Interstate 81 Open After Being Closed Overnight in Schuylkill County

Around 2:15am, Tuesday morning, Interstate 81 Southbound was closed at Milemarker 104 (Ravine) due to an overturned Tractor Trailer.

Schuylkill County Weather Related Announcements - 02/16/16

Schuylkill County Weather Related Announcements - 02/16/16

Winter Storm Warning Issued for Schuylkill County

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Warning for Schuylkill County.

The Skook Recovers: Community Outreach Event at North Schuylkill

The Skook Recovers:  Community Outreach Event at North Schuylkill

PHOTO: Sunset Over Lake Wynonah

Sunset Over Lake Wynonah Sunday Evening. Photo Courtesy of Neil Sibulsky

Schuylkill County School Delays & Closings - 02/16/16

Schuylkill County School Delays  - 02/16/16

Snow, Wintry Mix, and Rain Expected Late Monday and Tuesday

Monday's Schuylkill County Weather Forecast - 02/15/16

Leiby's Restaurant to Reopen

After being closed for almost 10 years, a well-known restaurant is getting new life.

Schuylkill County Early Dismissals - 02/15/16

Schuylkill County Early Dismissals - 02/15/16

Schuylkill County Snow Emergencies and Parking Bans - 02/15/16

Schuylkill County Snow Emergencies and Parking Bans - 02/15/16

Police Looking for Suspect Who Stole Wheels and Rims from Car Lot

On February 11, 2016, tires and rims were stolen from a vehicle on the lot of All American Jeep, Tamaqua.

The incident occurred around 8:30PM.

Below is video of the

theft.

Anyone with information should call Tamaqua Police at (570) 668-5000.

Winter Weather Advisory Issued

A Winter Weather Advisory has been issued for Schuylkill County and the surround counties

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM MONDAY TO 1 AM EST TUESDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY... WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 2 PM MONDAY TO 1 AM EST TUESDAY.

* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS... 1 TO 3 INCHES.

* ICE ACCUMULATIONS... AROUND A TENTH OF AN INCH... WITH SLIGHTLY HIGHER AMOUNTS IN THE SOUTHERN ALLEGHENIES.

* TIMING... SNOW WILL DEVELOP ON MONDAY AND TRANSITION TO A WINTRY MIX OF SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN MONDAY EVENING BEFORE CHANGING OVER TO PLAIN RAIN MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY.

* IMPACTS... HAZARDOUS TRAVEL CONDITIONS.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. USE CAUTION IF TRAVELING. FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION...

Crews On Scene of Early Morning 3-Alarm Fire in Shenandoah

Around 4:15am, Sunday, fire crews and emergency personnel were dispatched to 5 North Main Street, Shenandoah for a house fire.

As units arrived on scene, the fire was upgraded to a 2nd alarm, then a 3rd alarm later for manpower.

Crews from the surrounding communities have been called.  The crews are battling 5 degree weather as they battled the blazed

As of 8:00am, crews are still on scene.

More details when they are available.

Working fire currently in Shenandoah
Posted by Schuylkill County Firewire on Sunday, February 14, 2016

2016 District XI High School Basketball Playoff Schedule

2016 District XI High School Basketball Playoff Schedule

Lane Restrictions Scheduled for This Week for Bridge Inspections

Lane Restrictions Scheduled for This Week for Bridge Inspections

Schuylkill League Championship Basketball Results

Schuylkill League Championship Basketball Results

Woman Charged with Murder of Child

On Friday, Mahanoy City Police arrested Pietrina C Hoffman, 52,  for the death of a 15 month old Navaeh Doyle on January 10th, 2016.  Mahanoy City Police report she was the caretaker of the child.

Wind Chill Advisory Issued for Schuylkill County

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A WIND

CHILL ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 5 PM SATURDAY TO 11 AM
EST SUNDAY FOR SCHUYLKILL COUNTY.

Friday's Schuylkill County Weather Forecast - 02/12/16

Friday's Schuylkill County Weather Forecast - 02/12/16

Scheduled Interstate 81 Road Work in Schuylkill County

Scheduled Interstate 81 Road Work in Schuylkill County

Schuylkill League Boys Basketball Playoff Semi-Final Results

Schuylkill League Boys Basketball Playoff Semi-Final Results

Driver Flees After Crash

Submitted Photo

A driver fled a crash in Mahanoy Township late Thursday.

