n Minersville: The Minersville Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorials and honor donations regarding the 2016 fund drive: For Joseph Walacavage from The Kievmans; for Joyce Brennaman from Alice L. Rozetar; for Alice Marie Bingaman from her sister, Mary C. Duffy; for John J. Andruchek Sr. from C. Andruchek; for Margaret Mower from William I. Moyer; for Kathryn M. Snyder from William I. Moyer; for Fred M. Valent from Ellen Valent; for Daniel Polansky from MaryAnn Polansky; for Barbara Lynn Sokola from Joseph and Patrice Taglieri; for Anna Drye from Helena Pogash; for Charles V. Moran from Cathleen Moran; for Pat Ralston from Sue Legutko; for A.J. Drebitko from Kathy Leonard; for Joseph Milanek from Kathy Leonard; for Russell Souchak from Phyllis Rada; for Rosemary Imschweiler from Phyllis Rada; for Frank P. Ulicny from Paul and Mary Noon; for Norbert J. Noon from Paul and Mary Noon; for Kaitlin Griffith from Donald and Judy Griffith; for Russ Rothermel, Jr. from Linda Rothermel; for Ed Wenner from Paul and Lucy Ciotti; for Charles Kline from Kim Conville; for Mildred Yakimo from Bonnie Luckenbill; for Marcy Marteslo from Jim and Roseann Wolfe; for Stiney Skavinsky from Colleen Barnhart; for Sabina Quinn from Colleen Barnhart; for Helen I. Clay from Diane E. Artz; for Walter Barton from Joan Barton; for Edward Raczka from Joni Raczka; for Bette and Moira Brennan from Margaret Brennan; for Donna Roberts from George F. Clark; for Donald Clark from George F. Clark.

n Pine Grove: Jacobs Church will hold a buffet breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. March 4 at the Pine Grove Masonic Lodge Hall, 23 Oak Grove Road. The cost is $8 for adults and $4 for children. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-345-8216.

n Pottsville: St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, 313 Mahantongo St., is having a homemade Easter candy sale. The cost is $10 per box and orders are due by March 20 by calling 570-622-1802. Flavors include butter cream, coconut cream and peanut butter (no mixed boxes). Pickups will be during the Palm Sunday weekend bake sale, 2 to 7:30 p.m. April 8 and 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 9. For more information, call the aforementioned number. The church will also have an all-you-can-eat homemade spaghetti dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. March 12. The cost is $9 for adults and $3.50 for children. For more information, call the aforementioned number.

n Pottsville: A free Dr. Seuss storytime will be held at the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St., from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday. The session is for Read Across America Day and will include Dr. Seuss stories, games and crafts for children ages 3-12. For more information, call 570-622-8880.

n Pottsville: The Trinity Lutheran Church Youth will sponsor a spaghetti dinner from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the church, 300 W. Arch St. The cost is $8 for adults and $5 for children. Tickets will be available at the door and takeouts will be available. The event is to benefit the Patty Ebling Scholarship. For more information, call 570-622-9910.

n Pottsville: An evening of storytelling, refreshments and prizes for the Read-In Chain, an annual celebration of African-American literature, for children of all ages and their parents/caregivers, will be held at 6 p.m. Monday in the Pottsville Area Free Public Library. The presenter will be the Rev. Gloria Alexander and the Martin Luther King Family Enrichment Center. The event is in celebration of Black History Month.

n Schuylkill Haven: The Schuylkill Haven Senior Citizens group will meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the senior center, 340 Haven St. The $7 annual dues will be collected and after the business meeting there will be a program by Roy McCutchen on the piano and refreshments will be served. The group meets regularly at 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Mondays of the month and has an ongoing collection for the local food pantry. For more information, call 570-385-5323.

The Gabriel Chamber Ensemble will welcome two special guests to its winter concert this weekend in Schuylkill Haven.

The concert will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 252 Dock St. Tickets are $15 for seniors and $20 for adults. Students are free.

The ensemble will be joined by renowned musicians Domenick Fiore, double bass, and Xun Pan, piano.

“Playing with Xun Pan and Domenick Fiore is a real treat for us, Gabriel Chamber Ensemble. These two musicians are colleagues of ours, we have known them for years,” said Agnes Maurer, executive director. Along with Maurer on viola, the group includes Simon Maurer on violin and Gerall Hieser on cello.

The concert’s program consists of Ludwig van Beethoven’s “Kreutzer” violin sonata (first movement), Gioachino Rossini’s “Duo for Cello and Bass,” Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s “Kegelstadt Trio” for violin, viola and piano (first movement), and “Trout” piano quintet by Franz Schubert.

A noted chamber musician, Pan is the pianist of the Newstead Trio and Trio Clavino. He has served as a judge in many competitions, including Frinna Awerbuch International Piano Competition in New York, United States Music Open Competition in Oakland, California, and Cullell International Piano Competition in San Jose, Costa Rica.

Pan is an adjunct professor of piano and director of pre-college music division at Millersville University, and a visiting professor at many universities and conservatories in China, including China Conservatory of Music, China Northwest University for Nationalities, Fuzhou University, Yantai University, Shandong University, Qinghai Normal University and Wenzhou University. He also serves as artistic director of the Lancaster International Piano Festival.

“Xun has been featured on our series for about four years now — but we have known him for 16 years via the Pennsylvania Academy of Music, the Trio Clavino and Millersville University — and the audience loves him for his virtuosic and impeccable renditions of famous classical musical works. His energy on stage is contagious and both the audience and musicians embrace his musicianship,” Maurer said.

Fiore has served as director of orchestras and chamber music at the Mid-Southeast Suzuki Institute, Chicago Institute, Calgary Suzuki Institute, Central Pennsylvania Institute, Snowmass Suzuki Institute and the Hartford Suzuki Institute, as well as clinician at Suzuki workshops in Bermuda, Puerto Rico, Hickory, North Carolina, and Augusta, Georgia. He has conducted the national student orchestra at the National Suzuki Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. Until June 2007, he was the director of the five Suzuki Orchestras of the Community Division at the Hartt School of the University of Hartford. In addition, Domenick had a thriving young bass program through the Community Division at Hartt.

Domenick and Linda Fiore are currently living in the Lehigh Valley area where they have established a Suzuki studio and freelance in the Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia areas. In addition, they continue to co-direct the Ogontz Suzuki Institute in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.

“Domenick Fiore has also performed with Gabriel Chamber Ensemble for numerous concerts, and his charming personality comes through in his playing of the double bass. Domenick is sought after in many musical ensembles and in educational circles as well. The audience is always in awe in seeing and hearing Domenick’s talented performances. It is a great delight for Gabriel Chamber Ensemble to play again with him,” Maurer said.

The concert is sponsored by Douglas Troutman. Maurer said he has been a great patron and supporter for the ensemble.

“Mr. Troutman is a classical music lover and appreciates what the Gabriel Chamber Ensemble does in Schuylkill County. We truly appreciate his generous sponsorship,” Maurer said.

Maurer said the concert will be a fun experience for both the musicians and audience.

“This concert feels like a reunion of great friends on stage, and our joy of performing together will most likely be a great enjoyment for the audience as well. And of course, hearing the ‘Trout’ quintet by Schubert with its famous melodies will make the afternoon a definite positive and memorable experience,” she said.

The Gabriel Chamber Ensemble is a nonprofit professional chamber music ensemble. Concerts are made possible through corporate and private donations, including grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Schuylkill Area Community Foundation and M&T Foundation.

For more information, visit www.gabrielensemble.org.

On Thursday night, Nicolle M. Hutchinson, the CEO and director of education of Gillingham Charter School, Pottsville, provided new insights as to why the school’s charter renewal process is taking so long.

After a series of public hearings were held at Pottsville Area School District in April and May 2016, the school district submitted “supplemental material” to the Pennsylvania Charter Appeal Board, Harrisburg, Hutchinson said at the February meeting of the Gillingham board of trustees.

In recent weeks, the hearing officer representing the state CAB and attorneys for Gillingham and the school district have talked about whether that evidence should be presented at a second public hearing, Hutchinson said.

“As far as rechartering goes, the attorney for Pottsville Area and our attorneys are waiting for the CAB’s hearing officer to determine if new documents will be submitted for the record. And, if so, we will have to have a second hearing. So in the end, either we’re going to have a second hearing or, if they don’t allow in the new documents, then a date for our hearing with the CAB will be set. So we’re still in limbo. We’re still waiting,” Hutchinson told the board of trustees at the schoolhouse at 915 Howard Ave.

