ASHLAND — Two women walked in honor of their mother during the Ashland Area Ministerium’s 11th CROP Walk on Sunday.

“Our mother was very giving. She was very concerned about others. If somebody needed something, she would do her best to see that they got it,” Sandy Saukaitis, 56, of Kulpmont, said.

Her sister, Susan Edwards, 58, of Gordon, agreed.

She described her mother as a “fun-loving woman that is very much missed.” Mary Lou Miller, 78, died in 2014 after a battle with breast cancer. Their mom often participated in the walk before she became ill. Saukaitis and Edwards wore red shirts with their mother’s name on them that were donated by a former pastor.

A friend, Susan Hocking, 69, of Gordon, sported a red shirt and also walked in memory of Miller.

“You see so many children that go hungry and families that are hungry that you want to do what you can,” Hocking said.

CROP originally stood for Christian Rural Overseas Program and began in 1947. It now stands for Communities Responding to Overcome Poverty.

Nineteen people walked at Ghosh Orthodontics Field at Spartan Stadium at the North Schuylkill High School during the walk from 2 to 4 p.m. The ministerium, which is composed of different parishes in the Ashland area, held the event. Of the funds raised, 25 percent goes to the Ashland Area Food Pantry, which is located at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Ashland. The other 75 percent goes to Church World Service, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that provides food and assistance to those in need.

“We are here today to walk for hunger,” the Rev. Timothy Christman, pastor of Simpson United Methodist Church, Gordon, told those gathered outside before the walk began.

The Rev. Dana Heckman-Beil, pastor of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Ashland, said $591 was raised as of 3 p.m. for the event. Usually between 25 to 80 people attend. Christman did not have an updated amount as of press time Sunday.

Hunter Davis, 14, and Noelle Davis, 16, brother and sister, both ran laps on the track at the school. They felt it was important to help the less fortunate.

Their father, John Davis, Weston Place, said he was proud of them.

Driver, passenger

not hurt in crash

HEGINS — No one was injured in an accident Thursday on East Main Street, police said.

Hegins Township police said the crash occurred about 11 a.m. in the 1900 block of East Main Street. Robert Slotcavage, 61, of Frackville, was eastbound when he lost control of his 2002 Chevrolet Impala while failing to go around a left curve. Police said the car went onto the north berm and struck a PennDOT sign.

Neither Slotcavage nor his passenger, who was not named, were injured, police said.

Parked vehicle

hit in Valley View

VALLEY VIEW — A Kulpmont woman was not hurt when her car struck a parked vehicle Friday morning in this Hegins Township village, police said.

Hegins Township police said the 10:55 a.m. accident occurred in the 1000 block of West Main Street as Yvonne Derr, 28, of Kulpmont, was driving a Volkswagen Golf west on West Main Street. Police said Derr lost control of her car and struck an unattended 2012 Chevrolet truck that was legally parked in front of 1010 W. Main St.

Liquor law

violations noted

Two establishments in the county face liquor law violations, according to a press release from the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement, District Office 9, Bethlehem.

The BLCE said The Vettes Inc., 91 McComb St., New Philadelphia, operated or possessed gambling devices or paraphernalia or permitted gambling or lotteries, poolselling and/or bookmaking on Aug. 24, in violation of the liquor code.

The Lodge E Pluribus Unum 1447 Order Sons of Italy in America, 9 W. Main St., Girardville, was cited with several liquor code violations that occurred between Jan. 1, 2014, and July 28, 2016, according to the BLCE.

The charges include failing to charge and collect dues, failure to conduct business through officers regularly elected, failure to hold regular meetings, not operating for the mutual benefit of the entire membership, having the sale of alcohol as the primary interest and activity of the organization, failure to operate the club as required, failure to return the club liquor license and wholesale liquor purchase permit cards to the liquor control board after the establishment was not in operation for 15 days between Jan. 1, 2014, and Oct. 31, 2015, and transported malt or brewed beverages without a license.

The charges for both establishments will be brought before an administrative law judge, who has the authority to impose penalties ranging from $50 to $1,000 for minor offenses and up to $5,000 for more serious ones, according to the BLCE. The ALJ can impose license suspension or revocation of the licensee dependent on the severity of the charge, and the ALJ can also mandate training for the licensee for education purposes, according to the BLCE.

Deeds

Barry Township — Victoria McLaughlin to Brian R. Persing and Amber L. Walter; 356 Beury’s Road, Mountain Valley Lake; $149,000.

Branch Township — Dorothy A. Schultz to Dorothy A. and Joseph A. Schultz; 1145 Bunting St., Llewellyn; $1.

Coaldale — William R. Jr. and Lori A. Strauch to Erin Behler; 17 E. Phillips St.; $40,000.

East Union Township — East Union Township to Jonathan Biros; 213 Fourth St., Oneida; $1.

Foster Township — BBZ Research Inc. to Pinepark Inc.; 0.72-acre property on Sunbury Road, Buck Run; $10,000.

Pinepark Inc. to Steve Heisey; 0.813-acre property on Sunbury Road, Buck Run; $15,000.

Gilberton — Carl DeLisi to Maxim Construction; 108 Island Road; $1.

Carl DeLisi to Maxim Construction; property on Island Street; $1.

Hegins Township — Kris K. Huber to KJS Tobacco Properties LLC; 1.244-acre property on Route 25, Fountain; $85,000.

Kline Township — Mark Wilcko to Cynthia Lee Hoffman; 9 Center St., Kelayres; $53,000.

Mahanoy City — Miguel Rivas to Laila A. Brooks; property on West Mahanoy Avenue; $1.

Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Dario E. Vivar; 139 E. Mahanoy Ave.; $4,000.

Anabella Martinez to Jose Rodriguez; property on Centre Street; $1,000.

McAdoo — Joan Sissick to Bajram and Nirveta Basic Kolenovic; 27 W. Blaine St.; $35,000.

Donna Dubick, executrix of the Estate of David G. Dubick, to Brenda Hinkle; 208 E. Grant St.; $40,000.

Mechanicsville — Dianne E. Searle to Dianne E. Searle and Tiffany K. Searle; 1235 Pottsville St.; $1.

Minersville — Philip Nelson to Elizabeth Davi; 425 Pleasant St.; $2,758.

Jason L. Scheller and George W. Scheller to Jason L. Scheller; 325 Pleasant St.; $1.

North Union Township — George Jr. and Donna M. Holowko to Karen Smith; Lot 58A, Eagle Rock; $145,000.

Pine Grove Township — Andrew J. and Christine Lukacsina to David E. and Lisa M. Miller; 61 Pleasant Valley Road; $69,000.

Erick and Lynda Claxton to Travis Kessock; 32 Parallel Road; $185,000.

Helene Forsyth, by attorney in fact Thomas Forsyth, to Sherry M. McCready; 812 Canal Drive, Swatara Village; $110,000.

The Rev. John B. Bateman and the Rev. Michael E. Messner, by attorney in fact Michael Messner, to Rebecca A. and Steven K. Lesh; 0.147-acre property on Juniper Court, Swatara Village; $70,000.

Port Carbon — Daniel Krynock, individually and as executor of the Estate of Joseph Krynock, Martin Krynock and Michael Krynock to Darryl and Desire Kintzel; 403 N. Coal St.; $52,000.

John F. Quinn to Vincent Madonna; 129 Spruce St.; $19,000.

Pottsville — Dana Breen and Kevin Breen to Brian A. Manning and George M. Manning; 1824 W. Norwegian St.; $20,000.

Harry J. Cocco, executor for the Estate of Rose M. Smith, to Paul J. Platko; 1924 West End Ave.; $105,000.

Robert Deilulis and Mary Weiss to Michael G. Hartman; 362 S. Centre St.; $30,600.

Ryan Township — James J. Kristoff Sr., executor of the Estate of Michael A. Kristoff, to James J. Kristoff Sr.; 5.7-acre property on Chee Street, Barnesville; $1.

Saint Clair — Federal National Mortgage Association to Atanos Management LLC; 144 S. Nicholas St.; $5,000.

Schuylkill Haven — Thomas W. and Jane M. Gordon to Michael J. and Laura K. Vargo; 74 Avenue E, $170,000.

John B. and Mary Jo Fehr to Deborah A. Twigg; 118 Avenue E; $215,000.

Eric and Amy Johnson to Amaryllis Collins; 42 St. John St.; $87,000.

Brett A. and Tara Lin Renninger to Devon M. Arndt; 33 Stanton St.; $94,900.

Shenandoah — Geraldine Gregas to Geraldine Gregas and Timothy Heckman; 238 E. Arlington St.; $1.

Kelly J. and Brian Treco to Sarah E. Feeko; property on East Coal Street; $1.

