Local News-Friday, Nov. 10th

The Schuylkill County Commissioners Thursday approved a number of items that were brought before them during last Wednesday's work session. Approval was given to proceed with a guaranteed energy savings project for all county owned buildings by Honeywell Building Solutions, Wilkes Barre. County Administrator Bill Reppy said the firm will do a 3-6 month analysis to determine where energy savings can be realized. They then will present a plan to the county who can accept or reject any portion of it. Reppy said there is no initial cost to the County. The Commissioners accepted a proposal to hire Hess and Associates of Danville to review job descriptions and the employee classification system of all non-union county employees. The cost is $10,115 plus mileage from Danville.
Approval was granted to enter into an agreement with Reading Elevator Service Inc. of Reading to provide maintenance for Court House elevators at a cost of $538 per month. The Commissioners accepted a proposal from Traffic Solutions, Inc. of Temple to retrofit the County Owned traffic signal at the intersection of Route 61 & 183 from Incandescent to LED at a cost of $4,340. In other business, The Commissioners approved seeking proposals from lending institutions to borrow up to $4-Million Dollars in anticipation of receipt of current taxes and revenues in 2007.
The Commissioners also approved the hiring of four caseworkers in the Children & Youth Agency and the promotion of an employee from caseworker-1 to caseworker-2. Two West Nile supervisor/surveillance Technician positions were terminated in the Agricultural Extension Department, and a clerk typist was appointed to the Senior Services Office.

A Donaldson man is accused of several charges following a domestic dispute. Jason Ney and his wife, Allison, were arguing at their Donaldson home. State police say that Ney repeatedly shoved her, hit her and threatened her with a baseball bat. Ney fled before police arrived. Charges of terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment will be filed in District Court.

A New Ringgold woman had minor injuries following a crash Wednesday afternoon. Stephanie Sandler was traveling east on Hemlock Drive when she failed to stop at the intersection. Her car left the road and traveled down an embankment and rolled over. Her Jeep Cherokee was moderately damaged, but thankfully Sandler suffered minor scrapes.

A northern Schuylkill County borough is receiving revitalization money from the state. Ashland borough will receive about $300-thousand-dollars over 5 years from the Pennsylvania Main Street Program, and an opportunity for a-half-million dollars more. Ashland was just designated a Main Street Community. Ashland Downtown Incorporated has been working on fundraising and other programs to begin revitalizing the community. Ashland is part of the Upper Schuylkill Downtown, combing the talents and resources of northern Schuylkill County communities.

A hearing about a controversial landfill in Blythe Township has been set. The Pottsville Republican reports that the December 5th meeting to consider the application for the BRADS Construction and Demolition Waste Site will be held in Pottsville. The proposed landfill on the Burma Road has been under consideration for some time, and local residents have been very vocal about their opposition to it. The site is close to the Wolf Creek Reservoir and along a heavily traveled roadway. St. Clair borough engineers have been evaluating the application to be submitted to DEP. The meeting will be open to the public.

An argument led to a confrontation between two people in Girardville Wednesday. Frackville troopers say Dennis Dinger and Jolynn Nichols got into a verbal argument that turned physical Wednesday afternoon around 4pm.
The pair will be charged with domestic violence in District Court.