On the advice of her attorney, Hutchinson said she could not discuss the new materials Pottsville Area submitted.

The firm Latsha Davis & McKenna, Mechanicsburg, is representing Gillingham in the case.

Christine Elizabeth Reilly, an attorney with the firm, could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

The firm King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul Attorneys & Counselors, Bethlehem, is representing Pottsville Area in the case. Ellen C. Schurdak, an attorney with the firm, could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

Richard A. Thornburg, Pottsville, solicitor for the Pottsville Area school board, could not be reached for comment Thursday night.

The CAB’s decision on Gillingham’s second five-year charter is highly anticipated by many in Schuylkill County. They include not only the families of Gillingham’s students and representatives of the Pottsville Area School District, who oppose the charter school, but local taxpayers.

Last year, more than $401,000 in taxpayer money was spent by the school district and the charter school during the charter-renewal process. Both hired attorneys and expert witnesses for the series of public hearings in April and May 2016.

In other matters at Gillingham’s board of trustees meeting Thursday, Hutchinson said the school is hoping to give its students a chance to participate in another sport in the fall of the 2017-18 school year.

“We are starting a cross-country team,” Hutchinson said.

Rachel Bensinger, Gillingham’s director of organizational development, said Gillingham will hold a kindergarten lottery on March 29.

“We urge parents with students entering Kindergarten — which we call Kinderleben here at GSC — to fill out pre-enrollment forms to enter their children into the lottery as soon as possible. Our Kinderleben class fills up very quickly. We can only have up to 22 students,” Bensinger said.

A Shenandoah man was jailed after the motorcycle he was driving collided with a police vehicle Thursday afternoon following a chase that began in Kline Township.

Mahanoy City police Patrolman Thomas Rentschler arrested George E. Trotta, 26, of 36 E. Oak St., in connection with that incident that carried over into the borough about 5:55 p.m.

Rentschler charged Trotta with felony fleeing or attempting to elude police and misdemeanor charges of resisting arrest, altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates, recklessly endangering another person and obstructing the administration of law.

Trotta was also charged with summary violations of driving without a license to avoid identification or arrest, careless driving, reckless driving, driving at an unsafe speed, not driving on roadways laned for traffic, failure of duty of driver on approach of an emergency vehicle, drivers required to be licensed, driving a vehicle without insurance, registration and Certificate of Title required and driving a vehicle without an official Certificate of Inspection.

Trotta was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail.

Rentschler said the incident began when he was on patrol about 5:45 p.m. and heard on the radio that Kline Township police were in pursuit of a motorcycle south on Route 309. Township officers said they lost the motorcycle near the Interstate 81 interchange and that the driver entered the interstate to travel south.

Rentschler said he went to the top of the Vulcan Hill, the interchange between Route 54 and Interstate 81 in Mahanoy Township, and saw a motorcycle matching the description exiting Interstate 81 and traveling west on Route 54 toward Mahanoy City.

The officer said he tried to stop the motorcycle but the driver, later identified as Trotta, fled at a high rate of speed, into and through Mahanoy City on Centre Street crossing the double yellow line and passing vehicles in a no passing zone, despite pedestrians who were out due to the nice weather.

The motorcycle continued to flee at speeds reaching 90 miles per hour and in the area of St. Nicholas was seen by Shenandoah police. Trotta continued toward Gilberton where he was seen by a state police cruiser but the trooper lost sight of the vehicle in the area of Mahanoy Plane.

Near the Gilberton Fire Company building, Rentschler said, he saw the motorcycle coming toward him and then turning onto Route 924 heading in the direction of Shenandoah.

Rentschler said officers briefly lost sight of the motorcycle but in the area of Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker’s office on South Main Street Trotta pulled out in front of a police cruiser, almost hit another vehicle and then fled again on Route 54 toward Lost Creek.

In the area of the Shenandoah Sewage Treatment Plant, Rentschler said, Trotta failed to make a turn, ran onto a dirt path and put the motorcycle on its side.

After exiting his vehicle, Rentschler said, he found Trotta picked up the motorcycle and was trying to start it. After refusing to stop, Rentschler said he used his Taser weapon on Trotta but the man managed to restart the vehicle and again fled on Route 54 despite being hit by the Taser probes.

Trotta continued west, failing to stop for police and traveled through Girardville when police from Ashland and Butler Township were called to assist.

At the intersection of Route 54 and Oakland Avenue, Rentschler said, the motorcycle struck the front of the Butler Township police vehicle and came to a stop on its side.

Trotta was taken into custody by officers from Butler Township, Ashland, Shenandoah, Frackville and state police.

Trotta was then taken to the Mahanoy City police station, evaluated by Mahanoy City EMS for a leg injury and then taken to an area hospital for treatment.

After being released from the hospital, Rentschler said Trotta was charged, arraigned and jailed.

Deeds

Ashland — Baytay LLC to Angela Perry and Gensis Farley; 1529 Centre St.; $20,000.

Janet Kaufman Hughes to Baytay LLC; property on Centre Street; $4,000.

Russel M. and Tiffany A. Kessler to Kessler Industries LLC; 1732 Centre St.; $1.

Butler Township — Carl L. Kramer Jr., individually and as executor of the Last Will & Testament of Donna J. Kramer, Wanda J. Kramer, Susan L. and Clinton E. Seaman and Kenneth W. Kramer to Brian W. Kramer; 878 High Road, Helfenstein; $1.

Seoan P. and Christon Henderson to Kaileigh N. Henderson; property on Ogden Street; $1.

Coaldale — Edward A. and Brenda L. Christman to Edward A. Christman; property on High Street; $26,000.

Cressona — Allen R. and Doris I. Faust to Edward Lee Faust and Allen R. and Doris I. Faust; 144 Pottsville St.; $1.

Delano Township — John Leaswitch Jr. to John Leaswitch Jr. and Cindi Slotcavage; property in Trenton; $1.

East Union Township — Richard W. and Joan C. Grabosky to Richard C. Grabosky; 8 Girard Manor Road; $1.

Clifford L. and Marie L. Young to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 137ER, Eagle Rock; $9,000.

Carole A. Smith to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 65WSS5, Eagle Rock; $4,720.86.

Kevin D. and Susan M. Addison to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 423WS, Eagle Rock; $9,000.

Girardville — William D. Hennessy to Terry L. Christ; 135 E. A St.; $14,000.

Hubley Township — Josephine L. Artz, by attorney in fact Keith M. Harris, to Joseph and Karen Zapotosky; property in Sacramento; $145,000.

Mahanoy City — Michael and Kristie Mooney to David Johnson; 534 W. Centre St.; $500.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Robyn L. Sincavage; 1222 E. Centre St.; $3,409.

Mahanoy Township — Ruth Wingard to Nationstar Mortgage LLC; 37 Lower St., Morea; $1.

Nationstar Mortgage LLC to Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 37 Lower St., Morea; $1.

McAdoo — Wells Fargo Bank NA to Castle 2016 LLC; 133 S. Hancock St.; $19,550.

Minersville — Robert J. Sidleck to Matthew F. and Stefanie L. Rose; 405 N. Delaware Ave.; $55,000.

Camillo A. and Jayne M. D’Attilio to Camillo A. D’Attilio; 444 Sunbury St.; $1.

Karen M. DeCarr to Justene M. Karkanica; 433 Pleasant St.; $1.

New Ringgold — Joseph Caracappa Jr. to Kyle DeMarco and Alexandria Clark; two properties; $64,700.

North Manheim Township — Stanley and Cynthia Klepchick to PB Mad Properties LLC; property on Legislative Route 53026; $60,000.

JSTTOPS LLC to Megan Wensel; 4 Earl St.; $137,900.

North Union Township — Roy W. and Christina Mills to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 45EA, Eagle Rock; $8,900.

Norwegian Township — James G. Lechleitner, executor of the Last Will & Testament of Leona R. Lechleitner, to James G. Lechleitner and Stephen Lechleitner; 421 Centre St., Seltzer; $1.

Orwigsburg — Kenneth J. Smith, executor of the Estate of William H. Albright, to Kenneth J. Smith; 101 N. Warren St.; $1.

Pine Grove Township — Randolph C. and Phyllis E. Monger to Jonathan L. and Deanna M. Weaver; 49 Long Stretch Road; $145,000.

Judith A. Gordon to Judith A. Gordon and Cody J. Veach; 2.00614-acre property on Oak Grove Road; $1.

