SHAMOKIN - City officials approved a tentative budget for 2010 that includes a 1.455 mill increase in the recreation tax to help fund operations of the Rock Street Pool.

Also, Shamokin will ask for court approval again this year to maintain a 5 mill property tax increase instituted last year.

Property owners in 2010 will pay $43.92 on each $1,000 of assessed valuation of taxable property in the city, up $1.46 per thousand from last year.

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Last in a series

Legislation aimed at reducing energy consumption and demand should provide a vehicle for consumers to save on the impending increase that will result from PPL's rate cap expiration on Jan. 1.

Act 129 directed that, by July 1, all electric distribution companies with at least 100,000 customers are to develop and file an energy efficiency and conservation plan (EE&C) with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission for approval.

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COAL TOWNSHIP - The former head of security at Shamokin Area School District accused the board of having a personal vendetta and attempting to cover up an incident earlier this year.

Charles Shuey's accusations were inspired by Michael Shevitski, who addressed the board Tuesday night about a Feb. 23 incident that involved his son.

According to Shevitski, his son was assaulted by another student near the entrance to the middle-high school while waiting for the bus. His son suffered a broken leg and a crushed ankle. Despite months of recovery time, the teen still a noticeable limp, he said.

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Army Pvt. David N. Kaleta has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Sill, Lawton, Okla.

During the nine weeks of training, the soldier studied the Army mission and received instruction and training exercises in drill and ceremonies, Army history, core values and traditions, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, rifle marksmanship, weapons use, map reading and land navigation.

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WILLIAMSPORT - Juliet Kalejta, of Coal Township, was recently inducted into the Lycoming College chapter of Gamma Sigma Alpha, a national Greek academic honor society.

Kalejta, a junior business-marketing and management major, is a member of Gamma Delta Sigma. She is a graduate of Our Lady Lourdes Regional High School.

Gamma Sigma Alpha was founded to promote intellectual interaction between Gree

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Divine Redeemer

MOUNT CARMEL - The following memorials were presented to Divine Redeemer Church for the month of October.

In memory of:

Edith Purin from Frank and Mary Sawicki, Ellen Somsel.

Helen R. Smith from Anne McAndrew and family; Frank and Mary Sawicki, Gina Miriello.

Peter James Bridy from Joanne Stabinski.

Antonio Gidaro from Mary C. Sawicki, Jacqueline and Josephine Varano, Florence Frye, Pauline Mirarchi and family.

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All centers will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

Shamokin-Coal Township

Sunday - Wii bowling and cards, 2 p.m.

Monday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; pinochle, 12:30 p.m.

Tuesday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; shopping at Boscov's, van leaves at 9 a.m., cost is $2; bridge 12:15 p.m.

Wednesday - Morning cards, 8:30 a.m.; pinochle and Pokeno, 12:30 p.m.

Saturday - Cards and Wii bowling, 7 p.m. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

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The SUN Area Council of Republican Women are accepting signed Christmas cards (in bulk) to send to our troops overseas.

The council's Support Our Troops Committee has adopted troops and regularly send care packages. It has come to the council's attention that several soldiers do not receive as much as a card at Christmas.

If you would like to send Christmas cards or items to our troops, please contact one of the council's officers to arrange pick-up by Monday.

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Award winner

Matthew Yeager, of Aristes, was one of several Lebanon Valley College students and recent graduates who won three first-place and two-second-place awards in October at the prestigious 12th annual Undergraduate Research Symposium in Chemical and Biological Sciences. The conference was sponsored by the National Institutes of Health at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County.

Yeager,

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Noteworthy

MCA rocks schoolhouse Saturday

MOUNT CARMEL - The Mount Carmel Area Music Department will present its first junior high school musical, "Schoolhouse Rock Live! Junior," at 7 p.m. Saturday in the Richard F. Beierschmitt Auditorium at the junior-senior high school.

Conyngham Twp. supervisors to meet

WILBURTON - Conyngham Township Supervisors will hold a meeting for general purposes at 6:30 p.m. Monday at the township office.

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ATLAS - For the second month in a row, actions performed by the Mount Carmel Township Board of Supervisors are "problematic," according to an expert on the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act.

Melissa Melewsky, an attorney with the Pennsylvania Newspaper Association, said the board's decision to reduce hours of township employees without discussing or voting at a public meeting "raises an issue."

At Wednesday night's meeting, board Chairman Sam Scicchitano announced that two of the three township departments had seen a reduction in work hours, something he was unaware was going to happen.

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