ELYSBURG - Knoebels Amusement Resort, in partnership with Bloomsburg University, will once again provide an opportunity for individuals with hearing loss to enjoy entertainment through sign language interpretation at Knoebels on Saturday.

Members of the Bloomsburg University senior interpreter training class will provide the on-stage interpretation with support/mentoring from Pennsylvania state-registered interpreters. All interpreters are volunteering their time.

The event, which started in 2007, is an opportunity for others to become aware of sign language and interpreters, and for those who utilize sign language to enjoy the shows in the company of others who also utilize sign language.

Shows will take place at the Roaring Creek Saloon at 1, 3:30, 5:30 and 8 p.m.), the Bandshell (1:30, 6 and 8:30 p.m.), Time Machine Theater (1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m.) and the Retro Active stage near the Alamo (1:15, 3, 4:30 and 6:30 p.m.). For more information on the entertainment at Knoebels, visit www.knoebels.com/entertainment or visit www.knoebels.com/TodayAtK and click on June 20 on the calendar.

MOUNT CARMEL - A mother and daughter from Coal Township were arraigned Tuesday after Ralpho Township police said they burglarized an Elysburg house and stole a handgun.

Shelly A. Foulds, 60, and Nina Foulds, 18, both of 1220 W. Fern St., are charged with felony charges of burglary, criminal trespassing, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property and misdemeanor theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.

Ralpho Township Cpl. Bryon Chowka said an Elysburg resident reported a burglary Nov. 28. The victim said a Dan Wesson handgun was missing from the home.

After discovering the gun for sale on Facebook, Chowka determined Shelly and Nina Foulds had broken into a relative's residence and taken the gun and $900 in cash.

Guns for tattoos, work

On March 22, the victim showed police a Facebook page offering guns for sale or trade had a post with a Dan Wesson handgun displaying similar characteristics and serial number to the one stolen.

Police contacted the seller, Edward H. Kurtz Jr., of Shamokin, who said he had purchased the gun Jan. 13 from Darren Miller.

Miller told police two brothers had traded the gun to him in exchange for free tattoos Nov. 30.

Police used photos from the tattoo parlor to identify the brothers as Emmanuel "Manny" Temple and "DC," a 17-year-old male. During an April 1 interview, Temple told police he had been dating Nina Foulds and saw the handgun in the Foulds house.

Police said Temple told them Shelly Foulds gave him the gun for doing work around the house. After he traded the gun to Miller for the tattoos, Nina Foulds told him she and her mother took the gun and some money from a relative's house. Temple also allegedly told police Shelly Foulds told him she had taken the gun from the relative because she had given the relative a gun and it had not been returned. Shelly Foulds also allegedly told Temple she and her daughter should not have locked the door when they left the relative's house.

Chowka said he interviewed Nina Foulds Dec. 9 and was shown a text message conversation with a member of the relative's household. Chowka said the messages were exchanged the night of the burglary and show Foulds had knowledge of the whereabouts of the members of the burglarized household.

Foulds initially told police she was not in Elysburg that night, but Chowka said when he told her he would track her phone using cell towers, she changed her story and admitted she and her mother were in Elysburg giving a ride to DC.

Chowka said when he interviewed Shelly Foulds Dec. 9, she corroborated the ride story but gave conflicting descriptions of where DC was driven. The area where she described driving DC in at least one explanation is on the way to the victim's house, Chowka said.

Shelly and Nina Foulds were released Tuesday on $50,000 unsecured bail. They will appear before Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones for a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Major construction projects in Ranshaw are expected to begin next year - flood control along Quaker Run and demolition of the long-blighted former St. Anthony's school.

New walls are among the channel repairs for Quaker Run slated to begin as early as April. Portions of the existing walls are on the verge of collapse, and homeowners fear large swaths of their backyards will be lost in the event of another flood.

The site has already been surveyed. A meeting is expected this month between township officials and the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to review permitting issues. Permits are planned for submission in August and could be awarded in December, with bidding to begin the following month.

Quaker Run was among the local creek channels badly damaged by record flooding in September 2011. The township has $641,774.95 in grant funding allocated for the project. Another estimated $340,630 is needed to finish it. Commissioners are exploring two avenues to make up the difference and perhaps receive more than $1 million to make additional flood control repairs to Shamokin Creek in Tharptown.

A request was made of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for up to $1,012,727, and commissioners voted during a special meeting Wednesday to apply to the Commonwealth Financing Authority for $500,000 in flood mitigation funding.

In response to residents' concerns about another flood event before construction begins, township commissioners will ask street department employees if the channel can be cleared of brush and debris.

School demo

Commissioners also voted Wednesday to authorize the planned use of Keystone Communities grant funding to tear down the school building, which has been an eyesore and potential hazard for decades.

Estimated cost is $122,500, with half of the funds from the Keystone grant. The other half must be matched by the township. Commissioners will use $41,133 in Community Development Block Grant funds and an additional $13,439 raised from an auction of tools and construction equipment recovered from inside the abandoned building. The remaining $6,678 will come from the township's general fund.

