News
9/12/19
by News Department on 09/12/19Missing Bill Morse case now Homicide...
The search for a missing man in Luzerne County has now been declared a case of homicide.
State police from the Wyoming barracks and an FBI evidence response team began searching Bill Morse's Hollow Road property, in Sugarloaf Township, Wednesday morning, using a sealed search warrant to sift through brush and wood in what appeared to be a burn pile near his property.
On Tuesday, state police were alerted that someone was using pictures of Morse on a dating website. Troopers believe whoever was behind that account used pictures from a page dedicated to finding Morse on Facebook.
Authorities would not say what they found Wednesday that lead them to change the missing persons case into a criminal homicide investigation, but they do plan to continue searching the property.
9/12/19
by News Department on 09/12/19Missing Bill Morse case now Homicide...
The search for a missing man in Luzerne County has now been declared a case of homicide.
State police from the Wyoming barracks and an FBI evidence response team began searching Bill Morse's Hollow Road property, in Sugarloaf Township, Wednesday morning, using a sealed search warrant to sift through brush and wood in what appeared to be a burn pile near his property.
On Tuesday, state police were alerted that someone was using pictures of Morse on a dating website. Troopers believe whoever was behind that account used pictures from a page dedicated to finding Morse on Facebook.
Authorities would not say what they found Wednesday that lead them to change the missing persons case into a criminal homicide investigation, but they do plan to continue searching the property.
9/11/19
by News Department on 09/11/19Rig Crash...
A truck driver was injured in a rollover crash in Schuylkill County on Tuesday morning.
The driver of a tractor trailer, Tarren Robinson, of South Carolina, told police that he was travelling down the hill from Centralia toward Ashland on Memorial Boulevard when he allegedly lost his brakes.
The tractor-trailer, which was carrying a forklift, crashed at the intersection with Route 54.
The driver was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. No other injuries were reported.
9/11/19
by News Department on 09/11/19New Information...
There are new developments in the case of a man missing from Luzerne County.
State police say photos of Bill Morse, or Sugarloaf Township, have turned up on an internet dating site under a profile that uses the name "Stubby."
State police revealed that information less than 24 hours after friends and family made a public plea for help in finding Morse, who has been missing since June of last year.
Authorities said they found an online dating profile, Tuesday, that used photos of Morse and they're looking for anyone who connected online with that profile.
State police are not saying which dating website that profile was used on, but they are saying it was an active profile from May 2019 to August of 2019.
Anyone with information is asked to contact State Police.
9/11/19
by News Department on 09/11/19New Philly Fire...
A fire in New Philadelphia Tuesday afternoon has displaced five.
According to Skook News, it was just before 3pm when emergency personnel were dispatched to 230 Valley Street, New Philadelphia, for a working house fire.
Crews found heavy smoke and flames showing from the 3rd floor of one of the homes upon arrival.
Numerous fire units from Schuylkill County responded along with Schuylkill Havens Rapid Intervention Team. Officials say one home was severely damaged and adjacent homes suffered smoke damage.
The American Red Cross is assisting victims from two of the homes. No injuries were reported.
9/11/19
by News Department on 09/11/19Additional Charges filed...
A former major with the Tamaqua Salvation Army charged with stealing more than $80,000 from that organization over a four-year period was charged Tuesday with setting a fire inside the West Broad Street headquarters earlier this year.
According to the Republican Herald, 43 year old Sharon L. Whispell appeared for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer on the theft charges, but, prior to the proceeding, was charged in connection with the fire that State police fire marshal Trooper Joseph Hall of the Frackville station determined was intentionally set.
The theft charges were bound over to Schuylkill County Court, where Whispell can plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a trial.
Whispell will also appear for a preliminary hearing on the arson charges on Oct. 1.
9/10/19
by News Department on 09/10/19Yuengling Scholarship...
D.G. Yuengling & Son, Inc., America’s Oldest Brewery®, announced a $50,000 donation to the Pink Boots Society, a nonprofit focused on assisting and encouraging women beer professionals.
With this donation, Pink Boots will partner with Yuengling to launch the Yuengling Women in Brewing Scholarship to further advance education for women in the brewing industry.
The Scholarship will award two exceptional women in the brewing industry up to $12,500 in scholarship funds to build upon their technical knowledge and leadership skills.
Beer professionals can apply to one of several brewing courses which are available in online or classroom formats.
A complete list of locations is available at Skooknews.com.
9/10/19
by News Department on 09/10/19Missing...
Friends are still asking for help locating a missing man, from Luzerne County, who hasn't been seen in more than a year.
Authorities say William Morse went missing from his home in Sugarloaf on June 11, 2018. Morse was in Jim Thorpe, wearing a baseball hat, red collared shirt, and blue jeans the day he disappeared. He was last seen at the end of his own driveway getting into a dark pickup truck later that evening.
He has not contacted any of his family or friends.
There is a $10,000 reward for information leading to the discovery of Morse's whereabouts.
9/10/19
by News Department on 09/10/19Free Naxolone...
