SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — A freshman from North Schuylkill who wants to start a business selling “all-natural soaps” was given the support of a panel of regional business leaders at a special event at Penn State Schuylkill on Wednesday night.

Lindsay M. “Linz” Griffin, 14, of Frackville, received top honors at the 2017 Schuylkill Young Entrepreneurs Academy Investor Panel. That included a $1,500 grant. And she was named a Saunders Scholar semifinalist in the YEA! Northeast Regional Semi-Finals, which will be held May 5 in Rochester, New York.

“I never expected this. The students who participated in this year’s YEA! program came up with businesses I thought were so much better than mine. I just never expected to actually win,” Griffin said after the event, which was held at the campus Health and Wellness Center and drew a crowd of more than 150.

This was the third consecutive year for the Schuylkill YEA! program. It aims to transform local middle and high school students into confident entrepreneurs. On Wednesday night, 17 students presented plans for 14 businesses they developed, hoping to earn grants to start them.

Griffin called hers ‘Lemental Creations.

“ ‘Lemental Creations utilizes resources found throughout Schuylkill County to make all natural soaps and donates a portion of all sales to a local charity,” Griffin said while giving her presentation.

“We’ll donate 50 percent of our profits to Schuylkill Women in Crisis,” Griffin said.

And she asked the panel for $543.70 from the panel for start-up costs.

While she was confident in giving her presentation, she worried about what questions the investors would ask her.

“Everything else you can perfectly plan out. But you can’t plan anything when they’re asking questions. It’s very nerve-racking,” she said afterward.

“If you go online and look for natural soaps, several products are available. What would make your product more appealing than theirs?” asked one of the members of the panel, Kimberly Lorimer, vice president of The Evans Network of Companies.

“Well, my product is made from all local resources and it’s reflecting our community. And we have. And we have a charity factor, too, which many other companies don’t,” Griffin said.

She is the daughter of Christine and Gerald Griffin. Her family includes an older brother, Eric.

The other students who participated, the businesses they started and the grants they received Wednesday night were:

• Hannah Vaughn, an eighth-grade student at Blue Mountain, started “Hannah’s Handy Creations” to market her crocheted soap pouches and filter straws. She received $250. She also received the “People’s Choice Vote,” determined by the people in attendance, according to the event’s emcee, Bob Carl, president and CEO of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce.

• McKenzie Schaner, an eighth grade student from Schuylkill Haven Area, started “Salubrious,” a business which sells aromatherapy products. She received $1,000.

• McKenzie Bartush, a junior at Schuylkill Technology Center, and Austin Boyer, a senior at Blue Mountain, started “Bartush Bakery” and received $819.

• Zachary Morrow, an eighth-grade student from Blue Mountain, started “Modest Essentials” to produce utensils include a pizza cutter called a “Zig-Zag Cutter.” He received $654.

• Mackenzie Lucas, a junior from Tri-Valley, and Ashley Strouphauer, a junior from Schuylkill Haven Area, started “Taylor Cosmetics.” They received $640.

• Raekwon Blye, a freshman at Pottsville Area, started “Rae’s Wooden Creations” to market wooden boxes he makes. He received $500.

• Alexandra “Lexy” Renken, a junior at Schuylkill Technology Center, started “Priceless Apparel,” a T-shirt company that raises funds to combat human trafficking, and received $500.

• Kevin Werez, an eighth-grade student from Schuylkill Haven Area, started “Sweet Satisfaction” to produce and sell hard candy. He received $500.

• James Stone, an eighth-grade student from Blue Mountain, started “Everyday Solutions” to produce products including “The Lace Case,” a device to keep shoes tied. He received $400.

• Maya Bashore, an eighth-grade student at Schuylkill Haven Area, started “Bella’s Smart Toys” for dogs, and received $250.

• Zachary Fisher, an eighth-grade student from Blue Mountain, and Kayla Walker, an eighth-grade student from Schuylkill Haven Area, started “Stress OUT,” a company that designs stress coping devices. They received $250.

• Brianna Hall, a seventh-grade student from Pine Grove Area, started “REACH,” a nonprofit support group for the LGBT+ community, which would sell tote bags to raise funds for the cause. She received $250.

• Alex Macker, a sixth-grade student at Trinity Academy, Shenandoah, started a dog-walking service called “Happy Tails!” and received $250.

The investor panel also included: Karen A. Kenderdine, vice president and manager of relationship services at MidPenn Bank Trust Department; John R. Powers, CEO of Ashland Technologies Inc.; Debbie Yuengling Ferhat, pricing manager of D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc.; Jeff O’Neill, business banking team leader for M&T Bank; Ken Huebner, vice president and CFO of The Cotler Group/Mountain Valley Golf Course; Kelly Austin, chancellor at Penn State Schuylkill; Brian Hansbury, vice president of Schuylkill Economic Development Corp.; Steve Stramara, president of The Seltzer Group; Judy Penberth, tour coordinator at R&J Transportation and R&J Tours; and Roy A. Heim, president of Heim Construction Co.

The public can meet the students at the YEA! Schuylkill Trade Show, which will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 13 at Coal Creek Commerce Center near the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Saint Clair.

Have you ever experienced the joys of a botanical garden or arboretum? They’re magical places that stimulate the senses and soothe the soul. If you haven’t, or it’s been a while, now is your chance to surround yourself with beauty while leaving the driving to someone else.

Time is running out to reserve your seat for the Bartram’s Garden and Scott Arboretum guided bus tour. The South Schuylkill Garden Club and Schuylkill County Master Gardeners invite you to join them on May 2 for a guided morning tour to the Philadelphia area to visit Bartram’s Garden and house.

The garden is the oldest surviving botanic garden in North America. Your adventure continues with an afternoon guided tour of nearby Scott Arboretum. Bring your lunch and wear comfortable walking shoes. Water and snacks will be available for the bus ride home. The bus departs Cressona Giant parking lot at 8 a.m. and returns around 5:45 p.m. Deadline to register is April 1. Cost of the trip is $60 per person. Call the Master Gardeners at 570-622-4225 to reserve your seat and make payment arrangements.

“OZ!,” a dazzling musical, will be performed 7 p.m. March 31 and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. April 1 at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center. General admission is $10, $8 for students and senior. Refreshments will be sold.

The Annual Used Book Sale to benefit the Ringtown Area Library will take place 9 a.m. April 1 and 11 a.m. April 2 at the Schuylkill Mall, Frackville. A huge selection, including fiction and non-fiction, children’s books, DVDs, audio books, CDs, board games and puzzles, magazines, hardcover, paperback and large print books, will be available. Prices start at 25 cents. On Sunday, get a bag full of books for $5. For more information, call the library at 570-889-5503.