Frackville Man Facing Assault Charges

Frackville Borough Police arrested Addison Hummel, 22, of Frackville, after an incident in the borough on Monday February 8th, 2016.

Funkin' Fastnachts Shirts Now Available

By popular demand, the Funkin' Fastnachts t-shirts are now available in our Skook Apparel Store.

Attorney General’s Office Warns Consumers of 'IRS scam'

HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane’s office today warned of a new variation of a pervasive telephone scam that aims to defraud taxpayers. The well-known “IRS scam” has reemerged recently, but this time fraudsters are posing as U.S. Treasury agents.

Thursday's Schuylkill County Weather Forecast - 2/11/16

Thursday's Schuylkill County Weather Forecast - 2/11/16

Fire Crews On Scene of a Reported Working Structure Fire in Pine Grove

Around 9:45AM, Thursday morning, fire crews were called to 33 Maple Street, Pine Grove, for a working structure fire.

2-1-1 Day on February 11 Celebrates Human Service Help Line

Pottsville, PA – February 11 is 2-1-1 Day. What better time to recognize this new call service making a difference in Schuylkill County!

2-1-1 is the free, confidential, 24-hour information and referral service that connects Schuylkill County with all the health and human services available to help.

“People called to find information on basic needs, like heating or utility assistance, eldercare, or to find the closest food bank,” said Kelly K. Malone, Executive Director, Schuylkill United Way. “But they also called for everyday information like where to take their child for developmental screening, or how to locate job training or how to schedule free tax filing support through local services.”

“Without 2-1-1 assistance, the average person would make numerous phone calls to many different agencies before finding what they’re looking for,” said Toni Gainer, 2-1-1 Director. “And even then, it may not be the right answer. 2-1-1 information and referral specialists are specially trained to listen, assess the situation, ask the appropriate questions, and then refer the caller directly to the human services that will address their problems.”

Schuylkill United Way has been providing referral services since October 2015, and became part of the national 2-1-1 program launched by United Way over 20 years ago. The user-friendly, three-digit 2-1-1 number now serves more than 283 million Americans—more than 90% of our population—in all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico.

So what happens when someone calls 2-1-1? The call is routed to the regional 2-1-1 call center based in Lancaster County. There it is answered by a trained, bilingual information and referral specialist, who discerns the need, then searches a comprehensive database of relevant human service referrals. The 2-1-1 specialist then explains how to access those services, availing a translation service for over 170 different languages, if needed.

Here are just two examples of lives touched locally by 2-1-1:

A veteran recently reached out to 2-1-1 in need of housing assistance for his family. United Way’s 2-1-1 trained referral specialists were able to serve as the vet’s first point of contact so that he and his family maintained a roof over their heads.

Although housing was the vet’s most pressing need, the trained, information and referral specialist assessed the family situation and learned that he and his family also needed utility and food assistance. He was also connected with utility assistance programs, local food pantries, a place to apply for SNAP/Food Stamps, and how to file their taxes for free.

A mother, calling from a rural area, needed help for her son. Treatment for a workplace injury had escalated into an addiction to pain medication. Her 2-1-1 specialist connected her with the substance abuse professionals he needed. She was also referred to assistance programs such as support groups for herself and her son.

United Ways have been long-standing supporters and the national leader of the 2-1-1 movement in Partnership with AIRS (Alliance of Information and Referral Services). As the largest private funder of the 2-1-1 network, United Ways continue to strengthen and support 2-1-1 as another way to build stronger communities and create opportunities for all.

Schuylkill County School Delays - 02/11/16

Schuylkill County School Delays  - 02/11/16

Mahanoy Area - 2 Hour Delay, Elementary Only

Minersville - 2 Hour Delay

North Schuylkill - 2 Hour Delay

Tri-Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Trinity Academy - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill League Girls Basketball Playoff Semi-Final Scores

Schuylkill League Girls Basketball Playoff Semi-Final Scores

Police Attempting to Find Family or Friends of Pedestrian Struck By Car

Around 10:00PM Monday evening, emergency crews were called to the area of the Bad Dog Fitness Center, along Route 924, near Shenandoah for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle.

