SHAMOKIN - City council was urged to review the use of four closed city credit cards by the prior administration.

Vinny Clausi, Northumberland County commissioner, presented a spreadsheet during Monday's council meeting identifying a combined $8,156.04 in purchases in 2012 and 2013 made on two accounts each in the name of former Mayor George Rozinskie Jr. and former clerk Stephen D. Bartos. He said the figures were obtained through a records request.

The most substantial purchase was on a Rozinskie account: $3,847.19 to Verizon Wireless. Current clerk Robert M. Slaby explained that it was for city cell phones. The bill was paid with a credit card because the city didn't have the cash and wanted to avoid a shutoff, he said.

The remaining $4,308.85 in purchases were in varied amounts to local restaurants, department stores, vendors and convenience stores.

No receipts were available for any of the purchases, Clausi said.

Mayor William D. Milbrand was a councilman at the time the purchases were made. He said he could not recall ever having approved a bill list that included payment of a credit card statement, but that he was partially at fault for not having looked into use of the city's credit accounts.

"I had no clue that all these purchases were going on," Milbrand said.

Both he and Controller Gary Haddock each said they were unaware at the time that there were four accounts. Slaby said Milbrand directed him to close the accounts after he was hired in April.

The city now has a single credit card account and receipts are required to be returned with every purchase, Slaby said.

Clausi, who said he approached city hall on behalf of citizens he refused to identify, asked that council direct police Chief Darwin Tobias III to launch an investigation.

"You don't want to see abused $10, or $100 or $1 million, it's abuse of power," Clausi said.

Milbrand said after the meeting that the spending merits further investigation, and that council should look into establishing or updating official policy for use of municipal credit cards.

According to Clausi, purchases made from the accounts in Rozinskie's name were Walmart, $952.56; Dollar General, $41.34; Academy Sports, $24; Jack Williams, $229.95; Radio Shack, $211.99; Weis Markets, $26.69; Barnes and Noble, $104.01; Verizon Wireless, $3,847.19; Dunkin' Donuts, $13.99; Jones Hardware, $158.40; Turkey Hill, $20.07; late fee, $100; over limit fee, $39.

Purchases from the accounts in Bartos's name were Walmart, $230.09; Verizon, $365.75; OIP, $138.10; Turkey Hill, $297.88; Dunkin' Donuts, $62.94; Weis Markets, $64.10; Rita's Bakery, $114.95; Masser's Restaurant, $42.26; Precision Wireless, $344.85; Lowe's Home Improvement, $600.93; late fees, $125.

Milbrand said some of the purchases could be explained, but that without receipts it would be impossible to explain all of them.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Media law experts agree that a now-tabled policy proposal restricting citizens from audio recording the Coal Township Board of Commissioner's public agenda sessions would not hold up under judicial review.

The policy, set aside by the commissioners last week for further discussion, had also attempted to place restrictions on location of audio recording equipment during monthly voting sessions. It did not dispute the permissibility of recording the voting sessions.

It threatened potential punishment under wiretapping laws should a citizen not comply with the proposed provisions, but made no mention of video recording.

Agenda sessions are held two days before the voting sessions to discuss township business and create that month's agenda. Both sessions are advertised and are open to the public.

The experts say the state's Sunshine Act, the very law cited in the policy proposal, expressly permits citizen's to record any public meeting. Whether the governing body holds a vote or not is irrelevant.

"Work sessions are public meetings under the Sunshine Act, they have been advertised as such, and anyone attending has the right to record," said Melissa Melewsky, media law counsel, Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association. "This policy is patently unreasonable, blatantly discourages the right to record, and as a result, would not survive judicial scrutiny."

Coal Township solicitor Vincent Rovito disputes that. On Friday, he defended the proposal but said that since it was tabled there wasn't much to discuss.

"It's moot unless it comes up for vote again," Rovito said.

Rovito says the agenda sessions, which are non-voting meetings that routinely have a quorum of board members, don't rise to the definition of a "meeting" under the state's law. The law defines a meeting as "any prearranged gathering of an agency which is attended or participated in by a quorum of the members of an agency held for the purpose of deliberating agency business or taking official action."

Rovito says the discussions during the agenda sessions aren't "deliberation" as defined by the law since no official action is taken at the meeting: "The discussion of agency business held for the purpose of making a decision."

"The definition of meeting is not what happens in the (agenda) sessions. We do not take official action and we don't deliberate," Rovito said.

Right to record

Craig J. Staudenmaier, an expert of the state's Right to Know Law and a partner of the Nauman Smith law firm, Harrisburg, said the Sunshine Act allows government agencies to make reasonable rules to govern access and recordings. But those rules, he said, can't violate the law's intent.

He said discussing agency business at a public meeting is exactly that - deliberation.

"The public has not only a right to attend meetings but they have a right to record, whether it's audio or video. That's gotten lost somewhere," Staudenmaier said of the policy proposal.

"These meetings are where some of the most important work gets done, and the law recognizes this fact by requiring them to be public," Melewsky said.

