloomsburg, said Thursday.

She is the public relations representative for Knights of Lithuania 144, which has a museum and cultural center in Frackville.

The late William D. Boczkowski, Mahanoy City, was president and business manager of W.D. Boczkowski Co., the owners and publishers of the newspaper.

“It has been conducted by father and sons continuously since and, through its medium, they have exerted a notable influence among their countrymen everywhere, having subscribers in all the leading cities of the world,” according to the 1916 Schuylkill County history.

“The paper is published semi-weekly, Tuesdays and Fridays, and it reaches a large population of the Lithuanian population of the world, having the largest circulation of any Lithuanian paper published. The aim of the publishers is to afford a means of intercommunication for those of that nationality wherever located, and they claim to represent the interests of over five hundred thousand Lithuanians residing in the United States,” according to the 1916 Schuylkill County history.

The newspaper’s first headquarters was in a basement at the corner of B and Pine streets. Then in 1896, the operation moved to West Spruce Street, then to South Street, according to the Sept. 30, 1988, edition of The Evening Herald.

“I grew up in Mahanoy City, and I lived at 523 West Spruce Street, where the newspaper was published for a time. But it had moved by the time I was born. The newspaper moved to West South Street in 1901. My grandparents bought that house in 1916,” Elaine Luschas, 65, of Bloomsburg, mother of Carol, said Thursday.

“In the Mahanoy City Business Directory, ‘Saule’ was listed as being published at 520-522 West South from 1901-1916 and from 1917 on at 337 West South,” Coombe said.

“The company built a fine, up-to-date newspaper plant at Nos. 337-339 West South Alley at A Street, three stories in height, and thoroughly equipped with modern machinery and all the appointments necessary in a complete establishment,” according to the history.

The Saule was published for 71 years and folded in 1959. The last edition was printed June 26, 1959.

But the printing plant at the Saule Building continued to operate into the 1980s, according to a Sept. 30, 1988, article published in The Evening Herald, Shenandoah.

“I’d like to get inside to see what’s in there,” Coombe said.

Today, 337-339 W. South St. is a commercial property owned by Richard Boczkowski, 98 S. Catawissa St., Mahanoy City, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator. Boczkowski has owned it since December 1993.

Boczkowski could not be reached for comment this week, and Coombe said he plans to make an effort to contact him.

Copies of the Saule are in the archives of the Knights of Lithuania Council 144 Lithuanian Museum and Cultural Center at 37 South Broad Mountain Ave., Frackville. On Thursday, Luschas said they include papers that were printed at 337-339 W. South St., Mahanoy City.

To make an appointment to see the newspapers, contact Luschas via the museum’s website at www.kofl144.weebly.com.

Mahanoy man

faces drug charges

MAHANOY CITY — A borough man was arrested by Mahanoy City police on drug charges stemming from an incident about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 1000 block of East Pine Street.

Police said Brendon J. Hasara, 44, of 1017 E. Pine St., was charged with two misdemeanor counts of misbranding medications or prescriptions and one count each of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, persistent disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Police said officers found Hasara in the area of his home under the influence, unable to walk properly and with slurred speech.

When asked if he had anything illegal, police said, Hasara told officers he had ingested Seroquel and oxycodone.

A subsequent search of the man found he had a cellophane wrapper containing four tablets of medication, all of which were confiscated due to the packaging.

As officers left the scene, Hasara followed them on his bicycle frantically shouting “give me back my pills,” police said.

At the police station, Hasara was told to return home and provide proof that the medication was legally his, but he refused to leave, continually demanding the pills be returned, police said.

Hasara will now have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Police: Man

rammed cruiser

A 45-year-old city man is facing charges by Pottsville police after an incident about 2:10 a.m. Thursday in the area of East Railroad and Coal streets.

Police said officers on patrol were alerted by two civilians walking in the area about a reckless driver operating a black Mitsubishi traveling at a high rate of speed on Progress Avenue.

Officers quickly located the vehicle traveling west on Railroad Street at a high rate of speed.

When officers tried to initiate a vehicle stop at the intersection of Coal and Nichols streets, the driver, later identified as Michael Allen Cook, momentarily stopped but then proceeded through the intersection, driving east on Nichols Street until he stopped in the 400 block.

