n Ashland: There will be street sweeping in the borough through Friday as follows: Today, both sides of all odd-number streets and Front Street with no parking from 6 to 10 a.m.; Thursday, north side of Race, Market, Centre, Walnut and Pine streets and south side of Arch, Chestnut, Middle, Spruce and Broad streets and Oakland Avenue with no parking from 5 to 9 a.m.; and Friday, south side of Race, Market, Centre, Walnut and Pine streets and north side of Arch, Chestnut, Middle, Spruce and Brock streets and Oakland Avenue with no parking from 5 to 9 a.m. Borough officials said in a release parking restrictions will be enforced and tickets will be issued.

n Lansford: Music, food, crafts, vendors and horse-and-buggy rides will be among the attractions of the Panther Valley Ethnic Day Festival to be held from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday at Kennedy Park next to the Panther Valley Football Stadium on Route 209. Jay Smarr will perform from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and the duo 2 Four 1 will take the stage from 2 to 4 p.m. followed by Rodney Clouser’s Rockin’ Horse Band from 5 to 7 p.m. There will also be a rededication of the 40-year-old Coal Miner’s Monument. All are welcome.

n Lansford: The ninth annual Coal Miners Heritage Festival will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the No. 9 Coal Mine and Museum. Admission and parking are free. The event will include food, mine tours, competitions, booths with hand crafts, art and other items, a live radio polka broadcast, demonstrations and exhibits. All are welcome. For more information, call the museum at 570-645-7074 or Dale Freudenberger at 610-597-6722.

n Mahanoy City: Four members of Post Q Anthracite Region, Travelers Protective Association of America, were elected to state and national offices and one member was selected to represent the Pennsylvania Division as “Fraternalist of the Year” at the 125th annual state convention held recently at the Holiday Inn, Grantville, hosted by Post Q. William Kern Jr., outgoing state president, will be chairman of the state board; Edwin Miller, Post Q secretary/treasurer, was elected state membership and coffee break chairman and to run for Area 3 community service chairman at the national convention, held at the Hilton in Lexington, Kentucky, June 12-16. Dolores Miller was elected state community service chairwoman and Suzanne Kern was elected state safety chairwoman. William Kern Jr. was elected to run for Area 3 safety chairman at the national convention. Harry 0. Meyers is Zone 6 alternate director and will be the state representative for Fraternalist of the Year at the national convention. Post Q had a delegation of nine at the convention, according to a release. In addition to the Millers, Kerns and Meyers, attendees included Ervin and Barbara Paravicini and Bob and Donna Opie as delegates. “We are very proud of our local members being elected to state and national offices and know they will continue to represent our post on the highest level possible,” Meyers, post president, said in the release. Post Q meets at 6 p.m. the first Wednesday of each month at in the Good American Fire Company Hall. People interested in membership should call Secretary Miller at 570-773-3632.

n McAdoo: The borough’s bulk pickup is over. People should not place bulk items on the curb for pickup. Violators will be ticketed. There will be another four weeks for bulk pickup the week after Labor Day.

n Summit Hill: The annual Summit Hill Community Yard Sale will be held Saturday.

n Tamaqua: An American Red Cross blood drive is set for 1 to 6 p.m. July 13 in the Salvation Army Gymnasium, 105 W. Broad St. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are encouraged to donate blood. For more information or to arrange for an appointment, call 800-733-2767.

The Pottsville Area school board Wednesday once again voted to reject the Gillingham Charter School’s application to remain open for another five years.

“I’d like to publicly thank the administrative team. As I previously mentioned, this was an exhaustive effort on everyone’s part, specifically during the months of April and May when we were pulled from many of our daily duties. But the bottom line is the education not only of our students in this district but all the students that attend Gillingham Charter School. And I said it before and I’ll say it again, I have very grave concerns for the educational well-being of those students at Gillingham,” Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel said at a special public meeting at the Howard S. Fernsler Academic Center on Wednesday night.

In an effort to keep the doors of the first charter school in Schuylkill County open, Gillingham will appeal to the Charter School Appeal Board, Harrisburg, said Rachel Bensinger, Gillingham’s director of organizational development, who attended the meeting.

Since the rechartering process will continue into the 2016-17 school year, Gillingham plans to begin its sixth school year on Aug. 29.

On Dec. 2, the Pottsville Area school board rejected Gillingham’s application for a second five-year charter.

Afterward, the district was required to hold a series of public hearings on the matter in accordance with the Public School Code of 1949, Article XVII-A, Charter Schools, Section 1729-A, subsection (c).

Thousands of taxpayer dollars were used to finance the hearings. The Republican-Herald on Tuesday submitted Right-To-Know requests to both Pottsville Area and Gillingham to determine how much was spent in the process.

On Jan. 20, the school board hired Marc S. Fisher, an attorney from Allentown, as the hearing officer and fact finder at a rate of $185 per hour. There were 12 public hearings held at Pottsville Area through April and May. After a 30-day public comment period, which ended June 24, Fisher authored a 71-page report which Pottsville Area received last week.

“He was an unbiased fact finder and his job was to determine the fact. And I think he did a pretty good job with that,” board member Scott R. Thomas, who chairs the board’s committee on charter schools, said.

Thomas said the entire report will soon be posted on the Pottsville Area website at pottsville.k12.pa.us.

“We urge the taxpayers of the district to read this report,” Pottsville Area Board President John F. Boran said.

There was only one item on the agenda at Wednesday’s meeting, the July 6 Resolution, and, with a prepared speech, Boran introduced the public to it.

“As you all know we had two options as the home district of Gillingham Charter. Option number one was to renew the charter. Based on information we were receiving over the past five years we knew this was not an option,” Boran said.

“Option number two was not to renew the charter. Not renewing the charter meant we as the home district have the oversight of the process. The process of not renewing the charter meant we must follow the state guidelines and hire attorneys and hire a hearing officer to oversee the process of a public hearing. This decision was not taken lightly but necessary for the sake of our district’s children attending Gillingham charter,” Boran said.

“There were a lot of man hours over the period of five years that the Pottsville district employees performed as oversight that were added to their responsibilities at no additional cost or payroll, just added to their job duties. I want to thank our administration and staff in guiding us in this decision-making and pulling together information for the board to make a responsible decision,” Boran said.

“As many of you know, it was several days of hearings and I’d like to thank our administration and Attorney Fisher for their due diligence in this report. And with us tonight is a 71-page report that Attorney Fisher has put together. We were e-mailed that last week, and the committee members and the board members had an opportunity to review that,” Thomas said.

