Felony Warrant Issued By Rush Township Police

The Rush Township Police have issued a felony warrant for Tonya Napolitano, 30 for the theft of a firearm and cash.

Anyone with information on her whereabouts are asked to contact the Rush Township Police at 570-668-4242 or the Schuylkill County Communications Center at 570-668-6100.  She is possibly in the Tamaqua Area.  All tips will remain confidential.

This information is from the Rush Township Facebook page

Monday's Motor Home Fire in Mall Parking Lot

Just before 3pm Monday, crews were called to 958 Mall Road in New Castle Castle Twp (Holiday Inn Express, Schuylkill Mall) for a motor home fire.

When crews arrived the found the motor home engulfed in flames.

No injuries were reported and fire crews were clear of the scene within a half hour.

New Castle Twp Police are investigating.

Altamont and Englewood Fire responded.

BEST OF SKOOK: And the winner of the "Best Photographer" in Schuylkill County is . . . . . .

Ladies and gentlemen, with almost 700 votes cast for the "Best Photographer" in Schuylkill County, the winner is . . . . . .

Two Charged with Theft of Electricity in Shenandoah

As reported from the Shenandoah Police Department Facebook page

Police have filed charges against Santos Torres and Christina Ponce for theft of services with respect to an investigation conducted by Shenandoah Police and PP&L.

Sunday's Fire at the Majestic House Apartments in Tamaqua

Image from TamaquaArea.com

Posted from TamaquaArea.com

Tenants living in the Majestic House Apartments in Tamaqua evacuated while firefighters responded twice Sunday (Sunday, Feb. 23, 2014) to an apartment fire on the third story.

Schuylkill County District 11 High School Basketball Scores for 2/22/14

The PIAA District 11 District playoff scores for Schuylkill County are:

One Arrested for Methamphetamine Lab in Coaldale

From TamaquaArea.Wordpress.com

A methamphetamine laboratory was seized and man arrested during a police raid Friday evening (Feb. 21, 2014) at a Coaldale home. Pennsylvania State Police, Coaldale Police and Lansford Police took part in the raid at the home of 11 East Ruddle Street. Coaldale resident Jason Shiffert, 33, was arrested in connection with the meth lab and is being lodged in the Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of bail.

A sign on the front door of the property reads: “A clandestine laboratory for the manufacture of illegal drugs and/or hazardous chemicals was seized at this location on 02/21/14 by Pennsylvania State Police. Known hazardous chemicals have been disposed of pursuant to law. However, there still may be hazardous substances or waste products on this property either in buildings or in the ground itself. Please exercise caution while on these premises.”

PIAA District 11 Schuylkill County Boys Basketball Scores

District 11 Schuylkill County High School Basketball Scores

SKOOK EVENTS: Hometown Fire Company, Spaghetti Dinner, March 30, 2014

Overnight Motor Vehicle Accidents in West Penn and East Union Township

West Penn Township Fire was called to 1002 West Penn Pike Street, along Route 309 just after 11pm Thursday evening for a motor vehicle accident with a vehicle on an embankment.  Injuries were originally reported with the call but no other information was available.

About an hour later, just after midnight, E. Union Twp Fire was called to Holmesville Road/Green Mountain Road for a vehicle into a tree with injuries.  No other information or the severity of the injuries are available at this time.

Father, Mother, and Son Charged With Assault After Disturbance in Shenandoah

Updated with names:  02/25/14 at 8:20am

Around 7PM, Wednesday evening (February 19, 2014), Shenandoah Borough officers were called to the 100 Block of North Jardin St. for a fight in progress.  While enroute, officers were advised that the fight involved weapons in the form of shovels and that the fight was escalating.

When officers arrived, they found several people in the street with shovels.

Mark Kessler No Longer Police Chief of Gilberton, Signs deal for Reality Show?

Mayor Mary Lou Hannon, Gilberton Mayor, has confirmed with WNEP news that suspended borough Police Chief, Mark Kessler, is no longer the police chief.  Both the borough and Kessler came to a settlement on Thursday.

