Man accused of

scattering rubbish

LYKENS — A 38-year-old man was arrested by state police at Lykens and charged with scattering rubbish after an incident that occurred at 12:30 a.m. April 28 in this Dauphin County community.

Police said a Williamstown man reported finding three bags of household trash on his property. A check of the contents revealed the trash came from Matthew Napoleono, police said.

The charge against Napoleono was filed with Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum, Elizabethville.

Saint Clair woman

faces theft charge

POTTSVILLE — A Saint Clair woman was charged with retail theft following an incident at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Weis Markets, Norwegian Township.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Tiffany Binder was seen by store employees removing items from the shelves and placing them into her purse before leaving the store without paying for them.

Charges were filed with Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.

Police warn all to be

wary of scam calls

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville police are investigating a report from a resident on Monday after he realized he was the victim of a scam involving his computer.

Police said the victim said he was initially contacted by telephone by a person who claimed to work for a computer company named Calder International, claiming to rid his computer of viruses for a reasonable fee.

After obtaining permission from the victim to remotely access his computer, the caller was then able to gain unfettered access to all stored information, including banking numbers and passwords, police said.

In addition, during subsequent phone contacts with the victim, police said, the callers offered to return his fee because they could not satisfactorily complete their work, but advised the victim that they over-credited his account by about $1,000 and asked him to send that money back to the company via Western Union.

Police said that upon completion of the transaction, the company quickly called the victim and told him the transaction was not successful and asked if he could send the money again on two more occasions, despite the fact the transactions were successful and no over-credit had ever taken place on the bank account.

Police said citizens are strongly urged to be mindful of sending any money via Western Union or Money Gram, particularly to foreign countries or in situations where they do not personally know the recipients, as such transactions cannot be reversed or tracked.

Police ask that anyone wishing to report similar suspicious activity call them at 570-628-3792.

No injuries in

2-vehicle crash

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville police investigated a crash at North Progress Avenue and East Laurel Boulevard that was reported about 8 p.m. April 28.

At the scene, police said, officers learned a Pontiac Sunfire driven by a 45-year-old Pottsville man was struck by a Ford Explorer driven by Courtney Tyler, 24, of Pine Grove.

Police said Tyler briefly stopped at a stop sign facing southbound traffic on Progress Avenue and then proceeded into the intersection and into the path of the vehicle driven by the Pottsville man who was traveling west on Laurel Boulevard.

No injuries were reported.

Police said Pottsville firefighters and Schuylkill EMS assisted at the scene.

Police: Ashland

man violated PFA

ASHLAND — A borough man was jailed charged by Ashland police with violating a Protection From Abuse order after a recent incident at 526 Oakland Ave.

Police said there was an active PFA order against Greg J. Williams, 45, of 937 Market St., and that the woman involved with the order reported that Williams had just walked into her home.

The woman also said that Williams had been sending her messages and calling her all day.

Police said Williams was seen about 300 feet away from the woman’s home and failed to obey orders of the officers. Williams “shoved” his hands into his pockets where an officer noticed what resembled an open knife inside his left pocket.

Chief Mark O’Hearn said Williams failed to obey commands to remove his hands from his pockets and after numerous warnings began moving backward when an officer was trying to place him in handcuffs.

Williams pulled away and began to run prompting an officer to use his Taser weapon to gain control of the situation. O’Hearn said that when taken to the ground, Williams continued to resist requiring a substantial amount of force to bring under control.

A subsequent search revealed the man was in possession of two knives, the chief said.

O’Hearn said Williams was charged with indirect criminal contempt for violating the PFA order and also with separate counts of possessing instruments of crime, resisting arrest and harassment.

He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $5,000 straight cash bail for the indirect criminal contempt charge and an additional 10 percent of $10,000 on the remaining criminal charges.

Frackville police assisted at the scene, O’Hearn said.

Threatening incident

results in charges

McADOO — McAdoo police filed charges against a Hazleton man stemming from an incident about 10:45 p.m. Thursday to the rear of 68 N. Kennedy Dive.

Police said officers were called to the area for a report of a disturbance involving a man with a weapon threatening to use it.

At the scene, police said, they spoke to the daughter of the suspect, Marino Paulino, 49, who said she had a conflict with her father but appeared to be vague and not truthful as to what actually occurred.

Witnesses told officers that Paulino tried to fight with another man and that he threatened to use a gun and a knife but fled the area as officers were arriving, police said.

As a result of the incident, police said, Paulino was charged with terroristic threats, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment and will have to answer before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.

Trespassing results

in 8 being charged

HAMBURG — Tilden Township police cited eight people for trespassing at 2:27 p.m. April 29 at the Kernsville Dam Recreational Area, Tilden Township.

Police Chief William J. McEllroy III said in a press release that eight adults in three groups were trespassing in the areas of the Kernsville Dam and the Rock. He said five were from Reading while there was one each from Whitehall, Allentown and Orwigsburg. Some of them were fishing with their young children at the dam, he said.

Criminal trespass charges will be filed against all eight adults with Magisterial District Judge Kim L. Bagenstose, Hamburg.

Woman reports

harassing calls, texts

TOWER CITY — State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a claim that Kristina M. Scholvin, 46, of Tower City, was being harassed by a former friend at 2:36 a.m. April 8 through derogatory and profane phone calls and texts.

In the press release sent Saturday, police said the suspect is a 47-year-old Lewistown man.

Man accused of

stealing car parts

LEESPORT — A Lyon Station man was charged with theft by state police at Hamburg after an incident about 7 p.m. April 9 in the 700 block of Bellemans Church Road in Centre Township, Berks County.

Police said Calvin Forrest Smith, 29, will have to answer to the charge in a Berks County district court.

Police said Smith went to a man’s house, approached his vehicle parked in the driveway and opened the hood.

Smith forcibly removed the battery terminal cables connecting the battery to the started, placed the wires in his pocket and fled the area.

Ashland

St. John’s Kimmel’s Church, 1263 Deep Creek Road, will host a concert by the Farm Hands Bluegrass Gospel Quartet of Nashville, Tennessee, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 21. Freewill offerings will be accepted. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-682-8141.

Pottsville

Tourism Expo 2017 will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Fairlane Village mall, hosted by the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau. The theme is “Your tour starts here,” according to a release from Pottsville’s Jerry Enders. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-622-7700.

Pottsville

The Pottsville support luncheon by Hospice of Central Pennsylvania, for adults who have experienced loss of a loved one, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday at Vito’s Coal Fired Pizza in the Coal Creek Commerce Center, Saint Clair. Attendees will pay for their own food and beverages. To register, call 570-628-2290.

Pottsville

Theatre Junction II will present “The Bear” by Anton Chekhov at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Pottsville Area Free Public Library, West Market Street. There is no set fee but donations will be accepted. Proceeds will benefit the library. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-292-3778.

Ringtown

The Ringtown Valley Fire and Rescue Company will have a pizza sale from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the fire station, West Main Street. For more information, email Chief Ray Dunsavage at chief_673@yahoo.com.