Conclusions of law

On the last page of the report, Fisher listed five “Conclusions Of Law.” Thomas read them aloud at Wednesday’s meeting. They are as follows:

1. “Gillingham committed one or more material violations of conditions, standards or procedures contained in the written charter.”

2. “Gillingham failed to meet requirements for student performance set forth in 22 Pa. Code Ch. 5 (relating to curriculum) or subsequent regulations promulgated to replace 22 Pa. Code Ch. 5 and failed to meet performance standards set forth in its written charter.”

3. “Gillingham did not fail to meet generally accepted standards of fiscal management or audit requirements.”

4. “Gillingham violated provisions of the Charter School Law (CSL).”

5. “Gillingham violated provisions of law from which it has not been exempted, including federal laws and regulations governing children with disabilities.”

Discussion

Before the public meeting Wednesday, the board’s charter school committee — Thomas, Boran, board member Charles R. Wagner and, by phone, board Vice President Karen E. Rismiller — met to discuss the report.

“It is recommended by the committee that the board accept the report and recommendation of the hearing officer for the Gillingham Charter School. I would like to make a motion that we accept this as recommended,” Thomas said.

“Second,” Boran said.

“Just to clarify, the recommendation of the hearing officer was that the charter be denied. Just so that’s clear for the record,” Richard A. Thornburg, the district solicitor, said.

In a roll call vote, all other board members agreed. They included Ann Blankenhorn, Gary A. Cortese, William Davidson, Christina M. DiCello and Patrick F. Moran.

“I was aware that Gillingham’s test scores were well below the state standards. In fact, they seemed to get progressively worse as the years went on. But I was not aware, as I read this report, about the many serious infractions of law. And I think that that’s something that we had to take into consideration,” Davidson said.

“Very definitely,” Wagner said.

“I believe it was a very complete and unbiased report and, based upon his conclusions, with the numerous violations, I believe we need to serve the children of our district as well as the other districts in the county. And I think we made the right decision tonight,” Rismiller said.

“Very definitely. And keep in mind that one out of every three students at Gillingham is a Pottsville Area student. So it was imperative upon us to do what we’ve done,” Wagner said.

Response

Following the meeting, Melissa Reese, PR and social media specialist for Sylvia Marketing, Pottstown, the firm Gillingham hires for its media relations, released the following response from Gillingham:

“We are disappointed that the Pottsville Area School District voted to deny the renewal of our charter at this evening’s board meeting. Gillingham fully intends to appeal this ruling to the Charter Appeal Board (CAB) and in the interim, will do everything in our power to continue serving our families and providing our students with a high-quality education when school resumes this fall. We will work with our legal team to take the proper steps in appealing to CAB and will open our doors as planned for the first day of the 2016-2017 school year. Unfortunately, this is not the first time our school has been met with such adversity from the district. Our initial charter application in 2010 was met with similar results, and upon appealing to CAB, our charter was approved unanimously. We thank our families for their overwhelming support during the renewal process, as countless students and parents provided feedback and comments about the positive impact the school has had on their community and the education of their children. We are confident that we will come out of the process successfully. Gillingham is a quality public education choice and a cornerstone of the Schuylkill County education landscape. We will continue to fight for our school and serve our students and their families.”

n Ashland: St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church will holds its first summer festival from 5 to 10 p.m. July 15 and 16 at the church are in the 1100 block of Walnut Street. The fest will include live music, a theme basket auction, bake sale, children’s activities, refreshments and a wide variety of food. Festival vouchers are on sale before weekend Masses. People pay $9 to receive $10 in tokens that can be redeemed at the event. Chance tickets for big prizes also are on sale. The drawing will be held at 10 p.m. July 16.

n Frackville: The Frackville Museum, located in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, Center and Oak streets, will have an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday with the Frackville Singers performing patriotic songs at 2 p.m. People are welcome to come early and visit the museum displays, according to a release. Volunteer Kathy Kraft said the museum is working on a new room and is looking for donations regarding schools. For more information, call 570-874-3531.

n Friedensburg: St. John’s Reformed Church, 33 Chestnut St., will have a free Afflictions and Addictions Prayer Service from 7 to 9 p.m. July 17. The healing service will include prayer, scripture reading, songs and anointing. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-622-7481.

n Locustdale: A townwide yard sale sponsored by the Locustdale Fire Company, Hill Street, will be held from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. In addition to villagers’ sales, the fire company will have tables set up and also have a food and bake sale. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-590-2325.

n Mahanoy City: The car wash slated by the Washington Hook and Ladder Fire Company for Saturday has been canceled.

n New Ringgold: A Christmas in July indoor barn sale will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday and Saturday by the Making it Pawsible spay/neuter group at Char Will Kennels, 2 E. Railroad Ave. Barns will be full of new and previously used items at low prices, organizers said in a release. For more information, call 570-573-3366. All proceeds will benefit Making it Pawsible.

n Pine Grove: Patrick M. “Porcupine Pat” McKinney, environmental education coordinator with the Schuylkill Conservation District, will lead a water adventure in search of mayflies, crayfish, water pennies and “more” from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. Participants will meet at the Waterfall Road parking lot for “a creek study of the Upper Little Swatara Creek.” The program is free and recommended for people 6 and older. All equipment will be provided. For more information, call 570-527-2505.

n Pottsville: St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church will hold its Mid-Summer Festival from 5 to 9:30 p.m. July 15 and 16 at the parish grounds, Ninth Street and Schuylkill Avenue. The event will include food, games, children’s games, a pot luck stand, theme baskets and other activities. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-622-5470.

n Tower City: Playing for a Cure, a 24-team tournament aimed at raising money to fight breast cancer and for the Nadine Buggy Miller Scholarship Fund at Williams Valley High School, will begin at 7 a.m. July 23 in Williamstown at Stoney Park, Reinerton Field, the Tower City Legion Field and the Orwin Gun Club Field. “Our goals for this tournament each year is to raise funds for scholarships and to donate money to cancer awareness and research,” organizers said in a release, adding. The championship games will be at the Orwin Gun Club Field. Refreshments will be available at all fields. Team trophies and medals will be presented to the top two teams in the serious and fun brackets. There will be a limited number of tournament T-shirts available at the Orwin field. A Chinese auction will begin between 5 and 5:30 p.m. at the Orwin Firehouse with tickets on sale starting at 10 a.m. Anyone wanting to donate any food items, money or items for the Chinese auction should call Kim Jansen at 717-647-4651 or email kjansen0307@gmail.com.

