2 injured in

2-vehicle collision

NEW RINGGOLD — Two people were injured when two vehicles collided about 2:45 p.m. Saturday on Indian Run Road in East Brunswick Township.

State police at Frackville said Shannon M. Katerman, 34, of New Ringgold was driving a 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe making a left turn from her driveway onto Indian Run road when she drove into the path of a 2004 Chevrolet Escape being driven on Indian Run Road by Stanley C. Choynacky, 61, of Philadelphia.

Choynacky and his passenger, Sandy Choynacky, 67, also of Philadelphia, suffered minor injuries while Katerman was not hurt, police said.

Katerman will be cited for vehicles or crossing roadways, police said, adding that New Ringgold firefighters and West Penn Township EMS assisted at the scene.

Roving DUI patrols,

checkpoints slated

The North Central Regional Sobriety Checkpoint DUI Taskforce announced that Sobriety Checkpoints and Roving DUI Patrols will be conducted today through Sept. 5 along routes 61, 183, 901, 209, 1006, 309, 1008, 443, 895, 125, 25, 924 and 54.

Travelers are reminded to call 911 if they suspect a drunk driver or to call, toll-free, 1-888-UNDER21, to report underage drinking.

The Sobriety Checkpoints are part of the North Central PA Regional Sobriety Checkpoint and Expanded DUI/Underage Drinking Enforcement Program funded through the state Department of Transportation and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Police: None hurt

in Route 61 crash

DARKWATER — Five people escaped injury when the 2017 Toyota Camry they were in crashed about 9:10 p.m. Friday in the southbound lanes of Route 61, just north of Darkwater Road in New Castle Township.

State police at Frackville said William D. Goho, 47, of Leesport, was driving south when he lost control while following a right curve on the left lane and struck a guide rail.

The crash caused disabling damage to the driver’s side and front of the car and about 100 feet of guide rail, police said.

Goho and his passengers, April M. Goho, 44, of Leesport, and three girls ages 14, 12 and 11, were not hurt.

Police said William Goho will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic as a result of the crash and Englewood firefighters and Shenandoah ALS assisted at the scene.

Man flown after

motorcycle crash

HALIFAX — A Williamstown man was injured in a motorcycle crash on Route 225 in northern Dauphin County, state police at Lykens said.

Earl E. Grimm, 42, was southbound on Peters Mountain Road, Route 225, at 10:50 a.m. Aug. 21, about a half mile north of Mountain Road, police said. For an unknown reason, the 2011 Yamaha YZF-R1 Grimm was driving traveled off the roadway, striking a dirt embankment.

Grimm steered the motorcycle back onto the road, but was unable to maintain control, police said. The motorcycle slid on its side, causing Grimm to hit the roadway.

Grimm was taken to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, by Life Team 6, and was cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic, according to police. He was wearing a helmet, police said.

Police were also assisted by Halifax Fire Department. The motorcycle was towed from the scene.

Grass clipping fight

leads to charges

WICONISCO — State police in Lykens charged a Wiconisco Township man with harassment, following an incident Saturday on Pottsville Street.

Craig Thomas Dunlop, 63, of Wiconisco, began arguing with a 34-year-old man about the victim’s grass clippings being blown onto his sidewalk and porch, police said.

The argument turned physical when Dunlop shoved the victim and grabbed him, according to police.

The race for a one of Pennsylvania’s United States Senate seats could turn into a turf war between two prominent local political players.

Congressman Lou Barletta, R-11, Hazleton, announced Tuesday that he’ll challenge incumbent Sen. Bob Casey Jr. for his crucial senate seat in 2018.

Barletta, a prominent and vocal ally of President Donald Trump and the former mayor of Hazleton, has represented Pennsylvania’s 11th Congressional District since 2011. While a field of other Republican challengers and a primary election stand between Barletta and a head-to-head battle with Casey next November, many Republicans see in him an opportunity to wrest the seat from the senior Democratic senator.

“I don’t see running for the Senate to represent Pennsylvania as an opportunity. I see it as a responsibility,” Barletta said in a video released Tuesday morning announcing his candidacy.

Other Republican candidates vying for the chance to challenge Casey include Montgomery County real estate developer Jeff Bartos; former energy executive Paul Addis; cyber security consultant Cynthia E. Ayers; state Rep. Jim Christiana, R-15, Beaver County; state Rep. Rick Saccone, R-39, Allegheny, and several more obscure candidates.

As is often the case in midterm-election years, many believe that the 2018 election will serve as a referendum on the president. While Casey has emerged as an ardent Trump critic, Barletta has championed the Commander in Chief, lauding his stances on coal, his promise to build a wall along the Mexican boarder and his hardline position on illegal immigration in general, among other issues.

With the prospect of a Barletta-Casey showdown now on the table, local political professionals disagree as to how Barletta’s association with Trump would bear on the 2018 Senate race.

Should Barletta win the Republican primary in May, Lackawanna County Democratic Party Chairman Chris Patrick said the closeness of the Senate race likely will depend on the president’s ability to advance his legislative agenda — something he’s struggled to do thus far.

“(Barletta) is such a huge supporter of Trump, but right now Trump hasn’t really pushed any of his agenda forward,” Patrick said, also noting Trump’s low approval ratings. “He’ll live and die with Trump. ... If Trump were able to push a lot of things through, could it make it a closer race? Quite possibly, but there’s a lot of if there.”

Voters may see Casey as a source of gridlock that’s stalling legislation, argued Lackawanna County Republican Party Chairman Lance Stange.

“You’re not seeing the Democrats reaching across the aisle ... to work with Republicans who are in the majority right now,” Stange said. “If you have someone that is a cause of that gridlock or (who) is being an obstructionist, that isn’t offering solutions and just saying no all the time, I don’t think people respond well to that in the electorate and will look to break that up.”

Barletta also champions many of the issues that made Trump popular, such as jobs, the economy and border and national security, Stange said.

William Parente, Ph.D., a University of Scranton political science professor, noted that there is more than a year between now and November 2018 — enough time for Trump and Congressional Republicans to achieve legislative victories on issues like tax reform or infrastructure, for example.

Instead of a referendum on Trump, Parente argued the Senate race will be a referendum on Casey.

“Casey is increasingly controversial,” Parente said. “He votes the straight Democratic line. Republicans and Independents may feel it’s time for a change.”

Parente said he is puzzled that Casey doesn’t break from the party more.

