Motorists urged to 'just drive'

HARRISBURG - PennDOT recently launched "Just Drive PA," a new initiative aimed at improving safety on Pennsylvania roadways as part of National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

"Driving is a serious business that requires a driver's complete and full attention," said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch. "Our new safety effort encourages motorists to 'Just Drive' and concentrate only on the task at hand."

According to PennDOT crash estimates for 2011, more than 14,200 crashes in Pennsylvania involved a distracted driver, with 58 people losing their lives in those crashes. A total of 1,286 people died in crashes on Pennsylvania roadways last year.

"Remember - when you're behind the wheel, your biggest and only responsibility is to focus on safe driving," Schoch added.

A website, www.JustDrivePA.com, features a "Distracted Driving" page highlighting Pennsylvania's new anti-texting law and the dangers of distracted driving. Also included is information on various highway safety topics, including impaired driving, motorcycles, young drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians and child-passenger safety.

Other website resources include programs available for schools, information on safety law enforcement, traffic-safety publications, public service announcements, interactive polls and a safe-driver quiz.

For more information on Just Drive PA, call (717) 783-8800.

MOUNT CARMEL - The following hearings took place Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones. Defendants who waived their cases to court or were held for court were ordered to appear for plea court June 25 at Northumberland County Court, Sunbury, at which time they can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.

n Nathaniel J. Hardy, 24, of 1500 W. Avenue, Apt. B, Mount Carmel, was held for court on a criminal mischief charge after failing to appear for his preliminary hearing.

Hardy was charged by Mount Carmel Patrolman Kevin Katch with breaking a window at Community Pharmacy on South Oak Street on Feb. 25.

n Cynthia Ann Sidden, 19, of 642 Chestnut St., Apt. 1, Kulpmont, waived to court felonies of aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, misdemeanors of altering or forging documents or plates, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, unsworn falsification to police, accidents involving death or personal injury while driving without a valid license, and summaries of driving under suspension, reckless driving, failure to give immediate notice of an accident to police and driving without proper inspection.

The charges filed by Mount Carmel Township Patrolman Matthew Filarski relate to April 1 incidents in which Shane M. Brosious, of Coal Run, was assaulted and hit by a car near Marion Heights Cemetery.

Sidden's 21-year-old live-in boyfriend, Steven James Randall, also was charged with the same offenses.

Sidden is free after posting $20,000 cash bail Wednesday night.

n Derek C. Kranzel, 21, of 320 N. Oak St., Mount Carmel, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and trespass by motor vehicle and was ordered to pay a fine and costs totaling $660. A stop sign violation and charges of fleeing or eluding police, driving under suspension and reckless driving were withdrawn.

The charges were filed by Mount Carmel Township Patrolman Kelly Campbell in connection with a March 11 pursuit in Mount Carmel and Mount Carmel Township.

n Gary W. Madison, 55, of 410 W. Third St., Mount Carmel, waived to court charges of terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment/stalking relating to an April 19 domestic disturbance.

Madison was charged by Mount Carmel Patrolman Kevin Katch with slapping his wife, Sandra Madison, pointing an unloaded 9mm pistol with a laser sight at her and threatening to kill her.

n David J. Horsfield, 19, of 504 W. Third St., Mount Carmel, waived to court charges of criminal conspiracy, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, driving with alcohol in his system while being a minor, recklessly endangering another person, corruption of minors, careless driving, failure to drive in a single lane and a lighting violation.

The charges filed by Mount Carmel Township Patrolman Kelly Campbell relate to a March 17 incident near the intersection of Routes 2034 and 54.

MOUNT CARMEL - Three new criminal complaints involving theft and driving under the influence of alcohol have been filed against a Mount Carmel man currently incarcerated at Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury on unrelated offenses.

Craig Gene Lambert, 52, whose last known address is 325 N. Vine St., is charged by Patrolman Kevin Katch with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and theft from a motor vehicle involving the theft of a portable scanner, construction calculator, a tool belt containing various tools and testing equipment owned by Edward Fegley, and a Panasonic Touchbook laptop and portable hard drive owned by the Town of Bloomsburg, which is Fegley's employer.

Police said the items were stolen April 5 or April 6 from a vehicle parked in the 200 block of North Hickory Street.

Lambert is charged by Patrolman David Donkochik with a felony of theft by unlawful taking involving movable property for allegedly stealing a vehicle owned by Carl Starkoski Jr., of 123 N. Market St., Mount Carmel, on April 8 from the 200 block of West Railroad Street.

He also is charged by Mount Carmel Township Patrolman Daniel Politza with receiving stolen property, driving under the influence of alcohol, driving under suspension, careless driving and failure to drive in a single lane relating to an April 8 traffic stop on Route 61 near Pete's Pizza.

