With Luzerne County taxpayers footing the bill for Hugo Selenski's free legal defense, the accused double-murderer, his lead attorney and a private investigator conspired to intimidate prosecution witnesses and then lied to a grand jury investigating their crimes, according to charges filed Monday.

A scathing grand jury indictment against Selenski, defense attorney Shelley Centini and investigator James Sulima blasts the trio as a "cabal of criminals" who tried to sabotage the prosecution of the accused killer.

They are charged with obstruction of justice, witness intimidation, perjury, theft, conspiracy and various other alleged crimes that prosecutors say were committed to help Selenski beat a double-murder rap and avoid the death penalty.

The indictment describes Selenski as a charismatic "serial killer" who developed "a cult-like following of supporters willing to go to great lengths on his behalf" since a dozen or so bodies were unearthed in his yard in June 2003.

Centini and Sulima are the latest to do the career criminal's bidding, spending taxpayer money to commit crimes on his behalf, the grand jury claimed.

"They stole more than money from the citizens of Luzerne County," the grand jury presentment reads. "They stole the community's faith in the rule of law."

Investigators say Selenski, Centini and Sulima worked in concert to pressure prosecution witnesses in Selenski's capital murder trial, presenting them with handwritten notes from a jailed Selenski that encouraged the witnesses to lie, recant past accusations or simply "shut up."

"The brazen criminal conduct of this group continued through their appearance before the grand jury," the indictment alleged.

The indictment details the grand jury appearances of the accused: When called before the grand jury, Centini dismissed the writings as "harmless" messages from Selenski, but claimed to have "lost" the letters. Prosecutors said she either withheld or destroyed them to avoid prosecution. Sulima claimed to remember little from a meeting he and Centini called with four witnesses at a corner bar in Larksville, where the witnesses read the letters, but were required to hand them back. Selenski downplayed his writings as "greetings," blamed the media for the "aura of intimidation" prosecutors assumed and then threatened a deputy attorney general questioning him.

"We, the grand jury, condemn their conduct, reject their lies and strongly recommend prosecution," the indictment reads.

Centini, 38, of Wilkes-Barre, Selenski's taxpayer-funded lead attorney who was appointed by the court in January 2012, appeared before Magisterial District Judge David Judy in Harrisburg on Monday afternoon to surrender for arraignment on the charges. She was released on $500,000 unsecured bail.

Sulima, 49, a private investigator for Selenski's defense team who was embroiled in a payment dispute with the Luzerne County courts, also was released on $500,000 bail following his arraignment.

Selenski, 40, who is jailed for decades in state prison on robbery charges unrelated to the homicide case, was arraigned separately on Monday morning via video conferencing. His bail was set at $1.5 million.

Centini and Sulima did not return telephone calls Monday night.

When reached by telephone after the arraignment, Centini's attorney Al Flora Jr. blasted the prosecution's case and said Centini will fight the charges.

"At all times, she acted as a zealous advocate on behalf of a defendant in a capital murder case. Her advocacy was consistent with her ethical and professional obligations under the law." Flora said. "This type of prosecution is going to have a chilling effect upon all defense lawyers in the performance of their duties, particularly when it comes to representing capital defendants in high profile cases."

Sulima's attorney William Ruzzo did not return a telephone call.

Selenski is charged in the 2002 killings of pharmacist Michael Kerkowski and Kerkowski's girlfriend, Tammy Fassett, whose bodies were found buried in the yard of Selenski's Kingston Township home in June 2003. Selenski was charged with those killings on March 15, 2006 - minutes after being cleared of an unrelated set of homicide charges in Luzerne County Court.

Selenski's much anticipated trial, off-and-on for years due to various unexpected twists and turns and appeals, now appears headed for another delay as prosecutors Monday filed motions demanding Centini and Sulima be removed from Selenski's legal team. Trial was most recently slated to begin on March 3.

Selenski's other attorney, Edward Rymsza, did not return a telephone call Tuesday.

Representatives of the Luzerne County District Attorney's Office declined comment, citing a gag order in place.

During a court appearance in November, the always talkative Selenski seemed baffled when a reporter asked if Centini would be dismissed from his case due to pending legal troubles of her own.

"Why would she be removed?" Selenski asked. "That's just what it is - speculation. Don't believe everything you hear."

As of Monday, Centini had not been sanctioned by The Disciplinary Board of The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

"She continues to operate as a lawyer. She continues to have clients," Flora said. "She is doing so because she is entitled to the presumption of innocence."

Centini, a 'co-conspirator'

The grand jury claimed Centini's conduct reflects "a win-at-any-cost mentality unbecoming an officer of the court" and that her "model of legal practice is synonymous with unethical and criminal conduct."

According to the grand jury, when Centini added Sulima to work for the Selenski case, a former defense investigator left the defense team. The man, identified only as Investigator 1, "was concerned that their way of doing business would likely be at odds with ethics and the law," the grand jury wrote.

In addition to the barroom meeting with four witnesses, Centini also met with two other witnesses. Centini told "Witness 5" that Selenski was "mad" she refused to testify the way he wanted her to, investigators claim. Centini then provided money, through an associate of "Witness 5," to the witness to pay rent on multiple occasions, the grand jury claims.

Another witness Centini met with was inmate Michael Scerbo, identified in court documents as "Witness 6." Scerbo, who was once jailed with Selenski at State Correctional Institution at Retreat, has pleaded guilty to offering $1,000 to an undercover state trooper posing as a "hit man" to murder Paul Weakley, Selenski's co-defendant in the murder case who prosecutors counted on as the key witness. Centini "circumvented his attorney" and coaxed Scerbo into signing an affidavit about his responsibility to "insulate Selenski from prosecution," the indictment alleges. Scerbo's sentencing has been postponed due to the grand jury probe.

Centini never advised any of the witnesses of their right to refuse to speak with her or consult their own attorneys, the grand jury said. The grand jury indicates Centini crossed the line, becoming an advocate and co-conspirator for criminally minded Selenski, much in part due to her strong opposition to the death penalty Selenski was facing, if convicted.

"There is no doubt that Centini's desire to further her career, prevail at Selenski's trial and undo Pennsylvania's death penalty law made her extremely invested in the Selenski case," the grand jury presentment says.

Grand jury: Centini and Sulima stole

The grand jury alleges Centini and Sulima made money while committing crimes on Selenski's behalf.

"Centini and Sulima engaged in this criminal conduct while being paid by the citizens of the County of Luzerne to represent Selenski," the grand jury indictment says.

They deceived the public out of roughly $50,000, the grand jury said, "by creating and maintaining false impression as to the legality of their conduct."

Long before Monday's charges, Centini and Sulima have been battling Luzerne County court officials over funding. In April 2013, Centini threatened to withdraw as Selenski's attorney, saying she hadn't been paid in months, but an undisclosed resolution was reached. Earlier this month, she filed court documents on behalf of Sulima, who claimed he has not been paid more than $10,000 he is owed for work he did on Selenski's behalf and that he refuses to continue working on the case unless a judge authorizes payment

Information about payments to Selenski's defense team has been sealed by court order to prevent revealing defense strategies, court officials have said. However, court officials noted last year that payments to Sulima were blocked as a result of the grand jury probe.

Centini was paid $90,869 in 2012 for her work and reimbursements in the Selenski case, according to records from the county controller's office. It's unclear how much she was paid in 2013 or 2014.

Luzerne County Judge Fred Pierantoni on Monday set a hearing for Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. regarding the prosecution's motion to dismiss Centini and Sulima from Selenski's case.

Larry Semenza is not above the law.

The former Old Forge police chief left a courtroom in handcuffs Monday after Lackawanna County Judge Vito Geroulo sentenced him to 18 months to four years in state prison for corruption of a minor - a first-degree misdemeanor - and failure to report child abuse.

