Local News-June 16th

The investigation into the death of a Girardville woman continues this morning, but an arrest has been made. State police at Frackville and Butler Township police are trying to determine what happened, and why 45-year-old Roseann Barrett died. 42-year-old Joseph Cress, of Girardville was taken into custody last night and charged with criminal homicide in Barrett’s death. Reports indicate that Cress and Barrett met at a bar, and left together at closing time, and her body was found on Rapp Road early Friday morning. Cress is in the county prison, without bail.

Schuylkill County’s sports heritage is a long and storied one. The Minersville baseball team added a page to that book Friday by winning the state baseball championship. The Class A Champ defeated a highly-touted Johnsonburg team 4 to 1, with a total team effort, led by the pitching of Zach Fritz, who finished the season undefeated. Their season record was 25 and 1.
A huge contingent of Minersville fans made the 3 hour trip to Altoona to cheer on their team, in the first game of the PIAA baseball finals at Blair County Ballpark. Residents and well-wishers lined the streets of Minersville for a welcome-home parade last night. Congratulations to coach Del Hauck and the entire Minersville baseball team on capturing state baseball gold.

Music enthusiasts from all over Schuylkill County were treated to some of the finest drum corps music last night in Schuylkill Haven. The reigning DCI champion Cavaliers of Rosemont, Illinois presented two concerts in the Little Town That Could last night, as part of a stop over while traveling on the east coast. Their 2007 show features the music of Billy Joel. The Green Machine presented a stand still concert at Bubeck Park in the early evening as part of the Senior Citizen Recognition picnic, and performed their field show for the first time anywhere at Rotary Field at 8pm. The Cavaliers begin their season in Annapolis, Maryland tonight, and will criss-cross the country, until they finish their campaign at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California in August, to defend their world championship.

The Schuylkill County Commissioners Wednesday approved four grant proposals for the North Central Highway Safety Network, with no direct cost to the county. The proposals which will be forwarded to PENNDOT include; just under $3.5 Million for the “Click it or Ticket” program; just under $4-Million for the "PA Smooth Operator" Program; just under $700-Thousand dollars for a "Community traffic safety Program", and just over $600-Thosand dollars for the Regional Alcohol Highway Safety Program” In other business, the Tax Claim Bureau received approval for the private sale of seven properties located in Reilly, Frailey, Blythe, and Butler Townships and Gilberton Borough. The MH/MR Program, Drug & Alcohol Program and Children and Youth Services were granted approval for a number of contract addendums with various providers of service. Rest Haven was given permission to award contracts to low bidders for Medical/ Surgical supplies amounting to just over $94-Thousand dollars.

With the official start of summer on Thursday, PennDOT, along with local and Pennsylvania State Police, are targeting impaired drivers during an enforcement crackdown this coming week. Checkpoints and roving patrols will be conducted during the wave. Alcohol related crashes claimed the lives of 544 people on Pennsylvania roads in 2006. A special focus of the campaign will be encouraging motorcyclists to ride sober, while also providing tips for bikers to avoid other impaired drivers. PennDOT statistics show that 52 motorcycle operators lost their lives in 349 crashes last year. PennDOT invests approximately $4 million dollars annually into DUI enforcement, which includes funding for more than 400 sobriety checkpoints around the state.

The Pennsylvania State Police has unveiled a new website to enhance their efforts to recruit new troopers and others interested in jobs with the 102 year old organization. The new site, patrooper.com, provides answers to many frequently asked questions about the cadet recruitment process and the various careers available with state police. The state police want to make it easy as possible for prospects to get information about eligibility requirements and to apply online to take the written exam. Applicants are not required to live in Pennsylvania at the time of application, they must live within the state and possess a valid state driver’s license at the time of appointment.

A Kulpmont man will be charged with harassment following an incident in West Mahanoy Township Thursday night. State police at Frackville report that 21-year-old Ryan McKenna of Kulpmont came to the home of 22-year-old Aaron Gray of Frackville late Thursday and got into a fight with Gray, punching him in the face and head. McKenna also kicked him in the back, then fled the scene. McKenna will be charged in District Court with harassment.