Wednesday's Schuylkill County Weather Forecast - 2/10/16

Wednesday's Schuylkill County Weather Forecast - 2/10/16

No More Registration Stickers in 2017

Did you know that registration stickers will be eliminated at the end of 2016?  How will law enforcement verify your license plates going forward?

-------------------------------------

At the invitation of PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards, legislators and law enforcement officers  received a demonstration of Automated License Plate Reader (ALPR) technology that provides law enforcement a better tool to verify expired vehicle registrations.

“License plate reader technology allows a single law enforcement officer to quickly, accurately and reliably check the status of thousands of license plates on a single shift using information from PennDOT’s registration database to determine if there are expired registrations or lack of
insurance for the vehicle,” said Richards. “It is a true force multiplier.”

Plate reader technology holds numerous advantages over the visual inspection of registration stickers, which can be counterfeited, sold, affixed to dead plates or applied to plates for which they were not intended. By querying the registration information using ALPR technology, a law enforcement officer
can identify expired vehicle registrations and insurance coverage. If there is something wrong, the officer would be immediately alerted by the ALPR of a problem with the vehicle’s registration.

To help law enforcement to prepare for the provision of Act 89 of 2013 that eliminates issuance of vehicle registration stickers by 2017, PennDOT is proposing a grant program utilizing the savings from the elimination of the registration stickers. The grant program could provide grants to law
enforcement officers for the purchase and maintenance of license plate readers.

With the elimination of registration stickers beginning January 1, 2017, customers will see a significant benefit in increased convenience when renewing vehicle registrations.

“Without the registration sticker, the future of Pennsylvania vehicle owners certainly looks brighter with respect to the registration renewal process,” said Richards. “By further leveraging technology, we can make renewing your vehicle’s registration and having an immediate, permanent registration
credential in hand as easy as spending a few minutes online from your home computer.”

Beginning January 1, 2017, customers who renew online will be able save a copy of and print a permanent registration card on demand. Future plans also include allowing customers to eventually upload their registration cards to their smart phones and eliminate the requirement to print a copy altogether.

Further savings will be realized in reduced mailing costs. Currently, 40 percent of customers already renew vehicle registrations online. Eliminating the need to mail these customers a registration sticker coupled with the ability to print their registration card on demand will eliminate more than $2 million per year in mailing costs. In addition, the elimination of the registration stickers will save $1 million a year in product costs, bringing the estimated first year savings to approximately $3.1 million.

The last registration sticker will be issued December 30, 2016. Customers will still need to have their vehicles registered and inspected, but will not be required to display a registration sticker on their license plate after December 31, 2016.

For more information on the plan to eliminate registration stickers, please visit www.dmv.pa.gov and look under the Registration Stickers tab under Vehicle Registration. The elimination of the registration sticker was evaluated as part of a Penn State University research study that concluded eliminating the registration sticker would have no impact on compliance with vehicle registration laws. A copy of the study is on the Driver and Vehicle Services webpage at www.dmv.pa.gov at the Registration Stickers tab under Vehicle Registration.

Two Pennsylvania Residents Test Positive for the Zika Virus

The Pennsylvania Department of Health announced Tuesday ,the first confirmed cases of Zika virus in two residents who recently traveled to countries affected by the ongoing outbreak of the disease.

Schuylkill County School Delays - 02/10/16

Schuylkill County School Delays and Closings  - 02/10/16

Assumption BVM - 2 Hour Delay

Blue Mountain - 2 Hour Delay

Gillingham Charter - 2 Hour Delay

Mahanoy Area - 2 Hour Delay

Minersville - 2 Hour Delay

Nativity BVM - 2 Hour Delay

North Schuylkill - 2 Hour Delay

Pine Grove - 2 Hour Delay

Pottsville - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Haven - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Maple Ave - 2 Hour Delay

Schuylkill Tech North and South - 2 Hour Delay

Shenandoah Valley - 2 Hour Delay

St. Ambrose / Schuylkill Haven - 2 Hour Delay

St. Jerome / Tamaqua - 2 Hour Delay

St. Clair - 2 Hour Delay

Tamaqua - 2 Hour Delay

Tri-Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Trinity Academy - 2 Hour Delay

Williams Valley - 2 Hour Delay

Wanted Man Turns Himself In

On February 8th, 2016 Frackville Borough Police were summoned to Magisterial District Judge Christina Hale’s office, Frackville, where a wanted person wished to turn himself in.

