Mid-Rise false alarm

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Fire Department was summoned to the Mount Carmel Mid-Rise on Hickory Street around 5:45 p.m. Monday. A 911 caller reported black smoke from the building. An investigation revealed the smoke was from a chimney.

Two injured

VALLEY TOWNSHIP - Two 19-year-old Danville residents were injured in a one-car accident early Monday morning on Route 642 in this Montour County township.

State police at Milton reported Shelby A. Snyder was driving a 1999 Mercury Cougar east at 12:38 a.m. when she swerved her car to avoid hitting a deer. Her car struck an embankment on the north shoulder, causing it to roll onto its roof and come to rest in the westbound lane. It was towed from the scene.

Snyder and her passenger, Zeb M. Butler, suffered minor and moderate injuries, respectively, and were transported by Liberty Valley Ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

Marijuana at school

TURBOTVILLE - State police at Milton reported a 15-year-old male has been charged with possessing a small amount of marijuana at Warrior Run High School at 1:30 p.m. April 26.

Drive-by shooting

WILLIAMSTOWN - State police at Lykens are investigating a drive-by shooting that occurred between 2:15 and 2:30 a.m. Sunday in the 600 block of West Market Street in this Dauphin County borough.

Police reported a white male jumped out of a black, four-door sedan Volkswagen with a loud muffler and threw a brick at a vehicle parked at 614 W. Market St. The Volkswagen continued west on Market Street before turning around. Police said three or four gunshots were then heard coming from the car.

Anyone with information regarding the incident is urged to call state police at 717-362-8700.

Disorderly conduct

ZERBE TOWNSHIP - Clarence George Jr. of Halifax was cited by state police at Stonington for disorderly conduct involving a disturbance at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Stiely's Trailer Court on Stevens Street.

Police reported Mary Pennycoff, Shamokin, was the victim in the disturbance.

Criminal mischief

MOUNT CARMEL - Patrolman Matthew Dillman has cited a 15-year-old Shamokin female for criminal mischief relating to an April 11 incident in the 100 block of South Chestnut Street.

Police said the girl walked by a garage door and punched a window pane, causing damage. The teen was located several blocks away from the scene and taken into custody.

Underage drinking

MOUNT CARMEL - Officer Anthony Galla cited a 13-year-old male from Mount Carmel for underage drinking and disorderly conduct in connection with an April 25 disturbance at his residence.

Police said the teen, who was intoxicated, screamed and cursed at family members.

Theft of services

MOUNT CARMEL - Chief of Police Brian Shurock cited Khalep M. Copes, 35, of 47 S. Locust St., Mount Carmel, for theft of services for allegedly depositing numerous bags of garbage in a trash Dumpster in the 200 block of East Avenue on April 20.

Police said the Dumpster did not belong to Copes.

Harassment

MOUNT CARMEL - Officer Justin Stelma cited Rosemary Shannon, 49, of 302 S. Beech St., Mount Carmel, for harassment relating to an incident in front of her residence at 5:45 p.m. April 21.

Police said Shannon is accused of parking in a vehicle, restricting its movement, not allowing the driver to leave the parking spot before approaching the driver's side window and shouting obscenities at the driver, Joseph Brodie, who police said was visibly shaken.

Scattering rubbish

MOUNT CARMEL - Officer Justin Stelma cited Michael Schminkey of Mount Carmel for scattering rubbish at 3 p.m. April 23 in the 200 block of North Market Street.

Police reported Schminkey is accused of leaving an exhaust pipe lying in the street after working on his car.

Hit and run

MOUNT CARMEL - Allen Homicz Jr., 24, of 326 E. Center St., Mount Carmel, was cited by Officer William Adamski for hit and run and careless driving relating to an accident at 11:38 p.m. April 25 in the 100 block of East Fourth Street.

Police said Homicz was driving a vehicle that struck a parked vehicle owned by William Stief, of 45 S. Hickory St., Mount Carmel, before fleeing the scene.

Underage drinking

MOUNT CARMEL - Kevin M. Reed, 19, of 110 N. Beech St., Mount Carmel, was cited by Patrolman David Donkochik for underage drinking relating to an incident that occurred at 2:30 a.m. Sunday at Third and Maple streets.

Pedestrian hurt

COAL TOWNSHIP - Evangeline Katalinas, 71, of 170 E. Dewart St., Shamokin, suffered a minor injury to her left arm Friday morning when hit by a vehicle backing out of a parking place in the lot at Wal-Mart Supercenter along Route 61.

Police said Katalinas and Samuel Guyer, 47, of 2465 Covered Bridge Road, Middleburg, were walking toward the store at 11:32 a.m. when Katalinas was struck by a vehicle operated by Lisa Marks, 32, of 1365 Mountain Road, Mifflinburg.

Katalinas was transported to Shamokin Area Community Hospital, where she underwent emergency room treatment before being released, police said. Guyer was not injured.

Disorderly conduct

SHAMOKIN - Larry Bowersox, 51, of 142 E. Lincoln St., second floor, Shamokin, was cited by Patrolman Raymond Siko II for disorderly conduct for allegedly arguing with a neighbor at 1 p.m. April 25.

Retail theft

SHAMOKIN - Christina J. Hepner, 23, of 19 E. Independence St., Shamokin, was cited by Patrolman Jarrod Scandle for retail theft for allegedly stealing a container of Tropical Herb body cleanser valued at $49.99 from Rite Aid Pharmacy, 26 W. Independence St., on April 19.

