I know I'm going to miss someone, but I wanted to say thank you to everyone who supported me:

Villains Motorcycle Club, Unknown Riders MC, Pride Coal Township MC, Sinister Kings, Hillshire Food, Pepsi Co. Williamsport, Bumpers Beverage, Reinhart Foodservice, Numbered Like Stars, RCA Grounds and Brady Fire Co., Blazing Angels, Shamrock Mills, Trippin Billies, Joshua Bressi of Carriage House Studios, Photo Op Photography, Two Guys from Italy Restaurant, Breakroom Billiards, Advanced Cleaners, Sunny Hills Golf Course, Holdren Notary, The Bowery, Miller's Gas and Oil, Linda Seedor Salon, Anthracite Provisions, Irish Isle Provisions, Long's Embroidery, Dobson's Carpet, Pat's Pizza, Mac's Hoagies, Martin's Chicken and Ribs, Royer's Crafts, Rob's Good Time Grille, Vreeland's Harley-Davidson, Quinny's Pub, Bimbo Bakeries, Brian Burke, Terry O'Shea and his staff.

The medical staff at Geisinger Health System, and all of my friends and family. Especially my two sisters, Kiera Zarick and Ciana Rollman, and K.C. Blank.

- Cory L. Thompson

SPRINGFIELD - Old is new again for Jim Oakum, owner of Springfield Candle and Mercantile.

The homemade candle and rustic wares specialty store recently opened at 1668 Tioga St. in a shared space with the Springfield Music Shop.

Selling candles is no new feat for Oakum. He and his wife have handcrafted candles for years after friends and relatives first advised them to go professional with their Christmas gift candle-making.

The Oakums operated Creamery Country Candle in the same location as Springfield Candle and Mercantile until it closed in 2003.

"We had kids," said Oakum of the hiatus.

Since the store closed, the couple has continued to manufacture candles in their home for several area football teams as fund-raisers. But at the urging of former customers who enjoyed the store format, Oakum decided to return to a brick-and-mortar business.

"We wanted to bring it back because people have wanted our candles (for years)," he said.

The Springfield Candle and Mercantile has a stock of more than 20 scents of candles and wax melts, including "Prim Pantry," a unique scent Oakum describes as "cookie-ish but rustic."

Customers can find candling accessories, like warmers, on the shelves, and custom-made gift baskets are available upon request.

Springfield Candle also stocks a variety of home decorations, including seasonal items like snowmen.

"Some of it is made here," said Oakum.

While the front of the store is now packed with wax creations, musicians don't have to worry that their go-to shop is closing.

"I still sell guitars and accessories," said Oakum, adding that he also gives music lessons.

Springfield Candle is open 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and by appointment Monday and Friday.

The Coal Township store will also have special hours from noon to 4 p.m. Black Friday. Oakum said he's offering 20 percent off everything in the store as a Black Friday special.

TREVORTON - The Trevorton Patsies Senior Adult Ministry's annual Christmas pork and trimmings banquet will be held at 1 p.m. Dec. 15 in the St. Patrick Church Hall. It will be catered by Hannah's.

Eighteen members of the Patsies met Nov. 17 for the club's monthly meeting. It was determined that Dec. 6 would be the deadline to RSVP for the dinner. Call Rose Marie at 570-648-3035. Members are asked to bring a wrapped $3 gift to play crazy bingo. Christmas carols will be sung.

The meeting began with the Over 50 prayer, Pledge of Allegiance and Over 50 song. Vicki Laskowski, a Harrisburg Diocese representative, gave an informative update on the ministry.

November birthday celebrants were Jim Blessing, Betty Jane Bohner, John Demas, Wilma Ditty, Helen Kalejta and Colleen Koppen. Treasury and trip reports were presented.

For bus trip information for Patsies and Trevorton Senior Center, call Joyce at 570-797-3695 or Judie at 570-648-0105.

Monetary donations were made by Demas, Ditty, Koppen and Ron Kuhns. Refreshments were provided by Bohner and Kalejta. Chance winners were Ditty and Kuhns.

Mount Carmel Area Public Library

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Public Library is grateful for the following donations, the most basic and important source of income for the library.

Birthday memorial

Mark Elgin (Dec. 1) from Mom; Uncle Carl and Aunt Rainy.

Joseph Guzevich from daughter Irene Casari.

Wedding anniversary

Dorothy and Joseph Guzevich from daughter Irene Casari.

In memory of

Jean Bartos from Jim Darrup.

Irene Bernas from Thelma Duceman; Jasmine Paskell; Elaine and Ken Wisnoskie and family.

Agnes T. Bianchi from Irene Casari; Shawn and Ann Krehel; Cathy Lacroce; Judy and Tom Matukaitis; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Morgan Jr.; Mary M. Rudisill; Melanie Wengrenovich; Richard Zinda; Mount Carmel VFW Ladies Auxiliary 2110.

Metro Burak from Jake and Judy Betz.

Peter M. Cherapan from Tom and Gayle Pivarnik and Family; Mount Carmel Disabled Veterans Chapter 129.

Leona Dorkoski from the Nolter girls.

Michael Eroh from Marie Parkansky and family.

Maryann P. (Nevis) Hashuga from Joseph, Carol, Joseph and James D'Amico; Jim Darrup; the Nolter girls; Kathy and Mike Palewicz; Judy Reilly; Boy Scout Troop No. 174.

Lance Klimowicz from the Kanezo family; Tammie and Joe Matulewicz.

Jim and Olga Nolan from daughter Margie Nolan Cowles.

Barbara Ann Semerod from Mary Anne Leskusky.

Catherine Siemons from Jim and Gingie Britton.

Dominic M. "Mickey" Stello from Carol Ann and Thomas Bator; Ann and Bill Becker; Joe, Elaine, Brittany and Brooke Bartol; Irene Casari; Ted and Deb Gownley; Jeff Kanezo; Clem and Deb Laskoski; Judy and Tom Matukaitis; Frank and Mary Ann Murin; Jolene Narke; Helen Pachuski; Frank and Rose Pecaitis; John and Mary Teresa Ryniak; Maria Scicchitano; Reynold and Patty Scicchitano; Paul and Paula Swartz; Melanie Wengrenovich.

Shirley Tomtishen from Joe, Elaine, Brittany and Brooke Bartol; Don and Joan Hildenbrand; Jeff Kanezo; Ted and Jackie Matlow; Frank and Mary Ann Murin; Fritz and Eleanor O'Hearn; Reynold and Patty Scicchitano; Gloria Tomtishen and family; Joe and Dolores Tomtishen; Joe and Louise Tomtishen; Mick and Claire Witcoskie; Mary Louise and John Woytowich.

Charles F. Wheary from the Nolter Girls

We appreciate the donations that we have received for our 2014 fund drive and a special thank you to the following for a most generous donation: John Bush; Family Home Medical.

For our computer fund, we send a very special thank you to the Veterans Overseas Association.

MOUNT CARMEL - Santa's coming to town ­- and he's sticking around for lunch.

Area children are invited to dine with Santa 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the former Dollar General Store, 100 S. Oak St., as part the Lunch with Santa program sponsored by Mount Carmel Downtown Inc. and the Clover Hose Fire Co.

For $5, a child will receive a meal and drink. The first 50 children registered will also receive a wrapped gift.

