Man escapes

injury in crash

MAHANOY CITY — A Saint Clair man escaped injury when the car he was driving crashed on Interstate 81 about 8 a.m. Saturday between the Mahanoy City and Delano exits.

State police at Frackville investigated the crash that occurred in the southbound lanes.

Trooper Paul Hardnock said Franklin Quirk, 30, was driving a 2000 Dodge Neon south in the left lane when he lost control.

The car traveled onto the west berm of the highway and rolled over onto its roof coming to a stop facing east, Hardnock said.

Standing alongside his overturned car, Quirk said he had just left work in Delano when he swerved to miss a deer, lost control and went off the road.

Firefighters from McAdoo assisted at the scene while firefighters from Delano and Ryan Township were canceled when it was learned no one was injured.

Hardnock said Quirk will be cited for not driving on roadways laned for traffic as a result of the crash and that the car was towed from the scene.

Police investigate

store break-ins

Pottsville police are investigating an incident that was reported about 8:25 a.m. Friday at Sharp Mountain Plaza on the Gordon Nagle Trail where three businesses were illegally entered during the overnight hours.

Police said the management of Phoenix Physical Therapy, 807 Gordon Nagle Trail, reported someone forced their way into the business between 7 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday. The initial investigation revealed that entry had been made on the east side of the building and a few articles of merchandise were removed, police said.

In addition, police said the office staff Miracle Ear Hearing Aid at 874 Gordon Nagle Trail reported their office was forcibly entered from the east side between 5 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday. The employees said nothing had been discovered missing at the time of the initial investigation however, several locations in the office had obviously been disturbed.

Finally, police said the owner of Solar Nails, 898 Gordon Nagle Trail, reported someone forced their way into that business between 9:30 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. Friday. Various items of merchandise and money was taken from inside, police said.

Police said that each of the locations was processed by police in order to collect possible evidentiary items and the investigation is ongoing to include interviews and the collection of video surveillance from area businesses.

At this time Pottsville police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said investigators have reason to believe a silver or gray medium- to small-size car was involved and that the break-ins occurred between 2:45 and 4:30 a.m.

Anyone with information is asked to call the Pottsville Bureau of Police at 570-622-1234 and access extension 332.

Callers’ identities will be kept confidential if requested.

Woman arrested

at county prison

FRACKVILLE — State police at Frackville filed charges against a Maryland woman after an incident about 11 a.m. Thursday at SCI/Mahanoy in Mahanoy Township.

Police said Cassandra L. Heiser, 24, of Taneytown, tried to take 13 buprenorphine — Suboxone — strips into the prison to give to her brother who is an inmate there.

Suboxone is a Schedule III controlled substance.

Heiser was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, and released on $50,000 unsecured bail.

Minor cited for

careless driving

FISHERVILLE — State police at Lykens investigated a crash that occurred about 5:50 p.m. Wednesday at Armstrong Valley and Shop roads in Jackson Township, Dauphin County.

Police said Matthew L. Stoneroad, 16, of Elizabethville, was driving a 2008 Mazda 3 south on Armstrong Valley Road, Route 225, when he traveled into the northbound forcing an oncoming 2013 Chevrolet Cruze driven by Robert S. Ligon, 48, of Elizabethville, onto the northbound shoulder and an embankment.

The Stoneroad vehicle then struck the Ligon car in the northbound lane, policesaid.

After impact, the Stoneroad vehicle went off the northbound lane and down an embankment where it flipped over several times before hitting a tree.

Stoneroad did not report any injuries but was taken to Milton S. Hershey Medical Center by Millersburg EMS for evaluation. Ligon refused medical attention at the scene but said would seek medical attention on his own.

Police said they were assisted by Fisherville and Elizabethville EMS and that Stoneroad will be cited for careless driving as a result of the crash.

Police investigate

2-vehicle crash

Pottsville police investigated a crash that occurred about 1:30 p.m. Friday at Route 61 and Mauch Chunk St.

Police said Christian Whitehead, Canton, was driving a Pontiac 6 north on Route 61 as David Rennick, New Philadelphia, was driving a Kia Spectra east on Mauch Chunk Street when their vehicles collided as they both entered the intersection.

No injuries were reported and both vehicles were towed from the scene, police said adding that their investigation to determine the cause of the crash is continuing.

FRACKVILLE — Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and state police at Frackville are asking for the public’s help in identifying the man responsible for a bank robbery, an attempted robbery and car theft last year.

The bank robbery occurred June 5 at National Penn Bank at Schuylkill Mall near Frackville.

Police said the man entered the bank about 3 p.m. wearing a gray hoodie, gray sneakers and blue jeans, demanded money and fled.

Although the man did not display a handgun, he made several movements indicating that he may or may not have had something in his pocket.

Prior to the robbery, police said the man apparently stole a car from the parking lot of Turkey Hill Minit Mart, Frackville, and went to National Penn Bank either before or after trying to rob an ATM at the Wells Fargo Bank branch on Altamont Boulevard, West Mahanoy Township.

After robbing the bank at Schuylkill Mall, police said the man drove the stolen Chrysler Cirrus back to Frackville, parked it on Frack Street and fled.

Police said that Frackville police are conducting the investigation into the stolen car from Turkey Hill and that they are handling the attempted ATM robbery and robbery at the Schuylkill Mall bank.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information on the identity of the man responsible for these crimes or on any unsolved crime in Schuylkill County.

Callers are asked to refer to incident 12-06-15 when calling with information about the car theft in Frackville, the attempted ATM robbery in West Mahanoy Township or the robbery at the Schuylkill Mall bank.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crimes Stoppers at 877-TIPS4SC (877-847-7472).

Anyone with information can also call state police at Frackville at 570-874-5300 or Frackville police at 570-462-1991.

TOWER CITY — The Williams Valley school board re-elected Daniel Stroup as president and John Mika as vice president during the board’s reorganization meeting Thursday. The board also approved a resolution seeking a tax and revenue anticipation note, at a maximum of $2 million at a 4 percent interest rate, from Mid Penn Bank. The funding was sought to help cover bills as the district awaits an end to the state budget impasse.

All nine board directors were present.

Recently elected members who took the oath and were sworn into office included Joanna Stroup, Area II, Wiconisco Township, 2nd precinct; Christopher Stroup, Area IV, Williamstown, 2nd precinct; Tracey Minnich, Area V, Williams Township; Daniel Stroup, Area VII, Tower City, 2nd precinct and Rush Township; and Tedd Johns, Area VIII, Reinerton, Muir and Mountain.

The board also approved a resolution indicating the district will not raise the 2016-17 real estate tax rate above the Act 1 index of 3.6 percent.

In other matters, the board heard an end-of-season report from volleyball coach Christina Snyder. She said although the varsity squad finished 2-18 this year, the athletes greatly improved during the course of the season and won their final game in five sets. Many of the games lost, she said, were lost by five points or less. The junior varsity team went 5-15.

