MOUNT CARMEL - Tony Matulewicz, of 139 N. Oak St., a Democrat, is a candidate for re-election to a third term on Mount Carmel Borough Council.

Matulewicz, an attorney, was born and raised in Mount Carmel Borough, and he said he loves living there. During the past two terms, he said, he has worked to reduce government waste, keep taxes low and have the borough remain fiscally responsible. He noted taxes have not increased in the six fiscal years since he was elected to council.

Matulewicz cites fiscal responsibility as his most valuable asset to the community. "By keeping a tight reign on the borough purse strings, council was able to eliminate a six-figure budget deficit, balance the budget and pay off several long-term loans racked up by previous councils, all without raising taxes," he said.

"If re-elected, I promise to continue to zealously guard the borough treasury, realizing it's our hard-earned money. When you spend other people's money as if it is your own, intelligent, frugal spending comes naturally."

Matulewicz said that although the current council has saved huge amounts of money through increased efficiency, elimination of wasteful spending and cuts to unnecessary and/or illegal activities, there continues to be a lot of hard work and tough decisions ahead.

Matulewicz promises to make pension reform a top priority.

"The current pension situation is absolutely unsustainable over the long term. The past administrations have racked up an enormous unfunded liability in our pension funds through mismanagement, miscalculation and by generally 'kicking the can down the road.' That won't happen anymore. If re-elected, no part of any budget, ordinance, resolution, or motion I vote for will be free from financial scrutiny," he said.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area Elementary School announced its distinguished honor roll and honor roll for the third marking period.

The honor roll is based on the average of the major subjects. Distinguished honors is the range of 95 to 100 percent and honor roll is 90 to 94 percent, along with earning "satisfactory" in conduct and minor subjects.

Distinguished honors

Grade 6: Nicole Bainbridge, Spencer Balonis, Alexis Barnes, Sarah Baumeister, Jared Berkheimer, Aidan Blackwell, Marshall Buggy, Sierra Burd, Juliana DeGreen, Lydia Deptula, Alyvia Erb, Ryleigh Fegley-Cull, Jeffrey Fuernisen Jr., Aubree Haight, Mara Hashuga, Teagan Heath, Jayla Klase, Chloe Kramer, Jameson Kramer, Cordell Lucas, Samantha Magee, Joseph Masser, Morgan McGinn, Abigail Nye, Cameron Orner, Jessa Paczkoski, Melissa Pangburn, Autumn Purcell, Robert Rebuck, Lake Rodarmel, Quinn Rollman, Shyann Rubio, Matthew Schiccatano, Andrea Segura, Peyton Shurock, Mason Smink, Brooke Strausser, Matthew Swartz, Skylar Truchon, John Wagner, Lauren Wagner, Payton Whary, Valerie Yost, Blake Zalar, Zane Zartman and Zoe Zimmerman.

Grade 5: Kanwal Alvi, Margaret Bowers, Morgan Clemens, Eric Curran, Raven Depeal, Abbey Diorio, Joshua Dombrowski, Holly Fegley, Gaige Garcia, Benjamin Ginck, Rhaeghan Henz, Devin Kays, Elyse Kelley, Emma Laughlin, Cherie Martin, Sheyenne Moore, Makayla Moroskie, Ian Paul, Ashley Ponatoski, Abby Rodman, Sophie Rossnock, Jasmine Scandle, Angelina Schaeffer, John Schofield Jr., Telaysia Shafer, Isibelle Sienkiewicz, Jasminie Slodysko, Molly Stevens, Max Tillett, Emma Tomcavage, Angel Velazquez, Katelyn Zawalick, Destiny Zimmerman and Nicholas Zimmerman.

