SUNBURY - Northumberland County Public Defender Melissa Norton is leaving her position for a similar post in Lancaster County.

Friday will be Norton's last work day.

The attorney said she's looking forward to becoming a public defender in her hometown area while expressing her deep appreciation for having the opportunity to serve Northumberland County for 27 years.

Norton, who served as an assistant district attorney prior to becoming a public defender, will be replaced by county conflicts counsel John Broda. In addition to his other duties, Broda will represent defendants at preliminary hearings at the office of Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III.

County officials have not yet named a replacement for Broda.

Norton, who has been employed by the county since Sept. 8, 1987, earns a salary of $66,430. Broda, who has been working for the county since Feb. 26, 2001, earns a salary of $65,127.

SUNBURY - For as long as city Cpl. Jamie Quinn can remember, every murder investigation she's been involved with has included a suspect from the start.

Every investigation, that is, with the exception of the murder of Troy LaFerrara.

LaFerrara, 42, of Port Trevorton, was found Nov. 12 dumped near a garage to the rear of 240 Catawissa Ave. He had been strangled and stabbed the day before. His wallet was missing and his vehicle was found five miles away in the parking lot of the Susquehanna Valley Mall.

The crime was brutal, there were few clues left behind and, aside from passing through Sunbury, Quinn said, the principals involved had no connection to the city.

"This was the only 'who done it?'" Quinn, a 20-year veteran of the Sunbury Police Department, said Tuesday outside the Northumberland County Courthouse. Minutes earlier, Miranda and Elytte Barbour, newlyweds at the time of the killing, had pleaded guilty to murdering LaFerrara in a deal with the prosecution that spared them from facing the death penalty at trial.

There are 184 inmates on death row in Pennsylvania, three of whom are female. The last execution took place in 1999, according to the state Department of Corrections website.

"Putting all the little details together, it's why we became investigators," Quinn said.

Tracking Miranda

Three weeks passed between the day LaFerrara's body was found and the Dec. 3 confession and arrest of Miranda Barbour. In between Sunbury police pieced together clues toward building their case.

Quinn thought they had Miranda Barbour on Thanksgiving Eve. Officers worked with state police to track calls that had been placed to and from LaFerrara's cell phone. Quinn said they got a hit for an "Amanda Barbour" in Selinsgrove.

She wanted to ditch the holiday, instead hoping to knock on doors in search of the killer. Speaking of Patrolman Travis Bremigen, "He said, 'If we can't get a chance to eat turkey, why should she?'"

They held off, though, bringing Miranda Barbour in for questioning on Dec. 2. She denied any wrongdoing. In the early morning of Dec. 3, she returned to the Selinsgrove station of the state police and confessed, never implicating her husband. Three days later, he did that himself through a confession of his own.

Case goes worldwide

Bremigen said he had little doubt in the Barbours' confessions, adding that Elytte Barbour's words bolstered the police investigation.

What followed was another confession no one expected. Miranda Barbour spoke with Francis Scarcella of The Daily Item twice, confessing to the murder of LaFerrara and making claims of being a serial killer herself. She said she was led into murder by the leader of a satanic cult when she was just 13 years old. Before her arrest eight months ago, she claimed to have killed so many people that she stopped counting at 22 victims.

Worldwide attention followed, with major television networks, national and international newspapers and prominent websites all seeking information on Miranda Barbour. "The Dr. Phil Show" dedicated an episode to the case, and TMZ even questioned Jonathan Davis, the lead singer of the band Korn, about Barbour's satanic beliefs.

"It was an international case, which is not what we expected to happen," Bremigen said Tuesday.

'Absurd' challenge

Defense attorneys for Miranda Barbour tried in vain to have a search warrant tossed, thereby tossing the murder weapon with it, along with her confession. But Bremigen said he never doubted the case against the couple, or his fellow officers' work in putting it together.

Northumberland County District Attorney Ann Targonski agreed with the patrolman. Moments after the Barbours' hearings ended Tuesday, she credited Bremigen, Quinn, Sgt. Christopher Blase and all law enforcement involved.

