by Rob Wheary

COAL TOWNSHIP - Jason Laczkoski's talent with the saxophone and his love of performing music wasn't born at an early age through some inherent, internal genetic trait.

No, he says, it came about through "sheer, dumb luck."

A self-described latecomer to the world of classical saxophone, Laczkoski, 28, of Coal Township, spent the last two years recording and readying his first CD, "Come Down Heavy!," featuring his renditions of works by American contemporary composers. The CD was released in November and his music has been described as "vibrant, energized and sensitive."

"It's been amazing to put it all together," Laczkoski said. "There aren't a lot of classical saxophone music CDs out there, so I hope people will give it a listen and enjoy it.

'Just came to me'

While many musicians start learning and playing music at an early age, Laczkoski's foray into performances came as a freshman at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School.

"I was about 15 and a girl was just nagging me to join band," Laczkoski said. "I didn't play an instrument, didn't even know how to read music, so I walked up to the band director at the time and said 'I want to join the band.' The director asked me what instrument, and I just randomly said 'saxophone.'"

After a year of learning the instrument, Laczkoski decided this was what he wanted to do with his life.

"I don't know what made me say it. The music that I play is the unknown side of the saxophone, so I wasn't exposed to it. Just came to me that one day, " he said.

He was developing a new appreciation for music.

"As I matured, I saw the beauty of being a musician and an artist. The great thing is that artists get to explore the beauty of this world and see things that other people may not notice. Being in touch with that side just kept sparking my interest, and still does today, as I hope to understand what beauty is and make beautiful music," he said.

Grant funds CD

After studying at Mansfield University and the University of Iowa, Laczkoski was awarded a grant in January 2010 to record a professional CD. With accompaniment from his girlfriend, Anna Draper, on violin and Joshua Russell on piano, and recording sessions at Illinois State University, "Come Down Heavy!" was produced.

"One of the pieces on the CD, 'Come Down Heavy,' was written by University of Michigan composer Evan Chambers and is based on American folk songs and John Henry and the American railroad," Laczkoski said. "I just thought it was a memorable title and everyone who hears it wants to know what it's all about."

The five-track CD also features compositions written by Sy Brandon, Judith Shatin and the early 20th century French folk song composer and arranger Joseph Canteloube.

It was Chambers who gave the young saxophonist the "vibrant" compliment.

"It was a relief to hear that, " he said. "When I first started the project it was something that I was excited to do, and as it got closer to the release date, it hit me that this is a permanent snapshot of where my playing is at this moment in time, and everyone is going to get to hear it. When Evan liked it, it was relief, there's no other way to describe it."

Other reviewers have echoed that sentiment, describing Laczkoski as a "master of his instrument" and "one of this country's best up-and-coming saxophonists." Also, he was recently awarded a Performing Artist sponsorship by Yamaha Saxophone.

More to accomplish

While his career is flourishing, it's time for Laczkoski to cross off a few things on his career list, which he made in college.

"I've made a CD, became a Yahama Performing Artist and performed with my mentor in concert," he said. "I still want to get a full-time teaching position at a major university and perform at a New York City concert hall."

Another life goal will come true in a few weeks as Laczkoski and Draper are preparing for the birth of their first baby. Also, he's performing with the Williamsport Symphony Orchestra and planning the first Lycoming College Saxophone Day in late March.

He announced in late-January that more composers are developing work for him to perform.

"It's all been unreal, with the CD and all the teaching," he said, "that I am a professional musician now."

Mount Carmel food distribution set

MOUNT CARMEL - The borough food pantry will have its monthly distribution at the Notary Shop, 215 S. Oak St., from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday for those who have already signed up.

Drug possession

MOUNT CARMEL - Two 17-year-old males, one from Marion Heights and the other from Catawissa, were charged with drug possession following an investigation by Mount Carmel Borough Police.

Borough Police Officer Jason Drumheller reported a call came in to investigate a possible burglary in progress in the 100 block of West Avenue at 6:02 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23. Upon arrival, police found four males, including the two juveniles, in the basement of the home. The males were in possession of marijuana and a large marijuana smoking bong.

The juveniles were charged through the Northumberland County Juvenile Court Services. Police did not indicate if the other two persons were charged.

Coal Twp. crash

COAL TOWNSHIP - No one was injured and police continue to investigate an accident at 4:53 p.m. Sunday at Cedar and Willow streets.

Coal Township Police report a 2009 Chevrolet Aveo, driven by Marie E. Kosmer, 80, of 1452 W. Montgomery St., was traveling south on Cedar Street when it was struck by a white-colored pickup truck, causing damage to her vehicle. Police said the truck's driver stopped, but then left the scene without giving identification. Call police at 644-0333 with any information.

Criminal mischief

THARPTOWN - Allan Alspach, of Center Street, reported to police that sometime between Friday and Saturday, someone threw an egg at his 2012 Buick Lacrosse while it was parked in his driveway.

Disorderly conduct

MOUNT CARMEL - Borough police Patrolman Shane Reamer cited Andrew S. Snyder, 44, of Mount Carmel, for disorderly conduct following an incident at 11:55 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 29, in the 100 block of East Fourth Street. Police said Snyder urinated on the sidewalk, then continued on his way to a local bar. Police said Snyder was intoxicated at the time.