“What he needs is some examples he can cite when Barletta says he’s just a rubber stamp for (Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer) and the Democratic Party,” Parente said.

Parente feels Barletta likely will win the primary because of his hardline stance on immigration — an issue that resonates with many voters and will make him stand out in the field — but may struggle against Casey.

“Ordinarily a candidate draws more votes disproportionately from his home area, but (Barletta’s) home area is the same as Casey’s home area, so I think they’re going to cancel each other out,” he said. “One could argue that the name Casey ... is better known throughout the state than Barletta is. On the other hand, one could argue Barletta’s anti-(illegal) immigrant issue resonates throughout the state, and therefore he might do better across the state because he has more going than just his name. So, once again, we’ll have to wait and see.”

Patrick, Stange and Parente believe Barletta will establish a strong presence in Northeast Pennsylvania during the race.

“I think he’ll focus his energies on Luzerne and up into Lackwanna County,” Patrick said. “I’m sure he thinks that any votes that he can take off of Casey up here (are) certainly huge for him. You get down into Philly and Allegheny County, I don’t really see Barletta performing all that well there.”

Stange said he doesn’t think Democrats should be so sure.

“I think (Barletta will) earn votes in places like Lackawanna County,” Stange said. “I think he takes and makes competitive areas that the senator typically could have taken for granted, and perhaps did. ... If Senator Casey has to work to defend his home turf because it’s shared home turf, that certainly makes things more competitive.”

Efforts to reach Barletta and Casey were unsuccessful Tuesday.

Contact the writer: jhorvath@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9141; @jhorvathTT on Twitter

SHENANDOAH — Next week, the borough will celebrate the life of the man who started a businesses that put it on the map.

Theodore F. “Ted” Twardzik Sr., founder of Mrs. T’s Pierogies, died Nov. 10, 2016, at age 89, and the first Ted Twardzik Sr. Day will be held rain or shine at Girard Park at 6 p.m. Sept. 7, on what would have been Ted’s 90th birthday. It will include free food and drinks while supplies last.

A documentary about Ted’s life will also be screened at the pavilion, Vanessa Burney, public relations manager at Mrs. T’s Pierogies/Ateeco Inc., said Monday.

The borough council came up with the idea, according to Thomas F. “Tom” Twardzik, president of Mrs. T’s Pierogies/Ateeco Inc.

“He was truly a kind and gentle man who always held Shenandoah in his heart,” Donald E. Segal, borough council president, said in a Nov. 14, 2016, letter to Tom. Segal died April 25.

“He kept Shenandoah on the map with his commitment to keeping Mrs. T’s a hometown business. Without the commitment to Shenandoah, after the decline of the coal industry in Shenandoah, I believe this borough would have gone the way of many small coal communities,” Segal wrote. “On behalf of the borough, I am requesting our mayor proclaim September 7 ‘Ted Twardzik Sr. Day,’ not only for the tremendous support your father has always shown toward our community, but the support your family continues to show to the community.”

On Nov. 21, 2016, the borough council announced the event, Mary Lou Buchinsky, the borough’s office secretary, said.

“We were honored that the community wanted to honor Ted. We wanted to put together a movie to remember his life. The company’s been around since 1952 and some people who started the company are getting older and we wanted to preserve those memories,” Burney said.

The man

Born Sept. 7, 1927, to Frank and Mary Binek Twardzik, Shenandoah, Ted was the youngest of six children and graduated from Mahanoy Township High School in 1945.

In 1952, Ted pursued a dream to start a food company using his mother’s recipe for pierogies. He remembered how popular the traditional Polish dumplings were at church festivals and thought people would buy them at a grocery market. To honor his mother, he called the brand Mrs. T’s. The business started with five women around the kitchen table in his mother’s home at 218 N. Main St., Shenandoah: Evelyn Mervine, Marion and Dorothy Pronio, the late Aldona Pribish and the late Eleanor Twardzik Zale.

Eventually, production was moved to its current location at 600 E. Centre St.

Ted came up with the name “Ateeco” when the company was founded in 1952.

“It means ‘A T (for Twardzik) Company, A-Tee-Co,’ ” Burney said.

Ted is survived by his wife, Jean Roberts, and three sons, Ted Jr., Center Valley, Tim, Frackville, and Thomas, Shenandoah Heights.

Tom has been with the company since 1983 and became Ateeco’s president in 1989.

Tim was Ateeco’s executive vice president and retired in 2004.

Ted Jr. worked for Ateeco from 2000 to 2015 and remains on its board of directors. He is currently the president of Lee’s Oriental Gourmet Foods in Shenandoah, Burney said.

The film

“We looked to put together a documentary not only about Ted Twardzik Sr. but about how he started the company, the impact he had as a person and the company had for the community,” Burney said.

Ateeco hired a filmmaker to direct the documentary, William D. Caballero.

“He’s done some short movies that have been on HBO,” Burney said.

“I went to school with her (Burney’s) husband, Seth, who helped me on my short film, ‘Victor and Isolina,’ which debuted at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival,” Caballero said.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Caballero grew up in Fayetteville, North Carolina.

“I have created several documentary projects in the past focused on family, and my first large-scale project was a feature-length autobiographical documentary called ‘American Dreams Deferred.’ This film, tracking the various financial, health and social problems impacting my Puerto Rican-American family, debuted nationally on PBS in 2012,” Caballero said. His most recent film, “Victor and Isolina,” is about his grandparents.

This is the first short film about Ateeco’s history, Burney and Tom Twardzik said.

Caballero filmed in Shenandoah on July 18 and 19.

“When approached by Ateeco to create a documentary about Ted Twardzik Sr., and when I learned that the company was family-owned, I knew that my past experiences with ‘American Dreams Deferred’ would shine through in the doc short. I wanted to highlight the honest and genuine person Ted Twardzik Sr. was through the experiences of a handful of people whose lives he impacted,” Caballero said.

He said 11 local people will be in the documentary.

“There was no script, but Vanessa Burney, project producer, and I came up with questions to ask each interviewee, ranging from comedic anecdotes to heartful tributes. Hence, we got a wide array of responses, which each coalesced into one theme: Ted Twardzik Sr. was a selfless man who devoted his life to his business, family and community,” Caballero said.

“I received the first edit August 6 and shared a cut with Tom and the family on August 15. The title is simply ‘A Tribute to Ted Twarzik Sr.,’ and it runs just under 13 minutes,” Burney said.