Daniel F. Jr. and Mary Ellen Murphy to Jill Fetterman; 212 W. Centre St.; $1.

Barbara Denchy to Tami Grady; 307 W. Lloyd St.; $1.

Kristy Lee Guzman to Jose Rodriguez; 402 W. Atlantic St.; $1,000.

South Manheim Township — George T. Seiler III, Don Frederick Seiler and Thomas Richard Seiler, co-executors under the Last Will & Testament of George T. Seiler Jr., to Don F. and Jodell Seiler; 589 Woodland Drive; $1.

Wayne Township — Baver Rentals Limited Partnership to Dale W. and Brenda Clark; 244 Bear Creek Road; $21,000.

Christina E. Hale

FRACKVILLE — A man charged with hitting a man and damaging a vehicle in Girardville on Sept. 8 waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville.

Brandon E. Green, 21, of 223 B St., Girardville, was arrested by state police Trooper Edward Sanchez of the Frackville station and charged with one count each of criminal mischief, harassment and disorderly conduct.

By waiving his right to a hearing Green will now have to answer to all three charges in Schuylkill County Court.

Sanchez charged Green with an incident in front of 387 W. Main St. where during a physical confrontation he pushed Shawn Shoup onto the hood of a vehicle owned by Doreen Frantz.

Sanchez said Green had Shoup pinned to the vehicle and continued to hit and kick him, resulting in $1,273.27 damage to the hood and front end of the Frantz SUV.

Other court cases included:

Adam R. Kudel, 28, of 225 W. Centre St., Apt. 5, Shenandoah — withdrawn: bad checks and theft by deception.

Kelly A. Foran, 44, of 223 Broad St., Saint Clair — waived for court: retail theft.

Christian M. Zamudio, 19, of 205 E. Biddle St., Box 123, Gordon — waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and disregard for single traffic lane.

Robert W. Weyman Jr., 36, of 1427 Centre St., Ashland — waived for court: persons not to possess or own firearms.

James K. Reiley

A woman charged with writing more than $1,000 in checks and depositing money into her credit union using the checks on a closed account had charges against her held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville.

Bridget Ann Steffie, 37, whose last known address was 319 W. Market St., Apt./Suite 5, Pottsville, was arrested by Pottsville police Patrolman James Englert and charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property. Reiley determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered both charges held for Schuylkill County Court.

Englert charged Steffie with depositing five checks totaling $1,745 into her account in August and using the money later.

The checks were written on the woman’s personal account that had been closed since January. When interviewed, Englert said, Steffie said she wrote the checks to get money since she was homeless and needed money to rent a hotel room.

Other court cases included:

April N. Brown, 51, of 12 N. 11th St., Pottsville — withdrawn: possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Anthony Brown, 28, of 12 N. 11th St., Pottsville — dismissed: possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christian K. Pond, 21, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — waived for court: harassment.

Carol A. Evitts, 50, of 226 S. Liberty St., Orwigsburg — waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Katie Hanley, 37, of 1846 Long Run Road, Schuylkill Haven — waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Samantha Ann Kohr, 25, of 1104 W. Arch St., Pottsville — waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

Heath M. Livergood, 26, of 121 N. Fourth St., Frackville — held for court: public drunkenness and defiant trespass.

Jason J. Eiler, 32, of 309 Market Square Apartments, Pottsville — waived for court: driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without insurance, driving a vehicle without a valid inspection and fraudulent, altered, forged or counterfeit title, registration or insurance.

Jennifer R. Fenstemaker, 25, of 712 Mahantongo St., Apt. 4, Pottsville — held for court: retail theft.

Dale R. Steffie, 56, of 656 John O’Hara St., Apt. 3, Pottsville — waived for court: simple assault. Dismissed: simple assault and harassment.

Tracy L. Butler, 37, of 410 E. Market St., Apt. 2, Pottsville — waived for court: disorderly conduct.

Eugene J. Rountree III, 48, of 410 E. Market St., Apt. 2, Pottsville — waived for court: disorderly conduct.

Trola Moore III, 37, of 23 Greenbury Road, Pottsville — waived for court: fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving without insurance and driving an unregistered vehicle.

Randy Joe Kramer, 40, of 613 Harrison St., Pottsville — waived for court: criminal trespass.

Norman Wilfong, 50, of 710 Seneca St., Pottsville — waived for court: statements under penalty.

Roger T. Taras, 22, of 219 W. Fairview St., Pottsville — withdrawn by the victim: harassment and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

John D. Mohl, 31, of 1748 W. Market St., Pottsville — waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, risking a catastrophe, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Aaron M. Davis, 31, of 2160 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville — held for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Mitch R. Ritchie, 42, of 553 Pine St., Pottsville — waived for court: terroristic threats.

Harry E. Hosler, 35, of 207 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City — dismissed: criminal trespass. Held for court: criminal trespass, criminal mischief and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tyler E. Porter, 26, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — waived for court: simple assault.

Rueben Perez, 52, of 409A W. Arch St., 1st Floor, Pottsville — waived for court: possession of a small amount of marijuana and duties at a stop sign.

Donald McLean, 41, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — 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.

David A. Plachko

PORT CARBON — A Minersville woman charged with stealing items from a home she was renting in May waived her right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.

Natasha Nelson, 30, of 226 Oak St., was arrested by Minersville police Patrolman Jeffrey Bowers and charged with criminal mischief, theft and receiving stolen property. By waiving her right to a hearing Nelson will have to answer to all three charges in Schuylkill County Court.

Bowers charged Nelson with renting a home at 349 Penn St. and, upon leaving, stealing a washer and dryer, a new toilet and a medicine cabinet that belonged to the owners. The woman also damaged the home while in the process of removing the items, Bowers said.

Other court cases included:

Michael J. Bartholomew, 21, of 307 W. Market St., Apt. A, Pottsville — waived for court: terroristic threats, harassment and simple assault.

Andrew S. Lutz, 41, of 65 Hancock St., McAdoo — waived for court: burglary, criminal trespass, terroristic threats, simple assault, harassment and criminal mischief.

Derek J. Crisafulli, 29, of 105 S. Fourth St., Minersville — withdrawn: selling or furnishing alcohol to minors and endangering the welfare of children. Waived for court: corruption of minors.

Thomas A. Stanton, 27, of 321 Furnace St., Shenandoah — waived for court: escape, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Justin M. Koons, 27, of 245 Nichols St., Pottsville — held for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Matthew J. Nickerson, 31, of 44 Cadbury St., Palo Alto, and 134 N. Bower St., Shenandoah — waived for court: theft, simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.

Suzanne L. Strause, 38, of 227 Arnot St., Saint Clair — waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

A Porter Township man will spend time in state prison and on probation after being sentenced Tuesday in Schuylkill County Court on three drug-related charges.

Michael S. Klinger Jr., 39, of Muir, must serve 15 to 30 months in a state correctional institution, and an additional year on probation, under the terms of Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin’s sentence.

Dolbin also sentenced Klinger to pay costs, $200 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $100 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $1,373.25 restitution to the state police crime laboratory, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Klinger pleaded guilty on Sept. 7 to eight counts of possession of a controlled substance, six of delivery of a controlled substance, five of possession of drug paraphernalia, four each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility, and one of manufacture of a controlled substance in the first case and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one of possession of a controlled substance in the second case.

Prosecutors withdrew seven counts of possession of a controlled substance, four of possession of drug paraphernalia, three each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility, two each of delivery of a controlled substance and manufacture of a controlled substance, and one of delivery of drug paraphernalia in the first case and one additional count each of possession of drug paraphernalia and one of possession of a controlled substance in the second case.

