By Justin Strawser

SUNBURY - Northumberland County Commissioner Stephen Bridy had support from several members of the public Tuesday in his latest effort to have the county pass a resolution in support of the right to bear arms.

Once again, however, he didn't have the support of his fellow commissioners.

Bridy said the commissioners, as public officials, have taken an oath of office to support the U.S. Constitution and the state Constitution, and he made a motion to challenge any infringements on the Second Amendment.

Specifically, it would "challenge any federal act, bill, law, rule or executive order that attempts to prevent or curtail law-abiding citizens of Northumberland County from purchasing any currently legally available firearm, ammunition or magazine, and give permission to the county to join any amicus brief or other legal action to challenge the constitutionality" of any such action.

Bridy's motion died for lack of a second, but three individuals from People Against the NDAA (PANDA) Pennsylvania criticized Commissioners Vinny Clausi and Richard Shoch for not supporting Bridy. NDAA is the National Defense Authorization Act.

Sunbury Constable Ed Quiggle, state team leader for PANDA PA and leader for the Sunbury chapter, thanked Bridy and urged the other two commissioners to reconsider their lack of action.

"We need to do something to protect the citizens of Northumberland County," he said.

John Burd, a PANDA member from Coal Township, and Roger Bordzinski, a member from Sunbury, reiterated Quiggle's plea.

Clausi said he was not comfortable passing a resolution as the one Bridy suggested without researching it further, and Shoch said he asked for more information at the last meeting and hasn't gotten any.

Later, Shoch said he wasn't convinced if it would be proper to use county money to challenge the federal government and use Northumberland County as a "battleground" against potential overreach.

Bridy said the county wouldn't have to spend additional money since Assistant Solicitor John Muncer is well versed in Constitutional law.

Bridy tried earlier this month to pass a similar resolution that stated "any federal act, bill, law, rule or executive order that in any way infringes upon our Second Amendment rights by attempting to reduce the private ownership of any firearm, magazine or ammunition shall be unenforceable in Northumberland County."

The issue was tabled last month for further research by solicitor Frank Garrigan, who said at the time he didn't know if such a resolution would be enforceable.

Susquehanna County and communities throughout the state, including Gilberton in Schuylkill County, have passed similar resolutions. Quiggle was instrumental in convincing Sunbury City Council in February to pass a broader resolution without mentioning the Second Amendment that states the council is concerned with the "overreach of the federal government." The council is requesting U.S. Sen. Lou Barletta (R-11) introduce, support and secure legislation that will guarantee all citizens the unalienable rights guaranteed to citizens under the Constitution.

TREVORTON - The Trevorton Senior Action Center met Thursday, March 7, with ten members and two Area Agency personnel in attendance.

The meeting opened with prayer and Pledge of Allegiance.

Secretary's report was given by Wanda Heath and was approved as read.

Treasurer's report was given by Edwina Savidge and was approved as read.

A financial report from the Travel Committee was read by Savidge and was approved as read.

The group welcomed Robert (Bob) Sager as the new treasurer and thanked him for volunteering to take over this position.

A trip to Wildwood, N.J., is planned June 10 to 14. Cost is $400 per person for a double occupancy at Montego Bay Resort on the boardwalk and includes transportation, four dinners, four full breakfasts at the hotel, four nights of entertainment, one day in Atlantic City, N.J., sightseeing, a dolphin watch cruise and visits to Wildwood boardwalk, Victorian Cape May, historic Smithville, and Woodland Village & Teaberry Antiques. Contact Joyce at 648-3695 or Nina at 648-0545 for more information.

The fundraiser for March was homemade Easter eggs.

The group will celebrate Earth Day on April 22 with activities throughout the day and Volunteer Day on April 24; everyone is welcome.

Monthly calendars are available at the center. Membership enrollment is open and the group welcomes new faces to join the center for fun and fellowship.

Manager Diana Smeal gave a report on up-coming activities, which will be set up in April and May.

A birthday party was held Friday, March 15, and a free members breakfast was held Monday.

The center will be closed on Friday for Good Friday.

Theresa McCabe, representing Area Agency on Aging, gave brief reports from the agency and offered a question and answer portion at the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned and bingo followed.

MANDATA - Line Mountain School Board approved a $9.7 million construction project that will bring geothermal wells and a new heating and air conditioning system to the junior/senior high school, along with other renovations on campus.

Following a 90-minute discussion at Tuesday's meeting, the board voted 7-2 to award $9,726.812 in contracts to drill geothermal wells on the campus and install a new HVAC system throughout the school.

The new system will give the school the ability to have climate control in classrooms, something that superintendent Dave Campbell wanted to see.

"You see businesses doing renovations to create a better working environment for their employees," Campbell said. "We are trying to create a learning environment for the 21st century. Students that are sitting here sweating and uncomfortable are not productive and learning."

The bid package approved other renovations on campus, including the replacement of the wooden windows in the building, construction of a free-standing maintenance garage with a salt shed and resurfacing of the main access road.

Voting to award the contracts were directors Troy Laudenslager, Dennis Erdman, Lawrence Neidig, David Bartholomew, Lauren Hackenburg, Ronald Neidig and Daniel Zablosky. Directors Lamont Masser and Marlin Yeager Jr. voted against the project.

MOUNT CARMEL - When Jessika Meyer opened her latest water bill, she got quite a shock.

It showed the Dooleyville resident, who moved to the area from New Jersey in December, used 32,600 gallons of water between Feb. 5 and March 5 and owed $350.91.

"I couldn't believe when I saw it," Meyer said. "There was no way I used that much water."

She was right, but it took a few phone calls and some help from The News-Item to get things straightened out.

1,164 gallons a day

The bill from Aqua Pennsylvania, dated March 7, showed her average daily usage of 1,164 gallons, which took the total from 8,500 gallons when her meter was read on Feb. 5 to 41,100 gallons by March 5.