Police reported Lambert refused to submit to a blood test.

The defendant was arraigned Wednesday by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones and recommitted to the county jail in lieu of $60,000 bail on all charges.

Lambert is awaiting sentencing on charges relating to a Dec. 20 disturbance in the 200 block of East Fifth Street in which he allegedly punched Donkochik in the chest.

He was paroled from county prison March 12, but was recommitted on a parole violation after allegedly stealing Starkoski's car and driving under the influence of alcohol in Mount Carmel Township.

Lambert pleaded guilty Sept. 26 to simple assault, resisting arrest and driving under the influence in connection with the Dec. 20 disturbance. An additional charge of aggravated assault filed by Donkochik is not scheduled to be prosecuted at the time of sentencing in accordance with a plea agreement.

SHAMOKIN - A preliminary hearing for a former substitute teacher at Shamokin Area Middle/High School charged with sending numerous sexually graphic test messages to four female high school students last year has been continued for a third time.

Michael S. Zack, 23, of 201 Warsaw St., Marion Heights, is now scheduled to face a hearing on the charges at 9:30 a.m. June 12 before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, who granted a continuance in the case Thursday morning at the request of Zack's attorney, Marc Lieberman of Elysburg.

Zack's hearing was originally scheduled for March 20, but that legal proceeding was continued until April 24 at the request of Lieberman. The April 24 hearing was later continued until May 1 at the request of Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan, the arresting officer in the case.

Zack was charged March 15 with felonies of obscene and other sexual materials and unlawful contact with a minor, and a misdemeanor of corruption of minors.

The charges relate to incidents that occurred between March 15 and Oct. 30, 2011, in the east end of the township and Shamokin Area Middle/High school.

Zack is accused of sending approximately 4,300 text messages to two 17-year-old females and two 16-year-old girls, all of whom attend Shamokin Area. Many of the messages depicted sexually graphic material, police said.

Zack, who voluntarily turned himself over to authorities, is free on $20,000 unsecured bail.

He has been ordered by Gembic to avoid all contact with the victims and witnesses in the case and abide by other supervised bail conditions.

Zack was hired as a 180-day substitute teacher in the district in August and terminated by the school board at its December meeting, retroactive to Nov. 16.

Based on unofficial returns from Tuesday's balloting, two prominent local Republicans, state Sen. John Gordner, of Berwick, and Donald Ely, of Sunbury, were unsuccessful in their effort to be selected as delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Gordner finished a close fourth out of a field of 15 candidates, with three selected to represent the 11th Congressional District at the convention.

Part of Northumberland County, including the city of Sunbury and municipalities to the south and east, including the Shamokin-Mount Carmel, is included in the redrawn 11th District. Also in the sprawling district are all of Montour, Columbia and Wyoming counties and parts of Carbon, Cumberland, Dauphin, Luzerne and Perry counties. Republicans voters from throughout these nine counties selected three at-large delegates to represent the entire district.

Apparent winners, based on the totals of unofficial returns posted for the respective counties, are: Jeff Piccola, Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, 20,436 votes; Kathy Evans, Steelton, Dauphin County, 16,816, and Jeff Haste, Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, 11,508. Gordner followed close behind, in fourth place, with 11,140 votes.

Other delegate candidates were: Scott Henry, Jackson Township, Luzerne County, 10,603; Debra Etzweiler, Upper Paxton Township, Dauphin County, 9,751; Michael Harrison, Nanticoke, Luzerne County, 7,955; Michael Anderson, Jackson Township, Columbia County, 7,942; Ely, 6,269; William Urbanski, Kingston, Luzerne County, 6,119; Lowman Henry, Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, 6,118; Randolph McPherson, Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, 5,673; Joseph Zapach, Beaver Township, Columbia County, 5,037; Jeffrey Cusat, Hazleton, Luzerne County, 3,113, and Evan Reichley, Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, 2,479.

Delegate votes cast in Northumberland County were: Gordner, 2,459; Ely, 1,339; Evans, 1,077; McPherson, 360; Harrison, 464; Etzweiler, 703; Urbanski, 312; Reichley, 188; Haste, 234; Lowman Henry, 181; Cusat, 93; Scott Henry, 381; Anderson, 547; Piccola, 698, and Zapach, 262.

Republicans also voted for three alternate delegates to the convention. Apparent winners are: Holly Anderson, Dallas Township, Luzerne County; Scott Henry, Jackson Township, Luzerne County, 26,100; and John Rodgers, Hazleton, Luzerne County, 22,546. A fourth, and unsuccessful candidate, was Sean Shamany, Hazle Township, Luzerne County, 16,980.

