MANDATA - The 99 teachers represented by the Line Mountain Education Association (LMEA) will clash with the district school board tomorrow when they picket the public meeting.

With no contract resolution anywhere in sight and the shadow of a possible strike looming, the teachers are hoping to bring attention to their stalled negotiations and push the board toward "a fair and equitable" deal.

"Teachers would rather be in their classrooms teaching their students, and this school board needs to bargain in a meaningful way to settle a new contract," said Mark McDade of the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

Expired contract

Teachers have been working on an expired contract since June 2012. That one-year pact was an extension of a five-year contract that ended June 30, 2011, and guaranteed teachers a 3-percent raise each year.

The teachers have also been working to the rule since Sept. 30 to draw attention to the stalled contract negotiations. They will not volunteer their time for duties not described in their contract and will only work during the contracted 7 1/2 hours.

They will rally outside the middle/high school at 5:45 p.m. Tuesday before the 6:30 p.m. public meeting.

On the district's side, however, board President Troy Laudenslager said the board members "strongly disagree" with the assertions of the union.

"Actions speak louder than words. Based on the LMEA's own press releases and their unwillingness to meet with the board, they are obviously more interested in putting on a show rather than negotiating. Our attempts to negotiate in good faith have apparently fallen on deaf ears," he said.

It's been nearly five months since the two negotiating teams had a successful meeting. A Jan. 23 negotiation session was cut short after about an hour when Laudenslager said the teachers' team walked out without ever coming face-to-face with the board's team.

"If they want to negotiate, they would meet with us, and not just walk out," he said. "Instead, they announce a potential strike and make a work to rule proclamation that tries to prevent excellent teachers from participating in activities where they would receive additional compensation. "

Tutoring struggling students is one of the activities they have stopped participating, Laudenslager said.

Dignity and respect

"I am afraid their actions are only hurting student performance and their own reputation. We were given hope that some positive movement took place between our negotiators, but it doesn't look like they feel the same way," he said.

The district has nothing specific planned in response to the teachers at the meeting, and Laudenslager said he's extremely happy to hear they are going to attend.

"Our superintendent (Dave Campbell) has been trying to get LMEA representatives to regularly attend meetings for seven years, but they have been unwilling to participate. It will be a pleasant surprise to finally have teachers at our meetings," he said.

Union President Mark Shearer, also a teacher, said the contract dispute impacts working conditions, which also impacts student learning conditions.

McDade said the teachers are tasked with the great responsibility of educating future citizens of the state.

"Therefore, it is incumbent upon the Line Mountain School Board to reflect this awesome responsibility by treating their teachers with dignity and respect rather than contempt and disregard for them as people, let alone as professionals," he said.

If teacher accountability is greater now than ever before, McDade said it's time for the school board members to be held to the same standard by "respecting their teachers and recognizing the important service teachers selflessly provide to the Line Mountain community every day."

The teachers deserve action from the school board to deliver a professional contracts that reflects the dignity and worth of their profession, he said.

"In summation, why are we holding a rally? Because all teachers deserve to be treated with dignity and respect," he said.

SUNBURY - A mitigation expert for the defense has been appointed by the court for accused murderer Elytte Barbour, and a hearing will be held next month involving a request to hire a private investigator.

Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor issued an order Thursday to conduct a hearing at 1:15 p.m. April 30 to discuss a motion filed by Barbour's attorney James Best of Sunbury to hire an investigator.

In the same order, Saylor granted Best's request to hire Jean M. Landis of Bethlehem as a mitigation expert to assist the attorney in preparing a mitigation defense in the event Barbour's trial proceeds to the death penalty phase.

Landis will receive her customary rate of $100 per hour at a maximum of $5,000 for her services, which will be paid by the county since Barbour is indigent.

The order calls for Northumberland County Prison Warden Roy Johnson to grant Landis full access to the defendant so she can proceed with her investigation. If Barbour is transferred to another prison, the same access must be granted to Landis.

Barbour is currently housed at the county jail after previously being incarcerated at Columbia County Prison, Bloomsburg.

A hearing will be held 9:15 a.m. April 1 on a motion filed by Miranda Barbour's attorney Edward Greco to compel discovery evidence from the district attorney's office in the murder case that has drawn international attention.

Saylor also previously granted permission to the commonwealth to preserve hard drives from Troy LaFerrara's computer and his mother's computer seized by police upon the execution of a search warrant. Saylor said preserving the hard drives will allow the defense attorneys or an expert of their choosing to examine them in the future.

LaFerrara was found stabbed to death in a backyard in Sunbury Nov. 11.

Miranda Barbour, 19, and her 22-year-old husband, Elytte Barbour, are charged with homicide in the Port Trevorton man's death.

Miranda Barbour remains imprisoned at SCI-Muncy.

City anniversary committee meets

SHAMOKIN - A meeting of the Shamokin 150th Anniversary Committee will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Independence Fire Co., Market and Arch streets.

Ongoing plans for the celebration in July and lead-up events will be discussed. Interested citizens are invited and new members are always welcome.

In addition, Mayor Jim Yurick's famous "Firehouse Burgers" will be sold at Independence Fire Company at 4 p.m. March 29 to benefit the 150th.

Bloodmobile Wednesday at OLOL

COAL TOWNSHIP - A Geisinger bloodmobile will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School. Call 570-644-0375, extension 119, to register.

Register by April 1 for memorial tourney

ELYSBURG - Registration deadline is April 1 for the Derek Crowl Memorial Basketball Tournament, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 5 and 6 at the Ralpho Township gym.

Teams should consist of five to eight players; registration fee is $75. There are a limited number of slots.

It is double elimination, and a monetary award wil be given to the top two teams.

There is no charge for the public to attend, but donations will be accepted. Food and refreshments will be available.

Call Shelly at 570-933-0019, Sean Stout at 570-259-1688 or Deb Burd at 570-933-2896 to register. Be prepared to leave a team name and a contact number.

All proceeds are used to provide scholarships at a local school district in Crowl's name.

SHAMOKIN - Traffic along Sunbury Street (Route 61) was snarled Monday afternoon after dirt and rocks accidentally spilled from a tri-axle working at a nearby construction site.

