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Mystery revealed: Soupie documentary debuts in Shamokin

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SHAMOKIN - The mystery of the soupie has finally been revealed thanks to Matt Spade's documentary "Strange Meats: The Soupie."

More than 100 people packed the auditorium at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center Saturday evening for the premiere of the half-hour long film.

Spade, 41, a Shamokin native, was thrilled with the turnout.

"I'm really glad people came out to support this," he said.

The film charmed most attendees, who whooped and applauded as local celebrities, like Tom Kutza, who narrated the film, appeared on the silver screen.

A brief question-and-answer session, led by News-Item staff writer Rob Wheary, followed the film. Most of the audience then proceeded downstairs to

the gallery for a reception, complete with soupies, of course.

"I think this is the largest event we've ever had in the gallery," said Jeanne Shaffer, director of the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities. "It's fantastic!"

Spade said the next step for his film would be a premiere in Philadelphia, where he and many of the crew members live.

He's submitted the film to the Cleveland International Film Festival and is waiting to hear if it will be selected. He'd also like to get the documentary aired on a specialty TV channel, like the Food Network.

"I'm really excited to see how it does outside of the market," said Spade, who attended the Art Institute of Philadelphia after graduating from Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School in 1991.


Lowe's Heroes help beautify SAES Hardware giant provided the materials for all-day project

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COAL TOWNSHIP - Members of Lowe's Heroes, a volunteer group composed of employees of Lowe's Pottsville Regional Distribution Center, near Minersville, were among more than 20 volunteers who participated in a community service project to beautify the entrance to Shamokin Area Elementary School Saturday morning.

Employees volunteered their time while Lowe's provided materials for the all-day project, which included planting shrubbery, placing decorative stone and solar lighting, and other landscape improvements.

Lowe's supports communities through programs that focus on K-12 public education and community improvement projects.

Flag retirement today, other events planned in Mount Carmel

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MOUNT CARMEL - A slew of community events are scheduled for Mount Carmel in the coming weeks.

- A flag retirement ceremony will be held at the baseball complex at 5 p.m. today. Community members with worn flags are invited to drop them off in the hallway of borough offices, in the bag on the door of the truck room at the Clover Hose Fire Company, at Mayor Philip "Bing" Cimino's house or at the event. The event is hosted by the Elks and the Boy Scouts, with the fire department assisting.

- Trick or treating in Mount Carmel will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 25. The date was moved up to the weekend before Halloween on request of Cimino to avoid a conflict with the Mount Carmel Area-Shamokin Area football game Oct. 31.

- The mayor is arranging a bonfire for the game, location and time to be determined.

Last call set at Bubba's

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Note: The following was submitted by Lori Laniewski, daughter of owner Ray Bowers, about the closing of Bubba's Bar and Grill.

GOWEN CITY - At the bottom of the mountain, a bit past Shamokin, there sits a special little place.

Located in Gowen City for more than 20 years, Bubba's Bar and Grill has been one of Pennsylvania's "best-kept secrets." Known for its T-bone steaks and creamy clam chowder, Bubba's has always been a cozy, friendly place - recognized not just as a lively bar, but also as a family friendly dinner spot.

On Saturday nights, a large crowd often emerged, filling the booths and tables for karaoke night. Through the years, karaoke night at Bubba's attracted talented customers from all over who would spend the night laughing, mingling and showing off their talents by belting (or croaking out) songs from nearly every genre. From those by Neil Diamond to the Temptations to today's popular country tunes, Bubba's has always had a seemingly unlimited songbook selection.

Breaking out wigs and tambourines was often the highlight of the night, and on especially fun nights, owner Raymond "Bubba" Bowers could be persuaded to bring out the boom-ba for a few select songs.

With memories of years gone by, and special thanks to loyal friends, customers and employees Debi, Dana, Brittney and Deidra, Bowers announced earlier this month that he could be closing the doors on Bubba's Sunday, Sept. 28.

"This will be a sad day for Bubba's Bar and Grill," Bowers said. "This has been a tough decision to make. Bubba's customers are like family, and I will miss them."

Customers are asked to bring their gift certificates with them for the final week of operation. Bowers invites everyone as well to the final karaoke night starting at 10 p.m. Saturday.

