Date incorrect

St. John's Reformed Church, Friedensburg, will hold a Chinese auction Friday and Saturday. One of the days was incorrect in Sunday's calendar.

by peter e. bortner

A Pottsville man faces state prison after his conviction Monday in Schuylkill County Court.

Shane D. Hibbler, 21, did not react when the jury of eight women and four men ruled he was guilty of two counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance and one of possession of drug paraphernalia. Jurors deliberated slightly more than an hour before rendering their verdict.

Judge John E. Domalakes, who presided over the one-day trial, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and scheduled Hibbler's sentencing for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 10.

Domalakes also revoked Hibbler's $15,000 percentage cash bail and the defendant left the courtroom in handcuffs on his way to prison pending sentencing.

Pottsville police charged Hibbler with possessing cocaine, marijuana and paraphernalia on Dec. 9, 2011, at the Market Street Apartments.

"I saw them pull a bag of marijuana out of a jacket," Tabitha J. St. Pierre testified as to the search of her apartment.

St. Pierre said the drugs and paraphernalia were in a room that Hibbler used.

An undercover city police officer testified Hibbler admitted the drugs, paraphernalia and the other items in the room in St. Pierre's apartment were his.

"He denied that anybody else stayed in that room," the officer testified. "He indicated the men's clothing and the shoeboxes ... definitely were his."

The officer testified drug activity had been reported in the three to five days that Hibbler's items were in the room in St. Pierre's apartment.

Elijah Hibbler, 17, of Summit Hill, the defendant's brother, testified on his behalf that he could smell marijuana in St. Pierre's apartment when he came over to give his brother a letter. He said his brother was not in the apartment at that time.

Jeffrey J. Markosky, Mahanoy City, Shane Hibbler's lawyer, said the police should have brought fingerprint evidence into court.

"It could have been done in this case," Markosky said. "It's not the defense's burden to prove anything."

Markosky also said St. Pierre admitted smoking marijuana and has an interest in keeping herself out of trouble.

However, Assistant District Attorney Leo Breznik successfully argued that Shane Hibbler had the most interest in the case and left the area after the incident for a reason.

"The reason he took off is because he knew he was guilty," Breznik said. "His whole testimony was false."Defendant: Shane D. Hibbler

Age: 21

Residence: Pottsville

Crimes committed: Two counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance and one of possession of drug paraphernalia

Anthony J. Kilker

SHENANDOAH - A 20-year-old Mahanoy City man charged with threatening a Mahanoy City police officer and his family Sept. 4 waived his right to a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.

Lance Lane, 127 E. Mahanoy Ave., was arrested by Patrolman Robert Romanick and charged with one felony count of terroristic threats.

By waiving his right to a hearing, Lane will now have to answer to the charge in Schuylkill County Court.

Romanick said he charged Lane in connection with an earlier incident and while taking him for arraignment, Lane told the officer that he knew where he lived and was going to kill him and his family. After the arraignment, Romanick said Lane threatened to kill him after he gets out of jail.

Other court cases included:

Jessica L. Arroyo, 22, of 789 Carson St., Hazleton - waived for court: theft by unlawful, conspiracy taking and access device issued to another.

Juan A. Hernandez, 25, of 309 Cherry St., Saint Clair - withdrawn: simple assault.

Amanda E. Barefoot, 23, last known address of 123 S. Gilbert St., Shenandoah - held for court: theft of leased property.

Marie A. McElhenny, 26, of 122 W. Washington St., Shenandoah - withdrawn: simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Shawn A. Jessman, 19, of 155 S. Nice St., Frackville - withdrawn: purchase of alcohol by a minor and careless driving. Waived for court: DUI, DUI-minor, disregard for single traffic lane and failure to wear safety belts.

Darryl L. Kashner, 27, of 1125 W. Montgomery Road, Coal Township - held for court: DUI-controlled substance and disregard for single traffic lane.

John J. Maddis, 43, of 413 Back Road, Barnesville - withdrawn: fleeing or attempting to elude police, obstructing the administration of law and careless driving.

Miguel D. Rodriguez, 24, of 789 Carson St., Hazleton - waived to court: access device issued to another.

William G. Navitsky Jr., 21, of 24 N. Vine St., Shenandoah - waived for court: criminal mischief, possession of a controlled substance and public drunkenness.

Robert F. Seigel, 23, of 306 E. Centre St., Mahanoy City - waived for court: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and making repairs to or selling offensive weapons.

Shawna Mastramico, 23, of 31 Moffet Mill Road, Aliquippa - contraband-controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, disorderly conduct, possession of a small amount of marijuana and making repairs to or selling offensive weapons.

Quincy Foose, 33, of 21 Messerschmidt St., Barnesville - withdrawn: possession of a weapon on school property and disorderly conduct.

Daniel J. Day, 55, of 527 E. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City - waived for court: DUI, DUI-highest rate, driving with a suspended or revoked license, careless driving and failure to use safety belts.

Sandra Katalenas, 44, of 100 S. Main St., Apt. 203, Shenandoah - withdrawn: criminal mischief.

Edward A. Conapitski, 45, of 514 W. Columbus St., Shenandoah - dismissed: simple assault and harassment.

Patrick Gulden, 29, of 1149 W. Lloyd St., Shenandoah - withdrawn: terroristic threats, disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and public drunkenness.

Yasheam Washington, no age available, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville - held for court: inmate procuring a weapon.

Richard R. Tomko Jr., 37, of 1125 Burton St., Freeland - waived for court: theft of property lost or delivered by mistake and receiving stolen property.

Altariq Cuffie, 39, last known address of 514 W. Columbus St., Shenandoah - withdrawn: possession of a small amount of marijuana, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Mark E. Hysock, 41, of 414 W. Atlantic St., Shenandoah - waived for court: careless driving and accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property.

Fernando Hernandez, 24, of 23 W. Coal St., Apt. 3, Shenandoah - waived for court: simple assault, harassment and disorderly conduct.

Laura N. Hadder, no age available, of 104 W. Laurel St., Shenandoah - waived for court: theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and defiant trespass.

Deeds

Ashland - William Mehlbaum Jr., Sarah Elizabeth Ringo, Judith Mehlbaum, Maryanne Wessner, Jean Nolter and Jane Farrell to Doris Mehlbaum; 815 Market St.; $1.

Butler Township - Leo W. Jr. and Marie S. Fertig to Raymond L. Jr. and Patricia H. Fishburn; 201 Germanville Road; $117,000.

84 Financial LP to Bernard J. Bann; 0.51-acre property on Township Road 940; $26,000.

84 Financial LP to Sherman & Walton Inc.; 0.681-acre property on Township Road 940; $24,000.

Coaldale - Borough of Coaldale to Maureen Dooley; 119-121 Greenwood St.; $2,500.

