Father, Mother, and Son Charged With Assault After Disturbance in Shenandoah

Updated with names:  02/25/14 at 8:20am

Around 7PM, Wednesday evening (February 19, 2014), Shenandoah Borough officers were called to the 100 Block of North Jardin St. for a fight in progress.  While enroute, officers were advised that the fight involved weapons in the form of shovels and that the fight was escalating.

When officers arrived, they found several people in the street with shovels.

Mark Kessler No Longer Police Chief of Gilberton, Signs deal for Reality Show?

Mayor Mary Lou Hannon, Gilberton Mayor, has confirmed with WNEP news that suspended borough Police Chief, Mark Kessler, is no longer the police chief.  Both the borough and Kessler came to a settlement on Thursday.

WNEP's story
http://wnep.com/2014/02/20/mark-kessler-no-longer-police-chief/

The Pennlive.com out of Harrisburg reports that he has signed with a national production company for a reality show.
http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2014/02/settlement_ends_dispute_with_c.html#incart_river_default

Win Tickets to See Cesar Millan at the Santander Performing Arts Center

Skook News is pleased to announce, in conjunction with the Santander Performing Arts Center, your chance to win 2 tickets to see Cesar Millan, The Dog Whisperer, at the Santander Performing Arts Center in Reading, PA on Sunday, March 15th at 3 pm.

More details will be announced Monday, February 24th, 2014 when the contest starts on how you can win these tickets.

Below is some information about the show itself and if you are interested in buying tickets.

Dozens Arrested in Heroin Sweep in Hazleton

Image from AttorneyGeneral.gov

The Attorney General's Office announced that 30 people were arrested today in a heroin sweep in Hazleton.  Over 9,000 packets of heroin were seized in the operation.

http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/press.aspx?id=7495

You can read the full list of people from the link above, but some of the people arrested were from Schuylkill County.

Schuylkill County Basketball District 11 Playoff Schedule

The PIAA District 11 Schedule for District playoffs are as follows:

Schuylkill County High School Basketball Scores

Schuylkill County High School Basketball for 2/19/14

Boys

Lehighton - 85

Tamaqua - 59

Interstate 81 Open Again After Being Closed for Over 4 Hours

Interstate 81 Southbound near the Pine Grove exit and above is reportedly open to at least 1 lane after being closed for over 4 hours.

The Interstate has been closed to traffic at the 104 (Ravine), 107 (Tower City), and 112 (Hegins) exits.

Tuesday Morning Fire in Mahanoy City

 Posted from TamaquaArea.wordpress.com

A woman is displaced after a fire destroyed her Mahanoy City home Tuesday morning.

Schuylkill County School Closings/Delays for 2/19/14

Schuylkill County School Schedule Changes for 2/19/14

Due to the the icy weather conditions, schools have changed dismissal times or cancelled.

Icy Road Conditions Wednesday Morning

The freezing rain that was predicted for this morning proved to be dangerous once it began falling just after 8am this morning.

Accidents have been reported from Route 61 in Orwigsburg, Route 61 near Port Clinton, Owl Creek Road in Tamaqua, and all over Interstate 81.

The Interstate is reported to be closed southbound from at the exits at 104 (Ravine), 107 (Tower City), and 112 (Hegins).  Multiple accidents were reported within a 2 mile stretch of the Interstate near the Pine Grove exit.  One of the accident was reportedly to involve a car and a tractor trailer.

There were also accidents reported Northbound on Interstate 81 near milemarker 131.

Current Closures (at 9:56am)

 - Interstate 81 Southbound - Milemarker 112-100
 - 209 between Tamaqua and Coaldale
 - Hometown Hill near Hometown
 - Owl Creek Road, Tamaqua

Tuesday's 3 Vehicle Accident in West Penn Township

Just after 2 PM, Tuesday, crews were called to a 3 vehicle head on accident along Route 443 in West Penn Twp.

Freezing Rain Morning Update

 

 

Freezing Rain Morning Update

5:50AM: Good morning! Our precipitation is currently out in Western Pennsylvania. It will begin to reach Eastern PA anytime after 8am. The main concern for freezing rain will be in the valleys.