Pow Wow — PA Dutch Folk Medicine with “Porcupine Pat” will be presented at Sweet Arrow Lake at 7 p.m. April 4. Pow wow practitioners served rural folks with ways to heal common maladies. Learn more about the history of this practice, discuss techniques and hear of some personal stories from those who were treated. Cost is $5 per person. Call Susan Long at 570-624-3018 to register.

APPRISE program

hotline volunteers

Times: For a few hours on Wednesdays and/or Thursdays. Choose availability.

Responsibility: Answer a statewide hotline on Medicare questions. Work in pairs.

Skills: Training required and support provided.

Location: Diakon’s Pottsville office.

Call: Sue Johns at 570-624-3026.

Servants to All shelter volunteers

Time: Flexible.

Responsibility: Volunteers needed for a variety of positions in shelter, including drivers, male overnight monitors and day shelter helpers. They’re also in need of donations of canned food, coffee, gently used boots and jeans, feminine products, and men’s and women’s undergarments.

Skills: Contact organization for details.

Location: Servants to All, Pottsville

Call: Albert Nastasi, 570-728-2917

Special Olympics

volunteers

Times: Help needed throughout year. Assist with one event or long-term.

Responsibility: Entire program is run by volunteer effort. Help needed with games, as greeter, athlete escorts, cheerleading, coach, athlete transportation, equipment, clerical, fundraising, social outings, athlete registration and more.

Skills: Contact agency for requirements.

Location: In Schuylkill County.

Call: Daniel Zackus, 570-789-3456

Community Volunteers in Action is the volunteer center for Schuylkill County. Use the preceding contact information for those specific opportunities and search other listings on our website at www.schuylkill.us/cvia. Find us on Facebook. Call us at 570-628-1426 or email jjohnston@co.schuylkill.pa.us.

FRACKVILLE — Three people charged in connection to the drug-related death of a Tamaqua woman will appear in court later this month

The preliminary hearings set for March 22 for Melanie Kropp and Jonathan Seekins were rescheduled. Kropp’s hearing is set for 9:15 a.m. Wednesday in Magisterial District Judge Christina Hale’s office, Frackville, while Seekins’ is set for 9:20 a.m.

Seekins was in Hale’s courtroom for less than 10 minutes Wednesday before Hale said the hearing had been rescheduled. Kropp’s hearing was scheduled for 11:55 a.m. She did not attend and her hearing was rescheduled.

A preliminary hearing for Kyle Jacob Merenda is listed as 11 a.m. March 30 in Hale’s office but is likely to be rescheduled.

All three have been charged in connection with the death of Alexandria “Alex” Sienkiewicz, 23, of Tamaqua, who died of acute fentanyl toxicity April 2, 2016. The Schuylkill County Coroner’s Office ruled the death a homicide.

Kropp, 24, of Mahanoy City, is charged with criminal solicitation-delivery of a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility and possession of a controlled substance. Previously, she was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, Tremont, earlier this month and released on $5,000 unsecured bail.

Seekins, 33, of Coaldale, is charged with drug delivery resulting in death, criminal solicitation-delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

He was arraigned by Rossi and bail was set at $25,000. Unable to post bail, he was sent to Schuylkill County Prison. His bail has since been posted.

Merenda, 22, of Barnesville, was arrested Monday. He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg. Bail was set at $20,000. Unable to post bail, he was sent to Schuylkill County Prison. He has since posted bail.

An affidavit of probable cause by Trooper Joseph Hall of state police at Frackville lays out a timeline of what occurred. In part, it says Tamaqua police responded to Alex’s parents’ house at 11:09 a.m. April 2, 2016, for an overdose. Alex’s mother, Tammy Sienkiewicz, found her daughter in her room with a needle in her arm. She was unresponsive. An uncapped syringe filled with clear liquid was found in her room and so were “several pieces of wax packets with an ‘apple’ symbol on the front,” documents state.

After emergency medical personnel attempted to help her, she was transported to St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale, where she was pronounced dead. Hall interviewed Tammy and John Sienkiewicz, Alex’s father, last year. John and Tammy said they went to bed about midnight that night and didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. John said his daughter was with Kropp, Seekins, R.J. Nelson and Ryan McDermott on April 1, 2016.

During the course of the investigation, police served a search warrant for Kropp’s cellphone account. Records indicate there were communications between Merenda and Kropp during specified times April 1 and April 2. Kropp was interviewed by Hall and Trooper Michael Marinchak at state police at Frackville. She told them both she and Alex wanted to purchase heroin April 1 but didn’t have money. After driving to Seekins’ house, they drove to Hazleton to sell an iPhone that belonged to Seekins. He sold the phone for $120 while in Hazleton, documents state. Kropp said that either Seekins or Alex contacted Merenda to get heroin from him. After going to Merenda’s house and exchanging money, they got the drugs. Documents state Seekins gave Kropp 10 bags, while Alex received five. Before going home, Alex rode around with McDermott smoking marijuana.

Kropp received a phone call at April 2, 2016, about Alex’s death. Kropp contacted Merenda later that day and they spoke.

“That sucks. I told you guys it was strong,” he said, adding that she should not tell anyone.

Hall interviewed McDermott about his interactions with Alex. McDermott said Alex had messaged him on Facebook, and he met her and Kropp at the Burger King in Tamaqua about 11:30 p.m. April 1, 2016, before they drove around and smoked marijuana. They returned to the Burger King about an hour later where he dropped Kropp off with her vehicle and took Alex to her house. They texted until Alex stopped responding at 2:30 a.m., documents state.

John was in the courtroom Wednesday. He declined to comment afterward on the case, but he said they are taking each day as it comes.

He wants people to know they are pursuing this case because there was no heroin in his daughter’s system but 100 percent fentanyl. He wants to see justice done.

“We’d like to see justice for both our daughter and those parents who have already lost somebody. It’s time to send a message that if you deal death, there are consequences,” he said.

John said he will attend the preliminary hearings for Seekins, Kropp and Merenda. Tammy will not attend the preliminary hearings but will be there when the case is held for court.

Lift Your Spirits Performing Arts will again tell the story of Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection every week leading to Easter Sunday.

“Born For This” will be performed at 6 p.m. April 2 at Annunciation BVM parish hall, 9 S. Broad Mountain Ave., Frackville. The production is a joint effort between St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church and Lift Your Spirits. Tickets are $10; however, youth under age 16 are free if accompanied by an adult. It will be the only performance in Schuylkill County this year.

The Ashland-based group has been performing the show about the meaning of Easter since 2001 and currently is the only group performing it in the United States. “Born For This” is only performed during the Lenten season in preparation for Holy Week and Easter Sunday.

