Local News-Monday, Jan. 15th

Monies are coming to several Schuylkill County communities to improve public health and utility service. The package announced by Governor Ed Rendell totals $2.2 million dollars. The proposed projects will reduce critical or chronic public health and environmental hazards. Nine grants will help finance improvements to existing sewage facilities and drinking water systems using new or innovative technologies. In Schuylkill County, Ashland Borough will receive over $352-thousand-dollars to install a Fluidized Bed Reactor process to reduce nutrients going into the Chesapeake Bay. The Minersville Sewer Authority will get $272-thousand-dollars to upgrade processes at their treatment facility. The funds are part of Pennsylvania’s Growing Greener Two initiative.

The Minersville School Board and its teacher’s union are still at an impasse after receiving a fact finder’s report. A notice of the report was issued by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board Friday by Diana Mulligan, the fact finder Friday. The Minersville School Board rejected the report, but was accepted by the Minersville Area Education Association and its 75 teachers. At odds are medical premiums, salary increases and the retroactivity of those increases, once approved, to be backdated to July 1st, 2006. Pennsylvania Act 88 provides for a 10 day window, after the issuance of the fact finders report, to inform the parties whether they accept or reject the report. The two parties have been negotiating a contract since January, 2005, and have been working under the terms of the old contract since it expired in June, 2006.

A Canadian man escaped a vehicle fire on Interstate 81 Saturday afternoon. Frackville state police say that 75-year-old Henry Yoa (YO) of Ontario, Canada was driving his RV on the Interstate at mile marker 131 in Mahanoy Township when the driver’s side caught fire. Firefighters were able to put the fire out quickly, and Yoa was able to walk away from it. The incident happened around 1:45pm Saturday.

A Pottsville teen was not hurt in a one-vehicle crash Saturday night in Wayne Township. 18-year-old Ryan Natale was driving north on Route 183 when he attempted to negotiate a right turn. Police believe he was going too fast for the wet conditions and lost control. The car traveled along the east berm of the road, spun several times and hit the guiderail. His car had to be towed from the scene.

A Philadelphia Eagles legend will be the speaker at this year’s “Spirit of the Y” Dinner in February. Retired Eagles linebacker Bill Bergey will share his experiences on the gridiron and in life at the 5th annual Schuylkill YMCA dinner, sponsored by Capital Blue Cross, at the Schuylkill Country Club. An 11-year NFL veteran, Bergey holds numerous defensive records for the Eagles, and now does pre-and post-game commentary on the Birds Radio Network. The Spirit of the Y dinner will feature the annual Bids for Kids silent and live auction. The large variety of items will include Penn State, Philadelphia Eagles, and Pittsburgh Steelers autographed footballs and photos along with a mix of sporting event tickets and dinner packages. Items from the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Ravens and Washington Redskins will also be on hand. Tickets and information are available at the Schuylkill YMCA at 570-622-7850. The Schuylkill YMCA is a member of the Schuylkill United Way.