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Memorials: Divine Redeemer Church

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Divine Redeemer

MOUNT CARMEL - The following memorials/donations were presented to Divine Redeemer Church in April:

In memory of:

Leonard Revinski from Carol and Matt Altomare and John Carr. Isabell Amarose.

Michael J. Klokis from Rich, Mary, Jonathan and Sarah Novack, Greg and Dee Pulaski.

Joseph Kurland from wife, Irene.

Helen Hynoski from Greg and Dee Pulaski.

Carol Bogush from Greg and Dee Pulaski.

Veronica E. Corona from Carl Zukus.

Rose E. Rakus from Jake and Judy Betz, Leon and Elaine Jurgill, Frank and Mary Sawicki, Rita M. Pizzoli, Claire Kornacki, Carol Ozlanski, JoAnn and Walter Kozlowski, Mick and Rose Petroski, Krisa Moncavage and family, Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Lucas III, Sara Mirarchi, Anne McAndrew and family, Ralph and Jean Hawk, Robert and Eleanor Brass, Sue Cimino and Mary Thul, Evelyn Pedergnana.

Sandy Politza from Francis "Cosmo" Rossi, Maria Scicchitano, Frank and Mary Sawicki, Jackie Varano and family, Tom and Cimmie Mertz, Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Lucas III.

Daniel Chimel from Francis "Cosmo" Rossi.

The Rev, Daniel J. Menniti from Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Lucas III.

Joseph Shuder from Mr. and Mrs. Charles J. Lucas III.

Marion A. Wydra from Ray, Mary Ann and Amanda Bartosic, Rodney, MaryLou, Noah and Maura Blusius, Rita and Karen Alekseyko, Walt and JoAnn Kozlowski, Judy Mazeikas, Rita M. Pizzoli, Leon and Elaine Jurgill, Frank and Mary Sawicki, Maria Scicchitano, John and Sandy Bradley, Isabell Amarose, Sylvia Kapuscinski, Betty Menapace and family.

Karen A. Dallabrida from Frank and Mary Sawicki, Maria Scicchitano, Sylvia Kapuscinski.

Robert Marinelli from wife, Annette, and family.

Albert H. Wargo from Dan and Phyllis Ficca.

Rita R. Kowaleski from Rita M. Pizzoli, Ken and Barbara Pizzoli, Mary M. Rudisill, Isabell Amarose, Mark and Diann Menapace and sons, Dana and Keith Tripp, Kim and Karen Rowe, Carol and Matt Altomare and John Carr, Joe and Jeanette Tomcavage, Fran and Jack Cichon.

Steve (Bado) Darrup from Betty Menapace and family.

Birthday memorial

John Shiko (April 16) from daughter, Irene Kurland.

John and Constance Gallagher (April) from daughter, Annette Marinelli.

In honor of

Vincent Rawa Jr. on his birthday from Gloria Kwiatkowski, Michael Szymanski, Michael P. Marowski, Tom and Fran Taddeo. Joseph and Barbara Klebon and family.

50th wedding anniversary of Dan and Phyllis Ficca from Leon and Elaine Jurgill.

60th wedding anniversary of Leon and Elaine Jurgill from Dan and Phyllis Ficca, Sara Mirarchi, Evelyn Pedergnana.


Stock market salute: Students, teachers praised for efforts in annual game

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SHAMOKIN - Some simple advice about the stock market based on results from this past spring:

No. 1. Don't count on Apple.

No. 2. You won't always get a lot of "love" from Southwest Airlines, despite its "Heart sets us apart" catchphrase.

Those tips were offered by students who showed some prowess for investing and won in this year's Stock Market Game Challenge involving local schools. As is tradition, the top performers were treated to a meal and awards at a luncheon Tuesday at Original Italian Pizza.

The game is organized across the state by EconomicsPennsylvania, a nonprofit specializing in economic and financial literacy programs for grades kindergarten through 12th.

Carolyn Shirk, who manages the game in a 21-county area, said she was driven to join the EconomicsPa staff 14 years ago after spending 25 years in banking. She and others were alarmed at how commonplace it had become for customers to overdraw their accounts and pay the resulting penalties.

"If this generation didn't learn to save and invest, we were so scared of what's going to happen," she said. "Don't go down that path," she advised the students.

The winners

EconomicsPa opens a window to personal investing through the Stock Market Game, in which teams of students invest a hypothetical $100,000 over a 10-week period and gain or lose based on the real-life performance of the stocks they choose.

