NORTHUMBERLAND - Police say Victor W. Hare III gave Korbin Rager, 9, more than 12 times the maximum therapeutic level of oxycodone for an adult, causing the boy to overdose and die in October.

Point Township Police Chief Joshua VanKirk and Sgt. Robert Recla charged Hare, 58, of 196 Springhouse Road, with felony counts of drug delivery resulting in death, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault and two counts of endangering welfare of a child and misdemeanor charges of indecent assault and two counts of recklessly endangering another person.

According to a criminal complaint, Hare is accused of providing oxycodone and alcohol to Rager during an overnight visit between Oct. 12 and 13 at Hare's residence, causing the boy's fatal overdose.

In the latest court documents, the autopsy report from Montour County Coroner Scott Lynn said Rager's death was caused by oxycodone toxicity; his manner of death is listed as homicide.

Toxicity testing performed on the boy showed an oxycodone level of 1,200 nanograms per mililiter (ng/ml), 12 times the maximum therapeutic range of 10 to 100 ng/ml for an adult, according to court documents. Lynn's report indicates toxic effects occur when oxycodone levels exceed 200 ng/ml.

Officials also said a cut straw, used to snort drugs, containing Hare's and Rager's DNA was found at Hare's home. Police also said Hare's DNA was found on Rager's body, prompting the indecent assault charge.

Didn't want to be there

Rager's half-brother, Christian Fegley, told police he and his brother didn't want to go to Hare's home Oct. 12, but their mother urged them to do so by claiming Hare was "doing better" despite knowing that Hare had been "high and drunk all the time."

Hare told police in October Rager ingested prescription pain medication and was addicted to drugs and alcohol - an allegation met by scorn from the public. More than 40 bottles of various prescription medication, including Oxycontin, and alcohol were found unsecured in Hare's house.

During the preliminary hearing for Rager's mother, Angela Clark, in January, VanKirk testified about an interview Fegley gave at the Child Advocacy Center in Northumberland. VanKirk said Fegley informed police Hare often snorted oxycodone in the presence of the boys, and Rager had suffered a previous drug overdose while being supervised by Hare.

VanKirk said Fegley claimed Hare was incoherent a lot and incapable of caring for the boys. He said Fegley recalled an incident when Hare gave him a spoonful of powder, believed to be Oxycotin, to relieve a headache.

The chief testified in January that Fegley told police he made his mother aware Hare had snorted dope in front of the boys and also made a videotape of tying Fegley to a chair and touching him inappropriately.

Fegley told police Hare, who was later told to stay away from the boys, destroyed the videotape when confronted by family members.

Faces 93 years

The defendant, already incarcerated on charges of endangering the welfare of a child and a felony gun possession charge, was videoarraigned Monday before Magisterial District Judge Michael Diehl, of Milton, and recommitted to SCI Coal Township on $750,000 cash bail, raising his total bail to $1,040,000 on all charges. A preliminary hearing on the new charges is set for April 21.

If convicted on all counts, Hare faces a sentence of 93 years in prison. The drug delivery resulting in death carries the stiffest sentence, 40 years jailtime.

Clark. 30, of Sunbury, who faces two felony counts of endangering the welfare of a child, is currently free on $25,000 bail. She is scheduled for a pre-trial conference April 10 in Northumberland County Court. Hare is also scheduled for a pre-trial conference on the previous charges on that day also.

SUNBURY - Despite facing a state prison sentence on multiple charges, a Shamokin man who spent more than two months running from police last year was in a good mood Monday while he waved and smiled at his two young daughters in the courtroom before being recommitted to jail.

James H. Latshaw II, 48, who pleaded guilty last month to flight to avoid apprehension, criminal trespass, theft, and two counts each of resisting arrest and simple assault, was sentenced by Northumberland County President Judge William H. Wiest to 1 to 3 years in state prison followed by five years of probation.

The judge also ordered Latshaw to pay $2,100 in fines plus costs and gave him credit for 159 days previously served in prison.

Several other offenses were not prosecuted.

After Wiest imposed the sentence, Latshaw was escorted from the courtroom by Deputy Sheriff Curtis Cooke. The defendant turned, smiled and waved to his two daughters seated in the gallery. He then told them, "I love you. I love you."

