SUNBURY - The vacancy for magisterial district judge in the Mount Carmel area that will occur when Hugh A. Jones becomes a Northumberland County judge in January will eventually be filled by a gubernatorial nomination followed by state Senate confirmation. The process could take five to six months.

Judicial duties in the office will be handled in the meantime by a senior magisterial district judge.

Because they won both Democratic and Republican nominations for Northumberland County judge in the May 19 primary election, Jones and Northumberland County Public Defender Paige Rosini are practically assured victory in the Nov. 3 general election.

They will succeed President Judge William H. Wiest, who is mandated to retire at age 70, and Judge Anthony Rosini, who didn't seek election after being appointed to the position.

Northumberland County Court Administrator Brandy Yasenchak said a recommendation for the district judge position will be made by state Sen. John Gordner (R-27) of Berwick to Gov. Tom Wolf. She said if the governor fails to nominate a candidate, county court officials will make a request to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) to temporarily appoint a senior judge to the position.

Yasenchak said if the governor nominates a successor and the candidate is confirmed by the Senate, he or she must be a Democrat since that is Jones' political party. If a senior judge is appointed, party affiliation doesn't come into play, she said.

Whoever is appointed can run for a full six-year term in the next municipal election in 2017, which is the same year Jones' term expires. Jones plans to remain in his current position until January.

Jones was nominated in 2009 by Gov. Ed Rendell as magisterial district judge to replace longtime judge Michael Mychak, who retired. Jones, whose nomination was confirmed by the Senate, was elected to a six-year term in 2011.

Paige Rosini, who has served as a public defender since January 1996, plans to resign in early September to dedicate more time to her private practice in Shamokin and prepare for the general election.

It will be up to the county commissioners to hire another public defender when Rosini resigns. Rosini is a Republican, but political affiliation will not be a factor in naming her successor.

The commissioners will most likely seek a recommendation from Chief Public Defender Edward Greco. Other county public defenders are Michael Suders and John Broda.

Register, recorder

Longtime Northumberland County Register and Recorder Mary Zimmerman, who plans to retire at the end of the year, is expected to be replaced by her first deputy, Tina Mertz, as per county code. Zimmerman and Mertz are both Republicans.

Zimmerman's four-year term expires at the end of 2017.

Zimmerman has worked in the office for more than 32 years, including the past 15 as register and recorder.

The American Red Cross reminds everyone to stay safe when the temperatures rise.

"High temperatures, humidity and hot, indoor environments can quickly cause heat-related emergencies," said American Red Cross Central Pennsylvania Regional CEO Ellen Kyzer. "Excessive heat can lead to sunburn, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke."

The American Red Cross has some simple steps to help beat the heat:

- Never leave children or pets alone in vehicles. The temperature inside can reach a dangerous level within a few minutes.

- Slow down, take frequent breaks and drink more water than usual - even if you're not thirsty.

- Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, light-colored clothing.

- If working outdoors, take frequent breaks and use the buddy system.

- Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the heat.

- If possible, bring animals inside. If not, frequently check to ensure they are comfortable and have water and a shady place to rest.

The free Red Cross Emergency App provides instant access to expert heat safety tips. Users also have the option of receiving alerts for excessive heat watches, warnings and heat advisories. The Red Cross Pet First Aid App has steps pet owners should take to help keep their furry friends safe during hot weather. People can find the apps in their app store by searching for American Red Cross and at redcross.org/apps.

People can learn how to prevent and respond to heat-related and other emergencies by taking a Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED or Advance Child Care Training course. A variety of online and in-class options are available. Course and registration information is available at redcross.org/takeaclass.

Shamokin-Coal Township

Monday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; executive board meeting, 10:30 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; unlucky 7s, noon.

Tuesday - Poker, 8:30 a.m., new players welcome; walk a mile, 9 a.m.; Boscov's, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; bridge, noon

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.; CSFP, 1 to 3 p.m.

