Soroptimist Club meeting set

SUNBURY - The Soroptimist International Club of the Snyder, Union and Northumberland Counties, Inc., will hold a monthly meeting and annual Christmas Party at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Packer House.

In addition to celebrating the holidays, the SUN Soroptimist Club will collect donations for Snyder County Children and Youth Services and Transitions.

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

Free tax rebate help available

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania Property Tax and Rent Rebate Assistance is available at state Sen. John R. Gordner's district offices at no cost, and it is not necessary for senior citizens to pay private companies for this service.

"Our offices have become aware of an out-of-state firm that has purchased a Harrisburg Post Office box and is sending solicitations to senior citizens in our area offering the service for $39," said Gordner. "While not illegal, this mailer certainly can confuse senior citizens into paying for a service that is offered free at my offices."

Persons over 65, widows or widowers over 50 and the permanently disabled, regardless of age, are eligible for Pennsylvania property tax and rent rebates if household income is under $35,000. Fifty percent of Social Security income is exempt.

Gordner's district offices are located in Bloomsburg, Millersburg, Mount Carmel and Shamokin Dam, and constituents may contact any office for assistance with these and other government forms and services. Information is also available at www.senatorgordner.com.

MOUNT CARMEL - Cindy Saukaitis, president, conducted the monthly meeting of the Carmelite 50-Plus Club which was held at the Village Towne Restaurant. She greeted the eight members who attended.

Members recited the Pledge of Allegiance, Senior Adult Ministry and St. Mother Pauline prayers, sang the Over 50 song and a verse of "America." and prayed for deceased and sick members, the safety of the troops and the victims of the typhoon in the Philippines.

After the meal, Maria Kaminski read the minutes from the last meeting. They were approved on a motion by Arlene Terry and Jenny Nolan and placed on file. Al Visintainer gave the treasury report, which was approgved on motion of Evelyn Milewski and Nolan, and made available for audit.

Saukaitis gave a short report on the Mass and banquet.

The 50/50 was won by Cindy Saukaitis and Mrs. Yodis.

The next meeting will be held at 5 p.m. Dec. 12 at Village Towne Restaurant. The meeting was adjourned on a motion by Terry and Milewski.

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Joint Veterans Committee held its 448th Changing of the Colors flag ceremony Nov. 24 at the flag pole of the Susquehanna Bank in honor and memory of Charles Kent, a World War II veteran.

Kent was born in Centralia March 20, 1926, a son of Nicholas and Mary (Petorak) Kryniskie. He attended Conyngham-Centralia High School.

He served as a cook in the U.S. Army with Company B, 4th Tank Battalion.

Kent was married for 31 years to the former Merle Graeger, who survives.

He was employed by Bazley Contracting Company, Pottsville, and was the owner of Lady Hope Dress factory, Mount Carmel, until his retirement.

Kent was a member of SS Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2110 and a social member of Clover Hose Company, all of Mount Carmel, and American Legion Post 804, Atlas.

Kent died Oct. 9, 2013, and is buried at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a stepdaughter, three stepsons, a sister, five brothers, eight stepgrandchildren and two great-stepgrandchildren.

The flag that was flown for the past month was in honor and memory of Michael Molesevich, who served in the U.S. Army during World War II. "Taps" was sounded on the bugle by Ann Ray Begis as the flaw was lowered by Anthony Candelora. The flag was folded by WIlliam Begis, James Kealy and Candelora.

The Kent flag was escorted to the ceremony was Connie Andrews and was presented to Walter Summers by Kent's sister, Helen Whyne. The flag was raised by Candelora as the national anthem was played. David Berezovske read the military records of both veterans. Summers led everyone in the Pledge of Allegiance, and the ceremony ended with a silent salute to all veterans. Summers thanked the families and those in attendance for their participation.

Charles Noskoviak escorted the American flag, and the rifle escort was provided by Norman Nye and Candelora. Kealy provided traffic control.

Susquehanna Bankw as thanked for displaying Kent's name on its message board.

The next flag ceremony will be held at 1 p.n. Sunday, Dec. 15, at Second and Oak streets, when the flag will be raised in honor and memory of Leonard Sahonick, who served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Area veterans and the public are invited.

SUNBURY - A 51-year-old Shamokin man scheduled to enter a guilty plea several times on burglary-related charges involving a fire and break-in at two Shamokin properties has decided to take the cases to trial.

Kevin Kish, who is being represented by special conflicts counsel Susan Schwartz, changed his mind Monday afternoon on entering pleas in the cases because the defendant claims he didn't commit the crimes.

Northumberland County Judge William H. Wiest, who told Kish he wasn't going to grant any more continuances, ordered the defendant to stand trial in January.

Northumberland County Assistant District Attorney William Cole said he was expecting Kish to plead guilty to two counts of burglary and one count of criminal mischief.

When asked outside the courtroom what prompted his change of mind, Kish replied, "They wanted me to plead guilty to a crime I didn't commit and I'm not going to do that."

He remains free on $5,000 unsecured bail.

