SHENANDOAH — A borough man arrested for allegedly almost causing the death of a woman by injecting her with heroin earlier this year had charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing Thursday.

Jason N. Bredbenner, 32, of 23 S. Chestnut St., will now have to appear in Schuylkill County Court to answer to offenses that include attempted murder by drug delivery, aggravated assault and possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, all felony offenses; as well as misdemeanor crimes of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Shenandoah police Patrolman Travis Bowman, the arresting officer, testified that he was called to the Bredbenner home about 8:40 p.m. May 18 for a report of a heroin overdose and, arriving at the scene, heard a man’s voice and then a person running. The officer also said he heard a door hit off a wall or a door stop and then what sounded like a garbage bag hitting the ground.

Inside the home, Bowman said, he found a woman, later identified as Suzy Ulicny, lying unconscious on a couch making gurgling noises, her face blue and barely breathing with a faint pulse.

Bowman told the court that Bredbenner was standing next to the woman and acting in a panic but eventually told him that Ulicny overdosed on heroin and that he threw the bags into a trash can.

Bredbenner then proceeded to get the bags out of the garbage can, Bowman said, adding that inside the home he saw various items of drug paraphernalia including a glass smoking device.

Shenandoah ALS arrived and administered multiple doses of Narcan to Ulicny, who subsequently became alert, Bowman said.

Ulicny told the court she contacted Bredbenner because she was depressed and wanted to take drugs in order to die.

“I knew he sold drugs,” the woman said.

Ulicny said she withdrew money from an ATM, went to the Bredbenner home and gave it to him in order to buy heroin.

Bredbenner left and returned later with bags of heroin, prepared the drug and gave her an injection, since she did not know how to inject herself, Ulicny said.

Ulicny continued saying the drugs were not having the effect she wanted and asked Bredbenner to give her another injection, to which he agreed and did.

That, she said, is the last thing she remembered.

“I woke up and people were giving me Narcan,” Ulicny said.

After Ulicny was treated by EMS, Bowman said, Bredbenner was searched and found with six glassine baggies containing suspected heroin and various items of drug paraphernalia.

Following the 30-minute hearing, Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker ruled the commonwealth proved a prima facie case on all charges and Bredbenner was returned to Schuylkill County Prison where he is being held on $100,000 straight cash bail set at the time of his arrest.

Mahanoy City man

charged after chase

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City police arrested a borough man stemming from an assault that occurred about 11 a.m. June 25 in the 600 block of East Mahanoy Avenue.

Police said Brian W. Creamer Jr., 107 E. Mahanoy Ave., was charged with one felony count of aggravated assault; one misdemeanor count each of recklessly endangering another person, fleeing or attempting to elude police and unauthorized use of an automobile; and one summary offense each of duties at a stop sign, reckless driving, drivers required to be licensed and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Police said officers on patrol saw Creamer driving a vehicle, knew he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest and tried to pull him over, but the man failed to stop, driving recklessly and traveling through several stop signs.

Police said Creamer drove at a high rate of speed on East Mahanoy Avenue and then onto Route 54, where officers positioned a patrol vehicle in front of his. At the time, police said, Creamer accelerated toward the police cruiser, forcing the officer to pull back in order to avoid being hit.

Creamer then turned onto Buck Mountain Road and approached a dead end, where he exited the vehicle and fled into the woods.

Police said that about 90 minutes after the incident, Brenda Krammes arrived at the police station and reported that Creamer took the keys to her vehicle, the same vehicle he was seen driving, without permission and was driving without her consent.

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

Travis C. Beam, 53, of Shenandoah; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $50 payment to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Emily N. Butler, 22, of Wind Gap; defiant trespass; 12 months probation and $50 CJEA payment.

Shawn M. Cairo, 35, of Frackville; harassment and criminal trespass; $400 in fines. Prosecutors withdrew charges of simple assault and criminal mischief.

Hollie L. Carsia, 29, of Hazleton; retail theft; 23 months probation, $50 CJEA payment and $257 restitution.

Joshua Castro, 24, of Pottsville; theft of lost property; two years probation and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of receiving stolen property.

Judith J. Creitz, 52, of Orwigsburg; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and criminal mischief; 12 months probation, $75 fine and $50 CJEA payment.

Brandon L. Deesing, 19, of Mahanoy City; possessing instruments of crime; 28 days to 12 months in prison with immediate parole and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew charges of terroristic threats, simple assault and criminal mischief.

Angela M. Dolla, 46, of Pine Grove; retail theft; 12 months probation, $25 fine, $50 CJEA payment and $26.28 restitution.

David R. Dross, 24, of Frackville; one count of delivery of a controlled substance and two of possession of drug paraphernalia; three to 12 months on house arrest with electronic monitoring, $100 in CJEA payments, $302 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of hindering apprehension and one of possession of a controlled substance.

Karla A. Felty, 44, of Cressona; false statement under penalty; 12 months probation and $50 CJEA payment.

David Frangioudakis, 28, of Lansford; theft by deception, receiving stolen property and retail theft; 12 months probation, $25 fine, $50 CJEA payment and $36.28 restitution.

Shawn M. Fricker, 56, of Frackville; unauthorized use of a motor vehicle; three to six months in prison, $100 fine and $50 CJEA payment.

Ashley A. Fritz, 31, of Pine Grove; theft; 12 months probation and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew charges of theft of lost property and theft from a motor vehicle.

Jason C. Garcia, 32, of Pittston; four counts of harassment and one each of resisting arrest and criminal mischief, plus no contest plea to unsworn falsification to authorities and false statement under penalty; time served to 23 1/2 months in prison with immediate parole, 12 months consecutive probation, $50 fine, $100 in CJEA payments and $1,362.65 restitution to Shenandoah police. Prosecutors withdrew three counts of aggravated assault and one of disorderly conduct.

Damian M. Hopkins, 30, of Girardville; driving without a license; $200 fine. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession of a controlled substance and operating vehicle without required financial responsibility.

Brian R. Kehl, 33, of McAdoo; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of false identification to law enforcement.

Kurtiss B. McKee, 37, of Shenandoah; operating vehicle without required financial responsibility; $200 fine. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of improper possession or use of documents and one of driving unregistered vehicle.

Joshua E. Rogers, 30, of Minersville; theft of leased property; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment and $1,733.21 restitution.

James W. Schaffer, 58, of Shenandoah; disorderly conduct; 12 months probation and $50 CJEA payment.

Ruth J. Schnee, 55, of Ashland; bad checks; 12 months probation, $50 fine, $50 CJEA payment and $231.56 restitution.

Gregory M. Shafer, 21, of Drums; two charges each of retail theft and receiving stolen property; two years probation, $100 in CJEA payments and $556.84 restitution.

