WILKES-BARRE TWP. — The Donald Trump rally scheduled at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza tonight will likely cause traffic issues in the area, Wilkes-Barre Township police warned.

The police department issued a traffic advisory Sunday afternoon ahead of the rally. Police said drivers should expect “significant traffic congestion” around the arena on Highland Park Boulevard, the nearby Interstate 81 ramp, Mundy Street, Route 309 and around the Wyoming Valley Mall between 2:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and from 8:30 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.

Highland Park Boulevard in both directions from Mundy Street to the Interstate 81 ramp will also be closed for approximately five minutes during Trump’s departure from the event.

The event starts at 7 p.m. Monday with doors opening at 4 p.m. Police noted event parking will cost $10, cash only upon arriving at the Mohegan Sun Arena parking. Cameras, cellphones, video and audio recording devices are permitted, but audience members cannot bring professional lens cameras or detachable lens cameras to the rally, police said.

All attendees will be screened by a metal detector before entering the event, police said.

sscinto@citizensvoice.com

@sscintoCV, 570-821-2048

WHAT: Donald Trump campaign rally

WHERE: Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

WHEN: Event scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. tonight . Doors open at 4 p.m.

DETAILS: Attendees need to register for the free event by visiting www.donaldjtrump.com and clicking on a link on the candidate’s campaign schedule. Attendees can register for up to two tickets per phone number.

According to a release issued by PennDOT:

Dunmore – There is a single lane closure on Interstate 81 North, just beyond the Clarks Summit exit, due to a vehicle crash.

As part of her first major tour in 25 years, Dolly Parton will perform at the Mohegan Sun Arena at 8 p.m., June 22.

Parton has made a name for herself several decades full of country hits and 25 gold records. She's also starred in movies and owned an amusement park.

Tickets go on-sale Friday, April 29 at 10 a.m. at the Mohegan Sun Arena Box Office, Ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.

Tickets start at $55, plus fees.

WILKES-BARRE TWP. — As the fired-up crowd of Donald Trump supporters headed for the exits after a raucous campaign rally Monday night, Steve Fischer was still feeling the energy. He knew he had just witnessed history.

“You’ll never see something like this again — these numbers,” the 53-year-old Clarks Summit man said. “It was like going to a Penn State football game. Even if you don’t like Donald Trump, it was a great experience.”

The 10,000-seat arena was filled to capacity and thousands more jammed into the standing-room-only area around the stage, waving campaign signs in a frenzy after Mr. Trump delivered applause lines. Many more were turned away after the arena reached capacity.

Maximo Almanzer and his wife, Shaskya Castillo, had some of the best seats in the house — the media platform with a direct view of Mr. Trump.

The Hazleton couple, who produce a weekly news commentary show for a Spanish-language television station, are Trump supporters. They say Mr. Trump is wrongly brandished as a racist after he made disparaging comments about Mexicans in his campaign kickoff speech.

“That’s not true. He just doesn’t like the wrong things about some Hispanics, blacks or anyone else,” said Mr. Almanzer, an immigrant from the Dominican Republic who clapped loudly when Mr. Trump spoke about bringing jobs and factories back to America.

People started arriving outside Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza as early as 6 a.m.

William Malater claimed his spot in line at 6:30 a.m. The Oswego, New York, man wore an American flag draped around his shoulders and a white cowboy hat signed by Mr. Trump.

“It’s like a rock concert,” Mr. Malater said.

As people waited in line to go through security, a plane carrying a pro-Trump banner circled around the area. The banner read: “Vote Trump: Make America Great Again.”

The crowd rose to its feet and cheered loudly when Mr. Trump was introduced as “the next president of the United States” around 7:30 p.m.

Mr. Trump spoke for 52 minutes, and was interrupted many times by applause, like when he slammed Hillary Clinton — whom he referred to as “crooked,” — promised to end illegal immigration and punish companies for moving jobs overseas.

People in a few sections stood the entire time and Mr. Trump noticed.

“It’s always nice when people have seats and they still want to stand to listen to Trump,” Mr. Trump said. “The Trump people are by far the smartest and most loyal.”

Millie Luba, 69, of Hanover Twp., had a seat in the front row.

“He was smart to come to Wilkes-Barre,” Ms. Luba said. “I believe he will make America great again, because right now it’s not.”

