BY LARRY Deklinski

NORFOLK, Va. - Emotional. That is how David Jepko of Mount Carmel describes stepping onto the USS Enterprise (CVN 65) nearly 44 years after his late father helped save fellow sailors aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier during a massive fire Jan. 14, 1969.

Jepko, his brother, Robert, and sister, Sandra, along with their families, honored their father's heroic actions by attending a Fire Memorial and Inactivation Ceremony Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 at Pier 12 of the Norfolk Naval Station. Following an inactivation phase that will last until 2017, the ship will be towed to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility for dismantlement and recycling.

A chief machinist mate born in Atlas, Zachary Jepko served on the Enterprise from 1966 to 1970. He escaped injury on a lower deck while fighting flames caused by a MK-32 Zuni rocket, which overheated and exploded while loaded on a parked F-4 Phantom jet. A chain reaction of explosions followed, which ultimately claimed 28 sailors.

"He was instrumental in helping people that were hurt," Jepko said. "He also was one of the people who made sure there wasn't more damage to the ship."

The Enterprise, commissioned Nov. 25, 1961, completed 25 deployments in its 51 years of service. It is 1,123 feet long, 250 feet high, and has a flight deck of 4.5 acres.

Jepko said the crowd of 12,000 people at the Inactivation Ceremony were ecstatic when Capt. William Hamilton Jr., who was moved to tears at the mention of the men who saved the carrier, announced that the CVN 65 would not be the last carrier to bear the name "Enterprise."

Touring the carrier was especially important to Jepko's son, Eric, who was only seven years old when his grandfather passed away in 1997 at the age of 60.

"When we found out about the last voyage, we thought it would be a good vacation to show our son the carrier his grandfather worked on," Jepko said. "I felt like another part of my dad was gone when I found out they were going to scrap it and never see it again."

The fire

David was seven years old, Robert, six and Sandra not even born yet when the fire occurred. Their mother, Elaine, waited anxiously for two days at their home in Alameda, Calif., to hear if Zachary had survived, but phone lines were overrun by the thousands of sailors aboard, causing a delay in communication. When their father did manage to call home, it was short and to the point.

"We weren't sure if he was alive or not. My mom waited for dad to call," Jepko said. "About a day or two after the fire my mother got a call. He said, 'It's me. I'm OK. I have to go.' Then he handed the phone to the next person."

Jepko said his father kept most of the details about the fire quiet, even after he retired from the Navy after serving 20 years. The family keeps reminders of that day, in the form of newspaper clippings and a "yearbook" from that tour of duty.

"He was private about the incident," Jepko said. "Back in those days, you did your job, and did what was expected, and that's it."

Retirement

Jepko and his wife moved to Charleston, S.C., where he opened up a plumbing and heating business - a trade he excelled at during his years of service. He successfully operated the business until 1975, before moving back to Atlas.

Looking back, Jepko said his family is proud of the courage and bravery their father showed throughout his career in the Navy.

"He loved it," Jepko said. "I mean it was hard. He was away for six months at a time, but he saw the world," Jepko said. "He loved that life."

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area School District will present a special holiday concert, featuring students from their junior high music programs, starting 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The program, which feature the seventh and eighth grade chorus groups and the junior high school band, will each present individual concerts, followed by all groups joining together in the show's finale of "We Wish You A Merry Christmas."

All groups are under the direction of Sharon L. Styer, with Rachel F.W. Ulsh providing the accompaniment for the chorus groups. District Superintendent Bernard Stellar will join Styer in directing the finale.

The eighth grade chorus will open the program with the musical numbers "The Little Drummer Boy/Peace on Earth," made popular by Bing Crosby and David Bowie; "Sparklejollytwinklejingley" from the Broadway musical "Elf"; the Michael W. Smith song "Christmas Angels," and the "Glee" holiday classic, "Extraordinary Merry Christmas."

The Mount Carmel Area Junior High School Band will present the musical selections "A Christmas Fanfare," "At the Feast of Stephen," "A Christmas Proclamation," "Toboggan Run," "Santa Rocks The House!" and "The Polar Express."

The seventh grade chorus will then sing "Jubilate! Alleluia!" from Peasant Cantata No. 212; the song "Hip-Hop Reindeer," featuring rappers Tyler Adams, Luke Adzema, Daniel Barker, Emilee Barnhardt, Matthew Daubert, and Brandilee Holmes; "Winter, Bring Me Home" using the words of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and the swinging song, "Santa Claus Boogie."

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School community is coming together to bring joy to needy children this holiday season.

Collections are being accepted as part of the annual Lourdes Toys for Children project, capping off with a special liturgy at the school.

"Every year in December the faculty, staff, students, parents, alumni and friends of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School experience the true joy of sharing and caring by their participation in the Toys for Children liturgy," said Violette Feudale.

The school community donates new toys and presents them at a Christmas liturgy held at the school.

This year, Mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 19 in the school gymnatorium. Many Lourdes alumni return to participate in this touching liturgy. The graduates bring toys and join in the "procession of gifts" to the altar. The gifts are then donated to The Salvation Army for local distribution to needy families.

Anyone wishing to contribute a new toy is welcome to bring the gifts to the Lourdes main office Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. The public is invited to attend the Mass and participate in this beautiful Christmas tradition. The collection of toys will continue until Tuesday, Dec. 18.

For more information, please call the guidance office at 644-0375 ext. 119.

The Lourdes Toys for Children project is sponsored by the Boys Service Club and the Girls Action League, moderated by Feudale.

SHAMOKIN - Traci Cecco-Pickens is billed among the all-time greats in professional female all-terrain vehicle racing, having won the Grand National Cross Country an unprecedented nine times.

She also happens to be a native of the Shamokin area.

Cecco-Pickens, 36, retired this year after again winning the GNCC Women's Series. She was honored by Shamokin City Council and the mayor on Monday night, which declared the day in her honor and presented her a key to the city.

"This here is absolutely amazing," said Cecco-Pickens, who was both flattered and delighted at the city's gesture.

About two dozen people attended a reception for Cecco-Pickens at Shamokin Housing Authority in the city's downtown. The event was catered by students from Northumberland County Career and Technology Center.

"It's definitely an honor to receive the key to Shamokin," she said.

While Cecco-Pickens, a graduate of Line Mountain, calls West Cameron Township home, she has a Shamokin mailing address and she hailed the Shamokin area and its surroundings as the place where she cut her teeth on four-wheelers.

The area provided her the resources and tools it took to succeed in the world of off-road racing, she said.

