Deeds

Auburn — Florence A. Boltz, by attorney in fact Edwin H. Boltz, to Edwin H. Boltz; property on Front Street; $1.

Pine Grove Township — Mark and Nancy Krauss to Kevin E. Mullen; 150 Suedberg Road; $153,900.

Porter Township — David C. and Michelle A. Fessler to Federal National Mortgage Association; 404 Greenwood Road; $1.

Pottsville — Juan Marquez and Maria Gomez to Pott Rock Gardens Inc.; 518 Mahantongo St.; $6,000.

Stephen R. and Ann Marie Buzalko to Hui Hui Wu; 20 N. Centre St.; $62,500.

Date incorrect

The Port Carbon Janet Eich Public Library rescheduled its Chinese auction for 2 p.m. March 26 at First United Methodist Church, Pike and Washington streets. Doors will open at noon. Shop-and-drop will be from 2 to 5 p.m. March 25. The time was incorrect in Wednesday’s calendar.

n Deer Lake: The Deer Lake & West Brunswick Fire Company will have bingo games from 6 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesday at the firehall, 1 Ash Road. For more information, call 570-366-0152.

n Frackville: The South End Field and Stream Association is holding its annual Easter kielbasa sale. Varieties include fresh, smoked and cheesy hot. Pick-up dates at the Whippoorwill Dam, Morea Road, are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 13 and 14. Orders must be placed by April 3. To order or for more information, call Joe C. at 570-874-1108.

n Frackville: Holy Ascension Orthodox Church, 209 S. Lehigh Ave., is taking orders for homemade Easter paska bread, plain or raisin. To order or for more information, call 570-874-0732.

n Frackville: The Frackville Ministerial Food Bank distribution has been rescheduled to 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday.

n Mahanoy City: First United Methodist Church has rescheduled its yard sale to 10 a.m to 3 p.m. Thursday and noon to 5 p.m. March 24. For more information, call 570-773-1165.

n Mahanoy City: The Mahanoy City Elks Lodge, 135 E. Centre St., will have a deviled crab dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. March 24. The cost is $9 per person and people may eat at the lodge or take meals out. Walk-ins are welcome. For more information, call 570-573-2649. The lodge will also have a breaded fish dinner from 4 to 7 p.m. March 31.

n New Ringgold: Proceeds from a bingo scheduled for March 26 at the Mahoning Valley Ambulance Building will benefit Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center Inc. Prizes for the bingo are Coach and Vera Bradley handbags, filled Longaberger baskets and Tastefully Simple items. There will be 20 regular games, five specials, a raffle, a Chinese auction and a bake sale. The ambulance building is located in on Route 902 in Normal Square. Doors will open at noon and the bingo will begin at 1 p.m. Lunch will be available for purchase. For more information on the bingo and to reserve tickets, call Debbie Yanders at 610-377-0151. Tickets will also be available at the door for $20. Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center Inc. is a registered nonprofit organization that offers a special program of therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with special needs. For more information, visits its website at www.horsesandhorizons.org or call Elaine Smith at 570-386-5679.

n Ringtown: The Friends of the Ringtown Area Library support group will hold its annual used book sale from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. April 1 and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 2 at the Schuylkill Mall. There will be a “huge selection and great prices on fiction and non-fiction titles,” organizers said in a release. There will also be hardcovers and oversized paperbacks at $2, mass market paperbacks at 50 cents, children’s books at 25 cents, DVDs, audio books and CDs, board games, puzzles, and magazines. On April 2 only, patrons will be able to fill a bag for $5. For more information, call the library at 570-889-5503.

n Shenandoah: Patrons of the Shenandoah Area Free Public Library can have any overdue fines erased by returning material now through April 6, according to a library release. Items must be taken to the circulation desk. Library staff will then remove any fines on the account and patrons will again have full library privileges.

n Tamaqua: The Tamaqua Area High School Drama Club will present “Dracula, the Musical” at 7 p.m. today and 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $10 for adults and $8 for students. Doors will open one hour prior to showtimes. According to a release, the show contains mature content no suitable for children under the sixth-grade level.

n Tremont: The St. Peter’s United Church of Christ Youth Group will have a cold soup sale from 10 a.m. to noon March 25 at the church, 57 Spring St. The cost is $6 per pint and several varieties are available. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-695-3498.

SHENANDOAH — The Shenandoah Valley school board and administration heard a second round of concern from students and others about a change in elementary music in the upcoming school year.

The comments were made at Tuesday’s school board meeting, which was held due to a lack of quorum at the regular meeting on Feb. 22. At the February meeting, band director and high school music teacher Walter J. Choplick Jr., who is also the audio-visual technical adviser, explained the situation where the music curriculum for the elementary students will be reduced at the earlier grades and substituted with health and physical education classes by a certified teacher in those areas.

Choplick said the move will diminish the opportunities for children in the early years to become familiar with instrumental music. The current elementary instrumental music/band instructor Kayla Stiely submitted her resignation and will not be replaced. Stiely’s resignation was accepted at the Tuesday meeting.

Choplick, students and adults spoke at length during the Feb. 22 meeting to the school board. Tuesday’s meeting included a public portion on the subject that lasted almost 1 1/2 hours.

The first person to speak was North Schuylkill band director William Lennox, who asked the administration and school board to reconsider its plan.

“I am speaking about the elementary position turning into a physical education position,” Lennox said. “I served as the advocacy member for the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, which you recently hosted a district orchestra here. I have no problem with elementary physical education. I think it is super important that kids learn physical education and health. My argument is that all the things you can learn in physical education you can also learn in music education.”

Lennox explained from his background in music education in the classroom and band direction that “fine motor skills” are developed in music education, which also has a relationship to learning language.

“How can we improve language? Music is the key,” Lennox said. “I spent most of my elementary years teaching the rhythm of speech. When we started, we all stood up and said the Pledge of Allegiance. We all took pauses at the exact same time, and it doesn’t matter where you go in this country, we all stand and say the pledge in generally the same order with pauses. That could be thanks to a music teacher because we take those natural pauses because we learn in music classes where we should breathe. This is something that you don’t get unless you have a music teacher developing all those skills.”

Lennox added, “I’m pushing that the elementary position should be elementary music because you’re going to get way more benefits. There are millions of studies about physical education and music, and I’m telling you right now every music (study) specifically focuses on language and math.”

