Meeting rescheduled

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Senior Action Center members meeting, postponed due to the inclement weather, has been rescheduled for 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 12.

Adoption issues considered

ELYSBURG - Adoption and the search for birth parents will be explored at Lifetree Cafe from 7 to 8 p.m. at Elysburg Presbyterian Church, 320 W. Valley Ave.

The program, titled "Finding the Family I Never Knew," features the filmed stories of a woman who searched for and connected with her birth mother and of a woman who, after 35 years, still searches for the child she gave up for adoption.

Participants in the Lifetree program will have the opportunity to discuss issues relating to adoption in a safe, caring environment.

Admission to the 60-minute event is free.

Lifetree Cafe is a place where people gather for conversation about life and faith in a casual coffeehouse-type setting. For more information, call 570-672-2873, e-mail elysburgpresby@verizon.net or go to www.lifetreecafe.com.

Seed exchange to be held at library

SELINSGROVE - In conjunction with the launch of the Snyder County Library System's new seed library, the East Snyder Community Garden will hold a seed exchange from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, at the Rudy Gelnett Memorial Library, High Street.

Anyone interested in vegetables or flower gardening is welcome to attend. Participants will find seed for their 2014 garden, share seeds they have saved, meet gardeners from around the area and learn about the new seed library and how to "check out" seeds, or how to rent a plot at the East Snyder Community Garden.

MOUNT CARMEL - The Lower Anthracite Transportation System (LATS) may be considered for funding as part of what Gov. Tom Corbett billed as the Decade of Investment.

Executive Director Megan Janolek said she hasn't heard any news on how the transportation plan would affect LATS, but she noted there's been discussions about expanding the bus system outside eastern Northumberland County.

For now, transit projects in the state and the amount of funding have not been officially identified in the transportation law passed, said Rick Mason, public information officer for PennDOT District 3-0.

At one time during the process, the borough-based LATS was considered for $800,000 in funding for buses and bus-related facilities, according to a document on PennDOT's website under the Decade of Investment plan.

The document, titled "Statewide Projects Funded Under Senate Bill 1," was used to list projects that were being considered for that particular bill before it was combined with the governor's plan.

Senate Bill 1 is not the version that ultimately passed, but the project may still be one of the projects completed under the Decade of Investment, Mason said.

Corbett in November signed the state's new transportation funding legislation into law. It invests an additional $2.3 to $2.4 billion into roads, bridges and transit systems by the fifth year of the plan. The revenue will increase through a gradual removal of the cap on the state Oil Company Franchise Tax over five years, a change that's already being blamed for high gasoline prices for consumers.

In the original Senate Bill 1, $630 million was considered for transit systems, including specific projects in 44 counties and a $100 million move to provide shared ride transit providers for all counties except Allegheny and Philadelphia.

A transit reorganizational study and meeting between PennDOT officials and transit coordinators across the state will be held soon to discuss increasing costs, funding changes and service demands, Janolek said.

Meanwhile, the Transportation Development Plan (TDP) for LATS, which consultant Michael Baker Corp., Harrisburg, is preparing for public review this month, has not yet been completed, Janolek said.

Routes are being tweaked to accommodate a few changes before the plan is finished, she said.

The TDP report needs to be completed before adding a night run, extended hours and new buses.

PennDOT provided $495,000 in grant money this year to LATS. Last year, it was $517,000. If the TDP recommends expansion of LATS service, Janolek can request more funding, but she won't know what they'll get from the state until May.

Additionally, LATS has $327,000 in state money to use for new buses, she previously said.

Managed by Mount Carmel Borough and designed to provide affordable public transportation in eastern Northumberland County, LATS is funded mostly from federal and state grants through PennDOT and the Lottery Senior Citizen Free Transit Fund.

Thirty-six municipalities in Northumberland County will receive a combined $233,903 in additional liquid fuels payments March 3 to help maintain roads and bridges.

In a PennDOT news release Thursday, Gov. Tom Corbett announced that the state's new transportation plan will allow PennDOT to distribute $345 million in liquid fuels payments to certified municipalities by next month; the allocation is $25.1 million more than the 2013 figure, roughly an 8 percent increase.

Liquid fuels allocations are annual payments to municipalities to help pay for highway and bridge-related expenses such as snow removal and road repaving.

In total, the county municipalities will be allocated $3,242,700 for fiscal year 2014-15, up from last year's $3,009,797.

Coal Township will see the largest bump in funding, increasing by $17,790 from $229,375 last year to $247,165 this year, followed by Sunbury, increasing by $15,110 from $144,993 to $156,470.

Coal Township Commissioner Gene Welsh, who supervises the street department, said the budget for liquid fuels projects is always tight, and it's difficult to predict what will happen with snow and ice removal in the winter.

"We spent a lot more this year in snow removal than we have in other years, and the winter isn't over yet. It (the funding) will be a big help," he said.

The township can use the extra funding for winter maintenance or paving local roads, Welsh said.

"It hasn't been enough, but it is what it is," he said.

Five other municipalities - Delaware Township (from $168,487 to $181,488), Ralpho Township (from $147,799 to $159,212), Shamokin Township (from $138,544 to $149,207) and Shamokin (from $144,933 to $156,470) - will see funding increases of $10,000 or more.

John C. Clemens, Shamokin Township roadmaster, said the township has been fortunate in recent years with the funding, but "all it takes is a bad winter or a broken vehicle to put us in the hole real quick."

As with Coal Township, Clemens said Shamokin Township has had more work to do this winter so far than in recent years.

"It definitely will help local municipalities that are cash strapped. Maybe we could do an extra road project with the money," Clemens said.

With mandates being added to municipalities and costs of material increasing, the extra funding will be a good thing, he said.

Corbett said in the release that the investment "helps our towns meet the tough challenge of maintaining municipality-owned roads and bridges. Because of the new transportation plan that I signed into law, Pennsylvania will be able to increase these resources in coming years which could provide some relief to local taxpayers from these costs."