Grade 4: Alexa Bainbridge, Joshua Bashore, Hunter Bates, Jonathan Bevan, Emilee Bland, Collin Bozza, Kaine Bressi, Tia Bressi, Devin Britton, Katlyn Brunson, Brianna Bullock, Sean Calabro, Olivia Coller, Emma Dailey, Cameron Davis, Gavin DeGreen, Kyele Dehoutaint, Ryleigh Faust, Tessa Fegley-Kublic, Victoria Fellin, Hayden Foor, Aaron Frasch, Blake Harris, Olivia Haupt, Thomas Herrold, Tumaje Islam, Tyler Kalman, Rosalind Kane, Jaden Kodack, Emma Kramer, Hayden Kramer, Kali Leiby, Destinee Leonard, Maximus Madden, Diana Martinez, Brenton McCaffery, Rylie McCarty, Dennis McFee, Matthew Metzger, Edward Morales, Grace Nazih, Ariana Nolter, Rileigh Nowroski, Ashlea Oakum, Sydney Rhoads, Mackenzie Roman, Aleyna Russell, Casen Sandri, Akeya Schartiger, Aaron Shicora, Caleb Shingara, Kathryn Slotterback, Destiny Smith, Gwen Sulouff, Haelee Taylor, Nicholas Velez, Tyler Whary, Kayla Yadlosky, Freyja Yeager and Emma Zimmerman.

Honors

Grade 6: Logan Alderson, Chase Backes, Emily Backes, Ashley Beach, Mariah Benedict, Keri Bevan, Colby Bixler, Jolene Boscolovich, Reina Cardona, Steven Carpenter, Alyssa Charriez, Gavin Clattenburg, Madison Collins, Hunter Dannheimer, John Delorso, Lauren Drumheiser, Nicholas Feudale, Abigail Fobia, Mackenzie Glosek, Stephen Gundy, Hanna Halderman, Dakota Hart, Cain Herb, Barbara Jemmott, Zachary Johnson, Taylor Kashner, Chryssa Kehler, Collin Kern, Timothy Kile, Luke Kiracofe, Deven Klock, McKenzie Knarr, Matthew Knowles, Brianna Lehman, Xavier Lehman, Owen Long, Christina Marquez, Todd Maschuck, Keira Munns, Jacob Ramer, Madison Reigel, Terri Rouse, Arcadio Saez, Destiny Sassani, Joan Schaeffer, Matthew Sheriff, Jose Tejada, Ethan Tharp, Abigail Thew, Jacob Thompson, Tristen Troutman, Mercedes Velazquez and Dylan Walters.

Grade 5: Jacob Alvord, Conner Anascavage, Bryce Anderson, Lily Avans, Sara Baney, Alison Barvitskie, Matthew Bellis, Paige Campbell, William Delbaugh, Tykera Duttry, Deven Elliott, Jayce Fagerstrom, Jeryn Fagerstrom, Madison Foulds, Tate Frederick, Gabrielle Greager, Blake Hartzel, Leslie Haupt, Callen Herb, Victoria Hine, Danielle Hinkle, Molly Hoffman, Brian Hornberger, Joseph Jackson, Blake Kane, Hunter Kerstetter, Rachel Kerstetter, Amber Klinger, Farrah Krum, Janet Kulish, Brittney Lute, Ariana Manley, Blake Markowski, Skyler McKinney, Andrew Nelson, Ryan Nolan, Connor Nye, Brock Pancher, Nathan Persing, Brent Reed, Hunter Rodarmel, Brianna Roth, Sara Ryman, Kyra Sanders, Kolton Scholl, Trinity Schwab, Kody Scicchitano, Emily Slanina, Garrett Smith, Savanah Smith, Alyssa Snyder, Austin Straub, Alyssa Swartz, Myah Thompson, Rhiannon Vlock-Kogut, Jonathan Washuta, Logan Williams and Cheyanne Wolf.

