HEGINS — Kim Davis summoned some unlikely characters to celebrate all that is wine Sunday.

Davis and her husband, Ken, Mountain Top, won the table decorating contest at the ninth annual Schuylkill County Wine Festival with their “Wine and Spirits” entry.

It featured a dining table surrounded by seven skeletons drinking wine, red and black roses, and cupcakes frosted to look like roses. The female skeletons wore wrist corsages of dead flowers from their daughter’s old proms and semi-formals. A gravestone marker read, “R.I.P. Al Cohol.”

“It’s really fun to watch everyone’s expression when they see it. This has been really fun and we’re coming back every year,” Davis said.

“We thought we’d either win or get kicked out,” Ken Davis joked.

It was the couple’s first time attending the festival and participating in the contest, which had the theme “Wine and Roses.” The Gruner Veltliner, a dry white wine from Galen Glen Vineyards & Winery, Andreas, was their favorite, Kim Davis said.

Twelve vintners took part in the festival held at Hegins Park. They were Red Shale Ridge Winery, Hegins; Benigna’s Creek Vineyard & Winery, Klingerstown; Long Trout Winery, Auburn; Stone Mountain Wine Cellars, Pine Grove; Shade Mountain Vineyards & Winery, Middleburg; Spyglass Ridge Winery, Sunbury; Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery, Halifax; Brookmere Winery & Vineyard Inn, Belleville; Stonekeep Meadery, Jim Thorpe; Allegro Winery, Brogue; Fieldwood Winery, Schuylkill Haven, and Galen Glen.

“Our specialty is our dry, white wines,” Sarah Troxell, who operates Galen Glen with her husband, Galen, said. Troxell said the Rose, which was just released this spring, was one of the more popular choices Sunday.

Galen Glen was celebrating its new label design, which featured the rolling hills of Andreas and a chemical and gear design. The label reflected Sarah’s background as a chemist and her husband’s as an engineer. The label, created by 3Seed, a marketing firm in Schnecksville, recently won third place in a national packaging competition, she said.

Despite the rainy weather, there was a steady crowd who sampled wines, set up picnics in the park, listened to the musical entertainment and browsed the nearly 30 vendors.

“I think we’ve done pretty well today. We choose good vendors and we’ve had more people coming in for the basket raffle,” Mary Tobash, event coordinator, said.

Sisters Ruth Ann Altman, Pitman, and Army Capt. Elaine Altman, Fort Lee, Virginia, had a chance to catch up and share some wine. Elaine, a transportation officer who had previously been deployed to Kuwait and Iraq, returned to see her sister graduate from Indiana University of Pennsylvania this spring, but they had been able to spend little time together since.

“I was really excited to come home and I miss the valley a lot,” Elaine Altman said.

Mike Stepanchick and his wife, Barbara, said they’ve only missed two county wine festivals.

“We just like to have fun and have some good wine,” Stepanchick, Lavelle, said. He said he preferred the sweet wines, Harmony from Allegra and Fredonia from Red Shale.

Meanwhile, Les and Karen Montford, Spring Glen, said the Frog Hollow, a pink Niagara sweet wine from Brookmere, was one they have always tried to purchase.

Sweet wines seemed to be a hit Sundayy. The Orchard Blush, a sweet offering from Stone Mountain, was one of the wineries best sellers at the festival.

“Sales are quite nice,” Ralph Heffner, vintner and owner and operator of Stone Mountain, said. He, his wife, Annie, and two sons, Kent and Karl, co-own Jersey Acres Farm, Pine Grove, home to the winery. Heffner said though there were no new wine varieties offered this year, customers can look for LaCrescent, a new wine made with cold hearty grapes that Stone Mountain hopes to offer next year.

George F. Halcovage Jr., Schuylkill County commissioner chairman, attended the festival with his wife, Barbara, and son, Christopher.

“There’s a lot of familiar faces here, but a lot of new faces too. What this park group has done very well is to bring in people from different counties ... People are here to have a good time and there’s people here of all ages,” he said.

This year’s other table decorating winners were Andrea Knoll, second place; Erik Tice, third place; Paula Toombs, fourth place, and Shelbie Gilbert, fifth place. Winners received filled wine baskets. Amie Tobash and Sandy Romberger served as judges.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Ashland

The Ashland American Legion post will hold installation of officers at 6 p.m. Thursday at the post home, 505 Centre St. Members and guests are urged to attend. Awards will be presented to members of the Hometown Heroes banner program committee. For more information, call 570-985-1026.

Ashland

A Miller-Keystone Blood Center blood drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Sept. 19 at Ashland F&AM Lodge 294, 2500 Centre St. The drive is co-sponsored by the Ashland American Legion. People are urged to donate blood. For more information, call 570-400-6970.

Ashland

American Hose Company No. 1 will hold its annual chicken barbecue from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday. Dinners can be picked up at the firehouse, Seventh and Walnut streets, and include a half chicken, baked potato, vegetable, dinner roll and brownie. The cost is $9 per meal. Bulk-order deliveries are available. Proceeds will benefit the equipment fund.

Mahanoy City

The Mother Teresa Sodality of St. Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church is selling Boscov’s shopping passes, which are $5 each. The passes are for Oct. 17 at all Boscov’s locations and entitle holders to 25 percent off purchases. On that day there will also be free refreshments and registration to win prizes, including three $500 shopping sprees. Proceeds will benefit the sodality. To buy passes, contact the parish office or sodality member Carol Kline.

Minersville

The Minersville 5th Quarter Club will sponsor the fifth annual Cancer Awareness Game at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at Veterans Memorial Stadium, Stadium Street. Tickets will be sold at the gate. The game feature is Minersville Area vs. Tri-Valley. Proceeds from T-shirt sales, 50/50s and other efforts will be donated to the cancer fund to help local families who are battling the disease.

Pottsville

Joan Koslosky of the Gabriel Chamber Ensemble and Youth Orchestra recently spoke to members of the Pottsville Rotary Club. She provided background information on GCE, which is the club’s new partner for the annual Hops, Vine and Dine event. The Schuylkill Youth Symphony, she said, was originally under the Schuylkill Symphony Orchestra. When the orchestra disbanded, the youth orchestra needed a sponsor, so GCE was approached and agreed to be the sponsor, Koslosky said. The youth orchestra is made up of students from Schuylkill as well as form Berks and Carbon counties. Matthew Tenaglia is the music director. The group’s home is at the Pottsville Area School District’s D.H.H. Lengel Middle School. Two concerts are held annually, with the next scheduled for Dec. 17 followed by a concert on April 29, 2018. Concert tickets are $5 each. Gabriel Chamber Ensemble concerts are held at Jerusalem Evangelical Lutheran Church, Dock Street, Schuylkill Haven. Concert dates include Sept. 10, Nov. 5, Feb. 25 and April 22. General tickets are $20, while tickets for senior citizens are $15 and students are admitted free. Koslosky said GCE also sponsors a program called “Strings in the School” for students in grades 3 and 4 to learn string instruments. The only school currently offering this program is St. Ambrose School, Schuylkill Haven.

Schuylkill Haven

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17, will host a Coffee With Your Congressman event from 10:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Center, 340 Haven St. It is open to the public and RSVPs are not needed.

Suedberg

Naturalist Robin Tracey will lead a hike at Swatara State Park on Saturday. The eight-mile trail is rated moderate. It runs parallel to Swatara Creek. Participants will hike down to the old steel bridge and crossing to make a loop around the back part of the park. Participants will also hike to Bordner cabin. Hikers will meet at 10:30 a.m. at the parking lot on Sand Siding Road just off Route 443 in Suedberg. Participants should bring a lunch and water, according to a release. Dogs are welcome but must be leashed and get along with other pets and people.

HEGINS — Three people were injured Sunday when two off-road utility vehicles collided head-on in Hegins Township.

A female and a younger child were severely injured and were transported via helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown, and a middle-aged female was transported to a local hospital for treatment, according to Doug Williams, Hegins Valley Fire Rescue chief.

