The pink pig just may have done it.

Gene Stilp, the Dauphin County activist whose inflatable porker has been a symbol of his long crusade against government waste, appeared to defeat Wilkes-Barre attorney Bill Vinsko on Tuesday for the Democratic nomination in the dramatically redrawn 11th Congressional District.

As of 11:15 p.m., with 87 percent of the precincts reporting, Stilp had 18,442 votes, or 54.4 percent, to 15,439 for Vinsko, or 45.6 percent.

If the results hold, he will face first-term incumbent Lou Barletta, the former Hazleton mayor who ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

"It looks pretty official," Stilp said in a telephone interview at 11 p.m. Tuesday.

Stilp declared victory on his Facebook page at 10:35 p.m. He thanked his wife, Judy, the voters and quoted the Barry Manilow lyric: "Looks like we made it!"

"Looking forward to fall!" Stilp wrote.

Stilp, 61, rode an economical, grassroots campaign to victory, capitalizing on the name recognition and reputation as a reformer that he garnered during his battles against the 2005 state legislature pay raise and the state Bonusgate scandal.

Stilp raised $21,844 and spent $13,814, as of an April 12 campaign finance-reporting deadline. His biggest expenses: $4,850 to Penn Blue Strategies, the same firm used by the losing incumbent, Tim Holden, in the 17th Congressional District.

Vinsko, the cousin of Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom Leighton, raised $133,726, including $31,805 from political action committees, and spent $102,463.

"No tv spots, little money, nothing but grass roots and social media. Victory in #pa11 - on to the general," Stilp said on Twitter at 10:47 p.m.

Stilp, a Wilkes-Barre native, also stressed his ties to the region - underscoring the dilemma Vinsko faced when redistricting last December moved him into the 17th District, six months after he began his campaign in the 11th District.

Stilp dominated in the southern end of the district, which stretches from about 40 miles north of the Maryland border to about 40 miles south of the New York line.

As of 10:30 p.m., with 80 percent of the precincts reporting statewide, Stilp held solid leads in Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties, solidifying his margin of victory.

In Dauphin, votes for Stilp outnumbered those for Vinsko 5,024 to 704 - more than a 7-to-1 margin. In Cumberland, Stilp outpolled Vinsko 2,759-722 and in Perry, he led 494 to 104.

Vinsko, the assistant city solicitor in Wilkes-Barre, performed well in Luzerne and other northern counties. He outperformed Stilp 2-to-1 in Luzerne, 1,558 votes to 577, and also scored victories in the portions of the district in Wyoming, Columbia and Carbon counties.

"I think the key thing now is that in Luzerne County, there's a lot of division and I want to make sure we bring Democratic unity to the whole region," Stilp said. "I think you have to remember our purpose is to have a strong effort in the fall. So I want to make sure I bring Democratic unity to the whole northeast."

Vinsko's supporters remained hopeful as they attempted to reconcile the landslide results posted on the state elections website and much closer numbers the campaign said it had culled from individual county elections bureaus within the district.

Vinsko emerged from a private room around 10:15 p.m., interrupting a playlist of "Sweet Caroline," "Play That Funky Music" and "Call Me Maybe" to inform the crowd of about 60 people of the disparity in results.

Vinsko called the race a statistical dead heat.

"It looks like it's not over 'til it's over," Vinsko said.

msisak@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2061

jmoyer@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2052

SUNBURY - The Democratic nomination for the 107th Legislative District was easily won by Ted Yeager in Tuesday's primary election.

His challenge to unseat Republican incumbent Kurt Masser in November's general election will likely prove much more difficult.

Yeager, 61, of Elysburg, was victorious, earning 2,543 votes to 848 votes for Chris Pfaff, 54, of Cooper Township, Montour County.

"I guess you're always surprised to some extent," Yeager said of his 1,670-vote margin of victory.

Yeager was calculating results from his kitchen, keeping an eye on the television and Internet tabulations with family and campaign volunteers.

Turning his focus to Masser, Yeager said in order to defeat the incumbent this fall, "It's going to be a matter of really getting out and meeting the people and keeping the message going."

Yeager netted 2,026 votes in Northumberland County, 106 in Columbia County (which has only a few municipalities in the 107th) and 411 in Montour County.

Pfaff earned 359, 45 and 444, respectively.

Masser, who was unopposed, had 3,002 votes - 1,552, 181 and 1,269 in the three counties.

Write-in attempt failed?

Republican incumbent Lynda Schlegel Culver of the 108th Legislative District was unopposed in the primary.

The Sunbury-area first-term legislator earned 4,678 votes combined in Northumberland and Snyder counties.

Whether or not she's unopposed in November remains to be seen, officially anyhow.

Dan Sweeney was running a write-in campaign to earn the Democratic nomination, needing 300 votes to get on the general election ballot.

However, he earned just 86 in Northumberland County as of Tuesday night. No word on how many he earned in Snyder County.

Gordner gets 13,000

As for the 27th Senatorial District, John Gordner was also unopposed and there are no Democratic candidates on the ballot. He earned more than 13,000 votes the district, which includes all or parts of six counties.

There were 5,631 votes cast for Gordner by Northumberland County Republicans.

A final total figure was still being tallied as of press time.

Yeager and Pfaff each are no stranger to legislative elections.

Pfaff twice lost bids in the 1990s to unseat longtime Democratic legislator, Robert E. Belfanti Jr., when he ran as a Republican.

Yeager ran in, but lost, the Democratic primary in 2010.

The two faced off as Democrats this year after Pfaff switched parties, a strategic move to take advantage of the county's majority Democratic electorate, he said, and not one in which he abandoned his conservative ideals.

While Pfaff identifies himself as a conservative, Yeager holds that his political ideology lies in the "middle of the road."

Both were critical of Masser in the run up to Tuesday's election - Pfaff of the incumbent's "liberal vote" against the Voter ID bill; Yeager saying Masser is in "lockstep" with the administration of Republican Gov. Tom Corbett.

Pfaff wished to slash in half the pay of both public school administrators and members of the state House and Senate. He also said he supported Interstate tolls but not on resident commuters traveling on business, and called for tax reform by abolishing the per-capita tax and lowering the state sales tax.

