Local News-Wednesday, May 30th

Three people are homeless this morning following a fire in Shenandoah Tuesday morning. The blaze broke out in a home at 222 North West Street before 4am, which was unoccupied. It quickly spread to an adjoining home, where John Hower, his mother and son lived.. The fast moving fire was under control within two hours, but not until after it gutted both structures, which adjoin each other. Three other homes in the block had smoke and water damage. The state police fire marshal is assisting Shenandoah fire officials in the investigation. The Schuylkill/East Northumberland American Red Cross is assisting the displaced family and others. To make a donation, call the American Red Cross at 622-9550.

Police, with the aid of concerned citizens in a Pottsville neighborhood, took another drug dealer off of the streets late last week. Investigators from the Pottsville Drug Investigation Unit executed a search warrant at the home of Jose Monroy on Fairview Avenue last Friday.
They found cocaine, cash, drug paraphernalia and wireless surveillance equipment in the raid.
Monroy was selling cocaine in the neighborhood, including at the playground in the 200 block of Fairview Street. Police contacted several of Monroy's customers during the raid, which may result in additional arrests. He was free on bail for other drug charges relating to an arrest in February. Monroy is in Schuylkill County Prison on those charges. Pottsville police encourage residents to contact their confidential tip line if they suspect illegal drug activity. Their number is 622-1234, mailbox number 150.

Its been a busy week for Pottsville drug agents. Officers arrested Andrea Tavares at her West Arch Street home after she made a sale of cocaine outside of her home. She was picked up on an outstanding warrant for a prior sale of cocaine. Tavares was arraigned and taken to Schuylkill County prison, where she remains on $10-thousand-dollars bail. She faces charges on the current bust as well.

An Orwigsburg man will be charged for making terroristic threats and harassment following an incident in West Brunswick Township Sunday afternoon. Schuylkill Haven state police say that Keith Eckroth of New Ringgold came to the home of Adam Spotts, Orwigsburg, to pick up his girlfriend, Regina Drumheller. As they pair passed Spotts' house, he called Drumheller's cell phone and threatened to shoot and kill Eckroth. Drumheller has an active Protection from Abuse Order against her from Spotts, but he allowed her into his home anyway. Spotts will receive charges from state police through the office of District Judge James Ferrier, Orwigsburg.

Two men suffered minor injuries in a crash on Interstate 81 Tuesday afternoon. Frackville troopers say that John Gasperetti was attempting to make a U-turn near Exit 119 in Butler Township, when he failed to yield to a car driven by Michael Zanella of Marion Heights. Zanella's Nissan Sentra hit the front of Gasperetti's tractor trailer. Zanella was treated for minor injuries. A passenger, 20-year-old Joseph Dowkus the Second of Paxinos was life-flighted to Geisinger Medical Center for treatment. Gasperetti will be cited in the Tuesday afternoon crash.

A Brockton man was moderately injured in a crash on Route 209 last night. Edward Valentine Jr. was traveling at a high rate of speed, according to state police. He lost control of his car and went airborne into a wooded area. The rear tires of his car were torn off. Valentine’s condition is unknown. He will be cited for speeding.

A man and woman were hurt in a two vehicle crash in Wayne Township Sunday night. Schuylkill Haven state police now say that Janise Parker of Bernville was southbound on Route 183, and attempted to turn left onto Route 443. Her car collided with the northbound Chevy Cavalier driven by Ben Kovaleski the Fourth of Pine Grove. The impact of the crash forced the vehicles into the Suglia's Pizzeria parking lot. Both drivers were taken to Pottsville Hospital for treatment. Parker will be cited in the crash. The accident happened after 8 o'clock Sunday night.

Seven people died in crashes on Pennsylvania roads during the Memorial Day weekend. State police report that while the total number of crashes were down compared to last year, but none of the drivers who died were wearing their seatbelts. In total, 765 crashes were investigated statewide by troopers. Three-hundred twenty of the drivers were injured. 80 of those crashes were alcohol-related. In 2006, 11 people died and 361 were injured in the 870 crashes investigated by state police.

Three cars were involved in a crash near Port Carbon yesterday afternoon. Stanley Markus of St. Clair apparently fell asleep at the wheel on Market Street and crossed into the southbound lane. His car hit a van driven by Joseph Hannon of Middleport. The impact forced Hannon’s car into the SUV driven by Ryan Hart of St. Clair, who tried to avoid hitting Markus' car. Hart's vehicle went onto the lawn of a home off of the shoulder of the road. Markus and Hart were not hurt, but Hannon had minor injuries. All drivers were wearing their seatbelts.