Evan E. Richards to Louann Gill; 36 W. High St.; $1.

Frackville - Gaetano Suglia to Gary L. and Donna M. Klemovage; property at Broad Mountain Avenue and Line Street; $12,000.

Gilberton - Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Jason Longenberger; 2608 Main St., Mahanoy Plane; $100.

Mahanoy City - Francis DeVizia to Trust and Estates Investments; 336 W. Mahanoy Ave.; $10.000.

Grace M. and Kevin J. Walters to Kevin J. Walters; 1030 E. Pine St.; $1.

North Union Township - David W. and Esperanza M. Neu to 184 Summit Road LLC; 185 Summit Road; $1.

David W. and Esperanza M. Neu to 184 Summit Road LLC; 183 Summit Road; $1.

David W. and Esperanza M. Neu to 184 Summit Road LLC; 184 Summit Road; $1.

Pottsville - Catherine C. Fiorillo to Michael J. and Barbara A. Cardamone; 0.298-acre property on Durham Drive, Forest Hills; $32,500.

Pine Grove Township - Moen of Pennsylvania Inc. to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; right of way across 12 Roberts Road; $1.

Pine Grove Fish & Game Protective Association to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; right of way across 7 Geary Wolfe Road; $1.

Dennis G. Miller to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; right of way across 57 Geary Wolfe Road; $1.

Porter Township - William H. and Barbara L. Fessler to David C. and Michelle A. Fessler; property in Joliett; $1.

Pottsville - M&T Bank to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; 520 Main St.; $1.

Rush Township - Helen Mikulski, executrix of the Estate of Gene R. Confer Jr., to Laura Martin; 25 Beech Lane, Barnesville; $1.

Mark J. and Paula J. Vanak to Mark J. Vanak; 159 Lake Drive, Lake Hauto; $1.

Leona F. Smith to Dale R. Smith; 88 Crescent Drive, Lake Hauto; $1.

Ryan Township - Kimberly A. Letcavage, administratrix of the Estate of Robert M. Letcavage, to Kimberly A. Letcavage; 705 Brockton Mountain Road, Barnesville; $1.

Schuylkill Township - Marlene Cimino to Walter P. Schlosser; 208 Lewis St., Brockton; $58,500.

Shenandoah - Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Carlos Matilde Cruz; 617 W. Penn St.; $1,036.

Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to the Borough of Shenandoah; 216 S. Gilbert St.; $20.

Tamaqua - Cesare and Maria Picone to Matt Jones Enterprises; 111 Gay St.; $10,000.

Federal National Mortgage Association to Matthew W. Jones; 318 Arlington St.; $7,000.

Tower City - Shirley M. Troutman and Diane M. Kijabu to Diane M. Kijabu; 19 W. Grand Ave.; $1.

Union Township - Ruth A. Jones and Jennifer R. Jones to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Schuylkill County; agricultural conservation easement on 49 Wolf Road; $253,792.

Wayne Township - Thomas S. and Wendy L. Bailey to Leonard Hoak; 1190 Custer Drive, Lake Wynonah; $6,500.

Charles D. and Jean E. Deckman to Brett and Sharlee Winn; 590 Wynonah Drive, Lake Wynonah; $240,000.

HOMETOWN - Rush Township police are investigating the death of a Hazleton man in a one-vehicle crash that occurred shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday on Route 54 between the Hometown Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and Lake Hauto.

Rush Township police Officer in Charge Duane Frederick identified the driver as Harry T. Labenburg III, 40.

At the scene of the crash, emergency responders from Rush Township and Tamaqua found a dark-colored 2002 Ford Ranger pickup truck deep in a wooded area off the north side of Route 54 with Labenburg inside.

Frederick said Labenburg was traveling west on Route 54 when, for an unknown reason, his vehicle left the roadway and struck a tree.

Deputy Coroner Larry Neff, with assistance from Deputy Coroner Andrew Szczyglak, pronounced the man dead at the scene at 3:10 p.m.

The cause and manner of the man's death remained to be determined, Szczyglak said.

Officials closed the roadway about 3:15 p.m., diverting traffic onto Ye Old Hauto Road, while the man was removed from the wreckage.

Rush Township police said further details would be released upon completion of their investigation.

AUBURN - An Auburn man died Wednesday after being seriously injured while working on a sport utility vehicle in a private garage, according to Schuylkill County Coroner David J. Moylan.

Timothy J. Wilson, 50, of 231 Market St., was working on a green Chevrolet Blazer in a one-vehicle garage owned by Douglas F. Naftzinger, Auburn, when the incident occurred at 2:28 p.m., according to state police at Schuylkill Haven and a supervisor at the Schuylkill County Communications Center.

The garage is located behind Naftzinger's home at 240 Washington St., according to Trooper John Sleboda.

Wilson was working underneath the vehicle when a support gave way and the vehicle came down on him, causing serious injuries, Moylan said. Wilson as taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street.

"There were resuscitation efforts made. They were discontinued at the discretion of the emergency room physician at 3:29 p.m.," Moylan said.

Responders included Auburn firefighters, Auburn ambulance, Pottsville/Schuylkill Haven ALS and Orwigsburg rescue, according to the communications supervisor.

While the investigation is continuing, Moylan said he doesn't believe the death is suspicious. An autopsy is being conducted, he said.

"It's looking like that (accidental) but my investigation is not complete yet. I still have some interviews to complete," Sleboda said.

HARRISBURG - A bill that raises maximum fines for alcohol offenses and awaits the governor's anticipated signature could generate an estimated $6 million in new annual revenue spread across Pennsylvania municipalities.

The legislation winning final approval last week would increase the maximum fines to $1,000 for underage drinking and public drunkenness.

Currently, maximum fines are $300 for public drunkenness and first-time underage drinking citations. Repeat underage offenders are subject to $500 fines.

Sen. Jake Corman, R-34, Bellefonte, sponsored the legislation to create a greater deterrent to alcohol misuse and to help municipalities meet the costs of responding to alcohol-related offenses.

Corman represents the State College area, and the legislation is sought by municipalities hosting colleges and universities. Officials in these towns report drinking violations are on the rise. The Pennsylvania Municipal League supports the bill.

"If higher fines are chosen, the municipality and taxpayers will see relief in the cost they bear, this time paid by the actual violator, rather than through increased property taxes," Corman said.

The $6 million revenue estimate comes from fiscal notes on the legislation prepared by the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.

As a starting point, the notes cite 2011 statewide statistics from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts showing 27,309 convictions for public drunkenness, of which 4,584 resulted in a maximum fine, and 13,959 convictions for underage drinking violations, of which 4,117 resulted in a maximum fine.

