MOUNT CARMEL - The closing sentence in Mayor Lawrence R. Joyce Jr.'s letter, placed inside a time capsule in 1962 as part of the borough's centennial celebration, tells a lot about that era.

"Hoping that God in all his splendor and glory will bless and keep you all free from communism."

The contents were recently found in a box inside a closet at the Mount Carmel municipal building. They will be sealed in plastic and reburied along with the capsules discovered in the borough garage and a new current-day capsule in the town park at noon Nov. 3.

Mayor J. Kevin Jones was made aware by borough secretary Megan Dorkoski of the 1962 box's location during a discussion about putting together a time capsule for Mount Carmel's 150th celebration. He also learned that others were stored in the borough's garage.

"I believe that they were dug up some time in the 1980s when the gazebo was built in town park" Jones said.

Most likely, the folks who put them in the ground didn't envision such little fanfare for their efforts.

"The thing about the '62 stuff is that it has letters that say 'Do not open until 2012,'" Jones said.

Aside from the letter from the mayor, some items of interest in the 62 time capsule include a tape recording of the centennial celebration, a script of a play written for the centennial, a week's worth of Mount Carmel Item newspapers documenting the centennial celebration, several centennial items including a bow tie, buttons, tickets, a book of stock certificates, information belonging to the Mount Carmel school system and plenty of advertising materials for Wilbert's Burial Vault, which provided the vault for the time capsule. Written accounts of the histories of area churches, fire companies, clubs and businesses were among the contents as well.

While sifting through the various pieces of Mount Carmel's history, Jones joked that he was "hoping the borough would have put in ten gold bars to help us with improvements."

"Being a history teacher this stuff just fascinates me," Jones said.

When the time capsules are buried Nov. 3, a granite stone will mark the spot. In addition to the 1962 and 2012 capsules, the still-sealed capsules from July 6, 1976, the nation's bicentennial; Aug. 20, 1983, from the Edison Celebration of Lights, and two from Mount Carmel's quasquicentennial in 1987 will be included.

The full contents of Mayor Joyce's letter, dated Aug. 18, 1962:

To the people of Mount Carmel in year 2012

To you the people of the Borough of Mount Carmel in the year 2012, I want to wish you a very happy birthday.

We here in this great Community of the Borough of Mount Carmel and on our last day of celebration of our 100th year as an Incorporated Borough. Out affair was a most successful one and we hope that your affair will be as great or even greater.

We also know that some of us will not be here to help you celebrate with you but our hearts and souls will be here.

I was very fortunate to be the first elected Mayor of Mount Carmel and no greater honor could have been bestowed upon me and my family. Tears fill my eyes at this time because I know that what we have seen this week we will never see in our life again. The town has been jammed packed for the full week, our people have come from far and wide. The noise and bellowing continues through the night into the early morning.

Mount Carmel has become to be know as Paradise, and Paradise it is.

Hoping that God in all His splendor and glory will bless and keep you all free from communism.

Lawrence R. Joyce, Jr.

Mayor Borough of Mount Carmel, Penna.

Oct. 24

SHAMOKIN - Annual Halloween parade, sponsored by First National Bank and The News-Item. Registration and formation begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Claude E. Kehler Jr. Community Park. Parade beings at 6:30 p.m. Rain/snow date. Oct. 25.

Oct. 25

KULPMONT - Annual Halloween parade. Registration and formation begins at 6 p.m. at the Holy Angels Picnic Grounds, with the parade starting at 7 p.m.

Oct. 27

SHAMOKIN - Zombie Sprint, a zombie-inspired race featuring the living and the undead, kind of. An approximate 2.7-mile dash around city streets. $20. Register at 11 a.m. at municipal parking lot by city post office. Race at 1 p.m. Photo tent, zombie face painting, food and games at lot. All proceeds benefit Shamokin Cemetery. For more, email coalcityinc@yahoo.com.

KULPMONT - Trick or treat night, 6 to 9 p.m. Please have porch light on to accept visitors.

MOUNT CARMEL - Annual Halloween Parade, sponsored by Union National Bank. Registration begins at 11 a.m. at the Elks on Oak Street. Parade forms on Second Street in front of VFW and starts at noon. Register at the Mount Carmel Public Library until Friday. Rain/snow date is 1 p.m. Oct. 28.

Oct. 28

ELYSBURG - Trunk or treat, 6 to 8 p.m., Elysburg Alliance Church, 113 Alpha Ave. Kids up to age 12 and their families. Decorated trunks, candy, games, crafts, prizes and food, all free of charge. For more information or questions call 672-2176.

OVERLOOK - Light the Night event, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Oak Grove Church, 133 Oak Grove Road. Free hayrides, games, prizes, pumpkin painting, drinks and treats. For more information or directions to the church, call 898-9093.

ASHLAND - Halloween parade, 3 p.m. at 19th and Centre streets. Costumed children accompanied by parents or guardians will march down Centre Street to the post office on Ninth Street, where treats will be distributed to the costumed children.

Oct. 29

ELYSBURG - Trick or treat night, 5 to 8 p.m. Ralpho Township EMS will be handing out free glow sticks as part of Operation Be Seen.

