FRACKVILLE - The second day of the 98th annual Lithuanian Days had the usual amount of fun and entertainment on Sunday, but it also had an unexpected special guest.

The Most Rev. John O. Barres, bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown, stopped at the Schuylkill Mall to see what Lithuanian Days was all about. The bishop had been in Girardville in the morning to celebrate the Masses at St. Joseph and St. Vincent de Paul churches, stopping at the mall before heading back to Allentown.

During his visit, Barres walked through the center court, enjoyed homemade ethnic food and was introduced by festival emcee Paul Domalakes, the Knights treasurer.

"I am so glad to be here to be part of the celebration of your Lithuania heritage, which means so much to all of us. This is the time to celebrate this beautiful Lithuanian heritage and the culture behind it, but the fact that the Eucharist is what lives and keeps this heritage moving so beautifully," Barres said. He also noted the many young people who were performing, volunteering their time at the festival, and the young people attending the event.

"I am edified by the involvement of our younger generation," Barres said.

The afternoon's entertainment included one performance by the Gintaras Children's Dance Group from Mahanoy City, with leader Jo Ann Filiziani dancing with Dalton Seisler, 4, and Callie Seisler, 7, both of Auburn, and Taylor Walsh, 8, of Barnesville.

Children from the audience were invited to participate in a dance. Filiziani said the group was formed 11 years ago to get youth interested in preserving the Lithuanian folk dancing heritage in the area.

The day also saw the return of the Zilvinas Dance Group from Philadelphia performing twice at center court. The group performed many folk dances, including some with audience participation.

Also returning Sunday to perform twice was pop and folk singer Augis, the stage name of Eugenijus "Eugene" Dicevicius, a resident of Cleveland who emigrated from Lithuania eight years ago.

"I came here from Lithuania eight years ago," Augis, 39, said. "I've been in music over 20 years. I used to play in bands, but life changes, especially when you have a family, so now I'm on my own."

When he is not performing on Sundays, he co-hosts a Lithuanian radio program in Cleveland at a college radio station operated by John Carroll University. Augis has performed twice in Boston this year, and one time in Washington, D.C. Next month, he performs in Cincinnati, and will perform in Detroit for New Years Day. He will also perform 10 concerts in Cleveland this year.

"I've enjoyed it very much here. They are extremely friendly people," Augis said, who is making his first visit to Schuylkill County. "I hope to come here again."

Augis said the Lithuanian radio program is broadcast on WJCU 88.7-FM every Sunday from 8 to 10 a.m. The show can be heard on a live stream on the Internet by visiting www.wjcu.org.

The afternoon also included a talk on searching a family's heritage by genealogist Thomas Saduaskas and a quiz on the 2012 London Olympics by Lithuanian native Laurynas Misevicius, who emigrated from the city of Kaunas to the United States 18 years ago and lives in Edison, N.J. He attends Lithuanian Days every year as a vendor of Lithuanian products ranging from clothing, jewelry, books, magazines and food, including Lithuanian beer.

"Just 10 minutes ago, Lithuania won its second gold medal, bringing the total medals to five," Misevicius said.

Sponsored by the Knights of Lithuania Anthracite Council No. 144, Lithuanian Days is the longest running consecutive ethnic festival in the United States, originally being held at Lakewood and Lakeside parks in Barnesville. When both parks closed, and after a time at Rocky Glen Park in Moosic, the festival was moved to Schuylkill Mall.

While in the middle of running the 19th annual Great Pottsville Cruise In & Car Show on Saturday, cruise Chairman Jerry Enders was already planning the 20th.

On Sunday, he said it's expected to be another one-day event, slated for Aug. 10, 2013.

While Enders said Saturday he believed there were between 500 and 600 vehicles at Saturday's event, on Sunday he said "we had over 400 to be realistic. None of us really got to count them all, but that's phenomenal for the first time for a new venue."

This year, cruise organizers scaled down the event from four days to one, and they eliminated events like the traditional Sunday continuous closed-course rolling cruise through Pottsville. The one-day event contained 12 hours of activities, including an open cruise through the county, the "Open Cruise & Raffle Run."

That open cruise will be part of the 2013 cruise, Enders said.

"This year, the raffle run went really well and we're planning on adding more stops for next year. There were about 30 people who did all 30 stops, and more than 75 who did 25 or more," Enders said.

Enders said he's also hoping to develop a publication, "a commemorative magazine," a look back on the 20-year history of the cruise.

"We're also looking at expanding the downtown venue," Enders said.

The event is traditionally a fund-raiser for Pottsville Lions Charities, which supports local nonprofits. The profits from Saturday's event are still being calculated, Enders said.

Trophy winners included:

- Best of Cruise Overall, sponsored by Schuylkill PLUS! Magazine: Rodney Updegrove Jr., Tremont, 1949 Pontiac Tin Woodie.

- Lions President's Award, Best of the 1950s, sponsored by Lipkin, Marshall, Bohorad & Thornburg: Terry Lee Brown, Germansville, 1957 Chevy Belair 2 Dr HT.

- Mayor's Award, sponsored by Lipkin, Marshall, Bohorad & Thornburg: Dave Matthews Stevens, 1938 Ford Standard Coupe.

David A. Plachko

PORT CARBON - A 29-year-old Coal Township woman charged with stealing another person's purse from Roman Delight restaurant at Fairlane Village mall in Norwegian Township on April 21 waived her right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.

Melissa Jo Ritzman, 17 Centre St., was arrested by state police Trooper Timothy Rymarkiewicz of the Schuylkill Haven station and charged with one count each of theft and theft of property lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake.

By waiving her right to a hearing, Ritzman will have to answer to both charges in Schuylkill County Court.

Rymarkiewicz charged Ritz-man with taking a purse owned by Kelcie Fitzpatrick that contained her wallet, cash, her school identification, a bank card and a Kodak digital camera.

Ritzman was taken into custody a short time later by Pottsville police who investigated a retail theft where Ritzman tried to use the bank card owned by Fitzpatrick.

Other court cases included:

Diana Dewan, 55, of 1320 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville - waived for court: retail theft.

Robert F. Bellen, 29, of 108 Vaux Ave., Tremont - waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and making repairs to or selling offensive weapons.

Deanna K. Semanoff, no age available, of 180 S. Fifth St., Lehighton - held for court: retail theft.

Rebecca A. Barton, 37, of 39 N. Third St., Cressona - waived for court: unauthorized use of a vehicle.

Frank J. Nush, 59, of 412 N. Delaware Ave., Minersville - withdrawn: possession-sale-use of display documents and fraudulent use or removal of a registration plate; waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate and failure to keep right.