The cases were continued by Wiest in October at Schwartz's request because a plea agreement was still being negotiated. At that time, Kish told The News-Item authorities were trying to charge him with additional offenses, while his attorney was attempting to have the burglary charges dismissed.

Kish is charged by Shamokin Patrolman and Fire Investigator Raymond Siko II with criminal mischief, criminal trespass and burglary relating to a Jan. 24 fire at a vacant building at 725 N. Shamokin St., Shamokin, which is located across the street from where he lived at the time. He was not charged with arson because he allegedly didn't intentionally set the fire, which was ignited by a lit cigarette, police said.

He also is charged by Shamokin Cpl. Darwin Tobias III two counts each of burglary, criminal trespass and criminal conspiracy and one count of loitering and prowling at night in connection with a Feb. 5 break-in at Nature's Health Food Store, 133-135 E. Independence St.

SUNBURY - An 18-year-old married woman from Selinsgrove who reportedly was paid for female companionship after meeting men through the Internet was charged late Tuesday afternoon with stabbing to death 42-year-old Troy LaFerrara, of Port Trevorton, last month in Sunbury.

Miranda Kamille Barbour, of 101 N. Water St., who recently moved to the area from North Carolina, is accused of stabbing LaFerrara, who also was married, 20 times after she claimed the victim groped her and grabbed her by the neck inside her vehicle in Sunbury. Barbour told police she "blacked out" after stabbing LaFerrara two or three times, then drove around Sunbury for some time while the victim was choking and gasping for air and eventually, discarded his body, cleaned the blood from her vehicle and headed to Harrisburg with her husband to celebrate his birthday.

LaFerrara's body was discovered by neighborhood residents near a garage at the rear of 240 Catawissa Ave. at about 11:30 a.m. Nov. 12.

Authorities reported the stabbing occurred between evening hours of Nov. 11 and 11:26 a.m. Nov. 12.

Barbour was committed to Northumberland County Prison following her 4:40 p.m. arraignment before Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Apfelbaum on felonies of criminal homicide and two counts of aggravated assault and misdemeanors of simple assault and possessing instruments of crime.

Barbour is not eligible for bail because of the homicide charge.

The defendant, who was represented by county public defender Paige Rosini, told Apfelbaum she understood the charges and did not pose any questions to the judge or her attorney. She was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing Dec. 10 before the judge.

Barbour, who turned herself into Selinsgrove state police at 3:30 a.m. Tuesday and underwent an extensive interview with authorities, was escorted to Apfelbaum's office by Sunbury Chief of Police Steve Mazzeo, arresting officers Travis Bremigen and Sgt. Christopher Blase, Cpl. Jamie Quinn and Patrolman Bradley Hare.

District Attorney Tony Rosini, who later conducted a brief press conference with Mazzeo at Sunbury Police Station, also attended the arraignment.

An autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Rameen Starling-Romey at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown revealed that LaFerrara died from multiple sharp force trauma. In addition to being stabbed 20 times, the doctor did not rule out the possibility that the victim was strangled.

Upon searching the victim's body, police found a Verizon cell phone bearing a traceable number in his pocket.

Police later learned from LaFerrara's mother, Harriet LaFerrara, that she last saw her son at her residence in the Selinsgrove area at 8:15 p.m. Nov. 11. She told police her son was driving his black Chevy S-10 pickup truck when he left her house. The truck was recovered Nov. 13 in the Susquehanna Valley Mall parking lot.

After obtaining phone records for the victim's cell phone number, investigators determined the last phone call LaFerrara received on Nov. 11 was from a phone number which was later traced to a phone owned by Barbour's husband, Elyette Barbour. Police said the address listed for the phone account was 557 Tart Road W, Dunn, N.C.

Police said Miranda Barbour is accused of calling LaFerrara twice on Nov. 11, which each call lasting 21 seconds.

The following text messages were recovered from the victim's phone after a search warrant was obtained:

"Alright, I'm pretty close to the mall."

"Good."

"I'm dropping my daughter off right now, then I'll be at the mall in about 15."

I'm here. I don't see you."

"I am so sketched out right now. I will wait 10 more minutes."

Police said the text messages that were eventually traced to the defendant were the last known communications with the victim.

Through the course of their investigation, police learned that Miranda Barbour had transferred her North Carolina registration on her 2001 Honda to a Pennsylvania registration and had identified her cell phone number to Nathan Tillford, owner of Keystone Tag and Title Service.

Police later discovered that Barbour, her husband, their small child, Valerie Spring, Spring's two children, Shamus Dietz and Alyssa Shemory resided at 101 N. Water St., Selinsgrove.

Police reported the defendant agreed to come voluntarily to the state police station in Selinsgrove on Monday for an interview involving the homicide investigation.

Upon being informed of her Miranda rights, Barbour agreed to speak with police without an attorney.

Barbour said she was aware of a stabbing involving the death of a male in Sunbury, but denied knowing LaFerrara when presented a picture of him.

The defendant said she moved to the Selinsgrove area with her family from North Carolina near the end of October.

