A female bobcat hit by a vehicle on Burma Road near Saint Clair on Feb. 5 is continuing to recover at the Red Creek Wildlife Center in Wayne Township, according to Peggy Hentz, the center’s director.

The injuries may threaten the animal’s life if she becomes pregnant, Hentz said. Doctors and officials from the Pennsylvania Game Commission are deciding if the animal should be spayed.

“If the pelvic passage is narrowed, she wouldn’t be able to get the babies out and she could die and so would the babies. And we’re not going to allow that to happen to her. If there’s a danger of that, then we will spay her before releasing her. It’s not a benefit to the population, unfortunately. But it will be a benefit to her,” Hentz said Wednesday.

“Saint Clair police responded to a report of an injured bobcat which was struck by a vehicle within our jurisdiction. The bobcat was struck on the Burma Road. Police requested assistance from the Pa. Game Commission, who then responded. The Pa. Game Commission transported the bobcat to a rehabilitation facility to recover from minor injuries,” Borough Police Chief William M. “Bill” Dempsey said in a post on the Facebook page for Saint Clair police.

That facility he referred to was Red Creek Wildlife Center, which Hentz founded in 1991.

It’s at 300 Moon Hill Drive, Schuylkill Haven, and is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and it is funded by donations, according to Hentz.

The bobcat was brought in by David P. Fidler, a deputy wildlife conservation officer with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, according to Hentz.

“It did try to get away from him, but it was too weak to get very far. He wrapped it in a cloth tarp, which was excellent for this animal. It was delivered to us in the tarp,” Hentz said.

“We’ve not had a bobcat here for several years. We have never had a bobcat here that lasted more an hour. Most of them that have arrived here were dying as they coming in the door. This is the first bobcat we’ve received that we have the possibility of rehabilitating,” Hentz said.

When the bobcat arrived, it weighed just over seven pounds. Hentz estimated it was about eight months old.

“When it was brought in, it was not bright, active and responsive. It was extremely dehydrated. It had a concussion,” Hentz said.

The claws on its back feet were also damaged.

“The claws were flattened a bit because when cats get hit by a car and they get thrown through the air and they’re landing, their claws help them stabilize but they get dragged because of the force. It’s like if you took your nails and rubbed them across the pavement,” Leonard Donato, the owner of Radnor Veterinary Hospital, Wayne, Delaware County, said Wednesday.

On Feb. 7, Hentz and her staff transported the bobcat to Radnor Veterinary Hospital.

“This cat appeared to move around normally, so we didn’t suspect any fractures. It could sit. It could lie down. It could get up. It could walk. It could jump,” Hentz said.

“We did some X-rays. And they showed a fractured pelvis with a fracture going through the hip joint,” Donato said.

After taking blood samples, Donato found issues with the bobcat’s liver.

“It could have been a virus that made the bobcat weak and then get hit by a car. Or it could have been from the trauma of being hit by the car. It’s hard to know. I’m leaning towards a virus, though. It has good liver function now. It’s doing really well. It’s not an issue anymore. I think it was a transient virus,” Donato said.

On Feb. 14, surgery was done to repair the animal’s pelvis and hip joint with two pins and wire, he said.

On Feb. 15, Hentz brought the bobcat back to Red Creek’s headquarters.

Since then, the staff at Red Creek have been feeding the bobcat chicken wings, quail and rabbits. On Wednesday, Hentz estimated the bobcat weighed 10 pounds.

“She’s difficult to feed. Just the least bit of stress just knocks her appetite down. We got her to eat very well last night when we picked up a road-killed rabbit. We wanted to keep it as natural as possible for her. So we just threw it in and by this morning she had eaten half of it,” Hentz said.

While the bobcat recovers, Donato is trying to determine if the animal should be spayed.

“What we’re going to do, and we’re doing some research now, is we’re going to measure the internal part of the pelvis on the X-rays. Then we’re going to find out what the circumference of a kitten skull would be when they would be born. So if the kitten skull can fit through our measurement, it’s all fair game. Hopefully that’s the case because, obviously, one of the goals is not only to get the animal back in the wild, but to also make it reproductively active,” Donato said.

“I believe we will not have to spay the bobcat. But we’re going to make that decision once we get the data and when we redo the X-rays in two weeks,” Donato said.

KLINGERSTOWN — A woman was jailed and charges are pending against a man after Hegins Township and Tower City police attempted to execute a felony arrest warrant Wednesday morning.

Officers from both departments, acting under the authority of the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force, went to 57 Horseshoe Road in Upper Mahantongo Township about 11:50 a.m. to serve a felony arrest warrant on Jared Miller, 38, of Tower City.

Hegins Township Police Chief Beau Yarmush said Miller has an active warrant for his arrest stemming from a 2016 investigation by the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force for the delivery of methamphetamine.

Yarmush said Miller has been eluding police since the drug task force roundup that encompassed western Schuylkill County in November.

Recently, Tower City Police Chief John Boyer received credible information that Miller was hiding out at the address on Horseshoe Road.

Yarmush said as officers responded to the 57 Horseshoe Road address, Miller’s girlfriend — Cara Whiteash, 35 — was outside in the yard and after seeing officers arriving, walked away from them to an area of a stone wall.

Seconds later, Yarmush said Miller sprinted from behind the stone wall and ran through the cow pasture.

Officers shouted orders to Miller to stop but he refused and continued to flee.

Yarmush said officers conducted a search for Miller through the fields and brush but could not locate him.

He added that Whiteash was taken into custody and charged with one felony count of hindering apprehension or prosecution.

