POTTSVILLE — The Schuylkill County Prison is at capacity for the second straight month.

There were an average of 277 inmates, the facility’s capacity, at the county prison in September, according to Warden Gene Berdanier’s report Wednesday.

The prison population peaked at 289 in September while the average number of outsourced inmates for the month was 48. Temporary housing costs for the month totaled $120,306.51.

On Wednesday, 56 inmates were being housed in other facilities: seven at Berks County Prison, Leesport; 21 at Centre County Prison, Bellefonte; one at Columbia County Prison, Bloomsburg; five at Lackawanna County Prison, Scranton; and 22 at Snyder County Prison, Selinsgrove.

There were 48 inmates being held in cells with three people.

President Judge William E. Baldwin said the county can only transport criminals who have been sentenced to be housed at other facilities. He said the prison currently has a high percentage of people awaiting sentencing.

“We are starting to get to the point where we don’t have any candidates to send out,” Baldwin said. “It’s becoming a very serious problem, especially with the cap from the state Department of Corrections.”

Meanwhile, the county is waiting on a feasibility study before proceeding with an intermediate punishment center.

Earlier this month, the commissioners approved a $38,400 contract with Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates, Mechanicsburg, to update their needs assessment and feasibility study that was done when the county previously considered the option in 2008.

The study will determine the county’s needs of a prerelease center through the review of inmate statistics, updated population projections and building program requirements, according to the agreement.

“We need an alternative very soon,” Commissioner Gary J. Hess said. “We need to move with urgency when we get that study back.”

“I think we all share that concern,” commissioners and prison board Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said.

Crabtree, Rohrbaugh & Associates performed a study in 2008 to address the growing prison population and outlined several options, which included the construction of an intermediate punishment facility they referred to as a “standalone sentenced inmate facility.”

Plans for such a facility were scrapped in 2011 when the bids averaged $4.2 million, about $1 million more than budgeted.

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

MAHANOY CITY — Students of the Mahanoy Area School District were dismissed early Wednesday after a threatening note was found written on a bathroom wall.

Mahanoy City police Patrolman Jonathan McHugh, who was serving as the school resource officer that day, said the note was discovered about 9:30 a.m. in a boys’ bathroom in a hall that connects the Mahanoy Area High School and Mahanoy Area Elementary School.

McHugh said the note, written in pencil, said, “The school will go boom.”

Superintendent Joie Green said that after the note was discovered, the school was evacuated as a precaution according to emergency protocols that are in place.

Mahanoy City police Patrolman Christopher Zubris said since there was a threat of an explosion, a state police K-9 unit was requested. The unit, specially trained to detect explosives or explosive devices, arrived about 11 a.m. from state police Bureau of Special Operations, Hershey.

After searching the building and the grounds, Mahanoy Area officials said about 12:35 p.m. that the school was cleared by the state police and no threatening devices were found.

Both Zubris and McHugh said the school is equipped with cameras outside of the boys’ and girls’ bathrooms and that the video from those cameras will be reviewed as part of the investigation.

Zubris also stressed that the person responsible for writing the threat will be arrested and prosecuted.

He said that those responsible may also be subject to restitution.

“Full restitution for services rendered will be accounted for by the responsible party and their parents,” Zubris said.

Green said students exited the building safely and no incidents were reported.

“Everyone got where they were supposed to,” she said. “The staff did a wonderful job.”

Due to the time of the threat and the fact students were to remain outside for an undetermined amount of time, district officials decided to cancel classes for the day. Students were dismissed about 10:45 a.m.

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

David A. Plachko

PORT CARBON — A New Philadelphia woman charged with a theft at a business owned by her father in that community in August waived her right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.

Martina M. Mazloom, 23, of 57 Valley St. was arrested by state police Trooper Michael Ryan of the Frackville station and charged with one misdemeanor count each of theft and receiving stolen property.

By waiving her right to a hearing Mazloom will now have to answer to both charges against her in Schuylkill County Court.

Ryan charged Mazloom with entering Mazloom’s Bar, also located at 57 Valley St., around 9:30 a.m. Aug. 28 opening a cash register and removing about $325. The woman was taken into custody about 11 hours later and asked her father if she gave the money back would he drop the charges, Ryan said.

While being taken to the state police barracks, Ryan said Mazloom told him she took money from the register to get back at her father for an earlier argument they had.

Other court cases included:

Starr Aileen Kline, 22, of 14 N. Centre St., Pottsville; held for court: resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Isaiah A. Thompson, 19, of 51 Westwood St., Minersville; held for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christine L. Slate, 48, of 301 Lewis St., Minersville; waived for court: retail theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Luis G. Hernandez, 25, of 18 Main St., Box 64, Middleport; withdrawn: simple assault and harassment.

Wade A. Yoder, 31, of 71 Rock Road, Pine Grove; waived for court: possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

David J. Rossi

TREMONT — A Hegins Township man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday on three charges, including one that he failed to comply with Megan’s Law registration requirements.

Jeffrey A. Madeira, 37, of 905 W. Maple St., Hegins, faces charges of failure to provide accurate registration information, driving without a license and driving under suspension-DUI related.

Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi bound over all charges for court after Madeira waived his right to the hearing. Madeira then returned to prison, where he is being held in lieu of $1,000 straight cash bail.

Hegins Township police alleged Madeira committed the crimes on Sept. 27 in the township.

Madeira is listed as a Tier 2 offender on the Pennsylvania State Police Megan’s Law website, meaning he must register for 25 years.

Other defendants whose cases Rossi considered on Thursday, the crimes they are charged with committed and the judge’s dispositions of the matters included:

Joshua E. Bowers, 27, of 4 S. Vine St., Shamokin; driving under the influence, disregarding traffic lane, failure to drive at a safe speed and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Austin A. Brewer, 21, of 300 Hill Road, Hegins; DUI, stop sign violation, not yielding at roadway and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Michael A. Dembitsky, 31, of 36 Fisher Acres, Pine Grove; improper possession or use of documents, operating vehicle without valid inspection and driving unregistered vehicle; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Jason M. Frew, 39, of 4 S. Crescent St., Tremont; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Benjamin M. Knol, 24, of 210 Lewis Road, Annville; DUI, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of careless driving withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG — A Schuylkill Haven man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Monday on a charge he unlawfully possessed nine guns in September at his residence.

Michael E. Naftzinger, 48, of 115 High St., faces a charge of prohibited possession of a firearm. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over the charge for court after Naftzinger waived his right to the hearing.

