Spell check

OK, let me get this straight. The Mount Carmel teachers say, "If you can read, thank a teacher" but they also say, "If you can't read, your parents aren't helping you enough at home." So they want to take all the credit for teaching the kids when they do well, but put the blame on the parents when the test scores are low. That doesn't seem fair.

No fair

I disagree with Rep. Masser. A one-half percent surcharge to homeowners for blight control is unfair. As a homeowner, I worked hard to buy my home, to maintain my home and pay my taxes diligently. Any fee on my property is not fair. Enough already.

Health crimes

When it becomes a crime to not buy health insurance, do you think insurance companies will have any motivation to keep costs low? What are you going to do, not buy it? Boy, I am glad Democrats are protecting us from big business.

Summertime blues

I can't believe the greed the Mount Carmel teachers are showing by picketing the school board. I have an option for them if they want to make extra money: Why don't they get a job during the summer like everybody else?

Cracked up

This is for the Mount Carmel Area teachers. They only work eight months a year and all they do is whine over getting new contracts and raises. There are a lot of other jobs that are equal to or more important than theirs.

Fooled twice

A recent caller questioned why Sen. Cruz is so stupid as to think that Obama would sign a bill to repeal his own Obamacare. My question is, how is it that the American people were so stupid as to elect this bum for a second term?

Make it the best

The Shamokin-Coal Township Public Library is having its annual fund drive, and I would like to encourage everybody to donate to the library. Let's make this the best year ever.

Get with it

The Republicans in Congress are not shutting down the government. All they are doing is stopping funding for Obamacare. Everything else will pass. Start getting educated, whoever is calling these calls in everyday about the Republicans. It is Obama who will shut down the government and blame it on the Republicans.

No need

So Rep. Masser wants to tax my insurance bill a few dollars so he can give it away to people like the guy in Kulpmont who doesn't want to pay for insurance to clean up his mess. I don't need to pay extra taxes so you guys can give it away to people who aren't smart enough to take care of their own home insurance. Frog's take: For the record, the money wouldn't go to individuals; it would go to municipalities to clean up the mess left by those individuals.

SUNBURY - Barbara Shipman, of Lower Augusta Township, escaped serious injury Thursday morning when a large oak tree, estimated to be at least 70 feet tall, fell on her Subaru Outback while she was driving on Boyer Hill Road in Upper Augusta Township near Brumbaugh Auction.

The tree trunk appeared to be rotten.

While it was a case of bad timing, it was also a case of good luck for Shipman: the two main stems of the tree fell on either side of the driver's compartment. One heavily damaged the hood; the other flattened the driver's side rear corner of the car.

Shipman, who was reportedly on her way to work at Shikellamy School District, crawled out of the passenger side.

The highway was closed for five hours because the tree and car blocked the entire road. PennDOT crews used chainsaws to cut the large tree into pieces for removal.

Shipman, contacted Thursday afternoon after her release from a local hospital, did not want to comment on her harrowing experience.

State police at Stonington investigated but had not issued a report as of Thursday evening.

EAST CAMERON TOWNSHIP - A lawsuit over revenue generated from land use on Boyer's Knob in Northumberland County was moved to federal court Tuesday.

In court documents obtained from the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Louis V. Santoriello, of 11241 SW 25th Court, Davie, Fla., is alleging that James P. Bridy, of 616 Virginia Park Drive, Laguna Beach, Calif., owes him a portion of $18,000 generated from a lease of $1,000 per month for an emergency services tower on 186 acres of property owned by both individuals.

Santoriello is also asking the courts to partition the property equally between them.

Bridy acquired the parcel of land with his brother, Edward Bridy, from the estate of Ellen M. Bridy. In January 2010, Edward Bridy executed a deed in favor of John A. Santoriello, Louis's son, and then John Santoriello executed a deed to Louis V. Santoriello in August 2012, according to court documents.

Louis V. Santoriello and Bridy are tenants in common, Santoriello said in court documents.

According to Santoriello, neither he nor his father have ever received any revenue from the tower lease despite making reasonable efforts to do so.

The property also has the potential for additional income sources, he said in court documents.

Santoriello is represented by attorney Matthew Slivinski, of Selinsgrove; Bridy is represented by attorney David C. Shipman, of Williamsport.

In other court documents, Shipman and Bridy argue that because Santoriello is asking for the land to be divided between the two parties, the amount in question clearly exceeds $75,000. Therefore, they say, the lawsuit should be moved to federal court.

HERNDON - The Line Mountain Council for the Arts and Humanities will present a unique performance at the Line Mountain High School, Route 225, at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15.

A newly refurbished Steinway Grand piano has been anxiously awaiting its return to the newly renovated school. Due to renovations, the dedication for this instrument had been postponed. Now, the arts council's completion of its Ebony and Ivory project will result in a combination dedication of the grand piano and annual Christmas concert entitled "Ebony and Ivory - A Christmas Dedication."

The doors will open to the public at 2 p.m., and a question and answer period will be conducted by restorers William Koble and Nathan Baldwin at 2:30 p.m. The concert will begin at 3 p.m. with remarks by Superintendent David Campbell, representative Judith White and Elinor Spotts, the only locally living relative of Helen B. Spotts, the music teacher who spearheaded the move to purchase the grand piano in 1965.

As per past tradition, a mass community chorus will present inspirational holiday music under the direction of White, voice professor at Susquehanna University. The chorus will be joined by local pianists. Each pianist will perform in their own style.

