MAR LIN — An 18-year-old Frackville man was charged Thursday for making a bomb threat at 4:30 p.m. Monday at the Schuylkill Technology and Training Center South-Campus, Norwegian Township.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Dominick Cassilli drew a picture of a bomb and a building on a piece of toilet paper in the third-floor bathroom. The drawing had the words “bomb” and “STC” written under it, police said. The note was left in a stall and found by a custodian at 4:30 p.m. after all students had left for the day. A state police canine team searched the building without finding a weapon.

After viewing surveillance and sign-out sheets, police said, Cassilli was developed as a suspect and subsequently confessed to writing the note. Cassilli was arraigned Thursday in front of Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, on the charges of threat to use weapons of mass destruction and terroristic threats.

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville’s Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church celebrated its 175th anniversary Saturday with a banquet at Terence P. Reiley Community Center.

“It’s a milestone,” the Rev. Earl P. Singleton, church pastor, said. “We want to remember our history and Bethel serving the community all those years. It is just a blessing.”

Located at 816 Laurel Blvd., the small church has a growing congregation with currently about 25 to 30 members. It was founded in 1842 and was originally a log building donated to the congregation to use as a church, Deborah Singleton said. The stone sanctuary was built in 1968.

“It was always a small church, but it was nice,” Carrie L. Gonsalves, Pottsville, said. “It is a very loving and caring atmosphere and all are welcomed.”

“The pastor is a wonderful person,” Calvin Robinson, Minersville, said. “It’s a small family church and I like this area because it is quiet and people are friendly.”

The church property also includes a cemetery with several historical gravestones. Nicholas Biddle, who became known as the first person to shed blood in the Civil War, is buried in the cemetery.

“The church is such a historical landmark,” Don Snowell, Pottsville, said. “It’s a statement for the African American community around here and there are people of historical significance buried up there.”

Snowell said the church played a significant role in his childhood as well as that of his nine siblings. His mother, Elizabeth, is still active in the church at 90 years old. He said he has many fond memories of his time with the church.

“All 10 of us grew up in the church,” Snowell said. It was the center of our faith. We put on so many plays and sang in the choir. We went to Sunday school before service.”

During today’s 11 a.m. service, a plaque dedicated to the Rev. Archie H. Moore will be hung at the church. Moore, who passed away in April, served as pastor of the church from 1973-77.

Deacon James Nelson, Langhorne, served as guest speaker for the banquet. Growing up on nearby Sanderson Street in Pottsville, Nelson said his family relied on welfare. However, he was able to earn a degree from Penn State University and have a successful career.

“Staying involved in the church got us through it,” he said. “I give credit to the Lord for what he has done for me. I want to encourage everyone to be more active with the little church on the hill.”

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

PINE GROVE — The Pine Grove Area school board Thursday heard a presentation from two students involved with the middle school book club.

Eighth-graders Kaleigh Sohn and Payton Schach said the club meets every month on a Friday after school. Schach said when the club began in 2012, there were 15 students. Today, there are as many as 90 students in grades 6 through 8 participating in the club, she said.

Sohn said the club has been reading nonfiction short stories and has read, “I Survived the Revolutionary War.”

The club is planning a May trip to Washington, D.C., Sohn said. The board approved the trip Thursday.

High school Principal Michael Janicelli recognized September’s seniors of the month, Mariah Lesh and Rachael Newcomer, and October’s seniors of the month, Avery Levan and Stephanie Boyer. Middle school Principal Melissa Mekosh recognized October’s eighth-grader of the month, Schach. Board President Evelyn Wassel and Superintendent Heath W. Renninger presented the students with certificates.

All board members were present.

In other action, the board approved:

• Paying Shannon Smith Inc. $12,900 as final payment of exterior lighting project.

• Members of the American Legion to fire a 21-gun salute outside the high school on Nov. 9 following their program.

• Field trips, as requested.

• A contract between the district, student ID 6284 and his father to waive a formal hearing and abide by the contract up to and including Oct. 10, 2018. No other details on the matter were released.

• A new high school travel club. The club will create opportunities for high school students to achieve global awareness and appreciation of culture, language, science, history and the arts through integrated study via an educational tour within the U.S. and/or abroad.

• A transportation agreement between the district and an individual under ESSA guidelines at a cost of $90 per day.

• Franklin D’Agostino III, head boys’ basketball coach, $4,500.

• Boys’ basketball assistants: Edward Kreiser, first assistant, $2,925; Kyler Burke, assistant, $2,700 pending clearances; and volunteers, Jordan Blankenhorn, Frank D’Agostino Jr., Kobe D’Agostino, Brett Kreiser and David Snedden, pending clearances.

• William Evans, girls’ head basketball coach, $4,500.

• Girls’ basketball assistants: Joseph Newhouser, first assistant, $2,925; Kalene Anderson, assistant, $2,700.

• Jack Drey, head wrestling coach, $4,725.

• Assistant wrestling coaches: James Kintzel, first assistant, $2,925; Paul Felty, assistant, $2,700; Allen Daubert Jr., assistant, split stipend, $1,350; Allen Wolfe Sr., assistant, split stipend, $1,350; and volunteers, Kody Rittenbaugh, Ted Butler, Ty Lehman, Eric Schneck; and Eli Brill and Ryan Martin, pending clearances.

• Adding Kevin Gross, Pam Kintzel, Carson Rittenbaugh and Willard Shiffer to the list of game workers.

• Piloting a student accounting system called Progress Book for the 2017-18 school year.

• Purchasing IEP Writer for the special education department at a cost of $9,501.

Wassel and director Dave Frew thanked board member J.T. Herber for his work on district policies. The board approved and held the second reading on three policies, addressing educational stability for children in foster care, transportation audio and video recording, and policy manual access.

The board will hold a public work session at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6 in the district office for technology, buildings and grounds, and finance committees.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and state police at Schuylkill Haven are asking for the public’s help in identifying the people responsible for two recent thefts.

The first theft occurred in the parking lot at Fairlane Village mall in Norwegian Township between Sept. 25 and Oct. 2.

Police said someone removed a Pennsylvania registration plate from a vehicle and fled the area.

The second theft occurred about 4:30 a.m. Oct. 8 to the rear of South Tulpehocken Street in Pine Grove.

Police said someone stole a Stihl chop saw K420 from the bed of a pickup truck and fled the scene.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information on the identity of the people responsible for these crimes or on any unsolved crime in Schuylkill County.