Schuylkill Haven borough police allege Naftzinger had nine firearms — five shotguns, two pistols, a rifle and a muzzle loader — at 6:55 p.m. Sept. 6 in two separate gun cases in his bedroom.

Two state parole agents discovered the guns in Naftzinger’s bedroom, police said. Naftzinger was on state parole at the time of the agents’ visit, and informed the defendant that possessing the guns violated the terms of his parole, according to police.

Furthermore, Naftzinger also has a felony drug conviction on his record, police said.

Naftzinger is free on $50,000 unsecured bail pending further court action.

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

Stacey L. Bordner, 46, of 602 Railroad St., Schuylkill Haven; aggravated assault, simple assault and criminal mischief; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of aggravated assault and simple assault withdrawn, charge of criminal mischief bound over for court.

Michael A. Daubert, 24, of 46 Covered Bridge Road, Pine Grove; strangulation, simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of strangulation withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Pedro R. Grullon-Lora, 38, of 921 N. 12th St., Reading; receiving stolen property, driving under the influence, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, driving without a license and failure to drive at a safe speed; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Kelly R. Klamfoth, 21, of 1174 Running Deer Drive, Lake Wynonah, Auburn; possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and speeding; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Justin D. Williams, 35, of 618 N. Centre St., Pottsville; criminal trespass and possession of a small amount of marijuana; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Police seek man

who violated bail

NEW RINGGOLD — State police at Frackville are investigating an incident of intimidation of witnesses or victims that occurred about 4 p.m. Oct. 12. at 119 Stoney Lane in East Brunswick Township.

Police said Robert C. Brode, 34, sent threatening text messages to a 58-year-old East Brunswick Township woman in violation of his bail conditions.

Police said they are investigating several cases against Brode and that there is an active warrant for his arrest.

Anyone with information on Brode’s whereabouts is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.

Police seek

bicycle owner

FRACKVILLE — Butler Township police reported being in possession of a white Roadmaster 18-speed girl’s mountain bike that was found about 3:20 p.m. Tuesday in the area of 10th and Oak streets.

Anyone with information, or the owner of the bicycle, is asked to call Butler Township Police at 570-875-4131.

Man in traffic

faces charges

ASHLAND — Ashland police filed criminal charges against a borough man stemming from an incident about 1:50 p.m. Oct. 5.

Police said officers on an unrelated call saw Brandon Louis Jones, 35, of 1006 Centre St., Second Floor Apt., running into traffic in the area of the 300 block of Centre Street.

Police said officers went to Jones’ location and saw him “darting” into the middle of traffic with one vehicle having to stop to avoid hitting the man.

Jones was ordered to get off the road several times and was eventually taken into custody, police said.

Jones was disorderly when taken into custody and as a result was charged with terroristic threats, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstructing highways and other public passages.

The charges against Jones were filed with Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, police said.

POTTSVILLE — More blighted properties in Schuylkill County will be torn down.

The county commissioners awarded contracts Wednesday with AMC Enterprises, Frackville, for two demolition projects in Gilberton. The company will be demolishing 109-11 Kelly St. for $14,895 and 1121-1123 Main St. for $12,489.

The projects are being funded through the $1.4 million grant the county received in January from the state Department of Community and Economic Development.

Meanwhile, the board also approved a list of private property sales. Two townships bought properties that will be added to the county’s demolition list. Porter Township bought 45 Main St. for $10 while Reilly Township bought 85 S. Tremont St. for $1.

In other matters, the commissioners authorized a loan agreement with Frack & Broad LP, which is developing the affordable housing project in Frackville known as the Cherry Street Commons, to secure $18,950 through the Affordable Housing Funds Act, also known as Act 137 funds.

Cherry Street Commons LLC will consist of 17 units in four three-story townhomes in the borough on a vacant lot located between the unit blocks of South Mahanoy Street and South Railroad Avenue from East Frack to East Oak streets. The project is being funded through private funds along with tax credits and a loan through the PennHOMES program administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Financing Agency. The tax credit awarded through the highly competitive process totals $387,383 and a loan through PennHOMES of $921,308.

The total project cost, including private investment, is $4,732,562. Cherry Street Commons will be consist of more than 50,000 total square feet when completed on a 1.15 acre site.

The county received 10 bids for a stormwater drainage project in Branchdale. ADM Logistics Inc., Port Carbon, submitted the lowest bid of $122,360 for the project being funded through the Community Development Block Grant program.

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

FRACKVILLE — West Mahanoy Township police joined other departments throughout Pennsylvania on Wednesday by participating in events held in conjunction with National School Bus Safety Week.

Observed annually during the third full week of October, National School Bus Safety Week is an active and evolving public education program.

West Mahanoy Township Police Chief Marvin Livergood said the activities are an excellent way for parents, students, teachers, motorists, school bus operators, school administrators and other interested parties to join forces and address the importance of school bus safety.

The 2017 National School Bus Safety Week observance began Monday and will continue through Friday under the theme “STOP ON RED.”

It was the second year the police department participated in the safety week. As part of the operation, Livergood sat near Oak and Wylam streets, just outside of the Frackville borough limits, monitoring drivers who approached the designated school bus stop to make sure they are obeying the law.

Livergood said that motorists must stop when they are behind the bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.

He said that drivers following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn and all children have reached safety.

If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.

Livergood said that his department works with the Shenandoah Valley School District on doing what they can to ensure the safety of school children who use district transportation.

“Our goal is simple: to make sure the children are safe,” Livergood said.

He added that it is hoped public awareness and enforcement efforts will educate the motoring public that passing a stopped school bus, when children are loading or unloading, is both dangerous and illegal.

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

FRACKVILLE — A Shenandoah man wanted for shooting his daughter’s boyfriend in the groin surrendered to authorities Wednesday.

Donald Jenkins Jr., 40, of 30 N. White St., was charged by state police Trooper Joseph Hall of the Frackville station with shooting Emmanuel Cancel, 29, about 2:50 p.m. Sunday inside Room 49 of Motel 6, 701 Altamont Blvd.

On Wednesday, Jenkins surrendered to Pottsville police and was subsequently transferred to state troopers on the outstanding arrest warrant charging him with felony offenses of criminal attempt to commit homicide, burglary and aggravated assault as well as misdemeanor crimes of possessing instruments of crime, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Jenkins was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $250,000 bail.