Schuylkill County Snow Emergencies and Parking Bans - 02/09/2016

Schuylkill County Snow Emergencies and Parking Bans - 02/09/2016

Fifth Man Pleads Guilty To Participating In Heroin Trafficking Conspiracy

SCRANTON—The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced that a 25-year-old Shenandoah resident connected to a large-scale heroin trafficking ring that operated in Schuylkill County during 2012 through September 2015, pleaded guilty today before Senior U.S. District Court Judge James M. Munley in Scranton.

Interstate 81 Closed Due to Tractor Trailer Rollover

Around 2:00pm Tuesday afternoon, Interstate 81 both north and southbound between the Hegins and Tower City exits due to a tractor trailer rollover at Milemarker 107-108.

There are reports of multiple accidents in the area.

UPDATE:  The Interstate is reported to be shut down at Northbound Milemarker 104 (Ravine).

UPDATE(9:30PM) - interstate is now open in both directions.

More details when they are available.

The back-up on Interstate 81 South is roughly two miles long. Traffic is completely stopped pic.twitter.com/dPGlwqYpdQ

— Eric Deabill (@ericdeabill) February 9, 2016

LCCC Hosts National Hispanic College Fair

Schnecksville, Pa., Feb. 8, 2016 –Lehigh Carbon Community College (LCCC) will partner with Career Council Inc. as it hosts a national college fair focused on assisting Hispanic and Latino students with college education choices. This event will be held on Thursday, March 3, from 9 a.m. to noon, in Berrier Hall, at main campus in Schnecksville, Pa.

National Hispanic College Fairs Inc.® was founded in 1998 to assist the rapidly growing Hispanic/Latino population in obtaining access to a college education. Today, CC/NHCF serves 125,000 students and 1,800 colleges/universities in over 50 locations across the United States every year.

The college fairs bring admissions representatives from a broad range of colleges/universities and vocational training institutions to high school juniors and seniors, providing them a unique opportunity to become aware of their many options and to compare the offerings of participating institutions. Students are provided with current available scholarship and grant information. Partnership with the Hispanic Scholarship Fund helps minority students gain the widest access to the resources available to them.

For more information on the National Hispanic College Fair, please contact LCCC’s Admissions office at admissions@lccc.edu or 610-799-1575.

Beyoncé to Bring Formation World Tour to Hershey

Beyoncé will bring her highly anticipated The Formation World Tour to HersheyparkStadium on Sunday, June 12 at 6:00 p.m.

Schuylkill County Early Dismissals - 02/09/16

Schuylkill County Early Dismissals - 02/09/16

Schuylkill League Basketball Playoff Semi-Final Schedule

Schuylkill League Basketball Playoff Semi-Final Schedule

Schuylkill County School Delays and Closings - 02/09/16

Schuylkill County School Delays and Closings  - 02/09/16

Winter Weather Advisory Issued for Schuylkill County

The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Schuylkill County until early Wednesday.

Pedestrian Struck Near Shenandoah, Route 924 Closed

Just after 10:00pm, Monday evening, emergency crews were called to the area of Bad Dog Fitness Center, on Route 924 outside Shenandoah for reports of pedestrian that was hit.

Monday's Schuylkill County Weather Forecast - 2/8/16

Monday's Schuylkill County Weather Forecast - 2/8/16

Fire Destroys Trailer Early Monday Morning

Just after 4:00am, fire crews were called to a house fire located at 321 Airport Road, Barry Township.

Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce Hosting Breakfast Seminar Featuring Legislators

Click to View

On Wednesday, February 17th, 2016, the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce will host a Breakfast Seminar featuring Senator Dave Argall and Representative Jerry Knowles to discuss updates from Harrisburg.

Link to Printable Form