A Scranton man is in jail after authorities say they found heroin and cocaine on him Wednesday.

Members of the Lackawanna County Drug Task Force and officers from the Carbondale, Archbald and Mayfield police departments arrested Sean “Smiley” “Chow” Clinton, 35, 157 S. Hyde Park Ave., at about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in a parking lot on the 500 block of Main Street in Carbondale Twp. as he was about to sell drugs. Police seized 250 packets of suspected heroin and 20 grams of suspected cocaine, plus three cell phones and about $900 following a search of his person and vehicle, according to court documents.

Authorities started investigating Mr. Clinton after receiving information that he had been selling significant amounts of heroin and cocaine throughout the county, according to court documents.

Mr. Clinton is charged with possession with intent to deliver drugs and a related charge for using his cellphone to line up a drug transaction. He is in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 26.

Mr. Clinton faced similar charges a few years ago. County detectives and Scranton police arrested Mr. Clinton in 2012, after raiding his West Scranton residence. He pleaded guilty to possession with intent to deliver controlled substance and endangering welfare of children and was sentenced in 2013 to three to eight years in state prison and four years probation.

Contact the writer: cover@timesshamrock.com, @ClaytonOver on Twitter

Local air travelers once again have a major morning option out of the local airport to connect to flights anywhere.

United Airlines has resumed a morning flight to Chicago out of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.

United began flying a 50-seat jet out of the Pittston Twp. airport on May 6, airport Executive Director Carl Beardsley Jr. told the bicounty airport board Thursday.

The flights to O’Hare International Airport are Sunday through Friday, meaning United now has 13 flights a week out of the airport instead of seven. Previously, United only had late afternoon departing flights seven days a week. Airlines fly internationally from O’Hare.

“It was there. United stopped that flight for their winter season in January,” airport marketing director Eric McKitish said after the board meeting.

Typically, airlines cut back on flights early in a year because the number of passengers declines after the holidays.

With 50 additional seats, six days a week available out of the airport, that’s at least 1,200 in a month. If the flight is used as much as the airport’s current average of 85 percent usage of available seats, that’s another 1,020 passengers a month. That could boost the airport’s monthly passenger departures to a new high for the last two years.

Last month, 19,490 passengers boarded flights out of the airport, up 8.3 percent from April 2015 and 10.1 percent from April 2014. The high since April 2014 was 20,398 passengers last October.

April marked the ninth month in a row that passenger levels increased compared to the same month the previous year.

Mr. Beardsley attributes the increases to Allegiant Air’s new twice-weekly flight to Tampa-St. Petersburg, Fla., that began last year, Delta Airlines using 110-seat jets instead of 76-seat jets to Atlanta and United’s renewed twice weekly flights to the Newark, New Jersey airport.

“When it comes to flights, demand’s the bottom line,” Mr. Beardsley said. “If an airline doesn’t see demand, they’re not going to put the flight in.”

ExpressJet Airlines, a major regional airline, operates the Chicago flights for United.

The airport board also honored 15 people who volunteer for the airport’s ambassador program. Airport ambassadors greet passengers and answer questions they might have when they arrive.

The 15 are John Bergen, John and Bette Lou Brundage, Edward Connor, James Ferguson, Carol Fisher, Thomas Kisthart, Dean and Beverly Robinson, Marie Robson, Ronald Skamanich , Rita Skechus, David and Joyce Tressler and Edward Hanadel. All have either served as volunteers for at least 500 hours or 10 years.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com

Alleged mob associate Robert J. Kulick, a figure in a series of high-profile crimes stretching back decades, died May 12. He was 67.

Kulick, whose addictions to alcohol and prescription pills were often cited in criminal court and divorce proceedings, died at Timber Ridge Health Care Center in Plains Township after a prolonged illness, according to an obituary notice. He spent about a year at the facility and died of natural causes, authorities said.

A Pittston native, Kulick was an aide to longtime U.S. Congressman Daniel J. Flood near the end of Flood’s 31 years in Washington — which ended in disgrace with a guilty plea in a bribery case in 1980.

In 1988, Kulick pleaded guilty in a federal tax evasion case that also brought down Luzerne County Judge Arthur Dalessandro. Kulick was the general manager of a Pittston Township car dealership co-owned by the judge, who pleaded guilty to not reporting income from the dealership. Dalessandro was sentenced to one year in federal prison, while Kulick was sentenced to two years.

Years earlier, Kulick, who was an owner and trainer of racehorses, was banned from Pocono Downs by the Plains Township track’s owners over allegations of race-fixing.

In 1992, Kulick married Michele Mattioli, daughter of Dr. Joseph Mattioli, the founder of Pocono Raceway in Monroe County and the owner of Camelback Mountain ski resort. The raceway is the site of two annual NASCAR races. The couple were in the midst of lengthy and often messy divorce proceedings, which included his arrest several times for violating protection from abuse orders she filed against him.

The Kulicks had two children and, prior to their separation, resided together in a lavish home assessed at $1.3 million along Route 115 in Bear Creek Township.

Former Luzerne County President Judge Michael T. Conahan and reputed mob boss William “Big Billy” D’Elia were guests at large birthday and holiday parties at the Kulicks’ home, according to sources who were also in attendance and spoke on condition of anonymity. At the time, law enforcement officials considered D’Elia the leader of an organized crime family formerly led by the late powerful mob boss Russell Bufalino of Kingston.

