Temperatures Dip Below Freezing Tonight

Temps this evening will dip below freezing. It's not projected to dip below 32 until after the 9pm hour. So if you have any traveling to do late tonight, be alert for patches of black ice. Any untreated surface which is wet could glaze over. We'll eventually bottom out in the mid 20's across the county by tomorrow morning.

Dense Fog Advisory In Effect For Schuylkill County

DENSE FOG ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM EST THIS AFTERNOON...

* VISIBILITIES...ONE QUARTER TO ONE HALF MILE AT TIMES.

* IMPACTS...SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS IN THE VISIBILITY WILL MAKE TRAVELING DIFFICULT...

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO SLOW DOWN...KEEP HEADLIGHTS ON TO ALLOW OTHERS TO BETTER SEE YOU. ALSO...LEAVE PLENTY OF DISTANCE AHEAD OF YOU IN CASE A SUDDEN STOP IS NEEDED AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION.

FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION...GO TO WEATHER.GOV/CTP OR STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.

SKOOK EVENTS: Hometown Fire Company, Spaghetti Dinner, March 30, 2014

Overnight Motor Vehicle Accidents in West Penn and East Union Township

West Penn Township Fire was called to 1002 West Penn Pike Street, along Route 309 just after 11pm Thursday evening for a motor vehicle accident with a vehicle on an embankment.  Injuries were originally reported with the call but no other information was available.

About an hour later, just after midnight, E. Union Twp Fire was called to Holmesville Road/Green Mountain Road for a vehicle into a tree with injuries.  No other information or the severity of the injuries are available at this time.

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.

Winter Views of Tuscarora State Park

Photos by:  Ryan Fannock

Photos taken on 2/17/14

Schuylkill County School Delays/Closings 2/18/14

Schuylkill County School Delays/Closings for 2/18/14

Updated: 6:38am

Assumption BVM - 2 Hour Delay

Blue Mountain - 2 Hour Delay

Child Development - HEad start and pre K closed, day care open

Gillingham Charter - 2 Hour Delay

Mahanoy Area - CLOSED

Minersville - 2 Hour Delay

Nativity BVM - 2 Hour Delay

North Schuylkill - 2 Hour Delay

Our Lady of Lourdea Regional - 2 Hour Delay

Penn State&/Schuylkill - open at 10

Pine Grove - 2 Hour Delay

Pottsville - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Haven - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Health School of Nursing - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Maple Ave. - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Special Ed. Center - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Tech North & South - 2 Hour Delay

Shenandoah Valley - 2 Hour Delay

St. Ambrose/Schuylkill Haven - 2 Hour Delay

St. Clair - 2 Hour Delay

St. Jerome/Tamaqua - 2 Hour Delay

St. Nicholas/Minersville - 2 Hour Delay

Tamaqua - 2 Hour Delay

Tri-Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Trinity Academy - 2 Hour Delay

Williams Valley - 2 Hour Delay

BEST OF SKOOK: And the winner of the "Best Cheesesteak in Schuylkill County" is . . .

 

And the winner of the "Best Cheesesteak in Schuylkill County" is . . . . 

Winter Weather Advisory Issued for Schuylkill County

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST TUESDAY ...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW ...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST TUESDAY.

* LOCATIONS ...CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

* HAZARD TYPES ...SNOW OVERNIGHT. PATCHY FREEZING DRIZZLE POSSIBLE IN THE MORNING.

* ACCUMULATIONS ...2 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW.

* TIMING ...SNOW WILL MOVE INTO THE WESTERN MOUNTAINS BEFORE MIDNIGHT AND SPREAD QUICKLY TO THE EAST ...REACHING STATE COLLEGE AROUND MIDNIGHT AND HARRISBURG AND WILLIAMSPORT BY 2 AM EST. THE SNOW WILL BE BRIEFLY HEAVY. THE SNOW WILL TAPER OFF IN THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS AND SOUTHEAST BEFORE SUNRISE. HOWEVER ...LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS OR PATCHES OF FREEZING DRIZZLE ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH LATE MORNING.

* IMPACTS ...TRAVEL WILL BE SLOWED SIGNIFICANTLY OVERNIGHT DUE TO THE INTENSITY OF THE SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW. A THIN GLAZE OF ICE MAY OCCUR TUESDAY MORNING AS THE SNOW ENDS.

* WINDS ...SOUTH 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 35 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES ...NEARLY STEADY IN THE MID 20S.

