3 Good Friday services announced

MOUNT CARMEL - A community Good Friday service will be held from noon to 3 p.m. today at United Presbyterian Church, Fifth and Hickory streets. Mount Carmel Area Ministrium clergy will preach on the seven last words from the cross.

A community service will also be held at 1 p.m. today at Grace Evangelical Independent Church, Locustdale, where clergy from community churches will conclude the trial of Jesus Christ.

A Good Friday evening service will be held at 7 p.m. today at Zion United Methodist Church, Aristes, with meditation on the cross.

Boil water ban lifted

EAST CAMERON TOWNSHIP - A boil water ban is lifted for customers of East Cameron Township Municipal Authority.

No yard waste pickup

MOUNT CARMEL - Residents are reminded Mount Carmel Borough no longer picks up any bags of yard waste.

Residents will be responsible to take yard waste to the borough garage.

Any person disposing of rubbish on a public sidewalk or street will be subject to ticket or citation under the quality of life ordinance.

SHAMOKIN - The repaving of sections of Independence Street will be the final major project in the effort to replace 44 street lights in the city's main business district.

PPL Electric Utilities reported Thursday the new street lights have been powered up and the entire project will be completed by early May, about a month ahead of schedule.

"We're pleased to be able to wrap up this project early and completed as the remaining work, including sidewalk repairs, by early May," said Christina Sepich, regional director of operations for PPL Electric Utilities.

The last major part of the project will involve repaving sections of Independence Street disturbed by the project. Paving will occur Monday, April 28, and Tuesday, April 29.

"Where we had to do our digging for the underground lines, we filled in with the sill material," said Teri MacBride, PPL regional community relations director. "What we are planning to do on April 28 and 29, is restore the macadam that we took out earlier."

To minimize traffic and pedestrian disruptions, PPL has arranged for traffic controls in cooperation with the city and will have a dedicated crew on site both days to help with traffic control. Downtown businesses can remain open.

"We are taking the time over the next work week to do outreach to the businesses on Independence Street to explain what we will be doing," MacBride said. "We will be doing the work and minimizing the impact on the downtown area."

The old lights had been in operation for about 50 years, and had malfunctioned in recent years, sometimes leaving complete sections of Independence Street complete dark.

Michels Power, of Neehah, Wisc., is primary electrical contractor and Pioneer Construction Co., a subcontractor, is doing the mechanical work. Fourty-four "cobra-style" aluminum posts and lamps were replaced with the same style, but with more efficient equipment, including high-pressure sodium lamps. Underground conduits have been dug up and new wiring installed.

The work began in February, and Sepich thanked the city, business owners and residents for their patience during the construction process.

"We've appreciated the constructive working relationship and cooperation from the city, residents and business owners since the project began in February as we safely installed this new public lighting system in the business district," she said.

The new lighting system will be owned and maintained by PPL. Shamokin pays a combined $11,200 in monthly tariffs, $134,400 annually, to cover maintenance and distribution charges for all 664 street lights in the city. The tariffs are funding the project and there is no additional cost to the city.

The replacement project was on the company's construction schedule in 2013, but was ultimately moved to this year after city officials explored the possibility of purchasing its own system from another vendor.

The project was turned over to the Shamokin Planning Commission for its members to explore the cost of decorative lighting and an energy efficient system such as LED. PPL offers limited decorative options and does not offer LED systems.

It was ultimately determined by city council that it was too costly.

The Shamokin project is part of ongoing investments by PPL Electric Utilities through its 29-county service area to improve service to customers.

TREVORTON - A new piece of heavy machinery will be coming to Zerbe Township, thanks in part to the construction of its new sewage treatment plant.

Supervisors voted Monday evening to purchase a new skid loader for $65,000 from the state's COSTARS cooperative purchasing program. Funds to purchase the one-man piece of equipment will come from the $4 million in grants and loans the township received in 2013 from the PENNVEST program to construct a new sewage treatment plant.

Engineer Matthew Ray from William Hill and Associates, the company overseeing the plant's construction, reported Monday work has begun and things are moving along.

"We were in a situation with the sub-base, with a slight issue we anticipated, but we have it under control," Ray said. "Other than that, things are moving along."

The board also heard from Dennis Felty, recording secretary of the Anthracite Trail Riders organization. Felty spoke about an April 26 trail ride at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) with its proceeds benefiting first responders in Coal Township, Shamokin and Zerbe Township.

Paying for emergency responders at the AOAA has been an area of concern among some municipal leaders.

"We are asking for your support for this ride in order to help you," Felty said. "I anticipate this becoming an annual event."

The board approved allowing the Trevorton Ambulance and Fire Department to be available for the event, with supervisors Mike Schwartz, Gene Geise and Mike Mazer voting yes. Geise is president of the Trevorton Ambulance Association while Schwartz serves on the board of the AOAA.

In other business

- The Zerbe Township Recreation Committee was given permission to use the township 501(c)3 tax ID number for non-profit status to apply for a grant from the Degenstein Foundation.

