SUNBURY - A 21-year-old Mount Carmel man charged with assaulting another borough resident in March was sentenced Monday to 15 days to 23 1/2 months in county prison.

Northumberland County Judge Charles H. Saylor imposed the prison sentence on Kevin M. Reed, of 110 N. Beech St., on a charge of simple assault. Reed was ordered to pay $2,196.28 in restitution to the victim in the case, Richard Litchko, a $25 fine and write a letter of apology to Litchko.

Reed will begin his prison sentence Wednesday.

The defendant also was ordered to pay fines totaling $100 for summary offenses of disorderly conduct and harassment to which he previously pleaded guilty.

Mount Carmel Patrolman Kevin Katch filed the charges in connection with a March 7 disturbance in the parking lot of Dollar General in the 200 block of South Market Street, where Reed allegedly struck Litchko in the face and knocked him to the ground before kicking him in the face and punching him three times in the head.

Litchko required hospital treatment.

Progress reports to be distributed

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Shamokin Area Middle/High School will distribute progress reports to students Friday. All students in grades 7 to 12 will receive a progress report to update parents with their child's academic status.

Children welcome to Scenes with Santa

COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area Middle/High School Indian Pride Club will again sponsor its Scenes with Santa project from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the lobby.

Admission is free.

Parents are welcome to bring their children to the event, where there will be seven photographic settings for parents to snap pictures of their children. Indian Pride members will available to help take family photos, but parents should bring their own cameras.

Also, a Christmas video will be playing on the big screen in the auditorium.

Children can also make crafts, decorate a cookie to eat, meet and talk to Santa and receive a gift.

Name the Deer contest starts

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Lions and Mount Carmel Rotary clubs' Name the Deer contest begins today. Voting boxes are located at Academy Sports Center, Hollywood Pizza and Matlow's Clothing Store.

SHAMOKIN - While juniors at Shamokin Area High School begin brand new standardized testing this week, results of the previous test model still linger.

The Keystone Exams debuted across the commonwealth Monday. They're billed as post-course assessments for all high school students enrolled in algebra I, English/literature or biology, and they replace the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) exams that had been administered to juniors.

The Keystones will be used to determine a high school's proficiency moving forward, but results from the PSSAs aren't being whitewashed.

Shamokin Area High School remains on the first level of PSSA School Improvement. It got there after failing to reach Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) two years running.

And Shamokin Area is not alone. Not a single Northumberland County-based high school - Line Mountain, Milton Area, Mount Carmel Area, Shikellamy or Warrior Run - achieved AYP in 2011-12.

Southern Columbia Area High School, based in Columbia County, did achieve AYP; however, its elementary and middle schools each missed that benchmark.

Shamokin Area's elementary and middle schools fared well in the exams, and the district overall achieved AYP despite the high school falling short.

The PSSAs will remain in place for elementary schools and middle schools, and results varied for both lower levels and for school districts as a whole across Northumberland County.

No one will make it

If the exacting standards of the standardized testing model aren't eased, the district high school will never reach proficiency, said James Zack, Shamokin Area superintendent. That, he says, is a reality most public school districts in Pennsylvania will face.

"As it keeps going up, it's not going to happen," Zack said, referencing the PSSA benchmarks, which are raised each year as part of the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act.

Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia have sought waivers from various provisions of the act, but Pennsylvania is not among them.

To be "proficient," a student must earn a minimum score of 80 percent on a PSSA exam, says Ruby Michetti, Shamokin Area's curriculum coordinator.

For a school and for a school district to be proficient, it also must reach certain benchmarks as they increase.

In 2011-12, the act required 81 percent of students test as at least "proficient" in reading and 78 percent in math. Shamokin Area High School students totaled 59 percent and 57 percent, respectively, last year in those subjects, a dip from 2010-11. Last year was the first in the past four years, however, that district juniors failed to meet AYP in math.

The standards rise this year to 91 percent and 89 percent, respectively, for the third-grade, fifth-grade and eighth-grade students who continued with PSSA testing. In 2014, the benchmark will be 100 percent in each subject.

"I haven't seen any school district in the state hit 100 percent yet," Zack said. "It's not practical to do that."

Ultimately, if a school district continues to fail to meet AYP, it opens itself to a state takeover. Zack said that isn't likely, however, especially with the rising standards. Still, the threat remains in writing as per NCLB.

It would take Shamokin Area High School three more years of failing to reach AYP for the state to consider a takeover because of a lack of proficient students. And it will take the school two consecutive years of reaching proficiency to get it in the state's good graces as far as the testing is concerned.

Benchmarks in the dark

What the proficiency benchmarks are for the newly enacted Keystone Exams is a mystery to school administrators, Michetti said, because that information has not yet been released.

"We know the Keystones are going to come in at a very high level," she said. "It's really difficult to reach these benchmarks that remain in the dark."

Although the exams will be used to measure a school's performance, this year's exams won't count toward a student's personal achievement. However, beginning with the class of 2017, each student must pass the exams in each subject matter in order to graduate.

There is concern that the Keystones do not offer a modified test version for students with special needs, and that the testing matter may surpass what a student has learned, especially for freshmen.

Regardless, Michetti is hoping the high school will see an improvement of 10 percent on the Keystones over last year's PSSA results.

Improvement plan

Since Shamokin Area High School is on the first level of PSSA School Improvement, its administrators are required to develop an improvement plan to raise test scores. That plan was approved last month by the school board.

Among the provisions: align language arts and mathematics curriculum to the common core, making sure the subject matter matches national standards; pursue professional development for faculty; and train teachers to analyze student achievement data, tailoring lessons based on that data.