Callers are asked to refer to case 10-22-17 when calling with information about the thefts in either Norwegian Township or Pine Grove.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 877-TIPS4SC (877-847-7472).

In addition, anyone with information can call state police at Schuylkill Haven directly at 570-754-4600.

All information will remain confidential.

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

Anthony J. Kilker

SHENANDOAH — A 20-year-old Shenandoah woman charged with assaulting another woman in the borough on June 25, 2015, had charges against her held for court during a preliminary hearing Thursday before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.

Yarlyn Moran, 215 W. Columbus St., was arrested by Shenandoah police Patrolman John Buchinsky and charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault and recklessly endangering another person and summary harassment and disorderly conduct.

Kilker determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered all five charges against Moran to Schuylkill County Court.

Buchinsky charged Moran, formerly of Brooklyn, New York, with an incident at 115 N. West St. where she allegedly assaulted Ronelly Collado.

Collado said her and Moran became involved in a fight during which she was also suffering a deep wound in the middle of hand down to her middle finger, Buchinsky said.

Buchinsky said that after an extensive investigation he determined that Moran was the aggressor and had a knife when she fought with Collado.

Other court cases included:

Kyle J. Wronski, 27, of 414 Roosevelt Drive, New Boston; held for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, burglary, criminal trespass, theft and criminal mischief.

Marissa A. Garcia, 24, of 426 W. Pine St., Mahanoy City; waived for court: DUI, DUI-controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving the wrong way.

Adam J. Kunkel, 33, of 738 E. Broad St., Tamaqua; withdrawn: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance. Waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and disregard for single traffic lane.

Melanie L. Kropp, 25, of 234 W. Pine St., Mahanoy City; held for court: possession of drug paraphernalia and volume sound levels.

Charles M. Koncsler, 61, of 201 W. Centre St., Apt. 2, Shenandoah; waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

George S. Beaver, 59, of 17 Jerrys Road, Ringtown; waived for court: simple assault and defiant trespass.

Bernadette K. Curran, 59, of 612 School St., Minersville; waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate, duties at a stop sign and careless driving.

Ralph H. Clark, 64, of 365 Phinneyville Road, Ringtown; waived for court: DUI and disregard for single traffic lane.

60 years as priest

Jesuit Brother John B. Hollywood, S.J., celebrates his 60th year in the Society of Jesus.

Born on May 4, 1938, to John Hollywood and Anna McQuail-Hollywood of New Philadelphia, he was a member of the first graduating class at Nativity BVM High School, Pottsville. He entered the Novitiate of St. Isaac Jogues, Wernersville, Berks County, in 1957.

As a Jesuit brother, Hollywood served at St. Joseph’s Prep, Philadelphia; Loyola High School and Loyola College, Maryland; the University of Scranton and Georgetown University. He has also worked for the Vatican Observatory in Rome and Tucson, Arizona.

An accomplished minister, treasurer and business administrator, Hollywood has helped advance the mission of many Jesuit institutions during his six decades in the Society of Jesus.

Hollywood currently resides at the Colombiere Jesuit Community in Baltimore, Maryland.

State officer

Pottsville attorney Sud Patel was elected vice president of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, formerly the Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Association, at its annual meeting in June in Hershey.

Patel was elected to the role of vice president after serving as the association’s treasurer for the past year.

As vice president, Patel will be primarily responsible for the next year for the association’s fundraising efforts. He will also serve as a key role in the association’s legislative and policy-making efforts.

Patel is a partner in the Pottsville law firm of Fanelli, Evans & Patel, P.C.

Through the lens of Greek immigrant Niko J. Kallianiotis, the residents and facades of Scranton and its surrounding areas got their close-up.

The Old Forge photographer and professor at Marywood and Drexel universities highlights much of what he observes in Northeast Pennsylvania in his ongoing pictoral series, “America in a Trance,” which has been featured on Vice.com, PBS and Esquire.com.

Kallianiotis grew up in Athens but came to the United States in the late 1970s when his father moved to New York City to pursue a doctorate. The elder Kallianiotis transitioned to NEPA around 1991 to teach economics at University of Scranton, and his son split his time between residences in West Scranton and Greece, where his mother, an artist, continued to live.

Niko J. Kallianiotis completed high school in Europe but earned his bachelor’s degree in fine arts and later a master’s in photography from Marywood as well as a master’s degree in fine arts in photography, video and related media from the School of Visual Arts in New York in 2013.

It was during his graduate studies and an early thesis project called “Bittersweet Apple” that Kallianiotis began to examine his emotional response to feeling like what he called an “outsider with an insider’s perspective,” particularly as he contrasted the Greek neighborhoods in Astoria, New York, with the true Greek enclaves he knew across the ocean. His documentary-style photographs evolved as he began “America in a Trance” in 2015, which mainly aimed the camera at Scranton and other small towns across Pennsylvania to look at the settings that made up his American assimilation.

“It’s a very personal project,” Kallianiotis, 43, said. “I tend to work in areas I care about and am familiar with, like my back yard, to feel the connection with the land and the people.

“I’ve lived half my life here. When you’re in Europe, your exposure to the United States is through Hollywood. ... Even in New York, it’s still fiction and fantasy. In Pennsylvania, you start thinking of other things. Economy and survival. For me, evaluating objects through my photos, it’s a diary, a visual anthology.”

A former freelancer for newspapers, including The Citizens’ Voice and The Times Leader in Wilkes-Barre, and papers in Coshocton, Ohio, and Watertown, New York, Kallianitios travels light when he shoots, carrying only his camera and often snapping from his car or street corners. Nothing is manipulated or posed, and he looks for contemporary ruins of dilapidated buildings or factories as well as signs of life in bustling residential streets and local people he captures going about their lives.

He focuses almost all of his work on exteriors and shoots from a distance, and when he posts to his social media pages, he never names exactly where he is. For eagle-eyed NEPA natives, however, he doesn’t have to.

“The gap between rural and metro America is intergalactic, but I hope my photography enhances conversations and closes that gap and unites in a way,” Kallianiotis said. “I’m honored to be published ... but the most rewarding (response) is people who message or email me who are from this area who know where I was. They have memories and feelings of it.”

