Local News-Wednesday, Jan. 31st

Schuylkill County officials are pondering their next move in the Mental Health/Mental Retardation program audit. After last Friday’s meeting, a tentative reimbursement amount was thought to have been agreed upon. But, one of the contract providers, ReDCo, believes that its not so. Now, the County Commissioners have to weigh their options as to how to bring the process to a close. Several million dollars were overspent in the program from 2002 to 2004. A nearly three year audit of ReDCo and other service providers has yet to be finished. According to the Pottsville Republican, officials may take some form of legal action to get the audit wrapped up, and monies owed to the county, returned. Minority Commissioner Mantura Gallagher commented earlier this week that legal action may be an option, and her counterparts, Frank Staudenmeier and Bob Carl, have mentioned similar remedies. The audit was to be completed and final results issued by today. It appears that we will have to wait for some time to know the final outcome.

Two Mahanoy City men are in trouble for allegedly stealing diesel fuel earlier this week. Thomas Davidson and George Butcavage were arraigned on theft and related charges after they were reported to be on Gilberton Coal Company property Monday night with 55-gallon-drums on the back of a dump truck. They had already filled nine of the drums with diesel fuel, valued at over $1-thousand-dollars. Davidson was released after posting 10 percent of the $15-thousand-dollars bail. Butcavage was remanded to the Schuylkill County Prison.

Freshman state legislator Tim Seip has received his committee assignments in Harrisburg. The 125th District Representative will serve on four key committees in the 2007-08 legislative session, including the committee expected to handle property tax reform. He was named to the House Finance, Environmental Resources and Energy, Health and Human Services, and Labor Relations committees. Seip also will serve as majority secretary of the Health and Human Services Committee. Seip said the assignments will “enable me to have a greater voice on many of the issues that voters in my district told me were a priority, such as property taxes and the cost of health care and energy”. Seip is from Washington Township.

Its tax filing time, and the state revenue office in Pottsville is here to help. The Pottsville District Office, located at 115 S. Centre Street is offering assistance in filing your state income tax returns. They have the technology to handle most issues that taxpayers have. The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has two free electronic filing options: Telefile, and pa-dot-direct-dot.file on the internet. Simply bring all of your tax information with you and the staff would be happy to help. They also have a supply of tax forms available if needed. Their hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 5pm. The state’s revenue website is revenue-dot-state-dot-pa-dot-us.

The Pottsville Social Security office is moving next month. Effective, February 12th, customers needing Social Security services will be able to visit the new site at 2221 West Market Street, on the second floor of the Yorkville Center. Clients will be able to enter from the rear of the building, with ample parking available. The office will also be serviced by STS, on the Route 20 bus. Hours of operation are 9am to 4pm, Monday through Friday, except holidays. Many of the services are also available on line at www.socialsecurity.gov, or by phone at 385-5028.

Hamburg State Police are investigating a break-in at the Perry Golf Course. Troopers now say that someone broke into the clubhouse at the course by smashing a window with a chair. Thieves took the cash register and an undisclosed amount of cash during the overnight hours of January 12th. The investigation continues.

A test drive on the Adamsdale Road resulted in a crash Monday afternoon. 27-year-old Christopher Ayala of Schuylkill Haven, a car salesman, was taking 19-year-old Kristen Friebolin, of Hamburg on a test drive on the Adamsdale Road around noon when he lost control and crashed into a fence. Friebolin complained of neck pain and was taken to Pottsville Hospital for treatment. Schuylkill Haven State Police say that the incident was not reported to them for several hours after the crash. Ayala will be cited for several motor vehicle violations related to the incident.