Coal Township bought the blighted building from Northumberland County's repository list for $1 in August. It had long been the target of citations against its previous owners.

Bidding is expected to begin in February with demolition to follow in April. Grant requirements mandate specific use of the property. Existing restrictions, including the site's location in a flood zone, have led commissioners to establish a new park near the existing war memorial outside the school. A gazebo, benches, shrubs, flowers and grass are planned, but won't be installed until after the creek project is completed.

MOUNT CARMEL - The borough is on its way to having one less trash-filled house, thanks in part to the smooth talking of Police Chief Todd Owens.

Council members recognized Owens and borough Code Officer Robin Williams at Monday's work session for convincing the residents of a Chestnut Street home to clean up their property.

Initially, the house was so filled with garbage that large rats were falling through the ceiling of a neighboring residence, Owens said.

Owens and Williams worked together to write citations on the property. Owens said he talked the residents into agreeing to spend their money on cleaning up their property instead of on fines. If the owners had failed to comply within a set amount of time, he would have filed the citations with the magistrate, he said.

Owens estimated that four or five Dumpsters full of garbage have been removed from the home so far.

Though many of the council members praised Owens and Williams for their work, Councilman Clement Plisiewicz was more critical. He said council had become aware of the Chestnut Street residence two years ago and it had taken Williams too long to take action - a recurring problem he sees with Williams.

"You could have put a little more effort into some of these," he said to Williams, who was present at the meeting.

Councilman David Fantini defended Williams, pointing to the difficulty of determining a code violation if the issue is inside a house and the resident refuses to answer the door or let Williams inside.

MAHANOY CITY - Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church in Mahanoy City will celebrate the 20th anniversary Sunday of the visit in 1995 by the parish's future patron, Mother Teresa of Calcutta, with Mass in the church she visited.

Mother Teresa came to Mahanoy City June 17 at the end of her visit to the United States in order to meet with sisters of the Missionaries of Charity, the religious order that she founded in 1950 in India. The M.C. sisters live in a convent across the street from the church.

The Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Sunday by the Most Rev. John O. Barres, bishop of the Diocese of Allentown. A concelebrant will be Monsignor Anthony F. Wassel, who was pastor of St. Joseph Church when Mother Teresa visited. The Mass in 1995 was celebrated by the Most Rev. Thomas J. Welsh, bishop of Allentown, with Wassel as a concelebrant.

Mother Teresa was welcomed by thousands of people on the sunny Saturday morning. She attended the Mass, sitting in a front pew that is now marked with a bronze plaque commemorating her visit. After Holy Communion, Mother Teresa spoke in the crowded church, and then went outside to address the throng.

When St. Joseph Church merged with other churches in Mahanoy City and Maizeville in 2008, it became Blessed Teresa Church.

A reception is planned after Mass in the parish hall at noon, followed by dinner at 1 p.m. Cost is $15, but there are very few tickets left. For more information, call the parish office at 570-773-2771.

Prior to Mass, a rosary will be recited beginning at 9:50 a.m. outside the church as a remembrance of a spontaneous rosary that was prayed by the outside crowd in 1995.

Born Aug. 26, 1910, and christened Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu, she took the name Teresa when she entered religious life as a sister at 18. She became a high school teacher in 1931 in Calcutta, India. In 1939, she made her profession of final vows. When she was named school principal, she first became known as Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa left the school in 1948 after receiving permission from church leaders to help the poor people of Calcutta, opened an orphanage in 1957, and in 1969 she established the Missionaries of Charity. In 1979, she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. She died on Sept. 5, 1997, and was beatified as Blessed Teresa of Calcutta by Pope John Paul II on Oct. 19, 2003.

Plans for the anniversary commemoration began last year by parishioner Donna DiCasimirro after she read an article in the A.D. Times in May 2014 about someone who said one of his fondest memories was to see Mother Teresa in person. She went to the Rev. Kevin Gallagher, pastor, and asked him about the parish doing some small activities during the year to mark the historical visit.

"One of my favorite quotes from Mother Teresa is 'God does not ask us to do great things, only small things with great love,' " DiCasimirro said. "So we could spend all year doing all sorts of nice, little things in her name to celebrate, culminating in the celebration on June 21."

DiCasimirro said one activity was having a blue box with the quote and had people drop pieces of paper that had "I did a small act of kindness in Mother's honor."

"We didn't ask people for their names or what they did, but just to focus on being more Mother-like," she said.

Another activity during the year was for families take a chalice home for a week and pray for vocations, something Mother Teresa encouraged.

During Mother Teresa's visit, people were encouraged to wear blue and white, the colors of the order's religious habit. This year, the Mother Teresa Sodality is making blue and white bows that will be available for a donation to the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry.

"Again, a small act of kindness, a small act of love," DiCasimirro said. "We can never truly emulate Mother, but as close as we can get is what we're striving for."

DiCasimirro said how important it is to remember that visit of Mother Teresa.

"How many parishes can say that their patron was actually there in their church and participated in Mass. That's pretty significant," she said.

