On January 14th, 2021, Kutztown University announce that more than 2,325 students have been named to the Fall 2020 Dean's List.
Out of those students, 79 students that are native to Schuylkill County were recognized on the list.
To be eligible for the Dean's List, an undergraduate student must be registered for at least 12 credits and have a minimum grade point average of 3.60.
(Please notify us if there is someone we missed on the list)
Things may have looked different this year, but Hershey Bears fans once again lived up to the reputation of being the most generous fans in all of hockey.
The Bears, the oldest and most decorated team in the American Hockey League, hosted the GIANT Drive-Thru Teddy Bear Toss and Food Drive on Saturday, at the Giant Center in Hershey with the club collecting a total of 31,381 stuffed animals distributed to eight local charities.
The Bears are the world record holders for the Teddy Bear Toss, an event that traditionally takes place each December, and sees fans throw stuffed animals on the ice after the club's first goal of the game. In 2019, Bears' fans set a world record by throwing 45,650 plush items onto the ice after the team scored its first goal of the game. That record earned global attention and surpassed the previous season's record of 34,798 bears collected.
The team also partnered with GIANT Food Stores to collect non-perishable food items. A GIANT truck full of food was donated to the Central PA Food Bank during a time when an increased number of community members are experiencing food insecurities.
The Sweigart Family Foundation continues to support the Teddy Bear Toss, and this year the organization will donate $25,000 to the Children’s Miracle Network Hershey on behalf of the event.
This event is part of the team's ongoing Hershey Bears Cares initiative showcasing the philanthropic activities and volunteer efforts of our players and staff members throughout the community. For more than 83 years, the Hershey Bears have been active in the community and value giving back to Hershey and surrounding areas. Local organizations and the children they serve that benefited from the Teddy Bear toss included: Life Center Ministries, Elstonville Motorcycle Club, behalf of Manheim VFW, Palmyra Lions Club, Dauphin County, Children & Youth, Cocoa Packs, Marysville Fire Department, Autism Society of Greater Harrisburg Area, and Riley's Toys Foundation.
Mary B. Fisher, age 92, of Pottsville, PA passed away with her loving family by her side on Wednesday, January 20th, 2021 at her home.
Born in Mechanicsville, PA on December 22, 1928, she was the daughter of the late Harry and Veronica (Fabian) Blakely.
Mary was a graduate of Pottsville High School. She co-owner and worked as a secretary and bookkeeper for the KenMar Lumber Company in Port Carbon. Mary was a member of Primrose Bible Church in Minersville, where she was very active and taught Sunday school and the Good News Club for over 60 years.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, Kenneth R. Fisher Sr. on July 21, 2014, a son Scott Harry Fisher, a great granddaughter Kylianna Fisher, and a brother Jack Blakely.
Mary is survived by two daughters: Carol Coover and Elizabeth Khan and her husband Parwaiz; a son Kenneth R. Fisher Jr and his wife Dolores ; 10 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, 2 great great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at the Robert A. Evans Jr. Funeral Home in Port Carbon at 11AM on Monday, January 25th, with Pastor Edward Eiffert officiating.
Relatives and Friends are invited to visit with the family on Monday 10-11AM at the Funeral Home.
Interment will be held private at the Indiantown Gap National Cemetery.
Chester Paul Bayliff, 70 of Shenandoah, passed away suddenly Friday, January 22, 2021, at his residence.
Services and interment will be private at the convenience of the family. Walukiewicz-Oravitz Fell Funeral Home, Shenandoah, is in charge of the arrangements.
Sources tell us that Pine Grove Police arrived at a home near the car wash on North Tulpehocken Street around 3:00pm Sunday. A short time later, Pennsylvania State Police and the County Coroners Office arrived on scene.
As of 8:00pm, an investigation was still underway at the home.
We will provide updates on this incident as information becomes available.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Schuylkill Haven, on Sunday, January 24th, 2021, around 3:15pm, Schuylkill EMS responded to North Tulpehocken Street in Pine Grove for a report of a fall victim inside a home.
When EMT's arrived, they found a 73 year old female victim deceased on the second floor of the home and requested police assistance.
An investigation by troopers led them to believe that Kalvin Clark, 32, of Pine Grove and the woman were involved in a physical altercation before her death. Police believe the incident occurred sometime between Saturday, January 23rd, 2021 at 1:00pm and Sunday, January 24th, 2021 at 3:00pm.
