ORWIGSBURG — The borough council heard a revised plan for a development in the borough Wednesday.

J. Jerome Skrincosky, president of Hawk Valley Associates PC, Mohnton, attended on behalf of the family-based Rhodes Organization, Boyertown, which owns a tract of land it wants to build 400 rental units on. Rhodes Organization is also the developer. The proposed site is located along East Market Street between Breezy Acres Road and Kimmels Road in the borough.

The previous rental plan approved was limited to people 55 and older and involved condo ownership, according to the borough. Now a revised idea includes renting to those age 21 and older, disabled, handicapped and veterans of military service. Children are prohibited from residing in the proposed rentals or condos.

“These are conceptual drawings,” Skrincosky said about the information given to the council.

The borough council previously approved the plan in November 2009 that was known as the “Pine Creek Retirement Community.” That plan included 400 residential units, which would entail nine three-story buildings for those 55 and older and had underground parking and other amenities. Public sewer and water would be available on the 29.725-acre site.

“It’s become a saturated market with retirement communities,” Skrincosky said about the plan revision.

To make the project a reality, funding options were researched.

“There’s possible money available from the Veterans Administration as well as through the Americans with Disabilities Act,” Strincosky said.

This proposed plan is now called “Pine Creek Life Care Community.” The community would set aside a certain percentage of the available units for people 55 years old and older, some for disabled, handicapped or veterans of military service and additional space for adults at least 21 years old. No more than two people would be permitted to live in each rental unit, Skrincosky said.

“The mix would allow us greater marketing opportunities,” he said.

However, several changes would need to be made to the Orwigsburg Borough Zoning ordinance, which include changing the space for parking among others. Orwigsburg borough Manager Robert Williams said a public hearing would be needed by the planning and zoning board for changes to the zoning ordinance.

The planning and zoning board must also review changes to the previously approved plan, the county planning commission would need to review any changes. The borough council would also need to approve changes to the zoning ordinance and to the previously submitted plan. Williams said Skrincosky will attend a 7:30 p.m. March 18 planning and zoning meeting to discuss changes to the previous plan approved by the council.

Council member Susan Murphy questioned Skrincosky about prohibiting children. She said “things happen” and asked what would occur if a young couple found themselves expecting a child.

“They would sign a lease” alerting them to the no-child policy, Skrincosky said.

He said when the lease is up, that couple would have to move if they violate the terms.

“That lease would clearly say no school-age children,” he said.

Council President Buddy Touchinsky asked who would enforce the terms of the lease. Skrincosky said the owner would, but Williams said the borough did not want to have that responsibility.

“You were going to build this gradually. Is that still your intention?” Murphy asked.

Skrincosky said “yes.” He later said if all approvals are given, construction could start next year. He did not give a time frame of how long it would take until a unit is available for rent, nor did he say when any residents could move in. The development could take five to 10 years to build, he said. Whether pets would be permitted has not been decided, he said.

ASHLAND — Three detectives will attempt to solve “The Case of the Shaken, Rattled and Rolled Reporter” at the Mineshaft Cafe’s murder mystery dinner at 7 p.m. Saturday.

“Come out and have a good time, a good night out. Try to take care of some cabin fever. Try to get people to get out of the house for a little while anyway,” Cory Machese, Mineshaft Cafe owner, said Wednesday.

Three actors from Act 1 Productions, Berks County, will put on the show, “The Case of the Shaken, Rattled and Rolled Reporter,” between courses at the restaurant.

“The show we’re taking up to them on Saturday night is based on 50s style,” Debi Irene Wahl, owner and founder of Act 1 Productions, said Wednesday.

The show consists of four 15-minute acts, but some shows have taken up to two hours with audience interaction.

“We’re always family-friendly. If the crowd wants to have fun and play games, we do, too,” Wahl said. “We encourage guests to get up, dance and sing along.”

Wahl also encourages attendees to dress in their finest 50s outfit and a winner will be selected for the best outfit.

Many opportunities are available for younger aspiring actors in Act 1, like Madilyn Yuengel, who wrote “The Case of the Shaken, Rattled and Rolled Reporter” for the acting company.

“She (Yuengel) started with me when she was 12 and stayed until she went to college and now she’s married ... and wrote this for us,” Wahl said.

The Mineshaft Cafe held a murder mystery dinner two years ago with a different theater company and thought “it might be time to try it again and see how it goes,” Machese said.

“That was actually a casino setting, it was pretty neat. The group brought roulette wheels up and card games and instead of winning money, they won extra clues to solve the mystery. It seemed like that went over really well. It seems like a lot of people really like gambling even if it’s just for fun, so we had a good turn out for that one,” he said of the last mystery theater.

Tickets for the dinner cost $28.95 and include an entree choice of a hot roast beef, roast turkey or Yuengling-battered haddock platter. Other dinner choices include a salad, vegetable, mashed potato, dessert and soda, coffee or hot tea.

“We do that every Friday here actually — the Yuengling-battered fish and mac and cheese — it’s really popular,” Machese said.

Courses will be served between acts and acts will be started with 50s music to settle everyone down, Wahl said.

The dinner will be held upstairs in the catering hall, which can seat 120 people comfortably. Forty-five to 50 tickets have been sold so far, Machese said.

Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and show starts at 7 p.m.

Along with prize drawings and a 50s costume contest, the person who solves the murder mystery first will receive a $25 gift card for the Mineshaft Cafe.

“I’m going to see how this one goes and maybe do another one in the summer time. Maybe like July or August when people are sick of the heat then and they’ll want to come in and cool off instead of getting warmed up,” he said.

SHENANDOAH — Classroom days lost to snow and ice in the Shenandoah Valley School District will be made up within the existing schedule and will not affect graduation.

The adjusted schedule discussed at the Shenandoah Valley school board meeting on Thursday will keep graduation day as June 1.

A revised school schedule for the inclement weather make-up days had been created as of last week, accounting for the six days when school was canceled due to winter weather. Since the Feb. 26 meeting was canceled due to lack of a quorum, the meeting was moved but then an additional seventh snow day on Thursday occurred, with the administration needing to look at what could be done to make another adjustment.

“Everything is still on schedule for graduation,” Superintendent Stanley G. Rakowsky said after the meeting.

The new schedule includes most make-up days at the Easter/spring break, with only Good Friday remaining as a day off.

