Jan. 3 - Northumberland County Commissioner Rick Shoch was elected board chairman after Democrat Vinny Clausi declined the original nomination. He said the top vote-getter in the election should be chair.
Jan. 6 - Jim King, former executive director of the Northumberland County Industrial Development Authority (IDA), reached a settlement that would pay him $131,000 in back pay. He accrued the salary during a time the IDA couldn't afford to pay him.
Jan. 6 - Citing flood damage and other factors, Shaw's Meat Market closed its doors during the holiday season after 30 years in Shamokin.
Jan. 7 - A severely injured pit bull puppy was found at the bottom of a hill in Coal Township. Owners Michael Wolfe, 21, and Angeline Coladonato, 19, were charged with animal cruelty.
Jan. 10 - To help offset a $1 million deficit, county commissioners announced a 1.95-mill property tax hike, the first in nine years, and the elimination of nine jobs.
Jan. 11 - Shamokin-Coal Township Joint Sewer Authority estimated $745,000 in infrastructure repairs from the Flood of 2011.
Jan. 12 - Matthew Persing, 41, of Paxinos, was killed in a one-vehicle crash along Route 61 in Paxinos, the area's first traffic fatality of 2012.
Jan. 13 - A family of four was left homeless by fire at their home along Colonial Avenue, Natalie. An accidental stove malfunction was blamed.
Jan. 16 - Sheena Picarella, 51, of Shamokin, was killed and another person injured in a one-vehicle crash, blamed on an icy road on Route 901 between Ranshaw and Excelsior.
Jan. 17 - A Sunbury couple were charged with child abuse after reports surfaced of a young boy suffering a broken leg after he was dangled upside down by his ankle and thrown onto a couch.
Jan. 18 - Tense moments were experienced in Mount Carmel when 17 large roman candle tubes, with explosives inside, but no fuses, were found on a borough street corner.
Jan. 20 - Cornell Devalle and his wife Diane Devalle, of Coal Township, were found guilty of distribution of crack cocaine when their case, after two previous attempts, finally went to trial.
Jan. 25 - In a move county District Attorney Tony Rosini said would "compromise public safety," the county salary board voted 4-1 to eliminate an assistant district attorney position.
Jan. 28 - It was announced Shamokin Area School District was in negotiations with Northwestern Academy to take over the academy's special education program, which would give any employees furloughed by the district first crack at jobs created by the takeover.
Jan. 29 - Mount Carmel resident Paul Ventilli, who is hearing impaired, escaped injury after smelling smoke coming from his burning home at 409 W. Olive St. shortly after 4 a.m.
