Cressona

The Cressona Lions Club and American Legion will hold the annual Memorial Day parade and program beginning at 11 a.m. May 29. The Blue Mountain High School Band will provide the music for the parade. Marchers will form at 10:30 a.m. at the SAPA parking lot. The parade will go west on Pottsville Street and turn onto Sillyman Street and go under the underpass onto Chestnut Street. It will turn onto Fourth Street and then onto Walnut, ending at the Legion plaza, where the program will be held. The featured speaker will be Steven A. Michelone, voluntary agency liaison and individual assistance officer for the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Local clergy, Legionnaires, Lions and Girl Scouts will also participate. William Bubeck will sing the national anthem. The American Legion will provide lunch after the program.

Pine Grove

Canoeing/kayaking, a music performance and a fish-for-free day are all on tap on May 29, Memorial Day, at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. A program involving canoeing/kayaking is set for 2 p.m. It will introduce people to the basics of boating safety, paddling and control, according to a release. Participants will meet at the canoe launch near the clubhouse. Advance registration is required. The program is free and is suitable for teens and adults. To register, call 570-345-8952. The M&J Big Band will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. at the large pavilion next to the clubhouse in an outdoor concert that is free and open to the public. Seating will be in the yard in front of the pavilion so people should bring blankets to lawn chairs. This performance is supported in part by the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts and National Endowment for the Arts. For more information, call the aforementioned number. Memorial Day is one of the two fish-for-free days that apply to all waters in the commonwealth. The other is Independence Day. This year, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission will allow anyone, resident or non-resident, to fish without a fishing license on those days. All commission fishing regulations will apply.

Schuylkill Haven

Bethesda Evangelical Congregational Church, 155 Reedsville Road, will have a spring craft and vendor fair from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. May 27. Admission is free and all are welcome. The church will also have its third annual car, truck and motorcycle show that day. It will be free for spectators, $12 for participants who registered in advance and $15 for participants who register the day of the event. For more information, call 484-294-6765 or go online to www.bethesdaec.org.

Shenandoah

The fifth annual Kielbasy-Pierogie Golf Tournament sponsored by the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc. will be held June 16 at Mountain Valley Golf Course, Barnesville. Registration and lunch will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and the shotgun start will be at 1 p.m. There will be a 5:30 p.m. dinner, rewards and raffle. The cost for a foursome is $300 and after June 6, $320. For individuals the cost is $75 and after June 6, $80. For more information, call DSI, 116 N. Main St., at 570-462-2060.

Williamstown

Parade Marshal Ray Stine announced the annual Memorial Day Parade will be held May 29 sponsored by American Legion Post 239 and VFW Post 6497. Marchers will form at 9:30 a.m. in the former Santander Bank parking lot and step off at 9:45 a.m. The parade will start on Vine Street and proceed to Veterans Memorial Park for services and MIA memorial dedication. After the ceremonies, a light lunch will be served at both the American Legion and VFW canteens. People are encouraged to wear and donate toward the poppies that are distributed throughout the area, organizers said in a release, adding that wearing of the poppies signifies gratitude toward veterans past and present.

SAINT CLAIR — Alena Spears, a disabled Air Force Special Forces veteran, insists veterans don’t want a hand-out, even when they’re struggling.

Facing foreclosure on her Jalappa home, she’s already had utilities problems, her basement is flooded, and her Subaru’s in need of repair. Spears decided to volunteer with the We Agape You Inc. organization, after attending Friday’s open house of a WAY refurbished home, at 11 N. Second St., Saint Clair. She said she wanted to give back after the organization’s volunteers said they would help her with car repairs and with obtaining a part-time job.

“I’d like to be able to work for the help,” she said.

Spears actually has worked in demolition, she said, and was a former property maintenance manager in Indiana. She also has landscaping skills.

“We never turn our heroes away — never,” the Rev. Randolph Simmons, WAY president, told Spears and those gathered for the open house.

Greeting visitors were Shane Minnich, Wells Fargo Schuylkill district manager, Pottsville; Patrick Curran, area sales manager for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage; Tish Fishburn, home mortgage consultant for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage; Peter Balletta, branch manager, Wells Fargo in Park Plaza, Pottsville; Joelle Dennis, a Realtor and designer with Keller Williams Realty Group, Limerick; Don Snowell, a Pottsville real estate developer with D&B Realty; and “Community Charities” and “Helping Hands Home Ownership.” Snowell is also a WAY volunteer.

Wells Fargo donated the 11 N. Second St. home through the Community & Urban Stabilization Program, known as CUSP. Since 2009, according to Curran, 8,800 homes have been donated. “We like giving these homes to organizations that help their local communities,” Curran said. Wells Fargo has a great relationship with WAY, he said. It enables Wells Fargo to join in the mission of assisting veterans, and low- to moderate-income residents in need of housing.

The Saint Clair home is the second house rehabilitated by the WAY nonprofit group in Schuylkill County. It is a seven bedroom home that could accommodate a large family or could be used through social agencies to house veterans, women in crisis or other groups in need. The first WAY home in Port Carbon was just sold lastweek, Simmons said.

While Spears has agreed to volunteer her services to WAY, the organization announced in an email Sunday it has offered Spears assistance, opening up a Go Fund Me page for her at www.gofundme.com/alenas-house-repairs.

“Her furnace broke, causing oil to leak all over the basement floor. To date, the oil is still present and creating strong fumes throughout the house, which are affecting her four cats and one dog. Alena had to use electric heaters throughout the home because of the broken furnace, causing an electric bill of over $1,400. There is no hot water for bathing due to broken pipes,” the page states.

“Alena Spears was referred to We Agape You Inc. by Aaron Dohner, CareerLink Specialist. We Agape You Inc. is raising funds and finding contractors who can assist this American hero. All donations to this campaign will be used directly to benefit Alena and the repairs needed in her home.”

For more information on WAY, visit the website www.weagapeyou.org or call 570-392-3317.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

LAKE HAUTO — State police at Frackville have released details for a fatal head-on crash Saturday in Rush Township.

The crash claimed the life of Michael Snisky, 29, of Nesquehoning. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:41 p.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Edward Smith, Tamaqua.

Snisky was driving a 2002 Buick LeSabre that collided with a 2002 GMC Envoy driven by Jennie S. Plitt, 50, of Nesquehoning, about 3:15 p.m. on Route 54, about 1.3 miles east of Lake Hauto.

Plitt and a female juvenile passenger from Philadelphia suffered major injuries while another passenger, Jennifer M. Plitt, 31, also of Nesquehoning, suffered moderate injuries, Trooper Michael Allar said.

He said Jennie Plitt was taken to the trauma center at St. Luke’s Hospital, Fountain Hill, while Jennifer Plitt and the juvenile were taken to the trauma center at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Cedar Crest.

All three were taken by ambulance since air medical helicopters could not fly due to weather conditions.

Allar said the crash occurred as Snisky was driving east and entered the westbound lane into the path of Plitt’s SUV. Plitt tried to avoid impact by swerving to the right but was unable to avoid being hit head-on by the oncoming car.

After impact, Allar said, Snisky’s car careened back across the eastbound lane, spun and came to a stop facing west then caught fire.

The Plitt vehicle simultaneously traveled off the road on the north shoulder and came to a stop over a dirt embankment.

Allar said area firefighters put out the fire in Snisky’s vehicle while volunteers worked across the road to remove Jennie and Jennifer Platt and the juvenile from the SUV.