Snyder said she would like to relaunch the “Little Vikes” program for volleyball players in fourth to eighth grade to help introduce them to the sport and was also interested in recreational play and conditioning. She made the board aware of a pole or net system problem, which needs to be repaired or replaced.

Athletic director Randy Russelavage said he heard good feedback from players and parents who had appreciated Snyder stepping in at the last minute during the season when the team needed a coach, and that the players had a lot of fun.

“We should tip our hat to her for doing a great job,” he said.

The board agreed and thanked Snyder for service.

In other matters, the board approved:

• Committee appointments for directors.

• Public board meeting dates for 2016 as follows: Jan. 14 and 28; Feb. 11 and 25; March 10 and 24; April 14 and 28; May 12 and 26; June 9 and 23; July 21; Aug. 11 and 25; Sept. 8 and 22; Oct. 13 and 27; Nov. 10; and Dec. 1 (reorganization meeting) and 15.

The next regular board meeting will be 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 in the board room at the high school in Tower City.

n Frackville: The Frackville Elks Lodge, 307 S. Third St., will hold an American Red Cross blood drive from 1 to 6 p.m. Dec. 14 at the lodge. People 17 and older, weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood. To arrange for an appointment or for more information, call 800-733-2767.

n Frackville: The Frackville Ministerium Food Bank will be open from 9 to 10 a.m. Dec. 17 to serve eligible residents of the borough. New applicants will need proof of eligibility — Frackville borough address. The food bank is located at Zion Lutheran Church and people must use the downstairs entrance by the parking lot on South Beech Street.

n Friedensburg: An American Red Cross blood drive will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Dec. 17 at the Friedensburg Fire Company, 1357 Long Run Road. People 17 and older, weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood. To arrange for an appointment or for more information, call 800-733-2767.

n Pottsville: Schuylkill County Treasurer Jacqueline V. McGovern, in a release, reminded Schuylkill County dog owners that 2016 dog licenses are available. An annual license is $8.50 and a lifetime license is $51.50. If the dog is spayed or neutered, the annual fee is $6.50 and lifetime license is $31.50. Discounts are available for senior citizens and people with disabilities. Licenses are available at the treasurer’s office or from local dog agents. State law requires all dogs 3 months or older to be licensed by Jan. 1. Failure to license a dog is a summary offense and a maximum fine of $300 for each dog may be issued. McGovern also said 2016 fishing licenses are available. Annual licenses are valid from Dec. 1, 2015, to Dec. 31, 2016. An annual adult license is $22.70 and annual senior license is $11.70. A trout/salmon permit is $9.70. Multi-year licenses and permits are also available.

n Ringtown: The Bach and Handel Chorale will perform at 3 p.m. Saturday at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 106 W. Main St. Freewill donations will be accepted. The Christmas concert will include songs of the season. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-590-6976.

n Saint Clair: The Saint Clair Community and Historical Society will sponsor a Victorian Christmas from 7 to 9 p.m. Dec. 15 at the society building, North Nicholas Street. Admission is free. Ruth Frankfeld will present a program on holiday traditions. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-428-1850.

n Schuylkill Haven: The Schuylkill Haven Band Aides will hold a Christmas wreath fundraiser auction from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Main Street Hall, 15 E. Main St. There is no admission fee. The event will feature wreaths and gift baskets plus silent and live auctions and a 50/50 raffle. There will also be a bake and soup sale with coffee and hot chocolate available for purchase. Proceeds will benefit the Schuylkill Haven Area school bands. For more information, call 570-691-7205.

n Schuylkill Haven: Covenant United Methodist Church, 215 E. Main St., will have “Cafe Covenant” from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 13 at the church. Jaime Bishop and friends will have music and a message. There is no admission charge. For more information, call 570-385-1401.

n Summit Station: The Schuylkill County Fair Association is hoping local businesses and organizations will renew their support for the 2016 fair, which celebrates the county’s No. 1 industry — agriculture. “We are asking business and organizations to partner with the fair to make the 33rd Schuylkill County Fair, Aug. 1-6 ... the biggest and best to date.” The 2016 theme is “We Have Good Things Growing,” according to an association press release. The group is looking for sponsorship of events as well as contributions. For more information on how to sponsor the 2016 fair, call Dave Wolfe at 570-754-3150 or email him at fuzzybunny1@verizon.net.

Cabooses have almost disappeared from America’s railroads, but you can find them on some trains running at the mammoth Hudson Model Railroad Club display.

You also can find prototypical EOTs, and many other examples of the changes that have shaped the modern freight-carrying railroad.

What is an EOT? That’s the small 35-pound “end of train’’ device that careful observers can locate on the last freight car of a passing train. The small boxes fit over the rear coupler and are tied into the train’s air brake line. An EOT radios information to the engineer, telling him (or her) the brake pressure at the rear of the train, whether the last car is moving and whether the flashing red light is working. The information allows the engineer to set air brakes during an emergency.

“We don’t model a certain era. We run some trains with cabooses and some with EOTs,’’ said club member Bernie Smith, Harding. “We mix diesel and steam.’’

And quite a mix it is on the 2,000-square-foot layout developed over 33 years. The club’s layout is on the second floor of the Hudson Polish Club, 97 Martin St., in the Hudson section of Plains Township, Luzerne County.

The annual open house began Nov. 28 and continues through the holiday season. Visitors will find the miniature EOTs on some of the five to six trains that will be running simultaneously. The open house has become a holiday-season tradition and many families return year after year.

Austin Popish, 20, of Wilkes-Barre, is the club’s vice president and an example of how members, just like the club, easily move back and forth in eras and equipment.

“I was doing modern but I’ve backdated to the Pennsylvania Railroad of the ’50s,’’ Popish said. “I’m back to the cabooses.’’

Popish and other members bring their own equipment to the clubhouse for the Wednesday night meetings. At any time, there are about 75 engines and 700 to 800 cars on the layout.

“You can have a ’50s steam engine passing a 2012 diesel locomotive,’’ said Collin Smith, 25, of Harding. Diesels manufactured today by EMD and General Electric can generate 4,400 horsepower, he said. Steam engines were rated more on tractive effort than horsepower but the fun is not in the technicalities. It is in the locos in operation.

Club members use DCC, or digital command control, devices to operate each train separately.

Thus, three or four trains can run on the same main line. The trains can be a mix of freight and passenger.

In order to achieve even more realistic operations, the club is building a storage yard under the layout. Bernie Smith said a helix will be installed at each end of the layout to allow access to the storage yard. There, 10 to 14 storage tracks will hold dozens of train cars. By clearing the upper tracks, prototypical freight operations can be achieved, allowing members to make up trains and drop cars at sidings.

Club members are of all ages, and Popish, Collin Smith, Sam Meehan and Tyler Brzozowski exude an enthusiasm that is typical of model railroaders. When a real train passes by, the members run to the windows or outside to take a peek.

Meehan, at 17, has become a master at custom painting diesels. His Wyoming Valley and Western Railroad has a roster of GP35 diesels, some of which are on the Hudson layout.

