Local News-Monday, November 21, 2011

SCHUYLKILL TECHNOLOGY CENTER STUDENTS BUILD POLICE STATION

The Borough of Ashland needed a new police station, and the students at the Schuylkill Technology Center needed hands-on experience at their trades, so an agreement was reached to help both parties. Ashland decided to move the police station from its current location at Fifteenth and Walnut Streets to the lower level of the building that houses Borough Hall and the Anthracite Museum. Estimated renovation costs came in at two hundred twenty five thousand dollars, and council went looking for a way to save money. That's when the students from the Technology Centers stepped up and offered their services. Students are currently working on the interior framing for office space, and will also complete plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and concrete work on the project, saving the borough over half the cost of the renovations.

D.H.H. LENGEL MIDDLE SCHOOL LAUNCHES ANTI-BULLYING PROGRAM

Bullying of students by their peers is a high priority problem nationally and the administration at D.H.H. Lengel Middle School has decided to take steps to reduce it. The school has received a six thousand dollar grant to launch the Olweus Bullying Prevention program in the school. The first thing they did was conduct a survey of students to find out how many of them are experiencing bullying. Next came training for the school staff, and the establishment of a Bullying Prevention Coordinating Committee that will lead the implementation of the program in the school. The long term goal is to reduce the occurrence of student bullying and provide a better atmosphere for learning.

LOCAL THREE YEAR OLD WITH BRAIN TUMOR LOSES HIS FIGHT

Espn Murphy, the three year old from Pottsville who fought a brave battle with a Grade IV brain tumor for the last year, has lost his fight. He passed away on Sunday, according to his family. Espn travelled to the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital in Memphis many times for treatment since early in 2010 for experimental chemotherapy. There have been many fund raising events and support groups in the area to help Espn and his family cope with his tumor and treatments, and seven thousand people have signed in on Espn's Facebook page called "Arms Around Espn."



MAN BREAKS IN TO SEVENTY CAMPERS IN NORTH UNION TOWNSHIP

A man identified only as John Doe broke in to approximately seventy campers at Red Ridge Lake Campgrounds in North Union Township on Friday. He is accused of forcibly entering the campers and removing items from them. Police were called, and found the suspect sleeping in one of the campers he had broken into. When he was arrested, he provided identification that police could not verify, so he was arraigned as a John Doe. He is charged with burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, and criminal mischief, and is in Schuylkill County Prison on twenty five thousand dollars bail. Police are attempting to establish his identity at this time.

ROUTE 309 PROJECT IN TAMAQUA FINISHED ON TIME

According to a press release received from PennDOT, the railroad grade replacement in Tamaqua was completed on schedule. Ronald J. Young, Jr., District Press Officer for PennDOT Engineering District Five said that Route 309 through Tamaqua was reopened to traffic by ten o'clock Sunday night. The grade replacement was completed by PennDOT and the Blue Mountain and Northern Railroad, and is part of a three phase project to replace the bridge over the Little Schuylkill River in South Tamaqua.