SHAMOKIN - The cause of a fire that damaged a double-home early Wednesday will be investigated today by a state police fire investigator.

Trooper Kirk Renn will attempt to determine what sparked the fire at 6-8 S. Vine St. around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.

Fire was visible on the outside walls on the first and second floors of 6 S. Vine St. Smoke also flowed out of the eves and chimney of the home.

Names of the owners of both sides of the building could not be obtained Wednesday.

Firefighters attacked the blaze from all levels of 6 S. Vine St. and brought the flames under control quickly. Fire and water damage was contained to 6 S. Vine St. with both sides having smoke damage. Windows were also busted on 6 S. Vine St.

Due to the close proximity of neighboring homes, residents were told to evacuate, but were allowed to return within an hour.

Responding to the scene were units from Shamokin, Coal Township, Mount Carmel and Overlook.

SHAMOKIN - Santa is coming to town Saturday.

The seventh annual Downtown Christmas will deliver holiday cheer from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the area of Independence and Eighth streets.

Sponsored by the Northumberland County Council for the Arts and Humanities (NCCAH), Downtown Christmas includes the annual parade that brings Santa Claus into the downtown on the Rotary Club Santa Sleigh. The brief parade starts at 1 p.m., and Santa will remain in front of the Fun Shop to greet children throughout the afternoon.

The parade will also include one or two floats, Shamokin Area band and possibly other entries.

As a new attraction for 2014, rides on Rescue Fire Company's truck will be offered starting after the parade until 3 p.m.

Downtown Christmas will again feature a Christmas tree decorating contest, where businesses and organizations decorate trees based on various themes. There will be at least 15 trees, which are provided free by TLC Tree Farm, Hegins, and they'll be displayed on the second floor of the Fun Shop building.

Those attending Downtown Christmas can pay 25 cents to vote on a tree, with money raised going to NCCAH. Last year, $350 was raised and put toward restoration of the Kallaway Center for the Arts.

The trees will be presented, ornaments and all, to needy local families after the event.

Vendors, located outside and inside the Fun Shop building, include those selling kettle corn, pierogies, deep-fried Oreos, hot dogs, hot chocolate, halushki, ham pot-pie, soups, baked goods, candies, cookies, Scentsy, homemade quilted items, crafts, Shamokin memorabilia and festival books and CDs.

Following Downtown Christmas at 4 p.m., the movie "Frozen" will be shown at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, Eighth and Arch streets, just a few blocks from the area of the festival. The movie, sponsored by the Shamokin Area Teachers Association, is free. "Frozen" characters Elsa and Olaf will be present to greet children, and Santa will give them a special gift upon leaving. The appearance of the characters and Santa is sponsored by Aqua Pennsylvania and Shamokin Knights of Columbus Council 458 and its Cardinal Mindszenty Fourth Degree Assembly 932.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Robert Muldowney was unanimously appointed the new president of Mount Carmel Area School Board during the annual reorganization meeting Wednesday night at Northumberland County Career and Technology Center.

Muldowney, a veteran board member, will succeed Thomas Ditchey as president.

Tony Mazzatesta was unanimously appointed vice president of the board for the second year in a row.

Muldowney and Mazzatesta were the only candidates for the positions.

Michael Rovito and Donna James will serve as treasurer and secretary, respectively.

The board extended James' term as secretary until June 30, 2015, at which time she could be appointed to a four-year term.

Directors agreed to continue to hold the regular board meetings at 7 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month. Each meeting will be preceded by a work session at 6 p.m.

Rovito and James were re-elected as the district's representatives on the Northumberland County Career and Technology Center Operating Agency.

Bill Brecker will once again serve on the Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit Board, while James will continue her service as the district's representative on the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

Following a one-hour executive session to discuss personnel and athletic matters, the board unanimously hired Duane Winnie as head varsity baseball coach at a salary of $2,500 during a special meeting. Winnie, who resides in Atlas, is a native of Danville and has served as an assistant baseball coach at Mount Carmel Area for one season.

Voting to approve the coach were Brecker, Mazzatesta, Muldowney, James, Rovito, Michael Brinkash, Joseph Zanella and Ray Kraynak. Ditchey was absent.

On a 7-1 vote, the board increased the pay of police officers who provide security at athletic events for the district from $38 to $60 per football game, and from $30 to $45 for all other events. Zanella cast the lone dissenting vote.

The Mount Carmel Area Public Library is grateful for the following donations:

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 Nolter girls.

Michael Eroh from Marie Parkansky and family.

Maryann P. (Nevis) Hashuga from Joseph, Carol, Joseph and James D'Amico; Jim Darrup; Nolter girls; Kathy and Mike Palewicz; Judy Reilly; Boy Scout Troop 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 CarolAnn 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 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 donations: John Bush; Family Home Medical.

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

Donations have always been the most basic and important source of income for The Mount Carmel Area Public Library.

Editors note: The last in an occasional series.

