January 2012

State police at the Schuylkill Haven barracks said charges of driving under the influence of alcohol are pending against Nikki A. Dohner, 34, of Schuylkill Haven, after an incident on Jan. 31 at 1:25 a.m.

Police said she was stopped on Rt. 61 in Schuylkill Haven Borough for depositing waste on the highway, after which time police found her to be in an intoxicated state.

Carbon County Outdated Telephone Directory program is about to get under way. Elementary students throughout Carbon County will be competing to collect the most phone books from Feb. 1 to Feb. 17.

Participating schools will be keeping track of how many phone books are brought in. After the program ends, the recycling office will pick up the phone books for recycling.

The five highest collectors will receive an award from Carbon County and a $100 savings bond donated by Jim Thorpe National Bank and First National Bank of Palmerton.

Deeds recorded

East Penn Township

Sheriff of Carbon County to Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Fort Mill, S.C., property at 62 Sherwood Forest Drive, $1.

Cartus Financial Corporation to David S. Keck, 3237 Mahoning Mountain Road, Lehighton, property at 3237 Mahoning Mountain Road, $178,500.

Donald E. Neamand to Dennis Wayne Neamand Sr., Sunbury, Pa., property along Bake Oven Road, $1.

Franklin Township

Fay Ann Shoemaker to Kay K. Kasick, 2625 Stoney Ridge Road, Palmerton, property at 240 Fairview St., $70,000.

Burglary

Criminal charges were filed against Matthew Frederick, 18, of 539 Lehigh Avenue, Palmerton, for burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, unlawful possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession or delivery of a small amount of marijuana, and purchase, consumption, possession, or transportation of intoxicating beverages. The incident occurred on Jan. 23 at 9:41 p.m. in the 600 block of Mauch Chunk Road.

Speeding

Tamaqua and Weatherly both dropped boys basketball contests on Monday.

BOYS BASKETBALL

Pottsville-Tamaqua

Pottsville flexed its muscles and rolled to a 60-33 Schuylkill League victory over Tamaqua.

The Tide, now 17-1 on the season, were led by Brandon Bridy's 17 points.

Brett Kosciolek led the Blue Raiders (5-14) with 16 points.

Tamaqua won the JV game, 47-45.

POTTSVILLE

The 2012 "Dollar Bill" Presidents Day Essay Contest" is open to all Middle and Senior High School students residing within the geographic bounds of Lehighton Area School District, including private, charter and homeschool students. The first prize of a $150 U.S. savings bond will be awarded by the Lehighton Area Republican Club, the sponsoring organization, for the best essay, according to a panel of qualified impartial judges. Also two runners-up will receive $50 savings bonds. Judging criteria include originality, accuracy and composition, but not the opinion expressed.

Lehighton police reported the arrest of an Albrightsville resident.

Police said Libardo A. Roa, 33, was cited for disorderly conduct after being observed urinating in public. The incident occurred in the 200 block of Bridge St., about 2:05 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 29, police said.

Could the Carbon County Fair have an additional 47 acres of land to operate its popular annual fair on?

Representatives of the Carbon County Lion/Lioness Fair Association certainly hope so, and plan to broach the subject to the Lower Towamensing Township Zoning Hearing Board.

A public hearing will be held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13, at which time the organization plans to discuss its intention to use about 47 acres of a 700-acre tract of land located at 2645 Little Gap Road for a fairgrounds and recreational complex.

State Sen. Dave Argall and Rep. Jerry Knowles will be helping to raise awareness in the fight against cancer as they serve as guest bartenders during the Celebrity Bartenders Month at the Restaurant at the Station in Tamaqua. Argall and Knowles will be serving up drinks from 6 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 1.

Every Wednesday during February, guest bartenders will do their best to help the cause, with 15 percent of the bar bill being donated to the American Cancer Society Telethon.

Guest bartender for Feb. 8 will be Andy Leibenguth, with entertainment by Cody Sassaman.

The prosecution's case in the murder trial of Ernest Troy Freeby, the Lansford man charged with killing his estranged wife, was heavily reliant on forensic evidence.

When the Carbon County murder trial began three weeks ago, District Attorney Gary F. Dobias called it a "search for the truth" during his opening argument. Last night, the 12-person jury believed that Dobias had successfully proved his case and brought a first degree guilty verdict against Freeby.

A Lower Towamensing Township man wants to operate an automobile service station as a home occupation.

David Christman, of 3224 Fireline Road, is scheduled to pitch his request to the township's Zoning Hearing Board at 7 p.m. Feb. 7.

At that time, Christman will attempt to gain a variance and/or special exception to operate the business as a home occupation.

In addition, Christman also seeks variances and/or special exceptions for outside storage, a sign, and operation of a home occupation from an accessory structure.

A Monroe County teen is facing various drug related charges following an investigation that began as a domestic incident.

Pocono Mountain Regional police Emmanuel DelCastillo, 19, of 112 Lower Notch Rd., in the Indian Mountain Lakes Community, in Tobyhanna, is facing multiple charges.

According to police on Jan. 23 about 8:19 a.m. officers were dispatched to DelCastillo's home for a report of a domestic assault. On scene DelCastillo was placed under arrest after officers determined he assaulted his girlfriend, the mother of his newborn child.