COAL TOWNSHIP - Emergency personnel came to the rescue of a prisoner at SCI-Coal Township whose arm became trapped in his cell toilet Sunday morning.

"He was going to retrieve something that he dropped," said Trisha Kelley, the prison's public information officer. "He got his hand stuck."

Kelley said once prison staff became aware of the situation, they alerted maintenance staff and emergency personnel. The two teams worked together to free him.

"Once they got the toilet removed, based on the position of his body, he was able to turn enough to get his hand out (of the pipe)," said Kelley.

The prisoner was freed by early afternoon and suffered no injuries.

NORTHUMBERLAND - A Sunbury woman died in a Monday morning crash on Route 147 just north of Northumberland.

According to James F. Kelley, Northumerland County Coroner, Charlee N. Malone, 29, of Sunbury, and formerly of Lewistown, was traveling north in Point Township near Blue Hill Road around 8:30 a.m. when, for unknown reasons, her Nissan Versa left the right side of the road, struck a fire hydrant, continued forward and struck an embankment head-on.

AREA Services transported Malone, who police said was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, to Sunbury Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead around 9:30 a.m.

In addition to Kelley, investigating the accident are Point Township Officer Tim Fink and Chief Deputy Coroner James R. Gotlob.

BURNSIDE - Only five hunters opted to drive-in at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) between 4 and 6:30 a.m. Monday for the first day of buck season.

AOAA Operations Director Dave Porzi confirmed the head count and said he and authority member Barry Yorwarth were on-site to monitor traffic flow and provide assistance.

The gate remained open throughout the day and will also be open today and Saturday for drive-in hunting. Hunters can enter through the upper access road, located just south of the trailhead driveway entrance on Route 125.

The AOAA's hunting policy also permits walk-on hunting from dawn to dusk on days the park is not open for motorized use and from dawn to 9 a.m. on days when motorized users are allowed in the park. Hunters can park along the paved cul-de-sac that leads into the park on any day hunting is permitted.

Motorized use of the park is not authorized for the first two weeks of rifle deer season, except on Sundays when hunting is not permitted by the state.

Porzi and the AOAA authority indicated during the policy-making process that the number of drive-in and motorized use closure days will be adjusted for next year based on the popularity of hunting AOAA lands this year.

SHAMOKIN - Cpl. Bryan Primerano has cited 13 people for violating city ordinances involving their properties.

George Atiyeh, 55, of 147 S. Maple St., Mount Carmel, was cited twice under the public nuisance ordinance for allowing deteriorating properties he owns at 621 Bear Valley Ave. and 805 E. Commerce St. to be in danger of collapse.

Joseph L. Pearson, 70, of 217 E. Avenue, Mount Carmel, was cited for allowing unsanitary conditions at a property he owns at 669 Bear Valley Ave.

Also cited for causing a public nuisance by allowing their properties to deteriorate or be in danger of collapsing were Massy Gole, of South Ozone Park, N.Y. (113-115 S. Market St.); Salvator D. Fanelli, of North Carolina Beach, N.C. (52 N. Market St.); Christopher M. Elsayed, 39, of 201 E. Sunbury St., Shamokin (116 W. Sunbury St.); Anthony Venturino, 33, of Hamden, Conn. (661 Bear Valley Ave.); Daniel Buranich Jr., 50, of 152 Bates Road, Shamokin (24 E. Willow St.); Allen Norbert, 46, of Brooklyn, N.Y. (315 W. Pine St.); Miguel Gonzalez, of Brooklyn, N.Y. (415 S. Market St.); Jhoel Leonardo, of Far Rockaway, N.Y. (625-627 E. Commerce St.); Leonard F. Adams III and Stacey L. Adams, 34, both of Conneaut Lake (101-103 N. Second St.), and Leonard F. Adams Jr., 58, of 341 Main St., P.O. Box 20, Aristes (620-622 N. Third St.).

Atiyeh also was cited three times by Coal Township Code Enforcement Officer Chris Petrovich for allowing high brush, grass and weeds at properties he owns at 1224 Pulaski Ave., 1740 Mohawk St., and a vacant lot on Mohawk Street.

