LEWISBURG - The Campus Theatre will present the Summer Family Film Series for the second year in a row. The series will feature a program of animated and classic family films introduced by academic professionals and specialists who will offer film enthusiasts of all ages a new perspective to consider during their film viewing experience. Introductory speakers will discuss their specialty in relationship to an aspect of the film, such as history, the environment, behavior and more.

The Summer Family Film Series, which will show only G and PG rated films, is free.

This year's theme is films derived from literary works. To celebrate these works the Union County Library partnered with the Campus Theatre to donate a book relevant to each movie. The book will be given away to one lucky patron before each film.

"Last year's Summer Family Film Series was a huge success. We were at full capacity for several of the films." said Jessica Paquin, director of outreach and fundraising at the Campus Theatre. "To provide family friendly programming for our community is one of our goals as a nonprofit Movie Theatre. We are so excited that, through grant support from the Woodcock Foundation for the Appreciation of the Arts, we are able to achieve this goal a second year. And based on the number of families that participated last year, this one could be even better!"

All showings are at 2 p.m. and doors open at 1 p.m. People are encouraged to arrive early for seating.

Some Pennsylvania breweries sold draft beer by the glass for the first time last weekend, thanks to a change in state regulations. And, more are looking forward to doing the same as the beer business gets competitive.

Until last week, a brewery had to have a brew-pub or restaurant license to sell their beer. Now, so long as a brewery can seat 10 people and offer snacks, they can sell visitors a pint.

A brewer could sell bottles or cans for consumption elsewhere. But not all small brewers have the equipment to can or bottle. Many are left selling growlers and filling them from a tap. However, growlers are not for everybody. They can be costly, and are inconvenient to lug around.

For the brewery, selling beer directly to consumers is more profitable than selling wholesale to bars, restaurants and bottle shops because their margins selling retail are higher.

Gary Toczko, owner of the Nimble Hill Brewing Co. which has a tasting room in Tunkhannock, said the ability to sell pints is essential to Pennsylvania's craft brewing industry as it faces increasing competition for taps and shelf space.

"Great Lakes, New Belgium, Lagunitas have all come east with money, clout and a good product," he said. "Pennsylvania's craft brewers need tools to compete. The ability to sell drafts beer is one of them."

Fred Maier, vice president at Susquehanna Brewing Co. in Pittston, said his brewery has had to collaborate with charities and host fundraisers to get people in the door. Being able to sell drafts, he said, will allow him to expand hours and bring in more people.

"Our facility is our best marketing tool," he said. "There's no better place to drink a beer than where it was made."

Naturally, offering consumers more options is positive, said Sean Wolf, of Clarks Summit, a founder of the Scranton Brewers Guild. More importantly, the move benefits breweries.

"We want to support local and now we can do it by buying from the source, where it's freshest and where brewers have control over the product," he said.

SHAMOKIN - Mary Collins didn't have any comment following a hearing Tuesday in which charges against her related to her mother's death by hypothermia were bound to county court.

Her brothers, Darrell and Kennith Jackson, however, had plenty to say, as did an aunt through the speaker on Darrell Jackson's cell phone.

"I hope you rot wherever you're going for what you did to your mother," the aunt yelled at Collins.

According to testimony at the emotionally charged 90-minute hearing before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III, authorities kept their winter coats on despite being inside the home where Mary Collins cared for her 66-year-old mother, Ellen Jackson, when they arrived Feb. 16, the day of her death. It would turn out to be the coldest day of a brutal winter, with temperatures ranging from -9 to a high of 9.

A thermostat inside the residence read 56 degrees when Northumberland County Coroner James F. Kelley arrived to investigate Ellen Jackson's death, but that was the thermostat's lowest possible reading, and Kelley said he believes it could have been below freezing.

"I was wearing three layers of clothing and a (heavy) jacket and using gloves and was still cold," Kelley testified.

The victim's body temperature was 81 degrees when she arrived by ambulance at Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital (G-SACH), where she would die about three hours later at 1:30 p.m.

Kelley defined hypothermia as a medical emergency that occurs when a body loses heat faster than it can produce heat, causing a dangerously low body temperature. It occurs as a body's temperature falls below 95 degrees.

Collins, 45, of 224 N. Shamokin St., Shamokin, is charged with neglect of a care-dependent person and involuntary manslaughter. She faces a formal arraignment July 6, at which time she can plead guilty or no contest, or plead not guilty and seek a trial.

She was remanded to Snyder County Prison on $100,000 cash bail.

'Over my dead body'

Kennith Jackson testified that the day before his mother died, he received voicemails from Collins asking for help getting their mother off the floor. The calls started at 4:30 a.m. after Ellen Jackson fell from a recliner in an attempt to get to a potty chair.

"When I got there in the afternoon, my mother was still laying on the floor, and the house was nasty and very cold," Kennith Jackson said.

He said Collins threatened their mother, saying that day if she didn't straighten up she'd be put in a nursing home.

"Over my dead body," was his reaction, Kennith Jackson recalled in court.

Gembic asked Jackson that if he felt that way why he didn't call 911 or someone else for help.

"Mary Collins threatened me that if I called 911, she would make sure I never saw my mother again and she would have me arrested for trespassing," Jackson said. "After she threatened my mother with going to a nursing home, I was that upset, I left."

The next day, his mother was dead.

Empty oil tank

Shamokin Police Chief Darwin Tobias, showed photographs of the conditions of 600 Spurzheim St., where Collins and her 7-year-old daughter lived with Ellen Jackson. The victim had previously lived at 602 Spurzheim St., next door in a triple home, but later moved in with Collins. The photos showed rooms littered with garbage and dog feces, moldy food in the refrigerator and a recliner and blankets stained with human waste. Pictures from the basement included those showing a gauge at empty on the oil tank and cobwebs on the furnace, an indication, he said, that it hadn't been used for some time.

