SHAMOKIN - Teaching history on an Indian reservation by day, writing comic books at night and dropping in to see friends in South Korea during free time.

This is the life of James Murray, a 1995 graduate of Shamokin Area High School who was recently named "High School Teacher of the Year" at St. Francis Indian School, a private school on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota.

After high school graduation, Murray matriculated into Bloomsburg University and earned his bachelor's degree in history education. He loved teaching but he wasn't certain he wanted to stick around the coal region, so he began looking elsewhere.

"When I graduated from college I was looking at teaching jobs in the south," he said.

On advice from a friend, he also applied at St. Francis Indian School. He was offered a job from a school outside of Charlotte, N.C., but decided to decline it after he heard back from St. Francis Indian School.

"It felt like I ought to do this," he said. He packed his belongings and made the nearly 1,500 mile trip west.

The rural and unpopulated nature of the area surprised Murray the most. Rosebud Indian Reservation encompasses almost 2,000 square miles with just over 21,000 residents. St. Francis Indian School enrolls 200 students in ninth through 12th grades.

"The very first time I was there I was driving and there was a cow in the middle of the road," he said. "The scenery is really nice. You can see for miles and miles."

Like many Indian Reservations, the economy within Rosebud Indian Reservation is depressed. The American Indian Relief Council reports unemployment at the reservation has reached as high as 80 percent.

Murray said he saw some of the effects of the socioeconomic climate filter into the school. As a teacher, he also dealt with "a lot of issues of kids not coming to school, drugs, drinking."

Though St. Francis Indian School was founded by Jesuits, the school has largely removed Christian influence from its curriculum and replaced it with Lakota culture and history. Murray tries to incorporate the heritage of his students into his classes through lessons on government issues uniquely important to them, such as the Indian Civil Rights Act.

Murray experiences a mixture of cultures in his life outside of the classroom. At the Rosebud Fair, held annually at the end of August, he's witnessed a powwow with traditional drumming and dancing. But these festivities are juxtaposed against stereotypical carnival events like a parade, a softball tournament and a rodeo, he said.

Back home, then Korea

After two years at St. Francis Indian School, Murray decided he wanted a change so he moved back to Shamokin. Shortly thereafter, he applied and was accepted for a teaching position in Suwon, a Korean city home to approximately one million people.

"The Koreans consider that the sticks," he said, laughing.

Murray was the first full-time American English teacher at the school, "so the kids were really excited to see me," he said. When he'd walk into a classroom the kids would cheer for him, and he quickly earned the nickname "Handsome James."

"I imagine that's what it's like to be famous," he said.

He spent six years in Suwon and one in Mujang, a rural community in southwest South Korea. During his school holidays, he would travel throughout South and Southeast Asia and Oceania. Among his most memorable experiences are trips to Australia and the Philippines. He even spent time on the road with a punk rock band he met in Japan.

Murray said the people he met in Korea were especially friendly.

"I could drop $100 in the street and a Korean would come running back to me," he said.

The differences in cultures made the return to the United States difficult when he decided to return home again, Murray said. But he was compelled to teach again at St. Francis Indian School, so he took up his old position last fall.

Other projects

Shortly after his return to the United States, Murray was pleasantly surprised when his former students from South Korea reached out to him.

"Some of them got ahold of me on Facebook," he said.

So, at the conclusion of this school year, Murray caught a flight to South Korea where he visited friends, colleagues and the students who had sought him out.

In his time remaining until he kicks off the school year, Murray is working on several writing projects.

Many of Murray's writings, which include a book of poetry, a travelogue of a cross-country trip and several comics, show how he carries a piece of each place he's lived in with him. His most recent comic book, Curse of the Mummy's Stone, centers on a horror film shown at the Victoria Theatre, complete with pictures of the demolished cinema drawn by artist Sarah Benkin.

To promote his projects, Murray has been attending comic book conventions across the United States. At noon Saturday he will be at Legendary Comics and Tea Room, Bloomsburg, meeting readers and signing copies of his work.

Fact box:

Name: James Murray

Hometown: Shamokin

Current residence: Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota

Awards: High School Teacher of the Year

To meet him: Visit Legendary Comics and Tea Room, Bloomsburg, Saturday afternoon.

SHAMOKIN - Local police and other emergency responders will celebrate National Night Out Tuesday with a variety of events.

National Night Out gatherings, which are organized nationwide on the first Tuesday of August, are designed to raise awareness of community policing and make neighborhoods safer.

