Yuengling Ice Cream Began Production This Week

At a special new conference this morning at the Leiby's Dairy Inc., Tamaqua, Yuengling Ice Cream President, and Rob Bohorad, the Chief Operating Officer, announced that because of an overwhelming response, they have begun production this week.

Production was not suppose to begin until March.

The first batches of ice cream are expected to hit the shelves in major grocery stores by mid-February.  Weis and Acme were both mentioned as locations.

The suggested retail price will be $5.49 to $5.99 per quart

Ten all-natural flavors of ice cream are being produced for their first run

Vanilla, Chocolate, Chocolate Chip, Black and Tan (chocolate and caramel), Vanilla Fudge Chunk with Pretzels, Espresso Chocolate Chip, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Chocolate Marshmallow, Root Beer Float, and Mint Chocolate Chip.

At the state-of-the-art facility, they will be able to make 40 quarts of ice cream per minute, 14,000 quarts per day, and 100,000 quarts in the initial 10 day run.

Yuengling ice cream initially was in operation from 1920-1985.  Yuengling introduced ice cream  to supplement the brewery's revenue during prohibition.

Production stopped in 1985 when no successor to the then-president Frederick "Fritz" Yuengling could be identified.

The new president, David Yuengling, is the son of Fritz.

Schuylkill County High School Basketball Scores - 1/16/2014

Scores from last night's games - 1/15/2014

SKOOK EVENTS: All You Can Eat Breakfast - Independent Hose Company

The Independent Hose Company, Diener's Hill, sponsors all-you-can-eat breakfasts from 7:30 a.m. to noon on the third Sunday of the month. The cost is $7 for adults and $3.50 for children. Patrons may eat in the fire Hall or take meals out. For more information, call 570-429-0867. All are welcome.

SKOOK EVENTS: Block Shoot - East End Fire Company, Tamaqua

BLOCK SHOOT FEBRUARY 9TH AT TAMAQUA'S EAST END FIRE COMPANY!

SKOOK EVENT: Chili Cook Off

On Saturday 1/18 from 12-4 Galen Glen Winery, 255 Winter Mountain Drive, Andreas 18211 is hosting a free chili cook off. All visitors to the winery get to sample each chef's chili and vote for a favorite. Please invite your followers to join us. More info www.galenglen.com or 570-386-3682. Thanks, Kathy Tasting Room Manager

County Cartoonist Memoir To Be Published By Scholastic

Cartoon by Jimmy Gownley

Scholastic Books, publishers of such worldwide hits as Harry potter and the Hunger Games, is publishing a new graphic novel about growing up in Schuylkill County.

Work to Begin on Route 61 Mady's Bridges

From Schuylkill County Emergency Management Agency

Work Set to Begin on PA 61 “Mady’s” Bridges in Schuylkill County

Allentown – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today work to replace the structurally deficient PA 61 “Mady’s” bridges (one over Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad in the City of Pottsville and Palo Alto Borough, and the other over the Schuylkill River in the City of Pottsville) in Schuylkill County is set to begin. The project also includes bridge roadway approach work on PA 61 in North Manheim Township.

Schuylkill County School Delays for 1/15/14

Schuylkill County School Delays for 1/15/14

Assumption BVM - 2 Hour Delay

Blue Mountain - 2 Hour Delay

Minersville - 2 Hour Delay

Nativity BVM - 2 Hour Delay

Panther Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Pine Grove - 2 Hour Delay

Pottsville - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Haven - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Maple Ave. - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Special Ed. Ctr - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Tech North - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Tech South - 2 Hour Delay

St. Ambrose/Schuylkill Haven - 2 Hour Delay

St. Clair - 2 Hour Delay

St. Jerome Regional/Tamaqua - 2 Hour Delay

St. Nicholas/Minersville - 2 Hour Delay

Tamaqua - 2 Hour Delay Modified Kindergarten

Tri-Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Williams Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

By:  Monsoon Mike

Tuesday will be a generally dreary, grey day with some light rain, but nothing too heavy like this past weekend's event. Temperatures will still be generally on the mild side and deep into the 40s to low 50s. 