Petrovich cited Ida M. Makowski, of 113 N. Berry St., Coal Township, for allowing an accumulation of garbage, rubbish and refuse, a sofa and approximately 25 bags of household garbage in her front yard, and high brush, grass and weeds.

PAXINOS - An unidentified woman was taken to Geisinger Medical Center for a head injury sustained in a collision on Route 61 after her car crashed into an embankment and rolling onto its roof.

The crash occurred shortly before 5 p.m. just north of the intersection of Routes 61 and 487 in Paxinos.

State police said the unknown woman was driving south in a black Toyota Venza when, for an unknown reason, she struck a silver Ford Escape traveling in front of her, driven by Judith Marose, 65, of the Shamokin area.

Both vehicles spun into the northbound lane and crashed into the embankment. The Venza flipped onto its roof, leaving the driver trapped. After she was extracted by emergency personnel, she was taken by ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center.

Marose and a passenger, Sharon Stamm, 66, of Shamokin, left the scene uninjured.

"They were both just shaken up," said Trooper David Boucher, state police at Stonington.

The accident closed Route 61 for more than an hour during the busy post-work rush. Traffic was re-routed onto Old Reading Road until both cars were towed.

In addition to responding emergency personnel, Northumberland County Sheriff Robert Wolfe stopped at the scene to check on those involved in the accident and to provide necessary assistance.

SUNBURY - A jury trial will be held later this month for a teen who was shot in the chest last year after allgedly attempting to run over a Sunbury police officer.

Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor, who will preside at the trial, issued an order Monday that sets jury selection for 9:15 a.m. Monday for the case of Naheem J. Reams, 18. The trial is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18, and Friday, Dec. 19. Court begins at 9:15 a.m. both days.

The dates fall in the normal term for civil trials and were selected by Saylor to prevent the case from being further delayed.

Defense attorney Kymberley Best and her law partner and husband, Timothy Bowers, have argued that charges against Reams should have been dismissed due to Rule 600 that requires the prosecution to bring the case to trial within one year from the date charges were filed - in this case, Aug. 2, 2013.

Reams has been detained in a juvenile facility or jailed since the day of the incidents - June 5, 2013.

The prosecution team said several delays caused by the defense extends their time to bring the case to trial.

District attorney Ann Targonski will prosecute the case.

Reams, who turned 18 Feb. 11, but was 17 when the incidents occurred, was charged as an adult by Trooper Ronald Zanella of state police at Stonington with multiple offenses, including felonies of aggravated assault and fleeing or attempting to elude police, and driving under the influence of marijuana.

If convicted of the serious offenses, he faces an extensive state prison sentence.

Reams, who resided in Shamokin prior to his arrest, said he fled from police because he "panicked" and was "scared." He had absconded from juvenile custody and was operating someone else's vehicle without their permission while driving without a license when the chase, shooting and accident occurred.

Reams said his girlfriend was pregnant at the time and he wanted "to get away" so he could see his son be born.

Sunbury police were attempting to clear the 400 block of North Fourth Street for street sweeping when they encountered Reams, who they said for unknown reasons fled in his car at speeds reaching 70 mph.

When Reams slowed near Chestnut and Front streets, officers moved in, but police said Reams struck two police vehicles with his car, and caused minor injuries to one officer when he was briefly pinned at his car door.

Reams then revved his engine and drove toward another officer who had his gun drawn, police said, prompting the officer to fire. The shot went through the windshield and struck Reams near the sternum.

Then Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini, who is currently a county judge, found that the officer was justified in firing the shot.

Reams spent 20 days in the hospital before being placed in a juvenile detention facility on an unrelated warrant. After being charged in relation to the chase, he was committed to Northumberland County Prison.

MOUNT CARMEL - A Mount Carmel man was arrested last week for allegedly downloading videos of adults, adolescents and children engaged in sexual acts.

James R. Miller Jr., 60, of 8 S. Peach St., allegedly confessed to special agents of the state Attorney General's Child Predator Unit that he used a peer-to-peer file sharing network to download child pornography.

