SUNBURY - Northumberland County has completed its purchase of the 22-acre Moran Industries Inc. property at 1400 Susquehanna Ave., where officials plan to construct a new county prison.

Commissioners Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy announced Thursday the $2 million purchase has been finalized. In addition to the prison, commissioners are seeking to build a pre-release center there. The property encompasses several blocks in the northern end of Sunbury and a small section of land in Upper Augusta Township.

The property formerly served as the Knight Celotex plant before it was purchased July 21, 2011, by Moran Industries, a third-party logistics company based in Watsontown that specializes in warehousing and distribution.

When contacted Thursday afternoon, Jeff Stroehmann, vice president of operations for Moran Industries, said, "We are happy for Northumberland County and we are delighted with the reuse option for this industrial property. We consider it a home run for all parties involved."

The property was initially offered for sale to the county for $3 million, but that price was negotiated down to $2 million by the commissioners. Stroehmann commended the commissioners for their strong-willed negotiations.

The county prison, which was built in 1876, was extensively damaged by fire Jan. 14. Since that time, most of the male inmates have been housed at SCI-Coal Township while female inmates have been incarcerated at SCI-Muncy. Prisons in Snyder, Montour and other counties also have been used to house prisoners.

Since the fire, Clausi said his primary focus has been on completing all the necessary studies, scouting locations and securing necessary financing for a new prison.

"We could not sit by and do nothing," Clausi said. "Housing our inmates in so many different prisons and counties is costing the county millions of dollars. The transportation costs due to the distances from Sunbury are through the roof and costing us way more than our worst case estimates. This board of commissioners owes it to the taxpayers to keep this project moving quickly."

Bridy agrees with Clausi.

"As commissioner and chairman of the prison board, I am well aware of the extremely high cost to our taxpayers as we await the construction of a new facility," Bridy said. "We moved quickly to complete the needs assessment for a new prison and that study is now with the architects to design the facility. Commissioner Clausi has been relentless setting deadlines with the engineers, architects and all involved to keep this process moving expeditiously and he has my whole hearted support."

Both commissioners said they look forward to continue working closely with the City of Sunbury and commonwealth to develop the property and seek state funds and grants to further the economic development of the Sunbury area.

"It is a win-win for all of us," Clausi said. "Commissioner Shoch wanted us to delay this until the new board takes over, but that would be a year since the fire. The costs to the taxpayers would be an additional $5 million per year if we sit back and do nothing. This board was elected to work for the taxpayers, not sit back and do nothing. I won't stand for that."

Bridy said, "I've spoken with developers throughout the state who have verified that this "brown field" project will positively transform this section of the city for the betterment of Sunbury and neighboring communities."

In May, Bridy and Clausi agreed to enter into an agreement with JDM Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of Moran, to purchase the site for $2 million. Commissioner Richard Shoch voted against the action.

When reached for comment Thursday, Shoch denied ever stating that he wanted to delay the prison project until a new board of commissioners took office.

"I never said that," Shoch said. "What I did say is that we should consider the opinions of the commissioner candidates about the prison project because what we do now will affect the future of our corrections system and have long-term effects on the community. But they (Clausi and Bridy) don't care about anyone's opinions but their own. This is another attempt to put words in my mouth."

Shoch said he wasn't informed about closing on the purchase of the Moran site until informed by the media.

He added, "I think we should have looked at all the options regarding the prison, including gutting one of the wings at the existing prison on North Second Street while maintaining the historical stone facade. We could have made the prison smaller that way at a much cheaper price than what it will cost us at the Moran site. But Vinny chose not to even look at that option."

Shoch said the new prison will cost between $30 million to $35 million.

When informed about the purchase closing, Sunbury Mayor David Persing said, "That's good news. I am very happy that the commissioners have committed to putting the prison in the City of Sunbury. I'm hoping we have the opportunity to work with the commissioners to develop that entire property."

Clausi previously said the county will essentially end up purchasing the property for "free" through an intergovernmental agreement with Sunbury, which was awarded $4 million from the state to redevelop the former industrial site for new and expanding businesses. The city and other municipalities were awarded state funding through a bill approved by legislators in 2013.

Clausi said county and city officials are continuing their negotiations to develop businesses at the property that will benefit the city and entire county.

SUNBURY - A city woman is in custody with charges pending on the strong armed robbery she allegedly tried to commit Wednesday evening.

Sunbury Police Chief Bradley Hare reported Thursday Kelly Wolfe, 42, of Sunbury, was in Snyder County Prison on a probation violation with charges in the 8:15 p.m. robbery at the Family Dollar store, in the Fourth Street Plaza, expected in the next day or two.

Police reported in a press release that Wolfe entered the store with a stocking pulled over her face to mask her appearance. She brandished a knife and demanded that the clerk give her money.

