Marriage licenses

Jeffrey Richard Ramer to Emily Ann Laskowski, both of 417 E. Spruce St., Shamokin. Issued Nov. 28.

Thomas Edward Spears to Kelly Ann Chapman, both of 366 Missouri Lane, Kulpmont. Issued Nov. 28.

Michael Anthony Zangari to Caroline M. Kinnaman, both of 42 S. Vine St., Mount Carmel. Issued Nov. 28.

Property transfers

Mabel V. Wilinski to Robert A. McAnnaney, property in Coal Township, $7,000.

Cail S. Billow and Dianne L. and Derl Knarr to Delroy W. and Sandra Lee Strohecker, property in Jordan Township, $1,500.

Dennis G. and Phyllis I. Matter to Phillip J. Matter and Jennifer Wynn, property in Lower Mahanoy Township, $1.

Robert E. Belfanti Jr. (executor) and Rosemarie Belfanti (estate) to Roger Scull and Pamela Mychak-Scull, property in Mount Carmel Borough, $1.

M. Roger and Phyllis M. Sweppenhiser to Mark and Nicole Sweppenhiser, property in Jackson Township, $1.

Bryan Primerano to Lisa M. Swartz, property in Shamokin, $12,000.

The Christian Science Society of Shamokin, Joan L. Eltringham (trustee), Susan J. Losiewicz (trustee) and Shirley Mae Kieffer (trustee) to Samuel N. and Kathy A. Vetovich, property in Coal Township, $28,500.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau and Paul E. and Joan S. Sweda to Kim Young, property in Coal Township, $120.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau and Paul E. and Joan S. Sweda to Kim Young, property in Coal Township, $120.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau and Arthur C. and Alice Burrows to Rodderick Todd Metzger, property in Ralpho Township, $1,200.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau and Spring Glen Development Co. to Timothy T. and Cynthia Shiffer, property in Jordan Township, $4,500.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau and Joseph A. Wallen II to Anthony W. and Erica Renn Adams, property in Rockefeller Township, $3,542.39.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau and Robert H. and Sue A. Smith to Rodderick Todd Metzger, property in Zerbe Township, $875.91

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau, Leon V. Kerstetter and Nelson E. Weikel to Rodderick Todd Metzger, property in East Cameron Township, $652.21

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau and Betty M. Stahl (estate) to Equity Trust Co. (custodian) and Roger P. Grattan, property in East Cameron Township, $2,069.67.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau, Norman A. Krepshaw, Mary L. Krepshaw, Christina L. Sakalosky and Doris Ann Kodak to Robert Mikal and Cathy Mae Krepshaw, property in Ralpho Township, $5,500.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau and Pearl McGinnes to George R. Zelnick, Carolyn Wolfe and Alan Zelnick, property in Shamokin Township, $588.58.

Donna F. Hovenstine to Karen R. Dealy and Roderick W. Vanamburgh, property in Upper Augusta Township, $110,700.

William J. Redd to William D. and Jodi L. Henry, property in Kulpmont, $23,000.

Michael Katch (estate) and Dolores A. Katch (individually and as executrix) to Mignon L. Gundrum, property in Mount Carmel Borough, $70,000.

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (trustee) to Donald R. Diotte, property in Mount Carmel Borough, $8,500.

Frank and Nancy Supatina to Frank and Nancy Supatina, property in Mount Carmel Township, $1.

Patricia A. Laughlin to John T. Laughlin and Sonia Barrera, property in Mount Carmel Township, $13,612.50.

Hubert J. Witcoskie to Michael H. and Randall K. Witcoskie, property in Ralpho Township, $1.

Michael H. and Mary C. Witcoski to Michael H. Witcoski, Mary C. Witcoskie, Michael J. Wydra and Bradley D. Witcoskie, property in Ralpho Township, $1.

Gregory Scott and Kristi Shell Drumheller to Gregory Scott and Kristi Shell Drumheller, property in Lower Augusta Township, $1.

Beamz Properties LLC to Michael A. Habowski, property in Mount Carmel, $20,000.

Regina Anonia to Regina Anonia, property in Zerbe Township, $1.

Cookie sale to save the pool

MOUNT CARMEL - Monday, Dec. 8, is the deadline to order homemade Christmas cookies benefitting the Mount Carmel Area Save the Pool Fund.