A few days after Jackson's death, Tobias spoke to Collins in her apartment, having been forced out by the condemnation of her home. Upon seeing Tobias, he said her first reaction was, "What did I do? Am I in trouble?"

Assistant District Attorney Michael Toomey questioned Tobias about a formal interview he had with Collins about the financial arrangements among Collins, Jackson and Collins' ex-fiance, Donald Geise.

Geise moved out of the residence two months prior to the death, Tobias testified, because he could no longer stand living in the home in the condition it was in.

"Jackson was on Social Security and Geise had a debit card for groceries," Tobias said.

He Geise said he took care of the mortgage on the Spurzheim Street home while Jackson and Collins paid the other bills.

Blamed others

At the end of Tobias's direct testimony, Toomey questioned Collins' demeanor.

"Did Mary Collins show any concern about her mother living in a pile of slop?," Toomey asked.

"No, but she attempted to blame other family members for the situation," Tobias answered.

"What reasoning did she give for letting her mother lay on the floor in a cold house?" the ADA asked the police chief.

"She said she panicked and was scared about losing her child, and overwhelmed with taking care of both of them," Tobias answered.

During cross-examination, county public defender John Broda asked the chief about whether space heaters and electric fireplaces in the home were operable. Tobias said they were.

Following testimony, Broda made a motion to dismiss the charges, saying the prosecution failed to meet the prima facie burden of proof in defining Collins as a caretaker, according to the definition in the Pa. Crimes Code. Toomey disagreed.

"The obligation was there considering she was using Ellen Jackson's money to help pay the bills. That's a monetary consideration (which mentioned in the crimes code definition), and all charges should go to trial," he said.

"This is a very sad case, and this death, with all the county agencies and assistance programs, shouldn't have happened," Gembic said in making his ruling.

'A little guilty'

After the hearing, Darrell Jackson tried to talk to reporters but became too emotional. His brother, Kennith, came to his side to comfort him with a hug.

"I can't stand you sometimes, but come here," Kennith said.

He spoke about how the family wants justice, but that it won't bring back their mother.

"You feel a little guilty because, yeah, I could have done more to help out," Kennith Jackson said. "But if people knew the whole story, they would see how she was and how she threatened us."

SUNBURY - A Northumberland County prison guard was placed on administrative leave without pay after being charged Tuesday afternoon in connection with the distribution of tobacco and possibly Spice to inmates.

Joseph Marinelli IV, 21, of 413 N. Maple St., Mount Carmel, is charged by Northumberland County Detective Degg H. Stark with a misdemeanor of obstructing administration of the law.

In his criminal complaint filed at the office of Magisterial District Judge Benjamin Apfelbaum, Stark said seven inmates told him during interviews that Marinelli supplied them with cigarette and smokeless tobacco numerous times between October and January.

Marinelli has worked at the county prison for about two years. He has been transporting prisoners to their court proceedings since a Jan. 14 fire heavily damaged the facility on North Second Street, prompting inmates to be housed at SCI-Coal Township and other jails.

One inmate told Stark he recalled smelling Spice coming from another cell shortly after Marinelli walked away after handing one of the brothers in the cell a rolled-up towel. The inmate described Spice as smoke accompanied by a unique fragrance.

Apfelbaum arraigned Marinelli at about 3:15 p.m. and released him on $7,500 unsecured supervised bail after being told by Stark that the defendant had no prior criminal record and wasn't a flight risk.

A preliminary hearing is scheduled for 9 a.m. June 19.

Prison operations commander Brian Wheary, who was present at the arraignment, and Warden Bruce Kovach reserved comment when asked about the charges.

In a press release, District Attorney Ann Targonski said her staff and prison personnel have been conducting an ongoing investigation into guards bringing contraband into the prison. Marinelli's arrest was the third in connection with the probe.

The charge filed against Marinelli carries a maximum punishment of two years incarceration and/or $5,000 fine.

SUNBURY - On a split vote Tuesday, Northumberland County commissioners adopted an ordinance to issue a $10 million general obligation note for startup money for the county prison project.

Approving the ordinance that involves securing a 20-year loan were Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy. Commissioner Richard Shoch opposed the move because he believes the loan may be excessive and recommended holding off on the loan until a more definitive cost estimate is determined for the prison project.

The county prison was heavily damaged by fire Jan. 14. The majority of prisoners have been kept at SCI-Coal Township, SCI-Muncy and Snyder and Montour county jails since the fire.

Daryl Peck, of Concord Public Financial Advisers, said he's in the process of securing a loan through Susquehanna Bank, which is offering a 2.77 percent interest rate for the first 10 years with a 5 percent cap for the remaining years of the loan.

Peck told the commissioners they have a right to pay off the loan at any time. ""This is a very flexible loan," he said.

On a 2-1 vote last month, commissioners entered into an agreement with JDM Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of Moran Industries Inc., to purchase the former Knight-Celotex plant on a 22-acre site in Sunbury and Upper Augusta Township for $2 million.

Shoch opposed the purchase that could result in a prison, pre-release center and courthouse being built at the site.

Clausi said the county will essentially end up purchasing the property for "free" through an intergovernmental agreement with Sunbury, which was awarded $4 million from the state to redevelop the former industrial site for new and expanding businesses. The city and other municipalities were awarded state funding through a bill approved by legislators in 2013.

Clausi said county and city officials are continuing their negotiations to not only relocate the prison at the Moran site, but also develop businesses at the property that will benefit the city and entire county.

In other business:

Shoch also voted against an agreement between the county and Buchart Horn Inc./Basco Associates for architectural services and overseeing the prison project. Clausi and Bridy approved the agreement.

The commissioners unanimously approved an agreement with Carter Goble Associates, LLC, for consulting services relating to the county court's needs assessment and space plan.

