COAL TOWNSHIP - Students in fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grades participated in the annual science fair at the Shamokin Area Elementary School.

Winning exhibits received the most points in creative ability, scientific thought, thoroughness, skill, clarity and dramatic value.

The 2014-15 Shamokin Area Elementary School grand prize-winning exhibit was entitled "From Creek To Clean." It was submitted by fourth-grade student Samantha Stancavage.

First-place winners were: Fourth-grade, Gracie Maschuck; fifth-grade, Damon Backes, and sixth-grade, Rosalind Kane.

Second-place winners were: Fourth-grade, Madison Thomas; fifth-grade, David Kaleta, and sixth-grade, Emma Kramer.

Third-place winners were: Fourth-grade, Molly Rossnock; fifth-grade, John Kodack; and sixth-grade, Damian Hile

Fourth-place winners were: Fourth-grade, Mariah Vetovich; fifth-grade, Robert Depeal, and sixth-grade, Katlyn Brunson.

Fifth-place winners were: Fourth-grade, Anthony Feudale; fifth-grade, Kloey Baney, and sixth-grade, Joshua Bashore.

Prizes were supplied by the PTA, teachers, administrators and staff of the Shamokin Area Elementary and Annex.

Each participant received a ribbon, certificate, a random prize and extra credit in their school subjects. Sixth-grade teachers EJ Bailey and Douglas Kase were the science fair co-chairmen this year. The judges were William Clark, Sam Schiccatano, Joseph Wightman, Christopher Jones and Victor Colangelo.

Bailey and Kase thanked Tanya Lilley, Lori Hile and Jim Hile, who assisted with the science fair.

All science fair projects were set up by 6 p.m. Nov. 21 in the elementary school cafeteria. Judging took place after that time. The science fair was open to the public from 9 to 11 a.m. Nov. 22. First-place and grand prize projects will be on display at the elementary school for two weeks following the fair.

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania needs stronger laws to protect individuals over age 60 from the potential of being abused, neglected or swindled out of their savings, a judicial task force suggests in a new report.

The report by the Elder Law Task Force makes 130 recommendations to the court system, lawmakers, prosecutors, attorneys and victim services agencies for addressing the legal needs of an aging population.

"The increasing population of elders anticipated during the next 20 years is likely to result in a substantial increase in court cases regarding the protection of vulnerable elderly persons," said state Supreme Court Justice Debra Todd, who headed the task force.

The task force was formed last year under direction of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

"We are the ones that get it first," said Chief Justice Ronald Castille about the court's role as first responder in hearing cases of elder abuse.

The emphasis on revamping elder laws follows an overhaul of juvenile justice laws and foster care system for younger Pennsylvanians, he added.

20 percent of population

An elder is defined as someone 60 years and older. Nearly 2.7 million Pennsylvanians, or more than 20 percent of the state's population, fall in this category. Of them, 300,000 are 85 and older.

The Supreme Court is already implementing one recommendation by establishing an Office of Elder Justice in the courts in January.

A key focus of the report is tightening laws regarding the activities of guardians and those with power of attorney to act on behalf of seniors.

"We want to see the court get more involved in supervision and oversight," said Todd.

The recommendations

The recommendations include having courts appoint a family member whenever possible as a guardian, requiring criminal background checks for family and professional guardians, mandating training for guardians on matters of legal liability and ethics and establishing a state fund to pay guardianship services for individuals with limited resources.

Another recommendation would expand the ranks of those with legal standing to review actions taken by a power of attorney.

The report calls for more reporting of suspicions of elder abuse.

SUNBURY - A candle that fell on a recliner was the cause of a fire that extensively damaged a double-home late Tuesday. Emergency personnel were called to 246-248 N. Front St. around 11:45 p.m. after residents of 246 N. Front St. heard pops and discovered the recliner on fire.

Although there was an initial report of entrapment, a police officer who arrived first at the scene confirmed all occupants were safely out of the brick, two-story waterfront property.

Temporary homeless are Libby Balsamo and a 15-year-old daughter, of 246 N. Front St.; and Jaylou Bingaman, of 248 N. Front St. Jaylou Bingaman and Shawn Bingaman own both sides of the building and have insurance, according to Mike Rhoads, code enforcement officer.

The American Red Cross is assisting both families with food and clothing, and one family with shelter. The Red Cross will follow-up to determine any additional disaster needs, a press release stated.

Upon arrival of the first fire units, fire was blowing out of the first floor, according to Sunbury First Assistant Fire Chief Russ Wertz. Firefighters contained the fire shortly after midnight, although smoke and pockets of fire were still visible at 1 a.m.

Fire moved quickly through the building, damaging all floors of the building and the front porch. Several windows of the first floor were also broken with the surrounding brick charred. Rhoads later condemned the home.

One firefighter suffered an ankle injury while fighting the fire in the attic, Wertz said.

Hours for the Thanksgiving holiday weekend at local malls and retail stores:

The Plaza at Coal Township

Peebles department store: opening from 4 p.m. to 1 a.m. today, then 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.

Cato Fashions: Opening 8 a.m. Friday

Radio Shack: According to information online, the store is listed as closed for both today and Friday. Hours Saturday are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Radio Shacks at local malls are open Friday; the store at Columbia Mall is also open 6 p.m. to midnight today.)

National chains

Walmart: Special deals starting at 6 p.m. today, then 6 a.m. Friday.

Target: Opening 6 p.m. today, 6 a.m. Friday

Best Buy: 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Today, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday.

Kmart: Special sales from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., and 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. today, opening at 6 a.m. Friday.

Toys R Us: 5 p.m. today to closing hours on Saturday.

Kohl's: Special deals from 6 p.m. today to 1 p.m. Friday.

GameStop: Opening at midnight Friday.

Susquehanna Valley Mall

The mall will open at 6 p.m. today. Check the mall's website for an updated list of stores' opening times.

Anchor stores: JCPenney will open at 5 p.m. today, Bon Ton, Boscov's and Sears will open at 6 p.m.

Columbia Mall, Buckhorn

Anchor Stores: Dunham Sports, The Bon-Ton, JCPenney's, Maurices and BR Worldwide - opening 6 p.m. today and closing 9 p.m. Friday.

Other stores in the mall

Opening from 6 p.m. to midnight today: Totally Twisted Pretzel, Scentchips, Little Fashionz, GNC, Payless ShoeSource, Family Fun Town.

Opening from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday: Heritage Shop (Hallmark), Provost, Gertrude Hawk Chocolates, Subway.

Opening from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday: Nail Glamour.

Schuylkill Mall, Frackville

Mall doors will be open at 6 p.m. today for the stores that are open during that time. The mall is officially open at 6 a.m. Friday.

Anchor stores

Kmart: open from 6 a.m. today until midnight Friday.

The Bon-Ton: open from 6 p.m. today until 10 p.m. Friday.

Big Lots: open from 7 a.m. until midnight today, and then 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday.