Gallagher was stationed in Saint Clair 20 years ago as pastor of St. Bonifice, St. Mary and SS Peter and Paul churches. He was not aware of the visit in order to be able to come to Mahanoy City.

"From what I understand, it was spontaneous on Mother's part, so there wasn't a lot of leeway time," Gallagher said. "Originally she wasn't supposed to visit at all, so she decided at the last minute and everyone scrambled to get things organized."

The guest homilist on Sunday will be Monsignor Aloysius Callaghan, who had met Mother Teresa.

"Al is originally from Heckscherville, and he was the secretary for Bishop McShea and then starting off with Bishop Welsh," Gallagher explained. "Then he went to the Military Ordinariate in Washington, and then from there he went to Rome to work at the Vatican where he gave a lot of retreat for Mother Teresa's orders. My first cousin, Theresa Gallagher, from England, is a member of the order and attended Monsignor Callaghan's retreats."

DiCasimirro said Wassel will speak after the dinner about meeting Mother Teresa. Bishop Barres and others will also speak.

"The parish is named after her, and even though it's a new parish, it really has come together and really follows her spirit in care and feeding of the poor," Gallagher said. "I always tell my people that I'm always in awe and humbled by how they come up with all the food when the food pantry is empty. St. Vincent's feeds an awful lot of people. We feed about 70 families a month, and at Christmas and Easter it's over 100."

"We're concentrating on trying to be as close to her as we can," DiCasimirro said.

ELYSBURG - After years of speculation, Gov. Tom Wolf confirmed Thursday Great Dane will be establishing a semi-trailer manufacturing facility at the former Fleetwood RV complex in Ralpho Township.

"I am thrilled to recognize 150 new manufacturing jobs coming to Northumberland County. Through Great Dane's expansion, a long-vacant manufacturing facility will be put back into productive use," Wolf was quoted in a press release issued Thursday.

Great Dane plans to invest $11 million at the site, and has also committed to create at least 150 new jobs and retain 438 existing positions over the next three years, the press release said.

David Grant, director of marketing for Great Dane, said the majority of new positions would be on the plant's production line with pay rates between $12 and $17 per hour.

The plant will be an expansion of the company's existing plant in Danville, which Grant said is operating at capacity and employs more than 300 people. Some personnel will be shifted from Danville to Elysburg to help open the plant, and new hires will fill in positions as needed.

"We have such a high demand for our products that this will increase our capacity going forward," Grant said.

Sam Gupta, Great Dane's executive vice president of manufacturing, said in the press release the Elysburg facility is already larger than the Danville facility and can be expanded.

"Once the new plant is fully operational, we will be able to significantly expand our dry van manufacturing capabilities while increasing employment opportunities in the region," he said. Dry vans are the most typical type of trailers hauled by commercial truckers, shaped like a long rectangular box.

According to the press release, the project was coordinated by the Governor's Action Team in collaboration with Northumberland County Office of Economic Development. The company received a funding proposal from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), including a Pennsylvania First Program grant for $425,000 and a WEDnetPA grant for $67,500.

"We sincerely appreciate the support and assistance of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Northumberland County officials in this important initiative," Gupta said.

Ralpho Township Manager Joe Springer said the township worked with the county to acquire a $325,000 grant to improve the access road from Route 487 to the plant after Great Dane requested the repairs. The township will maintain the road.

"We're thrilled to death," Springer said of the arrival of Great Dane. "When Fleetwood closed, that left a big hole in the community as far as a great place to work."

Plant purchased 2013

In August 2013, CC Industries (CCI) Inc., a parent company to Great Dane, purchased the 73-acre site, which was formerly home to Fleetwood Enterprises, an RV manufacturer.

Fleetwood laid off 161 employees in early 2008 and closed permanently before the end of the year, leaving another 325 people out of work.

Polar Tech purchased a portion of the facility in September 2011.

Fleetwood was one of three Elysburg-area factory closures during the housing bubble collapse and subsequent recession. In 2008, Paper Magic Group shut down production at its Elysburg plant, cutting 340 employees. Catawissa Lumber and Specialty Co. Inc. in Paxinos also shut down in 2008, leaving nearly 175 employees out of work.

Work ethic

"I think (Great Dane) will be a good boost for Northumberland County after we lost many, many jobs over the last six or seven years," said Northumberland County Commissioner Chairman Vinny Clausi, who said he's been working with Great Dane on the project for three years.

Clausi said the plant will begin operations in January and will employ 150 by the end of 2016. He said Great Dane expects to increase its employment to about 300 in the next few years after that.

"The plan is to ramp up production beginning later this year and into 2016, at which point we expect to be fully operational," said Grant.

Clausi said there were a lot of negotiations behind the scene to "make this dream come true" and thanked fellow Commissioner Stephen Bridy for helping finalize it.

"It wasn't easy," he added. "They were going to go to North Carolina."

Bridy said he was happy the county managed to secure Great Dane, but was even more thrilled when one of their executives told him a contributing factor to the move was the work ethic in the coal region.