Tom and Tim Twardzik said they weren’t sure what their father would have thought of it.

“His style was always behind-the-scenes and quiet,” Tim said.

“So he might not have liked any of this,” Tom said with a smile.

“We’ll be renting a projector and a big screen and we’re having a tent and chairs, so everything will be set up for the community. And our community relations team will be there with our tents, cooking and serving pierogies,” Alyssa Panzarella, assistant public relations manager at Mrs. T’s Pierogies/Ateeco, said.

People unable to attend the event will be able to see the documentary at www.youtube.com/user/MrsTsPierogies.

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

Deer Lake

The Deer Lake & West Brunswick Fire Company will have bingo games from 6 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesday in the firehall, 1 Ash Road. Doors will open at 5 p.m. For more information, call 570-366-0152.

Harrisburg

The state Department of Transportation driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center, will be closed Saturday through Monday in observance of Labor Day, according to a PennDOT press release. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website — www.dmv.state.pa.us. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24/7 and include driver’s license and photo ID renewals, vehicle registration renewal, driver-history services, changes of address, driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters, and exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services. A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings is available on the website under “News, Stats and Facts.” In the release, PennDOT also reminded motorists they can visit 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions before heading out.

Nuremberg

The Nuremberg branch of the Hazleton Area Public Library is closed this week and will re-open Tuesday. The library will go back to its fall hours after Labor Day. Fall hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5 p.m. Mondays and Tuesdays, 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays. It will be closed Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Pottsville

A Friendly’s restaurant fundraiser to benefit the Schuylkill Haven Public Library is set for 5 to 8 p.m. today in the eatery located near Fairlane Village mall along Route 61. A portion of all sales will be donated to the library. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-385-0542.

Pottsville

First Baptist Church, 605 Schuylkill Ave. will have a free movie night and snacks from 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 8. The movie feature is “GREATER,” a football sport presentation. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, call 570-622-4553.

Schuylkill Haven

Manbeck’s Zion Evangelical Congregational Church, 110 Wild Cherry Road, will have a pig roast from 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 9. Tickets are $9 each and meals will include pork, filling, vegetables and dessert. Takeouts will be available, as will baked goods. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-345-3033.

Shenandoah

The Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society, 201 S. Main St., will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday. The speaker will be Dale Freudenberg of the Tamaqua Historical Society. Admission is free and the public is welcome.

Sheppton

The Sheppton American Legion Auxiliary will host the Schuylkill council meeting at 7 p.m. Sept. 6 at the post home. All members are asked to attend the session as installation of offices will also be held. Due to Labor Day, the September monthly meeting has been changed to 5 p.m. Sept. 17. The change is for September only.

Tamaqua

The Tamaqua Historical Society will host its first ever antique appraisal fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 10 in the annex of the Tamaqua Area Historical Museum, 114 W. Broad St. The antique appraisal fair will feature Charlette Schneck, a certified antique appraiser from the Lehigh Valley who will look at, identify and give an estimate of value on antique items that are brought to the fair by the public. Everyone is welcome to bring up to three antiques for appraisal. There will be a $5 charge per item appraised. All proceeds will benefit the Tamaqua Historical Society. Items excluded from the event include sports collectible cards, fine art and firearms. For more information, call society board member Jean Stolz at 570-789-4442.

POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County’s unemployment rate dropped for the second consecutive month.

The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped 0.1 of a percentage point to 5.7 percent in July, according to the latest figures released Tuesday by the state Department of Labor & Industry.

That’s down 0.5 of a percentage point since July 2016 and May.

“I don’t think it’s a big deal,” Jeff Newman, industry and business analyst for the department, said Tuesday. “The rate is down half a percentage point from last year and that’s more important than month-to-month movement.”

Pennsylvania’s seasonally adjusted rate stayed the same over the month at 5 percent in July while the national rate dropped 0.1 of a percentage point to 4.3 percent.

The seasonally adjusted labor force for the county dropped 600 over the month to 66,600 while the number of employed dropped 500 to 62,800 and the number of unemployed dropped 100 to 3,800.

The total number of nonfarm jobs in the county were up 1,000 over the month to 50,200. However, that figure was the same last year.

The largest drop was in local government, which includes teaching positions. The industry lost 600 jobs over the first month of summer. There were 4,700 local government jobs in July.

The surrounding areas had the following seasonally adjusted rates in July: Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton, 4.9; Harrisburg and Carlisle, 4.2; Reading, 4.5; Scranton, Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton, 5.4; and Bloomsburg, Berwick and Sunbury, 4.8.

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

BLOOMSBURG — When the 162nd Bloomsburg Fair opens next month, Nazi flags will not be among the items on display to the public, according to organizers. Whether Confederate merchandise will be available, however, remains to be seen.

Last September, the fair found itself embroiled in controversy after a vendor who turned out to be a registered sex offender displayed a swastika flag alongside a banner supporting Donald Trump’s presidential bid. Confronted with a social media firestorm, organizers ejected the vendor, whose wares included what he described as “German history flags” as well as Confederate battle flags and other controversial materials.

William Barratt, superintendent of police and parking, said he does not anticipate a repeat of that episode at this year’s fair.

Barratt said he is still reviewing the fair’s roughly 1,200 vendors, who are required to submit information about what they plan to sell. To ensure vendors are selling what they said they would, the fair will have officers patrolling the grounds and checking stands, he said.

“This is private property, and we can control what’s on our fairgrounds,” Barratt said.

As of Monday, the fair had already identified several vendors who were trying to sell unauthorized items, which include weapons such as throwing stars and stun guns, he said.

Nazi memorabilia is also definitely off-limits. Fair officials have yet to decide if Confederate merchandise will join the banned list.

“We haven’t decided on that yet,” Barratt said.

The question takes on increased significance after white nationalist demonstrators clashed with counter protesters earlier this month in Charlottesville, Virginia. In the aftermath of that clash — in which a woman was killed when a car plowed into a group opposing the presence of the white supremacists — Confederate monuments have been removed from sites across the country, from San Diego to Baltimore.

The backlash has reached closer to home, with organizers of the West End Fair in Monroe County telling vendors last week they could still sell the battle flag but could not put it on display, according to a report on WBRE-TV.

Barratt said that he was not sure Monday whether any vendors plan to sell Confederate memorabilia at this year’s fair. If any do, the board will have to decide whether to permit it, he said.

“I’ll be checking into that before the fair starts too, if they’re going to allow it or not,” Barratt said.

