SHAMOKIN - A 23-year-old former city man has been charged with raping a 14-year-old girl while she was helping him move in December.

Jacob Ryan Engle, of 149 E. Market St., Berrysburg, is accused of having sexual intercourse with the victim at his former residence on North Orange Street.

He is charged by Patrolman Raymond Siko II with felonies of rape, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, statutory sexual assault, sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault (two counts) and two misdemeanor counts of indecent assault.

During a June 23 interview with police and Child Advocate Center officials in Northumberland, the victim said Engle picked her up at her Snyder County home around Christmas time and took her to his home in Shamokin. Police said Engle was in the process of moving from Shamokin to Trevorton at the time.

The 14-year-old girl told police she was sitting in a chair after moving boxes when Engle touched her in a sexual manner.

The victim said she pushed Engle away. Engle became upset and started throwing boxes around, according to the victim.

After they loaded boxes into a car, Engle, who was in the driver's seat, looked at the victim and said, "You tell anyone, I'll kill you."

The girl said they then drove to Trevorton.

The victim said she didn't tell anyone about the incident because she was scared and concerned for a family member who was Engle's girlfriend.

The victim also said she had received text messages from Engle that she called "not normal."

During an interview with police Wednesday, Engle admitted fondling the victim and having sexual intercourse with her at his former Shamokin home. He said the victim tried to stop him, but he forced himself on her.

Engle said he texted the victim several times after the incident and asked her to go on a date, but she declined.

The defendant also told police he forced the victim to perform oral sex while he was driving to his new home in Berrysburg and that he engaged in sexual intercourse with the girl in a portable toilet in the Herndon area.

Engle told police he went to counseling after the two incidents because his actions bothered him.

Engle was placed under arrest following the interview and transported to a holding cell at Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury. He was arraigned by video at 9:30 a.m. Thursday by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III and committed to jail in lieu of $50,000 cash bail.

He is scheduled to appear for a preliminary hearing before Gembic Tuesday, July 29.

Siko said Northumberland County District Attorney Ann Targonski, Northumberland County Children and Youth Services and Child Advocate Center officials assisted with the investigation.

Chuck wagon repaired

SHAMOKIN - God's Chuck Wagon mobile soup kitchen is repaired and will operate again Monday in Mount Carmel and Kulpmont. The Rev. James Bowers thanked the following for their donations: Mike Morris, Jones Enterprise of Burnside, Jason Kurtz, Roy Adams and Son Inc., and Gary Reidinger of Reidinger Trucking Co. A $5 night will be held from 9 p.m. to midnight today at the Independence Fire Co., Market and Arch streets, in support of the chuck wagon.

Meeting to help families of addicts set

ATLAS - Save Our Families, a meeting for relatives of drug addicts, will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at the Addiction Help Center, Route 61, near the viaduct.

SUNBURY - The family of a Northumberland County Prison inmate is at odds with the warden on the handling of parole paperwork.

Bill Portzline, 27, of Coal Township, was eligible for release July 4, his minimum release date. Good behavior shaved 79 days off his original Sept. 21 minimum. Instead, he won't be paroled until today - 65 days early.

His application was filled out in early June but wasn't processed in time for consideration at a July 3 parole board hearing. It was up for approval the following week on July 11, but that hearing was canceled. He's expected to be released today.

Portzline's mother, Paulette Yocum, as well as his fiance, Nytasha Shinskie, said that's two weeks longer than necessary. At $55 a day to house an inmate, it cost of $770, and falls in line with allegations by commissioner Chairman Vinny Clausi, who says paperwork delays cost the county $9,000 in June and $100,000 in 2013.

"I totally understand Bill put himself in there and he needed to do his time," Yocum wrote in an email to The News-Item. "But now, through no fault of Bill's, he was denied the opportunity to even be considered for early release on two occasions."

Shinskie agreed with Yocum, that Portzline has only himself to blame for his punishment for a probation violation. She and Yocum made the decision to call Portzline's probation officer on him, after which he was locked up Oct. 14, 2013. But miscommunication from prison officials had the family believing he'd be home July 4 and in time for his son's first birthday.

Three weeks before signature

Portzline had two non-violent misconducts early in his stay at the county jail. Since then, he's behaved well enough to land a job through the work release program and also earn time off his sentence for good behavior.

According to his family, Portzline received the application June 6 and turned it in 15 minutes later. Jimmy Cortelyou, chief probation officer, said Thursday the application was signed and dated June 10. That leaves either 21 or 25 days until July 1, when, according to Warden Roy Johnson, prison commander Brian Whary signed a parole recommendation. It was two more days, on July 3, when the probation department received the paperwork, according to Cortelyou. He added that Portzline's home plan for early release was also approved.

The probation department needs one week to review an application before making its own recomendation to the parole board. It was recommended that Portzline be released July 11. However, a parole board hearing was canceled due to a lack of a quorum.

The parole board is an independent entity, and prison officials do not conduct the hearings. Johnson said Thursday that Portzline's paperwork was in before his minimum date and was to have a hearing July 11. The hearing was canceled by the board and through no fault of the prison's, Johnson said.

Late, but early

Portzline could still be in jail if Johnson chose to erase his "good time" due to the early misconducts, he said. Although he wasn't released July 4, he is likely to be out today - 65 days ahead of his original minimum release date.

"He's actually getting out way earlier because the system is working," Johnson said.

Johnson couldn't confirm when Portzline turned in his parole application, but said that will change. New protocol will be put in place tracking the times and dates when applications are turned over to inmates, when they're returned to corrections officers and so forth.

Management

Prison management is easier when eligible inmates are released on their minimum sentence, he said.

"We're going to step it up and make dang sure they're over to parole even earlier," Johnson said. "I can't let the people at the prison keep (getting) the brunt of every allegation that comes back."

Johnson was under fire during Wednesday's meeting of the prison board by majority commissioners Clausi and Stephen Bridy. They allege mismanagement by Johnson, blaming him for allegedly delaying parole paperwork while also criticising him for two inmate suicides within 10 months. Another incident Monday night initially reported as a suicide attempt will be reclassified by Johnson as "self-mutilation."

Johnson bristled Wednesday, loudly protesting the accusations. A vote failed 2-2-1 to fire him. Four affirmative votes were needed.

On Thursday, he said he welcomes a top-down inspection of the prison and his management. (See accompanying story.)

Courtelyou said Wednesday that parole applications are slow to come from the prison to the probation department. But he didn't lay blame on prison officials, saying delays could be the fault of inmates failing to return the applications in a timely manner.

Prison protocol had been for inmates to receive applications two weeks ahead of their minimum release date, which doesn't explain how Portzline got his nearly one month in advance. That was the old method, handing them out one month ahead of time. And now it will be the new method, with county officials this week nixing the two-week protocol and reverting back to the one-month protocol. Cortelyou said he believes this could speed up the parole process.

MOUNT CARMEL - Legendary Mount Carmel Area football coach Joseph "Jazz" Diminick, who passed away July 2, will be memorialized with having the field at the famed Silver Bowl named after him.

During a meeting Thursday night, Mount Carmel Area School Board agreed to name the field "Jazz Diminick Field" in honor of the winningest coach in school history and one of the all-time greatest scholastic mentors in the state and nation.

From 1962 to 1992, Diminick, who coached his six sons, guided the Red Tornadoes to 267 victories and several championships. When he left the coaching ranks, he was the all-time winningest coach in the state with 290 wins.

Voting to name the field after him were board President Thomas Ditchey, Donna James, William Brecker, Michael Rovito, Joseph Zanella, Robert Muldowney and Anthony Mazzatesta, who played for Diminick. Ray Kraynak and Michael Brinkash were absent.

Ditchey said a special ceremony involving Diminick's family to dedicate the field will be held at one of the first home football games this season. The Red Tornadoes open the year Friday, Aug. 29, at home against Loyalsock.

The board also will allow the varsity football team to wear memorialized black jerseys at home games and possibly other contests this year to honor Diminick. The jerseys have been purchased through donations to the football program.

In other athletic business, directors hired Steven Sinkovich as head varsity wrestling coach at a salary of $3,700.

The board accepted the resignation of Tammy Michaels as eighth grade girls basketball coach and granted permission to Brenda Moser to start an introductory running program for elementary students.

Directors accepted the resignations of high school life skills teacher Christine Delong and special education teacher David Sanford.

Katherine Francis was hired as a reading specialist/teacher with a master's degree at a salary of $42,201 with benefits. She will replace Judith Matukaitis, who retired.

Elaine Bartol was reclassified from an aide to a secretary at 7½ hours per day at a salary of $22,638. She will replace Tina Meredith, who is in a new position.

Kim Bartos was hired as a secretary at seven hours per day at $8.50 per hour with benefits. She will replace Gloria Slater, who retired.

The board adjusted the salaries of elementary school Principal Susan Nestico and junior high school Principal Pete Cheddar to $60,000, retroactive to July 1.

Directors granted a 3 percent ($2,295) salary increase to high school principal/curriculum coordinator Lisa Varano, retroactive to July 1.

The board also approved a 2.8 percent ($2,532.05) increase in salary to Superintendent Bernie Stellar for the 2013-14 fiscal year and 2.8 percent ($2,583) increase for the 2014-15 fiscal year.

Henry Fadrowski was hired for seasonal field maintenance work at $9 per hour.

The board amended the maintenance restructuring approved June 30 to include a six-month probationary period for all tiered maintenance and custodial personnel.

Directors agreed to transfer $10,000 from the general fund to the athletic account.

Stellar announced paving and other construction work will be done in the elementary school parking lot, beginning July 28. He said the lot will be closed until at least Aug. 13, which is the scheduled completion date for the project.

SUNBURY - The Northumberland County Domestic Relations Department is offering a child support amnesty period Monday through Aug. 1.

During this time, clients can appear at the domestic relations office and speak with the enforcement officer to determine what actions they need to take to have their bench warrants lifted. The Northumberland County Sheriff's Department will not execute any outstanding warrants during this time.