A customer in the business observed the robbery taking place and attempted to subdue Wolfe. A struggle took place and the customer suffered a laceration from the knife, but was still able to hold Wolfe until police arrived.

Hare would not identify the person, only saying it was a male and that he suffered lacerations to the leg and hand in the struggle. He was treated at a local hospital for the injuries.

Wolfe was taken into custody at the scene and detained on the probation violation. She was sentenced to 25 days in prison and one year probation after pleading guilty April 6 to charges of simple assault and possession of an instrument of crime.

According to the (Sunbury) Daily Item, Wolfe broke into a Vine Street home and used a tire iron to smash items in a bedroom, before striking the homeowner in the head with the weapon and stuck it in a victim's mouth while threatening to kill another person in the home. Wolfe also took an iPod and phone before leaving the scene.

She was originally charged with burglary, criminal trespass, robbery, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property, two counts of simple assault and possession of an instrument of a crime before making a plea deal.

DANVILLE - A federal official said Friday the investigation into the fatal fall that killed a Berwick masonry worker may take several months before being completed.

Investigators were out for a second day at the site of the work accident that killed Stephen Kuchka, 48, Wednesday when he fell 100 feet from a scaffold erected on the side of the Foss Clinic, located at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

Mark Stellmach, director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's office in Wilkes Barre, said Friday there was nothing new to report on the investigation, but that it is ongoing.

"At this point, we are not sure how long the investigation will take," Stellmach said, adding it could be up to several months. "This is not the kind of thing you rush through."

Kuchka, a worker with MPS Masonry Preservation Services, fell to his death from a scaffold the company was using to restore the brick facade at the rear of the building.

With a three-man crew working between the ninth and tenth floors, the scaffolding was being lowered for a lunch break when a plywood board on it snapped, causing Kuchka to fall.

The crew was using a mechanized scaffold for the project, but officials have not said whether or not the workers were wearing safety harnesses working at such a height.

Stellmach said when such an accident occurs, that is usually the first thought that comes to mind from the public, but in many cases, harnesses are not required.

"Most times, the only scaffolding that requires the harness are the ones that are suspended from the roofs, like those that window washers use," the director said.

According to Geisinger's corporate communications director Michael Ferlazzo, the medical center is cooperating fully with the investigation, which involves not only OSHA and Geisinger's safety committee, but Mahoning Township Police and Montour County Coroner Scott Lynn.

Ferlazzo said MPS may resume work on the site sometime next week, and such a move is up to the company. The News-Item reached out to MPS Friday afternoon, but a secretary said that company officials had left for the day.

Police offered no new details Friday afternoon and Lynn could not be reached for comment.

The coroner said Wednesday that an autopsy would be done on Kuchka to see if any medical factors contributed to the fall and death. The coroner ruled the cause of death to be multiple blunt force trauma injuries and the manner as accidental.

SUNBURY - The man shot in the stomach last year by Sunbury's police chief was sentenced to state prison for assaulting his grandmother.

Erick R. Trometter, 23, of Elizabethville, pleaded guilty Friday to misdemeanor simple assault. He was sentenced by Northumberland County Judge Tony Rosini to serve one to two years with credit for time served, and was immediately remanded to prison. A felony count of aggravated assault and a summary harassment charge were not prosecuted as part of a plea agreement.

Trometter will, however, stand trial in the shooting incident. He's charged by state police with two felony counts of aggravated assault along with misdemeanors of possession of a weapon, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

A pretrial conference is scheduled for Aug. 14 followed by jury selection Aug. 17. Trial is slated to follow either Aug. 19 to 21 or Aug. 26 to 28.

A mental health evaluation was ordered for Trometter in March, but the results haven't been released publicly, according to public defender James Best.

Trometter repeatedly punched and kicked his then 67-year-old grandmother inside her home on July 8, 2014. Hours later, Chief Brad Hare confronted Trometter along Mile Post Road near Shikellamy Avenue. Trometter was armed with a knife and refused the chief's commands to drop it, police said.

A struggle ensued. Hare shot Trometter three times with a Taser. The chief says Trometter fell to one knee, and then swatted away the Taser's prongs and continued an advance with the knife. Hare then drew his gun and shot Trometter once in the stomach after a final command to submit was ignored, police said.

Trometter was hospitalized initially and was later home bound while recovering from injuries before being sent to Northumberland County Prison.

SUNBURY - Unused precast jail cells scheduled to be demolished in Wayne County, Mich., have avoided the trash compactor and may be coming to Northumberland County.

Northumberland County Prison Board chairman Stephen Bridy said Friday Kevin McNamara plans to meet early next week with other leaders of the unfinished Wayne County jail project and discuss the possibility of selling or giving 111 precast jail cells to Northumberland County.

The jail cells had been purchased as part of a $300 million prison project, slated to be built at a site in downtown Detroit. Financial issues halted construction after it began, and, according to the Detroit Free Press, storing the cells at a private site is costing the county $15,000 each month.

