Skook News - Your #1 Source for Schuylkill County News

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Frackville Man Accused of Setting Fire Inside Cell at SCI-Mahanoy

A Frackville man is accused of setting fire to his cell at SCI-Mahanoy.

The national average price for regular unleaded gasoline has increased every day since January 27 for a total of 22 cents per gallon over 22 days. Today’s average price of $2.26 per gallon is seven cents more than one week ago and 19 cents more than one month ago. Consumers are still saving $1.10 per gallon at the pump in comparison to this date last year, a spread that has slowly started to narrow after widening to as much as $1.25 per gallon on January 26.

Our 2015 Schuylkill County Saint Patrick's Day Shirts are available.

On Tuesday, two announcements were made regarding elected Schuylkill County officials.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory for Central Pennsylvania

Tuesday Night's District 11 High School Basketball Playoff Scores - 2/17/15

PennDOT Temporarily Waives Certain Restrictions on Commercial Drivers Hauling Heating Oil, Propane Gas‏

To ensure that much-needed heating fuel can reach Pennsylvanians with no interruptions, PennDOT has temporarily waived certain restrictions on commercial drivers to allow for the smooth delivery of heating oil and propane gas to homes and businesses for heating purposes.

HARRISBURG – Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane today announced that agents from her office have arrested a Schuylkill County woman accused of stealing $11,400 in Social Security benefits from her grandmother, who has dementia and was not capable of consenting to the withdrawals from her bank account.

Middletown - A jackpot-winning Cash 5 ticket worth $225,000 wwas sold in Schuylkill county for the Feb. 15 drawing.

The State Police out of Hamburg are investing a kidnapping that occurred Monday, February 16th, 2015 on the 1300 block of Hawk Mountain Road, Albany Twp. Berks County.

The Republican Herald is reporting that on Tueday morning employees of the K-Mart in the Schuylkill Mall were informed that the store would be closing later this year.

Mall Manager, Elaine Maneval, had the following comment

"We have valued Kmart as a tenant at Schuylkill Mall for many years, and are obviously disappointed that they will not be extending their lease at the end of its current term, which is Oct 2015. Candidly, this is not a big surprise, as Kmart and Sears have been realigning their corporate strategy, and as a company, now operates fewer than ½ the stores that existed (3500) when the companies merged, with approximately 200 stores closing in 2014.

In anticipation of this potential closure, the Landlord engaged CBRE|FAMECO to pursue replacement tenant(s) in the event Kmart did not extend their lease, effectively trying to get in front of the decision, proactively, rather than reacting to the official notice provided today. This is also our first notice that Kmart has formally decided to close their store at Schuylkill Mall."

Earlier story regarding the space being up for lease
http://www.skooknews.com/2015/02/k-mart-location-at-schuylkill-mall.html

Link to story in the Republican Herald
http://republicanherald.com/kmart-to-close-at-schuylkill-mall-later-this-year-1.1834317

**Story updated at 3:30pm to add comment from Elaine Maneval

Haulpak Overturns in Mahanoy Township

Emergency personnel were called to Patriotic Hill along Route 54 between Mahanoy City and Shenandoah for an overturned haulpak around noon Tuesday.

Schuylkill County School Delays and Closings - 2/17/15

TRAFFIC ALERT: Crash Reported on Southbound Route 61 Between Frackville and St. Clair

Around 3pm, emergency personnel were called to the area of Deadman's curve on Route 61 southbound on the Frackville Grade between Frackville and St. Clair.

Schuylkill County Weather Related Announcements - 2/16/15

ORWIGSBURG, PA (February 16, 2015) – As early as next week, customers will begin to see four new flavors of Yuengling’s Ice Cream hit the shelves.

Minersville Police raided a drug house in the borough last week.

K-Mart Space at Schuylkill Mall Listed for Lease

Is the K-Mart anchor location in the Schuylkill Mall available for lease?

Schuylkill County School Delays for 2/16/15

Around 8:30am, emergency personnel were called to Route 309 to the Mile Hill in Kline Township for a two vehicle accident.

