SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — On her first visit to Penn State Schuylkill campus, 9-year-old Lyla Stager had a hair-raising experience.

She had a feeling of what would happen when she volunteered for an experiment conducted by Penn State physics teacher Michael R. Gallis to test the properties of static electricity.

“It looked cool,” Stager said, explaining why she raised her hand.

“Things with the same charge repel, so if we give her body a charge, including her hair, the pieces of hair repel each other. So they appear to stand up,” Gallis explained to Stager and the 126 other third-grade students from Pine Grove Area Elementary on Tuesday at the Health and Wellness Center.

To do the trick, he used a basketball-sized silver sphere attached to a cylindrical stand. It’s called a Van de Graaff generator. An electrostatic generator, it had a mechanism inside that spun a rubber band to generate an electric charge.

“There’s friction creating the static electricity,” Gallis said.

When Stager touched the globe, it made the loose ends of her shoulder-length brown hair rise. The crowd laughed and clapped.

“I felt a couple shocks here and there,” she said.

Last year, Gallis treated the Pine Grove Area third-grade class visiting Penn State Schuylkill to a half-hour science lesson that played out like a magic show. On Tuesday, he repeated the performance.

“My goal is to get them excited about STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics),” Gallis said.

One of his assistants, Jordan Pelachick, also demonstrated how static electricity works using a wand and a piece of mylar. The wand also had one of those mechanisms inside, and when Pelachick waved it, he made the ribbon appear to dance.

Pelachick, 25, is a Penn State Schuylkill sophomore studying information sciences and technology.

Since 2004, Pine Grove Area has made efforts to bring the third-grade class to the college, Michelle Brand, a school counselor at Pine Grove Area, said.

“I think we did it in 2004 and then off and on,” she said.

The third-grade class visited the campus in 2008 and a few other times over the years, including last year.

The visit is meant to encourage students starting at a young age to think about higher education.

“For many of them, it’s the first time they’ve been here, and it’s the first time they set foot on a college campus. We want to show them there is education beyond just school, and education is life-long learning. No matter what, you can always learn. And you should always reach out and gain that knowledge,” Brand said. “The transportation came out of our curriculum budget. Penn State offers to pay for their lunch.”

The students were served pizza, she said.

With them were Pine Grove Area teachers including Amy Jo Brixius, Jena Kramer, Abe Hitz, Pat Reimer, Selena Slackus and Brand’s sister, Angela.

The visitors traveled around campus to various stations at which they interacted with campus faculty, staff and students, and were able to learn about the campus and higher education.

For example, a group of students visited the Academic Resource Center and were given a chance to do arts and crafts with Darlene Young, a math specialist at the college.

Another group of students, including Stager, Khloe Lengel and Andrew Fehr, visited the Administration Building, where Janelle L. H. Gruber, the campus director of admissions, talked about the campus with a slide show presentation.

“So you’re here at Penn State Schuylkill today. It’s the closest campus to Pine Grove. It probably took you, what, 20 minutes to get here on the bus? It’s a pretty straight shot,” Gruber said. “We have about 800 students here on campus and we have about 100 acres. So it’s a big property. I’ll tell you, you’re not going to walk all 100 acres today. Most of our buildings are in one part of the campus. So you won’t have to walk that much. We have students that live on campus. They’re called residential students. We have apartments and students live there. And we have commuter students who live close to the campus, like all of you, and stay with their families and come here for classes.”

“This is my first time here. It’s a pretty neat school,” Stager said.

When asked what she wants to do when she grows up, Stager said with a breath of honesty, “I want to be a famous softball player.”

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

TAMAQUA — In an era of online shopping and big-box stores, Ralph Richards is bucking the trend.

But in his corner he has the personal service his store, Charles X. Blocks, has made a tradition for 95 years, which he is continuing.

To celebrate the anniversary, a customer appreciation evening will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday. Charles X. Blocks will also be showing off its newly completed interior renovation.

“We will be kicking off the Shop Small Christmas season,” Richards said. “It’s our way of thanking our customers for a fabulous year of business, and it’s a fun way to celebrate our business’ 95th birthday this coming year.”

Charles X. Blocks is about customer service today as much as it was in 1923, when Charlie founded it, and son Ted operated from 1964 to 2010, when Richards purchased it.

“Customer service is where we literally win the game every day,” said Richards, a home care physical therapist who still practices for Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hazleton. “We try to always be competitive on price, but the experience of you walking in, someone greeting you, offering you coffee or a water, telling us what you need, measuring you, not just saying, ‘Shirts are over there, help yourself,’ It’s a personal-led experience, from the moment a gentleman, his wife or whoever comes in until they leave.”

Blocks still believes the notion people want to see and understand what they are buying.

“Sometimes today, people will go on the internet and order 15 things and they like one of them, then they have the hassle of sending 14 things back,” Richards said. “We’re educating our customers as we are putting them in whatever it is they want. Here, you can look at it, feel it, maybe see another size of it. Maybe you came in for a coat and thought it was one size, but it was another. People say, ‘I want a coat that fits. I’m used to going to the big box stores and keep trying on coats until it fits my shoulders.’ But now the sleeves are down to here. We try to teach them did you ever think about a short? What does that mean? We’re putting them in a garment that is designed for their bodies.”

Custom ordering — something the big box stores or online buying might not offer — is a Blocks tradition Richards is continuing. This is especially important to the hard-to-fit person, he said.

“Blocks also carries a large variety of sizes, in sport coats, suits, pants and sweaters.

“Big and tall is what we do. It is a niche I think we do very well,” he said

Blocks still does tuxedos, which Richards said, “is our cornerstone.” But even that has changed.

“We are full service. That is something I insist on,” he said. “The reason is our society has becomes less formal. We even do denim weddings. People have decided to get married in barns. Shame on us if we didn’t keep up with the times. We had to go with what our demand was.”

The store also offers a tailoring service, as well as shoe repair, leather repair and zipper repair, On the rack, there are shirts for a local restaurant and a police department which have taken advantage of Blocks embroidery service.

“No matter how expensive or inexpensive, it is still tailored free — hemming sleeves, whatever — if it is purchased in our store,” Richards said. “Now, in 2017, we have added women’s seamstress service, by appointment. Our seamstress meets with them one-on-one.”

The store has also added women’s accessories and sweaters to its board of fare.

“We’re excited about our new line of ladies items, including handmade handbags, wraps, casual blazers, sweaters, scarves, jewelry and hand-milled soaps,” said Jeanette Richards, Ralph’s wife and co-owner.

“Our women’s purses and bags are by far our biggest seller for the ladies,” Ralph said. “In almost seven years, we have sold between 800 and 900 reversible, hand-sown bags made by a Fashion Institute of New York friend of ours. She never makes the same purse twice and they come in various sizes. We also have travel bags that are special ordered which we will embroider.”

The store is open Monday through Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturday 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday evening

The customer appreciation evening Thursday will include a little wine.

“We are partnering with the Eight Oaks Distillery, New Tripoli, for complimentary tasting of their spirits,” Richards said.

