MOUNT CARMEL - Picnic in the Park returns for its 18th year Thursday through Saturday, with a parade, fireworks and plenty of entertainment, food and games on tap.

The popular event sponsored by Mount Carmel Volunteer Emergency Services Association Inc. (MCVESA) is scheduled for 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, and 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday at town park.

Kristina Baluta, treasurer of MCVESA, who is spearheading the event with volunteer firefighter Eric Troutman, said donations to support firefighters and other emergency services personnel are welcome and can be made at the picnic.

"We are hoping for a good turnout and great weather," Baluta said. "There will be great entertainment, food and games and all proceeds will benefit the fire companies and charitable organizations."

Entertainment lineup

"Motivation Station" will perform several dance routines at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at the gazebo. A concert by the Shoreliners is set for 7 to 10 p.m.

On Friday, Marla and the Juniper Street Band will play from 7 to 11 p.m.

Haela will perform at the picnic from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, followed by Red Halo from 7 to 11 p.m.

Parade, truck housing

Saturday's parade will begin about 5 p.m. on Chestnut Street and move through the downtown area before ending at Anthracite Fire Company, where a housing ceremony for the company's new ladder truck and a building dedication will be conducted. Trophies in various categories will be awarded.

Fireworks will be set off at about 10:05 p.m. Saturday from the top of the coal bank overlooking the Anthracite Baseball Field (see separate story).

13 vendors

Thirteen local vendors will be at the park throughout the three-day picnic, along with a bounce house and kids' games.

Other attractions include Smokey the Bear and Gym Starz, a gymnastics group that will perform Saturday.

Baluta said if enough interest is generated, a pumping contest and water barrel tug-of-war will be held Friday night. Baluta said an out-of-town fireman's challenge may be held Saturday.

Parking restrictions for the parade will be in effect from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Parking will be prohibited on Chestnut Street between Second and Fourth streets.

Participants at this year's picnic include American Hose and Chemical Fire Engine Company, Anthracite Steam Fire Engine Company, Strong Fire Company, Mount Carmel Fire Police, Clover Hose Company, Wilburton Hose Company, Beaverdale Fire Company, A-Z Concessions, Catholic Daughters of the Americas, Mount Carmel Elks, Gym Starz, Mount Carmel National Historical Society and Think Big, a charitable organization that will hold a bake sale all three days.

Anyone seeking information about the picnic should call Baluta at 570-933-4693.

SHAMOKIN - The Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual Duck Drop fundraiser is set for Sunday.

The chamber hosts the event in conjunction with a visit by the North American Railcar Operators Association, which brings its "speeder" and "put-put" cars to the downtown.

The railcars are displayed from 11 a.m. to noon and the Duck Drop is at 12:30 p.m.

The plastic ducks are dropped into the Shamokin Creek in an area along Water Street behind the OIP Restaurant. The race ends at Claude Kehler Community Park, where representatives from the chamber and Shamokin Creek Restoration Alliance stop the ducks and determine the winners.

Prizes for the fastest ducks are $300, $200 and $100. Tickets, at $5 each, will be sold the day of the event.

The public is welcome to join the chamber and the railcar association to take part in the family fun activities.

The chamber thanks its prize sponsors, M&T Bank, Family Home Medical, The Housing Authority of Northumberland County, Olvany Insurance Agency and VNA Health System.

WILLIAMSPORT - A settlement has been reached in a 2012 lawsuit filed by a local meat market against an Indiana company claiming its mistake cost $70,000 in products.

The suit, filed by Irish Isle Provision Co. Inc., Shamokin, in U.S. District Court, Williamsport, claimed Polar Leasing Co. Inc. set up a mobile walk-in freezer to instead operate as a refrigeration unit, causing the loss.

Irish Isle, owned by Earl Sheriff, was asking for a judgment for lost inventory, lost profits and benefits, lost future profits and benefits, humiliation, emotional distress and other relief as deemed appropriate.

On July 15, U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann issued an order stating the matter has been settled. He said the action is dismissed without costs and prejudice to the right of either party.

According to court documents filed by Irish Isle attorney Richard J. Callahan, Williamsport, the Coal Township firm decided to repair the floor of its walk-in freezer in May 2011 and contacted Polar Leasing to inquire about rental or lease of a mobile walk-in freezer.

A deal was struck, with Sheriff saying in the filing that before and after the agreement was executed, an agent of Polar Leasing assured him that if anything went wrong or losses were sustained because of renting the unit, Polar would "make it right."

The freezer was delivered June 3, 2011, and a Polar agent checked it to make sure it was operating properly, assuring Sheriff that it was. Employees then transferred the store's frozen inventory to the leased unit that same day, the suit states.

Two days later, Sheriff checked on the mobile freezer and discovered it was not operating to the agreed-upon specifications.

Irish Isle claims it suffered losses of inventory and customer base because of not having sufficient inventory, and was not able to obtain replacement inventory, thereby losing more customers.

Irish Isle also claimed that it lost a favorable credit rating with local banks, and the incident damaged the business's reputation.

The suit charged Polar Leasing with breach of contract, negligence, negligent misrepresentations and fraud.

SHAMOKIN TOWNSHIP - Roadwork was the topic of discussion in the township Wednesday, when supervisors chose to maintain a different set of roads this year.

In a special meeting, the board approved a plan to put down a new type of dust control coating on Olive, Friedline and Oak roads this year.

"This is just like putting down oil, except we don't need to put down stone or chips, and it sets up rather quickly," said township roadmaster Jon Clements. "The only downside is that the material has to be put down at night."

The cost of doing all three roads is about $14,000, compared to a $28,000 cost for oil and chipping. On a Paul Rapp/Greg Rachau motion, the purchase and maintenance plan was approved on a 3-0 vote with Rapp, Rachau and John Klinger voting yes.

