The state Department of Transportation is advising motorists of road work planned this week in Schuylkill County.

Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m., crews will patch potholes on Interstate 81 between the Frackville and Route 54 exits, and on Tuscarora Park Road between Route 309 and Catawissa Road. There will be lane restrictions in both directions.

On the same days, at the same times, workers will do shoulder work and widening on Eighth Street between Mahanoy City and Route 309, which will also need lane restrictions and flagging.

On Tuesday, inspectors will examine bridges on Route 209 between Route 61 and High Road in Branch Township. There will be restrictions in the southbound lane from 8 a.m. to noon, and in the northbound lane from noon until 3 p.m.

Meanwhile, crack sealing that began April 18 continues until Friday, from 7 a.m. until 3 p.m., on Route 443, which is Fair Road, in Wayne Township, between Friedensburg and Pine Grove, with lane restrictions and flagging, and on I-81 between the exits for Route 209 and Highridge Park Road. Motorists are advised to be alert for lane restrictions on I-81 north or south. This will be a moving operation and they can expect delays. Please use caution driving through the work zone.

The nights are warmer but there’s a price to pay. It’s a late night affair, and if you’re an aging stargazer like me make sure to get that afternoon nap and take in strategic amounts of caffeine. Good stargazing can’t really begin until after 10 p.m., but the show is worth losing a little sleep for!

Once darkness finally sets in, the three brightest “stars” you see are actually planets; Jupiter in the west, and Mars and Saturn in a celestial hug in the low southeast sky.

Jupiter has been part of the Pottsville night sky since early in the year, and even though it’s more than 100 million miles farther away than it was in January it’s still a fine target for even small telescopes. You can easily resolve the disk of the 88,000-mile wide planet, and you may be able to see cloud bands of Jupiter. You may even see Jupiter’s famous Red Spot, a huge storm about three times the diameter of Earth that’s been raging for at least hundreds of years. As of late it’s reddish color has become brighter and easier to spot. It’s not always visible because Jupiter spins on its axis once every nine hours and 50 minutes and the side with the Red Spot is not always facing Earth. Most telescopes give you an inverse image so the Red Spot, if it’s available, will appear on the upper half of the planet.

For sure you’ll see up to four of Jupiter’s largest moons that resemble tiny stars on either side of Jupiter. They’re constantly changing their position relative to the planet as they orbit around Jupiter in periods of two to 17 days. Some nights one or more of Jupiter’s moons will be absent since they could be behind the big planet or camouflaged in front of it.

Meanwhile, Mars and Saturn are rising in the low southeastern sky in the early evening. Mars is the brighter of the two as they’re both very close to their minimum distances from Earth for 2016. If you want to get a decent view of them through your telescope it’s best to wait until about midnight if you can. By then, both planets will be a little higher in the sky, and you won’t have to visually plow through as much of Earth’s blurring atmosphere as you do when they’re close to the horizon.

Mars is as close as it’s been to Earth in 11 years, but it’s still difficult to see many surface features like valleys and mountains, even with larger telescopes. You may see a white-ish tinge on the upper half of Mars; that’s one of its polar caps.

Saturn is much more fun to look at through any telescope. You’ll love what you see. If it’s your first time, you’ll never forget it. The ringed wonder of our solar system is less than 20 degrees to the lower left of Mars. You should easily see its ring system that spans more than 130,000 miles in diameter. If the air is clear enough, you might also see many of Saturn’s moons that resemble tiny stars. One of the moons, Titan, is a lot brighter than the rest and is actually larger than the planet Mercury.

As far as actual stars in June, the transition in the night sky is complete. The stars and constellations of winter are gone from our skies, all setting well before the sun. Leo the Lion, one of the major spring constellations, is still easy to see just to the upper right of Jupiter. The chest and head of Leo appear as a right leaning backward question mark. Leo’s brightest star Regulus marks the heart of the lion and is the period at the bottom of the question mark.

If you lie back on that reclining lawn chair and look straight overhead toward the zenith, you’ll easily see the nearly upside-down Big Dipper, and not far from the end of the Dipper’s handle you’ll see a bright orange star. That’s Arcturus, the brightest star in the night sky this month. It’s about 36 light years or 208 trillion miles away (give or take a billion miles) and is at least 25 times the diameter of our sun. Arcturus also serves as the brightest star in the constellation Bootes, the hunting farmer, that actually looks more like a giant nocturnal kite with Arcturus at the tail of the kite.

Over in the eastern skies, the stars of summer are making their initial evening appearance. Leading the way is Vega, the brightest star of Lyra the Harp. A little to the lower left of Vega is Deneb, the brightest shiner in Cygnus the Swan, otherwise known as the “Northern Cross” rising sideways in the east. Deneb lies at the head of the cross and is at least 1,500 light years away from Earth, but could be as far as 3,000 light years away.

Get your rest and enjoy the late night show that is June stargazing.

(Lynch, an amateur astronomer and professional broadcast meteorologist, can be reached at mikewlynch@comcast.net)

Misericordia

Misericordia University, Dallas, Luzerne County, recently sponsored the annual Student Research Poster Presentation Day in Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall on campus.

Nora Chan, Auburn, a senior medical imaging student, presented her research, “Closure of Atrial and Ventricular Septal Defects,” a study that assessed the benefits of using transcatheter closure for septal defects, more commonly known as a hole in the heart. Echocardiography, including ultrasound and X-ray, is used during the process.

Chan concluded transcatheter closures provide patients with a safe alternative that is less invasive than surgical closure, with less discomfort, and shorter hospital stays required.

The presentations were the culmination of research and work on a variety of topics by more than 180 students in the Colleges of Health Sciences, Arts and Sciences, and Professional Studies and Social Sciences.

Allison McIntyre, Ashland, was recently presented with the Mercy Charism Award at the 33rd Annual Leadership Awards Dinner in Sandy and Marlene Insalaco Hall at Misericordia University.

The award is presented in recognition of student leadership that represents the core values — mercy, service, justice and hospitality – of the Religious Sisters of Mercy, the founders of Misericordia.

Zachary Sabaday, Saint Clair, was presented with the Kitty Rooney ’50 Memorial Award for Outstanding Service.

The annual award is presented to a Misericordia University student who has been an asset to both the campus and regional communities by offering their service while enrolled at Misericordia.

Penn State

Gerardo “Jerry” Talamantes Jr., Saint Clair, a mechanical engineering major and Zachary Adams, Frackville, a political science and international affairs major at the Capital College Honors Program at Penn State University Harrisburg Campus, did a spring break service trip to Peru.

The trip included a rain forest expedition to the Ecotourism Lodge Posada Amazonas, where they studied the various species of Amazonian trees, specifically the Ceiba, one of the world’s largest trees. They explored the oxbow lake, Chimbados, to collect data on the river otters in support of the Frankfort Zoological Society Project.

In Puerto Maldonado, as part of a joint educational and environmental project, they worked alongside local students at the mouth of the Amazon Rainforest at the site where the new Transoceanic Highway passes through the region. Using their academic disciplines they provided data to the National Geographic database in an effort to enhance the project with new technologies.

As part of a cross-cultural skills training they visited a local community in Centro Nape and Ese’Eja to study the daily life of a small Amazon town and toured the local Macaw Project. Their service learning projects included the development of a new source of power generation for the local ecotourism lodge and the implementation of new policies regarding microfinance loans to stimulate the ecotourism industry to further the preservation of the rainforest.

To refine and test their service learning project they spent a day with key professors and students from Pontifical Catholic University of Peru in Lima. The project was a unique opportunity to engage with experts within the culturally and ecologically diverse Peru.

Gerardo is a son of Diane Bender and Gerardo Talamantes Sr., Saint Clair.

Zackary is a son of Dr. Richard and Michelle Adams, Frackville.

Wilkes

Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, and the Keystone Northeast Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society for Professional Engineers conducted the Order of the Engineer ceremony, inducting 55 Wilkes senior engineering majors into the order April 3.

Area students who were among those inducted include Cyril Shickora, McAdoo, Jacob Rakowsky, Frackville, and Zachary Sullivan, Pottsville.

Univ. of Sciences

Leah Evert, Orwigsburg, a doctor of pharmacy student at University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, was inducted into the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, a national honor society for first-year students.

Elizabethtown

Holly Sofka, Barnesville, was inducted into the Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honor Society at Elizabethtown College.

Tyler Butkus, Barnesville, earned an Analytical Chemistry Award, Inorganic Chemistry Award and is a Gamma Sigma Epsilon Chemistry Honor Society Inductee in 2015.

Saint Joseph’s

Brianna Amos, Pottsville, a biology major, and Rachel Troxell, Pine Grove, a chemistry major at Saint Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, were inducted into the national liberal arts and sciences honor society, Phi Beta Kappa, during the spring semester.

Brianna will also participate in the summer scholars program at Saint Joseph’s.

She will work on a project titled, “Investigating the Expression of TERRA molecules in RNA:DNA hybrid structure in tlc 1 npl3 double mutants and tlc1 single mutants..”

The program, which runs from May until August, requires students to work exclusively with a faculty member to produce a written description of their research that will be published by the university, and to present their findings next spring during the Celebration of Student Achievement event.

Lycoming

Coral Chiaretti, Ashland, a junior mathematics major at Lycoming College, Williamsport, was one of the founding members inducted into the Omicron Delta Kappa honor society that was installed at Lycoming earlier this spring.

Tara Singer, Ph.D., the executive director for the national society, inducted the students and presented President Kent C. Trachte with the college’s charter.

MAHANOY CITY — The Mahanoy Area school board approved at Thursday’s meeting its proposed final general fund budget that includes a real estate tax increase of 1.7 mills for the 2016-17 fiscal/school year.

