A 17-year-old is being charged as an adult for a Thursday assault that left another man with wounds to his head, ear and arm.

Scranton police arrested Jalel Monroe after they said he broke into 1506 Prospect Ave. and hit Mark Cafferty over the head with a pistol around 6 p.m.. Mr. Cafferty was then stabbed numerous times by a second man while three other men stood watch at the door of Mr. Cafferty's residence.

The man accused of stabbing Mr. Cafferty grabbed an Xbox from the residence before fleeing the scene, police said.

The victim knew Mr. Monroe by his profile on Facebook, where he calls himself "Mrr Smoovee," and was able to identify him in a photo lineup.

When police arrested Mr. Monroe, they found a gun matching the description of the weapon used in the assault.

Mr. Monroe was charged with aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, robbery, conspiracy to commit robbery, simple assault, conspiracy to commit simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and firearms not to be carried without a license.

No additional information, including Mr. Monroe's bail and preliminary hearing date, was available Friday night.

No other arrests have been made in the investigation.

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

Woman injured in highway wreck

SCOTT TWP. - A part from a tractor-trailer in the middle of Interstate 81 set into motion a series of events that sent a Dalton woman to the hospital Thursday night, state police said.

A trailer wheel tandem came loose from a tractor-trailer driven by Joel Pannell of Endwell, N.Y., on I-81 north near the Waverly exit at 9:40 p.m. A 2006 Honda Accord driven by Tina Baranowksi struck the part.

Her car, which was severely damaged, came to rest on the left shoulder. And when Christina Budd, Liverpool, N.Y., swerved to miss the wheel assembly, her car struck Ms. Baranowski's driver's door.

Ms. Baranowksi was taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center with minor injuries. The left lane of I-81 was closed for an hour and a half, police said.

SCRANTON - City police are investigating a car theft from the 600 block of North Garfield Avenue.

Capt. Glen Thomas said city resident Mike Musheno called police at 3:45 a.m. Friday to report his maroon 1996 Subaru Legacy was gone. He had parked it on Garfield Avenue at 9 p.m. Thursday.

Anyone with information on the stolen car is asked to call police at 348-9135.

HARRISBURG - A who's who of crime fighters are scheduled to participate Tuesday in a Senate committee meeting in Wilkes-Barre that will focus on combating violence and crime in smaller cities.

State Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane and State Police Commissioner Frank Noonan are headliners in what is billed as a roundtable discussion by the Senate Democratic Policy Committee from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at King's College.

The meeting is in the Walsh and Fitzgerald committee rooms on the third floor of the Sheehy-Farmer Campus Center.

Prosecutors and police chiefs from Northeast Pennsylvania will also participate. They include Lackawanna County District Attorney Andy Jarbola; Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis; Carbon County District Attorney Gary Dobais; Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Gerard Dessoye; Hazleton Police Chief Frank DeAndrea; and Nanticoke Police Chief William Shultz, according to the office of committee Chairwoman Lisa Boscola, D-18, Bethlehem Twp.

Other participants are Robert Curry, president of the Hazleton Integration Project; Detective Charles Balogh, Luzerne County Crimewatch Coalition: Teri Ooms, coordinator of Operation Gang-Up; Paul Lindenmuth, professor in the Department of Criminal Justice at King's College: and the Rev. Shawn Walker, founder of the Building Bridges Campaign in Wilkes-Barre.

The Senate roundtable is part of an ongoing effort to address rising street crime in Northeast Pennsylvania, said Sen. John Yudichak, D-14, Nanticoke.

Mr. Yudichak said the discussion will focus on a regional initiative that helped lead to new state laws to crack down on gang activity. Meanwhile, Mrs. Kane is seeking more funding for her office in the 2013-14 state budget for a child predator unit and to target Mexican drug cartels, he said.

"I think it's a very opportune time to bring all the key players to Luzerne County," said Mr. Yudichak.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

Police: Car fire was suspicious

SCRANTON - City police are investigating a suspicious car fire that heavily damaged a 2002 Jeep Grand Cherokee on Friday.

At 4:30 a.m., a neighbor was awakened by an explosion from the 600 block of Barrett Court, then saw flames coming from the car, Capt. Glen Thomas said.

The car belonged to Roger Jonel Hernandez Benitez. The fire slightly damaged two garage doors before it was extinguished. Mr. Benitez told police he had parked the car at 11:15 p.m. Thursday and had no idea it had caught fire until police contacted him at 7 a.m.

The fire appeared to have been intentionally set, and an investigation will be conducted by the city fire marshal, police said.

More charges in waste burning

HONESDALE - A second man has been charged with burning waste in Wayne County, after his boss was charged in December with the same crime.

Jody Robert Rickert, 30, 1870 Fair Ave., Honesdale, a supervisor for Bunnell Waste Removal Inc., 267 Tryon St., was charged with illegally burning and burying solid waste, Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced Friday.

Mr. Rickert's boss, Joseph Bunnell, was charged with similar offenses. Both face prison and a $25,000 fine for each offense.

Construction on a city bridge could snarl traffic for up to two months on a highway that connects Scranton to the Abingtons and Midvalley.

