Local News-Wednesday, Nov. 1st

A Tuesday morning truck crash blocked Route 901 near Primrose. Around 7:30am, a trucker from Maryland was southbound on 901 when he failed to negotiate a right curve and lost control of his refrigerated truck, which was carrying over 38-thousand-pounds of French fries. The truck rolled over, and struck a utility pole. None of the cargo spilled on the road, but the road was closed down for several hours for cleanup. The driver was not injured, but will be cited by Frackville State Police.

A Lake Harmony man is under arrest on charges he raped a McAdoo woman in February of this year. Late last week, 33-year-old Steven Gallagher was picked up on a warrant on charges of rape, indecent assault and sexual assault. He is alleged to have harmed 21-year-old Miranda Monroe of McAdoo. The arrest is the result of an investigation conducted by McAdoo police and Schuylkill County Detectives. Gallagher was arraigned and released after posting bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 14th.

A local school district is ending its battle to have tax assessments appealed in Schuylkill County.
The Blue Mountain School District was pursuing options to have 270 cases considered for appeal, after the district allegedly didn't follow prescribed procedures for making the appeals. If those appeals would have been approved, the district could have possibly gained over $300-thousand-dollars in tax revenue. Following the ruling in Schuylkill County Court, which denied the district's appeals to be heard by the county Assessment Appeals board, school administrators pledged to continue the fight, but have now decided against it.

The Schuylkill Intermediate Unit was presented a distance learning grant yesterday by Congressman Tim Holden and representatives of the USDA. The grant, in the amount of over $205-thousand-dollars, will be used to purchase video conferencing equipment for all IU participating schools to provide coursework via video link that could not be offered at any one school. Six Pennsylvania education and health projects were part of a nationwide release announcing 103 US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants in 38 states. The Schuylkill IU was one of two entities receiving the Distance Learning Grants statewide.

Frackville State Police are investigating a break-in at a coal company in Mahanoy Township over the weekend. Reports say that someone tried to enter the Park Mine Coal Company on Park Place Road by using a rock to damage a door to the business. The would-be burglar was unable to gain entry, then fled. The investigation continues.

An emergency vehicle was damaged in a crash Saturday night in Pottsville. City police report that an ambulance driven by Richard Hodgson of Tremont was traveling on West Market Street when it went off the road and hit a utility pole, knocking it down onto the roadway. The ambulance was severely damaged, and had to be towed from the scene.