Dunham's Sports: open from 6 p.m. today until 10 p.m. Friday.

Sears and Black Diamond Antiques: open at 6 a.m. Friday.

Other stores

in the mall

Victoria's Secret: open from 8 p.m. today until 10 p.m. Friday.

Deb Shop: open from 8 p.m. today until 9 p.m. Friday.

Bath and Body Works: open from 6 p.m. to midnight today, and then at 6 a.m. Friday.

Shoe Dept.: open from 6 p.m. to midnight today, and then at 6 a.m. Friday.

Avalon: open from 6 p.m. to midnight today, and then at 6 a.m. Friday.

FYE: open from 6 p.m. today to 9 p.m. Friday.

SHAMOKIN - An estimated 136 Shamokin homes were without electricity Wednesday evening when heavy snow caused tree branches to fall onto a power line, according to 911 reports.

The outage was reported to Northumberland County Communications at 5:25 p.m. A loud explosion and a flash was reported along Bear Valley Avenue.

The affected homes were along the Avenue and also the southernmost portion of South Market Street.

Emergency crews were at the scene to direct traffic. PPL was notified of the outage.

Nearly 140 customers were without power in Shamokin at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday. Power was also out to 18 customers in Coal Township, 14 in East Cameron Township and 37 in Ralpho Township.

SHAMOKIN - Cory L. Thompson had been in the hospital nearly two months when he finally got a look at the 2002 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy he'd been riding when he was nearly killed.

It was his fourth motorcycle, and he owned it about one year.

"I loved it," said Thompson, before manipulating his voice in mock wonderment. "It was my favorite toy of all time."

The Fat Boy was scratched, scraped and mangled. A friend snapped one last picture of it, then texted it to Thompson before the insurance company had it hauled away for scrap.

Thompson, 29, of Shamokin, is thankful no one was on the back when it was rear-ended July 13. He's thankful to be alive himself and to be relatively healthy. He is also thankful for the overwhelming support that has followed in the months since.

Family and friends stayed by his bedside. So many showed after the crash that hospital staff had to ask them to spread out of the emergency room.

Members of his motorcycle club, The Villains, were at the hospital daily. They helped his family with chores and organized a massive poker run for his benefit. People he'd never met riding in out-of-state motorcycle clubs he'd never heard of showed up.

Decorated officers from the U.S. Army reached out, too, and several showed up to meet him in person.

Others organized a public concert at the Shamokin bandstand. Still more tossed money into a kitty on any given night at any given bar.

And it wasn't just his hometown. People were raising money on his behalf in neighboring Coal Township, Kulpmont and Mount Carmel.

Some 6,300 people contacted him - a tally was kept - via text, email or in person. He'd like to thank them all by name, an impossible task.

"It's amazing to be from a small town, to know if something like this happens, when you're actually nice to people and something bad happens to you, they come around to offer help," Thompson said, speaking about having ridden in benefit poker runs and attending $20 nights for others in need.

"It seemed like every corner I was backed into, someone was there to help me out," he continued during an interview at his family's home on Bunker Hill.

"There's a lot of bad stuff about Shamokin, but it made me feel good about being from Shamokin."

'I became a speed bump'

Death had been kept waiting for Thompson before. He's a combat veteran, a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army's 3rd Battalion, 103rd Armor Regiment. Thompson served four tours in the Middle East. Twice he was peppered with shrapnel when an enemy explosive detonated. He received a Purple Heart after one of the blasts.

Thompson was riding on the afternoon July 13 from a children's birthday party at Edgewood Swim Club in Coal Township to the Wayside Inn. He slowed to a stop in the left lane of Route 61 to turn into the restaurant parking lot.

"As I started to slow down, everyone looked at me because of how loud my bike was, and I became a speed bump," Thompson said.

The driver of a Jeep Cherokee, a 17-year-old Shamokin girl, rammed him from behind. He remembers the impact, up until his neck snapped back.

The motorcycle skidded across the oncoming lanes, with Thompson bouncing and skidding behind as the Jeep rolled over his body. People rushed to his side from the restaurant's patio bar. He was conscious, at times combative, as paramedics worked to stop the bleeding and prepare him for helicopter transport to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

"He had 30 stitches in his head ..." said his mother, Andrea Rollman, before trailing off. She fought back tears at recalling all the injuries her son endured. Before carrying on, she turned to Thompson and playfully punched her son twice in the arm.

Eight ribs broke. His back and pelvis broke, too. Skin was completely scraped from his backside. The bike's tailpipe impaled Thompson, punching through his insides. His liver was lacerated, and the internal bleeding couldn't be stopped.

When Rollman arrived on scene, she was met by a friend who was working amongst the paramedics.

"'I'm just going to let you peek at him,' she said, 'because I don't think he's going to make it.' And I lost it," Rollman recalled.

At the hospital, Thompson flat-lined twice within 24 hours. About 60 units of blood were used on him that day. A doctor told Rollman there was nothing more they could do. She couldn't comprehend, asking over and over, "So what does that mean?" The point was made: keep trying. And doctors did so, successfully.

Lost 80 pounds

Thompson underwent nine surgeries by his count, including one to repack his intestines from the impaling. Red dots pop up on his gray tank top while he tells his story; it's blood seeping from a scar bisecting his upper body from his waistline to his sternum, which continues to heal.

A week passed before Thompson stabilized. It was another week until he was pulled from a medically induced coma. That's his first memory, awakening in the hospital surrounded by medical equipment, tubes and wires stuck on and into his skin. He gripped the breathing tube that had been slid down his throat. As he came to, he looked around for his Fat Boy.

Thompson spent 10 weeks in Geisinger facilities, nearly half of that in the Intensive Care Unit. When he got to Geisinger HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital, he met Sharon Budd, the Ohio teacher who nearly died in the bizarre rock-throwing incident on I-80 in Union County. They were in therapy together, and Thompson's family befriended the Budds.

A stout 250 pounds the day of the crash, he was discharged more than 80 pounds lighter, and with little strength.

"I just can't believe how much I lost; it amazes me. I can't do a pushup, I can't do a sit-up," Thompson said.

He used a wheelchair and walker to get around. Family and friends helped carry him up and down the stairs at his family's home.

To ride again

He's recovering, and is walking on his own now. He does physical therapy daily on his own, too, and his weight is up to 190. There was a point in his life when Thompson could hold a 100-pound dumbbell in each hand and press them above his head. Now, he can't do that with a 2-pound weight. Lifting a gallon of milk takes two hands.

But all things considered, he looks pretty good. He says he feels good, too.

Thompson figures whatever recovery he makes will be completed within 16 to 24 months. He hopes to return to his job with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, leading weapons training and leadership courses at Fort Indiantown Gap.

Fully squeezing his left hand is a goal for now. He's working on it. Without that grip, he can't pull the clutch on a motorcycle, but he expects to do just that - to ride another motorcycle of his own.