The estimate assumes that a similar number of convictions will receive the higher maximum $1,000 fine set by the legislation.

The committees have no potential revenue breakdown by municipality.

A related Corman bill to levy an additional fee on alcohol offenses to support prevention programs didn't win final passage before voting on bills ended for this legislative session.

A Pottsville man faces a state prison sentence after admitting Oct. 17 in Schuylkill County Court that he sold prescription drugs twice in September 2011 in Minersville.

Thomas R. Fort, 55, pleaded guilty to two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, with prosecutors dropping two counts each of possession of a controlled substance and adulterated or misbranded controlled substance.

Judge John E. Domalakes accepted Fort's plea, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and scheduled the defendant's sentencing for 10 a.m. Nov. 14.

Minersville police filed both charges against Fort, alleging he sold Endocet for $100 on Sept. 8, 2011, and Xanax for $60 on Sept. 9, 2011.

Other defendants who pleaded guilty before Domalakes, the crimes they admitted committing and the sentences the judge imposed pursuant to plea agreements between prosecutors and the defendants included:

Jeffrey Chatkiewicz, 32, of Shenandoah; harassment; $100 fine. Prosecutors withdrew an additional count of harassment and one count of simple assault.

Gerald S. Crawley, 28, of Levittown; simple assault; 12 months probation and a $50 payment to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account. Prosecutors withdrew charges of robbery, conspiracy and terroristic threats.

Shane G. Ditzler, 48, of Jonestown; two counts of forgery and one of receiving stolen property; 12 months probation, $300 in fines, $357 restitution and 35 hours community service.

Crystal M. Eisenhart, 40, of Girardville; criminal mischief and failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic; $50 in fines. Prosecutors withdrew charges of aggravated assault, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault.

Dean L. Elliott, 52, of Cressona; two counts of disorderly conduct; one to 12 months in prison, with sentence effective at 11 a.m. Nov. 2. Prosecutors withdrew charges of resisting arrest and public drunkenness.

Devon S. Evanousky, 22, of Ringtown; driving under the influence, careless driving and seat belt violation; five days to six months in prison, $350 in fines, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse education Fund, $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and 20 hours community service.

Thomas Febus, 37, of Allentown; DUI; three days to six months in prison with immediate parole, $500 fine, $100 SAEF payment and 10 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of failure to obey traffic control devices.

Lisa Flowers, 39, of Shenandoah; disorderly conduct; 12 months probation. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of public drunkenness.

All defendants who pleaded guilty must pay costs as a part of their sentences.

Michael F. Merenda, 58, of McAdoo; manufacture of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; one to two years in a state correctional institution, $750 in fines, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, with sentence effective at 9 a.m. Nov. 13.

n Ashland: The Bernard J. Dolan American Legion Post 434 will conduct the dedication and grand opening of its new headquarters at Centre and Fifth streets at 1 p.m. Nov. 3. Everyone is welcome to the ceremony. The new building replaces the building destroyed in a fire in 2008.

n Coaldale: Trick-or-treat night in the borough will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Residents wishing to welcome youngsters are asked to keep their porch lights on. Local police advised that all children participating in the program be accompanied by an adult.

n Frackville: The Frackville Recreation Board announced its annual Halloween parade will be held Sunday, rain or shine. Registration will begin at 1 p.m. and the parade will start at 2 p.m. . Registration will be at the parking lot of the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, Center and Oak streets. In the case of inclement weather, the event will be moved into the center gymnasium. The parade route will go from the center south on Center Street, west on Chestnut Street and south on Balliet Street, ending at the Arch Street Park. Children and their parents will march through town dressed in their costumes and judging will be done along the parade route. Prizes and prize ribbons will be awarded to the top three in six categories: Scariest, Adorable, Original, Funniest, Judge's Choice and a Best Pet category. Prize ribbons are being created by Elaine Mykolayko. Pets must be on a leash or under owner's control at all times. According to a press release, there will be no group category for this year's parade. Groups can register, but individuals will be judged separately. Trick-or-treat night in the borough will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Oct. 31. Residents wanting to greet trick-or-treaters should have their porch lights on. For more information about the parade, contact Judy at 570-874-1097 or visit www.frackvillerecreationboard.org. For questions regarding trick-or-treating, contact Mayor Kim Phillips at 570-874-4577.

n Nuremberg: Halloween events are on tap for the Black Creek Township Recreation Committee. The group will stage a Halloween party from 6 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the Rock Glen Park. It will include games, prizes and refreshments. For more information, call Lori Webster at 570-384-3674 or Kay Riotto at 570-384-4441. The committee will hold a free haunted from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Saturday. The entrance will be on the baseball field and those attending should follow the signs. Donations would be appreciated. For more information, call Lori Webster at 570-384-3674.

n Palo Alto: A Chinese auction to benefit Brylee Lynn Hylka, 3 months, who was born with two congenital heart defects, is set for 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at God's Mountain Activity Center, Union and Cadbury streets. Admission is free, there will be a wide range of auction items plus a 50/50 drawing. When Brylee was 6 weeks old, she had a 12-hour emergency open heart surgery with unforeseen complications. She will need more surgeries.

n Pottsville: The Merchants Trick-or-Treat sponsored by the Pottsville Business Association is set for 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 31 in downtown Pottsville. Youngsters will be able to trick-or-treat at local businesses.

n Shenandoah: The Shenandoah Area Free Public Library, Washington and Main streets, is holding a Halloween poster contest for children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Participants should stop at the library to work on posters from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. All supplies for the contest will be available free at the library. Posters must be turned in by 5 p.m. Monday. The public is invited to vote for favorite poster from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday. People stopping by to vote will be able to listed to a Halloween story. Children will receive a treat. For more information, call the library at 570-462-9829.

n Summit Hill: The Summit Hill Shade Tree Commission will conduct its fall tree plantings along borough streets Friday and Saturday. Any local resident or business wanting to have a tree planted in front of their property should call John Kupec at 570-645-9644 or Lou Vermillion at 570-645-9772. Memorial trees will also be planted. Donations toward the cost of the trees will be accepted. Volunteers on the planting days are always welcome.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Networking and internships were the theme of the second annual Student Highlighting Luncheon held Wednesday at Penn State Schuylkill.

The event was sponsored by the campus Community Affairs Committee and brought 15 businesses to the school's Health & Wellness Center to meet with students.

"It's the opposite of job shadowing," committee Chairwoman Cathy Fiorillo said. "We bring businesses to our campus and we highlight some of our students that we feel excel in their area of discipline. Our goal is to get an internship for our students."

Fiorillo said 12 local businesses attended last year's event and 12 internships were given to students.

