SCRANTON — The Geisinger Health System on Friday suspended without pay a doctor charged with abusing his wife.

Geisinger spokeswoman Wendy Wilson declined to comment on the future status of Dr. Bhargav Paleti, 29, of Dunmore,who worked in the critical care unit at Geisinger Community Medical Center.

Dunmore police charged Paleti with burning his the left forearm of wife, Jaahnari Vajje, with a hot iron on March 28. Paleti was free on $75,000 bail, but a judge ordered him jailed Thursday for violating bail conditions. Magisterial District Judge Paul Ware said Paleti’s family contacted his wife, violating a ban on even indirect contact with her.

A preliminary hearing in the criminal case is scheduled for May 1.

— BORYS KRAWCZENIUK

Spring was in the air while snow flurries fell outside at this month’s First Friday.

Art enthusiasts and those looking to support local businesses gathered at the Marketplace at Steamtown in downtown Scranton to avoid the cold and snow. The vibrant vendors’ stands, Easter Bunny display and upbeat music at the Marketplace’s spring-themed fair more than made up for the wet, chilly weather outside.

First Friday is a monthly art walk that draws crowds to local businesses and galleries throughout downtown, and it gives local artists and vendors an opportunity to showcase their work.

Manning a stand called “The Bow Boys,” 12-year-old Bryan Bradway and his younger brothers showed off their brightly colored tutus, rompers and bows. The stand attracted shoppers browsing the stands dotting the mall’s first floor. Their mother, Stephanie Bradway, supervised.

“It’s a lot of fun,” Bryan said. “It teaches me how you need to do business when you get older.”

Marilyn Lavelle of Moosic smiled as she admired photos of her 1-year-old son sitting on the Easter Bunny’s lap in the middle of the Marketplace. New to the monthly art walk, Lavelle loved that it gives people the opportunity to support local vendors.

“It’s just great for us to have a place to come together to appreciate everyone’s talents,” she said.

Like Lavelle, Jean Cusumano of Old Forge appreciated the opportunity to support small businesses.

“There’s not much to do in the area that’s good, clean fun anymore,” she said.

Catherine Fox and her siblings sold pastries on the first floor of the mall, displaying lavish cupcakes on a stand. Other sweet treats lined the table. They signed up to be vendors at this month’s First Friday to help promote their family’s bakery, National Pastry Bake Shop.

“I think it’s a great idea and a great event,” she said.

Just down the street from the Marketplace, Abington Heights senior Kali Schirra presented her artwork at Citizens Savings Bank on Wyoming Avenue, along with her classmates and students from Lackawanna Trail. She chose artwork that portrayed her as an artist, and she wants her work to be a source of inspiration for others.

“I hope it inspires them to do it themselves,” she said.

Contact the writer:

flesnefsky@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100, x5186

A Waverly Twp. man faces charges after authorities say he had 2 pounds of marijuana mailed to him from Colorado.

Investigation into a pair of packages sent to the Waverly Post Office from the Centennial State started earlier this week, when a postal inspector contacted police with suspicions the parcels contained illegal drugs.

The Lackawanna County Drug Task Force opened an investigation, and postal officials brought the packages, addressed to David Haudenschield, to the South Abington Twp. police station to have a police dog, Riggs, check them. After the dog indicated the presence of drugs in the packages, authorities received a federal search warrant to open the packages, according to court documents filed by South Abington Twp. police.

Each of the packages contained two vacuum-sealed bags of suspected marijuana, police said.

Officials then resealed the packages and arrested Haudenschield as he arrived to pick up the packages at the post office Friday morning, according to charging papers.

The marijuana seized by police weighed about 2 pounds and has a value of $4,400, according to South Abington Twp. police.

Haudenschield, 19, 102 Madison Lane, is charged with drug possession and related offenses. Magisterial District Judge Paul Ware arraigned him on Friday afternoon and set bail at $100,000.

Haudenschield is at Lackawanna County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 20.

Contact the writer:

cover@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5363;

@ClaytonOver on Twitter

Razor-sharp handling, tenacious cornering grip, a howling exhaust and frankly nutty levels of horsepower rarely are associated with the compact hatchback form, at least on this side of the Atlantic.

Except for highly entertaining entries like the Mazda Speed3, Volkswagen GTI, Subaru Impreza WRX, and the ST variants of Ford’s Focus and Fiesta, hatchbacks typically deliver comfortable, frugal and functional daily transportation.

Meanwhile, the so-called “hot hatch” has long been a favorite of European drivers. And driving enthusiasts on this side of the pond found their wishes granted when Ford brought over the hottest of hatches, the Focus RS.

Just how bonkers is the RS? Well, there’s the herd of 350 horses under its hood, delivered courtesy of a high-pressure, turbocharged 2.3-liter inline-four engine that also dishes out 350 foot-pounds of torque while issuing possibly the most insolent factory-tuned four-holer exhaust note on Earth.

All of that oomph is delivered to a trick torque-vectoring all-wheel-drive system via a short-throw six-speed manual (there’s no automatic transmission offered, so don’t ask). And it’s topped off with a sport-tuned suspension system, optional super-sticky 19-inch Michelin Super Sport performance tires and a set of powerful Brembo disc brakes.

The result is a lickety-quick five-seater capable of running to 60 mph in just a few ticks over four seconds, carving through hard corners with confidence-inspiring grip and almost-telepathic steering response. For weekend track warriors, there are multiple driving-mode settings for normal, sport, track and drift performance.

Not having access to a race course and not wanting to wear out the pricey Michelins’ tread, I didn’t employ the last two settings during our week with a 2016 Focus RS (the vehicle moved into the current model year unchanged). As it was, the Normal and Sport settings were more than enough to make the Cole family’s daily rounds an adventure.

First, a few particulars in addition to the aforementioned specifications: There’s only one trim level of the RS offered. Standard equipment includes 18-inch alloy wheels shod with summer-rated performance tires, automatic xenon headlights, LED running lights, keyless entry and ignition, 10-speaker Sony audio, blind-spot warning, leather-wrapped tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, a pair of USB ports, and Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment interface with rearview camera, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.

The RS2 options package adds a six-way power-adjusting driver’s seat, heated sideview mirrors, leather-upholstered seating with simulated suede inserts and satellite navigation. There also are option packages for winter-friendly tires and wheels, and for the aforementioned set of Michelin Super Sports.

Our tester was an all-the-way sample dressed out with every option except the winter tires. Its already hefty $35,900 base price ballooned to $36,685, which is a lot of money for a Ford wearing the word “Focus” on its hindquarters. Factoring in the grin-inducing performance on tap, however, I’d argue it’s a fair bottom-line asking price.

Even sitting still, our RS was obviously not your garden-variety Focus five-door. The main tipoffs: the gaping front air intake and bulging hood, blackout alloys and skinny tires, battleship-gray paint job, blue RS badging and painted Brembos, and an enormous rear roof spoiler.

The interior differs little from a stock Focus, save for a some aluminum pedals, a sport steering wheel, a dash-mounted gauge cluster showing turbo boost and oil pressure, and a pair of aggressively bolstered and Recaro sport seats that, with the addition of suede inserts, keep front-seat occupants firmly planted through hard cornering. They’re narrow and favor the slim-hipped, however, and therefore might be too tight for the average well-fed driver (which would be yours truly).

Easy-to-drive and tractable around town but a snarling beast under hard acceleration, the RS is a real Jekyll-and-Hyde ride. Turbo boost and acceleration build quickly with the accelerator pedal down, as the RS starts gobbling up the oncoming highway at a remarkable clip. Dial up the driving mode’s sport setting and going gets even more entertaining.

Capping it all off is a snap-crackle-pop exhaust blat that, along with the Mustang GT, firmly cements Ford’s rep as a master of tailpipe concertos. It burbles, blats, howls and backfires in a manner that’s sure to get the neighbors talking.

As for handling? One might as well trundle out all the clichés: It carves into corners with surgical precision, sticking to its line as if on rails, staying flat and true thanks to a suspension that, while firm, isn’t punishingly so.

Aside from the tight Recaros, front-seat occupants should find little reason to complain. The RS’ passenger and cargo accommodations match its down-market siblings, which means it’s already one of the more useful small cars on the market.

