COAL TOWNSHIP - Coaches from Shamokin's midget football teams and cheerleading programs took an icy shower for a good cause during the halftimes of their Sunday games at Kemp Memorial Stadium.

The coaches of the Shamokin Gray Wild Tigers and one lucky cheerleading coach had ice water poured atop their heads to raise money for the Burd family who lost their Shamokin home in a fire Aug. 11.

In exchange for being soaked with the chilly water, the coaches requested a $1 donation from each of the kids.

Dorothy Jovel-Martinez, whose husband was one of the coaches, helped to organize the dumpings at the three games.

"We're going to call out the other team," Jovel-Martinez said before the first halftime.

Players and parents were more than willing to step up; by the end of the day the challenge had raised $72.86 for the families.

The "ice bucket challenge," has been circulating social media since the end of July.

In exchange for being doused with ice water, the participant has to donate a smaller amount of money to a charity.

The current iteration of the challenge asks donors to contribute $10 if they have been soaked or $100 if they have remained dry to The ALS Association, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.

The challenge has raised $62.5 million as of Saturday, according to The ALS Association.

Past incarnations that has called upon people to donate money to various other charities.

The home of Doris Burd, 34, her husband, Nathan Burd, 39, and their 13-year-old daughter, Octavia, was uninsured when it was completely destroyed by a fire that began in an adjacent home.

Jovel-Martinez said the youth football program will be continuing to collect donations through the end of the week. People may contact her at 570-648-1606 or djovelmartinez@gmail.com, or stop by Bunker Hill from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday to make a contribution.

Some of the players have requested to also be doused with the ice water, which Jovel-Martinez said the couches would be happy to do later this week.

TREVORTON - Two years after first dreaming of converting the abandoned pool house into a thriving community hub that would also hold one hundred years of historic photos, documents and artifacts, a group of committed Trevorton residents are beginning to make headway into their project.

The Trevorton Heritage Society, made up of charter members Rosanne Marquette, Liz Schwartz, Tara Kluge, Alyce Bostwick and Nancy Boyer, received its IRS tax-exempt status in July, a landmark moment for the ambitious group.

With the nonprofit status, the group became eligible to start collecting donations for use toward achieving their dream of renovating the pool house at the Foundry.

The status also allows the organization to apply for grant funding earmarked for community nonprofit projects.

"It was overwhelming, the red tape," said Schwartz. "That (status) now is going to open up the doors that we need."

In the two years it took to officially form the nonprofit, the group has been working toward establishing a foothold in the community and preparing necessary documents to plan the renovation.

Already, the group has a preliminary architectural drawing showing a layout that includes bathrooms, a community room with a small kitchen and a historical society space where residents can do research and view relics from the town's early days.

The pool house was completed in the early '70s as part of the swimming pool complex. The pool has since been filled in, but the concrete structure still stands, largely unused.

Although the building has numerous disadvantages in its design - shuttered openings instead of windows in the former changing rooms, for example - it has one element that excites the group: it was designed for a second floor.

A stairwell is built into each of the former changing rooms, and the beam structure of the roof was designed to hold the weight of an additional floor.

"Our dream would be to put a second floor," said Marquette. "We'd love to have the historical society upstairs."

If a second floor is constructed, the entire first floor would be used for community events, she added.

Boyer said if there could be a second floor, then half of the first floor could be used for an indoor youth center.

"So the older kids have something to do other than sports," explained Boyer.

Before even the first floor is a possibility, though, the group will have to raise between $5,000 and $20,000 for a feasibility study to see what could be done to the building.

"We're at a standstill (until) we can get moving and get our feasbility study," said Schwartz. "That, again, costs money."

The group hopes to raise at least half the funds and get a matching grant from the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

A calendar fundraiser is already chipping away at their goal.

The calendars, which feature a historic photo as the image for each month, are for sale for $10 at Angie's Market, Hannah's Restaurant and the Zerbe Township municipal building.

A limited supply of 300 were printed so people interested in purchasing one should pick one up soon, said Schwartz.

A white elephant auction, held monthly at the storefront adjacent to the post office on Shamokin Street, is also helping raise funds.

"Cash donations and the white elephant store have allowed us to pay legal bills and the architect," said Schwartz.

The organization will also operate a booth at the Trevorton Fall Festival, scheduled for Oct. 11, where they will sell their calendars and possibly do another fundraiser at the event.

They are also gearing up for their big annual event: the Christmas celebration that's grown each year since it's inception.

While the date has yet to be finalized, the organization has already added to this year's festivities, which has included free cookies and drinks, carolers, 27 Christmas trees and a visit from Santa Claus.

"The township (supervisors) made a sled this year," said Schwartz. "And Santa said he would come for two nights."

Schwartz, who is married to township supervisor Mike Schwatz, said the township has been supportive of the group.

As part of ongoing recreation projects at the Foundry the pool house had its electrical system upgraded, which will allow for many of the future changes.

Boyer said the organization will hold an upcoming public meeting with a date to be announced.

"We would certainly welcome their input now," said Boyer. "We're a small group, we're still in the planning and organization stage, but there will be plenty of opportunity for anyone who wants to volunteer."

"We're hoping to accomplish something that's going to fill a need," she added.

For more information on the Trevorton Heritage Society, visit their Facebook page.

MOUNT CARMEL - Vintners across the country are raising their glasses in the coming days to the fall grape harvest.

Art Catino of Catino Vino, a wine supply store in Mount Carmel, said the availability of juice crushed by grape growers has led to a surge in do-it-yourself vintners.

"Winemaking has exploded and the reason for that is the ease of making wine," said Catino.

While in the past winemakers were limited to grapes grown locally or shipped in, vineyards have begun squeezing grapes on-site, which removes steps that add days to the process.

"Old school winemakers still use grapes," said Catino. "(But) I don't make wine from grapes anymore."