Shoch voted against conducting a title search for the three-acre Human Services complex on North Second Street that houses multiple county offices. The action was approved by Clausi and Bridy.

The county is expected to save $3.12 million over 13 years by purchasing the complex from MLC Properties LLC and Penn Homes July 1.

Last month, Bridy and Clausi agreed to send a letter of intent to MLC Properties to purchase the complex. Shoch voted against the motion because he said he wasn't provided enough information about the proposed purchase.

The property, which includes three buildings and a 153-stall parking lot, is currently being leased by the county for $773,494 a year.

Commissioners awarded a contract for $97,780 to LTS Plumbing & Heating, Paxinos, for a boiler project at Northumberland County Career and Arts Center in Shamokin.

The board also awarded a contract totaling $514,274 to Bill Anskis Company Inc., Elysburg, for a bridge rehabilitation project in Rockefeller Township, pending review by Wilson Consulting Group.

Prothonotary Justin Dunkelberger was appointed to the SEDA Foundation to a three-year term, beginning July 1, and Tom Rall, of Sunbury, was appointed to Northumberland County Industrial Development Authority to a five-year term, starting immediately.

Commissioners approved the purchase of two 2015 Dodge Journeys from Zimmerman Enterprises Inc. for $24,866 apiece for Children and Youth Services. The purchase will be made through the COSTARS piggyback program.

A 20-minute teleconference and video presentation was given to the commissioners by Owen Silver, an official with OpenGov Inc., a software company that offers a Web-based platform that enables governments and citizens to access, analyze and share financial and budget information. The cost of the service offered by the company based in Silicon Valley, Calif., is $8,500 annually, including updates and training.

The board took no action after the presentation coordinated by Bridy.

All invited to family fun fair

SUNBURY - Families in the 108th Legislative District are invited to Rep. Lynda Schlegel Culver's (R-108) annual Family Fun Fair, 4 to 8 p.m. Friday at the Sunbury Pool and Community Center, Memorial Drive. Rain date is Tuesday and the event is free.

"I encourage parents, grandparents and caretakers to bring the kids out for an evening with neighbors and friends across the 108th District," Culver said. "Plenty of valuable, state-related information will be available from vendors from several agencies and businesses."

Representatives from more than 20 state and local agencies and area businesses will be available from 4 to 6 p.m. A list of vendors is available at LyndaCulver.com.

Attendees are welcome to swim, courtesy of the City of Sunbury. A movie will be shown at 8 p.m., also provided by the city.

Culver's district office is located at 106 Arch St.. Call 570-286-5885.

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP - Locust Township police are investigating a home invasion that occurred shortly before 5 a.m. Wednesday in the northwest section of Franklin Township.

Cpl. Christopher M. Snyder said an unidentified male forced entry into the residence and proceeded to the victim's bedroom, where he jumped on the female while she was sleeping face down on her bed. The actor then bound the victim's hands behind her back and told her not to look at him or yell or he would hurt her children.

Police said the victim, who was not identified, begged the suspect to stop several times and not to hurt her. After being held for approximately 15 minutes, the victim was able to convince the intruder to release her.

Police reported the male then led the victim to a bathroom and told her to shut the door before he fled through the front door of the home.

The suspect is described as being 5 feet, 8 inches tall. He was wearing light green camouflage pants, black sneakers and leather work gloves. His race is unknown and it was not determined if he fled from the property on foot or by vehicle.

According to police, the suspect has a soft voice and was apologetic to the victim.

Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact Locust Township police at 570-799-5806.

BY LARRY DEKLINSKI

Northumberland County Commissioner Stephen Bridy has joined a growing list of county residents who are concerned over the continued bombardment of gypsy moth caterpillars that are chewing up leaves at an alarming rate. Bridy recommended at Tuesday's commissioner's meeting that the county look into how to combat the problem.

The caterpillars have grown considerably since hatching several weeks ago and have defoliated many trees, mainly oaks, their prime meal of choice. Their fecal matter has stained walkways and buildings and their hairs, which contain histamine, have raised red bumps and caused itching on people's skin. The invasion won't stop until around July 15, when the bugs enter the pupa stage, before eventually emerging as moths.

Northumberland County has had the option to enter into an cost-sharing agreement with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bureau of Forestry, to conduct aerial gypsy moth suppression spraying for private residential landowners.

Bridy said funding for spraying is not available at the county level and that 2001 was the last time the county spent money for these type of treatments.

Judy Becker, district manager for Northumberland County Conservation District, said the main problem is that DCNR

requires participating counties to hire a gypsy moth coordinator, for which there is no funding in Northumberland County.

"DCNR depends on a coordinator, designated by the county, to survey properties. There is no funding at the state level, or any level, to pay someone to do this," Becker said. "They would have to be a forester or someone with extensive training to do this. It is a lot of manpower and time."

Becker said because the county is not in the program, a property owner is not eligible for the cost sharing program and would have to foot the bill to hire a private applicator.

If the county did enter the program, a landowner would be required to make a request for treatment with the program coordinator between June 1 and July 31, annually. However, in order for spraying to take place, a property must meet several requirements.

For instance, only forested areas containing trees 25 feet or more in height qualify. The sites must also have at least 50 percent of the surface area covered by the crowns of these trees and 20 percent or more of this crown cover must consist of tree species which are favored by the gypsy moths. The site must have a dwelling located within or no more than 200 feet from a forest.

And it gets more complicated than that. Areas that qualify must be at least 23 acres and must contain at least 250 "healthy, current-season" gypsy moth egg masses per acre or there must be a "reasonable expectation that high numbers of gypsy moth larvae will be blown into the area next spring."

"All the stipulations make it a very complicated program," Becker said. "We are getting more familiar with it, too, because nobody currently on staff was here the last time the county was in the program."

