Local News-Thursday, Jan. 11th

The search continues for a missing Mount Carmel woman. But the story has several new twists.
46-year-old Steven Wolfgang, currently in Schuylkill County Prison on arson and related charges, is reported to have admitted to killing his wife Sherry, in their home last Friday. Wolfgang was burned during an apparent suicide attempt. The Pottsville Republican reports that court documents show that Wolfgang told workers who were treating his burns at Lehigh Valley Hospital that he killed his wife and dumped her body in the water near the scene of her recovered vehicle in Eldred Township. The two had been drinking and fighting, according to police. Troopers have been conducting an intense investigation at Wolfgang’s home for evidence in her disappearance. Search teams have been combing the area around the recovered vehicle for Sherry Wolfgang, but have not yet been successful. The investigation continues.

County Controller Gary Hornberger will not seek reelection to that office or be a candidate for County Commissioner. In a news release issued Wednesday, Hornberger said he made the announcement to still the flood of rumors and inquiries about his plans for the future. Hornberger, who has been County Controller for last 12-years, had defeated State Representative Bob Allen in the Republican primary but lost to Democrat Tim Seip in last November’s general election. He said he campaigned last year for term limits for elected officials and felt it is time now to practice what he preached. In his news release, he said he proud of the record his office has built during his tenure and said he and his dedicated staff worked constantly to insure that county taxpayers were receiving full value for their tax dollars. Hornberger made no mention of his future plans.

The Schuylkill County Commissioners heard from four county residents about issues they are concerned about during Wednesday’s board meeting. Mary Jane Sierer of Washington Township is concerned about a Duck Factory Farm proposed in the township. She and other residents who live near the proposed Duck Farm are concerned about the quality of life and safe drinking water. Commissioner Mantura Gallagher said she would write a letter to the township asking that an advisory board be appointed to look at the proposal. Michael Polyak of Tamaqua wants the Commissioners to contact the county’s state delegation and show their support for voter-verified paper trail legislation currently in the State House and Senate. Commissioner Robert Carl said the State Election Code does not presently permit paper print outs. Melinda Kantner of North Manheim Township questioned whether using a county law firm in which county solicitor Paul Datte is a partner was the most cost effective means of handling the bonding service in connection with the county’s purchase of the 9-1-1 building. And a Blythe Township resident, who is against a housing development proposal in her township asked the Commissioners for help in fighting development in the County which she said, will destroy the area.

PennDOT reminds municipalities that they can improve pedestrian safety by installing free crosswalk signs. Since 2001, PennDOT has distributed more that 34-hundred of the fluorescent yellow-green crosswalk signs to communities across the state. In order to receive the signs free of charge, the municipality must have either an area with a high car/pedestrian crash history, or roadways that are difficult to cross because motorists fail to yield. PA law says that when traffic signals are either not present or not operating, motorists must yield to pedestrians within a marked crosswalk, or any unmarked crosswalk, at an intersection. Violators of the law are subject to a $50 fine. Communities interested in obtaining the signs should call the local PennDOT district office.

The Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce featured the annual Economic Forecast during their monthly breakfast meeting Wednesday. Peter Howard, a portfolio manager with KNBT Investment Management and Trust Company was guest speaker. He said he expects the economy to grow 2-3% which he said, is what the Fed is trying to engineer. He said the economy is driven by what the Fed does. As for concerns over the pending rise in the national minimum wage, he said the increase will not have a big effect on unemployment. He said his biggest fear for the economy is that consumers have taken on too much debt. Howard said he doesn’t think there is much chance for a recession in 2007.