If the state had its druthers, Coal Township and Shamokin could have been principal partners in a school jointure at least 10 years before the actual mandated merger happened in 1965.

A county school reorganization plan approved in 1953, an updated plan in 1960 and the final plan in 1964 all called for a Coal Township-Shamokin combination. The plan always included additional outlying townships, with the specific townships varying from time to time; but the Coal Township-Shamokin merger was always a constant.

The 1940s and 1950s heralded the era of non-mandated, but state-encouraged, school jointures. These jointures were arrangements, approved by county school boards and the state Department of Public Instruction, in which two or more school districts formed joint boards to supervise the operation of those schools which their students mutually attended.

Until the statewide school reorganization law mandated the creation of the Shamokin Area School District, which took effect July 1, 1965, Coal Township, owing to its size, was able to "go it alone," the only district in Northumberland County to do so.

East Cameron, Shamokin townships

Although Coal Township was mentioned at various times in the 1950s and 1960s as a possible participant for various school alignments, whether proposed by the Northumberland County School Board or a neighboring district, it had never been party to a jointure.

Shamokin City School Board, however, was long involved in key interdistrict partnerships (tuition-paying arrangements or joint operating agreements) with East Cameron Township and Shamokin Township. Both of these municipalities eventually became part of the Shamokin Area merger. East Cameron was a willing participant since 1950. Shamokin Township's relationship with Shamokin School District, however, wasn't always etched in stone; officials from that township were known to explore other options for a permanent alliance.

In April 1950, Shamokin School Board ratified an agreement to organize a joint school board with East Cameron and Shamokin townships, which, at the time, had jurisdiction only over the high school. The rural districts continued to operate their own elementary schools. The joint board included seven representatives from Shamokin and one each from Shamokin and East Cameron townships. The initial jointure agreement with East Cameron was eventually expanded to include all elementary and secondary pupils.

Accounts in the Shamokin News-Dispatch hint at a cooldown in the relationship between Shamokin City and Shamokin Township school districts in the mid-1950s. Shamokin Township, which previously sent some elementary students to the Stevens Elementary School in Shamokin on a tuition basis, decided instead to operate its own classrooms by utilizing space in Coal Township's Uniontown School. Around the same time, Shamokin Township actually withdrew from the Shamokin jointure.

Join with Trevorton?

Shamokin Township figured prominently in 1957 in an aborted plan to form a Trevorton Area jointure, along with the Zerbe, Little Mahanoy and West Cameron districts. Shamokin Township residents expressed opposition to the plan in a non-binding referendum. In the same election, Shamokin Township voters reportedly favored school director candidates who favored a Shamokin-Shamokin Township alliance. Ultimately, the proposed realignment was rejected by the state because the size of the proposed district was considered too small. Shamokin Township was again added to the Shamokin School Jointure through articles of agreement approved in February 1958, although there had been some sentiment in the township to sending students to Sunbury instead.

Tough to stand alone

Shamokin City School District was largely supportive of efforts by the Northumberland County School Board and Pennsylvania Department of Public Instruction to facilitate regional discussion about school reorganization efforts. Shamokin invited school officials from Coal, Shamokin, East Cameron, West Cameron, Little Mahanoy and Zerbe townships to a meeting in early 1958 to talk about reorganization. All were then listed as members of Unit 6, a proposed school alignment. Roy Cleaver of the Pennsylvania Department of Public Instruction praised Shamokin's superintentent, Dr. Clifford V. Jones, for his efforts in trying to bring the various school systems together.

The News-Dispatch's account of the meeting reported that John H. Carter, assistant county superintendent of schools, commented there that, "There is no legislation forcing these issues, but efforts definitely are being made to make standing alone increasingly difficult for smaller districts that are not well off financially."

The name

In December 1964, a nine-member operating committee was formed to plan the Shamokin-Coal Township school merger. All seemed to go fairly smoothly, except for a dispute over what to call the new district.

Initially, the committee listed "Shamokin-Coal Township" School District as its first choice, by a 5-4 vote, with "Shamokin Area School District" as an alternative name. The Department of Public Instruction susquently requested that the district submit only one name, and the issue came to a head in March with a 6-3 approval by the committee for "Shamokin Area." The controversy resulted in about 600 Coal Township High School students conducting a protest walk through the business district and in front of Shamokin High School.

The "name issue" didn't delay merger progress. In what was viewed as an important compromise, Coal Township's school colors, purple and white, were eventually adopted for Shamokin Area.

Final board meetings for the old district were held - Shamokin's on Sept. 28, 1965, Coal Township's on Sept. 30. The new school district, which began with more than 4,200 students, was born July 1, 1965, one year in advance of the state-mandated date.

SHAMOKIN DAM - This is no bull. Well, yes it is.

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

The bull, believed to have escaped from a trailer, was captured safely about two hours later thanks to the efforts of two troopers, a local farmer and corrections officer.