This year's winning teams, their advisers and their ending balances were:

High school:

- Shamokin Area, David Kopitsky, $115,314.

- Mount Carmel Area, Robert Scicchitano, $109,290.

- Line Mountain, Karrie Bowman, $104,972.

Middle school:

- Mount Carmel Area, Aaron Domanski, $102,663.

- Shamokin Area, Ty Crossley, $100,954.

- Our Lady of Lourdes, Katrina Gownley, $100,132.

The top performers at local schools in each division, regardless of whether they finished in the top three, were invited to the lunch. About 40 students and teachers from Line Mountain, Mount Carmel Area, Our Lady of Lourdes and Shamokin Area attended this year. Each winner received a certificate plus gift cards and other prizes.

'It's the teachers'

Locally, the game has grown significantly over the years, which Shirk credited not only to the sponsorship of Sunbury Motors and The News-Item, but to quality teachers.

"It's always been the teachers," she said before the program. Anyone can teach simple math, she offered as an example, but to work with students on the intricacies of the stock market is another matter.

"It takes an extra special teacher to do something more difficult," she said.

As an example of the growth of the game in local schools, Mount Carmel has expanded from just a few small teams to an estimated 120 student participants, said Domanski, a longtime adviser for the game whose teams have won the local challenge on a number of occasions.

"We love the Stock Market Game at Mount Carmel Area," he told the audience.

Tom Mertz, CEO and president of Sunbury Motors, and Andy Heintzelman, editor of The News-Item, each addressed the students. Mertz, whose company has sponsored the challenge for some 16 years, offered some of the guiding principals he uses for making decisions in business. Heintzelman noted how the Stock Market Game is one of the most rewarding projects with which the newspaper is involved.

Frustrations of race expressed as Sunbury stabbing suspect's bail is raised to $1.5M

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SUNBURY - Rarely does the issue of bail at a preliminary hearing cause such a boisterous reaction.

But that was the case Tuesday when Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Apfelbaum increased the bail of double stabbing suspect Tyrone W. Lee from $300,000 cash to $1.5 million cash.

While approximately 25 relatives and friends of the two victims burst out in applause when the judge announced he was raising the bail, about 10 family members and acquaintances of the defendant seconds later stood up and vehemently protested upon hearing the new amount.

The commotion continued outside the courthouse. Lee's friends and family members ran over to an enclosed window on a cell in the sheriff's office where Lee was detained and began shouting to the defendant, who yelled back several times. Some of Lee's comments involved racially charged language, yelling at one time he's being treated unfairly because he's a black man in a "white" town.

Both victims are white.

The bail issue arose after the 27-year-old Plymouth resident was held for court by Apfelbaum on two felony counts of criminal attempt to commit homicide, four felony counts of aggravated assault, two misdemeanor counts of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person, and one misdemeanor count of possessing an instrument of crime and tampering with or fabricating evidence.

Lee, who was remanded to Snyder County Prison, is charged by Sunbury Cpls. Jamie Quinn and Travis Bremigen with stabbing 27-year-old Sunbury area resident Benjamin Herrold and 28-year-old James Herb, of Selinsgrove, in the abdomen shortly after 2 a.m. May 3 outside the FuBar, 13 N. Third St.

Responses blurted out by Lee's supporters inside the courthouse included, "Unbelievable, man," "that's crazy," "keep your head up, brother" and "we love you, bro."

Northumberland County Sheriff Robert Wolfe and several of his deputies did a good job restoring order inside and outside the courtroom and keeping the families of the defendant and victims separated as emotions ran high at the conclusion of the hearing.

No injuries or damage were reported.

Moved to courthouse

The legal proceeding was moved from Apfelbaum's small courtroom at the county administration center to Courtroom No. 2 to accommodate the larger audience. Normally, high-profile cases at Apfelbaum's office are relocated to the commissioners' meeting room next door, but that room was filled with voting machines for Tuesdays' primary election.

Herrold and Herb, who both underwent surgery after suffering serious injuries in the stabbings, were among four prosecution witnesses to testify.

Herrold, who suffered severe liver damage and was listed in critical condition for several days at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, before being discharged Monday, walked slowly to the witness stand with the aid of a cane and help from Deputy Sheriff Curtis Cooke.

The victim testified that when he, Herb and Sam Derr walked into the FuBar, a bouncer was escorting a patron from the premises that he did not know.