Originally slated to begin Tuesday, replacement work on a McDade Expressway bridge that runs over North Main Avenue has been pushed back to April 15 because the state Department of Transportation is waiting for materials, spokesman Mike Taluto said Friday.

Expected to take until June, the project includes the replacement of expansion dams and deck repair work.

But it will require officials to reduce traffic to a single lane in each direction for a half-mile stretch on the McDade Expressway for the duration of the project.

"It will be single lane in that area 24/7," Mr. Taluto said. "It will be congested, and major delays are expected, especially at rush hour."

The North Main Avenue bridge project headlines a host of road surface or bridge projects in Lackawanna County.

I-81/Casey

Starting Tuesday on Interstate 81 north in Dunmore, contractors will begin work on a $5.2 million paving project meant to repair a nearly 2-mile stretch, from the Drinker Street overpass to Exit 190 (Main Avenue).

Originally scheduled to begin March 18, the road work has been delayed two weeks because rain and snow "aren't ideal conditions to paint lines and move lanes," PennDOT construction project manager Bill Eckenrode said.

Construction work includes repaving and crack sealing, and will require - for at least six weeks - closing the ramp connecting the Casey Highway west to I-81 north, as well as the ramp linking the Casey Highway to Route 347 (Dunmore/Throop) and the ramp from Interstate 84 west to Route 347.

"Hopefully, we can make up that time," said Mr. Eckenrode, though he added how quickly and efficiently workers can move forward will depend on the weather.

As for the effect the construction work will have on summer travelers, Mr. Eckenrode said officials coordinate a design process before each project, which tells workers how many lanes need to be maintained at all times.

"We normally try to make adjustments for the holidays, too, like Memorial Day or July 4, so it's not as congested," Mr. Eckenrode said.

Cedar Avenue

Starting in mid-April, PennDOT will close the Cedar Avenue entrance ramp to the Central Scranton Expressway for the second time. Officials first closed the ramp March 11 so contractors could continue repair work on the Moosic Street Bridge.

But they reopened it less than seven hours later after realizing signs warning drivers coming from downtown that the road was closed were inadequate.

"We are expecting the ramp to be closed until at least July," Mr. Taluto said.

PennDOT officials say they plan to finish the 2013 construction schedule Monday.

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

Abington Heights

Blood drive: Abington Heights High School Health Career Club public blood drive, April 6, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., high school gym, 222 Noble Road, Clarks Summit; walk-ins welcome.

Abingtons

League meeting: Abington Heights Civic League meeting, Monday, 7 p.m., clubhouse, 115 Colburn Ave., speaker: Cheryl O'Hora; 587-3101.

Dunmore

Seniors meet: Dunmore 50-Plus Club meeting April 9, 6 p.m., Friendly's; deposit for Mother's Day party accepted.

Factoryville

Group meets: Factoryville Shade Tree Commission meeting, Monday, 7 p.m., Borough Building, 161 College Ave.; agenda includes Arbor Day celebration planting trees at 4 Jackson St., 102 and 154 College Ave.; tree removals at 139 College Ave.

Olyphant

Basket blessing: SS. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church blessing of Easter baskets, today, 3 p.m., church parking lot, 207 River St.; the Rev. Nestor Iwasiw, pastor, veneration in front of the plashchanytsia (Holy Shroud of Jesus in the tomb/grave) follows, 489-2271, sscyrilandmethodius@comcast.net or www.stcyrils.maslar-online.com

Pittston

Craft fair: St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church spring craft fair, May 5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., church hall, 205 N. Main St.; free admission/parking; crafts, ethnic food, music.

Regional

Child safety: Keeping Kids Safe Project by S.I.P. child safety fair, April 12, 3-7 p.m., April 13, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Toyota of Scranton, 3400 N. Main Ave., Scranton; fingerprinting, local organizations with children's crafts and giveaways, free.

Fundraiser: La Salle Academy Basket Bonanza, "Viva Las Vegas," April 12, 5 p.m., Fiorelli's Catering, Blakely, $27.50 includes sit-down dinner/26 raffle tickets; additional raffle tickets for sale, reduced rate children's tickets; more than 200 baskets including four Disney Hopper passes, American Girl dolls, two tickets for NASCAR Pocono 400; La Salle Academy, 489-2010.

Ladies night: Greater Scranton Commerce Women's Network Ladies' Night at the Country Club, Wednesday, Glen Oak Country Club, 250 Oakford Road; $30/members; $40/others; limited sponsorships available; registration: 342-7711 or www.scrantonchamber.com.

Scranton

AARP meeting: AARP Scranton Chapter 3731 meeting, Monday, 1:30 p.m., Keyser Valley Community Center, 101 N. Keyser Ave.; nominations; guest speaker, Kathy Fox, Lackawanna County Highway Safety Project.

South Scranton

Seniors meet: South Scranton Friendly Seniors meet Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., St. Paul of the Cross Parish Center, Prospect Avenue.

West Scranton

Seniors meet: Sloan Senior Citizens meet Tuesday, 1:30 p.m., SS. Peter and Paul Church Hall, 1309 W. Locust St., refreshments and bingo follow.

