DIAMONDTOWN - One of two Mount Carmel teens injured in a dirt-bike accident underneath the Viaduct Monday evening remained hospitalized Tuesday.

A 15-year-old male was listed in fair condition at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, according to a nursing supervisor. A female passenger, also 15, was taken to Geisinger Monday as well, but was discharged a few hours later, the supervisor reported.

The accident occurred about 6:55 p.m. when the bike was moving at an excessive speed just north of Railroad Avenue and the driver lost control, Mount Carmel Township Police Chief Brian Hollenbush said Tuesday.

The boy was thrown over the handlebars while the girl was ejected off to the side.

The driver was transported by AREA Services to the Mount Carmel Area Junior-Senior High School, from where he was transported by LifeFlight helicopter to the hospital. The passenger was transported to Danville by an AREA Services ambulance.

Township Patrolman David Stamets is the investigating officer, and Hollenbush said there may be citations filed.

Other responding units were Mount Carmel Fire Department, Mount Carmel Rescue Squad and Mount Carmel Borough police.

WILLIAMSPORT - The federal lawsuit against Northumberland County and Commissioners Vinny Clausi and Stephen Bridy on a Sunshine Law violation should continue, a U.S. Magistrate Judge recommended Monday.

The 20-page opinion from Judge Martin C. Carlson said the motion made by the defendants to dismiss an amended complaint by plaintiff David Kaleta, of Shamokin, who filed a lawsuit over issues related to the county's Anthracite Outdoor Adventure Area (AOAA), be denied.

In their motion to dismiss, the county's attorneys said that although a state court has already found that Kaleta is likely to prevail on the merits of his claims, the amended complaint "nevertheless actually fails to state a claim upon which relief can be granted." Carlson disagreed and found that Kaleta has adequately pleaded claims for relief under both the Sunshine Act and the First Amendment.

The judge wrote in his opinion that what the defendants are attempting to do "is move the court to enter summary judgment in its favor rather than arguing that dismissal is appropriate on the amended complaint itself.

"In this regard, we note that the defendants rely almost exclusively on evidence that was taken before the state court during a hearing held on the plaintiff's motion for a preliminary injunction on which the plaintiff actually prevailed; but now, before this court, the defendants argue that the same evidence taken by the state court should actually result in the preliminary dismissal of the plaintiff's claims."

The recommendation states that the issue of granting summary judgement in favor of the county should not be heard at this time.

He said the motion to dismiss was focused on the alleged insufficiency of the amended complaint, "but they offer nothing to show that the allegations themselves are inadequate."

Kaleta, who has been critical of the county plans to build the 6,500-acre recreational area on forest and abandoned coal lands in Coal, East Cameron, Mount Carmel, West Cameron and Zerbe townships, was informed in a Sept. 10 letter from county planning director Pat Mack that his request to use the land for hunting and walking his dog had been denied after consideration by "two of three members of the board of commissioners," later determined to be Bridy and Clausi.

Kaleta, claiming the discussion to deny his permit is a violation of the Sunshine Act, won a preliminary injunction in Northumberland County Court.

With Kaleta alleging a violation of his First Amendment rights, the case was moved to federal court.

Carlson relates in his report that if the court adopts Monday's recommendation to dismiss the county's motion, neither side would be kept from filing additional motions based on relevant evidence found during discovery, to give the court more information as to whether a trial is needed.

The report marks the third filing in the case in the past seven days. On Monday, Carlson denied a motion by Clausi and Bridy that sought to have Kaleta's attorneys, Kymberley Best and Timothy Bowers, disqualified because they dealt with administration and legal issues related to the AOAA during their time as Northumberland County employees. Carlson said Best and Bowers' prior representation of the county had little to do with issues in Kaleta's suit.

On Thursday, the judge threw out a protective order asked for by Kaleta to keep audio recordings of past Northumberland County commissioners meeting, after the plaintiff had been directed to file a brief in support of his motion by April 18. Since the time to file the court documents passed, Carlson withdrew and dismissed the motion.

BELLEFONTE - Scott J. Binsack was released Monday from the State Correctional Institution-Rockview after spending six months there on charges he violated parole, said Sherry Tate, director of the Office of Policy, Legislative Affairs and Communications for the Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole (PBPP).

Upon release, Binsack had to report to a community corrections residency to undergo mental health treatment, but Tate said the location of that facility and the amount of time he spends there is confidential due to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) regulations.

Those centers can be owned and operated by the state Department of Corrections or contracted to a private operator, Tate said. They are designed to help those who have been incarcerated adjust to life outside prison and to offer addiction and mental health treatment, and released prisoners usually spend no more than 90 days reporting to one of these centers, she said.

PBPP ruled following a violation hearing on Dec. 13 that Binsack must spend "six months of back time" in jail for three parole violations: leaving the district without permission, changing residence without permission and failing to report as instructed.

Binsack, a former Clarks Summit homebuilder, became a household name in the Shamokin area in a matter of months starting in August when he presented a $13 million investment plan to Shamokin City Council. When his criminal history dating to 1999 from New York state and Lackawanna and Monroe counties became public knowledge locally, his involvement in the financial undertaking, which centered on renovation and construction of local homes and businesses, drew the attention of Pennsylvania securities officials. Binsack has faced charges over the years including bad checks, harassment, insurance fraud and theft.