There are 119,847 miles public roads in Pennsylvania, with 77,889 of those miles owned by municipalities and eligible for liquid fuels. The formula for payments is based on a municipality's population and miles of locally-owned roads.

To be counted as eligible for liquid fuels, a roadway must be formally adopted as a public street by the municipality, meet certain dimension requirements and be able to safely accommodate vehicles driving at least 15 mph.

Under Act 89, the new transportation plan Corbett signed in November, liquid fuels reimbursements will increase by roughly $220 million over the next five years.

The following is a list of municipalities and their liquid fuel payments from fiscal year 2012-13 to fiscal year 2013-14:

- Coal Township: $229,375 to $247,165.

- Delaware Township: $168,487 to $181,488.

- East Cameron Township: $16,373 to $17,642.

- East Chillisquaque Township: $25,365 to $27,322.

- Jackson Township: $60,266 to $64,901.

- Jordan Township: $77,456 to $83,406.

- Lewis Township: $112,923 to $121,613.

- Little Mahanoy Township: $20,809 to $22,414.

- Lower Augusta Township: $70,354 to $75,765.

- Lower Mahanoy Township: $117,802 to $126,861.

- Mount Carmel Township: $69,250 to $74,525.

- Point Township: $100,620 to $108,405,

- Ralpho Township: $147,799 to $159,212.

- Rockefeller Township: $119,148 to $128,323.

- Rush Township: $96,292 to $103,692.

- Shamokin Township: $138,544 to $149,207.

- Turbot Township: $75,763 to $81,604.

- Upper Augusta Township: $91,942 to $99,039.

- Upper Mahanoy Township: $116,806 to $125,769

- Washington Township: $107,854 to $116,130.

- West Cameron Township: $16,503 to $17,778.

- West Chillisquaque Township: $65,904 to 71,008,

- Zerbe Township: $50,151 to $54,033.

- Shamokin: $144,993 to $156,470.

- Sunbury: $194,526 to $209,636.

- Herndon: $11,239 to $12,107.

- Kulpmont: $62,529 to $67,333.

- Marion Heights: $13,979 to $15,062.

- McEwensville: $7,927 to $8,540.

- Milton: $142,615 to $151,806.

- Mount Carmel: $114,230 to $123,200.

- Northumberland: $81,454 to $88,917

- Riverside: $60,336 to $66,762.

- Snydertown: $18,621 to $20,055.

- Turbotville: $14,568 to $15,747.

- Watsontown: $46,994 to $50,763.

Mount Carmel Area Public Library

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Public Library is grateful for the following donations, the most basic and important source of income to the library.

In honor of:

Wendy Marshall from Mary Anne Leskusky.

Birthday memorial

Tacy Boyle from Frank and Joann Zyskoski.

Dorothy Guzevich from daughter Irene Casari.

Leona Karwacki from Marie and Frank Crawford.

Sylvia Pizzoli and Leonard Sosnoski from Sylvia, Cathy, Len and Jack.

Robert "Tag" Welker from Sylvia and Annie

In memory of:

Nick Amato from Bill and Pat Augustine.

Mary Angeli from Ray and Mary Theresa Hornberger.

Marilyn Barella from Joe and Irene Pupo.

Edward Bartos from Pat Bartos and family.

Dorothy Benfield from Mary Lapotsky.

William Brinker from Tom and Gayle Pivarnik and family.

Robert J. "Bob" Chuprinski from John Bush; Marie and Frank Crawford; Mr. and Mrs. Saverio Feudale and family; Phil and Donna Klaus; Robert W. Lapinski and sons; Gerard and Karen Miscavige; Frank and Rose Pecaitis; Bob Sacavage; Richard and JoAnn Sassani; Jerry Scisly; James Trione and family; Bill Wagner; Mount Carmel Area Class of 1970.

Joe Costa from Bob Sacavage.

Charles Dusendschine from Cathy Martinez; Maria Scicchitano; John and Carol Strocko; Frank and Virginia Varano; Linda Weissinger.

Shirley Elliot from Jim Darrup.

George Feddock from Mount Carmel High School Class of '59.

Florence M. Frye from Fritz and Ellie O'Hearn; Clara Shuda; John and Stella Shuda.

Dorothy Guzevich from daughter Irene Casari.

Cathy Hancock from Fritz and Eleanor O'Hearn.

Gloria Heil from Bob and Suzanne Menapace.

Ida and Joseph Horan and Jean and William Stein from Judy Stein Horan and Joseph Horan.

Emily Hornberger from Mary Lapotsky; Class of 1944 Hubert Eicker High School, Centralia.

Alfred Hummel from Mount Carmel High School Class of 1950.

Angelo Konstas from Melanie Wengrenovich.

Francis V. Kwiatkowski from Helene and Jim Boylan; Jim and Gingie Britton; Jim Darrup; Claire and Bill Dunn; Leo and Joan Ferrari; Marilyn and Jeff Kanezo; John Lindenmuth Jr.; Joe and Millie McDonnell; John and Mary Mazurkevich; Dennis and Margaret Scicchitano; Reynold and Patty Scicchitano.

Robert J. McSurdy Jr. from John and Stella Shuda; John and Carol Strocko; Bill Wagner.

Robert Majikas from Mary Anne Leskusky.

David Monroig from Dave Sawicki.

Rose Ann Nagy from Joy and Robin Berry; Fritz and Eleanor O'Hearn; Mr. and Mrs. Marty Puchalski and family.

Leon D. Nark from Trina and John Leshinski; Ted and Jackie Matlow; Gerard and Karen Miscavige; Bob Sacavage.

Mark Porter Jr. from Jim and Gingie Britton; Deb Beierschmitt; Academy Sports Center; ACT.

Helen Powell from Michael and Ida Balichik; Jim Darrup.

Frank Purcell from Jim Darrup.

Gerald F. Radzai from Mary Altomare; Bill and Pat Augustine; Jim Darrup; Carl and Lorraine Horsfield; Ruth Rimokaitis and family; Cathy Welker.