"I think it will show the positive of our working class and our work ethic in the coal region that large multi-billion dollar companies are willing to relocate to our region because of the work ethic," said Bridy. "That was something their business development manager said to me directly - 'We need a facility in Northumberland County because of the work ethic in the coal region.'"

TAxe

The county agreed to waive property taxes for Great Dane for 7 1/2 years, but Clausi said he insisted that the company pay local and school district property taxes. He said Great Dane was happy with that arrangement.

Clausi estimated the county is giving up about $30,000 a year with the property tax waiver, some $250,000 total over the 7 1/2 years factoring in potential tax increases.

"It was worthwhile to get 150 good jobs," he said.

The county waiver will need approval by the board of commissioners.

In the press release, Clausi thanked the governor and the Governor's Action Team, state and Ralph Township officials, Appalachian Regional Commission, PennDOT and SEDA-COG.

"We look forward to welcoming Great Dane to our county and working with them so their business expands and thrives here in Northumberland County," he said.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Administrators at Shamokin Area School District believe a specific dress and grooming policy unanimously adopted by the board of education Tuesday night will lead to a more conducive learning environment while maintaining the safety of students.

The policy will take effect next school year for students in pre-kindergarten through sixth grade. Students in seventh through 12th grade must begin adhering to the policy in the 2016-17 school year.

"The policy is long overdue," elementary Principal Mary Teresa Komara said Thursday. "District officials have been working on putting this in place for at least seven years."

Komara credited longtime board director Robert Getchey for initially spearheading the move to implement the policy.

She said board member Charles Shuey more recently pushed for the change.

"In the past, there was never full agreement among administrators, teachers, board members and students on what specific policy should be adopted," she said. "High school students balked at the idea because they wanted to be able to express their individuality by what they wore to school. But the current board was more vocal about the issue and pushed to get this policy in place."

Komara said she understands the policy may pose a financial problem to some parents and will present other challenges. But she's confident that after an adjustment period, the policy will work out and benefit everyone.

Komara, high school Principal Chris Venna, Superintendent James Zack, other administrators, board members and teachers helped develop the policy and are willing to address any concerns from parents, guardians or students.

"We've been pro-active at the elementary level by making parents or guardians aware of the policy Wednesday morning," she said.

Komara said the policy was announced through Alert Now and posted on the Shamokin Area Elementary School site on Facebook, the district's web site and PTA web page. She said the policy also has been included in the student handbook.

Copies of the policy are available at the school.

"We've received a lot of hits about the issue on different websites," she said. "There's been some negative feedback, but the majority of comments have been positive."

According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the percentage of public schools that enforced a strict dress code was 49.1 percent in the 2011-12 school year, while 71.3 percent of private schools did so.

For the same school year, 19.3 percent of public schools and 56.9 percent of private schools required uniforms.

Those numbers have remained fairly steady since 2003-04, according to NCES.

Local stores made aware

Komara said area businesses also have been contacted about the new dress and grooming policy so they can make the appropriate clothing available for purchase. She said the stores include Long's Embroidery, Target, Walmart, Children's Place, Old Navy, Aeropostale and Academy Sports Center.

Komara said plans also are being developed to establish a "uniform store" at the elementary school in the future.

Komara's major concern with the policy pertains to primary students (pre-kindergarten through fourth grade) who may not dress themselves for school.

"I urge all parents or guardians of younger students to be more responsible in selecting their clothing," she said.

She pointed out that teachers are not included in the new policy, but still must dress appropriately and professionally.

She said the policy contains exceptions for religious, medical and special needs purposes, but documentation must be provided.

'Success' at other districts

Komara said district officials consulted with administrators at other districts, including Mount Carmel Area, Pocono Mountain, Chambersburg and East Stroudsburg, that have adopted similar policies over the years. She said the feedback was positive.

Mount Carmel Area Superintendent Bernie Stellar said a dress code that was implemented at the elementary and high schools in 2000 and 2001, respectively, has had a "very positive" effect on the learning environment in the district.

Stellar admitted the policy is hard to enforce and minor issues still exist today, but that it has proven beneficial overall.

"The policy eliminates any bias and makes kids look and feel more ready to work," he said.

Stellar said closets filled with dress code approved clothing are available at the elementary and high schools for students who need them.

"Kids sometimes don't conform with the dress code for different reasons and we don't want to punish them, especially if it not's their fault," Stellar explained. "So we offer them clothing from the closets that is new or almost new and clean. The closets have proven to be invaluable at both schools."

He believes the new policy at Shamokin Area will help both school districts since it will give local stores like Walmart more reason to stock inexpensive, dress code-approved clothing.

Line Mountain and Southern Columbia Area school districts do not have a specific dress code.

Penalties

Although penalties for not adhering to the policy have not yet been officially adopted by at the school board at Shamokin Area, Komara said she expects them to be as follows:

First offense - Parents or guardians will be notified to bring the proper attire to school for their children, who will remain at school until the clothing arrives.

Second offense - Parents will be directed to meet with school administrators while students will be assigned detention for one hour per day.