Children will also receive personal time with Santa.

"(Parents) can take as many pictures as they want with their cell phones for free," said Mount Carmel Downtown Inc. volunteer Jim Darrup. "Santa will pose with your kid all day if you want."

Registration forms for Lunch with Santa are available at Academy Sports Center.

Bike raffle

A bike raffle will cap the luncheon, expected to begin around 2 p.m. Raffle tickets cost $1 each or $2 for three and are available for purchase at Academy Sports Center, 18 S. Oak St. Tickets will also be sold on Tuesday at the Mount Carmel Boyer's Food Market from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Darrup said ticket holders will have the change to win a 20-inch girls bike and a 20-inch boys bike.

"They're not the basic ones," he said. "They're an upgrade."

Proceeds from the raffle will go toward the Mount Carmel Area Historical Society. Darrup said the group hoped to use the money to continue hosting community events, like the tour held on October explaining the murder of Alexander Rea.

"It's for the community, the people downtown," Darrup said of the projects.

Buy locally

He also hopes to create a business directory of the Mount Carmel Area that would help people shop locally.

"If people wanted something to buy locally, they know it's available," he said.

Darrup said Mount Carmel Downtown Inc. is always on the lookout for new businesses and ideas of how to get more people visiting downtown.

"We're open for suggestions for businesses to come in if people have ideas about what's needed in Mount Carmel," he said.

Dear Mark: I know that you have clearly stated multiple times in your column that casinos do not cheat. I am still leery of your belief. I guess my question is, who monitors the casino that their slot machines are on the up and up? - Jared J.

Every state that offers land-based casinos has some form of a gaming regulatory agency that provides you, the casino patron, with protection from playing on a rigged machine.

Let's begin with the machine itself. Each new slot machine goes through roughly a six-month process to be approved before it hits the casino floor.

A state's gaming regulatory agency tests the machine to make sure that it operates randomly by scrutinizing how it selects the reel stops on a slot machine, does a thorough inspection of its source code for any possible problems, and then peeks at the principles behind how the random generation occurs. Only then is the machine placed out in the field (casino) for more testing before final approval.

After the proverbial two thumbs up, the manufacturer can then sell that configuration of that slot machine to the casino. Testing then continues once the machine is placed into operation.

For starters, the machine will run self-tests to make sure it hasn't been tampered with, plus make sure they run within certain parameters, meaning, it doesn't pay out too little, or too much. These internal tests also look out for the casino's best interest in that they make sure the slot machine isn't susceptible to cheating.

In most (if not all) states, machines are also subject to random spot checks in which someone from gaming verifies that a machine is identical to the approved configuration, has not been tampered with, and the chips in the machine match the reference chips approved by the agency.

Agents in the field show up unannounced and armed with a laptop computer that has a database of all the chip signatures. Each chip has a code number that contains all its attributes, including its return percentages. Agents will know on the spot if the chip is legit by inserting the chip into their specialized laptop; it reads the chip and all its contents to certify that it is an approved value chip. Any hanky panky (Tommy James and the Shondells, 1966), and we're talking the possible loss of a gaming license. Besides, most casinos today are publicly-traded companies not interested in exposing their gaming license to loss with any suspicion of monkey business going on.

Furthermore, in some states, casinos can't even access the logic boards in their machines. Only the gaming authority can either make the change or to witness the swap.

Some states do allow casinos to make variations to slot machines under that state's regulations. By variations, I mean either a paytable modification or a chip swap inside a machine to make it return more or less. As long as "approved" chips are used, and the payback is within the minimum limit set by each state's law, it is legit.

Another reason the slot machine is on the up-and-up is that every machine offered is mathematically in the casino's favor. It is the way they make their moola, by paying you less than the true odds on every machine on the casino floor. Why cheat? There isn't any need to swindle you beyond what the state already allows them via the casino hold. They don't call them One-Armed Bandits for nothin'.

Please take into account, Jared, that my above answer is to some degree generalized. Each gaming jurisdiction may use a slightly different approach, but you can rest assured that who's watching who is watching out for you.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: "Slot machines are the cotton candy and the McDonald's of the casino. Everyone knows that they're bad for you, but few can resist their junk-food appeal." - Andrew Brisman

COAL TOWNSHIP - The honor roll for the first marking period at Shamokin Area Middle/High School has been announced by Chris Venna, principal.

There are two levels of achievement, an honors level and a distinguished honors level. A student must achieve an average of 90 to 94.9 for honor recognition. Distinguished honors require an average of 95 or better. All subjects are included in the calculations of a student's average.

Seventh-grade distinguished honors: Jacob Alvord, Margaret Bowers, Gabriel Burns, Morgan Clemens, Violet Dales, Raven Depeal, Joshua Dombrowski, Diamond Donohue, Kaitlyn Dunn, Madison Foulds, Nathan Grimes, Leslie Haupt, Rhaeghan Henz, Victoria Hine, Destiny Jones, Caycee Kalinoski, Blake Kane, Devin Kays, Hunter Kerstetter, Farrah Krum, Janet Kulish, Emma Laughlin, Sheyenne Moore, Brock Pancher, Wolfgang Pearson, Nathan Persing, Hunter Rodarmel, Abby Rodman, Sophie Rossnock, Willow Samuels, Jasmine Scandle, Angelina Schaeffer, Isibelle Sienkiewicz, Emily Slanina, Jasmine Slodysko, Molly Stevens, Myah Thompson, Jonathan Washuta, Logan R. Williams, Logan T. Williams and Katelyn Zawalick.

Seventh-grade regular honors: Connor Anascavage, Bryce Anderson, Lily Avans, Sara Baney, Matthew Bellis, Paige Campbell, John Carl III, Abigail Charriez, Eric Curran, Abbey DiOrio, Madelyn Donahue, ConiRae Duncan, Deven Elliott, Holly Fegley, Mason Filarski, Tate Frederick, Benjamin Ginck, Brayden Gruszewski, Blake Hartzel, Callen Herb, Brian Hornberger, Brandon Huff, Brycen James, Kirstyn Kehler, Rachel Kerstetter, Amber Klinger, Kaylee Koshinski, Pia Kozlowski, Sarah Kratzer, Ophelia Loftus, Brittney Lute, Alexandria Madison, Blake Markowski, Kevin Markowski, Cherie Martin, Matthew Masser, Makayla Moroskie, Tori Moser, Andrew Nelson, Alexus Newman, Zachary Philhower, Ashley Ponatoski, Brianna Roth, Trinity Schwab, Telaysia Shafer, Hannah Smith, Austin Straub, Emma Tomcavage, Angel Velazquez, Rhiannon Vlock-Kogut, Cheyanne Wolf, Shen Yeager, Chloe Yoder and Destiny Zimmerman.

