COAL TOWNSHIP - Shamokin Area School District is a recipient of a state education grant for security.

The district was awarded a Safe Schools grant for the second year running, announced last week by the Gov. Corbett administration. It totals $25,000 - the maximum award for recipients.

The funding will be used to purchase and install electronically controlled security gates to control access inside the building.

Shamokin Area was one of 123 public school districts to receive a share of $2.6 million.

Lawmakers aren't the only ones operating under new rates as of Monday.

Judges across the state are also affected by the automatic $1,344 or 1.6 percent cost-of-living increase that is tied to an inflation index based on the federal consumer price index for Mid-Atlantic states. The increase is adjusted annually under terms of a 1995 law.

Judges in the Court of Common Pleas will now make $176,571. President judges in counties that have one to five judges will see their salaries rise to $177,342.

District judges statewide are now making $88,289.

When contacted Monday about the COLAs, Northumberland County President Judge William H. Wiest said he plans to donate his raise to his church - Trinity United Church of Christ in Dalmatia - where he has served as organist for 57 years, beginning at the age of 13.

Wiest said he typically donates his COLAs to his church or other charitable organizations.

Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones in Mount Carmel will once again donate his COLA to local charities.

County judges Charles Saylor and Tony Rosini, along with Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III in Shamokin each said they haven't reached a decision about what they will do with their COLAs.

In the past, Saylor has donated his COLAs to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in Northumberland County.

Rosini was named judge earlier this year after a long career as county district attorney.

Like lawmakers, the judges 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.

In addition to lawmakers and judges, the governor, cabinet secretaries and elected state row officers also receive automatic COLAs.

SUNBURY - Today's special prison board meeting to appoint a new warden has been postponed due to allegations made in an anonymous letter against one of the three finalists for the position.

Prison board chairman and county commissioner Stephen Bridy said a letter was received Monday by county officials that cites alleged misconduct by Robert Wetzel when he was employed at SCI-Coal Township.

Bridy said Wetzel, who was a captain at the state correctional institution but reportedly now works in the private sector, was among three finalists for warden. He said the other two finalists currently work in the federal prison system.

The incident in question was detailed in a 50-page state Civil Service Commission adjudication report filed Nov. 7, 2008. It was in response to Wetzel's appeal of a 10-day suspension from employment and followed two hearings held before a civil service commissioner in Harrisburg the prior May. The ruling upheld the suspension.

Ethics issue

The candidate was suspended for failing to take corrective action to stop an altered jumpsuit from being issued to a corrections officer, which violated the Department of Corrections' code of ethics, according to the report. Several pieces of masking tape were adhered to various parts of the jumpsuit with writing and pictures drawn on with black marker. Ten different markings or drawings were described in the report. They included a picture of a penis on a piece of tape that was put over the Department of Corrections patch and, on the right breast pocket, a piece of tape with "Quarters Snitch" written on it.

Wetzel was not suspended for having altered the jumpsuit, but for failing to stop it from being issued, failing to report the incident and denying he was aware that the jumpsuit had been altered prior to a fact-finding conducted about the issue, the report said.

He argued before the commission that the corrections officer failed to report the incident for three months and was doing so because he perceived it to be a joke and wasn't offended, and that the corrections officer was manipulating the incident to claim Wetzel was involved in it.

Time needed

"I have not read the letter yet, but Commissioner Clausi (Vinny) filled me in on its contents," Bridy said Monday night. "We need more time to research this issue to verify the letter's contents. That's why the meeting was postponed."

Bridy said prison board members plan to discuss the allegations leveled against Wetzel before making a decision on when to hire a new warden. He said a special meeting could possibly be rescheduled by the end of the week.

"We want to make sure all six prison board members have the facts available to them so they can make the best informed decision on a new warden for Northumberland County Prison," Bridy said.

Bridy said county solicitor Frank Garrigan and assistant solicitor John Muncer will be consulted.

The commissioner said prison board members were not aware of any past problems with Wetzel, who resides in Northumberland County. A telephone listing for Wetzel was not available, which is often the case for people currently or formerly employed in the prison system.

Could affect vote

"The allegations are troublesome and we plan to do a thorough investigation," Bridy said. If the accusations are true, Bridy said he will not vote for Wetzel as warden.

He said background checks were conducted on all the candidates and references were obtained from their superiors and other co-workers.

