CARBONDALE - The city and its police officers have a new deal.

City council approved a seven-year collective bargaining agreement with the police union at a special meeting Monday.

The agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 63, comes after three officers accepted early retirement agreements last month. Sgt. Joe Laguzzi, Capt. Joseph Pilcavage and Detective Sgt. Jesse VanDeusen all opted to take the retirement incentive.

The new contract will include no raise in the first year, a 2 percent raise in the second and third years, a 2.5 percent raise in the fourth year, 3 percent raise in the fifth and sixth years and a 3.5 percent raise in the seventh year.

The contract reduced the number of sergeants from five to four and reduced the number of full-time officers from 12 to eight. The force currently employs nine, but the next full-time officer to retire will not be replaced.

A provision also was made to lock in three part-time officers to serve 32 hours a week, for 50 weeks, at $15 per hour. Council President Kathleen Connor explained that other part-time officers will still be employed and used.

She said she was pleased with the raise schedule and length of the contract. She complimented Mayor Justin Taylor and the negotiating teams for working together to develop the contract.

"They've done a great job trying to right-size the department and make sure that the public is guaranteed complete safety," she said.

Council members Gerald Arnese, Joseph Marzzacco and John Gigliotti were absent from the meeting, but Mr. Gigliotti emailed his support after the meeting.

"I believe this agreement will mutually benefit both sides and will certainly, along with other planning strategies implemented by the city, help the city in striving toward a more balanced budget," he said.

Contact the writer: rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter

The first effects of automatic federal spending cuts at Tobyhanna Army Depot will result in the layoffs of 418 people.

The depot cited decreased funding and work volumes Monday as it reported the layoffs of industrial trades and electronics contract workers will take place in three phases, including the elimination of 95 positions on Friday. On April 15, there will be 216 people dismissed and 107 will be released April 30, the depot reported.

"We have assessed our workload thoroughly and we do not have funding or sufficient work to justify retention of these personnel at this time," Col. Gerhard Schroter, depot commander, said in a statement.

Last week, Tobyhanna announced that more than 5,100 people who work at the Monroe County defense installation must take off 22 nonconsecutive days without pay between late April and Sept. 30. The depot's budget is being cut by $309 million - 35 percent of its government funding - through the end of the fiscal year under budget sequestration.

"This is impacting qualified employees with a number of skill sets," said Teri Ooms, director of Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development, a regional research and analysis group.

The affected employees work for URS Corp., a San Francisco-based engineering, construction and technical services company. Pam Blum, a spokeswoman for URS, declined to comment. Ms. Ooms said URS work for the Energy Department also has been curtailed by sequestration.

Contract workers at Tobyhanna perform many of the same functions as full-time government employees. Many contract employees live in the region and military installations use them during peak periods. Their presence helps protect the full-time workforce from layoffs when orders drop.

Sequestration started March 1, resulting from 2011 budget talks that ended a national debt-ceiling stalemate. The across-the-board cuts are part of $1.2 trillion in potential automatic spending reductions over the next decade, including about $500 billion in military spending.

As sequestration took effect, Tobyhanna reported last week that about 150 workers took early retirement on March 1.

The mood at the depot is apprehensive, spokeswoman Jackie Boucher said.

"People are pretty much concerned and waiting to see what will happen," she said.

The conclusion of U.S. military involvement in Iraq, scaled back operations in Afghanistan, and accelerated completion of equipment repairs have reduced the workload projections this year, the depot report. Because of sequestration, there is no Army funding for depot maintenance in the last two quarters of the current fiscal year, according to Tobyhanna.

About 2,000 Tobyhanna workers are Lackawanna County residents and about 1,400 live in Luzerne County. The sprawling complex, which includes 2 million square feet of shop space, is the military's main facility for the repair and recalibration of electronics and communications equipment.

"Many of the people coming to work at Tobyhanna are coming from the northeast quadrant of the state," Ms. Ooms said. "This will limit the amount of spending they will do in other areas and that ripples through the economy."

About 700 contract workers are employed at Tobyhanna, according to the facility. Total employment at the depot, which exceeded 5,400 last spring, has dipped below 5,000, the installation reported.

Contact the writer: jhaggerty@timesshamrock.com

PLAINS TWP. - Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs is cutting roughly 12 jobs, according to Mike Bean, president and general manager of the casino.

The jobs, mostly management and salaried positions, are "part of continuing efforts to be efficient and also to be aligned with a structure that supports our hotel," Mr. Bean said Monday.

Mr. Bean would not say which positions were cut, but he said the changes impact less than 1 percent of the workforce. The casino plans to add about 300 jobs as part of the $50 million hotel opening at the end of 2013, which will increase the employment to about 2,000, Mr. Bean said.

Before Scranton School District buses are outfitted with cameras to catch traffic violators, many legal questions need answers and an ordinance must be written, district officials said Monday.

The monitoring system from Louisiana-based Bus Shield would be used to issue citations for people illegally passing stopped buses. There would be no cost to the district, and the district and city of Scranton would each get 12 percent of the fine costs. The other 76 percent would go to Bus Shield. The district has about 25 buses that complete 60 routes a day.

During a transportation committee meeting Monday afternoon, representatives from Bus Shield spoke about the steps needed before the district would see any money from the camera system.

Multiple cameras would be located on the inside of the bus, and a camera outside on the stop arm would capture license plates of those illegally passing the stopped bus. The system can be viewed remotely, and the district would need to hire someone to monitor the feeds. The company recommends an off-duty police officer or member of the military be the one to view the footage.

The system would also monitor the bus's mechanical system and location, and parents would be able to download a phone application to view the location of their child's bus.

Revenue from citations would pay for the district monitor, Bus Shield representatives said.

"I think it's a win-win situation, and we get revenue on top of that," said Director Bob Sheridan, chairman of the transportation committee. Bill Fox was the only other school director present at Monday's committee meeting.

There are no districts in Pennsylvania that now use Bus Shield, and a few districts in Iowa and Texas are testing the system, said Louis DeLong, managing member of the company.

The fine for passing a stopped bus is about $300, and the state keeps most of that, said Scranton acting Police Chief Carl Graziano, who attended the meeting. The ordinance would need to bypass the state statute, company representatives said. Both the district and city solicitors will need to get involved, with Scranton City Council eventually having to pass the ordinance.

How much the district could expect to receive is unknown. At a meeting last month, Chief Graziano estimated that about 50 citations for passing buses were issued last year - far fewer than representatives from Bus Shield estimated would be issued.

