'Careers in Caring' event

SUNBURY - A "Careers in Caring" event will be offered from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at the CareerLink in Sunbury. This is not a job fair, but an inside look at a variety of in-demand positions. Employers will share details about what the job involves, including duties, hours, pay and what employers' value. These sessions are designed to attract and assist those entering the field as well as those who are already working in health care and looking for a career pathway to advancement. Some assistance for training may be available.

Employers attending the event are the CSIU/WATCH program, The Educators, Family Home Medical, Nursing and Rehabilitation Agency, Kramm's Nursing Home and White Deer Run. Anyone may attend these information sessions. The PA CareerLink is located at 225 Market Street on the third floor of the Sunbury Municipal Building, next to the courthouse. Free parking for customers is offered directly behind the building. Please call 570-988-7300 to reserve a seat.

A view from high above the Holy Angels Picnic Grounds, as cruisers returned from the 13th annual Great Kulpmont Cruise on Sunday.

Learn how to catch a liar

SHAMOKIN - Practical ways to tell if someone is telling the truth will be explored at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lifetree Cafe event at Antioch Place, 531 N. Market St.

The program, titled "How to Spot a Liar: Secrets From a Former FBI Agent," features a filmed interview with FBI counterintelligence officer John Schafer. As a behavioral analyst for the FBI's National Security Division, Schafer developed deception-detection techniques that are now widely used by intelligence and law enforcement agencies. In his interview, Shafer shares key indicators that signal when someone is lying.

Admission to the 60-minute event is free. Snacks and beverages are available. For more information, contact Kathy Vetovich at 570-672-9346 or kvetovich@gmail.com.

Merck retirees sought

RIVERSIDE - Merck chemical facility is seeking retirees to help the company celebrate 65 years of manufacturing in the Susquehanna Valley. The site was originally purchased Aug. 1, 1950, and is looking to commemorate this anniversary during the month of August.

Retirees interested in participating in the event are encouraged to contact Eileen Bloom at 570-271-2002 or Don Dingle at 570-271-3498. Confirmed retirees will be sent a packet of information providing the event date and registration details.

A view from high above the Holy Angels Picnic Grounds, as cruisers returned from the 13th annual Great Kulpmont Cruise on Sunday.

KULPMONT - A Sunbury firm was hired by the borough to design plans to convert the former East End Fire Company social hall into new borough offices and police station.

At its June 9 meeting, council voted 6-0 to hire B3 Architects at a cost of $27,000.

At the May meeting, council discussed hiring the firm, but their previous quote was too high for the work. Council did not disclose the initial fee.

At June's meeting, councilmember Stephen Motyka said they were able to negotiate to $27,000 by offering documents and plans used to build the social hall.

Originally, borough council put a cap on the price of the plans at $25,000, but voted to raise it. Voting yes were Motyka, Nicholas Bozza, Bruno Varano, Clarence Deitrick, Phil Scicchitano and Stephanie Niglio. Councilmember Joseph Winhofer was absent.

The borough agreed to purchase the former social hall in May for $250,000. The borough is currently waiting for the deed of their current home, the former Wilson Grade School at 860 Spruce St., from the Mount Carmel Area School District to secure interim financing for the project.

Out of that financing, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the owners of the social hall after the fire company turned over the deed in lieu of foreclosure, will be paid the $250,000 up front for the building. Council will also use part of that interim financing to pay for the architectural fees and cost of the renovation, originally estimated at $400,000.

In 2014, borough council passed a three-mill tax increase to pay back any loan taken out to fund the project, generating $40,000 a year.

Paving, 100th anniversary

In other business:

- Council approved a bid of $37,975 from New Enterprise Stone and Lime Co., of Dry Run. This year's paving project will be 15th Street from Chestnut to Poplar streets, and Fir street from Eighth to Ninth Street.

The borough received two bids on the project; the other was from Meckley's Limestone Products Inc. for $40,997.

- Nicholas Bozza announced a committee has been formed for a 100th anniversary celebration in Kulpmont, commemorating the first meeting of Kulpmont as an independent self-governing borough held in January 1916.

The "Kulpmont 100" Committee consists of Bozza, Joe Pancerella, Dave Shinskie, Jeff Gilotti, Joe Meyer, John Motyka, Keith Tamborelli and Steve Matzura.

The celebration will be a three-day event from July 1 to 3, 2016, and the committee will keep council, Mayor Bernard Novakoski and the public informed about all upcoming events, fundraisers and meetings.

