COAL TOWNSHIP - Friends and family gathered Tuesday at Our Lady of Hope Church to remember Kevin Collins, the Southern Columbia Area girls basketball coach who died unexpectedly Tuesday, July 23, just five days before his 46th birthday.

The public viewing started at 7 a.m. and a Mass of Christian Burial just after 10 a.m. in a packed church. Those in attendance included former and current players who wore their jerseys, members of rival teams and referees.

True to Collins' love of the sport, his ashes were placed in a basketball. Photos of his other passions - his family and Notre Dame football - were on display in the front of the church.

Of the many themes expressed in the Rev. Adrian Gallagher's homily were Collins' big heart, his will to fight and the eerie foreshadowing of his own demise in comments he made about "legacy" to a friend that very day.

Gallagher, who was good friends with Collins, drew laughter from some of his comments.

Collins' time coaching at various stops on both the youth and high school level left the most lasting legacy, Gallagher said.

"Coaching was rewarding," he said, "central to the rhythm of his life."

In his only year as head coach of the Tigers, Collins guided the squad to a 19-7 record and a second place

finish in the District 4 Class AA playoffs.

It was in his role as coach that Collins "captured the hearts of so many young people," Gallagher said.

"Kids will forever be better people because they ran across a really good man."

Collins also coached the Southern Columbia boys basketball junior varsity team in 2011, was an assistant for the Susquenita boys basketball team in 2010 and for a number of years was the head volleyball coach and an assistant on the girls basketball team at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional.

He also coached CYO basketball and Little League baseball teams.

Following the service, a bagpiper led a procession along Chestnut Street that included Collins' son, Jordan, who carried the basketball with his father's remains.

Collins leaves behind a wife, Lori, and five children.

ELYSBURG - Cross your fingers, thrill-seekers and coaster enthusiasts. Knoebels Amusement Park officials are optimistic that Flying Turns - seven years in the making - could open later this year or early next season.

Joe Muscato, director of public relations, said tests have been done continuously this summer and there is confidence that a vehicle that will work has been developed. In fact, Tuesday, crews were testing two vehicles and everything appeared to be running smoothly.

Several families looked on in excitement. One woman, however, wondered to her family why Knoebels didn't just "cut their losses" and forget about it.

It's a common statement in relation to The Flying Turns, but it's also been a long time since park officials have speculated on a time frame. The answer has always been "not this year, but we're making progress."

The task of inventing a new vehicle is "arduous," Muscato said, "but we

believe it will be well worth it. We keep telling ourselves that this will be the only one in the world when we're done."

Finishing the ride is "quite close," he said.

There's so much anticipation in the thrill-ride community that even rumors of testing has people excited. Discussion boards on All American Thrills and Screamscape have had weekly updates this summer with posts and pictures dedicated to The Flying Turns.

Now, with the possibility that opening is less than a year away, Ken Letherer, of Oreland, Montgomery County, said he and his children are looking forward to it.

"They've been working on it a long time, but I prefer they do a good and thorough job before they open it," he said.

His kids, Maya, 11, and Dillon, 8, both love the 55-foot-high log flume, and fully expect to love The Flying Turns, too. 21st century safety

The creation looks a lot like a typical wooden roller coaster, but it's better described as a bobsled ride, the kind that was popular in the 1930s.

The first ever of its kind was built at Lakeside Park in Dayton, Ohio, in 1929, by a company formed by Norman Bartlett and John Miller. Seven Flying Turns rides were built by those men or the Philadelphia Toboggan Company between 1929 and 1939. The last one that Muscato is aware of that operated was a wooden one at Coney Island in New York that closed in 1974.

With the concept more than 80 years old, there's no modern day equivalent to use as a guide. And, Muscato notes, the vehicles of those days were not safe. State ride inspectors would never pass them today, he said.

"The question is how do you create a vehicle that maintains the thrills of the original rides, but match the safety of today's standards, and accommodate 21st century people?" Muscato said.

The ride begins by sending the coaster-like cars up a 48-foot-high hill, then shooting passengers through a double helix to build up speed. After a few more twists and another lift, the real thrill comes when it leaves its tracks to "free wheel" through two 270-degree turns, traveling up and down the sides of a narrow trough much like a bobsled would on its downhilll run, centrifugal force guiding it at that point.

Each vehicle includes three two-person cars that will travel through the 1,300 feet of track. The ride will last between 2 1/2 and 3 minutes depending on the lift hills that keep vehicles equally spaced.

'What if?' scenarios

While there was nothing in the cars on tests observed Tuesday afternoon, park officials have been running tests with water dummies that simulate weights and shapes of riders, and the results have been promising.

"We used to do testing off-hours, but we've been forging ahead (during park hours) and letting people see the testing," Muscato said.

With a working vehicle, Muscato said recent testing has been accounting for every scenario: what if a hat or another object lands in the trough? What if there are more than one vehicle running at a time?

"There's always that element of unpredictably. Something could happen that could set us back," he said.

'Wait and see'

There have been many rumors about the ride in the last seven years. Some people think dummies were decapitated, while others think the vehicles were totaled in crashes that took the cars off the track - neither of which is true, Muscato said.