Pottsville — Solebury Property Management LLC to Arrow Real Estate Investments LLC; 317 W. Market St.; $94,000.

Wilbur G. Walters to Luis O. Colon Colon and Zady G. Lebron Garcia; property on Fairview Street; $9,000.

Karen and Matthew J. Mennig to Karen Mennig; 1920 Third Ave.; $1.

Saint Clair — Robert J. Harrison to Robert J. Harrison, Louise A. Harrison and Melanie M. Harrison; property on Mill Street; $1.

Schuylkill Haven — Randolph B. Ott to Jeffrey David Walter Hull; 306 E. Union St.; $64,900.

Samantha Russel to Larry M. Hix; 7 W. Penn St.; $37,500.

Shenandoah — Arturo Burgos and Ana M. Burgos to Jose Arevalo; 221 N. Highland St.; $12,000.

Marianne McAndrew, individually and as executrix of the Estate of Victor P. Marconi, Victoria Polosky and Michele Marnell to Mark Anthony Cecchini; property on Lloyd Street; $25,000.

South Manheim Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Michael Maberry; 1457 Wynonah Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1,702.

Brian L. and Julia Lynn Moore to Philip Seader; 2132 Wynonah Drive, Lake Wynonah; $117,000.

Timothy D. and Rosemarie A. Schimpf to Robert and Dawn M. Fajna; 1501 Schuylkill Mountain Road; $135,000.

Arlene F. Fehr to Lisa A. Martin; 1 Spotts Lane; $322,000.

Tamaqua — Secretary of Veterans Affairs to Property Management of Pennsylvania Inc.; 415 Willing St.; $30,750.

Edward A. and Brenda L. Christman to Edward A. Christman; 175 Orwigsburg St.; $1.

Edward A. and Brenda L. Christman to Edward A. Christman; 230 Green St.; $1.

Edward A. and Brenda L. Christman to Edward A. Christman; 27 Vine St.; $5,500.

Tower City — Wells Fargo Bank NA to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; 1101 E. Grand Ave.; $10.

Upper Mahantongo Township — Wehry Brothers Farms Realty to Randolph S. Sr. and Janey L. Wehry; eight properties; $1.

John Paul J. and Amanda S. Lebby to Italia Inoa; 105 Schuylkill Ave., Shenandoah Heights; $5,000.

Randolph and Cindy L. Rothermel to Eric M. and Margaret S. Roulston; 0.98-acre property on Legislative Route 53096; $1.

Washington Township — Bruce L. Lengle and Melissa A. Lengle to Bruce L. Lengle; 162 Frantz Road; $1.

Wayne Township — Ronald R. and Esther J. Mengel to Carol Ann Mengel; 1.0072-acre property on Route 895, Summit Station; $1.

Gerald R. and Gloria M. Hooper to Janet L. Hooper and Lisa J. Hooper; 1160 and 1161 Custer Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1.

West Brunswick Township — Ultra LLC to Oliver Schaeffer and Jasmine Walter; 329 Fort Lebanon Road; $195,000.

Russell R. III and Maryann Cunningham to Russell R. Cunningham III; 3015 Village Road, Pinebrook; $1.

The Bank of New York Mellon to Strategic Realty Fund LLC; 549 E. Coal Mountain Road; $78,000.

West Mahanoy Township — Donald Andrew Burgess Jr. to William B. Burchfield; 104 S. Spencer St., Altamont; $1.

PINE GROVE — An old photo of Alexa Kolb’s mother trying out her gymnastic skills elicited a chuckle from the Pine Grove Student Council president and her “Grammy,” Louise Batdorff.

The pair shared family photos and a morning meal Friday during the second annual Grandparents’ Breakfast, sponsored by the Pine Grove Area High School Student Council. About 80 grandparents participated, double the amount who attended the inaugural event.

High school Principal Michael Janicelli and student council advisor Kim West welcomed guests to the free program. It featured a hearty meal, piped-in soft music, a questionnaire about grandparents’ memories and a family photo-taking session.

Batdorff, a grandmother of five, attended last year, too.

“I’m fortunate I get to spend every day with Alexa. Some grandparents don’t get to see their grandkids that often,” Batdorff said, noting she lives with her granddaughter’s family in Pine Grove. “It’s a nice event, even the music they play.”

Alexa, 18, as council president, helped make sure everything was in place for the grandparents and their families. She plans to study psychology or law at either Kutztown University or Penn State Berks.

Senior Madeline Frew and her sister, Rachael, filled up a table in the cafeteria with their family, including grandparents Ronald and Ruth Ann Lehman and Stuart and Mary Frew, and cousins Jake and Gabe Frew.

“I love them and I like being with them,” Madeline, student council treasurer, said.

Her grandparents had attended the program last year.

“I was quite impressed last year because I didn’t know it was their first year of doing this. It was a wonderful experience,” Ruth Ann, a retired registered nurse, said. Her husband is a retired state trooper. Both wore Penn State sweaters in support of Madeline’s post-secondary interest in attending Penn State University’s main campus to study business and compete in track.

Mary said she is a retired social worker in professional home health, while her husband is a retired Blue Mountain elementary teacher. Of Madeline’s track successes, Mary joked, “She gets her agility from her two grandmothers.”

She said she was enjoying her visit.

“It’s a really nice way to gather and interact with them in their setting,” Mary said.

Freshman Briar Becker, Donaldson, invited his grandmother, Wanda Yorty, Tremont, as well as his great-grandparents, Robert and Jean Becker, Pine Grove.

“I think it’s great and it brings back a lot of old memories,” Wanda said. She filled out her questionnaire, noting her favorite things to do in high school were to hang out with friends and taking a photography class.

“We used to have a photography class here. We’d walk in the woods, take pictures and then develop the film in our own darkroom,” Wanda said.

She said she still enjoys spending time with her grandson, going camping together in Tioga County.

“We can’t wait for camping season,” she said.

“I get to see her almost everyday,” Briar, 15, said. Wanda wore a shirt that said, “Simply the best grandma.”

Three generations of junior Mariah Lesh’s family also took part. A Pine Grove girls’ soccer forward, Mariah had her great-grandfather, Lemoyne Frantz; her grandparents, Steve and Doris Frantz, all of Pine Grove; her “Nana” Linda Lesh, Pine Grove Township; and her younger brother, Mitchell Lesh, in attendance. She and her brother are both student council members.

Lemoyne, who will be 92 in March, may have been one of the oldest to participate Friday. A retired farmer and crane operator at the former Cressona Aluminum, Lemoyne said, “This is great because I don’t get out very much.”

He said he does enjoys going to Cardinal sporting events and watching his great-granddaughter play soccer.

Senior Kirby White hugged both of her grandmothers, Barbara Huntzinger, Pine Grove, and Ardith Moyer, Schuylkill Haven, as they waited briefly in the buffet line.

“I think it’s a good idea and I feel honored that she brings me,” Barbara said.

Ardith had been in Pine Grove’s last graduating class at the old high school in 1955.

“I told her she graduated from Schoolyard Square,” Kirby said.

Barbara was a cheerleader and was one of the first classes to go through the district’s new facilities from seventh through 12th grade, graduating in 1961.

“Those were some of the best days of my life,” Barbara said.

After the meal was served, guests were invited to have their photo taken by West in front of a display board, announcing the event and year. West said the photos are then sent to the families as a “thank you” for participating. She said the principal had suggested the event and the student council had such a positive response to it last year, they decided to host it again.

“It’s great to see our students giving back and celebrating the important people in their life,” Superintendent Heath W. Renninger said.

State, county and municipal law enforcement officers, as well as emergency personnel and citizens, gathered Friday in Courtroom 1 of the Schuylkill County Courthouse to participate in the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Law Enforcement Symposium.

Following a continental breakfast for attendees, Christine Holman opened the program stressing her commitment to providing information and updates on the law to state, county and municipal police officers.

“We have an array of wonderful speakers here,” Holman said.

She first introduced Alicia Fleischut, executive director of Clinical Outcomes Group Inc., and Kelly Examitas, the organization’s director of financial operations.

Fleischut told the group that COGI has been designated as a Center of Excellence by Gov. Tom Wolf, in conjunction with the state Department of Human Services, in order to combat the opioid crisis that is sweeping across the state.

Fleischut said COGI provides outpatient drug and alcohol treatment to Schuylkill County residents and was recently the recipient of a $500,000 state grant to help in their endeavors.

There are currently 300 residents being assisted by COGI and, with the additional funding, Fleischut said the group can take on 330 more individuals who need assistance.