The amnesty covers only the warrants issued by Northumberland County Domestic Relations Department and not any other warrants that are outstanding on a criminal or civil violation.

If clients choose to take advantage of the amnesty period, they will be required to provide a current mailing address and telephone number, current employment status and payment toward the arrearage in the support case or a valid payment plan on how to resolve the arrears.

If currently employed, clients will need to supply domestic relations with the name and address of a current employer. If not employed, domestic relations will need proof of sources of income.

Once the amnesty period is over, the court will immediately schedule contempt proceedings and/or instruct the county sheriff's office to execute all warrants that will result in an appearance in front of a judge and/or possible incarceration.

Northumberland County Court Administrator Brandy L. Yasenchak said she's hopeful clients will take advantage of the amnesty period.

In arrears

Yasenchak provided the following list of people who are in arrears and the amounts owed:

John E. Barnhart IV, 34, $3,622.41; Russell L. Bastian Jr., 46, $37,812.63; Rebecca L. Beachel, 32, $1,138.38; Tiffany A. Benelisha, 31, $2,387.35; Robert L. Blake, 45, $1,515.08; Ronald J. Bogutskie, 48, $7,202.59; William T. Boyer, 42, $3,420.76; Gordon B. Byers, 42, $2,541.23; James A. Campbell Jr., 41, $4,406.25; Jonathan G. Chalkan, 41, $4,344.83; James L. Cundiff Jr., 37, $7,038.94; Terry R. Day Jr., 28, $3,422.90; Brian K. Donner Sr., 29, $14,624.48; Wanda M. Ebright, 34, $3,129.05; Kyle C. English, 33, $9,113.97; Jerry A. Enoch, 42, $28,817.75; Jesse J. Feudale Sr., 39, $33,184.89; Billy J. Fischer, 36, $23,354.89; Jody V. Foulke, 28, $40,003.70; Dustin J. Gautsch, 33, $1,058.76; Timothy D. Graefe, 26, $835.85; Neil A. Haddock, 29, $14,175.22; Dustin J. Heddings, 23, $5,184.20; Bruce L. Heefner, 60, $27,052; Ryan C. Herman, 45, $2,152.12; Michael T. Herman, 47, $45,212.37; Micheal L. Hill, 52, $92,370.68; Michael R. Hoffman Jr., 30, $6,872.30; Loni J. Hornberger, 35, $908.91.

Andrew J. Huber, 30, $3,776.93; Sabrina R. Hummel, 30, $3,320.80; Ryan C. Hunt, 26, $4,056.19; Mark A. Jackson, 44, $77,055.24; Nathan Jones, 48, $23,113.65; Chad M. Keefer, 31, $7,804.66; Christopher A. Kessler, 40, $10,215.09; Christopher R. Kern, 33, $11,137.13; Crystal A. Kerner, 38, $1,512.80; Michael A. Knox, 23, $7,398.70; Matthew E. Koveleskie, 31, $12,150.72; Robert S. Kramer III, 27, $11,614.47; Jeff D. Leach, 34, $21,400.48; Anthony M. Leggins, 27, $4,429.10; Jason J. McCormick, 33, $8,023.15; Donna M. McDonald, 31, $2,181.24; Tyler J. McElwee, 26, $1,641.33; William F. McGeehan, 52, $9,248.22; Justo L. Melendez, 34, $8,050.04; Tina M. Miller, 35, $11,697.84; Roger S. Miller II, 33, $10,259.31; Hilton D. Moore, 33, $4,927.54; James E. Mowery Jr., 42, $6,143.73; Jeremy S. Moyer, 35, $7,702; Ronald A. Nahodil, 42, $28,566.03; Kenneth E. Ney, 36, $340.67; Timothy M. Nye, 30, $25,748.59; Jamie A. Olley, 34, $3,565.72; Matthew D. Osman, 34, $6,575.48; John S. Petrovich, 44, $4,836.98; Annette Phelps, 46, $1,920.16; Orlando L. Poke, 30, $5,615.68.

Thomas M. Reddinger, 31, $32,464.43; Luann M. Reinard, 36, $3,575.27; Ira P. Renn II, 41, $9,865.67; Justin M. Ressler, 25, $29,183.73; Anthony Robert, 35, $1,092.19; Joel R. Rubenstein, 32, $631.74; Larry E. Russell Jr., 46, $10,287.16; Joshua A. Russell, 36, $77,001; Nicholas A. Schindler, 29, $8,586.41; Kevin D. Schreck, 48, $22,769.41; Jacob V. Shellhammer, 33, $6,11153; Jason W. Short, 28, $4,790.26; Gerald C. Simpson, 44, $15,481.73; Stephen Smith, 35, $1,381.10; Severan M. Snell, 28, $445.83; George W. Snyder, 45, $8,312.70; Chad E. Stover Sr., 41, $46,625.84; Cody Strunk, 30, $2,487.72; Sean P. Sutton, 29, $17,768.05; Kevin M. Thew, 25, $8,202.69; Joseph A. Vankirk, 32, $7,391.88; John C. Wallish III, 39, $21,699.87; Jennifer K. Walls, 41, $585.34; Brian K. Weikel, 36, $9,572.18; Pamela I. Wilder-Dennison, 45, $2,772.50; Tara L. Williams, 40, $2,320.39; Kimberly T. Willis, 25, $2,472.03; Brian D. Wolfgang Jr., 26, $6,798.90; Stephen D. Wondoloski, 32, $11,920.60; John A. Zimmerman, 40, $1,256.34.

SUNBURY - The county's prison warden is demanding an investigation of the jail and his management of it.

Warden Roy Johnson has been targeted by majority commissioners Stephen Bridy and Vinny Clausi, who have criticized him in the wake of two inmate suicides in the past 10 months along with allegations of delayed parole paperwork, allegedly costing an estimated $9,000 in June and $100,000 in 2013.

"The bottom line is, yes, I demand that every allegation be investigated," Johnson said Thursday. "If it's true, I'll take my lumps."

He continued, "I am willing to open this facility to any reputable inspection agency. The Attorney General, the FBI, the DOC. I will put my record and my credibility against anybody's."

Clausi said he's uninterested in Johnson's challenge. He said the evidence exists in the parole paperwork alone.

"I recommend the warden resign because his days are numbered," Clausi said.

There were 21 inmates placed on suicide watch in June, two more than the 19 combined in April and May. A representative for Prime Care Medical Inc., the prison's health care provider, said it doesn't mean there were 21 attempts. Rather, the figure is a result of inmate screening during the intake process.

Religious policy

Apart from criticisms by Bridy and Clausi, Johnson was also criticized Wednesday by a former imam of the State Correctional Institution-Coal Township, Mustafa Abuomar.

Abuomar, who has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against his former employer, accuses the county prison of failing its Muslim inmates by incorrectly serving food during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which ends July 28. Meals had not been served in accordance with religious tenets for fasting from dawn to sunset, he said.

Abuomar said he was initially convinced by prison officials they knew how to handle the month-long observance. When that proved incorrect, he sought to speak with Johnson, but said the warden never returned his calls. He said his private attorneys then contacted the prison to discuss the issue.

"I challenge him to show what is the religious policy," Abuomar said Thursday. "What is the plan of action to accommodate inmates? If you have a policy, you must have a procedure on how to take action."

Johnson said he wasn't sure if religious policy specific to Northumberland County Prison is in place, but that standard policy of state and federal penal institutions are followed if specific policies aren't in place on the county level.

A recent inspection by the state Department of Corrections included the review of prison policies. There was no mention of a lack of or incorrect application of religious policy, according to county Commissioner Rick Shoch.

Johnson said Thursday the prison has averaged lately between three and five Muslim inmates. None locked up during Ramadan filled a formal complaint with prison staff about observance of the holiday. Abuomar lodged the complaints, and Johnson said they've since been addressed.

"We weren't getting the meals there early enough. We corrected that issue. If the inmates would have told us the first day, we would have fixed it," Johnson said.

Abuomar also continued his accusation that Johnson was fired from his job at the state prison in Coal Township, which Johnson has fiercely denied. Shoch said Wednesday Abuomar failed to provide any information backing his claim. Abuomar said he wasn't there to levy that accusation, and that it came in response to jabs at his character taken by Johnson. If Shoch or any other county official wants to find out who's being honest, he said they need only follow the paper trail.

Shoch said Thursday the county isn't privy to private information, like Johnson's medical records. Abuomar said Johnson simply needs to sign a waiver for such protected records.

But Shoch said looking into alleged past discrepancies irrelevant to Johnson's current job performance is a waste of time.

"The relevant issue is what his performance has been," Shoch said.

He said Johnson has drastically improved the professionalism of prison staff and improved how prisoners are treated.

Seen improvement

Dave Sprout, a paralegal with the Lewisburg Prison Project, a prisoner advocacy group, agreed Johnson has boosted the performance of prison staff. He noted the increase in medical care, in part due to a lawsuit filed by the advocacy group, and the installation of interior surveillance cameras.

"I believe they try to do their job the best they can, and it's a difficult job. I think (Johnson) brought a little more professionalism to the staff," Sprout said Thursday.

Many of the prison's problems, including potential mental health issues with inmates or staff, is largely due to the prison building itself, Sprout said. He said that's the biggest challenge facing prison and county officials, and he hopes more attention will be paid to improvements.

Suicides can occur in new prisons, too, Sprout acknowledged, but he said the atmosphere of a facility built in 1876 can compound issues with depression.

Sprout said the Lewisburg Prison Project has not been contacted by any county inmates about delayed processing of parole applications.

Johnson remained steadfast in defense of his reputation. To his critics, he said, "If you're going to make accusations, be prepared to defend them and be prepared to back them up."

Nicole Wert, of Ashburn, Va., earned her Master of Science at George Mason University with a concentration in curriculum and instruction, teacher leadership with a 3.9 grade-point average. Wert is a second grade teacher in Fairfax County.

