POTTSVILLE — Most people slapping down cash for tonight’s $700 million Powerball jackpot drawing already came prepared with extra dough in their pockets.

“Since it’s high, those who usually only buy one ticket now will buy $10 to $20 worth,” Cheryl Carter, an employee at Smoker’s Heaven, 24 N. Centre St., said.

“Someone just left who bought 114 tickets,” she said, noting that was the largest lump sum purchase of tickets she had Tuesday. They were for an office pool, she said.

“Lunchtime, we were pretty busy, and around suppertime we’ll get another rush,” Carter said.

The estimated jackpot for tonight’s Powerball lottery game has climbed to $700 million, making it the second-largest in U.S. history, according to The Associated Press. Some Schuylkill County lottery fans wanted to get in on the game too.

Joe Lynch had $20 to spend on tickets for his wife, Sandy, and was willing to shell out another $20 for his own tickets Tuesday at The Coney Island, Pottsville.

“Normally, I’d spend about $6 on tickets,” Lynch, Port Carbon, said.

Lynch said he always gets his lottery tickets at The Coney Island because he’s been friends for years with the owner, Mickey Palles. Lynch has won a few smaller prizes by playing the lottery, but never a large payout, he said.

“I’d spend it on anything and everything. I’d donate some. I love traveling and I like to cruise,” Lynch said.

Palles said they’ve been selling lottery tickets at The Coney Island for about 30 years.

“We’ve had our share of winners,” he said, including Cash 5, but none of them have been the Powerball jackpot.

There’s always more players when the jackpot is up, Palles said. There were $2 and $3 tickets being sold.

Carter said their other store, Smoker’s Lane in Easton, had a $1 million lottery winner, but she’s unaware of a large-sum winning ticket being sold at the Pottsville store.

At Sheetz along the Gordon Nagle Trail in Pottsville, a steady stream of customers bought Powerball tickets Tuesday afternoon.

Joe Leone, Philadelphia, let the computer pick the numbers for his ticket. He was part of a team working for Leones Comp LLC, a computer repair and security firm, at Honeywell when he decided to stop for refreshments and a chance at the Powerball jackpot.

“We thought we were out in the middle of nowhere, why not?” Leone said.

Alissa Kasmari, supervisor for the Sheetz store, said customers use the machine provided by the lottery to purchase their tickets and then bring their winning tickets to the front counter to cash them.

Michelle Carter purchased instant lottery tickets Tuesday. She said she had already bought two Powerball tickets at Sam’s Place Lottery & Tobacco at the Cressona Mall on Sunday.

“I’d build a new house and bank the rest,” Carter, Schuylkill Haven, said.

According to The Associated Press, the drawing will be at 10:59 p.m. tonight in Tallahassee, Florida.

The owner of the winning ticket could receive an annuity option of 30 payments over 29 years for the $700 million, minus federal income taxes and state taxes. The favored option of most winners is the cash prize, which would be $443.3 million.

“The odds of winning are one in 292.2 million. Tom Rietz, a professor at the University of Iowa who researches probabilities, says one way to think about it is to envision the 324 million U.S. residents. Your chance of winning is roughly comparable to being that one lucky person out of the entire population, with everyone else losing,” The Associated Press reported.

The following figures were released from www.usamega.com/powerball-jackpot.asp:

• With the annuity on a $700 million jackpot, there would be $716,333 for 3.07 percent state tax; an average net per year of $16,783,667; and after 30 payments, you’d receive $503,510,010.

• Under the cash option of $443,300,000, there would be $13,609,310 in state tax and a net payout of $318,865,690.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

TAMAQUA — Joan Dietrich told borough council last week that the Tamaqua Senior Citizens group continues to search for a place to call home.

But if it doesn’t find one, she hoped the borough could help members set up tables and chairs for weekly meetings at the Tamaqua YMCA.

Members are in their 70s and 80s, she said, and have a hard time moving the equipment for their weekly get-togethers at the rented space. She said some have been injured while setting up or tearing down.

She asked the council for assistance.

Even though council members were unable to provide an answer, Dietrich said she hoped someone would hear her request and volunteer to help.

Dietrich also spoke before the council in April, when she asked for help in finding a permanent location for the group. Members had gathered at the Tamaqua Community Center until it was sold in 2013. At that point, they held their meetings at other locations before settling at the YMCA.

Mary Linkevich, the borough’s former director of community development, had researched the matter before her recent resignation.

Dietrich said the seniors also had offers from the Tamaqua Salvation Army and borough churches, but seniors worry about parking and other issues.

She again asked the council for its help in assisting the seniors find a place. She said a meeting space would allow seniors to eat lunch and socialize on a daily basis.

The council noted that currently there are no plans to set up a center for the seniors.

In an unrelated matter, the council chose an option for a streetscape project that includes new sidewalks and lighting at the Center Street bridge. Bids for the project came in higher than expected, so Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt presented the council with a number of project options.

The council voted to accept one that includes lights for the bridge and a stretch of sidewalk on the east side of Center Street from the bridge to Spruce Street. The option will not include trees or pavers. The work will come in about $198,000.

The project’s scope will not be as expansive as originally planned.

In his report to the council, Steigerwalt said crews repairing masonry walls within the culvert that holds the Wabash Creek found several other problem areas. He expects to get a repair price from the borough engineer and contractor.

The council voted to authorize Steigerwalt and the Finance, Wage and Salary Committee to approve funds for the additional repairs at the Wabash.

“You can’t walk away from known problems there,” Gursky said.

In other business, the council:

• Granted a request from the Tamaqua Lions Club to hold the annual Halloween parade along Broad Street on Oct. 24. Rain date is Oct. 25.

• Gave permission to the Citizens Fire Company to close a portion of Hegarty Avenue from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sept. 23 for its pig roast and corn hole tournament.

• Approved heart and lung benefits for police Patrolman Jeremy Sborz, who was injured on the job.

• Granted permission to hold the third annual SupUrban 5K at 9 a.m. Oct. 14.

• Entered into a five-year winter traffic services agreement with the state Department of Transportation. Under the contract, PennDOT will compensate borough crews for winter maintenance on state roads.

• Authorized a payment of $4,200 for Alfred Benesch & Co. to inspect the upper and lower Owl Creek dams.

Contact the writer: jwhalen@standardspeaker.com.

POTTSVILLE — Instead of trying the case, Schuylkill County prosecutors on Monday withdrew two drug-related charges against a Frackville man.

Daniel B. Krammes, 29, had been charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Pottsville police had charged Krammes with having the marijuana and paraphernalia on May 2, 2016, in the city.

Judge James P. Goodman had been scheduled to presided over the trial on Monday.

On Friday in the county court, Dean S. Weingard, 47, of Shenandoah, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one each of false identification to law enforcement and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Weingard to serve six to 12 months in prison and pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $176 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

Shenandoah police charged Weingard with committing his crimes on Aug. 29, 2016, in the borough.

