With push-button, battery-powered candles, a group of 34 people braved cool winds and drops of rain Saturday night to hold the eighth annual HALOS Remembrance Vigil observing National Suicide Survivor’s Day.

They huddled in a gazebo at Yuengling Bicentennial Park and Gardens, 10th and Mahantongo streets in Pottsville, for a service that included prayers and songs.

“In the rising of the sun and in its going down, we remember them. In the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter, we remember them,” Karen Spencer, Deer Lake, the facilitator for HALOS, said as she read “A Litany of Remembrance,” a poem by Rabbi Sylvan Kamens and Rabbi Jack Riemer.

And, as if on cue, the wind blew, rustling the dried leaves remaining on the trees and sending 42-degree chills to the people in attendance.

They included Wendy Bixler, Coal Township.

While Spencer and her husband, Don, handed out battery-powered candles to people who came to the service, Bixler had her own. And on it was the name of her son.

Inscribed on the front were the words: “Forever in Our Hearts, Brandon Joseph Menne, June 10, 1992, February 21, 2015.”

Menne, 22, was from Shamokin, according to the newspaper’s archives.

“My daughter had this made for me,” Bixler said, referring to her battery-powered candle. It looked like a thicker candle with the wick burned down to its center and, from a distance, looked like it was lit by a real flame.

Bixler praised the vigil and said she came to it last year as well.

HALOS, which stands for Hope After a Loved One’s Suicide, is a support group for suicide survivors (people grieving the loss of a loved one to suicide).

Angela Marie Nardini, Lansford, was at Saturday’s event, and sang two songs, covers of “In My Life” by The Beatles and “You’re Still Here” by Faith Hill.

While watching the weather reports Saturday, Spencer said she wasn’t sure how many people would come out to the event.

Her husband packed 100 battery-powered candles.

“We’re hoping for our usual 25 to 30. I think we’ve had 27 last year. We’re crossing our fingers,” Karen Spencer said.

“In the end, we had 34,” her husband said.

This was the first year the group held the ceremony in the gazebo. Traditionally, it’s held in the middle of Yuengling Bicentennial Park, she said.

MAHANOY CITY — State and local police are still trying to piece together how a Mahanoy City man suffered severe head injuries Friday night.

Mahanoy City police Patrolman Thomas Rentschler said the incident unfolded when he was called to the area of B and Spruce streets at 9:17 p.m. for a report of an unknown problem, a person down in the street.

At the scene, Rentschler said, he found Joseph Polusky, 60, of 500 W. Spruce St., lying on the street unresponsive and severely bleeding from his head. Also at the scene was the man who saw Polusky and called the Schuylkill County Communications Center.

Rentschler said he began to render emergency care to Polusky and, shortly after, received assistance from members of the Good American Fire Company who live nearby as well as Mahanoy City EMS that arrived within minutes.

Polusky was taken by Mahanoy City EMS, assisted by paramedics from Shenandoah ALS, to the helipad at State Correctional Institution/Mahanoy, where he was placed aboard the Life Flight helicopter and flown to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

As of Saturday night, Rentschler said, Polusky is in serious condition in the Intensive Care Unit at the trauma center.

After discovering numerous areas of blood on B Street, between Maple and Spruce streets, and the door to the Polusky home open, Rentschler said he and Mahanoy Township Police Chief Brandon Alexander searched the residence for anyone inside and also clues to how Polusky was injured.

“Due to the circumstances and evidence at the scene and Polusky’s injuries, I contacted state police at Frackville for assistance,” Rentschler said.

State police criminal investigators Troopers Alan Zulick and Thomas Robin arrived at the scene assisted by Cpl. Leo Luciani and Trooper Joseph Aponick. The area was subsequently secured and a state police Forensic Services Unit was called to collect evidence and photograph the area.

Borough officers, along with Shenandoah and Mahanoy Township police, assisted in securing the area and also went door-to-door asking residents if they noticed anything unusual or out of the ordinary about the time Polusky was found.

Rentschler said the processing of the scene was a lengthy process and police finally cleared the scene about 3 a.m.

Authorities are still trying to determine how Polusky was injured and are asking anyone with information to call Rentschler at 570-773-2313 or Zulick at the Frackville station at 570-874-5300.

All information received will remain confidential.

Can public health officials force Americans to break their soda habit?

The answer may come soon from the University of California, San Francisco, a health sciences center that has more than 24,000 employees on its sprawling campus. Last year, the university removed sugar-sweetened beverages from every store, food truck and vending machine on its campus. Even popular fast-food chains on the campus, like Subway and Panda Express, have stopped selling Sprite, Coca-Cola and their sugary brethren at the university’s request.

The institution is believed to be one of the largest employers to remove sugary drinks from the workplace. With sugary sodas now a rare sight on campus, the university found that it had the perfect conditions to study what happens when people who were drinking large amounts of sugar during their workday suddenly stop.

Researchers there have enrolled 214 of the school’s employees into a rigorous study, collecting blood samples to see if there have been any major metabolic changes in the people who lowered their soda intake. While they expect to publish complete results soon, early indicators are promising.

Since the policy went into effect a year ago, the university says it has recorded a significant drop in soft drink consumption among its employees, particularly service workers, who were the biggest consumers. A university survey of 2,500 employees found that some service workers and support staff members had been drinking up to a liter of soda at work and at home each day, or almost three cans. Six months after the policy went into effect, these workers had reduced their consumption by about a quarter.

“We’re a public health institution, and there’s something not right about us making money off of products that we know are making people sick,” said Laura Schmidt, a professor at the medical school who spearheaded the beverage initiative. “How dare we profit off of a product that our own doctors say causes metabolic disease?”

The university’s experiment comes at a time of growing battles over policies aimed at curbing soda consumption. One recent study found that a tax on sugary beverages in Berkeley, California, was working: In low-income areas, sugary drink consumption fell and water consumption rose after the tax went into effect. Last month, the World Health Organization urged countries around the world to impose a tax on sugary drinks, presenting research that showed just a 20 percent increase in soda prices would result in a proportionate reduction in their consumption.

The beverage industry has been fighting back, spending millions on ad campaigns against proposed taxes in California and Colorado, which it calls a regressive “grocery tax” that hurts the poor. In September, the industry filed a lawsuit against Philadelphia, calling its soda tax illegal.

As the fights over soda taxes play out, many hospitals and health organizations have taken matters into their own hands, banning sugary drinks from their own workplaces. Nationwide, at least 30 medical centers have restricted the sale of soda and full-calorie sports drinks, including the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio and the University of Michigan Health System.

UC San Francisco’s policy may be the most far-reaching. It applies not only to its medical center, but the entire university, including the aforementioned 24,000 employees and its 8,500 visitors and patients each year. Visitors to the campus now will find only bottled water, diet drinks, unsweetened teas, and in some cases 100 percent fruit juice with no added sugar.

Michael Flanders, an assistant specialist in the medical center’s division of hematology and oncology, said he had been consuming “tons” of added sugar daily from San Pellegrino Limonatas and other sugary drinks. But when the policy went into effect and the drinks disappeared, sparkling water became his drink of choice.

“It took my taste buds a couple months to adjust, but I’ve come to genuinely enjoy black coffee and unflavored fizzy water,” he said. “Soda and sugary coffee drinks now seem overwhelmingly sweet.”