Cecco-Pickens turned pro in 1999 and won the first of her nine titles one year later. In 2006, her accomplishments lead to a sponsorship deal with Yamaha.

The sponsorship provided her bikes, equipment and parts, she said, stressing the importance of that last item, and it helped keep her racing professionally into her 30s.

"The world of racing is expensive," she said, "no matter what type of racing it is."

Yamaha helped make happen Monday's celebration in Shamokin, along with placing a billboard in her honor along Route 61 near Paxinos. The racing giant will also honor her accomplishments as a racer and member of the Yamaha family with a bronze block installed at its California headquarters listing all of her achievements.

Cecco-Pickens may be retiring from racing, but not from the working world. She said she'll continue her day job as a physical therapy assistant at ManorCare in Sunbury.

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area School District announced its distinguished, first and second honor rolls for the first marking period of the 2012-2013 school year.

Distinguished Honors

Grade 4 - Lauren Ayres, Hailee Dombroski, Caroline Fletcher, Austin Garancosky, Kaylee Kane, Derek Lawler, MaKenna Lengle, Talia Mazzatesta, Margaret McCracken, Molly McCracken, Claudia Morris, Isabel Parker, Michael Reed, Marley Rusinko, Isabella Ryan, Tori Sanko, Lauren Shedleski, EmmaRae Shimko, Gabriella Trocki, Rebekah Troup, Andrew Wasilewski, Caiden Williams, Noah Wolfgang, Giavanna Yancoskie and Mackenzie Zerbe.

Grade 5 - Michael Balichik, Tyler Barnhardt, Connor Brown, Michael Bucher, Cierra Clayton, Hailey Derk, Damon Dowkus, Dylan Duceman, Tiffany Dunkelberger, Ramsey Fisher, Peyton Galitski, Cade Geary, Ryan Green, Grace Menko, Zackary Moore, Eliza Nevis, Gryffan O'Donnell, Emily Olszewskie, Jason Patrick, Makenzie Pyle, Olivia Rusk, Michael Scicchitano, Kyra Stickler, Tyler Winhofer and Zane Zlockie.

Grade 6 - William Anderson, Brady Campbell, John Chapman III, Sierra Coleman, Iyana Crew. Alexia Curran, Jillian Dunkelberger, Christopher Ehmann, Brock Evert, Ainsley Fegley, Miranda Fiamoncini, McKenna Fletcher, Colin Herb, Danielle Hooper, Tanner Karycki, Karisa Kehler, Emily Krulak, Casandra Latshaw, Alexis Leso, Michael Makowski III, Ava McGee, Madison Mengel, Haley Paul, Dante Sabolchick, Allison Shurock, Bradley Shurock, Anthony Stutzcavage, Hailey Swaldi, Gabrielle Taylor, Nicholas Troutman, Kayla Wesloskie and Logan Wills.

Grade 7 - John Ayres, Emilee Barnhardt, Matthew Cimino, Alexa Collins, Sarah Cooper, Sara Davitt, Dylan Farronato, Kourtney Honicker, Zachary Hunter, Donovan James, Mia Kaminsky, Tyler Krah, Bailey Little, Rosolino Mangiapane, Maci Mazzatesta, Manus McCracken, Benjamin McFadden, Ethan McLeod, Myia Miriello, Alesha Rutledge, Daniel Snarski, Nicole Varano. Emilee Wasilewski. Jeffrey Weidner, Adam Weissinger, Mackenzie Witt and Matthew Ziv.

Grade 8 - Aleah Alderson, Brendan Boris, Rachel Brown, Carl Darrup, Maura Fiamoncini, Aurora Froutz, Marissa Kleman, Olivia Lubinski, Alyssa Menko, Sara Nicola, Hayley Palek, Sara Parker, Austin Reed, Kasey Rompallo, Kevin Stancavage, Lane Tanney and Anna Zeluskey

Grade 9 - Ethan Bartos, April Brooks, Elizabeth Cooper, Luke Darrup, JoAnna Davidson, Mason Duran, Dominic Farronato, Dylan Fiamoncini, David Fletcher, Mitchell Fletcher, Giavonna Fracalossi, Cameron Getty, Nathan Greco, Jacqualin Lyden, Brianna Malkoski, Miranda Moser, Natasha Nevis, Leah Nicola, Allison Parker, Madison Shurock, Chantelle Skavery, Tyler Thompson, Peyton Worhach and Allen Yancoskie III.

Grade 10 - Lee Amarose, Glenn Barwicki, Jennifer Bolick, Taylor Conches, Caitlyn Curran, Paige Domboski, Hannah Fetterolf, Ciaran Fisher, Zachary Guthrie, Michael Kaminsky, Christian Kelley, Thomas Lynott, Thomas Moser, Kevin Nolter, Joanna Rompallo, Nicholas Rossi, Joseph Schmoyer, Erin Scicchitano, Josiah Skavery, Isabella Stellar, Zachary Tocyloski, Michael Vincenzes, Jordan Winhofer and Kayla Witt.

Grade 11 - Andrew Allen, Olivia Bressi-Harman, Briana Chapman, Dylan Combs, Bryce Fiamoncini, Jonathan Golazeski, Sonya Grohowski, Lauren Hause, Darla Hood, Jasmine Jones, Jenna Jurasich, Chelsea Matos, Morgan Miriello, Samantha Miscavage, Alex Mrozek, Jessica Pachuski, Jonathan Phillipine, Heather Raker, Anna Marie Raybuck, Benjamin Scicchitano, Nicholas Stancavage, Taylor Stefovic, Brock Susnoskie, Coral Swank, Brandon Toter, Alison Varano, Zachary Wasilewski, Samantha Zanni, Brett Zosh and Ezekiel Zsido.

Grade 12 - Alyssa Bielski, Anthony Candelora, Stefanie Cimino, Douglas Cole, Alexandra Danilowicz, Lisa Darrup, Kelsey Deitz, Tara Demko, Shuying Dong, Kristen Duceman, Bridget Dunkel, Elijah Duran, Kathryn Fest, Catherine Fletcher, Daniel Fletcher, Forrest Galitski, Jordan Haq, Raymond Heromin, Callie Hummel, Eric Joraskie, Kayleen Klemas, Tyler Kwiatkowski, MaryRose Latorre, Brianna Latovich, Ronald Lutes, Niracha Marchetti, Jillian Mazurkevich, Sean McDonnell, Alexandria McLeod, Michael Miller, Marisa Montgomery, Ellese Nestico, Seth Nicola, Nicole Purcell, Michelle Sandoval, Michael Scicchitano, Shelby Scott, Justin Skavery, Kristyn Smeal, Thomas Stief, Kaylee Sweda, Rachel Toter, Robert Varano and Kirsten Zarski.