According to a criminal affidavit, Miller recounted the process he used to download videos and images before deleting them. The children were generally girls age 13, but he allegedly claimed to have seen pornography featuring children as young as 3 and 4 years old.

It's a curiosity he has, Miller allegedly told law enforcement, and one that he's explored "quite a few times" when his wife wasn't home, the affidavit states.

Miller was among five Pennsylvania men collared in unrelated cases through an investigation by the Child Predator Unit's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Mount Carmel police assisted in the local case.

An undercover investigation targeted Miller, according to a press release issued Monday by the office of Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane.

A search warrant says Agent Kurt M. Smith downloaded two files in May and July on a peer-to-peer network depicting graphic sexual acts between children as young as 6 years old. The files were traced to a PenTeleData customer. Under court order in August, the company provided Internet subscriber information identifying James Miller and another woman who is not charged in the incident.

A search warrant was served at Miller's home about 10:50 a.m. Nov. 25. Multiple computers were recovered. A forensic preview found the files on one machine.

Two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility were filed against Miller by Agent Brittney J. Baughman. Each charge is a felony. He was arraigned Nov. 25 by Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones and committed to Northumberland County Jail, Sunbury. Miller was later released after posting $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 10.

Also arrested on child pornography charges were Brian David Bradley, 45, of Baldwin, Allegheny County; Preston J. St. Clair, 25, of Ellwood City, Lawrence County; Allen Perreault, 50, of Leola, Lancaster County; Thomas Muller, 33, of Philadelphia.

Pearl Harbor rememberance set

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Joint Veterans Committee and VFW Post 2110 will hold their annual Pearl Harbor rememberance service at 1 p.m. Sunday at Post 2110, 21 W. Second St.

Area veterans and the public are invited to attend.

The Arc open today, every Tuesday

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Arc, Susquehanna Valley weekly drop-in program, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Shamokin-Coal Township Senior Action Center, 821 W. Chestnut St.

The program is designed for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities and features crafts, recreational activities and life skills training. It's held every Tuesday.

Call 570-286-1008 for more information.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area School District is a recipient of a state education grant for security.

The district was awarded a Safe Schools grant for the second year running, announced last week by the Gov. Corbett administration. It totals $25,000 - the maximum award for recipients.

The funding will be used to purchase and install electronically controlled security gates to control access inside the building.

Shamokin Area was one of 123 public school districts to receive a share of $2.6 million.

Lawmakers aren't the only ones operating under new rates as of Monday.

Judges across the state are also affected by the automatic $1,344 or 1.6 percent cost-of-living increase that is tied to an inflation index based on the federal consumer price index for Mid-Atlantic states. The increase is adjusted annually under terms of a 1995 law.

Judges in the Court of Common Pleas will now make $176,571. President judges in counties that have one to five judges will see their salaries rise to $177,342.

District judges statewide are now making $88,289.

When contacted Monday about the COLAs, Northumberland County President Judge William H. Wiest said he plans to donate his raise to his church - Trinity United Church of Christ in Dalmatia - where he has served as organist for 57 years, beginning at the age of 13.

Wiest said he typically donates his COLAs to his church or other charitable organizations.

Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones in Mount Carmel will once again donate his COLA to local charities.

County judges Charles Saylor and Tony Rosini, along with Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III in Shamokin each said they haven't reached a decision about what they will do with their COLAs.

In the past, Saylor has donated his COLAs to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in Northumberland County.

Rosini was named judge earlier this year after a long career as county district attorney.

Like lawmakers, the judges need to take a proactive step to avoid receiving the extra money, either by writing a refund check to the state Treasury, sometimes on a monthly or quarterly basis, or by giving it to charity.

In addition to lawmakers and judges, the governor, cabinet secretaries and elected state row officers also receive automatic COLAs.

SUNBURY - Today's special prison board meeting to appoint a new warden has been postponed due to allegations made in an anonymous letter against one of the three finalists for the position.

Prison board chairman and county commissioner Stephen Bridy said a letter was received Monday by county officials that cites alleged misconduct by Robert Wetzel when he was employed at SCI-Coal Township.

