KULPMONT - Shimock's Furniture has been "selling happiness" for a century. In 1915, Shimock's opened its doors, serving the coal region from Mount Carmel with paint, wallpaper, flooring, furniture and bedding needs.

Shimock's furniture has been in Kulpmont at their 900 Chestnut St. (Route 61) since the early 1980s. Now in its third generation of ownership, it is the area's furniture and bedding retailer. Shimock's sells quality furniture, bedding and accessories satisfying all tastes and budgets. They always deliver and set up new furniture for free and dispose of old furniture.

"We spend more time with our customers and we think that is the secret to our success," John Shimock said, who is the third-generation owner of the business.

Shimock's has layaway and one-year interest-free financing.

To help celebrate its 100th anniversary, Shimock's is giving away a piece of furniture, designer accessory or artwork every day for 100 days (Monday through Friday for 20 weeks). The promotion started at the beginning of July and they have already given away a brand new Lane recliner.

To enter the give-away, visit the store or enter through their "Shimock's Furniture, Since 1915" Facebook page. No purchase is necessary.

They are also running special sales throughout the store, including a minimum of $100 off every in-stock sofa and a free nightstand with bedroom purchase. For more special sale prices and promotions, see their advertisements in The News-Item or call Shimock's Furniture at 570-373-1531, or visit their website at www.shimocks.com.

Here's to another 100 years of selling happiness.

MOUNT CARMEL - Elections of officers were recently held at the Mount Carmel Bishop Lawrence F. Schott Knights of Columbus.

Officers of Council 628 are Edward Teevan, grand knight; James Bailoni, chancellor; David Berezovske, recorder; George Kroutch, financial secretary; Henry Zuech, treasurer; Michael Skopatz, advocate; Gerald Palovick, warden; Joseph Bergan, inside guard; Patrick Halcovich, outside guard, and John Karycki and John McDonnell, trustees.

Assembly 959 officers are Edward Teevan, faithful navigator; Peter Avellino, faithful admiral; Henry Zuech, faithful captain; Bruce Facer, faithful pilot; George Kroutch, faithful comptroller; David Berezovske, faithful scribe; Joseph Swatski, faithful purser; Bernard Bolick, faithful inner sentinel; David Bartol, faithful outer sentinel, and Thomas Buehl and John Schenewerk, faithful trustees.

Officers of the Christopher Club are Edward Teevan, president; Fred Persing, vice-president; Thomas Buehl, treasurer; David Berezovske, secretary, and Joseph Bergan, Bruce Facer, Gerald Palovick, and Michael White, directors.

CENTRALIA - A tourism and off-roading boom in Centralia exacerbated an ATV wreck Saturday afternoon when hundreds of vehicles parked in the town left LifeFlight nowhere to land.

State police said Lori Duchow, 45, of Macungie, was riding as a passenger on an ATV driven by her husband, Skeeter Duchow, when it rolled down an embankment and onto the northern end of former Route 61 shortly before 4 p.m.

Firefighters at the scene reported Lori Duchow suffered what appeared to be a back injury. She was taken from the site of the accident and placed in an ambulance where she could be heard crying loudly.

LifeFlight attempted to land at a gravel lot on Second Street near the entrance to a cemetery less than 500 feet from the site of the accident, but was unable to do so because of the number of ATVs, cars and trailers parked in and around the lot.

Instead, the helicopter circled back and landed approximately two miles away on Memorial Field in Ashland. Duchow was transported to the landing site by ambulance.

Centralia Fire Chief Tom Hynoski said between 200 and 300 vehicles were parked in the lot when he arrived at the scene of the accident. People were pouring out of the defunct roadway, making it difficult for emergency personnel to get to the scene of the accident, he said.

"We couldn't even get in," he said. "This could have ended up begin something tragic because of this nonsense."

Duchow remained at Geisinger Medical Center in serious condition Saturday night.

Skeeter Duchow and a third rider also suffered minor injuries in the accident but were not treated.

Trooper Anthony Ziller said the Duchows could face trespassing citations as a result of the accident.

After the scene had been cleared, Ziller visited the lot and spoke to some of the ATV riders.

Tourism

Though riding and walking on the former Route 61 and other abandoned streets in Centralia is considered trespassing, Hynoski said more tourists are visiting every year.

"This summer is the worst I ever saw," he said. "They're from everywhere. It's unbelievable."

