Hazleton

The Hazleton Concert Series will present Shades of Buble, a three-man tribute to Michael Buble, at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13 in the Hazleton Area High School Auditorium, 1601 W. 23rd St. Tickets are $30 each for adults and $10 for students. For reservations or more information, call Amelia at 570-788-4864 or Cynthia at 570-436-6615. More information also is available at www.hazletonconcertseries.org or the series Facebook page.

Minersville

Mountaineer Hose Company, Third and South streets, will have a breakfast from 7:30 a.m. to noon Sunday, featuring an “open menu.” All are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-9622.

Minersville

The Minersville Fish & Game Club will have a block shoot and vendor fair beginning at noon Nov. 11 at the club, Live Oaks Road. Proceeds will benefit Amy Purcell Kanezo. Donations are also being accepted. For more information, call 570-544-3155 or email dboyer3812@gmail.com.

Minersville

Ss. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church is having a nutroll and nuthorn sale from noon to 5 p.m. Nov. 15 and 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 16 at the church hall, 558 Sunbury St. For more information, call Barbara Rogers at 570-544-6974 or email barog48@msn.com.

Orwigsburg

Grace Bible Church of Hawk Mountain, 12 Molino Road, will have a free prophecy conference and dinner from 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 11. The guest speaker will be the Rev. Ken Keeler who will speak about “What’s Next for the Middle East and How Will It Affect Us?” All are welcome. For more information, call 570-617-1749.

Orwigsburg

The Blue Mountain High School fall drama production is “Rumors,” a farce by Neil Simon, scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18 and 2 p.m. Nov. 19. The director is Michael Shoupe. Tickets are $3 for students and seniors and $5 for adults. For more information, email gamatz@comcast.net.

Pottsville

An event called An Evening at the Library is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 11 at the Pottsville Free Public Library, 215 W. Market St. Tickets are $35 per person. The library board is hosting the event in partnership with Guz’s Charitable Project to raise money for the library and to raise awareness about distracted driving. All are welcome. To make reservations, call the library at 570-622-8880.

Pottsville

Providence Place of Pottsville, 2200 First Ave., is looking for vendors and crafters for an event called “Sip & Shop” is has scheduled for 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 5. Those interested should call Tiffany Wallen at 717-515-2254 or email twallen@prov-place.com.

Schuylkill Haven

A folk art gathering of the Folk Art Alliance of Schuylkill, Carbon and Berks counties is set for noon Wednesday at the Walk In Art Center’s main gallery, third floor, which is accessible to the handicapped. Participants will learn about “opportunities and apprenticeships.” The event is potluck and participants should bring a dish. For more, email information@walkinartcenter.com.

Valley View

American Legion Post 575 has several functions on its November agenda, including a Veterans Day meal and party Friday, a pot-pie dinner Nov. 17, a Thanksgiving Eve celebration with disc jockey entertainment Nov. 22 and a meatloaf meal Nov. 24.

William Penn

The William Penn Fire Company, Mount Olive Boulevard (Route 54 just west of Shenandoah), is having a 50/50 Christmas raffle with the drawing set for Dec. 2. Envelopes have been distributed throughout the community with Christmas stocking-stuffer tickets, organizers said in a release. Tickets are also available at local businesses. For more information, email lark4@ptd.net.

Zion Grove

A ham-and-chicken dinner will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Nov. 11 at Mount Zion Lutheran Church. The cost is $10 for adults, $5 for children ages 6-12 and free for children 5 and younger. Takeouts will be available; all are welcome.

TREMONT — Motorists will face some single-lane delays in Schuylkill County as construction progresses over the next six months for a nearly $3 billion pipeline.

The 186-mile Williams’s Atlantic Sunrise project is an expansion of the existing Transco natural gas pipeline that will connect the Marcellus gas supplies with markets in the mid-Atlantic and southeastern U.S.

It is slated to pump millions into the local economy, according to a Penn State University impact study.

It has already drawn attention from property owners whose land the pipeline will traverse, as well as from curious passersby seeing a flurry of activity along the route.

A staging area at Franklin Road, Tremont, demonstrates the logistics involved.

Lee Bone, Mobile, Alabama, construction manager for Williams, along with David E. Feidt, Harrisburg, a contracted consultant for community outreach, offered a media tour Monday of the Tremont site. Bone calls it the “Rausch Creek Yard Spread 5.”

“You’ve got a lot of rock in this area,” Bone, who’s been walking the pipeline route since March, said.

More than 370 people are employed there, according to Bone. Crews work 10-hour days, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., six days a week. About half of the union workers are travelers and the others are local union workers, Bone said. A piece of heavy equipment, known as a sucker hoe, moves 42-inch steel pipe. It uses suction and vacuum-lifting technology to grab the pipe so it can be secured before it’s moved.

All workers receive safety, environmental and compliance training, Bone said.

The Schuylkill Conservation District office does an on-site inspection every two weeks.

“We’re in contact by phone every day. They want to make sure there are no environmental issues,” Bone said.

The state Department of Environmental Protection and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission also inspects the site.

There are many inspections of the pipe itself, according to Bone. There are inspectors for the pipe welding, pipe coating, and the pipe ditch and backfill areas. Green pipe is used in areas where there’s mostly soil, while brown pipe is placed in rougher terrain, he said.

The pipe comes from a port near Philadelphia. It’s stacked in 40-, 50- and 60-foot lengths. At the Tremont site, pipe for Columbia County was stored on the right, while pipe for Schuylkill, Northumberland and Lebanon counties was to the left.

“Pipeline construction will consist of eight different construction spreads, six of which will be working concurrently in eight Pennsylvania counties,” according to the Williams website. Four primary construction contractors are being used: Henkels & McCoy Inc., Birdsboro; Latex Construction Co. Inc., Atlanta, Georgia; Michels Corp., Brownsville, Wisconsin; and Welded Construction, Perrysburg, Ohio, with an office in Mount Joy.

Economics

According to the economic impact analysis, there’s an estimated $20.8 million in labor income and $29.5 million in total value-added impact for Schuylkill County.

“We worked with Penn State University to produce an economic impact study for the entire project,” Christopher L. Stockton, media spokesman with Williams, said. “Labor income is the amount of income that construction laborers will earn while working in that county. It exclusively relates to direct/indirect construction-related expenditures.

“We have a construction workforce of about 2,300 who are directly employed by us or our contractors. In addition to that, there are about 6,000 additional workers who are working on the project either indirectly or as subcontractors in related industries,” Stockton said.

No road closures

Stockton said no road closures are planned. During temporary single-lane closures, traffic movement will be controlled by flaggers. The single-lane closures should last less than a day at a time. Williams will work with townships and PennDOT to ensure they provide sufficient advance notice prior to planned single-lane road closures, he said.

