CATAWISSA RR - Southern Columbia Area performed better than most of the local public school districts in state testing in the 2011-12 school year.

SCA not only met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) districtwide, but it also met or surpassed 18 out of 21 state averages on Pennsylvania System of School Assessment and SAT test scores from 2011-12, according to Times-Shamrock Newspapers annual Grading Our Schools (GOS) special report.

Furthermore, the district is ranked seventh in the state for graduation rates among 500 public school districts, with 98.97 percent of its senior class graduating in 2011-12.

The district administration team - Superintendent Paul Caputo, high school principal James Becker, middle school principal Angela Farronato, elementary school principal Joseph Shirvinski, director of curriculum, instruction and technology Brenda Monick and director of special education Jennifer Snyder - attribute the positive results to a community of support from teachers, parents and students.

"It's a culture we permeate throughout the community that we care about the kids' success," Monick said.

Education is a priority for everyone involved in students' lives - including the students themselves, Becker said.

That special quality is also what brought Caputo back to the district after years of being employed elsewhere.

"It's a safe and welcoming environment," he said.

Southern, however, is not without its problems - the district was below average for fourth-grade math, sixth-grade math and eighth-grade reading. And while the district made AYP overall and so did the high school, GC Hartman Elementary School and the middle school grade levels did not, and both are considered in warning status.

Intervening sooner

Farronato said educators are driven by this data, always looking at how to revise the instructional strategies.

"We analyze it with the teachers, so they are right there picking through it," she said.

Technology allows the data to become available sooner, which allows teachers to identify students who may need intervention before the new school year starts. Also, teachers can track students from year to year and know their reading and math levels before they come to their class, then tailor strategies to fit, Monick said.

Using the data, the teachers are grouping students with similar needs and including intervention times in their daily schedules. Before the benchmark tests are given, students are offered smaller assessments during the school year and can move from group to group based on their progress.

"We have to look at what skills and extra help students need. We've been committed to meet their needs the best way to can," Shirvinski said.

Becker and Farronato agreed that individual students and their data must be analyzed.

"We've been intervening with students for a number of years," Becker said.

Low-income increase

Southern administrators and teachers are facing a new kind of disadvantage - more low-income students. The elementary school failed in academic performances in reading and math for economically disadvantaged students in 2011-12.

Compared to neighboring districts, Southern has a relatively low population of low-income students at 28.4 percent (ranked 364th in the state). However, that number increased from 24 percent in the 2009 GOS report.

In short, "It's crept up on us," Shirvinski said.

"Because of the status of the economy, more families don't have jobs and incomes are cut. There are students we never realized were having problems," he said.

The low-income factor never provided a significant disadvantage to students and data in the past, therefore, "it was never on our radar" until now, Monick said.

The response was not different than addressing other factors, Shirvinski said.

Affected students have been involved in the intervention and instruction periods.

Special education questions

The middle school also failed in academic performance in math for Individualized Education Program (IEP)-special education. The district, as it has been noted in previous years, has performed at high standards despite being in the top 21 percent of districts with special education students and has been praised by the state for its inclusion efforts.

Southern was ranked at 105 with 257 special education students - 18 percent of its 1,428 enrolled in 2011-12.

Snyder said the number of special education students that are included in the general education classrooms have increased and there are fewer learning support classrooms that have parallel curriculum at different intensities.

Special education is such a diverse category from year to year that it's hard to say what exactly was the cause of not reaching those academic performance goals, Snyder said.

Modified PSSAs - including certain accommodations for special education students - were eliminated in 2011-12, Monick said.

100 percent? No way

Snyder and the other administrators are critical of the federal mandate of reaching 100 percent proficiency by next year. In fact, even reaching 91 percent proficiency in reading - this year's target - is unrealistic, they say.

"You want everybody to be 100 percent. You want everyone to be proficient," Becker said. "But growth is more important from year to year for every kid."

Saying 100 percent of the students can show growth is more realistic than saying 100 percent of the students can be proficient on a standardized test, Caputo said. Besides, PSSA results are only a snapshot of a student's year in education, Shirvinski said.

There are different levels of talent on the playing field, Farronato said.

"I see more in the growth of students," she said. "To have that basic student become proficient, or that below basic student who becomes basic, that's more important."

That, she said, is where the focus needs to be.

COAL TOWNSHIP - A grant has been secured to establish a group home in Coal Township for troubled young mothers.

Ellen Withrow, grants and development coordinator for Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit, said they learned in mid-March of the group's impending receipt of a five-year, $900,000 grant from the federal Administration for Children and Families.