In a 2009 special hearing ordered by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Kulick testified D’Elia conspired with Conahan to secure a $3.5 million ruling against The Citizens’ Voice in favor of a former D’Elia business associate who sued for defamation. Conahan — who regularly met D’Elia and Kulick for breakfast for nearly a decade — had the case assigned to Judge Mark Ciavarella, his co-defendant in a racketeering case, Kulick testified. Ciavarella awarded the businessman $3.5 million following a non-jury trial in 2006. The state Supreme Court eventually overturned the ruling.

At the time, Kulick was facing federal charges for possessing firearms, something he could not do as a convicted tax felon.

Conahan and Ciavarella were later ordered to serve lengthy prison sentences for the infamous kids-for-cash scandal, a case involving bribes they received for placing juveniles in for-profit detention centers.

Kulick sought leniency at sentencing for exposing the Luzerne County corruption and for helping Dauphin County prosecutors who pressed perjury charges against Dunmore businessman Louis DeNaples, who was accused of lying to state gaming regulators about ties to organized crime figures when seeking a license for his Mount Airy Casino Resort. The charges against DeNaples were later dropped under an agreement in which he promised to relinquish ownership of the casino to entities controlled by his children.

D’Elia served seven years in prison for money laundering and witness tampering.

Kulick initially was sentenced to 37 months in prison, but was released in March 2011 after 17 months. His sentence was recalculated due to a judge’s error.

Kulick didn’t stay out of trouble for long — and his life soon spiraled out of control.

On Valentine’s Day 2012, police were called to the Red Roof Inn for a suspected drug overdose. They found Kulick, who had consumed as many as 40 prescription pills and had been sending threatening message to his estranged wife. After his release from the hospital, he was arrested for violating a protection from abuse order.

Kulick, who started living in motels, was jailed at least two other times for a probation violation and for violating the PFA, records show.

No details about Kulick’s life are listed in a short obituary submitted to local media. It just lists his parents, children and other relatives.

There will be a funeral Mass on Saturday at St. Therese’s Church in Shavertown, followed by a private burial, the obituary says.

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2055, @cvbobkal

New federal rules that double the salary threshold for overtime pay have raised concern for local business and nonprofit leaders.

Under the rules announced Wednesday by Vice President Joe Biden, the annual salary limit at which companies may deny overtime pay doubles from $23,660 to just about $47,500, making more people eligible for time-and-a-half if they work more than 40 hours a week.

The ruling, designed to put muscle behind dated and weakened overtime protections, would cover an additional 4.2 million workers, the U.S. Department of Labor says, or about 19 percent of workers who are currently exempt. According to the Obama administration, only 7 percent of full-time workers currently qualify for overtime, down from 62 percent in 1975.

However, one local business leader says the rule, which is to go into effect Dec. 1, is “too much, too fast.”

“Speaking on behalf of business owners in our area, I don’t think anybody disagrees that it’s time to look at those numbers and adjust them appropriately, but the notion of doing something overnight that’s 100 percent change just really doesn’t make sense,” said Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce President Bob Durkin.

He said it’s narrow-minded of the federal government to make such drastic changes without anticipating some adverse impacts or unintended consequences.

The overtime rule is supposed to give more workers, especially low-level managers in food and retail industries, more pay or more free time. To comply, employers have several choices: They can raise workers’ salaries above the threshold, pay time-and-a-half for overtime work, or cap workweeks at 40 hours.

At a meeting of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport board Thursday, Lackawanna County Commissioner Laureen Cummings lamented the new overtime rules. She said she expects them to affect the treatment of some county employees and called the doubling of the salary threshold “astronomical.”

“It will be affecting the county,” she said. “(It will) affect businesses and government through the country. So, it is a huge issue and I hope that it does not stand.”

Business officials said they are working on it, but don’t immediately know whether the rules will prompt changes in scheduling or overtime policies.

“It will take some time to understand the impact and opportunities for TMG Health, our associates and future candidates,” said Holly Kubicki, director of talent and engagement at TMG Health in Jessup, where about 1,100 people work. She added that the company, which provides medical billing and management services and has about 1,800 employees company-wide, has long been committed to attracting and retaining top-level workers.

Businesses and government are not the only ones bracing for the impact.

“I don’t think there’s a doubt that this is going to affect nonprofits as well,” said NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania President Jesse Ergott.

NeighborWorks, based in Scranton, helps families achieve homeownership and works to reverse community blight.

Nonprofits operate on limited, heavily restricted budgets and pump as much of their resources into their missions as possible, Mr. Ergott said. Project-specific grants often require assurance there will be adequate staff to complete the task at hand — although many grants can’t be used to make payroll, he said.

Making sure people are paid adequately for their work is important, Mr. Ergott said, “but it’s going to require some tough decisions for nonprofits.”

BORYS KRAWCZENIUK,

staff writer, contributed to this report.

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com, @jon_oc on Twitter

To commemorate the 272 lives lost in the line of duty around the country, the U.S. Marshals Service office in Scranton has installed a public memorial outside its doors in the federal courthouse.

The office hung the Roll Call of Honor last month, said Martin Pane, U.S. marshal for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, to have it ready for National Police Week last week, which honors fallen officers.

The names on the wall, located on the second floor of the courthouse, include Robert Forsyth, who became the first marshal to die on the job when he was shot and killed while trying to serve court papers in 1794. The memorial also includes the most recent fallen officer, a marshal who died of cancer caused from his time assisting at Ground Zero after the Sept. 11 attacks, Mr. Pane said.

Fortunately, no marshal from the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which came into existence in 1901, has died during service, Mr. Pane said.

But the 272 deaths are more than any other federal law enforcement agency, Mr. Pane noted. Many of the losses can be attributed to the fact that the marshals are the country’s oldest federal law enforcement agency — the first marshals having been appointed by President George Washington in 1789. They were often among the few — and sometimes only — authorities policing the Wild West in the 19th century.