Initially, when the call came in at 5:56 p.m., there was a report that there were five people injured in the accident at Rausch Creek Trailrider’s facility in Hegins Township, Williams said. When emergency crews arrived, however, there were actually three people who were hurt, he said.

Some of the injured were driving toward the Rausch Creek office when emergency teams arrived, Williams said.

Responding to the scene were firefighters from HVFR, Sacramento and Joliett. Pitman fire crews were on standby for HVFR.

EMS teams from Hegins, Tremont, Pitman and Pine Grove responded to the scene, as well as ALS units from Minersville and Pottsville, Williams said.

The scene was cleared by 7:45 p.m.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Anti-drunk driving advocacy groups are hoping a new, stricter DUI interlock law will help curb driving under the influence and possibly aid defendants arrested for the offense.

Act 33 of 2016, which went into effect June 25, requires first-time DUI offenders with a blood alcohol content of 0.10 percent or higher to use ignition interlock systems for at least 12 months. An ignition interlock system is a Breathalyzer hooked up to a vehicle’s ignition system that prevents the vehicle from starting if the device detects alcohol.

Before Friday, ignition interlocks were only available in Pennsylvania for repeat DUI offenders after they served a one-year license suspension. Also, first-time offenders with a BAC greater than 0.10 had to serve a yearlong license suspension, Eileen Lee, director of ignition interlock quality assurance with the Pennsylvania DUI Association, said.

“It’s a benefit for the public because it gets the interlock on there and it keeps people from driving under the influence,” Lee said, adding that the new law could also be a benefit for offenders. “It also works to help people change behaviors, the behavior of drinking and driving.”

Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine A. Holman agreed the new law is a good one.

“I would expect it to yield good results,” she said Wednesday. “Certainly, our Pennsylvania lawmakers take into consideration the health, safety and welfare of our citizens.”

There were 10,256 alcohol-related crashes resulting in 297 deaths and 6,589 injuries in Pennsylvania in 2016, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The law is less strict than what Mothers Against Drunk Driving advocates for nationally, which is for the mandatory installation of an ignition interlock for first-time offenders with a blood alcohol content of 0.08, the legal limit in Pennsylvania, Malcolm Friend, state program director for MADD Pennsylvania, said. Still, the new law is a “step in the right direction,” he said.

MADD Pennsylvania estimates that about 5,000 more interlocks will be installed next year due to the new law. That’s significant because statistics prove interlocks work in preventing drunk driving: Between 2003 and 2015, the devices installed on second offender’s vehicles prevented 78,000 drunk driving attempts in Pennsylvania alone, he said.

“Imagine how many lives have been saved and how many crashes prevented through interlocks already,” Friend said.

Holman also believes the new law could save lives.

“I will be optimistic and say that it will,” she said.

The new law is also a “game changer” because first-time offenders with a higher BAC can keep their driving privileges, which will help them maintain employment and support families, Friend said.

It costs an average of between $900 and $1,300 annually to have an interlock device installed, maintained and removed, depending on which interlock model and company is used, Lee said. People with interlocks are also responsible for taking their vehicles back to a service provider for calibration, she said.

According to www.padui.org, there are five providers where interlocks are installed in Schuylkill County: 12 Volt Dave’s, 2004 W. Market St., Pottsville; Auto Diesel Electric, 9 Starter Drive, Frackville; Kwik Klean & Lube, 756 Route 183, Schuylkill Haven; Antonelli’s Auto Repair; 8 W. Brandon St., Sheppton, and Eagle Transport Service Center, 265 Claremont Ave., Hometown.

Contact the writers: cover@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9100 x5363; pbortner@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6014

POTTSVILLE — A Pottsville man is headed to state prison after admitting Friday in Schuylkill County Court that he led police on a chase in August 2016 while intoxicated.

Scott M. Winter, 32, must serve one to two years in a state correctional institution for his crimes, Judge James P. Goodman decided. Goodman also sentenced him to pay costs, $1,075 in fines, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, perform 10 hours community service and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Winter pleaded guilty to fleeing or eluding police, driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance, improper driving without lights, failure to drive on the right side and driving over a divider.

Prosecutors withdrew charges of driving without a license, failure to drive at a safe speed, improper left turn, stop sign violation, reckless driving and careless driving.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Winter was under the influence of drugs when he led police on the chase on Aug. 9, 2016, from Pottsville to Schuylkill Haven. After being stopped, Winter was found to have methamphetamine, according to police.

Also on Friday, Thomas J. Gaughan Sr., 55, of McAdoo, pleaded guilty to crimes resulting from three separate incidents in his hometown.

Goodman sentenced Gaughan to time served to 23 months in prison with immediate parole, plus 12 months additional probation, and to pay costs and $714.99 restitution.

“You can’t get in trouble,” Goodman warned Gaughan.

Gaughan pleaded guilty to terroristic threats, resisting arrest and criminal mischief in one case, defiant trespass in the second and false reports to law enforcement in the third.

Prosecutors withdrew charges of simple assault, public drunkenness and two counts each of harassment and disorderly conduct in the first case, disorderly conduct in the second and a second count of false reports to law enforcement in the third.

McAdoo police filed all three cases against Gaughan, alleging he threatened an officer and damaged his car on Feb. 18, trespassed on a property on Oct. 9, 2016, made a false report on Oct. 16, 2016. All three incidents occurred in the borough.

In another Friday case, Goodman revoked the probation of Marcus T. Anderson, 43, address not known, and sentenced him to time served to 12 months in prison with immediate parole. Anderson also must undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation, Goodman ruled.

“Stay out of trouble,” Goodman told Anderson.

“Yes, sir,” Anderson replied.

Anderson, who admitted violating the terms of his probation, originally pleaded guilty on Sept. 28, 2016, to possession of drug paraphernalia. At that time, Goodman placed Anderson on probation for 12 months, and also sentenced him to pay costs and a $100 SAEF payment, which the defendant still must pay under the terms of Friday’s sentence.

State police at Frackville charged Anderson with possessing paraphernalia on March 10, 2016.

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

HAMBURG — A pregnant mother and her two children died when flames tore through their home in this Berks County community late Saturday night.

Berks County Assistant Chief Deputy Coroner Jonn Hollenbach identified the victims as Jennifer Wilder, 27, Gabriel Kalinofski, 5, and Julian Gust, 2.

Hollenbach said that Berks County Deputy Coroner Kurt E. Katzenmoyer pronounced the 5-year-old child dead at 4:27 a.m. Sunday, and Wilder and the 2-year-old at 4:28 a.m.

At the time of her death, Hollenbach said, Wilder was about six months pregnant, although that has not been medically confirmed.

Hollenbach said about 11:22 p.m., the Berks County Communications Center began receiving multiple calls about a house fire at 440 S. Fourth St.with entrapment.

He said that about 11:55 p.m., the coroner’s office was notified of the incident involving three fatalities.

Hollenbach said a man was able to escape the building and was taken to Reading Hospital by ambulance and then transferred to the burn unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown.

Hollenbach said that all of the victims were found on the second floor of the home and all were removed from the home between 5:10 and 5:20 a.m. Sunday. He added that autopsies will be conducted on all victims and that the dates and times have not been scheduled.

“Rulings will not be made on any of the deaths until complete results are available from toxicology and autopsy,” Hollenbach said.

A state police fire marshal from Troop L headquarters, Reading, is investigating the cause of the fire. It is believed to have started on the second floor of the home.

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

Lykens man charged

with DUI in crash

GRATZ — A Lykens man was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substance following a crash Thursday in Dauphin County, state police at Lykens said.

Zachary S. Wertz, 27, was driving a 2005 Chevrolet Trail Blazer north on Erdman Road in Lykens Township at 11:50 p.m. when he lost control of the vehicle and it struck an embankment on the right side of the roadway, police said. The accident occurred on Erdman Road, 541 feet west of Lubolds School Road.

Wertz had suspected minor injuries and was transported to Harrisburg Hospital by Life Team, police said, noting that the vehicle was flipped over on its passenger side and had to be towed from the scene.

