ELYSBURG - A Knoebels Amusement Resort worker was injured when he was clipped by a car during a test run of the Impulse roller coaster.

Stacy Ososkie, a public relations representative at the park, said the man was standing by a low-lying area of track when he was struck by the car, which overhangs the track by several inches, at around 9:54 a.m. Thursday.

Ososkie said the park was withholding the name of the man at the request of his family, but said he was talking and alert when he was taken away by ambulance to an area hospital.

He suffered a broken hand and needed staples to close a wound on his head. Ososkie said a CT scan of his head showed no further complications.

"We are happy to hear that," she said. "We're praying for a speedy recovery."

The first test of the new roller coaster with one of its cars was run Tuesday. It has been run several times since, including additional times before Thursday's accident, with no other incidents.

Ososkie said the park was suspending test runs of the ride until a full investigation could take place. This includes talking to the injured man because nobody witnessed the accident, she said.

"We'll definitely have to reevaluate our safety procedures," she said.

The accident put a damper on an otherwise bustling time at the park. With less than a month to go before opening day, workers are busy bringing equipment out of storage and assembling rides.

"We're all shaken up," said Ososkie. "Our thoughts and prayers are with him."

The incident occurred in an area of the ride that will be inaccessible to visitors. Ososkie was unsure if the delayed testing will affect the opening day of the coaster.

COAL TOWNSHIP - When U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta learned a gathering of multigenerational business owners would take place on the same day he planned to visit the Shamokin area, he jumped at the chance to connect with families like his own.

The congressman shared his story about growing up in a family business during The News-Item's Business Roundtable March 6 at the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center, then listened as other told their stories.

To support their large Italian family, Barletta's grandparents and their seven sons began picking huckleberries. This venture grew into picking coal, and then into a sand and gravel business. As time passed, Barletta's father and six uncles gave way to a new generation of 40 boys.

"They had a built in workforce of really cheap labor," he said.

His family opened new businesses, including an amusement park (the former Angela Park near Hazleton) and a construction firm, and Barletta spent his free time working. This brought the family closer together, he said.

"My best friends were always my cousins because we had to work in the family business," he said.

But as the second generation came into adulthood, the tight-knight family began to fracture.

"There was a struggle in turning (the business) over to the next generation. They had a hard time in leaving it go," Barletta said. "We were 30 years old and 40 years old and they were calling us kids."

Like many of his cousins, this led Barletta to look elsewhere for his career. When his childhood dream of playing Major League Baseball fell through, he enrolled at Bloomsburg University to be an elementary school teacher. His family supported his decision to leave home.

"My parents were proud that I was leaving to go on to college because they didn't have anybody in the family who went to college before," he said.

But when Barletta returned home from school, he saw an advertisement for a parking lot line-painting kit for $29.95 and he found the business bug had bitten.

"Watching my family start businesses, I thought, 'Why can't I start my own business?'" he said. "It didn't matter that I didn't have the money. All that mattered is that I had this idea."

Barletta shared this idea with his father, who supported him fully.

"He looked at me real strange, knowing that I didn't have any money, and said, 'Now listen, if that's what you want to do don't be afraid. Go ahead and do it,'" Barletta said.

He found a bank to loan him $2,500 and took the plunge. By the time he sold the company 16 years later, it had grown into the sixth largest line painting business in the country.

In between, though, Barletta faced many tough times.

"(My parents would) always say, 'When you get up in the morning, say your prayers and be thankful,'" Barletta recalled. "What they didn't tell me is that if you start your own business, say your prayers on the way to the post office that there's a check in the mail, because there'd be many time we wouldn't have money for payroll."

Though he left his family business venture behind to pursue politics, Barletta said he has a lot of respect for the older generations of multigenerational businesses who choose to keep the doors open even after their own children have moved on.

"Those who are left behind, you don't want to close the family business. You feel responsibility for what happens and to keep it going," he said. "So there's a lot of pressure."

COAL TOWNSHIP - The nasty weather that caused numerous delays and cancellations for schools this past winter season had chef Jim Schiavoni and students in the culinary arts program at the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center (NCCTC) hustling on the morning of The News-Item's Business Roundtable.

NCCTC hosted the roundtable for the second consecutive year on Friday, March 6. In 2014, students prepared a few dishes, but mostly helped warm and present foods brought to the roundtable by local restaurants and food producers, who were participating under the theme of "favorite local dishes."

This year, the culinary program was providing the entire meal - for 40 people. And with school having been canceled both Wednesday and Thursday, and a two-hour delay in effect the day of the event, Schiavoni and his small team of students were truly under the gun.

"Today's a fire drill for them," NCCTC administrator James Monaghan said prior to the meal.

In the end, however, there were no complaints.

Only about 15 minutes later than originally planned, the students presented a meal of classic Caesar salad, gnocchi pasta with mushrooms and tomatoes, mini sandwiches of tuna and chicken salad, wheat bread, clam chowder and toffee walnut brownies - all made on-site.

