GORDON — Chronic sewage delinquents will be handled by an outside legal firm following action by the borough council.

At its June 9 meeting, the council voted to retain Portnoff Law Associates Ltd., Norristown, for the collection of the delinquent accounts.

“We voted to execute their letter of engagement,” council President Michael Rader said. “At the July council meeting, we’re going to adopt an ordinance that they recommend to adopt to institute their fees for collection.”

Portnoff is used by other local municipalities and school districts. According to its website, the law firm limits its practice to the collection of unpaid real estate taxes and municipal utility fees.

Rader said collections fees will not come from the borough.

“It is my understanding that there is no outlay of money from the borough,” Rader said. “The fees are built into the collection process and that’s how they are compensated.”

Rader said the fees will be added onto the delinquent balances at paid by the customer. The fee schedule will be implemented at the July meeting. For those who are delinquent, Rader recommended that customers should get their accounts current before the collection fees are added.

In other business, the council accepted the resignation of Councilwoman Mary Ellen Mulligan, who was serving as vice president. Mulligan term expires Dec. 31 and she was not running for re-election.

The vacant seat was filled immediately afterward with the appointment of Jason Quick. A former borough councilman, Quick is on the General Election ballot for the council. To fill Mulligan’s office, the council elected Councilwoman Valerie Stitzer as the new vice president.

Rader said the borough’s financial records are being installed on the new computer system.

The July 14 meeting will include a report on the development of a Early Intervention Plan to map out a financial road for the next five years.

At the September 2014 meeting, the council retained the services of Stevens & Lee P.C., Harrisburg, and FS&L Financial S&lutions LLC, Reading, as the project team to prepare the EIP for the financial stability of the borough.

According to the program guidelines available at the state Department of Community and Economic Development website, the Early Intervention Program is designed to offer a pre-emptive step for municipalities who feel as if their financial situation, while not yet formally declared distressed, are realizing difficulties and seek to improve their financial position. The Early Intervention Program supports municipalities by offering grants that can be used to fund costs associated with hiring an independent financial consultant to prepare a three- to five-year financial plan and management review of their municipality. The plan will outline short and long term financial, managerial and economic development strategies that the municipality can consider implementing to possibly strengthen their financial capacity.

“We’ll receive the recommendations for the strategic plan to be put in place,” Rader said.

n Deer Lake: The Deer Lake and West Brunswick Fire Company will sponsor bingo from 6 to 8:45 p.m. today in the firehall, 1 Ash Road. Doors open at 5 p.m.

n Frackvillle: St. John the Baptist Polish National Catholic Church will hold a bleenie sale beginning at 11 a.m. Friday at the church, 414 W. Oak St.

n Saint Clair: The East Norwegian Township Fire Company will sponsor a Fireman’s Carnival Thursday through Saturday at the fire company grounds, 16 Sunshine St., Diener’s Hill. There will be a truck parade Thursday night and fireworks Saturday night. The event will also include food, rides, games and a midway. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-449-6354.

n Schuylkill Haven: A wildlife day camp will be held at Island Park, Schuylkill Haven, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Aug. 12-14, Patrick M. “Porcupine Pat” McKinney, environmental education coordinator with the Schuylkill Conservation District, said in a press release. The cost is $18 for the three days with part of the proceeds going to help programs of the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Department. The program is for students leaving or entering grades one to three at Schuylkill Haven Area Elementary and St. Ambrose schools. For more information, call McKinney at 570-622-4124, ext. 113 or email him at www.porcupinepat@yahoo.com.

n Shenandoah: Schuylkill County’s oldest continuous downtown open-air farm market will launch the 2015 season at 8 a.m. Friday along the first block of South Main Street, east side, and first block of East Centre Street, south side near the more than century-old Bolich & Burke Building. Mark Bernardyn, who has chaired the Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce Farm Market Committee for 21 years, announced the launch of the 2015 market in a press release. The market, which features fruits, vegetables, plants and at times even Amish-style baked goods by local growers and sellers, was started in the 1970s as the brainchild of the late chamber Director Samuel Schutawie as a way to increase pedestrian traffic downtown. Since then, the market has become a staple for local residents and visitors seeking fresh produce. It runs from about 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesdays and Fridays throughout the summer and fall. Anyone wanting more information about the market may call Bernardyn at 570-462-2734.

n Tamaqua: Community And Residential Empowerment Services — C.A.R.E.S. — held its first Tamaqua and Pocono Day Program Prom, for adults with developmental disabilities, May 22 at its Tamaqua Day Program site at St. John’s United Church of Christ, 150 Pine St. The event began with hair and makeup styling session by students in the cosmetology program at the Schuylkill Technology Center, according to a C.A.R.E.S. press release. The mission of C.A.R.E.S. is to “provide high quality services and supports that maximize each individual’s potential, opportunities, relationships, community involvement, and health and wellness. Our vision is to create community-based services empowering individuals by creating an environment where the individual’s rights and culture are recognized and respected with services that are self‐determined, person centered and family focused,” according to the release. The organization’s founders, Lori Miller and Sheila Davison, started the family-owned, local business to address a community need for services after serving for more than 17 years with a large, nonprofit organization headquartered in Fort Washington, Pennsylvania, where they helped to establish community day programs, Lifesharing (an alternative to group homes) and developed mental health programs, youth at-risk programs and other self-determined services for individuals with developmental disabilities, according to the release. For more about C.A.R.E.S., go to its website at www.cares4u.org or call 570-225-7360.

n Tamaqua: The 25th annual Tamaqua Summerfest sponsored by the Tamaqua Historical Society will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday (Father’s Day) in downtown Tamaqua, rain or shine. The event will feature entertainment, food, a craft and street fair, live radio broadcast with “Polka Joe” Manjack as well as live entertainers, train excursions, The Victorian Highwheelers, a horse-drawn trolley, antique and classic vehicles, the Moser Log Home, historic Tamaqua Train Station, the historical society museum and other attractions. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-668-5722.

Marriage licenses

Joshua M. Lohr, Richmond, Virginia, and Caitlyn B. Hoysock, Orwigsburg.

Kevin A. Reber, Minersville, and Jodi A. Gennow, Minersville.

Brandon Miller, Frackville, and Danielle M. Heiser, Girardville.

Kenneth C. Ellex, Tremont, and Keziah A. Meyers, Orwigsburg.

Edward F. Valibus, Kissimmee, Florida, and Lindsay E. Biser, Kissimmee, Florida.

Tyler C. Moyer, Orwigsburg, and Ashlie C. Dean, Orwigsburg.

Joshua J. Tellup, Auburn, and Autumn N. Miller, Auburn.

Jacob S. Emerich, Cressona, and Eliza C. Gaylord, Cressona.

Patrick R. Hare, Barnesville, and Lorraine A. Kalaschenkow, Barnesville.

