CARLISLE - The Cumberland County Bar Association presented attorney Henry F. Coyne, a Camp Hill attorney and native of Locust Gap, with its Distinguished Member Award during its recent annual president's dinner.

Approximately 138 members and guests attended.

"A member for more than 40 years, Henry has maintained continued and sustained involvement in the growth of the Cumberland County Bar Association," said Thomas J. Williams, association president. "Though his contributions are numerous, some of the highlights are bench/bar conferences began during Henry's term as president; he was an initial officer and director of the Cumberland County Bar Foundation, and a past president of the Cumberland County Inn of Court. Henry was a driving force behind the research and publication of the bar's history, Cumberland Justice-Legal Practice in Cumberland County 1750-2000."

The Distinguished Member Award was created to recognize and honor a Cumberland County Bar Association member whose life exemplifies the qualities valued in colleague, a leader and a friend. In establishing and bestowing this award, the board of directors of the bar association acknowledges its debt to those who consistently and conscientiously volunteer their time, talent and energy to enhancing the organized bar and bettering our legal community.

Coyne is a graduate of Gettysburg College and Dickinson School of Law.

n SHAMOKIN - Jesse White, 32, of Mount Pleasant Mills, waived to court Tuesday charges of forgery and criminal attempt to commit possession of a controlled substance and was ordered by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III to appear for arraignment March 14 at Northumberland County Courthouse, Sunbury.

White was charged by Shamokin Patrolman William Zalinski in connection with a Sept. 14 incident at Weis Markets Pharmacy.

At his arraignment, White can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.

n SHAMOKIN - Bobbie S. Oakley, 18, of Lebanon, waived to court Tuesday charges of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of a controlled substance, two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, failure to drive in a single lane and careless driving relating to a Nov. 6 incident in the 1200 block of Bear Valley Road in Coal Township.

Trooper Scott Davis of state police at Milton filed the charges.

Oakley was ordered by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III to appear for arraignment March 14 at Northumberland County Courthouse, Sunbury, at which time she can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.

n SHAMOKIN - Jon V. Curry II, 23, of 626 Elysburg Road, Apt. D., Elysburg, waived to court Tuesday two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, failure to drive in a single lane, driving at an unsafe speed and careless driving.

Curry was charged by Trooper Nicholas Berger of state police at Stonington in connection with an Aug. 12 accident on Snydertown Road in Shamokin Township.

Curry was ordered by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III to appear for arraignment March 14 at Northumberland County Courthouse, Sunbury, at which time he can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.

n SHAMOKIN - Amy Jo Morris, 25, of 239 S. Franklin St., Shamokin, pleaded guilty Tuesday to making false reports and was ordered by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III to pay a $200 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for one year.

An additional charge of false alarms to public safety agencies was withdrawn.

Morris was charged by Shamokin Patrolman Darwin Tobias III with calling 911 three times between Sept. 17 and Sept. 21 to report that she or another person was suicidal.

n SHAMOKIN - Jacquelyn Norris, 22, of Sunbury, pleaded guilty Tuesday to receiving stolen property and was ordered by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III to pay a $100 fine plus costs and $60 in restitution, and placed on supervised probation for six months.

An additional charge of theft by unlawful taking was withdrawn.

Norris, who is currently an inmate at Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury, was charged by Shamokin Patrolman Nathan Rhodes with stealing $60 from a friend's wallet at her apartment on Jan. 5.

n SHAMOKIN - Robert J. Erb III, 34, of 256 S. Pearl St., Shamokin, pleaded guilty Tuesday to harassment and was ordered by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III to pay a $200 fine plus costs.

An additional charge of simple assault was withdrawn.

Erb was charged by Shamokin Patrolman Darwin Tobias III with attempting to choke his live-in girlfriend, Kayla Wehry, twice, causing scratches and bruising on the victim's neck. Police said the assault occurred Jan. 11 at the couple's residence.

n SHAMOKIN - William Saweikis, 31, of 336 Main St., Ranshaw, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a summary offense of bad checks and was ordered by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III to pay a $100 fine plus costs.

A misdemeanor offense of bad checks was withdrawn against Saweikis after he paid full restitution.

Saweikis was charged by Coal Township Patrolman Chad Yoder with issuing a bad check totaling $299.53 to Rent-A-Center on Aug. 27.

n SHAMOKIN - Jeffrey S. Cosgrove, 44, of 165 Coal Run Road, Coal Run, pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia and was ordered by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III to pay a $100 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for one year.

An additional charge of possession of heroin was withdrawn.

Cosgrove was charged by Coal Township Patrolman Joshua Wynn in connection with a Dec. 28 incident at his home.

SUNBURY - While other DUI treatment courts are just in their infancy around the state, Northumberland County's program just celebrated its eighth class of graduates. On Tuesday, nine members were awarded plaques at a graduation ceremony in Courtroom No. 3 at the court house in Sunbury. In a courtroom packed with program participants family members and friends, several of the graduates were featured speakers, and one wrote a poem to mark the occasion.

Judge Charles H. Saylor, who presides over the DUI treatment court, extended congratulatory remarks to each of the graduates individually to emphasize how far each had progressed, noting that many had entered the program without employment and all are now gainfully employed.

To date, 59 people have graduated from the program, and only a few have relapsed. Those who have relapsed were brought back into the program for further supervision and treatment. The program boasts a significant savings in the costs for the county by avoiding incarceration of these individuals; it has also kept the county's inmate population down. The program has provided much needed treatment and counseling for the underlying issues plaguing these individuals, and has given them the tools necessary to be productive members of the community, Saylor said. Northumberland County's DUI court started in January 2007.

SUNBURY - Northumberland County Controller Charles "Chuck" Erdman's salary will more than double when he begins his new position Monday as deputy secretary for administration in the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue.

The 38-year-old Erdman, whose last working day with the county is Friday, confirmed Wednesday afternoon that he will receive an annual salary of approximately $121,000 to oversee an estimated 270 employees in administration services, fiscal management, human resources, equal opportunity office and imaging and document management.