Allar said his investigation is continuing and asks that anyone who may have witnessed the crash to call him at 570-874-5300.

fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013

GIRARDVILLE — Since there is no longer an effort to build a Girardville Area Medical Professional Center on a site owned by the borough, the nonprofit corporation behind it returned the land to the community.

“It was donated for them to use it as a site to erect a medical facility on it. That particular project fell through for one reason or another. I don’t know why. But that property is being returned to the borough because this group couldn’t use it for the intended purpose,” the borough solicitor, Christopher Riedlinger, an attorney from Pottsville, said after the council held its May meeting Thursday at council chambers.

“We’re looking at alternative sites,” Joseph J. Wayne, vice president of the Girardville Area Medical Professional Center, said Friday.

The Girardville Area Medical Center Professional Building, a nonprofit entity, was formed July 3, 2012, according to the website for the Pennsylvania Department of State.

The address listed for it on the site is 226 N. Line St., Girardville, which is Wayne’s home address.

In August 2012, the developer of the proposed project, James B. Balk, Broomall, Delaware County, discussed the plan at a borough council workshop, according to the newspaper’s archives.

He brought with him a large artist conception of the building, along with a floor plan for the approximately 90-by-30-foot brick building.

On May 2, 2014, the borough gave a 0.26-acre property east of Third Street and between B Street and Ogden Street — near the borough hall — to the Girardville Area Medical Professional Center for $1. The Tax Map Number is 45-07-0018.003, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator.

“It was part of the park. The borough had carved this section out and gave it to the medical center,” council member Robert A. Krick said after Thursday’s meeting.

“The site was excellent, but the some of the people involved thought the project was too big,” Wayne said Friday.

On May 4, Wayne signed the deed to return it.

“We insisted on getting it back,” Krick said.

According to that deed, it contains 11,250 square feet of land.

Riedlinger said he will file it in the county courthouse in the next few days.

In other matters, President Charles Marquardt gave an update on Schuylkill Community Action’s $1.6 million plan to build six rental homes at 106-118 W. Main St.

The construction contract was awarded by Uhrig Construction Inc., Reading, according to a letter Jeffrey A. Feeser, SCA’s director of housing, wrote to the borough Wednesday.

Marquardt read the letter aloud to the council and the crowd of more than 20 people who attended the meeting.

“A pre-construction meeting was held on May 9 at Girardville Borough Hall and also at the construction site. The building permits were completed and submitted to Building Inspection Underwriters of Pennsylvania Inc. who are serving as the third-party inspection agency. The building permits are expected to be approved on May 12. Excavation is scheduled to begin on May 15. Uhrig Construction Inc. has laid out an aggressive construction schedule. Barring any unforeseen setbacks, it is anticipated that construction will be completed by the end of October 2017,” Feeser said in the letter.

“SCA is beginning their marketing and outreach efforts to establish a waiting list of potential lessees. Our goal is to lease-up all six rental units during the month of November,” Feeser said in the letter.

In other matters, the council hired Jennifer Dempsey as a part-time police officer at a rate of $15.50 an hour. Mayor Joseph Catizone Jr. said that brings the number of part-time officers in the department to five. The borough police department is made up only of part-time officers.

Council member Dan Heiser said handicap parking spaces in the borough will be reviewed.

“In June all handicap parking spots in the borough will be reviewed and determinations will be made based on our current ordinance,” Heiser said.

“So do we need to send letters out to all of them?” Marquardt asked.

“Yes,” Heiser said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6011

Police investigate

shed burglary

PINE GROVE — A Pine Grove Little League storage shed was burglarized, according to state police at Schuylkill Haven.

Sometime between 9:30 p.m. May 9 and 7:30 a.m. May 12, someone cut off a lock to the storage shed on Orchard Street in Pine Grove and opened the doors. No items were discovered to be missing from inside the shed, police said.

Anyone with information can call state police at 570-739-1330 and reference incident number PA2017484335.

Man faces assault,

harassment charges

ELIZABETHVILLE — State police at Lykens arrested Kraig Long, 34, of Elizabethville, charging him with simple assault and harassment.

Police said Long hit a 40-year-old male with a belt and struck him in the face with his knee, causing the victim’s eye to swell at 1:40 a.m. April 29 at East Main Street, Elizabethville.

Long was taken into custody at the scene. He was arraigned and committed to Dauphin County Prison, police said. Bail was set at $5,000.

HEGINS — Despite a problem Bailey S. Romberger sees with the way doctors have prescribed painkillers, the Tri-Valley senior wants to devote her life to the medical profession.

Romberger, who plans to become a physician’s assistant, will compete June 21-24 at the 40th annual HOSA International Leadership Conference in Orlando, Florida, at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort.

She won the state HOSA competition in Researched Persuasive Writing & Speaking in March to advance.

Romberger, 18, of Klingerstown, is the daughter of Angela Romberger. For the competition, participants had the choice between two pre-determined topics. One was on the overuse of cellphones and the other was the one Romberger selected: “Prescription Painkiller Abuse: Who’s at Fault?”

She said she researched the issue and thought that doctors are to blame.

“I want to be a part of the change,” she said. “We have a lot of people who shouldn’t be dying from prescription painkiller abuse.”

Once her paper was judged, a few students were selected to move onto the speaking round. She said her paper had to be two pages, while her speech had to be less than four minutes.

Romberger wanted to keep her speech brief, and didn’t want it to sound too rehearsed. She said her speech was about two minutes and was conversational. The same paper and speech will be used at the international leadership conference.

“There’s a root cause of the prescription drug epidemic,” Romberger said during an interview at Tri-Valley High School. “Only doctors and physicians have the prescription pads. As long as it’s getting prescribed, it’s from a doctor,” she said.

Romberger said doctors’ desire to keep a “good reputation” and help their patients manage their pain may be one reason that certain drugs are prescribed. She also wrote about “drug cascading.” That’s where a doctor prescribes one drug to treat the symptoms from a drug prescribed for a different medical reason.

Romberger was selected as Student of the Month for Emerging Health Professionals from Schuylkill Technology Center-North, Frackville; and had participated in a regional competition for SKILLS USA, where she placed second. Only first-place winners in the SKILLS competition advanced to states, she said.

The HOSA events, meanwhile, are designed to motivate HOSA members to study, work hard, and achieve a high standard of excellence in a variety of leadership and skill disciplines. There are expected to be at least 6,800 competitors in 57 different events at the international leadership conference, according to the HOSA website, http://ilc.hosa.org.

Romberger will attend the Florida event with her mother, and her Emerging Health Professionals Instructor at STC, Cyria Hart. Fundraising is currently underway for the trip, Hart, who is also HOSA Club adviser, said.

The club is new this year and Romberger is the first student from the school to advance. Three other students attended the HOSA State Leadership Conference in Lancaster. They were: Kortney Heim, Tri-Valley, Job Seeking Skills; Marguerite Ortiz, Pottsville Area, voting delegate; and Courtney Earnest, Blue Mountain, Medical Math.

“Bailey is captivating when she speaks,” Hart said. “She’s very talented at presenting herself and is very confident. We were floored and very excited for her.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

SAINT CLAIR — At 91, Helen Udit remembers her time being a busy mom while working in the garment industry.

She relied on her own mother, the late Sophia Fekette, Schoentown, to watch her son, Charles, while she worked.

“When he was 8 or 9, I took him to my mom’s and she used to have this little bench she’d sit him on so he could watch her in the kitchen,” Udit, Saint Clair, said. Helen has two other sons, John and Mike. She believes that time Charles spent with his grandmother was where he took up his interest in cooking.

