Local News-Tuesday, Oct. 24th

Officials are learning more about a mine accident that claimed the life of a Donaldson man Monday. WPPA/T102 news was on the scene a short time after the accident at the R and D Coal Company’s Buck Mountain Slope in Tremont Township, just outside of the village of Joliett. Federal investigators say the accident occurred after miners detonated some explosives. A spokesman for the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration says the miners apparently checked for methane gas beforehand, but didn't detect any. The accident 43-year-old Dale Reightler, who'd been working the mines since the age of 16. State police at Schuylkill Haven also say the accident at the Buck Mountain Slope Mine was indeed an explosion, but state mining regulators say they're not sure about that at this point. Five other miners escaped after the accident. Investigators hope to go down the mine shaft today. It was too dangerous to do that yesterday because the accident disabled the ventilation system. The Williams and Tri Valley areas of Schuylkill County are dotted with small underground mining operations. According to Pennsylvania DEP, Anthracite mines in Pennsylvania are inspected every two months by DEP mine inspectors and twice a year by the department’s electrical inspectors. MSHA inspects anthracite mines quarterly.

Jonestown State Police arrested a Gordon man on a host of charges following a case of road rage in Lebanon County. 30-year-old Gene Klinger was traveling on Interstate 81 in East Hanover Township when he believed he was cut off by a car driven by Frank Marrone of Gettysburg last week. State police now say that Klinger pulled up aside of Marrone's car and pointed a loaded 38 caliber revolver at them. Troopers stopped Klinger, and found the gun under a child safety seat. They also found a small amount of methamphetamine in his car. Marrone, nor his passengers, including a 9 year old child, were injured. Klinger was charged with aggravated and simple assault, possession of drugs and paraphernalia, harassment, terroristic threats and other offenses. He was arraigned on those charges.

A Tremont man has been sentenced in Schuylkill County Court for being a habitual traffic offender. Judge D. Michael Stine sentenced Chad Perkins to at least 30 days in county prison for a host of motor vehicle violations, according to the Pottsville Republican. Perkins has built up nearly 30 violations for driving under the influence, driving under a suspended license, DUI and other offenses over the past year. Judge Stine said that Perkins blatant disregard for the law requires prison time. Perkins reportedly told the court that he needed to keep working, requesting house arrest and electronic monitoring instead of going to jail. Stine dismissed that request. Perkins is scheduled to begin serving his sentence on November 4th.

As we get closer to Halloween, ghouls and goblins a-plenty will fill the streets for parades across the region. Tonight, it's the annual Lions Halloween Parade in Pottsville. Marchers will step off from 12th and Market Street at 7pm, with lineup beginning at 6pm. Children will receive free candy after the parade. In Tamaqua, the parade will form on East Broad Street and roll out at 7pm. Tomorrow, the Orwigsburg Halloween parade lines up on Margaret Avenue at 6:30pm, with start time scheduled at 7pm. And the St Clair Halloween parade and house decorating contest is also Wednesday evening, with festivities getting underway at 7pm.

A man from Dauphin County is now accused of hitting a man in a wheelchair and taking off in his pick-up truck.
We told your earlier this month that Lester Adams, 71, of Tower City was in his electric wheelchair along Route 209 when he was hit. Adams was thrown from his chair. The driver didn't stop. Police arrested Joseph Padgette of Harrisburg. He is charged with a number of offenses, including reckless driving, failure to give aide and failing to notify police of an accident. No hearing date has been set.