Bridy said at Wednesday's prison board meeting he hoped the cells could be transported more than 450 miles by rail for use at a 22-acre site in Sunbury.

After speaking to McNamara Friday, Bridy reaffirmed a desire to negotiate to acquire the cells at a price beneficial to both counties.

If you were to go to the Kozlowski homestead and remove the dark brown paint from the doorway leading from the living room to the kitchen, you would see a series of pencil marks - lines, followed by the names of my two brothers, sister and me, and dates.

Every so often, our folks would gather us in the doorway to measure our growth, using a wafer-thin yardstick from a local bank or funeral home. It was such a big deal that we all tried to cheat a bit by lifting our heels a bit off the floor.

As the eldest, I held the tallest title for quite a few years until my brother Phil finally passed me. Dad was 6-foot-three, so that was our target. I made it, my younger brother Phil passed that by two inches and our youngest brother Dave nearly matched it.

Coincidentally, my annual physical was two days before Jo Ann and I got together with my siblings and their families, and cousins for our annual four-day Koz Fest reunion. My height dropped to 73 inches - 6-foot-one - as I approach my 61st birthday.

When I was a kid, I remember my dad pointing to a tall, elderly man, his godfather. He said his godfather was once taller than he was until the man got older and shorter.

So my "shrinking" was no surprise, but it was a bit upsetting. Then I realized that it was a good lesson about humility.

Although I reached Dad's height, I still have not reached his humility. My diminished height reminded me that he always gave credit for his considerable intelligence to God and did the same for the all the graces God granted him. Dad's faith kept growing even when he was shrinking.

That's probably why I still look up to Dad.

For it is only when we become ever more humble in the sight of an all-powerful and all-loving God that we grow in the only way that really matters - closer to God.

+++

When our humility grows,

so does our gratitude to God.

Susquehanna Valley gas prices fell three cents last week, according to AAA East Central's Fuel Gauge Report, inching closer to the national average of $2.765 a gallon.

On the national front

Drivers paid the lowest prices at the pump for Independence Day since 2010, saving 90 cents per gallon over last year.

National gas prices have remained relatively steady over the past month, increasing by only a penny month over month, despite regional refinery fluctuations in price because of refinery issues.

However, consumers continue to pay considerably less for gas than in the recent past. Gas prices continue to reflect yearly discounts: drivers are saving an average of 89 cents per gallon versus this same date last year.

The direction of pump prices for the near future is uncertain. Consumer demand generally increases during July and August, and the ability for producers to keep pace can directly impact prices. Average prices can also be affected by Atlantic hurricanes and/or refinery issues. Despite those possible domestic factors, the relatively low crude oil price is expected to keep a ceiling on pump prices compared to recent years.

AAA still anticipates drivers will pay averages less than $3 for the remainder of the year.

Last weekend, Greece voted "no" on a referendum over debt bailout terms, signaling the country's potential exit from the Eurozone following its recent default on loans from the International Monetary Fund. This puts substantial pressure on the value of the Euro and strengthens the U.S. dollar.

A stronger U.S. dollar makes crude oil prices, priced in U.S. dollars, more expensive for those holding other currencies. This lowers demands and pressures prices lower.

At the close of formal trading on the NYMEX on July 2, WTI was down three cents and settled at $56.93 per barrel, its lowest finish since April.

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

MOUNT CARMEL - Vapor that was poured into the sewer system in Mount Carmel Friday showed more work needs to be done to fully satisfy requirements of the Clean Water Act of 2005, which mandates that storm water be separated from sanitary waste.

The Mount Carmel Municipal Authority (MCMA) is carrying out "smoke testing" with a colorless and non-toxic vapor to identify leaks in the pipes and to locate any illegal sewer connections. John Bucanelli, project engineer for the Shamokin Creek channel project, said one problem area is at Seventh and Market streets, where vapor was seen Friday coming out of a storm manhole. The cause, he said, was most likely from by an inner connection that was not listed on maps.

Borough workers and young adults in a program run through Central

Susquehanna Opportunities documented areas where vapor was located in the storm system. Dye testing and cameras may be used to further investigate the cause of leaks before funding is sought to correct the problem.

MCMA began working toward complying with the Clean Water Act when it invested more than $22 million in the construction of a new waste water treatment plant and a new set of lines to exclusively handle storm water. Property owners were required to disconnect roof drains from the sanitary sewer system and obtain a borough-issued certificate of compliance if they have sump pumps.

Bucanelli said a few residents reported seeing the vapor at their homes, mainly from uncapped pipes that were once hooked to their roof drains. Workers did locate several homes that still had roof leaders attached to the sewer system, which is a violation.

The MCMA previously granted residents illegally discharging storm water into the sanitary sewers an amnesty period to bring their systems up to code. Violators could face penalties of $300 per day and imprisonment.