2016 Ford Focus RS

Vehicle type: Four-door, five-passenger subcompact high-performance hatchback.

Base/as-tested prices: $35,900/$36,685.

Engine and transmission: 2.3-liter turbocharged inline-four, 350 horsepower, 350 foot-pounds of torque, six-speed manual.

EPA estimates: 19 mpg city, 25 highway, 22 combined.

The good: Bonkers engine output; well-behaved and easy to drive in town; powerful brakes; hang-on-to-your-hat handling; super-sticky Michelin Pilot rubber; snap-crackle-pop exhaust note; performance-minded torque-vectoring AWD system; despite its road-rally aspirations, there are a lot of high-tech goodies included in the package; tractable and even docile performance during commutes and errand runs; almost-telepathic steering response with excellent driver feedback; easy-to-use Sync infotainment interface; decent cargo space; a whole lotta “whoa, Nelly!” for the money.

The bad: Narrow and deeply bolstered Recaro front sport seats uncomfortably narrow for the average, well-fed American posterior; tightly tuned suspension probably too firm for most drivers; road and engine noise are constant companions; buyers might take a test drive in the less-powerful but still-highly amusing FWD Focus ST; V-8-like thirst for gas.

Bottom line: In the small and wonderful world of hot hatches, few burn as hot as Ford’s little RS.

Q: I went to a big-box store to replace my tires. They removed my hubcaps and placed them in my back seat. I did not notice until I was home. I am going back to have them added to my new wheels. Is there a reason why they would not put my hubcaps back on? Thank you.

— PAT

A: There are a couple of possibilities, Pat. One is that they forgot. They’ll typically put the wheel covers in the back seat when they remove them so they don’t lose track of them or confuse them with the 78 other wheel covers lying around on the garage floor. And it’s possible that whoever was working on your car just spaced.

You would think he (or you) would have noticed the absence of the wheel covers, because the car looks pretty unfinished without them. But maybe he was daydreaming about finding a rare, first-edition 1963 AMC Rambler Shop Manual in a barn somewhere, and wasn’t thinking straight.

The other possibility is that they sold you new wheels that don’t use wheel covers. You mention getting both tires and wheels. If you bought a set of alloy wheels, for instance, you wouldn’t need wheel covers at all.

Alloy wheels, which are forged out of aluminum alloys, are designed as “one-piece” wheels. The design of the wheel itself is part of its appeal. And they look good — and finished — just the way they are.

In that case, the mechanic may have tossed your wheel covers in the back seat just to return them to you: He figured they were yours, and rather than throw them away, he’d let you decide how to dispose of them, or include them in your estate planning.

There’s a small possibility that the store sold you a new set of wheels that your wheel covers don’t fit. But there’s only about a 1 percent chance of that.

So, take a walk around your car. If you look at the wheels and see a big, black, industrial-looking steel maw in the middle of each wheel, then they probably forgot to put your wheel covers back on. But if the wheels look good, and they look shiny and finished, then you probably bought alloy wheels, and you can use those old wheel covers to start some tomato plants.

Attorneys for Old Forge, its Fire Department and former Police Chief Larry Semenza filed court papers opposing a new civil trial sought by a woman who alleged she was sexually abused as a teenager by Semenza and two other men.

Scranton attorney Matthew Slocum filed a motion last month seeking to overturn a jury’s Feb. 7 verdict that cleared Semenza, the borough, Fire Department and former Capt. Jamie Krenitsky of any liability. The panel found only former firefighter Walter Chiavacci liable and awarded the plaintiff $20,000.

The woman, now 27, filed the lawsuit in 2012, seeking monetary damages for emotional harm she says she suffered from being sexually abused by the three men at varying times between 2004 and 2007, when she was a junior firefighter.

The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.

In his motion, Slocum argued the verdict should be vacated because U.S. District Judge Robert D. Mariani made several errors, including allowing Semenza’s attorney, Joseph Goldberg, to show jurors a photo that supported the defense’s claim that the woman made up the allegations in hope of scoring a big “payday.”

The photo, which was taken from the woman’s social media account, showed a golf ball stamped with “money ball” and a caption that said “I found the money ball.” It was posted to her account a few days before Semenza was scheduled to go on trial for criminal charges related to the woman’s sexual abuse allegations. Goldberg implied the post raised questions about her motivation for filing the suit.

In a reply filed Monday, Goldberg argues the photo was admitted properly and that Slocum had an opportunity at trial to challenge the photo and/or have his client more fully explain her motivation for posting it, but failed to do so.

Attorneys for the borough and Fire Department joined Goldberg in opposing a new trial. Judge Mariani will take the arguments under consideration and rule at a later date.

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137;

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Joshua Lee Perry and Kimberly Joan Grilletto, both of Pittston Twp.

■ Jenna Marie Sladicka, Clarks Summit, and Michael Angelo Viola III, Moosic.

■ Samuel Frank Vitris III, Scranton, and Taryn Marie Marchise, Blakely.

■ Lisa Marie Jones and Aaron Benjamin Wood, both of Pittston.

■ Andrew Patrick Coughlin and Ginina Theresa Narvaez, both of Scranton.

■ Nancy Jo Mark, Simpson, and Michael Joseph Gillott Sr., Plains Twp.

■ Mary Elizabeth Killeen and Joseph Walsh Loftus, both of Scranton.

■ Elizabeth M. Gunnels and Paul Jude Florek Jr., both of Throop.

■ Tanya Ann Zaccagnino and Robert Michael Kurey, both of Dickson City.

■ Carl R. Lingle and Mary Beth Cox, both of Scott Twp.

■ John Anthony Trapani III, Blakely, and Katy Clara Sherman, Scranton.

■ Jessica Kathleen Tarchak and Jeffrey Gerald Lester II, both of Scott Twp.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Christina M. Shaw, Richard Mikolayczak and Mary Elizabeth Mikolayczak, agents for Elizabeth M. Mikolayczak, Scranton, and Joseph Mikolayczak, Glenburn Twp., to Robert Sparaney, Scranton; two parcels on West Elm Street, Scranton, for $52,000.

■ Peter E. Jr. and Sallie A. Noto, Lackawanna County, to Max P. III and Carol Lee Ann Blaskiewicz, Shavertown; a property at Lake Sheridan, Benton Twp., for $238,000.

■ John Skubelek Jr. and Eileen O’Malley, Scranton, and Margaret and Charles Cobb, Old Forge, to Richard C. and Margot Belardi, Taylor; a property at 514 Josephine St., Old Forge, for $100,000.

■ Assunta E.and Thomas E. Mullen, both of Clarks Summit, to Joseph Fadden, Scranton; two parcels in Scranton for $70,000.

■ Edward J. and Patricia Russo, Clarks Summit, to William Charles Wermuth; a property at 610 Oak Lane, Clarks Summit, for $210,000.

■ Select Portfolio Servicing Inc., attorney-in-fact for Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., Salt Lake City, to Eugenio Rodriguez, Waymart; a property at 216 Elm St., Dickson City, for $31,600.

■ Dante Literary Society, Scranton, to 1916 Prospect Ave LLC, Scranton; two parcels in Scranton for $45,500.

■ Rutta & Associates L.P., formerly known as Rutta & Associates LLP, Scranton, to SAYPA LLC, Auburn, New York; a property in Dickson City for $480,000.

■ Six Sides Properties LLC, Lackawanna County, to Dickson Hospitality LLC; two parcels in Dickson City for $2.86 million.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

■ Nadia Krause, Taylor, v. Jeffery Krause, Pittston; Jane M. Acri, attorney.

■ Jillian Fesolovich, Olyphant, v. Brad Fesolovich, Pennsburg; married Nov. 2, 2012, in Lansdale; Brian J. Cali, attorney.

■ Gene Kelly, Scranton, v. Shannon Brown, Wilkes-Barre; married Oct. 25, 2005; Marjorie DeSanto Barlow, attorney.

■ Amy Morel, Dunmore, v. Jesus Paula, Dunmore; married Oct. 18, 2016; Marjorie DeSanto Barlow, attorney.