Kulpmont crash

KULPMONT - No one was injured in a two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Route 61 and 10th Street at 7:25 a.m. Monday.

State police at Stonington report a 2002 Dodge 1500 truck, driven by Stephen Wondoloski, 51, of Kulpmont, pulled from a stop sign from 10th Street onto Route 61 and into the path of a 1985 Chevrolet 1500 truck, driven by Jesse Abdo, 35, of Frackville.

The Chevrolet suffered moderate damage while Wondoloski's Dodge had minor damage, police said.

SUNBURY - A jury of nine women and three men has been picked for the trial of a Mount Carmel man involved in the Aug. 18, 2010, beating of a state correctional officer, whose jaw was fractured in the incident.

Jason M. Bozarth, 33, of 221 E. Sixth St., will be on trial before Judge William H. Wiest on Thursday and Friday, Feb. 16 and 17.

Bozarth is charged with felony counts of aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, two counts of simple assault (misdemeanors) and one count each of recklessly endangering another person (misdemeanor) and disorderly conduct (misdemeanor).

He was charged along with his brother, Christopher M. Bozarth, 36, of Mount Carmel, Christopher K. Phelan Jr., 29, of Shenandoah, and Jason J. Grady, 29, of Schuylkill Haven, in the assault against Richard McPeak Jr., of Mount Carmel, in the 200 block of East Sixth Street. McPeak suffered permanent nerve damage after a titanium plate needed to be placed in his jaw, along with bruising, swelling, cuts and abrasions all over his body.

According to an affidavit of probable cause, McPeak told Mount Carmel Borough Police officer Chris Buhay, the investigating officer, during an interview that he was walking his dog near Turkey Hill Minit Market in the area of Fifth and Market streets when he "had words" with an unidentified male before leaving the area.

According to McPeak, Jason Bozarth told him to be quiet because he has kids. As McPeak spoke to Bozarth, his brother, Christopher Bozarth, began kicking him in the right side and hitting his arm, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

As McPeak was holding his dog, the victim said Christopher Bozarth kicked him, while his brother struck him in the jaw, causing him to bleed. As the victim attempted to put down his dog, Jason Bozarth struck McPeak across his back, leaving a large abrasion caused by a cast Bozarth was wearing, police reported.

McPeak told police Christopher Bozarth then attempted to jump on him, but the victim was able to flip him off and pin him to the ground.

McPeak said he was able to hold Bozarth on the ground with one arm while attempting to dial 911 with his cellphone with his other hand. But McPeak said his cellphone was knocked from his hand.

McPeak said he then heard a female repeatedly yelling, "No, don't do it."

At that point, McPeak said he walked to the corner of Sixth and Market streets to wait for police.

Buhay, who interviewed other witnesses, said Rondasia Gibbons claimed Christopher Bozarth had a cinder block or part of a cinder block that he was going to use to hit McPeak. Gibbons also reported that Phelan hit McPeak in the face, while Grady kicked the victim.

According to records from the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System, Jason Bozarth entered a guilty plea on the charge of aggravated assault under a plea agreement on July 21, but it was rejected on Nov. 1 after he failed to comply with instructions on a Oct. 31 court order that he provide a suitable home plan.

His brother, Christopher, pleaded no contest to a felony count of conspiracy to commit aggravated assault under a plea agreement and was sentenced to 11 1/2 to 23 months in prison followed by three years probation.

Christopher Phelan pleaded guilty to a charge of simple assault in the case. He is scheduled to be sentenced in Northumberland County Court on Feb. 27. Grady failed to show for the arraignment on the charges, with his attorney telling the court that his client was home baby-sitting and couldn't appear that day. He has not been seen since and he remains wanted on a bench warrant.

The jury consists of four women from Milton, two females from Sunbury and women from Northumberland, Turbotville and Shamokin and men from Milton, Dewart and Coal Township. The alternates are two males, one from Danville RD and another from Milton.

SUNBURY - A Shamokin salvage yard owner accused of failing to return a truck he towed will have his day in county court Friday.

A jury of seven women and five men was selected Monday morning to hear the case against Alfons Keefer, 46, of 713 Bear Valley Ave., charged with felony offenses of theft and receiving stolen property and misdemeanor charges of obstructing the administration of law enforcement or another government agency, tampering with or fabricating physical evidence and deceptive business practices.

Two-year investigation

The charges, filed in August 2010, involve a two-year investigation conducted by Trooper Kevin L. Bletz of the Pennsylvania State Police's Auto Theft Task Force. Bletz was asked by Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini and Shamokin City Police to conduct the investigation in February 2008 because of a prior conflict between city police and Keefer. That involved a dispute with the city over towing and storage charges when Keefer removed 18 vehicles from Robert Gilligbauer's Shamokin property in 2007.

According to a state police report, the felony theft investigation stemmed from a missing 2001 Ford F-350, owned by Joy Kulenguskey, of Shamokin. Police said the truck was towed and stored by Keefer at his business, A&G Towing on Bear Valley Avenue, and then the truck disappeared.

Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor will preside over the one-day trial. The jury consists of two women each from Coal Township and Northumberland and women from Turbotville, Paxinos and Milton. Men on the jury are from Turbotville, Montandon, Mount Carmel, Sunbury and Milton. The two alternatives in the case are men from Watsontown and Dalmatia.