Latshaw's children were in the company of an adult female, who the defendant identified as his wife.

Latshaw, who was returned to SCI-Coal Township, was charged by state police at Stonington with theft relating to a Dec. 8, 2013, incident.

He was twice charged by Shamokin police with flight to avoid apprehension involving incidents Aug. 19 and Oct. 5, and also was arrested by city police for criminal trespass relating to an Aug. 10 incident. Latshaw was charged by Coal Township police with making terroristic threats Oct. 2. Mount Carmel Township police charged Latshaw with flight to avoid apprehension involving an Oct. 22 incident.

The offenses were filed in connection with several foot chases involving police, threats and physical contact made against Latshaw's girlfriend, and a break-in.

Latshaw was captured in the End Zone Bar & Grill in Kulpmont sitting at the bar with a beer in front of him Oct. 22 after police, state constables, probation officers and a K-9 unit spent the afternoon hunting a wooded area along Brennan's Farm Road near Den-Mar Gardens.

SUNBURY - A man who stole 20 crucifixes belonging to a Mount Carmel woman in February pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor of theft and was sentenced to 52 days to 23 months in county prison.

Nicholas P. Koons, 29, of 244 S. Oak St., Mount Carmel, who is currently incarcerated at SCI-Coal Township where most male county inmates have been housed since a Jan. 14 fire at the county prison, also was ordered by Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor to pay a $50 fine plus costs and is prohibited from having contact with the victim, Linda Gold.

Since Koons has already served 52 days in prison and was granted parole, he will be released in the near future.

Additional charges of desecration of venerated objects, receiving stolen property and tampering with evidence were not prosecuted.

Koons was charged by Mount Carmel police with stealing 20 crucifixes, some dating back to 1700s and valued at $3,000, from a package shipped to Gold from Canada that was in a doorjamb of her residence Feb. 5.

Police said Koons resided in the same apartment building as Gold.

The victim told police that some of the artifacts were going to be returned to various orders of the Catholic faith.

Koons was taken into custody less than 48 hours after the crime attempting to sell the religious items at a local pawn shop. Police credited Mount Carmel Postmaster Curt Evert with assisting in the investigation that led to Koons' arrest.

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Joint Veterans Committee held its 464th "Changing of the Colors" flag ceremony March 15 at the flag pole of the Susquehanna Bank in honor and memory of Stephen Andrew Darrup, a Cold War era veteran.

Darrup was born July 22, 1933, in Ashland, a son of John Darrup and Agnes Prencavage. He attended Mount Carmel Catholic High School.

Darrup entered the U.S. Army March 15, 1954, in Harrisburg, and was honorably discharged as a private first class Feb. 8, 1956, at Fort Dix, N.J. He attended signal school at Camp Gordon, Ga. Serving with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, he received the following medals: Occupation Medal of Germany, Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal. Total service to his country was one year, 11 months, 11 days. Following his discharge, Darrup served in the U.S. Army Reserves and was honorably discharged Feb. 28, 1962.

In 1984, in Mount Carmel, Darrup married the former Elizabeth A. Fagley, who survives.

Darrup was employed as a bridge inspector for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. He was a 50-year member of Knights of Columbus Lawrence F. Schott Council 628, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2110, both of Mount Carmel, and American Legion Post 231, of Kulpmont.

Darrup died Feb. 21, 2015, and is buried in Northumberland Memorial Park, Stonington. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons, two daughters, nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a brother and two sisters.

The flag that was flown for the past month was in honor and memory of Francis J. Kreisher, who served in the U.S. Army during the World War II. Taps was sounded on the bugle by Ann Ray Begis as the flag was lowered by Anthony Candelora. The flag was folded by William Begis, James Kealy and Candelora and was presented to Kreisher's nephew, Thomas Klemas, by Walter Summers.

The Darrup flag was escorted to the ceremony by Connie Andrews and was presented by his wife, Elizabeth, to Summers. The flag was raised by Candelora as "The Star-Spangled Banner" was played. Summers led all in reciting the Lord's Prayer and the ceremony ended with a silent salute to all veterans. David Berezovske read the military records of both veterans. Summers thanked both families and those in attendance for their participation.