Joshua A. Spock, Drums, and Ashley E. Schoener, McAdoo.

Matthew J. Pauline, Kelayres, and Ashley R. Segila, Kelayres.

Ethan L. Shobe, Pine Grove, and Maachathi G. Fritz, Pine Grove.

Angelo Fagiani, London, England, and Emily A. Donahoe, Schuylkill Haven.

Aldonso Dorsey, Coal Township, and Kelly L. Marinelli, Philadelphia.

Ronald Hildebrand, McAdoo, and Jennifer L. Lucash, McAdoo.

Edward C. Smith, Tamaqua, and Crystal A. Lynn, Summit Hill.

Divorces granted

Jessica Lynn Rodichok, Tower City, from Paul V. Rodichok III, Tower City.

Elizabeth Ann Perong, Shenandoah, from Craig P. Perong, Ringtown.

Molly Louise Kelley, Schuylkill Haven, from Micheau Lee Kelley, Germany.

Bryan G. Brown, Barnesville, from Beth A. Brown, Barnesville.

Education was the reason people came out to the third Public Safety Night Out on Monday in Pottsville.

The event, held at the lower level of the Martz Hall parking lot, was free and featured equipment from the Pottsville and Minersville fire departments, the Schuylkill Haven Fire Department Rescue and Dive Team, Schuylkill EMS, a Geisinger Life Flight helicopter and construction equipment.

Many of the activities were targeted at children including fingerprinting demonstrations by the Schuylkill County Sheriff’s Department and a fire safety house. Pottsville Patrolman Joseph Murton Jr. was also on hand to answer questions about drugs.

To emphasize its goal of raising fire safety awareness, free smoke detectors were available at the event. As of 7:16 p.m., 13 were handed out.

“Do you have a smoke detector in your home?” Molly Kleeman, a member of the Yorkville Hose Fire Company, Pottsville, asked Veronica Rosado, 28, of Pottsville.

Rosado said her family has one in her house and her son, Xiomar Figueroa-Rosado, 2, of Pottsville, knows what to do if he hears it.

Rosado said she attended the event to help her son learn about safety.

“It teaches them how to stay safe, how to educate their families on a safer route through life,” she said.

Public Safety Night Out began in response to a devastating house fire on Mother’s Day 2013 at 235 Pierce St., Pottsville. The fire claimed the lives of four children and two adults — Eric Brown, 31; Joy Brown, 8; Jeremiah Brown 7; Emily Brown, 3; Elijah Brown, 2; and Kristina Thomas, 23. Kelly Brown, mother of the four children, wife of Eric and sister of Kristina, was not at home at the time of the fire. The home did not have smoke detectors.

Ali Rulavage, 44, of New Philadelphia, who attended the event with her grandson, Riley Rulavage, 3, of New Philadelphia, believes there is no such thing as too many smoke detectors. She has 10 in her home.

She said the event is good for children and families.

“They need to know basic safety,” Rulavage said.

Andrew Milliern Jr., 6, looked intently at a Pottsville police car.

“You don’t want to get in the back seat there, do you?” Pottsville police Patrolman Brian Reno asked him.

Andrew’s mother, Mellisa Lileck, 43, of Pottsville, said her son knows to call 911 if there is an emergency.

Pottsville fire Chief Todd March said the event is important for all and to “make kids aware what can happen” in the event of a fire.

HECKSCHERVILLE — A Florida truck driver escaped serious injury when the rig he was driving crashed Monday morning in Cass Township.

State police Trooper Brian Walters of the Frackville station said the crash occurred about 6:20 a.m. at the intersection of Route 4007, Highridge Road, and Valley Road.

Walters said Jesus A. Almaguer, 37, of Clearwater, was driving a 2000 Freightliner south on Highridge Road descending a steep incline when he approached the intersection with Valley Road and was unable to stop at the T intersection.

The truck went through the intersection, crossed Valley Road and continued through a guide rail, Walters said.

The trooper said the truck then entered a wooded area, rolled onto its passenger’s side and came to a stop.

The truck’s cargo, watermelons, was dumped into a wooded area along Valley Road, Walters said.

Almaguer was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street by Minersville EMS for treatment of minor injuries after exiting the truck on his own.

Walters said that Almaguer reported his brakes failed while coming down the steep hill. The trooper said the truck will now be inspected to see if brake failure played a part in the crash.

Walters said Almaguer will be cited for driving at an unsafe speed and that Heckscherville firefighters and fire police assisted at the scene.

When Jan Lokuta looks at Pittston’s churches, he sees treasure hidden in plain sight.

It lies in the structure and art of the churches themselves.

“If you spend enough time and know what to look for, there are treasures everywhere,” he said. “These churches are treasures of art, architecture and spiritual tradition.”

Lokuta will share these treasures, leading people who wish to learn more about two of the historic churches of Pittston on a tour on Sunday.

This year’s tour, the 10th Lokuta has led, will stop at St. John the Evangelist Church on William Street and St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church on North Main Street.

Lokuta said the tour will focus on the way light is used in church art to express the divine. He selected the two churches to show a contrast between Western, or Roman Catholic, and Eastern, or Byzantine Catholic, artistic traditions.

At St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church, Lokuta plans to highlight the different styles of stained glass displayed in the church’s windows. He called the stained glass featured at St. John “representative of the way light is used in the Western church.”

“The light is natural light and the figurative art is naturalistic ... the light is coming from the outside illuminating the interior (of the church),” Lokuta said. “I want to highlight the Rose Window in the front of the church. That’s probably the most impressive piece of stained glass in St. John.”

The tour group will meet at the church on William Street at 1:30 p.m. After touring the Roman Catholic church, Lokuta said he will lead the group to St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church on North Main Street. The Rev. Tom Major will greet the tour group with a demonstration of how a religious icon is “written” in the Eastern or Byzantine Catholic tradition.

“Light in icons comes from within the image,” Lokuta said. “Light is meant to reflect from the icon outward.”

Lokuta started giving tours 10 years ago after being involved with Wyoming Valley Riverfest. He said he noticed that although Riverfest started in Pittston, the city itself was not highlighted.

“I said I would take it upon myself,” he said.

In 2006, with the help of Laura Craig Galleries, Lokuta organized an exhibition of landscapes by artist Brian Keeler at the Pittston Memorial Library to highlight local architecture.

“The thing most notable about Pittston was its architecture,” Lokuta said.

After the exhibit, Lokuta decided to lead tours of local churches, especially churches that were scheduled to close and have since been demolished.

“I had about 25 people on that (first) tour,” he said.

Lokuta looks forward to spending time in the two churches on this year’s tour.

“These two churches I think are going to be here for a while,” he said.

