Category: Nanticoke

An experiment from students at Greater Nanticoke Area High School will soon reach new heights — and could provide insight into conditions on Mars.

NASA selected the Luzerne County juniors as one of 60 winning teams from across the country in the TechRise Student Challenge. This summer, a flight box containing the group’s soil experiment will soar on a NASA-sponsored flight test on a high-altitude balloon.

Liam McGovern said he “jumped for joy” when he and fellow engineering club members learned that NASA selected their proposal.

“Our experiment from Nanticoke, a town that probably not a lot of people have actually really heard of, It’s been chosen for the entire state,” he said. “Now we get to do something that’s just really interesting. It could help us a lot with going to Mars.”

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Robert Miller holds the box the group made with a 3D printer. The box will contain the soil for the experiment.

Aimee Dilger / WVIA News

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The flight box will hold the Greater Nanticoke project.

Aimee Dilger / WVIA News

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Liam McGovern melts a wire cover over a fresh solder point.

Aimee Dilger / WVIA News

The students will take soil samples from several places across the United States — fertile soil from the Midwest, desert soil of the Southwest and volcanic soil from Hawaii — and place them in the flight box. Several monitors will help track conditions.

The box will be one of 60 in the NASA challenge that will rise to an altitude of about 70,000 feet and stay there for about four hours.

With an expected temperature of 75 degrees below zero, low atmospheric pressure and high levels of radiation, the conditions will be similar to the…

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Avery Lee Ellis of Seaford passed away peacefully at TidalHealth Nanticoke, surrounded by family, after a sudden illness, on Friday, Feb. 14, 2025.

Avery was born on June 10, 1936, in Seaford and raised in the Woodland community by his parents, Claude Daniel Ellis and Maude Elizabeth Willey Ellis. He is preceded in death by his parents and brother, Paul Edward Ellis, sister-in-law, Shirley Ann Ellis and daughter-in-law, Betty Jane Ellis.

Avery was always quick to laugh and tease, earning a nickname in some social circles as the Maytag man because he loved to agitate people.

He could be counted on to lend a helping hand, whether it was watching a grandchild or helping a neighbor or friend. Avery has spent many years helping the GFWC Acorn ladies deliver the Seaford telephone books and set up their Christmas lights on Stein Highway. Avery was an active member in Woodland Community Church, often found helping in the kitchen, setting up holiday flowers or handing out bulletins.

Avery enjoyed traveling but was always happiest being near the home farm, surrounded by family and friends. Almost every morning, he would be out before the sun was up to start his coffee social rounds, which had multiple stops. The afternoons, he might take a ride to see what the local farmers were up to.

While Avery wore many different hats (U.S, Army veteran, railroader, DuPont retiree, freemason, mailman, and farmer), his proudest hats were husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, son, brother and friend. He was our backbone, our patriarch.

Avery is survived by a loving wife and friend of 63 years, Louise E. Figgs Ellis; daughter, Deanna L. Collins (Brad); sons, Stephen K. Ellis (Laura) and Gregory L. Ellis (Celeste); grandchildren, Sarah A. Ellis (Timothy), Jennifer L. Ellis (Dylan), Jason G. Ellis (Tina), Paige Collins Parlier (Keith), Claude J. Ellis (Kara), and Travis G….

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  Honesdale’s Saige Olver, left, wrestles Western Wayne’s Addy Daniels on Friday night. JESSE CAREY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

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  Western Wayne’s Katelyn Nunez, right, wrestles Leah Klinkiewicz during Friday’s match. JESSE CAREY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

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  Wyoming Valley West’s Brooke Long holds Selinsgrove’s Alexis Stoneburg during the Hanover Area Girls’ Wrestling Holiday Classic championships on Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)

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Honesdale’s Saige Olver, left, wrestles Western Wayne’s Addy Daniels on Friday night. JESSE CAREY / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

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Top seed: Hanover Area junior Claire Gyle (23-6) returns to the postseason after an injury cut her sophomore year short. The Hawkeye has success against District 2 competition as all seven of her losses came against out-of-district competition. Two of her losses were because of injury. She’s also the WVC champion at 100 pounds.

Others to watch: Wallenpaupack’s Sophia Yancewicz (16-8) is one to watch as she’s the reigning District 2 champ at 106 pounds. In a head-to-head matchup this year, Gyle pinned the Buckhorn in the first period. Yancewicz also lost to Western Wayne’s Myla Smith (7-9), who is the No. 4 seed in the bracket. Nanticoke Area’s Matilda Serrano (15-8) drew the No. 3 seed, but lost twice to No. 5 seed Gia Yannone of Berwick. But in the last meeting between the WVC opponents, Serrano pinned Yannone in 45 seconds at the Valley West Tournament.

Projected final: Gyle over Yancewicz.

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Top seed: Hanover Area senior Santina Saraka (21-7) enters the tournament ranked No. 17 in the state…

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  Nanticoke Area’s Emily Kivler

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  Nanticoke Area’s Emily Kivler

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Nanticoke Area’s Emily Kivler

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NANTICOKE — It started out as a recruiting tool.