Also on Friday, Cody Z. Horne, 22, of Shamokin, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Pursuant to a plea agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, Dolbin sentenced Horne to time served to 11 months in prison with immediate parole. He made the sentence consecutive to the one Horne already is serving.

He also ordered Horne to pay costs, a $50 CJEA payment, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

Ryan Township police charged Horne with possessing drugs and paraphernalia on June 6, 2015, in the township.

In other criminal court action, Martin S. Svrcek Sr. left Schuylkill County Court a free man on Tuesday, as a jury acquitted him of two charges resulting from an incident January in Schuylkill Haven.

Svrcek, 48, of Minersville, is not guilty of terroristic threats and disorderly conduct, the jury decided after debating approximately an hour to end the one-day trial over which Dolbin presided.

Schuylkill Haven borough police had charged Svrcek with threatening and harassing Kathy Brown on Jan. 4 at the 212 S. St. Peter St. apartment building where they lived.

“It was an electric guitar, so it was very, very loud,” Brown testified about the noise. The noise, although not the guitar, was constant, Brown said.

She also testified Svrcek threatened both her and her children.

Patrolman Cody M. Mullins testified he tried to talk with Svrcek about the incident but could not get in touch with him.

Assistant District Attorney Kimm R. Montone prosecuted the case against Svrcek, who was successfully defended by Thomas P. Pellish, Pottsville.

Another scheduled trial did not go on Tuesday, as Joseph C. Carney, 33, of Tamaqua, entered the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program on a charge of false swearing. Prosecutors withdrew charges of perjury and obstructing law enforcement.

If Carney successfully completes the program, the charge against him will be dismissed.

Pottsville police had charged Carney with falsely swearing on Dec. 20, 2016, in the city.

“We were ready to go to trial,” James G. Conville, Schuylkill Haven, Carney’s lawyer, said.

Goodman, who had been scheduled to preside over Carney’s trial, instead admitted him into the program.

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

SHENANDOAH — The borough council Monday approved a resolution indicating it will accept proposals regarding the potential sale or management of its water and sewer systems.

That doesn’t mean they’re being sold, Leo Pietkiewicz, president of borough council, said after the meeting at the borough hall.

“What this is, basically, is putting the water and sewage plant and its assets out for potential sale or management by an outside source, or potential leasing of the operations. In no way is council obligated to do anything with this. This is just to find out their values. It’s basically a free appraisal of what our sewer system and our water system is valued at. We are not obligated in any way to sell or sub-lease or anything like that. And this comes on the recommendation of the PA Economy League that has been doing studies for us and helping us along,” Pietkiewicz told more than 10 people who showed up.

The borough owns the facilities managed by the Shenandoah Sewer Authority and the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Shenandoah.

In 2015, the borough was involved in the state’s Early Intervention Program, and the state Department of Community and Economic Development and the Pennsylvania Economy League reviewed the borough’s operations in an effort to stabilize its financial future. That included the water authority.

According to Resolution No. 8-21-17(3): “Be it resolved that the Borough Council of the Borough of Shenandoah hereby approves the form of the Request for Qualifications and Indication of Interest relating to a potential sale or other disposition of the water and/or sewer systems and authorizes the dissemination of the Request for Qualifications and Indication of Interest, in the form presented at this meeting, with such changes as are found acceptable by president of council and solicitor.”

Councilman Paul Holland made the motion to approve it. It was seconded by Councilwoman Roseanne Mychak and approved by all other council members present: Pietkiewicz; Robert D. Mychak, council vice president; and John Thomas.

Representatives of the Municipal Authority of the Borough of Shenandoah, including Chairwoman Donna Gawrylik and member Ray Stasulli, were present at Monday’s meeting and asked about the resolution.

Stasulli wanted to know who would be submitting proposals.

“There are no direct people that we send it out to, Raymond. It’s placed out there and any parties of interest would apply,” Pietkiewicz said.

The Pennsylvania Economy League will assist the borough getting information out to the public and “the organizations who would be interested in this type of deal,” Pietkiewicz said.

“Years back, DCED came in and they did their investigation,” Gawrylik said. “From last year up to the present, we haven’t heard anything from them. Did DCED contact the borough?”

“The Pennsylvania Economy League met with the sewer and borough officials to explain the situation and said they did speak with the water authority and that they would like to put both of them out at the same time because that makes it a larger asset to get an evaluation,” Pietkiewicz said.

“There are an awful lot of variables that go with this water authority. You know as well as I do,” Gawrylik said.

On May 8, Pietkiewicz was named as borough council representative on the authority, following the death of Councilman Donald E. Segal.

“We are in no way committed that this is going to happen. This is to get an overview of what we have, the value of what we have, infrastructure and property,” Pietkiewicz said.

Any decisions made about the future of the water and sewer facilities would be made at a public meeting, Pietkiewicz said.

In other matters at the August meeting, the council approved a resolution hoping to receive $90,075 from a state Department of Community and Economic Development grant for federal fiscal year 2017.

Of that, $32,065 was budgeted for street improvements, $20,000 was budgeted for code enforcement, $22,313 was budgeted for demolition and $16,327, which is 18 percent of the grant, was budgeted for administration, according to the resolution.

The council also decided to advertise a resolution regarding the designation for parking spaces for the handicapped.

In June, Mayor Andrew J. Szczyglak said people with those spaces were complaining about others parking in their spots. The resolution will give those people a permit number to further confirm their right to those spaces, Pietkiewicz said.

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

POTTSVILLE — While people around Schuylkill County were observing a solar eclipse Monday, an Ashland couple had their own special reason to celebrate.

Brittany Konas, 21, and her fiance, Josh Kowker, 26, welcomed their son, Taittum Kowker, into the world.

The birth was not scheduled to occur until Aug. 31. They did not plan to take in the partial solar eclipse before the birth of their son; however, Brittany said she looked at pictures of the eclipse on Facebook. Schuylkill County was not in the path of totality, where the moon would entirely block out the sun.

“I think it’s pretty cool actually,” Konas said. Taittum is the couple’s first child.

Taittum was born at 2:38 p.m. Monday at Lehigh Valley Hospital-S. Jackson Street. He weighed 7 pounds, 5 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long. The boy is named after Channing Tatum, a favorite actor of Kowker.

Brittany started going into labor between 3 and 4 a.m. Monday. She was in the labor/delivery room about 12:30 p.m.

“She was very calm, very composed. She did really well,” Carol Beckett, a registered nurse who was present for the birth, said.

Beckett joked during the delivery that Konas might want to “try for the eclipse.”

“I really thought he was going to be late. He came a little early,” Konas said.

Kowker told her to go the hospital early in the day, but she decided not to do because the pain was not too intense. Asthe contractions started to get closer together, she went to the hospital with her mother.

Kowker was beside Konas in the room while she gave birth.

“I was excited. It’s crazy just thinking you created something like that nine months ago,” he said, adding it is an experience he will not forget.

Taittum appeared to be napping Tuesday despite wearing a bib that said “#nonaps.”