Pfaff criticized Yeager as a "fluff" candidate, saying his campaign lacks substance.

Yeager brushed aside the criticism, specifically that his website lacked thorough information on where he stands on political talking points, attributing that to not being a "techie."

He's cautious of Act 22 and its potential impact on senior citizens and worrisome of cuts to public education. He panned concern expressed by Masser about the state of education funding by saying the incumbent should have raised his concern when he voted in favor of this current year's budget.

Yeager said his defeat two years ago did heighten his profile and had sought to expand efforts this year to rally Democratic voters in the coal region.

SUNBURY - Only 22 percent of registered Democrats and Republicans in Northumberland County voted in Tuesday's primary election.

The voter turnout, which was one of the lowest in recent history, was mostly attributed to the lack of municipal, school board and county races and various candidates who ran unopposed, according to Alisha Herb, director of the county board of elections office.

Only 11,013 votes were cast by the 25,276 Republicans and 23,297 Democrats who were eligible to vote in the primary election. During the last primary presidential election in 2008, 19,725 votes (41 percent) were cast.

According to unofficial election results, President Barack Obama received 3,061 votes (94.65 percent) in the 95 precincts of the county, while 173 (5.35 percent) write-in votes were cast for president.

Republican Mitt Romney received 3,153 votes (49.47 percent) out of the 6,374 total votes cast by county Republicans. Rick Santorum received the second highest vote total in the county among the four Republicans on the ballot with 1,536 votes (24.10 percent).

The first electronic voting machine from the first ward of Sunbury was returned to the Northumberland County Administration Center at 8:15 p.m., while the last machine from the polling station at Liberty Fire Company in Shamokin arrived at the center at 9:45 p.m.

Herb said an official count will be conducted Friday and Monday.

Northumberland County voters came to the polls Tuesday with IDs in hand, helping to make the trial run for the state's new voter ID law an apparent success.

Judges of elections at polling sites in Elysburg, Coal Township and Jackson Township reported mid-day they had not experienced any issues with asking voters to provide a photo ID, even though it's not mandatory until the Nov. 6 general election.

In many cases, voters had their driver's licenses or other forms of ID ready.

"It's been a pretty smooth day," said Jim Williams, judge of elections for the polling place at the Elysburg Fire Company. "Everyone has been very cooperative with showing their IDs today."

There was one exception, Williams said.

"(One man) went on a rant about how it was a Gestapo-like tactic to ask for a photo ID," Williams said. "That was the only complaint we heard."

Mary Ann Rumberger, judge of elections for the polling site at Shamokin Area Middle/High School, reported no major problems.

"At this point, there were only about two or three people who didn't have their IDs with them," Rumberger said. "We thought that more people would be confused by it all, but it's been pretty good."

Adjusted well

Alisha Herb, Northumberland County director of elections, said Tuesday evening she received no reports of any problems at county polling places as a result of the voter ID. She heard of no delays as a result of voters being asked to show their identifications, and no poll workers requested additional help to handle the new responsibility of checking the voter IDs.

Herb said she believes county voters adjusted well to the new requirement. In fact, she received 15 to 20 phone calls throughout the day from people seeking advice on how to obtain voter IDs for the November general election, when they will become mandatory. She anticipates no problems in November.

Notices explaining the new procedure were placed inside and outside each polling place, Herb said.

The policy is now considered among the nation's toughest regarding voter photo identification. The law, backed mostly by Republicans, said it will combat voter fraud, while Democrats, in leading the opposition, criticized it as an unconstitutional effort to suppress votes in favor of the GOP, especially during the re-election year for President Obama.

Information distributed

Poll workers were handing out forms reminding voters that photo IDs will be required come November. It listed the variations that are acceptable: state driver's license, military identification, U.S. passport, employee identification cards for federal, state or municipal workers, photo identification cards from a Pennsylvania college or university or an I.D. issued by a personal care home. All forms of identification must have both a photo and an expiration date.

It also offers instructions on what to do to obtain a qualifying photo ID, which can be obtained free of charge at a PennDOT Driver License Center. Those wihotu a valid ID will be able to cast a provisional ballot, and will then have six days to provide a photo ID or an affirmation to their county elections office to have the ballot counted.

A new provision has been added that allows senior citizens and others to use even long-expired state driver's licenses or expired non-driver I.D. cards to more easily obtain a free photo I.D. card for voting purposes. Others seeking the cards need to provide a Social Security card and additional documentation. The change should help senior citizens who stopped driving years ago but whose photo and other information remain in PennDOT's files.

Voter ID was signed into law March 14 by Gov. Tom Corbett.

Election

tallies

President of the United States

(All numbers below are Northumberland County tallies only. Names in red indicate overall winners.)

Republican

Newt Gingrich: 700

Mitt Romney: 3,153

Ron Paul: 953

Rick Santorum: 1,536

Democrat

Barack Obama: 3,061

(Note: There are 25,273 registered Republicans and 23,297 registered Democrats in the county.)

Statewide

U.S. Senator

Republican

David Alan Christian: 563

Marc A. Scaringi: 416

Steven D. Welch: 979 Tom Smith: 2,652 Sam Rohrer: 1,301

Democrat

Joseph John Vodvarka: 554

Bob Casey Jr.: 3,570

Representative in Congress 11th District

Northumberland County numbers

Republican

Lou Barletta: 3,565 Democrat

Gene Stilp: 1,674 Bill Vinsko: 1,253

Representative in the General Assembly 107th District

Republican

Kurt A. Masser: 1,552 Democrat

Ted T. Yeager: 2,026

Chris Pfaff: 359

by justin strawser

PAXINOS - The demonstration during Gov. Tom Corbett's visit to Indian Hill Golf and Tennis Club Friday evening was praised by the president of the organization.

"Everybody was well behaved, well organized and there was no damage to our private property," Paul Healey said Tuesday.