Keith L. Johnson, 29, of 2 S. 2nd St., Saint Clair - waived for court: DUI-high rate.

FRACKVILLE - There will be something for everyone at the ninth annual Republican-Herald and News-Item four-day used book sale starting Thursday at the Schuylkill Mall.

The annual event will once again have about 50,000 gently-used books, including fiction, nonfiction, history, children's, science fiction, fantasy, cooking and other topics. This year's sale will be in the old Gap store in the Black Diamond wing of the mall.

"It gets packed. The first day, we usually have a line that goes halfway down the mall," said Janet Joyce, The Republican-Herald marketing and community service director. "It's a good event. There's low prices for all the books."

Joyce said the prices of the books remained the same the past several years. Prices are $1 for paperbacks, $3 for hardcover, and five thin romance books for $1. She said there are probably more children's books this year than ever before.

"Even though things like the Kindle and Nook are popular, people still like to hold a book in their hand," Joyce said.

All proceeds from the book sale fund the Newspapers in Education program, which provides local schools with newspapers and educational materials for free. The materials are used for various topics including current events, language arts, geography and science.

Joyce said The Republican-Hearld is not allowed to give away newspapers as all copies need to be accounted for auditing purposes.

"It helps keep tax dollars lower at the schools," Joyce said.

Joyce said the book sale has increased significantly every year, basically by word of mouth.

The event also has its loyal customers that return every year. Joyce said some even make a vacation out of it as they stay with friends and family in the area just to attend the sale.

"One of our loyal shoppers just sent us an email and said it is a time they get to meet up with people that they didn't see in a while," Joyce said. "It's a family event for them where they would talk, visit, shop, have lunch, then come back later in the day to shop some more."

From Thursday through Sunday, employees from The Republican-Herald and the News-Item, along with their families, will be selling the books during regular mall hours and earlier Thursday morning so mall employees can attend.

Hours for the sale are 9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

On the final day, Joyce said people can take home a bag full of books for $5.

"There are so many books, there's always some good ones left," Joyce said.

n Barnesville: Basic kayaking courses are slated at Tuscarora State Park as follows: 5 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Aug. 24, 10:30 a.m. Aug. 25 and 10 a.m. Sept. 3, according to a press release from Robin Tracey, environmental education specialist. Kayaks, paddles and personal flotation devices will be provided. Maximum weight capacity is 275 pounds. Registration is required by signing up at the park office in person or by phone at 570-467-2506. No online or fax registrations will be taken. Those planning to participate should send a $15 check payable to the PA Parks and Forests Foundation or pay in cash at the park office. In the event of inclement weather on a particular day, the class will be canceled. People who have their own equipment may participate at a fee of $5. Participants will meet at the old lifeguard shack on the lake beach. Children must be 12 or older to participate. Youngsters under 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

n Eckley: Eckley Miners' Village will stage a Civil War Weekend from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 28 and 29, according to a release from the village's Karen Esak. The event will include a small arms and artillery demonstration, skirmishes, living history scenarios, camp life displays, period craftsman, sutlers, food and period music by Kent Courtney and David Matsinko. Helen Torok will sing and explain the meaning behind old slave songs. Between 3 and 5 p.m., tea and cookies will be served at the Sharpe House. New at the village are a cobbler shop, seamstress shop, company store and blacksmith shop plus historic Catholic and Episcopal churches, a slate picker's house, doctor's office, the Sharpe House and 1880, 1890 and 1940 homes. All the buildings will be open and staffed with interpreters. Admission to the village and the museum is $6 for adults, $5.50 for seniors over 65 and $4 for children under 13. Eckley is just off Route 940 in Luzerne County, seven miles east of Hazleton. For more information, call 570-636-2070 or visit the village's website at www.eckleyminersvillagemuseum.com. Eckley Miners' Village is a museum and historic site administered by the Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission. Its purpose is to interpret the lives and losses of the men and women from all across the globe who chose to make the patch towns of Northeast Pennsylvania their homes and anthracite mining their livelihood, according to the release.

n Gratz: The 139th Gratz Fair will be held Sept. 16 through 22. Anyone wanting to enter an exhibit will need to review an Exhibitor Tabloid for rules, regulations and a list of eligible exhibits. The tabloid, according to a press release, is online at www.gratzfair.net. People may also request a copy by calling 717-365-3441, emailing exhibits@gratzfair.net or mailing a request to Gratz Fair, P.O. Box 204, Gratz, PA 17030. Provide your name and complete mailing address. Tabloid mailing will be at the end of July or early August. All exhibits are competitive and prize money and/or ribbons will be awarded by judges' placement. "Competitive exhibits and its uniqueness bring together the young and old, the urban and rural, and the past and the future," organizers said in the release. Exhibitors and contestants are eligible for free admission to the fair on Wednesday or Thursday - their choice.

n Schuylkill Haven: Linda Berdanier, principal of Schuylkill Haven Middle School, announced student orientation for all new students in fifth, sixth and seventh grade will be held from 8:45 to 9:30 a.m. Aug. 22 in the middle school auditorium.

n Shenandoah: The open-air Downtown Shenandoah Farm Market is held from 8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays at Main and Centre streets near the more than century-old Bolich & Burke building. Regional growers offer produce, fruit, plants and other goods. The market is sponsored by the Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce. Chamber Treasurer Mark J. Bernardyn is chairman of the market committee. A summer/fall fixture since the 1970s, the downtown market is the oldest of its kind in the county.

ASHLAND - The third phase of the Ashland Streetscape project will begin in September after Labor Day, according the Borough Manager Thomas W. Joyce at Wednesday's Ashland Borough Council meeting.

Heim Construction Company LLC, Pottsville, submitted the lowest bid of $187,575, which was accepted by the council in July pending review by the borough engineer and solicitor.

The project is funded through a state Department of Community and Economic Development Grant of $250,000. In addition to construction fees, the grant will also pay for legal and engineering fees, audit fees at the end of the project and any other related costs.

The project includes both sides of the 400 and 500 blocks of Centre Street and involves replacing sidewalks and curb cuts for handicapped accessibility, and removing two trees, similar to the work done on the 200 and 300 blocks of Centre Street. In order to improve visibility at intersections, 16 parking meters at the corners will be removed in the project area.

"Heim is in contact with the engineer and they're ready to go. The project shouldn't take long," Joyce said.

In other business, two 11-year-old Ashland girls were recognized by the council as Citizens of the Month for August.

Council President Frederick Spieles read a resolution explaining the reason for the honor they received.