Cpl. James Sheakley said Troopers Nathan Wenzel and Rodney Shoeman were dispatched to the call reported by a passing motorist. He said the troopers attempted to use a Taser on the 1,000-pound plus bull, but were unsuccessful. He said police then attempted to contact T&D's Cats of the World in Penns Creek to have someone tranquilize the bull, but were unable to reach anyone.

They then contacted farmer Marvin Heimbach of Old Route 522 in Selinsgrove for assistance. Sheakley said Heimbach, who brought gates with him to the scene, the two troopers and a corrections officer traveling in the area were able to corral the bull and get it onto a trailer at about 3:30 a.m. The bull, which has 12-inch horns, was transported to Heimbach's farm, where it remains.

The owner of the bull can claim it by contacting state police at 570-374-8145.

Sheakley said no injuries were reported and Route 11 did not have to be shut down during the incident.

SUNBURY - A lawsuit filed by the Shamokin motorcyclist nearly killed in a rear-end collision last summer says the teenage driver that struck him was careless and reckless.

Jessica L. Schleig, of Shamokin, was sued Oct. 21 by Cory L. Thompson, 29. She was 17 years old at the time of the crash.

Schleig was driving a 2000 Jeep Cherokee July 13 when she crashed into Thompson's 2002 Harley-Davidson Fat Boy in the northbound passing lane of Route 61. The Jeep's owner, Diane M. Schleig, is a co-defendant. The Schleigs relationship isn't stated in the lawsuit.

Thompson is seeking more than $50,000 from the co-defendants.

The crash occurred when Thompson came to a stop to turn left into the lot at the Wayside Inn restaurant in Weigh Scales.

Thompson was flung from the motorcycle and sent tumbling across the highway before the Jeep ran over his body. His injuries included extensive bone breaks and joint damage, organ damage and internal bleeding. He was hospitalized about 10 weeks in Geisinger Health System facilities, and endured multiple surgeries and physical therapy.

The lawsuit says Jessica Schleig failed to drive in a cautious and alert manner, was inattentive to her surroundings, and didn't pay attention to Thompson's motorcycle in front of her.

She was issued a traffic citation by Ralpho Township police, and hadn't been identified in publicly available court documents prior to the lawsuit.

The injuries Thompson suffered were painful and disabling, some permanently, the lawsuit states. It's caused Thompson to lose the ability to do general household services and activities of daily living, and he could lose future employment opportunities as a result. Expenses for resulting medical treatment haven't been tallied.

Diane Schleig should have known that Jessica Schleig couldn't drive the vehicle safely, the lawsuit states. She failed to instruct the teen in its safe operation and should have prevented her from driving until she was prepared to drive safely, according to the court filing.

Thompson is represented by Lenahan & Dempsey, Scranton.

SUNBURY - Northumberland County's president judge denied an attorney's request to be dismissed from representing attempted homicide suspect Rafael Diroche.

Susan M. Schwartz, special conflicts counsel for Northumberland County, must stay on the Diroche case, Judge William H. Wiest ruled Wednesday.

Schwartz was granted a continuance for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, Shamokin. The hearing to determine if the case will proceed to trial was to be held Tuesday. It's now scheduled for Jan. 6.

"Due to the seriousness of the charges against Mr. Diroche, I will need to file a motion to have a court reporter present at the hearing, in addition to having the necessary time needed to prepare for the hearing," Schwartz wrote in a letter to Gembic.

Diroche, 29, formerly of Mount Carmel, has maintained innocence against state police accusations that he shot Salicia Yost in the head point blank Feb. 8 along Irish Valley Road. The gunshot nearly killed the 21-year-old Milton woman and left her legally blind. Police said Yost initially identified Diroche as the shooter, but she has since changed her story and denies he pulled the trigger.

Diroche said he applied for a court-appointed attorney in the case but sat alone at the defense table Dec. 2 inside Gembic's courtroom when no one showed to defend him. As a result, Gembic continued the hearing.

Schwartz sought to have another attorney assigned to the case, citing her office's active case load of between 400 and 500 cases, among other duties. She referenced a second attorney in her office, Kate Lincoln, in the failed motion filed Tuesday.

"Neither counsel in the Office of Special and Conflicts Counsel can provide the thoroughness and preparation ... necessary to represent a defendant in an attempted homicide case," she wrote.

Wiest wasn't convinced. His order was officially filed Thursday at the Prothonotary's Office.

State police charged Diroche with attempted homicide, aggravated assault, attempted aggravated assault and corrupt organizations. They said the shooting stemmed from an argument both business and personal, alleging the two were romantic and also involved together in dealing drugs.

Diroche has been held since Feb. 9 in Northumberland County Prison, Sunbury, on related felony drug and gun charges: six counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, six counts of illegal possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm without a license, receiving stolen property and criminal use of a communication facility, all of which are felonies. He is also charged with misdemeanors of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail is set at $300,000. The attempted homicide case carries a separate bail of $200,000.