Aqua Pennsylvania charges a $16 fee for service and a rate of nine-tenths of a cent for the first 2,000 gallons of water, reported on Meyer's bill to be $18.14. The rest of the water on Meyer's bill, 30,600 gallons, costs a little more than a penny a gallon, adding $316.77 to the $18.14 and $16 for a total of $350.91.

Just moving into the home a few months ago, she lives with her dog, Isis, but says her habits do not support using that much water.

"I don't have a washer or dryer here," said Meyer, who is eight months pregnant. "I'm splitting my time between living here and New Jersey where my boyfriend is at. I take showers at my mom's house, mostly use paper plates and drink bottled water. Doing all that, how did I use 32,000 gallons of water in a month?

Searching for answers

Meyer contacted Aqua in search of an explanation. The company dispatched a technician on March 14 who found no evidence of a leak at her home.

He checked the meter, which showed that in the nine days since the March 5, Meyer had used approximately 600 gallons - an average daily use of 66 gallons, far under her 1,164 a day from the prior month.

"The technician said to me that a family of five doesn't use that much water like my bill said, even when they fill a 5-foot deep (swimming) pool," she said.

Armed with that information, Meyer contacted Aqua's customer service division seeking help in having the bill adjusted. She said the woman she spoke with wasn't sympathetic.

"They told me whatever the amount was, it had to be paid before they can launch an investigation to possibly give me a credit," she said.

With a March 29 payment looming, and concerned her water would be shut off, she contacted The News-Item for help.

Problem solved

Donna Alston, director of communications for Aqua Pennsylvania, looked into the matter at The News-Item's request. She said the problem stemmed from the 911 readdressing taking place in Northumberland County. Meter readings from Meyer's bill and that of another residential customer were mixed, resulting in the extremely high, but incorrect, gallon usage and subsequent charge, Alston said.

Alston said only two accounts were affected and Aqua had fixed the problem by Tuesday afternoon.

She said based on the meter reading done by the technician on March 14, Meyer will be given a credit for all consumption of water over 2,000 gallons and issued an abatement for $316.77.

Alston also said a courtesy hold was placed on the account, so Meyer will not incur any late penalties.

She was happy about the good news.

"I'm so grateful for all the help I got to get this all straightened out," Meyer said. "It's a big relief to have that burden lifted."

Teaching lesson

Beyond the billing mixup, Alston noted Meyer owed from December because she hadn't contacted Aqua upon moving into her home.

"Just because your electric or water is running at your new residence, or, in this case, you move into a new home that is still in your utility's coverage area, don't assume we know about the switch," Alston said. "You should always contact your utility company and register with them."

Meyer said she thought her mother had signed up for water service and was getting the bill until she received the mixed up March bill.

SHAMOKIN - The following hearings took place Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III. Defendants ordered to appear for plea court April 29 at Northumberland County Court, Sunbury, can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.

n Robert Allen Wehner, 37, of 1557 Wabash St., Coal Township, waived to court charges of simple assault and harassment.

He was charged by Coal Township Patrolman Jason Adams with assaulting his live-in girlfriend, Brandy Johnson, at their home Nov. 17.

n Robert E. Palmer, 43, of White Deer, waived to court charges of criminal attempt to commit theft and criminal conspiracy to commit theft involving a Nov. 19 incident.

Palmer was charged by Trooper James McCormick with stealing a scrap air conditioning unit valued at $150 from LTS Plumbing and Heating Inc. off Route 61 in Shamokin Township.

n Brandie M. Dietrich, 20, of 213 S. Poplar St., Mount Carmel, waived to court a retail theft charge filed by Coal Township Patrolman Christopher Lapotsky.

Dietrich was charged with stealing $112.23 in merchandise from Wal-Mart Supercenter on Route 61 on Dec. 24.

n Barry Anoia, 27, of 1118 W. Walnut St., Coal Township, waived to court charges of burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal trespass.

Anoia was charged by Coal Township Patrolman Joshua Wynn with entering the home of Rebecca Hadfield, 1116 W. Walnut St. and stealing a lock box containing various medications, including Xanax. Police said the burglary occurred March 9.

n Nicole L. Bower, 27, of 1344 Hosta Road, Paxinos, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct and was ordered to pay a $100 fine plus costs.

A charge of possession of drug paraphernalia was withdrawn.

Bower was charged by Coal Township Detective Jeff Brennan in connection with an Oct. 8 incident in the parking lot at the Anthra Plaza.

n Marie T. Mielke, 29, of 106 W. Shamokin St., Trevorton, waived to court charges of driving under the influence of alcohol and various traffic violations relating to a vehicle stop on Coal Street near Fourth Street in Trevorton on Dec. 6.

The charges were filed by Cpl. George Ritchey of state police at Stonington.

n Kayla Holman, 22, of 38 N. Market St., Shamokin, waived to court two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol, driving without a license, careless driving and failure to wear a seat belt relating to a Feb. 2 accident on Route 225 in Zerbe Township.

The charges were filed by Trooper Barry Wooten of state police at Stonington.

n Wayne Robert Klinger, 42, of 1 S. Walnut St., Mount Carmel, pleaded guilty to criminal mischief and was ordered to pay a $100 fine plus costs and make restitution in the amount of $21.

Charges of theft and receiving stolen property were withdrawn.

Klinger was charged by Shamokin Patrolman William Miner with using a credit card from his employer, S&D Saw & Tool Co., Shamokin, to purchase $21 worth of gas for his personal vehicle on Feb. 5.

n Timmy Herb, 23, of 1245 W. Walnut St., Coal Township, waived to court multiple drug-related charges involving two separate incidents in Coal Township.

Herb waived to court charges of driving under the influence of morphine, driving under the influence of heroin/morphine, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia involving an Aug. 31 DUI checkpoint along Route 225 near Mountain View: A Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

He also waived to court charges of delivery of heroin, criminal use of a communication facility, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia relating to an Oct. 28 incident at his residence.

