Ashland

The North Parish Peach Festival is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 16 at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 13th and Market streets. Tickets are $5 each and people may eat in or take items out. There will be peaches and ice cream, baked goods and beverages. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-429-7107.

Frackville

The Frackville Ministerium Food Bank will be open from 9 to 10 a.m. Aug. 17 for eligible residents in the borough. New applicants will need proof of eligibility — a Frackville borough address. The food bank is at Zion Lutheran Church. People must use the downstairs entrance by the parking lot on South Beech Street.

Lehighton

The annual Ukrainian Folk Festival will be held Aug. 19 and 20 at the Ukrainian Homestead of CEC ODWU Inc., 1230 Beaver Run Drive. Gates will open at noon both days with free parking. Admission is $5 per person but children 14 and younger will be admitted free. A wide variety of Ukrainian food and American favorites will be available, as well as sweets and refreshments. Ukrainian vendors will feature embroidery, pottery, wood crafts, jewelry, music and video recordings, religious items and pysanky. There will be shows at 2 and 4:30 p.m. Aug. 19 and 2 p.m. Aug. 20 that include several Ukrainian-style groups. On Aug. 20, his Excellency Metropolitan Stefan Soroka will celebrate the Divine Liturgy at 11 a.m. at St. Andrew chapel on the homestead grounds. The festival will be held rain or shine. For more information, visit www.ukrhomestead.com or call Ulana Prociuk at 215-235-3709.

Mahanoy City

The local Elks Lodge will have a meat bingo at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 at 135 E. Centre St. The cost is $1 per card. Games will begin at 7:30. People 18 and older are welcome. For more information, call 570-573-2649.

Minersville

The Community Mission Center, 336 N. Front St., will sponsor The World-The Bible-Our Lives at 7 p.m. Aug. 25. Admission is free. All are welcome. For more information, call Pastor Bob Alonge at 570-617-4620.

Minersville

A bus trip to Atlantic City is set for Monday sponsored by the St. Matthew Travelers group. The cost is $35 with a rebate of $30. The bus will depart at 8 a.m. from Minersville. For more information, call Julie at 570-544-5231 or Millie at 570-628-5413.

Schuylkill Haven

An event called Kick Up Your Heels VIII will be held at 7 p.m. Sept. 23 at the Walk In Art Center, 220 Parkway. Tickets are $75 each. There will be dancing, dinner, live and silent auctions and art. “See how the WIAC artists transform the main gallery into a Salvador Dali night of memories,” organizers said in a press release. The event is for people 21 and older. For more information, call 570-732-3728.

Schuylkill Haven

St. John’s United Church of Christ, 121 E. Main St., will have a free organ dedication and concert from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Aug. 20. Officials said in a release the community is invited to the dedication of its new Reider Memorial Organ and a concert featuring Bruce Rohrbach, organist at Trinity Lutheran Church, Kutztown. A reception will follow in the church’s social hall. For more information, call 610-763-1220.

Schuylkill Haven

The Schuylkill Haven Senior Citizens group will meet at 7 p.m. Aug. 11 at the Schuylkill Haven Senior/Neighborhood Center, 340 Haven St. After the business meeting, there will be a program by The Spotlight Kidz from Pottsville Gymnastics and Theatrical Center. Senior members and guests are welcome at all regular meetings, which are held at 7 p.m. the second and fourth Mondays. The group always collects donations for the local food pantry. For more information, call 570-385-5323.

Deeds

Ashland — R.P. Hughes Land Development Inc. to Borough of Ashland; 35.96-acre property; $1.

Auburn — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Deutsche Bank National Trust Co.; 204 Washington St.; $1,329.07.

East Union Township — Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Judith A. Villanueva and Jan Danielle Villanueva; Lot 107WS, Eagle Rock; $51,161.30.

Stephen Njau and Freshiah Muiruri to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 15HF3, Eagle Rock; $10.

Frackville — Matthew J. and Melanie L. McCormick to Matthew J. and Melanie L. McCormick; 11 S. Railroad St.; $1.

Girardville — Alice M. Cuff to Robert A. Cuff; 34 W. Ogden St.; $1.

Kline Township — Joseph Sanko Jr. and Alma Sanko, by attorney in fact Kenneth Sanko, to Anthony Pontry; 45 Silverbrook Road; $195,000.

Landingville — Dale R. Fisher to Laplace Transforms LLC; 11 Railroad St.; $5,000.

McAdoo — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Federal National Mortgage Association; Rear 24 S. Logan St.; $1,156.25.

North Manheim Township — James Kuchinsky, executor of the Estate of Joseph Yulick, to Melanie S. Heller; 857 Schuylkill Mountain Road; $115,000.

North Union Township — Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Fang and Tao Yang; Lot 228EA, Eagle Rock; $47,369.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Roel S. and Gina M. Cobarde; Lot 279EA, Eagle Rock; $50,399.

Edwin and Gladys De Leon to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 115HF2, Eagle Rock; $9,051.12.

Norwegian Township — Natalie Setlock to Abdulahad and Saifullah Khan; 559 Willow St.; $165,.000.

Pine Grove — Charles I. III and Sharon J. Wetzel to Donald M. Sr. and Sherri L. Ney, 93 Mifflin St.; $65,000.

Porter Township — Joseph A. Denkowicz to Joseph A. Denkowicz, trustee of the Joseph A. Denkowicz Family Trust; 26 N. Yohe St.; $1.

Harry C. Wise, Leeann M. Wise and Sueann E. Wise to Harry C. and Vanessa Wise; 1314 E. Grand Ave., Reinerton; $1.

Pottsville — Lois B. Mengel to Tammi L. Quirk; 516 N. 18th St.; $78,900.

Saint Clair — Crystal Hinners, administratrix of the Estate of John Hinners, to Joshua Kester; 201 Cherry St.; $21,000.

Schuylkill Haven — Brent D. Moyer to Douglas J. Turner; 495 Jefferson St.; $149,900.

Shenandoah — James P. Jr. and Karen M. Stauffer to Francis and Teresa Green; 130 N. Main St.; $2,500.