WNEP's story
http://wnep.com/2014/02/20/mark-kessler-no-longer-police-chief/

The Pennlive.com out of Harrisburg reports that he has signed with a national production company for a reality show.
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/02/settlement_ends_dispute_with_c.html#incart_river_default

Win Tickets to See Cesar Millan at the Santander Performing Arts Center

Skook News is pleased to announce, in conjunction with the Santander Performing Arts Center, your chance to win 2 tickets to see Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, at the Santander Performing Arts Center in Reading, PA on Sunday, March 15th at 3 pm.

More details will be announced Monday, February 24th, 2014 when the contest starts on how you can win these tickets.

Below is some information about the show itself and if you are interested in buying tickets.

Dozens Arrested in Heroin Sweep in Hazleton

Image from AttorneyGeneral.gov

The Attorney General's Office announced that 30 people were arrested today in a heroin sweep in Hazleton.  Over 9,000 packets of heroin were seized in the operation.

http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=7495

You can read the full list of people from the link above, but some of the people arrested were from Schuylkill County.

Schuylkill County Basketball District 11 Playoff Schedule

The PIAA District 11 Schedule for District playoffs are as follows:

Schuylkill County High School Basketball Scores

Schuylkill County High School Basketball for 2/19/14

Boys

Lehighton - 85

Tamaqua - 59

Interstate 81 Open Again After Being Closed for Over 4 Hours

Interstate 81 Southbound near the Pine Grove exit and above is reportedly open to at least 1 lane after being closed for over 4 hours.

The Interstate has been closed to traffic at the 104 (Ravine), 107 (Tower City), and 112 (Hegins) exits.

Tuesday Morning Fire in Mahanoy City

 Posted from TamaquaArea.wordpress.com

A woman is displaced after a fire destroyed her Mahanoy City home Tuesday morning.

Schuylkill County School Closings/Delays for 2/19/14

Schuylkill County School Schedule Changes for 2/19/14

Due to the the icy weather conditions, schools have changed dismissal times or cancelled.

Icy Road Conditions Wednesday Morning

The freezing rain that was predicted for this morning proved to be dangerous once it began falling just after 8am this morning.

Accidents have been reported from Route 61 in Orwigsburg, Route 61 near Port Clinton, Owl Creek Road in Tamaqua, and all over Interstate 81.

The Interstate is reported to be closed southbound from at the exits at 104 (Ravine), 107 (Tower City), and 112 (Hegins).  Multiple accidents were reported within a 2 mile stretch of the Interstate near the Pine Grove exit.  One of the accident was reportedly to involve a car and a tractor trailer.

There were also accidents reported Northbound on Interstate 81 near milemarker 131.

Current Closures (at 9:56am)

 - Interstate 81 Southbound - Milemarker 112-100
 - 209 between Tamaqua and Coaldale
 - Hometown Hill near Hometown
 - Owl Creek Road, Tamaqua

Tuesday's 3 Vehicle Accident in West Penn Township

Just after 2 PM, Tuesday, crews were called to a 3 vehicle head on accident along Route 443 in West Penn Twp.

One Arrested in Connection with Wal-Mart Arson

One man was arrested Tuesday evening for allegedly setting a fire  in the lawn and garden section of the Hometown Wal-Mart.

WNEP is reporting that Police said Johnathan Maldanado, 20, from Hazleton admitted to starting the fire by lighting a can of Silly String and leaving it on a shelf in the store.

Johnathan L. Maldonado, 20, of Hazleton is in custody, arraigned and placed into Schuylkill County Prison on $50,000 straight cash bail.  

No word if there are any other persons of interest.

