©2026, THE JOURNAL-HERALD. All Rights Reserved
CONTINUING: THE WHITE HAVEN JOURNAL ESTABLISHED 1879–147th YEAR, NO. 10
SINGLE COPY– 75¢
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2026 • Volume 45 – No. 24 (USPS 277440)
CONTINUING: THE WEATHERLY HERALD ESTABLISHED 1880–146th YEAR, NO. 36
The Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce has scheduled its annual meeting for this Friday, February 13, at 9 a.m. at the White Haven Borough Building on Main Street.
included each year at the annual meeting:
● Board Elections: Voting for new board members or re-electing current ones to guide the chamber’s strategic direction.
It was cold outside but warm and toasty inside, as Hickory Hills Property Owners Association held a super Souper Bowl event last Saturday. There were ten different soups, grilled cheese sandwiches, desserts and Philly pretzels. Everyone enjoyed themselves and left with full tummies and smiles on their faces.
The agenda includes an update of the by-laws to change the date for the annual meeting from January to February, and to specify five elements to be
Photos: Alice Lachewitz
by Ruth Isenberg
Weatherly Area School District is running out of snow make-up days. At the February 4 school board caucus meeting, superintendent Dr. Robert Croop recommended using April 1 and 2 to make up for January 26 and 27 snow days. But he also noted that there is only one
other possible makeup day after that, so if more snow days are needed, the district is prepared to go virtual. Teachers will have lesson plans prepared, and will be at their computers through the day.
The goal is to finish school the first week of June, and not to See WASB, page 3
● Financial Reporting: Presenting the annual budget, financialstatements, and auditor reports to the membership.
See WH CHAMBER, page 3
Weatherly Area High School senior athletes and their parents were recognized for their contributions to Wrecker sports programs during Senior Night activities Thursday at the varsity gymnasium. The program was held between games of a girls-boys varsity basketball double-header, with the Lady Wreckers and Wreckers both notching victories. JH Photo by Steve Stallone
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(JAY E. HOLDER, Co-Publisher 1954-1997; CLARA HOLDER, Co-Publisher 1954-2014)
Seth Isenberg, Advertising/Sales
Ruth Isenberg, Editor
Steve Stallone, Sports Editor
Member, Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce
© Copyright 2026, The Journal-Herald
by Ruth Isenberg
Why are we picking a fight with our nearest neighbor and close friend Canada? President Trump’s late-night Truth Social ‘diplomacy’ has created another situation that makes the United States look like an unreliable ally.
Social media can do a lot of good. Lost dogs are found. Old friends are reunited. Funny jokes are shared. Organizations reach new audiences for their events.
All the same, I’m not a big fan. I worry about kids being exposed to inappropriate material, or older people falling for fake news or scams. While former college classmates may find each other online, crazy fringe groups do the same thing. Everyone from neo-Nazis to men who are angry at women because they don’t want to date them can find people to hang out wit people who will amplify their messages.
The president seems to be right at home on social media, and unconstrained by logic, or good taste. The ALL CAPS rantings, the racist memes, the threats toward our allies all reflect poorly on our nation. Foreign leaders may be trying to appease us, but it’s pretty clear they no longer trust us. And when the day comes that we need some help, they may not be in any hurry to provide it.
Our representatives in Congress could exercise the authority they are given under the Constitution, but many are staying silent because they fear being primaried if they oppose the president. The natural tendency is to keep a low profile when things are bad, and hope the storm passes over.
There isn’t much we ordinary citizens can do, except to speak up for our friends and neighbors, near and far, and obey the Biblical teaching — “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) Oh, Canada you are still our neighbor, and we hope you are still our friend.
From The Journal-Herald February 14, 1991
Jay & Clara Holder, Publishers
The White Haven Municipal Authority entered into an agreement with the Department of Environmental Resources to design and construct water filtration facilities by August of 1993. The purpose was to protect users from giardia contamination.
George Wood was appointed to Penn Lake Park Borough Council, to replace former member Jeanne Fitzmaurice, who had resigned. Council was in the early stages of considering central sewerage and eventual hook up to the White Haven sewage treatment plant. Also, the PA Game Commission had trapped 12 beaver from the beaver dam near the bridge, but they believed there were more.
Weatherly Rotary Club had two speakers at recent meetings. James Truver, president of the Future Business Leaders of American chapter at Weatherly Area High School, told the club about its project to earn funds to support research into cystic fibrosis. At another meeting, Weatherly Casting and Machine Company owner Michael Leib presented a program about the types of products made at the Weatherly foundry.
The Dennison Township fire siren had been repaired, and the board of supervisors voted to put it back in place, pending an examination of its tower to make sure of its safety. They also voted to look into the purchase of a generator to make the siren operational.
The White Haven Ministerium received a letter from President George [H.W.] Bush, thanking them for their letter in regard to the Persian Gulf conflict The letter closed, “I am heartened that so many Americans are joining Barbara and me in praying for our brave service men and women and for their families.”
There were more flag pictures, and an announcement that free yellow ribbon was available at the White Haven Municipal Building. The Weatherly Area Republican Club urged everyone to keep a light or candle in the front window of their homes to show support for troops in the Persian Gulf. A plaque naming those serving in the Persian Gulf put together by the Weatherly Lions Club had to be expanded to list the more than 30 Weatherly residents or WAHS graduates serving in or near the war zone.
The White Haven Free Methodist Church gathered a list of service people from the immediate area, and sent letters of encouragement to them, and to their parents. Each service man and woman who received a letter was prayed for by name in one of the church prayer groups, and that was set to continue as long as they were in the Persian Gulf.
In conjunction with the Red Cross and TV Channel 22, St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in White Haven began collecting items for Operation Desert Care, including tooth brushes, non-fragrant soap, foot powder and sealable plastic bags.
Crestwood High School hosted the Future Business Leaders of America Regional Leadership Conference. Nearly 400 students from 13 area schools attended, competing in various competitions to qualify to go on to the state competition at Seven Springs Resort in April.
