SHAMOKIN - Three defendants charged in Friday's drug raid have been hit with additional offenses by Cpl. Bryan Primerano.

The offenses occurred Friday morning at the defendants' homes when they were taken into custody, police said.

Shannon L. Armes, 37, of 707 N. Cherry St., Shamokin, is charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police reported Armes possessed 70 individual packaged baggies containing heroin and six syringes.

Sharon Carson, 50, of 316 N. Shamokin St., Shamokin, is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

In addition to marijuana and drug paraphernalia, police found plastic bags with cocaine residue on Carson's kitchen table.

John Firestine, 51, of 925 E. Clay St., Shamokin, is charged with possession of hashish and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Armes, Carson and Firestine were among 10 Shamokin area street-level drug dealers charged in connection with the delivery of heroin, cocaine, hashish and prescription drugs relating to incidents dating back to July in Shamokin.

The investigation was conducted by agents from the state attorney general's office and members of the Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force.

Roads closed for Knoebels work

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - Some roads in Franklin and Cleveland townships will be closed today so employees from Knoebels Amusement Resort and Bill Anskis Construction Co. can continue construction of the park's new steel roller coaster, Impulse. Franklin Township Supervisor Ed Lease said Knoebels Parkway to Pine Swamp Road to Camp Ground Road will be closed from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

A crane and other heavy machinery will be used to move steel pieces into place as workers continue building the ride, which will include 2,000 feet of track.

Pierogies for sale

SHAMOKIN - The Shamokin -Coal Township Senior Action Center is selling potato pierogies from Our Lady of Hope Church. To place an order, call 570-644-0772.

AAA offers some winter driving tips to help navigate on ice and snow.

"One of the biggest misconceptions is people think the roadway is wet when it's actually ice," AAA safety adviser Terri Rae Anthony said. "The problem is that they are driving too fast to safely adjust their speed when they realize they are on ice.

AAA says the best thing to do if you lose control of your car is to remain calm, and turn in the direction you want your car to go. Stay in control of the skid.

- Avoid abrupt movements such as slamming on the brakes, as this will further upset the vehicle's balance and make it harder to control.

- Adjust your driving habits as road conditions change. Easy on the gas and easy on the brake. Nearly one-quarter of weather-related vehicle crashes occur on snowy, slushy or icy pavement.

- Drive distraction free. Looking away from the road for even two seconds doubles your chance of a crash. Program your GPS prior to entering the roadway.

- Do not use cruise control. Avoiding using cruise control allows you to respond instantly when you take your foot off the gas.

- Do not tailgate. Normal following distances should be increased significantly (8 to 10 seconds) when driving on icy roads. This will give you more time to react if you have to come to a complete stop.

- Drive on the clearest lane. When on a four-lane highway, drive in the lane that has the least amount of snow and ice. Avoid changing lanes and driving over snow buildup.

- Know when to brake and when to steer. When traveling over 25 mph, AAA suggests steering over braking, as less distance if required to steer around an object than to brake to a stop. In slick conditions, sudden braking can lead to loss of vehicle control.

- Shaded spots, bridges, overpasses and intersections are areas where ice is likely to form first and be the most slippery.

SHAMOKIN - In a city populated by 7,260 residents and teetering on financial collapse, only 60 people attended a public hearing Wednesday on a radical plan bound to alter Shamokin's future - and not all of them actually live within its borders.

Just six people spoke out during a public comment period inside the auditorium of the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, and half of them reside elsewhere.

Chuck Eltringham, a former city resident, said Shamokin needs an economic development plan. Pensions, he said, have become unaffordable, as stated in the preliminary Act 47 plan. Eltringham said the city's two unions are squeezing the city dry.

"The community leaders need to lead. It might hurt the police, I'm sorry, and it might hurt city workers," Eltringham said. "I'm 58 years old and people ask, 'Why did you move back? Are you a fool?' My heart's here. Is yours?"

Authors of a financial recovery plan created through the state's Act 47 program reviewed initiatives meant to prevent the city from accumulating more than $4.4 million in debt through 2020.