"We wish to recognize two young residents of our community, Cassandra Adams and Serenity Malick, for their thoughtfulness in their attempts to clean and unclutter Oakland Park. We appreciate their endeavor and take this means to acknowledge their labor and assistance toward the respectability of our parks.

"Now therefore, on behalf of the Ashland Borough Council and Ashland borough residents, we wish to express our sincerest gratitude to Serenity and Cassandra for their charitable effort and to encourage their continued support and interest in all aspects of the preservation of our community and our neighborhoods."

Spieles presented each girl with a commendation to the applause of their families, friends and all others in the room. Both will enter the sixth grade later this month in the North Schuylkill School District.

Mayor Dennis Kane said, "I am a very firm believer that for every bad kid you see on the street, there are 10 kids who are doing good."

VALLEY VIEW - Her first time donation was a whopper, but meant she'd not be showered with oodles of packages on her special day.

Emma Maurer didn't mind.

It was her choice to forgo presents during her birthday on June 13 and instead gather collections for the Hegins Area Ambulance Association. She presented checks amounting to $250 to the association on Aug. 1.

"I wanted to give it to the ambulance, instead of getting presents," said the 7-year-old Hegins philanthropist, a daughter of Mark and Tena Maurer.

"This is a first," said HAAA President Dave Bohner, who accepted Emma's donation on behalf of the association. Although he's served as president more than two years, and volunteered several years throughout the 1990s, Bohner couldn't recall another similar contribution from such a young donor.

"This has me amazed. That little lady's going to go far with that attitude," Bohner said.

Bohner offered Emma a trip around the block and parking lot, with her seated inside the ambulance. He also demonstrated how responders could use different sizes of stethoscopes on board, based on a patient's age or size; and how a powerized gurney system worked to efficiently get patients in and out of the vehicle. Emma also received a tour of the ambulance operations building and garage. Bohner showed her and her family the newly expanded kitchen facilities and social hall, the crew living room, the renovated restroom where a shower was added and the ambulance offices.

This fall, Bohner said, HAAA would like to expand training for EMTs. The association would also like to acquire EpiPens-epinephreine auto-injectors to help treat life-threatening allergic reactions and CPAP equipment-continuous positive airway pressure equipment.

"We always are in need of more volunteers," he said.

Anyone wishing to volunteer with the ambulance association or contribute, may call 570-682-3598 or send a check to: Hegins Area Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 678, Valley View, PA 17983.

In addition to Bohner, others serving the HAAA are Senior Vice President Bill Conrad, Vice President Sandy Poletti, Treasurer Chuck Fultz; and 14 board members.

"I liked going for a ride inside the ambulance," Emma said following her donation.

When asked to describe Emma's seemingly compassionate demeanor, her mother confirmed that her daughter has always been a gentle, caring child. "We had talked about some of the organizations here in the community, and when we talked it through, she said she wanted to give the money to the ambulance because they help people when they're sick," Tena Maurer said.

"I know how important it is to have these types of services," her mother said.

Besides her donation to the ambulance, Emma's interest in her community also includes being a Girl Scout with Service Unit 329, where she'll transition from a Daisy to a Brownie this year. She will enter Hegins-Hubley Elementary School this fall as a second-grader, and enjoys playing soccer, basketball and softball.

Emma's family includes her parents and 14-month-old brother, Daxton; and grandparents, Leon and Linda Maurer, Hegins; and Ike Miller, Williamstown, and the late Fern Miller.

Michaels will open this month in the Fairlane Village mall.

A lease was signed for the space at the mall in January.

A soft opening is scheduled for Friday, according to Devin Maxey, of SPM Communications, the company in charge of media relations for Michaels opening.

The grand opening is Sunday, with a ribbon cutting scheduled for 9:45 a.m. Doors open at 10 a.m.

Store hours will be from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday.

In a press release, store manager Deb Sallada said "we've been working hard to bring Pottsville a new Michaels and the community seems eager for us to open."

As part of the grand opening, there will be a card-making event, the release said.

A donation will also be made to the Starlight Children's Foundation, a group that helps children with serious illness.

The store about 22,192-square feet and employs more than 60 people.

Features of the store include scrapbooking and paper crafts department with more than 3,000 styles of stickers and other items; an expanded jewelry department, an art supplies area and custom framing, according to the press release.

Michaels headquarters is located in Irving, Texas, across the county Michaels Stores Inc. owns and operates more than 1,070 stores. Stores are located in Canada and 49 states with Hawaii being the only state that does not have a location. There are 46 locations in Pennsylvania, according to the corporate website www.michaels.com.

ROCKPORT - A Coaldale man was killed after what appears to have been a tragic accident in the Lehigh Gorge State Park on Sunday.

State police at Hazleton said Lee Kenneth Mantz, 44, of Coadale, was riding a bicycle with his wife along the trail in Lehigh Township when the couple stopped to take pictures of the scenery.

As Mantz stepped onto a rock cliff to grab photographs, he lost his footing and slipped, falling off the cliff and into the river, police said. It appears, police said, that Mantz hit his head on the cliff's rocks prior to falling into the river and that could have caused his death. Police said they found evidence of head trauma on Mantz, though an autopsy to determine his official cause of death will be performed Tuesday.

He was found unresponsive in the river about 3/10 of a mile from where he fell, police said.

Weatherly police, an off-duty Lehighton police officer and two Department of Conservation and Natural Rescources workers pulled him from the water to the river bank. Then firefighters hoisted him about 10 to 15 feet over the bank, Weatherly Citizens Assistant Chief Eric Brill said.

He was pronounced dead at 12:50 p.m. by Carbon County Coroner Bruce Nalesnik.

Brill said emergency responders were dispatched to rescue Mantz at 10:57 a.m. but did not leave the scene until about 1:30 p.m.

The accident occurred near what locals call the Penn Haven Junction, which is more than four miles south of the Lehigh Gorge entrance in Rockport, outside of Weatherly. Police said the accident scene was between Rockport and Jim Thorpe.

While troopers drove to the scene by vehicle using the park's trail, firefighters from Weatherly rode along an active railroad track that runs behind the borough building, Brill said, providing rescuers with a quicker response time.

Kidder Township Fire and water rescue teams from Penn Forest Fire Company were dispatched to the accident. Crews from Lehighton Fire Company were dispatched to the accident but cancelled once Weatherly found the patient was rescued. Lehigh and Lausanne Fire Company was also dispatched but no firefighters from the department responded. Weatherly Ambulance also responded.

James K. Reiley

A 19-year-old Pottsville man charged with falsely claiming there was a fire at a city apartment building on July 17 waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville.