But while the university says it hopes its policy will become a model for other large employers to follow, the beverage industry argues that the strategy is flawed. It points out that obesity rates have been climbing even as America’s soda intake has declined in recent years. And it says that focusing blame on soda alone, rather than calories from all foods, is misguided.

“Obesity rates have gone up steadily for years at the same time soda consumption has gone down for years,” said William Dermody, a spokesman for the American Beverage Association.

But Schmidt said it doesn’t make sense for doctors to urge patients to cut back on sweetened beverages while a university medical center continues to sell those same drinks. “I’ve spent years in the addiction field, and the first thing we tell people is that if you want to quit something, get it out of your environment,” she said.

My family is no stranger to suicide and suicide attempts, and we are not alone.

Suicide surpasses homicide in the U.S. Every 13 minutes someone in the U.S. dies by his own hand, making suicide the nation’s 10th leading cause of death overall (42,773 deaths in 2015), but second among those ages 15 to 34. Among children ages 10 to 14, the suicide rate has caught up to the death rate from traffic accidents.

Many times that number — more than 1 million adults and 8 percent of high school students — attempt suicide each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Yet a woeful minority receive the kind of treatment and attention needed to keep them from repeating a suicide attempt.

A common yet highly inaccurate belief is that people who survive a suicide attempt are unlikely to try again. In fact, just the opposite is true. Within the first three months to a year after a suicide attempt, people are at highest risk of a second attempt — and this time perhaps succeeding.

A recent analysis of studies that examined successful suicides among those who made prior attempts found that one person in 25 had a fatal repeat attempt within five years.

Now a new study reveals just how lethal suicide attempts, as a risk factor for completed suicide, are. The study, led by Dr. J. Michael Bostwick, a psychiatrist at the Mayo Clinic, tracked all first suicide attempts in one county in Minnesota that occurred between January 1986 and December 2007 and recorded all the deaths by suicide for up to 25 years thereafter. Eighty-one of the 1,490 people who attempted suicide, or 5.4 percent, died by suicide, 48 of them in their first attempt. The findings were reported in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

When all who succeeded in killing themselves were counted, including those who died in their first attempt, the fatality rate among suicide attempters was nearly 59 percent higher than had been previously reported.

“No one had included people who died on their first recorded attempt, so it’s not in the medical literature,” Bostwick explained in an interview. “That almost two-thirds end up at the medical coroner after a first attempt is astounding. We need to rethink how we look at the data and the phenomenon of suicide. We need to know more and do more for those who will complete suicide before they get to us for any kind of help.”

Important to preventing successful suicide is paying attention to premonitory signs of suicidal intent and taking appropriate action to defuse it. People who are depressed, who abuse substances like alcohol or illegal drugs or are having serious relationship difficulties should be considered high risk, Bostwick said.

Q: How has wildlife been affected around the site of the Chernobyl nuclear meltdown in Russia three decades ago?

— WALTER SCINTO, HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT

A: The Chernobyl disaster confirmed everyone’s worst nightmares about the awesome power of nuclear reactions. When the Ukrainian reactor collapsed, the radioactive fallout profoundly contaminated the surrounding environment, affecting any living beings located within the “exclusion zone” of nearly 19 miles around the reactor’s shell. Acute radiation poisoning annihilated a large pine stand, since renamed “the Red Forest,” while many animals suffered significant physical or mental abnormalities.

Invertebrates in the area suffered particularly dramatic population crashes, as most radioactive material resides in the topsoil layer where such insects survive and reproduce. Even apparently healthy wildlife was forbidden from resale because of the dangerous levels of radioactivity. The dangers of radiation led to a government-mandated eviction of the radioactive territory soon after the 1986 explosion.

However, 30 years of isolation from humans has proven to be the most beneficial consequence of the disaster. After the initial devastation of the radioactive fallout, species began to adapt to the higher levels of radiation. Indeed, species diversity and populations are actually healthier now than in most other forests in Eastern Europe. This recognition from the Ukrainian government led to the exclusion zone’s establishment as one of the largest wildlife sanctuaries in Europe in 2007. Some rare and endangered species, including lynx and the European bison, have returned to the area and can be found in higher densities than in radiation-free forests. Even the Przewalski’s horse, extinct in the area and artificially reintroduced to the exclusion zone in the 1990s, has flourished; the population has reached stability and is even starting to spread out beyond the protective fencing of the zone.

The question remains how these animals are able to sustain such high levels of radiation without succumbing to its deadly effects. Recent studies of the Chernobyl region by wildlife biologists Anders Pape Møller and Timothy Mousseau have identified serious consequences of radiation, even within thriving populations. Mutations among affected exclusion zone species include higher rates of cataracts, partial albinism and physical variation. However, it appears the deadly mutations took their toll on populations immediately. Subsequent surviving generations have shown amazing adaptability.

Møller and Mousseau conclude that while radiation is inarguably bad for the environment, its impact on wildlife is far overshadowed by the effects of typical human development. While no one would have wished for the Chernobyl meltdown, environmentalists point out the silver lining of being able to monitor wildlife population in the absence of human populations and activities.

Chernobyl is a primary example of ecosystem resilience as capable of overcoming radioactive devastation — and can teach us all a lesson about the importance of setting aside at least some wild areas just for wildlife. Furthermore, the experiences at Chernobyl and in the intervening years illustrate the benefits of preservation over conservation. While conservationists encourage sustainable use of natural resources as optimal for wildlife health, Chernobyl shows the incredible benefits to wildlife of leaving vast swaths of land alone and letting the animals just get on with their lives.

EARTHTALK is produced by Roddy Scheer and Doug Moss and is a trademark of the nonprofit Earth Action Network. To donate, visit www.earthtalk.org. Send questions to question@earthtalk.org.

Deeds

Ashland — Randy Troup to Ali Oley; 732-734 Brock St.; $1.

Ashland and Butler Township — Goulds Pumps LLC to Ashland Development LLC; 13.006-acre property on Route 54; $1,319,130.93.

Branch Township — Joseph Leshko to Jeremy J. Leshko; 0.097-acre property; $60,000.

Mahanoy Township — Catherine M. Klein to Catherine M. and Edward C. Klein; 11 Ellengowen Road, Ellengowen; $1.

David J. Rossi

TREMONT — A Tremont man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday on seven charges stemming from an incident in September in Branch Township.

Tyler J. Haas, 22, of 111 W. Laurel St., faces charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane, speeding and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi bound over all charges for court after Haas waived his right to the hearing. Rossi allowed Haas to remain free on $5,000 unsecured bail pending further court action.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Haas was DUI, and possessed drugs and paraphernalia, on Sept. 17.

