Two men charged in connection with a suspected methamphetamine lab in Tamaqua in December had the bulk of the charges against them withdrawn during preliminary hearings last week in the court of District Judge Stephen Bayer of Tamaqua.

David C. Miller Jr., 25, of 65 Sunny Drive, MaryD, and Taylor Skwait, 19, of 225 Peacock St., Pottsville, were two of four people arrested when firefighters discovered a possible meth lab at 227 Lafayette St., just days before Christmas. All but one of the charges filed against the two men were withdrawn by arresting officer Tamaqua patrolman Thomas Rodgers. Miller and Skwait will face trial in Schuylkill County Court, each charged with conspiracy to recklessly endanger another person.Sean Keating, 28, of 305 W. Coal St., Shenandoah, elected to have his case heard by Bayer. He was charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance and careless driving. The charges were filed by Rush Township Patrolman Adam Sinton following an Oct. 20, 2013, incident.Both charges were held for court trial at the county level.Keating was released on his own recognizance.John R. Blashock IV, 42, of 1335 S. Church St., McAdoo, waived a hearing on charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, DUI, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving without rear lights, careless driving, failure to yield to an emergency vehicle, and failure to notify a change in address. He was charged by McAdoo Patrolman Stephen Homanko following a Feb. 9 incident.Blashock was released on $15,000 percentage bail.David Scheitrum Jr., 35, of 238 N. Lehigh St., Tamaqua, waived a hearing on charges of DUI of a controlled substance, driving with a suspended/ revoked license, driving without headlights and driving under the influence of a metabolite. The charges stem from a Dec. 18, 2013, incident and werefiled by Kline Township Patrolman James Patterson.Scheitrum was released on his own recognizance.Aimee Diane Gamble, 26, of 1436 Horseshoe Road, Ulysses, Potter County, waived a hearing on possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia in connection with a Feb. 3 incident. The charges were filed by Tamaqua Patrolman Karl Harig.Gamble was released on her own recognizance.Christopher Farber, 22, of 421 Glenwood Ave., Tamaqua, waived charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and driving with a suspended/revoked license to county court. He was charged by Tamaqua Patrolman Anthony Stanell following a Nov. 1, 2013, incident.Farber was released on his own recognizance.