Police sought the knife inside 101 N. Water St., Selinsgrove, the Barbours' home, on Dec. 9. That address was listed on the warrant, but so was 101 N. Market St. Defense attorneys hoped to capitalize on the typo, but the judge sided with the prosecution in upholding admissibility of the knife as evidence.

"The law does not hold us to absurd results when it was clear officers searched the correct home," Targonski said.

Psychiatric evaluations concluded both Miranda and Elytte Barbour were competent to stand trial. About two weeks ago, conversations between the prosecution and defense began regarding a plea deal.

Family spared

The Barbours would plead guilty to second-degree murder, aggravated assault, robbery and possessing an instrument of a crime. They also agreed to serve life sentences without parole, avoiding the possibility of the death penalty.

Targonski said the family of LaFerrara was satisfied with the plea deal, adding she is happy they'll be spared the experience of going through a murder trial.

Tuesday's proceedings were covered only by local media outlets. The hearings weren't on the court schedule until Monday. It remains to be seen if the attention that followed Miranda Barbour's satanic serial killing claims will result in an increased media presence when the couple are sentenced together on Sept. 18.

A telephone message left for a relative of LaFerrara was not returned.

BU program receives PDE approval

BLOOMSBURG - The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) has approved a new certification for Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania's College of Education - the undergraduate hearing impaired and pre K-4 dual program certificate.

According to Elizabeth Mauch, dean of BU's College of Education, BU is the only institution in Pennsylvania to offer the deaf education and pre K-4 certificate at the undergraduate level.

Previously, novice teachers were required to pursue separate certifications in deaf education and early childhood. The new certification leads to a bachelor's degree in hearing impaired and pre K-4 dual program.

Date set for Halloween parade

SHAMOKIN - This year's Halloween parade will be held Wednesday, Oct. 22.

As has been the case in recent years, no rain date is schedule to avoid conflict with other events.

First National Bank, The News-Item and AREA Services will again sponsor the parade.

SHAMOKIN - A city man charged with breaking into a vacant house and eluding police earlier this month before being apprehended after jumping from a roof had his bail reduced Tuesday, but remains in county prison on a bench warrant related to other offenses.

James H. Latshaw, 48, of 126 E. Arch St., waived his right to a preliminary hearing involving two criminal complaints filed against him by Cpl. Bryan Primerano. Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III reduced the defendant's bail from $40,000 cash to unsecured bail, which means he didn't have to post any money to be released. But due to the bench warrant, he remains imprisoned.

Latshaw, who was represented by county public defender Melissa Norton, is charged with flight to avoid apprehension and resisting arrest relating to Aug. 19 incidents. He also faces charges of theft, criminal trespass, loitering and prowling at night, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct and flight to avoid apprehension for allegedly breaking into a home in the 300 block of South Seventh Street on Aug. 10.

Police responded to Latshaw's residence shortly after 8 p.m. Aug. 19 with a warrant from Gembic. Shamokin Patrolmen Nathan Rhodes and Scott Weaver and Coal Township Patrolman Edward Purcell knocked on the front door and spoke to an unidentified occupant who then walked upstairs.

Coal Township Patrolman Matthew Henrich, who was stationed at the rear of the residence, spotted Latshaw exit the home onto a roof. Police told Latshaw he was wanted and instructed him to come down from the roof, but the defendant refused to do so even though the home was surrounded by police and county probation officers, authorities said.

Officers said Latshaw jumped from the roof to a second-story residence on the east side of his home before leaping to the ground and running east through neighboring yards.

Latshaw encountered Coal Township Patrolman Terry Ketchem, changed his route to access Marshall Street and ran north, police said, despite their shouts for him to stop.

Probation officer Daniel Shoop caught up with Latshaw on Marshall Street and restrained him when the suspect ran into a fence. Latshaw was forced to the ground, but police said he resisted before being subdued and transported to Shamokin Police Station.