Eight-year-old Kevin O’Shea of Archbald thinks the same. After the event, Mr. Trump autographed a campaign sign for him.

Mr. O’Shea’s dad, Kevin Sr., said the boy chose to like Mr. Trump on his own. He noted the youngster dressed up as Mr. Trump for Halloween.

“It was really cool,” the boy said of the rally. “Donald Trump is making America great again.”

SARAH SCINTO, staff writer, contributed to this report.

Contact the writer:

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com,

@cvbobkal

Campaign note

SCRANTON — Supporters of Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump will host a party tonight from 7 to 10 at the Holy Cross Athletic Association, 305 5th Ave., Scranton, as primary election results arrive.

Police: Two used forged credit cards

GIBSON Twp. — Two New York City men face charges of using a dozen forged American Express cards to make multiple purchases and attempted purchases at gas stations in Susquehanna County, state police at Gibson said.

Michael Lavon Johnson, 30, and Baron Lozail Mays, 25, both of the Far Rockaway section of Queens, were taken into custody Friday and arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Jodi L. Cordner on access device fraud and other charges.

The men had the forged cards in their possession, along with forged identification from Florida, police said.

— STAFF REPORT

Reality show seeks locals to feature

SCRANTON — A cable TV reality show is looking for area collectors to feature in upcoming episodes.

Cable channel History’s “American Pickers,” which follows antique “pickers” Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz, will return to Pennsylvania this summer to film new episodes and is looking for individuals with large, private antique or memorabilia collections for the stars to search through.

Stores, flea markets or other commercial collections will not be considered.

Anyone interested in applying to be featured on the show should send their name, phone number, a location and description of the collection, as well as photos, to americanpickers@cineflix.com or call 855-653-7878 to apply.

— IAN WEIR

Progress made, hopes for rain

SWIFTWATER — Authorities said Monday that significant progress has been made in containing brush fires that have ravaged thousands of acres across Monroe and Pike counties, though the fire continues to burn.

Crews have been at work since Wednesday morning, when a fire near Bear Town Road in Barrett Twp., Monroe County, started. Another fire a few miles away, dubbed the “Sixteen-Mile fire” after a portion of the Delaware State Forest, started about a day later.

The former has been contained and the latter 35 percent contained, according to forestry officials. Factors like low humidity and rugged terrain have been problematic for those fighting the flames, but rain expected through the night might help efforts to douse the blaze.

The fires have burned about 7,800 acres and claimed three homes and one cabin as of Sunday evening.

Investigators have determined both fires were intentionally set. The Bureau of Forestry is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible. Anyone with information is asked to call 717-362-1472 or

570-895-4000.

— CLAYTON OVER

SCRANTON — The Azteca Mexican Grill food truck resumed its spot on Spruce Street after a two-month absence.

Azteca closed temporarily following the unexpected death of owner Marco Torres on Feb. 19.

Mr. Torres’ children Karen, Marc and Bryan Torres on Monday reopened the family business on Courthouse Square.

“We’re very excited for this new opening,” Ms. Torres said.

Azteca will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Friday.

— JON O’CONNELL

WILKES-BARRE TWP. — The night before the latest round of primary voting, with 172 delegates at stake in five states, Donald Trump came to Northeast Pennsylvania to make his last pitch before voters go to the polls today.

“We love Wilkes-Barre. We love the state of Pennsylvania,” said Mr. Trump. “This place is unbelievable. There’s a lot to talk about — tomorrow, you’re going to go out and vote.”

Mr. Trump, a billionaire businessman and front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, campaigned before a capacity crowd Monday night at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza. Arena General Manager Brian Sipe said approximately 10,000 people were inside the building, and more were outside who did not get in.

“I had no idea you were going to be so beautiful,” Mr. Trump told the Northeast Pennsylvania crowd. “In a packed arena with thousands of people trying to get in, we had a great time. You’re going to represent the state of Pennsylvania, which I love. When you look back years from now ... you’re going to see that was the single greatest vote I ever cast for president.”

On the eve of primary voting, Trump talked about his opponents in the race, his electability and policy in a speech lasting about an hour.

He criticized an agreement between U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Governor John Kasich of Ohio to concede certain states to each other in an attempt to bring down Trump, the front-runner.