Happy birthday, Star-Spangled Banner

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This month we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the writing of the "Defence of Fort McHenry," a poem by Francis Scott Key that was put to music and became "The Star-Spangled Banner," the national anthem of the United States of America.

I am sure that everyone reading this column knows the anthem. It is sung before most public events, and we all know the words to sing it, although there is a section of it where voice training would be helpful. Thankfully, at those events we, many times, have someone who can hit those notes perfectly, or at least better than most of us can, as they lead us.

I've seen a few references to the bicentennial anniversary of the poem here and there, but not very much. That is sad, since it is our national anthem. It speaks of courage during adversity and that the United States of America, although only a few decades old at the time, was worth fighting and dying for. It still is.

For some quick background, with some information from Wikipedia, the bombardment by British Royal Navy ships of Fort McHenry in the Chesapeake Bay happened during the War of 1812. There are a number of reasons for the fighting between England and America, and I'll leave that for another time. This is a war that is a forgotten one, at least it seems to me.

The bombardment of the fort was Sept. 13-14 during the Battle of Baltimore.

Well, the writer of the poem was Francis Scott Key, who was a lawyer who wrote poetry on the side. He was 35 years old and was traveling on a British ship under a flag of truce on a mission from President James Madison to secure a prisoner exchange. One of the prisoners was Key's friend, Dr. William Beanes, who had been captured by the British. Key and John Stuart Skinner boarded the British flagship HMS Tonnant on Sept. 7 to discuss a possible exchange of prisoners, including Beanes. The two British officers were reluctant to give up their prisoners, but did relent because of letters from wounded British prisoners who had been treated very well by Beanes.

Even though the deal was made, Key and Skinner were not released at the time since they had heard the plans to attack Baltimore and Fort McHenry. The were held on the HMS Surprise, then moved to the HMS Minden.

Key observed the bombardment of the fort during the night. He was able to see the fort's "storm flag," which is a small national flag flown over a military post during bad weather. At Fort McHenry, it really was "a dark and stormy night."

Once the illumination of the rockets' red glare ended as the shelling stopped, Key had to wait until the dawn's early light to see what had happened. Had the fort been taken? Well, when it was light enough, he saw that the storm flag has been lowered and the large American flag with 15 stars and 15 stripes had been raised. The flag has been designated the "Star-Spangled Banner Flag" and can be seen at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.

The next day, Key wrote the poem on the back of a letter he had in his pocket. On Sept. 16, he and Skinner were released in Baltimore. Key completed the poem at a city hotel as the "Defence of Fort McHenry." Ironically, the music that eventually became attached to the poem is a British tune from "The Anacreontic Song," also known as "To Anacreon In Heaven," which was the official song of the Anacreontic Society, an 18th century gentlemen's club of amateur musicians in London. Attributed to composer John Stafford Smith, the tune was later used by several writers as a setting for their patriotic lyrics.

While it seems that the song has been the national anthem forever, it was only declared such by the U.S. Congress in 1931. Before that, it and other songs were used during official functions, such as "Hail, Columbia" and "My Country, 'Tis of Thee."

We only sing one stanza of the national anthem at events, but the song has four stanzas. For your edification, here is the complete song. I would love to hear all stanzas sung sometime at an event.

O say can you see by the dawn's early light,

What so proudly we hailed at the twilight's last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight,

O'er the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep,

Where the foe's haughty host in dread silence reposes,

What is that which the breeze, o'er the towering steep,

As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?

Now it catches the gleam of the morning's first beam,

In full glory reflected now shines in the stream:

'Tis the star-spangled banner, O! long may it wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore

That the havoc of war and the battle's confusion,

A home and a country, should leave us no more?

Their blood has washed out their foul footsteps' pollution.

No refuge could save the hireling and slave

From the terror of flight, or the gloom of the grave:

And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave,

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand

Between their loved home and the war's desolation.

Blest with vict'ry and peace, may the Heav'n rescued land

Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation!

Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,

And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave

O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

-

"Determine never to be idle. No person will have occasion to complain of the want of time, who never loses any. It is wonderful how much may be done, if we are always doing. And that you may be always doing good, my dear, is the ardent prayer of yours affectionately."

- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Martha Jefferson, 1787

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"Not one of us deserves anything in this world; it is the Lord who is benevolent toward us and it is His infinite mercy that bestows everything because He forgives everything."

- St. Padre Pio

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My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary.