First Honors

Grade 4 - Justin Bizzarro, Eric Bubrowski, Payton Carl, Aaron Elliot, Jacob Gilotti, Kyle Jarkovsky, Destiny Keyser, Valeria Mangiapane, Cameron Mannion, Brynn Marlow, Katie Miller, Tommie Mowrer III, Tyler Owens, Amara Pellowski, Allyn Reigle, Montana Spangler, Alyssa Swetra, Michael Sykes Jr., Reed Witkoski and Emily Yuskoski.

Grade 5 - Josilyn Adams, Victoria Belfanti, Joseph Bendas, Brooke Bernini, Erin Bossler, Haley Bressi, Lillian Britt, Bruce Carl, Tiana Crew, Amanda Dougherty, Stephanie Dunkelberger, Gregory Keiper, Lindsey Klusman, Connor Krakowski, Christopher Laster, Michael Lukashunas, Sydney Marquardt, Niklas Misner, Austin Molnar, Brandon Moore, Laura Palaszewski, Makayla Purcell, Austin Reed, William Savadge Jr., Kimberly Schmidt, Shawn Sheptock, Trevor Shultz, Jonathan Slovick, Emily Szatny, Angelina Torres, Kassandra Troutman, Kaleb Tyson, Joshua Vellner, Vanessa Walter, Elijah Watkins and Michael Wonsik II.

Grade 6 - Madison Barker, Marina Bechtel, Noah Berkoski, Olivia Bratcher, Kaitlyn Bulliner, Samantha Darrup, Avery Demko, Nichalous Diminick, Jennifer Dougherty, Joseph Dudeck, Paige Dugan, Jonathan Elnicki, Katie Flynn, Megan Green, Stephen Gundy, Rita Hanson, Cyric Kasenych, Daniela Mangiapane, Draven Murray, Quentin Nahodil, Ireland Reed, Thomas Reisinger III, Brianna Ryan and Tyler Williams.

Grade 7 - Luke Adzema, Daniel Ahlers, Cameron Britt, Michael Hood, Sandra Horsfield, Skylynn Janoka, Walter Kalinoski, Collin Krakowski, Karin Martinez, Hannah Nolter, Chloe Smith, Braedon Stickler, Blair Wagner, Aidan Wesloskie, Emily Wills and Morgan Zarko.

Grade 8 - Kiana Adams, Brooke Andruscavage, Amanda Arellano, Bryce Dauber, Sarah Freeman, Selena Guererro, Madison Hedricks, Christina Kleman, Breanna Kruskie, Keagen Lindauer, Madeleine Lyash, David Quinn, Amanda Rimokaitis, Erin Smink, Lauren Startzel, Kaitlyn Trent, Kelsi Wayne, Haley Weidner, Jacob Weissinger, Madelyn Witkoski, Lauren Zanni and Samantha Zigarski

Grade 9 - Michael Bergamo Jr., Aaron Butkiewicz, Marcus English, Logan Hixson, Kirsten Jarvis, Brett Katalinas, Vanessa Klemas, Logan Kuzo, Patrick Rhoads, Joseph Rossi, Tyler Schmidt, Karissa Schoonover, Jessy Stankavage, Megan Troutman and Bret Williams.

Grade 10 - Macie Anderson, Nathaniel Bartos, Thomas Bielski, Tina Delbo, Maliyah Edwards, Jessica Feldman, Nadia Ferri, Sean Fisher, Brianne Graff, Amalia Hinkle, Austin Joraskie, Haley Lahr, Gerard Reichwein, Rachel Startzel, Christopher Stellar, Ashley Stief, Madison Watkins and Treyvon White.

Grade 11 - Caitlyn Avellino, Nicholas Bozza Jr., Nicole Brosius, Cody Deitz, Luke Duceman, Jason Eichelberger, Thomas Evans III, Jessie Gibson, Brittany Gummel, Cory Hoffman, Kaitlin Horsfield, Faith Leaveck, Brianna Lutz, Allison Reinhardt, Jarret Schultz, Stanley Stanchick, Justin Weaver, Jenna Weikel and Brandon Young.

Grade 12 - Brianna Bailey, Michael Bonner, Abigail Chapman, Ashley D'Andrea, Forrest Dalpiaz, Kolby Dillon, Ashley Evans, Lisa Flickinger, Miranda Green, Luke Haladay, Rachelle MacLaren, Bryson Purcell, Robert Rogers II, Kristen Ruskuski, Tiana Snyder, Teodor Staykov, Alec Suchoski, Michael Swatski, Ashley Taggart, Karissa Trent, Cassandra Troutman, Brittany Venna and Nathan Wagner.

Second Honors

Grade 4 - Bryce Adams, Julia Burns, Scott Castellano Jr., Dante Crispell, Breayna Dietz, Jacob Evans, Ryleigh Geary, Robert Harris Jr., William Mullins, Addison Odorizzi, Maryemma Paul, James Rusk IV, Bria Shoffler and Ryan Steigerwalt.

Grade 5 - Jacob Adzema, Angel Barwicki, Donovan Beaver, Christian Billhime, Robert Bush, John Carl. Kelsee Conklin, Cheyenne Derk, Kayla Doak, Rileigh Engelke, Alaina Harman, Brayden Harvey, Angel Hertzog, Kelsey Howard, Michael Jarvis Jr., Dylan Latshaw, Nathaniel Malkoski, Trent Moser, Micheal Nahodil, Alexus Newman, Mya Okronglis, Jacob Raker, Joshua Ritz, Andrew Rooney, Madison Sosky, Jack Surace, Gregory Troutman, Elizabeth Yeager and Bryson Zvoncheck.

Grade 6 - Lorena Barrientos, Ryan Ciocco. Joshua Derr Jr., Max Franklin. Alijah Hollenbach, Brilee Kemfort, Haile Kimsal, Hunter Minnig, Taylor Rhodes, Dustin Siko, Austin Steigerwalt, Chelsea Welsh and Collin Wills

Grade 7 - Daniel Barker, Camlin Bogutskie, Alexander Brzostowski, Gianna D'Agostino, Alexa Elnicki, Makayla Green, Carly Jurasich, Trenton Koons, Cecillia Labate, Stephen Laurie Jr., Thomas McDonald, Jessica Milewski, Crystal Misner, Anthony Moser, Bradley Neidig, Stephen Reiner, Keith Ruskuski, Matthew Santangelo, Lauren Shirmer, Dawson Shoffler, Zachary Sodrick, Clarissa Steinhart, Audrey Wilkins and Symphony Yoder.