The production has no scenery or biblical costumes. Daniel Thomas Sr., director, said this setup allows the audience to envision themselves in the scenes. The group also does all the work in-house, including music with full band and lighting.

The production was written by CJM Music of England based on the Gospel of Mark. The music was written by Mike Stanley and Joann Boyce based on Jude Martin’s poetic reflections on the Stations of the Cross. The production has drawn thousands of people to cathedrals throughout England.

Lift Your Spirits has four performances scheduled. The first was held March 19 at Grove Presbyterian Church in Danville. The rest of the schedule, including Frackville, is this Sunday at Summit Hill Heritage Center/Church of the Rock, Summit Hill, and April 9 at Grace Lutheran Church, Shamokin. All shows start at 6 p.m.

“Whether you get to do it for 100 or 400 people, if you get the message to some, that’s all that matters,” Thomas said.

Youth groups are encouraged to attend the performances.

“We are trying to get the message out to young people,” Thomas said.

According to a press release, “ ‘Born For This’ is a prayerful way to prepare for Holy Week and Easter. Perfect for Holy Week and youth groups.”

Lift Your Spirits is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization. In addition to “Born For This,” the group produces liturgical shows, murder mysteries, Broadway and variety shows, and concerts.

For more information, call Thomas at 570-590-2368, or the church at 570-874-0610 or 570-874-2093, or visit Lift Your Spirits website at www.lysperformingarts.com.

MINERSVILLE — The state champions received a hero’s welcome when they returned home Thursday afternoon.

Borough residents, alumni, school faculty, students and other supporters cheered from the sidewalks as the Minersville Area girls’ basketball team paraded through town after capturing the PIAA Class AA Championship. They defeated Bishop McCort 63-49 in Hershey to win the school’s first state championship in girls’ basketball.

“It was absolutely awesome,” Carl McBreen, school superintendant, said while waiting for the girls’ bus to come through the borough. “The girls, the coaching staff and the whole program worked really hard and so many people have supported the team throughout the years. It is just a great day for Minersville.”

Residents at Luther Ridge at Seiders Hill, Pottsville, waited on Sunbury Street for the girls’ bus to drive by. They wore blue and held up signs congratulating the girls on their championship win and undefeated season.

“You’re not going to be state champs every day,” John Land, a lifelong borough resident, said.

Kourtney Surfield, a housekeeper at Luther Ridge and Mar Lin resident, said many of the residents cheered on the girls while watching the game on television.

“Everyone came out to celebrate,” she said. “It’s a big occasion.”

Mary Frantz, also a resident at Luther Ridge, said her grandchildren played sports at Minersville.

“I was at every game,” she said. “This town supports their teams. There was a lot of excitement at Luther Ridge.”

Heidi Hashin, a 1991 graduate of Minersville, attended the game with family and friends who also went to the school. She also works at the high school.

“The whole school was excited,” she said. “The atmosphere was really cool. Everyone was whooping and hollering and having a lot of fun. We had a huge student section. I thought it was electrifying. The students were loud.”

Hashin said it is quite an accomplishment for a high school the size of Minersville to now have a total of 11 state championship medals: nine state championships for softball and one for baseball.

“It’s good for Minersville, but it is also good for the whole county,” Hashin said. “A lot of people from the area came out to support the girls.”

Freshmen Kali Woodford and Ashley Roberts cheered on their fellow classmates as their bus paraded through the borough. They said the school had a lot of energy when their bus left in the morning.

“Since we are such a small school, we play multiple sports with some of the girls on the team,” Roberts said.

“They deserve it,” Woodford said. “They worked really hard.”

MAR LIN — Ninety-one students in fourth to eighth grade participated in the STEM Design Challenge on Thursday at Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29.

Eleven school districts in Schuylkill County participated. Although Blue Mountain School District did not take part, two teachers were there to watch. Blue Mountain students plan to participate next year, Vince Hoover, IU 29 supervisor of mathematics and district support consultant, said.

This was the fourth year for the challenge at IU 29. Students had to use K’NEX to design and build an environmentally friendly amusement park ride. Thermo Fisher Scientific, which promotes STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — education, provided funding for the K’NEX kits.

Students had two hours to build their ride models. Along with presenting the design, they were required to provide a narrative and blueprint for the competition. Three judges in each division — fourth to fifth grade and sixth to eighth grade — reviewed the students’ work. The first-, second- and third-place winners in each division won medals. Everyone also received a participation certificate. The top team from each division is invited to the state STEM Design Challenge on May 19 at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology.

Students from Saint Clair Area School District won first place in both divisions. Saint Clair’s Quad Squad won in the fourth to fifth grade division and Saint Clair’s Green Machine won for sixth to eighth grade.

The four students in Green Machine described their Going Green Amusement Park to the judges, Joshua Baran, distinguished engineer at Cleo Inc., John Powers, CEO of Ashland Technologies Inc., and Erik Beagle, guest relations/educational initiatives manager at Knoebels Amusement Resort.

The students, Kyler Bowers, Josh Wislotsky, Zowie Zokuskie, all 11, and Brock Regnier, 12, said the park had a vegetable garden, recycling containers, trees, solar-powered lighting, seating made out of recyclable products, a water fountain and hydrogen fuel cells for backup power.

“Nothing goes to waste here,” one of the students said.

Judges were impressed with the design.

“I would definitely go to your park,” one judge said.

Quad Squad called their ride design “Spin and Shout.” Sitting on an elevated platform, the ride had four seats attached a center pole that spun. Solar panels would power the ride to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

The sixth- to eighth-graders in North Schuylkill’s team, The Large Einsteins, built a ride they called “The Tidal Wave.” It consisted of three towers. The tallest tower would be 250 feet high and would be placed on a beach. The generator would be powered by the ocean waves. During low tide, the energy conserved would be used to power the ride, a balloon that would rise and slowly fall.

“You can see the ocean and the waves,” a team member said.

Two Pottsville men received chances Thursday to rehabilitate themselves, and possibly to have criminal charges against them dismissed, as they entered the Schuylkill County Drug Treatment Court program.

Donald McLean, 41, pleaded guilty in two cases, while Alexander D. Wiederhold, 23, pleaded guilty in three.

Judge James P. Goodman admitted each into the program for at least 14 months, telling them they could have charges against them dismissed and their records expunged if they completed it. However, he also warned them that they would face serious consequences if they failed to do so.

“If you ... get kicked out of the program, then the guilty pleas apply,” he said.