Michetti says the data analysis has paid dividends so far, allowing teachers to track student growth. It lets them identify an individual student's struggles and allows the teacher to focus on specific content that's been troubling them.

Meanwhile, student participation remains a strength, and the 11th grade math tutoring program "continues to enhance our scores significantly, raising them by nearly 100 percent since the 2006-07 school year," according to the improvement plan.

MOUNT CARMEL - A group of nine Mount Carmel landlords are calling for other borough landlords to attend a public meeting later this month to show their disapproval of a new fee being proposed by Councilman Joseph Lapotsky.

Landlords would be charged a fee per rental unit in addition to annual registration and inspection fees if there are enough votes by council to approve it.

Lapotsky has not yet proposed a definitive amount, but he said Monday his maximum suggestion would be $25 per rental unit. He intends the proposal to alleviate the burden of Mount Carmel Code Enforcement Officer Robin Williams while he deals with problem landlords and blighted properties. Williams' time is often occupied with additional inspections, court appearances and responding to code complaints.

David S. Fantini, of 106 E. Seventh St., submitted a letter to The News-Item Friday stating the case against the new fee. It was signed by his wife, Catherine, and fellow landlords Paul Vincenzes, Mike Magennis, Ron Moser, Robert Thurick, Gloria Moyer, George Moyer and Jeffery Costello.

"Putting more fees on the landlords only causes more stress and financial hardship in an already depressed area. Eventually, the rent will have to go up on the tenants who already have a tough time with the economy the way it is," Fantini wrote in the letter.

Lapotsky, meanwhile, said the average rent in the borough is between $400 and $450.

A fee of $25 per unit for the year would be less than half of 1 percent. "That equates to a little over $2 per month. I don't see how that could impact anybody financially," he said.

Fantini said he and other landlords are in favor of improving the rental market in the community, but not through establishing more fees.

"Maybe there could be bigger fines for the abusers that are really enforced and not punishment for the landlords who do the right thing," he said.

Lapotsky said he "agrees whole-heartedly" that problem landlords need to be punished and good landlords protected.

"We're limited by the law on what fines could be. We'd have to consult with our legal counsel," he said.

$100-plus now

The current ordinance, passed in 2008, already requires landlords to pay an annual $100 licensing fee, plus they pay $40 for the first inspection of a rental house and $20 for each annual inspection after that. Owners of rental apartments pay $20 for the first inspection of an apartment and $15 for each annual inspection after that.

"I questioned it back then, and they told me this would straighten out the bad landlords and the housing would be better in the community," Fantini said.

He said the only thing that happened is the borough collected $60,000 in four years, assuming each of the 162 landlords paid a registration fee.

Neither Williams nor borough treasurer Megan Janolek was available Monday to confirm these figures, but borough manager Edward Cuff III said he knew it isn't $60,000 because there were a lot less landlords four years ago.

Fantini also said housing isn't any different, and blighted houses sold at the judicial sales are cheap.

"Some on council said it is good to get (those properties) back on the tax records. On the other hand, they cry and say, 'Oh, they do not fix them up.' What do they think was really going to happen?" he said.

Matter of fairness

Lapotsky said he appreciates the majority of landlords in the borough who are good and conscientious, but he said it's also difficult to justify the flat $100 licensing fee.

"I don't think it's fair to the person who has one property to the one who has 10, 20 or 30 properties," he said.

Mayor J. Kevin Jones said he is certain a fee will be implemented, but the question remains how much.

"If we have to keep checking all these places, we have to cover that. There will have to be some kind of increased fee. There is genuine concern about some of our landlords, and things have to be changed," he said.

Jones noted not every landlord is a problem, and said Fantini is an "excellent" one.

Meetings Dec. 17, 20

Lapotsky will be presenting the topic for discussion at the Dec. 17 workshop meeting once he researches it further. A first reading of the ordinance or an amendment to the current ordinance could potentially be voted on at the Dec. 20 regular meeting. If accepted, it would have to be advertised for 30 days, and could be approved at the Jan. 17 meeting.

Fantini's letter calls for landlords to meet at the borough chamber, Fourth and Vine streets, for the Dec. 20 regular meeting.

SHAMOKIN - Volunteers are sought to join Shamokin's 150th Anniversary Committee.

Committee members are vital in organizing and raising funds for the celebration, and anyone with an interest in the city and celebrating its history, whether a current resident or not, are invited to join.

The committee meets at 7 p.m. today at City Hall on Lincoln Street, and the public is invited to attend.

A five-day celebration is being planned for Independence Day weekend in 2014, including a fireman's night, military homage, and a parade and carnival.

Several fundraising ideas were discussed at the group's meeting last month, and plans are being developed to begin raising money in early 2013.

Seven people attended the November meeting, a small but growing body of volunteers, and more are needed to help.

For more information contact committee Chairman William Milbrand during normal business hours at City Hall at 644-0876.

SUNBURY - Nicholas Birster, 29, of Bear Valley Avenue, Shamokin, who previously served a state prison sentence for burglarizing Village Towne Restaurant in Atlas, was sentenced Monday to serve 30 months to 10 years in a state correctional institution for a Shamokin robbery.

Birster's sentence, which was imposed by Northumberland County Judge William H. Wiest, runs concurrent to a 5 to 10-year prison sentence he received for a robbery in Snyder County.

Birster, who previously pleaded no contest to robbery-related offenses in the Shamokin case, was charged by Shamokin Cpl. Darwin Tobias III with robbing approximately $400 from Friendly Choice Food Mart on East Sunbury Street and threatening to stab a cashier April 11.