The vote was 8-0 in favor of the budget, which has a total of $17,705,998 in expenditures — $17,867,757 in 2015-16. Total estimated revenues are $17,445,566 for the next fiscal year, which begins on July 1. The 2015-16 budget has estimated revenues of $17,345,322. Next year’s proposed budget includes a deficit of $260,430, which will be made up using a portion of the Uncommitted Fund balance of $750,000, leaving $489,570 in the fund.

Each mill brings in about $83,000 in tax revenue.

According to the executive summary prepared by district Business Administrator John J. Hurst, real estate tax millage will increase from 46.2 mills to 47.9 mills, an increase of 3.7 percent.

“As a result, for every $1,000 in assessed value, a taxpayer pays $47.90,” Hurst said in the summary. “This means the average taxpayer will pay $849.29 in taxes per year. This is an average increase of $30.14 per year.”

During his PowerPoint presentation to the school board, administration and the public, Hurst said what the average increase to taxable properties in the six municipalities within the school district: Delano Township, $34.36; Mahanoy Township, $28.96; Rush Township, $40.54; Ryan Township, $53.28; Gilberton, $8.53; and Mahanoy City, $15.18.

All other taxes also remain the same:

• Occupation tax: $130.

•Real-estate transfer tax: One-half of 1 percent.

•Earned income tax: One-half of 1 percent.

•Occupational privilege tax: $5.

•Amusement tax: 5 percent.

“About 68 percent of our money comes from the state, so when things at the state level change, that has a much more significant effect on us as opposed to someone who gets only 20 percent of their money from the state,” Hurst said. “A good portion of our money supports our instructional programs. About 70 percent of our money goes to the kids here.”

Hurst said the school district has done its best to keep a tight control over spending to avoid tax increases.

“Something to note is that the board has been very fiscally prudent over the last several years,” Hurst said. “This is only the third time in 10 years that taxes have been raised. I think that goes against the argument that schools are raising taxes every year when they don’t really need to.”

Hurst said the proposed district budget does account for increases proposed in the governor’s budget, but not all of it.

“As far as state funding is concerned, the governor’s budget called for a $200 million increase in basic education funding,” Hurst said. “Based on his projection, that’s about 2.8 percent, or roughly $214,000 increase for us. What we included in the budget was a 1 percent increase. We know what happened this year with the budget battle when we roughly only got about half of what he had originally anticipated. From what we’re hearing from Harrisburg, although they (legislature) are moving quickly to get a budget to us before the end of June, they say there will be an increase in education, but only a minimal one.”

In a similar vein, Hurst said special education funding in the governor’s budget has an increase of $50 million, which would give Mahanoy Area an additional allocation of $66,060 — 7.6 percent. Hurst said the district budget shows an increase in special education funding, but is limited to $34,496, or a 4 percent increase.

Health insurance premiums will increase by 6.3 percent, but because of retiree coverage expiring, the school district will see a net increase of $47,000.

Another expenditure that will increase in the next fiscal year is Public School Employees’ Retirement System costs, which will jump by $90,666, from $613,903 in 2015-16 to $704,569 in 2016-17.

Another major increase will be the school district’s charter school costs, which will increase by $27,000 from the current fiscal year at $770,000 to $797,000 in the next fiscal year. The increase for the new school year is much lower from the current year increase of $150,000.

A welcome decrease is the cost of petroleum projects in the proposed budget with a decrease of $84,325 to $172,994. In 2015-16, the estimated cost was $257,319. The highest cost for petroleum products in the past 10 years was in fiscal year 2013-14 at $319,117.

The proposed budget includes personnel changes. The middle school remedial math teacher will be eliminated, there will be the addition of a life skills teacher and two life skill aides and the reduction of a full-time music teacher to a half-time position.

The budget must be formally adopted by June 30.

FRACKVILLE — As Matt Peleschak cast his line at Whippoorwill Dam on Saturday during the first Black Diamond Autism Trout Derby, he said why his 11-year-old son, Matthew, was absent.

“My oldest son, Matthew, has severe autism. He doesn’t have the patience to do this, and being around crowds would be difficult for him,” Peleschak, Pottsville, said.

Instead, Peleschak brought his son, Ron, 7; his daughter, Caitlyn, 9; and his father-in-law, Ron Dunn, also of Pottsville, to the trout rodeo to boost autism awareness and education.

More than 100 people attended the derby, and lined up along the dam to try their luck.

Peleschak said he’d like the public to become better educated so they’re less likely to misinterpret their encounters with autistic children and their families.

“When they see an autistic kid, they should know that it’s not ‘bad’ behavior,” he said. “We’re trying to manage our children all the time. A lot of people may see my son on the outside and think he looks physically fine, but socially, he’s completely different.”

His family is a member of the Schuylkill County Autism Society. He also recommends Applied Behavior Analysis.

“They’re a good organization and have a great Facebook page and Twitter feed,” he said.

He said his family’s goal is to help Matthew become independent, have a good quality of life and to live peacefully and happily.

Ron Peleschak was hoping to catch a large fish Saturday, similar to the one he caught earlier this spring in Clarks Valley — a nearly 20-inch trout.

“I had to steer him around a rock,” he said.

Meanwhile, Martin Mantz, 10, of Ashland, was fishing with his father, Brian Mantz, when he reeled in a fish shortly before lunchtime Saturday that had a prize tag on it. Martin won a new fishing rod.

“We’re here to support this effort for autism,” Brian Mantz said.

Although Martin is not autistic, he does have oppositional defiant disorder, impulsive disorder and other health concerns, his father said.

Two Black Diamond Bar co-workers, Sherry McGlade and Amber Maurer, both of Frackville, decided to begin raising funds for autism awareness about three years ago. Their boss, and owner of the Frackville bar, Terry Ambrose, also jumped onboard with their plan. They eventually formed a nonprofit organization called Diamond Charity Group. What began as a one-night event has grown into a multiple-day fundraising effort.

“Autism is something that’s associated with all of our lives, and we wanted to bring more awareness to it,” McGlade said. “The community support is what makes us keep going.”

“We packed the bar that first year,” Maurer said, adding that they held a one-night fundraiser initially.

“Each year, it gets better and better,” McGlade said.

On Saturday, Maurer, McGlade and McGlade’s mother, Sharon, wore T-shirts with the group’s motto, “Black Diamond Goes Blue.” They manned a game booth during the rodeo.

Last year, the group also held a Fun Day. This year, the group held another Fun Day a few weeks ago at the Frackville Elks, and also decided to start a trout rodeo, enlisting the help of coordinator Ken Yurkonis, Minersville.

Several volunteers from Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited assisted during Saturday’s event. The group stocked tiger trout Friday evening, and Saturday morning they stocked rainbow and golden trout, according to John Bondura and Dave Sfarra. About 250 trout, valued at $3,000, were donated, Bondura said. SCTU purchased their fish from S-A Trout Pond, Orwigsburg. SCTU sells buttons and other merchandise to raise funds for the fish and community programs it offers.

Gordon Fish & Game also donated 500 trout for the cause, according to Yurkonis.

Anyone participating in the trout derby bought a ticket for $10 or could pay $15 and receive two rods for fishing.

“It’s a really good charity. I have people buying $10 tickets with a $20 bill, and saying to ‘keep the change,’ ” Yurkonis said. “The generosity of these folks makes me shiver.”

Yurkonis said Jean Marie Brayford and Denise Olechnowicz were among those running the food stand Saturday, selling hamburgers, hotdogs, macaroni salad, chips, water and soda.

“It’s for a very good cause,” Olechnowicz, Pottsville, who also volunteered at this year’s Fun Day, said. Olechnowicz said all of the food was donated.

Sherry McGlade said the money collected is used to support school classrooms. The schools make requests, and the Diamond Charity Group then purchases supplies, materials or other educational aides beneficial to autistic students.

These are items that the schools don’t presently have, she said.

In my apartment in Paris, on a shelf reserved for my most precious books, I have a copy of Pottsville’s sesquicentennial celebration souvenir program from 1956. The booklet, held together with yellowing tape, celebrates “150 years of progress.” I remember the event. Some readers may as well.

My childhood memories are of my father’s beard, grown specially for the occasion, and of a sesquicentennial beer glass that gave its bearer access to unlimited beer. I also remember ladies wearing bonnets and ankle-length full skirts. We children were proud to display commemorative buttons pinned to our polo shirts.

In the souvenir program, I can find photos of men who, just like my father, sport an old-fashioned beard. They also wear a string tie that looks a lot like the one worn by Gary Cooper in the 1952 western “High Noon.”

There are other photos: downtown Pottsville in 1956 at a time when not a single storefront was empty, Garfield Square, Tumbling Run and the world’s largest anthracite breaker, the St. Nicholas, belonging at that time to the Reading Anthracite Co. I like to look at the photos but I treasure the booklet for the words it contains in an essay titled “Pottsville’s Picturesque Past.”

Overflowing with facts, style and humor, the essay was written by Edith Patterson, born in 1878, who served as head librarian of the Pottsville Free Public Library from 1918 to 1950. My Aunt Jean worked for her back in the late 1940s and I think Miss Patterson was one of the persons she loved best.

In her short but succinct history, Miss Patterson dares an audacious comparison between the founding of Pottsville and that of Rome, both spread out across seven hills. To silence any protests against the pairing of the two cities, she immediately follows with a quote by a respected 19th century Pennsylvania historian:

“For anyone from Cape Cod to New Orleans, to say he had not heard of the renowned town of Pottsville would sound as marvelous as if an Arabian were to declare he had never heard of Mahomet.”