Radical changes are suggested, including freezing employee pay and benefits, raising taxes and potentially changing the city's form of government. Shamokin could exit Act 47 with a $600,000 surplus in 2020 and be on a path for continued self-sustainability, according to updated projections.

The backbone of the plan is doubling the Earned Income Tax from 1 percent to 2 percent - 1.5 percent would go to the city and 0.5 percent to the Shamokin Area School District, a rate it currently receives - and at minimum maintaining the current real estate tax rate of 58.1 mills. The extra EIT is estimated to generate up to $915,000 annually.

Gerald Bogetti, a former councilman, said the plan fails to account for more taxpayers who will be unable to afford their bills. He said the trend of delinquencies has continued, and the proposed tax structure will do little to reverse it.

Bogetti suggested lowering taxes, saying the delinquency rate would fall and revenues would rise as a result of more people paying.

"We're on this snowball of raising taxes to fix problems and it's not working," he said.

Dave Hughes, a city resident, agreed with Bogetti's sentiment about taxes. He urged city council to expand on plan initiatives that seek to reduce spending, including potentially consolidating or outright closing the police department.

The city is 0.8 square miles and employs 10 officers, with Hughes pointing out that eight are not Shamokin residents. Coal Township, which surrounds Shamokin, has an 11-man force responsible for 26.5 square miles. He said regionalizing police coverage makes sense financially. The city's police budget is its costliest. At $1.2 million, it accounts for 42 percent of projected spending in 2015. Hughes said a community where one in four residents are older than 65 can't take on an increased burden in taxes.

Paul Leshinskie, a Coal Township resident and a township commissioner, cast doubt at projections by financial consultants that Shamokin could swing its finances by $5.5 million by 2020. He also said it's unreasonable to freeze employee wages while asking them to contribute more toward health care costs. Employees currently pay between $80 and $100 a month for coverage.

John "Skip" Rabuck lives in Coal Township, but his mother is a city resident. He said police and code departments should increase enforcement on out-of-town landlords and their residents.

"I think the people from out of town that rent these properties need to start paying up," he said.

SHAMOKIN - The Cecilian Club will present a concert at St. John's United Church of Christ at 7:30 p.m. Monday. This month's concert will be "Quite Continental."

The concert will start with Grethel Vinup playing a piano solo, "Hymne" by Vangelis. Carol Ellis, Bonnie Alleman and Mary Anne Miller, accompanied by Vinup, will sing "The Kerry Dance" by Molloy. Next will be a recorder solo as Nan Weller plays "Hakata Air," a traditional Japanese air.

Beverly Petrovich, accompanied by Weller, will sing Pascal's "Arrivederci, Roma." Next will be an organ solo as Margaret Morris plays "Prelude on an Irish Hymn" by Williams. Tom Christ, accompanied by Morris, will sing "Maori Farewell Song (Now Is the Hour)" by Kaichan, Scott and Stewart.

Bonny Klinger will present a piano solo, "A Night on Bald Mountain," by Mussorgsky. This will be followed by an ensemble, composed of Margaret Schlader, Grace Stank, Susan Shoop, Carolyn Weaver, Kathi Christ, David Kopitsky and Christ, accompanied by Miller, singing "We Are Singing, for the Lord Is Our Light," a traditional Zulu song, arranged by Hopson.

Miller, accompanied by Klinger on piano, will play a clarinet solo, "Australian Up-Country" by Grainger. The program will conclude with Klinger accompanying a sing-along of "Waltzing Matilda" by Cowan.

The public is invited to join the club for this free concert.

SHAMOKIN - An adviser to city officials said Wednesday a suggestion to close the Shamokin Police Department overnight will be revised.

"It will not be a mandatory initiative," attorney Susan Friedman of Stevens & Lee said during a public hearing at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center.

Authors of the city's preliminary Act 47 plan reviewed crime reports submitted by the department annually to a state database. It showed that crime dropped about 69 percent between 2009 and 2013. After culling and reviewing frequency of dispatches, authors concluded that the department could be closed daily between 3 and 7 a.m. when call volume dips.

Reports of minor crime would be handled by dayshift, and emergencies could be handled by state police or neighboring Coal Township Police Department on a contract basis, they said.