While in the program, McLean and Wiederhold each will undergo inpatient treatment and must make regular court appearances, submit to random drug testing and home visits, meet with probation officers and comply with directives from the court and those officers. Each must complete all five phases in order to graduate from the program.

They are the eighth and ninth people to join the program, according to Deputy Chief Probation Officer Neil Stefanisko.

County officials started the program this year in an effort to combat the widespread drug addiction problem. Numerous other counties in Pennsylvania also have instituted drug treatment courts.

McLean pleaded guilty in each case to delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance. Pottsville police filed each set of charges against McLean, alleging he delivered heroin on April 23, 2015, and cocaine on May 1, 2015.

Wiederhold pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of possession of drug paraphernalia in one case, possession of a controlled substance in a second and possession of drug paraphernalia in a third.

Goodman told each man that he had the power to determine his future.

“It’s a big step,” he said. “You’re going into treatment instead of going to prison. We wish you the best of luck.”

Inappropriately touching a pregnant woman November 2015 resulted Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court in probation and Megan’s Law sanctions, but not prison, for a Mahanoy City man.

George D. Brill Jr., 54, must spend 12 months on probation and pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, Judge Charles M. Miller decided.

Additionally, Miller ruled that while Brill is not a sexually violent predator, he is a Tier 1 sexual offender under state law and subject to 15 years of Megan’s Law sanctions.

Brill pleaded guilty on Nov. 30, 2016, to indecent assault.

Mahanoy City police charged Brill with touching an 18-year-old woman about 4 a.m. Nov. 5, 2015, while she was sleeping on his couch.

Police said Brill woke up, went downstairs to where the woman was sleeping and began touching her stomach. Police said the woman also told them that after she pushed his hand away, Brill then touched her inappropriately, after which she got up and left his residence.

Brill admitted to touching the woman, according to police.

Miller’s determination that Brill is not a sexually violent predator was in accordance with the recommendation of the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, which had evaluated the defendant.

The Megan’s Law sanctions to which Brill will be subject require him to provide his name, address, employment, any schools he might attend, registration of any vehicles he owns and other information to the Pennsylvania State Police. Any violation of the sanctions would be an additional crime and subject Brill to further prosecution.

MAHANOY CITY— The Order of the Eastern Star, Puritan Chapter, honored Mahanoy City first responders during a ceremony Wednesday.

Cynthia Muldoon, chairwoman of the event committee, said it was the group’s way of saying “thank you” to the volunteer firefighters, EMS personnel and police officers who are always there when needed.

Muldoon opened the ceremonies with a firsthand account of the importance of emergency responders.

Four years to the day on Wednesday, Muldoon said she suffered a massive stroke and was treated by Mahanoy City EMS and then taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown. Despite the severity of her medical emergency, Muldoon said she has since recovered and is living a normal life as evident at the ceremony.

She said that doctors at Lehigh Valley Hospital informed both her and her family that if was not for the timeliness of her emergency medical treatment and getting her advanced medical treatment, she could have died or been confined to a nursing home for the rest of her life.

“If it were not for our first responders, I may not have been here today,” she said.

Muldoon also credited the fire department, ambulance service and police for always being there to help no matter what time or what weather conditions exist.

“There has never been a time when the firefighters, police and emergency medical services has not responded,” she said.

Mahanoy City Fire Chief Dan Markiewicz said his department is dedicated to serving the residents of not only Mahanoy City but also surrounding communities that need assistance.

“This (ceremony) is their way of showing their appreciation for us,” he said. “It shows that we don’t go unnoticed in the community.”

In a world of people criticizing and condemning police officers and other emergency responders for their actions, the chief said, it is nice to receive thanks.

“Somebody notices what we do day in and day out,” he said. “This gives us motivation to continue doing what we do every time we are called.”

After a brief ceremony that began with a prayer by chaplain MaryAnn Klock, Muldoon had each of the 40-plus first responders stand, state their name and organization and be recognized.

Muldoon then presented a brief history of the Order of the Eastern Star and, as a final show of recognition, presented each of the borough’s five fire companies — Humane, Citizens, Washington Hook and Ladder, Good American, and West End Fire and Rescue — with commemorative coins as a show of appreciation.

Accepting the coins for the fire companies represented were John Bowman, Citizens Fire Company and Mahanoy City EMS; Michael Matunas, Washington Hook and Ladder; Thomas Dolbin, Good American; and David Truskowsky, West End Fire and Rescue Company.

Also recognized were members of Mahanoy City Police Department who took time out of their patrol and other duties to attend the ceremony.

The spirit of French beauty and decadence makes its way into the convention center at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Sunday for the 30th annual Gourmet Gala.

Under the theme “Springtime in Paris,” more than 40 local restaurants present sumptuous appetizers, entrees and desserts for the major fundraiser that benefits Ronald McDonald House of Scranton.

Organizers set a goal of $80,000 this year, which will fund the house at 332 Wheeler Ave., plus satellite rooms in three area hospitals that provide respite for families of pediatric patients.

Picture Perfect Band will provide entertainment from 5 to 8 p.m., and the casino offers free valet parking for guests. Admission is $45 at the door, which grants guests access to a wide variety of samples from area eateries.

Waverly Township resident Kathy Nelson co-chairs the event this year with Peggy Hennemuth and expects upward of 1,000 people to attend. Nelson worked on the annual fundraiser for the last four years, first by rounding up restaurants to participate and then by taking on a greater role with Ronald McDonald House after she toured the Scranton home.

“Once I did that, I was hooked. It’s a great cause,” Nelson said. “They help families really when they need it most.”

The Parisian theme came to mind in light of a trip to France she made with her husband a few years back.

“I loved it. First of all, it’s a beautiful city, and from what I hear, springtime there is spectacular,” she said. “Spring, to me, is a season of hope, so that’s kind of what we’re looking for.”

To bring Paris to Northeast Pennsylvania, she hired designer John Mackey to transform the event space with flowers and decorations. Nelson also reverted back to the original floor plan of years past, which makes room for several aisles of vendors and offers better traffic flow. Last year’s setup didn’t work as well for guests, she said, so she hopes they’ll return to enjoy the redesigned pattern, which also includes two entrances.

Mostly, she and Hennemuth look forward to seeing (and tasting) the creative ways restaurants interpret the theme.

“There will be a little bit of everything,” Nelson said. “Some really get into it. They often dress up and make it fun.”

Charles R. Anderson is not a sexually violent predator, but still will be subject to Megan’s Law sanctions for 25 years, a Schuylkill County judge ruled Thursday.

Anderson, 32, of Pottsville, is a Tier 2 sexual offender due to the nature of his crimes and subject to the sanctions, Judge James P. Goodman decided.