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

Macy K. Barder, 27, last known address of 325 N. Second St., Lykens; DUI, accident involving death or injury, driving under suspension, failure to keep right, disregarding traffic lane, careless driving and reckless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of reckless driving withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Justin L. Cooper, 26, of 224 W. Philadelphia St., Donaldson; simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Brennen M. Dinger, 24, of 132 Dad Burnhams Road, Pine Grove; DUI, disregarding traffic lane, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving and reckless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of reckless driving withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

David A. Flynn, 52, of 230 High Road, Pottsville; two counts each of simple assault and harassment and one of false imprisonment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of false imprisonment withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Lloyd E. Freudenberger, 29, of 57 S. Maple Ave., Pottsville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance withdrawn, other charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

Linda R. Johns, 30, of 57 S. Maple St., Pottsville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance withdrawn, other charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

Cody L.N. Page, 24, of 14 Canal St., Pine Grove; terroristic threats; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Taree’an L. Tuttle, 22, of 65 S. Tulpehocken St., Pine Grove; aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, harassment and disorderly conduct; charges dismissed.

They admit they blew it.

The pollsters who regularly ask Pennsylvania voters about elections got it wrong in the presidential race and they’re trying to figure out why.

Franklin & Marshall College, Quinnipiac University and Muhlenberg College all had Republican President-elect Donald Trump well behind in their final pre-election polls, but a Republican-leaning pollster from Atlanta pegged Trump’s victory here almost precisely.

In a poll that ended three days before the Nov. 8 election, the Trafalgar Group had Trump winning Pennsylvania by about 2 percentage points. He won by 1 point.

Franklin & Marshall College had Democrat Hillary Clinton ahead 11 points in a poll nine days out, Quinnipiac had her up 5 points a week before, and Muhlenberg’s Clinton lead was 4 points four days out.

“We’re going to keep trying to get it right, which is what every pollster wants to do,” Christopher P. Borick, Ph.D., who oversees the Muhlenberg poll, said.

Polls are generally just snapshots of when they are conducted and generally right because voter attitudes usually shift slowly. In this case, exit polls showed 14 percent of voters decided on Trump within 10 days of the election — after the Franklin & Marshall poll wrapped up and perhaps explaining why Quinnipiac and Muhlenberg had it closer. FBI Director James Comey’s last-minute revelations related to Clinton’s emails certainly helped tighten the race.

Still, Trafalgar’s poll ended only a day after Muhlenberg and pretty much nailed the result.

All polls also account for possible error reflected in their margins of error, the number of percentage points, higher or lower, that each percentage could be off.

Franklin & Marshall’s 11-point Clinton lead — 49 percent to 38 percent — fell outside its 5.1-percentage-point margin of error. That means she could have led only 44 percent to 43 percent, but it also means she was definitely ahead.

Trouble is, F&M also had Democrat Katie McGinty leading Republican incumbent Pat Toomey by 12 points, a margin no other poll showed. Toomey won by 1.6 points, according to unofficial results.

F&M poll director G. Terry Madonna, Ph.D., admitted his poll was off and blamed a new polling method.

With this election, F&M allowed registered voters to answer online rather than strictly through telephone calls to improve response rates — people’s willingness to answer polls — and reach voters who lack telephones, Madonna said.

Response rates, once much higher than 50 percent, have dropped to about 10 percent in many polls in recent years, forcing larger adjustments in results to properly reflect voter demographics — party, region, age, gender and others.

In general, the lower a response rate, the more suspect a poll because the randomness of choosing voters — a linchpin of all good polling — goes down.

“The sample was too liberal and too young,” Madonna said because of the online responses.

Quinnipiac’s 5-point Clinton edge — 48 percent to 43 percent — also fell within its margin of error of plus or minus 4 points, meaning people could have interpreted the poll to mean Trump was leading. Still, its last poll had McGinty leading by 1 point.

“That’s why you have margins of error,” Assistant Poll Director Tim Malloy said. “Late-deciders went to Trump. There’s a chance that people ... did not say what they were really going to do. ... We’ll talk about all of this. ... We were not horrendous, but we did not nail it.”

Muhlenberg’s 4-point edge for Clinton — 44 percent to 40 percent — was well within its poll’s margin of error of plus or minus 5.5 percentage points. Borick declined to use that excuse because the poll had Toomey ahead by 1 percentage point, almost exactly his winning margin. He concluded voters felt more comfortable saying they backed Toomey than Trump.

“I think our estimate was clearly not as accurate as ... we should produce,” he said.

Trafalgar had Trump ahead in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Florida and Michigan, all states Clinton led in other polls and lost.

“They weighted for an expected Trump bias,” Borick said. “I could have done that. ... I didn’t know for sure. Why would I add in an assumption that I’m not sure of?”

Maybe if you found evidence of a hidden Trump voter.

Trafalgar Chief Executive Officer Robert Cahaly said its primary election polls detected a reluctance to admit support for Trump to live interviewers. People who answered automated poll calls gave Trump 4.4 percentage points more support. Clinton’s attacks on Trump’s voters as stupid and racist only fed their shyness, Cahaly said.

“There were women and minorities who were voting Trump who would never tell a live person they were voting Trump,” Cahaly said.

The company also determined many citizens skipped voting for at least a decade. Pollsters often screen out voters who haven’t voted at least once in the last four years.

Trafalgar included longtime non-voters in its sample, shifted to all automated calls and asked voters who they think most of their neighbors support. People answered that question more honestly with 13 percentage points more backing Trump in Pennsylvania. Cahaly blended that into the final results. The combination of all that, he said, explains why Trafalgar got it right.

TOWER CITY — Some bands who perform covers of classic songs go the extra mile by trying to look like the iconic singers behind the hits.

They include bands like The Mahoney Brothers, who performed at Williams Valley High School on Sunday for a musical benefit called “Jukebox Heroes Live!” Before tackling standards by Neil Diamond and The Beatles in front of a crowd of more than 250, they changed up their costumes and wigs.

“And the costume changes can be very hectic. We could do, about, eight, nine or ten different acts in a show. It’s like boom-boom-boom-boom-boom!” one of the brothers, Tim J. Mahoney, 62, of New Jersey, said.

At the start of the show, he stepped out onto the auditorium stage dressed as Neil Diamond. The spotlights put stars on his blue-sequined shirt as he sang “America” and “Sweet Caroline.”

The other two Mahoney Brothers are Brian T., 59, and Mike S., 52, both of New Jersey.

The band also includes Ed O’Connor, Jay Swanson and Dan Seeth.

When they rolled in Sunday, they brought in a wardrobe that included more than 15 wigs on Styrofoam head pieces.

“This is Elvis right here,” Mike Mahoney said as he styled one with a brush.

As he looked over the collection, he pointed out a few.

“About every three to five years we replace them. Over here is the later Beatles and over there is the early Beatles,” he said.

When the band performs as The Beatles, Tim Mahoney performs as Paul, Brian Mahoney performs as John, Swanson performs as George and Michael Mahoney performs as Ringo.

Joe Cesari, former superintendent at Williams Valley School District, introduced the district to The Mahoney Brothers a few years ago, said John C. Paul, the event coordinator, who is a special education teacher at Williams Valley.

The Mahoney Brothers performed at the district previously in 2012, 2013 and 2014.

“This is their third time doing ‘Jukebox Heroes Live!’ Last time they were here, they did the music of Elvis and The Beatles,” Paul said.

“Randy Russelavage, who’s the athletic director, we’ve gotten to know him over the years and he asked if we’d like to come back and help with a fundraiser and we said, ‘Sure,’ ” Tim Mahoney said.

Proceeds will benefit the Williams Valley High School musical and scholarships for seniors who excel in community service.