"What exactly is going on at these work sessions if it is not a discussion of agency business?" she asked.

Tabled Thursday

The policy was proposed two months after township officials disputed language in an April 3 story in The News-Item regarding a water main replacement project. The officials said that criticism levied directly at the contractor was actually framed as a hypothetical situation. The tape recording of the meeting, however, backed that the criticism was specific and it was reported as such.

The policy had been listed on Thursday's meeting agenda as a resolution, meaning it need one majority vote to be enacted compared to an ordinance which requires two majority votes and public advertisement.

A reporter from The News-Item raised concerns about its legality during the meeting. The commissioners later tabled a vote on the policy, saying there were existing concerns to address. Rovito, who wrote the policy, was unable to attend Thursday's meeting.

A provision of the policy would have attempted to require citizens to keep files of audio recordings of Coal Township meetings for up to 12 months in the event the township would request a copy. It would pay for any cost incurred, the policy stated.

Melewsky called that part "the most egregious."

"That's just ridiculous; it's a government agency taking personal property, which raises serious constitutional issues," she said.

Staudenmaier agreed, saying the township has no authority to make such a request. He also questions whether it would have a right to require that citizens' recording equipment be placed in a specific location.

'Defies logic'

Gayle C. Sproul, a First Amendment attorney and a partner with Levine Sullivan Koch & Schulz, Philadelphia, called the policy "ill-considered and unconstitutional."

Since the meeting is open to the public, she said there can be no reasonable expectation of privacy by anyone in the room, be it citizen or elected official, thus ruling out wiretapping. The First Amendment bars any attempt of prior restraint of publication, which she says this policy would do if it were used to prevent the audio recording of an agenda session.

Rovito said courtesy was lacking since The News-Item reporter failed to announce he was recording the April agenda session.

Kim de Bourbon is the executive director of the Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition, of which Sproul and Staudenmaier are both board members. She says wiretapping laws couldn't apply when it comes to the audio recording of a public meeting. Law exists to give people the right to record public meetings, meaning "wiretapping" is not occurring.

"Somehow, this proposal wants to recognize that a work session is a public meeting ... and yet, somehow, it shouldn't be subject to the full extent of the Sunshine Act," de Bourbon said.

"It defies logic to say that discussions held during a work session are somehow not discussions of agency business. The reason a board discusses agency business at any time is to eventually arrive at a decision on the matter, it can be presumed," she said.

ZERBE TOWNSHIP - At Monday's Zerbe Township meeting, Zerbe Township Police Chief Robert John presented information about a joint effort between Reading Anthracite Company, Zerbe Township Police and Pennsylvania State Police that resulted in 14 people being cited for trespassing.

One ATV was also confiscated by state police after being identified as stolen by its scratched off VIN.

The efforts sought to curb multiple behaviors that have become out of control on Reading's property in Zerbe Township. Reading security and Zerbe Township police worked to enforce Reading permitting and rules while a state trooper on the Auto Theft Task Force checked vehicle identification numbers for stolen ATVs.

The group arrived at the area of Reading's property known as Coal Hill in the morning of May 31. Within a few minutes, awareness of security's arrival spread throughout the area and non-permitted riders began loading up their vehicles to head elsewhere.

By 11 a.m., a group of riders without permits were cordoned off. Trespassing citations were issued to the riders and the state police officer got to work checking the ATV VINs on the vehicles that did not have visible Pennsylvania DCNR tags.

Many of the ATVs, dirt bikes and other vehicles at Coal Hill lacked proper documentation. To ride legally on public and many privately-owned permitted lands, like Reading's property, DCNR tags are required, partially to prove legal ownership of the vehicle.

The state police trooper, who asked to not be identified due to the undercover nature of his work, emphasized that people purchasing ATVs and other off-road vehicles needed to get a title and registration to ensure the vehicle is not stolen. He said that Craigslist was a hotbed for stolen vehicles and buyers should be especially careful when purchasing from a private party.

Richard Morgan, security manager for Reading Anthracite Company, said during the operation that this was the first time Reading, Zerbe Township and Pennsylvania State Police had united to monitor riding on Reading's property.

"There hasn't been anything like this in the past," said Morgan.

Morgan said last year he only distributed warnings on Reading's property.

Although he issued more than 200 warnings, he did not notice a drastic increase in permit sales.

This year, he is citing.

Morgan's team posted warning signs around the perimeter of Reading's property in advance of the crackdown. He's had signs posted before, but most are removed or destroyed by the renegade riders.

"The guards at the flats are making sure they're not tearing the signs down," said Morgan.

John said he visits the property every weekend he is on duty. Reading has given him permission to venture onto their land issue citations to anyone without a valid permit.

He brought more than 250 blank citations with him Saturday.

John said that he knows illegal riding is a problem and he would like to stop it, but he is unable to keep up with the level it has reached.

"There's a shortage of manpower," said John.

Morgan said Reading's shortage of manpower prevents it from self-enforcing the rules. He said he'd like to have security on the site every week but only has enough resources to do one more sting of this type this summer.