He went on the offensive and took the fight to the Internet. On Facebook and YouTube, Binsack and business associate Steven Crone created what they called America's hottest new reality show - "Something's Smokin' in Shamokin" - where they used the World Wide Web as their soapbox, promising to expose corruption in Shamokin.

In late October, Binsack failed to show for a scheduled meeting with a PBPP hearing officer and fled the state. Binsack, who continued to post taunting messages to law enforcement on the Internet while on the lam, was considered a parole absconder for a month before he was found Nov. 20 by U.S. Marshals in a motel room in Bath, N.Y., a location he called "Narnia" in his online posts.

On the day he was captured in New York, Binsack's attorney filed a civil lawsuit on his behalf against six Shamokin officials, including two councilmen and the police chief, and two PBPP employees, claiming his constitutional rights to free speech, assembly, due process and liberty had been violated, that his ability to develop real estate opportunities was "seriously damaged," that his "good name, reputation, honor and integrity" were injured, and that he has suffered emotional distress.

The defendants have all asked the court to dismiss the suit, and Binsack's lawyer sought and was given the court's permission to withdraw from the case.

Binsack asked a federal judge in April for a temporary stay in the lawsuit because he said he was unable to access his evidence while in jail.

SHAMOKIN - The city man whose alleged threats led police to shut down a part of Market Street and keep nearby restaurant patrons inside waived various charges to court Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III. Joseph Menapace, 59, of 12 N. Market St., Apt. 12-1-B, was ordered to appear for plea court June 3 in Northumberland County Court, Sunbury, where he can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.

He is charged with recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment involving an April 30 standoff at his apartment building, in which he allegedly assaulted his wife and threatened to kill her, police and himself.

The charges were filed by Shamokin Patrolman William Zalinski.

Following the 8:30 p.m. disturbance that locked down the area for about 40 minutes, Menapace was taken into custody and later transported by AREA Services Ambulance to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, for evaluation.

Sometime the next morning, Menapace was released from the hospital and called his wife, Lucinda Menapace, whom he allegedly assaulted the night before, for a ride home.

Police said Lucinda Menapace refused to give her husband a ride; however, he showed up at their apartment shortly after 9 a.m. and began banging on the door, demanding his wallet. Mrs. Menapace summoned police and her husband was once again taken into custody at approximately 9:30 a.m. by several officers, police reported.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The iconic "Golden Arches" of a local McDonald's restaurant have a fresh and modern look and the restaurant will celebrate with the public Thursday and Friday.

While McDonald's revamps its restaurants across the country, the Shamokin McDonald's will unveil its redesign during a grand re-opening celebration. The restaurant is located on Route 61 near Springfield.

"We're changing with the times, and we never stop looking for ways to improve," said Roland Kissinger, owner/operator of six restaurants in the area, including Elysburg and Frackville, which have also undergone redesigns in the past two years. "This new McDonald's speaks to the needs of our customers and our community. We want our customers to enjoy every part of the McDonald's experience."

Modern exterior design changes at the Route 61 location include a new entrance and a clearly identifiable double-lane drive-thru for enhanced, on-the-go service.

Updated lighting fixtures and modern seating and furniture, including booths, chairs, high-seated community tables and lounge-style seating areas, were part of the upgrades.

Kissinger said a new order-taking system, "dual point service," will be installed, the first for any local McDonald's. The closest such system is in Williamsport.

Employees at the register will take the orders and that will be their dedicated job, thus enabling them to have more interaction with customers.

Other workers will fill the order and a screen above the order counter will tell customers when their food is ready and can be retrieved at a second location at the counter.

GCM Contractors, Mount Joy, did the remodeling work.

Ribbon cutting Thursday

To celebrate the grand opening of the Shamokin location, the official ribbon cutting will take place at 9 a.m. Thursday. Donations will be made to the Brady Fire Company, The Northumberland County Council for the Arts, Shamokin Area High School and the Soldiers Circle Veterans Association. Customers will enjoy free cake; product samples, including the new Egg White Delight Breakfast Sandwich, Premium Chicken McWrap Sandwich, and Blueberry Pomegranate Smoothie; entertainment by the Shamokin Area High School chorus and band, and get a look at a McDonald's farm table complete with nutrition information. The popular McDonaldland character Grimace will also be on hand.

Festivities continue from 4 to 6 p.m. Friday with DJ E-Dub from Variety 97.7, kicking things off with the famous "Big Macs for a Year" giveaway.

The first 97 customers at the restaurant beginning at 4 p.m. Friday will get a certificate good for one Big Mac a week for an entire year.

Ronald McDonald will appear from 4:30 to 6 p.m. Friday with a free magic show and all Happy Meals will be specially priced at $1.99.

There will also be a free "Make and Take" Mother's Day craft for all children 10 and under while supplies last.

From 5 to 6 p.m., the Gear Grinders Car Club will host a cruise-in with classic and antique cars on display.

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Joe Mannion, a Mount Carmel native who followed an award-winning career as a broadcaster by becoming Pasco County's first full-time lobbyist, passed away on Sunday, April 21, at his Clearwater home. He was 78.

Mannion suffered from kidney cancer that had metastasized, his family said.

Blessed with a deep, resonant voice and soothing demeanor, Mannion won others over with a concise command of issues. Tampa Bay residents in the 1980s will remember his 60-second editorials on spending, public health, accountability for politicians or environmental issues that ended with his trademark, "That's what we think. Write and tell us what you think."

