Deer Blamed in Deer Lake Crash

On Sunday around 6:30pm,  Kathleen Rogers, 62, of Ashland was driving north on Route 61 in Deer Lake when a deer came across the roadway.  Rogers swerved to avoid the animal and came in contact with a concrete barrier.  The area was also a one lane construction zone.

No injuries were reported but the vehicle had to be towed from the scene.

Schuylkill Haven Graduate First to Receive Penn State Wylonis Scholarship

John Austin Bayliff is a 2013 graduate of Schuylkill Haven High School and has been chosen to be the first recipient of the Wylonis Scholarship at Penn State Schuylkill.

You can read more about it here
http://www.sl.psu.edu/29867.htm

Schuylkill County Weather Forecast - 10/14/13

Thursday will be the first of a five day break. The arctic high pressure shifts off coast, a south-westerly flow sets in, and temperatures make a run for the upper 40s and low 50s. Friday, even better. Mid 50s possible. Saturday, even better. Mid to perhaps UPPER 50s. Temperatures improve even MORE Sunday and Monday either at or surpassing 60, but the fly in the ointment those two days will be more in the way of clouds and showers and/or rain as a warm front passes. 

Then it all comes to an end. By this time next week, it will be as cold as it is now ... again. Oh well, it is November after all. Enjoy the break while it lasts. 

In summary, pretty nice stretch upcoming especially Thursday thru Saturday when it will be not only mild, but dry too! 

Tamaqua Police Looking For Gas Thieves

Tamaqua Police are looking for thiefs who stole gas out of one of Tamaqua Appliance Parts & Service's box trucks.

If you have any information on this, you are to call Tamaqua Police at (570) 668-6100.

County Woman Ordered To Stand Trial For Death of Boyfriend

A Luzerne County judge on Tuesday upheld criminal homicide and evidence tampering charges against 30-year-old Jessica Alinsky of Shenandoah.

Alinsky has been ordered to stand trial for the death of her boyfriend, Matthew Gailie from two years ago.

Prosecutors said Alinsky gave conflicting accounts and alleged that she disrupted the crime scene.

Former Schuylkill County Congressman Confirmed As Member of Liquor Control Board

Former Congressman Tim Holden, of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania has been unanimously confirmed by the State Senate to serve a four-year term as a member of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board (PLCB). The vote was 48-0.

Governor Tom Corbett nominated Holden to the PLCB on June 14, 2013, to fill a vacancy created when Board Member Patrick J. "PJ" Stapleton's term expired.  The position had been vacant since Stapleton's last day, Oct. 5, 2012.

"Congressman Tim Holden has earned a great deal of respect during his distinguished career as a legislator in Congress," said PLCB Chairman Joseph E. Brion. "As a public servant, he has worked hard for the citizens of the commonwealth and I have no doubt that he will bring that same work ethic and enthusiasm to his role at the PLCB as well."

Holden was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for a decade, from Jan. 3, 2003 – Jan. 3, 2013.  He first represented the 6^th district based in Reading, Pennsylvania before redistricting dismantled that district.  He went on to get elected to the 17^th district based in Harrisburg.

Prior to his congressional career, Holden was a licensed real estate agent and an insurance broker.  He also served as sheriff of Schuylkill County and as Sergeant-at-Arms for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.  He graduated from BloomsburgUniversity.

By law, no more than two of the three board members may be of the same political party as the Governor.  Once he's sworn in, Holden, a Democrat, will be the minority member on the Board.

"I'm very much looking forward to working with Congressman Holden in his new role as a board member," said Robert S. Marcus, PLCB member.  "We're very fortunate to have his insight and expertise as we work to meet the goals set for this agency. I believe he will be a great addition to our team."

The PLCB regulates the commonwealth's beverage alcohol-industry; offers a comprehensive alcohol-education program to promote the responsible use of alcohol and operates more than 600 Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores.  Taxes and store profits are returned to Pennsylvania's General Fund.

SOURCE:  Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board

Power Restored In Rush Township

Yesterday morning around 11:45am almost 700 PPL customers were without power in Rush Township.

According to PPL that power was restored around 1PM.

The power was out due to PPL repairing a pole/wire that was damaged from a fire last night near the intersection of Fairview Street and Marian Drive.

Schuylkill County To Raise Taxes

The Republican Herald is reporting that Schuylkill County will have it's first tax hike in over a decade.

The board of commissioners met Wednesday morning and approve a budget that raises taxes over $2 million.

Read more about it below
http://republicanherald.com/schuylkill-county-to-raise-taxes-by-2-mills-1.1585008

What's your thoughts on this?

Juveniles To Be Charged For Ringtown Vandalism

It's being reported that several juveniles are expected to be charged sometime this week for the vandalism at the Ringtown Elementary School.  Although the number of juveniles were not given, it's being said that they were not all from the Ringtown borough.

The juveniles spray painted the exterior walls of the former Ringtown Elementary School.

Schuylkill County Weather 11/13/13

Wow. Tuesday sure felt like the depths of winter, huh?