The only Flying Turns rumor by which he's still is: that it will never run. To those people, he said, "Just wait and see."

AUGUSTAVILLE - A trailer full of hay and the pickup that was hauling it were destroyed when an axle broke and the resulting sparks caught the hay on fire.

The incident occurred about 3:30 p.m. Monday on Route 890 between here and Wolfe's Crossroads in Rockefeller Township.

The truck was being operated by Jay Mahlon Faus, 1508 Boyer Hill Road, Sunbury. He had picked up 230 bales of hay at a farm about one-half mile away.

Faus escaped injury.

Stonington, Upper Augusta and Sunbury fire Department firefighters responded. The road was closed in the area while the fire was extinguished and the vehicles and burned hay removed.

SHAMOKIN - The following hearings took place Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III. Defendants ordered to appear for plea court Sept. 23 in Northumberland County Court, Sunbury, can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty:

n Joshua Michael Daya, 30, of 134 W. Center St., Apt. 2A, Elysburg, waived to court two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, a red light violation, failure to drive in a single lane, depositing waste on highways and careless driving relating to a March 24 incident at the intersection of Routes 61 and 225 in Coal Township.

Police reported Daya had Nordiazepam, Xanax, Benzoylecgonine and Methadone in his blood system.

The charges were filed by Trooper David Myers of state police at Stonington.

n Raymond Heller, 29, of 151 S. Locust St., Hazleton, waived to court charges of retail theft, simple assault and possession of a small amount of marijuana involving a June 25 disturbance at Walmart Supercenter in Coal Township.

The charges were filed by Patrolman Joshua Wynn.

Police said Heller was approached in the store parking lot by asset protection employees and allegedly told them not to touch him because he had a gun. The employees called 911.

Heller and Donald Clymer, 32, of the same address who was charged with retail theft in the same incident, were stopped by police minutes later on Route 61 across from Burger King, where they were taken into custody. Two BB guns were found inside their Jeep Grand Cherokee. An adult female and three children were also in the vehicle.

Police said Heller was involved in the theft of $1,063.74 in merchandise and that Clymer was found in possession of $1,040.48 in goods, including a computer and merchandise for children and babies.

According to Wynn, the men allegedly stole items separately, and Heller abandoned the items he allegedly stole when confronted by store employees. Police said the items allegedly stolen by Clymer were in the Jeep before the confrontation.

Clymer previously waived to court his retail theft charge.

n Nathan J. Reigle, 36, of 905 W. Willow St., Coal Township, waived to court multiple theft-related offenses filed by Coal Township police.

Reigle was charged by Detective Jeff Brennan with burglary, theft, receiving stolen property, driving under suspension and hit and run relating to a break-in and accident on Maple Avenue in early April. Police reported Reigle broke into a storage trailer owned by Dean Smeal, of 1744 Maple Ave., Coal Township, and stole a partial engine from a riding mower, a weed trimmer, metal pipe, two lawn tractor tires and an 18-inch chain saw.

He also was charged by Patrolman Chad Yoder with theft and receiving stolen property for allegedly stealing a 1989 Harley-Davidson Sportster from a lot near 814 W. State St. in early July. The Sportster, which is valued at $4,700, is owned David Deitrick.

n Gregory Poltenovage, 44, of 1440 Hemlock St., Coal Township, waived to court charges of simple assault and harassment in connection with a June 30 disturbance at his home.

Poltenovage was charged by Coal Township Edward Purcell with assaulting his wife, Susan Poltenovage.

n Joshua M. Shurock, 18, of 1778 W. Chestnut St., Coal Township, waived to court charges of possession with intent to deliver marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving without a license and underage drinking involving a May 30 incident at the Ferndale ballfield.

The charges were filed by Patrolman Edward Purcell.

Lemonade profits to children hospital

NORTHUMBERLAND - A West Milton teen opening a lemonade stand in Northumberland Saturday will be donating all the proceeds to Geisinger Medical Center's Janet Weis Children's Hospital in Danville.

Blake Bradt, 14, and her cousin, Kurt Snyder, 13, of Sunbury, are participating in the eighth annual Lemonade Day at the Second Street Community Center, Second and Orange streets, which is being held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Their stand will be Hawaiian-themed complete with homemade pineapple lemonade, grass skirts and other tropical decorations. In addition to selling the drinks, they will also have various treats for sale.

Reinhart FoodService, of Coal Township, will be donating a box of 200 lemons to their cause, and Janet Weis will be donating posters for display.

There will also be food, games, music, contests and raffles and a petting zoo. There will be chalk drawing from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., a watermelon seed spitting contest at 1:45 p.m., a bubblegum blowing contest at 2 p.m., a hulu hooping contest at 2:15 p.m., a water balloon toss at 2:30 p.m. and a pie eating contest at 3 p.m.

There will be prizes for best decorated stand, best theme and best tasting lemonade. Judging announcement will be at 3:30 p.m.

SHAMOKIN - City council voted Tuesday to approve $1.78 million in interim financing for the restoration project of the channels of Shamokin Creek and Carbon Run.