A half-page notice titled Recycling Containers Have Arrived notified residents that curbside recycling would begin on March 22 in White Haven, and continue every other Friday thereafter. “Curbside Recycling in White Haven Borough is MANDATORY under Ordinance 5-1990. Violators will be subject to fine or imprisonment,” the notice concluded.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that LETTERS OF ADMINISTRATION have been granted to PHYLLIS A. REINMILLER of the Estate of Carl James Reinmiller, A/K/A Carl J. Reinmiller, deceased and late of White Haven, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, who died on May 8, 2024. All persons indebted to said Estate, please make payment, and those having claims, present same to:
Susan Sernak-Martinelli, Esquire
Law Office of Susan Sernak-Martinelli
199 North Church Street Hazleton, Pennsylvania 18201 2/19
Continued from page 1
● Bylaw Updates: Approving amendments to the chamber’s governing documents or other major structural changes.
● Year-in-Review: Highlighting the chamber’s accomplishments and the impact of its advocacy efforts over the past 12 months.
● Strategic Vision: Unveiling key initiatives, development plans, and policy priorities for the upcoming year.
The annual meeting will be followed by the regular monthly meeting. Among the items for discussion will be the trout stocking on March 28, the purse bingo on April 19, and the Earth Day cleanup on April 24. Plans are also underway for the Artwalk on May 30, and the annual Jam Below the Dam, and the annual Car Show.
New Chamber members are welcome. You do not need to own a business to join. Anyone interested in improving the community is urged to attend.
Continued from page 1
have to add days on at the end of the year. This is especially important, school director Bill Knepper said, for students who have been accepted to military academies, as they start early in the summer.
At the caucus meeting, student representative Grace Portell gave a comprehensive report of the many activities and accomplishments realized by students so far this year.
At the regular meeting on February 11, the board was expected to approve the following coaches:
• Jeremy Witner Head Varsity Baseball Coach
$3,150.00
• Brian Witner Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach
$2,100.00
• Will Bartel Head Varsity Softball Coach $4,650.00
• Matt vonFrisch Assistant Varsity Softball Coach
$2,300.00
• Ryan Kately Varsity Track & Field Head Coach $3,275.00
Rep. Jamie Walsh (R-117) and Sen. Dave Argall (R-29) today announced more than $330,000 was awarded from the PA Small Water and Sewer Program to two projects in Luzerne County.
“This funding is vital for our local municipalities to be able to perform the maintenance and upgrades needed to meet local infrastructure demands,” said Walsh. “I am pleased the Commonwealth Financing Authority saw the importance of these projects and green-lighted the funding.”
“Improved water infrastructure is very much needed in so many of our communities,” said Argall. “These highly competitive state funds are very important.”
The following projects were awarded funding:
Borough of Freeland Municipal Authority — $245,851 to clean aging
waterlines by removing scaling, sediment and internal buildup that restricts flow and reduce pressure throughout the water system.
White Haven Borough — $93,500 to replace a drainage pipe at the State Route 940 and Interstate 81 interchange.
The PA Small Water and Sewer program awards funding to municipalities
and municipal authorities for water, sewer, storm water and flood control projects. The funding was approved by the Commonwealth Financing Authority, an independent agency of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development which administers Pennsylvania’s economic stimulus packages.
• Rebekah Jones Junior High Track & Field Coach
$1,680.00
• Paul DiGennaro Varsity Track & Field Assistant Coach
$2,175.00
• Kayla Durham Head Junior High Softball Coach $1,730.00
• Sarah Minnick Assistant Junior High Softball Coach Volunteer
• Jenna Bartel Assistant Varsity Softball Coach Volunteer
• Alexis Colecio Assistant Varsity Softball Coach Volunteer
• Brian Kaminski Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach Volunteer
• James Gilbert Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach Volunteer
• Jeff Donadi Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach Volunteer
• Rachel Witner Assistant Varsity Baseball Coach Volunteer
• Brandon Pugh Assistant Track & Field Coach Volunteer
The Weatherly Alumni Association’s request for use of the middle school LGi room on June 5 for the 50th Class reunion was also on the agenda for the regular meeting, as well as the first reading of two policies that were not discussed at the caucus meeting, 04 - Local Board Procedures, and 116.1 - Attendance at Meetings Via Electronic Communication Executive Meeting Verification Letter
Editor’s Note: This report is based on attendance at the caucus meeting, and reading the agenda as posted online ahead of the February 11 meeting. This issue was printed before that meeting was held. If action at that meeting differs from what was proposed at the caucus, a follow-up article will clarify the matter.
Susan Schuster, 68, of Weatherly, passed away peacefully at her home on February 4, 2026. She was the beloved wife of the late Murray B. Schuster, who preceded her in death in 2015.
Born on October 15, 1957, in Brooklyn, New York, Susan is the cherished daughter of Dorothy (Pizzo) Bastone of New York and the late Alfred Bastone.
She completed her education at Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn, New York.
She is survived by her two sons. Matthew, husband of Shikeyia Schuster, and Daniel, husband of Ashley Schuster. Her legacy continues through her grandchildren—Alexis, Isabella, Marcellus, Zander, Victoria, Lily, Miley, and Riley—as well as her greatgrandson, Tristan, ensuring that her spirit will live on through generations.
Susan found joy in the simple pleasures of life. She relished reading the newspaper each day, often tackling the cryptogram and puzzles with
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excitement. Her joy for cooking and baking were renowned among family and friends; her seven-layer cookies, apple pies and famous sausage and peppers became staples at family gatherings always requested and enjoyed by those she loved.
Additionally, Susan had a fondness for music, with a particular affinity with t timeless oldies that reminded her of cherished memories.
In her lifetime, Susan maintained close ties with her family and friends. She is survived by her sister, Barbara, wife of Joe Massaro, niece Stephanie and nephew Joseph, treasured friends, Abby Baudille mother of Melissa, wife of Dave Sachs and her neighbors Betty and Ron Graver who were so helpful and caring over the years.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, February 12, at 4 p.m. A viewing will be held from 1 p.m. until time of the service at Philip J. Jeffrie Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc., Weatherly. She will be laid to rest alongside her husband at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery on Friday, February 13, at 10 a.m. The family will meet at the cemetery at 9:30 a.m.
