Deeds

Ashland - Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Santiago J. Ramos; 1833 Walnut St.; $4,000.

Francis J. Deeter to Richard W. and Judith A. Fritz; property on Centre Street; $22,000.

Branch Township - Robert J. Lipsky Jr. and Michael J. Lipsky to J.D. Rose Investments LLC; 605 Minersville-Llewelyn Highway; $6,000.

Coaldale - Kenneth P. and Ann M. Pomo to Ann M. Pomo; 250 E. Phillips St.; $1.

East Brunswick Township - Patricia A. Anthony to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; 72-acre property; $76,500.

Deer Lake - Jeffrey T. and Sheila D. Gilfillan to Jeffrey T. and Sheila D. Gilfillan; 326 Lake Front Drive; $1.

East Brunswick Township - Larry Medaglia, clerk of the Orphans' Court of Berks County, to Barbara A. Swoyer; 223.13-acre property; $1.

Robert M. Knittle and Robert L. Knittle to Todd P. Tyson; 89 Laurel Road; $168,000.

East Union Township - George D. and Andrea A. Andrews to Thomas Paris; property on Center Street, Sheppton; $15,000.

Thelma V. Lozada to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; 2 percent interest in Lot 413ER, Eagle Rock; $5,506.49.

Rodrigo and Maribeth Lucio to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; 2 percent interest in Lot 413ER, Eagle Rock; $4,342.45.

Mitos S. Garcia to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; 2 percent interest in Lot 413ER, Eagle Rock; $6,849.88.

Donald Bassenden and Jehan I. Pino to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; 2 percent interest in Lot 32WSS, Eagle Rock; $4,946.81.

Rex and Gloria Palawar to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; 2 percent interest in Lot 184WSS, Eagle Rock; $32,219.

Gerald N. and Marie A. Cabildo to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; 2 percent interest in Lot 184WSS, Eagle Rock; $4,664.24.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Jan A. and Meljen T. Cases; Lot 1HF4, Eagle Rock; $29,189.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Aileen Buenafe; Lot 80HF4, Eagle Rock; $30,199.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Marvin A. Maliga and Ray F. Maligaya; Lot 169WSS, Eagle Rock; $34,239.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Rogelio and Meleen Romero Dela Cruz; Lot 144WSS5, Eagle Rock; $22,900.

Bernadine A. Carmadella to Julie Marie Novy; 79 Third St., Oneida; $22,000.

Gilberton - Tracey A. and Floyd Dillman to Brian Frantz; 1404 Main St.; $1.

Hegins Township - Kellen T. Fogarty and Sarah R. Hepler to Sarah R. Hepler; 38 Hunters Mountain Drive, Hegins; $1.

Timothy J. Koppenhaver to Becky L. Reichert; 22 Dell Road, Hegins; $1.

Hubley Township - Wanda L. Reiner to Brian Herb; 3.185-acre property on Legislative Route 53048; $167,000.

Mahanoy City - Alice A. Bolton to JBVL Holdings LLC; 1232 E. Centre St.; $13,000.

New Philadelphia - Janet T. Spece to Robert D. and Anne Marie Dalvet; 143 Valley St.; $21,000.

North Union Township - Mark and Kathleen Breloff to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 76AW, Eagle Rock; $5,900.

Martin F. Koch, by attorney in fact Jason Troxell, to Christine Ulshafer; 690 Tahoe Lane, Cove Ski Village; $83,000.

Thomas J. and Pamela M. Buchman to James R. Whitner; 797 Ringtown Road; $160,000.

Orwigsburg - Riverview Bank to Gregory J. and Angela D. Solga; 490 Clark Drive; $350,000.

Pine Grove - Fulton Bank NA to James H. Grimm; 48-50 S. Tulpehocken St.; $26,250.

Pine Grove Township - Barbara Elizabeth Bailey, executrix of the Estate of Hilda F. Duncan, to Dale and Sharon Rittenbaugh; 241 Laurel Court, Swatara Village; $72,000.

Port Carbon - Ralph L. Miller Jr. and David C. Miller, co-executors of the Estate of Izola B. Miller, to Ralph L. Miller Jr. and David C. Miller; 309 N. Coal St.; $1.

Dorothy A. Shipe to Charles H. Shipe; 419 N. Oak St.; $80,000.

Pottsville - Cynthia Davie and James A. Davis to Qi Fu Chen; 1624 W. Market St.; $24,000.

Michael Tranosky and Ronald Tranosky to Sharon L. Tranosky and Michael A. Tranosky; garage on Wallace Street; $1.

Michael C. Tranosky and Sharon Tranosky to Sharon L. Tranosky and Michael A. Tranosky; barn on Wallace Street; $1.

Michael Tranosky and Sharon Tranosky to Sharon L. Tranosky and Michael A. Tranosky; 262 Wallace St.; $1.

Talal Rajah to Stacy F. Allison; 612-614 Oak St.; $28,000.

Ringtown - Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Jason Keller, Blackstone Funding LLC and Watermelon Realty LLC; 1 15th St.; $14,463.

Rush Township - Scott J. Zapotosky to Karen L. Zapotosky; property in Quakake; $1.

Phillip and Patricia M. Walsh to Patricia M. Walsh; 40 Great Oaks Drive, Lake Hauto; $1.

Nancy Messerschmidt, surviving executrix of the Estate of John M. Ryan, to Susan L. Ritz, administratrix of the Estate of Richard H. Schietrumpf; property in Hometown; $100.

Saint Clair - Andrew and Regina V. Hertz to Gregory Hueston and Jeffrey Hueston; 28 N. Morris St.; $48,500.

Schuylkill Haven - Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Blackstone Funding LLC; 27 Parkway; $4,766.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Blackstone Funding LLC; 214 E. Union St.; $3,588.

Keith E. Geary to Tyler Haas; 8 Liberty St.; $8,000.

Shenandoah - Noma Investments LLC, Noel P. Sheridan and Martin Reddington Jr. to Elijah Lopinto; three properties; $42,500.

Christina Yoza to Kurtiss McKee; 117 N. Lehigh St.; $5,200.

Paco A. and Reyna Zamudio to Angel A. Pelegrin Agesta and Yahayra Alcantara D. Pelegrin; 20 S. Grant St.; $10,000.

Judith Ann Sipowicz to Keri-Jean Moore; property on East Lloyd Street; $4,000.

George J. Rittle to Maria Rittle; 215 S. West St.; $1.

Jo Ann Waiksnoris and Linda Roshoe, co-executrices of the Estate of Jean Waiksnoris, to Terry and Margaret Weaser; 957 W. Coal St.; $9,000.

Tamaqua - Today's The Day Investments LLC to Jonathon Perrine; 212 Bowe St.; $8,000.

Jeannine Kruzik to John A. Hutta and Jeannine Kruzik; 420 Hazle St.; $21,000.