Goodman ruled in accordance with the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board’s determination that Anderson is not a sexually violent predator.

Anderson pleaded no contest on Nov. 30, 2016, to six counts of photographing, filming or depicting a sex act on a computer and one count each of corruption of minors and invasion of privacy. Prosecutors withdrew four additional counts of invasion of privacy and two additional counts of corruption of minors.

Goodman accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Anderson to serve nine to 23 months in prison and an additional three years on probation, pay costs, submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities and have no contact with the minor victims.

Pottsville police had charged Anderson with posting the pornography on July 25, 2014.

At the time of the plea, First Assistant District Attorney John T. Fegley said the pornography included 14 files, including 11 videos, of five females. The females included three underage girls, two age 16 and one age 17, and two adults, and was on a computer taken from Anderson’s room, Fegley said.

By pleading no contest, Anderson did not admit committing the crimes but offered no defense to them, admitted prosecutors had sufficient evidence to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and agreed to be sentenced as if he had pleaded or been found guilty.

The Megan’s Law sanctions to which Anderson will be subject require him to provide his name, address, employment, any schools he might attend, registration of any vehicles he owns and other information to the Pennsylvania State Police. Any violation of the sanctions would be an additional crime and subject Anderson to further prosecution.

Megan’s Law was enacted in Pennsylvania, numerous other states and at the federal level after the July 29, 1994, murder of Megan Nicole Kanka, 7, in Hamilton Township, New Jersey. Jesse Timmendequas, Kanka’s killer, was one of her neighbors and a twice-convicted sex offender; his death sentence was commuted to life imprisonment after New Jersey enacted legislation to abolish the death penalty in that state.

Dylan M. Lehman is headed to state prison after being sentenced Thursday in Schuylkill County Court for downloading and distributing child pornography from his residence.

Lehman, 25, of Pine Grove, must serve two to four years in a state correctional institution, and an additional five years on probation, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities and forfeit two computers, Judge Charles M. Miller decided. Miller made the sentence effective at 9:30 a.m. April 7.

Additionally, Miller ruled that while Lehman is not a sexually violent predator — a decision that followed the recommendation of the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board — he is a Tier 1 sexual offender and subject to 15 years of Megan’s Law sanctions.

“If you fail to register or comply” with the Megan’s Law requirements, that will be an additional crime and you will be subject to further prosecution, Miller told Lehman.

Neither Lehman nor his lawyer, Assistant Public Defender Lora J. McDonald, said anything additional about the case during of after Thursday’s hearing.

Lehman pleaded guilty on Nov. 30, 2016, to 10 counts of sexual abuse of children-child pornography and one of criminal use of a communication facility. Prosecutors withdrew 10 counts of sexual abuse of children-dissemination of photographs depicting child pornography.

The state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation charged Lehman with downloading and distributing the pornography between Aug. 24, 2015, and the time of his arrest on Nov. 19, 2015.

Police said they were conducting an undercover investigation into the internet sharing of child pornography and identified a computer downloading such files at the defendant’s residence.

Police said they interviewed Lehman, who admitted using a computer in his room to access and download the pornographic files. Lehman also said he had been downloading and viewing child pornography for five to seven years, according to police.

Assistant District Attorney Kimm R. Montone said the pornography included images of a 9-year-old girl.

The Megan’s Law sanctions to which Lehman will be subject require him to provide his name, address, employment, any schools he might attend, registration of any vehicles he owns and other information to the Pennsylvania State Police. Any violation of the sanctions would be an additional crime and subject Lehman to further prosecution.

Defendant

· Name: Dylan M. Lehman

· Age: 25

· Residence: Pine Grove

· Crimes committed: 10 counts of sexual abuse of children-child pornography and one of criminal use of a communication facility

· Prison sentence: Two to four years in a state correctional institution and an additional five years on probation, plus 15 years of Megan’s Law sanctions

n Auburn: The Greater Berks Food Bank Mobile Market will be at St. John’s Union Church, 200 Pearson St., from 10 a.m. to noon April 19 with a food pantry open to Schuylkill County residents. There is no cost. For more information, call 570-294-9363.

n Orwigsburg: The Blue Mountain Recreation Commission will offer dog obedience classes at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays beginning April 12 on the front lawn of the Blue Mountain Middle School. Classes will continue for seven weeks. There is a registration fee of $50 for Blue Mountain School District residents and $60 for nonresidents if dogs are registered by April 11. Instructors are Diane Buhl and Kathy Maydosz. Registration forms can be picked up at the Blue Mountain Recreation Commission office or people can register online at www.bluemountainrec.com. For more information, call the commission office at 570-366-1190.

n Orwigsburg: Schaeffer’s Harley-Davidson will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Saturday. Carl “Pap” Schaeffer and his son, Dennis, will have motorcycles from the past on display as well as other Schaeffer’s historic items. The celebration will begin at 9 a.m. with surprises planned throughout the day, including a special presentation with cake at noon. People are encouraged to arrive early to receive a free gift while supplies last. For more information, call the rider services desk at 570-366-0143, Ext. 710.

n Primrose: St. Nicholas Church will have an advance-ticket-only fish dinner from 4 to 6 p.m. April 5 in St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901. The cost is $10 per meal, which includes choice of fish or crabcakes, mashed potatoes, stewed tomatoes, green beans, coleslaw, dessert and roll. People may eat in the hall or take meals out. For tickets, call 570-544-4581 or 570-544-6807.

n Shenandoah: Patrons of the Shenandoah Area Free Public Library can have any overdue fines erased by returning material now through April 6. 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 Shenandoah: Psyanky egg decorating classes will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. April 5 and 9 a.m. to noon April 8 in St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church Hall, 300 W. Oak St. The cost is $45, which includes supplies. Participants are “guaranteed to leave class with a completed egg.” To register or for more information, call Paul at 570-668-5789. The church office can be reached at 570-462-0809. Additional classes will also be available.

n Tamaqua: Invitations have been sent to 47 people and groups to perform on the 38th annual telethon benefiting the American Cancer Society scheduled for April 8 and 9 at Penn’s Peak, Jim Thorpe. However, organizers said, additional performers will be needed. Individuals and groups interested in performing on this year’s telethon should contact George Taylor at gtay200@verizon.net or by calling 570-668-4451. Those interested should be able to provide a performance video or audition recording. All performers are asked to do some fundraising before the air date, usually by way of collecting pledges. Pledge forms can be downloaded at www.cancertelethon.org/schedule.

n Tremont: An American Red Cross blood drive is scheduled for noon to 5 p.m. Tuesday at Tremont Health and Rehabilitation Center, 44 Donaldson Road. 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. To arrange an appointment, call 800-733-2767.

n Weishample: Barry Salem United Methodist Church will sponsor a Seder meal at the Grange Hall at 5 p.m. April 1. Doors will open at 4:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 each and are available from Cathy Clouser, Ruby Clouser and Donna Ludwig. For more information, call the church at 570-590-4493. Because of the length of the ceremony and meal, attendees should be at least 12 years old. More information is available at www.BarrySalemUMC.com.

State Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, is hoping to change regulations regarding floodplain management to support efforts to improve vacant buildings, like a project in development in Minersville.

But to overturn an executive order made by President Barack Obama in January 2015, he’ll need the approval of President Donald Trump.

“I’m hopeful that the new president will essentially eliminate the executive order that was signed by President Obama. And we believe projects like these can begin to move forward. The executive order which created the problem needs to be eliminated. That’s the only solution that anyone’s come up with so far. And the president is the only one who can overturn an executive order,” Argall said Wednesday.

The change would help investors Nobel C. “Bud” Quandel and Craig S.L. Shields to turn a vacant five-story building in Minersville into an apartment building for the elderly, Shields said Thursday.

“This is $10 million to $12 million project. And with the floodplain regulations in place, we may not be able to secure the necessary Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency tax credits,” Shields said Thursday.

In August 2016, Noble Equities LLC, Harrisburg, bought 2 Lewis St., Minersville, from Leon Reager Enterprises Inc. for $115,000. Built in 1927, it’s a five-story building, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator.

Noble Equities LLC is a partnership formed by Shields, the CEO of Barefield Development, Pottsville, and Quandel, chairman and chief executive of Quandel Enterprises Inc., Minersville.

“I don’t know what it was originally. But I believe it was used for storage. Our plan is to put elderly housing on the upper floors. That’s 75 percent of the project. And we wanted to encourage the borough to put its offices and the police station in the lower floors,” Shields said Thursday.

He and Quandel also formed Quandel Shields Properties, QSP LLC, to develop the project.

“The problem is half of the building is in the flood plain. And PHFA has problems with such buildings. It’s hard to get funding with buildings in the flood plain. So we have to get a waiver to prove that the project can still go on,” Shields said.

Argall said other properties in Schuylkill County in a similar situation which can benefit from a change in the floodplain regulations include 205 W. Broad St., Tamaqua, owned by Tadeusz A. Skwarek, Coaldale, and 0 E. Coal St., Port Carbon, owned by John L. Miller, The Miller Group Inc., Orwigsburg.

“There are projects like this waiting all across Pennsylvania. The PHFA brought it to my attention. We heard it from Harrisburg and we heard it from local residents as well,” Argall said Wednesday.

On Jan. 30, 2015, Obama signed Executive Order 13690 establishing a “Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input,” which amended Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management, issued in 1977, according to the website for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“It essentially stopped any kind of federal aid for being utilized for projects like this in floodplains,” Argall said.

On Oct. 26, 2016, The General Assembly of Pennsylvania adopted Pennsylvania Senate Resolution 421: “A Resolution urging the President and the Congress of the United States to review the changes to the Federal floodplain management regulations that negatively impact our blighted communities.”

“We passed that resolution. We communicated with members of Congress that the Senate had passed this. And then I followed up after the election,” Argall said.

On Feb. 14, 2017, Argall sent President Trump a letter asking for help.

“I’m still waiting to hear back. I’m not in the habit of sending letters to the president. It’s very rare,” Argall said Thursday.

On March 3, 2017, Argall forwarded a copy of that letter to Dr. Ben Carson, the new HUD secretary.

“HUD has received a copy of Senator Argall’s letter to Secretary Carson, and that our Office of Community Planning and Development is now reviewing its contents. We appreciate Senator Argall’s concerns for the communities he represents, and will provide his office with a response once our review is complete,” Hang Liu, press relations representative for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, said in an email to the newspaper March 20.

“Great!” Argall said Wednesday.

Police probe

phone scams

Pottsville police are investigating reports of telephone scams that were reported to their department on Wednesday.

Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said police two separate reports of an attempted phone scam that involves a caller claiming to be an employee with PPL and that the victims’ residence/business is in arrears with their electric bill.

He said the caller continues to say that if payment is not made, PPL will cut electrical service to their residence/business within 30 minutes.

The caller then instructs the resident/business owner that in order to rectify the matter they must purchase prepaid gift cards and upon purchase to call them for further instructions as to where to send the cards to, Wojciechowsky said.

It should also be noted that caller ID’s show PPL with different 800 numbers attached. At this point, 1-800-358-6623, 1-844-867-2387 and 1-855-406-4187 have been utilized, the chief said, adding that these are not legitimate registered numbers for PPL.

Wojciechowsky reminds all residents and business owners that PPL will not call and threaten to shut off power within 30 minutes nor do they accept gift cards for payment.

“If you receive such a call do not give out any personal information and do not send any form of currency,” the chief said. “If you are unsure about the situation call PPL directly or your local law enforcement agency.”

ORWIGSBURG — The Orwigsburg Zoning Hearing Board denied an appeal by Rhodes Organization for the Blue Mountain Retirement Community.

Gretchen Sterns, attorney for J. Jerome Skrincosky, president of Hawk Valley Associates PC, Mohnton, attended the hearing Thursday at borough hall. She did not comment after the hearing. Orwigsburg Borough Council attorney Paul Datte also didn’t comment.

Another appeal could be filed in the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas.

Rhodes Organization, Boyertown, wanted to build 400 rental units, which would be rented to different age groups on a 27.75-acre site that it owns along East Market Street between Breezy Acres and Kimmels roads.

Iles Cooper, solicitor for the zoning hearing board, read the Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. The organization was appealing a decision by Thomas Yashinsky, borough zoning officer, which said that the Blue Mountain Retirement Community plan was noncompliant with certain sections of the ordinance.

The zoning hearing board found that there were “certain provisions within the ordinance, which by virtue of drafting and/or amendment, could be better articulated and/or defined. Furthermore, the appellant (Rhodes Organization) has articulated potential conflicts of interest within various sections of the ordinance. However, these infirmities do not render the ordinance incapable of compliance and interpretation,” the opinion reads.

It goes on to say the 2006 decision for a special exception for the Pine Creek Adult Community is not applicable to the Blue Mountain Retirement Community plan. The plan would not allow enough space between structures and would not comply with the ordinance on designated open space. Rhodes Organization had previously tried to have the ordinance amended.

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — After considering three options, the North Schuylkill school board approved on Wednesday a plan to adjust the school calendar for snow days that will not interfere with the original graduation date of May 31.