“It’s called collusion, folks. It’s called collusion,” he said, calling on those candidates to drop out of the race to allow the Republican Party to unify around his campaign.

“Lyin’ Ted! Lyin’ Ted,” chanted Trump supporters, using Trump’s moniker for the Senator second in votes and the delegate count.

After acknowledging the Pennsylvania crowd, Trump jumped on a regional issue by voicing his support for natural gas — “We’re 100 percent behind it” — and also mentioned support for coal — the natural resource that used to be among the area’s major industries.

He also mentioned the state’s loss of manufacturing jobs in the past three decades, voicing his disapproval of the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, and repeated his pledge to build a wall to stop illegal immigration coming from Mexico.

He reminded attendees headed to the polls to vote for him and for the delegates who pledged to support him.

“Don’t let it fool you. Vote for the Trump guys,” he said. “We have some amazing delegates and they’re going to do a great job.”

Pennsylvania’s unique system for apportioning delegates was a theme Monday, with several speakers pointing it out and the Trump campaign handing out flyers as people left the event listing the delegates who said they would support Trump at the Republican National Convention in July.

Lou Barletta, R-Hazleton, spoke before Trump’s appearance and also reminded attendees to vote for delegates who said they would support Trump at the national convention, as well as the candidate himself. As Barletta noted, most of the state’s delegates are elected directly by voters.

He told people to grab the flyers on their way out of the arena to learn which delegates in each district had said they would support Trump.

Trump is “clearly the front-runner of our party,” Barletta said, so much so that the number two and three candidates have teamed up to try to beat him in the primary, referring to the agreement between Cruz and Kasich.

The candidate turned his attention to Hillary Clinton, the Democratic front-runner for the presidential nomination.

A new poll had the two tied, Trump claimed.

“That’s nothing, because I haven’t hit her yet,” he said, repeatedly referring to her as “crooked Hillary.”

Trump touched on his policy points, while also criticizing President Barack Obama.

“Obama is a divider,” Trump said. “I’m going to win the African-American and Hispanic vote. You know why? Because I’m bringing jobs back to our country.”

Trump targeted the President’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia, when the nation’s leader, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, greeted other visiting foreign leaders on the airport tarmac but not President Obama.

“If I were the President, and flew into Saudi Arabia, and the king or the top official isn’t there to greet me, I say to the pilot, ‘Hey pilot, how much fuel do we have?’ ‘We have plenty, sir, it’s Air Force One,” Trump said. “I’d say, ‘Get back at those controls, pilot.’”

Countries like Saudi Arabia and other allies haven’t properly reimbursed the United States for the protection the country offers them, he said.

Some Trump events have made national news for protests and violence. No one protested inside the arena Monday. A small group of protesters, about six people, demonstrated outside the building, said Sipe.

Trump ended his speech by reminding voters to visit the polls Tuesday and repeating his campaign slogan before leaving to music and applause.

“I promise you 100 percent we will make America great again, and better than before,” he said.

Contact the writer:

bwellock@citizensvoice.com,

@CVBillW

Forcing animal rights protesters to stand in a “cage” outside the Mohegan Sun Arena during the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey circus later this week amounts to an unreasonable infringement of their freedom of speech, an attorney for the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania argued Monday.

An attorney for the arena countered that allowing free-roaming picketers to wander among the thousands of patrons expected to converge on the facility for the circus starting Thursday would create a security “nightmare” that would be a financial burden for management and an inconvenience for attendees who aren’t interested in the cause.

Lawyers presented their cases Monday morning to U.S. District Judge Robert D. Mariani, who said he will rule, possibly as soon as today, on whether to allow protesters to wander through the crowd outside the venue during the circus, which runs through Sunday and is holding its final elephant performance.

The plaintiff, Silvie Pomicter of South Abington Twp., testified that she wants “free range” protesting permitted because her experience has shown volunteers with the Los Angeles-based Last Chance for Animals group don’t get to hand out as much literature when they are confined to a “protest pen.”

“Most people are a little intimidated to come over to somebody in a barricaded area,” Ms. Pomicter said.

Arena General Manager Brian Sipe said the Luzerne County Convention Center Authority has a policy allowing protesters to picket near both main gates at the arena, behind barriers that are in plain sight of guests. But allowing them to wander among foot traffic could create congestion as thousands of people try to enter and exit the building, he said.