The loan and accompanying 3 percent interest will be reimbursed in full by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said Steve Bartos, city clerk, who explained the financing will be used to make timely payments to contractors on the job and will be drawn down as invoices are submitted.

FEMA will reimburse the city incrementally with previously approved grant funding totaling $3,402,111. Bartos

had previously estimated reimbursements taking between six and eight weeks to arrive upon submission.

Language in the paperwork with Susquehanna Bank will reflect a loan amount approximately equal to the total grant, but Bartos said the city would only borrow a little more than half of that, $1,787,985.50.

The project was pursued after the Flood of 2011 caused severe damage to the stone creek channels, which were believed to have been a project of the Works Progress Administration dating to the mid-1930s.

Earlier this year, officials working on the project explained that particular detail to historic preservation and restoration - fixing the stone and returning it to its previous state - will be paid to the city's downtown district, between the confluence of Shamokin Creek and Coal Run near Washington and Water streets and the area of the Independence Fire Association on Market Street.

Basic flood prevention will be the focus on the project's northern and southern ends, they said.

Bartos said Tuesday the design phase is in its beginning stages and that a meeting would be held with council members in the coming months to review designs.

The project has not yet been put out for bid. According to an ordinance authorizing the loan, it is to be fully completed by Dec. 31, 2016.

Councilman R. Craig Rhoades credited Bartos and staff inside City Hall for their work over a 22-month period to finalize the federal grant.

FEMA had originally awarded the city nearly $1.8 million for the project. The city then sought an additional $1 million as the estimated costs grew. FEMA added to that, Bartos had previously said, bringing the total above $3.4 million.

In other business, city council:

- Accepted eight bids to demolish seven homes damaged in the Flood of 2011. Vince Madonna Enterprises, Port Carbon, submitted low bids of $20,520 to take down six homes on North Rock Street and $4,500 to fell one on South Third Street. A contract was not yet awarded;

- Agreed to a contract with Eric Brightbill, of Shamokin, on a concessionaire contract for the basement of the American Legion Building. The agreement is contingent on the city being given copies of LLC filings for Brightbill's firm and a letter from his attorney acknowledging him as a representative of the LLC, along with a $1 million general insurance policy. The three-year lease agreement would bring the city $69,000 in rent, according to the contract, and require Brightbill to pay all utility costs. The Shamokin man is working to open Echo Lounge, billed as a casual lounge for youth on the weekdays and an underage club for people age 16 to 20 on Fridays and Saturdays. Brightbill hopes to open Aug. 20;

- Renewed a liability insurance policy with Weiss-Schantz Agency Inc. for city buildings, vehicles, equipment and workers compensation. The premium totals $136,619. Workers compensation coverage increased $13,929 due to state law allowing cancer to be considered an occupational disease for firefighters;

- Permitted Solicitor H. Robert Mattis to file a response and a counterclaim in an ongoing lawsuit filed against the city by Robert Gusick Demolition related to the emergency demolition of a partially collapsed commercial building in June 2012 in the 700 block of North Shamokin Street. An attorney for the demolition firm filed an amended complaint earlier this month. The decision came after an estimated five minute executive session by council;

- Allowed the Shamokin 150th Anniversary Committee to open a checking account under the city's name. The anniversary celebration will come in July 2014. Inquiries are being made by Bartos with the state to see if committee members or city officials - the treasurer, controller and director of public finance - must sign off on checks written from the account;

- Agreed to meet with two downtown businessmen, Richard Wright of Ye Olde Coin Shoppe and Kyle Lahr of the newly opened The Game Shack, to discuss potential ordinance revisions monitoring the sale and trade of secondhand goods. Both men believe the existing ordinance is harmful to their businesses, specifically hold periods - five days for some items, 10 days for others like precious metals - before they can be resold or altered. Rhoades said he believes there is room for adjustment in the ordinance. The business owners are expected to meet within the week to discuss the issue with city officials;

- Heard from city resident Carolyn Smith, of 621 N. Second St., who spoke of overgrown weeds and trees in her neighborhood surrounding blighted properties. She asked that trees growing from neighboring properties into her backyard be trimmed. Councilman William Strausser, interim mayor, said her concerns would be addressed but made no promises. Mayor George Rozinskie was hospitalized last week after a fall at his home.

KULPMONT - The annual Holy Angels Parish picnic returns Friday and Saturday. A committee, led by chairman Dave Shinskie and the Rev. Andrew Stahmer has been planning the year's event since April.

The picnic begins at 5 p.m. Friday and continues until midnight. On Saturday, the picnic starts at 4 p.m. and ends at midnight.

Picnic attendees will be entertained by The Shoreliners from 7 to 11 p.m. each night and a fireworks display at 10 p.m. Saturday.

This year's menu includes porkette, Italian sausage, torpedoes, hamburgers, hot dogs, pierogi, haluski, french fries, funnel cakes, halupki (filled cabbage), pasta fazoli, pizza, corn on the cob, Polish sausage links, ice cream, fresh fruit cup, slushies and more.

Holy Name Society members will turn out their famous potato cake batter under the co-chairmanship of Jerome Buchinski and John Buggy. Both credit the hard work of their committee that handles a ton of potatoes and more than 350 pounds of onions in a process that "creates a product second to none," Buchinski said.