Some club members tend to do scenery work, others do electrical connections and all have era or individual railroad favorites. Some members do buildings. Two new sections created over the last year are Farm Creek, with a large corn and hay farm that includes a nifty chicken coop and the coal-era town of Laflin, featuring company houses and a small cemetery.

Other era-specific items on the layout include large automobile carriers, cargo containers in deep-well flatcars, a deep strip mine operation and the Bartels Brewery. Look for the large Bartels beer can atop the roof.

Serious interest in model railroading can lead to serious career moves. Jim Cerulli, 25, a past president, now works in the operations department of the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad, Popish noted.

Cabooses date to the 1830s and the name itself is believed to come from the Dutch “kombuis,” which means small shanty. The first cabooses were modified boxcars or actual small shanties built onto flatcars. Conductors, flagmen and brakemen rode in the caboose, which had such nicknames as crummy, way car, cabin or hack.

The invention of the automatic air brake system in the late 19th century began the downsizing of crews. Brakemen were not needed on both ends of a train. By the 1980s, longer trains, electric track circuits to activate signals and the hazards of cabooses led to further downsizing. Today, a crew of two — the engineer and a trainman — ride in the diesel engine’s cab. End-of-train devices hold the flashing red signal lamp that once graced the rear of a caboose which, of course, was the last car on the train.

The club is accepting new members. Those interested are invited to attend an open house or a club meeting from 7 to 10 p.m. Wednesdays. Dan Yeninas is president.

The Hudson Model Railroad Club’s Winter Open House will be held Dec. 12, 19-20, 26-27 and Jan. 2-3, 2016. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. on all dates. Admission is free; donations are accepted. Parking is free.

Q: Are green groups using the campaign finance system like other “special interests” through political action committees or otherwise?

— WILSON MCCLAVE,

WASHINGTON, D.C.

A: As a matter of fact, green political action committees emerged as major funders last fall in the run-up to the 2014 congressional elections, and look to play an even larger role in next year’s presidential and other races.

According to the Center for Responsive Politics, PACs are political committees, typically representing specific business, labor or ideological interests, organized for the purpose of raising and spending money to elect and defeat candidates. They must register with the Federal Election Commission and are limited to donations of $5,000 to any given candidate per election — but can also contribute $5,000 annually to any other PAC and up to $15,000 annually to any national political party. PACs can receive as much as $5,000 from any one individual, PAC or political party per calendar year.

Meanwhile, super PACs aren’t beholden to fundraising or spending limits, but can’t make contributions directly to candidates or political parties like regular PACs.

“They do, however, make independent expenditures in federal races — running ads or sending mail or communicating in other ways with messages that specifically advocate the election or defeat of a specific candidate,” reports CRP, which produces the OpenSecrets.org website.

The biggest among the new breed of green PACs is billionaire hedge-fund manager Tom Steyer’s NextGen Climate Action super PAC, which poured some $50 million toward battling climate-change deniers in races across seven key states in 2014. NextGen has already committed upwards of $5 million into the 2016 election cycle, with much more likely to come over the next several months in an effort to “disqualify” presidential candidates who deny that climate change is real or caused by human activity.

“The effort will be called Hot Seat, and NextGen Climate says it will involve media and on-the-ground campaigns in key electoral states aimed at linking Republican deniers to the Koch brothers and other interests that seek to undermine climate science,” reports Kate Sheppard of the Huffington Post. “The idea … is to force candidates skeptical of climate change to defend their views right out of the gate.”

Another big player is the League of Conservation Voters’ super PAC, which pledged $25 million alongside NextGen in 2014. The next two biggest green super PACs to date are the Sierra Club’s Independent Action and the Environment America Action Fund, both of which spent roughly $1 million to influence 2014 elections. The Defenders of Wildlife Action Committee spent $350,000 on 2014 elections.

EARTHTALK is a trademark of Earth Action Network Inc.

View past columns at www.

earthtalk.org. Email questions to earthtalk@emagazine.com.

The nice weather helped to bring people out to the seventh Christkindlmarkt at the Yuengling Mansion in Pottsville.

Last year, the event was held but a steady rain fell as visitors attended the market at the mansion at 1440 Mahantongo St. The holiday marketplace is sponsored by the Schuylkill County Council for the Arts.

Gayle Sleva, 63, of Bethlehem, came to do holiday shopping this year with her sister, Joan Koslosky, Cressona. They attended last year but the weather was not as nice. Sleva said the event puts her in the mood for Christmas. She bought an acorn-adorned wreath. At the mansion, people could browse items from about 30 vendors. Available were handmade soaps, nightlights made from glass bottles, chocolate candy, various art prints and books.

Each of the six rooms was decorated with a theme. Peter Cieslukowski, Shenandoah, the artistic director for Christkindlmarkt and a member of the SCCA board of directors, decorated the rooms, something he does every year. One room this year had a cherub theme. Among the decorations was a Christmas tree adorned with cotton, golden balls and cherub ornaments. Another room had old bulbs on a tree and around the room to invoke feelings of past Christmases. There was also a German star and hummel room, a woodland room with a forest theme, a peacock room and the bathroom featured a Grinch in the bathtub. Seventeen volunteers helped with the event.

Patti Connors, 68, of Pottsville, has come to the event all seven years “because I love it. It just puts me in the spirit,” she said. She bought a cranberry balsam soap from Kim Schappell, Frackville, a painting of a red covered bridge, birdseed for her husband who likes to feed the birds and hand warmers for her granddaughter. The soap was for her.

“You have to treat yourself,” she said.

Schappell had eight types of soap, which she made on the stove in her kitchen. Some required a lot of effort because they had layers. Peppermint, orange and clove, frankincense and myrrh, lemongrass, cranberry balsam and gingerbread were just a few for sale. Oatmeal dog soaps were also for sale.

Sava Shoemaker, 22, of Pottsville, had an assortment of ceramic pots and cups for sale. He made them in the kilns as a student at Kutztown. He is a business major but is taking ceramics as an elective. This was his first time at Christkindlmarkt.

Katie Ressler, 27, of Gordon, bought a mug with a grumpy snowman on it. She bought it for her “Grinch” friends for the Christmas holiday. She said she comes to Christkindlmarkt because of the variety of items available to browse.

Upstairs, visitors could look at books and other artwork and buy tea and soap. Madlen Piccioni bought a framed print of “Two Birds on a Wire” by Georgie LeHoop, Saint Clair.

“I like his work. I like birds,” she said.

Sandra Coyle, executive director of SCCA, said she was impressed with the turnout.

“This is incredible,” she said.

Christkindlmarkt continues from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. today.

GIRARDVILLE — The borough council tentatively adopted its revenue and spending plan for 2016 that includes no tax increase.

The borough council approved the tentative budget at its November meeting. The $400,000 budget is balanced and contains no deficits.