According to the affidavit of probable cause filed by Hegins Township Police Sgt. Matthew Dillman, Whiteash told officers that Miller knew that he was wanted and that he was never going to turn himself in.

Yarmush said Whiteash was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $10,000 straight cash bail.

He added that police will be filing felony charges of flight to avoid apprehension, trial or punishment against Miller.

“We will find and we will arrest Mr. Miller,” Yarmush, also an active member of the county drug task force, said. “It is not a matter of if, but it is a matter of when ... Mr. Miller will be apprehended and he will see his day in court.”

For the second time, Phillip G. Moeller Jr. has withdrawn his plea to causing the death of a 4-year-old boy in October 2013 in Butler Township, as a Schuylkill County judge on Wednesday turned down an agreement that would have limited his ability to sentence the defendant.

Moeller, 46, of Fountain Springs, had been scheduled to plead guilty before Judge John E. Domalakes to involuntary manslaughter, the only charge he is facing.

However, Domalakes refused to go along with the plea agreement, which, although it did not prescribe an exact sentence, would not have allowed him to sentence Moeller above the standard range prescribed by state sentencing guidelines.

“This case is somewhat controversial. I’ve never seen a plea like this before and I’m not too keen on it,” Domalakes said. “I’m not going to accept this plea.”

Moeller then decided to withdraw his plea and take his case to trial. The earliest he could be tried is during the April criminal court term, which starts on April 3. He remains free on $25,000 percentage cash bail pending further court action.

Butler Township police have charged Moeller with causing the Oct. 11, 2013, death of Tanner L. Geiger at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, as the result of an incident two days earlier. Geiger was the grandson of Stephanie Stone, who was Moeller’s girlfriend at the time, according to police.

Police said Moeller gave conflicting accounts of what occurred and that Geiger’s injuries were inconsistent with the defendant’s original story. During an interview on Oct. 24, 2013, at the state police station in Frackville, Moeller said he was “frustrated and upset with Tanner and (did) something that he regretted doing,” according to police.

According to an autopsy performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Samuel Land at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown, Geiger died of blunt force trauma.

On June 20, 2016, Judge Jacqueline L. Russell had allowed Moeller to withdraw a no-contest plea to involuntary manslaughter after the defendant told her that he was not guilty.

Family members, who told Domalakes they wanted Moeller to receive the maximum sentence, expressed frustration Wednesday with what has occurred in the case.

“He’s been doing this over and over,” Steve Via, Geiger’s grandfather, said of Moeller. “It’s almost like ‘Groundhog Day.’ ”

Lori Moeller, the defendant’s sister, said in a written statement she had prepared for the hearing that Moeller had mistreated her as a child and that he needs to sit in prison for a long time.

“This is also the only way he will learn that his actions have consequences,” she wrote.

Defendant

· Name: Phillip G. Moeller Jr.

· Age: 46

· Residence: Fountain Springs

· Charge: Involuntary manslaughter

CENTRALIA — As a history buff, former Civil War re-enactor Michael Alsobrooks said the opportunity to see Pennsylvania’s famous “ghost town” on Tuesday was just too good to pass up.

“I’ve known about the fire for years,” Alsobrook, Michigan, said. “We were about 15 miles from the area and we had to come check it out.”

Alsobrook and his family were not the only curious visitors Tuesday afternoon. Several groups of people stopped along Route 61 within a few hours to see what was left of the nearly empty town and take a walk on the abandoned stretch of highway now covered in graffiti.

“It is just such an unusual thing and those kinds of stories get people’s attention,” Alsobrook said. “Where else is there a whole town that gets evacuated and a fire burning underground for 60 years? It is just so bizarre. It is something you would only see in a movie.”

However, state police have been asked to cite any trespassers, especially those coming to see the ghost town’s most colorful attraction known as “Graffiti Highway.”

“It has always been private property,” Cpl. Corey Wetzel, a patrol unit supervisor with state police at Bloomsburg, said Tuesday. “It was closed off for safety reasons way back in the ’80s. It wasn’t necessarily actively enforced, but the property owners and in this case, PennDOT, had requested some additional patrols in the area.”

Although just outside of Ashland, Centralia and the surrounding Conyngham Township are part of Columbia County.

The state Department of Transportation closed the 0.74-mile section of road more than 20 years ago when it became unsafe for vehicles. Not long after it was closed, the road became a tourist attraction due to its warped pavement and amount of graffiti covering it. Dirt mounds block the roadway and Route 61 now bypasses the area through Byrnesville Road.

“The roadway was closed due to the mine fire changing subsurface and surface conditions and creating the potential for hazards due to instability underneath the road,” Dave Thompson, PennDOT community relations coordinator for District 3, said. “For liability reasons, and since the closure in the 1980s, the closed roadway has been posted, and a barrier of one form or another was put in place at each end to help keep people out. We replaced some ‘No Trespassing’ signs in September and again in December 2016.”

Wetzel said PennDOT contacted state police about increasing their presence in Centralia after learning about a “Barbie Jeep Racing” event planned for Feb. 11 on Graffiti Highway. The event, which would have featured adults driving battery-powered children’s vehicles, had about 1,000 people “interested” in attending. It was later canceled.

“Somebody got on Facebook and planned one of these events for the highway in Centralia,” he said. “PennDOT was notified about it. We were notified about it. PennDOT went down and added additional ‘No Trespassing’ signs and reinforced the dirt piles and requested we enforce the no trespassing signs and dissuade people from having the event.”