Democrats in the district elected seven convention delegates. There were only seven candidates on the ballot. They were: Diane Bowman, Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, 25,889 votes; Amy Putnam, Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, 24,679; Helen Spence, Susquehanna Township, Dauphin County, 24,379; A. Michael Pratt, Dickinson Township, Cumberland County, 23,319; David Gliddon, Nanticoke, Luzerne County, 23,235; George Hartwick III, Swatara Township, Dauphin County, 23,176, and Irwin Aronson, Middle Paxton Township, Dauphin County, 21,934.

(Unofficial vote totals)

County Stilp Vinsko

Carbon 271 537

Columbia 1,265 1,677

Cumberland 2,837 754

Dauphin 7,597 1,098

Luzerne 3,656 9,056

Montour 403 369

North'd 1,674 1,253

Perry 517 107

Wyoming 399 621

Totals 18,619 15,472

Municipality Gingrich Romney Paul Santorum

Coal Township 47 204 76 80

Delaware Township 43 182 47 97

East Cameron Twp. 2 27 10 11

East Chillisquaque 2 35 15 13

Herndon 2 17 51 1

Jackson Township 12 38 5 27

Jordan Township 5 39 12 27

Kulpmont 8 38 14 18

Lewis Township 16 76 15 33

Little Mahanoy Twp. 5 13 5 9

Lower Augusta Twp. 9 41 15 29

Lower Mahanoy Twp. 28 84 26 66

Marion Heights 4 31 5 7

McEwensville 2 8 1 4

Milton 40 217 48 106

Mount Carmel 41 115 42 58

Mount Carmel Twp. 7 38 8 17

Northumberland 33 154 48 73

Point Township 38 195 52 90

Ralpho Township 42 244 63 69

Riverside 22 98 11 27

Rockefeller Twp. 33 116 32 75

Rush Township 13 76 17 35

Shamokin City 34 146 78 54

Shamokin Twp. 37 113 44 56

Snydertown 5 24 5 11

Sunbury 49 275 93 131

Turbot Township 15 88 14 38

Turbotville 4 28 4 29

Upper Augusta Twp. 27 138 36 59

Upper Mahanoy Twp. 5 11 17 18

Washington Twp. 9 35 7 25

Watsontown 17 74 27 42

West Cameron Twp. 4 22 5 11

West Chillisquaque 19 76 23 41

Zerbe Township 18 41 22 38

Totals 700 3,153 953 1,536

by justin strawser

MANDATA - New federal guidelines will increase the cost of Line Mountain School District food service expenses by $38,000 next year, which will translate to an extra 10 cents for every student and faculty meal.

The new USDA regulations, set in motioned by the Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act, require school districts participating in the National School Breakfast and Lunch programs to offer students more fruits, vegetables and whole grain bread and pastas on their plate for every meal period starting in the 2012-13 school year, said Patty Baresse, east regional manager of the Nutrition Group.

Baresse explained the new guidelines at the Line Mountain School Board meeting Tuesday night, where the directors voted to increase lunch and breakfast prices.

Regulations have not been updated in more than 15 years, she said.

"What they've done is revise the nutritional guidelines for the requirements of the programs so they are in line with the dietary guidelines for Americans," she said.

At this point, five food groups (fruit, vegetable, grain, protein and milk) are offered to students, and their meals consist of three of those five. However, under the new guidelines, students must take a fruit or vegetable as one of those three choices.

The amount of fruit of vegetable for the secondary level (grades nine through 12) will increase from a half cup to a full cup. For the lower grades (kindergarten through eighth grade), vegetables will increase from a half cup to three-quarters of a cup.

The minimum and maximum calorie counts under the new standards are as follows: 550 to 650 calories, grades kindergarten to 5; 600-700, grades 6 to 8; 750 to 850, grades 9 to 12.

Additional changes include an increase in whole grain food choices, offering only fat-free or low-fat milk choices (included flavored) and limiting the amount of saturated fat, trans fat and sodium.

Line Mountain budgeted $559,421, including staff and wages, this past school year for food services, and is expected to pay at least an additional $38,000 next year.

In order to make the difference, the board voted unanimously Tuesday night at the Leck Kill Elementary School to set the new prices at 95 cents for elementary breakfast, $1 for junior/senior breakfast, $1.65 for elementary lunch, $1.90 for junior/senior lunch, 55 cents for milk and $2.90 for faculty and staff lunch.

The school district is eligible for every student meal meeting the guidelines. Last year, the district received $244,892 in state and federal reimbursement.

Baresse said the final federal reimbursement figures have not yet been announced, but it's expected to be an additional 6 cents per meal.

