News
9/25/19
by News Department on 09/25/19Body Recovered...
Search teams recovered the body of a 22-year-old man who died after jumping into a swimming hole in Luzerne County.
According to authorities, dive teams recovered the body of Brenden Snyder, Tuesday afternoon in Powder Hole, which is a swimming hole near Wapwallopen.
Brenden fell while trying to jump into the water, on Saturday and never resurfaced.
A GoFundMe page has been created to help Brenden's family with funeral costs.
9/25/19
by News Department on 09/25/19Shamokin Fire...
Three people had to escape from a home in Shamokin after flames tore through the building.
Officials are calling the home on Gold Street a total loss after a fire broke out Tuesday morning.
The fire is still under investigation, but Shamokin Fire Investigator Ray Siko has confirmed that three people were in the home at the time of the fire and one burn victim was treated on scene.
Fire crews found no working smoke detectors in the home.
There was no word on the condition of the burn victim or what caused the fire.
9/24/19
by News Department on 09/24/19Burglary...
A Lake Wynonah man has been sentenced to prison for admitting, in Schuylkill County Court, he burglarized a neighbor in the Auburn community.
According to the Republican Herald, 55 year old Terry L. Short was charged by State police at Schuylkill Haven with breaking into the residence of Rae Ann Berger on Jan. 9.
Berger was not home when Short originally broke into the house but returned home during the burglary, at which point he pointed a gun at her and forced her to let him in the house.
Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin sentenced Short to serve five to 10 years in a state correctional institution.
9/24/19
by News Department on 09/24/19Theft Charges...
A Tremont man is free on bail after being arrested by Foster Township police and charged with stealing secondary wire valued at $30,000 over a two-month period.
According to the Republican Herald, 46 year old William J. Vesay was charged for the theft of various sizes of electrical cables from Foster Materials Rock Quarry, in Foster Township.
In addition to the theft, authorities said Vesay also caused about $40,000 in damage to conveyors at various times in July and August.
He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, Tremont, and released on $25,000 unsecured bail pending a preliminary hearing.
9/24/19
by News Department on 09/24/19Assault...
A Philadelphia man will spend more time in a state correctional institution after recently admitting to a Schuylkill County judge that he assaulted a prison guard in March in the county.
According to the Republican Herald, State police at Frackville charged 20 year old Kysim Robinson with assaulting Corrections Officer Zachary Weaver on March 26 at SCI/Frackville, where the defendant was an inmate.
President Judge William E. Baldwin sentenced Robinson to spend an additional 30 to 66 months in a state correctional institution.
9/24/19
by News Department on 09/24/19CDC Warning...
The Pennsylvania Departments of Agriculture and Health is warning Pennsylvanians to take precautionary measures against mosquito bites for themselves and their animals – specifically horses – as the rare mosquito-transmitted viral infection Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE) has been confirmed in Erie, Carbon, and Monroe counties.
According to Skook News, the virus is carried by birds. If a mosquito bites an infected bird it can then transmit the potentially fatal virus to humans, horses, and other birds.
Because of the high mortality rate in horses and humans, EEE is regarded as one of the most serious mosquito-borne diseases in the US.
Through mid-September, there have been 18 cases reported to the CDC from across the country in 2019, with the majority of the cases in northeastern or Mid-Atlantic States.
The CDC warns that several cases have been fatal.
9/23/19
by News Department on 09/23/19Drug Bust...
Five people were charged for the sale of methamphetamine after an investigation by the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force.
Skook News reports 48 year old Edward J. Bassininsky Jr., of Pottsville, 43 year old April Harley, of Tremont, 55 year old Adrien Steinmetz, of Pottsville, 41 year old Chanda Kruskoski, of Schuylkill Haven, and 48 year old Lance Haluska, of Branchdale allegedly sold the drugs at separate locations.
Bassininsky, Steinmetz, and Kruskoski were taken into custody and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer or Magisterial District Judge David Rossi.
rrest warrants have been issued for Haluska and Harley.
9/23/19
by News Department on 09/23/19Threats at Hazleton schools...
Police in Hazleton say a tip helped stop a potential threat against two schools in the Hazleton Area School District, and now, one man is in custody. Investigators say the mayor received a tip on Saturday morning which led them to check on a threat made against the Arthur Street School and Hazleton Area High School.
The incident began with a text message containing what authorities called a manifesto threatening a shooting and the use of pipe bombs at two Hazleton Area schools.
