Local News-Tuesday, Sept. 19th

It appears that Congressman Tim Holden will be re-elected to another term in Washington this November. Holden's opponent, Republican Matthew Wertz of Lebanon County has ceased active campaigning due to family and medical reasons. While Wertz's name will still appear on the ballot, it is unlikely that he will win. According to reports, he struggled to raise funds to build a campaign against the St. Clair Democrat. Wertz retired from the US Navy earlier this year and is a resident of Lebanon County. Holden has been a member of the US House of Representatives for 14 years.

It's budget time in Schuylkill County. Hearings began at the county courthouse yesterday, in preparation for the next fiscal year. According to the Pottsville Republican, District Attorney Jim Goodman is requesting additional monies to hire a full-time Assistant District Attorney. If approved, that individual would deal specifically with drug cases. Goodman cited the burgeoning case load for the next year, indicating that the number of cases is expected to double. Other departments presenting their budget requests included the Coroner, Child Development, Prothonotary, Sheriff and Schuylkill Women in Crisis, among others.

A Frackville woman is in trouble for endangering the welfare of her children. Borough police were called to the home of 23-year-old Nicole Murray at 427 Pershing Street Saturday night to check on the welfare of her children. Police believed that her children might be left at home alone. Murray's two daughters were unaccounted for, and she was seen leaving the home earlier in the evening to go to a party in Shenandoah. When they gained access to the locked home, police found Murray's 2-year-old daughter alone in a bedroom crying. Schuylkill County Children and Youth officials were contacted to secure the child. Early Sunday morning, Murray, who was drunk, was taken to Schuylkill County Prison and arraigned on child endangerment and related offenses. She was unable to post the required 10 percent of $30-thousand-dollars bail. A preliminary hearing will be held at a later date.

Pottsville city police have been busy rounding up people wanted on outstanding warrants.
On Thursday, police responded to the Cliffside Apartments for a disturbance involving a male and female. 40-year-old James Flowers was one of the people involved in the dispute. During an ID check, the county communications center determined that Flowers was wanted as a violent offender and for parole violations. He was taken into custody. In a separate incident Friday, police observed a Reading man, Jason Bivins in the 100 block of West Market Street. During questioning, Bivins gave police a false identification. But police determined that the man was in fact Bivins, who was wanted on Felony burglary charges. He was taken into custody and transported to Schuylkill County Prison for arraignment via video conference. He was arraigned on burglary, conspiracy and other charges relating to the original warrant. He was also charged with providing false identification to police. He was unable to post bail, and remains in prison today.

State police are investigating a weekend burglary at a North Manheim Township restaurant.
Sometime between 11pm Saturday and noon Sunday, unknown persons broke into The Nutty Pear on Adamsdale Road through the front door. The thieves took numerous bottles of liquor and wine, cases of beer from a back walk-in cooler, a cash register and other items. Police continue their investigation.

Three vehicles were involved in a crash Monday morning in East Norwegian Township. State police say that Anthony Paltanavage of New Philadelphia was southbound on Route 209, when he struck the rear of 80-year-old Joseph Shevokas' car, which was stopped to make a left turn. The Shevokas vehicle hit the northbound car of Barbara Leo, McAdoo. Stella Shevokas, a passenger in the second vehicle, and Leo were hurt and taken to local hospitals for treatment. The Shevokas and Leo vehicles were severely damaged, while Paltanavage's car had moderate damage.