Eighth-grade distinguished honors: Emily Backes, Spencer Balonis, Jared Berkheimer, Aidan Blackwell, Karrie Bower, Marshall Buggy, Sierra Burd, Steven Carpenter, Alyssa Charriez, Juliana DeGreen, John Delorso, Lydia Deptula, Alyvia Erb, Mara Hashuga, Zoey Hockenbroch, Barbara Jemmott, Chloe Kramer, Jameson Kramer, Cordell Lucas, Samantha Magee, Joseph Masser, Morgan McGinn, Abigail Nye, Jessa Paczkoski, Robert Rebuck, Lake Rodarmel, Quinn Rollman, Joan Schaeffer, Matthew Schiccatano, Andrea Segura, Mason Smink, Brooke Strausser, Matthew Swartz, Abigail Thew, Skylar Truchon, John Wagner, Lauren Wagner, Payton Whary, Valerie Yost, Blake Zalar, Clif Zheng and Zoe Zimmerman.

Eighth-grade regular honors: Logan Alderson, Melania Amato, Alexis Barnes, Krista Baumeister, Sarah Baumeister, Ashley Beach, Mariah Benedict, Colby Bixler, Thomas Brown, Reina Cardona, Gavin Clattenburg, James Coleman Jr., Chloe Dales, Hunter Danheimer, Jeffery Deitz, Piper Ditzel, Lauren Drumheiser, Jacob Eschbach III, Rebekah Faust, Jeffrey Fuernisen Jr., Brianna Geiger, Mackenzie Glosek, Stephen Gundy, Aubree Haight, Teagan Heath, Taylor Kashner, Chryssa Kehler, Collin Kern, Timothy Kile, Abigail Kinsey, Jayla Klase, Joshua Mackenzie, Daniel McHale, Autumn Purcell, Shyann Rubio, Seth Rupp, Destiny Sassani, Garrett Sassani, Roman Schadle, Jacob Shoup, Andrew Shultz, Kylee Shultz, Peyton Shurock, Connor Sullivan, Jose Tejada, Savanna Vercruyssen Dylan Walters and Richard Wright III.

Ninth-grade distinguished honors: Abagail Blass, Michael Breslin, Alexandra Campbell, Jacob Carpenter, Trent Curcie, Anna Delbaugh, Matthew Dimmick, Kelsee Dunn, Katlyn Ehman, Maryssa Erdman, Summer Finkelstein, Abbi Fiorey, Kira Golden, Mackenzie Hasuga, Jacob Jeremiah, Nicholas Kirkner, Jennifer Kozlowski, Emma Mangiaruga, Mckenna Markowski, Sadie Miller, Kamilyah Nazih, Joseph Olah, Madison Pancher, Colton Pollock, Kali Rebuck, Cameron Scandle, Keyona Shoff, Stephen Smith, Jadyn Snyder, Elizabeth Stevens, Ciara Tharp, Daniel Zaborny and George Zalar.

Ninth-grade regular honors: Elizabeth Barak, Kalei Bogetti, Kiara Bonshock, Kasey Brown, Sierra Brown, Haley Burd, Roberta Calderin, Jordan Carpenter, Emma Clark, Madison Clauser, Sky Clontz, Madison Daya, Marcus Deivert, Charles Dettrey, Colby Edmondson, Warren Eveland, Michael Faust, Kiera Griffiths, Robert Hogan Jr., Brooke Hovenstine, Gaige Johns, Dharma Koser, Alyssa Lahr, Ethan Lawton, Kayla Martins, Cameron McGuire,Victoria Nicola, Kaile Pancher, Cameron Popiel, Heather Reigle, Wanda Sulouff, Brianna Wary, Jasmine Wasilewski, Tessa Wheary, Corrina Williams, Mackenzie Young, Dakota Zimmerman, and Cheyanne Zulkowski.

10th-grade distinguished honors: Kayla Baney, Alex Black, Madison Blackwell, Patrick Bradigan, Scarlett Brown, Samuel Deptula, Cody Donohue, Cierra Eby, Thomas Eby, Aleea Faus, Amy Frasch, Brandi Hatzel, Lindsey Miller, Abigale Mummey, Alaina Pearson, Anne Richardson, Madison Rodarmel, Kaitlyn Schrader, Julianna Shuman, Samantha Startzel, Marcos Velazquez, Gabrielle Velez and Tobias Zerbe.

10th-grade regular honors: Zachary Anascavage, Guenivere Angstadt, Cheyenne Burasz, Elena Calderin, Erin Casner, Carl Claussen, Julie Conroy-Marin, Katelynn Dewitt, Zachary Druckenmiller, Rachel Drumheiser, Briana Erdman, Cameron Fenix, Tiffany Gordon, Alexis Herb, Carollyn Hine, Cameron Jacoby, Jarred Jones, Alicia Kapushinski, Mackenzie Koharski, Noah Mangiaruga, Jenai McKeen, Kiara Moore, Marcella Nahodil, John Pufnak, Vincent Quincy, Carson Quinn, Jarred Rachau, Gregory Rishel, Anthony Roughton, Jaden Schlagle, Andrew Shalamanda, Ellen Spotts, Lauren Stanchick, Kelsie Stewart, Matthew Vrona, Aleksandr Washuta, David Wolfe, Brittany Wondoloski, Page Wormald and Sydney Zartman.

11th-grade distinguished honors: Jensen Bordell, Michael Britton, Thomas Campbell, Cheyenne Collier, Caleigh Corrigan, Justin Deutsch, Jacob Dirienzo, Jennifer Hancock, Brady Haupt, Andrew Jones, Emily McDevitt, Brayson Pawelczyk, Sofia Pearson, Christopher Petraskie, Brett Rebuck, Kelsey Rogers, Ivy Savidge, Christina Troutman, Rebecca Wargo and Cameron Wayne.

11th-grade regular honors: Brooke Baney, Kyran Brown, Logan Bulchie, Dakota Carl, Samantha Chykosky, Patricia Clark, Claudia Collins, Sierra Colross, Jeannette Costa, Autumn Craft, Dilin DeCample, Amber Disidoro, Jared Dunn, Gabrielle Erb, Haley Erb, Michelle Fellin, Lillie Fidelman, Ryan Gass, Megan Grinaway, Ashley Gruszewski, Kaylan Haight, Kenneth Harper, Russell Henz Jr., Kyle Kauffman, Amanda Lucas, Evelyn Madrak, Travis Nelson, Donna Rania, Danielle Reed, Isaiah Reiprich, Tamara Sassani, Kayla Schell, Paige Sherman, Amanda Stanchick, Cole Supsic, Nicole Thompson, Sarah Thomson, Jakob Weaver, Glenn Wilbur and Callie Zimmerman.

12th-grade distinguished honors: Tara Blom, Michelle Bressi, Brandon Brida, Jill Britton, Tyler Candelora, Samantha Carpenter, Jasmine Coleman, Megan Dimmick, Heather Elliott, Draven Faus, Devvon Gallie, Tevin Gonzalez, Bridgette Hine, Darian Jones, Elizabeth Kapushinski, Megan Kerstetter, Zachary Koharski, Kathryn Madara, Rhiannon McKinney, Josiah Miller, Carley Nash, Joshua Rosini Jr., Graeme Shappell, Jacob Snyder, Sara Snyder, Kiersten Stasko, Taylor Steinhart, Feliph Taylor, Jarret Willis, Casey Wilson, Tucker Yost and Cierra Zimmerman.