The fair starts Sept. 22.

Contact the writer: jhalpin@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2058

POTTSVILLE — Joseph J. Sanders is guilty of driving under the influence of drugs in April 2016 in Shenandoah, a Schuylkill County judge decided on Monday.

Now all prosecutors have to do is find him.

In a one-day nonjury trial, Judge John E. Domalakes found Sanders, 66, of Unityville, guilty of DUI, driving under suspension, seat belt violation, using improper tires and driving with an improper license. He found Sanders, who did not show up for the trial, not guilty of improper backing up.

Domalakes ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and said he would schedule sentencing at a later date.

Shenandoah police alleged Sanders was DUI on April 18, 2016, in the borough. Sanders refused to take a blood alcohol test and was carrying a 2001 license that had expired, police said.

“He was under the influence of a controlled substance,” borough police Lt. William Moyer testified. “He was not capable of safely driving.”

Patrolman David J. Stamets Jr., the prosecuting officer, agreed that Sanders was under the influence of drugs and could not drive safely, and added that he failed field sobriety tests.

“He had difficulty standing,” Stamets said of Sanders.

In other recent county court action, Bryce Beaver, 42, of Shenandoah, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to two separate charges of defiant trespass, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of public drunkenness.

Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin accepted the plea and sentenced Beaver to spend 12 months on probation and pay costs and $100 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account.

Shenandoah police filed both charges against Beaver, alleging he trespassed on April 9, 2016, and again on Sept. 14, 2016. Each incident occurred in Shenandoah, police said.

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

POTTSVILLE — Kevin W. Black Jr. must go to state prison for two sets of crimes: trying to pass counterfeit money and possessing drugs, a Schuylkill County judge decided Wednesday.

Black, 20, of McAdoo, will serve six to 24 months in a state correctional institution for his crimes, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin ruled.

Dolbin also sentenced Black to pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $100 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Black pleaded guilty to attempted forgery in one case and possession of a controlled substance in another. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of attempted theft by deception.

In one case, McAdoo police charged Black with unlawfully possessing Xanax on March 16, 2016, in the borough.

In the other case, Kline Township police alleged Black passed a counterfeit $20 bill on Nov. 4, 2016, in the township.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Black said little except that he understood the meaning and consequences of his plea and that he was entering it knowingly and voluntarily.

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

The defendant

· Name: Kevin W. Black Jr.

· Age: 20

· Residence: McAdoo

· Crimes committed: Attempted forgery and possession of a controlled substance

· Prison sentence: Six to 24 months in a state correctional institution

POTTSVILLE — The basement flooding on Arch Street might be alleviated by a resolution made Wednesday by the Greater Pottsville Area Sewer Authority.

At least that is what the board of directors, engineer and a local homeowner hope will happen.

The board voted to authorize spending up to $70,000, which includes engineering costs, to re-direct some of the flow from Arch Street to Market Street. The plan is to construct a “stop-log barrier system” that would be downstream from the stone rubble blow-off line that starts at Eighth and Market streets.

“The blow-off apparently is not serving its purpose,” according to a report by Tom Schreffler, the authority’s engineer.

The line is higher than the arch nearby. The lining of the stone arch makes the flow move faster and prevents it from entering the blow-off.

“Debris behind the stop logs would be minimized by installing an upstream ramp, most likely constructed of metal and allowing for vertical adjustment to the ramp based on the number of stop logs in place. Monitoring flows will be important since too much flow through the blow-off may cause flooding along Market Street,” the report stated.

If the blow-off line is too small, a replacement could cost $786,877 based on earlier data, the report said. The line would extend about 850 feet from Eighth and Market streets to Fourth and Market streets.

“I believe if we divert some of that water, that should alleviate some of that (flooding) problem. The authority has to do something,” GPASA sewer authority chairman Ian Lipton said.

Schreffler did not have an exact answer as to how they would go about constructing the system or when it would start, however, he said it likely would not start until the spring. GPASA would need to get a permit from the state Department of Transportation because Market Street is a state road.

“If we can do this more quickly, I think it behooves us. This is an urgent thing,” Lipton said.

The report also recommended what Schreffler termed a “Band-Aid” by installing a sump-pump system in affected properties. It was not voted on.

“Within the Fourth and West Arch Street area, the stone arch runs beneath homes located on the north side, or West Arch Street, in the 500 block, and then passes, generally, to the north of the First United Methodist Church located at Fourth and West Market Street, and then proceeds between the Trinity United Church of Christ located at 316 West Market Street. Homes within the 500 block of West Arch Street as well as the Methodist Church and the Trinity Church have experienced flooding in their basements. It is assumed that the flooding occurring in the aforementioned area is caused by the combined sanitary/storm sewer system and/or house laterals or high groundwater,” the report said.

Grace Kuehn, 518 W. Arch St., was at the meeting to hear the ideas to alleviate the flooding.

“I have a very dry basement except when this arch overflows,” she said.

The stone arch on her street is under her property. She said she has been dealing with a flooded basement for years and finally could not take it any longer before attending the meeting last month.

“My basement is disgusting,” she said.

Water and sewage flows through the walls of her basement, she said. She had a sample tested.

“I have a very unsanitary home right now, and I am not happy,” she said.

A sample tested by the Pottsville Environmental Testing Laboratory Inc., Palo Alto, concluded she had 1,400 fecal colonies in the four ounces of water tested earlier this month from her basement. The report said, “A fecal coliform count of 1,000 cfu/100 ml or more indicates direct contamination by human and/or animal waste.”

Michael C. Fabian, laboratory director, the one who signed the testing results, said they do not know the source of the contamination. To provide perspective, he said, if it was drinking water, he would expect to see a reading of zero. The discharge from a sewage treatment plant by state law has to be less than 200 colony forming units per 100 milliliters. Going into the plant is much higher; he did not provide a figure.

“I have been standing in a lot of Pottsville’s waste,” Kuehn said.

She added that she and her husband would attempt to clean the basement wearing flip-flops. They do have a pump that is used to remove the water in her basement. The Pottsville fire department also helps when needed.

“Everybody is so used to it, they stopped complaining,” Kuehn said.

She wanted to know what the authority is going to do to rectify the situation with her basement. After an executive session lasting more than 10 minutes, the board voted to spend no more than $5,000 to hire a professional to analyze the condition of the basement and make recommendations to the board.