“I think today we’ll have 300-plus,” Paul said.

A spaghetti dinner was included in the price of admission, and started three hours before showtime. Tickets were $20 for adults and $10 for students.

“We’re hoping we raise $4,000-plus,” Paul said.

“It’s an excellent show for an excellent cause. It’s a good afternoon out,” John J. Mika, vice president of the Williams Valley school board, said.

“We have a nice crowd. We’re always pleasantly surprised at a matinee show. You never know what you’re going to get on a Sunday afternoon. And we always have nice crowds here. They’re nice people to play for,” Tim Mahoney said.

Cesari took to the stage to introduce the band Sunday afternoon.

“You are about to be taken on a magical musical journey. We all have problems to deal with. We all have concerns. And I’m hoping you at least left them at home or at least in the parking lot before you came in. Remind yourself to go back to the fabulous ’50s and the sensational ’60s when life was so simple, so innocent, so uncomplicated, we actually understood the words to the songs,” Cesari said.

The Mahoney Brothers became a musical group in 1978, and that same year the group did Beatles tribute shows.

“We did that for a few years, then we started adding other acts to the show,” Tim Mahoney said.

To learn more about the band, visit www.mahoneybros.com.

Currently, they do between 75 and 200 performances per year, Tim Mahoney said.

“This is what we do for a living, full time. On tour, we’ve gotten to see a lot of the country and meet a lot of great people. That’s been really cool. The roughest part is just being away, because we travel and periodically we have to leave our families behind for weeks at a time and that’s no fun,” Tim Mahoney said.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — While using acrylics to paint a portrait of the Nittany Lion at a fundraiser Sunday at the Walk In Art Center, the crowd in attendance learned a bit about the color wheel.

Missi Allen, a studio artist at WAC, designed the portrait and traced the basic lines of the image on the canvases used by the group Sunday at the center at 220 Parkway Ave.

“They come up with a theme and for Penn State we came up with the lion. I pre-draw the canvas. And I give them all the paint colors they need and all the supplies they need. I paint along with them and tell them what to paint while they’re drinking,” Allen said.

The event — a two-hour Pinot paint class and a fundraiser for the Penn State Schuylkill alumni scholarship fund — was BYOB. Admission was $45 per person and 28 came out.

“We expected 20, but we have close to 30,” Patty Shoener, assistant director of alumni at Penn State Schuylkill, said.

“Some people are drinking wine. Some people are drinking water. And we have a beer drinker here. It’s a very good turnout,” Allen said.

Allen chose two colors to make an impression: orange and blue.

She used the former in a column on the left side of the 11-by-14-inch painting. It featured images of paw prints.

She used the latter to bring the lion to life.

“I chose the orange for the side because it’s opposite blue on the color wheel, so it makes each one pop. It’s a color wheel thing,” Allen said.

Among those in attendance were Alyssa O’Neill, Pottsville; Gracie Gilbert, Schuylkill Haven, and Valerie Clay, Schuylkill Haven.

“Missi said when we frame it we shouldn’t cover it with glass because it’s an acrylic paint. I know some people here are going to display them in their offices. Some are going to take them home. And some are going to give them as gifts,” Shoener said.

Allen said the next Pinot paint class at the WAC will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 3. For more information, contact the WAC at 570-732-3728.

James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG — A Schuylkill Haven woman is wanted by law enforcement authorities after failing to appear for her preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges she used and damaged her mother’s car without permission in August in her hometown.

Amber Eddie, 31, of 59 Grant St., faces charges of unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and driving without a license. After the hearing, Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier ordered all charges held for court. He also asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Eddie, who had been free on electronic monitoring in lieu of posting cash for bail.

Schuylkill Haven borough police charged Eddie with taking and using without permission a blue Ford Taurus belonging to her mother, Robin Allan, at 7 p.m. Aug. 22. Police said Eddie also took Allan’s cellphone. Allan’s car had damage to its bumper and no driver’s side mirror when Eddie returned it, according to police.

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

Emily L. Brown, 18, of 33 Ketners Road, Pottsville — theft and receiving stolen property; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Danielle M. Cappella, 19, of 303 E. Mountain Ave., South Williamsport — possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Brittany D. Fisher, 26, of no known address — endangering the welfare of children; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Bret D. Horvath, 47, of 522 E. Hancock St., Saint Clair — driving under the influence and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

William D. Hostetter Jr., 74, of 39 E. Grand Ave., Tower City — DUI and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Geoffrey B. Hughes, 40, of no known address — criminal trespass; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Shane M. McNulty, 24, of 182 S. Front St., Schuylkill Haven — possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Derek A. Mountz, 332, of 1090 W. Market St., Schuylkill Haven — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Damon L. Oliver, 42, of 107 W. Spruce St., Mahanoy City — DUI and obstructed window; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Adam J. Pernick, 30, of 44 Chestnut At. Apt. 2, Cressona — DUI; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Brandon F. Raab, 19, of Doylestown — DUI; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Ernest D. Shaeffer Jr., 40, of 436 Route 61 South, Schuylkill Haven — four counts of conspiracy and one of delivery of a controlled substance; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Kristi L. Zimmerman, 34, of 409 E. Arch St., Pottsville — retail theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Anthony J. Kilker

SHENANDOAH — Defendants whose cases Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker recently considered, the charges against each one and the judge’s disposition on the matters, include:

Brian W. Creamer Jr., 27, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — withdrawn: criminal attempt to commit aggravated assault, criminal attempt to commit recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct, retail theft, fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless driving, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving without a license, duties at a stop sign and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Wayne W. Kechula, 62, of 107 W. Centre St., Apt. 1, Shenandoah — withdrawn: simple assault, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Dustin A. Whitcomb, 27, of 29 Elmer St., Ashland — waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate and disregard for single traffic lane.

Maryann Wachhaus, 47, of New Road, Box 186, Lost Creek — withdrawn: criminal trespass.

Diane M. Kutsko, 47, of 320 W. Poplar St., Shenandoah — waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia.

David J. Rossi

TREMONT — An Eldred Township man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday on three charges stemming from his alleged sexual assault of a child in January.

Cody S. Glosek, 20, of 1563 Creek Road, Pitman, faces charges of statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault. After Glosek waived his right to the hearing, Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi bound over for court all three charges against him.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Glosek with sexually assaulting the child on Jan. 1 in Eldred Township. Glosek is free on $25,000 unsecured bail pending further court action.

He also faces one count each of burglary and criminal trespass, two each of theft and receiving stolen property and three of forgery from a separate incident in which state police at Schuylkill Haven allege he burglarized a building on Nov. 1, 2015, in Eldred Township. In that case, Glosek is free on $5,000 unsecured bail pending further court action.

Other defendants whose cases Rossi considered on Thursday, the charges against each one and the judge’s dispositions of the matters include:

Johnathan M. Boyer, 23, of 411 W. Market St., Williamstown — accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property and following too closely; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Adriane N. Donton, 27, of 550 Deturksville Road, Pine Grove — simple assault, endangering the welfare of children and terroristic threats; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Brandon M. Elrod, 25, of 316 North St., Minersville — accident involving death or injury, driving under the influence, driving under suspension, disregarding traffic lane, stop sign violation and careless driving; charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

Sean D. Watkins, 43, of 143 Buck Horn Court Road, Wellsboro — DUI, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

CRESSONA — The Blue Mountain School District is considering adopting a drug policy that would involve drug testing for students involved in extracurricular and co-curricular activities and those obtaining parking permits to park on school grounds.