Bridy commended acting warden Brian Wheary for doing a fine job since his appointment following the Aug. 19 firing of warden Roy Johnson, who served in the position for five years.

The prison board chairman said six candidates were interviewed for the position. In addition to Wetzel and the other two finalists, two of the candidates currently are employed at the county prison while the other one works at a federal prison.

In addition to Bridy and Clausi, the prison board is comprised of Commissioner Richard Shoch, Sheriff Robert Wolfe, Controller Chris Grayson and District Attorney Ann Targonski.

K of C children's Christmas party

Shamokin Knights of Columbus will host their annual children's Christmas party at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 in the K of C hall, Independence St., Shamokin. The party is open to children up to ages 11 to parents and grandparents who are members of the Shamokin K of C. The Casey Club is open at 5 p.m. Thursday to Sunday to sign up. Deadline to sign up is Sunday. Members of the ARC will be in attendance.

MILTON - A Northumberland man charged by Point Township police in relation to the death of a 9-year-old Sunbury boy waived his right Tuesday to a preliminary hearing via video before Magisterial District Judge Michael Diehl.

Victor W. Hare III, 58, of 196 Springhouse Road, is now scheduled to appear in the Court of Common Pleas in January after forfeiting his right to the hearing that was scheduled for Thursday. His hearing was previously continued twice.

Hare, who is represented by public defender Michael Suders, is charged with felony counts of child endangerment and gun possession. He was home and in charge of caring for Korbin Rager, who died Oct. 13 of an apparent drug overdose.

Police said a search of Hare's home turned up more than 40 bottles of various prescriptions, including Oxycontin. There was also alcohol throughout the house. None of it was secured, police said.

Also found in Hare's bedroom closet were a hinge-action 12-gauge shotgun and two bolt-action .22-caliber rifles. He is a previously convicted felon and is barred from possessing firearms.

Hare remains jailed at Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, in lieu of $290,000 cash bail.

MOUNT CARMEL - For the second time in a week, a borough man has been charged with felonies of disseminating and possessing child pornography.

Jeremy Godin, 37, of 14 N. Maple St., who is charged with more than 100 counts of sexual abuse of children, was taken into custody without incident Tuesday morning at his residence by special agents from the Office of the Attorney General's Child Predator Section and Mount Carmel Police Chief Todd Owens.

Godin, who is married, is accused of using a cell phone to record at least four images depicting a child under 18 in a state of nudity for the purposes of sexual arousal or gratification of any viewer and/or engaging in sexual activity or with lewd exhibition of genitalia, or in prohibited sexual acts.

According to a criminal complaint filed by Special Agent Daniel M. Hasenauer, Godin committed the acts between July 12 and last week at his home.

After obtaining a search warrant from Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones, agents and police arrived at Godin's home at about 9:40 a.m. and immediately began a search of the premises after arresting the defendant. They found numerous files containing child pornography that were examined in a portable computer lab outside Godin's home.

Godin was removed from the residence at about 12:30 p.m. and transported by Owens to Mount Carmel Police Station. The agents continued their search until the early afternoon hours.

The defendant was arraigned at the station by video at 3:35 p.m. by Jones and committed to Northumberland County Prison in Sunbury in lieu of $150,000 cash bail.

He is charged with 100 counts of possession of child pornography, four counts of photographing, videotaping, depicting on a computer or filming sexual acts, four counts of invasion of privacy, and one count each of dissemination of child pornography and criminal use of a communication facility.

All the offenses are felonies except invasion of privacy, which is a misdemeanor.

Godin is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Dec. 10 before Jones.

In the complaint, Hasenauer explains that a growing phenomenon on the Internet is peer-to-peer or "P2P" file sharing, which is a method of communication available to Internet users through the use of special software programs.

P2P file sharing programs, which were involved in Godin's case, allow groups of computers using the same file sharing network and protocols to transfer digital files from one computer system to another while connected to a network, usually on the Internet.

There are multiple types of P2P file sharing networks on the Internet, Hasenauer said.

Agents said Godin's arrest is unrelated to an investigation that led to child pornography charges being filed by the attorney general's office last week against James R. Miller Jr., 60, of 8 S. Peach St., Mount Carmel.

Miller allegedly confessed to agents that he used a peer-to-peer file sharing network to download child pornography.

Miller was arraigned Nov. 25 by Jones. He was initially committed to the county jail in lieu of $100,000 cash bail. But he was later released after posting bail and is scheduled for a Dec. 10 hearing.

The Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court of Our Lady of Victor 588 held its monthly meeting Nov. 16.

The meeting was called to order by Mary Snyder, regent. The Rev. Frank Karwacki, chaplain, led the opening prayers and additional prayers for the end of terrorism and for peace in Mexico; the Pledge of Allegiance, and singing the opening ode.

The baby bottle was passed to collect change to aid state anti-abortion projects. Members also brought numerous items to the meeting for a local food bank. Members thanked the community for helping fill boxes at the Mount Carmel Area Public Library.

Two new members took the Catholic Daughter pledge and were welcomed into the court.

Minutes from the previous meeting were read and approved and reports were given by Treasurer Nora Avellino and Financial Secretary Mary Catherine Wydra.

The court will rent the Mount Carmel Area Public Library window to display its more than 100-year-old nativity. The nativity will stay in place until Epiphany. The court will also visit the Mount Carmel Nursing Home at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, to sing and visit the residents. Each resident will receive a Christmas card and gift and members will sing Christmas carols.

Arrangements are being made for the annual Twelve Days After Christmas party, to be held Sunday, Jan. 4, in the Mount Carmel Senior Center. A catered lunch will be served and there will be a $5 gift exchange.

The court is selling "It's OK to Say Merry Christmas" pins for $1 apiece.

The court will invite Lourdes Regional and Mount Carmel Area School District to participate in the Catholic Daughters of the Americas national education contest. The theme is "Be a Good Neighbor." Students can express the theme in an essay or art. Monetary awards will be offered at the local, state and national levels.

A closing prayer was led by Karwacki. The members sang the closing ode and the meeting was adjourned.

Members enjoyed refreshments provided by Snyder and Wydra.

The next meeting will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14, in the Mount Carmel Senior Center. New members are welcome.

SUNBURY - Tuesday night's special meeting to set the salaries of Northumberland County commissioners and row officers was postponed for the second time because Commissioner Richard Shoch couldn't attend due to a family emergency.

Commissioner Chairman Vinny Clausi said Shoch sent an email to the commissioners' office at 5:35 p.m. stating that he was at a hospital in Philadelphia attending to a family matter and would not be able to attend the 6 p.m. scheduled meeting or participate by teleconference because he had no phone service. He said Shoch also sent an email at 10 a.m. informing his fellow commissioners that he wouldn't be able to make Tuesday's regular commissioners' meeting at 1 p.m.

In attendance at the meeting were Clausi, Commissioner Stephen Bridy, Register and Recorder Mary Zimmerman, Coroner James Kelley, Treasurer Kevin Gilroy, Sheriff Robert Wolfe and six citizens.

The row officers, who filed a lawsuit against the county after their salaries were cut and their insurance premiums were raised last fall, won a preliminary injunction that at least delays the action taken by the commissioners.

Clausi was disappointed Shoch couldn't attend.

"This is the second time we had to postpone this meeting because Mr. Shoch couldn't attend," he said. "He approved the dates for the special meetings and then doesn't show up."

Clausi said the special meeting will now be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 23, at the administration center.

Changes in commissioners' salaries cannot be made in the same year in which their election is held. The next commissioners' election is 2015, with a new board taking office in January 2016.

Clausi believes commissioners, who earn $61,000, are overpaid for what he considers a part-time position and plans to vote to reduce their salaries, but did not say by how much.

He initially said salaries and benefits for row officers weren't going to be discussed during the special meeting because of the injunction. But now Clausi said the row officers' salaries will be addressed, although he did not say if he wants to reduce them or keep them the same.

Clausi and Shoch receive $15,006 and $18,815 in health care benefits, respectively. Commissioner Stephen Bridy gets a stipend of $1,500 for waiving health care benefits.

Bridy also believes reducing the commissioners' salaries is the right thing to do.

Bridy, who plans to seek a second term as commissioner, said he originally wanted to cut the salaries in half, but now believes they should be reduced to approximately $37,000, which is the approximate median household income in Northumberland County.

Shoch, who also will seek a second term, has been non-committal on how he will vote on the salary issue.

Clausi said he doesn't plan to seek re-election to a third four-year term.

SUNBURY - Commissioner Stephen Bridy hopes to unite Northumberland County with several nearby counties to create a regionalized emergency response system he believes will save each county $1 million.