Kuehn said she was appreciative of the action the board has taken but didn’t know if it would cause more trouble for those who reside or have businesses on Market Street.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

GIRARDVILLE — In June, the borough agreed to pay $3,000 for the demolition of a blighted three-story building if the owner of the property paid for the job.

So far the owner, William L. Schultz, 55, of 416 Centre St., Ashland, has been making payments, though one was late earlier this month, Candice Squires, the borough secretary, said Monday.

“Starting July 12, he was required to pay the borough $100 every two weeks. He paid $100 in the middle of July, then $100 at the end of July. He missed the payment in middle of August, so he came in on August 23 and paid $150. His next payment is due September 6, and he’s expected to pay $150,” Squires said.

Members of the council have been keeping close tabs.

“He’s pushing the envelope. But the borough is in a better position to have him pay some than if we cite him and he pays none,” Robert Krick, council vice president, said.

Girardville has been dealing with Schultz and the problem property at 205 N. Second St. for some time, and will continue to in the near future. Krick said Schultz is required to clean up the debris from the demolition, and he still owes the borough thousands in fines.

“He owes a total of $7,566 as of today and that includes fines and court costs,” Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, said Monday.

“And there are also criminal charges against him,” Krick said.

On Aug. 15, the borough hired William F. Killian III as a part-time code officer for property maintenance. Killian is still learning about the borough’s problem properties and this week he was reviewing the Schultz case.

On Monday, Krick and the borough solicitor, Christopher Riedlinger, discussed the history.

On Oct. 30, 2014, Schultz bought 205 N. Second St. from Luna Sergio for $1,020, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator.

The building there once housed apartments with a seafood restaurant.

In August 2016, the building was in danger of collapse. The front end was pushing out toward Second Street, and that prompted borough officials to close a section of the street, Fire Chief Frank Zangari said previously. The street was reopened to vehicles about a week later, but yellow warning tape was placed to prevent pedestrian traffic in front of the building.

The borough started citing Schultz for failing to tear the building down. Citations were filed in Hale’s office on Aug. 22, 2016, and Sept. 16, 2016. At a hearing on Nov. 9, 2016, Hale found Schultz guilty in both cases and fined him $1,000 for each citation.

On Jan. 13, the building was on the verge of collapse and the borough closed the 200 block of North Second Street from Ogden to B streets to traffic. The borough started citing Schultz $1,000 a day in an effort to prompt him to tear it down. In March, Schultz said he was making an effort to raise funds for the project, according to newspaper archives.

In the spring, the state Department of Transportation was making plans to close a state bridge in Butler Township just west of the borough for repairs. And a detour has been set up to state Route 54. The borough needed to have North Second Street open and decided to make a deal with Schultz, Riedlinger and Zangari said.

The borough agreed to pay Kass Contracting, Shenandoah, $3,000 to knock down the building, if Schultz would pay for the work. In a “Promissory Note,” Schultz agreed.

From August 2016 to July 2017, the borough filed 105 citations against Schultz. Each carried a maximum fine of $1,000 plus costs totaling in excess of $105,000.

On July 6 at a hearing before Hale, the borough withdrew 100 citations since Schultz entered into the agreement with the borough. Hale leveled $1,000 fines on each of the remaining five citations, Riedlinger said.

On Jan. 27, borough police charged Schultz with a misdemeanor since the property was a public nuisance. A hearing will be scheduled in the Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas.

On Aug. 14, the case was continued to the October term to give Schultz time to get a public defender. A hearing in Schuylkill County Court may be held in October, Andreah White, executive assistant at the district attorney’s office, said Monday.

Meanwhile, Schultz still has to remove a debris pile at 205 N. Second St. The borough gave him until Aug. 1 to do that, or it would consider issuing additional citations.

“We said we’d demo it simply because we had to at that point, and he agreed that he would clean it up. Of course, he hasn’t moved as quickly as we had hoped,” Krick said. “He hasn’t cleaned it up much. And that’s where it kind of sits now.”

On Tuesday, the debris was still there.

“I can’t speak for all five members of borough council, but I think they just want progress being made in this cleanup. They’re not expecting it to be overnight because it’s just too big of a job. But as long as progress is being made and work is being done towards getting it cleaned up in a reasonable period of time, I think they’re going to refrain from citing the guy,” Riedlinger said Monday.

After seeing the debris Tuesday, Killian said he may start citing Schultz: “He has been given time to do what he needed to do to rectify the situation. He’s falling behind on that. So, at this point, it’s easily a citable offense. ”

Schultz could not be reached for comment.

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

POTTSVILLE — Chad E. Hoy will not have to serve time in prison, but will spend several years on probation, after admitting Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that he sold marijuana three times in December 2015 and January 2016.

Hoy, 45, of Valley View, pleaded guilty to three counts of delivery of a controlled substance, with prosecutors withdrawing three counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Judge Jacqueline L. Russell accepted Hoy’s plea and, pursuant to an agreement between the defendant and prosecutors, placed him on probation for five years. She also sentenced Hoy to pay costs, $150 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, and $339 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation, perform 60 hours community service and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Russell made it clear to Hoy, who was one of the people arrested in the Nov. 22, 2016, drug sweep in western Schuylkill County, that he still faces a serious problem if he violates the terms of his probation.

“If you get revoked, you could end up going to jail,” she told him.

Schuylkill County detectives filed all three sets of charges against Hoy, alleging he sold $100 worth of marijuana to a confidential informant on Dec. 3, 2015, $140 worth of marijuana to a confidential informant on Dec. 13, 2015, and $140 worth of marijuana to a confidential informant on Jan. 3, 2016. All three sales occurred in Hegins Township, the detectives alleged.

When questioned by Russell, Hoy also admitted that he has a drug problem.

“Do you use (marijuana)?” Russell asked him.

“Yes,” Hoy answered.

“You’re going to have to learn to get off it,” Russell said.

Before entering his plea, Hoy said he understood its conditions and consequences, and that he was entering it freely and knowingly.

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

The defendant

· Name: Chad E. Hoy

· Age: 45

· Residence: Valley View

· Crimes committed: Three counts of delivery of a controlled substance

· Sentence: Five years probation

Police: Hegins man

drove recklessly

HEGINS — Hegins Township police filed charges against a 42-year-old Hegins man after an incident that began about 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Police said the victim, a friend of the wife of Jason Unger, left the Unger residence on Schwenks Road and said that Jason Unger saw him and followed him in his Dodge Charger as he tried to make his way onto Interstate 81.