"It was pretty successful last year," Fiorillo said. "They're under no obligation to give students an internship but the hope is they will gain valuable connections, skills and advice."

Representatives looking to network or discuss internships with students were from the United Way, Child Development Inc., Mrs. T's, Saint Clair police, Schuylkill County public defender's office, Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency, Geisinger, Evans Trucking, Schuylkill County Council for the Arts and Alfred Benesch & Co.

Anne Mercuri, coordinator for Human Development and Family Studies at Penn State Schuylkill, said a student in her program was able to complete an internship at Child Development during the spring semester and this semester due to the first luncheon last year.

"It was advantageous for both Penn State students and Child Development," Mercuri said. "It's a good fit for our students. They get to learn a lot. Hopefully some of them will stay in the community after graduation and work within the community."

During the luncheon Wednesday, all in attendance, including business leaders, students and faculty and staff at Penn State Schuylkill, ate lunch then announced who they were and why they were at the luncheon.

After the introductions, the networking began.

Tina Rose, coordinator of student leadership, career development and community service at Penn State Schuylkill, said the event has been successful and she even had to turn some businesses away at the last minute since the event was full.

She said that it's a different kind of event that also allows the students to work on their soft skills, since many do not have a lot of face-to-face contact with businesses.

"I harp on them all the time about how one of the most important things to do in seeking a job and an internship is to network," Rose said.

Among the businesses in attendance, Sandra Coyle, SCCA executive director, said that she was attending the event seeking an intern.

SCCA is a local arts agency with its professional and volunteer staff dedicated to fostering growth in the art and ethic heritage of Schuylkill County, the SCCA website states.

Coyle said SCCA offers different classes and programs all year, recently holding an Edgar Allen Poe program.

"We do John O. Hara every year, so we would like to have a student work with us on that," Coyle said. "The arts contribute to economics."

Kevin Killian, Schuykill Haven, a sophomore IST major and Theater minor, said he was searching for an internship at the event and had previously met Coyle, having participated in the Poe reading.

"I was discussing looking for an internship to combine both of them because I really love theater, but I also love computers," Killian said.

MAHANOY CITY - Almost 3,000 people who would be evacuated if an emergency arises at the Susquehanna Steam Electric Station nuclear power plant in Luzerne County would funnel into the Mahanoy Area Middle School.

On Wednesday, federal, state, county and local authorities tested pre-plans in place for such an emergency.

John Matz, Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency coordinator, said exercises are conducted bi-annually for both the nuclear power plant near Berwick and also for Three Mile Island nuclear power station in Dauphin County.

Matz said that in the event of an emergency at Susquehanna, as many as 2,920 people can be directed to the Mahanoy Area school, arriving via Interstate 81 south to Exit 131 or from Route 339, a direct route to the power station.

The school will serve as a reception area for those forced to leave the 10-mile Emergency Planning Zone around Susquehanna Steam. Evacuees will be from parts of Luzerne and Columbia counties, Matz said.

He said that at Mahanoy Area, evacuees will be screened for any signs of radioactivity. If no radioactivity is detected, the evacuees would then be directed to a registration area where, after signing in, they would receive "strip maps" designed to direct them to other facilities designated as evacuation centers.

Those facilities are Shenandoah Valley High School, which can accommodate 350 people; North Schuylkill High School, 600 people; and Tamaqua Area High School, 1,100 people. At Mahanoy Area, Matz said 973 people can be accommodated.

If an evacuee shows signs of being contaminated, a decontamination center will be set up at Mahanoy Area. Matz said that should a person not be able to be decontaminated there, he or she would be taken for further treatment to either Reading Hospital and Medical Center, West Reading or Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey.

James Hampford, deputy county EMA coordinator, said the drills give the agencies involved the opportunity to work together and determine where shortfalls exist and whether any improvements are needed.

The drill is important, he said, since this is the first year Mahanoy Area Middle School is being used as a reception area, replacing Tamaqua Area High School.

"Since this is the first year here, there will probably be some changes that will need to be addressed," he said.

Hampford said the decision to change the location was made after traffic patterns were examined and Mahanoy Area was determined to be more centrally located and more easily accessible.

Matz said that in the event an evacuation is needed for the Three Mile Island nuclear facility, Blue Mountain High School is used as a reception area with surrounding schools, such as Schuylkill Haven Area High School, as evacuation centers.

Should evacuations be needed for the Dauphin County plant, Schuylkill County could expect about 3,600 evacuees, Matz said.

A Laguna Pueblo man pleaded guilty to negligent homicide and admitted "just not paying attention" when he fatally struck a 19-year-old Ringtown cyclist riding cross-country for charity.

However, Gilbert Waconda expressed little remorse and offered no apology to the dead teenager's father, who traveled from Pennsylvania to attend the hearing Tuesday at Pueblo of Laguna tribal court in New Mexico.

Waconda, 58, who faces a maximum of six months in jail for the misdemeanor charge, told a tribal court judge that he was responding to a "tribal emergency" when he struck John Anczarski Jr. on N.M. 124, a stretch of Old Route 66 west of Laguna in June 2010.

Waconda alleged that Anczarski swerved into the vehicle's path, a version that contradicts a state police reconstruction officer's findings.

Many bicyclists ride on the historic road, Waconda said.

"I ride one, too, but I don't ride all over the road," he said.

The report determined that the right tire of Waconda's vehicle was 19 inches outside the white line on the shoulder at the time of the collision.

"This kid came out in front of me," Waconda told Pueblo of Laguna Chief Judge Peggy Bird. "I caught him on the right front quarter panel."

Waconda's sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4, 2013.

Anczarski's father, John Anczarski Sr., who traveled to New Mexico this week, said he was disappointed by Waconda's lack of remorse.

"He's not sorry for what he did," Anczarski said after the hearing. "Because if he was, he would have just said, 'I'm sorry.' He couldn't even utter those words."

Anczarski also said he was disappointed by the plea agreement and would have preferred Waconda stand trial, which could have divulged details of his son's death.

After the hearing, Anczarski visited the site of the collision and knelt at the site where his son was fatally struck. The site is marked by a "ghost bike" memorial maintained by members of Laguna Pueblo and New Mexico's cycling community.

Carlos Pacheco, Laguna Pueblo's chief prosecutor, said the plea agreement "seemed to be the best resolution to ensure accountability for Waconda."

Laguna Pueblo prosecutors had charged Waconda earlier this year with charges of homicide by vehicle and reckless driving. If convicted, he could have faced a maximum of one year in jail - the maximum penalty allowed in tribal courts.

Convicting Waconda of homicide by vehicle would have required prosecutors to show that Waconda was driving recklessly, meaning he knew he was driving dangerously when he struck the cyclist.