The tentative rehearsal schedule is 7 p.m., Oct. 24, Nov. 7 and Nov. 21; 1 and 2 p.m., Dec. 1, and noon and 7 p.m. Dec. 12.

With the exception of Dec. 12, all the preliminary rehearsals will be held at St. Paul's United Church of Christ, 1473 Urban Road, Herndon. The location of the Dec. 12. rehearsal will be announced at a later time.

Individuals who wish to participate in the chorus or who seek more information contact Jenny Snyder at 758-4010 or jensnyder@tds.net by Oct. 10.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP - A family of four was left homeless Thursday when fire destroyed a three-story residence and killed two dogs along Otto Station Road between Herndon and Dornsife.

Left homeless in the 5 p.m. blaze were Dale Rice, 42; his wife, Sara, 32, and their two children, Austin Romito, 13, and Emma Rice, 9, of 1104 Otto Station Road.

Flames were shooting out the back, side and front of the dwelling when firefighters arrived on scene. The fire was brought under control in about 30 minutes, but wasn't extinguished until 6:30 p.m.

Fire and emergency personnel from more than 10 communities battled the two-alarm blaze in a wooded area about a half mile from Grively Hill Road in this Northumberland County township.

Fortunately, members of the Rice family were together at a laundromat in Trevorton when the fire occurred. But two of their three dogs were found dead inside the home. Three cats are believed to have escaped injury.

At laundromat

"We got a phone call from my daughter's friend that our house was on fire while we were doing laundry in Trevorton," commented Dale Rice. "It's fortunate nobody was home."

An initial report broadcast by Northumberland County Communications Center indicated a 9-year-old child was unaccounted for and may have been trapped in the burning structure, but that report proved to be erroneous.

Breaker kicked twice

Rice said his family, who have lived in the home for about four years, doesn't have renter's insurance. Bob Wolfe, 65, of Dornsife, who has owned the house for five years, is insured.

Wolfe said a neighbor, Cynthia Witmer, contacted him about the fire. "It looks like the fire may have started in the kitchen area, but that hasn't been confirmed," Wolfe said. "The important thing is nobody got hurt. That was my main concern. Everything else can be replaced."

A very distraught Sara Rice said, "A breaker kicked twice in the kitchen in the morning within minutes, but I didn't think anything of it. My son went downstairs and flipped the breaker back on and power was restored."

She asked everyone to keep her family in their prayers as they deal with the horror of losing their home.

Herndon Assistant Fire Chief Ron Hinkley, who was in charge of firefighting efforts and was the first firefighter at the scene, stated, "We believe the fire may have originated in the rear near the kitchen because that entire area was engulfed in flames when I arrived. But we don't have a cause yet or an exact origin."

Hinkley said a state police fire marshal is expected to inspect the fire-ravaged building this morning.

Sara Rice said her family will be staying with her mother, Kimberly Schreiner, in Tower City.

Fire officials reported water pressure was not a problem in attacking the blaze from all angles. Multiple engines quickly arrived along the narrow, two-lane road leading to the home and a water pumping station was established at A&L Diesel at the intersection of Route 225 and the Herndon Bypass. Multiple tanker trucks transported water to the scene.

In addition to Herndon firefighters, fire and medical personnel from Dalmatia, Pillow, Trevorton, Sunbury, Hickory Corners, Lower Augusta Township, Klingerstown, Lower Mahanoy Township, Millersburg, Berrysburg and Hummels Wharf responded to the call.

The scene was cleared at 7:30 p.m.

SHAMOKIN - Luzerne County Community College (LCCC) President Tom Leary met recently with Our Lady of Lourdes Regional students while visiting the local campus.

He met with students who participate in the Young Scholars Program to explain the advantages of attending LCCC, the transfer process of credits they have already earned while in high school, and the articulation program which, in many chosen fields, allows them to transfer as juniors to a baccalaureate program after completing an associate degree program at the community college.

"These students have been an asset to our campus and it has allowed them to experience college life," said Nicole Edmonson, LCCC Northumberland County site director. "The early college program is not only affordable for high school students, but there is the added bonus of utilizing the Goldman Sachs Scholarship, further decreasing student costs."

WILLIAMSPORT - While the two sides settled the issue weeks ago, a filing in federal court Wednesday officially dismissed Northumberland County Commissioner Stephen Bridy from a lawsuit over the limits on public comment at county commissioners meetings.

A stipulation for voluntary dismissal was filed in U.S. District Court, Williamsport, removing Bridy from a suit filed by William R. Knapick Sr., of Coal Township, against the county, and commissioners Bridy and Vinny Clausi over the time limit given for public comment at the meetings.

Knapick filed the suit in March after a January meeting when Clausi imposed a two-minute limit on public comment without a vote or receiving approval from the other commissioners.

When Knapick spoke at the meeting, he was only given 90 seconds before being cut off by Clausi. David Kaleta, a member of the public, was cut off at the same meeting after 65 seconds.

In August, Knapick and his attorneys, Timothy Bower and Kymberley Best, informed the media that the two sides had settled the case for $4,250 in attorney fees and a change in the policy.

The commissioners then voted to approve the settlement and voted to limit public comment to three minutes on a 2-0 vote with Clausi and Bridy voting yes and commissioner Rick Shoch abstaining.

Bowers said Thursday he expects to file the settlement documents soon.

HARRISBURG - The launch date for the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) School Performance Profile (SPP) was moved from Monday to Friday, Oct. 4.

Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit (CSIU) public relations manager Jennifer Spotts said she did not know why the date was delayed, but guessed it had something do with school districts being given the opportunity to review their data so they can recheck the elements before it goes public.