DIENER’S HILL — Dark from smoke but unburned by the fire that destroyed the last building it was in, the original charter establishing the Independence Hose Company 100 years ago proudly hangs on a wall at East Norwegian Township Fire Company.

That charter, record books and other various memorabilia brought back memories for members of the fire company as they prepared Monday for the annual carnival this weekend. Now known as East Norwegian Township Fire Company, the outfit is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

“I think it’s important for the next generation to see what it was and how hard it was to keep it going,” Michele Kline, company vice president and an assistant fire chief, said Monday afternoon.

Kline and her brother, Mark Placek, township fire chief and company treasurer, have each been involved with the fire company for about 30 years. They were both able to find the names of their parents, grandparents and a great-grandparent in the old books used to record membership dues and meeting minutes.

“I think it’s of great significance to be around for 100 years,” Kline said. “A lot of people are coming and going and to keep it alive for 100 years and to continue providing those services is wonderful.”

Even though the words “Independent Hose Company” are still written across the front of the building, the company officially changed its name in 2012 following a merger with the two other companies in the township: East Norwegian Township Emergency Services No. 2 of Mill Creek and American Fire Co. No. 3 of Schoentown.

Brian Murray, company president and assistant chief, was involved with the different organizations at the time of the merger.

“I was actually for it because we have had limited active members,” Murray said.

He said there were only about five or six active members with each of those companies.

“Everybody is hurting, so why don’t just consolidate instead of competing,” Murray said. “It would be better for everyone involved.”

Placek said there are about 75 members currently listed with the company, about 30 of which are active.

The fire company covers the entire township and provides mutual aid support. It has two engines, a tanker and two brush fire units.

“It’s interesting that this building is our third location,” Placek said.

The original Independent Hose Company was actually located near Mill Creek and then relocated to Oak Street on Diener’s Hill, about a block away from its current location, because it was difficult for the horse-drawn carriages to travel up the hill, Placek said. The parcel for the 7 1/2 acres of land for the current building at 16 Sunshine St. was later donated to the fire company, he said.

On Sept. 29, 2001, an arson fire destroyed the fire company building. It was on the same day of a fundraising event at the building, Kline, who only lives a block away from the company, said. A ticket from that fundraiser sits in a display case in the hall along with the charred, wooden nameplate for the building.

“We were here for the event, locked the doors and left,” Kline said. “We were only home for about 45 minutes to an hour then heard a call from the neighbor that the building was smoking. By the time we got over here, it was fully involved.”

Placek said the building was robbed and the fire was set to cover it up. He said it was ruled arson because the blaze started in the social hall and the kitchen at the same time.

“It was devastating to have a building you put your blood, sweat and tears into and just lose it like that,” Kline said. “But our motto was that we would rise from the ashes.”

The current building went up in 2002 with a 40-year federal loan from the USDA, Placek said. One of the first things to go into the new building were two walk-in freezers, which come in handy when it comes time to prepare for the annual carnival.

“It’s an advantage to us because we can do a lot of stuff ahead of time and freeze it,” Kline said.

It only took about a dozen members of the fire company to fill up the freezers with food for this weekend’s carnival. The event covers about 20 to 30 percent of the company’s annual budget, Placek said.

“People look forward to it,” Placek said. “It is kind of a kickoff to the summer firework displays.”

The carnival runs from 5 to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 4-11 p.m. Saturday. Fireworks are Saturday night.

n Ashland: A free soup-and-sandwich lunch for the local community is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday at Zion’s Reformed Church, 2400 Centre St. Lunch, offered on the third Wednesday of the month, includes soup, a sandwich, beverage and dessert. For more information, call 570-875-2700.

n Frackville: Elks Lodge 1533, 307 S. Third St., will hold its monthly pork chop supper from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the lodge. The cost is $9 per meal, which includes two breaded pork chops, potato, vegetable and dessert. There will be a cash bar for refreshments. For more information, call 570-590-3330.

n Mahanoy City: The public library is sponsoring a fundraiser trip to Mohegan Sun Casino on June 24. The cost is $22 per person with a $25 slot rebate and $5 food voucher. The bus will leave at 9:30 a.m. from the former Service Electric parking lot and depart from the casino at 4 p.m. for the return trip. For reservations or more information, call 570-773-3365, 570-929-1012 or 570-778-6956.

n Mahanoy City: First United Methodist Church, Fourth Street and Mahanoy Avenue, will sponsor a silent auction beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday with browsing starting at 10 a.m. Large prizes will be offered. The kitchen will be open to serve hot food. Tickets are $2 each and will include cake, beverage and a chance for a door prize.

n Pottsville: The Pottsville Kiwanis Club is taking orders for blueberries, offering 10-pound boxes for $30. All orders are due by June 30. Blueberries, according to a Kiwanis release, will be delivered from the growers within 24 hours of picking and will be available for pickup July 9 at Boyer’s Food Markets parking lot, 22nd and West Market streets. Customers will be notified in advance about the precise date and time for pickup. All proceeds, according to the release, will support scholarships and local charities focused on helping area youths. To order, call Henry at 570-985-7262, Susan at 570-691-5576 or Kelly at 570-617-1125.

n Summit Station: To kick off the new “Schuylkill Grown” product promotion, the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce and Ag Committee under the direction of Liz Hinkel will hold its first Schuylkill Grown cooking contest at 6 p.m. July 28 during the Schuylkill County Fair. Ag Committee members, according to a release, hope this will be the first of many contests at the fair to promote products that are grown in the county. The contest will be held under the southeast overhang of the main exhibit hall. The competition is open to youths and adults, as there will be two categories for the public to participate in. The youth category is for people under 18 to prepare a quick bread and bring it to the fairgrounds to be judged ready to serve. A quick bread can be done in the form of a loaf, muffin or biscuit, organizers said in the release. The adult category involves a soup, which adults must prepare and take to the fairgrounds ready to serve. In both categories, the recipe must provide a family-size serving. Each exhibitor must provide his/her own ingredients and cookware to serve. The fair will only provide table and electrical hookup. Exhibitors must have their product in place and ready to serve to the judges by 6:15 p.m. and are asked to register in advance for the contest by July 25 by calling 570-622-3742, ext. 5 or emailing to ehinkel@co.schuylkill.pa.us. The product exhibited by the participant must have a minimum of three ingredients grown in Schuylkill County. The ingredients may be grown by the exhibitor or bought from a Schuylkill County grower. Recipes for soups and quick bread that accompany the product must have the Schuylkill-grown item highlighted in the ingredient portion of the recipe list. A list of Schuylkill-grown providers is available at the fair’s website at www.schuylkillfair.com. A panel of judges will determine the winner based upon taste and presentation. Additional points will be awarded for each Schuylkill-grown ingredient above the minimum. This year’s fair is July 27 through Aug. 1.

n Tamaqua: The Tamaqua Area Free Public Library is hosting six weeks of summer reading for children between 2 and 12 years old. Titled “Every Hero Has a Story,” the program is offered on different days and times in a bid to reach the most readers. For youngsters 6 to 12, session are from 3 to 4:30 p.m. and 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Mondays; for ages 2 to 5, sessions are from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Each session includes stories, snacks, crafts and games. There will also be prizes for reading. For more information, a schedule or to register, call 570-668-4660.