Directors will discuss the system again at their March 25 work session, with a possible vote on April 1 to allow Bus Shield to study the bus routes.

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

SCRANTON - City police arrested a man in connection with two armed robberies, just days apart, at a Turkey Hill convenience store.

David Wanzie, 24, 1320 Mulberry St., was charged with robbery, theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and recklessly endangering another person for the March 3 and March 10 armed robberies of the 1429 Mulberry St. Turkey Hill, police said.

Mr. Wanzie was taken into custody at his workplace in West Scranton, charged with the crimes and taken to the Lackawanna County Central Processing Center, police said.

CARBONDALE - A Carbondale bar was cited for a September violation by the Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement.

L&M Bar and Grill Inc., 24 S. Main St., was cited for possessing or operating gambling devices and paraphernalia, permitting gambling or lotteries, pool selling and bookmaking on the licensed premises, according to a press release.

The bar faces fines ranging from $50 to $5,000, as well as possible license suspension or revocation based on the severity of the charges.

BUSHKILL - Mating amphibians will close a road within Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area over the next few weeks.

River Road, a location where the National Park Service said a high number of wood frogs, spotted salamanders and spring peepers are hit by passing vehicles, will be closed on rainy nights from mid-March to mid-April, when the animals are most likely to go in search of a mate.

The road will be closed from park headquarters in Middle Smithfield Twp. to Haileah Picnic Area on rainy nights when the temperatures reach the 50s from about 6 p.m. to 6 a.m.

STAFF REPORT

A flash flood watch is in effect for Lackawanna, Wayne, Luzerne and Pike counties until 8 p.m.

A band of heavy rain moving across the region could cause flash flooding on small streams, creeks and headwaters this afternoon into the evening, according to the National Weather Service in Binghamton.

Over an inch of rain is possible in some areas through mid-afternoon, the weather service said. Snow melt at the highest elevations might also contribute to flooding.

ARROYO, JOEL ROLON, Old Forge, today, 7 p.m., Eagen-Hughes Funeral Home, 2908 Birney Ave., Scranton. Interment, Funete De Luz Memorial, Vega Baja, Puerto Rico. Calling hours, 4 until service.

BOBROWSKI, KATHRYN, Dickson City, today, 1 p.m., Chapel in St. Mary's Cemetery, Throop, by Monsignor Michael Delaney. Interment, St. John the Baptist Cemetery. Arrangements: John F. Glinsky Funeral Home, Throop.

CHAPPLE, STEVEN J., Ransom Twp., today, 7 p.m., Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 418 S. State St., Clarks Summit. Interment, private. Calling hours, today, 5 to 8.

CIPRIANO, ANTHONY P. "CUBBY," Taylor, Wednesday, Edward J. Chomko Funeral Home, Scranton. Mass, St. Lucy's Church, Scranton, by the Rev. Joseph Cipriano, brother; the Rev. Sam J. Ferretti, pastor; Deacon Carmine Mendicino and Most Rev. James C. Timlin, Bishop Emeritus. Many monsignors and priests were present. Pallbearers: Larry Frable Jr., Joseph Jr. and Christopher Kowalski, grandsons; Brian Derk and Dino Nalaschi, grandsons-in-law; and Louis Golden, nephew. Interment with Navy honors, Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton.

CURCIO, JULE "JULIANNA MARIANNA," Scranton, Saturday, 9:30 a.m., August J. Haas Funeral Home Inc., 202 Pittston Ave., Scranton. Mass, 10, St. Francis of Assisi Church, 630 Genet St., Scranton, by the Rev. Scott Sterowski, pastor. Interment Italian-American Cemetery, Minooka section. Calling hours, Friday, 4 to 7 p.m. Contributions: St. Paul of the Cross Parish, 1217 Prospect Ave., Scranton, PA 18505, or Hospice of the Sacred Heart, 600 Baltimore Drive, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.

DALEGRAND, MARY JANE, Scranton, Mass, Wednesday, St. Peter's Cathedral, Scranton, by the Rev. Philip A. Altavilla, pastor. Pallbearers: John Harin, brother; Herbert Otto and George Cook, brothers-in-law; Thaddeus Wright and Andrew Otto, nephews; Shinar Francis and Shelius "Blade" Funches Jr.

EBLE, JOHN J., Gino J. Merli Veterans Center, Wednesday, August J. Haas Funeral Home Inc., Scranton, by the Rev. Michael Bryant, pastor. Pallbearers: Joel, Gary and Robert Eble, Jerry Coggins and Ken and David Whalers, nephews. Interment, Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst.

FIVES, ROSE KOROSEC, Charleston, N.C., formerly of Browndale, Mass, Saturday, 11 a.m., St. Joseph's Church, Forest City. Calling hours, 10 until Mass. Arrangements: Kevin M. Lesjack Funeral Home, 513 Main St., Forest City.

FLEMING, PATRICIA RUTH, Lake Ariel, Mass, Friday, 9:30 a.m., St. Thomas More Church, 105 Gravity Road, Lake Ariel. Go directly to church. Cremation, Lake Region Crematory, Lake Ariel. Calling hours, today, 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., James Wilson Funeral Home, 143 Gravity Road, Lake Ariel.

FREW, THOMAS L., West Pittston, today, 11 a.m., Metcalfe-Shaver-Kopcza Funeral Home Inc., 504 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming. Interment, Memorial Shrine Park, Carverton. Contributions: Salvation Army, 214 Luzerne Ave., West Pittston, PA 18644.

GAETANO, DOROTHY ZEWAN, Clarks Green, formerly Dunmore, Wednesday, Mass, Church of St. Gregory, Clarks Green, by the Rev. John M. Lapera, pastor, and Monsignor John H. Louis, pastor emeritus, and Deacon Robert Sheils. Pallbearers: Mark Ussai, Leonard P. Gaetano, Joseph Karlavige, Jeremiah F. Eagen, Sue Ann Karlavige and Jacqueline Gaetano, grandchildren. Interment, St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Arrangements: Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Service Inc., Clarks Summit.

GRAY, GERALDINE C., Archbald, Friday, 2 p.m., Parise Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., Carbondale.

GRIFFIN, PATRICK JOSEPH JR., Honesdale, today, 7 p.m., Hessling Funeral Home Inc., 428 Main St., Honesdale. Calling hours, 4 until service. Cremation to follow.