Williams has permits in place for the following single-lane road crossings:

• PennDOT roads — Route 4022, Helfenstein Road, Eldred Township; Route 4020, Deep Creek Road, Hegins Township; Route 25, East Main Street, Hegins Township; Route 125, East Center Street, Porter Township; and Route 209, Frailey Township

• Township roads — Zion Church Road, Ranch Road, Mill Hill Road and Creek Drive, all in Eldred Township; Valley Road, East Mountain Road and Pine Drive, all in Hegins Township; Lincoln Road and Molleystown Road, both in Tremont; and Klick Drive, Oak Grove Road, Darkwoods Road and Old Forge Road, all in Pine Grove

Community grants

Several organizations in Schuylkill County have benefitted from Williams Atlantic Sunrise Community Grant programs. The funds are distributed semiannually. This fall, the three groups receiving grants were: Hegins Township Police Department, radio project, $10,000; Northern Swatara Creek Watershed Association, Upper Little Swatara Creek Habitat Improvement Project, $9,000; and North End Fire Company, updated turnout gear, $10,000.

The grant from Williams will be used to install several devices to improve fish habitat and decrease streambank erosion on Upper Little Swatara Creek, according to Robert Evanchalk, of the watershed association. “The Northern Swatara Creek Watershed Association certainly appreciates the support from Williams, and we are looking forward to implementing the latest phase of this important habitat improvement project.”

Among the first cycle of grant recipients were: Hegins Valley Fire Rescue, training room, $10,000; Mahantongo Fire Company, propane tank and garage heater, $7,500; Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association, special needs fishing dock, $8,000; and Tremont Fire Company No. 1, radio upgrade, $9,800.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

A student from Minersville Area Elementary Center made the top 25 as a finalist in the Pennsylvania Farm Show’s singing contest, “Oh Say, Can You Sing.”

Emily Hart, 11, of Minersville, and five others from Schuylkill County are vying to sing the national anthem during the daily opening of the farm show. The other performers are the Blue Mountain Middle School Show Choir, and individuals Maddie Swick, Elle Walasavage, Ella Grace Frantz and Hallie Yordy.

Fan voting is open until Nov. 10 on the farm show’s Facebook page. The top nine entrants, based on total reactions (likes, loves, wows, et cetera), will be selected to sing each morning to open the farm show.

POTTSVILLE — The Pottsville Parking Authority has not yet made a decision on what company to use for the parking app in Garfield Square.

The authority held its monthly meeting Friday where members discussed changes for parking in that area.

“We are being very diligent about who we chose and what they offer in terms of convenience,” Savas Logothetides, interim director of the Pottsville Area Development Corp., said.

Two companies, Passport and Parkmobile, are being considered for the apps.

“We want to make sure we make the right choice. This is a big step,” Logothetides said.

Pottsville Mayor James T. Muldowney, who is also authority chairman, said no final decision has been made.

City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Friday a decision could come at the next parking authority meeting in December.

The decision to replace the coin-operated meters with an app was made last month at the parking authority meeting. The decision was a result of the Garfield Square Streetscape Project, funded by a Community Development Block Grant. The $368,262 project in the area from Fourth to Sixth streets includes the removal of trees; planting of new trees; removal of six parking spaces; new sidewalks, curbs and architectural lightning; and handicapped accessibility improvements. Worked started a couple months ago.

Palamar said work on the square should be finished in the next seven to 10 days.

A delay in the project was not the fault of the general contractor, Doug Lamb Construction Inc., Elizabethtown, Lancaster County. Some of the delay was caused by work that needed to be completed by PPL, Palamar said.

Joe Orlowsky, chairman of the Pottsville Shade Tree Commission, said the new miyabei maple trees will likely be planted Nov. 14 or 15. Shade tree commission members will plant the approximate 8-foot trees, which could grow to 40 feet.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

LOCUSTDALE — Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and state police at Frackville are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man wanted for a prowling incident in Butler Township last month.

Police said the incident occurred in the village of Locustdale about 4:30 a.m. Oct. 23.

Police said a resident reported hearing a person walking in his yard and then flee when they realized the victim was outside of the home.

The victim reported that similar incidents occurred during the early morning hours twice before during the last month, both of which were reported to local police officers, police said.

During the first two incidents, police said the victim witnessed a man standing in the yard and on his deck.

The man is described as being about 6 feet tall with a thin build and he was wearing blue jeans, a hoodie and a ball cap.

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

Callers are asked to refer to case 11-05-17 when calling with information about the loitering and trespassing incident in Butler Township.

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

In addition, anyone with information can call state police at Frackville directly at 570-874-5300.

All information will remain confidential.

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

Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine A. Holman promised the people three things.

“When I ran four years ago, I had done so because I thought the career that I had under my belt would give me the experience necessary to do some good for the county,” Holman said recently in an interview with The Republican-Herald’s Editorial Board. “I had promised namely three things: I would work toward fighting blight, I would continue the war on drugs and I would focus on protecting the elderly and the young.”

Holman, 54, of Barnesville, believes she kept those promises and still has more work to do as the county’s chief prosecutor. The Republican is seeking a second four-year term as Schuylkill County’s district attorney.

Holman was the first woman to be elected district attorney in the county when she edged out incumbent Democrat Karen Byrnes-Noon by fewer than 100 votes in the 2013 election and took office January 2014. Byrnes-Noon was serving as first assistant district attorney in January 2012 when she was appointed as district attorney to replace James P. Goodman, who had been elected in November 2011 as a Schuylkill County judge.

She is being challenged by Democrat Mike O’Pake, a former assistant district attorney and current assistant public defender.

As district attorney, Holman formed the Anti-Blight Action Team and Enforcement task force consisting of state, county and local officials who meet regularly to discuss anti-blight measures and tools, and has held educational seminars for code enforcement officials. She is the first district attorney to prosecute negligent property owners on public nuisance charges. Formerly, it was a task performed by municipal authorities.

“Certainly the efforts on blight need to be publicized more, so all the municipalities in Schuylkill County start to recognize their crumbling empty houses are criminal acts,” she said. “I have had some officers file criminal complaints where the criminal charges are of public nuisance and municipal housing code avoidance. Having a criminal code violation is breaking the law. Each municipality has the right to make its own laws and citizens should respect those laws for the betterment of their community and respect for their neighbors. My efforts on fighting blight will not stop just because demolition funding became available, nor will I change my manner in fighting blight in any fashion.”

Holman said she has expanded the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force since being elected and has conducted 12 drug sweeps resulting in more than 200 arrests for heroin criminal offenses.

“One of the things that brings Schuylkill County law enforcement together is these drug raids,” Holman said. “It really generates enthusiasm and camaraderie, and it makes people in law enforcement proud to be a Schuylkill County citizen when they apprehend individuals that are breaking the law by dealing or possessing drugs.”

Holman said she has also focused on educating the public, especially children, on the dangers of opioids and addiction. She said her office has put together informational pamphlets and booklets for educators.