Ellis R. Warmkessel to Frank J. Boslet Jr. and Corey L. Smolar; 514 E. Union St.; $65,000.

Tremont - Fausto Olivo I to Fausto Olivo II; 411 W. Main St.; $1.

Walker Township - William R. and Helen M. Meyers to Helen M. Meyers and Matthew Edward Meyers; 1.578-acre property on Township Road T-523; $1.

Washington Township - Jonas Z. and Rachel F. Stoltzfus to Ivan R. and Cheryl E. Stoltzfus; 87 Ferrebee Road; $1.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Natural Realty LLC; 549 Mountain Road; $1,857.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Ray E. Shadle; 4 Muskee Lane; $5,200.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Blackstone Funding LLC; property on Grist Mill Road; $5,134.

Henry W. and Patricia Ann Sattizahn to Susan S. and Matthew A. Somers; 4 Louck Road; $1.

Wilma G. Zimmerman to Mitchell R. and Rhoda H. Zimmerman; 16.68499-acre property at Turkey Farm and Spancake roads; $1.

Wayne Township - Richard J. Gavin to Richard J. Gavin and Pamela B. Valkos; Lots 135 and 1306, Running Deer Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1.

Brenda K. Koperna, executrix under the Last Will & Testament of Josephine Weeks, to Craig Becker; four properties; $60,000.

Joerd F. and Kim B.W. Kaufman to Klinger & Klinger LLC; 0.515-acre property on Route 443, Friedensburg; $330,000.

West Brunswick Township - Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Christian Montanero; 65 Rockland Drive; $630.

The Westmoreland Co. Inc. to JLM Auburn LLC; 8.811-acre property on Hickory Drive, Auburn Business Park; $6.3 million.

Jerry Katz to Jerry Katz and Tammy Sue Luckenbill; 526 Second Mountain Road; $1.

West Mahanoy Township - Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Jason Keller; 193 Indiana Ave., Shenandoah Heights; $5,308.

West Penn Township - Katherine H. Flamini, by attorney in fact Thomas F. Flamini, to Dean R. and Andrea M. Arner; 54 S. Red Oak Terrace; $255,000.

Stephen M. Smolar, executor of the Estate of Stephen H. Smolar, to Stephen M. Smolar; 34 Chain Circle; $1.

Federal National Mortgage Association to Matthew J. and Erika M. Davis; 275 Mush Dahl Road; $63,500.

Beann Deem to Kenneth W. Deem, Blair C. Deem, Corey D. Deem and Kerry C. Deem; 351 Zions Stone Church Road, Snyders; $1.

First Niagara Bank to John and Susanne Bonsted; 926 Dairy Road, South Tamaqua; $57,000.

Martin W. and Christie E. Nothstein to Wildlands Conservancy Inc.; four properties; $960,000.

Wildlands Conservancy Inc. to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; four properties; $960,000.

Just a few days after area schools had cancellations and delays due to below-zero temperatures, it jumped to nearly 50 degrees on Saturday.

Isabelle Mettam and Gabrielle Miske, two elementary students at Pottsville Area, said they enjoyed the day off during the week, but do not want to lose more vacation days in the spring.

"We usually watch movies," Mettam, a fifth-grade student, said while at the Fairlane Village mall on Sunday.

Miske, a seventh-grade student, said she has been walking outside more now that the temperatures are above freezing.

"I would rather it be warmer because we would lose another day of Easter vacation," she said.

Alexandra Kalinich, Mar Lin, said her husband and son were enjoying the warmer temperatures Sunday by hiking while she was at the mall.

"I hate the winter," she said. "It's messy and cold."

Ed Gulko, Pottsville, said he stayed inside when temperatures dipped earlier this week. He said he could not believe how warm it was over the weekend just days later.

"It's so nice out now," he said. "It's wonderful. I hope it stays this way."

That seems to be the case at least for the next few days, according to the National Weather Service.

"We can always get another (cold snap), but I don't see anything in the foreseeable future," Barry Lambert, a meteorologist at NWS at State College, said Sunday. "We will be well into the 40s for highs over the next two days, then there will be a gradual cool-down."

Lambert said there will be some rain showers tonight and there will be periods of light snow later in the week. Temperatures will be below normal during the weekend, but not as bitter as last week, he said.

"The thing that made the last episode cold and really memorable was the wind," he said. "The combined effect of the very cold air and wind chill probably made it seem colder ..."

While the last week's bitter cold might have had the lowest temperatures in recent memory, some will remember longer subzero stretches from a few decades ago, Lambert said.

"We broke some records, but it was not the coldest it has ever been," he said. "We have had other periods in the '70s, '80s and '90s with longer stretches. We have had broader and colder outbreaks in the United States before."

A Pottsville man must spend time in prison after admitting Jan. 6 in Schuylkill County Court that he drove with a license that had been suspended for an alcohol-related reason.

Jonathan P. Pfeil, 29, pleaded guilty to driving under suspension-DUI related. Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin sentenced him to serve 60 days in prison and pay costs and a $500 fine.

Pottsville police had charged Pfeil with unlawfully driving on July 5, 2013, in the city. Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley had found Pfeil guilty on Nov. 15, but the defendant appealed that decision on the day it was entered.

Also on Jan. 6, Dolbin found two Minersville men, Brandon Marshall, 35, and Eugene Rountree III, 45, guilty of disorderly conduct. He sentenced each to pay costs and a $25 fine.

Minersville police had charged Marshall with being disorderly on May 22, 2013, and Rountree with being disorderly on June 1, 2013.

Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, had found Marshall guilty on Oct. 3, but the defendant appealed that ruling on Nov. 1. Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, had found Rountree guilty on Oct. 6, but the defendant appealed that ruling on Nov. 8.

In other cases Jan. 6, Dolbin dismissed charges against three other defendants.

Christina A. Covach, 42, of Girardville, had been charged with disorderly conduct, which Girardville police had charged her with committing on Sept. 16, 2013, in the borough. Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, had found Covach guilty on Oct. 17, but the defendant appealed that ruling on Nov. 13.

Megan R. Ebersole, 18, of Tremont, had been charged with purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of an intoxicating beverage by Penn State University police, which alleged she had the alcohol on Sept. 28, 2013. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, had found Ebersole guilty on Oct. 31, but the defendant appealed that ruling on Nov. 12.