Shortly before midnight Aug. 10, Latshaw was able to elude police after being spotted leaving a vacant property at 303 S. Seventh St. He was later seen fleeing his home and running through yards before making his escape by descending the "Patsy Steps" onto South Rock Street.

Police said Latshaw, before fleeing the South Seventh Street property, had a bucket of car alternators that belonged to the homeowner.

Police said Latshaw also caused damage to private property and landscaping by running and trespassing into yards in the 100 block of East Arch Street.

SHAMOKIN - Six defendants pleaded guilty to various charges Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III.

n Jeremy C. Fisher, 38, of 537 1/2 W. Shamokin St., Trevorton, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, a stop sign violation and careless driving involving a July 10 motorcycle chase on Mount Carmel Street near Pool World.

Fisher was ordered to pay $350 in fines plus costs. Additional charges of fleeing or attempting to elude police, texting while operating a motor vehicle, failing to wear a helmet and a red light violation were withdrawn.

The charges were filed by Shamokin Patrolman Raymond Siko II.

n Jake Donte Stellar, 24, of 245 E. Fourth St., Mount Carmel, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and was ordered to pay a $300 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for one year.

Stellar was charged by Shamokin Patrolman Raymond Siko II in connection with a June 29 incident in the city.

n Ronald Martz, 55, of 67 Raspberry Hill, Shamokin, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was ordered to pay a $300 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for one year.

An additional charge of possessing prohibited weapons was withdrawn.

The charges were filed by Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano in connection with a July 24 incident in which he was found carrying two switchblades in the 200 block of Seventh Street after fleeing from police.

n Jennifer A. Lowry, 29, of 1345 W. Walnut St., Coal Township, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and was ordered to pay a $300 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for one year.

She also was ordered to obtain her General Educational Development (GED) diploma and attend Narcotics Anonymous meetings.

An additional charge of possession of a controlled substance was withdrawn.

Lowry was charged by Coal Township Patrolman Christopher Lapotsky with possessing plastic baggies of heroin in her home July 6.

n Logan Gudonis, 18, of Coal Township, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was ordered to pay a $300 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for one year. A charge of unauthorized use of an automobile was withdrawn.

Gudonis was charged by Coal Township Patrolman Chad Yoder with taking his mother's car Oct. 4 and driving it to the Mount Carmel area to pick up a friend without her permission.

At the time, police said Gudonis only had a learner's permit and operated the vehicle without a licensed operator present.

n Cassandra Catino, 28, of 120 Academy St., Shamokin, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and was ordered to pay a $200 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for one year. An additional charge of possession of heroin was withdrawn.

Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano filed charges in connection with a May 15 incident in the 100 block of East Independence Street.

Catino also waived to court her right to a preliminary hearing on charges of delivering heroin, possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession of heroin and criminal conspiracy involving a Jan. 22 incident at her residence.

Those charges were filed by Primerano and Ralpho Township Patrolman Christopher Grow, who are both members of the Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force.

MOUNT CARMEL - Mount Carmel council members, who met in executive session Wednesday with an auditor, are confident a mandatory audit of the borough's finances will be submitted by Oct. 31.

Borough council president Tony Matulewicz said the meeting was held primarily for informational purposes, and auditor Courtney Solomon made recommendations and clarified some issues involving the audit requested by the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) that will be reported at the Sept. 18 meeting. Solomon is employed with the borough's auditor Herring, Roll and Solomon.

Although he couldn't provide specifics from the hourlong meeting because it was an executive session, Matulewicz said, "It was a productive meeting that really had nothing to do with personnel issues."

The borough president said the future status of Lower Anthracite Transit System (LATS) Director Megan Janolek was not discussed.

Last week, council hired Mount Carmel Municipal Authority office manager Ann Swartz as borough treasurer to provide oversight after numerous financial setbacks.

Borough manager Edward Cuff III had held the treasurer position since March 1, when the duties were shifted from Janolek.

The position was opened in combination with the LATS director position after it was discovered Janolek made numerous bookkeeping errors and failed to submit the audit on time.