The sentence is beyond the sentencing guidelines, which Geroulo said reflected Semenza's position of power and the impact on the victim, the borough and the law enforcement community.

"Police officers are supposed to be not above the law, but servants of the law," he said.

Geroulo also sentenced two other borough men, former police Captain Jamie Krenitsky and former volunteer firefighter Walter Chiavacci for indecent assault. Krenitsky, 35, received nine to 23 1/2 months and Chiavacci, 48, received three to 18 months, both in county jail.

The judge ordered all three to register as sex offenders under Megan's Law for the next 15 years. All three men were charged in May 2012, after a victim came forward to allege Semenza, 49, and the other men had sexually abused her when she was a teenager and volunteer junior firefighter with the Old Forge Fire Department. The woman claimed she had a romantic relationship with Semenza from 2004 to 2007, starting when she was 15.

The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.

In court Monday, the victim stood beside Deputy District Attorney Jennifer McCambridge and told the judge that it would take courage and strength to put the past behind her.

"When I was 15, these people had a chance to protect me," she said. "They used my trust and compassion against me."

"You have hurt me more than you will ever know," she added, addressing Semenza.

McCambridge said the entire borough and police departments around the area were also hurt by the "breach of trust."

"Every police officer around has to deal with that breach of public trust," she said.

Semenza's wife, Marisa Semenza, presented another perspective, describing the former chief's dedication to the police department and desire to help others. Pausing often to collect her emotions, Semenza said their family has started the "rebuilding process" and asked the judge for leniency.

"I chose to stand by his side and fight for his innocence," she said, calling him a model father, husband, friend and Old Forge resident. "As I stand here today, I couldn't be more proud of him."

After his trial in October, Semenza was acquitted of the most serious charges - felony counts of aggravated indecent assault and unlawful contact with a minor, as well as misdemeanor counts of indecent assault and indecent exposure.

Geroulo said his sentence reflected Semenza's abuse of his position as chief.

"Chief is accorded a special level of prominence, a special level or preeminence, a level of respect and of responsibility," he said. "I don't think all of that could have happened except for the culture of permissiveness and the attitude that the law doesn't apply to me."

After sentencing, two Lackawanna County deputies led the handcuffed Semenza from Geroulo's office and down the courthouse corridor to the prisoner elevator.

(Dave Singleton, staff writer, contributed to this report.)

Some pop music-fueled shows left Broadway almost as quickly as they arrived during the last decade.

"Jersey Boys" is not one of them.

The story of the Four Seasons and its frontman, Frankie Valli, remains a strong presence on Broadway nearly a decade after its debut. And its tour, which will stop at Scranton Cultural Center at The Masonic Temple next month, now pulls in crowds around the country.

"It hits the right note," said Bob Gaudio, one of the Four Seasons and composer of many of the group's hit songs. "I hate to be corny here, but the combination of the songs, the production, the whole combination was the perfect musical storm. They just got it right, and it could have gone completely wrong, as a number of shows did preceding us."

Valli's voice

Gaudio was 15 when he left home to pursue a music career, and a few years later he found himself part of the group that would become a household name thanks to hit songs like "Walk Like a Man" and "Big Girls Don't Cry." What drew him to the Four Seasons, he said, simply was Valli, whose voice compels listeners with its flexibility and passion.

"Frankie's voice was just an astonishing instrument," Gaudio said recently by phone from Nashville, Tenn.

The group began to achieve stardom with the release of "Sherry," but it was not until a few more hits followed that Gaudio knew the Four Seasons had made it. And that fueled the songwriting fire.

"You get pretty cocky, and I think that confidence you gain is a big advantage," Gaudio said. "You know once you crack through, once you get the taste of the music business and you smell success, you try even harder because you don't physically want to slip back. You don't want to go where you were."

Gaudio could not say what made the Four Seasons' music resonate so well with the public, but he pointed to the roles heart, passion and timing played. If any of their songs had debuted two years earlier or two years later, he said, they might not have reached the same level of success.

The members eventually went their separate ways, but their music and now their story lives on in "Jersey Boys." For Gaudio, the path to Broadway opened after he watched the film "The Deer Hunter," in which several characters start singing the Four Seasons' "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" during one scene.

"It struck me as, 'Wow, you know, this isn't radio. This is the big screen. This is another venue for our music,' " he recalled. "And (the) first thing that popped into my mind was a Broadway show, because I grew up in the area of New Jersey (and) New York and saw many shows as a kid."

Place on Broadway

After successful musicals like "Smokey Joe's Cafe" and "Mamma Mia!" showed pop music could have a place on Broadway, a serious effort to put together a Four Seasons musical began. Then, in the months prior to "Jersey Boys" opening in New York, similar productions, featuring pop music by acts like the Beach Boys and Elvis, tried and failed on Broadway.

But "Jersey Boys" seemed to do great starting with its out-of-town tryout, Gaudio recalled, noting an electricity just seemed to run through the audience.

"There's some magical experience that happens the way the production was put together," he said.

New York audiences seemed to think so, too. With its music by Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe and a book by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice, "Jersey Boys" opened on Broadway in fall 2005 and won four Tony awards, including best musical. And now, local audiences can catch the show when Broadway Theatre League of Northeastern Pennsylvania presents 16 performances at the cultural center starting with a preview Feb. 4, and running through Feb. 16.

Gaudio attributes the show's success to the ways its music takes people back to a time they recall fondly.

"You remember things," Gaudio said. "Songs just place you in time, bring you back, move you forward, wherever it inspires you."

And he hopes audiences who attend the show walk away understanding that the Four Seasons' story is one of the American Dream in action. Anything is possible, he added.

"I've heard that so many times from so many people, but in our case it goes times 10," Gaudio said. "It was just amazing that something like that could happen."

Each of the 115 fire companies and volunteer ambulance services in Schuylkill County received some financial help as part of the Pennsylvania Fire Company and Ambulance Service Grant Program.

When the application period closed on Oct. 24, there were 2,570 eligible fire and EMS organizations that asked for grant funding and 2,535 were approved. Fire companies received a total of $26,400,000 and volunteer ambulance services received $3,600,000.

"It is very important and it helps sustain many fire companies," John Matz, Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency coordinator, said Tuesday.

The program allows each fire company to spend the funding as it seems fit, which is useful since Matz said each situation is different. The grant also takes some pressure off fundraising efforts.

"Any money the fire companies can get without doing any fundraisers is a help," Todd March, Pottsville fire chief, said.

There are seven fire companies in the city.

"It costs so much money to run a fire company today, every little bit helps," March said.

The grant program is funded by gaming proceeds and is administered through the state Office of the Fire Commissioner within the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. Grant money can be used to build, repair or renovate a fire company or ambulance service's primary structure; purchase or repair firefighting, ambulance or rescue equipment; participate in training seminars and workshops; or help pay the organization's debt.

Schuylkill County fire companies received an average of about $13,000 while volunteer ambulance services received about $7,000.

State Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, made the announcement Friday that 39 fire responder units in his legislative district in Berks and Schuylkill counties.

"Our emergency responders are on the front lines when it comes to dangerous situations in our area," Tobash said. "A lot of times the money they work so hard to raise throughout the year gets put back into our communities, leaving each unit with little to make necessary updates they could use to better serve the public. I applaud the stations in our district who took the initiative to get approved for this funding."