Grade 4: Alexia Alier, Amanda Angstadt, Austin Bainbridge, Steve Bartholomew, Shane Billings, Thomas Bramhall, Madison Bridy, Grace Carpenter, Katye Clark, Audrey Cristan, Cornell Delvalle, Rebecca Derck, Collin Duganitz, Ethan Eltringham, Diana Faust, Anthony Fernandez, Damien Fritchey, Skylar Fry, Kieran Gallagher, Gary Geist, Adam Guzik, Jackson Hancock, Seth Hart, Zachary Hart, Austin Haupt, Shane Hess, Damian Hile, Carole Hinkle, Hannah Hockenbroch, Alexa Jacobs, Jeremiah Jashinskie, Shanon Jilinski, Paige Kleman, Gabrielle Kurtz, Alysha Lynch, Hunter McKinney, Timothy Michaels Jr., Carter Moore, Ian Morris, Nicolas Neidig, Noah Orner, Alyssa Persing, Stacey Radomski, Megan Roman, Shelby Searls, Paige Shoffler, Jessica Simpson, Mackenzie Snyder, Owen Sosnoski, Brooke Stine, Jacob Turner, Ashley Vantaggi, Dade Wilk, Dominic Wilson, Colin Zigner, Michael Zimmerman II and Mick Zwolinski.

MOUNT CARMEL - A Hegins man who allegedly fired a shot into an occupied apartment building at the corner of South Beech and West Sixth streets earlier this month was arraigned Friday morning on multiple charges, including three felonies.

Donnie T. Carl, 26, was committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $50,000 cash bail following his 10:30 a.m. arraignment by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III of Shamokin.

Carl, who was wanted in Schuylkill County for a probation violation involving an unrelated incident, is charged with felonies of possessing a firearm while being a fugitive, possessing a firearm without a license and discharging a firearm into an occupied structure, and misdemeanors of recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct involving the 9:20 p.m. April 10 disturbance.

Mount Carmel Cpl. Christopher Buhay filed the charges.

Carl's girlfriend, Katie Marie Keister, 18, of Lykens, was previously charged by Buhay with lying to police after Carl allegedly fired a single shot following an argument between the couple. Carl fled the scene after the shooting incident.

No one was injured after the shot was fired from a dark-colored vehicle while Keister entered a second-floor apartment at 250 S. Beech St.

Kelly Campbell, an off-duty police officer for Mount Carmel Township, reported the incident after he said he saw the shot fired.

A single .45 caliber shell casing was recovered in the 400 block of West Sixth Street near the back of the apartment building, but police haven't found where the slug made impact.

Police said Keister was uncooperative when she was interviewed inside the apartment building. Keister allegedly provided a false name, failed to produce identification and claimed not to know any of her own personal information. She resisted being taken into custody and was forcibly removed from the building.

She was taken to the borough police station and interviewed by Buhay, Cpl. David Donkochik and Police Chief Todd Owens, where she admitted arguing with her boyfriend over money. She eventually provided her identity, but did not do the same for Carl, according to a criminal complaint, and allegedly implicated an innocent man in a written statement.

Keister was found to be wanted in Dauphin County for a probation violation for an unrelated incident.

She was charged by Buhay with resisting arrest, two counts of unsworn falsification to authorities, hindering apprehension or prosecution, false reports, disorderly conduct and false identification to law enforcement.

SELINSGROVE - Joshua Druckenmiller, of Paxinos, was named the winner of the junior men's category at the annual singing competition of the Eastern Regional National Association of Teachers of Singing, held March 15 to 17 at Ithaca College.

A junior music major at Susquehanna University, Druckenmiller is a 2010 graduate of Shamokin Area High School. He is a son of Robert and Diana Druckenmiller.

Of the 17 participants representing Susquehanna, eight singers advanced to the semifinals and four were winners in their categories.

A total of 157 singers and 30 teachers participated in the competition, coming from Ithaca College, Pennsylvania State University, West Virginia University, University of Delaware, Hofstra University, Syracuse University, SUNY Oswego and SUNY Binghamton.

Shamokin-Coal Township

Monday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; yoga, 9:30 a.m.; Walk A Mile, 10:30 a.m.; crafts, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; bridge lessons, 9:30 a.m.; bridge, noon; aquacize, 1:30 p.m.

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

Thursday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; aerobics, 9:30 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

Monday - HSIM Exercise, 10 a.m.; sing a long, 10:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Tuesday - Chit Chat, 10 a.m.; Favorite TV show, 11 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Unlucky 7s, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Bean bag, 10 a.m.; exercise chair dancing, 10:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:30 a.m.; members meeting followed by bingo, 1 p.m.