Susan Schuster will be remembered for her abundant love, kindness, and vibrant spirit that touched so many lives. She leaves behind a legacy rich in love, laughter, and cherished memories.
Arrangements are entrusted to the Philip J. Jeffries Funera Home & Cremation Services, Inc., Weatherly.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www. griffithsfuneralhomes.com
EVIL LEE HARTER
Evil Lee Harter, of White Haven, passed away after a hard-fought battle with cancer on February 3, 2026.
Born on July 7, 1950, in Ashland, Evil was the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Lester Harter. He proudly served his country in the United States Army, where he was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal in recognition of his service.
Following his time in the military, Evil worked at a hanger
plant in Ringtown. He was a simple man who enjoyed a simple life, finding contentment in hard work, quiet routines, and time spent at home with his beloved wife, Kathleen Samelko Harter.
Evil Lee was loving and kind, and he especially enjoyed gardening and tending to his outdoor yard, taking pride in his work. He will be remembered for his loving nature, his service to his country, and the peaceful life he built and cherished.
Lois Florence Leach, 75, of Weatherly, passed away peacefully on February 5, 2026, at the Forest Hills Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. She was the cherished wife of the late James Leach, Sr.
Born on July 28, 1950, in Abington, Pennsylvania, Lois was the beloved daughter of the late Edwin and Margaret (Cunningham) Fitch.
A graduate of Neshaminy High School, she dedicated her life to being a proud homemaker, nurturing her family and creating a loving home. Lois had a passion for reading and enjoyed the strategic challenge of playing mahjong. She enjoyed her days out shopping and getting her nails done with her niece Adelle. Her time spent with Adelle and her nephew Richie was cherished and they showed her tremendous love and care. Lois loved dressing up for Halloween with her son Jimmy at his school parties. Their costumes were always a big hit.
She is survived by her daughter, Kimberly, wife of Robert Dilenno, of Burlington, NJ; and grandchildren Gabrielle, Nicole and Emma DiIenno.
Lois also leaves behind her siblings Albert, husband of Trish Fitch, and David Fitch. Her legacy continues with her niece Adelle Boswell and nephews Richie Morrison and Al Fitch. Lois was preceded in death by her husband, son James “Jimmy” Leach, Jr., and siblings Edwin Fitch and Margaret Morrison.
A private service to celebrate Lois’s life will be held at a later date at Washington Crossing National Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest alongside her late husband.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Inc. in Weatherly, Pennsylvania. Online condolences may be made to the family at www. griffithsfuneralhomes.com. Lois will be remembered fondly.
Teresa Louise Oswald, 62, of White Haven, passed away on January 27, 2026, in Hazleton. Teresa was born in Allentown to the late Aaron Yocum Sr. and Dolores Rader-Yocum. She previously served in the National Guard. She enjoyed the outdoors, particularly camping, and spending time with her grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Keith Oswald Sr; her children, Rochelle Wilson and her husband Jeff, Gwen
Weida and her husband Rob, Keith Oswald Jr. and his wife Tammy, and Lita Bechtold and her husband Mike; mother Mary Ann Yocum; siblings Deb Miller, Bea Thorpe, Mary Vaughn, Tina Showers, Aaron Yocum Jr., Joe Schermann, Mike Schermann, and Todd Yocum; as well as her 9 grandchildren, Kyla, Anthony, Vincent, Shawn, Lucas, Derek, Charlet, Logan & Hazel.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date, with details to be announced by the family.
BARBARA J. WAH
Barbara J. Wah, 81, passed away peacefully on December 31, 2025, at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center.
Born on September 2, 1944, in Newark, New Jersey, Barbara was the daughter of the late Robert and Alice (Lutz) Oelke. Throughout her life, Barbara found joy in simple pleasures. She enjoyed playing bingo, solving crossword puzzles, and had a fondness for the color red. She liked being outdoors and spending time appreciating nature.
Barbara was well known for her sharp wit and sarcasm, always ready to crack a good joke. She embraced her role as the funny, “crazy” relative in the family, bringing laughter and lighthearted moments to those around her. Her sense of humor was a defining part of who she was and will be fondly remembered by all who knew her.
Above all, Barbara was a devoted mother. She lovingly raised and cared for her daughter, Eileen, encouraging her interests by enrolling her in arts and dance lessons. Her love for family was at the center of her life and remained her greatest pride. Though she was not known for her cooking skills, Barbara was famous among family for one special dish a delicious pepper steak that became a cherished favorite.
Barbara is survived by her daughter, Eileen Havard of Nescopeck; her siblings, Arnold Oelke, Linda Dybo, and Cheryl Barney; two grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren, all of whom she loved dearly.
Barbara was preceded in death by her siblings, Dolores Burns, Alice Lozar, Robert Oelke Jr., and Corlene Nilon.
A funeral service was held February 6, in Maple Hill Cemetery Chapel, Hanover Township with interment following. Arrangements are under the direction of the Desiderio-Lehman Funeral and Cremation, Mountain Top.
Kelly Reiner, daughter of Tammy and Mark Reiner, Weatherly, has been named Senior of the Month for December at Weatherly Area High School.
Kelly serves as president of the Weatherly Area High School chapter of the National Honor Society, vice president of Interact, vice president of the Class of 2026, captain of the varsity girls’ basketball, volleyball, and track and field teams, and the treasurer of the
Yearbook Club. Additionally, Kelly is a member of SGA and the Health Careers Club.
In the community, Kelly volunteers her time with the Weatherly Hillclimb, the Weatherly Festival, the Blacktop Bash, the Tweedle Park Cleanup, and Shepherd House Food Bank. Kelly is employed by Whitewater Challengers in Weatherly.
Sponsors for the month of December are Sernak Farms, and David Feaster Excavating, both of Weatherly.
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Weatherly Area Elementary School announces the Students of the Month for the month of November: Shown front row, from left, First Grade - William Love and Dhyan Patel, Second Grade - Stella Downey and Jacob Barilla; back row, Third Grade - Joseph Tessitore and Jeanna Wenner, Fourth Grade - Faith Feaster and Glenn Hoffman III, Fifth Grade - Hunter Hoffman and Jenna Jones.