In addition to the ATV riding and walking, many visitors leave their mark on the former Route 61 with spray paint. State police sent a warning earlier in the week that anyone caught spray painting will face criminal mischief charges.

Hynoski said some visitors go so far as to knock on the doors of the residents and ask questions about the mine fire.

Though some of Saturday's visitors left following the accident, many onlookers formed a group at the dirt pile that separates detoured Route 61 from its former course, some using cameras to record the accident as if it was part of their trip. A group of nearly a dozen teenagers laughed and cracked jokes as Duchow lay just feet away in the ambulance.

Once she was taken from the scene, visitors resumed milling about the abandoned town.

Marriage licenses

Keith Eugene Metzger to Deborah A. Wert, both of 811 N. Fifth St., Sunbury. Issued July 9.

Brandon Lee Dudanowicz to Crystal Jane Benfer, both of 256 1/2 Catawissa Ave., Sunbury. Issued July 9.

Heather Jean Long to Cheryl A. Hunsinger, both of 158 W. Roosevelt Ave., Elysburg. Issued July 9.

Cory Michael Cook to Lindsey Ann Moore, both of 4497 Schwaben Creek, Leck Kill. Issued July 10.

Daniel Owen Ludwig Jr. to Lucinda Lea Miller, both of 19 S. Beech St., Mount Carmel. To be issued July 13.

Steven James Paul to Ashley Nicole Lubold, both of 278 N. Main St., P.O. Box 422, Herndon. To be issued July 13.

Property transfers

M&S Holdings LLC to Joseph R. and Donna Shearn, property in Mount Carmel Borough, $2,000.

Northeast Apartments LLC to Jessie Voeckler, property in Mount Carmel Borough, $4,000.

BWH Properties LLC to Roger and Sandra Combs, property in Marion Heights, $1,000.

Peter J. and Jordann N. Bridy to Jordann N. Bridy, property in Mount Carmel Borough, $1.

Kenneth J. and Gary M. Gusick to Kenneth J. Gusick, property in Coal Township, $1.

Kenneth J. Gusick to Janna M. Landau, property in Coal Township, $35,000.

Jennifer L. Wilt and Kimberley M. Rush to Amanda L. Stancavage, property in Coal Township, $35,500.

Audrey A. Schoch to Kathy Jeremiah, Richard Schoch and Darlene Haupt, property in Coal Township, $1.

Bank of New York, JP Morgan Chase Bank and Susquehanna Bankcshares Inc. to Shamokin City, property in Shamokin, $1.

Mary Ann Abromitis (by agent) and John C. Abromitis to William J. Snyder II, property in Coal Township, $25,000.

Lance Reedy to Kevin Andre Gilgeous and Kathleen C. Claxton, property in Mount Carmel Borough, $12,900.

Beverly A. Pesarchick to MRK Realty Inc., property in Mount Carmel Township, $130,000.

Edward Getchey (individually and executor), Clara Bartlinski and Michelle Getchey to Theodore Hess and Debra A. Hess-Kerstetter, property in Coal Township, $5,000.

James W. and Roseann McDowall to Norman J. Dorsett, property in Shamokin, $1.

Mary Ann Everitt to Corinne Grohowski and Martin Olszewskie, property in Mount Carmel Borough, $1.

Sharon I. London to Melissa M. and John B. Peifer, property in Upper Augusta Township, $1.

Rita Marcella Ginitz to Denice F. Drumheiser, property in Shamokin, $1.

Rita Marcella Ginitz to Richard Stanley Drumheiser, property in Shamokin, $1.

Trudy Persavage to George O. and Julia Hill, property in Coal Township, $1.

Mary C. Durham to Joshua M. Jurewicz, property in Shamokin, $2,000.

JDM Acquisitions LLC to Northumberland County, property in Sunbury and Upper Augusta Township, $2,000,000.

Northumberland County Sheriff, Leroy A. Lebo Jr. and Christina K. Lebo to US Bank National Association (trustee) and Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, property in Shamokin, $1,255.61.

James C. and Paula A. Lunch to Kimberly Kerstetter, property in East Cameron Township, $70,000.

David R. Hughes to Wesley A. Hack and Tanya Y. Nebrowski, property in Shamokin, $7,000.

US Bank National Association to Ian and Kaitlyn Lewis, property in Zerbe Township, $44,965.

Allen J. and Katie L. Klinger to Justin R. McAllister Sr., Robert B. McAllister and Barbara J. McAllister, property in Shamokin, $1.