Joseph Reed from Michael and Ida Balichik; Jim Darrup; Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Pesarchick and boys.

John Ruginis Jr. from Joy Berry and family; Marie and Bill Joraskie; Chris McLaughlin and Norm Williams; Bob Sacavage; Stella and John Shuda; Anthracite Steam Fire Co No. 1.

Jane K. Getz Schoudt from Mount Carmel Area High School Class of '59.

Caroline Scicchitano from Joe and Elaine Bartol and daughters; Deb Beierschmitt; Gloria Catino; Tina Farrell; Joe and Millie McDonnell; Linda DeLuca Russo and Carmella DeLuca Breen; Maria Scicchitano; John and Carol Strocko; Tim and Louanne Walsh; ACT; Mount Carmel Area High School Cafeteria.

Caroline Scicchitano from Marie Concetta.

Robert Sewell from Mount Carmel Catholic High School Class of 1957.

John F. Shimock Jr. from Frank and Mary Bach; Marie and Frank Crawford; Bill and Nancy Joraskie and sons; Joe and Millie McDonnell; Bob and Suzanne Menapace; Gerard and Karen Miscavige.

Betty Wargo from Richard Zinda.

Bernard Yasenchak from Joy Berry.

I Grew Up in Mount Carmel Facebook donations

Susan Haney; Joan Kurek, Tina Novak and Norm Purcell, Joseph Gard and Nancy Berezovske.

Crews from the Northridge Group, an environmental remediation firm from Northumberland, were at a site along Route 147 Thursday cleaning up 3,000 gallons of diesel fuel that were spilled when a fuel tanker truck overturned. They used excavators to dig up the soil and pump out the fuel. David Bogovich, president of the company, said an estimated 2,500 tons of soil were excavated through Thursday. Hydrocarbons are being trapped by an absorbant sock in the unnamed tributary of Shamokin Creek, he said, and soil and water samples are tested daily. Although snowfall earlier this week slowed progress, the project remains on schedule to be completed about two weeks from Monday.

SUNBURY - A Maryland psychiatrist was appointed Thursday at $600 per hour to examine accused murderer Elytte Randall Barbour and assist the defense at trial.

During a 10-minute hearing, Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor granted defense attorney James Best's request to hire Dr. Neil Howard Blumberg, a board-certified forensic psychiatrist from Timonium, Md., to examine Barbour to determine if he is competent to stand trial. Blumberg has testified for both the commonwealth and defense in his long career. His expenses in this care are not to exceed $10,000.

Best said he expects Blumberg to examine his client within the next few weeks at Columbia County Prison in Bloomsburg, where he is incarcerated. He said Barbour was in favor of Blumberg's appointment.

The county will be responsible for paying for Blumberg's services because Barbour and his wife and co-defendant, Miranda, are indigent.

Miranda Barbour remains incarcerated at Northumberland County Prison.

District Attorney Tony Rosini did not oppose the appointment, which is a common practice in homicide cases.

The 22-year-old defendant and his 19-year-old wife are charged by Sunbury police with murdering 42-year-old Troy LaFerrara, a married environmental engineer from Port Trevorton, on Nov. 11 in Sunbury. Police said the victim was stabbed approximately 20 times.

Saylor granted Rosini's request for a copy of the examination report and notification from Best if he plans to use an insanity or mental health defense at trial. The notification must be made no later than 30 days after Best receives the results of the examination.

Barbour appeared in court in white sneakers and an orange and white striped prison jumpsuit. The defendant, who was sporting a beard, conferred briefly with Best and assistant defense attorney John Broda, who is county conflicts counsel.

Rosini was assisted by first assistant district attorney Ann Targonski and Sunbury Detective Christopher Blase, one of the arresting officers.

Shortly after court was adjourned, Saylor continued a pre-trial conference scheduled for this afternoon for Miranda Barbour until 1:15 p.m. April 4.

Assistant public defender Paige Rosini, who was in court for Elytte Barbour's hearing, requested the continuance pending court action on 11 omnibus pre-trial motions filed by her and chief public defender Edward Greco Wednesday.

The motions include a change of venue (moving the trial outside the county) and/or venire (selecting a jury from outside the county) because of the extensive publicity surrounding the case. The defense also is seeking to suppress statements, including an alleged confession given to police by Miranda Barbour during interviews Dec. 1 and Dec. 2.

Greco and Paige Rosini claim the alleged confession was obtained illegally because their client was not provided an attorney at the interviews despite repeatedly requesting one.

The attorneys are seeking all statements and police reports at least two weeks prior to a suppression hearing and want to hire a private investigator and computer/electronics expert to review LaFerrara's computer and cell phones.

Greco and Paige Rosini want to quash aggravating circumstances in the case that would allow the commonwealth to seek the death penalty. Tony Rosini previously pointed out that torture was used and a felony offense of robbery (LaFerrara's wallet was stolen) was committed during the killing. Torture and robbery are among 18 aggravating circumstances in death penalty cases in the state.

A mitigating factor in death penalty cases is any information or evidence presented to the court regarding the defendant or the circumstances of the crime that might result in reduced charges or a lesser sentence.

In Pennsylvania, mitigating factors include the defendant not having any significant history of prior criminal convictions, the defendant being under the influence of extreme mental or emotional disturbance, the defendant's capacity to understand his conduct being impaired, the age of the defendant at the time of the crime, the defendant acted under extreme duress, the victim was a participant in the defendant's homicidal conduct or consented to the acts, the defendant's participation in the homicidal act was relatively minor, and any other evidence of mitigation concerning the character and record of the defendant and the circumstances of his or her offense.

The defense lawyers want to sequester the jury and prevent any potential jurors in favor of the death penalty from being selected because they believe they would be "pro-prosecution and pro-conviction."

They also prefer having separate juries for the guilt and penalty phases of the trial and oppose the imposition of the death penalty, which they claim is a cruel, inhumane and unusual punishment that is unconstitutional.