District Superintendent Brian Waite replied with the assurance that music education is not going away at Shenandoah Valley at the elementary level.

“Shenandoah Valley is not doing away with instrumental music at the elementary level. We are restructuring the music program,” Waite said. “Mr. Lennox, are you aware that there has not been delivery of elementary music in the Shenandoah Valley School District by a certified teacher since before the 2012-2013 school year until this year, and it wasn’t done K-6. It was done 2-4. There has not been an instrumental music position here in the elementary school prior to this year. We are looking at restructuring it. And it would not have happened, but our music teacher resigned and there are other benefits for the health and physical education students. Based on our nurses doing BMI checks, 50 percent of our students are considered overweight or obese. Our students don’t get actively involved and engaged in those types of things.”

Waite added that language is taught in the “content areas” of the curriculum.

“You talked about the language part of it, well that’s part of what we do in content areas,” Waite said. “When we start talking about students to be able to read fluently, there are standards that go for that are addressed. Intonation, inflection, how we read at certain points in time, that is all taught by our elementary teachers.”

Waite said the school district needs to be innovative with the financial resources it has, especially in dealing with funding reductions by the state several years ago.

“We’re at a time when we have to be creative with our resources. That’s what we’re trying to do here,” Waite said. “With all the things you talked about with inflection and fluency and all those types of things, that happens from the elementary teacher providing direct instruction. There are standards and goals they have to meet within their classroom instruction.”

Lennox said, “One of things I concentrate on is inflection in music. Yes, the elementary teachers, no matter where they are, are working their hands off in order to keep up with all the demands on them, and as a music teacher, I’m doing everything I can to aid in every single possible way. Everything you want to accomplish can easily be done with a music teacher.”

Lennox said that music teachers can touch on subjects taught in other classrooms that can connect with music in some way.

“I would really like to see a music person at that position,” Lennox said.

The school board and administration heard comments for students and adults explaining their opinions on why the curriculum should not be changed in the next school year. The school board took no actions on the matter.

Deeds

Cass Township — Cass Township to Keith Purcell and Scott Purcell; 0.203-acre property on South Birch Lane; $1,500.

Deer Lake — Sharon J. Buckley, individually and as executrix of the Estate of Joseph E. Buckley, to The Gratz Bank; 133 Laurel Road; $1.

Frackville — Brenda D. Comishock to Cristina Roldan Seeraj; two properties on Second Street; $46,500.

George M. and Mary Ann Tokarczyk to Mahanoy Rentals LLC; 201-203 N. Railroad Ave.; $30,000.

Girardville — Mike Daka to Darren Lee Miller Jr.; 129 B St.; $12,000.

Thomas J. and Grace M. Dempsey to Brian David Dempsey and Thomas J. Dempsey Jr.; 204 W. Main St.; $1.

Gordon — Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. to Brian Martin; 104 McKnight St.; $62,999.

Hegins Township — Thomas R. Lynne L. Hausman to Ruth A. Wetzel; 317 W. Walnut St., Valley View; $1.

Landingville — George V. Jackson III to Raymond J. Jackson; 26.587-acre property; $1.

Mahanoy City — Miners Bank to Amber Devlin; 1306 E. Centre St.; $10,000.

McAdoo — Lorraine E. Searfoss to Bobby Hebel; property on Kennedy Drive; $5,000.

Denise M. Holloman to Joseph and Donna Stauffer; 46 S. Hancock St.; $1.

Carlos Alberto Nunez to Fernando Arturo Puerie Avila and Suhary Rosariio; property on South Logan Street; $8,100.

New Philadelphia — William G. Schwab, trustee in bankruptcy, to Borough of New Philadelphia; 61 Water St.; $200.

Michael J. Harvilicz to Stacey A. Strauss; 135 Lombard St.; $1.

North Manheim Township — Curtis and Janine Tobash to Brandon A. and Jennifer K. Steely; 21 N. Greenview Road; $140,000.

Peter P. Tobash III, Curtis M. Tobash and Dennis G. Tobash to Curtis M. Tobash and Dennis G. Tobash; 58.7603-acre property at Route 61 and Pete Ann Drive; $1.

John T. and Janine Campomizzi to Brenna E. Traver; 7 E. Abby Lane, Sunnyside; $155,000.

Orwigsburg — Jamie F. and Nicole H. Campbell to Curtis R. and Cara Elizabeth Bates; 405 Ridge Road; $340,000.

Palo Alto — Larry V. and Sandra A. Skuczas and Christopher Skuczas to Christopher Skuczas; 412 W. Savory St.; $1.

Pottsville — Carllpott Properties LLC to Bradford and Doris Hutchinson; 411 North St.; $8,000.

Richard D. and Dorothy M. Brown to Centre Street Hardware LLC; property on South Centre Street; $116,500.

Rush Township — John Paul Olenick, executor of the Estate of Paul J. Mehalshick, to James Yurcho; 129 Cumberland Ave., Hometown; $55,000.

Saint Clair — George F. Hupka Jr. to Keith E. Maley; 123-125 N. Second St.; $20,000.

Debra A. and Sean L. Selsavage to Kyle D. Conrad; 312 E. Carroll St.; $44,000.

Schuylkill Haven — Evelyn Kittner to Jorge L. Jr. and Lissette Rivera; 228 Dock St.; $1.

Shenandoah — Michael Cope to Randor Vicente; 105 N. White St.; $500.

Bertie Inc. to John J. Halford and Wanda Giffey-Halford; three properties; $1.

Jennifer L. Marhon and Brian K. Marhon to Jennifer L. Marhon; 33 E. Oak St.; $1.

The Mahoney Brothers are returning to Mount Carmel with a new take on some old classics.

The renowned impersonation group will present “Jukebox Heroes Live” at 7 p.m. March 25 at Mount Carmel Area High School. Tickets are $20 and are available at Academy Sports Center Inc., Mount Carmel; Subway in Wal-Mart, Coal Township, or at the door. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Billed as “The World’s Greatest Musical Impersonation Show,” the Mahoney Brothers will perform classic songs from rock ’n’ roll icons, such as The Beatles and Elvis Presley. The group’s newest impersonations include Roy Orbison, Billy Joel and Jimmy Buffet.