SUNBURY - The trial may be history, but legal wrangling continues over the firing of two former Northumberland County deputy sheriffs accused of accessing pornography at work.

Three filings were entered Monday in the county courthouse. Attorneys on behalf of Commissioner Vinny Clausi and ex-Sheriff Chad Reiner filed first, seeking either a new trial, a reversal of a judgment in favor of Joseph Jones and Michael Boris III that awarded the former deputies a combined $550,000, or the case retroactively dismissed.

Defense counsel argues that a First Amendment claim against Clausi wasn't properly established, saying he had "qualified immunity" as an elected official even if a violation occurred, and that the plaintiffs never clearly established that their Constitutional rights were violated. The same argument was made on behalf of Reiner and the 14th Amendment claim against him, adding that Common Pleas Judge Thomas James Jr. should not have excluded evidence from an arbitration hearing and the resulting ruling. An arbitrator ruled in 2012 that the county had just cause to fire Boris, Jones and a third deputy. They were accused of viewing pornography on work computers.

An additional claim of emotional distress awarded to Boris against Clausi should be overturned because no evidence was presented, including medical documentation, proving he had been victim to "extreme or outrageous behavior," the filing states.

A 12-person jury ruled June 12 at the end of a five-day trial that Jones and Boris were denied their constitutional rights of free speech and due process, and awarded ex-deputy $250,000. Boris was awarded an additional $50,000 for the emotional distress. However, Northumberland County, also a co-defendant, was exonerated in both men's whistleblower's claims, and in Jones' own emotional distress claim.

Now Boris and Jones are seeking to "preserve" the whistleblower claim. Four hours after the defendants' filing was entered, the plaintiffs' counsel made separate motions: post-trial relief to allow a whistleblower claim if a new trial is ordered, and the award of $439,605.89 in attorney fees and costs.

Plaintiffs' counsel says James should not have dismissed an equal protection claim in finding that Boris and Jones were not at-will employees, that potential testimony by former chief clerk Kymberley Best regarding an allegation of Clausi discussing gambling debts should have been allowed, and that testimony by forensic experts should not have been eligible regarding shared usernames and passwords because it didn't factor into their initial termination. It also disputes the use of video surveillance.

Northumberland County must pay all awards and fees with tax dollars. The county isn't insured for the case. The total tops $1 million.

CATAWISSA RR - Southern Columbia will open negotiations with a new transportation provider, a move its current bus drivers didn't seem to like.

At the start of Monday's meeting, school board president Michael Yeager announced the district would enter negotiations with Fullington School Bus Inc., of Clearfield, as a possible future provider of transportation services.

They were one of three companies invited June 17 to speak with bus drivers and make a public proposal to the board. Currently, SCA owns its own buses and employs its own drivers.

A Fullington representative at that meeting said his firm offers drivers the opportunity to work during the summer, either through motorcoach tours or shuttle bus runs, and that the company employs "creative but legal" methods to get full reimbursement from the state.

District mechanic Derek Stines spoke at the end of the meeting, expressing displeasure at the board's choice.

"We had three firms here last Wednesday, two out of the three were up front about what the drivers would be paid, while Fullington wasn't," Stine said. "It makes me think that the decision was already made."

The board offered no comment to Stine's remarks. As the drivers left the meeting, Stine was heard saying, "That meeting was a total waste of time."

Budget passed

Also on Monday, the board passed its 2015-16 budget, a $20,111,828.42 spending plan, on a 6-1 vote. The amount was about $5,850 below a preliminary budget passed in May.

Director Charlie Porter questioned business office manager Denise Kreisher about the figures, saying the budget should be lower.

"We settled the teachers contract and made other cuts that had savings of about $900,000, why isn't that reflected here," Porter said.

Kreisher answered that some other amounts - like pension amounts - were increased while there was also an increase in the contribution to the district's capital reserve fund.

Voting for the budget was directors Tim Vought, Tom Reich, John Yocum, Michael Yeager, Charlie Porter, Kaye Keller and Charlene Cove. Porter voted no, and directors Joe Klebon and Gail Zambor Schuerch were absent.

The budget leaves Southern with a $400,000 deficit which business manager Charles Mannello proposed to fill with money from the district's unassigned fund balance, leaving the fund with a little more than $1 million.