When asked about the messages they recovered from LaFerrara's phone, Barbour admitted making contact with a male on Nov. 10 and Nov. 11 via the Internet site Craigslist. Barbour told police she would sometimes meet other men who want female companionship and that she would be compensated with money.

The defendant admitted talking with and text messaging LaFerrara several times Nov. 11 while attempting to meet up with him. Barbour said she pulled into the Susquehanna Valley Mall parking lot and had conversations with the victim via cell phone, but never met with LaFarrera.

Elytte Barbour and Dietz told police during an interview that started Monday night and finished early Tuesday morning that the defendant met individuals on Internet sites and that she carries a knife with her during the encounters.

Police said the defendant returned to the state police station and requested to speak with an investigator and give a statement about the incident.

Barbour told police she met LaFerrara on Craigslist, but didn't know his name or what he looked like. She said they eventually decided to meet at the mall at about 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11. She said they got into Barbour's vehicle and drove to Sunbury, where LaFerrara directed her to pull over at a specific spot.

When they were parked, Barbour claimed LaFerrara reached over and started groping her, touching her private parts. She also claimed LaFerrara had his hand around her throat.

Barbour said then retrieved a knife from between the front seats with her left hand and started stabbing the victim. She said the first two or three times she stabbed him, there was no reaction from the victim. She then started blacking out and didn't remember the rest of the time she was stabbing him, police said.

Barbour told authorities she then drove around Sunbury for a period of time. She stated the victim was still alive at the time because he was choking and gasping for air. She told police she was looking for a secluded spot before ultimately driving to the rear of 240 Catawissa Ave.

Barbour said she exited her vehicle and walked around to the passenger side door and opened it. Barbour said LaFerrara was leaning against the door and fell out onto the ground. But she said his foot was still in the vehicle, prompting her to lift it out onto the ground. She then took LaFerrara's wallet from his pants and got back into the vehicle. As she attempted to leave, Barbour said her tires started spinning for some unknown reason.

Barbour said she then drove around Sunbury and got lost before using her Garmen to find her way out of Sunbury. She then stopped at Walmart along Routes 11-15 to purchase garbage bags, carpet cleaner, paper towels and seat covers before stopping at a park in Selinsgrove, where she attempted clean blood out of her car.

She told police there was a lot of blood and she wasn't able to get rid of it all. After discarding the paper towels in a Dumpster, Barbour returned to her residence before traveling to Harrisburg with her husband to celebrate his birthday.

Barbour said she discarded the knife she used to stab LaFerrara into the Susquehanna River along Routes 11-15 south of Selinsgrove about five days ago.

The defendant said she told her husband about the stabbing just before coming to the police station Tuesday for the interview.

At the press conference, Rosini and Mazzeo commended all the officers involved in the high-tech investigation that required following an "electronic trail" of calls. Mazzeo said there are some "unresolved issues" in the investigation that he expects will take several weeks for the homicide task force to clear up.

But Barbour is believed to be the only suspect in the case.

MOUNT CARMEL - Knights of Columbua Bishop Lawrence F. Schott Council 628 is inviting Mount Carmel Area boys and girls, ages 5 to 14, to participate in the organization's internation "Keep Christ in Christmas" poster contest.

"By engaging the creative talents and imaginatiosn of young people, we hope they will come to a deeper understanding of the true spiritual meaning of Christmas," said Council 628 Grand Knight David Berezovske.

The contest will be conducted locally with winning entries advancingb to the district/region and then to state, national and international levels. The winning entries will serve as the basis for a series of new Christmas posters that encourage a deeper understanding of the holiday.

Posters must be submitted by Friday, Dec. 20. Those interested in submitting a poster can contact Berezovske at 570-205-4818 for more information and contest rules.

The posters will be distributed in the counties where the Knights are active as part of the "Keep Christ in Christmas" campaign, Berezovske said. Creative credit will be given to the winning artist.

Santa parade will be Saturday

MOUNT CARMEL - The annual Santa Claus Parade - sponsored by the Mount Carmel Lions Club, the Mount Carmel Business Association and the Mount Carmel Volunteer Fire Department - will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday.

Parade co-chairmen Paul Kaminski, Mayor J. Kevin Jones and Lions President David Berezovske said Santa will be led by the Mount Carmel Area High School Band and will be followed by rescue personnel in vehicles decorated in colorful Christmas lights.

The parade will form at Third and Hickory streets and will travel north on Hickory to Second Street, west on Second to Oak Street. south on Oak to Seventh Street, east on Seventh to Hickory Street, south on Hickory to Third Street, west on Third to Oak Street and south on Oak Street to the Mount Carmel Area Public Library, where Santa will distribute candy to children.

The Mount Carmel Borough Police and Auxiliary Police will also be assisting along the parade route. Lighted emergency vehicles from the area are welcome to join in. Band members will meet prior to the parade at Third and Hickory streets.

SHAMOKIN - The kindness of friends and the goodwill of strangers was reflected in donations recently made to Restoration Ministries Church.

An anonymous donor took Pastor Paul Eby and church volunteers on a shopping spree at Home Depot in State College on Sunday, gifting them about $8,500 in name brand power tools, hand tools and accessories. The price dropped when Home Depot offered a substantial discount.