That won't be necessary, Friedman said, as long as Shamokin can raise its Earned Income Tax to 2 percent. The tax is currently 1 percent, and split in half with Shamokin Area School District. The increase would bring 1.5 percent to the city, estimated at up to an additional $915,000 in tax revenue annually. The increased tax rate can be maintained while the city is enrolled in Act 47, but if it exits in 2020 as projected, voters must adopt a Home Rule form of government to keep the tax.

"If the Earned Income Tax is available (the police) can continue operations as they are now," she said, adding that it could also negate a reduction of the police force from 10 officers to eight. Attrition rather than layoffs was suggested.

Friedman maintained that the city should negotiate with its police union to allow the hiring of part-time police officers and the elimination of mandatory staffing requirements, which require two officers to each shift, to control costs.

Police Chief Darwin Tobias III and Mayor William D. Milbrand each oppose closing the department or eliminating minimum manning requirements.

A revised Act 47 plan will be filed Wednesday, Feb. 11. City council is expected to vote on it during a special meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12.

DALLAS - Jessica Pachuski, of Kulpmont, was named to the dean's list at Misericordia University for the fall semester with a 3.9 grade-point average.

She is a freshman majoring in speech and language pathology and minoring in theater. During her first semester, she played Diana, one of the lead roles, in her university's production of the Broadway hit "Lend Me a Tenor." She also sang the national anthem for the girls basketball team's home games.

Pachuski, a 2014 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School, is a daughter of Pete and Valerie Pachuski, of Kulpmont, and a granddaughter of Louise Stello, of Kulpmont, and Helen Pachuski, of Atlas.

- Net effect of 120 initiatives in Act 47 plan estimated at $5,035,980.

- Budget surplus projected each year between 2015 and 2020 totaling $603,820 by 2020.

- Establish Capital Reserve Fund with 30 percent of surplus money.

- $261,208 in grants available through Act 47 to offset suggested upgrades to computer hardware and software, a recommended raise for the clerk's salary and the hiring of an administrative secretary.

- Without changes, deficits would nearly double from 2015 to 2020 at $477,017 and $882,939, respectively.

- More than $4.4 million cumulative deficit between 2015 and 2020 should the city continue on its current path.

- Spending up 14.7 percent and revenue up 1.6 percent without action.

- Employee expenditures averaged 85 percent of total revenue and 127 percent of tax revenue between 2009 and 2014.

BOCA RATON, Fla. - Cody Nolter graduated with a Bachelor of Business Administration with an emphasis on management of informational systems from Florida Atlantic University Dec. 11.

He also holds an associate degree in art from Palm Beach State College.

He is a son of Michael and Rita Nolter, of Mount Carmel, and a grandson of Helen Nolter, of Mount Carmel.

WILLIAMSPORT - Roman Scicchitano, a sophomore at Pennsylvania College of Technology, was named to the fall semester dean's list after earning a 4.0 grade-point average.

Scicchitano is majoring in electronics and computer engineering technology with emphasis in robotics and automation.

A 2011 graduate of Shamokin Area High School, he is a son of Jennifer Gemberling, of Shamokin Township, and a grandson of Diane Garcia, of Coal Township. PITTSBURGH - Erin Scicchitano, a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh's Kenneth P. Deitrick School of Arts and Sciences, was named to the dean's list for the fall semester.

A 2014 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School, she is a daughter of Michael and Laurel Scicchitano, of Den-Mar Gardens, and a granddaughter of Anthony and Millie Scicchitano, of Bear Gap, and the late Lawrence and Florence Goodlunis.

BLOOMSBURG - Police are searching for two suspects in an off-campus shooting of two Bloomsburg University students Tuesday, according to town police.

Bloomsburg Police Department said in a press release issued Wednesday that officers responded to 351 Fetterman Ave., just off Lightstreet Road (Route 487), at 9:54 p.m. for a report of a shooting. Officers located a 20-year-old male with a gunshot wound to his upper torso inside 351 Fetterman Ave. The victim was transported to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

A short time later, Geisinger-Bloomsburg Hospital contacted Bloomsburg Police to report a second shooting victim had walked in to the emergency room. It was determined the second victim had also been shot at the same address, the press release said.