COGI currently has 10 case workers, four community-based case managers and a physician on hand, she said.

Examitas explained a Narcan replacement program that COGI put in place with the assistance of the Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol program.

She said EMS units and police agencies can have Narcan they use for overdose calls replaced at no cost to them. All that is needed is the zip code of where the Narcan was used and the zip code of the town where the victim lives.

This way, Examitas said, the usage can be tracked to find high drug use areas and also see if trends exist where out-of-county residents are traveling to this area in order to purchase or use illegal narcotics.

James McMonagle Jr., Luzerne County assistant district attorney, presented a program called “What Drug Court Means to Law Enforcement.”

He said opioid abuse has become a public health issue, in addition to being a criminal justice issue.

Luzerne County’s drug court, a program similar to the recently started drug court in Schuylkill County, offers a person suffering from drug addiction the ability to have their charges either dismissed or expunged after completing the requirements.

He said drug courts provide intensive treatment and other services defendants require to stay clean and sober and that they are held accountable by the drug court judge for meeting their obligations in court, society and with themselves and their families.

McMonagle also said participants are regularly and randomly tested for drugs and are required to appear in court frequently so the judge can review their progress.

McMonagle said that law enforcement can play a critical role in determining if a person would qualify for participation in the program.

“The police are the eyes of the community,” he said. “You know your people the best and know who may be a fitting candidate.”

In Luzerne County, McMonagle said that successful participants have turned their lives around to become involved in treatment programs helping others, and a woman has studied and passed her exam to become an attorney.

A brief demonstration was presented by West Penn Township Police Chief Brian Johnson and his K9, Gunner.

Gunner is nationally certified and trained in narcotics and apprehension.

Johnson said Gunner can detect heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana and ecstasy. For apprehension, the chief said, Gunner can conduct open-area searches and provide tracking and building searches.

The services of the dog are available to any police agency — state, county or municipal— who requests assistance, Johnson said.

The symposium closed with a program called “Fighting Blight” presented by state Sen. David Argall, R-29, and a presentation on medical marijuana by Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III.

Represented at the symposium were state police troopers from both the Schuylkill Haven and Frackville stations, Schuylkill County assistant district attorneys, members of the county drug task force, county detectives and municipal officers from Schuylkill Haven, Frackville, Pine Grove, Foster Township, Saint Clair, West Penn Township, Mahanoy Township, Minersville, Rush Township, Tamaqua, Ryan Township, Kline Township and Pottsville.

Also attending were members of the Ryan Township Emergency Rescue Squad, the West Penn Fire Company and county residents.

Motorcycle rider

struck by car

BARNESVILLE — A Barnesville man escaped serious injury in a crash about 5:15 p.m. Thursday at Route 54 and Tuscarora Mountain Drive in Ryan Township.

State police at Frackville said Jeramie D. Schock, 39, was driving a 1998 Harley-Davidson Sportster west on Barnesville Drive, Route 54, and was making a left turn onto Tuscarora Mountain Drive when his motorcycle was struck by a 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser driven by Raymond G. Baker Jr., 60, of Shenandoah.

Baker, police said, pulled onto Route 54 from Tuscarora Mountain Drive in an attempt to travel west and struck the motorcycle, causing that vehicle to fall onto the highway and injure Schock.

Schock was taken to St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale, by Ryan Township EMS for treatment and police said Baker will be cited for a left turn violation as a result of the crash.

Reading Hospital, West Reading

To Timothy and Marina Piccioni Refi, Pottsville, a daughter, Jan. 20.

Evangelical Community Hospital, Lewisburg

To Richard L. Leibig Jr. and Jordann Ulceski-Bridy, Ashland, a daughter, Feb. 15.

Geisinger Medical Center, Danville

To Ronald F. III and Brittany A. Phillipeck Paul, Frackville, a daughter, Feb. 11.

To John Hysock and Toni Chester, Frackville, a daughter, Feb. 14.

Rebecca Margerum

ELIZABETHVILLE — A Klingerstown man is headed to Dauphin County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday on charges resulting from what police allege was his vandalizing of the borough building in Millersburg in February 2016.

Kevin M. Greider, 30, faces charges of institutional vandalism and disorderly conduct after waiving his right to the hearing before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum, who bound over the charges for court. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of loitering and prowling at nighttime.

Millersburg police allege Greider kicked in the glass doors of the 101 West St. building on Feb. 29, 2016.

Greider, formerly of Lewisville, Texas, is free on $7,500 straight cash bail pending further court action.

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

Akkim S. Atkins, 30, of 9 Umberto Ave., New Cumberland; retail theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Coty A. Bordner, 27, of 655 Mohr Road, Elizabethville; driving under the influence, failure to keep right, disregarding traffic lane, careless driving and reckless driving; charges of DUI, failure to keep right and reckless driving withdrawn. Bordner pleaded guilty to disregarding traffic lane and careless driving; Margerum sentenced him to pay costs and $50 in fines.

Kenneth S. Bordner, 43, of 524 N. Third St., Sunbury; DUI, driving unregistered vehicle, driving under suspension, careless driving and operating vehicle without valid inspection; charges held for court after preliminary hearing that Bordner did not attend. Margerum asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Bordner.

James E. Boyd, 30, of 508 Walnut St. Apt. 2, Wiconisco; DUI; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Jordan L. Deiter, 29, of 604 W. Market St., Williamstown; disorderly conduct; defendant pleaded guilty. Margerum sentenced the defendant to pay costs and a $50 fine.

William F. Dodson III, 46, of 403 First St., Millersburg; endangering welfare of children; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Toby K. Eichert, 20, of 101 W. Market St., Apt. 1, Williamstown; possession of drug paraphernalia and false identification to law enforcement; charge of false identification to law enforcement withdrawn; defendant pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia. Margerum sentenced him to pay costs, a $50 fine and $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund.

Annette L. Evansjohnson, 19, of 1533 Catherine St., Harrisburg; theft and retail theft; charge of theft withdrawn; defendant pleaded guilty to retail theft. Margerum sentenced her to pay costs and a $50 fine.

Brandon A. Fenicle, 221, of 128 Bailey Run St., Newport; corruption of minors; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Carol J. Graff, 45, of 135 Chestnut St., Pillow; DUI, following too closely, careless driving and reckless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of reckless driving withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Matthew B. Helt, 42, of 156 Wilt Blvd., Millersburg; DUI, stop sign violation, careless driving and reckless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Brandon L. Hess, 23, of 100 E. Market St. Apt. 4, Williamstown; disorderly conduct; defendant pleaded guilty. Margerum sentenced Hess to pay costs and a $50 fine.

Nikki L. Hess, 36, of 15 Railway Ave., Millersburg; DUI, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Jill C. Keiter, 21, address unknown; one count each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and false identification to law enforcement, two of possession of a controlled substance and five of possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Chad H. Kissinger, 41, of 329 Market St., Apt. 1, Lykens; endangering welfare of children; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Adam J. Koppenhaver, 35, of 105 Dietrich Ave., Tower City; retail theft and theft by deception; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Jay A. Kozaryn, 46, of 5532 Route 209, Apt. 5, Lykens; three counts of possession of a controlled substance and one each of possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI, driving without a license, careless driving and reckless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of reckless driving withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Charles N. Lenker, 445, of 356 Pine St., Millersburg; simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Matthew S. Manning, 28, of 209 Nelson Terrace, Millersburg; possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Alan M. Margulies, 58, of 11 Siding Lane, Millersburg; terroristic threats and disorderly conduct; charge of terroristic threats withdrawn, defendant pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct. Margerum sentenced him to pay costs and a $50 fine.

Joshua K. Mauser, 27, of Harrisburg; receiving stolen property and retail theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge or receiving stolen property withdrawn, charge of retail theft bound over for court.

Donald L. Michael III, 52, of 203 N. West St., Williamstown; DUI, driving without a license, failure to notify of change of address, DUI while suspended, accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property, driving under suspension, failure to keep right, disregarding traffic lane, following too closely, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving, reckless driving, failure to stop and give information and accident involving damage to unattended vehicle or property; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Jennifer N. Ramos, 35, of 329 Market St., Apt. 1, Lykens; simple assault, endangering welfare of children and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Scott A.S. Rothermel Jr., 28, of 1151 N. River Road, Halifax; DUI and simple assault; charges withdrawn.

