By Thomas Leskin

POTTSVILLE - Starting next month, America's Oldest Brewery will be shipping to Boston.

D.G. Yuengling and Son Inc. announced Friday that it will expand distribution of its "highly sought after brands" to Massachusetts in early March, making it the 15th state in the brewery's footprint.

This initial rollout includes its flagship beer, Yuengling Lager, as well as Light Lager and Black & Tan brands.

Jen Holtzman, marketing manager, said Friday the brewery will eventually distribute its entire portfolio in Massachusetts, but believes that focusing initially on those three is best.

"Porter and (Lord Chesterfield) Ale will likely follow, and then seasonals," she said.

According to Holtzman, the expansion isn't the first time Yuengling has been sold in Massachusetts. Instead, it marks a return after it scaled back in the 1990s due to supply limitations.

"They had to pull back when they first introduced Lager and couldn't make enough," Holtzman said. "They had to pull back the footprint. Many people didn't even realize that we were there."

All seven wholesalers assigned to distribute in Massachusetts were invited to Yuengling's new offices at the Mill Creek brewery in Port Carbon, on the east side of Route 61 from Pottsville. The wholesalers attended a forum where they could ask questions, then got to visit each department.

"This is something totally different that we've done this year," she said. "We didn't have the opportunity to do that in Ohio," she said, referencing Yuengling's spread west in October 2011.

Yuengling has been expanding its facilities in earnest since 1999.

In 2010, it ranked fourth in the top 50 overall U.S. brewing companies by beer sales volume.

In April 2012, Yuengling announced that the brew house it had been running its operations out of in Florida was about 60 years old and a larger facility was badly needed, so they began work on a new brew house. The new brewery started running in early 2013.

Also in April 2013, the Port Carbon Zoning Hearing Board unanimously approved a variance for Yuengling to add six storage silos and a liquid adjunct tank to its operation at Mill Creek and the work was completed shortly thereafter.

Holtzman also said that other improvements include a new pasteurizer and packer at Mill Creek that allows Yuengling to run 1,800 bottles per minute when running 24 packs.

"The efficiency that we are running at now is not only unprecedented for the brewery, but for the industry," she said.

SUNBURY - One count of homicide by vehicle was filed Monday against a Trevorton man stemming from a fatal accident in Upper Mahanoy Township.

Aaron W. Rothermel, 22, was arraigned Monday before Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Apfelbaum and released on $25,000 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1 p.m. Feb. 18.

Rothermel was driving a 1998 Nissan Sentra west on Schwaben Creek Road (Route 3010) near Leck Kill Jan. 19, 2013, when the vehicle drove off the west shoulder and struck a tree with its front passenger side, state police reported at the time.

Jared J. Wood, 18, of Trevorton, was a passenger in the vehicle. He suffered fatal injuries and died the next day at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

Reports from the scene indicated Wood may have had his head out of a vehicle window when the accident occurred.

Rothermel and another passenger, a Trevorton male who was 17-years-old at the time, escaped injury.

Police said none were wearing seat belts.

The vehicular homicide charge is a third-degree felony. Rothermel is also charged by Trooper Daniel Wilk, state police at Stonington, with misdemeanors of possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of driving under the influence of a controlled substance, involuntary manslaughter and two counts of recklessly endangering another person.

Summary offenses filed against Rothermel are registration card not signed, disregard of traffic lane, careless driving, reckless driving, failure to use a safety belt.

MOUNT CARMEL - A convicted felon questioned in the shooting of Salicia Yost was allegedly texting the Milton woman just minutes before she was shot in the head, according to a police affidavit.

Yost and Rafael Anthony Diroche Jr. made contact through several cell phone calls and text messages, and his cell phone number matched a contact in Yost's cell phone listed as "Rafy," Trooper Kevin Kearney wrote in the affidavit filed Monday at the office of Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones.

They were texting about meeting up and specifically spoke of "being on Irish Valley Road" minutes before Yost was found by a passerby about 5:30 a.m. Saturday alone and behind the wheel of a 2013 Chevy Sonic that had crashed into a snow pile along the roadway, the affidavit states. The vehicle had an Ohio license plate.