A latch popped off a truck owned by Michael F. Ronca & Sons Inc., causing the debris to spill into the northbound lane between the Cameron Bridge and Market Street.

The truck's driver, Barry Ault, 54, of Jonestown, was driving from a construction site on North Second Street and was believed to be headed to a dump site along Route 61 just outside Shamokin.

Coal Township police directed traffic while employees from Ronca used heavy equipment to clean the mess.

The incident was reported at 3:25 p.m. and the debris was cleared within the hour. All lanes were open to traffic by 4:30 p.m.

Ault will be cited for violating the vehicle code on securing loads, according to Coal Township Patrolman Edward Purcell.

SHAMOKIN - Two additional local municipalities will participate in a state study to survey the cost and benefits of a potential regional police force.

Shamokin City Council and Zerbe Township Board of Supervisors, during their regular meetings Monday, voted to join Coal Township in a study conducted by a branch of the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED).

Coal Township commissioners approved a letter of intent last week.

The study will determine the financial costs of consolidating and operating a regional department, manpower needs and agency hierarchy.

City councilmen David Kinder and Charlie Verano raise questions about cost and commitment, to which Mayor William D. Milbrand said the study is free and non-binding.

Officials from Mount Carmel and Mount Carmel Township had also expressed interest during an informational meeting Feb. 19 at the Coal Township Municipal Building.

Once a letter of intent is authorized, a peer consultant will be assigned to review municipal data, especially police budgets, according to Ron Stern, local government policy specialist with the Governor's Center for Local Government Services.

The consultant's work, which is expected to take about four months, will be used to create a final report on police regionalization.

If the municipalities choose to consolidate, it will take an additional year before a regional force is organized.

No full-time police officers will be laid off as part of regionalization, Stern said.

A committee with representatives of all member communities will oversee the consolidation process and the consolidated department's operation.

SHAMOKIN - City council voted Monday to fill two part-time positions at the police department and eliminate a full-time secretarial position at City Hall.

Members also voted to indefinitely freeze all non-union employee wages, a move suggested by the Early Intervention Program of Department of Community and Economic Development.

Special officer Norm Lukoskie will resume his work immediately as a meter clerk at an $8 hourly wage for 28 hours weekly, which adds up to $9,408 over the remaining 42 weekly pay periods.

Lukoskie was one of two special officers who had been furloughed in January. Police Chief Ed Griffiths said he had been working about 6 hours weekly before furlough.

Controller Gary Haddock pointed out that funding for the meter clerk position is not in the budget. He asked council where it would come from.

Mayor William D. Milbrand responded that parking meter revenue dropped "drastically" since the furloughs.

"I would be willing to say that is where the money will come from," Milbrand said of collections.

By a vote of city council, meter money will now be collected twice monthly, first and third Mondays, up from once monthly.

An estimated $100,000 was collected from Shamokin's parking meters in 2013. Six-hundred of those meters were purchased and installed in 2012 on a five-year, $100,901 loan at 3.591 percent interest.

Ticketing had also dropped after the furloughs. According to the police chief's monthly reports, there were 237 parking tickets issued in February 2013 compared to just 17 last month.

Police secretary, assistant

Nytasha Shinskie was hired as police secretary at an $8.50 hourly rate for 28 hours weekly. She replaces Jill Bright, a full-time employee before resigning. Shinskie had worked at the station about 10 hours a week since January; she won't be receiving back pay for those hours, Griffiths said.

The position of administrative assistant held by Michelle Quinn was eliminated. The position's funding was slashed in the 2014 budget, reduced from $26,627 for salary and benefits to $3,526.

It's believed the duties will be rolled into the city clerk position, for which 10 people have submitted applications. More applications are sought, however, and the deadline to apply for the job was extended Monday to March 17.

Motions to eliminate the secretarial position, increase the frequency of parking meter collections and extend the application deadline for the city clerk position were all made following a 10-minute executive session.

In other business

City council:

- Acknowledged a free training session sponsored by Northumberland County on the state's Right to Know law to be held from 10 a.m. to noon March 25 at the county administration center in Sunbury.

- Voted to close Pine and Mulberry streets immediately surrounding West End Fire Co. from June 4 to 8 to set up and take down stands and equipment for the company's annual block party to be held June 6 and 7.

- Will allow Restoration Ministries to use Claude Kehler Community Park from 8 a.m. to noon April 13 for a Sunday service.

- Will rent a portion of the Third Street parking lot for Bill Lehman to erect a flower tent from mid-March through mid-June at a fee of $300.

- Approved a special event permit for the annual Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts to be held May 23 and 24. Proceeds from the train ride, estimated at $4,000, will again be donated to Shamokin's 150th Anniversary Committee.

- Supported a first annual benefit ride on April 26 at the AOAA with all proceeds to be split three ways between Shamokin and Zerbe and Coal townships.

- Purchased a new 16-foot diving board from Lincoln Aquatics at a cost of $3,614.50 to be paid from the city's recreation account. A refurbishment of the existing damaged diving board, which is 14 years old, was considered but was not believed to be cost effective.

SHAMOKIN - Two Shamokin men charged in a fight Friday that injured a city police officer waived their rights to preliminary hearings Tuesday and were recommitted to Northumberland County Prison.

Robert Watts Jr., 27, of 625 E. Packer St., and Jack W. Grove, 44, of 918 E. Kase St., were ordered by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III to appear for plea court April 28 at Northumberland County Courthouse.

Watts was charged by Cpl. Bryan Primerano and Patrolman Mark Costa with felonies of aggravated assault, riot, criminal conspiracy to cause a riot, and misdemeanors of simple assault, resisting arrest and failure of disorderly persons to disperse. Grove was charged with riot, criminal conspiracy to cause a riot, resisting arrest and failure of disorderly persons to disperse.

A hearing for Watts' brother, Christopher W. Lloyd, 36, of 627 E. Packer St., Shamokin, who also was involved in the disturbance, was continued because his attorney, county special conflicts counsel Sue Schwartz, was busy representing clients in the Court of Common Pleas in Sunbury.

Lloyd was charged with aggravated assault, riot, criminal conspiracy to cause a riot, two counts of simple assault, resisting arrest and failure of disorderly persons to disperse.

Watts was represented by public defender Melissa Norton. Grove waived his right to an attorney.