"We're a seven-man team," said Morgan. "You have to use them wisely."

Reading's seven-member security team enforces permits and prevents theft at all of its properties, which covers multiple counties and more than 20,000 acres. Morgan was unavailable for additional comment following Monday's meeting.

Zerbe Township supervisors said they appreciated the efforts and hope for similar enforcement of Reading's rules in the future.

"That's something I'd like to see ongoing," said supervisor Mike Schwartz.

A petition was presented at the meeting regarding the Coal Hill issues. Zerbe Township residents are welcome to add their names to the petition and can do so by contacting the municipal office at 570-797-1974 or by visiting during business hours.

In other news:

A motion to approve Kreco Electric, Inc., changing of wiring from three-phase to one-phase at the recreation area at a quote of $1,335.62, was passed.

Motions to approve requests by LMES-Social Worker, the LM CSIU, LMES Barb Manning and LMES were passed.

A donation from the Anthracite Trail Riders for $703 to the Trevorton Fire Company was passed. Supervisor Gene Geise amended the original proposal to split the money between the fire company and Trevorton Ambulance due to only the fire company providing support during the fundraising ride, which resulted in the approval. Geise then abstained from the vote due to his affiliation with the ambulance company.

A request from St. Patrick's Church to use the picnic tables from pavilions B and C for their annual block party on August 8 and 9 was passed.

Supervisors passed a request from Trevorton Ambulance to take the company's side by side to Sunbury on July 12 to assist Americus Ambulance from 8 to 11 a.m. was passed with Geise abstaining.

A request from Trevorton Heritage Society to remove non-supporting interior cinder block walls at the former pool building was passed. Supervisors were assured a structural engineer had examined the walls and determined they were non-supporting.

Supervisors approved Oct. 11, 2014, for this year's Fall Festival. The parade will kick off the festival at 11 a.m. and the events will end at 6 p.m. Cristy Stiely is the chairperson for the event.

Purchasing a gear reduction box for the sewer, with a cost not to exceed $5,000, was passed. The equipment will not work with the new sewer system but the current treatment system will not work without the part.

SHAMOKIN - The owner of a pickup truck was partially inside the vehicle's cab while he held tightly onto the driver-side door Monday night as an alleged thief sped off in reverse, crossing two lanes of traffic, jumping a curb and glancing a tree.

Behind the wheel of the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado was 34-year-old Cyrus Lewis, of Shamokin, who had jumped into the pickup about 8:25 p.m. while the owner, Trevor Tamkus, was inside Friendly Choice convenience store, 517 E. Sunbury St.

According to a police affidavit, Tamkus gave chase and jumped into the truck to prevent the theft. He and Lewis struggled for control, with Tamkus trying to put the pickup in park. Lewis put it in reverse and drove backwards out of the parking lot and directly across Sunbury Street before crashing into a tree.

Tamkus put it in park and, according to a witness, held the driver's door shut with the help of a bystander when Lewis attempted to flee.

"I pulled into the parking lot to put air in my tire when I saw the truck drifting backwards," said the bystander, who wished to remain anonymous. "The owner of the truck was hanging onto the driver's door."

When Shamokin Police Chief Darwin Tobias III and Cpl. Bryan Primerano arrived on scene, Tamkus had a hold of Lewis and told the officers "this guy stole my truck. Are you ready to take him?"

Three separate witnesses confirmed Tamkus's account of the incident, police said.

Lewis was taken into custody and searched before being transported to the city police station for questioning. He was in possession of a backpack containing syringes, a spoon and an open bottle of liquor. Police said he appeared intoxicated.

Lewis is charged by Primerano with two felony counts of robbery, felony theft, misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, simple assault, reckless endangerment and driving under the influence and a summary count of driving with a suspended license. He was to be taken to the holding cell at Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, and arraigned today by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III.

Sunbury Street was closed briefly during the incident. Coal Township Cpl. Terry Ketchem and Patrolman David Sage assisted at the scene.

Lewis's arrest comes two days after he crashed a vehicle along Route 901. Coal Township police took him into custody Saturday afternoon on suspicion of driving under the influence after he crashed a Dodge Neon head-on into a tree near Industrial Park Road.

A 1.75-liter of Crown Russe vodka was found in the car and was placed into evidence by officers on scene. The mangled vehicle was towed to the Exxon station, which is located just a block away from Monday's incident.

SHAMOKIN - A former convict is back in prison after being charged with breaking into three properties on South Market Street and stealing various items including two rifles to support his heroin addiction.

Calvin Derck III, 39, of 44 S. Sixth St., third floor, Shamokin, was apprehended last week breaking into a residence and jailed on a probation detainer at Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury.

He is charged by Cpl. Bryan Primerano and Patrolman Nathan Rhodes with felonies of burglary, criminal trespass, possessing a firearm while being a former convict, theft by unlawful taking involving incidents between May 25 and May 30 at 123 S. Market St., where he is accused of stealing a Marlin 30-30 caliber rifle and Remington 30-06 caliber rifle and ammunition owned by James Lahr.