■ Krista M. Pastora, Scranton, v. Anthony R. Pastora, Scranton; married Sept. 5, 2003, in Tunkhannock; Haggerty, Hinton & Cosgrove LLP, attorneys.

ESTATES FILED

■ Jeanette Hailstone, 1101 Vine St., Scranton, letters of administration to Andrew Hailstone, 700 Taylor Ave., Scranton.

■ Robert W. Volmer Jr., 319 Manning Road, Scott Twp., letters of administration to Lori Coldiron, 19610 Desna Drive, Porter, Texas.

■ Mary E. Strojek, 950 Morgan Highway, South Abington Twp., letters testamentary to Nicholas Colacicco, 121 Ben Gar Drive, Scranton.

■ Angelina Rogato, also known as Angelina Carmella Rogato, 703 Smith St., Dunmore, letters testamentary to Ralph Rogato, same address.

■ Jack F. Shields, also known as John F. Shields, 1704 Wayne Ave., Scranton, letters of administration to John M. Shields, 1400 McDade Blvd., Apt. D-362, Woodlyn.

■ Marianne D. Shields, 1704 Wayne Ave., Scranton, letters of administration to John M. Shields, 1400 Macdade Blvd., Apt. D-362, Woodlyn.

■ Charles Janus, 1954 Golf Club Road, Jefferson Twp., letters testamentary to Sarah Roscioli, 64 Rubando Drive, Spring Brook Twp.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

Abingtons

Decisions program: Abington Community Library National Healthcare Decisions Day followup program, April 20, 6:30 p.m., children’s story room, library, free viewing of National “Health Care Decisions: Five Wishes,” Q&A.

Avoca

Egg hunt: Avoca West Side Social Club Easter Egg Hunt, today, 1 p.m., 711 McAlpine St., gifts for ages 12 and under, visits with bunny, bring camera; free.

Clarks Summit

Food sale: Clarks Summit United Methodist Church Good Friday pasta e fagioli/vegetable soup sale, Friday, 3-7 p.m., fellowship hall, 1310 Morgan Highway; can be donated to family or shut-in; $6/takeouts, $7/all-you-can-eat dine-in; 570-587-2571 or door.

Dickson City

Voter registration: Dickson City Borough officials available for registering voters or filling out the paperwork for absentee ballots, Tuesday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; foyer of the Municipal Building, 901 Enterprise St.

Dunmore

Club meets: Dunmore 50+ Club, Tuesday, 1 p.m. at Friendly’s, O’Neill Highway. Dues, cat in the bag.

Spaghetti dinner: Dunmore Rotary Club spring spaghetti dinner, April 30, noon-4 p.m., Carmella’s Restaurant, Erie Street; takeouts available; $9/adults, $4/children; Sack’s Tailor Shop, 127 S. Blakely St., Dunmore, proceeds benefit WWI Memorial.

Eynon

Children’s party: Children’s Easter party, April 15, noon-2 p.m., VFW Post 7963, Main Street; food, refreshments, Easter Bunny, sponsored by VFW Post 7963 and Auxiliary, Eynon American Legion Post 624, Eynon Fire Company 33 and Archbald American Legion Archbald Post 328.

Green Ridge

Egg hunt: Green Ridge Business Association, Green Ridge Neighborhood Association, Green Ridge Little League, St. Clare and St. Paul Parish inaugural Easter Egg Hunt, Sunday, registration, 1 p.m., hunt, 2-4; Green Right Little League Fields, 2640 Olyphant Ave.; egg hunt, face painting, balloons, bunny time; $3/child; concession stand food available for purchase; htwww.facebook.com/events/1109731415805831.

Herrick Twp.

Annual meeting: Lyon Street Cemetery Association annual meeting, April 27, 7 p.m., home of Nancy Harvatine; Susan Harvatine, 570-679-2386.

Honesdale

Vendors wanted: Greater Honesdale Partnership seeking craft vendor, antiques dealer, artist/artisan and specialty food vendor for second annual “Train Day,” May 20, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Honesdale’s Main Street; free concert, trackside, 6 p.m.; 570-253-5492 or ghp@visithones dalepa.com by April 29.

Jessup

Pasta/chicken dinner: Jessup Democratic Organization takeout-only chicken Parmesan/pasta dinner, April 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Caverna Restaurant, 602 Church St.; tickets at Caverna, from members or 570-383-2695.

Lackawanna County

Tea party: Anthracite Heritage Museum garden tea party, April 29, 1:30 p.m., museum, McDade Park; sandwiches, sweets, basket raffle, local artisan jewelry; $20, ages 12 and over; 570-963-4804 by April 21.

Peckville

Beef dinner: Peckville United Methodist Church takeout-only roast beef dinner, April 29, 3:30-5:30 p.m., drive thru from 732 Main St.; $12/advance, $14/at door (if available); 570-489-6093, 570-383-1035 (day of).

Regional

Visitation day: Wyoming Seminary Visitation Day, April 17, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Lower School, 1560 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort; information/reservations, admission office, 570-718-6610, www.wyomingsemi nary.org; Upper School, Stettler Learning Resources Center, North Sprague Avenue, Kings­ton; admission interviews upon request, information/ reservations, admission office, 570-270-2160, www.wyomingsemi nary.org.

Fundraising event: SEEDS fundraiser party, Swapapalooza and silent auction, May 4, doors open for food, 5:30 p.m., festivities, 6, second floor, the Cooperage, 1030 Main St., Honesdale; www.seedsgroup.net or Facebook.

Information session: U.S. Reps. Tom Marino and Matt Cartwright Joint Service Academy Informational Session, April 19, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Clarks Summit Elementary School, 401 W. Grove St., Clarks Summit, overview of academy life, opportunity to meet representatives/ discuss admission requirements.

Scranton

Seniors meet: Keyser Valley Senior Citizens, Monday, 1 p.m. at community center. Games, refreshments to follow meeting.

Free concert: Rosetti Estate free children’s piano concert, Sunday, 4 p.m., Vine Street at Quincy Avenue.

Waverly

Oils workshop: Waverly Community House essential oils workshop, April 26, 5:30 p.m., Scout Room, 1115 N. Abington Road, $25; Tonyehn Verkitus, wholistic life coach, ecoartsliv ing@gmail.com.

Wayne County

Highlands gala: Tenth annual Foods of the Delaware Highlands Gala, May 6, 5:30 p.m., Silver Birches Waterfront, Hawley; four-course farm-to-table dinner, wine tasting, live auction; $140, includes $75 charitable gift to the Delaware Highlands Conservancy; info@delawarehighlands.org or 570-226-3164.

Open house: Dorflinger-Suydam Wildlife Sanctuary volunteer open house, April 19, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., refreshments served.

Ecumenical service: South Clinton Baptist Church Good Friday service, Salvation Army’s PARC (Performing Arts & Recreation Center) Building, doors open, 11:30 a.m., service, noon, several area pastors offering 15-20 minute devotional on how the feasts of ancient Israel relate to the events surrounding the Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice; 570-937-4360.

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.

Scranton police arrested a city man they said punched an officer in the head and face while resisting arrest Thursday evening.

Three officers and a sergeant responded to Amherst Street for a report of a domestic dispute. Police found John Bellas, 18, 922 Richmont St., and a juvenile fighting over empty heroin bags.

When police arrived, the juvenile was unharmed, but Bellas’ left arm was covered in blood from self-inflicted cuts from a pocketknife.

An ambulance arrived and, as Bellas was being treated, “he became extremely agitated and refused to go to the hospital,” according to the criminal complaint.

He fled on foot, police said. Officers caught up with him on Amherst Street.

Bellas then became “extremely violent and disorderly and was yelling and cursing at officers,” police said.

Sgt. Rich Iannuzzo drew his stun gun and ordered Bellas to the ground. Bellas raised his right fist. When Officer Eric Jordan tried to handcuff him, Bellas punched Jordan in the head and face multiple times.

Iannuzzo used the stun gun, but it was ineffective. Officers then took Bellas to the ground, where he continued thrashing and resisting arrest.

Police used the stun gun again and were finally able to handcuff Bellas.