The Roll Call of Honor was paid for out of the local U.S. marshal office’s budget, Mr. Pane said.

Contact the writer:

pcameron@timesshamrock.com, @pcameronTT on Twitter

Covington Twp.

Community event: Daleville United Methodist Church Clothes Closet and Cozy Cafe, Thursday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., 423 Dorantown Road (near junction of routes 435 and 502), free clothing, light snacks available, donations accepted Mondays and Thursdays, 7 a.m.-noon, church office; call 570-842-6776, for emergency clothing.

Dickson City

Organ concert: Church of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary organ dedication concert featuring Hector Olivera, Sunday, 4 p.m., 1090 Carmalt St.; 570-489-2091.

Jessup

Race party: Family of St. Anthony “One Week ’til Race Day” party, Saturday, 8 p.m., Jessup American Legion, Church Street; dancing, entertainment, 50/50 and basket raffles, food, $10.

Lackawanna County

Photography presentation: Lackawanna Historical Society Vietnam presentation by photographer and Vietnam veteran John Hudanish, Sunday, 2 p.m., Catlin House, 232 Monroe Ave., free; 570-344-3841 or lackawannahis

tory@gmail.com.

Ledgedale

Polish dinner: Ledgedale Ladies Auxiliary Polish dinner, Saturday, 4-7 p.m., Ledgedale Fire Hall, $10.

Pittston

Golf tournament: Pittston Kiwanis Club’s 31st annual golf tournament, June 17, registration, 10 a.m., tee-off, 11:30, Emanon Country Club, Falls; $75, light lunch, beverages, buffet dinner, golf, cart, prizes; singles and foursomes welcome, benefits Greater Pittston YMCA’s children’s programs/Kiwanis-sponsored youth programs; Don Shearer, 570-654-5063; Sal Bernardi, 570-820-8459; Ron Faust, 570-814-7157; YMCA 570-655-2255.

Flag day: Knights of Columbus John F. Kennedy Council 372/Assembly 948 Flag Day ceremony, June 14, 6 p.m., Tomato Festival lot to Pittston City Fire House, honor guards from Dupont VFW/ Greater Pittston AMVETS, Knights of Columbus Color Corps participating; Gerard Gurnari, AMVETS Past State Commander, speaking; refreshments follow at Knights home; Fran Ankenbrand, 570-954-8147.

Scott Twp.

Lions meetings: Lions Club golf tournament planning meetings, Thursdays in May, 7:30 p.m.; tournament, June 11, Sleepy Hollow Golf Course, Greenfield Twp.

Scranton

Bike blessing: St. Paul’s United Methodist Church blessing of bikes, Sunday during 10 a.m. worship service, Prospect Avenue and Birch Street.

Plot neighbors: Plot Neighbor-hood Association meeting Wednesday, 7 p.m.; American Legion Post 908, 625 Deacon St.

Throop

Cemetery decoration: Herbert Clark Post 180 Throop American Legion placing new flags on veterans’ graves at St. John’s, St. Mary’s, and Holy Family cemeteries, Tuesday, 5:30 p.m. starting at St. Mary’s on Sanderson Avenue; rain date, Thursday.

West Scranton

Spring fling: West Scranton High School class of 1969 annual Spring Fling, June 4, 6-11:30 p.m., Colarusso’s La Palazzo, 4500 Birney Ave., Moosic; cash bar, casual dress, music by Luongo Brothers; $30, includes buffet, reservations with payment due today; Janet Walsh Butka, Ann Casciano Cammerota, Donna Cardoni Lavelle, Lynn Bauer Mackie, Mary Ellen McNichols Davison, or Facebook page at Class of 69 West Scranton High School.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be emailed to yesdesk@timessham

rock.com or mailed to Clipboard, c/o the YES!Desk at 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Khairul Ahmed Chowdhury and Nahid Sultana, both of Scranton.

■ Caitlin N. Thomas and Steven Charles Walters, both of Scranton.

■ Karina Garcia and Stefany Violeta Rivas, both of Scranton.

■ Colin Patrick Gibson, South Abington Twp., and Sarah Jane Hardy, Jenkintown.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ James J. and Valentina Laurenzano to Michael J. and Jenifer L. Lupole; a property at 8 Landmark Drive, Jefferson Twp., for $297,500.

■ Mark and Christine Farrell, Archbald, to Alicia Marie Mecca, Blakely; a property at 102 R. South Main St., Archbald, for $80,500.

■ Frederick A. and Colleen A. Tarantino, Olyphant, to Kevin M. and Darlene P. Vest, Scranton; a property at 100 Margaret Drive, Olyphant, for $280,000.

■ Keith W. Eckel, Douglas and Felicia Pallman, all of Newton Twp., to Matthew Vacendak, Newton Twp.; a property in Newton Twp. for $137,500.

■ Wells Fargo Bank to Michael Anthony Kalteski; a property in Spring Brook Twp. for $118,800.

■ Lakeshkumar Patel, Scranton, to DDLJ LLC, Scranton; a property at 864-866 Capouse Ave., Scranton, for $100,001.

■ Grassie & Sons Inc., Hamlin, to Richard Lanzoni, Covington Twp.; a property in Covington Twp. for $80,000.

■ Scott M. Hartley to Weichert Workforce Mobility Inc.; a property at 1004 Oakmont Road, Clarks Summit, for $298,500.