"They (property owners) will now have a grace period of 30 days," Bucanelli. "Their addresses were documented and code enforcement will follow up on it."

The borough has been divided into 12 sectors and testing will be done over the next 10 weeks. Weekly advertisements in The News-Item will identify what section of the borough will be affected and other details about the testing.

"We are still kind of cleaning up the last five percent of water getting into the sewer system," he said. "It's not the areas where the water is entering the sewer that's the problem; it's the areas down below, near the nursing home, where we are seeing the problem. That's unacceptable."

Creek channel

The multi-million dollar Shamokin Creek channel project continues to progress. Past and current work includes building on-site or installing pre-cast channel walls for nearly a mile, building new bridges at North Walnut and North Chestnut streets and constructing an open pool and levy system that will break the flow of the water near the Silver Bowl.

The new channel is meant to handle all storm water and eliminate flooding issues on Water Street, which in turn should lower homeowners' insurance rates once the area is resurveyed and the Federal Emergency Management Agency updates its flood zone maps.

Hickory Street, between Avenue and Water Street, is closed, but is expected to reopen soon after paving is completed. The road was torn open in order to place a massive box culvert. Water Street, from Hickory to Chestnut streets, remains closed to thru traffic until further notice.

"The project is moving along very well," Bucanelli said. "Right now, the project is at its trickiest because there's barely enough room to get a concrete mixer in there."

Remediation of "weathered fuel oil" left behind by a bygone gas company was completed in the past two weeks. Last July, a crew working on the channel discovered the substance along Water Street, just west of Vine Street. Don E. Bower Inc., the primary contractor, was forced to move the construction area slightly upstream, to an area just east of Vine Street. The change meant moving temporary dams, pumps, large pipes and heavy machinery.

Bucanelli said UGI, which has a pipeline and property in the vicinity, removed an unspecified amount of contaminated soil and disposed of it properly. He previously stated UGI took responsibility, but there was no negligence on its part.

"A couple of things, such as realignments and ground contamination, have slowed the project, but these things have all been addressed," he said. "The project is quite a civil engineering feat. The channel is being built through town, so you never know what you will encounter."

COAL TOWNSHIP - A one-week code blitz in June led to 54 tickets for nuisance violations in Coal Township.

Enforcement ramped up June 8 to 12 after township commissioners directed police officers to assist in handling quality-of-life issues, namely excessive garbage and high grass. Residents were encouraged to call police with anonymous tips.

Another 20 code violation complaints were addressed through the remainder of the month, according to township manager Rob Slaby.

Commissioner Gene Welsh said the effort had obvious impact. He noticed properties that had been cited have since been cleaned up. Many properties not cited but bordering on violations were also cleaned up, he said.

Craig Fetterman, board chairman, vented at a June commissioners meeting about dirty porches and yards as the impetus for an uptick in enforcement.

"What I hate to hear people say is Coal Township used to be a nice place to live. I want people to say Coal Township is a nice place to live," he said last month.

MOUNT CARMEL - An infusion of technology into the Mount Carmel Borough Police Department means increased efficiency and more officers patrolling the streets.

The department recently installed laptops into its police cars complete with the necessary software to eliminate most desk work.

Borough council president Tony Matulewicz said Geisinger Health Systems donated the laptops to the department through a program designed to reuse equipment in area communities. A grant paid for the software, which includes programs for officers to run license plates, verify identification, run background checks and send documents to judicial offices.

Police chief Todd Owens said the savings from the grant will allow the department to purchase Bluetooth printers so officers can print tickets in their cars. Currently, officers input tickets at the station after finishing a patrol. "We're not as tethered as much to the department."

"You can issue a traffic summons in under two minutes," Owens said.

In addition to cutting back on the time spent in the station, the technology will also free up the 911 center. Before the laptops, officers had to relay information like license plate and driver's license numbers to workers in the dispatch center, who would input it and run it through the system.

"We're not at the mercy of the dispatcher to give us that information," said Owens, who worked as a dispatcher early in his law enforcement career.

Without the concern of tying up a dispatcher, officers can now quickly run the plate number of a suspicious car or check the history of a suspect.

Officers can now also perform office duties while in their cars, which allows them to monitor problem areas while parked. Owens already had heard positive feedback from community members, who have noticed the constant patrols of town.

"They see us all over," he said.

Enhanced presence

Matulewicz said by moving officers out of the station and onto the streets, borough council hoped to integrate the police into the community.

"I think the image of our police department is changing," he said. "It's more community-oriented now."

Owens said he has a goal of having at least one officer on the street at all times. Often two officers are patrolling the streets.

"Increased presence in the community - that's a big thing for us," Owens said.

"It was very important to council that police could be on the streets more," said Matulewicz. "We want to send a message that police will be about town more than ever."

He said he wanted to deter criminals from conducting their business in Mount Carmel by increasing police presence. With a stagnant tax base and rising costs, the computers allow the officers to be more effective with at a minimal cost to the borough.