When formally adopted in December, the real estate tax will remain at 19.7 mills. One mill brings in about $6,000 in revenue. Real estate taxes were increased by one mill in 2015.

Councilman Rick Miller, who is the chairman of the finance committee, asked for the motion for the tentative adoption. Miller and fellow committee member Joseph Kessler have focused on the budgets for 2015 and 2016 to get control of spending to eliminate deficits at the end of the year.

Miller said after the meeting that the 2015 fiscal year will end in good shape.

“When it comes to this year’s budget, we’re actually looking to be in the black at the end of the year, which is something that doesn’t happen here very often,” Miller said. “All our bills are paid to date. We have money in the bank and we have another month to go and we’ll have money coming in, so we should be in good shape.”

Miller said the 2015 budget year is expected to end with “a few thousand dollars ahead and put it into the PLGIT fund.”

The Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust allows a municipality to put funds in savings for future or emergency needs.

“We’d like to bring that (PLGIT) up a little bit,” Miller said. “We’re expecting a 25 percent rebate from PPL in December, and we’re hoping that money won’t be needed for anything so we can put it right into the PLGIT.”

During the meeting, Miller thanked borough employees for keeping a tighter rein on expenses.

“I gave everybody a plug in the meeting for working to keep their budgets down this year,” Miller said, adding that two accounts that do go over their budgets were offset by savings in other accounts.

“We put in a $100 rule in this year,” Miller said. “There had to be a purchase order for everything. If the purchase was for less than $100, then the immediate supervisor, which would be a council person, could approve it. Any purchase over $100 would have to go to the entire council to be approved, but all expenditures went through me and Joe Kessler through the finance committee. That’s pretty much how we kept control of everything through the entire year so we didn’t spend money on something we didn’t need.”

Miller added, “At the end of the third quarter, which would be 75 percent of the year, we were at 71 percent of our budget.”

The new year will see some road work on sections of Fourth and Fifth streets that will be paid through a $42,000 state grant, Miller said. The municipal building will also have improvements made at the entrance for handicapped accessibility, and bathrooms will also made accessible through a $100,000 grant.

The borough’s bottom line was also helped by the public who donated materials for projects.

“We received some help from the public. We got nine tons of macadam for the streets that was a big help,” Miller said. “When we redid the basketball courts, a lot of those materials were paid for. Some people in town donated money towards that. We had some people help clean up some lots. It’s like a joint venture in getting the community involved. We’re trying to get everybody to work together. We’re getting there.”

Code enforcement is also a major effort throughout the year.

“We got three houses torn down on Line Street by the property owner because Frank Zangari (borough fire chief and blight committee member) went after her,” Miller said. “That helps us. That’s money we don’t have to put out to tear them down. Frank and I are out working on code enforcement. In October, we posted 24 houses, boarded up 10, got three evictions at houses you can’t live in. People are noticing. Landlords are noticing.”

There are millions of people out there, like me, who are frustrated with the maddening obstacles to obtaining prescribed medications with your insurance.

My doctor calls the system Byzantine, a ripoff in which the government, including Medicare, is not permitted to negotiate costs with drug companies, instead allowing them to charge whatever they think the market will bear.

“Escalating drug prices have alarmed physicians and the American public and led to calls for government price controls,” Peter J. Neumann and Joshua T. Cohen of Tufts University Medical Center wrote last month in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Most manufacturers maintain that drug prices should be based on research, development and production costs, but Neumann and Cohen suggested that these costs should reflect the value the drugs provide, including such factors as health benefits and cost-effectiveness.

The rising cost of prescription drugs is especially worrisome given the recent escalation in their use in the United States.

Elizabeth D. Kantor, an epidemiologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and her colleagues recently reported in JAMA that from 1999 to 2012, the number of American adults using prescription drugs rose to 59 percent from 51 percent, and those who took five or more medications increased to 15 percent from 8.2 percent.

The increases, which occurred in 11 classes of drugs, persisted even when the rising age of the population was considered.

Americans today are using more drugs than ever to lower cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar, treat depression and pain, control acid reflux and breathing problems, and relax muscles.

I get my drug insurance through Medicare Part D. But since signing up in 2006, when the program began, I’ve had many hassles with the company that was suggested to me by the Medicare adviser I consulted on the phone.

During the current enrollment period, from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, I decided to switch to another insurer. Since everyone with a computer is supposed to be able to do this, I gave it a try.

I am happy to report that, despite the problems many consumers initially had signing up for insurance under the Affordable Care Act, the government did a great job with the website for Medicare Part D. Expecting the task to take hours, I enrolled with a new company in about 15 minutes.

For each company, the website showed my estimated annual drug costs if purchased retail or by mail order (cheaper by mail); the monthly premium, which in my case is deducted from my Social Security benefit; the annual deductible, if any; the drug copay amount; whether all my drugs are in the company’s formulary; and the company’s star rating.

By the way, if you can get your prescriptions written for a 90-day supply, the cost is usually less than that of a 30-day supply refilled twice.

Marriage licenses

Steven L. Brown, Schuylkill Haven, and Stacey J. Park, Schuylkill Haven.

Alex J. Zimmerman, Hegins, and Allyson M. Stutzman, Hegins.

Keith R. Schaeffer, Minersville, and Nicole M. Zakutney, Minersville.

Divorces granted

Sarah A. Risley, Nesquehoning, from Robert W. Risley, New Ringgold.

Richard Hettinger, Shamokin, from Kelly Brown, Dayton, Nevada.

Children had the opportunity to go on a train ride with St. Nick on Saturday in Pottsville on the Santa Claus Train Rides.

The No. 5014 train with seven cars of the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad was filled with passengers for the ride through Schuylkill Haven, Port Clinton and the Kernsville Dam and back. The train boarded at Union Station in Pottsville for an 80-minute round-trip ride to the area and back to Pottsville.

Matt Fisher, general manager of the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, a parent company of the aforementioned railroad, said the tickets were sold out for the 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. diesel train rides. The 3:30 p.m. ride had some tickets left.

Alex Mullins, 21, of Pottsville, was glad she was able to buy tickets for the 3:30 p.m. ride. Her son, Robert Bruce, 2, had never been on a train before. He was busy playing with his miniature toy Thomas the Tank Engine before the train departed the station.

“He loves trains,” she said.

Carol Frie, Pottsville, took her grandson, Gavin Frie, 9, of Minersville, on the ride.

Erica Salen, 37, of Saint Clair, had her son, Cory Salen, 3, with her. It was also his first time on a train. She didn’t want him to miss the experience of riding the train and meeting Santa.

Robert Kalbach, 37, of Pottsville, was with his son, Jacob Kalbach, 9, to meet Santa and Mrs. Claus. Kalbach said they have gone on lots of train rides this year.

Santa and Mrs. Claus greeted the boys and girls on the train. They even gave them hugs if they wanted one. Santa said the children on board the train were good little boys and girls and that he appreciates the cookies and milk left for him on Christmas Day.

“Cookies make my beard grow,” Santa said.