Grade 8 - Julia Ballard, Johnny Bossler, Dylan Carey, Thomas Cichon, Brian Dietz Jr., Jessica Eckley, Tyra Ericson, Donte Glasper, Timothy Glowatski, Kasey Grohowski, Nicole Hooper, Hannah Hornung, Jade Lloyd, Bryce Malick, Steven McCollum, Kyle McFadden, Zachary Miller, Thomas Pastucha, Jordan Reed, Patrick Rooney, Alexa Schmidt, Connor Stepp and Cassondra Vellner.

Grade 9 - Matthew Avellino, Gabriel Bogutskie, Tyler Diotte, Jeremy Edleblute, Jesse Elliott, Courtney Kane, Brooke Karycki, Kyle Karycki, Jeffrey Leins, Jonathan Rosetta, Ryan Walter, Paige Wichurowski and Austin Zimmerman.

Grade 10 - Joshua Ashbaugh, Jeffrey Ballard, Jacob Belfanti, Colin Bettleyon, Casey Brooks, Jonathan Capozello, Kelly Dziadosz, Shane Gudonis, Jordan Klimas, Jordan Klingler, Cody Little, Shamus McGovern, Maura Mengel, Brenda Neidig, Blake Panko. Caitlyn Taggart, Jocelyn Trocki, Kayla Wondoloski and Brandon Yuschock.

Grade 11 - Sabrina Allen, Bryan Artman, Joseph Bergan, Haidenne Bui, Shawn Deromedi, Jonathan Hojnowski, Paige Hornung, Desaree Malick, Kaitlyn Milo, Angela Minnig, Kyle Price, Christiana Reed, Brandon Smallets, Daniel Swatsky, Troy Tafner, Zachary Thomas and Bradley Yakimovich.

Grade 12 - Kelsea Bergeron, Stacia Carpenter, Crystal Chatterton, Samantha DeWald, Christopher Delbo, Ashley Docherty, Jesse Edleblute, Thomas Farley, Daniel Horan, Marissa Klinger, Amber Knopp, Corey Langton, Kaitlin Malia, Samantha Nevius, Brianna Pancher, Christina Perles, Kimberly Shicowich, Branden Sosnoski, Jayson Stellar, Quentin Troutman and Joseph Zanella.

SHAMOKIN - A final version of the city's $2.55 million operating budget and a preliminary version of a tax levy for 2013 were each approved by council Monday night; so was a 21-percent raise for the city clerk.

Councilman Michael Snyder was the swing vote in the 3-2 decision to increase Steve Bartos' salary from $36,050 to $45,400, which includes a $400 stipend.

"The job is very intense," Snyder said after council's monthly meeting, held at Shamokin Housing Authority in the city's downtown to accommodate a celebration for Traci Cecco-Pickens, a Shamokin area native and all-terrain vehicle rider who recently retired as the all-time women's Grand National Cross Country champion.

"The salary we just increased is well deserved for this type of job, in this area," he continued, adding that it's in line with salaries other municipal managers earn in the area.

Voting with Snyder were Mayor George Rozinskie and Councilman William Strausser, both of whom previously expressed support for the $9,350 salary boost.

Bartos' raise

Councilmen William Milbrand and R. Craig Rhoades were each opposed, holding the line on opposition each previously expressed.

Rozinskie went to bat for Bartos twice previously: last month when council adopted a preliminary budget and last week during a hearing in county court before approval was again given to Shamokin to increase property taxes beyond the maximum allowed by state law.

On Monday, he reiterated his support, as did Strausser.

A longtime city clerk himself, now retired, Strausser said the amount of the raise "may be much," but that it was "deserved."

He credited Bartos and fellow council members for keeping the city afloat this year.

"I thought we'd be out of money long ago, that we wouldn't make it through the end of the year," he said, saying the past month-and-a-half that the city has worked week-to-week to get by.

Whoever owed Shamokin money, they were after, Strausser said. And if tax delinquents would pay their share, the city wouldn't need court approval for a tax hike, he added.

Rhoades voted against the preliminary budget in November and voted against the final version Monday, a vote separate from that of Bartos' raise. He cited the amount of the raise and not its merit in being opposed to it.

Milbrand said much of the same.

"I still don't think it's in order," he said after the meeting. "How do you answer to the rest of the city employees who do just as good of a job but get menial raises, or no raises at all?"

Milbrand criticized the newspaper - both for language in an editorial that he believed misrepresented his stance on the matter as well as a report on November's meeting because its author did not seek his comment on the raise but did so from other councilmen.

He voted in favor of both the preliminary and final budgets. However, he has since stressed that neither vote was made in favor of the raise; rather, in favor of the budget as a whole. When it came time to vote for the raise, he voted "no."

Balanced budget

The 2013 budget approved Monday is balanced, with revenue and expenditure each estimated at $2,558,538.93 - a modest decrease of a little more than $12,000 from the current year's budget.

It is the second year running that the budget has decreased from the year prior.

The total tax levy, which is preliminary until final vote expected next week, is planned to remain the same as in 2012, but there are changes to the distribution of tax revenue.

The planned levy totals 44.918 mills: 30, general purposes (property tax); 7.208, parks and recreation; 6.860, debt service; 0.750, library; 0.100, shade trees.

The debt service dropped from the 2012 levy, with almost the entirety going to recreation and the remainder to the new shade tree levy.

Recreation was taxed at 3 mills in 2012.

A tax and revenue anticipation note (TRAN) of $275,000 also was approved.

That loan, taken by some municipalities to conduct business in lieu of the collection of taxes in the year's first quarter, is up $75,000 from the 2012 note, Bartos said.

The preliminary tax levy, final budget and TRAN were all approved by unanimous vote.

Second-hand dealers

Also approved by unanimous vote was the final version of a new city ordinance to monitor the trade of used goods by antiques and second-hand dealers, along with details for a proposed contract with Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The chamber contract, if approved and ratified by both the city and Chamber, would net the city 300 man-hours for the city at a cost not to exceed $8,100.