All the charges were filed by Coal Township Patrolman Joshua Wynn.

MOUNT CARMEL - Anthracite Citizens' Theatre (ACT) will present a production of "A Christmas Carol," an adaptation by William Sanders and Sharon Lee Glassman, July 25 to 28 at the Mount Carmel Area Jr./Sr. High School auditorium.

The play focuses on Ebenezer Scrooge, an elderly miser, who learns the error of his ways on Christmas Eve, when he reflects on his past, present and future collectively, whereupon the mean old miser undergoes a radical change of heart and is awakened on Christmas morning a changed man.

Christopher Olson, of Bethlehem, who has been involved with ACT since 2000, will be directing.

In preparation for this event, open auditions will be held in Mount Carmel Area Jr./Sr. High School's choral room on the following dates and times:

- 6 p.m. Thursday, April 25, for children 12 years of age and younger, and 7 p.m. for adults 13 years of age and older.

- 1 p.m. Sunday, April 28, for children 12 years of age and younger, and 2 p.m. for adults 13 years of age and older.

Children should come prepared to sing their favorite Christmas Carol without instrumental accompaniment. Children wanting to audition for a specific role may be asked to read a short dialogue from the play.

Adults should come prepared to do a cold reading from the show. These readings, known as sides, will be available to those interested an hour prior to the adult audition.

Everyone is asked to bring a recent full face photograph of themselves as well as a listing of conflicts that would interfere with attending rehearsals, usually scheduled for Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, from May through July.

On the Net: www.actheatre.org.

Anthracite Citizens' Theatre

MOUNT CARMEL - The Anthracite Citizens' Theatre (ACT) held its monthly meeting March 13 with 12 people in attendance. President Barb Malick called the meeting to order and secretary Louanne Olson read minutes from the Feb. 20 meeting. A motion was made by Rose Zimmerman to accept minutes, seconded by Mary Ann Palovick, and the motion carried.

For ACT's sunshine report, it was asked that cards be sent to two different people. Also, library memorials will be taken for Wanda Smith and Rose Hynoski.

Audition posters for the 2013 shows are ready to be distributed to area businesses. Zimmerman spoke about microphones, head sets and earpieces, and will have someone from K&S Music come speak at a future board meeting.

Under new business, the executive board will meet at 6:30 before the regular ACT meeting next month.

The next meeting is 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10. The public is welcome.

MCA to distribute report cards April 5

MOUNT CARMEL - Today is the last day of the third marking period for students in the Mount Carmel Area School District.

Students will have no school Friday and Monday. School will be back in session Tuesday and report cards will be distributed Friday, April 5.

Authority office closed Friday

KULPMONT - The Kulpmont-Marion Heights Joint Municipal Authority office will be closed Friday in observance of Good Friday.

Route 3014 milling scheduled

MANDATA - A PennDOT maintenance crew in Northumberland County will perform a milling operation on Route 3014, the short connector road between Routes 147 and 225.

The work will be done Thursday, weather permitting.

The milling will address some raveling (pushed or bumpy sections) in the pavement in order to provide a smoother ride.

Route 3014 will be restricted to one lane, with traffic flow being controlled with flaggers on Thursday.

Training session at Weiser Forest

NUMIDIA - The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Weiser Forest District, will be training wildland firefighters at the Roaring Creek Tract Saturday. Participants will be working as crews on a simulated wildfire incident.

Because of the training, the Route 42 parking areas at Roaring Creek Tract will be closed from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The following trails will also be closed during that time period; east side of Big Mountain Trail, Aristes trail, black road trail and pump house trail, and Roaring Creek trail between Route 42 and the blue bridge. The Route 54 parking lot will remain open.

For more information, contact the Bureau of Forestry's Bear Gap Station at 672-2454.

HARRISBURG - A federal judge dismissed a civil lawsuit Monday that was filed Oct. 15 by Joan M. Cicchiello against the Northumberland County District Attorney, two judges and three other county officials.

Cicchiello, in the suit filed in U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, alleged her civil rights were violated when she was sentenced February 2012 to 12 months of probation and a $200 fine for filing false reports with law enforcement in relation to a dog law violation in 2006. She claimed she was subjected to false arrest and malicious prosecution by local authorities.

In filing the lawsuits, she was seeking damages and injunctive relief from defendants District Attorney Tony Rosini, Assistant District Attorney Ann Targonski, Judges William Harvey Wiest and Robert B. Sacavage, Adult Probation department head John Wondoloski and probation officer John Rosinski.

U.S. Chief Magistrate Judge Martin C. Carlson, according to paperwork filed Monday, filed a 26-page report recommending dismissal of the case and denying a stay of her probation because Cicchiello failed to respond twice to defense motions to dismiss. The last date to file objections on the report was Feb. 14.

On Oct. 29, Rosini and Targonski moved to dismiss the complaint, but Cicchiello never responded. On Dec. 5, a second motion to dismiss was filed by the additional defendants, and she again did not respond. The time to respond for both motions has passed.

On Monday, U.S. District Judge Matthew W. Brann ordered the adoption of Carlson's report, granting the defendants' motion to dismiss the suit and denying Cicchiello's motion to stay the probation sentence.

Cicchiello was convicted in a jury trial before Wiest in 2010. However, all three Northumberland County judges recused themselves from the sentencing due to Cicchiello naming them among the defendants in a lawsuit in Northumberland County Court.

Cicchiello was charged by Patrolman David Donkochik of the Mount Carmel Borough Police following his investigation of a dog law violation in 2006. A German shepherd in her custody had been found running at large Nov. 12, 2006. Cicchiello was issued citations for failing to keep proper custody and control of the dog.