“He’s quiet until you have to change him or he’s hungry. I think he has her mouth and my nose,” Kowker said.

The couple said they plan to tell their son about the solar eclipse and its importance. However, they have their own memorable moment from the day with the birth of their son.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

Ashland

The revitalization group Ashland Downtown Inc. will host an exhibit of the artwork of Bob McCormick at its office, 733 Centre St., next to BB&T Bank from noon to 2 p.m. Sept. 2 and 3, featuring original paintings that are in his recent book, “Almost Touching: Shades of a Coal Town Childhood.” The paintings will be displayed and prints, giclees, books and cards will be on sale. A portion of all art sales will benefit ADI, while card sales will support the Ashland Public Library.

Frackville

A free open house is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 3 at the Frackville Museum, located in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center at 42 S. Center St. It will mark the museum’s fifth anniversary, and a special invitation is being extended to the Frackville High School Class of 1967, which is marking its 50-year reunion. For more information, call 570-874-3531. The museum will formally mark its anniversary in September. Its research room includes alphabetical, biographical and chronological files on all businesses, churches, organizations and many Frackville residents, according to a release. Photos and many high school yearbooks also are available. Parking is available at the rear of the building, where there also is a ramp providing accessibility for the handicapped.

Mahanoy City

The Mahanoy City Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorials: For Kathy Daniels from George and Joanne Bradbury, Robert Hillibush, John and Sarah Bane, Roy and Anne Paisley, Paula Ney, Carol and Ben Blue, Jack and Barbara Grazel, John, Kim and John Henry Schroeder; for Beverly Fazio from Tom and Pat Seiberling, Women’s Club of Mahanoy City and Barbara and Bernie Kenesky; for Rose Flamini from Women’s Club of Mahanoy City, Joe and Monica Alansky, Marilyn Evans and family, Mr. and Mrs. Robert J. Herring and Betsy Day; for Kim Witizen from Barbara and Bernie Kenesky and Donna and Paul Peca; for Jean Kardisco from Carol and Ben Blue and Joan Shimkus; for Steve Valkosak Sr. from Dorothy Lewis; for Olga Ulinitz from Jim and Tina Davidson; for Catherine Pleva from Joan and Wayne Mensinger; book memorials for Antoinette “Toni” Houser from Mahanoy City Book Club; for Kathy Daniels from James and Elaine Hubbard; for Rose Flamini from Sam and Dolly Aungst.

McAdoo

Holy Trinity Orthodox Church, 223 S. Kennedy Drive, will hold a pierogie and halupki sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday. To order, call 570-929-2733.

McAdoo

The McAdoo High School Alumni Committee will meet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the McAdoo VFW to finalize plans for the annual homecoming dinner to be held Sept. 9 at Top of the 80s restaurant near Hazleton. James “Skipper” Ford of the Class of 1952 will be the main speaker. Anyone who did not receive an invitation but wishes to attend should call Marlene at 570 929-1379. Anyone wishing to join the committee is invited to attend the meeting.

Schuylkill Haven

A golf tournament sponsored by Penn State Schuylkill is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 24 at Mountain Valley Golf Course, 1021 Brockton Mountain Drive, Barnesville. The cost is $80 per golfer and $320 per team. The four-person scramble event will benefit the Penn State Schuylkill Alumni Scholarship Fund and athletic programs at the local campus. To register or for more information, call Patty Shoener at 570-385-6262.

Tamaqua

Zion Lutheran Church, Mauch Chunk and Greenwood streets, is having a peach social beginning at 4 p.m. today. In addition to peaches, ice cream and cake, a variety of food will be available, including homemade soups. Takeouts will be available. For more information, call 570-668-2180.

POTTSVILLE — A Saint Clair man changed numerous price tags on a shopping spree in his hometown and thereby tried to cheat a store out of more than $300, a Schuylkill County jury ruled Tuesday.

David A. Close, 45, did not react when the jury of 11 women and one man found him guilty of retail theft, the only charge against him, after deliberating a little more than an hour.

Judge John E. Domalakes, who presided over the one-day trial, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and scheduled Close’s sentencing for 1:30 p.m. Oct. 5. He allowed Close to remain free on $5,000 percentage bail pending sentencing.

Saint Clair police charged Close with switching the price tags, also known as UPC (Universal Product Code) labels, on numerous items, including beef jerky, detergent, spray paint, razors, underwear and candy, on March 21, 2016, at the Wal-Mart Supercenter in the borough.

“He switched them,” Christina Carls, a Wal-Mart asset protection employee, said of Close and the labels. Carls said Close went to a self-service checkout lane and paid $48.12 for merchandise that would have cost $361.23 with the correct labels before being stopped when trying to leave the store.

Furthermore, Close actually put his own labels on the items he tried to take.

“(Customers) cannot bring their own UPC labels in,” Carls said.

Desirae Somers, another Wal-Mart asset protection employee, said she saw Close changing the labels, which she termed ticket swapping.

“There were quite a few. There was a whole bunch of different items,” Somers said of the products Close tried to buy at lower prices with the fake labels. “The altered bar codes were the ones being scanned in.”

Somers also said Close had additional fake labels in his hand when stopped.

Saint Clair police Patrolman Brad J. Blanner, the prosecuting officer, also said Close had the labels.

Julie A. Werdt, Orwigsburg, Close’s lawyer, said in her closing argument that the evidence did not prove Close’s guilt.

“There are things that don’t make sense,” she said. “Beyond a reasonable doubt is a standard that just isn’t necessarily met in this case.”

However, jurors accepted the closing argument of First Assistant District Attorney John T. Fegley, who said what Close did was obvious, especially in light of the extra labels he was carrying.

“There’s no reason not to” believe the prosecution witnesses, Fegley said. “If you believe these witnesses, you have to find this person guilty.”

Afterward, Fegley praised the people who made the case for him.

“The people at the Saint Clair Wal-Mart always do an excellent job assembling the case, as well as the Saint Clair Police Department. They’re a professional force,” he said. “I’m pleased with the outcome today. Justice was done.”

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

Deeds

Blythe Township — Edward M. and Goldy A. Stillwagner to Edward M. and Goldy A. Stillwagner and Jean Stillwagner; 378 Ridge Road, Cumbola; $1.

Branch Township — Rachel A. Leibensperger to William Rogers and Chandra Muldowney; 223 Bunting St., Llewellyn; $85,000.

Coaldale — Joseph and Tammy Sword to William C. Rivello; 231 E. High St.; $65,000.

East Brunswick Township — Theodore Dentzer, executor of the Estate of Marie E. Dentzer, to Christine A. and Jared U. Sabitsky; 9.162-acre property on Route 895; $75,000.

East Union Township — Cynthia A. and Gary S. Shellhorn to Matthew W. Florio; 270 Main Blvd., Brandonville; $199,000.

Frackville — Ronald and Diana Hartz to Mary Sbano; 402 W. Chestnut St.; $60,000.