■ Weichert Workforce Mobility Inc. to Craig A. Sporcic; a property at 1004 Oakmont Road, Clarks Summit, for $298,500.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

■ Lyndsay Jill Grady, Moscow, v. John Thomas Grady, Moscow; married Sept. 7, 2013, in Lodi, New York; Brigid E. Carey, attorney.

■ Joseph Hopfer, Scott Twp., v. Sylvia Hopfer, Vineland, New Jersey; married Oct. 23, 2013, in Las Vegas, Nevada; John D. Lalley, attorney.

LAWSUITS

■ Randolf Bean, 74 Glade Drive, Long Pond, v. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and Walmart Stores East LP, 3271 Route 940, Mount Pocono, and Hardrock Trucking and Excavating LLC, 784 Frable Road, HC 1 Box 519, Brodheadsville, seeking in excess of $50,000, plus interest and costs, on three counts, for injuries suffered Feb. 2, 2015, in a fall in the defendants’ parking lot; Daniel F. Mitsakos, attorney.

■ Felicia DeSanto, 709 Oak St., Old Forge, v. Joyce M. and Walter Hamm, 119 Leland Drive, South Abington Twp., seeking in excess of that requiring compulsory arbitration under the applicable statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and local rule of court on two counts, for injuries suffered June 4, 2014, in an automobile accident on Northern Boulevard, South Abington Twp.; Michael J. Kowalski and Peter J. Biscontini, attorneys.

ESTATES FILED

■ Thomas R. Phillips, 117 N. Everett Ave., Scranton, letters testamentary to Sean T. Phillips, 121 Aspen Lane, Nicholson.

■ Edward J. Decker Jr., 104 W. Hospital St., Taylor, letters testamentary to Edward J. Decker III, 1765 Capouse Ave., Scranton, and Robin Lynn Decker, 23 Nadine Lane, Thornhurst.

■ Faith Biscontini, 243 Linwood Lane, Taylor, letters testamentary to Christine Faler, same address.

BENCH WARRANTS

Judge Vito Geroulo has issued the following bench warrants for failure to appear on fines and costs:

■ Latasha Wilson, 337 Sussex St., Old Forge; $401.71.

■ Christopher Lee Martin, 43 Kennedy Blvd., Scranton; $4,489.43.

■ Jennifer Pasco, 39 Olendike St., Throop; $4,798.30.

■ Guss House Jr., 420 Emmett St., Scranton; $2,305.77.

■ Michelle Tyler, 141 Wilkinson Ave., Apt. 1L, Jersey City, New Jersey; $2,733.31.

■ Nicholas Capone, 121 Spring St., Moosic; $1,368.

■ Frederick Johnson, 1280 Greene Ave., Apt, 3C, Brooklyn., New York; $6,180.04.

■ Michael Dantone, 200 S. Main St., Wilkes-Barre; $791.50.

■ Ramon Lorenzo, 321 Carleton Ave., Hazleton; $1,725.

■ Vincent M. Antodormi, 38 Franklin St., Carbondale; $2,759.

■ Larry D. Kendricks, 340 N. Garfield Ave., Apt. 1, Scranton; $3,533.

■ Giovanni Michael Martoni, 35 Crown Circle Drive, Apt. 1C, Scranton; $495.

■ Malcome Jamal Ketter, 2219 Sears St., Philadelphia; $1,622.

■ Eric Chris Maxwell, 2824 University Ave., Bronx, N.Y.; $1,686.30.

■ Colleen Marie Powell, 647 Sanderson St., Throop; $1,638.

■ Paul Quinn, 106 Carbon St., Old Forge; $7,765.09.

■ Ronald David Wanamaker Jr., 537 Emmett St., Scranton; $1,192.

■ Matthew Strackbein, 411 N. Cameron Ave., Scranton; $648.50.

■ Michelle Rebernik, 64 Owego St., Simpson; $2,871.

■ Travis R. Peters, 1005 Moosic St., Scranton; $6,223.12.

■ Tracy Vargas, 532 Birch St., Scranton; $1,559.50.

■ Ira Keith Miller, 3920 Princetown Road, Fleetwood; $2,524.39.

■ Ryan Michael Taylor, 705 E. Market St., Scranton; $1,698.

■ Skylar Strickland, 1346 Sanderson Ave., Apt. B, Scranton; $1,768.50.

■ Rodney John Shuleski, 43 Canaan St., Carbondale; $1,955.50.

■ Holly Jill Huey, 1178 Main St., Jenkins Twp.; $750.97.

■ Lindy May Snipes, 630 River St., Peckville; $475.50.

■ Ciara Lee Petrozeillo, 510 Laurel St., Apt. 2, Dunmore; $1,447.

■ Tanya Lynn Wolfe, 52 Hill St., Swoyersville; $504.50.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

Tree marks 25th of NEPA Komen

A tree planted in the soil on the Lackawanna County Courthouse Square in downtown Scranton commemorates the 25th anniversary of the Susan G. Komen Northeastern PA Affiliate.

This autumn flowering cherry tree donated by John Adams and Sweet Bay Grove Landscaping is named the Tree of Hope, and honors Susan G. Komen’s mission to find the cures and end breast cancer.

Barbara Bossi, Esther Hanstein, Lisa Konzelman, Natalie O’Hara, Joanne Pezzuti and Komen affiliate Executive Director Dolly Woody were joined by county officials as they planted the tree.