- A number of requests were approved for Line Mountain Elementary School. Permission was granted for the school to use the recreation area Monday, May 12, for a vehicular career day with a township vehicle and worker on hand for a presentation and to use the Foundry field for a end-of-year picnic Friday, May 30, and for another event May 8 with police presence and the bathrooms open. The school also has permission to use the Foundry parking lot April 23, 24 and 25, as a staging area for grandparents to park their vehicles and then be bused to the school. All motions at Monday's meeting were approved on a 3-0 vote.

- Supervisors announced spring cleanup in the township will be held from Monday, May 12, to Friday, May 23. Residents are allowed to have one payloader bucket of yard debris picked up by township workers, provided the debris is placed curbside.

- Recycling trailers will be open for dropoffs Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting April 22, and on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Those dropping off materials must use the rear gate and they must be walked into the area.

SHAMOKIN - A Fifth Ward man severely injured when attacked by his pit bull Wednesday afternoon remained in serious condition Thursday at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, while the canine reportedly has been removed from the home by a state dog warden.

James L. "Waldo" Walsh, 55, of 138 S. Franklin St., suffered severe injuries to both hands and arms that may require skin grafts. He also sustained bites on his upper body in the 3:45 p.m. attack. Walsh, who fled through the front door and was flailing and bleeding profusely in the street, was rushed by AREA Services Ambulance to Geisinger, where he remained Thursday afternoon in serious condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Walsh also was hospitalized March 23 after being bit in the left arm in his home by the pit bull.

State dog warden Rich Hine, of Schuylkill County, reportedly removed the dog from the residence Thursday morning, but its whereabouts or condition couldn't be obtained. Attempts to contact Hine were unsuccessful. Hine has been handling dog complaints for several months in Northumberland County, which currently does not have a state dog warden.

Walsh's girlfriend, Leann Dehoutaint, and two others - Dehoutaint's daughter, Amanda Hassinger, and her boyfriend, Michael Wasilewskie - remained inside during the attack. The trio had contained the pit bull to the first floor and remained upstairs until rescue personnel arrived, helping them escape by ladder after crawling out a second-floor window.

While they descended the ladder, Patrolman Shane Mowery stood at the front door with shotgun in hand in case the pit bull was able to escape from the home. A "beware of dog" sign is posted on the front door.

Rich Jilinski II and Dave Britton of Liberty Fire Company and Charles Yohe and Bill Smoogen of Rescue Fire Company helped the trio leave the home.

The scene was cleared at about 4:30 p.m.

Mowery said Thursday no criminal charges will be filed against Walsh but he could face summary offenses for not having the dog properly licensed or vaccinated.

SUNBURY - City police continue to investigate an assault last week at the Northumberland County Prison that caused minor injuries to three correctional officers.

Sunbury City Police Chief Stephen Mazzeo said the investigation is being conducted by Cpl. Jamie Quinn.

"We are waiting for the statements of the witnesses and victims," Mazzeo said Thursday. "After we have them, we will be going to the district attorney to discuss the charges."

Mazzeo said the inmate accused in the April 11 attack is back in state custody.

"He's not going anywhere," he said.

Northumberland County Commissioner Rick Shoch, acting chairman of the county prison board, did not identify the prisoner or the guards involved, but said the injuries were minor. Two guards were assaulted by the inmate and a third was injured in a scuffle while taking him into custody, Shoch said Thursday.

"All the injured received treatment and were back on duty within hours," he said.

The prison was placed on lockdown following the incident, and that restriction was lifted early Tuesday morning, Shoch said.

Shoch said the inmate was being housed in Northumberland County Prison from a state facility in order to attend a hearing in county court last Friday. He said no weapon was smuggled into the prison.

"He managed to break something off inside the prison and fashioned it into the weapon used in the assault," Shoch said. "That's all we can say about it at this point."

Prison officials asked the state Department of Corrections to do a sweep of the prison, but it could not be done over the weekend.

"We had some of our own people do a sweep, and I don't think that yielded any additional weapons," Shoch said.

Warden Roy Johnson and Commander Brian Wheary were not available for comment Thursday afternoon.

Shoch thanked the Sunbury City Police and Northumberland County Sheriff's Department for their prompt response and professionalism during this time.

MOUNT CARMEL - Bishop Lawrence F. Schott Council 628 Knights of Columbus will again take part in the "Measure Up" campaign. For 35 years, the Pennsylvania Knights campaign raised more than $6 million statewide to help persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families.

The Mount Carmel Knights will conduct the drive for The Arc after all Masses at Church of Our Lady Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, SS Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church Saturday, May 3, and Sunday, May 4, and Divine Redeemer Church Saturday, May 17, and Sunday, May 18.

In addition, a collection will be taken at the UNB Bank at Third and Oak streets from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, May 10.

Those wishing to "Measure Up" can send their donations to Bishop Lawrence F. Schott Council, 128 W. Third St., Mount Carmel 17851. Checks should be made out to the council.

The Arc is a national network of afffiliated nonprofit organizations of and for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Locally, residents of Northumberland County are serviced by The Arc, Susquehanna Valley, which also works with residents of Columbia, Monroe, Snyder and Union counties.

Of the funds raised each year, 75 percent stays in the county where is it raised. The other 25 percent is used by The Arc of Pennsylvania for its mission in Harrisburg.

Last year, the Bishop Schott Council raised more than $1,800 to help children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities lead productive and rewarding lives in their own communities.