The school board approved professional staff in-service and other business as follows:

• Don Brown, Feb. 25 and 26, for Dimensions of Success training

• Valerie Chittalia, March 3, for Schuylkill County Education Children and Youth Experiencing Homeless program

• Angie Brayford, May 5 and 6, for Tech Talk Live

• Allison Hoffman, March 18, for Gifted Network Forum

• Approved Heather Dachiu (elementary) as an addition to professional staff substitute list

• Approved the following deputy tax collectors in the school district: Jennifer Grochowski (West Mahanoy Township) and Janice Huth (Shenandoah borough)

• Approved outdated computer equipment disposal plan as recommended

• Approved the following extracurricular coaching staff: Edward Hogan, assistant football (offensive coordinator), Francis Lally, assistant football (defensive backs/wide receivers), Chad Marquardt, assistant football (quarterbacks/linebackers), Mick Jacavage, assistant football (co-defensive coordinator), Jeff Jacavage, assistant football (special teams), Jack Buchinsky, assistant football (co-strength and conditioning/offensive and defensive line), Chris Knapp, assistant football (head junior high), Greg Polosky, assistant football (co-head junior high) and Angie Bzura, assistant track and field (throwing)

• Appointed Melinda Colon (substitute housekeeping)

• Approved leave of absence for Dana Sobinsky (maternity leave/retroactive)

• Approved advertising for the following positions: full-time custodian and two permanent part-time teacher aides

• Approved the resignation of part-time teacher aide April Briones

• Approved bus stop at 331 Raven Run Road.

A Shenandoah man must spend at least 4 1/2 more months in prison, a Schuylkill County judge ordered Feb. 26.

David C. Miller Jr., 25, will remain behind bars until July 7, and could stay until Feb. 13, 2016, Judge John E. Domalakes ruled.

Domalakes made his ruling after revoking Miller’s parole. The defendant had admitted violating his parole by failing to report to his supervising officer, moving without permission, committing new crimes and not making payments on his costs and fines.

Miller originally pleaded guilty on Sept. 24, 2014, to conspiracy. At that time, Domalakes sentenced him to serve 275 days to 23 months in prison with immediate parole and pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $100 restitution.

Tamaqua police had charged Miller with being part of a conspiracy on Dec. 22, 2013, in the borough.

Also on Feb. 26, Domalakes sentenced Jessee J. Price, 29, of Ringtown, to serve five to 23 months in prison

Domalakes imposed the sentence after revoking Price’s probation, which the defendant admitted violating by committing new crimes.

Price originally pleaded guilty on April 23, 2014, to bad checks, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of theft by deception. At that time, Domalakes sentenced him to spend 12 months on probation and pay costs, a $50 CJEA payment and $600 restitution, amounts Price still must pay under the terms of the sentence.

Frackville borough police originally charged Price with passing a bad check on May 3, 2013, in the borough.

NEW PHILADELPHIA — The borough council will consider a lease-to-own agreement to turn the historic bank building on its main street into its future municipal building.

“I think they could bring their police station in there too. It includes a parking lot right next door. I think you can fit about 25 cars there,” Craig S.L. Shields, CEO of Barefield Development Corp., Pottsville, which owns the building, said Thursday night.

The council will discuss the matter at a public meeting at 7:30 p.m. Monday at 15 Macomb St., which is the location of the boroughs’s current municipal building, police station and Good Intent Fire Company, Christine Carey, borough council president, said Thursday.

This will be the borough’s March meeting, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was postponed due to a snowstorm.

The Union Bank and Trust Co. branch at 82 Valley St. closed to the public last year. It was donated to Barefield Development.

The building was first used for Silver Creek State Bank, which was organized by a group of businessmen in the Schuylkill Valley. It received its charter in 1918, and it opened for business March 1, 1919, according to the “Joseph H. Zerbey History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County,” published in 1936.

“The ground where the bank now stands was owned by Wm. Walters who sold it to the bank for $1,” according to the Zerbey history.

Walters, who resided in New Philadelphia, was the bank’s first vice president. Its first president was Charles W. Bankes, Middleport, according to the Zerbey history.

In November 1964, the Union Bank and Trust Co. of Pottsville acquired the Silver Creek State Bank of New Philadelphia, with approvals from the Pennsylvania State Banking Department and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., according to The Republican-Herald archives.

In March 2013, Union Bank and Trust Co. and Riverview Bank announced plans to consolidate their operations. Then, they decided to close the New Philadelphia branch, according to the archives.

“It was not an easy decision,” Brett Fulk, chief operating officer for Riverview Bank, said Dec. 23, 2013, in an interview with The Republican-Herald. “When we (Riverview Bank) merged with Union Bank, we had to take a comprehensive look at what we acquired. The costs associated with upgrading the New Philadelphia office to bring it up to standards were prohibitive.”

According to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator, UBT Realty Co. sold the building to Barefield Development Corp. for $1 on Dec. 24, 2013.

On Feb. 28, 2014, the Union Bank and Trust Co. branch at 82 Valley St. closed its retail banking operation.

The Borough of New Philadelphia isn’t the only municipality in Schuylkill County considering the possibility of moving its borough hall into a former bank.

The Schuylkill Haven borough council recently approved a resolution to acquire a property owned by The Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad. On Feb. 3, the railroad bought the former National Penn Bank building along Route 61 in Schuylkill Haven from the bank for $330,000. The borough has offered to give the railroad its current office building at 12 W. Main St. and a lot adjacent to it in exchange for the bank.

On Feb. 18, Mark Semanchik, solicitor for the Schuylkill Haven borough council, said the council must hold an additional vote to give final approval to the plan.

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf wants to hire 50 employees to enforce regulation of oil and gas drilling activities with a portion of revenue from a proposed state severance tax on natural gas production.

In his budget for fiscal 2015-16, Wolf proposes using $10 million in severance tax revenue for additional inspection and oversight of drilling operations.

These positions would be added to the Department of Environmental Protection’s Oil and Gas program if approved by lawmakers later this year.

DEP operates oil and gas offices in Williamsport with satellite offices in Scranton, Pittsburgh and Meadville.

In succeeding years, $10 million in severance tax revenue would go to support DEP drilling enforcement efforts.

DEP Secretary-designate John Quigley is scheduled to discuss budget issues Wednesday before the House Appropriations Committee.

Pennsylvania can use more gas inspectors since there are 7,000 active wells, 15,000 permitted wells, newly updated enforcement policies and recent incidents with well fires and wastewater and impoundment leaks, Sen. John Yudichak, D-14, ranking Democrat on the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, said Thursday. He has sponsored legislation to levy a severance tax.

“Clearly, there is a need for more inspectors,” Yudichak said. “I applaud the governor for putting the marker on the table.”

The senator said the governor is suggesting a total number of personnel needed, but decisions have not been made about where they would be located.

Under the Democratic governor’s proposal, severance tax revenue would go also for public education, an alternative energy bond issue and to maintain drilling impact fees to local governments in drilling regions at a level of $225 million.

Sen. Gene Yaw, R-23, chairman of the Senate environmental panel, said a severance tax would yield only half as much revenue as the $1 billion projected by the governor and spur drilling firms to leave Pennsylvania.

Yaw stressed the importance of maintaining the current distribution of driller impact fees under a 2012 state law.

“No other law in recent memory has brought so much back to rural Pennsylvania,” he said.

Wolf also wants to reverse a trend in recent years where the agency overseeing state parks and forests has been increasingly supported by a separate fund based on payments for oil and gas drilling on public land rather than the taxpayer-supported General Fund.