The district attorney announced last month that he will seek the death penalty for the Barbours.

LaFerrara answered a Craigslist ad from Miranda Barbour in which she offered companionship for money, police said. Upon her arrest Dec. 3, she said she stabbed LaFerrara after he groped her and grabbed her throat.

Three days later when he was charged, Elytte Barbour told police he and his wife were both involved, and that they had devised a plot to kill LaFerrara because they wanted to kill someone together.

The Barbours had moved to Selinsgrove from North Carolina shortly before the homicide.

Rosini wants to prosecute the couple together.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The board of commissioners are cracking down on people taking advantage of parking restriction loopholes.

At Thursday night's regular meeting, the five-member board unanimously approved advertising a new ordinance that would amend a 2009 ordinance prohibiting the storage of abandoned and junked motor vehicles on private and public property and limiting the parking of oversized and recreational vehicles.

People were "bouncing around" to skirt the 72-hour time period the commissioners were allowing the larger vehicles to be parked on the street during the summer, said solicitor Vince Rovito.

Owners would keep a vehicle parked in one spot for 72 hours and then move it to a different spot on the street, he said.

In the new set of rules, residents can only keep their vehicles on the street for purposes of maintenance, repairs, cleaning and/or loading/unloading within a 72-hour window.

They're also expanding the parking season from April 1 to Sept. 15 to April 1 to Nov. 1.

Salt to the city

The township unanimously approved ratification of a Jan. 24 action to order 91.17 tons of road salt on the township's account and provide it to the city of Shamokin in return for the city's eventual payment of $5,195.78.

The township loaned the city the salt Monday since it was low on material and couldn't get any credit with road salt distributors.

Both Commissioner Craig Fetterman and Gene Welsh reiterated the township's stance from earlier this week, saying the township acted due to an emergency situation.

Fetterman previously said many township motorists, school buses and emergency vehicles must drive through the city.

The city has an estimated $800,000 in unpaid bills that piled up at the end of 2013 for which city council continues to pursue a loan to pay them off.

Gov. Pollock celebration set

MILTON - A celebration recognizing the 150th anniversary of "In God We Trust," coined by Milton native and former Gov. James Pollock, will take place from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 27.

A re-enactment of a Civil War-era church service led by Chaplain William McCormick, portrayed by John Lee, will begin at noon at Bethany United Methodist Church, Front and Center streets.

Other activities include a street fair along Center Street, Civil War-era encampments and open houses at Bethany United Methodist Church, the Milton Moose and Milton Model Train Museum (third floor of the Moose building).

Kingdom Kidz Puppet Ministry will also set up in the Moose building.

At 1 p.m., a tribute to Pollock and "In God We Trust" will take place at 1 p.m. at the Veterans Memorial Walkway. Scheduled to appear are state Rep. Lynda Schlegel-Culver (R-108) and state Sen. John Gordner (R-27). John Meckley will serve as master of ceremonies.

Pollock, who served as director of the U.S. Mint (1861-1866) under President Abraham Lincoln, added "In God We Trust" to United States currency. He served as Northumberland County district attorney and later as a U.S. congressman (1844-1849) and governor (1855-1858).

Camaro on display at meeting

SHAMOKIN - The Fifth Ward Parade Committee, organizers of the Shamokin 150th Anniversary Grand Parade, will meet at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Knights of Columbus building, Rock and Independence streets.

At 3 p.m., the 2014 Chevrolet Camaro convertible which is being chanced off to finance the parade will arrive. Tickets for the raffle, costing $10, will be on sale at the meeting. The winner to be drawn at 10 a.m. July 5, the date of the parade.

The winner will also serve at the parade's grand marshal, and all taxes, title work and transfer fees will be included. After Saturday, the vehicle will be on display at B&L Chevrolet/Buick, where the car is being purchased.

East Stroudsburg University

EAST STROUDSBURG - Matthew Gilger of Shamokin earned a 3.9 grade point average in attaining dean's list honors during the fall semester at East Stroudsburg University.

The senior is majoring in health and physical graduation and is currently student teaching. He will graduate May 10.

Gilger is a son of Mark and Paula Gilger, Shamokin, and grandson of Rose Polifka, Wilburton No. 1, and Betty Gilger, Shamokin, and the late Paul Polifka and William J. Gilger Sr.

He is a 2010 graduate of Our Lady of Lourdes Regional High School.

Divine Redeemer Church, Mount Carmel

The following Memorials/Donations have been presented to Divine Redeemer Church, Mount Carmel for the month of January, 2014.

In Memory Of:

Enez L. Stetz from John J. Elgin.

Caroline E. Scicchitano from Hank and Loretta Witkoski; Donna and Bob Veach; Dora and Joan DiFrancesco.

Mark Maurice Porter Jr. from Donna and Bob Veach.

John Hutnick from Rich, Mary and Sarah Novack.

John Shiko from daughter, Irene Kurland.

Francis V. Kwiatkowski from Rita M. Pizzoli; Kenneth and Barbara Pizzoli; The Varano's - Butch, Gig, Joe, Amy, and Carol; Maria Scicchitano; Donna and Bob Veach; Rose Polifka; Mark and Nancy Anskis; Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Rossi and Family; Mr. and Mrs. Mark Gilger and family; Kathy and Mike Palewicz; Sam and Ann Spears; Martha Meredith; Mary M. Rudisill; Dora and Joan DiFrancesco; Mary Hirsch; Lena Wynne and family; Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Iwanski; Miriam Berezovske; Mr. and Mrs. Donald Hildenbrand; Cathy Lacroce; Bob and Barb Whispell; John J. Elgin; Ronald Coleman; Frank and Marie Alba; Connie Wenrich and Dave; Pat Bartos; Frank and Mary Sawicki; Leon and Elaine Jurgill; Helen Kaminski; John and Chris Deromedi; Sylvia Kapushinski; Isabell Amarose; Jean Kashmere; Tina Bucher; Bob and Marie Ficca; Tom and Carol Ann Bator.

