PRICE TWP. — An entrepreneurial couple bought the former Alpine Mountain Resort in Monroe County for $412,500, following the previous owner’s bankruptcy.

Jim and Linda Schlier of Pocono Twp. don’t have immediate plans for the roughly 100 acres they bought Monday, Jim Schlier said, though they won’t reopen it as a ski resort.

An access bridge needs essential repairs before starting on anything, and they don’t plan to do that for about a year, he said.

The Schliers own Schlier’s Towing and The Candle Shoppe of the Poconos in Pocono Twp., and Pocono Mountain Harley-Davidson, Hamilton Twp.

— JON O’CONNELL

SCRANTON — A new Middle Eastern market opened early this month in downtown Scranton.

Steamtown Market is tucked in a first-floor shop of Forum Towers, between Duffy Accessories and Christopher’s Hair Design, at 222 Linden St.

Owners Faten Chemeissani and Wael Alghanim sell imported packaged foods like basmati rice, green lentils, soup and tea. They carry imported tea sets and hookahs, and sell hot coffee for 99 cents a cup.

The little market also sells domestic staples like cereal and canned goods.

It is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

— JON O’CONNELL

DALLAS TWP. — The demand for natural gas is expected to increase by 40 percent over the next decade and even more in Pennsylvania, said Carl Marrara, vice president of government affairs for the Pennsylvania Manufacturers’ Association.

He said improved infrastructure is needed to move Marcellus Shale gas to manufacturers, but government officials have been holding up growth.

The state Department of Environmental Protection has been one of the “biggest impediments to infrastructure rollout,” he said.

“Government does not move at the speed of business,” he said. “Affordable natural gas and natural gas liquids are simply not getting to market because Pennsylvania lacks a sufficient pipeline network.”

Marrara was among the advocates who highlighted the benefits of Pennsylvania natural gas at a briefing held Wednesday morning at Misericordia University.

Borton-Lawson, Cabot Oil & Gas, UGI Energy Services and the Williams Co., in conjunction with ACT for American and the Back Mountain Chamber of Commerce, hosted a “Think About Energy” briefing. About 100 people attended.

New pipeline projects are advancing in Pennsylvania, including the Atlantic Sunrise and PennEast.

Larry Godlasky, UGI Energy Services, said while there is a huge amount of natural gas in Pennsylvania, “what we don’t have is the pipeline capacity to take that gas and deliver it to market.”

He hopes PennEast will receive a certificate from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this summer.

Mike Atchie of the Williams Co. said Atlantic Sunrise represents a private investment of nearly $3 billion to expand Pennsylvania’s energy infrastructure, spur economic growth and create jobs for thousands of Pennsylvanians.

The Atlantic Sunrise project was proposed in early 2014 as a means of getting natural gas out of Pennsylvania to growing markets along the East Coast, Atchie said.

There is a curtailment among gas drillers because they don’t have the takeaway capacity, he said.

“We see a growing demand for natural gas. We just need the pipeline infrastructure to meet that growing demand,” Atchie said. “It has been a long regulatory process.”

The Williams Co. is wrapping up some state permits and Atchie said he hopes construction of the pipeline could begin in late summer. It would take a year to finish, he said.

“We want to start building,” Atchie said. “After three years or regulatory processes, it’s time to build.”

Chris McCue, oil/gas and energy sector leader at Borton-Lawson engineering and architecture firms, said since 2008, oil and gas have grown to become 30 percent of the firm’s workload.

“That’s almost 40 jobs with professional salaries from marketing positions to administrative positions to all types of engineering positions,” McCue said. “That translates to $2-$3 million in salaries. All these folks live in Scranton, the Wyoming Valley, Dallas, Hazleton. We’ve opened an office in Pittsburgh that is solely based on natural gas and that now has 12 people that we would not have if we were not involved in the industry.”

Philip Medico of Medico Industries said gas drillers provided his company a huge opportunity to supply them with equipment and parts.

As a result of the gas drilling industry, Medico Industries hired another 120 people at its Hanover Twp. location, he said.

“Has the gas industry benefited our company? Absolutely,” Medico said.

Tunkhannock resident Dora Bennett, who attended Wednesday’s hearing, said before Cabot Oil & Gas came in, her husband’s grandfather almost lost his farm and had nothing.

Last year, he won Farmer of the Year and spent $250,000 for a new tractor with air conditioning, she said. He has six Cabot Oil & Gas wells on his farm outside Mont­rose.

“We all have brand new houses on the hill because Cabot came in and put their gas wells there,” Bennett said. “Did they destroy their property? Absolutely not. Grandpa’s property is actually better and the dirt road is nicer.”

David Wasilewski of Hunlock Creek, associate professor of mathematics at Luzerne County Community College, told the advocates he heard a lot on Wednesday about how “winners are winners.”