According to a press release from event organizer Joe Cesari, the Mahoney Brothers make sure their performances are as close to the original as possible.

“Tim Mahoney portrays Paul McCartney singing ‘Yesterday’ and plays the guitar left-handed, but Tim is really right-handed,” Cesari said.

In addition to the concert, the Mahoney Brothers and Kulpmont Cruise Association will honor first responders — firefighters, EMTs, police and nurses.

The ceremony will take place between the first and second set.

In addition, Cesari said they are working on getting a Geisinger LifeFlight helicopter, fire trucks, police cars and ambulances to the show.

Another special tribute is planned for World War II veteran Lt. Col. Joseph Diblin, who will be 100 years old in July.

According to the release, Diblin was born in Lewisburg and currently lives in the Sunbury-Northumberland area. He has written an article about veterans every Sunday for 25 years.

Proceeds from the event are used to support local youth programs, Special Olympics, a Christmas dinner for people with special needs, playgrounds, Halloween parades and various organizations that support local programs.

“Think of your $20 ticket as a donation supporting your sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and neighbors in their participation in local programs and events,” Cesari said.

For more information, call Cesari at 570-373-3561.

Dave Shiffert seems at home playing his guitar in downtown Pottsville.

Shiffert, 28, of Pottsville, will tell you his life has not been an easy one. His mother died when he was 4 years old and he never knew his father.

As a child, he had an eating disorder and didn’t finish high school. Then, he had a run-in with the law and ended up going to jail. Currently, he is unemployed.

Despite his hardships, he tries to not let life bring him down.

Shiffert, now a proud father of two girls, said he tries to live life to the fullest and take in all it has to offer. The words “live life” are tattooed on his knuckles.

“It’s my motto,” he said.

Earlier this month, he was strumming his guitar on Centre Street. He has a 10th-grade education but that doesn’t stop him from pursuing what he loves.

“If you have dreams, go for your dreams,” he said.

Shiffert starting playing music when he was 5 years old. He lived with his grandparents as a child before setting out on his own. His grandmother loved Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash.

“Music has just always been in my life,” he said.

He said his favorite bands are The Smashing Pumpkins and Foo Fighters. His favorite song is “Runaway Train” by Soul Asylum.

He said people have asked him if he was homeless. He is not, as he currently lives with his girlfriend.

He said a Pottsville police officer once offered to help him connect with social services, but Shiffert told him he was OK. The officer gave him $2.

The most money he received was $100 after he told someone his story. He said the person liked his message and his guitar playing.

Shiffert said he tried to get a job but it is difficult.

“It takes someone to call me and give me a job,” he said.

Shiffert said people have made comments, such as why he isn’t looking for a job. He tries to ignore it.

“There’s always going to be someone trying to drag you down. Misery loves company,” he said.

Despite what has happened to him, he isn’t downhearted.

“I don’t believe it’s as horrible as people are making it out to be,” he said about the world.

Shiffer said time is a precious commodity that should not be squandered.

“I don’t think there is enough time in life to be getting down. The glass is always half full,” Shiffert said.

He is hesitant to go outside and play during the inclement weather. Still, he wants to bring his enjoyment to life for others to enjoy.

“I don’t like being sad. Who likes to be sad?” Shiffert said. “Sometimes you just got to get over it and find your happy place. This is my happy place.”

In the county court, Judge Charles M. Miller on March 8 accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Tracy L. Butler, 37, of Pottsville; disorderly conduct; 12 months probation and $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Account payment.

James M. Felty, 24, of Cressona; harassment; $150 fine. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of simple assault.

Becky L. Kite, 23, of Drums; retail theft; $100 fine.

Benjamin P. May, 30, of Jonestown; false reports to law enforcement; 12 months probation and $50 CJEA payment.

Danielle M. Oswald, 44, of Pottsville; no contest plea to retail theft; 12 months probation and $50 CJEA payment.

John A. Rich, 65, of Pottsville; distribution of a small amount of marijuana; 30 days probation and $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christopher A. Schill, 25, of Pottsville; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation and $100 Substance Abuse Education Fund payment.

Joshua C. Spector, 37, of Pottsville; public drunkenness and disorderly conduct; $150 in fines. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Malea M. Sterner, 19, of Pottsville; disorderly conduct; $150 fine. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of simple assault.

Tanya L. Svrcek, 37, of Schuylkill Haven; three counts of retail theft; five years probation, $150 in CJEA payments and $16.26 restitution.

Sean P. Toomey, 48, of Port Carbon; driving under the influence; six months probation, $300 fine, $100 SAEF payment, $60 restitution and 10 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew charges of disregarding traffic lane and careless driving.

John D. Troup, 43, of Pottsville; two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of public consumption of alcohol; 18 months probation, $25 fine, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $239 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Harrisburg.

Katrina M. Corra, 23, of Kelayres; fleeing or eluding police, driving under the influence, resisting arrest, driving under suspension-DUI related and failure to keep right; 24 months in the intermediate punishment program, $3,025 in fines, $100 payment to the SAEF and 30 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew charges of failure to drive at a safe speed, failure to yield to emergency vehicle and reckless driving.

Jeffrey R. Law, 47, of Mechanicsville, Virginia; DUI, disregarding traffic lane and reckless driving; five days to six months in prison, $800 in fines, $100 SAEF payment, $50 payment to the CJEA, $120 restitution and 20 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of careless driving.

Ronald G. Malacusky, 63, of Shenandoah; DUI; six months probation, $300 fine, $100 SAEF payment, $120 restitution and 10 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew charges of no rear lights and obscured plates.

Veronica N. McCuller, 35, of Pottsville; retail theft and disorderly conduct; two years probation and $25 fine. Prosecutors withdrew charges of endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person and receiving stolen property.

Terrence L. Moore, 29, of Lansford; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation consecutive to Carbon County sentence, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

David C. Schaeffer, 31, of Minersville; two counts of theft of leased property; time served to 12 months in prison, $50 CJEA payment and $1,155.26 restitution.

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

The Pottsville Area school board voted Wednesday to potentially outsource its bus transportation.

The board voted unanimously for the administration to accept request for proposals regarding busing students. The RFPs are due today and will be opened at 10 a.m. at the Howard S. Fernsler Academic Center.