The following fire and emergency medical services were awarded the following amounts:

Berks County

- Hamburg Volunteer Forest Fire Crew Inc., Hamburg, $12,441.48

- Schuylkill Valley Emergency Medical Services, Leesport, $7,091.40

- Union Fire Company No.. 1, Leesport, $13,619.31

- Union Fire Company No.. 1, Hamburg, $13,280.70

Schuylkill County

- Alert Fire Company No. 1, Saint Clair, $12,647.24

- Altamont Fire Company 1, Frackville, $12,889.44

- American Fire Company No. 1, Ashland, $13,295.29

- American Hose Company 1, Tamaqua, $13,619.31

- American Hose Company 2, Mahanoy Plane, $13,619.31

- American Hose Company 2, Pottsville, $13,619.31

- American Hose Company, Ashland, $12,568.66

- Auburn Fire Company, Auburn, $12,161.20

- Auburn Fire Company Ambulance Service, Auburn, $7,091.40

- Brockton Volunteer Fire Company, Tamaqua, $12,320.78

- Citizens Fire Company - Palo Alto, Pottsville, $13,133.27

- Citizens Fire Company 2, Mahanoy City, $13,373.05

- Citizens Fire Company, Tamaqua, $13,619.31

- Citizens Fire Company, Middleport, $12,000.00

- Citizens Fire Company Branchdale, Branchdale, $13,133.27

- Coaldale Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Coaldale, $12,809.25

- Columbia Hose and Steam Fire Company No. 1, Shenandoah, $13,133.27

- Columbia Hose Company No. 2, Saint Clair, $13,019.05

- Community Fire Company New Ringgold, New Ringgold, $12,809.25

- Community Fire Company No. 1 of Landingville, Landingville, $12,000.00

- Cressona Fire Company No. 1, Cressona, $12,000.00

- Deer Lake & West Brunswick Fire Company No. 1, Orwigsburg, $12,809.25

- Defender Hose Company, Shenandoah, $11,138.00

- Donaldson Fire Company No. 1, Donaldson, $12,972.07

- East End Fire Company, Tamaqua, $12,800.34

- East End Fire Company No. 2, Pottsville, $12,161.20

- East Norwegian Township Fire, Pottsville, $15,000.00

- Frackville Community Ambulance Association, Frackville, $7,091.40

- Friedensburg Fire Company, Friedensburg, $12,000.00

- Friendship Fire Company No. 1 of Englewood, Frackville, $13,619.31

- Friendship Hose Company No. 1, Orwigsburg, $13,520.48

- Girard Hose Company No. 1, Girardville, $12,000.00

- Girardville Ambulance Service Inc., Girardville, $7,080.76

- Good American Hose Company, Mahanoy City, $12,809.25

- Good Intent Fire Company, New Philadelphia, $13,133.27

- Good Intent Hose Company No. 1, Llewellyn, $13,619.31

- Good Will Fire Company No. 1, Minersville, $12,972.07

- Good Will Fire Company No. 1, Minersville, $7,091.40

- Good Will Hose Company No. 1, Frackville, $13,619.31

- Good Will Hose Company of Cumbola, Cumbola, $12,486.03

- Goodwill Fire Company No. 1, Port Carbon, $13,619.31

- Goodwill Fire Company No. 4, Pottsville, $12,647.24

- Goodwill Hose Company, Cressona, $12,000.00

- Hegins Area Ambulance Association Inc., Valley View, $7,091.40

- Hegins Fire Company, Hegins, $12,161.20

- Heights Fire Company No. 1, Shenandoah, $12,072.09

- Hometown Fire Company No. 1, Tamaqua, $12,486.03

- Humane Fire Company No. 1, Mahanoy City, $11,048.00

- Humane Fire Company No. 1 of Pottsville, Pottsville, $13,133.27

- Joliett Volunteer Fire Company, Joliett, $12,000.00

- Kaska Volunteer Fire Company, New Philadelphia, $12,323.21

- Klingerstown Fire Company No. 1, Klingerstown, $12,647.24

- Lavelle Volunteer Fire Company, Lavelle, $12,486.03

- Locust Dale Volunteer Fire Company, Locust Dale, $12,000.00

- Lost Creek Community Ambulance Association, Lost Creek, $7,091.40

- Mahanoy City Emergency Medical Service, Mahanoy City, $7,091.40

- Mahantongo Valley Ambulance Association, Inc., Pitman, $7,055.94

- Mahantongo Valley Fire Company, Pitman, $12,000.00

- Mar Lin Citizens Hose Company, Mar Lin, $12,000.00

- MaryD Fire Company Inc., Mary D, $12,323.21

- McAdoo Fire Company Inc., McAdoo, $13,619.31

- McAdoo Fire Company Inc & Ambulance Association, McAdoo, $7,091.40

- Minersville Fire Rescue, Minersville, $27,239.43

- Mountaineer Hose Company, Minersville, $12,161.20

- Mount Pleasant Hose Company, Pottsville, $12,000.00

- Muir Volunteer Fire Company No. 1, Muir, $12,160.39

- New England Fire Company, Tamaqua, $13,133.27

- New Minersville Fire Company, Minersville, $12,486.03

- Newtown Volunteer Fire Company, Tremont, $12,161.20

- No. 1 Emergency & Rescue Squad, Tamaqua, $13,619.31

- North End Fire Company, Pine Grove, $13,619.31

- Nuremberg Community Ambulance Association Inc., Nuremberg, $7,091.40

- Orwin Fire Company, Tower City, $12,000.00

- Penn Mahoning Ambulance Association Inc., Andreas, $7,091.40

- Phoenix Fire Company No. 2, Pottsville, $13,619.31

- Phoenix Fire Company No. 2, Shenandoah, $13,133.27

- Pine Grove Community Ambulance Association, Pine Grove, $6,401.41

- Pine Grove Hose Hook & Ladder Company No. 1, Pine Grove, $12,972.07

- Polish American Fire Company, Shenandoah, $13,133.27

- Port Clinton Fire Company Inc., Port Clinton, $12,072.09

- Pottsville Area Emergency Medical Service Inc., Pottsville, $7,091.40

- Quakake Volunteer Fire Company Inc., Quakake, $12,000.00

- Rainbow Hose Company No. 1, Schuylkill Haven, $12,161.20

- Rangers Hose Company, Girardville, $12,809.25

- Ravine Fire Company No. 1, Pine Grove, $13,619.31

- Reinerton Volunteer Fire Company, Tower City, $12,000.00

- Rescue Hook & Ladder Company No. 1, Shenandoah, $13,619.31

- Rescue Hook & Ladder Fire Company No. 3, Saint Clair, $12,323.21

- Ringtown Valley Fire and Rescue Company, Ringtown, $12,809.25

- Ryan Township Emergency and Rescue, Barnesville, $7,091.40

- Ryan Township Fire Company, Barnesville, $13,619.31

- Sacramento Community Fire Company, Sacramento, $13,295.29

- Saint Clair Veterans Memorial Ambulance Fund, Saint Clair, $7,091.40

- Schuylkill Hose Company No. 2, Schuylkill Haven, $13,619.31

- Seltzer Hose Company, Seltzer, $12,323.21

- Shenandoah Community Ambulance, Shenandoah, $7,091.40

- Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Company, Sheppton, $13,619.31

- South Cass Citizens Fire Company, Pottsville, $12,000.00

- South Ward Fire Company Inc., Tamaqua, $13,619.31

- Summit Station Fire Company, Summit Station, $12,323.21

- Tremont Area Ambulance, Tremont, $7,091.40

- Tremont Fire Company No. 1, Tremont, $13,295.29

- Tuscarora Fire Company, Tuscarora, $13,619.31

- Valley View Fire Company, Valley View, $12,161.20

- Volunteer Fire Company No. 1 of Tower City, Tower City, $11,402.00

- Washington Fire Company Community Ambulance, Ashland, $7,087.15

- Washington Fire Company No. 1, Ashland, $13,458.11

- Washington Hook & Ladder No. 1, Mahanoy City, $13,295.29

- West End Fire & Rescue, Mahanoy City, $13,252.35

- West End Fire Company No. 5, Saint Clair, $12,000.00

- West End Fire Company No. 3, Tower City, $12,809.25

- West End Hose Company No. 7, Pottsville, $12,972.07

- West Penn Fire Company No. 1 Inc., New Ringgold, $12,323.21

- William Penn Fire Company No. 1, Shenandoah, $12,972.07

- Yorkville Hose & Fire Company No. 1, Pottsville, $13,619.31

Deeds

Barry Township - Terry C. Klinger, Ricky D. Klinger and Tamie D. Holland to Justin J. and Lori Fetterolf; 0.178-acre property on Deep Creek Road; $1,000.