According to the district, nearly 36 percent of students in 2011-12 are receiving either a free or reduced lunch - 350 free and 107 reduced. There are 64 percent of students who are paying regular price for a lunch. These numbers are based on 1,268 students.

The school board also approved a contract with Nutrition Inc. to provide food service management at a cost of $22,560 and a guaranteed return of breaking even, meaning if the district loses money on the deal, Nutritition Inc. will reimburse the difference themselves.

At the meeting Tuesday night, Director Dennis Erdman said he was offended by the use of the USDA logo on the newsletter the Nutrition Group sends to the school board.

Erdman considers the changed federal logo to be a direct reference to President Barack Obama's logo.

"I understand why we have to follow the rules, but I'm asking you not to put the USDA symbol here," he said to Baresse. "That (the symbol) is garbage."

Other school districts

In March, it was reported that Shamokin Area School District could be paying an additional $80,000 or more as part of the new regulations. The district spent $428,174.01 on food and milk in 2010-11. The school directors have not yet adjusted meal prices.

Last week, Mount Carmel Area School Board increased full-paid lunch ($1.60), adult and Head Start lunch ($2.60) and ala carte items, excluding milk, by 10 cents next school year, while maintaining the same prices for full-paid breakfast ($1), reduced breakfast (30 cents) and reduced lunch (40 cents).

Last year, Southern Columbia Area School Board increased prices of meals to $1.25 for breakfast, $2 for elementary lunch, $2.25 for high school lunch and $3.25 for adult lunch. The costs are a quarter higher than they were for the previous school year.

SCA President Mike Yeager said there is nothing on the agenda for any further increases in the upcoming school year.

SHAMOKIN - A preliminary hearing for Shamokin landlord Barry Getchey on alleged bribery charges is awaiting a new court venue after the original district justice in the case recused himself.

Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, of Shamokin, said he has too much knowledge of the case against Getchey, 68, of 303 W. Spruce St., Shamokin, to be objective in the matter.

"I've dealt with Mr. Getchey and the other principals in the case too much to feel that I could be unbiased in this matter," Gembic said Tuesday, the day Getchey's preliminary hearing was scheduled to be heard.

Getchey turned himself into authorities on April 16 after state police charged him with bribery and criminal attempt to commit obstructing administration of the law or other governmental function. According to court documents, Getchey allegedly called Shamokin Housing Authority Board chairman Raymond G. Splane and offered him $300 if he would help him resolve a dispute with the authority and its director, Ron Miller, over HUD funding Getchey felt he was owed.

When interviewed by police, Getchey said he did not make the call and that "he is going to lie like the housing authority."

However, according to police, "The defendant stated that it is his money and if he wanted to give someone some of his money as a gift, he could," the affidavit reads.

Police said a copy of the voice message has been entered into evidence at the Stonington barracks.

Word of the message came out at a Jan. 19 meeting of the Shamokin Housing Authority when Splane asked then-solicitor, the late James Rosini, if he could play a voice mail he received from Getchey so that it would become part of the minutes. Authority members had heard the message in a previous executive session, but Rosini advised him not to play it publicly. He said it could be something that should be played for the district attorney's office.

Asked in an interview for a January story in The News-Item if he knew what the message was about, Getchey said, "Yeah, I said I would give Jerry (Splane) $300 if he would help me get my (subsidy) check. I would have gladly given him it if he helped me get the money, but it wasn't a bribe."

Getchey was released after his arraignment on his own recognizance.

KULPMONT - A vacancy exists on Kulpmont Borough Council after a member resigned earlier this week.

During a special meeting Tuesday, council unanimously accepted the resignation of James Wisloski, a member of council since 2005.

Wisloski, who was serving his second term on council after having been re-elected in 2009, resigned due to his move from the borough to the Elysburg area. His term was set to expire in 2014.

The borough is accepting letters of interest and resumes to fill the empty seat. Any registered elector of the borough who wants to fill the vacancy should submit the documents to the attention of borough council and send to Kulpmont Borough, 960 Spruce St., Kulpmont, 17834, or drop them off at the borough office no later than 4 p.m. Friday, May 4.

During the meeting, the board also conducted a lengthy discussion concerning the garbage refuse permitting ordinance and a new burning ordinance, with no action taken.

Borough officials also announced the Kulpmont Borough tax office will be closed Saturday, May 12.

COAL TOWNSHIP - St. John's United Methodist Church will begin its second book in the Book and Breakfast Club with the title "Big Girls Don't Whine" by Jan Silvious. The club will meet from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday in the church parsonage at 1214 W. Arch St.

In her book, Silvious gently uncovers the "little girl" time warps that keep people trapped, then invites them to leave immature behavior behind and discover the exhilaration of living as secure, confident women - big girls with a great life.