Among the other attractions at the picnic is a basket bonanza, which is chaired by Jill and Sherry Bozza.

Last year, more than 140 theme baskets, each valued at no less than $50, were awarded. Special prizes included a kayak, gas grill, bicycles, guitars, flat screen TV, a money tree, a lottery ticket tree and a Blessed Mother grotto ornament, among many others.

Sherry Bozza and her daughter Jill not only solicit donations for the theme baskets, they shop for, collect and prepare each entry in a professional manner, starting their venture many months before the event.

Following the fireworks display Saturday, a total of $3,000 will be awarded to lucky winners of the money raffle. Basket winners will also be announced at this time.

The children will be entertained with a tent full of games, face painting and activities, including handmade figures prepared by Christina Mrozek.

Stahmer thanked volunteers who work so hard to make this and past picnics a success. The parish and picnic committee also thanked Holy Angels parishioners and friends for their donations as well as area businesses and individuals who have made donations.

The abuse of prescription drugs "breaks the hearts of communities."

That's the assessment by Charles Moran, director of media relations for the Pennsylvania Medical Society (PAMED), who commented after arrests Wednesday in Northumberland County involving "doctor shopping." The practice involves patients obtaining controlled substances from multiple doctors without the physicians having knowledge of the other prescriptions.

Pennsylvania is one of the nation's worst states for prescription medication misuse, Moran said.

"(It) upsets all the good doctors working to help their patients," he said.

The problem led PAMED to create an educational campaign called "Pills for ills, not thrills," designed to raise physicians' awareness of pill-seeking doctor shoppers. It includes an educational reference booklet that details red flags.

"No doctor wants to be scammed," said society president C. Richard Schott, "Scammers waste valuable time that could be spent with patients who have truly painful conditions, and furthermore diverts medication away from proper use."

Moran relayed one Pennsylvania doctor's story: she was working at an ER and dealt with a patient, allegedly visiting from Colorado, who came in complaining of pain and received prescription-strength medication.

"The next day, that doctor was working in a different ER, and the same patient came in with the same symptoms," he said.

PAMED recently received a $30,000 grant from the Collaboration for REMS (Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy) Education to continue its mission involving doctor shopping.

Also, proposed legislation would establish a statewide controlled substance database, something every state bordering Pennsylvania has already established.

"It is out of committee and hopefully, very soon, will be brought before the House for a vote," Moran said.

According to the society, Pennsylvania currently ranks 10th in the nation for overdose deaths.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area and the Anthracite Trail Riders will sponsor a ride Sept. 14 at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) to benefit the Children's Miracle Network.

ATV, UTV, RTV, dirt bike and dual sport operators are invited to take part in a 25-mile trail ride.

Registration is from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. or register online at events.geisinger.org. The ride will leave in organized groups. Cost is $20 for operators and passengers, and $10 for anyone that is 18 years old or younger.

There will be food and beverages, along with door prizes, raffles and more.

The funds raised by this event will help to provide pediatric equipment, programs and services at Janet Weis Children's Hospital and throughout Geisinger Health System.

For directions or for more information contact the Northumberland County Planning Department at 988-4220, www.anthraciteadventure.com or the Children's Miracle Network office at 1-800-322-5437 / www.geisinger.org/cmn.

MAHANOY PLANE - Gilberton police Chief Mark Kessler has been suspended for 30 days without pay by Gilberton Borough Council due to the chief's use of borough weapons without permission in YouTube videos that he filmed.

The council voted 5-1 at Wednesday's meeting in borough hall that was filled to capacity with reporters, photographers, videographers, borough residents and others.

The 7 p.m. meeting followed a 55-minute executive session to discuss what action would be taken, if any, involving Kessler. When the executive session began at 6 p.m., Kessler, who was dressed in a suit and not in his police uniform, met with council and his attorney, Joseph Nahas, for about 20 minutes. Kessler left the building for a short time and was called in again.

'Molon Labe'

There were more than 100 people outside of borough hall, many arriving before 5 p.m. Many were supporters of Kessler and wearing "Constitutional Security Force" and other patriotic shirts, some with the Greek phrase "Molon Labe," which means "come and take," an expression of defiance.

Many of Kessler's supporters carries semi-automatic rifles, shotguns and pistols.

After a short explanation of the executive session by borough solicitor Karen Domalakes, council President Daniel Malloy requested a motion.

"After review of the circumstances, it is my recommendation that a motion be made to discipline Chief Kessler for the use of borough property for non-borough purposes without prior borough permission, incurring no expense to the borough," said Malloy. "This action would be 30 days (suspension) with no pay."

Someone from the public asked if there would be input from the public before a vote, with Domalakes stating that there will be time for public comment.

The motion was made by Councilwoman Susan Schmerfield and seconded by Vice President Eric Boxer. Voting in favor were Malloy, Schmerfield, Boxer, Robert Wagner and Michael VanAllen. Lloyd George voted against, and William Hannon was absent.

Videos

The controversy began when Kessler posted a homemade video on YouTube on July 15 criticizing comments by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, who said the Obama administration would approve a United Nations treaty of arms regulation despite opposition by Congress. In the video, Kessler used profanity and also fired an automatic rifle.