KULPMONT - The winners of the 21st annual soupie, wine and pasta contest, held April 5 at the West End Fire Association, have been announced.

Winners are:

Wine - Catherine Fantini for her peach apricot, first; Lisa Beury, second; Marshall Scicchitano for his blackberry wine, third.

Laganiga - Nick Bozza, first; Len Howerter, second; Ken Horvath, third.

Pasta - Jay Moser, first; Rose Bailoni, second; Lisa Beury, third.

Capicola - Mike Sin, first; Dave Berry, second; Nick Bozza, third.

Pepperoni - Joe Achenbach, first; Mike Sin, second; Barry Roseman Sr., third.

Soupie - Steve Polifka, first; Brett Kalbarchick, second; Mike Sin, third.

MOUNT CARMEL - A driver escaped injury Wednesday evening after the car she was operating jumped a sidewalk and struck a metal newspaper box owned by The News-Item and the front of the MC Coney at Oak and Second streets.

Police said Patricia Ann Dubb, 67, of 27 S. Maple St., Mount Carmel, was operating a 2003 Ford Taurus when her foot slipped off the brake pedal and onto the gas pedal, causing her to lose control of the vehicle.

Barry Reismiller, owner of MC Coney, said Thursday the building sustained minor damage and business is open as usual. The newspaper box took the brunt of the impact and was destroyed.

The car sustained front-end damage and had to be towed from the scene. No citations will be issued, police said.

Shamokin- Coal Township

Monday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; poker game, 10 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; world news, noon; crafts, noon.

Tuesday - Morning cards and puzzles and board games, 8:30 a.m.; walk a mile, 9:30 a.m.; Earth Day program - displays of something that is recycled from a item you no longer need and made usable again will be presented. Luncheon at 11:30 a.m. for those who signed up. Guest speaker Linda Walker on "Fun with Earth Day," noon. Free giveaways and door prizes, must be present to win; bridge, noon.

Wednesday - Morning cards, puzzles and board games, 8:30 a.m.; bridge lessons, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; world news, noon; pinochle and Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; walk a mile, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10:30 a.m.; Dr. Mary Stout of Central Penn Physical Therapy speaking on back pain, noon; nickel bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Morning cards, puzzles and board games, 8:30 a.m.; yoga, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, noon.

Saturday - No Saturday night cards this week due to floors being cleaned and waxed.

Mount Carmel

Monday - Coffee and gab, 10 a.m.; exercise and games, 10:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; bean bag, 12:30 p.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Tuesday - Morning cup of coffee, 9 a.m.; Earth Day festivities starting at 10 a.m., call center for details; pork and sauerkraut meal at the center ($7).

Wednesday - Coffee and gab, 10 a.m.; exercise/games, 10:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; bingo, 1 p.m.

Thursday - Morning coffee and the news, 9:30 a.m.; trip to the Susquehanna Valley Mall, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; favorite TV show, 11 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; pinochle, 12:15 p.m.

Friday - Coffee and gab, 10 a.m.; exercise and games, 10:30 a.m.; crossword puzzles, 11 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Kulpmont

Monday - Do your own thing; bean bag, 10:30 a.m.; Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Earth Day projects and activities are planned; pizza party, noon.

Wednesday - Wii and bean bag in the morning; quilting, 10 a.m.; LCR, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Coffee and gab in the morning; lunch at Perkins, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii in the morning; Linda Walker speaking on diabetes, noon; nickel bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Basic computer lessons will be given at the center by Brea Scandle. If you are interested in learning, please sign up so center can schedule Brea to come and give lessons.

Centralia- Wilburton

Monday - Current events, 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday - Earth Day; chair exercise with Carol; reminisce.

Wednesday - Trivia, 10 a.m.; birthday party; stress bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Minds and puzzles; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Open activities for Fun Friday.

Elysburg

Monday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; royal rummy, 10 a.m.; Pokeno, 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday - Earth Day celebration beginning at 10 a.m. TLC Daycare will be here along with the Master Gardeners from Penn State for a special program. There will also be a pizza party.

Wednesday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; royal rummy, 10 a.m.; bingo, noon.

Friday - Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle, noon.

Trevorton

Monday - Exercise, 10:30 a.m.; Phase 10, 12:30 p.m. Last day to sign up for birthday party on April 25 and last day to sign up for culinary demo at Herndon SAC, seats are limited.

Tuesday - Earth Day, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; evening bingo, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Exercise, 10:30 a.m.; trip to Palermo's restaurant, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; last day to sign up for breakfast on April 28.

Thursday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; pinochle, 10:30 a.m.; mahjong, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii games, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.; birthday party, 7 p.m.

SHAMOKIN - Acceptance into a state program for financially distressed cities would not be the death knell for the city, according to its mayor and director of accounts and finance.

It will, they say, help put Shamokin on the path to fiscal solvency.

"I'm actually encouraged, and that might not sound like a normal reaction when you say Act 47," Councilman David Kinder, the finance director, said of the recommendation by the city's financial advisors that council members apply for an Act 47 designation.

"Act 47 is misrepresented and has been misrepresented as bankruptcy taking place when in essence Act 47 is a recovery plan," he said.

"The brightest spot," said Mayor William D. Milbrand, "is the interest-free loan to get us out of the hole."