Charles Udit served as head caterer and prepared the celebratory meal Sunday for a Mother’s Day dinner buffet offered at St. Michael the Archangel Orthodox Church Social Hall, 110 N. Morris St.

No one could recall the exact number of years the Mother’s Day dinner has been offered there, but many said it’s been a tradition for multiple generations of families. Funds generated from the dinner benefit the church.

“It was a big deal when I was a little kid,” Charles Udit said. Currently residing in Harrisburg, he was born and raised in Saint Clair.

Charles Udit prepared enough food for 150 people, and takeouts were also available. Assisting in the kitchen Sunday were Jean Semanco, hall coordinator; Ann Udit, Mike’s wife; Georgine Krisa; and Mike and Colleen Mochnoc. Items on the menu included pork chops, chicken, halupkies, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, fruit salad, coleslaw and cake for dessert.

Those gathered celebrated the important women in their lives — from mothers, grandmothers, step-mothers, godmothers and mothers-in-law, to special aunts or other loved ones who served in a motherly role.

Catherine Ney was spending the day with one of her favorite people, her “adoptive” mom Emmie Kulpcavage, Schuylkill Haven. Kulpcavage is actually Ney’s aunt, who she fondly thinks of like a mother.

“I lost my mom about 15 years ago,” Ney, Summit Station, said. She said since her mother, Doris Robinson, passed away, she and her aunt try to get out together about twice a month, but talk frequently on the phone. Emmie and Doris were sisters and were part of a 10-member family of the Honicker’s, who had five boys and five girls. Their family members used to run the former Honicker’s Dairy. Kulpcavage is the only surviving sibling. Emmie’s late husband was Ed Kulpcavage and she has two sons, Christian (Chris) and Ed; and a grandson, Christian.

She said she enjoys spending time with her niece and attending the dinner.

“I’ve been here almost every year,” Kulpcavage said.

Marie Mistysyn shared dinner there with her husband, Wally, and said the meal was “delicious.”

“This is the first time we’ve been here. My kids are all older now and I don’t cook big dinners anymore. My husband said, ‘Let’s go here,’ so here we are,” Mistysyn, Mill Creek, said. They have two daughters, Michelle Ulsh and Tracie Schimpf, both of the Schuylkill Haven area, and five grandchildren. Visiting the kids in the afternoon was on Mistysyn’s agenda, she said.

Bill Sutzko was “master of ceremonies” for the dinner, guiding visitors to the buffet and dessert table. Sutzko, Saint Clair, is a member of the parish council and serves as treasurer. He attended the dinner with his wife, Carol, who serves as financial secretary, and his daughter, Meredith.

Father Jeff Zias, of St. Michael, was there with his wife, Natalie, and their four children, Natasha, Gabriella, Jonah and Ileana. Joining Zias’s family was a visiting priest, Father Michael Hatrak and his wife, Valerie, from Ss. Peter & Paul Russian Orthodox Church, Minersville; their son and daughter-in-law, Deacon Gregory and Robyn Hatrak; and their daughter, Natalie Hatrak. Sutzko said Michael Hatrak had just retired from the priesthood. Sutzko presented flowers to Valerie Hatrak at the conclusion of the dinner and invited mothers to take the carnations and baby’s breath flowers that were on each table as a parting gift.

“Say a prayer, light a candle in church or just remember them,” Sutzko said, urging visitors to recognize the mothers in their lives.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

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

POTTSVILLE — It was not until G. William Taylor decided to kick his addiction to painkillers that he had his first experience with depression, and that made quitting all the more difficult.

Taylor now wants to help addicts recover by encouraging them to seek help as they struggle with depression and the urge to relapse.

“I definitely was not prepared for it,” Taylor said Thursday. “I think a lot of people aren’t prepared for it either. Your mind can play some serious tricks on you. If people are going to try and quit anything, there will definitely be some depression that comes with it. This was a hard battle for me. It was a long and hard road and anyone thinking about jumping on this road needs to know it is going to be a long, hard road for them too. It definitely isn’t easy, but once you get your mind set on quitting, it gets a lot easier.”

Taylor, 38, of Pottsville, was prescribed painkillers after he was injured at work in 2004. He said about 1,500 pounds of plywood fell on him, breaking his ribs, injuring his ankle and knee and knocking out his front teeth. Eventually, the doctor stopped prescribing medication and Taylor started buying painkillers off the street. It was in 2014 when he realized that his addiction was making his life unmanageable.

“I did have legitimate pain and that slowly turned into serious abuse issues, which led me to seeking out recovery,” Taylor said. “It had gotten really hard to manage everything and I just couldn’t do it on my own. I needed some kind of support system. When I did start to quit, that’s when the depression really started to set in. It’s really tough when your mind is going through that initial change because you have been numbing your feelings with pills, and then when all the pain comes back, it is not for the faint of heart.”

Taylor tried to quit on his own, but he never went to rehab and did not want other people to know he had an addiction. He said many of his friends and family still do not know what he went through.

“Rehab was not really for me and I wanted to keep it contained,” Taylor said. “I didn’t want a lot of people to know about the situation.”

Unable to quit on his own, Taylor sought the advice of a friend who was a drug and alcohol counselor. She recommended contacting Clinical Outcomes Group Inc. Taylor has since been attending individual and group therapy sessions with the agency.

“I can’t stress enough for people that are doing any kind of drug, you have to quit for yourself,” Taylor said.

He said many people do not realize the physical affect opioids have on the body.

“When they get their hooks in your body, it is a physical thing,” he said. “You are not taking it just to get high anymore, you are taking it so you are just not a heap on the floor, sick. That was another reason I needed help. I couldn’t just stop like that, but it was a lot easier when I decided subconsciously that I needed to quit for me and I was going to succeed and there was nothing that was going to derail me this time.”

Taylor said counseling and being around other people with similar experiences has helped him cope with the depression that comes with quitting and pulls many people back into their addiction. When a person has a mood disorder, such as depression or bipolar disorder, and a problem with alcohol or drug addiction, it is called a “dual diagnosis,” according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

“Depression and anxiety can put ideas into your head, like ‘I can just make this go away by getting some pills or a drug,’ but you have to stay away from that thinking because it doesn’t solve anything,” Taylor said. “It just made me feel worthless and getting to the point of being physically addicted to these drugs, I felt like I really left myself down and I think that really added to the depression aspect.”

While recovering, his depression led to suicidal thoughts as well as the urge to relapse. He was prescribed anti-depressants, but found that meditation was more effective for him.

“Meditation has really been a big help in my life,” he said. “If other people learned how to do it, it would really help them.”

“It’s just about relaxing and centering yourself and getting to know yourself a bit better,” he said. “When you clear your mind and you are just sitting there, there is nothing else in this universe that is affecting you at the time.”

Until now, Taylor said his struggle with addiction and depression was not something he liked talking about. However, he said he now realizes that his story might be the inspiration someone else needs to seek help.

“My girlfriend is really my inspiration right now,” Taylor said. “She’s brave. She will get up there and talk and tell her story and try to help people.”

Taylor said his girlfriend, Meg Holliday, talks about her recovery with groups and at different events, and she has inspired him to do the same.