Catino estimates that he brings in enough grapes and juice every year to make approximately 50,000 bottles of wine.

Because juice is easier to ship, the cost of making wine from juice is approximately $2 less than that of imported grapes.

As a result, the cost of making your own wine can be as low as $3 per bottle.

Catino imports both whole grapes and juice for customers at his store. He estimates that 90 percent of his customers opt to purchase juice.

He said that he received the prices for this fall's California grape crop on Thursday and that the cost of both whole grapes and juice has risen slightly over last year due to drought.

With less rainwater, grapes have grown smaller in size and quantity - but smaller grapes means the juice will be more concentrated.

"The flavors will be fantastic (and) the quality will be spot on," said Catino.

Catino expects his first shipments to arrive during the first week of September. He also orders juice in from Italy, which allows his fall season to continue through the end of November, and offers a selection of South American grape juices that are available in late spring.

From vine to bottle, wine takes between six months and a year to make, depending on the type.

Upon arrival, grapes first need to be crushed because their oval shape prevents a large number from being pressed, despite the fragility of their skin.

The process, depicted in I Love Lucy with stomping, has been made easier with a device that uses a crank-operated funnel to grind the grapes. Some of these devices also remove the stems of the grapes, cutting down on what can be a tedious task.

Once crushed, red wines are left to sit for hours or days before pressing so the juice can absorb coloring and flavoring from the grape skins.

The crushed grapes are then pressed.

Large impurities are skimmed and removed, and the juice is ready to become wine.

Winemakers who purchase juice can skip all of the above steps and head straight to calculating their sugar content, which is the next step in the process.

Yeast added to grape juice converts sugar into alcohol molecules. Knowing the sugar content of the juice is essential in controlling the alcohol content - and taste - in the final product.

Winemakers can use two tools to determine the sugar content in grape juice to calculate if extra sugar should be mixed into the juice prior to beginning fermentation, or if fermentation should be stopped by adding another compound that kills the remaining yeast.

A hydrometer looks like a thermometer and bobs in the juice at a height dependent on the sugar content. A refractormeter is similar to a kaleidoscope and bends light through the juice like a prism to determine sugar content.

After the proper amount of sugar is in place, yeast is added.

Wine yeast is sold in individual packets measured to fit six gallon carboys, glass jugs commonly used to store wine during the fermentation process, and costs around one dollar per packet. The packets are also labelled for the wine types, making their selection easy for first-time vintners.

With the yeast added, winemaking becomes a waiting game.

Vintners check their wine periodically over the next weeks, occasionally "racking" the wine by shifting the liquid into new containers to remove "fines," debris that settles to the bottom as the yeast thrives.

When the desired alcohol content is reached - when all or nearly all of the sugar has been converted for a dry wine or when a small amount of sugar is left for a sweeter wine - winemakers add a compound like potassium sorbate to kill the remaining yeast.

Wine is technically ready to drink at this point, but most winemakers allow their completed product to set for a few more weeks to develop the taste.

"The longer it ages the smoother, the more mellow the wine gets," said Catino.

The wine is then bottled and corked, if so desired, and ready to be enjoyed.

Those interested in trying their hand at making wine but are nervous about the lengthy process or don't wish to wait might want to opt for a wine kit.

Boxed wine kits come with everything needed to make six gallons of wine in five weeks. They start around $60 and can rise significantly in price depending on the type of grape.

Catino currently offers a variety of the kits, which come in flavors ranging from typical grape wines to fruitier flavors. He said that in addition to the time advantage, the kits allow for wine to be made at any time of the year.

The following landlord/tenant complaints were made in magisterial district court:

Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin

Walter Hyde against Samantha Jane and Donald John Doe, all of Shamokin, for $350, filed Aug. 22. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8.

Brenda Pomponio against Thomas Quinn, both of Shamokin, no amount given, filed Aug. 22. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 8.

Douglas E. and Susan C. Neidig, of Middleburg, against Quinn Reaves and Tiffany Jackson, of Shamokin, for $1,750, filed Aug. 19. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 28.

Samantha Reynolds awarded $134.60 on Aug. 11 in court costs from Paul Maund, both of Ranshaw.

Shamokin Housing Authority awarded $2,263.60 on Aug. 14 in rent, damages and court costs from John and Angela Barber, both of Shamokin.

James H. Wehr awarded $2,284.60 on Aug. 14 in rent and court costs from Jerry and April Kerstetter, both of Coal Township.

David and Kathleen Witkoskie, of Paxinos, awarded $1,914.60 on Aug. 21 in rent and court costs from Andrew McCann, of Shamokin.

Brett N. Russell, of Sunbury, awarded $12,205.10 on Aug. 21 in rent and court costs from Samantha Evans and Andres Ashburn, both of Shamokin.

Rovena Bridi-Benjamin, of Manheim, awarded $12,189.08 on Aug. 18 in rent and court costs from Steve Snyder, of Trevorton.

Lori A. Lenig awarded $1,810.70 on Aug. 21 in rent and court costs from Joseph and Debra Case, both of Coal Township.

Daniel and Sherri Kritzer, of Herndon, awarded $1,349.60 on Aug. 21 in rent and court costs from Betty Minium, of Shamokin.

Judge Hugh A. Jones, Mount Carmel

Apartments and Acquisitions against Ron and Linda Zongorah, all of Mount Carmel, for $1,650, filed Aug. 21. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2.

Impact Investment Properties LLC, of Nazareth, against Laura Jurevicz, of Mount Carmel, with Law Offices of Makowski Marateck Konopka, of Coal Township, as remitter, for $1,563.50, filed Aug. 20. A hearing is scheduled for Sept. 2.

SUNBURY - President Judge William H. Wiest has ordered a public defender to represent a former teacher's aide at Shamokin Area Middle-High School charged with three felony counts of institutional sexual assault.

Amanda Dreher, 29, of Coal Township, who was previously ruled ineligible for a public defender because of her income, told the judge she no longer has a job and is in the process of getting a divorce.