Thursday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; walk a mile, 9 a.m.; members meeting, 10:30 a.m.; picnic by God's Chuck Wagon, 11 a.m., no charge; 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 - Board games, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Tuesday - Wii games, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; unlucky 7s and pinochle, 12;30 p.m.

Wednesday - Board games, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; members meeting, 1 p.m., nickel bingo after meeting.

Thursday - Wii games, 10 a.m.; horseshoe competition, 11 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; movie pizza party, noon, $4.

Friday - Morning talk show, coffee and laughs, 9 a.m.; exercise, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Linda Walker speaking, 12:30 p.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Kulpmont

Monday - Bean bag, 10 a.m.; bowling, 11 a.m.; Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Family medical checking blood pressure, 10 a.m.; handheld games, 11 a.m.; cards, noon; bowling, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Scrabble and Parcheesi, 10 a.m.; lunch at Cracker Barrel, 11 a.m., $2; LCR, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Puzzles, 10 a.m.; game, 11 a.m.; fall prevention exercise with Amy and Shelly, noon; members meeting, 12:30 p.m., bingo will follow meeting.

Friday - Handheld games, 10 a.m.; bowling, 11 a.m.; nickel bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Centralia-Wilburton

Monday - Coffee and current events from the local newspaper, 9 a.m.; let's talk and game, 10:30 a.m.; Walmart shopping, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Coffee and snack, 9 a.m.; chair exercise with carol, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Coffee and snack, 9 a.m.; reminisce, 10:30 a.m.; pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

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

Friday - Center closed.

Elysburg

Monday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; royal rummy, 10 a.m.; VNA nurse speaking on flu prevention, 11 a.m.; Pokeno, 11:30 a.m.

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

Friday - Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle, noon; members meeting and Donut Day, noon.

Trevorton

Monday - National Watermelon Day; Wii bowling, 9:30 a.m.; Pokeno or pinochle, 12:30 p.m.; watermelon will be served with lunch.

Tuesday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; rummikub, 10:30 a.m.; pinochle, 12:30 p.m.; National Night Out at Trevorton Foundry, 6 to 9 p.m.

Wednesday - Exercise, 9:30 a.m.; Scrabble, 10:30 a.m.; Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.; CSFP, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; Uno, 10:30 a.m.; trip to Olive Garden in Buckhorn, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Friday - National Raspberries and Cream Day; Wii games, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; members meeting, 12:30 p.m., followed by bingo.

NATALIE - A pair of drones were put into action during a demonstration Thursday as Mount Carmel Township Police Department's Unmanned Aircraft System nears its formal takeoff.

A dozen onlookers, including a Ralpho Township policeman and officials from SCI-Coal Township, watched as Patrolmen Keith Tamborelli and Kelly Campbell flew two quadcopters in a federally approved training space in the coal lands of Natalie Mountain. The system goes live this weekend, Tamborelli said previously.

Tamborelli purchased the system on his own and is leasing it to Mount Carmel Township for $1 annually, he said. A licensed drone pilot, it took Tamborelli seven months to finalize permission for the program through the Federal Aviation Administration. The program is permitted to operate within Northumberland, Snyder, Columbia, Montour and Schuylkill counties.

The drones are equipped with a video camera and can be mounted with another camera with tight zoom capability. Tamborelli noted its value for use in cases where someone is lost in the woods, but also for accident reconstruction or for an escape such as what occurred at Northwestern Academy early Thursday. (See Page 1.)

Four rotors on a drone whirred softly as it hovered at 100 feet. It shot to 400 feet and was barely audible or visible. Video was relayed directly to a handheld remote control with a feed capable of night or infrared vision. The feed will also be accessible to emergency personnel through cell phones, tablets and computers, and the drones can pinpoint latitude and longitude.

"Once you've seen it, I've seen you," Tamborelli said of the drone's stealthy maneuvers. "I've captured you."

Each drone has an approximate 30 minute flight time. The two-drone system allows rotational deployment, sending one out as the other is equipped with a charged battery.