Shenandoah

The Shenandoah Area Free Public Library, located in the municipal complex at Washington and Main streets, recently acknowledged the following memorial donations: For Karen Perrong from Marty and Mary Ann Kelly; for Edgar Gilliam from Donna Lally; for Jane E. Katolick from Donna Lally; for Dr. Allen Johnson from Mary Ellen Matunis; for Albert Pronio from Mary Ellen Matunis, Ron and Mary Luscavage; for Theresa Macker from Ron and Mary Luscavage, the Garrity family, Bernie Morris, Bob and Kathy Gudinski, Joe and Roseann Chowanes, Donna Vernalis and Charolette Macker; for Theresa M. O’Boyle from Mary Ellen Matunis; for John L. “Jack” Gallo Sr. from Dan and Angie Salvadore; for Louise Palubinsky from Mary Ellen Matunis; for Margie Caglionone from Marty and Mary Ann Kelly; for Donnie Segal from Theresa Kolonsky; from Municipal Authority of the Borough of Shenandoah; Mary Ellen Matunis; Ron and Mary Luscavage; SAFPL Board; Tom and Jerry Talerico, Leo Pietkiewicz, Mary Lou and Jack Bushinski, Alan, Trisha, Donna and Joseph Palubinsky, Bob and Joan Racis, Teri Wagner, Tom and Theresa O’Neill, Mary Lou and Jack Buchinsky, Robert W. Kane, Joseph and Jean Sherako, Franklin and Elizabeth Kury and Customer Accounting Department of UGI Utilities, Reading; for Joseph Nash from Mary Ellen Matunis.

Shenandoah

Sign-ups for the Shenandoah Area Free Public Library’s summer reading club will begin Monday, with the last day to register May 19. The club is for young people ages 5 through 12. The library is located in the municipal complex at Washington and Main streets. The library can be reached via email to safpl@ptd.net. The library will be closed on May 20 for the annual Shenandoah Kielbasi Festival. Library personnel will be at the fest, North Main Street, for a library giveaway.

Tamaqua

A pallet paint fundraiser is scheduled for 6 to 8 p.m. May 17 at the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St. The cost is $35 per person and proceeds will benefit the Tamaqua Area High School Class of 2018. All materials and supplies will be included for the non-alcohol event. For more information, call 570-668-1192.

POTTSVILLE — After five years of conducting the annual point-in-time count of the homeless, Schuylkill County’s Local Housing Options Team has refined their methods for a more accurate representation of homelessness in the area.

On Tuesday, representatives from the various human service agencies and organizations that make up the team met at the Terry Reiley Building to discuss the latest count and find even more ways to improve the annual survey.

“We are starting to understand the depth of homelessness in this county,”Daniel McGrory, administrator for the county mental health, developmental services and drug and alcohol departments, said.

Major Sharon Whispell of the Tamaqua Salvation Army said her group had a volunteer who used to be homeless help them search the area. Whispell said he was able to find and connect with people in the Tamaqua area they probably would not have seen otherwise.

“People know him by name and will actually help him find other people,” Whispell said.

With the volunteer’s help, Whispell said the Salvation Army was able to connect a homeless family living in the woods with Children & Youth and got them off the streets.

“That was their biggest fear — that they would lose their children,” Whispell said. “They have now gotten off the streets because of Children & Youth.”

David Young, director of planning at Schuylkill Community Action, was part of the team that searched the Pottsville area for homeless people. He recommended recruiting someone similar through My Father’s House to help with next year’s count in Pottsville.

My Father’s House is a day program for the homeless operated by Servants To All at 4 S. Centre St., Pottsville. The 30-day program helps them find permanent housing as well as employment and they cannot use drugs or alcohol.

“Their help would be invaluable to the search,” Young said.

The fifth annual point-in-time homeless count in January found 35 individuals living on the street in Schuylkill County. The count of sheltered and unsheltered people took place over the course of several days in January at 11 locations throughout the county to find out where the homeless spent the night of Jan. 25.

“I think it was a success, but sad in the sense we found so many,” Whispell said. “Even though the point-in-time count is over, we are still working with those people.”

Last year, 33 individuals were counted, while the average since 2014 was 34 individuals.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development uses the annual count to estimate the number of people homeless in the country and identify any similar characteristics among the demographic. HUD provides funding for homeless assistance services to counties who participate in the counts. The date for the count is set each year by the federal government.

“When it comes to finding funding, this is the information we use,” Young said.

The first time Schuylkill County participated in the federal point-in-time count was in January 2013. Groups of volunteers searched the streets, abandoned buildings and wooded areas to find 13 homeless individuals.

“We started with sending people out in horrific weather and we have found better and safer ways of doing it,” McGrory said.

LHOT has been using more locations throughout the county to offer free meals and have people come to them to be surveyed while still using a few teams to search the streets. In addition to the free meal and connecting them with county agencies, the sites also offered people clothing and other assistance, like gift cards, canned food, donated clothing and hotel vouchers.

Lisa Stevens, director of Children & Youth, said her group worked with God’s Chuck Wagon in the northern part of the county. She said the mobile soup kitchen served more than 70 meals in Shenandoah and about 40 in Mahanoy City.

“He has already established relationships with those people and I think that connection with God’s Chuck Wagon has definitely helped us with the count,” Stevens said.

Representatives from the LIFE Geisinger program joined LHOT within the past year and participated in the most recent count.

“It was very humbling,” Wendy Rishel, outreach and enrollment coordinator for LIFE Geisinger, said. “We didn’t find any homeless, but many families came to us for help.”

“They call our office for everything, but now they have a friend,” Ellen Popson, intake coordinator for LIFE Geisinger, said. “It was a very humbling experience and we are happy to be a part of it.”

LIFE is an acronym for “Living Independently For Elders.” The program helps seniors in need of nursing care stay in their homes by providing various services, such as a bus service to the Geisinger clinic in Kulpmont.

Popson said the program provides services for about 20 people in Schuylkill County and being a part of LHOT allows them to give back to the community they serve while learning about the resources available to them.

In November, Servants To All opened up an overnight shelter with 13 beds at the United Presbyterian Church, 214 Mahantongo St., Pottsville. It is the first overnight shelter in the county since 2009, in addition to Schuylkill Women in Crisis providing emergency shelter to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Contact the writer: mgilgerjr@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023

Retire from state

Stephen J. Bushinski, Brandonville, recently retired from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, where he served as an attorney with the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

On retirement, Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Carrelli, adjutant general of the commonwealth, presented him with the Pennsylvania Meritorious Service Medal on behalf of Gov. Tom Wolf.

Bushinski graduated from West Hazleton High School in 1975. He entered military service as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division. After leaving the Army, he served in the Army Reserve and Army National Guard until 2004, retiring as an officer with the Army’s Judge Advocate General Corps.

Bushinski graduated from Fayetteville State University, Fayetteville, North Carolina, in 1979, and magna cum laude Bloomsburg State College in 1980. He graduated from Widener University School of Law in 1994.

He is a son of the late Joseph A. Bushinski and Mary E. Bushinski. He and his wife, Juliet, have been married for 36 years.

BRANDONVILLE — Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and East Union Township police are asking for the public’s help in finding those responsible for vandalizing a cemetery last week.

Police said the criminal mischief occurred at St. John’s Lutheran Cemetery on Park Avenue between 6 p.m. Monday and 10:30 a.m. Tuesday.