Charles X. Blocks is located at 251 W. Broad St., Tamaqua. For more information, visit www.CharlesXBlocks.com or call 570-668-1112.

Contact the writer: jdino@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3585

The mother of the former Mount Carbon mayor said she appreciates the love shown to the family since the death of her son last week.

Brandon Wentz, 24, was pronounced dead Thursday by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Albert Barnes. Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David G. Moylan III said a virtual autopsy performed Nov. 9 “showed pulmonary congestion,” or fluid in the lungs. A traditional autopsy performed Friday confirmed the findings. Toxicology tests have yet to be performed and results could be back within two to three weeks.

Janel Wentz-Firestone, Wentz’s mother, sent a press release from the family Tuesday, which states:

“Brandon touched many lives in our community. His death has left all who knew him in shock and grief-stricken. Brandon’s community involvement began at an early age. His grandmother, Veronica Wentz, was the first female mayor for the Borough of Mount Carbon and he wanted to follow in her footsteps.

“With Brandon’s unexpected death, we were touched by the many comments we heard from members of the community; we did not even know the many ways that Brandon touched their lives. Everyone shared their personal story about how Brandon was so community-minded and wanted to make a positive difference in the lives of others. He expressed a deep care for people of our town and maintained a personal focus on the importance of giving back.

“We made the decision to honor Brandon’s desire to strengthen our community by honoring him through donations to a local community agency through a GoFundMe page (Brandon “Honcho” Wentz Charity Fund.) The family chose Clinical Outcomes Group because they provide health and social services and focus on improving the health of our communities.”

In a message to The Republican-Herald, Wentz-Firestone confirmed her son resigned Nov. 8 as mayor of Mount Carbon. However, she did not know if the borough council had accepted his resignation.

State police Trooper Vincent LaSelva said Tuesday he did not have much information because he was still waiting on toxicology and autopsy results. He said Wentz was found by his mother at his residence in Port Carbon that he shared with family.

Wentz-Firestone declined to comment on the family’s move to Port Carbon.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

POTTSVILLE — A Coaldale woman will not have to spend time in prison after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced her Thursday in two drug-related cases resulting from incidents in June 2015 in Tamaqua.

Karen Rimsky, 33, must serve two to 23 months on house arrest with electronic monitoring, Judge James P. Goodman ruled in giving both prosecutors and the defendant something they wanted. He made the sentence effective on Nov. 27.

Prosecutors had asked him to send Rimsky to prison for two to 23 months, while Rimsky’s lawyer, Joseph V. Sebelin Jr., Lehighton, had asked that his client be placed on house arrest instead of behind bars.

“We feel that some incarceration is necessary,” Deputy Assistant District Attorney Jennifer N. Foose said, although she neither supported nor opposed house arrest.

Rimsky pleaded guilty on Sept. 13 to delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance in one case and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance in the other.

Tamaqua police had charged Rimsky in the first case with selling $80 worth of marijuana on June 10, 2015, and with possessing a salable amount of marijuana on June 11, 2015.

“I know what I did was against the law,” Rimsky said.

Goodman also sentenced Rimsky to pay costs, $200 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $226 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and $80 restitution to the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Also on Thursday, Goodman revoked the probation in one case and parole in another against Mercedes M. Alexander, 20, of Mahanoy City, and sentenced her to serve three to six months in prison. He made the sentence concurrent with the state prison term Judge John E. Domalakes had imposed Monday in a third case.

Goodman revoked Alexander’s probation and parole after the defendant admitted violating them by failing to report to her supervising officer, committing new crimes, failing drug tests, using drugs and not making payments on her costs and fees.

“If you have problems with drugs, hopefully, you can address them” in state prison, Goodman told Alexander, who wore a prison jumpsuit and handcuffs during the hearing.

Alexander pleaded guilty on Set. 28, 2016, to theft and simple assault in one case and theft, conspiracy and retail theft in the second one. At that time, Goodman placed her on probation for 12 months and also sentenced her to pay costs, a $50 fine, $100 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $2.28 restitution.

Minersville police charged Alexander with committing the one theft on Dec. 17, 2015, in the borough, while state police at Schuylkill Haven charged her with committing the other on the same date in Norwegian Township.

On Monday, Domalakes revoked Alexander’s probation in the third case and sentenced her to serve one to three years in a state correctional institution.

Alexander had pleaded guilty in that case on May 3 to retail theft. At that time, Domalakes had placed her on probation for 12 months, and also sentenced her to pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment.

Butler Township police had charged Alexander with committing that theft on Oct. 14, 2016, in the township.

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

Ashland

The borough office will be closed Nov. 23 and Nov. 24 for the Thanksgiving holiday. All trash will be picked up one day earlier than scheduled. Ashes will be picked up Nov. 22.

Frackville

St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, Oak Street, is sponsoring a Christmas nutroll sale and is taking orders until Dec. 10. The cost is $15 per roll. Pickups times are 5 to 6 p.m. Dec. 16 and noon to 1 p.m. Dec. 17. Varieties include English walnut, poppy seed, apricot, prune and seedless red raspberry. To order or for more information, call Marcia Evans at 570-874-2169.

Girardville

Rangers Hose Company, 6 E. Ogden St., will have a wing night beginning at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at the firehouse. Wings are $9 per dozen, fries are $3 and fries with any wing sauce, $4. A variety of wing flavors will be available. For more information, call 570-276-6922.

Gordon

An ecumenical Thanksgiving Eve service will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 22 by the Ashland Area Ministerium for the communities of Ashland, Gordon and Girardville at Simpson United Methodist Church, 117 E. Biddle St. Ministerium clergy will share in the liturgy of praise. All are welcome.

Gordon

An American Red Cross blood drive is set for 1 to 6 p.m. Nov. 30 at Christ United Lutheran Church, 437 Airport Road. To make and appointment or for more information, call 800-733-2767.

Llewellyn

Good Intent Hose Company, 12 Silverton Road, will feature Toolshed Jack in a dance set for 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. Nov. 22 at the firehouse. Tickets are $5 each; the kitchen will be open. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-9974.

Pitman

Tri-Valley Ministerium’s community Thanksgiving service is set for 7 p.m. Nov. 22 at Hepler Church of God. Pastor Bob Cassel will be the guest preacher and music will be by several area pastors. All are welcome. For more information, email rayholland03@gmail.com.

Primrose

St. Nicholas Holy Name Society will have an all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet beginning at 7:30 a.m. Nov. 26 in St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901. The cost is $9 for adults and free for children under 12. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-4581.

Pottsville

The Pottsville Rotary Club recently welcomed high school students of the month Emily Kriston and Kenny Yurkonis of Minersville Area, Emily Yordy and Luciano Yourey of Nativity BVM, and Caitlin Coyle and Thomas Honicker of Pottsville Area. The students told Rotarians about their school and community activities and plans for the future.

Pottsville

Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 W. Arch St., will have a Blue Christmas service at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 for people dealing with the death of a loved one, living with cancer or another debilitating disease, facing life after divorce or separation or facing some other traumatic situation. Freewill offerings will be accepted. For more information, call 570-622-9910.