Tamborelli, Campbell and Coal Township Police Patrolman Chris Lapotsky are the three officers currently trained to either pilot or assist the aircraft by being its observer. The drones can be launched from the ground or by hand from a moving vehicle.

Tamborelli reiterated that the program operates within rules laid out by the U.S. Department of Justice. If a search warrant is necessary in an investigation, the drones wouldn't be deployed in that area until it is obtained.

ASHLAND - The death of a borough woman found in her home Monday night has been ruled a homicide.

Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David Moylan said an autopsy conducted Wednesday on Karen Kimmel, 57, determined the woman died from loss of blood, due to a deep laceration to her neck.

After the autopsy performed by forensic pathologist Dr. Richard P. Bindie, Moylan said he ruled the manner of death a homicide.

Also found in the house was Donald Ray Erb, 55.

An autopsy on Erb was performed Thursday night at Reading Hospital but the results were not immediately available.

Both Kimmel and Erb were pronounced dead in their home at 2013 Walnut St. home shortly after officers responded for a welfare check about 9:30 p.m.

Moylan said first assistant coroner Dr. Joseph A. Weber pronounced the couple dead about an hour after their bodies were discovered.

Ashland Police Chief Mark O'Hearn said officers were called to the home when an family member requested an officer check on the pair.

When police arrived, they saw a person lying on the floor inside the first floor of the home and forced their way in, O'Hearn said.

O'Hearn said that, once inside, officers found Kimmel and Erb deceased.

The chief said there is no danger to the public related to the investigation.

O'Hearn said the scene was processed by members of the state police Forensic Services Unit based at Troop L headquarters in Reading and that Schuylkill County detectives and Butler Township police assisted at the scene.

Also assisting were members of Ashland EMS who were initially summoned but later determined not to be needed.

SHAMOKIN DAM - The bronze marker stolen from the gravesite of "Baby Mary" last year has been replaced.

Northumberland County Coroner James F. Kelley announced Thursday the marker for the newborn, who was left in the trash by her mother in 2001, is back in place.

"Thank you to everyone who so graciously donated and for the many prayers," Kelley wrote in an email. "Also, thank you to the local news outlets for their assistance during this tragedy."

The metal marker was taken sometime between Nov. 1 and Dec. 19 last year from the Orchard Hills Cemetery and Memorial Park. At the time of the theft, Kelley said the crime sickened him.

The coroner said he and his wife, Patty, were going to buy the new marker themselves, but once word of the theft got out, Kelley received a number of messages from people wanting to donate toward a new one. Kelley had purchased the original marker and the cemetery donated the gravesite.

The new marker reads the same as the old one: "Mary, Baby Girl, July 11, 2001. Suffer little children to come unto me for such is the kingdom of God" St. Luke 18:16."

Kelley said the marker cost $1,690. A total of $2,090 was raised through donations, so Kelley donated the $400 balance to the Child Advocacy Center in Sunbury.

Kelley visits the grave often, taking flowers and stuffed animals.

He named the newborn "Baby Mary" when he had to issue a birth certificate for the child before issuing her death certificate.

The infant was found in a trash compactor in 2001 at the Sunbury Municipal Transfer Station. Her mother, Tracy Dupre, was convicted in 2002 of first-degree murder after an investigation revealed she delivered the baby while in a bathtub, allowed it to drown and then disposed of it in a garbage bag. Dupre is serving a life sentence at SCI-Muncy.

Also because of Baby Mary's death, Kelley helped lobby for the adoption for the state's Safe Haven Act. It was enacted in 2003 and allows for parents of newborns to safely and legally abandon them at drop-off sites at hospitals and police stations.

MOUNT CARMEL - Discipline, hard work and dedication is what several area residents got to witness Thursday evening when The Spirit of Atlanta Drum and Bugle Corps held a run-through at the Silver Bowl, where they stopped overnight at the high school before a performance today in Allentown. This is the second year in a row the high school has hosted the corps.