In 21 years as an anchor, news director and director of editorials at WFLA-Ch. 8, he doubled the size of the newsroom and won two Emmy awards. The station fired him in a 1987 shakeup. Two months later, Pasco Administrator John Gallagher hired him over 100 other applicants, many of whom had more legislative experience, deeper ties in Pasco or advanced degrees.

"We were extremely fortunate to have a man of that caliber work for Pasco County in Tallahassee," Gallagher said.

Mannion retired in 2009 amid praise for using his connections and skill to champion the agenda of a fast-growing but overlooked county in Tampa Bay.

"He was a knowledge-based lobbyist; by that I mean he knew the issues," said former Gov. Bob Martinez. "He had a lot of stature with members of the House and the Senate, and he informed the county when things were being considered that would be detrimental."

When he wasn't walking miles each day down the marble halls of the state Capitol, Mannion worked part time as communications director for the Diocese of St. Petersburg. The job kept him in touch with years of training toward the priesthood, his original calling.

Born in Mount Carmel

Joseph Edward Mannion was born in 1935 in Mount Carmel, Pa., a coal-mining town. He attended Catholic schools, earning a bachelor's degree from St. Charles College and a license in sacred theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome.

Because he had planned to become a priest, he did not date in high school or college. In his early 20s, without a woman on the horizon, he decided he nonetheless wanted to be married someday. He left training for the priesthood and taught high school in Washington, D.C.

As a teacher, Mannion was tapped to run a local educational television show about citizenship. That work brought him into the Capitol building, where he met Elizabeth Roth, who worked in media relations for the U.S. Senate.

"When I first saw him, I thought he was beautiful," said Elizabeth Mannion, 75, his wife since 1964. They had four sons.

In 1966, WFLA-Ch. 8 hired Mr. Mannion away from a broadcasting job in High Point, N.C. He started as a weekend anchor. In 1975, he replaced Bill Henry as news director.

He made a number of groundbreaking moves for the time, including hiring women and African-American news anchors. His push for a news helicopter meant that Ch. 8 had a bird's-eye view of the 1980 Sunshine Skyway bridge collapse. The work led to an Emmy award for breaking news.

Mannion took over as director of editorials and won another Emmy in 1983.

After losing his job to cutbacks in 1987, he interviewed for the new lobbyist position with Pasco County. His work helped secure grants for utility and recycling issues, established a state veterans nursing home in Land O'Lakes and pushed for state help in managing growth.

"He was a great friend and mentor to me through much of my legislative career," said state Rep. Mike Fasano. "He had that tremendous communication skill in being able to calm the situation down, to deal with the situation in a calming way."

Mannion retired from the Diocese of St. Petersburg in 1997. But his affinity for listening and offering concise feedback earned him a nickname in Fasano's offices: Father Joe.

"He would come in here with that great presence and that deep voice," Fasano said. "We'd say, 'Father Joe is here, we'd better pay attention.'"

In addition to his wife, Elizabeth, he was survived by four sons, Joseph, Thomas, Robert and John Mannion; a brother, the Rev. Thomas Marrion, who serves as pastor of Our Lady of Mercy Church, Catawissa, Pa., and three grandchildren.

MILLERSBURG - A ceremony next week will mark the start of a new Colonnade Theater in this Dauphin County borough.

The theater at 257 Center St., which opened in 1919 and closed in 2000, was donated to the Twin Valley Players TVP in 2008 by Marvin and Doris Troutman, owners of the Cinema Center theater chain.

TVP plans to conduct a ground breaking for the "new Colonnade Theatre" at 2 p.m. Thursday, May 16. The new Colonnade will host a mix of recent release films and classic, live performances and educational programs, TVP reports.

Grants, including $750,000 from the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital fund, plus $950,000 in loans through Integrity Bank, is allowing the existing building to be demolished and the new state-of-the-art structure built, according to TVP.

The group formed in 1970 to promote the dramatic arts. TVP offers an annual summer musical, an annual children's theater camp and a year-round performing "Roadshow" and is a partner of the Ned Smith Center Arts and Entertainment Series. The group also funds annual scholarships and contributes financially to local and national charitable organizations.

RUSH TOWNSHIP - Twenty-seven teens have been cited by state police at Stonington for underage drinking in connection with a post-prom party Sunday morning.

The party at the property of Joe and Maria Harris, 118 Elysburg Road, was busted at about 5:30 a.m. Hanna C. Harris, 18, of the same address, was among the teens cited for underage drinking.

One girl reportedly was hospitalized due to an alcohol overdose, with a blood-alcohol content of more than .30 percent, according to a report in The Daily Item.

The Danville Area Junior-Senior High School prom was held Friday. The district doesn't sponsor a post-prom event.

Also cited were Jared A. Daku, 19, of 70 Bennett Road, Danville; Matthew P. McConnell, 19, of 10 Red Oak Drive, Danville; Donie Ann Keeley, 18, of 22 Landau Road, Danville; Lauren N. Roth, 18, of 4 Erin Drive, Danville; Michael J. Vitale, 18, of 43 Alton St., Danville; Ian J. Metzer, 18, of 142 E. Diehl Road, Danville; Cale D. Rice, 18, of 341 Jerseytown Road, Danville; Alyssa A. Shaw, 18, of 440 Elysburg Road, Danville; Michael J. McCormick, 18, of 2105 Sunny Lane, Riverside; James T. Mullen, 18, of 200 Cooper St., Danville; Jessica T. Paugh, 18, of 107 Valley View Road, Danville; Maxwell D. Wright, 18, of 39 Alton St., Danville; Thomas B. Berg, 18, of 28 Valley Green Drive, Danville; Kiersten T. Zerbe, 19, of 2 Fairfield Lane, Danville; Robert J. Seebold, 18, of 5 Breezy Court, Danville; Evan A. Willard, 18, of 390 Columbia Hill Road, Danville; a 16-year-old female; a 16-year-old male; six 17-year-old males; a 17-year-old female, and a 15-year-old female.