There is no indication in the affidavit if it was Yost or Diroche who mentioned Irish Valley Road in the texts.

Yost, 20, remained in critical condition Monday at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, according to a hospital spokesman.

Several questioned

Diroche and Esteven Rafael Soto were each questioned in the attempted homicide investigation. Although both have been charged with gun and drug offenses, neither man is charged with shooting Yost.

Trooper Matthew Burrows, state police public information officer, said Monday neither Diroche nor Soto have not been ruled out as a suspect, but noted several other individuals are being questioned as part of the investigation.

Warrants that had been served in the case are sealed, Burrows said.

Shot in head

Yost was already in an ambulance bound for the hospital at 5:38 a.m. Saturday when Troopers Justin Roboschil and James Yankovich were assigned to investigate the crash.

Hospital physicians discovered the gunshot wound on the left side of Yost's head, and police began to investigate the incident as an attempted homicide.

Her wound was consistent with a small-caliber handgun.

Ambulance personnel looked at Yost's Samsung cell phone. A GPS function showed that she had recently left a location to which she had been directed by the GPS. The affidavit does not specify the location.

From Irish Valley to Mount Carmel

Investigators returned to the scene of the crash about 12:40 p.m. Saturday, located about 100 yards from the tunnel just off Route 61 three miles north of Shamokin.

The investigation subsequently shifted to Mount Carmel where, at about 4:45 p.m., Diroche and Soto were detained outside a South Poplar Street apartment building and later arrested on gun and drug charges.

Diroche was allegedly found in possession of a small-caliber revolver and a cell phone when approached by police officers. He did not have a concealed weapons permit, police said.

A search warrant was executed on Diroche's apartment at 250 S. Poplar St., Apt. 3. Police said two additional revolvers, along with heroin, cocaine and marijuana packaged for resale, were found inside a bedroom allegedly occupied by Soto.

Diroche has a felony conviction in Massachusetts, and Soto has one in New York state. Neither are permitted to carry a gun.

The circumstances surrounding the shooting remain unknown, according to the affidavit.

Jail on gun, drug charges

Diroche, 28, remains jailed Monday in Snyder County Prison, Selinsgrove. He's charged with felony counts of persons not to possess firearms and firearms not to be carried without a license.

Soto, 30, of 1752 Walton Ave., 6A, Bronx, N.Y., is charged with three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, one felony count of persons not to possess firearms, and three misdemeanor counts of possession of controlled substances. He was still held Monday at Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury.

Both are held on $250,000 cash bail.

Preliminary hearings for the two are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Feb. 19 at Jones' office.

SHAMOKIN — Six Tiger Cub Scouts from Troop 3254 visited The News-Item Tuesday evening in Shamokin for their Go See It Bead.
Editor Andy Heintzelman told the Scouts about how the newspaper makes money through circulation and advertising and they saw some of the pages under way for the next day’s edition.
Five parents accompanied the Cub Scouts.
“I like it because we get to see tomorrow’s newspaper early,” said Stephen Motyka.
Gabriel Grow said he liked seeing how the newspaper is created on the computer.
Other Scouts attending were Cole Billman, Holden Agosta, Blaize Rosini, Cooper Weaver and Ty Kurtz.

An Elysburg man pleaded guilty to a felony count of distributing marijuana in connection with an incident in Ocean City, Md., June 14. Robert Beierschmitt, now 20, of 11 Columbia Drive, was sentenced Jan. 14 to 10 days in jail and two years probation and was ordered to pay a $500 fine.

According to a criminal complaint, Beierschmitt sold marijuana to an undercover police officer and fled the scene. Charges of possession of marijuana and resisting arrest were not prosecuted.

CATAWISSA RR - The Southern Columbia Area School Board approved Monday a $95,590 refund to the district from the general contractor of the last construction project.

The firm, eciConstruction LLC, of Dillsburg, bid more than what was spent for the renovation of the middle and high school building, said board President Mike Yeager Tuesday.

The news that $95,590 will be credited back to the district is "great," he said.

The money will be put into a contingency fund to be used for the middle or high school until each company involved with the renovation projects submit their final bills and the accounts are closed out, he said.