The Schuylkill County commissioners are setting up an advisory committee to recommend a new county administrator.

Commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said the advisory committee will consist of five people, including Mark Scarbinsky, who retired as county administrator at the end of May. The county received 13 applications for the position, he said.

“This position is extremely important,” Halcovage said. “The administrator is the chief executive officer of the county and because of that, each of us has designated a person to be on that committee.”

Halcovage did not say who was asked to be part of the committee but said it would be similar to the one set up for the sale of Rest Haven. Before the county-owned nursing home was sold last year, a committee consisting of assistant county solicitor Glenn Roth, Rest Haven Director of Nursing Antoinette Huntzinger, county Finance Director Paul Buber and Scarbinsky evaluated the 10 potential buyers and recommended three to the county commissioners.

Halcovage said the goal is to have the committee interview all applicants and make a recommendation by August.

In the meantime, the county appointed director of community development Gary Bender last month as the interim county administrator. The commissioners also approved Wednesday a consulting agreement with Scarbinsky for $75 per hour, not to exceed 15 hours per week, for a six-month term through the end of the year.

In other matters, the board awarded a contract to repair three county-owned bridges to Lehigh Asphalt Paving and Construction Co., Tamaqua, for $321,438. Three companies submitted bids. The bridges included in the project are No. 39 on Atlas/River Road over the Little Schuylkill River in Walker and West Penn townships; county bridge No. 81 on William Street over Mahanoy Creek in Girardville; and county bridge No. 141 on Church Road over Pine Creek in Hubley Township.

The commissioners also gave their approval to adopt an ordinance to establish a solid waste and recycling hauler registration program. Registration is free, but required for all haulers.

The ordinance was recommended as part of the county office of solid waste and resource management 10-year plan to improve data accuracy, Joseph Scribbick, county solid waste and recycling coordinator, said. For more information about registration, call the county office of solid waste and resource management at 570-628-1220.

Marriage licenses

Lawrence J. Trakes, Mahanoy City, and Krista D. Wilson, Mahanoy City.

Jessie J. Woodward, Tamaqua, and Kathleen M. McHose, Tamaqua.

Rebecca Margerum

ELIZABETHVILLE — A Millersburg man is headed to Dauphin County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday on two charges resulting from his alleged possession of child pornography in May.

Mark D. Fulton, 27, of 318 Pine St., faces charges of sexual abuse of children-child pornography and invasion of privacy. Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum bound over those charges for court after Fulton waived his right to the hearing.

State police at Lykens charged Fulton with possessing the pornography and invading the alleged victim’s privacy, on May 11 in Millersburg.

Police said the mother of the alleged victim, a girl, told them she saw a video on Fulton’s cellphone in which he recorded the girl getting undressed and redressed in her bedroom. In the video, police said, the girl was in a state of nudity while she was changing her clothing.

Fulton is in prison in lieu of $50,000 straight cash bail pending further court action. His formal arraignment is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. July 15 in Harrisburg.

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

Gary P. Alexander, 63, of 751 State Route 147, Dalmatia; driving under the influence and improper stop; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Nickalous D. Anderson, 32, of 204 W. Main St. Apt. A, Elizabethville; simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Joshua C. Batista, 24, of 5830 State Route 25, Gratz; DUI, careless driving and reckless driving; charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

Dennis S. Buttorff Jr., 25, of 365 Pleasant View Drive Trailer 30, Etters; possession of a small amount of marijuana, DUI disregarding traffic lanes, careless driving, reckless driving, accident involving damage to unattended vehicle or property and failure to notify police of accident; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Ronald D. Erdman, 52, of 185 Vista Road, Klingerstown; criminal trespass and disorderly conduct; charge of criminal trespass withdrawn. Erdman pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Margerum sentenced him to pay costs and a $50 fine.

James Hayward, 31, of 605 North St., Lykens; two charges each of DUI and driving under suspension and one each of driving without a license and seat belt violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Kevin J. Strahm, 35, of 509 E. Colliery Ave., Tower City; five counts of access device fraud; charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

Randy E. Wenrich Jr., 40, of 8741 Route 25, Spring Glen; DUI, driving without a license, DUI while suspended, failure to keep right, disregarding traffic lanes, careless driving, reckless driving and violation of restrictions on alcoholic beverages; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Arielle M. Wetzel, 27, of 207 Shaffer Road, Millersburg; DUI, disregarding traffic lanes, careless driving and reckless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of reckless driving dismissed, other charges bound over for court.

The Pottsville Area School District recently released details regarding the five-year agreement with Honeywell Building Solutions it approved June 22.

Honeywell, which has a location in Pottsville, provides equipment and services regarding temperature control, automation services, mechanical maintenance and air filters, according to the contract provided by Stephen C. Curran, the district business manager.

The amounts the district will pay every year of the five-year contract are as follows: 2016-17, $148,882; 2017-18, $153,348; 2018-19, $157,948; 2019-20, $162,682; and 2020-21, $167,562, according to the contract.

The district did not have a copy of its previous contract with Honeywell. But on June 24, Curran said, “the amount the district will have paid Honeywell for the 2015-2016 school year was approximately $228,000.”

VALLEY VIEW — Moviegoers can experience firsthand accounts of what life was like toiling below ground, as the Valley View Park Association offers Old Anthracite Coal Miner Movie Night.

The free event kicks off at 8 p.m. Friday at Valley View Park, 524 Gap St., and was brought back by public demand and a favorable response to last year’s debut showing.

“The Valley View Park Association has been overwhelmed since then, by requests to hold another similar event this year,” David Williams, association president, said. “Most of the films that are shown were recorded by the operators of anthracite coal mines from years ago.”

Williams said the previous event attendance was tremendous.

The unique film night features original, home-style movies of anthracite coal mines from the area, many taken from a first-person perspective. This year’s films include movie clips from the B&M Tunnel in Hegins Township, Schuylkill County, taken in 1988; and the Shingara Mines in Zerbe Township, Northumberland County, taken in 1992.

Other clips include “Mine Foreman Training” made with local anthracite coal mine foremen and the Bush Coal Company’s Anthracite Coal Mine from the late 1950s. A special tribute to the Anthracite Underground Emergency Rescue Teams based out of Tremont will also be shown.