At the hearing held in January 2007 before now-retired Magisterial District Judge Michael Mychak, Cicchiello testified the dog belonged to her son and was in his custody and control at the time. An investigation following the summary trial revealed that Cicchiello had provided false information to the court when she implicated her son.

Cicchiello testified the dog belonged to her 8-year-old step-granddaughter, for whom Cicchiello purchased the dog as a gift. She also testified the dog only stayed at Cicchiello's home every other week.

SUNBURY - A lawsuit filed by a Coal Township man against two Northumberland County commissioners and the county for limiting public comment at meetings to two minutes has been moved from the Court of Common Pleas to federal court.

On Tuesday afternoon, attorneys representing William R. Knapick Sr., of 1435 W. Pine St., filed a petition for removal of the civil action from Northumberland County Court to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania.

A hearing on motions filed by Knapick for preliminary injunction and protective order was scheduled for Thursday afternoon before county Judge Charles H. Saylor, but that legal proceeding has been canceled since the civil action has been moved to federal court.

The suit was filed by Knapick's attorneys, Kymberley Best and Timothy Bowers, in January after Knapick claimed he was not given ample time by Commissioner Chairman Vinny Clausi to express his opinions.

Best and Bowers formerly served as legal counsel for the county.

Clausi was initially listed as the lone defendant in the complaint. But the suit has been amended to also include Commissioner Stephen Bridy and Northumberland County as defendants.

In his complaint, Knapick said the commissioners are required to provide a reasonable opportunity for public comment in accordance with the Sunshine Act. At the Jan. 22 commissioners' meeting, Clausi imposed a two-minute limit on public comment without taking a vote or receiving approval from the majority of commissioners, the lawsuit states.

Knapick claims Clausi only gave him 90 seconds instead of two minutes to make comments and also cut off his friend, David F. Kaleta, of Shamokin, at 65 seconds when he was posing questions to Clausi.

The suit also claims Clausi violated the Sunshine Act by retaliating against a member of the public for objecting to Clausi's alleged violation of the act.

The suit states, "Clausi's acts arbitrarily restrict public comment and are calculated to deter public participation at meetings through threats and coercion."

In addition to seeking costs and attorney fees from Clausi, Bridy and the county, Knapick wants to make the two-minute public comment rule unenforceable. He also wants all action taken at the Jan. 22 meeting to become void.

Knapick had again asked the commissioners for an update on his complaint made in October regarding the cutting of what he claims was hundreds of trees Dec. 10 and Dec. 11, 2011, to create new trails for the Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA).

Clausi previously said he thinks two minutes is enough time, because if people need more information, it can be provided after the meeting. But he said he would consider lengthening it.

During a Feb. 12 meeting, however, nine rules for the conduct and order of business, including the two-minute limit, were approved by Clausi and Bridy. Commissioner Richard Shoch opposed the motion to adopt the rules.

At that meeting, Clausi instructed county solicitor Frank Garrigan to recite President Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address to illustrate his claim that a lot can be said in two minutes.

TREVORTON - Zerbe Township supervisors report the following sewer bill delinquencies have been sent to Central Credit Audit Inc., Sunbury, for collection as of March 8:

- Jeff Anderson, $1,729.40.

- Charlene Bankes, $973.70.

- Roxanne Beaver, $1,228.90

- James Collier, $1,050.45

- Kyle DeFacis, $769.10

- Kevin Dewald, $1,896.95

- Heather Drogalis, $1,148.40

- Joesph Finan, $1,482.96

- Felicity Gearhart, $1.419.10

- Edward Johns, $2,404.20

- Misty Laforme, $1,437.25

- Ronald Matalavage, $722.20

- Robert Mayton, $1,457.30

- Dar Rearick, $1,457.30

- Brandon Roach, $951.14

- Joshua Seedor, $1,517.57

- Scott Shaffer, $1,446.60

- Glenn Smith, $1,941.00

- Sopramco III LLC., $7,932.86

- Sopramco III LCC., $3,260.55

- Rebecca Wagner, $1,947.20

- Carol Whary, $1,117.16

- James Yocum, $3,319.40

DANVILLE - Two people are in critical condition after sustaining injuries Monday in a crash on Route 54 just north of Elysburg.

Richard D. Shaw, of Johnson City, N.Y., and a passenger, Brenda Shaw, are hospitalized at Geisinger Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said.

According to a report issued Tuesday by Ralpho Township Police, Richard D. Shaw was driving a Ford Mustang east about 2:30 p.m. when it was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer driven by David P. McGuinn, of Tulip Road, Paxinos.

The collision forced the Ford into the westbound lane where it collided head-on with a Toyota Prius driven by David L. Wolfe, of South Sixth Street, Shamokin. The Prius was subsequently rear-ended by a Dodge Dakota driven by Ricardo Contreras, of Hart Road, Danville.

The Shaws and Wolfe were all extracted from their vehicles by emergency responders.

Wolfe and two passengers, his wife, Judith Wolfe, and their son, David, all suffered injuries. David L. Wolfe is in serious condition at Geisinger; his son was discharged Tuesday. Judith Wolfe was treated and released.

Police say McGuinn and Contreras were not injured.

The crash occurred near Farnsworth Camping Center as a mix of snow and rain was falling, although police did not indicate if weather was a factor. Route 54 was closed to traffic and reopened about 9:25 p.m.

HARRISBURG - Listed are remaining events on Diocese of Harrisburg Bishop Joseph P. McFadden's public calendar for Holy Week.

Today

Penance Service, Good Shepherd Church, Camp Hill, 7 p.m. McFadden will assist with several other priests in hearing confessions and administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation to those who attend this service.