Writing in 1844 about the anthracite “coal rush” of the 1820s, I. Daniel Rupp, a prolific writer and translator whose histories of many Pennsylvania counties are available online, goes on to describe the Buckley Basin, Pottsville’s canal port, once located where Claude A. Lord Boulevard intersects Norwegian Street:

“From this port ... there is a fleet of more than 400 vessels — a fleet more formidable than that which bore the Greeks to the Trojan War ...”

Back in those days, Pottsville was quite a place and could certainly bear comparison to the “grandeur that was Rome.” The city was the gateway to the “anthracite region,” whose coal fired America’s industrial revolution made the nation great.

Then, a few years later, after World War I when anthracite production peaked, the U.S. fuel market began to change. In the Kingdom of Coal, decline set in, just as in ancient Rome.

Of course, history is not so simple yet, having just returned from a trip to Rome, I can’t help feeling that somehow Miss Patterson got things right. Rome does remind me of Pottsville and, while exploring the Eternal City, I often find myself thinking about “home.”

It has something to do with so much of the history happening underground.

When my mother was still alive and had a house on Third Avenue, we sat atop history: the Mammoth Vein, right beneath our house, the richest vein of anthracite in the world, tortured, twisted, impossible to extract. In the 19th century, miners lost their lives trying and entrepreneurs hoping to hit the jackpot went bust.

I used to think about the Mammoth Vein a lot, standing on our back porch, looking north, able to see the co-gens on Broad Mountain and the giant strip mine near Wadesville.

In Rome, I went underground to explore the history of Christianity. Walking along the Appian Way (and alive to tell the tale — the more than 2,000-year-old cobble-stone road remains a major highway where Roman motorists travel at top speed, hell-bent on picking off a pedestrian or two), I made my way to the catacombs of the martyred saints Callixtus and Sebastian.

In these vast underground burial grounds that today belong to the Vatican, Rome’s first Christians met to worship in secret at a time when belief in Christ was punishable by death. In earlier times, these same underground galleries were part of mines and quarries that supplied the volcanic stone used to construct the public buildings of Rome.

When the mines were transformed into catacombs, “berths” were carved into the soft reddish-brown stone, each one long and high enough to contain a body. On the walls, in the dark passageways, Christian iconography began to take form: the fish as a symbol of the Eucharist, the dove as the Holy Spirit, the anchor as a symbol of hope. Carved into the rock, painted on the walls, many are still visible today.

Above ground, nothing betrays the presence of these underground cities. Yet all of Rome is like that. No matter where you walk, you can be sure that beneath your feet there are layers of history, just like in and around Pottsville, I might add, taking my mother’s house as an example.

In Rome, the past also has a tendency to “pop up.” Ancient Roman columns or tablets with Latin inscriptions are as natural a part of Roman parks and gardens as a flower bed or a shade tree in the U.S.A.

But in and around Pottsville, the past pops up as well, a past so ancient that it defies the mind.

At the Yorkville end of Sharp Mountain, the sector I know best, I’ve often admired enormous outcrops of Pottsville conglomerate, sandstone, quartz and shale pressed together 300 million years ago during the Pennsylvania period of geologic time. Around Pottsville, I’ve searched for the fossils of trilobites and tropical plants, local inscriptions of a far-distant past.

In the end, Miss Patterson’s comparison may not be as unlikely as it first seemed. True, no other city in the world can boast the concentration of beauty and splendor of Rome, but Pottsville too has a glorious past, inscribed on the earth’s surface and underground.

Very solemnly, then, let’s raise an ice-cold glass of Yuengling lager to the grandeur that was Rome and the past glory of Pottsville.

(Honicker can be reached at honicker.republicanherald@gmail.com)

The Hawk Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America will hold a Distinguished Citizen Breakfast to honor the Schaeffer family, H. Slayton Altenburg and other local community leaders.

On June 9, the council will host the second annual Service to Youth and Community Breakfast at the Hawk Mountain Scout Reservation, near Summit Station. Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary Hess will chair this year’s event.

The breakfast is fundraising and networking providing those attending an opportunity to learn about Scouting from the Scouts themselves. It also is a means for the council to recognize citizens who have provided exemplary community service improving the quality of life in Schuylkill and Carbon counties.

In a prepared statement, the council announced this year’s recipients of the Distinguished Service to Youth and Community Award will be the Schaeffer family of Schaeffer’s Harley-Davidson and Schaeffer’s Motorsports. For more than 25 years, Schaeffer’s Harley-Davidson has been dedicated to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Harley-Davidson’s charity of choice). In the hope of eliminating neuromuscular disease, the Schaeffer family of customers participates annually in the “MDA Ride for Life.” The event takes place the first weekend in May each year. Since 1988, Schaeffer’s family of customers has raised $3.9 million for MDA to use for research, summer camp, and equipment for the children and adults stricken with neuromuscular diseases located in the greater Lehigh area.

Along with year-round support of the MDA, events are scheduled and proceeds are donated to breast cancer awareness, the soldier’s that serve our country, the local schools and various other community organizations.

The Hawk Mountain Council will also recognize H. Slayton Altenburg with Distinguished Service to Youth and Community Award.

The Carbon County Environmental Education Center and James Briel II will be recognized for their support of youth in both counties.

The keynote speakers for the breakfast will include Hawk Mountain Council’s own young men and women who will speak about how Scouting has prepared them for their futures.

The funds raised from the Service to Youth and Community Breakfast will assist with the services provided to the Packs, Troops, Venture Crews and Explorer Posts in Schuylkill County and parts of Carbon County. Training for adult leaders, activities, Scouting for Food, camping programs and Camperships are but a few of the activities and services provided by the Hawk Mountain Council.

Geisinger Medical Center, Danville

To Eric Brassington and Kristen Seddon, Schuylkill County, a son, May 16.

St. Joseph Medical Center, Towson, Maryland

To Match and Kara Senich Zimmerman, a daughter, May 2. Grandparents are Greg and Gail Senich, Llewellyn, and Kent and Barbara Zimmerman, Cockeysville, Maryland.

MAHANOY CITY — The Memorial Day program in the borough Sunday reminded everyone to never forget the men and women in uniform who made the supreme sacrifice.

The traditional program on the Sunday afternoon before Memorial Day was held by the Mahanoy Area United Veterans at Veterans Memorial Park near the M60-A3 Patton tank. Some members of the public sat in the hot sun on North Catawissa Street, while many more watched from the shade of buildings and also from under trees across Centre Street.

“Today is a day of remembrance for fallen soldiers, those deployed and everyone else in service,” United Veterans President David Bickowski said in his opening remarks as the program began.

Prior to and during the program, the Upper Schuylkill Marching Band performed patriotic songs, including the national anthem. The invocation was offered by the Rev. Christopher Wollyung, pastor of First United Methodist Church, Mahanoy City. Wollyung also gave the benediction at the program’s closing.

“Almighty Father, we gather this day to remember the many who have given all to preserve our freedom and to rescue others from tyranny,” Wollyung prayed. “We pray your blessing on this congregation of your faithful. Help us to never forget the sacrifices made on our behalf. Be with us this day as we celebrate the cherished memory of the valor and selflessness that they have shown, and let your hand of protection continue on all gathered here as we lift our voices of prayer to you. Amen.”

The next speaker was Mayor Patricia A. Schnitzius, who spoke on the sacrifice of the nation’s heroes.

“Memorial Day is a day that we as a country come together to honor and remember our service men and women who answered America’s call to service and paid the ultimate price. We say thank you,” Schnitzius said. “We remember you. We are grateful to you. The service members that we honor came from all walks of life, but they shared several fundamental qualities. They possessed courage, pride, determination, selflessness, dedication to duty and integrity, all the qualities needed to serve us cause larger than oneself. They were ordinary people who responded in extraordinary ways in extreme times. Millions of Americans have fought and died in battlefields here and abroad to defend our freedoms and way of life, including people from Mahanoy City and our surrounding communities. Local families experienced the loss of a loved one in war, a pain that I can’t imagine. Our gathering today in Mahanoy City is one spark in the flame of pride that burns across our nation today, but it is one small way we can honor the fallen.”

Bickowski introduced Mahanoy Area seniors Jennifer Neifert and Nolan Fegley, who presented different readings. Neifert read “Happy Memorial Day,” a poem by author Edwin Hofert, while Fegley read the “Gettysburg Address” by President Abraham Lincoln,

The guest speaker was Navy veteran Steve Hanerfeld, having served from 1998 to 2007. Born in Los Angeles in 1979, he moved to Mahanoy City in 1985 and graduated from Mahanoy Area High School in 1997. After one year at Pennsylvania State University, Hanerfeld enlisted in the Navy in September 1998, where he enrolled in the Navy’s Naval Nuclear Power School and then served as an electrician’s mate aboard the USS Memphis SSN-691, stationed out of Groton, Connecticut, from July 2000 to December 2004, after which he became a staff training instructor at the Naval Submarine School in Groton until the end of his second enlistment in December 2007 and received many awards during his service.

After leaving the Navy, Hanerfeld graduated from Excelsior College in Albany, New York, in April 2015 after completing his Bachelor of Science degree in nuclear engineering technology with a 4.0 GPA.

“Memorial Day is a day that has special meaning to me and not just because of my own service, but because unlike Veterans Day, today is not just a celebration of service for those who have served, but a celebration of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice so that we can enjoy the freedoms that we enjoy today,” Hanerfeld said.

Hanerfeld spoke of his tour of duty aboard the USS Memphis in its travels in the Arabian Gulf and under the ice in the North Atlantic, performing vital missions.

“We learned the importance of training, spending hours upon hours drilling and practicing for events that we hoped we would never have to deal with in real life,” Hanerfeld said. “We also learned the importance of camaraderie and brotherhood, the ability to place your life in someone else’s hands and to trust them to place theirs in yours and rely on the training you both received so you can complete the mission and return home to family and friends.”