Thomas K. Herb to Paul D. and Tammy Foulds, property in Shamokin, $1,400.

John M. and Olga C. Roscoe to Olga C. Roscoe, property in Ralpho Township, $1.

Melissa A. Munsell and Melanie Jessop to Morris A. and Linda K. Gard, property in Shamokin, $1.

Thomas J. Elliott to Baytay LLC, property in Mount Carmel Borough, $3,500.

TREVORTON - The Patsies Senior Adult Ministry met June 15 at St. Patrick Church Hall. The SAM prayer and Pledge of Allegiance were recited, and the Over 50 Song was sung. There were 17 members in attendance offering wishes for Father's Day. June birthday celebrants were Helen Delorso, Ron Kuhns, Kathryn Lebo, Marlene Reck, Shirley Treon and Rosemarie Witt. Donations were made by Marilyn Henninger, Ron Kuhns and Joyce Koppen. Refreshments were provided by Linda DeFacis and Kuhns.

For further information regarding the Patsies trip to American Music Theatre Christmas Show Nov. 5 and the Trevorton Senior Center trips to Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre and Woodlock Pines, call Joyce at 570-797-3695 or Judie at 570-648-0105.

50/50 winners were Lavon Swank and Rose Marie Kopyscianski.

New members are welcome. July's meeting is a covered dish luncheon at the hall at 1 p.m., July 20. Bingo will be played.

TREVORTON - A former Little League volunteer is behind bars after police charged him with five felonies and five misdemeanors in connection to stealing money from the organization's concession stand on multiple occasions.

Jason Houtz, 37, of 826 Franklin Avenue, Trevorton, was video-arraigned Sunday by Magisterial District Judge Michael Diehl and placed in Snyder County prison in lieu of $15,000 cash bail.

He is charged by Zerbe Township Patrolman Michael L. Kreischer and Chief Robert John with three felony counts of burglary, two felony counts of criminal trespassing by breaking into structures, three misdemeanor counts of possessing an instrument of a crime with intent to use it and one misdemeanor count each of receiving stolen property and theft by unlawful taking.

According to the criminal complaint, volunteers at the Trevorton Little League notified police on May 14 that money had been taken from the concession stand several times over the previous three weeks. On May 16, they placed an envelope with $12 in a cabinet in the stand, but a few days later the money was missing. Police said the building showed no other signs of a break in.

Sometime between April 27 and May 1 the stand was burglarized again and $110 in cash was taken from a cash box that had been stored in the kitchen microwave, police said.

On Friday, May 8, organization treasurer Stacey Grindstaff said she placed $270 in a cash lockbox in the upstairs of the stand. She told police when she returned Monday they money was missing.

Organization representatives then purchased and installed a security system with a camera in the stand on May 12. After a game the following day, they placed $297 in cash in the upstairs lockbox and secured the building. The next day the money was missing.

A leader of the organization, Keith Dunkelberger, reviewed surveillance footage, which police said showed Houtz in the concession stand approximately an hour after the stand was secured. Houtz was recorded using a long slender device later identified as a hack saw blade to open the cashbox. He then removed the $297 from the box, police said.

Kreischer said members of the organization recognized Houtz. The News-Item has reported previously that he has performed volunteer work for Trevorton Little League.

Walk the watershed

ARISTES - A naturalist from Tuscarora State Park will be on hand at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday for a hike at Roaring Creek Watershed north of Mount Carmel. This hike is 8 1/2 miles in length and moderate in difficulty. The loop passes by two large reservoirs. Participants should meet at the Roaring Creek parking lot on Route 42 below Aristes. Call Robin at 570-467-2506 for more information. Dogs are welcome, but all pets must be leashed and get along with other pets and people. Shine only.

The following landlord/tenant claims were filed in magisterial district court:

John Gembic III, Shamokin

Angela M. and James Broscious, both of Excelsior, against William Taylor, of Excelsior, and Jennifer Broscious, of Coal Township, for $450, filed July 9. A hearing is scheduled for July 20.

A. Auto Service and Hala Dina, of Mount Carmel, against Dolly Mutschler, of Shamokin, and Brian K. Sites, of Coal Township, for $4,000, filed July 8. A hearing is scheduled for July 20.

Alli Stella, of Sunbury, against Michelle Anderson, of Coal Township, for no specified amount filed July 7. A hearing is scheduled for July 20.