Weatherly Area Elementary School will hold Kindergarten Registration on March 11 and March 18. Snow date is March 25.
Registration is by appointment only. Please call 570-427-8687 to set up an appointment.
Requirements for your child are as follows:
• Child must reside
within the Weatherly Area School District
• Child must be 5 years old by September 1, 2026
• 1 of the following; Birth Certificate, Baptism Certificate or Hospital Registration
• Child’s Immunizations
• Parent Driver’s license
• 2 proofs of residency
Interact bakesale fights blood cancer: For over 15 years the Weatherly Area High School Interact Club has been donating to Leukimia and Lymphoma Society (now known as Blood Cancer United). In a variety of methods they have collected tens of thousands of dollars for our local region in helping to mitigate, treat and conduct research dealing with these diseases. We want to send a special shout out to our students this year for raising over $300 in our yearly bake sale held at senior night in the middle school. Thank you to all who have donated and helped out in the past and continue to help us in one of our many causes.
Most of us are, at least mentally. Our homes and gardens? Not so much.
You don’t have to do it all alone. Lots of local businesses are ready to help. We will be printing a special section early in March to help you find the businesses that can help you with the services you need.
Tell us what spruce-ups you’re planning this Spring, and we’ll enter you in a drawing for $50 toward the services of any of the businesses that advertise in the section. We won’t share your information with them or anyone else, but we will use your answer to help us write a story about what local Spring prep is going to look like. Send an email to journalruth@gmail.com or mail to The Journal-Herald, 211 Main Street, White Haven PA 18661. Include your name and a phone number, and a brief description of your plans.
Carbon Career & Technical Institute Designer Purse Bingo and Basket Raffle will be hel on Friday, March 13, at 6 p.m. Doors open at 4 p.m. The bingo/ basket raffle will be held on th school campus, 150 W. 13th Street, Jim Thorpe.
Designer purses that some lucky players will win are overall valued at approximately $13,500. Tickets are $25 and are limited, so it is recommended to pre-purchase tickets before the bingo.
There will also be a large
basket raffle that some luck winners will take home that evening. Winners need not be present to win. Food and refreshments will also be available for purchase.
Donations for the Basket Raffle are still being accepted and can be dropped off at the school
For more information or to purchase tickets, please call 570-325-3682. Please come to support the students at Carbon Career & Technical Institute, and win some great prizes.
Emmanuel UCC in Mountain Top will hold a Rummage Sale on Saturday, April 25, from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. There will also be food and baked goods available for purchase.
If you have any items you wish to donate, they can be dropped off April 13 or April 20 from 10 a.m. – Noon, or April 15 from 5 – 7 p.m. at the church hall,7768 Blue Ridge Trail.
The Community Bible Fellowship Church, 458 West Spruce Street, Hazleton, will offer a free lunch on Sunday, March 1, from Noon to 2 p.m. The menu includes fish, pierogies, a vegetable, salad, dessert and beverages. For more information, email cbfchurch458@gmail.com, or visit cbfhazleton.com
Get your Journa l-H erald in the mail each week. Or send it to a friend.
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Friday, February 13—ALA Persian Donut Sale pickup, Noon-6 p.m., Post 360, Weatherly
Saturday, February 14— Great Backyard Bird Count, 9-11 a.m., Nescopeck State Park, & 1-3 p.m., Hickory Run State Park
Saturday, February 14— ALA Persian Donut Sale pickup, 10 a.m.-Noon, Post 360, Weatherly
Sunday, February 15—Bingo, Noon, Our Lady of Lourdes Church, Weatherly
Saturday, February 28— Chicken & Waffles Take-Ou Dinner, 4-6 p.m., Salem UCC, Weatherly
Friday, March 13—Designer Purse Bingo & Basket Raffle 4 p.m., Carbon Career & Technical Institute, Jim Thorpe
Saturday, March 21—Easter Bunny visit, 2-4 p.m., Citizens Fire Company Hall in Weatherly
Friday, March 27— Homemade Easter Egg Candy Sale pickup, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Centenary United Methodist Church, Weatherly (order deadline March 15)
Saturday, March 28—Youth Fishing Event, sponsored by Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce
Saturday & Sunday, April 11 & 12—Weatherly Area Museum opening, 1-4 p.m.
Sunday, April 19—Purse Bingo, sponsored by Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce
Saturday, April 25— Rummage Sale & More, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Emmanuel UCC, Mountain Top
Saturday, May 2—Cemetery Walk, sponsored by Weatherly Area Museum, 1-4 p.m. (rain date May 9)
Saturday, May 30—Art Walk, sponsored by Greater White Haven Chamber of Commerce
Friday-Sunday, June 12-14— NASCAR Weekend, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond
Saturday, June 20—Plant Swap, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Weatherly Area Museum
Saturday & Sunday, June 6 & 7—Weatherly Spring HillClimb
Saturday & Sunday, July 25 & 26—Jam Below the Dam, White Haven
Saturday, September 12—Car Show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Lehigh Park, White Haven
Saturday & Sunday, September 19 & 20— Weatherly Fall HillClimb
Friday & Saturday, October 2 & 3—Weatherly Area Community Library Basket Auction
Saturday, November 28— Christmas at the Museum, Weatherly Area Museum
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 360 recently made a generous monetary donation to the Lady Wreckers basketball team’s Dear Hero collection for the holidays being sent to deployed military. Shown from left are Masey Kane, Lexi Koehler, Georgia Farrow of ALA Unit 360, Abbey Weston, and Kelly Reiner.
The Love of Reading Book Sale in Weatherly Area Community Library’s sale room will be on February 13, 9 –
Noon, and February 14, 9 – 1. Parents will be able to buy books during Storytime on Friday, February 13, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.
Weatherly Centenary United Methodist Church is having a homemade Easter Egg sale on Friday, March 27, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Each 1-pound box is a $14 donation. Varieties available are:Coconut Cream, Butter Cream, Peanut Roll, Milk or
Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter, and Assorted. To order call: Ruth 570-427-8173, Stephanie 570-582-5507, Phyllis 570427-4305, Lisa 570-401-4128, Wayne 570-582-5154, or Donna 570-427-4094. See Georgeann at Evergreen Apts. Order deadline is March 15.