"This is an excellent way to do more with less," he said.

SUNBURY - The district attorney's office has 15 days to turn over evidence in the Robert A. Snyder Jr. shooting investigation that the defense claims was purposely withheld.

Northumberland County President Judge William H. Wiest ordered the release of evidence following a hearing Friday on the defense's second discovery motion. The ruling delays a criminal trial, with jury selection scratched for Monday.

Prosecutors must turn over all relevant text messages from Feb. 4, any ballistic evidence, a thumb drive and a copy of a hard drive owned by Snyder. The defense has a right to the texts to attempt to provide context to related statements, the judge ruled.

Potential motions concerning the evidence must be filed by Aug. 7. A pre-trial conference is scheduled for Aug. 14.

Snyder, 63, of 330 East Drive, Sunbury, has been jailed at SCI-Coal Township on $300,000 bail since Feb. 13. He was arrested on charges of attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault, terroristic threats, reckless endangerment and simple assault.

Police say Snyder was drunk when he assaulted his wife, Kimberly Snyder, and pointed a revolver inches from her face, threatening to kill her and then himself. In a struggle for the gun, a round was fired. The wife wrestled away the gun and fled their home, according to police. Snyder has maintained his innocence.

Michael Toomey, assistant district attorney, refuted defense claims that the prosecution was intentionally attempting to hide facts in the case.

Discovery evidence was provided to defense attorney Michael Rudinski, Toomey said during the hearing, including a full length text message and analysis of gunshot residue. A computer hard drive belonging to Snyder is in possession of a state police forensics unit. Toomey said it can be copied and quickly delivered to the defense. A thumb drive that's been requested is also available to be turned over.

As to requests for ballistics testing, Toomey said he doesn't have the results. He also said he doesn't need it. Police recovered a revolver, shell casing and a bullet pulled from a floor board. There's also an eyewitness.

"I'm not hiding anything. I'm ready to go to trial. (Rudinski) has not proven anything as to why it's material," Toomey said of the discovery motion.

Whether or not the prosecution needs ballistics testing doesn't matter, Rudinski said. The defense is entitled to it. He also cast doubt on Toomey's claim, saying the prosecution sought out ballistics testing itself.

Laboratory reports and information potentially culled from the hard drive should have been included in an initial discovery request, Rudinski said. It's led him to believe "they're hiding" something ahead of trial. He said the prosecution fears his client will be released from jail on nominal $1 bail.

"They're concerned about Rule 600. That's all this is. They're going to rush, and rush, and rush, and ask me to file a continuance," Rudinski said.

Defendants held for more than 180 days without trial are eligible for nominal bail under the state's Rule 600. The court calendar starts on arrest but can be stalled with continuances by either side.

Friday's motion doesn't count against Snyder, and the court calendar will continue in his favor between the date the motion was filed, June 29, and the Aug. 7 deadline for motions concerning the disputed evidence.

Snyder is a well-known Sunbury businessman and a former city council member.

Roadwork in Northumberland

MONTOURSVILLE - On Monday, July 13, a PennDOT maintenance crew will begin repairs on Route 11 (Water Street) and Route 147 (Duke Street) in Northumberland.

This project is expected to last two days. The road will be restricted to one lane from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. Flaggers will provide traffic control.

Delays are expected. Motorists should seek alternate routes.

Smokey Bear will be at state park

BARNESVILLE - Smokey Bear will be at the Locust Lake State Park amphitheater at 6 p.m. today.

Dave Duffy, the fire chief from New England Fire Company will give a fire prevention and campfire safety presentation followed by a visit from Smokey Bear. This program is free and open to the public, shine only. All children must be accompanied by an adult.

ELYSBURG - Knoebels Amusement Resort's new rollercoaster, Impulse, was voted No. 2 on the Best New Amusement Park Attraction in USA Today's 10Best poll. The month-long contest ended Monday, and winners were announced at noon Friday.

Impulse held first, second and third place rankings throughout the entire contest, which included 19 other attractions across the country.

According to the contest website, 10Best teamed up with a panel of amusement park experts to nominate the 20 most highly anticipated new attractions hitting parks this year. From the 20 nominated attractions, winners were selected solely by fan vote.

Knoebels visitors are enjoying the twists, turns and upside down thrills of Impulse, the single largest project in the park's history. Impulse is Knoebels' first major steel coaster since Whirlwind was removed roughly a decade ago, and is one of the first things visitors see as they approach the park's main parking lot via Knoebels Parkway. The steel roller coaster features a 98-foot vertical lift hill, a 90-degree free fall drop, several inversions, nearly 2,000 feet of track, speeds of more than 55 mph and three eight-passenger roller coaster cars with lap restraints.