There are approximately 2,100 people employed by the state Department of Revenue.

Erdman earns $56,676 as controller, a position he's held for 13 years. He currently oversees five full-time employees and one part time worker.

Deputy Controller Tony Phillips will begin serving as acting controller Monday. He will continue to fill the post until Gov. Tom Corbett appoints a replacement to fill the seat through the end of the year. Phillips previously announced he will seek election to the position this year.

Erdman, a Republican, who lives in Point Township with his wife, Stacy, and their three children, plans to commute to Harrisburg.

His boss will be Dan Meuser, a former congressional candidate tapped by Corbett to serve as secretary of the Department of Revenue.

Volunteers needed to deliver daffodils

The American Cancer Society needs volunteers to help deliver and sell flowers for Daffodil Days at direct sale sites in the area.

Daffodils are sold in a bunch for $10, a box of 500 for $500, or a half-box of 250 for $250. This year also marks the addition of Liv N. Hope, the seventh in a special Boyds Bear collection designed exclusively for the American Cancer Society Daffodil Days Bear and a Bunch that can be ordered for a donation of $25. A Vase and a Bunch is available for $15.

Also, people can give comfort to a child in need in the community by delivering an anonymous Boyds Bear to them with a donation of $25 to Project Care. In addition, Gift of Hope offers a chance to deliver an anonymous bunch of daffodils and cancer information to a local cancer patient with a donation of $25 or more.

Call 326-4149, extension 3008, if interested.

FAFSA completion night scheduled

Mount Carmel Area Jr/Sr High School will hold Free Application for Federal Students Aid (FAFSA) completion night Thursday, Feb. 17, in room 212. There will be two sessions: one at 5:30 p.m. and another at 6:30 p.m. The FAFSA form is required by colleges, universities and career schools to qualify for scholarships, grants and loans. Students and one parent must receive an electronic PIN for signing the online application prior to the session. Parents should bring a completed 2010 IRS Tax Form, 2010 W-2 forms, any other income or benefit information, current asset statements and their electronic PIN. Students should bring tax forms and W-2 forms, if filed, and electronic PIN. Pre-registration is required; call 339-1500, extension 3122 or 3123.

Back around 1990, my wife, Sandra, who was single at the time, told me one of her fellow employees put an ad in the "Look Before You Leap" section of the Valley Trader on her behalf. It described her as being a "single white female, slim and loving animals." This caught my attention, because I loved animals also, and she just sounded like the perfect girl.

I responded to her singles ad and she, in turn, wrote a letter back to me saying she basically wasn't interested. I was hurt and sad, but I kept her letter only to realize she put her return address on the envelope. This had to be fate for both of us. Normally a girl wouldn't want a guy to know where she lived.

After a little investigating, I figured out her phone number and got up the nerve to call her. I managed to convince her to meet me for a little get-together at her mother's house. We went for a walk around Mountain View Road, talked a bit, and I also met her mom.

I definitely liked her after seeing her and talking to her, but she wasn't interested in me. She told me later on that she thought I was too old for her, but I never forgot about her. I went on with life and thought about her for the next 10 years. I drove by her house occasionally to see if I could catch her outside. I did see her, but only a couple of times in the 10 years. She was still single, but still not interested.

I knew by the truck that she drove where she worked and figured out different ways to have an excuse to see her. I didn't want to be a pest or she may have gotten upset, turning me away for good. After a couple of attempts at a date, she finally said yes.

The Friday night came for our very first date and I got sick with salmonella. Can you imagine after all this time that I finally got a date with this girl and got very sick? I figured I was done and this was it. As I lay sick in my house, she actually called me on the phone to ask how I was feeling. It felt so good that she cared enough to call. That's when I knew she cared at least a little about me. We made a date for a few weeks later, to be sure I was better, then another date, and another, until we started going "steady" for about two years.

I knew this girl was right for me, so I bought an engagement ring and hid it in my couch, then did a lot of serious thinking. I was nervous. Finally, I called her on the phone and asked if she wanted to get together that evening for a date, also telling her I needed a button fixed on my good camouflage shirt. As we sat on the couch, she was fixing my button and I was trembling inside, but I reached under the cushion and popped the question. She said yes, and on April 2, 2005, we got married. On the same day, Pope John Paul passed away, and it was pouring down rain on our wedding day.

Today we our happily married, live in Shamokin with a dog named Santana and a cat named Kiwi.

Thomas and Sandra McCollum

Shamokin

I met my husband, Lon, way back in 1986, in the Mount Carmel Area High School Band. I was in 11th grade, he was in ninth. My best friend had a crush on him after he was invited to join the band two years earlier than required. I paid no attention to him at first, but listening to my friend go on and on about him, I fell head over heels for him, too!

Besides being so cute with a great smile, after he got his braces off that is, he was a great friend and trumpet player. He was and still is a great listener and has always laughed at my jokes.

How the heck was I going to tell my very best friend since fourth grade how I felt?

Now I'm not a horrible person, but you guessed it, I called her the day Lon asked me out and I said yes. She was upset with me and luckily for me, she forgave me after a few months. To this day we are best friends and I'm so grateful. I love her so much.

Lon and I had mutual friends and spent every second we could together, in school and out.

One day Lon broke the terrible news that his mom and dad were divorcing and he had no choice, but to move to Connecticut with his mom and now stepdad. He told me on the steps of the very church where we were married years later.

We did our best to make it work that far apart, talking over the phone, but broke up after a year.

The long distance phone calls added up after hours on the phone.

I graduated in 1988 and him two years later. We both dated others and were engaged at the same time to other people. After he broke his engagement, he decided to move back to Pennsylvania with his dad.

I had no idea he tried to call me, and he kind of gave up after my mom told him I was engaged and not to call back. He tried to tell her that he just wanted to "catch up," but I think my mom knew I would have fallen right back to where we left off if I had talked to him. I ended my engagement in the meantime.