Topics being covered in the 10-week discussion include, "God's Heart for His Girls," "Are You a Big Girl or a Little Girl?" "How a Big Girl Speaks, How a Big Girl Thinks," "Confidence for Big-Girl Singles," "Wisdom for Big-Girl Wives," "Savvy for Big-Girl Moms," "Freedom for Big-Girl Friends," "Courage for Big Girls Facing Conflict," "Stability for Big Girls in Crisis," and "Leaving a Godly Legacy."

Everyone is welcome to participate in one or all of the weeks. For more information or to register, call Pastor Karyn Fisher at 648-2842. The cost of the book for the 10-week session is $12.

The group recently completed the book "Bad Girls of the Bible" by Liz Curtis.

HARRISBURG - A federal jury Thursday afternoon rejected a claim by Stephen Bartos that he was fired from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for being a whistle-blower.

After deliberating for two hours, the panel ruled in favor of DEP at the end of a six-day trial in the courtroom of U.S. Middle District Chief Judge Yvette Kane on a civil rights lawsuit Bartos filed against the agency.

In their decision, the jurors gave credence to claims by DEP officials that Bartos was axed as an environmental group manager in late 2007 because he was intimidating co-workers.

His firing came several months after Bartos, who is now Shamokin's city clerk, was suspended briefly for allegedly uttering racial slurs about a fellow DEP administrator who is black, agency officials claimed.

Bartos, 50, of Mount Carmel, argued during the trial that he was set up for termination after he reported on what he claimed was the misuse of $525,000 in DEP recycling grant funds channeled to Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful, a West Shore-based nonprofit that focused on litter abatement.

Joseph Goldberg, DEP's attorney, declined comment on the verdict. Frank Clark, Bartos' lawyer, said he respects the jury's ruling but is "disappointed" in the outcome.

Clark argued during trial that DEP's claims about racial slurs and co-worker intimidation were smokescreens thrown up to try to hide the true cause of Bartos' firing.

Bartos, who filed his civil right suit in 2008, denied making any racial comments or threatening co-workers. He testified that he believes he was targeted for termination because his findings about the KPB funding embarrassed his superiors at DEP.

Kenneth Reisinger, director of DEP's Bureau of Waste Management, who was Bartos' former boss and was a defendant in the suit along with DEP, testified that there was nothing improper about the KPB funding and that it had been vetted by state legal experts.

Reisinger said the funding arrangement was ended after Bartos issued his report in March 2007, but that was done as a policy decision, not in reaction to any finding of fraud.

During his closing argument. Goldberg called Bartos' whistle-blower claim a "ruse."

"He was never a whistle-blower," Goldberg said. "He was trying to use the (whistle-blower) statute to protect his job."

Several former co-workers testified during the trial that Bartos had bullied and intimidated them and had become increasingly erratic in the weeks before his firing.

"The whistleblower law is not to protect people like Mr. Bartos," Goldberg told the jury. "It is not to protect people who are bullies, who denigrate their employees, who threaten their employees."

POINT TOWNSHIP - A Point Township homeowner prevented a burglary from occurring at his property Tuesday afternoon by surprising two intruders and detaining them at gunpoint until police arrived.

Point Township police reported Christopher Savidge surprised Kurt Bingaman, 28, of Lewisburg, Joann Williams, 21, of Milton, and Megan Grenfell, 27, of Bloomsburg, who had entered Savidge's unoccupied property at 485 Epler Road.

Bingaman and Williams were taken into custody at the home by police, while Grenfell was later picked up after running from the residence upon hearing that there was a man inside with a gun.

Police reported Savidge saw what he thought was an abandoned vehicle in the driveway of the property that had a white plastic bag hanging from its window. Savidge also spotted someone inside the house and after calling police, went inside to investigate before pulling a handgun on Bingaman.

According to police, Savidge told Bingaman, "Don't move or you will be shot."

Bingaman then yelled to Williams, who was upstairs, to come downstairs because there was a man with a gun inside, police said.

Savidge escorted Bingaman and Williams outside at gunpoint and ordered them to sit until police arrived at the scene and handcuffed the pair.

Knife found

Police said several feet of copper baseboard heating had been cut and piled up inside the building. Police said a silver 8 1/2-inch knife with a 5-inch blade also was found in the house.

Police said Bingaman admitted that the knife belonged to him, but denied trying to steal copper. Bingaman claimed he and Williams entered the house to have sex and didn't know anything about the blue Ford found in the driveway.

Bingaman said Grenfell drove him and Williams to the house. Police said Williams corroborated Bingaman's story about going to the house to have sex, but claimed Bingaman drove the car to the house. Williams told police the auto belonged to Grenfell.