On Sept. 17, 2010, Keefer was held for court on the charges by Magisterial District Judge Craig Long of Catawissa, who was assigned the case because Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III had a potential conflict of interest. Keefer, the owner of A&G Towing in Shamokin, and A&N Salvage in Coal Township, filed a complaint in 2009 with the State Judicial Conduct Board on charges that Gembic was using his influence to steer business for a rival towing company of Keefer's that Keefer claimed was partly owned by Gembic. That complaint has subsequently been dismissed.

Civil lawsuit pending, too

In March, Keefer filed a civil lawsuit in U.S. Middle District Court in Williamsport, naming Gembic, Coal Township, Shamokin, their respective police chiefs William Carpenter and Edward Griffiths, and the business Anthracite Towing and Recovery LLC, and its owner, Michael Garcia, as the suit's defendants.

Keefer is asking for a jury trial on the matter and judgments that the defendants "jointly and severally deprived him of his rights under the First and 14th Amendments and the Commerce Clause, together with damages for pain and suffering, embarrassment and humiliation, lost business in the amount of $150,000, emotional distress, punitive damages, fees, costs, attorney's fees and such other relief as may be appropriate."

Due to a 1983 law, the recovery of punitive damages from a municipality is not permitted. An order in July stayed all forms of discovery in the case, pending legal arguments by several defendants to be dismissed from the suit.

MILTON - Watsontown Trucking Co. announced through a press release Monday that it has purchased 14 additional acres in the Milton Industrial Park for further expansion.

Steve Patton, president, estimates that an additional 10,000 square feet of office space and maintenance facilities will be added. Construction will begin shortly and is targeted to be completed by June. The expansion will add 25 more truck driving jobs in addition to several diesel technician and management positions, the company reported.

Watsontown Trucking is also investing $6 million in new truck equipment. This purchase began during the first quarter and will continue through the first quarter of 2013.

"The purchase of new equipment is necessary to meet the growing demand for our services from our customers," Patton said.

According to Patton, the company is also investing $200,000 in a state-of-the-art operations command center. Patton expects the satellite-based command center will be operational during the second quarter of 2012.

Watsontown Trucking started in 1941 with just three trucks and three trailers; today, the family-owned and operated company has a fleet of more than 235 trucks and 700 trailers.

On the Net: www.WatsontownTrucking.com.

POTTSVILLE - A Mount Carmel woman faces time in a state prison after being convicted Monday in Schuylkill County Court of selling heroin in September 2010 in Mahanoy Township.

Francine Gerrity, 44, did not react as the jury of eight women and four men pronounced her guilty of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jurors deliberated about 1 1/2 hours before reaching their verdict to end the one-day trial presided over by President Judge William E. Baldwin.

Baldwin did not immediately sentence Gerrity, instead ordering preparation of a presentence investigation and saying he would schedule her sentencing at a later date.

He accepted a request by First Assistant District Attorney William C. Reiley and increased Gerrity's bail to $25,000 straight cash, which would require her to post that amount in money or a bond to be free pending sentencing, from $25,000 percentage, which would have required her to post $2,500 to go free. Gerrity already was in prison, and returned there in handcuffs after the verdict.

Schuylkill County detectives charged Gerrity with selling two packets of heroin for $120 to a confidential informant, and possessing a third packet, about 3 p.m. Sept. 8, 2010, at a service station along Morea Road in Mahanoy Township.

"She sold me the dope," the confidential informant testified of Gerrity.

Reiley said the total amount of heroin in the packets was 0.07 grams.

"The test I conducted showed a positive reaction for the presence of heroin," an undercover detective testified Monday.

An undercover police officer testified that he gave six prerecorded $20 bills to the confidential informant, and found the same money on the defendant when she was arrested. He also recognized two of the bags of heroin.

"These were the two bags that were handed to me by the confidential informant," the officer testified.

Reiley, who praised the work of the officers and detectives involved, said after the verdict that he would ask Baldwin to sentence Gerrity to a state correctional institution.

"Her background warrants it," he said.

Unlike Eli Manning, Henry Hynoski didn't get to go to Disney World after the New York Giants' Super Bowl win over the New England Patriots.

Disney World couldn't have competed, anyway.

The hours immediately following the Giants' 21-17 win over the Patriots, in which Hynoski played a major role, Sunday night in Indianapolis were a whirlwind of adrenaline-fueled activity for the Southern Columbia graduate, his family and the rest of the Giants, according to Hynoski's parents.

Henry Sr. and Kathy, had onfield passes for the postgame ceremony, but things were pretty hectic.

"Each player got two passes, so as soon as the game was over we went down on the field, but we couldn't find Henry for about half an hour," Kathy said Monday evening, shortly after the charter plane carrying family members of Giants' players landed at Newark International Airport. "We were watching Eli (quarterback and Super Bowl MVP Manning) on the podium but we couldn't find Henry. There were just so many people and reporters. We'd walk around and every once in awhile bump into a player, but not Henry."

They finally did make their son's re-acquaintance though, and then things got really cool.

"We finally found him, and got to hug him and kiss him and tell him how proud we were, and then we got to go on the podium and hold the (Vince Lombardi) trophy with him. That was a highlight for my husband," she said.