Hanerfeld spoke of the many things he learned that helped him during his time in uniform and later in civilian life. He spoke of experiences in different countries, being able to serve on a nuclear submarine and having the opportunity to instruct future submariners.

“My time in service allowed me to do a great many things,” he said. “Perhaps the most important is that it allowed me to understand truly what it means to be a serviceman and later a veteran. As a young man growing up, and hearing my father tell stories about his time in the Army, you get a sense of what it’s like to live that life, but until you put on the uniform and stepped into that world, that’s when you get a full sense of the pride, the tradition and the legacy that comes with wearing that uniform. It’s a legacy and a tradition that carries on with the next generation of service men and women serving today and with each and every veteran in attendance here today.”

Hanerfeld said 143 local residents have died in service to the nation and that Memorial Day provides a perfect time to honor and remember those who served admirably and died with honor in service to the country.

Hanerfeld said, “President John F. Kennedy once said, A nation reveals itself not only by the men it produces but also by the men it honors and the men it remembers.’ And with all due respect to President Kennedy, I believe the same can be said about the communities of our nation that come together to celebrate the sacrifices of their communities in service to our nation. Mahanoy City and this area, an area intertwined in the fabric of our nation and our military, and an area that is as much a part of the celebration of Memorial Day as any other in this country.”

A salute to fallen comrades included the placing of the wreath at the memorial by Mahanoy City American Legion Post 74 Commander Neal Pascoe and United Veterans member Louis Huber, a veteran of the Vietnam War. After the rifle volley and the playing of taps, there was the release of doves provided by Doves of White, Mahanoy City.

Grand Marshal Chairman and borough Councilman Francis Burke introduced state Rep. Neal P. Goodman as this year’s parade grand marshal. In addition to his many years in local and state government, Goodman served in the Marine Corps and was discharged with the rank of sergeant and is serving his seventh term in the 123rd Legislative District.

Goodman spoke of being humbled by the honor of being selected as grand marshal. He spoke of his time in state government and his working with veterans during those years after being asked to work with former state Rep. Edward J. Lucyk in his office.

“When he asked me to become his executive director, little did I know what an impact that would have on my life going forward, and what an honor and privilege it would be to meet so many brave men and women from our area and hear their stories of where they served, how they came together in time of need, and how they answered the call,” Goodman said. “We have a lot to be proud of.”

Burke thanked the following sponsors: Service Electric Cablevision, Mahanoy Automotive, Mahanoy Highrise, Carini Pizza, DJ Lou, Fabcon and the Mahanoy Area Education Association. He also thanked Louis and Rose Huber for placing wreaths at the veterans memorial and the GAR Cemetery.

The program ended with the band playing “God Bless America.”

The Memorial Day parade will be held at 11 a.m. today, beginning from the Mahanoy Area School complex.

n Pine Grove: The 31st annual Make-A-Wish Golf Tournament is set to begin at 7:30 a.m. June 16 at Hidden Valley Golf Course, 1753 Panther Valley Road. The tourney’s goal is to raise money to grant wishes for Schuylkill County children who face life-threatening medical conditions. There will be two shotgun starts at 7:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. and golfers will be invited to enjoy lunch, snacks, beverages, dinner and awards. All are welcome. For more information, call 717-757-9474.

n Port Carbon: The Port Carbon Firecracker 5K will be held at 8 a.m. July 4 beginning and ending at Miller’s Playground. The course goes through the borough and a portion of Palo Alto. Registration for runners and walkers will begin at 7 a.m. The cost is $25. However, the cost will be $20 for those who register in advance by June 15. The first 200 to register in advance will receive a T-shirt. The top overall male and female participants will receive Oakley sunglasses. All proceeds will benefit the fireworks and parade. For more information, call Scott or Deniece at 570-573-1946 or email to deniece_scott@yahoo.com. People may register online at www.pretzelcitysports.com.

n Pottsville: Diakon Living and Learning has a host of activities, classes, workshops and creative initiatives on its agenda to be held at a wide variety of locations. For more information regarding costs and types of sessions, call Susan Long at 570-624-3018 or email her at longs@diakon.org. More information also is available online at www.diakon.org/community-services/Living-Learning-After-50.

n Schuylkill Haven: A free folk art festival will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Walk In Art Center, 220 Parkway. The event will celebrate the heritage and traditions of folk art with folk artists, demonstrations, ethnic food, live folk music and folk talks. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-732-3728.

n Shenandoah: The borough has an ordinance requiring people who walk pets on public streets, sidewalks or parks to clean up after them. Those who do not are in violation of the law and can face a fine. Pet owners may not allow their animals to roam in the borough unleashed or out of control. Driving ATVs on public streets or areas where they are not allowed, such as parks or private property, also is unlawful and can result in fines. Anyone who witnesses such violations is asked to contact borough authorities. To reach borough police, call 570-462-1991.

n Shenandoah: Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Parish will hold a Padre Pio healing Mass at 7 p.m. June 10 at Divine Mercy Church, 224 W. Cherry St. A priest will be available for Confession from 6 to 6:45 p.m. For more information, call 570-599-5265 or 570-462-1968. All are welcome.

n Tamaqua: The Tamaqua Area Lady Raiders Volleyball Camp will be June 20 through 23 at the middle school gymnasium from 3 to 5 p.m. for girls entering third through fifth grades and from 6 to 8 p.m. for girls entering sixth through eighth grades. The cost is $40 per camper and each camper will receive a T-shirt. The registration deadline for a T-shirt is June 1. For more information, call 570-527-5782 or email ebaker@tamaqua.k12.pa.us.

n Tremont: St. Peter’s United Church of Christ, Pine Grove, will host a basket/bear bingo on June 11 at Tremont Fire Company No. 1, 76 Clay St. Doors will open at noon and bingo will start at 1 p.m. The event will include 20 games plus three specials as well as raffles, 50/50 drawings and other drawings, door prizes and a mini “drop a ticket” auction. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Checks can be made payable to St. Peter’s UCC, For more information or to buy tickets, call Joanne Hoffman at 570-345-4695 or the church at 570-345-3207. Only 200 tickets will be sold. Due to limited space, children not in strollers and carriers must have a ticket.

n Tremont: The Tremont Area Senior Citizens group is sponsoring a bus trip to Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Oct. 7 for five days and four nights. The cost is $550 double occupancy and $650 single occupancy. The trip includes four dinners, four breakfasts, lodging, tours and entertainment. For more information, call 570-695-2406. The group also is sponsoring a bus trip July 20 to Rainbow’s Comedy Playhouse, Paradise. The cost is $68, which includes bus, meal and show. Call the aforementioned number for more information.

Deeds

Ashland — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Wells Fargo Bank ; 1417 Walnut St.; $1,198.06.

Shenandoah — Daniel and Joan Shustack to Jose Luis Fuentes Delgado; 224 W. Columbus St.; $55,000.

Donna M. Rosado to Jason Michael Larsen; 422 W. Oak St.; $3,000.

Manuel and Ysabel Nunez to Wanda Nunez; property at Jardin and Centre streets; $1.

Manuel H. and Isabel Nunez to Wanda Nunez; property on West Street; $1.

South Manheim Township — David J. Powell to Anthony and Megan I. Ochotorena; 1507 Wynonah Drive, Lake Wynonah; $340,000.

William J. and Gen Yvette Sutton to David J. Yuro; 2334 Spear Cove, Lake Wynonah; $178,271.24.

Tamaqua — Herbert G. DeWitt to Robert J. Long and Jessica L. Kremar; 509 Brew St.; $62,000.

Tremont Township — Elaine A. Bender to Elaine A. Bender and Jason J. Bender; 79 Lincoln Road, Lincoln; $1.

Washington Township — David G. Kutz to Sheri Leann Kaufman; 1217 Mountain Road; $170,000.

Wayne Township — Wells Fargo Bank NA to Mary E. and Jason M. Larsen; 2530 Papoose Drive, Lake Wynonah; $107,500.

Harold C. and Mary E. Ebling to Zachery W. Ebling; 1819 Sweet Arrow Lake Road; $1.

Melissa Ann Bromwell, executrix for the Estate of Patricia A. Bromwell, to Melissa Ann Bromwell; 13 Papoose Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1.

Higher Ground Worship Center to Wayne Township; 1554 Long Run Road, Friedensburg; $120,000.

Gary L. Jr. and Carolyn Krammes to Marcia Ann Cresswell; 38 Deiberts Valley Road; $290,000.

Paul O. and Patricia Lynne Querengasser to The Paul O. and Patricia Lynne Querengasser Irrevocable Trust; 34 Pine Terrace; $1.

West Mahanoy Township — Manuel H. and Isabel Nunez to Wanda Nunez; property on Schuylkill Avenue, Shenandoah Heights; $1.

Marriage licenses

Jivko B. Ivanov, Kulpmont, and Angelica A. Perez-Barrientos, Kulpmont.

Anthony Stafford, Frackville, and Kathyria Rodriguez, Johnstown.

Steven Holiday, Frackville, and Nidra S. Nunez, Philadelphia.

Gerald L. Mack, Hegins, and Rita C. Motuk, Hegins.

George F. Parnell, Ashland, and Lorraine S. Strassner, Ashland.

Anthony P. Javid, Woodbridge, Virginia, and Abbey L. Noble, Woodbridge, Virginia.

Peter A. Knepper, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and Kellyn T. Gimbel, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

Christopher J. Steckel, Pottsville, and Tiffany D. Kemfort, Pottsville.

Adam J. Leffler, Pine Grove, and Alyssa N. Graver, Pine Grove.

Tucker D. Jacobson, Dover, New Hampshire, and Jennifer L. Cresswell, Dover, New Hampshire.