Bridy said Wetzel, who was a captain at the state correctional institution but reportedly now works in the private sector, was among three finalists for warden. He said the other two finalists currently work in the federal prison system.

The incident in question was detailed in a 50-page state Civil Service Commission adjudication report filed Nov. 7, 2008. It was in response to Wetzel's appeal of a 10-day suspension from employment and followed two hearings held before a civil service commissioner in Harrisburg the prior May. The ruling upheld the suspension.

Ethics issue

The candidate was suspended for failing to take corrective action to stop an altered jumpsuit from being issued to a corrections officer, which violated the Department of Corrections' code of ethics, according to the report. Several pieces of masking tape were adhered to various parts of the jumpsuit with writing and pictures drawn on with black marker. Ten different markings or drawings were described in the report. They included a picture of a penis on a piece of tape that was put over the Department of Corrections patch and, on the right breast pocket, a piece of tape with "Quarters Snitch" written on it.

Wetzel was not suspended for having altered the jumpsuit, but for failing to stop it from being issued, failing to report the incident and denying he was aware that the jumpsuit had been altered prior to a fact-finding conducted about the issue, the report said.

He argued before the commission that the corrections officer failed to report the incident for three months and was doing so because he perceived it to be a joke and wasn't offended, and that the corrections officer was manipulating the incident to claim Wetzel was involved in it.

Time needed

"I have not read the letter yet, but Commissioner Clausi (Vinny) filled me in on its contents," Bridy said Monday night. "We need more time to research this issue to verify the letter's contents. That's why the meeting was postponed."

Bridy said prison board members plan to discuss the allegations leveled against Wetzel before making a decision on when to hire a new warden. He said a special meeting could possibly be rescheduled by the end of the week.

"We want to make sure all six prison board members have the facts available to them so they can make the best informed decision on a new warden for Northumberland County Prison," Bridy said.

Bridy said county solicitor Frank Garrigan and assistant solicitor John Muncer will be consulted.

The commissioner said prison board members were not aware of any past problems with Wetzel, who resides in Northumberland County. A telephone listing for Wetzel was not available, which is often the case for people currently or formerly employed in the prison system.

Could affect vote

"The allegations are troublesome and we plan to do a thorough investigation," Bridy said. If the accusations are true, Bridy said he will not vote for Wetzel as warden.

He said background checks were conducted on all the candidates and references were obtained from their superiors and other co-workers.

Bridy commended acting warden Brian Wheary for doing a fine job since his appointment following the Aug. 19 firing of warden Roy Johnson, who served in the position for five years.

The prison board chairman said six candidates were interviewed for the position. In addition to Wetzel and the other two finalists, two of the candidates currently are employed at the county prison while the other one works at a federal prison.

In addition to Bridy and Clausi, the prison board is comprised of Commissioner Richard Shoch, Sheriff Robert Wolfe, Controller Chris Grayson and District Attorney Ann Targonski.

K of C children's Christmas party

Shamokin Knights of Columbus will host their annual children's Christmas party at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 in the K of C hall, Independence St., Shamokin. The party is open to children up to ages 11 to parents and grandparents who are members of the Shamokin K of C. The Casey Club is open at 5 p.m. Thursday to Sunday to sign up. Deadline to sign up is Sunday. Members of the ARC will be in attendance.

MILTON - A Northumberland man charged by Point Township police in relation to the death of a 9-year-old Sunbury boy waived his right Tuesday to a preliminary hearing via video before Magisterial District Judge Michael Diehl.

Victor W. Hare III, 58, of 196 Springhouse Road, is now scheduled to appear in the Court of Common Pleas in January after forfeiting his right to the hearing that was scheduled for Thursday. His hearing was previously continued twice.

Hare, who is represented by public defender Michael Suders, is charged with felony counts of child endangerment and gun possession. He was home and in charge of caring for Korbin Rager, who died Oct. 13 of an apparent drug overdose.

Police said a search of Hare's home turned up more than 40 bottles of various prescriptions, including Oxycontin. There was also alcohol throughout the house. None of it was secured, police said.