“There have been losers and there will be losers,” Wasilewski said. “We don’t know at this point what will be lost in the future environmentally and health-wise.”

As Wasilewski brought up the possibility of “significant health risks” and environmental impacts, panelists cut him off and asked him if he had a question.

“Sit down!” one attendant yelled to Wasilewski, as others applauded.

Wasilewski left abruptly and when stopped outside the briefing, he said “There are losers. This room in here is a room full of denial.”

Contact the writer:

dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2115;

@CVAllabaugh on Twitter

JESSUP — Inside an unassuming Third Avenue chapel, local and cultural history abound under the banners of St. Ubaldo, St. Anthony and St. George.

The statues of the three saints — which on Saturday will be hoisted high during Jessup’s annual Corsa dei Ceri race — occupy a rear shelf in the chapel amid a roomful of relics, ornaments and equipment that will be used during this weekend’s festivities. Like the families that brought the tradition to Jessup from Gubbio, Italy, over a century ago, these statues and objects represent a physical bridge to the past.

Jessup and Gubbio are the only two cities in the world that celebrate La Festa dei Ceri, which honors the life of Ubaldo Baldassini. Canonized by Pope Celestine III in 1192, Baldassini, or St. Ubaldo, is credited with saving Gubbio from barbarians in the 1100s.

Italian immigrants brought the tradition of the Corsa dei Ceri, or the running of the saints, from Gubbio to Jessup in the early 1900s.

Owing to the event’s age and cultural significance, it isn’t uncommon to see generations of families donning the colors of their respective saints, or fathers and sons taking their places under the 400 pound ceros that bear the saints on race day.

“One of the proudest pictures I have is myself running with my two sons,” said Nick Rodio, a member of the family of St. Anthony who this year will serve as Primo Capitano for the event. “It’s carrying on a tradition.”

His sons, Nicholas and Antonio, will run with St. Anthony this year as Rodio jogs ahead. Around 1978, Rodio and his father, too, found themselves under the statue together, evidence that the race represents a cherished family tradition in Jessup.

“When I see grandfathers and fathers watching children and grandchildren participating, you can see the spark in their eyes,” said Linda Bonacci-Anelli, public relations director for the St. Ubaldo Society and a member of the family of St. Anthony by marriage. “For me, to see my children be part of it, and to see their grandfather watch them do that, it’s a great experience.”

Bonacci-Anelli numbered among about 160 area residents who earlier this month travelled to Gubbio for that city’s La Festa dei Ceri, and about 20 Gubbio residents, including an Italian film crew, are expected to attend Jessup’s celebration this weekend. This year, for the first time, Jessup will embrace the Gubbio tradition of the Mostra — where the families will take their statues to the homes of runners, or ceraioli, who can no longer participate due to age, or who have passed away.

“These are people who actually started this whole thing and their ancestors,” said St. Ubaldo Society President Scott Hall, who also serves as president of the family of St. George. “It’s just an honor for us to do that for them.”

Hall, who has participated in St. Ubaldo Day since he was a boy, reflected on the significance of the celebration. His 12-year-old son served as captain of the children’s race last year, while he himself was captain, known as capodieci, of his adult team in 2005.

“I’ve been doing this since age 7 and I know my family members back in their time did it,” he said. “It happens two places in the world — Jessup, Pa., and Gubbio, Italy. It’s just an unbelievable feeling to be under the saint, to carry the saint.”

Contact the writer:

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

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

Schedule of events

Jessup police wish to remind those attending La Festa dei Ceri events that open alcoholic beverage containers are prohibited on public streets, sidewalks, parks and other public places.

Saturday

n 6 a.m.: Drummers from the Valley View High School Marching Band will march the streets of Jessup to wake up the town.

n 7-9:15 a.m.: The Valley View High School band will march through Jessup playing the traditional music of La Festa dei Ceri.

n 7:30 a.m.: A wreath-laying ceremony honoring the ceraioli, or runners, who have passed away will take place at St. John’s Italian-American Cemetery.

n 8:30 a.m.: A blessing and prayer service will take place at the St. Ubaldo Society Cultural Center, 310 Third Ave.

n 10:30 a.m.: Participants will meet at the St. Ubaldo Cultural Center and celebrate as the saints are carried out of the chapel to begin the procession to the to the Heritage Center on Church Street.

n 11:30 a.m.: Runners will gather outside the Heritage Center for a brief blessing.

n 12 p.m.: The Alzata, or raising of the saints, will take place at the Heritage Center. The Alzata will be followed immediately by the Mostra, where each family pays homage to those who can no longer participate in the days events.

n 4-5:28 p.m.: Runners will gather at the St. Ubaldo Society Cultural Center to begin the procession of the most holy relic of St. Ubaldo and a separate, large statue of St. Ubaldo to Powell Avenue and Ward Street, where the race will begin.

n 5 p.m.: The Corsa dei Ceri begins. Following the race, which ends at Jessup Memorial Field, participants will celebrate a successful end of the race with a procession to the St. Ubaldo Cultural Center, where the statues and equipment will be stored until next year.