"I guarantee," he said. "Give me a few more months."

NATALIE - Brian Hollenbush is already frustrated with winter.

Just two hours into the first accumulating snowfall of the season Wednesday morning, the Mount Carmel Township police chief had already decided something had to give while tractor-trailers and other traffic came to a standstill on mountainous - and suddenly icy - Route 54 between Strong and Elysburg.

Hollenbush radioed to Northumberland County Communications, "We're not going through this nonsense. Shut it down."

The Natalie Mountain is perhaps the most notorious local road when it comes to winter weather, and it took no time for it to keep up with its reputation Wednesday.

"At 9 a.m., at the start of the storm, we had about six tractor-trailers and six other vehicles stuck on the Elysburg side of the mountain and two more tractor-trailers and a few more cars coming from Route 61," Hollenbush said. "There was more traffic starting to back up there.

It was a disaster all the way from Strong to Elysburg."

The storm that dropped about four inches of snow during the daylight hours Wednesday made one of the busiest travel days of the year a bit of a nightmare. Local roads became slush-covered rather quickly.

"At one point, Routes 54 and 901 were closed, as was the road on the Merriam Mountain," Hollenbush said.

After PennDOT crews worked with their plows and salt trucks, the roads were reopened at 12:45 p.m.

'Get there when we can'

Bernie Klusman, PennDOT's maintenance manager for Northumberland County, said they split up their 60 employees to have all 30 of their trucks on the road clearing the snow.

According to Klusman, the start times for the morning shift was determined based on the weather forecasts and what time the storm would start.

"Based on the forecasts, we started at 4 a.m. waiting for the snow to begin," Klusman said. "The precipitation didn't start until 7 a.m. in the southern part of the county and then worked its way up."

Klusman said many of the tractor-trailers were stuck because they had smooth tires and were empty, therefore not carrying a lot of weight.

"When we could, we worked as quick as we could to clear the roads," Klusman said.

Klusman understood the frustration that some may have had with what could have been perceived as a lack of effort by the state transportation agency.

"When we get the request from the 911 center, all the answers were the same: We will get to it as quick as we can," Klusman said. "Our trucks operate on a loop that if the truck is on the other end of the snow route they are following, it will take time."

Klusman said a video about PennDOT's winter operations on the agency's YouTube page is very informative in showing how they work during a snowstorm.

Closures, overnight

Northumberland County offices closed at 1 p.m. because of the storm. Some local schools were closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, while others canceled classes Tuesday night because of the pending storm.

By 3 p.m., Klusman was pleased with how the work was going.

"I did a ride through of the county, going up to Lycoming County and heading as far as Snyder and Union County, and the roads are wet," Klusman said.

Both he and Hollenbush worried as the storm continued and temperatures started to drop, worsening road conditions.

"I pulled another part-time officer in along with the night-shift officer," Hollenbush said. "Hopefully that will take care of everything and PennDOT will keep the roads clear and salted."

"Our second shift started at noon and they will go till midnight working on the roads. If we need to, we will call the morning shift back in at midnight and keep all 30 trucks on the road until the storm ends," Klusman said.

Second wave, power out

At 5:30 p.m., winter came through with another blast, causing more vehicles to become stuck on the Natalie Mountain and crashes in Zerbe and Coal Township. One accident blocked part of Route 61 near Walmart when a minivan rolled onto its side. No injuries were reported. Traffic was moving again in about an hour.

Officials closed Route 54 over Natalie Mountain for a second time Wednesday about an hour after dusk because of weather conditions and stuck vehicles. Shortly before 6:30 p.m., they shut down Locust Gap/Excelsior Highway for an accident.

Both highways were opened to traffic by 7 p.m.

Weather conditions were taking its toll on emergency personnel, whose efforts were slowed because they were waiting on PennDOT plows and tow trucks, which were also extremely busy. One official was heard saying over the scanner, "The longest 12 hours ever."

A tree fell on power lines along Bear Valley Avenue cutting power to hundreds of customers (see separate story). Trees in other communities also fell under the weight of the snow. Some hit power lines, causing them to arc.

Wednesday's storm marked the first measurable snowfall of the upcoming winter season, and was the first since a surprise snowstorm dropped 8.5 inches of snow on the area April 1.

SHAMOKIN - Kulpmont Lions Ladies held their monthly meeting at the Original Italian Pizza restaurant in Shamokin. Norma Zlocki was hostess.

Ann Gard, secretary, gave her report, which was approved on motion by Monica Brozoskie and Fran Ambrose. Debbie Martin, treasurer, gave the financial report, which was accepted on a motion by Norma Zlocki and Karla Zlocki.

Carmella Daniels and Elaine Mirarchi were acknowledged for working at the Halloween parade.

The Christmas party will be held at 6 p.m. Dec. 5 at Brewsers SportsGrille.

Donations were made in the amounts of $50 to the Salvation Army, $25 to the Kulpmont Sportsmen to feed the deer in the community display, $25 for the West End Fire Company children's Christmas party and $50 to the Lions men for the Selinsgrove Christmas party.

It will no longer be necessary to provide a hostess gift. Bingo will revert to $5.

Martin won the 50/50 award.

A motion to adjourn was made by Ambrose and Brozoskie.

SHAMOKIN - A city fire official said Tuesday's Eighth Street fire that left eight people homeless was accidental and most likely electrical in nature.

Shamokin Fire Investigator and Patrolman Raymond Siko II said the 7:55 p.m. blaze started between the second and third floors at 503 N. Eighth St. in a void space above a second-floor closet on the west side of the building.

He said the fire quickly spread to the third floor of an adjacent home at 505 N. Eighth St.

Siko said seven people lived at 503 N. Eighth St. owned by George Atiyeh, of Allentown. The inhabitants are Jacob May, 33; Jennifer May, 42; Amanda Samms, 20; Steven Kazmeski, 16; Brittany Samms, 18; Cody Lopez, 21 months; and Adrian Kazmeski, 2 months. James Broscious was visiting. Siko said the property is not insured.

The officer said the residents are staying with a friend in Lancaster.

Eleanor Vivaldo, 90, was the lone resident of 505 N. Eighth St. Flora Vivaldo, Christine Shipe and Madeline Buchanan were visiting Vivaldo when the fire broke out, Siko said. The fire investigator said Eleanor Vivaldo is insured and is living with a relative.

No injuries

The occupants of both homes at the intersection with Water Street behind the downtown district were able to escape the burning structures without injury. Siko said one fireman reportedly suffered a minor injury battling the blaze.

He said the second and third floors of 503 N. Eighth St. sustained extensive fire damage, while the first floor suffered mostly smoke and water damage. The fire official said the third floor at 505 N. Eighth St. sustained fire damage, while the other two stories suffered smoke and water damage.

Siko said Patrolman Scott Weaver initially attempted to knock down the fire with a fire extinguisher, but was unable to do so. Assisting him on the call were Patrolman William Zalinski and Cpl. Jarrod Scandle.

