Local News-Tuesday, Jan. 16th

After a year-long investigation, an arrest has been made in connection with a business fire in Shenandoah. Borough Police Chief Matthew Nestor arrested 22-year-old Kyle Crouch, currently an inmate at the State Correctional Institution in Forest County, for arson, risking a catastrophe and other offenses in starting the fire which destroyed the C&R Emporium and adjoining businesses January 3rd, 2006. A press release indicated that arrangements will be made for Crouch to return to Schuylkill County for a preliminary hearing on the charges.

The American Red Cross is in dire need of blood. The agency issued an urgent call for all eligible donors in Schuylkill County to give blood to avoid a critical shortage. Since the New Year, over 1-thousand blood donations have not been collected. With each donation being used for three blood products, that translates to over 3-thousand products which are not available for patients. According to Molly Dalton of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Blood Services Center, some blood types have dropped to the point where orders are being rationed to area hospitals. Several blood drives have been set for the coming weeks: January 17th-Pine Grove Ambulance Building, from 1 to 6pm, January 25th-Jerusalem Church, Schuylkill Haven, from noon to 6pm. January 29th-St Barbara’s Church, Minersville, from 1 to 6pm. The Minersville blood drive is in honor of Dan Guers, of Guers Dairy. The dairy has been supplying juice and other items to bloodmobile canteens for years. For questions about giving blood, call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

The sport of ATV riding continues to grow in popularity, but places to ride legally are in short supply. A local company is providing that opportunity for enthusiasts. A line stretching a city block formed early Monday at the Reading Anthracite building on Mahantongo Street for ATV riders wishing to purchase a permit to ride legally on company lands in and around Schuylkill County. The registrants pay a $100 dollar annual fee to ride on company land. People from Maryland, West Virginia and across Pennsylvania waited their turn in a steady drizzle yesterday to purchase a permit button. One rider, from the Hershey area who did not wish to be identified, said the investment is worth it. This is the second year for issuing the permits. Reading Anthracite will accept applications through the week, except Wednesday.

The Schuylkill County Republican Party has a new leader. Robert Ames of Coaldale, who led the party from 1988 to 1990, was elected to the position at the GOP executive committee meeting Saturday. According to the Pottsville Republican, Ames will succeed Dan Daub of Tower City, who resigned his position late last year. The upcoming election, featuring races for county row offices, will be Ames’ major focus taking over the helm of the Republican Party.

Nearly two weeks have passed since the fire at Keystoker in Schuylkill Haven. State police fire officials have determined that the cause of the blaze will probably never be known, but employees are working hard to clean up the mess and get back to work. Workers have stayed on the job since the fire, cleaning up debris from the fire, and salvaging what they can. Thankfully, no one was injured in the early morning fire. The company manufactures furnaces and other heating equipment, and has been in business for more than 50 years.

A Tamaqua man is in Schuylkill County Prison following an incident Saturday. Borough police were called to the Tiki Bar around midnight in response to a disturbance. 40-year-old Timothy Sproul allegedly punched Scott Ferryman inside the bar. While leaving the bar, Sproul busted some glasses on the bar, and pushed a door into the face of Edward Kashmer, injuring him. Sproul will be charged with probation violation, simple assault, harassment and public drunkenness.

A boulder on Route 309 damaged several cars Saturday. Tamaqua police report that the big rock was reported on the roadway, near the intersection with Taggertsville Road. The rock apparently broke loose from the hill above. Two cars hit the boulder in the northbound lane, both needing to be towed from the scene. The impact of the second crash knocked the rock into the southbound lane, where another car hit it. No injuries were reported. The incident happened around noon Saturday.