In the first case, Tower City police charged Klinger with possessing drugs and paraphernalia on June 25, 2015, in the borough. In the second case, Hegins Township police charged Klinger with possessing drugs and paraphernalia on Nov. 12, 2015, in the township.

n Ashland: Zion’s Reformed United Church of Christ, 2400 Centre St., will host a free soup-and-sandwich lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 16. The free lunches are available to the community on the third Wednesday of every month. For more information, call 570-875-2700.

n Heckscherville: Clover Fire Company, 8 Clover Road, will host an all-you-can-eat breakfast from 7 a.m. to noon Nov. 13 at the firehouse. The cost is $8 for adults and $3 for children. Organizers will donate $1 from each of the adults breakfasts to the Disabled Veterans Association. Representatives will be available to answer any questions veterans may have. For more information, call 570-294-0612.

n Hegins: The Barry Township tree lighting will be held at 6 p.m. Nov. 27 at Weishample Grange Hall, Deep Creek Road. There will be crafts, entertainment and a visit from Santa. Children must be accompanied by adults. Food will be available and there will also be door prizes. For more information, call 570-817-6107.

n Lansford: The Tamaqua Area Faith Fellowship Network will have a Christmas shopping winter wonderland from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 19 at the CancerTelethon.Org office, 33 W. Ridge St., formerly the American Cancer Society office. The event will benefit the American Cancer Society. For more information, call 570-645-4228 or email to madula@ptd.net.

n New Philadelphia: AMVEST Post 256 will meet at 7 p.m. Nov. 17 at Vett’s Inc., 94 McComb St. The date change is due to the Thanksgiving holiday. For more information, call Tom Hill at 570-277-6031.

n Pine Grove: Hetzel’s Church Praise & Worship will have a Fall Fun Fellowship Hoe Down from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday in the church social hall, 261 Hetzel’s Church Road. Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 12 and younger. Refreshments will be available. All are welcome.

n Pottsville: Leo Haley, a longtime member of the Pottsville Lions club and a prominent leader of the local Irish community and the Ancient Order of Hibernians, recently addressed the Lions, sharing his knowledge of Irish heritage and the origins of Halloween, which had been a Celtic pagan celebration. Called Samhain, it was observed since ancient times in Ireland as noted in Irish literature and mythology, Haley said, according to the Lions Bulletin. Samhain marked the beginning of Gaelic winter and also was a festival in which the “doorways” to the other world opened, allowing supernatural beings and the souls of the dead into our world, he said. People at that time would dress in various costumes, burn the hides of cattle and setbon fires to help keep away evil spirits. According to Haley, the bonfires evolved into turnips that were carved out and then made into lanterns and placed in the windows or on the doorsteps of the villagers’ homes. Samhain has become known worldwide as Halloween and is celebrated on the Eve of All Saints Day. Haley has been the chairman of the annual Pottsville Lions Halloween Parade for the past 38 years.

n Primrose: St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic School will host its fifth annual Murphy Jewelers Bingo at 1 p.m. Dec. 4 in St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901. Tickets are $25 each and include 16 regular games and four specials. Doors will open at 11 a.m. Holders of advance tickets will be eligible for a special drawing. For tickets or more information, call 570-544-5767 or 570-544-4581.

n Tamaqua: An American Red Cross blood drive is set for 1 to 6 p.m. Friday at St. John’s United Church of Christ, Pine and Biddle streets. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged for donate blood. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information or to arrange for an appointment, call 800-733-2767.

n Tamaqua: Tamaqua Area High School’s annual financial aid night will begin at 6 p.m. Nov. 16 at the high school library. The state’s regional PHEAA representative will present information on completing the FAFSA and answer general financial aid questions. This year there will also be a community agency on hand to offer information about local scholarships. Advance registration is not required.

HEGINS — Hegins Township and Tri-Valley school officials see potential danger daily as pedestrians make their way across the two-lane highway, state Route 25, also called Main Street.

It’s 3:15 p.m. on a school day. Chances are flocks of Tri-Valley High School students are headed for refreshments at Nino’s restaurant or Redner’s Warehouse Markets, just across the street in Hegins.

There are no sidewalks, no crosswalks, no center island and no school zone signs to alert motorists that anyone may be crossing there. The speed limit is currently 35 mph; it used to be 40 mph.

“This problem isn’t going to end,” Hegins Township Supervisor Brad Carl said during a phone interview Thursday.

Revisit problem

Carl was on the board of supervisors several years ago when the township first visited the problem. He brought the matter up again during last week’s supervisors meeting. Carl invited Kelly Boltz to the meeting, who explained her son was injured when he was struck by a vehicle while crossing there about four years ago, but is all right today. Boltz also presented a signed petition at that time to the board, requesting the matter receive attention.

Since then, Hegins’ board has grown from three to five supervisors and Carl was hoping to find support for improved safety along the Route 25 corridor, not only in front of the high school at 155 E. Main St., Hegins, but possibly for the Hegins-Hubley Elementary School, at 1801 W. Main St. (Route 25), Valley View. The district’s other elementary, Mahantongo Elementary, is in Upper Mahantongo Township.

Fellow Hegins Township supervisors, Chairman Gary Harner, Sandra McCullough, Mike Begis and Bruce Klouser, indicated Wednesday they may discuss it further with road foreman Craig Coleman and the school district, and seek additional information; however, there has been no formal action.

“I was glad to hear their opinions,” Carl said. “I looked into this when it first happened. At that time, the sewer was under consideration, too. PennDOT said that we’d need to get an AutoCAD drawing of the area. I tried to find someone who could do this for us, but never got it done,” he said, noting he was trying to come up with ways to save the township money. Now, he said the township could consider just using its engineer to go ahead and do the drawing of the areas in question along Route 25, across from the schools.

Carl said he would like to see “mid-block” crosswalks, possibly across from Nino’s or Romberger’s Furniture store, not directly at the busy Forest Drive intersection with Route 25.

District position

Tri-Valley Superintendent Mark D. Snyder said he knew that multiple efforts had been made by the township to remedy the situation.

“We’ve been led to believe it’s not within our control, but we’d welcome any discussion,” Snyder said.

He said he was under the impression that PennDOT suggested multiple studies would have to be completed, and that because the high school and Hegins-Hubley Elementary sit back off the main road so far, that may also be a reason why further safety measures aren’t already in place.

“It’s an unsafe place to cross at Forest Drive,” Snyder said, noting the district has mentioned during its afternoon announcements that students avoid that intersection, and possibly cross Route 25 farther down, toward the furniture store, if they do have to cross the road at all.

Other districts

The Republican-Herald randomly polled a few other districts in Schuylkill and Dauphin counties to see what pedestrian safety options they had available at their facilities. Most districts did have something.

Pine Grove Area Superintendent Heath W. Renninger said it’s helpful to have safety measures in place, but a lot of responsibility still exists with motorists.

“I think it helps; however, I think oftentimes, there’s a lack of oversight by drivers as they’re moving through school zones. Drivers are not paying attention as much as they used to and that’s a very scary thing. Blinking lights and street signs help, but the best deterrent is a police officer sitting there,” Renninger said.

Renninger, who previously served as elementary principal in the Blue Mountain School District, said the Cressona elementary had school zone signs posted and Blue Mountain Elementary West in Friedensburg had flashing lights posted along Route 443.

“Our bus drivers were very aware of those scenarios, and we got radio calls from our bus drivers telling us if our lights weren’t working,” he said.

Renninger referred Pine Grove’s status to Henry Snyder, Pine Grove’s director of buildings and maintenance.

“The front of our school buildings face School Street, therefore, students enter and exit from School Street and not Route 443,” Snyder said Friday. “There are crosswalks in front of our middle and elementary schools, as well as our high school. We do not have flashing signs or signs that are lit.”

• Mary Ellen Francis, Tamaqua Area’s transportation director, said the district does have school zone signs, as well as crosswalks. She said the signs do not have a set speed limit on them and do not flash.

• In the Saint Clair Area district, there are non-flashing signs, as well as crosswalks, and crossing guards are used.

• In Mahanoy Area, there are two school zone signs on Golden Bear Drive; neither flash.

• In Williams Valley, there are two flashing school zone signs located along Route 209, Tower City; one each on the north, and southbound lanes of the highway; and crosswalks at the school buildings.

• In Upper Dauphin Area, there are school zone signs and crosswalks at the elementary/middle school and district office complex, off of Route 209 in Loyalton, as well as at the high school, at North Church Street in Elizabethville.

Dangers

According to the National Safe Routes To School Program, “nearly 60 percent of parents and children walking to school encountered at least one serious hazard. Commonly cited hazards included lack of sidewalks or crosswalks, wide roads and speeding drivers.”

The NSRTSP website also states, “A national survey of speeding in school zones found that two-thirds of drivers exceeded the posted speed limit during the 30-minute period before and after school.”

Speed also plays a part in pedestrian fatalities, according to the NSRTSP. “For both stopping distances and severity of crashes, speed matters. If a driver is traveling at 40 mph and suddenly spots a pedestrian in the road 100 feet ahead and begins to stop, he will on average still be traveling 38 mph upon impact. If the driver is traveling at 25 mph in the same situation, the driver will be able to stop before the pedestrian is struck.”

PennDOT details

Hegins Township has several options to consider, according to Ronald J. Young, Jr., district press officer with the state Department of Transportation, Engineering District 5, Allentown.

“If it is at an intersection, the municipality can mark a crosswalk without approval from PennDOT,” Young said in an email to The Republican-Herald. If it is mid-block, then minimum requirements need to be met, he said. “A mid-block crosswalk engineering and traffic study will determine if the minimum requirements are being met, and this can be performed by the school district/municipality or if requested PennDOT may do it for them. If the study shows a mid-block crosswalk is permitted, then the municipality may install it.”