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

Same-sex marriage apparently remains a controversial enough subject that U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright was the only local congressman who consented to an interview this week to discuss the cases the Supreme Court heard Tuesday and Wednesday.

The rest either issued statements or did not respond at all.

As the only congressman who represents Northeast Pennsylvania in Washington to favor same-sex marriage, Mr. Cartwright, D-17, Moosic, said he was hoping for rulings expanding marriage.

"You have (former President) Bill Clinton, for crying out loud, who signed the Defense of Marriage Act into law now saying it should be overturned," Mr. Cartwright said.

Mr. Cartwright has even signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief backing the same-sex-marriage argument in the Wednesday case seeking to undo part of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.

Neither Reps. Lou Barletta, R-11, Hazleton, and Tom Marino, R-10, Lycoming Twp., nor Sens. Bob Casey, a Democrat, and Pat Toomey, a Republican, signed onto the brief. The 172 signers - 132 House members and 40 senators - were all Democrats. Friend-of-the-court briefs allow groups or individuals to express their opinions and legal arguments on a case to a court without getting directly involved in formal arguments on one side or another.

Mr. Cartwright said he never had a well-defined position on same-sex marriage until last year when he was running for office. After Vice President Joseph Biden, then President Barack Obama came out in favor of same-sex marriage, he thought more about the issue over the summer and decided they were right.

"LGBT (lesbian-gay-bisexual-transgender) people are not a threat to anybody, and it's time we stopped singling them out for discrimination," he said.

He is not "in favor of forcing any religious group, any church, any temple, any mosque ... to perform ceremonies that they object to," he said.

Spokesmen for Mr. Casey and Mr. Barletta issued statements on their behalf, but declined to make them available for interviews.

"In the past, Sen. Casey has supported civil unions and he is closely following the debate around DOMA (Defense of Marriage Act). He intends to thoroughly review any legislation on this when it comes before the Senate," said John Rizzo, a Casey spokesman, in a statement.

"Obviously this is a case that the Supreme Court is now considering, but I have long-standing views about marriage," Mr. Barletta said in a statement. "In my view, marriage is and ought to be between one man and one woman. Beyond that, anyone is free to enter legal contracts with another individual."

Neither statement addressed the central issues in the two cases heard by the Supreme Court.

The Wednesday case that included the brief Mr. Cartwright signed centered on a woman being forced to pay more than $363,000 in estate taxes after inheriting her partner's estate because the federal government is forbidden from recognizing same-sex marriages. In a heterosexual marriage, a surviving spouse simply inherits without being required to pay the estate tax.

The Tuesday case centered on whether a voter-approved California ballot question that outlawed same-sex marriage should stand.

Mr. Toomey's spokeswoman said he was unavailable for comment and did not issue a statement.

As a House member in 2004, Mr. Toomey voted in favor of a constitutional amendment defining marriage as being strictly between a man and a woman. During his 2010 election campaign, Mr. Toomey restated that position on his website, saying that "marriage is sacred and is best defined as between a man and a woman."

A spokeswoman for Mr. Marino, who supports a constitutional amendment to prevent same-sex marriage, did not respond to emails about his position on the Supreme Court cases.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com

Having defeated regulators in court, Louis DeNaples is nearly free to reclaim the chairmanship of First National Community Bancorp.

Removed from the Dunmore-based bank company's board and prohibited from engaging in banking for life by banking regulators, Mr. DeNaples has remained a nominal, non-participating member of the board at the battered bank.

That's likely to change in light of January's long-shot victory before the Washington, D.C., Circuit Court of Appeals, whose judges agreed to vacate the prohibitions, a cease-and-desist order and a requirement that Mr. DeNaples divest his FNCB stock.

The opportunity for regulators to request a rehearing of the matter expired last week. The court this week issued a mandate enacting its decision. The orders against Mr. DeNaples evaporated.

It is not clear when Mr. DeNaples will resume his involvement in banking. His attorney in the matter, Howard N. Cayne, said Mr. DeNaples may wait to see if regulators take another course. Regulators from the Federal Reserve Bank and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency could attempt to appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. They also have the option of bringing a new case against Mr. DeNaples under the standards set by the court in its decision.

OCC spokesman Brian Hubbard said any possibility of appeal or further action means the case is considered active litigation and as such, the agency would not comment.

If the OCC does act, Mr. Cayne said Mr. DeNaples is prepared to "spend years and a lot of money" fighting it.

"Mr. DeNaples is committed to seeing this matter through to the end, including, if necessary, another appeal to the D.C. Circuit, where it is all but certain the case would again be resolved in his favor," Mr. Cayne said. "The ill-considered and meritless OCC and FRB enforcement proceedings have taken a heavy toll on Mr. DeNaples."

Mr. DeNaples' return would probably help the bank psychologically, said Lou Ingargiola, of Ingargiola Wealth Management, a Dunmore-based investment firm. While the bank is still in the red, most recently reporting $13.7 million in losses in 2013, the management and credit issues have been mostly corrected, in Mr. Ingargiola's view.