A fun new event is coming to Lehighton to help the community celebrate America at 250.
Lehighton Pool Pals Boat Regatta will be held May 23 at the Lehighton Pool. Each state and community is encouraged to hold community events for this historic anniversary.
The regatta will bring together residents, businesses, and visitors from throughout Carbon County and beyond in a festive environment designed to provide lots of great entertainment. We invite everyone to cheer on their favorite paddling team.
In addition to the races, there will be a lineup of food and beverage vendors onsite, as
well as music. Stay until the end to enjoy the music.
Participating teams of all ages will construct and decorate their own life-size cardboard boats. Boats will race in timed heats as teams row to a set location.
The event coincides with the opening day of the Lehighton pool and signals the beginning of the swimming season. Join us to watch and cheer on the daring captains and crews as they race their cardboard boats from launch to finish line. Admission is free for the event. Bring a lawn chair and stay for the awards ceremony.
The races will begin at 1 p.m.
Before the event, participants will be constructing and decorating their own cardboard boats. A boat building class is planned for Saturday, February 28, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Lehighton Outdoor Center. Cardboard and duct tape will be provided. To get your supplies, pay $25, which covers the cost of registration and participation in the event for each team. Register for the workshop by calling Mark Hoffmand at 610-5546635. Team members will then take their boat home and paint and decorate it to their liking. Entries will be judged based on their adherence to the historical theme.
Members of the 1975-76 Weatherly Area High School boys’ basketball team were saluted during the Tri-Valley at Weatherly boys basketball game, marking the 50th anniversary of the team’s District 11 championship and deep run into the state tournament. The team was coached by the late Tony Antinozzi.
JH Photo by Steve Stallone
by Ethan Barilla
The NFL season ended with Super Bowl 60 last Sunday. The game was a highly anticipated game between the Seahawks from the NFC and the Patriots from the AFC. A lot of people were rooting against the Patriots because they didn’t want them to break the Super Bowl record with 7. They were also rooting for the Seahawks QB Sam Darnold because of his comeback story.
The game started slow with a Seahawks field goal to start the game. That was all the two teams could come up with in the first quarter. The Seahawks’ defense was terrifying in this game; by the end of the game they racked up 6 sacks. While the Seahawks’ defense was shutting down the Patriots the Seahawks’ offense was stacking up field goals for a 9-0 lead at halftime. Then the halftime show came on and to be honest I didn’t understand a word Bad
GIRLS
Eighth Grade Weatherly Area 37, Schuylkill Haven 6 - The Weatherly girls concluded their successful season with a seasonending win at Schuylkill Haven. Mackenzie Graham led a balanced Weatherly attack with 10 points, while Mikayla Kuntz scored seven and Riley Bachert had six.
North Schuylkill 42, Weatherly Area 26 - Hailee Sisko (14) and Penelope Bereski (13) combined for 27 points, leading North Schuylkill to victory. Sophia Durham topped the Lady Wreckers with 10 points, while Lexie Masterson pitched in with five
BOYS
Bunny was saying.
The Seahawks got another field goal and held a 12-0 lead until the fourth quarter. The scoring never really started until the fourth quarter. The Seahawks got the first touchdown for a 19-0 lead and little hope for Patriots fans. Then Patriots QB Drake Maye threw a 35-yard touchdown to WR Mack Hollins to cut the score to 19-7. The Seahawks went down and got another field goal for a 22-7 game with 5 minutes until they were champions.
The game sealer was then when Drake Maye got sacked and the ball bounced up in the air. The Seahawks defender caught the ball and brought it back for a pick six.
Towards the end Drake Maye threw a touchdown but it didn’t matter. Two minutes later the Seattle Seahawks are Super Bowl 60 champions.
Seahawks runningback Kenneth Walker lll won Super Bowl MVP with 135 rush yards in the game. On the other side, the Patriots have a bright future with QB Drake Maye. The NFL season has ended and the Seattle Seahawks are your Super Bowl Champions.
Eighth Grade Weatherly Area 49, Marian Catholic 25 - Carter Minnick tallied a game-high 17 points, MJ Ryan added six, and the Wreckers rolled past the Colts. Aiden Barrett had 15 points to top Marian, while Gavin Woodring contributed six.
Schuylkill Haven 54, Weatherly Area 22 - Noah Runkle led a trio of Hurricanes in double figures with 12 points, sparking their win over the Wreckers. Sawyer Gilbert and Dylan Fanelli each scored 11 for Haven. Carter Minnick topped Weatherly with 12 points and MJ Ryan had six.
Tamaqua 39, Weatherly Area 23Chayse Barron rimmed 16 points and Chayse Smith added 10, powering Tamaqua to the victory. Carter Minnick paced the Wreckers with 10 points and Silas Zink checked in with seven.
Seventh Grade Weatherly Area 42, Schuylkill Haven 2 - Silas Zink and Jaxon Dembrosi led the Wreckers’ onslaught with nine points each, and Zachary Hayes joined in with six in the runaway victory.
Tamaqua 35, Weatherly Area 28Chayse Barron led the Blue Raiders with 17 points and Tanner Tirpak tallied nine in the seven-point decision. For the Wreckers, Silas Zink scored 14 points and MJ Ryan followed with nine.
The Crestwood boys are in the Wyoming Valley Conference Basketball Tournament, and received help from the most unlikely of sources to clinch their spot in this week’s fourteam event.
Playing at Dallas in last week’s regular-season finale, the Comets dropped a tough 47-38 WVC Division 1 verdict to the Mountaineers. But when rival Hazleton Area beat Wilkes-Barre Area 44-43 in their finale, it knocked the Wolfpack (7-5) from the tournament field and Crestwood (8-4) emerged as the second-place finisher in Division 1. Hazleton Area also finished 8-4 in conference play, but the Comets won the tiebreaker by beating the Cougars
twice in their head-to-head meetings this season.