Money for the purchase will come from the township's road paving budget since supervisors rejected the only bid they received.

Projects that were scheduled for this year include seal coating and skin patching on Hosta, Old Reading and Larch roads, prime coating and seal coating on Spruce and Cactus roads and seal coating on a 150-foot patch on Linden Road.

According to a PennDOT estimate, the projects should have cost $155,182.90 to do, but the only bid came in at $194,810.56 from Midland Asphalt Materials, of Bloomsburg.

Solicitor Jim Bathgate told the supervisors they had two options: reject the bids or rebid the project. Clements told the supervisors there is no more time to rebid and do the project since all paving, per PennDOT directive, must be done by Sept. 15. Supervisors then elected to wait until next year.

In other business, the board unanimously voted to allow Northumberland County to sell a property along Route 61 at a county repository sale and to spend $1,500 to have Rose Road surveyed to established the township road's right-of-way, due to a possible future conflict over the road's usage.

Shamokin-Coal Township

Monday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; poker game, 9:30 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; world news, noon; crafts, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; walk a mile, 9:30 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; world news, noon; bridge, noon, bridge lessons, 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; bridge lessons, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; pinochle and Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; walk a mile, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10:30 a.m.; Linda Walker, Focus Health, will speak at noon on "civility," with nickle bingo following.

Friday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; yoga, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10:30 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; nickel bingo, noon.

Saturday - Cards, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Mount Carmel

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

Tuesday - Morning cup of coffee, 9 a.m.; favorite game show, 11 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; pinochle, 12:15 p.m.; Unlucky 7s, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Morning cup of coffee, 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.; favorite TV show, 11 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; pinochle, 12:15 p.m.

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

Kulpmont

Monday - Coffee and gab in the morning; bean bag, 10:30 a.m.; Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Exercise in the morning; cards, noon; Wii bowling, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Games in the morning; walk the hall after lunch; computer lessons, 12:30 p.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Games in the morning; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii bowling and bean bag in the morning; Linda Walker speaking on "diabetes," noon, with nickel bingo following.

Centralia-Wilburton

Monday - Center closed. Training class/safe serve.

Tuesday - Exercise with Carol Burton, 10 a.m.; bell ringers practice, 10:30 a.m.

Wednesday - Coffee and chatter, 9 a.m.; reminisce, 10:30 a.m.

Thursday - Pokeno, 10:30 a.m.

Friday - Fun Friday! Open activities.

Elysburg

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

Wednesday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; royal rummy, 10 a.m.; Bob Schaffer speaking on "highway safety," 11 a.m.; bingo, noon.

Thursday - Trip to Country Cupboard.

Friday - Line dancing, 9:30 a.m.; crafts, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle, noon.

Trevorton

Monday - Breakfast, 8:30 a.m.; Wal-Mart, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; evening card party, 7 p.m.

Tuesday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; Scrabble, 10:30 a.m.; evening bingo, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Exercise, 10:30 a.m.; 10 Keys program "Stop Smoking," 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Hawaii beach party, please sign up at the center and bring a covered dish.

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

HARRISBURG - In an ongoing effort to provide added professionalism to the office of sheriff, the Pennsylvania Sheriffs Association, working in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Local Government Commission, the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, reached one of its goals when House Bill 1772, now Act 114 of 2014, was signed July 9.

The association has been working on legislation to provide training for sheriffs and a certification and decertification process. Act 114 provides training, waiver training and continuing education for sheriffs and deputy sheriffs throughout the state. This training is at no cost to taxpayers, but instead is funded by a portion of the fees collected by the sheriff's office on legal documents they serve.

"There was a time in Pennsylvania when many of the individuals elected to the office of sheriff had no law enforcement background, but that simply isn't the case anymore," said executive director Bob Wollyung. "Now, all but a handful of sheriffs are either former deputies or police officers, former chiefs of police or former members of the state police. This legislation recognizes those changes."

Ray Gerringer, current president of the sheriffs association, credits the work of people "behind the scenes" in getting the law enacted. "This will go a long way to show that sheriffs and their deputies have a legitimate place among the law enforcement agencies of this commonwealth," he said.

CATAWISSA R.R. - Southern Columbia Area School District faces a tripling of its insurance costs for interscholastic sports because three football players who were injured last year didn't have their own health insurance.

The school board voted 7-1 Monday to name AIG as the district's interscholastic insurance provider at a annual premium of $36,991. Last year, the district paid $13,000 for the coverage.

Board directors discussed the issue for 30 minutes after business manager Michael Sokoloski told them he received other initial insurance quotes of $49,000.

"No one has seen an increase in the premium like this," Sokoloski said. "We just had a bad year."

Charlene Cove said she couldn't understand why the problem occurred since the policy only covers those participating in contact sports, such as football.

"We really need to have more injury prevention programs to prevent this," Cove said.

She also suggested the money to pay the premium, which is primarily used to cover injuries of athletes who don't have insurance, should come from the athletic budget.

"We would simply be putting the money in anyway," board president Michael Yeager said. "Gate receipts don't cover the athletic budget."

Charlie Porter cast the lone dissenting vote, pointing out the cost is about the equivalent of a starting teacher's salary.

"We should be out of the insurance business," Porter said. "This is $36,000 that we are taking out of the classroom for between one to three students who could probably get insurance on their own."

Voting for the insurance provided were board members Yeager, John Yocum, Tim Vought, Thomas Reich, Joe Klebon, Cove and Gail Zambor Schuerch. The board will look into adopting a policy next year to require students to have insurance before participating in a contact sport.