The initial investigation determined the shooting was not a random act.

The suspects are described as two black males in their early 20s. Police officers investigating the incident could not be reached for additional information.

The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information should contact Bloomsburg Police Department at 570-784-6779.

REBUCK - Christopher Allen Deppen, of Troop 311 in Rebuck, earned his Eagle Scout award. He is a son of Donald and Audrey Deppen.

Deppen's Eagle Scout project was installing five flagpoles for the five military flags in front of the American Legion, Post 504 in Mandata. The flags are a tribute to all the men and women who have served or are currently serving in the armed forces.

Deppen thanked his grandfather, Ken Deppen, for financing the project and members of the troop and the Legion for their assistance in completing it.

Deppen is a junior at Line Mountain High School. He is a captain of the school marching band, an active member in the concert and jazz bands and is a member of the FFA.

He holds the position of assistant senior patrol leader and quartermaster in Troop 311.

He is an active member at the Hickory Corners Community Fire Company and volunteers as a junior firefighter. He is a member of St. Luke's United Church of Christ in Malta.

Deppen had his Eagle court of honor Oct. 11 at Himmel's Church Grove in Rebuck. He has since earned his first Eagle palm and is working on his second one.

SELINSGROVE - The authentic tribute band Bee GeeZ U.S.A. will play a concert at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 7, at Susquehanna University's Weber Chapel Auditorium to benefit the music and drama departments of participating area high schools.

The Bee Gees - Barry and the late Maurice and Robin Gibb - sold millions of recordings and created chart-topping songs for Barbra Streisand, Kenny Rogers and other stars. Only Elvis, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Garth Brooks and Paul McCartney have sold more records and tapes.

Bee GeeZ has created a new blog at sunhsawards@yahoo.com encouraging fans of the Brothers Gibb to remember concerts, songs and insider information about the hall of fame trio.

"We want to pay tribute to one of the greatest vocal trios of all time, and we want to help support the music and drama programs in area high schools as much as we can," says Bob Gift of the Bee GeeZ U.S.A.

His band has spent hundreds of hours over the past four years working to get the look and sound of the Bee Gees exactly right.

For people who saw the Bee Gees in person, seeing and hearing the Bee Geez U.S.A. will re-create incredible memories. They have the harmonies, the costumes, the instrumentation and the flash that the Bee Gees originated, says producer Art Liberman, New Berlin.

"Close your eyes and you can hear the Bee Gees. Open your eyes and they're there," he said.

Schools involved

Lieberman, who booked Bee GeeZ into a sellout concert last summer at the Courtyard Theater in Selinsgrove, which he helps operate, also operates SUN High School Musical Awards, a nonprofit organization. As a former resident of New York City who spent his career as an entertainer, Lieberman watched funding for drama and music deteriorate in city high schools in the early 1980s.

After moving to New Berlin in 2000, he became a regular attendee at the concerts and drama programs at the high schools in Snyder, Union and Northumberland counties and said he fell in love with the quality of the presentations of students and the instruction of the teachers. He started then to try to help local schools, but restarted the effort in earnest a few years ago when state funding issues arose at local schools and in some cases forced curtailment of music, art and related programs.

High school students from Milton Area, Shikellamy Area, Lewisburg Area, Mifflinburg Area, Selinsgrove Area, Midd West, Line Mountain, Shamokin Area, Mount Carmel Area and Warrior Run have been invited.

Schools will be sent 100 tickets each to sell and they keep 50 percent of all money collected. Participating schools will also receive half of all net funds received from tickets sold over the internet by the Bee GeeZ, or at the door, and also from sponsors.

The schools would also each select several students to coordinate sales of tickets and to act as ushers at the concert.

Ticket information

All seats will be reserved and tickets for the concert will be $25 in advance and $30 at the door.

Tickets will soon be available on the website for the concert, www.sunhsawards.com. The production office can be contacted at 570-966-0080 for questions about the concert or for those interested in sponsorship possibilities. All contributions, along with tickets themselves, are tax deductible. The e-mail address is sunhsawards@yahoo.com. All tickets will be "will call" and can be picked up at the door the day of the concert or purchased in the lobby.