Crestwood will now face Division 2 champion Wyoming Area (20-2 overall, 14-0 D-2) on Thursday at Wilkes-Barre Area.
The other semifinal that evening pits D-1 champion Dallas (19-3 overall, 12-0 D-1) against D-2 runner-up Holy Redeemer (14-8, 11-3 D-2). Redeemer beat Hanover Area in a special playoff for second
The semifinal winners will meet for the WVC championship to be played as part of a girlsboys double-header Saturday at Hazleton Area High School.
Crestwood finishedthe regular season 15-7 overall and is currently second in the District
2 Class 5A rankings (.643907) behind top seed Abington Heights (15-5, .714454), which had two games left to play this week. Pittston Area (11-11) and Wallenpaupack (7-13) will complete the four-team district tourney. If Crestwood doesn’t overtake Abington, the Comets would pay Pittston Area in the semifinal round when that tourney begins later this month.
The visiting Comets gave the Mounts all they could handle in last week’s regular-season final, trailing by just three (29-26) early in the fourth quarter.
But as Crestwood went from the field, Dallas’ Pat Flanagan hit a trey, Joey Nocito scored his only four points, and Kael Berry buried
another triple in a 10-0 burst that doomed the Comets. From there, the Mounts closed out the win, finished perfect in WVC play this season, and also jumped over Scranton Prep as the top seed in District 2 Class 4A.
Flanagan led a balanced Dallas attack with 14 points and Berry added 13.
For Crestwood, Ayden Agapito scored 14 points and Gio Barna had 13.
The Crestwood girls earned their way back into the Wyoming Valley Conference Basketball Tournament, though the road certainly wasn’t easy.
Sitting on the outside looking in with two games to play, the Lady Comets followed their huge win over Hazleton Area by taking down Dallas 48-36 last Wednesday evening at Crestwood.
The winner-take-all game snapped a tie with Dallas for second place in the Division 1 standings, secured second outright for the Lady Comets, and punched their ticket to this week’s four-team tournament.
Crestwood (20-2 overall, 10-2 WVC) will now take on Division 2 champion Nanticoke (17-5, 12-2 Division 2) on Wednesday evening at Holy Redeemer High School. Hazleton Area (20-2, 11-1 WVC), the top seed, will face Division 2 runner-up Holy Redeemer (16-6, 11-3) in the other girls’ semifinal. Redeemer beat Wyoming Area in a playoff for second place in D-2. The semifinal winners will meet for the championship to
be played as part of a girls-boys double-header Saturday at Hazleton Area High School.
The Lady Comets entered the game tied with Dallas (19-3) at 9-2 and in second place in the WVC Division 1 standings, with only one spot still available for the four-team playoff.
Crestwood also trailed the Mountaineers in the District 2 Class 5 rankings.
But after a 47-38 setback at Dallas during their first meeting of the season, the Lady Comets exacted their revenge on their home court, and came away with both the WVC berth and the top seed for districts later this month.
Crestwood jumped the visiting Mountaineers early, getting them into foul trouble and outscoring them 18-1 to start the game. Charlie Hiller hit a pair of 3-pointers and Keira Dougherty added another in that early run.
But Dallas battled back, winning the middle two quarters 24-12 to pull within five (30-25) entering the final period
The Lady Comets took over from there, as Jackie Gallagher scored eight points
during an 18-11 finishing run to lead the way. Crestwood salted the game away at the foul line, making 14-of-18 free throws in the final quarter to secure the victory. Jordan Andrews went 5-for-6 at the line down the stretch, Gallagher was 4-for-4 and Dougherty 3-for-4.
Andrews led Crestwood’s balanced scoring attack with 14 points, and was followed by Dougherty (12), Gallagher (11) and Hiller (9).
Molly Walsh scored a gamehigh 17 points to lead Dallas, which lost three starters due to fouls. Six-foot-3 center Odessa Kanton fouled out after scoring just two points from the foul line. Starters Mia DelGaudio and Caitlyn Mizzer also fouled out.
With the victory, Crestwood (.778348 rating points) has now won six straight games and moved ahead of Dallas (.765025) and into the top spot for the upcoming District 2 Class 5A Tournament that begins later this month. That five-team tournament will also include North Pocono (16-4),
Abington Heights (13-7) and Pittston Area (12-9).
(36) - Shaw 0 0-0 0, Mizzer 1 0-0 3, DelGaudio 2 0-0 6, Wydra 1 0-0 2, Samanas 0 0-0 0,
3-FG: DelGaudio 2, Mizzer, Walsh. Hiller 2, Dougherty.
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ACROSS
1. *First cloned mammal
6. Fuel economy acronym
9. Land measure
13. Pascal of “The Mandalorian” fame
14. Second O in EVOO
15. a.k.a. sergeant fish or robal
16. Plant fungus
17. *”Titanic” star
18. *”The ____ Whisperer” (1998)
19. *PepsiCo offering
21. *One of the Walsh twins, 90210
23. Long reef dweller
24. Reach a high
25. Color of passion
28. Agitate
30. Like Matryoshka inside Matryoshka
35. Gave the boot
37. Arab League member
39. One of Florida Keys
40. Summer month
41. Polished diamond surface
43. Safecracker
44. Lazybones
46. Before “saw” and “conquered”
47. Glitch
48. Watercraft
50. Remains repository
52. Like some martinis
53. Comfort
55. One in a pod
57. *____ bubble
60. *The 1990s, a.k.a. post-____ ____ decade
64. Biblical patriarch
65. Sensitive subject?
67. “Bad news travels fast,” e.g.
68. ____ ____ shopping cart
69. Father’s progeny
70. Trojan War epic
71. Difficult situatio
72. Like jalapeÒo
73. So out it’s in
1. Design detail
2. M¸nchen mister
3. Jittery
4. Irregularly notched
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6. Gangster’s gal
7. *”American ____” (1999)
8. Geography class prop
9. Any minute, arch.
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42. Allegro or lento
45. Repeat an echo
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56. Discombobulate
57. *Jeff Bridges in “The Big Lebowski,” with The
58. Made in Vegas
59. Makes lace
60. One-tenth of a dime
61. *”____ Wait... Don’t Tell Me!” on NPR
62. Petri dish gel
63. Do over
64. Fruit spread
66. *____ Goo Dolls of “Name” fame
by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
Admittedly, emotions may have gotten the best of them.
