Local News-Wednesday, March 21st

A shooting in Tamaqua last night leaves one man dead. Borough police responded to the Edward Sestakaukus home at 541 East Elm Street, where shots were reportedly fired. Schuylkill County 9-1-1 told officers that 32-year-old Robert Hartranft was on the phone, stating that he shot and killed 36-year-old David Ruhl. Police found Ruhl’s body inside the home, with a gunshot wound to the head. Hartranft, who lives two doors away, was on the porch of the home, waiting for police. Ruhl was pronounced dead by Schuylkill County Coroner David Dutcavich at 11:45pm. Robert Hartranft was arraigned, and charged with criminal homicide, aggravated and simple assault and other offenses. Because the charges deal with a capital crime, no bail was set. He is in Schuylkill County Prison. Tamaqua police were assisted by Pennsylvania State Police, and surrounding community police departments.

Three people were injured in a school van crash yesterday afternoon. A contracted van transporting students from the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit was southbound on James Street in Kaska when the vehicle went off the west berm of the road. The driver, 57-year-old Lynne Creitz, of Tamaqua, was unable to regain control of the van and it rolled 50 feet down an embankment, ending right side up. A 10 and 15 year old from Tamaqua were hurt and flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital. Creitz was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment. The crash happened after 3pm.

A Pottsville businessman’s application to convert his private helipad into a Med-E-Vac helicopter site has been denied by the city’s code enforcement officer. Joseph Mazzuca applied for the permit recently to make the change to the helipad area in the Mount Hope section of Pottsville. According to the Pottsville Republican and Herald, Code Enforcement Officer Donnie Chescavage said that the application constituted a “change of use” for the site, and denied the application on that basis. The helipad has been in use by Mazzuca Enterprises for more than 20 years, although city officials cannot find any evidence of an official approval for the helipad from 1983. The issue has created a firestorm of concern by residents in that area of Pottsville. Dan Dillow, co chair of the Pottsville Concerned Citizens group said that they provided the city with a substantial amount of documentation about the safety of hospital helicopters, and they feel that the city made the right decision. The group cited safety concerns for the neighborhood, and the close proximity to the Pottsville School District campus. Mazzuca will have an opportunity to present his case for the helipad modification before the Pottsville Zoning Hearing Board on April 19th at City Hall.

A Tuesday afternoon crash leaves a New Philadelphia woman with minor injuries. Around 4:45pm, 59-year-old Anna Williams was traveling west on Tumbling Run Road, North Manheim Township, when her van left the road and struck a large rock. The front of her vehicle hit two guideposts and ended up in the middle of the road. Williams' husband took her to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries. Her van had to be towed from the scene. Pottsville and Mount Carbon emergency crews assisted state police at the scene.

A grassroots organization led by the former director of the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce laid out its legislative agenda in Harrisburg yesterday. David Donlin, of the Frackville area, chairman of Coalition 120 presented the group’s ideas for creating a “new Pennsylvania” that assures business viability and a higher quality of life for all Pennsylvanians. Coaltion 120 was formed last year by Donlin and leaders of the Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce Executives, a group of 145 state chambers representing more that 120-thousand community businesses statewide. The group will act as the voice of business regionally and in the state capital. Some of the issues that Coalition 120 wants to see addressed include health care, taxes, work force development and a commitment to a "new" Pennsylvania that will provide incentives for highly educated students to stay and work in the state. The group has signed on 48 chambers already, representing some 50-thousand community businesses in Pennsylvania. State Senator Jim Rhoades of Schuylkill County said that Donlin is the right man for the job, and says the coalition is a valuable partner for the legislature. The group has already 48 chambers signed on, representing some 50-thousand community businesses in Pennsylvania.

A Schuylkill Haven woman was involved in a crash in Tilden Township last night. 20-year-old Alyssa Rauenzahn was headed south on Mountain Road, and attempted to turn left, into the path of a car operated by Pamela Hoffman of Robesonia. The two cars collided. Neither Rauenzahn nor Hoffman were hurt, but both cars had to be towed from the scene. The incident happened around 10:30pm. Hamburg State Police investigated.