“I think the most important thing to prevent drug abuse of any kind is prevention and education,” Holman said.

She has also participated in seminars on drug abuse in the county and recently added another full-time detective to the drug department in her office. Drugs play a role in about 60 percent of criminal cases in the district attorney’s office, Holman said.

In January, the county established a drug treatment court offering addicts the chance to break their habits and avoid a criminal record if they complete the five-phase program, which lasts at least 14 months. Holman has used part of the $400,000 federal grant the county received earlier this year for the program to hire an assistant district attorney specifically for drug treatment court.

“The drug treatment court is certainly a necessary tool and thank God Schuylkill County has one,” Holman said. “We have had great results. Out of the 35 participants we had, only two were terminated from the program and sent to state prison.”

Holman said she is the first district attorney to highlight Schuylkill County’s Most Wanted list by partnering with The Republican-Herald in an effort to identify fugitives living in the community. She has also conducted three coroner’s inquests to further investigations of unresolved death cases to bring closure to families, and developed a series of seminars about scams for senior citizens and distributed information to every senior center in the county.

Addressing what she said is perhaps the biggest criticism of her tenure, Holman said that in fewer than 0.1 percent of charges were dropped. Meanwhile, the number of criminal cases has grown significantly since taking office.

Since 2012, Holman said her office has had a total of 12,848 cases as of August. Charges were dropped in only 829 cases, or 0.06 percent.

“My sentiment is that I would rather have law enforcement make the arrests and if we can’t move forward with the case, we will deal with it at that time,” Holman said. “But if we don’t start it, we will never know.”

Holman also cited the annual increase of criminal cases and defendants being required to show up for more court appearances as the reason there are more than 900 bench warrants in the county.

“There are more bench warrants issued, but there is also more efforts to apprehend these criminals than under any other district attorney,” Holman said. “I have put out the Most Wanted, I changed around some personnel in the office where I actually have a bench warrant secretary and an assistant district attorney where I used to have a detective process discovery. We have bench warrant hearings every day.”

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

Most people love daylight-saving time, but deep down most amateur astronomers and stargazers can live without it.

Daylight-saving time is tough on stargazers, especially folks who have to wake up at 3:30 a.m. for their job, like myself for instance! As of today, we’re back on standard time and I couldn’t be happier! I hope you all enjoyed that extra hour of sleep this weekend! It gets dark right after supper now, so you can be out enjoying the stars by 6:30 to 7 p.m.

Not only can we begin stargazing a lot earlier, we’re entering the best stargazing season of the year as far as I’m concerned. Bundle up and take in the best show in the universe right over your heads if you don’t get photo bombed by clouds! The only problem we have for most of this first full week of November is the full moon that will wash out all but the brighter stars.

Beginning later this week, you can’t help but notice that there are a lot of bright stars on the rise in the eastern Pottsville sky by about 9 p.m., and the later you stay up, the more of these wonderful winter constellations you’ll see. I call this part of the sky “Orion and his Gang.” The majestic constellation Orion the Hunter is the centerpiece. Orion is up by 10 p.m., but before then you’ll see the Pleiades, the best star cluster in the sky, which looks like a miniature Big Dipper.

Over in the western sky there are still a few summer constellations hanging in there. Cygnus the Swan, Lyra the Harp, Aquila the Eagle, Delphinus the Dolphin and a few others are slowly migrating to the west a little more each night, making their slow exit from our celestial stage.

In the high southern sky is one of the prime autumn constellations, Pegasus the Winged Horse, with Andromeda the Princess tagging along. Turn around and face north and you’ll see old friends like the Big Dipper, barely above the horizon, with the Little Dipper hanging by its handle higher in the northern sky.

Cassiopeia the Queen, the constellation that looks like a giant sideways W, is proudly showing off her stuff in the high northeast sky. The W outlines the throne of the Queen, and Cassiopeia is tied up in that throne. She really ticked off Hera, the queen of the gods, by proclaiming that she was even more beautiful than Hera’s godly self. So Hera tossed Cassiopeia up into the sky, eternally bound to her throne for all to see.

Unfortunately, we don’t have any planets that you can get a really good look at in the evening, although in the very early morning twilight look for Jupiter and Venus close to each other in the very low eastern sky. On Nov. 13, they’ll be practically kissing. I’ll have more about that next week in Starwatch along with the Leonid meteor shower peaking on Nov. 17. It’s one of the best meteor showers of the year!

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

POTTSVILLE — Two men returned to prison Friday after a Schuylkill County judge revoked their paroles and probations in separate cases.

Nicholas A. Kurchock, 32, of Middleport, could remain in prison until March 7, 2018, under the terms of Judge Jacqueline L. Russell’s order, while Jeremy M. Shafer, 23, address not known, could stay behind bars until Dec. 18, 2018.

Kurchock admitted violating his parole and probation by failing to report to his supervising officer for two months, moving without permission, failing two drug tests, using methamphetamines, not finishing alcohol highway safety school, not completing drug and alcohol counseling, and not completing his community service.

He originally pleaded guilty on June 7 to fleeing or eluding police, driving under the influence, stop sign violation, failure to obey traffic control devices, careless driving, operating vehicle without valid inspection and improper class of license in one case and DUI, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, driving under suspension and no rear lights in the other.

At the time, Russell sentenced Kurchock to serve five days to six months in prison and an additional 12 months on probation, pay costs, $1,850 in fines, $200 in payments to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $100 in payments to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, a $50 bench warrant fee and $60 restitution to Lehigh Valley Health Network, perform 100 hours community service and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Kurchock was DUI on May 17, 2016, while Pottsville police alleged he was DUI and tried to run from them on July 23, 2016.

Shafer admitted violating his parole and probation by failing to report to his supervising officer for more than a year, failing to complete counseling, committing a new crime, traveling out of state without permission, using cocaine and marijuana, and not paying his costs and fees.

“This is the third time he’s been before me on a revocation,” Russell said of Shafer. “He keeps getting out and violating. It’s just ridiculous. We’re not babysitters.”

Shafer originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 13, 2013, to 16 counts of theft from a motor vehicle and one of conspiracy. At that time, Russell placed him on probation for 23 months and also sentenced him to pay costs, a $50 CJEA payment and $707.84 restitution, and perform 340 hours community service.

McAdoo police charged him with committing his crimes on Dec. 24, 2012, in the borough.

Also, a Schuylkill Haven woman went to prison Thursday after a county judge sentenced her in connection with a February 2016 theft in Rush Township.

Amber L. Faust, 29, must serve three to 12 months in prison and undergo drug and alcohol counseling, Judge James P. Goodman ruled.

Goodman imposed the sentence after revoking Faust’s probation, which the defendant admitted violating by failing to report to her supervising officer, committing new crimes and failing two drug tests.