Costa, who attempted to break up the fracas, suffered injuries to his knees and hand during the 12:41 a.m. incident in the 500 block of North Shamokin Street near Snapper's Bar. Costa's police jacket was also torn in the altercation.

Upon arriving at the scene, only a block away from the police station, Costa and Cpl. Bryan Primerano spotted Lloyd and Watts arguing in the middle of Spurzheim Street. Witnesses told police Lloyd had been causing a disturbance and chasing a female at Snapper's.

While Primerano was attempting to speak with Lloyd and calm him down, Watts reportedly yelled, "Leave my (expletive) brother alone," and attempted to stop police from speaking with him.

After police repeatedly advised Lloyd and Watts to calm down and leave the area, Grove approached the officers and attempted to separate them from his two friends, according to the criminal complaint.

Police said Lloyd staggered away from police, walking north on Shamokin Street.

After Primerano told Lloyd he was under arrest and attempted to handcuff him, Watts came up behind Primerano and interfered with the arrest, according to police. At this point, Costa told Watts he was under arrest. Police said Watts then pushed Costa away and resisted arrest when the officer attempted to handcuff him.

Costa tackled Watts to the ground while Watts attempted to punch the officer in the face and chest while tearing his coat. Police said Watts continued to fight as Primerano attempted to handcuff him. Lloyd and Grove then came to help Watts and became aggressive toward the officers, prompting Costa to deploy OC spray on all three men.

Assisting Costa and Primerano in the arrest of Lloyd, Watts and Grove were emergency medical technicians from AREA Services Ambulance, Coal Township Patrolmen Chris Lapotsky and Matthew Hashuga and Ralpho Township Officer Chris Grow.

SHAMOKIN - Two men were charged Tuesday in connection with fight at Market and Spruce streets Sunday that sent one of the defendants to the hospital.

Randy Blake Elliott II, 24, of 1240 Poplar St., Kulpmont, who is detained at Northumberland County Prison on a parole violation, and Kenneth J. Wallin, 31, of 227 S. Market St., Shamokin, who was injured in the disturbance, face disorderly conduct, harassment and public drunkenness charges filed by Patrolman Raymond Siko II.

Elliott also was charged with resisting arrest.

According to a criminal complaint filed at office of Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, police were dispatched to the 1:17 a.m. fight. Upon arriving on scene, Siko spotted Wallin unresponsive lying in the middle of the street; Elliott and Jordan Derck, 26, of Kulpmont, were standing next to him.

Police said two unidentified males were approximately a half block away.

After Siko requested emergency personnel to tend to Wallin, he said Elliott and Derck fled on foot and ran through a muddy parking lot onto Market Street before running north on Market Street toward Chestnut Street.

Police said Derck stopped running in the middle of the block, but Elliott continued to flee before eventually stopping near M&T Bank at Market and Chestnut streets.

Cpl. Darwin Tobias III and Patrolman Scott Weaver arrived and all three officers assisted in handcuffing Elliott. Police noticed blood and small lacerations on Elliott's knuckles. They also noticed a strong odor of alcohol on his breath.

Derck also was handcuffed, and police noticed alcohol on her breath.

Ralpho Township Patrolman Chris Grow, Mount Carmel Lt. Chris Buhay and two troopers from the state police station at Stonington also responded. Coal Township police were busy investigating a rollover accident on the Cameron Bridge at the time.

Elliott and Derck were transported to Shamokin Police Station for questioning. Derck was subsequently released and was not charged in the incident. Elliott was taken to prison for violating his probation.

While Wallin was being treated by paramedics from Area Services Ambulance at the scene of the fight, Siko asked him what happened.

Wallin replied, "I don't know what you are talking about."

Siko said Wallin was bleeding from a swollen area above his right eye.

Wallin was transported by AREA Services to Geisinger Medical Center in Danville before being released about 3:15 a.m.

Derck told police she was with Elliott outside Rob's Good Time Grill when she left for a short period of time to retrieve his coat inside the bar. When she returned, Derck said she saw Wallin lying in the street. Derck told police Elliott then began to run and she ran after him in an attempt to stop him.

Derck, who also is on probation, said she wasn't sure how many times Elliott struck Wallin or exactly what happened.

Elliott told police he was involved in a confrontation that quickly turned physical with an unidentified male outside the bar. Elliott said he was fighting with the unknown man when Wallin began punching him in the head.

Elliott claimed he was just trying to defend himself when he hit Wallin.

When asked why he ran, Elliott said he got scared and did not want to go to jail.

TREVORTON - While not taking any action against them, Zerbe Township Supervisors called out several delinquent sewer account holders at their meeting Monday night.

Board chairman Michael Schwartz read off a list of 38 names who owe $800 or more which account for $67,557.19 owed to the sewer authority.

The amounts ranged from a local resident owing $814.20 to a firm in Fairport, N.Y., owing on two accounts for $3,697.35 and $9,230.06.

The township is starting construction of a new $3 million sewer plant later this month, weather permitting, and the board has approved the purchase of a $105,000 sewer drying bed for sludge Monday they hope can be absorbed into the cost of the sewer project; the money owed by deliquent customers would come in handy.

In the past, the township has handed over delinquent accounts to a credit collections agency.

Gazebo

Trevorton Ambulance Association was given a lease for the property at Fifth and Market Streets to construct a pole building for storage.

The lease, costing the association $1 a year, was approved on a 2-0 vote with supervisors Schwartz and Mike Mazer voting yes and supervisor Gene Geise, the president of the ambulance association, abstaining.

The area where the building will be constructed is bi-level, so the association will build a gazebo there. They are looking for groups to plant flowers and do other landscaping work.

"It could be a very nice area. I'm looking forward to see what everyone comes up with," Schwartz said.

The board also said there will be only one election polling place in Zerbe Township: the American Legion Building.

USPS meeting

A special meeting with the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) regarding the future of the Trevorton Post Office will be held at 6 p.m. March 24 at the legion.

Supervisors said several township residents received surveys, and the results of the survey will be shared March 24.

There will also be time for residents to ask questions and give input regarding business hours of the Trevorton Post Office.

Zerbe Township will send bulk mail, such as sewer bills, from the Shamokin Post Office instead of the Trevorton Post Office.