Wert is a daughter of Mike and Chris Wert, of Coal Township, and a granddaughter of Dr. Earl and Barbara Johnson, William and Patricia Wert and the late Edward and Frances Madden.

MOUNT CARMEL - Can one man destroy hundreds of the potholes riddling Mount Carmel's streets?

Pothole Killers is attempting to do just that.

Residents may have noticed the truck slowly cruising Mount Carmel's roads, occasionally stopping to spew tar and stones onto the street.

The Mount Carmel Borough Council voted to engage Pothole Killers, a subsidiary of Patch Management Inc., in June for $25,430 after the company told Edward T. Cuff, borough manager, it could fill in all the potholes on a list of 30 stretches of road and maybe even a few more in about two weeks.

The truck works as a singular entity, driven by one man and completing all the steps of filling in a pothole.

A fan attached to a long arm in the front of the truck blows dust and debris off the marked area. A tar solution then comes out of the same arm, followed by stones that are carried to the site in the back of the truck.

The truck is efficient and can fill a pothole in minutes.

Mike Magennis watched from his porch while the truck repaired the pockmarked street in front of his house on West Avenue.

"It's nice that they don't have to use all that manpower," said Magennis. "It's just one guy."

Pothole Killers was contracted to complete 75 hours of work over 10 days. Today is their last day in town.

Anthony Matulewicz III, borough council president, said he is pleased with the work completed.

"For the price of that, to fix all those potholes, it's amazing," he said.

Matulewicz noted the only issue with the repair work is the patching took some time to set because of the heat.

Vehicles passing over fresh patches kicked up the tiny stones, which bothered some people, he said, but this issue only lasted a few hours at the most.

"After that, it's hard as a rock," said Matulewicz.

COAL TOWNSHIP - A game of "Truth or Dare" has landed a 20-year-old city man behind bars on a felony of statutory sexual assault.

Kyle Hoffman, of 1010 N. Franklin St., is charged by Detective Jeff Brennan with engaging in sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old girl April 12 in a wooded area in the Bunker Hill section of the township.

Hoffman, who has been in Northumberland County Prison on a parole violation since April 14, will be staying there for a while after being arraigned by video at 10:45 a.m. Thursday by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic on the felony offense.

Hoffman was unable to post $50,000 cash bail and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing before Gembic Tuesday, July 29.

After receiving a report April 12 from the victim's mother who said her daughter was raped, police interviewed the victim.

The 15-year-old girl told police she and a 12-year-old female walked into a wooded area at about 7 p.m. with a male who identified himself as Kyle Hoffman. The victim said Hoffman told them he was 17 years old and asked the girls if they wanted to play a game known as "Truth or Dare." After a few minutes of playing the game, the 15-year-old girl said Hoffman walked over and started hugging her. The victim said she attempted to stop Hoffman, but he continued and then removed her pants and had sexual intercourse with her.

The victim said when Hoffman started to hug her, the 12-year-old girl ran from the scene.

The 12-year-old girl confirmed the victim's statement and also said Hoffman asked the 15-year-old girl to perform oral sex. The girl said she fled after becoming frightened.

A spokeswoman at Northumberland County Prison said Hoffman served time in prison for theft in 2012 and was incarcerated last year for parole violations.

WILKES-BARRE - Luzerne County Community College announces the following students have earned recognition for outstanding academic achievement during the spring 2014 semester.

To qualify for the president's list, a student must earn a 4.0 cumulative grade-point average. Students who attain a grade point average between 3.5 and 3.99 are included on the dean's list, and those with an average between 3.25 and 3.49 are included on the honors list.

Dean's list

Andrew Allen, Mount Carmel; Walter Borkoskie, Shamokin; Cameron Bradley, Coal Township; Emily Bridy, Shamokin; Jill Britton, Shamokin; Alexis Brockway, Catawissa; Anna Marie Bronkoski, Kulpmont; Virginia Brown, Shamokin; Joseph Colangelo, Coal Township; Tammy Derk, Coal Township; Ashley Drumheiser, Sunbury; Dezaray Erdman, Coal Township; Caitlin Evans, Mount Carmel; Mary Evans, Mount Carmel; Allan Farley, Ashland; Kendra Faust, Coal Township; Stacy Faust, Sunbury; Danielle Favinger, Sunbury; Adam Feudale, Elysburg.

Katherine Fitzpatrick, Kulpmont; Margaret Geise, Shamokin; Jesse Geist, Coal Township; Barry Getchey, Shamokin; Brandon Greco, Marion Heights; Alicia Hamburger, Dornsife; Sarah Harder, Catawissa; Brian Jenkins, Ashland; Rachel Koons, Coal Township; Joseph Kort, Marion Heights; Corey Langton, Mount Carmel; Alisha Lebo, Trevorton; Jennifer Leffler, Paxinos; John Long, Coal Township; Teresa Lopez, Shamokin; Megan Lowry, Catawissa; Steven Machuzak, Marion Heights; Marcus Maschal, Mount Carmel; Alexis Matelevich, Shamokin.

Christopher McCabe, Coal Township; Sara Meier, Ashland; Michael Menapace, Wilburton; Kelly Mirolli, Coal Township; Jacob Moore, Sunbury; Samantha Ortona, Kulpmont; Jasmine Palovick, Coal Township; Heather Peffer, Mount Carmel; Joshua Peregrin, Coal Township; Maria Petruskevich, Coal Township; Angel Rager, Sunbury; Toni Rakus, Kulpmont; Angelina Rodkey, Sunbury; Derek Rompolski, Coal Township; Kristen Ruskuski, Mount Carmel; Andrew Ruzicka, Kulpmont; Jamie Ruzicka, Sunbury; Matthew Schaeffer, Shamokin; Michael Shoffler, Elysburg.

Kaitlyn Shultz, Shamokin; Teanna Shutt, Elysburg; Michelle Smedley, Mount Carmel; Victoria Snyder, Coal Township; Susan Snyder-Strawser, Sunbury; Brylee Spieles, Ashland; Morgan Stankiewicz, Shamokin; Michele Swetra, Mount Carmel; Stephen Troutman, Coal Township; Sandra Wayne, Coal Township; Janelle Wilde, Mount Carmel; Jennifer Wilkins, Locust Gap; Steven Williams, Sunbury; Marcin Wrobel, Shamoki and Erin Yoder, Catawissa.

Honors list

Helen Balthaser, Shamokin; Dana Cuff, Kulpmont; Tevin Gonzalez, Coal Township; Briana Grimmer, Shamokin; Meghan Halcovich, Coal Township; Rachel Levengood, Shamokin; Brianna Lutz, Mount Carmel; Brittany Mayton, Coal Township; Douglas Michaels, Elysburg; Brett Paul, Ashland; Jonathan Paul, Trevorton; Valerie Pavelko, Coal Township; Kayla Ramer, Coal Township; Brandon Reiprich, Wilburton; Julie Rodak, Kulpmont; Trisha Rosini, Shamokin; Jessica Schleig, Coal Township; Amy Weidner, Kulpmont; Samuel Wilkins, Locust Gap; Kay Williams, Coal Township

President's list

Mackenzie Brouse, Paxinos; Megan DeLong, Dornsife; Cynthia Derk, Coal Township;Maryann Drost, Coal Township; Jaclyn Gaugler, Dornsife; Nathaniel Haggerty, Paxinos; Keila Hernandez, Sunbury; Danielle Kasper, Shamokin; Courtney Krieger, Sunbury; Charlene Lesher, Trevorton; Ania Rawa, Coal Township; Cody Rebuck, Dornsife; Samantha Rhodes, Sunbury; Megan Rickert, Shamokin; Wanda Riley, Catawissa; Tyler Rupp, Shamokin; Melissa Smallets, Shamokin; Anne Snyder, Catawissa; Jacob Snyder, Shamokin; Taylor Stefovic, Kulpmont; Alison Varano, Mount Carmel; Anna Varano, Shamokin; Crissy Viruet, Sunbury; Angela Vought, Elysburg; Tori Wariki, Kulpmont; Casey Wilson, Coal Township; and Christina Zanella, Mount Carmel.

MIDLAND - Several area residents were among the 1,454 members of the Class of 2014 graduating from the Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School:

Coal Township - Sarah E. Shinskie and Aubrie L. Stine.

Danville - Brandon S. Shultz.

Kulpmont - Stanley A. Stanchick.

Marion Heights - Mackenzie Greco.

Mount Carmel - Dalton R. Diotte, Faith A. Leaveck and Christiana M. Reed.

Shamokin - Erika Fedako, Cassandra P. Runkle, Jennifer D. Springer and Sarah G. Springer.

Sunbury - Joseph Pega Jr,

Larry Deklinski/Staff Photo

MOUNT CARMEL - Lower Anthracite Transportation Service (LATS) director and former borough treasurer Megan Janolek takes exception to borough leaders opening up her position amid a $67,000 discrepancy found in an audit of the 2012-13 borough budget.

Borough council took the action Thursday night.

Janolek said Friday she was unaware of any problem until notified by an auditor, and that she found the error shortly thereafter.

Council President Tony Matulewicz, however, said the errors have not yet truly been corrected, and that her strategy of attempting to hide a payroll mistake by "just wiping it away" is not okay.

"It's unacceptable," he said flatly.

Janolek said the problem occurred when she failed to mark down two payrolls in December 2012. She said the missed payrolls were purely a mistake that she did not realize she made until the auditor alerted her.

Once she was aware of this error, she corrected it so the books were balanced, she said.

Matulewicz also said the amount misplaced upped the severity of the mistake.

"We have to take this very seriously," he said. "It's not like we have a huge amount of surplus. We're on a shoestring budget, barely getting through until the next tax season."

Needing help

Janolek also said she asked for help in early 2013 and said it was too much trying to handle both the LATS and treasurer duties.

Matulewicz refuted that point and said Janolek's performance in past years does not match the poor quality of her recent work.