Thursday - Current events, 9:30 a.m.; puzzle time, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; pinochle, 12:15 p.m.

Friday - Brain teasers, 10 a.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; healthy living, 11 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Kulpmont

Monday - Wii and knitting in the morning; bean bag, 10:30 a.m.; Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

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

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

Thursday - Wii, 10 a.m.; members meeting with bingo to follow, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii and noodle balloon in the morning; open house all day; guest speaker Linda Walker on "Bullying" with nickel bingo to follow, noon.

Centralia-Wilburton

Monday - Presentation by Bobby on "Water is Essential!"

Tuesday - Senior auction by Judy.

Wednesday - Advisory board meeting.

Thursday - Wii bowling.

Friday - Center closed.

Elysburg

Monday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; Pokeno, noon.

Wednesday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; bingo, noon.

Friday - Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle, noon; members meeting and doughnut day.

Trevorton

Monday - Members breakfast, 8:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; card games; evening card party, 7 p.m.

Tuesday - Wii bowling practice, 9:30 a.m.; Shopping at Walmart, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; evening bingo, 6 p.m.

Wednesday - Exercise, 10:30 a.m.; pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Beanbag toss, 10:30 a.m.; members meeting followed by Scrabble, 12:15 p.m.

Friday - Wii games, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.; exercise with Amy, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Sweeper scheduled in MC Twp.

ATLAS - Mount Carmel Township Board of Supervisors has announced the street sweeping schedule for the township.

Monday: Locust Gap, spring side.

Tuesday: Locust Gap, post office side.

Thursday: Dooleyville, Connorsville, Beaverdale and West 5th Street.

Friday: Natalie

Residents must move their vehicles on the appropriate day or received a $15 ticket.

Roadwork planned for I-81

A PennDOT crew will perform shoulder work and widening along I-81 between exit 100 (Pine Grove) and Exit 124 (Route 61) beginning Monday.

Lanes will be restricted between 7 a.m. and 3 p.m. The work is expected to be done by Friday.

SCI Mahanoy crew to clean roads

FRACKVILLE - SCI Mahanoy's Community Work Program will participate in the Great American Cieanup of PA by removing litter from local highways Monday.

The Community Works Program engages inmates in work projects that benefit nonprofit organizations, iocaì communities, and other state agencies. The work crew is comprised of inmates who are supervised by a Department of Corrections staff member.

From July 2003 through June 2012, state prison inmates have worked 1,227,090 hours to keep the roadsides clear of debris.

COAL TOWNSHIP - A man who allegedly threatened to bring a gun to a local emergency room where his wife was being treated has been charged with a misdemeanor of disorderly conduct.

Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan filed the charge Friday against Andrew J. Mensch, 27, of Catawissa.

The reported threat by Mensch prompted numerous police officers to respond to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital at about 1:30 p.m. April 19 and forced the medical facility to be placed on lockdown, according to police.

Mensch was found by police in Mount Carmel Township within the hour without any weapons and the scene was cleared about 2:30 p.m.

Mensch's wife, Anna, told police she came to the hospital with her husband because she wasn't feeling well. Anna Mensch said her husband, who remained in the lobby, became upset because another person came into the emergency room while she was being treated.

Police said Andrew Mensch then left the hospital, but called his wife a short time later claiming he was going to return to the hospital with guns to take care of the people who were there. Anna Mensch then told hospital staff about the alleged threat and police were dispatched to the hospital.

Assisting Coal Township police were officers from Ralpho Township, Shamokin, Mount Carmel Borough and Mount Township.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Tom Marino (R-10) introduced legislation Thursday to establish a system to track items purchased with SNAP benefits.

The SNAP Transparency Act of 2013 "would establish a system to report items purchased with SNAP benefits - formerly known as food stamps - and requires the Secretary of Agriculture to publish the information online in a searchable, comparable format," according to a press release from Marino's office.