Cook then tried to travel in reverse and struck a Pottsville police cruiser that was immediately behind him and had its overhead emergency lights activated, police said.

Cook was taken into custody and subsequently transported to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for blood alcohol and toxicology testing.

Police reported damage as minor to both the Cook vehicle and also to the front push bar and front end of the police cruiser.

No injuries were reported and police said charges against Cook will be filed with Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, when the results of the alcohol and toxicology tests are received.

Police: Rainwater

caused accident

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — State police at Schuylkill Haven investigated a crash that occurred about 3:55 p.m. Sunday on Route 61 in North Manheim Township.

Police said Howard J. Pollman, 71, of Port Carbon, was driving a 1998 Subaru Legacy south in the left lane trying to pass another vehicle when he struck a large amount of standing water that was on the highway as the result of several storms that were passing through the area.

Pollman lost control of his car, causing it to hit the concrete barrier with its left front end and then its back end before he was able to regain control and continued about 150 feet south stopping in the parking lot of the Adult Shop 61.

Police said Pollman will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic and that Schuylkill Haven firefighters and Schuylkill EMS assisted at the scene.

An unexpected tooth abscess thrust Eric Katchmore into the emergency room the same day he was set to audition for Scranton-based band Behind the Grey.

At the last minute, he decided to leave the hospital and head straight to his audition.

With a trash can next to him for emergencies, he sang through a Deftones song with the band. The rest of the group knew he was the singer they had been looking for, and he joined the lineup.

Following more ER visits for kidney stones, flu-like symptoms and a sinus infection, doctors suggested Katchmore submit to additional testing.

Only a few months into working with their new frontman, Behind the Grey faced crushing news: Katchmore was diagnosed with late-stage, non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

But the band isn’t going down without a fight.

Following more than a month of preparations, the blue-collar metal band will present A Concert for Katchmore at 9 p.m. Saturday at The V-Spot, Scranton. The benefit will feature dozens of guest singers and musicians from local and out-of-state bands supporting the ailing vocalist.

Internal struggle

For two years, Katchmore kept his illness a secret, but as his health declined, the band was forced to announce it to their fans at the beginning of May.

Bassist Steve Saypack came up with the idea to invite other musicians to play with them for the fundraiser, inspired by a common gimmick the band practices at shows.

“We always have people coming up and jumping up on stage with us. They’ll come in and do a verse, not just choruses,” Saypack said. “With the mix of people around here, and we’ve been doing it for so long, it just kind of happened.”

Guest singers for the night include Johnny Jones of Ashfall, Kenneth Norton from Graces Downfall, Nick Necro from The Curse of Sorrow and Dom Vito from Judas Fled South, among many others.

“In the early stages of planning, (the band) asked me to (sing), and without even thinking, I had to say yes,” Vito said. “I’ve been good friends with these guys for as long as they’ve been in existence, and depending on what band I was in at the time, I always try to play shows with them and get out to see them.”

In addition to dozens of local artists sharing the same stage, there will be special raffles up for grabs throughout the night. From band merchandise to tickets to Shiley Acres music venue in West Virginia, donations have been rolling in, guitarist Will Perna said.

Larger raffle prizes include a six-hour recording session at JL Studios in Olyphant, a gift certificate to Conflict Artistry in Edwardsville and a guitar donated by Northeast Music and signed by members of Sevendust.

When Behind the Grey discovered Katchmore’s illness, members immediately wanted to help him. But the singer’s extremely private personality caused him to push away the idea of any fundraisers.

“At the time, we had an Indiegogo campaign to fund our album,” Perna said. “We said, ‘Why don’t we have a benefit concert and change the Indiegogo to help (him).’

“But he wouldn’t do it,” Perna added. “(He) didn’t want to take a penny from the band. He just told us that he wanted the album to kind of be like his legacy and he wanted it to be perfect.”

Perna figured his friend looked at delaying the album and accepting help as a sign of defeat, and watched as he pushed forward as if nothing was wrong. For two years, Katchmore suffered through.

The guys in Behind the Grey helped Katchmore in the studio as much as they could, keeping him from moving equipment and giving him breaks whenever necessary.