Steven Tichy to Sean Morrissey; property on East Centre Street; $17,000.

South Manheim Township — John E. and Margaret C. Knudson to David R. and Bonnie M. Tyson; Lot 811, Lake Wynonah; $73,900.

Tamaqua — Carbon Schuylkill Community Hospital Inc. to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; easement on property on Cherry Street; $1.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Jay Hinrichs; 650 1/2 E. Broad St.; $12,201.

Michael E. and Sharon K. Zmyewski to John Miller; two properties; $193,950.

Arnold M. Sr. and Lamae E. Krell to Jared Stahler; 310 N. Lehigh St.; $68,000.

Union Township — Leon J. and Darlene M. Mlynek to Leon J. and Darlene M. Mlynek and Kevin D. Mlynek; 2 Pumphouse Lane; $1.

West Penn Township — Gregory S. Knepper, William D. Knepper Jr. and Jonathan Knepper, individually and as co-executors of the Estate of William D. Knepper, to Gregory S. Knepper, William D. Knepper Jr. and Jonathan Knepper; 23 Overlook Drive; $1.

Lori D. Sock to Todd P. Jr. and Natasha Tyson; 374 Archery Club Road; $102,500.

2 slightly hurt

in motorcycle crash

MAHANOY CITY — Two people suffered minor injuries when the motorcycle they were on crashed about 7 p.m. Monday in the northbound lanes of Interstate 81, just south of the Mahanoy City exit in Ryan Township.

State police at Frackville said Donald L. Conover, 68, of Chenango Forks, was driving a 1993 Honda 999 north in the right lane following a slight left curve when the back tire blew out, causing the motorcycle to fishtail.

Conover was able to pull onto the shoulder of the road before losing control causing him and his passenger, Donna Conover, 56, also Chenango Falls, to be thrown off.

The motorcycle went down a 15-foot embankment and police said both Donald and Donna Conover suffered minor injuries.

Both were wearing helmets at the time and police said Ryan Township EMS and firefighters assisted at the scene along with firefighters from Delano and Altamont.

Police arrest man

for selling meth

MAHANOY CITY — A borough man was arrested by Mahanoy City police on drug charges after an incident about 12:15 a.m. July 25 in the 100 block of East Mahanoy Avenue.

Police said Dennis A. Kressler Jr., 29, of 825 E. Centre St., was charged with unlawful delivery of manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kressler will now have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Police said officers learned from an informant that they could purchase methamphetamine from Kressler. The informant then, in the presence of officers, sent Kressler a Facebook message and arranged to meet to obtain the drugs.

Police said the informant met Kressler and as the man was about to hand the drugs to the informant, he was taken into custody by officers who were watching the transaction.

Police said officers found Kressler with a bag that contained a rock substance that tested positive for methamphetamine. He was then placed in Schuylkill County Prison on an active bench warrant out of Montgomery County, police said.

Man faces charges

in I-78 road rage

HAMBURG — State police at Hamburg investigated an assault and road-rage incident that occurred at 7:50 p.m. Saturday in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 78, at mile marker 36.5 in Greenwich Township, Berks County.

Police said they were called to the area after Robert Earl Hans Jr., 67, of Whitehall, reported a handgun was brandished by another man during a road-rage incident.

Hans said he was driving east in the left lane when another vehicle came up fast in the right lane and made an unsafe lane change, cutting him off. Police said Hans reported honking his horn and said a back seat passenger in the other car produced a silver handgun.

Police said Hans called 911 and obtained a vehicle description and registration plate and continued to follow the other vehicle at a safe distance keeping police from both Hamburg and Fogelsville up to date.

Both vehicles were stopped by police from Bethlehem and Fogelsville at mile marker 325.2 on Route 22. All four occupants of the suspect vehicle were removed and police said they found a silver replica BB gun that looks like a revolver.

As a result of the incident, police said, Frank John Clark V, 18, of Orefield, was taken into custody, returned to the Hamburg station and charged with aggravated assault, terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct.

Pine Grove woman

faces drug charges

PINE GROVE — Pine Grove police filed charges against a woman stemming from an incident about 12:45 a.m. July 2 at Pottsville and Tulpehocken streets.

Police said Lindsey Renee Carl, 28, of 105 Rock Road, Pine Grove, was charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police said officers stopped a vehicle driven by Carl for an equipment violation and detected an odor of marijuana inside.

A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a black backpack with a case full of rolling papers. In addition, officers found in the center console a glass smoking pipe with burnt marijuana residue on it as well as several burnt roaches and a bag of raw marijuana.

Carl will now have to answer to the charges against her before Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont.

Police charge man

with DUI after crash

LYKENS — State police at Lykens investigated a DUI crash that occurred about 11:30 p.m. June 24 on Rums-town Road in Lykens Township, Dauphin County.

Police said Randy E. Wenrich, 39, of Spring Glen, was driving a Kawasaki 250 four-wheeler on Rumstown Road when he failed to follow a left curve and flipped the vehicle on top of him.

Police said the man tried to get the vehicle off of him but could not and called 911, prompting Gratz firefighters and local EMS to be called.

Wenrich was found to be under the influence and was taken to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey for evaluation. He now faces charges of DUI, driving with a DUI suspended license, driving while UI while DUI suspended and other traffic violations, police said.

RAVEN RUN — At a special meeting at its headquarters Thursday morning, the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Shenandoah approved a plan to add more manpower to its operation.

First, the authority gave its manager, Mary Lou Jaskierski, permission to hire one of the people who interviewed for a part-time office job at its administrative office in Raven Run.

Chairwoman Donna Gawrylik said the salary would be approved by the authority at its next public meeting. If the position is filled before the next meeting, the authority will approve it retroactively.

Second, the authority decided to advertise for two part-time distribution center workers.

“I want to have some type of idea on how a distribution employee’s day goes, how it starts, what happens during the course of the day and how it ends,” Leo Pietkiewicz, an authority member, said.

“He reports to the garage and if there’s service orders from the day before down there waiting, that’s what he would do,” Jaskierski said. “If not, if it’s a shut-off day, they have 180 or 300 tags. They have to tag doors. If it’s no-service orders, there’s a list of projects that we need to complete to address curb stops and that.