Once this happens, the money can be spent on any kind of project or on paying off the loan, Yeager said.

The $17 million construction project, which started in 2010, included renovations to the elementary school, a new middle school area, a new gym and renovated high school office areas.

The general contracting bid decreased from $9.3 million to $9.2 million.

The board also approved five change orders that increased the district's total bill of the project by $9,546 for work related to the auditorium lobby floor, mechanical piping near the auditorium, water-damaged ceiling panels caused by leaks from the existing roof, installation of metal ceiling panels and replacing the existing pavement behind the weight room.

Preliminary budget approved

The school board also approved the 2014-15 preliminary budget of $19,408,113 with approximately a $1 million hole to fill. Expenditures equal $20,542,392.

Last year's $18,089,377 budget was balanced by increasing property taxes: Northumberland County property owners saw a 2.91 increase in real estate millage, raising the rate to 52.86 mills, and Columbia County property owners saw a 1.6-mill boost to 35.8 mills.

Yeager said the district is legally allowed to increase the millage rate this year by 2.7 percent, which equates to less than a mill of taxes.

However, the board approved the option of filing for exceptions to raise the property millage above the maximum rate allowed by law if the board members find it necessary to do so.

Revenue is expected to be $11,579,396 from local sources, $7,631,381 from state sources and $298,336 from federal sources.

Revised scheduled

The board also approved a revised schedule due to school closings over this winter season.

Classes will now be in session Feb. 17, April 16 and April 17. These were originally planned as school holidays. Additionally, the school year will be extended by two days: Friday, June 6, and Monday, June 9.

Additional cancellations will add make-up days to the end of the school year, Superintendent Paul Caputo said.

Snow emergency declared

KULPMONT - Mayor Bernard P. Novakoski announced a snow emergency is in effect as of 6 p.m. today along Route 61 (Chestnut Street).

Parking will be prohibited along Chestnut Street until the snow stops and is plowed back to the curb by PennDOT. Vehicles of violators will be ticketed and or towed at the owner's expense.

Steppin' Out program starts March 18

ELYSBURG - The Steppin Out Women's walk, jog or run program begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18, at the Elysburg Community Park.

An orientation night to share details about the program will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at the park.

Registrations and applications will be accepted for 130 women on a first-come basis.

For further information or registration forms, call any leadership committee members, including Cindy Wedde at 570-350-4964, Sherry Romanoskie at 570-898-2270, Tara Maurer at 570-933-4014 or RuthAnn Helfrick at 570-2594857. Or make contact via email at steppinoutwalkrun@gmail.com or via Facebook.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Glenn Paul Masser, a 2006 graduate of Southern Columbia Area High School, received his Juris Doctor degree from Florida Coastal School of Law.

He has accepted a position as a prosecutor for the Department of State in Harrisburg.

Masser also graduated in 2010 from Bloomsburg University with a bachelor's degree in political science.

He is a son of Paula M. Deitrick and state Rep. Kurt A. Masser.

SHAMOKIN - Police here are investigating the death of a 25-year-old man who may have died from a drug overdose Tuesday morning at his home at 123 S. Shamokin St.

Northumberland County Coroner James Kelley pronounced the victim dead shortly after authorities were summoned to the scene at approximately 10 a.m. Neither Kelley nor Shamokin Police Chief Edward Griffiths identified the man, who lived at the half-double home with his girlfriend.

They said the death is not considered suspicious.

Kelley said an autopsy will be conducted at 8 a.m. today at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown in hopes of determining the cause of death.

An emergency call dispatched by Northumberland County Communications Center reported someone being in cardiac arrest.

AREA Services, Cpls. Bryan Primerano and Jarrod Scandle and Patrolmen William Zalinski and Shane Mowery also responded.

Police remained at the scene until 1:30 p.m.

MANDATA - The refinancing of two Line Mountain bonds will save the school district a combined $618,621 over the next 16 years.

The school board approved the move Tuesday night at the district's regular meeting after Philadelphia-based Public Financial Management (PFM) managing director Jamie Doyle explained what she said are "excellent results."