That "hole" is more than $811,000 deep, filled with bills that accrued by the end of 2013. Three banks declined lending Shamokin the money to pay off the invoices, but such a loan would have come with an interest rate.

"We still cannot let our guard down, we still have to be diligent in what we're doing," Milbrand said.

Milbrand said the city would also be "first in line" for grants to help improve Shamokin, and Kinder added that funding would also be available to pay an advisor to oversee the financial strategy created by city council with the advice of financial advisors and DCED officials.

Funding wouldn't be available for at least two months from the date of acceptance, Milbrand said.

Kinder and Milbrand met with financial advisors and officials from state Department of Community and Economic Development for about four hours Thursday to review the findings in a financial report on Shamokin. See accompanying story.

The report, turned over to city hall April 10, outlines in depth financial failings on the city's part and what council members can do to take corrective action.

Milbrand said if council votes during a special meeting April 28 to pursue Act 47 designation, it would be a "noble" and "wise" decision. But he admits wounded pride in having to seek it out, saying the current council had the wherewithal to sort out Shamokin's finances but simply ran out of time after bringing on new members in January.

"We've got to stop the bleeding now and we don't have any time to wait," Milbrand said. "We have no other choice, the city cannot go bankrupt, the state will not let us go bankrupt."

Kinder said if the city is successful in implementing its plan, it could potentially move out of Act 47 in two to five years.

But there are 20 Pennsylvania municipalities currently enrolled in the program, almost half of which have been involved for two decades or more. Seven municipalities have moved out of the program since 1993.

Milbrand was optimistic, saying city officials would work to move quickly out of Act 47. Kinder said city council must do whatever it takes, for however long, to fix Shamokin's finances.

"There's a lot of responsibility on council but we now have a road map which we are going to follow. It's something the taxpayers will support us on once they see the details," Kinder said.

"We're willing to make the hard decisions, and there are going to be hard decisions. Things have to change or we're basically bankrupt."

SHAMOKIN - Financial advisers say Shamokin's fiscal condition is "serious and dire," and recommend city council file with the state to become a designated Act 47 municipality in order to prevent bankruptcy.

The advisers say one of 11 criteria must exist for a municipality to be considered for a distress determination. According to the plan, Shamokin has five: at least three consecutive budget deficits, spending exceeds revenue, a deficit equal to at least 5 percent of municipal revenue for consecutive years, failure to meet its annual pension payment and a maxed-out real estate tax levy.

If council agrees with seeking Act 47 designation and an application is approved by state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), it would add Shamokin to a list of 20 municipalities designated as financially distressed, including Harrisburg, Pittsburgh and Reading.

Already enrolled in the state's Early Intervention Program to prevent such a designation, Act 47 would bring greater oversight from DCED in financial decision-making. City council would maintain the final say in how to carry out a plan to cut spending and increase revenue, Mayor William D. Milbrand and Councilman David Kinder said Thursday.

The recommendation to pursue Act 47 designation came in a 2014 Early Intervention Plan prepared by bond counsel Stevens and Lee, Harrisburg, and Financial Solutions, Reading. It was submitted to city hall April 10.

A public workshop is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday, and DCED officials will be on hand to explain the Early Intervention Plan's findings. Council members are scheduled to hold a special public meeting at 6 p.m. April 28 to vote on the matter. Both meetings will be held at city hall.

Act now

Immediate corrective actions are necessary, the financial advisers say.

Among a slew of recommendations, it's suggested that city council bargain with its police and street departments unions for wage freezes and less costly benefits packages, while also increasing all taxes to the maximum allowable amounts.

Regionalizing police and other services with Coal Township is also recommended, as is selling off all unnecessary vehicles in all departments and increasing parking fines and other fees.

"Shamokin's elected officials must recognize the need for immediate action," the plan states. "Perhaps most importantly, Shamokin's employees and elected and appointed officials (must) recognize the need for immediate action and are open to cooperation amongst themselves and with other governmental entities to implement initiatives that result in cost savings and improved efficiencies for the city and its residents."

The real estate millage is already maxed out at 30 mills. Wage freezes for non-union employees were approved by council earlier this year. A regional police study is under way involving both Shamokin and Coal Township as well as other neighboring municipalities. The police contract has expired and is in arbitration, and the street contract expires at year's end.

Annual deficits

Shamokin's structural deficit has occurred, in part, due to an annual rollover of the previous year's debt.

Expenses exceeded revenues between 9 percent and 14 percent from 2009 to 2012. It's projected that the city will finish 2014 with a cash shortage of $350,000, or roughly 13 percent of 2014's projected revenue of $2,306,138. It threatens the city's ability to meet payroll, bills and debt payments, the report states.

Basic obligations are increasingly difficult to meet, with financial advisers pointing out that earlier this month on April 7, natural gas service to city hall was temporarily shut off due to nonpayment.

Should the city continue without any significant fiscal change, its projected 2016 deficit will top $808,000.

The projected cash shortage doesn't include the $811,492.07 in unpaid bills that accumulated in 2013. Three banks have refused to lend Shamokin money to pay off the debt. Should the city be accepted into Act 47, Milbrand and Kinder said DCED would finance an interest-free loan to do just that.