Police cited eight people that day for driving ATVs and other vehicles on the road and told about 30 people to leave, he said.

“It is part of our regular patrol area,” Wetzel said. “We will be watching out for trespassing and citations will be given when appropriate.”

PennDOT no longer monitors the conditions of the abandoned road and it may be dangerous.

“The roadway was closed because it was determined to be unsafe,” Thomspon said.

“We do not monitor its condition, as no one should be using it for transportation or any other activities.”

Wetzel said the area is prone to subsidence and firefighters are called at least once a year for a rescue.

“Our concern is for the trespassing on private property and for the safety of people,” he said. “At least once a year the fire department has some kind of rescue down there for someone who was victim of some kind of subsidence. A lot of land in the area is actively strip-mined. People go out there and get themselves into trouble. We don’t want anyone to be injured while they are down there.”

Thompson said PennDOT has no plans to destroy what remains of the highway.

“It is doubtful ripping up the highway would actually prevent people from accessing the area,” he said. “Even with the pavement removed, the original highway path would remain and could still be used by hikers and ATV users, while the same hazards that exist today would remain as well.”

A mine fire has been burning under the borough since 1962. In the late 1980s, a $42 million federal relocation program bought most of the homes and tore them down. The state took control of all the property in the borough in 1992 through eminent domain, but a handful of residents sued for their right to stay and in 2013, eight people were given permission to continue living there.

The few remaining residents in the borough have also complained about the constant flow of visitors, Wetzel said.

“They are tired of feeling like circus animals,” he said. “Every time they try to do something outside, there is a constant stream of people stopping to ask them questions. They just want people to respect their privacy.”

The Columbia-Montour Visitors Bureau recently removed the Centralia section from its website, according to the Press Enterprise in Bloomsburg.

FRACKVILLE — Totally Twisted Pretzels and the Shoe Dept. are the latest stores to leave the Schuylkill Mall.

The pretzel store closed Wednesday. Owner Michael Haspe said he was sad to make the decision but didn’t have much of a choice.

“I didn’t want to leave. It’s just something I had to do,” he said Wednesday.

He said the foot traffic at the mall has declined and said the uncertainty of what will become of the mall were factors in his decision. Not having enough employees was also an issue.

“Our last day of sales was two weeks ago,” he said.

He made the announcement on a Facebook post Wednesday.

“Totally Twisted-Schuylkill Mall is now closed. We look forward to serving Schuylkill County once again. We are currently in negotiations with several centers within the area. We do plan on relocating the store with a projected August 2017 opening. Thank you for your business,” the post reads.

Fairlane Village mall was one of the locations Haspe mentioned. Nothing has been finalized, he said.

“We do love our customers. I don’t want them to feel their business wasn’t important,” he said.

Business during the holiday season was great but then declined again. He said the store re-opened last year after it closed June 21, 2016. Haspe said he previously was focused on opening a store in Bloomsburg and wanted to devote his energies to that and let his previous lease expire in June.

“I almost feel the community has written the place off,” he said about the perception of the mall.

Haspe signed a 90-day lease on Oct. 31.

A meeting was held Wednesday with employees of NorthPoint Development LLC, Riverside, Missouri, who purchased the mall earlier this year for $2.1 million. The closing date of the sale is Feb. 28, William G. Schwab, attorney and the bankruptcy trustee, said Wednesday.

Haspe didn’t discuss details of the meeting except to say it started at 9 a.m. and leases were discussed.

“They did welcome people to stay month-to-month,” he said.

He said representatives of NorthPoint did not say what they plan to do with the mall.

“It’s a little bit frustrating just the uncertainty not knowing,” he said.

Tenants in the mall did ask about the plans, Haspe said, but little information was offered. He said the company said “they will be very transparent with the businesses.”

Phone calls to NorthPoint were not returned.

Haspe said there is still hope for the mall but he can’t be there right now.

“If it would remain a retail property, I do still believe that mall could be something. There’s potential there. I love the Schuylkill Mall, I grew up going to the Schuylkill Mall,” he said.

An employee of the Shoe Dept. at the mall confirmed the store is closing March 5.

“We’re not doing a liquidation sale,” the employee said, adding remaining merchandise will be transferred to other stores.

She said the employees at the store will be offered jobs at other locations.

Schwab said he unaware of the visit Wednesday by NorthPoint representatives.

“They have never told me any of their plans,” he said about the property.

He said, “70 to 80 percent of the tenants they have have month-to-month leases already,” he said, estimating there are 40 tenants at the mall.

When the sale closes on the 28th, Schwab said he is no longer responsible regarding what happens with the leases.

In buying the mall, the new owners did retain some of the leases for businesses.

Police: Woman

tried to steal crab

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged a woman for attempting to steal more than $40 worth of crab legs from a supermarket Sunday, police said Wednesday.

The incident occurred at Giant Food Store at Cressona Mall, North Manheim Township and the accused was Megan Leymeister, 32, of Schuylkill Haven, police said.

The cluster of crab legs she attempted to steal was worth $40.40. It was her third offense, making it a felony, police said.

Leymeister was taken into custody and arraigned before on-call Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont. She was released on $5,000 unsecured bail, police said.

2 drivers charged

in DUI patrols

The North Central PA Regional DUI Enforcement Program reported the results of a Roving DUI Patrol conducted Friday by four officers from four departments.

The patrol resulted in 34 vehicles being contacted and detained and four drivers tested for DUI.

There were two DUI arrests and the officers also made 15 traffic arrests, five criminal arrests and issued 22 warning notices.