Jordan suffered minor injuries but was not taken to a hospital.

During the ordeal, the juvenile taunted officers and enticed Bellas. The juvenile may face charges.

Bellas was arraigned Friday and charged with aggravated assault and other crimes, including resisting arrest, simple assault and disorderly conduct. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday at 11:15 a.m.

He was unable to post $10,000 bail and is at Lackawanna County Prison.

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5514;

@kbolusTT on Twitter

As a rookie letter carrier on an unfamiliar route 12 years ago in Courtdale, Dan Norton was attacked by a loose German shepherd that sunk its teeth into his leg and left a bloody gash.

All these years later, Norton is safety coordinator for the Wilkes-Barre Post Office and does all he can to educate postal workers — and the public — on how to reduce dog attacks.

The lesson in prevention is needed because dog attacks on postal workers are on the rise, jumping 14 percent in Central and Northeast Pennsylvania in 2016, according to a press release by the U.S. Postal Service to mark Sunday as the start of National Dog Bite Prevention Week.

Wilkes-Barre and Scranton each had six dog attacks on letter carriers in 2016, tied for third among municipalities that make up the postal service’s central and northeast regional office.

“It’s a big thing around here,” Norton said.

Norton vividly recalls the time he was bitten.

“The dog surprised me. I was on a route I wasn’t familiar with. There were tall shrubs and the dog darted out. It was so quick,” Norton recalled.

Norton did one of the things postal workers are instructed to do: use their mail bag as a shield.

“He bit my satchel five times and then he came around and got me on the back of the calf,” Norton recalled Friday. “I was scared the whole time before he bit me. Then he ran away and I couldn’t believe what happened.”

Norton said he realized it wasn’t the dog’s fault.

“They are protecting their house,” Norton said. “That’s a dog’s job.”

Norton advised residents to always put their dog in another room if they plan to open their door to get mail.

Postal workers carry around a bright orange placard labeled “Carrier Dog Warning.” They write the addresses where dogs are threats to document where problem dogs live.

People with dangerous dogs risk not getting their mail if they don’t take steps to insure a carrier’s safety, Norton said.

“We will notify customers in the mail and then will hold their mail until the problem is fixed,” Norton said. “To protect us, we really need them to look at these things.”

If a mail carrier gets bit by a dog, the animal’s owner should expect a visit from state Dog Warden Jim Spencer.

“I go to the owner’s house. I talk to them and I check for a dog license and rabies shots. If they don’t have them, they should be fined.”

Owners face a $50-300 fine for each violation. Owners could also face a citation for allowing their dog to run loose, which carries a fine between $100 and $500. Spencer noted he and his staff are doing random, door-to-door inspections this year, so he advised people to have the license and proof of rabies shots.

Additionally, the state’s law requires a dog that has bitten someone be quarantined — or forbidden to leave the owner’s home — for 10 days and tested, Spencer said.

Spencer reiterated that dog owners have to be smart because the animal is only doing what is natural when they confront a mail carrier.

“They see the mailman as an intruder on their property,” Spencer said. “People with dogs have a to use common sense and postal carriers have to use common sense too.”

Contact the writer:

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2055, @bobkal13

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Bernard K. Swierczynski to Robert J. Gilpin and Darlene Gilpin, property in Overfield Twp. for $25,000.

■ Scott Staniszewski to Allen Brink and Kelly Brink, property in Factoryville for $158,620.

■ Fannie Mae and Federal National Mortgage Association to James Moreck, property in Nicholson for $26,250.

■ Fannie Mae, Federal National Mortgage Association and McCabe Weisberg & Conway PC POA to Gary T. Rolles and Johann Rolles, property in Factoryville for $22,500.

■ Linda C. Steudl to Paul

W. Rowker and Karen S.

Rowker, property in Eaton Twp. for $15,500.

■ Daniel J. Ostopick to Holly Ostopick, property in Exeter Twp. for $50,000.

■ Ernest W. Lesher to Pilgrim Holiness Church of Tunkhannock, property in Washington Twp. for $16,407.

■ Lisa M. Ford to Nathan Faux, property in Mehoopany Twp. for $86,000.

■ Nannette M. Burti to Ian K. O’Neill, property in Falls Twp. for $102,375.

ESTATES FILED

■ Byron Rosengrant, aka Byron D. Rosengrant, late of Eaton Twp., Wyoming County, letters testamentary to Cynthia Baisley, c/o Judd B. Fitze, Esq., 7 Marion St., Tunkhannock.

■ Florence Wolfe, late of Lemon Twp., Wyoming County, letters testamentary to Sharon Russman, c/o Catherine J. Garbus, Esq., 24 E. Tioga St,, Tunkhannock.

■ Jerry Drake, aka Jerry Dale Drake, late of Nicholson Twp., Wyoming County, letters testamentary to Linda Mangiola, c/o Catherine J. Garbus, Esq., 24 East Tioga St., Tunkhannock..

■ Rita Matalonis, aka Reta Marie Matalonis, late of Tunkhannock, letters testamentary to Anita L. Kalmanowicz, exec., c/o John J. Hovan, Esq., 154 Warren St., P.O. Box 336, Tunkhannock.

WYOMING COUNTY COURT NOTES appear weekly in The Times-Tribune.

A federal judge denied Lackawanna County’s motion to dismiss part of a lawsuit filed by a former deputy sheriff who alleged a co-worker illegally seized his gun and forced him to strip in front of his neighbors.

Thomas W. Davies, now deceased, sued the county, Sheriff Mark McAndrew and Sgt. John Acculto in June 2015, alleging Acculto violated his privacy rights and right to be free from unlawful search and seizure when he encountered Davies at his Wyoming County home in May 2015. He also alleged McAndrew violated his due process rights when he fired Davies on May 27, 2015.

Davies died Oct. 8,according to court documents. His widow, Marjorie Davies, was granted permission to continue with the case.

Joseph Joyce, attorney for the county, sought to dismiss part of the suit last year, arguing Acculto could not be held liable because he was acting as a private citizen, not in his capacity with the sheriff’s department. Joyce noted Acculto traveled to Davies’ home to check on his welfare because he was concerned Davies was suicidal.

The lawsuit stemmed from an incident on May 15, 2015. Acculto was directed to check on Davies after another co-worker reported he sent her a text message that led her to believe he might kill himself, according to documents filed in the case.

U.S. District Judge Robert D. Mariani recently denied the motion to dismiss. In his ruling, the judge said Davies’ attorney, Cynthia Pollick, maintains Acculto was acting in his official capacity. Whether that is true can’t be decided until more evidence is developed in the case, therefore the count stands at this point, the judge said.

Mariani also denied a motion to dismiss the privacy and due process claims, finding that Davies’ had alleged sufficient facts to sustain those counts at this stage of the litigation.

Contact the writer: tbesecker@

timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137;

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

MILFORD — Six days after a sniper attack at the Blooming Grove state police barracks that left one trooper dead and another badly hurt, the man police suspected as the shooter made a phone call.

The cellphone call, made to Eric Matthew Frein’s parents’ home in Canadensis on Sept. 18, 2014, sent a signal to a tower in Price Twp., leading police to believe Frein might be nearby.

Frein, 33, of Canadensis, had already been named as the subject of a massive manhunt involving hundreds of state, federal and local law enforcement officials. Investigators swarmed the area, searching for their suspect or any evidence that might lead them to him.

One of the investigators hiking through the woods was FBI Special Agent Matthew Fontaine, a trained sniper and federal SWAT operator. As he scanned the forest floor, a patch of blue stood out against the yellow and brown leaves.

The blue pillowcase led to the discovery of an assortment of bags and gear hidden under a camouflage net. Fontaine checked through the bags and found Frein’s checkbook, hiking boots matching Frein’s size and bandoliers of .308-caliber ammunition.

“That ammunition is similar to the sniper round in my sniper rifle,” Fontaine said. “(They’re) very effective at long range.”

State police searched the camp and found two bombs, made more deadly with hardware nuts super-glued to the exterior.