Several young musicians from Shamokin Area and Mount Carmel Area high schools watched as the corps performed its 11-minute show following a day-long practice leading up to a performance at the Drum Corps International (DCI) Eastern Classic today at J. Birney Crum Stadium in Allentown.

Members constantly repeated bars of music until footwork and sound quality was perfect. As show of commitment, members jogged to retrieve bottles water and jogged back to position during breaks. Silence among members was only broken when questions were asked by directors.

The corps, comprised of 150 brass, percussion and color guard members with an average age of 17 1/2 and a maximum age of 21, was founded in 1976 and is a nonprofit youth performing arts education organization based in Atlanta. Spirit of Atlanta has members from all over the United States, Canada, Great Britain and Japan. Members are selected by audition based on their musical ability, movement skills and attitude.

Members reported to Atlanta May 22 and have been on a national tour since June 6. The tour concludes Aug. 8 with a show at the DCI World Championships at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Four teenage girls housed at Northwestern Academy were still on the lam Thursday night after allegedly assaulting and robbing a staff member before escaping in a stolen car early Thursday, police say.

Angel Wright, 25, of Coal Township, was working inside Cottage A of the Building Bridges program about 12:15 a.m. when she was attacked by a 14-year-old Dauphin County girl, according to Coal Township police.

Three other juveniles joined the teen in stealing Wright's purse and locking her in a closet, police say. Wright's car keys were in her purse, and the teens fled in her 2007 Mazda 3. They are believed to have driven south on Interstate 81 and remained at large as of 9 p.m. Thursday.

Three staffers were on duty at the time of the alleged assault, according to Michelle Fetterolf, the academy's assistant executive director, meeting the company policy for overnight staffing. Fewer than 30 girls are currently placed at Building Bridges, she said.

Wright was injured, police say, but the extent of her injuries are unknown. Fetterolf said Wright has been employed at the academy for approximately one year.

The incident was reported at 12:25 a.m., according to the Northumberland County 911 Center. Patrolman Matthew Hashuga is the investigating officer.

Northwestern Academy is operated by NHS Human Services. According to its website, Building Bridges is a 36-bed "staff-intensive" open residential program. Girls between 13 and 18 years old are placed in the program through juvenile probation and children and youth departments. They're lodged in two cottages similar to a home setting. The cottages are unlocked during the day and locked overnight, when doors can be opened with keys or by holding in a delay-bar on the door.

There is no exterior fence immediately surrounding the cottages.

Identities of the teens were not released. The other girls involved were a 17-year-old from Bucks County, a 16-year-old from Delaware County and a 15-year-old from Tioga County.

An internal investigation is underway. Todd Loeb, NHS's corporate director of administration and communications, said the results would not be made public. He would not comment as to whether any security measures were violated ahead of the assault or on any specifics of the incident.

The academy is under the overview of the state Bureau of Human Services Licensing.

The escape mirrors a 2013 incident at the academy when two males, held in a higher security area, assaulted a male staffer, stole his building keys and unlocked two other males. The four stole the staffer's vehicle and fled. All four were eventually taken into custody, including two within two days of the assault. One remained free until his capture nearly nine months later.

Store names can be added to mural

SHAMOKIN - The Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities is offering to put the name of any Italian mom-and-pop store or eatery name on its new mural for a minimum donation of $25.

The money will go toward payment of the mural work.

The council would ask a family member of that store to have a picture taken with the finished mural.

The mural is being painted on the front of the OIP restaurant in the downtown.

WWII private to be honored

ANNVILLE - Pvt. John F. Gallagher will be honored for his sacrifice in World War II with a ceremony at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery at 3 p.m. Tuesday.

Gallagher, who was from Cambria County, died when the ship he was on, the USAT Dorchester, was torpedoed off the coast of Greenland by a German U-Boat. His bodily remains were never recovered.