GRIFFITHS, THOMAS CLINTON, Scranton, Friday, 10 a.m., Vanston and James Funeral Home, 1401 Ash St., Scranton, by the Rev. Kory Houser. Interment with military honors, Washburn Street Cemetery, Scranton. Calling hours, today, 5 to 8 p.m. Contributions: Jackson Street Baptist Church, 1206 Jackson St., Scranton, PA 18504.

HANYON, RALPH L., Nicholson, service, military honors, Nicholson American Legion Post 953, Monday, 7 p.m., Charles H. Litwin Funeral Home, 91 State St., Nicholson.

HARSCHE, JENNIFER ANN CATALANO, Scranton, Friday, 10 a.m., by the Rev. Patrick Albert, August J. Haas Funeral Home Inc., 202 Pittston Ave., Scranton. Interment: East Dyberry Cemetery, Honesdale. Calling hours, today, 6 to 8 p.m.

HOUSEL, MARCIA MASTERS, Harford, Saturday, 11 a.m., First Congregational Church, 5016 Creek Road, Harford. Calling hours, Friday, 6 to 8 p.m., Bartron-Myer Funeral Home, 382 Church St., Montrose. Contributions: First Congregational Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 217, Harford, PA 18823.

HURST, ANNA M., Rochester, N.Y., private. Arrangements: Cremation Services of Western New York, 2309 Culver Road, Rochester.

KOWALSKI, MARGARET, Stroudsburg, formerly of West Scranton, private, by the Rev. Earl O. Cassel, pastor, United Baptist Church. Pallbearers: Michael III, Michael IV and Thomas Foy, Richard Warnken, John Shelly and Todd Yurkovic. Interment, Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst.

MARX, PATRICK J., Scranton, today, 9:30 a.m., August J. Haas Funeral Home Inc., 202 Pittston Ave., Scranton. Mass, 10, Cathedral of St. Peter, by the Rev. Philip A. Altavilla, pastor. Go directly to church. Interment Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. Contributions: Memorial fund in Pat's name at Scranton Preparatory School, 1000 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, PA 18509.

MULLALLY, MARY E., Jermyn, Wednesday, Battenberg Funeral Home, Jermyn. Mass, Sacred Heart of Mary Church, Jermyn, by Monsignor Dale Rupert. Pallbearers: Paul Mullally, Dominick Curatola, Fred Loefflad, Thomas Pidgeon and Gail Rosemergey. Interment, St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery, Archbald.

ONDRICK, SHIRLEY M., Mobile, Ala., Friday, 10 a.m., Asbury United Methodist Church, Scranton, by the Rev. Arthur Davis. Interment, Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst. Visitation, today, 5 to 9 p.m., Howard J. Snowdon Funeral Home, 1810 Sanderson Ave., Scranton. Contributions: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

PAYNE, LOIS A., Lake Winola, Saturday, 7 p.m., Lake Winola United Methodist Church, by Pastor Joan Dobson. Contributions: Lake Winola United Methodist Church, RR3, Box 97, Dalton, PA 18414. Arrangements: Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home Inc., Tunkhannock.

RUTKOSKI, BEATRICE, Duryea, today, 11 a.m., Bernard J. Piontek Funeral Home Inc., 204 Main St., Duryea. Mass, 11:30, Holy Rosary Church, Duryea, by the Rev. Andrew Sinnott. Interment, Holy Rosary Cemetery, Duryea. Contributions: donor's favorite charity.

SPITALE, CATHERINE E., Tobyhanna, Mass, today, 10 a.m., St. Ann's Church, Main Street, Tobyhanna, by the Rev. Joseph R. Kopacz. Go directly to church. Interment, St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Arrangements: Duffy & Snowdon Funeral Home, Moscow.

TATE, ARLENE C., Virginia, Friday, 10 a.m., St. James Catholic Church, Falls Church, Va. Burial: private. Calling hours, today, 4 to 8 p.m., Murphy Funeral Home, Falls Church. Tax deductible contributions: So Others May Eat, 71 O St., NW, Washington, D.C. 20001.

THOMAS, LILLIAN, Peckville, today, James M. Margotta Funeral Home, 1019 Main St., Peckville. Interment, private. Calling hours, today, 6 to 9 p.m.

More than $2 million in federal grant money will be distributed among local community programs that help the homeless.

The U.S. Department Housing and Urban Development on Wednesday awarded a total of $2.3 million to 17 homeless housing and service programs in Lackawanna County as part of its initiative to reduce and end homelessness.

Provided through its Continuum of Care program, the department awarded $82.7 million to 467 homeless supportive programs statewide to continue cutting homelessness - which dropped 2.4 percent in Pennsylvania in 2012.

Among the beneficiaries of the funding is the United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, which received about $800,000, executive director Michael Hanley said.

"We are very pleased," Mr. Hanley said. "It's a little more than we usually get."

Based in Scranton, the organization offers many programs, including permanent supportive housing, family reunification housing and transitional housing.

Of the estimated $800,000 the organization received, about $300,000 is earmarked for the permanent supportive housing programs, which provides "case management" to chronically homeless individuals and families, Mr. Hanley said.

"These programs are critical because they reduce the number of homeless out on the streets and provide safety nets for families on the bottom rungs," Mr. Hanley said.

Among the other organizations that received a share of the $2.3 million are Catholic Social Services, $307,473; St. Joseph's Mother Infant Program, $103,328; and the Women's Resource Center, 128,753.

Contact the writer: miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter

LACKAWANNA COUNTY COURT NOTES

marriage licenses

n Terrence Robert Nealon Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Donovan, both of Scranton.

n Isaac Michael Garvin and Danielle Ann Jones, both of Clarks Summit.

n Daniel Amos Cameron and Katelyn Michele Rinaldi, both of Spring Brook Twp.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

n Sandra and James Mullen, Mayfield, and Theodore J. and Margo Klish, Chevy Chase, Md., to Billy A. and Candi E. Dietz, Jessup; a property at 416 Hill St., Mayfield, for $79,500.

n Gino and Catherine M. Sabatini to Its Amore Corp.; three parcels in South Abington Twp. for $100,000.

n Thomas R. and Susan A. Davidson, Dalton, to Timothy J. Carpenter, Dalton; a property in Dalton for $116,000.

divorceS sought

n Donna Bernard, Meshop­pen, v. Julian Bernard Jr., Meshoppen; married June 21, 2008, in Scranton; pro se.

n Dawn M. Borent, Moosic, v. William J. Borent, Moosic; married June 22, 2002, in Scran­ton; Kim A. Giombetti, attorney.