Bettyjean S. Rudy, 42, of 304 Market St., Apt. 2, Millersburg; disorderly conduct; defendant pleaded guilty. Margerum sentenced her to pay costs and a $25 fine.

Damien A. Rudy, 22, of 234 E. Market St., Williamstown; simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Michelle Spicer, 31, of 524 W. Girard St., Mount Carmel; two counts each of theft by deception, receiving stolen property, theft by failure to make required disposition, retail theft and bad checks; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of theft by deception, receiving stolen property and theft by failure to make required disposition withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Alex M. Strohecker, 45, of 120 N. Second St., Lykens; DUI, failure to stop and give information and accident involving damage to unattended vehicle or property; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Lavasha S. Ware, 24, of 1215J S. 13th St., Harrisburg; two counts of conspiracy; charges held for court after preliminary hearing that Ware did not attend. Margerum asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Ware.

Austin A. Wertz, 23, of 6081 Route 209, Lykens; two counts of simple assault and one each of recklessly endangering another person, unsworn falsification to authorities and tampering with evidence; right to preliminary hearing waived, one count of simple assault bound over for court, other charges withdrawn.

Sara E. Whitsel, 24, of 134 N. Union St., Pillow; DUI, recklessly endangering another person, failure to keep right, careless driving and reckless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Ciera L. Wiest, 23, of 203 North St., Lykens; DUI, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility, careless driving, reckless driving and no rear lights; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of reckless driving withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Michael L. Witter, 39, of 454 Race St., Millersburg; two counts each of access device fraud and theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Raymond L. Yohn, 33, of 211 Creek Road, Duncannon; four counts of aggravated assault, two of simple assault an one each of burglary, criminal trespass and terroristic threats; charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

Spring tried to arrive to the party a bit early in Schuylkill County. A blast of unusually warm weather has caused some Schuylkill County growers to assess the health of their gardens and crops, searching for any clues that plants have erupted from their winter dormancy prematurely.

Meteorologists report the remainder of the month will continue to have above-normal temperatures.

Concern

Although he hasn’t seen his orchard trees pushing much in the way of buds, Vince Schwalm, of Schwalm Farms, Hegins, said the weather had been a topic of conversation when he attended a fruit growers’ meeting in Lancaster this week. “Everyone is concerned,” he said.

“This is an oddity. It’s really too warm. I wish it would stay cool for another six weeks,” Schwalm said. “Everyone’s concerned that it wasn’t cold enough to kill the weaker insects.”

Schwalm said buds shouldn’t be emerging until the beginning of May. He believes as long as temperatures drop in the evening, the fruit trees may be okay and may endure the warmer daytime temperatures. Schwalm has 50 acres of apples in various stages of production; six acres of peaches; and four acres of pears.

“At this point, I’d like to see it a bit cooler for another month,” John Heim, operator of Heim’s Fruit Farm, McKeansburg, said. “So far, I haven’t seen any movement on the apple trees. The strawberries are still covered and are dormant.”

Heim’s seen a similar weather pattern develop, though, in 2000. That year, he said his plums came into full bloom at the end of March. An April freezing rain “slop” event, as Heim called it, caused him to lose the plum crop that year.

“I’d say if we have 10 days straight of this warmer weather, you may see a change in the bud structure,” Heim said.

If orchard trees do bud early, they are susceptible to frost, and there’s not much a producer can do to prevent the damage or crop loss.

Showing signs

Some Penn State Master Gardeners have already seen the result of this season’s heat wave in Schuylkill County.

“Trees are showing signs of bud swelling and sap is flowing into the trees, basically breaking dormancy. Some shrubs are showing the same signs and spring bulbs are sending up shoots,” Tom C. Reed, Penn State master gardener, said.

“Some of these plants can take a cold snap and be fine, such as tulips, crocus and muscari, to name a few. Most fruit trees would have a significant loss of the buds and blossoms reducing fruit production.” Annual gardens are not affected unless the gardener plants too early, Reed said.

The warmer weather can cause plants to move out of dormancy and then when cold weather returns, they are damaged and yields are reduced or eliminated depending on the species, according to Reed.

“When it gets warm, we want to get out there and get started,” he said.

Gardeners could plant certain items too early, then when the temperatures return to normal for this time of year, it could wipe out or severely damage the efforts. Tilling the soil when it is wet will also damage the soil structure, Reed said.

Home gardeners

Master Gardner Lila Smith admits being guilty of wanting to plant too early. She’s refrained this year, she said, opting instead for maintenance.

“I’ve been prepping beds, adding organic matter to the tops and raking leaves,” Smith said. She’s seen a few plants coming out prematurely this year.

At her Orwigsburg home where she grows a half acre of organic pumpkins, Smith has crocus and peonies that have just begun to push through the ground, along with daffodils. Honeysuckle leaves have started to erupt.

“The blooms on the daffodils, they could get hit. It depends on the cold and how much moisture that’s there,” she said.

Home gardeners may be confused about the best course of action for their plants.

“It’s hard to say, because we’re in February,” Smith said. “You may want to cover it now, but when the sun comes out, you’ll want to uncover your plants so you don’t cook them.”

Insects and disease are governed by weather conditions — both air and soil temperatures, according to Reed. If it’s warm too early, it could cause some insects, like pollinators, to become active with nothing available to forage on. Their condition will depend on how long we stay warm or if we go back to a normal, seasonal temperature, he said.

With warmer weather this early it gives a landowner a more comfortable environment to inspect and scout the property for damage and correct the damage that occurred during the colder winter months, Reed said. Pruning should be accomplished using guidelines provided by land grant universities, extension services, USDA and PDA. Damage and disease should be pruned out when found.

“When scouting your property, this is a good time to look for egg cases of destructive insects such as the gypsy moth, tent caterpillar, and spotted lantern fly and destroy the egg cases,” he said.

Reed recommends contacting the extension office for identifying the egg cases. The Penn State Extension Office for Schuylkill County is at 1202 Ag Center Drive, Pottsville; and the number is 570-622-4225.

Temperatures soar

For the month, temperatures have been 6 1/2 degrees above normal for the county, according to Aaron Tyburski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, State College. He said that figure is determined by taking into account the daily high and low temperatures. While it has been very warm during the daylight hours, most evenings, the temperatures have dropped down to near freezing or slightly below.

“That’s pretty significant. It has been rather warm,” Tyburski said. Wednesday was the fifth day in a row where the temperature was well above normal, ranging in the 50s to lower 60s. On Thursday, temperatures continued into the 60s, while on Friday they reached into the 70s, he said. That meant a full week of “well above normal” temperatures, Tyburski said. During the stretch from Wednesday to Friday, temperatures remained higher than normal during the night time, staying in the mid-40s.

The warm trend may continue next week, with temperatures rising above normal in the middle of the week, he said. The jet stream in the upper atmosphere has been tracking to the west and north, according to Tyburski.

“The storms go north of us and that allows the warm air to come into the state,” he said.

As for precipitation, the county was expected to receive rain today with a few showers and a possible thunderstorm. So far, for February, the county was about 1/4 inch below normal in precipitation, at a total of 1 1/2 inch of snow or rainfall for the month, Tyburski said. The additional rain on Saturday may help make up that slight precipitation deficit, he said.

MAHANOY CITY — The Mahanoy Area school board approved at Thursday’s meeting a plan to restructure the district schools that will eliminate the middle school designation.

The vote was 8-0 to arrange the classes between elementary school and high school levels. The elementary school will be from kindergarten to sixth grade (now kindergarten to fourth grade) and high school will be from seventh to 12th grade (now ninth through 12th).

A public hearing was held Tuesday to hear questions and comments on the plan. About 60 people attended, with the majority being district teachers who had questions about how classrooms and curriculum would be arranged and changed. Superintendent Joie Green moderated the two-hour hearing and answered questions.

While many details have been worked out, there are some areas that are still in discussion, such as school start and end times, lunch schedules, Title One services (goal is to provide these services to all students in kindergarten to grade six in math and reading), and transportation schedules.

The elementary school office will be moved to the current middle school office, and the middle school entrance where the school resource officer is stationed will become the main entrance for the elementary school.

The plan would mean the elimination of a principal position at the middle school, but there will be an principal opening at the elementary school with the retirement of Susan Scheeler at the end of this school year. That position will be filled by high school Principal Thomas Smith, with middle school Principal Michael Heater becoming the high school principal. Also, the 2017-18 school year will need an athletic director, which is held by David Holmes on a volunteer basis until June 30. The position is part-time. The idea being considered is to hire someone who would be a high school assistant principal/athletic director or just hire a assistant principal.

