The primary election will be re-done in the Schuylkill and Carbon County sections of the Hazleton Area School District. But exactly how and when the do-over will take place remains to be determined.
"We are just waiting for a little bit of guidance from
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Election do-over remains in limbo
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Judge OKs conviction, life sentence of Mahanoy murderer
by peter e. bortner
Jarvin M. Huggins does not deserve either a new trial or a new sentence for killing a Mahanoy City man in his own basement, a Schuylkill County judge has decided.
In a 12-page opinion and order made available Wednesday, Judge John E.
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Funding approved for affordable housing projects
Schuylkill County approved more than $150,000 in funding for affordable housing projects.
The county commissioners approved the projects and amounts from the 2013 Schuylkill County Affordable Housing Trust Fund at a public meeting Wednesday. Jeffrey A. F
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Schuylkill Haven Area raises taxes, furloughs 7 teachers
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - The Schuylkill Haven Area school board increased taxes and furloughed seven teachers Wednesday.
"I think it's a sad day for the students in the school district," said teacher Chuck Grabusky as he stood outside the administration buil
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PennDOT official urges action on infrastructure
ORWIGSBURG - With a Sunday deadline for the state budget fast approaching, state Department of Transportation Deputy Secretary for Planning James D. Ritzman told the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce members Wednesday that transportation funding should be a
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Around the Region
n Saint Clair: American Legion Post 0719 will hold its annual picnic from noon to 5 p.m. July 14 at Saint Clair Gun Club. The deadline for registering is July 4, and you must be registered and have your money in by that date. The cost is $5 for members
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Pottsville Area elementary special education director resigns
Pottsville Area school board on Wednesday approved the resignation of its director of elementary special education, Jacqueline A. Wapinsky.
"She didn't list a reason," Jeffrey S. Zwiebel, district superintendent, said, referring to the resignation letter
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Drug charges against Butler duo held to court
FRACKVILLE - A man and woman arrested by Butler Township police earlier this month for operating a methamphetamine lab inside their Fountain Springs home had charges against them held to court during two brief preliminary hearings Wednesday.
Duane M. Mau
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Police log, June 27, 2013
Ringtown man
faces charge
RINGTOWN - State police at Frackville responded to a harassment incident that occurred at 4:40 p.m. Wednesday at Melanie Manor in Union Township.
Police said Thomas Flaherty, Delano, and Patrick Reighard, Ringtown, were involved
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Deeds, June 27, 2013
Deeds
Rush Township - Joseph W. and Geraldine A. Lotwick to Joseph W. and Geraldine A. Lotwick; 105 Maple Terrace, Lake Hauto; $1.
Saint Clair - Mary Beth Semerod, individually and as administratrix of the Estate of Elizabeth M. Lynagh, Judith Ann Novack
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Geisinger offers tour of second cancer center in Pottsville
Geisinger Health System recently opened two cancer treatment centers in Pottsville.
On June 24, Geisinger Health System opened a $1.8 million, 5,500-square-foot hematology/oncology unit, called Geisinger Medical Oncology-Pottsville, on the third floor of
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After DNA match, man charged with 2006 burglary at Islamic Society
PORT CARBON - A Mechanicsville man was arrested Monday in connection with a 2006 burglary at the Islamic Society of Schuylkill County after he was identified by a DNA test after allegedly committing another crime.
Port Carbon police said Charles A. Palin
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Problems with well mean residents must boil water
PINE GROVE - The residents of two retirement communities and a personal care home are drinking bottled water after a problem with one of their water wells.
"You can go without electricity but you cannot go without water," said Harvey Klamt, 85, of Swatar
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3 charged with forging payroll checks waive right to preliminary hearings
FRACKVILLE - Three people arrested by Frackville police and charged with making payroll checks and cashing them at area businesses waived their right to preliminary hearings Wednesday.
Cody Thomas Yergert, 41, whose last known address was 5323 W. First S
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Defendant: Dead man wanted to be tied to tree
Keith A. Reber told the jurors who will decide his fate that even though he tied Bryan R. Smith to a tree in May 2012 in South Manheim Township, he meant only to teach him a lesson about stealing and the victim wanted the punishment.
"I didn't do anythin
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PennDOT asks public to report issues with road conditions
ORWIGSBURG - With construction season in full swing, the state Department of Transportation asks local residents to report any concerns they may have with road conditions this summer.
In addition to fixing things like potholes, PennDOT also cuts the grass and weeds along state-owned roads.
Overgrown weeds at Route 61 and Liberty Street in Orwigsburg have been a concern of local residents.
"It is a tight squeeze due to the construction work but that is not my cause for concern. The problem is that due to the slant of the land and the tall weeds that are growing, the driver's view of on-coming traffic is severely blocked," Roberta Andersen, Orwigsburg, said in a letter to The Republican-Herald. "This is an accident waiting to happen."
Sean A. Brown, a spokesman for PennDOT, said it is policy to cut the grass several times a year and crews will address issues if they represent a safety hazard.
"We do appreciate public help in reporting those issues," Brown said Thursday.
Residents can report issues by calling PennDOT at 800-FIX-ROAD (800-349-7623).
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Births, June 28, 2013
Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street
To William and Julie Gerhart Stone, Barnesville, a son, May 31.
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Water issues discussed at Swatara Village
PINE GROVE - About 100 people attended a meeting in the community center of Swatara Village on Thursday to learn about the water issues facing those who rely on a well for water.
People from all three affected areas - the village, an approximately 140-home community of about 220 residents; Waterbridge at Pine Grove, a personal-care home; and Swatara Creek, a 12-home, 19-resident retirement community - attended the meeting.