The business was formerly known as Uni-Mart.

Additional charges were not prosecuted and Birster was recommitted to

Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury.

Birster is accused of entering the convenience store at 9:27 p.m. with a blue bandana covering his face, threatening to stab the cashier and leaping over the counter while ordering her to open the cash register.

During the April 11 robbery, Birster allegedly ordered the cashier to "Open the (expletive deleted) register or I am going to stab you," according to court documents.

"What?" The cashier reportedly said.

"I'm going to stab you if you don't open the register," Birster allegedly said.

The cashier obeyed Birster's demands and he left the store with the cash, according to a criminal complaint.

The cashier told police that while she saw the suspect holding two lighters, his other hand was in his pocket.

A citizen gave chase and Birster was apprehended at Sunbury and Liberty streets by police officers from Shamokin and Coal Township just three minutes later and three blocks west of the store.

Birster was found in possession of a pair of lighters but not a knife, police said, and was wearing a blue bandana around his neck at the time of his apprehension.

A wad of cash was found lying in the gutter near Liberty and Dewart streets. Police also recovered a hooded sweatshirt and skull cap Birster allegedly wore during the robbery.

In 2009, Birster, a former Locust Gap resident, pleaded guilty to felony burglary and was sentenced to serve 8 to 24 months in state prison for breaking into Village Towne Restaurant earlier that year.

He had been refused parole and served the maximum sentence. He was released from SCI/Mercer on Aug. 11, 2011, according to the state probation and parole office.

SUNBURY - An 18-year-old Mount Carmel male pleaded guilty Monday to a misdemeanor of theft by unlawful taking and was sentenced to one year parole.

Brandon Chapman, of South Walnut Street, who was charged last week by Mount Carmel police with multiple offenses involving five new cases, entered the plea before Northumberland County Judge William H. Wiest, who immediately imposed a sentence.

The defendant was given credit for eight days previously served in county prison, where he is being held on unrelated charges.

Chapman was charged by Mount Carmel Patrolman David Donkochik with stealing a valuable coin collection from his mother, Angela Chapman, on Sept. 19. An additional charge of receiving stolen property was not prosecuted.

Chapman faces numerous other charges filed by Donkochik.

On Nov. 2, Chapman led officers on a 25-minute chase through the northeast section of the borough after Donkochik attempted to arrest him on a warrant issued earlier that day for a parole violation.

After encountering Chapman at Fourth and Chestnut streets, Donkochik told Chapman there was a warrant for the teen's arrest.

Chapman was caught on a culm bank north of Midway Field within a half-hour after state constable Larry Rompallo and officers from Mount Carmel, Mount Carmel Township, Ralpho Township and Kulpmont surrounded the area.

The Mount Carmel teen was charged with resisting arrest, escape and flight to avoid apprehension in the case.

Other cases

Chapman also was charged with receiving stolen property and giving false reports to law enforcement authorities following an Oct. 27 incident when he and another individual, Richard R. Workman, 19, of 317 E. Columbia Ave., allegedly sold a stolen iPod mp3 player to the GameStop store in Coal Township for $68.80.

Chapman reportedly told police he never had any type of device and was not at the store during the time of the incident. Store surveillance footage showed Workman and Chapman at the store. Chapman then told police a juvenile male gave him the iPod and used Workman's identification to sell it.

Workman was charged with receiving stolen property.

Chapman was charged with criminal conspiracy to commit theft, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and a related criminal conspiracy charge, and possession of a small amount of marijuana, following a vehicle theft on South Hickory Street on Oct. 22.

Donkochik charged Chapman after the teen allegedly rode around Shamokin with two other individuals in a vehicle stolen in Mount Carmel before abandoning the vehicle in a lumber yard. The three allegedly were smoking marijuana at the time.

Chapman was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia after he was allegedly found in the area of South Oak Street on Sept. 5 with a wooden smoking pipe containing burnt residue.

He also faces charges of theft from a motor vehicle and receiving stolen property.

According to court documents, Donkochik said Chapman was standing near Jones' office Sept. 27 when police approached him to serve a warrant. A search of a backpack he was carrying found a GPS unit inside with no power cord.

Chapman allegedly told police he removed the unit from an unlocked vehicle on North Locust Street, and he was in the area to steal items from vehicles.

When asked what happened to the GPS unit, Chapman told police that his mother picked up his bag with the GPS unit inside from the judge's office while he was taken into custody. After getting out of jail 10 days later, Chapman said he discarded the device in a Dumpster to avoid police catching him with it.

MOUNT CARMEL - The following memorials were presented to Divine Redeemer Church in November:

Augustine Lombardo from family.

Irene D. Lagerman from Pam and Craig Rhoades.

Margaret M. Wasileski from friends of Kristen at SCA.

Bruna Zanella from Michael and Susan Mattro.

Mildred L. Sienkiewicz from Elizabeth Trocki, Nancy Kerris and Dorothy Tomtishen, Rita and Karen Alekseyko.

The Rev. Ronald Haney from Mount Carmel Catholic High School Class of 1950.

John Pesarchick from Mount Carmel Catholic High School Class of 1950.

Margaret N. Lindenmuth from Joe and Wendy Adler.

Raffaele Varano from Marietta and Gina Miriello.

Geraldine A. Whipple from Craig and Angie Love.

Helen Sikorski from Gerry Palewicz, RoseMarie Lombardo.

MOUNT CARMEL - One of the two Mount Carmel residents charged in the Oct. 9 strong-arm robbery of a Marion Heights woman pleaded guilty Monday afternoon before Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage to two felonies and two misdemeanors and will be sentenced within 90 days.