Fontaine’s testimony came Friday, the fourth day of Frein’s trial for first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer, attempted murder, terrorism and related counts. State police accused Frein of firing four shots from the woods across from the Blooming Grove barracks, killing Cpl. Bryon K. Dickson II, 38, of Dunmore, and wounding Trooper Alex T. Douglass, 34, of Olyphant. He has pleaded not guilty to all charges against him. He could face the death penalty if convicted of murder. A Chester County jury of 12 jurors and five alternates are hearing the case, which is expected to last several weeks.

Friday’s testimony centered on evidence seized from the camp and from Frein’s bedroom at his parent’s home in Candensis. The defendant seemed more animated Friday than he did Thursday, when he was hospitalized after reportedly falling and hitting his head while brushing his teeth.

“How are you feeling,” his attorney, Michael Weinstein, asked him at the beginning of the day.

Frein nodded his head.

Also called to the stand Friday: Frein’s father, Eugene Frein. He testified Friday that his son drove a Jeep Cherokee that appeared to be the same one discovered partially submerged in a swampy retention pond 2 miles from the barracks, days after the shooting. The Jeep contained Frein’s driver’s license and Social Security card.

Eugene Frein said that his son is an “above average” marksman and vaguely recalls telling investigators he “never misses.”

A few days before the discovery of the camp in Price Twp., troopers searched Frein’s parents’ home and found black powder, a mortar and pestle, spools of wire and metal caps in Frein’s cluttered bedroom, Trooper Thomas Slavin, also of the Forensic Services Unit, testified.

Investigators there photographed lists with reminders to pack a bayonet and underwear, among other items. They collected an IBM ThinkPad and a yellowed 1969 Army training manual titled “Sniper Training and Employment,” which investigators found on his bookshelf nestled next to copies of “Battle Maps of the Civil War,” “Catch-22” and “One Soldier’s War.”

Investigators also found ballistic calculations jotted on notebooks and hundreds of rounds of .308-caliber bullets, which Pike County District Attorney Ray Tonkin had laid out on the courtroom floor for the jurors Friday morning.

The heavy sleeves of ammunition thudded dully on the carpet as some jurors craned their necks for a better look.

The bullets bore the same head stamp as spent casings found in the woods across from the barracks, in the submerged Jeep and at the Monroe County camp.

The prosecutors asked Slavin if he could read for the jury what the stamp was.

“AFF 88,” he said.

Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9144; @jkohutTT on Twitter

Trial at a glance

Friday: The fourth day of accused cop killer Eric Matthew Frein’s capital murder trial began with a recount of the search warrants served on the Canadensis home of Frein’s parents once they’d identified him as their suspect.

Witnesses: Trooper David Brodeur, a state police SERT operator, testified he secured the home while Cpl. David Andreuzzi and Trooper Sandra Van Luvender testified how investigators found in Frein’s bedroom several firearms, a laptop, bullet casings, night vision binoculars and an Army training circular, “Sniper Training and Employment.”

Van Luvender also testified that state police discovered bomb-making material in his room and lists reminding the writer to pack things like maps, a compass, a 4x scope, and 100 rounds of .308-caliber ammunition.

Trooper Thomas Slavin’s testimony focused more on the bomb-making material and explained to the jury photographs of black powder canisters and a motor and pestle with black powder residue.

Frein’s father, Eugene Frein, took the stand next and established for the jury that his son drives a Jeep Cherokee and is an “above average” marksman who “never misses.” Eric Frein took notes at the defense table during his father’s testimony and looked back at his father as he returned to his seat.

Testimony then moved to the camp investigators discovered in the Monroe County woods.

FBI Special Agent Matthew Fontaine testified to how he and a SWAT team discovered the camp in a forest in Price Twp., a location they’d been alerted to by a cell phone ping from Frein’s phone.

Later, FBI supervising Special Agent James Reightler and Troopers Sean Doran and James Hitchcock, both of the state police Forensic Services Unit, discussed evidence found at the camp, which included ammunition, two pipe bombs and a water bottle that was sent for DNA testing.

Edward Hanko, the retired special agent in charge of the FBI’s Philadelphia division, also testified that the bureau had decided to put Frein on its 10 Most Wanted list during the manhunt.

By the end of testimony Friday, the Pike County District Attorney’s Office had introduced 244 exhibits and questioned 27 separate witnesses.

Next Week: Testimony from Trooper James Hitchcock will continue Monday at 8:30 a.m. Testimony on Monday will end at 12:30 p.m. in observance of Passover and no court will be held Friday in observance of Good Friday.

The charges

Eric Matthew Frein is charged with first-degree murder; first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer; attempted first-degree murder; attempted first-degree murder of a law enforcement officer; assault of a law enforcement officer; two counts each of terrorism and possession of weapons of mass destruction; and one count each of recklessly endangering another person, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure and possession of an instrument of crime.

Frein pleaded not guilty to all charges.

The Times-Tribune will update its coverage of the Eric Matthew Frein capital murder trial during trial breaks. Check www.thetimes-tribune.com and the newspaper’s Facebook page for videos and the latest updates during the trial. For the newspaper’s complete Frein trial coverage, visit www.thetimes-tribune.com/frein.

A large water main break affected nearly 50,000 customers in Lackawanna County on Saturday, closing businesses and sending residents to tanker trucks with buckets and bottles.

Pennsylvania American Water crews completed repairs to the break on Mill Street in Dunmore on Saturday night. Service should be fully restored this morning.

A boil advisory remains in effect until further notice for customers in the following areas: Scranton, Dunmore, the Midvalley, Clarks Green, Clarks Summit and parts of Glenburn, Scott and South Abington Twps. A map is available at amwater.com/paaw/alerts under the “latest alerts” section.

Water should be brought to a rolling boil for one minute and cooled before using. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth and food preparation until further notice, according to the water company. Low water pressure increases the chance that the water might contain disease-causing organisms.

Water tankers are available at the following locations:

■ Dunmore: Monahan Avenue (near Big Lots), West Pine Street, Dunmore High School and Mill Street.

■ Scranton: Moses Taylor Hospital, Regional Hospital, Lackawanna College and the fire station on East Mountain.

■ Dickson City: Enterprise Drive.

■ Throop: Dunmore Street.

■ Olyphant: Eureka Hose Company, East Grant Street.

■ Jessup: 911 Center

The utility asks customers to bring their own containers. The tankers will remain at the locations until the boil advisory is lifted.

Crews spent most of Saturday fixing a fitting that broke off a bypass from a 42-inch water main, which feeds water from the Lake Scranton Water Treatment Plant. Along with low water pressure or dry taps, many in the region complained about brown water. If you have cloudy or discolored water, run the tap for a few minutes until the water clears before using, the utility said.

On Saturday morning, Lackawanna County’s 911 center received phone calls about the water outage, county spokesman Joseph D’Arienzo said. Fire chiefs from around the county were also ready to implement the “tanker task force,” with fire departments helping those that may no water or poor pressure at hydrants.

The break also affected Moses Taylor and Regional hospitals in Scranton, said Renita Fennick, spokeswoman for Commonwealth Health System. Patient care continued without disruption, she said. The water company placed tankers outside the hospital for medical center use, utility spokeswoman Susan Turcmanovich said.

In Dunmore, many restaurants closed Saturday. People carried cases and jugs filled with water to their cars parked outside Riccardo’s Market. In the Dunmore High School parking lot, residents filled bottles and buckets from a water company tanker.

John Luciano filled a 5-gallon jug — hopefully enough to last through the night for his family of four, including an infant.

“We’ll ration it,” he said. “We’ll get through it, as long as it doesn’t last too long.”

For further information about your water service, contact Pennsylvania American Water’s customer service center at 800-565-7292.

PETER CAMERON, staff writer, contributed to this report.

Contact the writer:

shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133;

@hofiushallTT on Twitter

1. Attorneys for Scranton’s double pension recipients appealed the nonuniform pension board’s decision to strip the retirees of half their monthly benefits, claiming ...

A. the hearing examiners who recommended the cuts did not have sufficient evidence to support their decision.

B. retirees’ due process rights were violated by the legal mechanism the board used in addressing the dispute.

C. retirees should not be punished for decisions made by the pension board.

D. Both A and B.

2. Which of the following was not discussed at a town hall meeting held in Scranton by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey?