"She handled the job in 2012, she handled the job in 2013, and it was handled quite well," said Matulewicz. "She does not need help. She has more than enough time to do the job, and she did the job before and it was fine. There were some mistakes and they were all minute mistakes."

He also denied that Janolek was forthcoming about her problems with her workload.

"She didn't tell us she needed help, she told Ed (Cuff, borough manager)," he said.

Janolek was still in the treasurer position during the 2012-13 fiscal year, the timespan when the errors found by the auditor occurred. Her duties were transferred to Cuff March 1 so she could focus on managing LATS.

"Saying she doesn't have enough time to do it once in March doesn't absolve her from carrying over mistakes," said Matulewicz.

Matulewicz brought the errors, including the $67,000 reconciliation/discrepancy fund switch, to the attention of the rest of the council at Monday's work session. The council spoke extensively about Janolek without a resolution.

At Thursday's meeting, the board was still conflicted about terminating Janolek. When a motion to open the position of LATS director and borough treasurer was brought up, the board voted unanimously to go into executive session.

Matulewicz said Janolek attended the executive session on Monday. She was not at the borough meeting, which is not required of her job position. She was at work Friday, Matulewicz said.

At the closing of the executive session Thursday, the board voted 5-1 to open Janolek's position and seek applications. Robert Shirmer abstained from the vote; he is a relative. Council vice president Leroy Moser Jr. was the sole dissenting vote. He said he could not publicly disclose his reasoning, but it had to do in part with unanswered questions.

"We weren't even going to discuss it in public but then when there was some doubt (about posting her position), I felt like I really had to let everybody know what was going on here," said Matulewicz. "Something's got to be done. I don't care how nice she is, she made a big mistake and didn't tell anybody about it, and that's unacceptable."

Audit continues

A primary reason Janolek was not immediately let go is because the council does not yet fully understand how the errors occurred because the auditor has not yet completed the audit due to missing documents.

"We do need more time to look into it," said Matulewicz. "It's too soon to do anything."

Janolek was appointed full-time executive director of LATS in July, 2012, after many years as borough treasurer. She received a pay raise for the increase in responsibilities.

"She was too happy to take it," said Matulewicz.

In the same month, borough officials began questioning the discrepancies of LATS bills submitted by the then-service provider, King Coal.

King Coal eventually ended its contract with the borough in January due to the billing issues, which included charges for fuel not used in LATS buses and tires and parts that didn't fit the buses.

Coincidence

Matulewicz said Janolek's title and timing of her arrival has led to an inflated opinion of her role in the investigation, and the discoveries were a team effort of Janolek, borough council and local reporters.

"(Councilman) Gary Hixson figured out the gas. I figured out a whole bunch of stuff. It wasn't like it was Megan to the rescue," said Matulewicz. "She happened to be the LATS director when all this stuff was found out."

He added that in addition to help from locals, a state-funded accountant came to help her with the LATS finances.

"She did a great job, don't get me wrong, but it wasn't like she discovered all this stuff with King Coal," said Matulewicz. "We were all working on it."

The LATS budget is separate from the borough budget, and is currently being audited by two entities due to the past issues, said Matulewicz Thursday.

While Janolek is no longer treasurer, the post for the position will include both LATS director and borough treasurer duties.

Screenings set Monday in Kulpmont

KULPMONT - Kulpmont Lions Club, 833 Chestnut St. (Route 61), will host Life Line Screening Monday. The event is being sponsored by Evangelical Community Hospital.

According to Life Line, stroke is the third leading cause of death and a leading cause of permanent disability; 80 percent of stroke victims have no apparent warning signs. Preventive ultrasound screenings, which are fast, noninvasive and painless, can help, the company reports.

Screenings identify potential cardiovascular conditions, such as blocked arteries and irregular heart rhythm, abdominal aortic aneurysms and hardening of the arteries in the legs, which is a strong predictor of heart disease. A bone density screening to assess osteoporosis risk is also offered and is appropriate for both men and women.

Packages start at $149. All five screenings take 60 to 90 minutes to complete.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 1-877-237-1287 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com. Pre-registration is required.

ZERBE TOWNSHIP - Jessica Venesky is a rarity in her field.

In addition to being one of the youngest funeral directors in the area, she's also part of the minority who have opened, rather than inherited, their business.

For Venesky, opening Venesky Cremation Services was a necessity if she wanted to pursue her dream of operating a business in her area of expertise.

"Nobody wants to sell their funeral home," she said. "It's really, really hard if you're not family owned to get in the service."

Venesky would know; she's on friendly terms with most funeral directors in the area because she operated as a contract worker for five years, working on call for 10 different funeral homes.

She's starting her own - with the cremation work itself done elsewhere - in an usual location as well: in a former beauty parlor between a laundromat and a shuttered pizza shop in a small strip mall just east of Trevorton. The address is 141 Trevorton Road.

Since she's the new kid on the block in an industry of long-standing names, Venesky is inviting people to an open house from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. today. She will provide coffee and answer questions about cremation services.

Inspired by kindness

Venesky, a Mount Carmel Area graduate now living in Shamokin, decided to go into this unusual field after completing service in the U.S. Navy.

"We fired 38 Tomahawk missiles into Baghdad," she said of her involvement in Operation Iraqi Freedom aboard the USS Higgins DDG-76.

Around the time she exited the service, her mother passed away. Venesky was inspired by the kindness bestowed upon her family at her mother's funeral by Charles Heizenroth III of Kull-Heizenroth Funeral Home, Ashland.

"I thought if I could do that for somebody, that's amazing," said Venesky.

She used her GI Bill to return to school for her degree in mortuary science, and earned her associate's degree - the highest available in her field - from Northampton Community College. She completed her internship and became fully licensed.

For the next five years, she did contract work at funeral homes, traveling to any central Pennsylvania town that needed an extra set of hands. She estimates she ran hundreds of services during this time.

Gloria Dutcavich, of Dutcavich Funeral Home in Minersville, said Venesky served with her family's business for her apprenticeship when she graduated from mortuary school and continued doing contract work for several years. She supported Venesky's decision to open her business.

"I'd say she's dependable and knowledgeable with what she's doing, a good worker," said Dutcavich.

Too much driving

Eventually, the driving from town to town took a toll on Venesky, so she looked to open her own shop. She chose the former beauty parlor location because it fits her needs.

The lessons Venesky learned while assisting at existing homes helped her in shaping her business. She decided to specialize in cremation after noticing a trend of people more frequently selecting this service.

The percentage of deaths resulting in cremation has risen from 3.56 percent in 1960 to 43.2 percent in 2012, according to the National Funeral Directors Association's website.

She also thought specializing in cremation would allow her to rein in skyrocketing funeral costs.

As a result, she can operate in a smaller space, with just enough room to hold a memorial service and a 10-by-10-foot room to do basic body preparation.

Because the equipment to cremate bodies begins at around $350,000, Venesky is opting to use local, existing crematories to complete that portion of the service. Her business will instead focus on the people aspect - offering a selection of urns that appeal to everyone and keeping a comfortable, inviting space for mourners.

"I want people to be as relaxed and as comfortable as you can be in that situation," said Venesky.Larry Deklinski/Staff Photo

DANVILLE - The Borough of Danville was the site of this year's Six-County Firemen's Convention Friday, June 27, and Saturday, June 28. Emergency personnel from Columbia, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Montour, Northumberland and Schuylkill counties met for the 111th time at the Washington Hose and Fire Company No. 2. The event was hosted by the Danville Six County Firemen's Association.

New officers

Officers elected for the 2014-15 term were Gary Perna Jr., of McAdoo, president; Gary Guscott, of Hazleton, 1st vice-president; William Tarby, of Troop, second vice-president; Deanna Force, of Danville, third vice-president; Gary Perna Sr., of McAdoo, fourth vice-president; Joseph Judy, of Upper Augusta Township, fifth vice-president; Michele Frye, of Bloomsburg, sixth vice-president; John Nilles, of Hazleton, secretary; Joseph Simonovich, of Warrior Run, treasurer, and Robert Mandak Sr., of Hazleton, chaplain.

Prior to the end of the session, the six-county flag was presented by Danville to the Honey Pot Fire Company, which will host the 112th convention. Nanticoke will be the site of the three-day convention, June 25, 26 and 27, 2015.

On Friday morning, a memorial service was held at the Shiloh United Church of Christ. Members of the sssociation and ladies auxiliary who passed away since the last convention were remembered. A luncheon was held at the church after the service.

The convention banquet was held at the Washington Fire Company on Friday evening. Numerous awards were presented by the association.

Awards

Recipients of the Valor Award were Vincent Chitswara, Daniel Leshko, Donald Leshko and Brian Mandak. Courage Award recipients were Lance Borchick, Matthew Capulich, Robert Leshko, John Mears Sr., Robert Mehailck, Michael Pastor and Leon Sobolowski.

Recipients of the first annual Mark Coons Memorial Scholarship were Robert Bauman, Steven Boehmer, Alexander Martz, Troy Stair, Shelby Trumbo and Michael Zangari.

The Walter Sawchak Fire Prevention Award went to Fire Chief David Duffy, New England Fire Company, Schuylkill County.

The Herman "Hump" Howard Service Award was presented to Michael Cassic Jr. and Richard Blosky.

President's Awards were presented to David Berezovske, Deanna Force, Bernie Gryskevicz, Anthony and Linda Prushinski and William Tarby.

Meetings

A reorganization meeting will be held at the Keystone Fire Company, McAdoo, Sunday.

Bimonthly meetings for the coming year will be held Sept. 12, Upper Augusta Fire Company; Nov. 16, Crystal Hose Company, Jermyn; Jan. 25, Diamond Fire Company No. 2, Hazleton; March 15, Warrior Run Fire Company, and May 17, Tilbury Fire Company, Nanticoke. All meetings start at 2 p.m.

KULPMONT - Holy Name Society of Holy Angels Parish attended the 8:30 a.m. Mass May 11 and as a body received holy communion.