Siko, state police fire marshal Kirk Renn of the Milton barracks, deputy fire chief Jason Zimmerman, assistant chief John Klembara, battalion chief Bruce Rogers, code enforcement officer Rick Bozza and members of Shamokin Emergency Squad inspected the fire-ravaged properties from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Wednesday. The inspection determined the origin and cause of the accidental fire.

"It appears to be electrical," Siko said.

Bozza condemned both homes following the inspection.

Firefighters had the fire under control in about an hour and remained at the scene until approximately 11:30 p.m. to check for flare-ups. The fire was contained before it reached the nearby offices of Attorney Myron Moskowitz and Bressi and Martin Real Estate, where a mural by the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities is painted.

Fire police secured the homes overnight until the fire officials conducted their inspection.

All city fire units and AREA Services responded to the single-alarm fire. They received assistance from members of Maine Fire Company in Coal Township and ladder truck personnel from Anthracite Fire Company in Mount Carmel.

Members of Atlas Fire Company were placed on standby at Rescue Fire Company in Shamokin.

Volunteers from the American Red Cross provided food and clothing to the homeless at the scene and are assisting them with any additional needs.

MOUNT CARMEL - The Northumberland District Council of Catholic Women held its deanery meeting Sunday at Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish hall.

Deanery President Rosemary Boyer called the meeting to order. Members joined in reciting the Prayer to Our Lady of Good Counsel. The Bible enthronement was done by Debbie Gownley, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance.

After Theresa Conniff welcomed everyone, the roll call was taken and the minutes were read. The treasurer's report was given by Gownley. Boyer reported on the diocesan meeting. Gownley gave all parish presidents a printout of all the annual assessments due.

Divine Redeemer Church will host the next 25th and over anniversary Mass and celebration. A planning commission will be formed to discuss the next religious and clergy appreciation dinner.

The next convention will be held April 20 at the Cardinal Keeler Center with the theme "Faith, Service, Truth and Love - 90 Years of Service to the Diocese."

The next deanery meeting will be held at Divine Redeemer. Boyer thanked Our Lady of Mount Carmel for being the host parish. The Rev. Frank Karwacki discussed the New Evangelization - trying to get lapsed Catholics back to the fold. Prayers were said for the sick and deceased members. The meeting was adjourned and a luncheon was held.

DANVILLE - Two young brothers injured Monday in a traffic accident that killed their mother are expected to make a full recovery, according to their aunt.

Stephanie Geise said Landen Seidel, 5, suffered bumps and bruises. He remains in fair condition at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. Conner Wheary, 6, is awake and alert. He was upgraded to serious condition Wednesday.

The boys were hospitalized following a rollover crash along Route 225 near Dornsife that killed Rachael (Geise) Seidel, 26, of Coal Township. Wheary had been in critical condition.

The boys realize they'd been in an accident, Stephanie said, but haven't yet grasped that their mother has died. The family will wait a bit, in part to let it sink in themselves, before explaining Rachael's death to her sons, she said.

Stephanie spoke Wednesday with The News-Item during a phone interview from a Geisinger waiting room. She was at the hospital with her parents, Gene and Margaret Geise. They've been bedside with the boys since Monday, switching on and off to get rest.

Stephanie is two years younger than Rachael. They were best friends and confided in each other in good times and in bad times, she said.

"She acted as a friend when I needed her, and she acted like a sister when I needed her more," she said.

Rachael, Stephanie said, had a heart of gold. It shone through even when times were tough. Rachael was a single mother, and she was independent. She had friends who were single moms, too. Stephanie said when they needed a break, Rachael would kindly pick up their kids - spending some time with the little ones while their moms got a chance to regroup from pressures of parenthood.

The sisters last saw each other on Saturday, and had been texting each other into Monday.

Thanksgiving, predictably, will be difficult. Stephanie remained optimistic.

"We have so much to be thankful for, as well. Those two little boys, they're very lucky, and we're lucky to have them and to be there for them," Stephanie said.

Fundraisers

"I don't think my sister would want it any other way; she would want us to be there for the kids," she said.

An online fundraiser with a $2,000 goal has begun at www.gofundme.com/htuuac. The 5C's in Mount Carmel will host a fundraiser Saturday, with all proceeds from the $5 cover charge to be donated to Rachael's sons. Both are organized by Rachael's friend, Marissa Huff, a music DJ at the 5C's.

"I was shocked at first. I wasn't sure how many people would care," Stephanie said. "I just thanked (Huff) as much as I could. I wasn't sure what I was going to do, so for someone else to stick up for us like that ... it was almost like a relief to know that people actually did care."

I know I'm going to miss someone, but I wanted to say thank you to everyone who supported me:

Villains Motorcycle Club, Unknown Riders MC, Pride Coal Township MC, Sinister Kings, Hillshire Food, Pepsi Co. Williamsport, Bumpers Beverage, Reinhart Foodservice, Numbered Like Stars, RCA Grounds and Brady Fire Co., Blazing Angels, Shamrock Mills, Trippin Billies, Joshua Bressi of Carriage House Studios, Photo Op Photography, Two Guys from Italy Restaurant, Breakroom Billiards, Advanced Cleaners, Sunny Hills Golf Course, Holdren Notary, The Bowery, Miller's Gas and Oil, Linda Seedor Salon, Anthracite Provisions, Irish Isle Provisions, Long's Embroidery, Dobson's Carpet, Pat's Pizza, Mac's Hoagies, Martin's Chicken and Ribs, Royer's Crafts, Rob's Good Time Grille, Vreeland's Harley-Davidson, Quinny's Pub, Bimbo Bakeries, Brian Burke, Terry O'Shea and his staff.

The medical staff at Geisinger Health System, and all of my friends and family. Especially my two sisters, Kiera Zarick and Ciana Rollman, and K.C. Blank.

- Cory L. Thompson

SPRINGFIELD - Old is new again for Jim Oakum, owner of Springfield Candle and Mercantile.

The homemade candle and rustic wares specialty store recently opened at 1668 Tioga St. in a shared space with the Springfield Music Shop.

Selling candles is no new feat for Oakum. He and his wife have handcrafted candles for years after friends and relatives first advised them to go professional with their Christmas gift candle-making.

The Oakums operated Creamery Country Candle in the same location as Springfield Candle and Mercantile until it closed in 2003.

"We had kids," said Oakum of the hiatus.

Since the store closed, the couple has continued to manufacture candles in their home for several area football teams as fund-raisers. But at the urging of former customers who enjoyed the store format, Oakum decided to return to a brick-and-mortar business.

"We wanted to bring it back because people have wanted our candles (for years)," he said.

The Springfield Candle and Mercantile has a stock of more than 20 scents of candles and wax melts, including "Prim Pantry," a unique scent Oakum describes as "cookie-ish but rustic."

Customers can find candling accessories, like warmers, on the shelves, and custom-made gift baskets are available upon request.