Robert P. Yanoski, 56, of Hazleton; driving under the influence; 72 hours to six months in prison, $1,000 fine, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $520 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, 10 hours community service and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities, with sentence effective at 8:30 a.m. Monday.

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

Prosecutors also withdrew a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia against Justin E. Harris, 23, of Boyertown.

Luke J. Zelinsky, who went online in 2015 seeking a sexual encounter with a mother and her daughters, received instead a state prison sentence Friday in Schuylkill County Court for his crimes.

Zelinsky, 52, of Pottsville, must serve 2 1/2 to five years in a state correctional institution, President Judge William E. Baldwin decided.

At the request of Deputy Attorney General Rebecca A. Elo, Baldwin also ordered Zelinsky, who did not react when the judge imposed the sentence, to forfeit the cellphone and computer he used to commit his crimes.

While Baldwin ruled that Zelinsky is not a sexually violent predator, a decision in line with the recommendation of the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, he imposed lifetime Megan’s Law sanctions on Zelinsky due to the gravity of his crimes. Those sanctions will take effect after Zelinsky is released from prison.

“Do you understand that?” Baldwin asked Zelinsky.

“Yes,” Zelinsky answered.

Zelinsky pleaded guilty March 24 to attempted unlawful contact with minor and attempted statutory sexual assault, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, unlawful contact with minor and criminal use of a communication facility.

The state attorney general’s office charged Zelinsky with committing his crimes between June 30, 2015, and July 25, 2015, the day he was arrested.

Prosecutors said Zelinsky posted a personal advertisement on the internet allegedly seeking a sexual encounter with a mother and daughters or sisters. An undercover agent responded to the posting posing as a 39-year-old woman with two daughters, ages 9 and 13, according to prosecutors.

Through emails and text messages, Zelinsky indicated his interest in engaging in sexual acts with the people he believed were the female juveniles, according to prosecutors. Zelinsky wrote on numerous occasions how he would like to have sex with what he thought was the adult woman and her minor children, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said a meeting was set at a location in Pottsville for July 25, 2015, at which time Zelinsky was arrested.

The Megan’s Law sanctions to which Zelinsky 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 Zelinsky 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: Luke J. Zelinsky

Age: 52

Residence: Pottsville

Crimes committed: Attempted unlawful contact with minor and attempted statutory sexual assault

Prison sentence: 2 1/2 to five years in a state correctional institution

SAINT CLAIR — School may be the last thing on the minds of students in July, but when they start getting ready to return to the classroom, TCC will be giving away backpacks full of school supplies to children in Schuylkill County.

TCC, the largest Verizon authorized retailer in the country, again teamed up with A Wireless to donate 235,000 backpacks with school supplies as part of its annual School Rocks Backpack Giveaway on July 30. More than 1,300 TCC and A Wireless stores are participating this year.

From noon to 3 p.m. July 30, students from kindergarten through 12th grade at any school in the county can pick up the backpacks at participating stores. Students must be present. All leftover backpacks will be donated to local schools.

Each TCC store, including the one at the Coal Creek Commerce Center, Saint Clair, will have 250 backpacks and each A Wireless store will have 125. Since 2013, TCC has donated more than 360,000 backpacks for the annual giveaway.

Mike Rogers, store manager in Saint Clair, said the giveaway is part of the company’s “Culture of Good” initiative to give back to the community. He said the company uses a “Virtuous Circle of Success” model made up of the following principles: employees matter, customers matter and community matters.

“It gives us more to our day at work,” Rogers said Friday.

In 2015, the National Retail Federation predicted the average person with children in grades K-12 would spend $97.74 on school supplies such as notebooks, pencils and backpacks. With more than 16 million children in the U.S. living in poverty, TCC said the company is working to alleviate the rising costs of school supplies through this annual program.

“Every year, TCC employees and communities around the country look forward to the backpack giveaway,” Scott Moorehead, CEO of TCC, said in a press release issued Monday. “It brings our employees immense joy to give back to the young children in their communities, and we are proud to put so many smiles on the faces of the deserving families who have made this annual event such a success.”

Last year, TCC donated $1 million to Riley Hospital for Children, provided 100,000 backpacks full of school supplies to children, gave supply packs to 5,000 teachers and contributed $100,000 in grants to organizations focused on improving the environment, according to the company.

“When given the opportunity, doing good is important, and taking such opportunities to help, lift up and encourage others is a privilege,” Bryan Bevin, president and CEO of A Wireless, said in the press release. “At A Wireless we don’t just want to be doers of good, we want to inspire a Culture of Good.”

For more information about TCC, visit http://tccrocks.com. Customers can also connect with the company at www.facebook.com/tcctalk and www.twitter.com/tcctalk.

SHENANDOAH — A raging fire late Thursday gutted two buildings that housed a garage and apartments as well as damaging several other buildings.

Two people living in one of the two apartments escaped through a rear exit and were not injured, Shenandoah fire marshal Rick Examitas said.

Crews were called about 11:20 p.m. for a report of a garage fire in the 100 block of South Market Street and found buildings at 132 and 134 S. Market St. completely ablaze, with flames shooting across the street.

Examitas said that David and Heather Zapalac lived in the apartment at 134 S. Market St. while the 132 S. Market St. apartment was unoccupied.

Firefighters from Shenandoah and surrounding communities worked for more than an hour to bring the fire under control but not before the intense heat damaged vinyl siding and windows on unoccupied buildings at 133 and 135 S. Market St.

Also damaged were two garages across the street from the fire building, one at 129 and the other at 131 S. Market St.

Flames also spread to the rear of buildings owned by Jo Rainis at 129-131 S. Main St. but firefighters stopped the fire before it caused any substantial damage.

Arriving on scene, borough fire officials immediately called for a second alarm and, shortly after that, a third alarm.

Due to the heat of the fire, as well as warm and humid temperatures, the Ryan Township Emergency Rescue Squad was called to the scene to set up its rehab unit. It was there firefighters were able to cool down with fans and be provided with water and other nutrients.

Loa Esquilin Garcia, regional communications manager with the American Red Cross Eastern Pennsylvania, said the organization helped the Zapalacs with assistance as a result of the fire.

Examitas said state police fire marshal Trooper Joseph Hall of the Schuylkill Haven station is assisting with the investigation along with fire officials and Shenandoah police.

Although the investigation is ongoing, Examitas said, officials determined the fire started outside of the front of the 134 S. Market St. building.

“As of now, we’re calling it undetermined,” he added.

The fire comes on the heels of a massive blaze last month that investigators have determined to be arson.

The June 22 fire severely damaged properties along the length of the east side of the unit block of North Union Street, the 400 block of East Mount Vernon Street and another building at 401 E. Centre St.

All were vacant at the time.

The fire was not the first time tragedy struck that area.

On Sept. 28, 2014, several homes on Union Street and the Centre Street property were damaged during an arson spree that also included three other intentionally set fires in the borough.