Vanessa Ann Steigerwalt, 23, of West Third Street, pleaded guilty to criminal conspiracy to commit robbery, criminal conspiracy to commit flight to avoid apprehension, which are both felonies, and misdemeanors of criminal conspiracy to commit theft and false reports.

Steigerwalt, who was represented by Northumberland County Public Defender Paige Rosini, told the judge she understood the ramifications of her guilty plea and was satisfied with her defense attorney. The defendant, who had her legs shackled throughout the criminal proceeding, was returned to Northumberland County Prison after Sacavage denied Rosini's request to reduce her client's cash bail of $150,000.

Northumberland County Assistant District Attorney Melissa Norton objected to the bail reduction request, citing the seriousness of the offenses and claiming Steigerwalt poses a danger to the community.

Rosini pointed out that Steigerwalt has already served 49 days in prison, which falls within the standard range of her potential sentencing guidelines that call for a minimum of probation to 9 months and a maximum of seven years incarceration for the offenses.

A co-defendant in the case, Robert Warren Powers, 27, of East Seventh Street, Mount Carmel, is scheduled to a pre-trial conference at 9:15 a.m. Friday before Judge Charles H. Saylor. He also remains incarcerated.

Stolen purse

Powers, who was released from state prison in New Jersey five months ago after serving three years for burglary, and Steigerwalt were charged Oct. 16 by Mount Carmel Township Patrolman David Stamets Jr. and Chief of Police Brian Hollenbush with felonies of criminal conspiracy to commit robbery with force, robbery with force and flight to avoid apprehension, and misdemeanors of theft, receiving stolen property and simple assault, and a summary of harassment. Steigerwalt, who gave police conflicting statements about the robbery and initially denied her involvement in the crimes, also was charged with misdemeanors of unsworn falsification to authorities and making false reports to police.

They are accused of robbing Lisa Beury, 53, of 142 E. Melrose St., Marion Heights, on her front porch when Beury arrived home at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 9 after cashing a $500 Lottery ticket at Boyer's Food Market. Beury was allegedly knocked to the ground by Powers during the robbery and had her purse stolen.

Powers then ran east on Melrose Street, north on Brunswick Street and east on Coal Street, where he entered a vehicle operated by Steigerwalt before fleeing the scene, police allege.

Police reported Powers discarded Beury's purse along Route 54 between the co-generation plant at Marion Heights and Turkey Hill Minit Market in Strong. Police said Powers stole only $50 and failed to notice that the remainder of the money from the Lottery ticket was contained in a side pocket of the purse, police said.

Powers also threw away a green hoodie he was wearing at the time of the robbery, according to police, who later located the sweatshirt near a playground in Strong.

Police said Steigerwalt, who has no prior criminal record, was taken into custody at Boyer's Food Market, where she was employed. She moved to Mount Carmel in January from Sellersville in Bucks County.

Powers, who is from Camden, N.J., was apprehended in the 200 block of East Seventh Street, about a block away from his home.

The Mount Carmel Rotary, along with Shamokin, Elysburg, Sunbury and other other groups is preparing a huge effort to fill a 53-foot tractor trailer with goods for Hurricane Sandy victims. Karpinski Truckin, in Sunbury, will be making the delivery.

Items being accepted and drop off sites are as follows:

Cleaning supplies

- Bleach

- Buckets

- Soap and detergents

- Mops

- Scrub brushes

- Brooms

- Plastic trash bags (heavy gauge)

- Baby supplies

- Diapers

- Baby wipes

- Baby formula

- Juice

Food

- Canned food

- Peanut butter and jelly

- Canned veggies/fruit

- Ensure or equivalent

- Non-perishable food items

Clothing

(No Used Clothes for Ocean City N.J., area)

- Work gloves

- Winter hats

- New socks

- New underwear, men's, women's or children's

- New baby clothes

Household

- Paper products

- Batteries, AA, C, D

- Pet food and supplies

- ZipLock bags

Personal

- Bar soaps

- Hand sanitizer

- Feminine products

- Bathing and dental products

- First aid items, peroxide, isopropyl alcohol, band aids etc.

Drop off sites

- Elysburg Rotary Club, contact Pam Yeager 570-274-6083.

- Mount Carmel Rotary Club:, contact Pam Konopka (267) 975-0240 or Frank Sawicki 339-4170.

- Mount Carmel Area High School, 600 W. Fifth St. (for student drop off only).

- Mount Carmel Area Public Library, 30 S. Oak St. Call 339-0703 or Pam Konopka' s phone 267-975-0240

- Pine Burr Inn, 70 E. State St, Route 61, Atlas, 339-3870, from noon until 5 p.m. daily.

- Shamokin Rotary Club, contact Judy Drumheller 644-0229 or Sherry Shebelski 648-4802.

- Bader's Furniture Store, corner of Sunbury and Liberty streets, Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

- Sunbury Rotary Club, contact Cheryl Beeler 286-9744.

- Degenstein Library, 40 West Fifth St., first floor, Sunbury, Monday and Thursday 1 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10 p.m. to 6 p.m.; Sat 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

When the trailer is full, items will be delivered to Church Of Grace and Peace in Toms River, N.J., to be distributed to those in need.

SUNBURY - An Excelsior man charged in connection with two DUI incidents and a disturbance in Coal Township was sentenced Monday by Northumberland County Judge Charles H. Saylor to six months of intermediate punishment and one-year supervised probation.

Michael Lee Long Jr., 24, of 193 Lower Excelsior Road, was sentenced on two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of terroristic threats involving three incidents.