Sunday

n 10-10:30 a.m.: Kids participating in the Children’s Festa dei Ceri will meet at the St. Ubaldo Society Cultural Center.

n 11:30 a.m.: The Alzata, or raising of the saints, will take place.

n 12:30 p.m.: The Children’s race will begin at Ward Street and Powell Avenue. It ends at Jessup Memorial Field.

The saints

n St. Ubaldo: Born Ubaldo Baldassini in Gubbio around 1084, St. Ubaldo was a medieval bishop of Gubbio who is believed to have saved the town from an invasion led by German Emperor Frederick Barbarossa. St. Ubaldo died at Gubbio in 1160. He was canonized by Pope Celestine III in 1192.

n St. George: Born around 280, St. George was a Roman soldier and Christian martyr who was killed in about 303 for failing to recant his Christian faith.

n St. Anthony: Born in Egypt in 251, St. Anthony, or St. Anthony the Abbot, was a Christian monk known for his embrace of the ascetic life. He is often known as the Father of All Monks. St. Anthony died in Egypt about 356.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Paul Georgetti and Kimberly Ann Antosh, both of Scranton.

■ Stephanie Erica Edwards and Erica Renee Marshall both of North Providence, R.I.

■ Eric J. Riggleman, Clarks Summit, and Alexandra B. Zagorski, Old Forge.

■ Justin McGregor and Brittany Rose Musacchio, both of Dunmore.

■ Matthew Gary Marositz, Nazareth and Paula Lucero Moctezuma, Moosic.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Christopher Stone and Joan Burne Stone, Lackawanna County, to George C. and Helen M. Penn; a property at 643 Boulevard Ave., Dickson City, for $36,000.

■ Veronica A. Borowski to Thomas Riley Pierce and Helen Ann Hardy; a parcel in Covington Twp. for $68,500.

■ Nelson H. and Dorothy M. Murphy, Naples, Fla. to Paul Rinaldi, Lake Ariel; 2 parcels in Roaring Brook Twp. for $150,000.

■ Jonelle J. Nemerovich, Throop, to Erica J. Halstead, Lackawanna County; a property at 721 Adams Court, Throop, for $70,000.

■ Kimberly A. Quinn, Factoryville, to RES1016 LLC, Clarks Summit; a property in Throop for $83,000.

■ Amyann Carden and Thomas J. Carden Jr., Dunmore, to Alessandro J. Tuzze, Carbondale; a parcel in Scott Twp. for $90,000.

■ Park Drive Dev Co Inc., Mayfield, to JDT Realty LLC, Mayfield; a parcel in Mayfield for $51,000.

■ Wilimington Savings Fund Society, per attorney in fact, Houston, Texas, to Diane Jones; a property at 97 Pike St., Carbondale, for $28,500.

■ Jill E. Summa, name before marriage, Jill E. Schultz and Micheal Schultz, Scranton, to Jurian A. Silva Rubino and Katrina Del Carmen Marrero Eus, Scranton, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property at 320 Fifth Ave., Scranton, for $66,435.

■ Charles J. and Barbara Ann Marie Cliff, Madison Twp., to Nicholas P. and Amy Marsh, Cresco Twp.; a parcel in Madison Twp. for $145,900.

■ Barry A Goodwin Sr. and Judith Goodwin to Jason M. Pearson and Latifa Malika Pearson, Scranton; a property at 1310 Prospect Ave., Scranton, for $128,700.

■ William S. Gilchrist Jr., Moosic, to Walter Stocki Jr., Old Forge, a property at 107 N. Keyser Ave., Scranton for $130,000.

ESTATES FILED

■ Leonard F. Tolan, 839 Clay Ave., Scranton, letters testamentary to William Tolan, 221 Third St. Blakely.

BENCH WARRANTS

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

■ Mark Baskin, 712 S. Irving Ave., second floor, Scranton; $930.

■ Michael Paul Bejeski, 969 Lake Ariel Highway, Lake Ariel; $905.50.

■ Christina M. Corona, 340 Simpson St., Dupont; $542.

■ Richard Phillip Barletta, 1809 Ross Ave., Scranton; $4,430.50.

■ Eric Justin Gower, 127 Prospect Ave., Apt 1R, Scranton; $3,225.

■ Ashley Marie Cadwalder, 526 Winter St., Old Forge; $946.50.

■ Jose Ortiz-Berrios, 926 Johler Ave., second floor, Scranton; $3,335.57.

■ Phillip Clark, 17 Lawrence St., Wilkes Barre; $695.50.