No arrests have been made in any of the arson cases and officials said their investigations remain active and ongoing.

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania enacted a law just a month ago allowing casinos to serve liquor to patrons 24 hours a day.

Now lawmakers are considering legislation to make it easier for casinos to obtain a 24-hour liquor license by lowering the cost.

The measure would cut in half the $1 million fee that casinos are to pay to obtain a 24-hour license. The bill also would let casinos sell liquor on a 24-hour basis at off-track betting parlors.

The $1 million application fee was set in a law signed on June 8 that also provides for expanded wine sales in the private sector.

Casinos now cannot serve alcohol after 2 a.m. under terms of a restaurant license issued by the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

The bill’s overall prospects are uncertain because it contains many liquor-related provisions, including easing liquor sale restrictions during the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia later this month.

The pre-emptive move to discount the fee rests on concerns that casino owners are not interested in applying for a 24-hour license at the current price, Stephen Miskin, spokesman for House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-62, Indiana, said.

The maneuvering over the fees reflects lawmakers’ interest in using revenue from expanded liquor sales to help balance the $31.5 billion budget for fiscal 2016-17.

The House Appropriations Committee estimates $12 million in new revenue if all casinos pay the $1 million fee to obtain a 24-hour license. However, that revenue projection would fall off if casinos do not even apply for the license.

Mohegan Sun Pocono has no comment on the 24-hour license issue, said Cody Chapman, a corporate spokesman for the casino located in Plains Township.

Mohegan Sun runs operates off-track parlors in Carbondale, East Stroudsburg and Allentown.

Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-120, Kingston, a member of the House Gaming Oversight Committee, opposes 24-hour liquor sales at off-track parlors.

“Doing that will hurt bars and taverns,” Kaufer said.

He suggested it would be better to limit access to 24-hour liquor purchases at a main casino to patrons staying overnight.

The idea of expanding casino liquor sales has been in the mix for several years.

Most states have liquor laws that apply specifically to casinos, according to a 2014 study on casino competitiveness by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee. Casinos in Maryland, Mississippi and Louisiana have no last calls for serving alcohol.

Stephen J. Bayer

TAMAQUA — A borough man charged with setting his apartment on fire on Feb. 24 to get rid of mold had charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer.

Brian K. Haas, 48, of 409 W. Broad St., Apt./Suite 1, was arrested by Tamaqua police Patrolman Thomas Rodgers and charged with three felony counts of arson, one felony count of causing or risking a catastrophe, three misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and a misdemeanor count of criminal mischief.

Bayer dismissed one of the arson charges and held the remaining seven offenses for Schuylkill County Court.

Rodgers said firefighters and police were called to the apartment about 1:40 a.m. for a smoke detector activation and found smoke coming from the apartment and a man, later identified as Haas, yelling obscenities and telling responders to “go away.”

When interviewed later and asked how the fire started, Haas told Rodgers there was mold in the apartment and he was trying to get rid of it. Rodgers said Haas admitted that he lit a piece of paper on fire as well as clothing that was on the floor and a piece of baseboard molding.

Other court cases included:

Kyle M. Hoppes, 27, of 434 Valley St., New Philadelphia — held for court: aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Shannon M. Yemm, 23, of 205 E. Ridge St., Apt. B, Coaldale — waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility.

Roxanne L. Counterman, 42, of 38 W. Miner St., Coaldale — waived for court: retail theft and receiving stolen property.

George M. Cope, 29, of 510 E. Elm St., Tamaqua — waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dustin P. Oncay, 32, of 124 W. Cottage Ave., Tamaqua — held for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Matthew M. Komishock, 31, of 324 Arlington St., Tamaqua — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Anthony J. Yost, 28, of 24 E. Ridge St., Coaldale — waived for court: DUI, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and no headlights.

Albert M. Shaw, 32, of 22 Mauch Chunk St., Rear, Tamaqua — dismissed: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. Waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, burglary, criminal trespass and receiving stolen property.

Tony Mundo, 46, of 115 Catawissa St., Tamaqua — held for court: receiving stolen property. Waived for court: receiving stolen property.

Shawn E. Flaim Jr., 25, of 130 Locust Lake Road, Barnesville — held for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Keith J. Schlosser, 33, of 249 W. Rowe St., Tamaqua — held for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

John J. Schlauch Jr., 32, of 230 Mauch Chunk St., 2nd Floor, Tamaqua — held for court: defiant trespass and retail theft.

Terri L. Kates, 37, of 14 W. Broad St., Apt. 2, Tamaqua — held for court: retail theft.

John Smith II, 27, of 110 Market St., Tamaqua — held for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Anthony D. Fitzgerald, 35, of 4 Lower Road, Tamaqua — withdrawn: materially false written statements-firearms. Waived for court: unsworn falsification to authorities and statements under penalty.

Matthew M. Hartranft, 32, of 109 Coal St., Tamaqua — withdrawn: resisting arrest and driving with a suspended or revoked license. Waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and investigation by officer-duty of operator.

Kimberly L. Frey, 27, of 628 Pleasant Valley Road, New Ringgold — waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility and possession of a controlled substance.

Robert A. Bachert, 66, of 113 Bull Run St., Coaldale — waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, no headlights, failure to stop at a red signal, disregard for a single traffic lane, driving without a license and failure to yield to emergency vehicle.

Ryan C. Ventresca, 33, of 515 Willow St., Pottsville — waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, failure to stop at a red signal and obscured plates.

Michael Kryworuka, 41, of 3 Golf Road, Barnesville — waived for court: false identification to law enforcement and duties at a stop sign.

Edward M. Coyle, no age available, of 300 Spruce St., Tamaqua — waived for court: false identification to law enforcement and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jill M. Kostowskie, 36, of 336 W. Chester St., Shenandoah — waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Chantal Maree Mills, 25, of 82 Washington St., Box 171, Middleport — withdrawn: careless driving and driving a vehicle without a valid inspection. Waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate and disregard for a single traffic lane.

Brett T. Rodriguez, 37, of 259 W. Rowe St., Tamaqua — withdrawn: aggravated assault and simple assault. Waived for court: resisting arrest, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and harassment.

Joseph Etherington, 33, of 57 Main St., Mount Carbon — withdrawn: retail theft, conspiracy, resisting arrest, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Anthony E. Pascoe, 30, of 230 Green St., Apt. 2, Tamaqua — withdrawn: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. Waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Charles C. Erbe Jr., 48, of 128 Greenwood St, Coaldale — waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility.

Kevin Ketchledge, 33, of 227 Lafayette St., Tamaqua — waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, theft by deception and receiving stolen property.

David A. Plachko

PORT CARBON — A Port Carbon man charged with a robbery in Minersville on Feb. 5 had charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.