Also found in Hare's bedroom closet were a hinge-action 12-gauge shotgun and two bolt-action .22-caliber rifles. He is a previously convicted felon and is barred from possessing firearms.

Hare remains jailed at Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, in lieu of $290,000 cash bail.

MOUNT CARMEL - For the second time in a week, a borough man has been charged with felonies of disseminating and possessing child pornography.

Jeremy Godin, 37, of 14 N. Maple St., who is charged with more than 100 counts of sexual abuse of children, was taken into custody without incident Tuesday morning at his residence by special agents from the Office of the Attorney General's Child Predator Section and Mount Carmel Police Chief Todd Owens.

Godin, who is married, is accused of using a cell phone to record at least four images depicting a child under 18 in a state of nudity for the purposes of sexual arousal or gratification of any viewer and/or engaging in sexual activity or with lewd exhibition of genitalia, or in prohibited sexual acts.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Special Agent Daniel M. Hasenauer, Godin committed the acts between July 12 and last week at his home.

After obtaining a search warrant from Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones, agents and police arrived at Godin's home at about 9:40 a.m. and immediately began a search of the premises after arresting the defendant. They found numerous files containing child pornography that were examined in a portable computer lab outside Godin's home.

Godin was removed from the residence at about 12:30 p.m. and transported by Owens to Mount Carmel Police Station. The agents continued their search until the early afternoon hours.

The defendant was arraigned at the station by video at 3:35 p.m. by Jones and committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $150,000 cash bail.

He is charged with 100 counts of possession of child pornography, four counts of photographing, videotaping, depicting on a computer or filming sexual acts, four counts of invasion of privacy, and one count each of dissemination of child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility.

All the offenses are felonies except invasion of privacy, which is a misdemeanor.

Godin is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Dec. 10 before Jones.

In the complaint, Hasenauer explains that a growing phenomenon on the Internet is peer-to-peer or "P2P" file sharing, which is a method of communication available to Internet users through the use of special software programs.

P2P file sharing programs, which were involved in Godin's case, allow groups of computers using the same file sharing network and protocols to transfer digital files from one computer system to another while connected to a network, usually on the Internet.

There are multiple types of P2P file sharing networks on the Internet, Hasenauer said.

Agents said Godin's arrest is unrelated to an investigation that led to child pornography charges being filed by the attorney general's office last week against James R. Miller Jr., 60, of 8 S. Peach St., Mount Carmel.

Miller allegedly confessed to agents that he used a peer-to-peer file sharing network to download child pornography.

Miller was arraigned Nov. 25 by Jones. He was initially committed to the county jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail. But he was later released after posting bail and is scheduled for a Dec. 10 hearing.

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court of Our Lady of Victor 588 held its monthly meeting Nov. 16.

The meeting was called to order by Mary Snyder, regent. The Rev. Frank Karwacki, chaplain, led the opening prayers and additional prayers for the end of terrorism and for peace in Mexico; the Pledge of Allegiance, and singing the opening ode.

The baby bottle was passed to collect change to aid state anti-abortion projects. Members also brought numerous items to the meeting for a local food bank. Members thanked the community for helping fill boxes at the Mount Carmel Area Public Library.

Two new members took the Catholic Daughter pledge and were welcomed into the court.

Minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved and reports were given by Treasurer Nora Avellino and Financial Secretary Mary Catherine Wydra.

The court will rent the Mount Carmel Area Public Library window to display its more than 100-year-old nativity. The nativity will stay in place until Epiphany. The court will also visit the Mount Carmel Nursing Home at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, to sing and visit the residents. Each resident will receive a Christmas card and gift and members will sing Christmas carols.

Arrangements are being made for the annual Twelve Days After Christmas party, to be held Sunday, Jan. 4, in the Mount Carmel Senior Center. A catered lunch will be served and there will be a $5 gift exchange.

The court is selling "It's OK to Say Merry Christmas" pins for $1 apiece.

The court will invite Lourdes Regional and Mount Carmel Area School District to participate in the Catholic Daughters of the Americas national education contest. The theme is "Be a Good Neighbor." Students can express the theme in an essay or art. Monetary awards will be offered at the local, state and national levels.