Deeds

Ashland — Deutsche Bank National Trust Co. to JP Homes Inc.; 1413 Walnut St.; $2,500.

East Norwegian Township — Vincent J. and Janice M. Balulis to Nyle R. Wallick; 278 Louisa Ave.; $185,000.

Frackville — Richard F. Andersen and Carol A. Andersen to Carol A. Andersen; 158 S. Nice St.; $1.

Minersville — Michael J. and Jayne M. Kachmar to Michael J. Kachmar; 313 Pine St.; $1.

Palo Alto — Ruth M. Yarnell, individually and as executrix of the Estate of Ruth M. Dougherty, Cindy Smith, Lynn Dierwechter, Edward F. Dougherty Jr., George Dougherty, Frank Dougherty, Robert M. Dougherty and Barbara A. Brenchley to Ruth M. Yarnell; 107 W. Savory St.; $1.

Porter Township — Misty A. Kuhns to Nathan Bach and Kristen Roberts; 2023 E. Grand Ave., Reinerton; $78,800.

Schuylkill Haven — The Bank of New York Mellon to Imobiliaria LLC; 408 Parkway; $17,500.

Schuylkill Township — Christopher Baddick to Michael Morgans; 28 Main St., MaryD; $56,000.

Shenandoah — Marjorie E. Dean to Robert Jr. and Victoria Dachiu; 431 Furnace St., Turkey Run; $7,500.

South Manheim Township — Dawn R. and John Douglas Smeal to Jeffrey J. and Judith K. Wagner; 1806 Crazy Horse Drive, Lake Wynonah; $168,000.

Tamaqua — Bank of America NA to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; 412 Pine St.; $1.

Brenda I. Valletta to Matthew J. Walters; 108 Hunter St.; $15,000.

Tremont — Adam J. Leffler to Chad Maidenford; 314 E. Main St.; $30,000.

Union Township — Margaret C. Burns, by attorney in fact Richard Sinclair, to Russell L. Nicodemus Jr.; 20 N. Ninth St.; $147,500.

Patrick Caulfield, executive director of the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority, told the authority board Tuesday at their June meeting that the projects they have been working on are being completed.

“The big projects are wrapping up nicely,” he told the board Tuesday.

The Mahanoy Business Park Project is one such effort.

The SCMA is adding a 500,000-gallon water storage tank to serve the business park in Mahanoy and Ryan townships, as well as the village of Vulcan. The project includes the installation of 20,000 linear feet of 8-inch and 12-inch water lines.

According to a summary of the project on the SCMA website, the project will extend a 12-inch water main from New Boston, east along Morea Road to Vulcan and the commercial/industrial section of Mahanoy Business Park. The new water tank will be constructed adjacent to Interstate 81 near Fabcon Inc. and Corsicana Bedding Inc. The project is funded through a loan from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure and Investment Authority, a state financing program.

Caulfield told the board the contractor has filled and pressure tested the pipeline from New Boston to the Morea Road/Burma Road intersection. The pipeline is filled and pressure tested on Roosevelt Boulevard with four service connections installed to property lines. The contract was awarded in April 2014 to Michael F. Ronca & Sons Inc., Shamokin, for $3.23 million. There were nine bidders for the project.

Caulfield said the project is almost complete and is slated for Aug. 9. The subcontractor, who was not named, has finished painting the interior of the tank and a base coat has been applied to the outside. The painting of the tank should be finished by next month.

Because of the project, 44 residences are required to connect to the new SCMA water mains and have been sent letters to alert them to the change. Residents of Vulcan who are currently Hazleton City Authority customers will also be notified and will be reconnected to the new water main as SCMA customers.

Once the project is finished, those affected will get additional correspondence saying they need to connect within a certain time.

In November 2014, the board approved a tapping fee of $1,015 per inch of pipe connection and a connection fee of $1,485 per residential connection. The connection fee is based on the average cost per residential connection. The commercial fee will be established based on the size of connections at actual costs . Letters were sent to those affected in November.

The second-class township code and the Mahanoy Township mandatory connection ordinance “require all improved property (houses and businesses) located within the service area of the Township and abutting upon any street in which there is a water main constituting part of the water system owned and operated by the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority to connect such improved property with and to use such water system,” according to the SCMA website, www.scmawater.com.

In other related news, Caulfield and Amy Batdorf, authority assistant director, met with Hazleton City Authority manger and board members previously to discuss an agreement relating to the project.

Caulfield said, “We’ve been working on the finalization of this agreement,” which is not yet complete, but a verbal agreement has been reached

He said the SCMA will be responsible for any legal and engineering costs associated with the review and agreement, “which will be pretty minimal.” The SCMA will split the cost of two delinquent accounts in Vulcan owed by two parties amounting to about $5,000 each. The authority will also acquire the 8-inch and 12-inch line at not cost to the authority.

“That’s a very good deal for SCMA,” Caulfield said.

He said a majority of the line was replaced in Vulcan less than 12 years ago. The HCA will transfer ownership of the line to the SCMA.

Once a final agreement is in place for the customers of Vulcan and the waterlines, the authority board will vote on the issue, which could happen at next month’s meeting, Caulfield said.

Pitman resident

reports tools theft

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a theft from a motor vehicle that occurred between 2 p.m. June 10 and 11:30 a.m. Monday at 950 E. Main St., North Manheim Township.

Police said Joshua Herb, Pitman, reported someone stole multiple tools from his parked 2006 Ford F550 truck: a Matco 3/4-inch impact gun, a Mac 1/2-inch impact gun, two Nada Professional 3/4-inch deep socket sets and a yellow 3/4-inch 475 foot/pound torque stick.

Call police at 570-739-1330 with any information.

HARRISBURG — Rep. Frank Farina is leading a new push to allow Sunday hunting on state game lands and accessible private property and end a remnant of the state Blue Laws that once prohibited most Sabbath activities.

Farina, D-112, Jessup, said legalizing hunting on up to 12 Sundays a year would boost the economy due to more spending on hunting trips and be better for hectic, modern lifestyles.

“Our schedules and lives have changed,” Farina said on Tuesday during a Capitol press conference.

He said the spillover of jobs beyond the traditional 40-hour workweek and other activities has made it more difficult for families to find time to hunt together.

Pennsylvania is surrounded by states that have Sunday hunting and this has lured many in-state hunters to go elsewhere, he said.