Mr. Sipe expressed concern about having a “human wall” blocking customers from entering the facility and said the arena would have to hire more security to ensure protesters’ compliance with the rules and to prevent altercations.

“We would pretty much have to line the perimeter with security,” Mr. Sipe said.

Mary Catherine Roper, deputy legal director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania, countered during her argument that all those concerns were hypothetical and that the county-owned arena was unreasonably infringing on protesters’ rights by placing them in a “cage,” thereby stifling their ability to walk up to and engage patrons.

“It’s obstruction of communication,” Ms. Roper said.

She proposed the court allow individuals to pass out leaflets and carry small signs among the crowd on a section of pavement away from the doors but restrict group protests and banners to the sides.

Authority attorney Donald H. Brobst, however, argued the arena is not a public forum and that the protesters don’t have the right to approach guests.

“I don’t think on our non-public sidewalks they have that right,” he said.

Ms. Roper’s plan to allow protesters in certain areas but not others would be a “nightmare” to enforce, he argued.

Judge Mariani took the arguments under advisement and said he would rule on the issue as early as today so the parties will have an answer before the circus begins Thursday.

Contact the writer:

,

@cvjimhalpin

DUNMORE — Borough council plans to ask the public to weigh in on how to spend the estimated $24 million Dunmore will receive from the Scranton Sewer Authority sale if state and federal regulators approve the $195 million deal with Pennsylvania American Water.

“We don’t know what we’re going to do with the money,” council President Michael McHale said at Monday’s meeting. “We can use that money to offset any future (rate) increases with the sewer authority. We can reduce taxes, reduce debt. I think that’s going to be something we open up to ... everybody.”

Some council members have suggested placing the money into an account, allowing the borough to simply collect interest on the cash, or using a portion of the proceeds on needed capital projects.

Solicitor Thomas Cummings previously suggested council earmark a portion of it for stormwater projects since that part of the system is not part of the transaction.

The stormwater system is separate from lines dedicated solely to sewers, or the system that combines sewer and stormwater flows that Pennsylvania American Water is buying.

The combined system is undergoing $140 million in federally mandated upgrades to prevent pollution discharges into the Lackawanna River, but officials expect new environmental standards at some point also coming for the separate stormwater system.

Dunmore resident Bob Hogan asked council what the plan is and how much fees to manage rainwater might cost.

Mr. McHale responded it is possible the borough could go it alone, join with Scranton or become part of a countywide stormwater authority, and that the costs are impossible to determine until municipalities know what the new standards will be.

“This is not a Dunmore and Scranton thing. ... Everybody has the same problem and is going to have the same mandate,” Mr. McHale said. “We so happen to be in with the Scranton Sewer Authority. It’s getting tied in with the sale, which it has nothing to do with.”

Mr. Hogan said the deal shouldn’t happen until officials can answer questions about stormwater management. But Mr. McHale said even if the sale didn’t happen and the Scranton Sewer Authority handled all stormwater issues, residents would have to pay for it through rate increases rather than through a possible separate fee.

The Times-Tribune in December reported a review issued jointly by the city and sewer authority in 2013 indicated homeowners and businesses eventually may have to pay stormwater fees — sometimes called a rain tax — for rain runoff from their homes and properties.

Contact the writer:

kwind@timesshamrock.com,

@kwindTT on Twitter

An ambitious research initiative to study the human genetic code of Pennsylvanians hit its goal about three years ahead of schedule.

Geisinger’s MyCode Community Health Initiative has signed up more than 100,000 volunteers who agreed to let researchers study their genes. Researchers are seeking to uncover early warning signs of illnesses like cancer and heart disease hidden deep within a person’s genome. When it launched in January 2014, Geisinger had aspired to hit the 100,000 milestone within the first five years.

Volunteers across Pennsylvania have submitted genome samples to be analyzed by New York-based Regeneron, Geisinger’s partner in the MyCode program.

Geisinger’s 20 years-worth of electronic patient medical records, coupled with thick, deep family roots in central and Northeast Pennsylvania, make the region ripe for genetic research. Nearly 90 percent of the nonprofit health care network’s patients have opted into the program, Geisinger’s Chief Scientific Officer David H. Ledbetter, Ph.D., said during a Monday conference call with reporters.