Jason Gonzalez, 23, of 21 Acre St., was arrested by Minersville police Patrolman Zachary Malis and charged with robbery, conspiracy, aggravated assault, simple assault, theft and theft of property lost or delivered by mistake.

Plachko determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered all charges against Gonzalez held for Schuylkill County Court.

Malis charged Gonzalez with attacking and robbing Ascencion Garcia who was walking in the area of Dutcavich Funeral Home on Sunbury Street. Malis said Gonzalez grabbed Garcia’s necklaces, struck him in the face with a fist and also struck him in the ear causing him to lose consciousness.

Garcia reported that when he awoke, his necklace, valued at $2,299, was missing, Malis said.

Malis added that Garcia was taken to a Pottsville hospital for treatment of severe head trauma.

Other court cases included:

Jeff Seiders, 49, of 512 W. Savory St., Pottsville — held for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Yancy Lee Figueroa, 31, of 311 Laurel St., Minerville — dismissed: theft and receiving stolen property.

Angus Angst, 25, of 66 Coal St., Apt. 1, Port Carbon — waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

David A. Close, 44, of 110 N. Mill St., Saint Clair — waived for court: retail theft.

Michael T. Boyer, 41, of 124 S. Mill St. Saint Clair — waived for court: retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bridget Stanakis, 54, of 539 W. Market St., Mahanoy City — waived for court: theft.

Christopher Fessler, 30, of 101 N. Fifth St., Minersville — held for court: possession of drug paraphernalia, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Michael R. Harwick, 44, of 1096 Mountain Road, Pine Grove — waived for court: receiving stolen property and theft of leased property.

Amanda M. Chillemi, 29, of 130 Brookshire Lane, Orwigsburg — waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Marcus T. Anderson, 42, of 316 N. 12th St., Pottsville — waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brandi Harner, 30, of 6 Mountain View Court, Hamburg — waived for court: retail theft, possession of drug paraphernalia and false identification to law enforcement.

Anthony Scott, 47, of 304 Cherry St., Saint Clair — waived for court: conspiracy and hindering apprehension or prosecution.

Tina M. Hosier, 30, of 31 N. Railroad St., Tamaqua — waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Patricia A. Ciccanti, 55, of 609 Race St., Pottsville — waived for court: retail theft.

Keith Huth, 34, of 125 S. Third St., Minersville — waived for court: possession, sale or use of display documents.

James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG — On June 28, Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier considered the cases of these defendants, and made the indicated rulings:

Brenda L. Faust, 56, of 112 Pottsville St. Apt. 1, Cressona; hindering apprehension; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Dean E. Krammes Jr., 27, of 310 St. John St., Schuylkill Haven; defiant trespass, simple assault, harassment and public drunkenness; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of simple assault withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Franklin Moyer Jr., 36, of 135 Haven St., Schuylkill Haven; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of possession of a controlled substance withdrawn, other charge bound over for court.

Jordan M. Pelachick, 24, of 126 Avenue D, Schuylkill Haven; two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one each of DUI, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of DUI withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Christian M. Robert, 18, of 1308 W. Penn Pike, New Ringgold; simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Mark R. Werkheiser, 53, of 207 Fox Road, Schuylkill Haven; four counts each of simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Patricia K. Werkheiser, 50, of 207 Fox Road, Schuylkill Haven; four counts each of simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

The unemployment rate for Schuylkill County dropped 0.4 of a percentage point in May with an additional 300 jobs over the month.

The seasonally adjusted rate fell to 6.3 percent in May, according to the latest figures released June 28 by the state Department of Labor & Industry. The figure previously jumped from 6.1 percent in March to 6.7 percent in April.

Last May, the seasonally adjusted rate was 6.6 percent.

“Most of the recent movement has come from the number of seasonally adjusted unemployed workers,” Jeff Newman, industry and business analyst for the department, said Thursday. “There were 4,200 unemployed in March. That jumped up to 4,600 in April and back down to 4,300 in May. Movements like that can be due to sample data that isn’t a good representation in a given month or since this is seasonal data, it could be businesses that typically pick up in April didn’t see their usual increase until May. Often times weather is a factor. A colder or wetter than usual April could affect typical patterns. That is why we say look at the movement over several months, rather than a one-month movement.”

The seasonally adjusted figure for unemployed is down 200 from 4,500 in May 2015.

Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted labor force dropped 100 to 68,600 over the month and fell 200 over the year. The seasonally adjusted figure for employed increased 200 to 64,300 in May. That is a 100 more employed than May 2015, according to the seasonally adjusted figures.

Total nonfarm jobs in the county were up 300 in May at 51,100, which was the same last year.

“Individually, there were no significant movements,” Newman said.

The state seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in May was 5.5 percent, while the national rate was 4.7 percent.

The surrounding areas had the following seasonally adjusted rates for May: Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, 5.4; Harrisburg and Carlisle, 4.6; Reading, 5.1; Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton, 6.3; and Bloomsburg, Berwick and Sunbury, 5.8 percent.

Bicyclist hits car

in Tower City

TOWER CITY — A Tower City bicyclist drove into the path of another vehicle July 2, resulting in a minor injury for the bicyclist, according to state police in Schuylkill Haven.

Roofina Ali, 18, of Tower City, was traveling east on East Colliery Avenue at 5:20 p.m. on a Next PX 6.0 bicycle in the borough, police said. Deborah A. Murray, 63, of Tower City, was traveling north on Sixth Avenue and did not have a stop sign leading into the intersection.

According to police, Ali had a stop sign but drove through the intersection without stopping, at which time Murray’s 2014 Kia Sportage was also entering the intersection. Ali’s bike struck the driver’s side of Murray’s vehicle with its front end, police said. Both vehicles came to final rest immediately following the collision.

Ali was injured as a result of the crash and transported to Schuylkill Medical Center for a medical evaluation for a “suspected minor injury,” the police said.

Police did not specify to which Pottsville area hospital Ali was taken. A hospital spokesperson would not confirm any details of Ali being treated.

Ali was charged with violating duties at a stop sign.

Police: Distracted

driver strikes car

ORWIGSBURG — A Reading man, Jesse A. Coles, was charged with failure to stop at a red signal that led to a two-vehicle crash July 1 in West Brunswick Township, state police in Schuylkill Haven said.

Coles, 24, was traveling north on Route 61 in a 2000 Nissan Sentra at 12:41 p.m., police said. Pet Fernandez-Escribano, 52, also of Reading, was beginning to travel east on Route 895 in a 2002 Pontiac Montana.

The traffic light on Route 61 changed to red, and the light for Fernandez-Escribano turned green and he began to travel across Route 61 onto Route 895. Police said Coles was distracted and did not see the light turn red, at which time he traveled through the intersection while Fernandez-Escribano was crossing the highway.