“The film footage from the B&M Tunnel and the Shingara Mines film is narrated by the camera man as he took the film. There are ten anthracite coal mines left today as compared to thousands from years gone by. The passion for anthracite coal mining of the current anthracite underground coal miners is as intense as it was from years ago,” Williams said.

Those in attendance last year were comprised of active and retired anthracite underground coal miners, their wives and people who were just curious about the work of an anthracite coal miner. This year, many organizations within the anthracite underground coal mining community have been invited to attend, he said.

The films are shown in an outdoor setting on the stage of Valley View Park. According to Williams, the park was originally owned by an anthracite coal company and was turned over to the community in the 1940s for community use.

“It is especially gratifying to the Valley View Park Association to be able to host this event to acknowledge this heritage,” Williams said.

Food and refreshments will be available for purchase.

Next week, one National Penn Bank location in Schuylkill County will close and another will officially become a branch of BB&T Corp.

In April, BB&T Corp., based in North Carolina, acquired National Penn Bank for $1.8 billion. In Schuylkill County, there are two National Penn Bank offices, one at 5-7 N. Main St., Shenandoah, and the other at 111 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville.

The Shenandoah location will officially become a BB&T bank. The one in Pottsville will close and the accounts there will move across the street to the BB&T location at 9 N. Centre St., Pottsville.

“BB&T announced the acquisition of National Penn on Aug. 17, 2015, and the legal closing on April 1. Conversion will take place the weekend of July 15,” David R. White, BB&T vice president of corporate communications, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, said Wednesday.

The biggest change locally will occur at the Pottsville branch.

“As part of the National Penn and BB&T merger, there are areas where BB&T and National Penn branches are very close. As a result, we will be closing and consolidating a total of 28 branches. Our clients will be able to bank with us at a branch that, in most cases, is less than a mile away. There will be no job losses as a result of these location consolidations. Most branch associates will move to the receiving financial center so clients will continue to be served by the same associates they have grown to know and trust,” White said.

In November 2014, BB&T acquired Susquehanna Bank and moved into the Susquehanna Bank location at 9 N. Centre St., Pottsville, on Nov. 9, 2015, White said.

It’s right across the street from the National Penn Bank location at 111 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville. That’s why that National Penn Bank location will close, White said.

That will leave another vacant storefront in downtown Pottsville.

The property has been home to financial institutions since the late 1960s, according to information in volumes of the Pottsville City Directory on file at the Pottsville Free Public Library.

In 1960, it was Matt’s Kiddie Shop, which sold children’s clothes.

In 1964, it was a vacant lot.

In 1966 and 1967, a building was under construction there.

In 1969, the First Federal Savings & Loan Association of Hazleton opened a bank there, and managed it into the 1990s.

In 2000, it became First Federal Bank. Then in 2007, it became KNBT. And, in 2014, it became National Penn Bank, according to the Pottsville City Directory.

“Both the branch and the parking lot are for sale,” White said Wednesday.

A sign for a real estate agency, Colliers International, was recently put up in the parking lot.

It’s a 0.29 acre parcel with a 8,335-square-foot building, a 14-vehicle parking lot and a two-lane drive-thru. The asking price is $625,000, Derek Zerfass, a real estate agent with Colliers International, Allentown, said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Sue Keller, assistant manager at the National Penn Bank branch in Pottsville, and Maryann Woodward, market leader at the BB&T branch in Pottsville, refused to comment. They referred all questions to BB&T corporate communications.

SCRANTON — Debbie Grenewicz was concerned when she heard the message left on her cellphone.

“The reason for this call is to inform you the IRS is filing a lawsuit against you,” the computerized, female-sounding voice said recently. “To get more information about this case file please call immediately on our department number ...”

The Hanover Township woman said she knew she and her husband paid their taxes, but the message sounded official. For a moment she thought it might be legitimate.

Then she recalled a friend told her he had received a similar call.

“That sent up a red flag to me,” she said. “I knew it was a scam.”

Grenewicz, 59, is among tens of thousands of consumers who scam artists targeted by posing as IRS agents. She didn’t reveal any personal information. Others are not as lucky.

The IRS said phone scams continue to be a serious threat, topping the agency’s “dirty dozen” list of tax scams this year. The agency has received about 896,000 complaints since October 2013, and documented 5,000 victims who were defrauded out of $26.5 million total.

“Taxpayers across the nation face a deluge of these aggressive phone scams,” IRS Commissioner John Koskinen said in a press release. “There are many variations. The caller may threaten you with arrest or court action. ... Some schemes say you’re entitled to a huge refund. These all add up to trouble.”

Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano said his department received at least a dozen reports this year from people who said they got the phony calls. Even he was targeted about a year ago, he said. Fortunately no one fell victim to the scam, he said.

Scammers often know a lot about their targets and use software to alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling. The calls are particularly prevalent at tax time, but can come any time of the year, according to the IRS.

Tim Pappas, 51, of Wilkes-Barre, got two calls on the same day in May. A retired state prison guard, he immediately recognized it was a scam.

“I called the number and a lady answered. She said this is the IRS,” he said. “I said they don’t call you, they send you a letter. She hesitated. When I said I used to work for the state, she hung up.”

Taxpayers should be wary if they get an unsolicited call, Graziano said.

“The IRS won’t call your home. They send you a certified letter with any issues,” he said.

The IRS offers other tips to avoid being ripped off. Taxpayers should pay attention to the type of information the caller is seeking. If the caller demands immediate payment, asks for a credit card number over the phone or threatens to have you arrested for not paying, it’s a clear sign of a scam.

Graziano encourages residents to be vigilant and read as much information as possible to avoid being victimized. Information of a wide variety of tax scams is available on the IRS’ website: www.irs.gov/uac/tax-scams-consumer-alerts.

“It’s important to get the message out,” Graziano said. “Don’t fall for these scams because once you do it’s almost impossible to recoup or prosecute.”

The IRS does not use unsolicited email, text messages or any social media to discuss your personal tax issues. The agency offers the following five things scammers do that the IRS will not do.

The IRS does not:

• Call to demand immediate payment. The IRS does not call about taxes you owe without first mailing you a bill.

• Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the chance to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.

• Require you to use a certain payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.

• Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

• Threaten to bring in local police or other law enforcement to have you arrested for not paying.