“They’re always scheduled. There’s always brush cutting in the summer at our dams. We have a lot of property. There’s just always something there for them to do. There’s a list of things for them to get done and little by little they get them done,” Jaskierski said.

“I wanted to know in case I’m questioned on the street by a citizen who asks me, ‘What do they do?’ ” Pietkiewicz said.

“We also have our tanks to maintain. We have to cut the brush around them,” Jaskierski said.

“Do they get a lunch hour?” Gary Wood, an authority member, asked.

“Yes,” Jaskierski said.

“Is it at a certain time?” Wood asked.

“No, because if they’re in the middle a certain job, say, a leak for example, they’ll continue to fix that leak and they’ll have their lunch when they’re done,” Jaskierski said.

All members of the authority were present at Thursday’s meeting. The others are Vice Chairman Joe Anczarski and member Ray Stasulli.

In June, the authority talked about looking for some full-time and part-time help.

On July 28, the board of directors was planning to hire two part-time workers for the office and two full-time workers on the distribution crew. But Stasulli and Wood had questions about job descriptions and pay.

The authority was looking to hire a part-time worker at its administrative office in Raven Run. The authority has two full-time workers there.

The authority was also looking to hire additional help on its street crew, which Gawrylik referred to as the “distribution crew.” The authority has three full-time workers on that crew.

The crew also needs “a full-time working foreman,” Pietkiewicz said Thursday.

So, at Thursday’s meeting, the authority decided to ask the three members of its distribution crew, who are union employees, if they are interested in that position.

In other matters, the authority decided to hire SmartBill Corp., Hebron, Ohio, to print its bills.

There will be a one-time start up fee of $1,500, and the anticipated savings will be “approximately $70 per quarter,” Jaskierski said.

“It is going to save the authority money,” she said.

The authority sends out “about 1,500” bills a month and has “about 3,000” customers, Jaskierski said.

Contact the writer: spytak@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6011

POTTSVILLE — Christopher Terraciano is headed to state prison after being sentenced Wednesday by a Schuylkill County judge for trying to arrange a sexual tryst with a preteen girl in July 2016 at the Schuylkill County Fair.

Terraciano, 21, of Port Carbon, must spend one to two years in a state correctional institution, plus an additional three years on probation, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin decided.

Dolbin also sentenced Terraciano to pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, undergo sexual offender counseling and have no contact with the victim.

Dolbin ruled, in accordance with the recommendation of the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board, that Terraciano is not a sexually violent predator. However, Dolbin did impose 25 years of Megan’s Law sanctions, effective when he leaves prison, due to the seriousness of his crimes.

Terraciano pleaded guilty on May 3 to unlawful contact with a minor and attempted statutory sexual assault. Prosecutors withdrew charges of criminal use of a communication facility, attempted indecent assault, dissemination of explicit sexual material to a minor and corruption of minors.

The state attorney general’s office, which prosecuted the case, allege Terraciano started his online tryst with a 12-year-old girl by sexting with her on July 25, 2016.

Prosecutors said that on July 28, an agent with the state attorney general’s office assumed the girl’s identity and continued the online conversation with Terraciano. At the request of Terraciano, the agent, still posing as the girl, agreed to meet the defendant on Aug. 4 at the fair in Summit Station, Wayne Township, according to prosecutors.

Other agents from the office went to the fairgrounds and arrested Terraciano. When interviewed, Terraciano admitted sexting with the girl and that he knew it was wrong, prosecutors alleged.

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

The defendant

· Name: Christopher Terraciano

· Age: 21

· Residence: Port Carbon

· Crimes committed: Unlawful contact with a minor and attempted statutory sexual assault

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

POTTSVILLE — Robert W. Ruggles is headed to state prison after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced him Friday in connection with an incident in September 2015 in which he broke into an apartment in Pottsville and stole a cellphone.

“Mr. Ruggles, you’re a repeat felony offender,” President Judge William E. Baldwin told the defendant before sentencing him to serve eight to 16 years in a state correctional institution, pay costs and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Ruggles, 45, of Pottsville, who sat through the hearing in a prison jumpsuit, said nothing before Baldwin imposed the sentence and did not react to its imposition.

A jury of seven women and five men deliberated about three hours before finding him guilty on June 9 of burglary, conspiracy, robbery and theft, but not guilty of receiving stolen property. Baldwin, who presided over Ruggles’ one-day trial, found the defendant guilty of a summary charge of harassment.

Pottsville police charged Ruggles with breaking into the Laurel Terrace apartment of Robert J. Miller, Pottsville, about 11 p.m. Sept. 6, 2015. Once inside, Ruggles and his accomplices pinned Miller to the floor and stole his cellphone, according to police.

Baldwin remonstrated Ruggles for committing violence against an innocent person.

“You terrorized a person ... who did nothing but open a door,” the judge said.

District Attorney Christine A. Holman had asked Baldwin to sentence Ruggles to serve 13 to 26 years in state prison.

Nicholas J. Watt, Pottsville, Ruggles’ lawyer, said he would be seeking to overturn the verdict, but said nothing else before Baldwin sentenced his client.

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

The defendant

· Name: Robert W. Ruggles

· Age: 45

· Residence: Pottsville

· Crimes committed: Burglary, conspiracy, robbery, theft and harassment

· Prison sentence: Eight to 16 years in a state correctional institution

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Plans for the Columbia Street bridge replacement project were briefly discussed Wednesday at the monthly borough council meeting.

The 1921 concrete, arch-deck bridge, which 13,000 vehicles cross daily, will be replaced. Work is scheduled to start in 2021 and could last two construction seasons. The project is part of the state’s 2020 Transportation Improvement Program, and the cost is slated at $3.9 million.

Borough council members, Police Chief Jeffrey J. Walcott, and Schuylkill Haven Assistant Fire Chief Jim Reed attended a Monday meeting called by the state Department of Transportation at a PennDOT office in North Manheim Township.

“It wasn’t a public meeting,” Councilman Jerry Bowman said.