Under the Act 1 tax index, property taxes will increase 1.05 mills ($32 increase) for residents in Columbia County and 1.39 mills ($35 increase) in Northumberland County.

In other business:

- Theodore T. Deljanovan was hired as a physical education teacher while Brandon Traugh was named a new secondary social studies teacher.

- Meal prices were approved for the coming school year, with no increase over last year's prices. The board also approved a bid from Koppy's Propane of Williamstown for liquid propane at a price of .945 cents a gallon.

SUNBURY - In wake of the arrest of an out-of-state contractor over the weekend, Northumberland County District Attorney Ann Targonski offered tips on how to avoid being scammed.

State police arrested Johnny D. Riley, 31, of North Augusta, N.C., in Sunbury on warrants from both Maryland and Florida on charges of felony theft, acting as a contractor without a license and failure to perform according to a contract. Police responded to a citizen's complaint about work done at a property in Shamokin Township.

Riley was apprehended Saturday evening near Veterans Memorial Bridge.

The district attorney said the public should be on the lookout for scamming contractors.

"This is the time of year when you need to be cautious when hiring a contractor to perform work at your home," Targonski said. "There are many people who pose as contractors or handymen who will take advantage of you without blinking an eye."

Tips

When hiring someone to work around your house:

n Know your contractor - Anyone who comes to the door and offers to pave a driveway because he or she has extra material from the last job should make anyone suspicious, Targonski said. "Never be rushed into getting work done. Soliciting this type of business is suspect because they are either selling something that someone else paid for, or the quality may not be there. That cheap driveway you have sealed may very well be cracking next spring and then you have no way to find the contractor," she said.

"Make sure you research a contractor before hiring someone to do work in your home."

n If a contractor asks for all the money upfront, stop and think - "You should never pay more than 10 percent or so, or $1,000, whichever is less," Targonski said. "A good and reputable contractor will be able to secure the materials needed for your job without having to have you pay him to do so. He will have his own credit and won't need money upfront."

n Get it in writing - If an offer seems too good to be true, it probably is. "You can discuss with the contractor certain things that you want which are different. Get a detailed project estimate so that both parties know what is expected. A non-legitimate contractor will give a low estimate and then say he did not build into that price the items discussed, and then they will bill for 'extras' or 'changes' that were thought to be part of the project," Targonski said.

n Make sure your contractor gets a permit - "That cost will be passed on, but a permit insures the customer they have a licensed contractor, and weed out the unlicensed ones. Make sure the contractor secures the permit, not the customer so the municipality thinks it is a do-it-yourself job," the DA said.

n Make sure problems are real - "Unforseen problems can arise in any project, but consumers should make sure the termite damage, structural damage, or mold is real. If there is any kind of question about a contractor's statement, call in a third party to get another opinion."

n Consumers also need to be alert when the contractors are in the home as well, Targonski said.

"We have had cases of contractors offering to do work to distract the homeowner while someone goes in the back door and steals medications or money from the home," she stated.

Susquehanna Valley gas prices continued on a upward trend this past week, rising to $2.842 a gallon Monday, according to AAA East Central's Fuel Gauge report, five cents above the national average price of $2.792.

On the national front

After reaching a new high for 2015 last week ($2.80), the national average price for regular unleaded gasoline has dropped slightly to $2.79 per gallon. Monday's price is still significantly discounted from this time last year.

Pump prices in recent days have stabilized or even dropped in many areas as refineries solve productions issues. Gasoline production typically increases this time of year in anticipation of summer demand, and high profit margins should incentivize refineries to produce more gasoline in the near future, which may help lower gas prices.

Crude oil prices moved lower late last week due to a stronger U.S. dollar amid concerns about Greece's financial instability. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reported its largest production levels since October 2012, and the U.S. also continues to produce at record levels.

This means the global market is likely to remain oversupplied in the near term and any reductions in demand are expected to put downward pressure on price and exacerbate the current dynamic of oversupply.

At the close of Friday's formal trading on the NYMEX, WTI was down 84 cents and settled at $59.61 per barrel.

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

MOUNT CARMEL - Concerns over transient students, underpaid teachers and a growing special education population were just a few of the topics touched on when Secretary of Education Pedro Rivera stopped in at Mount Carmel Area School District Monday afternoon.

Rivera's visit to the home of the Red Tornadoes is one of many he's making to districts across the state during the "Schools That Teach" tour supporting Gov. Tom Wolf's proposed funding boost to education.