Council approved a set of tasks to give to the Chamber to work on: promotion and rent of Claude Kehler Community Park for public events, the development of an advertising and marketing campaign for the city, work for the setup of a series of community gardens, and tasks to make Shamokin a tourist destination in October to capitalize on the Halloween holiday and potential income.

A special meeting is expected to be scheduled for 6 p.m. Dec. 19 at City Hall during which the tax levy and a contract could be voted on.

TREVORTON - Police protection will increase in Zerbe Township with the hiring of two part-time officers at their meeting Monday evening.

Zerbe Township Supervisors hired Brad Slack and Brad Hair as part-time officers on a 3-0 vote with chairman Michael Schwartz, Mike Mazer and Gene Geise voting yes.

The two officers, who will split 24 hours a week between them, were hired at a rate of $16.50 per hour. They replace officer Joshua Moyer, who resigned in August. One resident questioned why two officers were hired instead of one and why the pay rate was increased from $13.50 an hour.

"We will now have two experienced officers who already work for the Sunbury Police Department, available to us," solicitor Roger Wiest said. "Chief (Robert) John knows these officers and is comfortable working with them and doesn't have to train someone, like he did in the past."

Zerbe Township received $57,872.16 on Dec. 7 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for reimbursement of creek wall repairs to damage done during Hurricane Lee in 2011. The money was paid to Mid-State Contracting for their work, and approval was given to complete the job in two more sections for approximately $19,000, which will be paid with reimbursements by the state Emergency Management Agency.

The 2013 budget was passed on a 3-0 vote with no tax increase for residents and a $56,102 surplus realized if the spending plan holds true.

The budget breaks down as follows: general fund, $373.125 in revenue, $360,042 in expenses for a surplus of $13,173; highway aid, $48,755 in revenue, $32,650 in expenses for a surplus of $16,105; fire, $21,060 in revenue, $10,176 in expenses for a surplus of $10.884; street lighting, $20,080 in revenue, $19,340 in expenses for a surplus of $690, special revenue, $16.000 in revenue and $750 in expenses for a surplus of $15,250.

The sewer fund budget came in at $312,550 in revenue and $296,889 in expenses creating a $15,661 surplus.

Supervisors directed secretary Ellen Troutman and sewer plant operator Ed Reed to get bids on a welding fix for the skimming device that removes vegetation and other waste on top of one sewage tank at the treatment plant. Plant workers found the metal on the skimmer's arm was beginning to rust.

The annual Zerbe Christmas celebration will be held at 6 p.m. Sunday at the Foundry recreation area. Sponsored by the Zerbe Recreation Committee, the event will feature refreshments and entertainment, along with the lighting of the community Christmas tree.

For anyone wishing to join the committee, their meetings are held on the third Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. at the Trevorton American Legion.

HARRISBURG - The Diocese of Harrisburg announced The Mother Pauline Center in Kulpmont has been named a pilgrim site in which plenary indulgence can be obtained during the 2012-2013 Year of Faith.

The designation for the center, dedicated to the life and works of St. Pauline Visitainter, was made by Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, in accordance with the prescriptions of the Apostolic Penitentiary in Rome.

Plenary indulgences allow for the elimination of all temporal punishment due to sin, and can only be given on Solemnites and Feast Days as days on which the faithful may obtain it during the Year of Faith. It is obtained when the faithful attend the solemn celebration of the Holy Eucharist or the solemn celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours, having first made sacramental confession and are freed from the attachment of sin, have prayed for the intentions of the Holy Father and made a profession of faith according to the ordinary form of the Profession of Faith.

McFadden also named the Basilica of SS Cyril and Methodius, Danville, as a pilgrim site.

Solemnites, Feast Days

The Solemnites and Feast Days for the 2012-2013 Year of Faith, as designed by Bishop McFadden, are as follows: Nativity of Our Lord, Dec. 25; Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, Jan. 1; Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, Jan. 25; Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, Feb. 22; Sundays during Lent; Palm Sunday, March 24; Celebration of the Chrism Mass, March 25; Holy Thursday, March 28; Easter Sunday, March 31; Divine Mercy Sunday, April 7; Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, April 8; Pentecost, May 19; Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, May 26; Solemnity of the Body and Blood of the Lord, June 2; Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Aug. 15; Solemnity of All Saints, Nov. 1; Solemnity of Christ the King, Nov. 24.

Holiday concerts planned

MOUNT CARMEL TOWNSHIP - Mount Carmel Area students will share holiday cheer with several concerts; the first to be held tonight.

- The seventh- and eighth-grade holiday concert starts at 7 p.m. today and is under the direction of Sharon Styer.

- The first- and second-grade holiday concert will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday under the direction of Rachel F.W. Ulsh.

- The high school chorus and band concert will be held at 7 p.m. Monday under the direction of Styer and Bernard Stellar.

All three concerts will take place in the Richard F. Beierschmitt High School Auditorium.

- The fifth- and sixth-grade band concert will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 18, in the elementary cafeteria under the direction of Nicole Rosko.

The public is invited to all of these performances.

Early dismissal at Shamokin Area

COAL TOWNSHIP - Wednesday will be an Act 80 Day early dismissal for Shamokin Area students. The elementary school will dismiss at 12:45 p.m. and the middle/high school at 12:18 p.m. Pre-K PM students will have classes.

Cookie concert set Friday

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Shamokin Area High School Symphonic Band will present its annual cookie concert at 7 p.m. Friday in the high school auditorium.

The holiday celebration will feature the Senior High School Symphonic Band under the direction of Kevin B. Styer. Selections include Russian Christmas Music, The Special Sounds of Christmas, Christmas Carillon, I Saw Three Ships, The Christmas Song, Home for the Holidays, Jingle Bells, and Fanfare and Procession on an Old English Carol.

The public is invited to attend. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted.

Refreshments will follow the concert for all participants and concert-goers in the high school cafeteria.

CATAWISSA RR - Six years ago, current Southern Columbia Area Superintendent Charlie Reh replaced Paul Caputo as high school principal on what was supposed to be a temporary basis. On Monday night, Caputo was chosen to replace Reh as superintendent.

The school board approved Caputo, 51, as Reh's successor at an initial annual salary of $103,000 Monday night at a special board meeting. Caputo will opt out of the health insurance policy because he is covered by his wife's policy at Shenandoah Valley School District.

Caputo, the current superintendent at Upper Dauphin Area School District, will start at Southern Feb. 4, 2013, as long as he has been released by his current employer. The Southern contract, which he describes as a "lateral move" in pay, runs through June 30, 2016.

