Local News-Monday, Feb. 5th

Election season kicks into full gear today, with the availability of candidate petition packets. Schuylkill County Election Bureau Director Betty Dries says that packets are available to be picked up today, at their office at 420 North Centre Street, from 8:30am to 4:30pm. The first day to begin circulating petitions is February 13th. March 6th is the last day to circulate and file petitions, by the close of business that day. Prospective candidates must ensure that their voter registration data is current. For questions, call the bureau at 628-1467.

A one-vehicle crash in Pottsville last night seriously injures a man. Pottsville police say that the man was trapped after striking a pole at the intersection of Route 61 and Mauch Chunk Street. He has not yet been identified. Other details are limited at this time, but the man had to be transported to Lehigh Valley Medical Center for treatment. The accident closed Route 61 for a time for cleanup.

A former area resident was killed in a crash in Lycoming County Saturday evening. Police say that 23-year-old Stephen Fuller of Newberry, a graduate of Blue Mountain High School, was pronounced dead at the scene after he lost control of his Jeep on Route 15 in Hepburn Township. Fuller was traveling south when he lost control, and rolled several times. He was ejected from the vehicle. Police say that he was not wearing his seat belt. The cause of the accident is still under investigation.

State police are investigating a case of simple assault at the VRAJ Temple grounds in Wayne Township early Saturday. 4 men driving in a Chevy Blazer were reportedly doing donuts on the temple property off of Route 895, when they were approached by Erik Weiss, a security officer from Anthracite Protective Services. Weiss told them that they were trespassing, and was sprayed in the face with pepper spray. The men took off from the scene. Troopers are still investigating.

A traffic stop in West Mahanoy Township early Sunday uncovered a missing teen from Lebanon County. Frackville State Police, while conducting a routine traffic stop at the intersection of Route 61 and Vo Tech Road, found that one of the passengers, a Hispanic juvenile, had been missing from his home in Lebanon since January 29th. He was taken into custody and transported to Lebanon City Police Department authorities.

Two area companies are kicking in funds to support a job-readiness program. Omnova Solutions’ Foundation and the PPL Corporation recently contributed $75-hundred-dollars to the new Your Employability Skills Certificate Program, a job skill building and enhancement program targeted at high school seniors. In a story we brought you several weeks ago, YES is a 120-hour, yearlong elective course that teaches high school seniors such skills as conflict resolution, interview training, resume writing and job application tips, time management and financial planning. Schuylkill County is currently the third region in Pennsylvania to offer YES, behind York and Erie counties. The Schuylkill Haven Area School District became the first in Schuylkill County to implement the program for the 2006-07 school year. YES is an initiative of the Schuylkill Workforce Partnership comprised of PPL, Northeast PA Manufacturers and Employers Association, Pennsylvania CareerLink, Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, Schuylkill County Commissioners, Schuylkill Economic Development Corp. and Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29. It is administered through the Northeast PA Manufacturers and Employers Council,.

Tamaqua’s mayor announced his support for a new bill in Harrisburg to help schools. Christian Morrison says that House Bill 127, providing funding for a School Resource Officer, is much needed. He said that he has discussed the issue with Tamaqua district officials, police and concerned parents. Morrison acknowledged that local budgets are tight, and that this avenue may provide the needed funding to make it happen. The bill has been introduced in Harrisburg, and referred to the Education Committee. Originally, the program for a School Resource Officer was funded through the Justice Department with federal dollars.