Nail guns, generators, power drills, sanders, saws, levels, hammers, measuring tapes and more were all purchased brand new. They were hauled back to Shamokin in a brand new trailer Eby bought for the church thanks to a $4,000 donation from Coal Township residents Gene and Denise Welsh.

A church parishioner who wished to remain anonymous handed over the title and keys to a delivery van, and a former Coal Township resident has offered to donate a Springfield home to the church for a future renovation project. Parishioners turned up with a slew of used tools, too.

All of this came in the days after thousands of dollars worth of tools were stolen from a church-owned double home that is under remodel at 1674-1676 W. Spruce St. The church bought the property and is using the renovation project - turning it from a double into a single - to teach construction skills to young parishioners, many without parents or guardians teaching them such skills. The property was gutted and is being updated inside and outside.

The donations left Eby joyful and overwhelmed.

"Through all this I never asked for anything. We prayed and said, 'God, you restore all,'" Eby said Tuesday inside the church. "When the enemy steals, God restores all."

Rob Oshinskie, a Coal Township native and State College-area resident, has known Eby about 30 years. When he learned of the burglary he reached out to several acquaintances who are contractors. They were impressed when told of the church's youth center and its God's Grub community kitchen program, and also by the effort to teach teens a skilled trade.

"Everyone was like, 'All right, how can I help?'" Oshinskie said.

He put Eby in touch with a friend, the anonymous donor, and they met in State College. John Wallish, a Restoration Ministries parishioner, was with Eby for the trip to Home Depot. They were timid at first when shopping, not knowing how exactly to interpret the man's generosity and not wanting to abuse it.

But the man wasn't shy.

"When I tell you he couldn't wait to help, he was calling me on the phone telling me how much fun we're going to have Sunday morning," Oshinskie said.

When Wallish suggested buying a measuring tape, the man grabbed an entire display box. Eby had his eye on a generator; the man bought three. Wallish picked out a reasonably priced chop saw but the man insisted they get a higher-priced model.

"I was in tears. This is so overwhelming, far beyond anything I could imagine with God blessing us," Wallish said Monday inside the church as he and his sons, George and J.C., picked up some tools to use at the project work site.

"Instead of getting all fired up," Wallish said of when it was discovered the tools were stolen from the site in late November, "we prayed for the person."

Eby was equally grateful to the Welsh family.

"I just thought it was a great program. It's helping the blight in the township and teaching teens some carpentry," Gene Welsh said. "We decided we wanted to help them out."

Oshinskie credited the Welshs, too, and tipped his cap to everyone who helped out. He said it speaks to the core people still living in the Shamokin and Coal Township areas.

"When someone like me talks about the ties to home, it's the people. The ties are really about the people we grew up with and still know. It's pretty awesome the way people stepped up and wanted to do something. Hopefully on some level it can be some sort of rallying cry in the community," Oshinskie said.

The used tools donated to the church will be used to teach teens on their use ahead of sending them to the job site. They'll be better prepared to work on renovations, Eby said.

Susquehanna Valley gas prices fell just a fraction of a penny to $3.39 a gallon this week, according to AAA East Central.

On the national front

Tuesday's national average price for a gallon of gasoline is $3.26.

Tuesday's price is two cents cheaper than one week ago and a dime less than the same date last year.

During this recent fluctuation in prices, motorists across the country have experienced a variety of changes in the price they pay at their local station. Motorists in 22 states and Washington, D.C., have seen prices rise over the last week; while those in 28 states have seen prices fall, including three states where prices have dropped by a dime or more: Indiana (10 cents), Ohio (10 cents) and Michigan (12 cents).

Gas prices increased during the second half of November primarily due to unexpected refinery problems that limited gasoline production. These problems included planned and unplanned maintenance that took longer than expected to fix. Many of these issues occurred along the U.S. Gulf Coast, which resulted in ripple effects across the eastern half of the country.

The price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil has now settled below the $100 per barrel mark for seven straight weeks. At the close of formal trading on the NYMEX Monday, WTI settled $1.10 higher at $93.82 per barrel. Despite yesterday's increase, crude oil still remains near the multi-month low of $92.30 per barrel registered last Wednesday.

(AAA East Central is a not-for-profit association with 82 local offices in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, New York and Kentucky servicing 2.7 million members.)

MOUNT CARMEL - Three open house meetings will be held later this month to obtain public input on the Lower Anthracite Transportation System (LATS) to develop a Transit Development Plan (TDP).

Executive Director Megan Janolek said Tuesday the meetings will be held to gather "anything and everything" people want to talk about in regards to LATS, a government-funded entity managed by Mount Carmel Borough and designed to provide affordable public transportation in eastern Northumberland County.

"We're looking at routes, the best places to stop, whether we should add anything, should we add the night route," Janolek said.

She will host the meeting with consultant Michael Baker Corporation, of Harrisburg, which will be present to also gather information and answer questions.

In September, Janolek said a TDP report would need to be completed before adding a night run, extended hours and new buses to LATS.

The TDP would provide LATS with recommendations of future plans based on studies of the system and interviews of riders over the last year.