The three options were presented by district Superintendent Robert Ackell for the board’s consideration that would meet the state’s attendance requirements of at least 180 school days and 990 instructional hours. The adjustment was necessitated by weather cancellations on March 10, 13, 14 and 15.

“We need to adjust the calendar for all of the snow days we had,” Ackell said. “We used up all the built-in snow days in the calendar. We have three options on what we can do to the calendar.”

Ackell said one consideration that went into creating the options involved a request from music teacher/choral director Brandi Kline, who said there are six seniors, band director William Lennox, and other band members who will travel to Orlando for a performance trip on June 1, which is one day after graduation.

“If you move the graduation ceremonies, it would affect these students who have been working hard at rehearsals, as well as fundraising to go on this performance trip,” Kline wrote to Ackell and the school board. “It would also affect the entire North Schuylkill band as their band director would not be available to direct them at the graduation ceremony. There are also eight band students who would be playing at graduation who are involved in the trip to Disney.”

“The easiest thing to do is to move graduation and extend the school year,” Ackell said, noting the administration and the board-approved the trip. “If we move graduation, we’ll force some students to make decisions to either go on the trip or attend graduation. It puts us in a predicament making a decision.”

The three options were:

•Option 1 — Good Friday would be a school day, three Act 80 days at the end of the year. May 31 would be a half day. The instructional time would be 991 hours and 30 minutes. Graduation and the last day of school would be May 31.

•Option 2 — Graduation and the last day of school would be June 1, which is a half day. This includes three Act 80 days at the end of the year. The instructional time would be 991 hours and 30 minutes. There would be no school on Good Friday.

•Option 3 — There is no school on Good Friday, with graduation and last day of school on May 31, which would be a full day of school. This includes extending the school days on May 1 and 8 by 30 minutes each, from the usual ending of the classroom day at 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. This includes four Act 80 days at the end of the year. The instruction time would be 990 hours and 12 minutes.

Several board members said they were not in favor of school on Good Friday. High school Assistant Principal Liza Ulceski said that a change in the graduation date would cause problems for parents who have had announcements printed.

Board President Charles “Chaz” Hepler asked whether hours could be rearranged to prevent having a full day of school on May 31 so the seniors will have more time to prepare for the evening commencement ceremony. Ackell said it would be four hours, and it would mean eight days with a half hour more. Ackell said there should be enough time to prepare even with a full day on May 31.

The board voted unanimously in favor of Option 3.

In other business, the school board:

•Approved Jessica Wiscount as a teacher for the ACHIEVE After School Program beginning January 2017 through December 2018 at $20 per hour.

•Approve a stipend of $500 to Lonnie Carl, director of Buildings and Grounds, for his pesticide certification.

•Approved Judith Rakowsky as a mentor teacher at $500 for inductee Jacqueline McMullen for the remainder of the 2016-17 school year and part of the 2017-18 school year.

•Approved Wiscount and Allison Lesher as homebound teachers for the current school year at $35 per hour.

•Accepted the resignation of Linda Harty, part-time cafeteria worker, effective at the end of the current school year.

•Accepted the resignation of Michael Gownley, computer/network support technician, effective March 17.

•Approved the hiring of Robert Jenkins as a full-time district maintenance worker at $13.25 per hour, pending a written satisfactory evaluation after a 60-day probationary period.

•Approved the employment of Andrew Gudonis as a computer/network support technician at $15.90 per hours, pending a written satisfactory evaluation after a 60-day probationary period.

•Approved Lisa Balkiewicz as a part-time aide/secretary, pending a written satisfactory evaluation after a one-month probationary period at her current rate of $13.25.

•Approved Danielle Koutch as a part-time aide/secretary, pending a written satisfactory evaluation after a one-month probationary period at her current rate of $10.50 per hour.

•Accepted the resignation of Maryann Wolfgang, part-time special education aide, effective March 31.

•Authorized the board secretary to submit PlanCon Park K: Project Refinancing to the state Department of Education for the project known as General Obligation Bonds, Series of 2017 (Limited Tax).

•Approved a letter of agreement between ReDCo Group Behavioral Health and the school district, effective January 2017.

The school board approved the adoption and purchase of the following textbooks at a total cost of $82,224.96 in accordance with the Pennsylvania School Code, Article VII, Section 803:

•Campbell Biology AP, 25 student editions, and Mastering Biology and eText (six years), and Human Anatomy and Physiology, 50 copies, at a total cost with shipping of $16,441.32.

•Chang Chemistry AP Student Advantage six-year bundle), 60; Glencoe Chemistry Matter and Change student edition, 35, and teacher six-year subscription bundle, two; and Glencoe Biology student six-year subscription bundle, 90, student edition, 30, and teacher six-year subscription, three, at a total cost with shipping of $23,050.93.

•Human Genetics, AP Student Edition, 24, at a total cost with shipping of $3,671.81.

•Earth & Space iScience, Life Science, and Physical iScience — All three courses include EStudent Edition six-year subscription, 170, ETeacher Edition six-year subscription, six, and Exam Assessment Suite CD-ROM, six, at a total cost with shipping of $39,060.90.

MAHANOY CITY — The Mahanoy Area School District Business Administrator John J. Hurst told the school board at a recent meeting that a study of the financial situations of many districts show they “continue to tread water financially.”

Hurst referred to “The PASA-PASBO Report on School District Budgets” released in January, saying that “with mandated expenses continuing to rise at alarming rates, most districts are not any closer to reaching the safety of a dry shore. Instead, they continue to tread water. Class sizes continue to increase while districts are forced to raise property taxes or spend down dwindling reserves to maintain the status quo. The vast majority report they’re not closer to restoring the cuts they have been forced to make since 2010.”

The study and report were prepared by the Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators and the Pennsylvania Association of School Business Officials.

“We had 361 school districts of the 500 in Pennsylvania, and basically it shows the districts continue to tread water financially at cost of mandated retirement expenses, health care, special education and charter schools, which has outpaced state funding.”

Hurst said school districts continue to compensate for the mandatory expenses, which, according to the report’s conclusion, “diverts precious resources from children and classrooms.”

“Thirty-seven percent of districts continue to cut programs, and while the BEF (Basic Education Funding) increase last year was rather significant, one-third of the respondents (school districts) still indicated that positions were reduced,” Hurst said. “Overall, almost three in 10 districts reported they have cut staff in five of the last six years, with 11 percent having cut staff for the past six consecutive years. So, things are still not looking real bright for us at this point, but I think all schools are just doing what they can to make due with what they have.”

Hurst also spoke on the proposed 2017-18 fiscal year budget of Gov. Tom Wolf that was presented in February. He said the school district would see a BEF increase in the governor’s budget proposal.

