Here's What Happens When Harry Retires from His School

100 brawl at game
BY FRANK ANDRUSCAVAGE Staff Writer
fandruscavage@republicanherald.com

LANSFORD — One adult and several juveniles are facing charges stemming from a fight that involved more than 100 people Friday night at the Panther Valley High School stadium in this Carbon County community.

Although police did not release the names of those with charges pending, they said the fight began inside the stadium where the Panther Valley Panthers were playing Minersville Area High School in varsity football.

At one point, police said more than 100 people were fighting both inside the stadium, on Route 209 and onto Spring Garden Street. The incident began about 8 p.m. near the end of the first half of the football game.

According to police, apparent problems at the high school are escalating between different groups. The fight, they said, started between some of the young juveniles inside the stadium.

Unconfirmed reports said one juvenile punched another juvenile and the problems escalated from there.

As officers were trying to separate those involved, other juveniles came over and the fight resumed outside the stadium on the street.

With a limited force on duty, Lansford Police immediately called for assistance, bringing police from other areas of Carbon County, as well as Schuylkill County.

State police at both Frackville and Lehighton responded with troopers, as did police from Coaldale, Tamaqua, Nesquehoning and Jim Thorpe.

Firefighters used apparatus to block off Route 209 in front of the stadium and traffic was diverted along Bertsch Street on the west side of the complex.

From the press box, school officials instructed those leaving the game to do so by using the west gate along Bertsch Street. Exiting through the east gate along Spring Garden Street was prohibited as police tried to control the fighting crowd.

Both state police at Frackville and Lehighton had no information on the incident, only saying they were called to assist and are not investigating the fight.

Editor's Note - during the brawl the cheer "we want Harry back" was heard above the sound of punches landing. The stadium is the site of Mr. Everhart's famous "Rocket Days" rocket launchings.