The meetings will be held Dec. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Shamokin Senior Action Center, 821 W. Chestnut St., Coal Township; from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Mount Carmel Senior Action Center, 41 S. Market St.; and from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Mount Carmel Borough Council chambers, 137 W. Fourth St..

Janolek said the public is encouraged to attend one of the open house meetings anytime during the scheduled hours to discuss their opinions and ideas regarding LATS bus service.

"Whether or not you currently use LATS, your input is important," she said.

It was recently approved by PennDOT to receive $495,000 in grant money. Last year, it was $517,000. If LATS is recommended to expand in the TDP, Janolek can request more funding.

Additionally, LATS has $327,000 in state money to use for new buses, but Janolek said she approval for new buses were rejected due to being over the weight limit.

Therefore, the paperwork must be restarted, she said.

The Shamokin and Mount Carmel routes run from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Each ride is $1. Children under the age of 4 ride for free, and children ages 5 to 10 ride for half price.

Seniors over 65 ride free, because of programs subsidized by the Pennsylvania Lottery. Funding for LATS comes mostly from federal and state grants through PennDOT and the Lottery Senior Citizen Free Transit Fund.

For a full schedule, call 570-339-3956 or look for LATS on Facebook.

EAST CAMERON TOWNSHIP - The Coal Township man who jumped from a moving vehicle Monday following an argument with his girlfriend was still listed in critical condition by a Geisinger Medical Center nursing supervisor Tuesday afternoon.

Trooper Brian Ronk of the Stonington state police barracks said Christopher Powell, 25, was a passenger in a 2003 Buick Rendezvous driven by Jessica A. Long, 23, also of Coal Township. Ronk said Powell "exited the vehicle for unknown reasons" following the argument at approximately 11:09 a.m. along Upper Road about three miles east of Gowen City.

According to state police, Powell suffered a substantial head injury.

SUNBURY - Northumberland County commissioners avoided a possible shutdown in government services Tuesday by passing a tentative $72.7 million budget for 2014 that calls for a 1 1/2-mill tax increase.

Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy voted to approve the budget while Richard Shoch again voted no.

The commissioners, who failed to approve the budget twice last month, have until Dec. 31 to pass a final spending plan.

Clausi said the tax increase will generate an estimated $1.1 million for the debt fund and is needed to cover a seven-year, $7.5 million loan for federally mandated upgrades to the 911 system.

He said the millage increase will result in property owners paying between $14 and $65 more in real estate taxes next year, depending on the type of home they own.

Budget director Jeff McClintock said the budget includes approximately $107,000 in salaries and benefits for the prothonotary, register and recorder and coroner that weren't listed in the initial proposed budget.

Clausi and Bridy previously voted to cut the salaries of row officers by 42 to 48 percent and increase their health care contributions, but a temporary court injunction has put the change on hold.

The budget will be available for public inspection for 20 days.

Prior to the budget vote, 911 coordinator Bill Brown scolded the commissioners, saying concerns involving upgrades to the system should have been addressed months ago.

"Do you care about the safety of your residents and employees?" he said. "I'm not going to have someone killed on my watch."

Clausi briefly broke down in tears while talking about his decision to vote for the budget after previously balking because Shoch opposed it.

"I know I'm doing the right thing," he said. "I feel bad for the county taxpayers, children and county employees. I won't let the people of Northumberland County suffer."

He said Shoch is part of the "destruction" not the solution because he never objected to monthly budget updates provided by McClintock. He called Shoch a "goof."

He also called Joseph Pancerella and Gene Welsh to the podium to address the negotiating process involved with leasing the Seiple complex on North Second Street in Sunbury that contains three buildings housing numerous county offices. Clausi claims Shoch mentioned the complex costs as a reason for opposing the budget.

Pancerella said the initial 10-year lease was negotiated under the former Allen Cwalina/Charles "Chap" Lewis administration. But under the new rates that he, Welsh and Craig Fetterman renegotiated at Clausi's direction as members of the county authority board, the county pays $688,494 per year, $523,311 less than it paid in 2007. Clausi has said it will total $23 million in savings over the course of the remaining years of the lease.

"It was a triple net lease that the county is responsible for paying taxes on," Welsh said. "It's a win-win for the county and the taxpayers."

Shoch said the issue was not among his reasons for voting against the budget despite it being cited as such in a newspaper article.

In an earlier interview, he said payments toward the lease of the human services buildings have little to no impact on the county budget because state pass-through funding is applied toward the payments. He said he had raised the issue "to illustrate the degree to which Mr. Clausi is willing to mislead the public."

Also, he said the new lease requires the county provide all maintenance on the complex buildings.

Clausi previously said he agreed the maintenance contract was a "bad deal," but said "we got what we could." Still, at $12,000, which is what the county paid last year, the county is paying less than if it had to maintain the buildings with its own workers and supplies, he said.

Also, Clausi noted previously, the renegotiation means the county will own the buildings when the lease expires.

In other business:

The commissioners authorized payment of approximately $469,675.01 to retirees for health and welfare benefits for 2013. Shoch abstained on the vote because his mother is a retired county employee.