Commissioners approved forming a multi-county committee and sending Bridy as Northumberland County's delegate on a 2-0 vote at Tuesday's county commissioners' meeting. Commissioner Richard Shoch was absent.

Bridy proposed the idea, which came after attending a meeting of the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania (CCAP). He said Northumberland County is taking the lead with forming the committee and will be sending letters inviting Schuylkill, Snyder, Columbia, Montour and Union counties to join.

"We're in a unique situation to head up this regionalization initiative because we have the frequency," said Bridy. "Hopefully it will be seen by the others as an olive branch."

He said the county had opted to purchase Maritime frequencies extending across Pennsylvania and into New York, which he expects will be in high demand in the coming years.

"These frequencies are almost impossible to come by at this point," he said. "A lot of people will be knocking down our door for those frequencies at that point they'll be selling at a premium."

Bridy hoped to secure as many counties as possible because the savings to each county would increase alongside the regionalized area. But, he said, he would be "okay" if they opted to decline.

Bridy said the taxes used to pay for 911 centers are lower for cell phones than landlines, leaving many counties, including Northumberland, facing trouble funding 911 centers. These counties are now forced to use money from the general fund to support 911 centers.

"We're just holding the bag here," he said.

Bridy is also urging the state to pass a modest increase to phone emergency response taxes.

"I have four kids and two of the four are old enough to have cell phones," he said. "For me to spend $2 per child and wherever they're at 911 will come to their aid, that's pretty reasonable."

NATALIE - A 23-year-old Mount Carmel woman escaped injury during Tuesday's light snowfall on the Natalie Mountain when her car collided with a truck while she was changing lanes, causing the car to crash into an embankment.

Mount Carmel Township Police Chief Brian Hollenbush reported Tristia Bowers, of 106 N. Maple St., was driving a Hyundai Genesis east on Route 54 toward Natalie at about 12:30 p.m. when she turned into the passing lane to avoid possibly hitting a disabled tractor-trailer hauling wood that was on the right berm of the highway with a flat tire.

As Bowers traveled past the tractor-trailer, she attempted to turn from the passing lane into the right lane, but her auto was struck on the passenger side front by the driver side rear of a black truck that had accelerated in an attempt to go by Bowers. Hollenbush said the operator of the truck, who may not have realized his or her vehicle struck the car, continued ascending the mountain.

After impact, Bowers' car spun counterclockwise, hit an embankment off the right berm and came to rest at an angle.

Bowers refused medical treatment at the scene.

An investigation is continuing.

Bowers' auto was towed by Zlocki Body Works of Marion Heights.

Assisting Hollenbush at the scene were firefighters from Natalie, Atlas, Strong and Kulpmont, AREA Services Ambulance personnel, Mount Carmel Area Rescue Squad, PennDOT crews and Mount Carmel Township Patrolman Brian Carnuccio.

Traffic was backed up in both directions along Route 54 for about an hour. The scene was cleared at 1:45 p.m.

SUNBURY - Northumberland County residents will see no tax increases in 2015.

Chairman Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy approved the proposed 2015 budget on a 2-0 vote at Tuesday afternoon's commissioners meeting. Commissioner Richard Shoch was absent, citing a family emergency, Clausi said.

The budget will be advertised and made available for public inspection for 20 days before a vote on final approval.

Clausi said county departments had asked for increases totaling $2.5 million, but commissioners declined them.

"We don't have the money," he said. "Is it going to be easy for them? No. Is it's the right thing to do? Yes," he said.

Clausi said much of the potential budget increase came from county heads hoping to add additional staff. In the end, though, there was cooperation unlike what Clausi said he's seen in other years.

"Everybody realized that there was no money there and they cooperated for us," he said. "I appreciate the cooperation of all of the department heads"

No programs were cut and all previously existing positions were maintained, he added.

Clausi said keeping the county's $64 million budget equal to last year - minus the one-time $7 million costs for a new 911 system in this year's budget - eliminated internal strife commissioners had faced in previous years.

"This is the first time in seven years we have had no fights," he said.

Earlier this fall, Clausi said he and Bridy were studying the possibility of a property tax decrease for 2015. In the end, however, they decided against it. He said it would not have been fair to possibly burden the new board of commissioners, who will be elected next year and take their seats in 2016, with a budget that runs short.

"We think we're better off with the surplus," which is estimated at $1.2 million, Clausi said. "You never know what's going to happen."