Funds raised by Susan G. Komen Northeastern Pennsylvania provide breast health education programs and breast cancer screening and treatment services to uninsured and underserved women and men through Community Grants Program in Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“The Tree of Hope recognizes breast cancer Survivors, Thriver’s and Warriors living with breast cancer. It also serves as a reminder that Komen is working in communities and in laboratories everyday throughout the world to save lives and end breast cancer, “ Dolly said, adding, “Seventy-five percent of the net proceeds raised by the Komen Affiliate remain in Northeastern PA, while 25 percent funds 100 percent Susan G. Komen National Research Grant Awards and Training Programs.

Super students

Students were recognized for academic achievements at Albright College’s annual Honors & Awards Ceremony include:

Steven Gosch, a freshman environmental science major from Shohola, who received the Albrightian Contributor of the Year Award; Connor McLaughlin, a freshman mathematics/theatre major from Greentown, who received Julia Pankratz Award, and Jiana Saigh , a sophomore biology major from Bushkill, who received The Ashley Adams ‘05 Study Abroad Memorial Scholarship. Dylan J. Berardelli, son of Frank and Lisa Berardelli of Dalton, was named the recipient of the Gélas Memorial Prize at Hamilton College’s annual Class & Charter Day. The award goes to the senior who has shown the greatest development in strength of character, leadership and athletic ability while at Hamilton. Dylan, a senior majoring in economics, is a graduate of Abington Heights High School.

High notes

Art Walsh will direct and Jeff Ginsberg will produce when Actors Circle presents “Doctor Cook’s Garden” by Ira Levin, May 26 to 29 and June 2 to 5 at Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road in Scranton. Cast in the thriller are: Deborah Buck, Rory Giovannucci, David Hunisch, Mike Lally, Janet Loewe, and Norine Maier. Brink Powellis stage manager; Courtney McCreary, assistant stage manager, and Cathy Rist Strauch , publicist.

SCRANTON — The County of Lackawanna Transit System board has changed its meeting times and locations for the rest of the year.

The board will still meet the third Thursday of each month, but the meetings are now scheduled for 11 a.m. at the Lackawanna Transit Center, the downtown bus station on Lackawanna Avenue. Previously, meetings were an hour earlier and mostly at COLTS headquarters in the Keyser Valley.

The remaining monthly meeting dates are June 21, July 19, Aug. 16, Sept. 20, Oct. 18, Nov. 15 and Dec. 20.

— BORYS KRAWCZENIUK

Lackawanna County’s plan to consolidate operations in a new headquarters at the former Globe Store is feasible but will save about $100,000 per year less than the administration estimated, Controller Gary DiBileo said.

The county controller’s office finalized this week its own analysis of the project to convert the 255,964-square-foot building in downtown Scranton into the Lackawanna County Government Center.

The administration estimated savings on rent and utilities from moving offices to the Wyoming Avenue building will total $122,734 annually after accounting for repayment of $17 million in debt to finance buying, renovating and moving into the space.

“Our analysis differs from that of the county in only a few areas,” the Democratic controller wrote to commissioners. “The annual savings of this consolidation plan is estimated at $17,709.” Mr. DiBileo rounded the county’s estimate to $122,735 to reach this figure.

Differences the controller’s office pinpointed included:

n A $90,075 decrease in rent at the Scranton Electric Building starting in January that the administration did not factor into its math.

n An anticipated $41,097 loss in county real estate tax revenue from taking the former Globe Store off the tax rolls. The figure assumes the county sells the Administration Building at 200 Adams Ave. and returns it to taxable-status, or the gap would widen.

The administration will include as a condition of the sale that the headquarters remain on the tax rolls forever, meaning that the building isn’t sold to a nonprofit organization, Democratic Commissioner Patrick O’Malley said.

n An estimated annual increase of $40,000 in property insurance for the larger facility.

n Four areas of additional savings totaling $66,146 the controller’s office identified that the administration didn’t include in the analysis.

Mr. DiBileo saw a lot to like about the consolidation plan but said with tighter margins on the annual savings, construction cost overruns easily could turn the savings into a liability until the debt is paid off in 25 to 30 years.

“Potential future increases in current lease payments would enhance the positive aspects of the consolidation project savings,” Mr. DiBileo wrote. “Substantial project cost increases over the estimated $17 million will negatively impact these potential savings estimates. Therefore, close attention must be paid to all costs associated with the project.”

The administration’s savings estimate was a snapshot before January and didn’t include the change in rent at the Scranton Electric Building, said Andy Wallace, chief of staff to the commissioners.

Mr. Wallace didn’t disagree the insurance cost probably will be higher, although he said the county didn’t obtain quotes yet.

He also did not dispute the difference in tax collections — although the administration foresees the move as the catalyst for new economic activity in the surrounding area that officials hope will eventually result in higher collections for all taxing bodies.

“The bottom line is he basically agrees — we all agree — that it’s a good move for county government,” Mr. Wallace said. “It’s a good move for all the agencies to get us all into one building. Some of it, on numbers, is it more or is it less? It’s semantics. We’re all basically in agreement on it. ... Whether it’s $100,000 or $18,000, it’s going to save a considerable amount of money.”

Saying he wanted to vet the project in more detail before approving it, Democratic Commissioner Jerry Notarianni voted against the Globe purchase.

On Wednesday, he voted against another resolution related to the transaction that would enable the county to reimburse the general fund for project expenses that are necessary before the county borrows money. That resolution caps the debt at $20 million.

Mr. Wallace said borrowing is still expected to be $17 million and described the resolution as providing an “extreme upward limit” as a buffer to make sure the county is covered in all cases.

John Appleton, one of Mr. Notarianni’s legal advisers, was skeptical the project cost won’t rise.

“That’s almost a 20 percent increase from a month ago, and they haven’t even started construction yet,” Mr. Appleton said.