During a May 29 interview, Derck told police he sold the rifles to Allen Roth, of 621 W. Pine St., who later turned them over to police when they obtained a search warrant for his home.

Primerano also charged Derck with felonies of burglary and criminal trespass and misdemeanors of theft by unlawful taking and possession of heroin.

Derck is accused of entering a vacant building at 401 S. Market St. owned by Northumberland County between May 1 and May 29 and stealing pornographic magazines and radiators. Derck told police he then sold the radiators.

A third criminal complaint filed by Primerano charges Derck with misdemeanors of theft by unlawful taking and criminal mischief relating to incidents at 117-119 S. Market St. between May 25 and May 29 in which he allegedly stole copper pipes owned by Donald Kuntz.

Derck, who previously pleaded guilty to criminal trespass and illegally selling or transferring a firearm, told police he committed the burglaries to support his heroin addiction.

Additional charges are pending against Derck, police said.

Street sweeping

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Township Board of Supervisors requests that residents of Den Mar Gardens, phases one and two, remove their vehicles from the streets for the street sweeper on Thursday, June 12. All cars that are not removed from the street on the designated day for street cleaning will receive at $15 ticket.

Strawberry festival Wednesday

SHAMOKIN - A strawberry festival will be held from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday in St. John's United Church of Christ's Fellowship Hall, 117 N. Eighth St. The event is a fundraiser sponsored the church's Willing Workers Sunday school class.

The festival includes short cake, ice cream, sundaes, hot dogs, barbecue, pierogies, meatball sandwiches, beverages and a bake sale table. Takeouts are available.

Area writer speaking

SUNBURY - Local author Robert Miller will present a program on his recent release, "The Cogan Legend," at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 19 at the meeting of the Northumberland County Historical Society at the Hunter House, 1150 N. Front St.

Miller will discuss how his ideas for his first book evolved and the characters developed. Even though the book is fictional, history played a big role and provides a strong foundation for the novel that combines things real and imagined.

"Many of my thoughts for the novel revolved around an area close to Dalmatia called the Cogan. As I walked through this wooded area, ideas led to various scenes in my mind. Sunbury and Fort Augusta are also important places in the novel. As the characters developed, I placed them into these various local settings," said Miller.

Miller's presentation will follow a brief business meeting which begins at 7 p.m. A reception will follow. This program is free and open to the public. For more information call 570-286-4083.

SHAMOKIN - The Most Rev. Ronald W. Gainer, Bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, plans to attend the grand parade Saturday, July 5, celebrating the 150th anniversary of Shamokin.

The bishop, a native of Pottsville, has graciously accepted an invitation from Father Martin Kobos, pastor of Mother Cabrini Church, to view the parade that will kick off at 2 p.m. at South Shamokin and Willow streets.

Gainer, who was ordained the 11th bishop of Harrisburg March 19, will watch the parade from a stand in front of Mother Cabrini Church.

Kobos also has invited Franciscan Friar James McCurry, the new Provincial Minister of Our Lady of the Angels Province, Ellicott City, Md., to attend the parade.

The 150th Anniversary Committee and Fifth Ward Parade Committee are coordinating the parade festivities.

MANDATA - Line Mountain school board voted unanimously to pass the 2014-15 budget, which was proposed at the April 29 meeting.

Under the approved budget, there is no increase in real estate taxes in the school district.

"There are a lot of investments we've made (so) that we can keep it at zero," said Troy Laudenslager, school board president, referring to long-term planning that has kept costs at a minimum.

With no increase, the real estate tax will remain levied and assessed at the rate of 70 mills on each dollar, which translates to $7 per $100 of assessed taxable property.

As previously reported, estimated expenses for the 2014-15 school year are $18,799,118.

The fiscal year for the new budget will begin July 1.

DANVILLE - Geisinger Medical Center's Get Fresh Market will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday in the Atrium Café Demonstration Kitchen.

The Get Fresh Market offers locally grown produce, a cooking demonstration at 11:30 a.m., recipes and dietitians who can answer questions about eating healthy foods. Additionally, some markets will feature an agriculturalist to provide information on the importance of sustainable food.

The various types of produce offered include locally grown asparagus, spaghetti squash, strawberries, tomatoes, corn and many other fruits and vegetables.

The public is invited to attend the monthly market events. Additional dates include July 16, Aug. 13 and Sept. 10.

The Get Fresh Market debuted last summer and is part of Geisinger Health System's Healthy Selections program.

Class reunion meeting set

ATLAS - A class reunion meeting for Mount Carmel Area classes from the early 1980s will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Pine Burr Inn, Route 61. Call Cathy Besser at 570-556-9851 with questions or visit the group's page on Facebook.

Reading programs planned

SHAMOKIN - The Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library's Summer Reading Program begins at 10:30 a.m. June 25.

The program will continue each Wednesday through Aug. 6, with the exception of July 2.

Registration is required. Visit the library at 210 E. Independence St. to pick up program materials.

The theme revolves around science: "Fizz, Boom, Bam, Read!" Children of all ages are welcome, accompanied by an adult. Programs include stories, crafts, snacks, guests and prizes.