The American flag was carried to the ceremony by Albert Santelli and the rifle escort was provided by Larry Latsko and Andrew Bubnis. James Kealy provided traffic control.

The Susquehanna Bank was thanked for displaying Darrup's name on its message board.

The next flag veremony will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 19, at Second and Oak streets. Area veterans and the public are invited to attend.

Following the flag ceremony in April there will be a meeting of the joint veterans. Nominations and election of officers will be held and activities for the Memorial Day holiday will be discussed.

SUNBURY - A Mount Carmel man charged with drug offenses, driving under the influence and theft involving five different incidents was sentenced Monday by Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor to 9 to 23 months in county prison.

David Brown, 31, also was placed on five years consecutive probation, must pay $3,330 in fines plus costs and make $250 restitution to Raymond Kornacki. He had his driver's license suspended for 18 months.

The defendant, who is incarcerated at SCI-Coal Township, pleaded guilty to four counts of acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation, two counts of DUI and one count each of possession of a controlled substance and theft.

He received the prison sentence for acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation. Sentences on the other charges run concurrent to that sentence.

Brown was given credit for 273 days already served in prison.

He was charged by Mount Carmel police with drug offenses, DUI and theft in connection with incidents Nov. 1, 2012, Jan. 3, 2013, and Sept. 3, 2013, respectively. He also was charged by Mount Carmel Township police with DUI and drug offenses involving incidents June 7, 2013, and Sept. 6, 2013, respectively.

READING - Extreme cold temperatures this winter has caused increased consumption of natural gas and higher-than-normal utility bills, resulting in some customers having difficulty in their payment obligations. UGI encourages customers experiencing payment issues to contact the company to determine if they qualify for customer assistance or payment programs offered by UGI.

Programs include

- UGI's Customer Assistance Program (CAP) offers qualifying income-eligible customers a more manageable monthly energy bill.

- The Low Income Usage Reduction Program or Weatherization offers free installation of energy conservation measures to low-income households to help make energy bills more affordable.

- The Operation Share Energy Fund provides energy assistance grants to qualifying customers who experience difficulty paying their heating bills.

- C.A.R.E.S. (Customer Assistance and Referral Evaluation Service) can provide referrals to other helpful programs in your community. These programs can include the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), budget counseling, and State Weatherization or Office of Aging programs.

UGI also offers several programs to assist customers in managing their bill payments, and can assist eligible customers by setting up a payment plan. And, residential customers on a fixed income may be eligible for the UGI Due Date Extension Program.

For more information, call 1-800-844-9276 (1-800-UGI-WARM) or visit www.ugi.com/customerassistance.

Soroptomists meet Wednesday

SUNBURY - The Soroptomist International Club of Snyder, Union and Northumberland Counties Inc. will hold its regular monthly dinner meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday in the Packer House, Third Street. Guest speaker is Jessica Probst, local race director, Selinsgrove Run 4 Their Lives Program.

The SUN Soroptomist Club is an international volunteer service organization for business and professional women who work to improve the lives of women and girls in local communities and throughout the world. Anyone interested in volunteering and becoming a member is asked to contact any club member or Diane Savidge at 570-837-2532 or dmsavidge@gmail.com.

SAHS alumni to meet

SHAMOKIN - Shamokin Area High School Alumni Association's spring meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 15, in the fellowship hall of Grace Lutheran Church, Seventh and Chestnut streets.

A discussion will be held on the 132nd annual reunion, which is scheduled for May 23 at Masser's Banquet Hall. Information will be printed in the newsletter.

Seniors are reminded that scholarship testing will be held at the school Tuesday, April 7.

SHAMOKIN - Three men were charged in connection with selling and using heroin in a city day care while it was closed after one of the men overdosed at around 9 p.m. Saturday.

Christian L. Kehler, 37, of 1114 N. Shamokin St., Shamokin, Ryan Varano, 28, of 114 S. Fifth St., Shamokin, and Frederick Russo, 49, of 1321 Chestnut St., Kulpmont, were each charged with felony criminal conspiracy and possession with intent to deliver and misdemeanor possession of an illegal substance.