Robert Paulukonis Jr., 34, of Ashland, had been charged with harassment, which Schuylkill County sheriff's deputies alleged he had committed on Oct. 12, 2013, in Pottsville. Reiley had found him guilty on Nov. 14, but the defendant appealed that ruling on Nov. 19.

n Frackville: The monthly Hogan Happy Hoagie sale sponsored by the Frackville Knights of Columbus council is slated for Jan. 30. Hoagies, for pickup only, are available in a variety of setups and can be ordered by calling Tom Malloy at 570-874-1843. The council uses proceeds from the sales to support community and church activities.

n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy City Free Public Library acknowledged the following memorial donations: For Mary Rose Klema from Mary Edith Rhoades; for Mary Rose Dolbin from Jim and Tina Davidson; for Johann Kegolis from Jacqueline Seritti and Joseph and Mary Ellen Boyle; for Joseph Drhuschak from Donna and Paul Peca, Robyn and John Sincavage and John Sincavage Jr.; for Dot Gimeno from Tina and Jim Davidson; for Dotty Solinsky from Carol and Bob Blue, Marie Koval and Patti Laustere; for Helen Sippe from Donna and Paula Peca; for Lois Vanhorn from Judy and Bill Brayford; for Mike Mogish from Judy and Bill Brayford; for Ruth Hudson from Judy and Bill Brayford; for Ralph J. Wittig from Tom and Patricia Seilberling; for Thomas Eichman from Pete and Carol Keim; for Jimmy Owens from Joseph and Mary Ellen Boyle; for Yoni Chilinskas from Joseph and Mary Ellen Boyle; for Jeanne Dennis from Joseph and Mary Ellen Boyle; for Dorothy Collins from Joseph and Mary Ellen Boyle.

n McAdoo: The Tri-County Little League will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 22 at The Strand. All coaches, volunteers or anyone interested should attend to discuss the 2014 baseball season. It will also be a reorganizational meeting.

n Pine Grove: A Fire and Ice Winter Fest is slated for 2 to 6 p.m. Jan. 27 at the clubhouse in Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. It will include firing up hot dogs and marshmallows over an open campfire, singing campfire songs and playing miniature ice golf. There will be a hot chocolate booth, a fire hot chili cookoff and a homemade ice cream demonstration and sampling. Advance registration is required to participate in the competition. To register, call Susan at 570-624-3018. Admission is free but there will be small fees for some activities. The program is open to the public and recommended for all ages.

n Tamaqua: The Lewistown Valley Garden Club held its annual Christmas party in the social hall of Zion's Church, Lewistown Valley. In lieu of a gift exchange, members donated to a local charity. Out-going President June Leiby conducted the business session. The gathering included a pot luck dinner and social games. The session's arrangement theme was "He Is Born," featuring a wooden container and dried flowers. Mary Bridygham took first place and Evelyn Adams, second place. The group will meet this month to plan for the new year. The club's next regular meeting will be in March and include installation of officers.

n Tamaqua: Stage Right Alliance has formed in the greater Tamaqua area to provide support for area art and theater groups. Organizers seek to keep open the lines of communication among the various groups to avoid duplication of efforts/productions and scheduling conflicts; share props, sets and costumes and provide better public relations. For more information, contact Lucille Fala-Brennan of the Strawberry Playhouse or Zane Bachert at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center or call 570-325-4368.

n Tamaqua: The guidance department at Tamaqua Area High School will host an informational financial aid night at 6 p.m. Thursday in the district auditorium. The 2013-14 financial aid form will be reviewed and general financial aid questions will be answered. Junior and senior class students planning to further their educations, as well as their parents, should attend. There is no fee and advance registration is not required.

n Weston: The Weston Athletic Association will meet at 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Nuremburg-Weston Firehall. Members will nominate, vote and install new officers for 2014. Anyone wanting to join any of the committees is welcome. Memberships are also still available. Interested people do not have to be residents of Weston to obtain memberships.

SHENANDOAH - A man told authorities that he stole a woman's purse in Shenandoah on Sunday to feed his drug habit.

Bobby Lee Taylor, 20, who has no fixed address, was arraigned on felony charges of robbery with force, theft and receiving stolen property. He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post 10 percent of $25,000 bail.

Shenandoah police Patrolman Travis Bowman charged Taylor after an incident that occurred at 12:40 p.m. in the parking lot of the Rite Aid store, 15 S. Main St.

At the scene, Bowman said he spoke to the victim who said a man wearing a camouflage jacket and yellow hoodie stole her purse out of the car she was in and ran through the rear parking lot of National Penn Bank.

Bowman said officers found a jacket and hoodie to the rear of 13 N. Main St. that matched the description and proceeded to knock on doors in the area searching for the man. Bowman said a blue purse was also found behind rubbish under a wall in the area.

Bowman said a man identified as Luis Ramos left 13 N. Main St. and told officers he did not answer the door earlier because he was on probation. Ramos, Bowman said, reported that the man police were looking for was in his apartment and identified him as Bobby, Bobby Taylor.

Ramos also gave permission to enter his apartment to look for Taylor, saying he was on probation and did not need the trouble.

Bowman said he went into the apartment and found Taylor sitting on a couch, and that after being asked the man willingly left the apartment.

After being told about the investigation into the purse theft, Bowman said Taylor initially denied his involvement in the crime, but a moment later sighed and said, "I took the purse."

The victim saw Taylor and identified him as the person who stole her purse, Bowman said.

At the police station later, Bowman said Taylor called the crime an act of impulse. He told police he walked by the woman's car, saw the purse and took it because he was feeding a marijuana and bath salt habit.

Extension cord

blamed in fire

BUCK RUN - A fire that destroyed the former James B. Neale mansion in Foster Township on Friday morning started by accident with an extension cord, police said.

State police fire marshal John F. Burns of the Frackville station said in a release Saturday that the fire at 78 Hill Road began in a room on the first floor of the property owned by Joseph J. Roperto, 83, of Falls Church, Va.

Damage is estimated in excess of $400,000, Burns said.

According to reports, Roperto, who grew up in the area, purchased the property for $7,500 on March 30, 2012, and was renovating the property to make it livable again.

Foster Township police assisted in the investigation, Burns said, and no one was injured in the blaze.

Man found dead

near barracks

FRACKVILLE - A Pottsville man was found dead Saturday night at the edge of the Pennsylvania State Police barracks' parking lot in West Mahanoy Township.

William T. Pilconis, 64, was pronounced dead at the scene at 8:11 p.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Joseph Pothering, Minersville. The death has been ruled a suicide, and a virtual autopsy will be performed as part of the investigation.

It was just after 6 p.m. when the Schuylkill County Communications Center dispatched Frackville EMS for a report of a person down in the barracks parking lot on Eleanor Drive. A short time later, the center reported that a county official, a coroner, was requested.

At the scene, police stood at the northern end of the parking lot, close to a wooded area, where Pilconis' body was discovered. The man's family was notified, and police said a public information release will not be issued per the department's policy on suicides.

Deputy Coroner Andrew Szczyglak, Shenandoah, assisted at the scene.

Argument leads

to charges filed

AUBRUN - A man and a woman were charged with harassment following an incident Saturday afternoon at a residence in West Brunswick Township, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Tiffany Hartranft, 29, and Jerome Kimmel, 38, both of Auburn, argued at 1:30 p.m. Police said Hartranft pushed Kimmel, who then pushed Hartranft to the ground by her neck.

