POTTSVILLE — Earlier this year, John R. “Jack” Mansell, 88, of Pottsville, wrote a one-act play about German soldiers in the trenches during the Somme offensive of World War I.

On Saturday, local actors will bring the characters to life at the Majestic Theater in Pottsville. Called “Anton & Siegfried,” it will be performed at 3 and 6 p.m. It’s free and open to the public.

“It takes place in a German machine gun bunker in 1916, before the United States entered the war,” Steve Durkin, Pottsville, president of the Majestic Theater Association, said. “Two experienced soldiers and a young draftee deal with the loss of friends, artillery barrages, and the job of killing ranks of inexperienced British soldiers with the Maxim machine gun they operate.”

Durkin will portray Sgt. Anton Hoffer.

Nathan Kraft and Nate Heater will take on roles of others in the machine gun crew. The play is directed by Emily R. Ehlinger, Pottsville.

“There will be sound effects including artillery barrages and gunfire that may be intense at times. The whole thing takes less than an hour and in honor of our veterans it is free,” Durkin said.

Mansell

Born in Saint Clair in 1929, he is a son of the late Albert James Mansell and Lucy Foster Mansell.

He graduated from Saint Clair High School in 1946 and earned a bachelor’s degree in economics at the College of Wooster, Ohio, in 1951.

He served four years in the Navy, from 1951 to 1955.

“I figured I’d either be drafted or I could join the Navy. There was a draft at that time,” he said.

He served three years aboard the USS Kyne (DE-744) as a communications and operations manager.

“I was what they called a plank owner. In the Navy, if you’re on a ship more than two years you’re a plank owner,” Mansell said.

“And you really get to call it your ship,” Durkin said.

“They don’t like plank owners because they think they own the ship,” Mansell said.

Places he traveled while aboard include Dominican Republic; Guantanamo Bay, Cuba; Lisbon, Portugal; and Bayonne, France.

While aboard, he enjoyed oil painting from the deck. He has some of his paintings in a collection of items he kept from that period.

When discharged, he was a junior commissioned officer, “lieutenant junior grade.”

He and his family operated Mansell’s Wallpaper and Paint Store at 206 N. Centre St., Pottsville, for 42 years before closing in 2000. His family includes his daughter, Jane, Boiling Springs, Cumberland County.

Somme

Mansell’s play focuses on the Battle of the Somme.

“I read history. When I was a kid, there weren’t veterans of World War II. There were veterans of World War I. And they would come home and some would tell their stories. And they scared the hell out of me. So I decided to read more about World War I. And what impressed me with the Somme River of all the battles were the casualties there,” Mansell said.

On July 1, 1916, before the U.S. entered the war, British and French forces at the Somme launched an offensive against heavily fortified German defenses. The British suffered 57,740 casualties that day — the worst in the history of the British Army, according to the program.

The British 8th Division lost more than 5,000 men that day marching across No Man’s Land. The German 180th Regiment suffered only 280 casualties, according to the program for the play.

By the time the battle officially ended in November 1916, the British and French had suffered nearly a million casualties. The Germans suffered more than 700,000. It was a costly victory for the British and French, who gained about six miles of ground.

“The British kept charging German machine-gun nests and were mowed down. And the next day or two, they’d make another charge and they got mowed down. And I was curious about the Germans who were shooting them down,” Mansell said.

So he wrote the 19-page play about German soldiers in an underground bunker.

“The play takes place in a 30-foot-deep German bunker located at the Somme River Valley in the summer of 1916. Bunker Six is occupied by three soldiers who operate a 1908 Maxim Machine Gun,” Mansell wrote at the play’s start. “Anton Hoffer, the senior non-commissioned officer present, and a strict disciplinarian, was the leader of the machine gun crew. He tries to train and prepare his unprofessional, undisciplined team for effectiveness and safety on the parapet or ‘wall’ as it was called. As might be expected in wartime, some unpredictable events lead to some humorous and some tragic events.”

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

PINE GROVE — Six people and a dog were displaced after an early afternoon fire damaged a home Wednesday in Pine Grove Township.

The Pine Grove Fire Department received a call at 1:49 p.m. for a house fire at 530 Suedberg Road, Pine Grove Township Fire Chief Greg Pijar said. Upon arrival to the two-story home, Pijar said, there was heavy fire at the back of the first floor. He said there was “extensive damage” to the home, which was being rented. The online Schuylkill Parcel Locator lists the owners as Donald and Rosina Wenrich.

No one was injured, Pijar said.

Pijar said the home appears to be a “near total loss.” The fire does not appear to be suspicious, he said, adding he will go out today with an insurance representative to examine the building. Pijar said a cause for the fire is unknown, but it started in the back of the first floor.

Because of additions to the home, firefighters took about two hours to contain the fire because there were additional places for the fire to get oxygen to feed it, Pijar said.

Patty Daley, disaster captain of the Tri-County Chapter of the American Red Cross, said food, clothing and shelter were provided to the six people affected by the fire. Daley identified them as Nicole Ditzler, 38; her husband, James Ditzler, 41; their daughter, Paige Ditzler, 8; and Nicole’s children, Earl Pyles, 18, Isaac Pyles, 17, and Dominic Varvel, 15.

Daley said Earl Pyles was the only person home at time. Pyles took the dog outside and when they returned, the house was on fire. Daley said Pyles credits the dog with saving his life.

Responding to the fire were the Pine Grove Fire Department as well as fire companies from Pine Grove borough, Donaldson, Muir, Joliett, Minersville, Mount Aetna, Berks County, and Lickdale Fire Company, Lebanon County.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

We’re deep in the fall holiday season and although our paces will get fast and hectic, there’s always time to “stop and smell the roses,” as Ferdinand the Bull would say. Our roses may be covered in frost, but there are other ways to enjoy the season.

