YORK, York County - Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today said he has released $55.1 million to help volunteer firefighters’ relief associations provide training and equipment that saves lives and protects communities across the state.
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“This money is vital in helping volunteer firefighters who save lives and protect property,” DePasquale said. “These funds will benefit communities statewide by helping to purchase life-saving equipment, fund critical training and provide insurance for thousands of volunteer firefighters and emergency service providers.”

​As part of the 2018 allocation, 2,518 municipalities across the state received $55.1 million in fire relief association funding for distribution to the volunteer firefighters’ relief associations providing fire services to their communities. 15 Northern Schuylkill  communities will receive funding.

The volunteer firefighters’ relief association funding comes from a 2 percent state tax on fire insurance premiums purchased by Pennsylvania residents from out-of-state casualty insurance companies.

The Department of the Auditor General audits volunteer firefighters’ relief associations. DePasquale said for the first time ever, all municipalities submitted their requests for VFRA funding on time.

My office has been working to streamline the process for municipalities and that effort is paying off by making it easier for them submit requests for the funding they need to support volunteer firefighters.”

Schuylkill County
Ashland Borough $9,928.68
Butler Township $22,049.15
Delano Township $1,877.27
East Union Township $13,291.02
Frackville Borough $14,076.29
Gilberton Borough $2,375.05
Girardville Borough $4,728.29
Gordon Borough $2,912.73
Mahanoy City Borough $12,994.05
Mahanoy Township $9,918.09
North Union Township $8,341.34
Ringtown Borough $3,318.52
Shenandoah Borough $15,941.75
Union Township $7,084.61
West Mahanoy Township $11,494.59

Northumberland County
Mt Carmel Borough $19,348.10 
Mt Carmel Township $12,287.78
Kulpmont Borough $10,088.91

Columbia County
Centralia Borough $31.58
Conyngham Township $2,822.82 

MAHANOY CITY - A date has been set for Mahanoy City's annual Christmas Tree Lighting.

The event will take place on Saturday, November 24, 2018 at 5:30pm at Centre and Catawissa Streets in the borough.

"Come enjoy a beautiful Mahanoy City tradition. Caroling, Hot Chocolate, Santa and so much more. Visit the downtown activities and listen to wonderful performances around our town tree," their Facebook page writes.

PINE GROVE TOWNSHIP - A Pine Grove Township woman who was struck and killed this evening has been identified.

State Police at Schuylkill Haven identified the woman as Alice Donmoyer, 84, of Pine Grove Township.

Troopers say Donmoyer was struck by a vehicle driven by Dustin Minnich, 27, of Pine Grove Township, as she attempted to cross Tremont Road near Shultz Road in the township just before 7:00pm. Donmoyer passed away at the scene.

Minnich stopped at the scene, and was uninjured.

State Police are continuing their investigation, and they say more information will be released as it becomes available.

MIDDLEPORT - A Tamaqua woman was injured after losing control of her vehicle as she attempted to miss a deer in Middleport Tuesday morning.

According to State Police at Frackville, the crash occurred around 7:30am on Route 209 near Coal Street.

Theresa Harris, 52, of Tamaqua was travelling southbound, and lost control of her 2006 Chevrolet Cobalt as she swerved to avoid a deer while negotiating a right turn.

The Cobalt traveled off the right berm and struck the guardrail.

Harris was uninjured in the crash.

Fire crews from Kaska, Cumbola, and Middleport assisted at the accident scene, as did J&J Towing.

MAHANOY TOWNSHIP - A construction vehicle was reported unaccounted for at an Interstate 81 construction site in Mahanoy Township Monday night, and was later found in a residential Palmerton garage being disassembled.

According to State Police at Frackville, a fleet manager for Burgette Excavation, Avoca, noticed a construction vehicle was unaccounted for at their I-81 North construction site.

The fleet manager then accessed the vehicle's GPS, which showed the vehicle was in Palmerton, Carbon County.

They then drove to the area displayed, and the vehicle was located in a residential garage. 911 was called, and Palmerton Police arrested two who were inside disassembling the vehicle.

State Police at Frackville have not yet released their identities.

McADOO - State Police at Frackville are investigating a theft from a vehicle in Kline Township near McAdoo that occurred overnight between Sunday and Monday.

According to troopers, the incident occurred between 10:00pm Sunday and 5:30am Monday at 47 Grove Street in the township, when an unknown person or persons smashed the window of the victim's vehicle while it was parked along the street.

The unknown person(s) then entered the vehicle and removed a multitude of items from the vehicle, including $1,280 in cash, Nike sneakers, an iPad cable, a money order, an iPad, a wallet, urse, and credit card holder, a gold chain, three of the victim's credit cards, and their birth certificate.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to call State Police at Frackville at 570-874-5300.

GIRARDVILLE - A Girardville man is facing charges after injuring another with a bayonet when a verbal argument turned physical in the borough early Friday morning.

According to State Police at Frackville, the incident occurred around 3:30am Friday on Vine Street in the borough, when two individuals became engaged in a verbal argument.

The argument, between Robert James McClintock, 40, of Girardville, and Curt Jacob Marquardt, 29, of Frackville, turned physical, and McClintock revealed a 12" bayonet.

A struggle ensued, and Marquardt suffered minor stab wounds.

Marquardt was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital - Schuylkill for treatment of injuries to his hands and face.

McClintock will face charges for aggravated assault as a result of the incident.

SHENANDOAH - Shenandoah's annual Christmas season kickoff, the Santa Drop, is set for Friday, November 23 this year.

At noon that day, Santa and his elves will skydive into Shenandoah Valley's Veterans Memorial Stadium.
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The event is sponsored by Mrs. T's Pierogies maker Ateeco, Inc.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Five Schuylkill County schools participated in the first Paint the Plow contest held by PennDOT in the county, and judging took place this morning at the maintenance building in Schuylkill Haven.

The panel of judges included media members from the Schuylkill County area, including WYLN-TV 35 and The Shenandoah Sentinel.

Students and faculty members from Mahanoy Area and Shenandoah Valley were also present to accompany their plows.

TREMONT TWP. - A Mount Carmel man had to be extricated from his vehicle and flown to a hospital after an accident on Interstate 81 Thursday morning.

State Police at Jonestown said the accident occurred just before 6:00am near mile marker 105.3 in Tremont Township.

A 2015 Jeep Wrangler, driven by Gerard Reichwein, 21, of Mount Carmel, and a 2012 Freightliner, driving by Eduardo Rodriguez, 51, of Scranton, were travelling southbound in the right lane of travel when the Jeep struck the rear of the Freightliner.

The Jeep then became stuck under the Freightliner's trailer, and both vehicles came to a rest on the right side shoulder of the road.

The Jeep suffered heavy front end damage, and Reichwein had to be extricated from the vehicle.

Reichwein was then flown via air medical to Hershey Medical Center for treatment of injuries.

The Freightliner suffered minor rear-end damage, and Rodriguez was unharmed.