“The recording process, we had it so spaced out for him,” drummer Mike Boniewicz said.

According to Perna, each show was another struggle for Katchmore, whether he threw up beforehand or passed out afterwards, although he never stopped pushing forward.

“He gave us no room to ever complain,” Perna said. “If he’s going to make that huge sacrifice and do all of this and put his heart into it, then I have to do twice as much, because I’m able to.”

“His strength has definitely pushed us all beyond what we ever thought we could do,” Saypack agreed. “Like (Perna) said, he shows up. He’s there. It doesn’t matter what was going on 10 minutes ago, he’s ready to sing. It didn’t matter how sick he was, because as soon as he walks through the door. ... it was just, ‘Alright, time to do it.’ ”

Community support

The outpouring of support amazed the bandmates. Each day, members of the band receive phone calls or messages from someone who wanted to donate an item to raffle off or who is interested in joining the lineup of artists.

“We didn’t expect them to ask,” Perna said of the offers. “Not like we weren’t friends or anything, but it was just a whole different genre. We have blues players coming to ask and do songs.”

At least three bands canceled shows set for the same night so they could attend or participate in the benefit show, Perna added.

“You’re not going to see a lot of these people in the same spot on a Saturday night,” Boniewicz noted.

The camaraderie shared by area musicians made organizing the event a success, and will go a long way to help Katchmore. For that, he and his bandmates are most grateful.

“We’re very unique here to look out for each other and to help each other when we need it,” Perna said.

Some people may take for granted the availability of the jugs, bottles and cartons of milk in the brightly lit coolers at their local grocery stores.

But not local dairy farmers.

Demand is a good thing, but a glut, not so much, especially when the costs of production are constant and always a concern, two farmers based in Schuylkill County said this week.

“The market is tight. There’s no question about that right now. We’re at the bottom of the market,” Jim Hepler, 63, owner of Hepler Homestead Farms, Pitman, said.

In other words, he said, there’s an excess of milk on the market.

“And some of the reason for that is exports have dropped off. Two years ago, exports accounted for 17 percent of all the milk produced in the United States. Now it’s down to 13,” Helper said.

“The market is down. Prices have been dropping for a bunch of months. Most of that is due to lack of exports, lack of sales. In the Chinese market, they stopped buying whole milk powder. With the dollar being higher, that makes exports more unfavorable. When buyers stop buying, the same amount of milk has been produced. And that creates a glut on the market. And we come under the law of supply and demand. If there’s too much supply, the demand goes down and the price goes down too,” said Kent A. Heffner, 53, one of the managers of Jersey Acres Farms, Wayne Township.

June is National Dairy Month, according to the National Dairy Council. And Schuylkill County is home to more than 20 dairy farms.

Heffner and Hepler talked Tuesday about the challenges their farms have been dealing with in recent times.

The cost of a gallon of whole milk in the United States has fallen to a six-year low, according to the United States Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics.

In June 2011, the average price of a gallon of fresh fortified whole milk in the United States was $3.622. In June 2012, it was $3.396. In June 2013 it was $3.458. In June 2014 it was $3.626. And in June 2015, it was $3.366. In April, the most recent month the bureau has data for, the average price was $3.155, according to the bureau’s website.

With a global surplus and shrinking demand from countries such as China and Russia, milk prices have fallen, according to a February article at www.bloomberg.com.

“America’s dairy farmers are expected to produce 212.4 billion pounds of milk this year, the most in history. Much of it is being sold to cheesemakers who are socking away their output, waiting for demand and prices to rise. The drop in dairy prices this year poses a new test for the industry, which since the 2012 Farm Bill hasn’t had the cushion of U.S. government stockpiling products to support prices,” according to a May 17 article on the website for The Wall Street Journal at www.wsj.com.

The United States Department of Agriculture offers weekly updates on dairy prices at the website for its Agriculture Marketing Service at www.ams.usda.gov.