Charges will be filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, police said.

Pottsville man

stopped by police

A Pottsville man was arrested by state police at Schuylkill Haven following a traffic stop Sunday morning on Route 61 north between Seven Stars and Mount Carbon Arch roads in North Manheim Township, police said.

Police said Eric Alfred Neidlinger, 37, was driving a 2002 Dodge Grand Caravan north on Route 61 at 12:15 a.m. and was suspected of being under the influence of alcohol during a traffic stop. After a field sobriety test, Neidlinger was placed under arrest and taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for a blood test to determine his blood alcohol content, police said.

Charges will be filed with the office of Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg pending the results of the blood test, police said.

Minersville man

not hurt in crash

DARKWATER - A Minersville man escaped injury after he lost control of his pickup truck at 9:40 p.m. Friday on Darkwater Road, a quarter-mile west of Route 61 in New Castle Township, police said.

State police at Frackville said Kevin James Fessler, 34, was driving a 1993 Ford Ranger east on Darkwater Road when he lost control of the vehicle on the ice-covered road. Police said the truck traveled off the southern berm and struck a ditch, where it rolled onto its passenger side.

Police said Neidlinger refused medical treatment at the scene and the truck sustained severe damage and had to be towed.

Police said Neidlinger will be cited under the vehicle code for failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic.

Saint Clair firefighters and EMS assisted at the scene, police said.

Penske Truck Rental is operating at a new facility at Highridge Business Park, having consolidated its locations in Pottsville and Mount Carmel.

Alen Beljin, public relations manager for Penske, said the company opened the Highridge facility Nov. 1 after the consolidations.

The previous Pottsville location, 1182 Route 61, is boarded up and is currently listed for sale.

"In particular, the Pottsville location was outdated," Beljin said. "We moved to Highridge Business Park to be closer to several major customers. The industrial park is a great location for future business opportunities and the proximity to I-81 was also a major factor. The Route 61 property is currently listed for sale."

Beljin said that Penske's new Highridge facility is at 1304 Keystone Boulevard and it provides full-service truck leasing, consumer and commercial truck rental and contract truck fleet maintenance services

The company's new facility is a 10,400-square-foot building on two acres. Much larger than the old Pottsville location, the building was designed to service trucks with engines that run on compressed natural gas. It has four truck service bays and a wash bay.

"The maintenance shop utilizes leading-edge wireless technology to enable Penske's service technicians to automatically connect vehicles for service with diagnostic and analytic software," Beljin said.

Penske Truck Leasing Co. is headquartered in Reading and is a joint venture of Penske Corp., Penske Automotive Group and General Electric Capital Corp.

It operates more than 200,000 vehicles and serves customers from more than 1,000 locations in North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

For more information about Penske, visit its website at www.GoPenske.com.

PINE GROVE - Apparently, groundhogs like to go to church.

Instead of making his annual weather prediction Feb. 2, Grover the Groundhog is moving his announcement to 9 a.m. Feb. 1 at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. The annual tradition is typically held on Groundhog Day, Feb. 2. However, the unofficial holiday falls on a Sunday this year.

"Groundhogs are big churchgoers. They are very serious about it," Denise Donmoyer, president of the Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association, said Thursday.

"He (Grover) doesn't want to have any public appearances or anything," Haaptmann Donald Potts of the Pine Grove Grundsau Lodge 5 said Friday.

As part of the festivities planned for Feb. 1, the Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association is hosting a pancake and sausage breakfast. The breakfast is served on first come, first-served basis and costs $5 for adults and $3.50 for children.

In addition, The Groundhog Band will provide entertainment and there will be a Chinese auction during the festivities.

Proceeds from the event benefit the conservation association.

Asked where Grover would attend church, Potts said, "He goes anywhere that he feels like it," but it could be outside with family and friends.

Grover's prediction of early spring or extended winter will still have relevance despite being a day early.

"He's going to be looking into the future," Potts said.

Last year, Grover predicted six more weeks of winter.

As the saying goes, if a groundhog sees his shadow, there will be six more weeks of winter. If he does not, spring will arrive early.

Potts said this is the fifth time Grover will make his prediction to his faithful followers. The schedule change shouldn't prevent diehard fans from seeing Grover and his wife, Sweet Arrow Sue, he said.

Last year, hundreds of people stood in 14-degree weather to hear Grover's prediction.

Potts said the groundhog will come out but in case he decides to sleep they have a plan.

"We're going to sing him some lullaby and he's going to come out to see what's going on," he said.

The couple has a child - Grover Jr. - but he will not be at the event Feb. 1.

"They had a little boy but we couldn't catch him because he's that wild," Potts said.

He didn't know how much Grover Jr. weighed or the exact date of his birth, but he said it was in February 2013.

Grover is not the only groundhog that has decided to made his prediction early this year.

Uni, the groundhog from Lebanon County, also is going to make his prediction Feb. 1.

"He's a religious groundhog," Jim Rittle, lodge member of the Eastern Pennsylvania Groundhog Lodge 17, said Friday.

The announcement is scheduled for 8 a.m. Feb. 1 on the Tulpehocken Creek in Myerstown, Lebanon County.

"To him it doesn't matter. One day is the same as the next," Rittle said.

This is the 33rd year for Uni and his prediction, Rittle said.

HARRISBURG - State revenue demands are driving a fresh look at a trio of initiatives that Gov. Tom Corbett pushed for all last year but could not get over the finish line.

Senate and House Republican leaders cited the potential of new revenue for state programs last week as they discussed legislation to:

- Reduce public pension costs.

- Privatize the state-owned liquor stores.

- Expand gambling for the Pennsylvania Lottery while creating a larger private sector role.

Sen. John Yudichak, D-14, Nanticoke, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, called the attention to these initiatives a diversion from the core issue creating fiscal problems: Lagging job growth in Pennsylvania.

He said the governor should focus on job creation rather than on divisive ideological issues.

The fiscal problems facing Pennsylvania this year won't be easy to solve. Lawmakers must pass a new state budget balanced between revenue and spending by June 30. Yet the governor's budget office forecasts $1.7 billion in additional costs in fiscal 2014-15 and not enough tax revenue to cover them.

Corbett plans to deliver his fourth budget address on Feb. 4. Lawmakers start budget hearings the following week.

Senate President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati, R-25, Jefferson County, drew the closest connection between the state budget and action on one of the aforementioned issues.

He urged his colleagues to take the lead in addressing skyrocketing pension costs like they did with passage last fall of the $2.3 billion multi-year transportation package. Lawmakers can either bring the pension system for state government and public school employees in line with the private sector or cut state programs to pay for higher pension costs, Scarnati said.

"This must be one of our first priorities," he added.

House Majority Leader Mike Turzai, R-28, Pittsburgh, favors moving new public employees into a defined-contribution pension plan rather than the traditional defined-benefit plan.