Chocolate chip, peanut butter blossoms, ricotta, cut out, sugar and pizelles are available. Cookies $3.50 for a half-dozen, $6 for a dozen and $28 for a tray. Pizelles are $4 for a half-dozen and $7 for a dozen.

Pickup is Monday, Dec. 15.

Call Jessica 570-509-4444 or Tracy 570-259-6711 or email mcasharks@live.com for ordering infomation.

SHAMOKIN - More than 50 years after it first began, "Letters to Santa" lives yet again for Christmas 2014.

Retired radio personality Tom Kutza continues his "special arrangement" with Santa Claus to produce the lower anthracite region tradition, which was born on WISL Radio in 1961 and continues today at www.newsitem.com.

Letters to Santa went silent along with WISL in the late 1990s, but was revived by Kutza and The News-Item in 2003.

The first of 24 daily shows airs today. Santa reads letters submitted by children mixed with Christmas music and sentiments. Weekend shows feature music and other special programming.

A list of which children's letters are being read that day is published as part of a Christmas countdown graphic on the front page of The News-Item starting today.

Kutza's radio career has also been revived through the creation a few years ago of WISL1480.com, which airs music from the 1950s, '60s and early '70s. Kutza, of Elysburg, credits the efforts and expertise of brothers Frank, James and John Treese in creating the Internet radio website, for which he produces a weekly polka show that airs from noon to 2 p.m. Sundays. The Treeses also help produce Letters to Santa.

Meanwhile, Santa spends the off-season preparing for his show by studying the latest technologies and toys that several hundred kids ask for through their letters each year.

"Santa is ready, and he can't wait to hear from the children," Kutza said.

Daily shows continue through Dec. 24. Letters must be emailed by Dec. 14 to santa@newsitem.com.

Community Ambulance dinner

TREVORTON - Trevorton Community Ambulance will hosts its seventh annual Christmas dinner beginning at noon Saturday, Dec. 13, at the new ambulance building, 510 W. Market St.

The main course this year is roast beef with sides of mashed potatoes, filling and vegetables. Pumpkin pie will be served as dessert.

Dinner is free. Home delivery is available for elderly and disabled residents of Zerbe, East Cameron, West Cameron and Little Mahanoy townships. Please call 570-797-4951 before Dec. 11 to arrange home delivery.

The following landlord/tenant claims or judgments were filed in magisterial district court:

John Gembic III, Shamokin

Lamar and Sheila Kerstetter, of Montoursville, against Debbie Sweeney, of Shamokin, for $1,439.53, filed Nov. 25. A hearing is scheduled for Dec. 11.

Hugh A. Jones, Mount Carmel

Frank and Betty Ann Bergonia, of Marion Heights, with Home Aid Construction Co., of Marion Heights, as remitter, awarded $6,467.85 in rent, damages and court costs on Nov. 25 from Nicole Baker, of Kulpmont.

TREVORTON - What began as a small gathering to light up the town's Christmas tree has turned into a community holiday season staple.

More than 200 people turned up at the Foundry Sunday evening for the Third Annual Trevorton Community Christmas, hosted by the Trevorton Heritage Society.

The event kicked off at 5:30 p.m. Sunday with a "mingle and jingle" featuring cookies, coffee and cocoa inside the pool house at the Foundry.

A brief program with caroling by the St. Patrick Church choir gave way to the arrival of Santa, who took a brisk ride through town in a sleigh custom-made by township employees. He was accompanied by Trevorton emergency personnel, who lit his path through town with their flashing lights.

Volunteers with the Trevorton Heritage Society had been working as hard as Santa's elves, stringing up lights, decorating trees and assembling the 97 gift bags distributed to children who visited Santa.

The bags included candy and crafting supplies perfect for a girl or boy of any age, said society member Alyce Bostwick.

"Every year we give them a keepsake ornament that they can put a picture in," said Bostwick.

Jezline Maurer, 2, of West Cameron, jumped around the hallway of the former pool house as she awaited her turn to meet Santa.

When she finally had her chance, she became quiet, looking out at her mother while Santa asked her what she'd like for Christmas.

Then, quietly, she said, "A puppy."