After drinking some beers at McGuigan's and the FuBar, which are connected, Herrold said he, his two friends and other patrons exited the bar around 2 a.m. and started walking north toward a parking lot. At that point, he recalled Derr attempting to talk to a woman before hearing someone say, "Don't hurt my sister."

The victim said he then spotted Lee and Herb fighting and attempted to break up the scuffle. After separating the two men and holding Lee face down on the ground for awhile, Herrold said he let the defendant go and turned to walk away from the scene with Herb.

At that moment, Herrold said Lee stabbed him in the side, causing him to bleed profusely. He compared the stabbing to being punched in the ribs. Herrold said he recalled Herb yelling, "He stabbed me, too."

Herrold told Northumberland County District Attorney Ann Targonski that he underwent three surgeries at Geisinger for his stab wounds and remained in the intensive care unit for six days. He said his wounds included a lacerated liver and he had to have his gall bladder extracted.

Victims drove to hospital

Under cross examination by Northumberland County Chief Public Defender Edward Greco, Herrold said he knocked Lee to the ground while in the process of trying to separate the defendant and Herb. Herrold said he only took three or four steps in an attempt to walk away when Lee stabbed him. He testified he never saw the knife used in the stabbings.

Herrold said Lee chased after him and Herb before stopping his pursuit.

The witness said he then drove himself and Herb to Sunbury Community Hospital, where they both underwent emergency room treatment before transferred to Geisinger.

Herb said he, Herrold and Derr were walking north toward Danley's Hotel and Bar when he heard the defendant screaming and staring at them. He said Lee then attacked him and stabbed him several times in the abdomen, chest, arm and shoulder areas.

He also told the court he didn't know Lee, and also claimed Lee chased after him and Herrold following the stabbings.

Herb, who was discharged from Geisinger Thursday, denied ever holding Lee down on the ground and testified that the defendant was holding him as he stabbed him.

He recalled Lee telling him, "Don't touch my (expletive) cousin."

Herb said he never touched the female who was with Lee.

Bouncer saw stabbing

Steve Rims, 33, of Sunbury, a bouncer at the FuBar, testified that Lee had been escorted from the bar about 1 a.m. for rowdy behavior that didn't involve Herrold or Herb.

Shortly after 2 a.m., Rims said he was alerted about an altercation outside the bar. Rims said he saw two men on top of Lee, including Herrold, who was holding the defendant's hand down. Rims said he didn't know the identity of the other man, but said it was not Herb.

When he attempted to break up the fight, Rims said he saw a knife in Lee's hand, which prompted him to jump back. He said the defendant then jumped up, stabbed Herrold and Herb and started chasing them.

Rim said he didn't know Lee, Herrold or Herb.

Quinn testified that Lee told her he is left handed and denied having a knife with him during the altercation. She said the knife has not been recovered.

Greco moved to have the attempted homicide and tampering with evidence charges dismissed for lack of evidence. He said the injuries suffered by the victims are more consistent with aggravated assault and claimed there was no intent by his client to kill Herrold or Herb.

Targonski pointed out that both victims suffered serious wounds, with Herrold remaining in critical condition for several days. She said a deadly weapon was used in the attack and that Lee has concealed its whereabouts.

"They (Herrold and Herb) are lucky their guardian angels were with them and they didn't die," Targonski told the court.

'Character assassination'

The commotion about the bail occurred after Greco asked Apfelbaum to modify it to at least 10 percent of $300,000.

Targonski, who advised the victims' relatives and friends not to discuss the case with the media, opposed the bail reduction based on what she claimed was Lee's prior convictions on drug charges in another state and what she said is his self-proclaimed affiliation with an organized criminal gang known as the Bloods.

Greco accused Targonski of "character assassination." He claimed there is no evidence linking Lee to the Bloods. He also pointed out his client was never convicted of any weapons violations.

Apfelbaum based his decision to raise the bail on new information he obtained at the hearing. That information includes Lee's refusal to leave the premises after being escorted from the FuBar about an hour before the stabbings, his possible ties to the Bloods and being a stranger to both victims, he said.

Lee was ordered to appear for a pre-trial conference July 10 in the Court of Common Pleas.

Barletta's breathing better after heart stent procedure

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WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, has undergone a successful cardiac catheterization at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia in order to clear a blocked artery near his heart, according to a press release issued by his office Tuesday.