One day, I saw Lon's dad's girlfriend and she mentioned to me that Lon was constantly talking about me. I gave her the okay to tell him to call me. My mom was right and that was all it took. I fell right back in love with my Lonnie.

A few months later, after he asked my dad for my hand in marriage, Lon got on his knee and asked me to be his wife. Of course I said yes and one year later, Nov. 4, 1995, we were married.

A year later, in 1996, our first baby was born. Kailey is now 14 years old.

Two years after that wonderful event in our lives, our son, Lon Jr., now 12 years old, was born.

After another two years, our daughter Whitney was born, who is now 10 years old.

You guessed it, once again, two years after that wonderful event in our lives, our daughter Meadow, now 8 years old, was born.

All four births were wonderful events in our lives.

My hubby works hard and does all he can to provide everything for our family. I have been a domestic goddess, as they say, since we've been married and am so grateful to have been with all of our kids every second of every hour through their years.

I love my Lonnie more than I can tell you in this letter, and my love for him grows more and more with every minute of every day.

Laurie and Lon Morris

Catawissa

When I saw him I fell so in love.

I was so shy, people tried to push me into him and I had to say something. But that day felt different. When I looked into his eyes I knew he was the one.

Well, three years later, we are now happy parents with our almost Valentine's baby. She looks just like him, people say, and it is true.

I love the both of them so much.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Kersten Reichenbach and Jeramy Cox

Shamokin

I met Lewis 17 years ago. He is the love of my life.

I was a single girl with three children and they were my pride and joy. When we first started talking, I wouldn't let him come to my house because I didn't want him to feel sorry for me since I had three children. Instead, we would talk on the phone and sometimes it would be two to three hours a night, which went on for eight months until he asked to go out to dinner and bring the children along. I said I would have to think about it, so two days later he called back and asked if I had accepted the dinner date. I told him no. I really wasn't ready for him to meet the children, which he understood.

Lewis then asked me to go out to dinner alone. It had to be a weekend when the children would be with their daddy, and he agreed to it.

For the dinner, I planned that we would meet somewhere because I didn't want anybody to know about us, being a single mother. We ended up meeting in Wilburton, and I rode with him to Bloomsburg.

He swept me off my feet, and I knew it because when we looked into each other's eyes, his look just melted me from top to bottom.

I didn't want the night to end as we continued to talk and talk. He was such a gentleman, respecting me as a lady and winning my heart.

Later I also told him that I was worried about the children, which he said he would take his time and do whatever I said.

He met my first daughter one day when I was baby-sitting in Shamokin and bought her a can of Tootsie Rolls, winning her heart because, until this day, we still talk about it and laugh at how protective I was about everything.

After this we talked for another two-week period before he asked me again about taking the children to Friendlys for lunch one day. We agreed to take separate cars and on the way I was scared because I didn't know what to think. The three children and I were a big package deal, and if he wanted to be with me, this is what it was going to be. Upon arriving at the restaurant, Lewis helped the children and me into the restaurant, hanging up our coats, then sat down to talk for hours with us. The children were so happy, plus I was excited everything went well.

After that day we were together, and he courted me for two years. One year later he asked me to marry him. We went out to dinner one night and he popped the question. He got down on his knees and took my hand and said, "Mary, I would love to have you as my wife, and be a stepfather to your three wonderful children. You and your children mean the world to me. You have all brought so much joy into my life. I want to spend the rest of my life with all of you."

I was so happy that I said yes.

I told Lewis that we had to share this with the children so we sat down with them at the dinner table. He started telling them how much he loved their mother and wanted to marry her, which made them jump for joy and my oldest daughter even asked if they could all be in the wedding.

Since I wanted a Valentine's Day wedding, we went to the church see if we could get the date, but it was already taken and the closest we could get was Feb. 11, 1994.

Although we couldn't get married on the day that I wanted, I told Lewis it was all right. As long as we were together, any day would do.

So the planning began and my oldest daughter was to be the maid of honor, my youngest daughter the flower girl and my son an usher.

When the wedding day finally came, the blizzard of 1994 also came with it. That morning when it was really bad out, I told Lewis I wanted to cancel the wedding because I didn't think anyone would show up. He assured me to leave everything up to him, that he would handle it all.

He had his brother take his family and me to the church. Once we were there and I looked down the hallway, the church was packed. Our whole family had made it.

It was a snowball wedding.

After 17 years, Feb. 11, 2011, he still is my friend, lover and the man of my dreams, and our love is stronger each day that goes by.

I will love him forever because true love lasts forever.

Mary and Lewis Snyder

Mount Carmel

SUNBURY - The bottles for Weis Quality 24-pack 20-ounce bottled water are now made with 100 percent recycled PET plastic. Weis Markets is the first supermarket company in the country to offer this environmentally friendly bottle.

The bottle is manufactured with recycled resin derived from baled post-consumer plastic purchased from municipal recycling plants. Weis Quality 24-pack 20-ounce bottled water, which also uses 25 percent less plastic, is produced and bottled by Ice River Springs, a leading North American bottled water company with eight manufacturing plants throughout Canada and the United States.

"We know that eight out of 10 plastic bottles end up in landfills. Our new Weis Quality 24-pack bottled water is a creative, practical product that helps our company address this challenge and allows us to reduce our carbon footprint," said Bruno Garisto, Weis Markets' director of corporate brands.

In recent years, Weis Markets has expanded its sustainability program to make its stores more energy efficient and to reduce their carbon footprint. In 2011, it will open three new superstores that will use 60 percent less refrigerant than a typical American supermarket, reducing their impact on the earth's ozone layer. In addition, Weis Markets stores annually recycle one million pounds of plastic bags and 14 million pounds of cardboard.

Founded in 1912, Weis Markets currently operates 164 stores in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, New Jersey and West Virginia.

CENTRALIA - The borough council meeting started promptly at 6 p.m.

It ended at 6:10 p.m.

Two council members and the mayor chatted about the weather before getting down to their short agenda: paying one bill and looking over two others.