Pottsville

The Schuylkill YMCA, 520 N. Centre St., will sponsor Breakfast with the Grinch at 8 a.m. Dec. 2. The cost is $6 in advance and $8 at the door. It will include all-you-can-eat pancakes and sausage, a visit with Santa and a North Pole workshop. There will also be a bake sale, basket raffle and other activities. Children 12 months and younger will eat free. For more information, call 570-622-7850.

Snyders

Zion’s Stone Church, West Penn Township, will sponsor a pork-and-sauerkraut dinner from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-205-9267.

RAVEN RUN — The Municipal Authority of the Borough of Shenandoah board approved at Wednesday’s meeting the promotion of head clerk Jennifer Hepler to office supervisor.

The office supervisor position has been vacant since the retirement of longtime employee Loretta Dallazia, who retired in 2014. At the time, the position was not filled since many of the duties were also performed by authority manager Mary Lou Jaskierski.

“Because we had Mary Lou taking care of those duties, there was no reason to have two people,” board Vice President Joseph Anczarski said.

Due to the resignation of Jaskierski earlier this year, and having both positions open, the board decided the office supervisor position would be filled with a salary as specified in the union contract. MABS employees are members of United Steelworkers Local No. 14372-01.

Hepler is a 10-year office employee of the authority. Her new salary is $21.61 per hour, and she took the position immediately after the vote.

According to the job description, which was read by MABS board Chairwoman Donna Gawrylik, the office supervisor directs office personnel in regards to billing customers, accounts receivable and customer complaints, and is responsible for the attainment of financial, business, accounting and administrative objectives from time to time established for the authority, including, but not limited to, the following, as well as maintenance and supervisory role of the chief plant operator and working foreman:

1. Advises with meter readings, customer service and accounting procedures.

2. Maintenance of cash flow control and disbursements.

3. Community and customer relations and service, including customer inquiries.

4. Preparation, filing and maintenance of all reports and records other than those relating directly to the production and distribution of water.

5. Responsible for payroll functions and record keeping.

6. Keep attendance, vacation and sick time records for all employees.

7. Maintain all personnel records.

8. Review and prepare invoices for payment.

9. Enter accounts payable into system and process checks.

10. Prepare and file federal, state and local taxes quarterly and yearly including reports.

11. Reconcile bank statements monthly.

12. Audit and approve monthly petty cash disbursements.

13. Process and keep records of all insurance claims and workers’ compensation claims.

14. Review billing data for monthly and quarterly reports.

15. Prepare and process purchase orders.

16. Train and advise all office personnel.

17. Prepare all records for fiscal year for the auditor.

18. Prepare paperwork for budget and comparison reporting.

19. Supervisory and direction of chief plant operator and working foreman.

20. Any other duties as they arise.

The office supervisor has authority to act or make decisions necessary to the exercise of assigned responsibilities and is limited only by applicable laws and regulations of various public bodies, good business ethics, established budgets and authority policy. The supervisor reports to the board of directors.

In other business, the board approved the hiring of two part-time distribution employees, each at $10 per hour.

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

TOWER CITY — An Ashland man was arrested and charged with a robbery in Pottsville on Nov. 9 and another robbery at a Tower City business on Monday.

In the Nov. 9 incident, state police Trooper Robert Kluge of the Schuylkill Haven station charged Nicholas R. Harman, 25, of 933 Brock St., with two felony counts of robbery and one misdemeanor count each of terroristic threats and simple assault.

In connection with Monday’s incident, Trooper Thomas Robin, also of the Schuylkill Haven station, charged Harman with three felony counts of robbery, one felony count each of theft and receiving stolen property, and one misdemeanor count each of theft, receiving stolen property and unauthorized use of automobiles.

Harman was arraigned Tuesday by on-call Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $15,000 straight cash bail on the Nov. 9 crimes and an additional $50,000 straight cash bail for Monday’s robbery charges.

Kluge said the first robbery occurred about 7:20 a.m. Nov. 9, when Harman stole a 2013 GMC Terrain valued at $8,500 from Walter Whalen, 153 Brier City Road, Norwegian Township.

At the victim’s home, Kluge said, Harman robbed Whalen of $15 from a shelf and $60 from the man’s wallet.

Kluge said Harman went to the Whalen home, rang the doorbell and asked to use his telephone, saying he had just wrecked his vehicle. Kluge said the vehicle Harman crashed was reported stolen in Pottsville.

Once Harman was allowed inside the Whalen house, Kluge said, Harman stole the money from Whalen and also stole his vehicle.

Then, on Monday, Robin said police were called to Top Star Express, 523 E. Grand Ave., Tower City, for a report of an armed robbery involving a man, later identified as Harman.

Robin said that Harman entered the store and went to the cashier, Joseph Stabinsky, and handed him a note that read “Empty the drawer quickly or I will shoot” while keeping his hand hidden in his coat and verbally ordering the clerk to open the door or else.

A customer entered the store and was ordered to leave by Harman and then again verbally threatened Stabinsky to give him the money, Robin said.

Robin said Stabinsky then told Harman that he activated the store alarm, and Harman fled the area in the stolen truck that was found along Route 209 by state police from the Jonestown station.

On Tuesday, Robin said the clerk was shown a video lineup and positively identified Harman as the man responsible.

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

MAHANOY CITY — The borough should soon have a new police chief with the hiring of Kenneth Zipovsky at Tuesday’s meeting of Mahanoy City Borough Council.

The meeting’s first order of business was the selection of the police chief, with Zipovsky approved unanimously. The appointment is contingent upon the passing of medical, psychological and background screenings.

Zipovsky currently serves as a first lieutenant with the Hazleton Police Department and has 26 years in law enforcement, beginning in Weatherly in 1991. After two years, he joined the Hazleton police force in 1993 and has served for 24 years there.

Council President Thom Maziekas asked him to introduce himself to the public.

“I work in the city of Hazleton. I work as a police officer up there and currently have the rank of first lieutenant. Basically, I’m the second person in command of the police department,” Zipovsky said. “My work as an acting chief throughout different regimes depending on when a chief left or a new one came. I have a lot of experience with local law enforcement. Started my career in a small town called Weatherly in Carbon County. My passion has been local police departments, being with the communities trying to keep the communities safe. One of the things I appreciate about Mahanoy City is the fact that you are a small community. You’re 4,000 people jammed into a half-square mile, but I can tell the way that everybody has their input here and the way they care that everybody wants to do the best thing. I believe that I have something to contribute to you folks, and I’m looking forward to the challenge and hoping to make the place a better community.”

The borough has been without a police chief since April 2016 when then-Police Chief John C. Kaczmarczyk’s unexpected retirement request was accepted by the council. At that time, the council suspended Cpl. Michael Dissinger following an investigation of $10,000 allegedly missing from the evidence area in the municipal building. The money had been seized during a drug arrest.

Since that time, Officer Charles Kovalewski has served as officer-in-charge of the police department. Following the hiring of Zipovsky, the council promoted Kovalewski to corporal.