Barletta underwent the procedure on Monday and was expected to return home to Hazleton later Tuesday afternoon. The congressman expects to return to Washington this coming Monday.

Barletta's communications director, Tim Murtaugh, issued the following statement:

"Congressman Barletta is awake and recovering well and is already regularly communicating with his office in Washington. His doctors expect a full recovery and a return to his normal work schedule next week. They have given him a clean bill of health and say his heart is better than ever.

"Congressman Barletta had experienced some shortness of breath in recent days, which prompted him to seek a checkup. Doctors discovered a blocked artery which required a stent to repair it.

"Congressman Barletta is grateful to the medical team at the University of Pennsylvania and thanks them for their excellent care. He also thanks his doctors in Hazleton, and also the medical staff at the Capitol in Washington. Congressman Barletta also wants this to be a reminder to the people of the 11th District to pay attention to warning signs and have regular medical checkups."

Inmate accused in groping waives right to hearing

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SUNBURY - A former Northumberland County inmate accused of groping a cell mate last year waived his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday.

Gerald Isaac Zimmerman, 21, of Watsontown, was ordered by Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Apfelbaum to appear for a pre-trial conference July 10 in the Court of Common Pleas after forfeiting his right to a hearing on charges of indecent assault and harassment.

The charges were filed by Northumberland County Detective Degg H. Stark.

Zimmerman, who was represented by Chief Public Defender Edward Greco, is accused of grabbing the crotch of a cell mate and making unwanted sexual advances toward him Sept. 5 while both were housed in the left wing of the former Northumberland County Prison. After several days, the accuser was moved to the right wing by prison staff, according to a criminal complaint.

A criminal investigation began in February when the accuser, now a state inmate, filed a formal complaint under the Prison Rape Elimination Act. Zimmerman confessed to making a sexual comment to the accuser but denied any physical contact, the complaint states.

Two other inmates held in the six-man cell were present. One backed up the allegations. The second witness, also currently held in a state prison, did not reply to a formal request for comment.

Day care heroin defendant's case heads to county court

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SHAMOKIN - Separate drug cases against a pair of defendants were sent to Northumberland County Court on Tuesday.

Ryan Varano, 28, of 114 S. Fifth St., Shamokin, waived his preliminary hearing. He was arrested after a friend overdosed on heroin inside his mother's day care center.

Varano is charged by Cpl. Bryan Primerano with felony counts of manufacture, delivery or possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy and criminal use of a communication facility and misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance and recklessly endangering another person. He also faces counts of criminal trespass, a felony, and a misdemeanor charge of defiant trespass. He remains in Snyder County Prison on $25,000 cash bail.

Ocufi Lawrence, 36, of 204 S. Pearl St., Shamokin, saw his case bound to court by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, who refused to reduce the $20,000 cash bail set after his arrest April 30.

Lawrence is charged by Primerano with a felony of possessing with intent to deliver 14 grams of cocaine and misdemeanors of possessing cocaine, false identification to law enforcement authorities and possession of drug paraphernalia. Police say he moved to Shamokin from New York City to sell heroin and crack cocaine. He was taken into custody after stepping off a bus at Independence and Ninth streets.

MCASB Merit Award winner, March

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MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area School Board Merit Award winner for March is sixth-grade student Lauren Shedleski, a daughter of Brian and Carisa Shedleski, of Den-Mar Gardens, and a granddaughter of John and Angela Michalowski and Antoinette Shedleski.

Lauren was nominated by her math and homeroom teacher, Jolene Scicchitano, and gym teacher Amanda Stepenaski.

Scicchitano said, "Lauren is an exceptional student and strives to do her best at all times. She is extremely helpful and kind to teachers and other students. She has a great work ethic and always goes above and beyond what is expected."

Lauren plays for the Land Sharks club soccer team, the Shamokin Youth Basketball League and travel basketball team the Lourdes Vipers. She is a member of the USA track and field association where she throws the javelin and was chosen as the 2013 Mid-Atlantic female athlete of the year. She participated in the 2015 K'nex STEM challenge, helps raise money for pediatric cancer through the THINK BIG organization, and attends Holy Angels Church in Kulpmont. In her free time, she likes to draw, read and travel on family vacations.

Organizational News: Trevorton Patsies

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TREVORTON - Trevorton Patsies Senior Adult Ministry met April 20 in St. Patrick Church hall. Eighteen members attended.