In addition to police departments, representatives of ambulance companies, fire departments and other state and local agencies will be present at events to meet residents, provide information and share in the fun.

Mount Carmel, Kulpmont

Police departments for Mount Carmel and Kulpmont boroughs will jointly hold their National Night Out from 5 to 8 p.m. on the Mount Carmel Area School District campus.

A LifeFlight helicopter is expected to touch down at the event with attendees invited to take a look inside. Area fire companies will display their apparatus and other fire-fighting equipment. Police will demonstrate the proper use of a Taser and show off some other equipment.

Kids and adults are invited to enjoy the bounce house or try their hand at the dunk tank. Life entertainment will be provided by local band Deuce.

Free hot dogs, hamburgers and soft drinks will be provided. Other giveaways will take place throughout the night.

Mount Carmel Township

Pony rides, a petting zoo and a DUI simulator are among the highlights of Mount Carmel Township's National Night Out event, which will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. at the municipal complex, 300 Laurel St., Atlas.

Representatives from Rep. Kurt Masser's office, the Northumberland County District Attorney's office, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the state Fish and Boat Commission will be on hand to answer questions. State Farm will bring along its DUI simulator, which has proved popular in previous years. The Northridge Hazmat team will also be in attendance.

Food and gifts for children will be distributed throughout the night.

Shamokin

The Shamokin Police Department in cooperation with the Shamokin Crime Watch, will be taking part in the National Night Out from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at the Claude Kehler Memorial Park at Third and Arch streets in the city.

There will be food, games, refreshments and a DJ. Agencies represented this year are Shamokin Police Department, Shamokin Crime Watch, Northumberland County District Attorney's Office, the sheriff's department, the Department of Public Safety, Shamokin Fire Bureau, AREA Services and adult and juvenile probation, just to name a few.

Zerbe Township

Zerbe Township's small but formidable police force will hold its National Night Out from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Trevorton Foundry.

The event will be shared with other emergency responders in the community, including the Trevorton Ambulance and the Trevorton Fire Company. Representatives from the county district attorney's office, sheriff's office and Children and Youth Services will attend, as well as the United Way.

Attendees are invited to take their chances on a basket raffle hosted by the Trevorton Senior Action Center or enter to win one of several bicycles.

The band Bloodline will provide live entertainment from 7 to 9 p.m. and games, food and exhibits will be available throughout the night.

SHAMOKIN - Jim Zimmerman remembers a time spending weekends driving aimlessly in a half-mile loop around downtown Shamokin.

Cruising the coal city was a major part of the social scene for teens of certain generations. At some point the pastime became the past, and with it the sight of cars clogging Independence Street for hours on end.

Zimmerman, 43, of Coal Township, is hoping his sense of nostalgia isn't his alone, and he's betting on it.

A downtown cruise is organized for 8 p.m. Aug. 22, and Zimmerman invites everyone to hop in. He's hopeful grown-ups with a soft spot for the city will drive leisurely laps around downtown Shamokin again, and he's also hopeful the latest generation who never experienced weekend cruising will join in on the ride.

The event is a casual one. There's no registration, no fee, and no gathering point. Simply drive in around 8 p.m. Zimmerman encourages everyone to make a few pit stops at Coney Island, Mr. Pizza and the like; get a close up of the public murals around town. It's a small effort towards something bigger, he says, restoring pride and maybe stoking a little business.

More than 1,300 people have joined the Cruise Shamokin Take Back Our Town page Zimmerman created on Facebook. Barry Kehler of The Decal Shop is helping promote the event, he said.

"You mention cruising to a younger generation and they have no idea what you're talking about," Zimmerman said. "We had people coming from different towns when we grew up. That's where most people met their girlfriends, met a lot of new friends."

Zimmerman knows of what he speaks. He met a girlfriend there. She became his wife of 22 years.

On Aug. 22, Zimmerman and whoever else turns out will make the laps again. One route will be from the Post Office to the parking lot where the Victoria Theatre once stood. Repeat. The other will be straight down Independence Street, wrap around Weis Markets, and come back through.

In the days when it was popular to make those laps, people would pile in cars, shout to others standing along the street, and maybe meet up someplace afterward.

"You could drive down through one side of town and talk to 30 different friends," Zimmerman said.

As for the newest cruise, he hopes it will be like it once was.

"Everyone's just going to kind of head in there and cruise around; do the old-school thing, you know?"