Janolek's actions are not thought to be criminal, and there is no evidence that she stole any money.

The borough is still accepting applications for the LATS director position.

Janolek's errors have held up the mandatory audit of the borough's finances, and DCED warned the borough it will be flagged if it doesn't submit the audit by Oct. 31.

Borough officials said $552,378 in federal funding is at risk if the borough is flagged.

Matulewicz said the borough could apply for a second extension to complete the audit.

Also attending the executive session were Cuff, Mayor Phil "Bing" Cimino, Councilmembers Clement Plisiewicz, Joseph Lapotsky, Dave Fantini and Bob Shirmer. Janolek did not attend.

SAN ANTONIO, Texas - Air Force Airman Richard L. Coffman graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland.

The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills.

Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force.

Coffman is a son of Richard and Valerie Coffman, of Mount Carmel.

He is a 2013 graduate of Mount Carmel Area Junior-Senior High School.

SUNBURY - An extradition hearing is scheduled this morning for a man wanted for homicide in Brooklyn, N.Y., who was taken into custody by U.S. marshals and police at a Coal Township home earlier this month.

Tyshawn Waddy, 20, of New York, will appear at 9:15 a.m. before Northumberland County President Judge William H. Wiest to determine when he will be returned to Brooklyn to face homicide charges.

County assistant district attorney Michael Toomey said Waddy is accused of killing one person and wounding two others in a June 29 shooting.

He has been held in the county prison in lieu of $15,000 cash bail since authorities arrested him at gunpoint at 12:30 a.m. Aug. 16 after Waddy walked out of 1011 W. Willow St. Toomey said Waddy has family living in the area, but he didn't know if any of his relatives lived where he was arrested.

If Waddy refuses to waive extradition from Pennsylvania to New York, warrants would have to be signed by the governors of both states before authorities could return him to New York.

Waddy also is wanted on a probation violation in Snyder County for failing to appear in court on burglary-related charges.

MOUNT CARMEL - A Marion Heights man found in possession of $1,700 worth of heroin, $400 in cash and an assortment of drug paraphernalia last week waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

Mitchell Earl Shields, 21, of 553 E. Melrose St., waived a felony of possession with intent to deliver heroin and misdemeanors of possession of heroin and possession or use of drug paraphernalia, sending his case to the Court of Common Pleas.

He was ordered by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones to appear for plea court Oct. 20 at Northumberland County Courthouse, where he can plea guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.

Mount Carmel Township Patrolman David Stamets Jr., a member of the Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force, filed the charges in connection with an Aug. 18 incident at the defendant's residence.

Shields was nabbed at about 12:30 p.m. by Mount Carmel Patrolman Kelly Campbell and county probation officer Dave Wondoloski while he attempted to exit his back door.

Campbell, Wondoloski and probation officer Andy Charnosky arrived at the defendant's home several minutes earlier to conduct a visit because Shields had recently changed his address.

During a search of the home, Campbell, Wondoloski and Charnosky discovered 67 bags of heroin with a street value of approximately $1,700, hypodermic needles, a black pouch, prescription bottle, spoon, cotton and $400 in cash in Shields' bathroom.

All the heroin was pre-packaged in yellow glassine bags, police reported.

Shields, who cooperated with authorities, told probation officers he was selling the bundles of heroin cheaper than everyone else.

He remains in the county prison in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.

WILBURTON NO. 1 - A village man has been charged with raping a woman at his residence Monday night.

Dustin Lee Reed, 30, of 313 E. Third St., was arraigned at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday by on-call Magisterial District Judge Doug Brewer of Millville on felonies of rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

He was committed to Columbia County Prison in Bloomsburg in lieu of $125,000 cash bail and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 11:15 a.m. Sept. 4 before Magisterial District Judge Craig Long of Catawissa.

Trooper Kenneth J. Houck Jr. of state police at Bloomsburg reported Reed is accused of forcing sexual intercourse on the victim.