Indeed, fatherly pride probably doesn't come in much bigger doses than a former NFL player getting to experience his son winning a Super Bowl.

"He was all emotional and said, 'This was for you guys and everything you've done for me,'" said Henry Sr., who played for the Cleveland Browns in 1975 before a shoulder injury the next season cut his career short. The elder Hynoski gave his son's play in the game high marks.

"He played very physical. He played smart. I was just very pleased with his performance," Hynoski Sr. said.

Hynoski had a strong game, catching two passes for 19 yards and two first downs, blocking well in the Giants' running game, and making a crucial play by recovering a fumble by teammate Hakeem Nicks after Nicks caught a pass.

"Henry and I usually have a pep talk before games, and I could see it in his eyes," Henry Sr. said. "He said he couldn't wait to play."

"It's the best feeling in the world," Hynoski told media in the postgame press conference. "I was a state champion in high school and a bowl champion in college, but this is the pinnacle of the sports world."

After picture time on the podium, Hynoski's parents went back to their hotel room to find a bottle of champagne waiting for them. Some time later, their son and his girlfriend arrived and the entire family had a small victory party.

"We all toasted privately in our room and exchanged congratulations and took in the excitement," Kathy said.

Then came the big party. The Giants hosted a victory celebration in a hotel ballroom for family, friends and other invited guests.

"There were ice sculptures of the (Lombardi) trophy, and of the New York City skyline," Kathy said. "There was constant food and probably about 15 bars spread around the ballroom where you could get anything you wanted to drink. They also had something similar on Saturday night but this was special, because it was a victory party."

The Hynoskis said the Mara family, which co-owns the team since 1991 along with the Tisch family after Wellington Mara founded the organization, treats the players and their families like extended family.

"They keep that approach with the team and the team's families," Kathy said. "They've taken care of everything from the time we got to Newark (Thursday, for the flight to Indianapolis). It was unbelievable. We didn't even have to buy a meal. Hen took us out one night to St. Elmo's (Steakhouse), but we didn't have to buy anything. Even today, we had breakfast before we left Indianapolis."

Kathy said team officials and coaches have gone out of their way to compliment Henry and say how much they like him.

The adrenaline rush isn't over yet. Family members will ride along with the team in today's ticker tape parade down Broadway's famed "Canyon of Heroes."

As for Henry Jr., there still isn't much free time. The team flew back to New York on Monday and had a meeting scheduled for Monday night. Then there will be the parade and likely a few more days worth of demands on players' time.

"I don't think this will all settle in with him until he gets a chance to come home, relax a little bit with his friends and let it sink in," Henry Sr. said of his son.

For an undrafted rookie free agent, that will beat riding in a car with a big mouse.

TAMAQUA - Two men suspected in the robberies of several convenience stores in Schuylkill and Carbon counties were arrested Monday on unrelated charges stemming from a high-speed chase Sunday night.

Jose W. Nunez, 18, of 666 N. Locust St., Hazleton, was charged with felony offenses of receiving stolen property and firearms not to be carried without a license, a misdemeanor charge of fleeing or attempting to elude police, and summary offenses of reckless driving, careless driving, registration and certificate of title required, driving without insurance, driving a vehicle without an official Certificate of Inspection and following too closely.

Tysheed Laron Hargrove, 18, who has no fixed address, was charged with felony offenses of receiving stolen property and firearms not to be carried without a license.

Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, set bail at $100,000 straight cash and remanded each man to Schuylkill County Prison.

During the brief arraignment about 10:30 a.m., Bayer hinted at other charges pending against the two.

"Your cooperation with authorities has led to potential other things down the road," Bayer told the men.

Before the judge set bail, Tamaqua police Chief David Mattson asked Bayer to take into consideration the seriousness of the charges and the fact that other offenses are pending.

"I believe the bail should be substantial," Mattson said, referring to several facts - police said a cruiser was rammed, that Hargrove has no fixed address and that the two fled from police.

Sunday's incident began when Tamaqua Patrolman Robert Minnick saw Nunez behind the wheel of a vehicle without a license plate. Minnick said the driver pulled out when Minnick got behind the car, and he tried to initiate a traffic stop on East Broad Street.

Minnick said Nunez pulled over but then fled at a high speed when Minnick got out of the police cruiser.

Minnick got back into the cruiser and followed Nunez, and the chase continued east on Route 209 into Coaldale, where Coaldale and Lansford police where were waiting for the fleeing vehicle.

Minnick said Nunez made it around the other officers, however, and continued toward Nesquehoning, where an officer tried to get in front of him and slow him down, Minnick said.

Nunez passed the Nesquehoning officer and turned west onto Route 54, where the officer was again able to pass and get in front of him.

Minnick said Nunez then rammed the back of the Nesquehoning car, but a maneuver by the officer caused Nunez to lose control of his car. The vehicle went off the road and came to a stop, and both he and Hargrove were taken into custody.

Two back-seat passengers were also taken into custody and later released.

Minnick said a black handgun was in plain view inside the vehicle and police later determined the gun was stolen and reported to state police at Blooming Grove.

Mattson commended Minnick and the other officers in not only bringing a safe end to the chase but also for taking the two suspected robbers into custody. He also said the arrests and pending charges are the result of cooperation between several local police department, state police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Nancy Norris-O'Dowd with the FBI's Philadelphia media office confirmed Monday that the two men are suspects in the recent rash of convenience store robberies in multiple jurisdictions.

