SHAMOKIN - Weather permitting, PennDOT plans to have its paint crew "address the needs" at the Cameron Bridge by early May.

Faded yellow and white lines on the light surface of the concrete bridge, particularly during rain and darkness, are the source of frequent complaints from motorists.

Editor's note: Second in a series of stories produced from the annual visit by PennDOT District 3-0 officials to The News-Item.

SHAMOKIN - The biggest local road project planned by PennDOT in the coming year is the resurfacing of Route 225 between Trevorton and Shamokin.

The most appreciated work, however, may be the resurfacing of a number of streets in Mount Carmel that have been in various stages of disrepair over the past four years because of utility work.

Paving on parts of Third, Fifth, Seventh, Oak, Birch, Market and Hickory streets and the Avenue is scheduled to take place between June and November, PennDOT officials said this week.

"Everywhere they've done utility work the last four years," paving will take place, said Sandra Tosca, a Kulpmont native who leads the department's nine-county District 3, headquartered in Montoursville.

Tosca and Eric E. High, assistant district executive for design, said PennDOT works with utility companies in planning repaving for after the digging is done. It doesn't always go perfectly, Tosca said.

"Utility work is very challenging, especially if they run into problems. It puts them behind schedule," she said. "We don't know all the details" in the case of Mount Carmel, where complaints have been plentiful in the past few years, she said.

High said PennDOT generally develops plans about five years in advance. Particularly in urbanized

areas, contact with utility companies is key.

"The last thing we want to do is resurface or reconstruct a roadway and a year later they come through and cut a pipe trench," he said.

Tosca said motorists can expect some more pain before all is done in Mount Carmel. Milling of the streets and exposure of the brick base on some of road will result in rough rides. Parking restrictions will be needed, too, to allow traffic flow to continue.

The Fifth Street work will actually start at the Columbia County line east of the borough, where the road is considered Route 61, or the Centralia Highway. Curb ramps and other Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements will be included, High said.

A number of the streets are extensions of state routes, including Third (2038), Market (2040), Hickory (2023) and Oak (2029), and are thereby state-maintained highways. (Further details below.)

As for the Route 225 project, scheduled for bid opening in September with work beginning next year, will start one mile east of Trevorton and continue for 4.8 miles to Route 61 at the Cameron Bridge. The work will include drainage improvements, and it's otherwise a normally planned resurfacing project.

Traffic will be maintained by daylight flagging operations. No detours will be in effect, but motorists are expected to experience delays.

High said the cost estimate for the project is $2.4 million.

"We're working with Coal and Zerbe township officials to get that project coordinated," he said.

Further details on these and other road and bridge project planned in the county include (much of these correspond with markings on the accompanying map):

- Resurfacing 1.82 miles of Route 54 from Pine Street to Route 61 in Mount Carmel.

- Microsurfacing 2.24 miles of Route 54 from Riverside to Boyd Station.

- Milling and resurfacing 2.16 miles of Route 61 from the Columbia County line to East Avenue in Mount Carmel.

- Resurfacing 1.5 miles of Route 61 from Fifth Street in Kulpmont to Route 54 at Mount Carmel.

- Milling and resurfacing .44 mile of Route 61 from Ranshaw to Lancaster Switch.

- Resurfacing .16 mile of Route 125 in Upper Mahanoy Township from the Schuylkill County line to State Route 3010.

- Bridge replacement on Route 147 over Fiddlers Run in Lower Mahanoy and Jackson townships.

- Microsurfacing 5.36 miles of Route 147 from Hallowing Run Road to Shamokin Creek.

- Seal coating 1.21 miles of Roue 1037 from Route 11 to Ridge Road in Point Township.

- Resurfacing 2.17 miles of Route 11 between Northumberland and Point Township.

- Seal coating 1.21 miles on Route 1037 from Route 11 to Ridge Road in Point Township.

- Resurfacing 4.56 miles on Route 2006 from Snydertown Road to Route 54 in Rush Township.

- Bridge replacement on Route 2009 over a tributary to Shamokin Creek in Ralpho Township.

- Bridge replacement on Route 2013 over Benny's Run in Shamokin Township.

- Bridge superstructure rehabilitation on Route 2013 over Shamokin Creek in Shamokin Township.

- Resurfacing .87 miles on Route 2013 from Irish Valley Road to Route 61 in Shamokin and Ralpho townships.

- Seal coating 2.63 miles on Route 2016 from Airport Road to Route 54 in Ralpho Township.

- Seal coating 4.1 miles on Route 2018 from Mountain Road to Route 54 in Ralpho Township.

- Seal coating 2.24 miles on Route 2021 from the Schuylkill County line to Route 54 in Mount Carmel and East Cameron townships.

- Resurfacing 1.75 miles on Route 2022 from Hollow Road to Irish Valley Road in Shamokin Township.

- Milling and resurfacing .23 miles on Route 2023 from Seventh to South Market streets in Mount Carmel.

- Milling and resurfacing .23 miles on Route 2023 from Seventh to Fifth streets in Mount Carmel.

- Resurfacing 1.87 miles on Route 2025 from Routes 3010 to 125 in Upper Mahanoy Township.

- Milling and resurfacing .08 miles on Route 2029 from Hickory Street to Oak Street in Mount Carmel.

- Milling and resurfacing .03 miles on Route 2029 from Fifth Street to Route 61 in Mount Carmel.

- Milling and resurfacing .61 miles on Route 2038 from Third Street to Birch Street to Market Street in Mount Carmel.

- Resurfacing .15 miles on Route 2040 from Market Street to Seventh Street to Fifth Street.

- Seal coating .86 miles on Route 2040 from Seventh Street in Mount Carmel to Columbia County line.

- Seal coating 9.94 miles on Route 2044 from Gotshall Lane to Schuylkill County line in West and East Cameron townships.

- Seal coating 12.2 miles on Route 3004 from Routes 225 to 125 in West Cameron, East Cameron and Little Mahanoy townships.

- Resurfacing 2.92 miles on Route 3007 from Reading Turnpike to Schwaben Creek Road in Washington, Upper Mahanoy and Jordan townships.

- Bridge superstructure rehabilitation on Route 3010 from Route 1005 over Delaware Run in Delaware Township.

- Bridge superstructure rehabilitation on Route 3010 over Schwaben Creek in Washington Township.

- Seal coating 4.04 miles on Route 3010 from Routes 147 to 225 in Jackson Township.

- Resurfacing 3.03 miles on Route 3010 from Route 225 to Rebuck in Washington and Jackson townships.

- Resurfacing 4.07 miles on Route 3010 from Leck Kill to Stitzer Road in Upper Mahanoy Township.

- Bridge replacement on Route 3019 over tributary to Mahantango Creek in Jordan Township.

- Bridge deck rehabilitation on Route 4002 over Wilson Run in Riverside.

- Resurfacing .33 miles on Route 4005 in Snydertown.