12th-grade regular honors: Jacquelyn Augustitus, John Brown, Richard Brown, Kourtnie Chapman, John Demsko III, Aaron Derck, Cole Fegley, Tyler Forbes, Kendall Forney, Jacob Gallagher, Derek Gross, Chyna Haley, Carson Houser, Elijah Kelley, John Kiracof, Madlyne Kozlowski, Kody Kroeschel, Ronald Laniewski III, Brett Long, Kayla Marchetti, Brittany Markhorst, Brianna Martin, Christopher McCabe, Mitchell McGinn, Nicholas McWilliams, Logan Mirolli, Brianna Moore, Zachary Moyer, Casey Nye, Darian Paul, Joseph Peeler, Shaylee Pesarchick, Dante Picarelli, Rachel Poplaski, Thomas Reed, Sara Rozinski, Daniel Searls, Dylan Sherman, Amber Smith, Anthony Stanchick II, Taylor Tobias, Jessica Tumolo, Jenna Wasarhelyi, Makayla Whichard, Dylan Williams and Trisha Yeager.

ATLAS - Thursday's fire disrupted Thanksgiving plans for many in Mount Carmel Township, where electric service was disrupted overnight and wasn't restored until dinnertime.

The fire destroyed the vacant 100-102 W. Saylor St., and is considered suspicious. It was reported about 2:30 a.m. PPL said 449 customers in the township were without power. Service was restored shortly before noon.

Lisa Vincenzes, of 152 E. Columbia Ave., was at the fire scene Thursday morning with her 18-year-old son, Michael. Her husband, Jody, is a firefighter. Five minutes after his pager rang, the lights went out. Outside, the sky was glowing from the flames.

"It sounded like the transformer was actually moaning, and then everything went black," she said.

She has a gas stove at her home, and her in-laws were able to use it to keep Thanksgiving dinner on track.

'This is fishy'

Helen Pachuski and her son, Paul, weren't quite as lucky. They don't have a gas stove at their home at 105 W. Saylor St., directly across the street from the fire, but they did have a fireplace keeping them warm.

Outside about 10 a.m., PPL subcontractors from Abel Inc. in York were working to restore power.

"This is fishy," Paul Pachuski said of the fire's cause.

"All I saw was flames. I woke up and I was screaming," Helen Pachuski said. She showed a photo album with a picture of a home that burned down years ago one block away on Forrest Street, just behind Thursday's fire scene.

The Pachuskis both had kind words for police officers and firefighters. Paul Pachuski is in a wheelchair, and they helped get him out of bed. He didn't have to be evacuated.

The turkey breast they'd planned for their holiday meal was in a refrigerator that was without power nearly eight hours at the time. They weren't sure it would be any good by the time power was restored, but they were hopeful.

"We might get the bird in the oven by 1 p.m., Mom," Paul Pachuski said.

Siding melted

At 100 E. Saylor St., Irene Hrycenko stood on her front porch Thursday morning watching the electricians work. She was waiting patiently for power to be restored. Without it, she couldn't get ready for Thanksgiving dinner at her godchild's home in Kulpmont.

"We're not eating here, thank God," she said.

Her home is directly across Mulberry Street from where the fire occurred. It was hot enough to melt the siding of her house, which she moved into in July.

Hrycenko's son was driving from Philadelphia early Thursday, and she went outside to shovel snow. She could smell something in the air but didn't see any smoke or flames. That changed within 30 minutes, when the entire top half of the neighboring home burning away. She called 9-1-1 and was told firefighters were already en route.

There were windows missing at 100-102 W. Saylor St., she said, and a door was opened. It was accessible to anyone, she said.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Coal Township police have made 739 retail theft arrests at Walmart Supercenter since it opened in 1997 - and 115 of those were made this year.

Police Chief William Carpenter said the number has more than doubled in 2014 from previous years, and he expects the total to significantly increase during the holiday shopping season.

The volume of retail thefts at the Walmart near Lewisburg prompted a criticism of store security efforts by a Union County judge earlier this year and a concerted effort among store and local police to address the issue, but the Coal Township store isn't generating the same concerns.

Craig Fetterman, president of the Coal Township Board of Commissioners, believes the "juice is worth the squeeze" when comparing the benefits of Walmart against the costs of investigating and prosecuting retail thefts.

"Walmart has a good loss-prevention program," he said.

Plus, it's fighting a tough economy.

"Times have gotten tougher for people and drugs are more plentiful, which lead to crimes like retail theft," said Fetterman, who has worked in retail for many years from ground to executive levels. "There are a lot of retail thefts at Walmart because it's the only major store in the area to steal from."

More being caught

Carpenter said the number of retail theft arrests are up because more people are being caught by asset protection associates at Walmart.

"Our arrests are certainly up this year, but I can't say for certain if the amount of retail thefts have actually increased since I don't how many people weren't caught," he said.

He praised Walmart for its security procedures and said his department has a good working relationship with the business.

The chief pointed out that his department has received approximately five grants totaling more than $5,000 through the years that were used for equipment and supplies. He also said Walmart annually donates bikes for the police bicycle rodeo.

He said many people commit retail theft to support their drug habits. He said the type of individuals stealing from Walmart range in age and include many repeat offenders, in addition to people who are just desperate for food, clothing or other items.

He said the electronics department is usually hit the hardest in terms of thefts.

"Thieves like to steal the hot items that they can sell quickly for drug money," he said.

Video games - but also baby formula - are among the most frequently stolen items.

Aaron Mullins, a Walmart spokesman at the home office in Bentonville, Ark., said the corporation takes retail thefts and other crimes very seriously and works closely with local law enforcement to make sure their stores and the communities they serve are safe.

"Security is the top priority at our stores," he said. "We are constantly evaluating our security measures and always looking for ways to improve. We have a dedicated team of associates who work hard to keep our stores safe."

Mullins said it is company policy not to release the number of employees or asset protection associates at each store.

One every 9 days

Since its opening, the average number of retail theft cases at the Coal Township Walmart per year is 41, or about one every nine days.

Carpenter said an officer spends between 1 and 1 1/2 hours investigating a routine retail theft. He said a more extensive retail theft investigation can take up to several days.

So far in 2014, approximately $5,000 has been spent on officers attending preliminary hearings for those retail theft offenses.

Carpenter said most of the retail theft arrests are summaries that result in defendants pleading guilty at the magisterial level. He said misdemeanor and felony offenses involve preliminary hearings and can possibly proceed to trial.

He said summary citations are issued when it's a person's first retail theft offense and the stolen merchandise is less than $150.

A second-degree misdemeanor is filed when it's a person's second offense and the merchandise is less than $150. A first-degree misdemeanor is filed when it's a person's first or second offense and the merchandise is $150 or more. And a person faces a third-degree felony when it's his or her third or more offense, regardless of the value of the merchandise.

A third-degree felony also is filed when the merchandise is valued at $2,000 or more, regardless of how many times the person has committed the offense.

'Good neighbor'

Coal Township Tax Collector Sharon Castetter said the township received $44,760.22 in real estate taxes from Walmart in 2014. She said $41,239.75 goes to the general fund while $502.93, $2,011.69 and $1,005.85 goes toward the library, fire protection and pension funds, respectively.

She said Northumberland County received $49,825.66 in tax revenue while Shamokin Area School District got $56,226.87, making the total for the three taxing bodies $150,812.75.

Although he realizes downtown merchants and other businesses have been adversely affected by Walmart, Fetterman said the tax revenue realized by the township and the employment numbers (150-plus) outweigh the overtime costs for police to prosecute crimes that occur at the store.