In other business:

- The board approved the second payment of $1,526,801.80 to McClure Company for the guaranteed energy savings building project. Board officials said the project is moving forward and is about 50 percent complete.

- The board, by an 8-0 vote, approved a sports medicine services agreement with Geisinger Medical Center for athletic training services from Aug. 1 to May 31 at a cost of $37,955.50, medical service agreement with Geisinger for coverage at home football games and physical examinations at a cost of $2,913, and a service provider agreement with Valley Rehabilitation for occupational and physical therapy services for a one-year contract at a rate of $65 per hour for a therapy session or $45 an hour if done by a therapy assistant.

- Resignations were accepted for middle school teacher Cheyanne Coladonato and middle school math teacher Nicholas Bender.

- The board approved the yearly lists of security personnel and athletic/activities personnel and volunteers for the 2014-15 school year.

- A contract was awarded to Koppy's Propane Inc. of Williamstown, for 155,000 gallons of liquid propane at a price of $1.625 per gallon for the coming year.

MOUNT CARMEL - Cindy Saukaitis, president, conducted the July meeting of the Carmelite 50 Plus Club. After she welcomed the nine officers and members in attendance, the group recited the Pledge of Allegiance, the Senior Adult Ministry and Saint Mother Pauline prayers and sang the Over 50 song and a verse of "America."

Members also said prayers for deceased and sick members of the club, for the safety of troops and for victims of bad weather and tornadoes.

Maria Kaminski, secretary, read the minutes of the previous meeting, which were approved and place on file on a motion by Arlene Terry and Lois Sejurst. Al Visintainer gave the treasury report, which was approved on a motion by terry and Theresa Zosh Yanonis and made available for audit.

The 50/50 was won by Terry and Yanonis.

The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Sejurst and Terry.

The next meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Aug. 14 at Village Towne restaurant.

CATAWISSA RR - A two-year vacancy on the Southern Columbia Area School Board prompted a discussion on the format for electing board members.

In making note of the empty position, board president Michael Yeager suggested during Monday night's board meeting electing all nine members through at-large voting.

Currently, Southern elects two representatives from each of three regions, one for Ralpho Township, another for Catawissa Borough or Catawissa Township and the third for Cleveland, Franklin, Locust and Roaring Creek townships. Beginning with the 2013 election, the other three seats are filled district-wide.

The vacant seat is for the Catawissa region.

Yeager said that with five months remaining before nomination petition process for the next board election, now is a good time to think about changing the voting system.

"We've had the discussion with the township people, we've advertised and we have never gotten to the point that we could fill the vacant seat," Yeager said.

Yeager asked the board for a consensus vote to have solicitor Rich Roberts draft a resolution changing all of the seats to at-large, like Shamokin Area and Mount Carmel Area. Line Mountain also uses the three-region system of equal representation.

Timothy Vought, Joe Klebon and Thomas Reich all spoke in favor of electing all nine board members at large.

Charlene Cove said she favors having each area represented and suggested having one seat for each of the three regions, with six at-large seats.

Charlie Porter, board vice president and one of the representatives from the rural townships, agreed with Cove.

"The residents of the rural townships need a voice at the table here," Porter said. "If the demographics were the same across the area, I would feel differently, but it's not."

"I don't think it's fair to go to an all at-large system, because people will be lost in the shuffle," Gail Zambor Schuerch said.

With John Yocum also favoring one seat for each region and six at-large seats, the board appeared divided at 4-4, although no official vote was taken.

"We were only asking for Rich to draft the resolution, but it has to be specific as to which plan we are undertaking," Yeager said.

"If we are at 4-4, there's no point in paying the solicitor to draft either of them," member Timothy Vought said.

Anyone who lives in the Catawissa Township or Borough area who would like to serve on the school board in the still vacant seat can contact the district office at 570-356-2331 or 570-672-2983 for more information. The term for that seat expires in December 2015.

Stone fruit recall

CARLISLE - Following a recall by Wawona Packing Company, GIANT Food Stores LLC and MARTIN'S Food Markets announced it removed from sale its organic peaches and nectarines and certain Orchard Perfect peaches, nectarines and plums due to the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes.

The following products are included in this recall: Organic Nectarines, PLU 94378; Organic Peaches, PLU 94044; Orchard Perfect Nectarines, PLU 4378 and PLU 4036; Orchard Perfect Peaches, PLU 4044 and PLU 4038; Orchard Perfect White Peaches, PLU 4401; Orchard Perfect Black Plums, PLU 4040; and Orchard Perfect White Nectarines, PLU 3035.

GIANT/MARTIN'S has received no reports of illnesses to date. Listeria is a common organism found in nature. Consumption of food contaminated with Listeriamonocytogenes can cause listeriosis, an uncommon but potentially fatal disease.

Healthy people rarely contract listeriosis. However, listeriosis can cause high fever, severe headache, neck stiffness and nausea. Listeriosis can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths, as well as serious and sometimes fatal infections in those with weakened immune systems, such as infants, the elderly and persons with HIV infection or undergoing chemotherapy.

Customers who purchased the fruit between June 1 and July 21 should discard any unused portions and bring their purchase receipt to GIANT/MARTIN'S for a full refund.

Consumers looking for additional information on the recall may call Wawona Packing Company at 1-888-232-9912. In addition customers may call GIANT/MARTIN'S Customer Service at 1-888-814-4268 for more information. Customers can also visit the GIANT/MARTIN'S websites at www.giantfoodstores.com or www.martinsfood.com.

One last audition for ACT show

MOUNT CARMEL - One last audition - at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at First United Methodist Church, 46 N. Hickory St. - will be held by Anthracite Citizens Theatre for the "ACT Review Show."