“It’s important that you ... get your counseling,” Goodman told Faust, who sat through Thursday’s hearing wearing a prison jumpsuit, handcuffs and a belt. “You’ve got to address your drug situation.”

Faust originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 30, 2016, to retail theft, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of receiving stolen property. Goodman accepted the plea, ordered her to spend 12 months on probation consecutive to her existing sentence and pay costs, $50 to the CJEA and $92.76 restitution, all of which she still must pay under the terms of Thursday’s sentence.

Rush Township police charged her with committing the theft on Feb. 9, 2016.

Also in the county court, Jennifer M. Velousky, 35, of Shenandoah, pleaded guilty on Monday to possession of a controlled substance, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and conspiracy.

Goodman accepted the plea, ordered Velousky to spend 12 months on probation and also sentenced her to pay costs, $100 to the SAEF, a $50 CJEA payment, a $50 bench warrant fee and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Harrisburg

The state police Bureau of Criminal Investigation charged Velousky with possessing drugs on Nov. 14, 2014, in Shenandoah.

In another county case, Goodman on Oct. 26 revoked the probation of Christopher C. Kauffman, 37, of Pine Grove, and placed him on probation for another year.

Kauffman originally pleaded guilty on Sept. 23, 2015, to materially false written statement, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of false statement under penalty. At that time, Goodman placed him on probation for two years, and also sentenced him to pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment, all of which he still must pay under the terms of the Oct. 26 sentence, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

State police at Frackville charged Kauffman with making the false statement on Feb. 16, 2014, in New Castle Township.

In other action, three men admitted Wednesday in county court that they violated protection from abuse orders.

Paul M. Kopinetz, 39, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom. Senior Judge D. Michael Stine accepted the plea and sentenced Kopinetz to time served to six months in prison, payment of costs and a $300 fine, and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.

“If you need some help, get it,” Stine told Kopinetz.

Pottsville police charged Kopinetz with violating the order against him on Oct. 11 in the city. Police said Kopinetz admitted entering the victim’s residence, from which he had been evicted, and having contact with the victim.

Also Wednesday, Michael N. Krause, 27, of Orwigsburg, pleaded guilty to indirect criminal contempt. Stine sentenced him to serve 30 days to six months in prison and pay costs and a $300 fine.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Krause with violating the order against him on Sept. 27. Krause admitted arguing with the victim during a telephone call.

“You’re allowed to have contact. You’re not allowed to let it escalate,” Stine warned Krause.

In the third Wednesday case, Aarron Vandaley, 39, of Pottsville, also pleaded guilty to indirect criminal contempt. Stine sentenced him to serve 21 days to six months in prison and pay costs and a $300 fine. He made the sentence effective at 5 p.m. Nov. 9.

“Things could get worse” if he continues to violate the order, Stine told Vandaley.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Vandaley with violating the order against him on Sept. 23-24. Vandaley admitted sending several text messages to the victim.

In a Tuesday case, Angela M. Boylan, 31, of Shenandoah, pleaded guilty to criminal trespass. Judge Charles M. Miller accepted her plea and sentenced her to serve 35 to 70 days in prison with immediate release, and to pay costs.

Pottsville police charged Boylan with trespassing on June 30, 2016, in the city.

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

2 adults, 3 children hurt in 1-car crash

JONESTOWN — Five people suffered suspected minor injuries in a one-vehicle crash about noon Thursday on Gold Mine Road in Cold Spring Township, Lebanon County.

State police at Jonestown said Marcos S. Margarito, 27, of Wiconisco, was driving a 2000 Ford Taurus south when he lost control along a curve on the wet road. The car went off the road, struck a ditch and then rolled over several times before coming to a stop down an embankment.

Police said Margarito and his passengers — Laura O’Neal, 35, of Lykens, and three children all from Wiconisco — suffered minor injuries.

Police said that, as a result of the crash, Margarito will be cited for driving at an unsafe speed.

Investigation results in 3 drug arrests

HALIFAX — Three people were charged with possession of drug paraphernalia by state police at Lykens after an investigation into an Aug. 27 incident at Sheetz, 13 S. River Road, Halifax Township, Dauphin County.

Police said they were called to the business for a warrant serving and, through an investigation, determined that Trever A. Hoffman, 18, of Elizabethville; Zyaire A. Reid, 20, of Millersburg; and, Britan X. Williams, 23, of Mount Carmel, were in possession of drug paraphernalia.

All three will now have to answer to the charges before a Dauphin County magisterial district judge.

PSP at Frackville issue monthly report

FRACKVILLE — State police at Frackville reported handling 710 incidents during the month of September.

In the criminal division, police said 55 incidents were received, 55 determined to be valid and 19 cases cleared resulting in 17 arrests.

In the patrol division, police investigated 62 crashes and six hit-and-run crashes that resulted in 15 injuries and no fatalities.

Police said they made four DUI arrests, investigated three DUI crashes, and issued 166 citations and 38 warning notices.

Deeds

North Manheim Township — William H. Moyer and Darlene M. Waters, co-executors of the Estate of Dorothea M. Moyer, to Kerry and Esther Folk; 164 Glenworth Road, Hillside; $150,000.

North Union Township — Martin and Logan Kell to Tina M. Hatt; 482 Lake Valley Drive, Eagle Rock; $165,000.

Pine Grove — Kim T. Spittler to Kim T. and Tina M. Spittler; property on Mill Street; $1.

Pottsville — George W. Clegg Jr. to Stanley Mroz; 524 and 529 Harrison St.; $21,500.

James A. Thomas to K&K Investments LLC; 520 and 522 Howard Ave.; $9,500.

Charles Daniel Paul Jr. to Barry R. and Debra Faith Skiles; 514 Schuylkill Ave.; $20,000.

Myron D. and Gretchen V. Haas to Gary D. Jr. and Lacie A. Hemerly; 1716 Elk Ave.; $213,500.

Reilly Township — Teresa E. Witman, executrix of the Estate of Lewis J. Carroll Jr., to Kory L. and Viktoria E. Morris; 35 New Hill Road, Branchdale; $29,900.

Schuylkill Haven — Michael J. Jr. and Colleen A. Margavage to James R. Felty; 206 W. Main St.; $102,000.

David J. and Kayleigh Henninger to Chris Lee Sisko; 100 Avenue E; $179,000.

West Brunswick Township — Charles E. and Keene S. Blair to Franell LLC; 1904 Village Road, Pinebrook; $93,500.

Gambling is about to get bigger.

With the stroke of a pen on Monday, Gov. Tom Wolf signed legislation that would allow gambling online, at airports and truck stops. It also expands the state lotto and allows up to 10 new satellite casino licenses to be issued to current state casinos.

This gambling expansion makes Pennsylvania the first state to allow online play for both commercial casinos and its lottery in a search of newer and younger players.

Category 1 licenses, reserved for such facilities with a horse track, and Category 2 licenses, reserved for the standalone casinos, may bid on a license, starting at $7.5 million, with a table games certificate costing an extra $2.5 million, for a new casino limited to 750 slots and 30 table games.

Any satellite facility must not be within 25 miles of another casino. Also, an municipality in the state may opt out of hosting a new satellite casino.

Online and betting

While measures to legalize online gaming have previously stalled, the new legislation will allow people to bet online and gamble from home.

Regulated online gambling will immediately produce about $100 million for the state from upfront license fees, said Chris Grove, a gambling industry analyst at California-based Eilers & Krejcik Gaming.

“Past that initial revenue, we expect that the state will generate tens of millions in annual tax revenue from online casino and poker play,” Grove said. “A precise number is difficult to pin down simply because Pennsylvania’s tax rate for regulated online gambling is virtually unprecedented.”

Based on New Jersey’s experience, Grove said the customers and revenue that casinos gain from online play will be largely new.

“New Jersey casinos have found that the audience for online play is a broadly different one and that the introduction of online play has not resulted in any decrease in revenue at their land-based casinos,” Grove said.

Under the new legislation, daily fantasy sports betting will become regulated and taxed in Pennsylvania. Fantasy sports operators must verify that players are at least 18 years old.

Casinos also can apply to offer sports betting if it becomes legal under federal law or a federal court ruling. A license would cost $10 million.

Grove said sports betting could bring significant upside to Pennsylvania casinos.

“But the commonwealth will have to wait for the federal government to clear the way, as states are currently blocked from regulating sports betting by federal law,” Grove said. “Lawmakers will also likely need to revisit the tax rate assigned to sports betting in the recently passed bill, as most agree that it makes operating a profitable sportsbook impossible.”

Truck stops, airports, lottery

The new legislation will allow people to bet at truck stops and Pennsylvania casinos can seek approval to operate gambling parlors at airports.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport will be one of eight airports eligible. Others eligible airports are: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie, Lehigh Valley, Harrisburg, Arnold Palmer Regional Airport in Latrobe, and University Park Airport in State College.

Carl Beardsley, executive director of Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, said while the airport is included in the legislation, that doesn’t guarantee that it will have gambling machines.

“We would need to look at the details for providing that type of service and decide whether or not we want to move forward,” Beardsley said. “It’s certainly an interesting initiative.”

Under the new legislation, qualifying truck stops can operate up to five video game terminals if they meet certain criteria.

The truck stops must be equipped with diesel islands for fueling commercial vehicles, have sold 50,000 gallons of diesel in prior year, have at least 20 parking spaces dedicated for commercial vehicles, have a convenience store, be on a parcel of land that is at least 3 acres and not be on a property owned by the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Lawmakers said Pennsylvania Lottery expansion to online play and keno is an important piece of the legislation.

The lottery can now offer keno and feature online games, including its existing games, instant tickets and raffle games. The proceeds go into the Lottery Fund to help pay for programs for senior citizens.

Keno is played by wagering on numbers ranging usually from 1 to 80. After 20 numbers are drawn randomly, winnings are based on how many numbers were predicted correctly.

Casino gambling brings in about $1.4 billion a year in tax revenue, the most in the country, and the casino industry here is second only to Nevada, according to The Associated Press.

State Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116, Butler Township, said it took several years to come up with a compromise on gaming expansion that would pass in the General Assembly.

She said the new law is “far from perfect, but it generates some badly needed recurring revenue for the state budget — an estimated $200 million this fiscal year and up to $100 million next fiscal year.”

Contact the writer: dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2115

ASHLAND — A geotechnical review of the seep and scarp problems at the Ashland Area Municipal Authority reservoir has not been scheduled by the state Department of Environmental Protection and may be some time before it happens.

The AAMA board received an update at Monday’s meeting by Alfred Benesch & Co. project manager Jacqueline A. Peleschak, noting that there have no changes in the leakage on the reservoir breast since it was identified in March 2016.

According to the printed engineering report prepared by Benesch project manager Jennifer M. Kowalonek, the monthly monitoring of the dam embankment continues and that Benesch has requested a site meeting with DEP to discuss the situation.

“DEP will be back in touch when they have a plan in place for geotechnical reviews,” Kowalonek wrote. “In the meantime, DEP has requested that the authority continue to keep the monitoring schedule and report immediately if there are any changes.”

AAMA board member William G. Kripplebauer Jr. asked about the monitoring.

“I’m reading this that we must continue to monitor until we have a geotechnical review and that could go on for five years,” Kripplebauer asked.

“I remember years ago that they needed a hydrogeologist and it was three years until they got one,” Peleschak said.

“Is it costing us money to monitor?” solicitor S. John Price asked.

“It costs you for us to go monitor it,” Peleschak said.

During the reservoir project to raise the dam breast by 5 feet to improve safety during heavy storms by controlling overflow through the concrete spillway rather than over the breast, a seepage was discovered. After investigation, the engineering consensus is that the water is not seeping through the reservoir itself, but most likely due to a perched water table.

A perched water table is where groundwater accumulates above the normal water table due to natural material that does not allow water to saturate and prevents it from entering the normal water table. When a perched water table occurs near a slope, such as the reservoir breast, a seep can form.

The seep began being monitored after its discovery on a week basis, but in October 2016, DEP allowed the monitoring to be reduced to a monthly basis since the seep amount remained consistent.

The board took no action on the matter and will wait for DEP to schedule a meeting.

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

NYU

Thomas Twardzik Jr. graduated cum laude from New York University’s College of Arts and Science, New York City, with a bachelor’s degree in English and a concentration in creative writing. He was presented the school’s Founders Day Award for consistent evidence of outstanding scholarship.

Thomas is a 2013 graduate of Shenandoah Valley High School and a son of Tom and Pam Twardzik.

At school, Elijah Stroud, 9, is a computer-savvy fifth-grader at Dana Street Elementary Center, Forty Fort.

After school, he’s GoldenNinja50, an expert Minecraft player, YouTuber and published author.

“I have a YouTube channel and I have a lot of subscribers on it,” Elijah said. “I do live streams and videos and people come on and watch me.”

Elijah records his adventures in Minecraft, a video game that encourages players to mine for and build structures with textured cubes.

He’s been playing for about five years, ever since a friend introduced him to the game.

“I went to my friend’s birthday party and he had the game on Xbox,” he said. “I thought it was really cool-looking.”

Since he started playing, Elijah has written and published two books about his Minecraft adventures. His first book, “The Story of My Minecraft Life,” hit number one on Amazon.com and allowed him to host a book signing at Barnes & Noble in Wilkes-Barre.

“It’s about me and my friend Jake, we were in this survival world on Xbox and I just wrote about what we did,” Elijah said.

He published the first book in 2015 and a second, “The Last Day of Minecraft,” in 2016.

“The second one is about me and my friend saving the world from this fictional character that a lot of Minecraft players know,” he said.