Corbett was attending an invitation-only, $1,000 per couple fundraiser for state Rep. Kurt Masser (R-107) eight days after Shamokin Area School Board was forced to cut 21 teachers and staff starting next year as a result of the a multimillion-dollar deficit. When news spread that Corbett was going to be in the area, more than 150 teachers, parents, school board members, students and supporters quickly organized the rally outside the venue to protest what they say are funding changes by Corbett that are harming public schools.

Healey wanted it known the organized protest was handled professionally, and there was only one incident: an argument between a club board member and Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi.

The commissioner, who was standing at the entrance to the parking lot, was told to leave the private country club property and return to the opposite side of the street to stand with the other protesters. Clausi initially refused, and the two men traded heated words.

"Everyone respected staying on their side of the road but one person. He was trying to incite the crowd," Healey said.

No additional security was brought in except for the governor's own security force. State police at Stonington had additional troopers patrolling that area, but it wasn't necessary, said Healey.

"If we needed them there, they would have been there fast," he said.

He praised the governor for the visit, too.

"It was fantastic. Any time someone like that comes to the area, it helps," he said. "And he wasn't upset at all (by the demonstrators)."

LECK KILL - The Line Mountain School Board voted Tuesday night at its meeting at Leck Kill Elementary School to hold a public hearing next month to discuss closing Leck Kill and Dalmatia elementary schools.

However, Line Mountain farmer Marlin Lescher was not happy with the information.

"I think you should reconsider closing this school," Lescher said about Leck Kill. "This school has produced some good students. My kids went here. You got a doctor and a teacher out of them."

Any decision made concerning closing the schools should be unanimous, he said.

"I have a feeling public pressure will change some minds," he added.

The current plan - created to save on operational costs - is to close the two schools in the 2013-14 school year and send students of those areas to Trevorton Elementary School.

If the plan moves forward, a $5.6 million, four-classroom, two-storage-room addition will be built at Trevorton Elementary School to accommodate kindergarten through fourth-grade students, and a fifth- and sixth-grade wing will be added to the junior-senior high school in Mandata.

Save $110,000 per year

Superintendent Dave Campbell previously said closing two schools would likely save the district $110,000 per year.

Board members also discussed closing Leck Kill a year early since attendance will be low in the upcoming school year, but they requested more information about the savings.

Leck Kill will have four kindergarten students and 11 third-grade students in the 2012-13 school year, Campbell said.

The motion to have the public meeting next month was made by directors Dennis Erdman and Ronald Neidig, and it passed unanimously 9-0.

The public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 22, in the Line Mountain Junior-Senior High School auditorium.

After the public meeting next month, the board must wait three months before voting to officially close the schools.

Budget

The proposed budget was also unanimously passed Tuesday night with a $130,854 deficit. The total revenue equals $16,815,968 while the total expenditures equal $16,946,822.

The board can either cover the budget hole with money from the fund balance, which has $1,506,522, or raise taxes.

Business Manager Phil Rapant reported the state granted Line Mountain exceptions to raise the millage above the Act 1 index.

The district can raise taxes a maximum of 8.49 mills, he said.

The current millage rate for property owners in Line Mountain is 71 mills. If a property is assessed at $10,000, the property owner would pay an additional $84.90 a year on their taxes with the maximum rate.

A final budget must be approved by June.

HAZLETON - The man showed his identification, and the election clerk said to him "You're Louis J., correct?"

That's Louis J., as in Louis J. Barletta.

Even the congressman was asked for identification before he voted Tuesday at the South Side Fire Station in Hazleton during the primary election.

"I'm happy to do it," Barletta, R-Hazleton, said of the new voting rule that he believes will help eliminate fraud.

As he wraps up his first term, Barletta thought back to Election Night in 2010 when, after falling short in 2002 and 2008, he defeated long-time U.S. Rep. Paul Kanjorski in the 11th Congressional District.

"It's one of the most exciting days I've ever experienced, especially that night when the vote was coming in," Barletta said.

On Tuesday, he had no opponent in the Republican primary, but the outcome of the Democratic primary determined Gene Stilp, not Bill Vinsko, will likely be his challenger for the general election on Nov. 6.

Serving in Congress has been educational, Barletta said.

Briefings have taught him things he hadn't imagined.

"I've had an opportunity to see our country in a much different light," he said.

The large freshman class with which he entered Congress had different marching orders.

"The American people don't want to see business as usual," Barletta said.

During the next two years, he hopes Congress will address financial issues such as Social Security and Medicare.

The Senate, he said, has not approved a budget resolution in three years.

Barletta also hopes for an amendment requiring the country to have a balanced budget.

"The average American has to balance their checkbooks all the time," he said, "They expect Washington politicians to do the same."

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

The two levels of achievement include an honors level and a distinguished honors level. A student must achieve an average of 90 to 94.9 for honor recognition. Distinguished honors require an average of 95 or better. All subjects except driver training are included in the calculations of a student's average. Also, all subjects must be passed and a minimum of 90 percent in deportment is also required.

Seventh-grade distinguished honors - Zachary Anascavage, Kayla Baney, Jacob Bartol, Madyson Bateman, Alex Black, Madison Blackwell, Patrick Bradigan, Scarlett Brown, Cierra Eby, Thomas Eby, Aleea Faus, Amy Frasch, Mackenzie Fulginiti, Tiffany Gordon, Brandi Hatzel, Cameron Jacoby, Alicia Kapushinski, Mackenzie Koharski, Joshua Kratzer, Jenai McKeen, Lindsey Miller, Sara Popewczak, Jarred Rachau, Anne Richardson, Madison Rodarmel, Anthony Roughton, Kaitlyn Schrader, Ellen Spotts, Kelsie Stewart, Scotty Villari, Matthew Vrona, David Wolfe, Brittany Wondoloski and Tobias Zerbe.

Eighth-grade distinguished honors - Thomas Campbell, Patricia Clark, Claudia Collins, Jeannette Costa, Justin Deutsch, Amber Disidoro, Jadyn Dunkelberger, Lillie Fidelman, Brady Haupt, Russell Henz, Evelyn Madrak, Kayla Schell, James Snyder, Dakota Sutsko, Christina Troutman, Rebecca Wargo, Cameron Wayne, Jakob Weaver and Danielle Wilk.