Mayor Carl Womer and borough council members Bonnie Hynoski, Ann Frankel and Helen Tanis oversee the official business of Centralia Borough Council, representing the nine residents who remain in the municipality. Hynoski and Frankel were the voting members present at the February meeting.

"We don't do much during our meeting, but we do what we need to do to keep it going," Hynoski said. "We are a regular borough council and meet as such."

The council has advertised meetings for the remainder of the year, despite troubles residents face in their attempt to continue living in the borough.

Borough council members run their meetings like any other council: Looking over the minutes and discussing new and old business. They were a bit surprised to see a reporter at Monday night's meeting. In fact, they had to unlock the meeting room door to allow the reporter access.

Board members were a little gun-shy about the reporter's intentions. "You have to understand, its nothing against you," Hynoski said. "We've been raked over the coals so long, it gets annoying."

'We're still here'

Centralia's population has dwindled from more than 1,000 residents in the 1980's to fewer than 10 people as result of a mine fire that began burning in 1962.

"We hear it all the time, how Centralia is an abandoned mine-fire-ravaged town," Womer said. "The fire has moved and we are still here, so it's not abandoned."

Despite the low population, Centralia remains a borough in the eyes of the state and a member of the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs.

"Centralia Borough was founded prior to 1992, so there is no minimum population number needed to qualify a municipality as a borough," said Shelly Hauck, research associate for the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs. "Today, if you wanted to start a borough, you need a population of 500 people."

Hauck said Centralia is a member in good standing with the association and has the smallest population as a borough in the state.

"With only nine people, they are the smallest borough, population wise," she said. "S.N.P.J., a fraternal community in Lawrence County that was founded in 1977, has just a few more, as does New Morgan in Berks County."

All that doesn't matter to Centralia's leaders, who continue to operate the borough the best they can. Among the bills received in the past month, the highest one was $92 from PPL Electric Utilities.

"That one was due to the Christmas lights we had in town," Hynoski said. "Someone did send us a $50 donation to help with the cost."

Council did not say how the donation would help with expenses and the borough's budget, only saying that the borough's budget is "in the black."

"We all want to keep the town going and we get along. We know what needs to be done and we get it done," Hynoski said. "If many of the other councils handled business the same way, they might not have many of the problems they do currently." BLOOMSBURG - A court verdict found that a retired Centralia couple's home is worth $23,500 more than a private appraiser, hired by the couple, determined, but the pair are not sure if it's enough to enable them to move from their home.

The Press-Enterprise reported Saturday that Columbia County President Judge Thomas A. James Jr. ruled Feb. 4 that the couple, John and Arlene Lokitis, of 314 Park St., should be awarded a fair-market price of $116,500 for their six-room home, which has been modified with improvements since being built in 1979. The judge's ruling is $23,500 higher than the private appraisal of $93,000.

The judge also awarded the couple $22,500 in relocation expenses or the cost of replacement housing, $1,790 in moving fees and $500 for the appraiser's fees.

A government appraisal, done in 1993, put the home's value at $72,000, plus $1,000 for the lot it sits on.

John Lokitis told the newspaper he wasn't sure if the amount was high enough for the couple to move, saying it might cost him $150,000 to relocate somewhere else.

MOUNT CARMEL - The 2011 Mount Carmel Area Junior-Senior. High School Anti-Bullying T-Shirt is now available for purchase.

The first place design by Ashley Stief, eighth-grade student, shows chain links embellished with words depicting forms of bullying such as name-calling, exclusion, gossip, hitting, fighting and rumors. The chain link is broken in the center revealing the message in bold: "Some chains are meant to be broken." The color of the T-shirt is safety green with black lettering, and the shirt will be available in youth medium or large, and adult S-2XL.

Second-place winner was Alex Kessler, and Rachel Stevens won third place. All three finalists received Wal-Mart gift cards, and they will also receive complimentary shirts.

Due to the generosity of school and community sponsors, the shirts' cost was reduced to $5. Flyers were distributed, and the shirts are also available on the school website. Orders and checks are due to homeroom teachers by Wednesday. Students may wear the T-shirts on morning meeting days, and faculty and staff are also encouraged to wear them to promote the anti-bullying message.

Diane Rumbel and Kathy Schauer, coordinators of the bullying prevention program, thanked the following sponsors for helping to defray the cost of the shirt: MCA Student Council, Academy Sports Center, Community Pharmacy, Crabby Larry's Seafood, MCA Interact Club, Mount Carmel Bull Pen, MCA PTA, Union National Bank and Winnie the Pooh Day Care Center.

Student council members helped judge the many entries. The student council is under the direction of Suzie Nestico.

Photo by: David McFee

ELYSBURG - As a result of Ralpho Township supervisors' decision to shop around for insurance quotes, agents from three local firms gave presentations Tuesday at the board's monthly meeting.

After hearing brief synopses and quotes, the board decided to have each firm submit letters defending their own policies. Each firm will have the others' information. The letters are due Feb. 18, and the board plans to make its decision at a special meeting on Feb. 22.

Chairman Ed Payeskie explained supervisors want to consider the township's best interest, and will be looking at more than just prices.

In other business, Payeskie suggested the resumption of yearly meetings with different township departments. The departments would be able to offer input to the supervisors on how to improve operations. The board decided to begin this process with the fire departments. Fire chiefs, presidents and other personnel will be invited to a brief gathering at 6 p.m. April 6, immediately before the scheduled April board meeting.

Following Kulpmont's lead, Stephen Major, of the recycling department, suggested the township start an electronics recycling program to be held quarterly. Details must be finalized, but the township is considering beginning the program in April.

Major also reported on the financial success of the current recycling program with Jeff's Recycling. With payments and reimbursements, the township is ahead approximately $10,000 compared to last year.

On the recommendation of Vince Daubert, of the buildings department, the board unanimously approved the appointment of Chet Mowery to the Sunnyside/Overlook Municipal Authority to fill an unexpired five-year term that expires in January 2012.