Police say 28 year old Christian Diehl, of Hazleton, made the threats to use bombs at Arthur Street School as a diversion from a mass shooting at Hazleton Area High School.
Diehl was taken into custody and is locked up in the Luzerne County jail.
School will be in session as usual today at all schools in the Hazleton Area School District.
9/23/19
by News Department on 09/23/19Skill Machines stolen...
Shenandoah Police are attempting to identify 3 suspects involved in a theft that occurred Saturday evening.
According to Skook News, three males entered the Valero Gas Station on Main Street in Shenandoah, provided fake documents, then took two skill machines and fled in a small size U-Haul box truck in an unknown direction.
Police believe they may also target other gas stations.
Anyone with information on the theft is asked to contact the Shenandoah Police.
9/23/19
by News Department on 09/23/19Man goes missing at swimming hole...
A man has been reported missing after allegedly jumping into a swimming hole in Luzerne County and not resurfacing.
State police in Hazleton believe 22 year old Brenden Snyder and a friend were swimming at the Powder Hole, in Hollenback Township, on Saturday, when Snyder jumped in and never resurfaced.
Rescue crews searched the area Saturday night and again on Sunday but have not found Snyder.
The investigation is ongoing in Luzerne County.
9/19/19
by News Department on 09/19/19Charges filed...
A Pottsville man was jailed Wednesday after being charged with sending inappropriate messages to a 13-year-old.
According to the Republican Herald, Pottsville police were contacted Tuesday night by the family of a Port Carbon girl saying the teen received inappropriate messages from 35 year old Frank Edward Chen.
He was arraigned Wednesday morning by on-call Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post bail.
He will have to appear for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, at a later date.
9/19/19
by News Department on 09/19/19RECALL...
The risk of E. coli is prompting another flour recall.
General Mills is recalling five-pound bags of Gold Medal unbleached all-purpose flour.
The recalled products have a better if used by date of September 6, 2020. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said E. coli was discovered in the recalled flour during product sampling.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, there have been no confirmed illnesses related to this recall. Consumers who are concerned about an illness should contact a doctor.
9/19/19
by News Department on 09/19/19Man charged in Oneida fire...
A Sheppton man was charged after police say he started a fire that displaced three families on Tuesday.
According to Skook News, State Police at Frackville said 39 year old Dennis Antonelli became involved in an argument with his girlfriend at 66 3rd Street which lead to him igniting papers on fire in a bedroom.
5 people were home at the time of the fire. All got out safely.
Antonelli was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison unable to post bail.
9/19/19
by News Department on 09/19/19Arson Charges...
A Pottsville woman was charged after admitting she started a fire on August 20th.
According to Skook News, emergency personnel responded to the Pottsville Housing Authority property on West Arch Street for a working structure fire. 67 year old Marylou Barrett was on scene and stated she had started the fire in the stairwell of the building.
Fire damage on the property is estimated in excess of $100,000.
Barrett was arraigned September 16 by Magisterial District Judge Kilker, Shenandoah, who set bail at $25,000 unsecured and released Barrett pending further court action.
9/18/19
by News Department on 09/18/19PA Senator faces child porn charges...
PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced charges against Pennsylvania State Senator Michael Folmer for possession of child pornography.
According to Skook News, the investigation began after a CyberTip reported an electronic service provider discovered a user had uploaded an image of child pornography using their application.
The investigation led to the home of Folmer, in Lebanon, PA. The Office of the Attorney General ‘s Child Predator Section, Lebanon City Police and U.S. Department of Homeland Security executed a search warrant and found images of child pornography on the defendant’s phone.
Folmer was charged Tuesday evening.
The case will be prosecuted by Senior Deputy Attorney General Christopher Jones.
9/18/19
by News Department on 09/18/19Fatal Crash...
A Northumberland County man died from injuries that occurred in a crash, in Barry Township, early Tuesday.
According to Skook News, State Police said emergency personnel were dispatched around 5:30am, to the area of 849 Deep Creek Road for a motor vehicle accident with entrapment.
Troopers say 30 year old Jesse Miller, of Mount Carmel was traveling on Deep Creek Road when he crossed into the opposite lane and struck another vehicle head-on.
Miller later died at the hospital from his injuries.
He was reported to not be wearing a seat belt.
The fatal crash is under investigation.