The investigation is ongoing and an autopsy by the Schuylkill County Coroners Office is pending.
Clark was arraigned early Sunday on aggravated assault charges and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison on $250,000 straight cash bail.
Image may be NSFW. Clik here to view.A man from Minersville was identified by the coroners office over the weekend to have died in a quarry in Muhlenberg Township, Berks County north of Reading.
According to reports, on Friday morning, a suspect was being sought for attempting to shoplift at a Target store in the township. The suspect had fled and made his way into a nearby quarry where he fell into the freezing cold water.
Dive teams were called and searched for the suspect through Friday until the evening, then resume a search Saturday morning when the body of the man was pulled from the water.
The Berks County Coroners identified the man as Joshua Fontanez-Rodriguez, 23, of Minersville. Fontanez-Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:30pm, Saturday by Deputy Coroner Jason Kantner.
An autopsy was scheduled for Monday morning at Reading Hospital with Dr. Neil Hoffman, MD, Pathologist.
Multiple dives teams responded to the incident including the team from the Schuylkill Hose Company in Schuylkill Haven.
A Reading man is locked up in Schuylkill County Prison after allegedly assaulting and strangling a woman over the weekend.
According to Shenandoah Police Chief George Carado, on Sunday, January 24th, 2021, officers responded to Lehigh Valley Hospital in Pottsville to speak to the victim of a domestic assault.
The victim reported that her former boyfriend Kyree Harris-Seabury, 20, of Reading forced entry into her home on Pioneer Road in Shenandoah on Saturday, 1/23/2021 and assaulted her by strangling her until she could not breathe and punched her in the face.
Harris-Seabury took her cell phone and refused to let her leave the residence.
The next morning, as the victim tried to flee the residence, Harris-Seabury again grabbed her by the throat and punched her in the stomach and then fled the area in a vehicle. The victim sustained injuries to her neck, arm, lip and nose. The victim advised that Harris-Seabury is currently released on bail from a prior domestic assault in which she is the victim.
Police obtained an arrest warrant for Harris-Seabury charging him with Strangulation, Criminal Trespass, Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, Unlawful Restraint, Recklessly Endangering Another Person, and Intimidation of Witness/Victim.
With the assistance of Reading Police and Berks County Sherriff's Office, Harris –Seabury was taken into custody in Reading and arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Anthony Kilker who set bail at $100,000 cash and locked up in Schuylkill County Prison.
The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for Schuylkill County for Tuesday. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 AM TO 4 PM EST TUESDAY...
* WHAT...Mixed precipitation expected. Total snow and sleet accumulations of 1 to 3 inches, and ice accumulations of up to one tenth of an inch.
* WHEN...From 4 AM to 4 PM EST Tuesday.
* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. The hazardous conditions will likely impact the Tuesday morning commute. Isolated power outages are possible.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The precipitation will start as mainly light snow late tonight, and transition to a light mix of sleet and freezing rain which will last into mid-day Tuesday. Locations along and north of Route 220 will likely have more snow than those to the south.
Obituaries published from the Schuylkill County area.
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Margaret Hepler, 95, of Pitman, passed away peacefully with loved ones by her side at her home on Sunday, January 24, 2021.
Margaret was born in Pitman on February 26, 1925, a daughter of the late Alice M. (Specht) and Franklin F. Kehler.
She was a homemaker and worked along side her husband on the family farm. She loved to spend time in her kitchen, cooking, baking and canning. She enjoyed spending time with her family and welcomed relatives to the farm.
She was a member of Zion E.C. Church Pitman.
Margaret is survived by three sons Douglas, husband of Kathy Hepler, Brent Hepler and Larry, husband of Debbie Hepler numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great grandchildren
She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 year Irvin H. "Herbie" Hepler; as well as numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, siblings and nieces and nephews.
Due to current health concerns private services will be held at Zion E.C. Chuch, Pitman with interment following in Zion E.C. Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Zion E.C. Church, 247 Zion Church Road, Pitman, PA 17964.
The Stephen R. Rothermel Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. To sign the online guest book please visit. www.srrfh.com.
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Helen M. Delenick, 96, of Pottsville, passed away on Sunday at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Schuylkill – East.