Oct. 31

SHAMOKIN - Trick ortreat night, 6 to 9 p.m. Also, Trunk or Treat, 6 to 8 p.m., municipal lot, Independence and Rock streets, sponsored by Citizens for a Better Community.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Trick or treat, 6 to 8 p.m.

TREVORTON - Trick or treat night, 6 to 9 p.m.

MOUNT CARMEL - Trick or treat night, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

MOUNT CARMEL TOWNSHIP - Trick or treat night, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Ashland Halloween parade set

ASHLAND - The annual Ashland Area Rotary Club-sponsored Halloween parade will be held 3 p.m. Sunday at 19th and Centre streets. Costumed children accompanied by parents or guardians will march down Centre Street to the post office on Ninth Street, where treats will be distributed.

Salvation Army taking applications

SHAMOKIN - The Salvation Army will be taking applications for Christmas food and toy assistance, by appointment only, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday. To make an appointment, call 644-0486.

GED test scheduled at CSIU

MILTON - The General Educational Development (GED) Test, which enables adults to earn a Commonwealth Secondary Diploma, will be given in November at the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU) main office near Montandon.

The GED exam is made up of five parts: English/writing skills, reading, social studies, science and mathematics. Persons taking the test must be 18 years of age and must have withdrawn from school.

It is recommended that applicants attend a free GED screening at one of the sites (in Lewisburg, Milton, Selinsgrove, Shamokin or Sunbury) to determine test readiness. Instructions are available for registering online for the GED test.

Prior to testing, those seeking their GED must attend one of three orientation sessions at the CSIU Nov. 5. To be scheduled for an orientation session: Call the CSIU weekdays between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. at 523-1155, extension 2326; go to www.GED123.org and print both registration forms; purchase a money order ($75 for complete test, $15 for single test) and make it out to "CSIU," and mail registration forms and money order to: CSIU/GED, 90 Lawton Lane, Milton 17847.

A government photo identification and a second proof of address must be provided at the orientation session. Government photo identification must also be presented on test day.

DELAWARE TOWNSHIP - A Turbotville man was placed in Northumberland County Prison following a bizarre incident Saturday morning involving elements often seen in Hollywood slasher flicks.

Guy A. Black, 76, was arraigned Sunday before on-call Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones of Mount Carmel on aggravated assault and related charges which were not named by state police at Milton.

Police say that Black was involved in a disagreement on Friday with the property owner with whom he resides at 5395 Susquehanna Trail, Delaware Township. After Black left the residence, the victim, Ronald Lee Tanner, 59, of Turbotville, changed the exterior door locks. At approximately 10:09 a.m. Saturday, Black returned to the residence and became irate when he discovered he was locked out.

Black proceeded to enter the home through an unlocked basement door and, after a failed attempt to gain access to the first floor through a locked wooden door at the top of the basement steps, started to strike the door with an axe while Tanner held it closed from the opposite side. He then utilized a chainsaw in his attempts to gain entry.

Tanner eventually exited the residence only to be approached by Black, who was still wielding a chainsaw and threatening to cut him, in the front yard of the property. Black then swung the chainsaw at Tanner's chest, striking his sweatshirt and a finger on his right hand.

The material from the sweatshirt jammed the chainsaw, disabling it and giving Tanner time to obtain an umbrella from his truck he used to strike Black, knocking him to the ground where he was able to pin him until police arrived on scene.

Following his arraignment, Black was placed in Northumberland County Prison on $100,000 bail.

HARRISBURG - Lawmakers wrapped up their voting session last week by sending bills to the governor to help veterans, give municipalities a new tool to fight blight and reduce sexting penalties for teenagers.

These were among numerous bills winning final passage even if a state flood aid package and charter school regulation bill fell by the wayside.

The flurry of bill-passing came before a recess where lawmakers went home to campaign for the Nov. 6 election.

One bill reaching the finish line is a priority of Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp. Her bill establishes a new state Veterans Trust Fund, a public-private partnership that will use revenue from the sale of special veterans' honor license plates and a voluntary check-off contribution on drivers' license renewals and vehicle registrations to help service members and their families.

The sexting bill headed to the governor's desk is the subject of much debate in recent years. The measure would make it a summary offense for a minor to knowingly transmit or distribute sexually explicit images of themselves. It would be a third-degree misdemeanor if the images are of another minor who is 12 or older. Under current law, these images could be classified as child pornography and lead to a felony charge.

Elsewhere, municipalities can create land banks, consisting of vacant and tax-delinquent properties, and work to find new owners who will develop them under a bill winning final passage.

"The overall mission of a land bank is to find new and responsible owners to acquire distressed properties," said Sen. Gene Yaw, R-23, Williamsport who chairs the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee.

Also headed to the governor's desk is legislation seeking to prevent fraud in the state heating assistance program. The bill requires state officials to verify the income eligibility of recipients of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program and require periodic performance audits.

As his tenure nears an end, Rep. Ed Staback, D-115, Archbald, secured final passage of his bill to add wildlife and waterway conservation officers to the list of officials protected by higher penalties for aggravated assault.