The supervisors voted unanimously on a motion opposing any reduction in hours or possible closing of the Trevorton Post Office.

In other business

- The board submitted a letter of intent with the Department of Community and Economic Development to participate in a survey on the creation of a regional police consolidation force. The approval was given after solicitor Roger Wiest reviewed the letter and was assured there is no commitment to joining the force, only to participate in the survey. So far, Zerbe Township, Coal Township and Shamokin have signed the letter.

- Permission was given to the Line Mountain High School National Honor Society to hold a service project in the township April 30, and to the elementary school to use the foundry field for a May Day carnival May 8.

- A burning permit was approved for the Zerbe Rod and Gun Club, provided a date is given when the burning will occur.

- On a unanimous vote, Mazer was reappointed as a delegate to the 2014 Northumberland County Tax Collection Committee with Geise named as the alternate delegate.

SUNBURY - An alleged member of the "Goon Squad" charged with assaulting a Shamokin man last month was adjudicated Tuesday morning on four criminal offenses, including two felonies.

Chad Lytle, 17, of Shamokin, was found not guilty of aggravated assault when witnesses couldn't positively identify him as the person who injured Keith "KC" Long.

Lytle was returned to Northwestern Academy in Coal Township after being adjudicated by Northumberland County President Judge William H. Wiest on felonies of criminal conspiracy to commit aggravated assault and riot, and misdemeanors of simple assault and disorderly conduct. He was not adjudicated on a felony of aggravated assault. Disposition (sentencing) in the case is scheduled for 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 25.

Being adjudicated in juvenile court is the same as being found guilty in adult court.

The one-hour hearing, which was open to the media since it involved felony offenses, included testimony by the victim, witness Timothy Elliott Jr. and arresting officer Patrolman William Miner. Lytle did not take stand.

Lytle's attorney, James Best of Sunbury, asked for all the charges to be dismissed for lack of evidence presented by the commonwealth. According to testimony and other evidence presented in the case, Best said Ryan Forte, 18, of 18 S. Market St., Apt. 1, Shamokin, was the person responsible for causing Long's serious injuries during a Feb. 23 assault in the 400 block of East Independence Street.

Long suffered a broken nose, a cut on his lower lip that required five stitches, four damaged teeth, broken braces and severe facial swelling that required emergency room treatment at Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital and follow-up care by an orthodontist.

District attorney Tony Rosini argued that Lytle and four other individuals charged in connection with Long's assault acted together and there was sufficient evidence to adjudicate him on all the charges.

Long, a junior at Shamokin Area High School, testified that he has known Lytle for a few years and that the defendant made threats to him and his friends about bringing a knife to school. He admitted being involved in one prior incident with the defendant at school.

The assault

He said Lytle, accompanied by a few others, first approached him on the day of the assault while he was walking on Lincoln Street near Eighth Street. He said Lytle ran over to him and punched him on the side of the face before challenging him to a fight in the middle of the street.

The victim, who said the punch to his face did not injure him, continued walking before he claimed Forte, Lytle and Cage Cossari, 16, of Shamokin, assaulted him on East Independence Street near Shamokin Street before fleeing the scene when a passer-by stopped to assist him.

Long said he then walked to the nearby Sons of Italy, where he called his mother for help.

The victim said he and his mother then went to Shamokin Police Station to report the assault, but after noticing his serious facial injuries and the difficulty he had talking, Officer Miner directed him to go to the local hospital first, which he did before returning for an interview.

Rosini presented photographs depicting Long's serious injuries.

Under cross examination from Best, Long denied ever picking on Lytle.

'Not sure'

Elliott testified that he saw a group of teens assaulting Long and cursing and screaming at the victim after he stopped his car to offer assistance. But the witness said he didn't recognize Lytle as being one of the group who assaulted Long. When asked again by Rosini if Lytle was there, he stated, "I'm not sure."

After conducting interviews with Long, Elliott and Lytle and obtaining additional information, Miner said he found enough evidence to charge Lytle and the others in the assault.

He said Lytle denied being involved in the assault on East Independence Street. He said the defendant told him he "blacks out" when he gets upset.

The officer said Lytle told him he was walking with his friends when Long started taunting him to fight on Lincoln Street. He then claimed Long charged him before he blacked out. Lytle said he didn't know if he hit Long or not. Upon walking near the Knights of Columbus, he said Long taunted him again before charging at Forte. Lytle said Forte and Long then started to fight.

Lytle, who was wearing a white American Eagle sweatshirt and sneakers, conferred a few times with Best and his stepfather, Paul Foulds, during the hearing, but showed little emotion after Wiest adjudicated him on most of the charges. He briefly met with his family after the hearing.

After Wiest issued his ruling, Northumberland County Probation Officer Shawn Kalman recommended that Lytle be returned to the shelter care program at Northwestern Academy despite being involved in some incidents with another juvenile at the facility that required staff to restrain him.

Lytle was initially housed at a juvenile facility in Bellefonte due to the seriousness of the charges before being transferred to Northwestern Academy.

After the hearing, Rosini said he felt Wiest's ruling was appropriate. He admitted the aggravated assault charge was going to be difficult to prove since none of the witnesses positively identified Lytle as throwing the punches that resulted in Long's injuries.

Other suspects

Forte was arraigned Feb. 27 on the same charges as Lytle and is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III. He remains in Northumberland County Prison in lieu of $100,000 cash bail.

Cossari was charged with aggravated assault, riot, simple assault and disorderly conduct. Lytle's two brothers, Seth, 15, and Kyle, 14, were charged with riot and disorderly conduct.

The Lytles and Cossari were charged through juvenile petitions.

All the charges were filed by Miner.

Cossari and the younger Lytle brothers, who remain free, are awaiting their adjudication hearings in Northumberland County Court.

Shamokin police previously said Forte, the Lytle brothers and Cossari are members of a group known as the "Goon Squad" who have been involved in fights, vandalism and intimidation during the past two months in the city.

KULPMONT - A commissioned study by an independent architect shows it would cost more than $2 million for the borough to renovate its current municipal building rather than build new for about $1 million.

Critics of the new building are happy to see a written estimate.

"We are happy to see this," said Bob Chesney, who has voiced his opinion against the building project. "This is what we have been asking for."