DCNR reported in 2010 that the gypsy moth population collapsed in 2009 and that it was expected to be "very low" that summer. They accredited this to a cool and wet spring which promoted the growth of entomophaga maimaiga, a naturally occurring fungus that reduces insect numbers.

"They were dormant for 14, 15-some years, then all of a sudden, boom," Becker said. "This year they came back with a vengeance."

According to various sources, trees can re-grow leaves by July if the invasion ends early enough in the season. Many trees can withstand two to three successive years of defoliation without being killed.

Becker said although the conservation district can not help with spraying, it can provide detailed information on the moths, including control methods and a list of private applicators, by visiting http://nccdpa.org or calling 570- 495-4665.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Lt. Jim Smink said precautions for suicides have tightened in the county's temporary housing at SCI-Coal Township.

Instead of using a three-tier ranking system to classify inmates by suicide risk, Smink said the county is now placing all at-risk inmates in psychiatric observation cells.

These inmates receive 24-hour monitoring in isolation cells containing nothing but security smocks and blankets. Even personal items like glasses and dentures are taken from the inmates until a mental health professional approves their release into the general prison population.

Prime Care Medical Inc., which handles the prison's medical care, including the intake psychiatric evaluation, is also taking no risks. If an inmate even jokes about suicide during the intake process, he or she will immediately be placed on suicide watch, Smink said.

"They're overzealous when it comes to placing someone on security watches," he said, noting that the caution is warranted after the February suicide of 21-year-old Brandon Menne. "There's just a lot of people with mental illness issues that are incarcerated."

WILLIAMSPORT - A plan to eliminate the Northumberland County Weatherization Department is a cost-cutting move that will save the county money, and Commissioners Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy have legislative immunity against litigation in making such a decision.

Those arguments made by attorneys for the county and commissioners were filed Wednesday in federal court, one day before a preliminary injunction hearing that starts this morning. If granted, the injunction would stop the closing and save the jobs of seven workers before a federal lawsuit is heard in court.

The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. at the U.S. Courthouse and Federal Building. It's scheduled to continue Friday.

Attorney Brian H. Leinhauser, of the MacMain Law Group, of Malvern, representing the county in the suit filed by weatherization employees Dwayne Scicchitano, Pamela Bollinger, Robert McAndrew, David Yakoboski, Barry Schweitzer, Jim Bressi and Albert Benedict Jr., used case law in his 18-page motion to demonstrate that Clausi and Bridy, the two commissioner that voted yes to close the department and transfer services to SEDA-COG, have "legislative immunity" from liability.

Quoting a 2000 ruling in State Supreme Court, "The elimination of a public employment position as opposed to the firing of a single individual constitutes a 'legislative act.'"

"Moreover, the vote resulted in the elimination of an entire department, not the termination of a single employee," Leinhauser wrote. "The decision to eliminate the Weatherization Department is one that will have a long-lasting effect on the quality of services provided to the public at large."

Leinhauser also wrote against the employees' claim that their First Amendment rights of association were violated since commissioner Clausi allegedly holds animosity toward unions, which he argues is "wholly irrelevant."

He also refuted the employees' claim that there is no monetary savings to the county since the weatherization program operates at no cost to the county, using federal funding coming through the state Department of Community and Economic Development. "The entirety of this program is not covered by this assistance and the county is required to make up the difference. By outsourcing this labor, the county can save taxpayer dollars while continuing to provide the benefits of the program to its residence."

The employees, represented by attorney Michael Zicolello, of Williamsport, have not proven their case that they are being persecuted because of making a report of wrongdoing by Clausi, Leinhauser said.

"Plaintiffs will be eligible to apply for other positions within the county and, in fact, may be eligible to 'bump' other employees from their positions based on seniority within the union," the brief in opposition reads.

Leinhauser said it is the county that will suffer irreputable harm is the injunction is granted.

"Not only will they be forced to continue supporting a program that the legislature (county commissioners) has determined should be outsourced, but forced to be backed out of their contract with SEDA-COG," Leinhauser wrote. "Outsourcing the program will significantly reduce the administrative costs associated with the program, both reducing the costs to the county and allowing more grand money to be spent to achieve the program's purpose."

The lawsuit, filed May 1, alleges Clausi demanded the county weatherization department perform services for a relative and friend who did not meet requirements and when employees tried to report the issue, he cut the department.

On May 8, the employees filed a motion for a temporary restraining order (TRO) and a preliminary injunction from the department being cut on June 30 since the suit would not be heard in federal court before that date. Judge Brann denied the motion for the TRO on May 11, saying the order would only last for 14 days, but scheduled today's hearing on the injunction so that a decision on the injunction could be resolved before the potential closing date.

MOUNT CARMEL - A 20-year-old borough man charged with multiple offenses for using a .22-caliber pellet rifle to cause more than $4,000 damage to a garage and residence waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday before Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones.

Daniel Albe Buttcher Jr., of 433 W. Third St., will appear in plea court July 27 after forfeiting his right to a hearing. He remains free on $10,000 unsecured bail.

Jones told the defendant he would not be eligible to purchase a gun because of the charges filed against him.

Buttcher was represented by public defender Paige Rosini.

He was charged last week by Lt. Christopher Buhay with corruption of minors, criminal conspiracy to commit criminal mischief, recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct relating to a disturbance shortly after 10 p.m. April 19 at his neighbor's property.

Buttcher is accused of firing several shots from his Ruger rifle from a second-story window at his home that smashed the glass on a rear sliding door at the residence of Jessica Shipe and Matthew Ventilli, of 434 W. Third St. The pellets also put holes in garage doors and siding on the home that caused an estimated $4,200 in damage.

Buttcher, a 13-year-old Mount Carmel male and a 15-year-old borough male, who were all confronted by police in Buttcher's yard shortly after the shooting incident, told police they were firing at multiple targets in Buttcher's yard including a board and plastic soda bottles when the damage occurred. The two juveniles, who were charged with similar offenses, claimed they were only shooting at the targets.