"Prosecutors have a very high burden to prove" to show recklessness, Pacheco said. "I was uncomfortable with the risk of him walking away" without a conviction.

Anczarski Jr. was one of four bicyclists riding across the United States to raise money for breast cancer research when he was fatally injured June 21, 2010.

In September 2011, 15 months after Anczarski's death, U.S. Attorney Kenneth Gonzales announced his office lacked evidence to pursue felony charges against Waconda.

In a letter to Anczarski's parents, Gonzales wrote that the fact that Waconda was driving on the shoulder of the highway did not prove "that Mr. Waconda's conduct rose to the level of recklessness" - an element required for a federal manslaughter conviction.

Pueblo of Laguna police who at first responded to the accident failed to obtain a blood sample from Waconda, according to a report written by a Bureau of Indian Affairs investigator.

The day of the crash, Waconda was transported to a hospital for an "anxiety attack" where two vials of his blood were drawn, the BIA investigator wrote. The samples were tested in January 2011 by an out-of-state lab that reported no evidence of alcohol or drug use.

Pacheco said Waconda admitted the main elements of negligent homicide at his plea hearing Tuesday, though he stopped short of expressing remorse.

"Whether a person is remorseful, we have no control over that," Pacheco said. "The judge can take that into account at sentencing."

Police probe theft of bike

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - A theft that occurred at 1180 Moyer's Station Road in Wayne Township sometime Oct. 12 or 13 is being investigated by state police at Schuylkill Haven.

Police said Craig D. Lehman reported someone entered his yard and stole a blue Briggs and Stratton mini bike that was for sale.

The vehicle had a headlight, black clutch cover and a red brake lever, police said, and anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-593-2000.

Hamburg man accused in Berks

HAMBURG - State police at Hamburg are investigating a harassment incident that occurred Sunday on Hill Drive in Tilden Township, Berks County.

Police said Aaron Holderman, 18, of Hamburg, pushed a 12-year-old Hamburg boy to he ground, picked him up and threw him into hay bale.

The investigation into the incident is continuing, and police did not say if any charges will be filed.

Harassment charges filed

LYKENS - Two people were charged with harassment by state police at Lykens after an incident at 801 Market St. in Dauphin County about 12:20 a.m. Saturday.

Police said they were notified about the incident later in the day by a third party and spoke to Jerry Messner, 54, of Lykens, and his sister, Faye E. Dietrich, 52, also of Lykens, who both admitted being in a physical altercation earlier in the morning.

Charges against the two will be filed with Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Margerum, Elizabethville, police said.

Ringtown man not hurt in crash

PINE GROVE - A 37-year-old Ringtown man escaped injury when the 2005 Peterbilt he was driving crashed on Bethel Road, Route 501, just east of Nut Grove Road in Pine Grove Township, at 4:20 a.m. Saturday, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Kennya Jackson was driving north downhill when his tractor-trailer jackknifed while he was making a left turn on the wet roadway. The truck went off the left side of the road and struck an embankment, police said. The truck continued back across both lanes before going off the right side of the road and hitting a guide rail before coming to a stop, police said.

Police said Jackson will receive a citation as a result of the crash.

Woman's purse reported taken

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a theft from a vehicle in the parking lot at Renninger's Farmers Market about 11:45 a.m. Sunday.

Police said Amanda L. Serrato, Ashland, reported she was at the auction and after leaving her vehicle looked back and saw the passenger's side door open. The woman said she ran back to her vehicle and saw a black Dodge Durango "take off" from alongside it.

At the car, police said Serrato found someone stole her purse that contained her wallet, numerous cards, two packs of cigarettes and about $10.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-593-2000.

Scrap steel taken from school

ASHLAND - State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a burglary that occurred between Sept. 29 and Saturday at the Barry Elementary School, 1091 Deep Creek Road, Barry Township.

Police said someone entered the building by possibly prying open a rear door and removed various amounts of scrap steel and copper pipe. The suspect also smashed three sinks, two urinals and a water fountain that were all made of porcelain, police said.

The items, with an approximate value between $1,000 to $2,000, belong to Morgan Yarnell, 27, of Ashland, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-593-2000.

Police investigate runaway case

ELIZABETHVILLE - State police at Lykens are investigating a juvenile running away from a home that occurred at 9:44 p.m. Oct. 17 on West Main Street in this Dauphin County borough.

No other information was provided by police.

Man charged in accident

ASHLAND - A Tower City man faces charges after fleeing the scene of a crash at 4 a.m. Saturday on Sunbury Road near Airport Road in Barry Township, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said a hit-and-run crash occurred when a 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by Anthony S. Drumheller, 34, was traveling west on Route 901. Police said Drumheller swerved to miss a deer crossing the road and lost control of the vehicle.

The vehicle traveled across the roadway and struck the guide rail on the eastbound shoulder of Route 901, police said. After initial impact, it spun counterclockwise and struck the guide rail with its passenger side traveled backward along the guide rail about 150 feet, where it came to rest.

The vehicle sustained significant damage and was towed from the scene, police said, and Drumheller fled the scene without contacting police and it was unknown if he was injured.

He faces various charges, including failing to drive on roadways laned for traffic, police said.

by peter e. bortner

State prison inmate Ronnie Jenkins interrupted his trial enough to get thrown out of the courtroom on Wednesday but not enough to prevent a Schuylkill County jury of convicting him of assaulting a corrections officer in August 2011.

"All right, out, out!" Judge John E. Domalakes said in ordering Jenkins, 32, of Philadelphia, ejected from the courtroom following repeated interruptions of Assistant District Attorney Michael A. O'Pake's closing argument. Sheriff's deputies promptly handcuffed Jenkins and removed him from the courtroom.

Domalakes allowed Jenkins to return to the courtroom after O'Pake finished, and the manacled defendant did not react when the jury of seven women and five men found him guilty of aggravated assault, aggravated harassment by prisoner and simple assault.

Domalakes, who presided over Jenkins' one-day trial, ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and scheduled Jenkins' sentencing for 11:15 a.m. Dec. 12. Jenkins was taken back to State Correctional Institution/Graterford in Montgomery County, where he is serving a sentence from Philadelphia, pending sentencing.

"I commend the jury for their thoughtful deliberation," O'Pake said. "The vile and disgusting act of the defendant will be punished accordingly."

Jenkins' "vile and disgusting act" was throwing fecal matter at Sgt. Nathan Wynder on Aug. 22, 2011, at SCI/Mahanoy, according to state police at Frackville.

Assistant Public Defender Kent D. Watkins, Jenkins' lawyer, asked the jury in his closing argument to acquit his client, saying prosecutors were trying to get him convicted solely because he is a prisoner.