"The legislation would afford those who uphold outdoor laws and regulations the same protections of other law enforcement personnel," said Mr. Staback. Gov. Tom Corbett praised passage of a bill to redirect spending from the state prison system to local law enforcement, probation and parole and victims' services.

While the session doesn't officially end until November 30, House and Senate Republican leaders have said they won't vote on any more legislation although a few post-election session days have been scheduled to wrap up business.

Meanwhile, a long list of issues remain to be tackled in the new session starting in January.

Curbing public employee pension costs, a comprehensive transportation funding package, special education funding, updating the Open Records Act and expanding access to public health clinics are among the priorities, said Senate Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-9, Chester.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

By Rob Wheary

COAL TOWNSHIP - There was a little bit of silver, one piece of gold and many examples of the printed word packed inside two metal boxes in front of the pulpit. To the congregation of Salem United Church of Christ, they were all treasures.

The old newspapers, coins, bibles and even a gold wedding band were found inside the two cornerstones, one from the Sunday school building and one from the church placed in 1904 when the church was built. The cornerstones were opened Sunday as part of a special 100th anniversary service at the Pine Street, Coal Township church.

Many of the items were waterlogged when Pastor Jean Eckrod brought them out from the stone, saying that the items found inside will be on display in the near future.

"We are going to work to dry these items out to show what we have here," Eckrod said.

Finding the gold wedding band was of interest to Tara Knorr, of Dillsburg. The ring belonged to her grandmother, Sarah Smeltzer.

"She would tell me, they are going to open that box in 50 years, so please be there when they do to get my ring back," Knorr said. "She put it in there after my grandfather passed away."

Also found were old coins, newspaper clippings from 1904, and a copy of the Reformed Church Messenger, the national newspaper of the Reformed Church in 1904.

The service marked the end of Salem's year-long centennial celebration and Eckrod thanked everyone for their support and work during this time.

"During the past year, we have viewed the lives of past members and listened to past pastors speak about their time here," Eckrod said. "Today we sit in the same sanctuary as they had in the past. It might look a little different, but it is still full of life as it was 100 years ago."

In her sermon, Eckrod spoke of those in Salem's past and how they have set the foundation for Sunday's celebration, but stressed it is up to those sitting and listening to her to continue that tradition.

"Everyone here has the vision to keep leading Salem forward to the future, through the next 100 years."

Eckrod said the way to do that is to keep traditions alive and thriving.

"Help us to knit and crochet more prayer shawls for those in need. Bring your children to church and to Sunday School. Bend the boughs of our Christmas Tree of Warmth with hats, scarfs and gloves. Be helpful hands to our Willing Workers to keep our pie ovens filled for the Peach Festival," the pastor said.

Most of all, Eckrod said, continue to come to worship God at Salem United Church of Christ.

"Our church, affectionately known as 'the church on the hill' is great because of our ancestors," she said. "Our future here is not about being great, but about being part of greatness."

With that, Eckrod placed a hat shaped like a birthday cake on her head, and confetti rained down on the congregation from the balcony as the choir and congregation joined in a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday".

Following the service, the congregation held an anniversary banquet at Masser's Wayside Inn.

Church history

Salem United Church of Christ was originally Fairview Chapel, also known as St. John's Second Reformed Chapel, an L-shaped frame structure at the intersection of Pine and Cedar streets. The building was originally the Lafayette schoolhouse, but Mrs. William Derk envisioned it as an ideal location for a Sunday school.

St. John's Reformed Church organized, planned and was granted permission by the Coal Township School Board to hold Sunday school classes in the building. By 1902, with an increase in attendance, land was purchased for the addition of a new chapel. In 1912, the Salem congregation was organized and called the Rev. L.E. Blair as their first pastor. Numbers continued to grow to such a point that the chapel was too small. In 1914, the south annex was built to the chapel.

In 1915, new pews were added to the auditorium. In 1928, as various departments and classes grew, the congregation erected the church school building, and in July 1928, they held "the Cornerstone Laying ceremony," with the first in the new building occurring Jan. 13, 1929. So it was that the Fairview Sunday School had grown to become Salem Reformed Church School.

Over the years, various churches merged. The Reformed Church of America (RCUS) and the Evangelical Synod of North America (ESNA) united to form the Evangelical and Reformed Church, with Salem becoming Salem Evangelical and Reformed Church.

In 1957, the church joined with the General Council of Congregational Christian Churches to form the United Church of Christ, giving Salem its current name.

Salem UCC was the first church in Shamokin to have an organized Boy Scout troop, with as many as 60 to 70 boys enrolled in the program when in it was in full swing. William J. Wiest wrote a song dedicated to Salem Reformed Church, called "The Church on the Hill," which was sung to the tune of "The Little Brown Church in the Vale."

ELYSBURG - Both drivers escaped injury when a pickup truck and tractor-trailer collided at Route 487 and Knoebels Boulevard Monday morning.

According to reports from the scene, the driver of the pickup truck attempted to pass the rig while it was turning onto Knoebels Boulevard, the "old" entrance to Knoebels Amusement Resort, and they collided.