The meeting began with the Senior Adult Ministry prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and the Over 50 song.

Refreshments were provided by the April birthday celebrants, president Rose Marie Kopyscianski and treasurer Mary Ellen Hoffman. Ron Kuhns made a donation. Hoffman delivered the financial report.

Joyce Koppen announced plans for Patsies' bus trips: The Doo Wop Show at American Music Theater, June 20, and Christmas show at American Music Theater, Nov. 5; and Trevorton Senior Center trips, Wildwood, N.J., June 8 to 12; Dutch Apple Dinner Theater's "Church Basement Ladies," Sept. 24, and Woodloch Pines 50s/60s show, Oct. 13. Contact Joyce at 570-797-3695 or Judi Urick at 570-648-0105 for details.

The Patsies annual Mother/Father's Day turkey dinner catered by Hannah's will be held at 1 p.m. Monday in the hall. Participants were asked to register by May 4.

Winners of the 50/25/25 were Kuhns and Faye Herb.

After the meeting and refreshments, bingo was played.

Meetings are held at 1 p.m. the third Monday of the month. New members are welcome.


LMSD to pay $86K to sewer authority

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MANDATA - The Line Mountain School District will pay $86,000 to the Lower Mahanoy Township Municipal Authority (LMTMA) for damages sustained during a fuel oil leak at the former Dalmatia Elementary School.

The agreement was approved Tuesday by the Line Mountain Board of Directors on a 5-0 vote. Board members Lauren Hackenburg, Ronald Neidig, Marlin Yeager Jr. and Daniel Zablosky were absent from the meeting.

LMTMA placed a lien on the property after the district failed to pay a bill for $143,453.65 for the cleanup of 1,250 gallons of heating oil that spilled into a municipal sewer system during the February 2014 leak. The board agreed to place the amount of the bill into an escrow account at Northumberland National Bank in September in exchange for LMTMA lifting the lien on the property, which had held up finalizing the sale of the school building.

Solicitor Rich Roberts said under the agreement LMTMA and the district would direct an escrow agent to release $86,000 to LMTMA and return any money left in the account, including interest accrued, to the district.

Roberts declined to release the agreement to the public until it had been signed by LMTMA. This will likely occur at LMTMA's May 19 meeting.

The district does not admit any fault in the agreement, Roberts said.

"We don't think we did anything wrong," he said.

Final scene: Ellen Albertini Dow is laid to rest in Mount Carmel

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MOUNT CARMEL - More than 40 people gathered at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church Tuesday morning to say goodbye to a Hollywood star who called Mount Carmel home.

Ellen Albertini Dow passed away May 4 at age 101.

The Rev. Frank Karwacki recalled Dow's inadvertent interruption of a wedding he officiated in 2012 when the bridal party exited Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church to find Dow riding in a parade celebrating borough's 150th anniversary celebration. She was kind enough to join the group in the town park for photos after, he said.

Karwacki likened her lifestyle to her entertainment career.

"After many scenes, the play reaches its conclusion," Karwacki said. "Her life on earth was a dress rehearsal."

Dow's nephew, Carleton Strouss, recalled her lifelong commitment to education - as a teacher and as a student.

"She was first and foremost a teacher," he said. "She brought many smiles to many people."

At the conclusion of his eulogy, Strouss thanked the choir. He said his aunt would have done the same.

The funeral was attended primarily by family and friends, including several Mount Carmel Public Library workers and former Mount Carmel Mayor J. Kevin Jones.

Dow was interred in St. Peter's Cemetery, Mount Carmel Township, following the funeral. Funeral director Joseph J. Stutz noted the hearse used was the same that transported former Presidents Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford. She would have appreciated the celebrity connection, he said.

CHARRED REMAINS: Officials give tour of burned-out county prison

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SUNBURY - The lights were out Tuesday in the left wing cell block of the former Northumberland County Prison, and the steel gate was pulled shut.

It was dark and quiet, and has been since a Jan. 14 fire all but destroyed a building that for 139 years embodied punishment for crimes committed from Mount Carmel to Milton and everywhere in between.

There were no inmates behind the 20-inch thick walls, no corrections officers making checks at the 41 cell doors in left wing. A stench of fire was locked inside. Charred remains of the roof above were strewn about a cold, concrete space thousands had begrudgingly occupied since 1876.

County officials opened the prison Tuesday, inviting regional media inside for a post-fire tour.