■ David Conklin, P.O. Box 1251, Fairport, N.Y.; $7,103.

■ Tehran Jose Berrios, 720 Hemlock St., Scranton; $1,930.

■ Darryl Cortazar, 144 Dimmick St., Throop; $2,371.

■ Eric Colborn, 112 Sally Drive, Clarks Summit; $1,350.

ARDS

The following were admitted to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for driving under the influence:

■ Jaime Ziemba, 33, Old Forge, stopped Oct. 22 by Old Forge police.

■ John Gennaro, 29, Milnesville, stopped Jan. 1, 2016, by Scranton police.

■ Ryan Nowell, 23, Dunmore, stopped Sept. 24 by Scranton police.

■ Perry Kraft, 40, Carbondale, stopped Jan. 15, 2016, by Taylor police.

■ Wolfe Muia, 24, Scranton, stopped July 29 by Dickson City police.

■ Vanessa Pettus, 35, Scranton, stopped Nov. 27 by Taylor police.

■ Peter Tayoun, 41, Scranton, stopped Nov. 6 by Scranton police.

■ Victoria Louise Miller, 23, Scranton, stopped Aug. 4 by South Abington Twp. police.

■ Patrick John Walsh, 41, Archbald, stopped Nov. 2 by Archbald police.

■ Bethany Ann Toney, 22, Clarks Summit, stopped Nov. 27 by South Abington Twp. police.

■ Angelo L. Sanchez, 51, Scranton, stopped May 21, 2016, by Scranton police.

■ Lok B. Magar, 33, Scranton, stopped Dec. 18 by Scranton police.

■ Andrew Hetsko, 33, Chicago, Ill., stopped May 25 by Dunmore police.

■ Thomas Depietro, 44, Dunmore, stopped Sept. 29 by Dunmore police.

■ Lisa Marie Healey, 45, Scranton, stopped Oct. 14 by Scranton police.

■ Mariah Marissa Frable, 22, Carbondale, stopped July 13 by Waverly Twp. police.

■ Scott Walsh, 57, Clarks Summit, stopped July 9 by Scranton police.

The following defendants were admitted to the ARD program for other crimes:

■ Kayla Siminski, 22, Taylor, arrested Nov. 12 by Taylor police for intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person who is not registered, use and possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and resisting arrest.

■ Tia Lindsay Knoedler, 21, Andreas, arrested Dec. 24 by Taylor police for tampering with evidence, intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person who is not registered, possession of marijuana and use and possession of drug paraphernalia.

■ Justine Cook, 20, Scranton, arrested June 6 by Scranton police for possession of marijuana and use and possession of drug paraphernalia.

■ Jennifer Worthington, 25, Dunmore, arrested Aug. 2 by Dunmore police for theft.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

Peckville

Donations accepted: Valley Community Library accepting donations of gently used books, puzzles, CDs and DVDs for annual summer book and bake sale at Valley View Elementary Center, June 21-22, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily; donations may be taken to the library, 739 River St., during regular operating hours; 570-489-1765.

Regional

Dinner club: St. Mary’s Parish Dinner Club “Russian menu” dinner, June 8, 320 Mifflin Ave., Scranton, 5:50 and 6:30 p.m. seatings, cash bar available, $20; 570-343-5151 by June 5.

Suicide prevention: Northeast Suicide Prevention Initiative annual survivor picnic, June 9, 4:30 p.m., Nay Aug Park; reservations, Kathy Wallace, 570-575-2343.

Job fair: Lackawanna County annual job fair, today, 1-5 p.m., club level, PNC Field, Moosic.

Scott Twp.

Blood drive: Inaugural David Lawrence Duchnick Memorial Blood Drive, June 2, 1-6 p.m., Joe Terry Civic Center, Montdale Road.

Scranton

Chicken barbecue: Covenant Presbyterian Church chicken barbecue, June 4, noon-2 p.m., 550 Madison Ave., curbside pickup available for those not attending worship, $11/adults and $5/6-12; church office, 570-346-6400, no tickets sold at door.

Bus trip: West Side Active Older Adult Community Center bus trip to Sands Casino, June 8, leaves center, 1004 Jackson St., 9 a.m., casino, 4:30 p.m.; $25/$20 in free play, $5 food voucher. Anyone 21 years or older is welcomed on the trip. Information and reservations, call 570-961-1592, ext. 101.

Waverly

Medicare class: Apprise free new to Medicare class, June 13, 5:30-8 p.m., Waverly Community House; Voluntary Action Center, 570-347-5616.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be emailed to yesdesk@timesshamrock.com or mailed to Clipboard, c/o the YES!Desk at 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

Councilman Tim Burke now enjoys a clear path to the Dunmore mayor’s office.