It was later discovered through investigation that the cause of the crash was alcohol-related, police said.

Hit-and-run incident

probed in Cressona

CRESSONA — State police at Schuylkill Haven said a hit-and-run occurred Saturday on Graeff Street in the borough.

An unknown vehicle was traveling east on Graeff Street, 40 feet east of Zerbe Street, at 12:16 p.m. when it sideswiped the driver’s side of a 2017 Kia Forte, police said.

The driver of the unknown vehicle failed to stop and continued to travel east on Graeff Street, police said.

Police did not identify the owner of the struck car.

BARNESVILLE — A respite from the big city called several campers to the serenity of Locust Lake State Park this Labor Day weekend.

Dawn Espino already knew where she would be spending the holiday last fall. She made sure to book the same campsite at the water’s edge that she and her family had enjoyed the year before.

“From our observation, the farther you get from the city, it’s cleaner,” Espino said, who joined a group of 15 friends and family members from New York, New York.

“We put in our email, so that we’d get a notification of when the campsite would become available. We booked this last October for this year. It’s where we want to be,” she said, noting the clean bathrooms at the state park were a big draw.

“The weather last year was nice, but we have a good time despite the rain. We’re a close group of friends. We have fun all the time, and we eat a lot of food,” Jacob Manalac said.

As for the food fixings, “It’s mostly Filipino comfort food,” Espino said.

Beef sour soup and their trademark barbecue made with soy sauce and vinegar were on the menu.

Chris Tan caught up with his New York friends at their campsite. He had rented a place in Pottsville through Airbnb and drove to the state park.

“It’s all about taking it easy and eating,” Tan said. “We went for a swim earlier in the lake. It was cold, but refreshing.”

Although Charlie Vaca admitted he wasn’t much of an outdoorsman, he reconnected with his family from Hazleton at the park where they had set up one of the largest campsites under a tarp.

The family actually rented three spots along the lake. They spent time playing Ecuadorian card games, and made roasted corn and barbecue.

“This is new territory for me,” Vaca, Elizabeth, New Jersey, said. “My family has been planning this for a few months now. I have a T-Mobile phone, which gets no service here, so it’s nice to unplug and spend quality time with family.”

Mike VanBuren, Plymouth Meeting, brought his daughter, Alyssa, 8, for a father-daughter camping excursion. It was the family’s first time visiting Locust Lake.

Alyssa used a sleeping bag belonging to her older sister, Madeline, who stayed at home. Hiking, kayaking and eating ice cream were part of their agenda. They used a camping stove to make macaroni and cheese and sausage the night before, and made oatmeal with blueberries for breakfast Sunday before heading for the water.

“We rented a kayak for $13.50. The prices are great,” VanBuren said.

Alyssa VanBuren, who said she knew how to paddle, said the water on the lake “felt amazing.” The Plymouth Elementary third-grader brought along her stuffed lion, Nala, to cuddle during the camping trip.

Brian Price, a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ranger, said there were 285 campsites at Locust Lake, and six cottages and four Yurts (lightweight shelters) at nearby Tuscarora State Park. The parks were near capacity, Price said Sunday, and there are as many as 1,000 people who frequent the beach areas.

“It’s interesting, because you get to meet people from all over,” he said.

People ask questions about starting a fire, licensing, rules and regulations for boating and fishing, directions and about trees and wildlife in the park, according to Price. Christina Clawson, a DCNR ranger trainee, joined him.

Teresa Hartzell, who works at the Locust Lake campsite convenience store, said the store was stocked for the holiday weekend with desired staples, like seasoned campfire wood and 23 flavors of Heisler’s Cloverleaf Dairy ice-cream.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

FRACKVILLE — New York strip steaks from Marlin Markets, Mar Lin, sizzled on the grill Monday as Bill Mack, Mike Tomko and Bob Yutko prepared the traditional picnic fair for guests.

The Frackville Elks Lodge No. 1533 held its annual Labor Day Grillin’ event from noon to sell-out at the 307 S. Third St. lodge.

“Some people start their day here and then head to their other activities,” Mack, lodge secretary and district deputy of the Northeast District, said shortly after noon.

Tomko serves as exalted ruler and Yutko is past exalted ruler.

For a $12 donation, diners could have a steak with all the fixings, including baked beans, potato salad, macaroni salad, coleslaw and dessert. For $8, they could get a hamburger or hot dog and all the sides. A cash bar was available for sodas and beer.

Al Gursky, Frackville, said he’s a frequent patron at the lodge.

“I wanted to have a good lunch, and they have really good food here,” Gursky, a former chain crew member for Susquehanna University football, said. “I’ve had some bean soup and a hamburger, and maybe I’ll get some dessert.”

Krista Trakes and her family, including her husband, Larry, also grabbed a table at the lodge event.

“We’re out to enjoy a good meal before I have to go to work,” Trakes, Morea, said. “This is like a nice family cookout.”

Mary Anne Pautienus, esteemed loyal knight, decided to donate her time on the holiday and collected money from customers. She’s been retired from probation parole work in Harrisburg for 12 years and is also a church and hospital volunteer.

“This is a way to keep myself busy after retirement,” Pautienus, Frackville, said.

Other lodge members, Marianne Yanchulis, Frackville, and Tina Rudaitis, Minersville, also gave their time, assisting with prep work in the kitchen and preparing side dishes and cakes.

“This is a great organization. They help veterans, youth and the community, and they’re a great lodge with great people,” Rudaitis said.

Mack said the lodge hosts charity events each month. On Friday, they hosted a cancer benefit; Sunday was their monthly mackerel breakfast; and Monday’s Grillin’ event was to raise funds for community activities, he said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Growing up on Sanderson Street in Pottsville in the 1940s and 1950s, Rudine Sims Bishop loved singing at Bethel AME Church, going to local football games and reading books at the Pottsville Free Public Library.

“I remember spending a lot of time at the library. It was one of my favorite places. It had this children’s section where I used to hang out. When I was a child, I was a fan of fairy tales,” Bishop, 80, of Columbus, Ohio, said Wednesday.

After graduating from Pottsville High School in 1955, she went on to become a teacher and an author. This year she was given the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement.

“Rudine Sims Bishop’s critical assessment and cultural optic has had a profound influence on the ways in which generations of librarians, teachers and scholars present books to children and young adults. Her research, knowledge and compassion for readers has broadened the development of African-American children’s literature,” Darwin L. Henderson, chairman of the lifetime achievement committee, said in a story on the website for the American Library Association.

The award is presented every two years.

Born in Pottsville, July 31, 1937, Bishop is the daughter of the late Lucille and Bearkmyer Sims. Her family resided at 427 Sanderson St.

“The colored population was relatively small. We were ‘colored’ when I was growing up, so that’s how I’ll refer to the African-American population here. Usually I prefer ‘African-American.’ Usually in any given classroom, there were no more than two or three colored children. My high school graduating class had 185 students, six of whom were colored, five girls and one boy. That was an unusually large number,” Bishop said. “Most of the colored population lived between Laurel and Fairview and between Second and Eighth or Ninth. But the area was not racially segregated; i.e. we had white neighbors with whom we were friendly. I remember playing street games, hide and seek, red light, jump rope, et cetera, in the middle of Sanderson Street. We had to watch out for cars. I remember that the Lincoln House was a gathering place for the community. It was the site of the nursery school where we learned nursery rhymes, songs and games, as well as the social skills that would prepare us for public school. There was a playground next to the building.”

Lincoln Community House was at 401 Minersville St., Pottsville, according to the January 1936 edition of “The Crisis,” the official publication of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

“Basically, Lincoln House was a community center. For older youngsters and teenagers, there were dances with a jukebox and, I believe, a club or two, like a sewing club. There was a room with a pool table where teenage boys hung out. From time to time, girls were recruited as kitchen help for a social event at the home of one of the wealthier Pottsvillians,” Bishop said. “At the Lincoln House, I first learned to sing a song called the National Negro Anthem, ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing.’ Culturally, it was a time when adults felt responsible for children in the community. So adults felt free to scold any child caught doing something wrong and inappropriate behavior was reported to one’s parents. At the time, there were two colored churches, Mt. Zion Baptist, near the courthouse, and Bethel AME. There was a Masonic lodge, to which a number of the men belonged.”

“I do not remember a lot about how most colored people were employed. My dad was a porter — janitor — for one of the downtown stores. Some women were employed as housekeepers or cleaners for some well-to-do folk on the west end of town. It was understood that factories did not hire colored women to operate machines. It was also understood that downtown stores did not hire colored people as clerks, although positions were open in less visible spaces, such as the stock rooms. There were a few coal miners. My uncle worked as a coal miner and was injured in a mining accident, a cave-in, I think. It smashed one side of his face,” Bishop said. “We walked almost everywhere, downtown, to school, et cetera. We did ride a bus to work on the west end, but we walked to the bus stop, which was at the Y.”

She was referring to the former YMCA at Second and Market streets, which closed in 1972.

“When I was in high school, I worked after school doing light housekeeping and child care. That’s when I decided I had to go to college because doing housework could not be my life’s work, and I saw few, if any, other opportunities available if I stayed in Pottsville,” Bishop said.

She was co-salutatorian of the Pottsville High School, Class of 1955. In 1955, two of the three top students at Pottsville Area were black, Ione Geier, Pottsville, a columnist for the newspaper, said in an article Jan. 31, 2010.

“Geraldine M. Alston achieved valedictorian status. Rudine Sims tied with a white student, Mary Jane Haley, for salutatorian honors,” Geier said.

After high school, Bishop went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from West Chester State Teachers College in 1959.

“Rudine would often ride back to college with my parents when we both were in West Chester. She had a tremendous alto voice,” Lawrence O. Koch, owner of Braun School of Music, Pottsville, said Monday.

Bishop also earned a master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1964 and a doctorate in education from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, in 1972. She started writing books related to children’s literature in the 1980s. Her first was a guide for teachers and librarians, “Shadow and Substance: Afro-American Experience in Contemporary Children’s Fiction,” in 1982.

Her most recent book was “Free Within Ourselves: The Development of African American Children’s Literature,” published in 2007.

On Oct. 11, 1986, she married James J. Bishop of Memphis, Tennessee.

“We met in Massachusetts when I was on the faculty at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and he was dean of students at Amherst College,” she said.

Bishop was notified that she received the Coretta Scott King-Virginia Hamilton Award for Lifetime Achievement in January and accepted the award at the annual conference of the American Library Association on June 25 in Chicago.

In her acceptance speech, she said, “Virginia created one of the first books that offered a mirror to me. I must have been in graduate school when I encountered ‘Zeely.’ Even though I was well and truly grown, way older than the main character, I felt a strong connection to that book and to its writer. Here at last was a story about ordinary, contemporary African-American children living their lives in relative comfort, sheltered within a loving family, taking pride in their heritage, being comfortable with who they are. And by celebrating Zeely’s ‘deeply dark,’ African elegance, it declared that ‘Black Is Beautiful’ without raising a fist. It was a mirror for me, if not of the child I was, then of one I wished I could be.”

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

POTTSVILLE — In recent Schuylkill County Court action, a Shenandoah man is headed to state prison and additional probation after admitting he indecently assaulted a child in June 2016 in his hometown.

Michael Sell, 39, pleaded guilty to endangering the welfare of children and indecent assault.

Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin accepted Sell’s plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced him to serve 12 to 30 months in a state correctional institution, plus an additional 24 months on probation.

Dolbin also ordered Sell to pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, have no contact of any kind with the victim and undergo an evaluation by the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to determine whether he is a sexually violent predator. That determination will affect the duration and nature of the Megan’s Law sanctions that will be imposed on him.

Prosecutors withdrew three additional counts of indecent assault, two counts each of unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors and one additional count of endangering the welfare of children.

Shenandoah police charged Sell with indecently assaulting and endangering the victim on June 7, 2016.

Also in the county court, Alnaldo Perez-Rodriguez, 31, of Lehighton, pleaded guilty to conspiracy, carrying a firearm without a license, corruption of minors, unlawful restraint and simple assault.

Dolbin accepted the plea and, under the terms of an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced him to serve 21 to 72 months in a state correctional institution, pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Shenandoah police charged Perez-Rodriguez with committing his crimes on Dec. 19, 2016, in the borough.

In more criminal court activity, a Pine Grove man will spend time behind bars after admitting Wednesday to a Schuylkill County judge that he pointed a gun at a man in November 2016.

Steven L. Dorman, 48, pleaded guilty to terroristic threats, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, with prosecutors dropping a charge of harassment.

Judge Jacqueline L. Russell accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and Dorman, sentenced him to serve nine to 18 months in prison, pay costs and $50 to the CJEA, perform 60 hours community service and have no contact with his victim. Russell made the sentence effective at 4 p.m. Friday.

Dorman had asked for house arrest with electronic monitoring instead of imprisonment, but prosecutors opposed that request and Russell denied it.

State police at Schuylkill Haven had charged Dorman with pointing a gun at the man who had come to repossess his vehicle on Nov. 30, 2016, in Washington Township.

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

Kayla M. Bosche, 28, of Pottsville; theft, access device fraud, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and stripping abandoned vehicle; time served to 12 months in prison with immediate parole, $50 CJEA payment, $1,898.49 restitution, 80 hours community service and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew charges of conspiracy and fraudulent use or removal of plate.

Taylor A. Bowers, 24, of Pottsville; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 CJEA payment and 20 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of obstructing administration of law.

Abagail R. Cooney, 22, of Lost Creek; public drunkenness; $25 fine. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Trisha M. Fetterhoff, 28, of New Ringgold; two counts of possession of a controlled substance; 24 months probation, $200 in SAEF payments, $100 in CJEA payments, $226 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and 40 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew two counts each of delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of conspiracy.

Tyler J. Frantz, 26, of Lansford; driving under the influence, disorderly conduct, disregarding traffic lane and failure to keep right; 72 hours to six months in prison, $100 SAEF payment, $1,150 in fines and 20 hours community service, with sentence effective at 6 p.m. Friday. Prosecutors withdrew a second count of disorderly conduct and a charge of careless driving.

Jeffrey A. Hoppes, 37, of Orwigsburg; possession of a controlled substance; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, drug and alcohol evaluation and 20 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Dylan C. Horning, 20, of Pottsville; possession of a controlled substance; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and 20 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew charges of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility.

William J. Huth Jr., 37, of Minersville; false identification to law enforcement; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment and 20 hours community service.

Also in criminal court, a Frackville man is headed to prison after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced him on Thursday for threatening his neighbor twice in one day in July 2016.

Heath M. Livergood, 27, did not react, although his girlfriend cried, when Judge James P. Goodman sentenced him to serve four to 18 months in prison and pay costs and a $300 fine. The judge made the sentence effective on Sept. 15.

“There are some mitigating circumstances,” but not enough to prevent imposition of a prison sentence, Goodman said.

Livergood pleaded guilty on July 12 to two counts each of terroristic threats and disorderly conduct, one in each case against him, with prosecutors withdrawing two counts each of simple assault and harassment, two additional counts of disorderly conduct and one additional count of terroristic threats.

Frackville borough police filed both sets of charges against Livergood, alleging in each that he threatened his neighbor on July 21, 2016. In the one case, police said, Livergood jumped over a fence to make the threat.

“I just lost my temper,” Livergood said. “I know I did not make the best choice.”

Chief Public Defender Michael J. Stine, Livergood’s lawyer, said his client should not go to prison, noting that his son had been bitten by his neighbor’s dog and that he had been placed in a difficult situation.

“He is a father. He’s not getting any satisfaction from the police,” Stine said.

However, Assistant District Attorney Kimm R. Montone said prison time was appropriate for Livergood, who already had a criminal record.

“He seems to want to blame the police, the dog and everyone else for his actions,” Montone said of Livergood.

