Marriage licenses

Todd Richard Harvey Jr., of 41 N. Center St., Sunbury, to Erin L. Killian, of 1074 Shickshinny Valley Road, Shickshinny. Issued Thursday.

Steven Andrew Weikel to Amanda Rachel Mull, both of 515 Lincoln St., Northumberland. Issued Thursday.

Brian K. Weaver to Heather Constance Casto, both of 840 W. Spruce St., Coal Township, Issued Friday.

Anthony Wayne Mabus to Denise Shaffer, both of 115 Fifth St., Ranshaw. Issued Friday.

James Bryan Williams to Ashley Jo Martz, both of 475 S. Main St., Apt. 2, Herndon. Issued Saturday.

William D. Ramsey to Cheyenne Natascha Benfer, both of 131 Tower Road, Sunbury. Issued Saturday.

Property transfers

Naomi Hockenbrough, executrix, Frederick F. Hontz estate to Melody A. Latsha, property in Sunbury, $23,000.

Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., Daniel A. McGovern, agent, to Michael and Grace Young, property in Sunbury, $13,250.

Rhonda J. Fox, Ryan A. Shaffer to Rhonda J. Fox, property in Sunbury, $1.

Francis Devizia to Emmanuel Hleah, property in Mount Carmel, $1,250.

U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Michael G. Oleyar, trustee, Andrew M. Reed estate, Glenna Reed, Melvin C. Reed, administrator, to MRK Realty Inc., property in Mount Carmel, $115,000.

Christian A. and Lisa D. Rey to Nathan M. and April M. Morgan, property in Ralpho Township, $225,000.

John A. Zulick Jr., executor, Robert J. Zulick Sr. estate to Scott A. Wilson Jr., property in Coal Township, $42,900.

Joseph P. and Joanne M. Cardarelli to Stephen and Denise Mercaldo, property in Sunbury, $1.

I-Quadrant Properties LLC to Crazy Angels Housing LLC, property in Coal Township, $5,000.

Mark A. and Elizabeth Rosini to Michael E. Ramos, property in Shamokin, $12,750.

Jeremy N. and April M. Shaffer to Jeremy N. and April M. Shaffer, property in Lower Mahanoy Township, $1.

Kyle A. and Elizabeth Groff to Clayton L. Winters, Deborah A. Manfredonia, property in Jordan Township, $45,000.

Eric Humphrey to Lester J. and Lareno D. Neidig, property in Sunbury, $1.

James J. and Donna Marie McIntyre to Jessica L. Yakimowicz, property in Mount Carmel, $44,000.

Daniel A. and Arlene F. Moroz to Mark W. Moroz, property in Coal Township, $1.

Northumberland County Sheriff, Leroy C. Titus Jr. to Federal National Mortgage Association, property in Shamokin, $2,168.71.

Ryan N., Kim R., Lois E. Bordner to Codi J. Heath, Joseph C. Gaboff, property in Zerbe Township, $89,900.

Margaret M. Wasileski estate, Jeffrey M. Wasileski, executor, to Lura M. Wasileski, Keith M. Good, property in Mount Carmel, $1.

Regan J., Theresa M., Charles R., Sandra L. and Charles F. Rothermel to Amanda J. Rothermel, property in Zerbe Township, $1.

Christine M. and Raymond L. Griffith to Daniel J. and Adrianne D. Rowe, property in Ralpho Township, $35,950.

Randy L. and Valerie G. Snyder to Randy L. and Valerie J. Snyder, property in Jackson Township, $10.

Robert R. and Dorothy P. Whitmer to Wilford J. Haupt, property in Rockefeller Township, $65,000.

Joseph L. and Diane M. Sulouff to Susquehanna Bank, property in Rockefeller Township, $150,000.

Grand Teton LLC to Charles Bentz, property in Mount Carmel, $1,200.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau, Anna Statkewicz estate, Anna Startkewicz estate to Mount Carmel Borough, property in Mount Carmel, $1.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau, Daniel Boyd to Mount Carmel Borough, property in Mount Carmel, $1.

James S. and Wendy S. Cinque to Tod J. Hoffman, property in Lower Mahanoy Township, $56,000.

Mark D. Paul to Richard E. Hoagland, property in Sunbury, $1.

BWH Properties LLC to Andrelle Chavannes, property in Coal Township, $5,100.

Alan K. and Annette R. Pollock to Aaron E. Pollock, property in Kulpmont, $1.

Paul E. and Janet F. Raker to Kevin E. Raker, Penny L. Stamm, property in Upper Augusta Township, $1.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau, Thomas and Connie Schrader to Sharon L. Ragan, two properties in Shamokin, $100 each.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau, Anthony and Helen Siemasko to Katy Dunaway, property in Shamokin, $110.