Ora Evelyn Young from Bob and Barb Whispell.

Augustine Lombardo from RoseMarie Lombardo.

Mr. and Mrs. Vincenzo Lombardo from RoseMarie Lombardo.

Mr. and Mrs. Edwin Sottopietra from RoseMarie Lombardo.

Enrica Richard from RoseMarie Lombardo.

Dr. David Scicchitano from Sara Mirarchi.

In thanksgiving:

FEMLB

Birthday memorial:

Joseph Kurland (Jan. 21) from wife, Irene.

Thank you to all our generous benefactors!

Shamokin-Coal Township

Monday - Morning cards board games and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; crafts, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; computer lessons; Walk a Mile, 9:30 a.m.; lunch at Annabelle's 11:30 a.m.; bridge, noon; chronic disease workshop presented by Family Medical, noon to 2:30 p.m., healthy refreshments served.

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

Thursday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; Walk a Mile, 9:30 a.m.; Valentine's Day party for those that signed up, 11 a.m., cost is $5. Desserts or side dishes needed; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; yoga, 9:30 a.m.; nickel bingo, noon.

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

Mount Carmel

Monday - Coffee and gab, 10 a.m.; Jeopardy game, 10:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; bean bag, 12:30 p.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Tuesday - Morning coffee, 9:30 a.m.; CSFP (food box pickup), 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; pinochle, 12:15 p.m.; Unlucky 7s, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Blood pressure/blood sugar screening, 10 to 11 a.m.; Kelly, a physical therapist from Family Medical, talking about fall prevention, 10:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; bingo, 1 p.m.

Thursday - Morning coffee and the news, 9:30 a.m.; favorite TV show, 11 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; pinochle, 12:15 p.m.

Friday - Coffee and gab, 10 a.m.; exercise and games, 10:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Valentine's Day party, 12:30 p.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Kulpmont

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

Tuesday - Wii and bean bag in the morning; commodity food pickup, noon; cards, noon.

Wednesday - Wii, knitting, find a word and bean bag in the morning; LCR, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Wii competition between members, 10 a.m.; alphabet game and walking after lunch; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii, knitting, puzzles and bean bag in the morning; pizza party with nickel bingo to follow, noon.

Wilburton Area

Monday - Hot cocoa and snacks, 9 a.m.; make Valentine cards, 10 a.m.; chicken-foot game, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Chair exercise with Carol, 10 a.m.; craft time, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Valentine card exchange, 10 a.m.; bookmobile, 11 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Food bank pantry and food boxes, 9 a.m.; Linda Tarlecki to do income taxes, first come, first served, 9 to 11 a.m.

Friday - Center closed to attend the sock hop at the Berwick SAC.

Elysburg

Monday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; Pokeno, 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; bingo, noon; Valentine party held today, this will be a covered dish. Center birthday party will also be held.

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

In case of bad weather, please listen to your local radio station for all cancellations.

Trevorton

Monday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; making pillows for the children's hospital; last day to order soup and sandwich for Feb. 19.

Tuesday - Exercise, 9:30 a.m.; Scrabble, 10 a.m.; shopping at Weis, noon to 1 p.m.; movie and snack, 12:30 p.m.; evening bingo, 6 p.m.

Wednesday - Bean bag toss, 9:30 a.m.; blood sugar screening, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; games, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Exercise, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle, 10:30 a.m.; members meeting followed by mahjong, cards and board games, 12:15 p.m.; last day to order hoagies for Feb. 19.

Friday - Valentine's Day party, 10 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.; evening card party, 7 p.m.; last day to order ham and string beans for Feb. 20.

SHAMOKIN - Steve Bartos has been out of City Hall on medical leave the past three months. On Thursday, council accepted the city clerk's resignation.

No one was talking about why he left the post.

Council members Charlie Verano and Barbara Moyer declined comment. So did Mayor William D. Milbrand, at least on the topic of the reason for the resignation.

Bartos didn't answer a telephone call after Thursday night's council meeting had ended.

The city's solicitor, Frank Konopka, was careful with his words.

"I don't want adverse consequences to happen if we violate what they think we should do," Konopka said.

Konopka wouldn't say, but it was clear that "they" was Bartos and an attorney. Milbrand said an attorney of the Williamsport law firm Lepley, Engleman and Yaw had penned the letter on Bartos' behalf.

The resignation letter was received Wednesday by Konopka. Council members discussed the matter behind closed doors during an executive session that night.

Both Konopka and Milbrand said the letter asks that both parties withhold comment publicly.

A special meeting was held Thursday to adopt the final version of a revised $2.3 million budget, a move approved on a 4-0 vote and one that will allow the return of police officers Cpl. Jarrod

Scandle and Patrolman Nate Rhodes who were furloughed last month.

Scandle's first shift began less than six hours after the vote.

"Officer Scandle is back at midnight," Police Chief Edward Griffiths said with enthusiasm, "so it saves on overtime."

Surprise move

The budget move was expected. Bartos' resignation was not.

Milbrand raised the topic of the resignation letter after the budget was approved.

Konopka read a single line: "After thoughtful considerations Mr. Bartos does not desire to return to the City of Shamokin as city clerk effective Feb. 7, 2014."

Feb. 7 is today, and today is when Bartos was expected back at work, several city officials said last week.

Verano and Moyer motioned to vote on the matter. There was no further discussion. It was approved 4-0 with Milbrand, Moyer, Verano and Councilman David Kinder all in favor.

Verano was first to vote. "Yes," he said, emphasized by a raised voice. Moyer and Kinder followed in the affirmative. Milbrand cast the final vote: "Absolutely." Councilman R. Craig Rhoades was absent.

Controller Gary Haddock had a laugh and clapped his hands twice.

The position is now vacant. Council moved to advertise the position and seek applications.

After leave

Bartos began his medical leave Nov. 13 to have surgery on a shoulder. It came the day after that month's council meeting.