She said, "I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 165 in about 2 seconds."

I bought her a bathroom scale.

And then the fight started...

(Staff writer Usalis can be reached at jusalis@republicanherald.com)

District Court: Monday, Sept. 22, 2014

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The following landlord/tenant claims or judgments were filed in magisterial district court:

Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin

Shamokin Housing Authority, of Shamokin, against Samantha Miriello, of Coal Township, for $798.70, filed Sept. 19. A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 09.

Rental Group, of Shamokin, with Thomas Gulba as authorized agent, against Heather Bauch, of Coal Township, for $900, filed Sept. 18. A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6.

Rental Group, of Shamokin, with Thomas Gulba as authorized agent, against Annette Philips, of Coal Township, for $1,300, filed Sept. 18. A hearing is scheduled for Oct. 6.

Claim filed by Shamokin Housing Authority, of Shamokin, withdrawn against Victoria Woodland, of Shamokin.

Judge Hugh A. Jones, Mount Carmel

Janet Schoppy, of Danville, against Anthony Ceisnolevicz, of Mount Carmel, for $942.60, filed Sept. 15. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 25.

Sunbury arsons probed

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SUNBURY - Sunbury police say four fires that broke out between 4:15 and 5:15 a.m. Sunday were started by an arsonist.

Two porch fires occurred on the 700 block of N. Seventh St., a garbage fire burned nearby on Masser Street and a small fire blazed on the 200 block of Reagan Street, said Officer Travis Bremigen. All of the fires occurred in front of the homes.

"We have enough credible information to know that it is arson fire," he said.

He would not comment on if the police department had any suspects, saying only that the incidents are still under investigation.

"We're pursuing it very actively," he said.

The fires caused a small amount of damage, including melted siding, but did not destroy any homes.

"I was able to extinguish every fire," said Bremigen. "Two of them were on porches and both of them were blazing, going up walls. We had a quick dispatch time and a quick response."

The police department is asking the public to use outdoor safety measures like porch lights.

Anyone with information on Sunday's fires or other suspicious activity should call 911.

Art teacher's work on display at local bank

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SHAMOKIN - The works of a local art teacher are on display at Susquehanna Bank East on Independence Street.

Lisa Welch Knecht's "Creation Celebration" is a collection of recent floral and wildlife themed acrylic paintings that celebrate the wonders of creation. It features several of her popular Next Picasso paintings, including "Montana Lilacs," "Sunflower," "Saw-Whet Owlets" and "Pink Flamingo."

The collection is on display in the bank lobby until Oct. 1 and can be viewed during regular bank hours.

Lisa enjoyed drawing and painting at an early age. She began to study painting formally at age 15 with private instructors and attended the Art Institute of Philadelphia in the Graphic Design program. Over the years, she has expanded to working in other fine arts media like photography as well as handcrafts like fiber arts, papier mache and beading. She is award-winning in many media, including watercolor, acrylic and black-and-white film photography.

Her teaching career began in 1991 at Immanuel Christian School in Hazleton, teaching the McIntyre Drawing Program to students in kindergarten through eighth-grade.

She has taught art and fine handcrafts at several regional schools and learning centers, including Transfiguration and Queen of Peace in Shamokin, Holy Spirit and Kindermusik with Ann Czeponis in Mount Carmel and Our Lady of Lourdes in Coal Township.

She has her own art studios, is a painting instructor at The Next Picasso in Drums and is the high school art instructor at Immanuel Christian.

Lisa currently serves on the Gallery Committee of the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and is a founding member of the Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts. She has served as an adjudicator for the Talents for Christ photography competition in Bloomsburg since 2003. She initiated and supervised last year's Park Bench Art Project on Lincoln Street in Shamokin.

For more information about Welch Knecht or Welch Art Studios, go to her Facebook page or call 570-847-0033.


Noteworthy: Monday, Sept. 22, 2014

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Mount Carmel Borough position open

MOUNT CARMEL - Borough council last week accepted a letter of resignation from William Cain, who served on the planning commission, effective Oct. 3.

Council President Tony Matulewicz commended Cain on his 23 years of service to the borough.

Anyone interested in replacing him should contact the borough office.

'Transportation Tuesday' scheduled

SUNBURY - Transportation Tuesday" is scheduled for 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. this Tuesday in response to the high demand for workers in the truck driving industry.

