Local News-Wednesday, May 23rd

A suspicious looking man walking near a Schuylkill Haven school district building yesterday caused officials to take precautions to safeguard children and staff. Around 2pm, a teacher saw an older man walking with what was thought to be a gun near the school district athletic fields. District officials contacted police, and a lockdown of the elementary, middle and high school took place. Haven police chief Jeff Walcott told WPPA/T102 News that officers from the borough police department, along with assistance from Penn State police, did a search of the area and determined that the man was carrying a walking stick, not a gun. The man was also wearing an orange hunting hat in order to maintain visibility while walking in the wooded area. Walcott said that the man walks in the area all the time. The lockdown was in effect for about 20 minutes until the situation was cleared, and children were dismissed at their regular time.

The former treasurer of the Tamaqua Elementary PTO will have her case heard in Schuylkill County Court. 33-year-old Melissa Gensure of Barnesville is accused of taking more than $34-thousand-dollars from the organization, through either not making required deposits or writing checks from the account to herself and others. Gensure reportedly turned over $6-thousand-dollars in cash to the organization that she had not deposited. During a hearing Tuesday, District Judge Stephen Bayer of Tamaqua reduced two felony charges to misdemeanors in the case. She waived her right to a preliminary hearing, so the charges will be forwarded to Schuylkill County Court. Gensure's attorney asked to have her freed on recognizance bail. That request was denied, since she is already free on posted bail.

An inmate at the federal prison near Minersville tried to escape with the aid of a Philadelphia woman yesterday morning. The man was seen leaving a wooded area near the prison and got into a car driven by Michelle Lyons of Philadelphia. The pair took off on Route 901, then on to I-81 for a short distance before they were stopped. They tried to take off on foot, but were quickly apprehended by state police. Lyons was arraigned on charges of escape and other offenses. She is in Schuylkill County Prison on $25-thousand-dollars bail. The male inmate was returned to the prison. United States Marshalls are conducting an investigation into the attempted escape.

A Pottsville restaurant held its grand re-opening yesterday. The Subway franchise on North Centre Street was bustling with activity as customers, and well-wishers from the Pottsville business community and Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, came to welcome John and Angie Onufer as the new owners. The store was open previously under different management, but company President Angie Onufer said that it was a no-brainer to jump into a Subway franchise. The Onufer's own Copycat Business Systems, Minersville, a regional office equipment company as well. John Onufer, Vice President, said that while running a food-service business is vastly different than a business machine operation, but Subway's training provides a step-by-step process to run it. The business has been open for 8 weeks already, and also serves breakfast in addition to the normal lunch and dinner trade. They are open 7 days a week.

A Hegins man suffered minor injuries in a car and motorcycle crash yesterday afternoon. Robbie Klock was driving his cycle westbound on Creek Road in Eldred Township, and Kenneth Brosius was eastbound in his car, attempting to make a left turn onto Millhill Road. Klock tried to avoid Brosius' vehicle, but skidded on the road and went airborne over the car. His motorcycle hit Brosius’ car and burst into flames. The bike was heavily damaged, and Klock injured his leg. Brosius was able to drive away from the scene. The crash happened around 3:45pm.

A very special night of jazz and big band music is planned Thursday at Pottsville High School's Wachter Auditorium. The Thirtieth Annual Pottsville High Stage Band concert begins at 7:30pm. The select group of musicians, which you hear in the background, feature a toe-tapping variety of selections. The second portion of the show is the 24th edition of the Schuylkill County Big Band program. These musicians all have local roots, but travel from as far away as Italy to perform. Tickets are just $2-dollars.

An Andreas man got more than he bargained for when he drove through a speed trap too fast Monday night in West Penn Township. Frackville state police were conducting a speed trap on Route 309 when Justin Lawlor drove through at a high rate of speed. Authorities in Tamaqua also believed that he was involved in an earlier hit-and-run crash. When stopped, Lawlor admitted to police that he was sorry that he left the scene of the accident. Troopers believed he was driving drunk, as he failed a field sobriety test. He underwent blood-alcohol testing at Pottsville Hospital. Lawlor faces DUI and other charges from state police, in addition to charges relating to the hit-and-run. He was released to the custody of his mother.