Additional rides are planned for 10:30 a.m., 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Dec. 13 from Union Station. Tickets for the train rides, presented by Pottsville Area Development Corp., are available at 1 S. Second St., Second Floor, Pottsville, or by calling 570-628-4647.

Riding a train should not be difficult as there are many other rides available this holiday season.

Today and Dec. 20 children can ride the steam locomotive CNJ 113, which departs from the Minersville Train Station, at 10:30 a.m., 1 and 3:30 p.m. The train rides from Minersville are sponsored by Railway Restoration Project 113, the railroad and Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway.

On Dec. 12, the train will depart in Schuylkill Haven from the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad station at 12 W. Main St., the site of the old borough hall, to the Kernsville Dam and back to the station.

A train ride is also available in Tamaqua on Dec. 19. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce at 570-668-1880.

Tickets are $13 for ages 13 and older, $9 for children ages 3 to 12 and children under 3 are free. For each adult ticket purchased, a child rides free.

Elizabethtown

The following local students were named to the honors program at Elizabethtown College, studying advanced classes:

Tyler Butkus, Barnesville, a senior chemistry major; Sage Garvey, Auburn, a sophomore health and occupation major; Samantha Weiss, Pottsville, a senior communications major; Eric Zimmerman, Cressona, a sophomore biology major, Cressona.

The following local students are in Student Senate during the 2015-16 school year at Elizabethtown:

Kaitlin McDonald, New Philadelphia, an environmental science major; Craig Sinkovich, Pottsville, a biology major; Eric Zimmerman, Cressona, a sophomore biology major; and Hui Liu, Shenandoah, undecided.

King’s

Thomas Hagenbuch, Delano, a senior biology major at King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, recently attended the annual Career Day sponsored by King’s Washington, D.C., Area Alumni Club in the nation’s capital.

Thomas, along with 48 other King’s students, was able to attend career presentations, more than half of which were given by King’s alumni working in the Washington, D.C., area. Some of the general topics covered were government ethics, applying for federal jobs, resume and interview pointers, and careers in health care and the FBI.

Students then had the opportunity to participate in breakout sessions to conduct more concentrated discussions on their career.

Thomas is a member of the biology club, pre-health club and Sigma Zeta National Science and Mathematics Society. He is also a member of the Emergency Response Team and a peer tutor. He has been on the dean’s list four times.

n Eckley: The Eckley Miners Village “Winter Wonderland” photo contest is underway, a new twist for the fall foliage photo contest held in previous years. The contest is open to the public whether people are professional or amateur photographers. The pictures must be taken at Eckley Miners’ Village to be considered. Photos may be submitted up until March 1. The winner will be announced and given the $50 cash prize as well as the one-year associate membership on the second week of March. Registration is $5 per entry and forms can be found online or picked up at the village’s visitor center. For more information, call 570-636-2070 or visit the village’s website at www.eckleyminersvillage.com.

n Hegins: Tri-Valley High School band students recently auditioned for county band. The musicians who were placed into the band included Mikayla Ulicny, oboe; Emily Kimmel, clarinet; Raquel Harring, clarinet; Alexa Wolfgang, clarinet; Gabby Quandel, alto sax; Kieffer Quandel, trumpet; Ashley Heisler, trumpet; Micah Ulicny, baritone; Tanner Wolfgang, baritone; Willy Ward, tuba; Colton Fox, percussion; and Matilda Risso, mallet percussion. The county band will perform at 1:30 p.m. March 5 at Marian High School, Hometown.

n Pottsville: A Blue Christmas service, for people dealing with the death of a loved one or living with a debilitating disease, will be held at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 20 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Third and Arch streets. For more information, call 570-622-9910.

n Pottsville: The Pottsville Lions Club announced it will sponsor a free Christmas movie for children Dec. 18 at the Majestic Theatre, North Centre Street. The title is “Arthur Christmas,” about Santa’s “clumsy son,” according to a club release. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the movie will begin at 7 p.m. There will be free popcorn and Christmas candy for all the children and there will also be a visit by Santa, who will have a free gift for youngsters after the movie, sponsored by the Pottsville Lions Charity. The club has also joined with the Marine Corps League in support of the annual Toys for Tots Campaign. From now until the Lions Christmas dinner meeting Dec. 21 at the Pottsville Zone, the club will collected toys for the campaign. People may drop unwrapped toys off at the Pottsville Zone.

n Shenandoah: The Shenandoah Area Free Public Library, Washington and Main streets, recently acknowledged the following memorials: For Dr. Stanley G. Rakowsky from Mary Ellen Matunis, Louise and Tricia Palubinsky; for Dustin R. Peel from Mary Lou and Jack Buchinsky; for David C. Goodman from Mary Lou and Jack Buchinsky; for Charles A. Henninger Jr. from Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Rejent; for Joseph White from Michael and Ellen Gilroy.

n Pottsville: The Pottsville Free Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorial donations: For Carl J. Bartholomew from Charles and Frances Lorenz, Naomi Morrow Ost, Veida Ruth Bartholomew; for John F. Evans from Peggy Evans and Michelle D. Evans; for Mary Louise Heller from Jane Fennelly, Schuylkill Medical Maintenance, John and Agnes Reiley, Scott Miller, Marybeth and George Dohmann, William and Viola Delker; for Choung Ja Hoover from Thomas and Diana Beausang; for Barbara Kull from Jerry Pritchett and Josephine Kwiatkowski, Mary Ann and Bill Pugh, Jean and Mike Towle, Nancy Smink, Sandi Murton and family, Doranne Polcrack, Louise and Bob Wachter, Dr. and Mrs. William R. Davidson, Linda Peffer, Sisters of XI Master Chapter Beta Sigma Phi, Pottsville Free Public Library board, Patsy and Dennis Cresina; for Dorothy Lecher from Susan Whalen, Jim and Bonnie Lecher, Travis and Rachel Whalen, Linda Wanamaker, David and Jackie Lecher; for Ian Palmer from Thomas and Diana Beausang; for Anne Brennan Reiley from the Rice Cousins; for Robert J. Reiley from Dr. and Mrs. William R. Davidson; for Edwin H. Stulb III from Ellen Zane, Peggy and Ralph Jaeger, The Philanthropic Club; for Edith Yuengling from Stephen Lilienthal. The library also acknowledged the following honors contributions: For Dr. Abdul Wahhab from Thomas and Diana Beausang. The following memorials/honors have been placed for the 2015 fund drive: For Louis G. Miller from Barbara Miller.

MAHANOY CITY — The borough council is considering the financial health of the borough in order to better manage current and future obligations.

The first move will be the adoption of the tentative budget for 2016 at Tuesday’s meeting that is expected to include a real estate tax increase of 3 mills.

Six council members met in a finance committee meeting on Nov. 24 to discuss the draft budget and to review options. Borough Manager Daniel L. Lynch said the millage increase was discussed.