Other children were more vocal about their hopes for presents under the tree. Her brother, Chandon Maurer, 9, eagerly piped up his wishes for a dirt bike.

The line for Santa snaked out through the halls of the former pool house, which the Trevorton Heritage Society hopes to eventually renovate into a community center and historical library.

To help fund the upcoming project, the society is selling 2015 calendars, Trevorton pennants and ornaments that will hang on trees in the Post Office storefront. The items can be purchased during store hours at Angie's Market.

"We're having a blast," said society member Rosanne Marquette while manning the fundraising table on Sunday evening.

The cement block pool house still became cool as the temperature dipped into the 30s. But unlike previous years, the bitter cold was mitigated with new plywood installed by Zerbe Township in the slotted windows of the former changing areas.

Township supervisor Mike Schwartz said he and his fellow supervisors were happy to support the celebration.

"It's wonderful that the Heritage Society does this event every year," said Schwartz. "It puts everyone in the Christmas spirit."

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Shamokin Area Senior High choral ensembles will present its annual winter concert at 7 p.m. Thursday in the high school auditorium. The public is invited to this free performance.

The concert will feature the high school chorale, chamber choir and chorus performing a variety of original music as well as traditional and popular holiday favorites. Highlights include creative arrangements of the popular carols "The Twelve Days of Christmas" and "Here We Come A-Wassailing;" a jazz a cappella arrangement of "Up on the Housetop;" and "Star of Bethlehem" and "Merry Christmas, Merry Christmas" from the Home Alone movies.

The pop favorite "Santa Baby" will be performed by the girls of the chorus, featuring soloist Jill Britton and Santa Claus (Nick McWilliams); the boys will perform "You're a Mean One, Mister Grinch," featuring Eli Kolovic, Graeme Shappell and the Grinch (Austin Britton).

Chorale members are Jackie Augustitus, Jill Britton, Austin Britton, Richard Brown, Zachary Druckenmiller, Thomas Eby, Heather Elliott, Amy Frasch, Tevin Gonzalez, RJ Gurba, Brady Haupt, Eli Kolovic, Katie Madara, Nick McWilliams, Leah Mirolli, Darian Paul, Anne Richardson, Ashley Ripa, Kevin Schank, Jessica Schleig, Kaitlyn Schrader, Graeme Shappell, John Sheipe, Elizabeth Stevens, Cole Supsic, Gabrielle Velez, David Wolfe and Jessica Wywadis.

Chorus members include TJ Alderson, Elizabeth Barak, Alex Black, Madison Blackwell, Samantha Carpenter, Jeannette Costa, Feather Duncan, Jarred Jones, Kyle Kauffman, Dariah Korbich, Kasandra Lisiewicz, Kayla Martins, Marcella Nahodil, Ashley Pennell, Nicholas Phillips, Sara Snyder, Samantha Startzel, Wanda Sulouff, Rebecca Wargo, Eric Weikel and Taylor Youells.

The ensembles are under the direction of Mary Anne Stump. Piano accompanists are Jill Britton and Bonny Klinger. Percussionist is Tyler Forbes.

HARRISBURG - The annual base salary for state lawmakers will automatically increase 1.6 percent to $85,356, but a number of lawmakers representing northeast Pennsylvania said they won't accept it.

This $1,344 cost-of-living increase is tied to an inflation index based on the federal consumer price index for the Mid-Atlantic states; it's adjusted annually under terms of a 1995 law.

The 2014 base salary was $84,012, but legislative leaders receive extra stipends.

Since the pay increase is automatic, lawmakers need to take a proactive step to avoid receiving the extra money, either by writing a refund check to the state Treasury, sometimes on a monthly or quarterly basis, or by giving it to charity.

As a result of their decisions, some lawmakers will collect the 2014 salary of $84,012 throughout 2015, while a few will continue to collect the salary in effect at the time they first took office.

The governor and cabinet secretaries, judges and elected state row officials also receive automatic COLAs. Gov. Tom Corbett has returned the COLA since he took office in 2011. Gov.-elect Tom Wolf has said he will not take the governor's new $191,000 annual salary.

However, the legislative COLA usually draws the most public scrutiny. That's because of lingering controversy over an abortive effort in 2005 to hike the base legislative salary while keeping the COLA.