If enough people feel the same as Zimmerman, he says the event could turn into an annual fundraiser. For more information or to share photos and memories of cruising Shamokin, join Cruise Shamokin Take Back Our Town on Facebook.

See Schuylkill's first murder site

TUSCARORA - Naturalist Robin Tracy from Tuscarora State Park will lead a hike to Peddler's Grave and the Greeny in Shenandoah Heights Thursday, Aug. 13. The grave is the site of the first recorded murder in Schuylkill County.

Hikers are asked to meet at the Miner's Memorial in Shenandoah at 10:30 a.m. and carpool to the grave site. The five-mile hike is moderate. Hikers should bring a lunch.

Pets are welcome, but must be leashed at all times and get along with other pets and people.

Wildlife workshop scheduled

ARISTES - A wildlife habitat workshop will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at the Weiser Forest Office.

The workshop is designed to show participants how they can improve wildlife habitat in fields and forests. There will be presentations by biologists from Pheasants Forever and the Pennsylvania Game Commission and an afternoon field trip to view habitat improvement projects.

Registration is required by Sept. 4. There is a $10 registration fee; lunch is included.

For information, contact the Montour County Conservation District at 570-271-1140 or the Bureau of Forestry at 570-672-9878 or 570-875-6450.

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

John Gembic III

Walter Hyde against Samantha and Donald Jessy, all of Shamokin, for $380, filed July 31. Hearing not yet scheduled.

David J. Fisher, of Middleburg, against Caleb and Susan Robinson, of Shamokin, for $4,650, filed July 27. Hearing scheduled for Aug. 10.

David J. Fisher, of Middleburg, against Thomas and Joy Mowery, of Shamokin, for $5,250, filed July 27. Hearing scheduled for Aug. 10.

John Brown, of Catawissa, awarded $3,483.25 on July 8 from Crystal Britton, of Shamokin.

Shannon E. Piper, of Sunbury, awarded $1,288.25 on July 28 from Amy Carl, of Coal Township.

Shamokin Housing Authority awarded $612.25 on July 27 from Frank Burgess, of Shamokin.

Charles P. Hagan, of Hatboro, awarded $1,753.75 on July 28 from Joanne and Ken Grodski, of Shamokin.

Joyce and Randall Neaus, of Coal Township, awarded $1,148.25 on July 28 from Glenard and Heather Hannah, of Coal Township.

Hugh A. Jones

Kristan N. Kessler, of Elysburg, against Michelle L. Revinski, of Mount Carmel, for $2,495, filed July 28. Hearing scheduled for Aug. 11.

Gail Shutt against Tina Slavinsky, both of Elysburg, for $5,150, filed July 28. Case transferred to Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Apfelbaum, Sunbury. Hearing not yet scheduled.

Michael Currid, of Riverside, against Richard Ferri, of Mount Carmel, for $5,000, filed July 29. Hearing scheduled for Aug. 11.

Brett Russell, of Sunbury, awarded $5,443.84 on July 28 from Chelsea Collazo, Anthony Santiago, Adam Manzilla, all of Mount Carmel.

HELFENSTEIN - Animal cruelty has been in the news again lately, but a veterinarian technician at a local clinic wants the public to know there can be positive outcomes even in the most dire of abuse cases.

Two years ago, an emaciated pregnant dog was among four pets found in a flea and feces infested Mount Carmel apartment. Abby, the name given to the small black and white Fox Terrier mix, had been bred to a Boxer when she was about a year old and was due to deliver puppies.

Jennifer Lettich volunteered to foster Abby and the other dog, Niki, an 11-month-old Jack Russel and Beagle mix, rescued from the scene. Mostly Mutts, the Sunbury area animal shelter, was concerned Abby would need a cesarean section to deliver her litter, and staff there were relieved when Lettich took the dogs, knowing she worked at Anthracite Animal Clinic, along Upper Road a few miles west of Lavelle.

Under the care of Lettich and with help from the clinic, two days later Abby was able to deliver her puppies herself.

While she birthed seven, only six survived. Lettich became a foster mom to the dogs, and then much more.

Into the community

Lettich says Niki and Abby took time to warm up to people after being abandoned for at least a week, forced to eat garbage that was left in the apartment. Despite their previous living conditions, they made a full recovery and had their lives turned around.

As the owner of Niki, Abby and one of the puppies, Lettich gives to the community by taking the dogs to events. They have been evaluated as K9 Good Citizens, a program of the American Kennel Club.