Gordon — Bernard J. Bann, by attorneys in fact E. Charles Bann and Sueann Bann, to Melissa M. Withelder; 113 McKnight St.; $1.

Hubley Township — Steven L. and Kathryn Ebersol to Steven L. and Kathryn Ebersol; 8831 State Route 25, Spring Glen; $1.

POTTSVILLE — Luis A. Henriquez left Schuylkill County Court a free man on Wednesday, as a jury acquitted him of six charges resulting from an incident in December 2016 in which a woman said he tried to rape her.

Jurors deliberated approximately one hour before finding Henriquez, 37, of Shenandoah, not guilty of attempted rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, open lewdness and two counts of indecent assault.

The verdict ended a one-day trial over which Judge Jacqueline L. Russell presided.

Shenandoah police had charged Henriquez with trying to rape the woman on Dec. 3, 2016, in a borough apartment she was considering renting.

“I tried to push him off of me. He got more physical,” the woman testified when questioned by Assistant District Attorney Debra A. Smith. “He was going to have sex with me.”

The woman started to cry as she recounted her version of the events.

“I told him I wanted nothing sexual,” she said. However, the woman said that did nothing to stop him, even as she tried to push him away.

“Were you alarmed by that?” Smith asked the woman.

“Yes,” the woman replied.

When cross-examined by Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins, Henriquez’s lawyer, she could not provide the times of the events, nor how long she was in the building with Henriquez.

Shenandoah police Patrolman William A. Moyer testified he found the woman at the One Stop convenience store in the borough.

“She was hysterically crying. She had a hard time speaking,” he said.

However, Moyer also testified he had no first-hand knowledge of what occurred.

Henriquez denied all the allegations against him.

“What happened between you two, if anything?” Watkins asked his client.

“Nothing,” Henriquez answered. “I never touched her.”

He did testify that the woman smoked marijuana while at the apartment, which she had been interested in renting.

Henriquez also said two men who knew the woman had beaten him up after these alleged events.

In her closing argument, Smith said the evidence showed Henriquez was guilty.

“She said she wanted to leave. He touched her breast. He reached up her shirt. He’s forcing her down onto the bed,” telling her what he is going to do, Smith said.

Furthermore, the things that stuck in Henriquez’s mind show he is capable of such actions, according to Smith.

“He remembers her dark, tight sweater and her tight pants,” she said.

However, jurors accepted Watkins’ closing argument that Henriquez’s version of events is far more believable than the woman’s.

Watkins said that if the woman’s story were true, she would have arrived at the convenience store before Henriquez did.

Furthermore, if the woman had not liked the apartment, as she testified, she would have left long before she said she did, Watkins said.

“Does what she says make sense? Why didn’t she leave?” Watkins said.

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

The defendant

· Name: Luis A. Henriquez

· Age: 37

· Residence: Shenandoah

· Verdict: Not guilty of attempted rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault, open lewdness and two counts of indecent assault

Make A Difference Day, the largest national day of community service, will be held nationwide on Saturday, Oct. 28.

Schuylkill County will be hosting the event for projects that take place locally within one week of the national date. We invite you to join us to help improve the quality of life in our communities. What a wonderful gift to the people of Schuylkill County.

Some of you are already gearing up for another successful campaign. Thousands of people and dozens of groups will be volunteering to do projects such as helping a food bank, making simple stuffed bears to soothe children in distress, doing chores for their homebound neighbor, knitting hats for kindergarten students, entertaining nursing home residents, making goodie bags for children in hospitals, cleaning a park, making lending library stands in public parks, collecting socks and T-shirts for chemotherapy patients, weeding and painting playground equipment and more. These are a few of the creative projects that have been done in the past. No effort is too small and every project helps someone.

This office is the coordinating center for the event. If you or your group are struggling to find an idea, contact Community Volunteers in Action later in the month for a “wish” list of project ideas submitted by organizations in need or for general project ideas.

We ask you to kindly register your project to be part of this special event. It’s easy. Make A Difference Day registration forms are now being accepted. Keep in mind that your project does not have to occur on Oct. 28. We understand that some of you aren’t available that day.

However, since we’re part of a national campaign, part of your project must occur within one week of the date. You may elect to not be considered for a Special Commendation Award if you choose. But, please, register so we can better track how many people and groups participate in Schuylkill County.

We hope to see you again this year and remember to have fun with your project.

Registration forms can be printed from our website at www.schuylkill.us/cvia or by contacting this office at 570-628-1426, or emailing to jjohnston@co.schuylkill.pa.us

A benefit concert for Hillside SPCA will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the Walk In Art Center. Emily Barrett, mark Denchy, Susan Featro, and Tom Flamini will perform. Tickets sell for $8 in advance and $10 at the door. To order tickets or for more information, call 570-640-3122.

Operation Reach Out volunteers

Times: Tuesday and/or Thursday mornings, for a maximum of four hours per day, but could be less.

Responsibility: Using a provided list, call Meals on Wheels clients in local areas to check on them on a day when meals are not delivered. Follow reporting procedure if a client cannot be reached.

Skills: For volunteers age 55 and above. Dependable and friendly. Training and on-going support are provided.

Location: From volunteer’s home or from agency office.

Call: Darla Troutman, RSVP of Schuylkill County, at 570-622-3103.

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

Deeds

East Union Township — Paul D. and Martha Helton to William R. Jr. and Kathleen Hearter; 2 Locust Circle, Eagle Rock; $306,000.

Steven and Yanie Koch to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 157HF3, Eagle Rock; $41,029.12.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Aslam Hameed Abdul and Mahjabeen Tal; Lot 54WS, Eagle Rock; $46,359.

Nikola and Tona Djokic to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 225WS, Eagle Rock; $5,986.40.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Eloise De Guzman and Teddy D. Apolonio; Lot 225WS, Eagle Rock; $46,359.

Gary Vorgity to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 52WS and 53WS, Eagle Rock; $22,119.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Parulben K. and Kehta R. Mehta; Lot 52WS, Eagle Rock; $35,249.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Armina B. and Efren G. Balonzo; Lot 53WS, Eagle Rock; $36,259.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Robert R. and Maureen S. Friedman; Lot 46WSS5, Eagle Rock; $55,482.41.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Donalen Cerbana; Lot 270HF3, Eagle Rock; $39,289.

Eldred Township — Evelyn J. Bowman to Evelyn J. Bowman, trustee of the Evelyn J. Bowman Revocable Family Trust; 30.3-acre property on Creek Road; $1.

Mahanoy City — Lori Weikel, administratrix of the Estate of Deborah M. Karlavage, to Flaminiu Doru Borocan; 417-419 E. South St.; $18,000.

McAdoo — Louis M. Borchick to Doralisa Feliz Melo; 229 E. Grant St.; $15,500.

North Manheim Township — John J. Symons to Jacob Webb; 2 Hemlock Drive; $160,000.

Pine Grove Township — JMAC Realty LLC to Robert A. Patton and Alycia A. Barr; 132 Geary Wolfe Road; $90,000.