Springfield Candle also stocks a variety of home decorations, including seasonal items like snowmen.

"Some of it is made here," said Oakum.

While the front of the store is now packed with wax creations, musicians don't have to worry that their go-to shop is closing.

"I still sell guitars and accessories," said Oakum, adding that he also gives music lessons.

Springfield Candle is open 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday and by appointment Monday and Friday.

The Coal Township store will also have special hours from noon to 4 p.m. Black Friday. Oakum said he's offering 20 percent off everything in the store as a Black Friday special.

TREVORTON - The Trevorton Patsies Senior Adult Ministry's annual Christmas pork and trimmings banquet will be held at 1 p.m. Dec. 15 in the St. Patrick Church Hall. It will be catered by Hannah's.

Eighteen members of the Patsies met Nov. 17 for the club's monthly meeting. It was determined that Dec. 6 would be the deadline to RSVP for the dinner. Call Rose Marie at 570-648-3035. Members are asked to bring a wrapped $3 gift to play crazy bingo. Christmas carols will be sung.

The meeting began with the Over 50 prayer, Pledge of Allegiance and Over 50 song. Vicki Laskowski, a Harrisburg Diocese representative, gave an informative update on the ministry.

November birthday celebrants were Jim Blessing, Betty Jane Bohner, John Demas, Wilma Ditty, Helen Kalejta and Colleen Koppen. Treasury and trip reports were presented.

For bus trip information for Patsies and Trevorton Senior Center, call Joyce at 570-797-3695 or Judie at 570-648-0105.

Monetary donations were made by Demas, Ditty, Koppen and Ron Kuhns. Refreshments were provided by Bohner and Kalejta. Chance winners were Ditty and Kuhns.

Mount Carmel Area Public Library

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Public Library is grateful for the following donations, the most basic and important source of income for the library.

Birthday memorial

Mark Elgin (Dec. 1) from Mom; Uncle Carl and Aunt Rainy.

Joseph Guzevich from daughter Irene Casari.

Wedding anniversary

Dorothy and Joseph Guzevich from daughter Irene Casari.

In memory of

Jean Bartos from Jim Darrup.

Irene Bernas from Thelma Duceman; Jasmine Paskell; Elaine and Ken Wisnoskie and family.

Agnes T. Bianchi from Irene Casari; Shawn and Ann Krehel; Cathy Lacroce; Judy and Tom Matukaitis; Mr. and Mrs. Harold Morgan Jr.; Mary M. Rudisill; Melanie Wengrenovich; Richard Zinda; Mount Carmel VFW Ladies Auxiliary 2110.

Metro Burak from Jake and Judy Betz.

Peter M. Cherapan from Tom and Gayle Pivarnik and Family; Mount Carmel Disabled Veterans Chapter 129.

Leona Dorkoski from the Nolter girls.

Michael Eroh from Marie Parkansky and family.

Maryann P. (Nevis) Hashuga from Joseph, Carol, Joseph and James D'Amico; Jim Darrup; the Nolter girls; Kathy and Mike Palewicz; Judy Reilly; Boy Scout Troop No. 174.

Lance Klimowicz from the Kanezo family; Tammie and Joe Matulewicz.

Jim and Olga Nolan from daughter Margie Nolan Cowles.

Barbara Ann Semerod from Mary Anne Leskusky.

Catherine Siemons from Jim and Gingie Britton.

Dominic M. "Mickey" Stello from Carol Ann and Thomas Bator; Ann and Bill Becker; Joe, Elaine, Brittany and Brooke Bartol; Irene Casari; Ted and Deb Gownley; Jeff Kanezo; Clem and Deb Laskoski; Judy and Tom Matukaitis; Frank and Mary Ann Murin; Jolene Narke; Helen Pachuski; Frank and Rose Pecaitis; John and Mary Teresa Ryniak; Maria Scicchitano; Reynold and Patty Scicchitano; Paul and Paula Swartz; Melanie Wengrenovich.

Shirley Tomtishen from Joe, Elaine, Brittany and Brooke Bartol; Don and Joan Hildenbrand; Jeff Kanezo; Ted and Jackie Matlow; Frank and Mary Ann Murin; Fritz and Eleanor O'Hearn; Reynold and Patty Scicchitano; Gloria Tomtishen and family; Joe and Dolores Tomtishen; Joe and Louise Tomtishen; Mick and Claire Witcoskie; Mary Louise and John Woytowich.

Charles F. Wheary from the Nolter Girls

We appreciate the donations that we have received for our 2014 fund drive and a special thank you to the following for a most generous donation: John Bush; Family Home Medical.

For our computer fund, we send a very special thank you to the Veterans Overseas Association.

MOUNT CARMEL - Santa's coming to town ­- and he's sticking around for lunch.

Area children are invited to dine with Santa 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the former Dollar General Store, 100 S. Oak St., as part the Lunch with Santa program sponsored by Mount Carmel Downtown Inc. and the Clover Hose Fire Co.

For $5, a child will receive a meal and drink. The first 50 children registered will also receive a wrapped gift.

Children will also receive personal time with Santa.

"(Parents) can take as many pictures as they want with their cell phones for free," said Mount Carmel Downtown Inc. volunteer Jim Darrup. "Santa will pose with your kid all day if you want."

Registration forms for Lunch with Santa are available at Academy Sports Center.

Bike raffle

A bike raffle will cap the luncheon, expected to begin around 2 p.m. Raffle tickets cost $1 each or $2 for three and are available for purchase at Academy Sports Center, 18 S. Oak St. Tickets will also be sold on Tuesday at the Mount Carmel Boyer's Food Market from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Darrup said ticket holders will have the change to win a 20-inch girls bike and a 20-inch boys bike.

"They're not the basic ones," he said. "They're an upgrade."

Proceeds from the raffle will go toward the Mount Carmel Area Historical Society. Darrup said the group hoped to use the money to continue hosting community events, like the tour held on October explaining the murder of Alexander Rea.

"It's for the community, the people downtown," Darrup said of the projects.

Buy locally

He also hopes to create a business directory of the Mount Carmel Area that would help people shop locally.

"If people wanted something to buy locally, they know it's available," he said.

Darrup said Mount Carmel Downtown Inc. is always on the lookout for new businesses and ideas of how to get more people visiting downtown.

"We're open for suggestions for businesses to come in if people have ideas about what's needed in Mount Carmel," he said.

Dear Mark: I know that you have clearly stated multiple times in your column that casinos do not cheat. I am still leery of your belief. I guess my question is, who monitors the casino that their slot machines are on the up and up? - Jared J.

Every state that offers land-based casinos has some form of a gaming regulatory agency that provides you, the casino patron, with protection from playing on a rigged machine.

Let's begin with the machine itself. Each new slot machine goes through roughly a six-month process to be approved before it hits the casino floor.