SHAMOKIN - A Shamokin resident who witnessed a drug deal take place in broad daylight on Market Street said it's becoming a common occurrence.

"I was shocked and very disturbed to see this happening, and they knew I was watching," said the resident in an anonymous letter to The News-Item.

The person said neighbors have seen vehicles pulling in and the occupants of the house running out, exchanging something at the driver's side window and the car then leaving.

Shamokin City Police Chief Edward Griffiths said Tuesday it's a bit perplexing that someone would inform the newspaper rather than his department, but the brazen activity doesn't surprise him.

"If someone needs money bad enough, they will do whatever it takes," Griffiths said.

The Market Street incident wasn't the only one last week in which a drug deal was witnessed by neighbors. There was a similar occurrence in the Academy Hill section of the city. In that case, police were notified.

Griffiths said that's what should happen.

"Anyone with any information can either call the police station or the county's 911 center at their non-emergency number, 988-4539, and ask to speak with an officer," Griffiths said. "They will call back; no information is too small."

Griffiths said it was a tip from the public, in fact, that helped police capture Terrance Giddings, of Philadelphia, and arrest him on drug charges last month. More charges were filed against him and three Shamokin residents on Monday.

Griffiths gave credit to Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano for his work on the case.

"Bryan is a bloodhound when it comes to that stuff," the chief said. "We also have the resources of the Northumberland-Montour Drug Task Force, the state Attorney General's office, county District Attorney Tony Rosini and coroner Jim Kelley to assist in our investigation."

DA hotline

Since the mid-1990s, Rosini has maintained a hotline for residents to call and anonymously give information on suspected drug activity. The number is 1-800-DRUG-TIP (378-4847).

He said the hotline gets regular calls and has resulted in several arrests.

"There are many times that the information that someone calls in is the vital piece of the puzzle that police need to make an arrest," Rosini said. "Everything that gets called in is investigated."

Tough on drugs

Northumberland County's efforts to combat the drug problem are becoming well-known, Griffiths said.

"Even the arrest we just made, the gentleman from Philadelphia, said he knew that we were tough on drug dealers here," Griffiths said. "In the past, they saw a small town and think we were Andy and Barney from Mayberry, but the word is getting around."

Still, that reputation doesn't mean law enforcement does not need the public's help.

"Our eyes can't be everywhere," the chief said. "Even something small, like a hunch someone has, or a license plate number, could be something significant."

Rosini added, "If we all pitch in and help out, we can make our community a better place to live."

Free skin cancer screenings offered

DANVILLE - Geisinger Health System will offer free melanoma screening days for patients - with free sunscreen samples available to participants - at select clinics. Appointments are recommended.

The screenings will be held:

Saturday, 1 to 3 p.m., Geisinger-State College (Gray's Woods).

Wednesday, 1 to 4 p.m., Geisinger Wyoming Valley-Outpatient Specialty Center, 675 Baltimore Drive, Wilkes-Barre.

Friday, May 17, 1 to 4 p.m., Geisinger-Susquehanna University, 514 University Ave., Selinsgrove.

Thursday, May 23, 1 to 4 p.m., Geisinger-Bloomsburg, 2407 Reichart Road, Bloomsburg.

Thursday, May 23, 1 to 4 p.m., Geisinger-Shamokin Area Community Hospital, 4200 Hospital Road, Coal Township.

Domestic violence to be discussed

ELYSBURG - The cycle of domestic violence will be discussed at Lifetree Cafe from 7 to 8 p.m. Sunday at Elysburg Presbyterian Church, 320 W. Valley Ave.

"When Love Hurts: Ending the Cycle of Domestic Violence," provides practical strategies for removing those suffering domestic violence from their abusive situations.

Lifetree representative Craig Cable said one in four women experiences domestic abuse, and one in nine men is a victim of abuse.

"There is help and hope. Both women and men can survive domestic violence," said Lifetree representative Craig Cable.

Admission to the 60-minute event is free. Snacks and beverages are available.

Lifetree Cafe is a place where people gather for conversation about life and faith in a casual coffeehouse-type setting. For more information, call 672-2873 or go to www.facebook.com/LifetreeCafeAtEPC.

DERRY TOWNSHIP - A 74-year-old Milton man died from cardiac arrest Tuesday about an hour after his vehicle exited Strawberry Ridge Road and sheered off a utility pole in this Montour County township.

State police at Milton reported James William was pronounced dead at about 5:15 p.m. at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville after being injured in a 4:15 p.m. accident, approximately one-half mile north of Gray Road near Washingtonville.

Police said William was driving north on Strawberry Ridge Road when his vehicle traveled across the southbound lane, went into a ditch off the west side of the road and sheered off a utility pole before coming to rest in the ditch.