At the start of Tuesday's borough council meeting, the public heard from architect Rocky Baer, of Baer Wolfe Architects, of Sunbury, who was asked to prepare a cost analysis after walking through the former Wilson Grade School, where the borough conducts its business.

The plan is to build a 4,000 square-foot building and a 5,000-foot borough garage in the area of Fir Street, but critics have said they don't believe renovating the old building would cost more than building new. Critics have continually asked the borough for proof of the costs.

Last month, borough council approved the study and asked borough engineer Mike Begis and an architect to do the walkthrough.

On March 4, Baer, Begis, council member Joseph Winhofer and code enforcement officer Russ Moroz walked through the building, including on the roof and in the boiler room, inspecting all components on the surface.

Doing an analysis based on past projects, industry pricing and using prevailing wage rates, Baer came up with a list of 18 items of areas in extreme disrepair or simply not up to current standards (see sidebar).

According to Baer's analysis, renovating the first floor of the building, a 7,000-foot structure, would cost $1,814,000. Renovation of the second floor would add $700,000 in costs, not including ongoing maintenance of the building.

Council president Bruno Varano also produced a proposal for a feasibility study on renovating the building from 2009.

"This shows that we have been thinking about this for the last five years," Varano said.

In the proposal done by Brinjac Engineering, of Harrisburg, many of the same problems were found, including the inadequacy of the police station and a lack of a clear access point for the general public to transact business at borough offices.

After Baer's report, Chesney questioned whether this was the "Cadillac version" of the repairs, but Baer assured him that he used average materials to calculate the price.

"After seeing this, I understand that, maybe, building new is a better option, but I ask council to be as fiscally responsible as they can on this matter," Chesney said.

In other business

Mayor Bernard Novakoski said parking restrictions will go into effect April 2 and vehicles must be parked with the flow of traffic on all north and south streets.

Moroz asked the public to refrain from using the alley near the former weaving plant of J.K. and C.K. Eagle and Company on Chestnut Street because of structural safety concerns.

"We don't want any member of the public getting hurt there," Moroz said.

A girl from Reading suffered a leg injury in July while she and some friends were trespassing in the former mill. The girl and three other youths were cited.

Council directed Moroz to call state agencies to help find the owner of the former weaving plant to address the problems.

There will be no ticketing for street sweepers during the month of March and regular sweeping will begin in April.

The borough's playground at the Terry Mirello Field is scheduled to open April 1.

Food surplus will be distributed from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday at the borough garage.

SHAMOKIN - The city's street sweeper will begin running daily March 31.

City council voted Monday to approve the 2014 schedule along with the $3,530 purchase of new parts for the street sweeper, the funding for which will come from Shamokin's liquid fuels fund.

The parts are expected to be delivered in two to three weeks, according to Councilman Charlie Verano, director of public works.

The street sweeper will run weekdays through the end of April, with the exception of Good Friday. Beginning in May, the sweeper will run on an alternating schedule - the second and fourth full weeks each month through November.

One change from 2013 is that the sweeping of Commerce Street will be extended to Sixth Street.

Vehicles must be off the street during assigned hours. Violators are subject to at least fines.

Schedule

The sweeper will run:

- Daily with no parking on either side - Independence Street, from Sixth to Shamokin streets, 4 to 6 a.m.; Mount Carmel Street, full length, 4 to 6 a.m.

- Race Street, from Shamokin Street to city line, 4 to 6 a.m. Monday and Friday.

- Mondays on both sides, no parking on either side: Lincoln Street, 4 to 7 a.m.; Eighth Street, Chestnut to Sunbury streets, 4 to 7 a.m.; Pine Street, First to Market streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; Rock Street, Pine to Sunbury streets, 4 to 7 a.m.; Pine Street, Rock to Shamokin streets, 4 to 7 a.m.

- Mondays on one side with parking on opposite side: north side Mulberry Street, Fifth to Market streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; east side of Fifth Street, Mulberry to Chestnut streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; east side of Second Street, Chestnut to Water streets, 4 to 6 a.m., and from Mulberry Street to city line, 6 to 9 a.m.; east side of Sixth Street, Arch Street north to city line, 4 to 6 a.m., and from Arch Street south to Mulberry Street, 6 to 9 a.m.; south side Spruce Street, First to Market streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; south side Sunbury Street, Sixth to Pearl streets, 4 to 7 a.m.; west side Market Street, Sunbury to Spruce streets, 4 to 6 am.

- Tuesdays on both sides, no parking on either side: Third Street, from Mulberry to Independence streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; Vine Street, Cedar to Montgomery streets, 4 to 7 a.m.; Pearl Street, Race Street to city line south, 4 to 7 a.m.

- Tuesdays on one side with parking on opposite side: south side of Arch Street, First to Grant streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; east side of Bear Valley Avenue, full length, 6 to 9 a.m.; south side of Chestnut Street, First to Grant streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; east side of Market Street, Sunbury to Spruce streets, 4 to 6 a.m., and from Spruce to Montgomery streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; north side of Sunbury Street, Sixth to Pearl streets, 4 to 7 a.m.

- Wednesdays on both sides, no parking on either side: Commerce Street, Liberty to Mount Carmel streets and Sixth to Eighth streets, 4 to 7 a.m.; Diamond Street, Willow to Pine streets, 6 to 9 a.m.

- Wednesdays on one side with parking on opposite side: south side of Mulberry Street, Fifth to Market streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; west side of Fifth Street, Mulberry to Chestnut streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; west side of Second Street, city line to Mulberry Street, 6 to 9 a.m.; west side of Sixth Street, Arch Street north to city line, 4 to 6 a.m., and from Arch Street south to Mulberry Street, 6 to 9 a.m.; east side of Shamokin Street, Sunbury Street to city line, 4 to 7 a.m.; north side of Spruce Street, First to Market streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; south side of Chestnut Street, Rock to Pearl streets, 4 to 7 a.m.

- Thursdays on both sides, no parking on either side: Fifth Street, Mulberry to Montgomery streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; Franklin Street, Sunbury to Willow streets, 4 to 7 a.m.; Mulberry Street, Franklin to Harrison streets, 4 to 7 a.m.; Shakespeare Street, Rock to Franklin streets, 4 to 7 a.m.; Spurzheim Street, Washington to Franklin streets, 4 to 7 a.m.