"I'm afraid it's going to come down one of these days," prison Lt. Jim Smink said, gesturing to the arched brick roof above left wing.

It's unknown, officially, what sparked the fire, which spread from the left wing attic into the tower at the front of the building. It was stopped from spreading into the right wing. All 208 inmates and about 30 staff members evacuated safely.

County officials had speculated that it was caused by an electrical malfunction, but in the days after the fire, state police Trooper Kirk Renn, a state police fire marshal, said he couldn't make a determination, and Sunbury fire Chief Ken Kipple said electrical was likely but not definite.

Tuesday, the tower area appeared skeletal. The surface of the walls was gone, exposing concrete underneath. Wiring dangled between sections of framing meant for drop ceilings. Above in the attic area that had been home to the prison gallows, the staircase to the platform still in place, wooden beams were ashen.

District Attorney Ann Targonski remarked about the building's architecture, pointing out the curved doorways. Warden Bruce Kovach, on the job just eight days before the blaze, said the architecture was fascinating.

"It had to be a showpiece for Northumberland County when it was new," Kovach said.

Commander Brian Wheary noted it cost $125,000 to build in the 19th century. It'd take millions to replicate it today.

"I think this is what jails should be," Smink said. "It's kind of a shame. We wouldn't get a new prison without the fire."

The right wing appeared untouched, as did the basement, but more than 1 foot of water had to be pumped out of the lower level after the flames were extinguished.

The prison yard was the last stop. It was strewn with debris, too. A net that once hung from the walls, designed to catch contraband tossed from the street, laid mostly on the ground. Blue tarp was visible on the prison roof where exposures were covered.

County Commissioner Stephen Bridy, chairman of the prison board, said there have been three offers to salvage river rock and metals from the building. He noted the benefits of free demolition and hauling. The building's future, though, remains in limbo. Bridy and Commissioner Chairman Vinny Clausi voted last week to progress with a sales agreement for the Moran Industries site at the north end of the city, at which a new prison would be built. Commissioner Rich Shoch voted against the agreement, saying more study of the issue is needed.

Neither Clausi nor Shoch were at Tuesday's tour.

Inmates are currently held at state prisons - males in Coal Township and females in Muncy. Renovations to make the areas where county prisoners are held at SCI-Coal Township are nearly complete, and the area will be supervised by county correctional staff.

Offenders newly arrested are sent to neighboring counties, including Snyder, Montour and Columbia, before transfer.

 





Former NCP staff members to appear for pre-trial conference in contraband case

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SUNBURY - Two former staff members at Northumberland County Prison charged with bringing tobacco into the jail were ordered Tuesday by Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Apfelbaum to appear for a pre-trial conference July 10 in the Court of Common Pleas.

Susan T. Studenski, 32, of Sunbury, and Troy M. Tafner, 19, of Strong, who are charged by Northumberland County Detective Degg H. Stark with obstructing administration of the law or other government function, waived their rights to preliminary hearings.

Tafner, a former correctional officer, and Studenski, a former contract food service employee, are accused of bringing tobacco into the jail multiple times between last fall and January.

Studenski told Stark she brought tobacco 40 to 50 times to six different inmates, and in return received compensation. Tafner allegedly brought tobacco into the facility, but did not receive compensation, he told investigators.

Noteworthy: Wednesday, May 13, 2015

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Interview with "The Shack" author

SHAMOKIN - The author of the best-selling book "The Shack" will weigh in on whether God loves imperfect people at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lifetree Cafe event at Antioch Place, 531 N. Market Street.

The program, titled "Can God Love a Mess Like Me?" features a filmed interview with William Paul Young, author of "The Shack" and "Cross Roads." The Shack" has sold 18 million copies, though Young never intended to publish it.

"I wrote to communicate to my kids about the character of God, to make asking questions about God's kindness and goodness OK."

Admission to the 60-minute event is free. Snacks and beverages are available. For more information, contact Kathy Vetovich at 570-672-9346 or kvetovich@gmail.com.

School News: MCA Merit Award, March

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MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Board of Education Merit Award winner for March is Christian Kelley, a son of Robert and Angela Kelley, of Kulpmont.

Christian was nominated for this award by his AP literature teacher, Shanna Haden, who said, "Christian is an amazing individual who has overcome many obstacles to achieve his academic standing; he works diligently to complete all assignments and takes his schooling very seriously. He comes prepared each day having read the material and is prepared to discuss every aspect of the novel and literary theory we are currently using as a literary lens. His writing is phenomenal and is well above his peers. This then lends to his ability to help tutor his peers in my advancement placement class. Christian is always available to offer insight into the readings to his friends in my class and never shies away from donating his notes or time to them."