William was extricated from his vehicle by Valley Township firefighters, who found him unresponsive. William was transported by Danville Ambulance to Geisinger, where he died from cardiac arrest. Police said William suffered a heart attack while operating his vehicle, which resulted in the accident.

William's vehicle sustained heavy front-end damage and was towed from the scene by Central Towing.

DANVILLE - Geisinger Health System announces plans to conduct a study into the use of mental health services during the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy in the coastal New Jersey counties of Monmouth and Ocean.

"Hurricane Sandy offers a unique opportunity to study the impact of a large-scale natural disaster in a major shore community," said Dr. Joseph Boscarino, MPH, senior investigator, Center for Health Research, Geisinger Health System, and lead investigator on the study. "Through this study, we hope to gain a better understanding of how mental health services were used and their outcomes, so that the providers of those services can be prepared in the future."

The study will be conducted through telephone surveys of community residents, who will be questioned about the extent to which they were impacted by the disaster, their health status before the disaster and whether they have experienced any mental health impacts as a result of the disaster, such as anxiety, depression, panic attacks or post-traumatic stress disorder.

The study seeks to provide healthcare providers with a community needs assessment and clinical screening tools that can be utilized in future community disasters.

This study builds on Boscarino's research efforts over the past decade, a body of research that has sought to understand the availability and outcomes of community-based mental health services following exposure to community disasters and other traumatic events. Specifically, the study will build upon Boscarino's research conducted in New York City following the Sept. 11, 2001, World Trade Center attacks, which found that while the use of mental health services did not increase substantially in the 12 months following terror attacks, it did increase 24 months afterwards.

This research also suggested that brief, emergency mental health services immediately after trauma exposure were associated with better mental health outcomes up to two years after a World Trade Center disaster. Boscarino's research team is also studying the impact warzone deployment and psychological stress among returning war veterans at Geisinger.

Boscarino plans to have the study completed in May, with results available the following month.

"Events like Hurricane Sandy can be devastating for the residents who are affected," Boscarino said. "The goal here is to understand what happened, learn from it and be prepared moving forward, as hurricane season will be starting again, very soon."

Hurricane Sandy devastated portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States during late October 2012. Preliminary estimates assess damage at nearly $50 billion, according to the National Hurricane Center, which would make it the second-costliest Atlantic hurricane, behind only Hurricane Katrina. Hurricane Sandy caused 72 deaths and destroyed more than 650,000 U.S. homes.

SUNBURY - Northumberland County Prison employees may soon be subjected to searches before their shifts while county officials scramble to address allegations that drugs have been brought into the facility.

At Wednesday's meeting of the prison board, members unanimously approved the search of employees pending a meeting with the union and review of the policy by the solicitor.

"Then, if we find anyone in the prison with drugs, the supervisor should go because leadership sucks," county Commissioner Vinny Clausi said.

Warden Roy Johnson, who did not respond to the statement at the meeting, said later he didn't hear Clausi's comment.

"I don't take anything personal. It's a profession. I practice my profession to the best of my ability and I bring integrity into it," he said.

There are six supervisors for a staff of nearly 70 employees at the prison, and Johnson said he has never hesitated to discipline, suspend of terminate the supervisors in his four years of employment.

Furthermore, he said, despite a search, it would still be difficult to find some types of contraband on a person due to the small size of certain packages.

In the last month, several incidents reportedly related to drugs, policy violations and mistreatment of prisoners have resulted in three employees being fired and one resigning. It has prompted Clausi to renew his call for staff to "clean up their act" and go public with allegations of staff misconduct.

Human Resource Director Joseph Picarelli advised the board to meet with union representatives to discuss the pre-shift searches. If not, he said, a grievance could be filed.

Warden Roy Johnson explained the prison code of ethics is not necessarily enough to begin searching employees immediately, since it only addresses being subjected to searches at the end of shifts.

Random locker searches and random drug testing are also part of prison policy, he noted.

Johnson said an additional four employees resigned from the prison in April and two more were disciplined.

The motion to approve the searches pending the further steps was made and seconded by Clausi and District Attorney Tony Rosini. It passed unanimously 7-0.

The board also met in a 20-minute executive session to discuss a specific past employee terminations, but no action has been taken on that discussion.

New prison

The board also unanimously voted to invite the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) to spend two days reviewing prison policies, procedures, practices, medical services and facilities.

The goal is to have NIC make a recommendation to the prison board in relation to the construction of a new prison, said county Commissioner Stephen Bridy, also board chairman.

It will not cost any money to ask the organization to give its recommendation, which would not be binding, he said.

Prison board members have been discussing moving forward with plans to construct a new prison, although some have expressed concern about moving as quickly as Clausi would like to.

County Commissioner Richard Shoch said it was a good first step to get an independent agency involved.

President Judge Robert Sacavage said NIC made some reasonable recommendations more than 10 years ago that were implemented.

"We have set a plan in motion; this is the closest we have ever been," he said.

Clausi also suggested moving forward on a pre-release center, which would help control prison population and generate funds for the county since inmates who work stay there and pay to use the facilities.

Other board members agreed it was a good idea, but said it was better for the professional engineers to include such a facility in the overall plan for the prison's future.

Snyder County Commissioner Malcolm Derk, who explained he was sent by his county's prison board to attend Wednesday's meeting, said he was gathering information about Northumberland County's plans to build a new prison.

"It's important to work together. That's why I'm here: to evaluate all the options," he said to the board.