The driver of the pickup was checked at the scene and didn't require hospital treatment. He had a dog at the scene, too, which appeared to be OK. His truck, however, was heavily damaged.

A tire was ripped from the tractor-trailer, which otherwise had minimal damage.

Ralpho Township police investigated but did not report further information on Monday.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Kulpmont-based Saint Mother Pauline Foundation now has formal contacts in all 50 states, where people are helping to spread the word about its good deeds.

The Rev. Ray Orloski, of Holy Angels Parish, the foundation's spiritual leader, told those in attendance at Saturday night's 10th annual foundation dinner that his second cousin, Diane Ferguson, agreed to disburse literature through her church parish in Alaska. She lives in Wasilla.

"I just wanted to share with everyone that we are in the 50th state through that personal contact," Orloski said Monday.

He said calls come into the St. Pauline Center in Kulpmont from throughout the nation as people hand out prayer cards and other literature and otherwise help spread the word about the foundation.

"It is working," he said about the network of assistance.

The foundation was established early in 2003 with the purchase and renovation of the former Saint Casimir Church in Kulpmont. The center is designed for people of all faiths and beliefs as a place to pray and view the relics of Saint Pauline, foundress of the Congregation of The Little Sisters of the Immaculate Conception in Brazil, South America. Mother Pauline, who died in 1942, was canonized in Rome by Pope John Paul II on May 19, 2002.

The foundation hosted about 125 people at Saturday's event, held at Springfield Banquet Hall. Orloski said he thanked all in attendance for their "real charity and concern."

"Their support is really outstanding," he said.

Eleven businesses and organizations sponsored tables at the event. Rick Subasic was emcee and the Rev. Frank Karwacki, pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, gave the invocation. The Mud Flaps provided entertainment.

The foundation has among its causes the fight against diabetes. On Saturday, Nov. 3, the St. Pauline Center will host a children's charity auction to benefit Camp Pauline, held each July for children with diabetes, and other foundation events. Donations for the auction can be made by calling 373-3350 or mailing to St. Pauline Center, P.O. Box 115, Kulpmont 17834.

The foundation will also recognize National Diabetic Month in November. More information will be published soon about how the community can support that cause.

SUNBURY - A 21-year-old Coal Township man pleaded guilty Monday morning in Northumberland County Court to simple assault, while six other charges, including burglary, were not prosecuted when one of the alleged victims refused to testify against him and asked the court to be lenient in sentencing the defendant.

Phillip M. Boyles, of 1462 Pulaski Ave., was sentenced by Judge William H. Wiest to serve five months in the county jail after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor of simple assault. The commonwealth agreed not to prosecute felony charges of burglary, criminal conspiracy to commit burglary and criminal trespass, a misdemeanor of loitering and prowling at night, and summaries of underage drinking and criminal mischief.

Boyles, who was given credit for prison time previously served, also was ordered to pay a $150 fine and various costs and make restitution in the amount of $459 for breaking a cell phone owned by Grayce Griffiths.

Northumberland County Assistant District Attorney William Cole prosecuted the case.

Boyles, who was represented by Attorney Richard Feudale, agreed to enter the plea after Bernice Griffiths, mother of Grayce Griffiths, refused to testify against Boyles after taking the witness stand and urging Wiest to have leniency on the defendant for his alleged actions. Bernice Griffiths said the defendant paid his debt to society by serving five months in prison and didn't want to purse the case any further against Boyles, who is the former boyfriend of Grayce Griffiths and father of their 7-month-old son.

Boyles was recommitted to the county prison, where he has remained since his arrest on the charges May 28.

The charges were filed by Patrolman David Donkochik in connection with a burglary at 1:41 a.m. May 28 at the residence of Bernice Griffiths, Ken Taylor, Grayce Griffiths and her infant son, all of 313 S. Vine St., Mount Carmel.

Boyles was accused of entering the home through a balcony door and punching Grayce Griffiths' boyfriend, Alex Schwartz, of Kulpmont, on the side of the head. After punching Schwartz seven or eight times, police said Boyles began choking the victim and threatening to kill him. Earlier, police said Boyles had threatened to kill Grayce Griffiths, Schwartz, Schwartz's 14-year-old sister and a 14-year-old male.

Boyles also was accused of grabbing Grayce Griffiths' cell phone out of her hand and smashing it before grabbing her by the throat, scratching her and fleeing.

Bernice Griffiths, who is Taylor's wife, witnessed the assaults.

A co-defendant in the burglary, Michael Robert Shinskie, 18, of 720 N. Franklin St., Shamokin, is scheduled for a pre-trial conference at 9:15 a.m. Nov. 2 before Judge Charles Saylor.

SUNBURY - A Shamokin salvage yard owner convicted of a felony theft charge earlier this year has filed an amended motion as he appeals his sentencing on claims he had ineffective counsel and errors were made by the court, witnesses and a prosecutor.

A post-trial motion hearing for Alfons Keefer has been continued until January to allow the commonwealth time to review the motion, filed Monday by defense attorney Ernie Preate.