Alexander J. Faust, 234 Schuylkill Ave., was arrested by Pottsville police Patrolman Kirk Becker and charged with false alarms to agencies of public safety and disorderly conduct.

By waiving his right to a preliminary hearing, Faust will now have to answer to both charges in Schuylkill County Court.

Becker said Faust became involved with his live-in girlfriend at 210 N. 2nd St. No. 1 during which he threatened to burn down the building.

It was determined that Faust entered the apartment with a lit cigarette and threatened there was "gonna be a fire" and "the whole place is about to burn down." The comments forced people to flee the apartment and neighbors nearby to come out of their homes when police and firefighters arrived, Becker said.

Firefighters searched the apartment and did not find a fire, Becker said, adding that Faust later said he made the comments because he was mad at his girlfriend over their relationship and their inability to pay rent.

Other court cases included:

Michelle A. Kinkel, 39, of 120 Penn St., Tamaqua - waived for court: fraudulently obtaining food stamps or assistance.

John W. Goetz Jr., 46, of 65 Front St., Apt. A, Cressona - waived for court: fraudulently obtaining food stamps or assistance.

Wallace W. Eberly Jr., 35, of 503 E. Grand Ave., Tower City - waived for court: fraudulently obtaining food stamps or assistance.

Edward Polcheck, 36, of 9 Fourth St., Kelayres - waived for court: fraudulently obtaining food stamps or assistance.

Vanessa B. Shistle, 23, of 704 Laurel Blvd., Pottsville - waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property, careless driving and disregard for single traffic lane.

David L. Heinly, 53, of 2100 W. Norwegian St., Apt. 1D, Pottsville - waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, careless driving, disregard for single traffic lane and accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property; withdrawn: accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property, careless driving and disregard for single traffic lane.

Sean M. Muthard, 36, of 510 Howard Ave., Pottsville - waived for court: theft.

George J. Halley, 24, of 107-12 Lefferts Blvd., Richmond Hill, N.Y. - held for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joseph H. Sadusky, 43, of 803 W. Race St., Pottsville - held for court: criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Joseph T. Greene, 43, last known address 736 Route 183 Floor 2, Schuylkill Haven - waived for court: resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Edward D. Williams, 28, of 317 Pine St., Minersville - held for court: bad checks.

Ryan P. Miller, 25, of 800-21 N. Second St., Pottsville - waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, disorderly conduct, disregard for single traffic lane, careless driving and no rear lights.

Pine Grove man injured in crash

TREMONT - A Pine Grove man suffered minor injuries when he fell asleep behind the wheel of his vehicle and struck a tree in Tremont Township early Saturday, police said.

State police at Schuykill Haven said Ethan Reiter, 22, was transported by Tremont Ambulance to Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street. The nursing supervisor on duty Sunday refused to provide a condition report.

Police said at 3:20 a.m. Saturday, Reiter was driving a 2002 Nissan Sentra south on Route 125 when he fell asleep, traveled onto the east berm and hit the tree and boulders. The vehicle turned onto its passenger's side and then struck a PennDOT road sign, police said.

The vehicle sustained severe damage, and the investigation is continuing, police said.

Haven woman hurt in collision

A Schuylkill Haven woman suffered injuries in a four-vehicle accident on Route 61 near the entrance to Fairlane Village mall in Pottsville on Saturday night, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said at 8:41 p.m., Mark A. Miller, 37, of Nanticoke, was driving a 1999 Isuzu box truck north when he failed to stop and hit the back of a 2001 Mitsubishi driven by Bonnie E. Stripe, 59, of Schuylkill Haven, police said.

Stripe's vehicle was pushed into a 1996 Oldsmobile driven by Allan Achenbach, 50, of Frackville, and the impact forced Achenbach's vehicle into the back of a 2004 Dodge Ram driven by Clifford Cross Jr., 61, of Covington. A passenger in Cross's vehicle was Bonnie L. Roupp, 65, of Manfield, police said.

Police charged Miller with following too closely.

Stripe was taken by Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street for evaluation, police said. The nursing supervisor on duty at the hospital Sunday would not release any condition reports.

Woman accused of biting man

ELIZABETHVILLE - State police at Lykens arrested a woman from Elizabethville for scratching and biting a man during an argument early Sunday.

Police charged Alicia G. Duplessie, 22, with simple assault and harassment for the incident that occurred at 3:30 a.m. Sunday at 20 E. Main St. Charges were filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum, police said.

The victim was a 34-year-old Elizabethville man, police said.

BETHEL - More than 250 people gathered at a Sikh temple near the Schuylkill County border Sunday to remember the six worshipers gunned down by a white supremacist at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin on Aug. 5.

"It's very important for our community to reach out to them because we're all a part of the same community, even though we are all the way in Pennsylvania. We're part of the same Sikh community and the same American community, so we need to show solidarity," said Shana Kaur Narula, 25, a Schuylkill County native who was one of the organizers of the event.

Narula is one of the members of Blue Mountain Gurdwara in Bethel Township, Berks County, where the service was held Sunday. She's also the daughter of Dr. Amrit P. Narula, a gastroenterologist based in Pottsville, and Rosy Narula, both of Orwigsburg.

Community leaders present included Kay Jones, Orwigsburg, the executive director of Schuylkill County's VISION.

"I thought this was very interesting," Jones said following the service.

This year, Schuylkill County's VISION launched a lecture series in an effort to give the public a better understanding of Schuylkill County's diverse population, cultures and religions, "The Circle of Understanding Dialogue Series."

Jones said she's going to recommend a presentation about the Sikh religion become part of that series.

On Aug. 5, Wade Michael Page, 40, used a 9 mm pistol to kill six people and wound four others, including a police officer, in an ambush that took place shortly before a service was to begin at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in suburban Milwaukee. Page shot himself after being wounded by another police officer, according to The Associated Press.

Killed were the temple's president, Satwant Singh Kaleka, 65; Sita Singh, 41; Ranjit Singh, 49; Prakash Singh, 39; Paramjit Kaur, 41; and Suveg Singh Khattra, 84, according to The Associated Press.

The worshippers in Bethel Township on Sunday also said prayers for the officer injured in the attack, Oak Creek police Lt. Brian Murphy, 51.

Murphy was in satisfactory condition Sunday at Froedtert & The Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee on Sunday, according to a nursing supervisor at the hospital.

The worshippers also had a photo of Murphy and a sign emblazoned with the words, "Thank You Lt. Murphy."

Narula said she believes the victims of the shooting in Wisconsin are "heroes." Her father agreed.