Bridy called Derk's attendance an "olive branch" and expressed his desire to meet with Derk to discuss the pending plans.

PrimeCare issues

Clausi also questioned representatives of PrimeCare Medical Inc. about cases of MRSA in the prison that were reported to him from three guards when the commissioner visited the prison Tuesday.

Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which is common in prisons, hospitals and nursing homes, is an infection with a specific type of bacteria. MRSA is different from a regular staph infection in that the bacteria are impervious to the effects of antibiotics like penicillin and methicillin. Thus, once a diagnosis has been confirmed, additional tests are needed to determine what antibiotics may be useful in treating the disease.

MRSA was once primarily confined to health care settings; however, it is now common in the community at large, making the disease a serious concern for public health officials.

There were several MRSA cases at the prison in March.

Denise Jemiola, regional manager for PrimeCare, said three inmates were isolated Tuesday, but two of them were cleared of having MRSA and the third was isolated for another reason not related to MRSA.

Johnson said guards often inaccurately assume isolated prisoners who have medical problems are being separated from the general population due to MRSA.

MOUNT CARMEL - Mount Carmel Eagles Club announced that the speaker for its annual Mother of the Year awards ceremony will be Thomas Swaldi. The ceremony will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The Fraternal Order of Eagles has been credited with lobbying Congress in the early part of the 20th century to establish an annual day of recognition for mothers.

Swaldi, a 1988 graduate of Mount Carmel Area High School, and his wife, Lori, are doctors of physical therapy and licensed physical therapists since 1996. In June 2003, they opened Star Physical Therapy and Fitness Center, a 5000-square-foot facility in Marion Heights.

Also, Thomas Swaldi is a certified athletic trainer and a certified strength and conditioning specialist who provides sports medicine services to Mount Carmel and Shamokin Area high schools.

Aerie members are invited to attend the ceremony. A buffet dinner will be served after the awards ceremony.

WILLIAMSPORT - Three gang members with ties to the Shamokin and Mount Carmel areas pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to conspiring to sell crack cocaine and heroin.

Each face a minimum of five years imprisonment and four years supervised release at sentencing, scheduled for Aug. 19.

A plea agreement was signed April 30 by Renard Durant, 27, of Bloomsburg, Shelton Cochrane II, 37, of Mount Carmel, and Gilberto Lanzot Jr., 32, of Wilkes-Barre.

George J. Rocktashel of the U.S. Attorney's Office of the Middle District of Pennsylvania intends to seek the dismissal of additional counts against the three as part of the plea agreement.

The trio and a fourth conspirator, Jeffrey Tripp, 27, of Kulpmont, confessed to working to sell 3.5 ounces of heroin and 3.9 ounces of crack cocaine as members of the Pennsylvania branch of a street gang named Almighty Renegade Gangsta Bloods.

Durant led the branch and Cochrane, Lanzot and Tripp were among between its 10 and 15 members, prosecutors say.

Cash and guns were traded to buy drugs in the Hazleton area of Luzerne County as well as New York and New Jersey. Drugs, guns, cash and gang literature - writings on oaths, bylaws, alliances and gang hierarchy - were all stored at various locations, including at unidentified homes in Shamokin and Mount Carmel as well as at Tripp's former residence at 943 Chestnut St., Kulpmont, and Durant's at 567 W. Main St., Bloomsburg, according to court records.

The group sold the drugs in Northumberland and Columbia counties beginning around July 2011 through their arrest in June 2012.

Durant and Tripp were indicted by a grand jury in June 2012 on charges of distribution of heroin, crack cocaine and marijuana in Northumberland and Columbia counties. A superseding indictment following in December 2012 charging Cochrane and Lanzot. A second superseding indictment was returned in March.

All four originally pleaded not guilty.

Tripp was the first to change his plea, doing so in December and cooperating with prosecutors. His sentencing is scheduled for June 11 in Williamsport.

The others changed their pleas last month and avoided a trial scheduled to begin Wednesday. Their sentencing hearings will be scheduled upon receipt of a presentencing report by the U.S. Probation Office.

COAL TOWNSHIP - In observance with National Nursing Home Week, Sunday to May 18, Mountain View: A Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, will host activities and events under with the theme, "Team Care - Everyone Pitches In!"

Staff, guests, residents and visitors are encouraged to dress in baseball gear to enjoy the week's festivities while supporting local charities, including the Challenger Baseball Team, March of Dimes, Manna for the Many, Special Olympics and local senior action centers.

A schedule of events to highlight Team Care Week is as follows:

Sunday - Mother's Day tea; Monday - Spring Training Day with obstacle course; Tuesday - Starting Lineup parade day; Wednesday - Tailgate Wednesday with home run derby and ice cream social; Thursday - Baseball trivia and baseball scavenger hunt; Friday - World Series of Wiffle Ball.

Mountain View, 2050 Trevorton Road, offers a variety of specialized service for those individuals seeking short-term rehabilitation, 24-hour nursing care, hospice care and respite care.

MOUNT CARMEL - Two teams of seven students from Mount Carmel Junior/Senior High School will travel to Michigan later this month to take part in a world competition.

The students will compete at the Odyssey of the Mind (ODM) World Finals in East Lansing May 22 to 25. Odyssey of the Mind is an international educational program that provides creative problem-solving opportunities for students from kindergarten through college.

Teacher Jesse Wagner, who coaches one of the teams, said although the kids are prepared to take the big stage, they need some big help to get there.