The board held the first reading of the proposed policy Thursday.

Anne Usake, school board president, said the drug issue is one that the county and other areas of the nation are experiencing. Superintendent David Helsel did not return calls for comment.

Blue Mountain High School Principal Kevin Berger said there is a need for such a policy.

“I believe there are students in every school district in Schuylkill County that have a drug problem,” he said after the meeting at Blue Mountain Elementary Cressona. “Our purpose for doing this is to help students make good decisions.”

The students are aware of the proposed policy which would apply to students in grades seventh through 12. The proposed eight-page policy lays out the purpose, guidelines, definitions and consequences of positive test results.

“The board recognizes that the use of illegal and/or non-prescribed drugs by students has a serious and negative effect on students’ motivation, memory, judgement, coordination, reaction time and respect for authority, and negatively affects students academically, physically and emotionally. These concerns in conjunction with the heightened health and safety risks associated with students participating in extracurricular/co-curricular activities or operating motor vehicles to and from school and school-related activities while impaired, and the recognition that drug use and abuse is particularly dangerous to students who participate in such activities, have compelled development of this policy. In developing this policy, the board wishes to follow the lead of other school districts within and outside Schuylkill County which have developed and implemented similar policies. The board wants to deter students from consuming or using drugs, and to provide assistance to students who have problems with such substances,” the document states.

“No student enrolled in grades seventh through 12 shall be permitted to participate in extracurricular/co-curricular activities or obtain a parking permit unless the student and the student’s parent/guardian sign a consent to mandatory testing and authorization for release information-form authorizing the random drug testing of their student.”

Parents or guardians can include their children in the drug testing program even if they do not participate in the aforementioned activities or having a parking permit.

The drugs tests will be random. If a student is not at school the day when they are chosen, they will be tested at another time. The drug test will test for the following: anabolic steroids, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, codeine, depressants, heroin, marijuana, morphine, methamphetamines, opiates, PCP, stimulants, valium, alcohol and other drugs chosen by the superintendent, the proposed policy states.

The proposed policy also says if a student fails to submit a sample, attempts to alter a sample or assist another student with altering a sample it is considered a violation of the policy. A parent or guardian may be present when the testing is conducted if they indicate they wish to be so on the consent form. Urine samples yielding a positive result will be subject to additional testing.

If there is a medical reason that is a result of “universally accepted medical treatment,” they must inform the district. Medical documentation must be provided to the superintendent for review by appropriate medical personnel, the document states.

The results of the test, using the same sample, can be challenged but expenses will be paid for by student, parent or guardian. If the sample is found to be negative, the cost will be reimbursed for the test and no additional action taken.

Upon positive test finding further test confirmation, the student will be referred to the student assistant program, a program run by the state Department of Education’s division of student and safe schools that helps students with drug issues, among other things, the document states.

There are three levels of violations, each one more stringent than the previous.

Students also are subject to additional drug testing after a positive result. During the suspension period from extracurricular/co-curricular activities and parking privileges, the student is subject to random searches, the document states.

A hardship review process will be established in the event a student, parent or guardian claims they will have financial difficulty paying for additional drug tests as required. The superintendent or designee will have final say in making the determination during the review.

Any student found in violation of the policy as a result of a confirmed positive drug test will not be suspended, expelled or academically punished, the document states. It goes on to say law enforcement will not be notified about the results of drug tests unless the district is compelled to by valid subpoena or court order. Students, parents or guardians will be informed if law enforcement is notified. Positive drug test result of a student will be destroyed when the student graduates, reaches age 21 or meets other guidelines, the document states.

Changes to the policy will occur as needed.

“Drugs are a problem in today’s society,” Berger said.

Ashland man

faces DUI charge

ASHLAND — State police at Frackville charged an Ashland man with DUI and driving while his license was under suspension following an incident Saturday evening, police said.

Police said that during a 9:22 p.m. traffic stop, they believed Leroy P. Arthur, 51, was driving under the influence. A breath test given at the Frackville station determined that Arthur’s BAC was above the legal limit, police said.

Charges will be filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, police said.

Woman injured

when car hits tree

ELIZABETHVILLE — State police at Lykens said an Elizabethville woman suffered a minor injury when she drove off a road and hit a tree Wednesday at Route 225 and Klinger Road in Washington Township, Dauphin County.

Police said Michelle E. Miller, 52, was driving a 2003 Saturn L200 south on state Route 225 at 9:26 p.m. when she lost control in a left-hand curve and struck a tree on the right side of the roadway. Police said she was taken to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, by Life Team for treatment.

Police said Miller will be charged with careless driving as a result of the accident.

2 drivers not hurt

in Dauphin crash

WILLIAMSTOWN — State police at Lykens said two men escaped injury when their vehicles collided Saturday afternoon at Tunnel and East Broad streets in this Dauphin County borough.

Police said the incident occurred at 2:35 p.m. when Donald L. Michael, 51, of Columbia, was driving a 2003 Ford Escape east on Broad Street and turned right onto Tunnel Street. Police said the man took the turn too wide and hit the left quarter panel of a 2002 Mazda Miata driven by Thomas J. Tallon, 70, of Orting, Washington.

Police said both vehicles sustained minor damage, and Michael was driving with his license was suspended or revoked.

Misdemeanor and summary charges will be filed against Michael, police said.

Several items

taken from car

WILLIAMSTOWN — Someone stole a variety of items from an unlocked vehicle between Nov. 6 and Wednesday while it was parked at a garage in Williams Township, Dauphin County, police said.

State police at Lykens said the person or persons entered the vehicle at Teter’s Garage, 9326 State Route 209, and stole a Tom-Tom GPS, a satellite radio system and an unknown amount of change with a total value of $390. Police said vehicle is owned by Derek Lee Miller, 35, of Tower City.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 717-362-8700 and refer to incident PA16-873295, police said.

Teen charged in

theft of phone

GRATZ — A 15-year-old borough boy was charged with theft after he used a cellphone without permission, police said.

State police at Lykens said the boy used a phone owned by Vicki Lee Gibson, 37, of East Market Street, at 8:40 p.m. Nov. 15. Police said Gibson noticed her iPhone 4 was missing from a locked drawer in her house. She questioned the teen about the phone, and he admitted taking it a month ago so he could use it to play music. Prior to the incident, the teen was told that he was not allowed to have a cellphone, police said.

The price of the phone was $150, police said.

Theft charges were filed through Dauphin County Juvenile Probation, police said.

A Frackville man went to prison Wednesday after admitting to a Schuylkill County judge that he burglarized a Cressona Mall store in January.

Aloysius P. Carroll, 27, pleaded guilty to burglary and conspiracy, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of theft, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin accepted Carroll’s plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced him to serve three to 18 months in prison, pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $82,657.07 restitution, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Carroll, formerly of Lake Wynonah, and three other men conspired to break into Sam’s Place Lottery and Tobacco between 1:49 a.m. and 2:04 a.m. Jan. 23.