A. The possibility of a run for U.S. president.

B. Defense spending.

C. Whether he’ll run for mayor of Scranton.

D. U.S. Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch.

3. A Scranton fire station is out of commission indefinitely after ...

A. the station was overrun by house centipedes.

B. a woman rammed her 2012 Hyundai Sonata through the garage door and then a cinder block wall, coming to rest in the station’s kitchen.

C. black mold was found growing beneath wood paneling.

D. last month’s blizzard caused a partial collapse of the roof.

4. True or false? After months of discussions, Scranton School District teachers will keep the same insurance plan through at least the end of 2017.

A. True.

B. False. They will change to a Geisinger plan, effective May 1.

5. True or false? Nine Pennsylvania counties hit the hardest by the Blizzard of 2017 will get federal disaster aid for cleanup expenses.

A. True.

B. False. The counties fell about $6.6 million short of the threshold to unlock federal dollars.

6. A Scranton man is charged with fraud and related counts after police said he ...

A. told people he was running for mayor and accepted donations for his campaign.

B. set up a GoFundMe campaign for his sick 6-year-old daughter, who did not exist.

C. reported his car stolen when he’d actually wrecked it while driving drunk.

D. pretended to be a contractor but did not properly repair a roof.

7. What delayed the trial of accused cop-killer Eric Matthew Frein on Thursday?

A. Heavy rain flooded the jury room.

B. Frein fell while brushing his teeth and was taken to the hospital.

C. A juror was spotted having lunch with a witness in the case.

D. Defense attorneys filed a motion to dismiss the case for lack of evidence.

8. Which of the following plans to lay off 149 workers locally, nearly half its workforce, next month?

A. Sears.

B. TMJ Health.

C. Conduent Inc., a technology spinoff of the business machines giant Xerox.

D. Books-A-Million.

9. Who recently bought the lot where Kildare’s Irish Pub is located in downtown Scranton?

A. Kildare’s Irish Pub owner Dave Magrogan.

B. The city of Scranton.

C. A real estate acquisition business affiliated with Trump Hotels.

D. Marketplace at Steamtown owner John Basalyga.

10. Which school districts will compete in the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals at Michigan State University next month?

A. Abington Heights.

B. Delaware Valley.

C. Pocono Mountain and Wayne Highlands.

D. All of the above.

Answers: 1. D; 2. C; 3. B; 4. A; 5. B; 6. D; 7. B; 8. C; 9. A; 10. D

VETERANS

Post 5544 sets meat spin

Jessup VFW Post 5544 Easter meat spin for ham, turkey and kielbasi, spare ribs and slab bacon, today, 2 p.m., post, 205 Dolph St., basket chances, 50/50, free buffet.

Squadron 86 sets fish dinners

SAL Squadron 86 Lenten Fish Fry benefiting Hunts for Healing, Friday, 5-7 p.m., American Legion Post 86, Main Street, Susquehanna; dinners: fried flounder, 10 fried butterfly shrimp/$8; baked haddock/$9; add 10 shrimp/$6; fried flounder sandwich/$7; with coleslaw, french fries or mac and cheese; serving post 9-11 Combat Wounded Veterans, HuntsForHealing.org.

Post 5544 sets food sales

Jessup VFW Post 5544 Lenten food and clam chowder sale, Friday, noon-5:30 p.m. or sold out, 205 Dolph St.; Man­hat­tan clam chowder, $7/quart, $5/pint; New England clam chowder, $9/quart, $6/pint; crab bisque, $11/quart, $6/pint; halushki, $5.75/quart, $4/pint; tuna hoagies, $5.75; pierogies with butter and onions, deep fried, or deep fried with butter and onions, $9.50/dozen, $5.75/half-dozen, $1/each; potato pancakes, $1/each; advance orders accepted but not necessary, 570-489-7070 Thursday before.

Children’s Easter party set in Eynon

Children’s Easter party, Saturday, noon-2 p.m., VFW Post 7963, Main Street, Eynon, food, refreshments and Easter Bunny, sponsored by VFW Post 7963 and Auxiliary, Eynon American Legion Post 624, Eynon Fire Company 33 and Archbald American Legion Archbald Post 328.

109th Infantry offers scholarships

The 109th Infantry Regiment Association offering two $1,000 scholarships to children and grandchildren of members and veterans of the 109th Infantry Regiment, applications: Mike Jones, 570 947-6026, by Saturday.

VFW offers

scholarships

Dickson City VFW Post 5937 is again offering two $2,000 scholarships to children and grandchildren of regular members and veterans living in the Midvalley area. Contact Rich Capwell at 570-489-1222. Deadline is May 1.

Meetings

SQUADRON 665

Sons of the American Legion Squadron 665, today, 1 p.m., American Legion Post 665, Dickson City.

POST 3474 AUXILIARY

Dunmore VFW Post 3474 Auxiliary, nominations and elections, Monday, 7 p.m., post home.

VICTORY POST 13

American Legion Victory Post 13, Monday, 7 p.m., Green Ridge Post 908, Deacon Street.

POST 4954

Old Forge VFW Post 4954, Tuesday, 7 p.m., nominations and election of officers.

POST 6082 AUXILIARY

Shopa Davey VFW Post 6082 Auxiliary, Tuesday, 6 p.m., nominations and elections of officers.

POST 3474

Dunmore VFW Post 3474, nominations and elections, Tuesday, 7 p.m., post home.

POST 7963 AUXILIARY

VFW Post 7963 Auxiliary, Wednesday, 6 p.m., post, Main Street, Eynon, nominations and elections of officers.

DAV CHAPTER 114

Disabled American Veterans Chapter 114, Wednesday, 7 p.m., Cordaro’s Restaurant, 186 Grandview Ave., Honesdale.

POST 807

SSGT. Paul A. Sweeney Memorial American Legion Post 807, second Thursday of every month, 7:30 p.m., Hamlin Senior Center, Route 590.

POST 221

Carbondale American Legion Post 221, April 19, post home, 13 Hospital St., executive committee, 6 p.m., home association, 6:30, and regular meeting, 7.

CAMP 8

Ezra S. Griffin, Camp 8 Sons of Union Veterans and Auxiliary, April 22, 10:30 a.m., Scranton City Hall, side ADA entrance on Mulberry Street; 570-606-1014.

POST 5209

VFW Post 5209, April 23, post home, 1849 Bloom Ave., Scranton, home association, 12:30 p.m., and officers meeting, 1.

Merli Center

Today: Fresh brewed Keurig coffee, 8:30 a.m.; Eucharistic ministry visits, 9:15; bingo by Frank Stone, 2 p.m.

Monday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; Bible study visits, 9:30; Denny’s brunch, 9:30; fit express, 10:15; choir practice, 1:45; Catholic service, 3; resident choice, 7.

Tuesday: Passover. Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; bingo social, 10:15; voluntary ministry on units, 1:15 p.m.; bingo by Citizens Bank, 2; karaoke, 7.

Wednesday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; Walmart trip, 9:30; holiday trivia, 10:15; bingo in memory of John Grecco, 2 p.m.

Thursday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; chapel, 10; holiday arts and crafts, 10:15; Long John Silver’s dine-in, noon; Scrabble fun for National Scrabble Day, 2 p.m.

Friday: Good Friday. Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; Simon says, 10:15 a.m.; bingo by Military Order of the Purple Heart, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; hang the bunny, 10:15; bingo social, 2 p.m.

VETERANS NEWS should be submitted no later than Monday before publication to veterans@timesshamrock.com; or YES!desk, The Times-Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.

1900: This Victorian House was built at Railroad Avenue and Broadway Street in Scranton in the late 1890s by George Schumacher and his wife, Barbara. Schumacher is the bearded man standing at the top of the steps in the photo above. The Schumachers had an apartment on the left side of the building, and Dr. J.P. Walker operated his medical practice from the turreted corner.

2017: The Schumachers lived in the house just over 10 years. The property was sold to Patrick and Margaret McLane, who converted Walker’s medical office into a tavern. The McLanes operated the tavern until Patrick’s death in 1977. The bar continued under various owners until recently and is currently vacant.