'Meet the Candidates' tonight

SHAMOKIN - Shamokin Area Democrat Women will host a "Meet the Candidates" evening at the Shamokin Knights of Columbus, Independence and Rock streets, at 7 p.m. today. Party candidates for county, city, townships and school board offices are welcome to present their credentials and mingle with the public. Light refreshments will be served following the presentations.

Any questions, contact club President Peggy Ferrari at 648-4724.

Grass ordinance now in effect

MOUNT CARMEL - Borough code enforcement officer Robin Williams reminds residents that the high grass ordinance is in effect, and violators will be cited without warning.

According to the ordinance, all grass must be kept below six inches.

Senator warns of 'robo-calls'

HARRISBURG - A Washington, D.C., lobbying organization has been inundating the 27th Senatorial District with computer generated "robo-calls" in support of a school voucher bill currently before the General Assembly in Harrisburg, according to Sen. John R. Gordner (R-27). Gordner emphasizes that the robo-calls are not originating from his office.

"Over the past week, numerous constituents have complained about the daily calls, and some have even thought the calls were generated by my office," said Gordner. "While I welcome constituent input, especially on important issues such as this, I do not initiate robo-calls from my office."

Gordner encourages all constituents to call or write to his offices directly on any issue, or utilize his website at www.senatorgordner.com to submit comments.

CATAWISSA - Fire destroyed a house trailer used for storage Monday afternoon in Franklin Township, and police consider the blaze suspicious.

Locust Township Police said Catawissa, Valley Chemical (Numidia) and Montour Township fire companies and Elysburg Ambulance were dispatched to what was reported as a house trailer fire along Susque View Road, which has a listed address of 31 D-Lane, Catawissa.

Locust Township Police Chief Allen L. Breach said he arrived at the scene first at 2:36 p.m. to find the trailer on fire and destroyed.

The property is owned by Michael Stauffer, Tower City. Stauffer told police the trailer was used only for storage, and was decaying.

The cause is still under investigation, and it's considered suspicious, Breach reported.

Anyone who may have witnessed the fire is asked to contact Locust Township Police at 799-5806.

Charles P. Horvath

Age: 58.

Residence: Rush Township, since 1979.

Occupation: Retired (in 2006) science teacher; worked in Norristown, Danville and Line Mountain school districts. Owner and operator of Family Tree Fruit Farm in Rush Township (1979-1986).

Prior government experience or candidacies: None.

Education: Upper Darby High School, Bachelor of Science from Bloomsburg University (1974), master's equivalency certificate from commonwealth, 1978.

'Entrepreneur' says county can

do better job of luring businesses

Snydertown council president touts business, marketing background

Editor's note: One in a series of interviews with the 11 candidates for Northumberland County commissioner.

Larry Wary, who describes himself as a "creative and ambitious entrepreneur," wants to put those entrepreneurial skills to work as a Northumberland County commissioner by marketing the county's assets to businesses who are looking to establish or relocate their operations.

Wary, president of Snydertown Borough Council and one of seven commissioner candidates in the Republican primary, said county government does an inadequate job in promoting economic development. He believes his business acumen and his background as a website designer are what Northumberland County needs to improve its presence on the World Wide Web and put it on businesses' radar.

Wary, who is retired from the U.S. Air Force, operates two small businesses, Colour Shoppe at Headlines in Danville (run by his corporation, Great Color Inc.), and WaryWeb.com, a website design company. In business, marketing is everything, Wary said, and he is critical of the commissioners' efforts, or what he says is a lack thereof, in marketing what Northumberland County has to offer.

"The county website needs to be revamped to make it more user-friendly," Wary remarked. He said that although the site does have potential, it is not very helpful to businesses that might be looking for a location.

All about marketing

Wary, who said he is concerned about the many vacant industrial buildings throughout the county, said a poll on his campaign website, www.votewary.com, is showing that bringing in new industry and creating more local jobs rank among the top concerns of county voters. Although a revamped county website could be helpful to economic development, he acknowledged there will be much more required in a serious effort to attract industries. The commissioners should consider placing ads in national publications and making phone calls to individual businesses, he said, to let them know what Northumberland County has to offer. Instead of just sitting back and hoping for the best, Northumberland County needs to "aggressively go out and seek industry," Wary said.

"Cutting spending is not the answer because you can only cut so much," Wary said. "You need to be aggressive in bringing more money in. Economic development is all about bringing in more outside dollars."

And, in seeking industry, Wary believes the county should set its sights high. Those vacant factories would be ideal locations for solar manufacturing, alternative energy and high-tech industries, he said.

Wary's Snydertown home is located just a short distance from where he grew up. Immediately after high school, he enlisted in the Air Force and was away from the area until he returned to Snydertown about two years after his military retirement.

His first military assignment was loading nuclear weapons on B-54s at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. He advanced in rank and served in assignments of increasing responsibility, including a stint in Okinawa, then retired in 1995 with the rank of master sergeant (E-7). While in the service, he continued his education, earning an associate degree in business management and a degree in applied science in 1987.