From the start, a bulk of participants have been from around Geisinger’s Danville hub.

“We have had a little bit smaller effort in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton region, but we’re now recruiting additional clinical research coordinators and

(volunteers) to greatly expand our efforts in the Northeastern Pennsylvania market,” he said.

As interest ramps up by word-of-mouth and more patients consent to have their genome sequenced, Geisinger expects to meet a new lofty goal of 250,000 volunteers in the next two years.

Reaching the new goal would set MyCode apart from other top genome-sequencing programs in Iceland, which peaked at 140,000 participants, and the United Kingdom

, with only 100,000

.

“In just two years of partnership, we have made novel discoveries, confirmed long-held hypotheses and published in esteemed medical journals,” Regeneron Genetics Center co-founder Aris Baras, M.D.

said in a news release.

Researchers already have been able to put some patients on notice that they are predisposed for some cancer types and heart disease. When sequencing reveals predisposition to disease, patients can get a shot at prevention before it ever shows up.

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com,

@jon_oc on Twitter

For the 36 years that Sal’s Pizza has been slinging slices and pies on Linden Street, people have concluded the owner’s name was Sal.

The owner’s name is Joe Amendola. And he is moving on.

Sal’s last day of operation is Thursday’s lunch. Mr. Amendola, 56, has sold the building to someone who will make it another type of eatery, he said, but it won’t be Sal’s.

A man of few words even under the best of circumstances, Mr. Amendola won’t go into too much detail about why he is selling the property or what he will do afterward.

“Scranton has treated me well and the location has treated me well,” Mr. Amendola said.

Even his regulars say Mr. Amendola’s not much for small talk, leaving interactions to “How are you?” and “What can I get you?”

He was born in Italy, Calabria to be more precise. He opened Sal’s in a piece of what then was the Tinkleman building just a few doors down. After 10 years, he bought the frontage at 505 Linden with cafeteria counter service. He raised three children in that time, putting them all through college on sweat, fountain soda and pizza slices.

He enjoys it because every day is different and he likes the customers.

Frank Dinoia, D.D.S., and a few other dentists have been going to Sal’s for lunch much of its 36 years. In recent years, they’ve gone Mondays and Thursdays. On Monday, enjoying their penultimate lunch provided by Sal’s staff, Dr. Dinoia cited the quality of food and friendly staff for the loyal patronage.

“This is a family atmosphere,” he said. “We are going to have to find a new place.”

Sal’s is part of the Monday routine for Scranton City Hall employees Pat Brower and Joanne DiRienzo, who say the Italian hoagies are to die for. They say they may brown-bag their lunch until they see what sort of eatery replaces Sal’s.

As news spread, customers came up to Mr. Amendola and wished him well.

When he was very young, Mr. Amendola worked at a place named Sal’s in Philadelphia. In Scranton, Sal’s sustained itself on the courthouse and downtown office lunch crowd and a late night crowd breaking up bar-hopping with food.

He said he’s too young to retire and that he may do something with food. But he won’t say much more than that.

Contact the writer:

dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

HARRISBURG — Scranton eventually can use a portion of local services tax revenue to reduce its considerable pension debt under a new state law.

This provision is part of a final budget-related bill for fiscal 2015-16 that became law Monday without Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf’s signature. Mr. Wolf said Friday he would neither sign nor veto the multi-faceted fiscal code bill as the deadline for action drew near.

Scranton increased the local services tax from $52 to $156 last year for people who work in the city as part of efforts to shed its status as a fiscally distressed city under Act 47.

Under the law, Scranton can earmark that increased portion of the local services tax for pension relief following any future exit from Act 47 should the city’s pension system remain at a severe or moderately distressed category at that stage. Scranton officials penned in the anticipated revenue from the higher tax as part of their fiscal recovery plans. This law applies only to Scranton, the state’s only Class 2A city.

Without this change, the local services tax would have reverted back to $52 once Scranton leaves Act 47.

$5.3M in revenue

With about 34,000 workers paying a local services tax, a tripled tax of $3 a week equates to about $5.3 million annually in revenue, city officials said.

The local services tax earmark will spare both city residents and commuters from a more burdensome tax being forced on them, said Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, who first inserted the provision in a fiscal code bill late last year.