Spotts was part of a media conference Wednesday at the CSIU in Milton where chief academic officer Amy C. Morton explained how the new grading system will work.

The SPP will provide educators, parents and the public with comprehensive evaluations of each building in the districts based on academic achievement, academic growth and other factors associated with public education.

The new profiles replace the previous standard known as AYP, or adequate yearly progress, which was based solely on student math and reading scores. Pennsylvania is no longer required to use that benchmark since receiving a waiver from the federal No Child Left Behind law.

Each district will be given a score between zero and 100. The evaluation score will be made up of 40 percent academic achievement, 5 percent achievement gap in all students, 5 percent achievement gap in historically under performing students, 40 percent in academic growth and 10 percent other academic indicators.

Approximately 90 percent of the data, which was provided to the state by the school districts, will be based on 2012-13 school year test scores while other data such as graduation and attendance rates will be based on the 2011-12 school year.

Scores for all 3,200 traditional, charter, cyber and technical schools in the state will be available online beginning Friday, Oct. 4, at www.pde.state.pa.us.

Author signing books at festival

ELYSBURG - Paxinos author KristaLyn Vetovich will be signing copies of her book "Pure Fyre" at the Covered Bridge and Arts Festival at Knoebels Amusement Resort.

Vetovich's novel, her fifth in her literary career, depicts the power of a dream and the story of Spyre and his quests. She will be signing books from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, through Saturday, Oct. 5, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 6.

Salvation Army needs donations

SHAMOKIN - The Salvation Army, 1300 W. Spruce St., is in need of food and is looking for donations from the public.

Non-perishable items such as canned vegetables, boxed mashed potatoes and canned tuna are needed.

For more information or to arrange a pick-up time, call Brian Persing at (850)847-2479.

Church bazaar planned

SHAMOKIN - First United Methodist Church will hold its fall bazaar from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 12, at Sunbury and Ninth streets.

Breakfast will be served, and holiday crafts, baked goods, whoopie pies, dog bones and soups to go (chicken noodle and ham and bean) will be available. Additional baked goods will also be available downtown.

Bible study set for Monday

SHAMOKIN - A Bible study will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at Janie's Cafe Coffee House, 615 N. Shamokin St. For more information, call 648-5297.

Northumberland County Coroner James F. Kelley believes his deputies deserve full-time benefits because of their pressing and unpredictable work schedules that require them to be on call "24-7."

But county commissioners Stephen Bridy and Vinny Clausi claim deputy coroners have been receiving health care insurance and other benefits "illegally" since 1998, when the county salary board agreed to split a full-time deputy position into two part-time posts.

The deputy status dispute builds upon the discord between the two commissioners and Kelley that surged this fall following the row-office salary cuts and subsequent lawsuit by those affected, including Kelley.

Part vs. full

Chief deputy coroner James R. Gotlob of Sunbury receives a salary of $14,762 plus annual medical benefits valued at $13,653. Deputy coroner Barry J. Leisenring of the Winfield area earns $9,305 plus $523 in medical benefits and $900 for a partial insurance waiver.

Kelley considers Gotlob a full-time employee even though county human resources director Joseph Picarelli confirmed Friday that Gotlob and Leisenring are both part time, at least according to county records.

During a campaign interview, Kelley said despite the part-time designation for Leisenring, it's only "on paper" to help save the county money in regards to state regulations. And he said Gotlob's designation as full-time is important in that he would acquire the coroner title should something happen to Kelley.

Plus, he said offering health care benefits to deputy coroners is in line with the county's long-standing effort to compensate for lower pay compared to the private sector by offering better benefits. He said he and the deputies deserve health care coverage, too, for jobs in which they are exposed to dead bodies and the risk of AIDS, hepatitis and other diseases, and do a lot of heavy lifting.

Clausi, who claims benefits valued at more than $500,000 have been received by deputy coroners since 1998, has threatened to eliminate the benefits come Jan. 1 because of the part-time designation.

Bridy said he is still researching the issue to determine how far back full-time benefits have been given to part-time employees. In addition to the deputy coroners, Bridy said at least one other current part-time employee may have received full-time benefits, but he declined to identify the employee until he completes more research.

'Part-time' by 1998 motion

According to county records obtained by The News-Item, a motion was unanimously approved by the salary board Feb. 3, 1998, to eliminate the full-time position of deputy coroner and create two part-time deputies. The motion passed following a recommendation by then-county coroner Richard Ulrich to have the part-time deputies receive benefits. But there is no mention in the motion about benefits.

Kelley, after catching wind of Bridy and Clausi's concerns during the final weeks of the election campaign, issued a press release Nov. 6 attempting to clarify information being "circulated" by the commissioners.

"The deputy coroner positions within the coroner's office have been termed part-time positions with full-time medical benefits. The implication that the deputies in the office are part time is false," he wrote. "The individuals appointed to these positions are on call 24 hours per day, seven days per week. They must be readily available to answer emergency calls when needed, then be dispatched to the required location in their coverage area, as quickly as possible.

"These positions were properly and legally created by the county salary board many years ago before my onset as coroner."

Kelley said it is "impossible" to conceive that Clausi and Bridy would expect the deputy positions to be anything but full time.

He said Clausi and Bridy would have people believe the deputies are the only positions structured in this manner, but that it applies as well to solicitor for the board of commissioners, a position held by Frank W. Garrigan.