SHAMOKIN - Three defendants pleaded guilty to various charges Tuesday and were ordered to pay fines and costs by Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III.

n James Fuchek, 49, of 118 Tharp St., Tharptown, pleaded guilty to harassment and was ordered to pay a $100 fine. An additional charge of simple assault was withdrawn.

Fuchek was charged by Coal Township Cpl. Joshua Wynn with punching his live-in girlfriend, Dianna Grazul, in the face at their home May 24. Grazul suffered a bruise on her face, police said.

n Robert F. Santore, 37, of Ranshaw, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was ordered to pay a $200 fine.

He was charged by Coal Township Patrolman Matthew Hashuga with screaming and pounding on doors at Third and Webster streets, Ranshaw, on May 3.

n Samantha Dewald, 19, of 48 S. Market St., Mount Carmel, pleaded guilty to harassment and was ordered to pay a $100 fine plus costs. A charge of simple assault was withdrawn.

Dewald was charged by Shamokin Patrolman William Zalinski in connection with an April 4 fight at Seventh and Adams street.

n A charge of criminal mischief filed by Coal Township Patrolman Jason Adams against Rachelle Lynn Maclaren, 19, of 838 W. Shamokin St., Trevorton, was withdrawn after the defendant paid full restitution in the case.

Maclaren was charged with kicking the front driver's side bumper of a car owned by Joseph Drost, causing $746.82 in damage.

Police said the incident occurred at 25 Eagle Ave. April 27.

SUNBURY - An informational meeting between two county commissioners and two of their potential replacements on the prospective county prison complex turned into a debate over the necessity of constructing a new courthouse.

Commissioners Stephen Bridy and Vinny Clausi met with Democratic commissioner nominees George Zalar and Kym Best at Bridy's office for about an hour Wednesday afternoon to share the rationale behind the new prison complex and where the project will be when the new commissioners take office.

Clausi said Republican candidate Samuel Schiccatano did not respond to an invitation

to attend. Schiccatano said Wednesday evening he would have attended had he known about the meeting, but had not received an invitation. He said the only possible way he would have missed an invite is if it had been left on his home answering machine the morning of the 1 p.m. meeting.

But Clausi said he left messages for Schiccatano at home Tuesday morning and again Wednesday morning. He gave up attempting to reach him after fellow Commissioner Rick Shoch told him Schiccatano was out of town.

Clausi said Shoch wasn't invited because he is already aware of the prison plans as a current commissioner. He is the second Republican nominee.

Clausi and Bridy provided information on the new prison and accompany buildings, which will be constructed on a 22-acre site formerly home to the Knight-Celotex plant in Sunbury.

While Zalar and Best agreed the county needed to move forward to quickly replace the burned prison, the pair questioned the decision to construct a new courthouse.

Clausi cited numerous repairs needed in the courthouse, the high cost of utilities and the wooden structure as reasons why the building needed to be replaced. Building the courthouse in conjunction with the new prison will decrease the construction cost, he said.

Bridy said the exorbitant cost to heat and cool the courthouse makes it prohibitively expensive to maintain.

"In eight years it pays for itself for utility costs alone," he said of building a new courthouse.

But Best expressed fear that the county would be losing more than money by moving the courthouse from its location at the entryway to downtown Sunbury. She cited the former county human services building, which has sat vacant at the corner of Fourth and Market streets in Sunbury for at least a decade, as an example of how a property abandoned by the county can negatively affect its surroundings.

"You have a responsibility not to create blighted ghost towns in your cities," Best said. "Sometimes it costs a little money to invest in our towns."

Instead, Best asked Clausi to consider building a courthouse annex at the new prison. Civil cases could continue to be heard at the existing courthouse while criminal hearings could take place at the annex to prevent prisoners from needing transportation across town, she said.

To fund the construction of a small annex and make needed repairs to the courthouse, Best proposed selling the Northumberland County Administration Building to the adjacent Shikellamy School District.

"Why not just focus on the prison right now?" Zalar asked the sitting commissioners. "I'd like you to focus on the prison itself."

Clausi said he was being paid for the next six months, even if he was an outgoing commissioner, so it was his duty to continue working. He said he expected to have all of the new construction contracted by the time he left office. If a feasibility study on the courthouse, expected to be completed next week, revealed the cost of a new courthouse to be around the half a million dollar estimate he expects, he will jump on the opportunity.

"We'd have to be nuts not to (do it)," he said.

A proposed master plan of the site, which was purchased last month from JDM Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of Moran Industries Inc., for $2 million, was drawn up by Buchart Horn Inc. According to this proposal the new prison and county buildings will be located east of North Second Street between John and Julia streets, though Bridy cautioned that the plan is tentative and will likely change as the blueprints for the buildings are finalized.

SUNBURY - A Shamokin man who hanged himself in the Northumberland County Prison last year was being monitored on suicide watch when he died, according to a response to a lawsuit filed by his wife.

The response from the county, the prison board, then-Warden Roy Johnson, Deputy Warden Brian Wheary and corrections officers Jason Greek and "Jen," filed May 27, denies any wrongdoing in the death of Cyrus Lewis, who hanged himself June 15, 2014, in the now-defunct Sunbury jail.

Hope Lewis claims in a lawsuit filed Nov. 6 that her 34-year-old husband was not placed on suicide watch or jailed in a suicide cell following intake June 10. But the response states that despite denials of suicidal and homicidal thoughts, Cyrus Lewis scored a 10 on an intake suicide screening form when he arrived at the prison and was immediately placed on a level II suicide watch.

Lt. Jim Smink said Wednesday a person on a level II suicide watch would wear a standard jumpsuit, but would be issued a security blanket made of a heavy nylon that is difficult to tie or tear. Guards would check the inmate at least every 15 minutes.