The project changed over the last two years as a result of the type of photojournalism he noticed coming out of NEPA and other Rust Belt areas during the presidential election. Media outlets who visited for “in-and-out jobs” often painted caricatures of the region, which didn’t sit well with Kallianiotis and made his mission that much clearer: to present an honest representation of local life.

“The project is about me, but not in an egotistical way. It’s about pushing myself to make something different from other photographers and find a way to assimilate through pictures,” he said. “I love the area. I relate more to the people. But I put politics and culture aside. Photographically speaking, this area is very rich in material. The aesthetic that is in this project is very organic.

“I remember the area 20 years ago. There’s a consistency to how things look the same, but at the same time there’s uncertainty. What will happen to the diners? To the drive-ins? To the businesses?”

While he continues to teach photography to college students and work as a freelancer for outlets like The New York Times, Kallianiotis has plans to publish a “prelude book” of his work, a first volume of “America in a Trance,” by January. The project has no true end in sight, he noted, since there is always more to learn and see.

“I’m proud of this project and enjoy doing it because it’s open-ended and open-minded,” he said. “The ultimate question is, ‘Where are we going?’ The pictures are about asking questions and experiencing our town and our state. Photography, at its core, is discovering your environment, and yourself through it.”

Contact the writer: pwilding@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100, ext. 5369

Meet Niko J. Kallianiotis

Age: 43

At home: Grew up in Athens, Greece, and West Scranton, but now lives in Old Forge with his girlfriend, Maria Voytko. He is the son of John and Katerina Kallianiotis.

At work: Professor of photography at Marywood University, Scranton, and Drexel University, Philadelphia, as well as a freelance photojournalist for The New York Times.View his work

Visit his website, nikokallianiotis. com, or his Instagram page, (@njkphoto. Upcoming exhibitions include Freyberger Gallery at Penn State Berks, Reading, opening Thursday, Jan. 11, and James Kerney Campus Gallery at Mercer County Community College, Trenton, New Jersey, with a reception and artist talk Wednesday, April 18. Artist’s statement (on ‘America in a Trance’

“I always considered myself, and still do, an outsider with an insider’s perspective. In 2015, I started this project, exploring and responding as I travel through towns and cities across the state of Pennsylvania, a once prosperous and vibrant region where the notion of small-town values and sustainable small businesses thrived under the sheltered wings of American Industry. A mode to promote American values, industrialism provided a place where immigrants from tattered European countries crossed the Atlantic for a better future. An immigrant and naturalized citizen myself, I had always perceived the U.S. differently, mostly from the big screen Hollywood experience and the adventures of Harley-Davidson and the Marlboro Man.

The past few years, my project has been unintentionally influenced by current events. In Pennsylvania, and throughout the Rust Belt, these former industrial areas transformed into political stages with visual caricatures and photographs that lacked the empathy and understanding of the place. Coming from another country, this visual representation was a vulgar spectacle, which in a way enhanced and influenced my response. This project is an ongoing observation of the fading American dream so typified in the Northeastern Pennsylvania landscape, but widespread across the United States. The work is a product of love, for both the state and country I have called home for the last two decades. It is not political statement, but it’s about the experience of being there, showing you what I see, but mostly what I feel. I search for images that reflect, question and interpret life in the towns and cities across the Keystone State.”

Ashland

Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, 13th and Market streets, will have a free community fall festival from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct. 28. The event will include and a variety of games, according to a release. For more information, call 570-590-2746.

Frackville

Schuylkill Technology Center will have a craft show and basket auction beginning at 9 a.m. Nov. 4 at the North campus, 101 Technology Drive. The event will include more than 40 craft vendors. Homemade items will also be available. For more information, call 570-544-4748, Ext. 3172.

Frackville

Elks Lodge 1533, South Third Street, will have its annual Halloween costume party from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are $6 each. The event will include prizes and awards for costumes in a variety of categories, a cash bar, light snacks and music by Broken Spell. For more information, call 570-874-2500.

Girardville

Rangers Hose Company, 6 E. Ogden St., will have a theme basket bingo beginning at 2 p.m. Nov. 5 in the fire hall. Admission is $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Doors will open at noon. For tickets or more information, call 570-276-6922, 570-276-1358 or 570-276-1009.

Girardville

The community Halloween parade, sponsored by the Good Time Club, is set for Oct. 29 beginning at 2 p.m., rain or shine. The march will being at West Main and Julia streets, head down Second Street then up Oak Street and finish at the parking lot in back of Girard Hose Company. Trick-or-Treat night will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. People should have their porch lights on to welcome children. For more information, call 570-276-1635.

Pine Grove

Healthy Steps for Older Adults free workshops will be held from 10 a.m. to noon Nov. 8 and 9 at Schoolyard Square Senior Living, 11 High St., sponsored by Diakon Community Services. The sessions are for adults 50 and older and involve minimizing fall risks. The deadline to register is Nov. 3. For more information, call 570-624-3017.

Pottsville

A presentation called The Alternative: Creation’s Competitive Edge, featuring Robert Carter, Ph.D., of Creation Ministries International, will be held at First Baptist Church of Pottsville, 710 Mahantongo St., beginning at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6. Admission is free. For more information, call 570-832-4208.

Primrose

St. Nicholas School will sponsor its 18th annual Chinese auction beginning at 1 p.m. Nov. 5 in St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901. Doors will open at 10 a.m. Tickets are $5 each. Homemade food and desserts will also be available. For more information, call 570-544-4581. A browse and bid will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 4.

Saint Clair

The Saint Clair Wade United Methodist Church, 23 N. Front St., will have a food fair and bake sale beginning at 10 a.m. Nov. 18. For more information, email Debra Forney at bob6512@verizon.net.

Schuylkill Haven

A shopping spree fundraiser by St. John’s United Church of Christ, 121 E. Main St., is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 5. The event will feature various vendors and will support the church. For more information, call 570-449-3892.

Schuylkill Haven

St. Mark’s Brown’s Church, 151 Summer Hill Road, will have a Pennsylvania Dutch service at 2 p.m. Oct. 29 with the Rev. Ethan Levengood. There will be fellowship and refreshments after the service.

HAZLETON — In sweeping changes to its administration, Hazleton Area school board on Thursday hired as assistant superintendent a person who previously sued the district, named a Wilkes-Barre administrator as the new curriculum director, accepted early retirements of several key workers and began replacing vice principals with lower-paid deans of discipline.