Ninth-grade distinguished honors - Michelle Bressi, John Brown, Jasmine Coleman, Megan Dimmick, Tevin Gonzalez, Elizabeth Kapushinski, Megan Kerstetter, Zachary Koharski, Graeme Shappell, Jacob Snyder, Taylor Tobias, Jarret Willis, Casey Wilson and Cierra Zimmerman.

10th-grade distinguished honors - Alisha Black, Brianna Bonshock, Olivia Bonshock, Joseph Colangelo, Eryn Cook, Nicole Cullen, Daniel Delbaugh, Noelle Erickson, Justin Forbes, Alyssa Green, Nathaniel Haggerty, Austin Huntington, Dana Madl, Draven Miller, Catelin Pancher, Adam Richardson, Melissa Rishel, Lydia Sandri, Kevin Searls, Corinne Weikel and Shane Williams.

11th-grade distinguished honors - Anthony Anonia, Theodore Deptula. Stephanie Dressler, Austin Fry, Matthew Gass, Abbygail Halderman, Kayla Hart, Andrew Hasuga, Amber Kelly, Amber Martin, Courtney McGrath, Christie Munson, Cailin Wilson and Alex Zalar.

12th-grade distinguished honors - Regan Abromitis, Peyton Autry, Kim Bills, Charles Black, Danielle Boyd, Scott Bradley, Stephen Bressi, Stephanie Broscious, Bradley Burasz, Megan Ciborowski, Erin Duganitz, Joshua Dunn, Alexandria Fiorey, Ashley Fiorey, Jordan Hartenstine, Alina Hensel, Courtney Krieger, Caleb Latovich, Brieanna Lindstrom, Brittany Miller, Brett Pawelczyk, Megan Ramp, Justin Reichner, Cody Stine, Ashley Strouse, Cyle Taylor and Robert Taylor.

Seventh-grade honors - Alana Bendas, Breanna Bickert, Elena Calderin, Robert Carapellucci, Dillon Carpenter, Felicity Cherry, Desiree Cohoon, Julie Conroy-Marin, Brett Derck, Katelynn Dewitt, Zachary Druckenmiller, Rachel Drumheiser, Emilee Dunn, Eric Fairlamb, Alexis Herb, Faith Hornberger, Jarred Jones, Jenna Keisling, Tiffany Klinger, Eli Kolovic, Megan Krumbine, Noah Mangiaruga, Patrick McGuinn, Kiara Moore, Bradley Morgan, Marcella Nahodil, Vincent Quincy, Gregory Rishel, Jasmine Rosa, Susan Saez, Aubrey Snyder, Lauren Stanchick, Brianna Stanke and Saphire Yeager.

Eighth-grade honors - Chelsea Bowers, Kaitlyn Bridy, Michael Britton, Kyran Brown, Sierra Bryant, Preston Burns, Samantha Chykosky, Autumn Craft, Tajuan Crum, Dilin DeCample, Gabrielle Erb, Haley Erb, Nicole Faust, Ryan Gass, Megan Grinaway, Amanda Lucas, Douglas McCullough, Brayson Pawelczyk, Christopher Petraskie, Caitlyn Pope, Kristen Powell, Kasey Puchalski, Kalen Purcell, Donna Rania, Isaiah Reiprich, Nicole Thompson, Chase Tillett, Jacob Weit, Garrett Zalar and Callie Zimmerman.

Ninth-grade honors - Tara Blom, Alek Bonshock, Jill Britton, Samantha Carpenter, Heather Elliott, Draven Faus, Aaron Kalinowski, Erika Lentes, Brett Long, Kathryn Madara, Brandon Mains, Brianna Martin, Mitchell McGinn, Zachary Moyer, Carley Nash, Michaela Snyder, Savannah Tellander, Dylan Williams and Tucker Yost.

10th-grade honors - Steven Balonis, Elizabeth Bednar, Elizabeth Bensinger, Kelsey Bryant, Logan Carpenter, Kylie Christiana, Jordan Collins, Brendan Drachler, Caitlin Fellin, Alexa Foor, Megan Goodrich, Kayla Gordon, Jennifer Hornberger, Skylar Hughes, Ashley Huxta, Richard Jones, Corey Levi, Sean McLaughlin, Marielle Miller, Mariah Mong, Laryah Moyle, Noah Rachau, Brooke Sejuit, Alyssa Shuey, Victoria Snyder, Helana Supsic, Brianna Wengrenovich and Ronald Zimmerman.

11th-grade honors - Destiny Bowers, Dylan Bowers, Kortney Bozza, Miranda Canouse, Jonathan Deitrick, Amber Erdman, Marlena Ford, Kiesha Foulds, Jordan Glosek, Veronica Kiefer, Nicholas Kleman, Todd Markhorst, Kyla Martin, Molly McDevitt, Mary Ann McKimm, Ashley Mulkins, Faith Neiter, Autumn Peck, Derrick Persing, Bunnie Radel, Michael Rodarmel, Ciana Rollman, Ryan Rompolski, Brittany Samms, Samantha Schiccatano, Megan Sheriff, Samantha Spishock, Erika Strausser, Samantha Strausser, Michael Ulrich and John Wondoloski.

12th-grade honors - Rebecca Aurand, Robert Bainbridge, Renea Broscious, Jessica Brown, Courtney Chowka, William Cole, Kaitlyn Dinklocker, Evan Dixson, Emmett Donahue, David Dorsett, Rebecca Dressler, Amber Ebbecke, Jacob Eveland, Blair Faust, Andreena Forbes, George Frick, Kirstyn Griffiths, Alexandrian Hartman, Jacob Hartzel, Alysia Hendricks, Zachary Jacobs, Courtney Kashner, Kieran Kelley, Ethan Lindermuth, Kyra McClintock, Shelby McCloskey, Daniel McKimm, Brandon Mendoza, Kristi Morris, Ashley Moyer, Brandon Nash, Alyssa Orme, Stephanie Pancher, Matthew Pennell, Tyler Pincoskie, Catherine Reigle, Garrett Rupp, Ryan Schuck, James Shaffer, Sierra Smeltzer, Josiah Stahl, Anna Summers, Joceline Toro, Jonathan Vanaskie, Stephen Wengrenovich, Briaun Williams, Brenna Wisniewski, Laura Wolf, Emily Zakrzewski, Keena Zalar, Samantha Zielinskie, Justin Zimmerman and Haley Zink.