Reporting an IRS scammer

If you get a phone call from someone claiming to be from the IRS and asking for money, the agency suggests the following:

• If you know you owe taxes or think you might owe, call the IRS at 800-829-1040 to talk about payment options. You also may be able to set up a payment plan online at IRS.gov.

• If you know you don’t owe taxes or have no reason to believe that you do, report the incident to the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration at 800-366-4484 or at www.tigta.gov.

• If phone scammers target you, also contact the Federal Trade Commission at FTC.gov. Use their “FTC Complaint Assistant” to report the scam. Please add “IRS Telephone Scam” to the comments of your complaint.

• For more information on reporting tax scams, go to www.irs.gov and type “scam” in the search box.

Deeds

Barry Township — Elaine Moncion, executrix of the Estate of Rose Grandinetti, to Ted J. and Marie A. Reinoehl; 872 Deep Creek Road; $35,000.

Cass Township — Joseph V. Wenner and Carol J. Dissinger to Joseph V. Wenner; property; $1.

Auburn man hurt

in 1-vehicle crash

LANDINGVILLE — A man from Auburn was flown to a hospital Monday morning when he drove off a road in West Brunswick Township and hit a tree, according to state police at Schuylkill Haven.

At 10:26 a.m., Jerome F. Kimmel, 41, of Auburn, was driving a 1996 Chevrolet Blazer west on Green Tree Drive when he dropped something within the vehicle. While reaching for it, he became distracted and drove off the south side of the road. The front end of the vehicle collided with a tree, police said.

Kimmel was flown by a Medivac helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, for treatment, police said.

He was treated and released on Tuesday, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Auburn EMS and Schuylkill EMS and Landingville Fire Department also assisted on scene, police said.

Police charged Kimmel for failing to stay in his lane.

Nighthawk op

issues 31 DUIs

Pennsylvania State Police from numerous stations in and around Berks County teamed up with officers from 13 municipal police departments Friday and Saturday to conduct Operation Nighthawk.

In all, a total of 48 state police troopers and municipal officers participated.

The detail resulted in 432 vehicles stopped, 31 DUI arrests made, six seat belt citations issued and 25 speeding citations issued.

The officers and troopers also issued 14 driving under suspension citations, 241 other traffic citations and 296 warning notices as well as making 19 criminal arrests.

Police said Operation Nighthawk is a specialized training and enforcement program aimed at reducing impaired driving.

Police: Man

stole from store

HEGINS — A 43-year-old man was charged by state police at Schuylkill Haven with stealing items from Redner’s Warehouse Market, 22 Forest Drive between June 22 and Friday in Hegins Township.

Police said Victor Ortiz was employed by a cleaning company to clean the market during the nighttime hours and between June 22 and Friday stole merchandise valued at $1,066.01.

Ortiz was arraigned on four counts each of felony retail theft and receiving stolen property, police said.

Barnesville man

reports gun theft

BARNESVILLE — State police at Frackville are investigating the theft of a gun that occurred between 9 a.m. Saturday and 6 a.m. Monday on Back Road in Ryan Township.

Police said Gary Schrepple Sr., Barnesville, reported his Smith and Wesson .357 caliber Model 27-2 revolver was stolen from his pickup truck that was parked outside of his home.

Police are reminding everyone to lock their vehicles when parked and left unattended. They ask that anyone with information on the Ryan Township theft call them at 570-874-5300.

Schuylkill Haven

hit, run probed

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a hit-and-run incident that occurred at 5:13 p.m. Monday at the parking lot of Moyer’s Car Care, Route 183, Wayne Township.

Police said that Trina L. Stankiewitch, 21, of Schuylkill Haven, was backing a Chevrolet Cruz out from a parking space when she was rear-ended by an orange Chevrolet Cobalt that was entering the lot from Route 443.

The driver of the Cobalt then fled the scene and headed south on Route 183, according to police.

Stankiewitch was not injured in the hit-and-run.

Police search

for retail thief

HAMBURG — State police at Hamburg are investigating a theft that occurred about 3:45 p.m. Monday at Wal-Mart in Tilden Township, Berks County.

Police said a man removed a 32-inch Vizio Smart TV valued at $198 from the store without paying and then fled in an older model tan sedan, possibly an Oldsmobile.

The man is described as being white or Hispanic, in his mid-30s, about 5-feet 10-inches tall with a ponytail. He was wearing a black shirt, red shorts and an orange hat, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at Hamburg at 610-562-6885.

Police investigate

motorcycle crash

SHEPPTON — A crash that occurred about 2:10 p.m. Sunday on Creek Road, just north of Kunkles Hill Road in East Union Township, is being investigated by state police at Frackville.

Police said David E. Stevenson, 62, of Exton, was driving a 2003 Suzuki TL1000 motorcycle south on Creek Road, Route 339, when he struck a large pothole, causing the suspension to snap and the weight of the vehicle to fall onto the back tire.

The vehicle began to skid, causing Stevenson to lose control and lay the motorcycle on its left side. He subsequently fell off.

Police said he was wearing a helmet and protective clothing and only suffered minor injuries. Stevenson had a friend transport the motorcycle from the scene back to his residence.

Sobriety patrols,

checkpoints set

The North Central Regional Sobriety Checkpoint DUI Taskforce announced that Sobriety Checkpoints and Roving DUI Patrols will be conducted now through Monday on routes 61, 183, 901, 209, 1006, 309, 1008, 443, 895, 125, 25, 924 and 54.

Travelers are reminded to call 911 if they suspect a drunk driver or to call, toll-free, 888-UNDER21, to report underage drinking.

Troop L reports

4 DUI arrests

JONESTOWN — State police troopers assigned to Troop L, Jonestown, participated in aggressive driving enforcement activities over the Fourth of July holiday period.

Police reported making four DUI arrests, issuing 132 speeding citation, five child passenger citations and seven seat belt citations as well as issuing 11 seat belt warning notices and issuing 125 other citations.

Police also investigated seven crashes during the holiday period. A total of seven injuries were reported and one of the crashes was alcohol related.

TEAM stymies

aggressive driving

Pennsylvania State Police Troop L, Reading, launched a new aggressive driver initiative called Operation TEAM or Troop L Eliminating Aggressive Motorists.

The two-week initiative ran from June 20 to 30, during which time police wrote 732 citations and 185 warning notices.

Among the citations were 358 for speeding, 38 for following too closely, 18 for duty of driver in emergency response area or the Steer Clear Law, 22 for traffic control signals, 11 for careless driving, 64 for turning movements and required signals, 27 for obedience to traffic control devices and 22 for seat belt violations.