Traffic, emergency response and impact of the bridge construction to businesses and the area nearby were discussed.

Police and the Schuylkill Haven Fire Department had concerns about the impact of the work on the community. Reed said the bridge is the only way across the Schuylkill River.

“Any way you look at it, you are going to look at delays,” Reed said.

If the bridge is closed, fire personnel will have to access the west side of the borough by going through Cressona, increasing response time. Fire personnel from departments outside of the borough would also be called if needed. A temporary bridge would alleviate many of the concerns over emergency responses, Reed said.

Walcott said several scenarios about the project were mentioned at the meeting with PennDOT. They included a complete closure of the bridge for three months, partial closure and keeping the current bridge open during construction of a new bridge near it.

“This is an expensive project,” Walcott said. “They need to look to the future.”

Any changes to the construction are “ultimately a budget decision,” Borough Manager Scott Graver said.

At the borough council meeting, Mayor Mike Devlin suggested that the new bridge direct traffic onto Main Street instead of Parkway. The suggestion was not voted on but sent to the highway committee to discuss at a meeting at 6 p.m. Aug. 9. Devlin said routing the traffic as he suggested would be easier for trucks and bring traffic through the borough’s commercial business area.

Walcott liked the idea of keeping the bridge open and building a new one nearby. He said the mayor’s suggestion is also good because it makes it easier for truck traffic but it isn’t the only answer.

“There is no obvious choice,” Walcott said.

Ron Young, district press officer for PennDOT Engineering District 5, Allentown, said he didn’t attend the meeting with PennDOT and couldn’t comment on it.

“We don’t have much to present to the public at this point,” he said Friday.

In other matters, the council voted to spend $1,500 for an electric portable keyboard for the borough. The Schuylkill Haven Senior Citizens Association requested the keyboard.

A new floor was recently installed at the Senior Citizen/Neighborhood Community Center, and moving the piano they currently have could damage the floor due to its weight. The piano is stored in the old council chambers and is used by the Schuylkill Haven Senior Citizen Association’s “The Golden Girls.” The new keyboard, which will be stored in the community center, is more portable and can be used by those who request it.

Star Emory, association secretary, was thankful for the keyboard. She also said the community center isn’t being used as intended.

Graver disagreed. He said 75 of the 82 events held in July involved seniors.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

SUMMIT STATION — Bulldog wrestler Hunter Updegrave hoped his time in the ring at the Schuylkill County Fair would honor the memory of “Coach Ox.”

Hunter, 8, of Klingerstown, was one of the 138 youth and adult grapplers from three states taking part in Friday’s “Frenzy at the Fair.” The first outdoor wrestling tournament at the fair was presented by the Pottsville Crimson Wave Wrestling Club and fair organizers.

It was Hunter’s first time wrestling outdoors.

“I felt pretty happy and I was excited to wrestle my friend, Lucas Schwartz,” Hunter said. “I want to try to win first place for my coach,” the 75-pounder said as he warmed up.

His coach, Andrew Oxenrider, 28, of Pitman, died last month from injuries suffered in an accident at work.

Hunter’s father, Tony Updegrave, said his son is a third-grader at Mahantongo Elementary and that wrestling is his favorite sport.

“When it comes to wrestling, he wants to go,” his dad said.

Joining Tony was his wife, Jessica, and daughters, Kirsten Updegrave and Alley Wolfe.

Wrestlers from Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia registered for the competition, according to Bill Anderson, president of the Tide Wrestling Booster Club.

“This is wonderful,” Anderson said. “We were hoping for 100 wrestlers, so this is above our expectations,” he said.

Funds raised from the registration fee go to the boosters for the club’s activities, mats and elementary uniforms. Anderson said the club hopes to make wrestling an annual event at the fair.

“It gets people down here that may not normally come. I saw some of our kids and spectators walking through the Agriculture Museum,” Anderson said.

Joe McKeown, of West Lawn, brought his son, Jameson McKeown, 8, and two other elementary students from the Wilson School District in Berks County to the event. Jameson is a third-grader at Spring Ridge Elementary, Wyomissing.

McKeown saw the event on a wrestling tournament website and on social media.

“I’ve never seen one, and I thought it would be neat to have an outdoor match,” he said. “I like how they group them close by weights, so you don’t have to worry about the weights for the little guys.”

Rebecca Kern, Tower City, found out about the wrestling matches at this year’s fair through Doug Buffington, president of the Williams Valley Wrestling Boosters. She stood on the sidelines with her boyfriend, Paul Hart, also of Tower City, watching her son, Keagan Kern, 7 get ready for his match. Keagan is a Williams Valley Elementary second-grader.

“I’m very proud of him,” she said, noting this was his first year in wrestling.

Kern has attended tournaments before, but never one held outdoors.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” she said.

Keagan said his favorite wrestling move is the half Nelson.

“I’m doing two sports this year,” he said.

He’s also playing football for the first time this year with the Williams Valley Midget Football League.

Marcus Kassab, 18, wrestled while attending high school for Pine Grove Area High School. He will also wrestle for Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, this fall in the 157-pound weight class.

He was excited for the opportunity to take the mat at the fair.

“I love wrestling and it’s my favorite thing to do,” Kassab said. He’s studying business entrepreneurship at Wilkes.

Kassab said he also wrestles with the Tide club over the summer.

Dustin Carlin, Kassab’s drill partner in high school, also participated Friday. Carlin, 17, of Pine Grove, is an incoming PGAHS senior and wrestles in the 170-pound weight class. He’s also a wide receiver and outside linebacker for the Cardinals’ football team.

“It’s a different environment,” Carlin said of the outdoor wrestling venue.

Competitors could enter in seven age groups. There were two adult groups —Tough Tommy for folks up to 30 years old, and Farmer Joe for competitors 31 and older.

Mats, owned by the club, were laid out in the area where the tractor pulls took place earlier this week. The stands were filled with spectators.

Medals were awarded to the top four wrestlers in each bracket. About 20 volunteers, including referees, assisted.

Paul Kennedy, fair president, is also a booster member, Anderson said.