A state's gaming regulatory agency tests the machine to make sure that it operates randomly by scrutinizing how it selects the reel stops on a slot machine, does a thorough inspection of its source code for any possible problems, and then peeks at the principles behind how the random generation occurs. Only then is the machine placed out in the field (casino) for more testing before final approval.

After the proverbial two thumbs up, the manufacturer can then sell that configuration of that slot machine to the casino. Testing then continues once the machine is placed into operation.

For starters, the machine will run self-tests to make sure it hasn't been tampered with, plus make sure they run within certain parameters, meaning, it doesn't pay out too little, or too much. These internal tests also look out for the casino's best interest in that they make sure the slot machine isn't susceptible to cheating.

In most (if not all) states, machines are also subject to random spot checks in which someone from gaming verifies that a machine is identical to the approved configuration, has not been tampered with, and the chips in the machine match the reference chips approved by the agency.

Agents in the field show up unannounced and armed with a laptop computer that has a database of all the chip signatures. Each chip has a code number that contains all its attributes, including its return percentages. Agents will know on the spot if the chip is legit by inserting the chip into their specialized laptop; it reads the chip and all its contents to certify that it is an approved value chip. Any hanky panky (Tommy James and the Shondells, 1966), and we're talking the possible loss of a gaming license. Besides, most casinos today are publicly-traded companies not interested in exposing their gaming license to loss with any suspicion of monkey business going on.

Furthermore, in some states, casinos can't even access the logic boards in their machines. Only the gaming authority can either make the change or to witness the swap.

Some states do allow casinos to make variations to slot machines under that state's regulations. By variations, I mean either a paytable modification or a chip swap inside a machine to make it return more or less. As long as "approved" chips are used, and the payback is within the minimum limit set by each state's law, it is legit.

Another reason the slot machine is on the up-and-up is that every machine offered is mathematically in the casino's favor. It is the way they make their moola, by paying you less than the true odds on every machine on the casino floor. Why cheat? There isn't any need to swindle you beyond what the state already allows them via the casino hold. They don't call them One-Armed Bandits for nothin'.

Please take into account, Jared, that my above answer is to some degree generalized. Each gaming jurisdiction may use a slightly different approach, but you can rest assured that who's watching who is watching out for you.

Gambling Wisdom of the Week: "Slot machines are the cotton candy and the McDonald's of the casino. Everyone knows that they're bad for you, but few can resist their junk-food appeal." - Andrew Brisman

COAL TOWNSHIP - The honor roll for the first marking period at Shamokin Area Middle/High School has been announced by Chris Venna, principal.

There are two levels of achievement, an honors level and a distinguished honors level. A student must achieve an average of 90 to 94.9 for honor recognition. Distinguished honors require an average of 95 or better. All subjects are included in the calculations of a student's average.

Seventh-grade distinguished honors: Jacob Alvord, Margaret Bowers, Gabriel Burns, Morgan Clemens, Violet Dales, Raven Depeal, Joshua Dombrowski, Diamond Donohue, Kaitlyn Dunn, Madison Foulds, Nathan Grimes, Leslie Haupt, Rhaeghan Henz, Victoria Hine, Destiny Jones, Caycee Kalinoski, Blake Kane, Devin Kays, Hunter Kerstetter, Farrah Krum, Janet Kulish, Emma Laughlin, Sheyenne Moore, Brock Pancher, Wolfgang Pearson, Nathan Persing, Hunter Rodarmel, Abby Rodman, Sophie Rossnock, Willow Samuels, Jasmine Scandle, Angelina Schaeffer, Isibelle Sienkiewicz, Emily Slanina, Jasmine Slodysko, Molly Stevens, Myah Thompson, Jonathan Washuta, Logan R. Williams, Logan T. Williams and Katelyn Zawalick.

Seventh-grade regular honors: Connor Anascavage, Bryce Anderson, Lily Avans, Sara Baney, Matthew Bellis, Paige Campbell, John Carl III, Abigail Charriez, Eric Curran, Abbey DiOrio, Madelyn Donahue, ConiRae Duncan, Deven Elliott, Holly Fegley, Mason Filarski, Tate Frederick, Benjamin Ginck, Brayden Gruszewski, Blake Hartzel, Callen Herb, Brian Hornberger, Brandon Huff, Brycen James, Kirstyn Kehler, Rachel Kerstetter, Amber Klinger, Kaylee Koshinski, Pia Kozlowski, Sarah Kratzer, Ophelia Loftus, Brittney Lute, Alexandria Madison, Blake Markowski, Kevin Markowski, Cherie Martin, Matthew Masser, Makayla Moroskie, Tori Moser, Andrew Nelson, Alexus Newman, Zachary Philhower, Ashley Ponatoski, Brianna Roth, Trinity Schwab, Telaysia Shafer, Hannah Smith, Austin Straub, Emma Tomcavage, Angel Velazquez, Rhiannon Vlock-Kogut, Cheyanne Wolf, Shen Yeager, Chloe Yoder and Destiny Zimmerman.

Eighth-grade distinguished honors: Emily Backes, Spencer Balonis, Jared Berkheimer, Aidan Blackwell, Karrie Bower, Marshall Buggy, Sierra Burd, Steven Carpenter, Alyssa Charriez, Juliana DeGreen, John Delorso, Lydia Deptula, Alyvia Erb, Mara Hashuga, Zoey Hockenbroch, Barbara Jemmott, Chloe Kramer, Jameson Kramer, Cordell Lucas, Samantha Magee, Joseph Masser, Morgan McGinn, Abigail Nye, Jessa Paczkoski, Robert Rebuck, Lake Rodarmel, Quinn Rollman, Joan Schaeffer, Matthew Schiccatano, Andrea Segura, Mason Smink, Brooke Strausser, Matthew Swartz, Abigail Thew, Skylar Truchon, John Wagner, Lauren Wagner, Payton Whary, Valerie Yost, Blake Zalar, Clif Zheng and Zoe Zimmerman.

Eighth-grade regular honors: Logan Alderson, Melania Amato, Alexis Barnes, Krista Baumeister, Sarah Baumeister, Ashley Beach, Mariah Benedict, Colby Bixler, Thomas Brown, Reina Cardona, Gavin Clattenburg, James Coleman Jr., Chloe Dales, Hunter Danheimer, Jeffery Deitz, Piper Ditzel, Lauren Drumheiser, Jacob Eschbach III, Rebekah Faust, Jeffrey Fuernisen Jr., Brianna Geiger, Mackenzie Glosek, Stephen Gundy, Aubree Haight, Teagan Heath, Taylor Kashner, Chryssa Kehler, Collin Kern, Timothy Kile, Abigail Kinsey, Jayla Klase, Joshua Mackenzie, Daniel McHale, Autumn Purcell, Shyann Rubio, Seth Rupp, Destiny Sassani, Garrett Sassani, Roman Schadle, Jacob Shoup, Andrew Shultz, Kylee Shultz, Peyton Shurock, Connor Sullivan, Jose Tejada, Savanna Vercruyssen Dylan Walters and Richard Wright III.