"My bill represents a common-sense way to crack down on waste and fraud in a government program that has ballooned in costs in recent years, and it will finally allow taxpayers to know how their money is being spent," Marino said in the press release. "The American people deserve to know how their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent, and yet there is little transparency in this massive government program."

The federal government currently provides food stamps to roughly 1 in 7 Americans. In 2012 alone, the program cost $80 billion, and over the next 10 years, the Congressional Budget Office estimates costs will total $760 billion.

The federal government initially kept records of food stamp purchases, but lacking the appropriate technology, failed to keep up with paper records and caused the federal government to eliminate this reporting system in the 1960s, the press release said.

Stores and retailers currently participating in SNAP are already required through the 2008 Farm Bill to maintain a record of all SNAP transactions for at least three years. However, these records are only used for investigative purposes, not for oversight, the press release said.

"The SNAP Transparency Act simply expands the purposes for which records already kept can be used. SNAP is an entirely voluntary program for these retailers, but as long as they participate, they must help to ensure the program is transparent and efficient," Marino said.

ATLAS - Fire destroyed two garages early Friday morning in the 100 block of West Girard Street, but quick action by firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby homes.

Mount Carmel Township Fire Marshal Brian Hollenbush said the fire started at about 1:15 a.m. in a garage at 100 W. Girard St. owned by Lee Britton, and quickly spread to an adjoining garage at 110 W. Girard St. owned by Britton's son, Laramy Britton.

Hollenbush said firefighters knocked down flames in about 20 minutes, but remained at the scene for two hours to check for hot spots in the concrete-block garages that have wood-framed trusses.

Hollenbush said the garage at 100 W. Girard St. contained a pickup truck owned by Lee Britton, but it wasn't damaged in the blaze. The other garage contained tires and miscellaneous items belonging to Britton's son.

He said the Brittons are insured.

Two homes owned by the Brittons, which are located in front of the garages, were not damaged.

Hollenbush, who also serves as township police chief and assistant fire chief, said the cause of the fire remains undetermined.

He credited firefighters with making a "quick knockdown" to prevent further damage.

Also assisting at the scene were Atlas Fire Chief Charles Gasperetti, personnel from Strong and Anthracite fire companies, Mount Carmel Area Rescue Squad, Shamokin Area Rescue Squad and AREA Services Ambulance, which has a station nearby.

COAL TOWNSHIP - In light of recent loitering and theft complaints, police here issued a warning to residents to make sure they lock their vehicles, homes, sheds, garages and other property.

Police said drug users and thieves are walking the streets looking for open vehicles at night. More officers have been assigned during the night shifts to combat the problem.

Anyone who observes suspicious individuals or activity is urged to call police at 644-0333.

SHAMOKIN - Petra Radcliffe's love for history was reflected in her artwork among dozens of pieces displayed Friday night at the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities Fine Art Gallery.

Radcliffe's paintings of three churches and works by young art students in Lisa Welch's classes were featured at the Coal Region Heritage Invitational Art Show at the county career and arts center at the corner of East Arch and Eighth streets.

"I've been involved in art for about 40 years, but just started taking it seriously recently," said Radcliffe, who resides in Buck Mountain near Weatherly in Carbon County. "History engulfed me, but I also enjoy doing other types of artwork."

The three pieces Radcliffe entered in Friday's show included First Presbyterian Church in Catasauqua in acrylic, St. Mary's Orthodox Church in Sheppton in colored pencil and pastel, and Transfiguration of Our Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church in Shamokin in acrylic.

Radcliffe said she was introduced to the Shamokin church by her friend and colleague, Welch, whose children's art classes in Shamokin and Mount Carmel continue to grow.

Radcliffe and her husband own the 200-year-old Buck Mountain Hotel.

Kids corner

Lyla Barrett, 7, a daughter of Tim Barrett and Tara Mackey, of Coal Township, was very happy to have the opportunity to enter her first colored pencil drawing at the show. Her artwork is entitled "Train Station." The first-grade student at Shamokin Area Elementary School said she really enjoys art and loves using markers, crayons and colored pencils in her different drawings.