Warmer air is moving in aloft. Basically the higher up you go, the warmer it is. In fact, elevations are pretty warm this morning. In Frackville it's already 30 degrees. These temps will continue to rise as we head through the morning hours. In the valleys, such as Tamaqua and Pottsville, we are stuck between 16-18 degrees. With that being said, freezing rain will hold on longer in valley locations. However, if an elevation starts to see rain and it's 33 degrees, it could still freeze. Ground temps are colder than the air temp. So until the ground warms up, freezing rain will be a concern for just about all of the area.

Best Chance for Freezing rain will be after 8am and lasting until noon. Beyond that, temps will be warm enough to support plain rain. Again, freezing rain will hold on longer in valley locations today. Highs today will reach the lower 40's later this afternoon. Just be careful out there if traveling between 8am and 12pm. Most main roads should be ok. It's the side roads and untreated surfaces that ya gotta worry about. Stay safe and have a great Wednesday!

One Arrested in Connection with Wal-Mart Arson

One man was arrested Tuesday evening for allegedly setting a fire  in the lawn and garden section of the Hometown Wal-Mart.

WNEP is reporting that Police said Johnathan Maldanado, 20, from Hazleton admitted to starting the fire by lighting a can of Silly String and leaving it on a shelf in the store.

Johnathan L. Maldonado, 20, of Hazleton is in custody, arraigned and placed into Schuylkill County Prison on $50,000 straight cash bail.  

No word if there are any other persons of interest.

Link to earlier article with surveillance of other suspects

http://www.skooknews.com/2014/02/police-need-help-identifying-4-people.html

Schuylkill County High School Basketball Scores

Schuylkill County High School Basketball Scores for 1/18/14

Girls

Emmaus 60

Pottsville 54

Freezing Rain Advisory Issued For Schuylkill County

FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO NOON EST WEDNESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A FREEZING RAIN ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO NOON EST WEDNESDAY.

Charges Filed Against Man in Car Chase in Shenandoah

Photo from Shenandoah Police Department FB Page

Charges have been filed against man, Timothy Kelly, after he led Shenandoah Police in a vehicle pursuit during the morning hours of Thursday, January 13, 2014.

According to the Shenandoah Police Department Facebook page, Kelly led officers in a vehicle pursuit that began in the Turkey Run area of the borough then ended up going off road ending near Yatesville Road.

The chases ended when Kelly rammed a Shenandoah Police cruiser then fled.

Possible ice preceding warmer temps

By: Ryan Fannock

Rain showers are expected to move towards the county between 6am and 9am Wednesday morning. Along with the rain, temps will be stuck below freezing. Temps aren't projected to rise above 32 degrees until after the 9am hour. So with light rain moving in during the morning commute, ice is possible. Main roads are normally ok during events like this. It's the untreated surfaces and side roads which cause the most problems. I'll have more information this evening during my 7pm update. I just wanted to give you a heads up in case you haven't heard the news yet.



Highs on Wednesday will approach the 40 degree mark during the afternoon. Thursday will most likely reach the low 40's and Friday has a shot at hitting 50. Don't worry, winter will filter back in by next Monday with highs in the upper 30's.

Police Need Help Identifying 4 People In Relation to Arson Fire at the Hometown Wal-Mart

Posted from tamaquaarea.wordpress.com

Rush Township Police are asking the public’s help in identifying four individuals involved in an arson fire this morning (Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014) inside the Hometown Wal-Mart.

(PAGE DOWN TO VIEW PHOTOS OF THE SUSPECTS)

“These four individuals are responsible for starting the fire near the lawn and garden section of the store,” said Sgt. Duane Frederick, Rush Township Police Department. “The males ran out of the store and got into a black vehicle and fled the parking lot headed north on SR309.” Emergency personnel responded to the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Hometown at 2:26 AM for a report of flames and thick white smoke inside the lawn and garden section of the store.

Truck Overturns in Rush Township Tuesday Morning

Posted from TamaquaArea.wordpress.com

No one was injured after a driver flipped his full-size truck on its side around 8 AM today (Feb. 18, 2014) along Ye Old Hauto Road in Hometown, Rush Township. The incident occurred near the SR54 (Lafayette Avenue) intersection. Responding were Rush Township Police, Hometown Fire Company, Quakake Fire Police and Hometown Fire Police. Hope’s Towing removed the vehicle.

Overnight Fire At Hometown Wal-Mart

Posted from:  TamaquaArea.Wordpress.com

Shortly after 2:30 this morning (Tuesday, February 18, 2014), emergency personnel responded to the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Hometown for a report of flames and thick white smoke inside the lawn and garden section of the store.