Clara M. Weikel to Jared M. Holdren, property in Coal Township, $1.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau, Andrew J. Huber to Dalton Diotte, property in Mount Carmel, $203.

Northumberland County Tax Claim Bureau, Kevin Mains to Mount Carmel Borough, property in Mount Carmel, $1.

PHILADELPHIA - Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, 10th bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg, died unexpectedly Thursday, May 2, 2013, in Philadelphia, where he was attending a meeting of the Catholic Bishops of Pennsylvania.

Bishop McFadden was 65 years old, and served as the Bishop of Harrisburg since Aug. 18, 2010.

He was born in Philadelphia, May 22, 1947, a son of Thomas and Ellen (Griffin) McFadden. He was baptized at St. Rose of Lima Parish, and attended Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School and St. Thomas More High School, where he was class valedictorian.

In 1969, he graduated from St. Joseph University with a Bachelor of Science in political science.

As a freshman, he played on the college basketball team and during his remaining years in college, he coached boys basketball, first at St. Thomas More High School and then at West Catholic High School for Boys, where he joined the faculty after graduation. He also served as director of athletics for West Catholic and was a member of the Board of Directors for the Philadelphia Catholic League.

In 1976, he entered St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Overbrook, and graduated summa cum laude. He was ordained to the priesthood on May 16, 1981 by Cardinal John Krol of Philadelphia in the Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul.

His first assignment as a priest began in June 1981 as parochial vicar at St. Laurence Parish in Highland Park. The following year, he became administrative secretary to Cardinal Krol, a position he held until 1993. On May 29, 1991, he was named as honorary prelate to His Holiness Pope John Paul II with the title of monsignor.

In 1993, Cardinal Anthony Bevilacqua of Philadelphia appointed him as the first president of Cardinal O'Hara High School in Springfield where he worked to establish the school's innovative "Laptops for Learning" program.

In 2001, he was assigned as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Downingtown where he served until his appointment as auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia in June 2004. He was ordained to the episcopacy by Cardinal Justin Rigali of Philadelphia in the Cathedral Basilica of SS Peter and Paul July 28, 2004.

On June 22, 2010, Pope Benedict XVI appointed him the 10th bishop of Harrisburg. His installation took place Aug. 18, 2010, at St. Patrick Cathedral, Harrisburg.

Bishop McFadden was a strong advocate for Catholic education, and a tireless promoter of parents' rights to choose the education best suited for their children. He also embraced the use of technology in evangelization, and hosted countless web and video conferences with school students whereby he engaged them through catechesis, question-and-answer sessions and opportunities for prayer.

He served as a member of many organizations, including as president of the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference; chairman of the United States Bishops' Committee on Catholic Education, as well as their task force committee on Faith Formation and Sacramental Preparation. He served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Saint Vincent Seminary in Latrobe and in 2009, became the recipient of the first Shamrock Award presented by the Alumni of St. Thomas More and West Catholic high schools.

Surviving are a brother, John McFadden and his wife, Mary Jo; two sisters, Immaculate Heart of Mary Sister Jane McFadden and Ellen McConney and her husband, Patrick; eight nephews and nieces, and nine great-nephews and great-nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Ellen (Griffin) McFadden.

///

McFADDEN - Bishop Joseph P. McFadden, 65, 10th bishop of the Diocese of Harrisburg. His body will be received at St. Patrick Cathedral, 212 State St., Harrisburg, at 7 p.m. Sunday where he will lie in repose until Tuesday at 4 p.m. Solemn evening prayer will take place at St. Patrick Cathedral at 7 p.m. Monday. The Rite of Transfer of the Body will take place at 3 p.m. Tuesday at St. Patrick Cathedral and received at 4 p.m. at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 6150 Allentown Blvd., Harrisburg, with solemn evening prayer at 7 p.m. The solemn funeral Mass will be celebrated at Holy Name of Jesus Church at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday with a public viewing beginning at 9 a.m. Burial will be in the Bishops' Circle at Holy Cross Cemetery, 4075 Derry St., Harrisburg. Letters of Condolences may be sent to Ellen McConney, 458 Gateswood Drive, West Chester 19380. Contributions in the name of Bishop McFadden may be made to Catholic Education, Diocese of Harrisburg, 4800 Union Deposit Road, Harrisburg 17111.

ATLAS - A two-alarm fire that likely destroyed a West Girard Street apartment building Saturday is not considered suspicious.

Brian Hollenbush, Mount Carmel Township fire marshal, said the building at 101-103 W. Girard St. caught fire due to a faulty electrical outlet on the ground floor. He deemed the blaze an accident.

The four-story building is likely a total loss, he said, and its occupants were uninsured.

The fire was first reported shortly before 3:30 p.m. It was brought under control within the hour and the scene was cleared at 6:40 p.m.