He proposed drawing an additional $22 million from the General Fund to support the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

The agency would still receive $117 million next year from the Oil and Gas Lease Fund, a decline of $5 million from current levels, according to an analysis by the House Democratic Appropriations Committee.

Also, Wolf wants to restore $315,000 or more than half of a state aid cut to the Delaware River Basin Commission in the current budget. The DRBC has a moratorium on gas drilling in Wayne and Pike counties.

n Frackville: The Frackville Ministerium Food Bank will be open from 9 to 10 a.m. March 19 to serve eligible borough residents. New applicants will need proof of eligibility — a borough address. The food bank is at Zion Lutheran Church, Oak and Nice streets. People should use the downstairs entrance by the parking lot.

n Frackville: The South End Field and Stream Association will hold free fly tying class for ages 8 to adults from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at Whippoorwill Dam, Morea Road. All supplies will be provided. To register, call Joe C. at 570-874-1108.

n Hometown: Marian High School will hold an information question-and-answer session from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Monday in the high school library. All parents and students interested in visiting the school and learning about its programs are welcome to attend. Faculty, staff and administration will be available to answer questions parents or students may have regarding registration, academics, financial aid, athletics and extra-curricular activities. Registration is open. For interested people who are unable to attend, there will be another session from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. June 15. For more information, call the school’s development office at 570-467-0641.

n Mahanoy City: Humane Fire Company No. 1 is selling homemade Easter eggs at $8 per dozen and $4 per half dozen. Varieties include peanut butter, coconut cream and butter cream. Orders are due by March 15 and pickups will be from 6 to 8 p.m. March 27 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 28 at the firehouse. Delivery will be available in Mahanoy City. To order or for more information, call Kathy at 570-773-2223.

n Mar Lin: The Miller Keystone Blood Center will hold a SkillsUSA blood drive from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at the Schuylkill Technology Center-South campus, 15 Maple Ave., hosted by the SkillsUSA student organization. People may register online at www.giveapint.org or by calling 800-B-A-DONOR. Donors must be 17 or older with valid identification. For more information, call 570-544-4748, ext. 3142.

n Shenandoah: The Shenandoah Valley Elementary School will have registration for 4K and kindergarten on March 17 and 18. For the 4K program, children must be 4 years old by Aug. 31 and for kindergarten, 5 years old by Aug. 31. Registration will be by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, call the school at 570-462-2796. Registration packets are available at the elementary office. Packets must be completed prior to the appointment. Required documentation includes a birth or baptismal certificate, updated immunization records and three proofs of district residency.

n Shenandoah: Schuylkill Health is offering a free multi-week program in Shenandoah and Pottsville geared to help people at risk of becoming diabetics. Schuylkill Health, according to a release from M. Michael Peckman, community relations coordinator, is part of the National Diabetes Prevention Program, a free 16-week lifestyle change program designed to help people prevent or delay Type 2 Diabetes. Programs are being offered beginning March 17 in Shenandoah and March 19 in Pottsville. “Schuylkill Health is fortunate to have two certified (diabetes) educators,” Stacia Visgarda, director of education and professional practice, said in the release. The diabetes educators have been trained as lifestyle coaches and will work with participants to learn skills to make lasting changes such as losing a modest amount of weight, being more physically active and managing stress. To register, call 570-621-5020. People are more likely to have pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes if they are 45 years of age or older; are overweight; have a family history of Type 2 diabetes; are physically active fewer than three times per week; or have been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during pregnancy or gave birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, Schuylkill Health officials said. In Shenandoah, the program will be held Tuesdays in the Shenandoah Senior Community Center, 116 N. Main St. In Pottsville, it will be held Thursdays at the Joseph F. McCloskey Learning Center, second floor of the School of Nursing Building on the campus of Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street.

The managers of the Majestic Theater, Pottsville, are in the process of hiring a contractor to replace two of the three heating/air conditioning units on its roof, Amy S. Burkhart, executive director of the Pottsville Area Development Corp., said Friday.

On Feb. 24, the board of directors for PADCO, which owns and maintains the 224-seat theater at 209 N. Centre St., reviewed five proposals and hired Antz Energy Systems, Shenandoah, to replace two of the electric-powered heating/air conditioning units with natural gas units at a cost of $18,000, Burkhart said.

The board of directors for the Majestic Theater, which organizes the theater’s events, must also approve the contract and will review the matter at its next meeting, slated for 8 a.m. March 13 at Union Station, Burkhart said.

Even though the project may not be complete until late March, the first event of the year will be held Sunday. It’s “APPLAUSE! A Majestic Cabaret,” slated for 6 p.m. Tickets are $15 each, according to the theater’s website, www.majestictheater.net.

And the show will go on, Burkhart said, even though all of the theater’s heaters won’t.

“Provided that we don’t have temperatures that are around negative 15 or some kind of intense cold outside, we should be fine. We should be able to heat the theater well,” Burkhart said.

In September 2014, the board of directors at the Majestic Theater decided the theater should close in January and February since, traditionally, it’s not a busy time of year. But the theater had to close at the start of 2015, since two of its three electric-powered heating/air conditioning units failed at the end of 2014, Burkhart said.

Burkhart said a crane will be used during the installation process, but she didn’t have a time frame for completion.

“They have to work with UGI to make sure the gas lines are put in and all that. But the installation shouldn’t take too long. It’s a matter of coordinating everything,” Burkhart said.

David J. Petravich, Pottsville’s building code officer, said the city’s third-party commercial building inspector, Jerry Farro of Comprehensive Inspection Agency LLC, Cressona, may have to review the plan before the work can begin.

Meanwhile, Burkhart said PADCO is raising funds to pay for the heating/air conditioning upgrades and donors can call her at 570-628-4647.

Other shows scheduled for the theater in the next few weeks include:

• 7 p.m. March 13, The Troubles, an Irish American band. Tickets are $10 each.

• 7 p.m. March 21, M&T Movies at the Majestic presents “Maleficent.” Hosted by the Pottsville Recreation Commission and sponsored by M&T Bank, admission is free.

• 7 p.m. March 28, Music at the Majestic starring Samantha Wood. Tickets are $15 each.

• 2 p.m. March 29, “A Miner’s Tale,” a one-man play starring Robert Thomas Hughes, an actor from Clarks Summit, organized with cooperation from the Schuylkill County Historical Society.

In a recent article, representatives of the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Pottsville said the authority owned the theater’s building. On Friday, city Administrator Thomas A. Palamar, who is the redevelopment authority’s executive director, confirmed the theater is owned by PADCO.

ORWIGSBURG — Construction will soon start on the $7 million senior housing project at the former FesslerUSA knitting mill in the borough.

Known as the Independence Square Senior Housing, it is being developed by Barefield Development Corp., Pottsville.

“We should be starting construction the first week of April,” Craig Shields, CEO of Barefield Development Corp., said Thursday. “The snow has not been helping us.”

