Frackville driver
flips on icy road
GILBERTON - A 38-year-old Frackville man escaped injury when the 1998 Jeep Cherokee he was driving crashed on the Gold Star Highway at the southbound Gilberton ramp about 1:50 p.m. Thursday.
State police at Frackville said Michael Schott was driving south from the ramp entering Route 924, the Gold Star Highway, when he slid on a right curve in the slushy road. The man lost control, causing the front of his SUV to hit an embankment and then flip onto its passenger's side before coming to a stop.
Police said Schott will be cited for driving too fast for conditions and that Gilberton and Mahanoy Plane firefighters and Frackville EMS assisted at the scene.
2 from Ashland
injured in crash
LAVELLE - Two people were injured in a crash at the intersection of Sunbury and Deep Creek roads in Barry Township at 11:59 a.m. Sunday.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said Irene Wesner, 85, of Ashland, was driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla turning left from Deep Creek Road onto Sunbury Road, Route 901, when she pulled into the path of a 2011 Chevrolet Cruze that was being driven east on Route 901 by Andrea Bucher, 28, of Mount Carmel.
Wesner suffered moderate injuries while her passenger, Harold Wesner, 88, also of Ashland, suffered major injuries, police said, adding that Bucher was not hurt.
Police said both Wesners were taken to Geisinger-Shamokin Community Hospital for treatment and that Ashland and Shenandoah EMS and Ashland and Gordon firefighters assisted at the scene.
Irene Wesner will receive a citation as a result of the crash, police said.
Elizabethville
woman charged
LYKENS - A 25-year-old Elizabethville woman was charged with harassment by state police at Lykens after an incident at 558 Main St. in this Dauphin County community about 1 p.m. Dec. 18.
Police said the woman, who was not identified, will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Rebecca Margerum, Elizabethville.
Police said the woman was engaged in a verbal argument with a 50-year-old Lykens man when she struck the man in the head with a box of cupcakes and then punched him before leaving the home.
Auburn man
charged in crash
STRAUSSTOWN - A 27-year-old Auburn man escaped injury when the 2009 Toyota Yaris he was driving crashed on Route 183, just south of Four Point Road in Upper Tulpehocken Township, Berks County, at 5:26 a.m. Thursday.
State police at Hamburg said Richard Watson was driving south on a left curve on the slushy highway in sleet and lost control. The man's vehicle crossed the center line of the road and went into the northbound lanes before exiting the highway and hitting a slight embankment.
The vehicle then overturned and struck rocks and a tree before coming to a stop, police said, adding that Watson will be cited for failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic as a result of the crash.
Shamokin man
charged in theft
TREMONT - A 30-year-old Shamokin man was arrested by state police at Schuylkill Haven and charged in connection with an incident at Tukes Tearoffs at 3 E. Main St. at 6:48 p.m. Dec. 21.
Police said that Andrew Cerklewski was arraigned Thursday on charges of theft and drug violations and released on $15,000 unsecured bail set by Magisterial District Judge Carol A. Pankake, Tremont.
According to police, Cerklewski removed an HP Envy laptop computer valued at $4,500 and $5,000 in cash from the business.
The man took the computer without permission and took it home where he planned to keep it. Cerklewski was seen on video surveillance and when confronted admitted to the thefts, police said.
While being taken into custody, police said, the man was found with a small amount of methadone that was not prescribed to him.
New Philly man
faces drug charge
NEW PHILADELPHIA - A 41-year-old New Philadelphia man was charged by borough police with DUI and failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic after an incident in the 100 block of Valley Street about 8:25 p.m. Nov. 1.
Police said they stopped a vehicle driven by Israel Quinones, 35 Main St., for a traffic violation and while approaching the vehicle, detected an ordor of marijuana inside.
Police said the man admitted smoking marijuana prior to driving the vehicle and was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street where a blood test determined he had levels of the illegal drug in his system.
Tamaqua man
to face charges
NEW PHILADELPHIA - A 43-year-old Tamaqua man was charged by New Philadelphia police with DUI and driving on the wrong side of the road after an incident in Valley Street about 7:15 p.m. Dec. 10.
Police said David P. Osceles, 43 Valley St., will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.
Police said they stopped a vehicle driven by Osceles for a violation and detected an odor of alcohol on the man.