She said the FBI is assisting local law enforcement due to the large, multicounty area in which the robberies occurred. The charges, if any, will be filed on the local level, Norris-O'Dowd said.

"They're still sorting out who will take which facet," she said. "The FBI is assisting."

An agent from the FBI's Scranton office confirmed in court Monday that additional charges are in the works.

"We do have an interest in these two individuals for a pending investigation," the agent said.

The men are suspects in six robberies, the most recent of which occurred early Sunday, when a man entered Fegley Mini Mart in Tamaqua and robbed the clerk with a gun. That was the second time Fegley in Tamaqua was robbed in less than a month. On Jan. 20, a masked gunman made off with cash from the store.

On Friday morning, an armed man held up Turkey Hill Minit Market in Rush Township and the Exxon/Uni-Mart in West Mahanoy Township, just outside Frackville.

On Jan. 26, the Fegley Mini Mart in McAdoo was robbed, and on Jan. 29, an armed man made off with cash from a Wawa store on Route 940 in Kidder Township, Carbon County.

Police said the description of the suspect was similar in all six robberies.

By Justin Strawser

The last 60 seconds of Super Bowl XLVI was perhaps the most intense period of the game for fans, including several local football enthusiasts who traveled nearly 10 hours by car for the Game of Games.

"That last minute seemed like a century. Me and 68,000 other people were watching the clock. If you were a New York Giants fan, you wanted to see it run out. If you were a New England Patriots fan, it was to have it last as long as possible," Ken "Shockey" Horvath said Monday evening by phone interview as he was traveling back from Indiana.

He, his wife, Pam, and their sons, Seth, 15, and Noah, 13, of Danville, had seats 17 rows up from the corner of the Giants end zone - three rows away from Bon Jovi's keyboard player and 10 rows in front of Flavor Flav.

"It came down to the last play and they almost pulled the Hail Mary off," he said, describing the final moments when Patriots quarterback Tom Brady threw a last second pass into the end zone where multiple players failed to complete a play that might have changed the outcome of the game.

Horvath continued, "Everyone was holding their breath. I don't think you could ask for a better Super Bowl.

The Elysburg businessman compared the game to Super Bowl XXI when the Giants battled the Denver Broncos.

"The Giants were down against Denver, and they came out in the second half and pulled out a victory. I was hoping for more of the same (after the first half)," he said.

And his hope was not in vain as the Giants claimed victory 21-17.

"It was intense and exciting throughout the entire game, right up until the last play," he said.

Pam and Noah are Patriots fans. Seth, usually a Philadelphia Eagles fan, put his support behind the Giants for one game. After the game, Noah hugged his father and said, "You got us again, but it was a great game."

Horvath and his family drove out Thursday to spend time in the city before the big game, an experience he'll likely never forget.

On the drive out, he taped copies of The News-Item's commemorative poster for Henry Hynoski, the 23-year-old Southern Columbia Area alum playing for the Giants in his rookie year, onto the windows of his car.

"I'm not kidding, at least 50 people stopped to take picture of that and scream 'Hynoceros!'" he said.

He was also impressed with the city's efforts.

"Indianapolis did a fantastic job. The Super Bowl village, an area outside the stadium, had fans, events and vendors," he described.

John Spandra, of Elysburg, and his daughter, Kylie, 16, traveled to Indianapolis Friday and joined Horvath in the fun.

"We could have spent all day there. It was like a big street carnival with the vendors and the zip lines," he said about the six hours they spent there.

On Saturday, the two families were able to participate in the NFL Experience, where they met Clay Matthews from the Green Bay Packers, Cam Newton from the Carolina Panthers and other players.

The father and daughter, who were also driving back Monday evening, had seats between the goal line and the five yard line in the upper deck.

"The game was unbelievable. The stadium and the game were the best I've ever been to," Spandra said.

After the game, the Horvath and Spandra families were all in for a special treat: Hynoski's parents, Henry Sr. and Kathy, provided them with special tickets to attend a post-game celebration in the Giants' hotel where they partied with the winning team, met with players, the owners John Mara and Steve Tisch and the general manager Jerry Reese, and took pictures with pop singer Katy Perry.

"That experience - they know how to celebrate when you win a Super Bowl. It was unbelievable," Horvath said, noting the plentiful food and quality champagne.

Combined with the weekend festivities and cheering the "Cinderella story" of Hynoski, Horvath said his time at the Super Bowl was great.

"It put the icing on the cake as far as the whole weekend," he said.

Kylie was grateful she and her father could take this once in a life time trip to the Super Bowl and have the bonding experience.

"It was the coolest thing I've ever done in my life. How many 16-year-olds can say they were at a Super Bowl?" she said.

"It was a heck of a weekend," her father said.

While Spandra's big weekend is over, Horvath has decided to extend his own experience by traveling up to the parade in New York City today (Tuesday).

"That's how I'll cap my season. There's no better way to end it," he said.

MOUNT CARMEL - Autumn Klusman, daughter of Robert and Deborah Klusman, of Mount Carmel, has attained a 3.89 grade-point average at Jefferson University School of Nursing. She expects to graduate this May.