He received a sentence of six months of intermediate punishment, with the first 30 days on house arrest, for a DUI that occurred Aug. 15, 2009, in Coal Township. He also was fined $1,000, had his driver's license suspended for 12 months and was ordered to pay various fees.

Saylor imposed the same sentence on Long for a DUI that occurred May 29, 2011, in Coal Township. That sentence runs concurrent to the first DUI sentence.

The judge ordered Long to serve 12 months of supervised probation and pay a $50 fine on a charge of terroristic threats involving a disturbance on May 29, 2001, in Coal Township. The probation runs consecutive to the DUI sentence.

Additional charges were not prosecuted.

All the charges were filed by Coal Township police.

SUNBURY - Northumber-land County commissioners failed Tuesday afternoon to pass a preliminary 2013 budget that calls for a 2.5-mill increase in the general fund, prompting a special meeting Thursday.

In the latest example of discontent between the commissioners, Stephen Bridy, who was appointed chairman of the board until Vinny Clausi recovers from recent surgery, made a motion to approve next year's $73 million spending plan, but Richard Shoch failed to second the motion, and it died.

Clausi was unable to attend the meeting due to a doctor's appointment related to his Nov. 21 surgery. He hadn't planned to be back in Sunbury until later this month anyway, although he has been conducting county business via cell phone.

But when he got word Tuesday afternoon that the budget vote stalled, putting the county in jeopardy of not meeting the Dec. 31 deadline for final approval, he put in motion steps to get the special meeting advertised. It's set for 11 a.m. Thursday.

The preliminary budget must be advertised for 20 days before a final budget can be approved.

Last week, Shoch said in an e-mail that he recognizes the increase in county costs in many areas, coupled with the county's existing debt burden, necessitate an increase in taxes. But the commissioner said he couldn't "in good conscience" vote for any budget that results in an increase in taxes and debt burden until Clausi reimbursed the county's taxpayers and put in escrow a combined $6.7 million for what he described as his "excessive and unnecessary costs associated with the secretive, belligerent and self-absorbed style of governance."

Clausi said by phone Tuesday that Shoch had been in favor of the five-year county budget plan unveiled this spring, but has now changed his mind on next year's budget over "bogus allegations."

Clausi said the budget must be passed on time to prevent the county from not being able to distribute funding and pay its employees. Despite his painful recovery, he said he'll be at Thursday's meeting, and the press conference he called today to reply to Shoch, "if I have to crawl."

Bridy, Shoch debate

Bridy told Shoch at Tuesday's meeting that his refusal to pass the budget means the county will need to spend money to advertise for a special meeting. Shoch replied that Bridy and Clausi weren't opposed to conducting special meetings in the past that resulted in additional advertising expenses, including recent sessions to discuss matters pertaining to the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA).

Shoch also opposed a motion to approve the 2013 dates for commissioners' meetings, retirement board meetings, election board meetings and work sessions because he claimed two of the public commissioners' meetings scheduled for 7 p.m. at the administration center were purposely changed to April 9 and July 9 to conflict with meetings being held the same nights by the Point Township Board of Supervisors. When Shoch, who serves as Point Township solicitor, questioned Bridy about the changes, Bridy said he didn't know when Point Township meetings are held. He later told Shoch that Clausi was responsible for changing the dates.

Bridy then asked Shoch if he represented the county or Point Township, to which Shoch replied, "I represent both and it's been proven that no conflict exists."

Bridy said commissioners' meetings take precedence on his busy schedule.

Point Township Supervisor Chairman Randall Yoxheimer, who was in attendance, said after the meeting his board will change its meeting dates in April and July to allow Shoch to attend the evening commissioners' meetings, if necessary.

The approval of the county meetings for 2013 will be on the agenda Thursday.

'Sunshine' questions

Shoch also questioned an announcement regarding a one-hour executive session held Friday to discuss collective bargaining matters related to the 2013 budget. Shoch, who was unable to attend the meeting, said it should not have been categorized as an executive session because budget matters were discussed.

The commissioner, who has been at odds with Bridy and Clausi over numerous issues for much of the year, also claimed his fellow commissioners may have violated the Sunshine Act by conducting a press conference at the administration center to request assistance from the FBI in an investigation involving fired Point Township policeman Wade Lytle, who became involved in a romantic relationship with the alleged victim of a rape committed in Point Township.

Bridy told Shoch he requested FBI assistance as an individual rather than in his capacity as a county commissioner.

Bridy denied having any knowledge of a tape Shoch accused Clausi of having that pertains to a personal telephone conversation Shoch had with an individual. If he was taped by Clausi having the conversation, Shoch said Clausi could be guilty of a wire-tapping violation.

In comments from the public, Rodger A. Babnew, Sunbury, chairman of the Northumberland County Democratic Committee, told Bridy it was "childish" for him and Clausi not to accept e-mails from Shoch, a revelation made in September.

Theresa Bettleyon, Point Township, said it was important for the commissioners to "step up" and "react" to their problems rather than continue their constant bickering.

In other business:

- The two commissioners authorized the payments of $475,458.33 to retirees for health and welfare benefits and $110,441.43 for 2012 medical insurance waivers and health and welfare benefits.

- County engineer Charles Hopta Jr. was re-appointed to the Wyoming Valley Levee Raising Mitigation Board for a one-year term, beginning Jan. 1.

- The sheriff's department was authorized to utilize reasonable overtime necessary to provide service for a tax claims properties sale in May, with additional costs added to the cost of the sale of the properties.