"With the oversight from the OCC, the bank is on much better footing," Mr. Ingargiola said. "His coming back won't change the day-to-day operations, but would give a psychological boost, particularly among investors, because he continues to be held in high esteem in this area."

A lot of FNCB stock is held locally, so people's perception of the company and the stock is closely tied to Mr. DeNaples, a self-made man who parlayed an auto salvage business into a diversified range of business ranging from lumber to landfills to a casino, Mr. Ingargiola said. He has been a director at the bank since 1972.

There could be a downside. Mr. DeNaples' return to the bank board could strain further the bank's relationship with regulators, said Bert Ely, a financial institution consultant based in Alexandria, Va. Mr. DeNaples may have been cleared in the eyes of the court, but he hasn't been in the eyes of regulators who initially banned him from banking. Meanwhile, the bank is striving to get back in the good graces of regulators, toiling under a consent order imposed by the OCC and heightened oversight.

"The regulators got beat. They don't get beat too often, and they don't like it," he said. "Many people don't want to go up against regulators like DeNaples did, because they worry about payback."

Mr. Ely said regulators will likely continue "very careful scrutiny" of the bank.

Since Mr. DeNaples began his leave of absence five years ago, his brother, Dominic DeNaples, has served as chairman of the board.

In January 2008, a Dauphin County district attorney charged Mr. DeNaples with perjury for failing to disclose whether he had relationships with organized crime figures in his testimony before the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. As is common when bank officials face criminal charges, the comptroller's office issued an order suspending him from banking. Mr. DeNaples took a leave of absence. After charges were dismissed, regulators banned him from banking, saying that the agreement he reached with prosecutors was a "pre-trial diversion" program subject to removal.

Mr. DeNaples challenged that definition. Although he lost before an administrative law judge, the appellate judge agreed.

Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

When the Scranton/ Wilkes-Barre RailRiders return to open the reconstructed PNC Field on April 4, a legendary New York Yankee and Hall of Famer will be there, too.

Reggie Jackson, known as "Mr. October," will throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the RailRiders face the Pawtucket Red Sox at 7:05 p.m.

"An appearance by a Hall of Famer like Reggie Jackson highlights the great partnership we enjoy with our parent club and franchise co-owners, the 27-time World Champion New York Yankees," RailRiders president and general manager Rob Crain said in a release. "From renderings to reality, PNC Field is an achievement for our community. Mr. Jackson's presence reinforces just how special and historic Game 1 at the PNC Field will truly be."

Jackson hit three home runs on consecutive swings in leading the Yankees to a World Series-clinching Game 6 win against the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1977.

A first-ballot Hall of Famer who entered Cooperstown as a Yankee in 1993, he is one of the 25 members of Major League Baseball's 500-home run club with 563. A member of five World Series champions, winning three with the Oakland Athletics and two with the Yankees, Jackson hit 10 World Series home runs and was twice named the Series MVP.

The 1973 American League MVP and 14-time All-Star hit a record five home runs in the 1977 World Series, with four coming on consecutive swings against four Dodgers pitchers. Jackson was born and raised in Wyncote, Pa., just a two-hour drive south of PNC Field.

Bricks-and-mortar businesses in downtown Scranton say their beef against food trucks is about fairness, but at least one food truck owner said the mobile kitchens are playing by the rules.

Food trucks have been paying $20 a day for full-day street-meter parking that has been obtained from both the current meter manager and the former one, the Scranton Parking Authority. But a city ordinance allows only two consecutive hours of parking downtown where the trucks do business, city officials said.

Brendan Bell, owner of Southwest Savory Grill food truck, said of the dispute, "You can buy and reserve a parking meter for a day, which we do. It's not a parking issue. These (bricks-and-mortar) people think we're stealing their customers, which is not true. They don't want us down there. If people are complaining, if they make a better product, customers will go there."

Establishments say they don't fear competition, but the playing field is not level.

"I pay property taxes. For them (food trucks) to pay (meter) rent of $20, I think it's very unfair. My biggest beef is I pay mercantile taxes," said Robert Dickert, owner of Carl von Luger's Steakhouse and Seafood Restaurant at Linden Street and North Washington Avenue.

It's not clear if the food trucks pay mercantile taxes; city offices were closed Friday. But it clearly is a major concern of establishments.

Plea to mayor, council

Julie and Darby MacDowall, owners of Northern Light Espresso Bar on Spruce Street, earlier this month emailed the mayor and council, stating, "As downtown business owners in the center of the city, paying taxes, 15 employees' wages, unemployment compensation, mercantile taxes, and paying a premium to be a part of the downtown business district, it infuriates us that we find ourselves competing with a truck that has little to no overhead. We consider ourselves an anchor business here in the city and the foundation of the Scranton Life building."

Frank Mazzarella, owner of Cafe Trio and Chocolate Creations, both on Spruce Street, and Bill Nasser III, co-owner of Backyard Ale House on Linden Street, agreed.

"It's difficult to conduct a business in an establishment. They (food trucks) put the core businesses at a disadvantage," Mr. Nasser said.