The new 2.88 percent interest rate comes from Janney Montgomery Scott, of Philadelphia, who won over 37 other different bidders at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Doyle said.

She said the first series will save the district more than $550,000 in the first year, and the second series will save the district more than $67,000 over the next four years.

Now that the board approved the refinancing unanimously, the final settlement date will be March 20.

The board also decided they would advertise for bids March 19 for the sale of Leck Kill and Dalmatia elementary schools with a bid opening of April 16 and a decision to reject or award the bids at the April 22 meeting.

The two buildings were closed before the 2013-14 school year as part of an overall district consolidation plan. School buildings in Trevorton and Mandata were expanded to accommodate a realignment of the school district. Students in grades kindergarten through fourth are attending class in Trevorton, while fifth- and sixth-graders are attending class in the new addition at the middle-high school building.

No minimum bid was set in accordance with board members' preferences.

The board also approved the adoption of the 2014-14 preliminary budget in the amount of $18,445,879 with a $964,118 budget hole to fill.

SHAMOKIN - City police are asking for the public's help to locate four property owners wanted on active nuisance arrest warrants for blighted properties.

Jhoel Leonardo, of 13201 95th St., South Richmond Hill, Queens, N.Y., owns 625 E. Commerce St., for which he's been cited 11 times since October.

The property is collapsing from the inside out; the damage can be seen through a hole opened almost floor-to-ceiling on the Pearl Street side. Debris has fallen from the top floor to the first floor. Support beams are bending and a staircase has collapsed.

Ola Adedeji, 50, of 2 Klarides Valley Drive, Seymour, Conn., owns 204-206 W. Mulberry St. A misdemeanor charge was filed against her last month. That was preceded by 11 citations for which local officials have received no response.

According to a criminal complaint, the building's roof is in immediate danger of collapse, shingles are falling off, interior floors have collapsed, water is draining into the residence and access is available to animals.

Adam Brooks, 46, owns 821 Mount Carmel St., Shamokin. He's been issued five citations for the property since November.

The chimney is in danger of collapsing, as is a brick wall on the south side of the building, police and code enforcement have said previously. Shingles are falling off and windows are broken, exposing the building to animal inhabitation. Located across from Pool World on Route 61, it's listed as Brooks' last known address. City officials have targeted it for demolition.

Rosa Hernandez, of 308 12th St., Brooklyn, N.Y., owns 801-803 E. Sunbury St. Five citations have been filed against her since January.

The properties have extensive roof damage, police said. Materials are falling off and windows are unsecured and broken, with glass scattered about.

Cpl. Bryan Primerano asks that anyone with information on the property owners visit the code office at City Hall, 47 E. Lincoln St., or call 570-644-0876. Primerano can be reached after normal business hours at the police station, Mill Road Square, 511 N. Franklin St., 570-648-5708.

ATLAS - Julie Devers, president of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars, will make an official visit Sunday to District 12.

A meeting will be held at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at the American Legion along Route 61.

There will be a luncheon held in her honor before the meeting.

Devers is a member of the Ladies Auxiliary of Sharpsville Post 6404. She joined under the eligibility of her father, Julius P. Caracci, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. She became a life member in July 1992.

She has served in all offices on the auxiliary and district levels, receiving the Outstanding District President Medallion for Division 3 in 2005-06. She was elected guard at the department convention in 2008 and worked her way through the department chairs before being installed as president in June.

SELINSGROVE - Brandon Mendoza, a sophomore at Susquehanna University, has been named to the dean's list for the fall 2013 semester after earning a 3.55 grade point average.

Mendoza is majoring in business administration with an emphasis in finance, and is also a member of the track team.

A 2012 graduate of Shamokin Area High School, he is a son of Lisa Mendoza, of Shamokin, and John Mendoza, of Waldorf, Md. He is also a grandson of Mary McAnnaney, of Mahanoy City, and Norma Dise, of Salisbury, Md., and a great-grandson to Carol Meisberger, of Shamokin.

SHAMOKIN - The quarterly meeting of Manna for the Many Board of Directors was held Jan. 22 at the food pantry.

Board President Betty Ford opened the annual budget meeting with prayer. After approval of the 2014 budget, the regular meeting continued.