Wages, benefits

Attributed to the deficits are a continually shrinking economy and population and rising costs of employee compensation and benefits, which the plan says are "proven to be unaffordable and unsustainable."

Property assessments described as "significantly outdated" were also referenced.

The city has 25 full-time employees, 17 of whom belong to either union. There is also one part-time employee.

Wages and benefits were found to eat up between 80 percent and 90 percent of the city's revenues between 2009 and 2012. The benefits, the plan states, "are much more generous than most employers in both the public and private sectors."

"To put it simply, the city cannot afford to provide the level of services it currently provides and/or pay the salaries, wages and benefits it currently provides to its employees based on its current revenues," the plan states.

"The city cannot afford to pay for health insurance for retired employees."

City council is urged to negotiate with the police and street departments to change some personnel provisions in collective bargaining agreements. It's recommended that if the minimum manning requirement of two police officers for every shift cannot be lowered, that city council eliminate one shift altogether. A clause in the street department's contract preventing furloughs due to economic reasons should be eliminated, the plan states.

Reductions in overtime, compensation time, premium pay, sick leave, vacation days and personal days are all recommended.

All city employees receive between 14 and 16 paid sick days annually, with vacations of up to five weeks for some union employees and six weeks for those employed with the city 25 years.

Modify accounting

Shamokin balances its books on a cash basis of accounting, similar to the practice of using a checkbook. Financial advisers say it doesn't recognize liabilities as they're incurred, allowing Shamokin to hold on to its bills at year's end and report a fund balance. This doesn't reflect a true fiscal picture, allowing for the rollover of annual debt. The recommendation is that the city's auditor use a modified or full accrual basis when preparing a year-end audit for a more accurate reflection.

'Commendable job'

One area the report lauded city officials was in the management of its long-term debt. Payments for such debt - estimated at $190,000 total in 2014 - are at a "manageable level," according to financial advisers.

Bleak trends

Employment, income, housing and population trends all received negative remarks. Shamokin's population is in severe decline - more than 37 percent over a 30-year period. The median household income lags far behind county and state averages, and 20 percent of the city's population lives in poverty. More than one-quarter of its owner-occupied residences were lost over a 20-year period.

Revenue recommendations

Revenue lagged behind expenditures each year between 2009 and 2012, including down 12 percent in 2012 ($302,527), the last year for which an audit was available. Here are some steps financial advisers recommend city council follow to increase revenue:

- Study and increase cost of permits and fees.

- Hire a delinquent collector.

- Charge for all work performed on private property.

- Designate real estate tax for street lighting.

- Consider home rule as a form of government.

- Increase use of PILOT - Payments In Lieu of Property Tax.

SHAMOKIN - The city's police chief is critical of financial advisers' recommendations to cut his department's costs, scoffing at a suggestion to explore eliminating an entire shift on the work schedule.

"It's ridiculous to say 'eliminate a shift.' There's no way we could ever have one man on a shift. It's a safety issue and it's ridiculous," Edward Griffiths said Friday.

The suggestion was one of many included in an Early Intervention Plan prepared by financial advisers as part of Shamokin's enrollment in an Early Intervention Program for financial recovery. City council hasn't yet formally reviewed the plan, and it has final say on which recommendations to carry out.

When council members meet during a special meeting at 6 p.m. April 28 in city hall, they'll be asked to vote on accepting the plan and subsequently on pursuing recovery through a new avenue: the state's Act 47 program for financially distressed municipalities.

Reached Friday, Mayor William D. Milbrand declined comment since the plan hasn't been addressed in full by council.

Wages and benefits across all departments consumed between 80 percent and 90 percent of Shamokin's revenue over a four-year period, according to the plan. A wage freeze for all 26 city employees and increased employee contributions to health care benefits were among its many suggestions, including bargaining for such measures with the 17 members of the police and public works unions.

Asked if he believed the city's current revenue structure could support the wages and benefits of union employees, Griffiths said, "If you manage it correctly, yes."

The police union contract expired at the start of the year. It remains in place until a new collective bargaining agreement is ratified. There is a mandate that a minimum of two officers work each of three shifts seven days a week. The advisers suggest if that cannot be lowered to reduce employee costs, council should review crime data and consider eliminating the least active shift.

Safety concerns

Consideration has to be given to Shamokin's finances, Griffiths said, but he questioned the intelligence of suggestions he believes would jeopardize public safety. Officers already seek backup from neighboring departments, including with the recent rash of assaults. Combined with burglaries and associated drug use and other crimes, he said it underscores the need for two officers per shift.

"It won't only put the taxpayers in jeopardy, it will put the officers and their families in jeopardy," Griffiths said, adding that he believes liability insurance would also increase.

At full complement, the police department has 14 full-time officers. It now stands at 11 following a trio of retirements - Detective Robert John in 2008, Cpl. Robert Wolfe in 2009 and Cpl. John Brown in 2012. Griffiths, who himself will retire following his final shift on April 30, estimated the collective savings in salary and benefits at $70,000 for each officer.

"Where did it go? Where's the money?" He asked.

The 11 officers total a combined 152 years on the job. According to city hall, they were paid $722,472.65 total in 2013, an average of $65,679.33 per officer - $13,000 above the base average of $52,596.35.

