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In this Update:
Honoring Fallen State Trooper Michael Pahira
Pennsylvania State Trooper Michael Pahira was laid to rest Wednesday after losing his life during a routine vehicle inspection on I-81 in Cass Township. Many members of the Schuylkill County community took the time to pay their respects to his service and sacrifice. To honor his memory, Rep. Tim Twardzik and I will introduce legislation to designate Exit 119 on I-81 as PSP Trooper Michael E. Pahira, Jr. Memorial Interchange. Read more about this measure here. I also joined members of Senate leadership to issue a statement calling for stronger laws and oversight governing non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s Licenses to enhance safety and protect lives. The driver who killed Trooper Pahira was in our country illegally and had a non-domiciled Commercial Driver’s License from Massachusetts. Read the full statement here. Thank You, Tamaqua, for Saving Our Station!
The recent visit of Union Pacific’s Big Boy No. 4014 to our 1874 Tamaqua Station reminded us how close we came to losing this historic site in past decades. We REALLY appreciated all those smiling, happy faces at the station. Congratulations to all the people who worked together for many years to save OUR station — and to those who continue to work or visit there every day! Around the District
Beth and I enjoyed a walk for a good cause — the Paul and Lisa DeAngelo Family Foundation in Hazleton. We were joined by Rep. Dane Watro and his wife, Angela, as well as the DeAngelo family. All proceeds from their annual Independence Day Festival support local autism organizations, youth sports, cancer research and disabled veterans’ programs. Thank you to the DeAngelo Family for another great event!
I was invited to attend Tamaqua’s America 250 Celebration at Liberty Tree Park on July 4. Three years ago, Tony Ordorizzi, Micah Gursky, Pastor Epler, Eric Zizelmann and other community volunteers set out to transform a highly visible blighted property in the heart of our community. Thanks to their vision, that space has now become the home to Schuylkill County’s Liberty Tree. Partnerships were on full display during this ceremony. Thank you to the PA Freemasons, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Tamaqua Middle School art students and their teacher, Kim Woodward, whose creativity brought Schuylkill County’s Liberty Bell to life. Their work is now proudly showcased in Liberty Tree Park. During the event, I had the opportunity to introduce the keynote speaker, my longtime friend and Schuylkill County native, John E. Jones III. John is currently serving as the 30th president of Dickinson College in Carlisle. Before taking the helm at Dickinson, Jones had a distinguished legal and judicial career. He served for nearly two decades on the United States District Court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania, including as chief judge.
Rep. Doyle Heffley and I visited the No. 9 Mine in Lansford to tour the new Dorrance Fan exhibit building. These improvements include much-needed HVAC renovations that will help preserve historic mining artifacts and safety equipment inside the mine. The upgrades are funded through a state grant of nearly $99,000.
As a bonus, we were also able to tour the old powder house for the first time, where explosives were stored during the mine’s active years. The powder house was built in 1944 — some miners were big fans of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s re-election, as noted in their long-hidden message on the back of the building. This historic attraction is on track to welcome more than 16,000 visitors to our region this season. The huge new Dorrance Fan exhibit will showcase two of the largest steam-powered mine ventilation fans ever used in the Anthracite Region, along with larger pieces of mine equipment that have never been displayed before. The mine and museum is open April through November, Wednesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In 2024, I partnered with Rep. Doyle Heffley to secure $250,000 in state funding for Lehighton to launch a downtown revitalization effort. 14 projects along First Street and Stanley Hoffman Boulevard received funding. I toured the area where many of these improvements are now complete or nearing completion this week. The transformation is remarkable — especially when you compare the before-and-after photos of the buildings. Anytime you can breathe new life into a community, it benefits both residents and visitors. At a time when we’re encouraging visitors to explore not just Jim Thorpe but all our towns, this can truly make a difference. Congratulations to everyone involved. I’m excited to see the continued revitalization of downtown Lehighton. FIFA World Cup Boosts PA’s Economy
It’s been a while since my days as a “soccer dad” cheering for my son and daughter at countless sites across northeastern Pennsylvania, but that didn’t stop me from cheering loudly in front of my TV for the U.S.A. at each World Cup match until the disappointing final minutes of our 4-1 loss to Belgium Monday night. Look at these statistics to see how much the World Cup has already contributed to Pennsylvania’s economy:
Don’t be surprised when you see me kicking a soccer ball to my two young grandchildren in my yard. It’s NEVER too soon! Funding Awarded to Upgrade Bear Creek Township Municipal Building
Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski and I were pleased to learn Bear Creek Township was awarded $66,869 through the Local Share Account Luzerne program to upgrade the interior and exterior of their township building. These highly competitive funds will help breathe new life into an important community building, ensuring local officials and residents have a safe and welcoming space for years to come. We look forward to seeing the improvements take shape. Property Tax/Rent Rebate Deadline Extended to Dec. 31
The Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program provides rebates on property taxes or rent paid for the previous year by income-eligible seniors and people with disabilities. The deadline to apply has been extended to Dec. 31, 2026. Funded by the Pennsylvania Lottery, it benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. Rebates range from $380 to $1,000. The income limit is currently $48,110 a year for homeowners and renters, however, half of Social Security income is excluded. Treasurer Stacy Garrity recently announced that $224.4 million in rebates have already been sent to 372,291 Pennsylvanians. You can find more information and apply here. If you need assistance applying or have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact my offices in Hazleton, Weissport, Pottsville or Mahanoy City. We help hundreds of people apply every year. Focusing on our Local Communities: Meet West Hazleton’s John Chura
Welcome to the latest edition of “Focusing on our Local Communities,” where we interview, on a bipartisan basis, a key local leader in one of the 102 municipalities that I represent in Carbon, Schuylkill, and Luzerne counties. This week, we focus on West Hazleton Mayor John Chura. Chura, a Republican, is a lifelong resident of West Hazleton and is currently serving his third term as mayor. A 1983 graduate of Bishop Hafey High School, he went straight to work in his family’s garage and car lot, a business his grandfather founded in 1954. Chura began pumping gas there as a kid and continues to carry forward the family legacy today. “I first got involved because former Mayor Getz, who I was friends with, used to come into the garage all the time and ask me about getting involved with something in the borough,” said Chura. “So, I started as a judge of elections. Then we had kids, so I took a break. I came back several years later and ran for council and got elected. During my term, Mayor Frank Schmidt was retiring, and they were looking for someone to be mayor, and I thought it was a great opportunity. And I love it. I feel very proud and honored to represent my community.” During his nine years as mayor, Chura has overseen numerous projects that have strengthened West Hazleton — especially initiatives honoring veterans and improving local infrastructure. “We have the 15th Street Veterans Memorial. The Garden Club put a Blue Star Memorial up and on July 25 we’re going to be doing a Korean War Memorial. So, those projects we’re very proud of, because remembering our veterans is very important,” said Chura. “And then all the grants that we have gotten to help with infrastructure. We appreciate all that support. And I also want to say how great our workers are in the borough. We’re a small borough but we have a fantastic full-time police department. Our streets department workers do a great job and so do our office workers. We have a great group that cares about the community and wants to keep it clean and safe.” Quote of the Week
“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” ― Dwight D. Eisenhower |
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