"Attorney Garrigan does not by any means function in a typical 9 to 5 job. Using Clausi's and Bridy's own logic, Mr. Garrigan's position would be 'part-time' in nature, rather than anything else," Kelley said. "I'm sure Attorney Garrigan would disagree."

Picarelli said Garrigan, who receives a salary of $43,597, is listed as a full-time employee and receives annual benefits valued at $18,052.

'Bashing' hard workers

Kelley described the entire matter as more "political rhetoric" on the part of Clausi and Bridy.

"Instead of concentrating on important issues that directly impact the residents of our county, they prefer to grasp at any political club with which to bash my office and its hard-working employees," he said in the release.

He added, "Under the guise of saving taxpayer money, Clausi and Bridy are only concerned with furthering discord in Northumberland County government. Obviously, their own personal agendas are at the forefront of their actions, not the interests of the people they were elected to serve.

"It would be my strong suggestion that prior to casting aspersions in my direction, they understand the facts and first look to their own office."

Pay 50 percent

Bridy acknowledged the motion passed 15 years ago is not definitive in regard to benefits, but said since benefits weren't included in the wording of the motion, it means they weren't approved.

He said since the deputies are part-time employees, they shouldn't receive full-time benefits unless they pay 50 percent toward the county's cost for health care, in accordance with the county code. He said Gotlob and Leisenring do not contribute 50 percent.

The commissioner, who noted Kelley was a deputy coroner when the motion was passed in 1998 to create two part-time deputy coroners, said just because coroner staff are on call "24-7" doesn't mean they are full-time employees. "The commissioners also are on call '24-7," said Bridy, who doesn't consider his position full time.

The Oct. 1 vote to lower row officer salaries, approved by Clausi and Bridy and rejected by Commissioner Richard Shoch, included a vote to cut the commissioners' salaries from $61,000 to $31,000, but it won't take effect until after the 2015 election.

"I believe the deputy coroners have been receiving benefits illegally since 1998," Bridy reiterated.

In regard to Kelley's comments, Bridy said, "It's awfully funny that Mr. Kelley issued a press release a day after the election instead of before the election. It appears to me he feels guilty about something."

'Party's over'

Bridy said the county should have a "blanket benefit policy" for all part-time employees.

Clausi said Kelley "should know better."

"They have to stop manipulating the system; the party is over," he said.

He said the issue will be dealt with at the start of the new year.

"They will no longer receive full-time benefits at the taxpayers' expense," Clausi said.

Kelley, a Coal Township resident, has served as coroner since 2002 and worked as a deputy coroner for 12 years before that.

He was among four county row officers to file a civil lawsuit against Clausi, Bridy, Shoch and the county for lowering their salaries between 42 and 48 percent and increasing their contributions to health care to 50 percent of the county's cost. Kelley's salary would be cut from $53,834 to $30,500, effective Jan. 1.

But the row officers, through argument by their attorney Samuel C. Stretton of West Chester, were granted a temporary injunction Nov. 8 by Centre County Senior Judge David E. Grine that "freezes" the salary and health care changes until further action by the court.

SHAMOKIN - The city has surpassed last year's haul collected from its parking meters.

A total of $91,835.36 was collected through Friday, according to Police Chief Ed Griffiths. That's $7,630.01 more than the $84,205.35 motorists dropped into the meters in all of 2012.

City council purchased 600 new meter mechanisms in 2012, financed on a five-year loan of $100,901 at 3.591 percent interest. They were installed last fall, accompanied by a rate change that cut meter times in half: A quarter now buys 30 minutes at some meters and 60 minutes at others.

It was estimated by City Clerk Steve Bartos that the new meters and adjusted rates would yield up to $120,000 annually, about $30,000 more than what had been collected from the old mechanisms in recent years.

Some of the old electronic meters, refurbished models about 15 years old, frequently faltered by "eating" coins and shortchanging motorists. That lead to complaints levied at the police department and city hall. The new models are working near flawlessly and complaints are virtually nil, Griffiths said.

The meters log the previous 250 transactions, including how much money was inserted and at what time. If they go out-of-order, that's logged too, allowing officers to check the validity of any reported complaints. They have an estimated lifespan of 10 years.

Lisa (Berkoski) Zaleski, of Waunakee, Wis., has successfully completed all requirements to earn her nurse practitioner certification.

Zaleski is a 1983 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Wilkes University and a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of San Francisco in California.

She is a daughter of John and Donna Yodis, of Bethel, and the late Charlie Berkoski, who was Northumberland County sheriff. She is also a granddaughter of the late Joe and Shirley Puceta, and Olga and Stanley Berkoski, of Atlas.

She is employed by St. Mary's Hospital in Wisconsin as a critical care nurse.

She is married to Ron Zaleski, and the mother of three children, Ronald, Olivia and Madalyne.

ASHLAND - Ashland Borough Council accepted the letter of retirement from police Chief Adam J. Bernodin Jr. during Wednesday's meeting that will lead to the first change in the lead law enforcement position in more than two decades.

Bernodin, 59, who has been police chief for 22 years, will end his 39-year career as an Ashland police officer Dec. 27. His retirement is required since he won a seat on borough council in the general election on Nov. 5.

"On Oct. 12, 1974, I came to Ashland as a part-time officer hired under Chief Art Flanagan," said Bernodin at the police station Thursday. "On Jan. 8, 1975, I became a full-time officer. I became chief in September 1991 and I've held it since."

After graduating from Mount Carmel Area High School, Bernodin attended Harrisburg Area Community College, where he earned a two-year degree in police administration/police science. He was hired as a part-time police officer at Hershey Estates and worked there until he was hired by Ashland.