"Einstein Explains it All" will be the focus June 25, with a reading from the great man himself. Master gardener Tom Reed will bring a composting and worm bin July 9. "The Amazing Magi" will be featured July 16 and "Science and Magic" with magician Eddy Ray July 23. "Take a Tromp Through the Swamp" will be presented by Tom Sieling July 30. An end-of-summer reading party will be held Aug. 6, when participants may share what they learned.

A concurrent summer reading program will be held for children with advanced reading skills. All programs are sponsored by the Shamokin Area Education Association.

Healing Mass set for today

MOUNT CARMEL - The Rev. Bill McCarthy MSA, who teaches at Holy Apostles Seminary, Cromwell, Conn., will celebrate Mass with prayers for healing at 7 p.m. today at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 47 S. Market St.

CATAWISSA R.R. - A school nurse has resigned amidst allegations of student medication tampering in Southern Columbia.

At the Southern Columbia Area School Board meeting Monday, secondary school nurse Lisa Fleishauer resigned, effective May 30. The resignation came after Locust Township Police released a two-page statement concerning an investigation at the school.

According to the statement from police Chief Allen Breach, authorities were called to the school May 9, when a school official advised the officer of suspicious activity involving student medications.

"The medication involving two students did not appear to be 'normal' when a nurse went to dispense the medication," Breach wrote in the statement. "At this time, it is undetermined if the medication was intentionally tampered with or changed out with some other type of medication, or if an environmental issued caused a breakdown of the medication."

Breach said the medication in question has been sent to a laboratory for analysis, but no results were available as of Saturday, the date of the release.

Police have consulted with a physician and other health care professionals.

Breach said the parents/guardians of the two students involved were notified of the potential problems with their medication, and all other parents of students who are dispensed medication through the nurse were also informed of any potential problems with the system and were assured that all appropriate steps are being taken.

Police said no reports have been received of any students suffering any ill effects or problems from this incident.

Breach said police do not have any staff member, student, visitor or criminal suspected singled out as a primary suspect. Locust Township Police are still conducting interviews of people who had access to or who were in the nurse's office around the time of the incident.

"As you can imagine, the list of potential people to be interviewed is quite large," Breach said in the statement.

Police will not identify the type of medication affected, the names of anyone interviewed or other investigative steps being taken by police or the district.

School officials were not available for comment Tuesday afternoon, but Fleishauer's resignation at Monday's meeting was unanimously approved 8-0 with members Mike Yeager, Charlie Porter, Charlene Cove, Joseph Klebon, Thomas Reich, Timothy Vought, John Yocum and Gail Zambor Schuerch voting yes.

In other business

- The board authorized business manager Michael Sokoloski to make appropriate transfers for property budgetary accounting to close out the fiscal year and prepare for audit and approved a $1 million tax and revenue anticipation note for the 2014-2015 fiscal year.

- The board unanimously approved the resignation of Joy Kroening as regular run bus driver, the list of the 2014 Southern Columbia Summer Programs and Staff and tenure for teachers Cheyanne Coladonato and Alexis Spade.

- Southern Columbia approved a cooperative agreement with Danville Area School District for competitive cheerleading for this year. SCA will be the host district and all Danville students will be required to pay the $50 pay-to-participate fee the district passed earlier this year.

- An addendum to the district's memorandum of understanding with Locust Township Police was approved. In the new documents, Locust Township Police will provide daily drive-through patrols on campus and walkthroughs of the building at least once a week, consult with SCA Administration to provide assistance in writing grants and attend SCA's monthly safety committee meetings. In return, the district will pay $300 to the police for the additional services.

Marywood University deans list

SCRANTON - Stephanie Dee Broscious, a daughter of Ron and Pam Broscious, of Coal Township, was named to the dean's list at Marywood University for the spring semester. She earned a 3.89 grade point average. An accounting major, she is a graduate of Shamokin Area High School. She is a granddaughter of Mike Estock, of Coal Township, the late Dolores Estock, and Richard and Susan Broscious, of Irish Valley.

SHAMOKIN - Motorists may want to be more vigilant in plugging the city's parking meters; the cost of a violation is about to double.

City council moved Monday to adopt the first reading of an ordinance amendment that would raise the meter fine from $5 to $10. The fine would rise from $7 to $12 if not paid within 48 hours. All tickets unpaid after 10 days are filed as a citation with the district magistrate.

It will take a second vote of council to make the increase official.

The impending hike in meter fines were among the recommendations made to city council earlier this year as it's received financial guidance from private advisers and the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

Police Chief Darwin Tobias III was authorized to order new tickets. The department is running low on its current supply of tickets.

Anniversary cleanup

Jeffrey Fromm, a member of the city's planning commission, announced a second cleanup of the Shamokin Cemetery will be held June 24 and 25. It's pending approval of the Federal Bureau of Prisons for 20 inmates from FCI-Schuylkill to participate.