The food was presented professionally and tasted even better, and participants showed their approval with a round of applause.

In appreciation of the career and technology center's help with the roundtable, The News-Item announced that NCCTC will be added to the newspaper's Achiever Scholarship program, already in effect at Lourdes Regional and Shamokin Area. A scholarship is presented each year to a graduating senior who has demonstrated, through grades, activities and community service, the ability to achieve, individually or for the good of an organization or the community.

- Andy Heintzelman

COAL TOWNSHIP - In the first five years Brewser's SportsGrille has been in business, the sports bar/restaurant has been a premiere destination for fine food and a great atmosphere. Business has tripled in that period

During that period, the company was making do with an 800-square foot kitchen, and that space included a walk-in cooler and freezer.

This past August, owners Geno Welsh and Dan Hauer expanded the kitchen to 2,000 square feet and added some new gadgets and features that will produce even better food for diners.

"We were working out of an old kitchen that was made for a different kind of restaurant," Welsh said. "We just exceeded and outgrew its usefulness."

The expansion allowed Brewser's to create fresh stations where cooks are able prepare soups and salads fresh when they are ordered.

"In the old kitchen, things weren't perfect because the salad fixings were near the hot stoves. Now, they are not near the heat," Welsh said.

Another addition to the kitchen is a self-cooking oven/steamer that Welsh said will save time.

"It reminds me of the old Ron Popeil rotisseries you saw on TV, 'set it and forget it,'" Welsh added.

With the push of a button, cooks can prepare a variety of meats any way they choose.

"If I want to make pan-seared salmon, it's two presses and done perfectly," Welsh said. "The machine even cleans itself. The only thing it can't do is eat."

The new equipment has also allowed the restaurant to return to its roots with new steak offerings, such as "Kansas City Strip," "Rockin Rib-Eye" and "Prime Time Sirloin."

Manager and self-proclaimed "kitchen mom" Tammy Wetzel was among the first to embrace the changes at the restaurant.

"The new kitchen is awesome," Wetzel said. "It's more efficient time- and energy-wise," Wetzel said. "This enables us to expand our menu and create better quality of food for customers."

The new kitchen will also enable Brewser's to expand its brand with off-site catering.

"It's something that we've been experimenting with for a little while, doing some family jobs and party trays," Welsh said.

While the kitchen expansion was under way, Brewser's SportsGrille also had new tile installed in its booth area and expanded the lobby and foyer.

"We also added eight new spigots to our tap system at the bar," Welsh said. "This allows us to have 16 different beers on tap."

Brewser's holds many special events, such as beer-tasting nights and community charity nights where a portion of the proceeds that day are donated to a local charity.

To give customers more choices, Brewser's offers flatbread sandwiches, gluten-free dishes and a vegetarian menu to complement its menu of burgers, appetizers and dinners for all ages.

"We continue to grow organically and expand while still taking notice of what has made us this successful since day one," Welsh said. "We provide great food at reasonable prices with friendly service mixed in. It's as simple as that."

Brewser's SportsGrille is open at 11 a.m. every day, with the kitchen closing at 9 p.m. Sunday and Monday, 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Brewser's, located at 839 W. Water St., can be found on the web at www.brewsers.com or through its Facebook page.

The seventh annual Slavic Performing Arts Heritage Festival was held in the auditorium at Luzerne County Community College's (LCCC) Northumberland Center Thursday evening. "Anthracite Amazon: 'Big Mary' Septak and Coal region Activism," was the theme.

Organized by Vincent M. Chesney, part of the adjunct faculty at LCCC, it featured guest speaker Regina Drasher, a 26-year volunteer at Eckley Miners Village, who performed a one-woman show as "Big Mary" Septak. A Slavic activist in late 19th and early 20th century Pennsylvania, "Big Mary" was angered by the Lattimer Massacre and men returning to work in the mines after such a gross injustice. The Hazleton area innkeeper rose to prominence with her group of "Amazons" and through her support of coal miners' labor disputes.

Also performing was musician Dave Matsinko who played period folk music on banjo, mandolin and mountain dulcimer.

Like firefighters and other emergency personnel, American Red Cross volunteers have been very busy this month aiding fire victims in Northumberland County.

A 6-year-old Shamokin girl also has committed herself to helping those left homeless in major fires in Mount Carmel on March 16 and Coal Township on Monday.

Paige Horn, a first-grade student in Tara Knock's class at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, was saddened by both local fires and initiated a collection campaign at her school for the victims in conjunction with being a member of Daisy Troop 60009 of Shamokin.

Horn, a daughter of Jana and John Horn, Shamokin, is being assisted by two 7-year-old classmates, Maleeya Nagy of Coal Township, and Rylan Ritzman, of Dornsife, who also are members of the same Daisy Troop.

Horn's mother, who is a Daisy Trooper leader, said, "After I talked to Paige about the disastrous fire in Mount Carmel, she wanted to start a special collection for the victims. Then, the Coal Township fire occurred and she wanted to include those victims as well. I'm very proud of her and the other girls for want

ing to do such a nice thing."

