By Robert Wheary, Staff Writer • csrobwheary@gmail.com

Rob Wheary/Staff Photo Students in the Williams Valley Elementary 21st Century Learning program work on their cat shelters during their after school program on Monday, Nov. 6. The students took plastic totes, styrofoam and hay to create cat shelters that will be used by volunteers to help provide a place for feral and homeless cats to be safe from winter weather and storms.

WILLIAMSTOWN — Students at Williams Valley Elementary School recently got the chance to help keep some four-legged friends safe from the winter weather with a craft project.

Fifth and sixth-grade students, part of the 21st Century Learning program at the school, teamed up with Paws for a Cause to construct some feral cat shelters that volunteers will be using.

The materials they used were simple — styrofoam, hay, and large plastic storage bins — but according to Angie Bixler, the kids are learning much more than a craft project.

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Transparency is an issue in twp.

By Rebecca Zemencik, Managing Editor • rebecca-z@citizenstandard.com

VALLEY VIEW – Just when Hegins Township Supervisors were preparing to take out a loan to cover payroll until the end of the year, something wonderful happened – $176,000 was found in their coffers that they thought was already spent.

Apparently, a coding error in the computer system caused the glitch. At least that’s what Tammy Specht from Specht and Company told Hegins Township Secretary/Treasurer Cathy Moyer. Moyer said the money was discovered two weeks before the meeting when information was being gathered to begin working on the 2018 budget.

It was Specht who caught the error and reported it to the township that the money was actually in the system and was not accounted for properly.

As Moyer presented the treasurer report at last Wednesday evening’s meeting, township resident Roger Wetzel questioned where the money appeared from and how the bank statements didn’t reflect it.

Moyer tried to explain the situation to the best of her knowledge but also stressed that she too is still learning Quickbooks, the accounting program used by the township.

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Children enjoy new area at Hegins-Hubley

By Rebecca Zemencik, Managing Editor • rebecca-z@citizenstandard.com

Rebecca Zemencik/Citizen-Standard Photo Micah Ulicny, was all smiles as he visited the all-inclusive playground and played with Richard Klare III. Ulicny created the playground as his Eagle Scout project for Boy Scout Troop 662, Valley View. Bo Neidlinger is also pictured on the swings.

VALLEY VIEW – Micah Ulicny, an Eagle Scout hopeful of Boy Scout Troop 662 was all smiles while his mom was choked up. The two visited the all inclusive playground at Hegins-Hubley Elementary School and witnessed the children playing on the equipment for the first time Friday morning.
Micah, a senior at Tri-Valley High School first approached Kate Herb, the special education teacher at the elementary level, about a year ago and asked her what is something that her kids could really use. He was in the planning stages of coming up with an Eagle Scout Project.
“We had this space right outside the classroom window that I always thought would be an awesome spot for an all-inclusive playground,” said Herb. “This would be an ideal spot for a calming area to bring my kids outdoors and just let them do their thing and play and not have to worry about the noise and hustle and bustle of the main playground.”

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By Rebecca Zemencik, Managing Editor • rebecca-z@citizenstandard.com

Submitted Photo Briana Jones displays some of the items she has crafted from Pistachio shells.