Sponsors are being sought to offset the cost of the trip. Several fundrasiers are also planned, including a junior high dance May 17 and a spaghetti dinner May 19.

Monetary donations are encouraged. Checks can be made out to Mount Carmel Area School District, care of ODM. They can be sent to 600 W. Fifth St., Mount Carmel, Pa., 17851. Sponsors who donate $50 or more with have their business name printed on the back of the teams' T-shirts.

Solving problems

The teams qualified for worlds by placing second in their respective problem and division during a state competition April 13 at Pocono Mountain East High School in Swiftwater. In previous years, several teams from Mount Carmel have qualified for worlds, yet this will be the first worlds appearance for this set of students.

At worlds, team members will work together to solve two problems: a pre-designed problem that must be performed in eight minutes or less, which is scored out of a possible 200 points; and a spontaneous answer to a problem they never saw before, which is scored out of a possible 100 points.

'Odd' musicians

Team one, coached by Corey Lombardo, will tackle "It's how you look at it." In this problem, students must create and present an original humorous performance with two characters that appear "odd" to those around them. The skit must include a scene where the odd behavior is considered normal.

Team members are eighth-graders Kasey Rompallo, Aleah Alderson, Timmy Glowatski, Tommy Cichon, Carl Darrup and Alyssa Menko; and seventh-grader Ben McFadden. The team placed second out of 12 teams at states.

The team developed a skit that centers around the story of musicians from different planets who find that their music is not well received on other planets. At the end of the skit, the musicians sing in unity after discovering that music brings all different types of people together.

In preparation for competition, students fabricated costumes, created original lines and made props,

Kasey Rompallo, who has been participating in ODM on various teams since first grade, said that although her team will probably not place first at worlds, she will have fun trying.

"It's really a big thing," Rompallo said of ODM. "We made states a few times, but never worlds. It's exciting."

Timmy Glowatski, who has also been active in ODM for several years, said he enjoys the program because it's an activity he can participate in after school.

Sending emails

Team two, coached by Wagner and Andrew Yaracz, are solving "The Email Must Go Through." Requirements are to create and present an original performance that includes a technical representation of emails that require a return receipt, a work of art as an attachment and one that goes through a spam filter. The "emails" must travel eight feet and can not be touched by students.

Team members are juniors Cody Deitz, Jesse Hoffman and Jonathan Phillipine; sophomores Caitlyn Curran, Joey Rompallo and Shamus McGovern; and freshman Luke Darrup. The team placed second out of ten teams at states.

The team built a 10-foot long machine that operates like a pinball and Skee-Ball game that transport the email the required distance. The contraption consists of several pieces made primarily of wood.

"We made it with whatever was laying around the classroom," Wagner said. "We had a cost limit."

Students performed a skit that explains how they solve their problem, which incorporates characters from popular fairy tales, such as "Three Little Pigs," "Jack and the Beanstalk," and "The Boy Who Cried Wolf."

DANVILLE - Some 120,000 Geisinger Health System (GHS) patients will have digital access to their doctors' notes starting today.

Expansion of the OpenNotes initiative will include more than 500 Geisinger physicians, about half of its medical staff.

"One of the great challenges in medicine is getting patients involved in their own care," said Dr. Jonathan Darer, chief innovation officer for the Division of Clinical Innovation at GHS, and Geisinger's lead investigator on the project. "It's clear that providing patients access to their doctors' notes can be a powerful tool in accomplishing that goal."

Patients get access to doctors' notes by signing up to use the secure MyGeisinger patient online portal.

"This method is very simple as the notes will be typed out and easily readable on the computer screen," said Geisinger media relations representative Amanda O'Rourke.

The 120,000 patients who will have access starting today are just a portion of Geisinger's 2.6 million patients.

'Astonishing' participation

Funded through a $1.4 million grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, a 12-month OpenNotes trial project brought together 105 primary care doctors and more than 19,000 of their patients to evaluate the impact on both patients and physicians of sharing doctors' notes after each patient encounter. Led by Dr. Tom Delbanco and registered nurse Jan Walker, of Boston's Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), the study included 24 primary care physicians and 8,700 patients at Geisinger, and additional patients and physicians from BIDMC and Harborview Medical Center, Seattle, Wash.

Findings from this pilot published in the October Annals of Internal Medicine indicated that patients enthusiastically supported seeing their medical notes and no doctors said they wanted to opt out at the end of the study.

The study showed that patients read their notes and felt more engaged when they did so. Close to 11,200 patients - approximately 82 percent - opened at least one note contained in their electronic medical records. Of 5,391 patients who opened at least one note, 77 to 87 percent across the three sites reported that OpenNotes made them feel more in control of their care and helped them adhere to their medication regimens.

"To have 82 percent of patients open their notes is astonishing," Darer said. "It speaks volumes as to how important this information is to them."

Only a few patients reported increased worry, confusion or offense due to seeing their doctors' notes. Eighty-five percent of patients reported that having access to their doctors' notes would influence their choice of providers in the future.

More in future

These findings were in contrast to the concerns voiced by nonparticipating physicians, who worried that giving patients easy access to doctors' notes would result in additional work for them and could offend patients.

"As doctors, we know that patients generally retain only a portion of the information that is exchanged with their doctor during an office visit," Darer said. "One of our hopes with OpenNotes was that facilitating access to doctors' notes would engage patients and potentially help them remember more of what was discussed during the visit."