Police said the conspirators cut a hole in the store’s gate, entered it and stole $10,284 in cash, $7,700 worth of active lottery tickets, approximately $6,400 worth of cigarettes and the video surveillance system. They also poured bleach in the store before leaving, police said.

Carroll admitted participating as the getaway car driver, police said.

Dolbin also accepted guilty pleas from, and, in accordance with agreements between the defendants and prosecutors, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Sheldon J. Buscavage, 52, of Frackville — driving under the influence, driving under suspension and careless driving; 10 months to five years in a state correctional institution, $1,525 in fines, $300 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 CJEA payment and 30 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew charges of disregarding traffic lane, seat belt violation and violation of restrictions on alcoholic beverages.

John D. Butz, 36, of Pottsville — receiving stolen property; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment and $17 restitution. Prosecutors withdrew charges of burglary and theft.

Eric M. Christopher, 23, of Pottsville — criminal trespass, theft, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driving under suspension; one to 23 months in prison, 12 months consecutive probation, $200 fine, $50 CJEA payment, $1,999 restitution and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew charges of burglary, receiving stolen property, driving the wrong way and driving on sidewalk.

Charles R. Conti, 43, of Shenandoah — retail theft; 24 months in the intermediate punishment program, 40 hours community service and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

William M. Cook Jr., 25, of Mar Lin — theft of leased property and theft by deception; time served to 12 months in prison with immediate parole, $100 in CJEA payments, $50 bench warrant fee and $200 restitution. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of receiving stolen property.

Michael T. Dower, 21, of Mahanoy City — possession of drug paraphernalia and receiving stolen property; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession of a controlled substance and disorderly conduct.

Teddy A. Fishburn Jr., 23, of Ashland — fleeing or eluding police, DUI, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving unregistered vehicle; 72 hours to six months in prison, 23 months probation, $1,025 in fines, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $400 restitution to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill S. Jackson Street, 10 hours community service and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew charges of escape and tampering with evidence.

Jason E. Greiner, 42, of Shenandoah — possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $50 bench warrant fee and drug and alcohol evaluation. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of terroristic threats.

Rhonda G. Heidlebaugh, 34, of Girardville — retail theft; 12 months probation and $50 CJEA payment.

Scott M. Kline Sr., 29, of Saint Clair — aggravated assault; 42 to 84 months in a state correctional institution, $50 CJEA payment and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew charges of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Howard Miller, 30, of Schuylkill Haven — two counts of possession of a controlled substance; 24 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $50 bench warrant fee and $239 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Harrisburg. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.

In other Schuylkill County Court action Wednesday, Judge John E. Domalakes accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Leolin Allen, 61, of Dickson City — six counts of forgery and one of attempted theft by deception; 23 months probation, $50 payment to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew charges of theft and receiving stolen property.

Robert M. Beaver, 52, of Ringtown — driving under the influence; 25 days house arrest with electronic monitoring, 35 days strict supervision, four months probation, $300 fine, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $120 restitution to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill S. Jackson Street and 20 hours community service, with sentence effective on Nov. 29. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of no rear lights.

Eric T. Bridy, 26, of Pottsville — five counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count each of possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, tampering with evidence and disorderly conduct; 12 months probation, $100 in CJEA payments and $478 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Richard J. Brown, 33, of Nesquehoning — DUI and disregarding traffic lane; five days to six months in prison, $325 in fines, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $120 restitution to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill S. Jackson Street and 20 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of failure to use low beams.

Peter D. D’Amato III, 56, of Hazleton; DUI; six months to five years in prison, $1,500 fine, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $520 restitution to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill S. Jackson Street and 20 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of improper sunscreening.

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

Deeds

Ashland — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to DJH Properties LLC; 628 Centre St.; $14,500.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Kingstone Properties Inc.; 1602 Walnut St.; $1,400.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to DJH Properties LLC; 1600 Walnut St.; $3,000.

Constance M. Bobek, administrator c.t.a. of the Estate of Leonard J. Staudenmeier, to Constance M. Bobek; 1126 Pine St.; $1.

Branch Township and Minersville — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to U.S. Bank NA; 527-529 S. Third St.; $1,420.37.

Butler Township — Sherman & Walton Inc. to Donald E. Carl Jr.; 18 Fairway Drive, Fountain Springs; $192,900.

Coaldale — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Jeffrey Allen Van Wickle and Hilary Marie Flanagan; 88 Miner St.; $9,000.

Cressona — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Wells Fargo Bank NA; 165 Willow St.; $1,071.50.

Frackville — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Frank Rupp; 34 N. Balliet St.; $4,800.

Janice Norwich, individually and as executrix of the Estate of Betty P. Eichelberger, to Robert and Karen D’Amico; 133 S. Balliet St.; $24,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Michael J. McCloskey; 314 S. Balliet St.; $1,500.

Gordon — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Bayview Loan Servicing LLC; 100 Charles St.; $1,066.03.

McAdoo — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Andrea Rivadeneira; 311 E. Blaine St.; $3,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Andrea Rivadeneira; 307 E. Blaine St.; $3,500.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB; 67 N. Kennedy Drive; $1,274.22.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Wells Fargo Bank NA; 133 S. Hancock St.; $1,134.93.

Mechanicsville — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Nicholas G. Kriton; 23 Park St.; $3,100.

Minersville — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Shawn McGuire; 701 N. Second St.; $6,000.

Lillian M. Dailey, by attorney in fact Fredrick Michael Evans, to Michael Hoptak; 126 Carbon St.; $7,500.

Frederick William Ochs to Vincent Martin; 16-18 Westwood St.; $1.

New Philadelphia — David J. and Sandra M. Mickonis to Sandra M. Mickonis; 16 Billies Road; $1.

Norwegian Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to CACL Federal Credit Union; 210 Chestnut St., Mar Lin; $1,191.95.

Palo Alto — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to DJH Properties LLC; property on Coal Street; $2,600.

Lynne D. Mazak to Jessica Pogash; 150 Bacon St.; $59,900.

Pine Grove — Ronald R. Rehrer, individually and as executor of the Estate of Monroe M. Schneck, to Jack M. Sr. and Margaret O. Modesto; 101 Hillside Vista Drive; $180,000.

Pine Grove Township — Charles A. Jr. and Theresa D. Ledger to Freddie E. and Norma J. Howard; property; $92,000.

Porter Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Federal National Mortgage Association; 305 N. Keystone St., Muir; $1,198.31.

Pottsville — David E. Lord to Buffie Lorah and Nancy Ustaszewski; 1602 W. Norwegian St.; $1.

R. Jason and Robyn M. Green to Adam Lorady; 310 Mahantongo St.; $135,000.

HCP Inc. to HCP Mezzanine Lender LP; four properties; $4,263,306.10.

The Bank of New York Mellon to EXR LLC; 618 Harrison St.; $1,250.

Barbara M. Derstine to Bradford and Doris Hutchinson; 623 and 625 N. Centre St.; $33,500.