Farina’s legislation would allow Sunday hunting coinciding with the game season schedules set by the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

It has support from the National Rifle Association, Pennsylvania Federation of Sportsmen’s Clubs and a bipartisan cast of lawmakers, including Rep. Marty Flynn, D-113, Scranton.

Sunday hunting bills have been introduced in Pennsylvania for at least the past two decades. The Pennsylvania Farm Bureau opposes the move and has helped block these bills.

The Blue Laws have been scaled back through the decades so that fishing, target shooting and commercial shopping are allowed on Sundays, supporters said.

“You can fish on Sunday. Why can’t you hunt on Sunday?” Rep. Robert Godshall, R-53, Hatfield, asked.

A farm bureau official said Sunday hunting would interfere with the lifestyle of farm families.

Farmers usually work six days a week and like to enjoy their own land on Sunday without interference, Farm Bureau Counsel John Bell said.

HARRISBURG — Robert P. Russell, the Mahanoy City man serving a life sentence for killing his wife in Virginia and dumping her body down a mine shaft in Schuylkill County, lost another chance for freedom Tuesday, as a federal judge denied his request for a new trial.

Following a one-hour argument, U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III ruled Russell already had litigated his claim that newly discovered evidence would prove his innocence in the killing of Capt. Shirley Gibbs Russell.

“A virtually identical petition to the one we have before us ... was considered by the (4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals), which evaluated whether to authorize its filing,” Jones wrote in his five-page order dismissing Russell’s petition. “It was rejected by that (court) on the merits.”

As a result, Russell, 58, will remain confined at United States Penitentiary Allenwood in Union County, where he is serving a life sentence for killing Shirley Russell.

On May 3, 1991, a federal jury in U.S. District Court in Alexandria, Virginia, convicted Robert Russell of murdering his wife, who was 29, in the storage area of their home on the Marine base at Quantico, Virginia.

The case is believed to be the first time federal prosecutors had obtained a murder conviction without having the victim’s body — although a body is not one of the essential elements of the crime of murder.

U.S. District Judge James C. Cacheris sentenced Robert Russell on Aug. 2, 1991, to life in prison without parole.

The 4th Circuit, which includes Virginia, affirmed Robert Russell’s conviction on July 17, 1992, and his numerous additional attempts to overturn it also have been rejected.

Federal prosecutors alleged a jealous and spiteful Robert Russell shot his wife in the back of the head on March 4, 1989. Prosecutors said he drove her body, which has never been found, to Schuylkill County and dumped it down a mine shaft along Burma Road between Saint Clair and Mahanoy City.

A key piece of evidence prosecutors used was a computer disk found in Robert Russell’s office in February 1988 containing what prosecutors termed a 26-step “recipe for murder.” Although the defendant claimed it was an outline for a book, prosecutors said it showed his intent to kill his wife.

The case sparked three television specials: a segment of the Fox show A Current Affair in 1991 titled “Murder, He Wrote,” a made-for-television movie by USA Pictures in 1997 titled “The Perfect Crime” and an episode of the Discovery Channel show FBI Files in 2000.

Jones wrote in his order that Russell had alleged the 4th Circuit had denied his petition solely on procedural grounds instead of its merits.

However, Jones noted that Robert Russell had filed a request on Dec. 8, 2011, to file another petition based on alleged new evidence, and that the chief deputy clerk of the 4th Circuit, Mark J. Zanchelli, advised that the 4th Circuit considers that a rejection based on the lack of merit. Robert Russell did not initially disclose that filing, Jones noted.

“The (4th Circuit) considered whether to authorize an identical petition to the one we have before us ... and denied that motion on the merits,” Jones wrote.

During Tuesday’s argument, Jones made it clear that he could not and would not second-guess the 4th Circuit, saying he could not be a “super appellate court” for the case, and that there was no reason to question Zanchelli’s letter.

“I don’t understand how I can overturn what the 4th Circuit has done,” Jones told E.J. Rymsza, Williamsport, Robert Russell’s lawyer. “You’ve got to go back to the 4th Circuit. Mr. Russell doesn’t like the contents of the letter.”

Rymsza argued this is a “very, very rare” case that compels relief.

“There was never any sort of adjudication on the merits” of Robert Russell’s claims, Rymsza said. “He’s never had any sort of evidentiary hearing.”

Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Judge argued that Robert Russell must go to the 4th Circuit in order to seek relief.

“What we have is a decision from the three-judge panel” of that court that is based on the merits of Robert Russell’s claims, Judge said. “We don’t have an ineffective or inadequate remedy in the 4th Circuit.”

Furthermore, federal law requires Robert Russell to present his claim in the 4th Circuit, Judge said.

Jones agreed.

“I don’t see anything that prevents him from filing” such a claim in the 4th Circuit, Jones said.

Defendant: Robert P. Russell

Age: 58

Residence: Quantico, Virginia, formerly of Mahanoy City

Crime committed: Murder

Prison sentence: Life

Schuylkill Transportation System is offering free bus rides on fixed route buses Thursday to celebrate National Dump the Pump Day.

“You don’t always get a free ride in life but Thursday you can,” Joan Breslin, Marketing and Service Support coordinator, said Tuesday.

There are 10 fixed route buses customers can ride: Shenandoah, Minersville, Schuylkill Haven, Middleport, Mahanoy City, Ashland, Port Carbon/Saint Clair, McAdoo/Tamaqua, the Pottsville loop and the Pottsville quick route.

The first buses depart Union Station at 6:30 a.m. to Shenandoah. The second bus leaves at 7 a.m. to Minersville and the third leaves at 7:10 a.m to Schuylkill Haven. The last buses leave the station at 5:10 p.m. and go to Shenandoah, Minersville, Schuylkill Haven and Middleport.

Dump the Pump Day was launched by the American Public Transportation Association to encourage people to ride public transportation, especially after gas prices reached $3 a gallon. This is the 10th year STS has participated in the program.

Regular base fare on the fixed route is $1.35 one way. Starting July 1, it is $1.40.

Last year, 1,023 riders took advantage of the free ride. Breslin said the free ride is a way “to encourage people who never tried public transportation to ride free.”

Riders can use the bus all day on fixed route buses. Once people ride the bus, Breslin said she believes people will see the convenience of using the service and become regular riders. Besides the free ride Thursday, all the buses are air conditioned, so riders can avoid stifling heat.

“Using public transportation is the quickest way to beat high gas prices and saves the United States 4.2 billion gallons of gasoline annually. That’s why we are offering free rides to encourage more people to join our regular riders and dump the pump on June 18,”

“By participating in Dump the Pump Day, we hope people who have never tried STS will decide to ride public transit all day, anytime, at no cost,” Dave Bekisz, executive director for STS, said.

Last year, Americans took 10.8 billion trips using public transportation, the American Public Transportation Association said in a statement. That is the highest ridership in 58 years, according to APTA.