In paperwork filed with the court, Hall said police were called to the motel for a report of a man shot in the groin and learned the victim, Cancel, had been in Room 49 with his girlfriend, Jasmine Marie Jenkins, 20, who rented the room Saturday with a checkout day of Monday.

The victim was sitting on the far bed when Donald Jenkins entered the room and an argument ensued, Hall said. During the argument, Donald Jenkins drew a handgun and shot Cancel in the upper left leg groin area and fled the area in his vehicle with his daughter.

Cancel told investigators that when Donald Jenkins showed the weapon, he put his hands up to defend himself, heard a loud bang and realized he had been shot, Hall said. Jasmine Jenkins believed her father was upset because she was dating Cancel, Hall said.

Cancel was taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, for treatment of his injuries.

Hale scheduled a preliminary hearing for Jenkins at 10:10 a.m. Nov. 6 in her Frackville courtroom.

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

Deeds

Ashland — Marie Spiess to Michell M. Houtz; 1615 Walnut St.; $1.

Blythe Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Daniel Lubinsky; 26 Trolley St., Cumbola; $4,200.

Branch Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Martin Heffron; 51 Steins Mill Road; $1,500.

Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC to Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 1354 Bunting St.; $10.

Butler Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Michael Daka; property at Beaver Dam and Malones roads; $5,000.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Acorn Estates LLC; 676 Fountain St., Fountain Springs; $1,109.

Theresa M. Reilly to Theresa M. Reilly and Denise R. Carson; 60 N. Fifth St., Englewood; $1.

JPMorgan Chase Bank NA to Amanda and James McIntyre; property in Lavelle; $20,250.

Coaldale — Philip D. Stokes, administrator of the Estate of Ralph A. Avino, to Nicholas and Maria A. Ritzko; 25 E. Ridge St.; $6,000.

East Brunswick Township — Rajnish P. and Satwant Chaudhry to David M. Pagnanelli Sr.; 1551 Red Dale Road; $610,000.

East Union Township — Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Hadissa Korogo to Momini Dabre; Lot 21WSS6, Eagle Rock; $42,319.

John C. and Michelle R. Olivo to John C. Olivo; 102 Summit Road, Eagle Rock; $285,000.

J. Scott Clemens and Sloane Six to Custic S. and Mary E. Wolosin; property in Eagle Rock; $155,000.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Leo A. Castigador and Ma Irene Pueyo; Lot 117WSS, Eagle Rock; $46,359.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Susan and Mario Hermosisima; Lot 27WSS6, Eagle Rock; $48,379.

Gordon — Victor G. Mickatavage to Brett Snyder Mickatavage; 126 E. Biddle St.; $1.

McAdoo — The Rev. Boguslaw Janiec, executor of the Estate of Joseph E.P. Gnidziinski, to Antonio S. Benenati; property; $14,000.

Middleport — John M. Milot, Richard P. Milot and Ronald R. Milot to Thor and Brittney Markus; 3 Willow St.; $115,000.

Thor J. Markus to Vincenzo Marchiano; 6 Shade St.; $39,000.

Minersville — Helen Sagusky, individually and as attorney in fact for Bernard Sagusky, to Charles C. and Tammy L. Cescon; 316 Laurel St.; $15,000.

Orwigsburg — Howard E. and Kathleen E. Towne to Nicole Sara Wessner; 528 E. Mifflin St.; $134,900.

Palo Alto — Lynne E. Dutcher to Mikayla M. Jones; 12 Penn St.; $30,000.

Pine Grove — Curt Stevenson and Charles H. and Jane M. Barry to Randy Schies and Robert Miller; 30 W. Pottsville St.; $1.

Port Clinton — The Grace Missionary Society Inc. to Village Chapel Antiques and Collectibles LLC; property on Center Turnpike; $44,000.

Porter Township — David C. and Wendy Miller, Nancy L. and Scott Blackwell and Suanne J. and Gary Reiter to Eric L. Reiner; 211 W. Washington St., Muir; $65,000.

Rebecca A. Stover to Rebecca A. Stover and Kristina M. Stover; 1309 E. Grand Ave., Reinerton; $1.

Pottsville — Stephen Header to White Horse Homes LLC; 446 W. Race St.; $15,500.

Chris D. Kelly to Heather A. Marx; 200 Peacock St.; $42,000.

David A. Cooper, Richard C. Cooper Sr. and Julie Cooper to David A. Cooper and Lori A. Wojciechowsky; 522 S. Centre St.; $1.

Wells Fargo Bank NA to Sim Investment Group LLC; 412 Greenwood Ave.; $5,000.

Rush Township — John and Juliann Longhi to Thomas J. Sander; property on Madison Street; $5,000.

James J. Jr. and Patricia M. Finkel to Kimberly Finkel; 66 Frankford Ave., Hometown; $1.

Saint Clair — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to T&D Southeast PA. LLC; 13 S. Second St.; $2,250.

Shenandoah — Jaime and Maria Magdalena Mendez to Yancarlos Mendez Maeda; 215 W. Columbus St.; $1.

Wilhelmina Galezniak, executrix of the Estate of Leonard J. Kiewlak, to Martyna Klama; two properties; $10,000.

Eugenia Gutierrez Moreno to Antonia B. Mejia Medina; 11 S. Jardin St.; $10,000.

Carlos Javier Lugo Martinez to Ana J. Baez and Rosa A. Yamell; 18-20 W. Laurel St.; $10,000.

Lucila Almonte to Teofilo Ortega and Stewart Del Rosario; property on West Columbus Street; $5,000.

Juan Arias to Maria Rebeca Castillo Torres; 623 W. Penn St.; $1.

Juan Arias and Karen Arias to Maria Rebeca Castillo Torres; three properties on North White Street; $1.

Tamaqua — Debra L. Levitt and Nicole Ann Paulo to Tori Heffelfinger; ; property on East Broad Street; $17,500.

Christopher B. Dalkner to Jose Luis Lopez-Medina; 68 Mahanoy St.; $35,000.

Midfirst Bank to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; 607 Railroad St.; $1.

Federal National Mortgage Association to Maria Lopez; 200 Penn St.; $10,000.

Jonathan C. Miller to Adrienne Dotzel; 122 Center St.; $10,000.

MKC Investment Group Corp. to Frantz Duval; 200 W. Cottage Ave.; $8,000.

Tower City — Robert M. and Trina M. Miller to Robert M. and Trina M. Miller;101 E. Wiconisco Ave.; $1.

Andrea L. Thompson to West Schuylkill G.E.M. Realty LLC; 704 E. Grand Ave.; $30,000.