“The U.S. advertised price for 8 ounce conventional cheese blocks averaged $2.26, up $.02 from last week; 8 ounce shred cheese averaged $2.23, up $.04 from last week. And volume for conventional two pound blocks decreased 25 percent with a weighted average price of $4.87. The U.S. advertised price for 8 ounce organic cheese blocks averaged $4.53, up $.33 from last week. The price spread between organic and conventional half gallon milk is $2.76. The price spread is the difference between national weighted average prices for organic, $4.03, and conventional, $1.27,” according to the “National Retail Report — Dairy” posted on June 3.

Hepler Homestead Farms

Hepler runs the farm with his two sons, Jesse, 39, and Josh, 36.

“We are partners here. We’re a partnership,” Jim Hepler said.

Jim Hepler represents the sixth generation of the Hepler family who ran the farm. His sons represent the seventh.

It’s a 350-acre farm with 100 dairy cows, all Holsteins.

“We just came out of excellent, excellent times. Farmers were hanging onto cows and pushing milk because it was lucrative to sell milk. I mean, things were just moving along. When things get too good, sometimes it takes a crash to align things again,” Jesse Hepler said.

“Well, the costs have dropped too. The last two years have been very good in the dairy business. But all of a sudden, when it comes back to normal, there are a lot of people crying. If times were great all the time, everybody would be in it,” Josh Hepler said.

The farm sells its milk through a cooperative, Dairy Farmers of America, Mechanicsburg.

“It’s the largest cooperative of its kind in the country,” Jim Hepler said.

“They come here every other day and pick up approximately 17,000 pounds,” Jesse Hepler said.

In 2015, it cost the farm $17.84 to produce 100 pounds of milk. At the time, the farm was selling 100 pounds of milk for an average of $19.84, Jim Hepler said.

“There was a margin there,” he said.

In April, the Hepler farm only received $15.40 for 100 pounds of milk. There are 11.62 gallons of milk in 100 pounds of milk.

“And to produce 100 pounds of milk, it cost about the same, that $17 number. So we’re bleeding, hopefully only for a short term. At 8.6 pounds per gallon, our pay for April equated to $1.33 a gallon,” Jim Hepler said.

“That’s what the cooperative paid us per gallon,” Jesse Hepler said.

In recent months, the farm has been spending upwards of $42,000 in operational expenses. And the family is bringing in about $42,000 in income a month, Jim Hepler said.

“We’re pretty well at a wash right now. But we feel we’re at the low point of this pricing cycle right now. I’m hoping we’re at the bottom of this thing. I’m hoping it’s going to improve by fall or winter. But the economists can’t tell us when this is going to change,” he said.

The Heplers try to promote the quality of milk products these days.

“We want consumers to know that milk is a wholesome, quality drink. The quality of the milk they are buying in the store has never been like it is right now. There are excellent tests run on the milk. It is purer than it ever has been in history because of the technology going into producing it and the regulations, the tests and so forth. And I think people should know that a pint of milk contains 16 grams of protein. I think that’s an important thing. Some people are on a protein kick and they’re buying these sports drinks and all this other stuff. And here’s a wholesome, natural product available every day at a very reasonable price and produced locally,” Jim Hepler said.

Jersey Acres

Jersey Acres, a 50-acre farm, has been run by the Heffner family since 1910.

“I’m the fourth generation,” Heffner said.

His farm has 200 milk cows, Jersey cattle.

“That’s how we get our name. If you include the young ones, we have 400,” Heffner said.

It cost the farm “between $16 and $17” to produce 100 pounds of milk.

“It varies. Sometimes it’s hard to know exactly. I use $16.50 when I sit down to do any budgeting. That’s the ballpark with the fluctuations with feed prices,” Heffner said.

Jersey Acres sells its milk to Guers Dairy, Tamaqua.

In April, the farm sold 100 pounds of milk for $19.84, Heffner said.

Census

The most recent statistics regarding milk production in Pennsylvania can be found in the 2012 USDA Census of Agriculture and the National Agriculture Statistics Service.

Pennsylvania’s milk production for 2011 was 10.6 billion pounds, 133 million pounds less than 2010 production. The 2011 average milk production per cow was 19,601 pounds for the year, 246 pounds less than 2010 production of 19,847 pounds per cow, according to the 2012 census.

Pennsylvania held steady at fifth place in the nation’s ranking in milk production, producing 5.4 percent of the nation’s milk. California was first with 21.1 percent of the U.S. production, according to the census.