For more information on Dump the Pump, call 570-429-2701 or 800-832-3322, or visit www.go-sts.com. Additional information about Dump the Pump Day can be found at www.apta.com.

FRACKVILLE — A Pottsville man had charges stemming from a 2011 armed robbery and assault at a Union Township home in 2011 dismissed Tuesday morning.

Jonathan T. Ford, 28, of 19 Sajer Road, appeared for a preliminary hearing on charges, three felony counts of robbery, two felony counts aggravated assault, one felony count each of burglary and criminal trespass, four misdemeanor offenses of recklessly endangering another person, three misdemeanor counts of simple assault and a misdemeanor charge of theft by unlawful taking.

Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, dismissed all charges against Ford after the key witness to the assault and robbery refused to attend and testify.

James Conville, Ford’s attorney, said the charges were dismissed because “the commonwealth failed to produce any evidence” to support them.

State police Trooper Edward Lizewski of the Frackville station filed the charges against Ford in March after an investigation into an incident on Sept. 10, 2011, at a private home at 12 15th St., just outside of Ringtown.

Lizewski said that two men, a woman and a 10-month-old boy were inside the home when Ford and an unidentified black man entered through an unlocked door. Both men were armed with handguns and wearing hoodies with their faces covered.

Ford allegedly went to an upstairs bedroom and confronted one of the men while the other man was forcibly moved from the dining room by the black man who ordered him to lie on the floor while Ford demanded money. Ford then struck one of the men in the head with the handgun, causing a laceration and contusion on his face and head, and continued to demand money.

Lizewski said Ford then began to physically fight with the man and during the confrontation the weapon he was holding fired. After the gun fired, Ford began to rummage through drawers and a closet and removed a plastic bag that contained about $100 in cash.

When the weapon fired Ford and the other man fled the home with the cash and left the area in a vehicle that was waiting outside, Lizewski said.

SHENANDOAH — More than a half dozen residents came to the borough council meeting on Monday to express their concerns about sewage-filled properties on Race Street.

The same residents came to the borough council last August to complain about the four vacant, dilapidated properties at and near the corner of West Coal and North Race street. At the corner is the former Dimaggio’s pizza shop, closed for about 11 years, and three adjoining houses on the west side of the 200 block of North Race Street. The Schuylkill County Parcel Locator lists the owners as Mario and Maria Cruz, but the locator does not list the exact address for each property.

Just as last August, speaking on behalf of his neighbors was James Paulaconis, who lives across the street from the former pizzeria.

“I’m here once again about the property of the old Dimaggio’s,” Paulaconis said. “The first thing we’d like to say is that we really thank borough council for everything they’ve done and tried to do. They’ve been relentless with lawyers and summons and fines and other things in trying to get the property owner to do the right thing, but he just isn’t doing the right thing.”

Paulaconis said the condition of the properties have gone from bad to worse since last year.

“In the last year since we were up here, things have really deteriorated,” he said. “The roofs fell in, the sides fell in. It is knee-deep in raw sewage. And the owner tried to shift the blame to the borough or to other property owners on the block. He has made it abundantly clear that he has no intention of ever tearing those house down and all he’s trying to do is dodge it. In the last year, we’ve been at three hearings, there have been findings and judgments against him.”

Paulaconis said recently Cruz transferred the properties to his relative for $1. Borough code enforcement officer Adam J. Bernodin Jr. said after the meeting that the property transfer is to Carlos Matilde Cruz.

“We’re at the point that we can’t live that way anymore,” Paulaconis said. “The borough made it clear that it was knee-deep in sewage and that it was a dangerous situation.”

Paulaconis referred to another property that was demolished quickly due to a similarly dangerous situation.

“The borough is trying, but it’s just too slow and we can’t afford to wait,” he said. “We certainly can’t afford to live across the street right next to sewage. We have 30, 40, 50 years invested in that neighborhood and we have one person that’s making life hell for us down there and there doesn’t seem to be anything we can do about it.”

Paulaconis said he is aware that other residents also have problems with neighboring properties, but he said the sewage issue has taken the Race Street situation “to a whole new level.”

“What can we do to move on that so that we can get some kind of emergency declared down there?” Paulaconis asked.

Borough solicitor Christopher B. Slusser replied, “There are a couple of options that the borough has, but I haven’t had the opportunity to speak with them at length on the options. Some of the options include challenging the transfer of the property. It’s pretty clear to us why the transfer was done. As you said, it’s just an attempt to kick the can down the road. So we can try to negate that transfer. A second option is if we can have the property declared to be an imminent threat to the health, welfare and safety of the citizens, I would recommend the borough engineer be part of that process.”

“The borough has pressed criminal charges, but it’s not moving anything along,” Paulaconis said. “We don’t know what to do. Obviously, you guys don’t know what to do. You’ve got a plan, but that may take another three months. By then, who knows what kind of infections we’re going to have living around sewage.”

“We want to take action. I don’t anyone on this council wants to allow this can to be kicked down the road as I said earlier,” Slusser replied. “This council, this administration, wants to do everything they can. They’ve been trying to do that, and I know trying doesn’t get you the relief that you want, but we have to work within certain parameters, unfortunately, and we’re using all the tools that we have to try to get some relief for you.”

Resident James O’Boyle asked if there is a time frame when something would be done. Council President Donald E. Segal said an executive session would be held immediately after the regular meeting to discuss the matter and options, and then, on Tuesday morning, he would call the engineer to visit the property to assess the situation.

Segal said the next hearing before the local magisterial district judge is scheduled for Thursday.

“I’m afraid that none of us are going to live long enough to see this out,” Pamela Paulaconis said. “It is taking so long, but our situation has become dire down there. Something has to be done. I know justice takes time, but the open sewer and sewage is not taking its time. It’s getting deeper and deeper. It’s going to be running down Coal Street in six months.”

Slusser said that while the borough is doing everything it can to alleviate the problem, he suggested that the neighborhood residents could get together and consider their own group legal action so that the property owner could receive pressure from two different legal avenues.

“What we’re going to do is contact the engineer tomorrow and start the ‘imminent threat’ process,” Vice President Leo Pietkiewicz said.

MAHANOY CITY — Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church in Mahanoy City will celebrate on Sunday the 20th anniversary of the visit in 1995 by the parish’s future patron, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, M.C., with Mass in the church she visited.

Mother Teresa came to Mahanoy City on June 17 at the end of her visit to the United States in order to meet with sisters of the Missionaries of Charity, the religious order that she founded in 1950 in India. The MC sisters live in a convent across the street from the church.

The Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday by the Most Rev. John O. Barres, bishop of the Diocese of Allentown. A concelebrant will be Monsignor Anthony F. Wassel, who was pastor of St. Joseph Church when Mother Teresa visited. The Mass in 1995 was celebrated by the Most Rev. Thomas J. Welsh, bishop of Allentown, with Wassel as a concelebrant.