There was no discussion among the board members before the reconfiguration vote. The plan has been approved by the state Department of Education and will go into effect for the 2017-18 school year.

The school board held its workshop before the regular meeting, with Smith recognizing three students of the month: Katie Loughlin for November, and Haley Obrzut and Liam Mansell for January. Heater recognized the two middle school students of the month for January: Kaitlyn Van Horn and Ean Chelak.

Michael Dissinger believes he was unlawfully fired from his position as corporal in the Mahanoy City Police Department, and this month he sued the borough, its police chief and its elected officials in federal court to try to get his job back.

In his lawsuit, Dissinger alleged now-retired Police Chief John C. Kaczmarczyk, Mayor Patricia A. Schnitzius and its seven borough council members improperly fired him in August 2016 because he reported the chief as having given alcohol to a minor and questioned the handling of evidence by the department.

“Items had been missing from the evidence room of the ... department,” including $10,000 from a drug case, according to the lawsuit. “The ... department was improperly maintaining a second, off-site evidence room.”

Dissinger, Schuylkill Haven, asked the court either to reinstate him or award him compensatory pay, issue an injunction preventing the borough from punishing him for making proper reports to other law enforcement agencies, and award him compensatory and punitive damages, interest and attorneys’ fees. He also demanded a jury trial of the case, which has been assigned to U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III.

The council voted Aug. 9. 2016, to dismiss Dissinger for conduct unbecoming a police officer. It had voted on April 27, 2016, to suspend Dissinger with pay and accept Kaczmarczyk’s retirement letter; the actions have caused controversy in the borough.

At the request of District Attorney Christine A. Holman, the Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the missing money.

In the lawsuit, Dissinger said the council violated both his civil rights and the state Whistleblower Law in getting rid of him after he brought the alleged problems to light.

He said he had informed Schnitzius that Kaczmarczyk had provided alcohol in 2015 to a part-time police officer who was a minor at the time. He said Kaczmarczyk told him to “mind his own business.” Schnitzius said he should “stop acting like a baby” and no one on council cared about the matter.

Then in February 2016, a Schuylkill County detective asked Dissinger to bring the $10,000, which the department had held in evidence in a drug case, to Holman’s office, according to the lawsuit. Dissinger said he searched for the money in the evidence room but could not find it.

When Kaczmarczyk asked about the money, Dissinger told him, as instructed by the detective, that he had delivered it to him, the lawsuit reads in part.

Because of that, and the earlier complaint about the alleged alcohol incident, Kaczmarczyk retaliated by telling the council a distorted version of the story of the missing cash, thereby violating the Whistleblower Law, according to the lawsuit.

However, the council still dismissed Dissinger, giving as a reason his lie to Kaczmarczyk, according to the lawsuit. The council either knew or did not care that Dissinger had followed the detective’s instructions in his conversation with Kaczmarczyk, according to the lawsuit.

As a result, Dissinger has suffered greatly, the lawsuit reads in part.

“(Dissinger) has lost his employment, compensation for employment, employment benefits, and other compensatory and consequential damages and has suffered, as well, embarrassment, humiliation, harm to reputation and emotional distress,” according to the lawsuit.

Furthermore, Kaczmarczyk, Schnitzius and the council members acted “with malice and reckless indifference to (Dissinger’s) civil rights,” according to the lawsuit.

n Ashland: St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church will hold its annual spring bazaar from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 11 in the parish hall, 1115 Walnut St. There will be a bake sale, huge white elephant sale, homemade soups, pigeons, halushki, barbecue, sausages, door prizes and other items. White elephant items can be dropped off at the parish hall office from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. No clothing or shoes will be accepted. For more information, call the parish office at 570-875-1521.

n Auburn: An American Red Cross blood drive is scheduled for 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the Auburn Ambulance Building, 131 S. Front St. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information or to arrange for an appointment, call 800-733-2767.

n Brandonville: The Park Crest Fish and Game Club will have its membership meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Brandonville clubhouse.

n Elizabethville: Hospice of Central Pennsylvania will have a free passages program from 1:30 to 3 p.m. March 21 at the Northern Dauphin Human Services Center, 295 State Drive. The educational and support program is for adults who have experienced a loss within the past two years. People must register by March 20 by calling 717-732-1000, Ext. 2428 during the day or 717-943-1045 during evenings and weekends.

n Minersville: Mountaineer Hose Company, Third and South streets, will have a breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to noon Sunday at the firehouse, featuring an “open menu.” All are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-9622.

n Minersville: The Minersville Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorials and honor donations regarding the 2016 fund drive: For Angela Siemanis from Kenneth Siemanis; for Ann Macario from Kenneth Siemanis; for Alma Kroznuski from Judy Leonard; for Martha Jane Blackwell from Antoinette Ryan; for Agnes Rothermel Farley from Barbara Vicic; for Mary Dallago from Joe and Pat Chicora; for Joseph Chicora Sr. from Joe and Pat Chicora; for Janet Chicora from Joe and Pat Chicora; for Susan Capuzzi from Joe and Pat Chicora; for John Dubick Jr. from Joe and Pat Chicora; for Claude R. Ulmer from Gretchen Ulmer; for June Belas from Mr. and Mrs. Joe Butensky, Mr. and Mrs. Francis Monroe, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kryston, Mike Prelovsky, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Zavatsky; for Francis (Butch) Condrack from Russell and Anne Frantz; for George Bentz from Karen Sonnin; for Shirley Clemko from Goerge and Jean Heffner; for Eleanor Yuhas from Georgine Walters; for Chester Radziewicz from Kathy Radziewicz; for Susan Duffy from Anne Marie Zeth; for Deborah Slifko from John Slifko; for Betty Boran from Boran Dental Associates; for Mary Lou Spotts from Earle Spotts; for William Whiteman from Colleen and Gabe DiLazzaro; for Robert Logan from Joseph W. Logan; for Mary Droskinis from Stephen N. Keitsock; for R. Joseph Domlesky from Carolyn Domlesky; for Dolores A. Wenner from Linda Hydock Lopez; for Margaret Harris from Nancy Hutchinson; for Mildred and James Stutz from James Stutz; for Vincent and Nellie Nagle from Doyle and Mary Nell Starner. The library also acknowledged the following honor donations: For Joan Reno from John Luchanin; for Luke, Lexi and Mia Toth; for Ex Mrs. Irma Bayer from Ex Mrs. Irma Bayer; for Rita Geiger from Evelyn Tropp; for Samantha Mason from James and Monica M. Mason.

n Minersville: The St. Matthew Travelers group is taking reservations for scheduled bus trips as follows: To Mohegan Sun Casino, March 20, cost $25 with $30 rebate; to Ocean City and Eastern Shore, Maryland, May 15-18, cost $439 with payment as reservation. For more information or to register, call Julie at 570-5231 or Millie at 570-628-5413.

n Primrose: The St. Nicholas Holy Name Society will have an all-you-can-eat buffet breakfast from 7:30 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday at St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901. The cost is $9 for adults and free for children under 12. Takeouts will be available.

GIRARDVILLE — Two sisters’ enthusiasm for LEGO blocks launched them into a world of creative opportunities as LEGO ambassadors.

Lorelai and Trinity Davies, 9-year-old twin daughters of Chuck and Sasha Davies, were selected as ambassadors based on a short video their mom posted.

“I saw the contest on the LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia Facebook page. They had to enter a 30-second video stating why they should be picked as LEGO ambassadors, and part of the ‘Philly Creative Crew,’ ” Sasha Davies said Friday via email. “They were super excited! They couldn’t believe it, as they were asking for a few days if any winners had been picked.”

The sisters and 10 other children selected to be part of the “crew” were invited to join the grand opening of the LEGOLAND Discovery Center at the Plymouth Meeting Mall on April 6. They’re also scheduled to participate in other upcoming LEGO-related festivities, building up to the big reveal.

“Monday they will be attending a LEGO building activity with two of the Harlem Globetrotters at LEGOLAND, which is still under construction. In the coming weeks they will also be helping dump over a million bricks into all the attractions, attending the press preview on March 31 and getting to be on the first ride on the Imagination Express, one of the attractions at LEGOLAND Discovery Center,” their mother said.

In the video, the sisters showed “unique houses they created for the LEGO versions of themselves,” Sasha Davies said.

Their mother said the sisters have been playing with LEGOs since they were about 4 years old and had outgrown their DUPLO sets. DUPLO is a block set designed by LEGO for toddlers.