Nikki Otto, business operations specialist with the America Red Cross serving central Pennsylvania, said agency volunteers have responded to four fires this month in the county. They have assisted 11 adults and two children involved in the Mount Carmel blaze and five adults and three children in the Coal Township fire.

Volunteers also have provided shelter, food, clothing and other items to 11 adults related to a March 19 fire in Watsontown, and three adults involved in a March 4 fire in Kulpmont.

Otto said, "Trained Red Cross disaster action team volunteers are ready to respond to disasters in our communities 24 hours every day. Within two hours of being notified by the 911 center, Red Cross volunteers are at the scene to provide affected families with immediate basic needs, a warm hug and hope."

Otto said basic needs provided by the Red Cross include shelter, food, clothing, blankets, comfort items, medicine, medical devices and mental health services. After meeting all the basic needs, Otto said volunteers work with clients and local community partners to help families recover from their losses.

In the past 12 months, Red Cross volunteers have assisted 78 families affected by 32 fires in Northumberland County and 711 families within its central region.

When the Red Cross is not responding to disasters or assisting clients with recovery, they are preparing volunteers and community members for the next disaster, Otto said.

To volunteer, donate or for more information about the Red Cross, please visit www.redcross.org/centralpa or contact Otto at 717-243-5211, ext. 1663, or nikki.otto@redcross.org.

Paige Horn, a first-grade student in Tara Knock's class at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, was saddened by both local fires and initiated a collection campaign at her school for the victims in conjunction with being a member of Daisy Troop 60009 of Shamokin.

Horn, a daughter of Jana and John Horn, Shamokin, is being assisted by two 7-year-old classmates, Maleeya Nagy of Coal Township, and Rylan Ritzman, of Dornsife, who also are members of the same Daisy Troop.

Horn's mother, who is a Daisy Trooper leader, said, "After I talked to Paige about the disastrous fire in Mount Carmel, she wanted to start a special collection for the victims. Then, the Coal Township fire occurred and she wanted to include those victims as well. I'm very proud of her and the other girls for wanting to do such a nice thing."

Stuffed animals, toys, hygiene items, clothing, blankets and other items can be dropped off in a collection box in the lobby of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Jana Horn said people can also drop off items at her garage by contacting her at 570-875-9499.

KULPMONT - What Phil Scicchitano learned from his mother and younger brother about providing quality food for their customers for parties and other events has served him well.

In 2000, Scicchitano expanded his business at Scicchitano's Buono Pizza to include catering, and things have taken off since then.

"It started with my mom and brother making some things for parties, like antipasta salad and baked ziti, and it became a hit," Scicchitano said. "Since then, we have been growing by leaps and bounds."

Scicchitano's now offers 30 different entrees and side dishes for catering off-site, including Italian specialities such as stuffed shells and lasagna, hamburgers and sauce and city chicken. And, of course, there's the popular "doagies," the round, three-pound sandwiches for which Scicchitano's has become famous.

"We do as much of the beef and pork meals as we do the Italian delicacies," Scicchitano said.

He said much of the credit for the catering success belongs to the Brady Fire Company. The recent addition of the company's banquet hall gives Scicchitano's Catering the opportunity to provide a variety of meals for any event.

"We are looking at serving the Wilburton Fire Company's new hall as well, with the 300 people that can be accommodated there," he said.

Scicchitano's can handle any event - from graduation parties to weddings and funerals to corporate functions - and they can make meals available seven days a week.

Items can be purchased in either half or full pans, or by the piece. Scicchitano's also offers a per person menu in which a customer can have a meal of one salad, vegetable starch and three meat entrees, for $11.95 a person.

"There are some meals, like the baked Italian chicken and potatoes that we serve, that could drop the price to below $10 a person," Scicchitano said.

Anyone who drives on Route 61 between Coal Township and Kulpmont has no doubt seen the 24-foot smoker underneath a carport and Scicchitano's business sign.

Scicchitano purchased the apparatus last year and, as a result, he is ready to add more items to the menu.

"The smoker will enable us to add pulled pork, barbecued ribs and chicken and other items," he said. "We can also bring the smoker to you, so we are ready for any outdoor events."

Scicchitano says the public should keep their eyes open as there may be some picnics set up at the smoker in the near future.

"It will be very easy for us to set up for half-chicken dinners or something like that," Scicchitano said.

The owner also brings to the business his 30 years of experience in the culinary world. He worked in country clubs, hotels and restaurants before opening Scicchitano's Buono Pizza in Kulpmont.

After this year, Scicchitano will devote all his time to the catering business, and the pizza business will be put in the capable hands of his son, Joshua.

"He is very knowledgeable about the business, and will use his knowledge and his four-year degree in business management from Bloomsburg University to help run the place," Scicchitano said. "He also has been working in the kitchen here since he was 12 years old, so he can cook, too."

For more information on Scicchitano's Buono Pizza and catering, call 570-373-3050.