Also on Thursday, Judge Jacqueline L. Russell revoked the parole of Michael P. Lutz, 27, of Philadelphia, and recommitted him to prison. Lutz admitted violating his parole by failing to report to his supervising officer, not making payments on his costs and fees and not performing his community service.

“Once he was released, he didn’t comply with anything,” Russell said.

Lutz must remain in prison until at least Oct. 3, and could remain behind bars until Jan. 24, 2018, Russell ordered.

Lutz originally pleaded guilty on June 29, 2016, to flight to avoid apprehension or trial, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of public drunkenness. At that time, Russell sentenced him to spend three to 14 months in prison, pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment, perform 20 hours community service and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Shenandoah police charged Lutz with fleeing from them on Nov. 9, 2015, in the borough.

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

Justin E. Androsko, 21, of Minersville; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 payment to the SAEF and $50 payment to the CJEA. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Kelly L. Brinker, 38, of Allentown; driving under the influence and disregarding traffic lane; 10 days in prison, 40 days house arrest with electronic monitoring, 40 days strict supervision, three months probation, $775 in fines, $100 SAEF payment and 20 hours community service, with sentence effective at 10 a.m. Sept. 18. Prosecutors withdrew charges of resisting arrest, accident involving damage to unattended vehicle or property, careless driving and reckless driving.

Torina J. Brown, 38, of Harrisburg; retail theft; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment, $335.45 bench warrant fee, $180.19 restitution and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of theft by deception.

Teresa A. Caruso, 57, of Pottsville; simple assault; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment and $788 restitution.

Candice L. Colna, 27, of Schuylkill Haven; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and drug and alcohol evaluation.

Lee R. Fidler, 48, of Schuylkill Haven; resisting arrest; six to 12 months in prison and $50 CJEA payment, with sentence effective at 6 p.m. Sept. 13. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of simple assault.

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

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

Empire set to aid

victims of Harvey

POTTSVILLE — Empire Beauty Schools in 21 states —- including along Route 61 near Pottsville —- will hold a Haircuts for Harvey relief fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday.

The public is invited to stop in for a haircut and all revenue generated in Empire’s student salons and clinics will be donated to the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund, according to an Empire release.

“As involved and responsible members of our communities, Empire … is committed to assisting people in need,” Frank Schoeneman, chairman and chief executive officer of Empire Education Group, said in the release.

For more information on Empire Education Group and its schools, go online to www.empire.edu.

Empire Education Group provides cosmetology education, offering students many of the finest training tools and facilities, Empire officials said in the release.

Providence Place

touts Miracle Ear

POTTSVILLE — Providence Place of Pottsville, 2200 First Ave., will have a free Miracle Ear hearing event from 2 to 4 p.m. Sept. 28.

The public is welcome to participate.

The event, according to a release, will offer people the chance to learn more about hearing from Miracle Ear.

There will be free screenings and services, including hearing screenings, ear canal inspections, hearing aid cleanings, service and adjustments.

Those planning to attend must RSVP by Sept. 19. For more information, call 717-635-0638.

LVH-Schuylkill

earns award

POTTSVILLE — Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill --- East Norwegian Street and South Jackson Street --- has again received the Get With The Guidelines Heart Failure Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award.

According to an LV Schuylkill release, it is the eighth consecutive year that the American Heart Association has recognized the hospitals for achieving such status.

“Specifically, the GWTG award recognizes the hospitals for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology Foundation’s secondary prevention guidelines for patients with heart failure,” according to the release.

GWTG-Heart Failure is “a quality improvement program that helps hospital teams follow the most up-to-date, research-based standards with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing hospital readmissions for heart failure patients,” officials said in the release, adding it was launched in 2005 and studies have demonstrated the program’s success in achieving patient outcome improvements, including reductions in 30-day readmissions.

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill earned the award by meeting specific quality achievement measures for the diagnosis and treatment of heart failure patients, according to the release.

“These measures include evaluation of the patient, proper use of medications and aggressive risk-reduction therapies …”

Cathy Sophy, RN, administrative director of quality, said in the release LVH-Schuylkill “is dedicated to improving the quality of care for our heart failure patients. Implementing the American Heart Association’s … program helps us to accomplish this goal …”

The Lehigh Valley-Schuylkill hospitals also received the association’s Target: Heart FailureSM Honor Roll, part of an initiative that provides hospitals with educational tools, prevention programs and treatment guidelines designed to reduce the risk of heart failure patients ending up back in the hospital.

“We are pleased to recognize the hospitals of Lehigh Valley Hospital–Schuylkill for their commitment to heart failure care,” Dr. Paul Heidenreich, national chairman of the Get With The Guidelines Steering Committee and professor of medicine at Stanford University, said in the release.

SACF will aid

32 nonprofits

POTTSVILLE — To mark its 50th anniversary this year, the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation 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 has achieved its goal.

SACF Program Manager Sharon Koszyk said in a release the foundation 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, according to the release, 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.

For more on the foundation, call Marybeth Matz, assistant program manager, at 570-624-7223 or email her at mmatz1@verizon.net.

Frackville Museum

marks 5 years

FRACKVILLE — The Frackville Museum, located in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, Center and Oak streets, is celebrating its fifth anniversary in September.

The museum, according to a release, started with Heritage Hall and The Research Room and has added The Scout, Sentimental Journey and Memory Lane rooms as well as The Jordan Legacy Room, which focuses on the legacy of The Jordan Brothers band, the Frackville-based boys group that achieved fame in rock ’n’ roll circles locally and in the eastern United States.

The museum is continually adding new items and displays so that there is something for everyone, including children, museum officials said in the release.

The Research Room includes alphabetical, biographical and chronological files on all businesses, churches, organizations and many residents of the community. It also has available several indexes to assist people with research. There also are hundreds of photographs and many high school yearbooks.

Parking for center visitors is available at the rear of the building, where access to the building is available for the handicapped. A wheelchair also is available.

The museum has extended a special invitation for members of the Frackville High School Class of 1967 to visit and share memories.

For more information, call Kathy Kraft, museum volunteer, at 570-874-3531.

Ridgeview sponsors

education series

SHENANDOAH —- Ridgeview Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, 200 Pennsylvania Ave., Shenandoah Heights, is sponsoring a senior education series that is open to the public.

The series will include:

· Understanding Medicare and what plan is best for you, 1 p.m. Sept. 12, with Susan Johns and Nadine Holley of the Schuylkill APPRISE Program.

· Advance directives and long-term-care planning, 6 p.m. Sept. 28 with attorney Eric M. Mika, a board-certified elder law attorney with Williamson, Friedberg and Jones LLC.

· Understanding veterans and spousal benefit, 1 p.m. Oct. 19 with Brenda Zechman, Schuylkill County Veterans Affairs director.

Each presentation will be held at Ridgeview. People planning to attend are asked to RSVP three days prior to each event by calling 570-462-1921 or emailing jhampton@ridgeviewhc.com.

Gourmet coffee, a tea bar and desserts will be offered at each event.

Special ed clinic

slated at campus

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — McAndrews law offices will sponsor a free special education/IEP clinic from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at Penn State Schuylkill, 200 University Drive.

“Is your child struggling in school? Did the summer set them back? Let us help your child get on track,” organizers said in a press release.

The session will include a review of children’s educational rights and offer the opportunity for people to meet with an education attorney.

For more information, call Ally McAndrews at 610-648-9300 or email McAndrews at amcandrews@mcandrewslaw.com.

Pumpkin Fest

set in Frackville

FRACKVILLE --— The Frackville Business and Professional Association has announced plans for its annual Frackville Pumpkin Festival to be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 7 on Frack Street between Lehigh Avenue and Balliet Street. The rain times and date are 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 8.

Now in its ninth year, the festival, organizers said in a release, has become an anticipated event for residents of Frackville and surrounding communities.