Accused cop killer Eric Matthew Frein’s statement to police is potentially powerful evidence against him, but it also will provide his defense a significant issue for appeal if he is convicted, several attorneys said.

Pike County Judge Gregory Chelak denied a defense motion Monday to suppress statements Frein made during a videotaped interrogation after his Oct. 30, 2014, capture. Although Chelak’s ruling appears to be legally solid, District Attorney Ray Tonkin should consider carefully whether he wants to introduce the statement, the attorneys said.

“It’s a tactical judgment,” said Bruce Antkowiak,a former prosecutor and defense attorney who teaches law at St. Vincent University in Latrobe. “They know it’s going to be an issue on appeal … It depends on the importance of the statement to the case.”

Frein, 33, of Canadensis, is on trial for first-degree murder and multiple other offenses for the Sept. 12, 2014, sniper attack outside the state police barracks in Blooming Grove that killed Cpl. Bryon K. Dickson II, 38, of Dunmore, and wounded Trooper Alex T. Douglass, 34, of Olyphant. He pleaded not guilty. He faces a possible death sentence if convicted of first-degree murder.

His trial began Tuesday in Pike County Court and is expected to last several weeks.

In opening statements, prosecutors outlined strong circumstantial evidence connecting Frein to the shooting, including ballistics, DNA and pages from a journal describing the shooting that authorities allege Frein wrote.

That may be sufficient to secure a conviction, so Tonkin needs to consider seriously whether or not he needs the statement, said Antkowiak and several other attorneys.

“A defendant’s statement where he implicates himself is damning evidence,” said attorney Peter Paul Olszewski Jr.,a former district attorney and judge in Luzerne County. “There is a built-in issue on appeal now. Just because it wasn’t suppressed, the DA should think, ‘Do I really need it to convict him and take a chance that a conviction and death penalty get reversed on appeal?”

Frein’s attorneys, William Ruzzo and Michael Weinstein, fought to keep the statement out of the trial.

After Chelak denied the suppression motion, Ruzzo asked the judge to allow an immediate appeal to the state Superior Court, which would have halted the trial. When Chelak denied the request, Ruzzo filed court papers asking the Superior Court to review that decision. The court had not ruled as of late Friday afternoon.

So far, only a small portion of the videotaped interrogation has been made public. Part of the tape played at a suppression hearing Monday shows Frein declines to sign a written waiver of his Miranda rights against self incrimination and says, “I don’t want to talk about any crimes.” He does agree to tell troopers where he hid the rifle police allege was used in the shooting.

The key issue hinges on whether Frein clearly indicated he wanted to remain silent and/or that he wanted an attorney. If his statement is ambiguous, appellate courts have ruled in favor of prosecutors, said attorney Robert Buehner, former Montour County District Attorney. The question is how to define ambiguous.

“In order for a suspect to invoke his Miranda rights, it must be clear and unambiguous,” Buehner said. “You can’t ask police to be mind readers.”

In his motion, Ruzzo acknowledged Frein waived his Miranda rights regarding statements he made about the rifle. It is the rest of his statement he wants out.

“If the individual indicates in any manner that he wishes to remain silent, the interrogation must cease,” Ruzzo said in the motion.

Ruzzo also contends Frein’s rights were violated because police did not tell him an attorney his parents hired was at the barracks to see him.

Olszewski said he teaches police about interrogation techniques. He has not seen the Frein video so he cannot fully evaluate this particular case. Speaking generally, he said he advises officers to err on the side of caution if there’s a Miranda issue.

“When a defendant starts to say he doesn’t want to talk or wants a lawyer, out of an abundance of caution, you stop,” Olszewski said. “It’s going to be a serious issue on appeal that could jeopardize any conviction they get.”

Antkowiak and Buehner also have not seen the video. Based on information that is available, they said they believe Chelak is on solid ground with his ruling.

“If a guy tells you I won’t talk about ‘A, B and C’ but I will talk about ‘D,’ that’s not invoking your right to remain silent,” Antkowiak said. “If he decides not to limit the conversation, that was a conscious choice on his part.”

Antkowiak said Chelak’s ruling regarding the right to counsel also seems solid.

“You have to explicitly ask for a lawyer to invoke your Miranda rights,” he said.

Still, prosecutors are taking a chance because there’s no guarantee an appellate court will see it that way, particularly if Frein is convicted and sentenced to death, said attorney Ernest Preate, a former Lackawanna county district attorney.

“The problem is this is a death penalty case,” Preate said. “Death penalty cases are given extra scrutiny by the courts. Every single act will be reviewed under a microscope.”

If an appellate court finds Chelak erred, it is virtually assured that will result in the conviction being overturned, the attorneys agreed.

“A full-blown confession made shortly after an arrest removes a substantial amount of reasonable doubt,” Buehner said. “If the court finds it should have been suppressed, the logical remedy would be a new trial.”

Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137; @tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

Archbald

There are still seats available for a bus trip to New York City early next month.

The bus will leave the Archbald Borough Building, 400 Church St., at 7:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6. It will return that evening, leaving the city around 6:30 p.m.

There is no set itinerary for the trip, and travelers are encouraged to make their own plans in New York City. Tickets for the trip are $30 each.

To purchase tickets, contact Archbald Mayor Shirley Barrett at 570-498-9398.

— JEFF HORVATH

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

■

Roland Borgacci and Robert Kissolovege were honored for 50 years of service in the American Legion during a meeting of Hricak McAndrew American Legion Post 869. Post Commander Jerry Heid presented them with awards in honor of their service.

— STAFF REPORT

yesdesk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9121;

@YesDeskTT on Twitter

Carbondale

Dr. S. Robert Powell will discuss “The Pennsylvania Coal Company Gravity Railroad” as the featured presenter at the morning session of the Thomas Kennedy Local History Festival.

The morning session of the Saturday, April 22, free festival at the Dorflinger Factory Museum, 8 Elizabeth St. (at the blinking light), White Mills, runs from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Powell’s session will focus on the railroad, which ran from Paupack Eddy (Hawley) to Port Griffith (Pittston) and. While less well-known than the D&H Gravity, which ran from Honesdale to Carbondale, the Pennsylvania Coal Co. endeavor is “equally interesting, from both the technical and historical aspect,” Ann O’Hara said in an email.

A charter member of the Thomas Kennedy Local History Roundtable and author of the 24-volume (electronic format) “A History of the Delaware and Hudson Canal Company,” Powell is founder and director of the Carbondale D&H Transportation Museum and has been president of the Carbondale Historical Society for more than 35 years. A retired professor of Romance languages and humanities, he taught at State University of New York, Penn State University, Brooklyn College and Susquehanna University.

For details, email yannster@ptd.net or call 570-253-5468.

— STAFF REPORT

yesdesk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9121;

@YesDeskTT on Twitter

Clifford Twp.

The Clifford Twp. Historical Society developed an innovative way to help increase its funding to match grant monies through a 50/50 raffle of 1,000 tickets at $50 apiece.

“This raffle is the first major fundraiser since CTHS was founded 11 years ago,” society President Sandy Wilmot said in a release written by Karen Bernhardt Toolan. “It will enable us to award 20 prizes ranging from $100 to $10,000, while giving us the much-needed funds to finish the Children’s Garden and complete the cider mill renovation, restoring its original apple-pressing equipment.”

Since its founding in 2006, the society has used grants “to not only establish the Museum of Local History and its numerous indoor exhibits, but to restore and enhance the Hoover School, present the Clifford Baptist Church, as well as create and ensure the growing efforts of the new Children’s Garden, the new Agricultural Museum, and the ongoing restoration of Yarns Cider Mill at Suraci Farm,” according to the release.

Raffle tickets can be picked up at businesses throughout the Clifford area, including the Endless Mountains Pharmacy, Clifford Supply & Auto, Greenfield Power Equipment, Ellie DeFazio’s Hair Salon, Dunnier’s Country Store & Six Pack Shack, and Cable’s Deli.

Tickets are also available by contacting 570-679-2723 or swilmot@echoes.net; and they are printable from the CTHS website, www.clifford

townshiphistoricalsociety.org. The raffle drawing will be held Sunday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m. during an open house at the Cider Mill at the Suraci Farm.