When Emily Kivler set up her Instagram page, “keystone_ba,” the Nanticoke Area freshman wanted to use the social media platform to showcase her skills and highlight some of the accomplishments of the Trojanettes wrestling program.

With close to 35,000 followers in probably a six-month span, the viewers of her page will follow along on her next stop, the District 2 Girls’ Wrestling Championships, which begin Friday at Wilkes-Barre Area.

Kivler is one of the top freshmen wrestlers in the state. She has 29 wins with 22 of them coming via fall. She’s three victories behind Montgomery senior Emily Murphy (32-0) for the most wins in the state.

“This is my fifth year, and it’s kind of surprising the immediate results I’ve achieved,” said Kivler, who will wrestle at 112 pounds in the postseason after spending most of the year at 118. “I’ve been able to win some awards at the tournaments, and was able to hang with some of the best girls in the state. In a way, it’s shocking to me, but everything has seemed to flow more together for me.”

Watch her on the mat. She’s high-octane, high-energy and constant motion where there is no wasted seconds in any period. The freshman is looking to score and light up the scoreboard quite often.

Watch her off the mat. Kivler is a true ambassador to the sport. She’s always mat-side encouraging teammates, while mingling with wrestlers from opposing schools.

That’s why her social media has grown so quickly.

It’s a great mix of…

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WRIGHT TWP. — In a season of highs and lows for the Crestwood boys’ basketball team, the lowest moment might have been a 30-29 loss to Nanticoke in the teams’ regular-season finale just 12 days ago.

In a rematch on Tuesday, the Comets got 18 points from junior standout Ayden Agapito, scoring from six teammates and a stellar defensive effort in a 44-24 victory over the Trojans in a District 2 Class 5A quarterfinal.

The win sends No. 3-seeded Crestwood (14-9) into the district semifinals against No. 2 Abington Heights, Friday, in Clarks Summit. Nanticoke ended its season with a 7-16 record.

Crestwood’s Jacob Feisel leaps in front of Nanticoke Area’s Mike Stachowiak (40), Mathias Mitchell (45) and RJ Brogan (2).during the District 2 Class 5A quarterfinals Tuesday. BOB GAETANO / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

Agapito, who didn’t play in the Comets’ loss at Nanticoke on Feb. 7, finished as the game’s leading scorer on Tuesday. Four of his seven field goals came from beyond the three-point arc. Gio Barna added six points on two triples and Jack Rodgers chipped in five for Crestwood.

Mathias Mitchell was the Trojans’ high scorer with nine points. RJ Brogan and Shane Pearson helped with five apiece.

NANTICOKE (24)

Brogan 2 0-0 5, E. Ball 1 0-0 2, Pearson 2 0-0 5, Mullery 0 0-0 0, Yendrziewski 1 0-0 2, Stachowiak 0 1-2 1, Mitchell 4 0-2 9, D. Ball 0 0-0 0. Totals 10 1-4 24.

CRESTWOOD (44)

Sechleer 1 0-2 3, Feisel 1 0-0 2, Barna 2 0-0 6, Wagaman 1 0-0 2, Scotti 0 1-2 1, Rodgers 2 1-2 5, Grevera 3 0-2 7, Agapito 7 0-0…

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Crestwood’s Jacob Feisel leaps in front of Nanticoke Area’s Mike Stachowiak (40), Mathias Mitchell (45) and RJ Brogan (2).during the District 2 Class 5A quarterfinals Tuesday. BOB GAETANO / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

DALLAS — Jude Nocito scored a game-high 20 points to lead Dallas past Tunkhannock, 50-35, on Tuesday in District 2 Class 4A boys basketball quarterfinal action.

Dallas, the No. 2 seed, will host No. 3 Valley View in Friday’s semifinals.

It was a 20-8 edge in the third quarter that allowed the Mountaineers to pull away for the win. Pat Flanagan was 5 for 5 from the free-throw line in an 11-point night.

Jayden Ransom scored 15, and Bode Lukasavage added 13 for the Tigers.

Class 5A

Crestwood 44, Nanticoke Area 24: At Crestwood, the Comets held Nanticoke Area scoreless in the first quarter, and limited the Trojans to just eight points in the first half to advance to the Class 5A semifinals.

The Comets will travel to No. 2 seed Abington Heights in Friday’s semifinals.

Ayden Agapito hit seven shots for a game-high 18 points, while Brady Grevara added seven.

Mathias Mitchell netted nine to pace the Trojans.

Class 6A girls basketball

Wilkes-Barre Area 51, Delaware Valley 48: At Wilkes-Barre Area, Jaida Underwood scored a game-high 32 points, 11 of them coming in the fourth quarter, as Wilkes-Barre Area advanced in the District 2 Class 6A playoffs with a win over Delaware Valley.

Wilkes-Barre Area, the No. 4 seed, will advance to Friday night’s semifinals to play top-seeded Hazleton Area at 7.

Diamond Thornton returned to the Wilkes-Barre lineup and…

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Crestwood’s Kate Gallagher goes up for a shot against Lake-Lehman’s Ella Wilson in Thursday night’s WVC girls basketball tournament semifinals. Fred Adams | For Times Leader

NANTICOKE — Surrendering 18 consecutive points is usually a sign of doom.