According to PennDOT’s Traffic Engineering Manual, “The installation of marked crosswalks has mixed reviews. While it is desirable to give guidance to pedestrians as to the safest locations to cross highways, studies have shown that pedestrian crash rates are sometimes higher in marked crosswalks than at other locations, perhaps because the markings give pedestrians a false sense of security.”

The state vehicle code requires motorists to yield the right-of-way to pedestrians within any marked crosswalk, but this does not always happen, the manual states.

Mid-block crosswalks

The following are PennDOT requirements for mid-block crosswalk installation:

• Speed limit — The posted speed limit is at 35 mph or less.

• Other marked crosswalks — The nearest marked crosswalk on the same roadway is more than 300 feet from the proposed crossing.

• Number of pedestrians crossing — To qualify for mid-block crosswalks, the minimum number of pedestrians crossing the street within 150 feet of the proposed crossing during an average day should be 80 or more during any one hour, or 40 or more during each of any four hours. However, if there is a high concentration of children, elderly or disabled pedestrians crossing the roadway in the vicinity of the proposed crossing, then these pedestrian volume warrants may be reduced 50 percent.

• Traffic volume — The maximum traffic volume on the roadway is 10,000 average daily traffic, except on two-lane roadways the maximum traffic volume may be 15,000 ADT. If a raised median or pedestrian refuse island exists where pedestrians are protected from vehicular traffic, the maximum traffic volume applies to each segment of the pedestrian crossing, but no more than three travel lanes may be crossed without a raised median or pedestrian refuge island.

• Parking restrictions — To improve visibility, parking is not permitted within 75 feet of the crosswalk, unless a 6- to 8-foot curb extension is in place to improve pedestrian visibility.

• Sight distance — The available sight distance between an approaching driver and a person anywhere within the proposed crosswalk must satisfy the following minimum values: if the speed limit is 35 mph, for example, the minimum sight distance for a level grade would be 305 feet. Other values are given for various speeds and grades.

School zone signs

“The school district or the municipality needs to install flashing signs delineating a school zone, and own and maintain them. If they want to have a school zone speed limit sign with flashing devices, they need to have a school zone speed limit engineering and traffic study performed (either on their own, or if requested PennDOT may do it for them) to determine if a school zone speed limit is warranted. If it is warranted, and approved by PennDOT, then the school or municipality needs to install, own, and maintain the signs,” Young said.

PennDOT does not keep accident records specific to school zones, Young said, but does keep crash data on all state roads.

According to PennDOT data on its website, in 2015, there were 153 pedestrian fatalities. Those figures do not reveal, however, which of those fatalities, if any, were within a school zone or within a crosswalk.

Establish zone

The PA Code defines a school zone here: www.pacode.com/secure/data/067/chapter212/s212.501.html. It states a 15 mph school zone speed limit may be established in a school zone during normal hours that walking students are arriving at, or leaving, school. “To establish a school zone, local authorities shall be responsible to prepare and submit a drawing showing the locations where students walk along or across roadways that are adjacent to school property, the hours that students are going to or from school and the proposed limits for the school zone to the department for approval.”

Other options

Carl said years ago, the costs associated with obtaining flashing school zone signs was in the $13,000 range for a pair. The township had previously tried placing Yield to Pedestrian signs on Route 25 as an option, however, motorists ran over those signs, it was reported during Wednesday’s supervisors meeting.

PennDOT does provide what’s called “Yield to Pedestrian Channelization Devices” to municipalities free of charge, according to Young. “These devices are placed on roadway center lines at crosswalks to remind motorists that they are to obey state law and yield to pedestrians in those crosswalks,” PennDOT reports. However, there are guidelines for their use and it’s up to the municipality or local authority to maintain the devices.

The guidelines include: the devices shall be used only at mid-block crossings or non-signalized intersections; the posted speed limit shall not exceed 35 mph; they should be placed at the crosswalk; all crosswalks must be marked (no unpainted crosswalks); the devices may not be bolted or otherwise permanently affixed to the pavement surface.

If the devices may be damaged by turning long wheelbase vehicles, they may be placed in advance of the crosswalk. That distance should be as close as possible to the crosswalk and should not exceed 50 feet. PennDOT strongly recommends the devices be set out each day at approximately 6 a.m. and taken up at 9 p.m.

“PennDOT is always willing to work with and provide guidance to school districts or municipalities. So, if they need to, they may contact the Engineering District 5 Traffic Unit at any time,” Young said.

ETA Benefits

adds offerings

NESQUEHONING — Joseph A. Pilla, president of ETA Benefits Group, a full-service insurance agency with offices in Nesquehoning and Tamaqua, has announced the addition of Medicare offerings beginning with the 2017 open enrollment period. He also announced the addition of human services consulting to the firm’s menu of services.

Elizabeth L. Confer, SPHR, MBA and a Pennsylvania-licensed insurance agent, recently joined ETA as human resources and benefits consultant, according to an ETA press release.

In her role, Confer provides Medicare support and HR consulting to current and potential clients.

Confer is available to provide educational Medicare presentations to local groups and organizations. Medicare’s open enrollment period runs from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

To schedule Confer for a presentation or for more information about ETA Benefits Group, call Pilla at 570-669-5050.

ETA Benefits Group has been serving the insurance needs of residents and businesses for 17 years. More information is available at www.etabenefits.com.

McCann slates

job-seekers event

McCann School of Business & Technology Pottsville campus will host a job-seekers event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday in conjunction with Sharon Tropp of Pennsylvania CareerLink.

Tropp will provide information about re-training funds that are available through CareerLink and conduct a presentation on job searching and networking.

Karen Damiter, McCann business program director, will conduct a workshop on how to use social media in the job search process and Michele Scribbick, McCann career services director, will conduct a resume writing workshop.

The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be provided.

For more information or to register for one of the workshops, call Amelia Hopkins at 570-391-3059 or email Amelia.Hopkins@McCann.edu.

The campus also is collecting supplies to prepare and ship care packages to troops stationed overseas. Supplies will be collected from Friday to Dec. 11 and mailed to soldiers for holiday delivery.

Items can be dropped off at the McCann Pottsville campus, 2650 Woodglen Road.

For more information, call Damiter at 570-391-3064 or email her at Karen.damiter@mccann.edu. For more information about McCann, visit www.mccann.edu.

Providence Place

names director

HUMMELSTOWN — Providence Place recently announced that Kimberley Perchak has been promoted to the position of executive director.

Perchak, according to a Providence Place press release, will oversee the daily operations at Providence Place, located in Drums near Hazleton. She will report to Vice President of Operations Rick Barley, who said Perchak has a “wealth of experience and talent” and “has filled various roles within the organization and is admired by her co-workers.”

Perchak is a licensed practical nurse who joined Providence Place in 2009 as the assistant director of wellness. She also held the titles of business office manager and director of wellness. Most recently, she was the company’s corporate director of wellness.

Tractor Supply

opens store

PINE GROVE — The Pine Grove Tractor Supply Co. store, which officially opened for business on Oct. 29, held its grand opening on Saturday.

The Pine Grove location is Tractor Supply’s 91st store in Pennsylvania and employs 13 people. It has 19,100 square feet, including sales floor and support service space.

“Pine Grove is a great location for Tractor Supply Co. because the Out Here lifestyle compliments the community here,” Beth Boger, store manager, said in the release.

A Pennsylvania native, Boger joined Tractor Supply in 2013 as a part-time cashier at the Lebanon store. She brings more than 25 years of retail experience to the Tractor Supply team, officials said in the release.

The store is located at 271 Suedberg Road. Its hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays.

For more information on Tractor Supply, visit www.TractorSupply.com.

Homa tapped

in Honors Edition

Amber Michelle Homa has been selected for inclusion in the forthcoming Trademark Women of Distinction Honors Edition for leadership in the medical industry.

Homa is owner of the Complete Injury Care medical facility, Pottsville, and Directens online medical equipment.

Complete Injury Care is located at 200 E. Arch St. and can be reached at 570-622-0809.

According to a Trademark Women of Distinction press release, Homa “has truly dedicated herself to her profession. There is humility and personal touch she adds to her relationship with everyone she does business with. More than the value of her service, it’s her way of treating everyone like an extended member of her own family that people remember the most. As a talented, disciplined professional she has maintained a proven track record of quality service driven by her desire to succeed.”

LVH-Schuylkill

names director

Lori A. Lawson, M.D., MBA, has joined Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill as medical director of the emergency departments, according to an announcement by Dr. Lawrence M. Riddles, M.D., MBA, FACS, FACPE, senior medical director.