"For example, from what I understand, the president of the temple actually fought with the shooter and actually helped save some lives," Dr. Narula said.

Onkar Grewal, Womelsdorf, Berks County, who is also a member of Blue Mountain Gurdwara, said he sees the victims as "martyrs."

"We do not believe in sadness if somebody is killed during worship or in the war. We call them martyrs. It's a matter of pride for us if we are killed doing something we believe in," Grewal said.

Grewal and other members of Blue Mountain Gurdwara, including Kuldeep Lath, Sinking Spring, Berks County, encouraged people new to the temple to remove their shoes before entering. They also offered them orange-colored silks to cover their heads in the Sikh tradition.

Rules of conduct for visitors are listed on the temple's website at www.bluemountaingurdwara.info.

- "Remove shoes when entering congregation hall. This is a sign of respect to the sovereignty of the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh holy book). There is a room of shoe racks in the Gurdwara."

- "Cover head at all times as a sign of respect to the Guru Granth Sahib."

- "Bow in front of the Guru Granth Sahib upon joining the congregation. Non-Sikh are not required to bow, but should enter and quietly join the congregation."

- "Sit on the floor if you can, there are few chairs at the back of the hall for elderly or who may have trouble sitting on the floor."

Following the traditional Sunday prayer service, in which religious hymns were recited in the Hindi dialect of Punjabi, a memorial service to pay tribute to the Wisconsin shooting victims. It began with a slide show presentation by Narula, introducing people to the Sikh culture.

At 1:30 p.m., everyone gathered outside the temple in a courtyard area. At the center of it was a marble slab, the base of a flag pole for the Nishan Sahib, a Sikh holy triangular flag.

Pictures of the people who died in the Wisconsin tragedy were placed near that area.

Speakers included Bethel Township police Officer Chad Hepler, who encouraged the Sikh community to talk to their local police departments if they ever have any questions or concerns. Also there was Marian J. Schappell, interfaith chaplain for KidsPeace National Center, Orefield, Lehigh County.

Blue Mountain Gurdwara was established in 1991 and it has 60 regular members, but it could have up to 150 people attending services on a Sunday, Grewal said.

"We established a temple here to serve the people of Reading, Harrisburg and Pottsville," Grewal said.

"We do endeavor to be honest about our love for WaheGuru (one God) and our desire for people to connect with God," according to worldgurudwara.com.

Grewal said one way people can show support to the victims is to learn more about other religions.

"Most of the time, you'll find people who think we are Muslim. In the schools, they should have more emphasis explaining the different religions in the world," Grewal said.

The Sikh religion has a following of more than 20 million people worldwide and is ranked as the world's fifth largest religion, according to the website for Sikhism, Religion of the Sikh People at sikhs.org.

"Sikhism preaches a message of Devotion and remembrance of God at all times, truthful living, equality of mankind and denounces superstitions and blind rituals. Sikhism is open to all through the teachings of its 10 Gurus enshrined in the Sikh Holy Book and Living Guru, Sri Guru Granth Sahib," according to the website.

"We'll also try to interact with other communities here so they know who we are," Grewal said.

HAZLETON - Lawyers on both sides of an immigration battle that propelled Hazleton into the national spotlight nearly six years ago will base testimony on court rulings from related disputes in Arizona and Farmers Branch, Texas, when the case resumes Wednesday in federal appeals court.

Attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union and the city of Hazleton have filed briefs and will make oral arguments before the U.S. Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

The appeals court, ordered by the U.S. Supreme Court to take another look at Hazleton's case, will write the next chapter in a long-standing dispute over the city's rental registration ordinance and related Illegal Immigration Relief Act.

The laws, which were never enforced, essentially bar businesses from hiring, and landlords from harboring, illegal immigrants.

The case that has become known as "Lozano, et al v. City of Hazleton" includes plaintiffs Pedro Lozano, Casa Dominicana of Hazleton Inc., Hazleton Hispanic Business Association and the Pennsylvania Statewide Latino Coalition.

Parties on both sides of the dispute say they're confident heading into Wednesday's appearance before the appeals court.

Omar C. Jadwat, an attorney with ACLU's Immigrants' Rights Project, filed a 32-page brief on behalf of plaintiffs addressing the effects a Supreme Court ruling on Arizona's immigration law has on Hazleton's ordinances.

"In certain ways, they're both kind of directed at the same end - to make life miserable for people so that they leave," Jadwat said. "The Hazleton law, in certain ways, is more direct about prohibiting basically residence of certain people in the City of Hazleton."

Kris Kobach, a lawyer who wrote Hazleton's ordinances and serves as Kansas secretary of state, believes Supreme Court rulings on similar immigration law in Arizona and Farmers Branch bolster Hazleton's chances of getting a ruling in its favor.

Similar laws

The Supreme Court in late June struck down parts of the Arizona law but upheld a portion that gave law enforcement the ability to check the immigration status of people they arrest. Federal officials who challenged the Arizona law did not contest changes made to a previous law that forces Arizona's employers to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm eligibility of employees and imposes penalties on employers who knowingly employ illegal aliens.

The latter provisions are similar to Hazleton's ordinances.

Kobach filed a brief on Aug. 1 that calls the Third Circuit Court's attention to a ruling from the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court that vacates a previous panel decision regarding an immigration ordinance proposed in Farmers Branch, Texas.

A three-judge panel of the Fifth Circuit was split 2-1 on the Farmers Branch ordinance, which would require that tenants register with a building inspector who would verify their lawful immigration status.

On July 31, however, the Fifth Circuit granted a petition for a rehearing en banc in the Farmers Branch case, which Kobach said in a legal brief has "the immediate effect of vacating the panel decision in that case."

Kobach said plaintiffs in Hazleton's case argued in March that the Third Circuit Court follow the now-vacated Farmers Branch opinion.

"Such reliance would be misplaced, due to the fact that the panel opinion no longer has any precedential effect," Kobach wrote. "There is now no opinion in any circuit concerning an ordinance similar to Hazleton's that can be said to offer an even indirect support for Plaintiff-Appellees's position."

Kobach cited those developments - along with the Supreme Court ordering the Third Circuit Court to revisit Hazleton's case - when saying he believes Hazleton is on solid footing.

"I think the court is recognizing that the first try wasn't correct in the eyes of the Supreme Court," he said. "With the two recent decisions from the Supreme Court ... if the Third Circuit follows the Supreme Court's lead, it should sustain the ordinance. But, we'll see."

Kobach believes the plaintiffs have no argument for the employment provisions of Hazleton's ordinances, particularly because the Supreme Court upheld a similar law in Arizona.