PA CareerLink Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties and the Professional Drivers Academy in Milton Industrial Park are offering the workshop at the Sunbury CareerLink, 225 Market St. (next to the courthouse).

The sessions will introduce the process required to attain a CDL license, review possible funding sources and feature former students and representatives from over-the-road and short-run trucking companies.

Representatives from Veriha Trucking, Rabbittransit, Rinehart, O-Tex Service and San Tran LLC will present information about jobs with their company, and local firms hiring auxiliary positions such as yard jockey, dock workers or warehousing/logistics positions will be present.Call 570-988-7300 to reserve a spot.

Vacant Marion Heights school ignites yet again

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MARION HEIGHTS - The former St. Mary's Roman Catholic School at the corner of Marion Heights Highway and Melrose Street caught fire yet again Sunday as a result of a crew removing steel beams in the rear addition of the building. The blaze was brought under control within five minutes, said Natalie Fire Chief Robert Fanella Jr., who managed the scene.

The building faced a much more serious blaze in June when a two-alarm fire of unknown cause began in the rear addition. That fire burned for several hours and nearly destroyed the building.

Building owner John Pickens, of Danville, said Sunday that his workers were removing the beams so he could burn or remove other debris from the addition before repairing the original front section of building. In August he had been given a 30 day notice by Mount Carmel Township code officer Don Geary to clean up the burned property or face public nuisance charges. Pickens said that Sunday's work was a part of his commitment to make the necessary changes, and that he usually had a water truck present for this type of work but the truck was at another work site when the fire occurred.

Fanella said the fire was not considered suspicious or an accident because the cause was known. He indicated that Pickens may be cited, but said Geary would make the final decision.

Responding to the scene were Kulpmont East End and West End, Natalie and Marion Heights Fire Departments, AREA Services and Mount Carmel Township and Kulpmont Police Departments.

Double-decker bus delights in first year

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BLOOMSBURG - Do you fancy a unique dining experience at the Bloomsburg Fair? Just look for the double-decker bus.

A short walk north from gate 3 will find you looking at a red 1962 Bristol Lodekka bus named "Sofia" and a man named Peter Hellgren welcoming you with a "Ello mate."

Appropriately decorated with an English flag, the "Double D Bus Cafe" sells crepes and beer-battered fish and chips. You can take them with or eat them inside the bus, which fits 28 people on the second floor and four people on the first floor, which shares its space with a small kitchen. Cooks deliver your food to avoid walking up and down the spiral steps that lead between floors, which are painted white.

This is the first Bloomsburg Fair for Hellgren, of Stroudsburg, and just the second time the bus has been used as a cafe. He bought the bus in January 2009 in Tampa, Fla. Hellgren said the bus had not run for 10 years and needed extensive repairs. It remains without power steering, making for a slow, but interesting ride between events.

For two years it was used as a "party bus," catering to people mainly involved with weddings and pub crawls. Hellgren decided to convert it into an eatery when he began to notice signs the bus was taking too much abuse from its lively visitors.

His fist event was the Corvettes at Carlisle in late August. After some initial success, he applied to be included in the Bloomsburg Fair, but thought he would be put on a waiting list. He admits he was surprised his application was approved because he had heard other vendors had to wait years for a space to open.

He thinks the unique dinning experience appealed to fair officials. It has caught the attention of  fairgoers, many of whom often stop to take photos before ordering up some grub.

Police: We're closing in on him

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BLOOMING GROVE TWP. — Deep in the dense, boggy woods that cover Monroe and Pike counties, investigators discovered clues that suggest suspected killer Eric Matthew Frein remains close. State police on Sunday said they have recovered an AK-47-style weapon and ammunition, among other things, that belong to the 31-year-old man accused of killing a state trooper and injuring another in a Sept. 12 shooting at the Blooming Grove barracks.

During the ensuing nine-day hunt, camouflaged troops have combed the thick woods, with their search recently intensifying in Barrett and Price townships, near Mr. Frein’s parents’ home in the village of Canadensis.

“Up until now his advantage has been that this is his backyard, and he knows this rugged terrain,” said Lt. Col. George Bivens during a 3 p.m. press conference Sunday. “Our tactical operations people now also know his backyard, the area he once felt safe in. ... He is no longer safe. I am confident that he will be apprehended.”