Fernandez-Escribano struck the driver’s side area of Coles’ vehicle with its front end area. Coles’ vehicle spun 180 degrees following the collision and came to final rest on the far east, northbound travel lane of Route 61. Fernandez-Escribano was pushed back from the initial point of impact and came to final rest in the grassy area on the west side of Route 61.

All parties reported wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash, police said.

Luis A. Morales-Soto, 72, of Reading, was a passenger in Fernandez-Escribano’s vehicle and was not hurt.

Coles reported minor injury at the scene. No other injuries were reported, according to police.

Assisting at the scene were the Auburn EMS, Deer Lake Fire Department and West Brunswick Fire Department.

Driver charged

with speeding

FISHERVILLE — A Wiconisco woman was injured and faces a speeding charge after the car she was driving struck a tree in Jackson Township, state police in Lykens said.

Helen M. Rothermel, 79, was northbound on Harmon Road near Camp Road at 6:50 a.m., June 29, police said. Rothermel lost control along a left curve in the road with the 2013 Chrysler 200 LTD she was driving and drove off the roadway into a tree.

Police said Rothermel suffered minor injuries to her left arm and that the airbags did not deploy in her vehicle, which had disabling front end damage.

Summary traffic citations, including driving vehicle at safe speed, were filed against Rothermel with District Magisterial Judge Gregory D. Johnson, Dauphin.

Gratz teen not

hurt in 1-car crash

LYKENS — A Gratz teen escaped injury after the car she was driving struck a utility pole in Lykens Township July 2, state police in Lykens said.

Allison M. Ditty, 16, was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier southbound on Route 25 at 9:29 a.m. when the vehicle veered to the right and side-swiped a PPL utility pole on the north shoulder of Route 25, west of Lilly Lane, police said.

The car, which sustained disabling damage to its front end, came to final rest approximately 70 feet from the point of impact, approximately 20 feet off the roadway.

Ditty said she was wearing her seat belt at the time of the crash, and none of the airbags in her car deployed. The vehicle was towed from the scene by West End Garage.

Ditty was charged with violating driving on roadways laned for traffic, police said.

The past few days have been the hottest of the year so far, but the National Weather Services said it will cool down over the weekend.

“It’s actually going to get a little more pleasant than what we have seen,” Barry Labert, meteorologist with the NWS at State College, said Friday. “It’s going to be nice and not too far from normal, so get out and enjoy it.”

Although only a few degrees higher than normal, temperatures peaked Wednesday at 92 in Harrisburg and 93 in Williamsport, Labert said. High temperatures are expected to be 88 degrees today and 85 degrees Sunday. That is still a few degrees above the average, however, the relative humidity will be lower over the weekend, Labert said.

“It will start out kind of muggy in the morning, then it will get drier,” he said. “It will be warm later in the afternoon, but it will feel more comfortable temperature wise. It’s going to be a nice, warm weekend. The chances of precipitation are pretty minimal.”

Schuylkill County residents were already out Friday finding ways to beat the heat. Tuscarora State Park, Barnesville, had plenty of swimmers cooling off in the lake or fishing, while others enjoyed ice cream at Heisler’s Cloverleaf Dairy Bar, Tamaqua.

Randy and Amy Brzoska, Wilkes-Barre, brought their children, Noah, 5, and Abigail, 4, and nephew, Jacob Zawadzki, for lunch at the park. They also went for a swim in the lake and fished.

“I used to come here when I was a kid,” Randy Brzoska, a Gordon native, said.

It was the first time they were at the park this year.

“It was a nice day for it,” Amy Brzoska said.

The beach was crowded despite slight showers in the afternoon.

Chelsea Socks, Orwigsburg, and William Fryer, Kaska, were swimming with friends.

“We were hot,” Socks said. “It’s relaxing.”

Karl and Cathy Jones, Orwigsburg, watched from the shade as their grandson, Ethan, 7, swam and used a bucket to dump water over his head.

“It was too hot to go out on the boat,” Karl said.

They said they will likely take a trip to Knoebels Amusement Resort with the nice weather over the weekend.

Deeds

Barry Township — Charles J. Schwalm to Zane Allen Houser; 324 Beury’s Road, Beury’s Grove; $68,000.

Cass Township — William Lecher, executor of the Estate of Anna Asaif, to Gina M. Merlino; 126 N. Maple Ave., Pine Hill; $37,000.

Coaldale — Moshe M. Waldman to Mark A. and Lucy M. Pearson; 175 First St.; $21,400.

Porter Township — Federal National Mortgage Association to Wayne H. and Selina M. Williams; 179 W. Grand Ave., Sheridan; $18,027.

Pottsville — Craig D. Barket to Paul L. Jr. and Susan R. Baddick; 261 N. Forest Road, Forest Hills; $185,000.

Rush Township — Robert M. Hollenbach to Lenore C. Miller and Tara Strauss; 90 Frankford Ave., Hometown; $132,000.

Shenandoah — CR Properties 2015 LLC to Saint Clare Edme; 307 W. Poplar St.; $7,000.

Robert and Mary Kay Macker to Victor Chagolla and Marlen Guadalupe Mernandez-Diaz; 225 E. Coal St.; $10,000.

South Manheim Township — Pamela E. Ball, executrix under the Last Will & Testament of Thomas J. Zenker, to Charles A. Davis and Cheryl A. Mahoney-Davis; 1635 and 1636 Lightfoot Drive, Lake Wynonah; $150,000.

Clement W. and Dwinell A. Thatcher to Sean R. Farquharson; 1408 Stag Drive, Lake Wynonah; $169,900.

Tamaqua — Edward Schaneberger to David Hicks Jr.; 33 Hunter St.; $16,000.

Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. to Tom Rockwell and Katherine Serrano; 208 N. Lehigh St.; $16,000.

Joseph J. and Sandra L. Bonner to Jose A. Santano Jr.; 29 Lafayette St.; $59,000.

ARLP REO VII LLC to Alan Investments III LLC; 645 Arlington St.; $9,375.

Gloria J. Smulligan, administratrix of the Estate of Kenneth A. Smulligan, to Dean Bucks; 0.27-acre property on Schuylkill Avenue; $40,000.

Washington Township — David A. Gerber and Jamie S. Kissinger to Brandon C. Schneck and Jessica L. Natale; 137 Natures Road; $145,000.

Dale L. and Sharon M. Roth to Alexander R. Hardy; 22 Moyers Station Road; $115,000.

West Penn Township — Dave Lee Stastny, executor of the Estate of Frank Stastny, to Ammon H. and Heather L. Hartwell; 570 Hemlock Drive; $174,000.

HAZLETON — Plugging parking meters in downtown and watching the clock have long caused concern among shoppers, merchants and residents.

However, a high-tech system may soon give some relief.