Easter egg hunt in Tharptown

THARPTOWN - Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 328 Center St., will hold its annual Easter egg hunt beginning at 1 p.m. Sunday at the church.

The hunt is free to the community. All ages are welcome.

Location of the egg hunt was incorrectly identified in a sponsorship listing in Wednesday's edition for The News-Item's coloring contest.

No withdrawal of candidate petitions

SUNBURY - No candidates for office in the May 19 primary election in Northumberland County have withdrawn their petitions.

Wednesday was the last day candidates who filed nomination petitions could withdraw from the race. The county board of elections reported the deadline came and went without any withdrawals.

Oak Street festival May 9

MOUNT CARMEL - Plans are under way for the 18th annual Mount Carmel Lions Oak Street Festival on May 9.

The festival continues to grow every year, with an increased number of vendors and improved quality of arts and crafts and concessions.

The festival helps the Lions in their support of vital community projects such as the holiday Meals on Wheels, upgrading hospital mobility equipment and aid for eyeglasses. Another goal is the restoration of Wightman's Dam on Route 61 east of Mount Carmel and creation of a nature preserve there that will be open to the public.

The Lions' goal is to turn back whatever funds are made from the festival for the good of the community.

SHAMOKIN - In the 47th year under its current masthead, and with more than 130 years in operation altogether, The News-Item continues to be an important part of the local community.

The newspaper continues to provide news, sports and advertising content focused on eastern and southern Northumberland, southern Columbia and northern Schuylkill counties, with circulation in Sunbury and other areas as well.

While almost every newspaper has seen traditional print circulation decline over the years, many are also experiencing higher overall readership through their websites and digital editions. That is the case for The News-Item, which is producing astounding numbers through its website. From Jan. 19 through Feb. 18, newsitem.com had 869,584 page views and 311,718 unique visitors (that could involve the same person coming back more than once every day.) Also, as of March 20, The News-Item has more than 6,600 "likes" combined on its news and sports Facebook pages.

An all-access subscription offer started in 2014 also continues to gain in popularity. All-access subscribers get the print edition but also 100 percent access to the website and daily delivery of the e-edition - a slick and easy-to-use digital version of the paper, automatically downloaded to phones, tablets, laptops and desktop computers - all for one price.

More than products alone, The News-Item continues to play a role in the community through these and other activities:

- Participation in Shamokin's annual Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts, both in the parade and with a vendor booth. Also, we have published a special section promoting the event every year since it began in 2006.

- Presentation of the annual Achiever Scholarship to students at Our Lady of Lourdes, Shamokin Area and, starting this year, the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center.

- Sponsorship each year, in conjunction with Sunbury Motors, of local students' participation in EconomicsPennsylvania's Stock Market Challenge Game.

- Support of the Salvation Army, United Way, Relay for Life and other local charitable efforts.

- Sponsorship of the Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce's annual candidates forum.

- And, in 2014, The News-Item worked in conjunction with the Shamokin 150th anniversary committee to produce an 82-page celebration booklet. The paper sold advertising, but otherwise gave 1,000 copies of the book to the committee to sell at $10 each - all for its own profit toward paying celebration expenses.

The News-Item employs 30 full-time people at its Shamokin location, but that does not include the independent contractors who help deliver the paper, correspondents who help gather and write the news and take photographs or those involved in the printing and corporate functions in Towanda and Scranton as the paper continues to operate under the Times-Shamrock Communications family banner.

This year will mark another important milestone in The News-Item's long history with the 10th anniversary of our Sunday edition, which debuted Sept. 11, 2005.

The means through which news is delivered has changed considerably in the past 130 years, but The News-Item's mission remains the same: Be indispensable to the community.

SUNBURY - Voters in Mount Carmel Township will elect a supervisor in the November general election to fill the seat on the board formerly held by the late Joseph A. Zanella, who died March 20.

Alisha Herb, director of the Northumberland County Elections Bureau, confirmed that Democratic and Republican parties have until Sept. 4 to pick candidates for the four-year term. The person who is elected to the position will serve the balance of Zanella's uncompleted term, which runs until January 2019.

Herb said the process starts with her office sending each of the party committee chairpersons a nomination certificate. Members of each party committee from Mount Carmel Township will then have the opportunity to meet to pick a candidate for the ballot, and that candidate's name would be placed on the certificate for forwarding to the elections office.

This four-year term will not be on the primary election ballot, and it is separate from the full six-year term on the board that is up for election this year. Two Democratic candidates - Aaron Domanski and Bruce Facer - are running for the six-year seat. The losing candidate from the Domanski-Facer primary is not eligible to be nominated by certificate as a candidate for the four-year position.

If both parties fail to file a certificate of nomination for the four-year term, the position on the general election ballot would remain vacant. However, a winner for the seat could then emerge through the write-in process.

In the meantime, within 30 days of Zanella's death, the remaining two supervisors can appoint someone to fill the vacant seat for the remainder of the year.

SUNBURY - A 24-year-old former Shamokin man charged with raping a 14-year-old girl while she was helping him move in December 2013 pleaded guilty Thursday to three felony offenses and will be sentenced within 90 days.

