Gilberton Borough Council Votes to Abolish Police Department

In 1981, the Gilberton Borough established an ordinance to create a Police Department and Fire Chief position.  On Thursday, the borough's council voted to abolish the Police Department portion of that ordinance 6-0.

The borough has been without it's sole member of the police force, Mark Kessler, since July, when he was suspended after creating Youtube videos using the borough weapons with it's permission.

In February, the borough settled with Kessler

2 People Killed in Crashes in County Saturday Morning

On Saturday morning, 2 separate crashes claimed the lives of 2 individuals.

Human Bones Found Between Frackville and St. Clair

WNEP is reporting that State Police are investigating human remains that were found in a woooded area along Route 61 between Frackville and St. Clair yesterday evening.

They say a skull and hip bone were found by 2 hikers around 6pm Thursday evening.

The investigation is still ongoing.

http://wnep.com/2014/03/28/hikers-find-human-remains-in-schuylkill-county/

Flood Watch Issued For Schuylkill County

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING ...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A
* FLOOD WATCH FOR A PORTION OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA ...INCLUDING THE FOLLOWING AREAS ...ADAMS ...COLUMBIA ...CUMBERLAND ... DAUPHIN ...FRANKLIN ...JUNIATA ...LANCASTER ...LEBANON ...MONTOUR ... NORTHERN LYCOMING ...NORTHUMBERLAND ...PERRY ...SCHUYLKILL ... SNYDER ...SOUTHERN LYCOMING ...SULLIVAN ...TIOGA ...UNION AND YORK.
* FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING
* A STORM SYSTEM WILL LIFT NORTH FROM THE TENNESSEE VALLEY AND ACROSS PENNSYLVANIA SATURDAY AND POSSIBLY REDEVELOP ALONG THE DELMARVA COAST ON SUNDAY. RAIN FROM THIS SYSTEM WILL SPREAD FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ACROSS ALL OF CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA ...AND CONTINUE INTO SATURDAY NIGHT. RAIN IS EXPECTED TO BE HEAVY AT TIMES ...MAINLY ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 81.
* STORM TOTAL RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF 1 TO 2 INCHES ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THIS TIME OVER THE SUSQUEHANNA RIVER VALLEY. THIS RAINFALL MAY PRODUCE SIGNIFICANT RISES AND POSSIBLE FLOODING OF SMALL STREAMS ...CREEKS AND MAINSTEM RIVERS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ...
A FLOOD WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR FLOODING ON SMALL STREAMS ...CREEKS ...POOR DRAINAGE ...URBAN AND LOW-LYING AREAS BASED ON CURRENT FORECASTS.

Breast Cancer Awareness Football Game Saturday

On Saturday, March 29th, the Schuylkill County Predators will be taking on the Mifflin County Tomahawks at the Simon Kramer Cancer Institute, New Philadelphia in a Breast Cancer Awareness Game.

Both teams are 2-0 and are asking that all people that attend should wear pink.

Kick off is at 1PM.

The game is free to attend.

Parking Restrictions for Mahanoy City Residents

The Mahanoy City Police Department posted on their Facebook page parking restrictions for the borough that will start Monday, March 31st.

Web Site Set Up To Donate to Boy Struck By Boulder

A web site has been setup if you are interested in donating to the family of Michael Allen, 7,  who was injured on March 20th when he was playing on a hill in Pottsville and a boulder gave way and struck him.  He has been in a medically induced coma since the accident.

If you would like to help out, you can donate through a page that has been setup at the link below

https://www.giveforward.com/fundraiser/2794/hope-for-mikey-allen

Reported Man Poses As Cop in West Brunswick Twp.

According to a report from WGAL out of Lancaster, State Police are looking for a 6 foot tall, white male, with a bald head, no facial hair, in his late 30's, for posing as a cop in West Brunswick Twp. over the weekend.  The suspect was said to be wearing jeans and a black shirt.

Fire Chief Says Pottsville Fire Is Suspicious

The Republican Herald is reporting that authorities are considering last evening's fire on Schuylkill Ave. in Pottsville suspicious.

You can read the story below

http://republicanherald.com/fire-chief-considers-pottsville-blaze-suspicious-1.1658363

The newspaper is also reporting that the two firefighters that were injured were electrocuted when their ladder struck a PPL line.  Both were taken to the hospital where they were treated and released.

4 Homes Damaged By Fire In Pottsville, Firefighters Injured

 Around 9pm, Wednesday evening, crews were called to 734 Schuylkill Ave. in Pottsville on a working structure fire.

"Skook State of Mind" Official Video Released

Matt Freiler, of Deer Lake, the man behind the "Skook State of Mind" video that went viral earlier this month, has finally released an official video.

Mahanoy City Native Hired As Head Coach of University Basketball Team

Getty Images

According to multiple reports, including CBS Sports, Mike Rhoades, a native of Mahanoy City, has been hired as Head Coach of the Rice University Owls Men's Basketball team.

In prior years, the Owls have posted single digit wins for consecutive seasons and have missed the NCAA Tournament 44 years consecutively.

Rhoades has been an assistant coach for Virginia Commonwealth University since 2009. In 2011, VCU reached the Final Four of the NCAA Tournment.

Prior to VCU, Rhoades was head coach of the Division III Randolph Macon.  As head coach Rhoades posted a record of 197-97 over 10 years.

We'd like to wish Rhoades the best of luck.

Jamie Barton Drops Out of State House Race

The Republican Herald is reporting this morning that one of the Republican candidates for the 124th State Legislate District, Jamie Barton, has dropped out of the race for the Republican nomination.

Barton was attempting to unseat the incumbent Republican Jerome Knowles.

Below is the full story
http://republicanherald.com/barton-drops-out-of-race-for-state-house-nomination-1.1657301

Schuylkill County School Delays for 03/26/14

Schuylkill County School Delays for 03/26/14

Williams Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Reports of Fuel Stolen in Porter Township

Reports are stating that someone stole about 250 gallons of off road diesel fuel from the Rausch Creek Coal Co. in Valley View, Porter Township.

It's said that the gas was stolen from the gas tanks on an excavator and bulldozer between 4pm Friday, and 7am Monday.

Anyone with information is to call State Police at Schuylkill Haven at 570-739-1300.