Walker Township — Wildcat Development GP LLC to Douglas L. Springer Jr. and Justine M. Evans; 2.534-acre property in Camp Wildcat; $15,457.40.

Wildcat Development GP LLC to Paul C. James; 1.102-acre property in Camp Wildcat; $6,722.20.

Wildcat Development GP LLC to Douglas L. Springer Jr. and Justine M. Evans; 1.102-acre property in Camp Wildcat; $6,722.20.

Wildcat Development GP LLC to Paul C. James; 1.102-acre property in Camp Wildcat; $6,722.20.

Washington Township — Dean H. Klinger to Jason Martin; 690 Deturksville Road, Deturksville; $25,000.

Wayne Township — Bernard Milyo Jr. to Lauren and Ryan Zimmerman; 37 Woodlawn Drive; $247,700.

West Brunswick Township — Charles S. and Cheryl A. Gross to Danny A. and Bonnie S. Markley; 1788 Tanglewood Road; $275,000.

Fanelli Group Properties LLC to Fanelli Group Properties LLC; 3.54-acre property on Cinema Boulevard; $1.

Fanelli Group Properties LLC to Fanelli Group Properties LLC; 3.95-acre property on Cinema Boulevard; $1.

Jeffrey S. and Karen A. Gelting, Faron A. and Dove Breiner and David D. and Taunia Reed to Paul A. and Pamela S. Shealer; 10.9938-acre property on Red Church Road; $65,000.

West Penn Township — Michael S. Comisac Sr. to Jonathan T. and Jodi S. Beck; 62.74-acre property on Legislative Route 53020; $300,000.

Steven Paul Schaeffer, successor trustee under the Ida G. Schaeffer Trust, to Steven P. Schaeffer; 40 Mush Dahl Road; $1.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

In a bid to woo online retail giant Amazon to place its second corporate headquarters in this corner of the state, Northeast Pennsylvania will collectively put its best foot forward in one application.

NEPA does not necessarily meet all requirements sought by Amazon, as spelled out in its HQ2 specifications, but that’s not unusual in such searches, representatives of local economic development group said. Amazon also may not necessarily be wedded to its own requirements. It could change its approach or goals as it weighs competing proposals from cities and regions throughout the nation, said John Augustine, president of Penn’s Northeast, a cooperative that aims to attract large firms to the region and leads NEPA’s pitch for Amazon.

Penn’s Northeast will submit a joint application with economic development representatives from five counties: Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Monroe and Schuykill.

“One city is going to win this. Who knows what Amazon might decide? You don’t know, and if you don’t try, you have no chance,” Augustine said. “We’re putting our best assets forward.”

Landing Amazon admittedly is a long shot, but one well worth taking, said Augustine and Bob Durkin, president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. The effort could come up short with Amazon but become a template for trying to lure other companies, they said.

“This is the first time NEPA has truly had a regional response to a project,” Augustine said. Previously, “we’ve done it piecemeal by county.”

In September, Amazon, the e-commerce giant that recently bought Whole Foods, asked cities and economic development organizations throughout North America to submit proposals to become the firm’s HQ2 home. The applications are due by Thursday. A final site selection and announcement will be made in 2018, the firm says.

Amazon’s specifications lay out the scope of the project and it’s massive, akin to building a small city or large campus from scratch. The firm seeks 500,000 square feet of space to start, in a Phase I in 2019, and plans for a total of 8 million square feet over time, or beyond 2027.

The company prefers a metropolitan area with more than 1 million people. In that respect, Northeast Pennsylvania’s metro area falls short, with 500,000 residents in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming counties. However, the entirety of NEPA, including Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wyoming, Wayne, Susquehanna, Monroe, Pike, Carbon, Schuylkill, Columbia, Bradford and Sullivan counties, is home to 1.2 million.

Amazon boasts that its investments in Seattle, its current headquarters, from 2010 to 2016 brought in $38 billion to the city’s economy. The HQ2 impact on the winner also promises to be transformational. The project expects to pump over $5 billion into capital expenditures and lead to the hiring of as many as 50,000 full-time employees over 10 to 15 years, with average annual $100,000 salaries. As such, the spinoff benefit of an HQ2 would spread throughout the broader region.

NEPA’s pitch will tout top assets, including its “tremendous workforce,” an extensive network of colleges and universities, a relatively low cost-of-living and abundant “quality-of-life amenities,” Augustine and Durkin said.

Amazon already has familiarity with NEPA, with warehouses in Pittston Township, Covington Township and near Hazleton.

Amazon’s desire for mass transit represents a mixed bag for sprawling NEPA, which lacks subways and passenger trains but has an extensive freight rail network and an international airport that may prove crucial for cargo, Augustine said. An HQ2 campus with multiple locations, rather than one self-contained complex, also may win the day, and NEPA provides ample space for such an approach, he said.

Other Keystone State cities and communities, including Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, are making their own pushes for Amazon. The state also launched a social media campaign, #AmazonInPa, to promote Pennsylvania, generally, for Amazon’s HQ2.

Last week, Gov. Tom Wolf and the state’s federal senators and numerous representatives sent a joint letter to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos expressing their collective support and urging Amazon to consider Pennsylvania’s wide array of geographic and economic advantages for an HQ2.

“With more than 200 years of revolutionary industry and intellect, dating back to the birth of our country, Pennsylvania has become a hub for trailblazers and innovative ideas, resulting in longstanding, successful legacies that are now common household names across the United States,” the joint letter says.

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-5114

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-5185

POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County Municipal Authority employees dug up a city street Wednesday but didn’t specify the purpose of the work.

Several employees were near 11th and West Market streets, some digging a hole and others dumping what appeared to be asphalt or stones into the hole.

At the regular monthly SCMA meeting Wednesday morning, Executive Director Patrick M. Caulfield said he didn’t know what they were doing. He did not return an email for comment later in the day.

Also at the meeting, it was announced that the Reilly Township waterline project is completed. The project involved the extension of about 27,000 feet of waterline from Donaldson to Newtown. Work on a 200,000-gallon water storage tank and water booster pump station was also done. Notice of Connections were sent to prospective customers, giving them 90 days to connect or until Jan 10, 2018. There are between 105 and 108 customers, Caulfield said.

The board approved an agreement with Fanelli Group Properties LLC for improvements to the Deer Lake Drive-In property in West Brunswick Township. A waterline and other additions are slated for the site. Caulfield said Fanelli Group Properties LLC will turn the completed improvements over to the SCMA to maintain and bill customers.