The COLA will mean a pension bounce for individual lawmakers no matter what option they take, said Capitol activist Eric Epstein of RockTheCapital.com.

"This is a major impact for Pennsylvania taxpayers," he said.

Lawmakers gave various reasons for their decisions. At the height of the recession, many in this region cited concerns about the high jobless rate as a reason for not taking the COLA, but less was heard about that subject this year with an improving economy.

Where lawmakers stand

Sen. John Gordner, R-27, Berwick, said he plans to donate the COLA to several charities. Rep. Kurt Masser, R-107, Elysburg, said he'll do likewise, though he hasn't yet chosen which ones.

"I'd much rather have the money stay local," as opposed to being returned to the Treasury, he said.

"I do not agree with the automatic cost-of-living adjustments, and will continue my practice of donating them to local charities," said Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Township, Luzerne County.

Baker said she will again sponsor a bill next session to abolish the automatic raises.

Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, said he will continue his practice of contributing the COLA to charities in his district. He said he has cosponsored bills to end COLAs and expressed hope they will be passed in the next session.

Rep. Marty Flynn, D-113, Scranton, said he plans to use the increase to underwrite the cost of a Christmas event next month where bikes and toys are distributed to children.

Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich, D-114, Taylor, said he returns the COLA each year to the state Treasury, a policy noted on his legislative website.

"I believe it's taxpayers' money," he said.

Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, Pottsville, said he plans to accept the salary increase. He said he intends to do a good job as a lawmaker in the new session advocating issues he's worked on, like public pension reform.

Sen.-elect Mario Scavello, R-40, Mount Pocono, plans to donate the COLA to charities. As a House lawmaker, Scavello said he has traditionally donated from $5,000 to $6,000 of his base salary to charities.

"I return it (COLA) to the Treasury," said Rep. Gerald Mullery, D-119, Newport Township, Luzerne County. He said his salary is the $78,315 in effect when he took office in 2011.

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-121, Wilkes-Barre, said he plans to donate his COLA to the United Way and other charities.

Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116, Butler Twp., plans to give the majority of her COLA to area charities.

Likewise, Rep. Frank Farina, D-115, Jessup, plans to give his COLA to charities, said aide Dave Valvano.

Rep. Mike Carroll, D-118, Avoca, plans to refund the COLA to the state Treasury. He will receive the 2014 base salary.

"As I have done in the past, I will return the COLA to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," said Rep. Karen Boback, R-117, Harveys Lake, referring to the treasury option.

Sen. John Yudichak, D-14, Plymouth Twp., said he plans to continue donating COLA funds to local charities "as much as personal family obligations permit."

Yudichak said he voted against and did not take a legislative pension boost in 2001 and the 2005 pay raise.

Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, Tamaqua, said he will refund his COLA to the state Treasury as in previous years.

Sen. David Argall, R-29, Tamaqua, is reviewing several options, but has made no decision yet on the COLA, spokesman Jon Hopcraft said.

THARPTOWN - While Jared Dunn appears to be a typical eleventh-grade student at Shamokin Area High School, he's already had the highest award Coal Township can bestow given to him by spending each Christmas season transforming the park in Tharptown into a winter wonderland.

Jared said he began working on the Christmas display since before he could remember.

Scott Dunn, said his son's involvement began "as soon as he could walk."

Building elaborate Christmas displays run in the Dunn family.

"My grandfather used to do something similar at his house," said Scott, who grew up on the 400 block of Center Street in Tharptown.

Scott still provides his help with the Christmas display by building the wooden statues.

"I hope he never stops so I have to do it," said Jared.

The set-up process begins about two months prior to Christmas. Jared's mother selects and designs the new wooden statue for Scott to build. Each wooden figurine is displayed in front of the family's house for one Christmas before moving across the street to the park for the big-time show.

"We have something new here every year," said Scott.

With this help of his siblings, Jared then unpacks the statues from their storage space in two sheds in the park. Once the official light-up arrives, Jared takes care of manually powering up the display daily as well as turning it off between 11 p.m. and midnight.

The park now displays 110 wooden statues, alongside three inflatable and 325 made of plastic.

Jared likes the plastic statues best. His favorite is a group of carolers that sit atop the park's bleachers.