Early retirement

A motion to offer an early retirement incentive to county workers failed on a 2-2 vote of the salary board, but it will be revisited next year, Clausi said.

Speaking after the meeting, he said there would be some 95 county employees who would meet the state requirement for early retirement, which includes being at least 55 years old and having worked at least 10 years for the county. County officials estimated some 30 employees might take the offer.

But Bridy and Treasurer Kevin Gilroy voted against it, saying they needed more information. Clausi, who was joined in his yes vote by Controller Chris Grayson, said he understood the hesitation, and that the issue will be given a fresh look in the new year.

The incentive the county was prepared to offer was to add 20 percent to the employee's years of service time as far as their pension calculation is concerned. For example, for a 20-year county worker who retired, four years would have been added to their years of employment for pension purposes.

While that's an upfront cost to the county, Clausi said, those long-time employees would be replaced with workers who would make less, likely offsetting the extra pension cost.

And even if the county only broke even, he said, it would still be creating new jobs for people who replace the retirees.

He said state pension law allows the option of adding 10, 20 or 30 percent to length of service as an early retirement incentive.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Coal Township commissioners will likely table a vote on enacting an amusement tax after Tuesday's work session resulted in more questions than answers on the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area's (AOAA) business model and willingness to enter into a contract to make payments to the township.

Jim Backes, chairman of the AOAA authority, and David Porzi, the AOAA's operations director, presented Coal Township with a donation of $4,000 at the beginning of the meeting.

During the presentation, Backes emphasized the park's commitment to the local governments.

"We don't want to be a burden to the community," he said. "We appreciate the support."

Backes also told commissioners the park anticipated continuing to make donations of this type, with the amount increasing as the park grows.

"This is a yearly event," he said. "We're building into the budget this type of donation."

He added the park would prefer to continue making donations rather than have the amusement tax enacted, and pointed out that while a tax brings in a set amount, donations are limitless.

Backes also answered a few questions regarding the amount of riders and revenue the park received so far. He said approximately 6,000 riders had visited the AOAA for a total of approximately $125,000 in revenue.

Backes and Porzi left the meeting shortly after the check presentation. Commissioners then went into executive session, and when the meeting reopened, they began a lengthy discussion of zoning changes and then discussed the amusement tax.

Donation vs. tax

The biggest division between the commissioners is if it would be more profitable to tax the AOAA or to enter into a contract requiring the AOAA to make annual payments to the township.

In 2013, Reading Anthracite agreed to make a "donation" to Coal Township: $5,000 annually over five years. Two donations have been received so far.

At least one commissioner pointed out that it would have been helpful to ask Porzi and Backes if such an arrangement would be possible, as well as numerous other questions which arose during the discussion.

Commissioner Gene Welsh supported creating a similar donation plan with the AOAA. He said the AOAA will likely stop making donations if the amusement tax would be enacted.

Backes had confirmed this notion after Monday's AOAA work session.

"If they (Coal Township) would pass the tax then we would not be giving donations," he said.

Welsh pointed out that with only the tax income, the township would be limited to 5 percent of the AOAA's revenue. And, he said, other townships would likely follow suit and pass similar taxes, which would cut into Coal Township's share.

A legal maximum tax of this type is set at 10 percent, township solicitor Vincent Rovito said. Therefore, if two other townships pass amusement taxes totalling more than 10 percent, the AOAA would be taxed at 10 percent and each township would receive a percentage of that amount.

The AOAA has land in five townships.

"They gave us $4,700," said Welsh, adding to the tally a $700 donation the AOAA had given earlier in the year. "I don't want to see this money going away or be dropped down."

But Chairman Craig Fetterman said that a five-percent tax on the $125,000 comes to approximately $6,000.

"In my opinion, they're $2,000 short of where they should be," he said.

Revenue machine?

A major reasons for enacting the amusement tax when it was originally proposed was to offset the cost of emergency personnel. But Commissioner Bernie Rumberger noted the park used far fewer emergency resources than originally estimated.

"The emergency crew wasn't out there (often)," Rumberger said, adding that the park has been emphasizing safety with its riders. "I've been impressed."

Commissioner Paul Leshinskie said the money is needed regardless of the emergency personnel use.

"I'm looking at it as more of an extra revenue coming in," he said.

Leshinskie was concerned that without a contract in place, the AOAA would cease making payments in the future.