SCMA is going to use a new software system to notify customers. It is switching from the Rapid Response System to the Notify System. Training for employees is Oct. 27. Additional information was not provided.

SCMA received a request for interest and qualifications from the Pennsylvania Economy League for the Borough of Shenandoah Water and Sewer System. SCMA declined to issue a formal response.

The authority met with representatives from the Schuylkill River Heritage Trail earlier this month about paperwork needed for a potential trail in Frackville. The authority is working to provide deeds, easements, and rights of way for properties between Frackville and Saint Clair.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

Ashland

Ashland Lodge 294, OES Chapter 154, will have a LuLaRoe sale beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Ashland Masonic Temple, 2500 Centre St. Admission is free. There will also be a bake sale. For more information, call 570-400-6970.

Brandonville

The Park Crest Fish and Game Protective Association will have a membership meeting at 2 p.m. Oct. 29 at the clubhouse, 395 Rattlin’ Run Road. For more information, call 570-889-3914.

Cumbola

Trick-or-Treat in Blythe Township is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31, according to a township release. For more information, call 570-277-0446.

Minersville

The Minersville Fish and Game Club, Live Oaks Road, will have a block shoot and vendor fair, meat wheel and food beginning at noon Nov. 11. The event is a benefit for Amy Purcell Kanezo. Donations are being accepted for the wheel. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-294-9808.

Minersville

Mountaineer Hose Company, Third and South streets, has canceled its breakfast that was scheduled for Sunday. For more information, call Mary Melochick at 570-544-9622.

Pottsville

The Pottsville Gymnastics & Theatrical Center will present “Shrek, Jr.” at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday in the auditorium of the Pottsville Area School District’s D.H.H. Lengel Middle School, featuring local performers through 12th grade. Tickets are $15 each and will be available at the door. For more information, go to Facebook: Pottsville GTC Theater Program.

Pottsville

A free program called Martian Materials will be held at the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St., from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Nov. 4. Participants will “learn all about the solar system with this hands-on interactive program,” organizers said in a press release. Participants will be able to hold rocks from the Moon and Mars and pieces of meteorites. It’s recommended for children ages 5-12. For more information, call 570-622-8880.

Pottsville

First United Methodist Church, 330 W. Market St., will have a holiday harvest beginning at 11 a.m. Nov. 6. Tickets are $7 each. The event will include a luncheon offering chicken salad or barbecue on roll, chips, baked beans, macaroni salad, pickles and homemade dessert plus coffee, tea, iced tea or water. There will also be cookies, candy, fudge, homemade canned goods, jams/jellies, chow-chow, wreaths, crafts and other items. For more information, call 570-622-9140.

Shenandoah

The Shenandoah Area Free Public Library’s bus trip to the Sands Casino will now be Oct. 30. The cost is $25 with free slot play of $20 plus a $5 food voucher. The bus will depart at 9 a.m. from the library and at 4 p.m. from the casino for the return trip. For reservations or more information, call the library at 570-462-9829 or the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc. at 570-462-2060.

Tamaqua

The New England Fire Company, 7 Miller Lane, will have a seafood night from 5 to 8 p.m. Oct. 28. Prices range from $9 to $22. The menu will include clams, shrimp, lobster, fish, steak, chicken and other items. All meals will come with a baked potato or fries. For more information, call 570-277-6606.

Tamaqua

The Tamaqua Area Community Partnership will now host meetings at 6 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Tamaqua Area Public Library. Those interested in attending should email Micah Gursky at Micah.Gursky@sluhn.org or George Taylor at gtay200@verizon.net.

DONALDSON — A 25-foot-deep chasm that closed Route 125 near Donaldson on Oct. 6 has swallowed up repair material and remains under investigation, a state Department of Transportation official said Thursday.

“Last month, a smaller subsidence occurred at this location and was filled with a mixture of rocks and aggregate and paved. The material — rock and aggregate — that was placed at that time has gone somewhere in the mine underground,” Ronald J. Young Jr., PennDOT district press officer, Engineering District 5, said.

Young said representatives from PennDOT and the Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Abandoned Mine Reclamation have visited the site.

“No determination of the cause of this mine subsidence has been made,” he said.

For the public’s safety, the road will remain off limits to motorists until further notice.

The DEP BAMR is responsible for the mine and PennDOT is responsible for the road above the mine, according to Young. He had no additional information about who owns the mine, he said Thursday.

The hole in the road is approximately 25 feet deep and 20 to 25 feet wide and has been filling with water, he said.

Officials will “attempt to determine what caused the mine collapse, what subsurface conditions exist, where water is originating and then develop a plan to make repairs,” Young said.

The average daily traffic volume on this section of Route 125 is 463 vehicles, according to Young.

The collapse occurred between 6 and 7 p.m. Oct. 6 about 2 1/4 miles outside of Donaldson in Porter Township. Large signs warn drivers the road is still not passable.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

CRESSONA — A man was jailed after Pennsylvania State Police and the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at his home in the borough early Thursday morning, uncovering about three ounces of methamphetamine with a street value of about $8,000.

Stephen R. Dronick, 44, of 41 Pottsville St., was charged with one felony count of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, three felony counts of possession of a controlled substance and one misdemeanor count each of possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dronick was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $20,000 straight cash bail.

Schuylkill County Detective Troy Greenawald and Trooper Scott M. Grochowski charged Dronick following an investigation into the sale of illegal narcotics.

On Wednesday, Grochowski applied for a sealed Search and Seizure Warrant that was approved by Schuylkill County President Judge William E. Baldwin.

Then, about 6:05 a.m. Thursday, a state police Special Emergency Response Team entered the Dronick home, where they found and detained Dronick and his girlfriend.

Grochowski explained the sealed warrant to Dronick, who then admitted that he was responsible for narcotics found in the home.

Dronick was searched and police said they found 50 $20 bills in his pants pocket and two $100 bills tucked behind his Pennsylvania Identification Card in his wallet.

In the man’s wallet, police said, they found 10 more $20 bills, three $10 bills and three $1 bills.

While searching the home, authorities said, they found 10 clear resealable baggies containing suspected methamphetamine, a clear resealable baggie containing suspected methamphetamine, and five other clear re-sealable baggies containing suspected methamphetamine.

In addition, authorities said, they seized suspected cocaine, prescription pills, suspected marijuana, suspected heroin, suspected suboxone strips and various items of drug paraphernalia including a digital scale.