"Hershey Estates has its own police to cover the park," said Bernodin. "And while I was here in Ashland, I ended up working in Butler Township and Centralia, and now Ringtown."

Bernodin plans to continue as a part-time patrolman in Ringtown, where he has served five years.

Borough council also accepted the retirement letter of meter officer Susan Jones, effective Nov. 30.

In other business

Borough council adopted an ordinance making the intersection of Walnut and 15th streets a four-way stop. A traffic study was conducted in the area and it was determined to add stop signs on Walnut Street at 15th Street for eastward and westward directions. Stop signs are currently on 15th Street for northbound and southbound traffic.

Borough Manager Raymond Jones Jr. said the stop signs will be placed in a week or so. Drivers are reminded to stay alert with the change.

Borough council acted on the following agenda items:

- Approved a tax anticipation loan of $100,000 from M&T Bank at an interest rate of 2.75 percent. Ashland and many other municipalities obtain such loans in order to have funds to pay salaries and other expenses in the first three months until tax revenue begins to come in.

- Approved a resolution to comply with the Professional Services Contract Provisions of Act 44 of 2009, which requires each municipal pension system to develop procedures related to contracts for the provision of professional services, including investment services, legal services, real estate services and other consulting services.

- Approved a resolution for municipal adoption of the Schuylkill County Hazard Mitigation Plan, which was recently updated. The plan, which had been last updated in 2007, included to better prepare for winter storms, floods, hurricanes and droughts. The updated plan now includes plans to deal with blight and nuclear power plant failure.

- Received a letter from Mi-Jo Pallet Company Inc., Ashland, requesting the borough to vacate (abandon) a dedicated paper street on the west side of the company's property. The paper street has never been opened. The request has been passed to borough solicitor James Diehl for review. Neighbors will be contacted if there are any objections.

- Gave permission to Jones to advertise the proposed Service Electric Cablevision franchise agreement. The renewed franchise agreement has a term of 10 years with a five percent franchise fee.

- Gave permission for a parade to honor the Ashland Black Diamond football teams at 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17.

Prior to the meeting, the council held a public hearing for funding to develop three homes at the vacant lot at 711, 715 and 719 Centre Street through Schuylkill Community Action.

"We held it as required to get public input," said Jones. "We're just getting this started. The budget is not even close to being complete. We're not sure yet if the three homes will be rental or sale."

There was no public comment during the hearing.

Jones said the 2014 operating budget will be tentatively adopted at a special meeting, though a date has not be set.

STONINGTON - An engineering firm from the Allentown area that specializes in power line regulations has contacted Shamokin Township solicitor James Bathgate about possible work for the township.

The firm, which supervisors did not identify at their meeting Wednesday night, would conduct a review of all power lines on township land and report any power line violations to the board.

Currently, all compliance issues dealing with power lines are governed by the Pennsylvania Utilities Commission (PUC). Bathgate said that because of the PUC's limited resources, it is unable to check every power line in the state. In order to hire the firm to do a review, the township would need to adopt a new ordinance that would allow it to directly enforce power line regulations against PPL. Bathgate said such an ordinance could generate revenue for the township through fines, which would be assessed for every day a power line on township property remains out of compliance.

The township would also have minimal expense with hiring the firm because it would only be paid if and when a violation was found as well as when fine monies were received. The township would receive 50 percent of all fine monies, 35 percent would be paid to the engineering firm, and 15 percent would be paid to the township's legal counsel, which would be responsible for collecting fine monies, setting up an escrow account to deposit funds, managing the account and ensuring monies are paid to the township and the engineering firm correctly.

Tom Carl, chairman, stated that although this would be a way to increase township revenue and that it sounds enticing, he is concerned how that would affect a positive working relationship with PPL. Carl said that he would like to have discussions with other municipalities that adopted similar ordinances to gain insight into how it is working for those municipalities.

Supervisors Carl, Greg Rahau and John Klinger said they are more concerned about the safety issues for the citizens if there were power lines out of compliance, and for the safety reason, all three supervisors voted to allow Bathgate to begin work on an ordinance to be discussed further at the next meeting.

Insurance claim procedures

The board of supervisors will continue to manage the insurance policy and will make all decisions of when to submit a claim. A recent incident where Stonington Fire Company filed a property damage claim without the township's approval raised the issue. A resulting memorandum of understanding would deal directly with the procedure of how an insurance claim would be submitted to the insurance carrier. Although the memorandum of understanding was not voted on Wednesday, it was made clear that the board will make such decisions. It was also stated that the particular department that has the insurance claim would be responsible for paying the deductible on those claims. Currently, the township pays for the insurance that covers the township and the Shamokin Township Municipal Authority, as well as the Stonington Volunteer Fire Company.

In other business, any citizen having a question related to flood insurance and ways to potentially decrease flood insurance costs can contact the township office for further information.

LEWISBURG - Nominations are open for the SUN Area Chapter of the American Red Cross eighth annual Heroes Breakfast, which will be held at 7:30 a.m. Friday, March 21, at Country Cupboard Restaurant.

Following a brief introduction and video presentation, this year's SUN Area Heroes will receive their awards. The heroes awards honor people from all walks of life who have made significant contributions in service to their communities.

Companies, organizations and individuals are invited to nominate a hero. Nomination forms can be acquired by calling the office at 570-524-0400 extension 1602.

Heroes are selected from the following categories: community impact, law enforcement, military, fire/safety, pet hero, good samaritan and youth good samaritan.