Police said the victim reported traveling east on Route 25 and after he passed the “S” turn, Unger passed him and applied his brakes while in front of his vehicle.

This caused the victim to stop his vehicle and Unger then put his car into reverse and began to back toward him, police said.

Police said the victim reacted, turned around and drove to the Hegins Township police station with Unger following close behind.

In the parking lot of the police station, police said, Unger nearly hit the victim’s vehicle with his car.

Police said officers intervened and separated Unger from the victim and that as a result, Unger was charged with recklessly endangering another person, harassment and disorderly conduct.

Unger will now have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont, police said.

Mahanoy City man

charged with DUI

BRANDONVILLE — East Union Township police filed charges against a 50-year-old Mahanoy City man after an incident about 1:40 p.m. Aug. 23 in the area of 552 Rattlin Run Road.

Police said Michael A. Kane, 633 W. Centre St., was charged with DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, careless driving, registration and Certificate of Title required and not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Police said officers were called for a crash involving a pickup truck into a tree and down an embankment and at the scene found Kane standing on the road with an odor of alcohol on his breath.

Kane said he swerved to miss a small dog crossing the road and inside his vehicle, police said, officers found numerous items including a bottle of medication and a grinder that contained a white powdery substance.

Kane appeared to be under the influence, failed field sobriety tests and subsequently refused to submit to a blood alcohol test, police said.

Suspicious vehicle

leads to arrest

SHEPPTON — East Union Township police charged an Orwigsburg man after an incident about 7:45 p.m. Sunday at West Pine Street and the Sheppton cemetery.

Police said John A. Gustites, 35, of 24 Pine View Lane, was charged with false identification to law enforcement, and altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates.

Police said they were called to the area for a report of a suspicious vehicle with someone sitting inside for about three hours. After finding the registration plate was listed as being on a different vehicle, police said, officers spoke with the driver, Gustites, who said he purchased the vehicle several days prior.

The man could not produce a license and identified himself as John Laudeman, 24, police said.

Police said officers then saw a driver’s license in the man’s possession and when looking at determined it was issued to Gustites and that it was suspended and expired.

Police release list

of Walmart incidents

SAINT CLAIR — Saint Clair police reported arresting 13 people and charging them with retail theft stemming from incidents at Walmart earlier this year.

Charged and the amount of merchandise stolen, by month, were:

January: Devon Geiger, 18, of Saint Clair, Jan. 9, $84.95.

March: Jade Marie Staller, 26, of Pottsville, March 28, $68.98 and March 21, $95.53; and Edward J. Miller, 29, of Orwigsburg, March 30, $78.

April: Edward J. Miller, 29, of Orwigsburg, April 10, $1,164.74; Michael G. Radziewicz, 34, of Ringtown, $28.92; and Athina Marie Jeanette Parsons, 30, of Ringtown, April 11, $28.92.

May: Dennis J. Powanda, 24, of Pottsville, May 5, $193.86; Joshua Witmer, 19, of Pottsville, May 11, $12; Christian D. Kuzowsky, 43, of Schuylkill Haven, May 26, $38.85; Michael G. Radziewicz, 34, of Ringtown, May 28, $74.85; and Athina Marie Jeanette Parson, 30, of Ringtown, May 28, $74.85.

June: Joshua M. Keller, 27, of Port Carbon, June 26, $49.76.

July: Maegan E. Azbell, 25, of Pottsville, July 1, $57.79, also charged with criminal trespass after being banned from the store on June 14; Stephen T. Middleton, 20, of Girardville, July 6, $108.12; Devon Geiger, 18, of Saint Clair, July 11, $26.53; and Maegan E. Azbell, 25, of Pottsville, July 31, $465.04.

August: Kyle L. Imschweiler, 32, of Pottsville, Aug. 5, $59.64; Christian D. Kuzowsky, 43, of Schuylkill Haven, Aug. 22, $159.82; Christian D. Kuzowsky, 43, of Schuylkill Haven, Aug. 25, $149; Linda M. Ferraro, 46, of Frackville, Aug. 26, $71.42; and Jeffrey J. James, 47, of Frackville, Aug. 26, $71.42.

Police said Azbell was charged with criminal trespass stemming from an incident on Aug. 26 when she went to the store despite being banned earlier.

Charges against the 13 were filed with Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.

POTTSVILLE — A Luzerne County man will pay costs and a fine after admitting Wednesday to a Schuylkill County judge that he improperly disposed of methamphetamine-related garbage in September 2016 in Frackville.

Brett L. Blankenbiller, 47, of Kingston, pleaded guilty to scattering rubbish. Prosecutors withdrew charges of illegal dumping of methamphetamine waste and recklessly endangering another person.

Judge Jacqueline L. Russell accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Blankenbiller to pay costs and a $50 fine.

Frackville borough police had charged Blankenbiller with throwing away the garbage between 10 and 11 a.m. Sept. 1, 2016, in the 400 block of Pershing Avenue in the borough.

Police said Blankenbiller tossed a white plastic bag into a dumpster. When the bag was retrieved, it contained two green soda bottles, pieces of batteries and a white substance, according to police.

The state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem analyzed the items and determined that the white substance was methamphetamine, police said.

Blankenbiller already has paid $1,256 restitution to the crime lab.

He said little during Wednesday’s hearing except that he understood the terms and consequences of his plea and was entering it knowingly and voluntarily.

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

POTTSVILLE — Instead of presenting his case, a Minersville man admitted Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that he possessed methamphetamine with intent to deliver it in February 2016 in what was then his residence.

On the second day of his trial, Sean T. Cooper, 46, pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Judge Charles M. Miller, who was presiding over the two-day jury trial, instead accepted the plea and immediately sentenced Cooper to serve nine to 23 months in prison, pay costs, $300 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, $340 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Harrisburg and $307.64 restitution to the district attorney’s office, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Minersville police had charged Cooper with possessing the meth, along with plastic baggies, on Feb. 16, 2016, the day they raided his 233 Stadium St. residence. Police had testified on Tuesday that they found those items, along with paperwork they said detailed drug transactions, during the raid.

First Assistant District Attorney John T. Fegley declined to comment on the case after Miller had sentenced Cooper.

This trial was Cooper’s second of the week and ended less successfully for him than the first one.

On Monday, another jury in a separate case found Cooper not guilty of criminal trespass and defiant trespass. In that case, Minersville police had alleged Cooper entered a house owned by Nicole and Joseph Cuttitta, his sister and brother-in-law, at 102 Lorraine St. in the borough’s Teaberry Hill section on Dec. 18, 2015.