Jacob Ryan Engle, whose last address was listed as Berrysburg, was scheduled for a suppression hearing, but decided to plead guilty before Judge Charles Saylor to two counts of aggravated indecent assault and one count of sexual assault.

Engle, who will be required to register as a Megan's Law offender for the rest of his life and has a prior record score of four, admitted to committing each of the offenses. He will be sentenced by Saylor following a pre-sentence investigation that includes undergoing an evaluation by the Pennsylvania Sexual Offenders Assessment Board to determine if he's a sexually violent predator.

Engle remains in SCI-Coal Township in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.

The standard sentencing range for each of the aggravated indecent assault charges is 48 to 60 months, while the standard sentencing range for the sexual assault charge is 60 to 78 months.

The plea agreement calls for Engle to receive concurrent sentences on the aggravated indecent assault charges. Saylor will determine if Engle receives a concurrent or consecutive sentence for sexual assault. The judge also will impose a sentence of consecutive probation on one of the offenses in accordance with the plea offer.

The maximum sentence for the three offenses is 30 years (10 years each) imprisonment and $75,000 ($25,000 each) in fines.

The defendant, who was represented by Public Defender John Broda, declined comment upon being escorted from the courtroom by deputy sheriffs.

District Attorney Ann Targonski prosecuted the case.

Engle is charged by Shamokin Patrolman Raymond Siko II with having sexual intercourse with the victim at his former residence on North Orange Street in Shamokin.

The victim told police Engle picked her up at her Snyder County home around Christmas time and took her to his home in Shamokin. Police said Engle was in the process of moving from Shamokin to Trevorton at the time.

Police said Engle admitted having sexual intercourse with the victim at his former Shamokin home. He said the victim tried to stop him, but he forced himself on her.

Both the victim and Engle told of another sexual encounter between the two.

Engle had told police he went to counseling after the two incidents because his actions bothered him.

The victim said after the first encounter that Engle told her, "You tell anyone, I'll kill you."

The victim said she didn't tell anyone about the incident because she was scared and concerned for a family member who was Engle's girlfriend.

SUNBURY - The Northumberland County Area Agency on Aging will offer a free medicare seminar at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 8, at the agency conference room, 322 N. Second St.

It is open to the public. Call 570-495-2395 to confirm attendance.

The seminar is coordinated through APPRISE, a free, unbiased, confidential health insurance counseling program offered by the state Department of Aging to all Medicare enrollees.

Today's birthday card for Jo Ann will be the latest addition to a collection of greeting cards that has spanned the 25 years since our first date, including nearly 24 years of marriage. Birthdays, anniversaries, Christmases, Thanksgivings, Easters, congratulations on a new job or accomplishment cards are all there.

Jo Ann has every card I have ever given her and I have the complete set of Jo Ann's cards. The cards are sweet and their words are poignant, but the true treasure of each card is what Jo Ann and I write.

Most of the messages are similar, but they are something that we never get tired of saying to each other. We have always been and will always be eternally grateful to God for the priceless gifts of His love for us and of our love for each other.

Eventually, I suppose those collections of cards will be disposed of or recycled by us when we have to downsize or by someone else helping us to clear off some shelves. But until then, those cards from Jo Ann will remain among my prized possessions.

In addition to expressing my gratitude for Jo Ann, virtually all the cards mention how much God has blessed me, Jo Ann and our marriage.

I always sign off the same way, "With all my love forever." However, I cannot take credit for originality.

It's what God's Son Jesus said to us 2,000 years ago and what the Holy Spirit says to us every day.

+++

God's love is far beyond what we can even imagine.

Shamokin-Coal Township

Monday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; executive board meeting, 10:30 a.m.; world news, noon; unlucky 7's, noon.

Tuesday - Poker game, 8:30 a.m.; walk-a-mile, 9:30 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m. world news, noon; bridge, noon.

Wednesday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; bridge lessons, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle and Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.; CPFB food box distribution, 1 to 3 p.m.

Thursday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; breakfast sandwiches, 9 a.m., $1.50; walk-a-mile, 9:30 a.m.; members meeting, 10:30 a.m.; world news, noon; nickel bingo, noon.

Friday - Center closed. Good Friday.

Mount Carmel

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

Tuesday - Morning talk show and coffee, 9 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; unlucky 7's and pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Hoagie sale starts; morning news and coffee, 9 a.m.; officers meeting, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; members meeting, 1 p.m.; nickel bingo after meeting.

Thursday - Wii games, 9 a.m.; exercise. 10 a.m.; trip to vo-tech beauty salon, 11:45 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; unlucky 7's and pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Center closed. Good Friday.

Kulpmont

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

Tuesday - Chair exercise and music in the morning; games, 10 a.m.; Wii bowling, noon; cards, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Music and hand held games in the morning; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; LCR, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Coffee and gab in the morning; Wii bowling, 11 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Center closed. Good Friday.