Wednesday won't feel much better, but the good news is that Wednesday is it with the cold until about NEXT Wednesday.

Temperatures rebound to the 50s for Thursday thru Sunday and I wouldn't be surprised to see a renegade 60 degree reading or two by Monday! Will feel good. Some rain showers may accompany that milder spell, however. More details as we get closer. Until then, bundle up for one more day!

SKOOK SPOTLIGHT: New and Old Yuengling Logos

And Then There Was Five

Friday and Saturday evenings took our list of 9 Schuylkill County teams and shortened it down to 5.

It was inevitable that we would lose some teams because of them playing against each other but two losses of our biggest teams really hurt us.

Pottsville and Pine Grove really showed some promise in the playoffs, especially with Pine Grove going undefeated the entire regular season.  Although Pine Grove put up a good fight, they were unable to get that extra touchdown just to put them over Palisades.

Pottsville really struggled and Palisades was able to keep them to just a field goal the whole game.

Nativity and Tri-Valley are unfortunately the two on the losing end of playing against another Schuylkill County team.

To our winners, Mahanoy Area and North Schuylkill got their spark back when they finished off Nativity and North Penn.  They've been struggling the past couple weeks but this looked like the teams we started out the season with.

Marian is keeping up with their winning ways after starting out the season with 3 straight losses.

Williams Valley wasn't able to rest easy during their game against Pius X.  One touchdown could have changed the whole game.

Schuylkill Haven dominated Tri-Valley.  Tri-Valley being the smaller school just couldn't keep up with Haven.

This week we only have 3 games to watch since 4 Schuylkill County Teams play each other.

11/15/13 - 7pm

Marian @ Mahanoy Area - (Eastern Conference Class A Championship)
North Schuylkill @ Northwestern Lehigh
Schuylkill Haven @ Williams Valley

Mahanoy City/Schuylkill County Native Elected to Lead Conference of Catholic Bishops

We reported last week that the Mahanoy City Native, Joseph Kurtz, was in the running to be elected to lead the United State Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The Morning Call is reported that he has won that election.

Kurtz is also a former Allentown Diocese Pastor.

Read more about it here
http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-catholic-bishop-conference-kurtz-20131112,0,2148940.story

Car Rear ends School Bus In Pottsville Tuesday Morning

This morning at the intersection of East Norwegian Street and North George street, a man with a reported medical condition rear ended a school bus.  Although a number wasn't given, there were students on the bus, but none were injured.

Along with hitting the bus, the man driving the car hit numerous vehicles along Norwegian street.

Fire in Unoccupied Home in Middleport

Around 5pm Monday evening, authorities were called to 11 Kaska-Williams Street.  When they arrived they found flames coming from the second floor.

The fire was quickly put out and was the scene cleared around 6:30pm.

The house was currently unoccupied and there have no reports on what caused the blaze.

Tuesday's Weather Forecast

Don't be fooled by the slightly mild Monday night temperatures we experienced. An arctic cold front moves through and plummets temperatures to January-like levels on Tuesday and Wednesday. And along with that wild temperature drop, snow showers are possible early Tuesday. I wouldn't be surprised to see some secondary roads get slicked up in some areas, but things will improve as the day goes on and some sun returns. Not looking for a major storm here, but this could go down as our first "nuisance" storm of the winter season, perhaps coating the ground to as much as an inch of snow in higher elevations.

Then just brutally cold with temperatures stuck in the 30s until a milder trend begins Thursday. By the weekend, we're back into the 50s, so we "will" see a break, I promise, but not before we get a "real" taste of winter. 

Ashland Corrects Water Problem - Boil Advisory Over

The Borough of Ashland posted the following on their Facebook page,

DRINKING WATER PROBLEM CORRECTED

Customers in affected areas of Ashland Borough (12th Street west to North 29th Street) serviced by the Ashland Area Water Authority were notified on November 8, 2013 of a problem with our drinking water and were advised to boil your water prior to drinking.

We are pleased to report that the problem has been corrected and that lab results have confirmed that it is no longer necessary to boil your water.

. We apologize for any inconvenience and thank you for your patience.

Please share this information with other people who may drink this water.

SUV Crashes Into Home In East Norwegian Twp.

Around 8am Sunday morning, Timothy Reed, Pottsville, was driving his SUV on McCord Ave. when he lost his brakes and was unable to make a turn and crashed into a home at 26 Caroline Ave.

No one was hurt in the crash.  Two people rented the home and were not injured.  Reed's passenger in the SUV was also not injured.

Monday's Weather Forecast 11/11/13

Tuesday and Wednesday of this new week will feel more like January than November with temperatures stuck in the thirties.

To make it even MORE wintry, some gusty snow showers could dust up the ground Monday night and/or Tuesday.

Until then, a seasonally chilly Monday followed by seasonal coolness after our big winter midweek snap.

Skook News Week In Review - Week Ending 11/9/13

 

Skook News Week in Review

 

The news of Schuylkill County for week ending 11/9/13