The changes occurred in front of a standing room-only crowd that chastised the board for suspending its hiring policy.

Members of the audience pointed out that retirees will remain on the job for months and asked — but failed to convince — the board to postpone hiring administrators until after the election on Nov. 7 when five board slots are on the ballot.

Board members said retirements create savings that will pay for the salaries of the new employees.

Assistant Superintendent Anthony Ryba gave a presentation that showed the hirings will cost $573,000 more than the retirement savings this year, but lead to $304,000 savings next year and a total savings of $1.2 million through the 2022-23 school year.

The highest-paid new employee, Daniel Rodgers, will earn $122,000 as an assistant superintendent whose duties will include those of a human relations manager. Rodgers held a similar job with the district until 2007. After the board abolished his position, he sued and won a $50,000 settlement in 2010.

Chris Slusser, district solicitor, hasn’t read the settlement since then but doesn’t believe anything in it prevents Rodgers from working with the district again.

As the new curriculum director, the board hired Patrick Patte, an administrator in the Wilkes-Barre Area School District, for a $110,500 salary. He will assume many of the duties done by George Donadi, who will take early retirement as director of elementary and secondary education on Dec. 31.

Patte was a finalist for the Hazleton Area superintendent’s job in July and made a positive impression on board members. Board members said Patte finished second behind Brian Uplinger, who started work a month ago but was sworn in as superintendent by District Judge Joseph Zola at the start of Thursday’s meeting.

Board President Jared O’Donnell said hiring Patte is an investment in education, but members of the audience, including Robert Childs, a former board member on the ballot again next month, suggested other ways to use the retirement savings.

Board member Robert Mehalick said he is willing to hire more teachers but the district also lacks classrooms for additional teachers. He said providing a proper human relations department and a director of curriculum are also steps toward good education.

Ryba said the district had 9.5 administrators in the superintendent’s and business offices in 1999. Now, after the new hires, the district will have seven workers in those two offices, although enrollment has increased.

Michele Planutis, head of the teachers union, and Teresa Redwinski, head of the union for classroom support workers, both said the board asked their workers to accept pay freezes even though the board will spend money on additional administrators.

Planutis said all special education teachers should have had an opportunity to interview for the job as independent education program coordinator but didn’t because the board didn’t follow its hiring policy.

The board hired Bridget Caputo as the IEP coordinator for $55,348.

As the first dean of discipline, the board hired Mark Scarcella for $40,000. Board member Jaculin Scarcella abstained from voting on his appointment.

Ryba said deans will be hired at lower salary when vice principals retire or take promotions.

Christopher Yourechko and Jason Williams were appointed as principals for salaries of $88,846. Principals Maureen DeRose of Hazleton Elementary/Middle School and Kathryn Brior of Valley Elementary/Middle School took early retirement.

Special education supervisor Rosemary Hockebury, special education director Debra Yanuzzi and facilities director Andre Marchese will retire early.

Marchese’s former assistant director, Ed Shemansky, retired last year and is running for school board this year.

Marie Kay was the only board member who voted against hiring the new administrators. Clarence John voted against hiring Patte.

Kay provided a list of other issues that the early-retirement savings could solve.

They include honors classes that include regular-education students, shortages of computers and bandwith to operate them and too few desks for children in classrooms.

To that teachers in the audience said they also have desks that are too small for high school students, oppressively hot classrooms, and shortages of supplies from anthologies to headphones.

Mehalick and board member Vincent Zola pointed out that they were just learning of those problems, but will try to solve them. The board voted to purchase 1,850 computers, which are being programmed and put into use as fast as the district’s understaffed technology department can do so.

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

One of the classic constellations of autumn is Pegasus, the flying horse soaring above the southeastern horizon in the evening sky. It’s by far the largest celestial horse we see in the Pottsville skies. The traditional interpretation of Pegasus is a horse flying upside down with puny little wings. If you can see it that way, more power to you.

Over the years, I’ve strayed from that view of Pegasus, and I’m not the only one. There are many that see Pegasus as I do, a majestic horse with a huge wingspan rescuing the lovely Princess Andromeda from a huge ravenous sea monster. If I could personally take you and show you Pegasus, I guarantee you’d be convinced. In fact, the right side up version of Pegasus looks just like the flying red horse you see on Mobile gas station signs.

As soon as it’s dark enough, look directly above the eastern horizon for a giant diamond of four fairly bright stars that outline the torso of Pegasus, otherwise known as the “Square of Pegasus.” They’re easy to spot since they are the brightest stars in that area of the sky. The star at the top of the diamond is the star Scheat, pronounced she-at. Don’t say the name of that star too fast around the kids! Scheat is the base of the flying horse’s neck. Look above Scheat for two other stars that outline the rest of the neck, and another fairly faint star to the lower right of the neck that marks the flying horsey’s nose.

The horse has a multi-jointed front leg that extends upward in a curved line. To see it, start at Markab, on the right hand corner of the square of Pegasus. From there, look for a curved line of slightly fainter stars that extend up to the upper right of Markeb.

I love the name of the star on the left corner of the square of Pegasus. It’s called Alpheratz, pronounced Al-fee-rats. You can’t help but see a curved line of three bright stars extending to the lower left of Alpheratz. You are looking at the mighty wings of Pegasus. If you look above that bright line of stars, you’ll see another curved line of fainter stars. That outlines Andromeda the Princess, who is hitched on to the rear end of the horse. In the traditional view of the upside flying Pegasus, both of the curved lines of stars attached to Alpheratz make up the constellation Andromeda the Princess.

No matter how you see the constellations Pegasus and Andromeda, the saga of how the lovely princess found herself tied to a flying horse’s rear end is part of the great Greek mythological story involving Perseus, Cassiopeia, Pegasus and the lovely Princess Andromeda.

Perseus, son of Zeus, king of the gods, was flying back from a mission when he flew over a distressing scene. The giant ugly sea monster Cetus was closing in on a beach where Princess Andromeda was chained to a rock by her own parents, Cassiopeia and Cepheus, the king and queen of ancient Ethiopia. They were forced to offer their daughter as a sacrifice to Cetus to keep their entire kingdom from being ravaged by the sea monster. Perseus had to save this damsel in distress, but he had to be smart about it.

Perseus’ mission was to cut off the head of Medusa, a terrible monster that was so ugly anyone who looked at it was turned to stone. Entire communities were being stoned! It had to be stopped. Using the borrowed magic shield of Athena, the goddess of wisdom, Perseus whacked off the head of the monster without becoming stoned himself.