Lawson’s “experience as a clinician and as a physician leader goes to the heart of our mission, to heal, comfort and care,” Riddles said.

A native of Tamaqua, Lawson comes to LVH-Schuylkill from Lo-urdes Burlington Emergency Department at Deborah, where she managed the emergency department. She previously served as director of emergency medicine for Aria Health, Philadelphia, and has practiced in emergency departments including Lehigh Valley Hospital, where she served as clinical professor of emergency medicine as well as staff physician. She is certified by the American Board of Emergency Medicine.

“We will look to Dr. Lawson’s leadership in our emergency departments as we continuously strive to improve the services we offer here at LVH-Schuylkill,” William J. Reppy, president, said in the release.

Lawson earned her medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. She completed her residency in emergency medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Medical Center, Philadelphia, and also earned an MBA from Villanova University, Philadelphia. She completed her undergraduate studies at Kutztown University, Kutztown.

Adele tribute

to benefit theater

HAMBURG — The revitalization group Our Town Foundation will sponsor an Adele tribute singer from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Hamburg Strand, 6 S. Fourth St.

Performer Andrea Tyler will do Adele’s classic favorites as well as songs from her new album, “25.”

The cost is $20 in advance and $22 at the door.

Tickets are available at the theater, at Our Town Foundation by calling 610-562-3106, or www.hamburgstrand.org.

Proceeds will benefit the theater renovation effort. For more information, call the foundation.

Farm-City Dinner

plans outlined

The annual Schuylkill Farm-City Dinner will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Trinity Lutheran Church Hall, Third and Arch streets, Pottsville.

Doors will open at 6:15 p.m. and tickets are $15 each. Tickets are available at the Schuylkill Conservation District, Penn State Extension, members of Pennsylvania Farm Bureau or from any member of the Kiwanis Club.

LVH-Schuylkill

to host vets’ meal

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill will host a free Veteran’s Day breakfast from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the Wall Auditorium, third floor near the main lobby at the East Norwegian Street campus, 700 E. Norwegian St., Pottsville.

The breakfast is for Schuylkill County veterans and those currently serving in the military.

Registration is “strongly encouraged” by calling 570-621-5141.

Murder mystery is

a Lori’s fundraiser

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The Lori’s Angels Community Foundation will sponsor a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater on Saturday at 101 W. Main St.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., dinner will be at 6 p.m. and the show is at 6:30 p.m.

The “Redhead Speakeasy” murder mystery by Act 1 Productions is aimed at raising money for the foundation to help people in the county who have overwhelming medical bills or medical-related bills not covered by health insurance.

The cost is $40 per person and dinners will include adult beverages, a salad bar, rolls/butter and choice of the following entrees: bacon-wrapped chicken breast with chipped beef, rice and vegetables; ham with mashed potatoes and vegetable; halupki with mashed potato and vegetable.

Those planning to attend should RSVP to lori@lorisangels.com or call 570-385-8450 by today.

Chamber updates

agenda activities

The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and SCORE are presenting an educational session on growing business with email and social media from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Nov. 15 at the chamber/SEDCO conference center in Union Station Pottsville.

The cost is $10 per person per session for chamber members and $15 for nonmembers.

People may register for chamber events at www.schuylkillchamber.com.

The chamber’s Networking Before 9 breakfast mixer will be at 7:45 a.m. Wednesday at Oak Hill Inn, Route 61, Orwigsburg. Attorney J.T. Herber of Williamson, Friedberg & Jones LLC, Pottsville, will talk about how to reduce accounts receivable and bad debt in a presentation titled, “Getting Paid.” The cost is $20 for chamber members and $25 for nonmembers. The reservation deadline is today.

An employer forum is on tap for 10:30 a.m. to noon Nov. 17 at the chamber/SEDCO Union Station conference center in conjunction with Pennsylvania CareerLink. It is for businesses to learn about programs to fund training for their workforce and “develop pipelines for new employees,” according to a chamber flier. Presenters will include Sharon Angelo of CareerLink, Stu Bass of Keystone Development Partnership, Courtney Fasnacht of the Luzerne/Schuylkill Workforce Investment Board Inc. and Maureen Donovan of the Center for Leadership & Workforce Development Center LCCC. The registration deadline is Nov. 14.

SHENANDOAH — The 150-year history of Shenandoah, or at least a portion of it, in memorable old photographs, was recently published in a book filled with contributions from local residents who also lived much of that history.

The borough celebrated its sesquicentennial this year and, though not a planned part of that commemoration, the new book titled “Shenandoah” proves to be a fitting tribute to a coal mining town known for its importance in the anthracite coal industry in northeastern Pennsylvania. Many other historic aspects include being a cultural melting pot of immigrants from many nations, its many houses of worship, its heroes in war and peace on the battlefield and the homefront, it being the home of internationally known writers and entertainers, and much more.

The book’s author is Shenandoah native Anne Chaikowsky La Voie, though she is the first to say that creating the book was an effort involving the contributions of many people, not only for supplied photographs, but from their personal memories of the way it was growing up in a town that at one time surpassed 30,000 in population, all within one square mile of territory.

The book is published by Arcadia Publishing and is part of its “Images of America” series that highlights local and regional histories mainly through photographs, descriptive captions and chapter introductions. The books are visual remembrances of what life was like over time.

According to the publisher’s website, “Images of America is an ambitious collection of chronicles that accurately capture the essence of what gives each American small town, neighborhood and downtown its unique flavor. Each one is penned by a seasoned local expert and features hundreds of vintage images, local memories, personal stories and unique points of view in regards to a variety of iconic events. At present, the series encompasses thousands of volumes and counting.”

The local edition was one whose time had come, according to Chaikowsky La Voie.

“The idea totally came from DSI and Mary Luscavage,” she said, referring to Downtown Shenandoah Inc.’s executive director. “I had come into Shenandoah after being away for a while and asked Mary if she had any projects, and the next thing I knew I was putting a book together.”

Two major contributors of photos in the book came from Bernie Sanders, Shenandoah, and John Catizone, Lost Creek. Catizone owns and operates Catizone’s Barber Shop in Shenandoah, a shop filled with such a variety of memorabilia that it is nicknamed “Shenandoah’s Smithsonian.”

“They supplied a majority of the photos in the book,” Chaikowsky La Voie said. “They were very, very generous. These guys have been collecting these pictures for about 30 or 40 years. They said that if it’s for ‘Shenandoah,’ it’s yours. We got pictures from DSI, the historical society, from people like Theresa Matino and some others from around town. I’d get one picture here, another picture there, but the majority came from John and Bernie.”

The information for the captions and introductions came from a variety of sources, Chaikowsky La Voie said. The Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society’s archives had copies of articles from the Evening Herald newspaper published in 1991 during the borough’s 125th anniversary year, and the centennial “Path of Progress” commemorative book from 1966, along with published newspaper stories.

“A lot of it was from when I was a kid and I learned many of these stories from my father, my mother, my grandfather and people around town,” she said. “When I was a little kid, it always seemed I was on Main Street talking to someone, whether it was Levitt’s, or in Nesbitt’s or Hook’s. There was always seemed to be somebody saying something, and then I would verify that in finding proof in the old Herald.”

Book chapters are “Coal Miners and Collieries,” “From the Old Country,” “City of Churches,” “Main and Centre Streets,” “Saturday in Shenandoah,” “Champions,” “Shenandoah Spirit,” “Adversity and Disaster,” and “In Honor.”

There were hundreds of photographs to choose from, so it was important to select those that told a story.

“We tried to tell the story of Shenandoah and use those that told something that was important to the town or something that was significant,” Chaikowsky La Voie said. “But there were so many pictures we sent to Images of America, I’d say there were 60 pictures, that they said they couldn’t use because the resolution wasn’t high enough, so we had to change the story a bit and didn’t get to include everything we wanted to.”

Chaikowsky said the project started in March and the first draft with everything done submitted in May. At the end of July, the editor got back to her about corrections that needed to be redone within two weeks. After her review, the material was passed to Sanders for additional proofreading.

Sales have been good, Chaikowsky La Voie said, though she had no specific numbers. She said all proceeds go to DSI or the Shenandoah Area Free Public Library, wherever the books are sold, and nothing goes to her, Catizone, Sanders or any other book contributors.

“They (Catizone and Sanders) donated all of those pictures so that Shenandoah would have a book,” she said.

“Shenandoah” is available for purchase at the DSI office in the Anthony P. Damato American Legion “Medal of Honor” Post 792, 116-118 N. Main St. Books are $21.99 at DSI, or by mail for an additional $5 for postage and handling. Books can also be purchased at the Shenandoah Area Free Public Library, 15 W. Washington St. For more information, call the DSI office 570-462-2060.