“I just want to give you an update on what those numbers look like for us,” Hurst told the school board. “The basic education subsidy looks roughly as an $89,000, or 1.2 percent, increase. Special education is roughly a $33,000, or 3.77 percent, increase, for an overall increase in those two funding streams of $122,000, or roughly 1.4 percent.”

Hurst said that even with those increases, the school district would end up with about $64,000 less overall according to the state funding formula adopted a few years ago. He said that many factors are considered by the state for each school district.

“In December, a whole slew of census factors came out and the state plugged those numbers into the formula and it resulted in several schools potentially looking to lose money for the current year,” Hurst said. “Ours would roughly be a decrease of $64,000. We talked to our legislators to let them know that we didn’t think that our funding formula was going to change midstream. Once they gave us the numbers at the start of the year, we were hoping that those numbers wouldn’t be recalculated and adjusted until the following year’s budget, but that doesn’t appear to be what the governor is proposing at this point. So, when you net that $64,000 out of what we were getting this year, overall we’re looking at a $58,000 increase, or about 0.67 percent.”

Hurst said the proposed budget shows a decrease in the transportation subsidies to the school districts.

“As you may have seen, he also proposed changing the transportation reimbursement formula,” Hurst said. “As you know, all schools get a certain percentage of their transportation reimbursed by the state, and they said they’re going to look at creating efficiencies in that formula and reduce the line-item funding in that category by $50 million. Based on a quick analysis by PASBO, that’s about 8.6 percent of funding that they are taking out of that stream. Based on that, we would see about a $41,000 decrease in our transportation subsidy. Again, they haven’t given us any inkling on how that formula is going to change, but based on the total amount that the line item is going to be reduced, that would be about 8.64 percent for us.”

Factoring in the potential increases and decreases in funding, Hurst said the overall funding increase for the school district would be $17,000.

“I think it would be important to contact our legislators and ask them not to recalculate the current year funding stream and move forward with picking up what we had anticipated in building our budget in July,” he said. “We know how uncertain budgeting is at this time and how many variables there are. We have to wait until June to potentially see what the state is going to give us. This is just another challenge we have. I wish I had better news.”

In other financial topics, the school board approved the 2017-18 Schuylkill Technology Center secondary budget, with Mahanoy Area to be assessed $8,314.79 per student with a projected enrollment of 44 students who will attend the vocational schools for a total assessment of $365,851. Hurst said the assessment is a $27,640, or 7.2 percent, increase over the assessment in the current school year.

Police seek truck

stolen from dealer

LAVELLE – Butler Township police are looking for the thief who stole a pickup truck from a dealership between 3 p.m. Tuesday and 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, police said Wednesday night.

A gold-colored, four-door 2003 Dodge pickup Quad Cab was taken from at Locust Summit Motors, 2878 Fairground Road, Lavelle. The owner is Robert Molnar, 66, police said.

No registration was attached to the vehicle. Anyone with information can call township police at 570-875-4131.

Pottsville man

charged with DUI

MINERSVILLE — A 30-year-old Pottsville man was arrested by Branch Township police in connection with an incident on Jan. 23.

Police said Bronson R. Westcoat, 5 W. Norwegian St., was charged with DUI, careless driving, driving without insurance, driving a vehicle without an official Certificate of Inspection, registration and Certificate of Title required and driving at an unsafe speed.

Police said officers on patrol in the area of the Pottsville-Minersville Highway saw a Jeep traveling about 80 mph in a 45 mph zone and initiated a traffic stop.

The driver, later identified as Westcoat, showed signs of being intoxicated, failed field sobriety tests and was then taken to a Pottsville hospital for a blood alcohol test.

That test determined that the man’s alcohol level was 0.16 percent, two times the legal limit, at the time of the traffic stop, police said.

Man charged with

criminal mischief

SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS — West Mahanoy Township police filed charges against a Shenandoah man after investigation into a recent criminal mischief incident.

Police said officers were alerted to the incident after a resident found that their vehicle had been damaged.

The subsequent investigation determined that the damage was caused by Jared Azar, police said.

Azar was charged with criminal mischief and will now have to answer to that charge before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Police: Men failed

to be fingerprinted

SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS — West Mahanoy Township police have filed charges against two men after an investigation regarding mandatory fingerprinting.

Police said they alerted by the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency regarding several people who failed to comply with fingerprinting requirements after being arrested.

The investigation into this complaint revealed that Joseph Montgomery, Muir, and John Riddick, Shenandoah, failed to be fingerprinted as required after a previous arrest.

Montgomery and Riddick were charged with default in required appearance and will now have to answer before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville.

Matthew R. Bachman is headed to state prison after being sentenced Friday in Schuylkill County Court for possessing a gun in June 2016 on the grounds of Tamaqua Elementary School.

Bachman, 31, of Tamaqua, must spend one to two years in a state correctional institution, plus an additional three years on probation, under the terms of Judge Jacqueline L. Russell’s sentence.

“I understand what I did was wrong,” Bachman, who sat through the hearing in handcuffs and a prison jumpsuit, told Russell. “I really learned my lesson. I’ve never been in trouble before.”

“Don’t get into any more trouble,” Russell warned Bachman after imposing the sentence, which also requires the defendant to pay costs, $100 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $200 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation, perform 40 hours community service and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Bachman pleaded guilty on Feb. 15 to carrying a firearm without a license, possessing a weapon on school property, false identification to law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance. Prosecutors withdrew a second count of possession of a controlled substance, along with charges of hindering apprehension, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and defiant trespass.

He also pleaded guilty to charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance in an unrelated case.

Tamaqua police alleged Bachman was outside the school at 3:23 a.m. June 26, 2016.

Police said Bachman originally told them he was looking for worms and falsely identified himself. Bachman then tried to flee, but an officer shot him with a Taser and then arrested him, according to police.

A search of Bachman revealed he had a Titan .25-caliber handgun but no concealed weapons permit, a pocketknife, 1.55 grams of methamphetamines, hydrocodone pills, baggies, a scale and a cut straw, according to police.

Deputy Assistant District Attorney Jennifer N. Foose said there were no students in the school at the time.

“The situation could have turned out very differently,” she said.

Tamaqua police also filed the charges against Bachman in the other case, alleging he possessed methamphetamines, hydrocodone, baggies and a scale on Aug. 9, 2016, in the borough.

The defendant

· Name: Matthew R. Bachman

· Age: 31

· Residence: Tamaqua

· Crimes committed: Carrying a firearm without a license, possessing a weapon on school property, false identification to law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance in one case, and possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance in the other

· Prison sentence: One to two years in a state correctional institution, plus three years additional probation