The monthly meeting was held in the activity center after church. The meeting was called to order by president Charles Mannello. The Rev. Andrew Stahmer led the body in opening prayer. Edward Wojcik led the members in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Stahmer gave a report on all activities being completed in the parish. A reading of the minutes was given by secretary Robert Daniels. The minutes were approved as read with no omissions or corrections.

A treasurer's report was given by John Buggy of all recipients and disbursements including all balances. A motion to accept the report was made by Robert York and seconded by Robert Bressi. With all in favor, the motion carried.

The most important part of the meeting was the annual family breakfast June 15 for Father's Day. This combined family breakfast of fathers and mothers with sons and daughters was held after the 8:30 a.m. Mass in the activity center. Gifts for the children were given out.

Mannello thanked the Kulpmont Knights of Columbus, Holy Name members, ladies of the parish, people who worked in the kitchen, cooks and the people who served the food at the spaghetti dinner held April 13. Mannello said this was their biggest fundraiser ever.

With no other business, the meeting was adjourned.

WEIGH SCALES - Ralpho Township and Coal Township police on Friday morning were back at the scene of Sunday's accident that critically injured a motorcycle rider on Route 61 near The Wayside Inn, but no update on the investigation was provided.

Police were seen taking measurements and doing other work in reconstructing the scene. They had done some of the same type of work following the accident on Sunday.

Contacted at the police station Friday afternoon, Ralpho Township Cpl. Bryon Chowka said the crash remains under investigation. He couldn't provide any other details or the identities of the driver and passengers in a Jeep that rear-ended Cory L. Thompson's Harley-Davidson. Thompson was thrown from the cycle and was severely injured. He was flown by Life Flight helicopter to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he remains in critical condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Police previously reported the Jeep was driven by a 17-year-old Shamokin female who had two 17-year-old female passengers from Coal Township. Police have not released their names, citing a policy about not identifying minors. The three girls were not injured.

No charges have been filed.

100 yards

Ralpho Township police said Thompson was riding the motorcycle from Shamokin in the northbound left lane of Route 61 about 5:45 p.m. He had slowed as he approached the intersection with Bridge Street, the entrance to The Wayside Inn, which was believed to be his destination.

Ralpho Township Patrolman Stephen Spade said Thompson was interacting with a driver in the right lane who had also slowed when a Jeep Cherokee rammed the motorcycle from behind. Thompson had passed the Jeep moments before.

Witnesses who were on the outdoor patio at the nearby restaurant said they heard the collision and saw the motorcycle skid some 100 yards across the southbound lanes and onto the berm.

Following the same path as the motorcycle, the Jeep left skid marks across the highway before stopping partially on the berm. The Jeep sustained minor damage to its front end near the driver-side headlight.

Thompson is a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and the Villains Shamokin Motorcycle Club, a nonprofit riding group.

Both lanes of Route 61 were closed about 2 1/2 hours after the crash.

All Saints

All Saints Evangelical Lutheran Church, 12th and Scott streets, Kulpmont.

Pastor - The Rev. Alfred J. Bashore.

Worship service - 9 a.m.

Participants - Richard Kovach, lector and/or communion assistant; Marsha Karnes, altar guild and/or communion assistant.

Assumption BVM

Assumption B.V.M. Ukrainian Catholic Church, Paxton Street, Centralia.

Pastor - The Very Rev. Archpriest Michael Hutsko.

Confessions - Sunday, 10:30 a.m.

Divine liturgy - Sunday, 11 a.m.

Augusta Baptist

Augusta Baptist Church, 1371 Boyles Run Road, Sunbury.

Pastor - Robert S. Commerford.

Sunday school - 9 a.m.

Morning worship - 10:15 a.m.

Evening service - 6:30 p.m.

Activities - Sunday, youth group, 6 p.m., kids club, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Bible study and prayer meeting, 6:30 p.m.; fourth Thursday of the month, L.I.F.E. for seniors age 55 and up, noon.

Augustaville Wesleyan

Augustaville Wesleyan Church, 2556 State Route 890, Paxinos.

Pastor - Greg Clendaniel.

Sunday school - 9:30 a.m.

Worship service - 10:30 a.m.

Evening service - 6 p.m.

Activities - Wednesday, adult Bible study, children's ministry and youth Bible bowl, 7 p.m.

Bethany Bible

Bethany Bible Fellowship Church, 654 Wilburton Road, across from Mount Carmel Estates.

Pastor - Philip Norris.

Sunday school - 9:30 a.m.

Morning worship - 10:45 a.m.

Message - "They Offer Freedom."

Evening worship - 6 p.m. in the pavilion.

Message - "Delegating Responsibility."

Activities - Sunday, Senior Saints' Lunch Out, 1 p.m., Masser's; Monday to Friday, SonTreasure Island vacation Bible school, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Call 570-339-4693 to register and to request transportation.

Bethany EC

Bethany EC Church, 1238 Market St., Ashland.

Pastor - Mark Brownson.

Sunday school - 9:15 a.m. (adults and children).

Worship service - 10:30 a.m.

Activities - Wednesday, Bethany Bible club, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., kindergarten through sixth grade, prayer meeting, weekly, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.; free clothing closet, every first and third Saturday of each month, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bethel Union

Bethel Union Chapel, West Cameron Township.

Pastor - Dave Butler.

Sunday school - 9:30 a.m., for all ages.

Morning worship - 10:30 a.m., with junior church.

Special music - Dave Wells.

No evening worship.

Participants - Jaymie Lenker and Sandy Wells, nursery, 10:30 p.m.

Bible school, 6 to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Closing program, Sunday, July 27. No weekly service because of Bible school.

Calvary Bible

Calvary Bible Fellowship Church, 35 S. Second St., Shamokin.

Pastor - Ferd Madara.

Sunday school for all ages - 9:30 a.m.

Morning worship service - 10:35 a.m. Praise team, message by Pastor Ferd Madara.

Coal Township High Rise service - 2 p.m.

Evening service - 6 p.m.

Church of the Nazarene

Church of the Nazarene, Route 901, Lavelle.

Pastor - Jeremy Smallwood.

Sunday school classes for all ages - 9:30 a.m.

Worship service - 10:45 a.m.

Clark's Grove UMC

Clark's Grove United Methodist Church, Irish Valley Road, Paxinos. Handicapped accessible.

Pastor - Billy Frick.

Sunday school for all ages - 9 a.m.

Worship service - 10:10 a.m.

Youth service - 6:30 p.m.

Activities - Wednesday, prayer and Bible study, 6:30 p.m.

Divine Redeemer

Divine Redeemer Church, West Avenue and Poplar Street, Mount Carmel.

Administrator - The Rev. Martin O. Moran III.

Weekday Masses - Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 7 a.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m.

Weekend Masses - Saturday, 4 p.m. (Sunday obligation); Sunday, 8 and 10:30 a.m.

Holy day Masses - 6 p.m., eve of holy days. 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., holy day.

Confessions - Saturday, 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.; after morning novena Wednesday, or any time by appointment.

Novenas - Monday, Miraculous Medal novena after morning Mass; Wednesday, St. Jude Thaddeus novena after morning Mass; Saturday, St. Francis novena after morning Mass.

Elysburg Alliance

Elysburg Alliance Church, 113 W. Alpha Ave., Elysburg.

Pastor - The Rev. Andrew Knisely.

Service - 8 and 10:30 a.m. Pastor Knisely.

Sunday school for all ages - 9:15 a.m.

Activities - Wednesday, prayer ministry and Collide youth group for grades six to 12, 7 to 8 p.m.; July 20 to 24, Basic Elements VBS, 6 to 8 p.m.; starting Sundays in September, AWANA, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Elysburg Presbyterian

Elysburg Presbyterian Church, 320 W. Valley Ave. (Route 487), Elysburg.

Pastor - Matthew Young.

Sunday school for all ages - 9 a.m.

Worship service - 10:30 a.m. Nursery provided.

Message - Pastor Young preaching on "Get Up!"

Scripture - John 5:1-15.

Musicians - Debbie Cecco, organist; Eileen Reigel, pianist.

The deacons will be holding a food drive for the Elysburg Food Pantry all summer long. Please help our local neighbors with canned and dry goods, especially cereal, peanut butter and jelly, applesauce, juice, powdered pre-sweetened summer drinks, condiments, pasta, sauce and soup.

Activities - Sunday, junior high youth group, 3 to 5 p.m., senior high youth group, 5 to 7 p.m., Lifetree Cafe, "To Frack or Not to Frack," 7 p.m.; Friday, Breakfast with Jesus Bible study, 8:30 a.m.

Elysburg UMC

Elysburg United Methodist Church, 171 W. Center St., Elysburg.

Pastor - The Rev. Michelle Beissel.

Morning worship - 8:30 a.m., Children's Sunday school during worship.

Adult Sunday school - 9:45 a.m.

Methodists United will meet at 1 p.m. at St. John's United Methodist Church.

Participants - Chuck Yoder, head usher; Myers family, greeters; Emily Woodring, scripture reader; Marissa Levan, acolyte; Olivia Bodner, organist; Joyce Rumberger, shepherding.

Activities - Monday, United Methodist Men, 6 p.m., at Oak Grove United Methodist Church; Tuesday, prayer circle, 10:30 a.m.; Thursday, Elysburg Food Pantry, 10 a.m. to noon.

Emmanuel UMC

Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 328 Center St., Coal Township.

Pastor - The Rev. Betty Ford.

Coffee fellowship - 8 to 9 a.m.

Worship - 9:30 a.m., with children's Sunday school.

Activities - Tuesday and Thursday, exercise class, 6:30 p.m.; third Wednesday of month, cookie ministry, 5 p.m.; second Saturday of the month, health screening, 8 to 10 a.m.; fourth Sunday of the month, movie night, 5 p.m.

Faith Bible

Faith Bible Church, Burnside.

Pastor - Perry Ross.

Pianist - Robert Witmer III.

Sunday school - 9:30 a.m.

Worship service - 10:30 a.m.