Police discovered keys in the ignition of the car and Williams' purse on the front seat.

Officers impounded the car and transported Bingaman and Williams to Point Township Police Station. During an interview with police, Bingaman said Grenfell picked up him and Williams and drove to the residence with the intent to steal copper for gasoline money.

Bingaman told police it was Grenfell's idea to steal the copper.

Police said Grenfell texted Williams' cell phone while he and Williams were at the police station.

Grenfell was later apprehended by Sunbury police officers while running along Route 11.

Citizen's arrest

Bingaman, Williams and Grenfell were arraigned on felonies of burglary and criminal trespass, and misdemeanors of criminal mischief and criminal attempt to commit theft by unlawful taking. Grenfell also was charged with a felony of flight to avoid apprehension.

Also assisting in the investigation were Northumberland police and state constables Harold "Butch" Showers and Ryan Hays.

Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini said Pennsylvania law allows a civilian such as Savidge to make an arrest and detain any individual who is committing a violent felony offense like burglary.

HARRISBURG - Six years after a shake-up election amidst the pay-raise controversy, races for legislative seats in Northeast Pennsylvania remain volatile as shown by Tuesday's primary results.

Upsets lead Capitol activists to think the reform message of bringing more accountability to the legislative branch is alive and well.

"The primary results indicate that incumbents from both parties at all levels are vulnerable," said Eric Epstein, cofounder of Rock the Capital.

"I think the public has become more impatient to see things improve in Harrisburg," said Tim Potts, founder of Democracy Rising which seeks a state constitutional convention. "People are a lot more aware of how dysfunctional government has become."

Several outcomes were notable Tuesday. Reps. Kevin Murphy, D-113, Scranton, and Ken Smith, D-112, Dunmore, were defeated for renomination. U.S. Rep. Tim Holden, the dean of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation, lost renomination to Scranton Democrat Matt Cartwright in a heavily redistricted 17th District seat. Capitol activist Gene Stilp scored a solid win for the Democratic nomination in the 11th Congressional District and faces Republican Lou Barletta in the fall.

Elsewhere, a trio of veteran state House lawmakers - Rick Geist, R-79, Altoona; Babette Josephs, D-182; Philadelphia; and Joseph Preston, D-24, Allegheny - were defeated. House Speaker Sam Smith, R-62, Punxsutawney, eked out a close win even while losing his home Jefferson County.

Other incumbent lawmakers had an easier time fending off strong challenges. Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-9, Chester, House Majority Whip Stan Saylor, R-94, York and Sen. David Argall, R-29, Tamaqua all won renominaton handily. Sen. John Gordner, R-27, was unopposed, and there was no Democratic candidate.

The sentencing Tuesday of one-time House Speaker Bill DeWeese, D-Greene, to 2 1/2 years to five years in state prison for using staff for campaign work at taxpayers' expense offered voters a fresh reminder of Harrisburg political corruption as they went to the polls. DeWeese is among a parade of former legislative leaders who have been convicted or pleaded guilty to corruption charges tied to misuse of taxpayer money for campaign purposes in recent months.

Not as bad as '06

Voter sentiment could have hurt the reelection bid of Ken Smith, who came to office by unseating veteran Scranton Democrat Fred Belardi in that tumultuous 2006 primary, said Potts.

Smith successfully asked a county judge to impound machines and other election materials used in his contest against unofficial winner Kevin Haggerty until the official count, which begins Friday. No other such requests were made, said Lackawanna County Director of Elections Marion Medalis.

But a political analyst said while there's clearly angst among voters, he doesn't see the deep-seated anger that led to the defeat of record numbers of state lawmakers in 2006.

Large numbers of incumbent lawmakers are either unopposed or easily turned back challengers, said Terry Madonna, PhD., pollster at Franklin and Marshall College.

The results indicate a level of voter discontent, said Stephen Miskin, Speaker Smith's spokesman. Lawmakers are in the middle of addressing those issues through bills to reduce the size of the Legislature and put spending documents on-line.

On his way to an election-night gathering Tuesday in Luzerne County, Gene Stilp realized he had overlooked a critical step on the final day of the primary campaign: he forgot to vote.

Stilp turned around, cast his ballot and then decided to stay near his home in Dauphin County, watching the returns from a diner in Susquehanna Township instead of the party he had planned for Dugan's Pub in Luzerne.

"At 6 p.m., I realized I had not voted yet so I talked to my campaign manager, I called a friend, got in a car and voted with five minutes left," Stilp said. "I mean, you have to vote for yourself."

The last-minute switch encapsulates the spirit of Stilp's low-key, low-budget campaign. The activist's best advertising revolved around an inflatable pink pig - a symbol of his crusade against government waste - and, despite being outspent by nearly $90,000, it worked.