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

POTTSVILLE — Most Schuylkill County residents have heard about Mahanoy City’s claim to being home of the first cable television system in the country. It was 1948 when John Walson Sr. first connected homes in borough with a cable to deliver the television signals that were being blocked by the surrounding mountains.

“It’s a story everyone in Pennsylvania should know because it was started right here,” Brian Lockman, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Cable Network, said Thursday evening during a presentation titled “History of Cable Television and Pennsylvania’s Cable Television Pioneers.”

“He was a tinkerer who lived in Mahanoy City and worked for PPL,” Lockman said. “He called the company Service Electric because he said service was the most important thing. He would provide the best service anyone could get.”

Walson also owned a store in the borough selling General Electric appliances including televisions. When customers said they were not able to get a signal, Lockman said, Walson put up an antenna on top of the mountain and ran a cable to their homes with amplifiers set up about every 100 feet along the way.

Lockman said the first customers were wired in 1948 and Walson originally charged a $300 hookup fee. There were no monthly fees and television sets at that time cost between $400 and $600.

“He was the biggest cable operator in the country for a long time and the family still runs the company,” Lockman said. “Service Electric had a lot of firsts in its history. In 1972, Service Electric was the first cable system to show HBO and the first program shown on HBO was the Pennsylvania Polka Festival. It also carried Muhammad Ali fights you could not see anywhere else.”

Lockman said he actually started his career in broadcast television under Walson at Service Electric in 1975. After 15 years with C-SPAN as one of the network’s original four employees, Lockman joined the Pennsylvania Cable Network in 1994 as vice president and chief operating officer. He was named president and chief executive officer in 1999.

Lockman also wrote “Pioneers of Cable Television: The Pennsylvania Founders of an Industry” in 2005.

“This is the great American story,” Lockman said. “These guys were entrepreneurs. They came back from World War II and wanted to innovate and do something to make a mark and worked really hard to start a business that changed the world and their story really needs to be told.”

Another Schuylkill County resident contributing to the early days of cable television was Pottsville’s Martin Malarkey. Lockman said Malarkey also owned an appliance store and at one time had the largest cable subscriber base in the country.

“He started in 1953 and for a time had the largest cable system in the country,” Lockman said. “In 1953, he had 2,900 subs and bought the systems in Minersville and Schuylkill Haven.”

Lockman said he charged $135 for installation and $3.75 a month for three channels based out of Philadelphia. Malarkey would later become the founding president of the National Cable and Telecommunications Association.

“One of his biggest innovations was in 1951. He put a camera in his office and would have somebody from the newspaper come down and sit in his office and read the news. It might have been the first cable news anywhere,” Lockman said.

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

ORWIGSBURG — Orwigsburg police are investigating a bomb threat that was discovered Thursday morning inside a bathroom at Blue Mountain Middle School.

Police said that about 9:20 a.m. they received information from school officials that a written threat saying the school would “explode” was found inside a bathroom.

School officials said the note was found on a bathroom stall in the boys’ bathroom of the sixth-grade wing.

As a result, police said, all students and faculty were immediately evacuated from the school to a safe location as the investigation began.

Pennsylvania State Police bomb detection dogs were called and conducted a thorough search of the campus and concluded the area was free of any explosive devices, police said.

Police said their investigation is continuing and that they are currently reviewing video footage from inside the school and conducting interviews.

David H. Helsel, superintendent of Blue Mountain School District, could not be reached for comment Thursday.

However, when the incident occurred, district officials notified parents by writing “as a safety precaution, we are evacuating all middle school students from the building until the building can be swept.”

“Rest assured, we will take all necessary steps to ensure everyone’s safety,” the message read.

In a subsequent message, district officials said the building was secure and that students are returning to class.

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

POTTSVILLE — During Thursday’s session of Schuylkill County Drug Treatment Court, Judge James P. Goodman reminded participants that they will face increasingly harsh sanctions, climaxing in expulsion if necessary, if they violate the program’s rules.

“We have to make a decision on what’s in your best interest,” Goodman told those who are seeking a way out of their drug addiction. “You have to accept that.”

Goodman said some of the participants who violate the rules are unhappy with the punishments he imposes, but the judge said that is one of the conditions of the program.

People who have violated program rules are placed in the courtroom’s jury box, called the penalty box, during that week’s hearing. Goodman hears their stories and then decides what sanctions to impose on them.

The sanctions Goodman has imposed include lesser ones, such as performing community service and writing essays and apology letters. As the infractions get more serious, they include brief periods of incarceration and, in two cases, have resulted in expulsion of the disobedient participants from the program and imposition of long state prison sentences in their cases.

While those running the program will listen to the participants who are caught violating the rules, in the end, Goodman said, he will exercise his judgment and make the decisions.

He was particularly upset this week with one woman who said she had called about missing a meeting with her supervising probation officer. Actually, as she later acknowledged, someone had called on her behalf.

“You don’t tell me what I want to hear,” Goodman said in a raised voice. “You tell me the truth.”

He also expressed frustration with a man who had returned to the penalty box after being caught with marijuana. Goodman sent him to prison until 9 a.m. Monday, extended his program phase for a month and required him to report daily after that to his supervising officer.

“You’re just using to use now,” he said. “We’re going to run out of options. You’ve got to stop with the drug use.”

Goodman did say he would like to add incentives to the program.

Schuylkill County officials started the drug treatment court program this year to try to combat the widespread local drug addiction problem, using a carrot-and-stick approach to the process. Other counties in Pennsylvania also have instituted drug treatment courts.

People in that 14-month program must undergo substance abuse treatment, make regular court appearances, submit to random drug testing and home visits, meet with probation officers, and comply with directives from the court and those officers. Participants must complete all five phases in order to graduate from the program; graduation is the carrot, resulting in dismissal of the charges against them.

However, since the defendants enter guilty pleas to the charges against them, failure to complete the program is the stick, resulting in them being sentenced, possibly to time in a state correctional institution.

There are now 35 people in the program, many of whom read Thursday from their required weekly essays about how they are learning to try to resolve conflicts in their lives without turning to drugs.

“I am not running from the conflicts in my life,” Stacy said. “I accept” and try to deal with them.

John said he has learned patience can help him.

“Just like everyone else, I face conflicts,” he said. “A knee-jerk reaction doesn’t solve anything.”

Joshua agreed, saying conflicts can be cured with patience and understanding.

Jacqueline said her family is the source of many of her conflicts.