Preate, a former state attorney general, presented the motion as part of his direct appeal of Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor's sentence of 4 1/2 to 24 months in Northumberland County Prison for Keefer, who was convicted of a felony offense of theft of movable property and a misdemeanor of obstructing administration of the law.

Preate's motion claims Keefer's trial attorney, Timothy Bowers, of Danville, was ineffective and challenges the amount of restitution Keefer was ordered to pay in the case. The motion also claims errors were made by the court, witnesses and assistant district attorney Michael Toomey during Keefer's trial.

Saylor granted Toomey time to review the amended motion and continued Monday's hearing until 1:15 p.m. Jan. 17. He ordered Preate to file a brief on his motion by Nov. 19 and gave Toomey until Dec. 17 to file his response to Preate's brief.

Free on bail

On May 14, Saylor ordered Keefer to serve the prison term, but Keefer appealed the sentence within 30 days.

Keefer's appeal allowed him to remain free on his original $5,000 bail as long as he complied with sentencing and bail conditions.

If Saylor upholds the sentence he imposed, Keefer could appeal the sentencing to the state Superior Court.

If the district attorney's office opposes Keefer being free on bail and is successful in the challenge, the judge could order the defendant to be imprisoned during the appeal process. But if no challenge is made about Keefer being free on bail, he will remain free until the appeal process is complete.

Keefer, who doesn't have a prior criminal record, would most likely only serve a minimum prison sentence of 4 1/2 months if his appeal is denied.

The May 14 sentence also required Keefer to pay $1,100 in fines plus costs and complete two years of supervised probation upon his release from prison. The 48-year-old Keefer also must make restitution of $32,500 to Ford Motor Credit Co., $2,100 in restitution to Joy Kulenguskey, of Coal Township, and $818.49 restitution to the county district attorney's office for expenses incurred to have Ken Cade, of Phoenix, Ariz., a customer service representative for Ford Motor Credit Co., testify at Keefer's trial.

Keefer was sentenced to prison time on the theft charge, while the consecutive two years probation was granted for the obstruction offense.

At the sentencing, Toomey requested Saylor to deny bail since Keefer was convicted by a jury of his peers. But the judge kept the bail the same minimal amount since the law requires a defendant sentenced to no more than two years imprisonment to remain free pending appeal.

Keefer was convicted of the charges Feb. 13. He was found not guilty of a misdemeanor of deceptive business practices, while a felony of receiving stolen property and a misdemeanor of tampering with or fabricating evidence were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.

Keefer was charged by Trooper Kevin L. Bletz of the Pennsylvania State Police Auto Theft Task Force with failing to return a silver 2001 Ford F-350 truck owned by Kulenguskey that he towed in 2008. Police said the turbo diesel, quad cab truck was towed and stored by Keefer at his business, A&G Towing on Bear Valley Avenue, before it disappeared.

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

TREVORTON - A downed tree onto a power line caused 2,272 PPL customers to lose power just after midnight Saturday.

Power was knocked out at 12:03 a.m. at the utility's substation on Sunshine Drive just west of Trevorton near Dunkelbergers.

At 1:30 a.m., 1,726 customers had their electric service restored, a PPL spokeswoman said. The rest were back on line at 3:50 a.m.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area ditched its "no nit" policy when it comes to head lice, and will implement a process that could protect students from being picked on if the bug does find a home in their hair.

Under revised policy adopted last week, students found to have "nits," or lice eggs, will not be forced to miss any time in class.

Most nits are 1/4 inch from the scalp and unlikely to hatch, and may even be empty, and also are stuck so tightly to hair shafts that they are unlikely to spread to others, according to the district's revised policy.

There's one thing left unchanged: if live lice are found on a student's head, they will not be permitted to return to the classroom until the bugs are killed.

The move comes on the recommendation of the Center for Disease control, American Academy of Pediatrics and National Association of School Nurses and is based on medical research.

The latter two organizations say the spread of lice from nits is "very unlikely" and that "the burden of unnecessary absenteeism to the students, families and communities far outweighs the risks associated with head lice," according to the district's revised policy.

An over-the-counter or prescription treatment is necessary to kill lice and nits. Combing of hair more than once daily helps rid a head of dead nits over period of a week or two.

Terry Snyder, Shamokin Area's head nurse, said there's been no increase in lice incidents at the school district this year; rather, the change came about from a state Department of Health email regarding lice research and recommendations.

"What they're recognizing is that kids need to be in school. If it doesn't pose a threat, then that's where they need to be," she said.

Snyder said it's important to prevent a student from being stigmatized if they are diagnosed with head lice, and the recommendations from the aforementioned agencies say the same.

Years ago the belief was that someone would only contract lice if they were dirty or came from a dirty home. That's not true.

District policy stresses what research has found: neither personal hygiene nor home cleanliness have anything to do with the spread of head lice.

"When we have a student here who gets it, we make sure that we relate that head lice are equal opportunity bugs. They like everybody's hair," Snyder said.

Instead of sending a student home early from school, if they are found to have head lice they will be permitted to stick out the day. However, steps will be taken to prevent the student from having close or direct head contact with others.

Parents will be informed of the diagnosis and treatment options.

Siblings and others with close contact to an infected student will be examined.