Elijah said he just wrote the first book for fun — when he decided to try publishing it, he never expected to end up signing copies at a bookstore.

“I was pretty happy with that,” he said. “I thought it was awesome.”

Elijah and his dad, Chris Stroud, used the money he earned from his books to gather equipment to make YouTube videos.

Elijah’s channel, named after his character GoldenNinja50, recently surpassed 8,000 subscribers and 300,000 total views on his videos.

He has a gaming room in his father’s Kingston home with three monitors, a gaming keyboard, cameras, microphones and lighting for his videos.

Elijah said playing Minecraft has helped him learn coding and even gives him a chance to implement what he learns in his favorite school subject, math.

He’s most proud of two things in the game — a monster-filled “asylum” he and his friends built, and a server he started a year ago where players can gather to play survival and other games together.

He’s also been invited to Minefaire, a Minecraft convention, four times. He attended this year’s convention in Philadelphia to give a presentation as a YouTuber and player.

“You meet some of your fans there,” he said. “I signed autographs and they took pictures with me.”

Elijah’s only 9 years old, but Minecraft has given him a pretty good idea what he might want to do when he grows up — aside from becoming an even bigger YouTuber.

“One day I’d like to be a computer programmer,” he said.

Contact the writer: sscinto@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2048

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Art lovers had a chance to meet the creators behind some of their favorite pieces Saturday during an open house and Keystone Fine Art Juried Exhibition at the Walk In Art Center.

Lorraine Felker, studio artist of the month, and Rob Mull, associate artist of the month, spoke with visitors, sharing some of the techniques they use during their creative process.

“People ask, ‘Did you make that?’ They ask about the kinds of materials I use and the time involved,” Felker, a fiber artist from Tamaqua, said. She said she works on several projects simultaneously, from basket weaving, to weaving on a loom, to cloth knitting.

“I always have something on the loom. The baskets are more time consuming. Some of them can take a good eight hours to finish,” she said.

Felker announced she’s the recipient of two grants. The first is a Folk Art Apprenticeship Grant from the state. The year-long grant will enable her to work with a master artist in northern Pennsylvania, learning more weaving techniques with willow and how to grow the plant. Some willow baskets Felker has already created were on display at her 311 studio at the center.

The second grant, a Pennsylvania Artist Grant, will enable Felker to teach a class at the center on fibers. She’ll be leading the class with her sister, Anne Felker, Bethlehem, joining her. “We’ll teach people how fiber yarns are constructed and how to pick the right yarn for their project,” she said. She anticipates the class may be a two-day workshop and the fee charged to students will cover their yarns and needles needed for a finished product.

She spoke of the atmosphere at the center and the camaraderie among the artist community.

“It’s phenomenal. The things I’m doing now, I never would have done if not in this setting,” Felker said.

Mull, who formerly operated from a studio at the center, agreed.

“I came here to get inspiration,” Mull, a three-dimensional artist from New Ringgold, said. “It’s a great experience and is a highlight for everyone in here.”

Mull works in graphic design, illustration and photography.

He uses a photo montage technique, combining elements of digital photography to “come up with a result that looks unique when blended together,” he said.

Guests could also see entries and winning selections in the exhibition on the third-floor main gallery. The exhibition of two-dimensional art in six categories runs until Nov. 18. Jurors for the exhibition were Cheryl Hochberg, chairwoman of fine arts, Kutztown University, and Brian Cunfer, interim director of the PA Guild of Craftsmen.

Felker’s daughter, artist Lori Remmel, Tamaqua, was one of the winners in the juried exhibition. Remmel has a studio next door to her mother’s at the center. Remmel garnered second place in the mixed media/collage/fiber/screen printing category with her piece, “Humanize Robot Selfie.”

Several members of Felker’s family came to the open house Saturday to show their support, including Kay Carroll, Jim Thorpe, Remmel’s aunt.

“Everything’s just beautiful. You get to see different techniques. I really enjoyed it, especially having two family members involved,” Carroll said.

Martha Heller, Brooklyn, New York, was visiting Barb Mull, Rob’s wife, and decided to attend the show.

“The Walk In Art Center is always a fun place to come on a Saturday,” Heller said.

Felker’s website is www.lorrainehandmade.com and Mull’s website is www.robmull.com.

Check with the center at www.walkinartcenter.org for more information about the exhibition, a complete list of winners and upcoming programs.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

DREHERSVILLE — Avery Wallace’s imagination took flight when she heard the calls of a golden eagle at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary’s amphitheater Saturday.

“I was making that noise,” Wallace, 6, of Minersville, said of her mimic.

She and her mother, Megan Wallace, joined 420 people who filled the amphitheater for a special program called Eagle Day, presented by Susan Gallagher, chief naturalist, and Franklin Klock, naturalist program assistant, with Carbon County Environmental Education Center.

All eyes were focused on the two stars of the show, a golden and a bald eagle, who were both 17 years old and rehabilitated at the Carbon site.

The raptors were brought out individually as Gallagher and Klock explained the characteristics of each and answered questions. The crowd offered “oohs” and “ahhs” as the birds stretched their wings and fluttered their tails.

Gallagher said the golden eagle has the trademark white patch on the back of the tail and white areas on the wings. The golden eagle was large for her size, weighing in at 10.5 pounds, with a 6-foot wing span. The female goldens are traditionally larger than the males, but this particular bird was large for her breed. She had been shot in her wing and was probably hit in flight, Gallagher said.

“Although she’s been with us for 16 years, we’d much rather see her in the wild,” she said.

The bird’s wing had not mended well enough for her to be released, so she had to remain at the center. Eagles can live to be 30 years old in the wild, she said.

Klock said the golden had 1,000 PSI of pressure in her talons. While the golden eagle vocalized nearly the entire time she was before the crowd, the bald eagle, conversely, was quiet, except for the occasional flap of her wings.

Klock explained these two eagles appear to have opposite personalities with the bald eagle being vocal at the center, but once she’s taken out in public, she quiets down. The golden is quiet at her home base, but consistently vocalizes the moment she’s out, he said.

The bald eagle had an injury to her eye and had to undergo six months of rehabilitation. She can see out of her eye, but not very well. The naturalists believe the bald eagle had some brain stunting as well, which kept her brain level at the age of about a 1-year old. Because of that brain trauma, the bird bonded with Klock, one of her caregivers.

“When I come in, she’ll open her mouth and honk at me. That behavior has never gone away and she’s an adult,” Klock said, explaining that’s usually behavior seen in baby birds seeking a feeding from a parent.

Pennsylvania now has about 300 nesting pairs of bald eagles, according to Gallagher.

Most visitors said they had never seen a golden eagle before.

“I thought the size of the golden eagle was impressive and it was interesting to see how strong they were,” Megan Wallace said, noting the family enjoys hiking at Hawk Mountain and her daughter had also attended the Vulture Day offered there.