Police said someone damaged 10 tombstones, mostly near a road that runs though the cemetery. All of the tombstones were knocked over in numerous directions and several smashed when hitting the ground, police said.

Although several people of interest have been identified, police are still asking for help in positively identifying those responsible.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information on those responsible for this crime or on any other unsolved crime in Schuylkill County.

Callers are asked to refer to case 05-07-17 when calling with information about the vandalism and damage done at the East Union Township cemetery.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 877-TIPS4SC (877-847-7472).

In addition, anyone with information can call East Union Township police directly at 570-384-5829 or through the Schuylkill County Communications Center at 570-462-1991.

All information will remain confidential.

Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013

KINGSTON — After Christa Michalek got pregnant the summer prior to her freshman year of high school, she questioned the reason why. Her parents assured her the child was a gift from God.

When Michalek’s son was killed in a car crash several month ago at age 21, she again found herself questioning why. She reasoned that, as an organ donor proponent, he was designated by God to provide the gift of life.

Casey Michalek’s heart now beats inside a woman in her 50s. His liver and right kidney keep alive a woman in her 60s. Casey’s left kidney went to a woman in her 30s.

“I know that was his purpose — to save those people. I feel like everyone has a purpose in life. Once it is fulfilled, God takes you,” Michalek, 36, said recently from the family homestead in Kingston, Luzerne County. “These people, they were on their death beds and thinking 100 percent they were going to die. I feel so comforted that his organs are still living and he’s not completely dead.”

In the months since the October crash, Casey’s family members have become vocal advocates for organ donation through the Gift of Life Donor Program, which serves Eastern Pennsylvania, Southern New Jersey and Delaware.

Casey’s donation helped Gift of Life set a national record last year for the most donors of any organization in the United States. Gift of Life’s 540 donors in 2016 translated into more than 1,400 life-saving transplants.

“To me, every person who signs up to be an organ donor should be considered a hero. Casey saved three lives,” said Gift of Life CEO Howard M. Nathan. “There’s nothing more sacred than saving somebody else’s life.”

Leaders of the Gift of Life program and members of Casey’s family are encouraging people to register as organ donors.

Nearly half of Pennsylvanians are registered to be organ donors, but the rate is only 42 percent in Luzerne County, Nathan said. The rated in Schuylkill County is 44 percent.

“There’s misconceptions. Some people think it may be against your religion. It’s not. Other people have fear if you put it on your license, they won’t try to save you at the hospital. The hospital has no access to the donor registry. Their goal is to save your life,” Nathan insisted.

Additionally, only a small percentage of the millions of people signed up for the program will ever have their organs donated. Only people without brain activity being kept alive artificially are eligible since the organs are still working. A heart, for example, must be harvested from a donor and implanted in a recipient within four hours, Nathan said.

“That’s why there are so few donors,” Nathan said. “There’s so few opportunities.”

Casey suffered mortal head trauma in a car crash in Edwardsville on Oct. 23. He was the back seat passenger in a car driven by an alleged drunk driver.

With no brain activity, Casey was kept on life support for three days until the transplants could be scheduled.

Michalek recalled sleeping next to him every night in the hospital to say the long goodbye to the boy who she says she “grew up with.”

Since Michalek had Casey as a 14-year-old high school freshman, she relied heavily on her parents, Carol and Joseph Michalek, to raise him.

“I used to tell her, ‘Casey is your son, but Casey is my baby,’ ” Carol Michalek said.

During a recent interview, Christa Michalek showed photos of her with Casey as a child, including her senior photo at Wyoming Valley West High School and one of him posing with her friends on graduation day in 1998.

“Casey was there for everything,” she recalled

Christa Michalek and Casey lived with her parents while she finished high school and then college, where she studied to become a teacher. They then moved next door into the other side of the family’s double-block home in Kingston.

“This house is empty without him,” Carol Michalek said.

Casey’s sister, Morghan, 17, and brother, Timmy, 9, are also struggling to cope with the loss.

“When he first died, I felt selfish. Like, how do I go on? I spent my entire life with him. But I realized Timmy and Morghan don’t know life without him,” said Christa Michalek, a special education teacher for the Luzerne Intermediate Unit.

Casey went to Catholic schools, graduating from Holy Redeemer High School. He wanted to attend college, but was taking his time finding the right one with a major that suited his love of music, his family said. At the time of his death, he worked at the Turkey Hill convenience store in Plains Township, where he often convinced friends to come visit to keep him company.

“Since we doted on him all his life, he said he was afraid to grow up,” his grandmother said.

After Casey’s death, Christa Michalek organized a fundraiser to benefit the Gift of Life program that raised about $3,000. At the event, attended by hundreds of people, she asked anyone who is registered to be an organ donor to raise their hand.

“I was blown away. It was like only five people,” she said. “I tried to explain to these people, you need to be organ donors.”

Casey’s family knows very little about the recipients of the organs because Gift of Life tries to respect the privacy of all involved.

They only know that his heart went to a woman in New York City, which makes them happy because it was his favorite place to visit.

The Gift of Life does eventually share letters between the recipients and family of donors — but Casey’s family has yet to get any correspondence.

Casey’s family hopes to meet the people one day.

“I would just love to hear that beating heart again,” Carol Michalek said.

Contact the writer: bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2055

Facts on organ donation

• One organ donor can save eight lives.

• People can register anytime online — at www.donors1.org — and don’t have to wait until their driver’s license is up for renewal.

• More than 5,000 patients are awaiting a life-saving transplant in Gift of Life’s coverage area.

• Someone in Pennsylvania dies every 18 hours waiting for a transplant.

Source: Gift Of Life Donor Program

POTTSVILLE — The unemployment rate for Schuylkill County increased another 0.2 of a percentage point in March, according to the latest figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor & Industry.

The seasonally adjusted rate for the month was 5.9 percent. That is an increase of 0.4 of a percentage point since January. It was 6.2 percent last March.

“The rate itself for this month is up a little, but more people have entered the labor force and 300 more are employed,” Jeff Newman, industry and business analyst for the department, said. “That’s pretty good when 60 percent of new people to the labor force are employed. However, that means 40 percent are unemployed and that raises the overall rate.”

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Pennsylvania was 4.8 percent in March while the national rate was 4.5 percent.

According to the seasonally adjusted figures for Schuylkill County, 500 people joined the labor force in March. Of them, 300 were employed and 200 were unemployed. The county labor force totaled 67,300 people in March. That figure consists of 63,300 employed and 4,000 unemployed.

There were a total of 50,000 nonfarm jobs in the county in March, up 300 from February and down 100 from last year. There were 100 jobs added to the wholesale trade, retail trade and professional and business services industries. Changes of 100 may be due to rounding.

The department also finished adjusting 2016 figures in March.

“Benchmarking is complete for 2016 data and is now comparable to 2017,” Newman said. “The February 2016 rate was 5.5 percent when we compared it a month ago, pre-bench.”

The surrounding areas had the following seasonally adjusted rates for February: Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, 4.8; Harrisburg and Carlisle, 4; Reading, 4.4; Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton, 5.7; and Bloomsburg, Berwick and Sunbury, 5.1 percent.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6023

Ashland Rotary

Bobby Wagner, son of Katherine and Brian Wagner, Ashland, and a senior at North Schuylkill High School, was named student of the month by Ashland Area Rotary Club.