DIVORCE DECREES

n Amy S. Backus v. Chad John Backus

n Roberto G. Navarro v. Beth Navarro

n Glenia Fletrin v. Francisco Olivera Jr.

n Tammy Camacho Van Fleet v. Matthew Van Fleet

n Robert Franko v. LeaAnne Franko

estates filed

n Elaine Thomas, also known as Elaine M. Thomas, 101 Rosebud Lane, Clarks Summit, letters testamentary to Keith J. Thomas, same address.

n Walter Siniawa, 400 Bedford St., Apt. 112, Clarks Summit, letters testamentary to Irwin Schneider, P.O. Box 675, Dalton.

n Mary Coughlin, 23 E. Dosoris Lane, Dix Hills, N.Y., letters of administration to Mary Rosenblatt, same address.

n Elizabeth Mae Hopkins, also known as Elizabeth Hopkins, 88 S. Waterford Road, Glenburn, letters of administration to Mark Hopkins, 613 Grace St., Scranton.

n Richard D. Sakulich, 313 Rebecca St., Throop, letters testamentary to Carol Sakulich, same address.

BENCH WARRANTS

Judge Vito Geroulo issued the following warrants for failure to appear, fines, costs and restitution:

n Juan Gaston Torres, Rear 2121 Myrtle St., Scranton; $4,672.

n Carol Doherty, 1312 West St., Honesdale; $1,192.

n Timothy Scot Eames, 314 Catherine St., Elmira, N.Y.; $4,162.51.

n Julie Gift, 248 Main St., Apt. A, Duryea; $1,229.18.

n William Genovese, 411 Chestnut St., Dunmore; $528.

n Jeffrey Joseph Creedon, 323 N. Washington Ave., Scranton; $559.50.

n Crystal Bruch, 42 Fall­brook St., Carbondale; $240.

n Charles J. Dyer Jr., 145 E. Broad St., Hazleton; $4,273.35.

n Brian William Gillette, P.O. Box 81, Moscow; $698.

n Jennifer Lynn Haasz, 145 E. Elm St., Apt. 2, Dunmore; $600.

n Charles Griffith, 13619 S.E. Highway 70, Arcadia, Fla.; $480.50.

n Joseph Felker, 1328 Pitts­ton Ave., Scranton; $216.50.

n Larry Delancey, 1441 San­der­son Ave., Scranton; $4,002.

n Albert J. Garren, 137 S. Key­ser Ave., Old Forge; $3,765.74.

n Anthony Barycki, 921 Sibley Ave., Old Forge; $1,913.50.

n Jennifer Ross, 235 W. Par­ker St., Scranton; $1,970.50.

n Brandy Marie Lutz, 57 Eighth Ave., Carbondale; $7,815.71.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

The bells at St. Peter's Cathedral rang in concert with the bells tolling in Rome on Wednesday as Catholics downtown celebrated the sight of white smoke rising 4,000 miles away.

Catholics in the Diocese of Scranton welcomed as their new pope a prelate known for living a simple pastor's life but whose selection is pathbreaking. Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the first pope from the Americas, the first Jesuit, the first to take the name Francis.

"Clearly, the church now is the church universal," Bishop Joseph C. Bambera said in the chancery on Wednesday afternoon, noting that the first South American pope followed popes from Germany and Poland in breaking a trend of Italian pontiffs.

He said he was struck most by Pope Francis' unmistakable signs of humility. The new pope wore a white cassock without the traditional velvet and ermine-trimmed mozzetta, an ornate cape, to greet the world. He asked the crowd gathered at the Vatican to bless him before he blessed them.

"He knelt down, and that crowd was silent in prayer for him," Bishop Bambera said. "What a wonderful, wonderful statement of faith in God's people and of brotherhood and sisterhood."

Religion and theology professors from area Catholic colleges said the cardinals' surprising selection signals that the church's princes were seeking a pastor as pope.

"The fact that they chose somebody who has spent his leadership career in a diocese, that tells me that the cardinals are concerned about pastoral leadership, evangelization and spreading the gospel," Joseph Curran, Ph.D., a religious studies professor at Misericordia University, said.

He called the selection a "wonderful vote of confidence" for the Jesuit order whose priestly formation process produces "spiritually deep and gifted people."

The pope's name also suggests a "fresh start." Dr. Curran noted that no pope in more than 1,000 years had chosen a name unused by any prior pope.

The University of Scranton felt a particular connection to the pope. University President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., said the school, like Jesuit colleges and universities around the globe, "shares a special bond" with Pope Francis and "shares the joy of Catholics worldwide" at his selection.

I. Michael Bellafiore, S.J., an assistant theology professor at the university, said the fact that the cardinals selected an older candidate, 76, after a relatively short conclave "confirms that they must have been impressed by his sanctity, that he really is a holy man and the man that God wanted at this moment."

Most local church observers expect only modest changes with the new papacy - they said Francis will likely bring to the church new emphasis on issues of poverty and economic inequality, but he is known for his commitment to church teaching on issues concerning sexuality and abortion.

Anthony M. Stevens-Arroyo, Ph.D., an East Stroudsburg resident and emeritus professor who writes about Catholicism for the Washington Post's "On Faith" blog network, said he thought of Pope John XXIII when he saw Pope Francis emerge on the balcony. Pope John XXIII was "supposed to be too old to make a difference, to be faithful and not make any waves" but then he convened the Second Vatican Council that changed the modern church.

Pope Francis, he said, "is not going to upset the church. But he is going to break new ground in changing the way the church deals with the world.

"This is a pope whose charisma is in his actions, not in his words."

Early Wednesday, Holy Cross High School theology teacher Kathy Yaklic, the school's director of religious formation, taught a lesson about the history of papal conclaves. Since the conclave began, students at the Catholic school in Dunmore had been praying for the cardinals.

Students asked what language the cardinals from around the world used to speak to one another. (Latin, or perhaps some English, Mrs. Yaklic said.) The students also asked what the cardinals ate for dinner Tuesday night.

"I heard it was pasta," Mrs. Yaklic said.

Before the votes began on Tuesday, the students were each given the name of a cardinal using the website adoptacardinal.org.

Each day, freshman Zoë Haggerty prayed for Cardinal Antonio Cañizares Llovera of Spain.

"It's so interesting," she said. "I'm absolutely fascinated,"

Mrs. Yaklic hoped her students would see the chance to witness history as a way to further connect with the Church.