The dogs passed tests for obedience training and make visits to the Mount Carmel Senior Living Community once a month. Abby has been trained to jump up on beds because some residents are not able to reach down to pet the dogs.

Abby is also active on the agility course located at Anthracite Animal Clinic, where she has been trained. Heather Libby, a dog trainer and K9 Good Citizen evaluator, has helped Lettich's dogs reach their current training status.

Also, both Abby and Niki have made appearances in the Shamokin Halloween parade. Abby was dressed as a zombie dog and Niki was in the parade sporting an orange spray-painted body as part of a "What Does the Fox Say?" novelty dance song theme.

Upon meeting Abby and Niki, people may not guess the condition from which they were found in, but with the constant love and training that Lettich and many others provided them with, they were able to return to health.

DANVILLE - Hospital staff were able to diffuse a potentially dangerous situation at Geisinger Medical Center in February, when a depressed man with suicidal tendancies was discovered with a loaded gun and extra ammo while he was being admitted.

The Bloomsburg Press Enterprise reported Sunday staff members removed a .40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun and two ammunition clips from a man not identified in court or state records and placed them in a security safe.

When the man was later discharged from the psychiatric ward, security guards asked for his gun permit, which he refused to produce, the newspaper reported. The gun was turned over to Mahoning Township police, according to the paper, citing a June 3 report from Department of Health.

The incident was included in Department of Health inspection records because the hospital failed to file a report within 24 hours as required by law, the newspaper reported. Hospital spokesman Mike Ferlazzo admitted to the paper the hospital made a mistake not reporting the incident to the state.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) is in the process of re-evaluating its bridge management program to identify what more, if anything, can be done with its current level of funding and resources, the agency said in responding to concerns from U.S. Sen. Bob Casey about the need for more inspectors.

Funding and resources are limited, FRA said.

"In 2008, Congress passed the Rail Safety Improvement Act that gave the Federal Railroad Administration very clear instructions on how to manage rail bridge safety," the statement reads. "Those clear instructions were for railroads to build bridge management programs and for FRA to audit those programs, as well as the annual bridge inspections railroads are required to conduct. We are carrying out those instructions. With more resources from Congress, FRA could have a more robust program."

Casey wrote to FRA Acting Administrator Sarah Feinberg 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.

Casey had urged Feinberg and the FRA to prioritize this type of inspection and make necessary changes to the program.

BLOOMSBURG - A Bloomsburg motorcyclist died Sunday night after the driver of a car crossed the double yellow line and struck him on Route 487 in Fishing Creek Borough.

State police said Alan Nagle, 63, of Bloomsburg, was wearing his helmet and had made evasive action when he saw Lorena M. Showers, 71, of Benton, cross the center line at 3:20 p.m.

Minor contact occurred between Showers' 2000 Kia and Nagle's 1996 Honda Shadow, which caused Nagle to crash, police said.

Nagle was taken by LifeFlight helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he died shortly before midnight.

Police said the reason for Showers leaving her lane was unknown. She was not injured but will be cited for her role in the crash, police said.

Community service planned each week

COAL TOWNSHIP - Community service detail through the office of Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III is scheduled for 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays. Participants should meet at the Coal Bowl.

Learn about fish

BARNESVILLE - Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited will be holding a fish identification program at 6 p.m. Saturday in the Locust State Park amphitheater, rain or shine. Members will be on hand to teach people how to identify native Pennsylvania fish. There will also be some door prizes given out. In case of inclement weather, it will be moved to the Locust Lake SP program shelter located near the campstore.

Susquehanna Valley gas prices are four cents lower this week, at $2.628, according to AAA East Central's Fuel Gauge report, dropping below the national average of $2.651.

On the national front

The resolution of localized refinery issues and lower prices for crude oil has kept downward pressure on the national average price at the pump, which has fallen for 19 consecutive days.

Monday's national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is $2.65 per gallon. Drivers are paying the lowest averages for this date since 2009, and the national average represents a savings of 85 cents per gallon compared to this same date last year. The national average is now 15 cents per gallon lower than the 2015 peak price of $2.80 June 15.

The national average has steadily dropped, yet volatility continues to characterize several regional markets due to unexpected draw-downs in supply.

While some states may not experience significant price drops as a result of regional supply and distribution issues, the national average is expected to keep moving lower leading up to the Labor Day holiday, barring any unexpected spikes in the price of global crude oil or unexpected disruptions to domestic production.