DANVILLE - Six area first-graders from Line Mountain, Mount Carmel Area, Shamokin Area and Southern Columbia Area school districts were named winners of a coloring contest by ACTION Health.

The winners are Maggie Stauder of G.C. Hartman Elementary Center, MacKenzie Adams of Dalmatia Elementary, Drew Hanlon of Leck Kill Elementary, Nicholas Voelcker of Shamokin Area Elementary, Jenna Pizzli of Mount Carmel Area Elementary and Kyleigh Leiser of Trevorton Elementary.

The six were awarded gift baskets for submitting the most creative drawings that demonstrated the highest level of understanding about dental health.

The contest was a component of ACTION Health's fourth annual Save our Smiles curriculum presented at 19 schools to more than 1,200 first-graders. Students were asked to draw and color a picture of how they keep their smile healthy, as well as write sentences describing their pictures.

The drawings featured all of the points taught in Save Our Smiles - healthy eating, flossing, brushing and visiting the dentist.

Much of ACTION Health's five-county service area - Columbia, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties - has been designated as a dental health professional shortage area by the Department of Health..

ACTION Health is a collaborative partnership in the Central Susquehanna River Valley providing community health outreach and education. It is sponsored by several area hospitals including Geisinger Health System and Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital.

MOUNT CARMEL - A group of students from Mount Carmel Area Junior-Senior High School will compete at the Odyssey of the Mind (ODM) World Finals next month.

The group placed second out of nine teams to earn the chance to compete against teams from throughout the United States on May 23 to 26 at Iowa State University.

Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college. Teams have eight minutes to complete a specific problem created by ODM officials.

Teams start preparing several months before judging at the local level. They create backdrops, costumes, lines and music that can add points to their performance.

Four teams represent

Mount Carmel was represented by three additional teams at the state finals on April 14 at Pocono Mountain East High School. They competed in their own problem and division, with one eighth- and two fourth-place finishes, just missing a chance to move on to the next stage of competition.

The team from Mount Carmel Area moving on is once again coached by Aaron and Kelly Domanski. The team tackled "Ooh-Motional Vehicle," which required students to design, build and drive a vehicle that traveled a pre-designed course, where it encountered three different situations. A skit that incorporated the vehicle was performed.

They created a three-wheel vehicle powered by a small motor. Stef Cimino steered the homemade vehicle as Robert Varano, Joe Zanella, Kristen Duceman, Cathy Fletcher, Bryson Purcell and Michael Swatski performed the skit. Large colorful backdrops added style.

Kelly Domanski said the students will be working hard to improve their performance and are excited for the chance to travel to compete at the world finals.

Several fundraisers will be held in the near future, she said.

Third year in a row

This marks the third year in a row that Mount Carmel Area will be represented by a team at the highest stage of competition. Last year, three teams competed at College Park, Md.

Last year's team, coached by the Domanskis and consisting of then-seniors Christine Mrozek, Kelsey Kraynak, Amy Besser, Mariah Beaver, Kayla Bressi, Rachel Fletcher and Sami Spieller, finished 11th out of 52 teams.

Mrozek and Spieller, now freshman at four-year colleges, gave back to the program by judging at this year's state finals.

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Symphonic Band will present its annual spring concert at 7 p.m. Saturday in the junior-senior high school auditorium. The concert will feature, as guest soloist, Bloomsburg University horn professor Christiana Smith.

The symphonic band will perform a wide variety of music, some of which will include the famous "Strategic Air Command March," Claude T. Smith's "Anthem For Winds And Percussion," McBeth's "Chant And Jubilo," "Andrew Lloyd Webber: A Symphonic Portrait," and others.

The program will then feature Smith, who will perform the Saint-Saens' "Concertpiece (Morceau de Concert)." The guest soloist is a horn teacher and performer who resides in Selinsgrove. Her performance credits include the Altoona Symphony, Johnstown Symphony, Pennsylvania Centre Orchestra, and Williamsport Symphony Orchestra.

She earned a Bachelor of Music Performance and a master of arts in music theory and history from Penn State University where she studied with Lisa Bontrager. Her other teachers have included David Wakefield, Thomas Bacon, Jaime Thorne, Angela Cordell Bilger and Randall Faust. She is the horn instructor at Bloomsburg University and teaches private students from around the Susquehanna Valley.

The MCA Symphonic Band is under the direction of Bernard Stellar. Tickets can be purchased by calling the high school band room at 339-1500, extension 3139, from any band member or band parent, or at the door the night of the show.

Reunion deadline tomorrow

SHAMOKIN - Deadline for paid reservations for the St. Stanislaus Grade School reunion on May 27 is Friday.

Reservations can be made by contacting Mary (Narkiewicz) Harmon at 594-3663.

The cost of the reunion is $35 per person. All checks should be made payable to St. Stan's Reunion Fund, P.O. Box 262, Elysburg 17824.

Bishop Joseph McFadden of the Diocese of Harrisburg will celebrate a special Mass at 1 p.m. May 27 at Mother Cabrini Church. The Rev. Joseph Bayne will serve as homilist.

A social will follow at the former St. Stanislaus School at Race and Vine streets.

Bark for Life set for Sunday

MOUNT CARMEL - Bark for Life, an American Cancer Society event, will begin at 2 p.m. Sunday in the borough's Town Park at Third and Market streets.

Registration begins at noon. A $10 donation per dog is requested. Bandanas will be given to all registered dogs.

T-shirts will be awarded for $100 donations.

All proceeds benefit the borough's Relay for Life.

For more information, contact Charmaine Ryan at novaryan76@gmail.com or 339-4532.

Grant proposals requested

RIVERSIDE - Proposals are sought for Merck's Neighbor of Choice grant program, in which nonprofit and nongovernmental agencies are eligible to receive up to $10,000 each.