Ninth-grade distinguished honors: Abagail Blass, Michael Breslin, Alexandra Campbell, Jacob Carpenter, Trent Curcie, Anna Delbaugh, Matthew Dimmick, Kelsee Dunn, Katlyn Ehman, Maryssa Erdman, Summer Finkelstein, Abbi Fiorey, Kira Golden, Mackenzie Hasuga, Jacob Jeremiah, Nicholas Kirkner, Jennifer Kozlowski, Emma Mangiaruga, Mckenna Markowski, Sadie Miller, Kamilyah Nazih, Joseph Olah, Madison Pancher, Colton Pollock, Kali Rebuck, Cameron Scandle, Keyona Shoff, Stephen Smith, Jadyn Snyder, Elizabeth Stevens, Ciara Tharp, Daniel Zaborny and George Zalar.

Ninth-grade regular honors: Elizabeth Barak, Kalei Bogetti, Kiara Bonshock, Kasey Brown, Sierra Brown, Haley Burd, Roberta Calderin, Jordan Carpenter, Emma Clark, Madison Clauser, Sky Clontz, Madison Daya, Marcus Deivert, Charles Dettrey, Colby Edmondson, Warren Eveland, Michael Faust, Kiera Griffiths, Robert Hogan Jr., Brooke Hovenstine, Gaige Johns, Dharma Koser, Alyssa Lahr, Ethan Lawton, Kayla Martins, Cameron McGuire,Victoria Nicola, Kaile Pancher, Cameron Popiel, Heather Reigle, Wanda Sulouff, Brianna Wary, Jasmine Wasilewski, Tessa Wheary, Corrina Williams, Mackenzie Young, Dakota Zimmerman, and Cheyanne Zulkowski.

10th-grade distinguished honors: Kayla Baney, Alex Black, Madison Blackwell, Patrick Bradigan, Scarlett Brown, Samuel Deptula, Cody Donohue, Cierra Eby, Thomas Eby, Aleea Faus, Amy Frasch, Brandi Hatzel, Lindsey Miller, Abigale Mummey, Alaina Pearson, Anne Richardson, Madison Rodarmel, Kaitlyn Schrader, Julianna Shuman, Samantha Startzel, Marcos Velazquez, Gabrielle Velez and Tobias Zerbe.

10th-grade regular honors: Zachary Anascavage, Guenivere Angstadt, Cheyenne Burasz, Elena Calderin, Erin Casner, Carl Claussen, Julie Conroy-Marin, Katelynn Dewitt, Zachary Druckenmiller, Rachel Drumheiser, Briana Erdman, Cameron Fenix, Tiffany Gordon, Alexis Herb, Carollyn Hine, Cameron Jacoby, Jarred Jones, Alicia Kapushinski, Mackenzie Koharski, Noah Mangiaruga, Jenai McKeen, Kiara Moore, Marcella Nahodil, John Pufnak, Vincent Quincy, Carson Quinn, Jarred Rachau, Gregory Rishel, Anthony Roughton, Jaden Schlagle, Andrew Shalamanda, Ellen Spotts, Lauren Stanchick, Kelsie Stewart, Matthew Vrona, Aleksandr Washuta, David Wolfe, Brittany Wondoloski, Page Wormald and Sydney Zartman.

11th-grade distinguished honors: Jensen Bordell, Michael Britton, Thomas Campbell, Cheyenne Collier, Caleigh Corrigan, Justin Deutsch, Jacob Dirienzo, Jennifer Hancock, Brady Haupt, Andrew Jones, Emily McDevitt, Brayson Pawelczyk, Sofia Pearson, Christopher Petraskie, Brett Rebuck, Kelsey Rogers, Ivy Savidge, Christina Troutman, Rebecca Wargo and Cameron Wayne.

11th-grade regular honors: Brooke Baney, Kyran Brown, Logan Bulchie, Dakota Carl, Samantha Chykosky, Patricia Clark, Claudia Collins, Sierra Colross, Jeannette Costa, Autumn Craft, Dilin DeCample, Amber Disidoro, Jared Dunn, Gabrielle Erb, Haley Erb, Michelle Fellin, Lillie Fidelman, Ryan Gass, Megan Grinaway, Ashley Gruszewski, Kaylan Haight, Kenneth Harper, Russell Henz Jr., Kyle Kauffman, Amanda Lucas, Evelyn Madrak, Travis Nelson, Donna Rania, Danielle Reed, Isaiah Reiprich, Tamara Sassani, Kayla Schell, Paige Sherman, Amanda Stanchick, Cole Supsic, Nicole Thompson, Sarah Thomson, Jakob Weaver, Glenn Wilbur and Callie Zimmerman.

12th-grade distinguished honors: Tara Blom, Michelle Bressi, Brandon Brida, Jill Britton, Tyler Candelora, Samantha Carpenter, Jasmine Coleman, Megan Dimmick, Heather Elliott, Draven Faus, Devvon Gallie, Tevin Gonzalez, Bridgette Hine, Darian Jones, Elizabeth Kapushinski, Megan Kerstetter, Zachary Koharski, Kathryn Madara, Rhiannon McKinney, Josiah Miller, Carley Nash, Joshua Rosini Jr., Graeme Shappell, Jacob Snyder, Sara Snyder, Kiersten Stasko, Taylor Steinhart, Feliph Taylor, Jarret Willis, Casey Wilson, Tucker Yost and Cierra Zimmerman.

12th-grade regular honors: Jacquelyn Augustitus, John Brown, Richard Brown, Kourtnie Chapman, John Demsko III, Aaron Derck, Cole Fegley, Tyler Forbes, Kendall Forney, Jacob Gallagher, Derek Gross, Chyna Haley, Carson Houser, Elijah Kelley, John Kiracof, Madlyne Kozlowski, Kody Kroeschel, Ronald Laniewski III, Brett Long, Kayla Marchetti, Brittany Markhorst, Brianna Martin, Christopher McCabe, Mitchell McGinn, Nicholas McWilliams, Logan Mirolli, Brianna Moore, Zachary Moyer, Casey Nye, Darian Paul, Joseph Peeler, Shaylee Pesarchick, Dante Picarelli, Rachel Poplaski, Thomas Reed, Sara Rozinski, Daniel Searls, Dylan Sherman, Amber Smith, Anthony Stanchick II, Taylor Tobias, Jessica Tumolo, Jenna Wasarhelyi, Makayla Whichard, Dylan Williams and Trisha Yeager.

ATLAS - Thursday's fire disrupted Thanksgiving plans for many in Mount Carmel Township, where electric service was disrupted overnight and wasn't restored until dinnertime.

The fire destroyed the vacant 100-102 W. Saylor St., and is considered suspicious. It was reported about 2:30 a.m. PPL said 449 customers in the township were without power. Service was restored shortly before noon.