- Thursdays on one side with parking on opposite side: north side of Arch Street, from First to Grant streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; west side Bear Valley Avenue, full length, 6 to 9 a.m.; north side of Chestnut Street, First to Grant streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; west side of Market Street, Sunbury to Spruce streets, 4 to 6 a.m., and from Spruce to Montgomery streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; south side Sunbury Street, Sixth to Pearl streets, 4 to 7 a.m.

- Fridays on both sides, no parking on either side: Coal Street, Arch to Willow streets, 6 to 9 a.m.; Pine Street, Shamokin to Pearl streets, 4 to 7 a.m.; Walnut Street, Market to First streets, 4 to 7 a.m.; Water Street, Market to Rock streets, 6 to 9 a.m.

- Fridays on one side with parking on opposite side: Chestnut Street, north side to Pearl Street, 4 to 7 a.m.; Race Street, from Shamokin Street to city line, 4 to 6 a.m.; west side of Shamokin Street, Sunbury Street to city line, 4 to 7 a.m.; north side of Sunbury Street, Sixth to Pearl streets, 4 to 7 a.m.; east side of Market Street, Sunbury to Spruce streets, 4 to 6 a.m.; east side First Street, Walnut to Pine streets, 4 to 7 a.m.

MANDATA - Stalled contract negotiations brought out approximately 100 Line Mountain teachers and supporters to the Line Mountain Middle/High School campus Tuesday night.

Armed with signs with varying messages, the picketers gathered at the corner of the school at 5:45 p.m. to catch the attention of any of the nine board members driving into either of the district's two parking lots before the 6:30 p.m. public meeting.

Moments before a seemingly rushed 8-minute board meeting, Line Mountain Education Association President Mark Shearer, Pennsylvania State Education Association representative Mark McDade and several school board presidents from neighboring districts addressed the crowd.

Shearer told the teachers he was there to "affect change, to get good, deserving salaries for hard-working people, no matter what millionaire pheasant farmer people might say," referencing school board President Troy Laudenslager's family business, Mahantongo Game Farms in Dalmatia.

McDade "is teaching us how to stand up for ourselves and how to take it the people, not the board, but to the community and students," Shearer said. "This is what we do. We come together."
 

Teachers have been working on an expired contract since June 2012. That one-year pact was an extension of a five-year contract that ended June 30, 2011, and guaranteed teachers a 3-percent raise each year.

With the threat of a strike looming, the teachers have also been working to the rule since Sept. 30 to draw attention to the stalled contract negotiations. They will not volunteer their time for duties not described in their contract and will only work during the contracted 7 1/2 hours.

Quick meeting

School board meetings are normally held in the cafeteria, but Tuesday's was moved to the library, which is smaller.

Teachers packed the library a few minutes after 6:30 p.m., when the board members were nearly finished with their meeting. After approving the agenda items, the board opened up the floor for public comment, of which there were none. They adjourned the meeting at 6:38 p.m.

As part of the public agenda, the board provided copies of teacher salary schedules and their raises over the years to anyone attending the meeting.

The only discussion of board agenda items occurred when David Scott Bartholomew questioned the approval of coaches and advisors for the 2014-15 school year.

"It doesn't make sense to me," he said, noting the teachers are working to the rule and refuse to tutor students but they're willing to work as advisors and coaches.

The district has to hire outside employees to provide after-school tutoring for the students, he said.

'Hew needz techer?'

Following the meaning, Laudenslager said he had nothing new to say, but he was glad to see the teachers at the meeting.

As board president, Laudenslager has been highly critical of the union's actions, accusing them of playing games during negotiations.

But the teachers and their supporters see it a different way.

Their signs had messaged that included: "You can't put students first if you put teachers last," "It's time... fair contract now" and "Hew needz techer? Git tha pnt?"

McDade said the teachers not only deserve a professional contract, but they deserve to be treated professionally as well.

"This school board would rather bargain in public than directly with the teachers," he said. "The board has offered nothing to the process other than disrespect and causing angst to the parents and students."

The two sides tell two stories: The district says it's waiting for the teachers to respond to the latest offer, while the teachers claim they haven't been given a latest offer. The district says the teachers walked out of a Jan. 23 negotiation meeting after an hour and never came face-to-face with the board's negotiation team, and the teachers say they waited three hours and 13 minutes before walking out. The district officials say they're willing to meet whenever the teachers want, but the teachers say the board refuses to schedule sessions.

The district is spreading "misinformation and we're here to call them out on it," McDade said.

It's "sideshow games," he added.

"They have high-jacked the positive relationship the teachers have built with the public," McDade said.

Other schools

Teachers from Danville Area, Warrior Run, Mid-West, Selinsgrove Area, Shamokin Area and Shikellamy were also in attendance to show support for Line Mountain teachers.

Danville Area Education Association President Dave Fortunato, whose fellow teachers are on their second year without a contract settlement, told the crowd three years without a raise is "ridiculous."

"There's no reason for the jobs we do, the noble jobs we do, that we should be standing by and getting kicked in the teeth, not getting raises and not being treated fairly," he said.

Teachers must keep fighting and working together, he said. "People will realize we're not going to put up with it anymore," Fortunato said.

The next negotiation meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, April 22.

KULPMONT - The following is a list of problems found by architect Randy Baer, of Sunbury, at the current Kulpmont Borough Municipal Building and garage:

- Sidewalks, curbs and steps are cracked, heaved or have settled.

- Exterior brick work and masonry in extreme disrepair, probably a large source of water infiltration.

- Stone blocking at east entry is deteriorating and is being held by inadequate wood supports.

- Northeast corner of the building appears to have settled, leaving large cracks (daylight visible from the inside) in the exterior and a floor system that has sagged.

- Rigid roof insulation is soft and seem to be deteriorating and is soft under foot.

- The chimney on the roof needs extensive brick work and structural repair.

- The roof drainage systems contains only primary drains; due to the age of construction, it does not have any secondary drains.

- Glass blocks are broken or missing.

- Exterior sealant has passed its life span and is cracked or missing.