Grant proposals - which will be accepted through May 15 - should focus on improving access to and building capacity for quality health care, strengthening science education and addressing the needs of Merck communities through support for local environmental, cultural, social, medical and civic issues.

Organizations requesting funding must send a four- to five-sentence overview in a Microsoft Word document, including the funding total requested, to Nancy Reichen at nancy.reichen@merck.com.

After completion of this step, organizations should submit applications at www.mercksupport.com.

SUNBURY - Instead of losing a secretary in his office, Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini has reached an agreement with the county commissioners and controller to eliminate his detective position.

The move is scheduled to be approved at a special county salary board meeting at 11 a.m. Monday at the administration center.

Rosini said an agreement was reached to eliminate Detective Andrew Orzehowski's position during a meeting earlier this week with the four permanent salary board members - Commissioners Vinny Clausi, Rick Shoch and Stephen Bridy, and Controller Tony Phillips.

Orzehowski, a retired state policeman, has served as county detective since Sept. 13, 2010. His current salary is $33,345.

Francis Bower, another retired state trooper, served as county detective from July 1, 2002, until his retirement Dec. 30, 2008.

The salary board voted 3-2 last week to eliminate a secretary's position in Rosini's office, effective April 30. Voting to approve the cut were Clausi, Bridy and Phillips. Shoch and Rosini voted against eliminating the position.

Rosini presented a detailed argument for wanting to maintain the secretary at last week's meeting and negotiated with salary board members before the motion to eliminate the post was approved.

Rosini said eliminating the detective's position will save the county approximately $38,000, which is about the same amount of money the county would save by cutting a secretary position.

Secretary Jennifer L. Bennick was previously identified through information provided by the county to the media as the person who would be cut from Rosini's office. But the district attorney said Wednesday he never chose which of his three secretaries would lose their job.

In response to the agreement reached with Rosini, Clausi stated, "Mr. Rosini came to the table and chose to get rid of his detective rather than a secretary. It was his choice to do so. I'm a little concerned about him choosing to cut the detective's position because when we eliminated that position three years ago, Mr. Rosini told us his office wouldn't be able to operate without a detective. The commissioners won't be responsible if there are problems in his office as a result of the detective being cut."

Bridy added, "Anytime someone comes to the table with an alternative, I'm all ears. But I want to make it clear that cutting the detective was Mr. Rosini's decision, not the salary board's."

Shoch confirmed negotiations took place with Rosini on Monday and that a vote to eliminate the detective position will be taken Monday.

Other positions cut on a 3-2 vote during the April 17 salary board meeting were a data entry clerk in the prothonotary/clerk of courts office and a deputy sheriff.

Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts Kathleen Wolfe Strausser and Sheriff Chad Reiner, who also presented arguments to maintain their employee positions at last week's salary board meeting, said Wednesday no negotiations with the commissioners have occurred about the positions since then.

Employees in the prothonotary and sheriff offices whose positions would be eliminated were identified by the county last week as data entry clerk Jamie Saleski and deputy sheriff Daniel M. Zettlemoyer. But The News-Item learned Wednesday that the positions of deputy sheriff Nicole Baker and data entry clerk Bonnie Lesher will be eliminated instead of Zettlemoyer and Saleski.

The salaries for Baker and Lesher are $31,762 and $26,527, respectively.

According to information provided to the media by Clausi, the county will save $136,854.53 in salaries and benefits by making the three cuts.

Orzehowski, Baker and Bonnie will be among 14 county employees whose positions have been eliminated since January, which resulted in a total savings of $680,630.21.

Clausi said the county plans to make a total of $1 million in cuts by the end of the year to avoid filing for bankruptcy.

Since Clausi took office in 2008, 103 county employees have been furloughed or terminated.

LEWISBURG - Northumberland County commissioners believe Wednesday's decision by SEDA-Council of Governments not to allow Northumberland County Planning Director Pat Mack or any county employee to serve on its board of directors is "discriminatory" and may seek legal action against the measure.

Mack said the board voted 9-6 to reject his appointment. Six members were absent.

"It's select discrimination against Pat Mack and I believe SEDA-COG should be sued for discriminating against Northumberland County government," commented Commissioner Vinny Clausi. "SEDA-COG has been a good old boys club for years and that needs to be eliminated. They don't like when people ask questions."

Commissioner Stephen Bridy, who is currently Northumberland County's only representative on the board, said, "It's unfortunate because I thought they were going to allow him (Mack) on the board. There's an element of discrimination involved with this. They allowed their emotions to dictate how they voted. Making a blanketed ruling by not allowing any county employees on the board is just wrong."

Bridy noted Mack's involvement in planning and the county Industrial Development Authority makes him a perfect fit for the SEDA-COG board. "His fingers are on the pulse of business in our county," he said.

Shoch said he understands the rationale behind the board's vote, but said there is nothing in SEDA-COG's bylaws that prohibit Mack from serving on the board.

"I can see where they think a county employee's vote could potentially be controlled by his boss," Shoch said. "But exceptions have been made in the past."

Mack said, "I'm disappointed for Northumberland County."

If Mack's appointment would have been approved, it would represent the only instance where an employee of a county would serve alongside his or her county commissioner on the SEDA-COG's board of directors.

Steve Kusheloff, manager for public information with SEDA-COG, couldn't be reached for comment Wednesday.

Mack's nomination to the board by the commissioners was tabled for legal review March 28. Kusheloff previously said the appointment was not rejected outright as previously claimed by county officials.

Last month, Kusheloff said the board wanted to get a clarification from its legal counsel on the bylaws before voting on the issue. He said SEDA-COG has had a good working relationship with Mack over the years.

Eleven counties are represented on the board by a county commissioner and one other representative from each county. Right now, eight of those other representatives are from the private sector and the others represent a municipality within the county.

The Mount Carmel Board of Education Merit Award winners for March were announced at the April school board meeting.

Junior Danny Lesko, a son of James and Corrina Lesko, of Kulmont, received the high school level award. "Danny is an exceptional student, well-rounded and a friend to all in many ways. Not only does he excel in his class work, but he is a kind, caring and respectable young man of good character. He is dependable and always willing to help," said Diane Rumbel, communication and news reporting teacher who nominated him.