Kentucky Fried Chicken in Pottsville has some new competition.

Crown Fried Chicken opened Saturday at 106 N. Centre St. It’s open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 3 a.m. on weeknights and 10 to 4 a.m. on weekends.

“Business is pretty good. A lot of people are coming. It’s a good sign,” Iqbal Khan, the owner, said.

Khan has a 5-year lease with the option to renew it for another 5 years. Khan said Yousaf Basir, Williamsport, and Rashid Iqbal, New York City, own the building. The Online Schuylkill County Parcel Locator lists the property as being owned by Crown Fried Chicken, Williamsport. Basir confirmed he owned the building. Iqbal could not be reached for comment.

Basir said they were going to open a restaurant but decided not to; that is where Khan stepped in. The Department of State Bureau of Corporations has Pak Halal Food & Crown Fried Chicken registered at the 106 N. Centre St. address. Khan said that is his corporation and that Iqbal is a friend.

The most popular food items right now are chicken tenders and chicken with rice, Khan said. The menu includes a variety of chicken products, mozzarella sticks, boneless hot wings, BBQ beef ribs, cheeseburgers, steak, gyros, subs and kebabs. Side orders include french fries, onion rings, corn on the cob, pizza and spinach rolls. Dessert includes cheesecake, apple pie and sweet potato pie. Khan said they use their own recipe for the chicken. He said there is a possibility to expand the menu.

Khan also owns a location in Hazleton, two in New York and two in New Jersey. He said they are still hiring and that he would like to have six employees.

Tuesday the customers stopping by for something to eat could not say enough good things about it.

Gina Ellinger, 52, of Pottsville, found out they were open and stopped by.

“I love chicken,” she said.

She often ate at The All American Cafe before it closed.

“I don’t think we have enough eating establishments around here,” she said.

City Administrator Thomas Palamar agreed more diversity is a good thing. He had their chicken earlier this week and enjoyed it.

“I think it’s great to have more diversity in the downtown,” he said.

Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney said he also planned to eat there.

“We are excited to have them in town,” he said.

James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG — A Minersville man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges he led Schuylkill Haven borough police on a chase in January that extended into North Manheim Township and imperiled two officers while doing so.

David J. Fitting, 32, of 326 N. Front St., faces two counts of recklessly endangering another person and one each of fleeing or eluding police, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility, careless driving and stop sign violation.

Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over all charges for court after Fitting waived his right to the hearing. The judge allowed the defendant to remain free on $10,000 unsecured bail pending further court action.

Schuylkill Haven borough police charged Fitting with fleeing from them in his uninsured Jeep Cherokee beginning at 2:47 a.m. Jan. 8 on East Main Street in the borough.

Police said the chase continued down East Main Street, out of the borough and into North Manheim Township, where Fitting ran the stop sign at Route 61. Police said Fitting then drove into Schuylkill Memorial Park, turned onto Memorial Lane, struck a bush with his Jeep, got out and ran into the woods.

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

Cassandra M. Arndt, 19, of 60 Grove St., Cressona; driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Virginia Y. Bressler, 26, of 365 Route 61 South, Schuylkill Haven; two counts of possession of a small amount of marijuana and one of possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Keifer J. Cole, 25, of 54 N. Fourth St., Cressona; DUI, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Brandon A. Cooper, 23, of 1380 Teepee Drive, Lake Wynonah, Auburn; DUI, recklessly endangering another person, possession of a small amount of marijuana, careless driving and possession of a controlled substance; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Brittany K. Geisinger, 25, of 14 Center Ave., Schuylkill Haven; two counts each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Harold T. Heffner, 31, of 59 Grant St., Schuylkill Haven; possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Allison M. Hicks, 41, of 95 Broad St., Fountain Springs; retail theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Kory C. Kocher, 37, of 347 Orchard Road, Fleetwood; possession of drug paraphernalia, fraudulent use or removal of plate, driving under suspension, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility and driving unregistered vehicle; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Collin J. Leiby, 25, of 1303 W. Market St., Pottsville; DUI and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

John L. Meyer, 44, of 1928 Centre St., Ashland; possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and careless driving withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Gregory J. Morgan, 26, of 108 Southview Drive, Cressona; DUI, failure to obey traffic control devices, disregarding traffic lane, stop sign violation, improper left turn, speeding and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of speeding withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

For the eighth time, Philip A. Maier has lost his bid for a new trial, as a three-judge state Superior Court panel this week dismissed his bid to overturn his conviction and life sentence for a July 1989 murder in Pottsville.

In a six-page opinion filed Tuesday, the panel ruled Maier, 67, of Ashland, waited too long to file his latest request for a new trial.

“(Maier’s) petition is untimely,” Judge Lillian Harris Ransom wrote in the panel’s opinion, which upheld a May 10, 2016, ruling by county Judge John E. Domalakes.

As a result, Maier will remain at State Correctional Institution/Dallas in Luzerne County, where he is serving his sentence for the murder of Karen A. Griffiths Smith.

Maier pleaded guilty to criminal homicide on Dec. 27, 1989. He was convicted of first-degree murder on March 22, 1990, and Judge Wilbur H. Rubright imposed the life sentence, which in Pennsylvania carries no chance of parole, the next day.

Prosecutors said Maier murdered Smith on July 19, 1989. Her body was found two days later wrapped in a carpet in a stripping pit near Shenandoah, prosecutors said.