A pre-bid meeting was held at 10 a.m. March 6 at the academic center. Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel said about five interested companies attended. Afterward the interested parties went to the John S. Clarke Elementary Center, where the district houses its fleet of vehicles.

Last year, the district also solicited for RFPs and also wanted to sell its fleet of vehicles. Three companies attended a pre-bid meeting last March. The district decided not to outsource busing last year.

When asked if he thought the district will have better luck this year, Zwiebel said, “We will see what the contractors come in at.”

Wayne McCullough, with the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials, is assisting with the RFPs. McCullough will review the RFPs with others and report back to the board in April, Zwiebel said.

In other business, the board acted on several personnel matters at the meeting.

They accepted the resignation of Heather Berger, a kindergarten teacher at John S. Clarke Elementary Center, effective March 31. Zwiebel said Berger accepted a position in another school district.

The board also accepted the resignation for retirement of Lou Ann Vinc, a full-time paraprofessional at D.H.H. Lengel Middle school. Vinc is retiring May 31 or the last day of class.

Other personnel actions the board took included accepting the resignation of Karen Shoener, a paraprofessional at Blue Mountain High School, who is also in the autistic support room for a Pottsville Area High School student. Board member Karen Rismiller said the districts were sharing the cost. Shoener has been hired by the Blue Mountain District, she said. Kim Ulmer, a part-time paraprofessional at Blue Mountain High School in the autistic support room, was hired for a Pottsville Area High School student. She will be paid $12.60 an hour effective March 16.

They approved unpaid leaves of absence for two paraprofessionals at the high school: David Hess from March 17 to 31 and Monica Natishak for March 17.

A McAdoo man against whom former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin once took a restraining order allegedly swung a stick at McAdoo Mayor Stephan Holly following an argument about snow removal on Wednesday.

Shawn R. Christy, 25, of 23 Rear S. Harrison St., faces four felony counts of aggravated assault and two misdemeanors for simple assault after swinging a “large” stick at Holly after 8 a.m., police said.

Christy was taken to jail Wednesday after failing to post $50,000 bail set by Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker, Shenandoah, during his preliminary arraignment.

Police said they were summoned to the borough building, 23 N. Hancock St., at 8:18 a.m. for an assault complaint, a day after Winter Storm Stella touched down.

Holly told them Christy approached him on the borough property and registered a complaint about the status of an alley. A verbal conflict ensued, police wrote, and Christy swung a stick at Holly’s head twice as Holly exited his vehicle.

The stick was about 4 feet long and 2 inches in diameter, court papers state, and Christy fled the area prior to police arrival.

Christy’s father, Craig, said in an interview his son went to the borough building to ask when road crews would remove snow from the alley where they live just east of Harrison Street.

Shawn Christy sustained a cut lip and bruises on his neck, according to Craig Christy, who wonders why the mayor wasn’t charged. Craig Christy also wondered if police obtained and watched video from any cameras at the borough building where the incident occurred.

Holly said he would not comment because the incident is being investigated.

After the incident, the family called an ambulance for Shawn Christy but instead two officers arrived, Craig Christy said, and they did not ask Shawn Christy to accompany them back to the police station then.

Hours later, the police took his son into custody after posting backup officers in the neighborhood, according to Craig Christy.

The Christy family took video of the arrest and the earlier visit by police, he said.

McAdoo Patrolman Frederick Lahovski said Friday that in the aftermath of the alleged incident, police attempted to contact Christy and were “confronted in an adversarial manner.”

After attempting to make contact, police obtained an arrest warrant and used Schuylkill County’s alert system to advise residents to remain inside homes while police responded, Lahovski said.

State police at Frackville and officers from Rush and Kline townships assisted, Lahovski said. Borough firefighters and streets department personnel from Kline Township and McAdoo also assisted.

He said the operation blended a “crisis intervention plan” with a law enforcement operation.

“And it worked with success,” Lahovski said. “It took an hour to formulate and an hour to implement.”

Christy was “apprehended without further incident and undue disruption,” Lahovski said.

He was taken to a local emergency room for a precautionary examination and then for arraignment. He was later jailed at Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $25,000 straight bail, Lahovski said.

In 2010 when Palin was governor of Alaska, she obtained a restraining order against Shawn Christy after claiming that he harassed her and a friend.

Christy was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to harassing Palin’s attorneys by telephone, and he served two years in federal prison for violating his probation by leaving a half-way house.

In a separate incident in September 2015, Christy pleaded guilty to two summary counts of harassment for offenses in June 2015 at McCann School of Business, where law enforcement said he harassed a teacher and administrator. He violated his parole during that incident, police said.

Three companies submitted proposals showing their interest in the Pottsville Area School District’s desire to potentially outsource busing.

Keith F. Galloway, director of business development and acquisitions, Durham School Services, Coventry, Rhode Island; Don Kane, general manager, Krapf Bus Co., West Chester; and Frank K. Dutcher III, senior vice president of Wolfington Body Co. Inc., Exton, attended the 10 a.m. meeting at the Howard S. Fernsler Academic Center. Wayne McCullough, director of leadership and development with the Pennsylvania Association of School Board Officials, read a summarization of the proposals.

Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel, Patricia Lombel, the district’s acting business manager, and Kerry Ansbach, district consultant, also attended. No members from the public attended.

McCullough said he is “not able to provide an analysis at this point until we look at all the numbers.”

The proposals include purchasing the fleet of 25 vehicles that include 12 buses that can fit 72 passengers, two buses that can fit 48 passengers, one bus that can fit 27 passengers, three handicap vans that can accommodate two wheelchairs or one wheelchair and four students, two SUVs and five passenger vans.

The district also has four additional spare passenger vans that were not included.

Durham’s proposal was read first. They submitted a price of $254,382 to purchase the fleet. Krapf’s submittal to purchase the fleet was $375,000, while Wolfington said it was willing to pay $295,000.

Each of the three companies also submitted other amounts for varying services, though McCullough did not go into detail.

“Thank you for your interest,” McCullough told the three men. He said he was “very pleased with the response.”

On Wednesday, the school board voted for the administration to accept the request for proposals. Five interested parties attended a pre-bid meeting at 10 a.m. March 6 at the academic center. First Student, Ohio, and Faithful Transporation, Michigan, attended the pre-bid meeting but did not submit proposals, Zwiebel said.