- Seal coating 1.78 miles on Route 4005 from Stonington to Snydertown.

- Seal coating 3.87 miles on Route 415 from Irish Valley Road to Route 61 in Shamokin Township.

- Resurfacing 3.3 miles on Route 4019 from Route 225 to Boyles Road in Lower Augusta and Little Mahanoy townships.

- Bridge replacement on Route 4022 over Boile Run in Lower Augusta Township.

- Seal coating 1.72 miles on Route 4022 from Dornsife Mountain Road to Route 890 in Rockefeller and Lower Augusta townships.

- Resurfacing 7.88 miles on Route 4026 from Routes 890 to 61 in Shamokin and Rockefeller townships.

More on bridges

High said PennDOT regularly inspects all state-owned bridges at least once every years. He said structurally deficient bridges are inspected more frequently if their condition warrants. A structurally deficient bridge is safe, but in need of substantial repairs or replacement to bring it to current standards.

He said there are 2,905 state-owned bridges in District 3, including 341 in Northumberland County. There are a total of 222 structurally deficient bridges in the district, including 23 in Northumberland County.

In 1998, there were 815 structurally deficient bridges in the district.

Justin D. Blakeney, assistant district executive for maintenance in District 3, said Bradford County has the most state highway miles in the district with 902 and also has the most miles of poor highway with 380 (42.1 percent). Montour County has the lowest percentage of poor highways at 7.2 (14 out of 188 miles).

Northumberland County contains 560 state highway miles and has a poor highway percentage of 10.6 (59 miles).

Blakeney said the gross maintenance allocation for the district for fiscal year 2011-2012 totaled $129.9 million. Bradford County had the highest allocation with $26.1 million, while Montour County had the lowest with $5.6 million. Northumberland County's allocation was $16.6 million.

Rick Mason, community relations coordinator for PennDOT District 3, said Pennsylvania has 25,000 state-owned bridges, which ranks third in the nation. He said Pennsylvania still has the highest percentage of structurally deficient bridges, but that PennDOT continues to address that problem, including with stepped-up preventative maintenance efforts.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Sally Allen told township commissioners in no uncertain terms Thursday night that she is not giving up her pig without a fight.

Allen was among the residents who came to Thursday night's meeting to complain about an ordinance passed last month that prohibits people from keeping farm or wild animals within township limits.

"It's a shame. I've had my pig for eight years," she said. "She's not an animal, she's

like family."

Allen said when the issue was first brought up last May, she was there to protest it and no action was taken, but upon arriving home following a three-week vacation to visit family in California, she found a letter stating she had 90 days to get rid of her animal.

"It doesn't seem fair to me," she said.

Township solicitor Vincent Rovito informed Allen that after receiving complaints from residents living near chicken owners who do not clean up their properties, the commissioners had to act.

"We advertised the ordinance twice in the paper and voted on it at the March meeting," he said. "It's unfortunate we had to do it, but the complaints outweighed the support."

When told she had two options, either get rid of the pig or take the citation to court, Allen said she will see the commissioners in court.

Another resident, Dan Karpinsky, who owns chickens, asked if there would be any leniency for those without neighbors.

"We have to enforce the law uniformly," said commissioner Chairman Craig Fetterman.

"I'm disabled and trying to make a better living for myself by selling the eggs, and that's being taken away from me," Karpinsky said. "A dog or cat lives on a farm, so they could be considered a farm animal, but you are not making people get rid of them."

Owners have until approximately June 7 to get rid of the animals.

"Looks like we might have a chicken roast for Memorial Day," Karpinsky said, "or sell some chicken noodle soup."

Pickup suspended

In other business, the board announced that yard waste pickup by township employees is temporarily suspended to allow them to catch up with the number of pickups needed. Waste can still be dropped off at the township's recycling center.

The board unanimously approved the low interest loan guarantee for the Shamokin-Coal Township Joint Sewer Authority project, and to approve a resolution to allow Northwestern Human Services to go through with a 2002 bond refinancing. A public meeting on the issue was held at the start of the meeting, pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

Another public hearing was held on the township's 2012 Community Development Block Grant program. The township, which expects to receive $127,727, plans to use the funds as follows:

- $83,809 for street improvements - $53,809 earmarked for Feeney and Hakes streets in Springfield and $30,000 for Jackson Street from Park Avenue to Clinton Avenue.

- $35,918 to demolish vacant and dilapidated buildings.

- $8,000 set aside for administration for the ongoing management and oversight of the program, public information and planning.

Commissioners accepted the resignation of Dr. Edward Twiggar from the police civil service commission, approved a request for the sale of a vacant lot on North Hess Street for $500 to Elsie and David Grosz, adopted internal policies for Coal Township and the fire department, and promoted Roger Dobson from a part-time to full-time laborer at a rate of $13.55 an hour for a 90-day probationary period. After completion of the probation period, Dobson's hourly rate will increase by $1 for the remainder of the year.

COAL TOWNSHIP - A Shamokin Area Elementary School teacher accused of being drunk when he drove into a group of kids last month near Mount Carmel has resigned.

The district school board on Thursday accepted the resignation of Victor Swaboski III effective May 4.

Swaboski, 38, of 320 S. Beech St., Mount Carmel, described as a well-liked teacher, faces multiple felony offenses including aggravated assault by vehicle while driving under the influence.

The charges stem from an accident March 28 in which Swaboski was driving on Beaverdale Highway (Route 2038) near Mount Carmel

Area Elementary School when his car plowed into five teenagers who were walking and biking along the berm.

Multiple witnesses say they watched as Swaboski fled the scene and drove into Mount Carmel Borough to avoid apprehension. A bike was lodged under his vehicle, causing a shower of sparks as he drove, witnesses said.

He was taken into custody by police officers minutes after the accident as he attempted to hide in the woods near his home. Police allege he was in possession of two beer cans when he was caught, one of which was said to be opened.

The five Mount Carmel area teenagers suffered various injuries, with three of them hospitalized.

Swaboski could enter a plea in the case as early as May 21 at Northumberland County Courthouse, Sunbury.

He had been suspended without pay for at least the remainder of the school year the day after the crash. The possibility of his employment being terminated was not ruled out at that time, as district officials weighed their options under the public school code.

After a week in prison, Swaboski was released after posting $50,000 cash bail following his preliminary hearing on April 4. His bail had been reduced that day from $100,000, which was set the night of the crash.

Other business

In other business Thursday night, the school board accepted the resignation of Kayla Greco, English teacher, effective April 13, along with the retirements of secretary Theresa Burns and attendance clerk Frances Brennan, effective this summer.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area School Board voted to furlough 21 teachers and staff members, starting next school year, at its meeting Thursday night.

The raucous crowd, asked by a board member at one point, "Where do we start?" in further reducing a multimillion-dollar deficit, one reply was, "At the top!"

It seems, indeed, that is where the board will now focus its attention.