It will be used to operate Pinnacle Place in the 1600 block of West Lynn Street, where four pregnant women age 18 to 22 could live with their newborns as long as 21 months while receiving motherhood counseling and career training on site.

A tentative state date is Sept. 1, she said.

It had previously been reported that the application was rejected in February. It had not. When the first round of grant recipients from the federal agency was announced, CSIU was not among them. Their proposal had ranked high enough, however, that it was among recipients when additional funding was awarded.

CSIU is partnering with Central Susquehanna Opportunities toward opening Pinnacle Place, utilizing a property purchased in a county tax sale by the latter. Coal Township commissioners voted in October to modify a zoning ordinance to allow such a home despite opposition among many residents in the west end neighborhood.

The program is open to anyone in the CSIU's service area: Northumberland, Montour, Union, Snyder and Columbia counties.

Young mothers accepted into the program are homeless, either in the traditional sense or that their pregnancy had helped exacerbate already existing issues at their family home, forcing them to find a more stable situation.

"This is sort of a refuge in some ways," Withrow said.

Four full-time employees are expected to work at the home, including a "house mother" who would live on site. There also would be five part-time employees.

Mother's accepted into the home would be taught skills in parenting, budgeting, child development and job training. All of this will be done, according to CSIU's Kim Eroh, family education manager, "so they are able to get into the community and be self-sufficient."

Withrow said the number of births to mothers without high school degrees in the CSIU service area is significantly higher than the 15.8 percent statewide average. In Northumberland County, she said the figure tops 20 percent.

Except for in Montour County, childhood abuse and re-abuse rates are also "significantly higher," she said.

"We're trying to provide a stable environment for the young women to learn how to nurture and provide development activities for their young kids," Withrow said.

CSO had previously identified the grant sought for the home as a Project ELECT grant. Withrow said that was not the case, and CSIU's application to that program was unrelated to the Pinnacle Place project.

COAL TOWNSHIP - More than 300 youth and adult campers converged on Shamokin Area Middle/High School, ready to serve the area and God through manual labor.

Sunday was arrival day for those taking part in the Group Cares work camp program, a week-long mission trip that will help make minor repairs to 56 project sites selected for assistance.

"There is a real need in this town for the work we will be doing," said camp director Kim Sawyer. "Everyone here has heard the call for this mission and we hope that we can not only provide some good to this area, but to the campers doing the work with us this week."

A parking lot near the school showed many different state license plates, ranging on Maine to New Hampshire, Georgia to Rhode Island, and, Sawyer reports, only one group from Pennsylvania.

"I'm from Mifflinburg and brought up the idea to the youth group I work with, but they wanted to go out of state, so they traveled to Cincinnati, Ohio," the program leader said.

For the next five days, teams of five to six people will be working at their individual projects in the area, doing light painting, carpentry, cleanups and other projects. The key to Group Cares comes in the pairings of team members.

"Except in cases of youth groups wanting to stay together, no one group member is paired with someone from their groups," Sawyer said. "We are matching people up for their individual strengths, so that there are balanced teams."

It's a mission that the Group Cares organization has been a part for over 30 years. The group was founded in 1976 in Loveland, Colo., when church youth groups were asked to help rebuild homes following a flood. Today, the organization sponsors youth camps in 42 areas across the country. The theme of this year's camp is "What do you stand for?"

Lacey Fowler, 21, of Avenel, N.J., made the 147-mile trip to Shamokin with her youth group. Each camper pays $451 for the privilege of making a difference.

"I've never been on a mission trip before, and when we learned about this one, we all thought it was a great opportunity to help and grow," she said.

Fowler hopes what they do in town will benefit the community.

"We had a person that went on a trip like this a year ago, and this was a person that never really spoke before," she said. "He is now a team player and even became the leader of the pack. All of that was accomplished while doing the Lord's work and serving the world."

Sawyer said everyone is encouraged to make the community better, not only at the homes they are fixing, but by supporting small businesses in town and a special canned food drive.

"We have a small pile of food on the stage now," host Dan Fuller told campers during Sunday's opening program. "It will be great to watch it grow to be donated to a local food pantry, knowing that your kindness and impact will be felt long after we leave the area."

After an evening program, the campers retired to their rooms for group devotions and lights out at 11 p.m. for the next day's activities, including meeting the people they would be doing the work for, and starting on their projects.

"Everyone here could be doing something different with their summer, either hanging out with friends or going to the pool or beach, but they are here, supporting this community in so many ways. It's a great feeling," Sawyer said.