He was a member the varsity football team and the varsity track team. He is in the tech ed, AP calculus and Spanish clubs. Christian's future plans are to attend Cornell University to play football and pursue a double major in chemistry and economics.

Judge wants evaluation of Sunbury teen before ruling on moving case to adult court

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SUNBURY - A certification hearing to determine if a Sunbury teen charged with felony drug offenses will be tried as an adult was continued Wednesday until the juvenile undergoes a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Northumberland County President Judge William H. Wiest continued the hearing for 17-year-old Brandon Adams until May 28. The proceeding was open to the public because it involved felony charges.

Adams is charged by Sunbury police through juvenile authorities with possession with intent to deliver marijuana and conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver marijuana involving an April 15 drug raid by Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force at his home at 122 N. Fifth St.

After extensive deliberations in his chambers with attorneys in the case, Wiest said he wanted to wait for the results of the evaluation before conducting the hearing. He ordered the evaluation be conducted May 19.

Adams, who was returned to Northwestern Academy in Coal Township, was represented by Attorney James Best, who reserved comment about the continuance, as did Northumberland County Assistant District Attorney Julia Skinner.

Adams' parents, Earl M. Adams Sr., 66, and Linda D. Adams, 50, along with his girlfriend, Cheyenne R. Ross, 20, who all reside at 122 N. Fifth St., also were charged with felony drug offenses in the raid and are awaiting preliminary hearings. They remain free on bail.

After the hearing, Brandon Adams embraced his parents and brother in the lobby outside the courtroom while saying to each other, "I love you."

Attorney Greg Stuck, representing Earl and Linda Adams, also was present. He declined comment.

Juvenile authorities are attempting to certify the charges to adult court because they believe the teen is not amenable to treatment in the juvenile system. Adams and his attorney are trying to keep the charges in juvenile court.

Approximately $52,000 in drugs, cash and possessions were seized during the raid, including a Ford Mustang and three motorcycles.

The drug bust was a result of a site visit by the county's juvenile and adult probation departments. Police said Earl and Linda Adams fled their home before law enforcement arrived April 15. Brandon Adams, who is on probation, was home at the time.


New show opens today at Shamokin art gallery

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SHAMOKIN - The Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities (NCCAH) Gallery will present the artwork of Danville artist Nicole Polanichka beginning with an opening reception at 6:30 p.m. today. Live instrumental music will be provided by local guitarist George Chamuris and free light refreshments will be served by the arts council.

Nicole Polanichka was raised in Dalton,the granddaughter of anthracite coal miners from Scranton. She has been creating things for as long as she can remember. On the walls of her childhood home, there remain images produced by small, inexperienced hands. As soon as she could write, cards that were handcrafted and doodling kept her from being bored in school.

Fueled by a strong dislike of fast food, she set up a mural-painting business in high school to earn extra cash. After high school, she formally trained in the visual arts at Princeton University, where she received the Louis Sudler Award for the Arts. Her work has been shown in galleries throughout northeastern and central Pennsylvania, Princeton, N.J., and in the Triangle area of North Carolina.

Polanichka is currently based in Danville, where she has a studio. She continues to study and tend to the human mind.

She can be contacted at nicolepolanichka@hotmail.com Her blog is at www.nicolepolanichka.blogspot.com.

The gallery is located at 2 E. Arch St., inside the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center on the first floor. Guests should use the rear lower handicapped entrance and follow signs once inside the building. Parking is provided in the rear of the building. This event is free and the public is invited to attend.

Contact gallery director Claude Harrington for information about the gallery at 973-632-2513. For more information about the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities, contact director Jeanne Shaffer at 570-850-9121.

Organization News: Kulpmont American Legion Post 231

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KULPMONT - The April 23 meeting of the Kulpmont American Legion Post 231 was called to order by the commander, Albert Goodlunas. In its opening ceremonies, members saluted the colors while Chaplain Robert Daniels offered a prayer. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Bill Bridgeford in unison with the members, who also read the Preamble to the American Legion Constitution and the Resolution 288 POW/MIA was read.