President Judge William E. Baldwin presided over that one-day trial.

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

Do you know how to keep yourself, your family, and your property safe during an emergency? Learning how is easier than you think, requires little time and goes a long way toward protecting the ones you love.

September is National Preparedness Month and America’s PrepareAthon! Day will be held Sept. 15 this year. NPM is an annual event led by FEMA’s Ready Campaign and supported by dozens of agencies like Citizen Corps and the American Red Cross. It’s designed to raise awareness and promote action surrounding emergency preparedness among citizens, businesses and communities. The website is www.ready.gov/september. PrepareAthon! is a grassroots campaign designed to increase community preparedness and resilience. You can find them at www.community.fema.gov.

Man-made and natural disasters and emergencies can happen at any time. With a little preparedness on your part, you can reduce the stress your family would have to deal with during an already difficult time.

Some of the steps your family can take to prepare for an emergency are having a family safety plan including an emergency communication list, practicing an escape drill, making arrangements for care of your pet if you’d have to be evacuated and sheltered, learning how to shelter in place, keeping your vehicle prepared for severe weather conditions and making an emergency grab and go kit.

Finding training is easier than you may think. There are several online sites that provide excellent education from preparing prior to a disaster hitting, to how to react during an emergency, to recovery steps after a crisis.

One of the most comprehensive websites is www.training.fema.gov/IS. It has dozens of online Independent Study courses to help you learn how to prepare for yourself, your family and your home before an emergency. You can either take the course for certification or simply for your own benefit. However, if you’re only interested in the most comprehensive, user-friendly course, I recommend IS-22, Are You Ready? An In-Depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness. It can be found at www.fema.gov/media-library/assets/documents/7877.

FEMA’s IS-317, Intro to CERT is an excellent, well-rounded handbook on a variety of disaster response topics from Disaster Medical Operations to Search and Rescue. After an emergency, responders would be pulled in all directions and it may take hours until they could reach your area. You may have to roll up your sleeves to help your neighbors until help arrives. Learn a little now, help a lot later.

You can check out www.ready.gov for information on all types of disasters from extreme temperature to terrorism, from flooding to pandemics. Use the links to learn how to build an emergency kit, create a shelter in your home, special care for children and pets, making family plans, dealing with evacuations and how to make your home safer. Activities for children are in the KIDS section.

The American Red Cross has resource materials to learn how to keep your loved ones safe during more than 20 different types of disasters and emergencies. They include topics not commonly found on some emergency preparedness websites, like chemical emergency, flu, poisoning, highway safety, power outage and water safety. You can find these and others at www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies.

Emergencies and disasters are difficult to deal with, but with a little planning, you can be better prepared to handle anything that comes along. Schuylkill emergency responders have spent countless hours trying to make our county safer. You can help them and yourself by gaining a little knowledge by reading these materials.

Orwigsburg’s 26th annual Heritage Celebration will take place Sept. 9 at the Square. Enjoy outdoor fun for the whole family before temperatures drop and fall arrives.

The Gabriel Ensemble will start its 28th concert season with a performance at 3 p.m. Sept. 10 at Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Schuylkill Haven. Tickets can be ordered by calling 570 943-2558 or by emailing gce@gabrielensembel.org.

Community Volunteers in Action is the volunteer center for Schuylkill County. Search volunteer 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.

Remembrance services will take place today in Schuylkill County as part of International Overdose Awareness Day.

Vinny’s Angels and First United Methodist Church will hold a remembrance for those who have lost loved ones and friends to an overdose. It will be at 7 p.m. in front of the church at 300 W. Market St., Pottsville. There will also be a brief memorial service.

Safer Streets for Tamaqua’s Little Feet will hold a Tamaqua Overdose Awareness Remembrance Day from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at the CVS parking lot at 1001 E. Broad St., Tamaqua.

“Come and light a lantern and remember your loved one,” said Tammy Sienkiewicz, whose daughter, Alexandria “Alex” Sienkiewicz, died of acute fentanyl toxicity on April 2, 2016.

SAINT CLAIR — Tires litter a path off the Burma Road in Blythe Township, and a Mechanicsville man wants something done about it.

“I never thought too much about them when I first saw them,” Robert Tebin, 77, said of the dozens of tires strewn on a path. He now fears they could be a breeding ground for mosquitoes carrying the West Nile virus.

Tebin said the tires could have been there for years. He first noticed them when he used to hunt and pick blueberries in the area off the trail near the Burma Road. Only recently did he think about the tires being a health hazard.

“This could be a serious hazard with all of these tires up here,” Tebin said Tuesday as he walked along the trail.

Eight municipalities in Schuylkill County have had mosquitoes test positive for the West Nile virus this year.

Before the path splits, there is a tire in the middle of the area. In one spot, there are about 30 tires in a pile. He said they were likely dumped in the past and that the site isn’t used anymore.

“Nobody wants to do anything about the tires,” Tebin said.

He said the contacted state Rep. Neal Goodman’s office years ago about the situation and was told the message would be passed along. He wants someone to take the tires and dispose of them.

“I hope they come in with a front-end loader and get rid of them,” Tebin said.

Rachael Hobbs, a legislative aide with Goodman’s office in Saint Clair, said Wednesday she was unaware of the tire problem. Someone would contact the state Department of Environmental Protection on such a matter if they were made aware, she said.

Colleen Connolly, community relations coordinator for the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Northeast Regional Office, said the department had not previously been aware of the problem. She said the state Department of Transportation would be contacted to see if it could do anything.

Mike Burda, manager of Blythe Township Municipal Authority, said he was also unaware of the tires in the area.

“I think it’s a shame. Most people would dispose of those correctly,” he said.

He said an authority representative would go to the area to investigate and work to remove the tires. He said the authority has removed tires along the Burma Road before using a grant from the state DEP.

Blythe Township supervisors Chairman Adam Nothstein said people often discard items along the Burma Road.

“Anybody caught is going to be arrested and they will be made to clean it all up,” he said.

He urged those who see such illegal activity to call the police.

Frank DiMarco, a Blythe Township police officer, said there is a state law against dumping. The fine is $300 plus court costs. The township also has an ordinance against dumping, which includes a $300 fine. DiMarco said those who see people dumping should be cautious in case of retaliation.

“Never ever confront people who are dumping,” he said.