Hollenbush credited all of the volunteers who responded to the scene, including Michael Minnig who assumed command upon arrival. Their efforts stopped the fire from spreading to neighboring 105-107 W. Girard St., where an alleyway just a few feet wide separates the structures. From that point west, the homes are situated like most in this part of the coal region, either barely separated or adjoined.

Many onlookers who gathered in the area could be overheard speculating on the cause, fearful the blaze would be suspicious. Some firefighters speculated just the same given recent events.

There have been three dubious fires in Atlas over the past week, all within five blocks or less of Saturday's blaze. It raised suspicions that the latest fire in this Mount Carmel Township village would be the fourth; however, that is not the case.

"The reality of it is it's electrical in nature. It's not suspicious," Hollenbush said. "You can see where the copper wire arced against

the (electrical) box."

Information on the occupants' identities was unavailable Saturday. Four men and a teenage boy identified at the scene as occupants were visibly distraught. Two were working with an American Red Cross volunteer to establish temporary housing. None cared to talk about what had unfolded.

While no one was injured in the fire, two pit bulls and a cat inside the building were killed.

Robert Fanella, chief of Natalie Fire Company, was driving north on Route 61 from Mount Carmel when he saw heavy smoke rising from the village. He swung his vehicle into Atlas, saw the building on fire and called 911.

"When I first got here I saw flames coming out the front window and the one on the side," Fanella said, pointing toward a pair of ground-floor windows, one on the building's West Girard Street side and another on the Mulberry Street side.

The flames were spreading up the exterior walls, charring a large portion of a second-floor porch.

As other firefighters arrived on scene, some coming from a brush fire that had ignited behind International Paper west of Mount Carmel, they banged on doors at 101-103 W. Girard and 105-107 W. Girard. No one was home at either building.

The first hoses were readied and firefighters began an interior attack. Two hoses were initially taken through a door on the ground floor at the front of the building and a second through a rear door on the second floor. Inside the ground floor, everything was black. "I couldn't see anything," Fanella said.

More firefighters converged on the scene and took to fighting the fire from inside out, dousing flames with water and ventilating the structure on all four floors. Others climbed Anthracite Fire Company's ladder truck and took to the roof to ventilate the building using saws and claw tools.

The home was in ruins after it was over, water dribbling from beneath siding and from the roof, streaking away black residue that collected from the smoke. Almost every window was busted out. Siding was melted away. Interior walls were torn apart. The fire was extinguished and further disaster averted, but not before causing devastation to the building in which it originated.

Responding to the scene were members of fire companies from Atlas, Strong, Beaverdale, Natalie, Wilburton, Mount Carmel, Kulpmont, Englewood, Shamokin, Coal Township and Sunbury. AREA Services ambulance personnel were also on scene.

Assistance at Masser's office

ELYSBURG - State Rep. Kurt Masser, R-107, announced that Belinda Albright from the Northumberland County Veterans Affairs office, and a representative from Congressman Lou Barletta's office will be available in his Elysburg district office to assist area residents.

A member of Barletta's staff will be at Masser's district office at 467 Industrial Park Road from 2 to 4 p.m. Monday to assist residents with any federal issues. A staff member from the congressman's office is scheduled to be in Masser's office on the first Monday of every month.

Albright will be in the district office from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 15. She is scheduled to be in the district office the third Wednesday of each month to assist area veterans.

For more information call 648-8017.

Community Day in Mt. Carmel

MOUNT CARMEL - The borough police department is sponsoring its first Police Community Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 18, in town park. It occurs during National Police Memorial Week.

The family-oriented event will include K9 unit demonstrations, child fingerprinting, residential document shredding, various safety organizations providing information and give-aways, games, music, food and more. Also scheduled is a brief memorial service to honor Officer Peter Kozlowski of the Mount Carmel Borough Police Department, who was killed in the line of duty Aug. 9, 1921.

A gift basket auction during the event will help fund the activities. Organizers are seeking support from the community through either a donation of a gift basket of new items for the auction or a monetary donation to fund a basket. Donations are needed no later than Wednesday, May 15, but commitments are encouraged as soon as possible so they can plan accordingly.

Write to MCPDFans@gmail.com or call 610-842-7348 for more information. Baskets or donations may be dropped off during normal business hours at the Mount Carmel Borough Manager's office, 137 W. Fourth St.

Shamokin Area is the winner in the high school division of the EconomicsPennsylvania Stock Market Game, and Mount Carmel Area was the victor in the middle school division. The winners were determined by the results of the 10th and last week of the competition.

The Shamokin Area High School team adviser is David Kopitsky. Aaron Domanski advises the winning Mount Carmel Area middle school team.

Mount Carmel Area, advised by Robert Scicchitano, finished second in the high school division. Line Mountain, advised by Karrie Bowman, was third.