“There are probably other people out there in the same situation I was in,” he said. “Maybe they think they are managing it, but the truth of the matter is they are not. Something else is managing you. Maybe if someone reads this story they will think, ‘I feel the same way this guy does,’ and they will decide to get help. People can look at me and say, ‘If he can do it, I can do it.’ ”

The first step is professional counseling, Taylor said. He also recommended joining a support group if someone has to wait for professional counseling or an appointment with a doctor.”

“You don’t have to share or talk,” he said. “Just being around those type of people will help get your head in the right spot.”

Currently a local tattoo artist, Taylor said he is thinking about going back to school and becoming a drug and alcohol counselor to help people who may not be connecting with their therapist.

“I have gone through it and I am not a typical person you would see as a therapist or counselor,” he said. “I don’t look like a counselor and I feel like I have a lot of wisdom I can share with people and I feel people might be able to relate to me in ways they can not relate to their counselors. I think I can really help people because I am not the stereotypical type of counselor you would expect.”

For Taylor, recovery is about taking personal accountability. He said that while there are faith-based recovery groups available locally, some people may not like the religious aspect. He said that he would like to start a group for those people.

“You have to come to the realization that you are your own hindrance and greatest ally in this fight,” he said. “I think there might be some people that think the same way. I can’t be the only one. There has got to be other people out there that might want some help. (Faith-based groups) might work for some people, but there should be the other side of that coin available too.”

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

Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday for Pennsylvania’s 2017 primary election.

In Schuylkill County, there are contested races at the state, county, municipal and school board levels for Democratic and Republican party nominations. None of the party races at the county or magisterial level are contested in the primary.

Mayors

Five boroughs have primary races to get on the November General Election ballot for mayor.

In Minersville, three Democrats are vying for their party’s mayoral nomination: Joseph Post, Walter Miscavage and Leo Securda. Terry L. Raffety is the lone Republican candidate.

In the Republican race for Tamaqua mayor, Nathan Gerace, Christine Rottet Hartung and William Price Sr. seek the nomination. There is no Democratic candidate for the seat held by Mayor Christian Morrison, who is not seeking re-election.

In Port Carbon, there is a race for the Republican mayoral nomination between Harold L. Herndon and Albert Ditzler. There are no Democratic candidates.

In Tremont, Democrats Gerald Fasnacht and Roger M. Adams battle for the party’s nomination for mayor. Ricky Ney is the lone Republican candidate.

In Coaldale, Herb Whildin is challenging current mayor Joel Johnson for the Republican nomination. There is no Democratic candidate.

Borough council

There are primary races for seven borough councils.

Ashland has four Democrats and five Republicans running for four seats available on borough council. Democrats are Tony Loftus, Patti Wesner, Joanne Vaughn and Kim McIntyre. Republicans are Deanna F. White, Robert S. Horbach, Stan Kroh, Francis E. Menne and Adam J. Bernodin Jr.

Frackville has six Republicans seeking nominations for four, four-year seats on borough council: Stephen Tertel, Peter Zuber, William Creasy, Helem M. Miernicki, Karen L. Domalakes and Charles A. Berger Jr.

Zuber, Domalakes, Miernicki and Berger are also seeking Republican nominations for two, two-year seats available on the council.

In Mahanoy City, four Democrats are seeking nominations for three, four-year terms on borough council. They are Louis Huber, Thom Maziekas, Scott Kline and Thomas C. McCabe.

In Pine Grove, Leonard Clark and Sarah Zerbe are both seeking the Republican nomination for one, two-year seat on the council.

Port Carbon has seven Republicans seeking the party nod for four, four-year seats on borough council. They are John P. Franko, Andrew P. Palokas, Michael Quercia, Warren Thomas, Justin J. Richter, Albert Pete Ditzler and Robert C. Kline.

In Shenandoah, there are six Democrats seeking party nominations for four, four-year seats on the council. They are Leo Pietkiewicz, Joseph D. Rosseli, John Thomas, Gordan Slater, John Paul “J.P” Dombrosky and William Selbi. There are also three Republicans seeking nominations for the four seats on Shenandoah Borough Council.

Tower City also has three Republicans seeking party nominations for two, four-year seats on borough council. They are Christine Reiner, Paul C. Ruth and Perry T. Shuey.

Township supervisors

There are primary races for supervisor in 12 townships.

In the Blythe Township race for supervisor on the Democratic side, a six-year term, Albert Lubinsky faces Chris Wallace. There is no Republican candidate.

In Branch Township, there’s a race for the supervisor nod on the Republican side, as Anthony Bertasavage faces David P. Strasser. Brian Smith is the lone Democratic candidate.

In Cass Township, Republicans Joseph Smulley faces Lynn Oakhill Scheis for the nomination for the supervisor seat. Brenda Helt is the lone Democratic candidate.

In the East Union Township race for supervisor on the Democratic side, Jon J. Dettery takes on Robert Gabardi. Jonathan E. Biros is the only Republican candidate.

In the Foster Township supervisor race on the Republican side, Christopher Rowlands faces David Zula.

In the Hegins Township race for the GOP nomination for supervisor, LeRoy Shuey faces Brad Carl.

In Norwegian Township, the supervisor race features multiple candidates for both party nominations: on the Democratic side, Bill Kirwan faces Leo Grace; for Republicians, Keith Tokonitz, George Berzowski, Joseph Kowalchick Jr. and David George seek the nomination.

In Reilly Township, Democrats James Deichert and James Quinn are battling for the party nomination in the supervisor race.

In Schuylkill Township on the GOP side for the supervisor seat, Charles Hosler faces Anthony Zawada.

In Wayne Township, two Republicans are running for the nomination for the supervisor seat: Stanley Fidler and Rodney C. Hummel.

In West Brunswick, two Republicans square off for the nomination for the supervisor seat: Ned Noecker and Paul A. Shealer.

In West Penn Township, two Republicans are running for the nomination for supervisor seat: Dave Frederick faces Randy Troxell, while Lawrence J. Stival is the lone Democratic candidate.

School boards

There are four school board races with more candidates than seats available. All seats are four-year positions.

In the race for four seats at Pottsville Area, five candidates cross-filed for both parties: Noble “Bud” Quandal, Christina M. DiCello, Jerome Trevor Urban, John F. Boran and Patrick F. Moran.

Five candidates cross-filed in the race for four seats at Blue Mountain: Dean Gherghel, Herman Robert Fligge, David W. Williams, Anne Usuka and John A. Carestia.

At Mahanoy Area, there are five candidates who cross-filed in the race for four seats: Jay Hanley, Steven Gnall, Karen E. Yedsena, Jim Mitchell, and John Honus.

At Saint Clair Area, five Republicans are running for nominations for four seats: Brian C. Regnier, Virginia Bartashus, Michael Holobetz, Jeanette Zembas and Sam Ulrich, who was the only candidate not to file as a Democrat as well.

Other races

Schuylkill County Sheriff Joseph G. Groody, a Democrat, is unchallenged in his bid for another four-year term. He will also not have a Republican opponent in the Nov. 7 General Election.

District Attorney Christine A. Holman will not face a challenge in the primary election; however, she will be challenged in November by Democrat Michael A. O’Pake.

Magisterial District Judges Christina E. Hale, Frackville, James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, and James K. Reiley, Pottsville, are also going unchallenged in their bids for another six-year term.

At the state level, four open seats are up in the Superior Court. Three are vacant.

One was created when Republican Sallie Updyke Mundy was appointed to the state Supreme Court. Two appointed judges on Superior Court opted not to run for a full term. A third appointee, Democrat Geoff Moulton, Montgomery County, is seeking to remain on the court. Five Democrats, including Moulton, and five Republicans are running in the primary.