Internships in Barletta's offices open

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Lou Barletta, (R-11) announced that fall semester internships are available in his Washington, D.C., office and all of his district locations: Hazleton, Carlisle, Harrisburg and Sunbury.

Anyone over the age of 18 can apply to be an intern. Internships do not have a set start and end date, but instead depend on the individual student. Schedules are also determined based on an intern's availability.

To apply, an interested student should send a resume and a cover letter to PA11Internships@gmail.com. Applications are due by Friday, Aug. 16.

National Night Out set in Sunbury

SUNBURY - National Night Out sponsored by the Sunbury Police Department and Crime Watch is set for 5 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, in Cameron Park.

The public can meet members of the Sunbury Police Department, city officials, neighborhood organizations, civic groups and local businesses.

According to planner Connie Beegle, this year's event will be the largest one ever in the city. There will be free hot dogs and water while supplies last.

National Night Out is a community and police partnership whose goal is a safer community. Beegle requests citizens turn on their porch lights to show their support for the program.

HARRISBURG - The role of nonprofit organizations in providing charity while enjoying tax-exempt status will get a higher profile in Pennsylvania in coming months.

State lawmakers are setting the stage for having statewide voters decide the constitutional question of whether the Legislature or courts should ultimately define what a public charity is for tax-exempt purposes.

Both chambers have given initial approval to a proposed constitutional amendment declaring the Legislature has that authority. The amendment will need approval in the next two-year legislative session starting in 2015 before it can be placed before the voters.

Accompanying this narrower jurisdictional issue is the question of whether the diverse nonprofits in Pennsylvania, which range from large health care complexes to community nonprofits under the United Way umbrella, should be judged by the same criteria to meet charitable standards or separate ones. A recent legislative study of more than 600 nonprofits receiving state aid to deliver human services indicates a wide disparity in net revenue (minus expenses) among them. About two dozen have annual revenue of more than $10 million while more than 200 report negative net revenue.

Distressed cities, such as Scranton, have a stake in the outcome of this debate because of the revenue loss incurred when nonprofit property is exempt from taxes.

Legal disputes between municipalities and individual nonprofits over tax-exempt status are driving the constitutional amendment. Denying tax-exempt status to a religious camp in Pike County, the state Supreme Court ruled last year that it didn't meet a charitable status set in a 1985 court case. That ruling called into question the validity of a state charities law enacted in 1997.

The House Finance Committee plans a hearing next month to see how the 1997 law is holding up.

It's time for a review since the law has been around for 16 years, said panel Chairman Kerry Benninghoff, R-171, Bellefonte. A lot of groups are trying to obtain tax-exempt status and any change in criteria will bring winners and losers, he said.

Democratic lawmakers think legal distinctions should be drawn between hospital nonprofits and community nonprofits before voters are asked to amend the Constitution.

"Our smaller nonprofit social service agencies like the United Neighborhood Centers and the Greater Scranton YMCA, who are purely public charities should not be grouped in with large hospitals, which could lead to abuse in the tax revenue for local governments," said Rep. Kevin Haggerty, D-112, Dunmore.

Local officials have first-hand knowledge of local charities and understand the benefits of their causes, and are better equipped to decide who deserves exemption from taxation, he said.

Rep. Dan Frankel, D-23, Pittsburgh, offered a floor amendment last month to require that the Legislature create additional separate standards to determine charitable status for hospital organizations if it asserts its authority to define what a public charity is, but it was defeated.

He said these standards can weigh such factors as the size of hospital net revenue, compensation paid to executives and spending on lobbying.

"Everyone else can see the distinction between too-big-to-fail nonprofit hospital systems and the local soup kitchen, church day care center or Boys and Girls Club - the legislature and state law should too," said Frankel.

He said a distinction should be drawn between hospital organizations and smaller community hospitals and critical health care access hospitals in rural areas.

Pennsylvania acute care hospitals face an uncertain financial future, yet still provided $1 billion in uncompensated care in 2011-12, according to The Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP).

Hospitals are coping with cuts in Medicare and Medicaid payments and the added threat of challenges to their tax-exempt status, said HAP President Andy Carter.