- Most of the interior floor finish is old tile similar to today's vinyl tile and is known to contain asbestos.

- Railing around interior stairs are not compliant with current codes.

- Several locations of water infiltration and damage.

- All electrical wiring, accessories and components are out-of-date and potentially a hazard.

- Newer boiler, but runs on heating oil.

- Heating system does not have proper zoning, which results in improper temperature control.

- Individual air conditioning units throughout the entire building, which results in heat or cooling loss.

- Fire alarm and system is outdated.

- Police department is not very secure and restraints are not up to current standards.

SHAMOKIN - A rift appeared Monday night between the controller and the mayor after the former questioned an out-of-budget expenditure to recall a meter clerk from furlough.

Controller Gary Haddock had asked from where city council would find the money to pay Special Officer Norm Lukoskie who was recalled from furlough Monday on a unanimous vote. The expense is not in the budget, he said.

Mayor William D. Milbrand said the position would fund itself through increased enforcement of parking meter violations, something that dropped dramatically at the start of 2014 following police officer furloughs.

Minutes later after the meeting adjourned, Milbrand rose from his seat, walked toward Haddock and said: "You know who else's salary isn't in the budget, Gary? Your salary isn't in the budget."

Lukoskie will be paid $8 hourly for 28 hours a week, about $9,400 for the remainder of the year. He was back on the job Tuesday, issuing tickets and also assisting with prisoner transports.

Still paid

When city council adopted a revised budget in February, all legislative salaries were eliminated as a cost-cutting measure, including city council and the controller position. However, Haddock has received a paycheck for each of the first three months of 2014, a quarter of the $3,250 salary that also is not in the budget.

Milbrand said Tuesday that Haddock shouldn't be paid, but the decision isn't his own. If the controller's pay is going to be stopped, he said it will take a majority decision by council.

Haddock didn't reply to Milbrand Monday night. On Tuesday, he said he'd never been asked to give up his salary, had no input on the move and would never have agreed to it.

"To be honest with you, for the work that we're putting in right now trying to correct some of these mistakes, I would not give my salary up for the little bit that it is and for the hours I'm putting in now," Haddock said.

Milbrand said Tuesday the elimination of legislative salaries had certainly been discussed during any one of the slew of special budget meetings held earlier this year. Haddock was there for all of them, he said.

"He had the nerve last night to caution us, but he's still taking his salary after all the legislators gave up their salaries," Milbrand said. "He knew there was no legislative salaries in that budget. That's a big cop out."

'Deficit spending'

Lukoskie was among the employees laid off in January amid Shamokin's budget crisis. Enforcement of parking regulations suffered, with the issuance of parking tickets and collection of meter revenue both dipping substantially.

Approximately $100,000 was collected from the meters in 2013, an average of nearly $8,333 a month. In 2014, the city has collected about $8,000 from the meters to date, according to Police Chief Ed Griffiths.

Six-hundred parking meters were purchased and installed in 2012 on a five-year, $100,901 loan at 3.591 percent interest.

Although the meters took in $100,000 last year, Haddock said every penny of the estimated 2014 meter revenue is accounted for in the expenses budgeted for this year. Lukoskie's salary is "deficit spending," Haddock said.

He said everyone in City Hall, himself and Milbrand included, is working hard to avoid the financial missteps that came to light publicly in 2013. If council is spending out of budget, he said it's his responsibility to raise the issue, a responsibility he has pledged to take more seriously this year.

Milbrand said it's necessary to have a meter clerk. "We need him and I think everyone knows we need him," he said.

Councilman Charlie Verano said Haddock as the controller has a right to question the moves made by city council. "That actually is his job," he said.

Verano had been on the fence in the days leading up to Monday's vote on recalling Lukoskie but said he was convinced both by Griffiths and interim City Clerk Ed Zack that it would work.

Work on bills

Milbrand questioned just how much time Haddock has dedicated to the job.

Haddock essentially volunteered to input into the city's accounting system a heap of unpaid bills left over from 2013. Those bills must be documented in Shamokin's ongoing quest for an estimated $800,000 loan to pay the outstanding invoices.

Milbrand recalled having stressed in January the importance this task.

"It was a key factor in getting the unfunded debt loan. ... He knew what the urgency was," Milbrand said.

Haddock said Tuesday when contacted by telephone that he was doing just that, inputting bills into the accounting system. It's not a job associated with the position of controller anyway, he said. The task belongs to the city clerk position, and Zack is working on it during his interim employment.

Milbrand said Haddock dropped the ball, too, on completing a mandated year-end report for 2012. It raised a "red flag" when a draw-down was attempted on an Early Intervention Program grant to pay the city's financial advisor, the mayor said.

Haddock said the report had been finalized on time but that it sat in City Hall unaddressed. It has since been submitted, he said.

Like the positions of mayor, city council member and city treasurer, the controller's is an elected position. Haddock was re-elected to a four-year term in November, the same election in which Milbrand won the mayor's job for four years.

Susquehanna Valley gas prices fell a fraction of a penny, remaining at $3.64 a gallon this week, according to AAA East Central.

On the national front

Tuesday's national average price at the pump is $3.49 per gallon. This price was three cents more expensive than one week ago and 20 cents more than one month ago. However, national prices are still 21 cents per gallon less than the same date last year.

While pump prices are creeping higher, AAA expects prices to peak between $3.55 and $3.75 per gallon over the next month due to seasonal refinery maintenance and the May 1 required switchover for producing summer-blend gasoline. Events such as unplanned domestic refinery maintenance or further escalation of geopolitical tensions with Russia could cause prices to exceed this predication.

Rapidly escalating tensions in Ukraine pressured West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices to a more than six-month high last Monday. However, crude oil prices dropped during the week as the situation stabilized, resulting in a more than $3 per barrel drop by midweek. Market watchers will continue to monitor the Russian-Ukrainian conflict closely and the associated geopolitical tensions are likely to keep oil prices from falling too far.

Crude prices declined again Monday, but the catalyst was bearish economic data from China over the weekend rather than any further easing of tensions with Russia. A weaker than anticipated Chinese economy would be expected to consume less crude oil, which puts downward pressure on global crude prices. At the close of Monday's formal trading on the NYMEX, WTI settled down $1.46 at $101.12 per barrel.