Varano and Kehler were also charged with felony criminal use of a communication device, and misdemeanors of possession with intent to use drugs and, related to the potential harm of children, reckless endangerment of another person. Russo does not face those additional charges because he wasn't present Saturday night, police said.

Cpl. Bryan Primerano said in the criminal complaint he arrived at Jesus' Lil Helpers Daycare, 114 S. Fifth St., Saturday night on a call placed from within the building that a man was overdosing outside. He did not find the overdose victim outside but through the front door window saw Kehler lying unconscious on the floor, said Primerano.

Primerano and Patrolman Ray Siko II entered the residence to help Kehler. Varano appeared next to Kehler and said, "He is overdosing on heroin."

Siko gave CPR until AREA Ambulance personnel arrived and administered Narcan, which brought Kehler back to a semi-state of consciousness, said the complaint.

Especially distressing

Jesus' Lil Helpers Daycare is operated by and licensed to Varano's mother, Kelly L. Ebersole. Varano told police he stays at the address on weekends and nights when the day care is not open and he and Kehler use the location to sell, distribute and use heroin, the complaint said.

According to the complaint, Varano told Primerano, "I'm a piece of sh--," and admitted it was wrong to have heroin in a day care.

District Attorney Ann Targonski said the location makes the heroin sales and use especially distressing.

"It's upsetting to realize that heroin is being dealt in the same places where we send our children to be safe while we work," she said. "This particular instance occurred during hours when the day care was not in operation. However, the idea that people are doing drugs and selling drugs in what we would consider a safe haven for children is concerning."

Ebersole's day care is licensed through the state Department of Human Services.

Purchased in Philly

Varano said he, Kehler and Russo traveled to Philadelphia to purchase heroin at 8 a.m. Friday. In the city, Kehler met with a drug dealer to purchase 10 bundles of heroin, totalling 140 individual packets, according to the complaint.

Varano said he and Kehler have previously made four or five similar trips, including one during which they were robbed at gunpoint for the money they intended to use to purchase the heroin. Russo estimated Kehler had more than $1,000 with him on Friday's trip. The complaint said Varano told police they would resell the heroin in Shamokin for $15 to $20 per individual packet. At 140 packets, sales would have totaled $2,800.

Friday, Russo's car broke down on the return trip so the three found a ride from someone else. Russo told police Kehler still paid Russo with cash and heroin for the ride and for at least one other previous ride.

Items on kids' tables

Primerano said two syringes, an empty red devil heroin packet, three cotton swabs, nine black rubber bands used to package heroin and a spoon with heroin residue were on a table next to where Kehler was found. An additional syringe were located on a cabinet.

A search of Varano uncovered 47 packets of heroin in his pockets and half a Suboxone strip, 16 empty heroin packets and $585 in his wallet.

Searching the house, Primerano said 65 empty partial packets of heroin were found in a kitchen area garbage can, seven packets of heroin were found in a cigarette pack and 38 empty partial plastic packets. A syringe, two empty blue packets of heroin and a crack pipe with reside were found in an upstairs bedroom.

Although the day care is a former house, it is only used for business purposes, said Ebersole.

Some of these items were located on short tables and chairs intended to be used by children, Primerano said.

Additional, previous charges

Each of the three men have previously been charged with felonies related to selling heroin.

Kehler was charged with five felonies and two misdemeanors February 2014 after a grand jury investigation revealed he had made more than 100 trips to Philadelphia to purchase heroin. He would bring as many as 50 heroin packets back to Shamokin each trip, selling them for $20 to $25 per bag.

He has been out on $50,000 unsecured bail. The case is pending in court.

Russo was picked up as part of a drug raid Jan. 31 and charged with felony intent to deliver heroin and delivery of heroin. He was released on $2,500 unsecured bail and is scheduled for a plea hearing Monday.

Varano pleaded guilty to felony possession with intent to deliver heroin after he was one of 31 people arrested in an October 2009 drug sweep. He also has a bench warrant out for his arrest after he failed to respond to three traffic tickets dating to 2013.