I'm still debating whether or not we see any wintry precipitation Wednesday as temperatures begin to drop and as mentioned the past few days. If anything, if we did, as it would be more in the way of later Wednesday as our next system is trending slower and warmer. Again, this would just be a nuisance event at most late Wednesday into early Thursday, but as you know, it's those "nuisance" events that wind up causing the 40 car interstate pileups as we've seen happen as of late. I'll keep you posted.

Beyond that, it looks like we gradually continue our downward trend of more wintry weather and by the weekend, it looks like we may be back into the freezer, although not as historically brutal as last week but rather more in the way of typical January weather. 

BEST OF SKOOK: And the Best Pizza in Schuylkill County Is

Before I get to the winner, I wanted to thank everyone who voted.  We had nearly 1,000 votes for this poll.  I only hope we can continue to break that record.

Now onto the winner!  After combing through hundreds of votes  . . . . .

The restaurant who was voted as "Best Pizza in Schuylkill County" is:


The Roma Pizzeria in Pottsville!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Roma-Pizzeria/116142961743998?rf=141070012595014

Second Place goes to!
Centioles in Girardville
https://www.facebook.com/groups/65409403637/

Third Place Went to Palermo's
http://palermopizzarestaurant.com/

Fourth to the Pizza Place in Frackville,
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pizza-Place-Frackville-Pa/113620615405872

and not far behind was the Pottsville Pizzeria

Our honorable mentions are (in no particular order)
- Prima - Valley View
- Miones - Tower City
- Rut's Cafe - Mahanoy City
- Pascoli's - Mahanoy City
- Suglia's - Schuylkill Mall
- Valenties - Orwigsburg
- Vito's - St. Clair

Fire That Destroyed Mansion Caused By An Extension Chord

The fire that destroyed the James B. Neale mansion in Foster Township on Friday was caused by an extension chord.

The state police fire marshal said that the fire began in a room on the first floor.

Damage to the mansion is said to exceed $400,000.

Suspect in Custody in Shenandoah Robbery

Early Sunday afternoon, Shenandoah police were called to the Rite Aid Parking Lot for a robbery.

A female called 911 and reported a young male stole her purse from inside her occupied vehicle. The female's description of the suspect was a dark skinned male, scruffy facial hair and wearing a Camo jacket with a yellow hoodie underneath.

Police located the stolen purse under some leaves on unit block of North Market street and there was nothing taken from the purse.

Through investigation, at 1:30pms, police learned the suspects name to be Bobby Taylor and took him into custody at 13 North Main street. Taylor was arraigned before Judge Reiley of Pottsville and was unable to post $25.000, 10% cash bail.

Taylor was committed to the Schuykill County prison on charges of Robbery, Theft of property and receiving stolen property.

Body Found in West Mahanoy Twp. Parking Lot

WNEP is reporting that the body of a 64 year old man from Pottsville was found in the State Police Barrack's parking lot in West Mahanoy Twp. around 6pm Saturday.

At this time the death is not considered suspicious but the investigation is ongoing.

The man's name has not been released yet.

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast

By:  Monsoon Mike

A hefty dumping of rain is on the way Saturday on the order of one to two inches. Some of the rain in the afternoon especially could be heavy & believe it or not, I cannot rule out a flash of lightning or rumble of thunder. This all opens up the door to another problem which is rapid meltoff of leftover snow & ice which could cause flash flooding issues. It will also be unseasonably warm with temperatures perhaps approaching 60 especially in southern parts of the county. A strong cold front then sweeps through and Sunday will be chilly here but not overly brutal.

Friday Morning's Fire in Rush Township (Pictures and Video)

From TamaquaArea.com

Firefighters were called around 8:15 this morning (Jan. 10, 2014) to 92 Ben Titus Road in Still Creek (Rush Township) for a working structure fire. Despite a quick response by firefighters, the home was severely damaged. Two pets were also lost in the fire. The family of five will be staying with family.