The Hazleton police website has Zipovsky’s background and experience. He has a bachelor’s degree in government, law, and national security from Misericordia University, a degree in criminal justice from Luzerne County Community College, attended Penn State University’s Police Executive Development Training Program, and is a graduate of the Philadelphia Police Department K-9 Academy and the Lackawanna College Police Academy. He has also been the recipient of commendations from the Hazleton Police Department, Pennsylvania State Police, Philadelphia Police Department and Weatherly Police Department.

Zipovsky has worked in virtually every facet of law enforcement within HPD, which include patrol, supervision, K-9, narcotics, training and criminal investigations. The website states that during his service on the Hazleton force, his work has successfully secured convictions in nearly every offense in the law enforcement continuum ranging from a parking violation to first-degree homicide.

He is currently assigned as the commander of the Administrative Division.

He is a lifelong resident of the Hazleton area. He is married with two children.

He is also active in the law enforcement community outside of Hazleton. He is past president of the Pennsylvania Juvenile Officers Association, The Fraternal Order of Police Power City Lodge No. 18 and was a member of Attorney General Mike Fisher’s task force on school safety. He teaches undergraduate college courses in criminal justice and instructs at the Lackawanna College Police Academy, where he is an associate director. He provides basic police knowledge and skills to academy cadets and provides advanced in-service training for officers serving the communities of Northeast Pennsylvania.

Zipovsky is not sure when he will start in Mahanoy City.

“I have to come with an exit strategy with my department, and, of course, there is the obligatory background process that has to go through to process the paperwork,” he said. “I appreciate the council’s support. It will still take some time for the processing to go through.”

After the meeting, Mayor Patricia “Patti” Schnitzius was pleased that the police department will soon have a qualified person in the chief’s position.

“I think Ken is very qualified. I think he will do a good job,” Schnitzius said. “We have some really fine officers on our force already, and hopefully they can make things work.”

During the meeting, the borough council approved a motion to advertise for a full-time police officer. Schnitzius said that the current force has two full-time officers, and when Zipovsky has met his clearances to begin and the new officer is hired, the police department will have four full-time officers.

“I do want to say that our guys really stepped up to the plate during trying times and made it work that is difficult to do with basically a part-time staff,” she said.

Schnitzius said there were many applicants with seven chosen for interviews. The interviews were conducted by the borough council and the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association.

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

POTTSVILLE — A state police trooper testified Wednesday that a Kline Township man charged with fatally shooting a Luzerne County man in November 2016 told him the gun went off after each of them had a hand on it.

“He told me there was a struggle for the gun,” Trooper Norbert Brennan said in a pre-trial hearing for Eric M. Mumaw, 30, of McAdoo Heights. “It was like we were hugging. Then the gun went off,” is what Brennan said Mumaw told him.

Wearing a prison jumpsuit, Mumaw sat through the hearing before Judge Charles M. Miller, who will decide whether there is enough evidence against him to send the case to trial.

Miller gave Deputy Assistant District Attorney Jennifer N. Foose and Andrew J. Katsock III, Wilkes-Barre, Mumaw’s lawyer, until Dec. 8 to submit briefs outlining their positions on the case.

“The judge will take it under advisement and render an opinion,” Foose said after the hearing.

After the hearing, Mumaw returned to prison, where he is being held without bail. He is charged with first-degree murder, third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, prohibited possession of offensive weapon, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and two counts each of possessing instruments of crime and aggravated assault.

State police at Frackville allege Mumaw shot David Gombert, 27, of Hazle Township, shortly after 9 a.m. Nov. 1, 2016, during a struggle just outside Mumaw’s garage. Prosecutors said the two had been sending each other messages on the internet and were arguing about Mumaw’s ex-girlfriend, Kirsten Kankowski.

Brennan said he interviewed Mumaw after the shooting.

“He saw David. He grabbed his firearm and he came downstairs,” Brennan said of Mumaw. “He said he came out of the garage and walked toward David.”

Mumaw also told him he put away his gun, put on brass knuckles and punched Gombert in the face, Brennan said.

Brennan said Mumaw used somewhat vague words in his description of the events, which indicated to him that the defendant was unwilling to be pinned down to a specific version of what occurred.

In re-enacting what he said occurred, Mumaw indicated Gombert had his hands up when he was shot, Brennan said. Mumaw said he shot Gombert in the chest, according to Brennan.

Furthermore, Mumaw said Gombert came after him aggressively but did not say he had attacked him, Brennan said.

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

Defendant: Eric M. Mumaw

Age: 30

Residence: McAdoo Heights, Kline Township

Charges: First-degree murder, third-degree murder, voluntary manslaughter, prohibited possession of offensive weapon, terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, abuse of a corpse, tampering with evidence and two counts each of possessing instrument of crime and aggravated assault

Police: 2 charged

in home burglary

ORWIGSBURG — Two men were arrested by state police at Schuylkill Haven after police were called about 2:30 p.m. Monday to a residential burglary on Chestnut Street in North Manheim Township.

Police said Kenneth Smith, 28, of Mahanoy City, and Bryan Starr, 46, of Pottsville, entered the home of a 69-year-old Orwigsburg man by busting out a portion of a basement wall.

Once inside, police said, Starr gathered copper piping while Smith searched the home for items of value.

The men were discovered by the property owner, who contacted state police.

Troopers Ian Keck, Jordan Seiler and Mark Knock responded, established a perimeter and arrested the men after summoning them to come outside.

Police said both men were charged in connection with the incident, arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison each unable to post $25,000 straight cash bail.

Traffic stop nets

drug arrest

PINE GROVE — A Pottsville man was arrested by Pine Grove police on drug charges after an incident about 9:05 p.m. Oct. 26 in the 100 block of South Tulpehocken Street.

Police said Leon I. Christ, 22, of 317 Nicholas St., was charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police said officers stopped a vehicle driven by Christ for an equipment violation and detected a smell of marijuana coming from inside.

During the stop, police said, officers seized a glass smoking pipe with marijuana residue as well as an ear plug container that contained a small amount of marijuana.

Equipment violation

leads to drug charges

PINE GROVE — A borough man was arrested by Pine Grove police after an incident about 10:45 p.m. Oct. 30 in the 100 block of North Tulpehocken Street.

Police said Jesse James Levan, 18, of 21 Schneck Drive, was charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police said officers stopped a vehicle driven by Levan for an equipment violation and detected an odor of marijuana inside.

When questioned, police said, Levan turned over a small amount of marijuana from the glove compartment and a gas mask and a green bong from the trunk.

Man charged for

counterfeit plates

PINE GROVE — A traffic stop in the area of East Mill and South Tulpehocken streets about 10:25 p.m. Nov. 3 resulted in Pine Grove Police filing charges against a Pine Grove man.

Police said Troy A. Schneck, 52, of 399 Rock Road, was charged with altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates, registration and Certificate of Title required and driving a vehicle without an official Certificate of Inspection.