Fall and soup go hand in hand. Downtown Shenandoah Inc. can make your life a little easier with meals during their monthly soup sale that takes place today and the second Thursday of each month through March. Available from 10 a.m. to sellout, a variety of soups sell for $6 per quart and $3 per pint. Order in advance to ensure you get your favorite by calling 570-462-2060.

Take some time for yourself and dust off those dancing shoes. A Change of Seasons Oldies Dance will be held at Sweet Arrow Lake at 7 p.m. Friday. Celebrate with an evening of fun and dancing to the oldies with music by The Legends. Advance tickets are available by calling Susan at 570-624-3018 or get one at the door. Ticket includes refreshments.

Remember the past at the Majestic Theater when “Anton and Seigfried: A One Act Play” is presented at 6 p.m. Saturday. In recognition of veterans, the play takes place in Somme, France, in the summer of 1916. Admission is free.

Mark your calendars and recharge your batteries. Schuylkill on the Move invites you to join them for a moderate 4-mile Crystal Waterfalls Cascade walk at 1 p.m. Nov. 19. Meet “Porcupine Pat” at the Schuylkill County AG Center on the Gordon Nagle Trail for a carpool to the start location for this wonderful and regenerating water experience. For more information, email porcupinepat@yahoo.com.

Get creative and make beautiful, Tiffany-inspired, cloissone-style glass ornaments at the Walk In Art Center at 2 p.m. Nov. 18. Design three works of art using glass ornaments and alcohol ink. Bring your inner artist and family members ages 12 and older to make ornaments you’ll treasure for years. All materials are included in the $25 class fee. Ticket information can be found at www.walkinartcenter.org.

Saturday is Veterans Day. We’d like to thank the brave men and women who served to keep us safe. You are true heroes.

Art center holiday

volunteers

Responsibility: Help art center with a variety of festive tasks for events and shows during the December holiday season. Volunteers needed for carpentry and set building, ticket taking, refreshments, set up and clean up, classes, concerts, housekeeping, technical assistance with lighting and sound, stage design, costumes, flier design and more.

Times: Flexible, choose availability.

Skills: Friendly and reliable, skilled knowledge in technical tasks.

Location: Tamaqua Community Arts Center

Call: Art center at 570-668-1192.

Historical society

volunteers

Responsibility: Help with a variety of tasks including filing and data entry, light cleaning, assisting patrons with research, scanning photos for electronic storage, gift shop help and more.

Time: Flexible, choose availability.

Skills: For volunteers age 55 and above. Reliable and friendly.

Location: Schuylkill County Historical Society

Call: Darla, RSVP of Schuylkill County, 570-622-3103.

Community Volunteers in Action is the volunteer center for Schuylkill County. Use the preceding contact information for those specific opportunities and search other listings on our website at www.schuylkill.us/cvia. Find us on Facebook. Call us at 570-628-1426 or email jjohnston@co.schuylkill.pa.us.

POTTSVILLE — Led by the county commissioners, the Schuylkill County Retirement Board said Thursday that it would consider giving retired employees a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, in 2018 to increase their benefits.

With approximately 35 retirees attending the meeting, Commissioner Gary J. Hess expressed his support for the proposed increase, while Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. and Commissioner Frank J. Staudenmeier were more cautious, although they did not rule out such a hike.

“It’s the right thing to do,” Hess said. “The fund is very healthy.”

Hess, a Democrat, said he would make a motion for the COLA at the board’s Dec. 13 meeting, and Halcovage and Staudenmeier, who form the Republican majority on the board of commissioners, promised to study the matter and consider it at the meeting. Controller Christy Joy and Treasurer Linda L. Marchalk, both Republicans, are the other retirement board members; neither was present Thursday, although their deputies were.

Staudenmeier said that while the retirees deserve an increase, the matter does not rest with them.

“Our choices are made on behalf of 148,000 people in Schuylkill County,” he said. “We need to look at those budget numbers.”

Halcovage expressed concerns about the cost of health care, saying that will affect the county’s fiscal condition.

“It’s something we do look at,” he said. “We’re looking at the long-term solvency.”

Joan Deitrich, president of the Schuylkill County Retirees Association, read a prepared statement to the board, in which she emphasized that they last approved a COLA in 2007. She said the time is right to approve one, since it would be a vote for only a one-time increase.

“Last year, the retirement fund paid out $387,199.12 in administration fees to the fund’s managers, while the increase for all the retirees would have cost a total of $182,000 over a 10-year span,” she said in the statement.

Deitrich also said the board’s concern about health care costs is a red herring, noting that those benefits are part of a separate contract.

“The retirement fund is solvent and has the capacity to grant much-needed adjustments to our monthly benefits without the adjustments being excessive and jeopardizing the solvency of the fund,” she said.

Deputy Controller Ron Zimmerman said the total market value of the fund as of Thursday was $137,052,571.05.

Deitrich said the retirees have been more than reasonable and deserve the increase. She said the board had indicated that the enactment of House Bill 239, which enabled counties to grant one-time COLAs, would make it easier to approve an increase, yet none was granted even after that bill became law on Nov. 24, 2015.

“We believe that by now our requests should have been looked into,” Deitrich said as those attending the meeting applauded.

Hess said the time for talk will be over next month.

“I think these folks ... deserve to (have it put) on the floor,” he said. “They deserve an answer, yes or no.”

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

FRACKVILLE — The Frackville Economic Development Task Force is asking holiday shoppers to “Shop Small With Us” to support local businesses.

During Wednesday’s meeting of Frackville Borough Council, Councilwoman Helen M. Miernicki, chairwoman of the council’s Economic Development Committee, spoke about the promotion to support local businesses.

“Nov. 25 is Promote Small Business Saturday, and we have a lot of fliers that we would like to use to ask the local businesses about the promotion,” Miernicki said. “We’re going to attend the FBPA (Frackville Business and Professional Association) meeting tomorrow to ask about a partnership with this event.”