The 2017 fest will again include the Art of the Pumpkin contest for adults and high school students. Wooden pumpkin blanks can be purchased at the Frackville Free Public Library, North Lehigh Avenue, and turned into works of art in any medium preferred. Finished pieces can be won in a ticket auction on the day of the festival.

The event also has activities that appeal to children, organizers said.

The library features My Favorite Pumpkin, a contest for youngsters ages 4-12. Art material for decorating a craft foam pumpkin will be available during September at the library free of charge. Children are invited to visit the library and complete their project. Call 570-874-3382 for more information.

During the festival, the popular Dream Katchr ponies will be provide pony rides at a cost of $2. Children will also be able to enjoy enjoy free crafts, penny art, pumpkin bowling and pumpkin painting.

Music will be by J.B. Sound and the fest will also include food sales by local nonprofit organizations.

Regarding the annual Art of the Pumpkin event, artists or families may buy a wooden pumpkin plank at the Frackville Area Free Public Library, 56 N. Lehigh Ave. The cost is $5 for students in grades nine through 12 or adults 65 and older and $10 for families and other individuals.

Completed art pieces must be returned to the library by Sept. 15. Winners will be determined by two designated judges. To qualify for the prizes, participants must donate their pieces to the library for the silent auction during the festival.

All proceeds from sale of blanks and auction bids will go to the library’s general fund.

All are welcome. For more information, call 570-874-2302.

Works sought

for art exhibition

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN —- The Walk In Art Center, 220 Parkway, is looking for submissions for the Keystone Fine Art Juried Exhibition set for Nov. 4-18 in the center’s third-floor main gallery.

The event involves two dimensional art in six categories. There are awards in each category, $200 for first place and $100 for second place.

Jurors are Cheryl Hochberg, chair of Fine Arts, Kutztown University, and Brian Cunfer, interim director, Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen.

A prospectus online is at www.walkinartcenter.org.

According to an event flier, work should be submitted, hand deliveries only, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 25. Pickup for unaccepted work is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 30.

Rebecca Margerum

ELIZABETHVILLE — A Lykens man is headed to Dauphin County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing on two sets of charges, including one case in which he allegedly unlawfully used a computer.

Randy E. Ramer Jr., 32, of 307 N. Second St., faces charges of computer trespass, access device fraud, theft by deception, theft and harassment in one case and driving under the influence, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility, careless driving, and operating vehicle without valid inspection in the other. Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum bound over those charges for court after Ramer waived his right to the hearing.

Prosecutors withdrew charges of interception of communications, stalking and reckless driving.

State police at Lykens filed both sets of charges against Ramer.

In the first case, they alleged he improperly used a computer on March 20 in Upper Paxton Township. In the second, they alleged he was DUI on May 31 in Washington Township.

Ramer is free on $10,000 straight cash bail, $5,000 in each case, pending further court proceedings. His formal arraignment in each case is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Oct. 6 in Harrisburg before Judge Deborah E. Curcillo.

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

Charles R. Carr, 59, of 1291 S. 28th St., Harrisburg; harassment; charge held for court after preliminary hearing.

Jason A. Mundie, 28, of Harrisburg; DUI, fleeing or eluding police and operating vehicle without valid inspection; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

HECKSCHERVILLE — Those gathered at Castle Green Grotto on Monday for the 14th annual Labor Day Mass remembered the man who was the grotto’s long-serving caretaker.

Participants also pondered the sanctification of human labor, as shared by celebrants the Rev. Paul L. Rothermel and the Rev. Christopher M. Zelonis.

Although Robert “Bob” Mulhall passed away, the site that he and his wife, Mary Anne, helped maintain will go on serving the faithful.

“He was a special person and would do anything for anyone,” his widow said. “We’ve been so blessed with all the people who come each year. We will continue it. Everyone’s been offering to help.”

The grotto is located on the site of the former Greenbury Chapel and had been maintained by Mary Anne Mulhall since her husband’s illness and subsequent passing this year.

Leo Haley and Dan Koury, with the Ancient Order of the Hibernians John F. Kennedy Division No. 2, awarded her a Bible, recognizing the couple’s contribution to the community. Haley said that when a Hibernian member passes away, it’s a tradition to offer the family a gift in their loved one’s honor.

Joining Mary Anne Mulhall were several family members, including sons, Shawn and his wife, Lorrie Mulhall, and Bobby Sr. and his wife, Theresa Mulhall; a grandson, Justin Mulhall; daughters, Kathleen Sponenburg and Kelly Anne Kline; and a great-granddaughter, Anastasia Dougherty.

About 100 people attended Monday’s service, where Rothermel, pastor of St. Charles Borromeo Roman Catholic Church, Ashland, spoke of Jesus being a construction worker who humbly built homes for other people.

“Charity was very much a part of Jesus’s work,” he said.

He also shared that although we have obligations to support our families, and do what’s expected from our bosses, our work is also a duty to God. Many people are living to work, instead of working to live, he said.

“As with all things human, when we get our relationship with God right, things change and get in their proper perspective,” he said.

Diane Frank, Buck Run, is a regular at the outdoor Mass and was a member of the former St. Kieran’s Church.

“His messages are always good, and I could hear him talk on and on,” she said of Rothermel’s annual message during the service.

Minersville Mayor Joseph Post said he attends the Mass in Heckscherville every year, too.

“It’s really nice. I think every church should hold an outdoor Mass,” he said.

Post, a fellow member of the AOH, also knew Bob Mulhall.

“He was a real nice guy,” he said.

Zelonis serves St. Michael the Archangel Church, Minersville.

Also assisting during Mass was Joe “Hap” Anthony, reader; Diane Nash, Bob Mulhall’s sister, and Mary Anne Mulhall, presentation of the gifts; and Lucy Nettles and George F. Halcovage Jr., vocalists.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

HAMBURG — Stuffed animals, Spiderman and Paw Patrol balloons, and flower bouquets lined the sidewalk in front of 440 S. Fourth St. on Monday as yellow caution tape cordoned off the area.

The makeshift memorial paid tribute to a Hamburg expectant mother and two children who lost their lives in a house fire late Saturday night. A man was injured in the fire.

A white cross there had the fire victims’ names on it along with the words “unborn” written near the bottom.

“It took everything I had yesterday not to break down,” Annie Moyer, a next-door neighbor at 434 S. Fourth St., said Monday afternoon while on her porch with her husband, Leon.

Berks County Assistant Chief Deputy Coroner Jonn Hollenbach identified the victims as Jennifer Wilder, 27, Gabriel Kalinofski, 5, and Julian Gust, 2. State police at Troop L headquarters, Reading, had no additional information Monday on the identity of the male victim, or the fire’s cause, which is under investigation by the state police fire marshal.

Grieving neighbors remembered the young family as quiet, and others offered condolences and began contributing to a GoFundMe account. A neighbor across the street said he was unable to speak with the media and was still processing what happened. He ran to the Moyers’ home to make sure they were awake and that they got out of their house Saturday night, he said. Another female neighbor did not give her name, but said, “We wish we could have done more.”

“When you see them come and bring the flowers, it’s really hard,” Annie Moyer said while looking at the growing sidewalk memorial. She and her husband have lived on South Fourth Street in the same home for 53 years, she said, and saw the family occasionally.

“I saw the little boys and the two dogs out when they’d (parents) come home from work. They would come to the edge of the yard to talk to me,” she said.

“They didn’t bother anybody and had fixed that home up,” Leon Moyer said.

“You never realize what it’s like until you live close to a fire. It was really burning and there was so much smoke. This whole block was just packed with fire folks. They got here quick and didn’t leave until dinner time the next day,” Annie Moyer said.

Her home was spared from fire damage.

On Monday, fire crews from Union Fire Company No. 1, Hamburg, were still processing the tragedy in their community while cleaning up and preparing their turn-out gear. The firehouse is located at 127 S. Fourth St., just blocks from the site of the deadly fire. On the day of the blaze, the fire company was operating with a full complement of volunteers, according to Lt. Jordan D. Heckman and firefighter William F. Smith II. Troy R. Hatt serves as Union’s fire chief and fire marshal, they said.