U.S. Army Pvt. Andrew S. Eveland has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission, history, tradition and core values, physical fitness, and received instruction and practice in basic combat skills, military weapons, chemical warfare and bayonet training, drill and ceremony, marching, rifle marksmanship, armed and unarmed combat, map reading, field tactics, military courtesy, military justice system, basic first aid, foot marches and field training exercises.

Eveland is a son of Nicole Cook, of Coal Township, and Scott Eveland, of Kulpmont.

He is a graduate of Shamokin Area Middle/High School.

COAL TOWNSHIP - RadioShack in The Plaza at Coal Township has closed.

A flier hanging in a store window failed to give an explanation, but advised customers to visit the Radio Shack at the Schuylkill Mall in Frackville.

The Associated Press reported that RadioShack filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Thursday. It plans to sell 1,500 to 2,400 stores to its largest shareholder, Standard General, and has filed a motion to close the remainder of its 4,000 stores.

The Coal Township location did not open on Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year.

In addition to the store at the Schuylkill Mall, the RadioShack in the Susquehanna Valley Mall remained open as of Thursday.

Calls to RadioShack's corporate media relations hotline were not returned.

'Blessing of throats' this weekend

MOUNT CARMEL - The "blessing of throats" will take place at all Masses this weekend at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 47 S. Market St.

Small games deadline extended

HARRISBURG - The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has extended the deadline for clubs that hold small games of chance licenses to file annual reports until July 1, according to Reps. Lynda Schlegel Culver (R-108) and Kurt Masser (R-107).

The extension allows the department to resolve technical problems with its online electronic reporting system. The system is expected to be available again by June 1, at which time clubs will be encouraged to review a publicly available database of completed reports to determine if their reports were successfully received. Clubs that do not have a completed report on file at that time will have until July 1 to do so.

Act 90 of 2013 requires club licensees with proceeds of $20,000 or more to file annual reports with the department. A club licensee under the law is one that holds both a liquor license and a small games of chance license. The reports must include the following information: proceeds received by the club licensee from each game of chance conducted, itemized by week; amount of prizes paid from all games of chance, itemized by week; other costs incurred related to the conduct of games of chance, and verification and itemization of amounts distributed for public interest.

For more information about small games of chance licenses and reporting, go to www.revenue.state.pa.us.

SUNBURY - A city businessman has been charged with attempted homicide after a shot was allegedly fired from a handgun during a domestic dispute with his wife at their Upper Augusta Township home Wednesday, according to state police.

Robert A. Snyder Jr., 63, of 330 East Drive, Sunbury, was arraigned at 3:30 a.m. Thursday by on-call Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones, Mount Carmel, and jailed in Snyder County Prison on $300,000 cash bail. He faces felony charges of attempted homicide and two counts of aggravated assault, and misdemeanor charges of terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and simple assault.

He was taken to the Snyder County jail for processing and will later be transferred to SCI-Coal Township, where Northumberland County inmates are being held since last month's fire at Northumberland County Prison.

Robert Snyder was still in Snyder County Prison as of 7:15 p.m. Thursday.

He is the owner of two popular Sunbury eateries, Pop Snyder's Lunch and the Squeeze-In, both on Market Street. He also owns The Anchor Inn, described on its website as a one-bedroom cabana available for rent at his Packer Island home.

Snyder is the former owner of the Peppermint Ristorante and Night Club, also known as the Peppermint Lounge, which was destroyed by fire in 2008.

Argument turns physical

Police said the incident began about 6:45 p.m. Wednesday. According to court documents, Snyder's wife, Kimberly Snyder, came to the state police barracks in Stonington to report the assault.

She said her husband was extremely intoxicated and began an argument. She said he slapped her across the face and grabbed her shirt, twisting it and pinning her left arm against the wall with his right arm.

In an affidavit for a temporary protection from abuse order filed Thursday, Kimberly Snyder wrote that her husband "then began to choke me with a T-shirt."