“This is our draft budget, and as I indicated at the meeting, it’s a proposed 3-mill tax increase,” Lynch said at the municipal building last week. “Along with some of the plans we have that go along with our financial situation, it allowed us to free up some money that we had originally been looked at to be budgeted for some expenses because we were backed up on some engineering bills.”

The draft budget shows a surplus of $80,146.

“That will all go to debt servicing,” Lynch said. “So this basically is a 3-mill tax raise specifically for debt servicing. It’s not for operational costs, it’s not a general fund thing. It’s not going to salaries or to any increased expenses. It’s going for debt servicing.”

Lynch said one mill brings in about $24,000, but he said it realistically brings in between $19,000 and $20,000 because of the collection rate, which is about 80 percent.

The current real estate tax millage is 32.529. The new rate, if approved, would be 35.529 mills.

“I know this gets talked about at every meeting a borough or township is talking about raising taxes,” Lynch said, showing a list of all municipalities in the county showing their millage rates, total taxable real estate value, median home value in each township or borough, and the median tax bill in those municipalities.

“You can see that right now the median tax bill is about 16th in the county right now,” Lynch said. “We get a lot of push back because our millage is so high, but it’s so high because our home values are so low. Our median home value is $8,645 and total taxable real estate is very low compared to some comparable boroughs. Frackville is twice what ours is, and Tamaqua is three times what ours is. The millage doesn’t tell the whole story.”

The borough increased real estate taxes by 2 mills in 2014 to add a blight fund in order to have money available to deal with emergency situations where a dangerous dilapidated building needs to be demolished due to public safety, but there has been no increase for general fund purposes for many years, Lynch said.

The borough council voted at its October meeting to apply for the Early Intervention Program through the state Department of Community and Economic Development. At its November meeting, the borough council appointed the Pennsylvania Economy League to do the thorough review as part of EIP. The cost of PEL’s services is not to exceed $64,000 as outlined in the provisions of the DCED grant. The borough will receive 90 percent of the study cost from DCED, with the borough picking up the remaining 10 percent.

“The borough has entered the Early Intervention Program and we’re looking at an emergency plan with our consultant, the Pennsylvania Economy League,” Lynch said.

Lynch said the budget meeting was attended by PEL Senior Research Associate, Joseph L. Boyle, DCED Local Government Policy Specialist James Rose, and M&T Bank Government and Institutional Banking Assistant Vice President Ryan McGowan.

“The economy league’s recommendation, along with Jim Rose’s, is that we should immediately declare for Act 47, and we’ll be doing that at the December meeting,” Lynch said. “Basically, for us it’s a definite problem with revenue, that we can’t bring in the revenue that we need. What was discussed was the potential for Act 47 to give the borough taxing power that it wouldn’t have without Act 47, primarily to raise the EIT (Earned Income Tax) beyond the one percent.”

Lynch said a very important issue in the borough’s finances is the lack of a capital reserve fund.

“For probably going back 15 years or more, the borough has not had any meaningful capital reserve,” Lynch said. “At a minimum and best practice from PSAB (Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs) and the state that you should have a minimum of 25 percent of a year’s budget at all times in cash. We don’t have any cash on hand. Going for some years with no cash on hand and we had a couple big issues crop up, including unbudgeted demolition in 2013 of $100,000 worth. A couple of different issues cropped up, but with no money on hand to respond to emergencies, it sets the borough off in a kind of a tailspin to end up where we are now.”

Lynch cited an example of funds from the general fund being used to pay off the sanitation debt, which could prevent the paying off of the tax anticipation note.

“The tax raise will allow us to get into unfunded debt, and then into next year we’ll be looking at Act 47 and raising specific taxes,” Lynch said.

Lynch said there are major projects coming up in the near future, such as rehabilitation of sections of Market Street, which is the longest bridge in the county. The Mahanoy Creek runs under the town along that street.

“At some point, the borough is going to have to address Market Street, which is up to $800,000 per block because it’s a bridge that spans the entire borough. There are a lot of borough citizens that don’t even realize that,” Lynch said. “There are two sections that we have to do soon, if not like now. They have to get done at some point. The worse spots are behind the borough building on the 200-300 block of East Market, and the 100-200 block of West Market.”

Lynch said blight is also a major problem that also needs additional attention.

“The borough has lived as bare bones as it can, but now it’s going to have some infrastructure problems that have to be addressed,” Lynch said.

Lynch plans to schedule a public meeting in the near future with the EIP consultants for residents to ask questions about the program.

Accomplished Irish singer Andy Cooney is bringing an “Irish Country Christmas” to Minersville.

Direct from a sold-out appearance at Carnegie Hall in New York, Cooney’s “Irish Country Christmas” will be at Minersville Area High School, 1000 Battling Miner Lane, Minersville, next week. The show starts at 2 p.m. Sunday.

Joe “Hap” Anthony, event organizer, said Cooney is one of the biggest singers in the Irish music scene. He is also a member of The New York Tenors and has been dubbed “Irish America’s Favorite Son” by The New York Times, according to Cooney’s website at www.andycooney.com. He has recorded 18 albums.

“We have had him here before, but he has gotten bigger since then,” Anthony said.

Cooney last performed in Minersville in December 2012.

This year’s show will also feature Deirdre Reilly, an entertainer on the Irish and Nashville scene, who was born of Irish parents from Cork and Mayo and grew up listening to Irish favorites and American country music, as well as Darrah Carr Dance, a River Dance group from the Tara School of Irish Stepdancing and The Andy Cooney Band, led by musical director Bugs Moran.

“It’s a great show and a great Christmas gift,” Anthony said. “It is unique and a show for everyone. This is a first class show coming right from Carnegie Hall, and you don’t have to leave the county to see it.”

Anthony said there will be Irish crafts available as well as Cooney’s CDs. Cooney will also be available for autographs.

Tickets are $20 in advance and $30 for premium seating. Tickets will be $25 at the door. Doors open at 1 p.m. For more information or to order advanced tickets, call Anthony at 570-209-4867 or 570-544-4674.

Board president

Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors announced that member and past president, Michael F. Brink-ash, PLS, owner of Brink-ash & Associates, Ashland, has been elected to a second term as board president of the Pennsylvania State Registration Board for Professional Engineers, Land Surveyors, and Geologists. He was appointed to the board in 2011 and is currently serving a six-year term.

The Pennsylvania Society of Land Surveyors is a statewide professional organization that supports the practice of land surveying. The society focuses on providing education, encouraging legislative involvement, enhancing public awareness, and promulgating ethics of the profession.

Brinkash is a 1971 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School and was honorably discharged from the Army Reserves in 1978. He is a licensed professional land surveyor in Pennsylvania and New York with more than 35 years of experience.

Brinkash is a member of the Susquehanna Chapter of PSLS, PSLS president from 1989-90 and recipient of the 1991 Surveyor of the Year Award. He also authored and published “County and Municipal Boundary Descriptions,” a professional textbook copyrighted in 1997.

Brinkash has been a presenter and speaker for various continuous education workshops on numerous surveying topics over the past 20 years.