Thursday

Mass of the Lord's Supper, St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg, 5:30 p.m. The Mass of the Lord's Supper celebrates the institution of the Most Holy Eucharist and the institution of the Priesthood by Jesus Christ. The feet of 12 seminarians of the diocese studying for the priesthood will be washed by Bishop McFadden. The Mass concludes with the Blessed Sacrament being placed in a special repository in the Cathedral and the faithful staying to keep watch in prayer, which represents the disciples staying with our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Good Friday

Penance Service, St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg, noon to 2 p.m. McFadden will assist with several other priests in hearing confessions and administering the Sacrament of Reconciliation to those who attend this service.

Celebration of the Lord's Passion, St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg, 3 p.m. This solemn service included the reading of the Passion of Christ according to St. John. Those assembled then offer special prayers for the entire world. A large crucifix is then venerated by the people with a kiss or another form of reverence.

Saturday

Easter Vigil, St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg, 8 p.m. This service begins with the creation of a blazing fire to remind all that there is no darkness, no death that Christ cannot conquer. Water is blessed and new adult members of the church are baptized, confirmed and receive Holy Communion for the first time.

Sunday

Easter Mass, St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg, 9:30 a.m. Mass for Easter Sunday includes joyous music and the renewal of the Baptismal Promises.

ATLAS - An out-of-control tri-axle dump truck hauling 23 tons of culm created one of the most spectacular crashes ever witnessed locally Wednesday morning when it tipped over and skidded into the parking lot of an auto parts store and garage along Route 61.

By the time the truck came to a stop, six parked vehicles had been damaged, including a van that was crushed between the dump truck and the parts store building. Also, the impact knocked down the front door and smashed out the large window at Greco Service Station and threw glass and several feet of culm across the store, leaving quarts of oil and some other products on display nearly buried in the black coal dirt.

The driver of the truck was even ejected from his careening truck, but walked away without life-threatening injuries.

"It's lucky nobody was killed" was a repeated phrase while emergency responders and massive tow trucks worked throughout much of the day to clean up the wreckage. That applied in particular to the driver, Ronald M. Dowd, 44, of Drums.

"He was very lucky," said Mount Carmel Township Police Chief Brian Hollenbush, who is heading the investigation. "If he wasn't ejected, he probably would have died."

Hollenbush said the cab was severely damaged in the crash, probably from hitting the building, and the roof of the truck was pushed to the back of the cab, crushing the steering wheel and driver's seat.

How it happened

Mount Carmel Township police said Dowd, a private contractor, was hauling culm for local coal company owner Vince Guarna, of Mount Carmel Township, at 9:20 a.m. and was descending Mid-Valley Highway. He failed to make a left turn into a coal processing plant owned by Mallard Construction approximately one-eighth of a mile east of the intersection with Route 61. Dowd told police he missed a downshift and his truck continued down the hill.

He wasn't able to stop for a stop sign at the intersection near the Friendly Choice Food Mart and apparently tried to steer to the right onto Route 61, police said. His rig crossed the northbound lane and tipped onto its driver's side by the time it reached the southbound lane, where gouges could be seen in the blacktop.

The truck slid across the highway and into the adjacent parts store parking lot, where it slammed into a parts delivery pickup truck parked in front of the building and a Dodge Caravan beside the pickup. The dump truck also struck the northern end of the building and sprayed culm as high as the second floor when it slammed through a cinder block retaining wall to the right of the building and partially toppled over an embankment to a dirt parking area below. The cab landed on and crushed a green van - which had been dropped off for brake service - in the lower parking lot while the bed of the large truck rested on top of the wall, still in the upper parking lot. The truck and flying debris caused damage to three other customer vehicles parked in the lower lot.

The top floor of the two-story business, which is across the Viaduct from Mount Carmel, also sustained extensive damage and the crash knocked out power in the immediate area.

Driver in 'fair' condition

Dowd was initially treated by an off-duty paramedic before receiving additional treatment for a shoulder injury and cuts to his face. He was transported by AREA Services ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, where he was listed Wednesday evening in fair condition, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

The chief, who wasn't sure how fast the truck was traveling when it crashed, said charges are pending.

The delivery truck, owned by Cal's Tire and Auto Service, Tamaqua, was totaled. The Dodge Caravan was, too; it looked as if it had been in a crusher when it was lifted from the lot and onto a flatbed with a tow-truck crane.

'Bomb exploded'

Cal's Tire delivery man John Schock, 77, of Tuscarora, said he arrived at Greco's about 15 minutes before the accident to get an order. Schock said he was standing at the counter talking when the crash occurred.

"I didn't know what happened," he said. "I thought a bomb exploded. If I had been in that delivery truck, I would have been killed."

Schock did suffer a cut on his nose from the storefront glass, but did not require medical attention.

One of the four employees at Greco's, who preferred not to be identified, described the accident as "shocking."

"I was behind the counter talking when I looked up and saw the coal truck skidding across the road into our building," one man said. "I called 911 and then went outside to make sure everyone was OK, but the driver was already out of the cab."

'Scared, shaken up'

Ed Darcangelo, of Den-Mar Gardens, who watched the clean-up, said his daughter, Vanessa Darcangelo, 28, of Kulpmont, had just missed being hit by the tri-axle while it descended Mid-Valley Highway.

He said his daughter was stopped at the stop sign at Friendly Choice Food Mart and had just turned right onto Route 61 when the truck came flying through the intersection. "She told me the truck missed her vehicle by a foot," he said.

"She was definitely scared and shaken up by the crash," he said. "A couple seconds later, she would have been killed."

Deb Meredith, of Wilburton, manager of the Friendly Choice, said she didn't see the accident, but heard a "big bang."

"It definitely scared me," she said. "Thank God nobody was in any of those vehicles that got hit by the truck."

Ed Greco and his brother, Tony Greco, who operate Preferred Warehouse on the top floor of the business and Greco's on the bottom floor, were grateful nobody was seriously injured.

Ed Greco said he didn't actually see the accident, but recalled culm coming through the front window.