Third offense or more - Students will be given out-of-school suspensions until the policy is adhered to.

'Growing pains' expected

Zack, who understands some parents face difficult financial situations, stated, "This topic (dress code) has been an area of great concern to the leaders of our school district and teachers and countless hours of conversation have been held regarding proper dress and grooming at all grade levels. As parents, we all want our children to be surrounded by other students who are clean, neat and tidy. We don't need to have dark or negative cultures from which an aura of fear and disturbance may prevail."

Zack said the policy was implemented at the end of the school year to give parents the summer to prepare for it.

"There's no doubt growing pains will be experienced, but a dress and grooming policy has proven to be successful in surrounding school districts," he added. "This action has proven to be a positive movement for the entire school district."

Shamokin Area Elementary School PTA Treasurer Katie Shiko supports the dress code 100 percent.

"I think it's fantastic and I wish it would have happened a long time ago," she said. "It's perfectly fine with me. With two children in the school district, it will make it a lot easier for me every morning."

Shiko doesn't see the new policy posing a financial burden to parents.

"You can find khaki pants and polo shirts at any thrift store just as easy as you can find jeans and T-shirts," she said.

For more information, parents or guardians are urged to call the district office at 570-648-5752, elementary school at 648-5721 or high school at 648-5731.

SHAMOKIN - A Coal Township man charged Thursday with selling cocaine to an informant is believed to be the person connected to a shooting incident Monday morning at Fifth and Willow streets.

Lonzy Thomas Barnes, 28, whose last known address is South Owl Street, was arraigned at about 1:30 a.m. by on-call Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III on felonies of delivering cocaine, possession with intent to deliver cocaine and criminal use of a communication facility.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Cpls. Bryan Primerano and Jarrod Scandle, Barnes is accused of selling two plastic bags of cocaine for $200 to an informant in the city just after midnight Thursday. He was taken into custody a short time later at Sunbury and Ninth streets.

Police said Barnes, who is known by the nickname "L Burner," was committed by Gembic to Snyder County Prison in lieu of $25,000 cash bail. He is scheduled to face a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Police believe Barnes is the man who was spotted by a witness bleeding from his right arm after a shot was fired from a black Chevy Tahoe at Fifth and Willow streets at 1:20 p.m. Monday. He has not been charged in that incident.

Three other black people who were detained at the scene of the shooting, a black woman who is leasing the Tahoe that was later found in Sunbury, and multiple other witnesses have been interviewed by police, but no charges have been filed in the case.

MANDATA - The Line Mountain Board of Directors and Line Mountain Education Association (LMEA) were unable to come to an agreement on a contract at a six-hour negotiation session Tuesday, according to a statement issued on the district's website.

The board had hoped to alter the arbitrator's report, which it accepted at the June 9 board meeting, and come to an agreement with LMEA, who rejected the report June 10.

In an effort to end negotiations, the board offered the district's approximately 100 teachers an additional $194,000 in total salary for the 2015-16 school year.

"Each employee would be earning at least $1,749 more per year than what the arbitration report recommended," the statement says.

The district said it swapped a $1,600 prorated signing bonus stipulated in the report crafted by Arbitrator William Caldwell for an additional $2,000 added onto each step of the salary schedule for the 2015-16 school year, providing raises ranging from 8.94 percent to 13.19 percent. The district also offered to add $500 per year to each step of the salary schedule for the following three contract years.

Standardized average annual salary increases were upped from 4.76 percent to 5.69 percent. This raised the average salary increase over all years since the final year contract year in 2011-12 from 2.72 percent to 3.25 percent per year, the statement said.

A spreadsheet detailing each teacher's salary through the proposed contract was posted alongside the statement. The lowest paid, most recently hired teacher would make $32,838 during the 2014-15 year and $41,102 during the 2018-19 year, a raise of 17.89 percent.

The smallest percent increases were for five teachers at the highest pay grade at 5.50 percent over the five years of the contract. Their pay rates would rise from $63,582 to $67,082.

Twenty teachers would see their salaries increase in excess of 40 percent, and another 25 salary increases would top 30 percent.

Three teachers would receive the highest percent increase - 45.23 percent. The salaries of these teachers would jump from $32,838 to $47,692 during the life of the contract.

The board also eliminated a stipulation in the arbitration report that prevented spouses of district employees from enrolling in heath care benefits if they already received coverage through a public entity. In exchange, they asked the teachers to increase their premium share for health insurance from eight to 10 percent, the statement said.

Mark McDade, who is representing the teachers in the negotiations, declined to comment on specific areas of disagreement, but said he expected to have a deal finalized soon.

"It was the most productive session we've had since these negotiation sessions began," he said. "The parties are definitely working hard on both sides of the table."

COAL TOWNSHIP - An adult male was taken by ambulance to an area hospital after he was discovered Thursday in a wooded area between Mulberry and State streets and believed to be highly intoxicated.