The show will be a collection of numbers from past ACT shows. Participants should go to www.actheatre.org, look through the list of past productions and then audition with their favorite song.

The show will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 17, at Mount Carmel Area High School. Rehearsals will be at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, and Friday, Aug. 15.

For more information, call 570-276-6603.

MOUNT CARMEL - The Shamokin Creek Flood Control Project has been delayed several weeks due to the discovery of "weathered fuel oil" from a bygone gas company.

John Bucanelli, project engineer for the $14 million project, said a crew discovered the substance along Water Street, just west of Vine Street, three weeks ago as they prepared the land for a concrete channel.

Don E. Bower Inc., the primary contractor, was forced to move the construction area slightly upstream, to an area just east of Vine Street. The change meant moving temporary dams, pumps, large pipes and heavy machinery. The crew is currently moving utilities and preparing the area for the channel as the oil is removed.

Bucanelli said the oil has been in the ground for quite some time; however, UGI, which has a pipeline and property in the vicinity, took the initiative to address it.

"UGI stepped up and took responsibility; however, there is no negligence on their part," Bucanelli said. "They already hired a team to clean it up."

Although the discovery set the project back a few

steps, Bucanelli said snags in projects of this magnitude often occur and can't be predicted.

The project includes building on-site or installing pre-cast channel walls for nearly a mile, building new bridges at North Walnut and North Chestnut streets, and constructing an open pool and levy system that will break the flow of the water near the Silver Bowl stadium at the west end of the borough. The targeted completion date is Feb. 29, 2016.

"We have been delayed a little bit, but progress is not far off track," Bucanelli said. "Right now, the contractor has completed the lower end, near the stadium."

Will lower insurance

The new channel is intended to increase water capacity, which should keep nearly 100 houses along Water Street and surrounding streets safe from flooding. Former state Rep. Bob Belfanti and borough council pushed for funding for years. Their efforts came to fruition with a groundbreaking April 12, 2013.

Along with preventing flooding, Bucanelli said the new channel will redefine the flood zone, which is anticipated to lower - or eliminate altogether - flood insurance costs for area property owners.

According to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) maps, most homes in the north end of Mount Carmel are in a flood zone. Flood insurance rates are based upon where a base flood elevation is located in a flood zone. The elevation is determined by flood insurance rate maps prepared by FEMA.

"If you are 18 inches above the elevation, you can get flood insurance for a couple hundred dollars a year," Bucanelli said. "Insurance rates go up astronomically if you are below base flood elevation."

A homeowner can be charged as much as $1,000 per year for every foot their home is below the flood base elevation, meaning a home that is eight feet below elevation could be charged $8,000.

"None of those homeowners (living along Shamokin Creek) would be able to sell their properties because the flood insurance would cost more than the house. It could wipe out a significant portion of the tax base," Bucanelli said. "The key is how the project is going to save a big portion of the borough."

Bucanelli said the area will be reassessed by FEMA when the project is completed.

COAL TOWNSHIP - One person was injured in a two-car collision that occurred around noon Wednesday on Route 61 just east of Shamokin.

Coal Township police said an unidentified male was unconscious when they arrived on the scene after the man's black Ford F150 was struck by a beige Chevrolet Equinox driven by Lewis Anthony Jordan, of 474 Frack St., Frackville.

Jordan, who was uninjured, was attempting to move from the left lane into the right to make an off-ramp when the rear of his vehicle collided with the front of the truck. The truck then swerved and slammed into the cement divider.

Police said the unidentified male regained consciousness while being treated. He was transported via ambulance.

"I hope he isn't hurt," said Jordan, who was shaken but able to drive from the scene.

Charges of improper lane change are pending against Jordan.

HARRISBURG - U.S. prosecutors have responded to a former Mount Carmel police officer's claims that ineffective counsel led to his conviction and prison sentence for child pornography possession.

In a 13-page brief filed July 16, Assistant U.S. Attorney James T. Clancy wrote that claims made by Blaine Handerhan do not follow the standards and rulings set by a 1984 case.

According to case law, Clancy wrote in the brief, ineffective assistance by counsel claims requires the filer to establish that the performance of counsel fell below the objective standard of reasonableness and that the errors of counsel prejudiced the defense.

Handerhan, he said, proved neither.

The former police lieutenant is locked up at a federal prison in Fort Dix, N.J., after pleading guilty to a charge of possession of child pornography, a plea he says he gave reluctantly due to the stress of defending himself against the allegations. Police say more than 147,000 images and 1,200 video files were discovered on his personal computer at his home in Swatara Township, Lebanon County. Handerhan says peer-to-peer file sharing software allowed remote access to his machine. He was sentenced in August 2012 to serve eight years.

Handerhan's appeal filed in February includes allegations that attorney Matthew Gover failed to file motions to dispute the legality of a search warrant and to suppress statements made to police allegedly given in violation of his Miranda rights. Gover gave up law altogether while Handerhan's case headed toward sentencing after Gover was diagnosed with brain cancer, according to the appeal.

The U.S. Attorney answered Handerhan's claims about the wrong address on the search warrant by saying that although Handerhan's residence is in Swatara Township, it has a Jonestown mailing address, obtained through his Internet provider.

Handerhan also claimed his defense attorney should have made a motion to suppress statements made during the execution of the search warrants. Clancy argued that despite the statements, that was not the basis for the case.

"The driving force behind the guilty plea was the overwhelming forensic evidence gathered pursuant to the validly obtained search warrant," he wrote in his brief.

Handerhan will have a chance to respond to the U.S. Attorney's argument before a federal judge will rule on the petition for a new trial and the overturning of his conviction and sentencing.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Margaret Forbes, president, conducted a meeting of the Council of Catholic Women of Our Lady of Hope Church. The meeting opened with a prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel and recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.