"Does he have the intent to do this?" Watkins asked. "Could there be more to this than meets the eye?"

However, O'Pake, in spite of several interruptions by Jenkins, successfully argued that the evidence proved his case.

"He gets splashed with the material," O'Pake said of Wynder. "An expert testified ... it was fecal."

Eventually, Jenkins' interruptions proved to be too much for Domalakes to tolerate.

"You waived your right to be here by repeatedly disrupting the proceeding," Domalakes told Jenkins as the deputies led the defendant from the courtroom.

In his original case, Jenkins pleaded guilty on July 23, 2009, in Philadelphia County Court to aggravated assault and possessing instrument of crime, with prosecutors dropping charges of unlawful restraint, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person. At that time, Judge Lillian Ransom sentenced Jenkins to serve three to six years in a state correctional institution.

Philadelphia police charged Jenkins with committing his assault Nov. 2, 2008.

Watkins declined to comment on Jenkins' case, while O'Pake said it is a rare example of a prison matter that had to be handled outside the institution's walls.

"What can be handled internally is handled internally," O'Pake said. "When you have incidents of this magnitude, they have to be handled according to criminal law."Defendant: Ronnie Jenkins

Age: 32

Residence: Philadelphia

Crimes committed: Aggravated assault, aggravated harassment by prisoner and simple assault

by peter e. bortner

A Pottsville man could spend decades behind state prison bars after being convicted Wednesday in Schuylkill County Court of sexually assaulting a boy over the course of several years.

Kevin Jones, 49, did not react when the jury of nine men and three women pronounced him guilty of eight charges, including two counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault and one each of corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.

President Judge William E. Baldwin, who presided over the defendant's one-day trial, did not immediately schedule sentencing, instead ordering preparation of a presentence investigation and a report from the state Sexual Offenders Assessment Board on Jones, who faces a mandatory minimum state prison sentence of 10 years and lifetime Megan's Law sanctions.

While Baldwin continued Jones' $100,000 straight cash bail, the defendant could not post it, and he was led from the courtroom in handcuffs.

Pottsville police charged Jones with sexually assaulting the boy over a period of about six years in the city.

"It started when he was between 10 and 11 years old and went on till he was 16," Assistant District Attorney Jennifer N. Lehman said.

The boy testified that the assaults occurred several times at Jones' residence.

"I'd be laying on my stomach," he said slowly and hesitantly in a voice so soft it could hardly be heard in the courtroom.

"Did it hurt?" Lehman asked him.

"Yes," he said.

He said he sometimes tried to refuse but eventually did what Jones asked him to do.

"I never told anybody," including teachers, friends or guidance counselors, he said. "I was just afraid."

The boy also said Jones sometimes drank alcohol before committing the sexual acts with him.

Assistant Public Defender Andrea L. Thompson, Jones' lawyer, declined to comment on the case after the verdict.

On the other hand, Lehman was delighted with the result.

"We're very happy with the jury's verdict," she said.Defendant: Kevin Jones

Age: 49

Residence: Pottsville

Crimes committed: Eight, including two counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault and one each of corruption of minors and endangering the welfare of children.

PINE GROVE - The Schuylkill County commissioners held their public meeting Wednesday morning at borough hall as they proclaimed Saturday Make-A-Difference Day in Schuylkill County and the week of Oct. 28 through Nov. 3 as Schuylkill County Farm/City Week.

This year marks the 17th annual Make-A-Difference Day event in Schuylkill County as volunteers will participate in various community improvement projects throughout the county Saturday.

Janice Johnston, director of Community Volunteers in Action and event coordinator, said there were 110 projects registered for the weekend event as of Wednesday.

On Nov. 2, the Pottsville Kiwanis will host the annual Farm/City dinner at Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 W. Arch St., Pottsville.

"Our goal with this dinner is to educate people about agriculture in the county and just get the city and farm people together for a great evening," Dwane L. Miller, the director of education for the Pennsylvania State University Schuylkill County Cooperative Extension, said Wednesday.

The dinner begins at 7 p.m. and tickets are still available for $7 each by calling the Pottsville Kiwanis Club at 570-622-6421.

In other news, the commissioners approved an addendum to contract with ACS Enterprise Solutions Inc., that will make the deeds, map and miscellaneous records in the county Recorder of Deeds Office from Jan. 1, 1983, back to Jan. 1, 1977, available online. The estimated price is $160,000, which is already available in the office's records improvement fund and will not use county funds.

The board approved two contracts with Resource Technologies Corporation regarding the county's mineral valuation computer system. Maintenance and updates to the computer is a three-year contract from Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2015, at a rate of $1,833 a month. Maintenance and technical support for the Govern software is a two-year contract from Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2014, at a rate of $5,529.50 a month.

The board also renewed its lease with Tremont borough for the Nutritional and Senior Center. The lease is for 2,158 square feet at the Tremont School, 139 Clay St., Tremont, for five years from Dec. 1, 2012, through Nov. 30, 2017. The monthly rent remains unchanged from the previous agreement at $873.33 per month.

The board awarded a three-year cleaning services contract for the Schuylkill County Communications Center to TKO Cleaning Services, Pottsville. The contract is for $15,000 for 2013, $16,000 for 2014, and $16,000 for 2015, totaling $47,000 for the three-year period.

The commissioners accepted the resignation of Thomas Campion as a member of the Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board that went into effect Oct. 2.

There will be no commissioners' meeting next week. The next meeting will be a work session at 10 a.m. Nov. 8 in the Commissioners' Hoffman Room.

The Schuylkill County Courthouse will be closed Nov. 6 for the General Election.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Taxes will not increase in Schuylkill Haven in 2013.

The current tax rate is 4.75 mills. Borough Treasurer Gloria Ebling said the budget might be on par with the 2012 budget, which was $13,888,656.

"No doubt about it," council President Marlin Berger Jr. said after about a 90-minute budget meeting Wednesday about no tax increase.

There will also be no increases in sewer or water rates, Berger said.

"The budget is pretty well balanced, people," Berger told the council members at the start of the meeting.

A new police car, dump truck and pickup truck could be purchased this year, though. The police car has a lot of miles, borough Manager Scott Graver said and is about seven or eight years old. The pickup truck is a 1999 model and the dump truck is a 1995 model. Two substation breakers could also be purchased. Graver said while "the core of the budget is here" figures are not budgeted yet for the Route 61 widening project or the possible $1.24 million sewer project. A meeting about the possible sewer project is scheduled for 5 p.m. today at council chambers.

The widening project, which could start next spring, will add two lanes to Route 61 through the borough. Costs have yet to be finalized for the road project, he said.