Burke nipped six-term Mayor Patrick “Nibs” Loughney by seven votes to win the Democratic nomination and then overwhelmed the incumbent with write-in votes to add the Republican nomination in the May 16 primary, according to official totals released Wednesday by the Lackawanna County Department of Elections.

In Scranton, Republican write-ins propelled incumbent Councilmen Bill Gaughan and Pat Rogan, who locked up Democratic nominations in the primary, to wins on the GOP ballot for council as well.

Marion Medalis, director of elections, said while some candidates’ vote totals shifted slightly from the unofficial numbers reported Election Night, the official canvass produced no changes in the primary winners.

With the dual nominations in hand, Burke virtually is assured of election as Dunmore mayor in November.

The councilman said he anticipated the outcome of the canvass but is taking nothing for granted.

“It takes some of the pressure off, but it doesn’t mean I’ll stop working,” Burke said.

The final count showed Burke, who held a three-vote edge over Loughney in unofficial returns, winning the Democratic nomination by a tally of 1,478 votes to 1,471 for the incumbent.

On the Republican side, Burke defeated Loughney 121 to 51.

Loughney accepted the loss with grace, wishing Burke the best and congratulating his rival on running “a good campaign and a clean campaign.”

He also thanked Dunmore voters for giving him the opportunity to serve them as mayor for 24 years.

“What a thrill it was. I enjoyed every day I was the mayor,” he said. “I still have six months left, and I will enjoy the remaining six months.”

Former Dunmore Councilman Paul Nardozzi, who finished fourth in the Democratic primary for three four-year borough council seats, earned a spot on the November ballot as the top vote-getter on the Republican side with 51 write-in votes.

Former Councilman Thomas Ehnot and Councilwoman Carol Scrimalli, both winners of Democratic nominations, picked up the other two GOP nominations. Ehnot received 33 Republican write-ins and Scrimalli had 27.

The Democratic nominee for the two-year Dunmore council seat, former Councilman Michael Hayes, snagged the GOP nomination with write-in votes, as did the Democratic nominee for borough tax collector, incumbent Louis A. Paciotti Jr.

Gaughan, who finished first among Democrats for three open Scranton council seats, won one of the two available Republican nominations with 282 write-ins. Rogan, who came in third in the Democratic primary, captured the other with 202 write-ins, outpolling Paul Duffy, who had 141.

Gaughan and Rogan will appear on the GOP slate in November with Richard J. Johnson, who was the lone candidate on the Republican primary ballot.

In the Scranton mayoral race, where incumbent Democrat Bill Courtright and Republican Jim Mulligan were unopposed for their respective party nominations and will face off in November, the 1,148 write-ins cast on the Democratic side included 764 for “James Mulligan” or “Jim Mulligan” and 98 for “Mulligan,” according to the election office.

The 269 write-ins cast for mayor on the Republican ballot were not reviewed.

In the Region 3 race for Mid Valley School Board, where Mary R. Gaffney Tanner won one of two available Democratic nominations in the primary balloting, Brian M. Foley captured the other with 61 write-in votes. He also picked up a GOP nomination with 11 write-ins. No other candidate received the 10 votes needed to take the second Republican spot.

Incumbent Mark P. McAndrew, the Democratic nominee for sheriff, received 779 Republican write-ins to sew up the GOP nomination. However, the Democratic nominee for register of wills, incumbent Fran Kovaleski, came up short on the Republican side with 181 write-ins; she needed 250 to secure the GOP nomination.

Write-ins votes in other races throughout the county have been tallied, and Medalis said she expects a complete list of the winners to be available no later than Friday.

Any candidate seeking a recanvass of the primary results will have until Tuesday to petition county court, Medalis said. If none are filed, the election board will schedule a meeting to certify the results.

Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9132

The art and architecture in downtown Scranton feel like a smaller version of SoHo to New York City developer Shimon Friedman.

Along with two other New York developers, he bought the Oppenheim Building, 401 Lackawanna Ave., last week for $1.2 million.

They plan to restore the stately old building and, in the near future, add luxury loft apartments in the attached Lewis & Reilly building, he said during an interview Wednesday.

With most of his business in New York, in the last four years, Friedman has been expanding into Pennsylvania, mostly in the Philadelphia/King of Prussia area.

He owns other commercial property in Lackawanna County, but he had his reservations about committing to Scranton.

But when Roaring Brook Twp. businessman John Basalyga sparked a downtown renaissance by buying what is now the Marketplace at Steamtown last year, he caught the inspiration.

“That made me more interested in looking downtown,” he said. “I walked, literally, the whole downtown and just felt that, ‘downtown it is.’ ”

Friedman owns 45 percent of the building; his partners own 27.5 percent each. The 193,000-square-foot structure has some tenants now including IRS and Social Security Administration offices. A law firm and an architectural firm also lease space, Friedman said.