Contact the writer: kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — Habitat for Humanity of Lackawanna County is accepting homeowner applications.

Qualified applicants must apply online at habitatlack​awanna.org within the next two weeks. Applicants must fit certain criteria to be eligible for consideration, including demonstrating the financial ability to pay a modest monthly mortgage and maintain a modest home in a livable condition, have a need for housing, be willing to complete between 150 and 300 hours of work on construction of Habitat family homes and attend homeowner classes, according to the organization’s website.

Selection for the program will occur in the summer.

— CLAYTON OVER

THROOP — Two youth sports groups reconciled a disagreement concerning money Wednesday, but the suggestion that they disclose their finances to borough council sparked a different debate Thursday.

Council learned during a meeting that the Throop Booster Club and the Throop Little League, which run the borough’s youth softball and baseball programs, respectively, amicably reached an agreement concerning how money from a shared concession stand should be handled.

Each organization will manage and handle its own revenue generated from sales at the stand and provide the other with an accounting of the same, per the agreement. Padlocks that had been placed on a refrigerator and freezer in the stand during the dispute were removed by the booster club once the two sides came to terms.

Council President Tom Lukasewicz praised the organizations for reconciling without council’s intercession.

“I think it’s wonderful that you did it on your own without any intervention,” said Mr. Lukasewicz. “The last thing I wanted to do was have council interfere with two independent organizations.”

Just minutes later, though, the question of how much involvement council should have in the financial affairs of independent organizations became the subject of another debate. Councilman Mark Mazak made a motion asking the booster club and the Little League to share with council their financial records from the past three years.

Mr. Mazak noted that Throop requires fire companies to submit reports on how they spend allocated funds, and he pointed out that the borough has spent more than $40,000 of taxpayer money on utilities at the Little League complex since 2010.

“No one is accusing anyone of anything, but it’s taxpayer money,” said Mr. Mazak. “I’m not against paying the bills down there or supporting the booster club or Little League, but (requesting the records) is the right thing to do. We are dealing with taxpayer money.”

Mr. Lukasewicz disagreed, arguing that money spent on utilities at the complex is the same as money spent on utilities at any other borough park. “The funds that go to the park has nothing to do with the functions of those groups,” he said.

“It’s none of our business what they do with their money,” he continued. “They are separate entities with separate charters, and we have no right to know what their books are whatsoever.”

Mr. Mazak’s motion died when no other council member would second it.

In other business, council voted 4-2 to solicit bids for a consultant to help in the search for a borough manager. Councilwoman Charlene Tomasovitch and Mr. Lukasewicz voted against the motion.

Councilman John Musewicz was absent.

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com, @jhorvathTT on Twitter

Scranton City Council on Thursday approved the first step of a plan that could change the way businesses are taxed.

Council also advanced legislation to increase the interest penalty on delinquent trash fees, and learned from its solicitor the city cannot garnish wages of city employees who owe delinquencies.

And in a new matter, council introduced legislation to seek a state grant to help cover the cost of large pay raises for 10 nonunion positions that had “arbitrary” salary cuts several years ago and have since not had raises.

On the issue of eventually converting business privilege and mercantile taxes (BPM) to a payroll tax, council voted 4-1 — with President Joe Wechsler, Wayne Evans, Tim Perry and Bill Gaughan all in favor, and Pat Rogan opposed — to adopt a Courtright administration resolution to hire TurnKey Taxes of Warrendale to help identify uncollected business privilege and mercantile taxes.

Raising such collections would be a step toward eventually converting to a payroll tax that’s viewed as broader-based and fairer. Mr. Rogan fears increasing the BPM taxes, and a conversion could possibly fall through. He also thinks TurnKey will trod the same ground as the Single Tax Office.

“My concern is that this legislation will be used to ramp up collection on these (BPM) taxes and they’ll never go away,” Mr. Rogan said. “My fear is that we’re paying twice for some of the same services.”

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce has long opposed the current tax structure.

“We’re certainly on record, and have been for decades, that the gross receipt taxes — business taxes and mercantile taxes — are grossly unfair,” chamber President Bob Durkin said in an interview before the council meeting.

On delinquent trash fees, council unanimously advanced an ordinance to slap 10 percent interest annually

on a delinquent trash fee that goes into the next calendar year. Last week, the issue of employees having delinquencies was raised. Council asked solicitor Amil Minora to review whether the city could garnish wages of employees to collect delinquent fees or taxes. Mr. Minora said state law does not allow the city to garnish wages as a way to collect delinquencies. Delinquency collection involves interest penalties and eventually liens.

“Employees here who fall behind would fall into the same category as any other citizen of the city,” Mr. Minora said.

Regarding pay raises, council unanimously introduced a resolution to seek a $234,925 state Act 47 grant consisting of the following: $131,340 to help cover raises of 10 employees on a declining basis over three years; $68,585 for a server/software licensing upgrade in the Information Technology Department; and $35,000 for a stormwater management plan feasibility analysis.

In a caucus before the regular meeting, city Business Administrator David Bulzoni said pay raises in the 10 positions are overdue. They include four workers in the controller’s office, three IT employees, the director of the Department of Public Works, the city treasurer and city clerk. Some positions had “arbitrary” pay cuts several years ago, and raises partly covered by the grant won’t have a big impact on finances, he said. He also cited salaries of comparable positions in other cities that are far higher.

However, Mr. Gaughan and Mr. Rogan expressed concern about the distressed city doling out big raises while raising taxes.

“While it may not be a large percentage of the overall budget, when you’re a financially distressed city, every penny counts,” Mr. Gaughan said.

