REBUCK - A variety of musical entertainers and skilled crafters, along with plenty of home-cooked food, is scheduled for the annual Himmel's Country Festival Saturday, Aug. 2, at Himmel's Church Grove, just off Schwaben Creek Road in the lower Northumberland County village of Rebuck.

Food will be served beginning at 7 a.m. and live musical entertainment begins on the grove stage at 10 a.m. Scheduled entertainment includes Himmel's Choir, Aubrey Chappell, Heart of Pennsylvania, Paradise Quartet, magician Brent Kessler and the Weaver Believer Survival Revival.

There will be a train display in the Boy Scout building, a used book sale, bake sale, antique tractor and vehicle parade at 4 p.m. and kids' games, including a duck derby on the creek. Back again for this year is the Miss Himmel's contest.

Breakfast includes ham, eggs, home fries, fried mush and more. Lunch begins at 11 a.m. and includes everything from pizza to chicken breast sandwiches and halushki as well as "crick tea." Dinner featuring pot pie starts at 4 p.m.

Other highlights on the festival menu include homemade ice cream with fresh peach topping, kettle-made ham and bean soup and kettle-cooked potato chips, all made on site.

For more information call 570-425-2200 or visit www.himmelschurch.com.

MOUNT CARMEL - Following an auditor's note regarding approximately $67,000 of misplaced borough money, the Mount Carmel Borough Council voted to open the Lower Anthracite Transportation System (LATS) director and borough treasurer position for applications at Thursday's meeting.

Anthony Matulewicz III, borough council president, said Megan Janolek, who currently occupies the LATS director position, is not being immediately terminated until the situation is investigated further.

"We're just opening it and we're going to go from there," he said. "It's more of a statement. We're looking and we're serious."

Matulewicz said he discovered the $67,000 error approximately two weeks ago when the borough's auditor said she couldn't complete this year's audit because she needed numerous items to verify why transactions occurred.

While looking over the list, Matulewicz saw that Janolek had shifted $67,000 into the reconciliation/discrepancy fund to balance the books. He did not clarify if the switch had occurred in one large transaction or several small transactions, but did say it appeared she had completed it by moving extra money from the cash fund to the reconciliation/discrepancy fund to account for unrecorded revenues.

"Whatever was off, (Janolek) just switched it," he said. "The auditor was bringing it to our attention piecemeal."

Matulewicz said that while Janolek's past financial filings had small errors in them, this year's was drastically worse. He estimated between 50 and 60 errors were discovered by the auditor before she had to stop.

"There has been little mistakes but there has not been anything like this," he said. "There's enough to say we're displeased."

Matulewicz brought the errors, including the $67,000 reconciliation/discrepancy fund switch, to the attention of the rest of the council at Monday's work session. The council spoke extensively about Janolek without a resolution.

At Thursday's meeting, the board was still conflicted about terminating Janolek. When a motion to open the position of LATS director and borough treasurer was brought up, the board voted unanimously to go into executive session.

After the executive session, the board voted 5-1 to open Janolek's position to applications. Robert Shirmer abstained from the vote; he is a relative. Council vice president Leroy Moser Jr. was the sole dissenting vote. He said he could not publicly disclose his reasoning, but it had to do in part with unanswered questions.

He was not the only council member with questions about the accounting errors. A primary reason Janolek was not immediately let go is because the council does not yet fully understand how the errors occurred because the auditor has not yet completed the audit due to missing documents.

"We do need more time to look into it," said Matulewicz. "It's too soon to do anything."

Matulewicz said the errors occurred during the 2012-13 fiscal year while Janolek was still in the position of borough treasurer. These duties were transferred to borough manager Edward T. Cuff III March 1 so Janolek could focus on managing LATS.

The post includes both LATS director and borough treasurer duties in the position.

SUNBURY - A Shamokin man is refuting objections filed by attorneys for Northumberland County and commissioners Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy in federal court over a recent decision to allow his lawsuit to proceed.

Attorneys Kymberly L. Best and Timothy A. Bowers filed a brief of opposition in U.S. Middle District Court Thursday on behalf of their client, outdoor enthusiast David Kaleta, against the objection filed by the law firm of Lavery, Faherty and Patterson, of Harrisburg, on behalf of the county, Clausi and Bridy, earlier this month.

The objection followed a June 18 report by U.S. Magistrate Judge Martin Carlson which recommended that two of Kaleta's claims - that the county violated the Sunshine Act by banning him from the AOAA grounds and that his First Amendment rights were violated by the commissioners' decisions - should be brought to trial.

Kaleta's brief of opposition concurs with the statements made by Carlson while pointing out that no "error of law" occurred when Carlson made his decision.

"We agree with the federal district magistrate's decision," said Best, speaking on behalf of Kaleta. "We feel confidently that the federal judge will concur."

The 12-page objection filed by county's attorneys says one of Kaleta's claims should be dismissed because a report concerning a Sept. 10, 2012, letter from county planning director Pat Mack and signed by Bridy and Clausi rejecting Kaleta's request to use the land for hunting and walking his dog was erroneous.

The other claim, says the objection, should be dismissed because it is also without merit.

Clausi, when contacted by phone Thursday, said "We never violated his civil rights."

COAL TOWNSHIP - Coal Township will get two new vehicles courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USDA Rural Development State Director Thomas Williams, announced Wednesday that it is awarding Coal Township $49,600 in grant money to purchase a police vehicle and a dump truck.

The grant, which comes through the Community Facilities Program, will be matched in part by township money.

Craig Fetterman, chairman of the Coal Township commissioners, said he did not have the dollar amount of the match on hand, but township will definitely take advantage of the grant.

"It's great because money's tight right now," said Fetterman.

