Mark Kessler Termination Hearing Postponed After Loaded Gun Falls To Floor

Earlier tonight , the borough council of Gilberton, their lawyers, Mark Kessler, his lawyers, and the hearing officer, Sam Falcone met for a termination hearing which was scheduled after the borough council voted to terminate Kessler pending the hearing.

What has already been a media circus, this hearing did not disappoint either.

Suspended Gilberton Chief's Termination Hearing Tonight

The termination hearing for suspended Gilberton Borough Chief Mark Kessler will take place at 5:30PM this evening in Gilberton.

Word is news crews are already beginning to park outside Gilberton's Borough Building.

While the whole thing started because of Kessler making Youtube videos with the Borough's guns, the hearing is expected to focus on unrelated job performance issues.  Some charges are that Kessler didn't fill out mandatory government crime forms, use a law enforcement discount to get tires for his own vehicle, destroying borough property and was insubordinate towards council members.

Skook News will keep you up to date on what happens during the hearing.

Schuylkill County High School Football Power Rankings - Week #6

Schuylkill County High School Football Power Rankings - Week #6


3 undefeated teams remain at the top, but how far did Williams Valley fall?

3 From County Honored At Spirit of Courage Awards

Last night at the 8th Annual Spirit of Courage Awards, at the Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg campus in Bethlehem, 3 from Schuylkill County were honored.  The awards honor those for their acts of heroism or commitment to burn education.

Mahanoy City firefighters James Markiewicz and Paul Brutto Jr. were honored for when they rescued an elderly man and a couple from a burning building.

Girardville Fire Chief, Frank Zangari, was also honored for leading a smoke alarm distribution program that has put over 10,000 smoke alarms in Schuylkill County homes.

Police Investigating Missing Copper Wire

The State Police are looking for any information regarding missing copper wire in  Tremont Twp.

Police say 100 pounds of copper wire went  missing between October 4th and October 7th from two trucks in the 100 block of Mollystown Road.

Call state police at 570-739-1330 if you have any information.

Happy National Pierogie Day

Today marked the 5th Annual Pierogie Day across America and we wouldn't even be having this day without a well-known company right here in Schuylkill County.

Mrs. T's Pierogies is the largest producer of frozen pierogies in the country.  From finger food to eating it as a main course, they are the perfect for any occasion.

Turkey Hill Ice Cream Recall

Turkey Hill has voluntarily recalled some of  it's ice cream.

The company is saying the recall is limited to packages sold in Turkey Hill Minit Markets in Pennsylvania, some Wal-Mart stores in Pennsylvania and West Virginia and other small grocers and convenience stores in Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Ringtown Funeral Director Accepts Plea Deal With Prosecutors

In April 2013, Ringtown Funeral Director, Steve Oravitz was charged forging a name on a life insurance policy naming his business as the beneficiary of a 10,000 policy.

WNEP reported now that the funeral director has accepted a plea deal with prosecutors.  In the deal, 3 of the 4 felonies that Oravitz was charged with will be dropped.  The last remaining felony is being downgraded to a misdemeanor  charge of forgery.  In return, he will plead no contest.

The agreement calls for 100 hours community service and no jail time.

Tower City Man Flees Police With Boy In Car

James Lemmon, 40 of Tower City, was arrested on Sunday afternoon after he allegedly fled from police.

State Police in Lykens say when Lemmon saw a a trooper's car on Sunday afternoon in the borough, he fled at a high rate of speed for no apparent reason.

While fleeing, police say he ran several stop signs in Tower City before stopping and telling a 9 year old boy, who was also in the car, to run and get his mother.

Lemmon was charged with reckless endangerment, endangering the welfare of a child, fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, driving with a suspended license, and driving without insurance.

He was committed to Schuylkill County Prison on $25,000 bail.

Diesel Fuel Stolen From Tractor Trailor In Pine Grove Twp.

State Police are looking for information on an incident that happened last weekend in Pine Grove Twp.  A truck owned by Carlisle Carrier Corporation was parked  at the Pilot Truck Stop just off Interstate 81 from October 4th to October 6th and is said to have 100 gallons of diesel fuel stolen from it.

If anyone has information regarding this to please call the State Police at Schuylkill Haven at (570) 739-1330.

Ashland Man In Prison After Stabbing Tower City Man

Police were called to 921 Brock St., Ashland, on Wednesday evening around 10:50PM.  When they arrived, they found Joseph Scheib, with a stab wound to his hand and chest.

Police charged James Whitman, 23, with the stabbing.  Whitman is the owner of the residence.  Scheib is from Tower City.

Schuylkill County High School Football Scores - Week #6

Schuylkill County High School Football Scores - Week #6

Hamburg 0  Blue Mountain 33

Panther Valley 0  Marian 25

Minersville 0  Jim Thorpe 47

North Schuylkill 21  Tamaqua 14

Williams Valley 6  Pine Grove  14

Pottsville 0  Conrad Weiser 29

Shenandoah Valley 7   Schuylkill Haven  48

Millersburg 28  Tri-Valley 48

Scheduled for Saturday
Mahanoy Area 73 Carson Long 7
Nativity BVM 19 Columbia Montour Vo-Tech 6

PA Governor Tom Corbett Compares Gay Marriage To Incest

This morning while Governor Tom Corbett made an appearance on WHP-TV from Harrisburg, Corbett was discussing gay marriage.  The reporter interviewing him asked him about a statement his lawyers made comparing gay couples to marrying children, because neither are legal.

This was the Governor's response

"It was an inappropriate analogy, you know.  I think a much better analogy would have been brother and sister, don't you?".

Corbett is now apologizing for his own comments regarding incest.

"My words were not intended to offend anyone. If they did, I apologize."

What do you think about these remarks made by our Governor?

Ashland Man Taken Into Custody After Suspecting To Be On Bath Salts

An Ashland man was taken into custody after he entered a neighbors home and stripped naked in the bathroom.

James Johnson, 44, of 1331 Walnut St., Ashland, is accused of entering 1334 Walnut St. on September 21st and going to the bathroom where he was said to have stripped naked.

Two females and a young girl were home at the time.

Johnson was taken into custody but later released on bail.  He is being charged with felony counts of burglary and criminal trespass.

Schuylkill County Man's Response To Being Called A "Troll" By Congressman

Yesterday we published a story about Schuylkill County's United State Congressman, Matt Cartwright, calling a constituent from Schuylkill County a "troll".

Click here to read yesterday's article

This came after Leo Knepper, Pine Grove, asked the Congressman, "Why did you vote against funding our veterans?".  You can see the exchange in the image below.