She said she broke free and fled to another room, where Snyder came in with his hands behind his back. He then pulled a gun, described as a Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver, and said he was going to kill her and then himself.

The two struggled for the weapon and one round was fired. Kimberly Snyder then got the gun and fled the residence in her vehicle, driving to the police station.

"I wrestled the gun from him and he stated he would use another gun to kill himself," Snyder wrote in the PFA affidavit.

Mrs. Snyder suffered bruising on her left arm, a swollen left cheek and a cut on her left finger, police said.

PFA hearing set

In a petition for relief of abuse, the victim said her husband had in the past "threatened to burn our house down."

A temporary PFA order against Robert Snyder was issued by Northumberland County Judge President William H. Wiest Thursday. A hearing on a permanent PFA is set for Wednesday at the courthouse.

The temporary order also prohibits Mr. Snyder from contact with several relatives.

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Public Library is grateful for the following donations, which are its most basic and important source of income:

Birthday memorials

Dorothy A Guzevich from daughter, Irene Casari.

Robert "Tag" Welker from Sylvia.

In memory of

Lowell T. Angeli from Mary Theresa and Ray Hornberger, Mount Carmel High School Class of 1950.

Francis A. Bach from Sylvia Hepler.

Anthony Bagushinski Sr. from Sylvia Kapushinsky.

Robert V. Beaver from Donna and Ted Moncavage, Gayle and Tom Pivarnik and family.

Rose Bender from Frank and Mary Sawicki.

Paul Aloysius Birster from Carl and Lorraine Horsfield, Mr. and Mrs. John Shuda,

Tacy Bogle from Joann and Frank Zyskoski.

Mary Jane Bradley from Isabell Amarose, Anonymous, Joan and Jonathan Bradley, Joyce and Kristin Cheddar, Kate and Bob Else and family, Carl and Lorraine Horsfield, Marilyn Kanezo, Randy Lutz, Joe and Millie McDonnell, Sandra and Marvin Melnikoff, Barbara Miller Noll, David and Anne Pizzoli, Mary M. Rudisill, Maria Scicchitano, the Varanos, Butch, Gig, Joe, Amy and Carol; Hank and Loretta Witkoski, Gen Zarkoskie.

Jean Theresa Brokus from Melanie R. Wengrenovich.

Dr. Bernard Butkiewicz from Mr. and Mrs. Caeser Butkiewicz, Dunn family, Kanezo family

Anne Coffey from Joan and Stan Daniels.

Deceased members of Westminster Society of United Presbyterian Church, Mount Carmel, from the Westminster Society, United Presbyterian Church,

Rose Marie Dempsey from Jim, Anne, Lisa and Carl Darrup, Carl and Lorraine Kutza, Reynold and Patty Scicchitano, Marilyn and Jack Williams, Gen Zarkoskie,

Robert D. Derk from Therese and Margie Kleinschmidt.

Lee D. Dubendorf from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Menapace.

Kelly Ann Gastman from Anonymous.

Bernard "Biggy" Gidaro from Melanie Wengrenovich.

Kathryn Gilmore from Bill Wagner.

Theresa Groody from Julie and Bob Griffiths.

Dorothy Guzevich from daughter, Irene Casari.

Joseph Guzevich Jr. from sister, Irene Casari,

Diane Henry from Joan and Stan Daniels.

Joanne Hockenbroch from Jim Darrup.

Florence Horsfield from Kate and Bob Else and family, Jim and Doris Grohuski, Carl and Lorraine Horsfield, Mary Ann and Michael Katchick, Fritz and Ellie O'Hearn, Stella Rossi, officers and employees of the UNB.

Helen Hynoski from Jim Darrup, Patty and Len Kimsal, Gloria Klemas, John and Mary Mazurkevich, Fritz and Eleanor O'Hearn.

Leona Karwacki from Marie and Frank Crawford.

Irvin "Gary" Kehler from Anonymous, Pam and Joe Begis and family, Irene Casari, Jeff and Chris Kanezo, Joanne Kogut, Joe and Millie McDonnell, Joe and Tammie Matulewicz, Kathy and Mike Palewicz, Mary M. Rudisill, Melanie R Wengrenovich, Marilyn and Jack Williams.

