3 arrested in store thefts
HOMETOWN - Three people were arrested by Rush Township police stemming from incidents at the Wal-Mart store.
On Wednesday, police said they charged Lisa Ketchledge, 48, of Delano, with retail theft, conspiracy and drug charges while Debbie Merook, 48, of Mahanoy City, was charged with conspiracy.
Police said Ketchledge was caught stealing items valued at $75.14 and Merook was charged in connection with the theft.
On Friday, police said they charged John Provisiero, 18, of Lansford, with retail theft after he was caught stealing merchandise valued at $9.88.
All three will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, police said.
Man charged in hit-and-run
PORT CARBON - Borough police charged a 19-year-old West Penn Township man in connection with a hit-and-run crash that injured a Palo Alto woman at Fourth and Market streets at 6 p.m. Thursday.
Police said Joseph E. Kulha will be charged with accidents involving death or personal injury, accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property, duty to give information and render aid and immediate notice of accident to police.
Police said officers responded to the crash and learned that Kimberly Dalton, 47, was driving a 2007 Dodge minivan north on Market Street and was hit from behind by Kulha while she was preparing to make a right turn onto Fourth Street. Kulha continued on Market Street in his 1999 Jeep Cherokee while being followed by a witness, police said, adding that the witness was able to get the license number of the vehicle.
The vehicle was found abandoned Friday in the 400 bock of Claude A. Lord Boulevard in Pottsville, and Kulha was revealed as the driver, police said.
Police said Dalton suffered minor injuries and her juvenile passenger was not hurt. Both were wearing seat belts, police said.
2 escape injury in accident
PINE GROVE - Two people escaped injury when the cars they were driving crashed on Route 443, just north of Snyder Avenue, at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, police said.
State police at Schuylkill Haven said Josephine Hardy, 81, of Pine Grove, was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Lumina south when she ran into the back of a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria driven by Peter Mohn, 25, of Harrisburg, who was stopped for traffic that was turning in front of him.
Police said Hardy will be cited for careless driving as a result of the crash.
Police investigate hit-and-run
WADESVILLE - State police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a crash that occurred on Peach Mountain Road near Wade Road in Norwegian Township at 12:27 a.m. Monday.
Police said a driver was driving a 1998 Chevrolet Blazer north and went off a left curve in the road, traveled about 100 feet on the berm, re-entered the highway and went off the road again. The SUV traveled down a slight embankment for about 25 feet and came to a stop facing north.
Police said the driver fled the scene and ask anyone with information on the crash to call them at 570-593-2000.
Kaska man faces charges of DUI
PORT CARBON - A 46-year-old Kaska man was arrested by state police at Schuylkill Haven and charged with DUI and driving with a DUI-suspended license after a traffic stop at Pike and Coal streets at 12:25 a.m. Sunday.
Police said James S. Smith, 19 Main St., will have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.
Police said they stopped Smith for driving west on Pike Street without lights and found him to be under the influence. After failing field sobriety tests, police said Smith was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, where he refused to submit to a blood alcohol test.
Battery stolen from loader
DARKWATER - State police at Frackville are investigating a theft and criminal mischief incident that occurred at a Reading Anthracite Co. site off Darkwater Road in New Castle Township sometime Friday night or Saturday morning.
Police said someone stole a battery from a Caterpillar front-end loader and also damaged two other batteries and a brake line on the piece of heavy equipment.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.
Woman faces drug charges
FRACKVILLE - A 25-year-old West Pittston woman was arrested by state police at Frackville on drug-related contraband charges after an incident at the State Correctional Institution/Mahanoy at 11 a.m. Saturday.
Police said Kristen L. Lasalle was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Christina Hale and released on her own recognizance.
Police allege Lasalle entered the prison with prescription medication concealed on her, intending to get it to an inmate. Once inside the visiting area, police said the woman was confronted by prison staff at which time she admitted hiding the medication and turned it over to authorities.
4 escape injury in 2-car collision
SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - State police at Schuylkill Haven said four people escaped injury after a two-vehicle collision at 1:35 p.m. Saturday on Route 813 in North Manheim Township.
Kenneth V. Umbenhaur Jr., 70, of Orwigsburg, was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier east on Route 813 when a 2000 Mercury Villager driven by Sylvia A. Knoblauch, 60, of Shoemakersville, crossed into the Cavalier's path in an attempt to turn into the parking lot of the PennDOT Driver Center, police said.
The front of the Villager collided with the front of the Cavalier, causing minimal damage to the Villager and disabling damage to the Cavalier due to a leaking radiator, police said.
Gloria Shock, 81, of Schuylkill Haven, was a passenger in the vehicle driven by Knoblauch and Arlene F. Umbenhaur, 70, of Orwigsburg, was a passenger in the other vehicle, police said.
Knoblauch was cited as a result of the crash, police said.