Susquehanna Valley gas prices decreased seven cents in a seven-day period, dropping to $2.529 a gallon, according to AAA East Central's Fuel Gauge report. It is still above the national average of $2.420.

On the national front

Today's national average price for regular unleaded gasoline is $2.42 per gallon. Consumers are paying two cents more than one month ago and $1.13 less than the same date last year. The national average has now fallen for 17 of the past 23 days.

The status of regional refineries continues to be a driving factor for gas prices in many parts of the country. While prices over the past month are higher for many drivers, year-over-year price comparisons continue to highlight universal savings. Sharply lower oil prices have resulted in substantially less expensive gas prices in every state.

After briefly rising back above $50 per barrel last week, the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil dropped back below that threshold to end last week. Crude prices have fallen to multi-year lows due largely to ample global production. The possibility of increased exports from Iran should a nuclear deal be reached this week would further increase production and has for now offset any "risk premium" stemming from regional stability due to violence in Yemen. A possible deal between the West and Iran could bring an estimated 500,000 barrels per day of additional oil to the global market, which would add more supply to an already well-supplied market and exert further downward pressure on crude prices.

At the close of Friday's formal trading on the NYMEX, WTI settled down $2.56 at $48.87 per barrel.

(AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 83 local offices in Kentucky, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia serving 2.7 million members.)

COAL TOWNSHIP - An 18-year-old student at Northwestern Academy has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old male academy resident in December.

Daniel R. Amarose, formerly of 144 W. Girard St., Atlas, is accused of performing oral sex on the minor Dec. 10 in a bathroom in the intermediate secure unit at the academy.

Another academy student, Michael Sprenkle, 20, formerly of 361 North Hill Road, Middleburg, also was charged with exposing himself to the same victim between Dec. 1 and Dec. 15 at the same facility.

Coal Township Patrolman Matthew Hashuga, who filed the charges against both students, said Amarose was previously adjudicated in Northumberland County Court for sexual assault, while the victim had been adjudicated for sexual assault in Lancaster County.

According to a criminal complaint, Matthew Burns, program director at the academy, told Hashuga that Amarose and the juvenile were in the SMART program for sexual offenders when the incident occurred. Burns reported Amarose and the teen performed oral sex on each other. Burns told police Amarose and the victim claimed the sexual act was consensual and only lasted a few seconds.

Burns said a shower curtain was draped over the side of one of the bathroom stalls occupied by Amarose, which obscured staff from witnessing the act. Burns told police the victim was in an adjacent stall when the sex act occurred.

According to police, Amarose and the juvenile both bent down in the stalls and exposed their penises to each other under the stalls.

Amarose admitted to performing oral sex with the teen, police said.

Sprenkle, who police said was adjudicated for sexual assault in Snyder County, exposed himself to the victim at least twice while they were in their dorm rooms across the hall from each other.

During a Feb. 5 interview at the Child Advocacy Center in Northumberland, the victim reported Sprenkle told him about all the things he had done with his previous victims. The teen said he knew Sprenkle was "flashing" other academy residents and that Sprenkle eventually asked him to expose himself to him.

The victim told authorities that Sprenkle exposed himself to him and masturbated at the window of his dorm room, while he did the same thing to Sprenkle.

Sprenkle, who was later removed from the SMART program and placed in a secure program known as SET because he was accused of "grooming other peers," denied exposing himself to anyone in the program.

Amarose is charged with felonies of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, statutory sexual assault and corruption of minors, and a misdemeanor of indecent assault.

Sprenkle is charged with a felony of corruption of minors and a misdemeanor of indecent exposure.

Both students were arraigned last week by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, released on $5,000 unsecured bail each and returned to Northwestern Academy, where they were placed in separate units to avoid contact with each other and the victim.

Amarose waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday, meaning his case will proceed to county court.

Sprenkle's preliminary hearing was continued Tuesday.

SHAMOKIN - Nearly half of criminal arrests made in the Shamokin area this year were for drug crimes.

Of 148 criminal complaints filed at the office of Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III through the first three months of 2015, 62 include at least one drug charge.

Average age of the defendants is 36. Twenty-eight are male, and 15 female. Twenty-one are repeat drug offenders.