Shawn M. Roth, Minersville, and Sierra L. Hall, Minersville.

Tijay L. Steward, Delano, and April N. Heckman, Delano.

Curtis R. Bates, Orwigsburg, and Cara E. Petruzzi, Orwigsburg.

Allen D. Daubert Jr., Pine Grove, and Rashanna K. Alspaugh, Bernville.

Divorces granted

Kimberly East, Schuylkill Haven, from Alexander Janos Jr., Marlin, Texas.

Laura Butensky, Schuylkill Haven, from Keith Witkowski, Downingtown.

Megan Omahaboy, Saint Clair, from Robert Omahaboy II, Reading.

Tyler R. Baker, Tower City, from Emily Baker, Tower City.

Jeannie Ahearne, Tremont, from Victor Ahearne, Schuylkill Haven.

Barbara Zellner, Schuylkill Haven, from David Zellner, Allentown.

Clarence Wetzel, Pine Grove, from Sharon Wetzel, Schuylkill Haven.

PALO ALTO — Head gear and hats came off during the Memorial Day service at the veterans’ memorial Sunday.

Distinguished keynote speaker retired Army Lt. Col. Ralph N. Butera requested it.

He quoted philosopher George Santayana who said, “Only the dead have seen the end of war,” and “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

“Think about these words, because they will be the focus of today. Hopefully, I can instill the words from the past to show their importance in the present,” Butera told the crowd.

Butera, Pottsville, is a 29-year veteran of the military, having served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, U.S. Army Reserves and on active duty for Enduring Freedom. He has served as company commander, battalion executive officer and multiple staff positions at the brigade and division level in both operations and logistics. His various awards include the Meritorious Service Medal with oak leaf cluster. As a civilian, he’s a 32-year veteran of the U.S. Postal Service, having served as a postmaster since 1991 in Tremont, Shenandoah and Schuylkill Haven. Butera’s currently an ad hoc instructor in the Delta School Systems and instructs management, business and general education classes. He and his wife, Kathleen, have two children.

Butera said the flag is a living document and explained how to show reverence.

“See this flag that flies behind us. It’s not only a three-by-five, red, white and blue cloth with stripes and stars. If that’s all you see, you’re not looking close enough. This flag stands before you because it is the epitome of America. It stands and represents you and I and every American that has stood by its side.

“The flag has protocols, much like the people of importance. The flag always flies higher than other flags. It always sits to its own right, whichever way it is facing. When one salutes the flag, it’s called presenting arms, or surrendering your weapon to the flag. Without a weapon, it is presented with a salute.

“This brings us to why we are removing our head gear in reverence today for the deceased. Removing of one’s hat, or head gear, is the ultimate extension of honor or the surrendering of a salute. Everyone here knows what a salute is. This is an act that is common to all veterans if they’re in or out of uniform when saluting the flag. The flag, which I said is the definition of a living thing, is not just a piece of material. It represents the people of our country and this is why it deserves reverence. It is you and it is I,” he said.

Butera said we need to elevate the significance of this one day to the highest of plateaus.

“This group of heroes could not be in front of us today. They cannot hear the applause and the cheers or the adoration. They rely on the ability to raise their efforts with the memories that we provide.

Today we must speak for those hands we cannot shake. Whose backs we cannot pat. Whose eyes we cannot gaze,” he said.

Pastor Kenton Martin offered the invocation, then Madison Eroh was called to the podium. Eroh, 10, a John S. Clarke Elementary Center fourth-grader, sang the national anthem a capella.

Moved by her performance, Butera called Eroh’s rendition of the national anthem “one of the best” he’s heard.

Palo Alto Mayor John Deatrich served as master of ceremonies and spoke of understanding the true meaning of why our nation celebrates Memorial Day.

Deatrich said, “For those who lost loved ones serving our country, the memory can be tears, a void, an empty space where there was once a child, a mother, father or sibling.

“For those people, we use this day to stop and remember the great sacrifice that was made. Those of us who were lucky enough to not be affected by the loss of a loved one serving our country, we at least pause to try to understand what it must feel like. To listen to those who have lived it, so that we can better appreciate the true meaning of Memorial Day.”

Deatrich read the names of 15 soldiers from the borough who died while in service to our country, as a bell tolled for each person. There were 15 flags erected in front of the memorial, representing those who had fallen.

After Butera’s address, Marcayla Lutz-Kanin played taps and Pastor Gerald Richter offered the benediction.

At the conclusion of the Memorial Day service, there was a dedication ceremony for a bench donated by the Stevenson family at the borough’s Bacon Street playground.

“It’s a great honor to dad,” Stevenson’s daughter, Tammy Brower, Palo Alto, said at the dedication. George’s widow, Alice, was also in attendance, as well as a dozen family members. Stevenson’s great-granddaughter, Mykalia Tippett, and Alice Stevenson sat on the bench beside the dedication plaque affixed to the bench back. The plaque read: “In honor of George and Alice Stevenson for their selfless devotion to the Georgie Stevenson Memorial Charity for Children.”

George Stevenson passed away last April. The “George and Georgie Stevenson Memorial Race” at Big Diamond Speedway raised funds for families of ill children.

Brower said her dad loved kids and that his great-granddaughter, Mykalia, spent a lot of time with him in his garage.

Stevonosky and Deatrich offered remarks recognizing the contributions the Stevenson family had made to the community, as those gathered enjoyed refreshments.

“George called everyone ‘gumba,’ which is Italian for friend,” Deatrich said.

A man who fled the Pottsville police about 6:20 p.m. Thursday when officers received credible information that he was inside 818 Main St., was located about 12 hours later and then jailed.

Police said Lyle T. McCulley, 36, whose last known address was 393 Hotel St., was wanted on a felony warrant and when officers arrived at the address, they received additional information indicating that he was seen entering there just before officers arrived.

Police said a search of the home was completed with McCulley not located, but as officers were canvassing the area, residents reported seeing the man running west from the home into a wooded area to the rear of the AMVETS building.

Officers from Port Carbon and state police troopers from the Schuylkill Haven station assisted in setting up a perimeter and conducting a foot search.

McCulley was unable to be located and police said there were conflicting reports of his path of travel from the woods.

Then, about 5:10 a.m. Friday, officers were called to 514 Wallace St. for a report of a man inside a home who did not live there or know the homeowners. At the scene, police said, officers spoke to a 59-year-old woman who said the man, later identified as McCulley, was upstairs, where he was located by officers and taken into custody without incident.

The subsequent investigation revealed that the woman tried to enter a spare bedroom of the home and discovered the door was locked despite this never being done. After gaining access to the inside of the room, the woman observed feet sticking out of a blanket on the floor and the woman immediately woke her husband and called 911, police said.

Police said McCulley was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, on the existing felony warrant for burglary along with new charges of felony criminal trespass in connection with the recent incident.

McCulley was then committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $25,000 bail, police said.

MAHANOY PLANE — The Gilberton Borough Council amended an ordinance at Thursday’s meeting to pass along any charges the borough incurs when a water shut-off is required for sewage account delinquents.

Ordinance 2006-2 gives the borough the authority to define and regulate connections to the public water system, which in most of the borough is the Mahanoy Township Authority.

Attorney Paul Domalakes attended the meeting in place of borough solicitor Karen Domalakes to present the ordinance amendment for adoption, which was in a 3-0 vote.

When the borough deems it necessary to shut off water service to a property that has a large delinquent sewer account, the borough contacts the MTA to have its employees terminate the service. The cost for the water shut-off is passed to the borough, and if the water service is off for about a year, the borough is also responsible for a portion of the authority’s loss of revenue. The amended ordinance now passes along all fees and charges to the customer.

The amendment in section 2.4 now reads:

“The owner of any improved property, who because their water or sewer charges are delinquent, has had a shut-off mechanism installed or work necessary to install or remove the shut-off mechanism on their property, shall be responsible for the costs of such work, including, but not limited to, the water shut-off fees and loss of revenue charge imposed by the authority. These fees must be paid to the authority or reimbursed to the borough prior to reconnection.”

In other business, the borough council accepted the low bid from Dudash Pipeline Co. Inc., Pottsville, to demolish and remove a vacant, dilapidated house at 426 Main St., which is located in the Gilberton section of the borough. Two bids were received for the project with two options: Only the demolition of the building or demolition and removal of debris.

Dudash bid $5,471 for demolition and $12,462 for demolition/removal. The borough council opted for the second bid. The work is expected to begin in about a month.

Councilman Mark S. Keirsey, who attended a two-day training session in May to get his maintenance certification for dirt, gravel and low-volume roads, recently took two road contractors to several streets to get cost estimates for the borough to submit an application for a state grant for road maintenance and repair.

The U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Pennsylvania State University’s Center for Dirt and Gravel Roads have established a simple protocol to help road managers and maintenance practitioners to carefully assess road conditions, identify problems, determine cause and select the appropriate environmentally sensitive practices that fit the site conditions.

Keirsey took the contractors to six locations, with four sites found to be eligible for grant funding:

• 2400-2500 blocks of Main Street

• 2600 block of Main Street

• The curve along Draper Street into the Long Row section of the borough

• The curve on Church Street

Once calculated, the estimates will guide the borough on the grant application and the decision of what the borough can afford depending on the amount of a grant, assuming it is awarded to Gilberton.

The borough council appointed Lloyd George Jr., Gilberton, as code enforcement officer. The salary is $10 per hour as needed. The vote was 2-0 with one abstention by Councilman Lloyd George Sr., the new officer’s father.

Mayor Mary Lou Hannon announced the Memorial Day program will be held at noon today at the Maizeville Veterans Memorial.

