Local News-Friday, Sept. 22nd

State Police Liquor Control Enforcement officials have charged a McAdoo bar owner with a variety of offenses. Authorities from the Allentown office charged 64-year-old Eugene Nance, owner of Gene's Grey Goose Bar in McAdoo with five different offenses after receiving a complaint in the early morning hours of September 2nd. Nance was reportedly drunk and threatening patrons at the bar, and investigators responded to the bar undercover. Police saw Nance drinking while serving customers and served patrons until 4am. He also was playing the jukebox extremely loud and tried to give the undercover officer money, prior to knowing who he was. Nance finally passed out in a sink at the bar. He was charged Wednesday of serving alcohol to intoxicated persons, being intoxicated himself, selling alcohol after hours and other offenses. The charges were filed at the office of District Judge Stephen Bayer of Tamaqua.

A Pottsville man is in county prison after a fight in the city Wednesday night. City police were called to the home of Robert Steffie on East Market Street before 7pm. Reportedly, Steffie and his brother Dale, of Tremont, were threatened by Mark Butler of Pottsville, who was carrying a baseball bat, wanting a fight. During the altercation, Dale Steffie picked up a wooden club and hit Butler in the head, then punched him while he was on the ground. Butler staggered away from the scene, but Steffie allegedly hit him again with the club and his fists. Dale Steffie was arrested and taken to Schuylkill County Prison where he was arraigned.

A Coaldale man who is alleged to be a major heroin dealer was arrested by Reading Police earlier this week. 55-year-old John Duke was picked up Tuesday after making a heroin buy from Roberto Laureano of Reading near Fifth Street. The Pottsville Republican reports that Duke told police he traveled to Reading several times a week to buy heroin, then brought the stash back to the Tamaqua area for resale. Reading Police were reportedly tipped off after a confidential informant told Tamaqua cops that Duke was headed to Reading to buy heroin. Duke and Laureano were charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin. They were arraigned and taken to Berks County Prison. Bail for both men was set at $500-thousand-dollars each.

As the budget year is coming to a close in Schuylkill County, the problem of overtime at the Schuylkill County Prison continues to grow. Thus far in 2006, the county has paid more than $200-thousand-dollars in overtime to staff the facility. At this week's county Prison Board meeting, officials discussed the ongoing problem of forced overtime because the prison is understaffed for the 282 inmates. Currently, the prison employs 40 guards. Ongoing discussions about hiring part-time guards have not produced any resolution. County Controller Gary Hornberger brought up the idea of hiring more full-time guards, rather than incurring additional overtime for the already stretched staff. Given the current situation, Schuylkill County anticipates that it will spend another $100-thousand-dollars in overtime before the end of the year. Official say that the personnel committee will meet next week to discuss the issue further.