Harvey Boyer of the Elysburg Fire Company talked about new expenses, some federally mandated, that local fire departments are facing. He thanked the board for the help it has always provided and asked for continued support.

Boyer said that because of recent negative news stories about corruption, he wanted to assure the township that all precautions are being taken to keep their departments clean. For instance, Boyer said that as president of the Elysburg Fire Department, he has instructed his trustees to meet with the treasurer every two years to do an internal audit.

"I believe we have the checks and balances in process to ensure financial security," Boyer said. As the company prepares for its annual membership drive, Boyer said the public should be reassured that all necessary steps have been taken to prevent the problems that have occurred elsewhere.

With the number of volunteer firefighters diminishing, Boyer asked for the board's permission to develop a fire cadet program with the help of Blaine Madara Jr. The company hopes this initiative will spark interest in young adults, ages 14 to 17. Supervisors agreed that it was a good idea. Payeski said that there are designated funds available to help.

The road crew received kudos from the board and Boyer, as well as a personal letter from Roland and Barbara Holvey on the excellent job they have been doing throughout the rough winter weather season.

Roadmaster Howard Shadduck issued a reminder that throwing snow onto roadways is against township ordinance, and they can be fined.

The board held an executive session prior to the meeting to discuss the possible appointment of a new company as township engineer. During the meeting, a motion to appoint the Larson firm passed, 4-1. All members regretted to see Michelle Auckerman, Uni-tec's representative, leave but felt that the Larson company would better serve the township.

"It's been a pleasure working with the township," Auckerman said. She told the board that Uni-tec will work with Larson to ensure a smooth transition.

Treasurer's reports and correspondence summaries were presented and accepted. Reports were also submitted by the street department, buildings, police/public safety, recreation, engineering and solicitor.

Believe it or not, the first time I actually ever laid eyes on my husband is during a traffic stop while he was working for the sheriff's department. Yes, that's right; I got pulled over for speeding. Of course, he checked my license to see my name and where I lived, but thankfully let me off with a warning.

As time went by, we crossed each other's paths at restaurants, stores and football games. It was always, "Hi, how are you?" with a big smile and shining eyes, but never anything more.

Finally, one fateful night, Friday Aug. 19, 2005, I decided to go out after work because my boyfriend I was dating from Maryland decided he wasn't going to come up until Saturday. This was a great disappointment, among many from him. I went to O'Shea's in Shamokin where I bumped into Mike. I knew immediately, as soon as we made eye contact, that he was finally going to ask me out ... and he did! Unfortunately I told him I was dating someone and he asked where my boyfriend was. When I told him Maryland, he laughed and said, "Ah, come on; just one date." I assured him my boyfriend would definitely be up to see me tomorrow, and that a date was not possible.

We danced the rest of the night, and I as I went to leave he asked again for a date. I told him no, and said "Look, it took you this long to ask me out and now I know how you feel. If it's meant to be it will be."

The next day my boyfriend stood me up again, telling me his grandmother was sick, while in the background it sounded like a party or bar room. This was the last draw. We had tickets to a clambake that day with my parents. They encouraged me to still go with them, so I did. I stayed out with them all day and most of the night. When we got back home I decided I wanted to go out some more, but my mom took my car keys. She said if I wanted to go out that bad I should walk to the Sobieski Club because it's only a block away. I made it to the club and, just before last call, Mike walked through the door. He came to me immediately and asked, "Where's your boyfriend at?" I burst into tears and explained to him what had happened. He told me he went to the Pine Burr (my usual hangout) to see if I was there. As he headed home, he decided to turn around and check the Sobieski Club. Coincidence? I think not!

I always knew when God closes one door he opens up another; I just never realized how fast he could be at times.

We left the club and went to the Ramp Field in Kulpmont. It was an awesome night. We sat under a clear, star-filled sky and discussed everything from our likes and dislikes, to marriage, children and religion. A week passed and we started talking on the phone for hours before eventually dating.

One of our first, most memorable dates was Halloween. We dressed up as Alice in Wonderland and the White Rabbit. It was a hit, and Mike was such a good sport. He even let me teach him the polka and went on Pennsylvania Polka on WVIA with me. He knew how important my heritage is to me and how much I love to dance.

After dating for a year and a half, I got the shock of my life. Mike had asked my dad for my hand in marriage, and had my mom help him invite my whole family for this huge surprise. It was Sunday, April 1, 2007 (April Fool's Day) at the Lakeside Ballroom. The Polka Family Band was playing for a crowd of about 200 people, including my immediate family.

At one of the band breaks, the lead singer (Hank Guzevich) announced they were having a special 50/50 drawing and assured everyone this was no April Fool's joke. He called out my name; I was so excited I ran right up on stage not even realizing I didn't buy a ticket. He paused for a minute and invited everyone out on the dance floor. Next thing I know, Mike came out from behind the stage and took the microphone. He told me how much he loved me and how I changed his life; he gets down on one knee (in front of all those people) and asks me to marry him! Of course, I said yes

I was so impressed by his proposal. How and where he chose to do it really meant a lot to me. There wasn't a dry eye in the place. Everyone was so happy for us!

We stayed with the Polish theme for our wedding. We were married Aug. 30, 2008 at the Mountainside Assembly of God Church, the day before my parents' anniversary. We chose this date because my mom and I celebrate our birthdays together (June 25 and 26) and Mike and my dad shared the same birthday (Oct. 20). We thought it would be nice to keep our celebrations together because we are all so close.

Our "big fat Polish wedding" included an accordion player at my house while I was getting dressed and everything in the wedding was done in red and white (polish colors). A Cadillac Escalade and a Humvee limo escorted the bridal party of 25 around for the day. Approximately 500 guests attended the reception at Lazarski's Banquet Hall, while 20 couples and family joined us on our honeymoon in Jamaica. We just wanted to keep the party going!

