News
On Strike for Summer Vacation
By Oceana O’Boyle This summer I went to Atlantic City for vacation. I’ve been going there every summer since I was little. The past two years I was allowed to bring a friend but I didn’t this year because it was a hard choice. I stay... Read More
The Story of You
Coal Cracker reporters met over the summer at the Teen Canteen in Mahanoy City for a skill-development exercise called The Story of You, which was geared toward interviewing and profile writing. Share this article...
Healthy Mahanoy City Update
Healthy Mahanoy, a committee in town, is hard at work to improve the health of residents. The committee recently recruited and trained walking group leaders. Presently there are three walking groups: one group that is open to any resident of the school district meets Monday morning at 7 am and/or... Read More
Mahanoy City Chamber of Commerce Seeks Donations
The Mahanoy City Chamber of Commerce has been an important and vital presence in the borough for more than 50 years. Projects over the years have included purchasing and displaying flags for patriotic holidays; and purchasing, maintaining and hanging our beautiful community Christmas decorations. Due to declining membership and donations,... Read More
Celebrating Saint Teresa
Photos and captions courtesy Debbie Walker, Director, A.C.T.I.O.N. Youth Group In Mahanoy City, locals and visitors celebrated the canonization of Mother Teresa of Calcutta as a saint of the Roman Catholic Church on September 4th. The event was special to many Coal Region people because Mother Teresa visited Mahanoy City... Read More
Land Bank Formed to Fight Blight
By Amber Lawrence Have you ever walked past an empty lot or a building that has been struck by neighborhood blight? Did you ever wonder how someone could put the property to use again? The Schuylkill County Land Bank may be able to help with that.... Read More
Libraries and Local News
Coal Cracker was featured in the June issue of American Libraries Magazine, the official publication of the American Library Association, along with the Community Reporting Alliance and our sister publications Manor Ink, of Livingston Manor, NY and the Ferguson Phoenix, of Ferguson, Missouri. The article focused on how libraries are... Read More
2016 Give Us Your Best Shot Winners
The Schuylkill Conservation District and Schuylkill County Conservancy recently held the annual Give Us Your Best Shot photo contest, which included two categories: It’s Schuylkill County—Naturally! and Nature Matters to Me. This year’s contest judges were Robert “Bob” Evanchalk, Schuylkill Conservation District’s Parks and Recreation Supervisor; and Coal Cracker Publisher... Read More
Mahanoy vs. Shenandoah Walking Challenge
The University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and The PA Department of Health are partnering with Schuylkill County’s VISION to increase opportunities for physical activity in the Mahanoy Area and Shenandoah Valley school districts through an initiative called WalkWorks. By establishing community-based walking routes and forming walking groups,... Read More
Thanks for Your Donations!
The Mahanoy City American Legion Auxiliary Post #74 thanks everyone who contributed to its recent American Flag Program. Your generosity helped the Auxiliary to purchase approximately 50 flags and brackets that are now hanging on Centre Street lamp posts from Catawissa to 3rd streets. The national American Legion organization was... Read More