Police appreciated

An event was held Nov. 21 at American Legion Post 434, Ashland, to show local police appreciation for their efforts.

Members of the Ashland and Girardville police departments and Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Office. County Sheriff Joe Groody was guest speaker.

Law enforcement families were also present, as well as officers and members of Post 434. The event was organized by Vice Commander Frank R. Rice and Charles Hughes.

TOWER CITY — Loved ones who passed away were honored and remembered Sunday in a Celebration of Life service in the borough.

The service recognized 128 people who died between last December and Sunday. Paul Dimon, owner of Dimon Funeral Home and Cremation Services Inc., Tower City, started the service about 17 years ago after his grandmother passed away as a way to remember those we love who are no longer with us.

The approximate one-hour service featured songs, the reading of names, an ornament dedication and blessing, lighting of the tree and message from a guest speaker. At least 175 people attended, filling most of the seats.

Dimon said the service was a thank you to the community for the trust they put in him during their time of loss.

Chaplain David Borton of the Hospice of Central PA spoke about the feelings people may have during the holiday season, one traditionally a time of happiness.

“It’s a very hard time for those who are grieving,” he said.

Some may not know how to be involved in the holiday festivities following such a loss, he said.

“It’s OK to feel sad. You have lost someone that you love,” he said.

It is important to plan ahead to make a schedule if one still plans to observe the holidays, though no one should feel obligated to do something special.

“Grief is hard,” he said.

Speaking with a trusted loved one about the feelings one experiences also can help in healing, he said.

Looking at a Christmas tree and lights might make one feel sad because they could start to think about their loved ones who are no longer with them. To him, the lights represent the light of life that a person offered. He talked about the “Tree of Hope” in the room decorated with ornaments of loved ones. Family members could take the ornaments home after the service.

Dimon read the names of loved ones who died. Every name had significance to someone in attendance. The first name read was that of the late Cpl. Martin Allen King, who lived in Tower City, Lykens and Harrisburg. King, a Korean War prisoner of war, was laid to rest with full military honors last month at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville, Lebanon County. King was taken prisoner while fighting overseas. He died April 12, 1951, his 18th birthday.

Darlene Wollyung, 69, of Tower City, attended this year to recognize her mother, Laura May Cortez, 87, formerly of Tower City, who passed away in May.

Her mother loved family togetherness.

“My mom was very big on family,” she said.

She appreciates the effort Dimon goes through to comfort those who have lost loved ones.

“This community is here for each other when these things happen,” she said.

Hanukkah celebrations were held Sunday in Pottsville and Saint Clair.

The observance celebrates the rededication of the temple in Jerusalem and the victory of the Maccabees over the Greeks in 165 BCE. Hanukkah ends at sundown Dec. 14.

“Even a small light can push a lot of darkness,” Rabbi Nachman Nachmenson of the Chabad-Lubavitch of Schuylkill County said Sunday at Pottsville’s Garfield Square.

A handful of people attended the lighting of the menorah, which will stay lit for eight days. The 6-foot menorah was illuminated at 3:22 p.m. and, as customary, kosher donuts fried in oil were served. According to tradition, it is believed the oil lasted for eight days when there was only enough to last for one day.

Philip Thomas, 74, of Pottsville, attended the observance in Garfield Square.

“I came out of respect for Judaism. For the love of humanity,” he said.

Pastor Ron Murhon, a chaplain in Pine Grove who lives in Schuylkill Haven, said the observance is important.

“The Christians and the Jewish folk need to get together,” he said, adding people of different faiths can learn to coexist.

A menorah was also lit at Wal-Mart, Saint Clair. This is the first time for the ceremony at the store, Maria Stellar, manager, said. Nachmenson contacted Wal-Mart’s home office and requested the service.

Stellar said she told the staff about the request and they were OK with it. An announcement was made over the loudspeaker informing shoppers about the service.

Nachmenson said the meaning of Hanukkah is to “be united. To light the darkness.”

Nachmenson said a blessing in English, followed by Kathy Judd, Frackville, who was chosen to say the blessing in Hebrew before lighting of a single candle.

“It’s good for the community for everyone to be involved,” Judd said.

Judd said she was going to tell her son, who is a rabbi in Florida, about her participation. She said she didn’t expect to be given the honor but was thankful for the opportunity.

MAHANOY CITY — Today marks the 74th anniversary of the sneak attack by the Japanese military at the Navy and Army Air Corps bases in the Hawaiian islands, a tragedy that is remembered annually in the borough with a public ceremony.

The Mahanoy Area United Veterans held its annual commemoration a day early on Sunday at the Veterans Memorial, which many people also know as the site of the M60-A3 Patton tank.

Before the 11 a.m. program began, a loudspeaker sounded with the speech that President Franklin Delano Roosevelt made to the U.S. Congress after the attack:

“Yesterday, December 7, 1941 — a date which will live in infamy — the United States of America was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the Empire of Japan. The United States was at peace with that nation and, at the solicitation of Japan, was still in conversation with its government and its emperor looking toward the maintenance of peace in the Pacific.”

The program was organized with the help of veterans Louis Huber and Francis Burke, who provided the sound system for the microphone and the playing of patriotic songs.

“As we all know, on December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor at 7:48 a.m.,” Huber said after the national anthem. “It was totally unexpected and no warning. The USS Arizona was hit, with its magazine exploding and everything blew up, with 1,102 men killed on that ship alone. We also lost three other battleships.”

Huber passed the microphone to his wife, Rose Huber, who started with a quote from an unknown author, “A veteran — whether active duty, discharged, retired, National Guard or reserve — is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to the United States of America, for an amount of ‘up to and including their life.’ ”

Rose Huber then read a poem called “The Final Inspection” by Sgt. Joshua Helterbran.

The Japanese attack was prompted by its need to remove the American naval fleet’s capability to interfere with Japan in its military aggression throughout the Pacific region.

According to the website of the National Park Service in Hawaii:

• 2,388 Americans died in the attack

• 1,178 Americans were wounded

• 21 American ships were sunk or damaged

• 323 American aircraft were destroyed or damaged

• 1,177 Americans involved in the attack were serving on the USS Arizona

• 333 servicemen serving on the USS Arizona survived the attack

• 64 Japanese died during the attack, though the number of injuries is unknown

• 5 Japanese ships (two-man midget submarines) were destroyed

• 103 Japanese aircraft were destroyed or damaged

• 49 civilians were killed and 83 were wounded

Rose Huber thanked Tina’s Flower Shop, Shenandoah, for the memorial wreath that was purchased by Louis Huber, who with Mahanoy City American Legion Post 74 Commander Neal Pascoe, placed it at the memorial.

Mayor Patti Schnitzius spoke of the sneak attack and how many were killed, but how it also rallied so many Americans to protect their freedom by going to war.