HEGINS – One might say she’s nuts, but actually she’s really only interested in the shell of a nut. A pistachio nut that is.
Briana Jones, a Minerville native, who now resides in Rutherford, New Jersey, will be making her inaugural appearance at the 28th Annual Hegins Valley Arts and Craft Faire on Saturday.
Jones will be selling her flowers, home decor and Christmas ornaments that she has crafted from Pistachio nut shells.
“I saw something on Pinterest about six years ago and then kind of forgot about it until recently,” said Jones, who has been crafting for years. “I finally found it again and began making mostly flowers and now Christmas balls out of the Pistachio shells.
The Pistachio is protected by a thin, ivory-colored bony shell that is about one inch in length and a half inch in diameter and this is what Jones makes her items out of.
“My grandmother gives Pistachio’s out at the holidays because my entire family is ‘nuts’ over them,” said Jones. “They just love them and they all save the shells for me to make my crafts.”
Jones says she can craft a medium sized flower in a matter of minutes, however, the Christmas ornaments are wearing on her patience. She says they take hours to create. She uses a hot glue gun and fabric dye to craft her creations.
Jones will be located at site 224 near the end of the main path closest to Goodspring Road.
The event will feature more than 225 carefully selected craftsmen from Pennsylvania and nearby states. The faire is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Admission is free, but there is a $2 parking fee which benefits the Hegins Park.
Besides the creative, fascinating, unique craft items that shoppers will find, they will also be able to satisfy their taste buds with different, interesting cuisine. Several new food vendors have been added to this year’s event and include: BBQ chicken halves made by the VFW sold by the Friends of The Tri-Valley Community Pool. The cost is $6 a half and proceeds will benefit the pool.
The Valley View American Legion will be offering loaded baked potatoes and pierogies.
We Be Cheesin will be on hand this year with a variety of gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches.
Erdman Bakery will be making homemade kettle potato chips.
The day will begin at 7 a.m. with breakfast being served by St. Andrew’s United Methodist Church in the eating house at the park. They will offer ham, bacon, eggs, homefries, pancakes, toast, egg sandwiches, orange juice, coffee and milk.
Besides the food items listed above, the normal faire will also be available including: apple dumplings, pulled pork, braided pretzels, birch beer, kettle corn, donuts, fried rice, soups, fudge, french fries, hamburgers, tacos, sausage sandwiches, chicken kabobs, funnel cakes, Mr. Sticky and pizza.
The craft faire committee compiled of: Dorothy Klouser, Joyce Schlegel, Cindy Herring, Patty Stehr, Lois Graham, Tricia Zimmerman, Nancy Blazer, Debra Blazer, Kathryn Otto, Ann Bonwit, Jody Mack, Jennifer Neye, Beverly Klinger, Lois Bennick, and Carol Masser have been busy planning the event throughout the year. They meet monthly to prepare, discuss and invite vendors to participate in the event. They also spend time visiting other craft fairs to seek out new craft and food vendors and get new ideas for their event.
The Hegins Valley Arts & Crafts Faire Committee will be offering chances on raffle baskets at the event again this year. Each craft vendor is required to donate an item to the committee. The committee then takes the items and arranges them in gift baskets which chances are sold for and then raffled off throughout the event.
Funds garnered from the craft faire are divided among 14 community organizations. To date the committee has donated more than $210,000
No dogs are allowed at the craft faire; service dogs only. Hegins Park is located six miles west on Route 25 from Exit 112 of I-81. Watch for the signs.
For more information, call 570-682-9541 or 570-682-8181.

By Rebecca Zemencik, Managing Editor • rebecca-z@citizenstandard.com

SACRAMENTO – Hubley Township Supervisors Robert Barr, Frank Krammes and Keith Masser are standing by the joint Act 537 plan that was ruled against by the Environmental Hearing Board.
During a meeting of the supervisors Wednesday evening, a resolution was adopted stating that Hubley Township will appeal the decision voting in favor of the Concerned Citizens that the Environmental Hearing Board released on Wednesday, June 7.
The resolution, which was unanimously adopted is as follows:
HUBLEY TOWNSHIP
SCHUYLKILL COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
RESOLUTION NUMBER: 2017-001
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF THIS TOWNSHIP AUTHORIZING HUBLEY TOWNSHIP to appeal the environmental hearing board’s decision on the joint ACT 537 Plan:
Whereas the benefits to Hegins and Hubley Township residents of the joint plan include: Improved environmental conditions in both Townships Reduced ground water contamination Economies of scale reducing future costs Increased economic development opportunities Avoidance of PADEP enforcement action Following PADEP regionalization efforts which allows for grant funds Supports PADEP approval of the joint ACT 537 plan
Whereas on April 6, 2012 a JOINT ACT 537 plan (alternative ten) was submitted to the PADEP for a user rate of $69.04 even though alternative six had a user rate of $66.32.
Whereas on February 20, 2013 the townships withdrew the JOINT ACT 537 plan, precluding rejection of the plan by PADEP, allowing time for extra surveys required by the DEP comments.
Whereas after extensive meetings and public hearings the ACT 537 Plan was revised to the “2014 alternative six” plan which was approved by both Hegins and Hubley townships and submitted to the PADEP.
Whereas on April 2015 the “2014 alternative six” plan was approved by the PADEP
Whereas the environmental hearing board on June 7, 2017 ruled in favor of the concerned citizens of Hegins Township.
Whereas as the “2014 alternative six plan” approved by the PADEP would cost the Hegins Township users $7.50 less per month than the Hegins Township (only) ACT 537 plan.
Whereas Hubley Township has expended well over $200,000 to date on the joint ACT537 plan, not including the hundreds of thousands of dollars Hegins Township has spent over the last 10 years.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the authority of the Board of Supervisors of Hubley Township, we will engage Paul Bruder of Rhoads & Sinon, LLP, to appeal the Environmental Hearing Board decision of June 7, 2017 as follows:
The foregoing resolution was duly enacted by Supervisors of Hubley Township on the 5th day of July, 2017 by unanimous vote.
According to the supervisors, the solicitor feels that Hubley Township has a good case and the supervisors felt it was the right thing to appeal the decision to benefit the entire community.
In other business, Sacramento resident Herb Rose asked the supervisors if they would consider trying to keep the supervisors meetings at the planned time. Rose said maybe more people from the public would attend the meetings if they followed a certain schedule.
Supervisor Keith Masser said the board will try to look at the schedule better when setting up the meetings for next year. He said this meeting was moved from the regularly scheduled date because of the July 4th holiday.
Sacramento resident Olaf Saugen suggested the supervisors try to post the date of the meetings on the fire company sign located along Route 25. He also suggested asking the public to submit their email addresses to the township secretary, Kathy Krammes, and then she could send out a general email to all on file of upcoming meeting dates.
Masser said both suggestions were good ideas. The township email addresses is hubleytwp@yahoo.com. Interested persons can submit their email addresses there.
Hubley Township has a new code enforcement officer. Donald Boyer, who was the current officer, resigned from his post as of July 5. The new code enforcement officer will be Alyssa Deibert.