Ron Manney, of Trinity Lutheran Church on Sunbury Street, explained the church was offered a challenge grant for outreach service work from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and Manna for the Many has been chosen as beneficiary of this grant. For every dollar donated to Manna between Dec. 1, 2013, and March 31, 2014, the Thrivent Foundation will give 50 cents, up to $5,000. The board thanked Manney and Trinity Lutheran Church for their enthusiasm and continued support of the food pantry.

The secretary's and treasurer's reports were submitted and accepted.

Grethel Vinup presented the quarterly report. There were 785 visits to the food pantry during this period, averaging 60 to 70 visits per week, with 1,132 items distributed per week. A total of 12,454 food items were given out during the quarter.

Vinup also provided the 2013 year-end report. Manna took in 48,800 food items - 20,826 items donated and the rest purchased with monetary donations. There were 3,008 total client visits in 2013, with a distribution of 47,545 food items.

Pastor Dave Wildoner reported that Manna for the Many is now able to order food items from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank. He and Pam Rhoades took care of all paperwork needed and Manna will make all purchase soon. Wildoner will coordinate all purchases.

Chosen as officers were Wildoner, president; Gene Boughner, vice president; Rhoades, secretary, Lucille Lubeskie, treasurerm and Jeanne Romanic, correspondence secretary. The board thanked Ford, outgoing president, for her dedication and service.

Peggy Timko, volunteer coordinator, reported Manna is in need of volunteers to help distribute food to clients. While the pantry is open three days each week for distribution, help is especially needed from 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday. Anyone interested in volunteering should contact Sue at 570-648-0736.

Manna welcomes both food donations and monetary donations to the food pantry. Monetary donations can be made in memory of or in honor of someone and can be mailed to P.O. Box 129, Shamokin 17872.

The next quarterly board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 23, at the food pantry, 144 E,Independence St. All meetings are open to the public.

A relative of Salicia Yost has begun an online fundraising campaign to supplement costs to be incurred by the shooting victim's parents who are staying bedside at the hospital.

Angie Melius, 38, created an online campaign Tuesday at the GoFundMe website. The goal is to raise $5,000 to pay for hotel, food and travel expenses for Yost's mother and father, Melius writes in the campaign description.

Yost, 20, is hospitalized in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. She remains in a medically induced coma, Melius said.

"Her mother has been living at that waiting room," Melius said Tuesday by telephone

Relatives have already gathered enough money to pay for one week's worth of lodging, Melius said, but should Yost "pull through" it could be months before she's released.

Yost was found early Saturday morning behind the wheel of a vehicle along Irish Valley Road, three miles north of Shamokin. Hospital personnel subsequently discovered she had been shot in the head. State police are investigating, and Melius said the victim's family has been in contact with investigators.

Melius described Yost as a family girl who is a "social butterfly." They're cousins, but their family dynamic is one where Yost calls Melius her aunt, and Melius calls Yost her niece.

"That's my baby," Melius said. "For somebody to do this to her, it's not right; it's wrong."

For information on the fundraising campaign or to donate, visit www.gofundme.com/6t4g84

KULPMONT - Despite borough council members discussing three alternate proposals, it appears landlords will pay a new $120 fee for each rental unit starting March 1.

At Tuesday night's council meeting, a packed audience of landlords listened as each motion to change the fee was voted down. The group has been hoping since December that the seven-member board would change the fee, which was approved in May.

The new fee replaces a $100 yearly landlord registration fee, no matter how many properties they rented. The new fee was supposed to take effect Jan. 1, but its enactment was delayed two months due to public outcry.

At a special meeting Feb. 4, the board voted on two proposals, but neither passed on a 3-3 deadlock with councilmember Joseph Winhofer and mayor Bernard Novakoski absent. While the mayor doesn't typically vote, he can in the case of a deadlock.

On Tuesday, councilmember Phil Scicchitano made the motion to change the yearly fee to $25 per unit, but to double the fines for code violations. Several on council balked because it would change the fines for every resident, not just landlords.

Council President Bruno Varano said every ordinance that charges a fine for a code violation would have to be amended.