Pottsville — Federal National Mortgage Association to TPB Advertising Properties LP; 429 Nichols St.; $22,500.

Christine L. Long to Federal National Mortgage Association; 404 E. Norwegian St.; $1.

Rush Township — Paul M. and Anne C. Gober to Paul M. and Anne C. Gober; 96 Grier Ave., Barnesville; $1.

Mark J. and Maura E. Streisel to Theresa Marie Nyer; 8 Lorraine St., Hometown; $189,900.

Schuylkill Haven — Jeffrey T. Jacoby and Kevin R. Jacoby to Elizabeth G. Thesing; 41 Blossom Lane; $165,000.

Schuylkill Township — Joan D. Takacs, executrix of the Estate of Joan F. Mateyak, to Joan D. Takacs and Kenneth M. Mateyak; 50 percent interest in property in Tuscarora; $1.

Shenandoah — Eloy Martinez to Judith Pinczker; 435 Furnace St., Turkey Run; $19,000.

South Manheim Township — Louis T. and Cynthia A. Ciocco to Louis T. and Cynthia A. Ciocco; 2040 Wynonah Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1.

Tower City — Jeffrey A. Dohner and Marla Dellapenna to Raffey’s 21 LLC; 136 E. Grand Ave.; $31,500.

Washington Township — Marsha S. Kline to Marsha S. Kline and Robert S. Kline, co-trustees of the Marsha S. Kline Living Trust; 21 Lakefront Drive; $1.

Melinda M. Diehl to Joshua J. Smith; 3739 Sweet Arrow Lake Road; $149,900.

Arlene Newswanger to Clair Newswanger; 0.0902-acre property; $1.

Matthew A. and Katrina L. Henderson to Katrina L. Henderson; 970 Deturksville Road, Deturksville; $1.

Brian and Angela Hunter to Robert L. Jr. and Rita A. Fraley; 134 Grist Mill Road; $265,000.

Bradley Ulsh to Bradley and Alexandria L. Ulsh; 761 Mountain Road; $1.

Wayne Township — Benjamin S. Bishop to Robert and Diana Smerdon; Lot 90, Lake Wynonah; $5,000.

Florian A. Waldspurger Jr. to John W. and Lori A. Michael; Lot 929, Lake Wynonah; $2,000.

West Mahanoy Township — G.F. Real Estate Developers Inc. to American Community Outreach Inc.; 159 S. Line St.; $1.

West Penn Township — Carl R. and Julie Breiner to Dean R. and Andrea M. Arner; 2.062-acre property on Route 895; $50,000.

Mahanoy City

The local Elks lodge, 135 E. Centre St., will have a breaded pork chop dinner beginning at 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at the lodge. The cost is $9 per person. Meals will also include potato, vegetable, cole slaw, roll/butter and dessert. Patrons may eat at the lodge or take meals out. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-573-2649.

Orwigsburg

The Orwigsburg Area Free Public Library, 214 E. Independence St., will have a “blow-out” book sale from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 9 featuring a bag of books for $5. Proceeds will benefit the children’s reading program. There will also be presorted book bundles for $1 and up. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-366-1638.

Pottsville

The Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St., will stage “Builders’ Bonanza” at 6 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays in September through December for youngsters ages 5-12. Participants in the free event will make various creations with LEGOs, Goldieblox and other educational toys. LEGO donations are welcome. For more information, call the library’s Darren DeArment at 570-622-8880 or email potchild@pottsvillelibrary.org.

Pottsville

To mark its 50th anniversary this year, the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation has added the Circles of Giving program, a special grant-making endeavor to “raise $50,000 to be awarded in grants to nonprofit organizations within our community with an emphasis on these six pillars — arts and culture, community, education, environment, health and wellness and human services,” SACF officials said in a release. SACF Program Manager Sharon Koszyk said the foundation has reached its goal and will award 32 nonprofit organizations this year from the “generous donations received from our Golden Circle and Community Circle donors from throughout Schuylkill County.” Since its inception in 1967, SACF has awarded more than $7 million from its charitable funds in the form of grants, school awards and scholarships to nonprofit organizations and students, according to the release. For more on the foundation, call Marybeth Matz, assistant program manager, at 570-624-7223 or email her at mmatz1@verizon.net.

Saint Clair

Saint Clair-Wade United Methodist Church, 23 N. Front St., will have a food fair and bake sale beginning at 10 a.m. Sept. 23. All are welcome. For more information, email bob6512@verizon.net.

Tremont

The Tremont Community Organization will feature a vintage fashion show and tea from 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 10 at the borough building, 139 Clay St. Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door. The show will feature models wearing bridal gowns and fashions through the years. For more information, call 570-640-8600.

Weston

The Weston Athletic Association will conduct a membership drive for 2017-18 in September. The cost is $5 for an individual membership and $10 for a family membership. For more information, call Mary Anne Enama at 570-384-2375 or Diane Petrovich at 570-384-3311.

William Penn

The William Penn Fire Company, Mount Olive Boulevard (Route 54) just west of Shenandoah, will host its first 7K race — the Raven Run 7K — and one-mile fun run on Oct. 7 in the village of Raven Run, West Mahanoy Township, rain or shine. The fun run, for children, will start at 9:30 a.m. and the 7K will start at 10 a.m. The course will be in West Mahanoy and Union townships. If it’s successful, the race will become an annual event, organizers said in a release forwarded by company President Rich Stevens. For more information, call 570-462-0338.

POTTSVILLE — Instead of going to trial, Charles E. Chadwell is going to state prison after admitting Wednesday to a Schuylkill County judge that he committed two sets of crimes, including one where he tried to rob the owner of a Pottsville motel.

Chadwell, 27, of Larksville, must serve four to eight years in a state correctional institution, Judge John E. Domalakes ruled. Domalakes, who had been scheduled to preside over Chadwell’s trial, also sentenced the defendant to pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account.

Chadwell pleaded guilty to attempted robbery, possessing instrument of crime, terroristic threats and simple assault in one case, and theft from a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia in the other.

In the first case, Pottsville police charged Chadwell with trying to rob Danesh Patel, the owner of the Pottsville Motor Inn, 480 N. Claude A. Lord Blvd., with a pair of box cutters about 3:15 p.m. March 16. Police said Chadwell demanded money from Patel, searched him and then fled when he found none.

In the other case, Pottsville police also filed the charges, alleging Chadwell stole a registration plate and possessed syringes on March 16 in the 400 block of East Norwegian Street.

During the hearing, Chadwell said little except that he understood the terms and consequences of his plea and was making it knowingly and voluntarily.

After sentencing Chadwell, Domalakes brought the jurors into the courtroom to tell them what had occurred and remind them that, in spite of the fact there had been no trial, they had performed their duty.

“He entered a plea to all of the charges,” Domalakes said of Chadwell. “I want to thank you for being here. Had you not shown up on time … we don’t know whether this plea would ever have been offered. You did your job.”

Deputy Assistant District Attorney Robert I. Lipkin said the result was correct.