A co-defendant also faces drug charges. Esteven Soto, 30, formerly of Bronx, N.Y., is held in Montour County Prison, Danville, on $250,000 bail. He and Diroche were arrested at Diroche's apartment the day of the shooting.

Soto is charged with three felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, one felony count of illegally possessing a firearm, and three misdemeanor counts of possession of controlled substances.

SHAMOKIN - A wayward trucker who found himself lost on Bunker Hill obliterated a Rock Street house Thursday, dragging the truck's trailer across the front of the two-story structure and ripping it to shreds from sidewalk to roof.

The trucker continued downhill and turned onto Sunbury Street, where he hit a northbound motorist, and continued south on Route 61 while pulling building materials behind. Multiple 911 calls were made to report the badly damaged tractor-trailer. It was eventually stopped by Shamokin police on eastbound Route 901 near Industrial Park Road.

Rasan L. Tyler-Davis, 28, of Philadelphia, was a new driver with Trans-Am Trucking Inc., Kansas. He'd only been driving on his own three weeks, Shamokin Police Chief Darwin Tobias III said. He had made a delivery in Sunbury and was driving south to Philadelphia shortly before 10 a.m. when he received bad directions from a GPS device. It mistakenly directed him uphill on Sunbury Street rather than breaking right onto Route 61.

That's not unusual, Tobias said. Several truckers have gotten misrouted into Bunker Hill. But none had ever caused the damage Tyler-Davis had.

He first mowed down a stop sign and fence outside 1021 E. Sunbury St. while turning north onto Dubarry Street. He struck a utility pole turning west onto Kase Street, and finally ripped a hole in the truck's trailer when he plowed through David Rarick's home at Rock and Kase streets.

Tyler-Davis thought he had only hit a utility pole, and said he waited to pull over on Route 901 because he was looking for a safe place to stop the truck, Tobias said.

'That's my house'

Rarick was working in Jersey Shore with ManorCare Health Services when he learned of the accident at 1119 N. Rock St. He knew something was up since there were nine missed calls to his cell phone. A photo of the destruction posted online confirmed the worst. He was among the first to comment on The News-Item's Facebook post about the breaking news, writing "That's my house. Luckily my dog was the only one home and he is OK."

Rarick was emotional at the scene while he looked over the wreckage. He bought the house two years ago and had paid for several upgrades.

The walls were torn from his bedroom and the living room below it, and the rooms were nearly cut in half. Large portions of the exterior roof, two-by-fours, windows and frames, siding, drywall and insulation littered Rock Street and the backyard. Water had been leaking onto the debris from a broken indoor water pipe. An addition on the side of the home was flattened; the roof was laying ground level where a hot tub had been.

His mattress teetered on the edge of the second story bedroom, 10 feet above the sidewalk where the floor broke off.

"It's a good thing he didn't come by at 5 a.m.," Rarick said. If that were the case, he figured he may have been lying in the rubble, too.

Rarick brightened at the sight of his 2-year-old Great Dane, Thor, which was inside at the time of the crash but was unharmed.

"He generally sleeps on my bed when I'm not home. I don't know if he was there" when the crash occurred, Rarick said.

Wrong turn

Robin Morgan, of nearby 423 E. Kase St., heard the crash and came running to the corner home. She had a hunch someone crashed into it, and spoke of other truckers getting stuck on Kase Street. Thursday's driver had already driven away once she arrived.

"By the time I got up here I didn't see anything," Morgan said.

Scott Fisher, of 410 E. Kase St., is Rarick's next door neighbor. He heard the crash and said it sounded like a load of rock had been dumped.

"They get stuck up here if they hit a wrong turn. Once they get stuck, they're in a jam," Fisher said.

A contractor was on scene to consult Rarick about reinforcing the structure and setting up a temporary wall to seal off the house. He had also been in touch with his insurance provider. It was too early for him to say if he'd repair the place or if it would have to be torn down. His family offered him a place to stay.

Charges pending

Tobias recalled the Rock Street house had been struck by a tractor-trailer once before 13 years ago. The front porch roof was torn off, but the damage then was nothing like what occurred Thursday.

Tyler-Davis will be charged by Tobias with four misdemeanor counts of hit and run, along with counts of fleeing the scene of an accident, duty to report an accident and careless driving.

Members of the Motor Carrier Division of Pennsylvania State Police responded to inspect the truck and trailer. The trailer was towed, but Tyler-Davis was able to drive the truck.

Tobias was awaiting information from Kevin Fisher, the driver of the vehicle damaged near Shamokin and Sunbury streets.

MOUNT CARMEL - J. Kevin Jones, representing the Mount Carmel Lions Club, announced Thursday that the Santa Claus parade scheduled for Saturday has been postponed.

"There has been no change in the weather forecast, which is calling for an inch of rain Saturday," Jones said. "If the weather is nice, that is our fault" the parade was postponed.

Jones said the parade will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13.