Bobby’s school activities include football, baseball and track, all of which he has served as captain; TAT, of which he is vice president; SADD, of which he is secretary; Friends Forever and National Honor Society.

He plans to attend Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, and pursue a career in pharmacy.

Blue Mountain

Roan Lynch and Madison Szczeina were named seniors of the month for April at Blue Mountain High School.

Roan, who is enrolled in the college preparatory curriculum, is a son of Shawn Lynch and Michael Gardner, Schuylkill Haven. He is a member of Phi Sigma World Language Honor Society and the English Honor Society. He has been the basketball bookkeeper for the last three years and is an active member of the Boy Scouts.

Roan plans to attend college.

Madison, a senior enrolled in the college preparatory curriculum, is a daughter of Janice and Kevin Szczecina, Orwigsburg. She is treasurer of the Leo Club and historian of the international club.

She is a member of Phi Sigma World Language Honor Society, Quiz Bowl and mini-THON.

Madison plans to attend Kutztown University to major in education.

Frackville Rotary

Emily Osilka, a junior at North Schuylkill High School, was honored as Frackville Rotary’s student of the month for April at a recent meeting at Cracker Barrel Restaurant, Schuyl-kill Mall, Frackville.

Emily is a member of the National Honor Society and plays tuba in the North Schuylkill marching and competition bands. She is also member of the Gabriel Wind Ensemble and Symphonic Band, Pitt Band and varsity softball team.

Emily’s community activities include Gabriel Youth Orchestra, Anthracite Youth Wind Symphony and Pennsylvania State and International Lions bands. She plays softball for the Frackville Girls’ Softball Team and is a member of St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Parish, Frackville.

Mahanoy Area

Mahanoy Area High School seniors Sarah Herring and Kyle Loughlin were named students of the month for February by Mahanoy City Elks Lodge 695.

Sarah is a daughter of Daniel and Karla Herring, Barnesville. Her high school activities include Future Business Leaders of America, cheerleading, choir, Interact, Nutrition Advisory Council, Spanish Club, SADD, and Teens Against Tobacco.

Sarah was a homecoming candidate and is a member of the volleyball team, in which she lettered her senior year.

In the community, she volunteers for Meals on Wheels and is a member of the ACTION Youth Group.

Sarah plans to attend Bloomsburg University and major in business management.

Kyle, a son of Dennis and Cynthia Loughlin, Morea, Mahanoy City, is involved with National Honor Society, Schuylkill County Academic Team, Bloomsburg Math Contest Team, student council, Olweus Youth Leadership, Bear Pride Program, Interact, Nutrition Advisory Council, Spanish Club, Teens Against Tobacco and Theatre Arts Club.

He is SADD treasurer, a volunteer for Meals on Wheels and a member of the ACTION Youth Group.

Athletically, Kyle is a member of the baseball team, serving as a captain this year and lettering for two years; played football and lettered for three years and was a member of the swim team, serving as a captain and lettering in his senior year.

Kyle plans to attend Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, or Temple University, Philadelphia, and major in dentistry or King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, or Lock Haven University to become a physician assistant.

Mahanoy Area High School seniors Carolyn Rene and Mark Lawrence were named students of the month for March by Mahanoy City Elks Lodge 695.

Carolyn, a daughter of Geromaine Fabre, Mahanoy City, is involved in National Honor Society, SADD and Skills USA. She volunteers for Meals on Wheels.

Carolyn plans to attend Lehigh Carbon Community College majoring in journalism.

Mark, a son of Mark and Denise Lawrence, Mahanoy City, is vice president of his class and serves as vice president and assistant stage manager of the Theatre Arts Club. He is also a member of the National Honor Society, Schuylkill County Academic Team, student council, Schuylkill County Youth Summit, choir, Interact, ski club, Spanish Club, SADD and Teens Against Tobacco,

Athletically, Mark is a member of the football team, serving as a captain in his senior year and lettering for three years; wrestling, lettering for three years, and track and field, lettering three years. In the community, he is a Meals on Wheels volunteer and serves as acolyte for Christ Lutheran Church.

Mark plans to attend Penn State University and major in geo-science.

Mahanoy Middle

Mahanoy Area Middle School students James Leary and Kayla Kristopaitis were named students of the month for March by the faculty through a program sponsored by Mahanoy City Elks Lodge 695. Nominees are judged on the basis of multiple achievements, character, leadership, citizenship and scholastic aptitude.

James, a son of James Leary Sr., Gilberton, is involved with the Schuylkill Achieve Program and National Junior Honor Society. He volunteers as a tutor with the Schuylkill Achieve Program and as an aide in the elementary library.

James plans to join the Marine Corps and then attend college and become a teacher.

Kayla, a daughter of Billie Joe Lindenmuth, New Boston, is a member of St. Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, Mahanoy City, where she is an altar server. She is involved with track and field, biddy volleyball, Theatre Arts, chorus and the National Junior Honor Society.

Kayla volunteers at various church functions, including ACTION Youth Group, food drives, assistant coaching for soccer and helping an elderly neighbor. She plans to attend college and become a veterinarian.

Minersville Area

Minersville Area High School seniors Erica Nettles and Anthony Forte were named students of the month for April.

Erica is a daughter of Scott and Jill Nettles, Pottsville. Her school activities include TAT, SADD, chemistry club, National Honor Society, volleyball and the athletic staff.

Outside of school, she volunteers for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Youth Volleyball Camp and annual Community Haunted House. She plans to attend Cedar Crest College, Allentown, and major in genetic engineering.

Anthony is a son of Stephen and Diane Forte, Pottsville. His school activities include yearbook committee, soccer team, annual musical tech crew and athletic staff.

Outside of school, he is a volunteer firefighter for Mountaineer Hose Company and an altar server. He is em-ployed by BG’s Value Market.

Anthony plans to attend Shippensburg University and major in criminal justice.

Pine Grove Area

Alexa Kolb and Samantha Lentz were named Pine Grove Area High School’s students of the month for May.

Alexa is a daughter of Karen and Christian Lengel, Pine Grove. She studies in the advanced placement and honors curricula.

Her high school activities include volleyball, student council, Cardinal Spotlight Theatre, SADD, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, art club, prom committee, FBLA, National Honor Society, varsity club and school board student representative.

Alexa plans to attend Penn State Berks campus, Reading, to study psychology and law and later attend law school.

Samantha is a daughter of Theresa Keating, Pine Grove, and studies within the college preparatory, honors, advanced placement and dual enrollment curricula. Her high school activities include SADD, student council, Spanish Club, of which she is treasurer; varsity club, cheerleading, of which she is captain; cross country, track and field, Big 33 Cheerleading, Class of 2017 treasurer, and FBLA.

Samantha plans to attend Indiana University of Pennsylvania to dual baccalaureate in nutrition/dietetics and exercise science.

POTTSVILLE — A Frackville woman is headed to state prison after admitting Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that she forged a check on a bank in August 2016 in her hometown.

Stacey A. Beyers, 39, must spend nine to 24 months in a state correctional institution under the terms of Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin’s sentence. Dolbin also sentenced Beyers to pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $330 restitution.