Afterward, they went to the John S. Clarke Elementary Center, where the district houses its fleet of vehicles. Last year, the district also solicited for RFPs and also wanted to sell its fleet of vehicles. The district decided not pursue outsourcing last year.

Zwiebel said he would not comment on the proposals except to say he is happy there is interest. McCullough will make a presentation to the board at the April 5 work session.

“We are hopeful that the board would then take action on the 19th at the regular meeting,” Zwiebel said.

Pottsville police are investigating a report of a robbery involving a weapon at the Pottsville Motor Inn resulting in charges being filed against a Luzerne County man.

Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said officers were called about 3:15 p.m. Thursday to the 480 N. Claude A. Lord Blvd. business and told by the owner that he was approached in a hotel room by a man who brandished a knife.

The man demanded money from the business owner, searched him and then fled when he did not find any money, Wojciechowsky said.

He added that it was also reported the suspect fled the area along with another white man in a silver Chrysler PT Cruiser.

Wojciechowsky said that through investigation and review of surveillance video, it was learned that Shy Kilraine-Richter, 27, of Minersville, arrived at the business along with two other men, one being Charles Chadwell, 27, who has a last known address in Luzerne County.

The chief said Kilraine-Richter asked to see a room for rent and when the business owner took her to a room, Chadwell followed behind them and committed the attempted robbery.

Wojciechowsky said Kilraine-Richter was detained at the scene and interviewed at Pottsville City Hall by Detective Joseph Welsh, at which time additional pertinent information to the investigation was revealed.

Following her interview, the chief said, Kilraine-Richter was committed to Schuylkill County Prison on an Adult Probation detainer.

Welsh then prepared a criminal complaint for Chadwell, charging him with felony criminal attempt to commit robbery, conspiracy, terroristic threats, simple assault and possessing instruments of crime and a warrant was obtained for his arrest.

A short time later, about 8:40 p.m., the chief said Cpl. Brian Reno conducted a vehicle stop in the 400 block of East Norwegian Street on a 2003 Chrysler PT Cruiser matching the description of the vehicle used in this incident.

Chadwell was found to be driving the vehicle and was taken into custody without further incident.

During a subsequent search, Wojciechowsky said, Chadwell was found with two folding knives and three syringes. He was later arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail.

The chief said a follow-up investigation determined that Chadwell removed the original registration plate from the Chrysler and replaced it with another that had been stolen on Monday from a vehicle parked in the Arch Street lot, off North Centre Street in Pottsville.

As a result, Reno will be charging Chadwell with theft of the registration plate, receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia and fraudulent use or removal of registration plate.

Wojciechowsky said the case is still under investigation and further charges are pending against Kilraine-Richter and the other man present in the vehicle.

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call the Pottsville Bureau of Police at 570-628-3792.

DEER LAKE — When Frank Skinner listened to Muhammad Ali’s fights on the radio at his boyhood home in England, he never imagined he’d be able to see first hand what he describes as Ali’s “engine room.”

Skinner, a British broadcaster and comedian, toured the site of Ali’s Deer Lake training camp Friday with a six-member television documentary crew from the British Broadcasting Corp., BBC One, in the United Kingdom.

A documentary about the heavyweight boxing champion, including the footage from Schuylkill County, is scheduled to air on BBC on June 3, the one-year anniversary of Ali’s death at age 74. Skinner hosts the documentary.

Fan club

“I grew up in England and I was a massive fan of Muhammad Ali,” Skinner said. He said his father, the late John Collins, used to get him up at 3 a.m. so he and his brother, Terry Collins, could listen to Ali’s fights on the radio. Skinner is Frank’s stage name.

“The BBC asked me to do a documentary and I just wanted to do Ali justice. He was a big part of my life, even though I was over there in England and he was everywhere else. When we’d listen to fights on the radio, you couldn’t sit next to my dad because he’d throw every punch. So you had to give him a bit of distance,” Skinner said.

“My dad and my brother were both fight fans and we used to have ‘Ring’ magazine in the house. They were both talking about this new guy that was predicting the rounds he would knock people out. I had never heard, and I don’t believe they’d ever heard, of such a thing. Obviously, there was no other boxer like him,” Skinner said. “Where the other guys looked like cave men, he looked like an artist. He was always beautiful to watch. When I saw him talk on shows, I thought this is just the funniest man I’d ever heard. He was just so hilarious. He looked great, and he looked cool.”

The broadcaster lives in London now, but is originally from Birmingham.

‘Camelot’

Skinner had seen photos of Ali’s camp before, including the painted boulders that are emblazoned with the names of boxing legends. Filming for the documentary on site, however, allowed Skinner new insight.

“The rocks are what I really knew about this place, but then we went into the kitchen and saw the big table where they had communal meals. I like the sense that it felt like Camelot, because of all the sparring partners. Imagine all these big men who had been hitting each other all morning and then went in for some biscuits and gravy. You can feel it in there, sort of a community.

“This place was like the engine room for Ali. This is where he made himself the fighter. I like the idea, like that scene in ‘Rocky’ where he starts out a bit tired and flabby, and then he’s drinking the eggs and he’s working. That’s how it was here, I suppose, because he came here and got himself into great shape. I can feel the sense of industry here,” he said.

Access

Mary Crisp, producer/director of the documentary for BBC One, explained how the crew gained access to the property for the documentary. She said her assistant producer, Lynsey Martenstyn, coordinated the on-site shoot.

Martenstyn said she initially made contact with Schuylkill County officials who put her in contact with Sam Matta, Shenandoah, who is the camp’s facilitator. Matta gave Martenstyn the phone number for Mike Madden, the current owner of the site, and Gene Kilroy, Ali’s former business manager. Kilroy, a Mahanoy City native, now resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. The BBC flew Kilroy in for his documentary interview at the Deer Lake site on Friday. Madden was unable to attend, but he gave permission for the filming.

The crew arrived in the county Thursday for the Deer Lake shoot but was a bit delayed due to the blizzard, Crisp said. The BBC commissioned the documentary with Skinner, she said. “It’s the film he always wanted to make, so now we’re making it,” Crisp said.