Caputo graduated in 1983 from Kutztown University with a Bachelor of Science in social studies. He was part of the Southern Columbia District from 2003 to 2006. He was hired in 2006 as supervisor of curriculum, technology and federal programs at North Schuylkill School District. He was hired at Upper Dauphin in June 2010. He was also employed for 11 years at Carbon County Area Vocational-Technical School, where he served as a social studies teacher, assistant principal and principal.

Caputo attended the meeting with his wife, Michele Caputo, and their two sons, Luke, 11, and Joel, 14. They live in Ringtown, and he will commute 50 minutes from his home to the district. He and his wife have another son, Paul, 19, who is a freshman at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Following the meeting, Paul Caputo, who said he has a special place in his heart for Southern, said he admires the commitment the staff, board and parents have to the students of the district.

"They want excellence, and they have it. They should be very proud of what they have here," he said.

In a difficult time for school districts, Caputo said he will work hard to maintain what Southern has achieved.

In his first year as superintendent at Upper Dauphin, he said he faced a $2 million deficit in the budget.

Everything, including tax increases and cuts to programs and positions, had to be considered to save money, and the budget was balanced because of that and "a little bit of luck," he said.

It was later determined that the transportation provider for Upper Dauphin was overcharging the district, and the transportation line item was reduced from $1.5 million to $813,000, he said.

"I'm hoping to bring new insights," he said.

Directors Timothy Vought and John Yocum made and seconded the motion to hire Caputo, and it passed 6-1 with Vice President Charlie Porter voting against it.

During the meeting, Porter said to Caputo, "Even though I voted no, I wish you success."

Asked why he voted no following the meeting, Porter said he liked some of the other candidates and thought someone else would be a better fit for the district, but he said he did not want to elaborate.

Eleven people applied for the position, and the board interviewed four candidates. Caputo and Evan Williams, the former assistant superintendent at Waynesboro Area School District, were the only two asked back for a second interview.

Director Eric Stahley, who was late due to an expulsion hearing at the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center, was unable to vote on the superintendent item.

Reh's official retirement date is Feb. 4, 2013, but his last day on campus will be Jan. 18. He was hired July 1, 2007.Paul Caputo, the current superintendent at Upper Dauphin Area School District, was hired Monday night at a Southern Columbia Area School Board meeting to replace current SCA Superintendent Charlie Reh when Reh retires next month.

POTTSVILLE - Trembling and weeping, Jennifer K. Bossler admitted Monday to a Schuylkill County judge that prosecutors could prove she killed her 1-year-old son in April in Pottsville, although she could not recall doing it.

"I can't remember it," said Bossler, 29, of Pottsville, who is headed to state prison after pleading no contest to charges of criminal homicide and aggravated assault in connection with the death of James Blake Bossler.

Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin accepted the plea and, pursuant to an agreement between prosecutors and Bossler, sentenced the defendant to spend 7 1/2 to 15 years in a state correctional institution, pay costs and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, undergo a mental health evaluation and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

"Are you doing this of your own free will?" Dolbin asked Bossler, who shook almost the entire 30-minute hearing while wearing handcuffs and a prison jumpsuit.

"Yes," she answered.

"Are you doing this because it is in your own best interest?"

"Yes."

"Whose decision is it to plead?" the judge said.

"Mine," Bossler said.

By pleading no contest, Bossler did not admit committing the crimes but offered no defense to them, agreed that prosecutors had sufficient evidence to prove her guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and agreed to be sentenced as if she had been found, or pleaded, guilty.

"Everybody thought it was fair," Assistant District Attorney Leo Breznik said of the plea agreement.

Assistant Public Defender Andrea L. Thompson, Jennifer Bossler's lawyer, declined to comment on the case after the hearing.

Pottsville police charged Bossler with suffocating her son about 5:30 p.m. April 1 at her residence at 218 W. Market St., Apt. 2.

Police said Officers Joseph Welsh and Richard Pugh were called to the home about 5:30 p.m. and found Bossler performing CPR on her son, who was in cardiac arrest.

The boy, who had signs of bruising on his back and ear, was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and pronounced dead there at 6:01 p.m., according to police.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Supriya Kurvilla conducted an autopsy on the boy April 3 at Reading Hospital and Medical Center, West Reading, and determined that James Bossler died from "asphyxia by undetermined means," according to police.

Kurvilla also said there was no significant disease that would have caused the death, no explanation why he died and that he was outside the range of a vast majority of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome deaths, police said.

Police also said Bossler gave them a statement that she put her son on his stomach in his crib and used both of her hands to put downward pressure on his head and back when he would not stop crying. Bossler also said that her son struggled until he became quiet and stopped breathing, according to police.

"I have no recollection of that," Bossler told Dolbin of the statement she allegedly made.

'Heartbroken'

Even after the hearing, Richard Gates, Jennifer Bossler's father, could not comprehend either the death of his grandson or the actions of his daughter.

"I'm lost for words. I just can't believe this happened. It tears me up," Gates said. "I'm very heartbroken. I don't know what to do. I still love her. I know what she did was wrong."

Shamokin-Coal Township

Today - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; bridge lessons, 9:30 a.m.; bridge, noon.

Wednesday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; pinochle and Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; nickel bingo, noon.

Saturday - Cards, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Mount Carmel

Today - Chit Chat, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Unlucky 7s, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Chair dancing exercise, 9 a.m.; preparing for center Christmas party, 10 a.m.; Christmas carol sing-a-long, 11 a.m.; Christmas party, 1 p.m.; entertainment by Christine Smith, 2 p.m.

Thursday - Puzzle time, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; find a word, 1 p.m.

Friday - Chit Chat, 9 a.m.; movie presentation, 9:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; pokeno, 1 p.m.

Kulpmont

Today - Wii and noodle balloon in the morning; pinochle-cards, noon.

Wednesday - Wii and noodle balloon in the morning; bunco, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Wii and noodle balloon in the morning; Trip to Riverside SAC to visit their coffeehouse, van will leave center at 8:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii and noodle balloon in the morning; nickel bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Centralia- Wilburton

Today - Christmas party at Greene's.

Wednesday - Christmas ball painting and celebrating birthdays.

Thursday - Assisted living talk with Janet.

Friday - Center closed.

Elysburg

Today - Healthy Steps, 9:30 a.m.

Wednesday - Bingo, noon; soup and sandwich luncheon for those that signed up.

Thursday - Healthy Steps, 9:30 a.m.