- Shoch commended the Mountainside Hurricane Sandy Relief Team of Coal Township for their efforts. David Kaleta, of Shamokin, one of the volunteers with the relief team in attendance at the meeting, said his group had a lot of support from the entire region in helping the victims of last month's hurricane.

Scott Binsack is back in the Keystone State after one month on the lam from authorities and two weeks in a jail cell in New York. Binsack was transported Monday night from Stueben County (N.Y.) Jail to the State Correctional Institution at Rockview in Centre County to await two hearings on alleged parole violations, said Leo Dunn, a spokesman with the State Department of Probation and Parole.

The Shamokin man and former Lackawanna County homebuilder was found by U.S. Marshals after spending a month as a parole absconder, during which time he taunted critics and law enforcement via the Internet and social networking sites such as Facebook. On the day he was found in a budget motel room in Bath, N.Y., a civil lawsuit was filed on his behalf against elected officials and the police chief in Shamokin.

Binsack will have a hearing, known as a first-level hearing, Dec. 13 at 9:15 a.m. to determine

whether authorities had probable cause to continue holding Mr. Binsack. The hearing will be held in Rockview before a hearing examiner.

Within four months, Binsack will face a second-level hearing, an evidentiary hearing that will determine whether he violated his parole. Binsack failed to show up for a scheduled meeting with a hearing officer and fled the state, actions that are typically considered violations. Also, he may have engaged in financial or business dealing prohibited by the terms of his release. Binsack has been involved in real estate related businesses in Shamokin that sought investors. He contended he was acting as a consultant in these endeavors and that his involvement did not constitute a violation.

If he is found in violation, he could be put back in jail until he completes his sentence on his bad check conviction in Lackawanna County, which would keep him behind bars until May 2014, with the possibility of additional time.

LATS sessions start today

MOUNT CARMEL - The executive director of Lower Anthracite Transportation System (LATS) will visit residents of Mount Carmel Mid-Rise today to provide information about the transit service's new routes.

Megan Janolek will meet with Mid-Rise residents at 11 a.m.

She also will explain the new routes during visits to Coal Township High Rise at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Timberwood Apartments, Kulpmont, at 1 p.m. Thursday, and Mount Carmel Senior Action Center at 10 a.m. Friday.

Shamokin Area band meeting today

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Shamokin Area Band and Orchestra Boosters will meet at 7 p.m. today in the band room. An executive meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m.

Weis donating to Protection of Children

SUNBURY - Weis Markets announced it will donate $22,000 to the Penn State Hershey Center for the Protection of Children, established in 2011 to help prevent child abuse, improve reporting of suspected abuse and provide comprehensive care to children who have experienced abuse.

Under the "Touchdowns for Children" campaign, every Nittany Lion touchdown earned $500 from Weis during the 2012 season. Proceeds will go toward funding targeted research, treatment and education at the center.

"As a company that gives back to the communities it serves, we have a longstanding history of supporting local hunger organizations and community-based health care programs benefiting children," said Brian Holt, vice president of marketing for Weis.

Food distribution Saturday

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Borough Food Pantry will have its monthly food distribution from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Notary Shop, 215 S. Oak St.

Participants are asked to bring their green bags. Residents of the Mount Carmel Mid Rise who have their food delivered are asked to meet in the lobby at 11 a.m. to pick up their food.

LEWISTOWN - Geisinger Health System (GHS) and Lewistown Hospital have signed a non-binding letter of intent to explore ways the organizations can work together to benefit health care in Lewistown and surrounding area.

"The health care environment - not only here in the Juniata Valley, but throughout Pennsylvania and across the country - continues to evolve," said Lewistown Hospital President and CEO Kay A. Hamilton. "Lewistown Hospital is an integral part of the community, and it is our responsibility to take the appropriate steps and best position the organization to provide quality medical services to our patients well into the future."

By signing a letter of intent, Lewistown Hospital and Geisinger can explore the possibilities of working together in greater detail. This process could take several months.

"Geisinger is always open to exploring ways to improve the health and well-being of the people we serve and best meet the needs of the community," said Geisinger President and CEO Dr. Glenn Steele Jr. "We now have an opportunity to determine together how best to accomplish this goal for the people of the Lewistown area."

Lewistown Hospital and Geisinger already work together in a number of ways, including the hospitalist, tele-stroke, tele-echo and eICU programs at the hospital. The multi-specialty Geisinger-Lewistown physician practice has been used since 1983, and a second primary care practice is located in Juniata. Geisinger acquired Lewistown Cardiology Associates in October 2011 and Juniata Valley Gastroenterology Associates and Endoscopy Center in May 2012.

"The signing of the letter of intent is an important and positive step forward in our efforts to not only keep our hospital open, but to explore enhancements to our clinical programs," said Hamilton.

Local mergers

Bloomsburg Health System merged with Geisinger Health System July 1, when Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital, Geisinger-Bloomsburg Health Care Center, Bloomsburg Physician Services and Columbia Montour Home Health became Geisinger affiliates.

The merger with Bloomsburg Hospital had been in the works since September 2011, but was delayed when the Attorney General's office filed an antitrust complaint. The complaint claimed Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital, along with the other acquisitions, would create a monopoly.

In a final order approved by U.S. District Judge Christopher Conner, both sides agreed Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital would have a new board of directors for eight years after the merger. Once the eight years has elapsed, Geisinger has the sole discretion to either maintain Bloomsburg Hospital as a treatment facility or use the campus for other purposes.

Shamokin Area Community Hospital became Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, a campus of Geisinger Medical Center, when it merged with Geisinger Jan. 1. Geisinger also merged with Community Medical Center in Scranton earlier this year.