Hannon also announced that the summer lunch program will begin June 7 and end Aug. 26. Lunches will be served at the community parks in the Gilberton and Mahanoy Plane sections of the borough.

Pottsville man

arrested for assault

Pottsville police reported being called about 11:15 a.m. Saturday to the 1100 block of West Market Street for a report of a domestic disturbance possibly involving the custody of an infant child.

At the scene, officers found a man, later identified as Christian Kohler Pond, 20, of Pottsville, who said he was just involved in a verbal altercation with the mother of his 3-month-old child while inside the Market Square apartment complex “A” building.

While talking with Pond, police said, officers were contacted by the county communications center who relayed a message that an ambulance was dispatched to the 1100 block of West Arch Street for an unknown problem involving an infant child.

At the Arch Street address, police said, officers spoke to a 23-year-old Pottsville woman who was visibly upset and crying and reported just being physically assaulted by her boyfriend who she identified as Pond.

Police said the woman reported that Pond had become angry at her while they were in her apartment and physically struck her in the face, police said, adding that the woman fled with her children into her bedroom and locked the door, at which point Pond physically kicked the door down and it struck her 3-month-old infant child in the head while she was holding him.

Police said the child suffered a laceration to the back of the head.

Pond was arrested pursuant to domestic violence simple assault and a criminal complaint prepared charging him with two counts of simple assault and one count of recklessly endangering another person.

He was arraigned on on-call Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $10,000 bail, police said.

GIRARDVILLE — The Rangers Hose Company of Girardville will celebrate a member on June 4 that has been with the company for 100 years and can still roll along on its four-spoked wheels.

The 1916 Ford Model T chemical fire truck was ordered in 1914 and delivered just five years after the fire company was founded in 1911.

The celebration on Saturday will be from 11 a.m., when DJ music will start, to 6 p.m. at the firehouse at 6 E. Ogden St. At 1 p.m., the fire equipment parade will begin. The parade will be a history lesson of fire equipment as it developed and improved in the past century. The rain date is Sunday.

Rangers firefighter Michael Zangari is an event organizer and chairman of the planning committee.

“The parade will be lined up by the year of the fire apparatus with the Model T leading the way,” Zangari said. “The Model T is running and it’s been touched up, so it will be ready.”

As the trucks pass the Rangers firehouse, each one will be announced by Ashland Fire Chief Philip Groody. There will be monetary prizes.

About the truck, Zangari said, “It’s called a chemical truck and was the precursor to foam. There are two tanks on the back. The Model T was in service from 1916 to 1927. In 1927, the company purchased a Dodge fire engine. The chemical they used was very similar to a dry chemical fire extinguisher.”

“The Model T replaced our first fire truck, which was a horse-drawn hose cart bought from the West End Fire Station 7 in Pottsville,” he said. “When the fire company had the hose cart, the company opted to purchase the Model T, which was state of the art.”

The truck was housed at the fire company until 2000, when it became part of the Schuylkill County Historical Fire Society museum in Shenandoah. Just as with many of the historical trucks at the museum, the Model T remains the property of the fire company.

“It is the second oldest motorized fire company-owned truck on the east coast,” Zangari said. “And it is the oldest company-owned truck in Schuylkill County.”

The truck was last driven in the second annual Girardville St. Patrick’s Day parade in 2004. It has been refurbished twice, the last time in the 1970s.

After the parade, the bar will open and the DJ will begin again through 6 p.m. Soda and beer is $1 per cup. Food will be for sale from McDonald’s Lunch, Girardville, Ashland Boy Scout Troop 745, Wilburton Hose Company and MaryKay’s Funnel Cakes. The food menu includes chicken tenders, chili, sausage hoagies, hamburgers, hot dogs, bleenies, funnel cakes, deep-fried Oreos and baked goods.

The fire company will sell T-shirts, a $50 lottery board and 50/50 chances. For more information about the T-shirts or to register for the parade, call Zangari at 570-276-6922.

Editor’s note: As part of National Mental Health Awareness Month, The Republican-Herald interviewed Schuylkill County residents affected by mental illnesses and is publishing a series of articles detailing their struggles and how they manage each day. The goal is to raise awareness about mental health.

No one understands what it is like to get through the day with a mental illness than someone who has done it. That is why many mental health agencies like NHS Human Services and The ReDCo Group, both of Pottsville, employ certified peer specialists to connect with their clients.

“They are evidence that recovery is possible,” Jenn Kramer, NHS Human Services adult behavioral health and community director, said Tuesday.

Kramer supervises the peer specialist program at NHS Human Services with Lisa Irving, transitional living coordinator.

“They give hope when people feel there is no hope,” Irving said.

To become a certified peer specialist, a person must undergo two weeks of training by a state licensed program. The two approved vendors in Pennsylvania are The Institute for Recovery and Community Integration and Recovery Opportunity Center.

Applicants must have worked at least 12 months within the last three years, have a high school diploma or GED and be in recovery of their own mental illness. Once training is complete, they can apply for a position with a mental health agency that offers a peer specialist program.

Peer specialists are also required to take continuing education credits.

NHS now has nine peer specialists serving 53 clients. The agency hired its first peer specialist in 2011.

“The reason we started doing peer services was because at the time it was only ReDCo doing them and we wanted to provide a choice,” Kramer said. “It seemed like the right thing to do for the community to have a choice.”

Irving said clients that qualify to get a peer specialist need assistance in one or more of the following areas: education, social, self maintenance and vocational. For a client to get a peer specialist, they must be referred to the program.

Melanie Moore had her peer specialist training in 2008. She is now one of the most experienced peer specialists at NHS Human Services.

“In the early stages, we are very much somebody that holds hope for somebody who is really struggling,” Moore said. “We provide inspiration, hope and encouragement in the beginning until we can develop a rapport and find out what really are their struggles, what is really holding them back in their recovery with mental illness. Once you build a rapport and get connected, then we start to focus on goals. What do they want to achieve? Not what we want for them, but what do they hope to do with their life and how can we assist them in finding resources and building new skills.”

Peer specialists are also advocates for their clients and encourage them to have a more active role in their treatment, she said.

“One of the biggest things we do is get people to empower themselves to understand their illness, understand what resources that are out there, understand their insurance, how to communicate with their doctor. It is a lot of very practical skill building things,” Moore said.

Michelle Salukas is also a peer specialist with NHS Human Services. She said the program allows them share their experiences.

“I’ll be working with some of my peers and it may not be the exact issue that they are dealing with at that time, but I may have had something similar that they are going through and I can let them know how I overcame that situation at that time,” Salukas said. “Them knowing that you have been in their shoes actually makes them feel more comfortable with you. They want to open up more to you.”

Jade Eichner, another peer specialist with NHS Human Services, said they can also connect easier with clients on a personal level.

“We are also there to share things, like a general story, and it allows them to open up more and it helps them feel a bit more comfortable,” she said.

Salukas also said they can help people learn how to control their symptoms without relying on medications or therapists.

“It is more about becoming independent with coping skills and I think when it is someone else who has had an illness and they’ve learned steps they can use in their everyday life to control their illness it is a whole lot different than a doctor saying, ‘Why don’t you try some relaxation, why don’t you go for a walk,’ ” she said. “We have a perspective that’s way different because we have been in their shoes and that’s a big part of what we do and the reason why it has been so successful and valuable to our peers.”

Service providers do not have that perspective, Kramer said.

“I can come in there and say I know how you feel, but I really don’t,” she said. “They have the one key that a lot of the doctors don’t have and that’s experience going through the local system.”

Moore said certified peer specialists do not tell their clients what to do but help them make their own choices and find all available options.

“I say we are like a guide rail for them,” Salukas said. “We call it the road to recovery, so I say we are their guide rail to keep them on that path.”

There is also a lot of advocacy and empowerment involved in being a certified peer specialist, Moore said.

“A lot of times, I think in my career as a certified peer specialist, I have taken on the role of advocate many times,” she said. “There are unfortunately a lot of holes in this system.”

With the less state funding every year for human services, the role peer specialists have in mental health care is more important than ever before, Moore said.

“We are ending up where people have less and less resources, so we have to think out of the box, be creative and try to link with other community agencies,” she said.

Some of the other community agencies and organizations the peer specialists said they have worked with include Schuylkill Women in Crisis, Servants to All, Service Access and Management, Allied Services, Salvation Army, Schuylkill Community Action and God’s Helping Hands.

“It is overwhelming when you have a debilitating mental illness just to get through your day, to keep appointments,” Salukas said. “To be able to try to put your life together can seem just insurmountable.”

Moore said it is also difficult for clients to keep appointments because the hospitals and most human service agencies in Schuylkill County are located in Pottsville.

“We are an 800-square-mile county and everything is located in Pottsville,” Moore said. “That does not work when you are asking someone to travel six hours round trip on STS. It is difficult to provide services in such a large geographical area when everything is based there.”

Salukas said they often help their clients learn bus schedules.

“With social anxiety, getting on a bus makes people nervous,” Salukas said. “We will buddy them until they get used to it and they are able to do it on their own.”

Moore said lack of transportation is a reason why she struggled with mental illness for so long.

“That was one of biggest barriers I had,” she said. “I didn’t have a car for seven years and I stayed sick because I couldn’t access what I needed.”

Moore said every peer specialist at NHS Human Services has their own strengths. For example, some peer specialists are trained to work in the criminal justice system. Others have special training focusing on veterans or people with developmental disabilities.

“We all have different strengths and we all play off each other well,” Moore said.

Twelve new peer specialists, 10 from Schuylkill County, were trained last June by the Recovery Opportunity Center, which is headquartered in Arizona. The training session at M&T Bank, 1 S. Centre St., Pottsville, was organized by the Berks County Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, which also covers Schuylkill County; Schuylkill County Mental Health and Developmental Services; AHEDD, a private nonprofit group that finds employment for people with disabilities; Community Service Group; Northwestern Human Services and ReDCo.