According to unofficial results, Stilp, 61, defeated Wilkes-Barre attorney Bill Vinsko 18,604 votes to 15,462, or 54.6 percent to 45.4 percent. Viewed through the prism of campaign finance, Stilp spent 74 cents per winning vote from the start of his campaign through April 12 while Vinsko spent $6.63 on each of his votes.

Name recognition

Instead of myriad mailers and television commercials, Stilp capitalized on the name recognition he garnered during his previous runs for office and his battles against the 2005 state legislature pay raise and the state Bonusgate scandal.

Stilp's limited resources and grassroots approach, however, could be crippling in the fall campaign against first-term incumbent Lou Barletta, the former Republican mayor of Hazleton, King's College political science professor David Sosar said.

"His style of campaigning and providing information will have to change," Sosar said. "The pink pig and other flamboyant methods of campaigning won't be taken seriously. There have often been very intelligent men and women who have had important things to say, but because of the flamboyant antics that they have taken, people have a hard time taking them seriously."

Stilp, who signed a pledge with Vinsko during the primary to keep their primary campaigns positive, said he would employ the same strategy against Barletta. Stilp signed a new pledge Wednesday at Barletta's office in Hazleton. As of Wednesday evening, Barletta had not yet signed it.

Vinsko's approach

Vinsko, stigmatized as an outsider after redistricting moved his Wilkes-Barre home from the 11th Congressional District to the 17th, spent $18,250 on polling, $9,000 on website development and $2,970 on a focus group. That internal spending, however, didn't translate on the campaign trail, according to Sosar.

"If Vinsko spent any money on the campaign, I didn't see it," Sosar said.

Vinsko appeared to overlook Stilp at times during his campaign, focusing in one pre-primary interview on a hypothetical matchup with Barletta.

"I don't know if I'm going to out raise the Republican National Committee, dollar for dollar, or Mr. Barletta, but we do believe that our financial support is going to increase dramatically and we're going to work hard to do that," Vinsko said in the interview.

"It's interesting to note not every race turns on a dollar-for-dollar amount and when you look at the fact that 65 percent of this district is new to me and Congressman Barletta, we're on an even playing field."

Except, after Tuesday, only Barletta and Stilp will be playing in the fall. Tuesday night, after delivering a concession speech to five dozen supporters at the American Legion hall in Nanticoke, Vinsko said he never looked past Stilp.

"Gene ran for office several times before, he has statewide name recognition. That's an issue. I didn't. I had no name recognition outside the Wyoming Valley," Vinsko said. "I had eight-and-a-half counties to introduce myself to."

SHAMOKIN - Several city residents attended the Shamokin Housing Authority board meeting Thursday looking for solutions to problems they are facing.

The most intriguing discussion concerned a city woman who said she was experiencing ethnic and gender intimidation from a neighbor in the Raspberry Hill Complex.

"He is constantly banging on my wall, knocking down my items and causing mirrors to fall and break," the woman said. The female resident, who is black, said she thinks she's being targeted because of her gender, not her race.

She reported to the board that the individual, who was not named in the discussion, has also used racial slurs to try to intimidate her.

The worst offense occurred when her daughters called the woman at work because the man was looking into their windows.

"They are 16 and 10 and had to leave to go to another unit until I got there. I shouldn't have to deal with this," she said. "I don't want to keep getting the police involved."

Robert Wolfe, deputy sheriff, urged her to call the police any time there is an issue.

Housing authority board chairman Raymond G. Splane and executive director Ronald Miller said they will hold a hearing for all parties involved.

Two men, who live on Eighth Street, discussed parking problems they claim are caused by new parking procedures implemented at the Raspberry Hill Complex.

"There are people who are staying at the complex all night, but parking on our streets because they aren't allowed to park up there," one resident told the board. "I've seen people park on the street, grab their lunch box and wrap their coat around it and then walk up to the complex to stay the rest of the night."

Guests staying overnight with residents of the Raspberry Hill complex must receive prior authorization and a parking placard or the vehicle will be towed.

Members of the authority board said they are sympathetic with the Eighth Street residents' issues, but there is little the authority can do to stop on-street parking.

"They have as much right as you do to park on the street," said authority interim solicitor Frank Garrigan. "If they are doing something like you described with the lunch box, then please inform Mr. Miller. If the vehicle is illegally on the streets, than contact the police."

'War with me'

Landlord Barry Getchey also addressed the board Thursday. Getchey, who has been involved in legal matters with the authority concerning federal housing funding and has been charged by state police with bribing Splane, distributed a written statement to the board and the press. The statement contained four bullet points chastising several board members.