The USDA census is traditionally conducted every five years. The next will be the 2017 census, according to www.agcensus.usda.gov.

On Monday, President Judge William E. Baldwin declared a mistrial in the case of Clarence E. Eckert Jr., 47, of New Philadelphia, who is charged with aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault.

Saint Clair police alleged Eckert stabbed his estranged wife, Tracy Eckert, on Oct. 9, 2015.

“He pulled a knife out ... saying he was going to kill me,” Tracy Eckert testified before Baldwin declared the mistrial. “He poked me in the neck.”

“Did you actually feel the knife up against your throat?” Assistant District Attorney A.J. Serina asked her.

“Yes,” she answered.

Tracy Eckert then testified the defendant also stabbed her in her right arm.

When cross-examined by Assistant Public Defender Paul G. Domalakes, Clarence Eckert’s lawyer, Tracy Eckert said she never sought medical attention for her arm.

In other recent Schuylkill County Court action, Judge James P. Goodman accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Matthew M. Szilagyi, 19, of Bristol; disorderly conduct and criminal mischief; 12 months probation. Prosecutors withdrew four counts of harassment, two of simple assault, one of obstruction of highways and two additional counts of disorderly conduct.

Rebekah A. Ulrich, 32, of Mahanoy City; simple assault, disorderly conduct and criminal mischief; 12 months probation, $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Account payment and $15.88 restitution. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of harassment.

Stephen L. Usalis, 22, of Pattersonville; criminal trespass; $100 fine and $1,966 restitution. Prosecutors withdrew an additional count of criminal trespass and a charge of defiant trespass.

Hannah Valeno, 35, of Ashland; delivery of a controlled substance and resisting arrest; 123 days to 23 months in prison, $100 Substance Abuse Education Fund payment, $100 in CJEA payments, $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Matthew M. Weismiller, 27, of Pottsville; careless driving; $25 fine. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of DUI.

Allen J. Zimmerman, 31, of Frackville; resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassment; 41 days to 23 months in prison, $25 fine and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a second count of harassment and charges of defiant trespass, simple assault and public drunkenness.

In other court action, Baldwin recently accepted guilty pleas from two defendants in Schuylkill County Court, but did not immediately sentence either one.

Timothy Kreiser, 27, of Pine Grove, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of possession of a controlled substance. He remains in prison in lieu of $5,000 straight cash bail pending further court action.

Pine Grove police charged Kreiser with possessing drugs and paraphernalia on July 10, 2015, in the borough.

Holly A. Schaffer-Heiser, 32, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, driving under suspension-DUI related, operating a vehicle without required financial responsibility and careless driving. She is free on $5,000 percentage bail pending further court action.

State police at Frackville alleged Schaffer-Heiser was DUI with a suspended license, but without insurance, on Dec. 29, 2014, in Pottsville.

In each case, Baldwin ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and said he would schedule sentencing at a later date.

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

Rebecca J. Margerum

ELIZABETHVILLE — A Tremont man is wanted by Dauphin County authorities after failing to appear Wednesday for his preliminary hearing on two drug-related charges.

Steve A. Lucas, 44, of 14 Second St., still faces charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum ordered those charges held for court after the preliminary hearing.

Margerum asked Dauphin County Court to issue a bench warrant for Lucas, whose formal arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. July 15 in Harrisburg.

State police at Lykens charged Lucas with possessing drugs and paraphernalia on June 21, 2015, in Gratz.

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

Norah J. Brown, 25, of 2304 Hominy Ridge Road, Newport; simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Keath A. Heller, 44, of 252 Union St., Millersburg; simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Jordan T. Hess, 27, of 2653 Mahantango Creek Road, Dalmatia; possession of a small amount of marijuana, driving unregistered vehicle, driving unregistered vehicle, driving without a license, driving under suspension-DUI related, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility, seat belt violation, operating vehicle without valid inspection and violation of prohibition on expenditures for emission inspection; defendant pleaded guilty to possession of a small amount of marijuana, driving unregistered vehicle, driving unregistered vehicle, driving without a license, driving under suspension-DUI related, operating vehicle without valid inspection and violation of prohibition on expenditures for emission inspection, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of operating vehicle without required financial responsibility and seat belt violation. Margerum sentenced Hess to pay costs, $625 in fines and $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund.