Final results from the wrestling tournament, as well as Friday’s 4-H FFA Master Showman Contest, will be posted on the fair’s Facebook page, or visit www.schuylkillfair.com for more information.

Friday was Country Day. Today is Family Fun Day with gates opening at 11 a.m. Rides open to the public at 1 p.m. A kids’ hay bale toss begins at 3:30 p.m.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Rebecca Margerum

ELIZABETHVILLE — A Halifax man pleaded guilty July 26 to two charges stemming from an incident in June in Washington Township, Dauphin County.

Taylor A. Spidle, 23, of 2368 Back Road, pleaded guilty to false identification to law enforcement and driving under suspension. Prosecutors withdrew charges of operating a vehicle without valid inspection and improper emission inspection expenses.

Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum accepted the plea and sentenced Spidle to pay costs, a $25 fine and a $25 payment to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account.

State police at Lykens charges Spidle with committing the offenses on June 26.

Other defendants whose cases Margerum considered on July 26, the charges against each one and the judge’s dispositions of the matters included:

Frederick L. Campbell Jr., 54, of 153 Pine St., Millersburg; driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane and seat belt violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of disregarding traffic lane and seat belt violation withdrawn, charge of DUI bound over for court.

Christine L. Gordon, 42, of 30 Union St., Halifax; DUI, disregarding traffic lane, violation of restrictions on alcoholic beverages and no rear lights; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Andrew C. Hopkins, 27, of 308 E. Center St. (L), Millersburg; criminal mischief; charge dismissed.

Zachary E. Johns, 18, of 3640 State Route 25, Elizabethville; DUI, purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of an alcoholic beverage by a minor, failure to keep right, seat belt violation and two counts of disregarding traffic lane; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of DUI and purchase, consumption, possession or transportation of an alcoholic beverage by a minor bound over for court, other charges withdrawn.

Dillon M. Yeager, 23, of 158 Yeager Drive, Shamokin; recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct and improper weapon discharge; charges of recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct withdrawn. Yeager pleaded guilty to improper weapon discharge; Margerum sentenced him to pay costs and a $50 fine.

James R. Ferrier

An Orwigsburg man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges resulting from an incident in January in the borough during which he allegedly drove while under the influence of drugs.

Jared T. Stessalavage, 29, of 636 W. Market St.; faces charges of DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia and texting while driving. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of driving under suspension.

Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over the three remaining charges for court after Stessalavage waived his right to the hearing.

Orwigsburg police allege Stessalavage was DUI at 2:09 p.m. Jan. 18 at South Liberty and West Hoy streets. A blood test showed Stessalavage had amphetamine, methamphetamine, Diazepam and morphine in his system, police said.

Police also allege that Stessalavage possessed a hypodermic needle, a knife and three wax baggies and was typing a text message when he was stopped while driving his 2002 Pontiac Sunbird.

Stessalavage is free on $1,000 unsecured bail pending further court action.

HAZLETON — Teachers hired on Thursday will help Hazleton Area School District once again offer full-day kindergarten.

The school board hired a dozen elementary teachers, most of whom will fill kindergarten slots when classes resume Aug. 28.

Last year when the board switched to half-days to save money, most teachers who lost kindergarten slots taught other grades or subjects where jobs opened because of resignations or rising enrollment.

After parents and faculty said half-days left several kindergartners unprepared for first grade, the board opted to resume full-day sessions this year. Going to full days requires hiring more teachers and incurring other costs estimated at $1.5 million in the district, which has a total budget of approximately $147 million.

Applicants for the teaching jobs went through two rounds of interviews with district administrators, who ranked the applicants and presented a list to the board.

When board member Tony Bonomo asked if the hiring policy was followed to the letter, Superintendent Craig Butler assured him it was.

Board member Vincent Zola sat in on some of the interviews and approved of the process.

“We have such talent coming to the district,” Zola, who noted that the new teachers had worked as substitutes last year, said.

The board voted unanimously to hire the following elementary teachers: Brittney Tarapchak, Gabrielle Pavlick, Rebecca Zamonas, Tiffany Sharkey, Maria Corrado, Carrie Kupsho, Tracy Letcher, Angela Hoffman, Amanda Pliska, Christina Merrick, Ashley Pahler, Lynn Boyle and Peter Marycz.

Pahler and Corrado will earn $43,881 and the others will be paid $41,174.

The following teachers were hired for these posts: Brian Stiles, English as a second language in secondary grades, $48,165; Ryan Elmy, ESL, elementary grades, $41,174; David Shaller, diesel automotive, Hazleton Area Career Center, $40,103; Amanda Neidlinger, nursing, Hazleton Area Career Center, $40,103; and Allison Yourechko, business computer information, $68,357.

In addition, the board hired four special education teachers: Christine DeLash, Diane Synosky, Ashley Finkle and Jennifer Atkins.

Three administrators were appointed to jobs in which they had been working as acting directors.

They are Deborah Yanuzzi, director of special education, $116,000; Deborah Shemansky, supervisor of early intervention and pre-kindergarten, $102,000; and Patricia Galloway, supervisor of federal programs, $94,631.

Butler welcomed the new employees.

“We hope it is the beginning, and in some cases the continuation, of a wonderful career. This is a special district. We have our challenges, but I, for one, am proud to be a part of it,” he said.

Butler is leaving to become superintendent at Saucon Valley School District in Northampton County. The board is interviewing candidates to replace him.

Contact the writer: kjackson@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3587

Ashland man faces

slew of charges

ASHLAND — A man was jailed after being arrested by Ashland police about 6 p.m. Monday for an incident at both Third and Centre streets and at Boyer’s Supermarket parking lot.

Police said officers were called to the area of Third and Centre streets for a report of a domestic incident involving Paul Hutnick, 46, and Lenore Valeno, who was inside her vehicle.

Before getting there, police said, they were told the incident moved to Boyer’s parking lot where, Hutnick punched out the window of the woman’s car.

As officers approached, they saw Hutnick walking around the front of the store near the area where Valeno was.

After seeing the police car, officers said, Hutnick fled west on Middle Street and was then taken into custody in the area of Front and Middle streets.