“Millions of Americans joined the armed forces to protect our country after this attack,” Schnitzius said. “The men and women of ‘The Greatest Generation’ went to war and endured great hardships that we will never understand to protect our freedom. I have been to the USS Arizona in Hawaii. The memorial is built over the sunken wreckage and it just gives you the chills to imagine what these people went through on that December morning. The surprise attack on American soil should never be forgotten. We should remember the brave men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. In Mahanoy City and surrounding communities, we have had the honor to have numerous people represent our area in all branches of the armed forces. Our area really stands up and joins together to fight for what is America’s freedom because that is what America is all about. Thank you to all the men and women from our area who served our country. God bless you, and God bless America.”

The last speaker was United Veterans Secretary Mary Zelonis.

“I’d like to thank Lou and his wife for putting this program together today,” Zelonis said. “Our group fell a little bit short, but we’re in the process of revitalizing the United Veterans. We’ve had some losses, and unfortunately we lost a very dear friend, Jerry Stephany, who will be buried tomorrow at Indiantown Gap. He will be sorely missed in Mahanoy City by those who knew him. May his soul rest in peace.”

Anthony J. Kilker

SHENANDOAH — Defendants whose cases Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker recently considered, the charges against each one and the judge’s disposition of the matters include:

Abraham Barrientos, 61, of 215 W. Coal St., Shenandoah — withdrawn due to lack of witnesses: DUI, DUI-high rate and disorderly conduct.

Jeremy G. Colosimo, 27, of 159 Weston Place, Shenandoah — waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, harassment and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Shanna Marie Amy-Vadiz, 38, of Box 91, Lost Creek — waived for court: DUI, exceeding the speed limit and driving a vehicle without a valid inspection.

Jacqueline A. Tym, 54, of 227 E. Mount Vernon St., Shenandoah — waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and false alarms to agencies of public safety.

Robert Pastucha, 31, of 109 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City — withdrawn: criminal mischief, harassment and disorderly conduct. Waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Shane M. Drumheller, 33, of State Correctional Institution/Mahanoy, Frackville — withdrawn: driving with a suspended or revoked license. Waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, no headlights, restrictions on alcoholic beverages and DUI.

Christina E. Hale

FRACKVILLE — A New Jersey man charged with stealing money from the Frackville American Legion Post 398 Home Association between January and October 2012 appeared for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale.

Sean D. McCormick, 49, now of 1 Sycamore Drive, Blenheim, was arrested by Frackville police Chief Marvin Livergood and charged with felony offenses of theft, receiving stolen property and failure to make required disposition of funds and a misdemeanor offense of tampering with records or identification.

After hearing testimony, Hale dismissed the charge of tampering with records or identification and held the remaining three felony offenses for Schuylkill County Court.

Livergood charged McCormick, who was treasurer and steward of the post with failing to deposit money totaling $45,006.92. The amount was determined by an accountant and came from bar sales and Small Games of Chance deposits, the chief said.

Other court cases included:

Adrienne Yawornicky, 28, of 16 E. Main St., Girardville — held for court: corruption of minors, fleeing or attempting to elude police, retail theft, driving without a license, driving with a suspended or revoked license and driving the wrong way.

Michael H. Bechtel Jr., 23, of 1004 W. Centre St., Apt. 1, Ashland — withdrawn: theft and unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Joseph J. Weikel, 41, of 344 E. Mahanoy Ave., Girardville — waived for court: aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and simple assault.

Mark T. Keeth, 56, of 801 E. Market St., Mahanoy City — withdrawn: reckless driving and careless driving. Waived for court: DUI, DUI-controlled substance, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property and disregard for a single traffic lane.

Keisey J. Weiss-Reed, 20, of 802 W. Race St., Pottsville — waived for court: DUI-controlled substance, improper signaling and operating or permission operation of a vehicle with unsafe equipment.

Calvin Rivera, 20, of 92 Overlook Drive, Pottsville — waived for court: possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and scattering rubbish.

Angie Lynn Falzarano, 37, of 615 Hillcroft Ave., Schuylkill Haven — waived for court: DUI and DUI-high rate.

Jill C. Steiff, 27, of 1012 Fountain St., Ashland — waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate and careless driving.

Derek A. Fishburn, 19, of 1033 Market St., Ashland — held for court: DUI-controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to keep right and careless driving.

Stephen B. Smith, 32, of 24 N. Jardin St., Shenandoah — waived for court: DUI, DUI-high rate, no rear lights and disregard for a single traffic lane.

Heidi Hruniuk, 33, of 333 Main St., Gilberton — held for court: unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Nicholas W. Evely, 19, of 16 S. Nice St., Apt. B, Frackville — withdrawn: aggravated assault. Waived for court: simple assault, resisting arrest, escape, disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia, public drunkenness and purchase of alcohol by a minor.

Anthony J. Edmondson, 25, of 135 W. Ogden St., Box 135, Girardville — withdrawn: theft. Waived for court: false reports.

David A. Plachko

PORT CARBON — A Shenandoah woman charged with an assault in Minersville on Sept. 22 appeared for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.

Zandra M. Saunders, 34, whose last known address was 333 W. Arlington St., was arrested by Minersville police Patrolman Richard Clink and charged with aggravated assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, possession of drug paraphernalia and altered or misbranded controlled substances.

Prosecutors withdrew the aggravated assault charge and Saunders waived the remaining offenses to Schuylkill County Court.

Clink said Saunders was seen puncturing tires on vehicles in the parking area of the Minersville High Rise, 300 Lewis St., and fleeing into the high rise and onto an elevator, where she was taken into custody.

When being taken to the police cruiser, Clink said the woman began to resist and started kicking, requiring him to use his Taser weapon to subdue her. At the Minersville police station, Saunders was placed in a cell and she started violently hitting the side of the cell and kicked Clink in the knee, causing him to fall the floor while he was trying to subdue her.

The woman was also found with muscle relaxing medications and items of drug paraphernalia, Clink said.

Other court cases included:

Michael A. Stisowain, 19, of 207 Lincoln Drive, Tamaqua — waived or court: accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property, driving with a suspended or revoked license, duties at a stop sign, careless driving and failure to stop and give information or render aid.

Justin Lewis, 35, of 19 Park St., Pottsville — waived for court: defiant trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Fernando Rivera-Ortiz, 39, of 426 Sunbury St., Minersville — waived for court: unsworn falsification to authorities and materially false written statements.

Cynthia Zimmerman, 57, of 473 Carbon St., Minersville — waived for court: retail theft.

James K. Reiley

Defendants whose cases Judge James K. Reiley considered, the charges against each one and the judge’s disposition of the matters include:

Angel M. Hahn, 20, of 309 W. Norwegian St., Apt. 3, Pottsville — waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and improper use of a learner’s permit.

Sammy Jo Rohrbach, 29, of 1005 W. Market St., Apt. 3, Pottsville — waived for court: criminal mischief.

Benjamin A. Riegel, 37, of 414 E. Norwegian St., Apt. 1, Box 111, Pottsville — held for court: theft and receiving stolen property.