The collection is impressive, and includes Christmas classics, like a Nativity scene, as well as rarities, like the Three Stooges.

But Jared said he's having difficulty continuing to add new plastic statues each year as fewer companies are producing them in favor of inflatable yard decorations. He and his family search yard sales and auctions year-round in search of them.

"They're getting really hard to find," he said.

While donations help offset the cost of the growing display, much of it is paid for by the Dunn family.

"We take donations and sometimes we put our own money into it," said Jared. "All the plastic stuff we buy."

Coal Township helps out by providing electricity to light the displays and arranges and pays for deer to be kept on site.

Coal Township Commissioners have long been supportive of the Dunn's display. Two years ago Jared received an official proclamation by Coal Township commissioners for the work he voluntarily performs building the display each year.

"That kid's just wonderful," said Coal Township Commissioner Craig Fetterman. "If we could put him on a podium we would."

He noted that families like the Dunns and the Pearsons, who plant and maintain flower gardens alongside Route 61 each year, help make Coal Township a brighter, more vibrant place to live.

"People like that are good people," said Fetterman. "It's just something that's great for the community."

The Annual Tharptown Christmas Display Lighting takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday. Visitors can enjoy free hot cocoa and cookies while listening to Christmas music. Santa may make an appearance if his schedule at the North Pole permits a brief vacation.

MANDATA - The Line Mountain Advisory Council met in the Line Mountain High School cafeteria Oct. 30 to discuss the development of the K-12 School Counseling Program and how it is linked to Chapter 339.

Members from the five stakeholder groups included representatives from the community, parents, post-secondary, educators and students.

Information was provided on the Career Education and Work Standards and how they can be integrated into the curriculum.

School counselors Lon Balum, Jennifer Heitzman and Carol Kruskie spoke about their goals for the year and the school counseling mission statement at Line Mountain.

Participants worked in small groups, where they discussed traits that employers look for in hiring candidates.

State Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-108, was among the community members who took part.

HAZLETON - The Viennese Christmas concert presented by Hollywood Concert Orchestra is at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hazleton Area High School. It was incorrectly listed in the December calendar on Page C1 of Sunday’s edition as taking place Dec. 12.

Call Amelia at 570-788-4864 or Joan at 570-455-0990 for reservations.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Emergency personnel came to the rescue of a prisoner at SCI-Coal Township whose arm became trapped in his cell toilet Sunday morning.

"He was going to retrieve something that he dropped," said Trisha Kelley, the prison's public information officer. "He got his hand stuck."

Kelley said once prison staff became aware of the situation, they alerted maintenance staff and emergency personnel. The two teams worked together to free him.

"Once they got the toilet removed, based on the position of his body, he was able to turn enough to get his hand out (of the pipe)," said Kelley.

The prisoner was freed by early afternoon and suffered no injuries.

NORTHUMBERLAND - A Sunbury woman died in a Monday morning crash on Route 147 just north of Northumberland.

According to James F. Kelley, Northumerland County Coroner, Charlee N. Malone, 29, of Sunbury, and formerly of Lewistown, was traveling north in Point Township near Blue Hill Road around 8:30 a.m. when, for unknown reasons, her Nissan Versa left the right side of the road, struck a fire hydrant, continued forward and struck an embankment head-on.

AREA Services transported Malone, who police said was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, to Sunbury Community Hospital, where she was pronounced dead around 9:30 a.m.

In addition to Kelley, investigating the accident are Point Township Officer Tim Fink and Chief Deputy Coroner James R. Gotlob.

BURNSIDE - Only five hunters opted to drive-in at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) between 4 and 6:30 a.m. Monday for the first day of buck season.

AOAA Operations Director Dave Porzi confirmed the head count and said he and authority member Barry Yorwarth were on-site to monitor traffic flow and provide assistance.

The gate remained open throughout the day and will also be open today and Saturday for drive-in hunting. Hunters can enter through the upper access road, located just south of the trailhead driveway entrance on Route 125.

The AOAA's hunting policy also permits walk-on hunting from dawn to dusk on days the park is not open for motorized use and from dawn to 9 a.m. on days when motorized users are allowed in the park. Hunters can park along the paved cul-de-sac that leads into the park on any day hunting is permitted.