Clarification made on Patsies banquet

TREVORTON - Trevorton Patsies Senior Adult Ministry's Annual Christmas Pork and Trimmings Banquet will be held at 1 p.m. Monday, Dec. 15, at Hannah's Restaurant. RSVP by Saturday by calling Rose Marie at 570-648-3035.

Attendees are to bring a wrapped $3 gift for crazy bingo. Christmas carols will be sung.

A calendar item in Thursday's edition mentioned the RSVP deadline, but not the date of the event.

SAT tests to be administered

COAL TOWNSHIP - The SAT Reasoning and the SAT Subject Tests will be administered to pre-registered candidates Saturday.

Check-in and room assignments will begin at 7:30 a.m. in the auditorium lobby for individuals who bring all required admissions documents and materials. All candidates must present photo ID.

Students should consult their Registration Bulletin or www.collegeboard.com for additional information regarding test day procedures. The doors to the test center will close at 8 a.m,

Candidates are reminded to park their vehicles in either of the side parking lots. Travel arrangements should be confirmed prior to the test date. Candidates are reminded that cell phones are not permitted in the test center.

ASHLAND - The Shepherd's Table will sponsor a free meal from 3 to 5 p.,m. (or until the food is depleted) Wednesday at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 35 N. Ninth St.,

The meal is for those in need or those who wish to socialize with others. Families are welcome.

It is an "eat in" meal only. Takeouts are not available.

The meal is offered on the second Wednesday of the month.

SHAMOKIN - The quarterly meeting of Manna for the Many Board of Directors was held Oct. 29 at the food pantry.

Board President David Wildoner opened the meeting with devotions and prayer. The secretary and treasurer's reports were submitted and accepted.

Lucille Lubeskie, treasurer, reported Manna received a $1,000 donation from the Elysburg area. She and Grethel Vinup have completed the United Way grant application.

In her quarterly report, Vinup noted there were 850 visits to the food pantry during this period, averaging more than 65 visits per week. A total of 13,669 food items were given out this quarter. Manna added 82 new clients this quarter, compared with 61 new clients last quarter. The food pantry is now serving a total of 757 clients.

Summer food donations are typically lower than the rest of the year. Manna is looked forward to Harvest Home collections in October and November to help replenish the shelves.

As in the past, Manna for the Many was closed for the entire week of Thanksgiving and will also be closed the weeks of Christmas and New Year's (Dec. 22 to Jan. 22). The food pantry will reopen for distribution Tuesday, Jan. 6.

Wildoner reported ordering food items from the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank is going well and Manna can now receive orders in as little as two days. Also, Manna will purchase a new freezer from Sears through a grant with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank.

Central Susquehanna Opportunities (CSO) has invited Manna to their meetings. Wildoner will attend them. The purpose is help inform the community know about all the services available in Northumberland County.

A meeting of all volunteers was held Nov. 17. at St. John's United Church of Christ.

Manna welcomes both food and monetary donations to the food pantry. Manna is open for food distributions and receiving donations from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays, 1 to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays. Monetary donations can be made in memory of or in nonor of someone and can also be mailed to P.O. Box 129, Shamokin 17872.

The next quarterly board of directors meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 28, at the food pantry, 144 E.Independence St. A budget committee meeting will be held at 6 p.m. prior to the regular meeting. All meetings are open to the public. The board invites and encourages all interested persons to attend.

SUNBURY - A decision on whether a Kulpmont property owner will be forced to clean up the debris from a collapsed property won't be made until January, giving attorneys time to file briefs.

The decision to file the motions was made following a 45-minute hearing Thursday in Northumberland County Court on a motion to compel property owner Thomas Valeiko, 73, of Commack, N.Y., to clean up a pile of debris from his property at 1263 Chestnut St.

Valeiko claimed in past hearings he doesn't have the money to remove the debris and said "an act of God" caused the second floor of his two-story cinder block structure to collapse Feb. 21.

He blamed the borough for not "finishing the job" when it partially demolished the structure under an emergency order.

The rubble remains in a large pile on the lot despite a number of citations filed in the past nine months against Valeiko for not removing it or making a good faith effort to have it taken away.

During the meeting before Judge Charles Saylor, Kulpmont Borough Code officer Russ Moroz was the only person to offer testimony.

Between June and Nov. 21, Moroz has cited Valeiko 122 times, once for each day the property is not cleaned up.

Moroz testified the center section of the wooden roof collapsed onto the former Eagle Sign Company, smashing a nearby box truck.

After consultations with several emergency management agencies and the borough engineer, the borough decided to tear down the second story.

"There was some imminent danger of the wall collapsing onto a neighboring structure," Moroz said.

The code officer said Valeiko initially said he didn't have the money to clean up the structure and would be filing bankruptcy.

Admitted into evidence by Kulpmont Borough solicitor William Cole were a series of photographs taken by Moroz and other borough officials showing the progression of work done at Valeiko's property.

