Local News-Saturday, Sept. 9th

The Schuylkill United Way 2007 Campaign Kickoff breakfast was held Friday morning at the Quality Inn and Suites in Pottsville. Campaign Chairman Matt Tacelosky said the uncertain economy is a concern to the fund raising but he has faith in the County's desire to support the work of the 16 United Way member agencies. The Campaign kicked-off with the announcement that volunteers have so far collected just over $200-Thousand Dollars of the goal of $915-Thousand Dollars. This year's campaign theme is "Good to be Home" a tribute to the traditions, values and sentiment that Schuylkill County is noted for. The 2007 Schuylkill United Way Campaign runs from Sept. 8 through Nov. 17 in Pottsville and Sept. 11 through Nov. 15 in Tamaqua. Tamaqua's share of the goal is $100-Thousand-Dollars.

State police continue their investigation into the break-in at a Wayne Township store. Sometime between Sunday and Monday of this week, unknown thieves entered Martin's Farm Market on Route 183 through the greenhouse. They went in through the bakery and went on to the cash register. A copier, a laminator and a fax machine were stolen. The value of the items is $450-dollars. Schuylkill Haven troopers are looking for your help. If you have any information, please call 593-2000.

State troopers at the Frackville barracks are investigating a burglary at a warehouse in Cass Township. Authorities now say that someone broke in to the Fanelli Trucking and Warehouse on Keystone Boulevard sometime during the last week of August. A rear door was smashed to gain entry. The thieves then went to the dispatcher's office and ransacked a desk there. It appears that nothing was taken in the break-in. The investigation continues.

There is a new principal at the Panther Valley High School…a former student. At this week's meeting, the school board appointed George Gillespie of Jim Thorpe to the position at a salary of $62-thousand-dollars. Gillespie was a middle school teacher in the Jim Thorpe School District prior to his appointment. The district had been without a principal since the resignation of Martin Mersky last month. Gillespie graduated from Panther Valley in 1990, and also was a teacher in the district prior to going to Jim Thorpe.

The Sol Lipton annual road race is Sunday, but with a new twist. The 26th edition of the 5K Road Run and Fun Run has added another race, the Pottsville Bicentennial 1/2 Marathon in observance of the city's 200th birthday. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Sol Lipton Memorial Scholarship Fund for college bound seniors. The 5K will begin at 10:45 a.m. behind Nathan's Furniture, on the corner of Progress Avenue and Laurel Boulevard; the Pottsville Bicentennial 1/2 Marathon will also be held on Sunday, at 8:00 a.m., in front of the Post Office on Centre Street. There will also be a 1.5 Mile Fun Run starting after the 5K at 11:15 a.m. Race Day entry fees are $15 for the first family member and $13 each for additional members. All registered runners will receive a race t-shirt. Race participants can win a host of prizes. A picnic will be held at Christy Joy following the race. For more information, call 622-8511.

The borough of Minersville is continuing the celebration of its 175th Anniversary with Spirit Day. Part of a year-long celebration, Spirit Day has become an annual event for people to come and enjoy a wide variety of features and events. Food, games and entertainment spotlight Spirit Day and have continued to expand as the years progress. Spirit Day activities will take place in the area of North Street in the borough of Minersville tomorrow.

State police and the National Guard have seized marijuana plants from several area locations. Troopers and a National Guard Eradication team have uncovered the plants, worth more than $80-thousand-dollars from sites in Pine Grove Township, South Manheim Township and East Brunswick Township earlier this week. The authorities use air searches to locate the plants, then infiltrate the area and remove them to cut down on the amount of pot that makes its way to the streets.

Two former Schuylkill County executives, who looked for unpaid accumulated sick time after they retired, have lost a battle in federal court. In a ruling handed down by a US Middle District Judge, the court said that claims that former County Director of Human Services John Phillips, and Richard Kanish, County Materials Contract Manager, would have to pursue their case in state court. The two men have asked Schuylkill County to pay more than $120-thousand-dollars in accumulated sick and severance pay. The men say that the money is owed them as a part of their employment with the county. Phillips is the former Schuylkill County Human Services Director who retired voluntarily after an investigation of the County Mental Health/Mental Retardation Program revealed financial practices that resulted in a state investigation that showed the mishandling of approximately $3 million. The program is now managed by a Berks County firm, Service Access Management. At the time of his retirement, Phillips was earning more than $74-thousand dollars per year. He was paid $750-dollars in unused sick pay upon leaving, but claimed he was entitled to over $78-thousand-dollars in sick pay reimbursement, and 10 weeks of severance pay, totaling more than $14-thousand dollars. Kanish, whose salary was nearly $40-thousand-dollars at his retirement, claims he is owed more than $13-thousand-dollars in unused sick and severance pay. According to reports, the men will pursue the case in state court.