Shields said the project contract has been awarded to Grimm Construction, Waymart, which will likely sublet different aspects of the project to local contractors.

Last week, the county commissioners approved a loan for the project from the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, which consists of recording fees for deeds and mortgages and is used on local housing projects. Schuylkill Community Action administers the Act 137 funding and it must be approved by the county commissioners.

The commissioners had approved $25,000 for 2013 and $25,000 for 2014, totaling $50,000 for the project. The zero percent deferred loan is to be paid back over the course of 30 years.

The total cost of the project is $7,019,573, which is being paid through state tax credits.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the U.S. Treasury Department allocates tax credits to each state based on population. The credits are then given by developers who, together with an equity partner, develop and maintain apartments as affordable units. Benefits are derived primarily from the tax credits over a 10-year period.

Shields said there were two separate tax credits awarded to make up the total cost. Boston Financial, Boston, Massachusetts, bought all the tax credits for the project, he said.

Located at 216 W. Independence St., the Independence Square Housing Corp. will house 20 apartments in the two-story, 40,000-square-foot building. That includes 13 one-bedroom apartments and seven two-bedroom apartments along with new space for the borough library. The building has been vacant since July 2009 when operations were moved to a new location along Route 61, which has since closed.

n Frackville: The Frackville Museum, located in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, 42 S. Centre St., will have an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday. Speaker Cindy Heine Turner will take visitors down Memory Lane in a 2 p.m. talk about the minstrels that were held at St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church. People will also be able to check out new items at the museum. Admission is free. For more information, call 570-874-3531.

n Orwigsburg: The borough will be featured in WVIA-TV’s “Our Town” series, which is a “day-in-the-life” one-hour video scrapbook focusing on the people, places and happenings as seen through the eyes of its residents, according to a WVIA press release. All Orwigsburg residents are encouraged to attend the first “Our Town Orwigsburg” community/volunteer meeting set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 236 E. Market St. Residents will discuss which landmarks, events and local stories the program should tell about their town. WVIA will answer questions about the project during the meeting and ask volunteers to brainstorm a list of subjects and events to videotape. Then, at 5:30 p.m. March 26, WVIA will hold a second community/volunteer meeting at the church, during which volunteers will participate in a whiteboard session to determine the stories to be told in the program and which stories each volunteer will videotape to create the presentation. “Our Town Orwigsburg” will debut on June 4 on WVIA-TV.

n Pottsville: The Schuylkill County commissioners will convene the third Schuylkill County Youth Summit on Friday, according to an announcement from Kay Jones, executive director of Schuylkill County’s VISION. The summit will include students from all Schuylkill County high schools who are working on the issues of drivers’ safety regarding county youth and the need for expanded drivers’ training in the schools. During the summit, students will “interview a panel of driver safety experts from the county,” according to Jones’ release. “They will consider the three components of learning to drive safely: Drivers’ manual training, behind the wheel training and training on important topics such as distracted driving. The training students receive in the county schools varies greatly. Only one school, Williams Valley, has manual training and behind the wheel in school.” During town hall meetings held in the fall, students heard ideas about public-private partnerships and grant funding to facilitate driver training in schools. “It will be the students’ assignment at the summit to come up with an action plan to work to improve the consistency and scope of drivers’ education opportunities in the county,” Jones said in the release.

n Schuylkill Haven: Care Net of Schuylkill County will host a chili and macaroni-and-cheese cook-off at 6 p.m. March 20 at the Walk In Art Center, 110 W. Columbia St. Tickets are available for raffle baskets, artwork and prices. Winners will be announced at the event. Tickets are $10 if bought by Friday and will be $12 at the door. There is no charge for children under 12. Cook-off details will be provided to all participants prior to the event. Local ministries are invited to set up information tables at the event. Care Net is a nonprofit ministry organization with a crisis pregnancy center in Pottsville to assist women in unplanned pregnancies with free pregnancy testing, parenting and material support without prejudice, according to a Care Net press release. For more information about Care Net or the event, call 570-624-7244 or email to carenetofsch.co@comcast.net.

n Shenandoah: Joe Chowanes has announced upcoming meetings for several local veterans organizations. He said Catholic War Veterans Post 1107 will meet at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Knights of Columbus home, 201 W. Cherry St. The Walter Wardigo AMVETS Post 7 will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Anthony P. Damato American Legion “Medal of Honor” Post 792, 116 N. Main St., and the Damato post will meet at 8 p.m. Monday in the post home. Damato directors will meet at 7:30 p.m.

FRIEDENSBURG — One person died and two others were flown to the hospital when a vehicle went off the road and struck multiple trees just after 9:30 p.m. Friday on Stone Mountain Road, about a quarter mile west of the intersection with Long Run Road, Wayne Township.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said three people in their 20s were in the silver Subaru Outback when it went off the road. The impact killed one and the other two were flown to a local hospital. Police will not release their names until their families are notified.

Police said they did not know what caused the crash and a reconstruction crew was called to the scene.

Further details were unavailable by press time Friday.

Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street

To Eric Eccker and Karissa Laughlin, a son, Jan. 18.

To Kyle and Valerie Gudinas Greene, Pottsville, a daughter, Feb. 18.

To Joshua and Megan Blankenship Hepler, Ashland, a son, Feb. 23.

MAHANOY CITY — Borough police have filed criminal charges against several property owners who ignored numerous warnings to bring buildings they own up to code.

Chief John Kaczmarczyk charged 12 people — nine with one misdemeanor charge each of public nuisance and recklessly endangering another person, and three others with a misdemeanor charge of public nuisance.

“These people were charged criminally after they repeatedly ignored letters and warnings off of the borough,” Kaczmarczyk said.

The chief said the charges against the 12 are the result of complaints received by the borough code enforcement officer. One case has been ongoing since 2009, another since 2011 and the remaining cases are from 2012, 2013 and 2014.

Kaczmarczyk said that after the complaints were investigated and the properties examined, a notice of violation was sent to the owner outlining the violations and allowing 30 days to correct the problems.

The violations for each property included failure to maintain a clean, safe and sanitary condition and for dangerous structures including partial collapses or other hazards to the general public, Kaczmarczyk said.

After failing to rectify the problems within the allocated 30 days, the chief said each property owner was issued a citation by the code enforcement officer through the office of Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Again, Kaczmarczyk said no action was taken by the property owners, resulting in the borough to take matters to the next step. The cases were turned over to the police department, resulting in the filing of the criminal charges.

The nine charged with two offenses and the properties they own in the borough are:

• Robert S. Whitecavage, 61, of 110 E. Penn St., Shenandoah, a property at 513 W. Market St.

• Deborah Whitecavage, 47, of 110 E. Penn St., Shenandoah, a property at 513 W. Market St.

• John F. Scott, 45, of 1873 NE 206th Ave., Old Town, Florida, a property at 728 E. Market St.