An announcement was made that the deanery meeting will be held at 2 p.m. Sept. 21 at Our Lady of Hope. All are invited. A menu was presented for a meal that will be served.

The dinner for priests, nuns and deacons will be held in October. More information will be announced.

Members were informed that Sister Delores will be leaving the area and will move to Philadelphia. They decided to give her a monetary gift.

The Rev. Frank Karwacki will celebrate his anniversary at the Ranshaw Fire Company. The celebration will be held Oct. 7 with an open house from 4 to 9 p.m.

The meeting closed with individual prayers and 10 Hail Marys.

The council's next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 16.

SUNBURY - A $750,000 private settlement is sought by the widow of a Shamokin man who committed suicide in June inside Northumberland County Prison.

If a settlement is not reached, a federal lawsuit will be filed within 30 days.

Attorneys Kymberley Best and Tim Bowers made the demand in a letter sent Tuesday to prison board members on behalf of Hope Lewis, 38. Her husband, Cyrus, 34, hung himself inside a cell on June 15.

Best said she knows prison staff failed to follow suicide prevention policy and procedures because she helped craft them herself when she worked as a county solicitor.

"I'd really like the residents, the commissioners and members of the prison board to know that we're way past measuring these lawsuits in dollar amounts; they're now measured in lives," Best said Wednesday, referencing another lawsuit by the family of a suicide victim.

Lewis was jailed June 9 following an attempted vehicle theft in Shamokin.

was addicted to alcohol and heroin, and was in withdrawal, his wife, Hope, told The News-Item on June 30.

Lewis was on 30-minute checks of his jail cell. Prison Warden Roy Johnson said previously that Lewis was found with a bedsheet wrapped around his neck from a windowsill 27 minutes after the last check. The duty nurse responded and checked Lewis' vitals. A defibrillator and CPR were used in attempts to revive him until ambulance personnel arrived. He was pronounced dead at Sunbury Community Hospital. Johnson had said it's likely Lewis died before he was found.

Johnson would not comment in the days after the suicide on whether or not Lewis was on suicide watch, citing federal privacy regulations.

There are two enhanced levels of supervision - constant supervision and 15-minute checks - for inmates believed to be at risk or in withdrawal. Those inmates would be provided smocks designed to prevent hanging.

Best said prison staff erred in placing her client's late husband on anything but a suicide watch. He shouldn't have had a bedsheet and he should have been on constant video surveillance. Had he been placed on watch, she said he would have had immediate access to a psychiatrist.

There are circumstances where a person intent on committing suicide will carry that out, Best acknowledged. Often it comes as a surprise. There was no surprise in Lewis' case, Best said.

Lewis had admitted having attempted to kill himself when he crashed Hope Lewis' stolen vehicle a week prior, his wife said previously. Best said it had been recommended by hospital staff that Lewis be taken for inpatient psychiatric help.

Best said the current suicide policies in place came as a result of a 2010 settlement with the Lewisburg Prison Project in the wake of the 2006 suicide of Ryan Francis.

It was seven years before the next suicide, when Andrew W. Beers, 27, of Paxinos, hung himself inside the prison in August 2013. His family has also filed a lawsuit.

Johnson has come under fire by county Commissioners Stephen Bridy and Vinny Clausi for two suicides having occurred within 10 months, among other issues. Johnson has defended his staff and has said policy was correctly followed.

Best said the $750,000 figure is based on awards from other jury trials with similar circumstances.

Hope Lewis was unavailable for further comment after being advised by Best to withhold speaking to the media considering the potential litigation.

SHAMOKIN - A yellow Labrador retriever running loose in a Perry County park is corralled for its owner by a young mother and her children.

Cyrus Lewis let Nico off its leash on purpose. What better way to meet the woman he spied from his front porch than with a little help from man's best friend?

Hope Schildt thought it was sweet. She hardly knew that was the day she met her husband.

Theirs was a tumultuous relationship - off and on for 15 years. Cyrus struggled with an addiction to drugs and alcohol. Hope figured his longest stretch of sobriety was about 2½ years. The other years were marked by stints in jail, thefts from her home, overdoses and threats of suicide.

Cyrus wanted unconditional love and a family of his own. Hope offered it. But she long ago cautioned him that he needed to put the work in himself. She could get past his addictions. If only he would commit, she believed he could get past them, too. He couldn't.

Cyrus, 34, hung himself with a bedsheet inside a jail cell at Northumberland County Prison. It was Father's Day, June 15.

Hope, 38, blames Cyrus for relapsing on heroin and for putting himself in jail. But she would later blame jail staff for failing to see the warning signs, and for failing to protect Cyrus from himself. (See separate story.)

"I wanted to fix him. He was an amazing man when he was sober," Hope told The News-Item inside her Shamokin home on June 30, three days after receiving his cremains.

A large collage of photos, a small album and other framed photos of Cyrus, Hope and family lay on a dining room table. Hope points to several: together at the New York-New York Hotel in Las Vegas, dressed in formal wear at a wedding, at a New Year's Eve celebration in Harrisburg. One shows Cyrus, Hope and daughter Darrien at the circus. Another shows Cyrus holding his granddaughter, Serenity.

On a shelf mounted onto a wall nearby sits his urn. It resembles an ages-old book, the kind long tucked away on a library shelf. It's closed, his story completed. Inscribed on its front is: "If love could have saved you, you would have lived forever."

"No matter how much you love that person or how much you want them to change," Hope said, "if they don't want to change, they're not going to."

'He's gone'

Hope and Cyrus never had any children of their own. Hope already had three from other relationships. Cyrus had two, she said. But Cyrus was like a father to Hope's two youngest, especially Darrien, now 16. It was how he treated Darrien early on that convinced Hope she was in love.