Born on July 18, 1924 in Minersville, she was a daughter of the late Stanley Petchulis and Ella Komorosky Petchulis. She attended the Mar Lin School and was a 1942 graduate of Pottsville High School. She was employed for many years at the former Schuylkill County Juvenile Detention Center.
She was a member of the former Saint Francis of Assisi Church, Minersville.
She was the wife of Michael Delenick, Sr., with whom she shared 60 years of marriage prior to his death in 2003.
Helen is survived by three children, Michael Delenick (spouse, Germaine), Mar Lin, Robert Delenick (spouse, Virginia), Lebanon, and Linda Delenick, Manayunk; four grandchildren, Chris Delenick (spouse, Dr. Michele), Darren Delenick (spouse, Andrea), Drew Delenick (spouse, Kaytelyn) and Megan Schwartz (spouse, Thomas); seven great-grandchildren, Emma Schwartz, Hanna Delenick, Sophie, Samuel and Benjamin Delenick, Ryan and Regan Delenick; her beloved cat, Sammy.
Services will be private at the convenience of the family. Interment will be in Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, East Hanover Township. The family prefers donations to Hillside SPCA, P. O. Box 233, Pottsville, PA 17901.
Georgene Morgan Bowe, widow of James R. Bowe, Esquire, of Holland Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania passed away on Monday, January 25, 2021, at Lehigh Valley Hospital Hazleton Campus at 85 years of age.
Born Thursday, April 25, 1935 in Mauch Chunk, Jim Thorpe, the daughter of the late Winfield S., and Laura G. (Brooks) Morgan. Georgene was also predeceased by; sister, Yvonne Wagner; brother, Bruce Morgan.
Surviving are; son, Bryan M. Bowe of North Chelmsford, MA; daughter, Allison M. Bowe of Tamaqua. Many nieces and nephews also survive Georgene.
A graduate of Frackville High School, Georgene was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Tamaqua. A homemaker, Georgene was a terrific baker, and enjoyed trips to Disney World, playing cards with friends, and watching Downton Abbey.
Private Funeral arrangements entrusted to the E. Franklin Griffiths Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. of 655 East Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252. (570) 668-2550
Interment Sky View Memorial Park Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252.
Memorials in her name to: First United Methodist Church 124 West Broad Street Tamaqua, Pennsylvania 18252
Around 11:30am, emergency personnel were called to 83 Claremont Ave/Route 309 in Rush Township near Seitz for a multi-vehicle accident with entrapment.
Early reports were the crash involved two vehicles.
Personnel are at the scene and reported that the highway between Tamaqua and Hometown will be closed for at least 2 to 3 hours before the scene is cleared.
A dune buggy was reported as stolen from the Orwigsburg area.
According to the Pennsylvania State Police at Schuylkill Haven, sometime between January 4th, 2021 and January 19th, 2021 a dune buggy was stolen from a location along Route 61 in Orwigsburg.
The buggy is described as a 1984 red Honda Odyssey 250 with a headlight on the top bar.
Anyone who may have information on the location of the buggy is asked to contact the Schuylkill Haven barracks at (570) 754-4600.
Two people were seriously injured in a crash along Route 309 near Hometown on Tuesday morning.
According to Rush Township Police, the crash occurred on Route 309 just south of of Ye Olde Hauto Road around 11:00am.
Police say the crash occurred as a 2008 Chrysler Town and Country Minivan operated by a 29-year-old female from Allentown was in the northbound passing lane, when the driver lost control and crossed into the southbound travel lane. The minivan then collided with a 2003 Mercury Mountaineer operated by a 55-year-old male from Tamaqua.
The collision caused the driver’s side rear tire to be torn from the vehicle.
The minivan continued north in the southbound lane, and collided with a third vehicle, a 2013 Chevrolet Silverado operated by a 29-year-old male from Summit Hill.
The driver of the minivan sustained life-threatening injuries as a result of the crash.
A front passenger in the minivan, a 13-year-old male from Tamaqua also sustained life-threatening injuries.
Both were treated at the scene by medical personnel and then transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital Cedar Crest Campus.
A third passenger in the minivan, a 3-month-old female was taken to LVHH Cedar Crest for evaluation.
Route 309 was closed for several hours while the crash was cleared.