An inmate on a level I suicide watch, the most severe, would receive only a security smock and blanket and have no other personal items, including glasses, in the cell. A guard constantly monitors these inmates, Smink said.

Two days later after Lewis arrived in the prison, a mental heath professional decreased the suicide watch to level III, the response states.

Inmates on this level of suicide watch, the lowest, would have the same experiences as their peers but would be subject to the regular cell checks, Smink said.

The county's response also refutes a claim by Hope Lewis that her husband's cell was not checked intermittently leading up to his death and that a corrections officer sent an inmate to check on him. Cyrus Lewis was checked at 9:05 p.m. and again at 9:20 p.m. by correctional officer Jennifer Lashomb, initially identified only as "Jen" in documents.

"It was not until 9:20 p.m. that a blanket was first noticed and at the point that the decedent was seen hanging, a call for backup was made and the cell door was opened in an effort to relieve the pressure on the decedent's neck," the response says.

In addition to disputing these facts, the county defendants cite 14 technical defenses, including a violation of the statue of limitations, the failure to state a claim, a lack of jurisdiction and immunity.

The six defendants are also asking the judge to award them costs and attorney's fees for defending the suit.

They are represented by Sean P. McDonough of Dougherty, Leventhal & Price LLP, Moosic. Lewis is represented by Tim Bowers of Best Law Offices LLC, Sunbury.

A state fact-finder's recommendation for teacher salaries would cost Shamokin Area School District $1.8 million more over the life of a new five-year contract than what the school board has proposed.

The district says a cost analysis shows it would have to budget an additional $4,847,243 to cover the increases as recommended by Walter Glogowski whereas the raises would be covered with $3,078,300 if the school board's plan was approved.

Meanwhile, a meeting of the school board has been scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday for a second vote on the fact-finder's report. An executive session starts at 5:30 p.m.

The board rejected the report in an 8-0 vote on May 21. Public release of the report on Friday started a 10-day clock for another vote.

As for the Shamokin Area Education Association (SAEA), which accepted Glogowski's report May 13, expect another "yes," Mark McDade, Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA) representative, said Wednesday.

"We see the fact-finder's report as a resolution for a new contract, and hope the Shamokin board sees it the same way and votes yes so we can move forward," he said.

SAEA announced its intention in April to strike starting May 22 if a contract wasn't reached, but when the school board requested fact-finding on April 9, SAEA had to agree to begin that process. Teachers reserved the right to strike, but can't do so until a second vote is taken on the report by both sides.

Approximately 200 union teachers in Shamokin Area School District have been working under the terms of an expired contract for almost two years.

$4.8M 'not possible'

Attorney Antonio Michetti, special counsel for the school board in its negotiations with SAEA, said in a statement issued Tuesday that salary and health insurance remain the sticking points.

"The board's goals in these two areas have been to negotiate a compensation package which is fair and equitable to the teachers and the taxpayers, and ensure a shared responsibility of health care costs," he said.

A total salary increase of $4.8 million is not possible, he said, considering the instability of paying for education.

"Given the uncertainty with education funding in the state and federal budgets and the already overburdened taxpayer, the board could not accept this recommendation," Michetti wrote.

Votes on the report - which detailed 15 issues, four of which were disputed by both sides - are all-or-nothing votes, he noted.

McDade called the report "a split decision for both parties."

"The fact finder examined the issues and analyzed both proposals and split it right down the middle," McDade said.

On salaries, the district had offered a four-year proposal with salary increases of $1,200 each year. Teachers proposed a five-year deal with percentage-based salary increases falling from 3.65 percent in the first year to 3 percent by year five.

Glogowski proposed a five-year deal using the $1,200 flat rate raises for the first two years then SAEA's percentage raises of 3.35, 3.25 and 3 for the final three years.

Following the raises of $1,200 in years one and two, which would be retroactive to the 2013-14 and 2014-15 school years, the district said an educator's annual salary would increase $3,792,91 in 2015-16, $1,714,68 in 2016-17 and $1,592,96 in 2017-18 under the fact-finder's recommendation. The cumulative raise would be $27,201.05 over the life of the contract.

By contrast, the district's increase of $1,200 a year for five years would result in $18,000 more per teacher paid by year five.

Those two formulas result in the $4.8 million and $3 million salary increase totals over the fives years as described above.

No numbers were provided as to what the increase would be if the five-year increases recommended by SAEA were analyzed.

The district also asked for a change in how teachers pay for their health care from a 1 percent salary deduction to paying 10 percent of their premium. That would save the district $220,550.71 in the coming school year, Michetti said.

Glogowski recommended the teachers continue to have the 1 percent deducted, but change their plan to one with a $250 deductible. This would save the district $176,021 in the coming school year.

"We didn't want any kind of change to our health care plan, but we made the concession," McDade said about the deductible. "The district's proposal would cost even more to the teachers."

Glogowski said the district rationalized its plan change would cut costs by 9 percent, but noted that would occur by essentially shifting that burden to the union members.

As for Tuesday's meeting, Michetti said it's difficult to say which way the board will vote.

"The board has always maintained an open mind, and will re-evaluate the fact-finder's report on Tuesday," he said.

MOUNT CARMEL - Dr. Michael Higgins will deliver the commencement address for the class of 2015 Friday night at Mount Carmel Area High School, 20 years after he was valedictorian at MCA in 1995.

Higgins, of Den Mar Gardens, has worked as a primary care optometrist for Geisinger Department of Ophthalmology since 2011

and was previously employed in a private optometry practice in Mechanicsburg since 2003.

Following graduation at Mount Carmel Area, Higgins earned a bachelor of arts in biology with a minor in government from Franklin & Marshall College and graduated in 2003 from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry with a doctor of optometry degree.