The quick thinking Perseus whipped out the head of Medusa and waved it at Cetus just as the monster was about to make lunch out of Princess Andromeda. That’s all it took! Cetus sank into the depths, never to be seen again!

But that’s not all. Blood from the severed head of Medusa hit the ocean waves and magically produced Pegasus, a beautiful white winged horse that instinctively flew down to the boulder where Andromeda was, chewed off the chains and then flew the Princess up to Perseus, where it was love at first sight.

Perseus and Andromeda were soon married in an elaborate royal wedding. Was it happily ever after for the new couple? Not quite. A few years after the wedding, Perseus found himself at the wrong end of a sword in a drunken brawl. There’s a little more to that story, but I gave you the Reader’s Digest version.

Astronomically, one of the best celestial gems in the traditional constellation Andromeda is the Andromeda Galaxy, otherwise known as Messier object 31. Scan that area of the heavens just above the princess with your binoculars or a small telescope and look for a ghostly fuzzy patch. If you’re out in the countryside and really have dark skies you can see it with your naked eye.

That fuzzy little patch is our Milky Way Galaxy’s next door neighbor, over 2 million light years away with just 1 light year weighing in at almost 6 trillion miles! That little fuzzy patch is easily the home to more than a trillion stars and many, many, many more planets!

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

Man cited in

Route 209 crash

POTTSVILLE — Pottsville police investigated a crash that was reported about 6:20 p.m. Thursday in the area of the 900 block of the Gordon Nagle Trail, in the area of the Sheetz store.

Police said their investigation revealed that Vanectinder Kaur, 36, of Mount Carmel, was driving a 2010 Infinity QX56 on the Gordon Nagle Trail when he tried to make an illegal left turn into the Sheetz store where it is clearly signed “No Left Turn.”

In doing so, police said, Kaur struck a 2015 Subaru Legacy being driven north on Route 209 by a 47-year-old Schuylkill Haven woman.

No injuries were reported and police said that as a result of the crash, Kaur will be cited for failure to obey traffic control devices.

POTTSVILLE — A Luzerne County woman is headed to state prison after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced her Monday for a March 2015 theft she committed in Rush Township.

Melissa J. Hoegler, 37, of Hazleton, must serve six to 24 months in a state correctional institution, Judge John E. Domalakes ruled.

Domalakes imposed the sentence after revoking Hoegler’s probation, which the defendant admitted violating.

Hoegler originally pleaded guilty on April 20, 2016, to retail theft and conspiracy, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of receiving stolen property. At that time, Domalakes placed Hoegler on probation for two years, and also sentenced her to pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $1,629 restitution, all of which she still must pay under the terms of Monday’s sentence, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Rush Township police charged Hoegler with committing the theft on March 3, 2015.

Also on Monday, Domalakes revoked the parole of James M. Mennig, 38, of Orwigsburg, and recommitted him to prison. Mennig could remain in prison until Dec. 23, 2019, but is eligible to apply for reparole at any time.

Mennig originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 13, 2013, to receiving stolen property, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of theft. At that time, Domalakes sentenced him to serve 36 days to 23 months in prison and pay costs, a $50 CJEA payment, a $100 bench warrant fee and $135 restitution.

Pottsville police had charged Mennig with committing his crime on April 6, 2012, in the city.

In another Monday case, Domalakes revoked the parole of Michael T. Eiler, 35, of Pottsville, and returned him to prison.

Eiler originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 12, 2014, to retail theft. At that time, Domalakes placed him on probation for 23 months, and also sentenced him to pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment.

Domalakes then revoked Eiler’s probation on Feb. 2, 2016, and sentenced him to serve three to 23 months in prison.

Saint Clair police originally charged Eiler with committing the theft on Jan. 17, 2014, in the borough.

Eiler is eligible to apply for reparole at any time.

Also in the county court, Judge Charles M. Miller revoked the probation of Robert F. Moncrief Jr., 22, of Shenandoah, on Oct. 9 and sentenced him to serve four to 18 months in prison and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Moncrief, who admitted he had violated his probation, originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 30, 2016, to resisting arrest and disorderly conduct, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of criminal mischief and public drunkenness. At that time, Miller placed him on probation for 12 months, and also sentenced him to pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment.

Shenandoah police had charged him with committing his crimes on April 29, 2016, in the borough.

In other criminal court matters, a homeless man has at least a temporary residence at Schuylkill County Prison after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced him on Wednesday for possessing a weapon.

Beau C. Natale, 24, address not known, must serve three to 18 months behind bars, Judge Jacqueline L. Russell ruled.

Russell imposed the sentence after revoking Natale’s probation, which the defendant admitted violating by failing to report to his supervising officer for almost two years, moving without permission and not performing mandated community service.

“I would have failed the drug tests,” Natale said in explaining why he did not report to his probation officer.

Natale, who wore a prison jumpsuit, handcuffs and a belt during the hearing, originally pleaded guilty on Feb. 19, 2014, to possession of a prohibited offensive weapon and possession of drug paraphernalia. At that time, Russell placed him on probation for 18 months consecutive to his existing sentence, and also sentenced him to pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the CJEA and a $50 bench warrant fee, and perform 40 hours community service.

Pottsville police charged Natale with possessing the weapon and the paraphernalia on Jan. 31, 2013, in the city.

On Tuesday, Craig V. Brennan, 40, of Camp Hill, pleaded guilty to harassment, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of terroristic threats and simple assault.

Judge Charles M. Miller accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Brennan to spend 12 months on probation and pay costs.

State police at Frackville charged Brennan with committing his crime on Dec. 5, 2016.

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

MAHANOY CITY — About 35 members of the Mahanoy City Fire Department traveled to Monroe County last month to participate in a departmentwide training exercise.

Mahanoy City Fire Chief Dan Markiewicz said when taking over the department in 2016 that he wanted to maintain and build on the training standards that were in place at the time.

Part of that training was utilizing the burn building at the Schuylkill County Fire School near Frackville, but that became unavailable after the structure was deemed unsafe and in need of replacement.

Although the department continued training, Markiewicz said giving firefighters the chance to experience live fire was not available.

