News
8/1/19
by News Department on 08/01/19Prison sentence.,.
A man from Pottsville was sentenced this week for his role in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.
According to Skook News, the US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that 28 year old Anibal Luis Rodriguez, who resided in Pottsville, Reading, and Allentown during the time of the offense, was sentenced yesterday to 20 years’ imprisonment for participating in a methamphetamine trafficking conspiracy.
Reports show the defendant previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to distribute more than 500 grams of methamphetamine between July 2016 and May 2017.
Rodriguez was indicted by a federal grand jury in August 2017.
8/1/19
by News Department on 08/01/19Fire Rekindles...
Embers reignited early Wednesday in the row homes that were the scene of a fatal fire Tuesday, in Northumberland County.
The fire, on N. Franklin St, in Shamokin, claimed the life of 23 year old Brea Scandal.
Firefighters were called out again Wednesday morning to extinguish flames that rekindled. The fire left at least 10 people displaced.
A state fire marshal was called in and the fire remains under investigation.
7/31/19
by News Department on 07/31/19Power Outage...
A group of fast moving storms with high winds and heavy rain caused some power outages, late Tuesday afternoon, in parts of Schuylkill County.
According to Skook News, PPL Utilities reported almost 700 homes were without power in the Blythe Township/New Philadelphia area.
Smaller outages were also reported in Wayne Township and the Lavelle/Gordon areas of Butler Township.
Power was expected to be restored Tuesday night for these locations. Anyone still experiencing power issues should contact PPL.
7/31/19
by News Department on 07/31/192 In custody...
Mahanoy City Police made two more arrests in relation to burglaries that have been occurring in the borough.
According to Skook News, police searched a garage in the 1100 block of E Market St. and found 46 year old George Hartranft asleep on the second floor of the property.
Hartranft was found to be in possession of identification cards belonging to two residents of a home in the same block that had been broken into in June of this year. Hartranft was charged and arraigned by District Magisterial Judge Stephen Bayer, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $50,000 straight cash bail.
In a second arrest, 31 year old Jeremiah Spirko was found to be in possession of a variety of tools that could be commonly used by burglars.
Spirko was arraigned by District Magisterial Judge Anthony Kilker, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.
7/31/19
by News Department on 07/31/19Kane to be released...
Former Pennsylvania attorney general and Scranton native Kathleen Kane is set to be released from prison early.
Kane has served approximately eight months of a 10- to 23-month sentence. She's been locked up in Montgomery County since November after a jury found her guilty of perjury and leaking private information to the media and was forced to step down as attorney general three years ago.
Four months into her incarceration, the Pennsylvania Bar Association stripped her of her law license. Under state law, Kane will not be able to apply for reinstatement of her law license until April 2024.
She is expected to be released later today.
7/31/19
by News Department on 07/31/19Fatal Fire in Northumberland County...
An early morning fire claimed the life of a Shamokin woman, in Northumberland County, Tuesday. The fire reportedly started at 16 N. Franklin St. and according to fire officials, affected nine row homes, seven of which suffered major fire damage.
Shamokin's fire chief says firefighters found two people on the second floor of one of the homes. The man was pulled to safety, while the woman inside died.
The Northumberland County coroner identified the woman as 23 year old Brea Scandle who reportedly died from breathing in smoke. Her death was ruled accidental.
The Red Cross is helping those displaced.
A state police fire marshal was called in to investigate the cause of the blaze.
7/30/19
by News Department on 07/30/19Kid's Day at the Fair...
The Schuylkill County Fair continues with kid’s day, today.
It is a day filled with food, fun activities, rides, educational exercises and entertainment. The Schuylkill Ballet Theatre will be performing this afternoon on the M & T Stage.
There will also be an alpaca show, Cup Cake Challenge, Cooking with Schuylkill County Wine Contest and more, plus Sapphire will perform tonight.
The gates open to the public today at 11AM.
For more information about the entertainment and activities found at the Schuylkill County Fair, visit the web site at www.schuylkillfair.com
7/30/19
by News Department on 07/30/19Shots fired...
Shenandoah, State, and other local police departments responded to reports of shots fired late Sunday in Shenandoah.
According to Skook News, police were called around 10:00pm, Sunday to the area of West Oak Street and South Gilbert Street for the report of shots fired.
Police and borough officials say evidence found at the scene suggest that an incident took place but no injuries were reported.
Anyone with information on the incident should contact borough police.
7/30/19
by News Department on 07/30/19Speed Units approved...
PA State Senators have agreed to deploy automated speed enforcement units in work zones along Interstate 78 in Berks County when they become available this fall.
