Skook News - Your #1 Source for Schuylkill County News

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Luring Incident Investigation in Pottsville

According to the Republican Herald, Pottsville Police are investigating a possible luring incident Thursday morning.

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The Humane Fire Company, Pottsville, will hold it's 2nd Annual Crab Fest on Saturday, September 19th from 6:00PM to 9:00PM.

Schuylkill County Road Work Scheduled for Next Week

Sheriff Joe Groody announces the 10th National Prescription Drug "Take-Back Day” on Saturday, September 12 from 10:00 am – 2:00pm.

The 2015 Schedule for Halloween Parades and Trick or Treats in Schuylkill County.

World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) is an awareness day observed on 10th September every year, in order to provide worldwide commitment and action to prevent suicides, with various activities around the world. The International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP), collaborates with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Federation for Mental Health, to host World Suicide Prevention Day. In 2011 an estimated 40 countries held awareness events to mark the occasion. The United Nations issued 'National Policy for Suicide Prevention' in the 1990s which some countries use as a basis for their suicide policies.

Below is a link with information to recognize someone who could be suicidal and prevent it as well.

Ways to prevent suicide
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/suicide_prevention.htm

Pennsylvania State Police Child Passenger Safety Fitting Events in Schuylkill County

The Pennsylvania State Police will participate in National Child Passenger Safety Week from Sunday, September 13, 2015, through Saturday, September 19, 2015. Additionally, Saturday, September 19, 2015, has been designated as “National Seat Check Saturday.”

Submitted Photo

Emergency Personnel were called to an apartment building fire around midnight Thursday morning in Tamaqua.

Submitted Photo

Emergency Personnel were called to a garage fire Wednesday night around 11:00PM at 9th and Brock Streets in Ashland.

According to scanner traffic, police arrived first on the scene and reported the fire as working and reported explosions coming from within the fire.

Ashland and Girardville Fire Departments were called but Ashland arrived first and had the fire under control and knocked down within minutes.

Submitted Photo

Fire Crews at the Scene of a 2nd Alarm Fire in Tamaqua

Emergency personnel were called around midnight Thursday morning to 210 Washington Street, Tamaqua for a working Apartment Building Fire.

Schuylkill County High School Football Schedule for Week #2

Former Teacher Waives Right to Hearing, Case Heads to Trial

A former North Schuylkill teacher waived her right to a hearing on Wednesday.

Melinda Trezise, of Cressona, waived her right to a hearing on Wednesday to charges where she allegedly had sex with a 13 year old student. Two charges were also withdrawn on Wednesday.

Trezise is facing charges statutory sexual assault, institutional sexual assault and related offenses after one of Trezise's former students told police the two had sex more than a dozen times at her home.

The assaults reportedly took place between February and April.

Trezise had resigned from her position as a 6th grade teacher and turned herself in back in July and was later released on bail.

The case will now head to trial.

Story on charges
http://www.skooknews.com/2015/07/former-teacher-charged-with-having-sex.html

Yuengling Ice Cream Announces Launch of Online Merchandise Store

Orwigsburg, PA - Yuengling’s Ice Cream, an American-owned super-premium ice cream brand, announced the launch of its online merchandise store. Beginning today, fans may purchase a variety of merchandise, including trademarked collectors’ items and apparel in adult and youth sizes. Merchandise can be shipped anywhere in the contiguous United States.

American Legion Organizing Community Band

ASHLAND AMERICAN LEGION POST 434

Wants' you for a Community Band. Any age, gender or instrument . Need not be a resident of Ashland.

After an investigation, Schuylkill Haven Borough Police have charged Cody Sticker, 22, of Pine Grove for a robbery that took place on August 29th.

Statewide, Nine people were killed and 230 others were injured in the 664 crashes investigated by the Pennsylvania State Police during the four-day Labor Day holiday weekend driving period.

Schuylkill County HS Football Team Stats:

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*AS OF WEEK-1*

Frackville Police Arrest 2 on Drug Charges

On Tuesday, Frackville Borough Police arrested Jairol Q Abreu and Pablo E Padilla-Troche both of West Hazleton on drug delivery charges.