The chief said that earlier this year he was speaking with Shawn Flaim, captain of the borough’s Good American Fire Company, who suggested using the Monroe County Firemens Association Training Facility near Bartonsville. Flaim said his company used that facility in the past and thought it was a good training experience.

Markiewicz said that with the assistance of P.J. Brutto, the department’s training officer, arrangements were made to secure the site for training and, on Sept. 3, firefighters and several pieces of Mahanoy City apparatus made the 1 1/2-hour trip to Monroe County.

The chief said that among the 35 attending were a mix of seasoned firefighters as well as new firefighters and junior members.

The facility gave department members the chance to practice trash and dumpster fires, a smoke maze through a building, use a flashover simulator and a Christmas tree fire simulator, and finally work inside the burn building with live fire and the heat associated with it.

Firefighters also completed four evolutions with “room and content” fires, the chief said.

“This was the first time a lot of the young guys got to see fire for the first time,” Markiewicz said.

Training, the chief said, is an essential part of having a proactive, aggressive fire department.

“If we have the training, when we have an incident, they (firefighters) know what to do and what to expect,” he said.

Markiewicz said he plans on pushing forward with training for seasoned and new firefighters as well as any new members who join any of the borough’s fire companies.

In addition, the chief said, making the training not only informative but also enjoyable is important.

In Monroe County, Markiewicz said, firefighters spent a good hard day training and learning but, in the end, had a good time as well.

“We had a ball, everybody loved it,” he said. “Hopefully, our people will take advantage of our training in the future.”

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

FRACKVILLE — The new $1.5 million multipurpose training facility at the Schuylkill County Fire School went through a trial by fire Sunday afternoon as firefighters held their first burn training to test the building located along Firemans Road in West Mahanoy Township.

“It’s a dream come true for us,” Dave Sattizahn, president of the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association and Pine Grove fire chief, said. “We have 105 fire companies in the county and this allows them to come train right in their own backyard.”

Twenty-eight firefighters, who completed structural burn or firefighter 1 classes, were selected by the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association and the Schuylkill Firefighters Financial Development Organization board members to represent the county to train at the facility and provide feedback to the engineers. It will be the only burning to take place at the facility this year, with training expected to start in the spring.

Sattizahn said there were only a few minor adjustments that had to be made before the association takes over ownership.

“It’s a multi-discipline building,” Frank Zangari, president of the Schuylkill County Fire Chiefs Association, said. “We are now able to train our firefighters here instead of having them go out of state for training.”

The new 7,000-square-foot building replaces the old “burn building” that was built in 1990 and served as a training site for firefighters from Schuylkill and surrounding counties until it was forced to close in 2013.

The new facility has 10 rooms with walls that disassemble and has a 50-plus year lifespan. The rooms provide various sceneries for firefighters, such as a prison. The former one had a life span of 20 years, but that was extended with additional work.

“They did a fabulous job with this facility,” Jim Mistishin, training coordinator for the fire school and Pottsville assistant fire chief, said. “It is a big plus for us to have this in the county. Our firefighters had to travel all over the commonwealth to get structural fire training.”

Mistishin, who was overseeing the training, said the facility can also be used for ladder, incident command and other training purposes not involving a live fire.

RDG Planning and Design, Omaha, Nebraska, was hired in 2014 to draft the project and Performance Construction Services Inc., Pottsville, was awarded the construction contract in September. A groundbreaking ceremony was held April 11 at the construction site of the multipurpose training facility and a dedication ceremony will be held at a later date.

“We are getting a lot of support from our legislators, commissioners, fire companies and local businesses and municipalities,” Sattizahn said.

The county commissioners promised to provide up to $500,000 as needed over the next 10 years for the building. Some of the funding will be recouped from a 2 percent increase in hotel taxes.

An anonymous donor also pledged to match up to $450,000 in funding for the building, Sattizahn said. The rest of the funding comes from donations and a capital project by Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association and donations.

“This is something that was needed for a long time,” commissioners’ Chairman George F. Halcovage said. “This is a state-of-the-art facility for our firefighters and if we save one life through this training, it has paid for itself.”

“This is a great investment for public safety for all of the citizens in the county and it gives our volunteer firefighters the opportunity to train at home,” Commissioner Gary J. Hess said. “This building is going to save lives in the end.”

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

Frackville

The Frackville Elks Lodge hoop shoot free-throw contest is set for 8 a.m. to noon Nov. 11 at North Schuylkill Elementary School, 38 Line St., for boys and girls ages 8-13. For more information, including requirements and contest rules, go online to www.elks.org/hoopshoot. Also for more information, call Bill Mack at 570-874-2500.

Mahanoy City

The group Healthy Mahanoy City will have a community garden project from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Herman’s Park, Centre and Fifth streets. The plan is to build 16 raised beds from concrete blocks and fill them with soil. People are wanted to help. Registrations for use of the garden beds for the 2018 growing season will be accepted. For more information, call Jeanne Elberfeld at 570-622-6097 or email her at jelberfeld@schuylkillvision.com.

Minersville

Mountaineer Hose Company, Third and South streets, will have an Election Day dinner beginning at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 7 at the firehouse. The cost is $10 per meal and the choice will be pork and sauerkraut, mashed potatoes, applesauce and dessert or pork and gravy, mashed potatoes, green beans and dessert. For tickets or more information, call 570-544-2313 or 570-544-9622.

Minersville

Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fourth and Lewis streets, will have a craft fair and food sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 11. Admission is free. Vendors are wanted to participate. The cost of rental of an eight-foot table is $20. For contact and setup information, call the church at 570-544-6725.

New Ringgold

Christ Church McKeansburg, 1751 Chestnut St., will have a chicken barbecue from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $8.50 for adults and $4.25 for children. Meals include a half barbecued chicken made by church members, homemade pepper cabbage, homemade applesauce, roll and beverage. Desserts will be available for an extra cost. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-449-3698.

Pine Grove

The Pine Grove Area High School Future Business Leaders of America club has begun a new year of activities and has scheduled its first fundraiser to “help each member with their chapter dues” via a chicken barbecue with pickups set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at North End Fire Company. The cost is $8 and meals include a half chicken with baked potato. Members are also selling homecoming T-shirts to help with chapter costs to attend conferences and participate in FBLA programs. A portion of the chicken barbecue proceeds will go to the club’s state charity, the Alzheimer’s Association. The group is looking to attend the Pennsylvania FBLA State Leadership Workshop in the Poconos in early November.