Coal Township police were dispatched about 6:15 p.m. to the 700 block of West Mulberry Street for a report of an intoxicated male. The man laid casually against a log, dozing in and out of consciousness as patrolmen Jason Adams and David Sage repeatedly asked for his name, his hometown, and what drugs he may have ingested. A neighbor said the male had been seen in the woods the past few days.

Ambulance personnel arrived and checked his pulse and blood pressure. The male's identity wasn't confirmed by police. He is believed to be in his early- to mid-20s, and told officers he lived in Mount Carmel.

Officers and ambulance personnel escorted him to an ambulance. Adams recovered a glass smoking pipe, a marijuana-like substance in a plastic baggie and a cell phone. An investigation continues and charges are pending, Adams said.

KULPMONT - Practically all eyes will be on the cars as they pass up and down Chestnut Street during Sunday's Great Kulpmont Cruise.

One eye, though, will be high in the sky, as the event will be captured via a drone quadcopter flying through the air.

"I'm hoping we get some pretty great shots from there," said drone owner Dave Marquardt, who along with his son, Bill, will bring the drone to the cruise.

Marquardt said the DJI Phantom 2 Vision is capable of flying up to 400 feet in the air and capturing detailed still images and high-definition video from its 14MP camera placed on a motorized gimbal mount.

"With the gimbal, the image is steady as a rock," Marquardt said.

Marquardt brought the idea to organizer Joe Cesari.

"I talked to him about my drone and how I wanted to bring it to take video of the cruise. He looked me and asked 'How much is it going to cost me?'" Marquardt said.

When assured that the work would be done for free, Cesari loved the idea and began to work on getting the drone in the cruise.

"We had to get permission from the police, borough council and the mayor to fly it overhead. The police loved the idea," Marquardt said. "This picks up everything, so if someone does a burnout, the camera will pick it up."

Bill Marquardt will pilot the craft, seeing the images the camera sees through his iPhone. After the cruise, the two will edit the video to the

tune of Steppenwolf's "Born to Be Wild," for possible airing.

There has been some talk about making DVD copies of the video from Sunday's event available for the public, but there are complications with that.

"I own the drone but am only a student pilot, so I am not allowed to profit from any of the images I take," Marquardt said. "So if we sell the video, the money will be donated to either Camp Victory or Camp Dost."

The drone uses the signals from seven satellites to stay on course, but the Marquardts are not worried about losing the expensive quadcopter.

"There is a fail-safe mechanism that will automatically bring the drone back to its takeoff point," Marquardt said.

The family is not worried about someone taking a shot at it either. The craft will fly at a height of more than 200 feet or the size of six utility poles.

"Most people will not even know it's above them," Marquardt said.

As detailed in a story earlier this week, Shamokin, Mount Carmel and Shenandoah are all in the top 10 cheapest housing markets in the United States according, to the SmartAsset affordability index. The national rankings make the municipalities the three cheapest markets in Pennsylvania.

Affordability was determined on the impact specific housing costs have on an area's median income. The lesser the impact, the cheaper the market. Closing costs, real estate taxes, homeowner's insurance and mortgage rates were considered.

The affordability index assists people planning a move or seeking a new job in considering where they can afford to live. Affordable isn't the same as desirable, and the affordability index doesn't study how attractive an area is outside of affordability.

Rank City Avg. Closing Annual Homeowner's Avg. Annual Median Affordability

Costs Prop. Tax Insurance Mortgage Income Index

1 Mesquite, TX $2,183 $785 $310 $1,737 $51,846 100.00

2 Kermit, TX $2,183 $530 $366 $2,061 $47,330 87.35

3 Pecos, TX $2,183 $629 $379 $2,121 $43,646 76.04

4 Blackwell, OK $1,658 $340 $351 $2,244 $35,515 66.98

5 Sumner, IL $2,873 $501 $165 $1,792 $31,932 64.74

6 Shamokin, PA $2,496 $445 $156 $1,850 $30,675 63.87

7 Shenandoah, PA $2,475 $532 $138 $1,635 $28,071 61.39

8 Fort Hood, TX $2,183 $928 $420 $2,350 $41,015 60.72

9 Childress, TX $2,183 $853 $423 $2,370 $39,702 59.43

10 Mount Carmel, PA $2,532 $528 $185 $2,190 $33,015 59.15

Nationwide $4,489 $2,140 $1,001 $9,705 $53,323

Note: Affordability Index figure isn't calculated for a national average

As a kid, I spent hundreds of hours in a pew at the former Our Mother of Consolation Church attending Mass with my family. I have to admit that quite a few hours were spent scanning the church, especially the magnificent stained glass windows.

It took me a long while to realize that the saints portrayed in some of the windows, Michael, Ignatius, Casimir and so forth, were the namesakes of the men and their wives who paid for each window. There were two exceptions - the Immaculate Heart of Mary and Sacred Heart of Jesus, sponsored respectively by Katarzyna and Roman Ocepa.

When I noticed the "Ocepa" windows, now in the merged parish church of Divine Redeemer, I was reminded that I learned a few decades after my childhood that there was a family connection with the Ocepas, who owned and operated a meat market in Mount Carmel for many years.