The board approved the advertising of multiple county-related meetings on a 2-1 vote. Shoch opposed it because none of the commissioners' meetings in 2014 are scheduled to be held in the evenings, which he said would allow more people to attend.

Bridy and Nicholas Goretski III were re-appointed to the SEDA-COG Board of Directors for a one-year term.

Newly elected county prothonotary Justin Dunkelberger and Anthony Fiorenza were re-appointed to three-year and two-year terms, respectively, to the county planning commission.

James Boylan was re-appointed to a five-year term and Goretski was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Steve Roush on the Northumberland County Housing Authority.

David Crowl of Elysburg and Richard Daniels of Dalmatia were re-appointed to three-year terms as contractor director and farmer director, respectively, on the Northumberland County Agricultural Land Preservation Board. William Geise of Northumberland was appointed to renew his position as chairman for a one-year term on the board.

Charles Beck of Milton, Edward Christiano of Coal Township, Clausi, who resides in Coal Township, and Sandra Ressler of Sunbury were re-appointed to two-year terms on the Affordable Housing Fund Board. Thomas Diehl of Northumberland was re-appointed to a one-year term and Carmine Picarelli of Sunbury was re-appointed chairman.

The commissioners allocated monies not to exceed $12,000 from the Act 137 Affordable Housing Fund to remove debris from a fire-damaged property at 916 Chestnut St., Kulpmont.

The board changed the non-bargaining employee contribution rate toward health insurance from a flat fee to 10 percent of the monthly premium, effective Jan. 1, 2014. Shoch voted against the motion because he didn't have time to review it.

The board confirmed the appointment of county planning director Pat Mack as a voting member of the SEDA-COG Metropolitan Planning Organization.

MOUNT CARMEL - An 86-year-old borough woman was found last month to be malnourished, dehydrated and living in wretched conditions, and her son is charged with his mother's neglect.

Joseph Francis Campbell, 56, of 213 S. Vine St., Mount Carmel, was charged Monday by Cpl. David Donkochik with counts of neglect of a care-dependent person and forgery, both felonies, along with a misdemeanor count of recklessly endangering another person.

He was arraigned Tuesday and jailed in Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, in lieu of $150,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones, Mount Carmel, is scheduled for Dec. 11.

Campbell was the primary caregiver for his mother, Rose Marcoon, at their South Vine Street home. Dr. Peter McNeil, a Mount Carmel family physician, told police he hadn't seen Marcoon since May and went to her home unannounced about 1:30 p.m. Nov. 1 to check on her well-being. He entered the unlocked home and called her name and heard her respond from upstairs.

McNeil found her in a filthy bedroom lying on a mattress stained by body fluids, her pants the same way. There were no bedsheets on the mattress, only a dirty blanket. A stale waffle was beneath the blanket and a water bottle and plate laid on the floor. Alert but disoriented, Marcoon was thirsty and hungry, her stomach concave, and there were open sores and contusions all about her body.

The doctor called for paramedics who upon arrival called for a police officer, and for the officer to bring a camera.

Patrolman Matthew Dillman documented the condition of the home through photographs. According to a criminal complaint, the home was mostly clean and well-kept. The second-floor bedroom in which Marcoon was residing was anything but. It had an odor so foul and strong that could be smelled throughout the second and first floors. Dillman soon after alerted Donkochik who reviewed the photographs and led the investigation.

Marcoon was taken for treatment to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, Coal Township, where she was given plenty of food and drink. She ate and drank at a pace so rapid that additional food was temporarily withheld to prevent any complications.

She was weak and couldn't move her arms and legs. One leg could not be fully extended. Her weight was between 75 and 80 pounds.

Northumberland County Area Agency on Aging Protective Services were notified, an of which spoke with Marcoon and a physician assistant at the hospital and interviewed Campbell.

Police, too, interviewed Campbell. According to the criminal complaint, the deed to Marcoon's home was put in his name. A bank account was changed to a joint account so he could pay bills and take care of both of their needs. He said he was unemployed and his mother's only caregiver.

Campbell told police he tried to convince his mother to seek medical attention but that she put it off. He was aware of her declining health but denied making any attempts to seek outside assistance for her care, the criminal complaint states.

Northumberland County Judge William H. Wiest removed Campbell as Marcoon's guardian during a hearing Monday and granted emergency guardianship to Eldercare Solutions Inc. on the recommendation of Area Agency on Aging.

Marcoon has since been discharged from the hospital. She is residing in an area nursing facility.

CATAWISSA RR - President Mike Yeager and Vice President Charlie Porter remained in their Southern Columbia Area School Board positions following the re-organizational meeting Tuesday night at the district office.

During the meeting, Yeager temporarily relinquished his title to Director Timothy Vought before being re-nominated and unanimously approved by the seven members of the board to be president again.

District Secretary Tresa Britch swore in incoming member Joseph Klebon and re-elected members Gail Zambor Schuerch, Yeager and Porter.

Porter was also nominated and unanimously approved back into his position as vice president.