He and his wife, Tara, have three sons, Michael, Gabriel and Samuel.

Higgins was a standout athlete in his high school days, serving as co-captain his senior year for the football, basketball and baseball teams. He was a member of the 1994 state championship football team and the 1995 district championship basketball team, and earned first-team all-state quarterback honors in 1994. At Franklin & Marshall, he was a co-captain of the football team his senior year and earned an all-conference honors at quarterback.

Graduation is scheduled for 7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. Friday is the final day of class for students; it is a half-day.

MOUNT CARMEL - The top five students in the class of 2015 at Mount Carmel were announced at this week's senior awards program. Valedictorian is Jennifer Bolick and salutatorian is Joanna Rompallo. The rest of the top five are Caitlyn Curran, third; Christian Kelley, fourth; and Glenn Barwicki Jr., fifth.

Bolick is a daughter of Frank and Sue Bolick, of Den-Mar Gardens. She is vice president of the class of 2015 and president of the National Honor Society and Athletic Honor Society. She competed in soccer, cross country, basketball and track and field and was named the Ed Romance Female Scholar Athlete and the Schuylkill County Female Scholar Athlete, and was a Rotary student of the month for February.

She is in the marching and symphonic bands, is president of the Peer Mediation club and treasurer of the Interact Club. Bolick is a member of the Future Nurses of America and Spanish clubs and plans to attend Penn State University, State

College, to major in biology.

Rompallo is a daughter of Diane Rompallo of Kulpmont. She is a drum major for the marching band and a member of the symphonic, jazz and pep bands. Rompallo participated in District 8 band, Region 4 Band, Susquehanna University and Lebanon Valley College Honors Band festivals and recently received the Mount Carmel Area Outstanding Musician Award.

She is involved in the art, Latin, Interact, chemistry, calculus and reading clubs and is vice president of the Masque and Gavel Honor Society. She was a member of an Odyssey of the Mind team that placed at the state competition each year and advanced to the world competition in 2013. She also participated in developmental studies and musicals. She was voted the "most studious of the senior class" for the Carmelite yearbook senior superlatives. She is a liturgical musician at Holy Angels Church, Kulpmont, and plans to major in materials science and engineering at Lehigh University.

Curran is a granddaughter of Robert and Bonnie Smith, of Mount Carmel. She is a color guard captain, president of the Future Nurses of America and student council; vice president of the tech ed and reading clubs; treasurer of peer mediation and a sergeant at arms for the Interact Club. She also participates in the Latin club and developmental studies and was a member of Odyssey of the Mind. Curran was a previous Rotary, Elks and junior student of the month, a Merit Award winner and a Junior High Pride award winner. She plans to major in pharmacy at Duquesne University.

Kelley is a son of Robert and Angela Kelley, of Kulpmont. He was a captain for the track and field team and played on the football team.Off the field, he serves as treasurer of the reading club and is also a member of the Spanish, calculus, tech ed and science clubs. He is vice president of the National Athletic Honor Society, treasurer of the National Honor Society, a Merit Award winner and a Rotary and Elks student of the month award recipient. He was awarded the Joseph J. Grey Memorial Award and the JoAnn and Russ Cesari, Joseph F. Greco/Kiwanis and the Northumberland County Recreation Committee scholar-athlete awards. He plans to attend Cornell University to play football as a linebacker while double majoring in chemistry and economics.

Barwicki is a son of Glenn and Ann Barwicki, of Kulpmont. He was a senior captain of the football team and was awarded the St. Pauline Visintainer scholar award for 2015, the Mike Terry Award for outstanding lineman performance and the Ed Romance Award for most improved player. He is an alter server and volunteers at Holy Angels Church, where he was the recipient of the Cyril Student Leadership Award. He was a Pennsylvania Heartland Athletic Conference football second team all-star selection. In addition to football, Glenn enjoys weight-lifting. He plans to attend Penn State University to study civil engineering.

SHAMOKIN - City police have charged 11 individuals in the past few days in connection with five different incidents, including two burglaries, thefts and stolen firearms.

One of the suspects is charged in three different incidents, and some of the defendants remain in prison.

Cpl. Bryan Primerano, who filed some of the charges, said all the incidents are drug-related. He believes it's the first time police have charged 11 people involving five different crimes in such a short period of time.

Chief of Police Darwin Tobias III commended all the officers involved in the two-month investigation.

The chief also praised the efforts of the local Crime Watch group and other citizens who provided tips and helped identify suspects on video involving two of the crimes.

"Although our department is short staffed, the officers continue to be diligent and hard working in combating the drug problem and drug-related crimes in the city," Tobias said.

The crimes include burglaries at 45 S. Fifth St., Apt. 4, and 125 S. Market St. on April 16 and May 24, respectively, thefts of items from vehicles in the first block of North Marshall Street on April 2, the theft of six guns from 503 S. Eighth St. between April 1 and May 28, and a drug offense Monday.

Jade Swank, 23, of 907 N. Shamokin St., Shamokin, who was taken into custody at about 5 p.m. Monday following a foot chase with police, faces the most charges.

She is charged by Patrolman William Zalinski with six felony counts each of theft and receiving stolen property, five felony counts of possessing a firearm without a license and three misdemeanor counts of delivering three firearms to another person.

Those charges involve Swank stealing five handguns and a rifle owned by Fred May. Swank told police she traded three of the handguns for heroin and sold the rifle at a sporting goods store in Williamsport for $200.

Swank faces charges of flight to avoid apprehension and possession of drug paraphernalia filed by Primerano relating to an incident Monday afternoon when Primerano, Patrolman Scott Weaver, Coal Township Cpl. Terry Ketchem and state Constable Glenn Masser went to her home to serve a bench warrant for her arrest.

While searching for Swank inside the home, police found numerous empty heroin packets and syringes.