Police said officers stopped a vehicle driven by Schneck for a problem with the registration plate, at which time the man admitted knowing his vehicle was illegal.

Schneck also admitted altering the inspection sticker by using a number from a sticker from another vehicle to make his sticker look like it expires in December and not in February.

Police: Dispute

leads to charges

PINE GROVE — Two women were arrested by Pine Grove police after an incident at their 1 Hillside Vista Drive home about 5 p.m. Sept. 27.

Police said Beth A. Stoudt, 20, and Amanda F. Tobias, 35, were charged with simple assault and harassment through the office of Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, Tremont.

Police charged Stoudt and Tobias with getting into a verbal argument that became physical with Tobias throwing a bottle at Stoudt. The women were separated but Tobias then threw another bottle, prompting Stoudt to grab her, scratch her face and hit her in the head and arms.

Man charged for

alleged trespassing

PINE GROVE — A Valley View man was charged by Pine Grove police with criminal trespass after an incident at 95 Wideawake St. about 8 p.m. Oct. 23.

Police said officers were called to the area for a report of a man in a yard. Residents tried to chase the man, later identified as George W. Miller III, 37, of 1459 W. Main St., but he fled, police said.

Miller was later located in the Youth Softball Field behind the 100 block of North Tulpehocken Street and identified by the residents as the man who was trespassing, police said.

ORWIGSBURG — Before a group of 18 people at a special forum Wednesday night, Blue Mountain Superintendent David H. Helsel encouraged discussion about recent bomb threats on campus.

There were eight bomb threats made in schools in Schuylkill County this year, and four of them occurred at Blue Mountain.

At a special Superintendent Forum at the middle school cafeteria, he tried to characterize the perpetrators.

“Usually the people who do bomb threats, most of them are people that are hurting and trying to act out in some capacity, much like a teenage suicide or drug use,” Helsel told the group.

And when talking about these cases, he said he was unable to give many details.

“All I can do is talk in general when speaking about this. I will tell you for all four people, they know what the consequences were. They knew it was bad and they did it because it was a severe act,” Helsel said.

“What can you tell? And what is necessary for us to know as these incidents occur and the consequences of?” Janis McGowan asked.

“We can’t give specifics and every situation is unique. So I can’t tell you what the consequences are because it depends on their age. It depends on whether they have a learning disability or not. It depends on the different circumstances that are going on. And it’s in the DA’s hands as far as whether they’re going to be charged or whether they’re going to be billed. Those kinds of things we cannot communicate. We cannot talk about individual discipline for students,” Helsel said.

“If you look over the bomb threats in this district over the past three years, can you generalize what were the consequences to those students?” Jennifer Manbeck, a parent with children in the district, asked.

“I will tell you it was very diverse. You’re asking for an absolute, but some kids got expelled forever because they’re 18 and they’re not coming back. Some people got sent to cyber school. And some got expelled and they went to a different school. Some people had bigger fines than others,” Helsel said.

Some parents said they have trouble explaining to their children how severe the penalties can be.

“Does expelled mean they’re gone for good?” Manbeck asked.

“Expelled means suspended. In legal terms, it means expelled more than 10 days. And I’ll tell you right now, if they have an IEP (Individualized Education Program) the most you can expel them is 45 days,” Helsel said. “To be honest, in here, when you’re talking about someone under compulsory attendance, the most you can expel a kid under 16 is 30 days. Then we have to provide some type of alternative education. That’s the law.”

“All I can tell you is I’m a parent of two kids and I am not going to put any kid or anybody in a school in this district that I wouldn’t put my own child in. So I’m going to do everything we legally can to ensure the safety,” Helsel said.

“Why is the evacuation plan always the same?” Becki Hoover, a parent with children in the district, asked.

“It’s not,” Helsel said.

“Then how come when they got evacuated at the high school both times this year they were evacuated to the stadium? And when they got evacuated at the middle school, they were evacuated to the memorial?” Manbeck asked. She was referring to the Orwigsburg Memorial Building.

“They were only evacuated once at the high school. The first bomb threat occurred on a Saturday. There was no evacuation,” Helsel said, referring to the note found on Sept. 16.

“What I will tell you is this. This time we originally, here at the middle school, cleared out the back and went to the field. The other time, the second time, we went straight to the memorial. We’re going to have other places we’re going to evacuate to. The fact of the matter is there’s only so many places that we can move 800 kids. And sometimes we’re not going to evacuate at all. It depends on the time, the circumstance and the threat,” Helsel said.

“Usually when people plant a bomb they don’t tell you what, when or where they’re doing it because they want to hurt somebody,” Helsel said.

He said the solution is communication.

“We need to make sure that we have a system and communicate with our kids so they can go to people they can talk to,” Helsel said.

“We need to work together. We want parents involved. We realize for some homes that’s not going to happen. I truly believe that public school is the last bastion of hope for society. In some homes, they’re not learning anything about work ethic or common kindness or how to work with others. That’s society in general. That’s not just Blue Mountain, that’s everywhere. So to the ones that are willing to join in and be part of the team, we need to communicate. If you’re sitting there frustrated and you’re not happy about something communicate,” Helsel said.

Helsel said 23 people signed up for the event, but only 18 turned out. It started at 7 p.m. and wrapped at 9:24 p.m.

Threats

There were a slew of bomb threats in schools in Schuylkill County this year. They include the following incidents:

• On Feb. 16, Blue Mountain officials discovered a note in a boys’ restroom at the high school. It stated, “there is a bomb tomorrow.” A search of the building found no device, according to a message on the school’s website.

• On Sept. 16, Blue Mountain officials found another note at the high school bathroom wall, “9/16/17 school goes boom,” according to Orwigsburg police.

“Students making these threats will face expulsion from school and may face felony charges, fines and fees potentially exceeding $20,000. The District wants all students to understand the consequences of making terroristic threats in our schools,” according to an Oct. 3 post on the district’s Facebook page.

• On Oct. 2, between 10:30 and 11 a.m. Ivy M. Heinly, 18, of 523 S. 13th St., Reading, formerly of Orwigsburg, wrote a note stating, “The school is to be blown up on 10/02/17 5th period,” and she left it in a girls’ bathroom at Blue Mountain High School in North Manheim Township, according to state police at Schuylkill Haven. Police charged her with causing or risking a catastrophe, terroristic threats, threatening use of a weapon of mass destruction, harassment and disorderly conduct.

• On Oct. 16, Dominick Cassilli, 18, of Frackville, was charged by state police with drawing a picture of a bomb on toilet paper that was found in a bathroom at the Schuylkill Technology Center-South, Mar Lin. Police charged Cassilli with terroristic threats and threats to use weapons of mass destruction.

• On Oct. 18, a bomb threat forced Mahanoy Area School District to evacuate its schools. Mahanoy City police Patrolman Jonathan McHugh said the note stated: “The school will go boom.” On Nov. 11, police charged Joseph R. Flaim, 18, 502 W. South St., Mahanoy City, with one felony count each of threat to use weapons of mass destruction and terroristic threats along with one misdemeanor count each of criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

• On Oct. 19, a 13-year-old student made a similar bomb threat at Blue Mountain Middle School, according to Orwigsburg police. The student, who police said confessed to making the threats, will be charged with causing or risking a catastrophe, threats to use weapons of mass destruction, terroristic threats and harassment.