Collectively, the community was grieving.

“We’re talking about that. We do get debriefing counseling,” Heckman, who was one of the firefighters who recovered one of the fire victims, said.

Another fireman, who wished to remain anonymous, said he also assisted in the recovery of the young family. He thanked the community for its outpouring of support, noting some neighbors brought the crews cups of coffee, which was appreciated.

“I felt bad for everyone watching. They felt helpless,” Smith said.

The all-volunteer department has 60 volunteers, including support staff, and handles 850 calls annually, according to Heckman. The last fatal fire in the department’s coverage area was a few years ago when two people died on Clayton Avenue, Tilden Township, Heckman said.

The fire department said three fundraising sites had been set up for the victims’ family. One of them is by Britt and Mike Kalinofski, who set up a GoFundMe account for funeral expenses for their nephew, Gabriel. They have a goal set for $10,000 and, as of 7 p.m. Monday, $3,185 had been raised.

A state police fire marshal from Troop L headquarters, Reading, was investigating the cause of Saturday’s blaze. It is believed to have started on the second floor of the home.

Hollenbach said previously that the Berks County Communications Center began receiving multiple calls about 11:22 p.m. about a house fire at 440 S. Fourth St. with entrapment.

He said that about 11:55 p.m., the coroner’s office was notified of the incident involving three fatalities. Hollenbach said that Berks County Deputy Coroner Kurt E. Katzenmoyer pronounced the 5-year-old child dead at 4:27 a.m. Sunday, and Wilder and the 2-year-old at 4:28 a.m.

The man who was able to escape the building was taken to Reading Hospital by ambulance and then transferred to the burn unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown, according to Hollenbach.

Hollenbach said that all of the victims were found on the second floor of the home and all were removed from the home between 5:10 and 5:20 a.m. Sunday. Autopsies were scheduled to be conducted on all victims.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

HEGINS — Tri-Valley school board may seek input from taxpayers, parents and alumni to determine where the district should go with its curriculum.

At the board’s curriculum committee meeting Thursday, directors considered opening an online survey, or poll, to the public. They’ll discuss the survey possibility again at the next committee meeting immediately following the school board meeting 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13 at the high school.

Diane C. Dietrich, school board vice president and curriculum committee chairwoman, said she had received feedback and phone calls from parents about the curriculum and assumes other directors have as well. She said it was important to get input from teachers and administrators as well as students and the community.

Joining in the discussion were directors Jerry R. Beaver, Roger D. Heidelbaugh, Kelly M. Carter and Guy M. Julian; Superintendent Mark D. Snyder; and two citizens, Mark Dietrich and Katie Burian.

Diane Dietrich said the committee wants to “create the best educational program we can and build on successes” while weighing the district’s wants and needs.

She said the needs are based on the state Department of Education Chapter 4 requirements, a copy of which was provided at the meeting.

“Public schools provide instruction throughout the curriculum so that students may develop knowledge and skills in the following areas: English and language arts, mathematics, science and technology, environment and ecology, social studies, arts and humanities, career education and work, health safety and physical education, and family and consumer science,” the code states.

According to census figures, there is an average of 65 to 75 students per graduating class, Diane Dietrich said.

“If we have extreme fluctuations, it makes an impact on our ability to schedule courses,” she said.

At the elementary, there are a few graduating classes a bit larger than average student population, she said.

When asked how the departments develop their curriculum, Snyder said that at the high school, the departmental meetings are held based on subjects, while at the elementary, the departmental meetings are based on grade-level. The district doesn’t have department heads due to the smaller staff size at Tri-Valley, Snyder said, however, the departments meet at least four times each school year.

If a department determines there’s a need, that department relays the information to the building administrators, who then refer the matter to him as superintendent, he said.

“Then, we try to build that into the budget,” Snyder said.

Snyder said if the board decides to offer a survey, it should be a system that can be validated while obtaining useful data.

Heidelbaugh said he favored a survey if the questions could be specific to curriculum. He also suggested to “copy what the best-performing schools do, see if their curriculum is available, and use that as a game plan.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Ashland

The Ashland Area Rotary Club recently welcomed Rotary District 7360 Governor Michael C. Hornby for his official visit. A member of the Martinsburg, West Virginia, Rotary Club, Hornby focused on attracting new Rotary members by communicating with the community to let people know what Rotary is about. He encouraged Rotarians to explore new methods of conducting business using the new rules that were established by the 2016 Rotary Council on Legislation. Regarding how Rotary International will help victims of the recent devastation in Texas from Hurricane Harvey, Hornby recommended that people contribute to The Rotary Foundation through which Rotary’s service will be funneled. Hornby also focused on abolishing slavery and human trafficking in the world. He and his wife, Kresha, are involved with this mission, according to the Rotary bulletin. He said there are some 46 million people globally held in slavery today. Even in the United States, he continued, there are 125,000 advertisements per day posted for the opportunity to purchase a human being. The Hornbys are working on establishing legislation in Pennsylvania, Maryland and West Virginia to put a stop to human trafficking and Hornby urged the Ashland club members to contact local state representatives to end the plight of human trafficking.

Barnesville

Naturalist Robin Tracey will lead a Wolf Creek Falls hike from Tuscarora State Park at 10:30 a.m. Sept. 13. Meet at the north end of the Walmart parking lot off Route 61 in the Coal Creek Commerce Center in Saint Clair. The hike is 7 miles and rated difficult. This hike is dog friendly but all pets must be leashed and get along with people and other pets. Bring water and a lunch. Due to limited space, registration is required by calling Tracey. Shine only.

Coaldale

A Miller-Keystone Blood Center blood drive will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sept. 21 at St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, 360 W. Ruddle St. All able people are urged to donate blood. Miller-Keystone is a not-for-profit 501(c)3 community organization serving as the only blood provider to Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Lehighton; Palmerton Hospital; Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill and Hazleton. For more information, call 570-645-8271.

Pottsville

The Pottsville Free Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorial donations: For Kaden Krause from Marian DeLance and Anita Dwyer; for Theodore Starr from Christine MacAdams, Ed and Gerry Schwartz; for Paula Winn from KME Fire Apparatus; for John F. Purcell from Patrick Purcell. The library also acknowledged donations regarding the 2017 fund drive as follows: Patricia Suender Dolbin, Rosemarie Bevan, Molly Bevan and Ellen Suender.

Shamokin

Sub-chapter 8601 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees will meet at 1 p.m. at Brewser’s Sports Grill, 839 W. Water St., on Sept. 5, Oct. 3 and Nov. 14, due to Election Day, on the first Tuesday. Members will enjoy lunch at their own expense, gathering at 12:45 p.m. before the meeting.

Shenandoah

The Glover’s Hill Auxiliary is accepting reservations for its planned bus trip to the Sands Casino, Bethlehem, on Oct. 15. The bus will depart from Shenandoah at 9:30 a.m. and from the casino at 5 p.m. for the return trip. The cost is $23 with a $25 slot play rebate and $5 food voucher. For reservations or more information, call Angie at 570-462-2465 or email her at beautyshop904@yahoo.com.

Shenandoah

Dale Freudenberger, the noted east central Schuylkill historian of the Tamaqua Historical Society, will be the featured speaker at The Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society’s meeting set for 6 p.m. today at the 201 S. Main St. history center. Admission is free and the public is welcome.

Deeds

Branch Township and Minersville — Carisa Wowak, administratrix of the Estate of Shirley A. Clemko, to Dan Donovan; two properties on Lytle Street; $6,000.

Butler Township — Raymond A. and Cynthia L. Smith to Raymond A. and Cynthia L. Smith; 1.08-acre property on Route 901, Lavelle; $1.

Raymond A. and Cynthia L. Smith to Raymond A. and Cynthia L. Smith; 2.06-acre property at Route 901 and Reichwein Road; $1.

Cass Township — Edward D. Sesack to Joshua M. Maley; property in Heckscherville; $5,000.

Coaldale — Scott and Kristin Sawicki to James C. Sherry; 32 W. High St.; $42,400.