Link to earlier article with surveillance of other suspects

http://www.skooknews.com/2014/02/police-need-help-identifying-4-people.html

Schuylkill County High School Basketball Scores

Schuylkill County High School Basketball Scores for 1/18/14

Girls

Emmaus 60

Pottsville 54

Charges Filed Against Man in Car Chase in Shenandoah

Photo from Shenandoah Police Department FB Page

Charges have been filed against man, Timothy Kelly, after he led Shenandoah Police in a vehicle pursuit during the morning hours of Thursday, January 13, 2014.

According to the Shenandoah Police Department Facebook page, Kelly led officers in a vehicle pursuit that began in the Turkey Run area of the borough then ended up going off road ending near Yatesville Road.

The chases ended when Kelly rammed a Shenandoah Police cruiser then fled.

Police Need Help Identifying 4 People In Relation to Arson Fire at the Hometown Wal-Mart

Posted from tamaquaarea.wordpress.com

Rush Township Police are asking the public’s help in identifying four individuals involved in an arson fire this morning (Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014) inside the Hometown Wal-Mart.

(PAGE DOWN TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE SUSPECTS)

“These four individuals are responsible for starting the fire near the lawn and garden section of the store,” said Sgt. Duane Frederick, Rush Township Police Department. “The males ran out of the store and got into a black vehicle and fled the parking lot headed north on SR309.” Emergency personnel responded to the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Hometown at 2:26 AM for a report of flames and thick white smoke inside the lawn and garden section of the store.

Truck Overturns in Rush Township Tuesday Morning

Posted from TamaquaArea.wordpress.com

No one was injured after a driver flipped his full-size truck on its side around 8 AM today (Feb. 18, 2014) along Ye Old Hauto Road in Hometown, Rush Township. The incident occurred near the SR54 (Lafayette Avenue) intersection. Responding were Rush Township Police, Hometown Fire Company, Quakake Fire Police and Hometown Fire Police. Hope’s Towing removed the vehicle.

Overnight Fire At Hometown Wal-Mart

Posted from:  TamaquaArea.Wordpress.com

Shortly after 2:30 this morning (Tuesday, February 18, 2014), emergency personnel responded to the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Hometown for a report of flames and thick white smoke inside the lawn and garden section of the store.

Winter Views of Tuscarora State Park

Photos by:  Ryan Fannock

Photos taken on 2/17/14

Schuylkill County School Delays/Closings 2/18/14

Schuylkill County School Delays/Closings for 2/18/14

Updated: 6:38am

Assumption BVM - 2 Hour Delay

Blue Mountain - 2 Hour Delay

Child Development - HEad start and pre K closed, day care open

Gillingham Charter - 2 Hour Delay

Mahanoy Area - CLOSED

Minersville - 2 Hour Delay

Nativity BVM - 2 Hour Delay

North Schuylkill - 2 Hour Delay

Our Lady of Lourdea Regional - 2 Hour Delay

Penn State&/Schuylkill - open at 10

Pine Grove - 2 Hour Delay

Pottsville - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Haven - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Health School of Nursing - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Maple Ave. - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Special Ed. Center - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Tech North & South - 2 Hour Delay

Shenandoah Valley - 2 Hour Delay

St. Ambrose/Schuylkill Haven - 2 Hour Delay

St. Clair - 2 Hour Delay

St. Jerome/Tamaqua - 2 Hour Delay

St. Nicholas/Minersville - 2 Hour Delay

Tamaqua - 2 Hour Delay

Tri-Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Trinity Academy - 2 Hour Delay

Williams Valley - 2 Hour Delay

BEST OF SKOOK: And the winner of the "Best Cheesesteak in Schuylkill County" is . . .

 

And the winner of the "Best Cheesesteak in Schuylkill County" is . . . . 

Summit Hill Couple Turns Snow Piles in Snow Art

Posted from TamaquaArea.Wordpress.com


A sizable creation in the front yard of a Summit Hill home is drawing lots of attention. Summit Hill residents Fred Evans Jr., Shannon O’Donnell and Kevin Gieniec have spent numerous man-hours creating a 45-foot long Valentine’s Day display made of snow, ice and a few other materials. It’s features include a red heart-colored igloo, a 10-foot red arch and about a dozen colored ice hearts.