Lisa Vincenzes, of 152 E. Columbia Ave., was at the fire scene Thursday morning with her 18-year-old son, Michael. Her husband, Jody, is a firefighter. Five minutes after his pager rang, the lights went out. Outside, the sky was glowing from the flames.

"It sounded like the transformer was actually moaning, and then everything went black," she said.

She has a gas stove at her home, and her in-laws were able to use it to keep Thanksgiving dinner on track.

'This is fishy'

Helen Pachuski and her son, Paul, weren't quite as lucky. They don't have a gas stove at their home at 105 W. Saylor St., directly across the street from the fire, but they did have a fireplace keeping them warm.

Outside about 10 a.m., PPL subcontractors from Abel Inc. in York were working to restore power.

"This is fishy," Paul Pachuski said of the fire's cause.

"All I saw was flames. I woke up and I was screaming," Helen Pachuski said. She showed a photo album with a picture of a home that burned down years ago one block away on Forrest Street, just behind Thursday's fire scene.

The Pachuskis both had kind words for police officers and firefighters. Paul Pachuski is in a wheelchair, and they helped get him out of bed. He didn't have to be evacuated.

The turkey breast they'd planned for their holiday meal was in a refrigerator that was without power nearly eight hours at the time. They weren't sure it would be any good by the time power was restored, but they were hopeful.

"We might get the bird in the oven by 1 p.m., Mom," Paul Pachuski said.

Siding melted

At 100 E. Saylor St., Irene Hrycenko stood on her front porch Thursday morning watching the electricians work. She was waiting patiently for power to be restored. Without it, she couldn't get ready for Thanksgiving dinner at her godchild's home in Kulpmont.

"We're not eating here, thank God," she said.

Her home is directly across Mulberry Street from where the fire occurred. It was hot enough to melt the siding of her house, which she moved into in July.

Hrycenko's son was driving from Philadelphia early Thursday, and she went outside to shovel snow. She could smell something in the air but didn't see any smoke or flames. That changed within 30 minutes, when the entire top half of the neighboring home burning away. She called 9-1-1 and was told firefighters were already en route.

There were windows missing at 100-102 W. Saylor St., she said, and a door was opened. It was accessible to anyone, she said.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Coal Township police have made 739 retail theft arrests at Walmart Supercenter since it opened in 1997 - and 115 of those were made this year.

Police Chief William Carpenter said the number has more than doubled in 2014 from previous years, and he expects the total to significantly increase during the holiday shopping season.

The volume of retail thefts at the Walmart near Lewisburg prompted a criticism of store security efforts by a Union County judge earlier this year and a concerted effort among store and local police to address the issue, but the Coal Township store isn't generating the same concerns.

Craig Fetterman, president of the Coal Township Board of Commissioners, believes the "juice is worth the squeeze" when comparing the benefits of Walmart against the costs of investigating and prosecuting retail thefts.

"Walmart has a good loss-prevention program," he said.

Plus, it's fighting a tough economy.

"Times have gotten tougher for people and drugs are more plentiful, which lead to crimes like retail theft," said Fetterman, who has worked in retail for many years from ground to executive levels. "There are a lot of retail thefts at Walmart because it's the only major store in the area to steal from."

More being caught

Carpenter said the number of retail theft arrests are up because more people are being caught by asset protection associates at Walmart.

"Our arrests are certainly up this year, but I can't say for certain if the amount of retail thefts have actually increased since I don't how many people weren't caught," he said.

He praised Walmart for its security procedures and said his department has a good working relationship with the business.

The chief pointed out that his department has received approximately five grants totaling more than $5,000 through the years that were used for equipment and supplies. He also said Walmart annually donates bikes for the police bicycle rodeo.

He said many people commit retail theft to support their drug habits. He said the type of individuals stealing from Walmart range in age and include many repeat offenders, in addition to people who are just desperate for food, clothing or other items.

He said the electronics department is usually hit the hardest in terms of thefts.

"Thieves like to steal the hot items that they can sell quickly for drug money," he said.

Video games - but also baby formula - are among the most frequently stolen items.

Aaron Mullins, a Walmart spokesman at the home office in Bentonville, Ark., said the corporation takes retail thefts and other crimes very seriously and works closely with local law enforcement to make sure their stores and the communities they serve are safe.

"Security is the top priority at our stores," he said. "We are constantly evaluating our security measures and always looking for ways to improve. We have a dedicated team of associates who work hard to keep our stores safe."

Mullins said it is company policy not to release the number of employees or asset protection associates at each store.

One every 9 days

Since its opening, the average number of retail theft cases at the Coal Township Walmart per year is 41, or about one every nine days.

Carpenter said an officer spends between 1 and 1 1/2 hours investigating a routine retail theft. He said a more extensive retail theft investigation can take up to several days.

So far in 2014, approximately $5,000 has been spent on officers attending preliminary hearings for those retail theft offenses.

Carpenter said most of the retail theft arrests are summaries that result in defendants pleading guilty at the magisterial level. He said misdemeanor and felony offenses involve preliminary hearings and can possibly proceed to trial.

He said summary citations are issued when it's a person's first retail theft offense and the stolen merchandise is less than $150.

A second-degree misdemeanor is filed when it's a person's second offense and the merchandise is less than $150. A first-degree misdemeanor is filed when it's a person's first or second offense and the merchandise is $150 or more. And a person faces a third-degree felony when it's his or her third or more offense, regardless of the value of the merchandise.

A third-degree felony also is filed when the merchandise is valued at $2,000 or more, regardless of how many times the person has committed the offense.

'Good neighbor'

Coal Township Tax Collector Sharon Castetter said the township received $44,760.22 in real estate taxes from Walmart in 2014. She said $41,239.75 goes to the general fund while $502.93, $2,011.69 and $1,005.85 goes toward the library, fire protection and pension funds, respectively.

She said Northumberland County received $49,825.66 in tax revenue while Shamokin Area School District got $56,226.87, making the total for the three taxing bodies $150,812.75.

Although he realizes downtown merchants and other businesses have been adversely affected by Walmart, Fetterman said the tax revenue realized by the township and the employment numbers (150-plus) outweigh the overtime costs for police to prosecute crimes that occur at the store.

"Walmart is a good neighbor and we need them," he said.

Walmart and the police

Some other figures involving Coal Township police and Walmart:

- In addition to calls for 739 retail thefts, police have responded to 340 other incidents at the store over the past 17 years, an average of 19 per year. Those include assaults, domestic disturbances, accidents in the parking lot, 911 hang-ups, bomb threats, bad checks, criminal mischief, thefts and unattended children/animal complaints.

- Out of 330 monthly police calls in the township, five of them are at Walmart, representing about 1.5 percent.

- A yearly average of six reportable accidents and six non-reportable crashes have occurred at the intersection of Route 61 and Walmart since 1997. Reportable accidents involve injuries and towing. Since 2006, the intersection has also served The Plaza at Coal Township on the opposite side of Route 61 from Walmart.