Business success

Wary was still in the Air Force when he began to replant his roots in Northumberland County. In 1994, he made the decision to purchase the Danville hair salon where his sister worked. Although Wary is not a hair stylist and knows absolutely nothing about that profession, he is proud that, under his leadership over the past 16 years, the salon has prospered. It is, in fact, only one of five salons that have been listed by Salon Today magazine as being among the top 200 fastest growing salons in the country for eight consecutive years.

The salon currently employs six people, but has had as many as 11 workers at a time. Although it is located in Danville, most of the staff live in Northumberland County, including Shamokin, Mount Carmel, Kulpmont, Sunbury and Watsontown. As a result, Wary said he has a strong connection with and an affinity for the entire county, he said, and his involvement with Shikellamy youth football and church activities have earned him friendships with many people throughout the region. Another major interest is BMX; Wary is a 2009 American Bicycling Association (ABA) state champion in the 46-to-50 age bracket.

Wary was first elected to Snydertown Borough Council on a write-in vote for a two-year term. He said he decided to seek the post after reading in the newspaper that because of a shortage of candidates on the ballot, the council position could only be filled through a write-in campaign. He made it known that he would seek the post, and received a sufficient number of write-ins to be elected. He then ran for and was elected to a full-four year term. He became council president in 2010.

As president, he instituted the practice of establishing active, working council committees, and, as a result, he said, council members are working well together and getting things done.

Wary was one of 25 Republicans who applied for the commissioner vacancy that resulted when Kurt Masser resigned to take office as a state representative. Prior to that, he had never considered running for county office.

Line-item budgeting

Wary pointed out that the county commissioner's job is more about business management than legislating, and he believes that his business background would be a major asset. "As a commissioner, I would want to do a line-item budget," he remarked. "Although this is time-intensive, it's the best course of action. The board should confer with the head of each agency because it's essential that we know exactly what is coming in and what is going out."

Wary said he doesn't like it when people tell him Northumberland County has a "bad image." He is not sure whether this perception is real or if it is deserved, but he believes the county commissioners need to act professionally in their dealings with each other.

Wary promised that one of his priorities as commissioner would be two appoint two citizens' advisory groups, one with representatives from the Shamokin-Mount Carmel area and the other with representatives from the northern tier, to advise the board on their regions' respective needs. Larry Wary

Age: 50

Residence: Snydertown Borough

Occupation: Owner of a salon in Danville and a website design company.

Military: Retired from U.S. Air Force

Government experience or candidacies: Member of Snydertown Borough Council for four years (president since 2010).

Education: 1978 graduate of Shikellamy High School; associate degree in business management from Lincoln Technical University and applied science degree from Community College of the Air Force, both in 1987.

Charles P. Horvath, who proudly describes himself as a "Tea Party" Republican, is conducting what he calls a classic "shoestring" campaign. Voters probably won't be seeing his name on roadside signs, nor will he spending much of his own money, or anyone else's.

What voters will be seeing is a lot of him. Horvath, mounting a bare-bones, grass roots effort, is knocking on doors with the goal of meeting as many Republican voters as he can before election day. More than just appealing for their support, Horvath said he is listening - carefully - to what people are telling them.

Horvath said the message he has been getting is clear: Voters want more accountability and honesty in county government.

Horvath, who was born in Berwick, has been a resident of Rush Township for more than three decades. Retired from a career as a public school teacher, he is the father of two sons, Andrew, who is married and lives in Arizona, and Mark, who is completing his sophomore year as a computer engineering major at Bucknell University. Kathryn, his wife of 22 years, died in 2001.

First campaign

The GOP commissioner campaign is Horvath's introduction to electoral politics, although his father, George Horvath, served briefly as a Ralpho Township supervisor in 1983. "I have thought in the past about running for office," Horvath said, and after much thoughtful consideration and "some reading," he has concluded he can make a difference through public service.

Horvath became interested in the Tea Party movement about two years ago, and attended his first Tea Party event April 15, 2009, on the steps of the state Capitol in Harrisburg. Horvath, like all Tea Party adherents, is concerned about the size and scope of government, at all levels.

"As a Tea Party member, I support a small, limited government," he explains. "I do not believe personal choice should be mandated by government. I don't want the government telling me what kind of light bulb I should use or how much salt or sugar we should be consuming."

County government, like all governments, Horvath believes, should be charged with providing what the public needs, not necessarily what individuals want. That said, Horvath is not prepared - at least not yet - to identify specific county functions that should be eliminated or cut.

"I'm not sure whether county government can be shrunk," Horvath said, "but one thing I do not believe in is patronage or political favoritism." He noted that problems have arisen in the past when officeholders gave in to the temptation to "load county government" with people who owe allegiances to individual politicians.

'Compass' lacking

Horvath said from what he has observed, he does not believe there is a strong moral compass in Northumberland County government. "Commissioners need to be held accountable to voters and citizens," he remarked. "I am concerned that a lot of county business is being done on the front pages. I don't think it should be done that way." He also thinks the climate in county government is not conducive to thoughtful employees wanting to fill the role of "whistle blowers" when they see problems occurring.

Horvath promises that, as a commissioner, he will work to bring stability to county government. "There would be no more surprises and no hidden agendas." He stresses that he will not run a negative campaign, "but we do need to hold people accountable."

Horvath said he is not sure politicians have learned any lasting lessons from the county's financial problems. "We need to look at the large debt the county accumulated, a debt we are still paying," he remarked. He said it's important that questions such as - Who spent the money? What did they spend it on? Where did the money go? Why didn't anyone stop it? - are thoroughly discussed and completely understood and answered so history can never repeat itself.