When Hope's eldest daughter gave birth in September, she said Cyrus relished the role of grandfather. He liked how it caught others off guard given his age. Hope had clung to the idea that it may inspire Cyrus to seek treatment.

Hope and Cyrus lived in Sunbury about seven years before moving to Shamokin just over one year ago. Cyrus didn't keep a long-term job. Hope said he often clashed with bosses, believing jobs he had held were beneath him. He had a knack for fixing cars and electronics, though, and was a natural tinkerer, dreaming up inventions he hoped would turn a buck. He put together a wooden box with an amplifier and speaker that connects to a cell phone, and gave it to Darrien as a gift. She's held onto it.

In Darrien's eyes, her own view of Cyrus is more balanced. Maybe more angry, her mother said.

Whenever Cyrus would drink, his mood would sour. Many trips were spoiled by booze, Darrien said. She remembers socking him in the face once when he was drunk. He didn't respond. But in the days before his death, he grabbed her by the arm. It hurt. She accused him of being high. They argued. She told him she didn't want to see or hear from him. That was the last time they spoke.

"She needs to stop only seeing the good and see the bad," Darrien said.

"He's gone," Hope said, "I only want to see the good."

But Darrien remembers good, too. She remembers Cyrus reluctantly waking up to make her pierogies overnight when she had a craving. She remembers his sense of humor and a shared taste in hip hop. There was the box he invented, too. He also took care of the maintenance on her car.

She loved Cyrus and she'll miss him, but she said she won't miss the person he became when he was drunk or high.

Drugs, alcohol

Alcohol would be a demon in Cyrus' life from the start of his relationship with Hope. She and Darrien both said beer wasn't at issue. If he was drinking beer, he was OK. It was liquor that made him moody.

Heroin use was more sporadic. He was good at keeping it to himself, Hope said. In June, it became obvious. Cyrus stole $1,400 on a Saturday. That day he crashed Hope's car along Route 901 in Coal Township and was arrested on suspicion of intoxication. Hope spoke to him twice after the crash. Both times he indicated he was trying to kill himself.

By Monday, the money was gone. He broke into a Shamokin tattoo parlor that night and was busted not 30 minutes later trying to steal a pickup truck. It was the start of his last trip to jail.

The day before his suicide, a Saturday, Cyrus had scheduled a visit at the prison with Hope. She couldn't make it. She was working a double shift at a nursing home. Even if she could make it, she said she wouldn't have gone. She was still too angry.

"You can hate the addiction. It doesn't mean that you hate the person," she said. "I'm left here to pick up the pieces, so, yeah, I'm very angry at him. But I still love him."

Hope wonders if Cyrus was angry, too, that she didn't show. He didn't know she had to work two shifts. There was no good way to get him the message. Maybe she should have called the prison, she said. It's one of several regrets.

The next night as she drove to work, she got a phone call. It was a strange number. She ignored it. She ignored it several times more before answering. It was the police. She was told to drive to Sunbury Community Hospital. There she learned Cyrus was dead. It came as a shock, she said, but in a way, it was expected.

Carried guilt

Cyrus had a history of mental health issues, Hope said. He made several attempts on his life, and he never took the medication that was prescribed to help. He wasn't averse to hurting himself for pain medication, she said. She thinks his addiction was partly a result of his mental health, and partly an excuse. Whatever the reason, she believes he couldn't stand to face the guilt he held with how he treated those he loved.

"My thinking is he wasn't trying to be selfish, he was trying to figure out how to stop hurting us. This was his only answer, because he couldn't control anything else," Hope said.

It hasn't stopped the pain, it's brought on a new pain - a lot of anger and regret.

There are many more pictures of the two. There's one of Cyrus passed out drunk in a lawn chair at a Fourth of July celebration. Hope keeps that as a reminder of the complexity of their relationship.

Complex, too, is the meaning behind a photo of Cyrus using heavy machinery to crush a favorite vehicle, his Ford Econoline. He used the van to escape whenever addiction called. After an arrest last year, Hope gave an ultimatum: his family or the van. Cyrus chose family.

One last photo is of Hope and Cyrus together at Knoebels Amusement Resort. It was taken in late May on their seven-year wedding anniversary. Cyrus was sober that day. Hope remembers it fondly, and wonders how, in just two weeks, everything spiraled out of control.

"It doesn't just affect them - the suicide, the drugs, the alcohol," Hope said of addicts. "It's not just them taking away their pain. They're adding pain to their loved ones.

"There's no way for us to deal with what (they've) done unless we want to become an addict or a drunk," she said. "It's left in our hearts, in our memories. I don't think they realize with what they're doing, what kind of heartache and pain they've left behind."

COAL TOWNSHIP - The following memorials were received by Our Lady of Lourdes School in May and June.

In honor of:

Vietnam veterans from Mr and Mrs. Edward Madden.

In memory of:

Margaret "Peg" Almeida from Mike, Rita and Michelle Albert, Billy and Betty Ann Corrigan.

Antoinette Bach Scholarship Fund from Jeff Beaver.

Lawrence J. Bartol from Simone Bartol McCaffrey.

Steven Billas from Mary Carole Starke.

Michael and Anna Bodner from Barbara Bodner.

Julia Bordell from Marion and Chet Stesney, Joann Higgins, Bill and Virginia Korbich.

Tanya Scandle-Broscious from Joannie and Don Yuricich, Joan Kelley, Dave and Joann Shinskie.

Salvadore and Leonora Cherry from Mr. and Mrs. Robert and Lenore Kealey.

Jeffrey Concannon from Jim Flanagan.