Police said the arrest was made following several interviews and the collection of evidence.

Houck identified the woman in a criminal complaint, but The News-Item doesn't use the names of sexual assault victims.

SHAMOKIN - A city man faces multiple charges after allegedly threatening to kill his wife, smashing a big screen television and throwing other household items outside his North Rock Street home Saturday.

Tracy Seidel Jr., 28, of 24 N. Rock St., was charged in connection with the domestic disturbance that began at about 10:30 p.m. after he arrived home from a fireman's convention in Pottsville.

Seidel's wife, Melissa, told police her husband became angry at her earlier in the day because he couldn't find his identification card and claimed she was the last person to have it. While the defendant was on his way home from the fireman's convention, he texted his wife twice, called her vulgar names and threatened to kill her, according to a police affidavit.

Mrs. Seidel, who claimed her husband had consumed alcohol at the convention, fled the residence with her five children to a friend's house at 26 N. Rock St. after receiving the threatening text messages.

Police said when he arrived home, Tracy Seidel Jr. attempted to contact his wife through text messages, asking her to talk with him. Mrs. Seidel told police she refused to talk with her husband because of the threats he made, prompting the defendant to become angry.

Police reported Seidel smashed a big screen television before breaking other items inside the home. He also is accused of throwing items from the residence onto the street and sidewalk.

Upon responding to the scene, Shamokin Cpl. Jarrod Scandle and Patrolman Shane Mowery knocked on Seidel's front door a few times before the defendant answered. Police said Seidel agreed to exit the home, was handcuffed and taken into custody without incident.

Coal Township Cpl. Joshua Wynn and Patrolman David Sage assisted on the call.

Police said Seidel, who was cooperative, had a bandage and dry blood on his hand.

Seidel admitted to threatening to kill his wife, smashing the television and throwing items outside his home, according to the police report.

After being taken to Shamokin Police Station, Seidel was transported to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, where he underwent emergency room treatment for a hand laceration.

He was then transported to a detention cell at Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury.

Seidel was arraigned by video at 9:41 a.m. Sunday by on-call Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones of Mount Carmel on misdemeanors of simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment filed by Scandle. He was committed to jail in lieu of $25,000 cash bail.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Sept. 9 before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III of Shamokin.

MOUNT CARMEL - A Mass to commemorate Mother Maria Kaupas and the founding of the Sisters of Saint Casimir will be held at 7 a.m. Friday at Divine Redeemer Church, Avenue and Poplar Street.

Kaupas moved from Lithuania to Scranton in 1897 to work as a housekeeper for her brother, the Rev. Anthony Kaupas. She sought to enter a congregation but was tasked to lead a new congregation of women to provide Catholic education to Lithuanian immigrants. She studied for three years in Switzerland before the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Casimir was founded in 1907 in Pennsylvania.

Kaupas oversaw the opening of the former Holy Cross School, Mount Carmel, in 1908, which was the first Lithuanian Catholic school in the U.S.

The sisters' motherhouse opened in Chicago in September 1911. A congregation was launched in Lithuania about 10 years later. The sisters also opened Holy Cross Hospital in Chicago in 1928 out of response to the deadly influenza outbreak the decade prior.

Kaupas served as general superior until her death in 1940. Pope Benedict XVI declared her "venerable" in 2010, placing her on the path toward beatification and eventual sainthood.

A shrine honoring Mother Maria is at the St. Pauline Visintainer Center, Kulpmont. Sisters of St. Casimir forwarded some of Kaupas' personal effects for display there.

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Army Spc. Jonathan Bartholomew has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches, and field training exercises.

Bartholomew is a son of Evelyn Bartholomew, of Sunbury.

He is a 2010 graduate of Shikellamy High School.

He earned a bachelor's degree in 2014 from Lycoming College, Williamsport.

PAXINOS - Fans of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band are in for a special treat this October.

"The B Street Band," a tribute band to The Boss and his music, will be performing at the Indian Hills Golf and Tennis Club Friday, Oct. 31.

