SUNBURY - Northumberland County President Judge Robert B. Sacavage denied a motion Tuesday afternoon to modify the sentence or withdraw the guilty plea of a Sunbury area woman ordered to serve two to 17 1/2 years in prison for soliciting her estranged husband and an undercover state policeman to kill her boyfriend in April 2008.
Christeen Smith, who was sentenced by Sacavage on Jan. 22, presented several reasons to the court for the judge to reduce her sentence or allow her to withdraw her guilty plea to a felony offense of aggravated assault, but the judge denied the request primarily for lack of merit.
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by justin strawser
Tuesday's deadline for filing nomination petitions passed with six candidates, four Democrats and two Republicans, vying to succeed retiring Rep. Robert E. Belfanti Jr. (D-107).
Among the six was one candidate who had not formally announced his candidacy - Republican Samuel J. Scicchitano, former chairman of the Mount Carmel Township Board of Supervisors.
The other Republican candidate is Northumberland County Commissioner Kurt Masser.
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Editor's note: This is the first in an occasional series of stories on spring musicals at area high schools.
COAL TOWNSHIP - Our Lady of Lourdes High School performing arts students will present the musical "Godspell" March 19, 20 and 21 at the Northumberland County Career and Arts Center, Eighth and Arch streets, Shamokin.
Performance times are 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday. The annual spring production is under the direction of Vic Boris.
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KULPMONT - Because of a significant failure percentage in responses for the Kulpmont Ambulance, the Northumberland County Department of Public Safety has begun the practice of dual dispatch.
According to a letter to the borough council provided by administrative secretary Rhonda Wilk Tuesday night, the Department of Public Safety conducted a study and found that the Kulpmont Ambulance was failing to respond 63.5 percent of the time.
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by justin strawser
CATAWISSA RR - In a five-year projection, the Southern Columbia Area School District business manager predicted an increase in $250 in Northumberland County residents' taxes.
However, business manager Dan Rodgers described this Monday night as a worst-case scenario.
With a estimated $20 million building project moving closer to fruition, the most likely outcome to fund the project is phasing in a tax increase slightly each year for three years.
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Editor's note: For the month of March, The News-Item and Shamokin Area Community Hospital will be striving to raise awareness of National Nutrition Month and community wellness through a weekly series on eating better and making healthy food choices.
March is National Nutrition Month, and consuming a diet that is low in sodium is a good way to help lower blood pressure, which can reduce your risk of stroke or heart attack.
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Noteworthy
Road construction requires detours
RALPHO TOWNSHIP - Motorists are advised that two sections of the Route 4012 (Snydertown Road, Bottle Drive) project will involve daylight detours.
The detours will be scheduled from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, and take place in two phases along the north-south section of Route 4012, Bottle Drive.
Both phases will use the same signed detour - Route 487, Route 54 and Penn Avenue.
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Bible Thought
"He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds. He tells the number of the stars; he calls them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite." (Psalms 147:3-5 AKJV)
It would be wise for us to put our lives in God's capable hands. (Provided by Highland Baptist Church, West Monroe, La.)
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