Local News-Wednesday, Feb. 28th

Two men learned their fate on various sex-related charges in Schuylkill County Court. Judge John Domalakes pronounced the sentences of 35-year-old David Noll, Orwigsburg, and 31-year old Joseph Dunkley of New Phialdelphia yesterday, according to the Pottsville Republican. Noll will be incarcerated at a state prison for 4 to 9 years and face a lifetime registered as a sexually violent predator under Megan’s Law. Noll pleaded guilty during his November trial for sexually assaulting a boy in 2003. Dunkley pleaded guilty to indecent assault, lewdness and exposure after committing those crimes against a young girl in Schuylkill Haven. He was given credit for time served, with 23 months probation. He has to register under Megan’s Law for 10 years, and have no contact with anyone under 18 years of age, among other stipulations.

Two Schuylkill Countians were involved in a crash yesterday afternoon in Tilden Township. Mildred Koons of Orwigsburg, and Grace Breon of Port Clinton were southbound on 61 near Lowland Road when Koons’ vehicle hit the rear of Breon’s car. Both vehicles had to be towed from the scene. No one was injured.

Time is running out for homestead exemptions for property tax relief in Pennsylvania. The deadline is tomorrow. The Taxpayer Relief Act passed by the General Assembly in 2006 requires that a Homestead Exemption application be approved and on file in the county Tax Assessment Office by the end of the day Thursday in order to receive property tax relief. In December, homeowners who were not yet approved for the exemption on their current residence should have received a homestead exemption application from their school district. Those who are approved are eligible for property tax relief resulting from slots gaming revenues and the potential shift to a local income tax that may result from any ballot questions proposed by their school district. If you are unsure about the status of an exemption , you should contact the tax assessment office by Thursday.

Fire crews responded to reports of a fire at a home in Cressona yesterday. The call came in around 3:30pm that smoke was coming from a home at 169 Pottsville Street. Apparently, a coal furnace was fired up, and a buildup of the exhaust caused the smoke condition. Four people who live in the home got out safely, and were able to return after the condition was cleared. The incident forced the closure of Pottsville Street for a time.

No one was injured in a two vehicle crash on the Gordon Nagle Trail Sunday. State police at Schuylkill Haven say that 19-year-old Samantha Nagle was eastbound on Route 901 when her car slid on the snow covered road, and into the a car driven by Denim McDemus of Schuylkill Haven, who was in front of her. McDemus, Nagle, and her passenger John Rose, were not hurt. The crash occurred around 6:30 Sunday night.

State police are continuing their investigation of a theft at a Frackville Laundromat. Troopers just released the details of the incident that happened in mid-January. Two men entered the Altamont Boulevard Laundromat and removed $625-dollars in change from washers and dryers. The pair fled the scene after the theft. Anyone with information about the theft should call State Police at 874-5300.