Sometime this month, the Pango system is expected to be introduced to the city, Mayor Jeff Cusat said. First proposed by former Mayor Joseph Yannuzzi but not adopted, Pango will make visiting the downtown easier — along with a meter system Cusat has revised, the mayor said.

Dominic Yannuzzi of Alfred Benesch & Co., who acts as the city engineer, said Pango allows people to park at meters without needing a pocketful of change — as long as they have a smartphone.

“It is set up off a web app,” Yannuzzi said. “When you park at a meter, you go on the app and put your license plate number in. When your parking time is over, you log out and the system automatically draws the money off your credit card. You pay for what you use.”

Pango, a company headquartered in the U.S. and Israel, offers smart parking solutions for mobile on-street and off-street parking and payment in cities and parking garages worldwide, according to its website.

Hazleton’s system will be implemented after new signs are posted in different parking zones that will be established for the program, Cusat said. The signs, which will be installed by city crews, will tell people which zone they’ve parked in, the mayor said.

Officials tentatively plan to establish three parking zones in the city. Each city parking lot will be assigned a different zone number, which will help officials track revenue collected at each of its lots. Cusat expects zones to be finalized and a map released soon.

After the signs are installed, stickers will be placed on parking meters in each of the zones. The stickers will tell people about the Pango program and provide instructions for downloading using the smartphone app.

Another benefit of the Pango program is that a person can pay to park in a particular zone and use any remaining time they’ve purchased to park at a different spot within that zone, Cusat said.

“If they park on Broad Street and move down a bit to go to another business, they can still park in the same zone (without paying again),” the mayor said.

Pango will also come in handy in the city parking garage on South Wyoming Street, which has become permit-only parking. Recent vandalism has caused Cusat to eliminate cash parking in the garage.

“The gates no longer work,” he said. “(Vandals) came down and smashed somebody’s car, and somebody vandalized the booth, so I’m tearing it out. It’s going to be permit only and (compatible with) Pango once it is up and running. I’m not going to invest $80,000 to repair that equipment with Pango coming.”

Cusat said he is going to see if meters can be mounted on the walls of the parking garage rather than drilling holes for meter poles in the parking decks, which were just upgraded when the garage was renovated.

Aside from the signs and meter stickers announcing Pango’s presence, downtown merchants will get Pango signs to put in their windows, Cusat said.

It costs $1 an hour, or 25 cents for every 15 minutes, to park at meters in downtown Hazleton.

Revised system

Cusat said he walked the entire downtown area and has come up with what he hopes will be a new, workable meter system that will accommodate shoppers, employees and residents.

Cusat said he personally looked at all of the meters downtown and where they are placed.

“It is 3.55 miles to walk to every meter in town,” Cusat said. “It takes an hour and a half. I went through Wyoming Street and all the side streets to put meters where they belong. There’s a lot of illegal parking spots on Wyoming Street.”

The result of the walking survey is that Cusat is removing 62 meters.

The mayor said crews sprayed paint to show where parking spots are and are not — 30 feet from a stop sign, 15 feet on either side of a hydrant and 20 feet from a regular corner.

Krista Schneider, executive director of the Downtown Hazleton Alliance for Progress, asked Cusat if a map that would be posted online or developed into a handout could be created to let the public know where they can park downtown.

“There are really no public parking lots anymore that are hourly,” Schneider said. “Now the parking garage is permit only. Everything is permit or meters. We want people to know what the rules are.”

(Staff writer Sam Galski contributed to this report.)

n Frackville: Elks Lodge 1533, 307 S. Third St., will stage its ninth annual poker run — “A Ride for our Veterans” — on July 16. Registration will be from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and “kickstands up” will be at 11 a.m. at the lodge. The entry fee is $20. Bikes must be street legal and riders must obey rules of the road, according to an event flier. There will be a breakfast buffet before the poker run, an optional dice roll and prizes, raffles and a food buffet afterward. For more information, call 570-956-0006 or email Frackville_bpoe_1533@hotmail.com.

n Mahanoy City: The Upper Schuylkill Marching Band will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Mahanoy City High Rise, Centre and Main streets. People are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to enjoy the music.

n Pottsville: The Pottsville Free Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorial donations: For Edward K. Devabey from Susan DeFalco; for Florence Silberling from Ellen Hildreth; for Douglas Mendini from Dory Laudeman; for Charles Lorenz from Nancy Smink, Jean Towle, Sandi Murton, Eve Bauser, Louise and Bob Wachter; for Keith D. Mitchell from Cindy and kids; for Lorraine Spotts from Cindy and kids. The library also acknowledged the following memorials/honors for the 2016 fund drive: For no one special from Dean Meyers; for “Pete” Buehler from Sylvia K. Buehler; for Anna Filanowski from Joe Filanowski; for Beth Vice from Daniel Vice; for Charles “Chaw” Heffner from Mrs. Jeanne V. Heffner; for Charles Lorenz from Betzy Guzick; for Fred M. Valent from Ellen Valent; for George Heffner from Cindy and kids; for Jerry Nagle from Jeri Nagle; for Joseph Yourshaw from Marge Yourshaw; for Leah Guzick from Betzy Guzick; for Loraine Heffner Spotts from Gerald Spotts, Cindy and kids; for Martin and Anna Hezzron from Paul and Bernadette Gomeola; for Mary Beth Lantz from Betzy Guzick; for Mary Honicker from Susan Hahner; for Meghan R. Hallick from Dr. and Mrs. William R. Davidson; for Michelle J. Potlunas from John and Micki Potlunas; for Rachel and Mathew Troxell from Marlene and Michael Troxell; for Robert and Betty Shuman from Deborah S. Reed; for Robert N. Bohorad, Esq., from Lipkin, Marshall, Bohorad and Thornburg P.C.; for Stephen E. Urenko from Jean M. Urenko; for Steve and Frances Prokop from Margaret Ebling; for the families we have served from Schlitzer Allen Pugh Funeral Home; for Theresa B. Morgan from Carolyn Bernatories; for Thomas Shelhamer from Peg Shelhamer; for Vera Lile from Karen Winkelman; for Veronica and Edward D. Sullivan from Frank and Lucy Kaczynski; for William J. Zimmerman from Cathy Zimmerman.

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 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 Shenandoah: The Polish American Fire Company, 111-115 W. Centre St., will distribute its 100th anniversary history books from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at the firehouse. The books are free for all members. People who ordered and paid for books may also pick them up. The books will also be mailed to all who paid in advance for mailing, according to a company press release. For more information, call 570-788-4498.

Stacks of pink envelopes were unloaded in Schuylkill County Courthouse on Monday as the treasurer’s office began accepting applications for doe permits.

It was the first day the office was able to process applications for antlerless deer from Pennsylvania residents. Nonresident applications will start being accepted July 18. Nonresidents previously had to wait until the third week of sales.