Tuesday night's regular monthly meeting has been canceled in favor of a closed-door meeting with Superintendent James Zack, business manager Stephen Curran and all administrators under the Act 93 employment agreement, which was approved for a five-year extension that began in 2011, but that now appears open for negotiation.

"We have to take baby steps at this point, but it's something that is going to be discussed," board President Tracey Witmer said Friday.

Possible changes mentioned in private discussions include asking administrators to pay one percent of their salary toward health care (their premiums are currently covered in full), forgoing raises and eliminating a medical stipend. One administrator position was cut in Thursday's action, the person moved to a teaching position, and more cuts are possible, Witmer said.

"There's no telling how much we can save, because we have no idea what the administrators will agree to," she said.

Witmer was the lone vote against the Act 93 extension when voted on in October 2010. Taking effect July 1 of last year, it gave administrators and those in support staff administrative positions a five-percent raise in the first two school years, a four-percent raise for 2013-14 and a three percent raise in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Administrators also received fully paid health, vision and dental benefits and a $4,000 stipend each year for any vision and dental expenses not covered by insurance.

"That is one thing that I have been complaining about all these years. Every month I look at the bills list and see administrators getting reimbursed," Witmer said. "There are a lot of people who don't have insurance and it's not fair."

While the raises amounted to more than $200,000 total, board members who voted in favor of the agreement - including current members LaRue Beck, Edward Griffiths and Brian Persing - said it was offset by a $500,000 savings in health insurance when the district went from a fully-insured plan from Capital Blue Cross to a self-insured plan administered by the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit. They also said the administrators deserved the raise for improved state test scores.

There were 11 administrators under the Act 93 agreement when it was extended, including elementary principal Mary Teresa Komara, high school principal Chris Venna, assistant principals, maintenance supervisor David Petrovich and others. Zack and Curran have contracts separate from the Act 93 agreement, but receive the same increases and benefits as the other administrators.

Asked Friday if he is willing to talk with the board members about his contract, Zack said, "They have the ability to look into it, and if both parties are agreeable, they can reopen the contract to make changes.

"In these tough budget times, all things are open for discussion," he added.

Ruby Michetti was part of the Act 93 agreement at the time, too, but she was demoted as part of Thursday's action to a middle school teaching position.

Witmer said more administrative cuts are possible.

"We are looking at everything," she said. "There might be one to three more administrative positions lost, in addition to Ruby."

This, or else

On Thursday, the board voted to furlough 19 teachers, effectively eliminating music, art, and physical education as stand-alone programs on the elementary and middle school levels. The kindergarten program was also eliminated, but re-established within 30 minutes when the board shifted the program's budget from the general fund to the budget for Title I federal funding, the same move done to save the K-4 program last year.

Board member Bernie Sosnoskie said Thursday's meeting and the decisions that were made shook him up, but these and future cuts are needed to keep the district from state control.

"We need to pass a balanced budget, or else the state will come in and take control of the district," Sosnoskie said.

The furloughs and other cost-saving measures have cut about $3 million total from Shamokin's 2012-2013 budget, but a $2 million deficit remains.

"These cuts have to come across the board and come from the top down," Sosnoskie said. "When I ran for school board last year, I said I was going to work for the kids and try to do a fair job. We knew this budget was going to be a problem, but we have to work together to balance it."

COAL TOWNSHIP - Last year, Jesús Sánchez was overwhelmed with the news that his wife was diagnosed with cancer, and entered into a mild depression. One day in December, he went to the Susquehanna River near Tedd's Landing in Shamokin Dam and looked out over the water.

"I relaxed there. It made me feel good," he said.

It was this moment he references when explaining why he chose to call his new authentic Mexican restaurant, set to open soon at The Plaza at Coal Township, El Rio, or "the river" in Spanish.

Sánchez, 48, of Shamokin Dam, who came to America from Mexico 32 years ago, said what he hopes was the final inspection of the restaurant occurred Wednesday. If he's given the go-ahead, he can open soon, perhaps in as little as two weeks.

"It will be a good thing for the area. We thought it needed something different here, and I think a lot of people are looking forward to it," he said.

Sánchez also owns Casa Sanchez, located in the Econo Lodge in Shamokin Dam, which has been open for almost six years. He's found success in a location that seemed a curse to other business owners. Sánchez said he used to drive past the hotel and see a different restaurant every six months.

In fact, Shamokin Dam borough manager Ed Hovenstine said the former businesses in that space were in and out so quickly the only one he can quickly recall is a sports-themed bar.

Same strategy

In Coal Township, Sánchez plans to use the same simple strategy: good food, good prices and good service.

Inside the 4,200-square-foot area, adjacent to Panda King Chinese Buffet, earlier this week, dozens of tables and chairs were stacked on one side, waiting to be organized on the main floor. With additional booths, the restaurant will seat at least 200 people.

Decorations are already on the walls, and electricity, water, gas, sewer and kitchen equipment is already working. Sánchez will be applying for a liquor license.

Welcomed at plaza

Sánchez was lured to the area by plaza owners Mike Timmons and Doug Bercu, of Timber Development Corp., based in Atlanta, Ga., and Longwood, Fla. They have been extending the invitation to him for years.

"I kept hearing there were a lot of people in Shamokin driving to his restaurant (in Shamokin Dam)," Bercu said. "Around here, there's no competition for Mexican food."

The restaurant will be a draw for the shopping center, he believes.

"The food is awesome, and he's a great operator. He's got a good atmosphere that Shamokin needs," he said.

Hovenstine said the Shamokin Dam location has a wide selection and variety on their menu.

"They're great. There are no similar restaurants here. When people say they're going for Mexican, they say they're going for Casa Sanchez," he said.

Sánchez is a respectable businessman who cooperates with the borough and always makes sure that any changes are permitted by the borough, Hovenstine said.

He mentioned the buffet Sánchez provides when he hosts the Central Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce meetings at his restaurant.

Beth Bedisky, of Danville, said she comes to the Shamokin Dam restaurant once a week.

"I have a thing for Mexican food. I like spicy, I like it hot. It's like my second home," she said.

Bedisky was at the restaurant Tuesday for lunch with friends, Nickie Cole, of Montoursville, and Holly Bedisky, of Northumberland.

"The owner is nice and comes out to talk to us," Beth Bedisky said. "And this is our third chips and salsa," she added, holding up a basket.

15 employees

At the Plaza, El Rio will be located in an empty storefront and the section that was once home to Let's Party, which closed in October 2009.

Sánchez has been hearing positive buzz.

"From what I hear, they (local residents) are happy and excited," he said. "It's something different, something not here. We're trying to bring our culture here, and see if they like it."

There will likely be 15 employees hired at El Rio. An interested job-seeker can check the front door window over the next two weeks to find out when to apply.

The plaza will have four open spaces after El Rio opens. Buona Pizza is under construction now, and Bercu said it might be another month before it opens.