Sasha Davies said her daughters have their LEGO favorites.

“They loved building the new Disney World castle set they got from Santa, which was over 4,000 pieces. They also have created their own animals, buildings, a lab with robots and a warrior training center,” she said.

The twins are fourth-graders at North Schuylkill Elementary School. They’ve already received warm wishes, their mother said.

“I’m not sure if they made an announcement at North Schuylkill, but the assistant principal said she put them in the staff’s weekly newsletter, so they have had quite a few of the teachers congratulate them. All their immediate friends know and are super excited for them,” she said.

As President Donald Trump won Pennsylvania in November, his followers also fastened a target on U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright.

Only seven weeks into his third term representing the 17th Congressional District, the Moosic Democrat is on the radar of Republicans outside the region who want to expand their party’s 45-vote House majority by ousting him from office.

They already started attacking him, partly because they know Trump dominated the presidential vote in the 17th district.

The American Action Network, a Washington, D.C.-based conservative nonprofit “social welfare” group, bought local television commercials that criticized Cartwright for supporting the Affordable Care Act, best known as Obamacare.

“Tell congressman Cartwright to replace Obamacare with the better health care that we deserve,” the commercial’s narrator says.

The group spent $17,210 on 68 TV commercials that aired on WNEP and its sister station, WNEP2, as well as WBRE, WYOU and WOLF. The commercials aired mostly during local newscasts during the first two weeks of this month.

Two weeks ago, as the commercials still aired, the National Republican Congressional Committee, which helps elect Republicans to the House, announced the names of 36 Democratic House members it hopes to unseat in the 2018 federal elections. Only one Pennsylvania lawmaker is on its list: Cartwright.

NRCC spokesman Jesse Hunt said he expects the group to actively recruit challengers to Cartwright.

“I envision us making a strong push there, given the demographics and competitive nature of the district without really major attention give to the race,” Hunt said.

Mainly, Republicans see weakness in Cartwright’s election numbers:

· Cartwright won election in 2012 by defeating future Republican Lackawanna County Commissioner Laureen Cummings by more than 20 percentage points. Since then, he won re-election twice, each time by smaller margins, even though neither Republican opponent conducted an aggressive, well-funded campaign.

In 2014, he defeated Schuylkill County Coroner David Moylan by 13.5 percentage points. Moylan spent $93,600 on the campaign compared to Cartwright’s $878,616, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, a Washington-based tracker of congressional campaign spending.

Last year, Cartwright defeated real-estate developer/contractor Matt Connolly of Bethlehem Township in Northampton County by only 7.6 points. In 2014, Connolly couldn’t even beat Moylan in the Republican primary. Last year, running as a staunch conservative, Connolly defeated the better-funded businessman Glenn Geissinger, a Northampton County councilman in the primary before facing Cartwright. Overall, Connolly spent only $31,000 to Cartwright’s $859,000.

· In 2012, when Cartwright first won election, Democratic President Barack Obama beat Republican Mitt Romney in the 17th district by 55 percent to 43 percent. Last year, as Cartwright’s winning margin narrowed again, Trump won the district by 11.7 percentage points.

That happened even though the 17th district has about five Democrats for every three Republicans.

Democrats occupy only five of Pennsylvania’s 18 House seats, but Cartwright’s was the only Democratic district Trump won. He lost the other four — all in and around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh — by at least 32 points each.

“On paper, if you just look at the presidential results, it looks like they have a Democratic representative squatting in a Republican congressional district,” Cartwright said. “You don’t have to go too much deeper to see what the (real) story is. People know that the things I talk about, the things that I care about and the things that I work on, the priorities are jobs and the economy, protecting and preserving Social Security and Medicare, standing up for our veterans and keeping America’s national defense secure. Those all happen to be themes that President Trump talked about a lot during his campaign and I would suggest that he did a better job of communicating than his opponent.”

Cartwright, who has long supported the Affordable Care Act but also said repeatedly it needs tweaking, continues to support the law because it expanded Medicaid to 300,000 uninsured Pennsylvanians and ensures at least some compensation for hospitals that care for people who couldn’t afford to pay for care otherwise.

“It’s keeping rural and community hospitals afloat,” he said. “They serve poorer people.”

He plans to continue to prepare for his elections as before, calling all his previous opponents worthy.

“Getting re-elected is not a big worry for me. What I worry about is making a good account of myself in Congress,” Cartwright said.

Though Trump showed the candidate with the most money doesn’t always win, any Republican who runs against Cartwright will face a fundraising powerhouse. He had $561,068 cash on hand at the end of last year.

Of course, Republicans can’t take on Cartwright if they can’t find a candidate. So far, no one has emerged, though it’s early. Republican consultant Vince Galko, who managed U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta’s campaigns, said the NRCC and its Democratic counterpart, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, only are starting to determine which congressional races on which to spend their money.

By next year, Cartwright’s seat might drop off the radar. The DCCC announced 20 targets, including three suburban Philadelphia seats held by Republicans.

“Both committees are casting wide nets right now,” Galko said. “They will adjust as 2018 approaches. It’s a chess match. The more you can make the other side play defense, the less they can attack you.”

The 17th Congressional District includes Scranton, most of the Carbondale area, the Midvalley and the Downvalley in Lackawanna County, most of the towns in the Wilkes-Barre, Pittston Area and Wyoming Area school districts in Luzerne County; all of Schuylkill County; part of Monroe County, and all or parts of two other counties.

ORWIGSBURG — Students in the Blue Mountain School District will be tested for drugs, possibly as early as next month.

Superintendent David Helsel said Thursday that testing will start sometime in March or early April in time for spring sports.

The district adopted a drug policy in December that applies to students in seventh through 12th grade. The policy lays out the purpose, guidelines, definitions and consequences of positive drug test results.

According to the policy, students will not be permitted to participate in extracurricular/co-curricular activities or obtain a parking permit unless the student and student’s parent/guardian signs a consent to mandatory testing and a release for random drug testing. The tests will look for heroin, marijuana and alcohol, among other drugs. Any student who tests positive for drugs will not be suspended, expelled or academically punished. Law enforcement will not be notified about the results unless the district is compelled by valid subpoena or court order.

The topic was on the school board’s agenda because the district held a first reading of a drug testing consent form revision. The policy must have a second reading and adoption. Helsel said there were changes to the wording. A copy of the proposed consent form including the following change: “I understand that this waiver shall not apply with respect to claims that may arise out of the school district’s failure to abide by the terms and conditions of the policy or applicable law.”

The waiver states that the consent form shall remain valid unless proper guidelines are followed pertaining to the removal of the student from the drug testing program, that the student or parent/guardian who received a copy of the drug testing policy agrees to comply and absolves mentioned people and entities from liability.

The board also took action regarding the Schuylkill Technology Center secondary budget.

The board approved the $7,813,586 budget. The district’s cost is $931,256, an increase of $21,307 from the previous budget. Board member Scott Reichert abstained because he works for STC.

Members accepted the resignation and intent to retire from several district employees and agreed to create two new positions — a full-time personal care aide at Blue Mountain Elementary East and a part-time personal care aide at Blue Mountain Elementary Cressona.

Action was also taken on a stipend of $840 to Dana Clauser as Blue Mountain High School spring musical assistant director and $85 to Michael Capilo as Blue Mountain Middle School science fair co-advisor. Scott Davidson was approved as a volunteer softball coach.

Students will have to go to school April 17 for a snow-makeup day. Settlement agreements were also approved for three students regarding their waiver and expulsion hearing and stipulation.

Mark Palerino, director of the Blue Mountain Recreation Commission, talked about the South Schuylkill Comprehensive Park, Recreation and Open Space Plan. The plan seeks to gather input from the public about a vision for the future regarding parks and recreation in the southern area of the county.

“We should be pretty proud of what we have here,” he said.

A meeting is schedule for 6 p.m. March 13 at the Health & Wellness Building at Penn State Schuylkill. Residents of Auburn, Cressona, Deer Lake, Landingville, New Ringgold, Orwigsburg, Port Clinton and East Brunswick, North Manheim, South Manheim, Wayne and West Brunswick townships are especially encouraged to attend, Palerino said.

“This is only as good as the residents’ input,” he said.

Scranton

Local residents were among the more than 1,500 students named to The University of Scranton’s dean’s list for the fall semester. The students are: Marcella Creasy, Shenandoah, a freshman applied mathematics major; Daniel Johns, Orwigsburg, a freshman physics major; Rebecca Petlansky, Auburn, a sophomore biology major; Aden Wolfe, Ringtown, a junior human resources studies major; Vanessa Zimmerman, Frackville, a junior exercise science major; Melissa Kubeika, Pottsville, a sophomore business administration major.