FRACKVILLE — After months of negotiations, the Frackville Area Municipal Authority and the state Department of Corrections have agreed to a new 10-year sewage service contract to begin later this month.

The FAMA board approved in a 4-0 vote at Friday’s special meeting to the contract to provide the service to the State Correctional Institution/Frackville that goes into effect Nov. 27 when the current 20-year contract expires.

The current contract was put in place in 1996. Located in Ryan Township, SCI/Frackville was officially dedicated on April 16, 1987.

FAMA solicitor Paul G. Domalakes was involved with the negotiations since both sides began discussing the contract renewal and updating the new document. He explained to the board at the Friday meeting some of the changes, including a much more simplified billing procedure.

“The old agreement was also very unwieldy and very complicated and involved that included ‘reconciliations’ and ‘after the fact,’ ” Domalakes said. “There was dispute about how much their flow was and what percentage it was (of the system operation). We got rid of all that and streamlined it. I think this is a very workable agreement. It’s going to be ‘Here’s the flow,’ multiplied by the $6 (per thousand gallons) and send them their bill. We don’t have to give them estimated bills or reconcile at the end of the year.”

Domalakes added, “The formula here, I think, is simple, straightforward, fair and verifiable.”

Entech Engineering Inc. senior project manager Donald Cuff, who provided the technical input in the negotiating process, agreed with Domalakes’ assessment.

“There is really only one variable in that agreement, and it’s their flow, and that’s a verified number,” Cuff said. “Today, they are recording that information electronically, and per that agreement they must do that electronically. It’s no longer handwritten. It’s what the computer uploads on a daily basis, which they in turn send to you (FAMA) in an email. Even though still the old meter, it is equipped with a new recorder. It is no longer open to interpretation. It’s verifiable.”

Domalakes gave credit to Frackville Superintendent Brenda Tritt for assisting in the agreement.

“The superintendent was instrumental in breaking a logjam in the negotiations,” Domalakes said. “She could see how complicated the other agreement was getting as time went on.”

Since accounting for the sewage flow into the FAMA system is important for fair billing, a new electronic meter will be installed at the prison by DOC for the monitoring.

“The new electronic meter will be measuring their flow,” Domalakes said. “It’s not in place yet and they have to test it to make sure it works. We were telling them that they were exceeding their 200,000 gallons per day and do they want more. They said no. We said that if the flow exceeds 200,000, they were going to be surcharged.”

Domalakes said the authority, as part of the contract, gives the prison a six-month grace period so the new meter can be installed to make sure it is working and gauging the amount of sewage entering the sewage system.

“We’ll just charge $6 per thousand gallons for whatever it is you send us, but at the end of the six months, if you’re sending us 220,000 gallons, you’re going to get a surcharge for the extra 20,000, which is $7.20 per thousand gallons.”

Domalakes said FAMA offered to have the prison purchase additional capacity above 200,000 gallons, noting that there were indications that 220,000 or 240,000 gallons were closer amounts. The DOC said that the problem was an inaccurate flow measured by the current meter, which prompted its replacement with a modern electronic version.

“So we give them six months or when the meter is put in, whatever comes first,” Domalakes said. “Whatever the meter shows, that’s what we will bill them, but if shows they’re using excess capacity, they get surcharged. And we can make them buy additional capacity.”

At the end of 10 years, the contract will automatically renew in one-year intervals unless a side gives a year notice that a new agreement is desired.

“But we only have to give 90 days notice that we’re going to adjust the rate,” Domalakes said. “The rate ($6 per thousand gallons) that the prison will not be paying is much more in line of what residents now pay.”

Domalakes noted that the new rate will be about twice as much as with the old contract.

“There was an agreement since 1996 that the prison would pay a part of our expenditures based on a percentage of their flow versus our total flow,” Domalakes said. “That was kind of screwy in the beginning, but we knew how to work it, but as time went on it got worse and worse. It ended up that the prison was paying half of what other residents (customers) were paying, which was simply not fair or just.”

Cuff said the prison will contact FAMA when the new meter will be installed so authority personnel can be present for the installation and calibration.

Domalakes said the agreement signed by FAMA officers will be sent to the DOC attorney to have its officials to sign off on it.

The motion to accept the contract was made by Harrison Harper, seconded by David Gera and approved by Harper, Gera, Chairman William Rhoades and Paul Klevis.

In other business, the board approved the purchase of two sludge containers from Barakat Associates LTD, Gilberton, at a total cost of $11,374. The authority changed to Barakat in October to provide for the removal of biosolids and grit and returned the containers it was using to the former service provider, County Waste.

Schuylkill County voters will have eight races and a state constitutional amendment on their ballots when they hit the polls between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday.

There are more registered voters in the county than there were during the last presidential race in 2012. The deadline for voter registration was Oct. 11.

There are 87,999 county residents registered to vote in the upcoming election. That includes 44,004 Republicans and 33,847 Democrats. There are also 507 registered Libertarians and 128 registered Green Party members. No other party had more than 100 members.

In 2012, the county had 86,323 registered voters. That figure included 40,801 Republicans and 36,541 Democrats. The Libertarian Party had 431 registered voters while the Green Party had 132.

The Schuylkill County Election Bureau has received 3,363 applications for absentee ballots and 2,937 completed ballots have been returned. The last day the election bureau will accept completed military and overseas absentee ballots is Nov. 15, submitted for delivery no later than today.

Of course, the presidential race is the top position on ballots. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton represents the Democratic Party while businessman Donald Trump is the Republican nominee. In addition to the two major party candidates, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson will appear on the ballot for the Libertarian Party; physician Jill Stein on behalf of the Green Party, and attorney Darrell Castle as the Constitution Party’s nominee.

One of the state’s two positions on the U.S. Senate is being challenged. Incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey is being challenged by businesswoman and Democrat Katie McGinty. The race also includes Libertarian Edward Clifford III.

Voters will also decide who will be the state’s top prosecutor. The GOP candidate for Pennsylvania attorney general is state Sen. John Rafferty, R-44, while the Democrat nominee is Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro.

Bruce L. Castor Jr. has been serving as acting attorney general since Kathleen G. Kane resigned in August following her conviction of leaking grand jury information to discredit a political rival and lying about it.

Incumbent state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, a Democrat, is being challenged by Republican nominee John Brown, a Northampton County executive; Libertarian Roy Minet; and the Green Party’s John Sweeney.

The race for state treasurer features businessman Otto Voit as the Republican nominee and former U.S. Ambassador Joseph Torsella on the Democratic ticket. The race also includes Libertarian James Babb and the Green Party’s Kristen Combs.

Interim Treasurer Timothy A. Reese, an independent, was appointed in June 2015 after Democrat Rob McCord resigned following a federal investigation of campaign finance violations. Reese is not seeking a full term in 2016.

Meanwhile, Matt Cartwright, D-17, is seeking his third term representing the 17th Congressional District, which includes all of Schuylkill and parts of Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe and Northampton counties. The Moosic lawyer is being challenged by Republican nominee Matt Connolly, a former professional race car driver and small business owner from Bethlehem Township.

There is no opposition on the ballot in Tuesday’s General Election for Schuylkill County’s legislative delegation to the state General Assembly.

Incumbent state Reps. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, Jerry Knowles, R-124, and Mike Tobash, R-125, will all run unopposed.

Incumbent state Sen. David Argall, R-29, will also be unopposed Tuesday. Each was also unopposed in the primary on their party’s tickets, as no one ran on the opposite party’s ticket.

Voters will also answer whether or not the mandatory state judicial retirement age should be changed from 70 to 75 for Supreme Court justices, judges and justices of the peace.

Polling site locations are listed on the county website under the election bureau tab at www.co.schuylkill.pa.us. So far, there has not been any changes made since the last election.

Anyone looking to volunteer for the General Election can call the Schuylkill County Election Bureau at 570-628-1467.