Branch Township - J.D. Rose Investments LLC to Hollie N. Jaeger and Edward W. Wright; 605 Minersville-Llewellyn Highway; $16,000.

Butler Township - Paul E. Welker to Edward C. and Joanne Welker; property in Helfenstein; $1.

Cass Township - The Rev. Edward J. O'Connor and Brian Brennan to Charles Dalvet; 0.23-acre property on State Route 4002; $1.

East Brunswick Township - Gary M. Koch and Mavis M. Koch, co-trustees of the Koch Family Trust, to Immanuel Evangelical Congregational Church; property on East Pheasant Run Road; $1.

Immanuel Evangelical Congregational Church to Immanuel Evangelical Congregational Church; 43 E. Pheasant Run Road; $1.

Minersville - Sandra A. Albertini, individually and as administratrix for the Estate of Michael C. Albertini, Christine Doyle, Diane Hardock, Constance DiRenzo and Joseph Albertini to James J. Larkin; 12 Locust St.; $23,000.

New Philadelphia - Christine M. Carey, executrix of the Estate of Emily M. Pytko, to Christine M. Carey; 58 Clay St.; $1.

North Manheim Township and Pottsville - Joshua and Kristen Baran to Christopher Knapp and Debra Matta; 215 Timber Road, Forest Hills; $160,000.

North Union Township - Ronald C. Jr. and Natasha A. Milazzo to Jason E. Pollock; 736 Main St., Zion Grove; $116,000.

Saint Clair - Sylvester Soltis, individually and as administrator for the Estate of John P. Tierney, to Robert and Joanne Panchari; 120 E. Carroll St.; $8,200.

Schuylkill Haven - Shirley M. Hoffman to Samantha Hoover; 34 St. Peter St.; $1.

Schuylkill Township - Robert A. and Bethany J. Bachert to Daniel J. Farber Jr.; property on Broad Street, Newkirk; $1,000.

Tamaqua - Gallant 65 LLC to JC Tambs LLC; property at Greenwood and Cedar streets; $95,000.

David S. Carpency, individually and as executor of the Estate of Gloria A. Carpency, and Francis M. Carpency to Christa L. Lindner; 518 E. Willing St.; $64,600.

Rolando Horsford to Quality Heating and Renovations Inc.; property on Gay Street; $1.

William G. Schwab, trustee for Charles J. Bott Sr., to Jim Thorpe Souvenir and Gifts LLC; 302 Orwigsburg St.; $4,000.

Dennis K. Muffley and Linda Lapp, executors of the estates of Edith M. Muffley and Joseph R. Muffley, to Jim Thorpe Souvenirs and Gifts LLC; 114 and 116 Pitt St.; $10,000.

Rose Baddick, by attorneys in fact Cynthia Zukus and Donna Malaska, to Allen L. Jr. and Abigail M. Graver; 437 Willing St.; $40,000.

Tower City - Heather M. and Kirby Hand to John D. and Shalee Corrine Forsythe; 26 N. Hand St.; $69,900.

Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street

To Robert and Mary Kate Kulha Koscil, Gordon, a daughter, Jan. 17.

Geisinger Medical Center, Danville

To Kurt and Brooke Croneberger Sims, Klingerstown, a daughter, Jan. 23.

SHENANDOAH - Local residents who use the Shenandoah Area Food Pantry will find it at a new location starting Friday.

The pantry will open its doors for the first time from 10 a.m. to noon at the Knights of Columbus Francis Cardinal Brennan Council No. 618, 201 W. Cherry St. The site is open on the last Friday of odd months and serves residents of Shenandoah, Gilberton and West Mahanoy Township.

The food pantry had been operated from St. Stephen Hall, but the last one was held in November, according to James Schally, program operations specialist for Schuylkill Community Action.

"The food pantry volunteers conducted their final two food distributions from St. Stephen's Hall in Shenandoah in November," Schally said. "Volunteers cleared the shelves to a record number of families served, with around 240 showing up on both Nov. 20 and Nov. 27. Unfortunately, all of those families were also given a written notice of the site having to relocate and the fact that we do not know where or when the next pantry will be. The pantry has been operating year-round on the odd months for more than 23 years."

Schally learned of the need to move from its long-time location in mid-November.

"Around Nov. 15, while in contact with the church secretary regarding SCA renewing insurance for volunteer operations, we were informed we could not continue to use the hall," Schally said. "We are grateful to the church and Monsignor (Ronald) Bocian for hosting us for as long as they have and regret they cannot continue to do so citing heating costs."

With the loss of the use of the hall, SCA and its volunteers began searching for other possible sites. Grand Knight William Applegate Jr. stepped up with his suggestion to use the Knights' council home.

"I started volunteering at the pantry since I retired, and they needed a place," Applegate said on Jan. 16 at the council home while food and a freezer were delivered. "I asked all the members if they were interested in it. Everybody said go and we went with it."

Applegate spoke with Schally about the idea, and, after a review by Schally, the building was approved.

"We'll be giving them the space, the electricity for the freezers, and if they want to store anything, we'll store it downstairs," Applegate said. "As of right now, everything that comes will go out the same day."

The Shenandoah food pantry is an important part of the food distribution network, according to SCA board member Jean A. Haberl.

"We are the second largest pantry out of 18 in Schuylkill County," Haberl said. "We are going to bag food for 240 households, which is about 4,200 pounds of food."

Schally said SCA works with the Office of the Schuylkill County Commissioners to conduct the State Food Purchase Program and Emergency Food Assistance Program to cover the cost of the food distributed in Shenandoah and around the county. SCA also works with local donors to obtain food directly and to purchase it from the Greater Berks Food Bank for families in the borough and surrounding municipalities.

Schally said the food pantries are an important need, having served more than 15,000 households last year, counting repeat visitors.

"This is the highest annual count recorded and due in part to the fact that many of the 18 sites are adding extra distributions to their schedule," Schally said. "In addition to carrying out more pantries, volunteers have had increasing numbers of families visiting. Those seeking help with food include seniors and many with children, as well."

For more information about SCA food pantries, call Schally at 570-622-1995. A list of the food pantry sites and schedules can be found at www.schuylkillcommunityaction.com/services/pantries.html.

Ashley R. Shellhammer, who did not appear in Schuylkill County Court in October 2013 when she was supposed to do so, did make it Tuesday after authorities publicized her status as a fugitive.

Shellhammer, 26, of Schuylkill Haven, surrendered Tuesday following her appearance Sunday in this newspaper as part of local law enforcement's continuing effort to round up people who miss court sessions.

"I think some amount of bail is required," Judge John E. Domalakes said after hearing Shellhammer's reasons for not appearing Oct. 11 for a pre-trial conference.

He set bail at $2,500 percentage, meaning Shellhammer will have to post $250 to leave prison. Her bail had been $10,000 unsecured, meaning she did not have to post any money.

"I didn't know. I would have been there," Shellhammer said. "I'm not a flight risk."

Domalakes also required Shellhammer to pay a $50 bench warrant fee and to have the owner or tenant of the Dalmatia property where she now wants to live to submit an affidavit she can stay there.

"If you don't show up, you're on the hook for $2,500," Domalakes warned Shellhammer.