Friday - Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle, noon

Trevorton

Today - Center will be close to attend breakfast by the NCCTC Culinary Arts class at Herndon SAC from 9:30 to 1 p.m. Donation of $5 is expected; evening bingo, 6 p.m.

Wednesday - Scrabble, Phase 10 and UNO, 9:30 a.m.; special lunch; shopping at Weis Markets, 12:30 to 2 p.m.

Thursday - Special lunch, Christmas party, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Shopping at the Lycoming Mall, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.; exercise with Amy, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

To ensure your money will benefit the people, organization or community you intend, the Pennsylvania Department of State offers the following tips:

- Never give to a charity you know nothing about. Do not hesitate to request written information from the charity regarding its programs and finances.

- Never commit to donate over the phone unless you are familiar with the organization, and hang up the telephone on aggressive and harassing solicitors.

- Never give cash, credit card numbers or bank account numbers; always write a check payable to the charity so you have a record of your donations.

- Be wary of "guaranteed" sweepstake winnings in exchange for a contribution. Participation in sweepstake offers is voluntary, and donors are in no better position to win the sweepstakes than non-donors.

- Don't be fooled by a convincing name or one that sounds like the name of a well-known charity.

- Don't make assumptions when you hear words like "police" or "firefighter" in an organization's name. Although an organization claims it has local ties or works with local police or firefighters, it doesn't necessarily mean contributions will be used locally.

- Don't feel guilty about not supporting all the charities that ask you for a contribution.

- Be aware of statements such as "every penny will go to the charity." All charities have expenses, so check carefully and know where your money goes.

(The Department of State's Bureau of Charitable Organizations administers the state's charitable solicitation law and maintains a registry of organizations in Pennsylvania. To find out if a charity is registered, search the online database or call 1-800-732-0999.)

JORDAN TOWNSHIP - A Dalmatia-area man was injured on the first day of rifled deer season when he was accidentally shot in the arm by a fellow hunter.

Jamie Gasiewski was in a hunting party participating in a deer drive in a "rolling field" in the southwestern part of Northumberland County at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 26 when he "got ahead of the drive," said William M. Williams, information and education supervisor for the Northeast Regional Office of the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

"When a buck ran back through the line, another hunter fired a round and shot another hunter in his party," reads a press release issued by Williams.

Williams said in an interview Monday that the shooter's name was Charles Erdman, of Herndon. He was using a Remington .30-06 Model 760 and shot Gasiewski through the forearm and bicep from a distance of 75 yards, Williams said.

Gasiewski confirmed the shot hit the bottom of his forearm and the bottom of his tricep, not bicep, on his right arm, which he had extended as he prepared to shoot at the same deer. Gasiewski has been told by doctors he should fully recover. He said he didn't want to comment further.

Could lose license

Erdman was charged with a summary offense of shooting at or causing injury to human beings, which is a violation of section 25-22a of the game code, Williams said. The charge was filed in the office of Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Apfelbaum, Sunbury.

Since this was a hunting-related occurrence, Williams said it was investigated by the game commission, and it wasn't likely there were other law enforcement agencies called to the scene.

Erdman could potentially lose his license, but the decision will be made by the law enforcement division of the game commission in Harrisburg, Williams said.

Incidents infrequent

Williams advised hunters to be aware of their surroundings.

"One of the key things we say is be sure of your target and what's behind it. Have a safe background behind the animal you're aiming at," William said.

He noted that bullets don't always stop at the shooter's target.

"If it (the shot) goes through the animal, it ends up in a tree or an embankment," he said.

Williams said it's fortunate that hunting related incidents like this are "pretty infrequent" in the northeast region that his office covers.

During peasant hunting season, one pellet from a shotgun hit a person in Pike County, but the injury was minor, he said.

Don't feed the deer

MOUNT CARMEL - Mount Carmel Mayor J. Kevin Jones asked the public to not feed deer on display in cages or pens in town park, in accordance with U.S. Department of Agriculture rules.

Jones said Wednesday he was recently made aware of the rule by a department representative.

SUNBURY - A former substitute teacher at Shamokin Area School District pleaded guilty Wednesday morning to a felony of unlawful contact with a minor and a misdemeanor of corruption of minors, and will be sentenced within 90 days.

Michael S. Zack, 24, of 201 Warsaw St., Marion Heights, entered his plea before President Judge Robert B. Sacavage after being charged March 15 by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan with sending approximately 4,300 text messages to two 17-year-old females and two 16-year-old girls who attended Shamokin Area at the time. Many of the messages, which were sent between March 15 and Oct. 30, 2011, depicted sexually graphic material, police said.

Police said the incidents occurred in the east end of the township and at Shamokin Area Middle/High School.

A misdemeanor count of sending obscene and other sexual materials will not be prosecuted at sentencing.

First Assistant District Attorney Ann Targonski said the standard range sentence for the felony count is three to 12 months in county prison. She said the sentence will most likely involve intermediate punishment, including at least 90 days of house arrest. The misdemeanor charge could involve a sentence of five years of probation, which would run consecutive to the felony sentencing.

Targonski said there is no mandatory sentencing requirements involved in the case.

Prior to his plea, Zack voluntarily signed an affidavit surrendering his teacher's license, which had been suspended, Targonski said.

Zack was hired as a 180-day substitute teacher in the district in August 2011 and terminated by the school board at its December 2011 meeting, retroactive to Nov. 16, 2011.

Zack, who has no prior criminal record, told Sacavage he fully understood the ramifications of his guilty plea, which include waiving his right to trial and limited appeal options. Zack also waived his right to withdraw his plea.

Sacavage ordered the defendant to undergo a sexually violent predator assessment. The judge ordered a pre-sentence investigation in the case and said the defendant will be sentenced within 90 days.

Zack's attorney, Marc Lieberman of Elysburg, and Targonski reserved comment about the guilty plea.

Mount Carmel Township Police Chief Brian Hollenbush said the couple who is accused of stealing an SUV from a Coal Township resident and evading police for nearly nine hours has a history of run-ins with the law. The following is a collection of incidents involving David Pavloski, 22, of 10 Front St., Wilburton, and Courtney Klemick, 21, of 222 Second St., Wilburton, from The News-Item archives.

- In January 2011, Pavloski faced two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, fleeing or attempting to elude police, flight to avoid apprehension, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness, underage drinking, operating a vehicle with alcohol in his system while being a minor, restriction on alcoholic beverages, reckless driving, driving under suspension, operating a vehicle with an expired inspection sticker and operating a vehicle without any rear lighting. The charges related to incidents that occurred Jan. 25 on Route 2032 in the Diamondtown area.