• On Oct. 23, a 13-year-old student made a similar bomb threat at Blue Mountain, according to Orwigsburg police. The student will also face charges of causing or risking a catastrophe, threats to use weapons of mass destruction, terroristic threats and harassment.

• On Oct. 27, students in the Shenandoah Valley School District were dismissed early after a written threat was found inside a bathroom.

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

POTTSVILLE — Thomas J. Kehl is headed to state prison after admitting Wednesday to a Schuylkill County judge that he operated a methamphetamine laboratory in December 2015 in Mahanoy Township.

Kehl, 27, of Frackville, must serve two to four years in a state correctional institution, plus an additional 12 months on probation, Judge John E. Domalakes ruled.

“A rather serious crime” is how Domalakes described operating the meth lab, one of three charges to which Kehl pleaded guilty.

Pursuant to the plea agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, Domalakes also sentenced Kehl, who sat through the hearing wearing a prison jumpsuit, to pay costs and $2,012 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Harrisburg. Domalakes also rejected Kehl’s request for work release.

“There is no work release in the state prison,” the judge said.

Kehl pleaded guilty to operating a methamphetamine laboratory, risking a catastrophe and possession of drug paraphernalia. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, improper disposal of chemical waste and possession of a controlled substance.

Mahanoy Township police charged Kehl with operating the meth lab on Dec. 17, 2015, at what was then his residence at 123 Park Place Road, Park Place.

Police said county probation offices at Kehl’s residence advised them that they saw drug paraphernalia through a window. Police said they entered the residence and saw a white powder residue, a pipe, two black light bulbs and a small lit candle.

Police said they obtained a search warrant and discovered several items associated with the operation of a meth lab. Analysis of the items revealed key ingredients necessary for the manufacture of meth by the “one-pot” method, according to police.

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

Defendant: Thomas J. Kehl

Age: 27

Residence: Frackville

Charges: Operating a methamphetamine laboratory, risking a catastrophe and possession of drug paraphernalia

Prison sentence: Two to four years in a state correctional institution, plus an additional 12 months on probation

Geisinger Medical Center, Danville

To Courtney Ewing and Trevor Beaver, Ashland, a daughter, Oct. 25.

Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital

To Megan Jones and Jake Kunkel, Ashland, a daughter, Nov. 9.

MAHANOY CITY — The 2018 tentative budget for Mahanoy City holds the line on real estate and other taxes.

The operating budget continues to follow the guidelines under Act 47 to help the borough get on better financial feet for the future. The draft budget was reviewed by Mahanoy City Borough Council.

The balanced budget shows estimated general fund revenues at $1,499,680, an increase from 2017 budgeted revenues of $1,278,406. Total estimated expenditures in 2018 are $1,459,842, an increase from the 2017 budgeted expenses of $1,278,406. The difference in estimate revenues and expenditures leaves a surplus of $39,838.

The tentative budget keeps real-estate taxes at 35.524 mills, the same as in 2017. The assessed value of 1 mill is $24,726, and the collection value of a mill is $19,781 at a collection value of 80 percent, $18,545 at 75 percent. The total assessed value of properties in the borough is $24,726,015.

The borough is operating under the five-year Act 47 distressed community plan created to remedy the financial situation over time by restructuring debt and finding ways to better manage the day-to-day operations to keep financially healthy. Act 47 is the state’s Municipalities Financial Recovery Act, and the 128-page plan for Mahanoy City has been designed with the assistance of the Pennsylvania Economy League and the Governor’s Center for Local Government Services, a state Department of Community and Economic Development agency.

A major part of the financial recovery plan was the increase in the Earned Income Tax paid by borough residents from 1 to 2 percent in 2017. The borough received permission in 2016 for the increase during a civil proceeding before Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas Judge John E. Domalakes. The increase provides revenue for borough operations, including police protection, salaries, code enforcement, infrastructure maintenance.

The EIT normally set at 1 percent and is divided between the borough and the Mahanoy Area School District. With the court approval, the increase of the tax to 2 percent meant the school district continues to receive its one-half percent share, and the borough receives the entire increase, bringing its share to 1.5 percent.

“There are no tax increases,” Borough Manager Daniel L. Lynch said. “We went back to court about three to four weeks ago to keep in force our 1 1/2 percent EIT for 2018, which is pretty much the cornerstone of our Act 47 plan for our revenue. From 2017, all taxes stay the same.”

Lynch said the budget is higher than last year, part of which is taking the full advantage of the EIT.

“It’s a little higher than last year because we only budgeted for half of a percent of the increased EIT revenue, which in 2017 was $228,000,” Lynch said. “So for 2018 we budgeted for the full 1 percent, which is about $456,000.”

As for challenges in the current fiscal year, Lynch said, “Just getting all these initiatives that are in Act 47 off the ground. We have the grant that we put in for Act 47, some additional personnel, the Blight Abatement Task Force. We’ll be budgeting close to $100,000 for blight next year.”

The real estate millage of 35.523 for the new year is divided into the following funds:

• General fund — 22.3 mills.

• Sinking fund — 1.5 mills.

• Street lighting fund — 3.35 mills.

• Debt reduction fund — 7.9 mills.

• Library fund — 0.474 mills.

• Blight fund — 0 mills.

Two mills of real estate taxes were dedicated to the blight fund until this year when the millage was moved into the general fund. However, the equivalent of 2 mills will be transferred from the general fund to the blight fund.

The draft budget was was made available for public inspection at the municipal building, 239 E. Pine St., as of Nov. 10. For more information, call borough hall at 570-773-2150

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

POTTSVILLE — Changes are coming to some Schuylkill Transportation System runs in January.

At a public meeting Wednesday at Union Station, Dave Bekisz, executive director of STS, told the public about the changes. There was also a meeting in Tamaqua about the changes that will go into effect there.

“We are thinking the changes are going to be an overall positive effect,” Gary Martinaitis, director of operations, said.

Some of the changes include elimination of stops while others include adding stops and making some request stops.

In Pottsville, the Pottsville Quick Route and Pottsville Loop will be consolidated. The new Pottsville route will be running every hour from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. For example, stops along the route include both local hospitals, Schuylkill Center, Weis Markets, Giant on Progress Avenue, Career Link and JFK Pool. The new Veterans Affairs Clinic on Laurel Boulevard will be a new stop.

The routes used to be separate. Both of the routes have been underperforming, Martinaitis said, adding they had about three riders each hour. On what is now the Pottsville Loop there will be no service between 13th and 23rd on Mahantongo Street. The following stops will be eliminated from what is now the Quick Route, the second street housing units, Fairmont Avenue, and 13th Street at Seneca and Mount Hope Avenue. New stops on the combined route include Comprehensive Women’s Health Services/Women’s Imaging and Real Options Pregnancy Medical Resource Center. Bekisz said there was service there before years ago, but it was discontinued due to low ridership. At that time, Real Options was not at its present location.