As this debate continues, the House Republican Policy Committee will examine the work of community nonprofits when it holds hearings this summer on the persistence of poverty and efforts to combat it. The committee wants to find out from nonprofit officials what programs work or are ineffective in helping people out of poverty, said Chairman David Reed, R-62, Indiana.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

The following landlord/tenant claims and judgments were filed with Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, of Shamokin.

n Bressi and Martin Real Estate, of Shamokin, against Scott Frantz and Kimberly Steele, both of Shamokin, for $980, filed July 18. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 1.

n Shamokin Housing Authority against Brittany Bowers, of Shamokin, for $1,102, filed July 19. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 1.

n Zoe A. Russell, of Shamokin, against John Wilcox, of Shamokin, for $2,570, filed July 18. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 1.

n Anthony J. Delgrippo, of Bellefonte, against David and Aleah Thompson, of Coal Township, for $1,585.35, filed July 18. A hearing is scheduled for Aug. 1.

n T&V Partners, of Sunbury, awarded $974.15 on July 16, from Chad Tammaor and Erin Van Note, of Shamokin, for unpaid rent and court costs.

n Dale Koch, of Shamokin, awarded $1,290.86 on July 16, from John Tiebout and Lisa Castle, of Shamokin, for unpaid rent and court costs.

n Dale Koch, of Shamokin, awarded $1,510.15 on July 16, from Jason Meyers and Keisha Castle, of Shamokin, for unpaid rent and court costs.

COAL TOWNSHIP - A Gordon man was killed in an ATV crash Sunday afternoon at the top of Burnside Mountain.

Township police report John Nemeth, 49, of Gordon, was killed in the 2:56 p.m. crash in a wooded area, approximately one mile east of Route 125. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Northumberland County Deputy Coroner Barry Leisenring.

Police say Nemeth was operating a Can-Am 800R V-Twin four-wheeler west on a dirt road in the area, and as he was negotiating a curve in the road, the ATV left the roadway.

The vehicle traveled into the woods and flipped onto its side, ejecting Nemeth from it.

An autopsy will be performed on Tuesday and the cause of death is pending. The accident remains under investigation by the coroner's office and the Coal Township Police.

BLOOMSBURG - A South Centre Township man was charged with criminal homicide following an altercation at his residence in which a 24-year-old male was stabbed and killed.

State police at Bloomsburg reported that Brett A. Woodside, 26, of 3928 Old Berwick Road, was charged with an open count of criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

According to a release sent by state police, South Centre Township Police were called to Woodside's residence at approximately 10:45 p.m. Saturday for a stabbing victim. Upon arrival, they found the victim, Brandon C. Burns, 24, no address given.

Burns was transported to Bloomsburg Hospital, where he was pronounced dead by hospital doctors.

Police did not provide any other details on the crime Sunday afternoon, following a call to the Bloomsburg station. South Centre Township Police asked the state authorities to handle the investigation.

Woodside was arraigned Sunday morning before Magisterial District Judge Russell Lawton, of Bloomsburg, and placed in Columbia County Prison without bail. A preliminary hearing for Woodside is scheduled for July 31, before Magisterial District Judge Richard W. Knecht, of Berwick.

SHAMOKIN - Members of the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) Authority are seeking grant funding generated from the state's impact fees on natural gas drilling.

Authority members voted Monday during a special meeting to apply for a pair of grants from the Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program - more than $300,000 to improve the water in Carbon Run and upward of $20,000 for trail design.

The headwaters of Carbon Run are on AOAA land, said Jim Backes, authority chairman. Vice chairman Pat Mack said grant funding would be used to install catch basins and build berms and swales toward preventing sediment from building up in the waterway.

Both noted that the water leaves AOAA land and enters mines, where it is contaminated before reaching the city and the confluence with Shamokin Creek. But, they said, it's a start.

"It's part of a larger effort of the conservation of natural resources on the property," Backes said.

The application is a joint effort by the authority, Northumberland County Planning Department and Northumberland County Conservation District, Mack said. He wasn't aware of whether or not the authority would be required to match any of the grant funding with its own funding or in-kind with materials or labor.

Deadline to apply to the Commonwealth Financing Authority is July 31, and grants will be awarded Nov. 13.

The CFA's funding comes from the Marcellus Legacy Fund, a result of Act 13 of 2012.

In other business, a moment of silence was held at the start of Monday's meeting in memory of John Nemeth, 49, of Gordon, who was killed Sunday in an all-terrain vehicle crash on Burnside Mountain.

Authority members voted to seek an insurance quote from Markel Insurance Co.

KULPMONT - Borough council will hold a special meeting tonight that may involve Police Chief Rick Wilson III.

Officials are mum on the reason for the executive session or whether it even involves the chief.

They said an executive session last week and a two-day suspension of the police department was related to the borough being forced to find a new provider for its police liability insurance policy.