The next state budget must absorb a $500 million spike in state payments to cover school district employee pensions and $110 million spike for state government employee pensions, according to Budget Secretary Charles Zogby.

Closer to Turzai's heart is a new round of talks aimed at bridging differences between the House and Senate Republicans over liquor divestiture.

Turzai suggested that licensing fees from newly created private liquor licenses would provide new revenue for the next budget. He steered a ground-breaking bill through the House last year that would create 1,200 private wine and spirits retail licenses over four years.

Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley heads the effort to find out where caucus leaders can agree on creating a larger role for the private sector in liquor sales and expanding consumer choice and convenience.

"What that brings in revenue will depend on those areas (of agreement)," said Cawley spokesman Chad Saylor.

Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-9, Chester, said the votes are currently lacking in his caucus to pass a bill auctioning the state stores to private bidders.

"There is just not support for that broad of a change," he added.

Pileggi cautioned against selling state-owned assets just to plug a revenue hole to cover one year's budget and not weighing the impact on future budgets.

Meanwhile, the senator is trying to develop support for a proposal to boost Lottery revenue by adding keno, creating a larger private sector role in the Lottery and providing a school property tax freeze for senior citizens.

While Corbett recently ended a proposed bid agreement to have a British firm manage the Lottery, he said he's still seeks ways to grow Lottery revenue.

"The need and demand for these (Lottery) programs will continue to outpace the ability to pay for those programs," said Corbett spokesman Jay Pagni.

Senate Democratic Appropriations Chairman Vincent Hughes, D-7, Philadelphia, warned that the Lottery could be undermined by GOP lawmakers desperate to find solutions to state fiscal problems.

TREMONT NEEDS TENANTS

TREMONT - The borough is in need of new tenants for the former Tremont High School, 139 Clay St., which it owns.

According to borough council President Bob Donmoyer, the borough lost its biggest tenants in June - Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 and the Head Start program.

He said that when school ended last year, it was the end of their contracts and both decided not to renew.

"I thought it was due to financial reasons, that they could do it for less, but it was about the same," Donmoyer said.

"I was told they felt it would be better for the IU students to be in with the other children and have more interaction."

John Mease, former council vice president, who is trying to help the borough find a tenant,

said that it was a big loss for the people trying to run the borough.

"In a small borough, its always tough on the finances," Mease said. "Those two rentals or leases amounted to little over 1 mill of taxes."

Both were tenants for at least 15 to 20 years, according to Donmoyer and Mease.

The building also houses the senior citizens center and borough office and aerobics classes are held in the gym. Local organizations hold meetings there and part of the building can be rented out for parties or events.

Donmoyer and Mease said the building sat vacant for several years until the late Sen. James J. Rhoades became instrumental in bringing in funding of about $1 million over several years that was used for repairs and much-needed upgrades.

Council and community members and other volunteers recently joined to finish fixing the last room of the building that needed to be remodeled.

That work was funded thanks to a $50,000 donation by Lewis Griffiths, who had a special place in his heart for the site where he received all his formal education before becoming a successful business owner.

A large common room was named after Lewis, called the Griffiths Community Room.

Gene Griffiths said the YMCA has volleyball and aerobics twice a week in the gymnasium, the community food bank is housed in what had been the building's coal bin and Head Start sponsors child care once a week in the building.

Donmoyer said that up until these the two tenants pulled out, the building was self-sufficient.

Seven rooms are available to rent, Donmoyer said, adding all of the room have heat and air conditioning and the capability for any tenant to have a space's electricity bill separated.

"When they rewired it, they gave the capability and every room has its own meter and thermostat," Donmoyer said.

One of the rooms, which houses computers, is ready for that as well.

The rooms that the IU and Head Start rented are still suited for an educational setting, with the IU room having a "kitchenette" area as well with a sink and stove.

"We're looking for full-time rentals like the IU was," Donmoyer said.

Anyone interested in space at the building may call the borough office at 570-695-2232.TREMONT NEEDS TENANTS

They once helped lead one of Schuylkill County's largest manufacturers, but now Dennis F. Campbell and Timothy G. Hubler each will spend time in federal prison after being sentenced Monday in Harrisburg for their roles in the largest fraud case of its type in U.S. history.

Campbell, Pinebrook, and Hubler, Ashland, must serve 24 months and 33 months, respectively, in a federal correctional institution for helping to perpetrate a fraud under the Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program, Senior U.S. District Judge Sylvia H. Rambo ruled.

Rambo also sentenced Campbell, Schuylkill Products' former vice president in charge of sales and marketing, to spend two years on supervised release following his prison term and pay $119 million restitution to the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The judge also sentenced Hubler, Schuylkill Products' former vice president in charge of field operations, to serve two years on supervised release following his prison term and pay $119 million restitution to the U.S. Department of Transportation and $82,370 restitution to the Internal Revenue Service.

Each man must surrender by Feb. 17 to the U.S. Bureau of Prisons to start serving his sentence.

"The sentences handed down today, in what is the largest reported DBE fraud case in ... history, serve as clear signals that severe penalties await those who would attempt to subvert ... laws and regulations," U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith said.

Campbell, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to DBE fraud, and Hubler, who pleaded guilty in 2008 to DBE fraud and tax fraud, will go to prison for their roles in the largest fraud ever perpetrated under the federal DBE program, a fraud that led to the end of Schuylkill Products.

Prosecutors charged Campbell and Hubler with using Marikina Engineers and Construction Corp., West Haven, Conn., as a front under the DBE program to funnel work to the Cressona company and its wholly owned subsidiary, CDS Engineers Inc.

Romeo P. Cruz, a Filipino, owned Marikina, enabling it to be classified as a DBE under federal law and making it eligible to obtain certain construction contracts, according to prosecutors. That, in turn, enabled Schuylkill Products and its subsidiary, CDS Engineers Inc., to use Marikina as a front that let them do the actual construction work, prosecutors said.

Schuylkill Products manufactured concrete bridge beams and other suppliers' products, while CDS Engineers installed them.

Smith said the fraud lasted more than 15 years and involved more than $136 million in contracts in Pennsylvania alone.

Schuylkill Products and CDS Engineers personnel used Marikina passwords, signature stamps, business cards, letterheads and email addresses and covered their companies' logos on trucks with Marikina magnetic placards and decals in efforts to conceal the fraud, prosecutors alleged.

Northeast Prestressed Products LLC bought Schuylkill Products in April 2009 for $9.25 million and continues to operate from the same site on Route 901 in Cressona.

Cruz pleaded guilty in 2008 and 2009 to DBE fraud and tax fraud, and will be sentenced on Wednesday by Rambo.

Ernest G. Fink Jr., Orwigsburg, Schuylkill Products' former vice president and chief operating officer, pleaded guilty in 2010 to tax fraud, and is awaiting sentencing.