- In January 2010, Pavloski, who worked at the Knoebels recycling building, and his alleged accomplices, Daniel Jarvis Grohowski, who was 18 and living at 614 E. Fourth St., Mount Carmel, at the time, and Kylee Elizabeth Wargo, who was 21 and living at of 600 W. Girard St., Atlas, at the time, faced burglary and theft charges after allegedly stealing a golf cart from the park and attempting to sell the parts for scrap. Grohowski and Pavloski were also facing charges of criminal trespass and criminal mischief, and Pavloski was also charged with criminal solicitation.

- In February 2010, Pavloski and Klemick, along with two juveniles, were charged with felonies of criminal mischief and institutional vandalism, and a misdemeanor of desecration of venerated objects for causing more than $5,000 in damage to 64 tombstones at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Centralia in December 2009. Because Klemick and the two other girls were under 18 at the time, Pavloski was also charged with corruption of minors.

- In October 2010, Pavloski, Klemick and a 17-year-old Mount Carmel male were cited for underage drinking relating to an incident on Sunbury Street near Market Street, Shamokin.

- Pavloski has also had multiple incidents with police involving separate charges of DUI, resisting arrest, possession of marijuana and disorderly conduct between May 2009 and November 2010.

SUNBURY - A 33-year-old Mount Carmel man sentenced earlier this year to serve 3 1/2 to 7 years in a state correctional institution is seeking a new trial after claiming he was not properly represented by his former attorney.

Northumberland County Judge William H. Wiest, who presided over a post-sentence motion hearing Wednesday afternoon for Jason M. Bozarth, said he will issue a written ruling in the case after listening to testimony from the defendant and his former lawyer, Northumberland County Special Conflicts Counsel Michael Seward.

Bozarth was charged by Mount Carmel Cpl. Christopher Buhay with assaulting Richard McPeak, of Mount Carmel, a state correctional officer, on Aug. 18, 2010, in the area of Market and Sixth streets in Mount Carmel. McPeak suffered a broken jaw and numerous cuts, scrapes and abrasions in the assault, police said.

Bozarth was convicted by a jury Feb. 17 of multiple charges, including felonies of aggravated assault and criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and sentenced by Wiest on April 9 to serve 3 1/2 to 7 years in state prison. In addition to the state prison sentence, Bozarth was ordered to pay $1,700 in fines and make restitution totaling approximately $22,450.

His new defense attorney, Michael Rudinski, of Williamsport, argued Wednesday that his client was provided ineffective counsel by Seward, whom he claimed failed to pursue various issues raised at trial.

Bozarth testified that Seward failed to bring to the jury's attention his claim that he would have seriously injured himself if he hit McPeak with a cast on his hand as alleged by police. Bozarth said he had two pins through four of his fingers under his cast and that a doctor told him he would have seriously injured his hand by hitting McPeak with the cast.

Rudinski said Seward failed to question a police report regarding blood spotted at the scene of the assault and a claim by his client that Buhay was biased because he knew the victim. The defense attorney also argued McPeak told police he didn't recognize who assaulted him until seeing Bozarth's photograph in a local newspaper and didn't identify Bozarth as the defendant until his trial.

Rudinski said Seward failed to pursue claims that McPeak may have instigated the assault by continuing to argue with Bozarth.

Seward, who was called to the witness stand by Assistant District Attorney Michael Toomey, disputed Bozarth's claim that a doctor told him he would have been seriously injured if he hit McPeak with a cast and pointed out that other witnesses testified that they saw Bozarth hit McPeak with his cast.

Seward said a police officer testified that there was blood on Bozarth's arm, but not on his cast. The attorney said he believed challenging Buhay's credibility about knowing the victim would not have helped his client's chances with the jury.

Seward also pointed out that Bozarth was the only person involved in the disturbance who was wearing a cast on his hand.

As for the claim made by Rudinski and Bozarth that McPeak was aggressive during the incident, Seward characterized McPeak as an "unpredictable" witness who seemed to embellish everything he said at the trial.

Seward said he didn't cross exam McPeak because he thought his testimony was less credible than his client's.

During their closing arguments, Rudinski requested a new trial, while Toomey said Bozarth was properly represented by Seward and justly convicted.

Toomey argued that the hearing was premature because Rudinski hadn't filed a post conviction relief order, but Wiest ruled it was proper for the hearing to proceed.

At the beginning of the hearing, Rudinski withdrew three motions previously filed by Bozarth that claimed the defendant received an "unduly harsh sentence" by Wiest. Rudinski said his client misunderstood that his sentence was at the bottom of the standard range for the offenses he was convicted of committing.

Shamokin-Coal Township

Thursday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; Christmas party catered by Martin's Chicken and Ribs, dinner served at 11 a.m., $5 gift exchange optional, desserts needed; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; nickel bingo, noon.

Saturday - Cards, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Mount Carmel

Thursday - Christmas visit by Winnie the Pooh, 10 a.m., the seniors will provide children with small gifts and a snack after the program; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; favorite TV game show, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Christmas music, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11 a.m.; Christmas ornament exchange, noon; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Kulpmont

Thursday - Wii and noodle balloon in the morning; guest speaker Linda Walker on "Laughter," noon; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii and noodle balloon in the morning; lunch at the Indies, van leaves center at 10:30 a.m., cost $2; nickel bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Centralia-Wilburton

Thursday - Food bank pantry.

Friday - Trip to Living Christmas trees in Iola, call 339-1386 for a ride.

Elysburg

Thursday - Healthy Steps, 9:30 a.m.

Friday - Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle, noon; center Christmas party at Masser's for those who signed up.

NORTHUMBERLAND - Point Township supervisors will seek a meeting with Northumberland County commissioners to resolve their highly publicized differences.

According to The Daily Item, the meeting was proposed during a township meeting Tuesday when Supervisor Montie Peters objected to earlier attacks by Commissioners Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy on township officials over the municipality's problems with a housing grant from the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The problems were subsequently resolved.

Peters said Clausi and Bridy attacked Point Township as a way of "getting at" Commissioner Rick Shoch, who is also the township solicitor.

Although Peters and township Supervisor Randy Yoxheimer doubted whether a meeting with Clausi and Bridy would be productive, Supervisor Justin Dunkelberger said it is important that both sides attempt to work out the disagreements. He said a meeting should be scheduled, and the media should be invited also.