Due to criticism from some viewers, Kessler posted another video, which included additional profanity and the firing of two automatic rifles and an automatic pistol.

Both videos went viral, and the second "apology" video was viewed the most. On July 22, there were 3,280 views. As of July 31, the count was at 284,562. The first video went from 4,601 views on July 23 to 113,198 on July 31.

His right

As public opinion continued to grow against Kessler's videos, Hannon, after viewing the videos on July 23, stood by the police chief in a statement to the press, explaining that what Kessler says and does on his own time is his right under the First Amendment and he would not be censured for his political views.

The following day, a statement was released by the North Schuylkill Board of Education that its members "do not condone or agree with his actions or communications as produced in his online videos," distancing themselves from their fellow school director.

With an increasing number of irate telephone calls to borough hall last week, borough council postponed its July 25 meeting to this week.

After the vote, Nahas was allowed to make a statement, with Kessler standing by his side.

"Mr. Kessler is a very big activist when it comes to our Constitution, the First Amendment, the Second Amendment - the entire Constitution," said Nahas. "Mr. Kessler shot a video. He used some profane language and shot a weapon during that video. There is a very big difference what Mr. Kessler did on YouTube as to what a person would do in society at this board meeting."

Nahas said that those people who searched out the videos on the Internet had a very good idea what they would see and hear.

"Was profanity used? Absolutely. Was a gun used, which you (Malloy) described as borough property? Absolutely," said Nahas. "But they were used for shock value to call people's attention to our country and to constraints that our government may - may - be putting on the citizens of the United States. The bottom line is that Mr. Kessler did not do that in his capacity as a police officer. He did not do that in his capacity as a school board member. He did it in his capacity as an individual who is fighting for your constitutional rights. If you don't like the video, don't watch it. Don't click on it. There is nothing more to it than that."

As for council's decision, Nahas and Kessler will discuss it in private today; however, Kessler plans to cooperate.

"We'll follow the council's recommendation. He has to since you are his supervisor," said Nahas. "We'll decide if we're going to take any further action."

Public input

Domalakes asked for public comments, limiting the time to one minute per person. The first speaker was Peter Kostingo, a borough native who lives in Frackville.

"I do support the Constitution, the First and Second Amendments, but the only problem with what Chief Kessler did and what his attorney fluffed it up and said it was only about profanity, but if you look at those videos, he (Kessler) threatens Nancy Pelosi, he's wearing a Gilberton chief of police badge. He should be fired, not a 30-day suspension," said Kostingo. "The attorney put a good spin on it, but he used and abused his position, saying he's the chief."

Borough resident Mark Keirsey told council that there could be liability issues involving Kessler.

"I ask the mayor and this council to consider calling on an outside agency, such as Schuylkill County's district attorney's office or the state police, to investigate Mr. Kessler's actions," said Keirsey. "There is his conduct as a police officer and his ability to perform his duties as a law enforcement official with regards to his contractual obligations, not to mention the fact that he poses a major liability to this borough and its residents. God forbid that an unfortunate incident should occur, the borough could be sued and it would be a major liability issue."

Other comments were made in favor or against Kessler during the public portion, which concluded the meeting.

RTK, petition

Gene Stilp, of Marysville, presented to council eight pages of the Standard Right-To-Know request form asking for copies of the borough code of conduct requirements, written policies for dismissal and other information. Prior to the meeting, Michael Morrill, executive director of Keystone Progress, submitted a petition of more than 20,000 names demanding that Kessler be fired. The names were received through the Internet from Pennsylvania and other states.

Kessler went outside after the meeting and was surrounded by his supporters.

"The support has been overwhelming, not only from here in Gilberton borough, but from all over the country and internationally," said Kessler. "I respect council's decision and will follow it. It's shameful that they chose to bend because of political pressure, but it is what it is and I'll deal with it."

MOUNT CARMEL - Sarah Morgan Novack, of Mount Carmel, graduated from Nesbitt College of Pharmacy and Nursing at Wilkes University on May 18 with a Bachelor of Science .

Novack is a daughter of Mary V. and Richard S. Novack, of Mount Carmel. She is granddaughter of the late Mary E. and Joseph E. Purcell Sr., who lived in Coal Township, and the late Anna T. and Stephen J. Novack, who lived in Mount Carmel. She also has a brother, Cpl. Jonathan R. Novack, of the Maryland State Police.

She is a 2008 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School and successfully completed her state examination boards June 18, which qualifies her as a registered nurse.

Sarah has accepted a nursing position with Geisinger Medical Center on HFAM 7, an acute adaptable critical care unit.

More info from SASB meeting

COAL TOWNSHIP - During a special meeting Tuesday night, Shamokin Area School Board granted permission to special education coordinator Sherry Glosek and elementary school principal Mary Teresa Komara to participate in a state grant initiative called Project Max in partnership with the CSIU and attend the Project Max Summer Institute at Penn State University from Aug. 5 to 8.