In the weeks that followed, city council held a slew of budget meetings toward erasing a $616,000-plus deficit, revealed that an estimated $800,000 in unpaid bills had piled up in 2013, went to court on three occasions for related matters, and was derided at a raucous public meeting attended by hundreds of angry residents of both Shamokin and Coal Township who decried the police officer furloughs.

City council reshuffled and welcomed new faces in 2014, and they've worked with county and state officials along with a consultant on a revised budget to bring the officers back.

Bartos attended a court hearing, but being on medical leave he didn't attend other public meetings or hearings.

According to Milbrand, Bartos did complete payrolls between when his leave began and the city's first pay period of 2014, performing the work at City Hall on Saturdays. He says he asked Bartos to stop after the final pay period of 2013, and is unaware if he'd been back since to City Hall.

"If he was home in the recovery process that's what he should do, recover," Milbrand said of his reasoning for the request. "My thought is if you can work from home there's no reason you can't come to City Hall to work."

Bartos was expected to return on Jan. 15, Milbrand said. That date was pushed back to today, Feb. 7. Instead, Bartos resigned.

He was paid each week while he was on leave, Milbrand said. He'd used vacation days and compensation days. Milbrand said the time was approved by Bartos. He isn't sure how much paid leave the now former city clerk earned or how much was paid out, but he said he wants to find out.

Highs and lows

Bartos was hired in May 2011, replacing Councilman Kinder, who had resigned from the post of city clerk. Kinder, Haddock and Treasurer Brenda Scandle had raised concern publicly that Shamokin was nearing bankruptcy.

In July, after two months on the job, Bartos reported that the city had a $281,000 surplus. It pleased former Mayor George Rozinskie who was largely critical of Kinder, Haddock and Scandle, often saying they were wrong in their calculations and that they harmed the city.

Bartos successfully obtained large grants for Shamokin, including $3.4 million for a creek channel preservation project. There were also grants to expand Claude Kehler Community Park and restore the "99 steps," a city landmark. He had a vision for reinvigorating the city, sometimes pointing to the turnaround for Jim Thorpe.

He worked together with council members to refinance outstanding debt and renegotiate varied insurance packages, and he spearheaded a project to restore the American Legion Building in the city's downtown that ultimately failed for lack of funding rather than lack of merit.

Balanced budgets were adopted in 2012 and 2013.

But a $9,350 raise approved by city council in 2012 didn't win Bartos any favor with the public. In 2013, a failed federal grant application to fund a police officer's salary, an application for which his wife, Meg, was paid $2,500 to submit, brought increased scrutiny.

He and Vinny Clausi, Northumberland County commissioner, had a very public disagreement over employee health care information that included a shouting match at a city meeting and litigation favoring Clausi's fellow commissioner, Stephen Bridy.

By October the city had been dropped by its health insurance provider, and all eyes turned to the council and the city clerk.

Then came the budget deficit and the massive debt in unpaid bills, and some would say the writing was on the wall for Bartos' exit.

SUNBURY — A Mount Carmel man charged with neglecting his 86-year-old mother, who was found malnourished, dehydrated and living in wretched conditions, appeared a bit haggard Friday morning when his attorney informed a county judge he plans to take his case to trial.
Joseph Francis Campbell, 56, of 213 S. Vine St., attended his brief pre-trial conference sporting a gray goatee, scruffy beard, green hoodie, an orange prison jumpsuit and white sneakers. He stumbled on his leg shackles as he entered the courtroom.
But the defendant told Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor he understood what was going on in his case and agreed with assistant public defender Paige Rosini to proceed to trial.
Rosini said she was waiting to receive discovery evidence from the district attorney’s office. The public defender said it’s possible Campbell could reach a plea agreement with the commonwealth rather than go to trial.
Campbell was remanded back to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury, where he has been incarcerated on $150,000 cash bail since his arrest in December.
When Campbell waived his right to a preliminary hearing Dec. 11 on felonies of neglect of a care-dependent person and forgery, Rosini said her client was offered a plea agreement by assistant district attorney William Cole. She said the offer involves Campbell pleading guilty to the neglect charge that carries a prison sentence of 22 months to 3 years. The forgery charge would not be prosecuted, Rosini said.
The charges were filed by Mount Carmel Cpl. David Donkochik.
Police said Campbell was the primary caregiver for his mother, Rose Marcoon, at their South Vine Street home. Dr. Peter McNeil, a Mount Carmel family physician, told police he hadn’t seen Marcoon since May and went to her home unannounced about 1:30 p.m. Nov. 1 to check on her well-being. He entered the unlocked home and called her name and heard her respond from upstairs.
McNeil found her in a filthy bedroom lying on a mattress stained by body fluids. There were no bedsheets on the mattress, only a dirty blanket. A stale waffle was beneath the blanket and a water bottle and plate were on the floor. Alert but disoriented, Marcoon was thirsty and hungry, her stomach concave, and there were open sores and contusions about her body.
The doctor called for paramedics, who called for a police officer.
According to a criminal complaint, the home was mostly clean and well-kept, except for the second-floor bedroom in which Marcoon was residing. Police said the odor from the room could be smelled throughout the home.
Marcoon, who was taken for treatment to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Coal Township, was weak and couldn’t move her arms and legs. She weighed between 75 and 80 pounds.
Police said the deed to Marcoon’s home was put in Campbell’s name. A bank account was changed to a joint account. Campbell was unemployed and his mother’s only caregiver.
Campbell told police he tried to convince his mother to seek medical attention, but that she put it off. He was aware of her declining health, but made no attempts to seek outside assistance for her care, the criminal complaint states.
Northumberland County Judge William H. Wiest removed Campbell as Marcoon’s guardian during a hearing in November and granted emergency guardianship to Eldercare Solutions of Williamsport on the recommendation of Northumberland County Area Agency on Aging.
Marcoon is currently residing in an area nursing facility.

Presentation on drug abuse

MOUNT CARMEL - FFCAAD (Family and Friends Concerned about the Abuse of Drugs) will do a presentation, "The Dangers Lurking in Your Medicine Cabinet," at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church Hall 41 S. Market St.

