Local News-Monday, April 23rd

A New Cumberland man is dead following a motorcycle crash yesterday afternoon in Eldred Township. 57-year-old Richard Alvarez was traveling north on State Route 125 when he lost control of his motorcycle. Alavarez, who was not wearing his helmet, was pronounced dead at the scene by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Sandra Poletti. The crash happened after noon Sunday.

Two people were injured in a three-vehicle crash in Rush Township Sunday night. Brian Thompson, a Rush Township police officer was en-route to a call on Route 54, when his patrol car crashed into a car driven by Carol Patorella of Sugarloaf, who apparently didn’t see the police car. The impact forced the police car into a vehicle operated by Justin Bove of Tamaqua, which was stopped at the intersection of Route 54 and 309. Thompson was taken to Coaldale Hospital for treatment, then released. Patorella complained of some minor injuries, while Bove was not hurt. The police cruiser and Patorella’s car had to be towed from the scene. The crash happened around 8:15 last night.

A Ranshaw man escaped injury during a one vehicle crash in Foster Township early Saturday morning. Schuylkill Haven State Police say that Travis Reibsome was headed west on Route 901, in Buck Run, at an apparent high rate of speed early Saturday when he lost control of his Dodge Neon. The car left the roadway, hit a ditch, traveled through some trees and hit a large rock. Police say he suffered an injury to his face. Reibsome apparently fell asleep at the wheel. He was not wearing his seatbelt.

A Myerstown man crashed a dirt bike into a house in South Manheim Township Sunday morning. Kyle Goddard lost control on a tight turn and struck the front porch at 703 Berne Drive. The homeowner, Irene Fix, came to the aid of Goddard and fell over the damaged portion of the porch, injuring herself. Goddard was treated at the scene. Fix was taken to Pottsville Hospital for treatment of her injuries. Goddard will be cited in the crash. The accident happened around noon Sunday.

Pottsville Mayor John Reiley was honored by a state organization. The Pennsylvania League of Cities and Municipalities honored Reiley and 21 others for their leadership, receiving the Governor’s Award for Local Government Excellence. Reiley, who serves as First Vice President of the organization, also received an individual award recognizing his outstanding community service. Reiley served as a city councilman in 1969, and as Mayor since 2000. In 2004, he was named Mayor of the Year by the state Mayor’s Association. The presentation was made by Lt. Governor Catherine Baker Knoll late last week.

A group of Philadelphia police officers will address students at North Schuylkill High School tomorrow. HEADS UP, which stands for Heroin Education and Dangerous Substance Understanding Program, was established to attack drug problems from a preventive standpoint. The officers, along with volunteers from the recovering community and family members who have lost loved ones to drugs and violence, make up the team. They are bringing their message to students at North Schuylkill in two programs Tuesday. They will return to present a free program for parents on Tuesday, May 1st at 7pm. The program is presented by the Spartan Task Force.

Police have charged another man in the vandalism of the Church of the Broken Pieces in Minersville. Pottsville police picked up Kevin Smith on Sunday, and turned him over to Minersville police to be charged as one of the vandals who damaged the Church of the Broken Pieces in February. According to the Pottsville Republican and Herald. Smith, who is apparently homeless, was wanted on an outstanding warrant in the case. A teenager implicated in the vandalism had been arrested in mid-March, and implicated Smith. Smith was arraigned on charges of ethnic intimidation, institutional vandalism, criminal mischief and other offenses after the pair spray-painted graffiti on the church building. He is now in Schuylkill County Prison.

A woman from Hecksherville is in Schuylkill County Prison after she reportedly assaulted a police officer. Stephanie Miller was picked up by Cass-Foster Township police on a host of charges, including aggravated and simple assault, harassment and public drunkenness. She is alleged to have assaulted a township officer at the police station Saturday night. Being unable to post bail, Miller was jailed after arraignment.