Parking pressure

The food fight, which has been brewing for at least several weeks, arose during council meetings on March 21 and Thursday, when Councilman Bob McGoff noted that businesses are concerned about food trucks parking for extended periods, especially around the Lackawanna County Courthouse, and question whether they operate under the same regulations as established businesses.

Council sent a letter Monday to Mayor Chris Doherty and acting Police Chief Carl Graziano relaying the complaints and citing the city's administrative code mandating that parking in certain zones is limited to two consecutive hours between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.

In a reply Tuesday, Chief Graziano said food trucks paying for all-day meters has been ongoing from when SPA managed the meters, but this practice may be in conflict with a city ordinance and needs legal clarification. Mr. McGoff said the city should review whether an ordinance violation exists and whether food trucks pay the same fees and taxes as established businesses.

Food trucks also apparently must stay at least 100 feet away from any establishment serving food. The MacDowalls urged the city to make that distance 500 feet. Mr. Dickert said food trucks should be required to stay 100 feet away from any business that pays mercantile taxes.

Either way, the trucks would be shut out of much of downtown, Mr. Bell said.

"They want us gone - that's it," Mr. Bell said. "Every city across the country has food trucks, and we're just getting to it a little late. Just because we're on four wheels doesn't mean we're not a legitimate company. If I opened up a business right next to them, would they be mad?"

Mr. MacDowall said Portland, Ore., has designated two city blocks for food trucks, and that area became a destination - and Scranton should consider something similar.

"We have a tentative solution. We welcome the food trucks to downtown Scranton but feel they should be in locations where they become a draw and help to improve the downtown business community," Mr. MacDowall said. "I understand competition and enjoy competition, and wish there were more mainstay businesses downtown."

Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter

Three charged in Monroe burglary

TUNKHANNOCK TWP. - Three people were arrested in connection with a Monroe County burglary Wednesday.

Derrick Morris, 23, Jermaine Ringler, 23, and Brian Rodriguez, 22, were all charged with burglary and related charges after they broke into and stole items from 115 Skyline Drive in Tunkhannock Twp., Pocono Mountain Regional Police said. Their addresses were not available Friday.

All three were taken to Monroe County Correctional Facility. Mr. Morris and Mr. Rodriguez were held in lieu of $20,000 bail, and Mr. Ringler in lieu of $10,000 bail. Preliminary hearings are slated Thursday.

WILKES-BARRE - Citizens' Voice correspondent and former Wilkes-Barre police Officer Pat Rushton was named this week a winner of the National Sexual Violence Resource Center's Visionary Voice Award.

Mr. Rushton is among 26 people to win the award this year, and the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Rape nominated him for the award.

A founding member of The Citizens' Voice who went on to have a 20-year career with the Wilkes-Barre Police Department, Mr. Rushton has served as the education and outreach manager of the Victims Resource Center since 2001.

In his role with the coalition, Mr. Rushton, a certified sexual-assault counselor, is responsible for developing and implementing the agency's education, outreach, training and public relations efforts.

A pregnant woman and two men were arrested and more than 600 bags of heroin were confiscated after a drug investigation by Dunmore police and the Lackawanna County Drug Task Force.

Police saw Matthew Cobb, 34, 827 N. Webster Ave., Scranton, get into a vehicle with a man and a woman Wednesday afternoon, then watched him get out and sell heroin near Ash Street and Prescott Avenue in Scranton, according to a criminal complaint.

Police arrested Mr. Cobb and also pulled over the vehicle he had been riding in, where they discovered the driver, Allison Kondrat, had three bags of heroin in her possession. She and another passenger, Justin Gonsauls, were arrested and taken to police headquarters.

In the course of the investigation, Dunmore police searched Ms. Kondrat's 110 Willowbrook Road home in South Abington Twp., where they found 60 bags of heroin and almost $2,000 in cash. A search of the halfway home Mr. Gonsauls was staying in at 1512 Olive St., Scranton, revealed 555 bags of heroin and nearly 36 grams of cocaine, police said.

Mr. Cobb was charged with delivery of a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy, possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

Ms. Kondrat, 26, was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy and possession of a controlled substance.

Mr. Gonsauls, 22, was charged with delivery of a controlled substance, criminal conspiracy and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, police said.

All three individuals were arraigned Thursday. Ms. Kondrat is in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail; Mr. Gonsauls and Mr. Cobb are being held there in lieu of $50,000 bail each.

All three are scheduled for preliminary hearings on Thursday.

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

Investors bid for Snö Mountain

An investment group, Montage Mountain Resorts LP, appears poised to purchase Snö Mountain and extend new life to the bankrupt Scranton recreation complex. The group plans to rename the complex Montage.

U.K. firm buys Diversified

Diversified Information Technologies has been acquired by a U.K. firm, EDM Group, which is owned by the Lloyds Development Corp., a private equity group connected with Lloyds Bank Group.

Santo Volvo sells to Ken Pollock

Santo Volvo in Moosic will close next month and the franchise will be taken over Tuesday by Ken Pollock Auto Group, which will convert its former Suzuki dealership along Route 315 in Pittston Twp. to a Volvo business.