Roseann Kornkevich from Timberwood staff.

Michael Lapotsky Sr. from wife, Mary.

Robert Long from Cookie.

Joseph A. Mazer Sr. from Rita and Karen Alekseyko, Ronald Kuhns, Dan and Ruth Skonecki and family, Mount Carmel High School Class of 1950.

James P. Menapace from Stella Rossi and family.

Cecilia M. Oris from Jim and Gingie Britton, Rita Criniti, Robert and Margaret Lutz, Bev Stahl,

Joan Orr from Michael and Ida Balichik.

Helen (Fallat) Petruskevich from Joy Berry, Jim Darrup, Dunn and Kanezo families, Carl and Lorraine Horsfield.

Donna Phillips from Mary Lapotsky.

Henrietta Przekop from Frank and Mary Sawicki.

Theresa Pupo from Jim Darrup.

Bonnie Retallack from Judy Reilly.

Wayne Rhoades from Rita and Karen Alekseyko, Pat Bartos, Sylvia Kapashinsky.

Eleanor Rosko from Gayle and Tom Pivarnik and family, Frank and Mary Sawicki.

Robert Russin from Melanie R. Wengrenovich, Mount Carmel Joint Senior High School Class of 1956.

Pearl Scheeler from Tammie and Joe Matulewicz.

Bernice C. Smith from Deb Gownley, Ted and Jackie Matlow, Stella Rossi, Mary M. Rudisill, Frank and Mary Sawicki, Melanie R. Wengrenovich, Mount Carmel Area Retired Educators Association.

Gertrude Snyder from Jim Darrup.

Lawrence J. Thomas Sr. from Therese and Margie Kleinschmidt.

Julia Tomol from Joyce Cheddar, Maria Scicchitano,

Albert N. Varano from MaryAnn and Michael Katchick, Fritz and Eleanor O'Hearn,

Fran Veenhuis from Leon and Mary Kay Polites.

Lena Wynne from Jeff Kanezo, Sylvia Kapashinsky, Stella Rossi and family.

Regina P. Yeich from Albert Green, John Lawler, Kathy and Jim Nolan, Viola Pinamonti, Tom Pivarnik, David and Mary Lou Podobinski, John Rimokaitis and family, Ruth Rimokaitis and family, Rick Rudock, Reynold and Patty Scicchitano, Ron Thomas family, Friday Night Golf League.

John Peter York Jr. from Leon and Mary Kay Polites.

Jack Zamboni from Gilly Elgin, Mrs. Thomas Zamboni.

Helen Zavatski from Ted and Jackie Matlow.

MOUNT CARMEL - A lot of people refer to George Atiyeh as a slumlord.

But the Allentown native considers himself a good landlord who has invested more than $3 million in the coal region through the purchase of numerous properties in an effort to make money and reduce blight.

Shortly after being freed Thursday afternoon from a detaining area used for criminal defendants at the office of Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones, Atiyeh voiced his frustration over what he described as "pit bull tactics" used by local authorities who he claims have made him a "scapegoat" in their efforts to reduce blight.

The 55-year-old Atiyeh was picked up earlier in the day on a warrant for failing to pay approximately $5,200 in fines and costs on 19 quality of life ordinance violations he was previously found guilty of by Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones. Atiyeh, who had a leg shackled to a chair in the detaining area, could be seen on an office security monitor holding his hands against his face in a look of bewilderment over his situation that would have landed him with county inmates at SCI-Coal Township if the fines weren't paid.

Reputation 'destroyed'

Atiyeh, who owns 300 properties in Northumberland and neighboring counties, called code enforcement officers and police "relentless." "They are ganging up on me because I have a lot of properties. There is selective enforcement going on here and this has deterred other people from investing in this area. If anyone purchases multiple properties at tax sales, they are asking for financial suicide," he said.

The Mount Carmel resident, who also stays at properties he owns in Ashland and Allentown, claims authorities have "totally destroyed" his reputation for citing and fining him numerous times for what he describes as minor violations.