These charges are the results of a controlled buy of heroin conducted by Borough Officers and members of the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force.

Both men have been charged with Delivery of a controlled substance, conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, criminal use of communication faculty, conspiracy possession of a controlled substance, driving while suspended, driver required to be licensed and driving without a valid inspection. Both men will have to answer to the above charges before Magistrate Hale, Frackville.

Photos and information posted from

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Frackville-Borough-Police-Department/1636188593263126

History of Grand Marshals of the ABA Parade

The Ashland Boys Association, which was established in 1901, celebrates it's annual homecoming in the borough on Labor Day with a parade.

"Schuylkill County - Where My Story Begins" t-shirts are now available in our Skook Apparel Store!

Just after 98am, Monday morning, emergency personnel responded to a crash on Interstate 81 at Milemarker 138.

Just before 8am Tuesday morning, emergency personnel were called to the area of the Mile Hill for a motor vehicle accident.

Scheduled Interstate 81 Road Work in Schuylkill County

Scheduled Schuylkill County Road Work

On Saturday, September 5, 2015, the North Schuylkill School District held an open house of the former Cardinal Brennan Campus. The district purchased the campus in January 2015.

Photos of the 2015 Ashland Boys' Association Parade

Ashland's 2015 Ashland Boys Association Parade took place on Saturday at 6pm.

Man Dies After Going Into Cardiac Arrest While Being Handcuffed

Just after 4:00am Friday morning, police were called to the area of 2nd and Main Street in Girardville for a man who was running down the street yelling and trying to get into passing cars.

According to the Morning Call, when State Police arrived, they found the individual to be Lucas Marcus, 33, of Minersville. After attempting to make contact with Marcus, he was then tasered and handcuffed.

While being handcuffed, Marcus then went into cardiac arrest.

Marcus was then airlifted to a hospital in Reading where he later died on Saturday.

Full story from the Morning Call
http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-schuylkill-county-man-dies-after-arrest-20150905-story.html

Story from the Republican Herald
http://m.republicanherald.com/state-police-probe-death-of-minersville-man-1.1937964

Update with surveillance video provided by WNEP

Overturned Trailer Closes Interstate 81 Friday Afternoon in Schuylkill County

Labor Day travelers faced some traffic issues while trying to get through Schuylkill County Friday afternoon.

PPL Customers Could See Rate Increase If Settlement Approved

(PRESS RELEASE) - PPL Electric Utilities and the advocates and interest groups who intervened in the company's rate proceeding have reached a settlement that would increase delivery rates and help fund additional reliability improvements.

"This is a fair settlement among all the parties in the case," said Greg Dudkin, president of PPL Electric Utilities. "We appreciate the constructive dialogue that enabled us to reach this agreement."

The company will use the increased funding to continue its work to prevent power outages for the 3 million people who depend on PPL for safe and reliable electric service.

If approved, the settlement would mean a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt-hours per month who does not shop for electricity supply would see an increase of about $7.55 a month. Their bill would increase from the current $147.31 per month to $154.86.

The majority of the company's residential customers – about 65 percent of them – uses less electricity and would have a smaller increase in their monthly bills.

There would be no increase in the fixed-charge portion of residential customer bills. PPL Electric Utilities would receive an overall increase in annual revenues of $124 million.

"We are in the midst of game-changing improvements in the quality of service for our customers," said Dudkin. The company plans to spend more than $5 billion during the next five years to renew, strengthen and modernize its electricity delivery network.

PPL Electric Utilities will continue to invest in smart grid technology, new power lines and substations, continued tree trimming activities and stronger poles and wires – all aimed at preventing outages from storms and other causes. The investments are paying off for customers:

Customers now have 20 percent fewer outages than they did in 2007.
Reliability is expected to improve by at least another 20 percent in the next five years because of additional investments.
Tree-related power outages are down 18 percent compared to the average of the previous 10 years. Trees are the biggest cause of power outages in storms.
In the first half of 2015, nearly 200,000 power outages were prevented because of work PPL is doing to improve its system.

"Our 2,300 employees are finding new ways every day to improve service to customers," Dudkin said. "And at the same time, we are focused on operating more efficiently to make sure electric service from PPL remains a good value for our customers."