A prison spokesman said Tuesday evening that Shellhammer no longer was behind bars, meaning someone has posted her bail.

First Assistant District Attorney Maria T. Casey had asked Domalakes to require Shellhammer to post some money, saying she did not have a stable residence.

"She has moved numerous times," Casey said of Shellhammer.

President Judge William E. Baldwin issued the bench warrant for Shellhammer on Oct. 31.

County Detective Dennis Clark said Shellhammer turned herself in Tuesday morning.

Shellhammer is charged with two counts each of conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and criminal use of a communications facility and one each of delivery of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

State police at Reading charged her with committing those crimes on Jan. 1, 2010.

No one hurt in

Tower City crash

TOWER CITY - No one was injured in a two-vehicle crash at 10:35 a.m. Jan. 10 on Route 209, East Grand Avenue, just west of Yohe Street in Porter Township, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Richard J. Morningwake, 36, of Tower City, was driving a 2000 Dodge Stratus and was parked on the north shoulder of the road when he began to pull out and drove into the path of a northbound 2009 Ford Taurus driven by Brenda Hoover, 39, of Muir.

Police said the front of Hoover's car hit the front of Morningwake's car and both cars came to a stop at or near the point of impact, troopers said.

Both drivers and two children in the Morningwake vehicle, a boy and girl, all escaped injury, police said.

Morningwake will be cited as a result of the crash, police said.

Police: Beer found

in water bottle

MAR LIN - A 11-year-old Minersville boy will be charged by state police at Schuylkill Haven with purchase, possession of consumption of alcohol after an incident at 8 a.m. Monday at Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 in Norwegian Township.

Police said the boy was found in possession of a water bottle filled with beer while at the school at 17 Maple Ave. Charges against the juvenile will be filed with Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, police said.

Woman hurt

when car hits tree

PORT CARBON - A Saint Clair woman suffered moderate injuries after her car hit ice on the road and struck a tree Thursday, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said the 3:07 p.m. accident on the Port Carbon Highway at Market Street occurred as Esther M. Zelwalk, 51, was driving a 1998 Subaru Legacy Outback north on the road and hit a patch of ice. The car went airborne over a small embankment and hit the ground. After hitting the ground, the car traveled across Seventh Street and struck a tree, coming to rest facing northwest, police said.

Zelwalk, who was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, was taken by Pottsville/Schuylkill Haven Area EMS to Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street.

The East Norwegian Township Fire Company, Pottsville/Schuylkill Haven Area EMS and other individuals assisted at the scene, police said.

Shen woman OK

in Rt. 61 mishap

DARKWATER - The driver of a car escaped injury after she lost control on ice and hit a rock embankment Sunday on Route 61 in Blythe Township, police said.

State police at Frackville said the 4:20 p.m. accident occurred as Desiree Yezulinas, 21, of Shenandoah, was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Cavalier south on Route 61, 1.7 miles north of Darkwater Road, when she drove over ice while rounding a left curve, lost control and struck a rock embankment on the west side of the road.

Police said Yezulinas was wearing a seat belt and her car was towed from the scene.

Fuel siphoned

from vehicles

MAHANOY CITY - State police at Frackville are investigating a theft that occurred between Sunday and Monday on Burma Road in Mahanoy Township.

Police said that someone entered a property belonging to Locust Valley Coal Co, and siphoned about 200 gallons of fuel from various equipment parked on the property.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.

Woman not hurt

in one-car crash

MOUNT LAFFEE - A Minersville woman escaped injury when the 1994 Toyota Camry she was driving crashed at 6:45 a.m. Sunday on Mount Laffee Road in New Castle Township, police said.

State police at Frackville said Ana V. Vittini, 47, was driving west when she lost control while rounding a left curve, went off the road and struck a tree. The car came to a stop on the south berm facing northeast, police said.

Vittini, who refused medical treatment at the scene, will be cited for failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, police said.

Minersville EMS assisted at the scene and the car was towed, police said.

FRACKVILLE - Twenty-four contestants for Schuylkill County Junior Idol VI displayed their singing talents for about 150 people Tuesday at the Schuylkill Mall.

Those singing ranged from 9 to 15 years old and were from throughout the county. Each contestant selected one song to perform in the first round of the competition.

Three judges, Glenn Roberts, Allison Stella and Allison Kline, based scores on four areas: stage presence, technical ability, showmanship and overall performance.

Kane Heffron, Minersville, 2013 Schuylkill County Junior Idol winner, got the night started with "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash, a song he had performed during the 2013 competition.

The first contestant, Eden Frantz, 11, of Frackville, sang "Wasting All These Tears" by Cassadee Pope.

Raven Whitefawn Wesley, 12, of New Ringgold, was the second contestant, singing "Wrecking Ball" by Miley Cyrus.

Wesley said she chose "Wrecking Ball" because she liked the song. And though she didn't seem nervous during her performance, she later admitted she was.

"I was so nervous. I thought I was going to mess up," she said. "I just wanted to prove to myself I can do anything I want to."

Roberts said he enjoyed her song.

"That was really good. I like your voice," he said.

The youngest singer was Caitlee Kessock, 9, of New Boston, who sang "Let It Go" from the movie "Frozen."

Kessock said she was nervous, but her family helped her combat her nerves by telling her everything would be OK.

Another contestant, Brendan Bennett, played the song "The Girl" by City and Colour on his guitar.

"Great guitar-playing. Great singing," Kline said.

Dave Doneslon, 69, and John Ellis, 72, both of Frackville, were just two of the attendees at the competition. Doneslon said he was impressed with the singers.

"I'm flabbergasted at the lack of fear," he said.

Sister Theresa Duffy and Sister Mary Ann Spaetti, principal of Trinity Academy, both Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, were also in the audience. They were there to show support for Ariel Stanalonis, a seventh-grade student at the school.

Stanalonis sang "Turning Tables" by Adele.

The 10 contestants that will advance to the next round will be announced today on the mall website at www.shopschuylkillmall.com. The event, sponsored by Pepsi and the Frackville Rotary, continues every Tuesday until the winner is announced Feb. 18.

The winner of the idol will receive a $1,000 Schuylkill Mall shopping spree, a $100 gift certificate courtesy of the Bon-Ton, a makeover courtesy of the Beverly Carlton, a professional photo shoot by Michael's Photography, Frackville, a digital caricature package by Angie Jordan and the opportunity to perform at the Schuylkill County Fair in August.

n Pine Grove: The second annual Family Fun Fishing Event will be held May 4 at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. The event, according to a press release, will be held thanks to major sponsors including Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation and Pine Grove Fish and Game. It will be coordinated by the Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Advisory Board to the Schuylkill County commissioners. More than 1,500 people participated in last year's event, mostly families, Craig R. Morgan, advisory board chairman, said in the release. "We wish to continue to utilize fishing and other outdoor activities to establish a lasting outdoor family-fun bonding experience in addition to creating a greater awareness of Sweet Arrow Lake County Park and all its amenities," Morgan said. Partnering groups, he said, will have the opportunity to publicize the group, provide hands-on activities and host fundraising efforts. One such group, the Schuylkill County Sportsmen's Association, will raise funds by selling breakfast and lunch at the park clubhouse. Thanks to the Friends of Schuylkill Parks and Recreation, the Pine Grove Fish and Game group and Swatara Co-op trout nurseries, more than 2,000 trout will be stocked. The PA Fish and Boat Commission's in-season stocking will be April 30. More than 100 lunker trout (18-plus inches) will also be stocked thanks to the lake's lunker committee. There will be more than $3,000 in prizes and a minimum 35 trout and 15 crappies with tags worth at least $25 each. The registration fee prior to April 19 is $10 per person or $20 per family, which will include one $5 individual and one $10 family food voucher. The day of the event the fee will increase $5 and $10, respectively. The first 200 kids ages 5-12 registered in advance will receive a prize, which can be claimed at the clubhouse or the PA Fish and Boat access area on May 4 only. The two heaviest carp caught May 4 will each receive a minimum $50 gift to be awarded near the clubhouse at 2 p.m. Tagged fish caught after May 4 can still be redeemed by the registrant with a deadline of Sept. 1, thanks to the A&A Bait Shop. Canoes and kayaks will be available for rent and there will be crafters and other nonfood vendors on hand. Check-in and registration will begin at 6 a.m. at the clubhouse. Anyone wishing to help may contribute cash prizes. The event registration form is available on the Sweet Arrow Lake County Park website, www.sweetarrowlakepark.com. For more information, call Morgan at 570-739-2627.

