Rhoades dies following accident

A leader who has dominated Schuylkill County politics since 1981 is gone.

State Sen. James J. Rhoades, R-29, has died as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident Friday evening at age 66.

Local and state political leaders reacted to the news with a mix of shock and grief Saturday afternoon while reflecting on a nearly three decade career in politics.

"Jim's passing is a tremendous loss for Pennsylvania. He was a great person and a tremendous fighter for school children in the commonwealth. No one cared more about advancing education in Pennsylvania than Jim. He will be missed,” said Gov. Ed Rendell in a statement issued Saturday.

For more on this breaking story, see the full report from Hamburg Item editor Joshua Sophy at www.berksmontnews.com and read this week’s edition of The Hamburg Area Item available at select southern Schuylkill newsstands…