“Slowly, but surely,” such conflicts are improving, she said.

Not shutting out people is a key to that improvement, she said.

“We all communicate with each other and express concerns,” she said.

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

A story with a forbidden love, dastardly king and damsel in distress, and you’ve got the ingredients for a fairy tale. Add a pariah ogre and an obstreperous donkey, however, and you’ve got “Shrek.”

The Pottsville Gymnastics & Theatrical Center Inc. will present “Shrek Jr.” at 2 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at D.H.H. Lengel Middle School auditorium, 1541 Laurel Blvd., Pottsville. Tickets are $15 at the door.

The musical is a modified version of the Broadway show “Shrek” and is adapted from the 1990 book “Shrek!” by William Steig and the 2001 DreamWorks film of the same name.

The cast consists of 65 youth performers from the area, ranging in ages from 6 to 18. The lead characters include: Leif Connor, Girardville, as Shrek; Macey Mayes, Pine Grove, as Fiona; Alicen Hull, Tamaqua, and Michael Spotts, Frackville, sharing the role of Donkey; Hannah Kulbitsky, Deer Lake, and Ella Frantz, Minersville, sharing the role of Lord Farquaad; Madison Eroh, Pottsville, and Bo McDonald, Orwigsburg, as Gingy; and Kelly Karpovich, Orwigsburg, and Ava Frantz, Minersville, as Pinocchio.

The production staff includes Sandy Kost-Sterner, producer of youth theater programs at PGTC, as producer and assistant director; Hope O’Pake, drama director at Conrad Weiser High School and director at Genesis Theater, Reading, as director; Katrina Calvin as choreographer; and Bruce Marianelli as music director.

“Shrek Jr. tells the story of an ogre who doesn’t feel that he fits in. He meets the Donkey and the storybook characters who also don’t seem to fit in. Together, they learn about acceptance and embracing each others’ differences. As one song says, ‘What makes us special, makes us strong!’ ” Kost-Sterner said.

She said audiences of all ages are going to love this show.

“It is such a feel good show which will have people laughing throughout the performance. People always seem to root for the underdog which in this case is Shrek. … Throw in an evil king as well as an eventual love interest for Shrek, with that love interest being a princess, and it makes for a fantastic story,” she said.

Other upcoming musicals presented by the PGTC include “OZ,” a version of “The Wizard of Oz,” with auditions in December with the play to be held in March; and “Mary Poppins Jr.,” to be held in July.

For more information about the PGTC, its programs, workshops or shows, email pottsvillegtctheater@gmail.com or visit the Pottsville GTC Theater Program on Facebook.

Contact the writer: dprosick@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6002

POTTSVILLE — While the First Amendment gives Americans’ freedom of speech from government action, it does not offer protection from their employers, business leaders learned Thursday during a seminar hosted by the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce.

Schuylkill Haven Borough Manager Scott Graver and Recreation Manager William “B.J.” Folk III were among the participants at the seminar called “Facebook Firings — What Employers Can and Cannot Do.”

Attorneys J.T. Herber III and Ashley Securda with Williamson, Friedberg & Jones LLC, based in Pottsville, led the discussion, presenting examples of case law showing the evolution of public policy matters and the insight of the National Labor Relations Board.

They encouraged businesses to consider implementing a social media use policy. Herber said approximately 86 percent of employees send or receive email unrelated to work.

Graver said the borough has 28 full-time employees and several part-time employees, but does not have a social media policy in writing.

“We don’t have a problem, but as an administrator, I thought I should be aware,” Graver said.

Folk said the borough’s recreation department manages its own Facebook page.

“We get more private messages, and we handle it with a phone call. I prefer to do that instead of answering on social media,” Folk said.

Folk hires high school and college students to work with his department, and admits to using their social media pages to learn more about the potential candidates.

“These case laws help us to know what we can and can’t do,” Folk said.

Another participant, Sabrina Smitrovich of Child Development Inc., said she noticed that management and employees often posted differing political views on social media and wanted insight on how or if that should be addressed.

“I think you’re going to have a problem regulating that. You have to walk that line. The right to vote is recognized,” Herber told Smitrovich.

In another example, Herber shared information from Field v. Philadelphia Electric Co. In that case, a man was terminated from his employment for reporting his radiation exposure to the appropriate authorities.

“You can’t terminate someone for doing what they are required to do,” Herber said.

Herber said today’s policies are built on the foundation of prior case law in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, in explaining how the courts are interpreting the system today. The first charges involving social media were brought before the NLRB in 2010, he said.

In one of the more recent social media cases, NLRB v. Pier Sixty LLC, in 2017, a Pier Sixty employee posted a comment about his boss that was filled with swear words that verbally attacked the boss and his family. At the end, the employee also posted, “Vote YES for the UNION!” He was fired. The NLRB voted 2-1 for him to get his job back.

Most people on the panel thought that if they were the boss, they probably would have fired the employee too.

However, one of the standards used for reinstating his job was that no one else in the company was ever fired previously for cursing.

Others in the company had been using foul language and were not disciplined. Consistency is key, according to Herber.

Herber and Securda explained what should be considered if employers wanted to implement a social media policy, and Herber said the policy should not directly regulate content and should avoid suppressing union discussions, for example.

If there is a social media policy, there should be uniform enforcement and documentation. For instance, a review should be able to show consistent enforcement while looking through employee files. If a specific kind of employee is disciplined, while another kind of employee is not, then there’s a problem with the enforcement.

“These issues are evolving and the laws are very slow to change,” Herber said.

If an employer is considering firing a worker, an employer should reference the collective bargaining agreement, if the person is a union worker, or a contract if the worker is a contracted employee. If there is no contract, then the employee firing could be “at will.” Securda explained with “at will,” an employee can be dismissed for almost any reason except for the following: age, gender, nationality, color, disability, pregnancy, religion, public policy and other protections depending on the circumstances.

Vanessa M. Mihoda, Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce communications director, welcomed guests to the program and introduced the panelists. Others attending were Janel Firestone and Maleca Tuite with Schuylkill Women in Crisis; Samantha Chivinski, The Lodge at Sharp Mountain; Amanda Campbell, Schuylkill Area Community Foundation; Caitlyn Alven, Schuylkill Home Care; Michele Scribbick, McCann School of Business and Technology; and Erika Galleguillos, Precision Home Health.