• Heather A. Scott, 38, of 1873 NE 206th Ave., Old Town, Florida, a property at 728 E. Market St.

• Ann M. Rainis, 72, 521 W. Washington St., Frackville, a property at 523 E. Pine St.

• Miodrag B. Tirchi, 59, of 779 Lattimer Road, Box 67, Lattimer, a property at 701 E. Centre St.

• Lisa S. McMullin, 47, of Box 394, Meadowview, Virginia, a property at 20 E. South St.

• Ata Richard Zandieh, 32, of 210 Lewis St., Harrisburg, properties at 216 and 218 W. Spruce St.

• Aura I. Santiago, 46, of 313 E. Mine St., Hazleton, a property at 222 W. Mahanoy Ave.

Charged with a sole count of public nuisance were:

• Robert H. Collins, 39, of 38 Duck St., Girardville, a property at 81 S. Catawissa St.

• Elrena L. Gibson, 51, of 36 S. Hoffman Blvd., Ashland, a property at 1031 E. Pine St.

• Anisa L. Kane, 26, of 526 W. South St., Mahanoy City, a property at 421 W. Mahanoy Ave.

Each of those charged criminally will now have to answer those offenses before Kilker in his Shenandoah courtroom.

The boiler at the Thompson Building in Pottsville is still shut down, and in an effort to improve conditions for his two business tenants, the building’s owner said Friday he spent $4,000 to install electric heaters in their stores.

Ben Agunloye, Brooklyn, New York, said Friday he’s also spending $1,000 to install showers on the second floor, which is “to be used as transitional housing for workers relocating to Pottsville.”

David J. Petravich, Pottsville’s building code officer, said Friday his office hasn’t approved a permit for the installation of showers on the second floor. He said he would look into the matter.

But before the showers can be installed, Agunloye has to fix a few water problems at the six-story building in the heart of downtown Pottsville.

Since mid-February, the building’s two business tenants — Strictly Formals Rentals and Sales, 23 N. Centre St., and Smokers Heaven, 25 N. Centre St. — haven’t had running water. Frozen pipes forced the building’s boiler to shut down.

On March 2, the building’s water meter froze and cracked, causing a water leak in the basement. In response, the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority shut off water service to the building, Patrick M. Caulfield, the authority’s executive director, said Friday.

Agunloye said Friday he was unaware of the water meter crack and said he would look into it.

Meanwhile, the owners of the two businesses at the building are upset by the situation and uncertain about the future.

James J. Corcoran, the owner of Strictly Formals, wasn’t sure the electric heaters would be of much help.

“I’m not sure what this will do to our electric bills. That remains to be seen,” Corcoran said.

“I don’t think he wants to shell out the money to fix the boiler. It needs to be thoroughly cleaned. And you need a building manager here to run the building,” Chris J. Figueiredo, one of the store managers at Smokers Heaven, said Friday.

Built in 1909, the Thompson Building at North Centre and West Market streets is one of the city’s landmarks. In recent years the 36,000-square-foot building has experienced maintenance problems and lost tenants.

In January 2011, QNB Bank, Quakertown, was the owner of the building, and QNB hired Rittenhouse & Sons Inc., Quakertown, to install a new steam heat boiler at a cost of $22,000.

In August 2014, Agunloye bought the building from ALT 23-27 Centre LLC for $150,000, according to the deed recorded in the Schuylkill County Courthouse.

In mid-February, a pipe bringing heat into the building cracked underneath the tuxedo shop, which caused the boiler to shut down, Agunloye said Feb. 16.

“I don’t think we’ve had running water since about February 12,” Corcoran said Friday.

This week, Agunloye Development and Construction LLC, Brooklyn, New York, installed six Fahrenheat-brand portable electric/hydronic baseboard heaters at Strictly Formals.

In the next few days, the firm will put similar heaters at Smokers Heaven.

While the ones at Strictly Formals are on the floor, the ones at Smokers Heaven may hang from the ceiling.

“Baseboard electric heaters are ideal with standing fans circulating the heat since heat rises. For Smokers Heaven, electric heaters hanging from the ceiling would allow them to keep their shelves up against the wall, allow them to keep their aisle space and were requested by the owners of the store,” Agunloye said.

This is a “bandage” that will get the businesses through the winter until further work can be done on the building’s boiler, Agunloye said Feb. 16.

“The boiler will need a new gas pipe installed between both basements, which would require us to drill between the walls separating both basements,” Agunloye said.

Looking ahead, Agunloye said when he repairs the water meter, he may install individual water meters for each of his tenants.

“Both agreed to rent increases to maintain their current locations and both tenants agreed to be responsible for the utilities they consume, the maintenance of the equipment they use and the upkeep of the environment of their storefronts. All tenants in the Thompson Building pay their own expenses. Triple net leases are all we offer in the Thompson Building,” Agunloye said Friday.

A triple net lease is a “lease agreement that designates the lessee (the tenant) as being solely responsible for all of the costs relating to the asset being leased in addition to the rent fee applied under the lease,” according to www.investopedia.com.

No contraband

in prison sweep

A sweep of Schuylkill County prison Wednesday morning found no evidence of contraband, said county Prison Board chairman and county Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr.

The sweep started at 8 a.m. and lasted until 11:30 a.m. and included all areas of the building, on Sanderson Street across from the courthouse.

A team of seven specially trained dogs, two trained to sniff out cellphones and five to sniff out drugs, found no evidence of either, Halcovage said.

The dogs and eight law enforcement officers were from the state Department of Corrections in Harrisburg.

Rush Twp. police

arrest 2 for theft

HOMETOWN — Two people were taken into custody by Rush Township police after an incident about 8:10 p.m. Feb. 26 at Wal-Mart.

Police said Felicia Urbanski, 27, of Tamaqua, was taken into custody in the Spare Time bowling alley after she fled Wal-Mart after stealing $1,007.26 worth of merchandise.

In addition, police said, Sam Miletto, 45, also of Tamaqua, was also taken into custody after he was hiding in the bowling alley in connection with the theft as well for outstanding warrants out of Carbon County.

Police said Urbanski also has outstanding warrants from Schuylkill County, Carbon County and in Philadelphia.

Both were lodged in the Carbon County Prison on the warrants and will now face charges in Schuylkill County related to the thefts.

Tamaqua police assisted and police said the stolen merchandise was later recovered in a Uhaul truck.

Rush police arrest

Hazleton man

HOMETOWN — A Hazleton man was arrested by Rush Township police after an incident about 2:45 a.m. Feb. 28 on Frankford Avenue.

Police said Edward Hoffman, 43, was arraigned on charges of simple assault, unlawful restraint and harassment. He was committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $10,000 straight cash bail set by on-call Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

No other information on what led up to the charges against Hoffman was available.

Driver arrested

for striking cruiser

About 1:50 a.m. Feb, 27, while Pottsville police officers were investigating an incident involving a tractor-trailer stopped in the 100 block of South Claude A. Lord Boulevard, a passing motorist struck a marked city patrol vehicle that had both the overhead emergency lights and turn signal activated.