Superintendent Bernie Stellar prepared a list of the challenges faced by the district and projected it on a screen in the meeting room. Retaining quality teachers was listed as the top concern.

Joe Varano, president of the teachers union, said the district has lost more than 50 teachers in the high school in recent years, primarily because teachers are lured to nearby districts for higher pay.

"You can travel 20 minutes and make $15,000 more," he said.

Junior high school principal Pete Cheddar said the school recently posted a teaching position that received 10 responses. The only applicant with any teaching experience had spent just one year in the classroom, and that applicant declined a second interview.

Stellar said the low salaries extended beyond teachers.

"We can't find people to clean our elementary school because we're at around minimum wage," he said.

Rivera, took notes on the information passed on by the administration and asked questions on the other factors of student success like class size.

Stellar said that the student population has remained consistent, but the district struggles with a booming special education population. The district especially struggles with students who bounce from town to town, causing them to fall behind in classes.

"No one's moving here taking AP calculus," he said.

He pointed to Mount Carmel's ranking as one of the cheapest places to live in America, which he said has contributed to the transience of the district's students. Rivera, who has visited numerous other districts as part of the tour, responded that he had never seen a statistic like that before and made a note of it.

Stellar noted state budget cuts have resulted in fewer programs for at-risk students, including the Pre-K program, which shrank five years ago from including all students full-time to 40 students part-time. He said the reduction of the program resulted in enough issues throughout the elementary school that the administration has gone so far to debate beginning a paid Pre-K program.

Rivera advised the district to apply for a Pre-K grant to help supplement the district's program. He said the governor's budget will fund an additional 14,000 slots for Pre-K students with hope to expand it in future years.

Corrina Lesko, the district's business office manager, appeared apprehensive about the promises for funding.

Under Wolf's proposed budget, the district will receive a funding boost of slightly more than $500,000. Cyber charger reform will provide an estimated $82,000 in savings to the district and homeowners are predicted to see nearly $2.5 million in property tax relief.

Lesko asked Rivera for the probability of the money coming through for the 2015-16 school year.

Rivera said the issue at the moment is not how much funding, but the distribution of the money. The recent years of funding cuts have left areas unfunded, and his priority was determining the best way to use available money, he said.

As far as total dollar amount, Rivera said the governor named education as his top concern and is unlikely to back down from his request for funding.

"(Wolf's) not going to compromise his belief in putting more money in schools," Rivera told her.

LANCASTER - Jeremiah Jashinskie, of Mount Carmel, graduated from Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, Lancaster, receiving an associate degree in applied science in automotive technology.

While a student, Jashinskie was dorm council president and automotive peer tutor, and earned his license for Pennsylvania state inspection and emissions. He is certified in hazardous materials, brakes, heating and air conditioning, engine repair, transmission and transaxle suspension and steering.

He will start his career at Bob Weaver Chevrolet, Pottsville.

He is a son of Tina Stankinas and Gerald Jashinskie, and a grandson of Bonnie Polomski, of Mount Carmel.

ONEONTA, N.Y. - Brandon M. Taylor has been named to the dean's list at Hartwick College in Oneonta.

While at Hartwick, Taylor attained a 3.65 average. He is pursuing a degree in English and journalism.

He is a member and Founding Father of the Hartwick College Colony of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity. He played intramural spring soccer and was a member of the flag football team.

He is a son of Paulette Reitz and her companion, Vincent Brokus, of 18 E. Lincoln St., Shamokin.

SUNBURY - The Northumberland County District Attorney's office cleared a city man of rape charges while putting his accuser in jail for false reports.

A release from the office of D.A. Ann Targonski reported charges filed against Andrey Shevchenko, 48, of Sunbury, of rape and sexual assault, and two counts of indecent assault were withdrawn. He was charged after the victim, Cheyenne Mathis, 22, of Mifflinburg, reported to police she had been sexually assaulted at knife point by a stranger.

"Making a false report to police is a crime in itself," Targonski said, "but making a false report of sexual assault has a serious impact on society."

Sunbury City Police charged Shevchenko after viewing video footage from street cameras that showed Shevchenko encountering Mattis near a bar on Third Street. During questioning, Shevchenko gave inconsistent and deceptive statements, which, Targonski said in the release, lent credibility to the accuser.

Additional video footage from street cameras disproved Mathis's account of the events. County Detective Degg Stark conducted a second interview with Mathis, who then admitted her story was false.