The national promotion called “Shop Small” is sponsored by American Express and supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The event on the Saturday after Thanksgiving Day was first observed in the U.S. on Nov. 27, 2010.

As explained on the American Express website, “Shop Small is about more than just shopping at small businesses. It’s a cause that helps to support local economies and promote vibrant, diverse communities. It’s also a nationwide movement fueled by shoppers, business owners and organizers who come together and celebrate the community.”

Miernicki said Frackville will expand the idea to “Small Business Weekend.”

“The only difference is it will be ‘Small Business Weekend’ because on Nov. 26, Ernie’s Photography will have Santa visit where children will be able to have photos taken for free with Santa,” she said. “That’s why were doing the 25th and the 26th. This is what we’re looking to do to help shop small on Nov. 25. We have a lot of nice fliers that we can provide for businesses.”

Miernicki also reported on the following task force activities:

• Borough employees, with the help of the state Bureau of Forestry, recently trimmed the 38 Bradford pear trees along Lehigh Avenue. Only 30 percent of a tree can be cut every two years in order to help preserve its health. “The task force would like to publicly thank the Frackville borough and borough workers for addressing this concern,” Miernicki said. “We believe the business district looks cleaner. They did do a nice job on the lower branches for any vehicles who park on Lehigh, and they hollowed out where the lines are going through the trees.”

• The Keystone Communities Program funding application has been submitted. The proposed project results for the grant will be released by the end of the year for the development of the redevelopment master plan for the unit block of North Lehigh Avenue. “This is a crucial step in the collaborative effort between the borough and the (Schuylkill County) Land Bank,” Miernicki said. “The goal is to redevelop a block on a gateway street that is predominantly blighted.”

• Miernicki said the task force sold out of food at the Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 7, raising $161.

“We’re going to use that money to plant flowers around the trees like we did last year,” she said. The flowers would be planted in the spring. Ideas for spring include a cleanup with a street sweeper used on Lehigh Avenue and possibly hosting a 5K race.

During the Nov. 6 task force meeting, citizens’ comments included asking for stronger enforcement of litter laws, especially along Lehigh Avenue, which is a main thoroughfare that includes state routes 61 and 924 because a clean town attracts business.

“We are going to ask to have our code enforcement officer to speak at our Feb. 6 meeting for about 15 to 20 minutes to get a clarification about zoning,” Miernicki said.

Other questions included whether occupancy permits are being enforced, Lehigh Avenue rental property concerns and problems with tenants leaving large items in alleys, such as old televisions.

The next task force meeting is 7 p.m. Dec. 4 in borough hall. Meetings are open to the public. Use the rear entrance, which is handicapped accessible.

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

POTTSVILLE — People participating in the Schuylkill County Drug Treatment Court said Thursday at the court’s weekly session about the everyday challenges of doing tasks they do not want to do.

“Break it down into smaller, more manageable projects,” John told the other participants and Judge James P. Goodman about his reluctance to do household chores. He also said he tends to feel guilty when he does not do what he should around the house.

Like John, the other participants read from their required weekly essays about those challenges and how they meet them.

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

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

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

There are now 35 people in the program.

Alex agreed with John about his least favorite job.

“The most difficult task for me to start is to straighten up around the house,” he said. Alex said he tries to think about the benefits of what he should do in order to motivate himself to perform the task.

For James, the answer to defeating one day’s problems is to start the day before.

“I plan my day out the night before,” he said. Like John, he also tries to break down tasks he does not want to do into smaller parts.

Jennifer said she does not like to start going through boxes of papers, so she starts with the oldest ones before moving toward newer ones.

For Michael, the answer to start the hardest task for him — doing laundry — is the simplest of all.

“The way I motivate myself is to just do it,” he said.

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

SHENANDOAH HEIGHTS — A “band of brothers” gathered Thursday morning for a breakfast hosted by Ridgeview Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in recognition of the veterans’ service.

The annual breakfast held around Veterans Day recognizes the duty and sacrifices of veterans during their military service in war and peacetime. Ridgeview has 16 veterans as residents in the facility, 10 of which were able to attend the breakfast in the dining room.

As in the past, members of American Legion Bernard J. Dolan Post 434 and Veterans of Foreign Wars O’Donnell-Martin-Baldino Post 7654, both of Ashland, attended the breakfast and conducted the program.

As the resident veterans entered the dining room, Legion Commander Daniel Weikel welcomed them and presented each with a Post 434 ball cap in either blue or red. He expressed his gratitude in being able to visit with his fellow veterans each year.

“It’s fantastic. It’s such a great time to come here and spending time with these vets who can’t get out on their own like we can,” Weikel said. “It’s a joy. It really is a joy just to see them and share something with them. This is my fourth or fifth year of coming up here.”

The program began with remarks from Weikel and VFW Commander Wilmer Quick and a prayer from legion chaplain Thomas Dando.

“We’re very happy to be here,” Weikel said.

Dando offered the prayer, saying, “Dear Lord, we are happy today to spend some time with our fellow veterans, and it’s obvious to us that you sacrificed just as we did. We were at the high school at North Schuylkill where the entire school at one time stood up and gave a standing ovation to all of the veterans who were present. I wish you could have been there for that. But know that we appreciate your service very much and we’re thrilled to be here with you today. It is our effort by being here today and other things that we do to make sure that the citizens of this country, especially the children, do not forget the sacrifices of the American veteran. That is part of why we’re here today to let you know that we appreciate your sacrifice.”

Following the Pledge of Allegiance, Quick said, “It is an honor and a privilege to be here and spend time with you veterans. We all know each other because of what we went through and now we meet you face-to-face. It’s a wonderful day and we don’t want to forget our veterans. We must instill into our youth that they don’t forget our veterans. Without our veterans, we wouldn’t be here.”

Legionnaire William G. Kripplebauer played taps and the food was served by the Ridgeview staff. Unit Manager Mary Knorr, RN, welcomed everyone to the facility.

“This is my favorite day when you come here to spend time with us,” Knorr said. “Thank you so very much. Thank you for your service. We appreciate you.”

Knorr introduced John Reilly, who has been employed at the facility for three years and is a specialist in the Army Reserve with the 233rd Quartermaster Company in Horsham.

“John just finished with maneuvers and he should be very proud that he came in first in his class,” Knorr said.

Reilly graduated from the Army Basic Leader Course and was awarded the Iron Warrior Award for highest PT out of 150 soldiers.

“Thanks for every one of you men and women for your service,” Reilly said. “I hear ‘Thank you for your service’ a lot, but it’s really thank you for keeping us safe and allowing us to go home every night to our families. Thank you for that and it’s an honor to meet every single one of you today. It’s an honor to serve in the United States Army Reserve and I hope to one day become a great leader like all you great men and women. Happy Veterans Day.”

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

Llewellyn

Good Intent Hose Company, 2 Silverton Road, will feature a show from 9 p.m. to midnight Saturday at the firehouse. Tickets are $5 each and entertainment will be Classic Live and Dead Leaves with Bark at the Moon. The company will have a meat bingo from 1 to 4 p.m. Nov. 19 at the firehouse. Tickets are $20 each. Doors will open at noon; meat is from Tony’s Meat Market, Minersville. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-9974.

Pine Grove

Orders are due by Nov. 14 and pickups set for Nov. 21 regarding a pumpkin and apple crumb pie and pumpkin roll sale by Providence Place of Pine Grove, 24 Hikes Hollow Road. Proceeds will benefit the Alzheimer’s Association. To order or for more information, call 570-345-4999.

Pottsville

M&T Movies at the Majestic, hosted by the Pottsville Recreation Department, is set for 2 p.m. Sunday at the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St. Admission is free and there will be free popcorn. For more information, call 570-628-2833.

Pottsville

The Schuylkill YMCA, 520 N. Centre St., has a coat closet that “is getting full thanks to come wonderful donors,” according to a release. The Y is gladly accepting additional items for the closet by wants to get the word out that many coats — in sizes for children through adults — are available to anyone in need. People do not have to be Y members to get coats. For more information, call the Y at 570-622-7850.

Pottsville

Members and guests of the Pottsville Rotary Club recently heard a wrap-up and witnessed a check presentation regarding the club’s annual Hops, Vine and Dine charitable event. Chairmen Mary Sitcoske and Bill Parulis, according to the Rotary bulletin, said proceeds reached $8,000 with some 165 people in attendance. Checks for $2,000 each were presented to Rotary’s partner charities for the event. Mary Ann Devlin accepted the check for Child Development Inc. She said the money will be used for the organization’s language and literacy program. Joan Koslosky accepted the $2,000 check on behalf of the Gabrielle Chamber Ensemble Youth Orchestra. Proceeds will help fund the string instrument training program for third- and fourth-grade students in the feeder program for the youth orchestra. The club, according to Sitcoske and Parulis, will be looking for a new partner charity for next year and they encouraged members to provide ideas regarding a worthwhile organization.

Tamaqua

The Tamaqua Historical Society has a free public reception planned for 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday when it opens the new Tamaqua Museum Annex and Gallery, 114 W. Broad St, which features the artwork of J.G. Scott, a local native who attended the Philadelphia Museum School to become a commercial artist and spent much of his career working for the Gibson Greeting Card Co. and also freelancing for other firms, earning national fame. The reception will include wine, cheese, gourmet desserts and other fare. Visitors will also be able to meet more than a dozen descendants of Scott, many of whom are flying to the area for the event, according to the historical society’s Dale Freudenberger. For more information, call the society at 610-597-6722.

Tamaqua

Zion Lutheran Church, Mauch Chunk and Greenwood streets, will have a Veterans Day service at 5:30 p.m. Saturday to recognize the men and women who have served in the armed forces.

Zion Grove

A ham-and-chicken dinner will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday 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.

Geisinger Medical Center, Danville

To Anthony and Jennifer Zimmerman Capone, Frackville, a son, Oct. 6.

The 23-year-old mayor of Mount Carbon was found dead early Thursday and many remembered him as an energetic member of the community.

Details of Brandon M. Wentz’s death were not released Thursday. State police Trooper David Beohm, public information officer for Troop L, Reading, said he had no information to provide.

Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Albert Barnes said he pronounced Wentz dead at 7:58 a.m. Thursday. Barnes declined to provide additional information.

“I was asked by state police not to comment,” Barnes said. “Next of kin has been notified.”

Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David G. Moylan III said he did not know the circumstances of Wentz’s death.

“We are investigating further with our colleagues at the state police (at Schuylkill Haven),” Moylan said.

“Any death of a 23-year-old is suspicious unless he was on hospice,” Moylan said.

Those who knew him said Wentz was a man who gave himself to the community.

“He had the initiative. He had the community in mind,” Jeffrey J. Dunkel, the former mayor of Mount Carbon, said Thursday.

Dunkel, who no longer lives in Pennsylvania, said he was told of Wentz’s death by text messages Thursday from friends in Schuylkill County. The last time he communicated with Wentz was in September by text. Dunkel was saddened to learn of the death of Wentz, whom he had known for at least 15 years.

“It’s a tragic loss, especially at 23 years old. My heart goes out to the family and his friends. It’s a devastating loss,” Dunkel said.

He said he has not spoken to the family because he wants to give them time to grieve.

Hugh Reiley, Schuylkill County Democratic Committee chairman, said he knew of Wentz but never met him.

“I am just shocked and saddened by this news,” he said.