Her sister, Kristen Klusman, has earned a grade-point average of 3.6 at Delaware Valley College in Doylestown. She is a freshman majoring in small animal science.

CALIFORNIA - Matthew F. Miller, of Ash Street, Kulpmont, graduated Dec. 17 from California University of Pennsylvania with a Bachelor of Science in business/marketing. The graduation ceremony was held in the university's new convocation center.

While at Cal-U, Miller was a member of the interfraternal council, the student marketing association and ACACIA fraternity.

A son of Richard and Cathy Miller, of Kulpmont, he has accepted a position with America Income Life Insurance Company of Pittsburgh.

BLOOMSBURG - Bryant D. Tomcavage, a freshmen in college and a 2011 graduate of Shamokin Area Junior-Senior High School, was named to the dean's list at Bloomsburg University for the fall semester.

Tomcavage is a son of Thomas and Debra (Heim) Tomcavage, of 307 Center St., Coal Township. He is a grandson of Albert and Anne Tomcavage, of Catawissa RD, and the late Adrian and Norma Heim, of Coal Township.

He achieved a 3.5 grade-point average, and is majoring in mid-level education with an emphasis in social studies.

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area School District has announced changes to the 2011-2012 school calendar, which differs from what is currently printed on the red school calendar from the district.

The biggest change is that the Pennsylvania Department of Education is allowing schools in the Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference to hold their Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exams for math and reading one week later due to time missed because of flooding.

Therefore, PSSA testing for reading and math will be held the week of March 19, instead of March 12. An exact schedule will be announced.

The change affects only the reading and math tests. Writing and science will be tested as listed.

The February Act 80 day will be Wednesday, Feb. 29, not Feb. 24. There will be another Act 80 day Wednesday, March 28.

A snow make-up day for students and teachers, will be Friday, March 9, not Friday, March 16, as printed.

The high school musical, "Godspell," will be presented in the high school auditorium Friday, March 16 and Saturday, March 17, not March 30 and 31.

SHAMOKIN - The following hearings took place Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III. Defendants who waived their cases or were held for court were ordered to appear for arraignment March 26 in Northumberland County Court, Sunbury, where they can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.

n Daniel J. Joraskie, 28, of Harrisburg, waived to court charges of delivery of Suboxone, possession with intent to deliver Suboxone and criminal conspiracy relating to a Sept. 16 incident in Shamokin.

The charges were filed by Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano.

n Angel L. Donahue, 39, of 180 Laurelwood Drive, Sunbury, pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and was ordered by Gembic to pay a $25 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for six months.

Donahue was charged by Trooper David Townsend of state police at Stonington with trespassing at the residence of Ronald Gessner, of 337 Ash Road, Shamokin Township, on Dec. 11.

n Kathy Giedosh, 43, of 702 Bear Valley Ave., Shamokin, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and was ordered by Gembic to pay a $300 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for six months.

Additional charges of possession of Diazepam and possession of Clonazepam were withdrawn.

Giedosh was charged by Shamokin Patrolman Shane Mowery in connection with a Nov. 1 incident at her residence.

n David D. Schleig, 29, of 821 W. Shamokin St., Trevorton, waived to court two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to drive in a single lane and careless driving relating to a Nov. 12 vehicle stop along Route 225 near Route 890 in Zerbe Township.

The charges were filed by Trooper Thomas Leib of state police at Stonington.

n Brian J. Balchunas, 31, of 511 Spruce St., Kulpmont, waived to court two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, failure to drive in a single lane, a stop sign violation, careless driving and failure to wear a seat belt.

The charges were filed by Trooper Mark Adams of state police at Stonington in connection with Nov. 6 vehicle stop on Route 61 at Ranshaw.

n Angelic Ortiz, 38, of Shamokin, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and was ordered by Gembic to pay a $300 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for six months.

Additional charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of heroin and criminal conspiracy were withdrawn.

The charges were filed by Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano in connection with a March 25 incident in Shamokin.

Applicants sought for scholarship

ELYSBURG - The Northumberland County Chapter of the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees (PASR) is participating in the statewide PASR's 75th Anniversary Scholarship Program.

The $500 scholarship will be awarded to a resident of Northumberland County who is currently a college junior pursuing a degree in public education at an accredited Pennsylvania college or university. To be considered for this scholarship award, the student must be enrolled in a public education program - elementary or secondary.

Qualified applicants should send a letter of interest requesting PASR's 75th Anniversary Scholarship application to Jeanne Shutt, P.O. Box 334, Elysburg 17824, on or before Feb. 25.

79th 'Prince' banquet set

MOUNT CARMEL - Anthracite Steam Fire Company No. 1 will celebrate the 79th annual Prince's Birthday banquet on Saturday, Feb. 18, at the fire company.

Along with his companion, King, Prince was one of the first two horses owned by the company to pull its 4-ton LaFrance steam fire engine.

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event begins at 7.

Guest speaker will be state Rep. Kurt Masser (R-107).

The company will present its George Hancock Memorial Award in honor of long-time treasurer and past Mount Carmel Borough fire chief.

Music will be provided by 2 House Sound. Deadline to order tickets is Sunday.