Given the promise that OpenNotes holds for patient engagement, Geisinger expects to offer this to more of its patients in the future. "We are moving very quickly to expand the program to offer this service to as many of our patients as we can," Darer said.

"I'm thrilled that one of the nation's premier health systems, and one of the three initial OpenNotes study sites, is taking this important step to share notes with patients," said Steve Downs, chief technology and information officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. "We hope other systems will follow Geisinger's lead to help patients get information they can use to participate more meaningfully in their care."

The doctors involved encompass all of primary care and general pediatrics, and selected physicians within pediatric subspecialties, dermatology, endocrinology, pulmonology, nephrology, rheumatology, cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, neurosurgery, and women's health - including obstetrics and gynecology and gynecologic oncology.

COAL TOWNSHIP - The Northumberland County Career and Technology Center (NCCTC) Operating Agency approved the school's proposed 2013-2014 budget, with the exception of the school's carpentry program.

The seven-member board approved the $1,686,416 revenue budget at Wednesday evening's meeting The carpentry program is currently frozen due to a lack of enrollment for the upcoming school year. School officials will continue to promote enrollment in the program and it can be restarted next school year if enrollment increases.

Other highlights of NCCTC's 2013-2014 operating budget show a tentative decrease of $140,818 in subsidies the school receives from the state, along with a $9,000 increase in health insurance spending and a $31,237 increase in PSERS pension contributions. NCCTC will receive half the pension money back in reimbursements, and will save $6,200 by reducing the services of their financial consultant.

Based on current enrollment figures, Shamokin Area's share of the costs next year would be $630,347, Mount Carmel Area, $460,954, Line Mountain, $216,350 and $18,836 for Southern Columbia because of one student attending.

Administrative director James F. Monaghan reported the school did very well in the recent National Occupational Competency Testing Institute testing, vocational education's version of standardized testing. In results given by NCCTC program coordinator Traci Beck, 51 out of the 57 students tested rated either in the advanced or competent levels.

Monaghan invited all the board members to attend the school's award ceremony, set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 22.

In other business, the law firm of Garrigan and Targonski was reappointed as the solicitor for the school at the same monthly rate of $1,583.33 with no additional charges for services rendered and no benefits.

Wendy Bartholomew, of Dornsife, was hired as a full-time secretary at an hourly wage of $10.50, effective May 9. She is replacing Melissa Muldowney, who resigned to accept a position at another district.

New appointments were also made on the operating agency board with Mount Carmel Area's Michael Rovito being named board secretary and Shamokin Area's Brian Persing being named treasurer, both with terms ending June 30, 2014, and at a annual salary of $2,700. Mount Carmel Area Superintendent Bernie Stellar was named chief school administrator for the agency, with an annual salary of $5,000.

All votes were approved on a 7-0, with members Rovito, Persing, Ron McElwee, Donna James, Dennis Erdman, Charles Shuey and David Scott Bartholomew voting yes, except for the vote to hire Wendy Bartholomew, which was a 6-0 vote with David Scott Bartholomew abstaining.

SHAMOKIN - The following hearings took place Tuesday before Magisterial District Judge John Gembic III. Defendants ordered to appear for plea court June 3 in Northumberland County Court, Sunbury, can plead guilty or no contest, or seek a trial by pleading not guilty.

n Daniel Clayton Dietz, 35, of 1741 Pulaski Ave., Coal Township, waived to court two counts each of delivering heroin and possession with intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal use of a communication facility, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

The charges filed by Shamokin Cpl. Bryan Primerano relate an April 25 incident in the 500 block of East Spurzheim Street.

n James Hartman Jr., 18, of 148-150 E. Cameron St., Shamokin, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and was ordered to pay a $300 fine plus costs and placed on supervised probation for six months.

An additional charge of possession of a controlled substance was withdrawn.

Hartman was charged by Shamokin Patrolman Raymond Siko II with possessing Clonazepam, marijuana, a marijuana smoking pipe, a marijuana water bong and a pack of Zig-Zag rolling papers March 30 at his residence.

n Luther L. McNeil Jr., 22, an inmate at SCI-Coal Township, was held for court on a charge of aggravated harassment by a prisoner involving a Feb. 4 incident at the state prison.

Trooper David Myers of state police at Stonington, who filed the charge, reported McNeil allegedly threw a cup of liquid, suspected to be urine, at correctional officer James Heistand while the officer was retrieving McNeil's food tray. The liquid struck Heistand's face, neck and upper torso.

n Brandon Shane Herb, 23, an inmate at SCI-Frackville and formerly of Shamokin, waived to court charges of criminal conspiracy, theft, receiving stolen property, driving without proper registration, driving without a license, driving without insurance, careless driving and operating a vehicle without proper inspection.

Herb, who was arraigned on the charges at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday by Gembic, is charged by Trooper Barry Wooten of state police at Stonington with stealing a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier registered to Mary Ebersole from Railroad Street in Trevorton before parking it along Route 225 in the village when it ran out of gas. Police said Herb then stole a 2001 Volkswagen Jetta owned by Nicole Snyder.

Police said the thefts occurred Aug. 30.

Police reported Herb, who was released from SCI-Retreat on Aug. 30, also stole a vehicle in Luzerne County and drove it to Trevorton.

According to a criminal complaint, Robert Joseph Gair also is accused of stealing all three vehicles with Herb.