Police said Mark Wayne Bencroft, 47, of Morrisville, was traveling south in the right lane when he veered into the left lane and struck the police cruiser as it was in the process of making a left turn.

As a result the officer suffered minor injuries and both the cruiser and Bencroft’s 2013 Ford Escape were towed from the scene.

Police said that as a result of the subsequent investigation, Bencroft was taken into custody for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or a controlled substance and transported to the Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for a blood-alcohol test.

Police said the investigation is continuing pending the results of the blood test.

Drivers not hurt

in 2-car crash

Pottsville police investigated a crash that was reported about 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at West Market and Sixth streets.

Police said Jonathan Pozza, 30, of Minersville, reported driving his 2003 Nissan XTerra east on Market Street when a vehicle turned left, entering his lane of travel at Sixth Street.

Pozza said he was unable to stop and struck that vehicle, a 2012 Honda Fit driven by George Klipola, 42, of Middleport.

Police said Klipola was traveling west on Market Street and tried to turn south onto Sixth Street when the crash occurred.

No injuries were reported and police said Klipola will be cited for a turning violation.

Boy on bike ignores

stop sign, is struck

A crash involving a bicycle and motor vehicle that occurred in the area of East Norwegian and George streets about 4:15 p.m. Sunday is being investigated by Pottsville police.

Police said their investigation determined that an 11-year-old Pottsville boy was riding a bicycle north on George Street when he failed to stop for a stop sign at the intersection of East Norwegian Street.

The bicycle entered the intersection directly into the path of a 2002 Pontiac Montana that was being driven west on East Norwegian Street by Patrick J. Gillespie, 54, of Pottsville.

Police said the juvenile suffered minor injuries to his left knee and was transported to the Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street by Schuylkill EMS for treatment.

Police said the actions of the 11-year-old boy were determined to be the sole cause of the accident and there were no contributing factors on Gillespie’s part.

Woman admits

drug use to police

MOREA — A Pottsville woman was charged by Mahanoy Township police after an incident about 8:20 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Shell station on the Morea Road.

Police said Taylor L. Skwait, 20, of 225 Peacock St., was charged with DUI and driving with a suspended or revoked license.

Police said a Shell employee reported a woman drove onto the lot and appeared to be under the influence and then drove off in another vehicle with a man.

The other vehicle returned and police said they contacted Skwait, who appeared to be under the influence of drugs and subsequently admitted to doing a “line of meth.”

The woman was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street where a blood test determined she had methamphetamine and amphetamine in her system, police said.

Parking lot damage

caught on tape

LYKENS — State police at Lykens are investigating a criminal mischief incident that occurred at the Goodwill store parking lot in Washington Township, Dauphin County, between 12:45 and 1:08 p.m. Feb. 25.

Police said William J. Kramer, Wiconisco, reported someone scratched his car with their vehicle while backing out of a parking space next to his.

The crime was caught on store security cameras and police said the fleeing vehicle may be a large white Ford sedan.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 717-362-8700.

Wanted man found

after accident

RINGTOWN — A man wanted for violating his probation was jailed after causing an accident at 7:20 a.m. Wednesday on Route 924 north of Phinneyville Road.

State police at Frackville said Joshua T. Llewellyn, 25, of Ringtown, was traveling south in a 2013 Ford Escape on Route 924 when he lost control of the vehicle and struck a 2011 Nissan Sentra, driven by Linda M. Lorah, 61, of Ringtown.

After impact, the Ford struck an embankment on the east berm and rolled onto its driver side.

Llewellyn’s driver’s license is under suspension and he will receive traffic citations for causing the crash and for driving under suspension.

A NCIC/CLEAN check revealed that Llewellyn was wanted by the Luzerne County Probation and Parole Department for a probation violation. He was taken into custody and transported to the Schuylkill County Jail. He was lodged at the jail on a detainer from Luzerne County.

Icy interstate

blamed for wreck

HAMBURG — State police at Hamburg said two drivers escaped injury in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday on Interstate 78 in Berks County.

Police said the 5:08 p.m. accident occurred as a driver, whom police did not identify, was driving a 2014 Lincoln Mkz west at mile marker 32.3 when he lost control on an icy, slush-covered roadway. The driver hit the center concrete barrier with the driver’s-side front bumper and spun out of control, police said.

Upon coming back into the lane of travel, the rear passenger side bumper of the Lincoln hit the driver’s-side door of a 2004 Buick, which was following the Lincoln, police said. Police did not identify the driver of the Buick.

The driver of the Lincoln was cited for driving too fast for road conditions. No towing was needed.

Road debris

causes flat tire

HAMBURG — The driver of a 2013 Acura TL escaped injury Tuesday after hitting road debris on Interstate 78 in Berks County.

State police at Hamburg said the 6 p.m. crash at mile marker 32.7 occurred as an the unidentified male driver of the Acura was unable to avoid hitting road debris and its front tire went flat, causing the driver to lose control and hit the center median. The driver was wearing his seat belt, police said.

PennDOT truck

involved in crash

DELANO — Three people, including a plow truck operator for the state Department of Transportation, escaped injury Thursday during a three-vehicle accident in Delano Township, according to state police at Frackville.

The crash occurred at 10 a.m. on a snow-covered state Route 1017, which is Lakeside Avenue, better known as Horseshoe Curve, police said.

Ronald Minnick Jr., 29, of Hazleton, was driving a 2014 Isuzu box truck owned by JBC Trucking Inc., Hazle Township, south when he lost control and the truck became disabled on a snow bank along the road, police said.

Then Joshua Rupert, 36, of Barnesville, who was driving a 2014 Dodge Dart southbound, lost control and hit the back of Minnick’s vehicle, causing minor damage, police said.

Then a 2006 Mack plow-truck owned by PennDOT conducting roadway maintenance for snow conditions lost control and hit both vehicles. The state’s plow-truck and Minnick’s vehicle sustained minor damages. Rupert’s sustained heavy damage and was towed from the scene, police said.

The investigating officer, Trooper Mario A. Pompei, did not release the name of the driver of the PennDOT truck in the public information release report. And state police at Frackville did not have the name when contacted Thursday night.

The roadway was closed for three hours until the scene was cleared. Responders included fire personnel from Ryan Township and Delano Township, police said.

Truck crashes

avoiding 1st crash

MAHANOY CITY — A car and a truck tractor lost control on a snow-covered Interstate 81 in Ryan Township on Thursday afternoon and drove off the road in proximity to one another, but no one was injured, according to state police at Frackville.

At 2:10 p.m. Thursday, Cassandra A. Kazar, 22, of Greenfield Township, Blair County, was driving a 2008 Honda Civic southbound in the left lane, lost control near mile marker 127 and hit the guide rail on the west berm with its front end, police said.