In the panel’s opinion, Ransom wrote that petitions like Maier’s that are filed under the state Post Conviction Relief Act must be filed within one year of the date the judgment becomes final. In Maier’s case, the judgment became final on March 14, 1991, when the state Superior Court rejected his initial appeal, according to Ransom.

Since Maier’s petition is untimely, the county court lacked jurisdiction to hear it, mandating its dismissal, Ransom wrote.

Furthermore, no exception to the act’s time constraints applies to Maier’s case, Ransom wrote.

“(Maier) has failed to establish an exception to the timeliness requirements,” Ransom wrote.

President Judges Emeritus Kate Ford Elliott and Correale F. Stevens, the other panel members, joined in Ransom’s opinion.

Defendant: Philip A. Maier

Age: 67

Residence: Ashland

Crime: First-degree murder

Prison sentence: Life

Fuzz 92.1 encourages competitors to think outside the box — a cardboard box, that is.

In its second year, Sunday’s Cardboard Box Sled Derby, organized by the Times-Shamrock Communications radio station and Montage Mountain, challenges participants to create the best sleds they can out of just four materials: tape, glue, string and cardboard. Racers then can spruce up their sleds with non-structural adornments, such as paint, stickers, string lights and garland.

“The cool part is seeing the different ideas people come up with,” said Fuzz 92.1 morning show host Mike Duffy, who splits derby hosting duties with Tom Ferguson, station assistant program director, brand manager and music director. “There was a cardboard sled tank, a pirate ship. ... All of these people really went above and beyond. We’re hoping it’s even better this year.”

Check-in begins at 7:30 a.m. at the resort, 1000 Montage Mountain Road, and the race and other activities take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Racers zoom down the mountain’s snow tubing lanes in hope of winning top prizes — gift cards, concert tickets and various Montage passes — in numerous categories, including most people in the sled to cross the finish line, most creative and epic sled fail.

There is no limit on the number of team members but, for safety, all participants must sign a waiver, and helmets are recommended for each sled rider.

For those who want to play it safe, a snow tubing party also will take place in the Tubing Plaza from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Guests can refuel with coffee, waffles, burgers, hot dogs and cocktails.

Whether guests are sled riders or spectators, the event promises to offer cold-weather fun.

“It’s a different kind of event,” Duffy said. “We’re trying to get as many people out as possible.”

Heather M. Arias-Maravilla, who police alleged had committed thefts in December 2015 with her daughter at two local stores, admitted to those thefts Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court, but will not have to serve more prison time because of it.

Arias-Maravilla, 39, of Ashland, pleaded guilty to theft and simple assault in one case and retail theft in the other. Prosecutors withdrew charges of robbery, conspiracy and receiving stolen property in the first case and conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen property in the second.

President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted the plea — though not without questions — and sentenced Arias-Maravilla to time served to 18 months in prison with immediate parole, plus 30 months consecutive probation. Baldwin also ordered her to pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account.

Baldwin was particularly upset with the prosecution’s withdrawal of the robbery charge, saying that allowing the plea to theft and simple assault was an end run around that.

“This was a robbery. The robbery charge is getting (withdrawn) and she’s pleading to simple assault and theft?” he said. “What is robbery? It’s an assault and a theft.”

Minersville police had charged Arias-Maravilla and her daughter, Mercedes M. Alexander, with distracting employees at Tony’s Meat Market, 17 E. North St., about 11:40 a.m. Dec. 17, 2015. While the employees were distracted, Alexander took a tip bucket containing bills and coins and fled with Arias-Maravilla, according to police.

Two employees and a customer tried to stop them, but Arias-Maravilla then started to fight, police said. However, the three stopped Arias-Maravilla until police arrived and arrested her.

In the other case, state police at Schuylkill Haven charged Arias-Maravilla and Alexander with stealing coin jars and cellphones earlier on the same day at the Kings Village shopping center in Norwegian Township.

Arias-Maravilla admitted her guilt Wednesday in each case, saying her plea was knowingly and voluntarily made and that she understood its terms and consequences.

Alexander, 20, of Gilberton, already has entered guilty pleas in each case.

Deeds

Mahanoy City — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Kathryn T. Price; 739 E. Pine St.; $684.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Edward Lebron; 807 E. Mahanoy Ave.; $5,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Edison Ferreira; 629 W. Market St.; $659.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to the Most Rev. John O. Barres, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown; 616 W. Mahanoy Ave.; $1,500.

Tamaqua Properties LLC to D&L Development Inc.; 217 E. Pine St.; $9,500.

North Manheim Township — David A. and Lori Ann Teter to Archie and Mary Ellen Aderhold; property on Betty Road, Haven Fair Lawn; $5,500.

Ann R. Schrack to Michael S. Schrack; 31 Memorial Drive; $1.

Pine Grove — Edward S. Lehman, by attorney in fact Dorothy M. Fink, to Aungst Property Management LLC; property at Mifflin and Mill streets; $300,000.

Porter Township — Sarah T. Owens to Clark Owens; two properties; $1.

Pottsville — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Edison Ferreira; 617 Schuylkill Ave.; $4,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Rose Acosta; 3320 S. Second St.; $2,200.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Joseph Reppert; 1136 W. Norwegian St.; $2,050.

Reilly Township — Jean Bensinger, individually and as executrix of the Estate of Leroy M. Renninger, Lois Dunmoyer, Susan Renninger, Linda Becker, Larry Renninger and Faye Kender to Remy Reager and Karl Reager; 30 E. Donaldson St., Newtown; $45,000.

Schuylkill Haven — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Curtis M. Hoffman; 773 Garfield Ave.; $5,600.