n Saint Clair: The Saint Clair Community and Historical Society will participate in the annual history fair to be held Feb. 8 at the Fairlane Village mall. The theme of the Saint Clair society's display will be "What was happening in the world and Saint Clair 100 years ago in 1914." Dawn Morris Bicht, society president, said the society will put together a quarterly newsletter. Article suggestions can be submitted to Ted Thorn, the society's curator. To be placed on the mailing list, go to stclairhistory@yahoo.com. Membership dues for 2014 are due. Society officers said in a release that new members are needed. The society's hours will remain the same for the winter: 10 a.m to 2 p.m. Tuesdays, 4 to 8 p.m. Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.

n Tamaqua: The Tamaqua Volunteers community initiative group is collecting monetary donations for a family displaced in a house fire Jan. 10 at 92 Ben Titus Road in Rush Township. In addition to displacing five people, the fire claimed two pet dogs and most of the family's belongings. The home was occupied by Rose Mashak, Megan Devlin, Aaron Gimbel and two children. Mashak was injured in the blaze and transported to a local hospital for treatment of burns to her feet. The family's homeowner's insurance covered just a portion of their loss. There are five ways for people who wish to make a donation: Stop at any Wells Fargo Bank branch contribute to the Ben Titus Fire Fund; stop at Thorn's Cycles and ATV, 615 N. Railroad St., Tamaqua; go online to the group's fundraiser page at www.gofundme.com/6908ic; call the displaced family at 570-668-4141 or 570- 778-2212 for information on how to mail a contribution; call the volunteers group at 570-668-1234.

Students at Gillingham Charter School celebrated their choice to attend the county's first brick-and-mortar charter school during a pep rally Tuesday in honor of National School Choice Week.

According to the school, National School Choice Week provides families, schools and organizations the opportunity to celebrate their ability to choose the best educational environment for their children.

The pep rally was hosted by two teachers at the charter school, music teacher Sam Kochenberger and special education teacher Katelyn Grumbling. During the pep rally, students were able to voice why they chose Gillingham over other schooling options, such as traditional public schools, cyber charter schools and homeschool.

Students, teachers and faculty also wore the National School Choice Week symbolic yellow scarves in addition to normal school apparel.

"We are celebrating that choice," Kochenberger said.

Kochenberger said that whatever the reason was, whether it be after researching the school on the Internet, having friends come to Gillingham or there was "something that didn't jive" at their old school, the students chose to be there.

Students from first grade through 11th grade - the highest grade level currently offered at the school - came to the pep rally to voice their opinions about the school and why they made the choice.

Some of the reasons were that they enjoy going outside to learn, they were bullied at their old school or public school put too much stress on them.

"I chose Gillingham because their standards are awesome," sixth-grader Miranda Antalosky said.

Seventh-grader Santina Holley said that she was depressed before she came to Gillingham and, had she not made the decision to come, she would not have met "the most amazing people in the world."

One of the older students, 11th-grader Joshua Troiani, said that he came to the school about a year and a half ago and he's loved every second of it.

"I've learned here that it is very hard to find family that you meet and you're not born to," Troiani said. "I've not only met a classroom that is my family, but an entire school. It is here that I can be myself. It is here that I can accept other people for being themselves. It is here that I can come and see my friends and know that they are doing all right, just as I am. You all have made this place my home."

Tenth-grader Storm Hutchinson IV, son of Nicolle Hutchinson, the school's director of education and chief executive officer, told his classmates and teachers that while he didn't "necessarily choose Gillingham," having grown up with Gillingham in his life doesn't take away from his experience.

He said he thinks that when he was in fifth grade, his mother came up with the idea for Gillingham when watching television late one night.

"I've seen from day one how this place has grown to be where it is," Storm Hutchinson said. "It makes me really happy to be here, to see every single one of you growing. To see that you are all here means that you are strong inside and strong as human beings."

The assembly also included music performances by students and students watched an independent film about school choice produced by Choice Media titled "The Ticket."

PORT CARBON - A year ago, a fire-damaged duplex sat on the 200 block of Coal Street and its future was uncertain.

Since then, the condemned structure has been knocked down. And the owners of address 231, Lamar and Katrina Staller, are supervising the construction of a new home on their property.

"It's about 95 percent complete. We're hoping to move in sometime in mid-February," Katrina, 45, said Tuesday at the family's future home.

Katrina is a special education teacher's aide for kindergarten students at Pottsville Area's John S. Clarke Elementary. Lamar, 46, is a representative of the parts department at TransEdge Truck Center, Schuylkill Haven. And they have a daughter, Becky, 16, a sophomore at Pottsville Area High School.

The Nov. 28, 2012, blaze was ruled accidental, caused by an electrical circuit overload at the other side of the duplex, 233 Coal St., the home of Dean Vermeersch.

This presented the Staller family with a series of challenges. And this year, they're hoping to move past them.

One on the horizon is the criminal trial for Vermeersch, who was charged by police with running a hydroponic marijuana operation on the second floor of his home. The trial will be held in the upcoming criminal court term.

Later this year, the Stallers and their attorney, Frederick J. Fanelli, Pottsville, plan to bring Vermeersch back to court on a civil suit. The Stallers are hoping to acquire the ground at address 233.

"My main goal is to get his property. We'd like to have a bigger front yard. But, we'd also like to get money for all the anguish and devastation of losing our whole house and our pets," Lamar said.

Aside from many of their belongings, the family lost six cats in the fire.

The fire forced the Stallers to move into a rental home in Pottsville. Nationwide Insurance gave the family money for rent for one year, until the end of November 2013.

"The toughest thing to deal with was the time frame," Lamar said.

"The problem was this was a criminal fire. This wasn't your average house fire where you could start to rebuild after local officials come in and your insurance representatives come in and say, 'Yes, it's condemned,' " Katrina said.

The police investigation held up the demolition for "about three to four months," Katrina said.

Vermeersch and his attorney also held up the demolition of the duplex, requesting additional inquiries into whether or not the building was "condemnable," Katrina said.

"From what we were told, he wanted to remodel and move back in," Lamar said.

Vermeersch could not be reached for comment Tuesday night.

Stellar Construction Co., Berks County, supervised the demolition of the duplex in October, then started the construction of the family's new home.

In an effort to alleviate the family's deadline pressures, Stellar Construction offered to pay the family's rental costs after the November deadline.

"They took over the rent for December, January and February. I was speechless. That gave me peace of mind," Katrina said.

Nationwide Insurance covered the cost to build the new home. Katrina and Lamar estimated the cost was "about $200,000."

On Tuesday, the family was at their future home, trying to figure out what style of knobs they'd like on the kitchen cabinets. They said the new house looks different than the old one.

"When you walk in the front door, it kind of resembles it, but it's really a whole new look," Katrina said.

While it's three-stories high, like the former home, it's taller, Lamar said.

"Because of the codes, we had to have bigger areas. The old home, which was built in 1940, had ceilings which were about seven foot high. Now, they're about eight foot high," Lamar said.