Even though we had a great deal of happy times, we've also had our fair share of the bad. Our marriage is not perfect, but conflict brings intimacy and every disagreement, argument and tragedy has brought us closer. They have truly made our love stronger!

This past year has been a real tough one. Mike lost his job while I was off work on maternity leave with our first child together. This was and continues to be a heavy burden. Our plans of building our home together along with other things have been put on hold. Also, my father suffered a massive heart attack and was in the hospital for 10 days before he passed away. This was a devastating shock. These events are not easy for anyone, especially a newlywed couple just starting out together. We are strong because of each other's love, patience and forgiveness when we lose it in times of stress. With God by our sides, we remain each other's rock with our faith and honesty guiding us together.

I love my husband dearly and am very blessed to have him in my life. He is a great husband, father, friend, coach and all-around great guy! Here's to a great future together!

Happy Valentine's Day, Mike!

Love, Vikki

It was May 30, 1960, with great weather for cruising uptown. I saw this tall, good looking guy in front of Woolworth's. I knew he was Ned Kerstetter because we started first-grade together at McKinley School, but I didn't know him. I knew the guy with him so we started to talk. It was "love at first sight" for the both of us.

I just got out of a two-year relationship, so I had to be sure. My mother thought we were rushing things, but we knew this is where we wanted to be. We dated in June, July and August, and each day our love for each other grew stronger. His mother and sister invited us to get married and move in with them.

Much to everyone's dismay, we got married on Sept. 3, 1960. Our best man took us to Arvey's to eat and paid the bill. I tease him that he paid for our entire wedding reception. We were very happy and had dreams of a house and family, but family came first when we had a big strong son, Troy, born July 20, 1961. I also had a great and loving mother-in-law who taught me how to take care of Troy and about many other things in life.

In 1962, we bought a house. Family and friends helped us to furnish it in "early attic." At this time we made sure that my sister, brother-in-law and brother graduated from high school and went on with their life's vocation.

In 1964, I got a job in the Arrow Shirt Co. payroll office on the night shift. We could always use the extra money and we didn't need day care. It was like we were living on a merry-go-round, but we did it. We are a very happy, close-knit family. Troy, JoEllen and Rob were worth it!

Ned joined the Maine Fire Co. He was a lieutenant and driver for many years. Troy later started out as a junior fireman and is a life member.

A later shock is when Maue Weaving closed. Ned had worked there 13 years as a boss, and we didn't know what we were going to do.

My dad owned a large house with a commercial bar in the basement, which was previous leased out, but had just become available. It seemed as if this was the answer. It had five bedrooms and seven closets upstairs, and four large bedrooms and two closets downstairs. This would be a blessing. Ned got a job at the F&S Brewery, but, within two years, that was closing, and he felt like a jinx.

We bought a license and had the bar open from 1975 to 1984. It was a quiet neighborhood bar that had nice clientele. We have memories of many good times, including the US Olympic Hockey Team beating Russia, the Eagles and Raiders in the Super Bowl, green beer on St. Patty's Day, Peanut Night, where we got peanuts and everyone threw the shells on the floor, and great New Year's Eve parties. We even had a softball team in the Coal Cracker League, which sure was fun.

Eventually, we both came down with health problems. Ned was able to keep his diabetes under control. After a few years of experiencing different symptoms and visiting multiple doctors and hospitals, in 1983 I was told I had multiple sclerosis, had to retire and could no longer tend bar. This forced us to close the bar.

Since I could no longer travel the steps. We moved to the first floor. We were able to put a bathroom in those closets, and Troy made it possible to put a ramp on the back deck; this made it easier to get out.

Ned then got a job at the Northumberland County Prison and became a sergeant, working there until he retired.

For 10 years I was weak and needed help with many things, but I never complained. I just felt blessed about the things I could do. Ned always said we have to play the game with the cards we are dealt.

I then saw on TV that people with multiple sclerosis were getting stung with honey bees and had the info sent to my doctors at Geisinger Medical Center. Ned said "voodoo and quackery." Troy said, "Mom, I'd love to sting you." We got the bees in the mail from Maryland and I was stung from November 1993 to February 1995. I could see the difference. After 10 years, I crocheted my sister an afghan for Christmas.

The years flew by. After Ned retired, we did cooking, baking, canning, made chowchow and bread and butter pickles and even our own sauerkraut and fagots.

In August, Troy and Carol had a surprise 50th anniversary party for us at Brewser's Sports Grille. We feel blessed that we made it, overcoming all our problems for 50 years. True love cannot be broken if you both work together. We are still best friends.

I am now at Mountain View: A Nursing and Rehabilitation Center for physical therapy, and Ned comes out daily for lunch, weather permitting. With hard work, I will be able to go back home with him.

Thank you

Barbara Wilson Kerstetter

COAL TOWNSHIP - Authorities are continuing their search today for a 42-year-old Excelsior woman and a 31-year-old Shamokin man who have been missing for several days in unrelated incidents.

Deborah Demshock, of 869 State Route 901, Coal Township, who is a diabetic nurse, and Justin Boyles, of 1021 E. Dewart St., Shamokin, who may be under the influence of bath salts, have not been located despite air and ground searches conducted by police and family members.

Demshock was reported missing by family members Sunday night when she failed to return home from work at Grandview Health Homes in Mahoning Township near Danville. Boyles, who is originally from Milton, was reported missing by his live-in girlfriend, Jennifer Munn, on Feb. 3.

Both Shamokin and Coal Township police have summoned assistance from state police and other regional police departments in an attempt to locate Demshock and Boyles. Although they are very concerned about their whereabouts, police do not suspect foul play in either case.

'Doing everything we can'

"We are checking out every possibility as to where she (Demshock) may have stopped on her way home from work Sunday," stated Coal Township Police Chief William Carpenter. "There are so many possibilities, but we haven't obtained any leads."

Carpenter said a state police helicopter was once again used for a couple hours Wednesday to search the routes Demshock would normally have used on her way home from work. He said the helicopter also searched parking lots at various businesses, while police on all-terrain vehicles combed various rural areas, including a wooded section stretching from Locust Gap to Ranshaw.