"Most of the discussion in court next week will probably focus on the rental provisions of the Hazleton ordinance," he said.

Jadwat's brief addresses rental and housing provisions of Hazleton's ordinances, saying they dictate who must register and when, along with the type of information they must provide when registering, and also impose penalties for failing to comply with registration rules, making false statements or submitting false documents.

"The fact that the City nominally requires citizens as well as noncitizens to register does not change its intrinsic character as an immigration control measure," Jadwat wrote. "The registration scheme serves to obtain alien information, only noncitizens are required to provide information purporting to indicate their lawful presence in the United States, and only noncitizens will have their information sent to the federal government. The housing provisions therefore tread on the field occupied by federal alien registration law."

The appeals court also has directed the city to file a brief regarding the effects of Arizona's law on Hazleton's ordinances.

Attendance

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, who championed the illegal immigration ordinances while serving as Hazleton's mayor, said he has been following the case and will attend the Third Circuit hearing Wednesday.

While Jadwat believes the Arizona ruling will make for a stronger case for plaintiffs in Hazleton's case, Barletta said he's "very optimistic" the city's ordinances will stand, particularly because the business portion of Arizona's law was based on the city's ordinances.

"I think the chances are better now than ever in light of the fact that the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the state of Arizona, who used the business portion of our ordinance," Barletta said. "I feel that the Supreme Court would not be sending this down (to the appeals court) to be heard again if they didn't feel we had a case."

Hazleton Mayor Joseph Yannuzzi believes the Third Circuit panel's willingness to hear oral arguments will only benefit the city. Yannuzzi said he will also be in attendance Wednesday.

Jadwat, who will argue on the plaintiffs' behalf, doesn't believe oral arguments will benefit one party more than the other.

"It's not surprising," he said. "I think it's just part of the court trying to consider the issues fully."

Kobach, however, disagrees.

"We already argued in 2008 in the Third Circuit," he said. "It ruled against the city and the Supreme Court of the United States told the Third Circuit to, 'Try again, you got it wrong.' The court could've just revisited the case without another round of hearings."

Kobach will argue on Hazleton's behalf while Jadwat will argue for plaintiffs.

Jadwat submitted the plaintiffs' legal brief along with representatives from the ACLU of Pennsylvania, Cozen O'Connor of Philadelphia, White & Williams of Philadelphia and LatinoJustice of New York.

The outcome

Jadwat said the plaintiffs on Wednesday will seek the same outcome as in the past - having the courts suspend Hazleton's laws.

"We've won at every stage at this case - from the first filing at district court and now, we're back down in front of the (Third Circuit) court of appeals," Jadwat said. "We want to defend that injunction."

Legal fees, which exceeded $2 million as of May 2009, will also come into play at some point, Jadwat said.

As with any other municipality that engages in "unconstitutional conduct," Hazleton could face a steep bill, Jadwat said.

"That is one of the consequences for Hazleton in pursuing this path - that they are likely to find themselves on the hook for significant attorneys fees," he said. "It is, of course, and has always been possible for Hazleton to minimize and avoid these fees by abiding by the rulings of the district court."

Kobach, however, said that while the ACLU "loves to suppress cities with legal fees," their lawyers often don't disclose two key issues.

"They only get the legal fees if they win, and only if they get involved in civil rights issues," Kobach said. "Not all aspects (of Hazleton's case) are civil rights. We're a long way from seeing any fees in that manner."

n Ashland: The revitalization group Ashland Downtown Inc. and the Pennsylvania Humanities Council will co-host the Jay Smar Show at 6 p.m. today at The Mineshaft Café, 1120 Centre St. Admission is free. "This informative and musical program highlights the struggles and disasters of coal miners in northeast Pennsylvania," Ashland Main Street Manager Gregory Fisher said in a release. "Documented and researched original compositions are first explained, then presented musically through song," he added.

n Barnesville: A hike is slated for 1 p.m. today to explore the mountain behind Locust Lake State Park and visit the Silver Creek Fire Tower. According to Robin Tracey, park environmental education specialist, the six-mile hike is rated moderate. Participants will meet at the visitors' parking lot at the park. Pet dogs are welcome but they must be leashed and get along with people and other pets. Inclement weather will cancel the hike. At 6 p.m. Saturday Smokey Bear will be at the Locust Lake State Park Amphitheater. Dave Duffy, New England Fire Company chief, will give a fire prevention and campfire safety presentation followed by a visit from Smokey. The program, free and open to the public, will be canceled in the event of inclement weather. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

n Port Carbon: The Port Carbon Janet Eich Library will hold a continuous sale of "Cherished Teddies" figurines at the library on Saturdays starting tomorrow. All figurines will include all holiday and special-event bears at reduced prices, according to Jason Abati, library director.

n Pottsville: The Schuylkill County Sheriff's Office at the county courthouse has released its schedule of extended hours to accept applications or renewals for the License to Carry Firearms. The office will be open from 8:30 to noon tomorrow and Oct. 13 and 4:30 to 8 p.m. Sept. 13. In a release, Sheriff Joe Groody said the transactions can also be done during regular office hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. "To better serve county residents, I will continue to offer office hours on announced Thursdays and Saturdays to accommodate law abiding citizens (with) an opportunity to apply for a License to Carry Firearms, Groody said in the release. The fee for the license is $20 and only checks or money orders can be accepted during extended hours, no cash. Checks or money orders should be made out to the Schuylkill County treasurer. Cash will be accepted during normal office.

n Schuylkill Haven: The Schuylkill Haven Area Elementary Center will open its doors from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Wednesday for all kindergarten and new students to familiarize themselves with their teachers and the building in general. Students and parents will be able to visit their classrooms and walk through the school so that students will feel more comfortable about the start of school Aug. 27.

n Shenandoah: St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church will host an ethnic food sale beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday in the church hall, Oak and Chestnut streets. Pierogies, halupki, halushki, kielbasi and sauerkraut, bunduki, soups and other fare will be available. Everyone is welcome. For more information call 570-462-0809 or 570-462-2424

n Tamaqua: Jessica Lech, a member of the Actors' Guild of Schuylkill County, will be the guest speaker at Saturday's meeting of the Black Diamond Writers' Network set for 10 a.m. to noon at the Tamaqua Public Library, 30 S. Railroad St. Lech, according to network coordinator Kathy Ruff, will offer advice on how writers can correctly identify, capture and write dialect that will impact their character's story. Lech, who currently lives in Minersville, studied Theatre Arts at Wilkes University. The meeting will be followed by a brief critique session for those interested in sharing their work for a roundtable discussion. The meeting is free and open to the public. For more information about the network, call Ruff at 570-645-3059 or visit the Tamaqua Public Library website at www.tamaquapubliclibrary.com. The network is a nonprofit organization.