The cost of each license has increased 20 cents due to a contract extension to continue the Pennsylvania Automated License System, according to the state Game Commission. Doe applications for residents cost $6.90 and $26.90 for nonresidents this year.

Any hunter who pays with a money order will receive his doe license upon processing and any hunter who pays with a check will receive his doe license in the mail about three weeks from the date of issue, county Treasurer Linda Marchalk said. All applications must be mailed.

Hunting licenses must be purchased before requesting doe applications, Marchalk said. They went on sale for the 2016-17 season in June. Basic hunting licenses now cost $20.90 and fishing licenses cost $22.90. Senior, junior and other special licenses are also available.

Fishing license prices last went up in 2005 and the last cost increase for hunting licenses was in 1999.

If antlerless deer licenses are still available Aug. 1, the county will start accepting applications from residents and nonresidents for a first unsold tag by mail only. There is only one tag per applicant in the first round.

For Wildlife Management Units 2B, 5C and 5D only, applicants may apply for an unlimited number of unsold tags, by mail only, limit of three applications per envelope.

On Sept. 12, regular and first round unsold licenses are scheduled to be mailed to successful applicants. Second round unsold licenses are scheduled to be mailed Sept. 26. If antlerless deer licenses are still available and the applicant has not exceeded their license limit, the office will accept antlerless deer license applications over the counter Oct. 3.

For more information, call the county treasurer’s office at 570-628-1433.

Doe allocations by Wildlife Management Unit for the upcoming season are as follows, with the allocation from the previous license year appearing in parentheses: WMU 1A, 46,000 (46,000); WMU 1B, 29,000 (29,000); WMU 2A, 43,000 (43,000); WMU 2B, 61,000 (61,000); WMU 2C, 31,000 (31,000); WMU 2D, 55,000 (55,000); WMU 2E, 21,000 (21,000); WMU 2F, 22,000 (22,000); WMU 2G, 21,000 (22,000); WMU 2H, 6,000 (6,500); WMU 3A, 15,000 (19,000); WMU 3B, 28,000 (28,000); WMU 3C, 36,000 (36,000); WMU 3D, 25,000 (25,000); WMU 4A, 30,000(30,000); WMU 4B, 26,000 (26,000); WMU 4C, 25,000 (25,000); WMU 4D, 34,000 (33,000); WMU 4E, 25,000 (25,000); WMU 5A, 19,000(19,000); WMU 5B, 50,000 (50,000); WMU 5C, 70,000 (70,000); WMU 5D, 30,000 (24,000).

Former congressman Tim Holden will lead the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for the next four years, as the Saint Clair resident was sworn in Monday at the Schuylkill County Courthouse for a full term as the head of the agency.

“This job has been exciting,” Holden, 59, said after President Judge William E. Baldwin administered the oath of office. “It will continue to be exciting and challenging.”

Holden will be leading an agency that has an altered mission after the General Assembly passed, and Gov. Tom Wolf signed, Act 39, which changed the state Liquor Code and gives the PLCB new duties as the steward of the state’s liquor industry.

“It will give us a lot of things we’ve been asking for,” Holden said of the new legislation, which he called the most sweeping change in Pennsylvania’s liquor industry since the end of Prohibition. “We have to hit the ground running.”

In fact, Holden returned to Harrisburg almost immediately after the ceremony in order to continue his work.

“We have meetings this afternoon,” he said.

The changes to the state’s liquor laws resulting from Act 39, he said, include more Sunday hours, lower prices due to increased purchasing power and more stores.

“We’re going to open up over 100 stores, possibly as many as 125,” Holden said after taking the oath of office. “It also gives us the opportunity to reward our customers with coupons.”

He also said he anticipates the approximately 300 grocery stores that have a permit to sell beer to apply for one of the new permits that will allow them also to sell wine.

Former Gov. Tom Corbett nominated Holden on June 14, 2013, to serve on the PLCB, and the state Senate unanimously confirmed him on Nov. 13, 2013, PLCB Deputy Director of External Affairs Shawn Kelly said after Monday’s ceremony.

Wolf named Holden chairman on Feb. 17, 2015, to replace P.J. Stapleton, who had resigned his seat on the board. The state Senate confirmed Holden for the four-year term on June 29, Kelly said.

He serves on the PLCB with Mike Negron, Centre County, and Michael Newsome, York County.

Before joining the PLCB, Holden served as Schuylkill County sheriff and then spent 20 years, from 1993 until 2013, representing the county and other surrounding areas in the U.S. House of Representatives.

A graduate of Bloomsburg University, Holden had no doubt he wanted to have his swearing-in ceremony held in Schuylkill County with Baldwin administering the oath.

“It’s my home,” he said. “Judge Baldwin’s a dear friend. I’ve known him since the ’80s.”

Holden is the third Schuylkill County man to serve as PLCB chairman, joining former state Rep. James A. Goodman, Mahanoy City, who served from 1987 until 1995, and current U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III, who succeeded Goodman and served from 1995 until 2002, when he joined the federal bench.

Tim Holden

Age: 59

Residence: Saint Clair

Position: Chairman, Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

Experience: Schuylkill County sheriff; 1985-93; U.S. representative, 1993-2013; Member, PLCB, 2013-Present

n Cressona: Bethany Christian Fellowship will have a car wash from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Cressona Borough Hall, Sillyman Street. The cost starts at $5 and proceeds will benefit the upcoming free band concert at the church. For more information, call 570-628-4350.

n Locustdale: The Locustdale Fire Company will have an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. July 30 at the firehouse, Fire House Hill. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children 12 and younger. Patrons will be able to eat at the firehouse or take meals out. For more information, call 570-590-2325.

n Mahanoy City: Healthy Mahanoy City and Schuylkill County’s VISION will sponsor chair yoga from 1 to 2:30 p.m. July 19 at the Mahanoy City Senior Community Center, 138 W. Centre St. Participants will “gently explore” yoga while seated. People should wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing. No mats or special equipment are needed and there is no fee. For more information, call 570-622-6097.

n Pine Grove: A program about Native Americans will be held around a campfire at 7 p.m. July 23 at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. Noted Indian expert Dave McSurdy will relate creation and other Indian stories in a way that will appeal to children of all ages, according to a release. The program is free and open to the public.

n Pottsville: Cathy Lintner, immediate past president of the Pottsville Lions Club, summed up her years at the helm of the club during a recent meeting. She also thanked club officers and members for their support and prayers during her recent health issue. She said club attendance was up by nearly 35 percent and the club gained two new members who are now officers. She said the club went above and beyond to both honor and assist veterans, including recognizing them for their unselfish service to America. The Lions also welcomed several speakers representing a variety of human service agencies in the county. She also stressed the Lions’ role in recognizing and honoring student athletes from Nativity BVM and Pottsville Area high schools and thanked the Leo Club for its efforts in getting students involved in many of the Lions’ community activities. Lintner said that four years ago she became involved with the club because of its commitment to serving the community in a wide variety of ways. Lintner is an executive financial officer with BB&T banks.