At her preliminary hearing in May, Dreher said she was living with her grandmother in Coal Township after previously residing at 1761 Tioga St.

Wiest ordered a public defender to represent Dreher at her next court appearance and continued Monday's legal proceeding in which Dreher was listed on the schedule to enter a plea in the case. But assistant district attorney Michael Seward said the defendant has not indicated if she intends to plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial.

Seward said legal proceedings July 7 and Aug. 25 also were continued because she didn't have a lawyer, but Monday was the first time Dreher appeared before a county judge to request an attorney.

Dreher, who remains free on $5,000 recognizance bail, is charged by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan with having sex with an 18-year-old male student in the school three times between the beginning of January and the end of February.

The maximum penalty for each offense is seven years and/or $15,000 fine.

Dreher resigned from her teacher's aide position in April. She had held the position for approximately one year.

According to a criminal complaint, Dreher is accused of engaging in sexual intercourse with the student, who was not identified by police. The victim, who was a senior at the time, told police two of the sexual encounters occurred in the boys' locker room at the swimming pool.

Brennan said the investigation began March 19 when he was contacted by Shamokin Area Middle-High School Principal Chris Venna about allegations of inappropriate contact between Dreher and the student.

SUNBURY - A Mount Carmel man charged with driving under the influence of alcohol was sentenced Monday by Judge Charles Saylor to six months of intermediate punishment, with the first 30 days on house arrest.

Michael J. Katinsky Sr., 62, of 430 W. Fig St., Mount Carmel, also was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine plus court costs and fees. His driver's license will be suspended for a year and he must undergo counseling, attend alcohol highway safety school and two Alcoholics Anonymous meetings per week.

He also is prohibited from possessing alcohol and attending bars.

An additional count of DUI and charges of careless driving and driving on the wrong side of the road were not prosecuted under a plea agreement with the county district attorney's office.

Katinsky, who was represented by public defender Paige Rosini, was charged by Mount Carmel Patrolman Shane Reamer in connection with an Oct. 26 traffic stop at Sixth and Poplar streets.

Police said Katinsky had a blood-alcohol content of .253 percent.

Enrollment at NCCTC

A breakdown of students enrolled in each of 11 programs offered at the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center, Coal Township.

Automotive mechanics 23

Carpentry 14

Collision repair 5

Cosmetology 16

Culinary arts 18

Electrical construction 17

Health occupations 17

HVAC 8

Occupational childcare 13

Protective services 12

Welding 22

There are 116 part-time and 42 full-time students from Line Mountain, Mount Carmel Area and Shamokin Area school districts along with Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School. Seven Shamokin Area students are attending for either one or two periods daily in an exploratory program.

ThinkBIG to celebrate at BU game

BLOOMSBURG - Geisinger Janet Weis Children's Hospital's ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund will celebrate Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month at the Sept. 13 Bloomsburg University football game.

ThinkBIG representatives will be on hand with information about the fund and about pediatric cancer. Representatives will sell T-shirts and hold a raffle for various items before the Huskies take to the field to battle California University of PA.

Kickoff is 2 p.m. ThinkBIG will have its own section in the stands, and Janet Weis Children's Hospital pediatric cancer patients and their families will be invited onto the field after the game to meet the players, toss the ball and meet Roongo, the university mascot.

Information on game tickets can be found at www.buhuskies.com/tickets.

ThinkBIG is a program that aims to offset some stress for pediatric oncology families by providing financial support for unexpected out-of-pocket expenses. Donations and proceeds go directly to help families treated at Janet Weis Children's Hospital and throughout the entire Geisinger network.

For more information about ThinkBIG Tackles Pediatric Cancer at BU, please call 570-271-6188. For more information about the ThinkBIG Pediatric Cancer Fund, contact Mike McMullen at mmmcmullen@geisinger.edu or 814-949-2302.

PAXINOS - Meadoview Christian Academy, 216 Tulip Road, has a new administrator for the 2014-2015 school year, which starts today.

Diane Knisely has been appointed school administrator by the board of directors. She has 25 years of experience as a teacher, administrator and missionary, including experience teaching in inner-city schools in Pennsylvania and New York and serving in such diverse locations as Sao Paulo, Brazil, and Poitiers, France.

She holds a bachelor's degree in elementary education from York College and a master's in intercultural studies from Alliance Theological Seminary. She is fluent in French, has experience as a reading intervention teacher and has been a woman's ministry director.

CATAWISSA RR - Technology continues to reign supreme this school year at Southern Columbia Area School District.

The district kicks off the 2014-15 school year today with a goal to "use technology to meet student needs and to enhance learning, communication and organization."

Each of the 1,423 students in the district will have his or her needs addressed using the flexibility of educational technology.

While last year the district embraced a "bring your own technology" standard, most students will now be provided with the equipment they need.

Students in eighth- through twelfth-grades will each be issued a laptop through the district's technology budget.

All high school students will be given an Acer TravelMate laptop for his or her own personal use.

District superintendent Paul Caputo said the students would be using a range of software on the computers, including digital "textbooks."

"Instead of issuing textbooks, the teacher will develop a platform or course content base and the students will log on to the site and access course material there," said Caputo.

The district currently uses the free open-source learning platform Moodle. Caputo said the district is also looking at adding other platforms to distribute information to students.

Quizzes and tests are also made easier through the programs.

"The turn around and feedback time in many cases can be much quicker," said Caputo.

Caputo also said the district wants to embrace this type of technology for students in all grades.

This year students in eighth-grade and the approximately 25 students in seventh-grade who are enrolled in algebra I will receive a Samsung Chromebook.

Students in all grades will have the option of taking their laptops home for a small fee calculated on a sliding scale determined on if the student receives free or reduced lunch.

The fee ranges from free to $25 for students who pay full-price for lunch. It covers maintenance and replacement, including physical damage from accidents.