The building had been on the market since October 2016, when Boscov family-owned Scranton Mall Associates lost it and the historic Samter’s Building, located one block away at Lackawanna and Penn avenues, to foreclosure.

Oppenheim’s sheer size, age — it was built in 1888 — and need for repairs meant a smaller pool of developers would have the gumption to take it over, said Elijah Miller, the agent with Hinerfeld Commercial Real Estate, who represented seller NBT Bank.

“It’s close to 200,000 square feet, and for the city of Scranton, you have to be not only confident but experienced,” he said. “This one definitely had more challenges to any other comparable building that’s only 40,000 or 50,000 square feet.”

NBT was asking for $2.9 million for the building, but accepted $1.7 million less considering all the preliminary work Friedman and his partners did in evaluating the building, as well as the work needed to modernize it, Miller said.

Friedman has plans to restore it and bring it up to contemporary standards while maintaining its historic look and feel. He wants to keep the old Oppenheim name, too.

“We’re planning on bringing up the class of the building, maintaining it and welcoming new tenants,” he said.

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131;

@jon_oc on Twitter

DUNMORE — All Pennsylvania Department of Transportation driver license and photo centers, including its full-service center in Harrisburg and the center in Dunmore, will be closed Saturday through Monday in observance of Memorial Day.

Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services, including all forms, publications and driver training manuals, online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website, www.dmv.pa.gov.

— CLAYTON OVER

CANAAN TWP. — The Route 296 Easton Turnpike bridge, which crosses the creek in Wayne County, is complete and open to traffic, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced.

The Canaan Twp. crossing, longer and wider than the original, is designed with a 100-year lifespan.

It had been deemed structurally insufficient and is one of 558 bridges replaced under the state’s Rapid Bridge Replacement Project.

The project is a public-private partnership between PennDOT and Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners, which will finance, design, replace and maintain the bridges for 25 years.

— PETER CAMERON

A Lackawanna County jury on Tuesday ruled area businessman Bob Bolus Sr. must pay more than $187,000 in back taxes owed on his towing and truck parts shop on Sanderson Street in Throop.

Bolus filed a lawsuit against the Lackawanna County Tax Claim Bureau in 2009, challenging its ruling that he owed taxes on the property from 1986 through 2000. Bolus alleged the tax claim bureau had agreed to forgive taxes on the parcel as part of a 2001 settlement he reached with the bureau relating to six other parcels he owns in Dunmore.

In the Dunmore case, the tax claim bureau agreed to accept $90,000 to settle a $226,000 tax bill Bolus owed for the properties. Bolus maintained the tax claim bureau’s then-director, Thomas Walsh, agreed that the $90,000 payment would cover delinquent taxes on the Throop property as well — a claim the tax bureau denied.

The case was delayed for years as Bolus availed himself to various administrative appeals, said Joseph Joyce, the tax claim bureau’s attorney. It went to trial before Judge Terrence Nealon on Monday. Jurors deliberated for about an hour on Tuesday before rejecting Bolus’ claims.

Joyce said the ruling means Bolus is obligated to pay the back taxes. If he fails to do so, the property can be put up for tax sale.

Bolus said he would allow his attorneys to determine whether to appeal the decision, but wasn’t ready to concede defeat.

“The matter isn’t over, let’s put it that way,” he said.

Contact the writer:

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

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — City police are investigating the theft of more than 40 air conditioners from the Friends of the Poor.

Police responded to a warehouse at 2000 Rosanna Ave. on Tuesday, when Friends of the Poor staff reported 41 Kenmore 5000 BTU air conditioners stolen, city police Lt. Marty Crofton said. The machines are valued at $4,796, Crofton said.

The air conditioners were supposed to be donated to needy people, according to the charity.

Anyone with information about the theft is asked to call Scranton police detectives at 570-348-4139.

— CLAYTON OVER

A fire that killed a man Wednesday morning in Susquehanna County appears accidental, state police at Dunmore said.

Fire crews responded to 1763 state Route 247 in Clifford Twp. at 6:30 a.m. and found flames in the second floor of a two-story, six-unit apartment building.

While a second wave of fire companies were called to the scene, crews had it doused within minutes, Clifford Twp. Fire Chief Trent Turner said.

“Unfortunately, the occupant didn’t make it,” Turner said.

The fire appeared to have started in the kitchen of a man’s apartment, state police said. That man, whose name is withheld until his family can be notified, died at the scene and has an autopsy scheduled for today. All other tenants escaped without injury, state police said.

Crews took two firefighters from Greenfield and Forest City fire companies for medical evaluations, Turner said. One firefighter had an ankle injury and the other suffered a “cardiac event.”

The fire does not appear suspicious, state police said. The investigation is continuing.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9144; @jkohutTT

on Twitter

The Scranton Sewer Authority rejected a motion Wednesday to ask the state auditor general to review the recent $195 million sewer sale.