Evening service - 7 p.m.

Activities - Wednesday, Kids Club, Bible study and prayer, 7 p.m.

Faith Community Church

Pastor - Dale Hill, 570-751-5101.

Sunday worship - 10:30 a.m.

First Baptist, Shamokin

First Baptist Church, 10 E. Lincoln St., Shamokin.

Pastor - The Rev. Samuel Derr.

Church school - 9:45 a.m.

Morning worship - 10:45 a.m.

Choir organist - Judith Pensyl.

Evening service - 6 p.m.

Pianist - Redelia Shoffler.

Activities - Wednesday, choir rehearsal, 1 p.m., prayer, praise and testimony and Bible study, 7 p.m.

First Baptist, Trevorton

First Baptist Church of Trevorton, 510 S. Ninth St., Trevorton.

Pastor - Dan Conklin.

Sunday school - 9:30 a.m.

Morning worship - 10:40 a.m. Ron Brewer will be ministering in ministry during the service.

Evening service - 6 p.m.

Activities - Sunday, choir practice, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, 7 p.m.

­First Presbyterian

First Presbyterian Church, Sunbury and Liberty streets, Shamokin.

Minister - The Rev. Jim Phillips.

Worship - 10:30 a.m.

Special music - Vacation Bible school children.

Participants - Norienne Ladd, organist; Mary Anne Stump, assistant organist; William Milbrand, choir director; Andrew Ladd, acolyte; William and Terry Persing, ushers and greeters; Terry Persing, Charlene Lesher and Wendy Wary, Sunday school/nursery; William Persing Sr., sexton, and Wendy Wary, secretary. Bible study, 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

First UMC, Kulpmont

First United Methodist Church, Ninth Street, Kulpmont.

Pastor - Beverly Petrovich.

Worship - 9:30 a.m., with children's Sunday school.

Activities - Second Saturday of the month, Angels Table luncheon, 11 a.m. All are welcome.

First UMC, Mount Carmel

First United Methodist Church, 46 N. Hickory St., Mount Carmel.

Pastor - The Rev. Susan J. Roehs.

Worship service - 9:30 a.m.

Sunday School - 9:45 a.m.

Sermon - "Where Did You Land?"

Participants - Sharon Styer, organist; Rick Schnee, head usher; all of us, greeters; Kevin Styer, sound technician; Sherry Brosius, liturgist; Olivia Bellve, acolyte; Jim Weissinger, counter; Barb Malick, children's time.

Activities - Monday, worship meeting, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Brownie troop meeting, 6 p.m., Al-Anon meeting in boardroom, 7 p.m.; Wednesday, leaders small group meeting, 6:30 p.m.; Thursday, New Beginnings O.A., 7 p.m.

First UMC, Shamokin

First United Methodist Church, Sunbury Street, Shamokin.

Pastor - Zachary Hopple.

Adult and children's Sunday school - 9:15 a.m.

Worship service - 10:30 a.m.

God's Missionary Church

God's Missionary Church in the Valley, 768 Bear Valley Ave., Shamokin.

Pastor - The Rev. Howard R. McKenzie.

Sunday school - 9:45 a.m.

Sunday worship and children's church - 10:45 a.m.

Evening service - 6 p.m.

Activities - Thursday, prayer meeting, 7:30 p.m.

Good News Bible Church

Good News Bible Church, 221 Main St., Locustdale.

Sunday worship - 3 p.m.

Guest pastor Keith McCarthy speaking on "Why the Prophets?" based on Isaiah 40:27-31.

Participants - Shirley Brass, prayer chain coordinator; Wes Brassington, deacon; Bob Keener, church ministry coordinator, and Jill Keener, music coordinator.

Activities - Wednesday, prayer gathering and Bible study, 6:30 p.m.

Good Shepherd

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 35 N. Ninth St., Ashland.

Pastor - The Rev. Dana Heckman-Beil.

Worship service - 9 a.m.

Grace Chapel

Grace Chapel, 126 Airport Road, Shamokin.

Pastor - Alan Langelli.

Sunday Bible fellowship groups for all ages - 9:30 a.m.

Sunday morning worship - 10:30 a.m.

Sunday evening worship/young couples class - 6:30 p.m.

Nursery care is provided for all Sunday services.

Activities - Sunday, CDL leaders meeting; Monday through Wednesday, music camp; Monday and Thursday, ladies Bible study; Thursday, men's Bible class.

Call the church at 570-648-0372 for info on activities.

Grace Evangelical

Grace Evangelical Independent Church, Locustdale.

Pastor - The Rev. Rose Marquardt.

Sunday school - 9:45 a.m.

Worship service - 11 a.m.

Children's Sunday school - 11 a.m.

Grace Lutheran, Shamokin

Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church, 10 S. Seventh St., Shamokin.

Pastor - The Rev. David M. Byerly.

Worship service - 10:15 a.m. Service of word and sacrament.

No adult Sunday school for the summer.

Thursday, Living With Grief, church parlor, 10;30 a.m.

Grace Lutheran, Mount Carmel

Grace Lutheran Church, 145 W. Avenue, Mount Carmel.

Interim pastor - The Rev. Alfred Bashore.

Service with communion - 10:45 a.m. at St. Matthew's (Slovak) Lutheran Church, 301 W. Avenue, Mount Carmel.

The Rev. Henry Fischer, preaching, with Ruth Doran presiding.

Note - Services for July are being held at St. Matthew's (Slovak) Lutheran Church.

Grace UCC

Grace United Church of Christ, Third and Market streets, Mount Carmel.

Pastor - The Rev. Joan A. Brown.

Morning worship - 9 a.m.

Participants - Bryan Lapinski, organist; Aurora Froutz, acolyte; Beverly Cooper and Dennis Stone, ushers.

Activities - Aug. 2, Sight and Sound bus trip, "Moses."

Harvest Worship

Harvest Worship Ministries, 2079 Upper Road, West Cameron Township, 570-850-4280, harvestworshipministries.com.

Pastor - Sandy Wary.

Sunday school - 9:30 a.m.

Worship service - 10:30 a.m.

Hidden Valley

Hidden Valley Community Church, 162 Hidden Valley Lane, Mifflinburg. A non-denominational Bible church.

Pastor - Gary L. Owens.

Pastor Gary can be reached by calling the office at 570-966-1330, or by cell at 570-486-3967.

Himmel's Church

Himmel's Church, 107 Covered Bridge Road, Dornsife.

Pastor - Jane H. Compton.

Sunday school - 9 a.m.

Worship service - 10:15 a.m.

Communion is celebrated the first Sunday of every month.

Sunday, outdoor service in the picnic grove.

Holy Angels

Holy Angels Church, 855 Scott St., Kulpmont.

Pastor - The Rev. Andrew Stahmer.

Confessions - Saturday, 4 to 5 p.m.

Weekday Masses - Monday and Thursday, 6:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, 8 a.m.

Weekend Masses of obligation - Saturday, 5:30 p.m.; Sunday, 8:30 and 10:30 a.m.

Activities - Tuesday, bingo in activity center, doors open at 4 p.m., games begin at 6 p.m.; picnic committee meeting, 7:15 p.m.

Holy Trinity

Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 150 E. Lincoln Street, Shamokin.

Clergy - The Rev. Frederic G. Stevenson, rector, and Deacon Richard Hazzard.

Sunday worship - 10 a.m. with holy eucharist. Children's Sunday school during worship. Coffee hour following worship. Vestry meeting following the service.

Activities - Wednesday, holy eucharist and healing, 10 a.m.

Hope Community Church

Hope Community Church, non-denominational Bible church, 551 W. Fourth St., Mount Carmel.

Pastor - Dan Renno.

Christian education for all ages - 9 a.m.

Fellowship time - 9:45 a.m.

Praise and worship service - 10:15 a.m.

Johnston City UMC

Johnston City United Methodist Church, 200 Main St., Ranshaw.

Pastor - Dan Siddle.

Worship service - 10 a.m.

Worship leaders - Barbara Cummings and Janette Nute, greeters; Rena Keegan and Jane Klembara, acolytes; June Ramer, Rena Keegan and Janette Nute, ushers; June Ramer, Jane Klembara, Rena Keegan and Myra Golden, liturgists; Jane Klembara, musician; Pastor Siddle, speaker.

Living Power Ministries

Living Power Ministries, 45 E. Fourth St., Mount Carmel.

Pastor/teacher - Walt Kriskie.

Pre-service prayer - 10 a.m,

Praise and worship - 10:30 a.m., followed by celebration service.

Sunday evening service - 6 p.m.

Activities - Wednesday, mid-week Bible study, 7 p.m., refreshments served.

Miller's Crossroads

Miller's Crossroads UMC, 1929 Plum Creek Road, Stonington, Sunbury RR 4.

Pastor - Michelle Beissel.

Sunday school - 9 a.m.

Worship service - 10:15 a.m.

Participants - Betsy Bradigan, organist.

Ministry of the Water and Spirit

Ministry of the Water and Spirit Church, 829 W. Pine St., Coal Township.

Pastor - James Bowers.

Sunday service - 10 a.m., pastor's home.

God's Chuck Wagon is an outreach of the Ministry of the Water and Spirit.

Mother Cabrini

Mother Cabrini Church, North Shamokin Street, Shamokin.

Pastor - The Rev. Martin Kobos, O.F.M., Conv.

Parochial vicar - Adam Ziolkowski, O.F.M., Conv.

Sunday Masses - Saturday, 4 p.m.; Sunday, 7, 9 and 11 a.m.

Confessions - Daily, 7:30 to 7:50 a.m.; Saturday, 3 to 3:45 p.m.

Activities - Monday, bingo in the church hall, 6:15 p.m.; today through Friday, St. Anne Novena, following the 8 a.m. Mass.

Mountainside

Mountainside Assembly of God, 1900 Trevorton Road, Coal Township.

Pastor - The Rev. Richard H. Earl.

Coffee and breakfast snacks for all - 9 a.m.