The Dr. Charles P. Fasano, D.O., Memorial Award is also awarded for medical heroism each year.

The concept for the heroes breakfast grew from a desire to develop an event that is closely related to the mission of the American Red Cross: teaching people to save lives.

"Heroes are those folks we encounter every day, going about the business of serving their communities in so many ways." said chapter executive Tom Szulanczyk. "We want to honor them publicly to say thanks and also to allow others to see and emulate their good works."

Nominations are open until Jan. 30. For more information, call 570-524-0400, Ext. 1602 or go to www.redcross.org.

SUNBURY - Civil War reenactors Barry and Faye Stocker, of Klingerstown, will be the featured speakers at a meeting of the Northumberland County Historical Society to take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, at the Hunter House, 1150 N. Front St.

The Stockers will present a program, "A Civil War Thanksgiving," which details the history of Thanksgiving and how it became a national holiday during the Civil War in 1863, thanks to the efforts of President Abraham incoln.

The editor of "Godey's Ladies Book," Sarah Hale, solicited Lincoln's support in making the last Thursday of November the day that Thanksgiving would be observed across the nation. She felt strongly that it was important to make this designation at a time when the country was divided in its views on slavery.

Thanksgiving did not become a national holiday in the United States until the fall of 1863, when Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring that the last Thursday in November would be a day of national thanksgiving. Prior to that, each state was permitted to choose the date that it would celebrate Thanksgiving.

Barry and Faye Stocker moved to Klingerstown from the Allentown area more than 10 years ago. They have been active with various Civil War reenacting groups, doing school programs and public events since 1995.

The program is open to the public and free of charge. It will be the last public program for 2013.

Programs will resume on Thursday, March 20, when John Moore will present one on the construction of Fort Augusta and the fort's first several years of activity.

A reception will follow the Stockers' presentation. For more information, call 570-286-4083.

WILLIAMSPORT - Court documents filed last week break Line Mountain School District's silence in the federal lawsuit filed by the parents of a female student who has been told she can't participate in the district's all-male wrestling program.

In statements, Superintendent Dave Campbell, three board members and two wrestling coaches say they are protecting seventh-grade student Audrianna Beattie and male athletes from potentially awkward situations and sexual contact during wrestling practices and matches, psychological scarring and inevitable injury and defeat of female wrestlers.

Brian and Angie Beattie, parents of Audrianna, filed the lawsuit last month in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania on behalf of their daughter who was not allowed on the wrestling program because it's gender-specific.

Safety a priority

The district's 65-page response was filed Nov. 8 by attorney Chris Conrad, of Marshall Dennehey Warner Coleman & Goggin in Camp Hill.

In the documents, Campbell said the safety and welfare of district students are the administrators' top priority.

"Under tort principles of negligence, educators owe students a duty to anticipate foreseeable dangers and to take reasonable steps to protect those students from that danger," he said. "To this end, educators owe the same degree of care and supervision to their students that reasonable and prudent parents would employ in the same circumstances for their children."

As superintendent, a former wrestling coach and a father of four athletic girls, Campbell said it is in the best interest of all involved to avoid potential and foreseeable "social, mental and moral dilemmas as a result of daily practices given the clear anatomical differences between adolescent males and females."

Board President Troy Laudenslager - a father of two, a former wrestler and coach and a state wrestling champion - said educational opportunities must be provided in a safe environment free of sexual harassment and misconduct.

Due to the continual, close physical contact involved in wrestling, the activity merits separation between males and females, Laudenslager said.

"There are clear and present anatomical differences between males and females, especially when individuals reach the age of puberty," he said. "Therefore, in an effort to promote students safety, all students have an equal right to be protected from any undesired contact of sensual body parts from a person of the opposite sex."

By forcing students to wrestle co-ed, Laudenslager said those students would be required to "lower their moral standards and expose them to indecent contact from a member of the opposite sex."

Significant safety concerns also arise when people of the opposite sex in a different weight classes because one has a "superior size and strength," he said.

Changes in strength

Director Ron Neidig, elementary wrestling coach, said Audrianna is a dedicated wrestler who ended her season with a record of five wins and three losses.

However, he said, a match between her and a boy in her weight class who was clearly stronger and more physical did not end in her favor.

Although Audrianna was not seriously injured, Neidig said, "I could tell from her tears that she was in pain and emotionally hurt. The thought of knowing how bad this match could have turned out is sickening. My biggest concern with wrestling is making sure our children do not get injured, boy or girl."

In wrestling, Neidig said there is not a big weight difference between opponents, but boys tend to be stronger.

"In my personal experience, however, as children grow, boys become much stronger and more physical than girls and the risk for injury becomes higher for a girl when she wrestles a boy through junior high and high school," he said.

The district's stance is protecting male and female athletes from long-term "psychological ramifications," said Director Lauren Hackenburg, who has two sons on the wrestling team.

"By allowing a female on the male wrestling team, we could be promoting the onset of social phobias, which would have long term implications for the males and would wrestle a female and vice versa. This situation can create psychological confusion and stress," she said.

Close contact

Many of the wrestling moves involve close contact, which presents "real appreciable dilemmas well beyond mere inconvenience for the district," said Campbell.

If Audrianna is permitted to wrestle on the male team, the coaches and male students ranging in age from 12 to 15 will be forced to practice techniques with her that involved contact that is considered "immoral and possibly illegal, given that the participants are minors," Laudenslager said.