"I've remodeled at least 200 of the 300 properties I own between Sunbury and Lehighton," he said. "I've kept those properties on the tax map and this is what I get for it. It makes me sick."

He added, "I've been fined between $30,000 and $50,000 for having a leaky roof on a property and high weeds in a vacant lot during the last three or four years. That money could have been used to rehabilitate properties and invest in more."

Atiyeh claims he has done more to reduce blight than any other property owner in the area in the past 10 years and threatened to sue authorities for "harassing" him and issuing fines.

"They are all in it together," Atiyeh said. "I plan to call the Attorney General's Office and my attorneys to see what my options are. I will consider suing. It's beyond my imagination why they would do this to me."

The landlord, who was an outstanding football player and wrestler at Dieruff High School in Allentown and Louisiana State University, pointed out that he received the Mayor's Revitalization Award in 1986 in Allentown for renovating an old hotel in the city.

He estimated that he helped refurbish between 700 and 1,000 properties since he began working in the construction and renovation business at the age of 10.

'Just about done'

Atiyeh said the Shamokin-Mount Carmel area is the most difficult region he has worked in.

"They over regulate and over enforce everything around here," he said. "It's ridiculous."

The landlord said he was fined $1,000 for 10 straight days for allegedly committing ordinance violations in Kulpmont and Mount Carmel.

Atiyeh admitted being a landlord is a difficult business, especially in an economy-depressed area like Shamokin and Mount Carmel. But he said local authorities are making it a lot more difficult by "bullying" him.

"As a football player and wrestler, I've learned how to fight," Atiyeh said. "I want to keep on fighting, but I've lost two of my investors - one from New Jersey and one from Allentown. I'm just about done. There's a good chance I won't be buying any more properties in this area."

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

In memory of

Helen (Fallat) Petruskevich from Genevieve Zarkoskie, Mike and Linda Trocki, Peggy Lutcavage, Ron Coleman, Frank and Mary Sawicki, Gloria and Rick Catino, Rita and Jean Grochowski.

James P. Menapace from Gloria Tresca, Gloria and Rick Catino, Cecelia Baldwin and family, Henry and Pat Fadrowski.

Henrietta T. Przekop from Ralph and Kaye Buchspics, Linda Lyons, Francis and Mary Bach, William and Linda Hummel, Ronald and Theresa Goles, Joseph and Rosanne Meyers, Bernadette and Charles Foulds, Linda and Dennis Dent, William and Nancy Joraskie.

Aloysius J. and Leona L. Dorkoski from family.

Bernice C. Smith from Gloria Tresca, Sara Mirarchi.

Mary Katherine Sinopoli from Marietta and Gina Miriello.

Lena Wynne from Bob and Barbara Whispell.

Gertrude T. Nolan from Fran and Jack Cichon, Amy, Tom and Chase Weidner, Gary and Lorraine Krebs, Esther and Juls Ardan, Richard and Debra Kowaleski, Linda Nolan Hearn.

John Britt from Francis "Cosmo" Rossi.

John V. Shiko from daughter, Irene Kurland.

Joseph A. Mazer from Karen and Rita Alekseyko.

Eleanor A. Sosnoski from Ray, MaryAnn and Amanda Bartosic, Kathy and Mike Palewicz, Elaine Jurgill, Victoria Paul, John and Jacqueline Mahalchick, Joseph and Barbara Reichert, Robert and Maryanne Whiteman, Sylvia Kapushinski.

Cecilia M. Oris from Ray, MaryAnn and Amanda Bartosic, The Providence CRNA's.

Eleanor Rosko from Donna and Bob Veach.

Irving Kehler from Donna and Bob Veach.

Jerry Cohoon from Ron Coleman and family.

Augustine Lombardo from wife, RoseMarie and family.

Vincenzo and Thomasina Lombardo from RoseMarie Lombardo and family.

Edwin and Julia Sottopietra from RoseMarie Lombardo and family.

Enrica Richard from RoseMarie Lombardo and family.

Valentino and Theresa Dalavalle from RoseMarie Lombardo and family.

Birthday memorial

Joseph Kurland (Jan. 21) from wife, Irene.

Theodore Pedergnana from Jim and Ida Reilly and family.