LIFEQuest Sunday school classes for all ages - 9:30 a.m., with nursery available.

Morning worship - 10:30 a.m. Nursery and children's church.

Youth night - Bi-weekly, 5 p.m.

Activities - Wednesday, adult prayer and Bible study, Royal Rangers, ages 5 to 18, girls ministry, 6:30 p.m. Coffee served.

Monthly activities - First Sunday, communion and children's sermon, during 10:30 a.m. service; prayer burst on the first Sunday night of the month, 6 p.m.; second Tuesday, Women of Purpose meeting, 7 p.m.

Mount Zion

Mount Zion Welsh Congregational United Church of Christ, Grant and Church streets, Shamokin.

Pastor - Gerald Lloyd Jr.

Worship service - 10:30 a.m.

Scripture - Romans 8:12-25 and Matthew 13:24-30.

Sermon - "By the Spirit."

Participants - Philip Maue, organist.

Sacrament of holy communion is celebrated the first Sunday of every month.

New Life Church

New Life Church of God, 129 W. Second St., Mount Carmel.

Interim pastor - The Rev. John D. Ashbaugh.

Sunday school - 9:30 a.m.

Worship service - 10:30 a.m. Junior church and nursery available. Handicapped accessible, wheelchair available, church side/back entrance.

Activities - Prayer room open mornings; prayer, fellowship and coffee, Saturdays, 9 a.m.; Sunday, evening praise and worship service, 7 p.m.

Oak Grove UMC

Oak Grove United Methodist Church, Marley Road, Overlook.

Pastor - The Rev. Zachary Hopple.

Worship - 9 a.m.

Sunday school for all ages - 10:35 a.m.

Activities - Monday, Bible study, 6 p.m., at First United Methodist Church; Thursday, free karate classes at church, children ages 5 to 12, 6:30 to 7:15 p.m.; 13 and up, 7:30 p.m.; Open Arms outreach, 6 to 8 p.m., first and third Fridays of the month.

Our Lady of Hope

Our Lady of Hope Parish, Chestnut and First streets, Coal Township.

Pastor - The Rev. Steven G. Frenier, OFM Conv.

Daily Masses - Monday through Friday, 7 a.m., Holy Spirit Chapel.

Weekend Masses - Saturday, 4 p.m.; Sunday, 7 and 11 a.m.

Holy day of obligation Mass - 5:30 p.m. Vigil Mass and 7 a.m. morning of the holy day.

Sacrament of reconciliation - Saturday, 3 to 3:45 p.m.

Our Lady of Mount Carmel

Our Lady of Mount Carmel, 47 S. Market St., Mount Carmel.

Pastor - The Rev. Francis J. Karwacki.

Deacon - The Rev. Mr. Martin McCarthy.

Weekday Masses - 8 a.m. Monday through Saturday.

Weekend Masses - Saturday, 4 p.m.; Sunday, 8:30 and 11 a.m.

Holy days of obligation - 6:30 p.m. on the eve, 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. on the holy day.

Confessions - Daily 7:30 to 7:55 a.m. including Saturday or any time by appointment; Saturday, 3 to 3:50 p.m.

Peifer's Evangelical

Peifer's Evangelical Congregational Church, Mandata Road, Herndon.

Pastor - Bradley D. Hatter.

Sunday school - 9 a.m.

Worship - 10:30 a.m.

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary

Queen of the Most Holy Rosary Church, 599 W. Center St., Elysburg.

Pastor - The Rev. Alfred P. Sceski.

Masses - Weekdays, 8 a.m.; Saturday, 5 p.m.; Sunday, 8 and 10:30 a.m.

Confessions - Saturday, 4 to 4:30 p.m.

Restoration Ministries

Restoration Ministries Church, 525 W. Chestnut St., Shamokin.

Pastor - Paul K. Eby.

Pre-service prayer - 9 a.m.

Sunday school - 9:30 a.m. for all ages, JoAnne Long, superintendent.

Sunday worship service - 10:30 a.m. Pastor Paul will speak. The worship team will lead praise and worship. Special prayer will be available. Nursery care will also be available.

Children's church - 11:15 a.m. for ages 4 through 11, directed by Shirley Cintron.

Student Life Ministry youth service - 6:30 p.m. for all teens ages 12 to 18.

Activities - Monday, soup kitchen, 5 to 6 p.m.; Tuesday, cross training youth disciple class, dinner at 3 p.m., class taught by Fran Jones from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, Soul Seekers group for ages 18 and older, 7 p.m.

St. John Lutheran

St. John Lutheran, 29 High Road Danville.

Pastor - Kris Brown.

Sunday school - 9:15 a.m.

Worship service - 10:30 a.m.

St. John's UCC

St. John's United Church of Christ, 117 N. Eighth St., Shamokin

Pastor - The Rev. Robert B. Peiffer.

Contemporary service - 9 a.m. in fellowship hall.

Special music - Praise team.

Coffee social hour - 10 a.m. in church parlor.

Traditional service - 10:30 a.m. in sanctuary. Time of 10:30 is for the months of July and August only.

Children's message - Sherry Romanoskie.

Participants - Margaret Morris, organist; Paul Yucha, lay reader.

Activities - Sunday through Thursday, vacation Bible school, 6 to 8 p.m.; Tuesday, depression and bi-polar support group meeting in the church parlor, 6 p.m.

WISL1480.com airs "Porch Talk," a St. John's produced discussion program, every Saturday morning at 10 a.m.

St. John's UMC

St. John's United Methodist Church, 1211 W. Arch St., Coal Township.

Pastor - The Rev. Karyn Fisher.

Lay leader - Paul Stehman.

Worship - 9 a.m. Children's church at 9:30 a.m.

Sunday school for all ages - 10:30 a.m.

Activities - Tuesday, men's group, 6 p.m.; Friday, Narcotics Anonymous in lower level, 8 p.m.; July 20-25, SonTreasure Island Vacation Bible School, 6 to 8 p.m., All children preschool through sixth grade are welcome; July 21, UMW Men's dinner and quoits at Clark's Grove UMC, 6 p.m.; July 24, snack sponsor for GroupWorks teen mission group at Shamokin Area High School, 3 p.m., Bring the donations to the church anytime before July 24.

New Member class is forming, please see Pastor Karyn for details.

St. Joseph's Church

St. Joseph's Church, 11th and Walnut streets, Ashland.

Pastor - The Rev. John W. Bambrick.

Sister Elizabeth Kealy, IHM, director of religious education.

Confessions - Saturday, 3 to 3:30 p.m. Any time by appointment.

Rosary prayed before all Masses.

Mass schedule - Today, 4 p.m. (Vigil for Sunday); Sunday, 8:30 a.m.; Monday and Tuesday, 8 a.m.; Wednesday, adoration all day from 9 a.m., concluding with night prayers, benediction and Miraculous Medal devotions at 4:45 p.m., Mass at 5 p.m.; Thursday, 8 a.m.; Friday, noon; first Fridays Sacred Heart devotions.

St. Ann's Chapel, open each day for prayer. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Wednesday, 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon; Sunday, 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.

St. Mark Lutheran

St. Mark's Lutheran Church, 225 N. Market St., Elysburg.

Interim pastor - Kris Brown.

Worship service - 9 a.m.

Activities - Monday, Wednesday and Friday, Elysburg senior center open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Wednesday, AA, 7 p.m.; Thursday, Boy Scouts, 8 p.m.

St. Matthew Lutheran

St. Matthew (Slovak) Lutheran Church, 301 W. Avenue, Mount Carmel.

Interim pastor - The Rev. Alfred Bashore.

Service with communion - 10:45 a.m.

Sixth Sunday after Pentecost.

The Rev. Henry Fischer, preaching, with Ruth Doran presiding.

Participants - Linda Rubendall, organist; Kenneth Kautter, lector; Thomas Pivarnik and William Snyder, ushers; Joseph Melichercik, president.

St. Michael Orthodox

St. Michael's Orthodox Church, 131 N. Willow St., Mount Carmel.

Pastor - The Very Rev. Michael H. Evans.

Divine liturgy - 9 a.m.

St. Patrick

St. Patrick Church, 331 W. Shamokin St., Trevorton.

Pastor - The Rev. Steven G. Frenier, OFM Conv.

Weekend Mass - Sunday, 9 a.m.

Weekday Mass - 8 a.m. Wednesday.

Sacrament of reconciliation - Wednesday after morning Mass or during the day.

St. Paul Lutheran

St. Paul Lutheran Church, 4663 Upper Road, Gowen City.

Pastor - The Rev. David M. Byerly.

Service of word and sacrament - 8:15 a.m.

Participants - Claire Bonshock, lector; Cindy Henninger and Holly Kerstetter, communion assistants; Steven Balonis, acolyte/crucifer; Walter Boyer, organist and choir director.

St. Paul's Reformed

St. Paul's Reformed United Church of Christ, Gowen City.

Pastor - Jerry Schlegel.

Worship time - 9 a.m.

Participants - Cliff Artman, organist.

St. Pauline Visintainer

St. Pauline Visintainer Center, 1150 Chestnut St., Box 115, Kulpmont.

"Chapel of the Crucified."

Eucharistic adoration - Friday, noon to midnight, and Saturday, 6 to 7 p.m.

St. Pauline Visintainer Center, open Saturday, Sunday, noon to 6 p.m.

Relics on display of Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, spouse of Mary, and St. Peter Apostle.

St. Peter's Lutheran

St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Aristes.

Interim pastor - The Rev. Alfred Bashore

Service and sacrament of holy communion - 9 a.m.

Participants - Linda Rubendall, organist; Carol Buffington, choir director, Diane Wetzel, lector.

SS Peter and Paul

SS Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church, Avenue and Beech Street, Mount Carmel.

Pastor - The Very Rev. Archpriest Michael Hutsko.

Confessions - Saturday, 3:15 p.m., and Sunday, 8:15 a.m.

Weekday divine liturgies - 8 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Weekend divine liturgies - 4 p.m. Saturday and 9:15 a.m. Sunday.