Michael Ramos, of Neptune, N.J., against Tracey Lehman, of Coal Township, for $850, filed July 7. A hearing is scheduled for July 16.

Lamont and Nolan Masser, of Leck Kill, against Linda Depena, of Shamokin, for $1,217, filed July 6. A hearing is scheduled for July 16.

Brett Russell, of Sunbury, awarded $3,772.32 in rent and costs July 8 from Christopher E. Heelan, Judith K. Downey, Judith A. Bourgeois and Robert J. Delgado, all of Shamokin.

Alicia Nowroski, of Pensacola, Fla., awarded $2,704.75 July 8 from Chris Harris, of Shamokin.

M. Asifuddin awarded $2,158.75 July 8 from M. Karman and "mother of Karman," all of Shamokin.

Hugh A. Jones, Mount Carmel

Ronda Pollock, of Levittown, against Shannon Stevens, of Mount Carmel, for $1,625, filed July 10. A hearing is scheduled for July 23.

Nick Nestico against Christine Gebhart, both of Kulpmont, for $1,700, filed July 6. A hearing is scheduled for July 16.

Nick Nestico, of Kulpmont, against Tricia Phelan, of Mount Carmel, for $1,100, filed July 6. A hearing is scheduled for July 16.

Kerry Blum, of Martins Creek, awarded $831.76 July 7 from Jason Honicker.

Joseph Bobeck, of Sunbury, awarded $1,004.75 July 7 from Paul Kinsey, of Mount Carmel.

KULPMONT - Music filled the streets of Kulpmont Sunday afternoon as parishioners of Holy Angels Church carried a statue of San Marziale in a tradition that originated in Italy but has found a home in the borough.

The celebration honoring the patron saint of Isca sull' Ionio, a small town in southern Italy which was the birthplace of many Italian immigrants who came to America and settled in the coal region, brought dozens of revelers outside to join the parade that wove through town for approximately two hours before concluding at the church's picnic grounds for a festival.

The picnic grounds are a fitting location to celebrate San Marziale. Jerry Buchinski said most of the site was developed using money collected during past parades.

He also credited San Marziale with blessing the parish and community with a remarkable number of volunteers willing to provide labor to raise the pavilion.

"We had people coming out of the woodwork to help," he said.

The parade periodically stopped to allow well-wishers to pin money to ribbons flowing from the statue. Marchers handed out Italian ice to observers stationed along the parade route and Our Boys Band provided American and Italian music.

SHAMOKIN - The organization that investigates animal cruelty hopes to conquer a backlog of work in Northumberland County with the designation of a local officer.

Richard D. Wright Jr. was recently sworn in as a police officer for the Phoenix Rescue Group Humane Police Department, headquartered in Carlisle.

As a police officer with the humane society, Wright will enforce animal cruelty cases like skinny and beaten dogs and poor conditions in houses where animals live. Though dogs are the most common animal he sees, he has already handled cases involving rabbits and hamsters.

Humane society officers have no jurisdiction over stray dogs, licenses and rabies shots. These cases are handled by the Dog Warden Mark Rusinko or local and state police officers.

Ron Hollister, who was the group's sole officer and serves as Wright's chief, said he's been overwhelmed with animal abuse calls, especially in Northumberland County, and felt it necessary to bring in additional help. Wright, who has long been involved with the organization, was an obvious choice.

"I get more calls up here than I do in Cumberland County," Hollister said.

Though Hollister is stationed more than an hour and a half away in Carlisle, he was the only person with jurisdiction to file certain animal abuse charges in Northumberland County. In emergency cases, the distance posed a threat to rescuing animals in a timely manner.

Because Wright lives and works in Shamokin, he'll be located in a closer proximity to many of the most urgent case.

"Out of seven counties, (Northumberland) is the worst," said Wright, referring to the number of cases of cruelty.

Hollister said Northumberland County has enough cases backlogged that he would have to work 24 hours per day to catch up. Though a second set of hands will help cut down this pile of work, he doesn't expect it to disappear overnight.

"I think it's going to be a small baby step kind of thing," he said.

Hollister said that while the group is most known for rescuing abused animals, they also provide education on caring for pets. Often when he responds to a call he will first attempt to correct the behavior of the owner so a pet can stay with its family while living in a clean, safe environment.

"A lot of our job is education," he said. He recalled an instance where he responded to a turtle who was living in a tank with filthy water. He helped the owners clean the tank and taught them about providing a dry space for the turtle to sleep on outside the water.