A secretary confirmed Monday that council will meet in executive session before a 7 p.m. special meeting. Mayor Myron Turlis had said Friday it involves a personnel issue.

While there has been no public advertisement for today's meeting, the public meeting notice advertising borough council's regular meeting dates for 2013 provided for special meeting dates on the Tuesdays other than the council's regular second Tuesday meeting night.

Insurance issue

The mayor said Friday the borough was notified April 1 that the previous carrier of the police policy was terminating coverage on July 17. The borough's insurance agent looked for another carrier but had difficulty finding one because the department had been given a "high-risk" designation, he said.

When the termination date came without a new policy, the department was shut down, only to resume about 48 hours later when a new carrier was found.

Turlis said the premium the borough will be paying is "significantly higher" than the $1,500 originally budgeted for the policy in 2013. The amount, Turlis said, would be determined following tonight's meeting.

Turlis wouldn't say so, but it could be as high as $25,000.

It is believed the insurance problems relate to a civil rights lawsuit brought against the borough and Wilson over the treatment of a female the chief took into custody in 2011. The suit was settled out of court in November for an undisclosed amount, and the original citations against her were dismissed.

Testimony during a hearing in the March 2012 criminal case against the female brought to light several past employment problems for Wilson. Also, the chief was suspended for 47 days from the Kulpmont force in 2009 over what he said was political retaliation.

Wilson, the only full-time officer, is assisted by several part-timers. Kulpmont has nearly 24-hour coverage with borough officers, and state police cover the off-hours.

Street sweeper schedule announced

MOUNT CARMEL - Borough residents are reminded that the street sweeper schedule is in effect. All vehicles must be moved from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. Failure to move a vehicle by 4 a.m. will result in a fine of $15.

Tax office to be open Saturday

KULPMONT - The Kulpmont Borough Tax Office will be open from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 27, in order to collect taxes.

Mental illness explored

ELYSBURG - Society's response to those who suffer from mental illness will be discussed at Lifetree Cafe from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Elysburg Presbyterian Church, 320 W. Valley Ave.

The program, titled "Mental Illness: Breaking the Silence, Overcoming the Shame," explores the isolation often experienced by those with mental illness - and by their loved ones. The program features a filmed interview with Amy Simpson, author of the book "Troubled Minds." She grew up with a mother who was later diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Admission to the 60-minute event is free. Snacks and beverages are available.

Lifetree Cafe is a place where people gather for conversation about life and faith in a casual coffeehouse-type setting. For more information, call 672-2873, e-mail elysburgpresby@verizon.net or go to www.lifetreecafe.com.

SHAMOKIN - Joe Snedecker, WNEP weatherman, will ride into the city for his station's 7 p.m. broadcast today as part of the 16th annual Go Joe benefit bike ride.

His arrival will round out a carnival held from 2 to 8 p.m. on Independence Street between Anthracite and Eighth streets.

There will be games - ring toss, dime pitch, gold fish, ball toss and candy toss; food - pizza, hot dogs, cotton candy, soupies and burgers, and entertainment - the bands RATL and Red Halo, J&D Sounds as DJ Lanny and Lee the Balloon Man.

There will also be a bounce house and slide as well as free balloons.

The event is free and open to the public.

Snedecker's visit comes on the second day of a five-day ride that began in Hazleton and will end in Scranton. Proceeds raised through Go Joe benefit St. Joseph's Center in Scranton.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Kevin Collins, head coach of the varsity girls basketball team at Southern Columbia Area, died Tuesday after having been stung by a bee.

Collins was playing golf with a friend and after returning to his home on West Independence Street, was stung by a bee on his foot while he was retrieving his clubs from a car.

He planned to go swimming and had changed clothing, but afterward had fallen ill and became unresponsive.

A call was placed to 911 at 2:30 p.m., and AREA Services Ambulance responded.

A short time later he passed away.

Jeff Deitz was playing golf with Collins and was at his home when he became ill.

He called his late friend a "great coach" and a "great man."

"Anyone who knew Kevin is at a great loss right now," Deitz said.

"From a coaching standpoint, anyone who played for him is definitely a better person for it."

Collins had completed his first season as head coach for the girls varsity team in 2012-13. Prior to that, he had been an assistant for the boys varsity team. He had also previously coached volleyball at Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School.

He is survived by a wife, Lori, and five children.

MILTON - The Friends of the Milton State Park organization is hosting its first annual River Town Paddle between Watsontown and Lewisburg Saturday.

Kayak and canoe enthusiasts, experienced or not, are welcome to join.