Marriage licenses

Jacob K. Herring, Pine Grove, and Nicole A. Roshannon, Schuylkill Haven.

Jeffrey A. Kunkel, Tamaqua, and Charlene S. Steeley, Quakake.

Travis D. Bowman, Shenandoah, and Janelle Boris, Shenandoah.

Eric S. Kroh, Tremont, and Kerri L. Scheib, Tremont.

Samuel R. Snyder III, Tamaqua, and Amanda J. Moulthrop, Tamaqua.

Daniel L. Watt, New Ringgold, and Victoria E. Watson, New Ringgold.

Ernest L. Graham Jr., Pottsville, and Evelyn A. Jumbelick, Pottsville.

David S. Anctil, Schuylkill Haven, and Shaundrea L. Warfel, Schuylkill Haven.

Jesse L. Graver, Tremont, and Janet M. Flintosh, Hazleton.

Brian S. Fields, McCordsville, Ind., and Stacey D. Ammerman, McCordsville, Ind.

Scott E. Dreher, Schuylkill Haven, and Pamela M. Orndorff, Schuylkill Haven.

Thomas P. Krupo, Pottsville, and Colleen Yeager, Pottsville.

Paul N. Welker, Tower City, and Maureen M. Grimm, Tower City.

Thomas S. Miller Jr., Minersville, and Jessica M. Lech, Minersville.

Jean E. Gonzalez-Sanchez, Schuylkill Haven, and Jessica Soto, Schuylkill Haven.

Tristan C. Killian, Minersville, and Shawna L. Sep, Minersville.

Curtis G. Hicks, Saint Clair, and Kimberly A. Evans, Saint Clair.

Jeffrey L. Petzold, Auburn, and Cherie A. Baer, Auburn.

Curtis E. Ashman, Pottsville, and Sherry A. Frantz, Pottsville.

Andrew D. Umphrey, Minersville, and Erin M. Purcell, Minersville.

James R. Ferugio, Fairfax Station, Va., and Denise M. Ward, Fairfax Station, Va.

Rick J. Yanoshik, McAdoo, and Patricia J. Stein, Hazleton.

Edgar A. Bachman Jr., Barnesville, and Deanna L. Boris, Barnesville.

Grant A. Burgert, Auburn, and Jennifer S. Carr, Auburn.

Anthony J. Bianco, Zion Grove, and Jennifer A. Hunsinger, Zion Grove.

Richard L. Himmelberger, Pottsville, and Deann E. McCann, Pottsville.

Anthony R. Harris, Zion Grove, and Amanda M. Savage, Zion Grove.

Dwayne A. Farquharson, Lantana, Fla., and Stacey E. Rebuck, Lantana, Fla.

Ray P. Heiser, Orwigsburg, and Jennie R. Moyer, Orwigsburg.

Michael C. Smith, Pottsville, and Gina M. Mennig, Pottsville.

Ryan S. Leffler, Schuylkill Haven, and Theresa L. Lemke, Schuylkill Haven.

Jason N. Messerschmidt, Tamaqua, and Tammy K. Fritzinger, Tamaqua.

James R. Lukach Jr., Minersville, and Sherry L. Rumbel, Minersville.

Jonathan Jadush, McAdoo, and Andrew J. Pollack, McAdoo.

Bernard T. Corby, Saint Clair, and Nada Laguna, Saint Clair.

Derek A. Seiger, Mahanoy City, and Lacey E. Koppenhaver, Mahanoy City.

Clint K. Schock, New Ringgold, and Marie I. Evans, New Ringgold.

Jesse R. Tuckett, New Ringgold, and Jillian B. Fegley, New Ringgold.

C.C. Simmons, Coaldale, and Joelle A. Chinni, Coaldale.

Philip A. Wayde II, Shenandoah, and Jennifer M. Moyer, Shenandoah.

Timothy G. Gunn, Girardville, and Jennifer A. Burke, Girardville.

Floyd L. Koehler Jr., Tamaqua, and Roxanne M. Zanders, Tamaqua.

Sergio D. Rivera, Pottsville, and Melissa A. Maurer, Pottsville.

David G. Mazaika Jr., Tamaqua, and Beth A. Petruzzi, Tamaqua.

Harry W. Thomas Jr., Pottsville, and Kristen Strausser, Pottsville.

Ryan W. Woll, Port Carbon, and Tiffany L. Webb, Pottsville.

Michael A. Siro, Orwigsburg, and Sara M. Leymeister, Orwigsburg.

Timothy T. Boldt, New Philadelphia, and Emily R. Brennan, New Philadelphia.

Divorces

Tracey L. Aponick-Betzer, Ringtown, from Toby R. Betzer, Selinsgrove.

Yvonne Menuchak, Schuy-lkill Haven, from John Menuchak, Schuylkill Haven.

Brenda J. White, Schuylkill Haven, from Douglas J. White, Pine Grove.

Kevin Wagner, Gordon, from Crystal Wagner, Gordon.

Michelle K. Warner, Cressona, from Frank C. Warner III, Blandon.

Anthony M. Webb, Tower City, from Deanna L. Webb, Tower City.

Stacey Park, Schuylkill Haven, from Ricky Park, Auburn.

Angela M. Sandler, Andreas, from Brendan L. Sandler, Andreas.

Katrina L. Fertig, Gordon, from Carl L. Fertig, Ashland.

Annette Merwine, Minersville, from Robert W. Merwine, Gordon.

Jennifer L. Weachock, Orwigsburg, from Mark R. Weachock, Orwigsburg.

Randy M. Miller, Mahanoy City, from Angela M. Miller, Mahanoy City.

Kelly A. Horn, Pottsville, from Donald Horn, Minersville.

Samantha J. Guers, Auburn, from Shawn B. Guers, Auburn.

Deeds

Coaldale - Sophia Povalec, by attorney in fact Michelle Love, to Briana M. Knight and Jennifer R. Mannino; 2 E. Lehigh St.; $98,000.

Tim Vandebunte to Joseph Paulus; 43 E. Howard Ave.; $28,500.

Cressona - Kenneth P. and Melissa Steigerwalt to Gregory M. Yoder; 97 Pottsville St.; $85,000.

East Brunswick and West Brunswick townships - Davison D. III and Bridget Miller to James J. Donovan; 2.1841-acre property at Night Hawk and Red Tail drives; $425,000.