The settlement must be approved by the state Public Utility Commission administrative law judge and the PUC. If approved, the increase would take effect on Jan. 1, 2016.

PPL Electric Utilities provides electric delivery service to more than 1.4 million homes and businesses in Pennsylvania and ranks among the best utility companies in the country for customer service and reliability. With 2,300 employees, PPL Electric Utilities is a major employer in the communities it serves. It is a subsidiary of PPL Corporation (NYSE: PPL). For more information visit www.pplelectric.com.

Friday, September 4, 2015

Schuylkill County High School Football Scores for Week #1

Around 8:45pm Friday evening, emergency personnel were called to a house fire at 311 West Walnut Street, Hegins.

The Kraft Heinz Company is expanding the voluntary recall of select code dates and manufacturing codes of individually-wrapped American slices due to the possibility that a thin strip of the individual packaging film may remain adhered to the slice after the wrapper has been removed. If the film sticks to the slice and is not removed, it could potentially cause a choking hazard.

Today, Friday September 4th, is a Law Enforcement Appreciation Day at Arby's in the Schuylkill Mall.

The Good Intent Fire Company No. 1, Pottsville, will be holding an apparatus housing on October 10, 2015.

Stop by October 1, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sweet Arrow Lake County Park clubhouse for a seminar that demonstrates a common sense approach to self-protection tempered with the mentality of the martial arts. This program is for all ages, senior groups, scout groups, youth groups, etc. The presentation by Ben Rocuskie, Instructor, includes a lecture and simple escape techniques. A free will offering will be accepted. Please register by September 17th by calling Susan at 570-624-3018.

Pumpkin Decorating

Attention all crafters! Decorate your Fall pumpkins in a not so usual way. This hands-on class will be held Tuesday, September 29, 2015, 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. at the Sweet Arrow Lake County Park clubhouse. This program is suitable for teens and adults and is free and open to the public. Supplies will be provided.

2nd Annual Poker Paddle

Spend an autumn afternoon floating on Sweet Arrow Lake on Sunday, September 27, 2015 starting at 1:00 p.m. You will be given a set of poker cards as you float and the best hands win. Prizes include a kayak, Cabela’s gift certificates, & more.

Fall is very near and just in time to help deal with the leaves that will be falling the Penn State Master Gardeners present a Backyard Compost Clinic on Wednesday, September 23, 2015, 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Sweet Arrow Lake County Park Clubhouse.

Upcoming Schuylkill Mall Events

Entrance Ramp to Interstate 81 at Ravine ReOpened

(PRESS RELEASE) Pottsville, PA – On Wednesday, U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, has awarded a total of $146,290 in Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) funds to the Tuscarora Fire Company and the Sheppton-Oneida Volunteer Fire Company.

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) are seeking input from the community regarding the recently identified human remains discovered during the construction of the PA 61 Safety Improvement Project in Schuylkill Haven Borough and North Manheim Township, Schuylkill County.

The annual Ashland Boys Association Parade is scheduled for this Saturday, September 5th at 6pm in the borough.

As of Thursday morning, police are still searching for the suspect from an officer being assaulted.

On Wednesday evening, around 6pm, a West Penn Police Township Officer stopped to assist a disabled vehicle on Route 309 on the Blue Mountain. When they approached the vehicle, a hispanic male, originally reported to be a black male, picked up the officer and threw them over an embankment.

On Wednesday evening, eastern Pennsylvania experienced what we've only ever seen on the news. West Penn Police Officer Melissa Ruch was assaulted after she stopped along Route 309 on the Blue Mountain for a disabled vehicle. As she approached the vehicle, the suspect picked up Ruch and threw her over a 20 feet embankment. Ruch suffered injuries and was flown to a local hospital.

Police Officer Flown After Being Assaulted

An officer was flown after being assaulted in West Penn Township Wednesday evening.

READING, PA - Brew Crew Events and Wilder Entertainment Group will bring Pennsylvania brewers together for a one-day event in October that puts the spotlight on beer brewed in PA.

Thursday, September 10, 2015

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Sunday, September 6, 2015

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Friday, September 4, 2015

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Wednesday, September 2, 2015