She told Stark the two met on the street and she went with Shevchenko willingly, and that he did not have a knife at the time.

Mathis was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Apfelbaum, of Sunbury, and placed in Snyder County Prison on $75,000 cash bail. A preliminary hearing on her charges, two counts of making false reports, is scheduled for July 7.

UNIVERSITY PARK - The following area students earned dean's list for the spring semester at Pennsylvania State University:

Cenan F. Abdul-al, Elysburg, University Park Campus.

Kate L. Bassett, Sunbury, University Park.

Alyssa D. Bielski, Kulpmont, University Park.

Sarah J. Breech, Catawissa, University Park.

Kyle J. Breech, Catawissa, Hazleton Campus.

Stephen R. Bressi, Coal Township, University Park.

Macy E. Cellitti, Sunbury, University Park.

Michelle N. Cortelyou, Herndon, Harrisburg Campus.

Alyssa D. Crowley, Sunbury, Harrisburg.

Meghan R. Delsite, Sunbury, Altoona Campus.

Michael A. Eccker, Ashland, University Park.

Donald G. Eckrod, Sunbury, University Park.

Katharine K. Ferster, Coal Township, University Park.

Matthew R. Foltz, Shamokin, Harrisburg.

Allen D. Fry, Sunbury, University Park.

Andrew J. Gantz, Ashland, Schuylkill Campus.

Bryan C. Gedman, Paxinos, University Park.

Miranda Green, Locust Gap, Schuylkill.

Jeffrey D. Hall, Elysburg, University Park.

David J. Hall, Ashland, Schuylkill.

Donald L. Hall, Sunbury, Harrisburg.

Kendra L. Hepler, Pitman, University Park.

Kirstie M. Herb, Sunbury, University Park.

Raymond A. Heromin, Elysburg, University Park.

Shubham K. Kapadiya, Elysburg, University Park.

Cortney A. Koschoff, Mount Carmel, Harrisburg.

Caleb T. Latovich, Coal Township, Schuylkill.

Nathaniel L. Leiby, Catawissa, University Park.

Trina M. Lenig, Shamokin, Schuylkill.

Shaine M. Lepley, Mount Carmel, University Park.

Samantha A. Lohr, Dalmatia, Harrisburg.

Victoria L. Lowthert, Pitman, Schuylkill.

Matthew Lupold, Elysburg, University Park.

Angela Maschuck, Coal Township, Schuylkill.

Michelle Menko, Trevorton, University Park.

Marcus A. Pensyl, Shamokin, University Park.

Samantha C. Ramp, Shamokin, World Campus.

Kristen L. Ruskuski, Mount Carmel, Schuylkill.

Josiah Scandle, Coal Township, World Campus.

Cody J. Shustack, Kulpmont, University Park.

Alexandra Singh, Elysburg, University Park.

Timothy M. Sokoloski, Ashland, Schuylkill.

Brandy J. Spaid, Sunbury, World Campus.

Barry A. Strausser, Mount Carmel, Hazleton.

Robert J. Taylor Sunbury, University Park.

Alexa Wallauer, Ashland, University Park.

Alexander K. Weisbeck, Ashland, Schuylkill.

Scott A. Wilson, Coal Township, Harrisburg.

Alexander D. Zartman, Sunbury, University Park.

Samuel Zartman, Sunbury, University Park.

Brandon J. Zoch, Sunbury, University Park.

HARRISBURG - Education funding remains a top priority among Pennsylvania voters, with the deadline for passing the next state budget less than two weeks away, according to a new statewide poll released Thursday.

Almost a third of voters (30 percent) said increasing state aid for education should be state lawmakers' top priority, while a quarter (26 percent) said reducing local school property taxes should be, the Franklin and Marshall College poll found.

These findings correspond to results in a Franklin and Marshall poll in March, released shortly after Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf's first budget address.

Wolf has proposed an ambitious budget with additional spending and tax hikes, including using a portion of severance tax revenue to restore earlier cuts to public education. A hike in the state personal income tax rate from 3.07 percent to 3.7 percent would pay for substantial school property tax relief under Wolf's proposal.

The emphasis on education funding is not surprising, said G. Terry Madonna, Ph.D., the poll director.

Former Gov. Tom Corbett's decision not to replace federal stimulus money when that funding stopped led to higher property taxes, teacher layoffs and program cancellations. Wolf made it a top issue during his successful gubernatorial campaign last year.

"That was his (Wolf's) big issue, bar none," said Madonna.

