Skook News - Your #1 Source for Schuylkill County News

Monday, February 15, 2016

The Skook Recovers: Community Outreach Event at North Schuylkill

PHOTO: Sunset Over Lake Wynonah

Sunset Over Lake Wynonah Sunday Evening. Photo Courtesy of Neil Sibulsky

Schuylkill County School Delays & Closings - 02/16/16

Schuylkill County School Delays - 02/16/16

After being closed for almost 10 years, a well-known restaurant is getting new life.

Schuylkill County Early Dismissals - 02/15/16

Schuylkill County Snow Emergencies and Parking Bans - 02/15/16

Schuylkill County Snow Emergencies and Parking Bans - 02/15/16

On February 11, 2016, tires and rims were stolen from a vehicle on the lot of All American Jeep, Tamaqua.

The incident occurred around 8:30PM.

Below is video of the

theft.

Anyone with information should call Tamaqua Police at (570) 668-5000.

Crews On Scene of Early Morning 3-Alarm Fire in Shenandoah

Around 4:15am, Sunday, fire crews and emergency personnel were dispatched to 5 North Main Street, Shenandoah for a house fire.

As units arrived on scene, the fire was upgraded to a 2nd alarm, then a 3rd alarm later for manpower.

Crews from the surrounding communities have been called. The crews are battling 5 degree weather as they battled the blazed

As of 8:00am, crews are still on scene.

More details when they are available.

Working fire currently in Shenandoah
Posted by Schuylkill County Firewire on Sunday, February 14, 2016

Saturday, February 13, 2016

2016 District XI High School Basketball Playoff Schedule

Lane Restrictions Scheduled for This Week for Bridge Inspections

Schuylkill League Championship Basketball Results

Schuylkill League Championship Basketball Results

On Friday, Mahanoy City Police arrested Pietrina C Hoffman, 52, for the death of a 15 month old Navaeh Doyle on January 10th, 2016. Mahanoy City Police report she was the caretaker of the child.

Scheduled Interstate 81 Road Work in Schuylkill County

Schuylkill League Boys Basketball Playoff Semi-Final Results

Submitted Photo

A driver fled a crash in Mahanoy Township late Thursday.

Frackville Man Facing Assault Charges

Frackville Borough Police arrested Addison Hummel, 22, of Frackville, after an incident in the borough on Monday February 8th, 2016.

By popular demand, the Funkin' Fastnachts t-shirts are now available in our Skook Apparel Store.

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane’s office today warned of a new variation of a pervasive telephone scam that aims to defraud taxpayers. The well-known “IRS scam” has reemerged recently, but this time fraudsters are posing as U.S. Treasury agents.

Around 9:45AM, Thursday morning, fire crews were called to 33 Maple Street, Pine Grove, for a working structure fire.

Pottsville, PA – February 11 is 2-1-1 Day. What better time to recognize this new call service making a difference in Schuylkill County!

2-1-1 is the free, confidential, 24-hour information and referral service that connects Schuylkill County with all the health and human services available to help.

“People called to find information on basic needs, like heating or utility assistance, eldercare, or to find the closest food bank,” said Kelly K. Malone, Executive Director, Schuylkill United Way. “But they also called for everyday information like where to take their child for developmental screening, or how to locate job training or how to schedule free tax filing support through local services.”

“Without 2-1-1 assistance, the average person would make numerous phone calls to many different agencies before finding what they’re looking for,” said Toni Gainer, 2-1-1 Director. “And even then, it may not be the right answer. 2-1-1 information and referral specialists are specially trained to listen, assess the situation, ask the appropriate questions, and then refer the caller directly to the human services that will address their problems.”

Schuylkill United Way has been providing referral services since October 2015, and became part of the national 2-1-1 program launched by United Way over 20 years ago. The user-friendly, three-digit 2-1-1 number now serves more than 283 million Americans—more than 90% of our population—in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

So what happens when someone calls 2-1-1? The call is routed to the regional 2-1-1 call center based in Lancaster County. There it is answered by a trained, bilingual information and referral specialist, who discerns the need, then searches a comprehensive database of relevant human service referrals. The 2-1-1 specialist then explains how to access those services, availing a translation service for over 170 different languages, if needed.

Here are just two examples of lives touched locally by 2-1-1:

A veteran recently reached out to 2-1-1 in need of housing assistance for his family. United Way’s 2-1-1 trained referral specialists were able to serve as the vet’s first point of contact so that he and his family maintained a roof over their heads.