Campbell wonders: If a child refuses or the parents refuse to allow that child to practice these moves on the opposite sex, will that child be allowed to be a part of the team or will that child be penalized?

Laudenslager said, given the differing anatomical parts of boys and girls, co-ed participation would force all participants to "think it is acceptable for a person of the opposite sex to touch them in sensual areas and vice versa. If the physical contact of the opposite sex is undesired and felt to be morally unacceptable, an individual would be forced to lower their moral standards and be subjected to sexual harassment."

Co-ed wrestling would "not only provide an opportunity to illegally touch the sensual parts of the opposite sex, but an excuse," Laudenslager said.

Furthermore, he said, the inevitable contact with adult male coaches would be "inappropriate and illegal, especially with a minor."

"The environment would groom children into thinking contact with their sensual body parts by adults and other adolescents of the opposite sex is normal and just wrestling," Laudenslager said. "It would also facilitate an opportunity for contact to be taken to the next level without anyone being able to notice what is going on."

Such contact could be considered groping, sexual harassment or potentially deviate sexual intercourse if it is unwelcome or causes a sexual response for either person, he said.

Lainey Martz

While Audrianna participated in a youth wrestling program for students up to sixth grade, Campbell said the program was not a school-sponsored activity and the organization only used district facilities with its own rules and regulations.

Her concerned parents stated that "they felt without practice, she could lose out on potential college opportunities," Campbell said. "I specifically asked if they felt not competing against boys would have a negative impact for future opportunities of wrestling for a female collegiate team. They implied they were not sure."

He sent an e-mail to the Beatties in April asking if there was a possibility of another female student willing to wrestle in order to allow her a partner, but they never responded, he said.

"If there was truly an interest, the district would sponsor and maintain a female wrestling team, as was the case as recently as the 2006-07 wrestling season," Campbell said.

The district stated in the court documents that a female wrestler acted as a team manager and was allowed to participate on the boys team by taking forfeits at 103 pounds and to wrestle any female wrestlers at that weight class. She was not allowed to practice with the male wrestlers.

That wrestler was Lainey Martz, and according to The News-Item archives, she did wrestle a boy, and won. Martz pinned Pat Welker in 47 seconds during a match against archrival Upper Dauphin to win the Tri-Valley League championship in January 2007.

Girls' team?

The superintendent said Audrianna would still have opportunities outside the junior high wrestling team to practice, but the Beatties have not taken any steps to discuss alternative accommodations.

Head varsity wrestling coach Mark Martz, distantly related to Lainey, and head junior high wrestling coach Darin Keim said they are not comfortable demonstrating wrestling moves on a female participant and it would be inappropriate to supervise required showers after practices.

Martz said he is not against female participation if they have a female practice partner and only participate in women's wrestling tournaments.

"I do not want to lose male wrestlers from our team, and I have serious concerns that no one will want a female practice partner," he said. "Furthermore, this will be detrimental to the psyche of our male participants."

The situation will raise issues of sexual harassment, he said.

"The female and male physical body characteristics are very different and a female participant is in danger of getting physically hurt by a male participant," Martz said.

Keim said he's concerned about Audrianna being hurt.

"I think if she were to wrestle girls, the probability of injury would be lessened," Keim said.

Sex discrimination

The Beatties say the district is discriminating against their daughter on the basis of sex in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Equal Rights Amendment of the state constitution.

By denying the girl participation, they said she would have missed opportunities to practice and compete, which would cause her to fall behind in her development as a wrestler and prevent her from being able to compete in the future.

The district's brief in opposition, also filed Nov. 8, reiterates the points made by the Campbell, the school board directors and the coaches and states here is no merit in the temporary restraining order.

Nineteen cases were listed and described to support the district's defense.

The districts accused the Beatties of waiting until the eve of the wrestling season to file the action in order to manufacture a false sense of immediacy, urgency and irreparable harm if Audrianna is not allowed on the team.

A federal judge ruled Nov. 1 that Audrianna is allowed to participate in the wrestling program until the suit is settled. Campbell confirmed this week the district is following the order.

A hearing for preliminary injunction is set for 10 a.m. Wednesday in Courtroom 3 at the Herman T. Schneebeli Federal Building and United States Courthouse, 240 W. Third St., Williamsport, in front of U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann.

The News-Item requested a list of the costs associated with defending the lawsuit on Nov. 4 but received no response. Before the school board meeting Tuesday, Campbell passed the question onto Business Manager Phil Rapant, who in turn said the request was sent to solicitor Rich Roberts to determine whether the information could be released. Roberts was not at the meeting and could not be contacted Friday.

A Right to Know Request was submitted to Campbell, the district's RTK officer, at approximately 4 p.m. Friday. The district has five business days to respond to the request.

A Pennsylvania wrestling club says it has the only "intelligent, realistic and legally viable choice" in settling the dispute between the parents of a female teen wrestler and Line Mountain School District: establish a statewide female wrestling program.

Line Mountain can't make that happen. The Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association can.

The Pennsylvania Wrestling Club filed a motion to intervene Wednesday in the federal lawsuit, asking that a judge add it as a plaintiff and the PIAA as a defendant.

Brian and Angie Beattie, of Herndon, parents of seventh-grader Audrianna, filed suit against the school district last month after their daughter was barred from the gender-specific wrestling program. (See other story, Page 1.)

The Beatties want the court to force Line Mountain to allow Audrianna an opportunity to make the middle school wrestling team. The Pennsylvania Wrestling Club seeks that too on the basis of "Title IX" and the Ted Stevens Olympic and Amateur Sports Act. It also asks that the PIAA establish female wrestling programs in all state public school districts where male programs exist.