The poll surveyed 556 registered voters between June 8 and June 14, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

In another finding, the poll showed a majority of voters (51 percent) favor changing the state retirement benefits system from a defined-benefit plan to a 401(k)-style plan, while more than a third (38 percent) oppose such a move.

The Republican-controlled Senate approved legislation last month to move future state government and school employees to a defined contribution plan and make changes to the future earnings of current employees.

MOUNT CARMEL - A local contractor faces charges after taking thousands for a home improvement job, but never completing it.

Mount Carmel Township Police charged Steven D. Ennis, 32, of 222 S. Beech St., with felony counts of deceptive business practices and theft by unlawful taking. He was arraigned Tuesday and released on $5,000 unsecured bail.

Court documents filed by Township Police Chief Brian Hollenbush said Ennis bilked a couple out of $5,500 in September.

The investigation began on June 1 when the victims, Heather Snyder and Brian Moleski, of Main Street, Locust Gap, came to the police station to report Ennis, saying they hired him to complete a construction project at their home.

The couple told police Ennis started the job, installing siding and aluminum flashing on the front of their home, but never completed it. They said that Ennis was paid the money up front.

In a statement to police, Snyder and Moleski said they made numerous attempts to get Ennis to finish the job, with no success.

At one point, Ennis approached the couple at their places of employment to discuss the situation because he saw them and knew they were mad.

Following the conversation, Ennis allegedly sent a text message to the victims saying scaffolding at the house needed to be returned so Ennis could pay the bill for it.

"A two-week project has now turned into a 10-month project and it still isn't done," the victims wrote in their statement.

The charges were filed with Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones. of Mount Carmel, with a preliminary hearing set for July 15 before Jones.

Community service set for Saturday

COAL TOWNSHIP - Magisterial District Judge John H. Gembic asks participants in the community service program to meet at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Coal Bowl.

Author to detail 1800 libel trial

NORTHUMBERLAND - In 1798, President John Adams and his fellow Federalists made it a crime to criticize the U.S. government.

In a special program at the Joseph Priestley House in Northumberland at 2 p.m. Sunday, author Charles Slack will tell how the Adams administration prosecuted and convicted Priestley's close friend, Thomas Cooper, for publishing material in 1799 that libeled the president.

Cooper, who was editor of the Sunbury and Northumberland Gazette, lived in Priestley House following his release from prison.

Atlantic Monthly Press recently published Slack's book, "Liberty's First Crisis: Adams, Jefferson and the Misfits Who Saved Free Speech." The program is free. The author will have copies of his book available for signing.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Ken Deitrick, owner of PA Waste Transfer LLC, donated almost 200 cubic yards of mulch valued at $5,000 to Coal Township for use at all township recreational facilities.

Deitrick's donations have come annually over the past decade. PA Waste Transfer purchased the mulch from another of Deitrick's companies, TimberEnd Inc., and donated it to the Township to beautify the area and provide a safer play environment for the community's youth.

Over the last few weeks, Coal Township Street Department workers have transported, dumped and spread the mulch as a safety surface under all equipment at each playground. The township owns and maintains six playgrounds: Arch Street, Mulberry Street, Ferndale, Uniontown, Springfield and Brady.

Coal Township commissioners thank Deitrick for his generosity, which saves taxpayer dollars.

Deitrick also owns Disposal Management Services (DMS). All three businesses are based on Quarry Road in Coal Township.

KULPMONT - Jared Maciejewski, of Kulpmont, has been named to the dean's list at Kutztown University. He obtained a 3.67 grade-point average for the spring semester of his sophomore year, majoring in social work.

He is a son of Julie (Hornberger) Maciejewski and the grandson of Oren Hornberger and the late Mary (Hamm) Guyette, of Williamsport, and Jack and Catherine Maciejewski, of Kulpmont. He has a sister, Taylor, of Kulpmont.

Maciejewski is pursuing a bachelor's degree in social work and expects to graduate in the spring of 2017.

He is a 2013 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School.

SELINSGROVE - Brandon Mendoza, a junior at Susquehanna University, has been named to the dean's list for the spring semester with a grade-point average of 3.73.

Mendoza is majoring in business administration with an emphasis in finance and marketing. He is also a member of the track team.

Mendoza, a 2012 graduate of Shamokin Area High School, is a son of Lisa Mendoza, of Shamokin, and John Mendoza, of Waldorf, Md.