"If they come away saying 'our church is alive and well,' that means so much more to me than a test on a paper," Mrs. Yaklic said.

Contact the writers: llegere@timesshamrock.com, shofius@timesshamrock.com

CAMPAIGN 2013

Rally for Mark P. McAndrew for Sheriff, Friday, 6-9 p.m., at the Villa Maria's II, 1610 Washburn St., Scranton. Tickets, $20. Food and refreshments will be served.

CLIPBOARD

Avoca

Ham/cabbage: West Side Social Club ham and cabbage dinner, Saturday, 4-8 p.m., $7, takeouts available.

Clarks Green

Bunny breakfast: Clarks Green United Methodist Church bunny breakfast/egg hunt, Saturday, 9:30-10 a.m., fellowship hall, 119 Glenburn Road, crafts, games and pictures with bunny.

Green Ridge

Sportsmen meet: Green Ridge Sportsment's Club meeting, Friday, 7 p.m., American Legion Post 908, Deacon Street.

Hamlin

Beef dinner: St. John's Episco­pal Church roast beef dinner, April 6, 4-7 p.m., Route 191S, takeouts, 3:30, $10/adults, $5/up to 12 and free/under 5.

Montrose

Town meeting: State budget town-hall meeting, today, 1-3 p.m., 38 Public Ave., for business leaders, nonprofits, volunteers, board members, clients, consumers, elected officials, community members; 465-3868 or uwsusqco@yahoo.com.

Newfoundland

Charity auction: Rotary Club of Newfoundland charity auction, Aug. 3, and flea market, Aug. 3-4, GDS Fairgrounds, free space available to local non-profit organizations and space available for individuals, now accepting donations of good, saleable items for auction and flea market: household furniture, home décor items, hand tools, power equipment, collectibles, antiques, toys, etc., will pick up donations, Roger Altemier, 676-3384.

Old Forge School District

Kindergarten registration: Old Forge kindergarten registration Tuesday-Wednesday, 9-11:30 a.m. and 1-2:30 p.m., elementary school lobby; proof of age, residency and immunization records required; download registration packets at www.ofsd.cc.

Olyphant

Religious visit: SS. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church visit by the Most Rev. Stefan Soroka, metropolitan-archbishop of Philadelphia of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, March 28, 135 River St., celebration of the Vesperal Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great, 10:30 a.m., blessing of the Chrism and ceremony of the "Washing of the Feet," www.stcyrils.maslar-online.com.

Poconos

Men's retreat: Pocono Mountain Bible Conference free men's retreat, Friday-Sunday, 18 years and older, lodging and all meals included, donations accepted, www.camppmbc.com/mens-retreat or 842-9742.

Regional

Bunny breakfast: Allied Servi­ces Bunny Breakfast, March 23, 9 a.m., Morgan Highway; $6; reservations, 348-1398.

Auxiliary meeting: Geisinger Community Medical Center Auxiliary meeting, April 8, 5:45 p.m., second floor board room, 969-7163.

Riverside

School play: Riverside High School play, "Honk!" Friday-Satur­day, 7 p.m., and Sunday, 2 p.m.

Scranton

Reunion meeting: Scranton Technical High School class of 1972 reunion meeting, Monday, 6:30 p.m., Pour Boys, 932 Wyoming Ave.; 41st reunion, July 13, 6-11 p.m., Waldorf Park Social Club, East Mountain; Susan Torda, 563-1248, Chris Volz, 351-2213, or Ray Meoni, 687-2945.

West Scranton

50/50 bingo: St. Mary's Sister­hood of St. Michael's Orthodox Church 50/50 bingo, Sunday, 1 p.m., 540 N. Main Ave., refreshments sold; 961-1795.

Soup sale: SS. Peter and Paul Russian Orthodox Church clam chowder/vegetarian vegetable soup sale, Friday, 11 a.m.-4 p.m., parish center, South Fill­more Avenue; $7/quart; 842-6476 or 343-8128; or 961-3147 on Friday.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be emailed to yesdesk@times shamrock.com or mailed to Clip­board, c/o YES!Desk, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. For details, call the YES!Desk, 348-9121.

Couple held for drugs

Lackawanna County detectives discovered 22 grams of uncut heroin with an estimated street value of roughly $20,000 in a drawer full of women's panties and bras Monday afternoon.

Detectives served a search warrant on Rossy Chatelain and Danielle Moorer's 805 Cedar Ave., Scranton, home, where they discovered the raw heroin along with 34 baggies of the drug, a digital scale, more than $1,200 in cash and a gram of cocaine in the couple's bedroom, according to the criminal complaint.

Police also found a box of 9mm Remington ammunition, an unopened gun lock, a handgun-shaped BB gun and a small amount of marijuana, police said.

Mr. Chatelain, 33, and Ms. Moorer, 27, were arrested without incident and charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy to possess with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to the complaint.

Both were arraigned Monday and are slated for preliminary hearings March 21.

Mr. Chatelain and Ms. Moorer are both in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $35,000 and $25,000 bail, respectively.

Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter

Buried deep in the plea agreement former Sen. Robert J. Mellow reached with the U.S. attorney's office a year ago is a provision that nothing in the document is binding on any other law enforcement agency.

That includes the Pennsylvania attorney general's office, which on Wednesday announced criminal charges against Mr. Mellow and seven other men in a multimillion-dollar "pay-to-play" scheme involving the Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Two local defense attorneys familiar with the workings of both systems said the federal conspiracy case that landed Mr. Mellow in a federal prison camp in South Carolina for 16 months is unlikely to have any direct impact on the new state charges or vice-versa.

"The federal case is over. He's serving his time. They (federal prosecutors) are not going to reopen or charge him federally," attorney Christopher T. Powell said. "This is a state case. As long as it didn't overlap … the attorney general's office can prosecute."

The March 2012 agreement that resulted in Mr. Mellow's guilty plea to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and tax evasion expressly bars the U.S. attorney's office from charging the former lawmaker for any additional offenses "under investigation at the time of this agreement."

That would appear to rule out the possibility federal prosecutors could piggyback on the state investigation, which began in 2009, to bring new federal charges against Mr. Mellow.

However, Mr. Powell said if the federal grand jury that investigated Mr. Mellow touched on matters that became the basis for the state charges, there may be an opening for Mr. Mellow's counsel.

"There may have been other crimes the federal grand jury was investigating, and if they are duplicated by this new presentment in the state, that would be my argument if I were the defense attorney," he said.