"I am concerned the same thing could happen again in Northumberland County because there is no format to prevent it," Horvath said. "We need to be sure the proper safeguards are in place to prevent these same problems from ever re-occurring. It's nice to cut and trim, but it makes no sense to watch the dimes if you do not pay attention to the dollars going out the door."

Fairness to all

Horvath believes any new commissioner should spend sufficient time to learn about county government and evaluate the performance of agencies. "I do not mean that I will be standing around with a clipboard evaluating individuals' job performance," Horvath explained. "As a teacher, I was skilled at evaluating student performance. I saw the importance of working with each student to help him or her achieve the desired goals.

"If elected, I will spend a lot of time looking at county government up close. I will get to know the agencies' personnel and their roles. I will spend a lot of time visiting them so I can learn."

Horvath said commissioners have a responsibility to be fair, not only to the people who elected them but to the employees who work for the county. "It's important that each commissioner work well with other members of the board," he observed. "You have to be a good listener, and you have to be respectful of your colleagues."

Horvath said county government obviously has a stake in helping to promote business growth. In addition to improving economic opportunities for citizens, creation and expansion of businesses result in increased tax revenues, he noted.

"Commissioners should do whatever they can to encourage the growth of small business," noted Horvath, who himself operated a small business, a fruit tree farm, from 1979 to 1986. As a retired Line Mountain High School teacher, he said he recognizes the importance of the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center and the value of partnerships between the school and local businesses.

"But I don't think the county needs to re-invent the wheel," he added, noting that local chambers of commerce are probably best suited to identifying community needs. Economic success, he believes, can be spurred through civic partnerships, with the county doing what it can to help. "Our focus should be on growing the community, not growing the government," he said.

Horvath, who said he has always been a hard worker, views being county commissioner as a full-time job and knows he will have to work long hours to get the job done.

"The campaign has been a wonderful experience," Horvath said. "I feel I have been well received by the voters, and it is up to them to make the final decision on who they trust. I am committed to providing responsible and accountable service."

Larry Wary, who describes himself as a "creative and ambitious entrepreneur," wants to put those entrepreneurial skills to work as a Northumberland County commissioner by marketing the county's assets to businesses who are looking to establish or relocate their operations.

Wary, president of Snydertown Borough Council and one of seven commissioner candidates in the Republican primary, said county government does an inadequate job in promoting economic development. He believes his business acumen and his background as a website designer are what Northumberland County needs to improve its presence on the World Wide Web and put it on businesses' radar.

Wary, who is retired from the U.S. Air Force, operates two small businesses, Colour Shoppe at Headlines in Danville (run by his corporation, Great Color Inc.), and WaryWeb.com, a website design company. In business, marketing is everything, Wary said, and he is critical of the commissioners' efforts, or what he says is a lack thereof, in marketing what Northumberland County has to offer.

"The county website needs to be revamped to make it more user-friendly," Wary remarked. He said that although the site does have potential, it is not very helpful to businesses that might be looking for a location.

All about marketing

Wary, who said he is concerned about the many vacant industrial buildings throughout the county, said a poll on his campaign website, www.votewary.com, is showing that bringing in new industry and creating more local jobs rank among the top concerns of county voters. Although a revamped county website could be helpful to economic development, he acknowledged there will be much more required in a serious effort to attract industries. The commissioners should consider placing ads in national publications and making phone calls to individual businesses, he said, to let them know what Northumberland County has to offer. Instead of just sitting back and hoping for the best, Northumberland County needs to "aggressively go out and seek industry," Wary said.

"Cutting spending is not the answer because you can only cut so much," Wary said. "You need to be aggressive in bringing more money in. Economic development is all about bringing in more outside dollars."

And, in seeking industry, Wary believes the county should set its sights high. Those vacant factories would be ideal locations for solar manufacturing, alternative energy and high-tech industries, he said.

Wary's Snydertown home is located just a short distance from where he grew up. Immediately after high school, he enlisted in the Air Force and was away from the area until he returned to Snydertown about two years after his military retirement.

His first military assignment was loading nuclear weapons on B-54s at Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana. He advanced in rank and served in assignments of increasing responsibility, including a stint in Okinawa, then retired in 1995 with the rank of master sergeant (E-7). While in the service, he continued his education, earning an associate degree in business management and a degree in applied science in 1987.

Business success

Wary was still in the Air Force when he began to replant his roots in Northumberland County. In 1994, he made the decision to purchase the Danville hair salon where his sister worked. Although Wary is not a hair stylist and knows absolutely nothing about that profession, he is proud that, under his leadership over the past 16 years, the salon has prospered. It is, in fact, only one of five salons that have been listed by Salon Today magazine as being among the top 200 fastest growing salons in the country for eight consecutive years.

The salon currently employs six people, but has had as many as 11 workers at a time. Although it is located in Danville, most of the staff live in Northumberland County, including Shamokin, Mount Carmel, Kulpmont, Sunbury and Watsontown. As a result, Wary said he has a strong connection with and an affinity for the entire county, he said, and his involvement with Shikellamy youth football and church activities have earned him friendships with many people throughout the region. Another major interest is BMX; Wary is a 2009 American Bicycling Association (ABA) state champion in the 46-to-50 age bracket.