The global price of crude oil continues to sink on expectations that the market will remain oversupplied in the near term. Recent reports suggest that Chinese manufacturing has fallen to its lowest level in two years. Weaker growth means lower than projected oil demand, which could further increase the glut in global petroleum supplies. Reports that Iran is planning to increase oil output when sanctions are lifted, combined with the U.S. increasing its rig count, has also contributed to major crude benchmarks (Brent and West Texas Intermediate) opening this week's trading session at multi-month lows.

At the close of Friday's formal trading on the NYMEX, WTI closed down $1.40 at $47.12 per barrel.

(AAA East Central, a not-for-profit association with 83 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members, provides Fuel Gauge every week.)

This week's Susquehanna Valley average price - $2.628

Average price during the week of July 27, 2015 - $2.665

Average price during the week of August 5, 2014 - $3.442

The following is a list of the average price of unleaded self-serve gasoline in various areas:

Elysburg - $2.759

Lewisburg - $2.571

Mifflinburg - $2.699

Milton - $2.601

Mount Carmel - $2.649

Selinsgrove - $2.595

Shamokin - $2.636

Sunbury - $2.599

SHAMOKIN - It was a harrowing morning for a few residents at Third and Chestnut streets, where the driver of a speeding pickup truck nearly struck pedestrians, crashed into the front facade of a church and sped off.

The driver, Timothy Egleston, 33, of 48 N. Third St., Shamokin, caused damage to a stone planting area at Restoration Ministries, 525 W. Chestnut St.

"We had the tape up for the paving we were going to do on the one side of the building and now we have to use more for this damage," said Pastor Paul Eby at the scene Monday morning.

Stone blocks are displaced and smashed on the top row after the white truck plowed into them at approximately 6:30 a.m. The impact threw mulch onto one of the church's first-floor stained-glass windows.

"The hood of the truck was underneath the sign they have in front of the building," said witness Karen Laskoski, who lives about a block away.

Man, dog nearly hit

Several neighbors were out and about when the incident, reportedly stemming from a domestic dispute, occurred.

Brad Nahodil, another West Chestnut Street neighbor of the church, was walking his dog when he heard Egleston and his wife arguing at a house near the intersection of Third and Arch streets.

"I hear the yelling between the two of them and he comes storming out and gets into the truck," Nahodil said. "He hopped in the truck and she comes out screaming, 'You are not taking my truck!' He just flips her off and starts revving the engine."

Nahodil said Egleston backed up the truck with "the pedal to the metal," almost hitting him and his pet.

"We were about five yards behind him, and he backed up that far," Nahodil said.

Laskoski was outside having coffee when she heard the truck's tires squealing.

"He came up Third Street really fast and then did a big U-turn onto Chestnut Street and into the church," she said. "He went straight in."

The noise woke up Danielle Feudale, who lives on the 600 block of West Chestnut Street.

"I heard the tires squeal as I laid in bed and thought, 'Please don't let there be a crash,' and then I heard it," she said. "I got up and came outside to see him up in the planter."

As Laskoski was dialing 911, she saw Egleston look around and pull out from atop the planter, then race away before the cops arrived.

"We watched him go back to the house he came from and we could hear him arguing with the woman again before he got back in the truck and drove off again," Feudale said.

'Cuffed and stuffed'

Laskoski and Feudale were sitting on the curb when police arrived. Oddly enough, Egleston soon returned and drove past the scene.

"We couldn't believe it that he would do that. We immediately pointed the vehicle out to the officers and watched as he just pulled in as if nothing happened," Laskoski said.

Police quickly went to Egleston's home and talked with him. The neighbors said he was given field sobriety tests before being taken into custody.

"They cuffed him and stuffed him," Feudale said.

Shamokin City Police Cpl. Jarrod Scandle said Egleston was taken to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital for blood alcohol testing. He said charges are pending the result of the blood work.

'We will be fine'

Eby said he was told by police the driver is insured, so they will soon begin work on fixing the front of the church.

"They are just stones laid in place and held together with glue, and then filled up with other smaller stones to make the planter," Eby said. "We will be fine."

The people of PPL Electric Utilities work hard to earn and deserve your trust. Our goal is to provide you safe and reliable electric service that's a good value, along with tips and advice that can help you save energy and money.

A recent survey by Cogent Reports, a market research firm, found that PPL Electric Utilities was one of the highest-rated utilities in the country for brand trust. Cogent Reports surveyed more than 25,000 U.S. customers to compile its report.