Fetterman said the township had already selected the new police car.

Bids on the street truck have been received and are awaiting approval from the USDA.

"It's definitely needed for plowing in the winter," said Fetterman about the truck.

Earlier this month it was announced that the township recycling center received a $162,000 grant to purchase a new loader. The township will match $18,000.

SHAMOKIN - A 23-year-old former city man has been charged with raping a 14-year-old girl while she was helping him move in December.

Jacob Ryan Engle, of 149 E. Market St., Berrysburg, is accused of having sexual intercourse with the victim at his former residence on North Orange Street.

He is charged by Patrolman Raymond Siko II with felonies of rape, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault (two counts) and two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault.

During a June 23 interview with police and Child Advocate Center officials in Northumberland, the victim said Engle picked her up at her Snyder County home around Christmas time and took her to his home in Shamokin. Police said Engle was in the process of moving from Shamokin to Trevorton at the time.

The 14-year-old girl told police she was sitting in a chair after moving boxes when Engle touched her in a sexual manner.

The victim said she pushed Engle away. Engle became upset and started throwing boxes around, according to the victim.

After they loaded boxes into a car, Engle, who was in the driver's seat, looked at the victim and said, "You tell anyone, I'll kill you."

The girl said they then drove to Trevorton.

The victim said she didn't tell anyone about the incident because she was scared and concerned for a family member who was Engle's girlfriend.

The victim also said she had received text messages from Engle that she called "not normal."

During an interview with police Wednesday, Engle admitted fondling the victim and having sexual intercourse with her at his former Shamokin home. He said the victim tried to stop him, but he forced himself on her.

Engle said he texted the victim several times after the incident and asked her to go on a date, but she declined.

The defendant also told police he forced the victim to perform oral sex while he was driving to his new home in Berrysburg and that he engaged in sexual intercourse with the girl in a portable toilet in the Herndon area.

Engle told police he went to counseling after the two incidents because his actions bothered him.

Engle was placed under arrest following the interview and transported to a holding cell at Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury. He was arraigned by video at 9:30 a.m. Thursday by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III and committed to jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.

He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing before Gembic Tuesday, July 29.

Siko said Northumberland County District Attorney Ann Targonski, Northumberland County Children and Youth Services and Child Advocate Center officials assisted with the investigation.

Chuck wagon repaired

SHAMOKIN - God's Chuck Wagon mobile soup kitchen is repaired and will operate again Monday in Mount Carmel and Kulpmont. The Rev. James Bowers thanked the following for their donations: Mike Morris, Jones Enterprise of Burnside, Jason Kurtz, Roy Adams and Son Inc., and Gary Reidinger of Reidinger Trucking Co. A $5 night will be held from 9 p.m. to midnight today at the Independence Fire Co., Market and Arch streets, in support of the chuck wagon.

Meeting to help families of addicts set

ATLAS - Save Our Families, a meeting for relatives of drug addicts, will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Addiction Help Center, Route 61, near the viaduct.

SUNBURY - The family of a Northumberland County Prison inmate is at odds with the warden on the handling of parole paperwork.

Bill Portzline, 27, of Coal Township, was eligible for release July 4, his minimum release date. Good behavior shaved 79 days off his original Sept. 21 minimum. Instead, he won't be paroled until today - 65 days early.

His application was filled out in early June but wasn't processed in time for consideration at a July 3 parole board hearing. It was up for approval the following week on July 11, but that hearing was canceled. He's expected to be released today.

Portzline's mother, Paulette Yocum, as well as his fiance, Nytasha Shinskie, said that's two weeks longer than necessary. At $55 a day to house an inmate, it cost of $770, and falls in line with allegations by commissioner Chairman Vinny Clausi, who says paperwork delays cost the county $9,000 in June and $100,000 in 2013.

"I totally understand Bill put himself in there and he needed to do his time," Yocum wrote in an email to The News-Item. "But now, through no fault of Bill's, he was denied the opportunity to even be considered for early release on two occasions."

Shinskie agreed with Yocum, that Portzline has only himself to blame for his punishment for a probation violation. She and Yocum made the decision to call Portzline's probation officer on him, after which he was locked up Oct. 14, 2013. But miscommunication from prison officials had the family believing he'd be home July 4 and in time for his son's first birthday.

Three weeks before signature

Portzline had two non-violent misconducts early in his stay at the county jail. Since then, he's behaved well enough to land a job through the work release program and also earn time off his sentence for good behavior.

According to his family, Portzline received the application June 6 and turned it in 15 minutes later. Jimmy Cortelyou, chief probation officer, said Thursday the application was signed and dated June 10. That leaves either 21 or 25 days until July 1, when, according to Warden Roy Johnson, prison commander Brian Whary signed a parole recommendation. It was two more days, on July 3, when the probation department received the paperwork, according to Cortelyou. He added that Portzline's home plan for early release was also approved.

The probation department needs one week to review an application before making its own recomendation to the parole board. It was recommended that Portzline be released July 11. However, a parole board hearing was canceled due to a lack of a quorum.

The parole board is an independent entity, and prison officials do not conduct the hearings. Johnson said Thursday that Portzline's paperwork was in before his minimum date and was to have a hearing July 11. The hearing was canceled by the board and through no fault of the prison's, Johnson said.

Late, but early

Portzline could still be in jail if Johnson chose to erase his "good time" due to the early misconducts, he said. Although he wasn't released July 4, he is likely to be out today - 65 days ahead of his original minimum release date.

"He's actually getting out way earlier because the system is working," Johnson said.

Johnson couldn't confirm when Portzline turned in his parole application, but said that will change. New protocol will be put in place tracking the times and dates when applications are turned over to inmates, when they're returned to corrections officers and so forth.