Fetterman said the township needs to get some money out of the AOAA, either as a tax or a regular payment.

"It's the only resource we have and if we don't get anything out of it, we're fools," he said.

Welsh was concerned that if the amusement tax is enacted, the AOAA will use one of the loopholes to avoid paying the tax.

The proposed amusement tax is written to exclude a swath of organizations, including nonprofits, government entities, schools and religious groups.

"Basically this is to tax the AOAA and specifically leave everyone else out," said Welsh after an initial reading of several segments of the tax.

Several commissioners debated over if the AOAA would become a nonprofit organization to avoid the tax.

Rovito said the AOAA's debt would make it ineligible to become a nonprofit.

The AOAA owes $10,000 to in its line of credit to Manufacturers and Traders Trust Company, also known as M&T Bank, but as of the end of October, had close to $70,000 in its fund.

Believing the AOAA has a negative net worth, Commissioner George Zalar questioned the park's business model.

"To give $6,000 to $7,000 - they have a $10,000 debt," he said. "That's the part I don't get."

Fetterman questioned the park's decision to raise rates for the 2015 season. He opined the park must not have correctly estimated income and expenditures for it to need to raise rates so soon.

If the township enacts the tax, Fetterman worries, "We're going to be the bad guys for their 20 percent bump."

Other segments of the amusement tax ordinance, including which organizations should be included in the tax, were also debated during the conversation, which lasted approximately 45 minutes. The discussion came to a close with several commissioners wishing to speak with representatives of the AOAA to see if both parties would agree to a payment system.

Sentence in DUI

SUNBURY - A Coal Township man was sentenced Monday by Northumberland County Judge Charles Saylor to six months intermediate punishment with the first 90 days on house arrest for driving under the influence of alcohol in Shamokin earlier this year.

David Weaver, 38, who represented himself at sentencing, also was fined $1,500. He was ordered to pay various fees, undergo counseling and had his driver's license suspended for 18 months. He is prohibited from drinking alcohol or attending bars.

SHAMOKIN - A summary trial for alleged traffic offenses has been postponed for a former Mount Carmel Township police officer accused in an off-duty Labor Day police pursuit.

David J. Stamets, 27, of Kulpmont, is now scheduled to appear Dec. 22 before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin. He was originally scheduled to appear in court Thursday.

Stamets is contesting citations filed by state police at Milton for driving a vehicle without a registration plate, failing to pull over for an emergency vehicle and a stop sign violation. He pleaded not guilty.

Police say Stamets was driving an unlicensed, unregistered Jeep Wrangler just before midnight Sept. 1 with three fellow off-duty police officers as passengers. A firework was tossed from the vehicle, sparking a pursuit by on-duty Kulpmont Patrolman David Tomtishen.

Stamets was fired Nov. 6 by the Mount Carmel Township Board of Supervisors.

Patrick J. McAndrew, 27, of Kulpmont, a part-time Kulpmont police officer, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct for tossing the firework and paid a fine and court costs totaling $303.

McAndrew and Michael Pitcavage, both part-timers with the township's department, resigned. They both remain with the Kulpmont Police Department, for which Pitcavage is the chief. Patrolman Matthew Filarski was given a three-day unpaid suspension and 30-day probationary period. He returned to work Nov. 7.

The four were initially suspended with pay beginning Sept. 5, and Tomtishen was among three part-timers hired by the township to fill their shifts.

SHAMOKIN - Rafael Diroche was set for a preliminary hearing Tuesday in his attempted homicide case. So were the police and prosecutor looking to send him to jail.

But there was a snag: Diroche had an empty seat to his left at the defense table. With no court-appointed attorney to represent him, the hearing was continued to next Tuesday, Dec. 9, to determine if the case will proceed to trial at the Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas.

It befuddled Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, who said he'd never experienced such a situation. "I never had this problem before," he said. "This is such a unique situation."

Police officers who appeared in court as witnesses expressed annoyance, as did Diroche himself. Prosecutor Michael Toomey, a Northumberland County assistant district attorney, said he was prepared for the hearing. Two county offices tasked to offer court-appointed legal counsel denied having received any paperwork from Diroche seeking an attorney.

"I don't have legal knowledge of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to proceed," Diroche told Gembic, when asked if he wished to defend himself or delay the hearing to obtain counsel.

Gembic said he wouldn't levy the time for the hearing and resulting delay against either the defense or the prosecution.