Centralia- Wilburton

Monday - Coffee and current events, 9 a.m.; center, right, left game, 10:30 a.m; puzzle, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Coffee and snacks, 9 a.m.; picture day, bring in your favorite picture, 10:30 a.m.

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

Thursday - Coffee and snacks, 9 a.m.; word search, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Center closed. Good Friday.

Elysburg

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

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

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

Trevorton

Monday - Members breakfast, 8:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10 a.m.; trip to Coal Township Walmart Supercenter, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.; evening card party, 7 p.m.

Tuesday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; Scrabble, 10:30 a.m.; special luncheon for those who signed up, 11:30 a.m.,

Wednesday - Exercise, 9:30 a.m.; board games, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; CSFP box distribution, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; members meeting, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Center closed. Good Friday.

SUNBURY - It took a jury only one hour Friday to find 21-year-old Hasan Mustafa Abuomar not guilty of multiple charges including homicide by vehicle in the July 16, 2013, accident along Snydertown Road that claimed the life of his 18-year-old friend, Marcelle Barber, of Mount Carmel.

Debate over who was in control of the vehicle when it went out of control and crashed, inconsistencies in testimony and statements given to police, and the defendant's claim that he wasn't responsible for causing the crash convinced the jury to clear the Mount Carmel man of all criminal charges.

In addition to being acquitted at 5:30 p.m. by a jury of six men and six women of homicide by vehicle, two counts of aggravated assault by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and three counts of recklessly endangering, Abuomar was found not guilty by Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor of summary offenses of reckless driving, careless driving and failure to drive in a single lane.

After the jury forewoman announced the verdicts on each charge, Abuomar smiled and embraced his husband and wife attorney team of Kymberley Best and Timothy Bowers. He then walked into the gallery of the courtroom to hug his father and mother, Mustafa and Eman Abuomar, and shake hands with a small group of friends who came to support him at the daylong trial.

The defendant, who was elated with the verdicts, said, "I'm glad justice has been served and this case can finally be put to rest. My main goal was to tell my side of the story and I was able to do that today. I am very sorry for the loss of my friend and that's something you never really get over. But I would just like to see everyone move on from this. There's a lesson to be learned by all of us in this case. I have tears of joy right now."

Had he been convicted, he could have faced a maximum of 30 years imprisonment.

Abuomar, who has remained free since his arrest on $40,000 unsecured bail, commended his attorneys for doing a fine job.

His father added, "I thought the verdict was fair. Justice was achieved. My son's legal team did a great job. My boy has suffered unfairly since the accident. I believe they got the wrong person."

Best, who noted Abuomar turned down a plea offer Thursday from the district attorney's office, said, "Tim and I feel relieved for our client, but we can't celebrate a victory in a case where someone died."

While Abuomar, his attorneys, family and friends were rejoicing in one corner of the courtroom, District Attorney Ann Targonski, who prosecuted the case, was attempting to console the family and friends of Barber, 21-year-old Brianna Bailey, of Mount Carmel, and 22-year-old Tyler Karycki, of Mount Carmel.

Bailey suffered serious injuries in the crash including a broken neck, two broken ribs and spleen damage and spent nine days at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville. Karycki and Abuomar, who suffered minor injuries, were passengers in the auto driven by Barber.

Family members and friends of the victims, some of whom were crying as they left the courtroom, declined comment.

Targonski said, "I am disappointed in the verdict, but I respect the jury's decision. The easy cases plead out, but the hard ones you take to trial. It was a very hard day for all the victims' families."

The district attorney said she doesn't plan to appeal the verdict.

Bailey and Karycki testified Abuomar grabbed the steering wheel of Karycki's 2001 Pontiac Sunfire and jerked it to the right while Barber was driving in Upper Augusta Township at about 12:45 a.m. They said shortly after, the car went out of control and landed on its roof.

Abuomar admitted to grabbing the wheel at one point, but denied being responsible for the accident.

The defendant testified, "I didn't cause the accident. I don't think anybody caused it. It was just an accident."

Abuomar admitted giving different statements to police about who had control of the vehicle because he was scared of getting into trouble. The defendant said he believed Bailey and Karycki also were worried before eventually blaming him for causing the crash.

Karycki, who had dated Barber and was attempting to get back together when the accident occurred, testified he also grabbed the steering wheel of the car in an attempt to help Barber gain control of it. The witness said he tried to guide the vehicle toward a guard rail on the right side of the road, but it quickly turned to the left and overturned.

Abuomar said he didn't know why Karycki grabbed the wheel. "I feel bad about the accident. It's sad it happened," he said.

Bailey and Karycki admitted smoking marijuana together before meeting up at Mount Carmel Town Park with Abuomar and Barber around 8 p.m. July 15, 2013, to go for a joy ride. The four friends rode to the Sheetz store in Elysburg with Karycki driving before returning to Mount Carmel so Barber could get her driver's license from her vehicle.

Abuomar said Barber was driving along Snydertown Road when the crash occurred.

The defendant said, "We were playing music, talking and texting and having a good time. We were just hanging out."

