Police called to armed robbery

State police at Frackville were called to investigate an armed robbery at the Brown Bag Gas Station, 832 Barnesville Drive, Ryan Township.

Police said a white man, who appeared to be about 5 feet, 10 inches to 6 feet in height with an average build, entered the store through its main entrance, brandishing a large kitchen knife and demanded that the attendant open the cash register.

The suspect removed the drawer that contained about $200 and ran out of the store.

JT Council faces criticism

Jim Thorpe Borough Council continued to face public pressure over its plan to convert part of spacious Memorial Hall into borough offices.

That plan, along with other major projects, including building a new maintenance garage, comes with a 2.01-mill tax hike the board members approved.

The new budget also contains an 8 percent salary increase for borough Manager Maureen Sterner, who was hired in 2016 at a salary of $75,000.

Residents continue to argue that downsizing Memorial Hall from its huge banquet capacity would be a bad move.

Pike tolls are going up

A new toll increase on the Pennsylvania Turnpike will go into effect Jan. 7, continuing a 10-year streak of price hikes.

The most common tolls for passenger vehicles will go up from $1.23 to $1.30 for E-ZPass users and from $1.95 to $2.10 for drivers paying in cash.

The rate will increase from $3.15 to $3.35 from Mahoning Valley to Lehigh Valley, and Mahoning Valley to Pocono; and from $7.70 to $8.20 from Mahoning Valley to Mid-County, for drivers paying in cash.

The rate will go from $2.04 to $2.16 from Mahoning Valley to Lehigh Valley, and Mahoning Valley to Pocono; and from $5.29 to $5.61 from Mahoning Valley to Mid-County, for E-ZPass users.

Hospital merger completed

The merger between St. Luke’s University Health Network and Blue Mountain Health System was officially completed this week.

First outlined in September, the deal brings Gnaden Huetten Hospital in Lehighton and Palmerton Hospital, along with Blue Mountain’s various other facilities, under the St. Luke’s umbrella.

Final approval of federal and state regulatory bodies came on Dec. 21.

With the merger completion came the retirement of former Blue Mountain President and CEO Andrew Harris. Terry Purcell will fill the role as president of Blue Mountain’s two hospitals, which have been renamed St. Luke’s Palmerton Campus and St. Luke’s Gnaden Huetten Campus.

Arctic temperatures continue

Temperatures were in the single digits all this week, with much of the same anticipated for today and tomorrow.

The bone-chilling cold looks like it will last through today, according to Paul Walker, a senior meteorologist with AccuWeather, who said residents will be lucky if temperatures get out of the single digits.

The freezing temperatures brought a number of problems locally, including a higher demand for fuel oil, reports of frozen pipes, and, most importantly, concern about how the temperatures can have a dangerous effect on senior citizens.

Carbon hires project manager

Carbon County hired Boyle Construction Management of Allentown, to serve as the construction manager for the office building and parking garage project it plans to begin in 2018 on Susquehanna Street in Jim Thorpe.

Boyle will be paid $318,000 for preconstruction services and construction administration services.

The new building will be constructed where an existing garage-type building and a parking lot are presently located. The garage structure, which had been utilized for the county archives and by maintenance personnel, will be razed.

Man stabbed in robbery

Police say a man was stabbed in the chest during an armed robbery in Monroe County.

The alleged robbery occurred in the 7400 block of Ventnor Drive in Coolbaugh Township, according to Pocono Mountain Regional Police.

That address is located in the A Pocono Country Place community. The victim, a 33-year-old man, said two men wielding a gun and a knife robbed him as he was walking down Ventnor Drive.

Man sought on attempted murder

Aquiles Conde-Shenery, 32, of Hazleton, is wanted in an attempted homicide investigation, state police at Fern Ridge said.

Shenery shot Harry Read, 39, of Chestnuthill Township, following a verbal argument outside Read’s residence, according to police.

Read told police he turned to walk back toward his residence, when Conde-Shenery shot him in the midsection with a .22-caliber rifle. The victim was transported to Pocono Medical Center, where he was treated for a non-life-threatening injury.

Young mayor is seated

Nathan Gerace, 19, was sworn in as the youngest mayor of Tamaqua during a ceremony conducted by Magisterial District Judge Stephen Bayer.

Gerace replaces Mayor Christian Morrison, who stepped down after serving for 12 years.

Borough manager dismissed

Slatington Borough Council failed to have sufficient support for the town to retain Judith Danko as its borough manager.

Councilman David Schnaars made a motion to approve the employment agreement for Danko, but the motion failed after it was not seconded by another board member.

County officials take oaths

The Carbon County Court conducted its annual swearing-in ceremony in the courthouse, Jim Thorpe, with about 200 personnel and staff, elected officials and the general public in attendance.

Presiding were President Judge Roger N. Nanovic II and judges Steven R. Serfass and Joseph J. Matika.

Among those sworn into office were Jean Papay, newly elected Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans’ Court, Treasurer Ronald Sheehan and Clerk of Courts William McGinley.