Keeping their possessions separate from others won't be necessary. According to the policy, separating coats and backpacks has been disproved as a preventative measure because healthy lice don't stray from the head.

Upon return, the infected student will be checked daily at the start of school. Those checks will stop once all signs of lice and nits are gone.

Senior center closed today

ELYSBURG - The Elysburg Senior Action Center will be closed today. Also, the center will be closed in the morning hours on Tuesday, Oct. 30, opening from noon to 4 p.m.

New signals activated today

HEMLOCK TOWNSHIP - The new traffic signals installed at the intersection of Route 42 and Perry Avenue in this Columbia County township, north of the Bloomsburg Fairgrounds, will be activated today, starting at approximately 10 a.m.

The new signals will first be turned on to flash, and stay in that mode for seven days. On Tuesday, Oct. 30, at 10 a.m., they will be fully activated.

Oct. 24

SHAMOKIN - Annual Halloween parade, sponsored by First National Bank and The News-Item. Registration and formation begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Claude E. Kehler Jr. Community Park. Parade beings at 6:30 p.m. Rain/snow date. Oct. 25.

Oct. 25

KULPMONT - Annual Halloween parade. Registration and formation begins at 6 p.m. at the Holy Angels picnic grounds, with the parade starting at 7 p.m.

Oct. 27

MOUNT CARMEL - Annual Halloween Parade, sponsored by Union National Bank. Registration begins at 11 a.m. at the Elks on Oak Street. Parade forms on Second Street in front of VFW and starts at noon. Register at the Mount Carmel Public Library until Friday. Rain/snow date is 1 p.m. Oct. 28.

GOWEN CITY - Halloween party for children of East and West Cameron townships, 1 to 2:30 p.m., St. Paul's United Church of Christ. For children up to and including 10 years old.

SHAMOKIN - Zombie Run, a zombie-inspired race featuring the living and the undead, kind of. An approximate 2.7-mile dash around city streets. $20. Register at 11 a.m. at municipal parking lot by city post office. Race at 1 p.m. Photo tent, zombie face painting, food and games at lot. All proceeds benefit Shamokin Cemetery and Shamokin's 150th anniversary celebration.

KULPMONT - Trick or treat night, 6 to 9 p.m. Please have porch light on to accept visitors.

Oct. 28

ELYSBURG - Trunk or treat, 6 to 8 p.m., Elysburg Alliance Church, 113 Alpha Ave. Kids up to age 12 and their families. Decorated trunks, candy, games, crafts, prizes and food, all free of charge. For more information or questions call 672-2176.

OVERLOOK - Light the Night event, 5 to 6:30 p.m., Oak Grove Church, 133 Oak Grove Road. Free hayrides, games, prizes, pumpkin painting, drinks and treats. For more information or directions to the church, call 898-9093.

ASHLAND - Halloween parade, 3 p.m. , 19th and Centre streets. Costumed children accompanied by parents or guardians will march down Centre Street to the post office on Ninth Street, where treats will be distributed to the costumed children.

Oct. 29

ELYSBURG - Trick or treat night, 5 to 8 p.m. Ralpho Township EMS will be handing out free glow sticks as part of Operation Be Seen.

Oct. 31

SHAMOKIN - Trick of treat night, 6 to 9 p.m. Also, Trunk or Treat, 6 to 8 p.m., municipal lot, Independence and Rock streets, sponsored by Citizens for a Better Community.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Trick or treat, 6 to 8 p.m.

TREVORTON - Trick or treat night, 6 to 9 p.m.

MOUNT CARMEL - Trick or treat night, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

MOUNT CARMEL TOWNSHIP - Trick or treat night, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

MARION HEIGHTS - Trick or treat, 6 to 8 p.m. Leave porch lights on.

SUNBURY - Northumberland County Prison Board ratified last week's suspension and firing of correctional officer William Reber during a special meeting Tuesday afternoon.

When the meeting reconvened after a one-hour executive session, Commissioner Stephen Bridy, chairman of the prison board, made a motion that was unanimously approved by the board to ratify Reber's suspension with pay and firing.

On Oct. 17, Reber, 23, of Watsonton, was suspended with pay by Bridy before being fired the next day by Warden Roy Johnson for allegedly wrestling with a male prisoner four weeks ago and providing him with Tylenol after he was injured in the scuffle.

Commissioner Vinny Clausi previously said Reber admitted to wrestling with the inmate, causing the victim to fall and injure his neck. Clausi said Reber provided the inmate with Tylenol to sooth the pain associated with his neck injury.

Reber, who is named as a defendant in two recent lawsuits filed against eight current or former prison personnel relating to alleged beatings suffered by two inmates, had worked at the prison for approximately two years, including the past six months as a full-time employee.

Reber is a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Union.

During the commissioners' meeting that preceded the prison board session, Bridy's motion to seek cost proposals for high-definition audio and video cameras at the prison was unanimously passed.

by justin strawser

CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP - An early Tuesday afternoon fire destroyed the summer kitchen of a three-story home in Cleveland Township, but no one was injured in the blaze, according to Locust Township Police Department

Police Chief Allen Breach reported that emergency responders were dispatched to 64 Roosevelt Road at 1:58 p.m. where they found the white house fully involved. They cleared at the scene at 5:45 p.m.