"We've checked all the area hospitals for her, but couldn't find her," he said. "We don't have anything to go on right now. We are doing everything we can."

Carpenter said a ping on Demshock's cell phone pointed to a dense wooded area near Wal-Mart Supercenter and Northwestern Academy, which are located behind Demshock's home along Route 901 between Excelsior and Ranshaw.

The police chief explained that pinging a cell phone means locating the tower origin of the last signal the phone received. The technology helps in search missions to locate someone's position.

Police said pings are accurate within a half-mile of their location.

Demshock's mother, Barbara Demshock, 70, who lives next door to her daughter, reported her missing at about 7:30 p.m. Sunday after last hearing from her around 3:30 p.m. when she was leaving work. Police said Deborah Demshock, who is five feet, 10 inches tall, weighs approximately 170 pounds, and has hazel eyes and dirty blonde hair, was last seen wearing pink scrub pants, a pink and white nurse's scrub top and a gray jacket.

She was driving a black, 2009 Hyundai Tucson with a gray luggage carrier on the roof. The vehicle contains Pennsylvania tags and license plate number PD0790S.

Barbara Demshock said her daughter told her she expected to be home at about 4 p.m. Sunday for a Super Bowl party at her mother's house, but that she could possibly be slightly delayed.

When her daughter didn't return home by 4:30 p.m., Mrs. Demshock told her sons, Robert, 50, and David, 46, that something was wrong. Demshock and her sons called police to report Deborah Demshock missing.

Robert and David Demshock also have extensively searched for their sister since Sunday night without success.

When contacted by phone Wednesday afternoon, a distraught Barbara Demshock said she fears the worst for her daughter, who is a diabetic and requires insulin three times a day.

She said it was totally out of character for her daughter to just disappear.

Barbara Demshock also was very upset that the cell phone ping didn't turn up anything.

"I am afraid she died already from diabetic shock or freezing," she said. "I can't believe nobody can find her. I'm so afraid she's dead. I keep seeing her when I look out the window. I can hear her crying for help and asking me to come look for her. I just wish she could give me a signal where she is. I don't want to see her die like that. I don't know where she could be or what happened. It's horrible. I haven't slept since Sunday. If she's alive, it's a miracle."

Barbara Demshock said she continued to call her daughter after last hearing from her at 3:30 p.m. Sunday, but she kept getting voice mail before the phone battery eventually went dead.

"She never goes anywhere without calling me because she knows how much I worry," Barbara Demshock said.

She said her daughter sometimes suffered bouts of depression from the sudden death of her husband, Michael Brennan, who died from an aneurysm two years ago. The couple had been married about 20 years. His birthday was Feb. 12.

Deborah Demshock also recently suffered the loss of her beloved 13-year-old dog, which suffered a heart attack in January. She was recently in the process of obtaining another dog.

Barbara Demshock, who is the longtime manager of Pine Meadows, a 100-unit subsidized housing complex in Selinsgrove, is offering a $500 reward to anyone with valid information pertaining to the disappearance of her daughter.

"Somebody had to have seen something," she said. "Even if somebody picked her up, they saw something."

Anyone with information regarding Deborah Demshock is urged to call Coal Township police at 644-0333.

No new leads

Meanwhile, city police continue to search for Boyles, who was reported missing at 8:50 p.m. Feb. 3.

Boyles is approximately 6 feet tall and weighs 170 pounds. He has black hair and was wearing a blue South Pole "hoodie" and two different colors of his girlfriend's AirWalk sneakers.

According to Munn, Boyles was involved in a car accident Feb. 2. She told police he was in possession of bath salts, which are powdered granules that when misused can have the same hallucinatory effects as illegal drugs. Munn said Boyles was last seen at their residence at 1 p.m. Feb. 3.

Munn told police she doesn't believe Boyles was in possession of any weapons and that he used a credit card on her account at 8 p.m. Thursday at Mt. Royal Mart on Route 901 at Ranshaw. Munn said she believed her boyfriend was attempting to purchase additional bath salts.

Shamokin Police Chief Edward Griffiths said Cpls. John Brown and Bryan Primerano went to Mt. Royal Mart on Feb. 3 to look for Boyles. The manager on duty, who is familiar with Boyles, told police Boyles was not in the store Feb. 3, but appeared there the day before.

Primerano then contacted Coal Township police, who conducted a search for Boyles in the east end of the township, but were unable to locate him.

Boyles' mother, Tammy Glenn, who was contacted by police Feb. 4, told police she did not know her son's whereabouts.

On Feb. 4, police contacted Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Sunbury Community Hospital and St. Catherine Medical Center Fountain Springs to see if Boyles had received any treatment at the hospitals. Hospital officials had no record of Boyles being treated at their respective facilities, police said.

At 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Patrolman Raymond Siko II said he received a telephone call from Boyles' mother, who told police she called her son's cell phone number. She said the phone rang before it went to voice mail. Siko said Northumberland County Communications Center was then contacted to have AT&T start tracking Boyles' cell phone number.

A state police helicopter was used earlier this week to search for Boyles, but he couldn't be located.

Griffiths said Wednesday no new leads have developed in Boyles' disappearance. He said police are continuing their search and urged anyone with information about his whereabouts to contact them immediately at 648-5708.

HARRISBURG - Deaths in crashes on Pennsylvania highways climbed to 1,324 in 2010, an increase of 68 from the year before, according to Acting PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch.

"Fatality statistics are not simply numbers; they represent the many families that suffered the loss of loved ones on Pennsylvania roads last year. Although there is nothing we can do or say to ease the pain of losing a loved one due to a crash, we will continue to look for the best ways to keep highway travelers safe," Schoch said.

While still too high, modern highway deaths are still well below those reported 20 and 40 years ago. In 1990, there were 1,646 traffic deaths in Pennsylvania. In 1970, there were 2,255 fatalities.