Carrie A. Husic, 41, of 116 N. Second St., Lykens; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Curtis R. Keefer, 37, of 360 Landis Drive, Millersburg; terroristic threats and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Carey A. Lefebvre, 39, of 119 Main St. Apt. 2, Lykens; two counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Edwin L. Miller IV, 33, of 245 S. Second St., Lykens; theft and receiving stolen property; charges held for court after preliminary hearing that Miller did not attend. Margerum asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Miller.

Sonya L. Miller, 46, of 42C McClellan Road, Halifax; two counts each of unsworn falsification to authorities and false reports to law enforcement; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Deloris M. Moyer, 48, of 100 S. West St., Gratz; driving under the influence, failure to notify authorities of change of address, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Robert O. Novinger, 67, of 562 Riverview Drive, Millersburg; simple assault and harassment; charge of simple assault withdrawn; Novinger pleaded guilty to harassment. Margerum sentenced him to pay costs and a $25 fine.

Curtis A. Painter, 24, of 326A Market St., Lykens; possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI, driving under suspension-DUI related, DUI with suspended license and improper turning movements; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Toni L. Parker, 22, of 533 Chestnut St., Millersburg; two counts of endangering the welfare of children; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Daniel E. Reedinger, 42, of 509 Pottsville St., Wiconisco; DUI, disregarding traffic lane and violation of restrictions on alcoholic beverages; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of DUI bound over for court, other charges withdrawn.

Wesley R. Whitaker, 25, of 504 Mountain St., Lykens; DUI, driving unregistered vehicle and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of DUI bound over for court, other charges withdrawn.

Lykens man faces

DUI charges

WICONISCO — A Lykens man faces charges after he allegedly was driving a vehicle while under the influence of marijuana.

State police at Lykens said James Tyrone Hayward, 31, was driving while his operating privilege was suspended. The incident occurred at 10:31 p.m. May 18 in the 300 block of Arch St. in this Dauphin County community, police said.

Hayward admitted to smoking marijuana recently. A blood test indicated Hayward was driving while having marijuana in his system, police said.

Charges were filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum, Elizabethville.

2 injured in

2-vehicle crash

WILLIAMSTOWN — Two people were injured during a two-vehicle crash Wednesday in Willamstown, Dauphin County.

State police at Lykens said the 5:25 p.m. crash took place on Route 209 at Armory Road as Eugene P. Matter Jr., 49, of Lykens, was driving a 1999 Freightliner and following Lacey A. Bixler, 21, of Williamstown, who was driving a 2002 Honda Civic.

At the scene, police found Matter’s vehicle along the side of Route 209, facing east. It had minor damage to the front passenger side bumper. Bixler’s vehicle had moderate damage to the bumper, police said.

Both Bixler and her passenger, a juvenile, said they were injured, although neither requested medical assistance. Matter was not injured.

Matter was issued a citation through the office of Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum, Elizabethville.

Police: 2 thieves

facing charges

HOMETOWN — Two people are facing charges by Rush Township police after incidents at Wal-Mart last month.

Police said Emma Bishop, 22, of Pottsville, will be charged with retail theft for stealing items valued at $133.50 on May 24.

Michael J. Cronin Jr., 48, of McAdoo, will be charged with retail theft, receiving stolen property and harassment after stealing merchandise valued at $342 on May 27.

Charges against both will be filed with Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, police said.

Police look for

stolen mini bike

ELIZABETHVILLE — Someone broke into a building in the borough and stole a mini bike, police said.

State police at Lykens said the burglary took place between May 12 and May 19 at 121 W. Broad St. in this Dauphin County community. The victim, Anthony King, is missing a black and silver Kawasaki 100 mini bike that was stolen from the property.

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

TOWER CITY — Williams Valley School District taxpayers will be paying more after the school board Thursday approved a $15.6 million budget for the 2016-17 school year.

The board also approved a pay hike and a title clarification for Acting Superintendent Jolene D. Smith, and accepted the resignation of Edward A. Wilson II as a K-12 general music teacher and choral director.

