20 Face Charges In Drug Sweep In Tamaqua

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Schuylkill County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

TAMAQUA, PA – Arrest papers and pictures of suspects in hand, officers knocked on doors in the Tamaqua area Monday morning, taking more than a dozen people into custody on drug charges.

At least one defendant was arrested for drug possession, while most of the defendants are accused of actually selling drugs, according to Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman, who along with Tamaqua police Chief Rick Weaver and members of the county drug task force orchestrated the effort.

In total, 17 warrants were served, though 20 are facing charges. The arrests came after months of police investigations involving undercover and controlled drug purchases of narcotics, some of which involved video-recorded purchases for the sale of methamphetamine, heroin and marijuana.

Holman, who sat through all of Monday’s arraignments, personally asked that each person be held on high bail, stating over and over again that her office and law enforcement are taking a tough stance on drugs in the county and considers those dealing to be a danger to the community.

Read more: http://republicanherald.com/news/20-face-charges-in-drug-sweep-in-tamaqua-1.1704236

Tamaqua Woman’s Body Found In Jim Thorpe

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Carbon County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The body of a Tamaqua woman was discovered Saturday morning by firefighters in Jim Thorpe working to extinguish a brush fire, a relative of the woman said Sunday night.

State police have called the case a “homicide investigation.”

According to Donald R. Serfass of Tamaqua, it was the body of his niece, Angela Serfass Steigerwalt, 35.

“She grew up in Tamaqua and went to Tamaqua high school. She worked at Kraft Foods down in the Lehigh Valley. She worked in inventory control. She was very clean cut. She supported animal rights causes, anything having to do with the welfare of animals,” Serfass said.

Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/tamaqua-woman-s-body-found-in-jim-thorpe-1.1627795

Known For Its Beer, Yuengling Brings Back Its … Ice Cream

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Schuylkill County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

People have been screaming for the ice cream, and Yuengling‘s Ice Cream listened.

On Thursday, the ice cream with the same name as the Pottsville-based brewery began its first run of batches after a 29-year hiatus. The company, based in Orwigsburg, Schuylkill County, originally intended to start production in March, but it moved up the date in response to strong demand from retailers that wanted to get it on shelves sooner.

“I think we have one of the most popular nonexistent products on the market,” said David Yuengling, 51, president of the company and second cousin of brewery owner Dick Yuengling.

The 1-quart containers of Yuengling’s Ice Cream are being produced at Leiby’s Dairy Inc. in Tamaqua, Schuylkill County, and they are expected to be on shelves by mid-Feburary at Weis Markets, Acme Markets and select independent grocery stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, West Virginia and Virginia.

Read more: http://www.ydr.com/business/ci_24933307/known-its-beer-yuengling-brings-back-its-ice

Transit Bus Bursts Into Flames As It Enters Tamaqua; No One Hurt

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Schuylkill County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  Here’s something you don’t see every day!

A Schuylkill County public transit bus burst into flames Friday afternoon as it entered Tamaqua to pick up passengers, authorities said.

No one was injured. The Schuylkill Transportation System bus was empty except for the driver, and he jumped out at Broad and Swatara streets before the flames spread.

he 2:05 p.m. fire gutted the bus down to its seat frames. It was a charred shell after South Ward firefighters put out the flames.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/police/mc-f-tamaqua-transit-bus-gutted-in-fire-20120805,0,7069613.story

Tamaqua Borough Council Makes Tough Decisions Rather Than Raise Taxes

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Tamaqua, PA Borough Council decided it did not want to raise taxes to offset a $200,000 deficit in the 2012 budget.  (Imagine that idea Pottstown Borough Council)

And so, the cuts began.

Council eliminated random drug tests for borough police officers, dropped the DARE anti-drug program in schools for a year, laid off a police officer and deciding not to fill a vacancy in the streets department.

Council also hopes selling what one official called an underutilized community center will help balance the budget.

Read more: http://standardspeaker.com/news/mayor-center-s-sale-would-be-loss-1.1260511#ixzz1k872u0SE