Scicchitano then rescinded it, and motioned for a $120 fee for the first property and $25 for each additional unit, seconded by Nicholas Bozza. Winhofer expressed some legal concerns, and the board went into executive session to discuss them further.

After 35 minutes, the board returned and Winhofer made a subsidiary motion to make the fee $120 for the first unit and $40 for each additional unit. Under parliamentary procedure, the subsidiary motion had to be voted on first.

The motion was defeated 3-4, with Winhofer, Scicchitano and Clarence Deitrick voting yes and Bozza, Varano, Stephen Motyka and Stephanie Niglio voting no.

Scicchitano's original motion was then voted on, but the result was the same, 3-4, this time with Scicchitano, Deitrick and Bozza voting yes, and Motyka, Niglio, Varano and Winhofer voting no.

Thinking the sticking point was the amount for each additional unit, Deitrick made a motion to make the fee $120 for the first unit and $50 for each additional unit, but that motion died for lack of a second.

Winhofer, absent from last Tuesday's special meeting, made another motion to vote on the first proposal made at the special meeting, $100 for the first unit and $60 for each additional unit. The motion was seconded by Deitrick, but defeated 3-4 with Deitrick, Scicchitano and Winhofer voting yes, and Bozza, Motyka, Niglio and Varano voting no.

Unless council calls for a special meeting before March 1, the $120-per-unit fee will stand. Steve Matzura, one of the landlords in attendance, said after the meeting he would not be paying the fee.

"I believe I have the law on my side that will enable me to win a court case on the local level," Matzura said.

Matzura said he has heard that several other Kulpmont landlords have spoken to their attorneys about the fee.

In other business:

- Council discussed several weather related items, including the announcement of a snow emergency, effective at 6 p.m. today . Under the emergency, no vehicles are allowed to park on Chestnut Street until the snowfall stops and PennDOT plows the snow to the curb. Bozza asked Kulpmont Police Chief Michael Pitcavage to be on the lookout for people throwing shoveling snow into the street.

- Recycling in the borough has been cancelled for the month of February, due to the winter weather and for safety reasons.

- The board approved motions for the purchase of 10 fire police badges, two brushes for the borough street sweeper and 25 gallons of yellow paint for the street department.

- Deitrick announced the borough has applied for a USDA grant for a new police vehicle, three new handheld radios and three in-car radios. The grant would cover 75 to 80 percent of the cost, and he said they would be looking for another grant to cover the rest.

- Novakoski said he will be looking into an education program for pedestrians and motorists to teach them the proper use of crosswalks,

SUNBURY - Instead of continuing to make payments of $1.5 million per year through 2021, Complete Healthcare Resources (CHR) has decided to pay off the remaining $9.8 million it owes Northumberland County for the 2010 purchase of Mountain View: A Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

County commissioners Stephen Bridy and Vinny Clausi approved a motion Tuesday to accept the remaining payment for the nursing home, which the county sold to CHR in January 2010 for $16.5 million.

Clausi said the closing date to receive the payoff is Feb. 27.

The commissioners did not say why CHR decided to make final payment on the sale.

Michael D'Arcangelo, chief executive officer for CHR, said later Tuesday, "The opportunity for refinancing was there and we thought it made sense at this time to pay off the sale."

CHR is headquartered in Willow Grove, near Philadelphia.

Clausi and Bridy said the money cannot be used for general fund purposes but must go to reducing the county's debt service.

The plan is to use the money to pay off a bond in September on which the county owes $10.5 million. Clausi said the expected payment this year on that bond of $650,000 will be added to the manor payoff to make up the difference in what is owed. At the same time, the $9.8 million will be invested in the interim to help earn interest.

Paying off the bond some eight years early will save the county approximately $1.4 million in interest payments over that time, Clausi said.

As for the manor, he said CHR had paid about $6 million so far. The $9.8 million payout would bring that total to about $15.8 million. The $700,000 difference from the original $16.5 million sale is a result of an annual property tax payment having been calculated into CHR's annual payment; the remaining years of those payments will be deducted from the payoff. However, the company will resume making property tax payments separately, Clausi said.