For information about getting a ride to the polls on Election Day or about either party, call the respective Schuylkill County political committees. The Schuylkill County Democratic Party headquarters can be reached at 570-622-3155 and the Schuylkill County Republican Party headquarters can be reached at 570-622-1540.

n Frackville: Elks Lodge 1533, South Third Street, will host “A Dickens of a Murder” from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 10 at the lodge. Advance-sale-only tickets are $35 each and a limit of 100 tickets will be sold. Without a Cue Productions will present the show at a murder mystery dinner theater. A buffet-style dinner will be catered by Roman’s Lounge and Catering. For tickets or more information, stop at the lodge during regular business hours. The lodge will also have a New Year’s Eve dance from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dec. 31. The cost is $30 per person. Doors will open at 7 p.m. and there will be a buffet-style meal catered by Roman’s Lounge and Catering. The ticket price includes buffet, a champagne toast, party favors and musical entertainment by Another Side with special guest Joe Jordan of the Jordan Brothers. A cash bar will be available.

n Gilberton: St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church in the borough’s Maizeville section is taking orders for assorted candy. The cost is $10 per box and the deadline to order is Dec. 4. Pickups will be from 10 a.m. to noon Dec. 11 at the church hall. To order, call Anna at 570-874-2207 or Martha at 570-874-2043 or 570-205-9381.

n Harrisburg: The state Department of Transportation driver license and photos centers, including its full-service center, will be closed Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day, according to a PennDOT press release. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website — www.dmv.state.pa.us. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24/7 and include driver’s license and photo ID renewals, vehicle registration renewal, driver-history services, changes of address, driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters, and exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services.

n Herndon: Grace Community Church, 1218 State Route 225, will host “A Walk Through Bethlehem,” an interactive production of Mary and Joseph’s journey to the manger for the birth of Jesus Christ. Two showings are planned: 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2 and 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 3. The event is free, but large groups are asked to call ahead to 570-758-6214. The church is accessible to the handicapped. For more information, go online to www.gccherndon.org.

n Orwigsburg: A Chinese auction, Christmas shopping spree and pie sale will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 20 at Weston Senior Living at Pinebrook. There will also be wine tasting and refreshments. Venders will include Silverwearables, Mary Kay, Scentsy, Country Craft, Essential Oils, Avon, Lularoe and Premier Jewelry. Proceeds from the auction and pie sale will benefit the local SPCA, American Heart Association and Alzheimer’s Association. All are welcome.

n Schuylkill Haven: The Walk-In Art Center “Dinner Club” will have an evening of Frank Sinatra and Rat Pack-style holiday music and fine dining from 7 to 9 p.m. Nov. 18. Dinner will be served by Oak Hill Inn. Internationally acclaimed soprano Tamara Wapinsky, accompanied by Ron Stabinsky, will perform. People should register online at www.walkinartcenter.org by Nov. 11 and select their meal online. The center is at 220 Parkway Ave. For more information, call 570-732-3728.

n Shenandoah: People, businesses, civic or fraternal groups can honor a veteran with a Shenandoah Area Hometown Hero banner in an effort sponsored by the Anthony P. Damato American Legion “Medal of Honor” Post 792. Applications are available at the office of the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc., 116 N. Main St. The banners, which will bear a veteran’s picture, are 24 inches wide and 48 inches high. The banner will also bear the vet’s branch of service, length of service and/or war or conflict and the sponsor’s name.

n Tamaqua: A community Thanksgiving Eve service will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at Trinity United Church of Christ, 22 Lafayette St. All are invited to attend.

Man charged in

firearms incident

ASHLAND — Borough police filed charges against a borough man stemming from an incident earlier this year.

Police said Timothy J. Stephens, no age available, 1116 Brock St., was charged with one felony count of persons not to possess, transfer or use firearms and three misdemeanor counts of prohibited offensive weapons.

The charges were filed Oct. 27 with Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville.

Police said on Aug. 24, officers were called by Officer Robert Yotko of the Schuylkill County Adult Probation office asking for assistance for him and Officer Becky Bracey at 1116 Brock St.

At the scene, police said the probation officers handed over a green and black case containing a .22LR RMJ revolver and said they were at the home to conduct a check on Stephens and saw .22 caliber ammunition in the living room.

The probation officers said when they asked Stephens if there were any weapons in the house, he told them that he had a handgun in a case behind a sofa in the living room. The case was pulled from behind the couch by the officers where they found the weapon inside.

Police said the weapon was assembled but had no ammunition in the cylinder, but there was a box of ammunition inside the case with the revolver.

During a search of the home, police said probation officers also found prohibited weapons in the form of a medieval-style mace weapon with a handle, chain and ball with protruding spikes as well as a PR-24 style police baton.

Stephens was read his rights and when questioned said he just had the mace and baton but another man had given him the revolver to hold for him.

Police said they learned that Stephens has a 2007 conviction for robbery that prohibits him from possessing a firearm.

Pine Grove man

charged in crash

A Pine Grove man was charged by Pottsville police following an investigation into a crash involving a motorcycle that occurred about 7:25 p.m. Oct. 31 on Cressona Road.

At the scene, police said officers saw David Hutton, 34, being treated by witnesses while the motorcycle he was driving seen about 100 feet west of where he was. The investigation determined that Hutton had been driving a stolen motorcycle at a high rate of speed south on Cressona Road when, after failing to properly make a turn and almost striking an oncoming vehicle, he over corrected and lost control of the motorcycle.

Hutton was taken to a hospital for injuries he suffered in the crash and police said they learned he was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant.

As a result of the investigation, police said a criminal complaint was prepared by Patrolman Jonathan Randolph and charged Hutton with reckless driving, careless driving, classes of licenses and failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic. Police said Hutton is also charged with felony receiving stolen property and misdemeanor unauthorized use of automobiles and other vehicles.

Woman injured

in Rt. 61 accident

Pottsville police investigated a crash that occurred about 3 p.m. Friday at Route 61 and Mauch Chunk Street.

Police said an 18-year-old Danville woman was driving a Pontiac Grand Prix north on Route 61 when she began to slow while approaching a red light at Mauch Chunk Street. Police said her car was struck from behind by a Ford Mustang being driven by Beverly Martin, 67, of Schuylkill Haven.

Martin was taken from the scene by Schuylkill EMS to a local medical facility for treatment of injuries suffered in the accident.

As a result of the crash, Patrolman Grant Yoder charged Martin with following too closely, police said.

Recently, the Schuylkill County Historical Society spent nearly $100,000 to make improvements to its headquarters, the former Female Grammar School on North Centre Street, Pottsville.

That included resurfacing the roof and upgrading the heating, ventilation and air conditioning, Thomas B. Drogalis, the society’s executive director, said Monday.

He came on board as executive director in February 2014.

“After I came on board we tried to identify the biggest needs and where the urgencies were. And that really surrounded the condition of the building,” Drogalis said.

To afford the improvements, the society’s board of directors launched a “Building Sustainability Campaign” in spring 2015, hoping to raise $100,000.

When it wrapped in October, it had yielded only $60,000, Drogalis said.

“So to afford these improvements, we had to go into some of our reserve funds. The society didn’t have much choice in the matter. You have to fix the roof and you have to have the ability to control the climate,” Drogalis said.

“In 2014, problems were beginning to occur in the third-floor ceiling. There were rust spots. Leakage was beginning to occur. There was no damage or loss of archival materials. However, to avoid such a catastrophic event, action was taken to repair the roof,” Drogalis said.

Berger Roofing Co., Orwigsburg, started resurfacing the roof in mid-September and completed the job on Monday.

“The contract price was initially $30,000, but they found the damage was much more extensive once they got up to do the work and it went up to $40,000,” Drogalis said.

He said the resurfacing should protect the roof for at least 15 years.

Over the summer, the board hired Leibold Inc., Pottsville, to upgrade its HVAC system. It was a “$50,000-plus project,” Drogalis said.

On Nov. 11, the society will launch its 2017 Capital Campaign with a goal of $25,000. More information about the campaign is on its website, www.schuylkillhistory.org.

“The capital campaign for 2017 is going to be very critical in terms of giving us the operating capital to run the society,” Drogalis said.

The three-story brick and sandstone building at 305 N. Centre St. is a landmark in downtown Pottsville.

Construction began in 1863, according to the foundation stone above its entrance.

The architect was John Fraser, and the building contractors were Henry Zimmerman and Jonathan Schum, who were carpenters, and Samuel Auman, a brick maker.

“On Dec. 22, 1865, the new grammar school for girls was dedicated. The contract price for the building was $21,800 but an extra allowance of $9,500 had to be made,” according to the “Joseph H. Zerbey History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County,” published in 1936.

It eventually became the Centre Street Elementary School.

In 1979, the Pottsville Area School District started work to establish a single public elementary school for its students. In the process, it closed 10 community public schools. Centre Street Elementary at the Female Grammar School building closed Jan. 4, 1982, according to the newspaper’s archives.

In 2003, the historical society moved its headquarters from 14 N. Third St., Pottsville, to 305 N. Centre St., Pottsville.

When the society observed the building’s 150th anniversary in September 2015, J. Robert “Jay” Zane, the society’s president, said, “it’s the oldest remaining school building in the city. And it’s one of the oldest buildings in Schuylkill County that’s still in use.”

Much of the building’s original architecture still exists. Inside the attic are hand-cut timbers that support the roof, Drogalis said.