A closing prayer was led by Karwacki. The members sang the closing ode and the meeting was adjourned.

Members enjoyed refreshments provided by Snyder and Wydra.

The next meeting will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, in the Mount Carmel Senior Center. New members are welcome.

SUNBURY - Tuesday night's special meeting to set the salaries of Northumberland County commissioners and row officers was postponed for the second time because Commissioner Richard Shoch couldn't attend due to a family emergency.

Commissioner Chairman Vinny Clausi said Shoch sent an email to the commissioners' office at 5:35 p.m. stating that he was at a hospital in Philadelphia attending to a family matter and would not be able to attend the 6 p.m. scheduled meeting or participate by teleconference because he had no phone service. He said Shoch also sent an email at 10 a.m. informing his fellow commissioners that he wouldn't be able to make Tuesday's regular commissioners' meeting at 1 p.m.

In attendance at the meeting were Clausi, Commissioner Stephen Bridy, Register and Recorder Mary Zimmerman, Coroner James Kelley, Treasurer Kevin Gilroy, Sheriff Robert Wolfe and six citizens.

The row officers, who filed a lawsuit against the county after their salaries were cut and their insurance premiums were raised last fall, won a preliminary injunction that at least delays the action taken by the commissioners.

Clausi was disappointed Shoch couldn't attend.

"This is the second time we had to postpone this meeting because Mr. Shoch couldn't attend," he said. "He approved the dates for the special meetings and then doesn't show up."

Clausi said the special meeting will now be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, at the administration center.

Changes in commissioners' salaries cannot be made in the same year in which their election is held. The next commissioners' election is 2015, with a new board taking office in January 2016.

Clausi believes commissioners, who earn $61,000, are overpaid for what he considers a part-time position and plans to vote to reduce their salaries, but did not say by how much.

He initially said salaries and benefits for row officers weren't going to be discussed during the special meeting because of the injunction. But now Clausi said the row officers' salaries will be addressed, although he did not say if he wants to reduce them or keep them the same.

Clausi and Shoch receive $15,006 and $18,815 in health care benefits, respectively. Commissioner Stephen Bridy gets a stipend of $1,500 for waiving health care benefits.

Bridy also believes reducing the commissioners' salaries is the right thing to do.

Bridy, who plans to seek a second term as commissioner, said he originally wanted to cut the salaries in half, but now believes they should be reduced to approximately $37,000, which is the approximate median household income in Northumberland County.

Shoch, who also will seek a second term, has been non-committal on how he will vote on the salary issue.

Clausi said he doesn't plan to seek re-election to a third four-year term.

SUNBURY - Commissioner Stephen Bridy hopes to unite Northumberland County with several nearby counties to create a regionalized emergency response system he believes will save each county $1 million.

Commissioners approved forming a multi-county committee and sending Bridy as Northumberland County's delegate on a 2-0 vote at Tuesday's county commissioners' meeting. Commissioner Richard Shoch was absent.

Bridy proposed the idea, which came after attending a meeting of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP). He said Northumberland County is taking the lead with forming the committee and will be sending letters inviting Schuylkill, Snyder, Columbia, Montour and Union counties to join.

"We're in a unique situation to head up this regionalization initiative because we have the frequency," said Bridy. "Hopefully it will be seen by the others as an olive branch."

He said the county had opted to purchase Maritime frequencies extending across Pennsylvania and into New York, which he expects will be in high demand in the coming years.

"These frequencies are almost impossible to come by at this point," he said. "A lot of people will be knocking down our door for those frequencies at that point they'll be selling at a premium."

Bridy hoped to secure as many counties as possible because the savings to each county would increase alongside the regionalized area. But, he said, he would be "okay" if they opted to decline.

Bridy said the taxes used to pay for 911 centers are lower for cell phones than landlines, leaving many counties, including Northumberland, facing trouble funding 911 centers. These counties are now forced to use money from the general fund to support 911 centers.

"We're just holding the bag here," he said.

Bridy is also urging the state to pass a modest increase to phone emergency response taxes.

"I have four kids and two of the four are old enough to have cell phones," he said. "For me to spend $2 per child and wherever they're at 911 will come to their aid, that's pretty reasonable."