Lesko is an honor roll student and a member of the National Honor Society, and has been a member of student council for three years. He plays varsity football and baseball, and was named to The News-Item all-area baseball team in 2011. Lesko also participates in the Make a Difference Talent Show, has danced for two years with the Mahoney Brothers and is a sports writer and news anchor for MCA-Live and the MCA Sport program, "Red Zone."

At the elementary is fifth-grade student Logan Wills, a son of Thomas and Michelle Wills, of Kulpmont. Wills was nominated by Sherry Hollenbush, reading teacher.

Wills is a distinguished honor student and has been involved in the enrichment program and Odyssey of the Mind since third grade. He has scored advanced in all areas of the PSSA exams. Outside of school, Wills plays football for the Kulpmont Cougars, is a member of the MCAE wrestling program and plays baseball for the Locust Gap Civic Association. He is a member of Grace United Church of Christ, Mount Carmel.

ELYSBURG - Elysburg isn't a city or borough. It's part of and is governed by Ralpho Township. Does that make it a village?

Not exactly.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, it's a Census-designated place, or CDP, which is defined as "the statistical counterparts of incorporated places, and are delineated to provide data for settled concentrations of population that are identifiable by name but are not legally incorporated under the laws of the state in which they are located."

(Wouldn't village be easier?)

Elysburg, meanwhile, is one of five such places in Northumberland County: The others are Edgewood, Fairview-Ferndale and Marshallton in Coal Township, and Trevorton in Zerbe Township.

History

According to Bell's History of Northumberland County, the land now known as Ralpho Township changed hands quite a bit when it was first established in 1772. First, it was a part of the Augusta Territory from 1772 to 1785 and then became a part of Catawissa.

The name "Ralpho Township" was first given to the area in 1788, before it became part of Shamokin. Township boundaries were first established in 1880 when Shamokin was divided into two election districts.

The Northumberland County Court confirmed the decision on Aug. 1, 1882, creating North and South Shamokin.

One month later, residents Ira Shipman, Peter H. Snyder and Solomon Weaver recommended a new township be formed. The residents voted on Jan. 20, 1883, to make the change and it was approved by the court on Feb. 5, 1883.

Records show that George Ely kept a hotel in the area and Samuel Ely built the first home. The first industry was Ely's carpenter shop. Thus, the new area was eventually given the name Elysburg.

While the population of many local communities has fallen over the past 70 years, Ralpho Township has grown, from 1,742 in 1940 to 4,321 in 2010, according to Census figures.

HARRISBURG - Two men who operate Mount Royal Mini-Mart in Ranshaw are among eight central Pennsylvania people indicted this month for allegedly operating a drug ring involving "bath salts" and synthetic marijuana.

Jaswinder Fatra, 41, of Ranshaw, and six others were apprehended as part of Operation Rubber Ducky run by a federal drug task force.

Slimane Belabbas, 34, of Ranshaw, remains at large.

A federal grand jury indictment unsealed Tuesday lists Fatra and Belabbas among those accused of trafficking synthetic drugs at multiple mini-marts in Dauphin, Cumberland, Lebanon, Mifflin and Lancaster counties.

More than $6 million in suspected drug money was seized by the U.S. Attorney's Office from banks in Maryland and Texas.

While Northumberland County was not listed, a spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith confirmed Wednesday that a November 2011 raid at the Ranshaw convenience store was associated with the indictment.

Fatra entered a plea of not guilty on April 19. He was released on $50,000 bond.

Also indicted are Kulwinder Singh Grewal, 38, of Myerstown; Amarjit Singh Grewal, 32, of Ephrata; Jesse Roldan, 40, of Jim Thorpe; Steven Accardi, 30, of Willow Street, Lancaster County; Baljeet Singh, 42, of Lancaster; and Inderjit Jassal, 31, of Richfield.

Federal authorities allege the men sold Methcathinone and MDPV, known on the street as "bath salts" and "jewelry cleaner," between May 2011 and March 2012. They're also alleged to have sold synthetic marijuana under names such as Captain Fly, Tigers Blood, Bangkok Chill and Kryptonite Krush.

All are charged with the alleged unlawful distribution of controlled substances, use of a communication facility to carry out that offense, criminal conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distributing and conspiring to distribute misbranded drugs in central Pennsylvania, according a media release by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The indictment was returned by the grand jury April 4 but kept sealed to allow simultaneous arrests to be made and coordinate the seizure of the money, according to the media release.

A trial date of June 4 is scheduled in U.S. Middle District Court before Chief Judge Yvette Kane.

The defendants face a maximum of 52 years imprisonment and fines up to $2.75 million, along with the forfeiture of $1 million combined.

Assistant U.S. Attorney William A. Behe will prosecute the case.

Coal Township Police Department is among the law enforcement agencies commended by the U.S. Attorney's Office.

The township police force executed a search warrant in November on Mount Royal Mini-Mart, a Sunoco station located on Route 901 near an on/off ramp for Route 61.

Fatra and Belabbas were each named on the warrant.

Before the warrant was served, several controlled drug buys were conducted using a confidential informant who allegedly purchased synthetic marijuana and "bath salts" last fall at the store.

Township Patrolman Joshua Wynn and Shamokin Cpl. Brian Primerano were instrumental in the local investigation.

Several concoctions of synthetic drugs such as "bath salts" and the like were outlawed by the state last June.

Ralpho Twp. facts

Ralpho Township is in its 129th year of existence.

Founding: The township was originally named the South Shamokin voting district in August 1882. Established and incorporated as Ralpho Township on Feb. 5, 1883.

Area: 18.5 square miles, 2.9 miles of that being Elysburg.

Population: 4,321 as of the 2010 Census.

Township government: Board of supervisors with chairman Ed Payeskie, vice chairman Chip Wetzel, supervisors Blaine Madara, Vince Daubert and Steve Major; township manager, Joseph Springer; township secretary/treasurer Deb Olson; chief of police Stuart Appel, code enforcement officer Howard Howal, roadmaster Howard Shadduck, tax collector Charlene Ziegler.