Police said the green van crushed by the tri-axle truck is owned by Lori Knopp, of Mount Carmel. A Chevrolet S-10 pickup truck damaged by debris is registered to Tom Hill, of Oak Ridge Estates, and a black Chevrolet S-10 Blazer hit with debris belongs to Janet Watkins, of Atlas. A Ford F-150 pickup truck, also damaged by debris, belongs to Randy Wright, of Ashland.

The Greco brothers, who both reside in Marion Heights, said the business is insured.

Some other crashes have occurred at the 56-year-old business at 11638 state Route 61 over the years, but nothing quite like Wednesday's accident.

Major cleanup

The delivery truck from Cal's and the Dodge Caravan owned by Greco's were the first vehicles towed from the scene. Tow trucks from Dave's Auto Body of Shady Acres and Sunbury Motors removed the tri-axle truck from the wall. The truck was then towed to Dave's Auto Body.

The green van was towed by Jeff's Auto Body and Recycling on Snydertown Road.

Northumberland County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) officials and Northridge Group Inc., Northumberland, an environmental response unit contracted by the county, responded to siphon approximately 25 to 30 gallons of diesel fuel from the tri-axle. Approximately 75 gallons spilled.

Under the direction of county EMA director Steve Jeffery, Northridge employees also removed the spilled culm. Material remaining in the tri-axle truck was removed with a payloader by a Mount Carmel Township street department worker before the vehicle was moved.

Jeffery said the culm, contaminated from the accident, will be transported to a landfill.

Fire police re-directed southbound traffic on Route 61 near the scene, while motorists traveling north on Route 61 over the Viaduct had to turn right and go up the Mid-Valley Highway or veer right into Diamondtown.

Both lanes of the highway were reported open by PennDOT at 2:30 p.m. The scene was cleared by authorities at 4:30 p.m.

Also assisting were Mount Carmel Township Patrolmen Daniel Politza, Brian Carnuccio and Patrick McAndrew, Mount Carmel and Conyngham Township police, firefighters from Strong, Atlas and Mount Carmel, and Mount Carmel Area Rescue Squad. PPL Electric Utilities restored power to the area shortly after 1 p.m.

SUNBURY - Quick work by firefighters limited damage to the second floor of a half-double home on South 10th Street after a fire was reported there Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency crews were called to 316 S. 10th St. at 1:19 p.m., approximately one-half block away from Shikellamy High School. Sunbury Fire Chief Mike Rhoads said flames were visible when crews arrived.

"There was heavy fire in the rear bedroom and smoky conditions through the second floor of the home," Rhoads said at the scene.

Within 10 minutes though, firefighters had the blaze under control.

"They did a fabulous job today," Rhoads said.

The fire was accidental and is believed to have been caused by a cell phone charger wire shorting out and catching fire because it was pinched between a box spring and the floor.

The home is owned by Robert Kieffer, of Port Trevorton, and occupied by renters Gary Pushline and Jamie Schwartz. Rhoads said the two renters are being helped by the American Red Cross.

The other half of the double home, which is occupied, suffered no damage. The names of the people who live in that home were not supplied by police.

"The crews did a great job in containing the damage to just the first and second floors," Rhoads said.

Working at the scene were firefighters from all Sunbury fire departments and Upper Augusta Township fire companies and volunteers from Americus Ambulance.

The scene was cleared at approximately 2:30 p.m.

It marked the third fire in that four-block area of Sunbury in the last two weeks. A fire at 1005 Penn Ave. March 12 took the life of Keith "Bo" Bordner, 53. A faulty power cord was the cause of the fatal fire.

Fire broke out again just 30 hours later in the early morning hours of March 14 in the other half of the double home, this time damaging the home of Kriss Berry and his wife, at 1003 Penn Ave. The cause of that fire was undetermined because the damage was so extensive.

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Ecumenical Ministerium will present the annual three-hour Good Friday service for the community at noon Friday at the United Presbyterian Church, Fifth and Hickory streets.

This is a continuous service for three hours. The public is invited to come at any time and remain as long as time permits.

The ministerium reminded the public that Good Friday is a very solemn day, providing the following description:

"It is on this day the Lord Jesus Christ was crucified. It is God in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not from outside as if just stooping down from above but from within the process of human life.

"The words of the world's great men and women have been recorded after them. Many of these words, phrases and expressions are found engraved upon marble slabs and monuments. Others are painted in the most imperishable, yet delicate, colors of art. Others are found in the numberless books of the libraries of ancient civilizations. Throughout history, people have attempted to preserve every word which was spoken from the lips of the Son of God.

"It is in the hearts of Christian men and women everywhere that some of these words are engraved, chiseled and memorized. However, none of these words are remembered more, with the deepest devotion and highest reverence, than the words of the Son of God from Calvary that fateful day, called the Seven Last Words of Christ from His cross. These words of Christ are so divine, so holy, that to live in their company for forty days, forty years, or perhaps just three hours on one Friday is enough to bring a change, a personal transformation within the heart of one man or woman.

"On Good Friday more than 1,500 years ago, Bishop Ambrose entered the pulpit in the Cathedral of Milan and addressed his congregation in the following words: 'I find it impossible to speak to you today. The events of Good Friday are too great for human words. Why should I speak while my Savior is silent and dies?' Every preacher and minister of the gospel has had this experience, especially when words are compared with the majesty and power of the seven short sentences which the Lord spoke that afternoon."

With these seven words, the ministerium will conduct its service:

- "Father, Forgive ..." - Rev. Susan Roehs.

- "Today in Paradise ..." - Rev. Rose Marquardt.

- "Woman behold thy Son ..." - Rev. Raymond Orloski.

- "My God why ..." - Rev. Frank Karwacki.

- "I thirst ..." - Rev. Andrew Stahmer.

- "It is finished ..." - Rev. Joan Brown.

- "Into thy hands ..." - Rev. Beverly Petrovich.