The "Paddle" will begin at 10 a.m. in Watsontown and end in Lewisburg at 4 p.m. Paddlers will be treated to a "snack stop" on the island between Milton and West Milton, hosted by the organization. Participants will also take part in a brief guided tour of the state park's natural features, both land and water related.

Paul Yost, vice president of the organization, will describe the improvements, including access to the river and the new north trail, which is now virtually complete. He will also touch on the history of the island and the abandonment of most trails after the 1972 Hurricane Agnes flood as well as future park improvements, including possible access points for kayak and canoe owners.

All equipment, transport shuttles, instruction and safety procedures will be provided by Canoe Susquehanna. Kayak or canoe owners can provide their own equipment.

Proceeds from the event will assist the Friends of the Milton State Park in their park improvement efforts.

For more information, go to www.paddlehappy@me.com or call (888) 524-7692. Participants must register with Canoe Susquehanna no later than Friday morning.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The lone tenant of a three-story apartment building under renovation in the 1400 block of West Arch Street escaped injury Tuesday afternoon when fire broke out near her bathroom window on the side of the property, causing minimal damage.

Billie Jo Elliott, 35, of 1412 W. Arch St., Apt. 1, who was planning on moving Aug. 3 after reportedly being evicted from her apartment for not paying rent for six months, was left temporarily homeless in the 3:25 p.m. two-alarm fire. Elliott, who is not insured, had lived in the first-floor apartment owned by Kyle Mirolli, of Trevorton, since December.

At the scene, Elliott said she did not know where she was going to stay since the power had been cut to her apartment by PPL as a result of the fire. But Coal Township fire officials later reported that the fire victim will be provided shelter through the American Red Cross.

The top two floors of the apartment building, which escaped damage, are vacant and under renovation, according to Mirolli's girlfriend, Mindy Wynn, of Trevorton, who helps take care of the property.

Wynn said the building is not insured.

The fire marked the second blaze to hit a West Arch Street apartment building in a week. On July 17, fire displaced several people at 1246 W. Arch St.

"I was sitting at my computer playing a game when I smelled something burning," Elliott said. "At first, I thought it was coming from outside. But then I saw smoke and fire coming from the bathroom window and immediately called 911 before quickly exiting the home."

A very distraught Elliott was seen crying several times before being consoled by neighbors and family members.

Coal Township Fire Chief Russ Feese, who coordinated firefighting efforts with township assistant chiefs Kevin Malukas and Michael Timco and Shamokin Battalion Chief Bruce Rogers, said the fire was brought under control within minutes as firefighters quickly attacked the blaze from the front, rear and sides. They later utilized huge fans to ventilate the apartment.

"The first guys on scene did a terrific job containing the fire," Feese said. "They got it knocked down in five to 10 minutes."

Coal Township Patrolman Matthew Henrich said he spotted heavy smoke coming from a first-floor window when he arrived at the scene.

Feese said a second alarm was sounded due to the hot weather and because the call initially came in as a working structure fire. Fortunately, the extra assistance provided by firefighters wasn't needed.

All Coal Township fire units responded to the blaze along with AREA Services Ambulance, Shamokin Emergency Squad and an aerial truck from Rescue Fire Company in Shamokin.

He said Trooper Kirk Renn, a state police fire marshal assigned to the Milton barracks, will inspect the fire scene this morning to hopefully determine a cause and damage estimate.

Fire police cordoned off a few blocks of West Arch Street to motorists and firefighters remained at the scene until approximately 6 p.m.

Wynn told a News-Item reporter that Mirolli purchased the apartment building a year ago. She said he planned to renovate all three apartments. She said the top two floors were gutted and had no electricity.

She said two break-ins occurred at the apartment building last week.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The death of an ATV rider near the top of the Burnside Mountain Sunday afternoon has been ruled accidental.

Following an autopsy conducted Tuesday at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Allentown, Northumberland County Coroner James F. Kelley said John Nemeth, 49, of Gordon, died as a result of blunt force trauma to the thorax.

Nemeth was operating a four-wheeler on a dirt road in a wooded area near Route 125 Sunday afternoon. While Nemeth was negotiating a curve, the ATV left the road and traveled into the woods, flipping onto its side and ejecting Nemeth, police said.

Kelley reported the autopsy showed Nemeth also suffered a fracture to his spine and a torn aorta.

Coal Township Police Patrolman David Sage said Tuesday afternoon the investigation into the crash continues and that no further information will be released until the investigation is completed.