Described as a survivalist who carries a long-standing grudge with law enforcement, Mr. Frein extensively planned the rampage for months, maybe years, Lt. Bivens said. The ambush left Cpl. Bryon K. Dickson II dead and Trooper Alex T. Douglass critically injured.

Authorities found the AK-47 — one of two rifles police said he had when he opened fire — and a bag filled with ammunition close to where his Jeep was discovered, half-submerged in a retention pond two miles north of the barracks. Police believe he then walked 15 to 20 miles to where he is now, a radius that spans several square miles and leaks into both Monroe and Pike counties.

As troopers and track dogs trudged through the thick woods Sunday, Lt. Bivens urged hunters who have trail cameras to review the video and report anything that looks suspicious.

He said troopers are investigating several reports of “sightings,” which, coupled with other discoveries, led authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order Friday night. The order confined residents in Barrett and Price townships to their homes for more than 24 hours, as rifle-toting troopers blocked access to Bear Town Road while police combed the woods near Blue Ridge Drive and helicopters circled overhead.

Lt. Bivens said police did not exchange gunfire with Mr. Frein. However, information gleaned from trackers led police to believe they were closing in on Mr. Frein.

“There was no opportunity for us to apprehend him,” he said. “Due to the fact that we knew he was that close, and we thought there might be the possibility of a confrontation ... we (issued the order).”

Authorities lifted the shelter-in-place order late Saturday, though Lt. Bivens urged residents to remain vigilant and avoid entering the woods.

The decision stemmed from authorities’ effort to balance ensuring residents’ safety while also avoiding disrupting their lives, he said.

Police swept through the wooded areas surrounding residents’ homes before the order was lifted. Still, Col. Bivens acknowledged that Mr. Frein could slip through a perimeter and move to an area that was searched.

“We can’t guarantee anyone’s safety 100 percent,” he said. “What we can say is that we have done thorough searches through those areas, and we are doing our absolute best to try and ensure that he is not in the immediate area.”

On Sunday morning, the occasional police sirens and ensuing convoy of armored trucks and sport utility vehicles speeding down Route 447 interrupted periods of silence. Church pews were empty and swingsets at nearby parks were unoccupied.

With assault rifles slung over their shoulders, state troopers stood at each entrance to the Pocono Outpost, where the Freins live.

As Sunday wore on, rows of armored vehicles, state police cars and minivans lined a grass field across the street from the entrance to Snow Hill Road. At about 7 p.m., dozens of troopers ducked into the woods along Snow Hill Road to continue their search.

“There’s no doubt we are pushing him hard,” Lt. Bivens said.

Contact the writer:

miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter

Tractor-trailer snags wires, snaps pole, disrupts traffic in Kulpmont

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KULPMONT - The top of a tractor-trailer backing up at Sixth and Scott streets Monday morning pulled down telephone wires and tree branches and snapped a utility pole in half. The broken pole fell onto a billboard, causing traffic to be shut down along a section of Brennan's Farm Road until the early evening hours.

Kulpmont Police Chief Michael Pitcavage reported Mohammad Arshad Najmee, 50, of Chesterfield, Va., was en route to making a delivery at International Paper when he mistakenly turned left instead of right off the Strong Connector onto Brennan's Farm Road at about 8:50 a.m. After driving by Shady Acres and entering the borough limits, Pitcavage said Najmee realized he was entering a residential area and decided to back up his rig at Sixth and Scott streets near the Kulpmont Sportsman Club in an attempt to get back to the Strong Connector.

The police chief said the top of the trailer then caught hold of Verizon wires and pulled them down between the sportsman club and entrance to Shady Acres. A utility pole behind the sportsman club was snapped in half and crashed into a billboard, causing extensive damage. Pitcavage said at least two other Verizon poles and several large tree branches between Sixth Street and Shady Acres also were damaged.

Fortunately, the accident did not cause a power outage or cause any injuries. But it did force police and fire police to close off that section of Brennan's Farm Road to traffic until the damaged poles could be replaced by Verizon employees and tree branches removed from the highway.

Residents of Den-Mar Gardens and Shady Acres along with patients and employees at Geisinger Medical Center Clinic, Serenity Gardens and Dr. Michael Menapace's dental office were re-routed onto the Strong Connector to reach their destinations.

Pitcavage said Najmee was cited for limitations on backing.