The Wolf Administration announced it will be providing free naloxone at 95 locations across the state to any Pennsylvanian who wants it as part of the administration’s ongoing effort to reduce the number of opioid overdoses and to get residents into treatment.
According to Skook News, one of those locations will be in Schuylkill County. Naloxone is a medication that does not harm the individual it is administered to, and is used to reverse an overdose caused by an opioid.
Distributions will primarily take place at state health centers and county/municipal health departments on Wednesday, September 18, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, September 25, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., as supplies last.
In Schuylkill County, the distribution will take place at the Schuylkill Health Center located at 1 Norwegian Plaza in Suite 103, in Pottsville.
9/10/19
by News Department on 09/10/19Assault...
Frackville police are investigating an assault that sent a man to a Lehigh County trauma center.
According to the Republican Herald, officers were called early Sunday morning to the area of Oak Street and Lehigh Avenue for a report of an assault. The investigation determined that an argument occurred between the unidentified victim, a state corrections officer, and at least one other person inside The Compass Rose bar.
The victim was taken by ambulance to a Pottsville hospital and sometime later in the morning was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest after his condition deteriorated.
Anyone who may have witnessed the assault or has information is asked to call Frackville police.
8/30/19
by News Department on 08/30/19Salvation Army...
The holiday season isn’t far off and the Salvation Army is encouraging Schuylkill County residents sign up now for holiday assistance.
According to the Republican Herald, the program provides food for families in need and toys for children up to the age of 12 for Christmas and Thanksgiving.
Applications will be accepted Oct. 15, 16 and 17 at the Salvation Army, located at 400 Sanderson St., in Pottsville.
The annual Thanksgiving basket distribution will take place on Nov. 25 at the Salvation Army’s Pottsville location. And a Thanksgiving meal will be available for anyone in need from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thanksgiving day.
8/30/19
by News Department on 08/30/19Drug bust...
Police arrested a borough man after he was found growing marijuana plants in his home.
According to the Republican Herald, 43 year old Steven R. Devitt was arrested Wednesday afternoon after police obtained a search warrant from Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and executed it at his home around 2 p.m.
He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post bail.
Devitt will now have to answer to the charges against him before Plachko in his Port Carbon courtroom at a later date.
8/30/19
by News Department on 08/30/19Chase...
A wanted man led police in Schuylkill County on an early morning vehicle pursuit in a stolen van with cocaine in his possession.
According to the Republican Herald, 19 year old Jonathan Merced took off speeding when Coaldale police attempted a traffic stop.
Tamaqua police attempted to assist, and Merced swerved and hit the officer’s SUV. He then continued south on Route 309 into West Penn Township at speeds over 100 miles per hour until he lost control of the van and crashed near the intersection of Ridge Cup Road.
Merced was wanted by Bethlehem police for an April 18 case involving felony fraud and multiple other charges.
Authorities said the investigation is ongoing and additional charges will be filed.
8/30/19
by News Department on 08/30/19High Speed Chase...
A Shenandoah man is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison after leading police in a pursuit Wednesday.
According to Skook News, 33 year old Christopher Buck fled from a State Trooper at a high rate of speed during a traffic stop in Girardville.
Buck led police through Lost Creek and into William Penn where he fled on foot into a wooded area. He was later taken into custody in Ashland.
Buck was arraigned before on-call Magisterial District Judge David Plachko and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $75,000.
No injuries were sustained during the pursuit.
8/29/19
by News Department on 08/29/19Charges...
An environmental company hired to conduct a wildlife study in Hegins Township was fined and charged with disturbing an active bald eagle nest.
The study was required for a natural gas pipeline corporation’s application to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. Williams wants to erect a 31,000-horsepower gas compressor station on approximately 105 acres near Deep Creek Road and Bridge Road, with the facility itself covering 23 acres.
According to a Williams spokesperson, Ecology and Environment Inc. did receive a citation for activities associated with the bald eagle wildlife survey.
A docket from the office of Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, of Tremont, shows Ecology and Environment Inc. entered a guilty plea to a charge of “drive or disturb game” on July 9 and paid the $1,000 fine.
The offense was detected March 18, 2019.
8/29/19
by News Department on 08/29/19Children in vehicle/Drug charges...
A Mahanoy City woman was locked up in Luzerne County Prison after leaving her children in a car for over 20 minutes with over 100 bags of heroin and other drugs.
According to Skook News, Hazleton Police responded to the One Stop at 419 S. Poplar Street, after a caller reported a female was in the bathroom of the EZ Stop for 20 minutes.
Police found a 2 year old female and a 9 year old male in the back seat of an unattended vehicle owned by Nicole Paskovich, who informed them that she utilized 3 bags of Fentanyl while in the bathroom.
105 bags of Heroin, Methamphetamine and an uncapped needle, were recovered in the vehicle.
The children were taken into protective custody and placed with Children and Youth Services.
Paskovich was arraigned Wednesday morning by Magisterial District Judge Daniel O'Donnell and committed to Luzerne County Prison on $10,000 cash bail.