Love in the air

Diroche, 29, formerly of Mount Carmel, is accused of shooting 21-year-old Salicia Yost, of Milton, point blank with a .22 caliber Freedom Arms revolver and leaving her for dead on Feb. 8 along Irish Valley Road. He faces attempted homicide amongst other charges. Police say the two were lovers and in business together as drug dealers. Yost hasn't been charged related to the drug allegations.

Diroche has claimed innocence. Yost has since done the same on his behalf, reversing course on statements she gave to police implicating Diroche. She previously told The Daily Item that the statements were given when she was hospitalized and heavily medicated, and that it wasn't Diroche who pulled the trigger.

"I have every intention to take all this to trial because I didn't do anything," Diroche said Tuesday.

The two were friendly outside court. As Diroche was led to an awaiting patrol car to take him back to Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, he told Yost who was standing outside that he loved her. Yost showed off a tattoo of his last name that she had inked onto her neck.

Yost was subpoenaed to testify at the hearing.

No papers

The county's Public Defender's Office said there's no record of Diroche having applied for legal representation in the attempted homicide case. He was appointed an attorney from the county's Special Conflicts Counsel division, and not a public defender, in a related felony drug and gun case. That arrangement wouldn't be assumed in the shooting case, and he would have to file another application.

Susan Schwartz, special conflicts counsel, said they received no paperwork for the attempted homicide case. The office would contact Diroche, she said, but there's no guarantee its staff would represent him at the preliminary hearing.

"It wasn't even on our radar," Schwartz said.

Prison grievances

Diroche claimed to file the paperwork at the county prison. He has plenty of issues with the prison and its staff. Toiletries are limited, he said, and blankets are wrapped around flower pots to shove into windows in an attempt to block cold air from entering the cells.

He also claims his incoming and outgoing mail is being interrupted. He wondered if that's what happened to his application for legal counsel, adding an allegation that on the directive of an unnamed state trooper that a legal document and a personal letter to Yost were taken from him without court order. Grievances have been filed with the prison, he said, and he's shared information with a prisoner advocate.

"My mail is not coming in or going out. It's mysteriously missing," Diroche said. "A lot of due process rights are being violated."

Kate Lincoln, special conflicts counsel, represented Diroche at a bail modification hearing last month in the other case. He said her visit to the jail that day was the only time he had a visit by a court-appointed attorney in the 10 months he's been locked up. His bail remains $200,000 in the attempted homicide case, and $300,000 in the drug case.

Commander Brian Wheary, the acting prison warden, said Tuesday he knew little of Diroche's allegations. He doesn't recall his mail being confiscated, and said if it's being interrupted as it's sent out of the prison, it could be verified with mail logs kept by prison staff.

Tuesdays at Gembic's office are often quite busy with preliminary hearings and arraignments. Yesterday's schedule, however, was cleared in part because of the Diroche hearing and in part because of interoffice staffing issues. With other cases transferred to Dec. 9, Diroche's continuance adds to an already busy docket.

SHAMOKIN DAM – This story is no bull, but it involves one.

State police were dispatched for an unusual call at 1:29 a.m. Monday: a large black bull running along Route 11 between Tedd’s Landing and the White Bridge at Northumberland.

The bull, believed to have escaped a trailer, was captured safely, according to Trooper Nathan Wenzel from the Selinsgrove barracks.

Anyone who may be missing a bull is asked to contact police at 570-374-8145.

SHAMOKIN - City council voted unanimously Wednesday to adopt a $3.7 million budget for 2015.

The tax structure designed to support it remains in limbo, of sorts. City council has yet to finalize the proposed tax levy. Even with council's consent, anticipated hikes of the real estate and earned income taxes must each be approved separately by a county judge.

Pending court approval, the city's total budget is $3,739,525 in revenues and $3,707,633 in expenses.

The general fund account - the city's primary operating account - totals $2,889,490 in revenue compared to $2,887,752 in expenses. Salaries, employee health care and pension costs account for $1,956,257, which represents 69 percent of all general fund spending.

City officials are expected in Northumberland County court Tuesday morning, where President Judge William H. Wiest will consider City Hall's request for a seventh consecutive exception to state law allowing it to raise the general fund tax 5 mills above the 30-mill maximum.

Each mill of tax generates an estimated $22,712 in tax revenue for Shamokin. The additional 5 mills is expected to net the city $113,562.