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

SHAMOKIN - City council moved Monday to use state grant money to purchase blighted properties from Northumberland County Tax Claims.

A portion of Shamokin's Keystone Communities Grant allocation of $110,374 will be used to buy and demolish 1-3 S. First St., 133-135 S. Shamokin St. and 726 E. Sunbury St.

Each property will be sold to the city for $1, Jan Nestico, tax claims director, said Tuesday. She estimated processing costs at less than $200 each.

Once the deeds belong to Shamokin, bid specifications for the demolition project will be created and advertised. Code Officer Rick Bozza said Tuesday he expects the bid package to be prepared within a month.

Similar properties are planned for purchase in the future. Bozza said the city will buy and demolish them in bunches, ensuring the funding is used wisely.

"We don't want to buy 10 and only have enough money to knock down eight," he said.

Bozza and Cpl. Bryan Primerano worked in tandem in January to identify potential properties for demolition including on Bear Valley Avenue, South Market Street and Mount Carmel Street (Route 61).

The three properties addressed Monday were initially identified by Bozza to be demolished using Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds. However, he said they've since been transferred to the Keystone program.

Shamokin's Keystone allocation represents its share of $500,000 awarded to Northumberland County Housing Authority for blight remediation. It's being matched with an additional $73,800 in CDBG funds.

The Northumberland County Housing Authority used pledges of CDBG funding from five communities - Coal Township, Mount Carmel, Shamokin, Sunbury and Ralpho Township - as leverage in applying for the Keystone grant. Additional matching funds through the county's own CDBG program as well as the county housing trust fund brings the total to more than $1 million.

The Keystone funds must be used by June 30, 2015.

Two-vehicle crash at the intersection of Routes 487 and 61 in Paxinos, Shamokin Township, Tuesday afternoon. Injuries reported, victims taken to G-SAch. Traffic tie up during rush hour people return to shamokin from work sites. State police Trooper Dan Wilk investigating. Elysburg and stonington firefighters and emergency crews responded. Both cars extensively damaged had to be towed.

MANDATA - Line Mountain School District has put a Harrisburg law firm on retainer in case the district is responsible for home heating oil that leaked into the Lower Mahanoy Township Municipal Authority wastewater treatment plant.

While no threat of litigation exists yet, school board President Troy Laudenslager said the approval of McNees Wallace & Nurick LLC at Tuesday's night board meeting will keep the district prepared.

The next step is for the law firm to provide a proposal for their services, he said.

A broken pressure gauge is to blame for the 1,250 gallon leak from the former Dalmatia Elementary School Feb. 10.

Plant manager Rick Spotts said Wednesday the authority and their insurance company notified the district of a potential claim, and it hasn't moved from that point yet.

As of this week, the plant is again "100 percent operational," he said.

It takes a few weeks for the microorganisms involved in the breakdown of wastewater to fully grow on their own, Spotts said.

Service at the sewer plant at 132 River Road was never disrupted for its 234 customers. With two basins, the plant processes approximately 30,000 gallons of sewage per day.

Dalmatia and Leck Kill elementary schools were closed before the 2013-14 school year as part of an overall district consolidation plan.

Building sales

The school board, which intends to sell the buildings, will vote March 25 to advertise bids for both properties. No minimum bid was set in accordance with board members' preferences.

Contrary to rumors being circulated, the Dalmatia school building was not approved for sale at Tuesday night's board meeting nor was it on the agenda to do so.

In other business

The school board approved:

- The resignation of seven retiring teachers from the elementary, middle and high school effective at the end of the 2013-14 school year. They are reading specialists Mary Ann Taxis, Margaret Haverovich and Rita Buhay; Spanish teacher Cynthia Wood; second-grade teacher Ron Casey; fourth-grade teacher Glenda Whary and kindergarten teacher Joan Rothermel.

- The following coaches and advisors were approved for the 2014-15 school year: Rodney Knock, head varsity football coach at $3,250; assistant football coaches Josh Daniel for $2,200, Brian Wetzel for $2,470, Darwin Marquette for $3,700, Damian Hojnacki for $2,110 and Craig Scott for $1,840; volunteer assistant football coaches Bryan Martz, Jason Williams, Bryce Martz, Todd Wenrich and Ryan Feger; Melanie Fowler, fall cheerleading advisor at $1,810 and winter cheerleading advisor for $1,900; Larry Fisher, marching band advisor for $2,890, and instrumental music director for $2,890; Cheryl Ibberson, assistant marching band advisor, $2,200; Karrie Bowman, FBLA advisor for $1,605; Francine Ferster, FFA advisor for $2,925; and Tara Deljanovan, drama advisor for $1,515. They also approved Nathan Swineford as volunteer assistant baseball coach.

- Trisha Herb was approved as after-school tutor at $22 an hour.

Education discussed at Lifetree Cafe

ELYSBURG - The state of public education will be explored at Lifetree Cafe from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Elysburg Presbyterian Church, 320 W. Valley Ave.

The program, titled "Pass or Fail? The State of Education," features filmed stories from Nikhil Goyal, TED talk speaker and author of "One Size Does Not Fit All: A Student's Assessment of School," and Sajan George, the founder of Matchbook Learning, a school-turnaround organization.

Participants in the Lifetree program will discuss the current state of public education and what changes might improve the system for schools, parents and students.

Admission to the 60-minute event is free. For more information, contact Alexis Spade at 570-672-2873 or elysburgpresby@verizon.net.

Raise the Region today

SHAMOKIN - Anyone interested in donating to Raise the Region, a 30-hour fundraising event to benefit local nonprofit organizations, can do so at a local restaurant today.

Rob's Good Time Grill will donate $1 from every regular meal of $4.99 to $9.98 and $2 for a regular priced meal $9.99 and up.

The First Community Foundation Partnership of Pennsylvania, in partnership with Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships, holds the 30-hour fundraising event to help the community support local nonprofit organizations.

Blaise Alexander Family Dealerships has donated $125,000 that will be used to match a portion of donations made to pre-registered nonprofits. Additional monetary prizes and incentives, sponsored by Auto Trakk and Larson Design Group, will be awarded throughout the event.

Central Susquehanna Opportunities Inc. (CSO Inc.) will be participating in the event again this year.