Attorney Ernie Preate, who is a former state attorney general, said Mr. Mellow probably was under no obligation to come clean with federal investigators about any other criminal activity he might have been involved in.

"You don't necessarily have to do it unless it is part of the terms of your plea bargain," he said.

Where the federal case could come into play is if Mr. Mellow is convicted on the state charges, which include serious felonies that potentially carry sentences far harsher than 16 months in a federal prison camp, Mr. Preate said.

"What happens now is that prior federal conviction gives him a criminal history that kicks it into a higher sentence category," Mr. Preate said. "He doesn't approach the bench with a clean slate."

Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com

An Investigation Discovery crime show airing Friday night will feature a 2007 triple-homicide from Bradford County.

The episode, "Splitting Heirs," focuses on the murder of Laceyville barber Joe Colegrove, his wife, Marlene, and their son, Michael, in the Investigation Discovery family murder series "Blood Relatives" and features interviews with family friends Brad Fassett and Eric Eberlin; police investigators George Confer, David Pelachick and James Kerrick; Bradford County District Attorney Daniel Barrett, and a local television reporter, Jon Meyer.

Mr. Barrett, who was interviewed for the show last year, said he narrated the timeline to producers and focused on the two pieces of circumstantial evidence critical to convicting the murderer - empty shell casings at the scene that matched a shotgun in a home more than 70 miles away and blood spatter in the barrel of the gun that killed all three individuals.

"It was a grizzly case involving a nightmare situation, to be attacked in your own home," he said, recalling the murder where Joe, Marlene and Michael were all shot to death with a shotgun in their own beds.

"We got to know about the people who were murdered and got to know Steven Colegrove, the defendant."

Mr. Colegrove, then a resident of Deposit, N.Y., was convicted in early 2009 of killing his parents and his brother in the early morning hours of Aug. 8, 2007, at the victims' home in Tuscarora Twp, Bradford County.

Mr. Barrett said this was his first time being involved with a show of this nature.

"One thing I do hope that does make the show is the magnificent show of cooperation between the New York State Police and the Pennsylvania State Police - they had this wrapped up in 48 hours," he said.

The show can be seen at 9 p.m. Friday on channel 111 for Comcast users, 285 for DIRECTV subscribers and 192 on DISH Network.

Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter

The state Department of Corrections will pay $65 per prisoner per day to house parole violators at the Lackawanna County Prison under an agreement approved Wednesday by the county commissioners.

Warden Robert McMillan told the commissioners the new agreement is similar to one the jail had to house regular state prisoners until the Department of Corrections decided to remove those inmates from county facilities last fall, with two major differences.

The new contract involves only technical parole violators - offenders who break the terms and conditions of their parole - and the amount the prison is paid for each inmate will jump from $60 to $65 daily, Mr. McMillan said. The agreement will run for three years, with the possibility of extending it to five.

The department is permitted to place up to 100 parole violators at the jail, meaning the contract is potentially worth more than $2 million annually to the county.

However, Department of Corrections spokeswoman Susan McNaughton said the number of violators Lackawanna County receives is likely to fluctuate "based on our need as well as what other counties may participate" in housing the prisoners.

The commissioners voted for a second time to approve legislation to borrow $2.8 million from Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank to fund construction of the county's carrier-grade wireless network.

The commissioners originally introduced the ordinance Jan. 23 and then adopted it Feb. 5. However, the state Department of Community and Economic Development, which must approve the borrowing, kicked the ordinance back to the county for re-adoption because it was not properly advertised before the Feb. 5 vote.

On another matter, the county pension board, which includes the commissioners, Controller Gary DiBileo and Treasurer Ed Karpovich, voted to issue a belated request for qualifications for an audit of the board's 2012 finances after learning a local firm, McGrail, Merkel, Quinn & Associates, was already working on the audit.

County spokesman Joseph D'Arienzo said a check of county records showed the McGrail firm was awarded a contract to perform the 2009 audit after responding to a request for proposals in 2010. The firm has done every audit since then after sending an engagement letter to the county for approval, he said.

Mr. DiBileo said he signed off on the letter for the 2012 audit after receiving it from the pension board secretary, and county officials said it was returned to McGrail without either the board or the commissioners approving it. Solicitor Don Frederickson said the letter is not a valid contract.

Commissioner Corey O'Brien said while it is expected that McGrail will respond to the new RFQ, it may choose to halt its work on the audit pending the completion of the process.

The commissioners also:

- Approved the final undeveloped lot in the Covington Industrial Park for the Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance program, which will exempt real estate taxes on improvements on the 36-acre tract for 10 years. Covington Twp. and North Pocono School District previously approved the LERTA exemption.

- Approved a $3,168 grant from the Department of Environmental Protection for an electronic education project aimed at educating the public on recycling and other environmental issues.

- Proclaimed March 21 as the 10th annual CASUAL Day in the county to promote colon cancer awareness.

- Presented a "Good Works in Lackawanna County" certificate of recognition to Jaime Hailstone and Dave Clark of the St. Patrick's Parade Association of Lackawanna County.

Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com

Former state Senate Democratic Leader Robert J. Mellow steered Pennsylvania Turnpike contracts to favored vendors, required turnpike staff to tap vendors for campaign contributions and took unreported limousine rides to New York Yankees games paid for by PNC Bank, according to a grand jury presentment outlining new state charges he faces.

Mr. Mellow, 70, was part of a years-long pattern of corruption at the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission spearheaded by his chief of staff, Tony Lepore, and the commission's former chief executive officer, Joseph Brimmeier, its former chief operating officer, George Hatalowich, and its former chairman, Mitchell Rubin.

Read the presentment HERE

Mr. Brimmeier, Mr. Rubin, Mr. Hatalowich and Mr. Mellow were among eight people charged in the case. Also charged were Melvin Shelton and Raymond Zajicek, two former turnpike commission employees; and two vendors, Dennis Miller, a vice president of Ciber Inc., a computer consulting firm, and Jeffrey Suzenski, owner of Commonwealth Consulting Services Inc. and part owner of Twin County Construction. Mr. Lepore received immunity from prosecution and is not charged.

The new charges were announced Wednesday at a Capitol news conference by state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane and State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan, both from Lackawanna County, like Mr. Mellow.

"The grand jury found that these men were using the Turnpike to line their pockets and to influence elections," Mrs. Kane said. "That is stealing from the public, pure and simple."

Prosecutors said Mr. Mellow will probably return to Harrisburg next week for arraignment on the charges and a preliminary hearing.