Abuomar said he was sitting in the rear passenger side seat, while Karycki was in the front passenger seat. He said Bailey was sitting next to him in the back behind Barber. He said none of the foursome was wearing a seat belt.

While driving along Snydertown Road, Bailey said, "Marcella was shaking the wheel back and forth. Hasan then grabbed the wheel from the back seat and told Marcella if she was going to do it, to do it like a man."

Bailey said as the car went out of control off the right berm, Karycki grabbed the steering wheel with his right hand and attempted to bring it under control, but it crashed and rolled on its roof.

Karycki's testimony was similar to Bailey's, but differed from some statements during interviews with state police. Bowers played a video of one of the interviews to illustrate some inconsistencies in Karycki's testimony and statements.

Karycki said he was picking up some food that fell on the console of the car when he noticed Abuomar and Barber both had hands on the wheel. "I didn't actually see him grab the wheel, but I saw him with his right hand on the wheel," he said.

The witness said he then heard the car squealing and attempted to help Barber straighten it out, but it crashed shortly after.

He said Barber was not used to driving his car, but claimed he wasn't worried about her operating it.

Also testifying were Michael and Deborah Boone, of Snydertown Road, who came to the aid of the accident victims and reported the crash.

Michael Boone said Karycki, Abuomar and Bailey were able to walk up to their front porch. He said Bailey was bleeding badly and was tended to by the couple.

Boone said he and his wife attempted to calm down the young adults before he was told by Karycki that Barber was still inside the car. Boone said he tried to console Karycki after spotting a lot of blood at the scene and believing Barber was dead.

Boone said an EMT then arrived at the scene.

He told the court that Abuomar seemed "stand-offish" while talking on his cellphone.

Northumberland County Chief Deputy Coroner James Gotlob testified he pronounced Barber dead at the scene from blunt force trauma to the head.

Shawna Hipple, a paramedic with Americus Ambulance in Sunbury, said she treated the victims at the scene and recalled one of them saying that a passenger swerved the steering wheel.

Trooper Mark Adams of state police at Stonington, who filed the charges against Abuomar, testified about the investigation that led to the arrest. Conflicting statements provided by the passengers to Adams led to some confusion during his testimony, but the trooper claimed enough evidence existed to charge Abuomar.

Barber's father testified that he told state police Aug. 8, 2013, that Abuomar, who apologized to him about his daughter's death, said he grabbed the steering wheel and caused the accident.

In her closing argument, Best said the case involving the deadly crash focused on grief, fear and blame.

"This was a terrible and regrettable accident, but it's hard to tell who had control of the vehicle and when control was lost," she said.

She pointed out that an accident reconstructionist, who was not called to testify, determined how the crash occurred, but couldn't identify who caused it.

Targonski said Abuomar took control of the steering wheel and caused the accident.

CATAWISSA R.R. - Teachers in the Southern Columbia Area School District rescinded their strike date Thursday after progress was made in formulating their new contract with the school board.

Superintendent Paul Caputo reported in an email that a negotiation session was held earlier that day to clarify language and the terms of a tentative agreement reached earlier this month.

Caputo said the session was "very productive" and the agreement is still in place. He said he is hopeful students will be attending classes this coming Tuesday.

"Based on where the negotiation process is at this point, we are not expecting the teachers' association to call a strike next week," Caputo wrote.

Mark McDade, Pennsylvania State Education Association representative and chief negotiator for the Southern Columbia Education Association (SCEA) confirmed the strike cancellation.

"We held a bargaining session for about five hours yesterday and successfully clarified the agreement reached March 9. Therefore, the strike date has been rescinded," McDade said Friday.

Charlie Porter, head of the board negotiations committee, was pleased with Thursday's session.

"We have the tentative agreement and there will not be a strike," Porter said.

Chris Gengler, SCEA president, echoed the sentiment.

"It's a very positive outcome," Gengler said Friday. "It shows what reasonable people can do when they work together."

It appeared the two sides had an agreement March 9, but some problems with specifics resulted in a return to the negotiation table.

"We realized we just didn't have enough time to look at the final language that day," Porter said. "When we did, it turns out there were some misunderstandings on both sides to what was agreed upon. We also had to check our salary schedule."

With the new tentative agreement in place, both sides will continue to work to hammer out a final agreement. No terms have yet been released, but specifics will be announced when a final document has been reviewed and ratified by both the district and teachers.

"Right now, we continue to work diligently and expeditiously on reaching a final agreement for a smooth transition," McDade said.

Porter was happy a strike was averted but said it would only have been a day or two, due to the number of snow days used this winter.

When asked his thoughts on the agreement, Porter would only say that the negotiation team was pleased with the deal which he termed "a compromise."

"We are pleased we have a deal but we didn't get everything we wanted," Porter said.

SCA teachers have been working without a contract since June 30, 2014.

MOUNT CARMEL - "Man overboard!"

That was the phrase students from the junior and senior classes at Mount Carmel Area tried to avoid during the school's seventh annual boat regatta Friday.