The higher actual payout is a result of overtime and, more so, compensatory time earned by and paid to the officers as per the terms of their existing union contract. Those costs for all departments in the city are suggested by the financial advisers to be reduced.

Add in benefits calculated by City Hall at $188,788.78 and that figure jumps to $911,261.43 - 74 percent of all police department expenses in the $1,228,237.36 budget for 2013.

The health insurance plan for the police is the same that had been offered to city council members and the solicitor and controller. That benefit was not offered for those officials in 2014.

Other suggestions for the police department include selling off any unused vehicles in the police department's seven-vehicle fleet - the same suggestion that was made of the public works department. Griffiths said that won't work since the newer vehicles will endure increased wear-and-tear as a result and perhaps need to be replaced sooner.

Regionalizing police services with neighboring Coal Township was also suggested, a study of which was agreed to in March with multiple municipalities involved.

Nothing about mismanagement

Griffiths criticized the plan because, as he sees it, it lays all of the blame on city employees and a diminished tax base and fails to address any mismanagement in city hall.

City council members were eligible for the same health benefits as union employees up until it was eliminated from the 2014 budget, Griffiths pointed out. Also, he questioned a series of council-approved expenses in 2013 under the management of former City Clerk Steve Bartos: a raise for the clerk's position, a grant payment to the clerk's wife, and tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees charged by the Barley Snyder law firm.

He specifically mentioned the Reading firm's charges for advising the city in a Right to Know dispute that favored Stephen Bridy, a Northumberland County commissioner, and for its role in the ongoing negotiation of a new police union contract.

Barley Snyder had billed the city $9,795 through September for its legal representation in the Right to Know case, a cost that increased as the dispute lasted into November. When it was hired in May for the negotiations, council agreed to an hourly rate of $200, with the total not to exceed $8,000.

Shamokin entered Early Intervention in 2008, and Griffiths said city leaders failed to follow the plan.

"Not one thing in there said anything about mismanagement," Griffiths said.

BOSTON - A local woman found herself in the midst of national news when she captured video of the Boston Marathon hoax bomber before he was taken into custody Tuesday.

Alicia Anskis, 27, a dietician at the Dana Faber Cancer Institute, Boston, and a graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School, was interviewed by ABC's "Good Morning America," "Inside Edition" and a host of other news outlets after posting online the nine-second video she shot of Kevin "Kayvon" Edson while he walked toward the finish line of the Boston Marathon after its commemoration ceremony.

"It certainly has been a crazy couple of days," Anskis said Friday. "I'm glad to be back home where it's quiet."

'A little tense'

Anskis, the daughter of Mark and Nancy Anskis, of Elysburg, remembers the pain the city felt April 15, 2013, when two pressure cooker bombs hidden in backpacks exploded near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring 260.

"I was working at Brigham and Women's Hospital and wrapping up for the day when the word came out about the bombings," Anskis said.

"I was planning on heading down there to watch the finish, After all the commotion, I just ended up walking home and trying to decipher it all."

Several of Anskis' family members who were watching the event were knocked to the ground by the blast. Several friends participating in the marathon were stopped about a quarter of a mile from the finish. While Boston waited for news and an arrest in the bombings, she said life became a little more tense.

"The hospitals in the city, including the one I was working at, was on lockdown and it was a little unnerving to see members of the SWAT team covering the entrances to the hospital or to ride in an elevator with two police officers with machine guns. Everyone and everything was just a little tense," Anskis said.

'Thought he was intoxicated'

On Tuesday, Anskis went back to Boyleston Street, the traditional finish of the Boston Marathon, to see what was going on there. Hours earlier, city officials held a commemoration ceremony on the one-year anniversary of the bombings.

It was there she noticed something peculiar.

"I could see this man walking down near Copley Square just yelling, but I couldn't make out what he was saying."

As the man, later identified as Edson, got closer, Anskis noticed his attire. He wore an all-black outfit with no shoes and a black wide-brim hat with netting over top. She said he was yelling, "Boston Strong," a battle cry adopted by the city in the days following the bombings.

"I thought he was intoxicated or something was wrong with him," Anskis said.

She said she observed him wearing a backpack and something triggered in her head. While he got closer to the finish line Anskis whipped out her cell phone and shot a video of him walking and yelling.

"When he got to the scaffolding, two police officers started walking toward him and they had a discussion that I couldn't hear," Anskis said.

Anskis said police started to push people away from the area.

"I thought I would just get on 'the T' (Boston's overhead commuter rail) and head for home, but then they informed us that the T-station was closed, and I thought that this wasn't normal," Anskis said.

Police kept the public from the finish line area for about three hours Tuesday while bomb squad members analyzed the backpack Edson was wearing. They later destroyed the backpack and determined a rice cooker, but nothing explosive, was inside.

In psychiatric hospital

The Associated Press reported Edson was charged Wednesday with threatening battery, possession of a hoax explosive device, threats to commit a crime, disturbing the peace, disturbing a public assembly and disorderly conduct. He was committed to Bridgewater State Hospital, a state psychiatric hospital, on $100,000 bail.

According to a police report read in court, Edson said after being read his rights, "I knew what I was doing; it was conceived in my head. It's symbolism, come on. The performance got the best of me."