Sites of interest: Knoebels Amusement Resort, All Home Days grounds, Ralpho Township Playground, Weis Soccer Fields, Carmelite Monastery, Valley Gun and Country Club.

Special events: Knoebels opening day, Saturday; Pennsylvania State Sportsmen's Association Colonial Classic and State Shoot, June 9 to 17; 93rd All Home Days celebration, Sept. 1 to 3; Elysburg Haunted House, October; Knoebels Covered Bridge Festival, Oct. 4 to 7.

ELYSBURG - While nearby communities in the heart of the lower anthracite coal region continue to struggle with blight, crime and depleted downtowns, life in Elysburg is good.

Not that the community and surrounding Ralpho Township don't share some of the same problems that exist in boroughs only a few miles away. But Elysburg in many ways has become the "go-to" area - for those who have fled row homes in Shamokin and Mount Carmel to build anew on former farmland; for those who work at the always-growing Geisinger Medical Center just 10 miles away in Danville; for those who want to enroll their children in the smaller, more rural and, in many state testing categories, better-performing Southern Columbia Area School District.

Supporting this growth is a business community that is buoyed by Knoebels Amusement Resort and includes statewide chains such as Sheetz, nationals such as McDonald's and a mixture of locally owned operations.

Frank Berger refers to all this as Elysburg's "balance" - businesses and residential; large and small; common and unique.

"The community is laid out very well, with a good mix between residences and businesses," said Berger, owner of Berger's Trinity Peace, a religious-themed gift shop along Route 54, and also president of the Ralpho Township Business Association (RTBA). "I think a lot of the businesses complement each other."

RTBA, which has 84 members, supports the business community but also local emergency responders through fundraisers and youth through scholarships.

"The association has both big and small businesses in its membership roster and really shows the diversity of the community," said Berger, whose own business is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

17% population growth

Census figures show Ralpho Township population has grown 17 percent in the past 20 years, from 3,625 in 1990 to 4,321 in 2010.

It's more than simple numbers, said township manager Joe Springer. The climb above 4,000 was important.

"We're thankful; it made us eligible for CDBG funds," he said of the Community Development Block Grant money offered by the state.

The township will use its first allotment of $60,000 for stormwater and sewer improvements and blight reduction.

Public service has improved, too, he believes, citing the establishment of 24-hour police service over the past 10 years.

Springer said efforts to manage growth have included the establishment of a township planning commissioner versus allowing county policies to dictate local development.

"Our big push was in the late '90s for development," he said, adding, "We're ready for it when the next push comes through."

Knoebels and other fun

Knoebels Amusement Resort, which opens for its 86th season Saturday, remains a key component for life in the greater Elysburg area, particularly in business growth. Much of it is obvious - people needing gas, food and lodging while visiting the park. But there are more subtle impacts, too. Local garages, for example, see an uptick in business during Knoebels' season in serving motorists who need help.

Joe Muscato, public relations director, noted how Knoebels took root in the Elysburg area for some of the same reasons people still visit there today: its beauty. He noted the confluence of Mugser's Run and Roaring Creek in the heart of the park - "even though those creeks lose their minds once in a while and try to flood us out," he added, the memories from September still fresh.

"I really think we have a good relationship with the community and help it by being here," Muscato said. "You have such businesses as Turkey Hill, Sheetz and McDonald's, and you wonder if they would have come to Elysburg if Knoebels isn't here.

"By the same token, we were very happy with Boyer's coming in," he said of the Schuylkill County-based grocery chain taking over the former IGA along Route 487. "It's a great option for our customers to get supplies."

Garages that benefit from Knoebels include Tire Ranch, where owner Bob Leffler notes the occasional camper problem or car that won't start.

"Knoebels is a big deal," he said. "It has an impact on the area."

Vic Lisiewicz opened his transmission shop along Route 54 in Elysburg in 1999, moving the business from Mount Carmel.

"When Knoebels is open, we can count of two or three jobs a week coming from people needing help," he said.

He said location is key, too.

"Elysburg and Ralpho Township is a nice hub," he said.

It's perhaps even a hub for the amusement business, Muscato noted. Knoebels provides the actual fun, while National Ticket Co., a 100-plus-year-old company a few miles away in Paxinos, provides tickets, wristbands and other products to Knoebels and other operations worldwide, and Toy Factory, which opened a few years ago in the former Paper Magic plant just a mile or so from the busy intersection of Routes 487 and 54, creates stuffed toys and other prizes used at Knoebels and elsewhere.

In addition to Knoebels, Elysburg is also known for entertainment through the Valley Gun and Country Club, which hosts some of the world's largest shooting events each year, and the popular annual Haunted House organized by the township fire companies each Halloween. All Home Days each Labor Day Weekend also attracts thousands to the community and has existed for more than 90 years. The community is also now home to a Super Bowl champion, Henry Hynoski, for whom a local street has been named.

'Great place to raise kids'

Springer said Elysburg has always been somewhat of a relaxed community of those who work in Danville and Bloomsburg. But he, like others, notes the importance of the school district.

"I've talked to many people who said they moved to Ralpho Township because of the Southern Columbia Area School District," he said. "That's why I moved there."

Another sign of Elysburg as a go-to place for families is seen at local day care businesses. Two facilities operate within a few blocks of each other, and business for both is thriving.

Jennifer Jankowski had 27 children and a waiting list when she took over Little Britches Daycare Center in 1997. She built a new facility in 2006 and now has 79 children - and still has a waiting list.

"Geisinger has a lot to do with the growth," she said.

Jankowski, an Elysburg native, said she also hears about people who relocate to the area specifically so their children can be enrolled at Southern Columbia.

She believes the community has grown "in a positive fashion."

"It's a nice place to raise children," she said.

Lori Dobson shares those sentiments. About 50 percent of her clientele were children were from Elysburg when she bought The Learning Center day care 16 years ago; today, 80 percent are local, she said.

She said Elysburg is clean and safe, and pointed to facilities such as the large, beautiful playground near the municipal building as attractive to families.

"It's a nice community to have kids in," she said.

Springer said people will "vote with their feet" if a community is attractive.

"If they're moving into Ralpho Township, they're coming because they like it," he said.