COAL TOWNSHIP - Jamie Saleski has announced she is seeking the Republican nomination for Northumberland County prothonotary/clerk of courts in the primary election on May 21.

A six-year employee of the office, Saleski said she knows firsthand how the office operates, and knows the staff. She and the other employees have almost 100 years of combined service in the office, and Saleski said she believes she has the qualifications to serve as its leader.

Saleski and her husband, Ben, are lifelong residents of Coal Township and are the parents of two sons, Larry and Jonathan. Her husband is the owner of Pals Pizza in Tharptown for the past 20 years. She said she is very family-oriented. "If I'm not working, I'm with my family," she said in her announcement.

Saleski has served as a team mom for baseball and as a past treasurer for midget football.

In recent years, the prothonotary's office has suffered financial setbacks when budgetary cuts were made by the commissioners and salary board members, Saleski said. She said she has not only heard about these cuts, but has been working through them. In 2007, the office had a staff of eight full-time and one part-time employee and two deputies. In 2013, the staff has dwindled to four employees and one deputy, two employees each on the civil and criminal sides.

"The workload in the office is ever-growing and has put a strain on all of the staff," she said.

Saleski said she knows how hard everyone in the office has been working to be as efficient as possible and is grateful to have co-workers who go above and beyond the call of duty. Her goal is to increase the staff and upgrade some of the technology to bring in more revenue, she said.

Saleski said she is also involved with jury selection for both civil and criminal trials. She has working relationships with the staff and officeholders of every other office in the courthouse, along with the attorneys. They know they can count on her to get the job done, she said.

"When elected, I will be eager and more than willing to work with everyone to make this office what I know it can be. I believe in the office and its staff and know that I can make a difference," she said. "I am not a politician; I am not using this as a political stepping stone. I am a hard worker who cares about the future of the office, its employees and the people of Northumberland County."

Saleski said she will be a full-time prothonotary/clerk of courts and said she is the only candidate with the experience to do the job.

DANVILLE - The condition of a woman involved a four-vehicle crash Monday that closed Route 54 near Elysburg for nearly seven hours and sent five people to the hospital has improved from critical to serious, according to a nursing supervisor at Geisinger Medical Center Wednesday evening.

Brenda Shaw, of Johnson City, N.Y., was a passenger in a Ford Mustang struck by a tractor-trailer truck Monday. Her husband, Richard D. Shaw, was driving the Mustang when it was hit. He was still listed in critical condition Wednesday evening, the nursing supervisor said.

The Mustang was pushed into oncoming traffic where it hit a Toyota Prius, driven by David L. Wolfe, of Shamokin, who was listed in serious condition Wednesday evening. Wolfe's wife, Judith, and son, David, were passengers in the Prius. They were treated and released.

A Dodge Dakota, driven by Ricardo Contreras, of Danville, hit the Prius. Contreras and the driver of the tractor-trailer truck, David P. McGuinn, of Tulip Road, Paxinos, were not injured.

SUNBURY - PrimeCare Medical Inc., recently accused by two former employees of not properly treating inmates at Northumberland County Prison (NCP), is no stranger to such allegations.

They are similar to what Somerset County Commissioner Joe Betta claims has been happening at the county jail in that southwestern Pennsylvania county, where an investigation is taking place.

"It sounds like the same place, just in a different part of the state," Betta said last week when told of the allegations involving NCP.

Also, in 2006, The Morning Call of Allentown published an extensive investigative article entitled "Is Quality of Prison Health Care in Jeopardy?" that includes details of a number of lawsuits involving PrimeCare, including 16 in Northampton County alone.

In Northumberland County, the commissioners and PrimeCare administration acknowledged last week the company would be investigating the allegations, which were initially made anonymously by two former employees to The Daily Item. The News-Item confirmed the names of the two workers; one had been fired and one resigned citing the allegations.

They claimed in their interview with The Daily Item that inmates were not treated in a timely manner; that medicines would run out and inmates would have to wait up to a week for refills; that medical records and charges included untrue statements to make the provider look more professional than it was, and that documented reports of inadequate treatment or misconduct by supervisors were ignored.

Commissioner Chairman Vinny Clausi said Tuesday he was unaware of the details of the Somerset accusations, but that Betta has attempted to contact him recently.

PrimeCare, based in Harrisburg, has defended its reputation and is expected to have a report on its findings at the prison board meeting Wednesday, said Clausi, who said he's resisting temptation to speak further until he has more evidence.

Somerset trouble

PrimeCare has been providing medical services to Somerset County since 2004. The latest three-year $500,000 annual contract ended Dec. 31, and the commissioners and PrimeCare agreed to operate on a month-to-month contract until the investigation ends.

Somerset County Jail has capacity for approximately 100 inmates and has at least 40 employees. PrimeCare employs four full-time nurses, a supervisor and several nurses at the prison.

Betta, who has been approached by former and current prison employees and former and current employees of PrimeCare who worked at the jail, was instructed by his own board of commissioners, district attorney and president judge to turn over the testimonies to Somerset Borough Police.

Betta said he was first approached by a former PrimeCare employee in October about the alleged mistreatment of inmates, but he was not satisfied with the results of an internal investigation by PrimeCare that turned up "no significant findings."

"I acted on it. No one else wants to look into it, so I will," he said. "I passed the word at the jail: if anyone wants to talk about the work atmosphere, talk to me."

And talk they did: he started taking statements from several inmates, five correctional officers and four former nurses about the mistreatment of inmates, a hostile work environment, sexual harassment and falsified records and timesheets, he said.

"I am convinced these are not former disgruntled employees, but they left on their own because they did not want to partake in the falsification of the records and mishandling of narcotics," he said.

Employees told him that they were too scared to talk for fear losing their jobs, he said.

Nurse speaks out

A former PrimeCare nurse at Somerset County Jail contacted The News-Item last week and agreed to provide comments on the condition of anonymity. Her former employment status was confirmed by Betta.