Week 9 will no doubt be remembered as a crucial one in the 2012 Stock Market Challenge for local schools.

With the Dow Jones and other averages suffering mostly a down week, local teams competing in this educational exercise saw their profits reduced in most cases -some by considerable amounts.

Aaron Domanski's Mount Carmel Area team, which took over the lead from Shamokin Area in the high school division in Week 8, continued to hold the lead despite a nearly $9,000 drop in its total from $124,258 to $115,580. The second MCA team, with adviser Robert Scicchitano, remains less than $1,000 back, while Shamokin Area's team, advised by David Kopitsky, is in striking distance, too.

In the middle school division, Mount Carmel and Shamokin Area swapped the lead for the fourth straight week, with MCA now on top by less than $3,000.

The Stock Market Challenge, sponsored locally by Sunbury Motors and The News-Item, is organized by EconomicsPennsylvania.

MAN, W.Va. - A 2003 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School was killed Thursday in an ATV accident at the Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation facility in Logan County, West Virginia.

WSAZ-TV in the region said Nathaniel Dobeck, 27, of Catawissa, was killed in a crash at about 4 p.m. when he lost control of the ATV he was riding on the Rockhouse Trail System, one of six trail systems at Hatfield-McCoy.

Hatfield-McCoy Regional Recreation Authority told the TV station Dobeck was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash and that there were no eyewitnesses to the accident. Rangers at the trail are investigating the incident.

(See obituary, Page A8.)

Cell distracts driver

SUNBURY - Eva A. Barkafski, 64, of Ashland, escaped injury Saturday morning when her 2004 Mercury Grand Marquis exited Snydertown Road (Route 4012) and crashed into a ditch near Kampco Self Storage, about one mile east of here in Upper Augusta Township.

State police at Stonington reported Barkafski was traveling east when she became distracted by her cell phone, causing her vehicle to exit the road, strike a ditch and sustain front-end damage.

Police said Barkafski, who was wearing a seat belt, was cited for failure to drive in a single lane.

Marriage licenses

James Meredith to Brandi L. Dressler, both of 801 E. Commerce St., Shamokin. Issued April 12, 2012.

Dale P. Reigle to Carol Frances Hickman, both of 607 W. Spruce St., Shamokin. To be issued April 16, 2012.

Michael John Phillippe to Chelsea Ivy Novinger, both of 654 Schwaben Creek Road, Dornsife. To be issued April 16, 2012.

Property transfers

Nyla Cressinger, Randy Cressinger, Sharon D. Hoffman, Gary Hoffman, Brenda Marlene Keiffer and Charles Keiffer to Samuel E. Bussey, Tara L. Bussey, property in Rockefeller Township, $22,000.

Kevin L. Whitcomb and Samantha J. Whitcomb to Kevin L. Whitcomb and Samantha J. Whitcomb, property in Jordan Township, $1.

David W. Donmoyer and Joan A. Donmoyer to David W. Donmoyer and Sandra L. Donmoyer, property in Shamokin Township, $1.

David W. Donmoyer and Joan A. Donmoyer to William A. Richie and Elizabeth A. Richie, three separate properties in Shamokin, $1 each.

Joanne Chesney to Stephen J. Castor, property in Shamokin, $20,000.

Robin (aka Robyn) Eileen Snyder and Nancy J. Foulds to Chad D. Willard and Amy E. Willard, property in Little Mahanoy Township, $75,000.

Ruth L. Gonsar (estate) and John F. Ferster (individually and executor) to Eileen D. Schiazza and Angela P. Taylor, property in Coal Township, $26,000.

Richard C. Good and Charlene J. Good to Wesley Allen Bauman, property in Upper Augusta Township, $63,000.

Thomas N. Shuda (estate) and Thomas G. Shuda (administrator) to Thomas G. Shuda, property in Mount Carmel, $1.

Claudine E. Grazul (estate) and Leroy F. Grazul (individually and executor) to Dianna L. Grazul, property in Coal Township, $1.

Diamond Development Inc. to Budget Boo Inc., property in Mount Carmel, $25,000.

Sharon L. Geise and William Potak to Donna J. Ley, property in Coal Township, $1.

Lawrence W. Morata Jr., Dorothy A. Morata and Petronella M. Kuhn to Derek Girvin, property in Marion Heights, $24,000.

Erik G. Seidel and Jennifer V. Seidel to Erik G. Seidel and Jennifer V. Seidel, property in Shamokin, $1.

Heidi J. Sechrist and Wayne A. Shambach to Heidi J. Sechrist, property in Upper Augusta Township, $1.

Mary Straub (executrix), Judith Landi (executrix) and Richard M. Landi (estate) to Mary E. Straub and Judith Landi, property in Shamokin, $1.

Ann M. Swatsky to Apartments and Acquisitions LP, property in Mount Carmel, $3,500.

William W. Moore and Ann A. Moore to Apartments and Acquisitions LP, property in Coal Township, $13,000.

Susquehanna Bank to Norteast Apartments LLC, property in Kulpmont, $4,667.

Northumberland County Sheriff, Eric M. Konopka and Jeanie M. Konopka to Susquehanna Bank and Susquehanna Bank PA, property in Mount Carmel, $1,642.43.

Susquehanna Bank to Apartments and Acquisitions LP, property in Mount Carmel, $12,500.

M&T Bank and Northern Central Bank to John Deraffele, property in Shamokin, $8,500.

David M. Parsons and Gloria W. Parsons to Jason K. Dunkelberger, property in Zerbe Township, $1.

Shana M. Taylor to Shana M. Taylor and Tyler J. Gross, property in Upper Augusta Township, $1.

Barbara Garvine, Barbara Lauver and Todd A. Lauver, to Todd A. Lauver and Barbara Lauver, property in Ralpho Township, $1.

Northumberland County Sheriff and Frank C. Niglio to Susquehanna Bank, property in Mount Carmel Township, $825.78.

Deborah M. Long and Dennis L. Long Sr. to Deborah M. Long and Dennis L. Long Sr., property in Shamokin, $1.

John G. Sedor and Lori J. Sedor to Gilda Castaneda, property in Shamokin, $12,000.

Marcella B. Kaselonis (by agent) and Barbara Bernard (agent) to Mark Maschal and Christine L. Maschal, property in Mount Carmel, $12,500.

Judith A. Lupold and Judith A. Reinhardt to Judith A. Lupold, property in Shamokin, $1.

Glenn Timmins and Roberta B. Timmins to Glenn Timmins/Roberta Timmins Living Trust, property in Mount Carmel Township, $1.

Geoffrey A. Sherwood, Amanda J. Sherwood, Amanda J. Fitzsimmons and Eric Fitzsimmons to Geoffrey A. Sherwood, property in Coal Township, $1.

Karen Straub (individually and executrix), John Straub (individually and executor), Louise E. Straub, Louise Elizabeth Straub and Kathy Eisenbaugh to John Straub, property in Shamokin, $1.