DORNSIFE - A variety of musical entertainers and skilled crafters, along with plenty of home-cooked food is scheduled for the annual Himmel's Country Festival starting at 7 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 1, at Himmel's Church Grove, just off Schwaben Creek in this lower Northumberland County village.

Food will be served all day long beginning at 7 a.m. and live musical entertainment begins on the grove stage at 10 a.m. Scheduled entertainment to date: Himmel's Choir, True Heart, Olivia Dunkle, magician Brent Kessler, Kate and Friends ventriloquist and The Weaver Believer Survival Revival.

There will be a train display in the Boy Scout building, a used book sale, a bake sale and kids' games, including a duck derby on the creek. Miss Himmel's contest and Bible Jeopardy will be back again this year.

Breakfast includes ham, eggs, home fries, fried mush and more. Lunch begins at 11 a.m. and features pizza, chicken breast sandwiches, haluski and "crick tea." Dinner features potpie starting at 4 p.m.

Other highlights on the festival menu include kettle-made ham and bean soup and kettle-cooked potato chips.

For more information, call 570-425-2200 or go to www.himmelschurch.com.

BERWICK - A counselor and coach at Columbia County Christian School was arrested Friday and charged with six felony counts of institutional sexual assault after a 16-year-old student reported a sexual relationship with the educator.

Alan James Price, 30, of Berwick, was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Richard W. Knecht and released on $50,000 unsecured bail.

The Borough of Berwick Police Department reported the victim was interviewed May 30 as part of a Children and Youth investigation that began after reports were received the girl and Price were having an inappropriate relationship. The victim initially denied the relationship, but several weeks later admitted to her mother she was in a sexual relationship with Price.

In a second interview conducted June 22, the victim said the relationship began when Price, who was her coach at the school, volunteered to drive her home from sporting events, police said. The victim then began seeing Price as a counselor regularly during school hours, but said nothing inappropriate happened during school or at any school event, police said.

The victim said Price told her about issues he was having with his wife, police said. The victim said she began having feelings for Price. She began babysitting for Price while he went out with his friends.

Price returned home one evening while the victim was babysitting, and he began to kiss her on the mouth, the victim reported. He then fondled the victim and performed sexual acts on the her, police said.

The victim reported this became routine while she was babysitting and occurred weekly from the beginning of April until the end of May, police said.

Price is scheduled July 23 for a preliminary hearing.

HARRISBURG - The Susquehanna River Basin Commission (SRBC) last week released its third report on water quality conditions in select watersheds in the Marcellus shale region of the Susquehanna River Basin.

Prior to 2010, when SRBC began collecting the data through its state-of-the-art Remote Water Quality Monitoring Network (RWQMN), little to no water quality data existed for many smaller streams in northern Pennsylvania and the southern tier of New York. SRBC's first report in 2012 established existing conditions within the first 37 of 59 watersheds that SRBC is monitoring through the RWQMN. This third report provides a more comprehensive report of conditions across the full monitoring network.

"The commission takes very seriously one of its core functions of monitoring water quality conditions in the streams and rivers of the Susquehanna Basin," said SRBC Executive Director Andrew Dehoff. "This third report provides more information on the data collected as part of the Commission's effort to evaluate whether or not water quality conditions in streams are reflecting impacts associated with natural gas drilling."

SRBC's objective of the RWQMN is to apply best available science to track changes in water quality conditions over time and to allow for timely responses in the case of pollution events. Other objectives are to reduce the cost of data collection by using advanced technologies, to enhance water supply protection through source water monitoring, and to be responsive to public concerns.

Each RWQMN station is equipped with sensors that can continuously detect changes in water quality. The water quality parameters are measured at five-minute intervals and transmitted to SRBC headquarters in Harrisburg every two to four hours.

Of the 58 watersheds covered in this report, SRBC has observed:

- With continuous monitoring from 2010-2013, data collected did not indicate any changes in water quality.

- With a few exceptions, the water chemistry at the monitoring stations indicates good water quality.

- The results of aquatic insect monitoring were not affected by the density of upstream natural gas wells or pads.

As more stations accumulate additional years of continuous data, SRBC staff will be able to detect any longer-term water quality trends in addition to immediate impacts.

For the full report, go to http://mdw.srbc.net/remotewaterquality/reports.htm.

The Harrisburg-based SRBC is the governing agency established under a 100-year compact signed Dec. 24, 1970, by the federal government and the states of New York, Pennsylvania and Maryland to protect and wisely manage the water resources of the Susquehanna River Basin. The Susquehanna River starts in Cooperstown, N.Y., and flows 444 miles to Havre de Grace, Md., where the river meets the Chesapeake Bay.

SUNBURY - Two state judicial candidates visited Sunbury Saturday afternoon as part of a five-county tour through the Susquehanna Valley.

Supreme Court candidate Judy Olson and Superior Court candidate Emil Giordano, both Republicans, spent slightly more than an hour meeting Northumberland County residents and speaking about issues at the Hotel Edison.