FNCB posts $13.7M loss

First National Community Bank reported $13.7 million in losses in 2012, but bank officials said the losses were a sort of penance as they work to clean the books and restore financial stability to the region's largest community bank.

Chamber seeks new chief

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce has started its search for a successor to retiring President Austin Burke and has hired Eric Peterson, an executive at Toledo, Ohio-based Waverly Partners, as search assistant.

Poconos on map

The Pocono Mountains region has become one of just 11 in the nation to be featured in a National Geographic DestinationMap program. The map was unveiled last week.

DCED tours area

State Department of Community and Economic Development officials toured facilities in Luzerne County last week as part of a three-day tour of Northeast Pennsylvania intended to strengthen bonds with regional partners.

BARRIGAR, EARL J., Dunmore, Monday, Mass, 9:30 a.m., St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church, Chestnut Street, Dunmore. Interment, Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. Calling hours, 8:30 until Mass, church. Arrangements: Carlucci-Golden-DeSantis Funeral Home Inc. Condolences: dunmore funeralhome.com.

BISHOP, RUTH M., Waymart, cremation, Lake Region Crematory, Lake Ariel. Memorial services, spring. Condolences: jameswilson funeralhome.com.

CHMIL, JERRY, West Scranton, private, Saturday, by the Rev. Martin Boylan. Pallbearers: Zachary and John Phillip Gething; Steven Chmil, Jamie, Kyle and Justin VanFleet, grandsons; John Gething and Dwayne VanFleet, sons-in-law. Interment, Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst.

DEBIASI, IDENA "DENA," Duryea, Tuesday, Bernard J. Piontek Funeral Home Inc., 204 Main St., Duryea. Mass, 9:30 a.m., Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Duryea. Visitation, Monday, 4 to 8 p.m.

DEPOLEY, JOSEPH L., Scranton, Saturday, Howard J. Snowdon Funeral Home, Scranton, by Monsignor William Feldcamp. Pallbearers: Robert Pifcho, Paul Walsh, Brian Ferguson, Jake Holmes, Phil Langan and Joseph Horrocks. Interment, St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery, Archbald.

ERZIN, JOSEPH J., Westampton, N.J., formerly of Whites Crossing, Tuesday, Joseph W. Scotchlas Funeral Home Inc., 621 Main St., Simpson. Mass, 9:30 a.m., St Michael's Church, 46 Midland St., Simpson. Interment with military honors, Holy Trinity Cemetery, Simpson. Calling hours, Monday, 7 to 9 p.m. Condolences: scotchlasfu neralhome.com.

HALL, ALFRED B. "FRITZ," Clifford Twp., Saturday, Elkview Country Club, Crystal Lake, by the Rev. William Carter.

HIRSH, KURT H., Lake Ariel, Tuesday, 11 a.m., St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 405 Church St., Hawley, by the Rev. Colleen E. Cox, pastor. Private cremation, Lake Region Crematory, Lake Ariel. Calling hours, Monday, 4 to 8 p.m., Teeters' East Chapel, 505 Church St., Hawley. Memorials: World Wildlife Fund at www.worldwildlife.org. Condolences: teetersfuneralchapel.com.

HOBBS, WILLIAM W., Factoryville, Monday, 7 p.m., Anthony P. Litwin Funeral Home, 33 Reynolds St., Factoryville, by the Rev. Paul Fields II. Calling hours, 5 to service. Donations: Commonwealth Hospice of Northeastern Pa., 746 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA 18510. Condolences: aplitwinfuneralhomes.com.

HOINSKY, JULIA TOKARCZYK, Carbondale, formerly of Mayfield, Monday, Lawrence A. Gabriel Funeral Home, 74 N. Main St., Carbondale. Mass, 10 a.m., Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Carbondale. Interment, Sacred Heart of Jesus Cemetery, Jermyn. Calling hours, today, 5 to 8 p.m.

IDE, SANDRA MARIE, Meshoppen, Mass, Monday, 10 a.m., Church of the Nativity B.V.M., Tunkhannock. Interment, Sunnyside Cemetery, Tunkhannock. Go directly to church. Arrangements: Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home, 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock. Contri-butions: Tunkhannock Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 336, Tunkhannock, PA 18657; or to the Church of the Nativity B.V.M., P.O. Box 186, Tunkhannock, PA 18657. Condol-ences: sheldonkukuchkafuneralhome.com.

JANKAUSKAS, MARY, Carbondale, Monday, 11:30 a.m., Carmine J. & Louis C. Parise Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., Farview and 41st streets, Carbondale. Mass, noon, Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 15 Fallbrook St., Carbondale, by Monsignor David L. Tressler, pastor, and Deacon Carmine Mendicino. Interment, St. Anthony's Cemetery, Forest City. Calling hours, today, 5 to 8 p.m. Condolences: parisefuneral home.com. Contributions: donor's favorite charity.

