PennDOT Lowers Speed Limits on Interstates

Due to road conditions from the snow, PENNDOT has lowered the speeds on Interstate 81 through Schuylkill County to 45 mph until further notice.

Ashland Doctor Facing Drug Charges

WNEP posted a story Thursday on Dr. Stephanie Tarapchak, who practiced in Ashland, is now facing drug charges.

She is accused from writing prescriptions to pain killers that have led to overdoses and one death.

Tarapchak is also facing charges for smuggling drugs into the Lackawanna County Prison by hiding them inside her rectum.

Tarapchak is to be prosecuted in Lackawanna County court, where she is also locked up at this time.

Tarapchak was charged with corrupt organizations, drug delivery resulting in death, prescribing outside the scope of practice, distribution/prescription to a drug dependent person, refusal or failure to keep records, controlled substance contraband to a confined person, perjury, endangering the welfare of children, recklessly endangering another person, insurance fraud, theft by deception and criminal conspiracy.

Link to full story below
http://wnep.com/2014/01/02/ashland-doctor-facing-drug-charges/

http://republicanherald.com/news/ag-schulkill-county-doctor-smuggled-drugs-into-lackawanna-county-prison-unlawfully-prescribed-pain-pills-1.1610951

Schuylkill County School Closings and Delays - 1/3/14

 

LAST UPDATED:  1/3/2014 5:35am

 

Assumption BVM - CLOSED

Blue Mountain - CLOSED

Gillingham Charter - CLOSED

Mahanoy Area - CLOSED

Marian - CLOSED

Minersville - CLOSED

Nativity BVM - CLOSED

North Schuylkill - CLOSED

Pine Grove - CLOSED

Pottsville - CLOSED

Schuylkill Haven - CLOSED

Schuylkill Maple Ave - CLOSED

Schuylkill Special Ed. Ctr - CLOSED

Schuylkill Tech North Campus - CLOSED

Schuylkill Tech South Campus - CLOSED
Shenandoah Valley - CLOSED
St. Ambrose/Schuylkill Haven - CLOSED

St. Jerome Regional/Tamaqua - CLOSED
St. Clair - CLOSED

St. Nicholas/Minersville - CLOSED
Tamaqua - CLOSED
Tri-Valley - CLOSED
Trinity Academy - CLOSED
Williams Valley - CLOSED

Hazleton Chinese Restaurant Searched Thursday Morning

The Standard Speaker is reporting that the Jumbo China Buffet in Hazle Township was searched by State Police Thursday morning.

Update:  It is now being reported that an employee stole credit card information from customers.

Link to article from Standard Speaker
http://standardspeaker.com/news/state-police-search-hazle-twp-restaurant-1.1610655

Our St. Patty's Shirt's Are Ready To Sell

We launched our t-shirt campaign today for our Schuylkill County Irish!  The great thing about this sale is now we have men's and women's styles.  You can get them at link below.  Once on that page, click the drop-down box labeled "Style" to see the shirt in different styles.

http://teespring.com/irishskook2

Men's

Women's V-neck

Water Boil Advisory Cancelled - Fountain Springs/Country Club Estates

The following has just been posted to Ashland Borough's Facebook page

WATER BOIL ADVISORY CANCELLED The Water Boil Advisory for Fountain Springs and Country Club Estates has been cancelled. The required sampling and testing of the water system has been conducted. The test results have indicated no presence of harmful bacteria. These tests demonstrate that the quality of your drinking water was not affected by the water main break and that it is safe for human consumption.

Schuylkill County School Early Dismissals - 1/2/14

Schuylkill County School Early Dismissals - 1/2/14

Grey Goose Bar, McAdoo Fire, Man in Custody

From TamaquaArea.com

Emergency responders were called around 12:20 AM today (Jan. 2, 2014) to 94 North Kennedy Drive (SR309) in McAdoo for a fully engulfed structure fire.

Overnight Fire in Quakake Displaces Family

From TamaquaArea.com

Firefighters responded to 4 East Main Street just before midnight last night (Jan. 1, 2014) for a report of a house fire. Firefighters were quick to respond and extinguish the fire. Fire was said to be caused by a clothes dryer.

Winter Weather Advisory Issued For Schuylkill County

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON THURSDAY TO 7 AM EST FRIDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM NOON THURSDAY TO 7 AM EST FRIDAY.

Overnight Fire in Ashland, Reported to Be Started By Homeowner

Around 1:30am Wednesday, Ashland Police were called to 1331 Walnut Street, Ashland, after a neighbor called police for the owner of 1331 was causing a disturbance and was throwing contents from the house into the street.

Officials Sworn in Today At Courthouse

This morning, two elected Schuylkill County Officials were sworn in.

Both John Domalakes and Christine Holman were sworn in.

John Domalakes was sworn in as the Schuylkill County Judge after retaining his  position in the November election. 

Christine Holman was sworn in as the new Schuylkill County District Attorney.

The images below are from Christine Holman's swearing in.

Pictures from L David Truskowsky

One Person Killed on Interstate 81 Crash

Mahanoy City crews were called to the Southbound Milemarker 129.5 Tuesday morning for a crash with ejection.

One person has been confirmed to have died in the crash.  They were pronounced dead by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner David Truskowsky.

State Police are reported to be investigating the crash.

WNEP is reporting that the man who died was Ralph Rumbel of Ringtown.

3 Alarm Fire Destroys Homes in Shenandoah

Photo from Schuylkill County Firewire

Around 10am, crews were called to 112 South Grant St. Shenandoah for a structure fire.  When crews arrived they found heavy fire in the rear of the structure.  The home was said to be unoccupied.

The fire also spread to another unoccupied home at  110 South Grant and to 114 South Grant Street which was occupied.

The fire call originally came in with entrapment but that turned out to be false.

One dog was rescued from the occupied home.

The fire hit a 3rd alarm after crews needed additional help from around the area for assistance.

No cause has been determined for the blaze at this time.

The Restaurant/Organization Voted Best Breakfast in Schuylkill County is . . . .

Over the weekend, we polled our followers on our Facebook page and asked our readers:

What restaurant/organization serves the best breakfast in Schuylkill County?

(Drum roll please) And the winner is: