Hersheypark Announces New Enhancements To Ensure a Sweet 2016 Season

This year, Hersheypark celebrates 109 seasons of making guests Hersheypark Happy and there are lots of new reasons to smile with new offerings this year.

For 2016, new culinary treats include:

• A new Chickie’s & Pete’s location in Founder’s Way with signature burgers and salads on the menu. 
• Makin’ Whoopie Pies is opening a second location at The Boardwalk at Hersheypark and will offer ice cream sandwiches and smoothies.
• Simply Chocolate will now offer King-Size Shakes, a 32-ounce indulgence in various Hershey’s flavors; plus exciting new Chocolate Bark in an array of flavors, and chocolate-dipped favorites like Twizzlers and bacon.
• Three custom-designed souvenir cups, featuring Hershey’s Product Characters Hershey Bar, Reese’s, and Hershey’s Kiss will now be sold throughout the Park with discounts given to guests choosing to purchase more than one souvenir cup.
• A new Gatorade stand is now located in The Boardwalk at Hersheypark dispensing beverages and offering guests a fun photo opportunity. 

New food and beverage offerings aren’t the only things new to Hersheypark this year. The Entertainment department has two exciting new shows:

• Dance, Dance, Dance: America!, a musical journey beginning with our founding roots and continuing right down Main Street. 
• Country Roads, featuring boot-stomping tunes that serve up stories of love and dreams.

The Hersheypark Retail Department will now offer a heat press, located at Character Corner. This heat press gives guests the option to customize their Hersheypark apparel with neon, glitter, and glow-in-the-dark letters and numbers.

For more information, visit Hersheypark.com, follow Hersheypark on Facebook or #Hersheypark on Twitter and @Hersheypark on Instagram. For insider tips and behind-the-scenes information follow us on Blog.HersheyPA.com

Pauch Jr. Prepared To Defend 358 Modified Title At Big Diamond Speedway

MINERSVILLE, PA. -- There are not many things that Billy Pauch, Jr. can say that he has accomplished in racing that his legendary father Billy Pauch, Sr. has not.

Winning the Big Diamond 358 modified track title is one of them.

The 28-year-old used consistency last year while scoring one win en route to his first-ever modified track title after coming very close to winning the title in 2014.

“We have had two good years in a row and we are hoping that we are as good as we have been and that we can get more wins than we have had in the last two years,” Pauch Jr. said.

The third-generation racer who scored his first-ever modified win at the track in 2006 will look to make it two straight titles as the CJ’s Automotive & Tire Services 358 modifieds open the 2016 season on Friday, April 1, with the 30-lap feature paying $4,000 to win.

The U.S.S. Achey sportsman, Savage 61 roadrunners and 600 modifieds will round out the four-division racing card. The 20-lap sportsman feature pays $1,000 to win while the roadrunner feature pays $300 to win.

Pauch, Jr. experienced the highs and lows of life during the off season.

He and his wife Michelle welcomed their first child, a son, William Arthur on Dec. 31, 2015. He lost both of his grandfathers including the patriarch of the family, Roy Pauch, on March 7.

“He was a huge part of my racing,” Pauch, Jr. said of Roy. “He spent a lot of time with me and he was at the Diamond a lot on Friday nights. I don’t know who will yell at me but someone sure will.”

Pauch, Jr. said the one piece of advice that has stayed with him from Roy is that the most motor doesn’t win.

“When the track gets slick, you have to de-tune the motor and not spin your wheels,” he said.

The 2016 season will see Pauch, Jr. once again pilot his own car.

“We built a brand new car and we have two fresh motors and we gained a sponsor; that’s huge,” he said. “We’re in a better position to compete and hopefully it will show a little bit more this year. We’re ready to tackle the title defense but we’ll see how things go after the early part of the year.”

“I think the competition is going to be a little bit tougher this season,” he continued. “We’ll seen when June comes around as to who is still there and we’ll adjust our competition level.”

The gates will open at 5:30 p.m. on April 1 with warm ups at 7:45 and racing at 8:15. General admission is $20 while kids 12 and under and active military with a VALID ID, are free.

Coming up on Friday, April 8 will be the Money in the Mountain race as the CJ's Tire & Automotive Services358 modifieds race 40 laps for $5,000.

Crews Battle 3-Alarm Fire in Minersville Friday Afternoon

Around 2:50pm, Friday afternoon, fire and emergency personnel were called to the corner of Sunbury Street and Delaware Street, Minersville for an apartment building fire.

One Injured in Afternoon Fire in Ryan Township

One person was flown due to their injuries after a fire Friday afternoon.

Woman Facing Animal Cruelty Charges for Shooting Roosters in Borough

Ashland Borough Police have charged a woman for allegedly shooting and killing two roosters earlier this month.

Gerber Voluntarily Recalling Some Organic Pouch Products

Gerber Products Company is voluntarily recalling specific Organic pouch products after identifying a packaging defect that may result in product spoilage during transport and handling. Because of our commitment to high quality, Gerber is working to retrieve from retailers and online stores the remaining pouches from the four affected batches of GERBER® Organic 2ND FOOD pouches that fail to meet our quality standards. We are offering replacement coupons for consumers who purchased the following products:

GERBER® Organic 2ND FOODS® Pouches –Pears, Carrots & Peas, 3.5 ounce pouch

UPC 15000074319

Best By dates/batch codes
12JUL2016 51945335XX
13JUL 2016 51955335XX

--------------------------------------------------

GERBER® Organic 2ND FOODS® Pouches- Carrots, Apples and Mangoes, 3.5 ounce pouch

UPC 15000074395

Best By dates/batch codes
JUL132016 51955335XX
JUL142016 51965335XX

This recall does not impact any other Gerber pouches, other Gerber products or any Gerber products outside of the US.

Consumers may notice that, in some cases, the pouches are bloated and product inside may have an off taste or odor. There have been three consumer reports of temporary gastrointestinal symptoms, however, we have been unable to confirm that these are related to the product. Consumers should not use the product, since it does not meet our high quality standards.

The products were distributed at U.S. retailers nationwide and through on-line stores. Consumers who purchased pouches with the above UPCs, batch codes and expiration dates are encouraged to contact the Gerber Parents Resource Center at 1-800-706-0556 anytime day or night for a replacement coupon.

Woman Facing Drug Charges After Traffic Stop

Mahanoy Township Police arrested Aprilann Tovar during a traffic stop Thursday.

Intruder Makes Himself at Home, Uses Bathroom, Watches TV

An intruder made himself at home in Coaldale.

Man and Woman Charged for Scattering Rubbish

An Ashland man and woman were charged with scattering rubbish in the borough.

Early Morning Fire Damages 4 Homes in Tamaqua

An early morning fire damaged 4 homes in Tamaqua.

Crews at the Scene of an Early Morning Working Structure Fire

Crews are at the scene of a working structure fire in Tamaqua.

Schuylkill County Man Charged with Arson for 2014 Fire in Harrisburg

A Schuylkill County man has been charged with arson for a 2014 fire.

Community Honors Iraq War Veteran

On Wednesday, a community gathered to remember and help a family deal with the loss of a father and hero.

Richard G. "Rick" Lynn, 30, of Frackville passed away unexpectedly this past Saturday.  Lynn, who entered the army after graduated high school, served in Iraq and received the Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon and Overseas Service Ribbon.

On Wednesday, the community gathered to show their respect by waving flags and lined Frackville's South Lehigh Ave while The Patriot Guard Riders led the procession from the Frackville American Legion to Fort Indiantown Gap.

Police Investigating Retail Theft

The Rush Township Police Department is investigating a retail theft that occurred at Wal-Mart in Hometown.

The theft occurred on March 22nd, 2016 at 5:49PM. 

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Rush Township Police at 570-668-4242.  All information will remain anonymous.

The Rush Township Police Department is investigating a retail theft that occurred at Wal Mart in Hometown. The theft...
Posted by Rush Township Police Department on Wednesday, March 23, 2016

LCCC Tamaqua Offers Summer 2016 Credit Course Taught by Senator Argall

Schnecksville, Pa., March 22, 2016 – Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) will offer a 10-week summer credit class at its Tamaqua campus with Senator Dave Argall as the instructor. State and local government course PSC 142 runs May 23 through Aug. 10, from 5:45 to 9:45 p.m. at LCCC’s Morgan Center.

This is a great opportunity for students to learn of the application of the course content to our Pennsylvania government system by local resident Argall, who has a significant amount of experience as a state representative as well as with his role now as senator.

Registration for summer 2016 courses is now open. For more information about LCCC’s credit classes or any of the programs being offered, or to register, visit www.lccc.edu or call 610-799-1575.