Justin and Christina Kline, Coopersburg, brought their two children, Lincoln, 4, and Fiona, 2, to the program.

“Lincoln loves eagles,” his mother said.

“He knows a lot about eagles from watching educational shows, but never got to see one until now,” his dad added.

John and Natalie Buchhalter, Birdsboro, also thought the program would be a good experience for their four children — Audrey, 9, Lydia, 7, Ian, 6, and Laurel, 4 — who are home schooled. John and Ian had hiked the Appalachian Trail the day before.

“We got a membership and we’ll come back,” Natalie Buchhalter said of the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary.

Their children took turns examining the raptor wings, skull models and talons on display.

Noah Shulman, a first-year student at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, attended with 25 others. Rachel Spagnola, Hawk Mountain senior educator, had arranged for the university students to conduct some wildlife care programs with raptors in captivity.

“You get to see birds you don’t see often,” Shulman, Pittsburgh, said.

Although his focus is on large animal care, Shulman said he enjoyed the visit.

“It’s cool to see the diversity of what you can do in veterinary medicine. We have an exotics and wildlife specialist who’s pioneered procedures. It’s interesting. I’d drive 10 hours for a chance to see them. It’s unbelievable and it’s great to be outside,” he said.

Gallagher encouraged the audience to spread the word about using nontoxic/no lead sporting equipment, and conserving energy and water — all of which can have an impact on raptors’ health.

“It’s emotional to see this many people across so many generations care about wildlife,” Gallagher said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Venue changed

The Chinese auction to benefit Tina Diehl from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. today has changed location from Pine View Acres to Mount Carbon Fire Company, 120 Main St., Pottsville.

The venue is incorrect in today’s calendar.

When Michael A. O’Pake left the district attorney’s office to be an assistant public defender, he knew that he wanted to be Schuylkill County’s chief prosecutor.

“When attorney (Christine A.) Holman took over, she asked me to stay as an assistant district attorney and I chose not to,” O’Pake said recently in an interview with The Republican-Herald’s Editorial Board. “I knew I would be running against her and that would not be a good fit.”

O’Pake, a former assistant district attorney and current assistant public defender, is challenging incumbent Republican District Attorney Christine A. Holman, who is seeking her second four-year term. O’Pake, 54, of Norwegian Township, served 22 years as an assistant district attorney until becoming a public defender in 2014.

“In 22 years of prosecuting criminal cases, I believe I have gained the trust, confidence and respect of local and state law officials,” O’Pake said. “I have portrayed throughout my campaign that this is not an election of Democrat versus Republican, male versus female, or experience versus inexperience. Quite frankly, it is about the safety of the citizens of Schuylkill County. I am taking on this role of running for district attorney because I want to make Schuylkill County safe again.”

O’Pake criticized the current district attorney for what he called a low conviction rate and a large number of bench warrants out in the county. He said that of the 17 cases tried by the district attorney, she obtained a guilty verdict on only five, or 29 percent.

“Right now, there are about 1,000 bench warrants,” O’Pake said. “Historically, if there were 200, it was a lot. The reason there are that many outstanding is because sufficient personnel has not been designated by the district attorney.”

The office traditionally had personnel designated to search for these criminals, O’Pake said, but currently does not. He said he would designate someone to get bench warrants and establish a hotline for people to help find them.

“Right now, there are 1,000 people out there who have committed crimes and who have not been brought to justice,” O’Pake said. “In addition to that, there are over 600 cases that have been dismissed by the district attorney’s office. Many of those have been dismissed because the district attorney’s office had not brought the case to trial in time.”

O’Pake also said the office is not properly managing its case load. He said there were more than 850 cases on the most recent pretrial list as opposed to about 200 historically. He also cited the case in 2015 when a county judge ruled the district attorney misled the court.

“I believe that right now, the district attorney is allowing the criminal justice system to control her instead of she controlling it and the prison is the perfect example of it,” O’Pake said.

He said that the office should be checking if inmates qualify for time served and finish cases where the criminal is looking at a state prison sentence.

“Because of the overcrowding at the prison and what it is costing the county, it is necessary that it be done now and I think I can help alleviate the problem at the prison,” O’Pake said.

O’Pake also believes that the office should not be spending its time fighting blight in the county.

“I don’t think the district attorney should be concerned about blight,” O’Pake said. “Blight is an issue for local code enforcement officers. The district attorney is the chief prosecutor for the county, not the chief code enforcement officer. That is a local issue that needs to be handled locally.”

The district attorney’s office was able to bring a negligent property owner to court on public nuisance charges. However, O’Pake said those charges are flawed.

“The public nuisance has to affect someone other than the adjacent property owner,” O’Pake said. “Blight mainly affects adjacent property owners and that is not enough to prove public nuisance, it has to affect the general public. I don’t think it is appropriate for the district attorney’s office to be focusing on that. Blight is an issue that is not better today than it was four years ago. The only thing that is going to help blight is money.”

O’Pake said his plan to fight the drug epidemic in the county has three components. The first is education.

“I think the number one thing you have to do is educate the youth in Schuylkill County,” he said. “I pledge to go into every elementary school, middle school and high school to talk about drugs. If you wait until high school, it is too late. I want to teach kids what drugs can do to them, not only physically, but how it is going to affect their relationships with their peers, with their families and their families’ relationships with other families.”

The second component is rehabilitation, which is currently being offered through the county’s drug treatment court. O’Pake said that, thanks to the efforts of county court and the adult probation department, addicts are being offered the chance to break their habits and avoid a criminal record if they complete the five-phase program, which lasts at least 14 months.

“I was a little leery of drug court when it first started,” O’Pake said. “I thought defendants would take advantage of it. However, I got to sit in on it on a number of occasions and I saw how Judge (James P.) Goodman administers the program. I saw how the defendants react to him and their requirements. I believe that the drug court is working in Schuylkill and will continue to work, but it is only for people who are going to help themselves.”

The final aspect of his plan involves incarceration.

“There are two things I would change about the use of confidential informants,” he said. “One is we will not be using the same confidential informant over and over again ... Number two, if a drug dealer thinks they are going to inform on someone else on the same level dealer they are and get away with it, they are not going to get a deal. The only way you can make Schuylkill County safer is by making sure you go up the food chain.”

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

Frackville

A free open house at the Frackville Museum, located in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, 42 S. Center St., is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 12. Donald Bricker will speak at 2 p.m. for Veterans Day. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-874-3531.

Mahanoy City

First United Methodist Church, 410 E. Mahanoy Ave., will have a pork-and-sauerkraut dinner fundraiser beginning at 3 p.m. Tuesday for Alexis Jones’ medical fund. She is the daughter of Bill and Janet Harper Jones. The cost is $9, which includes dessert and beverage. People may eat in or take meals out. Contact the church for more information.