Schuylkill League Championship Finals

Final scores from tonight's Schuylkill League Championships

Girls

Minersville - 61

Marian - 46

Boys

Mahanoy Area - 45

Pottsville - 44

Photo courtesy of: Megan Powers

Pottsville Church Opens Doors To Help Others Through Snowstorm

Trinity Episcopal Church, Pottsville had opened a shelter for the heatless, homeless, or anyone who needed a place to stay throughout the snowstorm.

WNEP and the Republican Herald posted stories about this incredible act of kindness.


Republican Herald
http://republicanherald.com/news/church-in-city-offers-shelter-to-snowbound-homeless-1.1634529


WNEP
http://wnep.com/2014/02/13/helping-storm-victims-in-pottsville/

Schuylkill County School Closings/Delays for 2/14/14

Schuylkill County School Closings for 2/14/14 

Alvernia universe/ Schuylkill, Closed

Blue Mountain - Closed

Child Development - Closed, Daycare opens at 8am

Gillingham Charter - Closed

Mahanoy Area - Closed

Marian Catholic - Closed
McCann School of Business/Pottsville - 2 Hour Delay

Minersville - Closed

Nativty BVM - Closed

North Schuylkill - Closed

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional - Closed

Penn State Schuylkill - Closed

Pine Grove - Closed

Pottsville - 2 Hour Delay, Act 80 Begins at 10am, No School for students

Schuylkill Haven - Closed

Schuylkill Maple Ave - Closed

Schuylkill Tech North and South - Closed

Shenandoah Valley - Closed

St. Ambrose/Schuylkill Haven - Closed

St. Clair - 2 Hour Delay, Act 80 begins at 10am, No school for students

St. Jerome/Tamaqua - Closed

St. Nicholas/Minersville - Closed

Tamaqua - Closed

Tri-Valley - Closed

Trinity Academy - Closed

Williams Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Pictures from Around Schuylkill County During the February Snowstorm

Pictures from around Schuylkill County today during the February 2014 snowstorm

Outside T102 (From T102 Fan Page)

Outside T102 (From T102 Fan Page)

Dutch Hill, Tamaqua (TamaquaArea.com)

Pine Grove

Mahanoy City

Port Carbon

Speed Limits Reduced on 209, 309, and Interstate 81

Due to extreme winter road conditions, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in the region. PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:

• Interstates 78, 80, 81, 176 and 380;
• U.S. Routes 22, 222 and 422; and
• State Routes 33, 209 and 309.

2 Injured in Walker Township Crash

Posted from TamaquaArea.Wordpress.com

Two people were taken to the hospital for unknown injuries around 5:30 PM, Wednesday after the pickup truck they were in crashed into a tree along Wildcat Road in Walker Township. The crash occurred westbound in the area of 200 Wildcat Road. Responding were Tamaqua Rescue Squad, New Ringgold Ambulance, Walker/New England Fire Company, Tamaqua’s South Ward Fire Company and State Police.