"On Aug. 8, he had a Dumpster there for the debris and it was filled and taken away," Moroz said. "The next week, he had a sign up giving away free cement blocks there."

Moroz said two-thirds of the debris from the structure is still on site.

"There was some steel and metal there, but a lot of that was scrapped out," Moroz said.

In cross-examination, Valeiko's attorney, Richard Feudale, asked Moroz if he is familiar with the Property Maintainence Code passed by the state in 2003. Moroz said he is, but is unfamiliar with a section Feudale quoted concerning removing the entire structure and cleaning the site to make it safe for Kulpmont residents.

Feudale then admitted a photo of the front of Valeiko's property and a neighboring home taking after the collapse and said his client's structure is not leaning against the home.

"The collapse didn't happen in the front of the home; it occurred in the center of the structure," Moroz responded.

Feudale said the state's property management code in 2003 supersedes the local ordinance Moroz cited, which was passed in 2002.

Saylor gave Feudale until Dec. 15 to file a brief citing case law in his argument. Cole was given 10 days following receipt to file a response.

COAL TOWNSHIP - A Coal Township couple wants Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School to pay for damages allegedly caused by a faulty storm water system at the Catholic school.

David and Mary Hollingshead filed suit last month, claiming their home at 2089 Stetler Drive was inundated in June 2013 by water spilled from a series of disjointed pipes that run downhill from the school and discharge into their backyard.

Bishop Ronald W. Gainer, the Harrisburg Diocese and local churches affiliated with the school are named as defendants, as are 20 John Does not identified in the lawsuit.

Total damages aren't tallied. It's estimated the home's property value was slashed by at least $125,000. Physical damages are estimated to exceed $40,000, and more than $5,000 was lost by the Hollingsheads and relatives who missed income when they helped the couple clean up after the flooding. They also claim severe emotional distress.

The Hollingsheads ask the court to force the defendants to pay at least fair market value for their Stetler Drive property, pay for property damages as well as punitive damages and attorneys' fees. They also want Lourdes Regional to complete a Stormwater Management Plan to be approved by Coal Township or the state, as well as remove the stormwater pipes for good.

According to the lawsuit, the strength of the stormwater forced open a basement door and flooded the lower two levels of the Hollingsheads' home, permeating the cement foundation.

"Defendants' stormwater system is wholly inadequate as it lacks sufficient drainage to handle the quantity of water from rainstorms which has caused flooding of plaintiffs' home as well as several other homes in the neighborhood," the lawsuit states.

Doors, floors, carpet, walls, baseboard, and heating and electric systems were damaged, the Hollingsheads claim in the lawsuit. Mold grew on the lower two levels. The yard was damaged, too, and many personal items were destroyed: furniture, clothing, collectibles, family heirlooms, and family videos dating to 1973. An inventory of supplies for the couple's craft business was also destroyed.

Damages weren't covered by the couple's homeowners insurance. They're still paying down a loan used to make some repairs.

The school property was developed several times, including the paving of lots and removal of structures and regrading of land, the lawsuit states. Water was haphazardly redirected away from its natural course and toward the Coal Township couple's property, an investment they hoped would take care of them through retirement.

The Hollingsheads claim Lourdes Regional was contacted about the damages and the alleged faulty drain pipes, but never responded.

Claims made by the couple's attorney, Laurinda J. Voelcker of Danville, are trespass, injunction for trespass, nuisance, equitable relief, claim for damages.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Recognizing that the need is as great as ever, members of the Salvation Army Advisory Board completed plans for the annual Salvation Army Christmas food drive during a recent meeting at the Salvation Army headquarters at 1300 W. Spruce St.

Brian Persing, who will once again chair the annual drive, said collection of food items will begin immediately and continue until Friday, Dec. 19.

Food items solicited are turkeys, hams, chickens, instant potatoes, stuffing mix, sweet potatoes, gravy, pasta and sauce, cake mixes, frosting and all canned goods.

Collection sites are Susquehanna Bank, Second and Walnut streets, Shamokin; Susquehanna Bank, Independence Street, Shamokin; Roosevelt Court, Kulpmont, chaired by John Bobber; Mount Carmel Mid Rise, chaired by Tina McClay, and Coal Township High Rise, headed by Allison Wetzel, site manager, Lincoln Towers High Rise, Market Street, Shamokin.

Shamokin Area Key Club, advised by Joan Kidron, will sponsor a food drive throughout the Shamokin Area School District. Chris Venna, high school principal and a member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, is also participating.

Food drives will be held in the Mount Carmel Area School District, with Bernie Stellar, superintendent, and Southern Columbia Area School District, with Joseph Klebon, assisting with the drive.

Persing added any individuals or groups wishing to purchase a turkey, ham or chicken can telephone Irish Isle Provision Co., 911 W. Arch St., Coal Township, at 570-648-4260 and use a credit card for payment. A Salvation Army representative will pick up the items.

Also, persons may purchase items, food or clothing, at the Walmart, Route 61, Coal Township, and take the goods to Subway, located inside the store.