Meanwhile, two judges will be elected this year for Commonwealth Court. Appointee Democratic Judge Joseph Cosgrove, Luzerne County, is seeking a full 10-year term. Six Democrats, including Cosgrove, and two Republicans are on the primary ballot. The two highest vote-getters among the Democrats in the primary will face off in the fall against Republicans Paul Lalley, Allegheny County, and Christine Fizzano Cannon, Delaware County.

At the Supreme Court level, the high court has a Democratic majority, 5-2, and Mundy is running to keep the seat to which she was appointed. Her Democratic opponent is Allegheny County Judge Dwayne Woodruff. Neither has opposition in the primary.

Computation of write-in votes will start May 19 after the election. Winning write-in candidates will be notified and sent the proper paperwork.

For information about getting a ride to the polls on Election Day or about either party, call the respective Schuylkill County political committees. The Schuylkill County Democratic Party headquarters can be reached at 570-622-3155 and the Schuylkill County Republican Party headquarters can be reached at 570-622-1540.

James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG — A Pottsville man is headed to Schuylkill County Court — once he is found — after a judge on Tuesday ordered a charge of bad checks held for court against him.

Arthur Uroskie, 46, of 311 Laurel St., did not appear for the hearing before Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, who still presided over the hearing in his absence and ordered the charge held for court. Ferrier also asked the court to issue a bench warrant for Uroskie.

Schuylkill Haven borough police alleged Uroskie wrote a check for $170.90, knowing that it would not be honored, on Oct. 3, 2016, to Minchoff Fuel Oil Co. in the borough.

Police said the company delivered the oil to Uroskie, who never made good on the check.

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

Derek A. Behler, 27, of 206 Overlook Terrace, Orwigsburg; driving under the influence and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of DUI bound over for court, charge of careless driving withdrawn.

Sharnika M. Brown, 27, of 114 W. Market St., Tamaqua; false reports to law enforcement, speeding, driving under suspension and failure to notify of change of address; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Leeann E. Charles, 19, of 3920 Irish Creek Road, Bernville; two counts of harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

David M. Dreher, 29, of 26 St. Charles St., Schuylkill Haven; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Robert W. Michael, 27, of 37 N. Second St., Saint Clair; possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI, DUI while suspended, speeding, careless driving and seat belt violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Matthew I. Slagle, 40, of 20 E. Main St. Apt. 1, Hummelstown; retail theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Mark Soellner, 58, of 701 Schuylkill Mountain Road, Schuylkill Haven; DUI, failure to drive at a safe speed and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Scott M. Winter, 32, of 303 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, DUI, fleeing or eluding police, driving without a license, failure to drive on right side of roadway, driving over divider, improper left turn, stop sign violation, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving, reckless driving and no rear lights; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

David J. Rossi

TREMONT — A Tower City woman is headed to Schuylkill County Court after a preliminary hearing Thursday on charges she committed an assault in April in her hometown.

Krysta M. Dehaven, 30, of 505 E. Grand Ave., faces two counts each of aggravated assault and simple assault and one each of terroristic threats and recklessly endangering another person.

After the preliminary hearing, Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi ruled prosecutors had produced enough evidence to support the charges and ordered all six of them held for court against Dehaven. He also ordered Dehaven returned to prison, where she is being held in lieu of $50,000 straight cash bail.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Dehaven committed the assault on April 27.

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

Delton G. Bolton, 31, of 246 W. Main St., Girardville; driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane, abandoning vehicle on highway, careless driving, accident involving damage to unattended vehicle or property and failure to notify police of accident; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Vincent C. Demarco, 24, of 140 High Road, Pottsville; theft of services; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Ryan W. Grasso, 23, of 815 Mifflin St. Apt. 1, Lebanon; three counts each of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

David W. Harris, 49, of 2635 W. Main St., Spring Glen; two counts of indecent exposure; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Eric A. Mitchell, 23, of 1564 Stag Drive, Auburn; accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property, driving under suspension-DUI related, failure to drive at a safe speed, failure to stop and give information and seat belt violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Shawn A. Reichert, 47, of 283 Frieden Manor, Schuylkill Haven; DUI, accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving and failure to stop and give information accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property, driving under suspension-DUI related, failure to drive at a safe speed, failure to stop and give information; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

POTTSVILLE — A Schuylkill County judge dismissed on Wednesday indirect criminal contempt charges against two men who had been charged with violating protection from abuse orders.

Chad A. Benjamin, 36, of Mahanoy City, had been charged with two counts of indirect criminal contempt, while Kenneth Williams, 40, of Reading, had been charged with one.

However, Judge Charles M. Miller dismissed both charges against Benjamin after Assistant District Attorney A.J. Serina acknowledged there had not been contact between the defendant and the alleged victims. Serina said that in each case, Benjamin had been in a public place.

While Miller dismissed the charges, he reminded Benjamin that he still is subject to the order.

“If you keep going to the same places where the alleged victims are, you run the risk of a course of conduct, which is a violation,” he said.

Shenandoah police charged Benjamin with violating the order on March 4, while Mahanoy City police charged him with violating it on April 22.

In Williams’ case, Miller dismissed the charge after the alleged victim did not appear for the hearing. State police at Frackville charged Williams with violating the order against him on April 23.

Also in the county court, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin recently accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Gabrielle A. Accordino, 25, of Duncansville; driving under the influence; 72 hours to six months in prison, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 payment to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and 10 hours community service.

Richard M. Biesadesky, 24, of Drums; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of driving under suspension-DUI related.

Colin M. Hasara, 37, of Mahanoy City; possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $176 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Dustin A. Hill, 30, of Philadelphia; DUI, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of driving under suspension; 90 days to five years in prison, $2,500 in fines, $100 SAEF payment, $100 in CJEA payments, $60 restitution to Lehigh Valley Health Network and 20 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of operating with unsafe equipment.

Xavier A. Ramos, 29, of Mahanoy City; DUI and resisting arrest; time served to six months in prison with immediate parole, 12 months probation, $500 fine, $100 SAEF payment, $520 restitution to Lehigh Valley Health Network and 10 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew charges of driving under suspension, improper driving without lights and driving without a license.

Emily E. Roeder, 39, of Pottsville; no contest plea to five counts of theft from a motor vehicle, two of retail theft and one each of disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia; 24 months probation, $50 in fines, $100 SAEF payment, $150 in CJEA payments and $50 bench warrant fee. Prosecutors withdrew five counts each of theft and receiving stolen property, two of public drunkenness and one additional count of disorderly conduct.

Eric S. Traub, 38, of Tower City; three counts of delivery of a controlled substance, two of possession of a controlled substance and one each of criminal use of a communication facility and possession of drug paraphernalia; 21 to 42 months in a state correctional institution, $300 in SAEF payments, $150 in CJEA payments, $465 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, $120 restitution to the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew four counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

In other court action, crime did not pay Thursday in Schuylkill County Court, as a judge ordered a Saint Clair woman to forfeit five firearms and other items to prosecutors.

Judge James P. Goodman ruled prosecutors had proven a connection between the crimes Sheila Ann Carter had committed and the items seized, and ordered the firearms destroyed and the other items turned over to the government.

Those firearms included three rifles, a shotgun and a handgun, according to Assistant District Attorney Kimm R. Montone.