Lourdes FACTS meeting Tuesday

COAL TOWNSHIP - A mandatory FACTS tuition meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Our Lady of Lourdes School cafeteria. All parents are encouraged to attend.

IRS reminds: Deadline is Tuesday

WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service reminds taxpayers that 2011 federal income tax returns, extension requests and tax payments are due by Tuesday. For people unable to pay their taxes in full by that date, payment agreements and other relief are usually available and can be requested online.

Taxpayers will avoid late filing penalties if they file either their income tax return or a request for a tax-filing extension by midnight Tuesday. The late-filing penalty, normally 5 percent per month based on the unpaid balance, applies to returns filed after the deadline. Taxpayers are encouraged to file, even if they can't pay the full amount.

Any payment made by April 17 will reduce or eliminate interest and late-payment penalties that apply to payments made after that date. The current interest rate is 3 percent per year, compounded daily, and the late-payment penalty is normally 0.5 percent per month.

Details are available at IRS.gov.

Bands, groups wanted for parade

SHAMOKIN - Organizers of the Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts parade, scheduled for May 25, encourage bands, musicians or choral groups to enter.

The parade forms on Water Street at 5 p.m. and begins at 6 p.m. Cash prizes will be given for Most Decorative, Most Creative, Best Dressed/Costumes, Most Coal Region Proud and Best of Show.

Call Pam Burns, parade chairwoman for the sponsoring Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities, at First National Bank of PA at 648-9500 for more information.

Also, applications for the 5k race held at 9 a.m. Saturday, May 26, in conjunction with the festival, are available through Sandy Winhofer at the Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce; call 648-4675.

RANSHAW - A 51-year-old man who was pulled from his burning Main Street home by firefighters Saturday morning was listed in critical condition late in the day after being flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown.

Roxie "Rocky" Bingaman, of 207 Main St., suffered burns and smoke inhalation in the fire that broke out shortly before 7:30 a.m. and is blamed on careless smoking by the victim. He was rescued from the third floor of

his residence by firefighters, who found the victim lying on the steps.

Bingaman, who was given CPR at the scene by emergency medical technicians, was initially transported by AREA Services Ambulance to Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital before being transferred by Life Flight helicopter to Lehigh Valley Hospital.

Neighbors said Bingaman has difficulty walking and breathes bottled oxygen.

Bingaman's 46-year-old wife, Ann, who reportedly was on the first floor of the three-story structure, was able to escape unharmed after the fire broke out in a third-floor bedroom. A dog owned by the Bingamans also was uninjured.

$5,000-$10,000 damage

Coal Township Fire Chief Russ Feese said the fire caused between $5,000 and $10,000 damage to the Bingaman residence. He said the blaze was quickly contained by firefighters to the third floor, which sustained fire, smoke and water damage. The other two floors of the home sustained minor smoke and water damage.

An adjoining home at 209 Main St. inhabited by Julia "Jackie" Krepshaw and her son, Tom Krepshaw, sustained minor smoke damage to its third floor.

Krepshaw, her son and their two dogs, Jasmine and Skipper, were not injured.

Dog walker saw smoke

Sherry Markowski, of 206 Main St., said she alerted the Krepshaws about the fire by telephone after seeing smoke while walking her dog.

Tom Krepshaw and an unidentified young man who was walking in the neighborhood when the fire started, attempted to extinguish the fire in Bingaman's bedroom by climbing onto the roof of a second-story porch and throwing buckets of water on the flames and smoke. Julia Krepshaw was seen poking her head out of her second-story window as her son and the unidentified man attempted to douse the fire.

Feese, who resides a block away from the fire scene, arrived at the burning home within moments and ordered both men down from the rooftop.

"There was too heavy of smoke," Tom Krepshaw said about his attempt to enter the third floor of his neighbor's home. "It looked like burning paper."

Visible burns

Feese entered the Bingaman home on the first floor, but was pushed back by heavy smoke. Firefighters from Brady Fire Company entered the home within minutes and rescued Roxie Bingaman, who was covered in soot and had visible burns on his head and thigh area.

Feese said he inspected the Bingaman home with Cpl. Nick Loffredo, a state police fire marshal from the Montoursville barracks, and Trooper Kirk Renn of state police at Selinsgrove. Feese said an investigation revealed the fire started as a result of careless smoking by Bingaman in his third-floor bedroom.

The fire chief said the home at 207 Main St. is owned by Bill Maher of Kulpmont. He said the Bingamans do not have renter's insurance. He wasn't sure if Maher is insured.

Also assisting at the scene were Coal Township Assistant Fire Chief Michael Timco, firefighters from East End, Maine and Union fire companies, Coal Township Rescue Squad, Coal Township Patrolmen Edward Purcell and Terry Ketchem and local fire police.

SUNBURY - Northumberland County departments serving the elderly, children and mentally handicapped could lose approximately $2 million in state funding if proposed cuts recommended by the secretary of the state Department of Public Welfare (DPW) are approved in the 2012-13 state budget.

Reductions of $1.2 million in Behavioral Health/Intellectual Developmental Services (formerly Mental Health/Mental Retardation), $500,000 in Area Agency on Aging (AAA) and $300,000 in Children and Youth

Services are possible.

The county commissioners will host a press conference at 10 a.m. Monday to discuss the potential impact on county services.

DPW Secretary Gary Alexander, who was appointed by Gov. Tom Corbett, was granted authority under Act 22 of 2011 to produce $400 million in DPW savings during the current fiscal year and $500 million in 2012-13.

To do so, he can issue regulations such as changing eligibility rules and revising payments for service providers without having them go through prior review by lawmakers and the Intergovernmental Regulatory Review Commission, a cumbersome and time-consuming process.

The governor's budget proposals include steering state aid for seven county human service programs through a block grant for an estimated savings of $168 million and end cash assistance grants for 60,000 individuals.

'Great impact'

Judy Davis, director of Northumberland County's Behavioral Health/Intellectual Developmental Services, said the cuts would have a "major effect" on services involving enhanced personal care homes, health care quality unit and independent monitoring programs and drug and alcohol treatment programs.

"Act 22 was kept very quiet from everyone. A lot of county officials didn't realize it went into effect until earlier this year," said Davis, who pointed out that the cuts are only proposed for the 2012-13. "But I'm very optimistic it will work out and things will be OK. Hopefully, the cuts won't be as drastic as the ones being proposed because the most vulnerable citizens of our county that we offer services to will be greatly affected."

Patricia Rumberger, administrator of the county AAA, said the proposed cuts include removing the waiver program from her agency. "DPW wants to eliminate in-home nursing care and care managers from our department, which would fragment and fracture services to our seniors," Rumberger said.

She said there are 146 clients enrolled in the waiver program, which has six employees.

"It's a wonderful program because it keeps people home rather than having to live in a nursing home," she said.

As for the potential loss of $500,000, "that's horrible, because our department is fully funded by state and federal dollars," he said.