If a judge were to simply allow Audrianna to wrestle with males, she would be at increased risk of injury while she and her male competitors grow older and her competitors grow stronger, the motion states. Instead, a judge should order that PIAA establish programs for females.

Should a judge include the club and the PIAA in the suit and rule in the plaintiffs' favor, the club also asks that it be appointed to enforce the judgment.

Female wrestling programs are established in 26 other states including Hawaii, Texas and Oregon, according to the motion. It says the sport is the fastest growing for females over the past 20 years, from 804 to 8,727 participants.

Women began wrestling in the Olympics during the Athens games in 2004. Sara McMann, a Lock Haven alum, won a silver medal in Athens.

Audrianna Beattie moved with her parents in 2012 to Northumberland County from Iowa where she had been wrestling since the third grade. She wrestled last year along with boy's in Line Mountain's elementary program. The Pennsylvania Wrestling Club believes she has a "bona fide career in international and Olympic competition," according to the motion. Should the district prevent her from participating in the sport, it will derail her potential career and prevent the club from recruiting and training her when she turns 16 years old.

That Pennsylvania has a deep history with male wrestling but ignores the potential for females in the sport is a result of the "biases and prejudices deeply rooted historically and psychologically in the social mores and attitudes" of Central Pennsylvania, Doylestown attorney Lawrence Otter wrote in the motion on behalf of the club.

Central PA isn't alone in those biases, he argues, while providing some historical context in the club's lawsuit as to why he believes females have been dissuaded from wrestling. He says women had long participated and succeeded in the sport dating back to ancient times. That changed under Queen Victoria, the club's motion claims, who they say pushed the sport underground because of its carnal and physical nature, relegating men to compete in carnival sideshows and women during burlesque shows.

SUNBURY - Because of state fiscal concerns, the court vacancy that will occur in early January when Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage retires may not be filled until after the 2015 election.

Normally, such vacancies are filled when the governor nominates a judge, and the state Senate votes to confirm that choice. Following this scenario, Sacavage's successor would likely be appointed sometime in 2014 to fill the balance of the term that expires in early January 2016.

When asked Friday about the process for appointing an interim successor to Sacavage, however, Todd Roup, chief of staff to state Sen. John Gordner, said it is unclear when or whether any appointment will be made.

Roup explained Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald Castille and Gov. Tom Corbett previously agreed that, to save money, there should be a hold on interim judicial appointments, with senior judges being assigned to the respective counties to keep up with the caseload. It costs less to assign senior judges than to appoint new judges, Roup noted.

Since that policy was instituted, Roup noted, judges have been appointed and confirmed only in rare cases where county courts are experiencing a very high caseload, Since Corbett took office, Roup added, there have only been five county judges who were nominated and confirmed to fill vacancies, mainly in major metropolitan areas.

Currently, there are 18 vacant judgeships in county courts throughout the commonwealth, Roup noted. Northumberland County's will be the 19th.

"At this point, we will have to wait and see what the governor and chief justice decide as we begin discussing the state's new fiscal year," Roup said.

Castille was just retained by voters for another 10-year term. However, because he is 69 years old, he can only serve one more year of that term. The mandatory retirement age for judges is 70.

Normally, Roup said, the process for filling a court vacancy would involve the county bar association screening potential candidates and making a recommendation to the governor.

Roup confirmed Gordner's office has received some initial inquiries from attorneys about the vacancy. He declined to identify the attorneys or reveal how many called.

Reasons to retire

Sacavage, who was retained as judge in the 2005 election, didn't give a reason for retirement in his announcement Tuesday, but said by phone the next day there are several factors.

Most significant among them, he said, was that he had reached the magic number 80 - a combination of service time (18 years) and age (62) that makes him eligible to serve as a senior judge.

Citing the potential for rules to change about that service, he also noted the uncertainty created by the state pension crisis, and how that had a bearing, too. A third consideration, he said simply, is "it's time."

Community Thanksgiving service set

SHAMOKIN - The Shamokin Area Ministerium will hold a community Thanksgiving service from 6 to 7 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 24, in the Seventh Street Primitive Methodist Church, 34 N. Seventh St.

The Rev. Brian Betsworth, of Trinity Evangelical Comgregational Church, will be the speaker.

Also participating in the service are the Rev. Sam Bellavia, of Christian Missionary and Alliance Church; the Rev. Richard Earl, of Mountainside Assembly of God Church, and the Rev. David Wildoner, of Seventh Street Primitive Methodist Church.

A youth choir from Trinity Lutheran Church will provide music. Refreshments will be served after the service.

Benefit planned to help fire victims

SHAMOKIN - A $15 night to benefit two Coal Township people displaced by a fire last month will be from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, at the Knights of Columbus.

Proceeds from the event will help Antoinette Scicchitano and Bob Wheary, whose houses on Berry Street in Boydtown were destroyed by fire.

The price includes all you-can-eat food and drink. There will also be door prizes, 50/50 drawings and a Chinese auction. Some of the Chinese auction items are an iPad mini, Budweiser neon, Yuengling framed poster, gift certificates, Weis Markets $50 gift cards and a Harley Davidson leather coat hook.

Five bands will also perform:

6:30 p.m. - Bush Pounders

7:30 p.m. - Four Car Pile Up

8:30 p.m. - Warren Dane

9:30 p.m. - R.A.T.L.

10:30 p.m. - Dying To Live