By Rebecca Zemencik, Managing Editor • rebecca-z@citizenstandard.com

VALLEY VIEW – Now what? That was the question Hegins Township Supervisor Brad Carl posed to the board of supervisors last Wednesday night at the monthly meeting of the Hegins Township Supervisors.
Carl was inquiring about the recent ruling on the Act 537 plan in which the Environmental Hearing Board sided with the concerned citizens.
“What’s going on, what’s the next step, what do we need to do,”? asked Carl.
Solicitor Kevin Walsh Jr. of the Karpowich Law firm was filling in for Donald Karpowich, who normally represents the township. Walsh was the solicitor that represented the concerned citizens for the Act 537 hearing.
“You shouldn’t discuss the matter publicly,” said Walsh. “You should discuss this matter with Attorney John G. Dean, of Elliott Greenleaf and Dean, who represents the township for the Act 537 appeal.”
Carl asked the concerned citizens who were in attendance if they knew anything or where it stood.
Richter asked township secretary Cathy Moyer if she had a copy of the plan created by Alfred Benesch and Company with a plan for Hegins Township alone.
Moyer said a copy of that plan should be in the file. (more…)

By Rebecca Zemencik, Managing Editor • rebecca-z@citizenstandard.com

Rebecca Zemencik/Citizen-Standard Photo The Bootlegger’s 33rd Annual Independent Anthracite Picnic commemorative mug will feature the names of the miners who died in the Porter Tunnel Mine disaster 40 years ago and the one surviver. The mug will also feature a photo of the Breaker Boys, who have been providing musical entertainment at the picnic for years.