Friday also was the first art show for Alaina Glowatski, 7, a daughter of Tim and Tammy Glowatski, of Mount Carmel, who entered a pastel drawing called "Miner's Hat, Gloves, Pick and Shovel."

The first-grade student at Mount Carmel Area Elementary School, who enjoys drawing and coloring with crayons the best, said she hopes to major in art some day.

"The Kids Corner" is located at the rear of the gallery and features work done by children ranging in age from 5 to 18 in a variety of media, including watercolor, pastel, pencil and acrylic.

Great for the area

Frank Noll, of Coal Township, was impressed by all the artists, but particularly had high praise for the artwork of his twin granddaughters, Abbey and Lauren Noll. Abbey's pastel entry is entitled "Coal Miner," while her sister's watercolor piece is known as "Coal Breaker."

The sisters are daughters of Eric and Tracy Noll, of Shamokin.

"This gallery is a great thing for our area," Frank Noll said. "I come to a lot of the shows and the children's classes grow every year."

"Awesome" was the word used by Welch to describe the talent of the artists and Friday's turnout at the gallery.

Welch said three of the pieces done by her young students were sold at the show.

Doreen Kushner, a recent member of the arts and humanities council, was very impressed by the crowd and commended all the artists. She particularly praised the children for showing a keen interest in art at a young age.

Kushner said having the works of the young students on display beefed up attendance.

Claude Harrington, gallery director, also was very pleased with Friday's show and invited everyone to view the talented works on the ground floor of the center from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and during the Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts on Memorial Day weekend.

BIG MOUNTAIN - This former mining village is not unlike many "patch towns" throughout the anthracite coal region.

During the coal boom of the early 1900s, the village had a school, a church, a monument honoring veterans and at least seven double-homes.

Those homes were owned by Big Mountain Coal and Improvement Company, which operated a mine in the heart of the community. It was located along a dirt road in a valley 1.2 miles south of the terminus of South Shamokin Street in Shamokin, and the Big Mountain Colliery employed hundreds of men and young boys who toiled deep inside the mine.

The community has been a victim of time, however. The population, in fact, has dwindled to zero following the death of long-time resident Robert Schell in 2011 and the departure of the Moore family.

The falling-off happened over decades, starting with the closing of the colliery in 1932, not to mention a lack of utilities and the complications of being located away from town.

The village has been reduced to three vacant homes stripped of all wiring and plumbing, a rusty flagpole where the monument stood and a pile of faded green shingles attached to broken planks of wood that, until the late 1950s, had been the Union Evangelical Church.

Saving Big Mountain

The town, however, has not been completely forgotten. Big Mountain natives and sisters Pamela Sharp-Colvin, Donna Sharp-Perez and Heather Makal bought the former Moore residence - the last in a row of three homes - in an attempt to preserve their childhood village. The $2,000 purchase was made during a Northumberland County Tax Sale in September.

"For us, I think the main reason was nostalgia and wanting to keep a piece of Big Mountain," said Makal, a resident of Danville. "So, even though we moved away from there, we consider it home. That's where we grew up."

The house is located just feet away from their childhood home, a half-double currently owned by Jeanette Woodley, who purchased it from the sisters' father, George Sharp, in 1997.

"I felt like I lost a piece of Big Mountain when my father sold the house," Makal said. "The auction was an opportunity to get it back."

Woodley's estranged husband, Norm Weikel, owns the other half of the building, which is currently listed for upset tax sale because of unpaid back taxes.

The late Robert "Bob" Schell owned the third building, which sits 150 to 200 yards north. Schell, a long-time resident who was known for maintaining the coal road and for operating a metal scrap yard on his property, passed away Oct. 29, 2011, at 74. The building has since been vacant.

Upon inspection of her new purchase in April, Makal discovered that it was broken in to at least once. Vandals stripped the wiring and piping, smashed windows and busted the lock on the front door. The other two homes were also vandalized to the same degree, if not worse. Makal said the condition of the homes is "heart-breaking."