In other business, Anthony Carnuccio, of 1770 W. Spruce St., Coal Township, thanked members of the buildings and grounds committee, other school board members and supervisor of buildings and grounds Dave Petrovich for rectifying a water runoff problem that created flooding at his home at the bottom of a road leading to the high school.

At the end of the meeting, director Robert Getchey, who serves as chairman of the buildings and grounds committee, recommended the board consider having custodians work swing shifts.

At the beginning of the session, a moment of silence was held in memory of Charles L. Carpenter, who served as president of Shamokin Area School Board from 2007 until 2011. Carpenter passed away June 30.

Preventing meth tragedies explored

ELYSBURG - Practical help in preventing meth use will be offered at Lifetree Cafe from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Elysburg Presbyterian Church, 320 W. Valley Ave.

The Lifetree event includes an exclusive film on a woman who lost a son due to methamphetamine use. The film also features a young man who became addicted to meth but found hope and escaped his addiction.

Admission to the 60-minute event is free. Snacks and beverages are available.

Lifetree Cafe is a place where people gather for conversation about life and faith in a casual coffeehouse-type setting. For more information, call 672-2873, e-mail elysburgpresby@verizon.net or go to www.lifetreecafe.com.

DIMOCK TOWNSHIP - A leaked Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) slideshow presentation showed natural gas drilling could cause "significant damage" to drinking water through migrating methane, something the federal agency did not look for when it spent months in the heavily drilled Dimock Township in 2011-12.

The slideshow revealed the federal agency was told methane migration from natural gas drilling posed a threat to drinking water, a main concern of residents of Dimock. Environmental groups called on the EPA to revisit the Susquehanna County township.

"The PowerPoint raises important questions about how EPA came to its determination that the water in Dimock was OK to drink when it points to the possibility of significant long-term contamination," said Kate Sindig of the Natural Resources Defense Council.

The slideshow discusses isotopic analysis - a means of determining the origin of natural gas in water. The isotopic analysis presented in the slideshow could distinguish between gas from shallow pools and those from deep rock formations.

David Yoxtheimer of Penn State University's Marcellus Center for Outreach and Research said the isotope analysis discussed in the EPA presentation is less than exact and could result in a false positive.

"The isotopic signatures of some of these gases are close and overlap," he said. "It's not a slam-dunk diagnostic tool."

The EPA said the slideshow was the work of an on-scene coordinator. It has not been peer reviewed and does not reflect the official agency position.

"The EPA will consider this information, along with tens of thousands of other data points, as a part of its ongoing and comprehensive National Study on the Potential Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing," said EPA spokeswoman Alisha Johnson.

The leaked presentation emerged almost exactly one year after the EPA closed its investigation into Dimock water contamination saying "sampling and an evaluation of the particular circumstances at each home did not indicate levels of contaminants that would give EPA reason to take further action."

While methane was central to the concerns of residents, evidenced by dramatic images of water from faucets flaring flames, the EPA tests were limited to contaminants in the Safe Drinking Water Act, which do not include methane. The agency scrutinized levels of hazardous substances such as arsenic, barium and manganese and declared them within safe levels in Dimock. In some cases, water treatment brought water back into safe levels. The EPA declared Cabot Oil & Gas no longer had to provide drinking water to residents. The industry touted the findings as absolving drilling activity of connection to water contamination.

Methane, in fact, is not considered a contaminant, noted Sindig, and no federal agency has established levels that are safe or pose a threat. But the Natural Resources Defense Council believes it should be looked at.

The EPA viewed water quality in the most narrow sense instead of looking at the broader context of the potential long term impacts, Sindig said.

While not identified as a serious contaminant, studies show that methane enhances other contaminants in water, Sindig said.

"We think the public deserves is an explanation. Why didn't the agency didn't go further in light of what was being presented by to them?"

Cabot has long held that methane in Dimock groundwater was naturally occurring and existed long before drilling began in the region.

"The drinking water in Dimock has been thoroughly and repeatedly tested over the past several years," a Cabot statement read. "The Environmental Protection Agency, state authorities and third-party experts have all tested the water."

Yoxtheimer said cases of natural gas migration have decreased as the industry gets a more refined knowledge of the geology. Well construction improved thanks to regulations passed in 2011. Pre-drilling water testing and baseline groundwater monitoring are commonplace, he said, and perhaps should include isotopic analysis of methane.

SHAMOKIN - Seven local residents and a Wilkes-Barre area man have been charged by the state attorney general's office and local police with "doctor shopping" for deceptively obtaining pain killers from multiple doctors to support their drug addiction or sell the pills for profit.

The 1 1/2-year ongoing investigation spearheaded by narcotics agent Duane Musser of the attorney general's office drug diversion unit and members of the Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force has resulted in felony offenses of acquiring or obtaining possession of a controlled substance by deception being filed against Joshua Howard Greenwood, 35, and his 28-year-old wife, Krystal M. Greenwood, of 1103 E. Race St., Coal Township; Christopher P. Bachorik, 42, and Charlotte M. Allen, 30, both of 108 S. Fifth St., Shamokin; Jennifer D. Degel, 41, of 278 Beurys Road, Ashland; Tammie S. Miller, 45, of 335 Susquehanna St., Trevorton; Wade J. Smink, 38, of 844 Chestnut St., Kulpmont, and Gene Allen Hale, 41, of 131 Eno St., Plymouth.