We were honored to hear the news, and we appreciate the positive support provided by those who responded to the survey. But we know we can't rest on our laurels.

We know that a trusting relationship is based on good communication, which is why we've recently rolled out a new series of outage alerts our customers can receive through email, phone or text message - or all of the above, if they choose. When the power does go out, you deserve to know that we're on the case - and what the estimated restoration time will be, if one is available.

And in order to minimize the number and the length of outages you experience, we've invested billions of dollars to upgrade and modernize our network, and plan to continue that investment in the years to come.

Our commitment to safety is also part of earning your trust. Our unchanging goal is to have no on-the-job safety incidents, with no impact on employees or the public.

We appreciate the value of trust. We're on the job working hard on improvements to earn and keep yours.

(Teri MacBride is regional affairs director of PPL Electric Utilities.)

SHAMOKIN - The Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities (NCCAH) Fine Arts Gallery will present "Back Roads, Photography by Erica Shaeffer," beginning with an opening reception at 6:30 p.m. Friday . The exhibit runs through Sept. 11.

Shaeffer describes herself as a "30-something woman from Shamokin with a full-time life." She has a full-time husband with two beautiful full-time children and a full-time dog. She is also a full-time information technology professional. Being full time for everything to everyone leaves her very little time to be full time to herself. The time she finds, she dedicates to photography.

Shaeffer has always considered photography a hobby. Whenever she had a camera, she ventured out on walks in the woods, along a river, on a beach, in town or wherever she could be alone with the camera. She would even survey her own backyard through the lens of her camera. When asked about her attraction to photography, she simply said, "I have always enjoyed it." She likes to learn, likes adventure and enjoys the solitude photography can sometimes provide. She likes that it is something she can do on her own time and she can learn as she goes. When life gets hectic, she can stop and pick it right back up when time permits. he treasures being able to capture her world the way she sees it.

Shaeffer took her photography to the next level in 2010 when she received her first SLR camera. She began using her children as subject matter, trying to get more creative each year. She started taking the back roads home from work, stopping every now and then to photograph something that caught her eye. When she needs a break from her full-time responsibilities, she packs a lunch and sets off to find a quiet place to be alone with her camera. A broken-down tractor, a covered bridge, a field of sunflowers, an old barn, old farm equipment, a sunrise and sunset all have been captured in their extraordinary beauty by Shaeffer.

Shaeffer does not set out to photograph any one genre, topic, type of subject - she wants to do it all. She loves everything from scenic views to macro photography. Portraiture photography is her least favorite but she still does it. The everyday things, the items most people pass without thinking about it, the dandelion in the backyard, the curl of a pigs tail at the local fair, a full moon, a snowflake; making art out of something simple is what she enjoys most.

Shaeffer does not consider herself a professional photographer. She tends to go with what feels right to her and focus on the things that she likes. She incorporates fun angles and unfocused shots into her photography. These photographs always seem to be the most interesting to both her audience and herself. Over the past two years, from the urging of family and friends, she has started entering contests and art exhibits. While she is new to this, the few contests she has entered have been met with success. She has won some prizes and received some recognition. She has taken her photography to the next level by creating homemade canvases and wood image transfers and turning the photographs into art pieces.

This art exhibit gives her the opportunity to showcase her work in one place.

The gallery is located inside the Arts Center at 2 E. Arch St., Shamokin, on the ground floor. Visitors should use the rear handicapped entrance and follow the signs to the gallery. There is plenty of free parking in the lot behind the building. The event is free and the public is invited. The arts council will provide free light refreshments.

For information about the gallery, contact firector Claude Harrington at 973-632-2513.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Two of the four teen girls who fled Northwestern Academy in a staffer's vehicle last week were taken into custody Sunday in a Philadelphia suburb.

Coal Township police were tipped to a phone number used by one of the girls to reach out to a friend. A reverse search turned up an Upper Darby address. Upper Darby police were notified and took into custody a 17-year-old from Reading, Berks County, and a 15-year-old from Tioga Borough, Tioga County.

Both girls are being held at the Delaware County Juvenile Detention Center, Media, until they're turned over to juvenile probation or children and youth services. They're facing felony counts of robbery, criminal conspiracy, aggravated assault and theft, along with misdemeanor counts of simple assault and escape. Coal Township Patrolman Matthew Hashuga is the investigating officer.