Although housing was the vet’s most pressing need, the trained, information and referral specialist assessed the family situation and learned that he and his family also needed utility and food assistance. He was also connected with utility assistance programs, local food pantries, a place to apply for SNAP/Food Stamps, and how to file their taxes for free.

A mother, calling from a rural area, needed help for her son. Treatment for a workplace injury had escalated into an addiction to pain medication. Her 2-1-1 specialist connected her with the substance abuse professionals he needed. She was also referred to assistance programs such as support groups for herself and her son.

United Ways have been long-standing supporters and the national leader of the 2-1-1 movement in Partnership with AIRS (Alliance of Information and Referral Services). As the largest private funder of the 2-1-1 network, United Ways continue to strengthen and support 2-1-1 as another way to build stronger communities and create opportunities for all.

Schuylkill County School Delays - 02/11/16

Mahanoy Area - 2 Hour Delay, Elementary Only

Minersville - 2 Hour Delay

North Schuylkill - 2 Hour Delay

Tri-Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Trinity Academy - 2 Hour Delay

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Schuylkill League Girls Basketball Playoff Semi-Final Scores

Schuylkill League Girls Basketball Playoff Semi-Final Scores

Around 10:00PM Monday evening, emergency crews were called to the area of the Bad Dog Fitness Center, along Route 924, near Shenandoah for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle.

Did you know that registration stickers will be eliminated at the end of 2016? How will law enforcement verify your license plates going forward?

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At the invitation of PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards, legislators and law enforcement officers received a demonstration of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology that provides law enforcement a better tool to verify expired vehicle registrations.

“License plate reader technology allows a single law enforcement officer to quickly, accurately and reliably check the status of thousands of license plates on a single shift using information from PennDOT’s registration database to determine if there are expired registrations or lack of
insurance for the vehicle,” said Richards. “It is a true force multiplier.”

Plate reader technology holds numerous advantages over the visual inspection of registration stickers, which can be counterfeited, sold, affixed to dead plates or applied to plates for which they were not intended. By querying the registration information using ALPR technology, a law enforcement officer
can identify expired vehicle registrations and insurance coverage. If there is something wrong, the officer would be immediately alerted by the ALPR of a problem with the vehicle’s registration.

To help law enforcement to prepare for the provision of Act 89 of 2013 that eliminates issuance of vehicle registration stickers by 2017, PennDOT is proposing a grant program utilizing the savings from the elimination of the registration stickers. The grant program could provide grants to law
enforcement officers for the purchase and maintenance of license plate readers.

With the elimination of registration stickers beginning January 1, 2017, customers will see a significant benefit in increased convenience when renewing vehicle registrations.

“Without the registration sticker, the future of Pennsylvania vehicle owners certainly looks brighter with respect to the registration renewal process,” said Richards. “By further leveraging technology, we can make renewing your vehicle’s registration and having an immediate, permanent registration
credential in hand as easy as spending a few minutes online from your home computer.”

Beginning January 1, 2017, customers who renew online will be able save a copy of and print a permanent registration card on demand. Future plans also include allowing customers to eventually upload their registration cards to their smart phones and eliminate the requirement to print a copy altogether.

Further savings will be realized in reduced mailing costs. Currently, 40 percent of customers already renew vehicle registrations online. Eliminating the need to mail these customers a registration sticker coupled with the ability to print their registration card on demand will eliminate more than $2 million per year in mailing costs. In addition, the elimination of the registration stickers will save $1 million a year in product costs, bringing the estimated first year savings to approximately $3.1 million.

The last registration sticker will be issued December 30, 2016. Customers will still need to have their vehicles registered and inspected, but will not be required to display a registration sticker on their license plate after December 31, 2016.

For more information on the plan to eliminate registration stickers, please visit www.dmv.pa.gov and look under the Registration Stickers tab under Vehicle Registration. The elimination of the registration sticker was evaluated as part of a Penn State University research study that concluded eliminating the registration sticker would have no impact on compliance with vehicle registration laws. A copy of the study is on the Driver and Vehicle Services webpage at www.dmv.pa.gov at the Registration Stickers tab under Vehicle Registration.

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Two Pennsylvania Residents Test Positive for the Zika Virus

The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced Tuesday ,the first confirmed cases of Zika virus in two residents who recently traveled to countries affected by the ongoing outbreak of the disease.