With the assistance of Butler Township police, Hutnick was taken to the police station and charged with violating a Protection From Abuse order, arraigned and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail, police said.

Police said they have been trying to apprehend Hutnick for the past two weeks for the PFA violations, a burglary, resisting arrest and criminal mischief. Additional charges against Hutnick are pending, police said.

Haven man cited

for 2-vehicle crash

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville police investigated a crash that was reported about 1:40 p.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of the Gordon Nagle Trail.

Police said the crash occurred as Joseph H. Schoffstall, 57, of Schuylkill Haven, was driving a Rodge Ram 3500 south on the Gordon Nagle Trail when he struck a garbage truck driven by an 18-year-old Pottsville man, employed by the Pottsville Housing Authority, who was in the process of making a right turn into Reilly Memorial Park.

Schoffstall told officers he tried to exit the road and tried to go around the garbage truck but struck the passenger’s side and then veered into a wooden fence and a sign, police said.

No injuries were reported and police said Patrolman Joseph Krammes, the investigating officer, will be citing Schoffstall for careless driving.

Both vehicles were towed from the scene, police said.

Lykens teen cited

for dirt bike crash

LYKENS — A 13-year-old Lykens boy suffered minor injuries when the 1003 Honda dirt bike he was driving crashed about 4:15 p.m. Tuesday on North Third Street in this Dauphin County community.

State police at Lykens said the boy was driving south in an alleyway as Dawn Lightner, 60, of Tower City, was driving a 2003 Ford Taurus east on North Third Street.

The boy, driving a non-street-legal vehicle, failed to make sure the intersection was clear before entering and struck the front hood and driver’s side door of the Lightner car.

The boy was taken to Harrisburg Hospital by EMS for treatment of minor injuries while Lightner was not hurt, police said.

As a result of the crash, police said, the teen will be charged with vehicles approaching or entering an intersection.

SUMMIT STATION — There was a lot to do at the Schuylkill County Fair without emptying the pocketbooks of visitors, a mother said.

Saturday was Family Fun Day and the last day for the 34th annual fair that started Monday.

“I think it’s awesome. I don’t have to spend a lot of money to keep the kids entertained,” Allison Fernando, 33, of Pottsville, said.

She was at the fair with her two children, Bella Parramore, 5, and Aidan Parramore, 7. Bella participated in the kids’ hay bale toss. The children also went to The Arts Barn Kids Tent featuring crafts. There were separate areas for drawing, face painting and children could apply bottle caps to a canvas in a recycling project. Earlier in the week, the children made the letters A, R and T. The works of art will likely be displayed in the gallery in the education room at The Arts Barn, Deborah Cooper, director of The Arts Barn, said.

Samantha Brew, 8, of Saint Clair, had a green snake painted on her face at The Arts Barn Tent. She was one of several children who took part in the hay bale toss. She ended up winning with a distance of 26 feet 2 inches among children who tossed a small bale weighing about 2 pounds. Jayden Deritis, 10, was second with 24 feet 9 inches, while Emmet Kidd, 9, was in third place with 23 feet 6 inches. Children also tossed bales weighing about 15 pounds. Cody Haag won with a distance of 10 feet 8 inches, and Zeke Holden was second place with 10 feet, and his brother, Zane Holden, all 10 years old and of Pine Grove, won third place with a distance of 9 feet.

Three small pets had their day at the fair when their owners took them to a pocket pets contest. The children received school supplies as their prizes for entering the contest.

A lizard, hamster and rabbit were entered into the event. Spike, a bearded dragon, won. Dustin Bouchard, 10, of Pottsville, is the owner of the 7-month-old lizard. The children talked about their pets and how they care for them. Spike eats a varied diet of crickets, worms, lettuce and carrots.

Hershey, a 7-year-old Dutch rabbit, likes carrots.

“Her mouth is still orange,” her owner Faith Yeager, 13, of Cressona, said.

Angel Yeager, 18, of Cressona, had Pepper, her 1-year-old hamster, on the picnic table. A hamster ball was nearby.

Savannah Price, 2, of Lebanon, listened, danced and even sat onstage as Emily Witmier, the queen of the Schuylkill County Fair, and Ella Grace Frantz, the fair little miss, sang.

Angel Price, Savannah’s mother, said her daughter was clearly enjoying the moment. Price is originally a county native and came back to the fair because they love it. They were going to visit the cows next.

The weather was in the 70s Saturday with no rain in sight. But that wasn’t always the case during the fair. Rain or the threat of it likely kept some people away from the fair, Paul Kennedy, president of the Schuylkill County Fair, said.

Kennedy said he was very pleased with attendance this year, however, it might not surpass the 30,292 visitors for 2016.

As of the end of Friday, 23,442 people came to the fair. On Monday, 3,928 visitors attended; Tuesday, 5,817; Wednesday, 3,515; Thursday, 4,425; Friday, 5,757. Last year attendance was as follows: Monday, 4,024; Tuesday, 5,795; Wednesday, 3,982; Thursday, 5,796; Friday, 5,649; and Saturday, 5,046.

“The fair is financially solvent. We are in very good shape. We are about two months off from being completely debt-free,” Kennedy said.

Planning for the 2018 fair — the 35th — has already started, he said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

POTTSVILLE — The unemployment rate for Schuylkill County dropped for the first time in five months in June.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped 0.4 to 5.8 percent, according to the latest figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor & Industry.

“After four consecutive months of increases totaling 0.7 percent, the rate dropped 0.4 percent this month,” Jeff Newman, industry and business analyst for the department, said. “Seasonally adjusted unemployment was down 300, causing the drop.”

Last June, the rate was 6.3 percent for Schuylkill County.

In addition to unemployment being down to 3,900, the seasonally adjusted figure for employment increased 200 to 63,300 in June while the overall labor force was down 100 to 67,200.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Pennsylvania was 5 percent in June while the national rate was 4.4 percent.

Meanwhile, total nonfarm jobs in the county were up 300 over the month in June to 51,200.