“Justice was done. He’s going to serve a stiff sentence,” Lipkin said of Chadwell.

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

The defendant

· Name: Charles E. Chadwell

· Age: 27

· Residence: Larksville

· Crimes committed: Attempted robbery, possessing instrument of crime, terroristic threats and simple assault in one case, and theft from a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia in the other

· Prison sentence: Four to eight years in a state correctional institution

POTTSVILLE — The Salvation Army of Pottsville has new leaders.

Envoys Brad Harris, 41, and Gina Harris, 36, started in their new role June 28.

Originally from Portsmouth, Ohio, the couple said they are excited to start their new life in Schuylkill County.

“It’s a beautiful place,” Brad Harris said.

Brad Harris was a hospice chaplain and the pastor of a small church in Portsmouth before getting involved with The Salvation Army. Gina Harris was the director of a day care. They have an 11-year-old daughter.

Capt. Kevin Polito left his position in Pottsville earlier this year for personal reasons. He arrived in Pottsville in the summer of 2015.

Brad Harris said Pottsville reminds him of his hometown in good ways and bad. He sees how the community comes together to help those in need, but he also sees poverty and drug use.

He said he would like to expand social services at the Pottsville corps. They want to do more fundraising activities and bring on a full-time caseworker who can help families break the cycle of poverty.

There is a full-time caseworker who does duties like running the food pantry and is the contact person for utility assistance and other duties. Harris is appreciative of the those who volunteer at the Pottsville location.

He wants the public to not be afraid to come to the organization when in need.

“We are available to help them,” he said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

MCADOO — Three buildings at the borough’s main intersection will be rehabilitated, according to a representative of the property owners.

Daniel Poncavage, a registered architect, told the borough council last week the owners of buildings at 1-5 S. Kennedy Drive and 22 E. Blaine St. — including the former Kline’s clothing store — intend to remodel the buildings, which include three storefronts and several upper-floor apartments.

“I personally inspected all areas other than the basements. All areas visible to the street,” Poncavage told council. “I saw no life-threatening situations. There’s some loose brick here and there, and certainly an old wall with a lean to it. Nothing in my professional opinion said ‘watch out here.’ ”

Poncavage described the project as a “total rehab” that will also include the storefronts for commercial use.

“We’re not just putting a Band-Aid on that,” he said. “We are making those units livable again. These people will be putting on the market a high quality of living space.”

Poncavage presented the council with a letter he wrote to Ralph Hummel, McAdoo’s permit construction officer, that stated what the owners’ intentions for the properties are.

First, there will be a cleanup and removal of all exterior debris. Emergency roof repairs will be made, “especially on 5 S. Kennedy Drive,” Poncavage said, and all units will be secured.

“We’re off and running. We’re just getting started,” he said. “There is a lot of work there.

“Thank you for your patience. It’s not that patience will solve the problem, just good planning work.”

After the preliminary work is done, Poncavage said the developers will apply for permits for any demolition that is needed along with sidewalk reconstruction, precautions to secure chimneys and stabilization of exterior masonry.

The buildings won’t get sprinklers like a new building, but there are other ways to protect against fire, he said.

“The codes have a hard way to grab hold of something that is already there and make you change things to make them safe. When you are doing a total rehab, you have to,” Poncavage said.

He said there are ways to negate the need for sprinklers, like fire ratings and smoke detectors. “I know the codes. None of this is to circumvent the codes,” he said.

According to online Schuylkill County Parcel Locator, the owner of the properties is Franklin Soto, Taft Street, Hazleton, who purchased the properties on Jan. 3 for $47,500.

Poncavage told the council he is no stranger to McAdoo. He was the architect for Valero gas station and the Keystone Fire Company.

Councilwoman Marion DeBalko said she took a walk around the buildings with the borough’s building code officer and a structural engineer from Lehigh Engineering.

DeBalko asked Poncavage about the leaning wall.

“Anything is fixable,” Poncavage said. “I’ve seen worse. The Tamaqua Train Station, before it was fixed up, could have only taken one more winter.”

DeBalko asked if the owners would rehabilitate one building first to get revenue to do the others. Poncavage indicated that in his letter.

“Some of them (buildings) are a more handleable element,” he said. “It’s always very tight with dollars. Stating the obvious, if it was easy, it could be done by now. But there is history in the front, with those glazed brick (on Kline’s). I remember them selling shoes there forever. It’s such a prominent building. It is in the center of things. I can see your concern not only for safety but appearance. Those kind of goals are the goals the owners have that will make a successful project.”

Crossing guards

The council voted to call all crossing guards back for the 2017-18 school year — Joseph DaSilva, Pat Kott, Mary Alice Kuchera, Ruth Mayshock and, if needed, Helen Yelito.

Mayor Stephan Holly had an issue with crossing guards who work at Blaine and Cleveland streets.

Holly said that a crossing guard has to get out of the car because vehicles are going around the bus when it stops to leave students off, creating a dangerous situation for students exiting the bus.

DeBalko questioned the safety of a crossing guard in the middle of the street.

But a change in Hazleton Area School District busing may have solved the problem, DeBalko said.

DeBalko contacted district transportation officials, who told her the Blaine and Cleveland bus will be traveling south instead of north on Cleveland Street, which will move where the bus stops.

Also, DeBalko said she learned the bus with the most students will be stopping near East Sheridan and East Grant streets, so the location of some of the crossing guards may be changed.

Contact the writer: jdino@standardspeaker.com, 570-501-3585

RINGTOWN — At a special meeting Monday, the borough council hired a full-time borough worker.

At the meeting at the borough hall, 31 S. Centre St., Councilman James Compton Sr. made the motion to hire Josh Knipe, Sheppton, with a salary of $14 per hour. The motion was seconded by Councilman David Seresky and carried unanimously with votes by council President Julian Milewski and Councilman Leonard Kamarousky. Councilman Thomas Murray was not present.

Earlier this year, the council fired its previous full-time borough worker, Nicholas Milewski, who is related to the borough council president.

“It was my cousin’s boy. It’s a personnel issue. It was not made public,” Milewski said, and he would not discuss the matter further.

He said there were 10 applications received for the post.

“They were paper-screened down to the best four, and the four were interviewed,” Milewski said.

The borough only has three full-time employees, Milewski said.

“There’s the foreman, the borough secretary/treasurer and the borough worker,” he said.

The borough also has a part-time police officer.

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

POTTSVILLE — The Schuylkill County commissioners signed off on a 10-year tax break Wednesday for the redevelopment company planning to demolish the Schuylkill Mall and build two industrial buildings supporting hundreds of new jobs.

The Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance program grants NorthPoint Development, a redevelopment company based just outside Kansas City, Missouri, a 50 percent tax break over the next 10 years on any increased property value.

Brent Miles, NorthPoint vice president, thanked the commissioners at the meeting Wednesday for participating in the LERTA program.

“We are going to take some lemons and make some nice lemonade and I think that lemonade is going to be a big capital investment in the community,” Miles said.