They then spotted Swank fleeing from the rear of the residence and pursued her on foot after they allege she refused to obey their commands to stop. Swank ran south on Franklin Street and crossed Route 61 before scurrying through some backyards, where she was taken into custody.

Swank also is charged by Patrolman Nathan Rhodes with theft from a motor vehicle, loitering and prowling at night and criminal conspiracy involving vehicle break-ins on North Marshall Street. Several items were stolen, including change and a sentimental locket belonging to Shamokin native William Moll IV, a soldier in the U.S. Army. The locket contained ashes of Moll's grandfather.

Swank is in Columbia County Prison.

Also charged by Rhodes with the same offenses relating to the break-ins on North Marshall Street were Zachary D. Zablosky, 30, of 598 Trevorton Road, Coal Township; Wendi Baumerts, 20, of 1656 W. Spruce St., Coal Township, and Nathan J. Reigle, 38, of 905 W. Willow St., Coal Township.

Zablosky and Baumerts aren't incarcerated. Reigle is in state prison.

Cpl. Jarrod Scandle charged Blake A. Dunbar, 21, and Breann Sulouff, 22, both of 128 S. Market St., Shamokin; Ryan Chambers, 20, of 259 E. Sixth St., Apt. B, Bloomsburg, and Laura Marie Campbell, 25, of 6615 Park Road, Selinsgrove, in connection with the burglary at 125 S. Market St.

More than 100 DVDs with cases, a soda maker, a coffee maker, a 50-inch flatscreen television and surround sound system owned by Vincent Martz were stolen.

Chambers is in Snyder County Prison. Dunbar remains in Montour County Prison on $50,000 cash bail after being arraigned on the charges at 3:30 a.m. Sunday by on-call Magisterial District Judge Hugh Jones. Sulouff and Campbell are not incarcerated.

Dunbar, Chambers and Campbell are charged with felonies of burglary, conspiracy, criminal trespass, theft and receiving stolen property, and misdemeanors of possession of criminal mischief and loitering and prowling at night. Dunbar also is charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sulouff is charged with felonies of conspiracy and receiving stolen property.

A couple wanted for committing a burglary at their neighbor's apartment were taken into custody by Harrisburg police following a traffic stop in the capital city at about 5 p.m. Tuesday.

Hito Romero, 44, and Megan Holohan, 34, both of 45 S. Fifth St., Apt. 3, Shamokin, are charged by Primerano with felonies of burglary, criminal trespass, criminal conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen property for stealing numerous electronics and household items valued at more than $2,000 from 45 S. Fifth St., Apt. 4. Police said the items are owned by Pedro Carrasquillo and Matthew Reeder.

Romero was transported by Tobias Wednesday from Dauphin County Prison to Snyder County Prison. His girlfriend remained in Dauphin County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail on a charge of false identification to law enforcement officials filed by Harrisburg police Tuesday.

Primerano also charged Linda L. Depena, 36, of 18 S. Market St., Apt. 1, Shamokin, with a misdemeanor of receiving stolen property for possessing a PlayStation 4 that she knew was stolen by Romero and Holohan. Depena is not incarcerated.

SHAMOKIN - The Coal Region Relay for Life will include teams from Shamokin and Mount Carmel that will converge on Kemp Memorial Stadium from 10 a.m. Friday until 10 a.m. Saturday for the annual event that raises money for the American Cancer Society. The theme this year is "Happy Birthday Relay, Three Decades Strong."

Food will be available for lunch at a concession stand beginning at 11 a.m. only on Friday this year.

Walkers will be invited to try to join the "Catherine Reed 100 Lap Club." Participants who reach 100 laps, a distance of 25 miles, will receive a T-shirt specifically designed for the club.

Some of the special events include face painting, a photo booth, a magicians and other activities throughout the night.

Also, an acoustic music set will be performed by Rusty Foulke of Hybrid Ice from 2 to 3 p.m., and We the Assembly will perform from 5:30 to 7 p.m. after the opening ceremony at 5. The national anthem will be sung by Rebecca Dressler followed by the invocation and an honorary survivor speech from John Yoder.

A tradition, the survivors and caregivers lap, will begin at 6 p.m., and registration starts at 4 p.m. at the stadium. A dinner is provided by the Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital dietary department and will be open immediately following the lap.

The luminaria service to honor and remember loved ones will begin at 9:30 p.m.

More entertainment will be provided by The Hidden Agendas, performing from 7 to 9 p.m. and Red Halo, performing at 10:30 p.m. J and B Audio will be DJ-ing and hosting karaoke at 1 a.m.

Registration for the Dime Walk will begin Saturday morning at 8 a.m., with the walk beginning at 9 a.m.

The closing ceremony for this year's Coal Region Relay for Life will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday. There will be no breakfast available on Saturday this year.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Coal Township Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 317 will be holding a flag Retirement ceremony at 6 p.m. on Flag Day, Thursday, June 11, at the Coal Township Municipal Building. The public is urged to attend and bring any old or tattered flags they want retired. Anyone attending should bring a lawn chair for their convenience.

Back in July 2003, the Coal Township VFW dedicated a flag drop-off box which is located in front of the Coal Township Municipal Building on Lynn Street. This box was set up for the public to drop off any old or tattered American flags for a proper disposal. The flag drop-off box has been a huge success. Every week, a member of the Post collects the flags and stores them for disposal. Since the box went into service, the post has collected well over 200,000 flags of various sizes.

The ceremony is usually done privately by the post, but members of the VFW decided to open it to show members of the public the proper protocol for disposing of old and worn American flags. Members of the Shamokin American Legion Post 73 and the Ladies Auxiliary will help with the ceremony. The ceremony will involve proper protocol for retiring flags and will end with the playing of patriotic music. The Coal Township VFW would like to express its gratitude to the Coal Township Board of Commissioners and the Maine Fire Company for their permission and help with this ceremony.