Pine Grove

Outwood Lutheran Church, 174 Old Forge Road, will have a potato filling and pumpkin roll sale from 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 20 at the church hall. Filling is $6 per quart and $3 per pint and pumpkin rolls are $8 each. The order deadline is Nov. 15. To order or for more information, call 570-345-3106 or 570-345-2739.

Pottsville

Providence Place of Pottsville will have a Veterans Day service beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday followed by a brunch at the Pottsville campus, 2200 First Ave. People wishing to attend should call 570-628-6950.

Ringtown

The 2018 Ringtown Valley Community Fund drive that began Sept. 1 is continuing through Dec. 31. A mailing has been sent to all households in the Ringtown and Zion Grove zip code areas, according to a release, which adds that contributions to the annual drive support 10 nonprofit organizations that serve the Ringtown area, including Avenues, the American Red Cross, Schuylkill County Society for Crippled Children and Ringtown Area Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Library, Recreation Complex, Food Pantry, Senior Citizens and Pastors’ Association. The Ringtown Ambulance has merged with Shenandoah and Lost Creek ambulances and the new group will conduct its own fund drive. The community fund board “thanks area residents for their continued support for the annual fund drive, which has benefited countless area residents of all ages since 1955.” Organizers in the release reminded residents that contributions should be made on or before Dec. 31. Checks can be made payable to “Ringtown Valley Community Fund” and mailed to: P.O. Box 204, Ringtown, PA 17967. Additional mailers are available at the Ringtown Area Library and the Ringtown Post Office. There will be no second mailing.

Saint Clair

The annual Welsh cake sale will be held at the Saint Clair Lions Club, McCord Avenue, beginning at 11:30 a.m. Nov. 15. The cost is $8 per dozen. Cakes will be available with or without raisins. Pickups will be 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 15 and 9 a.m. to noon Nov. 16. To order or for more information, call 570-429-0549 or 570-429-9939.

Saint Clair

The Saint Clair Lions Club will have a pork-and-sauerkraut dinner beginning at 11 a.m. Tuesday at its McCord Avenue hall. The cost is $8.50 per meal; patrons may eat at the hall or take meals out. Local delivery will be available. For more information, call 570-429-9939 or 570-429-0549.

Schuylkill Haven

The Schuylkill Haven American Legion Auxiliary will have a free Veterans Day dinner beginning at noon Nov. 12 at the post home, Parkway. The meal is for all county veterans and one guest each. For more information, call 570-385-0601.

Tamaqua

The New England Fire Company, 7 Miller Lane, is having a Thanksgiving pie sale. The 11-inch pies include pumpkin, $10; apple, $14; and pecan, $18. Orders are due by Friday with pickups on Nov. 22. For more information, call 570-277-6606. The company will also have burger night beginning at 5 p.m. Nov. 22. The menu also includes chicken fingers and fries and patrons may eat in or take food out. For more information, call 570-527-2051.

While the public eye and ear have been assaulted in recent days by advertisements regarding the races for district attorney, the Schuylkill County voter must consider other offices and a constitutional amendment in Tuesday’s General Election.

Potential judges, mayors, councilmen, township supervisors and school board members are vying for office, along with judges and inspectors of elections, township auditors and tax collectors.

In many races, candidates are unopposed, and in some places no one is running for an open office. However, there are many write-in campaigns that have potential to produce surprises.

The only county row offices up for re-election are for district attorney and sheriff.

While incumbent District Attorney Christine Holman, a Republican, is defending her record against Democratic challenger Michael A. O’Pake, Schuylkill County Sheriff Groody runs unopposed on both party’s tickets.

Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas President Judge William E. Baldwin and Judge Jacqueline L. Russell are up for a retention vote in which the registered voters may only decide whether to keep the judge. There are no opponents in a judicial retention race; however, if the public votes to not retain a judge, there will be a race for a new judge.

The same principle applies in the state Supreme Court and courts of appeals. Two judges on the Supreme Court, Thomas G. Saylor, and Debra Todd, and Superior Court Judge Jacqueline O. Shogan are up for retention.

Meanwhile, due to several vacancies, Republican and Democratic candidates are seeking election to one seat on the Supreme Court, four on the Superior Court and two on the Commonwealth Court, which hears appeals involving government agencies, election cases and other matters.

Across Schuylkill County, four magisterial district judges, Christina A. Hale, James R. Ferrier, Stephen J. Bayer and James K. Reiley, are running unopposed for re-election. There are no retention votes for district judges who can face opposition at the end of their six-year terms. All four district judges up for re-election this year are on both Democratic and Republican ballots.

The City of Pottsville’s mayor, James T. Muldowney, a Democrat, is running for re-election unopposed, as Republicans have not fielded a candidate. Likewise, two Democratic councilmen are up for re-election without any GOP opponents.

Unlike Pottsville, the boroughs of Ashland, Frackville, Mahanoy City, McAdoo and Minersville have contested mayoral races, with Republicans and Democrats appearing on the ballot. No one is running for mayor in Gordon.

In a Pennsylvania borough, a mayor does not serve as president of the council and only votes to break a tie, unlike a third-class city, where the mayor is president of the council with a vote. All mayors have supervisory authority over the police department, leaving the day-to-day operations to the police chief.

There are more candidates than open seats on the borough councils in Ashland, Coaldale, Cressona, Frackvile, Girardville, Mahanoy City, McAdoo, Middleport, Minersville, Palo Alto, Pine Grove, Port Carbon, Schuylkill Haven and Tremont. All seats are for four years; however, a vacancy turns a four-year seat into a two-year seat for a time because anyone appointed by the council to fill the vacancy must run for election in the next municipal election.

There are also contested races for township supervisor seats in Branch, Cass, East Union, Norwegian and West Penn townships. All supervisors serve six-year terms. Rush and Hegins townships each have an empty slot on the ballot for supervisor.

Often, there are not contested races for school board director in Pennsylvania as it has become customary for candidates to cross file and fight it out in the primary race, resulting in a slate of candidates nominated by both parties for the General Election.

There are still some contested races, and this year, voters in Mahanoy Area, Tri-Valley and Hazleton Area, part of which lies in Schuylkill County, will have to make decisions. There are also empty spots on the ballot for Shenandoah Valley school board.

On Tuesday, there will also be a little army of officials who manage the election itself, judges and inspectors, seeking office, as well as tax collectors and township auditors.

Voters will also decide if they want to change the state constitution. If approved, the amendment will grant the state General Assembly the power to make laws allowing local taxing bodies to increase the homestead exclusion to 100 percent of a homestead property’s assessed value. It does not immediately enact such an increase, which needs the General Assembly action, nor does it allow local taxing authority to raise its real estate taxes on all properties to compensate.

The polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Preliminary results, including those from absentee ballots, all unofficial until certified by the county board of elections a few days later, will be available Tuesday night. Write-in candidacies, which could change preliminary results, will not be available Tuesday.