The Ocepas did not have any children, but they were the godparents of my dad's sister, Catherine Sadusky. Aunt Catherine was my godmother when I was christened six decades or so ago.

So what is the connection between the Ocepas, a couple who died years before I was born, and me? Faith. My grandparents were devout believers in God; in fact, my grandmother's sister was a nun and her brother was a priest.

They passed along their faith to their children, my dad, Uncle Al and Aunt Catherine. Aunt Catherine's faith was boosted by the prayers of her godparents, the Ocepas. My faith was deepened by my parents, but also by my aunt and uncle as godparents and, in turn, by the prayers of their own godparents.

Love of God is a priceless inheritance that He bequeathed to those who come after us. I was a beneficiary of that love and I strive to pass it along even to people like the Ocepas whom I will never meet in this world.

+++

God is in the center of a circle of love.

MOUNT CARMEL - A driver and his teenage son were hurt when their vehicle rammed into a parked vehicle Friday at 402 E. Sixth st.

All Grace Roseman could do is stand and look at her Mercury Monterey van, which was pushed forward into her front steps.

"I was out there last night with some friends sitting on the steps just talking," Roseman said. "I'm glad I wasn't out there today."

Roseman said she was painting a bedroom in the back of the house when she heard a loud noise.

"I came downstairs and the dogs were barking," she said. "I get outside and see all this."

Roseman said she just had a new porch built last year, and was in the process of sprucing it up before putting it on the market. A contractor arrived Friday afternoon to brace the porch roof before Roseman's vehicle could be extracted.

Mount Carmel Borough Police Chief Todd Owens reported a Geo Tracker, driven by Jonathan Steckley, of 17 E. Water St., Mount Carmel, was traveling up South Walnut Street at what witnesses said was a high rate of speed before coming to the top of the hill and striking Roseman's parked van.

Witnesses told police the Tracker may have been traveling uphill for three blocks at approximately 70 miles per hour.

Both Steckley and his passenger, his 13-year-old son, Anthony, were transported for medical treatment. Owens reported the son suffered a femur fracture and his father had cuts and abrasions, and complained of hip pain.

The accident is under investigation, police said. Assisting police were members of the Mount Carmel Fire Department and Mount Carmel Fire Police.

MOUNT CARMEL - St. Michael's Orthodox Church welcomes the Very Reverend Mark, Archbishop of the Diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, and Father John Edward and his family.

On Sunday, Archbishop Mark will celebrate Divine Liturgy with Father John Edward, St. Michael's newly appointed rector. He is a recent graduate of St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary in New York and was ordained on June 1. He has several degrees in theology, early church history and divinity. He was a rector in the Anglican and Episcopal churches for more than 20 years.

Father John is married to Matushka Suja and they have three children. Matushka has degrees in physics and education. She worked as a teacher in India and in a child care center in New York.

Their son, Samuel, just finished his first year of college in Albany, N.Y., and their daughter Sneha is beginning college this fall in New York City. Sophia will begin high school at Mount Carmel Area this fall.

Everyone is invited to participate in Divine Liturgy at 9 a.m. to welcome Father John and his family into the community. A light lunch will be served following services. St. Michael's Orthodox Church is located at 131 N. Willow St. in Mount Carmel

Shamokin-Coal Township

Monday - Poker game, 8:30 p.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; world news, noon; unlucky 7s, noon.

Tuesday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; walk a mile, 9:30 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; world news, noon; bridge, noon.

Wednesday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; bridge lessons, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; pinochle and Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; walk a mile, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10:15 a.m.; pulled pork sandwich on kaiser roll, chips and pickles, $6, 11 a.m., sides and desserts needed; Linda Walker of Focus Heath speaking on hygiene, noon; nickel bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Morning cards, puzzles and shuffleboard, 8:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; nickel bingo, noon.

Saturday - Cards, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Mount Carmel

Monday - Board games, 9:30 a.m.; exercise, 10 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Attorney Varano speaking, noon; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Tuesday - Wii games, 10 a.m.; lunch fundraiser, noon, $5; nickel bingo, 1 p.m.

Wednesday - Center closed. No farmers market vouchers.

Thursday - Center closed. No farmers market vouchers. Trip to Big Kahuna's Island Grill, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., pick up at home only.

Friday - Center closed. No farmers market vouchers.

Kulpmont

Monday - Coffee and gab in the morning; puzzles, 10 a.m.; bowling, 11 a.m.; Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Music in the morning; hand held games, 10 a.m.; cards, noon; bowling, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Do your own thing in the morning; exercise, 10 a.m.; bowling, 11 a.m.; LCR, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Puzzles, 10 a.m.; hand held games, 11 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Games in the morning; bowling, 10 a.m.; nickel bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Centralia- Wilburton

Monday - Coffee and current events from the local newspaper, 9 a.m.; Pokeno, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Coffee and toast, 9 a.m.; chair exercise with Carol, 10:30 a.m.; pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Bookmobile; coffee and snacks, 9 a.m.; pinochle, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Bring a friend day; coffee and cookies, 9 a.m.; trivia, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Fun Friday! Open activities.

