John Sipko of Summit Hill was elected president of the Panther Valley Irish-American Association when it met Sunday night to begin planning for its annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

Sipko will be joined by fellow officers Joseph Dougherty, Coaldale, first vice president; attorney John Earley, Coaldale, second vice president; Robert Crampsie, Summit Hill, secretary; Robert Ames, Coaldale, treasurer; John Barry, Nesquehoning, sergeant-at-arms; and the Rev. James Torpey, Summit Hill, chaplain.

Named to the committee to decide the recipient of the 1998 Shamrock Award were Dr. Joseph Sweeney, Bob and Jim Crampsie, Barry and Emmett McCall.