Pottsville

The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Chapter 413 will conduct its monthly meeting at 1 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Yorkville Hose Company, 20th and West Norwegian streets. For more information, call Tony Downey at 570-294-0195.

Saint Clair

The Saint Clair Lions Club will have a Welsh cake sale beginning at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 14 at the club hall, McCord Avenue. The cost is $8 per dozen. Proceeds will benefit the fund for St. John’s United Church of Christ. To order or for more information, call Dorothy at 570-429-0549.

Saint Clair

The Saint Clair Lions Club, McCord Avenue, will have a pork-and-sauerkraut dinner beginning at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 7. The cost is $8.50 per meal. People may eat in at the club hall or take meals out. For free local delivery or more information, call 570-429-9939.

Williamstown

Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Council of Catholic Women will have a pork-and-sauerkraut dinner from noon to 6:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at the church, 140 E. Market St. Tickets are $9 each. Meals will include homemade sauerkraut, pork, mashed potatoes, applesauce, bread, dessert and beverage. Take-outs will be available. For more information, call 717-439-6578.

The Pennsylvania State Police announced earlier this month that $7,408,050 worth of prohibited drugs were taken off the streets in the third quarter of 2017.

According to a report, heroin, fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamines and other drugs were confiscated from July 1 through Sept. 30.

Methamphetamines accounted for the most street value, amounting to $2,035,000 and weighing 49.63 pounds. Cocaine accounted for $1,674,000 weighing 92.26 pounds. Processed marijuana accounted for $1,225,000 weighing 407.61 pounds. Heroin had a value of $1,187,000 weighing 43.61 pounds, and other narcotics (pills) had a street value of $461,000 with 18,407 pills confiscated.

There were 1,851 marijuana plants with a street value of $305,000 confiscated; crack cocaine, valued at $191,000 weighing 4.21 pounds; other narcotics valued at $165,000 weighing 71.50 pounds; fentanyl valued at $102,750 weighing 6.42 pounds; solid THC in marijuana valued at $35,500 weighing 7.10 pounds; liquid THC valued at $21,000 weighing 3.14 pints; LSD valued at $4,800 at 237 doses, and $1,000 of 1.10 pounds of synthetic marijuana and stimulants.

State police have seized more than $26.5 million in prohibited drugs in the first three quarters of this year. Of that, 97 pounds of it has been heroin and fentanyl.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

Rebecca Margerum

ELIZABETHVILLE — A Millersburg man is headed to Dauphin County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday on charges he violated his duties under Megan’s Law in September.

Nahji I. McKee, 29, of 245 Sheetz Road, faces charges of failing to register with the Pennsylvania State Police and failing to verify address or be photographed. Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum bound over both charges for court after McKee waived his right to the hearing.

State police at Lykens charged McKee with violating his reporting requirements on Sept. 15 in Upper Paxton Township.

On the state police Megan’s Law website, McKee is listed as a Tier 1 offender, meaning he has to comply with reporting requirements for 15 years.

McKee is free on $10,000 unsecured bail pending further court action. His formal arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Jan. 5, 2018, before President Judge Richard A. Lewis in Harrisburg.

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

Justina A. Dacruz, 47, of 652 S. Second St., Lykens — theft; charge held for court after preliminary hearing.

Beth A. Goyert, 58, of 412 Union Ave., Bridgeport — terroristic threats, harassment and disorderly conduct; charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

Timothy L. Kissinger, 36, of 251 North St., Lykens — obstruction and terroristic threats; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Adam J. Klahre, 33, of 553 Main St., Lykens — two counts each of endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person and one each of forgery, driving under the influence, DUI while suspended, false statement under penalty, false identification to law enforcement, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, disregarding traffic lane, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving and reckless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

James M. Reedy, 39, of 202 Wiconisco St., Lykens — resisting arrest, flight to avoid apprehension or trial, driving under suspension, failure to drive at a safe speed and two counts of stop sign violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of stop sign violation withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Devin L. Shomper, 29, of 243 School House Lane, Millersburg — burglary, criminal trespass, theft, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI, institutional vandalism and driving without a license; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of burglary withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

James K. Reiley

A Pottsville man charged with setting fire to an SUV in a wooded area off of Walnut Lane in Norwegian Township on June 25 had charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville.

Kody James Stencovage, 22, of 4 Barefield Drive, was arrested by state police Trooper Vincent Laselva of the Schuylkill Haven station and charged with risking a catastrophe, reckless burning or exploding, criminal mischief and dangerous burning.

Reiley determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered all charges against Stencovage held for Schuylkill County Court.

Laselva charged Stencovage with going to the area, just west of Bulls Head Road, about 3:30 a.m. and setting fire to a 2013 Jeep Wrangler owned by Tyler Plachko.

Stencovage’s actions resulted in a loss of about $15,300 to Plachko, the trooper said.

Other court cases included:

Zachary G. Zerbe, 24, of 252 W. Second Mountain Road, Pottsville — waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.

Victor Dominguez-Davis, 51, of 800-41 N. Second St., Pottsville — waived for court: disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joshua S. Siluk, 24, of 316 Pine Hill St., Minersville — withdrawn by victim: simple assault and possession of drug paraphernalia. Waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Kayleen E. Bumberger, 45, of 103 N. Third St., Apt. 3, Pottsville — waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, failure to keep right, driving on a sidewalk and careless driving.

Roy M. Hogan Jr., 23, of 1 Judy Drive, Cressona — held for court: criminal mischief.

Joseph Monaghan, 36, of 515 McKnight St., Box 167, Gordon — waived for court: driving a vehicle without a valid inspection, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jarret A. Zalonka, 18, of 325 Laurel Road, Orwigsburg — held for court: possession of a controlled substance.

Cody N. Kievman, 24, of Laudemans Lane, Box 772, Minersville — waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, disregard for single traffic lane and careless driving.

Brandon J. Hoffman, 22, of 214 Center Ave., Schuylkill Haven — waived for court: furnishing drug-free urine.

Alexia E. Sukeena, 27, of 10 Deer Lane, Pottsville — held for court: endangering the welfare of children.

Robert C. Woll, 53, of 1708 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville — waived for court: simple assault.

Shannon M. Stahr, 33, of 300 N. 12th St., Pottsville — waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal use of a communications facility.