Cut 'state fat' first

Rumberger and Davis said they have discussed the situation with local state legislators in an attempt to persuade them and other members of the House of Representatives and Senate not to approve the cuts.

County Commissioner Stephen Bridy said cutting funding for elderly, children and less fortunate would be devastating.

"We have the second highest paid legislators and second highest tax rate in the country; I think we should cut the fat from our state officials first," he said.

Bridy said the county, which was facing a deficit exceeding $1 million when he took office in January, allocates $1,038,538 and $336,741 to Children and Youth Services and Behavioral Health/Intellectual Developmental Services, respectively. He said the AAA receives no county funding.

Bridy said Children and Youth Services has an overall budget of $8,039,789. The budget for Behavioral Health/Intellectual Developmental Services totals $10,985,658. AAA operates with a $4,635,868 budget.

Northumberland County Children and Youth Services Director Jennifer Willard was unavailable for comment Friday afternoon.

TURBOT TOWNSHIP - State police at Milton are investigating the death of a Turbot Township woman who was shot in her home early Saturday morning during a burglary.

Police released few details Saturday involving the 1 a.m. incident that claimed the life of Patricia Ann Thomas, 64, of 1060 Phillips Road, and injured her 65-year-old husband, Robert Charles Thomas Sr.

According to a press release, an unknown actor or actors entered the Thomas residence, which reportedly awoke Robert Thomas, who retrieved a handgun.

"Robert was then struck in the head with a blunt instrument," police reported. He suffered a minor injury and underwent emergency room treatment at Evangelical Community Hospital in Lewisburg before being released.

Thomas' wife was struck by a single gunshot and pronounced dead at the scene by Northumberland County Deputy Coroner Barry Leisenring.

Police provided no further information Saturday as to how Patricia Thomas was shot. Contacted Saturday night, Northumberland County Coroner James Kelley said police are still trying to determine who shot Mrs. Thomas and how she was killed.

State police at Milton were assisted at the scene by Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini and the coroner's office.

An autopsy has been scheduled for Monday at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Allentown.

Giving locals a chance to learn about the industry that built the county, Reading Anthracite Co. held its Community Day on Saturday.

Jeff Gliem, director of operations at Reading Anthracite, said that 900 to 1,000 people made reservations for the event, which included a three-hour

tour that gave people an inside look at the company's new St. Nicholas Plant at 46 West Mount Laffee Road near Duncott and the newly opened West Spring Energy mine site in Locust Gap.

"How many employers can say they have an open house or a community day and you get 1,000 people," Gliem said. "I think it was an excellent turnout."

After parking at the St. Nicholas Plant, people were taken on a bus to the West Spring Slope in Locust Gap, which was mined at various times dating back to the 1900s and still has an abundance of high quality anthracite in close proximity to the surface.

A school bus was then taken to part of the site where people could see the company's new Komatsu PC4000-6 super shovel in use that was being unveiled Saturday.

The 29 cubic yard hydraulic excavator weighs 850,000 pounds.

During the school bus ride, Mark Pishock, general manager at West Spring, said that for every ton of coal that is pulled out of the ground, about 50 percent of it actually gets processed and turned into coal for furnaces.

"Where we're currently mining is what is known as the middle and bottom split of the Mammoth Vein," Pishock said.

As far as other veins on the property, he said the company needs to do more exploration before they can be mined.

The site consists of about 2,000 acres and the current first operation of the property is about 160 acres, which was the original permit for the area, but Reading Anthracite recently had a permit revision approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to be able to expand the area.

"There's coal throughout the land here and we're going to be breaking it up into different jobs and different phases," Pishock said. "There's enough coal to last at least 25 or 30 years here, if not more."

On Saturday, visitors could see the shovel filling two 150 ton trucks with dirt and a water truck also in use.

Pishock said the company drills a hole through the rock then has a company, Maurer and Scott, come to perform blasting services, then they take the rock out.

When the site is fully staffed, Reading Anthracite plans to employ 42 people.

The second half of the tour took place at the St. Nicholas Plant, a fine coal plant that was retooled in 2007 and 2008.

It started processing coal in 2009 and has raw coal delivered by local mines operated by Reading Anthracite.

The raw coal is prepared for processing by screening and crushing to a 3/4 inch feed stock.

The plant consists of two cleaning systems, a heavy media cyclone and fine coal spiral system.

Lorraine Phillips, Auburn, could be seen at the plant Saturday and said she was enjoying the experience and seeing the large trucks since her husband works on them.

"We burn coal, so it's nice to know where it comes from," she said.

There were also food and drinks available for free and visitors could climb up on a 150 ton truck.

The RMS Titanic - the foremost ocean liner believed to be unsinkable - was felled by an iceberg 100 years ago today.

More than 1,500 people were killed in the tragedy that, over the past century, has become the most-analyzed maritime calamity, and certainly the most romanticized.

The 710 people who survived were plucked from the icy waters of the North Atlantic and taken aboard the RMS Carpathia, which had changed its course after its captain learned of the disaster.

Aboard the Carpathia were two men with local ties - a passenger who would eventually depart the coal region for good, and a crewman who would come to call it home.

A third man who would settle in Shamokin escaped the tragedy by pure luck.

Aboard the Carpathia

Jozsef Herold, a Hungarian, had arrived in America in 1899 at about age 14 and lived with an older sister in the Mount Carmel area, according to a great-niece, Illona Siesholtz.

Thirteen years later, he boarded the Carpathia and was bound for a visit to his home country.

Joseph Zupicich, then 20 years old, was also aboard the Carpathia, working as a steward. He, too, was headed to his homeland in the Istria region of the Austro-Hungarian Empire.

Since Zupicich wouldn't move to Shamokin until three years after the Titanic's sinking, it's likely the two men didn't know each other prior to the ocean trip.

Zupicich was playing cards when the Carpathia's alarm bells were sounded at midnight.

"The captain - God bless him - called everyone on deck. 'We are in danger. I'm risking your life.' He told us right out. 'I don't know if we are going to make it or not. The Titanic is in trouble and is sinking. And we have to go help them. If God gives us the luck. If God helps us, maybe He can save us too,'" Zupicich told David DeKok, former reporter of The News-Item, for an article published in 1982 on the 70th anniversary of the accident.

Vivid memory

The former steward was 89 years old at the time of the newspaper interview but recalled in detail the trip to the Titanic's location and the scene upon arrival.

They were 50 miles south of the crash site off of Newfoundland, he said, and had to navigate the very icebergs that claimed the Titanic.

"We could have hit that iceberg same as they did. But Captain Rostron - he was wonderful. He had guts," Zupicich told The News-Item.

As the Carpathia approached the scene, the crew had already gathered blankets, food and medical supplies. Their orders, Zupicich recalled: Pick up any and all survivors and leave the dead behind.

When the Carpathia arrived, the Titanic had disappeared below the ocean waters, upon which hundreds and hundreds of bodies floated.