Alberta M. Dapra from Christine Hudson.

Stephanie Dennis from Mary Carole Starke.

Joseph "Jazz" Diminick from Bill and Virginia Korbich.

Stephen J. Dormer from Rocco and Forchy Roma.

Robert B. Fanella from Joan Kelley.

Eugene Fleming from Marian Edmondson, Mike Dormer, Michael White, Mary Kern, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Christiana, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Kovack, Rose Koshinski and Peggy Haigh, Jim and Peggy Haigh, Joann Higgins, Mr. and Mrs. Garth Rice, Mr. and Mrs. Walter Fidler, Helen Bednar, SCI Coal Township Employee Recreation Association, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Mengle.

Andrew and Angela George from Andrew J. George.

Louis R. Girolami from Mr. and Mrs. Richard Weikel, Dennis and Barb Reiprish.

John Glowa from Joannie and Don Yuricich.

Eve and Oliver Grace from Patricia Grace.

Francis "Motto" Gurski from Mike and Rita Timco, Andy and Ann Marie Slodysko.

William Holland from Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ludes

Ramona Jacoski from Alex Jacoski, Jr.

Christine (Vinitskie) Jimison from Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Krushinski and Alan, Jim Krushinski, Leon J. Krushinski, Jr., Drew Krushinski, Mr. and Mrs. Leon Krushinski.

The Jones Family from Tom and Darlene Jones

Dr. Courtney Jones from Marion and Chet Stesney, Kate (Lizzul) Zimmerman and family, John and Racquel Lizzul, Barbara Lizzul, Jim Flanagan, Ann and John Benedict, Sarah Kanaskie, Constance Fabrizio, Theresa Fleming and Ann Weikel, Mr. and Mrs. Marcus Boyle, John Witkowski, Mrs. Constance M. Martini, Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas Catino, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Rosini, Alberta and Mary Ann Sickora, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Sickora, Virginia and Bill Korbich, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Ludes, Don and Joannie Yuricich, Howard and Theresa Sandri, Leo and Mary Mulhall, Don and Marian Myers, Don and Shannon Myers, Julian and Kelly (Stesney) Watson, Dave and Joann Shinkie, Edward Madden, Phyllis Barrett, Barbara Yuricich, Dennis and Barb Reiprish.

Cecilia Kieski from Albert Kieski, Ed Kieski and family (Matt and Meghan).

Harry V. Klein Jr. from Hannah K. Klein.

Joseph W. Kleinschmidt from Theresa Fleming, Mr. and Mrs. Gene Garancheski.

Lee Korbich from Aaron and Marisa Yoder.

Rosalie (Winters) Kuzo from Helen Winhofer.

Valerie Leavens from Bill and Virginia Korbich, Mr. and Mrs. John Pasierb, Ann and John Benedict, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Christiana, Barb and Dennis Reiprish, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Wurster, Andy and Ann Marie Slodysko, Joe, Judy, Adriana and Christopher Brokus, Bill Gibbons, Sean Gibbons.

Betty Mackel from Mary Frances Novey, Ed and Adeline Zyla, Kathy and Stuart Herridge, Linda and Mike Sowash.

Jean Malinowski from Constance Fabrizio.

Nancy D. Markovich from Bobbe and Shirley Pasierb, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schetroma.

Mary Mikulanas from Constance Fabrizio.

Elizabeth "Betty" Morgan from Joannie and Don Yuricich, John and Joanne McKay, Angela Haitzel, Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Reiprish, Barb and Dennis Reiprish, Andy and Ann Marie Slodysko, Theresa Olcese, Joan Kelley.

Louise Nestico from Joannie and Don Yuricich, Mr. and Mrs. Bryant Farrence, Chet and Marion Stesney, Barbara Lizzul, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Piaseczny, Mr. and Mrs. Gerard Kline, Pat and Chuck Sosnoskie, Terri and Mike Davis, Gary and Carol Varano, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Christ, Joann Higgins.

Alvera Pernonace from Connie Fabrizio.

Joseph Rado from Joannie and Don Yuricich, Bill and Virginia Korbich, Don and Sharon (Mulhall) Betz, Don and Marian Myers, Leo and Mary Mulhall, Barbara Lizzul and Sarah Kanaskie.

Joseph "Pappy" Reidinger from Kathy and Angelica Masser.

John Reiprish from Marie Sieklicki Labanoski.

Mary "Mamie" Roma from Mr. and Mrs. Earl V. Peckne, Sr., Rocco and Forchy Roma, Anna Bruno.

Eleanor L. Shebelski from Maria Scheithauer, Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Defalco, Sylvia Kapushinski, Patricia Nevis, Bryan McSurdy, Jean Sobotor and family, Richard and Ann Weikel, Mrs. Elizabeth Reiprish and family, John and Joanne McKay, the Brokus family, Connie Fabrizio, Kathy and Angelica Masser.

Marge Sinkovich from Joann Higgins.

Mary Ann Slaby from Joann Higgins.

Elizabeth "Betty" Stauffenberg from Joannie and Don Yuricich, Joan Kelley, Joann Higgins, Blaschak Coal Corporation.

Tom Strausser from Kay Conway Strausser.

Donna Van Shura from Andy and Ann Marie Slodysko, Dorothea Yancoski.

Kathleen (Kudgie) York from Laura Zevetski, Mary Ann Balonis.

Mariann T. Zarkowski from Helen Pavis, Vincent Kleman.

SUNBURY - More than $22.8 million in court costs dating to 1965 is owed to Northumberland County, and an effort is underway to collect it.

Officials don't expect to get nearly all of it, but personnel in the prothonotary, adult probation and sheriff offices say they are determined to recover as much as possible.