Management

Prison management is easier when eligible inmates are released on their minimum sentence, he said.

"We're going to step it up and make dang sure they're over to parole even earlier," Johnson said. "I can't let the people at the prison keep (getting) the brunt of every allegation that comes back."

Johnson was under fire during Wednesday's meeting of the prison board by majority commissioners Clausi and Stephen Bridy. They allege mismanagement by Johnson, blaming him for allegedly delaying parole paperwork while also criticising him for two inmate suicides within 10 months. Another incident Monday night initially reported as a suicide attempt will be reclassified by Johnson as "self-mutilation."

Johnson bristled Wednesday, loudly protesting the accusations. A vote failed 2-2-1 to fire him. Four affirmative votes were needed.

On Thursday, he said he welcomes a top-down inspection of the prison and his management. (See accompanying story.)

Courtelyou said Wednesday that parole applications are slow to come from the prison to the probation department. But he didn't lay blame on prison officials, saying delays could be the fault of inmates failing to return the applications in a timely manner.

Prison protocol had been for inmates to receive applications two weeks ahead of their minimum release date, which doesn't explain how Portzline got his nearly one month in advance. That was the old method, handing them out one month ahead of time. And now it will be the new method, with county officials this week nixing the two-week protocol and reverting back to the one-month protocol. Cortelyou said he believes this could speed up the parole process.

MOUNT CARMEL - Legendary Mount Carmel Area football coach Joseph "Jazz" Diminick, who passed away July 2, will be memorialized with having the field at the famed Silver Bowl named after him.

During a meeting Thursday night, Mount Carmel Area School Board agreed to name the field "Jazz Diminick Field" in honor of the winningest coach in school history and one of the all-time greatest scholastic mentors in the state and nation.

From 1962 to 1992, Diminick, who coached his six sons, guided the Red Tornadoes to 267 victories and several championships. When he left the coaching ranks, he was the all-time winningest coach in the state with 290 wins.

Voting to name the field after him were board President Thomas Ditchey, Donna James, William Brecker, Michael Rovito, Joseph Zanella, Robert Muldowney and Anthony Mazzatesta, who played for Diminick. Ray Kraynak and Michael Brinkash were absent.

Ditchey said a special ceremony involving Diminick's family to dedicate the field will be held at one of the first home football games this season. The Red Tornadoes open the year Friday, Aug. 29, at home against Loyalsock.

The board also will allow the varsity football team to wear memorialized black jerseys at home games and possibly other contests this year to honor Diminick. The jerseys have been purchased through donations to the football program.

In other athletic business, directors hired Steven Sinkovich as head varsity wrestling coach at a salary of $3,700.

The board accepted the resignation of Tammy Michaels as eighth grade girls basketball coach and granted permission to Brenda Moser to start an introductory running program for elementary students.

Directors accepted the resignations of high school life skills teacher Christine Delong and special education teacher David Sanford.

Katherine Francis was hired as a reading specialist/teacher with a master's degree at a salary of $42,201 with benefits. She will replace Judith Matukaitis, who retired.

Elaine Bartol was reclassified from an aide to a secretary at 7½ hours per day at a salary of $22,638. She will replace Tina Meredith, who is in a new position.

Kim Bartos was hired as a secretary at seven hours per day at $8.50 per hour with benefits. She will replace Gloria Slater, who retired.

The board adjusted the salaries of elementary school Principal Susan Nestico and junior high school Principal Pete Cheddar to $60,000, retroactive to July 1.

Directors granted a 3 percent ($2,295) salary increase to high school principal/curriculum coordinator Lisa Varano, retroactive to July 1.

The board also approved a 2.8 percent ($2,532.05) increase in salary to Superintendent Bernie Stellar for the 2013-14 fiscal year and 2.8 percent ($2,583) increase for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Henry Fadrowski was hired for seasonal field maintenance work at $9 per hour.

The board amended the maintenance restructuring approved June 30 to include a six-month probationary period for all tiered maintenance and custodial personnel.

Directors agreed to transfer $10,000 from the general fund to the athletic account.

Stellar announced paving and other construction work will be done in the elementary school parking lot, beginning July 28. He said the lot will be closed until at least Aug. 13, which is the scheduled completion date for the project.

SUNBURY - The Northumberland County Domestic Relations Department is offering a child support amnesty period Monday through Aug. 1.

During this time, clients can appear at the domestic relations office and speak with the enforcement officer to determine what actions they need to take to have their bench warrants lifted. The Northumberland County Sheriff's Department will not execute any outstanding warrants during this time.

The amnesty covers only the warrants issued by Northumberland County Domestic Relations Department and not any other warrants that are outstanding on a criminal or civil violation.

If clients choose to take advantage of the amnesty period, they will be required to provide a current mailing address and telephone number, current employment status and payment toward the arrearage in the support case or a valid payment plan on how to resolve the arrears.

If currently employed, clients will need to supply domestic relations with the name and address of a current employer. If not employed, domestic relations will need proof of sources of income.

Once the amnesty period is over, the court will immediately schedule contempt proceedings and/or instruct the county sheriff's office to execute all warrants that will result in an appearance in front of a judge and/or possible incarceration.

Northumberland County Court Administrator Brandy L. Yasenchak said she's hopeful clients will take advantage of the amnesty period.