Schuylkill Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Francis DeVizia; 327 Valley St., Brockton; $1,049.

Shenandoah — Sandra Petusky to Kenneth Petusky; 211 N. Catherine St.; $1.

Marilyn Stefanski to Haroll J. Meregildo; 320 W. Chester St.; $5,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Sergio Luna; 629 E. Centre St.; $2,021.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Sergio Luna; 224 E. Centre St.; $2,283.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Francis DeVizia; 433 W. New York St.; $1,285.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Francis DeVizia; 410 W. New York St.; $1,279.

Kristina Kavetski Nelson to James and Beth Thomas; 21 S. West St.; $5,000.

Jason Mika and Eric M. Mika to Leo C. Perrong; 118 S. White St.; $2,500.

South Manheim Township — Barron G. and Jaymie E. Line to Barron G. and Jaymie E. Line; 1555 Wynonah Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1.

Michael W. Pohronezny to Stephen A. and Janeen B. Geary; 2127 Wynonah Drive, Lake Wynonah; $150,000.

The theme of Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney’s 2017 State of the City address was “building our future.”

Before a crowd of more than 200 at The Lodge at Sharp Mountain at 201 S. 26th St., Pottsville, Thursday night, he said one way he plans to do that is to develop a strategy to fill vacant buildings downtown.

“In 2017, we will begin the development of an Adaptive Reuse Program. This initiative will encourage investors to take unused or underused real estate and create new economic opportunities for the community. As we move forward we will carefully assess what we can do to meet community needs in the comprehensive planning of our future,” Muldowney said.

“We will strengthen our ties with business, government and nonprofit sectors. We plan to do what is necessary to encourage investment and growth in our community. Our goal is to illustrate the vital relationship that exists with these groups and increase the ability of the city to work with our schools, business community and legislative delegation,” Muldowney said.

After the mayor’s speech, city Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said the Adaptive Reuse Program is a new initiative and it’s still being developed.

“The spirit of it is to take vacant buildings in the downtown and to encourage people to use their imagination to see a future for these buildings. There should be a future for those buildings,” Palamar said.

The mayor did not name any specific vacant buildings in his speech.

Muldowney, a Democrat, is serving his first term as mayor. He won the seat in the 2013 General Election and took the oath of office in January 2014. His 29-page speech Thursday was the fourth State of the City address of his career.

Many well-known people from the community came to hear the mayor speak. They included former mayors Anthony J. Pacenta and John D.W. Reiley, Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary Hess and representatives of the Pottsville Area School District, including Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel.

There was music. Lauren Hunter, a student from Pottsville Area High School, sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” And Tyler Zimerofsky, a student from Nativity BVM High School, sang “God Bless America” as Paul Miller played the piano.

Muldowney gave his speech in the former John O’Hara Room, which became the Pinetree Room with the new ownership in 2016.

Palamar used a slide projector to show illustrations and statistics on a screen.

“In my professional career, I have spent a great deal of time working in and around the construction industry. That experience has taught me several important lessons. A project does not rely on one person. It takes many people working together to achieve success. Communication is vital. When everyone listens and shares important information, we reduce mistakes, have a better end product and save time and money. Treat everyone with respect. Each job is valuable and everyone adds something to the mix that makes things run smoother,” Muldowney said.

“Working together makes us stronger. Reaching out to the community in a bipartisan manner will allow us to solve problems and strengthen our community. We know that government is not construction, but there are striking similarities. We are building from a blueprint created by many former city leaders, who have created a foundation for good government. We are building relationships, knowledge and expertise. We are building a future. Each person in this room, as well as many people that could not be here this evening, represent building blocks of our community,” Muldowney said.

He talked about the achievements of the city’s departments. Below are excerpts from his speech:

• “In 2016, our prioritized street improvement plan applied 1,750 tons of asphalt to city streets. This is an increase of 168 tons from 2016.”

• “In 2016, the city applied 16,000 feet of street line markings in our community. That number included several crosswalk improvements that were done in cooperation with the police department in high risk areas.”

• “City hall also turns 80 this year and to celebrate that milestone, repairs to the outside wall, a new roof and upgrades to the elevator will be completed. These safety, security and capital improvements will ensure that city hall will act as the hub of city government for many years to come.”

• “In 2016, the seven volunteer fire companies in the city responded to 513 alarms, a decrease of 11 from last year. Fire loss for 2016 was $1,920,425, an increase of $659,450 from the previous year. Two lives were lost to fire in 2016. The fire chief and the four dedicated assistant chiefs, answered 205 fire-related complaints from city residents.”

• “In 2017, the Pottsville Fire Department will continue to be vigilant and proactive to protect our community. We are grateful to the dedicated men and women who sacrifice time and talent to make our city safe. We will continue to support our volunteers and encourage others to join the best equipped and well trained Fire Department in Pennsylvania.”

• “In 2016 the Pottsville Police Department handled 13,053 logged incidents. Many of these incidents included supplemental investigations, evidence handling, victims services and court appearances. The logged incidents do not include several hundred matters such as citizen contacts, phone conversations, special events, and public service matters that never generate a police tracking report.”

• “In 2016 Chief Wojciechowsky asked each team of shift supervisors to collaborate and formulate a neighborhood action plan that would benefit our community. As a result, proactive plans specific to each city neighborhood were developed to best serve the needs of our city. Demonstrating our commitment to engage all citizens in the cooperative effort to keep our streets pleasant and safe, Chief Wojciechowsky began specialized Neighborhood Contact patrols. These weekend assignments were voluntarily filled by officers who concentrated on one neighborhood per day, and initiated conversations with residents who may otherwise not have the chance to speak to an officer.”