Wary was first elected to Snydertown Borough Council on a write-in vote for a two-year term. He said he decided to seek the post after reading in the newspaper that because of a shortage of candidates on the ballot, the council position could only be filled through a write-in campaign. He made it known that he would seek the post, and received a sufficient number of write-ins to be elected. He then ran for and was elected to a full-four year term. He became council president in 2010.

As president, he instituted the practice of establishing active, working council committees, and, as a result, he said, council members are working well together and getting things done.

Wary was one of 25 Republicans who applied for the commissioner vacancy that resulted when Kurt Masser resigned to take office as a state representative. Prior to that, he had never considered running for county office.

Line-item budgeting

Wary pointed out that the county commissioner's job is more about business management than legislating, and he believes that his business background would be a major asset. "As a commissioner, I would want to do a line-item budget," he remarked. "Although this is time-intensive, it's the best course of action. The board should confer with the head of each agency because it's essential that we know exactly what is coming in and what is going out."

Wary said he doesn't like it when people tell him Northumberland County has a "bad image." He is not sure whether this perception is real or if it is deserved, but he believes the county commissioners need to act professionally in their dealings with each other.

Wary promised that one of his priorities as commissioner would be two appoint two citizens' advisory groups, one with representatives from the Shamokin-Mount Carmel area and the other with representatives from the northern tier, to advise the board on their regions' respective needs. Larry Wary

Age: 50

Residence: Snydertown Borough

Occupation: Owner of a salon in Danville and a website design company.

Military: Retired from U.S. Air Force

Government experience or candidacies: Member of Snydertown Borough Council for four years (president since 2010).

Education: 1978 graduate of Shikellamy High School; associate degree in business management from Lincoln Technical University and applied science degree from Community College of the Air Force, both in 1987.

U. S. Rep. Marino issued this statement Sunday night following the announcement that Osama bin Laden had been killed:

"This development is welcome news to our nation and the world and is a tribute to the strength and perseverance of our military and our intelligence community.

"Hopefully, this will provide some sense of justice to the families of the thousands of people who died at the hands of this terrorist and will help heal the wounds inflicted on 9/11.

"Let the word go forth that the elimination of this cold-blooded murderer sends a distinct message to the terrorists around the world that the United States of America will track down and eliminate those cowards who think they can create an atmosphere of horror and get away with it.

"We are Americans. We are united. We are determined."

Ted Pietkewicz was at the Shamokin Moose Sunday night, watching the Phillies and was about to head home.

That's when the news flashed on the screen: Osama bin Laden had been killed by U.S. forces.

For Pietkewicz, like many soldiers who fought in Afghanistan, this was personal. In 2003, the Shamokin man - now a staff sergeant in the Army Reserve - had spent 11 months as part of the U.S. Army's anti-terrorism efforts in Afghanistan. That mission from long ago was finally accomplished Sunday.

"At first, the whole thing was just unbelievable to me," Pietkewicz said Monday. "Hearing the news was just surreal after the experiences I had of searching in Afghanistan for him with my military brothers. Once it sank in, I felt this sense of relief, finally having this chapter come to an end."

Closure for families

Northumberland County Coroner James F. Kelley was reflecting Monday, too, back to the time he spent at Ground Zero and other sites in and near New York City, dealing with families of victims of the World Trade Center attacks. He is hopeful bin Laden's death will be of some comfort.

"Knowing that he has been killed will help a lot of the families either begin or continue the process of grieving," Kelley said. "There is no doubt a sense of relief, knowing that the person who murdered their loved ones was brought to justice. I know I felt that relief when I saw the words on the screen that Osama bin Laden was dead."

Jill Bidenspach-Rouse, of Sunbury, has watched her husband, Sgt. 1st Class Donald Rouse, leave three times since the Sept. 11 attacks to serve his country in the hunt for bin Laden. Currently he works at Fort Indiantown Gap, training other soldiers to combat terror. Jill Rouse is herself a veteran of the U.S. Navy.

"I was checking my Facebook page when the word started trickling in and then I got it confirmed through the news," she said Monday. "I am proud of our military for keeping the diligence up and never losing focus, that there were no military casualties and that no one from the Navy Seal team was killed. I'm so glad everything went right."

The fight continues

The satisfaction of having killed bin Laden is significant, but those who have been close to this saga know the larger story doesn't end here.

"He was the head of the network, but there are many more working for their cause, so the threats will remain," Rouse said.

"This ends one chapter of our history, but opens up some more concerns and the threats of retribution from other terrorist cells," Kelley said.

"It is still going to be a fight," added Pietkewicz. "bin Laden still has his little minions out there. The main figurehead is gone, but the threat still exists."

He said everyone must remain vigilant, but that doesn't mean that those who have served in Afghanistan and Iraq cannot savor the moment.

"Everyone in the military has been working toward this goal for almost 10 years," he said. "This is a big victory for everyone involved, but we have to keep going, because the fight won't stop now."

SHAMOKIN - You won't find Bob Sandri dancing in the streets to celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden.

But you can bet he appreciates what happened. And he's pleased it wasn't accomplished with a Predator drone strike.

"It's gratifying to me in thinking that, in that last moment, he knew he was meeting justice at the hands of an American soldier," Sandri, of Shamokin, said Monday when asked for reaction to the killing of bin Laden.