In February 2016, Wentz became mayor of Mount Carbon. Then a 22-year-old Kutztown University junior, Wentz was appointed by the borough council after Dunkel announced his resignation to pursue career opportunities elsewhere.

When he was looking to fill the position, Wentz said such community service was in his blood: “My grandmother was the first female mayor in the history of Mount Carbon.” The late Veronica Wentz was mayor in the early 1980s.

Moylan did not know if a preliminary toxicology test had been performed. However, a toxicology test will be done and sent to NMS Labs, Willow Grove, Moylan said.

Dr. Joseph Weber, county chief deputy coroner, said a virtual autopsy was performed Thursday evening by a technician at the Simon Kramer Cancer Institute, New Philadelphia. The results have not yet been analyzed. A traditional autopsy could be done at a later time depending on the results.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

Information missing

Due to a technical malfunction, some local results from Tuesday’s General Election were omitted from Wednesday’s report. They appear on Page 7 in today’s edition.

TREMONT — The Porter Township man who police allege tried to kill a state trooper in October by aiming a razor-tipped arrow at him is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday on 27 charges resulting from the incident.

David E. Sink, 42, of Reinerton, fell after leaving the courtroom of Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, who had bound over all charges against him for court after Sink waived his right to the hearing.

Wearing a prison jumpsuit, belt and leg shackles, and walking with the aid of crutches, Sink returned to Schuylkill County Prison, where he is being held on $100,000 straight cash bail.

He is charged with two counts of attempted homicide, 11 of aggravated assault, six of simple assault, three each of recklessly endangering another person and harassment and one each of prohibited possession of weapon and disorderly conduct.

“David is in need of great psychiatric treatment,” Herbert Corky Goldstein, Harrisburg, Sink’s lawyer, said after his client was taken away. “He’s been under psychiatric care since he was a young boy.”

Sink himself said nothing during the hearing or while he was leaving the courtroom.

State police at Jonestown charged Sink with pointing a compound bow at Trooper Marshall Hummel and Tower City Police Chief John Boyer about 12:50 p.m. Oct. 19 outside his 109 N. Yohe St. residence. Hummel then shot Sink in his left leg after the defendant failed to drop the weapon, police said. Sink had the bowstring fully drawn at the time he was shot, according to police.

“I wanted them to shoot me. I wanted them to end my life,” is what police allege Sink said in the ambulance taking him to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, after the incident.

That scenario often is called “suicide by cop” by law enforcement experts.

Police said they had been called to the residence for a domestic incident, but could not locate Erin H. Lynch, 32, the complainant. They said Lynch ran from the residence with blood covering her face.

Goldstein said he would seek a bail reduction for his client, saying he should not go free but needs to be in a secure psychiatric unit.

He did not dispute the facts after Rossi bound over the charges for court, focusing instead on his client’s mental status.

“He’s on a suicide watch at the prison,” Goldstein said of Sink. “There might be something neurologically wrong with him.”

Sink had never shown animosity toward police before this incident, according to Goldstein.

Goldstein said he would meet Tuesday with Assistant District Attorney David J. Rice about the case.

Rice himself said little specifically about the future of the case.

“It will be processed in the normal fashion through the district attorney’s office,” he said.

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

Defendant: David E. Sink

Age: 42

Residence: Reinerton

Charges: Two counts of attempted homicide, 11 of aggravated assault, six of simple assault, three each of recklessly endangering another person and harassment and one each of prohibited possession of weapon and disorderly conduct

MINERSVILLE — Two people were able to flee their burning home in the borough late Thursday night.

Fire broke out about 11 p.m. at 116 Spencer St. and Minersville police on scene said the front of the house was fully engulfed in flames.

Minersville police Patrolman Jeffrey Bowers said when he arrived within minutes, “You could feel the heat a block away. It was rocking.”

Two people in the house, Harley Hutsko and Robert Bruce, were able to flee out the back of the building and escaped injury.

Crews were still on scene trying to knock the fire down and the state police fire marshal will be on scene today to help with the investigation.

Firefighters from Minersville, Pottsville, Schuylkill Haven and surrounding communities responded. No additional information was available as of press time.

Pull on your pink bunny suit, turn off your leg lamp and be sure to drink your Ovaltine as you head out for a night with the Parker family in “A Christmas Story: The Musical.”

The Broadway adaptation of the classic 1983 movie comes to Scranton Cultural Center at The Masonic Temple, 420 N. Washington Ave., for five performances from Nov. 17 through 19. Presented by Broadway Theatre League of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the show follows 11-year-old Ralphie Parker as he longs for a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas and deals with his quirky family and the dilemmas of childhood in the 1940s.

“They will see all of their favorite moments (from the film): the flag pole, the pink bunny pajamas, the Bumpus hounds and my personal favorite moment of me putting the bar of soap in (Ralphie’s) mouth,” said Sara Zoe Budnik, who plays Ralphie’s mother. “All the best moments are included and done so well in the musical.”

The original film starring Peter Billingsley and Darren McGavin became a holiday viewing staple over the years, especially as channels TNT and TBS ran it for 24 hours straight on Christmas in recent years. Despite its prevalence, “A Christmas Story” never made it to Budnik’s TV screen before the California native auditioned for the musical. She thought doing her own version of the character without watching the original might be more interesting for her tryout, she said, and while she’s watched the film since then, Budnik still set out to make the character hers.

“It’s interesting because the original actress who played the mother, Melinda Dillon, she’s so incredibly interesting and very specific and unique,” Budnik said recently by phone. “And when you translate anything from a movie to a musical, a lot changes. So it has kind of become a process of making (the role) my own, and of course you don’t want to mimic anything, but the movie is so highlighted. It’s highlighted very well in the musical version, and I think it brings a whole new zhoosh to the show, making it a musical.”

One of the most iconic scenes in the film, when the Old Man receives a lamp shaped like a sexy leg, comes to life in a big dance number in which the cast hoofs it with several lamps.