“In order for us to be able to do that (add the stops on the Gordon Nagle Trail), we have to look at the whole picture,” Bekisz said.

The Middleport-Tamaqua-McAdoo route has some positive changes as well.

There will be fixed-route service to Coaldale and St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus.

“I felt for years the Tamaqua area, at least in part in the county, was kind of underserved and with the closing of the Schuylkill Mall, it has given us time to look at what we could do in that area, and I am really happy to report that we will be able to provide fixed-route service to the borough of Coaldale and St. Luke’s Miners Hospital for the first time in the history of STS on a consistent basis,” Martinaitis said.

The bus will have three inbound stops and three outbound stops to and from the area. The bus will leave Union Station three times to go toward McAdoo and return from McAdoo to Union Station three times, making stops along the way for each of the aforementioned trips.

There will still be a connection with Hazleton City Transit at Kennedy and Blain streets in McAdoo at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“The negative part of this, in order to do this extra work, service to the Schuylkill Mall will be discontinued,” Martinaitis said.

The service to the mall will end Jan. 2. Transportation service will continue in Tuscarora. However, Brockton and MaryD will be request stops, meaning passengers have to ask for those stops. STS service to Newkirk and Reevesdale will be discontinued. Only one rider uses the service in that area. He sometimes used the RideShare program of STS, Bekisz said.

“We can’t justify sending a transit bus into these little towns and not pick anybody up,” Martinaitis said.

For Ashland, Mahanoy City and Shenandoah, Monday through Friday route service to the mall will be discontinued Jan. 2.

“The closing of the Schuylkill Mall on this route kind of hurts a little bit because we use the Schuylkill Mall as a transfer point,” Martinaitis said

He said they are going to have three transfer points. He said a lot of people are using the Redner’s Plaza as a transfer point. He said some are going into Shenandoah and use an area near a bank. The new transfer points will be dictated by where most riders get off the bus.

Big Lots in the former mall area will be a request stop.

The connection with The Lower Anthracite Transportation System out of Mount Carmel has not changed and will be at 9:16 a.m. and 2:03 p.m. in Ashland at 21st Street.

Also new, the 10:30 a.m. bus departing Shenandoah will go to Walmart in Saint Clair, arriving at 10:50 a.m., and then go toward Ashland, via Frackville, Gilberton, Mahanoy Plane and Girardville.

Bekisz said 51 percent of the riders on the fixed-route buses are attributable to those who use the Shenandoah bus.

The Saturday Ashland, Mahanoy City and Shenandoah bus will have two additional departure times: a 10:30 a.m. bus leaving Union Station North to Shenandoah; and a noon bus from Shenandoah south to Pottsville. There will also be a 1:30 p.m. bus departing Union Station to Ashland.

Other stops are also part of the Saturday run for Ashland, Mahanoy City and Shenandoah.

Three months after the new schedule changes have taken place, they will be evaluated.

“We’ll give it a try and see what happens,” Bekisz said.

“We think it is going to be a win-win, this change,” Martinaitis said.

Pricing remains unchanged. Base fare is $1.50. A transfer is 25 cents.

Call 570-429-2701 with questions.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

POTTSVILLE — The Schuylkill County commissioners voted 2-1 on Wednesday to approve a preliminary budget that contains a 1-mill real-estate tax increase.

Commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. and Frank J. Staudenmeier, the two Republicans on the board, voted for the budget, which includes more than $61 million in spending, with the proposed hike, while Democrat Gary J. Hess voted against it.

Since the average property in Schuylkill County is assessed at $31,595, the proposed tax increase to 15.98 mills will cost the average property owner $31.59 a year. Income from the increase will be divided between the general fund (0.55 mills) and debt service (0.45 mills).

The tentative budget, which will not need final approval until December, contains $61,222,201 in expenditures. It also includes a $5 per capita tax.

Halcovage and Staudenmeier said the tax increase is necessary to fund capital improvement projects, including a new roof on the courthouse, along with increases in spending for health care and the prison.

“On the general fund side, our expenditures exceed our revenues,” county Finance Director Paul E. Buber said.

Buber said the preliminary budget includes three major spending increases:

• $825,000 in spending for health care benefits, which will total $15.4 million

• $534,463 in spending for the county prison, which will total $7,333,891

• $585,000 in wage hikes from collective bargaining agreements

Buber also said the tax increase would have been greater if the county had not generated approximately $2.4 million in spending cuts by reviewing every part of the budget. However, he said, the budget still had a structural deficit of $7,144,117 with those cuts.

He said an unexpected problem arose when the county Children & Youth agency did not receive $1.25 million of federal and state funding in a timely manner, resulting in the commissioners approving on Wednesday the providing of that $1.25 million to the agency. That money is over and above the regularly budgeted money, according to Buber.

County Administrator Gary Bender said replacing the courthouse roof is the most notable of the capital projects.

“Water leaks in the law library,” damaging the building’s structural integrity, he said.

Others include upgrading the courthouse security system; renovating the county building at 410 N. Centre St., Pottsville; and repointing the prison wall concrete.

“They’re things we absolutely have to do,” Bender said.

He said the cameras in the security system are antiquated and the renovations to 410 N. Centre St. will enable Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, and the county drug and alcohol and mental health/mental retardation programs to move offices into that building, which is located next to the city’s Post Office and across North Centre Street from City Hall.

Those moves will mean annual savings of approximately $100,000 in rental payments, Buber said.

Hess said that while the capital projects are needed, the increase in general fund spending is not, and, unlike in the past, he will not support a tax hike this year.

“We need to look for other sources of revenue,” he said. “We still need to challenge all our departments. We challenge everybody to do more with less.”

Hess said leasing frequencies for the 911 narrow banding system would be a good way for the county to generate more money, as the hotel tax already has. The county also should explore ways to increase revenue from gambling, he said.

Halcovage said the county has little choice in the matter, although the county still is looking for savings in its departments.

“It’s a difficult situation. Our hands are tied on revenue sources,” he said.

Those sources are the state and federal governments and county taxes, according to Halcovage.

Staudenmeier said the county already has zero-based budgeting, meaning every department has to justify every dollar it spends every year, and it is working well. He said people expect services from the county government and services have to be paid for.

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

Next week, we celebrate one of the most beloved of family holidays. Thanksgiving is the oldest special day to have originated in the U.S. and the official kickoff for the Christmas season.

Next week also officially starts the holiday shopping season and the extended Thanksgiving weekend will be full of kick-off events, including Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday.

When doing your holiday shopping, don’t forget to support our local small businesses through their brick and mortar stores and online shopping. Small Business Saturday statistics show that there are many reasons to shop local. For every $100 spent, $68 of that stays local and boosts our area economy if spent at a neighborhood business, whereas only $43 stays local when shopping at a chain store.

Also, more money tends to find its way to nonprofits and our communities when keeping it local since most nonprofits get greater support from locally owned businesses. Our local small businesses work hard to provide for their families and support our area. Maybe you can also give them a boost with some of your holiday shopping.