The Berks Office of Vocational Rehabilitation and Schuylkill County Mental Health paid the tuition of some of the county residents.

Kramer said the idea for a local training session came from a peer.

“The hard thing is finding good, qualified peers because there is no education programs local to a lot of them,” Kramer said.

People usually have to travel to areas like Philadelphia for training and pay even more for overnight stays, she said.

Two of the people at that training session — Joanie Thomas and Joe Mooney Jr. — were recently hired as peer specialists at NHS Human Services.

“We have gone through the experience of being through the mental health system and dealing with mental illness,” Mooney said. “I have experienced personally just about all aspects of it and I know what it is like to be in a situation where you want help. You want someone to understand you and there is nobody there. I am glad that I am given this opportunity now to come in to talk with people to say, ‘Hey, I’ve been there, I understand what you are going through, I know how to help you solve these problems,’ which is something I didn’t have.”

Thomas is the first member of the peer specialist team at NHS Human Services to have had a peer specialist.

“I had a peer specialist and they helped me greatly,” Thomas said. “With mental illness, often times you feel isolated. I was one of those people and my peer specialist helped me get out of that shell and showed me resources.”

Kramer said that there are more than enough referrals to go around for the peer specialist groups in the county. The number of peer specialist jobs depends on the state budget. If the jobs are available, Kramer said she thinks the agencies would collaborate again on a local training session.

“It’s a wonderful journey to see somebody change and grow and build skills and come into their own,” Moore said. “It’s really an amazingly rewarding job.”

Eichner said even the small moments, like taking a walk with a client for the first time, are a major step in recovery.

“Those little tiny steps they take that they might not even realize are amazing,” she said.

Being a peer specialist is also a way of continuing recovery, Mooney said.

“It gives you a feeling of accomplishment, a feeling of success,” he said. “That really boosts your confidence and self respect knowing you are doing a good thing.”

Moore said it is also important for them to be open about their mental illness.

“The more people are out and open, I think it changes the perception of mental illness,” she said. “We are willing to get out there and say we are people living with mental illness and we have happy, full lives.”

MINERSVILLE — There are three people who will lay down their life for you, according to Bob Laughlin — Jesus Christ, a service member and an emergency responder.

“Show respect for those willing to run towards the danger, not away from it,” Laughlin, post commander of American Legion Post 544, Minersville, said Sunday during the 12th annual Festival of Lights at St. Matthew The Evangelist Church, Minersville.

Laughlin, Minersville, served as guest speaker during the service of remembrance, which featured 400 lit candles in honor of those serving, or those who have served the country, as well as other loved ones. Laughlin is also commander of the Black Diamond Navy Club, Minersville, and past state commander and past national commander of the Navy Club of the United States of America.

Memorial Day was initially known as Decoration Day, Laughlin said, where loved ones were encouraged to decorate the graves of the fallen with flowers. He encouraged people to look at the flags on the graves at cemeteries today during Memorial Day.

“They are the lucky ones,” he said. “They came home. There are many Americans who never made it home,” he said. “Up and until World War II, you were buried right where you died.”

Laughlin said Normandy is the largest cemetery outside of the United States (where service members are buried). Service members buried in France were still luckier than some, Laughlin stated.

“If you were in the Navy or Marine Corps, you were buried at sea. Your families had no where to go to visit you,” he said.

He said there are the Missing in Action who we may never know what happened to them.

“They simply disappeared,” he said. “These MIAs are still somewhat lucky.”

According to Laughlin, the unknown soldiers were the least “lucky” of all.

“Not only did they have their lives taken from them, but also their identity. We do remember those who gave the ultimate sacrifice,” he said.

Laughlin encouraged family members to speak to their loved ones who were in the military and allow them to talk about their service.

The Rev. Leo Maletz delivered the homily.

“It puzzles me how this holiday has evolved,” he said, noting it had its origins after the Civil War.

“Remember those who have fallen. Remember all men and women who gave their lives for the sake of liberty,” Maletz said. He said many of us mark the holiday as the start to summer, spending the day enjoying our freedom and pursuing leisure and happiness, but quickly forgetting those we’re indebted to.

Maletz lead those gathered in a Memorial Day prayer.

“As we remember those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy every day, we think of how they have followed in the footsteps of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Please hold our servicemen and women, living and deceased, in your strong arms. Cover them with your sheltering grace and your presence as they stand in the gap for our protection.

“We also remember the families of our troops,” Maletz continued. “We ask for your unique blessings to fill their homes, and we pray your peace, provision, and strength will fill their lives. May the members of our armed forces be supplied with courage to face each day and may they trust in the Lord’s mighty power to accomplish each task. Let our military brothers and sisters feel our love and support. In the name of Jesus. Amen.”

Musical selections for the service of remembrance included “America,” “For Your Are My God,” and “Mine Eyes Have Seen The Glory.”

Amy Jo West, a senior from Nativity BVM High School, played taps to conclude the program.

Ed Yakobosky has attended the service nearly every year, he said.

“It’s a chance to honor your family members, grandparents and veterans from our wars,” he said. Yakobosky, Minersville, said he had uncles and cousins who served in the armed forces.

He appreciated Laughlin’s message.

“I agreed with what he was saying, that everyone should be honored. I think it’s something that people should think about more often than we do,” he said.

n Ashland: An American Red Cross blood drive is slated for 1 to 6 p.m. Monday at Christ United Lutheran Church, 437 Airport Road. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood. For more information or to arrange for an appointment, call 800-733-2767.

n Frackville: The Friendship Fire Company Auxiliary is sponsoring a bus trip to Atlantic City on Aug. 13. The bus will depart at 8 a.m. from the fire company and return about 9 p.m. The cost is $35; the casino refund has yet to be determined. Reservations are being taken on a first-come basis. For more information, call Kathy at 570-874-3531

n Frackville: An American Red Cross blood drive is slated for 1 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Frackville Elks Lodge, 307 S. Third St. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood. For more information or to arrange for an appointment, call 800-733-2767.

n Minersville: The 21st annual Minersville Spirit Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 11 on North Street celebrating Minersville’s heritage, organizers said in a release. Churches, businesses, fire companies, school organizations and private individuals are invited to participate by setting up informational, craft, game or food stands. For more information, call Amy at 570-292-9895 or visit the group on Facebook. “We sincerely hope this year’s event will continue to be a time for residents and former residents of Minersville and surrounding communities to join together for a day of fun, excitement and show of support for the organizations involved,” the Minersville Spirit Day Association said in the release. Members include Jerry Sitkus, Amy Eades and Ann Marie Zeth.

n Saint Clair: Songs and stories for the “Red, White and Blue” will be the focus of the Saint Clair Community and Historical Society at 7 p.m. June 28 in its historical building headquarters, North Nicholas Street. Matthew Dodd will be the presenter, focusing on songs and stories relating to the American flag. Refreshments will be served. The session is free and the public is welcome. For more information, call 570-429-1850.

n Shenandoah: The Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce meets at 8 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month. The meeting sites alternate between Ridgeview Healthcare & Rehabilitation, 200 Pennsylvania Ave., and the Shenandoah Senior Living Community, East Washington Street.

n Shenandoah: Recitation of the Rosary and the Divine Mercy Chaplet are done at 3 p.m. every Friday in Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Church, Cherry and Chestnut streets, led by the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters. The sisters’ convent, called the Father Walter J. Ciszek Convent, is in the former St. Stephen rectory building at 18 E. Oak St.

n Summit Station: Schuylkill County Fair premium books will be available shortly, according to a fair press release. This year, the books will not be mailed to people who exhibited in previous fairs, as it is no longer feasible to mail them to exhibitors and “we live in the technological age where the premium book can be found online at the fair’s website, which is www.schuylkillfair.com,” fair officials said in the release. At the web page, people should look under the information tab and find exhibits where they can open up a PDF copy of this year’s fair premium book, which is a book where all the classes — listing of things of interest by category — are listed under departments. There is a large variety of classes in the premium book for almost anything that can be made, grown, raised or collected, with listings for fruit, vegetable, flowers, needle crafts, food, wine, grain and arts and crafts to tractor. Hard copies of the 2016 premium books will be available at local restaurants, banks, businesses, feed stores, physicians’ and dentists’ offices, post offices, grocery stores and public events. This year’s fair will go from Aug. 1 through 6 at the county fairgrounds and the theme is “We have good things growing.” For queries or more information, call 570-527-0294 or email to schuylkillfair@gmail.com. People may also “like” the fair on Facebook and follow it on Twitter.

A man charged with crashing his vehicle into a Pottsville business on Dec. 5, 2015, is among those scheduled to plead not guilty Thursday during arraignment in Schuylkill County Court.

Michael C. Reber, 29, currently in Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville, was arrested by Pottsville police Patrolman Jonathan Randolph and charged with risking a catastrophe, criminal mischief, driving under the influence of drugs, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property and reckless driving.

Randolph said Reber crashed his pickup truck into the Losch Plaza building, 121 N. Progress Ave., and came to a stop partially inside.

Reber fled the scene but was quickly apprehended after a brief struggle in the parking lot of the Sunoco mini mart at East Norwegian Street and Route 61, the officer said, adding that two passengers in the vehicle reported that it appeared Reber intentionally drove into the building as he violently turned the steering wheel and accelerated into the structure.

Others scheduled to plead not guilty, and the charges against them, include:

Edward A. Moyer, 35, of 25 E. Lehigh St., Coaldale — DUI, DUI-high rate, driving under combined influence, following too closely and careless driving.