Additional laptop carts were purchased for fifth-, sixth- and seventh-grades that will be shared among teams of teachers. Second, third- and fourth-grade classrooms had additional stationary computers added.

iPads for younger students

Kindergarten and first-grade classrooms will be making the biggest leap in technology use as Apple iPads will be integrated into the curriculum.

Each classroom will have about a dozen iPads to use among approximately 22 students.

Caputo said educational apps designed to teach phonics, math, pronunciation, voice inflection and other essential skills would be added to the iPads for the students to use.

As part of "learning blocks," the students will break into small groups and individually or collectively use the iPads in learning stations.

"At some point, they'll eventually rotate to the teacher and they'll receive either small group or one-on-one time with the instructor," said Caputo.

STEM, college courses

Technology will also be integrated into the curriculum through new courses.

Students in eighth-grade now have the option of taking the "STEM" (science, technology, engineering and math) course, which integrates each of these subjects into project-based lessons demonstrating technology and its impact on society.

Eighth-graders will also be offered a "Futures" course, which will allow them to explore their interests and related careers.

High school students who will be juniors during the 2014-15 school year will have an opportunity to participate in Bloomsburg University's STEM Magnet Program.

As part of this program, students will become part of a two-year cohort of students who will attend Bloomsburg University part of the day, this year and next.

They will earn 15 college credits each year with studies focused on either engineering or a health science.

Two students are currently enrolled in this initiative.

Staying on track

Teachers will connect with students using technology through new programs that analyze student data to chart assessments and progress.

Data meetings will be scheduled at regular intervals throughout the year for teachers to discuss student progress and create plans of action. To allow for these meetings, classes will operate on a two-hour delay schedule four times, with teachers arriving at their regularly scheduled time to study data, discuss the placement of students and prepare research-based instructional strategies.

Teachers began using Sapphire as its student information system last year. The program includes functions such as Individual Education Programs (IEP) writing and student health reporting.

Building on last year

The district, which has a history of embracing technology, ramped up its efforts to bring technology to students last year with new laptops, software and courses related to business technology.

The move preceded a jump in Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and Keystone Exam scores.

The district saw increases in nine testing categories, including a 25-percent gain in fifth-grade writing.

Caputo credits initiatives using data analysis, as well as excellent staff and students, for the uptick in scores.

He said the staff has been essential in ensuring new technology is integrated smoothly into the classroom.

"We have a culture of technology use in the district, and the various tools that have been introduced were successful because they've been backed by professional development," said Caputo. "Any technology initiatives have to be supported by proper training and support, and the district has a long-standing history of that."

SUNBURY - A Coal Township woman charged with delivering heroin in connection with an international drug trafficking organization was sentenced Monday by President Judge William H. Wiest to 23 months of intermediate punishment and one year consecutive probation.

Robyn M. Russo, 25, of 1245 W. Walnut St., will serve the first 90 days of her punishment under house arrest. She also was ordered to pay $400 in fines plus court costs and fees.

Russo previously pleaded guilty to one count of possession with intent to deliver heroin and criminal conspiracy. She was sentenced to intermediate punishment on the drug charge and probation on the conspiracy offense.

Three counts of delivery of heroin, three additional counts of possession with intent to deliver heroin and two counts of criminal use of a communication facility were not prosecuted under a plea agreement with the county district attorney's office.

The charges were filed by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan and Agent David Jordan of the state Attorney General's Office relating to incidents between October 2011 and October 2012.

Prior to sentencing, Russo told Wiest she has a 9-month-old child, is working two jobs and plans to start classes soon at Luzerne County Community College in Shamokin. Russo said she just wants an opportunity to turn her life around.

She was represented by attorney David Marateck, of Coal Township.

Russo was among 16 people charged in a Sept. 19 bust by the Attorney General's Office and members of the Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force involving a heroin and cocaine ring stretching from the Dominican Republic to Luzerne and Northumberland counties.

CATAWISSA RR - Other changes have been occurring at the Southern Columbia Area School District, including pay-to-play.

The district's hope is to raise $20,000 in revenue with the fee, which charges parents $50 per student or $100 per family yearly to participate in sports or extracurricular activities.

Superintendent Paul Caputo said there have been no signs of the fee impacting student participation.

More than 260 student are already involved in activities that began in August, and fees received top $13,000.

Class AA

The high school varsity football team will be competing for the first time as a Class AA school.

The Tigers won 22 of the last 23 District 4 Class A championships and six PIAA Class A crowns.

New staff; positions open

Three new staff members - David Fegley, a middle school algebra instructor, Mary Beatty, a long term substitute middle school counselor, and Shawnee Robel, a health room technician - will be welcomed into the district today.

The district also has two openings in the administration. Middle school principal Angela Farronato and business manager Mike Sokoloski accepted positions elsewhere and resigned from their positions. Applications for both posts will be accepted until Friday.

Caputo said both roles will be filled temporarily, similarly to when the elementary principal exited last year. He said he might take on part or all of the role of middle school principal until the "right person to lead the building" is found.

Building updates

The high school/middle school auditorium stage was restored to its original design, and the maintenance staff constructed risers embedded into the stage. New stage curtains will arrive sometime during the year to complete the project.

The interior courtyard has been spruced up and converted into an outdoor classroom. Wellness and environmental and agricultural science lessons are planned for this space.

The elementary and high schools were brightened with new coats of fresh paint. A new flagpole donated by Elysburg Lodge No. 349 Free and Accepted Masons was erected at Tiger Stadium. McClure Company donated two LED lights that are used to illuminate the flag.

A nearly completed timbering project spearheaded by Kort Forestry yielded about 34,000 board feet of lumber and provided the district with more than $6,000 in revenue.

The Guaranteed Energy Savings Project authorized by the Board of Education in April is nearly complete. The project was expected to save the district more than $4 million over the next twenty years, allowing the district to redirect money toward necessary facility repairs.