Officials of Troop L said police will continue to use Operation TEAM to keep the roads safe from aggressive drivers.

Mahanoy City is gearing up for its annual Community Day, a summer tradition for two decades.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Main and Centre streets.

According to a press release from Daniel Lynch, borough manager, Community Day will feature plenty of food vendors selling a variety of ethnic and local favorites.

Craft vendors will also set up shop Saturday.

Lynch said walk-in vendors are welcome to attend. The vendor fee is $25.

The family-friendly event will offer activities for children, including two new attractions — an inflatable obstacle course and mobile gaming theater featuring a slew of favorite interactive video games.

Community Day will end with a bang at Mahanoy Area High School. At dusk, the Upper Schuylkill Band will perform a concert that will be immediately followed by a fireworks show.

The pyrotechnic display is presented courtesy of Mahanoy Area School District Youth Summit. Rain date is set for Sunday.

Lynch said the event brings in a crowd, but an exact count isn’t known as they don’t track attendance.

“It’s more for people to come and go. I’d say we get a decent turnout,” he said.

As is the case with outdoor activities, success is dependent on the weather. According to the National Weather Service, there is a chance of rain showers and thunderstorms in the morning. Any inclement weather should disperse leaving partly sunny skies with temperatures in the low 80s. The sky should stay mostly clear into the nighttime with temperatures dropping into the low 60s.

For more information, visit the borough’s Facebook page at “Borough of Mahanoy City” or call borough hall at 570-773-2150.

James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG — A Lancaster County man must appear in Schuylkill County Court to defend against two sets of charges stemming from separate incidents in North Manheim Township after he waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Justen R. Davis, 28, of 682 Wallingford Road Apt. 2, Lititz, faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, speeding and operating vehicle without valid inspection in one case and retail theft in another. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over those charges for court after Davis waived his right to the hearing.

Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana and driving under suspension in the first case.

In that case, state police at Schuylkill Haven allege Davis possessed methamphetamine, four baggies, a digital scale, a glass pipe and a plastic straw in his car, an uninspected 1997 Chevrolet Camaro, that he was driving 67 mph in a 40 mph zone at 3:35 p.m. Jan. 2 on Cressona Road.

In the other case, state police at Schuylkill Haven allege Davis stole an adult sex toy and a bottle of lube at 11:37 a.m. Feb. 4 from the Adult 61 Shop, 1426 S. Route 61.

Davis is free on a total of $7,500 unsecured bail, $5,000 in the first case and $2,500 in the second, pending further court action.

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

Daniel S. Aregood, 25, of 9 W. Penn St., Schuylkill Haven; driving under the influence, unlawful actions, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and endangering the welfare of children; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Douglas R. Downey, 45, of 13 Judy Drive, Cressona; false identification to law enforcement; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Heather M. Felmey, 29, of 28 Taylor St., Pottsville; DUI, disregarding traffic lane, failure to drive at a safe speed and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Andrew A. Huber, 18, of 25 Martha Lane, Pottsville; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Alexandra L. Marceau, 22, of 2 Middle Road, Levittown; four counts of conspiracy, two each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and corruption of minors and one each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Neal P. Mataka, 20, of 19 NE Shue String Lane, Schuylkill Haven; DUI, illegal bumper and violation of general lighting requirements; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of DUI bound over for court, other charges withdrawn.

Jason M. Pukiewicz, 38, of 353 Park Place Road, Mahanoy City; two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one of possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Courtland Stackpole III, 39, of Country Squire, 300 Pennsylvania Route 61 Apt. 22, Schuylkill Haven; two counts of manufacture of a controlled substance and one each of conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

n Gilberton: Continental Hose Company No. 3, Main Street, will have a hoagie sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 16. Hoagies are $6 each and types include regular, ham and cheese, Italian and meatball. To order or for more information, call 570-933-0415.

n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy City Elks Lodge, 135 E. Centre St., will have a meat bingo from 7 to 10 p.m. July 16. The cost is $1 per card. For more information, call 570-573-2649.

n Mahanoy City: The first Community Day in the borough will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. The event will include a variety of activities and food from local vendors. Fireworks will follow at dusk at the Mahanoy Area High School grounds. For more information, call 570-573-2930.

n Nuremberg: The Nuremberg-Weston Volunteer Fire Company has mailed letters for its annual fund drive. Residents who did not receive a letter in the mail and wish to make a donation can send it to the fire company at 459 Hazle St., Sugarloaf, PA 18249.

n Saint Clair: The Saint Clair Lions Club is taking reservations for an overnight trip to Turning Stone bingo and resort in Verona, New York, Nov. 9-10. The cost is $140 per person, which includes transportation, hotel room, taxes and tips. To make reservations or for more information, call Bob at 570-429-0549.

n Saint Clair: New Minersville Firehouse Bikers softball team will host its second annual pony plop bingo and pig roast Saturday at Saint Clair Fish and Game, Lawton Street and McCord Avenue. Deeds are $20, including picnic admission, and are available from any team member, visiting the group’s Facebook page or calling 570-205-5055. Non-deed admission is $10. The event will also include a mechanical bull, corn hole tournament and entertainment by Blondie Rocks Karaoke.

n Schuylkill Haven: A “Garden Art Experience” is set for 9 to 11 a.m. July 16 at the Master Gardeners’ demo garden at 110 South Route 61 near the entrance to Penn State Schuylkill campus. People will be able to enjoy the nature-inspired art at the site. Master Gardeners will be present to discuss the specialized areas of the garden and the trials being run on Coneflowers (Echinacea). For more information, call 570-622-4225, ext 23.

n Schuylkill Haven: The Schuylkill County Motorcycle Club will have a poker run and activities from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday at the clubhouse, 958 Schuylkill Mountain Road. The cost is $8. Breakfast and lunch will be available. For more information, call 570-754-7208.

n Shenandoah: Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Parish will have its block party July 15, 16 and 17 with food, games and tickets for “mega prizes.” Volunteers are needed to help with all aspects of the event. To volunteer or for more information call the parish office at 570-462-1968. The Our Lady of Mount Carmel annual Novena will begin today. A Novena Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. each day at Divine Mercy Church, Cherry and Chestnut streets. The final Mass will be at 9 a.m. July 17 with the annual procession at 10 a.m. following the Mass.

n Tamaqua: An American Red Cross blood drive is set for 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Salvation Army Gymnasium, 105 W. Broad St. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are encouraged to donate blood. For more information or to make an appointment, call 800-733-2767.

n Valley View: A movie night at Valley View Park, 524 Gap St., is set for 8 p.m. today featuring “Old Coal Miners Films.” All are welcome.

n Wilburton: Wilburton Hose Company No. 1 will have its annual Thunder on the Mountain car show Monday. Breakfast and food will be available from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. All are welcome.