The case arose from a traffic stop on June 16, 2014, of Carter’s truck, a 1997 Dodge Ram, according to state police Trooper Shawn P. Tray, who was West Mahanoy Township police chief at the time. Deputy Sheriff Leo Securda also participated in the stop, and testified that Carter had drugs and paraphernalia.

“The items in the truck were packaged individually,” and were mostly for selling to others, Securda said.

Hegins Township Police Chief Beau J. Yarmush testified he searched Carter’s then-residence in Joliett after the stop and found surveillance cameras, firearms, pipes, baggies and a digital scale.

In addition to the firearms to be destroyed, the items turned over to prosecutors included the truck, $64 in U.S. currency, eight security cameras, a digital video recorder and a power cord.

Carter did not appear at the hearing, although she had been officially notified of it.

In other recent county court action, Dolbin accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Butch H. Aungst, 31, of Pine Grove; no contest plea to flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest, simple assault, false identification to law enforcement, driving under the influence, failure to keep right and failure to drive on roadway laned for traffic; six to 12 months in prison, $1,050 in fines, $100 payment to the SAEF, $50 to the CJEA and 30 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew charges of aggravated assault, possession of a controlled substance, driving under suspension, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving, harassment and two counts of disorderly conduct.

Melissa A. Bradley, 51, of Port Carbon; retail theft; six to 16 months on house arrest with electronic monitoring, $50 CJEA payment and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities, with sentence effective at 10 a.m. July 17.

Hopeton L. Brevett, 40, of Mahanoy City; possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana; six months probation, $100 in CJEA payments and $226 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one of disorderly conduct.

Steven J. Brilla, 23, of Pottsville; fleeing or eluding police and driving under suspension-DUI related; two years probation consecutive to current sentence and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew charges of reckless driving and speeding.

Denise M. Caddy, 50, of Frackville; access device fraud, theft, receiving stolen property and theft by deception; 24 months probation, $50 CJEA payment, $5,754.75 restitution and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of forgery.

Dana Davis, 33, of Cumbola; possession of a controlled substance; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment.

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

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

Deeds

Cass Township — Robert M. and Tracy Ellis to Michael J. Staller; 174 High Road; $139,000.

Deer Lake — Karen E. Ventura to Charles J. Boyle; 201 Laurel Road; $125,000.

East Norwegian Township — JSTTOPS LLC and Grid Smart Solar LLC to Jonathan Dale Randolph; 207 Louisa Ave.; $110,000.

East Union Township — Linda Truskowsky to Francis C. Senglar and Gerard D. Senglar; 18-acre property; $15,000.

Frackville — Joseph G. Aponick to Samuel G. Urban; 336 S. Balliet St.; $46,500.

William J. Hartman to Lindsay M. Hand; 148 N. Second St.; $64,900.

New Castle Township — The Bon-Ton Department Stores Inc. to NP New Castle LLC; 4.884-acre property in Schuylkill Mall; $850,000.

Branch Banking & Trust Co. to NP New Castle LLC; property at Schuylkill Mall; $75,000.

North Union Township — Cove Village Association to James R. and Marilyn B. Lauffer; Lot B00129; $3,500.

Pine Grove Township — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to JMAC Realty LLC; 132 Geary Wolfe Road; $43,000.

Port Carbon — S.S.M. Enterprises to Norman and Alyssa McLaughlin; 301 Brown St.; $137,900.

Port Clinton — Evangeline Rose Hoffman-Lorah, individually and as executrix of the Estate of Mildred G. Hoffman, to Evangeline Rose Hoffman-Lorah and Treasure T. Hoffman; 4 North St.; $1.

Porter Township — David H. and Joyce M. Sponsler to Wade H. Sponsler; 56 Greenland Road; $1.

Pottsville — Karen Rismiller Shuman to Albert M. Miscannon Jr.; 94 Deerfield Drive, Forest Hills; $149,600.

Tamaqua — OneWest Bank NA to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; 120 Patterson St.; $1.

Tremont Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Rausch Creek Industrial Park LP; property; $483.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Rausch Creek Industrial Park LP; property; $2,001.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Rausch Creek Industrial Park LP; property; $2,070.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Rausch Creek Industrial Park LP; property; $3,795.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Rausch Creek Industrial Park LP; property; $11,178.

Wayne Township — Gary L. and Pamela M. Shaffer to William J. Murphy; 265 Creek Drive, Lake Wynonah; $193,000.

West Brunswick Township — Douglas D. Dalton to Edward Daley; 440 Lake Front Drive; $98,000.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — More than 100 high school students gathered Monday at Penn State Schuylkill with one goal: make Schuylkill County better.

That’s how Commissioner Gary J. Hess described the fifth annual Youth Summit, which was postponed until Monday due to the March snowstorm.

“I think there are some fantastic ideas coming from the students,” Hess, who spearheaded the project five years ago, said. “They are on top of the main issues in the county today and they want to make a change.”

Nearly 3,000 students identified the four areas they wanted to concentrate on this year through an online survey late last year. They were asked to rank 12 quality of life topics based on importance to them.

They decided those issues were housing, public safety, education and the environment and came up with projects Monday focusing on the topics.

“The students are amazing and they are pleased to see that the adults are listening to them and they are finding that being involved in the community is very fulfilling,” Kay Jones, executive director of Schuylkill County’s VISION and event facilitator, said.

Students spent part of the day with community leaders and then came up with their own community improvement projects. Jones said there were 25 community leaders working with the students on Monday.

“They come back every year because they believe in the youth and the process of the youth summit,” Jones said.

Kelly M. Austin, Penn State Schuylkill chancellor, spoke to the students in the morning before they split into four groups focusing on topics they identified through the survey.

“It is the students’ summit,” Hess said. “The guests and advisers are here to help guide them and the students take the lead.”

An executive committee of high school students planned the event.

“I think it went really well,” Tyler Zimerofsky, a senior at Nativity BVM and member of the student executive committee, said. “There were a lot of great ideas.”

Zimerofsky said the students were not limited to a specific area and were told to do what they are passionate about.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the projects because they are based on what the they are passionate about,” he said.

The students at Nativity BVM High School plan to improve the athletic fields at the school for their project.

“Sports are a big part of every school, especially around this area,” he said.

Schuylkill Haven Area High School students want to start a new recycling program at their district.

Gabby Rhodes, a senior at Schuylkill Haven and also a member of the executive committee, said the four topics the students voted on for the event were things that concern them all.

“We made a lot of progress and what we want to do is to make our communities better,” Rhodes said. “It’s amazing to see how many people want to go out and help their communities. Once you start helping, you can’t just stop. There will always be that passion.”

“It’s great to get together and connect with the community and the Youth Summit serves as an incubator for ideas,” Zimerofsky said. “It’s just a great way to get involved in the community.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6023

POTTSVILLE — Five municipalities in Schuylkill County received funding for traffic signal improvements from the state recently.

Pottsville, Minersville, Saint Clair, Foster Township and Cass Township were awarded funding under the state Department of Transportation’s Green Light-Go program. The program is “designed to improve safety and mobility by reducing congestion and improving efficiency of existing traffic signals on state and local highways,” according to PennDOT.

The municipalities are required to contribute 20 percent of the project cost and the municipality bids out the project. Applicable entities include municipalities, counties or planning organizations. The matching funds can be a combination of revenue that meets applicable rules. Some projects eligible for funding include traffic signal retiming, maintenance, LED replacement, and the study and removal of unwarranted traffic-control signals.

“It’s fantastic. The traffic signals in town have been frustrating for years and years,” Minersville Borough Manager Robert Mahalchick said Monday.