Osceles admitted consuming numerous drinks prior to driving and was then taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street where a blood test determined he had an alcohol level of 0.284 percent.
Police investigate
threat incident
TOWER CITY - State police at Schuylkill Haven investigated a terroristic threats incident that occurred at 622 E. Grand Ave. about 9:15 a.m. Wednesday.
Police said a physical altercation began at the home when Kim Sweigard Sr., 57, pulled out a revolver and made significant threats toward the lives of Timothy Sweigard, 55, and Betty Sweigard, 82, both of Tower City, along with a 17-year-old boy.
Police said Kim Sweigard was taken into custody and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Carol A. Pankake, Tremont, and that the investigation into the incident is continuing.
Orwigsburg couple
injured in crash
PORT CLINTON - A man and a woman from Orwigsburg suffered injuries in a two-vehicle accident in West Brunswick Township on Friday afternoon, according to state police at Schuylkill Haven.
Adam H. Faust, 82, and Anna J. Faust were taken by Auburn and Hamburg EMS units to Reading Hospital. Adam Faust was in fair condition as of 9 p.m. Friday, according to a hospital nursing supervisor, but she had no record of Anna Faust receiving treatment.
The crash occurred at 12:07 p.m., as Adam Faust was driving a 1998 Ford Explorer and was attempting to exit the parking lot of the 3C's Restaurant and drive north on Route 61, police said.
Faust pulled out in front of a southbound 2001 Mack tri-axle truck driven by Martin D. Stine, 59, of Schuylkill Haven, and the truck hit and pushed Faust's vehicle across the northbound lanes, police said.
Adam Faust will be charged with failing to yield to traffic when entering the road, police said.
Palmyra woman
charged in crash
MAHANOY CITY - A Palmyra woman suffered minor injuries when she drove off Interstate 81 in Ryan Township and struck a tree Friday afternoon, according to state police at Frackville.
Diane C. Watkins, 51, was taken by Humane Fire Department/Ryan Township Ambulance to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street for treatment, police said.
The crash occurred at 3:11 p.m. when Watkins was driving a 2000 Jeep Cherokee south when she left the road, crossed the west shoulder and continued to travel for 134 feet before hitting the tree, police said.
She will be charged with careless driving, police said.
Attempted arson
is investigated
TAMAQUA - Borough police and a state police fire marshal are investigating an attempted arson in the borough.
Borough police said officers were dispatched to 157 Penn St. at 2 a.m. Wednesday and found a fire that was later extinguished by the fire department.
An investigation indicated that the fire was intentionally set, police said, noting that a nearby resident reported the fire.
Police said a witness reported seeing a "skinny" male run across her front porch before the fire.
Police said Trooper John Burns of the Frackville station and the borough fire department are also working on the investigation.
DUI charge filed
in traffic stop
MINERSVILLE - Borough police filed charges against a Pottsville man after an incident on the Pottsville-Minersville Highway at 11:45 p.m. Nov. 21.
Police said Jashe William Thompson, 22, of 627 Pierce St., was charged with DUI-controlled substance and driving under suspension and will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.
Police said Thompson was stopped in a Sobriety Checkpoint and found to be under the influence of marijuana.
Checkpoint nets
charges for man
MINERSVILLE - Minersville police arrested a borough man after an incident at 10:03 p.m. Dec. 8 at Route 901 and the Seltzer Highway.
Police said Sean Thomas Cooper, 102 Lorraine St., was seen driving a vehicle with a faulty exhaust system and weaving in and out of the traffic lane. Officers followed Cooper, pulled him over and found him showing signs of being intoxicated.
After failing field sobriety tests, police said Cooper was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, where a blood test determined that he had an alcohol level of 0.24 percent, three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent.
Cooper will be charged with DUI, DUI-highest rate, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic and exhaust system violations, police said.
Mahanoy man
charged in stop
MINERSVILLE - A Mahanoy City man was charged by borough police after an incident on the Pottsville-Minersville Highway on Nov. 22.
Police said Corey M. Vanetten, 35, of 1107 E. Pine St., will have to appear before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, on charges of DUI, driving under DUI suspension and driving under suspension.
Police said the man was stopped in a Sobriety Checkpoint and determined to be under the influence and driving illegally. A blood test determined Vanetten had an alcohol level of 0.22 percent, police said.