The home is owned by three siblings, Gary Welkom, Michael Welkom and Carol Griffin, but no one was living there at the time of the fire, Breach said.

Gary Welkom's grandson was the last person to reside in the home, but he left this past Saturday to attend school. The home was still furnished, he said.

The one-story attached kitchen and breezeway were destroyed, and there was extensive smoke and water damage to the living quarters, and fire damage to the third floor, Breach said.

The fire is believed to have originated in the kitchen, but a cause has not yet been determined, Breach reported.

State police Fire Marshal Cpl. Shawn Hilbert, out of the Hazleton barracks, will be investigating the scene today.

The three-alarm fire brought out Valley Chemical Fire Company, Numidia; Catawissa Fire Company; Aristes Fire Company; Overlook Fire Company, Ralpho Township; Elysburg Fire Company; Montour Township Fire Company, Bloomsburg; Espy Fire Company, Bloomsburg; Buckhorn Community Volunteer Fire Company, Bloomsburg; Greater Columbia Medical Transport Service, Bloomsburg; AIR Unit, Bloomsburg; and Locust Township Police Department.

DANVILLE - The absence of Congressman Lou Barletta at a campaign event Tuesday night rankled his election opponent, Gene Stilp, and lead to unanticipated debate over the event's format.

The candidates for the 11th Congressional District were expected to debate each other at the American Legion during a Candidates Night hosted by the Danville Area League of Voters.

Instead, it was Stilp and a congressional aide trading barbs.

Stilp attacked Barletta for skipping the event, while Shawn Kelly, Barletta's communications director, said the congressman was simply keeping a prior commitment.

"What event takes precedence over this debate?" Stilp asked Kelly.

Kelly took a long pause and followed with an explanation that, as a employee of his congressional office and not his campaign, he did not know what event Barletta was attending Tuesday.

He did, however, say that "He committed to an event over two months ago and he's keeping that commitment."

Lance J. Stange Jr., Barletta's campaign manager, said the event his boss was attending was not a fundraiser, as stated by Stilp.

Barletta was a guest speaker at a Republican Party dinner in Dauphin County, Stange said.

Stange said the Danville event wasn't billed as a debate in an invitation faxed to the congressman on Oct. 15, the day a reservation was sought. The invitation did say that a representative could fill in at the Candidates Night, but it also included language about a question-and-answer session from a moderator and from audience members.

Stilp opposed the League of Voters' decision to allow Kelly to fill in for him at the debate table, calling it an unexpected change in protocol.

When the debate got under way, Stilp and Kelly engaged in often testy exchanges on health care spending and reform, jobs creation and the national deficit, and engaged in clumsy exchanges of a microphone that underscored the evening's awkwardness.

Stilp spoke on the prominence of Montour County's own Geisinger hospital and health system. He supports health care coverage for preexisting conditions and for preventative medicine, and keeping adult children on parents' health care plans.

As for President Obama's health care plan, he said changes must be made to ease the financial burden on small businesses.

Kelly countered, saying Stilp supports the president's plan.

"What Mr. Stilp isn't going to tell you is that he supports Obamacare," he said.

Kelly said his boss, Barletta, voted 33 times to repeal Obamacare. He said the congressman does support some provisions of the plan, including allowing small businesses to pool resources to lessen the cost of employee health care. However, he said changes to health care can not be wide sweeping and immediate.

Stilp noted more than once his involvement in bringing to light well-documented controversies surrounding a late-night pay raise for state legislators and the "bonusgate" scandal in Harrisburg.

If he were to be elected to Congress, Stilp said he would look to circumvent the "gridlock" that has consumed Washington, D.C., working with representatives of all parties.

Kelly said Barletta has already done that, working with Democrats on a transportation bill and disaster relief for Pennsylvania and beyond following last year's flooding.

The congressional debate was preceded by a debate between state Rep. Kurt Masser, R-107, and his Democratic challenger, Ted Yeager, which was their second debate of the day.

MANDATA - The Line Mountain School Board authorized Tuesday the continuation of analysis for a new geothermal heating and air conditioning system at the high school following successful testing by its engineers and architects.

Approval to continue came on a 7-1 vote with members Troy Laudenslager, Dennis Erdman, Lawrence Neidig, David Bartholomew, Denise Clouser, Ronald Neidig and Marlin Yeager Jr. voting yes and Lauren Hackenburg casting the lone dissenting vote. Board member Lamont Masser was absent.

Project manager Joshua Bower from Crabtree, Rohrbaugh and Associates and John Solarczyk from Pyramid Engineering gave a presentation on testing at the high school campus in Mandata, comparing the results to a geothermal system used at the Trevorton Elementary School.

"Our tests showed that conditions are very favorable for a geothermal system like you have at Trevorton," Bower said.

The district wants to convert the school's heating, venting and air conditioning system to geothermal for about the same amount as what the district is paying in energy costs now.

"Our electrical costs may go up," superintendent David Campbell said, "but it will be a wash with the costs to do the project and our savings from not being dependant on 'black gold'."