Assisting the police chief at the scene were Mount Carmel Township Patrolman Brian Carnuccio, fire police, members of Kulpmont fire and street departments and PennDOT employees.

MCA grad enjoys TV job, will be 'live' at G-SACH Crab Festival

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By Rob Wheary

SHAMOKIN - Mount Carmel native and TV news reporter Jasmine Brooks is looking forward to meeting local folks at Sunday's annual Crab Festival that benefits Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital.

Brooks is a morning reporter for Eyewitness News, airing on WBRE-TV 28 and WYOU-TV 22, and co-hosts the area's only lifestyles newscast, "PA Live!" on WBRE.

"Growing up in this area, it was a goal of mine to work in this market," she said, "so it will be a lot of fun to meet and see all the people that watch our programs and enjoy them. It's going to be a great time."

Being "live" at any scene is what drives Brooks.

In love with live TV

A 2006 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School, her love for broadcasting started, not at the school's noted TV station, but through a visit to New York City that included taking in an episode of MTV's "Total Request Live." But she wasn't so much watching the celebrities involved, she was focused on the host.

"At that moment, I convinced myself that I would go through whatever schooling I needed to someday host a live TV show. I just fell in love with the fact of being on live TV," she said.

After graduating from Bloomsburg University and working in radio, Brooks got her first taste of TV working for Sam-Son Productions in Hazleton as a reporter for News 13. She later was an anchor for "The Girls," a local version of "The View."

Brooks was hired in 2012 by Eyewitness News as the Williamsport bureau reporter. But when she started, a job came open for a morning reporter.

"No one really wanted the job because it meant getting up at 3 a.m.," Brooks said. "I knew that doing that job would mean I would get the interactivity I was looking for, along with working on live TV, so I went for the opportunity."

These days, Brooks is the only person in the news department to do a split shift. She does her live reports in the morning, gets some rest, then co-hosts "PA Live" at weekdays at 4 p.m.

"Everyone asks me which I prefer doing," she said. The answer is the reporting. "I've always been obsessed with the morning news and I love going out in the community."

Her mother, Pamela Mychak-Sculo, of Mount Carmel, who she calls her "biggest fan," is among those with whom she interacts. And as mothers tend to do, she tells Brooks what she likes and "corrects me if I need it," she laughed.

Festival details

The annual Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital (G-SACH) Crab Festival is set for 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Ranshaw Civic Association picnic grounds, Ranshaw. A $50 donation gets patrons all-you-can-eat hard-shell crabs, clams, Polish and Italian cuisines and a pig roast. There will be a cash bar provided by the Brady Fire Company, music and a basket raffle.

Proceeds benefit programs and services at G-SACH. A portion of the ticket price is tax deductible.

For sponsorship information or to purchase tickets, visit Geisinger.org/100. For more information, call 570-644-4353.

AAOA on the hunt

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BURNSIDE - With bear season looming on the horizon, authority members of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) have turned their attentions toward establishing hunting rules.

At Monday's public meeting, authority member Pat Mack summarized a rough draft of hunting rules he created as a starting point based on the current ATV user rules and hunting rules used last year.

The rules permitted in-season and small game hunting on AOAA property during the hours the park is currently not open to ATV riders.

Under Mack's proposed guidelines, hunters would be permitted to walk onto the property Monday through Thursday, and before the park opens on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The park currently cannot allow both hunting and ATV riding at the same time due to safety concerns.

Authority chairman Jim Backes said that they may designate an area of the property locally known as the Enterprise site to be used solely for hunting, but a volunteer or game commission group is needed to help mark trail divides between hunting and riding areas, clear overgrown brush and add access roads before this can happen.

Accessibility to the open area of the property was a concern for authority members. Currently Dave Porzi, operations director, opens gates and moves roadblocks to allow vehicles to access various areas as needed, but if hunters required access in the wee hours of the morning, he might not be available.

Porzi said he would like to consider users who require special accessibility on a case-by-case basis, as he currently does with ATV users.

Authority members also discussed closing the park during normal ATV hours to provide weekend daytime hunting hours.

"One thing that made me nervous is the bottom line," said Mack. "(Last winter) we didn't have overhead."

Mack added that as the park grew, both in size with the opening of the west half and in business, it would have more options of how to permit hunting and riding to coexist.

One future possibility, he said, would be to allow hunting on the west half and riding on the east half.