However, Mr. Evans voiced strong support for the pay raises.

“I think our salaries for our cabinet members and some of leadership people are a disgrace. They’re way too low,” Mr. Evans said.

The grant would cover 100 percent of the raises in the first year, and then 66 percent in the second year, and 33 percent in the third year. The positions, personnel, raises retroactive to start of 2016 and new annual salaries include the following:

Deputy Controller Mary Lynn Carey: $7,000 raise, up to $39,737.

Performance auditor Ronald Huesner: $7,000 raise, up to $39,737.

Program monitor Diane Moran: $4,000 raise, up to $32,827.

Confidential secretary Elizabeth Callela: $5,000 raise, up to $33,171.

Information Technology manager Frank Swietnicki: $10,000 raise, up to $51,600.

Network Systems Assistant Jason DiBiasi: $5,000 raise, up to $39,000.

Information Technology manager assistant Larry Abballe: $7,000 raise, up to $37,000.

Public Works Director Dennis Gallagher: $7,000 raise, up to $50,875.

City Treasurer Wayne Beck: $7,000 raise, up to $41,560.

City clerk Lori Reed: $7,000 raise, up to 48,220.

Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter. Staff Writer Jon O’Connell contributed to this article.

Property owners in the Lakeland School District may see their taxes increase by 12 percent for 2016-17.

The increase, fueled by rising pension and health care costs and the need for school renovations, would mean a taxpayer with a property assessed at the average of $12,149 would pay an additional $152 next year.

The school board voted 6-3 Wednesday night to approve the $21.6 million preliminary budget. Board President Mary Retzbach, Vice President Thomas Evans and Director John Yanochik voted against the budget. Directors plan to vote on a final budget at their meeting on Wednesday, June 29, at 7 p.m. in the Lakeland Junior-Senior High School auditorium.

The proposed 12.5-mill increase exceeds the district’s Act 1 index rate and includes 9.32 mills in exceptions approved by the state. A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value. Under the proposed budget, Lakeland’s total millage would increase to 112.62.

Mrs. Retzbach said that number is a “burden” for Lakeland taxpayers.

“We need to raise taxes, but that number is too high,” she said. “As a board member, I know what the school needs, but I also know people are struggling.”

Superintendent R. Scott Jeffery referred to the new tax rate as an investment by taxpayers, and not solely a tax increase.

The budget, while not eliminating any programs for students, includes the addition of engineering, biomedical sciences and computer science courses. The spending plan also allows the district to address capital improvement needs, such as a new roof at the Mayfield campus, renovation of the high school auditorium and new floors throughout the schools. The district found savings by taking over emotional support classes previously run by the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit and hiring a director of curriculum and instruction, instead of relying on the NEIU for services. At Wednesday’s meeting, the board hired Marian Beck for the position, at an annual salary of $80,000.

Officials are not counting on any increase from the state but expect mandated retirement and Social Security costs to rise $237,000 next year. Since 2012-13, retirement costs have increased by an accumulated $2.3 million, according to the district,

Even with a tax increase, the district still would have the third-lowest tax rate in the county, Mr. Jeffery said.

A finance committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, June 14, at 6 p.m. in the high school library.

“I hope that we get people to come to our finance committee meeting and the board meeting to ... support it or voice their concerns for it,” Mr. Jeffery said.

Detailed budget information is available at http://bit.ly/1617budget.

Contact the writer:

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Dunmore school tax may rise

The Dunmore School Board also passed its preliminary budget Wednesday.

Dunmore’s $20.3 million budget includes a 6.8 percent tax increase. A taxpayer with a property assessed at $10,000 would spend an additional $72 next year. Like Lakeland, Dunmore received permission from the state to raise taxes above the Act 1 index, for a total increase of 7.24 mills.

Even with the tax increase, Dunmore’s budget includes a shortfall of nearly $1 million because of increased pension costs and decreased state funding.

The board is scheduled to pass a final budget on Wednesday, June 22, at 6 p.m. in the high school cafeteria.

Area students used rakes, paintbrushes and board games Thursday to clean parks, spruce up organizations and hang out with seniors around Lackawanna County for United Way’s Youth Day of Caring.

“You get to see what you can do for other people and put a smile on their face,” said Daniel Walsh, St. Clare/St. Paul School eighth-grade volunteer.

During the 15th annual Nancy Jackson Memorial Youth Day of Caring, about 200 students from regional schools — including All Saints Academy, Carbondale Area High School, Allied Services’ dePaul School, Dunmore Middle School, Holy Cross High School, Northeast Intermediate School, St. Clare/St. Paul School and Triboro Christian Academy — volunteered at various United Neighborhood Centers and United Way partner organizations.

Daniel played Wii Bowling with seniors at the West Side Active Adult Community Center on Thursday morning while his classmates challenged seniors at board games and socialized.

The school sends students in two grades each year to volunteer, said Kathleen Walsh, a parent chaperoning the volunteers. Another group was at the American Red Cross on Jefferson Avenue in Scranton.

Over at the Boys & Girls Clubs of NEPA on Ash Street, Scranton, seventh-graders Jake Dougherty and Korey Kruk, who are members of Northeast Intermediate’s student council, were throwing out dead pine cones and needles to clean up the facility’s basketball court.

Both volunteered last year.

“We get out of school and help the community out,” said Jake. Korey added that cleaning the club gives better opportunities to the children in the neighborhood.

Seventh- and eighth-grade members of All Saints Academy’s National Junior Honor Society raked up and threw away fallen leaves and brush at Robinson Park. They also met members of the Arc of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“Its about learning respect and acceptance for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities,” said Pat Quinn, director of residential and adult day services for the Arc.