In a geothermal HVAC system, A liquid, called glycol - a coolant similar to antifreeze - is distributed in and out of wells through a series of pipes and cycled through the building in a closed loop to either heat or cool the rooms, depending on the need.

Energy recovery units are placed on the roof to allow fresh air into the building.

A project estimate put the new system's cost of the project at approximately $4 million, but bids could come in lower, Bower said.

About 100 wells would be drilled in the parking lot between the school and the stadium and then, once the closed loop system is installed, the lot would be repaved to hide the inner workings. At Trevorton Elementary, the wells are underneath the school's playground.

The board also discussed three alternatives for other renovations on campus, including the replacement of the wooden windows in the building, construction of a free-standing maintenance garage with a salt shed and resurfacing the main access road.

SUNBURY - Northumberland County commissioners say they can no longer afford the funding cuts to human services prompted by Act 22.

With that, the commissioners voted Tuesday to begin the disenrollment process for the Aging Waiver Program while it furloughs non-essential staff and discontinues funding of transportation fares for all residents under 65 years of age, effective Dec. 1.

Commissioners Vinny Clausi, Richard Shoch and Stephen Bridy said the changes are necessary due to the fiscally challenging times facing all Area Agency on Aging (AAA) offices across the state, and said the budget constraints are a "direct result" of the Act 22 regulations.

Act 22, in effect for the 2011-12 fiscal year, granted Secretary of Public Welfare Gary Alexander the ability to institute changes in programming without formal legislative approval. The intent of the act was to reduce fraud and abuse in the welfare system, but even Republicans who supported it have acknowledged its "unintended consequences" in human services funding.

Alexander cut Aging Waiver service coordination reimbursement rates to the state's AAA offices. Service coordinators are responsible for arranging and coordinating various personal care services that allow waiver enrollees to remain out of institutional settings. Due to extremely low reimbursement, the Northumberland County AAA will have a deficit of $120,000 this year if the agency continues to administer the waiver program.

Transition plan

Patricia A. Rumberger, AAA administrator, said a transition plan will be established for county residents that will involve another service coordination, agency or entity providing services under the waiver program, for which there are 151 county residents enrolled.

"There will be no interruption of services throughout the transition, which could take up to four months," Rumberger said.

As for the transportation aspect, she said the county AAA is one of the few agencies in the state that has offered free transportation to county residents between ages 60 and 65.

Flat funded

In a press release issued after Tuesday's meeting, Rumberger said AAA offices in Pennsylvania are finding it increasingly difficult to fund programs and services for older adults as the baby-boomer population turns 60 years old. She said AAA offices have been flat funded for the last 11 years while the number of older adults requesting services has continued to increase.

"These regulations will place seniors at risk and significantly limit the capacity of AAAs to serve older Pennsylvanians," Rumberger said. "The Northumberland County Area Agency on Aging currently has a waiting list of 53 consumers for the personal care/bathing service in the Options Program and the waiting list increases daily."

She said the agency doesn't have the financial resources to continue to supplement a Medicaid program with Aging block grant funds, and has no choice but to begin the process of disenrollment in the waiver program.

Rumberger said 16 of the 52 AAAs throughout the state will no longer have service coordinators for the program by the end of the year. If service coordination rates do not increase, all 52 AAAs will no longer provide the service.

(Questions can be directed to Rumberger or AAA deputy administrator Karen Leonovich at 495-2395.)

BY LARRY DEKLINSKI

SHAMOKIN - Don't be alarmed. Although their reputation precedes them, the zombies who will walk the streets of the city this weekend are not on a quest for human flesh; rather, they are part of a family-friendly event that aims to raise money to benefit the city.

Coal City Revitalization Inc, a local non-profit, will be sponsoring a Zombie Run Saturday that will take participants on a 2.7-mile trek through the city while being chased by an infestation of the undead.

Matt Losiewicz, a representative of Coal City Revitalization Inc., said, "there will be no winners, just victims and survivors."

A team of makeup artists will transform ordinary-looking people into flesh-eating corpses who will then be set free to take over the city. The goal for participants is to avoid being "tagged" by a zombie and declared a "victim" before continuing with the sprint. Victims caught will provide their bib number to differentiate the victims from the survivors.

The start and finish line will be at the municipal parking lot on East Independence Street, across from the U.S. Post Office. Participants will travel west on Independence Street to Market, south on Market to Arch, west on Arch to Third, south on Third to Mulberry, east on Mulberry to Diamond, north on Diamond to High, east on High to Grant, north on Grant to Lincoln, west on Lincoln to Market, north on Market to Independence, and back to the lot.

Losiewicz said arrangements have been made for traffic control on Market Street (Route 125).

Activities at the lot include a zombie photo shoot by Carriage House Studio, zombie face painting, food by Mother Cabrini baseball team and Hillbilly Kettle Korn, a live radio broadcast by Y-106.5 and custom-made decor by Wedgetown Crafts.

Registration will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The entry fee is $20.

Proceeds will benefit the Shamokin Cemetery and Shamokin 150th Anniversary Celebration in 2014.