Both candidates urged the approximately three dozen attendees to vote in November's election. Olson said casting a vote for Supreme Court justices is particularly important because three seats are open on this board, which ultimately decides how state laws are interpreted.

"You can have the best elected representatives in the General Assembly ... and with the stroke of the pen a judge can undo it," she said. "That's why this election is so important."

Wants to make an impact

Olson, a judge on the Superior Court circuit, said she hoped to go from "Judge Judy" to "Justice Judy" so she could make an impact on issues statewide. She cited her experience and character as the reason to vote for her.

"I've spent 25 years as a lawyer," said Olson, who has also served as a judge since 2008. "I know what it's like to advocate."

During her time as a Superior Court judge, Olson said she's tried thousands of cases of all types, including criminal, civil and juvenile. The range of experience gives her the ability to look at all sides of an issue and make a fair ruling, she said.

"Every case that comes before me I take so seriously," she said. "Every case is so critical.

"These are real people you are impacting," she said.

Olson said that while justices on both the state and federal levels have recently made many critical decisions, she did not have any specific issues she wanted to address. If elected, she will focus on interpreting the law rather than creating it.

Interpret, not rewrite

Giordano concurred that he wanted to interpret the law rather than rewrite it.

"I've never wanted to change the law," he said. "That's up to the legislature."

Giordano also has an extensive legal background, one that has put him in nearly every seat in the courtroom. He has served as an assistant district attorney, a public defender, a private practice lawyer, a civil trial attorney and the Administrative Judge of the Orphans' Court Division in Northampton County, which primarily deals with custody cases.

"The most difficult case is when two good people don't get along anymore and can't agree on how to raise their children," he said. "Those are the cases that give me the most heartache."

Raised in Bethlehem by immigrant parents who never attended high school, Giordano said he often reflects on how he worked his way up from his parents' pizza shop to his judgeship.

"I wasn't born to this job," he said. "I got here on my own two legs."

Giordano - who also teaches classes at Cabrini and Moravian colleges and coaches baseball and basketball, which he jokingly described as "the hardest job" - said he will bring a community-oriented aspect to his decision making.

"I represent small town values," he said.

Whirlwind

Though Saturday's five-county visit was a whirlwind experience, Giordano said he was grateful to have the opportunity to be the Republican party candidate.

"I never expected to be here," he said. "I grew up wanting to be a musician!"

In a callback to his childhood dreams, Giordano brought out his acoustic guitar and entertained the crowd by singing a few songs with Snyder County Commissioner Chairman Joseph E. Kantz.

In addition to Northumberland County, the two candidates visited Lycoming, Union, Snyder and Montour counties on Saturday's tour.

Conservation district selling bulbs

SUNBURY - The Northumberland County Conservation District is accepting orders through Aug. 17 for its first bulb sale.

Bulbs being sold include a variety of daffodils, tulips, indoor narcissus paper white, snow bunch crocus, new tiger lilies, heavenly blue bells, super color hyacinths, purple drumsticks, grecian windflowers, martinette narcissus, striped squill and apline bells.

For order forms, call the conservation district office at 570-495-4665 or go to www.nccdpa.org. Orders may also be placed online.

Payment is due with the order and can be made via check, money order or credit card.

Items are available for pick up Sept. 22 and 23 at the NCCD Office Building, 441 Plum Creek Road off of Route 890. Orders placed online will be shipped directly to the customer.

HERNDON - The Herndon Campmeeting will celebrate its 114th season Friday through July 26, at 114 Campmeeting Circle.

The theme for this year's event is "Pressing On." It is taken from Paul's letter to the Philippians in Chapter 3:12-15.

Special services and programs are:

Sunday, July 19

10 a.m. worship, Dr. Fred Moury.

3 p.m. concert by The Shrout Family.

Saturday, July 25

3 p.m. Missionary Rally with Dave and Conce Roof.

Sunday, July 26

10 a.m. worship, Bishop Bruce Hill (Holy Communion).

3 p.m. concert by Brothers in Grace.

Evangelist Dr. Gary Keuhner will preach in the evening at 7 p.m. Friday through July 21. The Rev. Rich Stevenson will preach at 7 p.m. July 22 through 26.

Dr. Kenneth H. Miller will serve as Bible teacher at 10 a.m. July 20 through 24 in the tabernacle. Bible discussion leader is Prof. Phillip Bollinger, who will lead discussion at 3 p.m. July 20 to 24 in the dining hall.

The campmeeting will offer children and youth programs, musical entertainment every day and a grandma's attic bargain store at the tabernacle directly behind the platform. The Garden of the Five Senses will be available for people to visit and meditate each day and evening.

For more information on the campmeeting activities or accommodations, call 570-758-8835 or go to www.herndoncampmeeting.org and also on Facebook.

The world is made of people from different cultures and heritages, and sometimes these differences can be hard to understand.