The state grand jury investigation of the turnpike commission started in 2009 when now-Gov. Tom Corbett was the attorney general, Mr. Noonan said, and continued over 44 months and two grand juries.

Mr. Lepore's and the turnpike officials' mission was to ensure the commission hired vendors who contributed to the campaigns of Mr. Mellow and other top politicians such as former state Sen. Vincent Fumo of Philadelphia and former Gov. Ed Rendell, according to the presentment and campaign finance records.

Efforts to obtain comment from Mr. Mellow's lawyers were unsuccessful.

Mr. Mellow is serving a 16-month sentence in a South Carolina federal prison camp after pleading guilty last year to conspiracy to commit mail fraud and filing a false tax return. Mr. Fumo is serving a 61-month federal prison sentence on separate corruption charges.

On the state charges, Mr. Mellow faces up to 51 years in prison if convicted and sentenced to the maximum penalty on all charges. Such a sentence almost never happens.

Mr. Rendell issued a statement denying knowledge of what went on.

"I have not read the indictment nor was I aware of any inappropriate activity. I am saddened by this news, because Joe Brimmeier made significant improvements in the operation of the Pennsylvania Turnpike during his tenure," Mr. Rendell said.

Neither Mr. Rendell, nor Mr. Fumo nor any other politicians besides Mr. Mellow were named specifically in the presentment.

Mrs. Kane said they were not named because investigators did not come up with evidence of wrongdoing.

Mr. Noonan said Mr. Mellow is the only lawmaker charged because the grand jury heard evidence that Mr. Mellow personally made phone calls and heard Mr. Lepore's testimony.

"He's (Mellow) the one with evidence of a direct link," he said. "The people who were charged are the people we have evidence against."

The connections to Mr. Rendell and Mr. Fumo were the most prominent in the presentment and were gleaned by comparing campaign contributions referred to in the presentment to campaign finance records and by other descriptions in the presentment.

For example, Mr. Fumo is described as the "very, very powerful ... minority chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee," the post he held for years before he was convicted and sent to prison. Mr. Rendell's identity is obvious because Mr. Brimmeier was appointed to his post by the governor on Feb. 4, 2003, two weeks after Mr. Rendell was sworn in as governor.

Mr. Mellow, as Senate leader, and Mr. Fumo, from his appropriations post, had enormous power over the turnpike because the Senate has a say in who is appointed to the commission, according to the presentment.

Mr. Mellow in particular used that power, sometimes through Mr. Lepore, sometimes himself, to raise tens of thousands of dollars in political contributions from turnpike officials and vendors, according to the presentment.

Mr. Lepore described the commission as "a cash cow."

"It's a huge organization with vendors with deep pockets and their commissioners are approved by the Senate," he told the statewide investigating grand jury that issued the presentment. "It's as simple as that."

Mr. Mellow, he said, played a key role in the process.

"Bob Mellow, on the other hand, would call (commission officials) up and say, 'Hey, guys, I need $20,000 for this event. I have a picnic. I need $12,000. You're going to buy three foursomes for my golf outing and five signs and furthermore, I want you to put a dinner together for me with some of your vendors and I'll be there next Tuesday,'" Mr. Lepore told the grand jury. "I mean there's no ifs, ands, or buts about it."

Mr. Brimmeier understood the relationship with Senate leaders, and played a pivotal role in awarding contracts and fundraising, Mr. Lepore said.

"He came to our office and said, 'Hey, you were with me when I was sort of down and out, and I'm going to be with you.'" Mr. Lepore testified. "He and I had a relationship. He said, 'Tony (Lepore), Bob Mellow, I'm your guy. You come to me.'"

Mr. Lepore regularly called Mr. Brimmeier's cellphone and they met at the turnpike offices or "most often would meet Brimmeier with Mellow in their Senate offices."

Mr. Brimmeier, whom the presentment said "carried a great deal of water for Sen. Mellow and the Senate Democrats," wasn't the only one who helped Mr. Mellow. Sometimes, the senator went to Mr. Rubin, who "would get a plum job for somebody," Mr. Lepore testified.

Mr. Mellow's other involvement in the pay-to-play scheme was when he and Mr. Lepore intervened to get PNC Bank a share of bond work issued by the commission, according to the presentment. Banks earn fees for underwriting the issuing of bonds, which are sold by banks to raise money for construction and other projects.

A PNC official had complained to Mr. Mellow in 2005.

"They had gone to Bob Mellow about this time and said, 'Hey, Bob Mellow, we've never got any work from the turnpike ever. We're the largest bank in Pennsylvania,'" Mr. Lepore told the grand jury.

"Bob Mellow was especially tight with one of the PNC regional presidents ... (Mr. Mellow said) 'Go to the turnpike and get PNC some work,'" Mr. Lepore said, according to the presentment. "He used a little different language. Sure enough, you start seeing in 2005, PNC Bank for the first time pops up on this and starts getting bigger and bigger bumps from the turnpike."

Unlike Mr. Lepore's quote, the presentment does not refer to a "PNC regional president," but instead refers to a regional vice president and an employee in PNC's capital markets division who met with Mr. Mellow on Nov. 30, 2005, with "subsequent meetings on March 20, 2009, and Feb. 20, 2010."

The PNC regional vice president testified that he and Mr. Mellow developed a "personal friendship" in 2003.

"They were basically best friends," Mr. Lepore said. "Bob Mellow was the biggest Yankee fan you ever met in your entire life. He lived and breathed it. (PNC) bought like a partial season pass to the Yankees, fifth row behind the dugout."

Mr. Lepore said he knew this because he went to a game once.

"He (the regional vice president) would take Mellow 10 times a year, maybe more," Mr. Lepore said. "He would put him in a limo, take some of Mellow's boys with him. They would go up to a game, eat and drink at the game ... He (the regional vice president) was a huge supporter of his and was rewarded in a big way."

Though Mr. Lepore testified that PNC would take Mr. Mellow to Yankees games 10 times a year, a summary of expense reports provided to the grand jury by PNC shows 10 games in all between April 2006 and April 2010. Based on the dates provided by PNC, an Aug. 19, 2006, game against the Boston Red Sox, was in Boston while another, April 27, 2009, was against the Detroit Tigers in Detroit, according to the online Baseball Almanac.

The 10 games cost PNC $3,084.85.