A woman escaped injury when her car rolled onto its side just outside of the Tamaqua police station Monday afternoon.

Police said the woman was traveling on a private driveway owned by the borough, which wraps around the borough building and the office of Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer, when she hit a pole near the borough building causing her vehicle to roll.

The crash happened between the police station and district court.

Tamaqua firefighters and Tamaqua Ambulance assisted police. The vehicle was towed from the area.

Deeds

Butler Township — James J. and Elizabeth Cairo to Joseph R. Derr; property on Township Road 692; $2,000.

Donald L. and Ruby J. Fegley to Amy L. Fegley, Anita L. Fegley and Douglas J. Fegley; 269 Main St.; $1.

Veetamarie J. Rissmiller to Daniel A. Grosser; 135 Laurel St.; $68,000.

Frailey Township — Joseph A. Koperna to Joseph A. Koperna; 109 E. Walnut St., Donaldson; $1.

Kline Township — Veetamarie M. Polchin to Lee and Carla C. Alucci; 137 Haddock Road, Haddock; $225,000.

Joseph and Diane Kapes to Robert H. Kapes and Richard J. Kapes; property at Bruno Avenue and Doran Street, Haddock; $1.

Lee and Carla C. Alucci to Fernando Baez; 22 E. Fifth St., Kelayres; $89,500.

Mahanoy City — Dean W. Starkey to Walter T. and Blanche L. Starkey; 1016 E. Centre St.; $1.

McAdoo — Wells Fargo Bank NA to Johan M. Pujols and Manuel Pujols; 40 N. Cleveland St.; $12,900.

Minersville — Alan and Lori Ann Celmer to Joseph A. and Dorothy A. Schultz; 131 and 135-137 South St.; $100,000.

New Philadelphia — Loretta A. Apshago to Cheryl A. and Jason A. Strunk; 80 Wiggan St.; $38,000.

It’s Election Day and Schuylkill County voters have choices to make when they visit the polls.

Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The headline race is the contentious presidential battle between former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a Democrat, and businessman Donald Trump, a Republican.

One of Pennsylvania’s two positions on the U.S. Senate is on the line between incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Pat Toomey and businesswoman and Democrat Katie McGinty.

Also, Matt Cartwright, a Democrat, seeks his third term representing the 17th Congressional District and is challenged by Republican Matt Connolly of Bethlehem Township.

Voters will also decide the Pennsylvania attorney general as Republican Sen. John Rafferty squares off against Democrat Josh Shapiro. Bruce L. Castor Jr. has been serving as acting attorney general since Kathleen G. Kane resigned in August.

In the race for state auditor general, incumbent Democrat Eugene DePasquale faces Republican John Brown.

The race for state treasurer features Republican Otto Voit and Democrat Joe Torsella.

There is no opposition on the ballot for Schuylkill County’s legislative delegation to the state General Assembly. Incumbent state Reps. Neal P. Goodman, D-123; Jerry Knowles, R-124; and Mike Tobash, R-125, are unopposed, as is incumbent state Sen. David Argall, R-29.

Voters will also answer whether the mandatory state judicial retirement age should be changed from 70 to 75 for Supreme Court justices, judges and justices of the peace.

Polling site locations are listed on the county website under the election bureau tab at www.co.schuylkill.pa.us. To contact the Schuylkill County Election Bureau, call 570-628-1467.

For information about getting a ride to the polls or about either party, call the Schuylkill County political committees. Schuylkill County Democratic Party headquarters can be reached at 570-622-3155 and Schuylkill County Republican Party headquarters at 570-622-1540.

Pottsville Area School District Business Manager Stephen C. Curran was placed on “paid administrative leave” Sunday, Richard A. Thornburg, school district solicitor, said Monday.

The school district Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel, school board President John F. Boran and numerous school board members contacted Monday refused to provide further details, and referred all questions to Thornburg.

“As much as I would like to discuss this, it is a personnel matter. And at this point, those questions have to be directed to our solicitor,” Karen E. Rismiller, the school board’s vice president, said Monday.

“I believe we have an acting business manager. I believe it’s Pat Lombel,” Scott Thomas, a member of the school board, said Monday.

He was referring to Patricia A. Lombel, the district’s assistant business manager.

The matter may be discussed at the next school board workshop, to be held 5:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at the Howard S. Fernsler Academic Center, or the next school board meeting, to be held 7 p.m. that night.

In February 2013, the school board hired Curran as its business manager. On Oct. 21, 2015, the board approved a contract renewal for Curran, effective July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2021. According to the October 2015 contract, Curran was to receive a 3 percent raise per year. For the 2015-16 school year, Curran said his salary is $103,766.78. In June, Curran agreed to not accept an anticipated 3 percent salary increase for 2016-17.

According to Thornburg, the school board had discussions related to Curran in three executive sessions held in the past week.

The first was 7 p.m. Nov. 2; the second was 10 a.m. Saturday; and the third was 7 p.m. Sunday, according to school board members Thomas and Patrick F. Moran.

“During the executive sessions, we talked about personnel matters,” Moran said Monday.

Moran said the length of sessions varied each time and would not provide a time frame. He also would not disclose if more than one personnel issue was discussed during these meetings.

“Mr. Curran was placed on administrative leave with pay. This did not require formal board action ahead of time,” Thornburg said.

“The administration is not bound by the Sunshine Act,” Thornburg said.

Thornburg said sometimes an administration has to act before the school board does.

“The administration sometimes has to step in,” he said.

“It happened late Sunday night. As for the reasons why, I have some recollection of the reasons. But I am not at liberty to discuss them,” Thornburg said.

Thornburg said the school board contacted him by phone for part of the executive session held Sunday at the Howard S. Fernsler Academic Center. But he said he wasn’t on the line for when the board made its decisions.

Thornburg said he talked for about 20 minutes by phone during the session about Curran “and other items of the school district related to Mr. Curran.”

“I’ve also been advised that the assistant business manager, Pat Lombel, has been asked to step up,” Thornburg said.

Thornburg said the administration “asked her to step in cause we need a business manager.”

He would not disclose additional details.

He said he did not think Curran was present for Sunday’s executive session.

Curran could not be reached for comment Monday.

The administration also has the authority to take Curran off administrative leave, Thornburg said.

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy Area Middle School students learned Monday how bullying can affect them, not only during their school years but into adulthood as well.

A program called “Beware What You Share” was presented to about 300 students in grades five through eight by magisterial district judges Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.

Bayer said the program touched on various aspects of bullying, including how bullying can affect not only the life of the bully but also the life of the victim.

Both Bayer and Hale discussed the law and how it applies to bullying as well as the consequences such actions can cause.

“We are here to try and give them as much information as we can, information they will hopefully take with them and use,” Bayer said.

Kate Orsulak, Mahanoy Area intervention counselor, said the school continually tries to educate children in all grades, kindergarten through 12, about various things that can affect their lives, one of which is bullying.

Orsulak said that with the various computer avenues available such as Facebook and Snap Chat, cyberbullying has become more common and poses a danger to both young children and high-schoolers.

She said that Mahanoy Area also takes part in the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program, a nationally recognized program in which children meet monthly to discuss bullying, learn the ramifications of being a bully and learn what bullying does to the victim.

Bayer said that he and Hale wanted to stress the dangers of being a bully.

“We are here to hopefully make them think about the dangers because most young people think this cannot happen to me,” he said.

Hale said the Mahanoy Area session is the seventh she has presented — four in North Schuylkill and one each in Shenandoah Valley and Saint Clair Area.

“I touch on abusing Facebook and Snap Chat as well as sexting,” Hale saId. “Young children don’t often have the impulse control and foresight to think about what their actions will do to them down the road.”

Bayer said that both he and Hale agree that the topic of bullying is important enough to take time out of their district court schedules to speak to the students and, hopefully, educate a few of them.

“If we reach even one or two of the 300 or so here today it will be worth it,” Bayer said.

Hale said she feels it is her duty, as well as the duty of others in the law enforcement and judicial communities, to educate the public, especially children, on cyberbullying and how social media is making it easier for these “bullies” to find and harass their victims.

“Cyberbullying is probably one off the must relevant issues in their lives,” she said.

Mahanoy Area Middle School Principal Michael Heater said it is an ongoing challenge to educate children about the dangers that today’s society presents to them and how being responsible, especially dealing with bullying and cyberbullying, can ruin their lives.

“We hope that by reaching out we will let them (the children) know how bullying can and will affect them, not only at the age they are at now but possibly well into adulthood,” he said.

Phone number incorrect

To place an order for candy from St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church, Maizeville, call Martha at 570-874-2043. The phone number was incorrect in Sunday’s edition.