Hollister and Wright could both fill their days with humane police officer work but the position is unpaid and they have full-time jobs. Despite the voluntary nature of humane police officer duties, they also pay for their own travel and much of their equipment.

Hollister said he commonly pays out $5,000 in veterinarian bills for a six month period.

Though the job can be emotionally taxing, Wright said he's eager to take on the work so he can make a difference in how animals are cared for in the region.

"I love animals," he said. "I hate to see what happens to them."

Hollister said promoting Wright to a police officer status is one step in taking control of animal abuse in the area. He said a secondary issue that now needs to be addressed is the lack of a place to house seized animals.

Northumberland County does not have an animal shelter approved as a place for a humane police officer to take a seized pet for temporary housing during an investigation, and the shelter Hollister uses, located in Carlisle, is often at capacity.

"Every county should be responsible for their homeless animals," he said.

Wright can be reached at HSPOWright@gmail.com.

SHAMOKIN - The News-Item, in conjunction with Dr. Mary Stout from Central Penn Physical Therapy, Shamokin and Elysburg, will begin a new column, "Ask Your Physical Therapist," on this page two weeks from today. It will appear the fourth Monday of each month.

Stout, a doctor of physical therapy who has owned and operated Central Penn for 26 years, welcomes questions from readers in her ongoing effort to educate the public about physical therapy. Starting today, write to askyourpt@newsitem.com with questions.

"Physical therapists are experts in mobility and motion, and pain free movement is crucial to your quality of daily life, your ability to earn a living, your ability to pursue your favorite leisure activities, and so much more," Stout said. "'Social Responsibility, a Professional Physical Therapy Core Value,' is the promotion of a mutual trust between the profession and the larger public that necessitates responding to societal needs for health and wellness."

Based on this premise, Stout believes it is important to advocate for the health and wellness needs of society, including access to health care and physical therapy services.

"I look for this column to provide guidance with respect to movement difficulties, muscle and joint pain, difficulty walking and balance issues, sports injuries for the athlete and weekend warriors," she said. "And to educate the public on what physical therapy services are available to address their issues related to the musculoskeletal system."

Physical therapists as doctors improve physical disabilities by examination and treatment with various forms of physical therapist-prescribed therapeutic exercise, manual hands-on techniques and application of modalities intended to restore or facilitate normal function or development, she said.

The information that will be provided is intended for general knowledge only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. The information should not be used in place of a visit, call, consultation or advice of a physician or health care provider. Self-treatment of health problems is not recommended.

Also, the information that will be provided is not exhaustive and does not cover all diseases, ailments, physical conditions or their treatments. They are physical therapy-specific. One should never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read in the column.

MOUNT CARMEL - If the Shamokin Creek channel project is not completed by June 22, the state will rescind its grant money and leave the borough on the hook for a bill that could top $1 million.

A seven-year contract signed when the borough received its Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) in 2008 stipulated the project must be completed on this deadline, William Siegel, head of the department of SEDA-COG that manages CDBG money for most area municipalities.

"I've been told categorically June 22 is not extendable," Siegel said at Monday's borough council work session.

At the time, seven years seemed reasonable to complete the project, which alleviated flooding from Shamokin Creek that has repeatedly damaged several homes in the borough. But the magnitude of the project combined with complications like the discovery of an oil spill has caused work to slow.

"I believe the contract can be finished," said Siegel. "(But) everyone is concerned it can't be done."

Borough council president Tony Matulewicz said borough council is helpless at this point and has to rely on the contractors and engineers to make the deadline.

"There's nothing we can do," he said. "We have to hope they do finish it."

The borough has nowhere near $1 million in its coffers to pay out if the state rescinds the grant money. Matulewicz said if the borough loses the grant money, it will exhaust a list of options that includes relying on project bonds, but the borough cannot give the state the money out of its pocket.

"We just wouldn't pay them," he said.

The borough's share to pay for the project is so enormous, several years of block grants have been rolled together. This year, the borough will contribute most of the approximately $96,900 in CDBG money it will receive towards the project, an amount typical of recent years.

The money at stake includes $500,000 in CDBG money presented to the borough in 2012 by state Sen. John Gordner and Rep. Kurt Masser. Siegel told council both are aware of the issue.

SUNBURY - The Hyssongs, a family ministry, will appear at 10:15 a.m. Sunday at Augusta Baptist Church, Boyles Run Road.