“Leisure and hospitality was up 200 this month, as you would expect with warm weather and vacations,” Newman said. “Over the year, professional and business services has led the way, gaining 200.”

The surrounding areas had the following seasonally adjusted rates for June: Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, 5; Harrisburg and Carlisle, 4.2; Reading, 4.5; Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton, 5.6; and Bloomsburg, Berwick and Sunbury, 4.7.

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

POTTSVILLE — A Shenandoah man will not have to spend more time in prison after being sentenced Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court on three drug charges resulting from an incident in March 2015 in his hometown.

Sean Keating, 32, received a sentence of six to 23 months in prison from, but was granted immediate parole by, President Judge William E. Baldwin.

Baldwin also sentenced Keating to spend 12 additional months on probation and pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $302 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

Keating pleaded guilty on June 21 to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Prosecutors withdrew a second count of each charge.

Shenandoah police charged Keating with possessing drugs and paraphernalia on March 11, 2015.

Also on Wednesday, Baldwin removed Mark A. Fortney, 62, of Oneida, from the intermediate punishment program and sentenced him to serve six months to five years in prison.

Baldwin ruled Fortney had violated the terms of the program by committing at least one new crime.

Fortney originally pleaded guilty on March 19, 2014, to driving under the influence. At that time, Baldwin placed him in the program for five years, and also sentenced him to pay costs, a $1,500 fine and a $300 SAEF payment.

Pottsville police alleged Fortney was DUI on March 5, 2013, in the city.

Also in the county court, Judge James P. Goodman found Robert M. Valentine, 49, of Mar Lin, guilty on July 26 of four separate charges of indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom. Goodman sentenced Valentine to time served to six months in prison with immediate parole and to pay $1,200 in fines.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Valentine with violating the same protection from abuse order on four occasions, July 3, July 5, July 7 and July 8.

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

Rebecca Margerum

ELIZABETHVILLE — An Elizabethville man is headed to Dauphin County Court for allegedly assaulting a woman in July in Mifflin Township.

Douglas K. Mace, 56, of 4671 Shippen Dam Road, waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday on charges of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, unlawful restraint, simple assault and harassment.

Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum bound over all charges for court after Mace waived his right to the hearing. She allowed Mace to remain free on $25,000 unsecured bail pending further court action.

State police at Lykens alleged mace assaulted Sue E. Shotzberger on July 14.

Mace’s formal arraignment is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Oct. 6 before Judge Deborah E. Curcillo in Harrisburg.

Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine A. Holman and county detectives are asking the public to help locate a woman wanted for failing to appear in court.

Detectives said Shyann Nicole Boyer has three outstanding bench warrants, two of which are for failing to appear at a pretrial conference in Schuylkill County Court.

The original charges against Boyer are felony conspiracy-possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and misdemeanor corruption of minors. The other warrant is an absconder bench warrant on misdemeanor charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Boyer, 23, is described as being white, about 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighing about 110 pounds. She has a last known address of 67 Penn St., Port Clinton, detectives said.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Boyer or any other fugitive in Schuylkill County is asked to call the district attorney’s office at 570-628-1350, the Schuylkill County tip line at 570-624-3988 or email dadd@co.schuylkill.pa.us.

In addition, anyone who may see or come in contact with Boyer is asked to call the Schuylkill County Communications Center or their local police department immediately.

All information received will remain confidential.

A complete list of Schuylkill County bench warrants is available on the Schuylkill County website at www.co.schuylkill.pa.us.

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

Schuylkill County Controller Christy Joy was named president of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Controllers executive board two weeks ago at their annual meeting in Lancaster, according to a press release Thursday from his office.

PSACC is a statewide association whose goal is to address specific challenges that the county controllers face, advocate on their behalf and encourage collaboration while advancing members’ professional development, according to the release. It is comprised of 38 county controllers throughout the state, their deputies, solicitors and staff. It strives to educate and inform its membership and to be a resource for and about county controllers.

“I look forward to working closely with Christy again this year,” Shelley Whitcomb, PSACC executive director, said in the prepared statement. “I believe that he will be our tech president as we work together to update our webpage and improve the flow of information from one controller’s office to another.”

Joy was elected president July 26 during the 103rd annual PSACC conference in Lancaster.

Joy’s new role includes working with the rest of the executive board in coordinating PSACC activities and assisting his counterparts in other counties with their specific needs.

“I am honored to be elected by my peers to lead an organization that questions authority and promotes transparency,” Joy said. “Leveraging the education and networking from the PSACC allowed the Schuylkill County Controller’s office to become a standard for best practices for fiscal internal control.”

Joy added, “When I first saw the previous county controller from Butler County with his county code book all highlighted and bookmarked, I thought he was a madman. Five years later, my book looks like his.”

This past week, we had another great show in the stars as a fat waxing gibbous moon passed by Saturn in the early evening low southern sky. Since then, the moon has migrated farther to the east of Saturn against the background of the stars, and it’s now a full moon rising at sunset and setting at sunrise.

The moon’s never-ending sojourn eastward from night to night among the starry dome, along with its monthly fattening and thinning, are both courtesy of its 27.3 day orbit around the Earth. The changing angle between the Earth, the moon and the sun is responsible for the changing phases of the moon as we watch it from our backyards.

As this week progresses, the moon will once again go gibbous, taking on a football shape as it rises later and later after sunset. Even though it won’t be quite as full, our lunar neighbor will continue to whitewash the sky, making it really tough this week to enjoy the Perseids, the best meteor shower of the year.

You might see a few “shooting stars” or tiny pieces of comet debris plowing through and perishing about 60 to 80 miles high in our atmosphere. They’re especially visible from around midnight to just before morning twilight kicks in. The peak of the Perseids is this Saturday night-Sunday morning, and if it weren’t for the intruding moonlight you’d be able to watch possibly more than 50 meteors an hour in the dark countryside. As they say, wait until next year, when the Perseids will put on a much better show with moonless heavens during the peak!

