Local News-Tuesday, April 10th

A controversial policy instituted by Pottsville City Council two months ago was amended at last night’s meeting. The Public Participation Policy was introduced two months ago by Mayor John DW Reiley and council to afford residents the opportunity to speak at meetings, but within certain guidelines and time frames. Pottsville resident Scott Thomas and some supporters protested the policy at last month’s meeting. He presented an alternative policy to the council at that time, and Mayor Reiley appointed Councilmen Halcovage and Eckert to study the changes. Several were adopted at last night’s meeting. Residents who wish to speak must still sign up prior to the meeting, and are limited to 5 minutes. However, the prohibitions about speaking directly to a councilman or the Mayor, and responses from those people during the meeting, have been removed. Councilmen Eckert said that the changes were made to eliminate the appearance that city officials were unapproachable.

The proposed duck farm in Washington Township is one step closer to a reality for its developers. At last night’s township supervisors meeting, officials would not consider an ordinance proposed by opponents of the duck farm being developed by Dale and Regina Stoltzfus. The Pottsville Republican and Herald reports that supervisors acknowledged that the township is covered with farms, and that the business of agriculture, including the duck farm, will continue there. Opponents of the farm are concerned about the growth of “big business” farming and the use of a manure lagoon in the farm’s operation creating an environmental hazard. That manure will be used to fertilize farmland within the township. They expressed those concerns at a public meeting last week. The Stoltzfus’s must now await final approval from Pennsylvania DEP. Local approvals have already been granted for the duck farm, which will grow the birds for several weeks before being shipped back to a Berks County farm for processing.

Schuylkill County will receive over $81-thousand-dollars in funding to battle the West Nile Virus, according to the region’s House delegation. State Reps. David Argall, Neal P. Goodman, and Tim Seip announced that the grant has been awarded to the Penn State Cooperative Extension Service. The delegation said that the West Nile Virus cannot be taken for granted. The conservation district will use the funding to set up mosquito monitoring an virus surveillance to see if West Nile is present, and educate residents about the threat of the disease, according to Representative Neal Goodman. Information about the West Nile virus is available online at www.westnile.state.pa.us.

State police are looking for vandals who spray painted equipment at a North Manheim Township Christmas tree farm. Over the weekend, someone spray painted graffiti on a storage trailer parked at the Pioneer Evergreen Farms on the Adamsdale Road. The culprits left the scene undetected. The investigation continues. Anyone with information should call Schuylkill Haven State Police at 593-2000.

A new pavilion will be added at Pottsville Rotary Park. The sports complex in the western end of the city will see the addition of the 24 foot by 24 foot structure at the park, thanks in part to funding from Pottsville’s Lasting Legacy Foundation and monies raised from the Annual Pottsville Luau at JFK Pool. The construction is expected to take place in the next two weeks.
Pottsville City Council has been making plans to retro-fit the city’s hydrants to make it easier for firefighters to hook up to during emergencies. The retro-fit process is an expensive one, and the borough of St. Clair may partner up with the city in the effort to gain a Shared Municipal Services Grant. Several other fundraising ideas, including an Adopt-A-Hydrant program, have also been discussed. Ron Renninger, Pottsville’s long-time Recreation Director was honored for his years of service at the council meeting. Schuylkill Alliance for Healthcare Access was honored with a proclamation for Cover the Uninsured Week, April 23rd through 28th. The week brings attention to the widespread problem of people not having health insurance. The Alliance was formed in 2003 to meet the basic health care needs of the uninsured and underinsured in Schuylkill County.

A Pine Grove man was involved in a crash yesterday afternoon on the Panther Valley Road in North Manheim Township. Nicholas Page was heading east when he failed to negotiate a right curve and traveled into a field alongside the road. His pickup hit a tree. Page’s truck had to be towed from the scene, but he was uninjured. The crash happened around 4pm Monday.

A Tamaqua man was arrested Friday after a disturbance at a bank in the borough. David Meyers apparently became upset because the M&T bank branch on Broad Street was not yet open at 8:20am. He approached a bank employee who was entering the building at a secure entrance, and began yelling and pointing his finger at the teller. Meyers will have to answer charges of disorderly conduct.

A Shenandoah man is in Schuylkill County Prison following an incident in West Mahanoy Township Sunday night. John Smulligan was involved in a domestic dispute with Donna Smulligan on Mount Olive Boulevard just before midnight. He reportedly punched and pushed the woman, then left with his parents. Frackville State troopers warned Smulligan not to return to the home, but he went back anyway. He is charged with persistent disorderly conduct, harassment and public drunkenness, and was arraigned before District Judge James Reiley. He is in Schuylkill County Prison on $10-thousand-dollars bail.