Dell, Susan and Richard Hyssong combine vocal harmony, humor, trumpet and trombone, and have been singing as a family for more than 18 years. They have an inspirational, "southern Gospel" sound, and were awarded in 2014 the Singing News Fan Award for Favorite New Trio.

The Hyssongs have had several singles chart on top 40 Gospel radio, including three in the top 20. Their latest, "I Was Blind But Now I see," reached No. 7 on the Singing News Radio Chart. They were the cover story in the March 2015 edition of Singing News Magazine and were featured in Christian Voice Magazine in several editions. Absolutelygospel.com named them among the 10 artists to watch in 2015.

The group performs annually at Dollywood and perform more than 250 events throughout the U.S. and Canada.

COAL TOWNSHIP - During a visit to a Pulaski Avenue home earlier this month, Northumberland County Adult Probation officials found not only drugs, but the makings of illegal fireworks in the basement.

Coal Township Police Detective Jeffrey Brennan charged Debra Horvath, 57, of 1623 Pulaski Ave., with possession of a controlled substance and recklessly endangering another person after the contraband was found in her home at 11:30 a.m. July 1.

According to court documents, officers from the adult probation found several packs of heroin in Horvath's bedroom. When they discovered the fireworks, they called police.

Brennan said he found two opened bags of flash powder and a shoe box containing 23 cardboard tubes - like those used for M-80s and quarter-sticks of dynamite - that were sealed with fuses attached.

There was a large amount of loose flash powder in the box and on the tubes, police said. They removed the items and several empty fireworks launching devices, or mortar tubes, from the residence.

The items were taken to the police department until members of the Pennsylvania State Police Hazardous Device and Explosives Unit took possession.

Brennan said Trooper Robert McKee responded to the station and examined the items. McKee said the flash powder was very sensitive to heat and static shock. Due to the amount of flash powder in the shoe box and on the tubes, McKee said it would be safer to destroy the items. The fireworks were taken to a remote area in the township and destroyed by state police.

When questioned by police, Horvath said she was aware the fireworks were being made in her basement. It is not known at this time if anyone else will be arrested, and Brennan was not available for comment Monday.

Horvath was video arraigned Thursday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III and placed in prison on $5,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. today before Gembic, but Carpenter said Brennan asked for a continuance when the charges were filed.

MOUNT CARMEL - The person who owns the building which houses Mount Carmel Borough Hall and the Mount Carmel Police Department station faces a number of citations for code violations.

Code Officer Robin Williams revealed a list of more than 45 code violations after Monday's borough council work session.

The borough leases the building from Scott McCormick, of Mount Carmel, for $25,000 per year.

Issues on the list include no working toilets or smoke detectors in the police station, burned out light bulbs throughout the building, debris stacked in the boiler room, loose carpeting and water leaks in multiple areas of the building.

"It's deplorable," said Councilmember Joseph Lapotsky.

"If you found these conditions in any house, you'd condemn it," Councilmember Leroy "Chico" Moser told Williams.

Police Chief Todd Owens said he's contacted the landlord multiple times about issues in the police department. The department flooded three times recently after heavy rainfall.

"I had to pull all my filing cabinets," he said. "The smell was just unbearable."

Owens' said that while some issues have been addressed, like fixing lights in his office so he was not sitting in darkness and repairing the front door of the station so it isn't falling off, plenty of work still needs to be done.

"We had a sitting U.S. congressman come into the building. He almost tripped on the tread coming up the stairs to find the hallway filled with mud," said Owens. "It was embarrassing."

Other councilmembers voiced their concerns over some of the problems in the building that include pervasive mold, a smell of sewage and broken bathrooms.

Mayor Philip "Bing" Cimino said he recently entered council chambers to find water running down the inside of an exterior wall. The water damaged some borough maps which were sitting on a table nearby.

Lapotsky said he was arranging with a structural engineer to visit the building to assess for major issues.

Williams said he had not yet issued any citations because he wanted to compile a list of everything wrong with the building so he could bring the maximum charges against the landlord.

"I'm conducting an thorough investigation," he said. "Sometimes code issues can turn into misdemeanors depending on the severity."

SELINSGROVE - The theme of the 28th annual assembly of the Upper Susquehanna Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), held June 19 and 20 at Susquehanna University, was "Faithfully Forming."

Approximately 273 lay persons and clergy attended plenary sessions, workshops and worship.

The Rev. Dr. Mark Vitalis Hoffman, professor of biblical studies at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, was the Bible study leader. He looked at several biblical passages and tied in faith how the incidents in the passages formed the character's faith.