Nicholas J. Toth, 21, of 41 Municipal Road, New Ringgold — driving under the influence of drugs.

Ann M. Brennan, 52, of 3076 Main St., Box 27, Locustdale — driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a controlled substance, misbranding of a controlled substance, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked and prohibitions in specific places.

Michael J. Mayersky, 37, of 34 W. Penn St., Shenandoah — driving under the influence of drugs and general lighting requirements violation.

Kathleen M. Weikel, 29, of 137 Main St., Gilberton — DUI, DUI-highest rate, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, failure to obey traffic control signals and turning movements and required signals violation.

Roeny R. Dorville, 27, of 242 N. Second St., Frackville — DUI, DUI-high rate, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, parking regulations violation, failure to be licensed and violations concerning licenses.

Kevin A. Reber, 47, of 703 N. Second St., Minersville — driving under the influence of drugs, DUI-high rate, driving under combined influence, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving and failure to use seat belts.

Robert Besparis, 52, of 899 W. Coal St., Shenandoah — driving under the influence of drugs, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without insurance, unauthorized use or transfer of registration and altered, forged or counterfeit documents or plates.

Garet D. Grove, 21, of 22 Ferndale Hill Road, Zion Grove — driving under the influence of drugs, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic and divided highways violation.

Charles R. Faust, 27, of 140 Water St., New Philadelphia — driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Willard L. Stripling, 31, of 1834 Long Run Road, Schuylkill Haven — DUI-highest rate, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic and careless driving.

Robert J. Hank, 69, of 2434 Main St., Mahanoy City — DUI, DUI-highest rate and failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic.

Ross T. Koch, 31, of 2730 Pottsville Highway, Box 137, Pottsville — driving under the influence of drugs, location or registration permit violation and unlawful activities.

Tiffany L. Woodward, 25, of 1970 First Highway, Pottsville — DUI, DUI-highest rate, accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles or property and careless driving.

Samantha L. Ellex, 23, of 412 Pulaski Drive, Pottsville — driving under the influence of drugs, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked and general lighting requirements violation.

Stacy L. Rothenberger, 46, of 77 Schuylkill Ave., Shenandoah — DUI, DUI-highest rate and possession of a controlled substance.

Steven Kukta, 29, of 418 Pine Hill St., Minersville — DUI, DUI-highest rate and careless driving.

Justine S. Myro, 26, of 385 Fourth St., Port Carbon — driving under the influence of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Donald R. Watson, 29, of 1907 Elk Ave., Pottsville — conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, driving under the influence of drugs, failure to be licensed, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Nicholas B. Hux, 20, of 18 Maple Ave., Barnesville — driving under the influence of drugs and turning movements and required signals violation.

Michael J. Spirko, 43, of 503 Heritage Heights, Pottsville — driving under the influence of drugs and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Jesse R. Smith, 25, of 222 Lavelle Road, Ashland — driving under the influence of drugs and illegal stopping, standing or parking outside of a business or residential district.

Heidi S. Umbenhen, 43, of 511 Baker St., Minersville — DUI, DUI-highest rate, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic and driving at an unsafe speed.

Anthony J. Napolitano¸31, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — possession of drug paraphernalia, retail theft, receiving stolen property, fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, unauthorized use of automobiles or other vehicles, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, careless driving, reckless driving, stop and yield sign violations and conspiracy.

William W. Skeans, 28, of 921 E. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City — unsworn falsification to authorities and application of firearms-false statements.

Dominic Asquith, 31, of State Correctional Institution/Mahanoy, Frackville — possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, false identification to law enforcement, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Wyatt Wagner, 18, of 213 W. Mount Vernon St., Shenandoah — conspiracy.

Eric M. Christopher, 22, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — resisting arrest and theft.

Casey J. McKlveen, 22, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — failure to provide accurate registration information.

Shaheed K. Cameron, 38, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — aggravated assault, aggravated harassment by prisoner, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Austin A. Keller, 22, of 443 Spruce St., Schuylkill Haven — theft and receiving stolen property.

James Fyler, 36, of 127 Kiehner Road, Schuylkill Haven — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Devin W. Murphy, 23, of 760 S. Liberty St., Orwigsburg — terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.

Blake D. Kurten, 21, of 204 Walnut Court, Orwigsburg — theft, conspiracy, retail theft, receiving stolen property and theft by deception.

Lauren M. Deysher, 24, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — prohibited offensive weapons, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Daniel Napoles-Herrera, 38, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — accidents involving damage to attended vehicles or property, failure to be licensed, limitations on overtaking on the left, no passing zone violation, careless driving and failure to give information and render aid.

Dorothy Kemfort, 53, of 400 Mahantongo St., Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Steven C. Peiffer, 36, of State Correctional Institution/Frackville — burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief.

Dex A. Mahute, 25, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — simple assault and harassment.

Kristi L. Zimmerman, 34, of 8 Pine View Drive, Orwigsburg — conspiracy.

Joseph Etherington, 33, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — criminal trespass.

Mark A. Smith, 28, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — theft and receiving stolen property.

Mark A. Wise, 45, of 133 Reservoir Road, Ringtown — disorderly conduct.

Gianna Julian, 18, of 124 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah — disorderly conduct and retail theft.

April A. Tovar, 38, of 438 W. Oak St., Shenandoah — accidents involving death or personal injury, failure to give information or render aid, failure to give immediate notice of accident to police, flashing signals violation and failure to yield right of way-pedestrians in crosswalks.

Dominic J. Streisel, 19, of 29 W. Spruce St., Box 196, Mahanoy City — possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Brett M. Kline, 22, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — retail theft and receiving stolen property.

Ronald W. Pratt, 44, of 504 Washington St., Tamaqua — simple assault and harassment.

Robyn L. Erney, 24, of 423 Hazle St., Tamaqua — retail theft.

Renee E. Gibas, 44, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — furnishing drug-free urine.

Margaret N. Hunsinger, 20, of 1758 W. Market St., Pottsville — bad checks.

Brittany L. Guris, 26, of 36 Kimber St., Apt. B, New Philadelphia — furnishing drug-free urine.

Ashley Pratt, 27, of 612 Fairview St., Pottsville — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael J. McGuinness, 21, of 429 Wheeler St., Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Victor Green, 23, of 106 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville — possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Paul D. Compinski Jr., 31, of 319 W. Market St., Rear Apt., Pottsville — resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and possession of a controlled substance.

Allison M. Hicks, 40, of 360 Front St., Pottsville — forgery, identity theft, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and bad checks.

Rebekah R. Johnson, 32, last known address of 1107 E. Arch St., Ashland — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bridget A. Steffie, 36, of 319 W. Market St., Apt. 5, Pottsville — theft and receiving stolen property.

Marcus T. Anderson, 42, of 316 N. 12th St., Pottsville — defiant trespass, public drunkenness, false identification to law enforcement, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Denette H. Williams, 32, of 1330 Spruce St., Ashland — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jeffrey C. Swiger, 39, of 360 Front St., Pottsville — forgery, identity theft, theft by deception, receiving stolen property and bad checks.

Andrew P. Chillemi, 34, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville, or 609 W. Arch St., Pottsville — criminal trespass, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, endangering the welfare of a child, resisting arrest, defiant trespass, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Richard B. Allen, 51, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — indecent assault and corruption of minors.

Nicole E. Brobst, 21, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — public drunkenness, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Bettyann Harmer, 44, of 515 School St., Minersville — violation of Public Welfare Code.

Kenneth W. Rich III, 24, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joshua S. Generella, 27, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sam A. Dorshimer, 29, of 1216 W. Norwegian St., Apt. 2, Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance, false identification to law enforcement, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked and sun screening and other materials prohibited.

Alexandra L. Marceau, 22, of 2617 Wynonah Drive, Auburn — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christopher M. Reed, 28, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — criminal trespass, simple assault, disorderly conduct, burglary, theft and receiving stolen property.

Joseph Polaconis, 28, of 1149 W. Lloyd St., Shenandoah — delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jennifer M. Probition, 38, of 800 W. High St., Frackville — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ronexon L. Collado, 32, of 115 N. West St., Shenandoah — disorderly conduct and harassment.

Zachary J. Wright, 33, of 205 N. Keystone St., Muir — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tara L. Peletsky, 32, of 620 Hobart St., Apt. 4H, Ashland — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Malea M. Schoffstall, 23, of 23 Rolling View Drive, Schuylkill Haven — theft.

Rodney A. Shultz, 37, of 318 New Castle St., Minersville — defiant trespass and harassment.

Charles R. Conti, 42, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — retail theft.

Nora G. Solano, 30, of 183 Florida Ave., Shenandoah — unsworn falsification to authorities and applications of firearms-false statements.

Wendy S. Barnetsky, 49, of 117 Coal St., Cumbola — theft and receiving stolen property.

Allen S. Johns, 38, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Richard J. Meyer, 23, of 509 Main St., Pottsville — theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.

Mark A. Smith, 28, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — retail theft.

Keith M. Kuzio Jr., 22, of 322 Laurel St., Minersville — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Katelin P. Flamini, 26, of 227 Louisa Ave., Pottsville — bad checks.

Toni B. Berzowski, 36, of 1159 Valley Road, Pottsville— criminal mischief, harassment and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ashley M. Williams, 20, of 727 Laurel Blvd., Pottsville — retail theft and theft by deception.

Tammy L. Strausser, 42, of 531 Peacock St., Pottsville — unsworn falsification to authorities.

Walter J. Defelice, 68, of 30 Shade St., Middleport — harassment.

Dakota S. Whitman, 21, of 20 Spruce St., Minersville — resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

George F. Barnes, 30, of 20 Lombard St., New Philadelphia — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.