New Castle Township and the Saint Clair Area School District had already approved their portions of the LERTA agreement.

Last week, Brian Hansbury, Schuylkill Economic Development Corp. vice president, outlined NorthPoint Development’s plans for the mall at the county commissioners’ work session.

Demolition will start in the fall near the former Sears and Bon-Ton sections of the mall and make its way toward Pearl Theatre Stadium 8, which will remain open through the end of the year. Construction will start in the spring on two buildings about 890,000 and 360,000 square feet. Following redevelopment, the two buildings are estimated by SEDCO to have a combined assessed value of $18,951,350.

“Hopefully, when all is said and done, come this spring the mall will be down and next fall the buildings will be up,” Miles said.

He pointed out that the county, as well as New Castle Township and the Saint Clair Area School District, will see an immediate uptick in tax revenue from the property as soon as construction starts and the LERTA term begins.

The property currently produces $254,526 in real estate tax revenue for New Castle Township ($47,096), Saint Clair Area School District ($146,081) and the county ($61,348).

During the 10-year term of the LERTA program, the three taxing bodies are estimated to receive a combined $588,913 in tax revenue. That includes $108,970 for New Castle Township, $337,997 for Saint Clair Area School District and $141,913 for the county.

Post-LERTA tax revenue is estimated to total $1,177,826.40, which consists of $217,941 for New Castle Township, $675,995 for Saint Clair Area School District and $283,891 for the county.

Although NorthPoint Development does not have any agreements in place with tenants to occupy the buildings, Hansbury said last week they are projected to be able to support at least 830 jobs.

“On a bad day, we are going to see 500 jobs in this facility and I think we can see close to 2,000 when it is all said and done,” Miles said.

“One of the things we are very proud of is the workforce here and I think that helps the sell,” commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said.

Miles agreed, citing the many applications Hudson’s Bay Co. received when they moved into the property NorthPoint owned at the Highridge Industrial Park, Foster Township.

NorthPoint bought the 455,000-square-foot building in January 2016 that was previously owned by Proligis and sat vacant for at least three years, Hansbury said last week. NorthPoint expanded the building to 1.3 million square feet.

Hudson’s Bay Co. takes up about 1 million square feet in the building and employs about 300 people while Hollander Home Fashions, Frackville, is the process of relocating its 225 employees to the remaining 350,000 square feet and plans to hire an additional 80 people.

“The success at Highridge really led us down to the mall,” Miles said. “Seeing that number of applicants come out for Hudson’s Bay tells us that the workforce is strong.”

“We truly appreciate the confidence you have in Schuylkill County,” Commissioner Frank J. Staudenmeier said. “We recognize the presence you have and obviously you like what you saw or you would never had made that investment.”

Commissioner Gary J. Hess said the county is glad to have NorthPoint Development as a business partner.

“We appreciate it,” Hess said. “We welcome you and look forward to working with you in the future.”

Meanwhile, Miles said they continue to work with Pearl Theatre Stadium 8 and the other tenants at the mall as they look for new locations to set up shop in the county.

“We are trying to be very sensitive to the tenants that are there,” he said. “This has happened in particular with the movie theater. We know it is a big community asset here in the county so we are trying to do as best as we can by them.”

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

POTTSVILLE — The number of bridges being repaired annually in Schuylkill County will likely double when the new $5 vehicle registration fee goes into effect in 2018.

Last week, the commissioners gave their approval to advertise a new ordnance imposing a $5 on vehicle registrations. The ordinance is available for review in the commissioners’ office at the courthouse.

“It basically doubles our money,” Lisa Mahall, county engineer, said Wednesday. “That allows us to repair more bridges”

The county receives an annual allocation of about $600,000 from the state for its liquid fuels fund. The money comes from taxes collected at gas pumps and local allocation is based on population and miles of road.

That is enough funding to fix about two bridges a year, Mahall said.

Based on the number of vehicles registered with the state Department of Transportation in Schuylkill County last year, the new fee would generate an additional $762,370 for the county’s liquid fuels fund and allow the county to fix four or five bridges a year.

The $5 fee will go into effect Jan. 1, 2018, according to Gary Bender, county administrator.

“It’s going to be something the public will see being put to use,” Bender said.

The fee will be collected through the state Department of Transportation when someone registers their vehicle and then remitted in full back to the county to spend on construction, replacement, maintenance and repair of public roads and bridges.

Gov. Tom Corbett gave counties in Pennsylvania the option of adopting the $5 fee in his 2013 transportation plan, also known as Act 89. The legislation included higher fees and an increase in per-gallon gasoline tax to generate billions of dollars for infrastructure improvements.

The county owns 62 bridges — only one of which is less than 20 feet in length — and two roads across its 67 municipalities. The roads are University Drive, which runs from Route 61 to Penn State Schuylkill in Schuylkill Haven, and Airport Road, which runs from Route 901 to the Schuylkill County’s Joe Zerbey Airport, Foster Township.

The county also previously owned Highridge Road in Cass Township until the Highridge Improvement District was formed in 2015 and took over that responsibility.

“University Drive will be a priority,” Bender said.

The replacement of University Drive will cost about $1 million, Mahall said.

The county spent $10,688,790.67 in liquid fuels money on 24 bridge projects from 2002 to 2016.

Thirteen of the county-owned bridges have weight restrictions posted and are in need of repair while at least two bridges need to be replaced.

The first bridge that will be replaced is county bridge No. 123 that goes over the Little Schuylkill River on Broad Street, Port Clinton. Built in 1926, the bridge is a pony plate girder that is 164 feet long and 20 feet wide.

The commissioners already approved about $80,000 for project design. The total cost to replace the bridge will be about $4.5 to $5 million, Mahall said.

The next bridge that will be replaced using funding generated from the $5 fee will be county bridge No. 114, also known as Zimmerman Covered Bridge, which runs over the Lower Little Swatara Creek on Covered Bridge Road in Rock, Washington Township. It is one of only two covered bridges still standing in Schuylkill County and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

However, federal funding may be available like it was to replace the other covered bridge. The county received a $1.1 million National Historic Covered Bridge Grant in 2014 from the Federal Highway Administration to replace county bridge No. 113, also known as The Rock Covered Bridge, on Newswanger Road and over Little Swatara Creek, Washington Township.

Located just east of the Zimmerman Covered Bridge, the Rock Covered Bridge was built in 1870 and is also a Burr-arch truss style bridge 50 feet, 7 inches long.

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

FRACKVILLE — One of the worst kind of sewer delinquents to deal with are those who have wells, according to Paul Domalakes, solicitor for the Frackville Area Municipal Authority.

“They’re hooked on to the system, and with most of them, we have no problem. The problem is the enforcement of the sewer bill,” Domalakes said after FAMA’s Aug. 16 meeting.

Usually, if customers fail to pay sewer bills, FAMA can encourage compliance by shutting off their water.