Herold shared that image with his Hungarian descendants, Siesholtz said. Her relatives recalled the man saying of the scene: "There were so many dead bodies in the water. It was unbelievable."

Cargo nets and ladders were used to reach the lifeboats that teetered in the waves below, most all of them well beyond capacity.

Herold was among the Carpathia's passengers who assisted the crew in getting the survivors out of the ocean and onto the rescue ship.

Zupicich recalled some survivors climbing aboard themselves. Others were too weakened by the cold to do so and were pulled aboard.

He said of a rescue he made: "I pulled out one lady. You know what she had on? Only a little piece of cloth. Nothing. I never forget the poor girl. She grabbed me and kissed me. And she cried."

The Carpathia finished the Titanic's voyage to New York City. Zupicich said the arrival was painful as people searched for loved ones among the rescued.

Lucky break

The father of a Shamokin woman could have been counted among the dead. Instead, fate intervened in the form of musical theater.

When Elmer T. Edwards' mother died, he "couldn't get situated," said his daughter, Betty Edwards, of Shamokin.

So he moved to Wales, where he stayed with his aunt and took up work in the coal mines.

Fifteen months passed before he decided to return stateside.

With ticket in hand, Betty said her father arrived with friends early at the port of Southampton, England.

"They said, 'Oh, heck, it's not time for the ship to go home, how about we go into town and see the show 'Puss in Boots,' " Edwards recalled last week.

When Elmer and company returned to the port, the Titanic had already begun its maiden voyage. He couldn't have known that his life had been spared.

Betty isn't sure what her father ever did with his ticket.

"I wish I had that ticket. I could make a little bundle on that one," she said with a laugh.

One left, one stayed

Zupicich never made it back to his homeland. After washing dishes in the Astor Hotel in New York City - a job offer afforded by Madeline Astor, a Titanic survivor who lost her husband, John J., in the tragedy - he moved to Shamokin in 1915 and took up work as a coal miner at Bear Valley Colliery.

He went on to work as a janitor for 27 years at Ferndale Elementary School and owned and operated Mom and Pop grocery story for 51 years.

Zupicich died at the former Mountain View Manor on April 12, 1987, just days before the 75th anniversary of the Titanic.

Siesholtz said her great-uncle Jozsef did make the return trip to Hungary. He then returned to America, where he met his wife, Julianna.

They had two daughters, Erzsebet (Elisabeth) and Maria (Mary), both of whom were born and died young in America, she said.

After that, Jozsef and Julianna "thought it was a bad omen to be in America, so they went back and didn't return," Siesholtz said.

Maria is buried in St. John's Cemetery near the village of Dooleyville outside of Mount Carmel. Erzsebet is buried in New Jersey.

The couple would have three more children, one of whom, Irene, is still living in Szendro, Hungary, at 78 years of age.

Discovered link

Siesholtz is far-removed from her great-uncle. Her mother, who is Herold's niece, Helen (Tomol) Moleski - a 90-year-old who still resides in Mount Carmel - was born after his final departure from America and never met the man, she said.

But Helen and Irene - cousins - often exchanged letters over the years.

In 2005, Siesholtz and her family made the trip to Hungary to meet their distant relatives. At the time, she was unaware of her family's link to the Titanic.

"You must know the story of the Carpathia?" her English-speaking cousin, Orsolya, asked.

"Well," Siesholtz recalled replying, "what do you mean?"

Orsolya would reveal the family story, and that summer, at 18 years old, she would come stateside to visit America.

Siesholtz and Orsolya remain in touch, and Orsolya, now an attorney, continues to piece the story together whenever Siesholtz asks.

Siesholtz's mother was thrilled to learn of the family's link to the Titanic.

"She was so excited because it's such a piece of history," Siesholtz said.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Following are Shamokin Area Elementary School's distinguished honors and honor roll for the third marking period of the 2011-12 school year.

The honor roll is based on the average of the major subjects. Distinguished honors is the range of 95 to 100 percent and honor roll is 90 to 94 percent, along with earning "satisfactory" in conduct and minor subjects.

Distinguished honors

Grade 6: Tyler Bendas, Abagail Blass, Kiara Bonshock, Randall Brosius, Kasey Brown, Alexandra Campbell, Jacob Carpenter, Emma Clark, Madison Clauser, Trent Curcie, Anna Delbaugh, Matthew Dimmick, Gloria Drayer, Kelsee Dunn, Colby Edmondson, Katlyn Ehman, Maryssa Erdman, John Fantigrossi, Summer Finkelstein, Nicholas Furca, Kira Golden, Kiera Griffiths, Mackenzie Hasuga, Brooke Hovenstine, Jacob Jeremiah, Gaige Johns, Nicholas Kirkner, Jennifer Kozlowski, Ethan Lawton, Emma Mangiaruga, McKenna Markowski, Kayla Martins, Sadie Miller, Kamilyah Nazih, Joseph Olah, Kaile Pancher, Colton Pollock, Madison Primerano, Kali Rebuck, Heather Reigle, Bryan Sakalosky, Cameron Scandle, Scott Schleig, Cheyanne Smith, Elizabeth Stevens, Ciara Tharp, Alyssa Wisniewski, Emily Wolfe, George Zalar and Dakota Zimmerman.

Grade 5: Spencer Balonis, Jared Berkheimer, Colby Bixler, Aidan Blackwell, Marshall Buggy, Chloe Dales, Juliana DeGreen, John Delorso, Lydia Deptula, Sabian Ebersole, Alyvia Erb, Ryleigh Fegley-Cull, Jeffrey Fuernisen Jr., Gaige Garcia, Mackenzie Glosek, Aubree Haight, Mara Hashuga, Teagan Heath, Gary Holdren, Barbara Jemmott, Deven Klock, Chloe Kramer, Jameson Kramer, Cordell Lucas, Samantha Magee, Keira Munns, Abigail Nye, Jessa Paczkoski, Robert Rebuck, Lake Rodarmel, Quinn Rollman, Destiny Sassani, Matthew Schiccatano, Andrea Segura, Peyton Shurock, Mason Smink, Brooke Strausser, Skylar Truchon, John Wagner, Payton Whary, Valerie Yost, Blake Zalar, Zane Zartman and Zoe Zimmerman.

Grade 4: Lily Avans, Sara Baney, Alison Barvitskie, Matthew Bellis, Margaret Bowers, Cierra Clayton, Morgan Clemens, Violet Dales, Raven DePeal, Abbey Diorio, Tykera Duttry, Kayla Erdman, Holly Fegley, Colin Fritchey, Allie Godfrey, Blake Hartzel, Rhaeghan Henz, Thomas Horstmann, Devin Kays, Elyse Kelley, Emma Laughlin, Alexandria Madison, Cherie Martin, Sheyenne Moore, Zachery Moyer, Andrew Nelson, Ian Paul, Julia Pavelko, Nathan Persing, Ashley Ponatoski, Brent Reed, Hunter Rodarmel, Abby Rodman, Sophie Rossnock, Jasmine Scandle, Angelina Schaeffer, Isibelle Sienkiewicz, Emily Slanina, Jasmine Slodysko, Molly Stevens, Austin Straub, Max Tillett, Emma Tomcavage, Angel Velazquez, Jonathan Washuta, Logan Williams, Cheyanne Wolf, Leslie Wolfe, Megan Wywadis, Shen Yeager and Katelyn Zawalick.