Deborah Mekosh, a pharmacist from Community Pharmacy, will explain how outdated medicines change and the importance of protecting your medicine cabinet. All are invited.

Traffic impacts on I-180

MONTOURSVILLE -- Here's a rundown of the traffic impacts tentatively scheduled in the Interstate 180 work zone between Turbotville and Muncy for next week:

Weather permitting, the contractor will set daylight signing patterns in the westbound lanes between Exits 5 and 10 (Turbotville and Muncy Main Street), from approximately 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily, Monday through Friday.

New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. (prime contractor) will be surveying, constructing rock entrances, installing erosion-control devices and clearing and grubbing.

Shamokin Area board meets Feb. 18

COAL TOWNSHIP - The monthly meeting of the Shamokin Area School Board will be held at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18 in the board conference room.

All monthly board meetings now begin at 7:30 p.m.

SHAMOKIN - Revisions to the 2014 general fund budget were finalized Thursday during a special meeting of city council.

The budget now totals $2,306,138, down from the original budget of $2,518,006 adopted in December.

City council voted 4-0 to approve the revisions, with Mayor William D. Milbrand and council members David Kinder, Barbara Moyer and Charlie Verano in favor. Councilman R. Craig Rhoades was absent.

A preliminary version of the revised budget was approved Jan. 21. An additional $32,000 in police overtime had since been to ensure enough funding was available to bring back two full-time police officers who were on furlough.

Cpl. Jarrod Scandle was on the job at midnight Friday, and Patrolman Nathan Rhodes is back on the schedule.

Scandle and Rhodes were laid off beginning Jan. 13, as were former part-time special officers Norm Lukoskie and Robert Searls.

Their furlough was part of an effort to erase a deficit of more than $616,000 that had existed when a preliminary budget was originally adopted in November.

Along with the furloughs, the hours of the code office secretary and the deputy treasurer, which is currently a vacant position, were reduced to part-time status with no benefits, and all medical and related benefits for members of city council, city controller and the city solicitor were eliminated.

The planned furlough of a street department employee was nixed when he won a grievance, citing a union contract that prevented the layoff.

Public outcry over the police officer furloughs ensued when the budget was approved by the former version of city council on Dec. 23.

Three new council members joined the governing body and its new mayor in January. The reorganized council vowed to revisit the budget and sought help from inside and outside City Hall, with county and state officials and a financial consultant assisting city officials on revisions.

Additional cuts followed, with both revenues and expenditures further reduced; among them, a City Hall secretarial position held by Michelle Quinn, human relations specialist, was cut as were the council members' nominal salaries.

In light of the resignation of the former city clerk, Steve Bartos, it was unclear Thursday if Quinn would be let go before a new clerk is hired.

CONYNGHAM TOWNSHIP - A Mount Carmel man is facing theft charges for allegedly attempting to sell fire equipment for $200 online after being kicked out of Aristes Fire Company for not paying dues.

Christopher Hollenbach, 31, is accused of posting the gear, including a coat from the Mount Carmel Fire Department and a $700 pair of pants that belong to the Aristes crew, for sale online, according to The Press Enterprise in Bloomsburg.

Aristes Fire Chief Greg Yeager told police that he was preparing to revoke the firefighter's membership since he hadn't paid his 2013 dues, and that he caught on to Hollenbach's scheme, the newspaper reported.

Yeager was willing to front the money to implicate Hollenbach, and he agreed to sell the equipment to Thomas Swantek, according to reports.

Yeager gave the cash to Swantek, who agreed to meet Hollenbach at the Ashland Car Wash on Dec. 2, the newspaper reported.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Haley McGuinn, a student at King's College, Wilkes-Barre, and a resident of Paxinos, recently began a semester-long internship with the human resources department at SCI-Coal Township. She is a senior at King's, a Catholic college sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross.

McGuinn is a business management major with a minor in human resources.

McGuinn is also a volunteer for the college's open houses and CEO Food Bank in Wilkes-Barre. She is a daughter of Dave and Johanna McGuinn.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced Friday that criminal charges have been filed in U.S. District Court in Williamsport against Derl Knarr, 55, of Herndon.

According to U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith, Knarr is charged in a one-count felony, information with stealing insurance funds, while he worked for Allstate Financial Services. The thefts are alleged to have occurred between 2006 and 2012, and total more than $630,000.

Knarr has signed a plea agreement in which he is to make full restitution.

The investigation was conducted by the FBI, State College Resident Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Wayne P. Samuelson is assigned to prosecute the case.

In this case, the maximum penalty under the federal statute is 10 years imprisonment, a term of supervised release following imprisonment, and a fine of more than $250,000. Under the federal sentencing guidelines, the judge is also required to consider and weigh a number of factors, including the nature, circumstances and seriousness of the offense; the history and characteristics of the defendant, and the need to punish the defendant, protect the public and provide for the defendant's educational, vocational and medical needs.

SHAMOKIN - City officials have asked a state agency to scale back the amount of grant funding awarded for an expansion project at Claude Kehler Community Park.

The city applied for a Community Conservation Partnership Program grant and was awarded $250,000 in December. It's required to match that amount in full, with a combined $500,000 in cash and in-kind service committed.

The funding was planned not to come from the general fund but rather from portions of Community Development Block Grant funding the city expects to receive from 2014 to 2016, according to Lynn Dixson, community development officer.

Another potential funding source, the city's recreation tax, is unlikely. That tax had stood at 7.028 mills in 2013, bringing in an estimated $168,000. But that fund will bring in less than half the tax revenue in 2014 after 4.028 mills were shifted to a different fund to cover outstanding debt.

Either way, Mayor William D. Milbrand isn't sure Shamokin can afford it.

"We have priorities

and we have to live within our means," Milbrand said. "Our main concern above all else has got to be the loan for the $800,000 in unfunded debt."