"We were blessed to be able to sell the manor because it was costing us more than $700,000 a year to operate due to ever-increasing government regulations," Clausi said later Tuesday. "We appreciate everything CHR has done for the county and we wish them the best of luck."

Commissioner Richard Shoch couldn't attend the meeting because of a family matter.

When the sale was announced in September 2009, the 271 skilled-bed nursing facility employed 242 county workers and approximately 10 CHR employees. Clausi and then-commissioners Kurt Masser and Frank Sawicki agreed to use the proceeds from the sale to reduce the long-term debt service a minimum of 50 percent for 2010, which resulted in a tax decrease for county residents.

Prior to the sale, CHR had managed the manor for 14 years. At the time, it was the 14th largest long-term health care company in the country with more than 50 facilities in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Texas that specialize in county nursing homes.

Northumberland County paid CHR approximately $550,000 per year to manage the nursing home and provide consulting services and other programs.

The sale called for the county to receive lease payments of $1.5 million per year over 11 years.

Other business

- The commissioners entered into a service agreement with attorney April Rivers at a total cost of $24,000 to work on appeal cases left over from former county president judge Robert B. Sacavage and new cases presided over by senior judges working in the county. Rivers was Sacavage's law clerk before he retired in January.

- The commissioners passed a resolution approving a $29,253 grant awarded to Marion Heights Joint Municipal Authority that will be used to assist in the construction of a belt press and related structural, electrical and environmental modifications.

- Bridy and Clausi granted approval to controller Christopher Grayson to consult with Klacik & Associates of Shamokin on an as-needed basis to help close out the financial books by the end of the fiscal year (June 30) in light of the resignation of budget director Jeff McClintock, which becomes effective at the end of the month.

SUNBURY - Defense attorney Edward Greco, who believes trying accused murderers Elytte and Miranda Barbour together would be "highly prejudicial" to his client, has filed a motion for separate trials.

That pre-trial motion and several others filed by the chief public defender will be argued during a hearing at 1:15 p.m. Feb. 26 in Courtroom 1 at Northumberland County Courthouse as per the order of Judge Charles Saylor.

"The issue of spousal privilege would complicate the case if both husband and wife are tried together," Greco, who represents Miranda Barbour, stated in his motion for severance.

In another development, Greco, who is awaiting discovery evidence from the district attorney's office, was granted permission Monday by Saylor to hire forensic and general psychiatrist Dr. Clarence Watson of Bala Cynwyd at $400 per hour to conduct an exam on Miranda Barbour at Northumber-land County Prison. Watson's fees are not to exceed $10,000.

The commonwealth must be provided the report no later than 30 days after the defense receives it.

Watson's fee schedule also includes a $1,600 retainer, $400 per hour for review of depositions, records, reports or other data, $400 per hour for a conference with Greco or others as required, $400 per hour for deposition, and a daily rate of $3,500 for testimony in court.

Saylor deferred taking action on Greco's request to hire mitigating expert Louise Luck of Court Consultation Services, New York, N.Y., at $100 per hour plus expenses to help prepare an adequate mitigation defense in the event the trial proceeds to the death penalty phase.

In addition to the severance issue, Greco's 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, in which some have dubbed the husband-and-wife Barbours as the "Craigslist killers" because victim Troy LaFerrara answered Miranda Barbour's Internet ad offering companionship for money prior to being killed. 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 assistant defense counsel 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. District attorney Tony Rosini previously pointed out that police allege 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 Pennsylvania.

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.

At the Feb. 26 hearing, Saylor will hear motions pertaining to the defense's claim that the commonwealth failed to establish a prima facie case against Miranda Barbour at her preliminary hearing, suppression of statements, employing a private investigator, hiring a computer/electronics expert and barring imposition of the death penalty.

The judge has deferred ruling on the other defense motions, claiming they are premature at this time.

Last week, Saylor granted defense attorney James Best's request to hire Dr. Neil Blumberg of Timonium, Md., a board-certified forensic psychiatrist, to examine accused murderer Elytte Randall Barbour at Columbia County Prison to determine if he is competent to stand trial.

Blumberg will be paid $600 per hour and his expenses are not to exceed $10,000.