Cruz, Campbell and Hubler each testified against Joseph W. Nagle, Deerfield Beach, Fla., Schuylkill Products' former president and chief executive officer, who was convicted in April 2012 of 26 charges, including wire fraud, mail fraud, engaging in unlawful monetary transactions and conspiracy, resulting from his role in the scheme. Nagle also is awaiting sentencing.

Frederick J. Fanelli, Pottsville, Campbell's lawyer, said Monday that his client was happy his case had come to an end.

"We're glad that it's finally over, this matter can be put behind him and he can get on with his life," Fanelli said.

Landlords who have rental properties in the City of Pottsville but live more than 20 miles outside the city will have to abide by a new set of rules.

At its first regular meeting of 2014 on Monday at council chambers, City Hall, the city council held the second and final reading of a new law that will require them to appoint managers for their buildings and have proper insurance coverage.

"All owners of rental properties for occupancy in the City shall maintain hazard and general liability coverage with the appropriate limits shall be in place for the restoration or demolition or other repair of the property in adherence to the City Code and all applicable ordinances in the event of a fire or loss covered by such insurance," according to Bill No. 10/2013, Ordinance No. 832.

City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said the Pottsville Blight and Nuisance Task Force has been developing amendments to this section of the city's codified ordinances, Chapter 176, Rental Property, Article II, Residential Rental Unit Registration and Inspection.

He said it will help the city more efficiently manage the roughly 2,500 rental units within its limits.

At the meeting, the new mayor and council members introduced themselves to the public. They included Mayor James T. Muldowney, a former councilman; newcomer Joseph J. Devine Jr., who was elected in November; Ronald J. Moser, who was appointed Jan. 6 to fill Muldowney's seat; and Councilman Mark J. Atkinson, who was re-elected in November. Also on council is Councilman Michael P. Halcovage.

"Thank you all for coming and please spread the word that we want participation, and the only way we can get it is if we can get the good people of Pottsville to come out and be a part of your government. Your government is the people up here you elected and we want to work for you. That's why we're here," Devine said.

Moser, who was put in charge of the department of streets, said he's been staying in touch with the City Superintendent of Streets Daniel E. Kelly on road conditions.

"And I found out late this afternoon that, in the wee hours of the morning, PennDOT was patching Market Street," Kelly said.

In other matters, the council approved the following agenda items:

- On Dec. 30, Mayor John D.W. Reiley promoted Sgt. John R. Morrow to captain. On Monday, the city council took official action to appoint Morrow to the position.

- Appointed John Kalinich to serve on the Board of Appeals for the City of Pottsville to fill the term of Ronald Dermo to expire in February 2015.

- Appointed Morris Brill to fill the term of Devine on the Zoning Hearing Board for the City of Pottsville, to expire Jan. 9, 2015.

- Reappointed Michael J. Dwyer to the zoning board for a three-year term, to expire Jan. 9, 2017.

- Appointed Mary Ann Conway as an alternate on the zoning board.

- Appointed Calvin Hoy to serve on the Shade Tree Commission for the City of Pottsville, with a term to expire April 30, 2018.

- Reappointed Ian Lipton to serve on the Sewer Authority for the City of Pottsville for a five-year term, to expire January 2019.

- Reappointed Jennifer Daubert to serve on the Recreation Commission for the City of Pottsville for a five-year term to expire Jan. 1, 2019.

- Reappointed Dr. Christina M. DiCello and Michael Muncy to serve on the Hospital Authority for the City of Pottsville for five-year terms to expire the first Monday of January 2019.

- Reappointed the following people to serve three year terms on the Historical Architectural Review Board for the City of Pottsville: Marcia Smink, Dr. Michael J. Cardamone, Lisa Fishburn, Anne Shollenberger and Stephen Buzalko.

- Appointed the following people to serve four-year-terms on the Garfield Square Monument Committee for the City of Pottsville: Mayor James T. Muldowney; Eric Muldowney, who is the mayor's nephew; Councilman Devine; Robert Bedford; and Leo Haley.

- Approved a snow removal contract with the ReDCo Group Behavioral Health Services Community Employment Program.

- Approved an agreement for professional services with Alfred Benesch & Co., Pottsville.

- Approved a license agreement, allowing Schuylkill YMCA to use and maintain the parking lot at Mike McGeever Memorial Park at 517-523 N. Centre St.

The city council also held the first reading of Bill No. 1/2014, an ordinance vacating West Fairview Street from Mount Hope Avenue running east for 184.97 feet along the south border of property owned by Barbara Sepavich, Charles Macunas and Lynn Morgan.

n Pine Grove: The Sweet Arrow Lake County Park Conservation Association and the Schuylkill Conservation District are again cooperating to sell "quality seedlings for your property," according to a district press release. Offerings are available for small yards to large tracts. Evergreens offered include Douglas fir, concolor fir, Colorado blue spruce, Norway spruce and American arborvitae. Hardwoods offered include pin oak, sweet gum, sugar maple, American cranberry, white flowering dogwood, buttonbush and common lilac. Proceeds from the sale help to support Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. Order forms can be downloaded at www.sweetarrowlake.com. For more information, contact Patrick M. "Porcupine Pat" McKinney, environmental education coordinator for the conservation district, at procupinepat@yahoo.com or by calling 570-622-4124, ext. 113. The order deadline is April 2. The pickup time and date: 9 a.m. to noon at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park.

n Pine Grove: The boil-water advisory for Pine Grove borough has been lifted. The advisory was issued Thursday as a result of a water line break on Cherry Street.

n Pottsville: Theresa Santai Gaffney, Schuylkill County register of wills and clerk of the orphans' court, released the following report for December: Estates processed, 73; marriage licenses issued, 40; adoptions completed, one; inheritance tax remitted to the commonwealth, $801,473.15; county fees collected, $17,6725.25. She also released the following report for all of 2013: Estates processed, 966; marriage licenses issued, 726; adoptions completed, 41; inheritance tax remitted to the commonwealth, $10,159,241.84; county fees collected, $316,070.19.

n Shenandoah: Francis Cardinal Brennan Knights of Columbus Council 618 sponsors hoagie sales the second Tuesday of the month. The cost is $4 per hoagie and pickups are from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the council home, 201 W. Cherry St. To order in advance, call 570-590-1188 or 570-462-1430. Proceeds from fundraisers enable the council to advance its charitable works.

n Shenandoah: Schuylkill Community Action has found a new home for the Shenandoah Area Food Pantry. It will be at the local Knights of Columbus Council 618 headquarters, 201 W. Cherry St. It serves Shenandoah and Gilberton boroughs and West Mahanoy Township. The site contact is SCA's Jason Schally, call 570-622-1995. The distribution schedule will be 10 a.m. to noon the last Friday of odd months.