HEGINS – He was only 26 years old working in his dad’s coal mine in Donaldson and he can remember the day like it was yesterday.
David A. Lucas, Hegins, organizer of the Bootlegger’s 33rd Annual Independent Anthracite Coal Miner’s Picnic, slated for Saturday, Aug. 12, will pay tribute to the nine miners who perished and the lone survivor of the Porter Tunnel Mine disaster 40 years ago.
This year’s commemorative mug will feature the names, ages, and hometowns of the miners who died and the one who survived.
David A. worked at the Porter Tunnel Mine years before the disaster.
“I worked at the Porter Tunnel just shy of a year,” said David A. “I went off in the Army just shy of my one year anniversary. At that time already we were tapping water from the Brookside Colliery. It was me and Dean Updegrave of Tower City and Hutch Miller from Klingerstown. I trusted my life with those men. I was the youngest of us. At that time I was 19 years old. A million things go through your mind when you hit water. That water had a stench that could have taken your breath away. One thing I’m gonna tell you about water – you can never outrun water and you can never hide from water. It will get you.”
David A. says he can remember the day of the disaster like it was yesterday, as he recalled the moment while sitting on his front porch Friday afternoon.
“I was 26 years old and by that time I was working in a mine with my brothers that my dad, Ray A. ‘Checky’ Lucas and partners owned in Donaldson,” said David A. “As soon as we got the news we shutdown and drove directly to Porter Tunnel. We had our helmets, light and boots and were ready to go in and offer support in anyway we could. We never had to go in, there were enough there helping already but we stayed for a couple days to offer our support and by the third day we were back working at our mine. I knew every one of the men who were killed. Some of them were going to come and work at our mine, but they stayed at the tunnel so they could have health insurance for their kids. Our mine was paying $2 more a day, but we didn’t offer health insurance.”
David A. spoke with Beth Harman who was the organizer in getting a memorial erected this year at the site of the Porter Tunnel Mine to commemorate the men who lost their lives. Beth’s father, Dennis Morgan, 30, of Valley View, was one of the miners who lost their life. Beth helped supply the names and information to David A. to be placed on the mug and helped him to design it.
“This is probably one of the best mugs we’ve ever had made,” said Lucas.
Featured on the mug, in addition to Dennis Morgan will be the following names: Gary Lee Klinger, 19, of Hegins; Philip Sabatino, 50, of Hegins; Ralph Renninger, 40, of Donaldson; Donald Shoffler, 40, of Gordon; Ronald Herb, 32, of Valley View; John Moyer, 44, of Ashland; Tim Grose, 19, of Ashland; Mark Kroh, 48, of Goodspring; and survivor Ronald Adley, 37, of Tower City, who was rescued more than five days later.
Also featured will be a photo of Stu Richards and Tommy Symons, the Breaker Boys, who have provided musical entertainment at the picnic for several years.
The commemorative mug can be purchased for $8 and can be pre-ordered through David A. by calling 570-682-9140 before July 17. A limited amount of mugs will be available at the picnic. T-shirts and hats will also be available for sale at the picnic.
The picnic will begin at noon in the Hegins Park. At 3:30 p.m. David A. has asked Harman to read the names and information of the Porter Tunnel Miners aloud to those in attendance. She will also read the names of local miners who passed away just this year: Normy Klinger, Ira “Ike” Kintzel, Fritz Shingara, Clayton “Blapper” Shade, Carl Wetzeland Carl Wetzel.
Every year David A. also remembers verbally the following: Robin “Slob” Lucas, John Kroh, David “Stu” Himmelberger, Dale Reightler, Bob and Kenny Wolfgang and David A.’s father, Ray A. “Checky” Lucas.
A “Miner’s Prayer,” written by Symons, will be read prior the hot meal being served at 4 p.m.
A donation of $20 will include admission to the picnic, all food and entertainment. Musical entertainment will be provided by DJ Gold Dust, The Breaker Boys and Red Halo. Children age 18 and under are admitted free.
Those attending will also have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets for a miners statue, five to seven tons of coal, a hand-crafted drump truck and two lottery baskets. Those items will be chanced off at 6 p.m.

Concerned Citizens win the appeal

By Rebecca Zemencik, Managing Editor • rebecca-z@citizenstandard.com

HEGINS – It’s back to the drawing boards for an Act 537 plan for Hegins and Hubley Townships.
The Concerned Citizens of Hegins Township were the victor last Wednesday when the Pennsylvania Environmental Hearing Board ruled to sustain the appeal of the Concerned Citizens who challenged the joint sewer plan which had previously been approved by the Department of Environmental Protection.
The appellants of the case included Roger Wetzel, William Wolfgang, Randy Shadle, Kenneth Richter, Kenneth Graham and Harry Mausser.
“My clients are certainly happy and feel vindicated since the ruling came down,” said Concerned Citizens Attorney Kevin M. Walsh Jr., of Donald G. Karpowich, Attorney-at-law, Drums. “They are happy that they are helping those who wouldn’t have been able to afford the sewer rates. They are not opposed to a public sewer system, they just want an affordable one.”

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By Robert Wheary, Staff Writer • csrobwheary@gmail.com

DONALDSON — The end of the June 6 meeting of the Frailey Township Board of Supervisors got a little “catty” as one resident described a problem she is having with stray cats.
“I went into my garage and saw a lot of damage the cat did,” the resident told the board. “It ripped slats out of my Venetian blind, knocked over a few items. I even had a few paw prints on my hood and windshield.”
Supervisor Donald Allar sympathized with the resident, but could not do much about it, going into a little tirade of their own.
“We tried to fight the problem a few years ago, paying a lady to conduct trap, neuter and release spots in the area, but after the first time we never heard from her again,” Allar said. “Who knows how many stray cats are in the area?”

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By Sarah DeSantis, The News-Item

MANDATA — Despite eliminating two teaching positions and raising taxes by 2.53 mills, Line Mountain School District faces a more than $400,000 deficit for the 2017-18 school year.
The board approved a $19,462,037 budget that would raise the average tax bill by $36 on a 6-1 vote Tuesday, May 23.
The lone dissenting vote was cast by Director Marlin Yeager Jr., who said he has heard many residents say taxes are too high in the district.
Superintendent David M. Campbell advocated for the tax increase, saying he felt the district had no other choice. Even after cutting a kindergarten teacher and an elementary reading specialist, the district faced a $586,301 deficit. Both positions were eliminated through retirements, he said. (more…)