The county will be responsible for the costs of both psychiatrists in the case because the Barbours are indigent.

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

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.

Tony Rosini, who wants to prosecute the couple together, announced last month that he will seek the death penalty for the Barbours.

SHAMOKIN - What seems like a never-ending barrage of Old Man Winter's wrath isn't coming to an end any time soon.

According to weather.gov, today is expected to be sunny with a high near 23 degrees and wind chill values as low as minus 3.

It's a heat wave compared to Tuesday night.

According to meteorologist Elyse Colbert of the National Weather Service (NWS) in State College, temperatures Tuesday night were expected to drop below zero with a low of minus 2.

"Clear skies will add to the cold," said Colbert Tuesday, noting clouds can actually keep temperatures on the ground warmer.

Colbert said wind chill was not a factor, so the temperature on the thermometer Tuesday night was an accurate representation.

High temperatures for the rest of the week will top out at 37 Friday and lows will dip into the teens, according to the website.

As far as a possible snowstorm for later this week, Colbert said it's too early to forecast what the Shamokin-Mount Carmel area can expect. NWS is tracking the storm - which is now over the Rockies - carefully.

"Right now, we're looking at two to four inches," said Colbert.

According to the NWS, data later today may provide a clearer picture. From the Rockies, the storm is expected to interact with thunderstorms near the Gulf, putting the storm here tonight into early Thursday. The interaction between these weather systems and their direction will determine the actual snowfall.

According to weather.gov at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, snow will start falling after 2 a.m. Thursday and will continue falling throughout the day when the high temperature will be 32 degrees. New snow accumulation of less than an inch is possible early Thursday morning. Snow showers are possible Friday.

Colbert said it now appears the storm is likely to travel up the Appalachian Mountains. If it veers farther west, snow accumulations will increase for central Pennsylvania. If it stays east, the accumulations will be lower, but still enough to shovel. The York, Lancaster and Philadelphia areas are likely to get more significant amounts regardless of the storm's direction.

SHAMOKIN - City officials made good on their word to repay Coal Township, which ordered a load of rock salt on Shamokin's behalf since the city is not in good standing with the distributor.

The payment was approved during Monday's city council meeting and on Tuesday, as planned, Mayor William D. Milbrand delivered a check to township Manager Rob Slaby totaling $5,195.78 for the 91.17 tons purchased last month from American Rock Salt.

"I knew they would. I was very confident they would," Craig Fetterman, township commissioner chairman, said of the city making the payment.

Fetterman said the township used funds from its capital reserve for the expense, which was formally approved by the commissioners last week.

"They helped us out when we needed a favor," Milbrand said Tuesday, adding that the city was thankful for the help.

The township wasn't alone in helping the city out as two local businessmen made separate donations.

John Hovenstine, owner of Brookside Landscaping, Route 61, Shamokin, donated 24 tons of salt valued at $2,180 to the city on Monday to assist with its financial crisis.

"You can't do a good job plowing without salt, so I just wanted to give back to the city I was born and raised in. This is a great area with great people and we all need to do our part," said Hovenstine, who has been in business since 1991.

Bob Olvany of Olvany Insurance Co., Market Street, Shamokin, donated $500 for snow removal, Milbrand announced during Monday's city council meeting.

An estimated $800,000 in unpaid bills had accumulated at the close of 2013, and city officials have been working to obtain a loan to pay off the debt.

Among those bills are outstanding debts to American Rock Salt, Milbrand said. He wasn't aware off-hand the amount Shamokin owes the firm.

Until that debt is paid off, it won't sell salt to Shamokin, Milbrand said, so the city had to turn to an intermediary. It's neighbor, Coal Township, agreed to make the order on Shamokin's behalf. The city, in turn, repaid Coal Township after the expense was formally approved by council.

City council has made efforts to reign in spending and limit purchases, specifically in the first quarter as it looks to limit the use of a $350,000 Tax Revenue Anticipation Note taken to start 2014 in lieu of the receipt of tax revenue. New policy mandates that any vendor invoices must be approved as part of the monthly bill list. Although the city could have made immediate payment to the township, council stuck to its new policy.