According to the Republican Herald, PennDOT is authorized to deploy such systems in work zones through legislation, which became Act 86 of 2018.
Sen. David Argall said, “This will protect construction workers and improve highway safety, especially with all the construction that is taking place now and will be in the coming months along the corridor.”
7/30/19
by News Department on 07/30/19Trial date set for Hall...
A trial date has been set for the woman accused of killing Pottsville businessman Patrick J. Murphy.
According to the Republican Herald, 25 year old Megan Hall is charged with second-degree murder, armed robbery and obstruction of justice after a grand jury voted to indict her in June.
If convicted of the murder charge, Hall faces a mandatory lifetime prison sentence. The penalty for an armed robbery conviction is 10 to 99 years in state prison, while the obstruction charge is punishable by up to 40 years in prison.
Online records with the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office show a trial date has been set for Oct. 8, with another pretrial conference set for Sept. 26.
7/29/19
by News Department on 07/29/19Body of missing man found...
The body of a missing Myerstown man was found Sunday morning in Berks County.
According to Skook News, State Police said 56 year old James Cramer went missing July 23, after leaving his residence.
Cramer's vehicle was later found in a parking lot near the Appalachian Trail on Route 645 in Schuylkill County south of Pine Grove.
Authorities say an extensive search of the trail by State Police, K9's and Aviation Unit turned up no results. A search party located Cramer's body, Sunday, on the Appalachian Trail grounds in the area of Bethel Township, Berks County.
The death investigation is being handled by troopers from the State Police at Schuylkill Haven.
7/29/19
by News Department on 07/29/19Fair begins today...
The Schuylkill County Fair begins today.
The annual event will feature twenty rides and 15 game and food trailers with three brand new rides being brought to the Fair.
New entertainment for the M & T Stage on tonight at 7 and 9 PM will be the New Individuals who will entertain the audience with Oldies and Classic Rock.
The fair will also feature the Queen, Princess and Little Miss Contest, the 4-H Horse Show, Tractor Parade and entertainment thru-out the week from Aaron Kelly, The Mudflaps and Saphire.
The fair in Summit Station runs until Saturday. For more information, visit www.schuylkillfair.com.
7/29/19
by News Department on 07/29/19Charges filed...
A Shenandoah man is facing charges after he reportedly made threats to kill people and attempted to burn a house down.
According to Skook News, Shenandoah Police were dispatched, early Saturday morning, to 32 North White Street for a male setting a house and car on fire. The male was also reported to be threatening to kill everyone.
Two females at the residence reported that 40 year old Michael O'Boyle had been drinking and then began to threaten to kill them both and burn the house down.
O'Boyle fled the scene but was later taken into custody.
He was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Bayer and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $10,000 straight cash bail.
7/29/19
by News Department on 07/29/19Suspect in custody...
Investigators believe they may have gotten the break they needed to find the culprits of a recent string of burglaries in the Mahanoy City area.
Skook News reports that Mahanoy Township Police were dispatched to a residence on Back Street in the village of New Boston, Mahanoy Township, Saturday night, for a reported prowler.
29 year old Korey Wrosnki was taken into custody. Mahanoy Township Police Chief Brandon Alexander said he believes Wronski is just one of the suspects involved in a string of burglaries in the Mahanoy City, Mahanoy Township, and Ryan Township area over the past couple months.
Additional arrests are pending forensic results.
Wronski was arraigned and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on $100,000 straight cash bail.
7/25/19
by News Department on 07/25/19Deer neglected; owner to be charged...
A man in Schuylkill County will soon be facing charges for keeping deer in a pen in horrible conditions.
Schuylkill County Humane Officer, Diane Buhl, was called to the home near the Porter/Hegins Township line.
According to Buhl, the homeowner does have a permit to keep the deer there, but he'll soon be charged because the deer appear to have been neglected.
Authorities say this isn't the first time officers have been called to that property. Buhl said the same homeowner has faced charges before for regulatory issues.
A veterinarian was called to the scene and will return to determine the next steps of action. In order to be moved, the deer may have to be tranquilized but the vet must first determine if they are healthy enough.
7/25/19
by News Department on 07/25/19Home broken into ...
Police are investigating the burglary of a home in Ryan Township.
According to Skook News, State Police at Frackville said the burglary occurred sometime Tuesday, July 23rd, 2019 between 2:00pm and 7:00pm at a home on Hillside Drive when the suspect or suspects broke into the home, ransacked it, and stole and unknown amount of jewelry.
Anyone with information on the incident should contact the Pennsylvania State Police at Frackville.