Only 250 tickets will be sold for the concert at $20 per person. Doors open at 7 p.m. and the show starts at 8:30 p.m. There also will be a cash bar.

The band features Glenn Stuart on lead vocals, guitar and congas; Will Forte on vocals and keyboards; Steve Baranian on vocals and lead guitar; Steve Pozzelanti on drums; Steve Myers on saxophone, and Steve Lopresto on bass guitar.

According to the band's website, The B Street Band has been performing since 1980, are the "original Springsteen tribute band" and have performed with several members of The E Street Band including Steve Van Zandt, Max Weinberg, Garry W. Tallent, Vini Lopez and the late Clarence Clemons. The band has even opened for The Boss himself on several occasions.

For tickets and more information, call Don Spieller at 570-644-1972 or go to the club's website at ihgcproshop@aol.com. Credit cards are accepted for the purchase of tickets.

SHAMOKIN - A 16-year-old Sunbury area male has been charged with attempting to stab his father with a folding knife Sunday in Shamokin.

The defendant's mother suffered a laceration on her right finger while attempting to take the knife away from her son.

Dillon J. Carpenter, of 3455 State Route 61, Sunbury, is charged by Patrolman Raymond Siko II with a felony of aggravated assault and misdemeanors of terroristic threats, two counts of simple assault, possessing an instrument of crime, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Carpenter remains incarcerated in the county jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail after being arraigned Sunday afternoon by on-call Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones of Mount Carmel.

The disturbance occurred at about 9:15 a.m. outside the rear of a restaurant at 139 E. Independence St. operated by Carpenter's parents, Thomas and Cynthia Carpenter.

Approximately five minutes after the attempted stabbing, the defendant was spotted running toward the police station, where his father and older brother, Cody Carpenter, had arrived at about the same time.

When asked by police what happened, Thomas Carpenter said the defendant was extremely upset and started an argument with his brother that turned physical. The father said the teen slapped Cody across the face. When Thomas Carpenter asked his son why he hit his brother, the teen started fighting with his father, who suffered multiple abrasions on his right arm.

During the altercation, Dillon Carpenter reached into his front pocket and removed a blue folding knife, opened it and attempted to stab his father, according to the police report. Cynthia Carpenter then attempted to disarm her son and was cut with the knife on a finger on her right hand.

Once the knife was removed from Dillon, police said his father threw it out of reach.

Dillon broke free from his father and ran to the police station, where he told Siko he tried to kill his father by stabbing him with a knife. Upon walking back to an interview room, Dillon uttered, "I should have killed him."

The defendant, who was read his Miranda rights and agreed to speak with police in the presence of a Northumberland County Children and Youth Services employee, said he made a gesture to his sister that wasn't nice, prompting his brother to slap his hand. Dillon said he then slapped Cody in the face. He also said he began cursing his mother when she came outside.

Dillon said he blocked his mother from attempting to slap him in the face and did the same to his father when he came outside.

The teen admitted screaming at his father before engaging in a physical altercation in which he grabbed his father by the throat and attempted to stab him with a knife.

After someone removed the knife from him, Dillon said he continued yelling before fleeing the scene.

The juvenile is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 9 before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III.

SHAMOKIN - The check was in the mail. It's now bound for the bank.

A $1,163,500 check from the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) was received Wednesday and will be deposited into the city's coffers. It's the total amount loaned through the state's Act 47 program to help municipalities stay out of bankruptcy.

Shamokin was accepted into the state program in June, and with it came the loan. Now begins the process to pay more than $811,000 in unpaid bills from 2013.

"Thank God it came so we can finally pay off all our creditors," Mayor William D. Milbrand said Wednesday. "A lot of the people waiting patiently for the money will now be paid and hopefully we can get a fairly clean record with everybody."

That job is left to city clerk Robert M. Slaby. Hired in April, Slaby wasn't around when the debt accumulated. He'll be the one writing the checks to vendors who have waited about one year to be paid.

