Local News - Saturday Mar. 3

Majority Commissioners Seek Re-Election

Schuylkill County Majority Republican commissioners said Friday night they will seek another four years in the county's highest elected office. According to the Republican and Herald, Commissioners Chairman Frank J. Staudenmeier and Commissioner Robert S. Carl Jr. delivered their formal re-election campaign announcement at the Brass Tap, Pottsville, before a crowd of about 75 people. The Republicans hope to secure their majority in the November election; however, they face opposition in the May 15 primary from John H. Schickram, Rush Township, who says he is an independent Republican. On the Democratic ticket, Commissioner Mantura M. Gallagher teamed with Sheriff Francis V. McAndrew and they are expected to receive the party’s formal endorsement Sunday. They do not have a primary opponent. Staudenmeier and Carl ran in 2004 on a platform of fiscal responsibility and "zero-based" budgeting, a system of accounting that requires each budget expense to be justified each year as opposed to adding onto prior spending plans.

Shot fired In New Castle

A 17-year-old boy was arrested late Thursday and charged with criminal attempt to commit criminal homicide after he allegedly fired a handgun into a home in New Castle Township. According to the Republican and Herald, the teen was arraigned around 1 a.m. Friday before Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, on the attempted homicide charge as well as simple assault, aggravated assault, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, possession of a firearm by a minor, possessing instruments of crime and firearms not to be carried without a license. Bayer committed the teen to Schuylkill County Prison after he was unable to post $50,000 bail. New Castle Township police filed the charges after an incident at a home on Broad Street in the township. Neither police nor Bayer would release the teen's name, saying the charges can be moved to juvenile court. According to paperwork filed by New Castle Township Patrolman Ronald Romanchick, around 4:25 p.m. the teen, accompanied by a 13-year-old boy, went to the home where a teenage female juvenile told the two she was not allowed to let anyone inside because her parents were not home and closed the door. The teen then shot at the girl who ducked. The bullet and handgun were recovered.

Three flown from 61 crash

Two Schuylkill Haven residents are in stable condition Friday night after being in a two-car crash along Route 61. State police at Schuylkill Haven said Janet Goetz and John Goetz both of Schuylkill Haven, were flown via MedEvac to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown area, at 3:05 p.m. Friday. Also, Leah Mullins of Cressona, was reportedly flown to Reading Hospital and Medical Center, West Reading, via PennStar. According to the Pottsville Republican and Herald, a hospital spokeswoman said she was not there as of 10 p.m. Friday. Police said the crash occurred as Janet Goetz, driving a 1998 Chevrolet sedan, was stopped at a stop sign at North Greenview Road facing west as Mullins, driving a 1986 Pontiac sedan, was traveling north on Route 61 in the right lane. Police said Goetz, traveled west across the northbound lane of Route 61 and was struck in the driver-side front bumper. After impact, the Chevrolet spun. The Pontiac then struck the Chevrolet in the driver-side rear-corner panel. Both vehicles then spun across 61. Assisting at the scene were Orwigsburg Fire and Ambulance as well as Pottsville/Schuylkill Haven Area ambulance.

Legislators getting stonewalled on storm fallout

The Valentine's Day storm was nearly three week's ago, but many questions about what happened on the state’s roads remain unanswered. Representative Dave Argall has gone on record saying that his inquiries to PennDOT for answers about the storm's aftermath and the road problems that nearly paralyzed parts of the state have gone unanswered. Argall said that PennDOT officials are not able to give any information about how many privately-contracted trucks were available to help complement PennDOT crews. During hearings last week, Argall asked PennDOT Secretary Allen Biehler if the number of those private contractors were cut. Biehler reportedly said not. But fellow Schuylkill County Representative Neal Goodman said that the number of trucks available in the county was reduced by almost half to fight the storm. Now, according to Argall, PennDOT is not providing answers to his questions until an internal investigation commissioned by the Governor's office is completed.

Stay tuned.