Local News-Thursday, November 17, 2011

NO TAX INCREASE IN PRELIMINARY COUNTY BUDGET

The Schuylkill County Commissioners had a look at the preliminary budget for 2012 during their work session meeting on Wednesday. The projected income for the upcoming year should be over forty five million dollars, while expenses are expected to outpace income by two point six million dollars. The county has a reserve fund that can be used to cover the deficit, so it appears that there will be no tax increase at the county level next year. This continues an eight year run with no tax increase for Schuylkill County residents, as the Commissioners promised when they took office. The county has used job combinations, a hiring freeze, the use of outside contractors, and cost cutting strategies to help reduce expenses, and it has allowed the county to maintain the existing tax levels. Final approval of the 2012 budget is scheduled for the December 21 meeting.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN LIBRARY ACCEPTING CANNED GOODS IN LIEU OF FINES

If anyone has overdue books or tapes from the Schuylkill Haven Free Public Library, a visit to the pantry can help ease the cost of their fines. According to a story in today’s Republican Herald, the library will knock one dollar off the fine for each non-perishable food item brought in. Library Director Lynette Moyer says that patrons currently owe "a couple thousand dollars" in fines from the last seven years, and with the difficult economy, the library decided to offer an alternative way to pay them off. Moyer said that several people have brought in donations of food who don't even owe fines for overdue books. The food-for-fines program will continue until November 22, and all food collected will be given to the Salvation Army in Pottsville.

FORMER WORKER AT SPA 61 ADMITS TO PROSTITUTION

A woman from Berks County who was arrested on charges of prostitution while she worked at Spa 61 in North Manheim Township has pled guilty to criminal solicitation in Schuylkill County court. Tara Schmehl, of Mount Penn, went before Judge William E. Baldwin on Wednesday and voluntarily entered a guilty plea. She will spend six months on probation as well as paying fines and costs. There were four other women charged with crimes related to prostitution after Spa 61 and Aroma Spa were closed by State Police. Maria Fontanez, of Reading, has pled guilty to a charge of promoting prostitution, Sunja Song, from New York, is in the Accelerated Rehabilitative Program, and two others are still awaiting court action on similar charges.

THREE VEHICLE CRASH ON GORDON NAGLE TRAIL

State Police responded to a three vehicle crash on the Gordon Nagle Trail Wednesday morning at about seven a.m. According to the police report, a vehicle operated by Amanda Valukevich of Pottsville was stopped in the eastbound lane of Route 901 waiting for another vehicle to turn left onto Cressona Road. A second vehicle driven by Sean Bachert, also from Pottsville, approached from behind and was unable to stop in time to avoid a collision. Bachert’s car sideswiped Valukevich’s car, then swerved into the oncoming lane of travel where he hit a third vehicle that was driven by Jesse Freeman of Schuylkill Haven. Freeman’s pickup then struck the guardrails before coming to rest. Bachert and Freeman’s vehicles were towed from the scene. There were no injuries reported to any of those involved. State Police were assisted at the scene by Cressona and Schuylkill Haven Fire Police.