Local News-Thursday, Nov. 2nd

Schuylkill County Administrator Bill Reppy has asked the County Commissioners to hire a Danville firm to review job descriptions and the employee classification system of non-union county employees. Hess and Associates of Danville will examine the county's employment policies. The agreement is expected to cost $10,115 plus mileage from Danville. Reppy said the agreement was reviewed and approved by Assistant County Solicitor Robert Frycklund as to its legal content. In another matter, Reppy received approval to establish a new Light Duty Position at the County Prison. Reppy said the move will allow the prison to bring back a female employee who has been off on medical leave and is able to return to work with light duty.

After an investigation spanning several weeks, Shenandoah police have arrested two men on a variety of drug related charges. On Tuesday evening, the pair, 50-year-old Robert Lutz of Shenandoah, and 36-year-old Franklin Fetter of Mahanoy City were stopped for a traffic violation. As police attempted to remove Lutz from the vehicle, he began to throw bags of heroin from the vehicle. The drugs were recovered by police, and both men taken into custody.
The pair had been under investigation by Shenandoah police after the reportedly sold quantities of heroin to confidential informants. Lutz and Fetter are expected to be arraigned on felony charges of delivery and possession of a controlled substance.

A barn in North Manheim Township burned down yesterday. Firefighters were called to the scene on Panther Valley Road around 10am, where a structure was in the process of being burned down by its owner. According to the Pottsville Republican, the building was being destroyed through a controlled burn when a passerby called emergency officials. According to reports, property owners may tear down structures and burn the remains, but may not destroy the structure by burning it down while standing. Firefighters had the blaze under control in short order.

A Pottsville fire company, which has been under suspension for the past six months, is making progress toward being in compliance with their training. The Pottsville Board of Fire Trustees recommended the suspension of the Greenwood Hill Fire Company in May when officials determined that their members were not properly trained and certified. The Pottsville Republican reports that the company has requested a month-to-month extension of their suspension in order to complete the required training. City fire officials are reportedly pleased with Greenwood Hill's progress, and expect to lift the suspension as soon as the remaining training is completed.

An early morning shooting in Kutztown leaves a woman dead and a husband injured. Hamburg State Police were called to scene in Greenwich Township, Berks County early yesterday after a report of shots fired. They discovered 58-year-old Joyce Williams dead of a single gunshot wound. Her husband Gregory had two apparent gunshot wounds, and was taken to Lehigh Valley Medical Center. His condition is unknown. The victims were discovered by a relative. Police believe that there was a dispute between the two. The investigation continues.

A measure championed by Senator Jim Rhoades will provide tax breaks to people who make their properties more accessible. The bill, signed by Governor Ed Rendell, would give local taxing authorities with the option to offer special tax credits to homeowners that adopt visitability design features on their properties. The legislation will also establish minimum, uniform design standards to enhance access for those persons who have a difficult time getting around. The bill does not mandate that taxing bodies enact the tax credits, but gives them the option to do so. If adopted, the tax credit will not exceed 25-hundred-dollars over 5 years.

The County will save 80 percent on the monthly electric bill resulting from a traffic light update at Routes 61 and 183.
County Engineer Lisa Mahall requested approval to accept a bid from Traffic & Pump Solutions Inc., Temple for retrofitting the county owned traffic signal from incandescent to LED. Mahall said the monthly electric bill on the traffic signal is $120.00 and will drop to $20.00 per month when completed. The cost of the retrofitting is just over $4-thousand-dollars. County Administrator Bill Reppy said eventually all the county-owned traffic signals will be updated. In other business, Mahall asked the Commissioners to approve a request for proposals to provide professional services to assist the Planning and Zoning Office with a county zoning ordinance amendment. Mahall said the amendment will implement the recently adopted County Comprehensive Plan and the open space and greenway plan.