Honor roll

Grade 6: Abigail Aurand, Seth Barrett, Kalei Bogetti, Jocelynne Calabro, Jordan Carpenter, Justin Caufield, Brady Collins, Sarah Conrath, Taylor Cullen, Austin Dannheimer, Madison Daya, Emily DeMartino, Charles Dettrey, Charles Diehl, Justin Duganitz, Warren Eveland, Abbi Fiorey, Patrick Gibson, Nichole Gribbin, Kendra Haight, Theresa Hancock, Robert Hogan, Collin Hoover, Olivia Kaleta, Patrick Latsha, Brianna Luddy, Sabrina McLaughlin, Lisa Murphy, Victoria Nicola, Bryce Rosini, Brent Scholl, Skyleigh Sedor, Stephen Smith, Jadyn Snyder, Saige Taylor, Brianna Wary, Jasmine Wasilewski, Lorraine Whary, Tessa Wheary, Mackenzie Young, Daniel Zaborny and Richard Zigner.

Grade 5: Aaron Adams, Logan Alderson, Chase Backes, Emily Backes, Nicole Bainbridge, Ashley Beach, Mariah Benedict, Keri Bevan, Daniel Buranich, Sierra Burd, Steven Carpenter, Alyssa Charriez, James Coleman, Madison Collins, Dakotah Cragle, Gavin DeHaven, Jacob Eschbach, Rebekah Faust, Nicholas Feudale, Stephen Gundy, Cain Herb, Zoey Hockenbroch, Collin Kern, Jayla Klase, McKenzie Knarr, Matthew Knowles, Brianna Lehman, Xavier Lehman, Amber Libby, Owen Long, Todd Maschuck, Joseph Masser, Morgan McGinn, Bryce Mummey, Cameron Orner, Autumn Purcell, Madison Reigel, Shyann Rubio, Joan Schaeffer, Robert Schleig, Sierra Seiler, Matthew Sheriff, Joel Shurock, Matthew Swartz, Abigail Thew, Dylan Walters, Cassandra Womer and Benjamin Wright.

Grade 4: Jacob Alvord, Conner Anascavage, Damion Baumerts, Tessa Bowman, River Brabitz, Gabriel Burns, Paige Campbell, John Carl, Abigail Charriez, Austyn Curran, Eric Curran, Trevor DeHaven, William Delbaugh, Joshua Dombrowski, Samantha Ebersole, Deven Elliott, Jeremy Erb, Jeryn Fagerstrom, Mason Filarski, Madison Foulds, Tate Frederick, Benjamin Ginck, Callen herb, Victoria Hine, Jazmyne Hoffman, Molly Hoffman, Brian Hornberger, Brandon Huff, Joseph Jackson, Kirstyn Kehler, Hunter Kerstetter, Tiffany Kleman, Amber Klinger, Kaylee Koshinski, Sarah Kratzer, Farrah Krum, Janet Kulish, Albert Kurtz, Brittney Lute, Ariana Manley, Blake Markowski, Kevin Markowski, Matthew Masser, Skyler McKinney, James Mench, Kaila Moore, Makayla Moroskie, Ryan Nolan, Connor Nye, Brock Pancher, Sara Ryman, Kyra Sanders, John Schofield, Trinity Schwab, Kody Scicchitano, Rachel Shader, Telaysia Shafer, Bret Smith, Hannah Smith, Savanah Smith, Christina Snyder, Isaak Snyder, Alyssa Swartz, Myah Thompson, Joseph Torres, Rhiannon Vlock-Kogut, Chloe Yoder, Destiny Zimmerman and Nicholas Zimmerman.

Audition for children's theatre

SHAMOKIN - Auditions will be held for this summer's Anne Miles Children's Theatre at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, 2 E. Arch St., from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, May 15 and 16.

Children currently in grades two through four will be auditioning for "101 Dalmatians" and grades five through eight for "Music Man Jr."

Those auditioning will be asked to read a portion of a script, sing a song with the piano and do a brief dance.

The "Music Man Jr." performance will be held July 28 and 29 and "101 Dalmatians" will be July 21 and 22.

Older Americans Month event slated

KULPMONT - In recognition of May as Older Americans Month, LIFE Geisinger Kulpmont is hosting a free event from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., on Saturday, May 5, at its day health center located at 1100 Spruce St., Kulpmont.

Throughout the day, you can learn more about the LIFE Geisinger program that helps older adults maintain their independence. Whether you are looking at care options for yourself or a loved one, the staff at LIFE Geisinger Kulpmont will be on hand to answer all of your questions and give you a tour of the center.

Other activities scheduled during the day include a yard sale from 8 to 11 a.m. with all proceeds benefitting the Alzheimer's Association; a Matter of Balance demonstration with LIFE Geisinger therapists from 10 to 11 a.m. to reduce risk of falls; and free community bingo from 11 a.m. to noon with prizes given throughout the hour.

Attendees are also invited to receive free blood pressure checks and enter to win raffle prizes. Light refreshments will be served.

To register for this event or for more information about LIFE Geisinger, please contact Marc Varano at 1-866-230-6465 or mavarano@geisinger.edu. Visit LIFE Geisinger online at www.lifegeisinger.org.

Age: 54

Residence: Cooper Township, Montour County, since 1984; born in New Jersey; grew up in Tunkhannock.

Education: Taccoa Falls College, Georgia, undergraduate degree in Bible theology (1980); Bloomsburg University, master's degree in instructional technology (1987).

Government: Republican nominee for state House of Representatives, 107th District, 1994 and 1996.

Career: Self-employed, computer consulting and tax preparation business.

Family: Wife, Barbara; four children, ages 18 to 28.

Community: Baseball umpire; volunteer pilot to transport transplant patients.

Ted Yeager

Age: 61

Residence: Elysburg.

Education; Wilkes College, bachelor's degree; Elmira College, master's degree.

Government: Candidate for the Democratic nomination in the 107th House District, 2010.

Career: High school social studies teacher, six years in Wellsboro School District and 27 years in Danville Area School District; now works as real estate associate broker for Villager Realty and certified residential appraiser for Hearthstone Valuation Services LLC.

Family: Married to former Pamela Crowl for 30 years.

Community: Alumni board and mentoring program at Wilkes University, Elysburg Rotary, Ralpho Township Municipal Authority, Ralpho Township Library Board, Columbia-Montour Vo-Tech Authority.