In attempt to avoid a collision with Kazar’s car, Kabray D. Myers, 25, of Charlotte, North Carolina, who was driving a 2000 Freightliner truck tractor southbound, spun counterclockwise and hit an embankment on the east berm with its front end, police said.

Both lanes of I-81 southbound were blocked for about an hour until the scene was cleared. Kazar was charged with careless driving, police said.

Checkpoint search

nets drug arrest

WILLIAMSTOWN — State police at Lykens arrested a Lykens man Feb. 25 for being in possession of a small amount of marijuana during a checkpoint search in Williams Township, Dauphin County, police said Wednesday.

Deon Robert Brauer, 36, was driving a truck when he was stopped at a checkpoint along state Route 1002. Police detected an odor of marijuana emanating from the truck’s cabin. A canine unit was dispatched and the dog indicated a controlled substance was on board, police said.

Charges were filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum, Elizabethville, police said.

Police investigate

report of rape

WILLIAMSTOWN — State police at Lykens are investigating a report of a rape of a 15-year-old female from Jonestown, which reportedly occurred at 118 Maple Lane, Williamstown, Dauphin County at 1 a.m. Feb. 9. And the investigation is continuing, police said Thursday.

2 face charges

after traffic stop

HOMETOWN — Two people are facing charges by Rush Township police about 4:25 p.m. Sunday after a traffic stop on Plaza Drive.

Police said Anthony Napolitano, 29, of Tamaqua, was taken into custody on a warrant and is now facing charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Also as a result of the stop, police said, Natalie Ohl, 20, also of Tamaqua, is facing charges of possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The charges will be filed with Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua.

Traffic stop nets

drug charges

SHENANDOAH — Mahanoy Township police charged a Shenandoah man after an incident on the Gold Star Highway about 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9.

Police said Brian M. Obrzut, 44, of 153 W. Washington St., was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of general lighting requirements and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Police said they stopped a vehicle driven by Obrzut for an equipment violation and found drug paraphernalia in plain view on the passenger’s side front seat.

A subsequent investigation revealed Obrzut was driving with a suspended license and he and his passenger, Heidi Ann Hruniuk, 32, of 333 Main St., Gilberton, were asked to exit the vehicle where additional items of drug paraphernalia were found.

Police said Hruniuk is facing charges of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia after a container of a white powdery substance and paraphernalia.

A Penn State Schuylkill student is seeking to serve the residents of Schuylkill County as the next clerk of courts.

Democrat Catherine Mahon, 20, of Pottsville, announced her candidacy Friday with a press release.

“The Clerk of Courts must be someone that is willing to dedicate full-time energy and focus to the office to uphold the ethical standards and integrity demanded in this elected position of trust,” Mahon said in the prepared statement. “I look forward to implementing new operational procedures that ensure accountability for myself and all others working in the office. Current Clerk of Courts, Thomas ‘TJ’ Campion has already begun restructuring important functions of the office. Under my leadership, driven by my knowledge of professional accounting procedures, the office will continue to modernize operations to serve the people of Schuylkill County in the most professional manner possible.”

Mahon is a 2013 graduate of Pottsville Area High School and is currently employed at Providence Place senior living center, Pottsville. Working her way through college, she is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in accounting at Penn State Schuylkill.

Mahon is active on campus with the Business Society and is a past co-president of the Penn State Schuylkill Honors Program. She completed an internship in the Congressional Office of U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17, focusing on supporting the veterans services. Mahon said she was instrumental in helping veterans apply for and enroll in programs dedicated to those that served their country.

Mahon is also an elected committee person serving the third ward, second precinct of the City of Pottsville for the Schuylkill County Democratic Committee.

So far, Republican Larry Padora, 41, of New Ringgold, is the only other candidate running for clerk of courts.

Former County Clerk of Courts Stephen M. Lukach Jr., a Lake Hauto Democrat, officially ended his 27-year tenure in the position on April 11, 2014, following allegations of misappropriating public money.

First Deputy Clerk of Courts Paul Steffanic took over Lukach’s responsibilities until Thomas J. Campion Jr., a Norwegian Township Democrat, was appointed to the position and sworn into office Sept. 24, 2014. Campion said he will not seek a full term in the position.

The primary election is May 19. The General Election is Nov. 3.

Luis R. Nunez-Calderon freely and voluntarily admitted killing a woman in April 2014 in Shenandoah, a state police trooper testified Friday at a hearing on the defendant’s request to exclude that statement from evidence.

“The whole interview was pretty calm,” Melissa A. Kyper told Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin during the 1 1/2-hour hearing on Nunez-Calderon’s confession to cutting Wendy Contreras-Hernandez’s throat.

Dolbin will decide whether prosecutors can use Nunez-Calderon’s statement in his upcoming trial. He gave Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins, the defendant’s lawyer, until March 20 to outline reasons why the statement should be excluded and District Attorney Christine A. Holman until March 27 to respond.

Watkins has alleged the statement was involuntary and, therefore, should be suppressed, or excluded from evidence. It was the only challenge Watkins raised in his pre-trial motion filed on behalf of his client.

Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Nunez-Calderon, 42, of Shenandoah, who is charged with criminal homicide, criminal trespass and two counts of aggravated assault. Jury selection, which will include individual voir dire — questioning of prospective jurors — by Dolbin, in the case is scheduled to start on April 27.

State police at Frackville alleged Nunez-Calderon cut Contreras-Hernandez’s throat on April 29, 2014, in a second-floor bathroom of her 518 W. Centre St. residence.

Authorities arrested Nunez-Calderon the next day in New York City, and Kyper and Trooper Eric Schaeffer traveled to the Big Apple to interview him in a holding cell in Manhattan Central Court in the late evening and early morning hours of April 30-May 1, 2014.

Wearing a prison jumpsuit, leg shackles, handcuffs and a belt, Nunez-Calderon, a native of the Dominican Republic, frequently talked with his interpreter but did not testify or present any other evidence at Friday’s hearing. He is being held without bail pending the start of his trial.

Kyper testified that she read Nunez-Calderon his Miranda rights, through a Spanish-speaking interviewer, and that he understood them.

“Any question I asked, there was an immediate response,” Kyper said.

“Was he coherent?” Holman asked Kyper.

“Yes,” Kyper answered.

“Was he calm?”

“Yes.”

“Did he exhibit any confusion?”

“No.”

Kyper said Nunez-Calderon did not attempt to deny what occurred but did try to shift the blame.

“He believed that it was (Contreras-Hernandez’s) fault,” she said.

In his testimony, Schaeffer corroborated Kyper’s statements. He also denied that anyone told Nunez-Calderon that his statements would be confidential.

The only other witness at Friday’s hearing was Adelis Acosta, who served as the interpreter during Kyper’s interview with Nunez-Calderon and testified by telephone.

She confirmed that the defendant was not threatened in any way, that no one raised their voices during the interview and that Nunez-Calderon understood and signed the document waiving his rights to remain silent and have a lawyer represent him.