Some inmates and volunteers will also be directed to Independence Street where Fromm is planning for the sidewalks and storefronts of participating property owners to be power washed.

The cleanup is being organized ahead of Shamokin's 150th Anniversary Celebration July 5.

Federal inmates and volunteers worked to clean the cemetery in April. A downtown cleanup had also been planned but was delayed due to the street light replacement project.

Other business

An ordinance regarding parking restrictions was amended on a first reading. Parking is proposed to be restricted on the east side of Eighth Street from Montgomery to Adams streets. A second vote is required.

Council voted to approve three community events: Citizens for a Better Community's annual firework display at 9:40 p.m. July 5 (they will also collect donations curbside within the city that day from noon to 9 p.m.); Citizens for a Better Community car cruise and show from 3:30 to 6 p.m. July 6 on Independence Street, and Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce annual duck drop and put-put car display July 27.

Council woman Barbara Moyer thanked both TimberEnd and Coal Township for donations of mulch, and also thanked a local businessman who wished to remain anonymous for replacing the shrubs in the planters on the Market Street park plots.

Judy Lupold, a Shamokin resident, thanked council for moving to demolish 241-243 S. Diamond St.

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area High School Board Merit Award winners for the month of April have been announced.

At the high school level is junior Caitlyn Curran who resides with her grandparents, Robert and Bonnie Smith, in Mount Carmel.

Curran is a member of the Tech Ed, Latin and chemistry clubs. She is also active in the WKMCTV Studio, a member of the National Honor Society, color guard and Odyssey of the Mind. She is secretary of the Big Red Marching Band.

Curran achieved distinguished honors, was Elks Junior Student of the Month and a former Junior High Pride Award winner.

Curran was nominated by her Tech Ed teacher, Keith Fourspring, who said, "Knowing Caitlyn since she was in eighth grade, she has shown that she is a hard worker, a positive role model, strives to do her best and is simply a pleasure to have in this school and my class. She always has a smile on her face and goes out of her way to say hello every time I see her, or whenever she passes another faculty member."

In her free time, Curran enjoys spending time with family and friends, fishing, woodworking and photography. After high school she plans on attending a two-year undergraduate program in pre-pharmacy and continue onto a four year pharmacy M.D. program.

The elementary school Merit Award recipient is sixth-grade student Michael Balichik, a son of Michael and Kathy Balichik, of Mount Carmel. Balichik was nominated by his language arts teacher, Ms. Reichwein, who said, "Michael is a very well-rounded student and excels in everything he does. He is a role model for all students and can always be counted on to take a leadership role."

Balichik is a sixth-grade class representative and an altar server at Divine Redeemer Parish.

Outside of school, Michael plays baseball for the Mount Carmel VFW, the Schuylkill County Black Diamond Travel Baseball Team and the Mount Carmel Fall Baseball League.

He also participates in Mount Carmel CYO basketball and the Girardville Basketball League.

PPL Corp. is merging its entire generation business, including its coal plant in Washingtonville and nuclear plant in Berwick, with the investment firm Riverstone Holdings LLC.

The result is a new stand-alone, publicly traded company, Talen Energy Corp., which is planned to be headquartered in Pennsylvania.

When combined with Riverstone's current holdings, at 15,320 megawatts the merger nearly triples its portfolio and makes Talen Energy the third-largest investor-owned independent power producer in the nation, according to a press release.

A PPL employee said he received notice of the deal through an email at midnight Tuesday.

An estimated 3,500 employees work for PPL Energy Supply, the parent company of PPL's generation division, half of whom belong to a union, according to company spokesman George Lewis.

Many will transfer to the newly created Talen Energy, where it's expected wages and benefits including pensions will be similar to what they had at PPL, Lewis said. He added that existing union contracts will be honored by the company.

The transition won't be smooth for all of them. According to the press release, an unknown number of positions at the power plants and at the corporate level are expected to be eliminated. That will be sorted out during the transition.

Split shares

PPL will have no continuing ownership interest in Talen Energy. It will continue to operate its utility divisions, which created 85 percent of its $7.2 billion revenue in 2013. Of PPL's near 10.5 million utility customers, 2.6 million reside in Pennsylvania and Kentucky and the remainder in the United Kingdom.

"It really was kind of undervalued as part of a much larger utility company," Lewis said of PPL's generation division, noting the utility division's success. "These businesses really will do much better if they're separated."

PPL Corp. shareowners will own 65 percent of Talen Energy and Riverstone will own 35 percent. The transaction is designed to be tax-free to PPL and its shareowners.

"Given the challenges, uncertainties and opportunities in the wholesale power markets, maintaining the status quo was not a viable option. This transaction provides greater clarity for shareowners, our PPL Energy Supply employees, customers and the communities we serve," said William H. Spence, PPL chairman, president and chief executive officer.

PPL Corp.'s stock closed Tuesday at $34.69 a share, up 0.47 percent from Monday's closing, according to the New York Stock Exchange.

Needs review

Before a U.S. nuclear power plant can change ownership, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission must review the application to transfer the operating license in a process that takes about a year, NRC Spokesman Neil Sheehan told The Citizen's voice in an email.