Makal said she is unsure what to do with her property, and is holding back on making a decision until her sisters, who live in Colorado and South Carolina, inspect the property.

"The best option might be to tear it down," Makal said cautiously.

Until then, her goal has been to secure the property, which includes installing a new padlock on the front door and posting "no trespassing" signs. She is also entertaining the idea of installing security cameras.

"It used to be very quiet up here. Everybody knew each other," Makal said. "Now, no one is left."

Tinwood Estates

Jeanette Woodley's daughter, Janine, who lived in Big Mountain until 2002, is also attempting to keep Big Mountain from disappearing, all while battling terminal cancer.

Woodley maintains a campground behind her half-double called "Tinwood Estates," in conjunction with the development of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area, the county's proposed recreation area that surrounds Big Mountain. Friends of Woodley's can leave belongings in the yard while they ride on various trails. The house, however, is not usable, she said.

"To replace everything that is missing would cost $32,000," she said. "I don't have that type of money."

Because her property has no security, she stays at the site to ensure riders' property. During the winter there is much vandalism, she said.

"I have had two lawn mowers stolen, yard tools and a grill," she said. "Local people can go out there and steal stuff. Every weekend I have to bring my generator home because I can't trust people."

Township road

In December 2011, the Coal Township Board of Commissioners did not vote on the second and final reading of Ordinance 468, which would have designated Big Mountain Road as a township road that would have no longer been maintained or repaired.

According to Makal, Aqua PA is responsible for the water line from Shamokin Street until the location of the former Henry Clay Colliery, located a few hundred feet from the end of Shamokin Street. Aqua closed a valve at that location. Beyond that, residents of Big Mountain are responsible for the maintenance of the line.

Makal said she contacted Aqua about possibly opening the valve, but was told there was a "very large" outstanding bill and that the line has many leaks. There is still electricity running to the properties, but the phone line is down between Shamokin Street and Big Mountain.

Shamokin Area stayed on top in the high school division in Week 9 of the EconomicsPennsylvania Stock Market Game, and took over the lead in the middle school division.

The high school team's adviser is David Kopitsky, and Stephen Keller is the adviser of the middle school team.

The Stock Market Game is sponsored by The News-Item and Sunbury Motors. The Stock Market Game is an award-winning educational program in which students are given a virtual cash amount of $100,000 and are encouraged to create the best performance portfolio using a live trading simulation. Students work in teams.

(While there are multiple teams taking part in the game at each participating school, EconomicsPennsylvania is reporting the dollar amount for the leading team at each school for this weekly report.)

BRYN MAWR - Aqua Pennsylvania, Inc. (Aqua) President Steve Tagert was surprised with a "special recognition" award from the Board of Directors of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American Water Works Association (PA AWWA) at its annual meeting luncheon in Hershey.

The resolution acknowledged Tagert for his special effort, work experience and leadership, which has provided invaluable and consistent service to the water industry and the PA AWWA Section membership. The resolution also acknowledged Tagert's earnest support of the PA AWWA Water Utility Council, on which he served from 2006 to 2012, and his "… inclusive style and ability to share his thoughts with all committee members with whom he worked by, unselfishly offering his knowledge and by providing solutions to water suppliers, regulators and members of the Pennsylvania AWWA Section through his understanding and common sense approach to finding solutions for the benefit of all Water Utility Council members."

In addition to his Water Utility Council role, Tagert has also served on the Water/Wastewater Agency Response Network (WARN) Board since 2007 and has supported the organization's Water for People Charity and the Partnership for Safe Water, of which all of Aqua's surface water treatment plants are a member.

"Today's resolution demonstrates that Steve's professionalism and experience has been as invaluable to PA AWWA as it has been to Aqua," said Aqua America, Inc. Chairman and CEO Nicholas DeBenedictis. "I'm proud to see Steve, a true and tenured water professional, be recognized by his water industry peers for the years of service he has provided, and continues to provide, to PA AWWA."

Tagert was named president of Aqua Pennsylvania in March 2012 and has been with the company for more than 40 years.