Tax proposals

Shamokin's total proposed real estate tax levy for 2015 is 58.1 mills. That would mean property owners would be taxed $58.10 for each $1,000 of a property's assessed value. For example, at that rate a property assessed at $10,000 would have a bill of $581. The 2014 tax levy is 47.35, and a bill of $473.50 for the same $10,000 property.

The second tax hike sought by city council is a doubling of the Earned Income Tax from 1 percent to 2 percent. The increase is estimated to net Shamokin $838,500 if 65 percent of taxes are collected. That's an increase of $408,500 over the current rate.

Should the court approve Shamokin's Act 47 recovery plan early next year, 1.5 percent of the EIT will go to the city and 0.5 percent to Shamokin Area School District. The current 1 percent rate is split down the middle.

Shamokin's recovery plan is expected to be approved by city council in January, and would then be forwarded to the court for approval.

Tapped out

Gerald Bogetti, a city resident and former city councilmember, supports raising the EIT. But he proposed that city council roll back real estate taxes.

Bogetti said his own study of Shamokin's financial trends between 2007 and 2013 show a dip in tax revenue and collections. His theory is that the bills got too high for some people to pay. He suggested lowering the real estate millage, theorizing it would lead to a boost in bills that are paid.

"You hit a tipping point on the public," Bogetti said. "You're going to bring in less money. You're going to lose $100,000, maybe more. They just don't have it."

Mayor William D. Milbrand said such a proposal wasn't in the cards for 2015. If the EIT increase proves successful, he didn't rule out a potential real estate tax decrease for 2016.

Bogetti was the only city resident in attendance at the 15-minute special meeting at City Hall. It was followed by council's monthly public work session. The regular monthly voting meeting of city council will be held at 7 p.m. Monday.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Nearly a year after heating oil leaked in the basement of the former Dalmatia Elementary School, the Line Mountain School Board will receive $17,367.90 from its insurance company to cover damages sustained by district property.

At a meeting following Wednesday's school board reorganization, directors approved on an 8-0 vote a sworn statement in proof of loss to the Netherlands Insurance Co., a subsidiary of Liberty Mutual. Director Dennis Erdman was absent.

According to the statement, the district was approved for $19,867.90 in damages sustained in the Feb. 10 spill. The district must cover a $2,500 deductible, and Netherlands will pay out $17,367.90.

The district is also engaged in a battle with the Lower Mahanoy Township Municipal Authority over a $143,453.65 bill for the cleanup of 1,250 gallons of heating oil that spilled into a municipal sewer system during the February leak.

The amount was placed in escrow at Northumberland National Bank in September while forensic mechanical services firm McLauchlan and Associates Inc., of Annapolis, Md., determines how the leak occurred.

Rich Roberts, board solicitor, said Wednesday that Netherlands will not be footing the bill for the municipal sewer cleanup because the district's policy did not cover that situation. No progress has been made in the negotiations between the district and the municipal authority over the bill, he said.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Shamokin Area School Board unanimously approved a second and final reading of a revised student-drug policy during the annual reorganization meeting at Northumberland County Career and Technology Center (NCCTC).

The school district's recently implemented drug testing policy was revised to include language that deals with bath salts and Spice, known as synthetic marijuana.

Voting to approve the measure were Jeffrey Kashner, Ronald McElwee, Charles Shuey, Matthew Losiewicz, Edward Griffiths, Rosalie Smoogen and Bernard Sosnoskie. Absent were Robert Getchey and Richard Kashnoski.

In other business, the board voted 7-0 to keep the status quo for all officers and representatives on the NCCTC Agency Board and Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA).

Reappointed are board president Ronald McElwee, board vice president Jeffrey Kashner and Richard Kashnoski, PSBA representative.

The board approved, 5-2, a measure to advertise the sale of a district-owned garbage truck. The truck will be advertised on municibid.com with a reserve amount of $7,500.

McElwee said the amount was set to maximize the district's profit. Voting "no" were Smoogen and Sosnoskie.

The board approved a transportation contract with Shikellamy School District to provide transportation services for Coleen McHale to and from Camp Hill to attend Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf at a rate of $175 each way, per week, beginning Dec. 7 and continuing for the remainder of the 2014-15 school year.

Board members voted unanimously to conduct their regular meetings at 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month, January through November, with the exception of the July meeting. Each meeting will begin with a work session.