Beyers pleaded guilty to forgery, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of identity theft, theft and receiving stolen property.

Frackville borough police charged Beyers with forging a check for $330 on Aug. 2, 2016, at Wells Fargo bank.

Dolbin on Wednesday also accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Judith A. Allen, 60, of Tamaqua; retail theft; one to 11 months in prison consecutive to current sentence and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew charges of false identification to law enforcement and public drunkenness.

John H. Armstrong, 34, of Pottsville; two counts each of theft and receiving stolen property and one each of criminal trespass, driving under the influence and seat belt violation; nine to 23 months in prison, $1,010 in fines, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $100 in CJEA payments, $400 restitution to Lehigh Valley Health Network, 10 hours community service and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to keep right and careless driving.

John R. Binner, 35, of Bellefonte; simple assault and driving under suspension-DUI related; six to 12 months in a state correctional institution, $1,000 fine and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of harassment.

Bobby J. Carnell, 36, of Zion Grove; defiant trespass; 15 to 30 days in prison and $150 bench warrant fee. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of attempted theft.

Joseph Kamant, 24, of Tamaqua; possession of drug paraphernalia, accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property and driving under suspension; 12 months probation, $200 fine, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of careless driving.

Sean A. Maraj Jr., 32, of Altoona; endangering the welfare of children; 12 months probation and $50 CJEA payment.

Terrence L. Moore, 30, 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.

Justin D. Purcell-Anthony, 29, of Minersville; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of public drunkenness.

Victoria L. Schmitt, 42, of Tamaqua; harassment; 12 months probation, $50 bench warrant fee and no contact with the victim.

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

Contact the writer: pbortner@republicanherald.com, 570-628-6014

On Sunday night, we have a great conjunction, or what I like to call a celestial hugging, between the nearly full moon and the planet Jupiter in southern Pottsville sky.

The moon and the largest planet in our solar system will only be separated by 3 degrees. That’s the width of three of your fingers together held at arm’s length. It should be quite a sight that you won’t want to miss. Let’s hope and pray for clear skies.

With even a small telescope, you can have a field day, or should I say night. Check out the mountains and craters of the moon, as well as Jupiter’s moons that resemble little stars on either side of the planet. You might even see some of the cloud bands on Jupiter and maybe the great red spot that’s three times the diameter of Earth. The red spot is a storm that’s been raging in Jupiter’s atmosphere for hundreds of years.

Every month we have least one or two of these conjunctions or celestial huggings. Next weekend we’ll have another conjunction, this time between the moon and Saturn. All of these conjunctions happen because of the ecliptic, the super highway of the planets and moon in our skies.

Planets are certainly wanderers among the stars from night to night and year to year. In fact, the word planet has a Greek origin that’s roughly evolved from what they called wandering stars. Back then, as far we know, no one really knew the nature of the planets except that they appeared to roam among the fixed stars in the celestial dome of heaven. Early civilization observed that the moon, as well as the wanderers or planets, certainly didn’t move randomly among the fixed stars but rather took about the same path among the stars, mostly migrating to the east but at times retrograding in a westward direction. This path is called the ecliptic because it was along that path where eclipses of the sun and moon occur.

The reason all of the planets and our moon pretty much take the same ecliptic path among the stars is that they, along with our Earth, all orbit the sun in the nearly the same geometric plane. They also move along the ecliptic at different speeds. The planets close to the sun like Venus and Mercury are on a celestial caffeine high, and they zip along the ecliptic because they whip around the sun much faster than outer planets like Uranus and Neptune, that really take their sweet time completing the ecliptic circuit.

Consider the ecliptic the long and winding road in the stars. Along and on either side of the ecliptic are 13 constellations referred to as zodiac constellations. On any given night or day, a planet or our moon will be in one of these as they travel down the ecliptic highway.

The planets and moons aren’t the only wanderers in the night sky. Human-made satellites rip across the sky in just about all directions. For about 60 years we’ve shot hundreds and hundreds of satellites into space. Many of them are still functioning, fulfilling their various missions and tasks, but there’s also a lot of junk up there like dead satellites and spent rocket stages. When I hold my star watching parties someone will inevitably call out, “Hey, look at the satellite up there!”

Early in the evening and early in the morning are the best times to spot satellites. While the sun has gone down from our point of view on Earth, the sun is still above the horizon high up in space where the satellites are, and the light is bouncing off of them. That’s what we see when we observe satellites, sunlight bouncing off their reflective surfaces.

Of course, some satellites are brighter than others. The absolute king of the satellites is the International Space Station. At first glance, it more closely resembles a high flying jet airliner. The International Space Station is even brighter in the sky when the U.S. Space Shuttle is docked to it, but unfortunately those nights are coming to an end.

There are a lot of good websites for helping you spot and identify satellites, but I think the best one is Heavens Above at www.heavens-above.com. Once you configure the site to your location with the database you’re good to go. Not only will it help you with satellites, but it can also do a lot of other neat stuff like produce rough but still useful star maps.

Enjoy all the wanderers!

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

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — With every suicide, family and friends are left behind.

On Saturday, hundreds of those “suicide survivors” in Schuylkill County participated in the fourth annual Stomp Out Suicide to remember their loved ones and let others know help is available.

“We do it to get the information out there and to connect the community,” Susan Moyer, event organizer and member of the Suicide Prevention Task Force, said. “For people who lost someone to suicide, they realize there is comfort in the community.”

The Schuylkill County Suicide Prevention Task Force was created in 2004 as a subcommittee of the Schuylkill County’s VISION’s Mental Health Committee.

The annual event is free and featured many of the county agencies and organizations that offer assistance for those struggling with depression and other mental health diagnoses. People walked around the gym in memory of a loved one and there were plenty of activities for children. Food and T-shirt sales helped raise funds so the task force can continue offering education programs for schools and other organizations.

“Schuylkill County has a very high suicide rate,” Moyer said. “There were 33 last year. We want to get the word out that there is help available.”

Moyer said she joined the Suicide Prevention Task Force after her son lost a friend to suicide.

“I wanted to stop other families from feeling the same pain and I also think it has been healing for us,” she said. “People should realize there are resources available and that it is OK to ask for help. Everyone at some point in their life has been affected by suicide.”

Moyer’s son, Jordan Ebert, 18, of Mahanoy Plane, said it took him about two years to deal with the loss of his friend.

“Nobody should feel that way,” he said. “All life matters. I doesn’t need to end any earlier than it needs to.”

He still carries his friend’s picture with him in his wallet. He said the annual event helps people by showing them there is help available to them.

“It’s a problem,” he said. “No one wants to deal with it and people who are struggling with it don’t know where to go for help or they don’t want to ask for it. People need to be aware that there are other people who have the same feelings they do.”

Ashley Macieunas said she has been volunteering for the annual event as a way to remember her son, Dustin, who committed suicide in 2013 at the age of 24.

“It’s my way to keep my son alive, a way to keep his memories alive,” she said. “I got involved with the group so someone else doesn’t follow that path and that they know there is help out there. They just have to ask. I think there is still a stigma attached to suicide and mental illness. We want to recognize it and fix it.”

Like many of those in attendance, Macieunas wore a shirt in memory of a loved one. It said. “Unity ... it’s the only way we can stop this.”