“The LST provision ... has always been an alternative to a much more burdensome ‘commuter tax’ on gross, earned income,” he said. “It is also important to note that the LST is not collected from anyone who earns less than $15,600 and, as such, it insulates seniors and younger workers who may be working part time in the city or earning at the lowest end of the wage scale.”

If Scranton’s pension system remains in the distressed category, the city will not be eligible for potential reform to consolidate municipal pension systems or have them managed by the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System, Mr. Blake said. These options could prove far less expensive than continued local management of municipal pensions.

The senator expressed optimism that Scranton will be able to exit Act 47 in the next few years.

Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich, D-114, Taylor, said he wants to see Scranton exit Act 47, but is concerned about using local services tax revenue to solve the city’s pension problems.

“I just don’t think it is fair and equitable to the other communities,” he said.

Mr. Kavulich said Scranton’s neighbors can’t tap the same revenue source if they have pension problems.

He plans to look at legislative options to address the issue.

The fiscal code legislation went through many twists and turns in recent months. The governor vetoed a previous bill sent to his desk, citing problems with the distribution of $200 million in school spending and $2.5 billion in borrowing for the state’s share of school construction costs.

Lawmakers sent a revised fiscal code bill to the governor last month with bipartisan support in both chambers.

Contact the writer:

rswift@timesshamrock.com

Meet Madeline Condon...

School: Scranton High School

Parents: Michele and

Gerard Condon

Plans: Study mathematics and economics at either Syracuse University or Colgate University

Being a superstar runs in the Condon family.

Ten years after Madeline’s older sister, Emily, became a Times-Tribune Scholastic Superstar, Madeline now has the honor. She calls her sister, who is now an attorney in New York City, her role model.

“I am not only amazed by her professional drive, but inspired by her kindness and positive attitude towards everyone she meets,” Madeline said.

The Scranton High student is proud of her ability to take advantage of the many opportunities she has been given, from running cross country and being the senior class treasurer, to dancing and having a part-time job at Manning Farm Dairy.

“I have little time but a lot of gratitude for the challenges and rewards presented to me,” she said.

Being on the speech and debate team allowed Madeline to travel and compete at the national level and being a peer tutor allowed her to work with other students and give back to her school community.

In her spare time, Madeline takes ballet and pointe class at the Scranton Dance Center and assists with a pre-ballet class as well. She also enjoys spending time with her family, reading and traveling.

With a degree in mathematics and economics, in 15 years, Madeline sees herself living in a large city in the Northeast helping start, develop and grow businesses.

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL

Amateur mathematicians took their marks, closed their books, turned off cellphones and put away notes to compete in the University of Scranton’s ninth annual Integration Bee on Monday.

Moderated by associate professor Stacey Muir, Ph.D., about 100 high school students from Luzerne, Lackawanna and surrounding counties finished 15 calculus problems at the Mcllhenny Ballroom at the university’s DeNaples Center. A separate competition was held for local college students; about 20 participated.

Several organizations — including Maplesoft, the American Mathematical Society, Pi Mu Epsilon and the University of Scranton admissions office — sponsored and donated prizes to the math bee.

In the first round, the high school students had two minutes to complete each problem. When a moderator called “time,” students threw their hands up in the air. For every correct answer, the students received a raffle ticket for a chance at prizes, said Dr. Muir.

Hoang Ho from Scranton High School was among the five students who advanced to the second round. He was joined by a student from Hazleton Area and three from Wyoming Seminary. All five received a $25 award.

Students could enter the contest on their own or with their school, said Dr. Muir. Hoang, a senior whose favorite subject is math, was with his math teacher.

Nervous going into the competition for the first time, he was thrilled to advance to the second round.

Although he didn’t win — Seongjin “James” Park from Wyoming Seminary took the $100 final prize — Hoang said the competition was very challenging. He hopes to use his math skills next year at the University of Scranton, where he’ll major in electrical engineering.

Student turnout this year was much better than in the past, said Dr. Muir, who added the competition keeps growing.

For photos from previous competitions or more information, visit www.scranton.edu/academics/cas/math/bee2016.shtml.

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter

JESSUP — Lackawanna County has not participated in a state tax break for farms because old property assessments mean landowners wouldn’t see lower taxes, officials said Monday during a presentation.