The ELCA churchwide representative was the Rev. Brenda K. Smith, program director for "Faith Practices and Book of Faith."

Bishop Robert L. Driesen led the proceedings. During his annual report, Driesen talked about the importance of faith formation in the lives of Christians. The bishop also recognized significant anniversaries of the following congregations: Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Williamsport, 125 years; St. John's Lutheran Church, Unityville, 125 years; Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, Shamokin, 175 years; Sharon Lutheran Church, Selinsgrove, 225 years; St. John Lutheran Church (Ridge), McClure, 225 years, and Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Kratzerville, 225 years. He also acknowledged congregations that closed in the past year: St. Peter, Sunbury; St. John, Snydertown; Church of Savior, Williamsport, and All Saints, Kulpmont.

Leaders

Driesen installed the Camp Mount Luther 2015 summer ministry team.

Jennifer Baker-Trinity was commissioned as an associate in ministry. She is serving as choir director and organist at Beaver Lutheran Church, Beaver Springs. Youth and leaders attending the ELCA youth gathering this summer in Detroit were blessed and sent.

During a service of Holy Eucharist Saturday morning, new authorized lay worship leaders were blessed.

The assembly passed a memorial which will be sent to the 2016 ELCA Churchwide Assembly on "Eco-Reformation in the Context of Climate Change." The memorial asks the assembly to make climate change and ecological justice major themes in the church's planning and activities leading up to and following the observance of the 500th anniversary of the Reformation.

Other business

In other assembly business, the 2016 budget of just under $972,000 was passed, as well as salary, housing and health benefit guidelines for ordained ministers and associates in ministry.

Elected to synod council for three-year terms were the Rev. Thomas Glasoe, of Follmer, Potts Grove; the Rev. Erin Bovendam, of Trinity, McAlisterville; Fredrica Stringfellow, of St. Matthew, Shamokin Dam; Michael Erdley, of St. John, Northumberland; Gary Womelsdorf, of Messiah, Clarkstown, and Grace Lucas, of St. Matthew, Williamsport.

Elected to the consultation committee were Sylvia Everitt, of Holy Spirit, Turbotville; the Rev. Trevor Hahn, of Trinity, Danville; the Rev. Adrian Shearer, of St. John, Northumberland; Jo Ellen Freida, of Zion, Sunbury, and Wendelin Davis, of St. Peter, Bloomsburg.

Elected to the committee on discipline were the Rev. Carla Volland, of Evangelical, Reedsville; Michael Schrey, of Grubbs, Mount Pleasant Mills; the Rev. Gretchen Johanson, of Washingtonville, Donna Batschelet, of St. John, Jersey Shore; the Rev. John Yost, of Christ's United, Millmont, and the Rev. Richard Fangmann, of Zion, Sunbury.

Elected as voting members to the ELCA Churchwide Assembly in 2015 were the Rev. William Henderson, Samuel Leister, the Rev. Vickie Brown, Karen Bohan, the Rev. Richard Fangmann, Dr. Glenn Spoerke, Tara Barnard, the Rev. Carla Volland and Dr. Lynette Reitz.

Nine pastors were recognized for significant ordination anniversaries of 25 years and more (in increments of five): The Rev. Greg Kramer and the Rev. Rosalie Smith, 25 years; the Rev. Gordon Smith, 30 years; the Rev. Christopher Milarch and the Rev. Dr. Martin Kessler, 35 years; the Rev. Steven Middernact and the Rev. Thomas Kramm, 50 years, and the Rev. Clinton Chu and the Rev. David Harris, 55 years.

The assembly also heard greetings from the Rev. Scott Kerchner, chaplain of Susquehanna University. Reports were also given by the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg, Diakon Lutheran Social Ministries, the World Hunger Committee, campus ministry team, reconciliation team and both of the synod's companion synod committees, the Ansbach-Würzburg Kirchenkreis in Germany and the Lutheran Church in Liberia.

The Upper Susquehanna Synod, headquartered in Lewisburg, is one of 65 synods of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The synod is made up of 124 congregations in Clinton, Columbia, Juniata, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, Snyder, Tioga and Union counties. For more information on the synod and its congregations, visit www.uss-elca.org.

SHAMOKIN - Two blighted buildings in the 700 block of North Shamokin Street will be torn down, clearing substantial space now owned by City Hall.