"The NRC will carefully evaluate a number of areas, including the prospective new owner's technical and financial qualifications to operate the plant. More specifically, the NRC would seek to ensure that the prospective new owner has the technical capabilities and financial wherewithal to safely run the plant and to safely decommission it when the time comes to do so," he stated.

Other approvals are needed from the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

Paul A. Farr, PPL's executive vice president and chief financial officer, will become Talen Energy's president and chief executive officer. He will be joined on the company's board by four independent members appointed by PPL and three appointed by Riverstone, one of whom will be independent. The deal is expected to close within nine to 12 months.

PPL holdings to be transferred to Talen Energy are its nuclear plant, PPL Susquehanna, Berwick; coal plants, Colstrip, Colstrip, Mont., Conemaugh, Johnstown, J.E. Corette, Billings, Mont., Keystone, Johnstown, PPL Brunner Island, York Haven, PPL Montour, Washingtonville; hydroelectric units, PPL Holtwood, Holtwood, Wallenpaupack, Hawley; natural gas and oil, Ironwood, Lebanon, Lower Mount Bethel Energy and PPL Martins Creek, both in Martins Creek, and a fleet of 23 combustion turbines in central and eastern Pennsylvania.

The deal does not include PPL's hydroelectric units in Montana or its Kentucky holdings.

Talen Energy will have 27 sites in Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Texas.

KULPMONT - Borough officials and the North Central Highway Safety Network (NCHSN) will host a presentation on pedestrian safety June 19.

The program will start at noon at the Kulpmont Senior Action on first floor of Kulpmont Borough Hall at Ninth and Spruce streets.

For Kulpmont, the problem is the main thoroughfare, Chestnut Street, is also State Route 61. Kulpmont Borough Councilmember Stephanie Niglio, the chair of the program, said motorists do not yield to a pedestrian in the crosswalk.

"We also have issues with some of the pedestrians crossing in the middle of the streets and not at the crosswalks. Hopefully, people will learn about pedestrian safety through this program," Niglio said.

According to statistics provided by the North Central Highway Safety Network, Northumberland County has seen 79 pedestrian accidents in the last five years; five of them were fatal.

"We live in a town with a large population of seniors, and now with summer coming, the children are out of school, so motorists will need to be even more aware," Niglio said.

The program will feature a powerpoint presentation by Bob Schaeffer, traffic safety coordinator for the highway safety network, and a presentation by Kulpmont Police Chief Michael Pitcavage, discussing enforcement topics and speed changes.

"Motorists have to realize that if you are caught not stopping while a pedestrian is in the crosswalk, it will be a $50 fine and two points onto your license," Pitcavage said. "Those are the points we want to stress, so that we can keep everyone safe."

Bill 95 will also be in attendance with several giveaways and door prizes.

"I hope to get a big attendance for this program and we can get the message across that people live in this town and motorists should be aware of them," Niglio said.

SHAMOKIN - A city man jailed Monday following an attempted vehicle theft from a Sunbury Street convenience store is accused of burglarizing a tattoo parlor minutes earlier.

Police said a witness identified Cyrus Lewis, 34, as the suspect in a burglary at Relentless Tattoos, 228 W. Independence St., about 8 p.m. Monday, less than 30 minutes before he was apprehended in the attempted theft of a pickup truck from the parking lot of Friendly Choice convenience store, 517 E. Sunbury St.

Officers were dispatched to the tattoo parlor and spoke with the witness, who said a male - later identified as Lewis - was standing near a side window. Lewis had also spoken with a woman in a brown Chevy, according to a police affidavit. The witness provided the vehicle's registration.

The affidavit says the witness told police an air conditioner that had been in the property's side window was later observed to be on the ground, and that Lewis had walked out the property's front door and around the corner to Coal Street.

Police used the registration information to identify the vehicle's owner as Heather Nolter. According to the affidavit, Nolter told police she drove Lewis to the property, waited while Lewis "disappeared" and picked him up on Coal Street after he had called her cell phone.

Darren Miller, owner of Relentless Tattoos, confirmed the break-in to police, reporting two tattoo guns and a laptop computer were stolen. Other electronics were stacked by the front door, he told police, adding that he suspected Lewis in the theft.

The witness was asked by police to go to the Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, where he saw Lewis and told officers he was "probably" the man he observed breaking into 228 W. Independence St.

Lewis was at the hospital to undergo blood testing as he was suspected to be intoxicated when he allegedly jumped into a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado about 8:25 p.m. Monday and drove out of the convenience store parking lot in reverse, across Sunbury Street and into a tree. The vehicle's owner, Trevor Tamkus, had jumped partially inside too, holding onto the truck while he struggled with Lewis to prevent the theft. Lewis was kept on scene by Tamkus and a witness until police arrived.

Lewis was found in possession of syringes and a spoon, police said.

Tamkus told police he observed Lewis acting suspiciously outside the store just prior to the attempted theft.