Mother Teresa was welcomed by thousands of people on the sunny Saturday morning. She attended the Mass, sitting in a front pew that is now marked with a bronze plaque commemorating her visit. After Holy Communion, Mother Teresa spoke in the crowded church, and then went outside to address the throng.

When St. Joseph Church merged with other churches in Mahanoy City and Maizeville in 2008, it became Blessed Teresa Church.

A reception is planned after Mass in the parish hall at noon, followed by dinner at 1 p.m. Cost is $15, but there are very few tickets left. For more information, called the parish office at 570-773-2771.

Prior to Mass, a rosary will be recited beginning at 9:50 a.m. outside the church as a remembrance of a spontaneous rosary that was prayed by the outside crowd in 1995.

Born on Aug. 26, 1910, and christened Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, she took the name Teresa when she entered religious life as a sister at 18. She became a high school teacher in 1931 in Calcutta, India. In 1939, she made her profession of final vows. When she was named school principal, she first became known as Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa left the school in 1948 after receiving permission from church leaders to help the poor people of Calcutta, opened an orphanage in 1957, and in 1969 she established the Missionaries of Charity. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She died on Sept. 5, 1997, and was beatified as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta by Pope John Paul II on Oct. 19, 2003.

Plans for the anniversary commemoration began last year by parishioner Donna DiCasimirro after she read an article in the A.D. Times in May 2014 about someone who said one of his fondest memories was to see Mother Teresa in person. She went to the Rev. Kevin Gallagher, pastor, and asked him about the parish doing some small activities during the year to mark the historical visit.

“One of my favorite quotes from Mother Teresa is ‘God does not ask us to do great things, only small things with great love,’ ” DiCasimirro said. “So we could spend all year doing all sorts of nice, little things in her name to celebrate, culminating in the celebration on June 21.”

DiCasimirro said one activity was having a blue box with the quote and had people drop pieces of paper that had “I did a small act of kindness in Mother’s honor.”

“We didn’t ask people for their names or what they did, but just to focus on being more Mother-like,” she said.

Another activity during the year was for families take a chalice home for a week and pray for vocations, something Mother Teresa encouraged.

During Mother Teresa’s visit, people were encouraged to wear blue and white, the colors of the order’s religious habit. This year, the Mother Teresa Sodality is making blue and white bows that will be available for a donation to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.

“Again, a small act of kindness, a small act of love,” DiCasimirro said. “We can never truly emulate Mother, but as close as we can get is what we’re striving for.”

DiCasimirro said how important it is to remember that visit of Mother Teresa.

“How many parishes can say that their patron was actually there in their church and participated in Mass. That’s pretty significant,” she said.

Gallagher was stationed in Saint Clair 20 years ago as pastor of St. Bonifice, St. Mary and Ss. Peter and Paul churches. He was not aware of the visit in order to be able to come to Mahanoy City.

“From what I understand, it was spontaneous on Mother’s part, so there wasn’t a lot of leeway time,” Gallagher said. “Originally she wasn’t supposed to visit at all, so she decided at the last minute and everyone scrambled to get things organized.”

The guest homilist on Sunday will be Monsignor Aloysius Callaghan, who had met Mother Teresa.

“Al is originally from Heckscherville, and he was the secretary for Bishop McShea and then starting off with Bishop Welsh,” Gallagher explained. “Then he want to the Military Ordinariate in Washington, and then from there he went to Rome to work at the Vatican where he gave a lot of retreat for Mother Teresa’s orders. My first cousin, Theresa Gallagher, from England, is a member of the order and attended Monsignor Callaghan’s retreats.”

DiCasimirro said Wassel will speak after the dinner about meeting Mother Teresa. Bishop Barres and others will also speak.

“The parish is named after her, and even though it’s a new parish, it really has come together and really follows her spirit in care and feeding of the poor,” Gallagher said. “I always tell my people that I’m always in awe and humbled by how they come up with all the food when the food pantry is empty. St. Vincent’s feeds an awful lot of people. We feed about 70 families a month, and at Christmas and Easter it’s over 100.”

“We’re concentrating on trying to be as close to her as we can,” DiCasimirro said.

The Schuylkill County Affordable Housing Trust Fund awarded $161,869 to seven projects throughout the county.

The county commissioners approved the 2015 funding recommendations Wednesday at a work session. Jeffrey A. Feeser, director of housing at Schuylkill Community Action, said there were 10 requests totaling $299,700.

The county Affordable Housing Trust Fund Board met June 2 to review the requests and recommend the seven projects, Feeser said. The Schuylkill County Affordable Housing Trust Fund was established by the county commissioners in 1996 and the Recorder of Deeds office has since collected more than $4.8 million for affordable housing programs. These programs are defined through the state as “any program or project approved by the county commissioners which increases the availability of quality housing, either sales or rental, to any county resident whose annual income is less than the median income of the county.”

“They are all good programs, but there is just not enough money to go around,” commissioners Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier said.

The court of common pleas received $8,000 for the Schuylkill County Mortgage Foreclosure Diversion Program, which is a partnership between the county court system, county bar association and Schuylkill Community Action to provide financial and budget counseling and negotiation with lenders to avert mortgage foreclosures. The court of common pleas requested $10,000.

Schuylkill Women in Crisis received $10,000 for transitional housing for victims of domestic violence. The funding will provide the required match for Housing and Urban Development funded transitional housing, ensuring project sustainability. Specifically, the money will be used for utilities, maintenance, facility upkeep and security. SWIC requested $25,000.

Schuylkill Community Action received $11,000 for its bridge transitional housing program, $15,000 for its Schuylkill County housing counseling program and $53,000 for its senior or disabled housing repair program. The money will be used for delivery costs for the bridge transitional housing program, which includes case management services, collaboration with referring agencies and assistance in locating and transitioning clients to permanent housing upon graduation; to provide comprehensive housing counseling services to lower-income persons who have a housing need or problem, which may include homebuyer education, mortgage default, reverse mortgage or homelessness; and for the countywide repair program assisting lower-income senior citizens repair or replace failure of major systems in their homes and address accessibility needs for disabled homeowners. SCA requested $25,000 for its bridge transitional housing program, $20,000 for its Schuylkill County Housing Counseling Program and $55,000 for its senior or disabled housing repair program.

The Northern Schuylkill County Council of Governments received $25,000 to acquire, rehabilitate and resell two properties. Matching funds will come from private sources and municipal contributions. The council requested $50,000.

The Schuylkill County Housing Authority received $39,000 for the Schuylkill Haven High Rise. Funds will be used primarily for upgrades to the kitchens and ADA improvements. The housing authority requested $40,000.