All board directors were present and voted in favor of the final general fund budget for the period from July 1 to June 30, 2017, with expenditures of $15,616,364 and revenues of $15,173,572. Williams Valley encompasses two counties, Dauphin and Schuylkill. The real estate tax rate will jump slightly from 15.73 mills to 16.46 mills in Dauphin County and from 33.98 mills to 34.68 mills in Schuylkill County.

According to Business Manager Anthony Aukstakalnis, the average taxpayer will pay about $34 to $37 more with the most recent tax hike. The median home property value for Dauphin County is $45,000 or an average real estate tax of $740, while the median home property value for Schuylkill County is $19,300 or an average real estate tax of $669.50, according to Aukstakalnis.

The real estate tax resolution reflects a rebalancing of the rates using the market values of each county with respect to the Act 1 index of 3.6 percent, Aukstakalnis said. Other levies will remain stable and include a $205 occupation tax and two $5 per capita taxes for a total of $10.

Last month, the board appointed Smith as the acting superintendent at a rate of $85,000, from July 1 to March 31, 2017. On Thursday, the board rescinded that motion and appointed Smith as acting superintendent and district administrator for $95,000 for the same time period. Smith had previously been serving as assistant to the superintendent.

Diane M. Niederriter will become the district’s new superintendent after receiving a three-year contract at an annual salary of $110,000 from April 1, 2017, to March 31, 2020, as was reported in the May 27 edition of The Republican-Herald.

Wilson addressed the school board Thursday, thanking the district for the chance to work with its students and staff.

“This was not a decision I made lightly,” Wilson said, adding he didn’t want anyone to think that he saw his position as a stepping stone to go elsewhere. “I really enjoyed the opportunity to work here.”

Wilson is leaving to assume a high school position closer to home in the Big Spring School District. The board and elementary band director Joel Guldin expressed their appreciation for Wilson’s service to the district.

“I’m going to miss this guy and I’m sorry to see him go,” Guldin said.

“You did a phenomenal job for this program,” Daniel Stroup, board president, told Wilson on behalf of the board.

In other action, the board approved:

• To commit the portion of the fund balance that exceeds the state Department of Education allowable limits obtained following the June 30 audit, allocated at 70 percent for capital projects, 20 percent to Public School Employees Retirement System reserve and 10 percent special education.

• Melissa Stroup as the district office executive secretary at her current salary, beginning July 6. Board director Christopher Stroup abstained.

• To advertise for a speech therapist, choral music director and Title 1 reading specialist.

• Funding a coach bus for the girls’ softball team for the remainder of their state final games.

• Granting tenure to the following teachers who had completed three consecutive years of satisfactory teaching with the district: Selina Daubert, Jaclyn Purcell and Wilson.

• Rehiring of the following temporary professional employees for the 2016-17 school year: elementary, Kristen Baker, Amanda Yashinsky, Shawna Lucas and Ellie Weaver; high school, Elise Bordner, Alexis Franco, Heather Shertzer, Adam Pfeiffer and Brooke Yeager.

• A letter of resignation from high school custodian Matthew Hlushak, effective June 3.

• A letter of resignation from Title 1 teacher Cheyenne Coladonato, effective June 3.

• Rickie D. Groff, Tower City, as a substitute custodian for the remainder of the 2015-16 school year and for the 2016-17 school year.

• Leave without pay request for special eduction supervisor Jessica Savitsky for a vacation planned before accepting her position.

• Resignation of para professional Alane Bingaman, effective June 2.

• Driver training end-of-course skills test, or driver licensing test, with the district serving as a site for administering the test and for Kathleen Welsh to serve as instructor to administer the test.

• Request from Randy Russelavage to use classrooms 101 and 103 for a coaching certification course for PIAA coaching education requirements from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 20 to June 21.

• Rental request, with fees waived, for the baseball boosters to use the concession stand and fitness center from 3 to 6 p.m. June 25 for a year-end baseball clinic.

• Second payment to McClure Co. for Phase II project costs.

• Proposal from the Seltzer Group for the district’s property, casualty, auto and umbrella coverage for the 2016-17 school year.