An unrelated grant to rehabilitate the "99 steps" is also in jeopardy.

Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission awarded the city $25,000 last year for the first phase of a three-phase project to restore the stone staircase to its original condition. The city is required to come up with $35,000 to match - more money expected to come from CDBG sources.

Milbrand is wary of allocating the necessary funds for the first phase let alone for what would be required for a project estimated at $175,000 for full completion. He said perhaps down the road the city could consider a far less detailed project to make the staircase functional.

Money factor

City council struggled to balance the 2014 budget, approving a revised version Thursday that avoids the long-term furlough of two full-time police officers. (See related story.)

There's also the pending pursuit of a loan to cover an estimated $800,000 in unpaid bills, referred to as "unfunded debt," that had piled up by the close of 2013.

These and other financial factors led to a directive for Dixson to work with state Department of Conservation of Natural Resources to reduce the project scope, thereby reducing the project cost.

Milbrand said he anticipates DCNR officials to meet with city council to discuss options.

Park plan

The city has now twice received state funds through DCNR for the Kehler park, located at Third and Arch streets.

In 2007, Shamokin received approximately $200,000 through the Community Conservation Partnership Program to revamp the park, an amount that was also required to be matched. The project, known as Phase 1, was delayed. When it resumed, costs increased. Dixson said DCNR helped by adjusting project scope to stay within the original budget.

The latest project, Phase 2, would expand the park across Shamokin Creek and onto a plot of city-owned land behind the former Coal Hole night club along Walnut Street.

A landscaped area with walking paths, lighting and benches is planned. Two foot bridges spanning the creek would link the expansion to the band shell area as well as the parking area along Third Street. Permeable pavers were planned for the parking area.

No one at City Hall is sure how the project will be altered, and there is no dollar amount targeted for the reduction.

The grants were pursued by former City Clerk Steve Bartos who had received approval from city council along the way.

Creek project

A third, much more complicated grant-funded project - flood control along Shamokin Creek and Carbon Run - has stalled without a project administrator.

That role had belonged to Bartos, but he's been out of City Hall on medical leave since Nov. 13 and had resigned from the clerk position this week.

Bartos helped Shamokin receive $3.4 million in federal funds for a project that includes the historic preservation of the stone creek channel behind the city's downtown.

Milbrand said Mike Brinkash, project engineer, was asked to put the project on hold, adding that there were no immediate deadlines. Brinkash will be invited to a city workshop to explain the existing time line to council members, three of whom who were not in office as the project was pursued.

Dixson was directed to contact Federal Emergency Management Agency, which funded the project, about appointing an interim project administrator.

SUNBURY - A $5 per vehicle registration fee can be implemented by counties across the state starting in 2015, but it appears unlikely that will happen in Northumberland County.

Asked about the fee this week, all three commissioners seemed in agreement that taxpayers have enough of a burden without a new tax, no matter how small.

While the state's $2.3 billion transportation bill, passed in November, authorizes the fee, counties are not forced to impose it.

In Northumberland County, it could generate a half-million dollars.

PennDOT records show there were 99,066 passenger cars, trucks and other vehicles registered in the county in 2012 and 98,371 in 2011. At that, the county could have collected $495,330 in 2012 and $491,855 in 2011.

Tempting as that may be, "Why should we have another layer of taxes?" asked Commissioner Stephen Bridy. "Owning a vehicle used to be a privilege and luxury; now it's a necessity, especially in rural Pennsylvania where we live."

"Right now, I have to say no until I evaluate it more,"

Chairman Vinny Clausi said this week after being told about the fee. "I don't want to charge the people $5."

Richard Shoch said he can't see hitting people with an additional tax when the county is doing fine in maintaining the 73 bridges it owns across its 36 municipalities.

Going up anyway

Vehicle owners will already be paying more for vehicle registration to generate money for the state's transportation infrastructure. The new law would go up in 2015 by about $2, then rise in relation to an inflationary index from there.

Also, the governor's Transportation Funding Advisory Commission had estimated that gradually lifting the Oil Company Franchise Tax over five years, approved as part of the transportation bill, could increase the price of gas up to 28.5 cents per gallon.That will be offset in part by the elimination of a 12 cents-a-gallon liquid fuels tax.

A small number of vehicles would be exempt from fees if they are associated with certain nonprofit organizations.

More always needed

In this year's $68.5 million county budget, $2.1 million is reserved for maintaining county-owned bridges, paying the employees who work on them and contracting companies for major repairs and winter snow removal. The money is fully funded through the state Liquid Fuels account, and no local taxpayer money from the general fund goes into it.

But county engineer Chuck Hopta said it's not enough, and the county must save money in that account year to year in order to fund larger projects.

For example, the county is planning a total deck replacement on a bridge in Washington Township, estimated to cost between $150,000 and $180,000. But there is also a need to replace a bridge in Delaware Township at a cost of $800,000 and rehabilitate a steel plate girder on a bridge in Rockefeller Township at a cost of $400,000, he said.

While he's not advocating the county implement the fee, Hopta said the money could be used.

"We could spend it," he said. "We have other projects we could do, but we can't because of the funding stream."

Bridy and Shoch said they would not be in favor of using the fee to generate more income unless it's "absolutely needed" and Hopta specifically requests it.

Bridy said he does recognize the fee as a way to have those who don't own properties contribute more tax revenue.

Gordner: Up to counties

State Sen. John R. Gordner, (R-27), who was closely involved in developing the transportation plan, said the optional fee was not included in the original Senate Bill 1 that was passed last June, but was included in the final bill signed by the governor.

As the lone tool for counties to use at their disposal, the fee was one of nearly three dozen recommendations by the independent advisory commission. Gordner said he doesn't have a preference on the optional fee.

"I will leave it up to each county for what makes the most sense to them," he said.

Although he has not heard from any leaders in his district who plan to enact the fee come Jan. 1, he said such discussions could occur as the time draws nearer.

(Times-Shamrock Staff Writer Kyle Wind contributed to this report.)