“This is somewhere that Frank was really keen to come to because he had seen photographs and read about Deer Lake over the years, and it has become this mythical place for him, so he was really excited to be here, as we all are. The atmosphere, it’s amazing. There’s so much that’s unchanged, even though it was a long time ago. It’s a beautiful place in such a lovely setting,” she said.

“We’ll be traveling back to the U.K. over the weekend, then we start six weeks of editing on Monday. Then we’ll deliver it to the BBC for the June 3 transmission. Because of the licensing for the footage, which is very expensive, it’s only going to get a U.K. transmission,” Crisp said.

Purchase

According to The Republican-Herald archives, Madden, a real estate entrepreneur from Pleasanton, California, who is also the son of legendary football coach and broadcaster John Madden, purchased the training camp facility for $525,000. It encompasses a 5-acre wooded tract that is comprised of 18 primarily log buildings that include a gym, dining hall, mosque, cabins and a horse barn.

Ali purchased the property in 1972 from members of the Pollack family of Orwigsburg. It was a training facility for his fights from that point until his final fight in 1981, and included preparations for famous bouts against the likes of George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Ken Norton.

Matta said Madden would like to refurbish the facility as a historical restoration and keep the camp the way Ali had it when he was training there.

Rocks

Boulders with the name of fellow boxing legends painted on them are a well-known sight of the camp landscape.

“It’s amazing. To see the rocks, the boulders with all the greats painted on. They were all painted by Muhammad Ali’s dad. Cassius Clay Sr. painted every one of the boulders,” Martenstyn said. “To train in such an unlikely place, it just adds to the incredibleness of such an icon.”

According to Martenstyn, the Muhammad Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky, had inquired about a possible screening of the BBC One documentary.

“We’ve been invited by the Muhammad Ali Center to do a screening. They have a festival going on in June in Louisville. We just need to clear that with our commissioner. Obviously we’d love to, but it’s up to the BBC because it’s their film,” Martenstyn said.

Open book

“I think there’s a lot of people who aren’t boxing fans. They know bits about Ali, but they don’t know a lot of this stuff. It’s important to say new things about him. But that’s hard with Ali because a lot of words have been written about him. We’re doing our best. It’s a real sort of passion project for me. I’m quite emotionally attached to this show,” Skinner said.

He grew up looking at black-and-white pictures of Ali standing on the Sonny Liston rock during his training in Deer Lake, he said.

“I really hope this becomes a place that people can come to and be a tribute to Ali, because if I feel excited to be at Deer Lake, then millions of others would be excited to be here as well.

I’ve talked to a couple of the guys and I think they want it to be more than a museum. They want it to be ongoing. A museum sometimes feels like a closed book, and this is a book they want to keep open, so to speak. They want it to be a fitting tribute. Believe me, people would want to come to Deer Lake because it’s a big part of the Ali legend. It’s also pretty beautiful,” he said.

Popularity

According to Skinner, Ali remained in favor with his British fans, despite his political views and draft evasion.

“I know there were periods in America where he became unpopular because of the draft and all that. That never really happened in the U.K. He’s sort of been loved throughout. I don’t think we really understood the ins and outs and the political situation. So his popularity never really dimmed over that period,” he said.

In person

Skinner was able to meet Ali in person three times in the 1990s, he said. He said he met him at a book signing and Ali signed his T-shirt.

“He pointed it out that he hadn’t got any money from that picture on the T-shirt and that he was still owed money. I went to a dinner with him and Henry Cooper, a British boxer that he fought. There was a play in west London and I saw him there. By then, he wasn’t communicating so much because of his illness,” Skinner said.

“I couldn’t communicate much either, because I was completely in awe when I was next to him,” he added.

Skinner can be followed on Twitter, @frankontheradio.

PINE GROVE — A New Ringgold man was injured Friday morning after jumping from the back of a vehicle into a snow bank, and then sliding down the snow pile beneath the wheel of the same moving vehicle, state police in Schuylkill Haven report.

Thomas A. Jones, 40, was hurt following the incident at 9:28 a.m. on East Mill Street in Pine Grove Borough at its intersection with Fegley Street, police said. They report Jones jumped from the back of a 2008 Sterling Acterra driven by William R. Moyer, 75, of Pine Grove.

Jones was transported to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, police said. A hospital spokesperson had no record of Jones on Friday afternoon. Moyer was not injured.

Assisting at the scene were Pine Grove Ambulance and Schuylkill EMS.

FRACKVILLE — The Bon-Ton in the Schuylkill Mall is closing, according to store manager John F. Boran.

“I can confirm the associates were notified the store will be closing,” Boran said Friday. An official closing date was not announced.

The department store has been at the Schuylkill Mall since 1983.

Boran didn’t provide a reason for the closure. He referred questions to Christine Hojnacki, media relations representative for The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. She did not return a call or email for comment.

Boran said he told employees about the closure in a group meeting Thursday before the store opened. Thirty-six employees, 12 of whom are full time, work at the 61,000-square-foot store.

“I met individually with everybody,” he said.

Boran, who has been manager of the Frackville store for 22 years, will remain with the company as the manager of the Bloomsburg store. He said an effort will be made to find his staff members other employment.

“Many times customers have commented about the employees that work in this store and the excellent service they have received. Our associates are valued and many times I have told customers I am blessed to have the staff that I have,” Boran said.

He did not know if the company has plans to relocate the store in Schuylkill County.

“There are other Bon-Ton’s in surrounding areas for our customers to continue in-store shopping. Online shopping will continue to be an option. I have enjoyed the many relationships I have built up with customers. We appreciate their loyalty to their brands and offerings,” Boran said.

The company owns the building but leases the ground. Earlier this year, NP New Castle LLC, Riverside, Missouri, purchased the mall for $2.1 million. The mall was up for bankruptcy auction in January.

The Bon-Ton Stores Inc., headquartered in York, Pennsylvania, and in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operates 263 stores, including nine furniture galleries and four clearance centers. In its fourth quarter and fiscal 2016 report, the company said comparable store sales decreased 3.8 percent last year. Total sales in that period decreased to $2.6 billion from $2.72 billion in fiscal year 2015, according to the company.

“We are currently looking to close four to six stores in fiscal 2017,” Nancy Walsh, chief financial officer, said Tuesday. She said most of the stores will close toward the latter part of the year.