The Schuylkill County Historical Society has countless documents detailing the history of the county, but earlier this year, the organization received something it has never seen before — two contracts for indentured servants.

The practice of indentured servitude in America started in the 17th century as people paid for their passage to the colonies by working for an employer for a fixed number of years. The practice continued until the early 20th century before being outlawed in 1917.

With the incorporation of the Schuylkill County poor district in 1831, about 20 years after the county was founded, the almshouse was built where the Penn State Schuylkill campus is now located to accommodate about 150 patients, including the insane and poor. It had a farm which was maintained by its population, Jean Dellock, genealogist and researcher at the historical society, said Thursday.

“They had to work on the farm to make a living,” she said.

Going through the 1850 county census, Dellock said the almshouse, also known as the poor house or poor farm, had 182 residents, however, there were no males between the ages of 12 and 18 and no females between the ages of 6 and 18.

“They didn’t really have accommodations for children,” Dellock said.

It wasn’t until 1883 that all children older than 2 were to be transferred to the Pottsville Children’s Home, she said. It is then assumed that many of the poor children worked as indentured servants on local farms.

“We can draw the conclusion that it was a fairly common practice,” Thomas B. Drogalis, executive director of the historical society, said Thursday.

The historical society received two indentured servant contracts earlier this year as part of a donation that also included deeds and other documents passed through the generations of a family in Cressona.

The agreements outline terms for Maria Rehn and Rose Reber to work for John Ruch, West Brunswick Township, for 10 years or until they turn 18. Both contracts also include signatures from the directors of the Poor and the House of Employment for the County of Schuylkill. Rehn’s contract is dated April 2, 1849, and Reber’s is dated March 5, 1855.

Rehn was 6 at the time of the 1850 census. Dellock said they have not yet found age records for Reber.

According to the contracts, Ruch “shall find and provide for the said apprentice sufficient meat, drink, apparel, washing and lodging, and all other necessaries; and shall teach or cause her to be taught, the art and mystery of house keeping, sewing and knitting and during said term shall give her 15 months day schooling, one-half of which after she attains the age of fourteen years; and when free, two complete suits of clothes, one of which to be new, valued from 10 to 12 dollars, and allow her at the expiration of said term one bureau, one table, three chairs and one bed and bedstead and necessary bed clothing.”

“We don’t have anything like this on file that we know of,” Drogalis said. “This is an aspect of life in the county that we didn’t have an accurate picture of until now.”

Angela Riotto, a Civil War historian, said that although it was widespread practice at the time, many contracts are not likely to exist. Riotto, a Palo Alto native earning a doctorate in American history at the University of Akron, Ohio, said Thursday at the historical society that families sending their children away were too poor to have formal documents drawn up and instead had verbal agreements.

“They are so unique,” Dellock said. “It’s a part of history we never had before.”

A hearing in August will determine if the Schuylkill Trust Co. building in Pottsville can be sold at a judicial sale.

The hearing is set for 2 p.m. Aug. 15 at the Schuylkill County Courthouse, Courtroom 1, before Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin.

“It’s a rule-to-show-cause hearing. This hearing allows owners and lienholders of the parcels associated with the judicial sale an opportunity to show cause why a decree should not be entered by the court for the properties to be sold free and clear of their respective claims, mortgages, liens, charges and estates,” Angela D. Toomey, the director of the Schuylkill County Tax Claim Bureau, said Wednesday.

“Typically these hearings are fairly uneventful. It’s a rule-to-show cause, which means the Tax Claim Bureau has requested to sell a property at judicial sale and parties have the opportunity to appear and oppose the sale. But it’s pretty clear the owner hasn’t paid the taxes,” Glenn T. Roth Jr., assistant solicitor for Schuylkill County, said Wednesday.

If there are no objections, the judge may allow the property to be scheduled for a judicial sale, possibly in September, Toomey said.

“And the opening bid will be whatever it cost the bureau to take it to sale,” Toomey said.

And if someone buys the building at a judicial sale, they won’t have to worry about the back taxes.

“The property is sold free and clear of their respective claims, mortgages, liens, charges and estates, therefore tax and municipal claims are divested. The new owner would not be responsible for payment of any delinquent taxes. The judicial process is dictated by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Tax Sale Law of 1947, Section 610,” Toomey said.

The Schuylkill Trust Co. building at 101 N. Centre St. was built in 1924, according to “Pottsville in the Twentieth Century,” a 2003 book in the Images of America series by Leo L. Ward and Mark T. Major.

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

James J. Curran Jr., an attorney, president of Schuylkill Land & Realty Inc., Pottsville, is the current owner of the building.

Curran hasn’t paid taxes on the property in three years. As of Thursday, $103,384.88 was owed in back taxes on the property, Toomey said.

That included $36,375.75 in back taxes for 2013, $34,885.72 in back taxes for 2014 and $32,123.41 in back taxes for 2015, Toomey said.

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

In September 2015, the property was included in a Schuylkill County upset sale, but there were no bidders willing to pay $292,665 for the property. That amount included $97,253 in back taxes for the city, county and school district from 2013, 2014 and 2015, plus municipal liens, state and federal claims.

If the property is slated to be part of a judicial sale in the next few months, someone can get the building possibly for as little as $1,000, Toomey said.

“The opening bid will be whatever it costs the bureau to take it to judicial sale. The delinquent taxes have no part of that bid. They do in an upset sale but not in a judicial sale. And it will go to the highest bidder.”

In the past year, city officials have had problems with the building.

On Sept. 25, 2015, the city’s code enforcement office cited Curran for failing to address sections of the building’s facade that are reportedly crumbling.

On June 30, Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, found Curran guilty for failing to repair sections of the building’s facade that are reportedly crumbling. He ordered Curran to pay a fine of $250 plus court costs.

With its financial house in good order and the timing of the “Brexit” vote, Pottsville’s sitting pretty for borrowing, the city council learned Thursday.