Tyler Calkins, Tamaqua, was walking with family members all wearing the same yellow shirt Saturday in memory of Kevin Machay.

“On Dec. 2, 2015, my cousin committed suicide,” he said. “We are here to support the cause. People need to know it can happen to anyone and there is always someone out there that can help.”

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the U.S. for all ages, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Statistics show that one death by suicide occurs in the nation every 13 minutes, taking the lives of more than 38,000 Americans in any given year.

People with suicidal tendencies can call a Local Crisis Line promoted by the Schuylkill County Suicide Prevention Task Force at 877-9WE-HELP.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6023

POTTSVILLE - All 17 naloxone reversals listed as taking place by police officers in Schuylkill County by the state Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs have been by the Pottsville Bureau of Police. 

Pottsville police started carrying the medication Nov. 18, 2015. Though the state listed 17 in Schuylkill County, Pottsville police had 18 on its record. Last year, Pottsville police had 12 successful uses. So far this year, six people have been rescued with the life-saving medication used in the event of an opioid overdose. Statewide, there have been 3,184 reversals as of March 17, according to DDAP.

"A lot of it is awareness. I think most counties are quite aware we are in the midst of an epidemic," Carol Gifford, communications director with DDAP, said Friday.

She said there is also a stigma attached to substance use disorder.

"We need to treat people when they need treatment. People deserve to be saved and deserve to have the chance to go into treatment," she said.

Gifford said they could be unaware of some police using naloxone. She said submissions about naloxone saves are voluntary. 

Delaware County has the highest number of reversals at 545. York County is the second highest at 395. 

Gifford said a lot of factors can go into why the numbers vary statewide. Those reasons include a general awareness of the epidemic facing the country, those who advocate on behalf of the use of naloxone to reverse the effects of an overdose, such as county officials and if police departments are full time or part time. In Delaware County, she said the district attorney is a big proponent of getting people help and addressing the issue.

"It's very impressive what has been done there," she said.

In York County, she said District Attorney Tom Kearney has encouraged municipal police officers to use naloxone. It is one of the more than 20 counties that the municipal police departments use it countywide. 

"It's in the news a lot. It's well known it's an epidemic. People expect that naloxone will be used by the first responders," she said about York County.

Pottsville Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said Wednesday that the six times that Pottsville police used naloxone this year were all successful. 

"The amount of naloxone needed for successful reversal is increasing exponentially since we started this program. So we are seeing almost uniformly the need for multiple doses by our officers, and then sometimes in conjunction with injectable dosage from EMS upon their arrival," he said. 

The police were the first responders on scene in the six instances. The last time the officers used naloxone was March 26, Wojciechowsky. He said one of the six people saved with naloxone was also one of the 12 people that police used naloxone on last year. 

"To the best of my knowledge, all six are still alive," he said.

Naloxone was successfully used on two women, ages 25 and 28, and on four men, 22, 25, 26 and 37. Most of the individuals were found in residences. Wojciechowsky said the 22-year-old man was transported to a local medical facility "because of how much naloxone was needed for reversal." An amount was not provided.

"The rest would not accept medical attention or suggestions for treatment," he said.

Most of the people are disoriented after naloxone is given. For those who are affected, the police will "do their best to make sure they are in some form of proper care. At least one caretaker is there to oversee. They would never just be left alone," he said.

Wojciechowsky said, " we're going to reach a point where the Naloxone is not very effective any more." 

Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman said she thinks it is the choice of the police departments to carry naloxone.

"I certainly would not interfere in their decisions," she said Friday.

She is not going to mandate they carry it either.

If she did issue a mandate, Holman said, "I'm basically telling them how to run their departments and I'm not going to do that."

Gifford said, "We are not aware of any district attorneys mandating that all local police forces in a county carry naloxone. Maybe they strongly encourage but there are no mandates."

Minersville Police Chief Michael Combs, who is head of the Schuylkill County Chiefs of Police Association, said the decision to carry naloxone is up to the police departments. There have been concerns with storing the temperature sensitive medication.

Melissa Kalyan, Schuylkill County Drug & Alcohol administrator, said naloxone is free to police who request it, and training is also provided. A training is scheduled for the general public from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 26 at the Schuylkill County Drug & Alcohol office, 108 S. Claude A. Lord Blvd., second floor. For more information, call 570-621-2890, Ext 104.

Editor’s note: As part of National Mental Health Awareness Month, The Republican-Herald interviewed Schuylkill County residents affected by mental illnesses and is publishing a series of articles detailing their struggles and how they manage each day. The goal is to raise awareness about mental health.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN – When her son was diagnosed with high-functioning autism, Angelique Reiss learned as much as she could about the mental disorder. Now the mother of two wants to use her own experiences and her Penn State Schuylkill education to help other families affected by mental illness.

“There are other parents who have struggled as much as I have to make sure their children are being taken care of,” Reiss said Tuesday. “I want to help other families and children who deal with autism. I want to help people find the services they need.”

Reiss, 32, of North Manheim Township, received her associates degree in human development and family studies in 2015 at Penn State Schuylkill. She is now hoping to graduate next year with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in sociology.

Reiss said her oldest son, Jordan, 8, was diagnosed with with high-functioning autism at 3 years old in 2012. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopmental disorder that impairs a child's ability to communicate and interact with others, according to the Mayo Clinic. It also includes restricted repetitive behaviors, interests and activities and can cause significant impairment in social, occupational and other areas of functioning.

Jordan stopped talking at nine months old and did not want to interact with other children, Reiss said. He only spoke three words until enrolling in early intervention programs.

“I'd say from the services he has gotten from early intervention until now has improved his whole life tremendously,” Reiss said. “They always drill into your head that early intervention is the key to success for children with autism and I will back that up 100 percent. Without the services he received starting at 18 months old, I don't think he would be where he is at today.”

From wrestling with his younger brother to reluctantly doing his homework, Jordan seemed like an average second grader on Tuesday. Reiss said her main concern for Jordan is social interaction.

“I just worry that on the outside you can see the friends, but on the inside - is it truly friendship?” she said. “But I just have to step back and let him grow and let him figure it out. I just worry that he considers them to be his friends and they are not reciprocating his friendship.”

Jordan said he wants to be a paleontologist when he grows up and his mother believes there is no reason he can not accomplish that dream.

“He has wanted to be a paleontologist since he was three years old,” she said. “It's amazing how much he has grown and how much he can grow. If we just guide him, he can do whatever he wants to do.”

Jordan and his brother, Christian, 6, were also diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, also known as ADHD, and oppositional defiance disorder. They both take medication and receive behavioral services from Service Access and Management Inc., Pottsville.

ADHD is a chronic condition including attention difficulty, hyperactivity and impulsiveness and oppositional defiance disorder is described as disobedient behavior to authority figures, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Reiss said there is a possibility that those diagnoses develop into bipolar disorder, a metnal illness that runs in her family. Bipolar disorder is associated with episodes of mood swings ranging from dpressive lows to manic highs, according to the Mayo Clinic.

“I know with the services that are out there that they will be able to get the supports and care they need and I think I am a little more in tune with getting services than my grandmother, who raised me,” Reiss said.