2015 District 11 High School Basketball Playoff Schedule for Schuylkill County Teams

2015 District 11 High School Basketball Playoff Schedule

for Schuylkill County Teams

Due to the current winter storm, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in the region.

The National Weather Service Has Issued a High Wind Warning until Sunday at Noon for Schuylkill County.

Schuylkill County Weather Related Announcements - 2/14/15

A tractor trailer rollover closed Interstate 81 for a period of time early Saturday morning.

Scheduled Schuylkill County Road Work

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory and Wind Chill Watch from Saturday into Sunday

Schuylkill League High School Basketball Championship Scores

Around 6:30am Friday, emergency personnel were called to East Elm Street, near the intersection with Market Street, for a motor vehicle accident.

A GoFundMe account has been setup for the victim of an accident from Sunday.

Upcoming Schuylkill Mall Events - February Through May

Listing of Upcoming Schuylkill Mall events from February Through May

Interstate 81 Roadwork Scheduled for Schuylkill County

Schuylkill County School Delays for Friday, 2/13/15

A family in Auburn made a shocking discovery when they attempted to insult their home.

The National Weather Service has issued a Wind Chill Advisory for Schuylkill County

Schuylkill League Boys High School Basketball Semifinal Scores - 2/11/15

Powerball frenzy has begun with a jackpot of almost $500 million.

Tuesday night was the finale of Schuylkill County Jr. Idol VII at the Schuylkill Mall.

Schuylkill League Girls High School Basketball Semifinal Scores - 2/10/15

Schuylkill County High School Basketball Playoff Scores - 2/10/15

Schuylkill County School Delays & Closings - 2/10/15

A 3 year old child was left on Schuylkill Transportation System School Bus Friday instead of being dropped off at school.

Ashley Gould's 3 year old son attends Child Development, Duncott Center, near Minersville. On Friday, she sent her son on his way to school via a STS school bus along with the other students who attend the school.

Around 11:30am, Gould visited her son's school to volunteer her time. She assisted at the school for an hour and a half and then proceeded to leave around 1:00pm. But before she could leave, she was pulled aside by the school supervisor.

The director informed Gould that her son had been left on the bus Friday morning after the other students were dropped off. According to Gould, the supervisor informed her that, around 9:00am, a head count was done on the bus, then getting off the bus, then one last head count in the school. It was during the school's last head count, they realized Gould's son was missing.

The child was then reported missing, but never informed Gould.

According to Gould, the school contacted the STS facility in St. Clair where the bus would have been headed. The supervisor reportedly found the driver getting off the bus. The supervisor then found the child in the bus unbuckled. The child was then transported back to the Duncott school.

At the time of writing this article, we have not received comments from the school or STS.

We will update this story as more information is available.

Freezing Rain Advisory Issued

A Freezing Rain Advisory remains in effect until this afternoon for Schuylkill County

Schuylkill County School Delays & Closings - 2/9/15

Winter Weather Advisory Issued for Schuylkill County

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Schuylkill County

A Shenandoah man was injured Sunday morning after being struck by a vehicle.

Hazardous Weather Outlook Issued for Schuylkill County

The National Weather Service has issued a Hazardous Weather Outlook for Schuylkill County and the surrounding counties

Emergency personnel were called to the area of Ringtown Blvd and Reservoir Road, near Ringtown, Union Township for a motor vehicle accident with rollover around 8:15pm Friday.

Schuylkill County State Representatives Jerry Knowles (R-124), Mike Tobash (R-125) and Neal Goodman (D-123) announced this week that 118 volunteer fire and EMS units throughout Schuylkill County have been approved to receive more than $1.4 million in state grant funding through the Pennsylvania Fire Company and Ambulance Service Grant Program.

Is A-Treat Making a Return Already?

A-Treat soda may be making a return just as quickly as it disappeared.

Schuylkill County Road Work Scheduled for Next Week

Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Monday, February 16, 2015

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Saturday, February 14, 2015

Friday, February 13, 2015

Thursday, February 12, 2015

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Monday, February 9, 2015

Sunday, February 8, 2015

Saturday, February 7, 2015

Friday, February 6, 2015