East Brunswick Township — Vicki L. Hill to Jamie F. and Nicole H. Campbell; 23 Grey Hawk Drive; $377,000.

Dale C. and Linda Baum to Kenneth R. Reed and Georgine E. Reed; 0.35-acre property on Wild Turkey Lane; $2,000.

Kenneth R. Reed and Georgine E. Reed to Kenneth R. Reed and Georgine E. Reed; 23 Wild Turkey Lane; $1.

Timothy A. Porczynski to Timothy S. Sr. and Rebecca A. O’Donnell; 45 Grey Hawk Drive; $294,900.

Frackville — Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB to Michael Daka; 524 W. Chestnut St.; $13,500.

Girardville — Ann M. McAndrew to Linda Miller; 115 A St.; $1.

Kline Township — Lorie Mae Matweecha to Brian Matweecha; 153 Silverbrook Road; $1.

Mahanoy City — Virander and Niurka Vadav to Ed Zumstein; property on Mahanoy Avenue; $14,300.

Mahanoy Township — Terri Minahan to Edward and Jacqueline Tobin; 15 Hill Terrace; $1.

Mechanicsville — Gloria Jean Shadle and Frank Spleen to Frank P. Spleen, Brent D. Spleen and Brandon M. Spleen; 756 First St.; $1.

Robert and Kathryn R. Tebin to Robert Tebin Jr. and Brian M. Tebin; 714 First St.; $1.

North Union Township — Ashley Davidson to Justin R. and Sara E. Weikel; 3 Valley View Road, Zion Grove; $56,300.

Palo Alto — Joseph J. Jr. and Sandra K. Pogash to John Vandermer; 634 W. Bacon St.; $2,500.

Pine Grove Township — Dwayne E. Krammes, Danette M. Wolf and Georgene Kramer, administratrix of the Estate of David K. Krammes, to Dwayne E. Krammes and Danette M. Wolf; 233 Rock Road; $1.

John Brill, Steve Brill and Cynthia Lehman to Olivia Margaret Brill; 237 Oak Grove Road; $169,500.

Pottsville — James Hartnett, individually and as executor of the Estate of Raymond L. Zimmerman, to James and Patricia A. Hartnett; 312 N. Second St.; $1.

Ringtown — Bernard Bann, Charles Bann and Bruce Rarick to Borough of Ringtown; 0.42-acre property; $1.

Schuylkill Haven — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Todd McShaw; 408 St. John St.; $3,648.86.

Peter P. Dougherty to Peter P. Dougherty; 20 E. Market St.; $1.

Shenandoah — Rolfis Paulino to Fausto J. Lucas and Maribel Fabian; 221, 223 and 225 E. Centre St. and 220 and 222 Mount Vernon St.; $38,000.

Kathleen M. Kapusnick to Joseph J. Heron II and Nancy Fleming; 243 E. Lloyd St.; $26,000.

Tamaqua — Northeast Investors Group Inc. to Michelle and Howard Boylan; 616 Arlington St.; $29,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to David John Lucas; property on Owl Creek Road; $2,092.97.

Kathryn V. Hollar and Karen A. Martinez, co-executrices of the Estate of Martha A. Ceci, to Kim L. and Kevin E. Gilbert; 347 Willing St.; $42,000.

Union Township — Edward Careyva and Scott Careyva to William Alex Nunez; 645 Aristes Road; $107,000.

Upper Mahantongo Township — Loraine L. Kelly to Donna K. Burton; 108 Vista Road, Klingerstown; $1.

Washington Township — Nolan R. and Tanya I. Hatfield to Nolan R. and Tanya I. Hatfield; 6 Dad Burnhams Road; $1.

Ashland

The Ashland Area Rotary Club recently welcomed a new member, Kathy Canfield, wife of Rotarian Tom Canfield. She will be officially welcomed during a future meeting. The annual miniature golf tournament with the Hegins-Valley View Rotary Club will be held at 6 p.m. Sept. 14 at Goody’s Fun Center near Frackville, according to the Rotary bulletin. The Ashland club will host the Hegins-Valley View Rotarians this year. The cost is $15 per person, which includes golf and a meal. Reservations are required by Thursday by contacting Ashland Rotary President Elaine Stone. In other Rotary business, Shannon Scheuren announced that the semi-annual Schuylkill Keep It Pretty cleanup will take place locally starting at 9 a.m. Sept. 16 at Eureka Park. Participants from Rotary and any willing area volunteers are needed to help pick up litter for about two hours. Garbage bags, gloves and vests will be provided. At the conclusion of the work, the club will serve hot dogs, chips and beverages to all participants at the Little League concession stand.

Frackville

Lewie’s Restaurant, South Lehigh Avenue, will host a breakfast at 8 a.m. Sept. 11 for the Frackville Hometown Heroes Banner Committee in recognition of the “huge success of the program,” according to a release. More than 300 banners are on display and more will be added next year, according to the release. Additionally, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17, Moosic, will present Paul Martin, banner committee chairman, with two medals he earned for his service in Vietnam but never received. For more information, call 570-874-2945.

Mahanoy City

The St. Teresa of Calcutta Golden Age group of Mahanoy City is sponsoring a bus trip to the Philadelphia Premium Outlets for the Columbus Day sales on Oct. 7. The cost is $30, and pickups will be in Mahanoy City, Shenandoah, Frackville and Pottsville. For reservations or more information, call Elizabeth at 570-773-1753.

Pottsville

Diakon Living and Learning, 118 S. Centre St., has a host of new activities, classes, workshops and creative/healthful initiatives on its agenda throughout Schuylkill County. For more information regarding costs, types of sessions, dates/times and locations, call Susan Long at 570-624-3018 or email longs@diakon.org. More information is also available online at www.diakon.org/community-services/Living-Learning-After-50.

Schuylkill Haven

St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Parish, 302 Randel St., will sponsor a wine festival beginning at 11 a.m. Sept. 23. The cost is $15 in advance and $20 at the door of the parish center. The event will feature seven wineries, food and vendors plus entertainment by Spin Jammers and Another Side with Joe Jordan. People 21 and older are welcome. For more information, call 570-573-2028.

Tamaqua

The Tamaqua Historical Society will host its first antique appraisal fair from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday 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.

Tamaqua

A wide variety of classes, performances and other offerings are available at the Tamaqua Community Arts Center, 125 Pine St. For information on presentations, dates, times and costs, call the center at 570-668-1192 or go online to www.TamaquaArts.org.

POTTSVILLE — A man was jailed after being arrested by Pottsville police on Saturday and charged with pointing a laser at a medical helicopter last month.

Police said Patrolman Bryce Lewis and criminal investigators charged Timothy Michael Ebert, 23, of Pottsville, with the August incident.

Ebert was charged with risking a catastrophe, reckless endangerment and possessing instruments of crime.

He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail.

Pottsville Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said that about 9:15 p.m. Aug. 15, officers were notified by the pilot of Lehigh Valley Hospital’s MedEvac 7 helicopter that, as he was flying over the city on his way to the Lawton’s Hill helipad, someone pointed a green laser at the aircraft.

The chief said investigators worked with the pilot and determined the origin of the laser was in the area of the 500 block of West Arch Street.

As officers were searching the area, the chief said, they saw a man flee on foot heading southeast.

The man was last seen in the area of the 300 block of West Norwegian Street before officers lost sight of him, Wojciechowsky said.

The subsequent investigation and interviews led to Ebert being identified as the person responsible for pointing the laser at the helicopter.

Officers obtained a warrant for Ebert’s arrest and about 7:30 p.m. Saturday, learned he was at 511 W. Arch St., where he was taken into custody without incident, Wojciechowsky said.

Along with the charges from the laser pointing incident, the chief said Ebert was also arraigned by Reiley on an outstanding domestic violence arrest warrant.

For that charge, simple assault/domestic violence, Reiley set an additional $25,000 straight cash bail, Wojciechowsky said.

Ebert will now have to appear for preliminary hearings on both incidents before Reilly in his Pottsville courtroom.

Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com