Local News-Friday, Nov. 3rd

A minor fire forced a lockdown at the Schuylkill County Prison last evening. City firefighters responded to the scene around 7pm. A fire in a dryer in the prison's laundry room created smoke and required the evacuation of non-prison personnel. Emergency crews placed exhaust fans in the prison to blow the smoke from the area. No one was injured.

Voters will go to the polls in 5 days. Election officials in Schuylkill County are gearing up for the first General Election using the touch-screen voting system. In order for voters to get a last minute refresher on using the machines, the Voter Outreach Program will have demonstrations of touch screen voting at several locations today. The locations include the Community Banks offices in St. Clair, Pottsville, Orwigsburg and Ashland, and at the Voter Registration Bureau on North Centre Street in Pottsville. Any last minute questions can be answered by calling the Voter Registration/Election Bureau at 628-1467. You can hear comprehensive election coverage Tuesday night on WPPA and T-102.

A Tamaqua woman was arrested at her home Wednesday night for drug possession. Borough police responded to the home of 28-year-old Erica Edinger following a complaint of noise coming from the apartment at 205 Rowe Street. Police found crack cocaine and drug paraphernalia at the home. She will face possession charges at the office of District Judge Stephen Bayer.

A Frackville man was robbed and assaulted Tuesday night in Girardville. State troopers say that Donald Spotts was visiting a friend at a West Ogden Street home when several people forced their way into the home and hit Spotts in the face, took his medication and some cash. Spotts was treated at St. Catherine Medical Center. Police believe that the attack is tied to another incident involving Spotts. The investigation continues.

The Minersville Sewer Authority is in line to receive financial help to make system improvements. State Senator Jim Rhoades yesterday announced that PENNVEST has awarded a $4.1-million-dollar loan to the authority for installation of sanitary and storm sewer lines, replacement of water mains and other improvements to eliminate continuous discharge of untreated wastewater into the West Branch of the Schuylkill River. The loan term is for 30 years, at 1 percent interest.

STS will soon have a new Trolley bus to add to its fleet. The Schuylkill County Commissioners approved a recommendation by Dennis Zahora at Wednesday's work session to award a contract Double K, Inc. of Crandon, Wisconsin, the low bidder, for a transit trolley bus costing almost $144-thousand-dollars. Zahora said PennDOT has reviewed and approved the bid award. In other business, the Commissioners approved the advertisement of bids for cleaning services at the 9-1-1 Center. The bids will be opened November 22nd and tentatively awarded on Wednesday, December 6th. The Commissioners were also asked to approve an agreement with Reading Elevator Service, Inc., Reading to provide maintenance for the courthouse elevators from November 15th of this year until November 14th 2007 at a cost of $538.00 per month. The same firm is presently under contract for the elevators and there is no increase in the monthly costs. The Grant Writers office was given approval to submit an application to the Penna. Department of State for a HAVA Title 11 grant of $3,493.73 to be used for offset the cost of training poll workers and for polling sites. No County matching funds are required. The Commissioners announced that the Courthouse will be closed on Tuesday November 7th in observance of the General Election. The Commissioners Board meeting, Salary Board meeting, if necessary, and the retirement board meeting will be held Thursday November 9th at 10:00am. The Courthouse will also be closed November 10th in observance of Veterans Day.

Two Tamaqua High School students are in trouble after separate incidents at Tamaqua High School. Last Friday, a 15-year-old Walker Township boy was charged with cursing at a teacher during gym class after the teacher told him the shirt he was wearing was inappropriate. On Monday, police said a 15-year-old Tamaqua girl was charged after she was walking down a hallway saying curse words to a teacher. Both teens will have to answer disorderly conduct charges in District Court.

There are just a few weeks left in the Schuylkill United Way's Fall campaign. To date, the effort is at about 45 percent of the goal of $915-thousand dollars. Volunteers are continuing to work diligently on the "Good To Be Home" campaign to raise funds for the 16-plus-member agencies that make up the Schuylkill United Way. All funds raised here, stay here to help these agencies. If you have not made your pledge yet, contact the Schuylkill United Way at 622-6421, or online at schuylkillunitedway.org.