"Whatever is left out of this will be what the city uses to get to the end of the year," Slaby said Wednesday.

Milbrand was more cautious about the remaining funds after the debts are paid. It will be used, he said, only as needed. If any remains after year's end, he said he'd ask DCED if it could possibly be applied toward repaying the loan.

Shamokin had been projected to be out of cash by mid-August, according to an Early Intervention Report prepared by the city's financial advising firm, Financial Solutions. Thankfully, for the city's sake, that never came to pass. There was roughly $61,000 in the city's general fund Wednesday. Slaby agreed with Milbrand's comments from earlier this month that the city would likely have enough funds to make it on its own into September.

But the loan has arrived, and so has the relief it provides. That's not to say Shamokin is off the hook. Slaby said careful fiscal management this year kept City Hall in the black, and that will have to continue. Further, a loan isn't a gift. It must be repaid over a 10-year period. Slaby said he believes the first payment will be due in 2015.

MOUNT CARMEL - Mount Carmel Area will remember legendary coach Jazz Diminick this season by wearing black jerseys bearing a "Jazz" patch for home games.

Diminick, who had a record of 267-81-7 in his 31 seasons at Mount Carmel, and overall won 290 games as a scholastic coach, the most in the state of Pennsylvania at the time he finished his career, died July 2.

The school board later in July voted to name the field at the Silver Bowl "Jazz Diminick Field." A ceremony is scheduled at next Friday's game.

The jerseys, which just arrived this week, were purchased through donations to the football program.

Mount Carmel Area hosts Loyalsock in tonight's opener at 7 p.m.

COAL TOWNSHIP - An increased focus on student health and wellness is what's new at Shamokin Area this school year.

Students return Tuesday, and they'll be beneficiaries of a revamped phys-ed curriculum and, more so, brand new fitness equipment the district could never afford on its own.

Two classrooms near the high school weight room were relocated, making room for stationary bikes, treadmills and elliptical machines. The weight room itself was gutted, the old equipment removed and replaced with state-of-the-art apparatus.

Data for each student will be stored and tracked to assess the effectiveness of the district's SASD Gets FIT program.

The school district was awarded a $1.1 million grant this spring from the Carol M. White Physical Education Program. It was one of four Pennsylvania school districts and among 67 recipients nationwide awarded a combined $33 million.

SASD Gets FIT will target improved student performance in physical education, developing and sustaining fitness goals and the adoption of healthy eating habits. The program will reinvigorate phys-ed, shifting away from a focus on competitive sports and more towards individual student fitness - biking, hiking, climbing - in the hopes of boosting student interest.

"The training that has taken place with our teachers and staff have echoed with spontaneous laughter and up-building encouragement ... just as our students will gain an enthusiastic outlook for personal growth through physical activities and the knowledge gained in wellness and nutrition," Superintendent James Zack wrote in an email. "The ongoing data collections will support that the grant is being implemented effectively as the data will evidence that the students are gaining in wellness and nutrition based upon pre- and post-assessments."

The district's grant funding is spread over three years. Age-appropriate cardio machines and strength-training equipment were purchased for "student wellness centers" at each of the district's three school buildings for 2014-15. Board game-style physical activity games designed to engage a broader portion of the student population will also be used.

Another component will be dancing. A large video screen equipped with 16 interactive dance pads will allow students to dance for exercise, a concept many would be familiar with from the popular "Dance Dance Revolution" video games.

In subsequent years investments will be made in outdoor adventure equipment - ropes and climbing equipment, poles and suspended platforms and zip lines - built in the wooded areas surrounding the west-end campuses.

Faculty and staff were trained on the equipment during in-service days Wednesday and Thursday. All coaches must also be trained.

Tyler DiRienzo, son of new head varsity football coach Pat DiRienzo, was hired to lead the program. Salary is covered by grant funding. Health benefits are not offered with the position.