Arrests involved drugs like heroin, prescription pain pills and marijuana, as well as paraphernalia including syringes and pipes. Charges ranged from misdemeanor possession to felony distribution.

The district court's territory is made up of Coal Township, Shamokin, Shamokin Township, Snydertown and Zerbe Township.

The Shamokin Police Department investigated 56 of the drug cases, with 23 involving heroin. The latest arrests are of three men connected to a heroin overdose inside a Shamokin day care Saturday night.

Cpl. Bryan Primerano is the city department's lead drug investigator. Although he expressed surprise at the arrest figures when contacted Tuesday, in general, he said drug arrests have been steady since 2009 when the state Attorney General's Office increased local involvement.

"Now it's basically repeat arrests. It's the same ones over and over again," Primerano said.

The city department works on some cases in tandem with officers from neighboring Coal Township as well as the Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force, the Northumberland County District Attorney's Office and Pennsylvania State Police.

Shamokin Police Chief Darwin Tobias III is in his 15th year on the force. There are currently 10 full-time officers, including Tobias himself. He said the department does its best to "stay on top of" the local drug problem.

"Unfortunately it seems like a never-ending cycle," Tobias said. "We see more hard core drugs now than we ever have."

Glenda Bonetti, director of Northumberland County Drug and Alcohol Program, said heroin and prescription pills continue to be a serious threat to communities everywhere.

"This particular incident," she said of Saturday's heroin overdose, "is an eye opener for community members to realize that there is a problem and those addiced will do anything, anywhere to maintain their high without regard for others."

Easter break starts Friday

SHAMOKIN - All schools in the Shamokin Area School District will be closed Friday in observance of the Easter holiday. All schools will reopen Monday.

School will be open Thursday and Monday for snow make up days.

Measure-Up campaign planned

KULPMONT - Dave Shinskie, grand knight of Knights of Columbus Council 4281 in Kulpmont, announced the schedule for the ARC's 2015 Measure-Up campaign, which wil run April 10 to 12.

The Northumberland County Chapter of the ARC of Pennsylvania is a non-profit organization providing advocacy and resources for citizens with developmental disabilities.

Measure-Up collections by the Kulpmont Knights will take place:

- Friday, April 10, Coal Township Walmart (during the day)

- Saturday, April 11, Kulpmont bank, 8:30 a.m. to noon.

- Saturday, April 11, Holy Angels Church, after the 5:30 p.m. Mass.

- Sunday, April 12, Holy Angels Church, after the 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Masses.

Job fairs scheduled

Pennsylvania CareerLink will host two jobs fairs in April.

A job fair in Sunbury will be held from noon to 3 p.m. Monday, April 6, at Shikellamy High School, 600 Walnut St.

Another job fair is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, April 30, at Masser's Banquet Hall, intersection of Routes 487 and 61. It is co-sponsored by the Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Admission to both job fairs is free. Attendees should bring copies of their resumes. They will have the opportunity to meet with area employers, discuss job opportunities, obtain training information and learn more about WorkKeys.

RED CROSS - Diane Kahler, 66, of Upper Road, Shamokin RD, escaped injury in a one-car crash Tuesday afternoon at Route 225 and Amish School Road in Jackson Township.

State police said she was driving north when she lost control of her vehicle on the wet road around a sweeping lefthand curve. Her SUV went off Route 225 at the intersection and crossed Amish School Road. It plunged over an embankment and flipped onto its roof in a drainage ditch.

Kahler was checked by emergency medical team members from the Dalmatia area.

State police investigated the crash, which occurred shortly before 3 p.m. while a mixture of rain and snow showers was falling.

The vehicle was towed a wrecker from nearby Marvin E. Klinger Inc.

MILTON - Motorists on Interstate 80 were stuck while the highway was closed in both directions between Exit 212B (Milton) in Northumberland County and Exit 178 (Lock Haven) in Clinton County due to a crash involving multiple vehicles in Clinton County.

A detour was in place using Interstate 180 and Route 220 to Interstate 80 for westbound traffic, and Route 220 to Interstate 180 to Interstate 80 for eastbound traffic.

SHAMOKIN - The Lower Anthracite Region United Way (LARUW) reminds those in need locally about MyFreeTaxes.com, the only free online platform that can be used to file federal and state taxes in all 50 states.