The council unanimously approved borrowing $4,370,000 with a 2016 general obligation bond at an interest rate of less than 3 percent. Funds will be used for municipal projects.

Those present and in favor were Mayor James T. Muldowney, Edmund J. Jones, Joseph J. Devine Jr., Mark Atkinson and Dorothy L. Botto.

Scott Krammer, managing director of RBC Capital Markets LLC, Lancaster, whose firm was appointed as underwriter, praised the work of the city’s personnel.

He said City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar and city clerk Lisa M. Kral spent a lot of time preparing in advance of the city’s ratings call.

“It was Lisa and Tom’s job to explain to them what the project was, why you were borrowing the money, and it was an hourlong conversation about what was going on here in Pottsville with respect to your financials,” Krammer said. “It was one of the better calls we’ve had.”

Pottsville received an A-plus rating from Standard & Poor’s at the state level, Krammer said.

“For a city this size to get an A-plus rating is fantastic. Kudos to the administration, kudos to you for keeping your financial house in order. This is a big deal for you guys,” he said.

The A-plus rating resulted in a lower interest rate for the city, he said.

“You’re timing is very good. Rates are at historical lows. The Brexit vote caused rates literally in the last two weeks to drop in your favor,” Krammer said.

During Brexit, British voters chose in a June 23 referendum to exit the European Union.

Plans are to close on the bond issue Aug. 15, according to bond counsel Paul J. Datte, Pottsville.

“We’ll file everything with the Department of Community and Economic Development to get their approval of the debt, which is a process we have to go through,” he said.

“We run a notice in the paper again, and that will be filed next week. I’ll come back with the mayor and city clerk before the 15th to get everything signed, so the money can move on the 15th,” Datte said.

Datte told the council that on the debt service schedule, there are three other sources of reimbursement back to the city. The biggest one is the housing authority. The process they’re working through with the housing authority and the Department of Housing and Urban Development is a process whereby a portion of the money the housing authority gets annually for capital improvements will actually be coming to the city directly to fund their portion of the debt.

That process may or may not be completed by Aug. 15. Dollars won’t be moved from the city to the housing authority until that system is put into place, he said.

In addition, the parking authority is in a transaction for an amount to be determined, somewhere around $350,000, Datte said.

“We’ll be putting together a lease for the Capitol deck, and that will be their vehicle for getting their portion of the money back to the city,” he said.

Lastly, the trustees of firemen’s relief association, from the funds they get annually from the state from fire insurance proceeds, will use a portion of that for their airpacks and their radios.

Palamar said there will be four debt service schedules, one for the city, and one each for the Pottsville Parking Authority, the Pottsville Volunteer Firefighter’s Relief Association trustees and the Housing Authority of the City of Pottsville.

Among potential projects include wall repairs, parking areas, cell and police area, roof, elevator, security and ADA upgrades at City Hall; airpacks and additional radios for firefighters; elevator upgrades in authority buildings; and structural repair and maintenance to the Mahantongo Parking Center and the Capitol Parking Garage.

The city made its last payment in October 2015 of a bond issued in 2003, Palamar said.

In other business, the council unanimously approved Resolution 70, authorizing the city clerk to submit an application for traffic signal approval to the state Department of Transportation and to sign the application on behalf of the city.

Palamar said this was for the traffic signal improvement that’s taking place at the Sheetz intersection with Route 209. PennDOT is putting in a new signal, better signalization, brighter signs and warning signs that motorists are approaching a red light.

“Our city engineer did review this plan,” Palamar said. It’s at PennDOT’s cost. “We did take full advantage of the opportunity to give them our opinion on the improvements.”

Deeds

Ashland — Roy E. and Janalene M. Bensinger to Capgrow Holdings JV Sub II LLC; property on Spruce Street; $125,000.

Auburn — Federal National Mortgage Association to Kevin C. Fontinel; 514 S. Front St.; $42,900.

Coaldale — Wells Fargo Bank NA to Jennifer L. Dardas; 32 E. Howard Ave.; $27,000.

Tammie Jean Miller to Fred W. Porr Jr.; 243 Fifth St.; $30,000.

East Brunswick Township — Mark T. and Heidi Lea Schmidt to Edward A. Bolich and Lauren E. Stahl; 41 Hope Ave.; $104,900.

East Norwegian Township — Diane S. Tobias to Jay D. Tobias Jr.; 0.885-acre property on Legislative Route 621; $1.

Girardville — Jane L. Hand to Fogarty Property Management LLC; property on Mahanoy Avenue; $10,000.

Hegins Township — MTGLQ Investors Inc. to Mary Ellen Klebe; 1007 E. Main St., Hegins; $58,500.

When he leaves state prison, admitted child molester Ronald H. Tobias Jr. will be subject to Megan’s Law sanctions for the rest of his life, a Schuylkill County judge ruled Thursday.

President Judge William E. Baldwin ruled that Tobias’ crimes require the imposition of the lifetime sanctions, even though he decided, in accordance with the recommendation of the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, that the defendant is not a sexually violent predator.

“Do you have any questions?” Baldwin asked Tobias, who is serving his sentence at State Correctional Institution/Retreat in Luzerne County and participated in the hearing by videoconference.

“No,” Tobias answered.

Tobias, 39, pleaded guilty Sept. 24 to three sex-related crimes, including aggravated indecent assault and corruption of minors, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse. At that time, Baldwin sentenced Tobias to serve seven to 14 years in a state correctional institution, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, have no contact with his victim and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Pottsville police charged Tobias with assaulting a 10-year-old girl between June 1, 2014, and June 30, 2014, when she was visiting him at his apartment at 306 W. Market St., Apt. 1. The incident came to light when the girl told a counselor that she had been sexually abused, police said.

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

The Megan’s Law sanctions to which Tobias will be subject after he leaves prison require him to provide his name, address, employment, any schools he might attend, registration of any vehicles he owns and other information to the Pennsylvania State Police for the rest of his life. Any violation of the sanctions would be an additional crime and subject Tobias to further prosecution.

Megan’s Law was enacted in Pennsylvania, numerous other states and at the federal level after the July 29, 1994, murder of Megan Nicole Kanka, 7, in Hamilton Township, New Jersey.

Jesse Timmendequas, Kanka’s killer, was one of her neighbors and a twice-convicted sex offender. His death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after New Jersey enacted legislation to abolish the death penalty in that state.

Defendant

· Name: Ronald H. Tobias Jr.

· Age: 39

· Residence: Pottsville

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

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