Donald Mates Jr., by attorney in fact Sandra M. Schwenk, to John E. McCord Jr.; 750 Cressona Road; $87,500.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Russell McElroy; 840 Water St.; $4,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Francis DeVizia; 522 Harrison St.; $1,099.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Joseph M. Reppert; 308 W. Race St.; $1,109.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Hassen Group PA LLC; $90,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Ronald Chamberlain; 218 Pierce St.; $1,229.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Frank Rupp; 1834 West End Ave.; $5,500.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Kimberly Cummings and Henry Yuan; 1803 W. Market St.; $5,500.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Karma Land Co.; 8A S. 19th St.; $6,000.

Betty Jane Direnzo to Robert J. Bauers; 514 N. 18th St.; $95,000.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to BOKF NA; 701 N. 13th St.; $1,178.56.

Richard J. and Lisa A. Montone to Devon J. Neifert; 29 York Farm Road; $59,900.

Ringtown — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC; 104 W. Vine St.; $1,252.60.

Rush Township — John K. and Laverne D. Shafer to Nathan F. Evans and Jessica F. Martin; 0.245-acre property on Grier Avenue, Grier City; $55,000.

Saint Clair — Atanos Management LLC to Jenna Meredith Yeager and Nicolas Laveuve; 132 N. Morris St.; $29,000.

Schuylkill Haven — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Michael L. and Denise L. Gilbert; 202 Jefferson St.; $122,000.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Deutsche Bank National Trust; 30 St. Charles St.; $1,294.98.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to JPMorgan Chase Bank NA; 115 Avenue A; $1,322.90.

Schuylkill Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Charles J. and Nicole Lynn Fayash; 65 Sunny Drive; $1,417.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Charles J. and Nicole Lynn Fayash; 322 Valley St., Brockton; $12,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Charles J. and Nicole Lynn Fayash; 302-304 Valley St., Brockton; $1,155.

Shenandoah — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Eugenia Gutierrez Moreno; 11 S. Jardin St.; $1,484.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Francis DeVizia; 420 S. Jardin St.; $1,149.

Robert A. Sr. and Patricia A. Sekula to Nicollette Ann Sosna and Annette Sosna; 611 W. Penn St.; $17,400.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Borough of Shenandoah; 507 W. Arlington St.; $1.

South Manheim Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Frank L. Miller; 1851 Bow Drive, Lake Wynonah; $2,831.

Tamaqua — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Alexander Ofori; 411 Hazle St.; $8,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Edward Boerner; 162 Spruce St.; $999.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Scott R. Wesner; 213 Hunter St.; $3,300.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Wells Fargo Bank NA; 153 Penn St.; $1,191.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Monument Street Funding-II LLC; 418 Mountain Ave.; $1,162.21.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Federal National Mortgage Association; 717 E. Broad St.; $1,136.38.

Tower City — Wells Fargo Bank NA to Anthony Snyder; 317 S. Fourth St.; $2,500.

Wayne Township — Leon B. and Carol L. Koser to John and Lori Michael; 927 Lone Star Drive, Lake Wynonah; $4,750.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to U.S. Bank NA; 188 Totem Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1,093.32.

West Penn Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to New Tripoli Bank; 322 Mush Dahl Road; $1,353.44.

Commonwealth Connection Academy to Commonwealth Charter Academy Charter School; 195 Cold Spring Road, Andreas; $1.

n Ashland: The annual Ashland Area community Thanksgiving Eve service will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the worship center of St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, Walnut and 11th streets, sponsored by the Ashland Area Ministerium. Freewill offerings will be accepted for the ministerium’s ministries. Ashland area clergy will conduct the service, including the Rev. Paul Rothermel, pastor of the host congregation; the Rev. Rose Marquardt, pastor of Grace Evangelical Church of Locustdale (who will give the homily); the Rev. Dennis Synder, pastor of Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church of Ashland and the Rev. Tim Christman, pastor of Simpson United Methodist Church of Gordon. The Ashland Area Choir, directed by Bruce McCormick and accompanied by Betty Chappell, will perform. The public is encouraged to attend.

n McAdoo: Borough officials have reminded residents that a snow ban is in effect when a snow and/or ice event is predicted to accumulate at least 3 to 5 inches of snow. A snow emergency is in effect when 6 inches or more of snow has fallen. Vehicles will be allowed to park only on the side of the street where the house numbers are the odd numbers, with some exceptions. On secondary streets (alleys) there will be no parking at all. The emergency area for helicopter landing zone is the cemetery area of East Washington Street from South Lincoln Street to the railroad tracks on the north or south sides of the street. Also, snow emergency routes in extreme conditions and/or special circumstances may be declared. Violators will pay a fine of $50 and have their vehicles towed by order of the McAdoo Police Department. “At no time is a resident or hired contractor allowed to dispose of snow back onto a street or alley, pile near or over a fire hydrant, at intersections and/or any storm drains within the borough. Removed snow shall be deposited onto owner’s property or hauled from the borough.” Fines and penalties can be enforced and issued by the McAdoo Police Department and/or code enforcement officers.

n Ringtown: The 34th annual Hanging of the Greens will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 4 at St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 100 E. Main St. The program will include final decorating of the church while choirs and solo singers perform Christmas music. Refreshments will be served after the program.

n Shenandoah: The revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc. is selling lottery calendars for January 2017. The cost is $5 each and match the evening daily number Pick 3 straight. Calendars are available at the DSI office, 116 N. Main St. For more information, call 570-462-2030.

n Shenandoah: In line with a borough ordinance, residents must clear their sidewalks, providing at least a 30-inch-wide path, within 24 hours of an accumulating snow or ice event. Also, residents should not throw snow onto streets, a practice that is prohibited by the ordinance. People who do not adhere to the requirements can face penalties.

n Tamaqua: The borough has regulations regarding snow removal. Property owners are required to maintain a clear path, at least three feet wide, on sidewalks. Snow and ice must be removed from the pathways within 24 hours of the end of a snowstorm. Snow, ice and other material may not be thrown onto streets. Fines of $25 and up may be imposed on anyone caught throwing snow or ice into the street, or who fails to maintain a snow-free pathway. People who plow snow from in front of homes and businesses must remove any piles of snow they create. Anyone piling snow in the street or parking areas could be cited. Residents are asked to refrain from piling snow near fire hydrants or on top of storm drains and are encouraged to clear snow from such areas. For more information, call 570-668-3444 or 570-668-0300.

Police in Schuylkill County are reminding motorists that officers will be conducting impaired driving enforcement operations during the Thanksgiving and pre-Christmas holidays.

The mobilizations will begin Wednesday and continue through Dec. 11.

David Everly, regional coordinator for the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program, Pottsville, said the operations will include sobriety checkpoints and roving DUI patrols.

“The Thanksgiving holiday represents one of the heaviest travel periods of the year and typically has the highest number of impaired driving crashes,” Everly said.

He noted that 2016 is the 26th year that the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program has been in existence and to date numerous sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols have been conducted.

He said the North Central Regional DUI Enforcement Program is comprised of municipal police departments from Berks, Carbon, Columbia, Montour, Monroe, Northumberland, Pike, Schuylkill, Snyder and Union counties.

Additionally, the task force is committed to reducing the number of impaired driving crashes, injuries and fatalities in Schuylkill and the other nine counties.

To obtain this goal, the group uses various methods, including educating the public on the Pennsylvania Vehicle Code and DUI laws; deterring motorists from driving after consuming alcohol or drugs, and apprehending those who violate the laws of the commonwealth.