Three Scranton members on the five-member authority, including Chairman Michael Parker, Kevin Whelan and Larry Boccadori — voted down two separate, related motions made by Dunmore’s sole member, Michael Dempsey, to seek a state audit of the sewer sale; and to release unredacted versions of hundreds of pages of legal bills incurred in the transaction.

The fourth Scranton seat is vacant because former Scranton member Patrick Hughes resigned May 15.

Before the votes, some residents, Scranton Councilman Bill Gaughan and Dunmore Councilman Tim Burke urged the authority to support a review by the auditor general.

Some in a crowd of about 30 people at the meeting booed the authority’s rejection of that motion.

“I think our next move is to call in the (state) attorney general to come in,” Gaughan said after the meeting. “What are they hiding? Why will they not let the auditor general of the state of Pennsylvania come in and make sure, as Mayor Courtright said, everything is aboveboard.”

Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright said last week he saw no reason for a review by the auditor general, but the decision would be up to the sewer authority.

Courtright, over time, appointed Parker, Whelan, Boccadori and Hughes.

Parker said after the meeting that the authority already is seeking its own annual independent audit of the past fiscal year, which included the sewer sale. As for opposing the motion to release unredacted legal invoices, Parker, an attorney, said he does not agree with waiving all attorney-client privilege to release completely unredacted documents.

The authority sold the sewer system serving Scranton and Dunmore to Pennsylvania American Water. The transaction closed Dec. 29.

Amid questions about $3.1 million in legal fees and other concerns surrounding the sale, Scranton City Council and Dunmore Borough Council both recently agreed to ask the authority to invite the auditor general to review the deal.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale recently told The Times-Tribune his office lacks oversight power over municipal authorities and needs a request from the sewer authority to audit the sale.

In making his motion for such an audit, Dempsey said he thinks the transaction was “clear, but complicated” and poorly understood by the public, and a review by the auditor general would answer all questions.

“It is obvious that the ratepayers and taxpayers did not have a clear understanding of the initial proposal and the end result, or the transactions that occurred between these two points,” Dempsey said. “A lack of understanding has given rise to uncertainty ... with negative assumptions that are unfair to all parties.”

The newspaper has an active appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records seeking unredacted records of sewer authority legal bills in the transaction. The authority initially did not provide the requested records within the required time frame, which under law amounted to a denial of the newspaper’s Right to Know Law request made in January. The newspaper appealed and the authority then produced in April heavily redacted invoices, citing attorney-client privilege for redactions of descriptions of work. The OOR has given the authority until June 19 to produce to OOR unredacted records for that agency’s private, “in camera” review of whether redactions conform to an attorney-client privilege exemptions.

Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5185; @jlockwoodTT on Twitter

City sewer sale’s legal fees nearly $100K

Scranton’s city government paid nearly $100,000 in legal fees between Nov. 30, 2015, and Jan. 14, 2016, in the sewer-sale transaction, according to invoices provided by the city to The Times-Tribune in a Right to Know Law request and appeal.

The newspaper sought from the city contracts and legal bills with law firms and consultants involved in the sewer sale.

City Solicitor Jessica Boyles on Friday provided to the newspaper the city’s special-counsel agreement with the Buchanan, Ingersoll & Rooney law firm and invoices totaling $99,219 in fees during the nearly two-month span.

This arrangement ended when the sewer authority retained the firm in mid-January 2016 for the sewer sale transaction.

The city’s legal bills provided by Boyles were mostly unredacted. She cited attorney-client privilege as the reason for any redactions.

— JIM LOCKWOOD

FRACKVILLE — Two Lackawanna County men were killed in a fiery crash on Interstate 81 on Wednesday afternoon that sent another person to a trauma center by helicopter.

The crash occurred about 2:15 p.m. in the northbound lanes, near mile marker 121.7, about 2 miles south of the Frackville exit.

State police at the scene said it appears a tractor-trailer was traveling north when it ran into the back of a car that was slowing behind other vehicles due to construction ahead of them.

The impact pushed the passenger vehicle into a pickup, causing the pickup to be pushed into the back of another tractor-trailer.

The passenger vehicle and the cab of the pickup truck that struck it burst into flames, while the second tractor-trailer pulled the pickup truck several yards north before coming to a stop.

Firefighters from Frackville, Englewood and Altamont were called to the scene to extinguish the fire that completely engulfed the cab of the first tractor-trailer as well as the car it collided with.

Two people inside the car died at the scene. They were pronounced dead at 3:55 p.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Andrew Sczcyglak, Shenandoah.

Szczyglak said both occupants were men from Lackawanna County, but could not release their identities until family had been notified.

The driver of the pickup suffered severe injuries and was flown to a trauma center in a medical helicopter that landed in the northbound lanes where traffic was brought to a standstill.