“It’s like a big, Broadway classic showstopping number,” Budnik said. “And it’s led by the Old Man. It’s so funny, and you just have to see it.”

While Budnik’s song, “What a Mother Does,” about her character going about her daily tasks, has become one of her favorite songs she’s ever performed, Ralphie sings her top tune in the show, “Red Ryder Carbine Action BB Gun.”

“The song is just really incredible,” Budnik said. “The orchestrations just are so ear-catching. It’s impossible not to smile while you’re watching this kid live out his Christmas fantasy, and it just brings nostalgia back to your youth and all the things that you wanted for Christmas.”

Budnik has to try not to laugh in the scene in which her character washes out Ralphie’s mouth with soap, and she has to make sure she gets the bar in just right. She works with about a dozen kids in the production and was surprised by their talent and how well they captured their characters.

“I’ve never worked with kids before, and it’s incredible, their voices and their dance abilities and the acting choices that they make,” Budnik said. “They’re fearless, and they’re just so excited to start the tour.”

The show reminds audiences of the Christmases of their youth, Budnik said, describing it as “incredibly relatable.”

“I think I’m just so excited for everybody to see how much heart is portrayed by each character,” she said. “Each character just shows so much love toward one another, and it’s so honest, and it’s just a show that’s for every family member.”

Contact the writer: cwest@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100, ext. 5107

SHENANDOAH — The preliminary hearing for a Mahanoy City man charged with hitting a Mahanoy Area High School student with his vehicle, causing serious injuries, in September, has been continued.

Francis T. Green, 34, of 334 W. Centre St., was scheduled to appear Thursday afternoon before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, but the hearing was continued until 9 a.m. Nov. 30.

Kilker said he granted the continuance, requested Wednesday, in order to give one of the attorneys involved in the case more time to prepare for the hearing.

Mahanoy City police Patrolman Matthew Williams charged Green with hitting Ashley Yakimovich, a Mahanoy Area senior, and Rachel Hillman, 19, with the vehicle he was driving in the 1100 block of East Mahanoy Avenue about 2:15 a.m. Sept. 10.

Williams charged Green with two felony counts of aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence; two misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia; one misdemeanor count each of accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property, possession of a small amount of marijuana, DUI and resisting arrest; and one summary charge each of careless driving and reckless driving.

Green was committed to Schuylkill County Prison after his arrest and is now free after posting $25,000 bail, Williams said.

Williams said his investigation revealed that Green drove his vehicle north on 11th Street, a posted one-way street, going south at a high rate of speed and, a few seconds later, continued south on 12th Street, also at a high rate of speed.

Green then made a right turn to travel west on Mahanoy Avenue and, while continuing to drive at a high rate of speed, struck Hillman and Yakimovich who were standing outside a vehicle talking with the occupants.

After hitting the pedestrians, Williams said, Green tried to drive away but his vehicle became disabled near the intersection with 10th Street, prompting him to flee on foot.

A short time later, Green was found at his home where he tried to flee, climbing through a second-floor window onto a roof, where he was eventually taken into custody, Williams said.

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

3 teens cited

for trespassing

WILLIAMSTOWN — A trespassing incident that occurred about 4:15 p.m. Monday at 113 S. West St. in this Dauphin County community is being investigated by state police at Lykens.

Police said three 14-year-old Williamstown boys were charged with criminal trespass when they entered a gazebo owned by Zemco Tool and Die.

The structure is used as an outdoor break area and clearly marked no trespassing, police said.

Police investigate

pedestrian struck

SHENANDOAH — State police at Frackville are trying to identify a man who was struck by a vehicle about 6 p.m. Tuesday.

Trooper Thomas Powell said the incident occurred on Route 924, the Gold Star Highway, just south of Herald Road in Mahanoy Township.

There, Powell said, Michael J. Peleschak, 41, of Pottsville, was driving a 2003 Jeep Liberty Sport south when he struck a man who was walking on the roadway.

Powell said the man, who has yet to be identified, was taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, with what emergency personnel at the scene called serious injuries.

Neither Peleschak nor his passenger — a 15-year-old Pottsville girl — were injured and Powell said the investigation into the crash is ongoing.

Anyone who may have seen the crash, or anyone who knows the identity of the man struck, is asked to call Powell at 570-874-5300.

POTTSVILLE — Sixty-one people receive a second chance Thursday from Schuylkill County’s criminal justice system, as they entered a program that will enable them to emerge from their brush with the law without a record.

The Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program allows first-time nonviolent offenders to complete a period of probation by complying with directives from the court and Adult Probation and Parole Office. They also must pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and perform 10 hours community service.

Those who successfully complete the program can profit from it, according to President Judge William E. Baldwin.

“You can petition to have the charges dismissed avoid having a criminal record,” he told the 61 candidates for the program on Thursday.

Those who do not successfully complete the program will be removed from it and have their cases be placed on the trial list, Baldwin said.

The 61 people who entered the program, and the charges against them, included:

Daniel R. Adams, 22, of Auburn; driving under the influence.

Derek A. Behler, 28, of Schuylkill Haven; DUI.

Nathaniel E. Billet-Diaz, 25, of New Ringgold; DUI.

Kimberly A. Booble, Schuylkill Haven; DUI.

Axel Chiluzia, 20, of Frackville; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Katie E. Comer, 30, of Frackville; hindering apprehension. Comer also must pay a $50 bench warrant fee.

Carmen M. Cruz-Burgos, 51, of Reading; DUI.

Tracy J. Dwin-Correll, 34, of Pottsville; DUI.

Alexander Elchisak, 19, of Kelayres; possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joshua Fredericks, 32, of Lansford; DUI.

Harley M. Grenfell, 27, of Junedale; two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Andrew R. Grippe, 28, of Birdsboro; DUI.