The girls ended up in Upper Darby, a township bordering West Philadelphia, after crashing a 2007 Mazda 3 and fleeing the scene, police say. The vehicle was stolen from a Northwestern Academy staffer.

According to police, the female staffer was assaulted by a 14-year-old Dauphin County girl about 12:15 a.m. Thursday and was injured. Three other teens joined in stealing the staffer's purse and locking her in a closet inside one of two open residential cottages for the Northwestern Academy Building Bridges program. The staffer's car keys were inside her purse.

The 14 year old and a 16-year-old Delaware County girl remain at large. They face charges similar to their co-defendants.

Building Bridges is described by the Academy's parent company, NHS Human Services, as a 36-bed "staff-intensive" open residential program. Girls between 13 and 18 years old are placed in the program through juvenile court and children and youth agencies. They're lodged in two cottages similar to a home setting. The cottages are unlocked during the day and locked overnight, according to Michelle Fetterolf, the academy's assistant executive director. She said the 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.

Fewer than 30 girls were in the cottages overnight Thursday, Fetterolf said. Three staffers were on-duty. Staff-to-resident ratio overnight is 1 to 16, compared to 1 to 8 in the waking hours, she said.

The staffer who was assaulted worked at the Academy about one year.

SUNBURY - With two of the three county commissioners declining to run for additional terms, the county may undergo significant changes in the coming years.

Independent Commissioner Stephen Bridy will conclude his lone term as a commissioner in January alongside Commissioner Vinny Clausi, who chose not to run again in the Democratic primary after serving two terms. Republican incumbent Rick Schoch is running to retain his seat.

Bridy did not file paperwork by the 5 p.m. minor party candidate nomination deadline Monday and will not appear on the Nov. 3 ballot - a decision he did not take lightly.

"My wife and I prayed about it and brought the family in on it as well. We decided as a unit that we are going to move back into the private sector," Bridy said over the phone Monday evening. He said he has several opportunities from which to choose.

When asked what he hopes for the future of Northumberland County, he said he hopes the commissioners "stay fiscally responsible as we have done in the past four years." He added he'll continue to be involved in ongoing projects.

Bridy acknowledged there will be some who are happy he is not running, but also said there were many who approached him in person and on social media, urging him to run. In the end, however, he said choosing not to run for re-election is best for his family.

"It was a privilege and honor to serve the taxpayers of Northumberland County," he said.

Bridy made county history in 2011 by becoming the only Independent to be elected commissioner. During his time in office, Northumberland was the only county in the state to have a commissioner board comprised of a Republican, a Democrat and an Independent.

Even with Bridy's withdrawal from politics, Northumberland County may continue this unique make up. Bill Shambach, 78, of Oaklyn, Sunbury RD2, filed paperwork to appear on the ballet as an Independent candidate Monday after announcing his intent to run Friday afternoon.

Including Shambach, the seven candidates who will appear on the ballot will be Democrats Kymberley Best and George Zalar, Shoch and his Republican running mate Sam Schiccatano, and Libertarian candidates John Burd and Ed Quiggle Jr.

SHAMOKIN - One man is in custody and another was treated at a local hospital following an alleged stabbing Sunday night in the Fifth Ward.

Angel Melendez, 35, of 212 S. Franklin St., Shamokin, is accused of stabbing Jared Lehman, 21, of Northumberland, shortly before 9:30 p.m.

Lehman refused treatment at the scene. He was taken by a relative to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Coal Township, for treatment to a stab wound to his upper right arm. Police said Lehman was bleeding badly, and blood was covering his arm and running onto his pants and shoe.

Melendez was jailed on a probation detainer at Snyder County Prison, Selinsgrove. Pending criminal charges include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, according to Patrolman Ray Siko II.

Fight in progress

Police were dispatched to the 200 block of South Franklin Street at 9:26 p.m. for a report of a fight in progress in the street. The fight was finished when police arrived, Siko said. Melendez and Geoffery Butler, 31, of 214 S. Franklin St., Shamokin, reportedly told police they were fighting over a roommate issue. Citations for disorderly conduct were pending.

What police didn't know at the time, according to Siko, is that the two men were fighting over the alleged stabbing and that Lehman had already left the scene. At 9:49 p.m., Lehman called 911 himself, Siko said.

Officers returned to the 200 block of South Franklin Street to find Lehman. This time it was Melendez who was missing, Siko said. However, Melendez arrived at the Shamokin police station at 11:10 p.m. and was taken into custody.