Among the improvements are district wide lighting upgrades, "plug load" management, building envelope upgrades, HVAC upgrades and roofing upgrades.

A Safe Schools Grant was used to install cameras in the elementary school and card readers on playground doors. Active shooter drills were conducted in conjunction with the local police departments over the summer, and additional drills and safety exercises are planned.

Student meds

A new system has been implemented to store and distribute student medication. All medication received will now be kept in a locked medicine cabinet and monitored using video surveillance.

The change comes on the heels of a resignation by secondary school nurse Lisa Fleishauer, effective May 30.

Fleishauer was accused of tampering with student medication after medication she stored in her office appeared abnormal when she distributed it.

Parents or guardians are now required to hand their child's medication to the nurse along with a physician's order.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Enrollment is up 21 percent this school year at the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center (NCCTC).

There are 165 students enrolled from Line Mountain, Mount Carmel Area and Shamokin Area school districts as well as Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School - 34 more students than last year. Forty-two are full-time, 116 attend half-day and seven attend for one or two individual classes daily. Classes begin Sept. 2.

James F. Monaghan, administrative director, said the boosted enrollment is a result of aggressive promotion of the center's 11 programs by the faculty and staff. They've been advertising twice weekly in The News-Item and also meeting face-to-face with students at their home districts, which he credited for their support.

"And most importantly, parents encouraging their children to look at where the jobs are after graduation," Monaghan said in explaining the increase.

Sixty-seven students come from Mount Carmel Area, 25 from Line Mountain and two from Lourdes Regional. Shamokin Area has 71 enrollees, including seven in an exploratory program. Those students will take classes for one or two periods daily. Monaghan said it could replace a study hall for an upperclassman, or perhaps serve as an elective.

The program began last year in a joint effort with the district's guidance counselors and Traci Beck, the center's program coordinator, to determine if students could mesh one or two classes daily at NCCTC with their schedule at Shamokin Area.

Pharmacy program

One student is participating in the new pharmacy technician cooperative program with Geisinger Health System, allowing him to get hands-on experience inside a hospital pharmacy. Similar opportunities are available for hospital maintenance and nursing.

Nearly $59,000 in state grant funding was awarded for the purchase of equipment.

A Hoyer patient lift and a patient simulator were purchased for the health occupations program. Students of the auto body/collision repair program will use an air bag trainer to learn how to remove and install vehicle air bags. A Combi Oven was purchased for the culinary arts program, and a modern Hunter alignment system was purchased for the automotive technology program allowing students to be trained in all aspects of suspension and alignment.

Ernest Salamone is the center's lone new staff member this school year. He was hired to instruct in heating ventilation air conditioning.

Additional cameras were added to the center's existing surveillance system. The main entrance is now equipped with video, audio and a buzzer system.

SUNBURY - An arrest warrant was issued Monday morning by Judge Charles Saylor for a former Mount Carmel man who failed to appear for the second time for sentencing.

Andrew Zakashefski, 52, who currently resides in Tamaqua, was scheduled for sentencing at 9:15 a.m., but did not show up at Northumberland County Courthouse. Public defender Paige Rosini told the judge she didn't know why her client wasn't in court. Saylor then issued a warrant for his arrest.

Zakashefski is accused of barricading himself in a second-floor bathroom at his former borough residence at 507 E. Avenue and threatening to kill himself with a large hunting knife last year.

On May 5, he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor of resisting arrest.

Zakashefskie, who also has resided in Philipsburg since his arrest, was taken into custody after police used a pepper spray canister to draw him out of the room before deploying a Taser gun during the disturbance Jan. 30, 2013.

Zakashefski suffered a wrist laceration from falling after being stunned with the Taser gun and was treated at the scene by personnel from AREA Services. He was then transported to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, where he was involuntarily committed for evaluation on a mental health "302" warrant before being committed to county prison, police said.

Shortly after arriving at the residence, officers observed Zakashefski on a second-floor back porch armed with a large hunting knife he was holding up to his neck. Zakashefski then ran into the home and barricaded himself in a second-floor bathroom, police said.

Police reported Zakashefski began throwing household items out the windows and refused demands by police to exit the home.

Police said they believed Zakashefski may have been under the influence of bath salts, which contributed to his behavior.

Officers entered the residence to check on the safety of Zakashefski's live-in girlfriend, Kathy Lewiski, who was found unharmed.

SHAMOKIN - A Berwick man charged with selling heroin to an informant in the presence of a child was denied a bail reduction at his preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Thomas Wayne Finucane, 27, of 330 N. Oak St., was recommitted to Northumberland County Prison after Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III denied public defender Melissa Norton's request to reduce her client's $30,000 cash bail.

Norton told the judge Finucane has a job and needs to work to support a 2-year-old daughter who lives in Maryland. She also claimed the defendant is not a flight risk.

But after assistant district attorney Michael Toomey and arresting officer Cpl. Bryan Primerano opposed a bail reduction, Gembic maintained the original bail.

Gary Parks, 27, of 619 E. Eighth St., Berwick, a co-defendant in the case, had his preliminary hearing continued for the second time. He remains incarcerated in lieu of $30,000 cash bail.

Both men are charged with two felony counts of possession with intent to sell heroin, one felony count of criminal conspiracy, a misdemeanor count of endangering the welfare of a child and a summary offense of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Parks also is charged with a felony count of criminal use of a communication device for using his cell phone to complete the drug transaction and a summary offense of driving with a suspended license.

Police said Parks arranged with the informant over the phone to meet in Shamokin to make a heroin sale Aug. 7. The informant was later picked up by Parks, while Finucane was a passenger.

The informant sat in the back seat next to a 4-year-old boy, who is the son of Finucane's girlfriend. Police said the informant purchased heroin from Finucane.