n Tamaqua: The Tamaqua Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Jan. 23 in the Tamaqua Art Gallery, 114 W. Broad St. The society meets regularly on the fourth Thursday of the month. Anyone may stop by to inquire about joining or talk about ways to help keep the history of Tamaqua in the eyes of the public.

n Tamaqua: The Schuylkill County and Tamaqua borough per capita and occupation tax exemption forms for 2014 are available for borough residents at Tamaqua Borough Hall, 320 E. Broad St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Forms also are available at tax collector Alan Kerr's office, the Tamaqua Area School District Administration building, the Tamaqua ABC High Rise, Majestic House Apartment Complex, the Tamaqua Public Library and the Tamaqua Post Office. Residents must complete the form each year to qualify for the tax exemption. Exoneration forms must be submitted by Jan. 31.

n Tamaqua: Free community soup socials - outreach soup kitchens - are held from 4 to 6 p.m. the first Saturday of the month in Founders Hall at Trinity United Church of Christ, 22 Lafayette St. All are welcome. People should use the lower parking lot entrance to the hall.

n Tamaqua: A Schuylkill On the Move hike titled "Lehigh Valley & New England Rail Trail and Stonehedge Gardens" is set for 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursday. Participants will meet in the parking lot of Stonehedge Gardens on Dairy Road near the intersection of routes 443 and 309 in South Tamaqua. The four-mile hike is rated as easy. SOM walks are held monthly and feature a variety of locations throughout the county and region. People can get a copy of the hike schedule by emailing Patrick M. "Porcupine Pat" McKinney at porcupinepat@yahoo.com or by calling at 570-622-4124, ext. 113. SOM is a consortium of health and wellness organizations and agencies that include Schuylkill County's VISION, the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau, Diakon Social Services for Seniors and Schuylkill Conservation District.

Deeds

Union Township - Darryl and Judith Hetherington, Dennis and Vicki Hetherington, Diane Schappell, Cathy and Ronald Lorah and Lori Buckanavage to Jenna M. Schappell; 10-acre property on Aristes Road; $1.

Washington Township - Lloyd W. High and David W. High to Brian G. Haines; 132 Fox Road; $42,000.

West Brunswick Township - Beth Ebling to Jessica Grasso; 605 Village Road, Pinebrook; $127,500.

Kathleen A. Schrader to Timothy E. Bortz; 2148 Market St.; $106,000.

West Penn Township - Todd P. Sr. and Beth A. Tyson to Nicholas and Dawn Viania; 347 Archery Club Road; $168,500.

Harassment

charge filed

FRACKVILLE - West Mahanoy Township police charged a man with harassment after an incident at Granny's Motel that occurred about 2:55 p.m. Thursday.

Police said Brett Blankenbiller, age and address not available, was staying in Room 21 of the 115 W. Coal St. location with Shandra Detwiler when he allegedly pulled the woman by the hair and pushed her.

Police said Blankenbiller will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale.

Shen man faces

DUI charge

ALTAMONT - A Shenandoah man is facing charges of DUI after the vehicle he was driving was stopped for a violation about 5:40 a.m. Dec. 29.

West Mahanoy Township police said Monday that David Dargis was leaving Granny's Motel on West Coal Street and was stopped. It was discovered that he did not have a valid license and that the vehicle did not have a valid inspection or insurance, police said.

Police said Dargis was found with drug paraphernalia and was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance.

Charges are pending the results of a blood test taken at the hospital, police said.

Bike reported

taken from porch

NEW PHILADELPHIA - A 16-speed white Mongoose Estes bicycle was stolen from a porch in the borough, police said.

State police at Frackville said the theft at 34 Kimber St. occurred between Dec. 25 and Monday at the home of Robert Bressler Jr, 54. Police said the person or persons took the bicycle from the rear porch by crawling over a chain-link fence.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300 and refer to incident L03-1304367.

Police probe

damaged van

GIRARDVILLE - Someone smashed the windshield and slashed the driver's side tire of a borough woman's van while it was parked in front of her home Sunday evening and Monday morning, police said.

State police at Frackville said the damage to the white 1994 Chevrolet van owned by Stephanie Marie Heckman, 31, occurred between 9 p.m. Sunday and 11:30 a.m. Monday at 323 E. Main St.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.

Megan's Law

violation alleged

PINE GROVE - State police at Schuylkill Haven are looking for a man who failed to adhere to Megan's Law registration requirements.

Joseph Lansing Dunckley, 38, last known address of Pine Grove, failed to comply with the law, police said.

Anyone with information about Dunckley is asked to call the state police Megan's Law Unit at 717-783-4363.

by peter e. bortner

A Schuylkill County judge has upheld New Castle Township's decision to allow a man to build a garage at his Arnot's Addition home.

In a seven-page opinion and order filed Friday, Judge James P. Goodman ruled the township zoning hearing board had substantial evidence to justify granting the variance to Alvin S. Bell allowing him to build the garage at 149 Broad St.

Goodman rejected the appeal of Michael Goetz and Helen Polinsky, two of Bell's neighbors, asking that the garage not be allowed to be built.

"The Board correctly considered the character of the neighborhood and found that the construction of the garage would not change its character," Goodman wrote.

As a result, Bell will be allowed to build the garage at his residence.

Goodman wrote that the board based its findings on solid evidence and he cannot substitute his own judgment for the board's.

Furthermore, Bell asked for a dimensional variance, allowing him a permitted use - the garage - with an adjustment recognizing the reality of the property's size, according to Goodman.

Also, the board found there would not be any negative effect on neighborhood health, safety and welfare or Goetz and Polinsky's property values, and Goodman said that finding was justified.

In his opinion, Goodman also wrote that many other houses and garages in the neighborhood do not meet setback requirements, and the board's finding that Bell's garage fits well into the neighborhood is correct.

Finally, Goodman wrote that the board correctly considered possible negative effects on the area but did not have to find that Goetz and Polinsky had proven that such effects existed.

The former Empire Beauty School has been emptied as the Schuylkill County commissioners near a decision on who will be moving into the new property at 324 N. Centre St., Pottsville.

The county acquired the 0.46-acre property in January 2012 from Dale F. Schoeneman and Franklin K. Schoeneman after exercising the power of eminent domain, the right of a government to take private property for public use.

"It's a very well constructed and designed building," Gary Bender, county grants, demolition and community development block grant coordinator, said Monday.

The 21,000-square-foot property has three floors, including a basement. It cost about $18,000 to empty the building.

The Empire Beauty School moved out of the city in November 2012 after renovations were completed at the Empire Education Group headquarters near Fairlane Village mall in East Norwegian Township.

Under law, the county had to pay the fair market value of the property as determined by an independent appraiser. That cost was $740,000, which included $455,000 for the building, $200,000 for the Second Street lot and $85,000 for the adjacent lot.

In December 2012, the commissioners approved the purchase through eminent domain on a 2-1 vote.