Schuylkill County Basketball Semi Final Results

Schuylkill League Basketball Playoffs - Semi-Final Results

Girls

Minersville - 46

Pottsville - 42

Marian - 31

North Schuylkill - 28

Boys

Mahanoy Area - 49

Blue Mountain - 35

Pottsville - 56

Williams Valley - 30

Schuylkill County School Closings and Delays for 2/13/14

Schuylkill County School Closings and Delays for 2/13/14

Alvernia College Schuylkill - Closed

Assumption BVM - Closed

Blue Mountain - Closed

Gillingham Charter - Closed

Mahanoy Area - Closed

Marian Catholic - Closed

McCann School of Business/Pottsville - Closed

Minersville - Closed

Nativity BVM - Closed

North Schuylkill - Closed

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional - Closed

Penn State/Schuylkill - Closed

Pine Grove - Closed

Pottsville - Closed

Schuylkill Haven - Closed

Schuylkill Maple Ave - Closed

Schuylkill Special Ed. - Closed

Schuylkill Tech North and South - Closed

St. Ambrose/Schuylkill Haven - Closed

St. Jerome Regional/Tamaqua - Closed

St. Nicholas/Minersville - Closed

Tamaqua - Closed

Tri-Valley - Closed

Trinity Academy - Closed

Williams Valley - Closed

Recalls on Prius and Graco Car Seats

The first recall announced this morning was for the Toyota Prius.  The massive global recall is to fix a software glitch that could cause the car to stall.

The recall includes 1.9 million vehicles that were sold from 2010 to 2014.

The second recall is for almost 3.8 million Graco car sets for a faulty belt buckles that could make it hard to free a child during an emergency.  The seats recalled are the 2009 to 2013 model years of the Cozy Cline, Comfort Sport, Classic Ride 50k, My Ride 65, My Ride with Safety Surround, My Ride 70, Size 4 Me 70, Smartseat, Nautilus, Nautilus Elite and Argos 70.

Schuylkill County Parking Bans - 2/12/14 through 2/14/14

Schuykill County Parking Bans for 2/12/14 through 2/14/14

Keep an eye on this page for more parking bans before, during, and after the storm.

** If you know of any that are not listed, please let us know via our Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/SkookNews

Ashland

Snow Emergency - A snow emergency has been declared for Thursday and Friday, all vehicles must be moved from the posted route between the hours of 2:00 AM and 6:00 AM to allow the PADOT trucks to plow to the curb.

 http://www.ashlandborough.com/snow-emergency/

Frackville

Snow ban in effect until Friday at 4pm

Mahanoy City Borough

2/13/14

Snow Parking Ban again Tonight Mayor has issued a snow parking ban once again tonight There will be NO PARKING between Midnight & 7AM on the following streets: Centre St. , Main St. , South St from 2nd Street west to Borough line.

 Although the ban is only midnight to 7am, I recommend not parking on those streets starting now.

Middleport

Update to Middleport Snow Ban as of 6 P.M. tonight till 6 P.M. on Friday. There will be no parking both sides on Washington St., Coal Street (South side of the street), Walnut Street and Kaska St. (East Side of the street) More Streets may be added Times may change also any updates please check Citizen's fire company #1 of Middleport Facebook page.

Minersville

All vehicles must be moved off of Sunbury St. By 5am, 2/13/14. Vehicles not moved will be removed by police.

Pottsville

As of 4 PM today (Wednesday)....City of Pottsville Snow Emergency is in effect. All vehicles must be off the route. Peacock St. however is exempt from this storm due to excessive ice that cannot be plowed. PLEASE SHARE

Shenandoah Borough

There will be NO PARKING along snow emergency routes on Wednesday, February 12, 2014 due to the Inclement weather we are suppose to receive. The snow emergency route is as follows, *Main street*- From Washington St to the Gold star bridge and *Centre* Street- Between White st and West streets.

***This ban will be in effect from 2AM Thursday Feb. 13 until 6AM Friday Feb. 14.***

Tamaqua

Tamaqua Mayor Chris Morrison declared a State of Emergency around 8 AM this morning for the borough. “The State of Emergency is to encourage drivers to stay off the roads and allow plow crews to do their jobs,” said Borough Manager Kevin Steigerwalt. He added that the State of Emergency was also issued in case of any possible state or federal assistance. “Tamaqua’s State of Emergency remains in effect until further notice,” added Steigerwalt. Lansford also issued a State of Emergency for it’s borough.

Charges Dismissed in Assisted Suicide Case

The Republican Herald is reporting that the charges against Barbara Mancini, of Philadelphia have been dismissed in the case against her that she allegedly helped her father try to kill himself in Pottsville in February 2013.

http://republicanherald.com/charges-dismissed-in-assisted-suicide-case-1.1632669