"Walmart is a good neighbor and we need them," he said.

Walmart and the police

Some other figures involving Coal Township police and Walmart:

- In addition to calls for 739 retail thefts, police have responded to 340 other incidents at the store over the past 17 years, an average of 19 per year. Those include assaults, domestic disturbances, accidents in the parking lot, 911 hang-ups, bomb threats, bad checks, criminal mischief, thefts and unattended children/animal complaints.

- Out of 330 monthly police calls in the township, five of them are at Walmart, representing about 1.5 percent.

- A yearly average of six reportable accidents and six non-reportable crashes have occurred at the intersection of Route 61 and Walmart since 1997. Reportable accidents involve injuries and towing. Since 2006, the intersection has also served The Plaza at Coal Township on the opposite side of Route 61 from Walmart.

Tree display delayed

MOUNT CARMEL - Arrival of the Mount Carmel Lions Club Christmas tree will be delayed one week from Friday due to the snow.

VFW Auxiliary to host Christmas party

LAVELLE - The VFW Ladies Auxiliary of O'Donnell-Martin-Baldino Post 7654 in Ashland will hold their annual Christmas party Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Green's Restaurant. The family-style meal will include two meats and all the trimmings. Cost will be $20 which also includes tax and gratuity.

There will not be a gift exchange, but a free-will offering will be received, and proceeds will be sent to the State President's Special Project.

Deadline for reservations is Tuesday, and members and a guest are invited to attend. To RSVP, call Ann Helwig at 570-875-0619. If no answer, leave a message on the answering machine or email at annhelwig@verizon.net.

Benefit photos planned

COAL TOWNSHIP - The annual benefit pictures with Santa event is scheduled for 5 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Bressi residence, 1440 W. Mulberry St.

A donation of $5 per photo is requested. Proceeds will be shared among Make A Wish Foundation, SPCA and Wounded Warriors.

Club party set for Wednesday

SUNBURY -The Soroptimist International Club of Snyder, Union and Northumberland Counties Inc. will hold its Christmas party at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Packer House.

The SUN Soroptimist Club is an international volunteer service organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering and becoming a member to contact any club member or by calling Diane Savidge at 570-837-2532 or dmsavidge@gmail.com.

Third in an occassional series.

The Northumberland County School Board's school reorganization plan for creation of the Mount Carmel Area School District, which proceeded with the state's stamp of approval, made sense considering the geographical proximity of the member communities and the successful educational partnerships that were already in effect.

In the early 1960s when the plan was finalized, three of the five component municipalities were already closely affiliated in the Mount Carmel Joint School System. Mount Carmel Borough and Mount Carmel Township formed the joint system in 1951. All Centralia students began attending Mount Carmel schools on a tuition basis in the fall of 1960, and that borough became part of the jointure in 1963.

Marion Heights School District had been sending students to Kulpmont High School on a tuition basis since 1936, so creation of Kulpmont Joint School System in 1952 was a logical step for those two communities.

Initially, Kulpmont was not happy about the Mount Carmel Area merger. In 1963, the Kulpmont board said it was concerned about potential costs and lack of guarantees that the consolidation would provide an improved education.

Kulpmont filed an appeal with the state on the merger plan in April 1964, with board members saying that, for educational reasons, they preferred to be included with a larger district, namely Shamokin-Coal Township. Marion Heights, not a party to the appeal, severed its jointure with Kulpmont and affirmed its interest in being a part of Mount Carmel Area.

But the Kulpmont board eventually approved the jointure plan in early June, and the merger proceeded as scheduled, Kulpmont Area Joint Schools ceased to exist July 1, 1964. The old Mount Carmel Area Joint System was dissolved on the same date.

Mount Carmel-Mount Carmel Twp.

The last-minute snags related to Kulpmont's participation in the 1964 merger were minor in comparison to the trials and tribulations resulting from the formation of the Mount Carmel Borough-Mount Carmel Township jointure in 1951.

The marriage between the school districts occurred in the fall of that year after classes had already begun. Although the consolidation might have appeared sudden to the general public, it was soon reported in The Mount Carmel Item that talks between the two school boards had been going on for months. Furthermore, the Pennsylvania Economy League had already done a study that showed that, without a jointure, both districts faced potential fiscal disaster. And, behind the scenes, the state was actually encouraging the consolidation with promises of immediate aid retroactive to the start of the fiscal year.

News of the merger talks in mid-September precipitated a strike by Mount Carmel Township High School students and threats of legal action by a township taxpayers' group.

The Pennsylvania Economy League cited a disturbing 45 percent drop in student enrollment in the two districts combined over the preceding 10 years.The township faced a $57,000 deficit and a potential loss of revenue as a result of its reversion to a fourth class district and resulting loss of some taxing authority. Mount Carmel Borough fared little better, with a deficit budget and a recently enacted tax increase.

Educational reasons were cited, too. Because of a decline in enrollment, the respective schools were having a difficult time supporting the expanded offering of academic courses that were seen as vital to a quality high school education.

The Department of Public Instruction, though not officially demanding a merger, strongly encouraged the process and helped facilitate the drafting of the articles of agreement.

Revisiting the issue six months later, The Mount Carmel Item, though reporting some school directors were now experiencing buyer's remorse, admitted that, for the most part, students and teachers adjusted well to the consolidation. In fact, depending on their place of residence, some Mount Carmel Township students actually appreciated that they now had a shorter distance to travel to school each day.

A long-lasting source of dissatisfaction among township residents was the decision to close the township high school (the Bradley School) in Locust Gap, which was a larger and more modern facility than the Mount Carmel High School building at Third and Market streets. In its study, however, the Economy League found that the Locust Gap school's advantages were more than offset by its location, which was removed from the new district's center of population.

Centralia

Centralia, though located in Columbia County, was included in Northumberland County's school reorganization plan in the late 1950s after the dissolution of the borough's jointure with neighboring Conyngham Township in 1958.

After the end of "Con-Cen," Centralia junior and senior high school students - 36 in all as of 1960 - started attending Mount Carmel schools on a tuition basis. In the fall of 1960, that tuition offer was extended to include all Centralia students, kindergarten to 12th grade, with a total of 120 being transported to Mount Carmel. For the first time in the 20th century, Centralia was without a public school of its own. For reasons of declining enrollment, the Centralia School Board permanently closed its 22-room, two-story building.

Conyngham Township became part of the Ashland Area School District, and later, North Schuylkill.

Kulpmont-Marion Heights

Marion Heights School District was described by The News-Dispatch as the smallest school district in Northumberland County at the time of its admittance into the Kulpmont jointure in 1952.

At the time the jointure was instituted, all district students attended Kulpmont High School. Two elementary schools were in operation, Stevens in Marion Heights and Wilson in Kulpmont.

Shamokin-Coal Township

Monday - Poker game, 8:30 a.m., new players welcome; executive board meeting, 10:30, a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; world news, noon; unlucky 7's, noon; new players welcome.

Tuesday - Morning cards 8:30 a.m.; walk-a-mile, 9:30 a.m.; Boscov's shopping, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; bridge, 11:45 a.m.

Wednesday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; bridge lessons, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; pinochle and Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.; Commodity Food distribution, 1 to 3 p.m.