He was awarded the Purple Heart, KIA, for his sacrifice.

The sinking of the USAT Dorchester, in which some 900, died was made famous by the actions of the four chaplains who gave up their life jackets for the soldiers. One of the chaplains was Rabbi Goode, of York.

"The silent slow death of the soldiers in the freezing waters although unsung calls out for our remembrance," reads a press release from the Department of Veteran Affairs.

A short service with the unveiling of a memorial stone for Gallagher will be held at the memorial wall next to the administration building at the cemetery.

The public is invited.

ATLAS - The Mount Carmel Farmers Market will hosts its grand opening Saturday.

The market, which occupies the former Bi-Lo building at the intersection of Routes 61 and 54 in Atlas, will host a celebration with door prizes and free market bags from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Kelly Klinger, who is co-managing the business with her husband, Mike, said the number of vendors has more than doubled to 50 since they quietly opened five weeks ago.

"Pretty much the majority of the building is used," she said. "We decided it's time to get people to come back and take a second look."

Klinger said that in addition to staples like produce, meats and baked goods, the market has seen growth in the presence of non-edible items. The new stands include crafts, sports memorabilia and dollar items.

"I'm switching out the advertising a little bit because it's not just a farmer's market," she said. "It's got a little bit of everything so you need to come with time to browse."

MOUNT CARMEL - The conditions at Borough Hall and the police station have markedly improved after the landlord was notified he would be cited for more than 45 code violations if issues were not addressed.

Landlord Scott McCormick, of Mount Carmel, has corrected a majority of the issues and is at work eliminating the rest, Code Officer Robin Williams said Thursday.

The borough has leased approximately half of the former Mount Carmel Elementary School building on Fourth Street since November 2005 from McCormick at a rate of $25,000 per year.

After a discussion on the deplorable conditions of the building at the July 13 borough work session, Williams revealed a preliminary list of code violations that included no working toilets or smoke detectors in the police station, burned out light bulbs throughout the building, debris stacked in the boiler room, loose carpeting and water leaks in multiple areas of the building.

Williams said Steve Bielskie, a master building inspector, visited the building several days ago and added a few more items to the initial list. No major structural problems were discovered, he said.

Bielskie will return in a few days to see if McCormick has corrected the items, and Williams said he's already seen some of the problems addressed.

One major area of concern, leaks that allowed water to flow down a wall in council chambers and damaged maps, had already been corrected with a new roof over that section of the building, Williams said. Elsewhere, McCormick has run new wiring, added electrical outlets, removed garbage and created Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant ramps and parking spaces.

"He just got the parts in for the new bathrooms upstairs," he said, adding that plumbing issues that closed the bathrooms in the police station have also been corrected.

Williams said McCormick's effort to fix the building has impressed him so far, and as long as the work continues he doesn't see the need to issue the citations.

"The owner is responding well," he said. "He's fixing things I gave him on my initial list and things that the building inspector found."

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, announced Wednesday he will vote against the Obama qdministration's agreement with Iran and other foreign nations regarding Iran's nuclear programs.

Barletta said he examined the agreement and was briefed directly by Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz.

But Barletta said he has "serious concerns" about American access to nuclear facilities in Iran, the timeliness of the inspections and the lifting of economic sanctions.

"I am gravely concerned about this deal and am extremely skeptical about the wisdom of it," he was quoted in a press release.

Congress has begun a 60-day review of the international agreement, with a vote expected in September.

"Under the plan, Iran itself will 'manage' the inspections and control the locations and times of the visits," Barletta said. "It could be as long as 24 days before an inspection can take place at any facility - maybe even longer if Iran objects. This is the very definition of a fox guarding the henhouse."

Barletta said the administration "added insult to injury" by submitting the deal to the United Nations Security Council for a vote prior to the agreement being presented to the American people's representatives in Congress.

"And now we are hearing of amorphous 'side deals,' the details of which are unknown," Barletta said. "I find the whole process outrageous and extremely troubling.

