November 2011

Deeds recorded

Bowmanstown

Linda K. Piotrowski to David Whitehorn, 632 Mill St., Bowmanstown, property at 632 Mill St., $169,600.

East Penn Township

J & R Slaw, Inc., to Stoney Ridge Development Corporation, 438 Riverview Road, Lehighton, property at 438 Riverview Road, $1.

Franklin Township

Michael D. Wilmot to Clifford C. Colgan, 20 Pine Needle Drive, Lehighton, property at 20 Pine Needle Drive, $245,000.

Sophie Soltys to Sophie Soltys, Garfield, N.J., Lot 525, Kriss Pines Estates, $1.

Jim Thorpe

A hit-and-run driver is being sought in Schuylkill County. State police at Schuylkill Haven said the incident occurred about 9:45 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 25, along SR443 in Pine Grove Township.

Troopers said Kaine P. Richway, 21, of Hegins, was driving a 1998 Dodge Ram eastbound while a Chevrolet was westbound. As the vehicles passed, the side mirrors on both vehicles struck. The mirror on the Dodge collapsed rearward and shattered the driver's side window.

Shoppers in downtown Lehighton won't have to put money in the parking meters this month.

Lehighton Borough Council said parking will be free in the downtown for the month of December.

Because of the rising costs of engineering fees to comply with Act 537, a community-wide sewage facilities plan, Parryville Council has no other choice than to raise taxes by two mills this year.

Dana Brubaker, secretary, said that council is sure that a two-mill tax hike will happen again for 2013.

Brubaker added that one mill generates approximately $5,000. A home assessed at $40,000 will pay an additional $80 a year in real estate taxes in 2012 due to the tax increase.

A criminal mischief incident in North Manheim Township, Schuylkill County, is being investigated by state police at the Schuylkill Haven barracks.

The victim is Arthur H. Heffner, 36, of 215 E. Second Mountain Road in the township.

He told police that between 4-6 p.m. Nov. 24, someone used a blunt object to smash his mailbox before fleeing the scene undetected.

Last week, a federal judge ruled that a lawsuit seeking the retrieval of the body of Olympic great Jim Thorpe from a mausoleum in a local Pennsylvania town carrying his name and sent to Oklahoma to Native American burial grounds can proceed.

An objection to the suit had been filed by Attorney William Schwab of Lehighton, who was working pro bono on behalf of the borough of Jim Thorpe and 11 other defendants, and was dismissed.

Mahoning Township supervisors unanimously ratified their bid to purchase a 2011 Crown Victoria police car from Milham Ford at their recent meeting at a cost of $33,379 over the term of a four year lease which is to be paid over four equal payments.

"The vehicle itself costs $24,776 from Milham Ford and we are getting it outfitted at Kovatch's at a cost of $8,603," said Township Chairman John Wieczorek. "The equipment portion for the bill will be paid over two years."

Three persons are being sought in a retail theft incident at a Schuylkill County mall.

State police at Frackville said the incident occurred inside the Sears store in the Schuylkill Mall, New Castle Township. About 11:35 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 25, Loss Prevention officers were monitoring video surveillance and observed two black females and a black male in the men's department, working as a team, removing various items of clothing from shelves and displays and placing the items into a large shopping bag.

A Schuylkill County driver is facing charges, including driving under the influence (DUI) and fleeing the scene of an accident.

State police at Frackville identified the suspect as Kristopher See, 20, of New Philadelphia.

According to troopers about 4 a.m. See was operating a 2007 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck along Pine St., in Blythe Township, northbound when he struck the rear of a Ford F150 pickup truck that was parked along the east side of the road.

Divorces granted

Sharon Haughton Grady, Pottsville, was granted a divorce from John Grady, Pottsville. They were married Feb. 14, 1996.

Kimberly A. Colnnors, Cressona, was granted a divorce from Kevin A. Connors, Orwigsburg. They were married May 29, 2004.

Lynn A. Romberger was granted a divorce from Scott Romberger, both of Schuylkill Haven. They were married Dec. 5, 2001.

Grace L. Stock, Gordon, was granted a divorce from Gerald Stock, Richfield. They were married May 6, 1985.

Sentenced

Ocean Spray announced it has taken the precautionary measure of voluntarily recalling certain production lots of its Original Flavor Craisins® Dried Cranberries product in 5-ounce, 10-ounce and 48-ounce packages, as well as bulk sweetened dried cranberries in 10-pound packages due to the possible presence of very small hair-like metal fragments that are unlikely to cause consumer injury.

Slatington police have cited Nicole Arnold, 23, of 1305 Pin Oak Lane, Slatington, on a charge of disorderly conduct.

Pollice said she was arrested after a disturbance that happened at 5 p.m. Nov. 26 at 578 Main St.