Drexel

Corrine A. Mensch, Barnesville, majoring in nursing at Drexel University, Philadelphia, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester.

A 2014 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School, Corrine is a daughter of Dennis and Tracey Mensch.

Penn State

Gregory Merchlinsky, New Boston, a junior broadcast journalism major with a minor in political science, made the dean’s list for the fall semester at Penn State University, University Park campus.

He is a 2014 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School and a son of Greg and Suzanne Merchlinsky.

Codi Wood, a senior mechanical engineering major, and Anya Wood, a sophomore elementary education major, both made the dean’s list for the fall semester at Penn State University, University Park campus.

Codi is a 2013 graduate and Anya is a 2015 graduate of Pottsville Area High School. The siblings are the son and daughter of Tom and Stephanie Campion Wood and the grandchildren of Ann Marie Codi Campion, all of Pottsville.

Alexys M. Long, Buck Run, a freshman at Penn State Schuylkill campus, made the dean’s list for the fall semester.

She is a daughter of Robert and Marcia Long, Buck Run, and a 2016 graduate of Minersville Area High School.

John Shoener, a senior music education major at Penn State University, University Park campus, maintained dean’s list for the fall semester.

He is a son of Craig N. and Patricia Troy Shoener, Pottsville, and a 2013 graduate of Pottsville Area High School.

Jacob Shoener, a sophomore music education major at Penn State, University Park, attained the dean’s list for the fall semester.

Jacob is a son of Craig N. and Patricia Troy Shoener, Pottsville, and a 2015 graduate of Pottsville Area High School.

Emily Lehman, Auburn, a sophomore majoring in occupational therapy assistant at Penn State Berks, made the dean’s list for the fall semester.

A 2015 graduate of Schuyl-kill Haven Area High School, she is a daughter of Glenn and Sharon Lehman, Auburn.

Coastal Carolina

KateLynn LaScala, Schuylkill Haven, a senior majoring in biology, has made the President’s List at Coastal Carolina University, Conway, South Carolina, for the fall semester.

Raelinn C. Messer, Schuylkill Haven, a freshman majoring in English, has made the dean’s list for the fall semester at Coastal Carolina University.

Shippensburg

Rachel N. Idacavage, a freshman majoring in criminal justice at Shippensburg University, made the dean’s list for the fall semester with a 3.82 GPA.

A 2016 graduate of North Schuylkill High School, she is a daughter of Al and Lisa Idacavage.

Delaware

Kassandra Moyer and David Zimmerman, both of Schuylkill Haven, have been named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at the University of Delaware, Newark.

West Chester

Katie P. Deegan, a sophomore at West Chester University, majoring in mathematics and education, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester with a grade point average of 3.938.

Katie is a 2015 graduate of Pottsville Area High School, and a daughter of L. Samuel Deegan and Christine K. Deegan, and a granddaughter of John and Patricia Kutch, Pottsville.

Alabama

Logan Ann Derbes, Pottsville, was named to the deamn’s list for the fall semester at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.

Hartford

Courtney Krepps, Schuylkill Haven, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at the University of Hartford, West Hartford, Connecticut.

Eagle award

Michael J. Dudash, 18, of Pottsville, received his Eagle award at the Eagle Court of Honor ceremony Jan. 7 at the Pottsville Zone. He is a member of Troop 615 Pottsville, with Frank Guy as scoutmaster.

Michael is a 2016 graduate of Pottsville Area High School and is attending Penn State Schuylkill. He is employed part-time by Mike Watcher’s Garage, Minersville.

Michael is a son of Mike and Lynn Dudash.

Fulbright award

Rachel Roseman, Ashland, a 2016 graduate of Albright College, Reading, with a bachelor’s degree in English and theater, has been selected for the highly competitive Fulbright U.S. Student Award to Belgium.

Rachel will teach a course in American civilization and culture to graduate students at the University of Mons in the French-speaking region of the country. Rachel will also serve as a cultural ambassador, helping to enhance mutual understanding between Americans and Belgians.

The Fulbright program is America’s flagship international educational exchange program. Recipients of Fulbright awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, as well as a record of service and demonstrated leadership in their respective fields.

A standout student at Albright, Rachel was a member of the Domino Players, the college’s resident theater company, and performed in several productions, including “Maelstrom,” for which she was nominated for an Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship from the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival. She also conducted an Albright Creative Research Experience project on theater of the absurd in contemporary young adult fiction.

Since graduating from Albright last May, Rachel has worked in her hometown as a home health aide for senior citizens and as a youth mentor.

She will depart for Belgium this month and serve until June. She initially applied for a 2017-18 year-long Fulbright award to Luxembourg, but when an opening came up in Belgium, she was selected to step in and complete the term.

She joins more than 100,000 Fulbright U.S. Student Program alumni who have undertaken grants since the program began in 1948.

After completing her Fulbright, Rachel hopes to remain in Europe. She is applying to the International Law and Diplomacy master’s program at the American University in Paris, which includes a seminar at The Hague and a human rights certificate program at Oxford University. Ultimately, she is eyeing law school to specialize in international law.

We have the best of all worlds looking out from our world this month.

March stargazing is fantastic because you still have Orion and all the great constellations of winter, the best of the year in my opinion, but you’re not going to freeze off any body parts. One thing I don’t like is that in two weeks, on March 12, daylight-savings time begins and stargazing can’t really get started until 8 p.m. I love being able to stargaze right after supper!

The grand winter constellation Orion the Hunter and his gang of other bright stars and planets continue to light up the southern heavens. There’s Taurus the Bull; Auriga, the chariot driver turned goat farmer; the big and little dogs Canis Major and Minor; Gemini the Twins; and of course, Orion the Hunter with his three perfectly aligned belt stars.

Just below the stars, you can easily spot the Orion Nebula, a great destination for your telescope, even if you have a small one. You’re witnessing an excited birth cloud of hydrogen gas with storms forming within it more than 1,500 light years away, with just one light year equaling nearly 6 trillion miles! With even a small scope you can see four stars that were born out of the Orion Nebula arranged in a trapezoid pattern near the center of the cloud. One of the stars may be as young as 50,000 years old, which, believe it or not, would make it a stellar infant!

In the north Pottsville sky, the Big Dipper is standing up on its handle. The fainter Little Dipper is off to the left hanging by its handle. The brightest star, Polaris, otherwise known as the North Star, shines at the end of the Little Dipper’s handle. Polaris is the “lynch pin” of the sky. All of the stars in our sky appear to circle around the North Star every 24 hours since it shines directly above the Earth’s North Pole.

Over in the northwest sky, look for the bright sideways “W” that is supposed to be the outline of Queen Cassiopeia tied up in her throne. The story goes that Hera, queen of the Greek gods, was angry with Cassiopeia for boasting that she was more beautiful than the queen herself. Hera tied her up in a throne and cast her up into the heavens, where to this day she continues her endless circle around Polaris.

In the east, look for a distinctive backward question mark that outlines the chest and head of Leo the Lion, one of the springtime constellations. Regulus is the moderately bright star at the bottom of the question mark that sits at Leo’s heart. As March continues, Leo will get higher and higher in the sky in the early evening as the stars of Orion and his gang sink lower and lower in the west. This is because Earth, in its orbit around the sun, is starting to turn toward spring constellations like Leo and away from the wonderful stars of winter. Enjoy them now while they’re still at the celestial center stage.

As far as planets available in the evening, you can still easily see Venus and Mars fairly close to each other for about the first half of March in the low western sky. Venus is by far the brighter of the two, with Mars the next brightest star-like object you can see just to the upper left of Venus. The two planets are separated by less than 20 degrees, about two widths of your fist held at arm’s length.

It’s still a ways off, but on August 21 they’ll be a total eclipse in the contiguous 48 states in a diagonal strip from Oregon to South Carolina. It’s worth traveling to witness this amazing event.

In Pottsville, we’ll have significant partial eclipse with more than 80 percent of the sun eclipsed by the moon. You’ll need special eclipse glasses to safely watch the moon creep across the sun’s face. You never want to stare at the partially eclipsed sun without them. You can really damage your eyes, or worse!

(Lynch, an amateur astronomer and professional broadcast meteorologist, can be reached at mikewlynch@comcast.net)