Millions of tons of coal expected to be mined from Columbia County site

CONYNGHAM TWP. — It may take workers two decades to finish the job they started in the past month — strip mining millions of tons of anthracite coal from 900 acres of land in Columbia County between Centralia and Mount Carmel off Route 61.

Blaschak Coal Corp. machinery operators began the task of removing coal from the Mammoth Vein April 18, according to the Mahanoy City-based company.

Blaschak, owned by Radnor-based investment firm Milestone Partners Inc., plans to invest $14 million into the site, including $1 million in taxpayer funding from the state. 

Driver downs sign at Berwick bar

BERWICK —  A one-vehicle crash in front of Bandits Roadhouse on West Front Street on Monday afternoon slowed traffic and sent one person to the hospital. 

One of the bar’s owners, Julie Rishkofski, said she was outside when she heard a loud noise. At first, she thought it was a tractor trailer accident.

But when she looked in front of the bar, Rishkofski said she realized that a van heading towards Berwick had jumped the curb, knocked down the business’ marquee and finally stopped up in the parking lot.

Columbia County receives thousands for flood control

BLOOMSBURG — Columbia County is getting an additional $500,000 from the state to help smaller, flood-damaged communities with recovery projects that didn’t qualify for major disaster relief after last summer’s flooding, officials announced Thursday.

State Sen. John Gordner, the Republican Majority Whip, and state Rep. David Millard were credited with pulling together a package of unspent state funds from Community and Economic Development, then getting the Columbia County Commissioners to sign on as applicants for the grant.

Man accused of raping two children

BRIAR CREEK  — A man previously accused of pushing a 10-year-old boy’s head through a trailer wall was back in court after allegedly sexually assaulting two young girls and giving them a sexually transmitted disease.
State Police say he also raped the girls’ mother, whom he was dating.

Salvador Ortiz, 32, of 1 Lark Drive, shook his head in denial as District Judge Richard Knecht read the latest charges to him after his arrest Tuesday.

Woman accused of sexually assaulting cell mate

BLOOMSBURG — A female inmate is accused of sexually assaulting her cell mate at the Columbia County Prison last month, arrest papers say.

Christina Marie Bradley, 36, Scranton, allegedly lowered her pants and squatted on top of the other woman’s face while exposing her buttocks and genital area March 10, charges say.

A third inmate witnessed the incident, which the alleged victim reported to prison authorities about two weeks later.

Expect delays on Route 339 next week

MIFFLIN TWP. – A contractor is scheduled to continue repairing and improving Route 339 from Market Street to Smith Hollow Road next week, PennDOT staff reported.

The work includes structure repairs, paving shoulders that were recently widened, and installing new drainage pipes and inlet boxes.

There will be a lane restriction during the day, with workers flagging drivers through. Motorists should expect delays, PennDOT officials said.

Two-pickup wreck closes Rt. 11 in Salem

SALEM TWP. — Two pickups collided on Route 11 near its intersection with Stone Church Road around 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, shutting down the road and sending rescue crews rushing to the area.

Police said a pickup driving erratically, headed north on Route 11 crossed the center line and struck another pickup headed south on the highway. Rescue crews had to use hydraulic tools to cut two people from the wreckage, while a third was able to get out on his own.

Two people were taken by helicopter to the hospital, while a third was taken by ambulance.

Bloom Fair to name a queen this year

BLOOMSBURG — For the first time in its history, the Bloomsburg Fair will crown a queen this year.

The queen will become an ambassador for the 164-year-old event, making appearances at community events like the Millville parade, said coordinator Delores Wright. During fair week, she’ll participate in judging and mingle with fairgoers.

As part of her reign, she will also compete in the annual Pennsylvania Fair Queen Program contest in Hershey, Wright said.

The contest, sponsored by First Keystone Community Bank, is open to girls between 16 and 20. 

'It's just wrecked': Golf course, borough hit hard by storm

BENTON TWP. — A powerful early morning storm cut a path of destruction through the Benton area Monday, snapping trees, tossing trailers, and tearing roofs and porches from homes. 

The storm, which blew into the area around 1 a.m., also likely caused a fire that gutted the newly renovated Mill Race Golf Course clubhouse, and destroyed the course greens and campground.

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