Reiss said that she struggled with bipolar disorder in high school and a tragic accident involving the death of a friend triggered the depression aspect of the illness. She said she knew something was wrong and wanted help, but it was something her grandmother did not understand.

“My grandma did not want to admit anything was wrong with me,” she said. “I wanted to be omitted when I was in ninth grade and she wouldn't do it. It took me years to get the services I needed. At least now I know where to go to for help and I am not afraid to get them help or say we need help. I don't want something to happen to them or myself that I know I could have prevented.”

Based on her experiences and what she has learned at Penn State Schuylkill, Reiss said parents should not hesitate in getting help if they think something may be wrong with their child.

“It might not seem like it is anything at all, but even the one little key behavior can change everything,” she said. “Jordan was not talking. Going from talking to not talking changed everything. Everyone was like, 'Let him go. He will talk when he wants to.' If I were to let that happen, he wouldn't be where he is today.”

Although Jessie is a great dog, the 4-year-old German short-haired pointer became difficult to walk for Mary Tobash, as the Hegins woman was recuperating from breast cancer treatments and a broken arm.

Lynn Thomas also said she was searching for someone to watch over her dogs when she was traveling over a weekend. Recently relocating to Sacramento, Thomas was not sure who she could trust with her “fur babies” while she was away.

That’s when both found the services offered by Starr Whitman.

Whitman, Sacramento, and Alex Macker, a 12-year-old entrepreneur from Shenandoah, are two Schuylkill County business developers launching dog-walking ventures this year. They started Walk The Pooch Service by Starr Whitman and Happy Tails, respectively. As summer peaks and families begin vacationing, dog-walking businesses provide several services, including being an option to traditional boarding kennels, allowing canines to stay in their own homes.

NEED

Whitman started her business this year to assist people who may work long hours and may be unable to get home to their dogs, for owners who are elderly or ill, and as a home-based alternative to a boarding kennel.

“This is something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, so I took the plunge,” Whitman said. She formerly worked as an instructional aide in the Tri-Valley School District. She’s been a former breeder of golden retrievers and has owned dogs her entire life, including her current companions, a Japanese chin and an English cream golden retriever.

Tobash has been relying on Whitman’s service for a few months and they’ve worked out a walking schedule that suits Jessie well, she said. 

“My right arm is still weak. I go away frequently and I prefer to leave the dog at home. Jessie just loves Starr,” Tobash said.

“The dogs would rather be at home and I really feel there’s a need for this type of service,” Whitman said. She encouraged Macker to pursue his dream.

YEA!

Macker, with Happy Tails, made the pitch for his dog-walking service during the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, or YEA!, investor panel at Penn State Schuylkill in March. He received an investment of $250 from the panel.

“I’m in the process of using that money for advertisement and supplies over the next few weeks. I’m hoping to have customers by the end of May,” he said. Macker has family in Dallas and they have a dog-walking service there that they use while they’re at work, he said. 

“I thought this service would be perfect for my area since it’s not available here. That’s how I came up with Happy Tails. So many people work long days and don’t have anyone to take their dogs out,” Macker said.

“According to my research through the Schuylkill County Treasurer’s Office, there were 17,266 dogs registered in 2016 - which is a lot of dogs needing walks,” Macker said in an email to The Republican-Herald.

The Trinity Academy sixth-grader is a son of Brian and Jessica Macker, Shenandoah, and Alicia Cuff, Mahanoy City. He’s also an active member of the Ciszek Players drama club. 

“The mission of Happy Tails is to provide a safe, secure and fun environment for dogs of all sizes, ages and breeds. I believe all puppy parents deserve peace of mind while away from their four-legged family members. My goal is to make your dog feel at home,” Macker said.

He plans to run his dog-walking business until he graduates from high school, then will pursue the second half of his business plan, opening a doggie daycare.

RATES

Whitman is fully insured and provides a contract for clients. Fees vary, depending on if the client is weekly rate or daily rate, ranging from $7 or $8 for a 15-minute walk; $14 to $16 for a 30-minute walk and/or eat; and $21 to $23 for a 45-minute walk and/or eat. Rates for holidays and weekends are $14, $20 and $25, respectively, for those same time periods. An emergency vet run is $75.

She also has pet owners fill out a veterinary release form in the event of an emergency. It allows her to transport the pet to and from a vet clinic, or act on the owner’s behalf if the owner cannot be reached in all cases, excluding euthanasia.

CONSULTATION

Prior to her first time walking a dog, Whitman holds a consultation with the dog owner and pet. The owner fills out an emergency information sheet, detailing the veterinary contact information, medical conditions, medicines or any feeding instructions necessary, as well as a description of the dog’s habits and behaviors. If a pet owner has an area where the dog can safely run, the owner must also sign an off-leash authorization and waiver if the owner wishes Whitman to allow the pet to run off-leash while still being within the owner’s property.

Thomas said she appreciated the consulting meeting with Whitman prior to walking her miniature pinscher, Bruster, and rat terrier, Fritz.

“It made us feel really comfortable. We had a schedule and she’d pop in a few times a day. It was great meeting her and she met the dogs. We were able to keep them in their comfortable environment,” Thomas said.

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17, Moosic, announced Thursday that more than $350,000 in federal funding was awarded to four fire companies in Schuylkill County for firefighting equipment.

“I am glad the fire and rescue companies in Schuylkill will be able to purchase this high-priority equipment,” Cartwright said in a prepared statement. “I will continue to strongly support this federal program which helps to ensure the safety of our communities.”

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded $381,526 to Goodwill Fire Company No. 1, Rescue Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, Minersville Fire Rescue and Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Company. Funding comes from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants and will be distributed through the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The Goodwill Fire Company, Rescue Hook and Ladder Company and Minersville Fire-Rescue will use the funding to buy self-contained breathing apparatus units. Each unit includes a harness/backpack, face piece and two cylinders. The equipment is worn by rescue workers and firefighters to provide breathable air in a dangerous atmosphere. 

Funding will be distributed as follows: Goodwill Fire Company, $94,477; Rescue Hook and Ladder Company, $100,381; and Minersville Fire-Rescue $165,334.

The Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Company was awarded $21,334 to buy firefighting attack nozzles and P-25 compliant encrypted portal radios. The equipment reduces the risk of nozzle failure and improves fire attack, search and rescue operations.

The Assistance to Firefighters Grants is a competitive grant program awarding funding to fire departments and emergency medical service organizations to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first-responder personnel. Since 2001, the program has provided about $6.7 billion in grants to first-responder organizations to obtain much-needed emergency response equipment, personal protective equipment, firefighting and emergency vehicles, and training.

The 2016 AFG program will award about $310.5 million in competitive grants to fire departments, non-affiliated EMS organizations and state fire training academies.

PORT CARBON — A preliminary hearing for the treasurer of an area softball team charged in March with stealing more than $9,000 from that organization has been continued.

Michele M. Polatz, 47, of 604 Third St., Port Carbon, was scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko today, but the hearing was rescheduled to May 23 at 12:45 p.m.

Court records indicated that the hearing was continued at the request of the woman’s attorney, James Conville, Schuylkill Haven.

Minersville police Patrolman Jeffrey Bowers charged Polatz with taking money from New Minersville Fire Company’s women’s Make-A-Wish softball team at various times in 2016 and 2017.