The sewer project is to address an issue with full pipes during heavy rains. Graver said the borough has about $1.4 million from a prior bond issue to use for the project. Some money budgeted could be used to address issues with taking precautions for any flooding in the plant, Graver said.

Hospital and health costs increased 13 percent, Ebling said. She did not provide a figure.

Three people could no longer be employed with the borough next year, Ebling said.

A highway department worker who has more than 30 years of experience could retire. The person, whom she declined to name, along with the other two individuals, one a water and sewer distributor and the other works for the treatment plant, are eligible for payouts of sick, vacation and personal pay if they retire, she said. The highway worker could get $30,000, the water and sewer distributor about $13,000 and the water treatment plant employee about $8,000, Ebling said.

The council has yet to act on the possible departures. In addition to those expenses, Ebling said the police contract ends next year, "so we might have extra expenses," she said.

Berger commented on the ease of reading the budget at the meeting.

Also in the budget is $25,000 required by the state Department of Community and Economic Development as part of a five-year commitment by the borough when applying for the Keystone Main Street Community Designation, which would give the borough a priority in getting grants. Those funds would be used to pay a full-time manager and expenses associated with administering the program, economic development director Carl Berger said previously.

No members from the public attended the meeting.

PINE GROVE - Addressing issues of drug and alcohol use in students, Pine Grove Area administrators, students, the county district attorney, two county commissioners, a state representative and others attended the first annual Cardinal Community Drug Task Force meeting at the Pine Grove Area Middle School on Wednesday.

Superintendent Brian Uplinger said the idea for forming a task force came from a student attending a series of meetings last year on the vision for Pine Grove. The student said issues of drugs and alcohol need to be addressed in the community.

With that in mind, about 20 people attended a 90-minute meeting in the library of the middle school.

"Every district in every state in this entire country has issues related to drug and alcohol," said Diane Rowland, prevention services coordinator with the Schuylkill County Drug and Alcohol Program.

Rowland discussed the results of the 2009 PA Youth Survey. The survey, given every two years, is taken by students in sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th grades and is sponsored by the state Commission on Crime and Deliquency. Rowland did not have the 2011 results with her Wednesday.

Among the many findings, the survey shows 6.7 percent of Schuylkill County students reported the use of any illicit drug (other than marijuana) in the past 30 days; overall 9.5 percent of Pine Grove Area School District students reported the use of any illicit drug (other than marijuana) in the past 30 days.

Other results show alcohol use by grade level increases for those taking the survey from the sixth- to 12th grades.

Cigarette use increases dramatically from 4.2 percent for sixth-graders to 21.3 percent by the time they are in eighth grade for those who say they have smoked at least once.

"Tobacco use is an issue we have here in Schuylkill County," Rowland said.

Rowland said four other school districts, North Schuylkill, Mahanoy, Minersville and Pottsville, have their own task forces.

"Each group has really enjoyed a lot of success in doing this," she said.

Information provided at the meeting lists the benefits of a coalition including having the community involved, creating partnerships between different entities such as the school and the community, better use of resources and raising awareness of issues within the community.

The president of the Students Against Drunk Driving, Amanda Kemmerling, 17, a senior, said the district, like others, has students who use drugs and alcohol.

"I find it's a big problem here," she said.

She said students sometimes attend parties where alcohol is provided, sometimes by parents or other adults.

Uplinger said after the meeting he was not surprised parties occur and all-around effort could alleviate that.

Students can just disregard messages by others, the students said, saying it can be hard to change the "mindset" of others.

Schuylkill County Commissioners Gary Hess and George Halcovage said students can be a role model for others.

"Coming from you (it) means a lot more," Hess said about influencing peers.

Efforts by everyone can produce results, Rowland said.

"It's amazing the little things you can do to affect change," she said.

Dr. Richard Russell, a family doctor, said finding out the motivating factors are important.

High school principal Mike Janicelli said students might be good at hiding any drug or alcohol use and it's important to find out to help the student.

"I think the community needs it and is ready for it," state Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, said about the task force.

District Attorney Karen Byrnes-Noon said efforts like the task force are important.

"I want less cases in my office. This is the way to do it," she said after the meeting.

Uplinger said the next meeting could be in November.

Anyone interested in being a member can call the district office at 570-345-2731.

The digital age is threatening the future of historic movie houses in Pine Grove and Coaldale that celebrate nostalgia and run 35-millimeter film.

"The industry is going to stop making 35-millimeter projection film in the near future. There's not a here-today-gone-tomorrow date but I heard it might happen in the beginning of the year, and to upgrade to digital projection, it would cost us around $122,000," Louise H. Miller, manager of the Pine Grove Theatre, 213 S. Tulpehocken St., said last week.

On Sept. 17, Miller received a price quote from Entertainment Equipment, Buffalo, N.Y., for two Digital Cinema Project Systems for the Pine Grove Theatre's two screening rooms. The total came to $118,900.

"It was worse than I thought and that doesn't include shipping," Miller said.

"We're in the same situation. We don't know what the future holds," Michael Danchak, who co-owns Angela Triplex, Coaldale, with his wife, Deborah, said Sunday.

Danchak said it would cost him $150,000 to upgrade.

"It's like $50,000 per screen and we have three screens. It would push our operating costs up so high it wouldn't be feasible to operate, and they're forcing us to buy equipment that will be obsolete before it's paid off," Danchak said.

He and his wife bought the building at 113 E. Phillips St. in Coaldale from "G.S. Miller" for $500 in 1992, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator. Then, the Danchaks did more than $100,000 in renovation work and opened in 1998.

The Triplex has three theaters, one has 240 seats and the two others have 101 seats each. On average, the theater sees 15,000 patrons a year.

Danchak is considering options for the theater's future and is open to talking with community groups.

"We're thinking of stage shows, bands, comedians and things like that," he said.

Louise Miller also manages The Strand, a movie theater in Hamburg, which is in a similar situation to the Pine Grove Theatre.

Its owner, Bill Rhoades, could not be reached for comment this week.

Miller said she's already having trouble finding 35-millimeter prints to screen.

"In September, the studios release less films because it's traditionally a very, very bad month for theaters industry-wide, and there were no film prints available. My booking agent both here and in Hamburg could not get prints of anything. So what they did was they brought back stuff I had already played, including 'Madagascar 3.' I had played that opening day in June and had it here for three weeks. So since there was nothing available, we brought 'Madagascar' back and I showed it free for that entire weekend because at least I'd be getting bodies in here and I figured I might have had a chance to make some money on concessions," Louise Miller said.

Looking ahead, she said she isn't sure if the Pine Grove Theatre will have a bright future in 2013.

"All I can say for now is I will stay open as long as we're running film. If I am fortunate enough to have the money raised to keep the movie theater open, that would be fabulous," she said.

