Local News-Thursday, March 8th

Schuylkill County has received a check from The ReDCo Group, but can't cash it yet. The Commissioners received the money from the contract provider, in the amount of $400,511 dollars, representing most of the cost adjustments owed to the county for overpayments uncovered during a financial review by the Parente Randolph accounting firm which covered the years 2002 through 2004. ReDCo disputes about $39-thousand-dollars in adjustments relating to related party transactions found in the review. The check was accompanied by a release, which requested that Schuylkill County and the state Bureau of Financial Operations to release ReDCo from any further claims on contract payments made to them up until June 30th, 2004. County Solicitor Paul Datte said that while such a release is not uncommon, the county will not deposit the funds until the release is reviewed further, and signed off by the county and BFO. He further recommended that the Commissioners forward Parente Randolph’s report to the state Attorney and Auditor Generals for further review. The Commissioners had also discussed the issue of receiving interest on the monies paid by ReDCo. Datte said he would talk with BFO about possible interest on the monies, but said that the state typically does not seek interest on such funds.

Geisinger Health System of Danville is seeking resolutions from the counties it serves to issue up to $200-Million Dollars in revenue Bonds. The funds will benefit facilities in those counties including five in Schuylkill County. Geisinger representatives David Cutright, Director of Treasury Operations and Operations Manager Nicole Micozzi attended Wednesday’s Schuylkill County Commissioners work session seeking the county’s approval. Cutright explained why resolutions are necessary by state and federal laws. The new bonds would also replace up $80-million-dollars of higher cost debt with new debt. No county taxing power is pledged for the repayment of the bonds. Geisinger Health System's facilities in Schuylkill County are located in Mahanoy City, Orwigsburg, Pottsville, Frackville, and Valley View.

Four vehicles were involved in a crash on Route 61 yesterday morning. Cars driven by Jerome Skwait, Pottsville, David Krewson, New Ringgold, Dennis Knoblauch of Auburn and John Benner of Orwigsburg were all northbound on the snow covered road around 7:25am when Skwait lost control of his car and began to spin. Krewson tried to stop, but struck Skwait's vehicle. Benner tried to swerve away from the crash and hit the rear quarter panel of Knoblauch's car. Schuylkill Haven state police and fire personnel responded to the scene. Skwait was taken to Pottsville Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

Two Tamaqua men were found guilty on drug-related charges in Schuylkill County Court. A jury found 34-year-old Albert Mincavage and 25-year-old Brad Welker guilty of various drug possession charges in a case heard before Judge Jacqueline Russell. According to the Pottsville Republican, both men were found with cocaine in a convenience store parking lot in February, 2006. Mincavage also possessed a digital scale to weigh the drugs, and over $2-thousand-dollars in cash. He admitted that he did have cocaine in his possession during testimony. Mincavage is facing at least 5 years in state prison, and also faces additional drug charges in a separate incident in Tamaqua. Welker was found not guilty on one charge of possession with intent to deliver drugs. Following a pre-sentence investigation, they will learn their sentence on May 7th.

A Pine Grove man was seriously injured in a crash on Route 501 in Bethel Township early yesterday. 20-year-old Cory Troutman was driving south on Route 501 when he lost control on the snow covered road. His car went up an embankment and flipped over, coming to rest right-side up. He was ejected from the car. He was taken to Hershey Medical Center for treatment. The crash left the southbound lane of Route 501 closed for over 2 hours following the 6am crash. State police at Hamburg investigated the accident.

A Minersville woman avoided serious injuries when her car went off the Seltzer Road yesterday morning during the snow storm. 77-year-old Alice Rozetar was heading west when her car left the road and she lost control. Her car spun and went down an embankment and came to a stop against a tree. Rescue personnel were able to free her, and she was not hurt. The crash shut down the Seltzer Road for a time before 10am Wednesday.

A Schuylkill County native who presided over one of the most controversial cases regarding the teaching of evolution theories in school will be featured on statewide television Sunday. US District Judge John E. Jones the Third, a federal court judge in the Middle District of Pennsylvania, will sit down to talk about his life and achievements on PCN Profiles, at 10pm Sunday night on the Pennsylvania Cable Network. Jones, who was born, raised and lives here, became nationally known for his 2005 ruling in the Dover Area School Board case that banned the teaching of intelligent design in public schools. Jones practiced law in Pottsville and served as Chairman of the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board before appointment to the federal bench by President George W. Bush. Check your local TV listings for PCN channel positions.