Commissioner Gary J. Hess, the lone Democrat on the board, cast the dissenting vote. Hess had said he approved of the project, but not the method of its purchase.

"It definitely does bring new room and just hopefully we can do it in a costly fashion," Hess said Monday. "We are being very frugal."

Rick Yutko, of WJP Engineers, is designing the building. The professional services agreement with the Pottsville engineering firm will not exceed 8 percent of the total construction costs. Several designs have been made, but the commissioners still have not decided what county departments will be moving into the new facility. When that decision is made, design costs will be made available.

"All of the plans are starting to come to fruition," commissioners Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier said Monday.

The commissioners had meetings with the various department heads Monday to discuss who may be moving. Staudenmeier said he expects to announce who will be moving into the new building within the next two weeks.

"We are excited about having more room because that's the reason we did it," he said. "We were really tight on space and it's going to allow us to do things we couldn't do before because of the square footage. We have been hearing that for at least the last five or six years that we needed more space, and we are excited now we can do that."

Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. could not be reached for comment on Monday.

The board has discussed moving Children & Youth Services from the human services complex across the street at 410 N. Centre St. into the new facility, but may also keep the department there and relocate the other services in the building, which includes the election bureau, senior services and others.

Hess said he hopes the move will allow the county to end leases the county has to house departments, including the Drug and Alcohol and Mental Health and Developmental Services departments, which are located at the second floor in 108 S. Claude A. Lord Boulevard, and the office of District Magisterial Judge James K. Reiley.

"That would be a cost savings and it also brings the human services a little closer together within a campus setting," Hess said.

The building also needs a new roof, elevator and heating, ventilation and air conditioning system.

Hess said he hopes to have those projects out for bid within a few months and have the project complete by the end of the year.

"That's the goal and that's why we want to move on it as soon as possible," Hess said.

On Monday night, 18-month-old Brylee Lynn Hylka and her family met the city's new mayor, who encouraged the public to learn a bit about a burden she's had to bear.

She was born with several complex congenital heart defects, according to her parents, Joseph and Mallory.

"Congenital heart defects are the leading cause of death in infants and are the number one birth defect in the world. Without the prior knowledge of her defects, without preparation, Brylee very well may have died at 5 weeks old when she had her tet spell and her oxygen saturation dropped to the 30s," her mother said.

The Hylka family attended the city council's first regular meeting of the year Monday night to hear Mayor James T. Muldowney proclaim the week of Feb. 7-14 "Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week" in the City of Pottsville.

"Congenital heart defects affect 1.8 million families in the U.S. and only a very small amount of funding is currently available for parent and patient educational services, research and support," Muldowney said to the crowd of more than 20 in council chambers.

"Would you like to say anything?" Councilman Michael P. Halcovage asked the family.

"I want to say thank you. This means a lot and we appreciate it," Mallory Hylka said.

"We'll pray for you," Muldowney said.

In November, the Hylka family contacted Muldowney, then mayor-elect, to encourage him to do the proclamation when he took office in January.

The family is part of an effort Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Network, based in Margate City, N.J., has put forth to get the word out, and the network is encouraging municipalities to approve such proclamations.

"A congenital heart defect means a child is born with an abnormally structured heart and/or large vessels. Such hearts may have incomplete or missing parts, may be put together the wrong way, may have holes between chamber partitions or may have narrow or leaky valves or narrow vessels," according to the website for the Children's Heart Foundation, Lincolnshire, Ill.

Before Brylee was born, doctors were able to determine the girl had heart trouble.

"Her defects were so severe that they instantly noticed them on her 20-week echocardiogram. That was at Geisinger in Danville," her mother said.

Brylee Lynn Hylka was born June 29, 2012, at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. She has an identical twin, Brynna. But unlike Brylee, Brynna is "100 percent heart healthy," her mother said.

Brylee experienced two extensive open heart surgeries, a 12-hour surgery when she was 6 weeks old and an 11 1/2-hour surgery when she was 13 months old. Plus she had an extensive, 6-hour-long cardiac catheterization when she was 10 months old, her mother said.

"She's spent over 5 months of her life in the hospital. Brylee's CHDs were extensive enough to warrant discovery before her birth, but many are not so lucky," her mother said.

Looking ahead, her mother said Brylee's heart will need future maintenance.

"She'll definitely need a valve replaced again. Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week is important to our family because we would love others to be aware that CHDs are the leading birth defect, and that they can affect any family," her mother said.

Since it falls close to Valentine's Day, Mallory Hylka said it's easy to remember: "Valentine's Day has changed for us forever. It's not about chocolate anymore. Valentine's Day is a day for hearts. And some need to be mended."

Joseph and Mallory Hylka have four children. The other two are Gavyn, 7, and Wyatt, 4.

For more information about Brylee's story, visit her Facebook page at facebook.com/bryleesbravebattle and for more information about CHD Awareness week, participants and activities, visit www.tchin.org/aware.

Jarrod A. Bowman is headed to state prison after being sentenced Monday in Schuylkill County Court on charges stemming from his sexual relationship with a teenage girl in Tamaqua.

Bowman, 26, of Tamaqua, did not react as Judge Jacqueline L. Russell sentenced him to serve one to two years in a state correctional institution.

Russell also sentenced Bowman to pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities and be subject to lifetime Megan's Law sanctions, although she ruled he is not a sexually violent predator.

Bowman originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 13, 2013, to statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of unlawful contact with a minor, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault and indecent assault.

At that time, Russell ordered the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to determine whether Bowman is a sexually violent predator. The board concluded he is not, and prosecutors did not challenge that finding.

Tamaqua police charged Bowman with having sexual contact with a 14-year-old girl in February 2013.

Police said the girl told them the sexual relationship began on Feb. 2, 2013, when she snuck out of her home and met Bowman, whom she had met in October 2012 through Facebook. Bowman took the girl to his apartment after she left her home, according to police.

The girl, who said she had told Bowman she was only 14 years old, said she met him again a few days later after she got out of school, police said.

Police said Bowman admitted committing those acts.

The Megan's Law sanctions to which Bowman will be subject include requirements that he report his address, employment and educational statuses, and any change in them, to state police for life after he leaves prison. Any failure to comply with those sanctions is a crime in itself and could result in further prosecution.

Megan's Law was enacted in Pennsylvania, numerous other states and at the federal level following the 1994 murder of Megan Nicole Kanka, 7, of Hamilton Township, Mercer County, N.J. Jesse Timmendequas, Kanka's killer, was a convicted sex offender and one of the girl's neighbors.

He is serving a life sentence following then-New Jersey Gov. Jon S. Corzine's commutation of his death sentence after that state abolished its death penalty.Defendant: Jarrod A. Bowman

Age: 26

Residence: Tamaqua

Crimes committed: Statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors

Sentence: One to two years in a state correctional institution, plus lifetime Megan's Law sanctions