* VISIBILITIES ...LESS THAN A QUARTER OF A MILE AT TIMES OVERNIGHT.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ...

HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. USE CAUTION IF TRAVELING. FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION ...GO TO WEATHER.GOV/CTP OR STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.

REPORT SNOW OR ICE ACCUMULATION TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO CTP.STORMREPORTS@NOAA.GOV ... POSTING TO THE NWS STATE COLLEGE FACEBOOK PAGE ...OR TWEET @NWSSTATECOLLEGE WITH THE HASHTAG #CTPWX.

Mostly Sunny Monday; More Snow Tuesday!

By: Ryan Fannock

7:15PM UPDATE: Tonight will feature some very cold air once again. Lows will bottom out in the single digits for most of us across the county. A scattered snow shower is possible. Presidents Day is looking mostly sunny! Clouds will begin to increase during the afternoon ahead of our next clipper system. Highs will top out in the upper 20's.

All eyes turn to our next snow event: It will be another nuisance snowfall. If you've made it this far, you can surely handle what lies ahead. Snow showers will break out anytime after midnight on Tuesday. Light to moderate snow will continue through the morning commute. Totals won't be too impressive. Overall, I'm going with a general 1-3" across Schuylkill County. Even though it's not much, it's one of those events that will occur at just the right time to effect your ride to work/school.

More snow by Tuesday?

By: Ryan Fannock

8:00PM UPDATE: Good evening! So it looks like everyone saw a general 3 to 7 inches of fresh snow today. I don't know bout you, but I'm sick of shoveling. Tonight will be COLD and WINDY. Gusts could reach 35mph at times. Watch out for blowing and drifting snow if traveling tonight. Sunday will bring us a mix of sun and clouds. It will be cold with highs in the lower 20's. Winds will be be with us once again with gusts to 20-25mph at times. A snow shower is possible.

Yes, more accumulating snow is headed our way. Our next system will get here during the early morning hours Tuesday. As of now, it looks like sometime between 12am and 2am. Snow will wrap up before the noon hour. Totals look to range from 3-6" across the area.

Summit Hill Couple Turns Snow Piles in Snow Art

Posted from TamaquaArea.Wordpress.com


A sizable creation in the front yard of a Summit Hill home is drawing lots of attention. Summit Hill residents Fred Evans Jr., Shannon O’Donnell and Kevin Gieniec have spent numerous man-hours creating a 45-foot long Valentine’s Day display made of snow, ice and a few other materials. It’s features include a red heart-colored igloo, a 10-foot red arch and about a dozen colored ice hearts.

Schuylkill League Championship Finals

Final scores from tonight's Schuylkill League Championships

Girls

Minersville - 61

Marian - 46

Boys

Mahanoy Area - 45

Pottsville - 44

Photo courtesy of: Megan Powers

Winter Weather Advisory Issued For Schuylkill County

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM EST SATURDAY ...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW ...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM EST SATURDAY.

* HAZARD TYPES ...SNOW AND BLOWING SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS ...2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW.

* TIMING ...SNOW WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA AROUND OR SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT ...AND WILL SPREAD EASTWARD THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. MOST OF THE SNOW WILL FALL BETWEEN APPROXIMATELY 3 AM AND 9 AM ...BEFORE TAPERING TO SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS BY EARLY SATURDAY AFTERNOON. A GUSTY NORTH WIND WILL CREATE SOME BLOWING AND DRIFTING OF THE SNOW.

* IMPACTS ...SNOW COVERED ROADS AND POOR VISIBILITIES WILL MAKE TRAVELING HAZARDOUS.

* WINDS ...NORTH 5 TO 15 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 25 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES ...IN THE MID 20S.

* VISIBILITIES ...UNDER A MILE AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS ...

HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. USE CAUTION IF TRAVELING. FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION ...GO TO WEATHER.GOV/CTP OR STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO.

REPORT SNOW OR ICE ACCUMULATION TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE BY SENDING AN EMAIL TO CTP.STORMREPORTS@NOAA.GOV ... POSTING TO THE NWS STATE COLLEGE FACEBOOK PAGE ...OR TWEET @NWSSTATECOLLEGE WITH THE HASHTAG #CTPWX.

Pottsville Church Opens Doors To Help Others Through Snowstorm

Trinity Episcopal Church, Pottsville had opened a shelter for the heatless, homeless, or anyone who needed a place to stay throughout the snowstorm.

WNEP and the Republican Herald posted stories about this incredible act of kindness.