Edson's mother said, according to the AP, her son has bipolar disorder.

Glad it wasn't real

"I'm just happy it wasn't real and that it wasn't a repeat of last year," Anskis said. "No one got hurt and the law was on top of the situation."

When she got home, Anskis posted the video to her Twitter and Instagram account. Soon after the media calls starting coming in.

"Fox News was the first to contact me, then ABC, CNN and the AP. All of them responding with calls or messages wanting me to get back to them quickly. "Inside Edition" even called my dad's cell phone. I have no idea how they got that number," she said.

By 10 p.m., Anskis was doing a Skype interview that would be aired on "Good Morning America" the next day and doing phone interviews with "Boston Herald" and other news outlets.

"It's starting to slow down now," Anskis said.

She has noticed that she has a few more followers on Instagram now, and hopefully can use it to her advantage.

"Being a dietician, I hope they like pictures of food. Hopefully, I can get a few more clients out of this," she joked.

DANVILLE - The pit bull that attacked its owner in Shamokin this week was euthanized, a source close to the situation said Friday.

The person asked not to be identified. An attempt to confirm the report with a state dog warden or Department of Agriculture representative was unsuccessful.

The dog attacked James L. "Waldo" Walsh, 55, of 138 S. Franklin St., who was upgraded to fair condition at Geisinger Medical Center, where he remained Friday morning.

Walsh suffered severe injuries to both hands and arms as well as bites on his upper body in the incident Wednesday at his home. He was listed in serious condition Thursday.

He also was hospitalized March 23 after being bit in the left arm by the dog.

The canine was reportedly removed from the home by a state dog warden on Thursday.

READING - UGI Utilities will spend more than $85 million in fiscal year 2014 to replace natural gas mains and complete a variety of system enhancement projects, including one in Shamokin.

"Safety is always UGI's first priority," said Hans Bell, vice president of engineering. "These infrastructure projects continue our commitment to ensure our system provides safe, reliable service for our customers, and for the many communities we serve."

Approximately 65 miles of cast iron and bare steel mains are targeted for replacement by mains constructed of contemporary materials such as high density plastic or cathodically protected steel as part of the UGI infrastructure betterment program. These infrastructure betterment projects are complemented by a number of regular UGI capital projects such as pressure reinforcements to improve system reliability, service line and meter replacements, and regulator station work.

The 500 block of Arch Street in Shamokin will receive new mains. Residents and city officials will be notified of the construction schedule in advance.

Whenever appropriate, UGI will replace service lines leading to homes during the main replacement project and, in some cases, will need to gain access to residences. In addition, these projects will cause temporary traffic and parking congestion. UGI will work with municipal officials to minimize these disruptions.

UGI is in the early stages of a $1.2 billion commitment to replace all pipelines made of non-contemporary material within a 30 year period. The replacement schedule is guided by an infrastructure plan that prioritizes projects based on risk assessment and other factors. Currently, more than 85 percent of UGI's 12,000 miles of gas pipelines are constructed of contemporary materials.

A complete list of scheduled infrastructure projects, along with their status, can be found at www.ugi.com/construction.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Mourning the death of a loved one is a stressful time. Whether it is a spouse, child, parent, relative or friend, some may experience a need to share their despair to overcome the grief.

VNA Health System sponsors a Bereavement Support Group at Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital every other Tuesday of the month. The group is open to the public and free of charge. Family and friends who have lost a loved one are encouraged to attend.

According to Linda Gula, RN, director of hospice services, there are different stages of the grieving process, and each individual goes through the phases at their own pace.

"Our group provides a non-judgmental environment for individuals to cope after losing a loved one," said Gula. "In group, we support a sharing of experiences. After someone close passes away, those who remain feel alone. In group after hearing someone share an experience or feeling, they realize they are not alone and can relate to the experience. This gives them strength to move forward and insight on how to cope with loss.

"We urge those who are grieving to surround themselves with supportive people, to discuss their grief, and to talk openly about their loved one," added Gula.

The VNA Health System Bereavement Support Group will meet from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Tuesday in the cafeteria at Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital.

The stalwart guards stood watch that day, around a dead man's grave.

Not mindful that He was the Lord;

They stood there, bold and brave, till all at once they fell away without a chance to fight;

For Jesus had returned to life, and vanquished sin's dark night.

The angel band drew near to praise and glorify their King;

They crowded in to worship Him and hallelujahs sing.

For they had longed to comfort Him, as on the cross He hung;

But He bore all the suffering, this Savior, God's own Son.

My sin was pardoned on the tree that held this blessed Christ;

He took the punishment for me and paid sin's awful price.

Only the perfect Lamb of God could love a wretch like me enough to die;

Enough to live, enough to set me free!

The empty tomb, a witness stark that Jesus lived again;

And soldiers fearing for their lives knew Christ was no mere man.

O Jesus Christ, my dearest Friend;

O King of heaven and earth.

Though ages have pass, no tongue can tell the measure of your worth!

- Connie Faust

"He is not here; he has risen, just as he said."

Matthew 28:6

(Faust, of Shamokini, is providing poems for the Lenten season. Read more at www.authorsden.com/conniefaust.)