A Lykens woman was charged with trying to deliver drugs to her daughter inside the Schuylkill County Courthouse on Thursday morning.

Beth A. Krepich, 56, of 325 N. Second St., was charged with three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, one felony count each of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance, and a misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Krepich was arraigned and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post 10 percent of $20,000 bail.

Schuylkill County Deputy Sheriff Gerard Daley filed the charges against Krepich after learning the woman planned to provide drugs to her daughter, Macy Barder.

Daley said earlier in the day, he was informed by a deputy warden at the Schuylkill County Prison about a telephone conversation involving the two women that was intercepted. Barder is currently an inmate at the jail, Daley said.

Daley said he listened to the conversation that contained conversation relating to drugs being passed in the courthouse about 9:30 a.m.

Barder asked her mother to bring the drugs to her in Courtroom 2, where she was scheduled to have a hearing, the deputy said. He added that Barder also could be heard explaining to her mother about a bathroom right outside the courtroom where she could put the drugs and asked if they could be placed on top of a toilet.

It was also discussed that when Krepich comes out of the bathroom, Barder will request to use the bathroom and get them, Daley said.

With the information in hand, Daley said he searched the bathroom about 9:30 a.m. and kept the room under constant surveillance until the time of the hearing. About 9:30 a.m., Krepich was seen walking down a hallway, asking an attendant outside of Courtroom 2 if her daughter was being brought over from prison, and then asking where the female bathroom was, Daley said.

Daley said Krepich entered and exited the bathroom after which two female deputies entered, and inside a handicapped stall found a clear glassine baggie containing seven white pills in a garbage can in the stall.

The pills were seized and placed into evidence and was Krepich taken into custody inside the courtroom, Daley said.

FRACKVILLE — The Frackville Area Municipal Authority continues its efforts to collect on delinquent accounts.

The FAMA board was updated on the delinquencies at its Feb. 15 meeting. Office manager Rhonda Frantz said liens were filed on 33 properties that have delinquent balances of more than $300. In December, 100 lien letters were mailed to customers informing them that liens would be filed in January.

In the Liaison/Office Committee report, Chairman Paul Klevis said the delinquent list as of Feb. 14 was $137,749.75, with 243 accounts owing more than $300. The total as of Jan. 17 was $151,345.67, a reduction of $13,595.92 and 36 fewer delinquent accounts.

No water service terminations will take place until April 1, Klevis said. Letters will be mailed to delinquents on Wednesday to inform them of the authority’s plan.

Klevis said 375 customers have paid for the year, taking advantage of the 10 percent discount. The deadline to take advantage of the discount is Tuesday.

“Last year we had 400 who paid for the year, so we’re hoping to reach that amount and exceed it,” Frantz said.

The following committee assignments were released:

•Street Operations — David Gera, chairman; William Rhoades, co-chairman; and Carl Pyzowski.

•Finance — Harrison Harper, chairman; Klevis, co-chairman; and Rhoades.

•Liaison/Office — Klevis, chairman; Pyzowski, co-chairman; and Gera.

•Personnel — Pyzowski, chairman; Harper, co-chairman; and Klevis.

•Plant Operations — Rhoades, chairman; Gera, co-chairman; and Harper.

Frantz said a property in the borough had a broken lateral, causing sewage to enter the basement. In turn, the sump pump was activated, which pumped the sewage onto the sidewalk.

“Our board wants everyone to know that is not something that should be done,” Frantz said. “You cannot pump raw sewage onto a sidewalk or the street or into your yard. It’s illegal to do so. It should be taken care of in the proper manner.”

Solicitor Paul Domalakes referred in his monthly report of the decision that the State Correctional Institution/Frackville will not close. The prison was on a short list of five prisons that were being considered for closure. Domalakes expressed his gratitude for the efforts of state Sen. David G. Argall and state Rep. Neal P. Goodman in lobbying at the state level to prevent the closure, expressing the economic impact the prison closing would have in the area.

Domalakes also thanked senior project manager Donald Cuff of Entech Engineering Inc. for the data he provided in the recent negotiations for a new service contract with the state Department of Corrections for the Frackville prison. The prison is FAMA’s largest customer. Using the new billing agreement negotiated between FAMA and the DOC, the January billing was $29,489.70 for 4,914,950 gallons during the month.

Frantz said the authority’s auditor, L. Samuel Deegan, P.C., Pottsville, informed FAMA that the fee for performing the 2016 audit will be $8,700, which is an increase from the former billing fee of $5,800.

“That’s due to new regulations and audit procedures and increased work load to complete the annual audit,” Frantz said. “The board approved that. When we were looking for a new auditing firm several years ago, some of the firms we contacted had fees that were higher than $8,700. We’ll stay with Deegan. They’re easy to work with and we’re pleased with their product.”

According to the letter from the Deegan firm, the Government Accounting Standards Board has issued pronouncements over the years that have “added complexity and documentation requirement to perform audits of any nonprofit, government or authority. The amount of required documentation in the last several years in most cases is twice what it once was.”

The board also renewed its customer service agreement with Unifirst for uniforms. Due to certain fees being dropped, FAMA will see a substantial price reduction from $84 to $32.50 per week.

A Mar Lin man was jailed after a Thursday morning search warrant netted illegal drugs with a street value of more than $63,000 along with a handgun and items of drug paraphernalia.