“If you cut off and, suddenly, people can’t live in their home. It’s a drastic remedy we use to good effect. After we shut off someone’s water, they usually call to make arrangements to pay their sewer bill. The trouble is when you have a well you can’t shut off the water. So what do you do?” he said.

There are “about 25 to 30” FAMA customers who use wells, Rhonda C. Frantz, FAMA’s office manager, said. She believed most live in Butler and West Mahanoy townships. Of those, she said there are “three or four” delinquent.

“Two owe more than $1,000,” Frantz said.

At the meeting, the board allowed Domalakes to take steps to deal with them.

“The next step is to notify them that they’re going to get a sheriff’s sale notification,” Frantz said.

“We can sell their property to pay our bill. That’s an expensive proposition. The sewer authority has to start advancing money to the sheriff and to the prothonotary. It’s a costly thing to do. It adds $2,000 to your bill,” Domalakes said.

He estimated the authority will give the delinquents 30 days to pay before the next step is taken.

In other matters, the authority reported the wastewater flowing from the State Correctional Institution/Frackville is still higher than it should be. The prison is FAMA’s largest customer.

The authority and the Department of Corrections approved a new service agreement at the end of 2016. The first billing with the new agreement began in December 2016. It stated the prison could not exceed an average capacity of 200,000 gallons per day, or exceed 220,000 gallons in a 24-hour period.

In May, the prison did not exceed capacity. The average was 165,068 gallons per day, so the prison was charged $6 per 1,000 gallons. The prison sent 5,117,120 gallons for the month and the May bill was $30,702.72.

In June, the prison bill exceeded the 200,000 gallon-per-day average daily flow for the month. The average was 213,996 gallons per day, so the prison was charged $7.50 per 1,000 gallons. That’s a surcharge, “a penalty,” Domalakes said. The prison sent 6,419,884 gallons to the treatment plant, and the came to $48,149, according to Frantz.

At the June meeting, Domalakes said the flow from the prison had never been that high. In July, the prison broke the record again.

In July, average daily flow at the prison was 217,329 gallons per day, so it was again charged $7.50 per 1,000 gallons. The prison sent 6,737,212 gallons to the treatment plant, and the bill was $50,529, according to Paul Klevis, chairman of the FAMA liaison/office committee. If the numbers remain high this month, FAMA may request a meeting with prison officials to determine if the higher levels will become the new normal.

“They are completely aware of the situation. Their engineer has been in contact with our engineer and they are working on it to see what they can do to lower their discharge,” Frantz said.

Also, it was reported the delinquent list as of Aug. 16 was $125,964.78; 215 accounts owing more than $300, Klevis said.

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

Bicycle, vehicle

collide in Pottsville

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville police investigated a crash about 9:50 p.m. Friday involving a vehicle and a bicycle.

Police said a 79-year-old Pottsville woman was driving a 2009 Pontiac G6 west in the 1500 block of West Norwegian Street when a 7-year-old Pottsville boy rode his bicycle off of the sidewalk and into the road where he was hit.

Police said boy suffered minor injuries and was transported by Schuylkill EMS to a local medical facility for treatment.

The vehicle sustained minor damage to the passenger-side bumper, police said, adding that witnesses at the scene confirmed that there were no actions of the woman that caused the collision.

Man arrested, jailed

following dispute

POTTSVILLE — A man was jailed after being arrested by Pottsville police when officers were called to 1119 W. Market St. for a domestic fight about 3:40 p.m. Friday.

At the scene, police said, they spoke to Quame Caldwell, 30, who had a laceration above his left eye and reported that he and his girlfriend were arguing.

The man’s girlfriend reported the two had been in an argument that escalated to a point with Caldwell hitting her repeatedly in the head and back of the neck, police said.

The woman said that the argument and subsequent attack started inside the residence, continued onto the porch and that in addition to hitting her, Caldwell pushed her against a porch railing that broke, police said.

Police said the woman was able to get away from Caldwell temporarily and into the vehicle of a friend, but Caldwell followed her and continued the assault, striking her again. Police said the woman was able to grab a bottle from inside the car and struck Caldwell to get him away from her.

Based on the investigation, police said, Patrolman Grant Yoder, the arresting officer, charged Caldwell with domestic violence simple assault. Caldwell was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $2,500 bail, police said.

Tractor-trailer hits

wires in Cressona

CRESSONA — A tractor-trailer got caught in low-hanging wires about 12:10 p.m. Tuesday on North Sillyman Street, just south of Produce Street, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said the driver, who was not identified, was driving a 2014 Freightliner south on Sillyman Street, Route 901, as a 2008 GMC Sierra was pulling out of a parking at Scott Millworks and traveling south.

The tractor-trailer driver turned left onto the parking lot when the trailer got caught in low-lying wires, continued onto the parking lot and snapped the utility pole, causing the wires to come down on the back part of the Sierra truck, shattering the back window, police said.

Cressona fire police assisted at the scene, and police said the road in the area was reduced to one lane of traffic until the truck driver was able to back up and release the wires.

Utility crews were called to the scene to repair the pole and wires, police said.

Phone call results

in funds withdrawn

KLINGERSTOWN — State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a theft that occurred about 11:30 a.m. Saturday at 178 Vista Road.

Police said a 69-year-old Klingerstown man reported receiving a telephone call from a man who said he worked for a software maintenance company. The victim said the man identified himself as Ryan Wilson and said he wanted to reimburse the victim $498 for not using the software in two years.

Police said the victim told them he had purchased the software two years ago and did not think anything was wrong with the telephone call.

The victim then gave the man his account information and subsequently noticed $1,450 was taken out without his permission.

Police said the victim tried calling back the telephone number, 408-844-4411, but there was no answer.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 570-754-4600.

Cressona woman

jailed on warrant

ORWIGSBURG — A Cressona woman was jailed on an active warrant Monday after she was found in a vehicle in a borough business’ parking lot, police said.

Borough police investigated a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of Boyer’s Food Market, 239 S. Liberty St., on Monday.

Police said officers made contact with the occupants and while trying to identify them, learned one man provided false information for a female passenger who appeared to be sleeping.

The woman continued identifying herself with a false date of birth, but she was subsequently identified as Ashley Renninger, 32, of Cressona, who had an active warrant from Schuylkill County Adult Probation, police said.

The man who tried to conceal Renninger’s identity was identified as David Dreher, 29, of Schuylkill Haven, police said.

Renninger was committed to Schuylkill County Prison on the warrant, and police said Dreher is facing charges of hindering apprehension.

Orwigsburg man

picked up on warrant

ORWIGSBURG — A borough man is facing charges by Orwigsburg police after an Aug. 17 incident in the 200 block of Long Avenue.

Police said officers were called to the area for a report of a man wanted by Schuylkill County Adult Probation who may be traveling to the area to visit family.

The man, Matthew Nickerson, 32, was stopped by officers, taken into custody and to Schuylkill County Prison on the warrant, police said, adding that the man will be facing an additional charge of driving while his operating privileges are suspended or revoked.