In arrears

Yasenchak provided the following list of people who are in arrears and the amounts owed:

John E. Barnhart IV, 34, $3,622.41; Russell L. Bastian Jr., 46, $37,812.63; Rebecca L. Beachel, 32, $1,138.38; Tiffany A. Benelisha, 31, $2,387.35; Robert L. Blake, 45, $1,515.08; Ronald J. Bogutskie, 48, $7,202.59; William T. Boyer, 42, $3,420.76; Gordon B. Byers, 42, $2,541.23; James A. Campbell Jr., 41, $4,406.25; Jonathan G. Chalkan, 41, $4,344.83; James L. Cundiff Jr., 37, $7,038.94; Terry R. Day Jr., 28, $3,422.90; Brian K. Donner Sr., 29, $14,624.48; Wanda M. Ebright, 34, $3,129.05; Kyle C. English, 33, $9,113.97; Jerry A. Enoch, 42, $28,817.75; Jesse J. Feudale Sr., 39, $33,184.89; Billy J. Fischer, 36, $23,354.89; Jody V. Foulke, 28, $40,003.70; Dustin J. Gautsch, 33, $1,058.76; Timothy D. Graefe, 26, $835.85; Neil A. Haddock, 29, $14,175.22; Dustin J. Heddings, 23, $5,184.20; Bruce L. Heefner, 60, $27,052; Ryan C. Herman, 45, $2,152.12; Michael T. Herman, 47, $45,212.37; Micheal L. Hill, 52, $92,370.68; Michael R. Hoffman Jr., 30, $6,872.30; Loni J. Hornberger, 35, $908.91.

Andrew J. Huber, 30, $3,776.93; Sabrina R. Hummel, 30, $3,320.80; Ryan C. Hunt, 26, $4,056.19; Mark A. Jackson, 44, $77,055.24; Nathan Jones, 48, $23,113.65; Chad M. Keefer, 31, $7,804.66; Christopher A. Kessler, 40, $10,215.09; Christopher R. Kern, 33, $11,137.13; Crystal A. Kerner, 38, $1,512.80; Michael A. Knox, 23, $7,398.70; Matthew E. Koveleskie, 31, $12,150.72; Robert S. Kramer III, 27, $11,614.47; Jeff D. Leach, 34, $21,400.48; Anthony M. Leggins, 27, $4,429.10; Jason J. McCormick, 33, $8,023.15; Donna M. McDonald, 31, $2,181.24; Tyler J. McElwee, 26, $1,641.33; William F. McGeehan, 52, $9,248.22; Justo L. Melendez, 34, $8,050.04; Tina M. Miller, 35, $11,697.84; Roger S. Miller II, 33, $10,259.31; Hilton D. Moore, 33, $4,927.54; James E. Mowery Jr., 42, $6,143.73; Jeremy S. Moyer, 35, $7,702; Ronald A. Nahodil, 42, $28,566.03; Kenneth E. Ney, 36, $340.67; Timothy M. Nye, 30, $25,748.59; Jamie A. Olley, 34, $3,565.72; Matthew D. Osman, 34, $6,575.48; John S. Petrovich, 44, $4,836.98; Annette Phelps, 46, $1,920.16; Orlando L. Poke, 30, $5,615.68.

Thomas M. Reddinger, 31, $32,464.43; Luann M. Reinard, 36, $3,575.27; Ira P. Renn II, 41, $9,865.67; Justin M. Ressler, 25, $29,183.73; Anthony Robert, 35, $1,092.19; Joel R. Rubenstein, 32, $631.74; Larry E. Russell Jr., 46, $10,287.16; Joshua A. Russell, 36, $77,001; Nicholas A. Schindler, 29, $8,586.41; Kevin D. Schreck, 48, $22,769.41; Jacob V. Shellhammer, 33, $6,11153; Jason W. Short, 28, $4,790.26; Gerald C. Simpson, 44, $15,481.73; Stephen Smith, 35, $1,381.10; Severan M. Snell, 28, $445.83; George W. Snyder, 45, $8,312.70; Chad E. Stover Sr., 41, $46,625.84; Cody Strunk, 30, $2,487.72; Sean P. Sutton, 29, $17,768.05; Kevin M. Thew, 25, $8,202.69; Joseph A. Vankirk, 32, $7,391.88; John C. Wallish III, 39, $21,699.87; Jennifer K. Walls, 41, $585.34; Brian K. Weikel, 36, $9,572.18; Pamela I. Wilder-Dennison, 45, $2,772.50; Tara L. Williams, 40, $2,320.39; Kimberly T. Willis, 25, $2,472.03; Brian D. Wolfgang Jr., 26, $6,798.90; Stephen D. Wondoloski, 32, $11,920.60; John A. Zimmerman, 40, $1,256.34.

SUNBURY - The county's prison warden is demanding an investigation of the jail and his management of it.

Warden Roy Johnson has been targeted by majority commissioners Stephen Bridy and Vinny Clausi, who have criticized him in the wake of two inmate suicides in the past 10 months along with allegations of delayed parole paperwork, allegedly costing an estimated $9,000 in June and $100,000 in 2013.

"The bottom line is, yes, I demand that every allegation be investigated," Johnson said Thursday. "If it's true, I'll take my lumps."

He continued, "I am willing to open this facility to any reputable inspection agency. The Attorney General, the FBI, the DOC. I will put my record and my credibility against anybody's."

Clausi said he's uninterested in Johnson's challenge. He said the evidence exists in the parole paperwork alone.

"I recommend the warden resign because his days are numbered," Clausi said.

There were 21 inmates placed on suicide watch in June, two more than the 19 combined in April and May. A representative for Prime Care Medical Inc., the prison's health care provider, said it doesn't mean there were 21 attempts. Rather, the figure is a result of inmate screening during the intake process.

Religious policy

Apart from criticisms by Bridy and Clausi, Johnson was also criticized Wednesday by a former imam of the State Correctional Institution-Coal Township, Mustafa Abuomar.

Abuomar, who has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against his former employer, accuses the county prison of failing its Muslim inmates by incorrectly serving food during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ends July 28. Meals had not been served in accordance with religious tenets for fasting from dawn to sunset, he said.