One way to get a clearer picture of another culture is total immersion.

That's what Ian Murray got to do on a recent trip to Hawaii.

"I wanted the opportunity to go to Hawaii because one, it is a beautiful area and two, it has a lot of rich history," Murray, Ringtown, said.

The soon-to-be senior at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, participated in the school's Global Opportunities Program. The program requires students to spend time off campus immersed in a different culture. The students are guided by faculty members and coursework that promotes personal growth. The program sends students to Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and locations in North and South America.

"When I went to Hawaii, I learned that the culture there and the culture here have similarities but they are also very different," he said. "The one thing that our GO Program offers and what it tries to aim at is getting you to understand a new culture and bring that to your daily life."

Exploring the islands

Murray joined 11 other students as they explored the country's 50th state. From May 10 to 27, the students explored three of the state's islands - O'ahu, The Big Island and Kaua'i.

"They were all very different. They had their own characteristics and it was pretty neat because in the span of three weeks, we were able to do so much," Murray said.

Among community service duties such as cleaning debris from trails, the group got to experience the land by hiking on Mount Kilauea; visiting one of two green sand beaches in the world; jumping 40 feet off Kalae in O'ahu, the southernmost point in the United States, and snorkeling in Hanauma Bay in O'ahu.

Murray said they swam with multiple species of fish and honu, or turtles. The bay was created from a volcano eruption about 30,000 years ago. It serves as a link between the sea and the creatures and humans.

Murray said forming a bond with the land is an important aspect of Hawaiian life.

"Everybody there seems to be focused on sustainability and understanding that like, we have this small area of land which is 11 hours away (from the contiguous United States). We have to sustain the area and do our job," he said.

Hands-on, history

With a major in biology and a minor in chemistry, Murray was particularly intrigued by studying a coral reef. He said no matter the field of study, a biology student needs to take advantage of an opportunity like that.

"Once you're out there, definitely to go through a coral reef and see the different color fish, you can't even put it into words because it's something I never had gotten the chance to do," he said. "And I really love that because as a biology major, we get diversified in so many fields, whether it be cell biology or anything up to fish or living organisms like larger mammals, you need to see this stuff in person."

During their time on O'ahu, the students visited Pearl Harbor. Murray said they met a man named Jimmy Lee, who as a kid experienced the attack on the U.S. naval base by the Japanese in 1941.

"To me, (it) is unreal because you can go to Pearl Harbor and see the memorial and see the ships underneath the water. But to get a viewpoint from someone who witnessed it and someone who was around at the time, it really drives home the point that this is something that happened that is a huge part of our country," Murray said.

The encounter added to Murray's immersion into the another culture. However, this experience helped him realize that culture not only spans countries, it also spans generations.

As a child of the new millennium, Murray said the comparable event in his life to Pearl Harbor is the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Centers in New York, The Pentagon outside Washington, D.C., and potential attack that crashed in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.

"These are things that define our culture, our generation," he said.

Embracing 'Aloha Spirit'

One of group's assignments was to interview Hawaiian people. Murray said they found a family celebrating a birthday. He said they invited the students into their home and made them eat while talking to the whole family.

Murray said it was the epitome of the "Aloha Spirit." According to the Hawaii State Legislature website, www.capitol.hawaii.gov, it is the coordination of mind and heart within each person. Each person must think and emote good feelings to others.

"I think, coming back from Hawaii, everybody there was so nice and willing to accept you and kind of bring you in," he said.

As Murray looked back on his Hawaiian adventure, he found likenesses to home and the island state more than 4,700 miles away.

"The similarity of the two is the cultures are very strong. When you are in Schuylkill County, it is a close-knit community, which I really enjoy. And then going there, definitely the family was a focus," he said.

He also said the two cultures have special things that are near and dear to their hearts. For example, in Hawaii they have luaus and the hula, while people in Schuylkill County have ethnic foods and festivals.

"You have your family heritage and you have your own family traditions, but we grow up in this melting pot area where we all assimilate," Murray said.

The ties that bind

There happened to be one stronger link to Schuylkill County that Murray wasn't expecting.

To participate in the GO Program, the students fill out an application and advisers interview a pool of students from which they will choose. Two of the students selected for Murray's group were also from Schuylkill County - Sarah Paluck, Tamaqua, and Nathan Newton, Minersville.

Murray said one of the group's goals was to form a bond. He said they broke away from technology and ate dinner around a table together every night.

"It really made for a good experience because the 12 students that were on my trip, we really became closer. In Hawaii they have the term 'ohana,' and ohana means family, so we all became a little family toward the end of it," Murray said.

As Murray looks toward his senior year and potential medical school, he carries the values learned in the Aloha State. It was a trip he will savor because he realizes that it may have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

"The different things that we were able to see and the different aspects we were able to experience, I feel I might never get the chance to do it again," he said.