Getting back to Saturn, it’s the bright star-like object in the early evening, low southern sky. It’s just about always a great telescope target with its 130,000-plus diameter ring system. In fact, most of the light that we see when you glance at Saturn with the naked eye is sunlight bouncing off the billions and billions of ice-covered pebbles, rocks and boulders that make up Saturn’s ring system. Unfortunately, Saturn is taking a very low nightly track across the sky this summer. That means Earth’s thicker level of atmosphere near the horizon is going to muddy up our view of the great planet, especially if there’s a lot of turbulence. If Saturn is really blurry, try viewing it on another evening.

The second brightest star-like object nearest Saturn actually is a star. Antares is the brightest star in Scorpius. Even to the naked eye, Antares has a ruddy hue to it. It’s what astronomers call a super red giant star that’s so big, if it replaced our sun in the center of the solar system all of the planets out to about Jupiter would be entombed and obliterated inside Antares! It doesn’t look all that gargantuan in our night sky because Antares is about 600 light years away, or a little more than 3,400 trillion miles away.

Scorpius is a constellation that actually looks like what it’s supposed to be — a giant scorpion. To the upper right of Antares, there are three distinct stars that make up the head of the scorpion. To the lower left of Antares is the long hooked, stinger tail. Unfortunately, the tail can be difficult to see in the northern half of the U.S. because Scorpius never rises that high in the sky, and its tail drags low in the southern horizon most of the night.

For extra credit, just to the left of Scorpius is the constellation Sagittarius. It’s supposed to be a half-man, half-horse shooting an arrow. Good luck seeing that! What you see without too much trouble is a giant celestial teapot!

Solar eclipse countdown

Two weeks from Monday, on Aug. 21, there will be a truly tremendous celestial event in the United States. We’ll have a total solar eclipse from coast to coast across the contiguous 48 states from Oregon to Nebraska to Missouri, and all the way down to the coast of South Carolina. In Pottsville, we’ll have a deep partial eclipse with 75 percent of the sun covered by the moon at 2:41 p.m.

If at all possible, you should travel to see it, at least that’s my advice. One of the most overused adjectives in the English language lately is “awesome,” but total solar eclipses are truly that and then some! If possible watch the weather and be flexible with where in the band you choose to view it. A great cloud cover forecaster is clearskyclock.com. A great app and website to give you information for any location for the total and partial eclipse across the entire 48 states is eclipse2017.org.

Again, and I can’t say this enough, you must have eye protection like special eclipse glasses to watch any part of an eclipse. Protect your eyes! There are still many places you can purchase eclipse glasses online, but you have to order them now. There are some retail stores that are selling eclipse glasses, but I know they’re selling out fast.

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

Calendar incorrect

A Chinese auction will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at Hillcrest Catering Hall, Minersville. A drawing starts at 2 p.m. It benefits Citizens Fire Company, Branchdale.

The time is incorrect in today’s calendar.

Barnesville

Dave McSurdy, conservation volunteer, will present a program at 5 p.m. Saturday in the Locust Lake Park program shelter, located near the camp store. McSurdy will talk about different Pennsylvania plants and how they can be used for medicinal purposes. The program will be followed by a short walk to identify some of the plants. Everyone is welcome to attend. The event will be shine only.

McAdoo

The McAdoo VFW’s monthly meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at VFW Post 6708. All members are urged to attend.

Pottsville

Savas Logothetides, owner of Wheel restaurant and the soon-to-open Crimson House restaurant, both of Pottsville, recently spoke to members of the Pottsville Rotary Club about city redevelopment projects. Logothetides, a Pottsville resident, also is vice president of the Pottsville Business Association and a member of the board of directors of both the Pottsville Area Development Corp. and the Schuylkill Chamber Commerce. He said it was natural for him to spearhead the Pottsville Continued Progress Project, named as a tribute to earlier downtown projects in the city, according to the Rotary bulletin. Logothetides said the effort needs a multilateral approach with involvement from the city, PBA and PADCO. Among the goals, he said, are further reducing sprawl, increasing property values, increasing the presence of goods and services available in the area, helping improve the infrastructure, increasing the amount of jobs available and helping retain youth as well as increasing tourism. The committee has selected Bergmann Associates, Conshohocken, as its consultant. He said that so far, fundraising has generated nearly $25,000 from 42 donors. The study area for the consultant will be within the borders of Mauch Chunk Street to the south, Nicholas Street to the north, Route 61 to the east and Sixth Street to the west. The group also selected some “assets” outside these borders, including the Schuylkill County (Yuengling) Arts & Ethnic Center, Pottsville Area School District’s Martz Hall, Yuengling Park and the Joulwan Amphitheater. The scope of the work includes an assessment and analysis of downtown inventory, market analysis and best futures research, plan development, and increasing the length of stay and spending of tourists visiting Pottsville and the surrounding area. He also spoke about several ideas for keeping tourists in the area after they visit the D.G. Yuengling & Son Inc. Brewery.

Shenandoah

The annual Shenandoah Heritage Day and Parade of Nations will be held Aug. 26. The parade will begin at 10 a.m. with 21 nations represented. The honorary grand marshal is journalist John E. Usalis. Anyone wishing to carry their flag and represent their ethnicity should call the 116 N. Main St. office of the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc. at 570-462-2060. Festivities will continue on North Main Street with ethnic food, myriad artists/crafters, vendors, games, a disc jockey plus live music by the Perseverance Jazz Band, Grammy-nominated Shenandoah native Lester Hirsh, Shaina Graff, Leilani Chesonis, Kathleen Radspinner and Tool Shed Jack Acoustics. For nature lovers, the wooded northern part of Girard Park, which borders Shenandoah borough and West Mahanoy Township, will be available for nature walks. Crossing the bridge in the park is a feat to which many aspire. The area provides hikers with a deep-woods experience while being close to the Shenandoah population center. Heritage Day is sponsored by DSI.

Sheppton

The Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Company will hold its monthly bingo at 1 p.m. today at the firehouse. For more information, call 570-384-4746.

Tamaqua

A concert featuring The New Individuals is set for 6 to 8 p.m. today at Heisler’s Dairy Bar in the Lewistown Valley. The final event will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Aug. 13 featuring Ann Marie Calabrese. All are welcome to attend.