Abuomar said he was initially convinced by prison officials they knew how to handle the month-long observance. When that proved incorrect, he sought to speak with Johnson, but said the warden never returned his calls. He said his private attorneys then contacted the prison to discuss the issue.

"I challenge him to show what is the religious policy," Abuomar said Thursday. "What is the plan of action to accommodate inmates? If you have a policy, you must have a procedure on how to take action."

Johnson said he wasn't sure if religious policy specific to Northumberland County Prison is in place, but that standard policy of state and federal penal institutions are followed if specific policies aren't in place on the county level.

A recent inspection by the state Department of Corrections included the review of prison policies. There was no mention of a lack of or incorrect application of religious policy, according to county Commissioner Rick Shoch.

Johnson said Thursday the prison has averaged lately between three and five Muslim inmates. None locked up during Ramadan filled a formal complaint with prison staff about observance of the holiday. Abuomar lodged the complaints, and Johnson said they've since been addressed.

"We weren't getting the meals there early enough. We corrected that issue. If the inmates would have told us the first day, we would have fixed it," Johnson said.

Abuomar also continued his accusation that Johnson was fired from his job at the state prison in Coal Township, which Johnson has fiercely denied. Shoch said Wednesday Abuomar failed to provide any information backing his claim. Abuomar said he wasn't there to levy that accusation, and that it came in response to jabs at his character taken by Johnson. If Shoch or any other county official wants to find out who's being honest, he said they need only follow the paper trail.

Shoch said Thursday the county isn't privy to private information, like Johnson's medical records. Abuomar said Johnson simply needs to sign a waiver for such protected records.

But Shoch said looking into alleged past discrepancies irrelevant to Johnson's current job performance is a waste of time.

"The relevant issue is what his performance has been," Shoch said.

He said Johnson has drastically improved the professionalism of prison staff and improved how prisoners are treated.

Seen improvement

Dave Sprout, a paralegal with the Lewisburg Prison Project, a prisoner advocacy group, agreed Johnson has boosted the performance of prison staff. He noted the increase in medical care, in part due to a lawsuit filed by the advocacy group, and the installation of interior surveillance cameras.

"I believe they try to do their job the best they can, and it's a difficult job. I think (Johnson) brought a little more professionalism to the staff," Sprout said Thursday.

Many of the prison's problems, including potential mental health issues with inmates or staff, is largely due to the prison building itself, Sprout said. He said that's the biggest challenge facing prison and county officials, and he hopes more attention will be paid to improvements.

Suicides can occur in new prisons, too, Sprout acknowledged, but he said the atmosphere of a facility built in 1876 can compound issues with depression.

Sprout said the Lewisburg Prison Project has not been contacted by any county inmates about delayed processing of parole applications.

Johnson remained steadfast in defense of his reputation. To his critics, he said, "If you're going to make accusations, be prepared to defend them and be prepared to back them up."

Nicole Wert, of Ashburn, Va., earned her Master of Science at George Mason University with a concentration in curriculum and instruction, teacher leadership with a 3.9 grade-point average. Wert is a second grade teacher in Fairfax County.

Wert is a daughter of Mike and Chris Wert, of Coal Township, and a granddaughter of Dr. Earl and Barbara Johnson, William and Patricia Wert and the late Edward and Frances Madden.

MOUNT CARMEL - Can one man destroy hundreds of the potholes riddling Mount Carmel's streets?

Pothole Killers is attempting to do just that.

Residents may have noticed the truck slowly cruising Mount Carmel's roads, occasionally stopping to spew tar and stones onto the street.

The Mount Carmel Borough Council voted to engage Pothole Killers, a subsidiary of Patch Management Inc., in June for $25,430 after the company told Edward T. Cuff, borough manager, it could fill in all the potholes on a list of 30 stretches of road and maybe even a few more in about two weeks.

The truck works as a singular entity, driven by one man and completing all the steps of filling in a pothole.

A fan attached to a long arm in the front of the truck blows dust and debris off the marked area. A tar solution then comes out of the same arm, followed by stones that are carried to the site in the back of the truck.

The truck is efficient and can fill a pothole in minutes.

Mike Magennis watched from his porch while the truck repaired the pockmarked street in front of his house on West Avenue.

"It's nice that they don't have to use all that manpower," said Magennis. "It's just one guy."

Pothole Killers was contracted to complete 75 hours of work over 10 days. Today is their last day in town.

Anthony Matulewicz III, borough council president, said he is pleased with the work completed.

"For the price of that, to fix all those potholes, it's amazing," he said.

Matulewicz noted the only issue with the repair work is the patching took some time to set because of the heat.

Vehicles passing over fresh patches kicked up the tiny stones, which bothered some people, he said, but this issue only lasted a few hours at the most.

"After that, it's hard as a rock," said Matulewicz.

COAL TOWNSHIP - A game of "Truth or Dare" has landed a 20-year-old city man behind bars on a felony of statutory sexual assault.

Kyle Hoffman, of 1010 N. Franklin St., is charged by Detective Jeff Brennan with engaging in sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl April 12 in a wooded area in the Bunker Hill section of the township.

Hoffman, who has been in Northumberland County Prison on a parole violation since April 14, will be staying there for a while after being arraigned by video at 10:45 a.m. Thursday by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic on the felony offense.

Hoffman was unable to post $50,000 cash bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Gembic Tuesday, July 29.

After receiving a report April 12 from the victim's mother who said her daughter was raped, police interviewed the victim.