Musser said Mahoning Township police in Montour County plan to file similar offenses against a suspect in the near future.

Addiction or profit

According to a criminal complaint, Musser initiated the investigation after becoming aware of several people living in Northumberland County who were receiving simultaneous prescriptions for narcotics from prescribers in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Maryland and Delaware. Musser explained "doctor shopping" is the practice of a patient receiving overlapping prescriptions for controlled substances from multiple prescribers without informing each prescriber about the other prescriptions.

"They are shopping for doctors who will give them what they want," Musser said Wednesday afternoon at Shamokin Police Station where several of the defendants were arraigned by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III. "They feed their own addiction or sell the pills for profit."

Musser said "doctor shopping" is prevalent in most states, including Pennsylvania. But police said Wednesday's "doctor shopping" arrests were the first they encountered in the Shamokin area.

The agent said the Greenwoods, Bachorik and Allen worked together in obtaining the opiates, while the remaining defendants acquired their drugs independently.

He said thousands of pain killers were obtained through the process.

Musser pointed out that the doctors and pharmacies deceived by the defendants were victims in the crimes.

The Greenwoods, Bachorik and Allen turned themselves over to police Wednesday morning and were released after posting bail during their arraignments before Gembic. Degel was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones of Mount Carmel and set free after posting bail. Hale and Miller were not in custody as of Wednesday night. Smink was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Apfelbaum of Sunbury and released on his own recognizance.

Counts

The Greenwoods each face 11 counts of "doctor shopping" filed by Musser and Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano relating to incidents at Rite Aid Pharmacy in Shamokin between March 27, 2012, and Feb. 4, and Weis Pharmacy in Coal Township between July 10, 2012, and March 18.

Krystal Greenwood is accused of having prescriptions filled at Rite Aid for oxycodone/hydrochloride or oxycodone/acetaminophen that were authorized by Dr. Mahmood Nassir, of Sunbury, by deceiving the physician into believing he was the only prescriber who approved the controlled substances for the defendant.

Her husband allegedly had prescriptions filled at Weis Pharmacy for oxycodone hydrochloride authorized by Dr. Daniel Walker of the Penn Medical Group in Lehighton.

Joshua Greenwood also is charged by Coal Township Patrolman Edward Purcell with two counts of possession with intent to deliver five tablets of oxycodone.

Krystal Greenwood is charged by Purcell with possession with intent to deliver five oxycodone pills and criminal conspiracy.

Police said the offenses occurred Nov. 29 at the Greenwood residence.

Bachorik is charged by Primerano and Musser with 20 counts of acquiring or obtaining possession of a controlled substance by deception. Police said the defendant had prescriptions filled at Rite Aid Pharmacy for oxycodone/acetaminophen, fetanyl, oyxcontin and/or morphine sulfate authorized by Nassir by deceiving the doctor into believing he was the only prescriber approving controlled substances for him.

Police said Bachorik's offenses occurred between March 23, 2012, and Feb. 5.

Allen was charged by Primerano and Musser with 10 counts of the same offense for having prescriptions filled at Rite Aid Pharmacy between July 24 and Dec. 14, 2012, for oxycodone/acetaminophen and oxycontin authorized by Nassir.

Degel is charged by Mount Carmel Police Chief Todd Owens and Musser with one count of acquiring or obtaining possession of a controlled substance involving a Dec. 24 incident at the Geisinger Health System Clinic in Den Mar Gardens. Police reported Degel is accused of obtaining a 30-day prescription (180 tablets) for oxycodone/acetaminophen from Dr. Jill Nye by deceiving the physician into believing that she was receiving no additional prescriptions for the same drug from other prescribers.

Miller is charged by Musser and Primerano with one count of the same offense for having eight prescriptions filled for oxycodone/acetaminophe authorized by Nassir, and 12 prescriptions filled for oxycodone/hydrochloride and two prescriptions filled for oxycodone/acetaminophen authorized by Dr. Raymond Kraynak of Mount Carmel.

Police said the offenses occurred between Jan. 14 and Aug. 1, 2012, at CVS Pharmacy in Shamokin.

Smink is charged by Sunbury Officer Travis Bremigen with one count of acquiring or obtaining possession of a controlled substance in connection with a Feb. 2 incident on North Fourth Street in Sunbury.

Hale is charged by Musser and Primerano with three counts of the same offense for having prescriptions filled for oxycodone/acetaminophen authorized by Dr. Douglas Buffington at the Elysburg Family Practice Center by deceiving Buffington into believing he was the only prescriber authorizing controlled substances to the defendant.

CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP - A local farmer who has been at odds with his neighbors over plans for a concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) has been served three violation notices by the state and has been consistently late submitting required quarterly reports since 2010 in relation to his current CAFO.

The DEP violations only fuel the dispute between Joel Knoebel and Cleveland Township residents living in the R2 Residential Medium Density District who have been attempting to thwart Knoebel's plan to build two 43-by-500-foot poultry barns along Wynn School Road.