"Let us not forget that Iran is a country that has sworn to wipe Israel off the map - our strongest ally in the region," he added. "Simply put, I don't trust Iran, and I don't like this deal."

Barletta said the argument that the deal is the only alternative to outright war with Iran is a "false choice and a weak, strawman" argument.

"The economic sanctions that have been in place were clearly working, otherwise Iran would never have come to the negotiating table in the first place," Barletta said. "We should leave the sanctions in place, and encourage our world allies to stand with us."

Kerry has said that if Congress votes down the deal, the United States would disappoint allies and isolate itself from other world leaders, while leaving Iran with a much quicker path to a nuclear bomb, as reported by Politico.

POTTSVILLE - The Republican Herald recently reported on incidents involving drones flown by private individuals as use of these "unmanned aircraft systems" increases.

Keith Tokonitz, 43, of Norwegian Township, a drone owner and a MedEvac helicopter flight paramedic, said on the evening of June 26, while flying near Hawk Mountain Sanctuary near the Schuylkill-Berks County line on a return trip from a hospital, the MedEvac team was told by Lehigh Valley International Airport, Allentown, that there was an unidentified object a few miles away.

"The drone is literally 100 feet below us," he said.

The helicopter was flying at 2,500 feet. The MedEvac team continued on its flight path and noticed the drone. The pilot had to turn right to avoid any chance of a potentially disastrous collision.

"It could take us out of the sky," he said.

The incident with the drone was reported to air traffic control in Allentown, and Tokonitz also called Hawk Mountain, where staff members were not aware there was drone in the area.

On Nov. 19, there was an incident at Schuylkill County Joe Zerbey Airport where a drone flew toward Life Flight 5. The pilot made an evasive turn and no one was injured.

Bill Willard, airport manager, said last week the area around the airport has been relatively free of drone activity since.

"This is probably going to become more and more of an issue as time goes on," Willard said.

A drone was seen flying last month over a wildfire in San Bernardino National Forest in California and delayed attempts to fight the fire from the air, according to Press Enterprise in California. In New York, two men were arrested earlier this month for a drone-related incident, according to New York Daily News. The drone they were flying near the George Washington Bridge almost hit a police department helicopter in the city, the tabloid said.

A campaign titled "Know Before You Fly" aims to educate people about the issue. The website, www.knowbeforeyoufly.org, provides guidance on recreational, business and public entity (government, law enforcement agencies and public colleges and universities) use.

The Academy of Model Aeronautics, a model aviation association representing more than 175,000 people who "promote the development of model aviation as a recognized sport and worthwhile recreation activity," has a safety code for members that can be found on the AMA website.

Among other rules, it says drones should not be flown in an unsafe manner, not fly any higher then 400 feet above ground level or within three miles of an airport without notifying the airport.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, has introduced the School Food Modernization Act, intended to help local schools replace outdated kitchen equipment and improve infrastructure in an effort to provide healthy and nutritious meals to students.

A national survey indicates 88 percent of school districts need at least one piece of new kitchen equipment, and 55 percent require infrastructure changes, according to a press release from Barletta's office. The legislation is bipartisan, with Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (D-Calif.) serving as lead co-sponsor and Rep. Glenn "G.T." Thompson (R-Pa.) and Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) also co-sponsoring.

Giving schools better access to modern kitchen equipment and infrastructure and strengthening workforce training will result in "improved focus in the classroom, and ultimately, a lifetime of healthier eating habits."

The legislation:

- Allows schools to participate in a loan assistance program from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to help them acquire new kitchen equipment and build new infrastructure. Schools would be eligible for federal guarantees up to 80 percent of the loan.

- Provides targeted grant assistance to give school administrators and food service directors seed money for less extensive infrastructure upgrades or purchases of high-quality, durable kitchen equipment such as commercial ovens, steamers, and stoves.

- Strengthens training and provides technical assistance to school food service personnel.