KRAVITSKY, MICHAEL III, Dallas, services with panachida, Tuesday, 10 a.m., Wroblewski Funeral Home Inc., 1442 Wyoming Ave., Forty-Fort. Divine Liturgy with Office of Christian Burial, 10:30, St. Mary's Protection Byzantine Catholic Church, Kingston, by the Rev. Mykhaylo Prodanets, pastor. Interment, Denison Cemetery, Swoyersville. Calling hours, Monday, 4 to 7 p.m. Contributions: Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Grand Central Station, P.O. Box 4777, New York, NY 10163-4777; the Franklin Twp. Volunteer Fire and Ambulance Department, Orange Road, Dallas, PA 18612; or St. Mary's Protection Church, 321 Chestnut Ave., Kingston, PA 18704. Condolences: johnvmorrisfuneral homes.com.

MATTHEWS, FRANCES ANN, formerly of Hamlin, a resident of Lackawanna Health and Rehab Center, Blakely, Tuesday, 8:50 a.m., James Wilson Funeral Home, 143 Gravity Road, Lake Ariel. Mass, 9:30, St. Thomas More Church, 105 Gravity Road, Lake Ariel. Calling hours, Monday, 4-7 p.m. Interment, St. John's Cemetery, Jessup. Condolences: jameswislonfuneral home.com

MINELLA, IRENE D., Riverside Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, formerly of Old Forge, Monday, 11 a.m., Immanuel Lutheran Church, 238 Reese St., Scranton, by the Rev. Anthony B. Mandile III, pastor. Interment, Evergreen Cemetery, Bell Mountain, Dickson City. Calling hours, Monday, 9:30 to 10:30, Howard J. Snowdon Funeral Home, 1810 Sanderson Ave., Scranton. Contributions: Immanuel Lutheran Church, 238 Reese St., Scranton, PA 18508. Condolences: duffyandsnow don.com.

MORRISSEY, SLOANE, Aston, Mass, Tuesday, 10 a.m., Maximilian Kolbe Church, 15 E. Pleasant Grove Road, West Chester. Inurnment, private. Calling hours, Monday, 7 to 9 p.m., D'Anjolell-Stigale Memorial Home, 3260 Concord Road, Aston, and Tuesday, 9 to 9:45, church. Condolences: danjolell.com.

PICZON, SEVERINO Y. "BOYD," M.D., Thursday, Edward J. Chomko Funeral Home, Scranton. Rite of Christian Burial by Monsignor James J. McGarry, pastor of Our Lady of the Snows Parish, Clarks Summit. Cremation, Sunlight Crematory, Hanover Twp. Interment, private.

SCHWARTZ, LEAH LOLA, Scranton, today, 11 a.m., Carlucci-Golden-DeSantis Funeral Home Inc, 318 E. Drinker St., Dunmore, by Rabbi Yisroel Brotsky and Rabbi Dovid Saks. Interment, Dalton Jewish Cemetery. Visitation, today, 2 to 4 p.m., residence of Mrs. Schwartz, 515 Clay Ave., Scranton. Contributions: National Chapter of Hadassah, 50 W. 58th St, New York, NY 10019; or to the Allen Schwartz Memorial Fund, c/o the Jewish Federation of Northeastern Pa., 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, 18510. Condolences: Dunmore FuneralHome.com.

SERINE, ANTHONY J., Dunmore, Monday, Mass, 10 a.m., Church of St. Gregory, 330 N. Abington Road, Clarks Green, by the Rev. John M. Lapera and Monsignor John H. Louis. Interment, St. Michael's Cemetery, Dunmore. Calling hours, Monday, 9 to 9:45, church. Contributions: Our Lady of Peace School Building Fund, 410 N. Abington Road, Clarks Green, PA 18411. Arrangements: Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Service Inc., 111 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit. Condolences: jen ningscalvey.com.

SKUMANICH, MARGARET "MAGGIE," Jessup, Tuesday, 10:30 a.m., Louis M. Margotta Funeral Home, 511 Church St., Jessup. Divine Liturgy, 11, Holy Ghost Byzantine Catholic Church, Jessup. Interment, Holy Ghost Cemetery, Jessup. Calling hours, Monday, 4 to 8 p.m. Parastas, 4 p.m. Condolences: margottafuneralhomes.com.

TOMEO, KAREN A., Great Bend, Monday, 9:30 a.m., Tuttle-Yeisley Funeral Home Inc., Hallstead, Mass, 10, St. Lawrence Catholic Church, Great Bend. Interment, St. Lawrence Cemetery, Great Bend. Contributions: local ASPCA or Humane Society.

ZEGLEN, LENORE THERESA, Hawley, memorial Mass, April 13, 9:30 a.m., Queen of Peace Church in Hawley. Arrangements: Hessling Funeral Home Inc., 428 Main St., Honesdale. Condolences: www.hes slingfuneralhome.com

New Jersey man injured in crash

GREAT BEND TWP. - A New Jersey man was seriously injured Saturday when his vehicle crashed on Interstate 81 in Susquehanna County, police said.

Jaelen T. Felton, 18, of Dover, was driving a 2004 Hyundai Santa Fe on I-81 south in Great Bend Twp. when he lost control at 8:55 a.m., police said.