Geisinger to hold women's heart talk

LEWISBURG - Geisinger's Women's Heart and Vascular specialists will participate in the roundtable discussion "The Heart Truth for Women" at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Public Library for Union County, 255 Reitz Blvd.

The discussion will be led by Dr. Kimberly Skelding, interventional cardiologist at Geisinger Health System and director of Cardiovascular Genomics and Cardiovascular Research at Geisinger's Center for Health Research, and Dale Gustitus, a certified registered nurse practitioner in Geisinger's Women's Heart and Vascular Health program.

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is required. For more information or to register, call 800-275-6401 and ask for CareLink or go to www.geisinger.org/events.

ELYSBURG - Carter Tafner, who defended his sister, Thea, at her sentencing on embezzlement charges in federal court last year, has died.

Northumberland County Corner James Kelley confirmed Tuesday that Tafner died of natural causes.

Tafner lived at the same location as his business, Creations by Carter, along Route 54 in Rush Township between Elysburg and Danville.

Thea Tafner, the former ambulance committee chairwoman for American Hose and Chemical Fire Company, Mount Carmel, was sentenced in May to 30 months in federal prison and ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution to American Hose.

Carter Tafner told the judge he needed his sister's help getting to the hospital and accomplishing daily activities due to health problems.

SUNBURY - A senior magisterial district judge (MDJ) familiar with Northumberland County will return in March to cover proceedings in the Milton area.

The appointment of Senior MDJ Richard Cashman to fill Robert Bolton's seat was announced in a press release Tuesday, along with changes in preliminary hearing schedules in order to accommodate the loss of an assistant district attorney (ADA) because of county budget cuts.

Meanwhile, a request has also been approved to have Senior MDJ Michael Mychak, of Mount Carmel, cover Bolton's on-call schedule.

Pennsylvania Supreme Court Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille approved a request from county President Judge Robert Sacavage to allow Cashman to cover the district court cases at District Court 08-3-02, effective March 1.

Bolton announced Jan. 17 he would be retiring at the end of February. Elected to his fourth six-year term in November, he has handled cases in the Milton area since March following the retirement of longtime Magisterial District Judge William Kear in January 2011.

Bolton, who did not give a reason why he was leaving office so soon after his re-election, previously served for many years as one of the magisterial district judges assigned to the Sunbury area.

Cashman is no stranger to the Northumberland County court system; he was assigned to the Sunbury district court office after the unexpected death of 49-year-old Carl Rice in late July. Attorney Benjamin Apfelbaum, Sunbury, was elected Nov. 8 to serve as magisterial district judge in Sunbury and assumed the office in January.

"The court has been very pleased with Senior MDJ Cashman's work and professionalism and is grateful that he has agreed to return to Northumberland County until a decision is made as to a permanent replacement," county court administrator Brandy L. Yasenchak said in the statement.

In addition to Apfelbaum and Bolton, the other two county MDJs are John Gembic III, of Shamokin, and Hugh Jones, of Mount Carmel.

Per state legislation, senior MDJs receive a salary of $522 per day they work.

Schedule changes

The press release also announced a new hearing schedule for the magisterial district judges in light of the Northumberland County Salary Board cutting one ADA position of District Attorney Tony Rosini's staff. ADA John Muncer was laid off, but has filed a grievance through his union.

"I believe it's important to have assistant district attorneys prosecute felony cases," Rosini said on Jan. 31, when Muncer was laid off. "Handling misdemeanors is also important, but given the staff cuts we have had, it is impossible to cover all cases."

In January, Rosini said he hoped various courts would accommodate his staff with scheduling so they can spend a half day at the district court level handling felony cases.

"This is not an ideal situation, but we are working to keep the criminal justice system functioning as smoothly as possible," he said. "Obviously, there will be repercussions from the cut of one of my staff. We will not be able to cover all cases and some cases will be lost as a result. At least we will have the time to handle the serious cases in an appropriate manner."

After discussions between Sacavage, Rosini, court administration and the Northumberland County Criminal Management Team, the president judge announced that all preliminary hearings will be held at the four offices on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, effective March 5.

Under the changes, Apfelbaum's Thursday morning hearings will move to Tuesday afternoons, and Jones's Wednesday hearings will move from morning to afternoon. Cashman's hearings in Milton will not change, staying on Wednesday mornings, as will Gembic's hearings on Tuesday mornings.

"This change will allow the current district attorney's staff to continue to cover preliminary hearings," Yasenchak said.

Deputy court administrator Kevin F. O'Hearn said the court would do its best under the circumstances.

"We are aware that the changes may cause a backlog of cases and other unforeseen issues, but due to the circumstances presented," he wrote, "we are trying to manage the entire court system in the most efficient, economical and practical way."

SUNBURY - Northumberland County government had a need for a part-time worker in its voter registration office.

Giuseppe Bua, despite being confined to a motorized wheelchair, wanted a job.

Each got what it needed when Bua was hiring as a new assistant in voter registration, which is expecting busy months ahead in this presidential year.

Bua, 22, of Sunbury, has a congenital disease called osteogenesis imperfecta, which causes weak bones susceptible to fractures. Those who are affected are below average height, according to the U.S. Library of Medicine's website.

Despite his condition, Bua wanted a job. Knowing this, his father, Vito Bua, who works at O.I.P. Restaurant in Sunbury,

approached Northumberland County Commissioners Rick Shoch and Vinny Clausi.