Republican Herald
http://republicanherald.com/news/church-in-city-offers-shelter-to-snowbound-homeless-1.1634529


WNEP
http://wnep.com/2014/02/13/helping-storm-victims-in-pottsville/

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

Schuylkill County School Closings for 2/14/14 

Alvernia universe/ Schuylkill, Closed

Blue Mountain - Closed

Child Development - Closed, Daycare opens at 8am

Gillingham Charter - Closed

Mahanoy Area - Closed

Marian Catholic - Closed
McCann School of Business/Pottsville - 2 Hour Delay

Minersville - Closed

Nativty BVM - Closed

North Schuylkill - Closed

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional - Closed

Penn State Schuylkill - Closed

Pine Grove - Closed

Pottsville - 2 Hour Delay, Act 80 Begins at 10am, No School for students

Schuylkill Haven - Closed

Schuylkill Maple Ave - Closed

Schuylkill Tech North and South - Closed

Shenandoah Valley - Closed

St. Ambrose/Schuylkill Haven - Closed

St. Clair - 2 Hour Delay, Act 80 begins at 10am, No school for students

St. Jerome/Tamaqua - Closed

St. Nicholas/Minersville - Closed

Tamaqua - Closed

Tri-Valley - Closed

Trinity Academy - Closed

Williams Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Pictures from Around Schuylkill County During the February Snowstorm

Pictures from around Schuylkill County today during the February 2014 snowstorm

Outside T102 (From T102 Fan Page)

Outside T102 (From T102 Fan Page)

Dutch Hill, Tamaqua (TamaquaArea.com)

Pine Grove

Mahanoy City

Port Carbon

More snow? Round 2 is on it's way!

By: Ryan Fannock

1:10PM UPDATE: For those of us in a lull right now, there is more snow to come. A heavy batch of snow will move through this evening. This is referred to as "Round 2" so get ready! The snow is very wet out there right now so you might want to get shoveling done before the next round. We'll have a decent lull for the majority of the afternoon. I'm not sure on the "exact" timing that it arrives. However, I have it outlined on the attached radar image. It's currently down in North Carolina so sometime this evening it will move through our neck of the woods. So if you were wondering if it's over, here's your answer. Final totals will range from 10-16" across the county.

Speed Limits Reduced on 209, 309, and Interstate 81

Due to extreme winter road conditions, PennDOT is temporarily reducing the speed limit on several roadways in the region. PennDOT is urging motorists to avoid unnecessary travel but those who must head out will see speeds reduced to 45 mph on the following highways:

• Interstates 78, 80, 81, 176 and 380;
• U.S. Routes 22, 222 and 422; and
• State Routes 33, 209 and 309.

2 Injured in Walker Township Crash

Posted from TamaquaArea.Wordpress.com

Two people were taken to the hospital for unknown injuries around 5:30 PM, Wednesday after the pickup truck they were in crashed into a tree along Wildcat Road in Walker Township. The crash occurred westbound in the area of 200 Wildcat Road. Responding were Tamaqua Rescue Squad, New Ringgold Ambulance, Walker/New England Fire Company, Tamaqua’s South Ward Fire Company and State Police.

Schuylkill County Basketball Semi Final Results

Schuylkill League Basketball Playoffs - Semi-Final Results

Girls

Minersville - 46

Pottsville - 42

Marian - 31

North Schuylkill - 28

Boys

Mahanoy Area - 49

Blue Mountain - 35

Pottsville - 56

Williams Valley - 30

Schuylkill County School Closings and Delays for 2/13/14

Schuylkill County School Closings and Delays for 2/13/14

Alvernia College Schuylkill - Closed

Assumption BVM - Closed

Blue Mountain - Closed

Gillingham Charter - Closed

Mahanoy Area - Closed

Marian Catholic - Closed

McCann School of Business/Pottsville - Closed

Minersville - Closed

Nativity BVM - Closed

North Schuylkill - Closed

Our Lady of Lourdes Regional - Closed

Penn State/Schuylkill - Closed

Pine Grove - Closed

Pottsville - Closed

Schuylkill Haven - Closed

Schuylkill Maple Ave - Closed

Schuylkill Special Ed. - Closed

Schuylkill Tech North and South - Closed

St. Ambrose/Schuylkill Haven - Closed

St. Jerome Regional/Tamaqua - Closed

St. Nicholas/Minersville - Closed

Tamaqua - Closed

Tri-Valley - Closed

Trinity Academy - Closed

Williams Valley - Closed