The borough received funding for two projects: $181,920 for traffic signal retiming and coordination at eight intersections along the Sunbury Street Corridor and $308, 270 for pedestrian improvements and installation or overspeed warning systems at those intersections along the Sunbury Street Corridor, according to a press release from Gov. Tom Wolf’s office.

Mahalchick said the smaller project involves replacing all eight traffic signals in the borough, video detection on lights for vehicles and other improvements.

“It’s going to relieve a lot of frustration for the residents,” he said.

Light cycles are often long and motorists use side streets such as Lewis, North and other streets to avoid the lights. Right now, sensors are in the streets, but those sensors are old. Having sensors on the lights will help traffic flow more smoothly.

“Those side streets are turning into freeways,” Mahalchick said, adding he is concerned about children and pedestrians on the side streets.

The more expensive project involves installing a “speed warning device for eastbound Route 901 west of Sixth Street and upgrades to the traffic signal at Sixth Street,” Mahalchick wrote in a letter to PennDOT.

He does not know when the projects will start, which depends on when information is received from PennDOT, when projects are bid and other factors.

Pottsville City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said the city was awarded $314,313 for the traffic signal upgrades at 20th and Market streets in the city. The application was submitted Sept. 28, 2016, before the deadline.

“We believe it was a real safety issue and safety concern,” he said.

The project involves replacing the pole-mounted lights with overhead lights, includes pedestrian signals, handicapped ramps and other additions.

Palamar said the improvements are needed at the intersection. In fact, a 2013 study as part of a Local Safe Roads Communities Program, a PennDOT program, said that the city had a safety concern at the intersection due to the side mounted traffic signals and the “number of crashes that have occurred at this intersection due to motorists running the red light.”

Palamar said the city is waiting to get contract documents from PennDOT about the project. They can later bid out the project and possibly start it by the fall, with possible completion by the end of the year.

“It’s extremely busy there,” Palamar said of the intersection.

Roland Price Jr., Saint Clair borough secretary, is also happy the borough received funding.

“We are very pleased we received the grant,” he said.

The $229,600 will go for traffic signal equipment upgrades along Route 61 at Hancock Street, Russell Street, Terry Rich Boulevard and Ann Street. He did not have a time when any improvements could occur.

Cass Township was awarded $133,544 for traffic signal upgrades along Highridge Park Road at Keystone Boulevard and the Interstate 81 Northbound ramps. Foster Township was awarded $48,088 for traffic signal upgrades at Route 901 at Keystone Boulevard.

“This is the third round of funding disbursed to support increased safety and mobility across more Pennsylvania towns. The Green Light-Go program addresses a fundamental trigger for congestion, deficient traffic signals, and the result will mean better traffic flow,” Wolf said in a news release.

State Rep. Neal Goodman, D-123, Mahanoy City, agreed the news of the grants in a positive one.

“As a former Mahanoy City councilman, I know how difficult it is to find money in the budget for projects such as these. These grants will go a long way toward addressing important public safety issues. The intersections receiving traffic signal upgrades have been the scene of accidents,” Goodman said in a news release.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

Ashland

The Ashland Area Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorials: For Scott Neumeister from Margaret Mary Brown, Joe and Judy Weber; for Clarence “Buzz” Rebuck from E. L. and T. B. Smith Inc.; for Jean Newhouser from Judy and Joseph Weber, Margaret Mary Brown; for Susan Lynn (Kaufman) Jiannino from Mr. and Mrs. Frank Woodward, Betty Hepler, Paul Hardnock Jr. and Beth McFadden, Ann, Bev and Dolores, Walnut Street Neighbors, Kathy and Gary Glessner, Paul and Rene Hardnock; for Jane and Rose Ann from sister, Diane; for Joyce Schenk from Evelyn M. Glessner, Thomas and Adrienne Hodulik.

Frackville

A halupki and pierogie sale is set for 10 a.m. to noon Saturday in St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church Hall, West Oak Street. Halupkies are $2 each and pierogies are $7 per dozen. People are asked to call in advance for orders at 570-874-3777.

Frackville

St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church will host a program called “The Real Presence” from 7 to 9 p.m. May 22 in the parish hall (Annunciation BVM Hall), 9 S. Broad Mountain Ave. The program is part of the “Apologetics Forum: The Catholic Faith Explained” of the Diocese of Allentown. The presenter will be the Rev. Brian M. Miller, who will explain if Catholics worship a piece of bread, if the Eucharist just a symbol and if the belief in the real presence means that Catholics are cannibals. The program is free and open to everyone. For more information, call the diocesan Adult Formation Department at 610-289-8900, Ext. 21, or email adultformation@allentowndiocese.org.

Pottsville

The Pottsville Free Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorial donations: For Irv Ambrose from Mantura and Jim Gallagher; for John Puddu from Mantura and Jim Gallagher; for Ruth Davidson from Sherrill Silberling; for Margaret “Peg” Shelhamer from Marie Wanchick; for Mara J. Saysser from Marcia and Mike Smink; for Dr. Gumersindo Leal from Gary and Cathy Cortese; for Barry L. Miller from The Pottsville Free Library Board of Trustees, Gary and Cathy Cortese; for Jack Stabinsky from Mrs. Joanne M. Yuengling.

Shenandoah

The Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens group is sponsoring a trip June 20 to Mount Airy Lodge for the show “Mamma Mia.” The cost is $65, which includes the show, a buffet and slot credit. For reservations or more information, call Dolores at 570-462-3222 or Fran at 570-462-0147.

Shenandoah

The last day to sign up for the Shenandoah Area Free Public Library’s summer reading club is Friday. 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 Saturday for the annual Shenandoah Kielbasi Festival, when library personnel will be at the fest, North Main Street, for a library giveaway.

Tower City

The sixth annual Schuylkill County ALS fundraiser will be held from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday in memory of Mildred “Doll” Klinger at the Porter-Tower Lions Club, 517 W. Grand Ave. It will include live music, a raffle auction from noon to 3 p.m. and live auction at 3 p.m. There will also be craft and food vendors, a caricature artist, children’s games and the Turkey Hill Cow. For more information, to donate to the auction or to become a sponsor, call 717-439-1405.

William Penn

The William Penn Fire Company, Mount Olive Boulevard (Route 54) just west of Shenandoah, will sponsor a basket bingo fundraiser on June 4. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. and bingo will being at 2 p.m. Admission is $25 for 20 regular games and five specials, plus free buffet and dessert. For tickets or more information, call 570-462-2242.

2 face charges

of retail theft

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — State police in Schuylkill Haven arrested two people for retail theft at the Dollar General Store, Route 183, in Wayne Township.

Tracy Miller, 42, and Kevin Strause, 36, entered the Dollar General Store about 10:45 a.m. Sunday, removed merchandise from the shelves and left the store without paying, police said.

No address was given for Miller or Strause.

Charges against them were filed with Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg.

TAMAQUA — The Schuylkill-Carbon Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 13 honored 87 fallen members during its annual memorial service Monday.

The group gathers each year at the lodge in the Owl Creek section of Tamaqua to remember their brothers and sisters who died since the inception of the lodge in 1941.

This year, two names were added to the list of those honored.

They were Paul Sheers, former Schuylkill County sheriff and county commissioner, and John Vanak, a former member of the Lansford Police Department.

The brief but touching ceremony began with the lowering of the flag to half staff by Lansford Police Chief Joseph Soberick, followed by opening remarks by Summit Hill Police Chief Joseph Fittos Jr., lodge president.