Residents are urged not to allow anyone who has been consuming alcohol to get behind the wheel of a vehicle and drive, and also to call 911 immediately if they suspect a drunk driver.

HEGINS — Because they overcame “obstacles” during their first fundraising event for Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors Inc., Tri-Valley students will once again be called upon to assist veterans in need.

During the Veterans Day assembly Nov. 11 at the high school, teachers Ryan Wagner and Connie Wehry said plans are to continue with The Warrior Challenge this year. Last year, the goal was to raise $1,000 for PAWW through an obstacle-course-style event in the high school gym. Participants surpassed that goal, raising $7,500.

This year’s challenge will be held Dec. 23. If students enter prior to Dec. 1 with a $20 donation, they will receive a Warrior Challenge T-shirt. If they decide to enter by Dec. 16, they can still participate with a $10 donation, but will not receive a T-shirt. Gratz Bank and BB&T Bank have agreed to award $100 prizes for the top two people who collect the most funds, and there will also be other prizes, Wehry said.

All grade levels, from seventh through 12th, are eligible to compete. Teachers may also enter. There will be boys’ and girls’ divisions, as well as “warriors” and “soldiers” divisions. The “warriors” will be sports athletes, while the “soldiers” will be students who do not participate in sports. The seventh- and eighth-graders will only compete in the “soldiers” division.

More information on the competition is available in the history classrooms.

According to the website, www.pawoundedwarriors.org, PAWW is a volunteer organization dedicated to Pennsylvania veterans.

“PAWW is an independent statewide nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization providing support to Pennsylvania Wounded Warriors, Veterans in Crisis and their families. We are not affiliated with nor a part of any national organization, including Wounded Warrior Project, and we do not receive any funds from them. We provide emergency financial assistance to veterans to help pay for housing, utilities, transportation, medical and other expenses. We pay directly to landlords, vendors and creditors,” the website states.

Tri-Valley winners of The American Freedom Essay Contest were also announced Friday. The new contest started at Tri-Valley this year as a cooperative venture that included the history and English departments, student council and Valley Lodge 797, Free and Accepted Masons, Valley View.

All students at each grade level were given a written piece — a quote from an historical figure, a poem or an excerpt from a book. After reading that piece, the students had to analyze it and answer specific prompts providing supporting evidence from the article.

The winners were: Maddisyn Behney, seventh; Maisy Geist, eighth; Abbie Soles, ninth; Jimmie Dietrich, 10th; Li Zhu, 11th, and Alexa Romberger, 12th. Runners-up were Haley Brown, Paige Mitchell, Jesse Brobst, Allison Marnell, Brooke Adams, Kole Ney, Alyssa Leitzel, Kesiah Moyer, Micah Ulicny, Logan Yoder, Cheyanne High and Elise Laudenslager. Greg Otto and John Adam of the Masons presented the awards from the organization. Each winner received $50 from the Masons, while the runners-up received a gift card provided by the student council.

HARRISBURG — Former state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane left the scene several months ago after her conviction on perjury and related counts, but her legal shadow hangs over the Capitol.

A House subcommittee investigating whether her misconduct while in office warrants impeachment is just now wrapping up its work.

Meanwhile, the attorney general’s office is finishing a review launched by Kane into the circulation of pornographic and offensive emails discovered on agency computers.

Attorney General Bruce Beemer, Kane’s successor, plans to release a report on the emails at a Capitol press conference Tuesday, agency spokesman Chuck Ardo said.

Kane hired a law firm headed by former Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler on Dec. 1 to check emails for sexually explicit content or material that is offensive on racial or religious grounds.

It’s unclear whether the names of any individuals who sent or received offensive emails will be made public.

Kane, Waverly Township, has been absent from public view except for an appearance at her sentencing hearing last month. Kane, a Scranton native, resigned in August, after she was convicted of nine criminal counts in Montgomery County Court for leaking grand jury information to a reporter and lying about it to another grand jury.

She was sentenced to 10 to 23 months in prison, but is free while appealing the case.

The House impeachment subcommittee heard testimony last week from current and former staffers in the attorney general’s office. The panel plans to send recommendations for potential legislation concerning that office to the House Judiciary Committee before month’s end.

The committee held the hearing to provide a comprehensive overview of Kane’s misconduct beyond the court case that led to her conviction, said panel chairman Rep. Todd Stephens, R-151, North Wales. The testimony becomes part of the public record and serves to hold Kane accountable for her official actions.

The panel heard testimony on several fronts:

• Former AG prosecutor Laurel Brandstetter testified it is her opinion that Kane thwarted a casino investigation by quashing subpoenas issued to Dunmore businessman Louis A. DeNaples, the founder of Mount Airy Casino Resort. Kane’s lawyer, Joshua D. Lock, told The Philadelphia Inquirer that she didn’t improperly meddle in the casino probe.

• AG narcotics agent Cynthia Pugh testified that Kane asked her to deny that she was sexually harassed by the AG chief of staff.

This testimony could become relevant to lawmakers should Kane win her appeal to overturn the conviction and run for elective office again, Stephens said.

This type of scenario was a consideration when a state official was impeached in 1994. Former Supreme Court Justice Rolf Larsen was impeached by the House and convicted after a trial in the Senate.

Larsen’s case had an unusual twist since he already was removed from the court after being convicted of conspiring to accept prescription drugs in the name of his employee.

Lawmakers were concerned that Larsen’s drug conviction could be overturned on appeal.

An impeached official can’t run for any public office again.

The panel’s legislative recommendations will focus on changes to the 1980 law establishing the elective attorney general’s office, the line of succession in the office and whether an attorney general can serve without an active law license, Stephens said.

Kane stayed in office for nearly a year after the state Supreme Court suspended her law license.

Police announce

DUI checkpoints

The North Central Regional Sobriety Checkpoint DUI Taskforce announced that Sobriety Checkpoints and Roving DUI Patrols will be conducted now through Nov. 30 on routes 61, 183, 901, 209, 1006, 309, 1008, 443, 895, 125, 25, 924 and 54.

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

The Sobriety Checkpoints are part of the North Central PA Regional Sobriety Checkpoint and Expanded DUI/Underage Drinking Enforcement Program funded through the state Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Police investigate

theft from vehicle

FRACKVILLE — Frackville police are investigating a theft from a vehicle that was reported to their department about 1:10 p.m. Sunday.

Police said Melissa Goodman, 629 S. Penn St., Frackville, reported someone took her purse from her BMW X5 while it was parked in the 100 block of South Broad Mountain Avenue.

Police said Goodman reported being at a party in Pottsville on Saturday and leaving her purse in the back seat of her car. She then went to a Frackville tavern about 7:30 p.m. and left there to give a friend a ride home about 9:30 p.m.

The woman reported stopping for fuel and noticed the purse missing, and also that her vehicle may have been unlocked since she could have pressed the car fob when she placed it in her coat.

Police said Pottsville police were contacted as well and the purse is described as being a camel-color Michael Kors model and contained the woman’s driver’s license, permit, debit card and $670.13 in cash from her check she cashed earlier at the Saint Clair Wal-Mart.

Anyone with information is asked to call Frackville police through the Schuylkill County Communications Center at 570-462-1991.