SHAMOKIN - The following hearings took place Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III. Defendants ordered to appear for plea court Aug. 26 in Northumberland County Court, Sunbury, can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.

n Sara L. Strohecker, 28, of Klingerstown, waived to court a charge of retail theft relating to a March 27 theft at Walmart Supercenter on Route 61.

Strohecker was charged by Coal Township Patrolman Matthew Hashuga with stealing $742.87 worth of merchandise from the store.

n James H. Mitchell, 76, of 204 S. Pearl St., Shamokin, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was ordered to pay a $200 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for 12 months. An additional charge of public drunkenness was withdrawn.

Mitchell was charged by Shamokin Cpl. Darwin Tobias III with threatening people while possessing a 12-inch knife outside his home June 20.

n Cody Hlavaty, 19, of 4461 State Route 125, Coal Township, waived to court charges of possessing a prohibited offensive weapon and possessing drug paraphernalia involving a May 30 incident on Water Street near Market Street.

Hlavaty was charged by Shamokin Patrolman Raymond Siko II with possessing a taser and syringe.

n Renee Scicchitano, 27, of 952 Chestnut St., Kulpmont, waived to court a retail theft charge filed by Coal Township Patrolman Matthew Hashuga in connection with a May 18 incident at Walmart Supercenter along Route 61.

Scicchitano was accused of stealing $90.87 in merchandise from the store.

n Kenneth Elliot Jr., 23, of 1222 W. Willow St., Coal Township, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and was ordered to pay a $300 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for 12 months. An additional charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana was withdrawn.

Elliot was charged by Shamokin Cpl. Darwin Tobias III in connection with a May 10 incident in the 800 block of North Shamokin Street.

A charge of possession of drug paraphernalia filed by Tobias against Jocelyn Sherman, 21, of 1109 W. Arch St., Apt. B, Coal Township, in connection with the same incident was withdrawn after Elliot admitted to police that all the drug paraphernalia in the case belonged to him.

CLEVELAND TOWNSHIP - Residents living in the R2 Residential Medium Density District fighting against proposed chicken barns will no longer appeal the zoning hearing board's approval due to the excessive costs they will incur if they continue.

In response, Joel and Sarah Knoebel, the couple planning to build the barns, have dropped the lawsuit against the 57 residents and will no longer be seeking a $151,100 bond from them, said attorney Joseph C. Michetti, who is representing the residents.

Thomas Lucid, of 24 Wynn School Road, who has been leading the charge with his wife, Johanna, to prevent any Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in the district, said Monday the lack of appeals doesn't mean he and the other residents are done fighting.

"We're not quitting on this thing. If it involves legal measures, we'll consider it," he said.

He doesn't expect any movement from Knoebel in relation to building the barns until next year.

The Knoebels, of 110 Center School Road, are the owners of Cleveland Pork, a five-year-old pork producing operation contracted with County View Family Farms, Middletown.

They were given permits to build two 43-by-500-foot poultry barns along Wynn School Road on part of a 76-acre tract of land in February, but the residents appealed their permits in March, saying building a CAFO would be detrimental to their health, quality of life and property value.

If the Knoebels build their barns, Lucid said he would be forced to moved because of his health.

"We're trying to live peacefully here and enjoy our retirement. I can't stay here," he said.

However, the Knoebels say the zoning process has cost them income and the ability to expand their agriculture business, and call the residents' case "frivolous," because the property is in a R2 Residential Medium District zone, which allows for conditional use of agriculture and horticulture.

Knoebel did not return a call Monday or Tuesday for comment.

Lucid is critical of the township zoning hearing board, saying they are not concerned with maintaining quality of life, water sources and air.

Six-figure bond

Last month, Columbia County Judge Gary E. Norton ordered Michetti and attorney Lloyd Hampton, who is representing the Knoebel, to transcribe testimony from the zoning hearing board meeting to be entered into the record for the appeals process by July 8.

Since Knoebel dropped the suit, the case is no longer moving forward.

The six-figure bond was determined by how much the barns could make Knoebel and how much he is losing from not selling chicken manure. The bond also takes into account increased costs, attorney fees and miscellaneous and incidental costs, including lost interest.

The Knoebels already operate two CAFOs on their 600 acres of property in the region: a 4,500-pig farm located on their home property, approximately three miles east of the R2 District, which is operated under Cleveland Pork; and a 2,200-pig farm located in Irish Valley, operated under the name RK Farms Inc.

Since last year

The battle began in April 2012 when the Knoebels spread manure on farmland surrounding Wynn School, Middle and Polk roads. Residents complained about the "overwhelming" stench and expressed concerns about their health.