Captains of one-man cardboard vessels sailed the seas of the high school's natatorium. Some students were successful in navigating a lap of the pool, while many others went down with their ship.

The fun event provided students in the tech ed club and the power, energy and transportation class an opportunity to gain experience in design, marketing and public relations, among other things, according to their teacher, Keith Fourspring.

In addition to learning how to design and construct a buoyant ship made just of cardboard, glue and a rubber sealant, students sought community sponsors. Months of hard work were ultimately put to the test Friday in a head-to-head competition with several heats.

"Students started by drafting a design using T-squares, then moved on to creating small-scale models," Fourspring said. "They ran formulas to make sure their model would float. It was a lot of math and science."

Dominating the competition was junior Nick Studman, who based his design on a kayak. The boat was double-layered with cardboard and was about 6-by-2 feet in size. The sleek design, combined with Studman's experience in paddling, provided a perfect combination for beating the competition.

"I started in the fall by making a design that was molded after my own kayak," Studman said. "It moves just like a kayak. The thing just went."

Fourspring said more boats than normal fell apart and a new sealant used by students may have been to blame. The material, used primarily with bathroom tile, may have broken down the cardboard faster than other sealants used in the past. Some students tried desperately to tape their boats between heats, but the measure was only a temporary patch to an otherwise fatal flaw.

Senior Jordan Winhofer did not make it to the finals, but was proud that her boat showed no signs of sinking after two races. She chalked up her troubles to inexperience with paddling.

"I spent a solid three weeks making it," Winhofer said. "I didn't think Studman would win, because his boat was so small. I actually scrapped my first boat because of its small size. The competition was so fun."

FRACKVILLE - A Pennsylvania State Police sergeant was critically injured when he stopped to help a disabled vehicle in the southbound lanes of Interstate 81 Friday afternoon.

Sgt. Robert E. Bemus, director of the honors camp at the state police academy in Hershey, as well as being involved in training programs, was flown to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, for treatment of head injuries he suffered in the 3 p.m. crash in the area of mile marker 121, three miles south of the Frackville exit.

The crash brought southbound traffic to a halt for more than five hours while the crash was investigated by troopers from the Frackville station along with Trooper John Minalda, an accident reconstruction specialist.

Troopers at the scene said that Bemus, was traveling south on Interstate 81 when he apparently pulled over to assist a motorist whose car broke down while pulling a trailer carrying a Volvo Cross Country.

At some point the car pulling the trailer caught fire, prompting Bemus to retrieve his fire extinguisher to put the flames out.

While the trooper was outside his unmarked cruiser an, SUV with Virginia license plates driven by a woman was traveling south, went off the right side of the road and struck the guiderails.

The SUV went back onto the highway in the right lane and then exited the highway a short distance later, hitting the back of the unmarked state police car.

Witnesses said the impact threw Bemus into the air with him hitting the ground near the passenger's side of his cruiser.

Shenandoah ALS treated Bemus at the scene and took him about a mile away where he was placed on a MedEvac helicopter and flown to the Montour County trauma center.

There was no word on the sergeant's condition Friday night.

The woman driving the SUV that struck the cruiser along with her female passenger and a baby that were inside were taken to area hospitals by Hegins and Girardville EMS for evaluation.

The name or condition of the driver of the car that initially became disabled was not known.

Frackville, Englewood and Altamont firefighters assisted at the scene along with Minersville EMS while firefighters from surrounding communities work to shut down the southbound lanes of Interstate 81 at the Frackville exit.

The closure also affected traffic on Route 61 since the southbound on-ramps for Interstate 81 were shut down.

As of Friday night state police said they are continuing the investigation into the crash and had no additional information available.

SHAMOKIN - It's almost time to light up the flaming batons.

Auditions for the Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts Talent Showcase 2015 will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, 2 E. Arch St., Shamokin.

Performers selected from the audition date will participate in the showcase from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, May 23.

The showcase is open to anyone residing in Northumberland County, with one to six performers permitted in each act. There are no age limits, but performers under 18 must have a signed parental consent form.

Performers must attend one audition and dress rehearsal. Rehearsals will be held at 6 p.m. Wednesdays starting May 6 at the career and arts center.

Participants should bring props to auditions. All performances will be given five minutes of stage time, including set up and take down of any props.

Thousands attend the festival annually, and it receives press coverage from multiple media outlets. Each performer will receive a certificate to document their performance.

The festival does not charge admission and registration for the talent showcase is also free.

Registration for auditions will be open until April 21. For more information or to register call 570-373-5622 or visit www.nccarts.com.

SHAMOKIN - Messiah in the Passover begins with the traditional Passover Seder table (includes a meal) complete with all the articles of this important Jewish Celebration. It will be held at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church in Shamokin.

The speaker, David Sedaca of Chosen People Ministries, will explain the symbolic meanings of the various items of the Passover feast and highlight their relationship to the Last Supper the Messiah celebrated with the disciples, giving special emphasis on the redemptive significance of the crucifixion.,

Call 570-644-1718 for reservations.