Yet, Crestwood overcame the offensive drought Thursday night in the Wyoming Valley Conference girls basketball semifinals at Nanticoke Area.

The Comets gained the lead on a rebound basket by Charlie Hiller with 26 seconds left to complete a fourth-quarter rally and a 48-45 victory over Lake-Lehman.

Jordan Andrews added a pair of free throws with 4.7 seconds left for Crestwood’s final points. A desperation 3-pointer by Lehman at the buzzer was well off the mark.

Crestwood (19-3) plays Hazleton Area (23-0) at noon Saturday for the championship at Wilkes-Barre Area. The game has been moved up two hours because of the threat of inclement weather. It will be moved to Sunday if postponed Saturday.

Lehman (17-6) will play Tuesday in the District 2 Class 3A playoffs against Carbondale Area.

Crestwood led 16-7 with 3:12 left in the first quarter, using its size advantage to get the ball inside to Hiller and Kate Gallagher. Abruptly, the bottom fell out of the offense.

Lehman’s Ella Wilson hit an outside jumper, triggering an 18-0 run that put the Black Knights ahead 25-16. During the run, Crestwood went away from the inside game and started firing up 3-pointers.

The Comets missed all five shots from behind the arc in the second quarter, something coach Mary Mushock-Namey believed swung the momentum.

“One-hundred percent,” Crestwood coach Mary Mushock-Namey said. “That’s something we talked about a lot over the past couple of weeks. We are a really good 3-point shooting team, but we’re starting…

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Margaret Ann Schneck OBITUARY

Margaret Ann “Peggy” Schneck, 80, of Mohnton, passed away Friday at Reading Hospital, West Reading.

Born in Nanticoke, on March 5, 1936, she was a daughter of the late Charles F. and Margaret E. Bolschi Whalen.

She was a graduate of Schuylkill Haven High School, Class of 1954, and received an associate degree from Penn State.

Peggy was employed as business manager for Gilbert Associates and was a member of St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Schuylkill Haven.

She was a former member of the Reading Archery Club and was a state champion.

In addition to her parents, Peggy was also preceded in death by an infant brother, James Joseph Whalen, and her beloved Yorkshire terrier, Honey.

She is survived by a son, Donald C. Schneck and wife, Nancy M., Bryn Mawr; grandson, Matthew R. Schneck and girlfriend, Ashley Venonsky; two brothers, Charles Whalen and wife, Lemay, South Carolina, and John Whalen, widower of Charolette, Realto, Calif.; her companion, Earl Drey, Mohnton; special cousin and lifelong friend, Katherine Mackay, widow of Bill, Ironia, N.J.; nieces, Deborah Waite and husband, Wally, and Barbara Stadig and husband, David, all of Boston; goddaughter, Brandy Wilson, godson, Bill Mackay; extended local family.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Schuylkill Haven, at 10:30 a.m. Thursday with Monsignor Edward S. Zemanik officiating. A viewing will be held from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. Thursday at the church. Interment will follow Mass at St. Ambrose Cemetery, Schuylkill Haven. Family requests donations in Peggy’s memory to Hillside SPCA, P.O. Box 233, Pottsville, PA 17901, or St. Ambrose Church Memorial Fund, 201 Randel St., Schuylkill Haven, PA 17972. To extend online condolences, visit, www.gsesfuneralhomes.com.

Sign the guest book at republicanherald.com

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NANTICOKE, LUZERNE COUNTY — A multi-million dollar project is underway to restore a major waterway that runs through a large stretch of Luzerne County.

The creek is currently plagued with blockages, and orange water from acid mine runoff in spots, making it unlivable for aquatic life, and an eyesore for nearby neighbors.

The Nanticoke Creek Watershed Restoration project is being spearheaded by the Earth Conservancy, a nonprofit that focuses on the reclamation, restoration, and redevelopment of old mining lands.

First responders discuss dangers of icy water

It’s being funded by nearly 20 million dollars worth of state and federal grants and when it is finished, the creek will be fully flowing once again.

The sound of flowing water is missing along many parts of the Nanticoke Creek.

The long waterway stretches through Nanticoke, Warrior Run, and Hanover Township.

“So this watershed was heavily impacted by the former mining companies in this area,” explained Terry Ostrowski, President/CEO, Earth Conservancy.

Ostrowski says due to mining companies rerouting or restricting waterways, portions of the creek are blocked completely.

This results in a cutoff of clean flowing water to the Susquehanna, and no aquatic life in the creek.

Ostrowski says the blockages can also cause other problems.

“You know a lot of times when people see an empty ditch or something it attracts garbage. We’ve found cars in the stream, so it really just acts as a nuisance,” said Ostrowski.

What’s more: the blockages can also cause orange water from acid mine runoff.

“Where it’s blocked off, all of that water makes its way into the underground mine pools. Well, that water eventually comes up as sort of that orange acid mine drainage that you’d see in some of the areas here,” explained Ostrowski.

Part of the restoration includes adding a clay lining to prevent water from going underground.

The first steps in the project are…

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