Sandri and his wife, Annette, lost their son, Army Sgt. Matthew J. Sandri, in the war against terrorism. A combat medic serving with the 82nd Airborne Division, Sgt. Sandri was 24 years old when he was killed on March 20, 2004, by a rocket attack at the medical facility where he was working near Fallujah, Iraq.

Sandri said the two men who fired the rocket that killed his son were captured, although the details were never provided as to what exactly happened to them. So there's no feeling of vindication for Sandri in bin Laden's death.

"To me, they (the two captured men) were the ones who murdered Matt," he said.

Joyce Scheetz had similar reservations by not blaming one man for the death of her son, Capt. Robert C. Scheetz Jr.

"I don't know if there's ever going to be closure. I don't use war as a problem. He was doing what he wanted to do. It was his time, whether he was at home or in Iraq," she said.

She and her husband, Bob, lost their 31-year-old son, originally from Paxinos, who served as a battalion intelligence officer with the 1st Armored Division, on May 31, 2004, due to injuries sustained the day before when a vehicle in which he was riding struck an improvised explosive device.

"I can't blame anybody. He was doing exactly was he loved to do. Do I hold a grudge? You can't. You just have to let it go," she said.

Scheetz said bin Laden was only one man and she hopes there will be no retaliation for the death.

"How many more will step up to fill his shoes? Where's number two?" she questioned.

However, she said she believed her son, who worked in intelligence that helped locate Saddam Hussein, would have been involved in locating the terrorist leader.

"He would have been right in the thick of it. I'm positive," she said.

As for Americans taking to the streets and to locations of the 9/11 attacks to celebrate the news of bin Laden's death, Sandri said he can understand the jubilation - especially in New York City.

"But that's just not me," he said.

by justin strawser

Dan Parker wasn't content sitting at home early Monday morning watching thousands gather on television in Washington, D.C. to celebrate the death of Osama bin Laden.

"Instead of watching history, I went to be a part of it," said the 50-year-old Shamokin man in an interview in the office of The News-Item Monday evening.

Pictures of the Mulberry Street man standing at the White House with his American flag circulated throughout the country via Reuters and Yahoo! News. He was also interviewed by many major news outlets, including a Norwegian television station.

When Parker heard the news of bin Laden's demise, he said he was "jamming."

"I remember 9-11 like it was yesterday. It was the biggest (attack) in my life time," he said, noting that everyone remembers where they were when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated, where they were when the Twin Towers fell and now where they were when the day bin Laden was killed.

"I was at the White House," he said proudly, wearing a patriotic biker vest.

Before he left at 1:30 a.m. Monday to travel more than three hours to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., he visited several bars to ask if anyone wanted to accompany him to the capital. A man he never met before - Tom Miller, of Shamokin, who was on leave from Afghanistan - agreed to take the drive with him. When they arrived at 5 a.m., the crowds had already dispersed, so the two men stood outside the White House until 9 a.m.

Asked whether he had any reservations about celebrating the death of a man, he didn't hesitate in saying, "He (bin Laden) ain't a man. He's sub-human. Real men don't take innocent lives like that."

Parker wishes hope and peace to the families who have lost loved ones in 9-11 and the wars it started.

"As a country, we'll never be at peace, because there will be more murders and war in the name of religion," he said.

LEWISBURG - Backyard Tourism Week is scheduled Monday through Saturday, May 14, at the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau, Route 15 and Hafer Road.

Each day, the Visitors Bureau will host an open house, where light refreshments will be served, volunteers and staff will be available to answer questions and provide trip and planning assistance and samples, prizes and give-aways will be distributed.

In addition to the tri-county region, the bureau has travel guides from regions across the state, and state maps.

From 1 to 4:30 p.m. Monday, representatives from Isagenix, a wellness company specializing in body cleansing, will be present.

On Tuesday morning, the owner of Colonial Candlecrafters will be on hand, and that afternoon, the Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art will be present.

On Wednesday, learn more about Country Vale Design and its handcrafted knitting and jewelry from 1 to 4:30 p.m.

Thursday, representatives from Susquehanna Trailways will be present in the morning and Isle of Que River Guides will be available in the afternoon.

On Friday, River Woods Senior Living Community will be present from 1 to 4:30 p.m. Also Friday, all visitors will receive a free homemade whoopie pie.

Visitors can pick up brochures for local attractions and themed road trips and register to win a variety of gifts from local businesses

For more information, go to VisitCentralPA.org or go to www.Facebook.com/SusquehannaRiverValley or www.Twitter.com/SusqRiverValley.

Army National Guard First Lieutenant Brian E. Shaffer has been mobilized and activated at Joint Base Dix-McGuire-Lakehurst, N.J., in preparation for deployment to serve in support of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the Southwest Theater of Operations. Lieutenant Shaffer is a member of the 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment, based out of Agawam, Mass.

The soldiers are normally activated from Army Reserve or Army National Guard units from throughout the U.S. They go through a series of in-processing procedures and training classes that prepare them for skills and situations they may face in their deployed environment.

Operation Enduring Freedom is the official names given to anti-terrorism military operations involving U.S. troops and allied coalition partners. Active duty and reserve component members from all branches of the U.S. armed forces have been deployed to support the war against global terrorism outside the borders of the United States. U.S. troops serve in South and Southwest Asia, Iraq, the Arabian peninsula, islands in the Pacific, and Europe.

Shaffer is an infantry officer and has served in the military for six years.