Mack's rough draft was given to the other authority members to review and discuss at the next work session, held publicly Oct. 6.

To have hunting rules ready in time for this season, authority members will have to vote on it at the next public meeting, Oct. 20.

Authority member Mike Schwartz was absent from the meeting.


More than $6k raised during benefit ride

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BURNSIDE - Despite "bonechilling, raw, cold, monsoon rain," the Anthracite Trail Riders Benefit Ride held Sept. 13 at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) raised $6,444 for the Children's Miracle Network, said operations director Dave Porzi.

"It was absolutely awesome because of everybody coming with the bad elements," said Porzi. "Because of the rain we were happy to have the turnout that we had."

The 312 participants more than topped last year's 200 riders, thrilling event coordinator Cally Kalie and setting a record high for the three-year-old annual fundraiser.

"At one o'clock the trailers were still pulling in the parking lot," said Porzi. Riding on the west side of the property ended at that hour, but the incoming people stayed to cruise the east half, which is open to the public.

The benefit will be held at the AOAA again next year on Sept. 12, said Porzi.

Salvation Army sees increased need for help for needy

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COAL TOWNSHIP - Plans for a "more aggressive" fund campaign, a serious lack of volunteers at the Thrift Store, and a greater need for assistance for needy families in the area were major items of discussion during a meeting of the Salvation Army Advisory Board at army headquarters, 1300 W. Spruce St.

Judy Orner, social services director, gave a report of food distribution to the needy during July and August.

She said during July there were 94 food orders, including four single women, three single men, 87 families and 324 individuals. There were four first-time families, 18 first-time individuals, six clothing vouchers, 12 referrals and 142 interviews.

In August, there were 127 food orders to eight single women, five single men, 114 families and 399 individuals. Eight first-time families were served along with 37 first-time individuals. There were 11 clothing vouchers, 18 referrals and 166 interviews.

Orner said she has been purchasing food items from the Pennsylvania Food Bank "at a very good price" and has been receiving plenty of fresh produce.

Maj. Tina Streck, commanding officer. gave a detailed financial report, noting that more monies are being used from the general fund to meet necessities. She said over the past years, subsidies from the state have sharply decreased.

A number of different ideas were discussed to increase funds for the army during this time of great need.

Jack Murdock, a member of the advisory board, suggested efforts be launched to organize a corporate campaign, contacting various corporations and foundations. He said a special meeting should be called in the near future for the specific reason of planning a corporate campaign.

Bill Bowers, manager of the Salvation Army Thrift Store in downtown Shamokin, said the lack of volunteers is frustrating and is, at present, his only major concern.

Bowers said at one time there were 17 volunteers assisting at the store; now there are only four ot five. He said senior projects at the schools have been a big help.

Henry Linton, board president, said anyone interested in volunteering at the thrift store could contact him, stop in at the thrift store and talk to Bowers, or call army headquarters at 570-644-0428 during working hours.

John "Skip" Rabuck, a member of the advisory board, said he is working on reviving a "big" canned food drive later this year to help overcome the serious food shortage at the pantry. It was noted that this Christmas will be the 100th year for the Salvation Army in Shamokin and the canned food drive will be held in conjunctioin with the anniversary.

Streck offered the opening and closing prayers and announced the next meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 9, at the headquarters.

Those attending the meeting, in addition to Linton, Murdock, Rabuck, Bowers, Streck and Orner were Chris Venna and Paul Metrocavage.

Noteworthy: Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2014

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Pierogie sale set at church

COAL TOWNSHIP - Potato cheese pierogies made by Our Lady of Hope Church are on sale now at the Shamokin-Coal Township Senior Action Center, 821 W. Chestnut St.

The pierogies are $8 per dozen.

Register for health screenings

PITMAN - Mahantongo Fire Company, 102 Main Road, will host Life Line Screening Tuesday, Sept. 30, for screenings to reduce the risk of a stroke or bone fracture.

Stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of permanent disability, and 80 percent of stroke victims had no apparent warning signs prior to their stroke.

Preventive ultrasound screenings are fast, noninvasive and painless, Life Line Screening reports. They identify potential cardiovascular conditions such as blocked arteries and irregular heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysms and hardening of the arteries in the legs, a strong predictor of heart disease. A bone density screening to assess osteoporosis risk is also offered and is appropriate for both men and women.