Goodlunas recognized a guest at the meeting, retired Air Force Serviceman Richard Witrosky, visiting from Utah to see his mother, Rose Witrosky.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved along with the financial report. The financial report was approved on an Andy Bednarchick-Bill Bridgeford motion.

Nominations for post positions will be made at the June 25 meeting. Sign up sheets can be found on the post home bulletin board.

In unfinished business, Dave Bozza gave a bid to fix the sidewalk at the post home, three other contractors were contacted but no other bids were received. Members approved a motion to accept Bozza's bid.

Thank you letters were received from the Kulpmont Knights of Columbus, The Lower Augusta Fire Department and the Pa. Wounded Warrior Run program for the donations made to their organizations.

In new business, members approved donations to the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center for graduation awards to welding students and an electrician, and to St. Pauline's Center for its children's circus with proceeds from that to benefit Camp Pauline.

On May 16, members will place flags on veterans graves, those participating are asked to meet at the Legion at 9 a.m. On May 24, Holy Angels Church is sponsoring a breakfast for all veterans at the church's activity center after 8:30 a.m. mass. There is no charge as the church puts this on as a thank you for your service.

In his closing remarks, Goodlunas spoke about honoring veterans when they pass away, and wouldn't be remiss if he didn't mention the people who are part of the funeral detail.

"These men, no matter what weather it was, snow, rain, cold weather and below zero temperatures," Goodlunas said. "We are in need of more volunteers, the people now serving are getting older. Currently we have men on the detail in the late 60s-early 70s and some as high in age as 88 and 89."

The meeting was closed with prayer and the retiring of the colors.

Sunbury bridge to get safety upgrades

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SUNBURY - The Department of Transportation initiated a safety study for the Route 61 Veterans Memorial Bridge in July 2012 to evaluate possible safety improvement measures for the bridge. The study resulted in one safety improvement measure being implemented in 2013 and two others are now planned for 2016, PennDOT reported.

In 2013, the centerline stripes were repainted to provide a greater distance between opposing directions of traffic. This fall, a second project will be bid to install a high skid resistant surface to the bridge and install centerline delineators. Construction will occur in 2016 due to the temperature restraints associated with installing the surface, which will allow for better vehicle maneuverability and improved stopping distance.

The centerline delineators will add a vertical element between opposing direction of traffic to improve driver awareness of the centerline.

Construction of the project will require temporary traffic control measures that may result in traffic delays. PennDOT is working with local government officials, local businesses and emergency responders to try to minimize the disruption. PennDOT will also be taking additional measures to minimize the disruption to traffic on the bridge by performing some of the items of work at night and accelerating the schedule for the project as much as feasible.

PennDOT's 2012 study came the same month Kirk Mahaffey, 22, and his 3-year-old son, Mayson, of Northumberland, died after their vehicle was struck by a Jeep that crossed over the center line.

Bicyclist still in hospital from Coal Township crash

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COAL TOWNSHIP - A 20-year-old New York man was hospitalized Monday after suffering head injuries when his bicycle struck a truck in Springfield.

Police reported Timothy L. Lutz, 58, of 146 Moore Lane, Shamokin, was driving a 1999 Ford F-250 truck north on Sherman Street at 12:30 p.m. when a bicycle operated by Nathan Mills, of 2310 Midland Ave., Syracuse, N.Y., struck the left side of the truck after Mills failed to stop for a stop sign while riding east on Pulaski Avenue.

Mills, who was transported by AREA Services Ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, was in fair condition Wednesday, according to a nursing supervisor.

The truck sustained moderate damage to its box area, while the bike sustained severe damage.

Chief of Police William Carpenter, who investigated the accident, said a stop sign violation is pending against Mills.

Noteworthy: May 14, 2015

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Expect delays today on Rt. 11

NORTHUMBERLAND - Motorists traveling on Route 11 between Northumberland and Danville in Point Township are advised that traffic will be restricted to a single lane from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. today while a contractor sets barriers in a work zone. Traffic will be controlled by flaggers.

Motorists should expect delays.

Holy Day of Obligation celebrated

MOUNT CARMEL - Ascension Thursday, Holy Day of Obligation, will be celebrated at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 47 S. Market St., with Masses at 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. today.

Ralpho yard sale scheduled

ELYSBURG - The Ralpho Township Business Association will sponsor the 19th annual township-wide yard sale from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. The event is rain or shine. It's billed as "bigger and better" each year, with sales throughout the community. Organizers ask that vehicles be parked responsibly and with respect to others' properties.

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