More than half of individuals and families in the United States earned $60,000 or less last year, making them eligible to receive free tax preparation and filing assistance this tax season.

MyFreeTaxes provides qualifying filers access to tax coaches for in-person, self-preparation assistance. The online tool allows taxpayers to self-file for free using a simple step-by-step process that includes free telephone, email and online chat support from IRS-certified specialists.

MyFreeTaxes is funded by the Walmart Foundation and operated in partnership with United Way, Goodwill Industries International and the National Disability Institute.

Central Susquehanna Opportunities, in partnership with the LARUW, also operates Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites to provide free tax preparation services to workers who qualify. CSO provides these free-tax preparation services by appointment.

MyFreeTaxes.com is an interactive resource for information regarding tax preparation, valuable credits including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC), and personal finance, as well as access to free, in-person tax preparation sites. This partnership is made possible through the collaboration of nearly 1,000 partners, including the IRS, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations and state and local government agencies.

ROCKEFELLER TOWNSHIP - An 89-year-old Rockefeller Township woman was found dead Monday afternoon by a family friend after she reportedly suffered a heart attack and fell into a fire while burning garbage outside her rural home off Route 890.

Loretta Pearl Novrocki was pronounced dead at the scene by Northumberland County Coroner James F. Kelley. The coroner said an autopsy conducted Tuesday morning by Dr. Rameen Sterling Roney at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown determined the victim died from heart problems complicated by thermal injuries.

Kelley said Novrocki suffered second-degree burns over her entire body in the tragic accident.

Authorities believe Novrocki was burning garbage outside her home when the fire spread to a grassy area, which startled the victim, causing her to suffer a heart attack. That's when it's believed she fell into the fire. Kelley said Novrocki did not use a fire pit or burn barrel when she burned garbage.

He said the fire burned itself out before a family friend discovered the victim's body at about 3 p.m. Monday.

Kelley said Novrocki, who had pre-existing heart conditions, was last seen alive by her neighbor at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Novrocki lived alone in the home, but her son resided nearby, Kelley said.

The coroner said a dog from Dauphin County and its private owner inspected the scene to check for any accelerants, but none were found.

The coroner, who ruled the death accidental, was assisted in the investigation by Trooper Kevin Kearney of state police at Stonington, State Police Fire Marshal Kirk Renn of the Milton station and Chief Deputy Coroner James Gotlob.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Shamokin Area School Board finalized plans Thursday for $4.3 million in upgrades to the heating and cooling systems at the middle/high school.

The plan was updated to eliminate a new boiler and installation of LED lighting in all district buildings, and to add additional mechanical upgrades to improve climate control in classrooms.

Initial project cost is $4,299,993, with savings guaranteed by general contractor Schneider Electric at $3,187,363. Financing hasn't been settled; the school board is expected to hear proposals next month on different options and interest rates.

Deadline for the project is Oct. 21, 2016, nearly one year later than initially reported by the school district, according to Larry F. Myers of Schneider Electric. However, a company timeline aims for completion Oct. 9 this year. On-site work is expected to begin June 22.

The HVAC overhaul would effect the building's four-story center section, where the bulk of the classrooms are located.

Shamokin Area has a $500,000 state grant for the project. Much of the existing HVAC system dates to 1975.

SHAMOKIN - Police are still looking for one of the men accused of using and selling heroin in a Shamokin day care.

Ryan Varano, 28, of 114 S. Fifth St., Shamokin, is being sought by police after he was found in Jesus' Lil Helpers Daycare Saturday night with Christian L. Kehler, 37, of 1114 N. Shamokin St., Shamokin. Both face felonies for purchasing heroin in Philadelphia and bringing it back to use and sell at the day care during off-hours.

Kehler, who was overdosing on heroin at the time police arrived, remained in Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, in serious condition Tuesday. Patrolman Ray Siko II performed CPR on him before he was revived with NARCAN by AREA Ambulance personnel.

Frederick Russo, 49, of 1321 Chestnut St., Kulpmont, who was not present at the day care at the time of the incident, was accused of driving Kehler and Varano to Philadelphia in exchange for money and heroin. He was picked up Tuesday and incarcerated after his bail was revoked on an unrelated drug delivery charge.