City council will advertise for bids to demolish 701-703 N. Shamokin St. and 717-719 N. Shamokin St. using Keystone Communities grant funding.

Both properties were targeted by the city for code enforcement before the former owner, Larry Burda, died in 2014. The northernmost of the two was destroyed by arson in 2013 and eventually partially demolished after it began to collapse. On the southern end at Commerce and Shamokin streets, Burda had been found guilty of 36 code violations for deteriorating conditions at the three-story brick building.

The properties were purchased last month from the Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau for a combined $9,051.58.

Shamokin already has a substantial investment in the block. The city paid $76,812 in an out-of-court settlement to Robert Gusick Demolition. The company performed emergency work in June 2012 at the site of a partial building collapse at 709-711 and 715 N. Shamokin St., once home to the Shamokin Health Spa. The work stopped amid a dispute with the previous administration. More than $100,000 in grant money was paid to other contractors to finish the job.

When the newly acquired buildings are cleared, the city will own consecutive vacant lots from Commerce Street north towards Sunbury Street, where two fire damaged buildings remain.

The building at 721-723 N. Shamokin St. was destroyed in the same arson fire that damaged the Burda property, and the city also is eyeing it for demolition, according to code officer Rick Bozza. The fate of the corner property at Shamokin and Sunbury streets is up in the air since it wasn't as heavily damaged as the neighboring properties.

Contracts were approved for two other demolition projects.

Robert Knoeppel's Affordable Construction & Demolition will be paid $16,740 in grant money to tear down 821 Mount Carmel St. The firm submitted the lowest of six bids. The property is the site of another city eyesore targeted for enforcement. After several citations were issued, the city purchased it in February for $1 from Adam and Po Brooks, of Tamaqua.

The second contract was awarded for a previously announced demolition project. The Gusick company will tear down 625-627 Commerce St., which is in danger of collapsing into the street. The company's was the lowest of four quotes secured for the emergency demolition project, also to be paid with grant money.

EAST CAMERON TOWNSHIP - Shelbi Probst, of East Cameron Township, competed at the 50th annual Pinto World Championship Horse Show in Tulsa, Okla., from June 8 to 20.

A graduate of Shamokin Area High School, she is a daughter of Jeff and Constance Probst, and a granddaughter of the late Harry and Eileen Latshaw and the late Phyllis Probst.

Probst achieved great success at this year's championship, earning two top ten placings in Novice Amatuer Western Pleasure and Novice Amateur Trail. She also was a finalist in Novice Amateur Showmanship. She also received a top ten with her yearling colt, Leaguers Luxury Hot Red Trail in Hand.

Probst would not have been able to achieve such success without her horse Zippos Du Intimidate.

She also is appreciative of family members and friends who made the trip possible for her.

Each June, the Pinto Horse Association of America Inc., hosts the world's largest gathering of Pinto horses, ponies and miniatures at the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex in Tulsa. The 13-day competition showcased talented equines and exhibitors in a wide array of disciplines including jumping, reining, driving, pleasure and halter.

In addition to equine performances, youth exhibitors showed their competitive spirit outside the show ring in a youth horse judging contest.

Exhibitors from 42 states and three countries competed at the Pinto World Championship Horse Show. There were 1,000 Pintos of every size, making up nearly 33,000 judged class entries.

Incorporated in 1956, the Pinto Horse Association of America was formed to encourage the promotion of quality horses, ponies and miniatures with color and to establish a registry for maintaining their pedigrees and records. The association serves approximately 15,000 members and boasts more than 150,000 registered Pintos.

For more information about the 2015 Pinto World Championships Horse Show and a complete list of the show results, go to www.pintoworld.com. To learn more about the association, go to www.pinto.org.

COAL TOWNSHIP - A man was taken into custody after a disturbance at the Walmart Supercenter Monday that ended when police cornered the vehicle in which he was a passenger.

Coal Township Police Patrolman Chad Yoder said the man, who was not identified, was taken to the police station and later released into the custody of his girlfriend.

Yoder said he does expect to file charges.

"We still have to gather information from Walmart officials about the exact details of the incident inside the store and what, if anything, was stolen," he said.

Police were initially called for a report of a disorderly male who was acting erratically and yelling inside the store. Scanner reports indicated that spray paint had been discharged in the store, but there was nothing apparent shortly after the incident and several employees said they didn't know anything had happened.

The suspect got into an SUV and tried to leave the scene before police cornered the vehicle in the parking lot.