The 15-year-old girl told police she and a 12-year-old female walked into a wooded area at about 7 p.m. with a male who identified himself as Kyle Hoffman. The victim said Hoffman told them he was 17 years old and asked the girls if they wanted to play a game known as "Truth or Dare." After a few minutes of playing the game, the 15-year-old girl said Hoffman walked over and started hugging her. The victim said she attempted to stop Hoffman, but he continued and then removed her pants and had sexual intercourse with her.

The victim said when Hoffman started to hug her, the 12-year-old girl ran from the scene.

The 12-year-old girl confirmed the victim's statement and also said Hoffman asked the 15-year-old girl to perform oral sex. The girl said she fled after becoming frightened.

A spokeswoman at Northumberland County Prison said Hoffman served time in prison for theft in 2012 and was incarcerated last year for parole violations.

WILKES-BARRE - Luzerne County Community College announces the following students have earned recognition for outstanding academic achievement during the spring 2014 semester.

To qualify for the president's list, a student must earn a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. Students who attain a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.99 are included on the dean's list, and those with an average between 3.25 and 3.49 are included on the honors list.

Dean's list

Andrew Allen, Mount Carmel; Walter Borkoskie, Shamokin; Cameron Bradley, Coal Township; Emily Bridy, Shamokin; Jill Britton, Shamokin; Alexis Brockway, Catawissa; Anna Marie Bronkoski, Kulpmont; Virginia Brown, Shamokin; Joseph Colangelo, Coal Township; Tammy Derk, Coal Township; Ashley Drumheiser, Sunbury; Dezaray Erdman, Coal Township; Caitlin Evans, Mount Carmel; Mary Evans, Mount Carmel; Allan Farley, Ashland; Kendra Faust, Coal Township; Stacy Faust, Sunbury; Danielle Favinger, Sunbury; Adam Feudale, Elysburg.

Katherine Fitzpatrick, Kulpmont; Margaret Geise, Shamokin; Jesse Geist, Coal Township; Barry Getchey, Shamokin; Brandon Greco, Marion Heights; Alicia Hamburger, Dornsife; Sarah Harder, Catawissa; Brian Jenkins, Ashland; Rachel Koons, Coal Township; Joseph Kort, Marion Heights; Corey Langton, Mount Carmel; Alisha Lebo, Trevorton; Jennifer Leffler, Paxinos; John Long, Coal Township; Teresa Lopez, Shamokin; Megan Lowry, Catawissa; Steven Machuzak, Marion Heights; Marcus Maschal, Mount Carmel; Alexis Matelevich, Shamokin.

Christopher McCabe, Coal Township; Sara Meier, Ashland; Michael Menapace, Wilburton; Kelly Mirolli, Coal Township; Jacob Moore, Sunbury; Samantha Ortona, Kulpmont; Jasmine Palovick, Coal Township; Heather Peffer, Mount Carmel; Joshua Peregrin, Coal Township; Maria Petruskevich, Coal Township; Angel Rager, Sunbury; Toni Rakus, Kulpmont; Angelina Rodkey, Sunbury; Derek Rompolski, Coal Township; Kristen Ruskuski, Mount Carmel; Andrew Ruzicka, Kulpmont; Jamie Ruzicka, Sunbury; Matthew Schaeffer, Shamokin; Michael Shoffler, Elysburg.

Kaitlyn Shultz, Shamokin; Teanna Shutt, Elysburg; Michelle Smedley, Mount Carmel; Victoria Snyder, Coal Township; Susan Snyder-Strawser, Sunbury; Brylee Spieles, Ashland; Morgan Stankiewicz, Shamokin; Michele Swetra, Mount Carmel; Stephen Troutman, Coal Township; Sandra Wayne, Coal Township; Janelle Wilde, Mount Carmel; Jennifer Wilkins, Locust Gap; Steven Williams, Sunbury; Marcin Wrobel, Shamoki and Erin Yoder, Catawissa.

Honors list

Helen Balthaser, Shamokin; Dana Cuff, Kulpmont; Tevin Gonzalez, Coal Township; Briana Grimmer, Shamokin; Meghan Halcovich, Coal Township; Rachel Levengood, Shamokin; Brianna Lutz, Mount Carmel; Brittany Mayton, Coal Township; Douglas Michaels, Elysburg; Brett Paul, Ashland; Jonathan Paul, Trevorton; Valerie Pavelko, Coal Township; Kayla Ramer, Coal Township; Brandon Reiprich, Wilburton; Julie Rodak, Kulpmont; Trisha Rosini, Shamokin; Jessica Schleig, Coal Township; Amy Weidner, Kulpmont; Samuel Wilkins, Locust Gap; Kay Williams, Coal Township

President's list

Mackenzie Brouse, Paxinos; Megan DeLong, Dornsife; Cynthia Derk, Coal Township;Maryann Drost, Coal Township; Jaclyn Gaugler, Dornsife; Nathaniel Haggerty, Paxinos; Keila Hernandez, Sunbury; Danielle Kasper, Shamokin; Courtney Krieger, Sunbury; Charlene Lesher, Trevorton; Ania Rawa, Coal Township; Cody Rebuck, Dornsife; Samantha Rhodes, Sunbury; Megan Rickert, Shamokin; Wanda Riley, Catawissa; Tyler Rupp, Shamokin; Melissa Smallets, Shamokin; Anne Snyder, Catawissa; Jacob Snyder, Shamokin; Taylor Stefovic, Kulpmont; Alison Varano, Mount Carmel; Anna Varano, Shamokin; Crissy Viruet, Sunbury; Angela Vought, Elysburg; Tori Wariki, Kulpmont; Casey Wilson, Coal Township; and Christina Zanella, Mount Carmel.

MIDLAND - Several area residents were among the 1,454 members of the Class of 2014 graduating from the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School:

Coal Township - Sarah E. Shinskie and Aubrie L. Stine.