After the informant was dropped off and turned over the heroin, police tracked the vehicle and stopped it at Market and Arch streets, where they placed Parks and Finucane under arrest.

A search of Parks uncovered several empty blue heroin packets and syringes.

Officers observed Finucane attempting to conceal items under the front passenger seat. Finucane's cell phone and keys as well as currency including a portion of the buy money provided to the informant by police also were found.

SHAMOKIN - Thomas Michael Reddinger, one of two men accused of cooking methamphetamine in the basement of a Coal Township home, wants to stay in the county jail so he can earn money by working in the kitchen while building up credit for time served before eventually being sentenced.

Reddinger, 31, and co-defendant, Roger J. Shaw, 42, both tenants of 1012 W. Spruce St., Coal Township, forfeited their rights to preliminary hearings on multiple drug charges Tuesday and were recommitted to prison by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III.

Reddinger had his bail reduced from $75,000 cash to $15,000 cash on charges of possession of liquid ammonia gas, methamphetamine production, operating a methamphetamine laboratory, four counts of manufacturing with children under the age of 18 in the home, four counts of causing or risking a catastrophe, criminal conspiracy to produce methamphetamine and manufacture with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

Those charges were filed by Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano and Coal Township Patrolman Joshua Wynn.

Reddinger was released on his own recognizance on charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, possessing precursors and chemicals related to manufacturing methamphetamine, possessing methamphetamine with the intent to sell, operating a methamphetamine lab and illegal dumping of methamphetamine waste filed by Primerano. He was arraigned on those charges Tuesday.

Reddinger told Gembic that he didn't want to be released from prison. "I just want to get working so I can get some money in my account," Reddinger said.

Gembic said he reduced Reddinger's bail on the initial set of charges so he could become eligible to work in the prison's kitchen.

Police said a confidential informant tipped them off after being asked by Reddinger to purchase materials used to cook meth, including cold packs and lighter fluid. The informant, who met Reddinger at 1012 W. Spruce St. Aug. 4, later told police the drug had been manufactured in Reddinger's basement.

A search warrant was obtained and officers from Coal Township, Shamokin and Northumberland County Adult Probation entered Reddinger's home at about 8:40 p.m. Aug. 4. An adult female, identified in the warrant as April Stahl, and children ages 8, 10, 11 and 13 were on the first floor while Reddinger and Shaw were in the basement.

Employees from Northumberland County Children and Youth Services were brought on scene to help with the children. The home was evacuated and the 1000 block of West Spruce Street was closed to traffic. Reddinger and Shaw were decontaminated at the scene.

According to police, a witness showed police July 29 a location in a wooded area just south of South Market Street where methamphetamine was allegedly manufactured by Reddinger.

At the site was a campfire with lithium batteries, coffee filters and waste and paraphernalia related to manufacturing methamphetamine. A hut was situated nearby.

Police also found a plastic soda bottle containing methamphetamine residue at the site.

On Aug. 4, Reddinger admitted in an interview with police he used three outdoor locations to manufacture methamphetamine, including the site near South Market Street.

In addition to the multiple felony drug-related offenses, Reddinger owes $32,734.43 in child support.

Shaw was charged by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan and Shamokin Cpl. Jarrod Scandle with possession of liquid ammonia gas, methamphetamine production, operating a methamphetamine laboratory, four counts of manufacturing with children under the age of 18 in the home, four counts of causing or risking a catastrophe, criminal conspiracy to produce methamphetamine and manufacturing with intent to deliver a controlled substance.

His bail was kept at $75,000 cash, but Shaw may request a bail reduction in the future so he can also become eligible for work in the prison's kitchen.

Shaw and Reddinger, who were represented by public defender Melissa Norton, sported tattoos on their arms and neck while remaining shackled during their court appearances.

MANDATA - A strike threatened by the teacher's union at Line Mountain School District may still be avoided.

Addressing the audience at Tuesday's board of director's meeting, Superintendent David M. Campbell said he has not yet received official notification of a strike.

"If I would get the notification to strike, within the hour the ALERT NOW call will go out of the teacher's strike," said Campbell.

Class at Line Mountain is scheduled to resume Sept. 2.

Extracurricular activities, including sports, are slated to continue regardless of the strike.

Campbell said the union is required to give 48 hours notice before going on strike per Act 88, a set of rules established by the state in 1992 regarding teacher union strikes.

Act 88 also limits the number of days a teacher's union can strike and prevents the district from hiring temporary workers.

Campbell said the Pennsylvania Department of Education will determine the number of days the teacher's union can strike depending on which days earmarked for non-class activities like snow makeup and professional development can be used to make up missed class days.

He estimates the maximum of strike days possible at 21 days, and said that some holidays, including Thanksgiving and Christmas, are forbidden from being used class days.

In the case of the first strike, the union must allow for the completion of at least 180 days of class by June 15.

If a first strike does occur, when the union uses all of their strike days both parties are required to enter into arbitration before a second strike can occur.

Arbitration usually takes at least 6 months, said Campbell, so a second strike wouldn't occur until at the end of the spring semester, at the earliest.

The second strike would push back the deadline for the teachers and students to complete 180 class days by June 30, but even with the extension the school's calendar only allows for 11 days for the strike, said Campbell.

Campbell, who is not directly impacted by the outcome of the resolution, is concerned about the effect a strike will have on students.

"The only people that are going to suffer are the 1,288 students," said Campbell.

Board members were critical of the behavior exhibited by Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), the union representing the teachers at Line Mountain, in the negotiation meetings.

Director Lamont Masser said the board of school insisted on a face-to-face meeting with the union Aug. 18 after having multiple offers rejected.

"They would not give us anything specific (to change)," said Masser. "They told us it was over and they walked out."

PSEA representative Mark McDade denied the union left without attempting negotiations.

"We were there for several hours and the school board failed to engage in good-faith bargaining," said McDade.

McDade said the biggest sticking point in the negotiations has been the board's "regressive proposals."