Joshua L. Ney, 24, of 1759 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville — possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Thomas R. Weikel, 41, of 435 E. Norwegian St., Apt. 2, Pottsville — waived for court: criminal use of a communications facility, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

James D. Noll, 45, of State Correctional Institution/Waymart, Waymart — waived for court: rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse of a person under the age of 16, indecent assault of a person under the age of 16 and corruption of minors.

Deisree Ann Weaver, 24, of 6 Peacock St., Pottsville — waived for court; possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

POTTSVILLE — A Shenandoah woman is headed to prison after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced her Wednesday for selling crack cocaine in November 2016 in Shenandoah.

Amy L. Sartori, 32, must serve three to 23 months behind bars, plus pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities under the terms of Judge James P. Goodman’s sentence. Goodman made the sentence effective at 9:30 a.m. today.

In a one-day trial over which Goodman presided, a Schuylkill County jury found Sartori guilty on Aug. 25 of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Jurors deliberated less than an hour before reaching their verdict.

Shenandoah police charged Sartori with selling crack cocaine in a controlled buy to a confidential informant on Nov. 21, 2016.

A forensic drug analyst testified at the trial that the substance was crack cocaine, while an undercover police officer testified that the confidential informant had turned over the substance to him after the buy.

In other recent Schuylkill County Court action, Judge Jacqueline L. Russell accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Robert A. VanDaley, 34, of Frackville — possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $50 CJEA payment.

Amie L. Wiscount, 36, of Harrisburg — possession of a controlled substance; three to 12 months in prison, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $50 bench warrant fee. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, false identification to law enforcement, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Tiffany Yeick, 43, of Freeland — possession of marijuana; 30 days probation, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Zackary D. Yuro, 25, of Pottsville — two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one of operating vehicle without valid inspection; 18 months probation, $25 fine, $100 in SAEF payment and $100 in CJEA payments. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of driving unregistered vehicle.

William M. Zelinsky, 33, of Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

Katherine J. Zettick, 54, of Minersville — disorderly conduct; $300 fine. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of indecent exposure.

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

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

POTTSVILLE — St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church celebrated family Sunday while marking the 100th anniversary of the Our Lady of Fatima.

The Pottsville church was one of three in the Diocese of Allentown hosting the “Family Fully Alive — 100 years of Fatima” event Sunday evening. The diocese’s Office for Youth, Young Adult and Family Ministry organized the events.

“We wanted to do something to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Fatima as well as celebrate family,” Samantha Hennis, assistant coordinator for the office of youth, young adult and family ministry, said.

The event was also held at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, Whitehall, and Holy Guardian Angels Church, Kutztown. About 100 people registered for the event in Kutztown while about 250 signed up in Whitehall, Hennis said.

The $10 cost per family was used to help offset costs of the meal, she said.

After a family holy hour at the church, a pasta dinner was served for about 70 people in the church hall in Pottsville. Dinner was followed by a children’s play retelling the famed Marian apparitions re-ported 100 years ago by three children in Fatima, Portugal. The incident was declared a miracle by the Catholic Church on Oct. 13, 1930.

“It has been such a wonderful year, and many churches have been doing things for Fatima,” Deb-ra Walker, office administrator for the church, said. “This was just a perfect conclusion to the celebration that has been going on all year.”

Walker said the church was invited by the diocese to host the event. Monsignor Edward J. O’Connor, St. Patrick’s pastor, said the church was honored to host the event because the 100-year-old story is just as important for families today.

“It’s a great story of hope and celebration of family that people should know,” he said.

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

ASHLAND — The Tri-Valley High School Class of 2008 voted Joy C. Kahler and Cassandra Welker “biggest story teller” and “most artistic,” respectively.

It was no accident that the two friends collaborated to release their self-published children’s book, “The Miscellaneous Mishaps of E. James, Hamster Trouble.”

Kahler and Welker introduced their 52-page chapter book Oct. 14 during the Ashland Apple Fest at Eureka Park. It features the adventures of lead character, Elias James — who Kahler said was inspired by the antics of her five nephews — and 22 color illustrations by Welker.

“There’s a flux in education where boys are under-performing in schools. I see that as a pattern and I had struggled to find books for boys,” Kahler, a mother of two girls, said.

“This book has a male lead, who is not violent, but innocent and fun,” the Leck Kill author said.

Kahler said she and Welker had been working on the first book for more than a year.

“She gave me all of the text before I started and I filled in the gaps where she wanted,” Welker said.

“It was very well written and I think we mesh really well. Everything she writes is so vivid,” Welker said.

Kahler invited Welker to tour the Kahler family farm in Dornsife, Northumberland County, where she took several reference photos to use for her artwork.

Welker, who now resides in Sykesville, Maryland, used pen and ink and water color to create the book’s images. She brought two originals of her favorite book images to the Apple Fest. One shows Hogan, a frisky pet hamster; the other shows wayward cows running through a clothesline of freshly washed apparel.

The pair self-published their book through Amazon’s CreateSpace independent publishing platform, releasing it July 17. The paperback sells for $13 and $9.99 on Kindle. It’s also distributed through online retailers.

Kahler is a stay-at-home mother. She and her husband, Zachary, have two daughters, Anastasia, 4, and Charlotte, 19 months.

Kahler received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Shippensburg University in 2012, with a concentration in social sciences.

Welker and her husband, Nick, have a Corgi, Dunkin.

Welker graduated from Pennsylvania College of Art and Design in 2012 with a B.F.A. in illustration. Welker works at the Columbia Art Center in Maryland, teaching children’s programs.

This is the first book in the “Mishaps” series and Kahler said Welker will be the illustrator for all of the books that follow.

Family reviews of the book have been positive.

“My nephews loved it and they can pick each other out,” Kahler said.

Teachers in the Tri-Valley School District have also asked Kahler how they could incorporate the book into their classes.

“I have some professors who are using it in their special education courses,” Kahler said.

Sandi Davies, Ashland, picked up a copy of the book at the Apple Fest for her grand-niece who lives in New Mexico.

“Her mother’s always looking for funny books to keep her entertained,” Davies said.

Gail Jones, Apple Fest coordinator, said she also wanted to spend more time looking at the book, knowing that its creators were local.

Kahler will hold a book signing the evening of Nov. 8 at Trail Gardens, Pottsville; and 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at the Rudy Gelnett Memorial Library, Selinsgrove.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007