Shenandoah’s Black Friday Christmas Kickoff will take place in downtown Shenandoah on Nov. 24. Santa and his elves will skydive at noon and Coal Cracker Christmas, including vignettes from The Grinch, a horse-drawn trolley and hot chocolate and cookies will be featured stating at 5:30 p.m.

The annual Ashland and Mahanoy City Christmas tree-lighting ceremonies will take place on Nov. 25 with fun for the whole family that will get you in the Christmas spirit.

Brad Crum, aka “Elvis,” will be singing his popular and holiday songs at the Majestic Theater on Nov. 24. Call 570-628-4647 for ticket information.

Spirit of the Holidays Tour begins Nov. 24. Experience the holidays with more than 250 Pennsylvania artisans, cozy shopping in the country and musical venues. Check them out at www.CelebrateSchuylkill.com or on Facebook.

“The Nutcracker” will be performed by the Schuylkill Ballet Theatre on Nov. 25 and 26 at the Schuylkill Haven Area High School auditorium. Tickets sell for $10 for adults, $8 for seniors and students, and $6 for children ages 3 to 10 at www.schuylkillballet.com.

Make your own Burlap Wreath at the Pottsville Free Public Library on Nov. 28. Select a fall or winter design. BYOB and snacks (optional). Fee of $45 due by Monday. Call 570-622-8880 for details.

Art Center holiday volunteers

Responsibility: Help art center with a variety of festive tasks for events, special 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: 570-668-1192.

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.

A local dance production of a familiar story — which has become a holiday tradition for many — being performed next weekend will look a lot like a family affair.

The Schuylkill Ballet Theatre is set to deliver its 38th annual performance of “The Nutcracker” at 7 p.m. Nov. 25 and 3 p.m. Nov. 26 in the Zwerling Auditorium at Schuylkill Haven Area High School, 501 E. Main St. Tickets are $12 at the door, but those planning to attend can save money by purchasing them online at the theater’s website, with prices at $10 for adults, $8 for students/seniors and $6 for children, according to Jill Krewson, vice president of the theater board for the last six years.

This year’s cast will feature four members of the Bensinger family, New Ringgold. Sheridan Bensinger, the youngest daughter, is set to play Clara; Michael, her father, is set to play Dr. Stahlbaum, Clara’s father; Megan, a daughter, will play the Sugar Plum Fairy, a snowflake and a party scene parent; and Aaron, a son, will play Harlequin, Mouse King, French Marzipan and Cavalier with Dew Drop, Kelly Karpovich, according to Viv Connor, artistic director and choreographer at SBT.

“His (Aaron’s) strength as a football player is a bonus to all the girls he partners! Aaron is an adept partner and the girls have no fear,” Connor said.

Other cast members include Haley Rymarkiewicz as a Gypsy Doll; Abigail Boyer, Isabella Korell, Lydia Meade and Alexa Ziegler as Porcelain Dolls; and Hannah Houtz as a Jack-in-the-Box, Connor said.

The Bensingers also have a few family members working behind the scenes for the production, with Nina Bensinger, the eldest daughter, as the SBT photographer, and Michelle, Michael’s wife and mother of the children, being the main seamstress. Assisting with choreography is Sarah Schimpf, daughter of Janet Bair, SBT’s president, Krewson said.

“The Nutcracker” is a ballet based on an adaptation of E.T.A. Hoffmann’s “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King,” with the original score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and choreography by Marius Petipa. The ballet first debuted in St. Petersburg, Russia, in 1892. This year marks the 125th anniversary of its premiere, and it has made its mark as a Christmas-season rite since.

“Each year our audience has grown. Many have made ‘The Nutcracker’ ballet a Christmas tradition and their favorite way to begin the holiday season,” Connor said.

“SBT’s ‘The Nutcracker’ has always been family-oriented, meaning even the youngest member of our audience will be enthralled with the dancers, the story and the overall entertainment of the performances,” Krewson said.

SBT’s next production will be its spring performance of “Sleeping Beauty” at 7 p.m. April 7 and 3 p.m. April 8 at Schuylkill Haven Area High School, with Schimpf directing choreography.

For more information, visit the SBT website at www.schuylkillballet.com or its Facebook page.

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

POTTSVILLE — A Minersville woman will spend time in prison after admitting Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court that she sexually assaulted a teenage boy in September 2015 in Pottsville.

Brittany A. Marks, 25, must serve six to 14 months in prison, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities under the terms of Judge John E. Domalakes’ sentence.

Domalakes also ordered Marks to undergo an evaluation by the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to help him determine whether she is a sexually violent predator. That determination will influence the duration and severity of the Megan’s Law sanctions that the judge will impose on Marks, who agreed to be sentenced before the board performed its evaluation of her.

Marks, who wore a prison jumpsuit during Wednesday’s hearing, pleaded guilty to statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault.

Pottsville police had charged Marks with assaulting the boy on Sept. 1, 2015, in the city. Prosecutors said the boy was 15 years old at the time Marks assaulted him.

Marks said little during Wednesday’s hearing except that she understood the conditions and consequences of her plea and was entering it knowingly and voluntarily.

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

Defendant: Brittany A. Marks

Age: 25

Residence: Minersville

Crimes committed: Statutory sexual assault, corruption of minors and indecent assault

Prison sentence: Six to 14 months

POTTSVILLE — Cody A. Brill will spend at least nine years behind state prison bars after admitting Wednesday before a Schuylkill County judge that he raped a preteen girl multiple times in 2011 in Wayne Township.

Brill, 23, of Pottsville, must serve nine to 18 years in a state correctional institution under the terms of Judge John E. Domalakes’ sentence.

Domalakes also sentenced Brill to pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, have no contact with the victim and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

He also ordered Brill to submit to an evaluation by the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board that will help the judge determine whether he is a sexually violent predator. That determination will affect the nature of the Megan’s Law sanctions to be imposed on Brill.

Brill pleaded guilty to three counts each of rape of a child and indecent assault and two of aggravated indecent assault. Prosecutors withdrew 10 counts each of rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, aggravated indecent assault of a child and statutory sexual assault, seven additional counts of rape of a child, eight additional counts of aggravated indecent assault and 17 additional counts of indecent assault.

In a second case, Brill pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance.

State police at Schuylkill Haven charged Brill with raping the 9-year-old girl between June 1, 2011, and Aug. 30, 2011.

Police said Brill raped the girl in the second-floor bedroom in the house where he was living as a foster child with the victim’s family.

Furthermore, Brill threatened to kill the girl if she told anyone what he had done, according to police.

Police also said Brill admitted to them that he had committed the crimes.

In the second case, Pottsville police charged Brill with possessing drugs on April 20 in the city.

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

The defendant

· Name: Cody A. Brill

· Age: 23

· Residence: Pottsville

· Crimes committed: Three counts each of rape of a child and indecent assault, two of aggravated indecent assault and one of possession of a controlled substance

· Prison sentence: Nine to 18 years in a state correctional institution