Elysburg

Monday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; royal rummy, 10 a.m.; Pokeno, 11:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; royal rummy, 10 a.m.; bingo, noon.

Friday - Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle, noon.

Trevorton

Monday - Father's Day luncheon, 11:30 a.m.; Pokeno or pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; rummikub, 10:30 a.m.; Timber Creek Family Restaurant trip, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.; pinochle, 12:30 p.m.; evening bingo, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; Scrabble, 10:30 a.m.; unlucky 7s, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; Uno, 10:30 a.m.; pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii games, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; Jennifer Little with VNA will speak on skin safety and skin cancer awareness, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.

LEWISBURG - The American Red Cross North Central Pennsylvania Chapter held the first meeting of its newly consolidated board of directors on Wednesday, at the chapter office. Joining the board at the meeting were two representatives from the Williamsport Red Cross Club.

"It's an exciting time to be a part of the Red Cross," commented chapter Executive Director Tom Szulanczyk. "It's great to see representatives from our ten counties coming together as one to further our mission and outreach in the communities we serve."

The American Red Cross North Central Chapter serves Bradford, Clinton, Columbia, Lycoming, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Sullivan Tioga, and Union counties. Board members include: Michael and Joanne Benjamin (Danville), Chad Hebrink (Berwick), Marty Miller (Danville), Debb Lutz (Mifflinville), Tom Marks (Danville), Henry Baylor (Lewisburg), Robert Benion (Milton), Rick Wible (Lewisburg), Jonelle Wetzel (Hughesville), Chris Olson (Lewisburg), Howard Lauver (Port Trevorton), Karen Gardner (Lewisburg), Kim Olszewski (Lewisburg), Craig Kremser Company (Muncy), Greg Cummings (Corning), Tom and Carole Livingston (Mill Hall), Mike Loeh (Lewisburg), Nate Smyth (Lewisburg), Al Smith (Williamsport) and Charles Plankenhorn (Williamsport).

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is provided free of charge and is made possible by the voluntary donations of time and money from caring individuals and, in part, by contributions given through the United Way. You can help people affected by disasters such as floods, fires, tornadoes and hurricanes by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to learn more. Contributions may be sent to The American Red Cross, 1804 N. 6th Street, Harrisburg, 17102, or any of the other area offices.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Arch Street playground will undergo a substantial overhaul beginning this year.

The outdoor hardcourts will be torn up this fall to make way for an indoor multi-purpose gymnasium, and the playground area will be upgraded with all new equipment.

Construction is expected to begin in October with indoor work to follow in January, according to a timeline provided by Coal Township manager Rob Slaby. The building and adjacent parking lot are targeted for completion in March or April. Upgrades to the playground area at the front of the property will be finished in April or May.

Bidding opens in August and a contract will be awarded in September, the timeline states.

Coal Township has more than $430,000 committed in grant funds, donations and in-kind labor. Additional money is necessary. The building itself is anticipated to cost up to $450,000. Slaby

said more grant applications are pending and corporate donations are being solicited.

Preliminary plans show the gymnasium estimated at 10,000 square feet with a 6,200-square-foot full basketball court playing surface and hoops at either end. Two additional hoops could be hung above retractable bleachers on each side. There are a pair of locker rooms and bathrooms, a concession area, utility room and storage areas in the mezzanine. It offers easy handicap accessibility. The parking lot is projected to have 33 spaces.

The Shamokin Youth Basketball League, a longtime tenant of the American Legion building in downtown Shamokin, is expected to use the township facility, as well. It also uses the Ralpho Township and Line Mountain Elementary gyms.

While basketball would be the main focus, it's planned to be multipurpose. Commissioner Chairman Craig Fetterman previously noted volleyball could be accommodated as could indoor soccer practice. He also said batting cages are a possibility; anything that would support the facility.

Originally, the gymnasium was to have two courts. High cost and limited space changed the plans. However, the township could build into the parking lot in the years to come but would likely need to establish another lot nearby given little on-street parking in that neighborhood. Slaby said the electrical and plumbing work will be performed in a way to allow easy expansion into a building addition.

Resurfacing on Route 54

MONTOURSVILLE - A resurfacing project on Route 54 between Boyd Station and Elysburg in Rush and Ralpho townships, Northumberland County, is scheduled to begin Monday, June 29.

The first phase of the project involves tree trimming. This work will be performed during the day.

The following week, the second phase, which includes base repairs, mill and resurfacing, will begin. This work will be performed during the night between the hours of 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Lane restrictions will be in effect, with flaggers providing traffic control.

New Enterprise Stone & Lime Co. Inc. is the prime contractor on this nearly $2 million project.

Talk on Normandy planned

ASHLAND - The Ashland Area Historic Preservation Society will hold its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at its headquarters, 316-318 Centre St. Army veteran Thomas Dando, of Gordon, will speak on his trip last year to visit Normandy for the 70th anniversary of the D-Day invasion.

The meeting is open to the public with free admission. Light refreshments will be served.