Danville - Brandon S. Shultz.

Kulpmont - Stanley A. Stanchick.

Marion Heights - Mackenzie Greco.

Mount Carmel - Dalton R. Diotte, Faith A. Leaveck and Christiana M. Reed.

Shamokin - Erika Fedako, Cassandra P. Runkle, Jennifer D. Springer and Sarah G. Springer.

Sunbury - Joseph Pega Jr,

Larry Deklinski/Staff Photo

MOUNT CARMEL - Lower Anthracite Transportation Service (LATS) director and former borough treasurer Megan Janolek takes exception to borough leaders opening up her position amid a $67,000 discrepancy found in an audit of the 2012-13 borough budget.

Borough council took the action Thursday night.

Janolek said Friday she was unaware of any problem until notified by an auditor, and that she found the error shortly thereafter.

Council President Tony Matulewicz, however, said the errors have not yet truly been corrected, and that her strategy of attempting to hide a payroll mistake by "just wiping it away" is not okay.

"It's unacceptable," he said flatly.

Janolek said the problem occurred when she failed to mark down two payrolls in December 2012. She said the missed payrolls were purely a mistake that she did not realize she made until the auditor alerted her.

Once she was aware of this error, she corrected it so the books were balanced, she said.

Matulewicz also said the amount misplaced upped the severity of the mistake.

"We have to take this very seriously," he said. "It's not like we have a huge amount of surplus. We're on a shoestring budget, barely getting through until the next tax season."

Needing help

Janolek also said she asked for help in early 2013 and said it was too much trying to handle both the LATS and treasurer duties.

Matulewicz refuted that point and said Janolek's performance in past years does not match the poor quality of her recent work.

"She handled the job in 2012, she handled the job in 2013, and it was handled quite well," said Matulewicz. "She does not need help. She has more than enough time to do the job, and she did the job before and it was fine. There were some mistakes and they were all minute mistakes."

He also denied that Janolek was forthcoming about her problems with her workload.

"She didn't tell us she needed help, she told Ed (Cuff, borough manager)," he said.

Janolek was still in the treasurer position during the 2012-13 fiscal year, the timespan when the errors found by the auditor occurred. Her duties were transferred to Cuff March 1 so she could focus on managing LATS.

"Saying she doesn't have enough time to do it once in March doesn't absolve her from carrying over mistakes," said Matulewicz.

Matulewicz brought the errors, including the $67,000 reconciliation/discrepancy fund switch, to the attention of the rest of the council at Monday's work session. The council spoke extensively about Janolek without a resolution.

At Thursday's meeting, the board was still conflicted about terminating Janolek. When a motion to open the position of LATS director and borough treasurer was brought up, the board voted unanimously to go into executive session.

Matulewicz said Janolek attended the executive session on Monday. She was not at the borough meeting, which is not required of her job position. She was at work Friday, Matulewicz said.

At the closing of the executive session Thursday, the board voted 5-1 to open Janolek's position and seek applications. Robert Shirmer abstained from the vote; he is a relative. Council vice president Leroy Moser Jr. was the sole dissenting vote. He said he could not publicly disclose his reasoning, but it had to do in part with unanswered questions.

"We weren't even going to discuss it in public but then when there was some doubt (about posting her position), I felt like I really had to let everybody know what was going on here," said Matulewicz. "Something's got to be done. I don't care how nice she is, she made a big mistake and didn't tell anybody about it, and that's unacceptable."

Audit continues

A primary reason Janolek was not immediately let go is because the council does not yet fully understand how the errors occurred because the auditor has not yet completed the audit due to missing documents.

"We do need more time to look into it," said Matulewicz. "It's too soon to do anything."

Janolek was appointed full-time executive director of LATS in July, 2012, after many years as borough treasurer. She received a pay raise for the increase in responsibilities.

"She was too happy to take it," said Matulewicz.

In the same month, borough officials began questioning the discrepancies of LATS bills submitted by the then-service provider, King Coal.

King Coal eventually ended its contract with the borough in January due to the billing issues, which included charges for fuel not used in LATS buses and tires and parts that didn't fit the buses.

Coincidence

Matulewicz said Janolek's title and timing of her arrival has led to an inflated opinion of her role in the investigation, and the discoveries were a team effort of Janolek, borough council and local reporters.

"(Councilman) Gary Hixson figured out the gas. I figured out a whole bunch of stuff. It wasn't like it was Megan to the rescue," said Matulewicz. "She happened to be the LATS director when all this stuff was found out."

He added that in addition to help from locals, a state-funded accountant came to help her with the LATS finances.

"She did a great job, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't like she discovered all this stuff with King Coal," said Matulewicz. "We were all working on it."

The LATS budget is separate from the borough budget, and is currently being audited by two entities due to the past issues, said Matulewicz Thursday.

While Janolek is no longer treasurer, the post for the position will include both LATS director and borough treasurer duties.

Screenings set Monday in Kulpmont

KULPMONT - Kulpmont Lions Club, 833 Chestnut St. (Route 61), will host Life Line Screening Monday. The event is being sponsored by Evangelical Community Hospital.

According to Life Line, stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of permanent disability; 80 percent of stroke victims have no apparent warning signs. Preventive ultrasound screenings, which are fast, noninvasive and painless, can help, the company reports.

Screenings identify potential cardiovascular conditions, such as blocked arteries and irregular heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysms and hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease. A bone density screening to assess osteoporosis risk is also offered and is appropriate for both men and women.

Packages start at $149. All five screenings take 60 to 90 minutes to complete.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 1-877-237-1287 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com. Pre-registration is required.

ZERBE TOWNSHIP - Jessica Venesky is a rarity in her field.