Schuylkill County School Delays and Closings - 02/10/16

Assumption BVM - 2 Hour Delay

Blue Mountain - 2 Hour Delay

Gillingham Charter - 2 Hour Delay

Mahanoy Area - 2 Hour Delay

Minersville - 2 Hour Delay

Nativity BVM - 2 Hour Delay

North Schuylkill - 2 Hour Delay

Pine Grove - 2 Hour Delay

Pottsville - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Haven - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Maple Ave - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Tech North and South - 2 Hour Delay

Shenandoah Valley - 2 Hour Delay

St. Ambrose / Schuylkill Haven - 2 Hour Delay

St. Jerome / Tamaqua - 2 Hour Delay

St. Clair - 2 Hour Delay

Tamaqua - 2 Hour Delay

Tri-Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Trinity Academy - 2 Hour Delay

Williams Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Wanted Man Turns Himself In

On February 8th, 2016 Frackville Borough Police were summoned to Magisterial District Judge Christina Hale’s office, Frackville, where a wanted person wished to turn himself in.

Schuylkill County Snow Emergencies and Parking Bans - 02/09/2016

SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a 25-year-old Shenandoah resident connected to a large-scale heroin trafficking ring that operated in Schuylkill County during 2012 through September 2015, pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton.

Around 2:00pm Tuesday afternoon, Interstate 81 both north and southbound between the Hegins and Tower City exits due to a tractor trailer rollover at Milemarker 107-108.

There are reports of multiple accidents in the area.

UPDATE: The Interstate is reported to be shut down at Northbound Milemarker 104 (Ravine).

UPDATE(9:30PM) - interstate is now open in both directions.

More details when they are available.

The back-up on Interstate 81 South is roughly two miles long. Traffic is completely stopped pic.twitter.com/dPGlwqYpdQ
— Eric Deabill (@ericdeabill) February 9, 2016

LCCC Hosts National Hispanic College Fair

Schnecksville, Pa., Feb. 8, 2016 –Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) will partner with Career Council Inc. as it hosts a national college fair focused on assisting Hispanic and Latino students with college education choices. This event will be held on Thursday, March 3, from 9 a.m. to noon, in Berrier Hall, at main campus in Schnecksville, Pa.

National Hispanic College Fairs Inc.® was founded in 1998 to assist the rapidly growing Hispanic/Latino population in obtaining access to a college education. Today, CC/NHCF serves 125,000 students and 1,800 colleges/universities in over 50 locations across the United States every year.

The college fairs bring admissions representatives from a broad range of colleges/universities and vocational training institutions to high school juniors and seniors, providing them a unique opportunity to become aware of their many options and to compare the offerings of participating institutions. Students are provided with current available scholarship and grant information. Partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund helps minority students gain the widest access to the resources available to them.

For more information on the National Hispanic College Fair, please contact LCCC’s Admissions office at admissions@lccc.edu or 610-799-1575.

Beyoncé to Bring Formation World Tour to Hershey

Beyoncé will bring her highly anticipated The Formation World Tour to HersheyparkStadium on Sunday, June 12 at 6:00 p.m.

Schuylkill County Early Dismissals - 02/09/16

Schuylkill League Basketball Playoff Semi-Final Schedule

Schuylkill County School Delays and Closings - 02/09/16

Pedestrian Struck Near Shenandoah, Route 924 Closed

Just after 10:00pm, Monday evening, emergency crews were called to the area of Bad Dog Fitness Center, on Route 924 outside Shenandoah for reports of pedestrian that was hit.

Just after 4:00am, fire crews were called to a house fire located at 321 Airport Road, Barry Township.

Click to View

On Wednesday, February 17th, 2016, the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce will host a Breakfast Seminar featuring Senator Dave Argall and Representative Jerry Knowles to discuss updates from Harrisburg.

Link to Printable Form

Police Investigating Break-In at Little League Field

The Ashland Police Department is investigating a break-in to a storage shed at the Ashland Little League Field.

Big Diamond Speedway Plans Thrilling Schedule For 2016

MINERSVILLE, PA - There will be no shortage of excitement during the 2016 season at Big Diamond Speedway.

HARRISBURG – Senator David G. Argall (R-Schuylkill/Berks) will be listening to the concerns of local residents and discussing the governor’s latest budget proposal during a telephone town hall event on Tuesday, February 9 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.

“The governor is scheduled to deliver his second budget address in which he’s expected to ask the taxpayers for more of their hard-earned money,” Argall said. “Over the last year, the overwhelming consensus from Berks and Schuylkill County residents is to not give in to the governor’s demands for higher taxes. This will give local residents a forum to express their concerns and provide valuable feedback for me in relation to the governor’s budget address.”

Argall encourages local residents to participate by signing up on his website in advance at www.SenatorArgall.com or by dialing 1-877-229-8493 and using access code 111786 the night of the event.