- Increases Congressional oversight by requiring reports on the use of workforce training funds and the progress of the programs authorized within this bill.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA), U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA) is calling for more inspectors to inspect railroad bridges in an effort to increase safety.

Casey told Sarah Feinberg, FRA's acting administrator, that the authority employs six bridge safety specialists and one supervisor who are tasked with enforcing the 2010 Bridge Safety Standards rule, which audits the bridge management programs and individual inspection reports across the country for all privately owned rail bridges.

Due to the staffing numbers, Casey said that one inspector must check all 919 train bridges in Pennsylvania.

"At current staffing levels, the FRA specialist tasked with auditing those bridges must also cover additional states," he wrote.

Casey provided a list of bridges statewide that carry trains hauling crude oil. Four are in Northumberland County, three of those being Conrail bridges that intersect Route 147 in Upper Augusta Township and Route 11 in Northumberland and one that goes over Legislative Route 49136 in Sunbury. The fourth is a Shamokin Valley Railroad bridge over Route 61 in Sunbury.

"From Philadelphia to Vandergrift, communities throughout Pennsylvania have seen large trains carrying toxic chemicals careen into neighborhoods near where our children go to school, our families go to work and where our seniors visit their doctors," he was quoted in a press release. "It's time to put more cops on the beat by hiring more rail inspectors. With the risks that our communities face only increasing, the FRA needs to put this process into overdrive."

At the end of his letter, Casey urged Feinberg and the FRA to prioritize this type of inspection and make necessary changes to the program that would allow the authority to hire additional bridge safety specialists.

SHAMOKIN - The prospect of securing a job at Great Dane Trailers' Paxinos manufacturing facility drew a crowd of more than 50 to a career fair Friday morning, even though the plant won't open until early next year.

Denise Hurne, a staffing specialist at Spherion, announced her company would be hiring workers to fill welding and assembly positions at Great Dane. Since the Paxinos facility is not yet open, workers would be at the production plant near Danville then be transferred to Paxinos once the assembly line is up and running there. Additional candidates will be hired as production ramps up.

Though Spherion is hiring only temp workers, the employees would receive benefits and would be eligible to become full-time employees of Great Dane Trailers after a probationary period of a set number of hours. Starting pay is between $10 and $12 depending on the position, Hurne said.

Spherion is also looking to fill positions at other companies with a wider range of duties, she said. She recommended candidates who were not interested in the available positions at Great Dane Trailers still apply so she could try to match them to other companies.

Great Dane Trailers stirred up buzz in June when it announced it would begin manufacturing dry vans, the most typical type of trailers hauled by commercial truckers, at the 73-acre former Fleetwood RV complex in Ralpho Township. Great Dane representatives said the facility would begin production at the beginning of 2016 and employ approximately 150 people at pay rates between $12 and $17 by the end of that year.

Hurne said when workers leave Spherion's temporary employment and became full time Great Dane Trailers employees, they will see pay increases. Because of the volume of employees needed, the company was using Spherion to complete this phase of hiring in certain positions, but other positions will be hired directly through Great Dane Trailers.

Biggest job fair

Jamie Kopitsky, of Shamokin, who is out of work, said he is optimistic about being hired at Great Dane in the near future and transfer down to the Paxinos facility when it opens.

"I'm hoping to go down there and get started," he said. "I think it's a good opportunity for Shamokin for lots of jobs."

Hurne had anticipated interviewing candidates on the spot, but the crowd was so large she said she wouldn't have time. Instead, she would arrange to come back.

"I was planning on 10 people showing up. It's a wonderful turnout," she said. "We're going to be scheduling more time down here."

Melissa Farrow, a case manager for Central Susquehanna Opportunities (CSO), which hosted the fair, said more than twice the typical number of applicants came out.

"This is the biggest one we ever had," she said, adding that a normal job fair brings around 25 applicants.

The turnout was so large, the fair was moved into the auditorium. Job seekers scattered throughout the room to fill out applications.