The charges filed against Polatz by Bowers include one count each of forgery, theft, failure to make required disposition of funds, receiving stolen property and access device fraud.

The alleged crimes came to light in February when members of the team learned the organization’s bank account contained only $20, Bowers reported.

He said the team conducted its own audit and learned that Polatz had been using the account for her own personal use without permission.

Bowers said it was determined that Polatz also physically altered a $1,000 check issued by the team’s sponsor and kept the entire amount.

Between ATM withdrawals, checks and donations intended to be submitted to Make-A-Wish, Polatz stole a total of $9,112.51, Bowers said.

When confronted, Bowers said, Polatz admitted to “borrowing” the money, claiming her bank account was frozen.

Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-622-6013

POTTSVILLE — A boil water advisory is in effect for the Indian Run System of the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority.

The water main break occurred on Westwood Road in Pottsville about 5 a.m. Monday, Patrick M. Caulfield, executive director of the SCMA, said in an email. The SCMA was receiving low water pressure calls and went out and found the break, he said.

The area affected includes “Pottsville, generally speaking, west of 13th Street, parts of Norwegian Township including Bulls Head Road, Seltzer,” he said in an email. The authority website says Indian Run services Pottsville, west of 12th Street, Forest Hills, Bunker Hill, Mount Carbon areas, and portions of North Manheim and Norwegian townships.

The 10-inch “longitudinal split, typically indicative of a pressure surge,” was found in the 12-inch ductile iron pipe, which was installed in 1961. It was repaired with a 10-inch piece of ductile iron pipe and two couplings. The problem was fixed and repaired by 2:30 p.m. A total of 2,981 customers were affected, Caulfield said.

“Those affected were contacted via an automated Public Notification call at 8:30 a.m., once we had the problem diagnosed and isolated,” he said.

Some customers were without water while the break was being repaired. They included commercial customers along Westwood Road, including the Westwood Plaza, Dunkin’ Donuts, Roller Roost II, Hess Station, Hidden River Bank, Honeywell and the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority West End Pump Station, Caulfield said.

“Due to the complexity of the Indian Run System and extreme elevation differences throughout the system, there were some customers at our higher elevations that experienced complete pressure loss and no water. It is impossible to determine exactly which customers and where that occurred, so as a precaution, we instituted a system-wide boil advisory. PADEP requires that customers that experience a depressurization of the system be placed on a boil advisory. Again, since it is impossible to determine exactly who experienced low pressure versus no pressure, we instituted a precautionary boil for the entire system,” he said.

“We will be taking two consecutive days of bacteriological testing. Once we receive confirmation of negative results for presence of bacteria, which we expect on Wednesday, we will lift the boil,” Caulfield said in an email.

Those affected should bring their water to a rolling boil, let it boil for one minute and let it cool before using; or use bottled water. Boil or bottled water should be used for making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and food preparation until further notice, according to the SCMA website. For more information, contact the SCMA office at 570-622-8240.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

SHENANDOAH — Borough officials are hoping to receive funding through the county to knock down more than 10 blighted properties, including a cluster of fire-ravaged homes and a former dairy distribution center.

“That’s the former Brokhoff dairy building,” Mary Luscavage, Main Street manager of Downtown Shenandoah Inc., said Monday referring to the latter.

It’s the four-story red-brick building at 300 W. Penn St.

“Back in the 1950s, I used to go for ice cream there. There was a little porch. You’d go up in there and there was an ice cream parlor. There was a counter and stools. You could either stay there to eat or do take out. And you could go in and buy milk or heavy cream. That was the place to get heavy cream for your whipping cream. I only know this because my mom used to send me up there all the time,” Luscavage said.

In 1956, the building was owned by J.H. Brokhoff Inc. In 1963, Lehigh Valley Cooperative became the owner.

In 1997, Robert J. Gronski, Wilkes-Barre, took over the property, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator.

A remnant of the business remains on the North Chestnut Street side of the building. It’s a chute where crates were pushed out to delivery trucks.

“I think it closed in the 1960s. It’s been empty for years,” Luscavage said.

“If you look at the condition of it, it has windows that are out. It’s deteriorating. It’s a hazard to the residents in the area. Structurally, looking at it from the outside, it doesn’t look to be imminent danger of collapsing. But if it sits any longer with no usage to it, it’s going to be a burden to the borough,” borough council Vice President Leo Pietkiewicz said Monday.

In January, local legislators announced the state intended to help municipalities in Schuylkill County in their blight fight with a $1.4 million grant.

Hoping to acquire part of it, borough officials recently submitted two lists of properties it would like to demolish.

“Each property poses a significant blighting influence within the community since they are all vacant, dilapidated structures, in some cases victimized by arson, being structurally unsound and threaten the health, safety and welfare of the borough residents,” Joseph L. Palubinsky, the borough secretary, said in letters to Gary Bender, county administrator, on March 2 and April 24.

On March 2, the borough sent the following list:

• A collection of properties — 3-17 N. Union and 406-412 E. Mount Vernon — severely damaged or destroyed by a large arson fire that occurred in June 2016.

• A former home at West Coal and Race Street.

• 127-129 E. Lloyd St.

• 231 W. Coal St.

• 9-11 N. Main St.

On April 24, the borough sent the following list:

• 300 W. Penn St.

• 23 N. West St.

• 520 W. Mt. Vernon St.

• 233 W. Oak St.

• 255 W. Oak St.

• 401-403 W. Oak St.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6011

Marriage licenses

Juan C. Lugo, Minersville, and Desiree Beard, Myerstown.

Eric L. Davis, Minersville, and Sheila G. Madison, Charles Town, Va.

Deon Spencer, Minersville, and Porsche J. Fikes, Washington, D.C.

Jose Tovar Zamudio, Mahanoy City, and Erin L. Hartman, Hazleton.

Kenneth A. Griffith Jr., Ashland, and Kristy A. Shoffler, Ashland.

Richard P. Siminitus, Frackville, and Janet M. Nitka, Frackville.

Francis Bergen, Tremont, and Ethel E. Kane, Orwigsburg.

Leroy A. Gettle Jr., Tower City, and Cynthia L. Brezgel, Tower City.

David M. Disanto, Tamaqua, and Angela M. Olshevski, Tamaqua.

Jarred A. Kleckner, Orwigsburg, and Rebecca Anne Potts, Schuylkill Haven.

Tyler R. Chaney, Gordon, and Corine Marie Reilly, Gordon.

Brian K. Faust, Pottsville, and Meghan L. Corson, Pottsville.

Stephen Alvarado, Pottsville, and Jolene N. Weltmer, Pottsville.

Gregg M. Dougherty, Orwigsburg, and Andrea N. Kline, Orwigsburg.

Michael T. Grustas, Minersville, and Wendy G. Mengel, Minersville.

Ryan R. Zimmerman, Pottsville, and Lauren E. Pope, Pottsville.

Robert J. Baker, Bloomsburg, and Vanessa L. Kania, Frackville.

Brian J. Morgan, Tremont, and Morgan Ann Kennedy, Tremont.

Dennis J. Ansbach, Pottsville, and George Trujillo Ruiz, Frackville.

Fernando Ruiz, Minersville, and Jessica Rivera, Philadelphia.