Local News-Thursday, May 10th

A Minersville man has admitted to killing a St. Clair woman in her home Tuesday. As first reported yesterday morning, 68-year-old Nevin Wetzel was picked up by police and charged with criminal homicide in the stabbing death of 57-year-old Gloria Pauzer. A call from a relative to police to check on the welfare of Pauzer Tuesday led to the grim discovery. Reports indicate that the murder took place Tuesday morning. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Coroner David Dutcavich. Pauzer reportedly was fearful of Wetzel after an incident at the Pottsville Senior Center the previous day. Wetzel has a criminal record dating back more than 40 years, including sex crimes against minors in Northumberland County in 1994. Wetzel is listed on the state’s Megan’s Law website for sex offenders. In addition to the homicide charge, Wetzel was arraigned for aggravated and simple assault. Due to the nature of the crime, he is in Schuylkill County Prison without bail.

The Schuylkill County Commissioners approved the purchase of a garage and property on Laurel Blvd. in Pottsville for storage of county property during their board meeting Wednesday.
The purchase price is $104-thousand-dollars for the property owned by Pottsville Provision Company, and will be used to store items that were previously kept in the county-owned 1912 building located next to Rest Haven. The new facility has several advantages over the 1912 building which has been unheated for the last several years. It has two sources of heat and is located only few blocks from the courthouse making it convenient to retrieve records that may be needed for court house business. In other business, the Commissioners will re-advertise for bids for replacement of a bridge in Branch Township after the lone bid of just under $400-Thousand dollars was rejected because it exceeded the CDBG Program budget for the project.
The Commissioners announced the county Court House will be closed next Tuesday May 15th in observance of primary election day. The Commissioners regularly scheduled work session will be held Thursday next week instead of Wednesday. In addition, a Prison Board meeting will be held following the commissioners work session, at 11am in the Commissioners board room.

A Spring Glen woman is charged with raping a 15-year-old female earlier this week. Lykens State Police say they responded to a call at a West Market Street home in Williamstown Monday night. A co-worker of the girl’s mother was reportedly drinking at the home, and after her mother went to bed, 21-year-old Robbie Yohn allegedly raped the girl. State troopers charged Yohn with rape, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, sexual assault and other offenses. She was arraigned Tuesday and placed in Dauphin County Prison on bail, pending a preliminary hearing.

A Pottsville woman is charged with numerous offenses following a car chase Tuesday night.
City police say that 33-year-old Jennifer Abdo borrowed Jeffrey Hutchinson’s SUV. He called police when she failed to return it. Police found Abdo driving the vehicle on Laurel Boulevard, and gave chase through the city. Abdo kept going through Minersville on Route 901 to Gordon borough, then into Lavelle, Locust Summit to the intersection of 901 and Route 61 in the village of Ranshaw, Northumberland County, where she was apprehended. Police from Minersville, Mount Carmel, Mount Carmel Township, Ashland and Coal Township aided in the pursuit. Abdo is charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle, fleeing police, driving under the influence and other traffic offenses. She was arraigned and taken to Schuylkill County Prison.

State police are looking for a person who broke into a garage in New Philadelphia and took a motorcycle. Early Wednesday, the thief entered the garage owned by Tony Ziniewicz on Water Street. A 2001 Honda motorcycle was taken. Frackville state police are continuing the investigation. If anyone has information, call the barracks at 874-5300.

Students who participated in the County’s 2006 phone Directory recycling program were honored for their efforts during Wednesday’s Schuylkill County Commissioners meeting. The top award of $150 went to Jacob Palmer a first grade student at the West Penn Elementary school who collected 1,877 books during the recycling drive. Other winners included the second grade class at St. Joseph learning center, 860 books with an award of $125.
Jeremy Sinkovich a fourth grade student at St. Stephens Regional School, 755 books and an award of $100. Bryce Sisko, a Kindergarten student at St. Stephens, who received a $75 award for collecting 735 books. Molly Keck an eighth grade student at Academy of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 578 books with an award of $50. Jack Hurst, a third grade student at the same Academy who collected 466 books and received an award of $25. The program was sponsored by the County Office of Solid Waste and Resource Management and SKIP.

Ten Schuylkill County senior citizens will vie for the title of Senior Idol on Saturday. The first competition for men and women over 55 began in April at several county sites, where they showed off their vocal talents. Diakon Community Services for Seniors sponsored the contest, in conjunction with the Cressona Mall. Susan Long, program coordinator, tells us that the competition is stiff, and choosing the winner will be a difficult one for the judges. The finals will be held at the Cressona Mall at 11am Saturday. The winner will receive a $300-dollar gift certificate to R&J Tours, and a chance to perform at the Schuylkill County Fair this summer. Second and third place winners will also receive a great prize package as well. The finals are open to the public.

Students at area schools tested their knowledge of the environment in the County Envirothon yesterday. Forty-five teams, representing 13 area schools, converged on the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds in Summit Station in the 28th annual event. Coordinated by the Schuylkill Conservation District, teams test their awareness and knowledge of the environment around them, and how they inter-relate. The Envirothon revolves around five environmental subject areas of aquatics, forestry, soils, wildlife and a current environmental issue. The 2007 competition focused on alternate energy sources. Representatives from the Pennsylvania Game and Fish Commissions, the Bureau of Forestry and other agencies provided technical assistance. Students from the Blue Mountain Elementary, Middle and High School won first place in their respective categories.