Frailey Township - Eugene Harner and Gloria Yoder, executors of the Estate of Charles E. Harner, to Eugene Harner; 417 W. Center St., Donaldson; $1.

Hegins and Porter township - Daniel J. and Emma I. Lucas to Kenneth Christian Ellex; 2038 E. Center St., Good Spring; $97,000.

Kline Township - John and Carrie Trainor to Philip J. Delazio Jr. and Jalyssa A. O'Sche; property on First Street, Kelayres; $90,000.

Mahanoy City - Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Francis DeVizia; 607 W. Maple St.; 41,030.

Minersville - Michele M. Nettles, individually and as executrix of the Estate of Michael L. Yurkonis, Deborah Yurkonis and Angeline M. Yurkonis to David M. and Amy S. Haas; 324 Laurel St.; $25,000.

Legendary country music superstar Kix Brooks, formerly of Brooks and Dunn, will be rockin' out at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Crocodile Rock Cafe, Allentown, as announced by SLP Concerts. This is an all-age event.

Kix was raised in Shreveport, La., and has been performing since he was 12 years old so he can relate to his opening act, 13-year-old singing sensation, Eva Katherine, Orwigsburg. This is an opportunity to gather up the kids to spend some family time together, along with supporting a local artist. Croc Rock, which has four venues under one roof, has always opened its doors for local bands, upcoming artists and national stars.

Kix Brooks was influenced by an array of music from jazz to blues to Cajun to country. He started songwriting while in high school and eventually landed in Nashville where he joined Tree Publishing Co. Artists like Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, John Conlee and Highway 101 all reached No. 1 with Brooks' songs.

I saw Brooks and Dunn circa 2002 at Hershey Stadium during their Neon Circus/Wild West Tour. They were the highest selling duo in the history of country music, selling more than 30 million records, had 23 No. 1 hits, won more than 75 major industry awards, and in 2010 set a record with their 41st top 10 single, breaking a tie with Alabama as the duo or group with the most Top 10 country singles in the 19 year history of Nielson BDS monitor.

Tickets for this show are still available at Ticketmaster.com, by phone at 800-745-3000, at all Ticketmaster retail locations, including Wal-Mart and Boscov's, and at the venue on 520 W. Hamilton S. Tickets are $15 in advance or $17 at the door.

For more information on the venue, visit www.crocodilerockcafe.com or www.slpconcerts.net.

For information on the artists performing, visit www.kixbrooks.com or www.evakatherine.com.

(Tutko is creator of

PAMusicScene.com)

While the Henry Clay Monument has stood over the City of Pottsville since 1855, honoring the 19th Century U.S. senator spur to the industrial revolution, a mint-flavored drink the Kentuckian favored is still served in Pottsville and around the world.

"We usually get requests for it the weekend of the Kentucky Derby in May," said Jerry Labooty, owner of The Greystone Restaurant in Pottsville.

Plunk down $9 on the counter, and mixologist Mark Rosenberger, the restaurant's general manager, will whip up a 12-ounce mint julep.

While the bartenders at two other city pubs, Maroons Sports Bar, 556 North Centre St., and Wooden Keg Tavern, 112 E. Norwegian St., know how to make it, they said they don't serve it.

"You need fresh mint, and we don't carry it," Jessica Cavin, the bartender at Wooden Keg Tavern, said last week.

"I have heard of it, just don't have a lot of calls for it. And not everyone knows what it is. When I mentioned it, they thought mint julep was a food," Kathy Holley, the bartender at Maroons Sports Bar, said.

A history of Henry Clay's association with the drink can be found on the website for the Old Louisville National Historic Preservation District America's Victorian Treasure, www.oldlouisville.com

The drink's history is tied to the Kentucky Derby, first held May 17, 1875.

"The increasing popularity of the Kentucky Derby also gave rise to that tradition known as the Derby Party, a Derby Eve revelry of music and dancing, good food, and of course, the mint julep," according to the website.

Henry Clay was a fan of the drink. He even had his own recipe, according to the site.

A native of Ashland, Ky., Clay was born April 12, 1777, and died June 29, 1852. Clay supported tariffs on imported goods and influenced the American Industrial Revolution and coal mining and iron industries in Schuylkill County. In 1855, the Henry Clay Memorial, a 60-foot cast-iron pedestal, was erected in his honor in the City of Pottsville.

Labooty did not know Henry Clay enjoyed the drink. He admitted it's not one of his favorites.

"I love bourbon. I just don't like this mix," Labooty said.

"It's sweet," Rosenberger said.

"I don't know that it's sweet. First of all, bourbon should be on the rocks," Labooty said.

"It is on the rocks," Rosenberger said.

"Mixed with nothing. If you're going to drink bourbon, drink bourbon. Don't put mint and sugar in it. It just ruins good bourbon," Labooty said.

"You have to like mint and bourbon to like these," Rosenberger said.

It took Rosenberger three minutes to mix one up recently.

"They're not an everyday drink for me. They're kind of like egg nog at Christmas. You have them when its Kentucky Derby time. On Kentucky Derby weekend, we might sell 30 or 40 of these. People who come in will get a mint julep, they'll sit and watch the Derby and they'll rarely finish them," Rosenberger said.

The Greystone always has fresh mint in stock, so the restaurant can make the drink any time of year, Rosenberger said.

"Besides Derby week, I might sell two the rest of the year," Rosenberger said.

He started making the drink by muddling mint leaves and sugar with a bit of water in a metal cup. "Muddling means to crush the juices out of the mint and combine it with the sugar and the small amount of water," Rosenberger said.

While traditional julep cups are made of either silver or pewter, Rosenberger served the drink he made in a glass filled with ice.

"We add about two and a half ounces of bourbon," he said. Then he added a sprig of mint as a decoration.

The Gillingham Charter School Board of Trustees announced new hires during their meeting Thursday night.

Joining the staff this year at the charter school are Kelly Ashe, fifth and sixth grade, at a salary of $32,000; Ryan Robbins, physical education, at a salary of $32,000; Katelyn Grumbling, special education, at a salary of $32,000; Carrie Miller, art, at a salary of $20,000; and Roseanne Heckman and Linda McCarthy, aides, both at $12 per hour.

It was also announced that Dustin Caruso will be filling an 11-month position during the 2012-13 school year as the special education coordinator and dean of students at a salary of $50,000.

In other business, while the board also discussed a possible new board member, no action was taken on the matter.

There have been two open spots on the board since May, when the board accepted the resignation of board member and treasurer Dawn Shellhamer.

During the February meeting, the board accepted the resignation board member Jeremy Buchinsky.