— STAFF REPORT

yesdesk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9121;

@YesDeskTT on Twitter

Hamlin

Scout leader Carol Dante-Jones has earned the Boy Scouts of America District Award of Merit.

A Scout leader for four years, Dante-Jones has been involved in Scouting with her husband and fellow leader, Troop 102 committee chairman John Jones. She was an assistant scoutmaster with Lake Ariel Troop 102 and crew adviser of Crew 365 in Tafton. She also serves as a unit commissioner and assistant Cub Scout roundtable leader with the Dan Beard District and is a member of the Order of the Arrow.

She was recognized at her troop meeting by BSA Dan Beard District Chairman Michael Jurkowski. She received a certificate and an invitation to be recognized at the district dinner.

— STAFF REPORT

yesdesk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9121;

@YesDeskTT on Twitter

Lackawanna County

Lackawanna County commissioners approved an appointment to the library board, a park infrastructure project and a bridge replacement among Wednesday’s business.

The commissioners:

n Appointed Scranton resident Joan Hodowanitz of Linden Street to the Lackawanna County Library Board through Dec. 31, 2019.

n Awarded a $234,000 contract to Popple Construction to replace the Freytown Road bridge in Covington Twp. The project was listed in the county capital project, at one point budgeted for $400,000.

n Awarded a $91,250 contract to SRI Demolition to replace the water meter pit at McDade Park.

— KYLE WIND

kwind@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5181;

@kwindTT on Twitter

Olyphant

Earl Lewman got help celebrating his 85th birthday with lunch at Holy Cross Parish at St. Patrick’s Church.

“Lewman enjoyed lunch as part of the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen’s Mid Valley and Upper Valley Outreach Program, which also delivers hot meals to St. Rose of Lima and the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish in Carbondale and Christ the King Parish at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Archbald,” Alan Stout said in an email. “Lunches are served at Holy Cross Parish at St. Patrick’s Church in Olyphant on Wednesdays from 12-12:30 p.m. and are staffed by volunteers.”

Joining the birthday celebration were Nancy Bachurek, Elizabeth Lewman, Sophie Petrone, Edward Pociask, Shirley Robertson and Eleanor Whitman.

— STAFF REPORT

yesdesk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9121;

@YesDeskTT on Twitter

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Olyphant’s annual Easter egg hunt will be held Saturday for area children.

The event kicks off at 1 p.m. at the Wargo-Monsignor Hrynuck-Beckage Sports Complex in the 700 block of East Grant Street. The event is free and will feature a visit from the Easter Bunny.

“We do 5,000 (candy-) filled eggs, and it’s just a great time,” organizer Dina Harrington said of the egg hunt, now in its fifth year.

The egg hunt is broken into two age groups — one for children 5 years old and under, and one for children 6 and up.

Hundreds of children attend the egg hunt yearly.

— JEFF HORVATH

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

Salem Twp.

Salem Twp. Volunteer Fire Company received a set of pet oxygen masks from Invisible Fence of Northeast PA.

Firefighters Barry Allen, Rich Eyer, Tim O’Brien and Lee Smith were on hand to display the new equipment donated through Invisible Fence’s Project Breathe, “which was established with the goal of equipping every fire station in America and Canada with pet oxygen masks,” according to a release from the company.

“When a family suffers the tragedy of a fire, lives are turned upside down,” Shawn Prohaska, owner of Invisible Fence of Northeast PA and a volunteer firefighter for 35 years, said in the release. “Pets are valued family members, so we want families to know that their pet can be cared for if tragedy strikes.”

— STAFF REPORT

yesdesk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9121;

@YesDeskTT on Twitter

Scranton

City council approved three appointments to boards Thursday.

Jennifer Davis of North Irving Avenue was named to the Historical Architecture Review Board through Feb. 9, 2022. She replaces Ralph Scartelli.

Also joining HARB is Katherine Kearney of South Irving Avenue. Her term also runs through Feb. 9, 2022. She succeeds Ella Rayburn.

Council also approved Paul Marcks of Gibbons Street as alternate No. 1 on the zoning board through July 1, 2020. He replaces Bob Palmitessa, who recently became a regular member of the zoning board.

— KYLE WIND

kwind@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5181;

@kwindTT on Twitter

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Lackawanna Heritage Valley is looking for more than a few good plants.

In an effort to help beautify the Nay Aug Avenue Natural Play Area in Scranton, LHV is collecting black-eyed Susans, day lilies, sedum (commonly known as stonecrop), tiger lilies, daisies, hostas and ferns. Donated plants can be taken to the play area at 1731 Nay Aug Ave. in the Green Ridge section of the city (near Green Ridge Shopping Center) on Thursday, April 20, and Friday, April 21, from 9 a.m. to noon, Owen Worozbyt, trail and environmental projects manager, LHV National and State Heritage Area, said in a release.

An Earth Day planting will be held at the play area on Saturday, April 22, from 9 a.m. to noon.

Donations to Lackawanna Heritage Valley’s Earth Week plant drive “are greatly appreciated, as the project will create opportunities for educational science and nature programming for children and enhance the beauty of the play area,” Worozbyt said.

For details, visit lhva.org, find Lackawanna River Heritage Trail on Facebook, or call 570-963-6730, ext. 8200.

— STAFF REPORT

yesdesk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9121;

@YesDeskTT on Twitter

Waverly Twp.

It was the summer of 1992, when MetLife employees decided to get together after work to shoot some hoops.

“We played on a local playground a few times, and it went well. With the advent of the fall, we started to look for a place to play indoors,” group leader Mike Brislin said in a release from the Waverly Community House.

Someone suggested Brislin contact the Comm. Soon, he was reserving a Monday 5 to 7 p.m. slot in the gymnasium, where “they’ve faithfully come to play every week from September through May for 25 years,” according to the release.

The group currently has 14 members — including two originals — and most Mondays “the entire fraternity” shows up.

They keep the 4-on-4 games “as simple as possible,” Brislin said. “There’s nothing at stake, no contracts, no scholarships, and definitely no fame and fortune. Just bragging rights.”

— STAFF REPORT

yesdesk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9121;

@YesDeskTT on Twitter

AROUND THE TOWNS appears each Sunday, spotlighting the people and events in your neighborhoods. If you have an idea for an Around the Towns note, contact the writer for your town, or the Yes!Desk at 570-348-9121 or yesdesk@timesshamrock.com.

Tuesday: Information session, CareerLink, 1 p.m., Osterhout Free Library. Participants will learn about Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act and on the job training opportunities offered. Information will be available on GED programs and occupational training. Light refreshments will be served. For reservations, call 570-821-1959.

Thursday: April luncheon, Back Mountain Chamber, 11:30 a.m., Huntsville Golf Club. Luzerne County Manager David Pedri will present an overview of Luzerne County, its management and current issues and priorities. Cost is $15 for members and $20 for non-members. Advance reservations are requested. Contact Pam Robbins at 570-674-7800, ext. 1134.

April 21 to 23: Weekend of workshops, Balance Yoga and Wellness, 900 Rutter Ave., Forty Fort. Matt Giordano, New York, New York, yoga teacher to teach workshops. April 21, “Hips: Rock em’ & Unlock em,” 6 to 8 p.m.; April 22, “Arm Balances: Flying Hip Openers,” 10 a.m. to noon; and April 23, “Depth of Breath and Spine: Side Bend, Back Bend & Twists,” 10 a.m. to noon. Each workshop costs $35 in advance; $40 at the door; or all three for $90 in advance. For more information or for preregistation, call 570-714-2777 or visit www.balancenepa.com.

April 28: “Meet the Funders,” the Association of Fundraising Professionals, NEPA Chapter and the Northeastern Pennsylvania Nonprofit & Community Assistance Center, registration at 9:30 a.m., Genetti’s Hotel & Conference Center in Wilkes-Barre. The session will feature a panel presentation by the Luzerne Foundation, the First Federal Charitable Foundation, the Moses Taylor Foundation, the Highmark Foundation and Highmark Corporate Giving. For more information, contact Meghan Loftus at mloftus@nepa-alliance.org.

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