For information on a future seminar on Nov. 2, “Legal Risks with Social Media Use: Avoiding Liability in the Corporate Setting,” visit www.schuylkillchamber.com.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

An annual autumn event will light up the dark with a towering flame to celebrate Scranton’s history, culture and more.

From 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, the seventh annual Bonfire at the Iron Furnaces festival will feature food, live music and activities as it raises money for Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum, which oversees the Scranton Iron Furnaces, 159 Cedar Ave. Leading up to and during the annual bonfire lighting at 8:15 p.m., the Double “R” Twirlettes and Scranton Black Diamond Pipe Band will present a fire-twirling show.

“It’s a wonderful event, and through the years I’ve noticed such a growth,” said Kathleen Mercatelli, Twirlettes director. “It’s a really different event since we don’t get many opportunities to twirl fire.”

The Gaelic festival Samhain, which marked the end of the harvest season and beginning of winter, inspired the event’s creation. But in addition to honoring the area’s industrial heritage, the bonfire over the years “has grown into an all-encompassing cultural event,” committee chairman Brian Murphy said. It incorporated elements of traditional autumn and harvest festivals, such as Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, and the Indian festival Diwali, which people celebrate in part by launching fire lanterns.

“We always want to reflect those different cultures and how those different cultures engage and celebrate that,” said Bode Morin, museum and iron furnaces site administrator. “As the program evolves, we want to have a bigger reach and look more at who we are as a community, be more inclusive and celebrate our community as well.”

Tickets are $15 in advance, $20 at the door and free for children 12 and younger. Organizers encourage guests to buy their passes early at scrantonbonfire.com; the museum in McDade Park, 1 Bald Mountain Road, Scranton; and Electric City Trolley Museum, 300 Cliff St., Scranton.

Admission includes $5 in Bonfire Bucks, which guests can use for food, beverages and activities. And they will have plenty to choose from. Guests can celebrate the season with fall and regional favorite drinks, such as spiced cider, hot chocolate, beer and wine, and then chow down on food from Coney Island of Scranton, Terra Preta, Sweet Lush Cupcakery and more.

The festival also will feature performances across two stages by Irish Balladeers, cover band Light Weight and Creative and Performing Arts Academy of NEPA as well as fire hoopers and spinners. Guests can check out balloon artists, a jack-o’-lantern carving competition, tarot card readings, an arts and crafts tent, a bonfire sculpture by Brian Murray of Reclamation Industrial Furnishings and a large-scale art installation that highlights the standing stone blast furnaces.

Each year, the festival explores a different culture in its educational component, Morin said, and this time visitors can head to the cultural tent to learn more about the Irish and Welsh immigrants and the culture they brought to Northeast Pennsylvania.

In seven years, the bonfire has turned into a place where arts, culture, heritage and history meet, and Morin believes it will continue to grow with the community’s support.

“We’re really looking forward to (the festival),” he said. “To get to do this festival for the last seven years straight and always have such a great response from the community ... it’s just a great, fun night.”

Contact the writer: mpaine@timesshamrock.com; gmazur@timesshamrock.com; or 570-348-9127

Barnesville

The fifth annual Octoberfest sponsored by the group Friends of Staudenmeier & Halcovage in support of county commissioners Frank Staudenmeier and George Halcovage will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Mountain Valley Golf Course. The cost is $35 per person. For more information, call Barbara Halcovage at 570-617-4536 or email halcovageg@gmail.com.

McAdoo

Boy Scout Troop 643 will host a craft show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 12 at the former McAdoo Catholic School, 35 N. Cleveland St. The event will include crafters, entertainment, food, crafts for children and Santa Claus. For more information, call 570-573-4565.

McAdoo

Halloween will be held in the borough from 5 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 31, according to the borough police department, which also offered safety tips for celebrants: Parents should accompany children when trick-or-treating or have a trusted friend or relative with them; visit only homes with porch lights on and also remember the times for the event; avoid wearing costumes that obstruct vision or are too long, which can cause tripping and injury; wear bright-colored costumes, have reflective strips on the costume or carry a flashlight or glow stick so trick-or-treaters are clearly visible; walk on the sidewalk at all times, cross at intersections, walk facing toward oncoming traffic if there are no sidewalks and do not walk out from between parked vehicles. Authorities also said children should not go into someone’s home if asked and should not talk to strangers walking the streets. When trick-or-treating concludes, parents should check all treats before they are eaten. Any unwrapped candy or treats should be discarded and any suspicious activity should be reported to police.

McAdoo

A potato cake and soup sale will be held beginning at 11 a.m. today, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3 at Ss. Peter & Paul Polish National Catholic Church, rear 44 Adams St. The menu will include homemade potato cakes and halushki, homemade macaroni and cheese, various homemade soups and assorted baked goods. Walk-ins are welcome, but advance orders are appreciated. Factory orders are also welcome and free local delivery is available. Parishioners will also collect for the local food pantry on the sale dates. For more information or to order, call Trisha at 570-929-2457 Monday through Thursday or at 570-929-1558 on Fridays.

Pottsville

The Pottsville Lions Club will have a trick-or-treat table from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Jerry’s Classic Cars & Collectibles Museum, 394 S. Centre St. For more information, call 570-622-9510.

Shenandoah

The Shenandoah Volunteers Group will host the annual Halloween parade in the community at 1 p.m. Oct. 28. Staging will be at the Shenandoah High Rise, Oak and Main streets. The parade will move north on Main Street and end with snacks and refreshments outside the Shenandoah Senior Living Community, East Washington Street. No advance registration is necessary. In the event of inclement weather, everyone will gather at Shenandoah Senior Living Community. The SVG is accepting monetary, candy and small gift donations until Wednesday. The donations may be dropped off at the office of the revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc., 116 N. Main St. For donation pickup or more information, call Chairman Erik Becker at 570-205-3455 or Chairwoman Mary Ann Bialecki at 570-462-0946.

Sheppton

The Sheppton American Legion Auxiliary will host a dinner at 2 p.m. Nov. 11 for veteran members of Post 616 and guests. For reservations, call 570-384-3558 or 570-384-3871. Auxiliary members have been reminded there will be a meeting following the dinner. Also, members must pay their 2018 dues as soon as possible.

Tamaqua

Zion Lutheran Church will host its second annual trunk or treat family event from 2 to 4 p.m. Oct. 29 on Mauch Chunk Street between Greenwood and Market streets. Tamaqua area families are welcome to participate in this safe Halloween event sponsored by the outreach team at Zion. For more information, call 570-668-2180 or visit www.zionlutherantamaqua.com.