Acosta also said Nunez-Calderon was sober, never asked for a break during the interview and betrayed some emotion during the process.

“At the beginning, he was calm, but when he started getting into the details (of the crime), he was crying,” Acosta said.

Defendant: Luis R. Nunez-Calderon

Age: 42

Residence: Shenandoah

Charges: Criminal homicide, criminal trespass and two counts of aggravated assault

FRACKVILLE — Members of Ringtown Tiger Scout Pack 731 recently had the chance to learn the roles that public servants have in both enforcing and upholding the law.

Scouts and their leaders traveled to the Frackville court of Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale for a short lesson on law and what could happen if you break the law.

Hale, along with Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Thomas Powell of the Frackville station, discussed the roles of public servants in both enforcing and upholding the law.

The program was set up by scout leader Thomas George, Shenandoah, a former North Schuylkill High School classmate of Hale.

George said he wanted to give his Scouts the opportunity to see firsthand how part of the criminal justice system works.

During a light-hearted yet serious session, both Hale and Powell emphasized the importance of staying out of trouble and obeying the law.

The youngsters laughed, asked questions and were shown various items on display.

“The kids were very attentive and enthusiastic, especially for being so young,” Hale said. “They really seemed to enjoy learning about what goes on in my courtroom on a day-to-day basis, but Trooper Powell’s police gear was the biggest hit for them.”

The gear Hale was referring to was various items used by the state police for special operations, including hostage situations and high-risk scenarios.

Powell showed Scouts a bulletproof vest, tools used to gain entry to buildings and a helmet used during special operations.

Scouts also had the opportunity for some hands-on fun. With help, they were allowed to put on a bulletproof vest and tactical helmet.

Hale said that she enjoys speaking with students and believes that doing so promotes their confidence in the judiciary.

“I run this court with integrity and professionalism and part of that includes community outreach activities, such as meeting with these Scouts for the purpose of promoting public understanding of the administration of justice,” Hale said.

Although the Scouts are only 7 or 8 years old, Hale said she felt they still benefited from learning about the judiciary.

The judge also praised the scout organization for providing such opportunities for its members.

“These poised young Scouts really demonstrated respect for and an understanding of the law as evidenced by the questions that they asked both Trooper Powell and me,” Hale said.

MINERSVILLE — A Pottsville woman was jailed Friday after being arrested by Minersville police earlier in the day on drug charges.

Police said Jacqueline S. Dellamonica, 37, of 210 W. Arch St., was charged by Patrolman Jeffrey Bowers with one felony offense each of delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

She was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post 10 percent of $15,000 bail.

Bowers said the charges stem from an incident about 2:15 p.m. at 43 S. Delaware Ave.

The officer said it was learned that Dellamonica was looking to sell a prescription of 120 Percocet pills for $480.

Arrangements were made and Bowers said he met Dellamonica at the Fuel Up business parking lot where she arrived about 2:15 p.m.

Bowers said he handed Dellamonica $480 in marked bills and the woman handed over the pills saying “I get them every 30 days, so let me know if you want more.”

Bowers said then asked Dellamonica if all of the pills were present and she assured him the bottle contained 120 tablets.

After the delivery, Bowers said, he returned to an undercover vehicle and officers who were conducting surveillance took Dellamonica into custody and recovered the marked money used in the transaction.

Dellamonica will now have to appear before Plachko in his Port Carbon courtroom for a preliminary hearing on the charges.

Luzerne County taxpayers shelled out more than a half million dollars to defend convicted killer Hugo Selenski and spare him from death, according to recently unsealed documents reviewed by The Citizens’ Voice.

The price tag for Selenski’s defense totaled at least $517,351, according to more than 130 previously secret court orders that date back to his arrest in 2006.

Selenski was convicted last month for the strangulation murders of Michael Kerkowski and Tammy Fassett, whose bodies were found buried in Selenski’s yard in Kingston Township in June 2003. He was charged with their deaths in March 2006 immediately after being acquitted of another set of double murder charges in Luzerne County Court.

Following his recent trial, a jury spared Selenski from the death penalty and sentenced him to life in prison.

The expenditures for Selenski’s defense in court — and work to spare him from death row — began almost as soon and he was charged in 2006 and continued to mount for years through his recent trial, the newly unsealed documents show.

The recipient who was paid the most of that money was Selenski’s former attorney Shelley Centini. Records show she was paid at least $123,725 before she was ousted from his defense team after being indicted in January 2014 on witness tampering charges in connection to the case. A judge later dismissed the charges against her, but she didn’t return to the Selenski defense team.

Another attorney, Edward Rymsza, one of the lawyers who represented Selenski at his recent trial, was paid $114,858 since being appointed to the case in January 2012.

Louise Luck and her New York-based firm, Court Consultation Services, billed the county $82,583 for her work as the mitigation expert in Selenski’s case. Her main goal was to keep Selenski from getting the death penalty. Prior to trial, she gathered information about Selenski to look for mitigating factors in Selenski’s life that could sway a jury to choose life in prison instead of the death penalty.

“To achieve this, I conduct interviews with the client’s family, friends, teachers, bosses, co-workers, social workers, counselors and anyone else who may know the client and could yield valuable information on his life,” Luck wrote to Selenski’s defense team in February 2012, according to a letter that was attached to a payment order. “In addition, I conduct a detailed records collection search, including any and all school, employment, health and counseling records.”

Luck charged $100 per hour, the records show.

During the penalty phase of Selenski’s trial after he was found guilty, most of the witnesses called were members of his family: four sisters and two of his daughters. They all said they maintained strong relationships with Selenski, despite the fact he was jailed, and would continue to do so if the jury spared his life.

Luck was in the courtroom, but didn’t testify.

The others who received the most money were attorney Bernard Brown, who replaced Centini, and private investigator James Sulima, who was also removed from the case after the witness tampering indictment. A judge also dropped the charges against Sulima, who didn’t return to the Selenski case.

Brown was paid $65,661 and Sulima received $55,063.

Other payments included bills for DNA experts, consultations with doctors — including a psychologist and a pathologist — along with photocopying costs and other miscellaneous expenses.

Not included in the overall $517,351 cost is salary to Selenski’s past taxpayer-funded attorneys, members of the county conflict counsel who represented him prior to the county hiring private attorneys, Centini and Rymsza, as independent contractors. Also not included are costs that accumulated between June 5, 2003, when all the bodies were found and March 2006 when his first murder trial was held. In that case, his attorney worked for free, but there still were various other costs similar to the recent case.

The court orders funding Selenski’s defense, signed by the five judges who have presided over the case, have been held under seal the past nine years at the Luzerne County Clerk of Court’s Office. Throughout the case, his attorneys said the payments needed to be secret so defense strategy would not be revealed.

Even prosecutors were not privy to the information.

Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis on Thursday said her office is calculating how much it cost to prosecute Selenski, but a figure was not yet available.

(Staff Writer James

Halpin contributed

to this report)