Nesquehoning police Patrolman Timothy Wuttke and Kline Township Police Chief John Petrilla placed a red, white and blue wreath in front of the monument honoring deceased members and David Everly, financial secretary, read aloud the names of each of the deceased.

A shotgun salute was given by Summit Hill police Patrolmen Todd Woodward, Richard Neikam and Glenn Laninger; McAdoo Police Chief Jeffrey Wainright; McAdoo Patrolman William Curilla; and Lansford police Patrolmen Anthony Camanell and Derek Marouchoc.

The ceremony closed with benediction by John Kast, a retired Tamaqua police patrolman and chaplain of the lodge.

Everly said Lodge 13 includes police from Port Carbon, Tamaqua, Mechanicsville, Schuylkill Township, New Philadelphia, Palo Alto, Rush Township, McAdoo, West Penn Township, Kline Township, Walker Township, Summit Hill, Jim Thorpe, Nesquehoning, Lansford, Kidder Township, Beaver Meadows, East Penn Township, Lehighton, Franklin Township and Mahoning Township.

Fittos said every year during the month of May, Lodge 13 conducts the ceremony to honor fallen members and show that their dedication to both law enforcement and their communities is never forgotten.

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

TREMONT — A Tri-Valley High School adviser and substitute teacher faces 14 charges, which were filed here Friday, for what prosecutors allege are lewd comments he made on seven occasions, starting in November 2016, to students in the school’s drama club.

Police have charged Steven J. Nagy Jr., 26, of 335 W. Frack St., Frackville, with seven counts each of corruption of minors and harassment. Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, with whom police filed the charges, has not yet scheduled the defendant’s preliminary hearing.

Hegins Township police allege Nagy made the sexually suggestive comments from Nov. 1, 2016, to March 8 to various club members.

“(A student) should wear tighter clothes because of your hour glass figure” was one such comment, according to the Affidavit of Probable Cause filed with Rossi’s office. That student was “livid and upset by this comment,” according to the affidavit.

Students initially feared to report some of the incidents because they feared the club would stop production for the year and they would be unable to perform their play, according to police. Some also did not know how to address the incident with the club’s director, Jenna Shafer, a Tri-Valley teacher and Nagy’s fiancee, police said.

Police alleged Nagy also engaged students in sex-related conversations, including discussions about losing one’s virginity.

“Any guy who would take her virginity would be lucky,” was a comment Nagy made about another female student, according to police who conducted interviews of the victims.

Students who were interviewed said they felt awkward, embarrassed and uncomfortable by Nagy’s comments.

“I felt creeped out by everything,” was how one student put it, according to police.

Another student showed police a text message from Shafer in which she wrote that Nagy admitted making inappropriate comments but said he did not intend them to be so.

“‘Things he was saying were inappropriate, but never meant them to be ... he never meant to make anyone (feel) uncomfortable,” is how part of the message read, according to police.

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

Defendant: Steven J. Nagy Jr.

Age: 26

Residence: Frackville

Charges: Seven counts each of corruption of minors and harassment

RAVEN RUN — On Monday, the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Shenandoah opened bids for basic chemicals used for water filtration, and decided to accept the low bidders.

Eight companies bid on one or more of five items that will be supplied to the authority June 1 to May 31, 2018. The chemicals are liquid aluminum, liquid chlorine, hydrated lime, zinc orthophosphate and sodium hydroxide.

At the meeting held at the authority’s headquarters in West Mahanoy Township, Mary Lou Jaskierski, the authority manager, read aloud the bids received.

• For liquid aluminum, Main Pool and Chemical, Avoca, had the low bid, $1.33 per gallon.

The other bidders for aluminum and their bids were: Coyne Chemical, $1.730 per gallon, and Univar, $2 per gallon.

• For hydrated lime, Main Pool and Chemical had the low bid, 16 cents per pound.

The other bidders for hydrated lime and their bids were: Coyne Chemical, $0.177 per pound, and Univar, $0.185 per pound.

• For sodium hydroxide, Main Pool and Chemical had the low bid, $2.38 per gallon.

The other bidders for sodium hydroxide and their bids were: PVS Technologies, $3.29 per gallon, Coyne Chemical, $2.566 per gallon, and Univar, $3.20 per gallon.

• For liquid chlorine, Univar, Middletown, had the low bid, 29 cents per pound.

Other bidders for liquid chlorine and their bids were: Jones Chemical, $0.29875 per pound, and Kuehne Chemical, $1.25 per pound.

• For zinc orthophosphate, Carus Corp., Peru, Illinois, had the low bid, $5.499 per gallon.

The only other bidder for zinc orthophosphate was Shannon Chemicals, with a bid of $8.89 per gallon.

“I’m surprised Shannon was that much over Carus this time. That’s a lot per gallon. That’s way too much,” Dan Salvadore, chief plant operator, said.

Present at the meeting were Chairwoman Donna Gawrylik and authority members Leo Pietkiewicz and Ray Stasulli.

Absent were Vice Chairman Joe Anczarski and authority member Gary Wood.

Also present at Monday’s meeting was authority Chief Clerk Jen Hepler.

“At this time we’ll make a motion to accept the lowest bidder upon review by the manager, chief plant operator and engineer, if necessary,” Gawrylik said.

Pietkiewicz made the motion. It was seconded by Stasulli and, in a roll call vote, Gawrylik also voted yes.

The authority started the meeting with a moment of silence for Donald E. Segal, a member of the authority who died April 25.

On May 8, the Shenandoah Borough Council appointed Pietkiewicz to fill his seat on the authority.

The authority uses four dams: Ringtown No. 5 and Ringtown No. 6, which feed Raven Run No. 2 and Raven Run No. 3.

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Wheels have been set in motion to assist Alena Spears, a service-connected disabled Air Force Special Forces veteran, as she’s scheduled to get her own wheels back on the road today.

Schuylkill County businesses and agencies have generously responded and are in the process of helping the Jalappa woman get her car repaired and get her own home back in working order, according to the Rev. Randolph Simmons, president of We Agape You Inc.

Spears’ story appeared in Monday’s edition of The Republican-Herald. She had volunteered to help We Agape You, or WAY, refurbish homes after she attended an open house Friday at WAY’s restored home at 11 N. Second St. in Saint Clair.

Simmons has coordinated matching the veteran’s needs to those willing to render aid.

Rich Rossi, general manager of Jack Williams Tire & Auto Service Center, Pottsville, began the repairs on her car Monday. Her Subaru needed a new power steering pump, he said.

“I took it upon myself to buy it and fix it for her, to help a fellow veteran in need,” Rossi said.

Brenda Zechman, director of Veterans Affairs for Schuylkill County, has also been working on Spears’ behalf.

“I have applied for the VINTA grant for her to pay for her delinquent bills. I will see if there is anything else we can do to help,” Zechman said in an email Monday to Simmons.

Jeffrey A. Feeser, director of housing from Schuylkill Community Action, also offered assistance.

“We would be glad to discuss and initiate client intake to determine if there is a program at SCA, or some other service provider, that may be able to assist Ms. Spears,” he told Simmons, who took Spears to SCA, Pottsville, for the intake process.

Sabrina A. McLaughlin, veterans affairs caseworker with the office of U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17, emailed a privacy release form to Simmons for Spears.

“I would be happy to make some inquiries for her,” McLaughlin said.

WAY has opened up a Go Fund Me page for her at www.gofundme.com/alenas-house-repairs.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007