Well No. 1 was experiencing an increase in consumption and was not able to handle the increased amount. That well had been used for drinking water and other uses. At times, it was periodically turned off and residents had to use other water donated to them.
A second well is in use but customers must boil the water for one minute before using it. Bottled water is still available to those who need it. The second well has a leaky valve, Colleen Connolly, northeast regional spokeswoman for the state Department of Environmental Protection, said previously.
DEP granted verbal approval to use well No. 2 earlier this week contingent upon water being boiled. Well No. 1 is currently not in use but the water must also be boiled if it is used.
The residents got to ask questions and get answers about what the problem is with the wells supplying them.
"As we sit here tonight, the goal would be to find this water loss," said John Stahl, chairman of the Pine Grove Township Authority.
David Hissner, sanitation supervisor with DEP, and two other DEP representatives also attended the meeting, along with James Morgan, president of the Swatara Village Property Owners Association; Diane Tobin, Pine Grove Township supervisor; and a representative with the office of state Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125.
Questions ranged from why it is taking so long to approve a permit for the second well, why additional tests must be conducted on that well and about the leaks.
Two permits must be given for well No. 2, a construction permit and an operations permit.
"How long does it take to approve a permit and who is dragging their feet?" Joe Brennan, president of the Swatara Creek Condominium Association, asked.
"A permit is very complicated. Just because it's a quantity of water doesn't mean it's safe water," Hissner said.
He did not want to speak to the specifics of the permit.
"I can't comment on the permit because I'm not qualified to do so," he said.
Hissner said there are two aspects to the process: operations where those responsible ensure that regulations are met and where individuals from the technical services section of DEP review the permit. That would be done by professional engineers and geologists.
"DEP does have constraints that we do have to follow. I understand the frustration. I absolutely do," he said.
A letter from Michael Benner, P.G., a licensed professional geologist, said a previous pump test review for the second well must meet six qualifications, something it didn't do. The authority already spent about $15,000 to perform tests and the additional requirement to meet guidelines is not something the authority planned on, Stahl said.
He said they did not know about the requirements previously. The hydrogeologist submitted a plan to DEP previously, Stahl said.
He said he is meeting with a hydrogeologist today to discuss the requirements from DEP.
Betty Carroll, administrator at Woodbridge, said she found the meeting productive.
"My biggest concern is how long are we going to boil the water for drinking," she said, adding the Department of Welfare has been notified of the current situation.
The home must have three days' supply of water for each resident, something it has.
She said the residents are doing OK.
"Are we going to be standing here next June waiting for this permit to be approved?" Brennan asked.
"I hope not," Hissner said.
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Pottsville to block street for water repairs near hospital
The City of Pottsville will close a street to traffic today near Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street to allow the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority to repair water lines, city police said Thursday.
"It will probably just be in the morning. The water authority needs to dig up a portion of Tremont Street to fix a leak," police Capt. Steve Durkin said.
Tremont Street will be closed from East Norwegian Street to East Market Street starting at 7 a.m., Durkin said.
"The 600 block of East Market Street will become a two-way street to allow access to the emergency room entrance of Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street," Durkin said.
There will be no parking along Tremont Street and the 600 block of East Market Street today, Durkin said.
The street may reopen to traffic this afternoon, Durkin said.
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Cyber charter school expands into Schuylkill County
SOUTH TAMAQUA - A cyber charter school is expanding into eastern Schuylkill County with the purchase of a $1 million facility in West Penn Township.
Commonwealth Connections Academy bought the JEM Car Museum at Route 443 and Cold Spring Road for $1,125,000. The paperwork was finalized in the Schuylkill County Recorder of Deeds Office on June 25. CCA bought the building from Gregory F. and Jodi-Lee Duschak on May 15, according to the paperwork.
"What we are looking to do is to expand our presence in that region because that is an area where we serve a lot of families," CCA Assistant CEO Thomas Longenecker said Thursday.
A cyber charter school is recognized by the state Department of Education as a public school. Students earn diplomas, not a GED, the same way they would in a traditional public school. The only difference is the delivery of the curriculum. Each student can be loaned a laptop and printer and CCA also provides a reimbursement to subsidize the cost of Internet access.
The new facility is just down the road from its current office at 613 Blakeslee Boulevard Drive, Route 443, in Lehighton. Longenecker said the cyber school has been in that building since 2008 and now has about 49 teachers working there.
"We added square footage there and have completely outgrown that facility," Longenecker said. "We want to have a more permanent presence there and we had that opportunity with the purchase of the museum."
Plans include full interior and exterior renovations, although cost estimates weren't available Thursday because the project has yet to be designed, Longenecker said.
The goal is to move into the space in October 2014 and expand its teaching staff to about 60, Longenecker said. The school will start looking for teachers, guidance counselors and administration as it gets closer to that time.
The new location will allow students to meet with their teachers face to face. The purchase includes 13 acres, which will be used for family functions, Longenecker said.
"Our families get together on a regular basis and we just felt those grounds were absolutely beautiful for those types of opportunities," he said.
Longenecker said there is a covered bridge on the property that is a popular location for wedding photos.
"We want to make the grounds available for the community and we want the public to continue to feel welcome to come," Longenecker said.
Based in Baltimore, CAA started nine years ago with nine teachers and 349 students, Longenecker said. It has since grown to about 500 employees statewide and serves about 7,200 students, he said.
"Cyber school is not for every child but it is a good alternative if a family feels their child is not being served well by their local public school," Longenecker said.
Longenecker said the cyber school is able to focus on the needs of individual children.
"Every child should have a personal learning program. We create a program for that family that is exactly what they need."
For more information about Commonwealth Connections Academy, visit www.connectionsacademy.com.
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