In the middle school division, Shamokin Area, advised by Stephen Keller, was second, and a team from Our Lady of Lourdes Regional School, which is advised by Katrina Gownley, was third.

The Stock Market Game is sponsored by The News-Item and Sunbury Motors. The Stock Market game is an award-winning educational program in which students are given a virtual cash amount of $100,000 and are encouraged to create the best performance portfolio using a live trading simulation. Students work in teams.

(While there are multiple teams taking part in the game at each participating school, Economics Pennsylvania reported the dollar amount for the leading team at each school for the weekly reports.)

COAL TOWNSHIP - A 76-year-old Coal Township man suffered minor injuries to his face Saturday after he rear-ended a charter bus stopped at a red light along Route 61 at the entrance to BRL Grocery Outlet.

Joseph G. Dorko, 76, of 905 W. Arch St., was treated at Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital and released.

No one else was injured in the crash.

Ronald Costella was driving the King Coal bus, a 2005 MCI, which had nine passengers aboard. He had just made his first stop on a tour bound for Peddler's Village in Lahaska, Bucks County, where a strawberry festival was being held.

"I was stopped and we were chatting and all of a sudden it hit us from behind," said Costella, 55, of 2 W. 14th St., Danville.

The crash occurred shortly after 7 a.m. in the right lane of southbound Route 61. A low-rising sun in the east hampered visibility for southbound motorists.

The impact was strong enough to deploy the air bags in Dorko's 2004 Buick LeSabre and wedge its front end beneath the bus's rear bumper, popping the hood and crinkling it inward and causing significant damage to the vehicle's engine.

Both lanes of Route 61 south were closed as emergency responders cleaned up fuel and debris, and as Dorko's car was loaded onto a wrecker. Traffic was diverted into the adjacent parking lot and rerouted to the state highway, which reopened about 8 a.m.

King Coal sent a second bus to continue the trip south. The damaged bus was driven from the scene.

Assisting Detective Jeffrey Brennan at the scene were members of East End and Brady fire companies, Coal Township Rescue, Coal Township Fire Police and AREA Services.

After carefully observing activities in the area over the last few months, I felt compelled as president of the Brush Valley Regional Chamber of Commerce to reach out to the residents of the area to talk about progress and what it can mean for our region.

Progress can come in all forms - whether it is new lighting in the downtown, blighted buildings being torn down, community gardens being established, rail and other transportation services that are enhanced, and groups that have volunteered to do cleanups.

Let me ask you a few questions. You live in this area for a reason, correct? Either your family was here and you remained, you moved here for a job, or you wanted to find a nice community in which to raise your family. Are you proud of the area in which you live? Do you know what the perception is of the coal region?

I will say this, with a sputtering economy, our region can ill afford to overlook any opportunities for enhancement or progress.

If we take a look at one area - Shamokin's downtown, for example - a new streetlight project partnering of the city with PPL may not be the answer to all the downtown woes, but it is a step in the right direction.

The cleanups need to continue, whether downtown or in other areas. The chamber would like to put an emphasis on the Shop Local Campaign this year, which will help to highlight our downtown and other local merchants. Many groups have worked tirelessly over the last year to prepare for this year's Anthracite Heritage Festival and parade, and other events to be held throughout the year.

My goal is simple but challenging, I want to look for any and all partnerships that can help us improve and enhance the area as a whole. Trusted and respected groups need to overlook differences and come together to make change happen, share resources and to support one another. Did you know that members of the Mount Carmel Township Supervisors office recently signed a petition for Shamokin City to provide more decorative lighting in its downtown. Why, you ask? Because if we work to improve one area it helps the region as a whole.

Don't take a backseat. Get involved in your city or township government. Attend their meetings and find out what is going on. Change takes time, but it also takes manpower.

Any and all help is appreciated.

The following landlord/tenant claims and judgments were filed in magisterial district court:

Office of John Gembic III, Shamokin

- Robert Hess, of Danville, awarded $1,403.63 on Thursday in unpaid rent and court fees from Daniel Fisher, of Shamokin.

- Bressi and Martin Real Estate Inc., Shamokin, awarded $1,003.65 on Wednesday in unpaid rent and court fees from Jonathan Morgante, of Mount Carmel.

- Joseph Meneghin, of Toms River, N.J., against Ryan Howell, of Shamokin, for $350, filed April 30. A hearing is scheduled for Thursday.

- Harvey Green, of Kulpmont, awarded $3,695.84 on April 22 in unpaid rent and court fees from Curtis and Maria Lahr, of Coal Township.

- Cory T. Paczkoskie, of Sunbury, awarded $2,410.63 on April 22 in unpaid rent and court fees from Wendy Thorpe and Oscar Keller, both of Shamokin.