Economics stripped the school district of many phys-ed opportunities in 2012, gutting the curriculum and greatly reducing the amount of time students spend in gym class. Nearly 70 percent of Shamokin Area students receive free or reduced lunch, and one in five live below the poverty line. An investment of this magnitude couldn't have come without a successful grant application, something district staff has worked on for five years.

With no phys-ed or health teachers at the elementary schools, homeroom teachers were trained on the new equipment.

According to elementary Principal Mary Teresa Komara, each class will have phys-ed two days in every 10-day cycle. There will also be physical activity daily, like stretching, following morning announcements. Recess remains daily.

Students will set their own goals and work toward them. Komara said the individuality of the curriculum will be appealing. Students can work at their own pace. And since it stays away from team sports, it's all-inclusive.

"Many students are out of shape. This is going to encourage them to get in shape," Komara said.

At Shamokin Area, less than 15 percent of students get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity. One in three district students do not participate in team sports. Four in 10 students are either overweight or obese. Almost nine of 10 eat less than three servings of vegetables each day.

The new equipment, according to Ruby Michetti, curriculum coordinator, is open to relatives of all current district students for the first three years of the grant. After three years, all district residents can use the equipment. However, the district could impose a user fee for maintenance and staffing.

There were 2,516 students registered as of Monday - 1,302 at the elementary level, 392 in middle school, and 822 in high school. The totals include 107 students at Northwestern Academy in Coal Township.

Troop 311 hosted an Eagle Court of Honor at their building in Rebuck Aug. 12 for Caleb Conrad of Troop 325 in Northumberland. Caleb is a son of Jay O. and Holly L. Conrad.

Caleb's Eagle Project was to repaint the floor in the basement of St. John's Lutheran Church on 300 Queen St. in Northumberland.

The basement was the former communion hall and was a challenge because all the furniture needed to be removed and the floor scrubbed of paint chips which were causing a safety hazard. After scrubbing and drying, it took many coats of paint till desired results were obtained.

Caleb is a 2014 graduate of Shikellamy High School where he played tennis. He attends Calvary Tabernacle on the island between Northumberland and Sunbury. He has held the positions of Senior Patrol Leader and Troop Guide within Troop 325. He has helped during spring clean up at Camp Karoondinha and helped during times of flooding in Northumberland.

Lynda Schlegel Culver and representatives from John Gordner's office and the Army were in attendance to congratulate Caleb.

SHAMOKIN - A 63-year-old Megan's Law offender now faces felony offenses for possessing 700 images of child pornography on his computer and displaying some of them to teenage boys, police allege.

Alan Donald Coveleskie, of 408 Webster St., Ranshaw, is charged by Detective Jeff Brennan with three counts of sexual abuse of children (child pornography and dissemination of photographs), and two counts each of criminal use of a communication facility and corruption of minors.

The charges are the result of an investigation initiated in November.

A 13-year-old boy and a 16-year-old male from Coal Township told police they observed child pornography on Coveleskie's Hewlett Packard Pavilion computer at his residence between 2011 and 2012. They said

Coveleskie offered them cigarettes to come to his home.

On Dec. 19, a search warrant was obtained for the home, where officers removed numerous items including his computer, which was turned over May 24 to the state Attorney General's Office for a forensic examination.

On July 30, the exam was completed and revealed 700 images of child pornography and numerous pictures of young boys smoking cigarettes.

One of the victims told police he saw a picture on the computer's background of two boys who were naked and smoking.

Coveleskie was taken into custody at his home without incident Thursday by Brennan and Patrolman Matthew Hashuga and arraigned shortly after 3 p.m. by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III.

After Gembic read the charges to Coveleskie and set bail at $25,000 cash, the defendant told the judge, "I don't have that kind of money and I don't know how to pay a bail bondsman."

Gembic explained to Coveleskie that a bail bondsman will require 7 percent of the bail amount to free him from prison.

When the judge asked the defendant if he had any questions, he replied, "None that you can answer."

Coveleskie didn't comment when asked about the charges by a newspaper reporter upon leaving the courtroom. He was later transported to the county prison and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing Tuesday morning before Gembic.