Lewis is charged in the Independence Street break-in with felony counts of burglary and criminal trespass and a misdemeanor count of theft. Charges against him in the Sunbury Street incident are two felony counts of robbery, felony theft, misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, simple assault, reckless endangerment and driving under the influence and a summary count of driving with a suspended license.

He was arraigned on all charges Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III and returned to Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, in lieu of $30,000 cash bail. Preliminary hearings for both cases are scheduled for Tuesday morning.

Additional charges are pending against Lewis stemming from a one-vehicle accident Saturday along Route 901. Coal Township police took him into custody on suspicion of driving under the influence after he crashed a Dodge Neon head-on into a tree near Industrial Park Road.

Two cases are pending against Lewis in Perry County for separate incidents involving an alleged theft in February and a traffic accident in March.

ELYSBURG - Ralpho Township supervisors will revise its driveway permit form to make it mandatory for property owners to use amesite rather than concrete from the township's right-of-way to the road.

During a brief meeting Tuesday night, supervisors reported damage has been done to township snow plows due to concrete in some driveways being too high.

Roadmaster Howard Shadduck said the current driveway permit ordinance is outdated and needs to be revised. Supervisors agreed to have solicitor Todd Kerstetter develop a revised ordinance including the amesite requirement.

The board passed a motion to amend a dangerous structure ordinance that will allow the township to place a lien against residents who don't take proper care of their properties. The revised ordinance also will give supervisors authority to deny municipal permits to owners of dangerous structures.

Township manager Joseph Springer reported the township received approximately $5,000 from Centax bonding company for expenses incurred by the township when it paid Centax to collect earned income tax. The collection agency declared bankruptcy and ceased operations Sept. 21, 2012.

Supervisors tabled the issue of purchasing a new police vehicle. The township, which is considering purchasing a Ford Taurus or Ford utility vehicle, has $35,000 in the police budget for capital equipment purchases.

Supervisors directed Shadduck and Kerstetter to contact PennDOT about an unpaved grate in front of Farnsworth Camping Center along Route 54 (Market Street).

An executive session was held at the end of the meeting for land acquisition and litigation matters.

Supervisors in attendance were chairman Daniel Williams, William "Chip" Wetzel, Stephen Major and Vince Daubert. Blaine Madara was absent.

LANCASTER - Deborah Burge, of Mount Carmel, was among the 196 graduates of Lancaster Bible College Capital Seminary and Graduate School who received degrees or certificates at the annual commencement exercises on Saturday, May 10, and Saturday, May 17. Burge received a Bachelor of Science in education in early childhood education and a Bachelor of Arts in biblical studies.

CATAWISSA - Board members at the Southern Columbia Area School Board meeting were shocked to hear their sports insurance premiums may quadruple.

Last year, the district spent $14,193 on sports insurance that covers student athlete injuries that occur during a sanctioned sporting event or practice.

Lanny Diltz, the district's account manager from Yoder Insurance, said at Monday's meeting that equivalent insurance would run the district around $60,000 for the 2014-15 season, but that the district would have to choose a different, less comprehensive plan because the company will not offer the school's current plan.

"I've been doing this 35 years and this is the highest premiums I've ever seen," said Diltz.

The jump in premiums and change in coverage results from the number of claims the school filed over the past four years.

The loss ratio on the policy for the 2013-14 year was 200 percent. Loss ratios on the 2012-13, 2011-12 and 2010-11 years were 371 percent, 591 percent and 74 percent, respectively.

Diltz said the high number of claims was caused by students who have no regular health insurance.

When a student receives medical treatment for an injury received during a practice or game, the student's primary medical coverage is applied first. The district's sports insurance is designed to pick up the remaining charges.

Students who have no health insurance, though, have been billing their sports-related injuries directly to the school's sports insurance, causing the number of claims and the total cost of claims to skyrocket.

The school district offers a student insurance plan that provides basic medical coverage to students. The cost is approximately $30 for coverage during school hours and around $120 for 24 hour coverage.

The current student insurance plan covers all sports except for high school football.

Three serious football injuries - two knee injuries that occurred to one person and one shoulder injury to another athlete - make up the bulk of the claims in the 2013-14 season.

The board discussed several options of lowering claim amounts to control premium increases in the futures. Requiring all student athletes to have personal health insurance was an option considered, but board members were unsure about the legality of such a rule.

Diltz said that currently no injury reports were being filed so it was difficult to suggest a solution to preventing injuries. He suggested that if athletic trainer Katie Fisher was unavailable, the team coaches should fill out an incident report to help track claims.

The board is also interested in speaking with Fisher for suggestions on cutting back on injuries or high cost claims, like those that require multiple physical therapy sessions.

Sports insurance is not required by law, but the board members were interested in continuing some form of coverage.

Prospective plans for the 2014-15 year were $49,000 for a two-year benefit period plan, $45,000 for a one-year benefit period plan, $45,600 for a two-year benefit plan with 80/20 coinsurance and $38,000 for a one-year benefit plan with 80/20 coinsurance.

A decision on the insurance needs to be made before the 2014-15 season kicks off Aug. 11.