About Lewistown Hospital

Lewistown Hospital, a nonprofit organization, is a 123-bed acute care community hospital serving the 80,000 residents of Mifflin and Juniata counties and members of the contiguous counties of Centre, Perry, Snyder and Huntingdon. Established in 1905, the hospital provides inpatient, outpatient, wellness and community services while employing more than 1,000 full-time and part-time employees. Its medical staff consists of 128 physicians and allied health practitioners representing family medicine, internal medicine, cardiology, infectious disease and general/cardiovascular surgery specialties. For more information, go to www.lewistownhospital.org.

COAL TOWNSHIP - A special charity auction Saturday will help the local Salvation Army in its effort to help those in need this Christmas season.

Organizers hope to have more than 200 items for sale at Energy Liquidators, in the former Ames Plaza, starting at 10 a.m. One hundred percent of the proceeds will go to the Shamokin-Coal Township chapter of the Salvation Army to be used locally.

Salvation Army board member Brian Persing and Bill Dudeck were discussing the Salvation Army's need for funds for Christmas and came up with the idea to hold an auction. Dudeck talked with his daughter Vanessa, who manages the Energy Liquidators auction house, and her staff quickly pulled the plan together.

The firm is donating its facility and time of its staff, including auctioneer Freda Williams.

The first donation came from local coal hauler Rick McSurdy, who donated a ton of delivered coal. Others, including B&L Car Dealers, James Pizza, Mac's Hoagies and Coldwell Banker Realty, have also donated.

Individuals have donated household goods, antiques and collectibles for the auction, Persing said.

Donations for the sale will be accepted until 5 p.m. Friday as long as they are clean, saleable items. A partial photo gallery of items can be found by doing a Google search for "Energy Liquidators in Coal Township."

Food collection deadline Monday

Meanwhile, the local Salvation Army chapter continues with its area-wide collection of specific food items. There are 600 needy families with more than 2,000 children throughout the Shamokin, Mount Carmel and surrounding areas that have requested assistance with food and toys this holiday season, and with pantry shelves getting bare, the special drive was started.

The drive ends Monday.

Specific items needed are instant potatoes, boxed stuffing, cranberries, sweet potatoes, gravy, cake mixes and frosting, hams, turkeys, chickens, pasta and sauce.

Dropoff locations are Shamokin Police station at 511 N. Franklin St., Rob's Good Time Grill, Market and Spruce streets, Shamokin; James Pizza, 524 E. Pine St., Shamokin (from 6 p.m. to midnight Wednesday through Sunday), Mountain View: A Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Trevorton Road, and Northwestern Academy, Route 61, Coal Township.

Contact Persing at 847-2479 or fellow Salvation Army board member Chris Venna at 205-1144 to arrange donations or pickup of items.

Monetary donations are also being accepted and can be sent to the Salvation Army, 1300 W. Spruce St., Coal Township 17866. Persing said $19.95 will feed five people, $23.94 will feed six people and $39.90 will feed 10 people.

SUNBURY - Bill Knapick asked Northumberland County Commissioners Stephen Bridy and Rick Shoch at their meeting Tuesday for an update on his complaint made in October regarding the cutting of what he claims was hundreds of trees last Dec. 10 and 11 to create new trails for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA).

Knapick, Coal Township, accused the North Jersey Shore Jeep Club and outdoor enthusiast Barry Yorwarth of cutting the trees, which he claimed was in violation of the AOAA master site plan and state game commission regulations. Yorwarth, of Paxinos, is a member of the recently appointed AOAA Authority.

Knapick told the commissioners he has evidence supporting the alleged illegal activity.

Knapick said he reported the issue to Coal Township police, who referred him to the county since the property involved is located on county-owned land.

Bridy said the county is continuing to look into Knapick's allegations.

Contacted Tuesday night, Yorwarth said the issue was settled long ago.

"Everyone was working in conjunction with the county planning department and Pennsylvania Game Commission in the development of the proposed AOAA. Permission was granted to us by the county planning department to do it," he said. "Nothing was done underhandedly and we have nothing to hide. We never said we didn't do it. It's a done deal."

Yorwarth said the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and game commission said in May that they were aware of concerns, but that there was "no harm, no foul" in the work done at the park.

Both state agencies previously said they were pleased with the partnership, cooperation and communication they have had with the county over the AOAA.

The latest figures from the Department of Labor and Industry (DLI) show that the unemployment rate for Northumberland County increased slightly from September to October.

DLI reported Nov. 28 that the October unemployment rate was 8.8 percent compared to September's 8.7 percent.

The county unemployment rate is above both the seasonably adjusted rates of 7.9 percent nationally and 8.1 percent statewide.

The most recent Northumberland County rate is higher than it was a year ago at 8.6 percent, but it's lower than it was two years ago at 9.9 percent and three years ago at 10.6 percent.

The highest unemployment rate of 2012 so far was 9 percent in August, and the lowest rate was 8 percent in March.

Jobless rates in neighboring counties are Montour, 5.8 percent; Juniata, 7.2 percent; Perry, 7.3 percent; Union, 7.5 percent; Dauphin, 7.7 percent; Snyder, 7.7 percent; Columbia, 7.9 percent; Lycoming, 8.3 percent, and Schuylkill, 9.3 percent.

Montour County has the lowest jobless rate in Pennsylvania. Pike County, at 11.3 percent, has the highest.

There are only five counties in the state at or above a rate of 10 percent.

SHAMOKIN - The state is dangling a carrot to the tune of $20 million for transportation companies to fuel their fleets with natural gas, and Rabbittransit may be looking to take a bite.