PNC also spent $153.25 on a limousine on Oct. 10, 2007, to New York City for a dinner honoring an unidentified "casino owner/Scranton area businessman"; $202.74 for an event at Sparks Steak House in New York on Dec. 7, 2007; $39 for a "Thanksgiving holiday order" in November 2008; and dinner at Mariano's Cucina on May 27, 2009, for $22.45.

The total for those events and the games was $3,502.29.

Besides those events, PNC also provided Mr. Mellow with tickets to Rod Stewart and Bryan Adams concerts and a Dancing with the Stars event at then-Wachovia Arena.

The bank also sponsored an event at Sparks Steak House honoring Mr. Mellow "to generate support for Mr. Mellow's contemplated (2010) run for governor." That cost the bank $7,082.34.

Between June 2006 and November 2012, PNC earned $2,480,677 in fees for underwriting turnpike bonds.

Mr. Mellow never reported that cost as an in-kind contribution as required, engaged in a conflict of interest by going to the games and other entertainment and "participated in a larger pattern of bid-rigging, improper influence and commercial bribery in his efforts to steer turnpike bond work to PNC Capital Markets," according to the presentment.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com- Nov 3, 1970: Robert J. Mellow elected to state Senate, defeating Republican incumbent Sen. Arthur Piasecki.

- Nov. 6, 1974: Mellow wins re-election to his state Senate seat, defeating F. Eugene Garvey.

- Jan. 8, 1975: Mellow opens a regional office at 541 Main St., Blakely.

- Nov. 7, 1978: Mellow wins re-election to his third term, beating Leona Lenczycka.

- Dec. 8, 1980: Mellow elected secretary of Senate Democratic Caucus.

- June 12, 1981: Mellow has been named as an interim member of Senate Ethics Commission.

- Nov. 2, 1982: Mellow wins re-election in an uncontested race.

- March 25, 1984: Allied Services announces it would name an adult day care facility Robert J. Mellow Center.

- Sept. 5, 1984: Mellow named chairman of statewide Democratic committee.

- Nov 20, 1984: Mellow elected Senate Democratic Caucus chairman.

- Nov. 4, 1986: Mellow wins fifth term of office, beating Robert Castellani.

- Nov. 18, 1986: Mellow re-elected caucus chairman.

- Nov 14, 1988: Mellow elected Democratic minority leader.

- May 15, 1989: Mellow and Louis Pagnotti III are elected to board of directors of Old Forge Bank.

- Nov. 6, 1990: Mellow wins re-election over Donna Dunio.

- Nov. 23, 1992: Mellow elected Senate president pro tempore.

- March 15, 1994: Mellow replaced as Senate president pro tem by Sen. Robert Jubelirer.

- Nov. 8, 1994: Mellow wins re-election.

- Nov. 3, 1998: Mellow re-elected to his eighth term in office by beating Glenn Cashuric.

- Feb. 13, 1999: Lackawanna Junior College board announces school's theater will be named Mellow Theater in honor of state Sen. Robert and Diane Mellow.

- Nov. 5, 2002: Mellow wins re-election to his ninth term, defeating Frank J. Scavo III.

- July 29, 2005: Mellow announces Northeastern Pennsylvania Medical Education Consortium has started a feasibility study for a medical school in Scranton.

- Sept. 15, 2006: Marywood University dedicated Robert J. Mellow Center for Athletics and Wellness.

- Nov. 7, 2006: Mellow wins re-election to his 10th term.

- July 29, 2008: Mellow joins board of directors of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

- Nov. 17, 2008: Group calls for an ethics investigation into Mellow's appointment to Blue Cross board.

- July 13, 2009: Rent paid by Mellow on his district office in Blakely being questioned after it was discovered that his then-wife, Diane, was part owner of a business that owned property and then in 2007 he bought her ownership stake in business as part of their divorce.

- Sept. 20, 2009: A ethics probe started by state Ethics Commission to look into ownership of Mellow's Blakely office building.

- Dec. 21, 2009: Senate panel tosses ethics complaint made by RockTheCapital.org on Mellow being on Blue Cross board.

- Dec. 22, 2009: Senate panel tosses a request for an ethics probe into ownership of Blakely office.

- Feb. 9, 2010: Mellow announces he will not seek re-election.

- June 18, 2010: FBI and IRS agents raid Mellow's office and home.

- Feb. 18, 2011: 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals confirms that Mellow target of a federal grand jury investigation looking into fraud, money laundering and other offenses.

- March 15, 2012: Mellow says he will plead guilty to mail fraud and filing a false tax return.

- Nov. 30, 2012: Mellow sentenced to 16 months in a federal prison and to repay $79,806.17 and $40,000 fine and a $100 special assessment.

- Jan 18, 2013: Mellow reports to a federal correctional institution in Williamsburg, S.C to begin serving his sentence.

- March 13, 2013: Mellow indicted along with seven other individuals by State Attorney General Kathleen Kane for "pay to play" scheme involving Pennsylvania Turnpike.

Cabot Oil & Gas Corp. has given out $175 million in royalties to Marcellus gas leaseholders in Susquehanna County over the past three years and people in Wyoming County could be next, company spokesman George Stark said.

Speaking to a packed Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce luncheon at Twigs Restaurant in Tunkhannock on Wednesday, he said the company indeed had moved into Lemon Twp. Its Flowers' well there had already shown its flow capacity was rivaling what has been seen in any of the company's wells in Susquehanna County.

"Overall the fiscal health of the Marcellus has been gi-normous for Cabot," Mr. Stark said. He noted 15 of the top 20 producing Marcellus wells in Pennsylvania over the last half of 2012 were his company's.

Peoples Neighborhood Bank President Alan Dakey asked what percent of Cabot's completed wells are actually producing gas.

Mr. Stark said that he expected the number to be in the high 80s or low 90s.

He noted that while other gas companies might be slowing down to let some pipeline infrastructure catch up, that is not Cabot's intent.

Mr. Stark said his company had put up 72 wells in 2012 and was expecting to add 80 to 85 more in 2013.

He initially called the Dimock-Springville area of Susquehanna County "the sweetest spot in the (Marcellus) play" but noted latest production figures are extending that south to Lemon Twp., Wyoming County, and east to Lenox Twp.

"But we don't just produce it, we're looking actively for people to buy it," Mr. Stark said, adding that pipelines have become a huge issue in getting gas to market.

Mr. Stark said one billion cubic feet of gas that Cabot's wells in Susquehanna County have been producing each day since the end of December is enough energy to heat 25,000 homes a year.

Contact the writer: bbaker@wcexaminer.com