In addition to being one of the youngest funeral directors in the area, she's also part of the minority who have opened, rather than inherited, their business.

For Venesky, opening Venesky Cremation Services was a necessity if she wanted to pursue her dream of operating a business in her area of expertise.

"Nobody wants to sell their funeral home," she said. "It's really, really hard if you're not family owned to get in the service."

Venesky would know; she's on friendly terms with most funeral directors in the area because she operated as a contract worker for five years, working on call for 10 different funeral homes.

She's starting her own - with the cremation work itself done elsewhere - in an usual location as well: in a former beauty parlor between a laundromat and a shuttered pizza shop in a small strip mall just east of Trevorton. The address is 141 Trevorton Road.

Since she's the new kid on the block in an industry of long-standing names, Venesky is inviting people to an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. She will provide coffee and answer questions about cremation services.

Inspired by kindness

Venesky, a Mount Carmel Area graduate now living in Shamokin, decided to go into this unusual field after completing service in the U.S. Navy.

"We fired 38 Tomahawk missiles into Baghdad," she said of her involvement in Operation Iraqi Freedom aboard the USS Higgins DDG-76.

Around the time she exited the service, her mother passed away. Venesky was inspired by the kindness bestowed upon her family at her mother's funeral by Charles Heizenroth III of Kull-Heizenroth Funeral Home, Ashland.

"I thought if I could do that for somebody, that's amazing," said Venesky.

She used her GI Bill to return to school for her degree in mortuary science, and earned her associate's degree - the highest available in her field - from Northampton Community College. She completed her internship and became fully licensed.

For the next five years, she did contract work at funeral homes, traveling to any central Pennsylvania town that needed an extra set of hands. She estimates she ran hundreds of services during this time.

Gloria Dutcavich, of Dutcavich Funeral Home in Minersville, said Venesky served with her family's business for her apprenticeship when she graduated from mortuary school and continued doing contract work for several years. She supported Venesky's decision to open her business.

"I'd say she's dependable and knowledgeable with what she's doing, a good worker," said Dutcavich.

Too much driving

Eventually, the driving from town to town took a toll on Venesky, so she looked to open her own shop. She chose the former beauty parlor location because it fits her needs.

The lessons Venesky learned while assisting at existing homes helped her in shaping her business. She decided to specialize in cremation after noticing a trend of people more frequently selecting this service.

The percentage of deaths resulting in cremation has risen from 3.56 percent in 1960 to 43.2 percent in 2012, according to the National Funeral Directors Association's website.

She also thought specializing in cremation would allow her to rein in skyrocketing funeral costs.

As a result, she can operate in a smaller space, with just enough room to hold a memorial service and a 10-by-10-foot room to do basic body preparation.

Because the equipment to cremate bodies begins at around $350,000, Venesky is opting to use local, existing crematories to complete that portion of the service. Her business will instead focus on the people aspect - offering a selection of urns that appeal to everyone and keeping a comfortable, inviting space for mourners.

"I want people to be as relaxed and as comfortable as you can be in that situation," said Venesky.Larry Deklinski/Staff Photo

DANVILLE - The Borough of Danville was the site of this year's Six-County Firemen's Convention Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28. Emergency personnel from Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland and Schuylkill counties met for the 111th time at the Washington Hose and Fire Company No. 2. The event was hosted by the Danville Six County Firemen's Association.

New officers

Officers elected for the 2014-15 term were Gary Perna Jr., of McAdoo, president; Gary Guscott, of Hazleton, 1st vice-president; William Tarby, of Troop, second vice-president; Deanna Force, of Danville, third vice-president; Gary Perna Sr., of McAdoo, fourth vice-president; Joseph Judy, of Upper Augusta Township, fifth vice-president; Michele Frye, of Bloomsburg, sixth vice-president; John Nilles, of Hazleton, secretary; Joseph Simonovich, of Warrior Run, treasurer, and Robert Mandak Sr., of Hazleton, chaplain.

Prior to the end of the session, the six-county flag was presented by Danville to the Honey Pot Fire Company, which will host the 112th convention. Nanticoke will be the site of the three-day convention, June 25, 26 and 27, 2015.

On Friday morning, a memorial service was held at the Shiloh United Church of Christ. Members of the sssociation and ladies auxiliary who passed away since the last convention were remembered. A luncheon was held at the church after the service.

The convention banquet was held at the Washington Fire Company on Friday evening. Numerous awards were presented by the association.

Awards

Recipients of the Valor Award were Vincent Chitswara, Daniel Leshko, Donald Leshko and Brian Mandak. Courage Award recipients were Lance Borchick, Matthew Capulich, Robert Leshko, John Mears Sr., Robert Mehailck, Michael Pastor and Leon Sobolowski.

Recipients of the first annual Mark Coons Memorial Scholarship were Robert Bauman, Steven Boehmer, Alexander Martz, Troy Stair, Shelby Trumbo and Michael Zangari.

The Walter Sawchak Fire Prevention Award went to Fire Chief David Duffy, New England Fire Company, Schuylkill County.

The Herman "Hump" Howard Service Award was presented to Michael Cassic Jr. and Richard Blosky.

President's Awards were presented to David Berezovske, Deanna Force, Bernie Gryskevicz, Anthony and Linda Prushinski and William Tarby.

Meetings

A reorganization meeting will be held at the Keystone Fire Company, McAdoo, Sunday.

Bimonthly meetings for the coming year will be held Sept. 12, Upper Augusta Fire Company; Nov. 16, Crystal Hose Company, Jermyn; Jan. 25, Diamond Fire Company No. 2, Hazleton; March 15, Warrior Run Fire Company, and May 17, Tilbury Fire Company, Nanticoke. All meetings start at 2 p.m.