A group of eight adult probation officers and deputy sheriffs collected approximately $3,500 of it by canvassing different parts of Northumberland County Wednesday and Thursday. In addition to collecting the money and lifting approximately 15 warrants, authorities were able to persuade other delinquents to start making payments on an additional $2,000 owed.

"We realize we probably won't get near the $22.8 million mark, but even if we receive 5 percent of that total it will translate into approximately $1 million," Prothonotary Justin Dunkelberger, who is spearheading the collection process with the blessings of Commissioners Vinny Clausi, Stephen Bridy and Richard Shoch, said Thursday. "And that's a good start."

Dunkelberger said probation officers and deputy sheriffs collected $2,000 Wednesday in Coal Township, Kulpmont, Mount Carmel and Mount Carmel Township. On Thursday, the same group retrieved approximately $1,500 in the Sunbury and Milton areas.

Sheriff Robert Wolfe said Jesse Feudale, 40, of Kulpmont, who owes court costs and approximately $38,000 in child support payments, was incarcerated Wednesday for refusing to pay the money.

14,123 open cases

Dunkelberger said there are 14,123 open cases from the past 50 years involving delinquent court costs. The largest single amount of money owed by one defendant is $194,000.

The county has developed a spreadsheet that's hundreds of pages long listing who owes and how much.

There is also a breakdown by year. For 1965, $830.60 is

owed in six cases, while nothing is owed from 1966. Most of the larger amounts are from the 1990s and 2000s, including 2010, where the total tops $2.1 million and involves 849 cases.

Dunkelberger, who noted the costs include Act 35 (supervision) fees, fines and restitution, said more countywide "blitzes" will be conducted as manpower allows. He said Wednesday and Thursday were chosen because deputy sheriffs were available because the three county judges were attending a conference in Hershey.

"We plan on meeting next week to evaluate where we are at with this challenging project," Dunkelberger said. Dunkelberger said Thursday he's hopeful the money collected from delinquents can be used to hire more personnel in his office and other row offices, including moving the cost collection clerk back to the prothonotary's office.

No statute of limitations

In October 2011, county commissioners and court officials held a press conference to address escalating amount of owed court costs.

Officials were hopeful the money could be recouped through a new county collection office and a government collection service that would operate at no additional cost to the county.

Since there is no statute of limitations involved in collecting the money, it can be recouped as long as the delinquents are alive and can be located.

On Aug. 15, 2011, the county, citing an effort to optimize efficiency and maintain sound financial controls over the collection of fines and restitution paid for criminal offenses, transferred the criminal cost office from the clerk of courts office at the courthouse to the adult probation department.

The transfer of the criminal cost office was expected to increase revenue through more efficient and prompt cost collections, while expediting the collection of delinquent costs.

The move involved cost collection clerk Sarah Snyder being transferred to the adult probation department to supervise the collection office at an approximate salary of $26,000, and the hiring of Angie Houser as a secretary in the adult probation department at an approximate salary of $22,000.

DANVILLE - Geisinger Health System and Highmark Inc. announced Thursday an agreement on a five-year contract extension through 2019.

Under the new contract, Geisinger Medical Center in Danville and Geisinger clinic physicians will remain network providers for Highmark's indemnity and managed care members and will continue to participate in networks currently under contract.

"We pride ourselves on the relationships and partnerships we have built with providers. Working together with health systems like Geisinger will help to continue to drive value for our members as we partner to improve quality and affordability," said Mike Fiaschetti, president of Health Markets, Highmark Inc. "This agreement will enable us to maintain our long-standing relationship with Geisinger Health System and provide our members with continued access to Geisinger's excellent medical facilities and physicians. Their reputation for delivering outstanding care is nationally recognized."

"We are pleased to have brokered a new contract with Highmark that allows our patients with Highmark coverage to be able to continue to use their Geisinger doctors and hospitals," said David Friel, vice president of third-party contracting for Geisinger. "We have enjoyed a long-standing relationship with Highmark and look forward to working together on behalf of their members and our patients to ensure they are receiving Geisinger quality care."

Highmark will issue direct communications to its members, group customers, health care providers and producers to inform them that Geisinger Medical Center and Geisinger Clinic physicians will remain network providers.

ATLAS - Mount Carmel Township supervisors expect to approve a $38.450 road work contract next month.

Chairman Charles Gasperetti, Joseph Zanella and Reynold Scicchitano voted Thursday to put the bid from M&J Excavation Inc., Bloomsburg, on file to allow time for solicitor Vincent Rovito to study it. If everything checks out, the bid could be awarded at the supervisors Aug. 13 meeting.

The township plans to do road restoration - milling six inches deep and putting down new paving materials - on Laurel, Mulberry and Saylor streets in Atlas; inlet work on Mulberry Street, and patching on Vermont Drive and Missouri Lane in Den-Mar Gardens.

M&J submitted the only bid.

In other business, supervisors voted unanimously to purchase three properties, 112, 116 and 118 W. Saylor St., for $1 each from the Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau. The township is looking to tear down the blighted structures on those lots.

The board also approved making an offer of $2,500 to buy a property in the 100 block of Girard Street in Atlas. The owner is currently in bankruptcy court and the property is part of land to be used by the Northumberland County Housing Authority to build elderly housing in Atlas.

Supervisors also unanimously approved motions to approve an ordinance that better defines the code enforcement office and its duties, and to advertise and accept applications for a part-time maintenance worker.

Thursday's meeting, which lasted 10 minutes, was originally scheduled for July 16 but was canceled due to illness of two supervisors. It did not include any public comment period, which upset three members of the public in attendance. Gasperetti said the board was advised by Rovito that since it was a makeup meeting, supervisors only had to handle the business on the agenda. Public comment was allowed on agenda items.