"The main area where they demonstrate regression is in the area of salary," said McDade.

McDade refused to give specific numbers on the board's salary proposals.

"I don't want to get into specifics because that really should not be a public consumption," said McDade. "The Sunshine Act clearly says collective bargaining agreements are done in private."

Troy Laudenslager, board president, said he requested to have a meeting with only the Line Mountain teachers and the school board to work out the issues, but McDade refused to allow that to happen.

PSEA's reluctance to negotiate has led Laudenslager to believe they do not truly seek an end to the contract troubles.

"I think there's another plan to get everyone to strike at once to provide some kind of relevance again," said Laudenslager. "The common denominator is the union representatives, not the school districts."

SUNBURY - Sheriff Robert Wolfe and Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts Justin Dunkelberger warned the public Tuesday that a telephone scam is being perpetrated to illegally collect court costs owed to Northumberland County.

The county officials said the perpetrators identify themselves as a clerk in the prothonotary's office and tell citizens that deputy sheriffs are on their way to collect money for debts to the county.

On Aug. 22, personnel in the sheriff and prothonotary offices investigated several reported incidents and discovered them to be part of a scam perpetrated by a group of individuals from New York state.

Anyone who receives such a call should immediately contact the proper authorities.

Wolfe and Dunkelberger warned residents not to make any payments over the telephone or otherwise to the perpetrators.

Approximately $260,000 in court costs owed to Northumberland County since 1971 has been collected during the past month while authorities continue to crack down on delinquents.

The prothonotary updated the media on the collection process following last week's commissioners' meeting in which Commissioner Vinny Clausi praised the joint effort spearheaded by Dunkelberger, chief adult probation officer Jim Cortelyou, Wolfe and President Judge William H. Wiest and their respective staffs.

Probation officers and deputy sheriffs have conducted four "blitzes" in the past several weeks in an effort to recover as much money as possible of the $22.8 million in court costs owed to the county since 1965.

Dunkelberger said the $260,000 in restitution to victims includes $9,313 in cash from delinquents during home visits. Another 78 promissory notes involving payments totaling more than $300,000 also have been obtained.

He said 70 active cost warrants have been lifted thus far as a result of the "blitzes."

SUNBURY - Miranda and Elytte Barbour months ago told police they committed murder, luring their victim through an online personal ad before strangling and stabbing the married man to death.

On Tuesday, they confessed to a county judge.

As part of an agreement with the prosecution, the Barbours pleaded guilty before Judge Charles H. Saylor to second-degree murder, aggravated assault, robbery and possessing an instrument of a crime. In exchange they've agreed to serve life sentences without parole, avoiding the possibility of the death penalty.

The pleas came less than 30 minutes apart during separate hearings at the Northumberland County Courthouse. Neither had much to say outside of a simple "yes" or "no" to Saylor's questions, Elytte Barbour adding "sir" when answering the judge.

"Summed up, yes," Miranda Barbour answered Saylor after having been asked if District Attorney Ann Targonski's recitation of the crime was accurate.

Sentencing same time

The Sheriff's Office said the couple, newlyweds at the time of the killing, were kept apart inside the courthouse holding area, not given so much as a chance to make eye contact. They'll be together, however, for sentencing Sept. 18. Targonski requested the single hearing to allow Troy LaFerrara's relatives the opportunity to address his killers at the same time.

Elytte Barbour, 22, cooperated with prosecutors and was prepared to testify if his wife were to go to trial, defense attorney James Best told the court Tuesday. Miranda Barbour, 19, had pinned the Nov. 11 homicide of Troy LaFerrara on herself, never implicating her husband in police interviews. She confessed first on Dec. 3. Three days later, her husband incriminated himself, saying they wanted to murder someone together. Miranda Barbour later discussed her husband's role with reporter Francis Scarcella of The Daily Item.

Back to 'serial' claims

With a high-profile trial now avoided, Sunbury Patrolman Travis Bremigen said Tuesday his department will have time to devote to following up on Miranda Barbour's claims of serial killing. She told The Daily Item she began killing at 13 years old when she joined a satanic cult. She claims to have murdered in Alaska, California, North Carolina and Texas, and that she racked up so many victims she stopped counting at 22. If given a map, she said she could pinpoint the bodies.

The lone victim to date that any authorities anywhere have confirmed is LaFerrara.

The murder

Miranda Barbour reportedly made money as an online escort. Her husband told police she didn't have sex with her clients, but she painted a different picture concerning LaFerrara, 42, of Port Trevorton. She told The Daily Item she agreed to have sex with him for $100.

They met in person on Nov. 11 in the parking lot of the Susquehanna Valley Mall. LaFerrara entered the passenger side of Miranda Barbour's Honda CR-V, and she drove to Sunbury. Police said the soon-to-be victim was clueless that Elytte Barbour lay in wait in the back. On his wife's command he sprung forward, wrapping a cord around LaFerrara's neck while Miranda Barbour stabbed him 20 times. They stole his wallet and dumped his body in a back alley in Sunbury, police said.

A black cord was discovered with LaFerrara when his body was found. The knife would be recovered from 101 N. Water St., Selinsgrove, where the Barbours were staying. They had recently moved to Pennsylvania from North Carolina.

Ed Greco and Paige Rosini, Miranda Barbour's defense attorneys, were unsuccessful in attempts to nullify use of the knife at trial, citing incorrect references to the Barbours' home address in a search warrant. The attorneys also were unsuccessful in having their client's video-taped police confession tossed.

Chance for appeal

The Barbours' alleged actions, had they been proven at trial, would have fit the definition of first-degree murder under Pennsylvania law, in that they carried out an "intentional killing." But Targonski said she offered the second-degree pleas knowing there was a better chance the defendants would agree and because the penalty of life in prison without parole is the same.