He graduated in 1993 from Shamokin Area High School, Coal Township, and received a bachelor's degree in 1998 from Pennsylvania State University, Middletown.

SUNBURY - Sunbury Community Hospital today announced the appointment of Linda Chen as Chief Financial Officer. She has assumed her new duties effective April 18.

Chen comes to Sunbury after serving as Chief Financial Officer with Universal Health Services in Delaware. She is an experienced financial officer with achievement in hospital financial management, business process improvement, revenue cycle optimization, expense control and overall health care operations.

She holds a Master of Science in Health Care Administration from Trinity University, San Antonio, Texas, and a Master of Business Administration from St. John's University, New York, N.Y.

A member of the Healthcare Financial Management Association, American College of Healthcare Executives and the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society, Chen is a Certified Financial Analyst.

Sunbury Community Hospital is a 118-bed facility whose medical staff includes 45 physicians representing 22 specialties. Among the services offered at SCH are 24-hour emergency care, behavioral health, cardiac services, GI/endoscopy, intensive care, imaging (CT scanner, MRI, ultrasound), laboratory services (EEG, EKG, EMG), long-term care/nursing facility, orthopedics, respiratory care, sleep center, surgery and therapy services (including occupational, physical and speech).

For more information, visit www.sunburyhospital.com.

Bicycle stolen

COAL TOWNSHIP - A 13-year-old male from Coal Township was charged with theft and receiving stolen property after an April 14 incident at Shamokin Area High School.

Patrolman Christopher Lapotsky reported the teen stole a bicycle, valued at $100, from the front of the school building. The charges were filed with Northumberland County Juvenile Services.

Drunkenness

SHAMOKIN - Daniel Stevens, 47, of 107 S. Market St., Shamokin, was cited by Shamokin City Patrolman Raymond J. Siko II, for public drunkenness following an incident at 5:23 p.m. Monday at Willow and Anthracite streets.

Police report Stevens was found lying on the side of the road and under the influence of alcohol. The citation was filed with Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin.

ALLENTOWN - Christina Clausi, 31, of Coal Township, daughter of Northumberland County Commissioner Vinny Clausi, was listed in satisfactory condition Tuesday at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown after suffering serious burns in a fall Saturday at a campsite near Catawissa.

Vinny Clausi, who was at his daughter's bedside during the past couple days and unable to attend Tuesday afternoon's commissioners' meeting, said Christina got up at night, tripped over a chair and fell into a campfire while camping with family members.

He said his daughter was initially transported by ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville before being flown by Life Flight helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital, where she is in an intensive care unit at the burn center.

"She suffered serious burns in the fall, but the doctors said she will be OK," Clausi said by telephone Tuesday evening. "I'm just asking everyone to pray for her."

Clausi was back in Shamokin Tuesday night for a "Meet the Candidates" political function, but said he planned to drive back to the hospital after the event.

POTTSVILLE - They deliberated almost 20 hours over three days, but in the end, jurors in the capital murder trial of a Reading man who allegedly shot a Shenandoah man in his home could not reach a verdict Tuesday on any of the 12 charges in the case.

"I am going to declare a mistrial" in the case of Julius C. Enoe, Schuylkill County Judge Jacqueline L. Russell, who presided over the seven-day trial, said Tuesday morning. "The jury is hopelessly deadlocked."

Enoe, 32, who was facing the death penalty for allegedly killing Bruce L. Forker, did not react when Russell made her pronouncement.

After Russell excused the jury of seven women and five men, and one member of Forker's family wept, Enoe returned to prison, where he is being held without bail pending final resolution of the charges against him. The failure of the jury to reach a verdict does not mean Enoe goes free.

District Attorney James P. Goodman, who prosecuted the case along with Assistant District Attorney A.J. Serina, said he will bring Enoe back to court.

"It was a difficult case. We'll move forward and we intend to try him again," Goodman said. "We're disappointed there was no verdict."

Goodman said he would consult with state police and Forker's family before deciding whether to again seek the death penalty against Enoe.

Because there was no verdict on any of the charges, prosecutors can try Enoe again without violating the constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy.

Robert J. Kirwan II, Reading - who along with Jeffrey M. Markosky, Mahanoy City, defended Enoe - also found the verdict frustrating, although for different reasons than Goodman.

"We were disappointed that the jury was not able to reach a verdict," Kirwan said. "We believe strongly in Julius' innocence."

He said Enoe, who must remain in prison without bail because he faces a first-degree murder charge, also was disappointed in Tuesday's result.

State police at Frackville filed the charges, including criminal homicide, conspiracy, robbery, burglary, theft, simple assault, two counts of aggravated assault and four of recklessly endangering another person, as the result of the shooting of Forker, 24, about 2:20 a.m. March 16, 2010, in his 333 E. Centre St. home.

Police alleged Enoe and his nephew, Jahmal Ollivirre, 20, of Reading, broke into the home Forker shared with his fiancee, Kasa Brennan, and their two children. A third man, Damon L. Ennett, 30, of Freeland, waited outside in the car, police said.

Once inside, Enoe took Forker upstairs, where he put a gun against the back of his head and shot him, according to police. Meanwhile, Ollivirre took Brennan upstairs but did not shoot her, police said.

Police said the pair fled, taking about $5,000 and two of Brennan's cellphones.