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Shamokin Area School Board will eliminate a $3.1 million deficit in its next budget by using money from its existing revenue surplus.

The surplus, or fund balance, stood at $7.5 million on June 30, the end of the 2012-13 fiscal year. Nearly $1.8 million is planned for withdrawal to cover the current school year's budget deficit. Add that to the $3.1 million for 2014-15 and the surplus is predicted to dip to $2.6 million.

It's been a steady decline for the surplus over recent years. It had exceeded $10.3 million in 2008.

Expenditures in 2014-15 are projected at $31,928,003 compared $28,755,618 revenue, according to Business Manager Karen Colangelo.

Spending is up $1.9 million compared to 2013-14.

Employee salaries and benefits combined to make up 64.5 percent of projected spending. The budget doesn't account for potential increases since union contracts for teachers and for non-professional employees are expired under negotiation. Terms of the expired contracts remain.

Colangelo gave a presentation on the budget during Tuesday's meeting of the Shamokin Area school board.

She said the district realized a savings of $243,637 in professional services after taking over the education programs at Northwestern Academy. However, the district is charged approximately $109,000 each month for rent at the academy, a fee administrators are seeking to reduce.

Retirement contributions are projected to top $1.7 million, a near 21 percent increase over 2013-14. Those contributions will rise between 24 percent and 30 percent over the following four years.

The school board is expected to adopt a preliminary version of the budget in May and a final version in June.

Lions to deliver Easter meals

MOUNT CARMEL - Members of the Mount Carmel Lions Club will deliver meals on Easter from Divine Redeemer Church's Divine Mercy Hall.

Volunteers and Lions members should report to the hall by way of the Cherry Street entrance.

Tax office closed today, Monday

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Township-Marion Heights Borough tax office will be closed Saturday and Monday. It reopens Tuesday.

Third Degree exemplification planned

KULPMONT - Knights of Columbus Council 4281 in Kulpmont will sponsor a Third Degree Exemplification Sunday, May 18, at Holy Angels Activity Center, Fir Street.

Registration begins at noon. The ceremony starts at 1 p.m. A social and meal will be furnished after the degree at a charge.

Candidates are asked to notify their council's grand knight. He will report the number of candidates and guests attending the degree ceremony.

GORDON - For the 36th year in a row, the traditional "Trek of the Cross" on Good Friday was held in Gordon, moving along the borough streets reenacting the walk of Jesus Christ to Calvary.

One of the participants was Rose Yost, of Gordon, whose late husband, Elmer Yost, began the trek 35 years ago. She was dressed in the traditional garb of the time of Jesus, as were others who participated in the trek.

"It (the trek) honors what Jesus Christ did for each and every one of us," said Yost. "It started in 1979, so Elmer did it from 1979 to 1988, and in 1989, the year he died, Ed Labie took it over in portraying Jesus. He (Labie) had been one of the soldiers all along, so he just stepped into the role."

The tradition began when Elmer Yost picked up a large cross and walked through the streets portraying Jesus Christ to bring the salvation message of Good Friday to Gordon's homebound.

The first year, Yost did the trek by himself. The second year he had a friend come from Allentown as a soldier. On the third year, he rented two soldier costumes.

When he started the trek, Yost was an Allentown resident, but made regular visits to the borough and was a member of Simpson United Methodist Church in Gordon, as well as with a church in Allentown. The pastor at the time was interested in re-enactments and supported Yost in his idea.

Yost had planned to do the trek for 12 years - a year for each Apostle - with the hope that it would continue beyond that time. Shortly after the 10th trek, Yost passed away. In order to complete the intended 12 years of treks, Labie, Yost's nephew, picked up the cross in 1989 for the two remaining years. Those two treks became 21 treks, his last in 2009. In 2010, Frackville resident Jeffrey Nemeth, who is Labie's nephew, picked up the cross to continue the community tradition and the family tradition.

"He (Elmer Yost) wanted to bring the message of Good Friday to the homebound people," said Rose Yost. "Back in the 1970s and 1980s, if you didn't get to church, you really felt bad and felt like you were missing the whole holiday. That's why it started. It's a nice tradition and something to look forward to. "

Friday was the fifth time Nemeth put on the crown of thorns, purple sash and white robe for the trek, carrying the large cross through the streets. As with Yost and Labie, Nemeth walked as Jesus in bare feet.

"This is the first year I didn't grow the beard," said Nemeth, who was sporting a fake beard.

Near Nemeth was his five-year-old son, Jeffrey Jr., who Nemeth hopes will take over for him when he is old enough.

The trek began at 12:15 p.m. from Simpson United Methodist Church, the traditional starting place. The parsonage next to the church was used as the dressing room for Nemeth and the two centurions - Keegan Hubler, of Lavelle, and Brandon Herling, of Hazleton - who provided the Roman guard during the walk. Others who walked behind Jesus dressed in period costume or wore modern clothing.

The trek started from the church on Biddle Street and proceeded east to Hobart Street, where it turned left. The participants walked the entire length of the street, moved west to McKnight Street, walking the length of the street back to Biddle Street, where the trek turned left to end at Simpson UMC. Participants and onlookers entered the church for the 1 p.m. Good Friday service by Pastor John Wallace.

Gordon Fire Police provided traffic control.