Richard Farr, the agency's executive director, said an evaluation, albeit in its infancy, is under way about the potential to operate its buses and vans with natural gas instead of diesel fuel.

"In times when operating money is short, it makes sense to look at that seriously," Farr said Tuesday.

Rabbittransit is part of the York County Transportation Authority and is under contract with Northumberland County to run the local shared-ride program.

Fuel averages nationwide Tuesday were $4.02 a gallon for diesel and $3.39 a gallon for regular unleaded gasoline, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That's compared to an average of $2.16 for the equivalent of one gallon of compressed natural

gas, according to cngprices.com, a gas industry website, which said the current rock bottom price was $0.87.

The abundance of natural gas thanks to the proliferation of Marcellus Shale reserves throughout Pennsylvania has raised the interest of converting publicly and privately owned vehicle fleets to natural gas.

Sen. John Gordner, R-27, said Pennsylvania is among the world's largest producers of natural gas.

"One of the benefits is being able to either assist transportation entities, government entities, in acquiring natural gas vehicles or converting them," he said.

Funding for conversion

The Department of Environmental Protection is offering $10 million this fiscal year, with applications due Feb. 1 and awards expected March 1. In 2013-14, $7.5 million will be made available with the remainder awarded the following year.

The Natural Gas Vehicle Grant Program offers funding to cover about half the incremental costs to convert or purchase a fleet of at least five vehicles, with a maximum of $25,000 awarded per vehicle.

To qualify, vehicles must exceed 14,000 pounds and must be fueled either by compressed or liquefied natural gas. A bi-fuel combination of natural gas and diesel fuel would also be permissible.

An applicant must also plan to build at least one natural gas fueling station in the state or have access to a fueling station. However, the grant program will not fund such infrastructure development.

There are discussions, Farr said, about developing a public/private partnership to construct a natural gas fueling station in York County.

He likened it to a turnkey operation, where a vendor would be contracted to operate the fueling station built on authority-owned land. It could not only be used to fuel agency vehicles, but perhaps commercial vehicles and others that would convert to natural gas, even pedestrian vehicles.

With Farr saying a decision wouldn't be likely before June, that would leave Rabbittransit out of the first round of the grant competition.

Conversion costs can exceed $10,000 and new vehicles that run on natural gas cost between $20,000 and $40,000 more than their diesel counterparts, Farr said. Those costs, he said, would likely be covered within one year given the savings on fuel costs.

Many of Rabbittransit's vehicles are beyond their anticipated lifespan, so considering natural gas vehicles now makes sense, Farr said.

"The smartest thing to do would be if we're replacing one, to move toward a compressed natural gas vehicle," he said.

There are other costs to consider, he said, such as meeting code and maintenance requirements associated with having natural gas vehicles, like ceiling height of a garage and installing light fixtures that are spark free.

If the fuel conversion were made, Farr said the vans used in Northumberland County would likely be switched during a later phase of any project undertaken by the agency. The first phase would include its larger busses in York County, he said.

Filling sites an issue

Since the grant program won't fund infrastructure development, and without anywhere to fill a bus's tank with natural gas, the prospect that Schuylkill Transportation System would make the switch is unlikely anytime soon.

Mike Micko, executive director of STS, said the agency has "no plans yet to apply" for any of the available grant funding, though he said he would discuss the program with board members.

The STS vehicle fleet is, Micko said, almost brand new, and the lifespan on the vehicles is up to 12 years. None need to be replaced, so purchasing a natural gas-fueled vehicle wouldn't make sense. He also said conversion doesn't appear an option at the time.

Megan Janolek, executive director of Lower Anthracite Transit System based in Mount Carmel, said she would be researching the grant program and her agency's feasibility to operate on natural gas.

Which comes first?

Gordner compared the situation to the chicken and the egg. In order to have a fleet of vehicles fueled by natural gas, a fueling station within a reasonable distance is necessary, and vice versa.

He expects the stations wouldn't pop up in every municipality, but said the potential exists for one to be established in the immediate coal region area, one in the Sunbury area and so on.

There are incentives in Marcellus Shale legislation passed in February to entice infrastructure development, Gordner said.

Sunbury, Northumberland County's seat, does not have a public transportation system. However, councilman Jim Eister said city officials are closely watching the developments in Williamsport, where a natural gas fueling station is proposed.

If it's feasible, he said Sunbury would look into converting its vehicles, such as police cruisers, to natural gas.

SHAMOKIN - Northumberland County is anticipating the receipt of tens of thousands of dollars by year's end, a result of the state's impact fee on natural gas drilling.

The county will receive $80,197.62, according to Pat Mack, county planning director, who added that the money must be used for conservation activities.

Jeff McClintock, county budget director, said the funding will be used to offset the county's annual contribution to the Northumberland County Conservation District, which he said averages $130,000.

The money is a result of a law passed in February that provides funding for municipalities and counties affected directly by natural gas drilling, as well as those, like Northumberland County, that are not.

More than $204 million was paid out to various entities, the far majority of which went to counties and municipalities directly impacted by drilling.

According to a press release from Sen. John Gordner, R-27, at the time of the law's enactment, 60 percent of the fees are given those directly impacted. The rest are used by the state to support environmental programs such as the Hazardous Sites Cleanup Fund, the Environmental Stewardship Fund, water and sewer projects, acid mine drainage cleanup, watershed initiatives and open space and greenway development.

Columbia County will receive $74,744.33; Lycoming County, $4,025,904.26; Snyder County, $33,683.21; Schuylkill County, $125,808.49; Union County, $38,133.07.