Religious education classes - 6 to 7:15 p.m. Monday.

St. Peter's UCC

St. Peter's United Church of Christ, Overlook.

Pastor - Paul T. Gurba Jr.

Morning worship - 8:30 a.m.

Organist - Virginia Nefsky.

St. Stephen's

St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Fourth and Maple streets, Mount Carmel.

Clergy - The Rev. Frederic Stevenson.

Service 8:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist.

Handicapped accessible.

Second Saturday, 5 p.m., Holy Eucharist at the St. Stephen Center.

Salem UCC

Salem United Church of Christ, 1300 W. Pine St., Coal Township.

Pastor - The Rev. Jean Eckrod.

Morning worship - 10 a.m.

Participants - Michael Toter, acolyte; Eileen Garrigan, lay leader; Julie Updegrove and JudyLynn Weaver, beginners class; Barbara Skrivanek, junior class; Grace Stank, pianist; Taylor Kashner and Sophie Rossnock, greeters; MacKenzie Glosek, Abigail Ney, Sophie Rossnock, Brooke Strausser and George Zalar, ushers; and Dwayne Scicchitano, lighting and sound

Pennies for Sergio will be received this Sunday. Members are asked to bring pennies to support the church's sponsored child from Guatemaala.

A quiet room for young infants and nursery care for infants and toddlers is available during the morning worship hour at 10 a.m. Christian education is provided for children ages 3 to 12 immediately after children's time at the beginning of the worship service.

Activities - Sunday, fundraiser at Brewser's, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Monday, making hot sausages, starting at 8 a.m.; Wednesday, council meeting, 7 p.m.

Salvation Army

Christian Enrichment Center, 1300 W. Spruce St., Coal Township.

Commanding officer - Maj. Tina Streck.

Holiness meeting (worship) - 9:30 a.m.

Sunday school - 10:45 a.m.

Seibert Evangelical

Seibert Evangelical Congregational Church, Route 147, Herndon.

Pastor - Bradley D. Hatter.

Worship - 9 a.m.

Sunday school - 10:15 a.m.

Seventh Street

Seventh Street Primitive Methodist Church, 34 N. Seventh St., Shamokin.

Pastor - The Rev. David Wildoner.

Sunday school - 10 a.m.

Morning worship and children's church - 11 a.m.

Message - "The Prophet Hosea."

Participants - Kathy Albright, station steward; Joseph Rodman, head usher; Benjamin Brudnicki, Alaina Glowatski and Jordon McDowell, acolytes; Bryan Lapinski, organist; Betty Maskowski, greeter for July; Art Walburn, servant of the month; Jennifer Brudnicki, children's church teacher; Cory Maskowski, nursery worker.

A nursery is available for children birth of age 5 during morning worship service and children's church is available for children over 5 with focus on lessons from the Bible.

Manna for the Many for July is jams and jelly.

Activities - Sunday, snacks for 425 group work campers, special offerings will be taken and workers needed; see signup sheet in sanctuary, meeting at 2 p.m., high school cafeteria; Aug. 3, communion, Aug. 4, trustee board meeting.

Shamokin Alliance

Shamokin Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, Second and Arch streets, Shamokin.

Pastor - Samuel Bellavia.

Sunday school - 9:45 a.m. Classes available for all ages.

Worship services - 8:30 and 10:50 a.m.

Wednesday ministries - 6 to 7:30 p.m. Age range is four to high school senior.

Evening service - 7 p.m.

Offered are small groups and cottage prayer meetings for adults. Contact church at 570-644-1718 for information.

Shamokin Seventh-Day Adventist

Shamokin Seventh Day Adventist Church, 7 E. Sunbury St., Shamokin (former Jewish synagogue), 570-648-7770.

Pastor - John Peters.

Saturday sabbath school - 9:30 a.m., with classes for children and adults.

Saturday worship - 11 a.m.

Tuesday, Bible studies, 5 p.m.

Stonington Baptist

Stonington Baptist Church, Hosta Road, Paxinos.

Pastor - The Rev. J. Douglas Hallman.

Sunday school - 9 a.m.

Morning worship - 10 a.m.

Evening service - 6 p.m.

Activities - Wednesday, AWANA clubs for children in kindergarten through sixth grade and Word of Life clubs for grades 7 to 12, 6:30 p.m., prayer service, 7 p.m.

Trevorton UMC

Trevorton United Methodist Church, Shamokin Street, Trevorton,

Pastor - The Rev. Al Schell Jr.

Sunday school - 9:30 a.m.

Worship service - 10:45 a.m.

Nancy Korenkiewicz, pianist, organist and choir director.

Activities - Thursdays, Bible study taught by Roxanne Klinger, 7 p.m.; second Tuesday of month, United Methodist Women, 7 p.m.

Trinity Evangelical

Trinity Evangelical Congregational Church, 28 W. Arch St., Shamokin.

Pastor - The Rev. Brian C. Betsworth.

Sunday school - 9:50 a.m.

Worship service - 11 a.m.

Activities - Wednesday, prayer and Bible study, 7 p.m. Recovery in Christ, a new Bible-based 12-step support group, 6 p.m., Wednesdays. For more information, call Betsworth at 570-648-1682.

Trinity Lutheran

Trinity Lutheran Church, 65 E. Sunbury St., Shamokin.

Pastor - The Rev. David Hauck.

Worship service - 10 a.m.

True Grace

True Grace Bible Ministry, 950 W. Arch St., Coal Township.

Pastor/teacher - Michael Marcheskie.

Sunday school - 9:30 a.m.

Sunday service - 10:30 a.m., with children's study time.

United Presbyterian

United Presbyterian Church, 100 E. Fifth St., Mount Carmel.

Worship service - 11 a.m.

Message - "The Best is Coming."

Scripture - John 2:1-11.

Participants - Dale Schimpf, organist; Deb Wydra, acolyte; Ellsworth George, Andrew Mekosh and Robert Shaw, ushers; Dorothy Snyder, greeter.

Victory Bible Church

Victory Bible Church, Snydertown Highway, three miles from Elysburg.

Pastor - Kevin Kline.

Worship - 10 a.m., with Sunday school for youth at the same time.

Evening worship - 7 p.m.

Wilburton UMC

Wilburton United Methodist Church, Wilburton.

Pastor - Rose M. Marquardt.

Worship service - 8:45 a.m.

Children's Sunday school - 10 a.m.

Zion UMC

Zion United Methodist Church, Aristes.

Pastor - The Rev. Rose M. Marquardt.

Worship service - 9:50 a.m.

Children's Sunday school - 10 a.m.

Zion Methodist

Zion United Methodist Church, Trevorton Road, Coal Township.

Pastor - The Rev. Betty Ford.

Sunday school - 10:30 a.m.

Worship - 11 a.m.

Activities - Wednesday, Bible study, 1 p.n., first Tuesday of month, United Methodist Women, 7 p.m.

Shamokin-Coal Township

Monday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; poker game, 9:30 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; world news, noon; crafts, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; walk-a-mile 9:30 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; bridge, noon; world news, noon.

Wednesday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; bridge lessons, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10 a.m.; pinochle and Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Morning cards and puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; VNA blood pressure and blood sugar, 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.; walk-a-mile, 9:30 a.m.; nickle bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Morning cards puzzles, 8:30 a.m.; yoga, 9:30 a.m.; Wii bowling, 10:30 a.m.; game show, 11 a.m.; bingo, noon.

Saturday - Cards, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Mount Carmel

Monday - Coffee and gab, 10 a.m.; exercise/games, 10:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; bean bag, 12:30 p.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Tuesday - Morning coffee and the news, 9:30 a.m.; favorite game show, 11 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; pinochle, 12:15 p.m.; Unlucky 7s, 12:30 p.m.; trip to Susquehanna Valley Mall, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Wednesday - Morning cup of coffee, 10 a.m.; exercise/games, 10:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; bingo, 1 p.m.

Thursday - Morning coffee and the news, 9:30 a.m.; favorite TV show, 11:45 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; pinochle, 12:15 p.m.

Friday - Coffee and gab, 10 a.m.; exercise/games, 10:30 a.m.; lunch, 11:45 a.m.; Pokeno, 1 p.m.

Kulpmont

Monday - Coffee and gab in the morning; bean bag, 10:30 a.m.; Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Exercise in the morning; cards, noon; Wii bowling, 12:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Do your own thing in the morning; VNA blood pressure and blood sugar, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.; LCR, 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Hand held games and gab in the morning; walk the hall after lunch; bingo, 12:30 p.m.; computer lessons, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Coffee and bean bag in the morning; lunch at Quaker Steak & Lube, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., cost $2; nickel bingo, 12:30 p.m.

Centralia-Wilburton

Monday - Coffee and chatter, 9 a.m.; current events, 10:30 a.m.

Tuesday - Chair exercises with Carol; representative from Lou Barletta's office, 11 a.m.

Wednesday - Trivia, 10 a.m.; celebrating birthdays, 12:30 p.m.; bingo.

Thursday - Center closed. Picnic at Ashland park.

Friday - Fun Friday! Open activities.

Elysburg

Monday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; royal rummy, 10 a.m.; Pokeno, noon.

Wednesday - Healthy Steps, 8:30 a.m.; royal rummy, 10 a.m.; bingo, noon.

Friday - Crafts, 9:30 a.m.; line dancing, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle, noon.

Trevorton

Monday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; poker, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Exercise, 10 a.m.; Scrabble, 10:30 a.m.; evening bingo, 5:30 p.m.

Wednesday - Making potato cakes, 8 a.m.; 10 Keys Program, "Lower Systolic Blood Pressure," 12:30 p.m.

Thursday - Exercise, 9:30 a.m.; pinochle, 10:30 a.m.; movie and snack, 12:30 p.m.

Friday - Wii games, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.; blood pressure screening, 9 to 10:30 a.m.; exercise, 10:30 a.m.; bingo, 12:30 p.m.