Brian James O’Doherty, 33, of 607 Fourth St., Norwegian Township, was arrested by state police Trooper Troy Greenawald of Troop L, Reading, and charged with felony offenses of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-methamphetamine, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-fentanyl, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-Percocet, receiving stolen property and persons not to possess, use, sell or transfer firearms.

He was also charged with misdemeanor crimes of possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance-fentanyl, possession of a controlled substance-Percocet and possession of drug paraphernalia.

O’Doherty was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $100,000 straight cash bail.

Members of the state police Special Emergency Response Team, assisted by the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force and municipal officers, executed the warrant at the O’Doherty home about 6:05 a.m.

Detective Kurt Montz of the Drug Task Force said that items seized from inside the home were about 32 grams of heroin with a street value of $11,200 and a wholesale value of $2,720, about 62 grams of methamphetamine with a street value of $6,200 and a wholesale value of $2,200, 107 Percocet pills with a street value of $2,140, $2,542 in cash and a stolen 40-caliber handgun.

Montz said the investigation then moved into nearby Minersville where a Kia sedan was seized and searched.

Inside the vehicle, Montz said, authorities found about 100 grams of heroin with a street value of $35,000 and wholesale value of $8,500, about 95 grams of methamphetamine with a street value of $9,500 and wholesale value of $4,000 and about 35 grams of cocaine with a street value of $3,500 and a wholesale value of $1,575.

Also found and seized were about 12 ounces of marijuana, packaging materials and a digital scale, Montz said.

Montz said that the investigation is ongoing and that additional arrests are pending.

Assisting troopers and drug task force members were police from Hegins Township, Tower City and Minersville.

O’Doherty will now have to appear for a preliminary hearing on the charges before Plachko in his Port Carbon courtroom at a later date.

RINGTOWN — A Ringtown man was jailed Thursday after state police at Frackville charged him with biting his wife in the face, causing injuries, during an argument over potato chips.

George S. Beaver, 59, of 17 Jerrys Road, was charged by Trooper Christopher Rooney with simple assault and harassment.

Beaver was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post 10 percent of $10,000 bail.

Rooney filed the charges against Beaver stemming from an incident about 7:40 p.m. Tuesday at his home.

Rooney said he was called to the Union Township home for a report of a domestic assault between Beaver and his wife, Michelle Beaver.

Michelle Beaver reported that her husband was sitting in the living room watching television and that she picked up a bag of Utz Sour Cream and Onion rippled potato chips from a coffee table.

The woman said George Beaver told her to “leave the ... chips alone,” according to Rooney.

The officer said Michelle Beaver reported that when she did not put the potato chip bag down, George Beaver got up from a couch and grabbed her by the face.

Rooney said that Michelle Beaver told him her husband then bit her on the left cheek below her eye, tearing off a piece of skin, causing bleeding.

George Beaver fled the scene and was unable to be located after the incident, prompting officers to obtain a warrant for his arrest.

George Beaver will now have to answer to the charges against him at a preliminary hearing before Hale in her Frackville courtroom at a later date.

HARRISBURG — It costs $600 million for state troopers to provide full-time police services in nearly 1,300 municipalities, the state police commissioner said Thursday at a Senate budget hearing.

Commissioner Col. Tyree Blocker broke down the per person — also known as per capita — cost at $234 annually for full-time services to 2.5 million Pennsylvania residents living in those municipalities.

This is the first time a per capita figure has been disclosed and the first update of a total cost for full-time municipal services in several years. Blocker said state police wanted to be transparent as lawmakers debate the governor’s proposal to charge an annual $25 per capita state fee for municipalities getting full-time state police services.

Blocker said the state police will continue to provide coverage to any municipality that requests it.

Sen. Judy Schwank, D-11, Reading, asked what would happen if a mid-sized city requests state police coverage.

“We would look at that very critically,” Blocker said. “Pennsylvania State Police has always had a can-do attitude.”

Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, asked whether the $25 fee is simply a “revenue-raiser.”

Blocker said he has full confidence in Gov. Tom Wolf and the Legislature to debate the proposed fee.

Wolf proposed the $25 fee as part of the next state budget. Wolf would bill the assessment to the municipality and not to residents themselves. But the cost would be reflected in a municipal budget and the taxes levied to support it. The proposal would generate $63 million in state revenue. A portion of that revenue would go to train 100 new troopers.

Another 400 municipalities rely on state troopers for part-time services. They aren’t affected by the governor’s fee proposal.

The overall state police budget would be $1.2 billion in fiscal 2017-18. More than $700 million would come from the Motor License Fund built on state gasoline taxes and motorist fees. Several senators said the state police outlay is drawing away revenue needed for road and bridge work.

Date incorrect

Trinity Lutheran Church Youth will sponsor a spaghetti dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the church, 300 W. Arch St., Pottsville. The day was incorrect in Thursday’s edition. For more information, call 570-622-9910.

Name incorrect

Judge James P. Goodman oversees the Schuylkill County Drug Treatment Court. His name was incorrect in Thursday’s edition of The Republican-Herald.

Man charged

with burglary

GIRARDVILLE — State police at Frackville charged an Ashland man in connection with a burglary that occurred between 4:25 and 7:30 a.m. Sunday in the 100 block of West Main Street.

Police said Michael Butler was charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft and criminal mischief.

Police said the investigation into the crime led them to determine that Butler was responsible and a warrant obtained for his arrest from Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, on Tuesday.

Butler was picked up in Frackville and arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $25,000 bail.