Better opportunity

Staci Herrold and her son, Jordon, attended the fair together. Staci Herrold is employed but looking for a better opportunity close to her home in Shamokin.

"I wanted something more permanent with benefits," she said. Though the prospect of working at Great Dane Trailers drew her to the event, she was more keen on opportunities Hurne announced at other companies. "She said they had other administrative work. That's what I went to school for."

Jordon Herrold, who is unemployed, said he had his eye on a job at the manufacturing plant and is flexible about the job duties.

"I'd like to work there," he said.

A second job fair session was scheduled for the afternoon, and additional hiring sessions are planned for the coming weeks.

The CSO Job Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays; no appointment necessary. The job center provides staff-assisted or self-guided job search materials and help is available on skills like résumé writing, interviewing and dressing appropriately.

LANDSDALE - Members of Centralia American Legion Post 608 traveled to this Montgomery County borough July 5 to honor 93-year-old Michael Wynne, a veteran of World War II and Purple Heart recipient, for 70 years of continuous membership in the post.

Wynne was presented with honorary mementos including a citation from state Rep. Kurt Masser (R-107) and an anthracite cross made by Ann Marie Devine, former mayor of Centralia.

Big band back in park next week

SHAMOKIN - A free concert will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at Claude E. Kehler Community Park, featuring the After Hours Big Band.

The band performed at the park last year and returns during its 20th anniversary of providing big band music throughout central Pennsylvania.

After Hours is a 17-piece swing orchestra that plays favorites from the big band era.

Those attending are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

SCA class of 1970 plans reunion

ELYSBURG - Southern Columbia Area High School Class of 1970 will hold a picnic at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23, at Knoebels Amusement Resort in Pavilion T. Bring a covered dish to share. Paper products will be provided. Call Joyce at 570-672-2545 or check out the Facebook page to make a reservation. If you are in contact with classmates outside of the area, please pass this information to them.

Class schedules available soon

COAL TOWNSHIP - Students in the Shamokin Area Middle/High School will be able to pick up their class schedules early for the 2015-16 school year from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17, in the high school office.

SHAMOKIN - Billed as the only barber shop in town, Jess Berg has opened her first business, Freaks and Geeks Barber Shop, at 504 N. Eighth St.

Berg, a graduate of Shamokin Area High School, opened the business June 6. She became a licensed cosmetologist in February 2008 and graduated from Jolie Academy, Hazleton, with a barber's license in October 2014.

Berg said a state inspector told her she is the only licensed barber in Shamokin. The title allows her to use a straight razor.

"While in school, I learned old-school techniques from a teacher who was an old-time barber," she said. "I do a lot of razor fades, in which I shave the hair with a straight razor and blend and taper into a regular haircut."

Examples of prices are $10 for a haircut without a wash and $8 for shave. She does not do perms and rollersets. She does cut children's hair and walk-ins are preferred.

The name of the business reflects the "relaxed" environment of the shop. During the last two weeks of the month, Berg will give customers $1 lottery tickets.

Hours vary, but the business is always open during the evening on Thursdays and Fridays, and during the afternoon on Saturdays. Full hours can be found by visiting the business site on Facebook, by typing "freaksandgeeksbarber," or by calling 570-492-7355. Larry Deklinski/Staff Photo

SHAMOKIN - Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library 210 E. Independence St., is conducting its annual public appeal for funds.

The library board is asking the public to consider making a donation. Support remains local and helps fund the book and movie collections, computers, utilities, maintenance needs and adult and children's programs.

Library officials say they are well aware of the economic challenges individuals and the community at large faces. They ask that people planning for charitable giving during the remainder of 2015 consider a gift to the public library. Any contribution is appreciated.

In 2014, the library checked out 30,439 books, 1,428 magazines, 7,892 DVDs, and 1,779 recorded books. The Power Library and AccessPA databases were also of service, and the computers were used 10,176 times.