Meanwhile, the movie theater at Schuylkill Mall, Frackville, is expanding. A $1.6-million project, the four-screen theater is being made into an eight-screen cinema called The Pearl Stadium 8. A contractor is in the process of adding 5,000 square feet to the 11,000-square-foot complex, Mark Clement, theater manager, and mall manager Elaine Maneval said earlier this month.

In an effort to save the Pine Grove Theatre, a citizens group called "Save the Theatre" assembled Oct. 9 and they're planning to hold a fundraiser Saturday.

The first "Save the Pine Grove Theatre Fundraiser" will be a "Halloween Movie Spooktacular." Funds will be raised by food and sales of tickets to special screenings scheduled throughout the day, including a midnight showing of the audience participation classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," Ann Tobias, Pine Grove, a member of Save the Theater, said Sunday.

The group met Sunday afternoon at the Hose, Hook & Ladder Company in Pine Grove. Its members include Genavieve Moyer, Schuylkill Haven, and Joelle Bretz, Angie Frank, Robyn Kopinetz, Robert L. Wolfe and Tobias' daughter, Lacey, all of Pine Grove.

"It's the only thing for children to do here in town, or even for adults who want to go out here and don't want to go to a bar," Lacey Tobias said.

"There really is no other cultural outlet in our community," Moyer said.

So far, Save the Theater hasn't raised any funds. Ann Tobias said it's in the process of setting up a bank account for donations and the group wants to hold monthly fundraisers, she said.

The volunteer group views the theater as one of Pine Grove's historical treasures.

It was built in 1910 by Gregory Achenbach and was first The Hippodrome Theater, which was open for stage shows as well as films, according to the Pine Grove Theatre website at pinegrovetheatre.net.

"The name of the theater was shortened to the Hipp in 1935 after a refurbishing took place. It's possible that sound was added to the theater at that time. After being closed in the mid-50s, the theater was reopened after a complete reconstruction was done in late 1962," according to the site.

That's when the Hipp became The Pine Theatre, which closed in 1999, according to the site.

In January 2001, Miller and her husband, Douglas E., bought the building from The Pine Theatre Co. for $35,000, according to the online Schuylkill Parcel Locator.

The couple did more than $30,000 in renovation work and reopened it as the Pine Grove Theatre on April 13, 2001, according to Louise Miller.

Today, the Pine Grove Theatre has two screening rooms, one with 200 seats and the other with 38. Its decor includes pictures and artifacts from other former movie houses in Schuylkill County. For example, the ancient popcorn machine from The Ritz in Saint Clair is on display in the back of the larger screening room. Pictures of one of Pottsville's former cinemas, The Capitol, are framed and on the wall in the lobby.

The couple separated three years ago but Douglas Miller, 50, is still a co-owner. He could not be reached for comment this week.

Louise Miller, 55, said she is the only employee at the business and she runs it with the help of family and friends. The theater has an average of 13,000 patrons a year, she said.

Danchak said there isn't a community group forming to save the Angela Triplex.

'I'd be open to that but I'm highly doubtful it will happen. That's a lot of money to put out," Danchak said Monday.

According to the website for the National Association of Theatre Owners at natoonline.org, in 2011, there were 39,580 movie screens in the United States. Broken down, that's 38,974 indoor screens and 606 drive-in screens.

"Digital cinema brings consistent quality to the movie-going experience - moviegoers will see the same crispness and clarity in the movie throughout the life of its exhibition," according to the association.

Digital projection is a cost-saving measure for studios and distributors that will save millions on the cost of film prints and shipping fees.

"No longer will they have to spend $1,500 to ship 35-millimeter prints in 80-pound film canisters. DCP (Digital Cinema Package) hard drives cost about $150 to ship," according to an August article on the website for The San Francisco Chronicle at sfgate.com.

The theater owners association estimated, however, that 10 to 20 percent of theaters may close rather than convert. 'Save the Pine Grove Theatre Fundraiser' at a glance

What: Halloween Movie Spooktacular

Where: Pine Grove Theatre, 213 S. Tulpehocken

St., Pine Grove

When: Doors open 1 p.m. Saturday

Events

· Matinee double feature, 2 p.m., patrons have a choice of either seeing "Hotel Transylvania" or "Frankenweenie"; at 3:45 p.m., "Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas." Tickets are $5 per movie or $8 for both films.

· Nighttime double feature, 7 p.m., screening of the feature film currently screening at the theater (title to be announced); at 9 p.m., "Tim Burton's Dark Shadows." Tickets are $5 per movie or $8 for both films.

· Midnight movie: "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," admission, $10 per person, props allowed: rice, newspapers, bells, party hats, flashlights, confetti, toast and playing cards. Costumes are welcome.

Donations: Anyone interested in making additional donations to the Pine Grove Theatre can mail them to: Save the Theatre Campaign, 18 Cherry St, Pine Grove, PA 17963

Source: Save the Theater committee

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - The Schuylkill Haven Sewer Committee recommended the approval of a $1.24 million project to address an issue with full pipes.

The sewer system serves the western part of the borough and parts of North Manheim and Wayne townships.

"I think it will solve a lot of our problems down in that area," said Paul Bedway, chairman of the three-person sewer committee composed of two other borough council members, Jerry Bowman and Donald Gerber.

The council was shown a presentation by Donald Cuff, project manager for Entech Engineering, Pottsville, earlier this month about the proposal.

A wastewater conveyance study was done earlier this year, which recommended a gravity line of 24 inches. The line would be from the Stoyer's Dam area to St. Charles Street. The increased line would allow for 3 million extra gallons a day for the sewer plant. Graver said he did not know the capacity of the plant.

Also recommended was the replacement of an 8-inch line on St. Charles Street with a 12-inch line because the smaller size is limited in what it can handle upstream, Cuff said.

Five houses in the borough could also be connected as a result of the work, officials said.

In a 15-minute meeting Thursday, committee members asked questions of Cuff.

Mayor Mike Devlin, borough Manager Scott Graver, council President Marlin Berger Jr. and Richard Croneberger, water distributor and wastewater collection foreman for the borough, also attended the meeting. No members of the public attended.

Graver said the proposal for the project will be on the agenda at the borough council's November work session.

Berger said after the meeting that "it will probably be approved."

Funding for the project will come from a prior bond issue. Cuff said if the project is approved in November, it could go out for bid next year and possibly be completed by the end of the year. He said the construction will take about nine months.

Gerber said three previous proposals involved things like pump stations and other measures, and would require much more maintenance by the borough. He did not have cost estimates for those other proposals.

"It will give us the least cost down the road," Gerber said of the proposal by Entech.