"They say we are disgruntled workers. No, we are not. We are honest, caring nurses," she said. "The truth needs to come out. People's lives are at stake." She agreed with Betta, saying the alleged treatment of Northumberland County inmates sounds like the experiences she witnessed.

"My conscience can't carry what's going on. These inmates are human beings," she said.

She cited a lawsuit filed last year by inmate Ronald D. Sever, 48, as an example.

Sever is seeking $50 million in damages for cruel and unusual punishment for being refused treatment after a noxious spider bite. While Dan Rullo, the Somerset County solicitor, has called Sever's claims "fantasy" in the media, the unidentified nurse said the inmate isn't lying. She said her frequent requests for the man to be taken to the hospital to be treated by a doctor were ignored.

She was told by several prison guards that she was the only one who would do her job at the prison, and that many inmates were shocked when she treated them.

"They (the prisoners) did what they done, and that's no concern of mine, but they have families that love them. They are someone's child or husband," she said.

PrimeCare has "total indifference" to inmates' needs, she said.

Earlier this month, the prison board gave Betta notice to cease and desist his investigation, and the president judge of the county told him he was a "security risk" and could no longer meet with anyone inside the jail. He could, however, meet with anyone outside the facility.

"Never have I encountered a massive determination to stop me from searching for the truth," Betta said. "I don't have a motive yet, but when the police are done with it, we'll know."

PrimeCare is described on its website as a privately owned, nationally accredited, correctional health care company that provides medical services to approximately 18,000 inmates in juvenile correctional facilities, jails and prisons throughout the northeastern U.S., including at least half of Pennsylvania's 67 counties.

PrimeCare officials did not return a request for comment on this report, but Todd Haskins, vice president of operations, when asked about the Northumberland County allegations last week, said the company takes any concerns seriously, but he is not going to "give satisfaction to former employees who were in the facility, running the facility and now they're coming back to make those accusations. I find it hard to believe."

It is never the practice or policy of PrimeCare to do any of these things of which the company is accused, he said.

State reprimand

The Morning Call report said many of the lawsuits against PrimeCare were given court approval to move forward, including a $150,000 settlement with an inmate in 2003. In that case, it was alleged PrimeCare failed to fill prescriptions, gave incorrect prescriptions and delayed prisoners' access to medical care.

In 2004, Lackawanna County replaced PrimeCare as its prison medical provider after a county grand jury characterized medical care there as deficient and determined the company failed to adequately treat inmates for serious medical conditions and failed to report injuries that might have been caused by physical abuse, The Morning Call reported.

In 1997, president and corporate medical director of PrimeCare, Carl A. Hoffman Jr., was issued a formal reprimand by the Pennsylvania Board of Osteopathic Medicine and was ordered to pay a $500 fine for altering medical records and making "misleading, deceptive, untrue or fraudulent entries" after an inmate died at Camp Hill state prison, according to court documents provided to The News-Item by Ronald G. Ruman, a press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of State.

The conduct of Hoffman was "subject to disciplinary action, though perhaps minor in contrast to the charges brought, is nevertheless serious because it impugns his integrity and thus the integrity of the entire medical profession," according to court documents.

In county since 2010

PrimeCare was hired by Northumberland County commissioners with a $550,996 contract in February 2010 to provide comprehensive medical services at the prison beginning April 1, 2010. The county was providing medical services prior to PrimeCare.

The move into contracted services was a result of a federal lawsuit filed by the Lewisburg Prison Project, a nonprofit inmate advocacy group, on behalf of inmates who complained of inadequate health care and unsafe housing conditions.

Commissioner Stephen Bridy said he, too, was not aware of the Somerset issue, but that he knew PrimeCare was involved in lawsuits.

"Until we have all the facts, I can't comment more," he said Tuesday. "I appreciate the relationship we have with them. I am all for doing the right thing. I pray they are doing the right thing. Until I see information that proves otherwise, I don't have any basis not to believe them at this point."

Commissioner Rick Shoch also said he wasn't aware of issues outside the county. He said he would not comment until there is more information available to the county.

Township offices closed Friday

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Coal Township municipal offices will be closed Good Friday. The Coal Township Recycling Center will open at 8 a.m. and close at 11:45 a.m. Friday and will be closed Saturday.

School closed for holiday

SHAMOKIN - Shamokin Area schools will be closed on Friday and Monday for Easter vacation. School reopens on Tuesday.

'Encounter with God' topic at Lifetree

ELYSBURG - Former Ethiopian prime minister Tamrat Layne tells about his controversial "encounter with God" in an exclusive filmed interview at the Lifetree Cafe event from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday at the Elysburg Presbyterian Church, 320 W. Valley Ave.

After serving as prime minister, Layne was convicted of corruption charges and served 12 years in prison. During his incarceration, Layne claims he experienced a supernatural visit from God.

"This compelling story raises questions we'll consider at this program," said Lifetree representative Craig Cable. "Did God appear in an Ethiopian prison cell to Layne? Are such encounters real? If so, why doesn't God appear to anyone who asks him to do so?"

Admission to the 60-minute Lifetree Cafe event, where people gather for conversations about life and faith in a casual coffeehouse-type setting, is free.

Snacks and beverages are available.

Questions about Lifetree may be directed to 672-2873 or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/LifetreeCafeAtEPC

Tree sale order deadline Monday

The Northumberland County Conservation District's 43rd annual tree sale order deadline is Monday. Tree varieties being sold include evergreens, fruit trees, deciduous trees, ornamental trees and bushes. Along with a large variety of trees, spring flowers are also available.

Order forms are available by contacting the conservation district office at 495-4665 or at www.nccdpa.org. NCCD is also on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nccdpa.

Payment is due with the order; checks, money orders and credit cards are accepted.

Items are available for pick up April 24 and 25 at the Rockefeller Township Building, Seven Points Road, Sunbury.