Norwegian Township does not have to pay real estate taxes on property it owns near the entrance to a residential development, the state Supreme Court has decided.

In a one-sentence order filed Jan. 22, the state's highest court declined to hear Schuylkill County's appeal of the tax exemption for the property at the entrance to the Norwegian Woods development between Seltzer and Minersville.

The Supreme Court's order leaves intact the Commonwealth Court decision upholding county Judge James P. Goodman's grant of the exemption, and means the county and Pottsville Area School District will not receive tax revenue from the property.

"This is a nice win for municipalities trying to clean up areas in their communities by accepting ownership to properties," township solicitor Albert J. Evans, Pottsville, said Wednesday.

Township officials have said they want to develop the area as a park or playground.

The property now contains two benches for use by the public. Otherwise, it still is covered by trees, although township officials have announced it is open to the public for walking.

Norwegian acquired the property in 2007 from Community Banks NA, now Susquehanna Bank, for $1. The county Board of Assessment Appeals on May 9, 2012, denied the township's request for the tax exemption, but Goodman reversed that decision on Aug. 28, 2012, and the Commonwealth Court voted 5-2 on Aug. 12, 2013, to affirm that ruling.

Since the township owns the property, the law presumes it to be exempt from taxation, and the county failed to overcome that presumption, according to both Goodman and the Commonwealth Court.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - The National Penn Bank in Schuylkill Haven will close at the end of the business day April 30.

A sign posted on the door of the bank at 333 Center Ave. said, "We value you and your business and look forward to serving you at any of our other branches close by."

The sign said customers can visit either the Pottsville location at 111 E. Norwegian St. or the Schuylkill Mall location in Frackville. There is also a location at 5 N. Main St., Shenandoah.

Jacklyn Bingaman, marketing director for National Penn, would not confirm the Schuylkill Haven branch is closing despite the sign.

"I am not suppose to comment on any of the locations until all the customers are notified" by letter, she said Wednesday.

In all, nine branch locations will be consolidated, according to the fourth quarter and full 2013 earnings webcast by the bank holding company, National Penn Bankshares Inc.

Five of the nine branches are located within two miles of another location, and four of them are supermarket branches, the company said.

The company, with its headquarters in Boyertown, has 119 branches in Pennsylvania and one in Maryland.

Bingaman would not say where the nine consolidating locations are.

She said the affected locations are closing because they are near other ones and cited "changing customer preferences," which include online banking.

Workers at the Schuylkill Haven branch did not want to comment Wednesday.

When asked what will happen to the employees at the affected branches, Bingaman said she could not comment other than to say that they will make efforts to help those employees into other positions in the company.

With the nine branch closures and consolidations of facilities in the Lehigh Valley and Berks County, 112 people will be affected, company information showed.

Bingaman said the company is trying to be considerate to customers.

"We're trying to minimize customer impact," she said.

Schuylkill Haven borough Mayor Mike Devlin is optimistic the ice will be thick enough to skate on Saturday for an ice skating party at Stoyer's Dam.

"I believe by Saturday that the ice is going to be fine," he said Wednesday.

The party is scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. with hot dogs and hot cocoa provided. Hess Catering and Devlin, along with the recreation department and the borough, all will help in the effort, Devlin said.

As of Wednesday, the overall thickness was not appropriate to skate, Brian Murray, foreman for the borough street department, said. Ice must be six inches to safety skate.

Workers measure the ice in different locations with a ruler after chipping away at it with a metal bar.

The section near the end of the dam near the footbridge was 8 inches, the middle 6 and the side closest to Turkey Hill was 4 inches Wednesday. Murray said.

"We don't want anybody falling through on the other side," he said.

Street department workers Mario Donatti and Chad Hasenauer measured the ice Wednesday at 8 a.m. and after 2 p.m.

The ice is not measured Saturday and Sunday because no one is working, Murray said.

If the ice is not thick enough, people will be prohibited from going on the ice.

"I'm not disappointed, but I feel bad for the kids who want to skate," he said.

Devlin knows the ice might not cooperate.

"We're going to give it a try this year," he said.

Last year, weather conditions were not appropriate for ice skating.

Dan Kelly, superintendent of streets for Pottsville, said the ice skating rink also isn't up.

"We didn't even talk about putting it up this year," Kelly said Wednesday.

Kelly said they didn't know how cold it was going to be this year. He doesn't think it will be brought out this year at Rotary Park.

Due to warm weather, the rink was not out for people to enjoy last year.

The state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website also has information on what state parks permit winter activities at www.dcnr.state.pa.us.

According to the site, Tuscarora and Locust Lake state parks permit ice skating as does Sweet Arrow Lake County Park in Pine Grove.

The ice measured about 8 inches at both Tuscarora and Locust Lake as of Monday, according to the latest estimate on the DCNR website.

Lew Williams, park manager for both parks, said Wednesday he didn't see anyone ice skating recently.

Ice skaters were on the ice Sunday at Sweet Arrow Lake for the annual Fire & Ice Fest.

Clint Clauser skated effortlessly on the ice Sunday.

"We are practicing for the Olympics," he said jokingly about his family.

The 40-year-old from Summit Station and his wife, Chris, 39; son, Douglas, 5; and daughters Ava, 11, and Mya, 9, all were having fun.

Bob Evanchalk, Schuylkill County parks and recreation supervisor, said those who venture on the ice need to take precautions.

"We do not monitor the ice thickness. It's up to you to do it," he said Wednesday.

At Deer Lake on Monday, no one was skating on the ice.

A sign said the thickness of the ice is not measured on the lake and those who venture on it do so at their own risk.

Craig Evanego, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service State College, said Wednesday a warm up will be in store.

Today, high temperatures will be in the mid-20s and sunny and a low of 15 degrees.

Friday the high will be in the mid-30s, with a low in the 20s.

Saturday has a chance for temperatures to reach the upper 30s. There is a 40 percent chance of rain, the NWS said.

With the rain, "that may not be conducive to be out on the ice," Evanego said.

For tips on ice safety, visit the state Fish and Boat Commission website at www.fish.state.pa.us.

Pennsylvania voters are down on President Barack Obama, but they remain really unhappy with Gov. Tom Corbett, a dissatisfaction fueled heavily by the governor's cuts to education and the ongoing economic slump, according to a new Franklin & Marshall College poll released Wednesday.

With the election less than 10 months away and despite some modest improvement in his standing, voters by wide margins still view Corbett unfavorably, don't think much of the way he's doing his job and don't think he deserves re-election, according to the poll.

Almost one in five (19 percent) of voters less than pleased with the way the governor is doing his job say it is because of cuts to education, according to the poll. More than one in eight (13 percent) named economic issues as the reasons for their displeasure.

G. Terry Madonna, the poll's director, could not think of another state where education is playing such a major role in a governor's standing with voters.

"He's still in a perilous re-election situation," Madonna said. "The basic problem has to do with the cuts. The problem is that the narrative has been (teacher) layoffs, staff cutbacks, cutting the music and art programs, what's happening to sports programs. That's the narrative coming out of one school district after another all over the state. ... Education is huge and likely to dominate (the election). That's why every single Democratic candidate (for governor) is for increasing education funding."

The poll of 580 registered voters was conducted between Jan. 22 and Monday, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

The poll showed fewer than a quarter of voters (24 percent) had a strongly or somewhat favorable view of the governor with almost half (48 percent) viewing him somewhat or strongly unfavorably. The favorability rating is about the same as F&M's poll in October (23 percent), though the unfavorability rating is down slightly from then (52 percent).

Obama's favorability rating (42 percent favorable, 48 percent unfavorable) is far better than the governor's, but down sharply from October (50 percent favorable, 44 percent unfavorable). His job approval rating is way down, too, with three in 10 (30 percent) saying he has done an excellent or good job compared to almost four in 10 (39 percent) in October.