Thursday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; voting for officers, 9 to 11 a.m.; walk-a-mile, 9:30 a.m.; members meeting, 10:30 a.m., new officers announced after voting; nickel bingo, 12:30 p.m.

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

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

Mount Carmel

Monday - Wii games, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Tuesday - Board games and breakfast snack, 9:30 a.m.; bean bag competition, 11 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; unlucky 7's/pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Officers meeting, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; members meeting, 1 p.m., nickel bingo follows meeting.

Thursday - Last day to sign up for vo-tech luncheon; Wii games, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; trip to Susquehanna Valley Mall, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; unlucky 7's, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Morning news and coffee, 9 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; guest speaker Victor Girardi from LATS, 1 p.m.; Pokeno 1:30 p.m.

Kulpmont

Monday - Coffee and gab in the morning; decorating for Christmas, 9 a.m.; bean bag, 10:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 11 a.m.; Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Hand held games and puzzles in the morning; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; cards, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Chair exercise and gab in the morning; Wii bowling, 10:30 a.m.; LCR 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Puzzles and gab in the morning; Wii bowling, 10:30 a.m.; lunch at the Pine Barn Inn, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., cost $2; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii bowling and bean bag in the morning; hand held games, 9:30 a.m.; Jennifer from VNA will be speaking at noon on holiday stress and seasonal depression; nickel bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Centralia-Wilburton

Monday - Coffee and current events, 9 a.m.; Christmas puzzle, 10:30 a.m.; Walmart shopping, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Coffee and snacks, 9 a.m.; chair exercise with Carol, 10:30 a.m.; bell ringer practice, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Panera Bread day; advisory board meeting, 10:30 a.m.; Christmas jackpot bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Coffee and snacks, 9 a.m.; Christmas puzzle, 10:30 a.m.; Christmas movie, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Fun Friday! Open activities.

Elysburg

Monday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; Wii fitness, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; royal rummy, 10 a.m.; Pokeno, 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; trim the tree party, 9:30 a.m.; Wii fitness, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; royal rummy, 10 a.m.; bingo, noon.

Friday - Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; Wii fitness, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.; pinochle, noon; members meeting with election of officers, noon; donut day.

Trevorton

Monday - Shopping at Buckhorn Walmart 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; decorating for Christmas, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Exercise, 10:30 a.m.; movie and snacks, 12:30 p.m.; evening bingo, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Games, 9:30 a.m.; CSFP food box distribution, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Equally Opportunity Provider Christmas Banquet, 5 p.m.

Thursday - Be Red Cross Ready: preparing emergency kits, 10:30 a.m.; members meeting, 12:30 p.m.

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

MOUNT CARMEL - The Council of Catholic Women and Rosary Altar Society held their meeting Nov. 6 in the parish hall. President Theresa Conniff brought the meeting to order with the prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel and the Pledge of Allegiance.

The minutes were read and approved. Debbie Gownley gave the treasurer's report. The Northumberland Council of Catholic Women held their deanery meeting at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23 in the parish hall of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church. A Matter of Taste catered the party.

Maria Bridy gave the Rosary Altar Society report. Dues for this society were due in October. The meeting was closed with 10 Hail Marys for the active, sick and deceased members. Refreshments were served followed by bingo.

POTTSVILLE - Lift Your Spirits Performing Arts, which performs each year in Schuylkill and Northumberland counties, will salute veterans and commemorate the 73rd anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor with two performances of "Christmas Through The Years."

The performances at 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 6 and 7, at the Majestic Theater, coincide with National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day.

This is the new second edition of the show, and the audience will take a trip back in time and hear musical selections from the WWII era sung by such stars as Doris Day, Bing Crosby, Kitty Kallen and the Andrew Sisters, to name a few. They will also be delighted with comedic monologues from Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, Dick Haymes and Rita Hayworth. Admission is free for all veterans and active military men and women.

Contact the theater for tickets to guarantee seats at 570-628-4647.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Choraliers will present their annual 2014 Christmas Concert at 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7, at the Shamokin Area Middle/High School auditorium. Nan Weller will direct and piano accompaniment will be provided by Bonny Klinger.

The concert will begin with "Sing We Now of Christmas," "A Celtic Christmas," "December Child," and "Mary, Did You Know?" Klinger will then entertain with a piano solo of "Jingle Bells." The concert will transition into sacred music selections of "Angels' Choir," "Silent Night," and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel."

After a brief intermission, the concert will continue with "We Need a Little Christmas," and "Grown Up Christmas List." Soloists Bob Zedanowich, Carol Ellis and Morris Gard will present "Guardian Angels," "Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head," and "Candlelight Carol," respectively. The Choraliers will conclude the concert with "Skatin' with My Baby," "Silver Bells," "Frosty the Snow Man," and "Yule Be Swingin'."

Members

Sopranos are Carol Ellis, Chris Hastings, Mary Hollingshead, Kelly Jones, Angela Kuhns, Amber Madden, Valentine Mountjoy, Barbara Moyer, Norma Moyer, Ann Nowaskie, Judy Pensyl, Beverly Petrovich, Lisa Romanoski, Particia Romanoski, Margaret Schlader, Donna Schaeffer, Sandy Seroskie, Grace Shaffer, Sherri Shebelsky, Susan Shoop, Grace Stank, Darlis Tasker, Nedra Templar, Grethel Vinup and Clara Weikel.

Altos are Christine Backes, Sandy Beaver-Krebs, Joan Brown, Beverly Cooper, Maxine Harvey, Tiffany Kaseman, Pat Klemick, Linda Latsha, Ruth Paul, Peggy Prezlomski, Martha Jane Scholl, Virginia Sinclair, Carol Tarlecki, Carolyn Weaver and Mary Wydra.

Tenors are Harry Dietz, Morris Gard, David Kopitsky and Bob Zedanovich.

Basses are Ben Anderson, Robert Kline, Kenneth Mertz, Jake Ozga, Dan Schwalm and Ned Sodrick.

Tickets are available for $5 from any Choralier member or at the door. The public is invited to attend one of the first community-wide events of the Christmas season.

Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library

SHAMOKIN - The Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library has announced that memorials for the period of Sept. 16 to Nov. 24 have been presented for the following persons:

Birthday memorials

Rose Marie Bednar by Danny and Sandee Ciesluk and family.

Dolores Dupnack by Peggy Snyder.

Marlin Heitzman by Scott, Sharon, Jarrett and Tricia Heitzman.

Bertha Kohan by Danny and Sandee Ciesluk and family.

John "Jack" Latsha by wife Linda, daughter Tracy and son-in-law Bob.

Todd "T.J." Latsha by mother Linda, sister Tracy and brother-in-law Bob.

Jack and Todd Latsha by Barb Ammerman.

Charley Tamkus by Mom and Dad and Jonah.

Anniversary memorials

Kathryn Glavich by JoAnn, Richie, Rob, Kim, Ryan, Joel and Haley.

Kathryn Glavich by Sharon, Barbara, JoAnn and families.

Roger C. Schleig by Margie.

Century Club

Marian R. Diorio by the family of Lois C. Diorio

Memorials

Jean Bartos by Al and Nancy.

Irene Bernas by Shirley and Bill Golden.