"We were having lunch at O.I.P. when Giuseppe's father had a conversation with us. We took it back and discussed it," Shoch, board chairman, said Tuesday during a visit with Bua at the voter registration office in the human services complex. "It fills a great need in this department with the upcoming election."

Bua wasn't just hired on a whim, though. He had to do an interview through human resources and with Chief Clerk Gary Steffan.

"He is very good with computers and good on the phone," Clausi said, noting those are the two key skills needed in the office. He added that he is "so proud to see a gentleman like this ask for a job. We should all smile today," he said about hiring someone with a disability.

Clausi said he wasn't aware of any recently laid off employees who would have been interested in a part-time job that involves just 16 hours a week and pays $10 per hour.

Commissioner Stephen Bridy echoed Clausi's statement in this feel-good hiring.

"We couldn't have found a better candidate," Bridy said.

For his part, Bua is happy to be working.

"It is something different to get out of the house. I tried school and I didn't like it," he said.

Election board director Alisha Herb is also happy to have Bua on board, not only to replace a former part-timer, who was working 20 hours a week and left for a full-time job, according to Clausi, but also because one of her assistants is on maternity leave.

"He is working out," Herb said. "He does everything we do, including putting in voter registrations and transferring voters from county to county."

The governor's proposed spending plan for public education isn't of much help, two area school administrators said Tuesday, even with state money allocated for basic education subsidies at an all-time high.

"We certainly got bad news," said Steve Curran, business manager at Shamokin Area School District. "It could have been worse.

"Now we just have to move forward and hope our legislators will take care of us," Curran said of the General Assembly having to pass a final budget by June's end.

Gov. Tom Corbett's newly unveiled budget plan calls for $5.4 billion for instruction and operations costs for public schools, according to the Associated Press, including a 2 percent increase, about $240 million, in the basic education subsidy.

That basic education subsidy has never been higher, state Sen. John Gordner, R-27, said Tuesday.

But that subsidy remains 6.7 percent less than under Corbett's predecessor, Ed Rendell, who had used federal stimulus money that has since disappeared to bolster public education, according to the Scranton Times-Tribune.

"Unfortunately last year was a pretty severe cut, so it's not helpful at all," said Bernie Stellar, administrator-in-charge at Mount Carmel Area.

Stellar, who watched Corbett's budget address Tuesday morning and followed that up by printing out and examining a copy of the proposal, said he had expected the governor to either hold the line on education spending or institute moderate cuts.

Corbett's proposal actually added to Shamokin Area's estimated $4.6 million deficit for 2012-13 since its preliminary budget was passed last month. That spending plan included a modest 2 percent increase in state money - about $230,000 that the school district will now have to account for on its own.

"Our deficit just grew," Curran said. "For now, I'm going to have to revise our numbers to reflect this."

Shamokin Area is not alone in facing a substantial deficit entering next school year. Both Southern Columbia Area and Line Mountain each must account for shortfalls exceeding $1 million.

Mount Carmel Area has not yet adopted its preliminary budget.

Legislators react

Last year's cuts to education spending are often depicted as being done on the state level, Gordner said. However, the state senator said the drop-off was a direct result of Rendell allocating $1 billion in federal stimulus money toward education.

When that revenue stream dried up, the state couldn't fill the gap.

Corbett's proposal, however, exceeds any state money allocated to education under Rendell or any prior governor, Gordner said.

"This year's budget has more state funding for basic education than any previous budget ever had," he said.

State Rep. Kurt Masser, R-107, said the 2 percent increase in the basic education subsidy was a good move, but he had some concerns.

"I want to see what this means for our business managers and our superintendents and how this helps them," Masser said.

Gordner noted that pension costs are rising dramatically, and those costs are split between the state and its 500 public school districts.

Corbett called for $916 million in pension contributions, up 53 percent - a figure Curran dubbed "a lion's share" of the overall projection for state education funding, clouding any perceived increases.

Changes likely

The two biggest month's of Pennsylvania's budget year are March and April, Gordner said, which is when it collects the most revenue. The state is estimated at running $500 million below this year's projections and the governor said it could reach $720 million by year's end.

If that holds true, Gordner said additional funding could be allocated toward expenditures.

The state senator wouldn't say if he'd support Corbett's proposal as is. With any budget, he said, the state House and Senate would look to review and rearrange its contents.

Gordner noted that last year, Corbett proposed eliminating the state's Accountability Block Grant Program but that it was restored by the Legislature at $100 million in the final budget.

Once again, the governor proposed to cut the grant program.

"That's something I think the House and Senate will feel strongly about," he said.

'Sensible'

Overall, Masser described the governor's budget proposal as a "sensible one."

"I'm happy that we're living within our means, and we're not going back to the old ways of tax and spend, or borrow and spend," he said.

He expressed reservation about Corbett's decision to "lump together" a few line items that were separated in prior years, saying he hoped the moves would not harm correctional or agricultural programs.

Masser said he's dedicating himself as well to addressing a lack of salary increase for management level employees in the state prison system.

For his part, Gordner said that unlike the federal government, "we can't run a trillion dollar deficit. We have to have balanced revenue and expenditures."

"It's very clear taxpayers are hurting. They're not looking for government to raise taxes," he said.