After the votes, Porter complimented Yeager for his time with the district and his ability to run cohesive meetings.

"Your service is appreciated," he said.

Superintendent Paul Caputo also recognized Porter's service to the board by presenting him with an Pennsylvania School Board Association (PSBA) award for his 16 years of service.

"It's quite remarkable," Caputo said.

Klebon was designated the PSBA liaison for 2014 and Yeager was appointed a representative on the Columbia-Montour Area Vocational-Technical School Joint Operating Committee for three years.

No school board members were appointed to any committees Tuesday night.

The board also approved the following dates as regularly scheduled meetings in 2014: Jan. 13 and 20, Feb. 10 and 17, March 10 and 17, April 14 and 22, May 12 and 19, June 9 and 16, July 21, Aug. 11 and 18, Sept. 8 and 15, Oct. 13 and 20 and Nov. 10 and 17 and Dec. 3.

In other business

The board:

- Is considering what district resources it will take to allow student cheerleaders to participate in competitions.

- Increased the annual salary of Jennifer Snyder, director of special education, from $71,090.60 to $75,000 for assuming extra duties in the nursing department.

- Announced the rescheduling of the next contract negotiation meeting with the teachers union from Dec. 9 to Jan. 21.

BURNSIDE - The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) has a new 7,000-pound showpiece.

A "mantrip," which carried guests of the former Glen Burn Mine Tour, was transported Wednesday from an isolated area of Big Mountain, west of the colliery, to the trailhead of the AOAA, off Route 125 south of Burnside. It was donated by the Helfrick family, previous owners of the colliery.

Dennis Moore, owner of Keystone Masonry, donated the use of a flatbed truck and an industrial-size forklift to move the 20-foot-long mantrip, which had been placed in the woods shortly after most of the colliery was demolished in the summer 1986. Moore said it took him and three employees about an hour to move it on the flatbed.

The mantrip is gritty-looking, to say the least. The wooden seats that carried 25 people have broken, the bright-yellow paint has been replaced by rust and the entire car is filled with nearly 30 years of dirt and debris.

Despite this, Moore said he is surprised at it's condition, noting the mine wheels spun when the car was lifted.

45-minute tour

The Glen Burn Mine Tour opened on June 22, 1968, after several months of planning by Lower Anthracite Regional Economic Development Organization (LAREDO), a non-profit corporation created in April 1967. More than 500 people visited the tour on the first weekend. Since the mine was still active, tours were held on weekends and holidays.

People traveled 12 minutes into the mine on several mantrips pulled by an "electric mull." Six guides led visitors through the mine. "Inside men" were Anthony Schetroma, Victor Karycki, John Hine and Mike Karpiak. "Outside men" were Robert Mack and Joseph Shovlin. The entire tour lasted approximately 45 minutes.

Tour, colliery close

On May 13, 1977, it was announced that the tour would not operate a tenth season in 1977. LAREDO said it could no longer afford to support the tour. Approximately $4,000 was needed for maintenance repair work, the rental charge expected by mine owners and breakdowns.

Operations at Glen Burn Colliery ceased at midnight, May 31, 1984, when 120 members of the United Mine Workers went on strike. Today, only a few pieces of the colliery remain.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Thomas Ditchey was named president of the Mount Carmel Area School Board on a split vote Wednesday night during the annual reorganization meeting at Northumberland County Career and Technology Center.

Newly elected board member Tony Mazzatesta was appointed vice president and former president Donna James was named secretary.

Ditchey was nominated for board president by James, while Michael Rovito nominated Robert Muldowney. Voting for Ditchey were himself, James, Michael Brinkash, Ray Kraynak and newly elected board member Joseph Zanella. Voting for Muldowney were himself, Rovito, Mazzatesta and newly elected board director Bill Brecker.

Mazzatesta was appointed vice president on an 8-1 vote. James cast the lone dissenting vote. Mazzatesta was nominated for the position by Rovito. There were no other nominations for vice president.

James was appointed secretary on an 8-0-1 vote, with James abstaining.

Rovito and James were reappointed to their current positions on the Northumberland County Career and Technology Joint Operating Committee.

Brecker volunteered to serve on the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit Board, a post formerly held for many years by outgoing director Charles Mannello.

James was reappointed to serve as the district's Pennsylvania School Boards Association representative.

Board members voted to continue to conduct their regular meetings at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month, with the exception of the April 17 meeting that was changed to April 10. Work sessions will be held at 6 p.m. on the same nights as the meetings.

The next regular meeting will be held Thursday, Jan. 16.

Superintendent Bernie Stellar and Rovito welcomed the new board members. Rovito also praised James for her years of service as board president and encouraged more people to seek school director seats. The longtime board member said he plans to retire from the board in two years.

During a brief special meeting that followed the reorganization session, board members granted permission to the Northumberland County Tax Claims Bureau to sell 13 properties in the school district that are currently on the county's repository list.

Solicitor Edward Greco explained the primary purpose of selling the properties is to get them back on the tax rolls. He said the school district, municipalities where the properties are located and the county must approve the sale of the properties.

The board also approved a 2012-13 audit report submitted by Klacik & Associates.