Kitty Brennan by Rose Marie Jones.

Matthew Carsto by Ann Marie Carsto and family.

Charles Catherman by Dianne and family.

Charles C. Clark by Robert and Hazel (Clark) Mazeski, Steve and Eileen Mazeski and children, Vincent and Cam Mazeski.

Helen Lenker-Clark by Joe and Kandy Dascani and family, FCI Schuylkill OFM/HRM Departments, PSI Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.

The Rev. Lawrence R. Coakley by Tony Rosini.

Mary Elizabeth Danna by Bob and Joan McAllister.

Leona Dorkoski by Fran and Bud Butkey.

John Eby by Dave, Tina and Veronica Moore, Bruce Victoriano.

Lawrence D. Erdman by Joe, John and Maria Bressi.

Judith Feltman by Karen and Irvin Adams.

Edward James Fitzpatrick by Tony Rosini.

Allen Grow by Fran and Bud Butkie, Ray General.

Stanley P. Graboski by Rose Palovich.

Edward Gragilla by Albina Primerano.

Shirley Hale by Donna, Amy and Rob Mordan.

Kristopher Harris by Wes and Teresa Tillet and family.

James R. Holland by Joe, John and Maria Bressi, Evelyn Klemick, Connie Martini, Tony and Melinda Rosini, Chet and Marion Stesney.

Richard Hummel by Bruce Victoriano.

Al Janinski by Justin and Kathleen Kleski, Shamokin High School Class of 1957 Classmates.

Brittany Derck-Jones by Judy, Crystal, Dottie and Paula, Mr. and Mrs. Dave Talisesky.

Linda Marie Jones by Jacque Robel.

Jane Kadel by Rose Jones.

Leon Karpinski by Danny and Sandee Ciesluk and family, Debra and Terry Keefer, Max and Sandy Madrak, Susan Miriello, Tony and Melinda Rosini, Mr. and Mrs. Ron Zyla.

Frances Veronica Kalejta by Ronald Kuhns.

Janet Kelly by Mike and Diane Dwilet, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sager.

Jacqueline Kilbride by Peggy Grinaway and family.

Frank Kolaleski by Edward Baran, Charles Breining and Jeanette Burba, Diane Dudanowicz and Marlene Fedorczak, Ronald Fedorczak, Lincoln Towers Flower Fund, Pepper, John Schleig.

Catherine Labosky by Danny and Sandee Ciesluk and family, Richard and Grace Hornberger, Mike and Jeanne Shaffer, Tuesday Night Pinochle Club.

Glenn Landau by Sharon Adams, Phyllis (Kishela) Benedetto, Kathy and Jerry Strausser.

Frederick "Fritz" Lark by Shamokin High School Class of 1959.

Dale Long by Ronald Kuhns.

Lawrence J. McGinn by Coal Township High School Class of 1957, Whitey and Joan Vetovich, James and Nancy Williams and family.

Mary Martin by Jeanne and Bill Hoffa.

Sara Moore by Joe, John and Maria Bressi, Tina and Family, Ashley's Mam Helen Brown.

Tony Niglio by Bob and Annette Sandri and family.

Robert Pappas by Fran and Bud Butkey.

Richard Patrick by Shamokin High School Class of 1955.

Arthur Payne by Jeanne and Bill Hoffa.

Mae Pensyl by Susan and Dan Tetkoskie and Linda Pensyl.

George Persing by Rescue Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 3.

Theresa Pittello by Fran and Bud Butkie, Marcella Hombosky, Vetovich family, Ron Yurkiewicz.

Richard Polan by Doris, Andy, Jess and Jen Kalinowski.

Terri Lynn Rebuck by Aunt Millie and family, Patricia Czech, Flower Fisher, Karlovich family, Sarann Keyack, Janet and Bill Lewis, Joan McAllister, Constance Martini, your work family at the Fun Shop.

Betty Robel by Emily Anderson, Beth and Ernie, Marilyn and Rodney and Jane and Jamie.

Josephine Russ by Dianne and Tom Dabulis and family.

Joan Sabo by Pat and Jim Bressi, Marlene Reitz and the Nanny Miller family.

Richard D. Sawicki by Mount Carmel Disabled Veterans Chapter 129.

Marie Scandle by Patricia Czech, Tom and Rhonda Eckman, Emily Parker, Dave and Joann Shinskie.

Veronica Schicatano by Joann and Dean Allen, Chris, Kelly and Hope Apichell, Marian Edmondson, Bill and Helen Kuzmick, Karen and Jim Linton, Ralph and Sandy Moore, Jeanette and Charlie Verano.

Roger Schleig by Margie.

John "Jack" Scholl Sr. by Knoebels Park Office Staff.

Thelma Mae Scholtes by James F. Scicchitano.

John Scoviak by Pat and Jim Bressi.

John "Bones" Shurock by Joe, John and Maria Bressi, Sharon Heitzman, JoAnn Richie, Rob and Kim, Ryan, Joel and Haley, Marcy Reidinger, Janet and Al Sabol, Jack and Janet Wachter.

John F. Smith by Rescue Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 3.

Eugenia A. "Jean" Sopp by Deborah Beck and family.

Dominick "Mickey" Stello by Albina Primerano and family.

Patricia A. Tetkoskie by Jim and Pat Bressi, Irene M. Mirack, Jacque Robel, Donna Mordan, Corrine Thomas.

George Thomas Jr. by Shamokin High School Class of 1961.

Al Valeski by Cal and Roseann Harris.

Arthur Verano by Dennis and Fran, Barb and Cheryl Verano, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Verano.

Anna Louise Walejko by Ronald Kuhns.

Leonard Walencewicz by Mount Carmel Disabled Veterans.

Catherine Welker by Peggy Snyder.

Charles Wheary by Audrey and Gerry Mroz.

Robert White by Ronald and Susan Davis, Phillip and Larice Farber, Rescue Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 3, Jeanne and Mike Shaffer, Palmer and Rose Weikel.

Alice Wysock by Cecilia Wysock, John Matthew Wysock and Lisa Ann Wysock.

Don Zak by Joe Rocuskie and Kathy Gonsar.

Wilbur Zigner by Shamokin High School Class of 1970.

Contributions to the memorial fund

Marie Scandle by Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Pasierb.

Leonard Strenkoski by Reynold and Delores Elliott.

Charley Tamkus by Mom and Dad and family and Jonah.

Patricia Tetkoskie by Bill and Jean Edmondson.

Honor a loved one and place a permanent memorial in the Library Century Club.

ATLAS - A fire early Thanksgiving morning destroyed a vacant home and burned through power lines, knocking out electric service to hundreds for nearly 10 hours.

PPL reported 449 customers were without power Thursday in Mount Carmel Township, causing many to rethink their holiday plans. On scene, officials estimated the outage affected homes from the northernmost end of Mount Carmel, through Atlas and into the neighboring village of Strong. Service was restored shortly before noon.

Considered suspicious

Police Chief Brian Hollenbush, also the township's fire marshal, described the fire at 100-102 W. Saylor St. as suspicious.

It was reported shortly before 2:30 a.m. The cause is undetermined. There was no electric service to the property, no one was living there legally, and there were no reports of anyone inside leading up to the blaze.

It's the first suspicious fire in the village since 2013, when there were four such fires. The cause of each were never determined.