Brennan, who could not identify either man who broke into her home beyond the fact that they were black, Ennett and Ollivirre were the principal witnesses against Enoe.

Ennett and Ollivirre have signed cooperation agreements with prosecutors that required them to testify truthfully against Enoe. As part of those agreements, prosecutors are recommending state prison sentences of 13 1/2 years to 27 years and 15 years to 30 years against Ennett and Ollivirre, respectively.

Each testified Enoe and Ollivirre entered the house while Ennett remained in the car. Each also said Enoe shot Forker.

Prosecutors took more than 3 1/2 days to present their case, while the defense took about half a day. Enoe testified on his own behalf, denying he even was in Shenandoah at the time of Forker's shooting.

Jurors began their nearly 20 hours of deliberations about 3 p.m. Friday. They deliberated about 9 1/2 hours into early Saturday morning before Russell excused them for the weekend.

They resumed deliberating about 11:45 a.m. Monday and continued about 8 1/2 hours before again being dismissed Monday night. Again, they resumed deliberating about 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, but discussed the case for only about another hour before stopping.

"I received a note from the jury saying you're not able to reach a verdict on any charge," Russell said.

"Yes, Your Honor," the foreman said.

After determining the jury was hopelessly deadlocked on all charges, Russell declared the mistrial.

This was the first time Goodman had brought a death penalty case to trial since he was elected in 2005. The two previous cases in which he had sought a death penalty had ended with pleas - one guilty and the other no-contest - by the defendants, with life sentences imposed against them by the judges.

POTTSVILLE - A hung jury, like the one that resulted Tuesday from the trial of Julius C. Enoe, does not satisfy either side.

It is a jury that cannot render a unanimous verdict, as any in a criminal case is required to be, on some or all of the charges against the defendant.

Juries can render partial verdicts by finding a defendant guilty or not guilty of some of the charges, and be hung on other charges. That mixture can include conviction on some charges, acquittal on others and no verdict - being hung - on still others.

If a case ends in a partially or fully hung jury, however, it does not mean the defendant goes free.

Prosecutors can retry a defendant on the charges on which a jury is hung without violating the constitutional ban on double jeopardy because there was no verdict on those charges.

If there is a conviction on some of the charges, the defendant can be sentenced on them. Often, however, the court will delay sentencing until after the second trial is held, since a conviction in the second trial on other charges can affect the possible sentence that can be imposed.

- Peter Bortner

College, plane references corrected

Larry Wary, a candidate for the Republican nomination for Northumberland County commissioner, received an associate degree in business management from Louisiana Tech University. The college was inaccurately identified in a campaign profile that appeared in Tuesday's edition.

While in the Air Force, he was on a team at Barksdale Air Force Base that loaded nuclear weapons on B-52s. The plane was misidentified in the same story. The News-Item apologizes for these errors.

Basket delivery requested tonight

MOUNT CARMEL - Organizers of the borough's 150th anniversary celebration scheduled for 2012 are asking that basket donations for a Chinese auction fundraiser to be held during the Lions Club's annual Oak Street Festival Saturday be delivered to the Mount Carmel Elks this evening.

Civic and fraternal organizations, churches, veterans groups and businesses are welcome to sponsor a filled basket. Contact Mayor Kevin Jones at 339-2471.

Push dirt to the street for sweeper

MOUNT CARMEL - Borough residents are encouraged to help clean up their neighborhoods by sweeping loose dirt on pavements and near the curb into piles. The borough street department can be called at 339-0585 and the pile will be removed.

This is being asked to help remove excess dirt and ash prior to the arrival of a new street sweeper, which began operation Tuesday, and will continue to be used until Oct. 31.

Failure to move vehicles on the appropriate day will result in a $15 fine. Contact the borough for daily schedules.

Also, the borough is accepting lifeguard applications for the summer. Application forms can be picked up at the borough office from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

'Annie' auditions start tonight

MOUNT CARMEL - Anthracite Citizens Theater will hold auditions for a summer production of "Annie" in the Mount Carmel Area Jr./Sr. High School choral room at 6:30 p.m. tonight, 7 p.m. Friday and 4:30 p.m. Sunday.

The production team anticipates opening roles for approximately 15 children, ages 8 and up, and about 25 adults. Those auditioning are asked to bring a musical score; a pianist will be available for accompaniment.

TREVORTON - An electrical outlet is being blamed for starting a fire that gutted two homes here Sunday evening.

State Police Fire Marshal Norman Fedder ruled the blaze that started at 220 S. 10th St. and also heavily damaged 222 S. 10th as accidental after his investigation Tuesday.

Trevorton Fire Chief Ed Reed said the outlet included an adapter that turns two outlets into six.

Emergency crews were called to the scene at 5:47 p.m. after flames were spotted at 220 S. 10th, owned by James L. Thorpe, 49, and Pamela K. Schieber, 49, who were not home at the time.

In addition to the owners, a son, daughter and grandchild living in the home were displaced.

Damage to the home is estimated at $50,000, and Reed said the family is not insured.

At 222 S. 10th St., separated by only a few inches from the Thorpe home, there was also heavily damaged, but that building is vacant. It is owned by Malcolm Derk Jr., Sunbury,

A nearby but unattached home at 204 S. 10th St., unoccupied and owned by Earl Rebuck, Trevorton, suffered heat damage to the siding.

Fire companies from 10 communities responded to the fire.