Motorized use of the park is not authorized for the first two weeks of rifle deer season, except on Sundays when hunting is not permitted by the state.

Porzi and the AOAA authority indicated during the policy-making process that the number of drive-in and motorized use closure days will be adjusted for next year based on the popularity of hunting AOAA lands this year.

SHAMOKIN - Cpl. Bryan Primerano has cited 13 people for violating city ordinances involving their properties.

George Atiyeh, 55, of 147 S. Maple St., Mount Carmel, was cited twice under the public nuisance ordinance for allowing deteriorating properties he owns at 621 Bear Valley Ave. and 805 E. Commerce St. to be in danger of collapse.

Joseph L. Pearson, 70, of 217 E. Avenue, Mount Carmel, was cited for allowing unsanitary conditions at a property he owns at 669 Bear Valley Ave.

Also cited for causing a public nuisance by allowing their properties to deteriorate or be in danger of collapsing were Massy Gole, of South Ozone Park, N.Y. (113-115 S. Market St.); Salvator D. Fanelli, of North Carolina Beach, N.C. (52 N. Market St.); Christopher M. Elsayed, 39, of 201 E. Sunbury St., Shamokin (116 W. Sunbury St.); Anthony Venturino, 33, of Hamden, Conn. (661 Bear Valley Ave.); Daniel Buranich Jr., 50, of 152 Bates Road, Shamokin (24 E. Willow St.); Allen Norbert, 46, of Brooklyn, N.Y. (315 W. Pine St.); Miguel Gonzalez, of Brooklyn, N.Y. (415 S. Market St.); Jhoel Leonardo, of Far Rockaway, N.Y. (625-627 E. Commerce St.); Leonard F. Adams III and Stacey L. Adams, 34, both of Conneaut Lake (101-103 N. Second St.), and Leonard F. Adams Jr., 58, of 341 Main St., P.O. Box 20, Aristes (620-622 N. Third St.).

Atiyeh also was cited three times by Coal Township Code Enforcement Officer Chris Petrovich for allowing high brush, grass and weeds at properties he owns at 1224 Pulaski Ave., 1740 Mohawk St., and a vacant lot on Mohawk Street.

Petrovich cited Ida M. Makowski, of 113 N. Berry St., Coal Township, for allowing an accumulation of garbage, rubbish and refuse, a sofa and approximately 25 bags of household garbage in her front yard, and high brush, grass and weeds.

PAXINOS - An unidentified woman was taken to Geisinger Medical Center for a head injury sustained in a collision on Route 61 after her car crashed into an embankment and rolling onto its roof.

The crash occurred shortly before 5 p.m. just north of the intersection of Routes 61 and 487 in Paxinos.

State police said the unknown woman was driving south in a black Toyota Venza when, for an unknown reason, she struck a silver Ford Escape traveling in front of her, driven by Judith Marose, 65, of the Shamokin area.

Both vehicles spun into the northbound lane and crashed into the embankment. The Venza flipped onto its roof, leaving the driver trapped. After she was extracted by emergency personnel, she was taken by ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center.

Marose and a passenger, Sharon Stamm, 66, of Shamokin, left the scene uninjured.

"They were both just shaken up," said Trooper David Boucher, state police at Stonington.

The accident closed Route 61 for more than an hour during the busy post-work rush. Traffic was re-routed onto Old Reading Road until both cars were towed.

In addition to responding emergency personnel, Northumberland County Sheriff Robert Wolfe stopped at the scene to check on those involved in the accident and to provide necessary assistance.

SUNBURY - A jury trial will be held later this month for a teen who was shot in the chest last year after allgedly attempting to run over a Sunbury police officer.

Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor, who will preside at the trial, issued an order Monday that sets jury selection for 9:15 a.m. Monday for the case of Naheem J. Reams, 18. The trial is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 18, and Friday, Dec. 19. Court begins at 9:15 a.m. both days.

The dates fall in the normal term for civil trials and were selected by Saylor to prevent the case from being further delayed.

Defense attorney Kymberley Best and her law partner and husband, Timothy Bowers, have argued that charges against Reams should have been dismissed due to Rule 600 that requires the prosecution to bring the case to trial within one year from the date charges were filed - in this case, Aug. 2, 2013.