"I don't know what to say," Hollenbush said when asked if there could be an arsonist in Atlas. "It's been a while since we had a fire that was suspicious in nature."

Former Tafner property

The four-story structure and a vacant lot next to it were sold Nov. 20 at a county judicial sale for minimum bids of $1,745.62 and $1,530.48, respectively, according to tax claims director Jan Nestico.

They were owned by Thea Tafner, the former ambulance director at American Hose in Mount Carmel who pleaded guilty to embezzlement and served time in a federal prison.

Hydrants fail

Charles Gasperetti, chief of the Atlas Fire Co., said he could see the flames from his front porch about two blocks away. The structure was fully engulfed when firefighters arrived, ruling out an interior attack. They concentrated efforts fully from the exterior.

Two hydrants malfunctioned. One on Saylor Street lacked any water pressure, and a second on Girard Street had low pressure. Gasperetti said 2,500 feet of hose had to be run to the scene from a hydrant at Columbia Avenue and Route 61.

The fire was under control within 40 minutes, and was largely extinguished within 90 minutes save for a few hot spots, Gasperetti said.

Hollenbush was among the emergency responders initially on scene. He stayed until 10 a.m. to investigate. The fire left the structure in rubble.

"The fourth floor is in the basement. There's not a lot that I can do with it," Hollenbush said.

Snow that had fallen throughout Wednesday may have prevented the fire from spreading, Gasperetti said, because embers extinguished on contact when landing on snow-covered roofs nearby.

One firefighter injured his foot on a ladder truck, and was treated for a minor injury.

Assisting Atlas firefighters were crews from Wilburton, Mount Carmel Township, Mount Carmel, Kulpmont, Coal Township and Shamokin, along with tanker trucks from several communities.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School conducted its annual Thanksgiving liturgy Nov. 19. The Rev. Alfred Sceski, chaplain, was celebrant for the special liturgy. The Revs. Martin Moran and Andrew Stahmer were concelebrants, and Deacon Martin McCarthy proclaimed the gospel.

Members of the Boys Service Club and Girls Action League were in charge of arrangements, under the direction of Violette Feudale.

Participants included Brian Christiana, cross bearer; Marcus O'Brien and Claudia Rawa, altar servers; Caitlin Funk, lector; Liela Bellis and Caleb Gensemer, offertory gifts; Regina Perez and Mikayla Persing, distribution of programs, and Nicholas Adams, William Allen, Jordan Hauer and Dakota Maneval, flag bearers.

Christian service is a long-standing tradition at Lourdes.The annual Manna drive, which is coordinated in association with the Thanksgiving liturgy, receives enthusiastic response from the entire Lourdes community. During the liturgy, the student body presented baskets of food and other items for Thanksgiving. In addition, monetary donations were received to provide gift certificates with each basket.

Under the direction of Joyce Sickora, Anne Marie Tehansky, Mary Bias and Rita Nolter, the pre-K and kindergarten classes, dressed as Pilgrims and Indians, performed the song "God Bless America," as a reminder of the first Thanksgiving. Following the liturgy, members of the Boys Service Club and Girls Action League delivered baskets to 35 needy families in local communities in time for Thanksgiving dinner.

Several boxes of food were also delivered to Manna for the Many in Shamokin.

HARRISBURG - Upholding law and order at the local level comes with a hefty price tag in Pennsylvania.

Municipalities report spending $1.3 billion on police services in fiscal 2012-13, according to a new legislative study that examines approaches to promoting mergers of police forces.

The $1.3 billion sum doesn't include what Philadelphia and Pittsburgh spent, but it covers costs reported by nearly 1,000 municipal police departments, regional police forces and municipalities that contract with others for police services.

In addition, the state police spent $540 million in 2012 to provide both full- and part-time police services to more than 1,700 municipalities that don't have a police department, the study said.

Merging police departments and requiring municipalities to pay for state police coverage have been topics for debate in Harrisburg for decades.

Yet more than four decades after the first regional police forces were created, only 35 such units exist across the state.

Regional solutions

Hopefully, the study by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee will lead to more regional police forces, thereby building on existing regional efforts to fight street crime and gang violence, said Sen. John Yudichak, D-14, Plymouth Township, Luzerne County. Yudichak is a long-time advocate of municipal cooperation and has spurred creation of council of governments in Luzerne and Carbon counties.

"Clearly, when you talk about spending $1.3 billion on local police costs, are you getting the best value for the tax dollar?" Yudichak asked. "We have to have crime solutions that are regional in nature. Criminals do not care about municipal boundaries."

This recognition has led to Operation Gang Up in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties and the deployment of the state attorney general's Mobile Street Crime Unit earlier this year in Hazleton, Yudichak said.

In February, representatives of Coal Township, Mount Carmel, Mount Carmel Township, Shamokin and Zerbe Township heard a presentation from the Governor's Center for Local Government Services, part of the state Department of Community and Economic Development, about the benefits of regional police. Officials from all five municipalities, along with Kulpmont Borough, expressed interest in at least having a study done about regionalization.

A governor's center official told the local officers that its policy is that no full-time officer loses his or her job due to regionalization. Police unions would be integrated into a regional force, however, and existing collective bargaining agreements would need to be dissolved by the union to move forward with consolidation.

Costs push mergers

Local taxpayers bear the brunt of the municipal police cost, although the state provides some funding to help underwrite police pension costs and returns revenue for motor vehicle violations cited by local police.

Costs and loss of control are two key factors Pennsylvania towns consider when it comes to merging their police department with a neighboring municipality, the study said.

The size and demographics of a municipality, its approach to policing and support from local residents should also be part of any cost-benefit analysis, it said. It determined that regional police departments offer a higher level of police coverage and service, which can mean more spending in the short-term.

The study urges lawmakers to pass legislation to set guidelines for regional police forces and provide start-up funding to them.

Yudichak suggested that rising costs is the driving force behind mergers.

"That is forcing them to look at state police coverage or regional coverage," he said.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Black Friday crowds appeared thin mid-morning at The Plaza at Coal Township.

The relatively slow business followed a trend nationwide of a weakening of what was once a frenzied day of holiday shopping mayhem into several days of steady sales.

Sales clerks at the Shoe Dept. described the morning as slightly less busy than a typical Friday.

"I've been here since 5:30 (a.m.) and we did not get a customer until 9 (a.m.)," said Shoe Dept. keyholder Diane Gidaro.

The store had not opted to open on Thanksgiving, but still offered "good sales," Gidaro said.

Still, she had not braced herself for the typical onslaught of early morning customers.

"My boss kind of figured it was going to be dead," Gidaro said.

At 10 a.m., the plaza parking lot was less than a quarter filled. Across Route 61, the parking lot of Walmart Supercenter appeared as full as a typical Friday morning.

At least one store opted to forgo Black Friday altogether. Radio Shack remained dark throughout Thursday and Friday. Hours listed online showed it would reopen Saturday morning. No one from the company be reached to explain why the store would be closed Black Friday. Others at local malls were open Friday; the Columbia Mall store was open Thursday evening, in fact.

Locally-owned shops in the area will have another go at reigning in sales today during Small Business Saturday. Participating businesses include individual shops, such as the Fun Shop, as well as franchises, like H&R Block.