Unbuckled fatalities increased to 524 last year, up from 451 in 2009. The seat-belt use rate in Pennsylvania was 86 percent last year.

Fatalities in crashes that involved a 16- or 17-year-old driver increased from 40 in 2009 to 57 last year. Highway fatalities involving 65-year-old and older drivers dropped from 276 to 266 in the same time period.

Alcohol-related deaths increased from 442 in 2009 to 444 last year. Fatalities in work zones dropped to 21 in 2010 from 23 a year earlier.

Speeding-related and aggressive-driving deaths also increased last year. Speeding-related deaths jumped from 231 in 2009 to 284 last year, while aggressive-driving deaths increased from 130 to 168.

Motorcyclist and bicyclist deaths also increased last year. Motorcyclist deaths rose to 223 in 2010 from 204 a year earlier, and bicyclist fatalities increased from 16 to 21 in that same time period.

"Operating a vehicle is a responsibility that requires our full attention and nobody should ever take that responsible lightly," Schoch said. "Multi-tasking is fine at home or at the workplace, but never while driving - your life and the lives of others depend on your full attention."

WASHINGTON - A group of car dealers who lost their businesses in Chrysler's 2009 bankruptcy sued the government Thursday, claiming their dealer franchises were closed without adequate compensation.

The 64 former Chrysler dealers said in the lawsuit that the Treasury Department violated their constitutional rights by failing to compensate them for taking their auto businesses. They alleged damages of at least $130 million.

Robert A. Leffler Sr., owner of B&L Chevy-Buick-Pontiac along Route 61 in Coal Township, was not among the car dealers to file suit, but said the ones who did have a valid claim and wished them luck in winning their cases.

Leffler's 35-year-old business, which remains a dealership for GM, was one of 800 dealerships whose franchise rights were terminated by Chrysler in 2009.

A measure was approved by the federal government that forced General Motors and Chrysler - which have both ended partnerships with hundreds of dealers in efforts to restructure - to restore about 3,000 dealerships expected to be closed through bankruptcies.

Leffler out $550K

During an interview in 2009, Leffler said, "As it stands now, the dealers received nothing even though some dealers had invested millions of dollars per manufacturer's requirements to obtain the franchise."

When a dealership is closed by the corporation, the dealership is usually reimbursed for car parts, special tools and vehicles. Instead, B&L was left with $80,00 worth of parts, $70,000 worth of Chrysler-specific tools and $400,000 worth of vehicles.

Leffler said at the time, "We lost the franchise and got no compensation for it."

Lawyers for the dealers said the closures prevented a "significant disruption" in the U.S. auto industry and economy, but said "this is a loss that should not, however, be borne by a few individual auto dealers but ... must in fairness and justice be borne by the public as a whole."

The Treasury Department declined comment on the lawsuit, which was filed in the U.S. Court of Federal Claims.

Chrysler closed 789 auto dealers, or about one quarter of its dealer network, in its June 2009 bankruptcy. The closings of Chrysler and General Motors dealerships were among a broad number of concessions given by dealers, workers, retirees and others to make the companies viable in the government-led auto bankruptcies.

Following a lobbying campaign by car dealers, Congress approved legislation later in 2009 that required arbitration for the closed dealers. Chrysler agreed to restore about 80 franchises through the process while GM reinstated more than 660 dealers it had threatened with closure.

The Obama administration has said without the shared sacrifices of many in the auto industry, the two companies may not have rebounded. Former leaders of the administration's auto task force denied they had any role in choosing which dealerships should be terminated.

The plaintiffs include dealers from 29 states, including several business owners who actively lobbied Congress to restore the rights of dealerships, including Jack Fitzgerald, who owns Fitzgerald Auto Mall of Frederick, Md., and Jim Tarbox, of Tarbox Motors of North Kingston, R.I.

LYKENS TOWNSHIP - A 73-year-old Millersburg man was killed Thursday when his car crashed into a tractor-trailer along Route 25 near Joss Lane in this Dauphin County township.

State police at Lykens reported Gilbert Glenn Johnson Jr. was pronounced dead at the scene of the 5:35 p.m. accident by a Dauphin County deputy coroner.

His passenger, English May Johnson, 23, of Shenandoah, suffered moderate injuries and was transported by helicopter to Penn State Hershey Medical Center.

Police reported Johnson was driving a 1994 Buick Century west on Route 25 when his car entered the eastbound lane and struck a 2007 Freightliner operated by Matthew D. Adams, 40, of Sunbury, who escaped injury.

Assisting police at the scene were firefighters from Gratz and emergency medical personnel from Upper Dauphin.

School in session

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area School District will be in session Monday, Thursday, April 21, and Friday, May 20, which are snow makeup days.

Barletta, Marino to speak at King's

WILKES BARRE - Lou Barletta, a Republican from the 11th District, and Tom Marino, a Republican from the 10th District, will speak at a free public forum, "Congress on Campus," at 7 p.m., Tuesday in the Burke Auditorium of the William G. McGowan School of Business at King's College. The freshmen Congressmen will speak about their experiences so far in the 112th Congress. A question-and-answer session will follow.

The event is being sponsored by the political science and mass communications departments at King's College, the communications club and the student radio station, WRKC, 88.5 FM.

Authority closed Monday

KULPMONT - The Kulpmont-Marion Heights Joint Municipal Authoritiy's office will be closed Monday in observance of Presidents Day.

Tax assistance offered at library

SHAMOKIN - Income tax assistance volunteers will be at the Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and 3 to 5:30 p.m. Thursday to help low-income ($50,000 or less) taxpayers with their returns. To make an appointment, call 648-3202. Library charges 10 cents per page for all necessary copies.

Civil War show-and-tell event planned

SUNBURY - Susquehanna Civil War Roundtable will hold its annual show and tell night at 7 p.m. Thursday at Degenstein Library, 40 S. Fifth St. Those attending are encouraged to bring artifacts, books or stories to share.

A short business meeting precedes the program. All are welcome. For more information, call Greg Kline at (717)571-6877.