Any church groups, civic organizations or clubs wishing to make monetary donations can make the check payable to The Salvation Army and mail it to Persing at 914 W. Wood St., Coal Township, 17866.

There is an Angel Tree at Walmart where groups or individuals can sponsor gifts for individuals or families.

Anyone seeking additional information concerning sponsoring individuals or families can contact Judy Orner, social cervices director for the Salvation Army, during working hours at 570-644-0486, Orner said all types and sizes of plans are available and the plans are "very flexible."

Persing said there are hundreds of families, including about 2,000 children, seeking assistance this year.

"There is a big need, and no child should go hungry or without a toy," Persing added.

Maj. Tina Streck, commanding officer, and members of the advisory board said there is also a big need for people to ring the bell and man the kettles. Any organization, civic group or individual interested in ringing the bell should contact Orner at the headquarters at 570-644-0486.

Henry Linton, board president, said 98 percent of the people who apply for assistance are truly needy.

In her financial report, Streck noted improvements are being made financially in different avenues. She said efforts are under way to curb "double-dipping." Orner said clients are being cross-referenced with other charitable groups to stop duplication of efforts.

Streck said plans are under way to participate in the Shamokin Christmas parade Saturday.

Bill Bowers, manager of the Salvation Army Thrift Store, gave a report on the success of the store.

The advisory board will hold its annual Christmas party at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Original Italian Pizza restaurant.

Attending the meeting in addition to Streck, Orner, Persing, Bowers and Linton, were Janice Kotwica, Ned Sodrick, Harry Deitz, Jan Diorio and Paul Metrocavage.

MOUNT CARMEL - The following memorials have been presented to Divine Redeemer Church during November:

Virginia Dunleavy from John R. Lindenmuth.

Augustine Lombardo from wife, Marie and children.

Joseph Schetroma from Hank and Loretta Witkoski.

Maryann P. Hashuga from Frank and Mary Sawicki, Billy and Betty Ann Corrigan, Melissa and Caleigh Corrigan, Diane (Cookie) Ciocco, Bob and Kathy Wesoloskie, Hank and Loretta Witkoski, Pat Nevis, April Ann Nevis, Alanna and Jim Jones and daughters, Patrice and Steve Siffert and sons, Joe and Tammy Nevis and daughters, Pat Bartos, Dan and Phyllis Ficca, Mike and Linda Trocki, John and Mary Lou Corbacio, Jack and Toni Sommers, Mary M. Rudisill, Tina Bucher, friends/fellow police officers of Matt Hashuga, Coal Township Police Department, Rita M. Pizzoli, Ronald and Susan Davis, Susan Kaminski Barrett and family.

Lance C. Klimowicz from Frank and Mary Sawicki.

Sister Mary Irene Grabowicz from Dan and Phyllis Ficca, Leon and Elaine Jurgill.

Leona L. Dorkoski from JoAnn M. Dobeck, Mary Ann Levins.

Agnes T. Bianchi from Dora and Joan DiFrancesco and Lena Wynne.

Irene Bernas from Mike and Linda Trocki; Wally, Anne and Megan McAndrew.

Richard Shierant from wife, Lucille, and family.

Agnes, Joseph and Susan Nowroski from Theresa Nowroski.

Dorothy DeMarco from Joe and Barb Iwanski and family.

Mary Mostik from Robert and Carole Grady, Kozlowski family, Lois M. Sejuit, Joseph Zinda, Anthony and Brigitte Budraitis, Mary C. Buhay, Carol Rossi, Charlotte Thomas, Carmella Wenrich, Bonnie R. Ziegler, American Legion Centralia Auxiliary Unit 608, Dan Ruger, Edward and Linda Lawler, Centralia Legion Memorial Association, King Coal Tours Inc., Norbert Dombroski, Anna Budraitis; M. and D. Molesevich.

HERNDON - The eighth annual Walk Through Bethlehem will be held at Grace Community Church, 1218 State Route 225 (beside the Line Mountain High School) from 6 to 9 p.m. today and 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday.

The free interactive program provides visitors with an experience similar to living in Biblical times. The event will combine sounds of merchants, money changers and live animals in the marketplace with visuals of beautiful handmade tapestries and craftsmen at work, tastes of authentic candies and baked goods of ancient times and the aromas of fresh baked bread. The walk concludes at the scene of the manger, allowing visitors to experience the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem.

The church is handicap accessible. Large groups should call ahead at 570-758-6214 or email at gccherndon@tods.net. Participants will travel back in time to the town of Bethlehem and walk the path that Mary and Joseph walked. Those attending can personally experience their journey through the market place, to the inn, and finally to the manger for the birth of Jesus Christ.

SHAMOKIN - City council is exploring options to make it more convenient to pay tax bills.

Treasurer Brenda Scandle presented three options during Wednesday's monthly work session for council members to consider: two versions of an installment plan and online bill payment.

