web1_MikeBean1.jpg

Mohegan Sun Pocono rated second favorite casino in state

web1_TTL071615stabbing1.jpg

Wilkes-Barre police arrest man after assault near soup kitchen, chase through Public Square

The PIAA was informed Tuesday that Jules and Damon Beckhorn will appeal District 2&#8217;s decision to ban them from playing football for Berwick in the fall.&#8220;They were officially notified the family wants to appeal, not the school,&#8221; said District 2 chairman Frank Majikes, who is also the vice president of the PIAA Board of Directors.The PIAA has a meeting scheduled for next Wednesday, but Majikes said the appeal hearing won&#8217;t be held that day. He said the appeal will likely be heard in August.&#8220;It&#8217;s impossible for next week,&#8221; Majikes said. &#8220;I think there is already four or five hearings scheduled. To get everybody together would be difficult in less than a week.&#8221;Administrators from the Beckhorns&#8217; former and current schools &#8212; Nanticoke and Berwick &#8212; would need to attend the hearing as well as any other people connected with the transfer.The District 2 athletic committee, the local extension of the PIAA, heard nearly three hours of testimony on June 24 at Dallas High School concerning the Beckhorns&#8217; transfer to Berwick. After about 45 minutes of deliberation, committee members voted 10-0 to make the Beckhorns ineligible for football this coming season. Jules will be a senior and Damon a sophomore. Both can play other sports at Berwick.When a student transfers schools, the principal from the former school and the principal of the new school must sign a waiver declaring the transfer was not for athletic purposes.The Beckhorns&#8217; case was unique as neither Nanticoke principal Joe Long nor Berwick principal Robert Croop signed the waiver. Most eligibility disputes involve just one principal not signing the waiver.Even though Berwick argued against the transfer at the District 2 hearing, the school district was still responsible for filing the request for the appeal to the PIAA on the behalf of the Beckhorns. Individuals can not directly ask for an appeal.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By John Erzarjerzar@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach John Erzar at 570-991-6394 or on Twitter @TLJohnErzar</shirttailMeta></div>

Beckhorn brothers to appeal eligibility to PIAA board