Projects that did not receive funding were a housing rehabilitation project in Rush Township and demolition projects at 10-12 S. Railroad St., Frackville, and 28-30 W. Coal St., Shenandoah. The rehabilitation project requested $20,000 and the demolition projects requested $31,700 and $35,000, respectively.

In other news, the county submitted two grant applications to the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency for opioid overdose outreach and engagement protocols in the amount of $82,947 and naloxone for first responders in the amount of $10,000.

The commissioners also approved the purchase of a portable prisoner cell for the Sheriff’s Office. The cell is 6 feet, 6 inches high, 3 feet wide and 2 feet long and costs $4,045. The office is buying the cell from Perimeter Security Products, Churubusco, Indiana.

Two robberies in his hometown sent a Shenandoah man on the road to state prison Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court, as he admitted committing them three days apart.

Joseph W. Kakol, 37, pleaded guilty to robbery, aggravated assault and possessing instrument of crime.

President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and the defendant, sentenced Kakol to serve four to eight years in a state correctional institution, pay costs and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Shenandoah police filed both sets of charges against Kakol.

In the one case, police alleged Kakol robbed Michelle Miller of $100 about 12:15 p.m. July 19, 2014, at the automatic teller machine at M&T Bank, 2 S. Main St. Police said Kakol grabbed Miller, began to choke her and took the money.

In the other case, police said Kakol entered Turkey Hill Minit Market, 120 S. Main St., on July 22, 2014, with a gun, grabbed Amber O’Neil by the hair, hit clerk Michael Mickelsavage with the gun and took $620.46 from the cash registers.

Police captured Kakol the same day as the Turkey Hill robbery.

Kakol said little during Wednesday’s hearing except that he understood his plea and was making it knowingly and voluntarily.

The Schuylkill Conservation District on Tuesday approved a few updates to its financial policy, improving in-house practices for managing funds.

“These are just a few minor updates. We’re just keeping it up to date,” Elizabeth A. Hinkel, district manager, said at the board of directors meeting Tuesday at its offices in Pottsville just off Gordon Nagle Trail.

But in the past year the board has been giving some thought to improving office practices, since a series of irregularities in accounting and internal controls discovered in May 2014 led to a police investigation and an arrest.

In July 2014, the district’s fiscal technician, Virginia G. Kunigonis, was fired for misconduct. And in January, state police at Schuylkill Haven filed charges alleging Kunigonis stole $449,064.07 between September 2007 and May 2014. In March, Schuylkill County prosecutors withdrew the charges, as federal prosecutors took over the case, according to Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine A. Holman.

In July 2014, the Schuylkill County commissioners appointed Melissa M. “Missy” Seigfried, North Manheim Township, as the conservation district’s fiscal technician.

On May 12, the conservation district board of directors held an executive session to discuss financial management issues which were brought to light by a forensic audit. Schuylkill County Controller Christy Joy and county assistant solicitor Glenn Roth attended that session, according to the board’s May 12 board meeting minutes.

Joy made financial procedure recommendations that were reviewed by Scott Graver, vice chairman of the conservation district’s board of directors and chairman of its financial committee, according to the minutes.

The board took action on those recommendations at its June meeting Tuesday.

“The first one is under our cash receipts. Currently it states that all cash receipts will be taken to the bank for deposit by the district manager or by the program assistant in the district manager’s absence, and the bank deposit slip will be kept in the packet with monthly bank statements and documentation. I would like to propose a change,” Hinkel said.

“Cash receipts will be taken to the bank for deposit by the district manager or another employee designated by the district manager, not the conservation district’s fiscal technician, in the district manager’s absence. The rest remains the same. This is mainly just to try to give another option. If the people who are in here are out we obviously don’t want to go against the policy. And if the people who are listed aren’t available, we don’t want to hold up being able to make deposits. I’m also looking ahead. The fact is that I’m going to be off for three months. So there needs to be some ability to designate other people to that duty. It specifically says ‘not the fiscal technician’ to keep in line with internal controls. But other than that, it would be whoever I would designate,” Hinkel said.

Hinkel will be taking maternity leave later this year.

“With that change, we’re redoing the financial policy so that we have checks and balances among four or five different people. It cannot be the fiscal technician. We need this broad spectrum of different people in the checks and balances,” board Chairman Glenn Luckenbill said.

“Right,” Hinkel said. “The other one is under check authorization. It currently says that upon receipt of invoices the district manager will review, sign and stamp as ‘district’ or ‘county,’ check for mathematical accuracy, validity, conformity to the budget, et cetera. I would like to update that to say that upon receipt of invoices the district manager will review, sign and stamp as ‘district’ or ‘county,’ check for accuracy and the district manager would also assign account and/or grant numbers to the invoice. With the updated stamper I have, not only do I check ‘county’ and ‘district’ but I also assign the account numbers. So I wanted to note that in the policy,” Hinkel said.

“That is done by both of us?” Luckenbill asked.

“No. The bank statements are done by both of us,” Hinkel said.

“Just the bank statements? OK.” Luckenbill said.

“These are the invoices that go through me. We’re already doing this. We’re going above and beyond. But because we’re doing it, I would just like to note it in the policy,” Hinkel said.

This will have to be done in Hinkel’s absence. Luckenbill said a temporary district manager will be appointed when the time comes and that person will take on that responsibility.

“The other part I wanted to update involves payroll. Payroll is not handled by the district. Payroll, because we’re county employees, is handled by the county. So we get the time sheets here and everything is submitted and reviewed and checked by the county. We’re limited as far as what we have to do with payroll, but we still have some balances in place,” Hinkel said.

“The policy, the way it currently reads, states that completed time sheets will be dated and signed by employee, time cards will be stapled to the back and both will be submitted to the fiscal technician at the end of the last working day. We don’t have time cards. We have time sheets. We looked at having employees sign and date them every two weeks before payroll but in all honesty it’s really not feasible. Employees are in and out of the field. Payroll has to be submitted by a certain time. So, the way we wanted to word it is completed time sheets would be submitted to the conservation fiscal technician at the end of the last working day of each pay period. Then we would add that the district manager will discuss any discrepancies or questions with the employee upon review. Myself and the fiscal technician do review the time sheets every two weeks,” Hinkel said.

“Are there any directors who would like more time to study this? You want it tabled? Or are you ready to make a motion now?” Luckenbill asked the board.

Stanley Fidler, the board’s treasurer, made the motion to approve the changes. It was seconded by board member Glenn Hetherington and, in a voice vote, it was carried unanimously by those in attendance: Luckenbill, Dottie Sterner, Gary J. Hess, Helen Masser, F. Diane Wolfgang, Glenn Hetherington and Eric Leiby.

Graver was absent from Tuesday’s meeting, according to Lorie Reichert, the conservation district’s program technician.