Anthony M. Gudinas, 18, of Pottsville; possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Dawn C. Guiseppe, Parkesburg; DUI.

Danielle A. Heckman, 29, of Orwigsburg; DUI.

Quinten L. Heffner, 22, of Minersville; possession of drug paraphernalia.

Catarino Hernandez-Velasquez, 41, of Pottsville; accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property.

Tara E. Himmelberger, 37, of Pottsville; possession of a controlled substance.

Brent M. Jones, 39, of Orwigsburg; DUI.

Brian D. Kampsky, 52, of Shenandoah; DUI.

Jarrod Kelly, 31, of Pottsville; possession of drug paraphernalia.

Gina M. Kelly, 37, of Orwigsburg; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Richard T. Kilburn, 29, of Minersville; indecent exposure and open lewdness.

Michael A. Knowles, 27, of Shamokin; DUI.

Abigail J. Kramer, 19, of Schuylkill Haven; DUI.

Tucker Kuhlmann, 19, of Allentown; possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bobbi J. Kulaga, 46, of Coaldale; bad checks.

Amber N. Lehman, 26, of Schuylkill Haven; DUI.

William Lynch, 40, of Coaldale; theft and receiving stolen property.

Gretchen L. Martofel, 42, of Frackville; DUI.

Jeremy C. Maurer, 27, of Shenandoah; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

John L. Meyer, 45, of Ashland; DUI.

Morgan L. Miller, 27, of Saint Clair; DUI.

Robert M. Miller, 50, of Orwigsburg; DUI and accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property.

Zachary R. Moses, 22, of Zion Grove; DUI.

Alyssa L. Natale, 21, of Palo Alto; possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brittney A. Pester, 27, of Quakake; possession of a controlled substance.

Shane Pillsbury, 21, of Pine Grove; possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sabrina L. Pyle, 20, of Frackville; retail theft.

Kathleen Rodriguez, 68, of Schuylkill Haven; retail theft.

Suzan Sinton, 56, of Nesquehoning; two counts of simple assault and one of resisting arrest.

Justin M. Smith, 28, of Tuscarora; DUI.

Kyron D. Smith, 20, of Pottsville; retail theft.

Ron S. Smith, 27, of Saint Clair; resisting arrest.

Mark Soellner, 58, of Schuylkill Haven; DUI.

Sonya Stefanik, 46, of Mahanoy City; retail theft and receiving stolen property.

Tanner S. Steinhart, 20, of Pottsville; DUI, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Audrey M. Stofanik, 39, of Frackville; five counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, two of possession of a controlled substance and one each of endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person.

Ryan M. Swanzy, 18, of McAdoo; DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brittany Sweigert, 20, of Pottsville; unlawful contact with a minor.

Maria Tagliaferri, 49, of Toms River, New Jersey; DUI.

Rebecca A. Tassone, 26, of Schuylkill Haven; DUI.

Jodi A. Veach, 52, of Ashland; DUI.

Kaitlyn M. Viars, 22, of Cressona; DUI.

Kevin M. Wagner, 23, of Port Carbon; DUI, possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

James J. Walck, 42, of McAdoo; DUI.

Toni C. Walter, 37, of Gilberton; retail theft.

Bronson R. Westcoat, 30, of Pottsville; DUI.

Samantha Whah, 28, of Tamaqua; DUI and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Xiao H. Wu, 26, of Mount Carmel; DUI and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Jacob E. Zawada, 19, of Pottsville; DUI, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

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

DANVILLE — As first lady, Hillary Clinton championed the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and she’s sounding the alarm now that the program looms dangerously close to losing its federal funding.

“We have every reason to be nervous … and a good health system like Geisinger knows firsthand how important the Children’s Health Insurance Program has been,” she said during an onstage conversation Thursday with Dr. David T. Feinberg, Geisinger Health System’s chief executive officer, at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

Clinton was the keynote speaker at Geisinger’s National Healthcare Symposium, an invitation-only conference titled “From Crisis to Cure: Revitalizing America’s Healthcare System” to discuss health policy and practice.

“This is the first time where we’re really playing roulette with these kids and their families,” Clinton said of the threat of a Children’s Health Insurance Program funding lapse. “States are going to start shutting down these programs because they don’t have a funding stream.”

The federally funded insurance program known as CHIP covers more than 176,000 children of families in need in Pennsylvania and more than 2,400 in Lackawanna County. CHIP’s routine funding package expired Sept. 30, and lawmakers have yet to agree on funding it again.

Geisinger billed the conference as “bipartisan” and included a pre-recorded video address Thursday morning from U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican, who could not attend in person because Congress is in session.

“Hillary Clinton is one of us,” Virginia McGregor, a Scranton resident and Geisinger Health board member, said as she introduced the former U.S. senator and secretary of state.

Clinton several times referred to McGregor as a friend, noting the Scranton resident invited her to speak.

She entered the room before a few hundred people with a slight limp and used crutches off-stage. She sprained her foot in London while promoting her new book, she said, and expects to recover in a few weeks.

Seated in stuffed armchairs on stage, she and Feinberg tossed ideas back and forth for about 40 minutes on matters such as nutrition and the opioid drug addiction crisis — a matter that came up frequently during the three-day event.

“Just in 2016, Pennsylvania lost more than 4,600 people to drug overdoses. That’s more accidental deaths of any other cause of accidental deaths in Pennsylvania,” said Gov. Tom Wolf, who stopped in to address a smaller crowd earlier in the day.

Expanded Medicaid and a tighter prescription drug monitoring system in Pennsylvania is helping to rein in a raging epidemic of drug addiction, he said, though there’s still work to do.

Clinton took shots at President Donald Trump, who recently declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency but did not commit any more federal money to stop it.

“It’s disappointing to me that the new administration has only given rhetorical support,” she said. “There’s no plan, there’s no new money, there’s no leadership. So communities and health systems are pretty much left on their own.”