In addition to fielding questions on state government issues, Argall will also ask participants for feedback during the call on a number of issues, including school property tax reform, pension reform, welfare reform, among others.

Cabin Fever Hike with Porcupine Pat Scheduled

Shake off those winter blahs by enjoying a crisp walk outdoors with “Porcupine Pat” on Saturday, February 27, 2016, 10:00-11:30 a.m. at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. This walk will invigorate you as we check for winter weeds, winter birds, and enjoy winter scenery. Meet in the Waterfall Road parking lot at the park. This program is free and open to the public and is suitable for all ages.

Tree-mendous Winter Tree Id Trek Scheduled

On Sunday, February 21, 2016 sharpen your natural detective skills by trekking the trails of Sweet Arrow Lake County Park to search for the true personalities of a variety of deciduous trees. Service forester Frank Snyder of the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry leads you on a field walk, now that the leaves are down, to learn how to identify deciduous trees using twigs, buds, bud scars, bark, tree form and other features.

Meet at the large pavilion near the Park clubhouse at 2:00 p.m. and be sure to dress for the weather. All participants will receive a complimentary copy of the “Common Trees of Pennsylvania” field guide. Grab your hat and mittens and get out there and enjoy the winter with us! This program is free and open to the public.

Community Rallies to Help Hegins Valley Family After Medical Emergency

Hegins, PA - The Wolfgang family of Hegins are learning just how strong their local community is. When Michael Wolfgang fell unexpectedly ill soon after Christmas and was hospitalized, friends and family quickly organized efforts to help the family in crisis. An upcoming Chinese Auction is being organized to support the family of Michael Wolfgang. The event will be held Sunday March 6th at Sacramento Fire Hall. Doors open at 12:00pm and the auction starts at 2:00pm. A preview day for those unable to make Sunday’s auction will be open on Saturday, March 5th from 6:00-8:00pm. All proceeds will go toward the medical expenses Michael has accumulated during his hospital and rehabilitation stays.

An unknown infection caused total paralysis below Michael’s waist, leaving him in intensive care and unable to return to work. Michael is the husband of Amy and father to two children, Tanner and Alexa, students at Tri-Valley High School.

“The community has really come together very quickly to help out Mike and Amy and the kids.” states Christy Leiter, longtime friend of the Wolfgang family. “We have been receiving generous donations from friends and strangers alike. The school district and many local businesses and organizations have already donated some wonderful prizes for the auction despite the short amount of time we’ve had to prepare. I know Mike and Amy are so grateful to live in a community that really cares. He has a long road to recovery and he’s been working so hard every day to get better. Knowing so many people are pitching in to help is an immense relief to Mike and his family. ”

Donations are still being collected. Individuals and businesses interested in donating to the auction can contact Leiter at 570-985-7240. An event, Chinese Auction to Benefit Michael Wolfgang, has been created on Facebook with additional details about prizes. Fliers have been distributed around the community. Refreshments will be served at the auction which also features a 50/50 raffle and a large prize table.

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Scheduled Schuylkill County Road Work

Bald Eagle Shot in Carbon County; PA Game Commission Seeks Information

The Northeast Region Office of the Pennsylvania Game Commission is seeking anyone who may have information on an immature bald eagle that was found dead in Towamensing Township, Carbon County.

Wildlife Conservation Officer Cory Bentzoni reports that the eagle was shot and killed with a firearm, likely before Jan. 23. The eagle was discovered on Sunday, Jan. 31, in a wooded area near the intersection of Trachsville Hill Road and Pohopoco Drive.

The bald eagle is federally protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. It is a protected species under the Game and Wildlife Code.
“These majestic birds cannot protect themselves from people intent on doing them harm,” said Bentzoni. “We are hopeful that someone will step forward with information concerning this senseless act.”

Anyone with information regarding this incident is asked to contact the NE Region of the PA Game Commission at (570) 675-1143.

GAME COMMISSION SEEKS INFORMATION ON DEAD EAGLE The Northeast Region Office of the Pennsylvania Game Commission is...
Posted by News 13 on Friday, February 5, 2016

Dorney Park Responds to Viral Post Regarding Employee Who Was Let Go

A Facebook post went viral overnight after it pointed out that a long time employee of Dorney Park was let go.

Submitted Photo

Schnecksville, Pa., Feb. 5, 2016 –The Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) aviation program has been approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as a Part 141 Flight School, in addition to its existing status as a ground school.

Monday, February 15, 2016

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Saturday, February 13, 2016

Friday, February 12, 2016

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Monday, February 8, 2016

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Saturday, February 6, 2016

Friday, February 5, 2016