Reams has been detained in a juvenile facility or jailed since the day of the incidents - June 5, 2013.

The prosecution team said several delays caused by the defense extends their time to bring the case to trial.

District attorney Ann Targonski will prosecute the case.

Reams, who turned 18 Feb. 11, but was 17 when the incidents occurred, was charged as an adult by Trooper Ronald Zanella of state police at Stonington with multiple offenses, including felonies of aggravated assault and fleeing or attempting to elude police, and driving under the influence of marijuana.

If convicted of the serious offenses, he faces an extensive state prison sentence.

Reams, who resided in Shamokin prior to his arrest, said he fled from police because he "panicked" and was "scared." He had absconded from juvenile custody and was operating someone else's vehicle without their permission while driving without a license when the chase, shooting and accident occurred.

Reams said his girlfriend was pregnant at the time and he wanted "to get away" so he could see his son be born.

Sunbury police were attempting to clear the 400 block of North Fourth Street for street sweeping when they encountered Reams, who they said for unknown reasons fled in his car at speeds reaching 70 mph.

When Reams slowed near Chestnut and Front streets, officers moved in, but police said Reams struck two police vehicles with his car, and caused minor injuries to one officer when he was briefly pinned at his car door.

Reams then revved his engine and drove toward another officer who had his gun drawn, police said, prompting the officer to fire. The shot went through the windshield and struck Reams near the sternum.

Then Northumberland County District Attorney Tony Rosini, who is currently a county judge, found that the officer was justified in firing the shot.

Reams spent 20 days in the hospital before being placed in a juvenile detention facility on an unrelated warrant. After being charged in relation to the chase, he was committed to Northumberland County Prison.

MOUNT CARMEL - A Mount Carmel man was arrested last week for allegedly downloading videos of adults, adolescents and children engaged in sexual acts.

James R. Miller Jr., 60, of 8 S. Peach St., allegedly confessed to special agents of the state Attorney General's Child Predator Unit that he used a peer-to-peer file sharing network to download child pornography.

According to a criminal affidavit, Miller recounted the process he used to download videos and images before deleting them. The children were generally girls age 13, but he allegedly claimed to have seen pornography featuring children as young as 3 and 4 years old.

It's a curiosity he has, Miller allegedly told law enforcement, and one that he's explored "quite a few times" when his wife wasn't home, the affidavit states.

Miller was among five Pennsylvania men collared in unrelated cases through an investigation by the Child Predator Unit's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Mount Carmel police assisted in the local case.

An undercover investigation targeted Miller, according to a press release issued Monday by the office of Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane.

A search warrant says Agent Kurt M. Smith downloaded two files in May and July on a peer-to-peer network depicting graphic sexual acts between children as young as 6 years old. The files were traced to a PenTeleData customer. Under court order in August, the company provided Internet subscriber information identifying James Miller and another woman who is not charged in the incident.

A search warrant was served at Miller's home about 10:50 a.m. Nov. 25. Multiple computers were recovered. A forensic preview found the files on one machine.

Two counts of distribution of child pornography, one count of possession of child pornography and one count of criminal use of a communication facility were filed against Miller by Agent Brittney J. Baughman. Each charge is a felony. He was arraigned Nov. 25 by Magisterial District Judge Hugh A. Jones and committed to Northumberland County Jail, Sunbury. Miller was later released after posting $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 10.

Also arrested on child pornography charges were Brian David Bradley, 45, of Baldwin, Allegheny County; Preston J. St. Clair, 25, of Ellwood City, Lawrence County; Allen Perreault, 50, of Leola, Lancaster County; Thomas Muller, 33, of Philadelphia.

Pearl Harbor rememberance set

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Joint Veterans Committee and VFW Post 2110 will hold their annual Pearl Harbor rememberance service at 1 p.m. Sunday at Post 2110, 21 W. Second St.

Area veterans and the public are invited to attend.

The Arc open today, every Tuesday

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Arc, Susquehanna Valley weekly drop-in program, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Shamokin-Coal Township Senior Action Center, 821 W. Chestnut St.

The program is designed for those with intellectual or developmental disabilities and features crafts, recreational activities and life skills training. It's held every Tuesday.

Call 570-286-1008 for more information.