Marley Stanbaugh, an eighth-grader at All Saints, was excited to volunteer at the United Way’s Youth Day of Caring.

It was her first time, and she was having a great experience.

Her classmates Ashley Capone, Scranton, and Gabby Zambetti, Old Forge, cleaned up the park last year.

“It’s a good opportunity to learn the value of hard work,” said Gabby.

Students also volunteered at Golden Living Center, Carbondale Nursing and Rehab Center, Progressive Center, Angel’s Attic and the Bellevue Center.

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com,

@kbolusTT on Twitter

State police identified human remains discovered in Milford Twp. as Leanna Walker, a 17-year-old girl who has been missing for the last month.

An autopsy has been conducted and the results are pending. State police said the Pike County investigation is continuing.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A uniformed Secret Service officer shot an armed person on a street outside the White House, a U.S. law enforcement official said.

The White House was placed on a security alert after the shooting, which occurred this afternoon. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity for lack of authorization to release the information, said the person approached the Secret Service officer and drew a weapon, and then the officer opened fire.

U.S. Park Police said on Twitter that the shooting happened on West Executive Drive.

A spokesman for D.C. Fire and EMS, Doug Buchanan, said one patient was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition shortly after 3 p.m.

President Barack Obama was not there — he was playing golf — but Vice President Joe Biden was in the White House complex at the time and was secured during the lockdown, his office said.

The White House grounds were shut down to pedestrian traffic, locking staff members and reporters indoors.

Secret Service officials did not immediately return messages.

Associated Press writer Kathleen Hennessey in Washington contributed to this report.

Prosecutors added a new count against a man already charged in relation to a fatal overdose in Hawley last month: drug delivery resulting in death.

Ralissa Gibson’s April 27 death was ruled a homicide by the Wayne County Coroner’s Office this week, caused by the effects of opiates, benzodiazepines and alcohol, according to a report.

State troopers arrested Edmond O’Connor, 22, 57 Rockview Drive, Hawley, after emergency medical personnel responded to an apartment at 724 Church St. for a reported drug overdose and found Ms. Gibson, 30, dead inside.

Mr. O’Connor was initially charged with drug delivery and related charges, but prosecutors added the new charge at a hearing before Magisterial District Judge Bonnie L. Carney on Thursday morning.

A witness, Vincent Brown, told state police that Mr. O’Connor and Ms. Gibson went to get heroin in the hours before her death and he saw Mr. O’Connor inject Ms. Gibson with the drug in the hours before she died, according to court documents. When Mr. Brown awoke to find Ms. Gibson unresponsive, he told Mr. O’Connor what was happening and asked him to call 911. Instead, Mr. Brown said, Mr. O’Connor started gathered drug items inside the house, injected Ms. Gibson with what he said was “salt water” and left the apartment.

in addition to the new charge, Mr. O’Connor’s bail was increased from $500,000 to $750,000 at Thursday’s hearing. He remains in Wayne County Correctional Facility awaiting a preliminary hearing on May 31.

Contact the writer: cover@timesshamrock.com, @ClaytonOver on Twitter

The beaming glitz of Old Hollywood shone brightly Friday night in the Electric City during the premiere of “42nd Street” at Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple.

The glamorous musical opened before an enthusiastic crowd ahead of a weekend-long engagement in Scranton. The show about showbiz marked the close of Broadway Theatre League of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s 2015-2016 season.

Despite strong performances by the perfectly synced cast, the evening was not without bumps and surprises along the way.

Fewer than 25 minutes into the first act, smoke that billowed across the stage for added dramatic effect also tripped fire alarms in the Weinberg Theatre at the cultural center.

Ever the unflappable professional, Kaitlin Lawrence (as the brutally vain yet undeniably talented Dorothy Brock) finished her number, paused with great comedic timing to the commotion, and elicited a round of laughs as she gracefully exited stage left.

The curtain fell for fewer than four minutes as the fog cleared, the noise subsided and the show went on.

The drama continued with a turn of events seemingly ripped from the annals of competitive theater history.

Understudy takes lead

Following an ankle injury incurred by the tour’s star, the lead role of Peggy Sawyer — a small-town girl from Allentown with big-city dreams — was filled by company understudy Jocelyn Moss, according to BTL Executive Director Frank T. Blasi.

Ms. Moss nimbly stepped up and proved a natural at singing, dancing and entertaining, mirroring her character’s fortunate big break into the industry resulting from an accident.

Set in 1933, “42nd Street” follows an ensemble of Hollywood hopefuls and has-beens as they attempt to mount the show-within-a-show, “Pretty Lady.”

Cast members embodied old-fashioned (though no less beguiling) glamour and showiness as they completed extended line kicks and clamorous tap dances, often in hilariously over-the-top costumes.

The hard knocks continued into the second act, however, when a piece of equipment nearly hit performers, causing a momentary disruption until it was safely back in place and out of sight.

Standing ovation

Bolstered by songs such as “I Only Have Eyes For You” and “We’re in the Money,” “42nd Street” still struck a nostalgic chord with the multi-generational audience, who gave it a standing ovation at its conclusion.

Shows continue today at 2 and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 1 p.m. Tickets are available through the box office, online at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling 800-745-3000.

Mr. Blasi said he was happy with the mix of genres represented in the season, and hinted he is close to completing another stellar lineup of Tony Award winners for the coming year, which he expects to announce soon.

“The more varied shows we get, the bigger audience we can bring in,” Mr. Blasi said.

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pwilding@timesshamrock.com,

@pwildingTT on Twitter