In January, the company announced it was closing the Elder-Beerman store at the Ohio Valley Mall in St. Clairsville, Ohio.

Company personnel said when making their decision they evaluate the condition and occupancy of the mall, and the demographics and industry of the community.

Schuylkill County Commissioner Frank J. Staudenmeier said Friday he was not aware of the closure.

“It’s unfortunate. I watched that mall being built back in the early ’80s. That definitely was the place to go. It was a great store. I’m just heartbroken the Schuylkill Mall is the way it is now,” he said.

Staudenmeier said the commissioners will do what they can to keep the store in the county.

CRESSONA — Despite being surrounded by feet of snow, Marsha Drive resident Sally Butcavage feels like she and her Cressona neighbors are between a rock and a hard place.

At issue is who is responsible for the upkeep and winter maintenance of Marsha Drive in the Amber Ridge Development.

“Every time we call, we get told a different story,” Butcavage, who has resided at 43 Marsha Drive for nearly four years, said. “Multiple times, I’ve called the borough office and my neighbors have called to complain.”

An answer may come as early as Monday, according to borough solicitor Eric M. Prock.

“The borough is still trying to determine who bears responsibility for maintaining and plowing the roads in Amber Ridge — the developer or the contractor. We hope to have this answer for the meeting on Monday,” Prock, an attorney with Fanelli, Evans & Patel, P.C., Pottsville, said.

The public council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. at the borough office at 68 S. Sillyman St.

According to Prock, Marsha Drive is not a borough road. It’s a privately owned road, he said, and it was never dedicated to the borough.

“The borough’s never plowed it,” he said.

“I do know that people who have called the borough have been told it’s not a borough road,” Prock said. Prock confirmed Thursday that the borough is only permitted to plow streets that are owned by the borough.

Butcavage said, “We pay taxes to Cressona. They insist this is a private street. We don’t have a homeowners’ association, and don’t pay dues to anyone. They’re telling us that someone else owns it.”

Two names Butcavage said that have circulated in regard to the road and development have included the Grande Construction Co., of either Allentown or Reading, and a company called Keepsake. She said she was told that Keepsake may have gone bankrupt, but she had “no idea” who the company is.

When The Republican-Herald inquired Thursday about the status of the road to the Grande Construction Co., Reading, the man on the line said he did not want to have his name used in relation to this article and did not give his full name. He said, “Grande Construction doesn’t own the development, we own the lots.” The man said the construction company forwarded that information to the borough’s solicitor.

A current phone number for a company called Keepsake was not found. One phone number for a home company with the name of Keepsake continually rang busy, and appeared out-of-service.

When The Republican-Herald called the borough office, a woman answering the phone directed the media to speak with the borough’s solicitor.

Butcavage said her neighbors include nurses, a fireman, the elderly and even an expectant mother. She expressed concern about how she and her neighbors would get out, especially in the event of an emergency.

She said there’s parking on both sides of the horseshoe-shaped street, and it’s two-way. There’s also a sidewalk on both sides of the road, she said. Butcavage said the borough claims the road was initially supposed to be one-way, with parking on only one side of the street.

“We’re paying taxes to this borough. We’re sick and tired of getting the run around. It’s ridiculous,” Butcavage said.

Police release

accident details

SAINT CLAIR — Two people suffered minor injuries when their vehicles collided about 10:45 a.m. Thursday on Route 61 at the entrance to the Wal-Mart plaza in the borough.

Saint Clair police said the crash occurred as Douglas Mennig, 54, of 610 N. Third St., Pottsville, was driving a 2008 Ford Fusion north on Route 61 while a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado, operated by William F. Shafransky, 84, of 21 Trailer Road, Ringtown, was being driven south on Route 61.

Police said Shafransky was turning into the Walmart plaza when the two vehicles collided in the intersection.

Both drivers were taken to a Pottsville hospital for treatment while two passengers in the Mennig vehicle — Karen Rohrbach and Felicia Baltra, both of 4 Sammy Mobile Home Park, Schuylkill Haven — escaped injury.

Police said their investigation into the crash is continuing and that Saint Clair firefighters assisted at the scene.

Police: Man

harassed woman

ASHLAND — A 40-year-old borough man was arrested by state police at Frackville and charged in connection with an incident March 11 at Ashland Bar and Grill.

Police said Michael J. Barry became involved in a verbal argument with a 33-year-old Shamokin woman and at some point displayed a 10-inch knife and asked the woman to go outside.

Barry was asked to leave the business by staff members but returned later, approached the woman again, prompting the two to become involved in a physical altercation that had to be stopped by patrons.

Barry was charged with harassment and disorderly conduct and will now have answer before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, police said.

n Ashland: The Ashland Area Historic Preservation Society will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at its quarters, 318 Centre St. Everyone is welcome; refreshments will be served.

n Frackville: Applications for the 2017 Helen Everett Merit Award are available to high school seniors. The award is given to a deserving graduate who plans to continue his or her education at an institute of higher learning. Preference is given to students who are members of First United Methodist Church, 25 S. Balliet St., or students who are entering the fields of music or theology. For an application and a complete list of award criteria, call First United Methodist Church at 570-874-0792. Completed applications must be returned to the church by April 20.

n Gilberton: Continental Hose Company, Main Street, will sponsor a hoagie sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 25. The cost is $6 per hoagie and varieties include turkey, regular, meatball, ham and cheese and Italian. All are welcome. For more information or to order, call 570-933-0415.

n Mahanoy City: Due to no garbage collection this week due to the snowstorm, Borough Manager Daniel Lynch announced that collection will resume next week and residents can put up to 12 bags out on Friday.

n Pine Grove: Frank Snyder, a retired forester and arborist, will share his knowledge and focus on forest etiquette during a walk set for 2 to 3 p.m. March 26 at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. Snyder will advise people regarding enjoyment of experiences in the outdoors with other forest users such as people, bears and ticks, according to a press release. Other focuses will include how to make a warning fire in the rain and how to protect yourself from ticks. All are welcome, especially Scouts, youth and experienced wood-wise people. Participants should dress for the weather and meet at the pavilion near the clubhouse. The program is free and registration is not required.