Corbett actually got a slight bump in job approval with almost a quarter (23 percent) saying he is doing a good or excellent job (up from 19 percent) and almost three quarters (72 percent) saying he's done a fair or poor job down from October (76 percent).

But that and his favorability rating continue to undermine Corbett's re-election chances, though that barometer is slightly better than October, too. Almost one in four (23 percent) said he deserves re-election up from one in five (20 percent). In October, two-thirds (67 percent) said it is time for a change. That number dropped slightly to more than three in five (63 percent) in the latest poll.

Worse yet for Corbett: his support among the people who think he deserves re-election isn't entirely solid. Four in 10 (40 percent) answered no when asked if they would vote for Corbett no matter who ran against him.

Corbett is not helped by voters' evaluation of the way things are going in the state. A quarter of voters (25 percent) believe the state is headed in the right direction, but more than three in five (62 percent) still think things are off on the wrong track, virtually unchanged since October.

The economic issues and education dominated when voters were asked the most important problem facing the state.

Almost a third (31 percent) named the economy, unemployment or personal finances, almost one in five (19 percent) named education and schools. More than one in 10 (11 percent) named government/politicians or taxes.

Eight Democrats have announced plans to seek the Democratic nomination for governor. The poll did not ask how well Corbett fares head to head against each candidate, but previous polls by other organizations have shown every Democrat ahead of him for now.

KLINGERSTOWN - Fourteen people were left homeless when flames tore through an apartment building above the United States Post Office on Tuesday afternoon.

The fire at 88 Main St. was reported just after 2 p.m. and brought firefighters from Schuylkill County and surrounding communities to the scene.

The apartments were destroyed and the post office sustained smoke and water damage, fire officials said.

Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal Trooper John F. Burns said he determined the cause of the fire to be accidental.

Burns said the fire was electrical in nature and started in a second floor apartment occupied by Jason and Jeanne Miller and their four children.

According to the American Red Cross, Schuylkill Chapter, five families were left homeless by the fire.

In addition to the Millers, who were identified by Burns, the Red Cross said those homeless were residents of four apartments.

Two of those apartments were occupied by one adult each, another by an adult and a child and the fourth by two adults.

Jennifer LoConte, regional communications officer with the Red Cross, said the Miller family was given food, clothing and lodging while the remaining tenants were provided with food and clothing.

When contacted Wednesday, LoConte was unable to identify those left homeless, citing Red Cross policy of not identifying clients.

Klingerstown Fire Company Chief Robert Masser was unable to reached Wednesday to provide details as to which fire companies were called to the scene to assist.

No damage estimate was available.

If the state General Assembly decides to pass a law outlawing discrimination against gay and transgender residents, a large majority of state voters will not mind, according to a new Franklin & Marshall College poll released Wednesday.

Almost three quarters of voters (72 percent) said they favor passing a law outlawing such discrimination with almost three in five (57 percent) saying they strongly favor passage.

Bills outlawing the discrimination languish in the legislature, but the issue got a boost last month when Gov. Tom Corbett said he would sign the bill if it passes.

"I don't think there should be discrimination," Corbett said.

G. Terry Madonna, the poll's director, said the finding is important.

"The next issue before the legislature will not be the legalization of gay marriage, it will be making it illegal to discriminate in employment or housing based on a person's sexual orientation or gender identity ... Corbett says he's even for that. That's the next fight."

Almost two-thirds (65 percent) of Republicans favor passing that law, Madonna said.

"I think the folks in the gay community understand that they're not going to get gay marriage, but this is a push that they have a legitimate chance of getting it done," he said. "It's a huge, huge question moving forward."

Voters continue to favor allowing same sex couples to marry legally, with almost three in five (56 percent) now saying they strongly or somewhat favor the idea and almost two in five (39 percent) saying they oppose it. The percentage in favor is up 2 points from a poll last May. They favor passing a law to allow same sex couples to marry by about the same percentages.

On another social issue, voters remain less liberal with almost three in five (58 percent) against legalization of marijuana and only more than a third (36 percent) in favor. Both percentages remain about the same as in three other Franklin & Marshall surveys since 2010, despite marijuana's recent legalization in Colorado.

Voters' attitudes change sharply when asked if they favor allowing pot's use for medical purposes with a doctor's recommendation. Then, more than four in five (81 percent) favor allowing it, with only about a sixth (16 percent) opposed.

As for another vice, liquor, support for selling off the state store system to private companies was about where it was last May (46 percent now compared to 47 percent then), but voters are now more willing to live with modernization rather than privatizing.

Last May, almost four in 10 (37 percent) wanted the stores sold and about a quarter (26 percent) favored modernization. In the latest poll, it was about a third each for privatizing (33 percent) and modernization (32 percent).

Voters also showed nuanced views on natural gas drilling. Almost two-thirds (64 percent) viewed the industry favorably, with only about a quarter (27 percent) opposed, but the numbers were closer on two other gas-related questions.

Four in 10 (40 percent) said the potential economic benefits outweigh the risks, and almost as many (37 percent) said the risks outweigh the benefits. Almost four in 10 (38 percent) said they think gas drilling has improved the quality of life in Pennsylvania versus about a quarter (26 percent) who think it has reduced the quality of life.

Only about a quarter (24 percent) favor expanding drilling in state forests with almost seven in 10 (68 percent) opposed.

Almost three quarters (72 percent) taxes on gas extraction should be shared by the state and local governments, which is the present situation.

Teacher contract negotiations at Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 will resume in February, according to Diane M. Niederriter, IU 29 executive director and Mary Alice Wasilewski, president of the IU 29 teachers' association.

The first bargaining session since June will be held at 3 p.m. Feb. 19 at the IU 29 Maple Avenue Campus in Mar Lin, Niederriter and Wasilewski confirmed Wednesday.

The IU's 67 teachers have been working without a contract since June 30, 2012, when their three-year pact expired. Negotiations began Jan. 9, 2012. On Aug. 6, 2012, the IU 29 board rejected a report authored by fact-finder Robert C. Gifford, an attorney from State College.

The last negotiation session was June 6.

Since then, the teachers union - the IU 29 Exceptional Children's Program Education Association - has changed its representation.

The Pennsylvania State Education Association, Allentown, had been representing the union since the mid-1970s, Lauri Lebo, a PSEA spokeswoman, said June 27.

On Oct. 22, the teachers union chose Teamsters Local 429, Wyomissing, Berks County. Ralph J. Teti, an attorney who is a senior partner in the law firm of Willig, Williams and Davidson, Philadelphia, will represent the teachers at the bargaining table, Wasilewski said Wednesday.

"The firm in which I am a senior partner, Willig, Williams and Davidson, serves as general counsel to Teamsters Local 429. I do a fair amount of work with teacher unions in Pennsylvania," Teti said Wednesday.

"What we hope to obtain for the members of the bargaining unit from these negotiations are a fair wage and benefits package. The members of the bargaining unit who work for the IU are extremely dedicated to their jobs and to the mission of the IU. The teachers have worked almost three of the last five years without an agreement in place. We think it is in the interests of both labor and management to have an agreement in place as soon as possible. And that is how we intend to approach the negotiation process which begins on February 19," Teti said.

Charles N. Sweet, an attorney from Doylestown, Bucks County, has been representing the IU 29 in the contract talks.

"The scheduling of a date for negotiations took so long because all parties involved had to agree upon a date. With so many schedules to deal with as well as the mediator's schedule it was difficult to find a convenient date and time for all to be available," Wasilewski said Wednesday.

The mediator will be William D. Gross, director of the Bureau of Mediation at the state Department of Labor & Industry, Harrisburg.