The definition for second degree is a homicide that happens when the defendant is the principal or accomplice in the perpetration of a specific felony, such as robbery. The Barbour case also fit that definition, sometimes called "felony murder," Targonski said. For a person to be guilty of second-degree murder, the killing can take place during the felony, during the attempt to commit the felony or in the flight afterwards.

While first-degree homicide is the only one that provides for the death penalty, those appeals can go on for 30 years, Targonski noted. With the plea, the Barbours have "limited" grounds for appeal. They could argue that the court doesn't have jurisdiction, that the sentence is illegal, that their attorney did not provide competent counsel or that the defendant's plea was not "knowingly, intelligently or voluntarily" made.

Targonski classified the chance for success of such appeals as "extremely limited."

Without consulting statistics, it's probably safe to say India Pale Ale, IPA, is the favorite craft beer style in the United States. Even casual beer lovers know the IPA story.

In the late 18th century, England had a huge colonial presence in India. Englishmen living there thirsted for beer. Unfortunately, the voyage was long. By the time traditional beers arrived, they'd spoiled. Dark porters, a favorite style of the era that survived the journey unscathed, weren't satisfying in the hot Indian climate.

George Hodgson of the Bow Brewery in London solved the problem by brewing a lighter-colored pale ale, with a higher alcohol content and more hops to retard spoilage. And, thus, India Pale Ale was born.

The problem is that none of the legend is true.

England had been exporting beer to India - and farther - since the early 18th century. While there was some spoilage, beer could easily last a year or more in a cask. There wasn't a crying need for a new style. Porter and other dark beers were, in fact, popular in India. Pale ales had been brewed for at least a century before Hodgson.

Brewers had known since the mid-1700's that extra hops were needed for beer being shipped to warmer climates. (It wasn't known at the time that hops kill bacteria.) Furthermore, the beer that became IPA wasn't especially strong, about 6.5 percent alcohol. If anything, it was weaker than average for the time.

There's no evidence IPA was invented by Hodgson, or anyone else. The style appears to have evolved from an existing brew called "Pale Ale prepared for the India market," which was named East India Pale Ale around 1835.

America put its stamp on the style by making IPA the country's signature craft beer, replacing the earthy and spicy English hops with piney and fruity American varieties from the West Coast. Brewers then began to one-up each other, making double - and even triple - IPA's, although today's column features only regular IPA's (I'll review the big boys later).

The latest trend in IPA's, championed by West Coast brewers, is to remove the sweet caramel malts to make the beer as dry as possible and add massive amounts of hops late in the brewing process to maximize aroma and flavor, without adding bitterness.

For maximum enjoyment, drink IPA as fresh as possible. Those wonderful hop flavors and aromas subside over time, so meticulously inspect the bottling/freshness dates when purchasing and don't be afraid to send back an outdated bottle at a restaurant. As a rule, draft IPA's are a safer choice.

IPA pairs with a myriad of foods. Hops will first fan the flames of spicy curries and Mexican dishes before dousing them. Acids present in hop oils cleanse the palate, making IPA perfect for deep-fried pub food favorites. The sweet caramel malt in some IPA's will latch onto the crust of grilled meat for an explosion of flavor, which is contrasted by the hop bitterness. Drink these regular strength IPA's in a pint glass. Enjoy the selections. Cheers!

Commodore Perry IPA, Great Lakes Brewing, Cleveland, Ohio: Named after a hero of the War of 1812, Commodore Perry isn't as aggressive as some IPA's, but's it's nicely balanced. The color is golden orange with a white head. Its body is medium. Aromas of citrus and pine give way to flavors of peach, mango, and malt - with a dry finish. This beer's an excellent introduction to the style.

West Coast IPA, Green Flash Brewing, San Diego, Calif.: This is one of the reasons San Diego has become synonymous with IPA. West Coast pours copper-colored with a fast-receding head, leaving a trail of thick, sticky lacing. The nose is an assault of fruity citrus and pine resin. There's an initial dankness on the tongue from Columbus hops. The flavors then oscillate between grapefruit and pine, complemented by a hint of biscuity malt. The finish is delightfully dry, and the 7.3 percent alcohol content is perfect for the style.

Torpedo Extra IPA, Sierra Nevada Brewing, Chico, Calif.: Sierra Nevada wrote the book on brewing with whole hops. Their revolutionary torpedo dry hopping technique results in a silky smooth IPA, enveloping you in a cocoon of velvety hoppiness. Torpedo pours straw-colored, with a thick head and tiny bubbles. The piney aromas and flavors aren't as resinous as the other IPA's. The mouthfeel is creamy, with flavors of pine and grapefruit, supported by a solid malt backbone. The finish is predominately herbal, with notes of mango and grass. My wife liked this one best.

Deviant Dale's IPA, Oskar Blues Brewery, Brevard, N.C.: Believe it or not, good beer comes in cans, a 16-ounce tallboy, no less. This golden-amber IPA has a pine resin and citrus aroma. The mouthfeel is more substantial than most IPA's, yet not objectionable. The flavors are hop dominated - citrus, grapefruit, pine and a hint of stone fruit - peach, perhaps. I like my IPA's dry, but the slightly sweet finish is offset by a lingering pungency. The best thing about Deviant Dale and other Oskar Blues products is that canning provides a more stable storage environment than bottles. This would be the IPA to pair with a crusted grilled steak.

Sculpin IPA, Ballast Point Brewing, San Diego, Calif.: Surprise, another IPA from San Diego. Sculpin is one of the country's top-rated IPA's, and it doesn't disappoint. The color is light amber, with a medium head. The aromas are a mélange of pine, peach, mango and lemon. The body is light with subtle notes of malt, emphasizing mouth-filling flavors of pine resin and grapefruit. Sculpin get an "A" for drinkability. I wish I'd bought more.

(The Brew Dude is published every other week on the Food and Drink Page. For comments, suggestions, or questions, email Mark Pasquinelli at thebrewdude@newsitem.com.)