SHAMOKIN - A city man is accused of bilking his former employer of $5,800.

Police charged Stephen Smith, 35, of 249 S. Franklin St., with theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property after he allegedly kept the proceeds from more than $5,800 in sales at Puff's Discount Tobacco Store, Pearl Street, between February and July.

Shamokin City Police Patrolman William Zalinski said in court documents Kenneth Regel, president of Puff's, reported an employee theft Oct. 11.

Regel told police he suspected Smith was stealing cash since June, and reviewed the transactions and surveillance footage for six months.

Regel told police Smith would wait on a customer and ring up a sale in the register, but would then immediately void the sale.

According to Regel, the practice gave an inaccurate sales account at the end of the shift, allowing an employee to pocket the cash from all the voided transactions.

Regal said he determined how much was stolen during his review of receipts and video footage.

Zalinski interviewed Smith, who said he was aware of the accusations when Regel confronted and fired him in July.

According to police, Smith said he voided the transactions and keep the cash from February through July.

The charges were filed Monday with Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Jan. 7 before Gembic.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Line Mountain School Board is soliciting sealed bids for the two elementary school buildings in Leck Kill and Dalmatia that were vacated in this year's district consolidation.

At Wednesday's school board meeting at the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center (NCCTC), solicitor Rich Roberts explained to the board members the school code requires them to either hold a public auction or accept sealed bids in order to sell a property.

If the board members wanted to go through a Realtor, they would need to petition the courts once that Realtor found a buyer and the Realtor would not be allowed to receive any commission until the courts approved that sale.

Superintendent Dave Campbell said it would be a minimal cost to advertise for bids, and the board members could reject them if they came in too low.

The district has appraisal information on the two properties from Real Estate Appraisal and Marketing Associates, Sunbury, who was hired in August.

Directors Marlin Yeager and Ronald Neidig made and seconded the motion to advertise for the sealed bids. The motion passed 8-0 with President Troy Laudenslager abstaining.

Laudenslager said a family member is interested in purchasing one of the properties; therefore, he excused himself from the discussion and voting matters on the buildings' sales.

The two schools were closed before the 2013-14 school year as part of an overall district consolidation plan. School buildings in Trevorton and Mandata were expanded to accommodate a realignment of the school district. Students in grades kindergarten through fourth are attending class in Trevorton, while fifth and sixth graders are attending class in the new addition of the high school building.

The discussion took place following a 40-minute executive session for litigation and collective bargaining agreements.

Also, prior to the regular meeting, the following votes were taken as part of the re-organization meeting:

- Laudenslager was unanimously re-elected as board president.

- Director Dennis Erdman was unanimously re-elected as board vice president.

- Director Lawrence Neidig was unanimously re-elected as Pennsylvania School Board Association representative.

- Directors Erdman and David Scott Bartholomew were re-elected as NCTCC representatives.

MANDATA - The drama club at Line Mountain Junior/Senior High School will present "It's a Wonderful Life" Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. and Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

Imitating the classic movie released in 1946, the backdrops, outfits and makeup will be in black and white. Director Tara Deljanovan said she hopes her school's production will give the audience a nostalgic feeling.

Deljanovan also said she wanted to bring a new challenge to the cast, which is led by seniors Falconer Walshaw-Wertz, portraying George Bailey; Courtlyn Trautman, portraying Mary Hatch, and junior Natasha Wetzel, portraying Clarice Odbody, Bailey's guardian angel.

Additional cast from grades seven through 12 are Faith Candelora, Greyson Lesher, Josh Houseman, Meadow Walshaw-Wertz, Briana Shervinskie, Olivia Elia, Tori Duffy, Megan Finlan, Quentin Kaleta, Wade Houseman, Makayla Chubb, Mia Kissinger, Sadie Walshaw, Ethan Keefer, AJ Boyer, Ashley Lambert, Ethan Keefer, Ashley Wilga, Madison Trautman, Audriana Beattie, Britney Bidding, Kadence Selig, Alyssa Lambert, Morgan Adams, Stevie Snyder and Caitlin Keim.

Staff are Tammy Wetzel, properties master and scenic painting; Haillie Brownawall, graphic design; and Caleb Keefer and Dylan Brosious, lights and sound.

Tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for seniors and students.

The Soroptimist International Club of Snyder, Union and Northumberland Counties Inc. is seeking applicants for its annual Women's Opportunity Award.

The Women's Opportunity Award was created in 1972 to help women improve their education, skills and employment prospects while supporting their families.

The SUN Soroptimist Club awards a monetary grant each year to a woman who serves as the primary wage earner for her family in order to offset costs associated with her efforts to attain higher education or additional skills and training. Many of the club's past awardees have successfully completed their education and are now working to improve the lives of others in the community.

An eligible applicant is a woman who provides the primary financial support for her household while enrolled in or accepted to a vocational/skills training program or an undergraduate degree program.

Anyone interested in applying for or know of an eligible applicant of the Women's Opportunity Award is asked to contact Lori Simpson at ljsimpsn@ptd.net for an application. Applications are due by Dec. 15.

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