Cpl. Bryan Primerano, who filed the charges against the three men, said Varano has a felony warrant out for his arrest. He described the scene at the day care Saturday night as "mass chaos" and said he opted to file warrants for the men instead of taking them into custody at the scene.

"I'd like to get him to turn himself in," Primerano said Tuesday.

History matters on bail

While Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III could not comment on the specifics of this case, he said that the history of a defendant factors in to his decision "100 percent" when deciding to allow or deny bail.

Prior to Saturday's incident, Russo and Kehler were both out on unsecured bail while cases for unrelated charges moved forward in court.

Gembic said bail can come with stipulations, which, beyond not committing crimes, can involve things such as not frequenting bars.

Kehler's unsecured bail amount was set at $50,000 in February 2014 after he was charged with 10 criminal offenses for making more than 100 trips to Philadelphia to purchase heroin and re-selling it in Shamokin.

Gembic said a county judge could force Kehler to pay $50,000 for failing to abide by bail terms. As with Russo, Kehler will likely have his bail revoked when he is released from the hospital.

Owner not charged

Primerano said the investigation of the incident continues, but he does not anticipate filing any charges against the day care's owner and Varano's mother, Kelly L. Ebersole.

Though Ebersole told The News-Item Monday she planned to press charges against Varano and Kehler for breaking into the day care, she has not yet done so, said Primerano.

"If she comes over to fill out a report, I would contemplate filing a trespassing (citation)," he said.

Jesus' Lil Helpers Daycare opened Monday, less than two days after Primerano found 52 filled, 65 empty and 38 partial empty packets of heroin, alongside numerous other drug paraphernalia, in the day care.

The state Department of Human Services said Tuesday it was investigating the incident, but did not respond to questions on if the day care has been visited since Saturday or what the investigation entails.

HARRISBURG - As part of the update to the commonwealth's Twelve Year Transportation Program, Pennsylvanians are invited to visit www.TalkPATransportation.com to provide input on their transportation priorities and to register for an interactive online public meeting April 16.

The program, which serves as a blueprint of prioritized transportation projects, is updated every two years through a cooperative effort among the State Transportation Commission (STC), PennDOT and its 24 regional planning partners. The goal is to enable all Pennsylvanians to contribute their priorities and suggestions.

"In the past, we gathered feedback for our long-term planning through public meetings that our customers couldn't always attend," said acting PennDOT secretary and STC chairwoman Leslie S. Richards. "The modernized process we started a few years ago lets the public share their priorities and comments with us at their convenience, which ensures we have more comprehensive feedback as we begin developing our plan."

The online public meeting will be held from 7 to 8 p.m.Thursday, April 16. During the live webcast, Richards will provide an update on the state's recently released Transportation Performance Report and the public comment period. Richards and other PennDOT staff will also answer questions submitted before and during the meeting.

Pennsylvanians must register to participate and can do so at www.TalkPATransportation.com. Questions may be submitted in advance to ra-penndotstc@pa.gov and participants may also submit questions during the meeting through the webcast tool.

Through May 29, the public can also submit feedback at their convenience by emailing ra-penndotstc@pa.gov or calling 717-787-2913 to request a printed survey copy or by taking the public survey once it is posted on the website April 16.

The STC evaluates and assesses the resources needed to maintain and expand the state's transportation system. The 15-member commission includes Richards, 10 private citizens appointed by the governor, and the majority and minority chairs of the state Senate and House Transportation Committees.

Although snow accumulation of 1 to 2 inches Tuesday wasn't as dramatic as the 10 inches of fluff the area surprisingly received this time last year, the winter-like weather may have left some wondering where spring is? The answer: Thursday.

Temperatures won't improve much today, but will reach 60 degrees tomorrow. The warmer temperatures combined with an early-fall sun will bring a welcomed relief to the chilly weather. Showers and possibly a thunderstorm with a high near 63 degrees are forecast for Friday, according to the National Weather Service. The rain will mark a change to cooler weather, again, for Saturday, which is forecast to be cloudy with a high in the upper 40s.