The Clean and Green program that began in 1974 bases tax assessments on an agricultural land’s use value instead of on fair market value, representatives of the state Department of Agriculture explained during a forum at the county 911 Center.

Use values updated annually by the state typically would be lower than fair market values and result in tax breaks for Clean and Green enrollees — unless a county has not had a reassessment in many years, said Bureau of Farm Preservation Director Doug Wolfgang.

As Lackawanna County’s last countywide property tax reassessment was in 1967-68, the county’s assessments are well below the state’s use values, said John Foley, the county’s deputy director of appraisals.

The county in the past never bothered with Clean and Green because taxes would be pegged at a use value likely higher than the county assessed market value, he said.

“The presumption is if a county hasn’t been reassessed for decades, the use value for agriculture would be higher than fair market value,” Mr. Wolfgang told a crowd of about 30 people. “If actual market values across a county are less than use values, there really would be no advantage to Clean and Green.”

But if a reassessment is done, market values likely “would shoot way up, so farm owners see then what the savings would be” under Clean and Green, he said.

One of the state’s earliest land preservation tools, Clean and Green has 58 of 69 counties participating, Mr. Wolfgang said.

Lackawanna County took a fresh look at Clean and Green after a farmer’s lawsuit several months ago partly raised the issue. The new commissioner board delegated Clean and Green to the assessment/appeals office, Mr. Foley said. With a June 1 deadline for 2017 applications, the county hosted the forum to hear the state officials explain the program.

“This is a learning process for all of us to learn what this is all about,” Mr. Foley said, noting that some landowners have decided to stay out.

“Once several people came in and met with me, and I explained this and showed them the use values, they said, ‘Let’s leave it alone. We’re fine,’ ” Mr. Foley said.

Whether the county completes a property tax reassessment also could be a factor in future Clean and Green participation, Lackawanna County Commissioner Jerry Notarianni said. He favors a reassessment.

“If we do reassess, at least we’ll know what’s coming in the future,” Mr. Notarianni told the crowd. “We’re just trying to make sure everyone has an understanding of what is going on and what is available and what conceivably could happen.”

Commissioner Chairman Patrick O’Malley and Commissioner Laureen Cummings did not attend the presentation. While efforts to reach Ms. Cummings afterward were unsuccessful, Mr. O’Malley issued a statement.

“Reassessment is an important issue for Lackawanna County, but one that requires a great deal of in-depth analysis. If it is to be done, it is going to require funding from the state, because I do not want to place any additional burden on the taxpayers,” Mr. O’Malley said. “Any reassessment must be fair and equitable. ... Nothing is off the table, but we need to be very cautious.”

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — Two men were taken to a hospital after a wreck that sent one vehicle crashing into a building.

The crash happened at Pittston Avenue and Corey Street at about 11:40 a.m., city police Lt. Marty Crofton said. A car driven by John Coyne, 30, Ashley, traveled along Pittston Avenue and struck another vehicle driven by John Molenda, 80, Scranton, as it pulled onto Pittston from Corey Street. Mr. Molenda’s vehicle then slid into the Penalty Box bar, 3277 Pittston Ave.

Both men were taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, Lt. Crofton said. Conditions were unavailable.

— CLAYTON OVER

SCRANTON — The Lackawanna County Tax Claim Bureau sold 48 properties in Monday’s judicial sale, raising $532,217 from parcels auctioned, plus another $149,126 from tax-delinquent residents who settled before the sale.

In total, 183 properties were available at the auction. Properties that didn’t sell will go to the county’s repository.

The county collected $760,918 during and leading up to last month’s judicial sale, bringing the cumulative total proceeds from this round of sales to $1.4 million.

During Monday’s sale, 25 properties in Scranton sold for $259,200. The highest price tag was a property in Throop that sold for $65,000.

— KYLE WIND

ARCHBALD — Two teenagers were taken to a hospital Monday after a reported drug overdose at a Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit facility.

Archbald police said the students are 14 and 17 years old and were taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center.

Police and medical personnel responded to the NEIU’s Achievement Academy on Betty Street on Monday.

The incident is still under investigation, borough police said.

NEIU officials could not be reached for comment Monday night.

— CLAYTON OVER