"He has a sense that he can do everything he pleases, even with the rules that are written," said Virginia Dall, of Ridge Acres Road. "It shows a lack of caring. It makes me feel like he is not a good steward of the land."

Johanna Lucid, of Wynn School Road, is also critical.

"How can he be allowed to proceed when he's not in compliance now?"

But Jedd Moncavage, a representative for Knoebel, said the problems with DEP are "purely administrative and that no environmental impact has occurred."

Moncavage, an environmental consulting services manager with TeamAg Inc., Ephrata, offered comment in a statement emailed to The News-Item on Knoebel's behalf.

He said Knoebel has retained Team Ag to assist him in the "resolutions of any and all violation currently enacted" by DEP.

TeamAg is comprised of agricultural engineers and consultants and specializes in environmental permitting and planning for agricultural operations, Moncavage said.

Knoebel and his wife, Sarah, of Center School Road, own Cleveland Pork, a 5-year-old pork producing operation. The couple operate two CAFOs on their 600 acres of property in the region: a 4,500-pig farm located on their home property, approximately three miles east of the R2 District, and a 2,200-pig farm in Irish Valley, operated as RK Farms Inc.

Working to resolve

Copies of the notices of violations were provided to The News-Item from Daniel Spadoni, community relations coordinator for DEP's North Central Regional Office, Williamsport.

"We are currently working with Mr. Knoebel to resolve these violations. No civil penalties have been assessed at this time," Spadoni said Friday.

All notices were signed by Patricia Havens, environmental group manager with DEP's waterways and wetlands program.

The first notice, sent in letters dated May 6 and June 4, notified Knoebel he was in violation of the Clean Streams Law by operating his CAFO along Center School Road with an expired permit. Under the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, anyone wishing to continue operating a CAFO must submit a permit application at least 180 days prior to the permit's expiration. Knoebel's permit expired June 2.

The first notice was sent twice because it was initially returned as unclaimed by the post office, Spadoni said.

DEP then sent a second notice on June 21.

A permit application was submitted by Knoebel June 26, but the application was returned July 17 because it was deficient, Spadoni said.

Since the application was received after the original permit expiration date, it must be processed as a new application, but the $1,500 associated fee for a new permit was not submitted, he said.

Also, a new application requires proof that the public notice of the application was published in a newspaper of general circulation in the locality in which the activity will be located once a week during a four-week period, which was not provided in the application, Spadoni said.

Furthermore, Knoebel had not submitted his 2011, 2012 or 2013 annual reports and two quarterly self-inspection reports that were due Jan. 15 and April 15. Also, all but two quarterly self-inspection reports from 2010 through the third quarter of 2012 were submitted late, according to the second notice.

For this violation, DEP proposed entering into a consent order with Knoebel that allows him to operate a CAFO for a limited time as he works to obtain a new permit.

It is not part of DEP's policy to reveal any further information, Spadoni said.

A third notice, dated June 25, notified Knoebel he did not file the appropriate paperwork when he purchased a swine farm operation at 612 Viall Hill Road, Towanda, and 70 acres of land in Bradford County from Daniel P. Hershberger.

An application for permit transfer is required to be submitted to DEP 30 days prior to the business transfer. By operating the CAFO without a permit, Knoebel is in violation of the Clean Streams Law, DEP says.

DEP was only notified when Hershberger verbally told state officials about the property transfer, Spadoni said.

It was confirmed in a phone call with Knoebel that the legal entity that purchased the CAFO is Knoebel Brothers Hog and Grain Farms Inc., he said.

The notices are not final orders and DEP reserves the right to inflict further enforcement action.

"If the department determines that an enforcement action is appropriate, you will be notified of the action," Havens said in the notices.

Questions on proposal

A DEP letter dated June 21 was sent to Knoebel seeking details on his proposed poultry operation, which was at the center of a lawsuit filed by Knoebel against 57 township residents earlier this year. The lawsuit was dropped in July because the residents agreed not to appeal Knoebel's plans for the chicken barn due to lack of funds.

In the letter, Havens said it had come to the department's attention that Knoebel was planning a new agricultural operation that may be defined as a CAFO. She asked for details about the location, the number and size of each barn, the type of animal the barns will house, acreage, the watershed he is operating, manure management details and more.

As of Monday, Spadoni said DEP did not have further information on the status.

"If the operation is a CAFO, it is the responsibility of the operator and sometime the property owner to obtain a CAFO permit before populating the barns," Spadoni said. "Other related permits may also be required prior to construction of buildings or manure storage facilities."

Residents still concerned

The debate with local residents began in April 2012 when manure was spread on farmland surrounding Wynn School, Middle and Polk roads. Residents complained about the "overwhelming" stench. Building more CAFOs in the R-2 zone, they say, would be detrimental to their health, quality of life and property values.

They pushed for township supervisors to pass an amendment to the zoning ordinance that would limit large-scale animal farms in a residential district. It would ban against a CAFO from exceeding 100 livestock animals within 500 yards of a residential dwelling in the R-2 district.

Lucid said the neighbors' legal pursuit may have ended for now, but that she and others are not done fighting.

"We will monitor everything being done," she said. "We'll be on top everything."