Press Box at Shamokin Area, Part II

Director Witmer Responds

Shamokin Area School Director Tracey Witmer submits Letter to the Editor in November 14th issue of the News-Item in response to the article published on November 12th.

Lourdes Regional

Tonight Lourdes Regional and Tri-Valley will battle for the Eastern Conference Class A Championship tonight at Leo A. Mulhall Stadium in Shamokin. This will be Lourdes first trip to the finals since 1996 losing 48-26 to Lakeland.

Back in 1974, Lourdes Regional tied West Scranton 14-14 for a share of the EC big school championship with Mike Klembara at the helm. During a three-game stretch in that magic season, Lourdes defeated Pottsville, Berwick and Shamokin.

It has been 25 years since I donned on the Cerise and White for Lourdes Regional. We went 9-1 in the regular season and were edged out of the playoffs by a Southern Columbia team who went on to defeat Mahanoy Area 10-0 to win there first EC title back in 1983. As fate would have it, I will be broadcasting the Southern-Line Mountain game on Bill95.

To the 24 players of Lourdes Regional who practice and sweat it out like any other team, savor the moment playing for a championship. One last thing......win, win, team...rah!!!!

Shamokin Area, Problems in the Pressbox

School board argues over press-box catering

With overcrowding at the annex the big ticket item, the press-box catering issue grabbed the headline.

Director Tracey Witmer said having the district’s food service provider serve the food was taking funds away from the band and football booster concession stands.

Witmer said she called more than a dozen area schools and said none of those schools provide food in the press box during football games.

As a contract employee of a local radio station, I would suggest that Ms. Witmer call both Southern Columbia and Mount Carmel Area. Southern Columbia's pressbox has been catered for at least a decade while Mount Carmel has been providing catering through a private sponsor for a few years.

As a working member of the electronic media, I would say most of us are coming from other duties and do not have the time to wait in line at the concession stand before the game or at halftime. Once the game starts, I am confined to the box for the remainder of the game. I only get a two minute commercial break.

I would like to thank Shamokin AD Nick Celinscak for the improvement to a great press-box this season.

In the article, Food Service Director Diane Daubilis says a $480 profit was realized.