It was not known if the driver of the tractor-trailer that burst in flames was hurt. Police said the operator of the second tractor-trailer, the one struck by the pickup, was not injured.

Due to the intensity and amount of fire produced by the tractor-trailer and passenger vehicle, tanker trucks were dispatched from surrounding communities to shuttle enough water to the scene to extinguish the blaze.

Police said the investigation into the crash is ongoing and that they are being assisted by state police accident reconstruction experts and also the Forensic Services Unit based at Troop L, Reading.

The northbound lanes of the interstate were closed into the nighttime hours while state police conducted their investigation and the vehicle and debris were removed from the highway.

Contact the writer:

fandruscavage@republican

herald.com; 570-628-6013

WILKES-BARRE — A smoky chemical fire at an apartment building on Stanton Street led police to a possible methamphetamine lab.

Wilkes-Barre police assisted the city’s fire department in the 200 block of Stanton Street on Tuesday night after officials determined a fire that started at the apartment building was chemical in nature.

City detectives said they found a recently active methamphetamine cook on the premises and the narcotics unit removed several items of evidence from the scene.

Police took a “female subject” to headquarters for questioning.

Authorities continue to investigate the incident.

Anyone with information can contact the Wilkes-Barre Police Detective Division at 570-208-4222.

— SARAH SCINTO

FRACKVILLE - Officials have released the names of two people killed in a fiery crash on Interstate 81 Wednesday afternoon.

Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Andrew Sczcyglak said Kevin C. Novitsky, 52, of 1940 Heart Lake Drive, Scott Township, and his father, Clement Novitsky, 79, of 1950 Heart Lake Drive, Scott Township, died at the scene of the crash near mile marker 121.8 in Butler Township.

The crash happened around 2:15 p.m. when the Nissan Rogue the Novitskys were in was struck from behind by a tractor-trailer driven by Brian Barrett, 45, of Greentown.

Both the Novitsky vehicle and the cab of the tractor trailer burst into flames and were destroyed.

The Novtisky car, after being struck from behind, was pushed into a pickup truck forcing that vehicle to hit the back of a second tractor-trailer.

Barrett was not hurt, but troopers said the driver of the pickup truck - Roman Ketcham, 24, of Hop Bottom - suffered serious injuries and was flown to a trauma center.

Acccording to state police, the interstate reopened about midnight after being closed about 10 hours. 

An autopsy Thursday confirmed that a 65-year-old Clifford Twp. man died of smoke inhalation during a fire that started in his kitchen Wednesday morning, Susquehanna County Coroner Anthony Conarton said.

Daniel Miller was poisoned by carbon monoxide he breathed in as flames grew at 1763 state Route 247 shortly after 6:30 a.m. on Wednesday. His death has been ruled accidental, Conarton said.

The fire went to a second-alarm. It started in the second floor of a two-story, six-unit apartment building. All other tenants made it out without injury.

Two firefighters from Greenfield and Forest City fire companies were injured while fighting the flames. One had an ankle injury and the other suffered a “cardiac event,” Clifford Twp. Fire Chief Trent Turner said Wednesday.

State police fire marshals said the fire appeared accidental.

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

SCRANTON — A man is locked up on charges he twice punched his sister and threatened her with a knife.

Alan Townsend, 20, homeless, is charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, reckless endangerment and harassment stemming from an incident on the 1000 block of Mount Vernon Avenue at about 6 p.m. Monday. Jessica Davis told police her brother, Townsend, punched her in the arm and chest before he pulled a knife, swung it at her and threatened to stab her with it, according to court documents.

Townsend is held in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

— CLAYTON OVER

The Scranton School District will soon develop a crisis management and safety plan that will include weapons education for students and parents.

This year, Scranton police have four reports of students bringing weapons to school, down from eight last year. Instead of guns, students take other weapons from home, Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano said during a school board health and safety committee meeting Wednesday night.

Two elementary students recently took sharp objects — a hatchet and a switchblade knife — to school, reminding officials of the need to educate both students and parents about safety.

An education program, coupled with strong consequences, will make a difference, Graziano said.

“We all have to come together as a community,” said Director Paul Duffy, chairman of the committee.

This summer, administrators will participate in safety training and organize a committee to develop a crisis management and safety plan for the district, Superintendent Alexis Kirijan, Ed.D., said.

“This is quite a long project … but it’s more than putting a Band-aid on things,” she said.

Scranton police have completed security assessments at many district buildings, and many upgrades have been completed. Two buildings — Prescott and Willard elementary schools — will soon get new public address systems.

Also at the meeting, Director Robert Casey, the only other director in attendance, stressed the need to better mark busy crosswalks. In 2015, a South Scranton Intermediate School student suffered serious injuries when crossing Pittston Avenue. Graziano and Kirijan said they will address the issue.

Contact the writer:

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

@hofiushallTT on Twitter