n Schuylkill Haven: Bethany Tabernacle, 314 S. Margaretta St., will have a free “Deep Sea Discovery” Vacation Bible School from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. July 18 through 22. It will also have a free “Singspiration” service from 6 to 8:30 p.m. July 31. Light refreshments and coffee will be available downstairs following the service. For more information, call 570-385-4704.

n Shenandoah: The borough will celebrate its sesquicentennial with events to be held Aug. 20 to 27. With a kickoff parade on Aug. 20, organizers have sent out a call for all local civic, church, fraternal, service, school, community, business and other groups to participate. The sesquicentennial committee is working from the 116 N. Main St. headquarters of the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc. and has issued what it called a “shout-out” for parade/celebration participants. School participants, the committee members said in a release, may include current students of Shenandoah Valley and the northern Schuylkill regional parochial school Trinity Academy in the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center, as well as Shenandoah J.W. Cooper, Shenandoah Valley, Shenandoah Catholic, Cardinal Brennan, Marian and Nativity BVM alumni “to march with their decades.” For more information, call DSI at 570-462-2060.

n Tamaqua: A comedy night supporting The Skook Recovers starring Liz Russo will be held from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Friday at the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St. Admission is $3 and all proceeds will benefit The Skook Recovers with Tamaqua STEP-UP, a local effort to address the drug problem in the area with action groups in the areas of Support, Treatment, Education, Prevention — STEP.

In recent Schuylkill County Court action, President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Daniel S. Chitswara, 33, of Hazleton; retail theft; 12 months probation, $50 payment to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $825 restitution. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of receiving stolen property.

Kelsie J. Clocker, 20, of Cressona; possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance; 12 months probation, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 CJEA payment and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

Brandon R. Courtney, 42, of Pottsville; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; 23 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

Amber L. Faust, 28, of Schuylkill Haven; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of public drunkenness.

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

The Pottsville city council Monday approved improvements to its quality of life ordinance.

Susan A. Smith, Pottsville, said she hopes one of the new initiatives can be used to improve an unkempt property on Mahantongo Drive with an out-of-state landlord.

“After reading the amendments to the quality of life ordinance, I would respectfully request that the code enforcement office utilize the sections of the ordinance pertaining to the ability to issue quality of life tickets everyday the violation exists. I want the property owners to be held accountable,” Smith said during the public portion of the council’s July meeting.

“Justin, we’ll take a look at that tomorrow,” Mayor James T. Muldowney said in response, calling out to Justin Trefsger, the city’s code enforcement officer and rental inspector.

The property Smith was referring to is an unoccupied home at 122 Mahantongo Drive, owned by Kevin A. and Dana L. Breen, Virginia Beach, Virgina, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator.

“In May of this year I filed a complaint with the code enforcement office for high weeds and the condition of the pool,” Smith, who resides at address 126, said.

City officials established the Pottsville Blight and Nuisance Task Force on April 17, 2012, to evaluate troubled properties.

That September, the city council adopted a quality of life ordinance similar to one the City of Reading, Berks County, adopted in February 2012.

Bill No. 10/2016 amended the Codified Ordinance of Chapter 171 — Quality of Life Maintenance. New sections in Bill No. 10/2016 include:

• A section stating each day a violation continues or is permitted to continue may constitute a separate offense for which a separate violation ticket may be issued and a fine imposed.

“And we can do it without bogging down the judicial system. If people don’t pay them we can go right to collection with them as well,” City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said.

• A section stating tickets not paid within 45 days may be turned over to a collection agency.

• A section stating liens may be placed on a property for unpaid tickets.

In other matters, the city council decided to lease a copier for $100 a month from Copycat Business Systems, Pottsville. It’s for the city’s police records office on the first floor.

“It’s just a four-year lease. We’re not leasing to buy. The machine we have in there now they can’t get parts for anymore,” City Clerk Lisa Kral said.

In other matters, the council took the following actions:

• Appointed David Schenck, Orwigsburg, to the temporary position of unpaid summer intern at city hall.

• Approved the Schuylkill County Tax Claim Bureau private sale of 612 Schuylkill Ave.

Recently, Doreen Devitt, the city’s solid waste account manager, provided some information about the city’s delinquent trash bills.

There are 4,719 trash accounts in the city. In 2015, the city anticipated receiving $1,015,000 in solid waste collection revenue and $40,000 in late payment penalties, for a total of $1,055,000. The actual amount the city received in trash bills in 2015 was $930,150.06, according to information Devitt’s office provided June 23.

“Total in delinquent trash bills to date: $8,001.77 turned over to Central Credit Audit, $572,137.90 turned over to Central Credit Audit, $435,769.16 turned over to Northeast Revenue Service,” Merideth Hannan, the city’s Right-To-Know officer, stated in a letter dated June 23.

At council’s May meeting, the council hired Northeast Revenue Service LLC, based in Plains, Luzerne County, to assist in its crackdown on trash delinquents. Previously, the city had a contract with a collection firm called Central Credit Audit Inc., Sunbury.

Deeds

Pottsville — Joanna Monsulick and Christina Monsulick to Beverly Lunden; 612 N. Centre St.; $18,000.

Edward P. Florick, executor of the Estate of Edward Florick, to Edward P. and Mary M. Florick; 310 W. Railroad St.; $1.

William E. Kirwan Jr. and Karen Ryan, individually and as co-executors of the Last Will & Testament of Angela M. Kirwan, David Pellegrino and Kathryn Smolkis to Kathleen Hampford; 408 Concord Green, Forest Hills; $217,500.

Michael S. Schrack to Kevin J. Fessler; 1429 W. Market St.; $12,000.

Jared R. Orndorff to Jillian H. Strunk; 530 E. Arch St.; $75,000.

Ryan Township — Dennis and Bernadine Sabol to Sonya C. Johnson; property in Barnesville; $1.

Dennis and Bernadine Sabol to Dennis and Bernadine Sabol and Sonya C. Johnson; 15 Oak Ave., Barnesville; $1.

Saint Clair — Barbara A. Watunya, Elaine M. Brennan and Cynthia A. Zangari to Ronald M. and Carole M. Kelly; property; $22,500.

Kelly Moyer to Veronica Papinchak; 29 N. Price St.; $1.

Madeline R. and David J. Botek to CACL Federal Credit Union; 14-16 S. Mill St.; $1.

Schuylkill Haven — Jonathan V. and Dottie S. Arsenault to Joshua M. and Kristi M. Bennett; 320 E. Liberty St.; $188,000.

Heffner Investment Properties LLC to Luis M. DeJesus Jr.; 212 W. High St.; $94,000.