He suggested people get a photo of the license plate of the alleged offender.

“The best thing is to be a good witness,” he said.

People can also inform police where the dumping is occurring by pinging their location on their cellphone’s GPS.

Sean Brown, safety press officer for PennDOT District 5, did not return a call for comment Wednesday.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

TUSCARORA — An autopsy is scheduled for this morning to try to determine what caused the death of a missing Carbon County teenager who was found in a remote area of Schuylkill Township on Tuesday afternoon.

Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III said that the body of Cassidy Derr, 17, of Lansford, was found by searchers at the bottom of a waterless pit on Tuscarora Mountain, between Tamaqua and Tuscarora.

The teen was pronounced dead at the scene at 7:21 p.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner David Truskowsky, Mahanoy City.

Truskowsky said that although Derr’s body was found Tuesday afternoon, she was not removed from the pit until later Wednesday morning.

The delay in removing Derr was due to the scene being processed by a state police Forensic Services Unit that gathered potential evidence in the event foul play is suspected.

Moylan said a CAT scan was conducted on Derr at the Simon Kramer Institute, New Philadelphia, and that a forensic autopsy is scheduled for 8 a.m. today at Forensic Pathology Associates, Allentown.

On Wednesday, Moylan said it is too early to speculate as to what may have cause Derr’s death.

“There is testing that has to be done. She had Type 1 diabetes and that may have been a factor,” the coroner said.

Schuylkill Township Police Chief Frank DiMarco is leading the investigation into the incident, assisted by state police troopers from the Frackville station and Troop L headquarters in Reading.

DiMarco said it appears that Derr was at a “social gathering” with friends Saturday night and sometime Saturday night or early Sunday morning began to walk toward the Village of Newkirk.

The area that Derr chose to walk through was “rugged and extremely dangerous,” full of mine pits and rocky ridges, the chief said.

DiMarco said Derr walked into a pit using a series of shelves and ledges and then sat down.

“She did not fall into the pit,” DiMarco said. “She had diabetes and an insulin pump, and could have lost her way.”

“We’re thinking she may have lost her way and became disoriented due to a medical condition,” the chief said. “It appears that she walked down and sat where she was found.”

That area is covered by a dense canopy of foliage and was difficult to see by police who flew over in a helicopter Monday night during the initial stages of the search, he added.

DiMarco credited search teams using dogs as being able to locate the teenager’s body about 6 p.m. Tuesday.

“They were key in finding her,” he said. “If the dogs did not assist, we may never have found her.”

DiMarco said after state police troopers processed the scene and gathered evidence, firefighters from the Tuscarora Fire Company and other area companies removed Derr’s body about 4:30 a.m.

“They used a lot of manpower to remove her from where she was,” the chief said.

DiMarco said that although foul play is not suspected, the area where Derr was found was processed as a crime scene to gather evidence that would be needed should the investigation turn criminal.

DiMarco said he was also assisted by Patrolman Christian DeAngelo.

The investigation into the death and circumstances leading up to Derr’s death is ongoing, DiMarco said, adding that anyone with information can call Schuylkill Township police at 570-668-1077.

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

Geisinger Medical Center, Danville

To Joshua S. and Holly A. Heffner Moyer, Pottsville, a son, Aug. 6.

Lehigh Valley Hospital - Schuylkill S. Jackson Street

To Ivan W. Quick III and Ashley Gilgore, Pottsville, a daughter, Aug. 15.

Ashland

The Ashland Public Library Bridge Club meets at 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays in the library. New members are welcome. For more information, call 570-875-1339.

Frackville

Girl Scout registration will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Sept. 13 for children in kindergarten through 12th grade at the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, 42 S. Center St., third floor. The registration fee is $25. For more information, email debem35@gmail.com.

Girardville

Rangers Hose Company, 6 E. Ogden St., has issued a reminder to borough area residents that its maintenance fund drive is underway and continuing through September. Donations can be given to any member or by calling 570-276-1009 or 570-276-6922.

Girardville

The Girardville Basketball Association has announced that sign-ups will be held at Girardville Borough Hall from 6 to 8 p.m. on the following dates: Sept. 18, 19, 25 and 26. The cost is $30 for the first child, $25 for the second child and $20 for the third child. Players must be at least 5 years old and a copy of the birth certificate is needed if they have never played in the league. All coaches and volunteers need to submit a Pennsylvania child abuse clearance and a state police criminal background check. Fees have been waived for volunteers. Junior varsity and varsity players may also sign up at the gym during the 5-, 6- and 7-year-old league. For more information, message the association through its Facebook page, organizers said in a release.

Heckscherville

The annual outdoor Labor Day Mass at Castle Green Grotto will be held at 10 a.m. Monday. The grotto is located at 950 Valley Road along the Minersville/Heckscherville Highway. The Mass is dedicated to “all who came” to the chapel that was located at the site and honors those who labored in anthracite coal mining. Refreshments will be served after Mass. Attendees should bring lawn chairs. For more information, call Mary Anne at 570-544-3658.

Ringtown

Girl Scout registration will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday for children in kindergarten through 12th grade at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Main Street. The registration fee is $25. For more information, email debem35@gmail.com.

Schuylkill Haven

The 28th season for the Gabriel Chamber Ensemble will open with a concert at 3 p.m. Sept. 10 at Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, 252 Dock St. It will feature the return of guest artist Ita Goren, pianist. Tickets at the door are $20 general and $15 for senior citizens. Students will be admitted free. The concert is sponsored in part by the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation. The Gabriel Chamber Ensemble is a nonprofit professional chamber music group. The executive director and performer is Agnes Maurer. Concerts, according to a GCE release, are made possible through corporate and private donations, including grants from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, Schuylkill Area Community Foundation and M&T Foundation. The GCE has a Facebook page and its website is www.gabrielensemble.org.

Tamaqua

The Tamaqua Historical Society will host its first ever antique appraisal fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 10 in the annex of the Tamaqua Area Historical Museum, 114 W. Broad St. The antique appraisal fair will feature Charlette Schneck, a certified antique appraiser from the Lehigh Valley who will look at, identify and give an estimate of value on antique items that are brought to the fair by the public. Everyone is welcome to bring up to three antiques for appraisal. There will be a $5 charge per item appraised. All proceeds will benefit the Tamaqua Historical Society. Items excluded from the event include sports collectible cards, fine art and firearms. For more information, call society board member Jean Stolz at 570-789-4442.