Local News-Friday, Oct. 6th

The Pottsville Bicentennial weekend began Thursday night with a welcome home dinner for Pottsville natives. A crowd of about 175 persons gathered at the Pottsville Club to honor General George Joulwan and celebrate the Pottsville Lasting Legacy's work at Joulwan Park on the city's East Side. Joulwan, a highly decorated Four-Star Army General and former Commander of NATO forces was extremely humbled and grateful for the recognitions bestowed upon him by Pottsville over the past 50 years, and he hopes that young men and women will follow his example to serve their community and country. Retired from the military for nearly a decade, General Joulwan said he has been very busy as a businessman, consultant and commentator with various national news outlets. The General and his wife, Karen, an Orwigsburg native, will participate in the Pottsville Bicentennial Parade Saturday. It kicks off at 1pm with a military jet flyover provided by the 193rd Special Operations Wing of the Pennsylvania Air National Guard.

Motorists traveling on Route 183 through Cressona never know what kind of adventure is in store. For the third time in three weeks, a truck got stuck under the Blue Mountain and Reading Railroad overpass. Gerald Seckora of Jacksonville, Florida failed to heed warning lights and signs and hit the 11 foot 8 inches overpass, peeling the top of his trailer back. As usual, the crash caused significant traffic tie-ups in the area just before 11am. The problem area has garnered the attention of local and state officials, along with the owner of the railroad. The group plans to meet soon to find solutions to this ongoing problem.

A Massachusetts woman was hurt following a one car crash Thursday morning. Frackville State Police say that Sa-marie Ramos of Holyoke, Massachusetts, was speeding on the interstate when she lost control of her SUV on a left curve near the Delano exit. Her vehicle flipped several times, pinning her inside the vehicle. Emergency personnel had to cut her out of the vehicle. She suffered severe injuries, and was flown to St. Luke's Trauma Center in Bethlehem.

The Office of Solid Waste is seeking County approval to apply for a $455-thousand-dollar recycling grant. The request was made at Wednesday’s County Commissioners work session. The state grant if approved would be used to upgrade existing recycling sites, purchase additional collection bins, public education, advertising, and establish new recycling sites. Authorization was also sought to enter into a public education campaign with WPPA Radio and Comcast TV, Pottsville, to promote the Solid Waste Department's "Lets Do It Right" Slogan for the remaining of the academic school year. The campaign will run from the beginning of November, 2006 until the end of May, 2007. The Grant Writers Office, on behalf of the Office of Senior Services received approval to submit a grant application to the Penna. Department of Aging for $200-thousand-dollars for selected renovations to the old Tremont High School building. Senior Services wants to move the Senior Center from its current location in Tremont to the old high school. In other business, the Commissioners approved a request by the Public Works Department to advertise for a "Request for Qualifications" for a guaranteed energy savings program for the Court House. The County is hoping to find ways to reduce the cost of heating, cooling and lighting the Courthouse.

A prominent Pottsville native and federal judge served as Master of Ceremonies for Thursday night's Welcome Home dinner as part of the Pottsville Bicentennial Celebration. Judge John Jones, a federal judge of the US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania presided over last night's dinner saluting General George Joulwan and spotlighted the Joulwan Park Project. The project is being funded by the Pottsville Lasting Legacy Foundation. Jones said it was truly an honor to share the rostrum with General Joulwan, and expressed his pride in being a Pottsville and Schuylkill County native. Jones rose to national prominence after he presided over the Dover Area School Board case regarding teaching creationism in the school. Jones is a graduate of Dickinson College and Law School.