Packages start at $149. All five screenings take 60-90 minutes to complete. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 1-877-237-1287 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com. Pre-registration is required.

Paving on Old Trail starts today

SHAMOKIN DAM - Paving that was scheduled to begin Monday on a three-mile resurfacing project of North Old Trail Road (Route 1023) in Monroe Township and Shamokin Dam will begin today instead and continue Wednesday.

Work will begin in the area of Sheetz to just past Stettler Avenue and will be performed between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day.

There will be one lane of traffic at all times. Cones and flaggers will provide traffic control. Motorists should expect long delays or seek alternate routes.

Work will continue on the $2.4 million project until late November, although the longest delays are expected with the paving. The contract is with Dave Gutelius Excavating Inc.

St. John's spaghetti supper canceled

SHAMOKIN - A spaghetti supper fundraiser scheduled for Wednesday at St. John's United Church of Christ, 118 N. Eighth St., has been canceled.

Class meeting tonight

SHAMOKIN - The Coal Township Class of 1965 will meeting at 5:30 p.m. today at Brewser's SportsGrille, all class members are urged to attend.

Vandalism on Kulpmont Legion grounds investigated

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KULPMONT - Police here are investigating vandalism allegedly done by teens to the grounds at American Legion Post 231 at 856 Ash St. near Terry-Miriello Stadium.

An American Legion officer, who preferred not to be identified, reported graffiti was discovered Sunday morning spray-painted on sheds, benches, tables and rest rooms. He said similar damage was done earlier this year.

The graffiti included obscenities and vulgar expressions and symbols.

Volunteers had recently finished refurbishing and cleaning up the grounds for the fall.

Cellphone photos were taken of the teens who Legion officials believe may be responsible for the damage.

A damage estimate was not available.

Rio is grand: SCA student enjoys showing animals at fair

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BLOOMSBURG - While other kids are eating funnel cakes and lining up for the L, Carly Britch is winning trophies at the Bloomsburg Fair.

During Tuesday's steer show, the Southern Columbia eighth- grader won first place in her weight class, Champion of Columbia County, and first place in her age group for showmanship for Rio, her 15-month-old Angus X steer.

Rio is decidedly cute, even to those that aren't usually enamored with farm animals. His coat, mostly black with a small black-spotted white patch on his neck, is shorn short except for his ears, which poke from his head in two fuzzy triangles.

Carly picked Rio out when he was just five months old from Cattle Hill Farms, a breeder in Cogan Station. The 400 pound calf had caught her eye, but it was another quality that won her over: he was blind.

"When she saw him she felt sorry for him," said Carly's father, Chris Britch.

Rio moved onto the Britchs' farm, two 50-acre pieces where cash crops like corn, soybeans and oats are grown. Chris farms over 500 acres total, he said.

Carly and Rio trained for Tuesday afternoon's show for months, practicing walking calmly in a circle, standing with his hooves spread and moving his legs out to pose in different positions.

Having grown up on a farm, it was only natural for Carly to join Columbia County 4-H. She began showing animals at age 9, sometimes at "jackpot shows" where competitors show their animals only for sport and other times at shows like the Bloomsburg Fair where all of the animals are sold at the end of the competition.

Competitors in the Bloomsburg Fair's shows must have at least three bids in each category of entry.

"Most of that is done beforehand," said Tresa Britch, Carly's mother.

Chris said Rio's market value was $1,800.

"Hopefully he'll bring more at the sale Friday," he said.

Carly is also showing pigs and goats at the fair.

"I like goats," she said. "They have lots of personality."

She will show two of her market goats todayat 1:30 p.m., and four breeding goats Thursday.

Altogether, she has about 30 goats, which may seem like a lot but is a downsized herd after a recent sale of kids.

For Carly, the best part of raising animals to show is not the money she makes, but the people she meets at the events.

"I like coming to the fair with all my friends," she said. "You meet a lot of people you don't ordinarily meet."

She said she planned to continue showing animals with 4-H through the end of high school.

Tresa noted that Southern Columbia no longer has a Future Farms of America program within its curriculum, but said Superintendent Paul Caputo is supportive of such programs so it may someday return to the rural district.

"I'm hoping," she said with a smile.

Penn State Extension manages Northumberland and Columbia County 4-H clubs. For more information or to join, call 1-800-851-9710.

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