Residents have been pushing for the Cleveland Township supervisors to pass an amendment to the zoning ordinance that would limit large-scale animal farms in a residential district. It would ban against a CAFO from exceeding 100 livestock animals within 500 yards of a residential dwelling in the R2 district.

HARRISBURG - State Senator John Gordner (R-27) is confident that the Central Susquehanna Valley Thruway (CSVT) will be a reality, despite snags to pass the bill that would have provided the majority of the funding for its construction.

When asked about the funding and the thruway's future, Gordner said Monday persistence will win out, noting the press conference he called on April 3 and the amount of support there was for the $558 million project.

"I believe in getting out in front of an issue that is important to my legislative district," Gordner said. "The flood control project in Mount Carmel did not happen in a day or a year. The Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area did not happen in a day or a year. I remain optimistic that we will pass a transportation funding plan in the near future that exceeds the $1.6 billion proposed by Gov. Corbett."

Funding issues

The 13-mile road and bridge project, expected to take 10 years to construct, would help alleviate congestion on the Routes 11 and 15 "strip" between Selinsgrove and Shamokin Dam and Route 147 in the Northumberland area.

Gordner said the Senate passed the bill for it on June 5, but the House did not pass it before they left for a session break in July.

If there had been more time, he said, the bill might have passed.

"I believed that there was substantial progress made on the issue, and the Senate bill was amended and reported out of the House Transportation Committee on June 27," he said.

The senator said that everything was going the right way with everyone doing their part, including the governor, who proposed the plan in February, PennDOT Secretary Barry Schoch, who traveled the state in support, and the state Senate, which approved a $2.5 billion plan with bipartisan support.

From there, Gordner said, it began to unravel slightly when the transportation bill became intertwined with a plan to privatize the state's liquor industry.

"I was disappointed that labor ended up quietly urging House Democratic members to not support the transportation bill in hopes of 'killing' the liquor privatization bill," he said.

Many have called for the General Assembly to go in to a special session in order to pass the bill, but Gordner doesn't feel it is necessary.

"I'm not a fan of special sessions, because the General Assembly can do everything in a regular session that we can do in a special session," he said.

Money committed

While Corbett set a goal to pass the privatization bills and transportation bills for July 1, the only thing they were required to do was pass a budget, which was accomplished.

The increase in funding would come by phasing out a cap on a wholesale fuel tax over the next five years, generating $2 billion a year for highways, bridges, mass transit and other transportation programs.

The CSVT has already received a $150 million commitment from the federal Appalachian Regional Commission.

"Senate Bill 1 would provide funding to not only the CSVT, but to more than 100 other bridge and road projects in the Northumberland County area over the next 10 years, reaching into every corner and municipality, at a cost of less than $3 a week for the average driver."

Gordner looks at the transportation bill as a "health and safety issue" that will provide jobs.

"Pennsylvania leads the nation in structurally deficient bridges with more than 4,400 of them," Gordner said. "The bill will also lead to 50,000 jobs over the next 10 years and will help a segment of the economy that has seen a 20 percent unemployment rate."

Still, despite the fact that the plan has not been passed yet, the senator said he doesn't regret calling that April press conference, to show the need for it.

"When you know that your area has the biggest single project in the state in a plan like that, you need to jump out in front in support of it or risk losing the monies associated with it to other areas of the state that want projects more and are willing to support them," he said.

Reminder to parents about buses

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area School District reminds parents who have changed addresses, sitters or day-care providers to notify the district of the changes as soon as possible.

Those who have made changes over the summer months may require a new bus stop, and changes requested to close to the start of the school year may not take immediate effect.

Parents are asked to stop by any district office and fill out a change of address form. Forms also are available on the district website at www.indians.k12.pa.us under the "business office" tab: click on "documents and forms" and "parent forms" to find the change of address file. Parents can also call 648-5752 or send requests to Transportation, Shamokin Area School District, 2000 W. State St., Coal Township 17866.

Players welcome for horseshoe benefit

UPPER AUGUSTA TOWNSHIP - The public is welcome to take part in the seventh annual Randy "Ziggy" Zigarski Horseshoe Tournament, set for Saturday, Aug. 17, at Nikomahs Campground off Mile Post Hill Road.

Proceeds benefit a memorial scholarship in Zigarski's name awarded through Mount Carmel Area High School.

Cost is $10 per person. Both players from the top three teams receive trophies.

There will be concessions and DJ FC Sounds is donating its services.

Registration ends at noon and play begins at 1 p.m.