That they were playing their final home game together, on senior night, in front of their supportive fan base, it was certainly understandable.
“I was thinking about it all day,” senior Corbin Wagner recalled later. “It was my last game at home, senior, last regular-season game ever, and I’m just so nervous, thinking about what’s going to happen. Am I going to do well?”
Senior teammate Ian McKeegan said saddling their emotions in the moment was difficult, no matter how har they tried.
“I definitely think the emotions got in the way a little bit, definitely at the start,” McKeegan said. “I honestly don’t think we started really letting it go until the fourth, when we started realizing we’ve got to get going.
“Until then it was sad. We knew it was the last hurrah, I guess you could say.”
The emotion of the moment and the collective nerves of the entire team were on display last Thursday evening when the Weatherly Area Wreckers played host to a 2-win Palmerton team on Senior Night.
What was supposed to be a comfortable win and a celebratory send off to the
Weatherly Area’s Corbin Wagner drives past Palmerton’s Brady Reph during the Wreckers’ non-league game Thursday at Weatherly. Wagner’s 21 points helped the Wreckers rally for a 57-54 win in their final home game of the season.
postseason that awaits the Wreckers instead became a fight for survival.
Palmerton (2-20) came out firing, building a 16-9
JH Photo by Steve Stallone
first-quarter lead with Kurt Jedrejczyk’s tip-in at the buzzer, and taking a 29-23 lead to the locker room at halftime.
“I think they thought they were going to come in here and wipe the floor clean with them, and not have to put in much effort,” Weatherly head coach Luke Medico offered. “The pressure that they put on themselves, senior night and the whole thing, and it’s the last time those four seniors will ever play on this court for a basketball game. I think that got to them.”
After getting just one field goal to drop in the opening half, Wagner knew he needed to get his game going.
“I just needed to have faith in myself,” he said. “That first half I came out rough, I think I made one shot. The second half I just locked in.”
Wagner literally kept the Wreckers in the game in the third quarter, nailing three 3-point field goals and also adding three free throws for 12 of the Wreckers’ 13 points in the quarter.
But the upset-minded Blue Bombers continued to have answers on offense, and still led by seven (43-36) on Tate Buck’s basket early in the fourth quarter.
It was about that point when the Wreckers started upping their pressure on defense and turning the tables on Palmerton.
“In the huddle I just had to remind them who they are, what they’re capable of, and that they do this sort of stuff quite often,” Medico said. “They’ve been doing it this year and last year. Sometimes they just linger around and they wait until 3-4 minutes left in the fourth quarter, and then all of a sudden we do the things that we’re supposed to be doing the whole game.
“Fortunately for us there was enough time and it worked out.”
Wagner ignited the comeback with his fourth triple of the second half, nailing the corner jumper at the 7:17 mark of the fourth. From that point on, Weatherly ended the game on a 21-10 run.
“They killed us in the first half by taking it and shooting threes. They made a lot of threes off our defense, and we just had to adjust,” Wagner said. “Coach told us to come out in a 1-3-1 and create that pressure and just create fast break points.”
McKeegan’s steal led to a Dominick Kokinda fast break basket, and senior Niko Saldukas hit big 3-pointer from the top of the key as the Wreckers got within a point
Continued from page 14
(45-44).
Moments later, Kokinda’s steal set up McKeegan’s threepoint play, giving the Wreckers their first lead (47-45) since the opening quarter.
After Palmerton’s Cameron Pengelly tied it at the 3:38 mark, the Wreckers scored eight consecutive points off four straight Blue Bomber turnovers in the backcourt. Wagner had two of the steals and Saldukas had another. McKeegan scored three times and Wagner added a tough spin move in the lane as the 8-0 run put the Wreckers up 55-47 with 1:43 to play.
“I think we feed off of that,” McKeegan said of the press, which produced six steals in the fourth quarter alone. “I think when we can get a good couple stops and get some energy going, then we feed off that for our offense. We use that to our advantage. It’s also good that Corbin came down and hit a couple of threes.”
Palmerton scored a couple of late baskets, but would get no closer than three points the rest of the way as Weatherly closed out the 57-54 win.
Wagner finished with a team high 21 points 19 in the second half and moved within 10 points of 1,000 for his career.
“Corbin’s confidence has been through the roof the past several weeks. We’ve been waiting for this from Corbin for a long time, because we know what he’s capable of,” Medico said. “He’s out there rockin’ and rollin’ lately. He’s doing fantastic, and I’m really proud of him.”
He was still basking in the moment afterward, smiling from ear to ear.
“It feels amazing,” he said of the final home win. “I love my
Weatherly Area’s Niko Saldukas, left, and Ian McKeegan, right, double-team Palmerton’s Braylen Delgado (15) as they pressure the ball during Thursday’s non-league game at the Weatherly Area Middle School varsity gymnasium.
JH Photo by Steve Stallone
“I’m definitely going to use it to my advantage, to kind of like ice, rest, get my body fully recovered,” McKeegan said. “I also want to get prepared. The playoffs are a big thing. I want to go to states. I want to make a run. It will be good to kind of take a little break, but we need to get right back to it. We’ve got to stay focused.”
PALMERTON (54) - Bettini 0 0-0 0, Jedrejczyk 5 1-2 12, Grammes 1 0-0 3, Pengelly 9 0-0 19, Delgado 1 0-0 2, Buck 1 0-1 2, Reph 3 0-0 8, McGowan 2 2-3 6, Stahler 1 0-0 2. Totals: 23 3-6 54.
WEATHERLY AREA (57) - Adler 2 0-0 4, D. Kokinda 1 4-7 6, I. McKeegan 7 4-4 19, Saldukas 1 0-2 3, Davis 2 0-2 4, Wagner
Saldukas.
