A proclamation was adopted by the Schuylkill County Commissioners to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the worst mine disaster in the county, in action taken at Wednesday's public meeting held at the courthouse in Pottsville.

On Saturday, Aug. 3, 1913, an explosion occurred at the East Brunswick Colliery deep mine located in Porter Township. The first explosion occurred at 11:20 a.m. Hundreds of miners from other mining facilities rushed to the scene and immediately went deep into the bowels of the mine on a rescue mission when a second explosion occurred around noon and killed a number of rescuers. A total of 20 miners were killed, leaving behind wives, 51 children, parents, siblings, friends and relatives. The board issued the proclamation to honor those who gave their lives and to call attention to the anthracite mining community's proud heritage.Gary Bender, county grant writer, announced a memorial service will be held Saturday, Aug. 3, at 11 a.m. at SS Peter and Paul Roman Cathoic Church, Tower City, and the "Breaker Boys" will present a first-person dramatization of the aftermath of the disaster. The program is open to the public. Miners and their family members are encouraged to bring a hard hat and to wear miner's clothing.Approximately 25 scouts and four Scout masters from Berks and Schuylkill county Boy Scout troops attended the meeting to observe government in action. The Scouts are camping at Hawk Mountain Scout Camp in North Manheim Township. The attendance was to gain a merit badge toward their bid for Eagle Scout. Commissioner George Halcovage congratulated the scouts on their quest to become Eagle Scouts and become great and informative citizens.The commissioners granted approval to the county coroner's office to lease a vehicle from ARAAT (Anthracite Region Athletics Against Tumors, Inc.) solely for the purpose of body transports following death. The terms of the agreement is a $200 monthly rental fee. The company pays all maintenance costs for the vehicle.Extension of the contract with Larson Design group was approved for the engineering design repairs for the historical county bridge which carries Newswanger Road over Little Swatara Creek in Washington Township. County Engineer Lisa Mahall explained the extension was needed for additional engineering and environmental services that are required by the FHWA National Historical Society Covered Bridge Preservation Grant.A rate agreement was entered with Aaron Healthcare, Inc., Allentown, for homemakers and personal care service for clients of the Human Services Department at a rate of $17.76 per hour for regular days and $26.64 per hour for holidays.Action taken on personnel matters were as follows:Rest Haven Home - Sarah Simatos, Pottsville, and Kate McDemus, Cressona, were transferred from part-time to full time/full-time nurse's aide and their pay increased to $11.72 per hour. Eleven people completed their training program to become part-time nurse's aides were given a pay increase to $11.72 per hour. They are Marsi Thompson, Saint Clair; Nicole Bernotas, Shenandoah; Brittany Bradley, Miranda Gibble and Sarah Simatos, Pottsville; Tea Burns, Douglasville; Kayla Breantiecht, Orwigsburg; Tanya Didget, Schuylkill Haven; and Kate McDemus, Cressona.The Court Administration Office informed the commissioners that Mary Ann Caddan, Allentown, resigned as a court reporter and was replaced by Rosita DeCarlo, Ashland, at a salary of $18.59 per hour.The Drug and Alcohol Agency reported the resignation of Molly Brown-Steranko, Port Carbon, as a drug and alcohol assistant administrator.Commissioner Frank Staudenmeier announced there will be no commissioners' meeting next Wednesday because of it being the fifth Wednesday of the month. The commissioners alternate their work sessions and public meetings on Wednesdays. However, the next work session will be held on Thursday, Aug. 8, because the commissioners will be attending a conference in Erie that week and will not return before late Wednesday afternoon, Aug. 7.