Clinton had a firm grasp on not only national, but global health issues, and probably would have been a great president, said Robert Naismith, one of the founders of what is now the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in Scranton. He also applauded Feinberg’s vision, which is lifting Scranton and the surrounding area, he said.

“Our medical school now will become a national model — is a national model — because of his leadership,” Naismith said.

On stage, Clinton and Feinberg talked about her husband Bill Clinton’s heart problems and his resulting commitment to a plant-based diet to get well. She still prefers meat with her dinners, while Bill Clinton sticks to vegetables, beans and occasionally fish, she said. They also discussed the their daughter Chelsea Clinton’s career in public health.

She said she regrets putting too few individual stories in front of the Affordable Care Act debate during in its early days to help raise more support for it, she said.

“I think we missed the boat on defending it and explaining it better than we did,” she said.

Thursday marked one year from the day she conceded the presidential election to President Donald Trump. She made no mention of her presidential bid.

At the end of their talk, Feinberg thanked her, and noted that, if not for her campaign, the “ultimate glass ceiling,” will never be broken.

Contact the writer: joconnell@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131

ORWIGSBURG — After years of planning and fundraising, the Orwigsburg Area Free Public Library will officially open its new location Saturday.

“It’s a newer and better space,” Claudia Gross, library director, said Wednesday at the library’s new home, Independence Square at 216 W. Independence St.

“It’s gorgeous! I love it! We just have to get it going,” Tim Osborne, Orwigsburg, a library volunteer, said as he brought a printer and other items over from the library’s previous headquarters, 214 E. Independence St.

The move started Oct. 31 and will take another few days to wrap up, he said.

From 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, the library will host an open house and hold its first event at its new home, its second annual Fall Fest.

“It’s a way to open up the doors and do a special program for young people and the young at heart. It’s a way of giving thanks to the community,” Gross said.

“It’s hard to believe that the Orwigsburg Area Free Public Library has been established for 40 years. It’s even harder to believe that our library has not had a permanent place to call ‘home’ until now,” Athena Kukta, a member of the library’s board of directors, said in a recent fundraising letter.

Chris Kuklis and Claudine Bachman, part-time library staff, stocked shelves Wednesday.

The library’s new features include a second circulation desk in the children’s room.

“Moving was a challenge because of the sheer volume of the materials,” Kuklis said.

Gross estimated the library contained 50,000 items, including books, audio books, magazines and other media.

The library has one full-time library director and four part-time employees.

History

The library was established in May 1977 by a group of citizens and representatives of the area’s service organizations. It had a few locations over the years.

“I was told it was started in somebody’s garden shed and in the basement of a school,” Gross said.

In April 1978, it was at 132 Centre Square. In 1996, it relocated to 115 E. Tammany St., the former VFW building. Then in 2001, it tripled its space by moving to 214 E. Independence St., according to the newspaper’s archives.

In January 2013, the library’s board of trustees sent a letter to Craig Shields, CEO of Barefield Development Corp., asking if the library could be part of the corporation’s plans to turn the former FesslerUSA building into low-income housing.

Barefield turned the 40,000-square-foot building at 216 W. Independence St. into affordable housing for people 62 and older.

“There’s 20 apartments upstairs,” Gross said.

Last year, the residents moved in.

“It’s always been a goal of the Orwigsburg library to have a permanent home. Here, we’ll pay $1 a year. And we have an agreement with Barefield to stay here for 99 years,” Gross said.

“Barefield gave us an empty box. It cost around $300,000 to make it a library,” Gross said.

So far, the library board has raised “about $250,000” to cover the cost, Gross said.

The library had “about 5,000 square feet” of space at 214 E. Independence St., which it rented from Joseph and Ray P. Heiser, Orwigsburg, Gross said.

At 216 W. Independence St., there is “about 5,100 square feet of space,” Gross said.

Fundraising

The library board had to raise funds for renovation work. The contractor was Heim Construction, Orwigsburg.

“We are very excited about our new space but still have some funds to raise in order to complete our project, update technology and improve our furniture and displays,” Kukta said in a recent letter regarding the library’s 2017 capital campaign. The library is hoping to raise more than $2,000 through a fundraising project called “Make Your Mark on Our Move.”

The library is encouraging patrons to buy 4-inch-by-4-inch tiles, artwork to be displayed in the new location. One costs $250, two cost $450 and three cost $600.

For more information, contact Tara Romig at 570-617-8820 or tromig@homesale.com.

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

Deeds

New Philadelphia — William J. Mack Jr., Anna H. Witkowski, Connie Homovich, Patricia Palko, Jeffrey Newhard and Janet Mancini to Jeffrey and Mary Jane Newhard; 50 Wiggan St.; $1.

Norwegian Township — Jack Aughenbaugh and Ellen F. Boran to Kelly M. Kalovcak; 0.451-acre property on Hickory Drive; $60,000.

Pine Grove Township — Brandon Zimmerman to Brandon and Abby M. Zimmerman; 40 Keefer Road; $1.

Pottsville — Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Americas to Pedro J. Perez-Lopez; 711 Seneca St.; $14,000.

Talal M. Rajha to Alba Veras and Joseph Elliss; property on East Market Street; $500.

Anthony Gomez to Lacey Templeton; 1814 Elk Ave.; $113,000.

Meyer Citivest LLC to Kit Cheuk and Yeung Tung Poon; 1206 W. Laurel St.; $17,000.

Ringtown — E. Charles Bann and Bernard J. Bann to Matthew and Nicole Brouse; property on Cherry Alley; $1.

Shenandoah — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Borough of Shenandoah; 17 N. Union St.; $1.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Borough of Shenandoah; 231 W. Coal St.; $1.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Borough of Shenandoah; 319 W. Cherry St.; $1.