Weatherly Area 78, Williams Valley 75, OTWeatherly outscored Williams Valley 21-17 in the fourth to force overtime, then finished the game on an 11-8 run in the extra session for the key Schuylkill League Division II win last week in Tower City.
Ian McKeegan scored eight points, Corbin Wagner had seven and Niko Saldukas four in the critical fourth period to help force overtime.
Then in the extra session, McKeegan hit a 3-pointer and all four of his free throw attempts to help the Wreckers nail down the victory.
teammates, I love this town, this gym, I love the people here, my family, my supporters and my fans.”
McKeegan ended his final home game with 19 points, and a whole lot of memories.
“It’s definitely sad it’s over because we grew up here, playing tournaments and all that stuff. You can say it’s gone,” McKeegan said, “but it’s certainly not forgotten.”
The Wreckers have won seven of their last eight, finishing 15-7 overall (7-7 league) and 8-0 over the course of their non-league schedule. They head into the postseason having already eclipsed last year’s win total of 14.
They will be seeded second for the upcoming District 11-2 Class A Subregional, behind defending subregional champion Bethlehem Christian (20-2). Nativity (11-11), Lincoln Leadership Academy (11-10)
and Salem Christian (11-11) round out the five-team field, though the final seeding o those three teams could change. The Wreckers, who will open the playoffs against whoeve gains the third seed, are 4-0 this season in games against Nativity (2-0), LLA (1-0) and Salem (1-0). They have not faced Bethlehem Christian this season.
The Wreckers are looking to do damage when the playoffs get under way later this month.
“Now we’ve got over two weeks off to prepare, so it’s kind of nice,” Medico said. “We’ll allow these guys a few days to get really healthy, because we’ve got some nagging injuries. And then I’ve got 9-10 practices to prepare for one game, that’s fantastic. The schedule doesn’t allow for that during the season. We have plenty of time to prepare, and I’m happy about that.”
McKeegan finished with a game-high 29 points, Wagner scored 21 and Saldukas 11 for Weatherly. Dominick Kokinda pitched in with nine points and Matt Adler eight as the Wreckers avenged a 57-53 homecourt setback to these same Vikings in January.
The Wreckers (7-7 league) needed a win to keep their slim Schuylkill League playoff hopes alive, but Nativity’s win later that same evening sent the Hilltoppers (8-6) into league playoffs instead Evan Kandybowski paced the Vikings (7-7), who were also in the mix for the playoff spot, with 26 points and Chris Dickerson hit for 18.
by Steve Stallone Sports Editor
Weatherly Area’s playoff hopes will come down to the final day of the regular season.
The Lady Wreckers took a step toward securing a District 11-2 playoff spot last Thursday evening, handing visiting Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech a 36-25 setback on Senior Night at Weatherly.
The following night, Weatherly dropped a 39-22 verdict to Lincoln Leadership Academy.
Weatherly (6-15 overall, .289441 rating) entered this week seeded fourth in the District 11-2 Class A Subregional, just behind No. 2 Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg (7-15, .308228) and No. 3 Salem Christian (8-11, .289968). Susquehanna Community (4-15, .276599) was sitting in fifth, but still had three games to play, while Notre Dame and Salem Christian are finished.
Weatherly was to play at CMVT on Wednesday of this week, the final week to have games count toward the district ratings. The Lady Wreckers will likely need to win that rematch, and also hope Susquehanna Community will lose a game or two to remain below them.
Only the top four teams get into the subregional.
Weatherly Area’s Kelly Reiner (23) is fouled and knocked backward by a pair of Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech defenders during a battle under the basket in Thursday’s non-league girls basketball game in Weatherly. At right is Weatherly’s Maci Kane. JH Photo by Steve Stallone
“We dropped a little bit in the standings,” Weatherly head coach Jason Kane said following last Thursday’s win. “We were second overall for the longest time, then recently we were bumped down to fourth. I just hope we can hold that fourth spot.”
The Lady Wreckers built a nice lead on CMVT, outscoring the Rams 8-2 in the first quarter and 12-3 in the second for a 20-5 halftime lead. Senior Kelly Reiner had 11 of her game-high 14 points in the opening half for Weatherly.
CMVT didn’t go quietly, however, coming out and outscoring Weatherly 8-2 in the third quarter to keep things interesting.
Turning to additional pressure, the Lady Wreckers forced several turnovers and cashed in either with an easy layup or a trip to the foul line. Weatherly outscored CMVT 17-5 at the free throw line, making 7-of-10 in a 14-12 fourth quarter that sealed victory. Freshman Maci Kane scored nine of her 10 points in that fourth quarter, including 5-of-6 free throws.
“I always tell the girls we need that one extra scorer,” Coach Kane said. “Whether it’s six or eight points, we need that extra scorer to go with Kelly. Tonight that was Maci.”
Thursday’s game left Kane with mixed feelings.
“It was up and down,” he said. “I was pleased with the first half. I don’t understand what happened at halftime.
“They didn’t come out with that same energy, that same emotion like we had in the first half. And then the first three of four possessions we turned the ball over and just looked slow and sloppy. We had that 15-point lead and I think they thought this was going to be easy.
“The fourth quarter I was happy. We extended the lead a little bit,” he added. “It was a physical game. We actually made some foul shots tonight, which helped us. The last couple of games we shot terrible at the foul line.
“Overall pleased, but I know we can do better, and we are better than that.”
14, Weston 0 1-4 1, Gerhard 0 0-0 0, Snyder 2 0-0 4. Totals: 9 17-27 36. CMVT....................2 3 8 12 - 25 Weatherly Area.....8 12 2 14 - 36 3-FG: Reiner.
Lincoln Leadership Academy 39, Weatherly Area 22 - Last Friday at Weatherly, Lincoln Leadership pulled away to a 23-6 halftime lead on its way to the non-league victory.
Arielle Taylor showed the way with 13 points for LLA (13-7). Laiyanie DeJesus (8) and Jocelyn Fuentes (7) combined for 15 points.
Weatherly senior Kelly Reiner scored eight points in her final home game, while Maci Kane also scored eight. LLA (39) - Taylor 6 1-1 13, Quinones 0 0-0 0, K.