"Ron Miller and Jerry Splane started their war with me and now they called in their card with the DA. Why doesn't he let us work it out between us instead of this goofy charge of bribery?" wrote Getchey. "What a joke. I feel like I'm fighting a tank battalion with a pea shooter."

Board members were seen reading the statement, but did not offer any comment during the meeting.

In other business

The board gave Miller permission to sign a 16-month contract with Garrigan, naming him the new solicitor for the Shamokin Housing Authority. Garrigan replaced James Rosini, who was killed in a car accident in Florida in February.

Miller reported that by the end of next week, crews will be halfway done with the installation of new windows at the Harold E. Thomas Highrise, and that the project to replace LP gas furnaces in units at the Raspberry Hill complex will begin Monday.

The board approved a motion to reduce the notice period for lease terminations for reasons other than non-payment of rent, felony crimes or violence from 30 to 15 days. The approval was unanimous with Splane, Wolfe, Joseph Rocuskie, James Picarelli and Pamala S. Rhoades voting for the reduction.

The seventh-grade Junior High Pride Award winner at Mount Carmel Area for February is Lane Tanney, a son of Edward and Angela Tanney, of Locust Gap. Tanney has received several awards for participating in football, baseball and wrestling and recently received a special award for most outstanding sportsmanship. Tanney enjoys riding dirt bikes and his favorite subject is math.

(D) (R)

Municipality Yeager Pfaff Masser

Coal Township 479 87 341

East Cameron Twp. 42 8 42

Kulpmont 255 47 70

Marion Heights 46 6 28

Mount Carmel Borough 388 60 224

Mount Carmel Twp. 261 48 64

Ralpho Township 209 27 382

Shamokin 261 51 259

West Cameron Twp. 10 5 40

Zerbe Township 71 12 102

County breakdown

County Yeager Pfaff Masser

Northumberland 2,026 359 1,552

Montour 411 444 1,269

Columbia 106 45 181

Total 2,543* 848 3,002*

*Denotes primary winner

HARRISBURG - PCAR, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape, hosted its 6th annual Vision of Hope Gala at the Hershey Lodge on March 31, raising nearly $120,000. Proceeds from the evening will benefit advances in areas of research, effective prevention strategies and adult accountability to prevent sexual abuse. To date, the Vision of Hope Fund has raised more than $1,000,000.

Each year, PCAR solicits proposals for requests to fund research and effective sexual abuse prevention strategies. Grants up to $50,000 are awarded annually to advance the mission of increasing child safety through adult responsibility and accountability. PCAR's Vision of Hope Fund backs programs that are making a difference across the country. The fund has supported Internet safety programs for parents, education for family physicians and training for professionals who are mandated reporters of child abuse.

Award given, football player speaks

During the gala, the 2012 Vision of Hope Award was presented to Cathleen Palm.

"Through more than two decades of work as a legislative aide, policy advocate and community activist, she has made a tremendous difference in the lives of thousands of children," said PCAR CEO Delilah Rumburg.

Former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker and child sexual abuse survivor Al Chesley was keynote speaker.

"I can't thank all the supporters of the PA Coalition Against Rape enough, because without all the support, people like myself would never be able to heal. If I can pass one thing on to other survivors by sharing my story, it's never too late to get help," he said.

The Penn State University's student-led One Heart Campaign selected the Vision of Hope Fund to benefit from their fundraising efforts. Throughout the month of April, in honor of Sexual Assault Awareness Month and National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Penn State students raised awareness and funds for the prevention of child sexual abuse.

"The first step toward ending childhood sexual abuse is increasing awareness about how to recognize and stop it, and the Vision of Hope Fund is vital in that effort," said Kristen L. Houser, vice president of communications and development for PCAR.

The Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape is the oldest state anti-sexual violence coalition in the U.S. The organization represents 51 sexual assault centers that serve the state's 67 counties. Each year, these centers provide confidential services, at no charge, to more than 30,000 men, women and children affected by sexual abuse.

For more information, go to www.pcar.org or call 1-888-772-7227.

n Joseph R. Weigley, 35, of Schuylkill Haven, waived to court two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, following a vehicle too closely, driving at an unsafe speed and careless driving relating to a Feb. 17 accident on Route 54 near Kaboodle Road in Rush Township.

The charges were filed by Trooper Daniel Wilk of state police at Stonington.

n Anthony C. Robert, 33, of 250 S. Chestnut St., Mount Carmel, waived to court charges of making false reports to police and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

Robert was charged by Mount Carmel Patrolman Justin Stelma with falsely reporting a burglary Jan. 24 at MC Property Management, 34 E. Third St., where he was employed. Police said Robert later admitted that he stole money from the business.