Local News-Monday, May 7th

Dry and windy conditions Sunday caused the spread of a brush fire in Pottsville. The blaze kept fire crews from the city, along with water support from adjoining communities, busy during the afternoon in a wooded area in the Jalappa section of Pottsville. A fire crew from the Goodwill Hose Company was training near Nativity High School when they spotted the fire and responded quickly, according to the Republican and Herald. The fire, which burned about 6 acres of woods, almost reached a garage on Walnut Street, but quick work by firefighters and several water drops from state fire planes helped to knock down the fire.

State police chased a man and woman on a motorcycle early Sunday morning near Deer Lake. Troopers saw the bike, driven by Harry Auman, Sr. of Auburn, without its headlight on at a stop sign at the intersection of Route 895 and 61. His motorcycle did not have a license plate. When the bike turned onto Route 61, police tried to get Auman to stop, but he failed to do so. He suddenly made a U-turn, heading north on Route 61, prompting a pursuit by state police. Following the chase, Auman rolled the motorcycle and took off on foot, but his girlfriend, Judy Kriner, also of Auburn, was captured. Auman remains at large. Kriner said she didn’t know why her boyfriend ran from police. Auman faces a host of charges, including fleeing pursuit of a police officer, reckless endangerment, resisting arrest and other charges. Schuylkill Haven state police are investigating the incident.

A McAdoo woman was arrested for violating a protection from abuse order in force against her on Friday night. State police at Frackville report that 29-year-old Heaven Hons made threatening phone calls to the home of William McLaughlin Jr., also of McAdoo. Hons was taken into custody and arraigned on charges of indirect criminal contempt. She was released on bail.

A Pittsburgh woman was nabbed for attempting to bring items to an inmate at SCI Mahanoy Saturday morning. Frackville State Police say that Tionna Jackson-West was in possession of restricted items while attempting to visit an inmate, and was caught by a prison employee. The items in question were not specified. A summary charge of disorderly conduct was filed in District Court.

A Conyngham woman escaped injury in a one-vehicle crash on Interstate 81 in Delano Township Sunday night. Frackville troopers report that Ginny Witcoski was southbound on the interstate when her car drifted off the road. In attempting to recover, Witcoski hit a concrete barrier, and her car rolled over. She was wearing her seatbelt, and was not hurt. The crash happened around 6:40pm last night.

Schuylkill Products Incorporated of Cressona will move two oversized loads this morning.
Two beams will leave the production plant on Route 901 at 7 and 9am. Traffic delays are to be expected at the intersections of Route 901 and 183 in Cressona, and again at Route 183 and 61 at Connors Crossing . The beam will travel south to Berks County.

Plans for repairs to a portion of Pine Grove’s water system will prompt a water shutoff and boil advisory tomorrow. A valve replacement will take place in the borough Tuesday, affecting residents of South Tulpehocken Street, from the intersection of East and West Mill Street to Peach Street, and Carbon and Maple Streets. Once the work is completed, a water boil advisory will be in effect for those residents. If it rains on Tuesday, the work will be completed on Wednesday.

One of the biggest crowds in recent memory attended the American Way Fair in downtown Pottsville Sunday. Bright sunshine, accompanied by a cool breeze and temperatures in the 60’s welcomed individuals and families to a 5 block area on Centre Street for the carnival. Rides, amusement games, foods of all kinds and various entertainment venues attracted steady crowds throughout the afternoon. The Fabulous Greaseband was the headline act, performing two late-afternoon shows. Organizer Billie Payne told WPPA/T102 News they estimated that over 10-thousand people attended the American Way Fair.