The collection rates in 2013 were previously estimated by Scandle at 78 percent for real estate, 44 percent for per capita and 31 percent for occupational assessment and local occupation.

Scandle acknowledged the new proposals would largely benefit people already paying taxes, but she is hopeful they would also boost the collection rates - a priority for city council if it is going to successfully exit the state's Act 47 program for financially distressed municipalities.

The proposals would apply to current year taxes only. Delinquent taxes would continue to be collected by the county's Tax Claims Bureau and the city's contracted firm Powell, Rogers & Speaks.

Online option

An online payment system wouldn't be limited to the tax office. There was talk among city officials of offering it in the code office and police department to pay fines and permit fees, and also at the public swimming pool.

Scandle suggested the city work with the firm behind the online payment website www.paygov.us. The site would be linked on the city's homepage, www.shamokincity.org. She said the county's treasurer currently uses the firm's web-based program.

There would be no fee to the city. Equipment, training and tech support would all be free, Scandle said. Customers would incur a 3 percent fee on their bills if they choose to use the service.

Scandle said her office could also accept customers' information over the phone and process the online payment using the office computers. This would add additional work for both her and the deputy treasurer since they may have to look up parcel numbers and bill numbers to process payment.

Payment plans

One installment option is inspired by a program in Philadelphia that seeks to assist low-income residents, including senior citizens. A property owner would apply to City Hall, and if they meet the income requirements, they would be permitted to make preset installment payments throughout the year.

The second installment option would be to scrap the income requirements and offer it to everyone. Details were few on this option, and Mayor William D. Milbrand suggested staggering three to four installments due throughout the year. Scandle suggested a plan allowing property owners to pay what they can, when they can - be it $100 a month or $10 a week.

The city's tax bills are released in March. In July, bills for county and school district taxes are released.

There would be logistical hurdles for installment plans, Scandle said, particularly with the summer tax bills. The county pays to print those bills and handles much of the legwork involved, she said.

Scandle said additional staff wouldn't be needed to take on installment payments. She said she would look to see if an installment plan could also be offered online.

Scandle, Milbrand, Councilman David Kinder and Clerk Robert M. Slaby plan to serve as a committee to address boosting the tax collection rates.

Police info

Scandle is seeking the support of the city's police department in adding city residents to the tax rolls.

She has asked that all officers compile the names, addresses and occupations of everyone they contact during their shifts and forward that information to the tax office. The information would not include the nature of the contact or if an arrest was made.

The code office collects and shares similar information with the tax office.

Addressing privacy concerns expressed by Chief Darwin Tobias III, Solicitor Frank Konopka said he saw no issues with providing the basic information.

Tobias said there are other issues to be addressed. He said some people officers encounter use aliases or provide false information. He also wondered how much time it would take to collect and share such data and if the tax office has the appropriate staffing to handle it.

Milbrand suggested the officers collect and share the data, and let the tax office figure out the logistics on its end.

Scandle and Tobias said they would meet to discuss the matter.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Coal Township commissioners tabled a proposed amendment to the amusement tax ordinance that would implement a five percent tax on revenue at the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA) at Thursday's meeting.

The decision, made unanimously, was reached after a lengthy discussion during commissioners' work session Tuesday that weighed the potential revenue of the tax against future donations made by the AOAA.

AOAA authority chairman Jim Backes said Monday that if the tax was implemented, the AOAA would cease giving donations. The AOAA has donated $4,700 to Coal Township this year.

Commissioners were unsure Tuesday if the AOAA would be willing to enter into a commitment to donate and, if so, how much. Questions also remained on how much revenue the tax would bring in, especially if other municipalities passed similar taxes that could cut into Coal Township's share.

"We're tabling it to talk to people and do it the right way," said Chairman Craig Fetterman.

State law requires an ordinance to be advertised between seven and 60 days of passage. While commissioners did not set a date for the next vote, the ordinance would have to pass during the January meeting or it would need to be advertised again.

During Tuesday's work session, commissioners had also proposed numerous changes to the ordinance. If the changes made to it are major - such as altering the percentage of the tax - the ordinance will have to be advertised again regardless of the date it is approved, said Township Manager Rob Slaby.

In other business:

- Residents are reminded to use brown recyclable leaf bags as they are the only type of leaf bag that will be picked up. These bags can be purchased at any hardware store.

- A bid by Lenig & Kosmer purchasing the township's Michigan loader for $3,2000 was accepted.

- An amendment to the traffic signal code incorporating additional no parking signs, was approved.

- Bids by Miller Gas & Oil to supply heating oil at 15.4 cents per gallon over cost on the day of delivery and diesel fuel at 18.5 cents per gallon over cost on the day of delivery were accepted.

- Commissioners accepted the resignation of Patrolman Matthew Henrich from the Coal Township Police Department, retroactive to Nov. 30.

"He was a good cop," said Commissioner Bernie Rumberger. "I'm sorry to see him go."