Assisting were Coal Township Patrolman Edward Purcell and AREA Services Ambulance.

Other incident same time

The stabbing occurred as Siko and Cpl. Bryan Primerano were already involved in taking a combative male into custody six blocks north on Rock Street.

While Primerano was handling an unrelated call, Siko was dispatched on a report of a drunken and disorderly Frank Bogus at his third floor apartment at 401 N. Rock St. Bogus is accused of punching a male in the face in the street, entering his apartment building and causing a disturbance by screaming and kicking a door.

Bogus allegedly resisted Siko's attempt to take him into custody. Primerano arrived and assisted Siko in using force to subdue Bogus. The stabbing report was made at the tail end of this incident, leaving Primerano to respond alone initially to South Franklin Street.

Minutes later Siko was able to respond when another officer arrived at the station to keep watch on Bogus, who eventually was released.

Bogus faces charges of simple assault, harassment, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

BURNSIDE - Re-bidding on the electrical work of Phase II brought no lower cost, members of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) authority announced Monday.

At a special meeting held 15 minutes prior to a scheduled work session, the authority approved a $35,500 bid by Kreco Electric Inc., of Coal Township, for the electrical work on Phase II of the AOAA, which includes an event center, a concrete pad near the trailhead and a storage shed for equipment.

The authority had opted to reject all of the initial bids for the electrical work after discovering required paperwork had not been completed by all bidders.

"It's the same (bid) so we're just hoping all the paperwork is in," said authority chairman Jim Backes. He said he expected the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, which is funding the project through a $788,000 grant, to approve the bid within a week.

Three other bids came in significantly higher than Kreco Electric: $44,700 by Tra Electric Inc., $47,800 by Electric Power Savers, and $51,725 by Shannon A. Smith Inc. Backes said none of these bidders had competed in the first round of bidding on the electrical work.

The authority had initially thought re-bidding would bring a lower price, but Backes said seeing the three higher bids changed their minds.

"I think he's giving us a very fair price," he said.

The majority of the work will be running electricity to the event center, a half-enclosed pavilion that will house four vendor stalls and an area for dining and registration.

The event center is being built adjacent to the trailhead driveway. Grading of the site began July 20, with workers taking advantage of long summer days by starting in the early morning and continuing until 7 or 8 p.m. The project is expected to be completed in mid-October.

In other news

- The authority discussed re-scaling the rate sheet for next year with users under a certain age paying no fee.

The subject arose when authority member Barry Yorwarth noted seeing some "adorable" children riding along with their parents during the Jeep Jamboree USA event held Saturday. Children are charged between $10 and $40, depending on the type of pass.

"I'm not sure a 6 year old should pay," Backes said. "I think once the kid rides his full-size ATV on the trail, we should charge him," he said, adding that he was unsure if a child riding a small-size ATV on the tot lot should be subject to the fees.

Backes said authority will be better able to make a judgement on whether children should be charged - and at what age a person should be considered a child - once the tot lot is open and the type of rider using it can be assessed.

The tot lot is being constructed near the trailhead using funding from a $10,000 Polaris grant.

Authority member Pat Mack said input from Dave Porzi, AOAA operations director, on the maintenance cost of the trails will also help the authority assess if the rates are appropriate. Porzi had been unable to attend the meeting due to a family emergency.

SHAMOKIN - A Shamokin man whose home was condemned last week has been charged with threatening to harm the city code enforcement officer and a county caseworker.

He also is accused of threatening to "shoot everyone in town."

Glenn Allen Heim Jr., 38, of 29 N. Second St., was arraigned Tuesday morning by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III on two counts each of terroristic threats and harassment relating to incidents that occurred at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Patrolman Shane Mowery, Heim is accused of faxing a threatening letter to Code Enforcement Officer Rick Bozza and sending a threatening email to Northumberland County Area Agency on Aging Caseworker Jessica Luta.

It was in the letter to Bozza that police said Heim threatened the mass shooting. He also allegedly warned Bozza not to test his (expletive) anger. Heim wrote in the letter that if Bozza came near his home again, he would make sure it would be the last time he did so. Heim claimed in the letter that he will take things into his own hands and that it "will not be nice."

Heim's home was condemned by Bozza July 29.

Luta, who was at Heim's home with Bozza on the day it was condemned, received similar threats from Heim in an email.

Heim, who is being supervised by Snyder County Probation Department, was released by Gembic on $5,000 unsecured bail.