NATALIE - A 23-year-old Mount Carmel woman escaped injury during Tuesday's light snowfall on the Natalie Mountain when her car collided with a truck while she was changing lanes, causing the car to crash into an embankment.

Mount Carmel Township Police Chief Brian Hollenbush reported Tristia Bowers, of 106 N. Maple St., was driving a Hyundai Genesis east on Route 54 toward Natalie at about 12:30 p.m. when she turned into the passing lane to avoid possibly hitting a disabled tractor-trailer hauling wood that was on the right berm of the highway with a flat tire.

As Bowers traveled past the tractor-trailer, she attempted to turn from the passing lane into the right lane, but her auto was struck on the passenger side front by the driver side rear of a black truck that had accelerated in an attempt to go by Bowers. Hollenbush said the operator of the truck, who may not have realized his or her vehicle struck the car, continued ascending the mountain.

After impact, Bowers' car spun counterclockwise, hit an embankment off the right berm and came to rest at an angle.

Bowers refused medical treatment at the scene.

An investigation is continuing.

Bowers' auto was towed by Zlocki Body Works of Marion Heights.

Assisting Hollenbush at the scene were firefighters from Natalie, Atlas, Strong and Kulpmont, AREA Services Ambulance personnel, Mount Carmel Area Rescue Squad, PennDOT crews and Mount Carmel Township Patrolman Brian Carnuccio.

Traffic was backed up in both directions along Route 54 for about an hour. The scene was cleared at 1:45 p.m.

SUNBURY - Northumberland County residents will see no tax increases in 2015.

Chairman Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy approved the proposed 2015 budget on a 2-0 vote at Tuesday afternoon's commissioners meeting. Commissioner Richard Shoch was absent, citing a family emergency, Clausi said.

The budget will be advertised and made available for public inspection for 20 days before a vote on final approval.

Clausi said county departments had asked for increases totaling $2.5 million, but commissioners declined them.

"We don't have the money," he said. "Is it going to be easy for them? No. Is it's the right thing to do? Yes," he said.

Clausi said much of the potential budget increase came from county heads hoping to add additional staff. In the end, though, there was cooperation unlike what Clausi said he's seen in other years.

"Everybody realized that there was no money there and they cooperated for us," he said. "I appreciate the cooperation of all of the department heads"

No programs were cut and all previously existing positions were maintained, he added.

Clausi said keeping the county's $64 million budget equal to last year - minus the one-time $7 million costs for a new 911 system in this year's budget - eliminated internal strife commissioners had faced in previous years.

"This is the first time in seven years we have had no fights," he said.

Earlier this fall, Clausi said he and Bridy were studying the possibility of a property tax decrease for 2015. In the end, however, they decided against it. He said it would not have been fair to possibly burden the new board of commissioners, who will be elected next year and take their seats in 2016, with a budget that runs short.

"We think we're better off with the surplus," which is estimated at $1.2 million, Clausi said. "You never know what's going to happen."

Early retirement

A motion to offer an early retirement incentive to county workers failed on a 2-2 vote of the salary board, but it will be revisited next year, Clausi said.

Speaking after the meeting, he said there would be some 95 county employees who would meet the state requirement for early retirement, which includes being at least 55 years old and having worked at least 10 years for the county. County officials estimated some 30 employees might take the offer.

But Bridy and Treasurer Kevin Gilroy voted against it, saying they needed more information. Clausi, who was joined in his yes vote by Controller Chris Grayson, said he understood the hesitation, and that the issue will be given a fresh look in the new year.

The incentive the county was prepared to offer was to add 20 percent to the employee's years of service time as far as their pension calculation is concerned. For example, for a 20-year county worker who retired, four years would have been added to their years of employment for pension purposes.

While that's an upfront cost to the county, Clausi said, those long-time employees would be replaced with workers who would make less, likely offsetting the extra pension cost.

And even if the county only broke even, he said, it would still be creating new jobs for people who replace the retirees.

He said state pension law allows the option of adding 10, 20 or 30 percent to length of service as an early retirement incentive.