n Pottsville: The Schuylkill Unitarian Universalists, 2400 West End Ave., have services at 10:30 a.m. the second and fourth Sundays of every month, all followed by coffee hour. Participants are asked to bring mugs and a snack to share if able. For more information about services and activites, go to the group’s website at schuylkilluu.org or Like Schuylkill Unitarian Universalists on Facebook.

n Pottsville: M&T Movies at the Majestic will feature “Finding Dory” at 7 p.m. today at the theater, 209 N. Centre St. Admission is free and participants will get popcorn. The event is hosted by the Pottsville Recreation Commission and sponsored by the bank. For more information, call 570-628-4647.

n Tamaqua: An American Red Cross blood drive is scheduled for 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Salvation Army Gymnasium, 105 W. Broad St. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood. The drive is open to the public and walk-ins are welcome. For more information or to arrange an appointment, call 800-733-2767.

n Tamaqua: Zion Lutheran Church, Mauch Chunk and Greenwood streets, will have a haddock dinner beginning at 4 p.m. Wednesday. The cost is $9 per meal. Dinners include baked haddock, scalloped potatoes, green beans, coleslaw, dessert and beverage. Takeouts will be available. All are welcome.

n Tremont: The Tremont Free Public Library, 19 N. Pine St., will sponsor its last cold soup sale for the season from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday. Flavors will include potato, halushki and pierogie. The sponsors will also have hot bacon dressing and a variety of baked goods. They also are taking orders for chocolate-covered pretzels for Easter. To place an order or for more information, call the library at 570-695-3325.

MAHANOY CITY — The Mahanoy Township supervisors adopted three resolutions required to apply for two state grants for new parks at Thursday’s meeting.

The recreational facility grant applications and project commitment letters for the Morea Park and New Boston Park will be submitted to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

According to ARRO Consulting Inc. project manager William N. McMullen, the Morea and New Boston applications will cover rehabilitation of the parks. The resolutions are 2017-1 and 2017-2, respectively. Each project will cost $60,000, with the grant fund request being $40,000, with the remainder of $20,000 as a local match as follows:

•Morea Park — The township will provide in-kind service of $4,800, monetary commitment of $12,700, and the remaining $2,500 coming from an anonymous donor.

•New Boston Park — The township will provide in-kind services of $6,800, monetary commitment of $10,700, with the remainder of $2,500 coming from an anonymous donor.

Any lease agreements for the park properties are required to be at least 30 years in duration and must be finalized and submitted with the DCNR grant applications.

As part of the requirements, the supervisors also adopted a resolution (2017-3) establishing an operation and maintenance schedule at both parks. The maintenance crew must perform the following duties:

•January through March — Site walk-through and trash removal every other Monday.

•April — Site walk-through, trash removal and clean up debris every Monday.

•May through September — Trash removal and clean up debris, weekly grass cutting, and maintain and repair equipment every Monday.

•October through November — Trash removal and clean up debris every other Monday.

•December — Trash removal every other Monday.

The duty and days may be adjusted from time to time as needed as long as the duties are performed within the week.

In other recreation business, the township will submit a grant application to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for $52,200 for the installation of a new basketball court at the Parente Family Park in the village of Park Place. The township’s contribution to the project will be $7,800.

The park is located at the west end of Park Place on High Road. The construction of the full-size basketball court is the second phase of the park project. Phase I was completed in 2013 after three years of planning, designing, construction and installation of equipment.

The first phase of the Park Place project included the landscaping of the area, the construction of a large pavilion with picnic tables and benches, and a variety of recreation equipment for children. The land was donated to the township for a park by Pagnotti Enterprises, which is owned by the Parente family.

McMullen reported the following code enforcement activities within the past month:

•A hearing was held before Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker against the owner of 41 High Road in Park Place for failure to answer three quality of life citations. The owner was found guilty and fined $100 plus costs. Following a 30-day appeal period, ARRO will conduct a site visit and commence the process for filing additional charges. According to the Schuylkill County Parcel Locator, the owners are Metro Kerrick and Darlene A. Kankowski.

•Non-traffic citations have been filed at Kilker’s office against the owner of the structure at 121 Lower St., Morea. The parcel locator shows the owner as Diane Felegie. To date, receipt of the citations filed at Kilker’s office has not been accepted by the property owner.

The supervisors accepted the recommendations from the Mahanoy Township Planning Commission for waivers in a property sale in the Natural Coal Co.-Yutko Annexation Plan in the village of Buck Mountain.

Vice Chairwoman Faith Ward announced the Mahanoy Township Recreation Committee will hold its annual Easter egg hunt at 2 p.m. April 9 at the municipal building. The event is open to all township children and grandchildren up to age 12. Register children by April 1 by calling 570-773-1553 with names and ages. Ward added that volunteers are needed. Photos will be available with the Easter Bunny.

Chairman James Stevens thanked Edward Flaim and Jason Stevens for their work in keeping the Vulcan Hill open during Winter Storm Stella, and also thanked anyone who helped in snow removal. Stevens also asked residents to clean around fire hydrants to keep them free of snow.

Ward thanked James Davis, Edward Applegate and Jamaal Poslosky for keeping Tunnel Road in Buck Mountain open during the storm.

“Every road is pretty much opened, but there is still one more spot that we have to get opened,” Stevens said. “People have been patient for the whole storm. It was a hard storm and we were hard-hit. We had our trucks moving out there. They (employees) did a pretty good job and put in a lot of hours. For what we got, we’re in pretty good shape.”

Applegate said during the public comment portion that Tunnel Road is usually the last road to be cleaned in every storm. He asked why the road is not touched even when the plow crew is in the vicinity.

“It is the worst road in the township and it’s hard to do,” Stevens said.

“But it still has to be done, Jim, and if you do it in the beginning once in a while, it won’t be that bad,” Applegate said.

“We’re going to work on plans for next year so that we’re not going to be a problem with it,” Stevens said. “This was a crippling storm and I understand your predicament.”

Deeds

Tamaqua — Monument Street Funding-II LLC to Valentin Tudor; 418 Mountain Ave.; $42,500.

Tower City — Jane Louise Hoke and Harold Dean Reiner to Jennie Boyer; 31 W. Grand Ave.; $17,500.

Upper Mahantongo Township — Larry P. and Dianne E. Neugard to Brady L. Neugard and Brent L. Neugard; 1058 Ridge Road, Klingerstown; $1.