The vehicle left the road, overturned and caught on fire. Mr. Felton, who was taken to Wilson Memorial Hospital in Johnson City, N.Y., will be issued a traffic citation, police said. His condition was not available Saturday night.

Honesdale

Before borough officials make a decision on whether to move forward with an idea that could help the Fire Department, they are hoping the public will weigh in.

Council members have been mulling an ordinance regarding rapid entry systems, commonly known as Knox boxes, that allow firefighters fast access into businesses in case of a fire or fire alarm. A meeting with the Greater Honesdale Partnership and initial feedback led to the decision to get more public input on the ordinance.

The proposed ordinance will be placed on www.hon esdaleborough.com under the Public Information tab. Comments can be emailed to hdleboro@choiceonemail.com or dropped off at Borough Hall, 958 Main St., Honesdale.

Council will meet Monday, April 8, but there's no plan to vote on the ordinance at that time, according to borough officials.

Jessup

The borough is hoping to be a bit safer after a community group reorganizes next month.

The Jessup Crime Watch will hold a meeting on Tuesday, April 23, at 7 p.m. in the Borough Building, according to Chief Joseph Walsh, who added that the public is encouraged to attend.

"There is crime in Jessup, and the more eyes and ears we have giving up information as to what may be going on, the safer the town will be," he said.

At the meeting, the group will reorganize, answer questions and discuss keeping the borough secure.

rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter

La Plume

A longtime Clarks Summit businessman will be recognized by a nonprofit this week for his "devotion to living and promoting an environmentally sustainable lifestyle."

Barry Kaplan, co-owner of Everything Natural in Clarks Summit, is the winner of Countryside Conservancy's 2013 Stewardship Award. He will be recognized Wednesday at 7 p.m. at Keystone College's Evans Hall.

The Stewardship Awards were instituted 17 years ago to express the Conservancy's appreciation for the efforts of good stewards of the environment. Countryside Conservancy protects land and water in and near the Tunkhannock Creek watershed for the public benefit.

"For more than 30 years, Barry has led the way with his socially and environmentally responsible approach to business and life," said Countryside Conservancy Executive Director Bill Kern. "Honoring him with this year's Stewardship Award is our way of thanking Barry for his strong commitment to preserving and improving our local environment."

Pittston Twp.

Members of the Marywood Aviators are giving local people the opportunity to join them in the sky.

On Saturday, April 13, the group will host its eighth annual Aviation Exploration Day starting at 11 a.m. at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport.

In addition to airplane rides, the festivities will include a display of historic aircraft.

"They are hoping to raise $2,500," airport Director Barry Centini said. "It's a great cause, and normally it's very well-attended."

miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter

South Abington Twp.

Four-legged friends will be the center of attention Sunday, April 7.

Held at the Abington Dog Park on Winola Road, the event will run from noon to 3 p.m. and will feature a "patriotic dog pageant" and homemade dog treats for sale.

Also, dogs from local shelters will be up for adoption, said Jennifer Rojek, an organizer.

All money raised will go toward Paws and Stripes, a nonprofit that trains rescued sheltered dogs to become service dogs for wounded military veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

"We are really looking forward to it," Ms. Rojek said.

miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter

True story.

Jim Bosha grew up in a big Irish Catholic family that at one point lived in his grandparents' funeral home in West Scranton.

As a young boy, Mr. Bosha, 55, and a cousin, "let's call him Frankie," found a remnant of something spherical in a trash burn pit out back. Poking it with an umbrella and wracking their brains over what it could be, they determined it must be a human soul. They told their grandmother, who upon investigating the claim burst into laughter and spit her dentures clean across the room. The soul actually was a partially burned-up cabbage.

The crowd hearing this tale Saturday at the Scranton StorySlam also burst into laughter, though apparently no one lost any dentures.

Mr. Bosha, the winner of Saturday's competition, was one of several yarn spinners at the event at Haggerty's Tavern in West Scranton, where the theme fittingly was "West Side Stories."

The story slam's rules are simple: stories must be true, delivered without any notes and last no more than five minutes.

"It has to be a true story as remembered by the storyteller. That's key. That's what makes it authentic and compelling for the audience," said event organizer Pam McNichols. The tales that are told tend to be "the kind of stories you might hear at a bar, not the stories you'll hear at the library."

A panel of judges scored the stories on performance, content and whether they adhered to the time limit.

So, what makes a good story?

"When they (storytellers) are vulnerable, fearless, willing to share anything. People love that, that honesty, and it has to be true. People really relate to that," Ms. McNichols said.

Other storytellers Saturday included:

- Kate Barrett, a West Scranton native who is a writer and Web strategist living in the Washington, D.C., area.

- Mark Dennebaum, a filmmaker and owner of a video-production company, TwentyFiveEight Productions.

- Cy Douaihy, a former history and government teacher in the Scranton School District, including West Scranton High School; for 35 years before retiring, student teacher supervisor/teacher at the University of Scranton, and a candidate for the Scranton School Board.

- Joe Fasula, a West Side resident who is a co-owner of Gerrity's Supermarkets, Fire and Ice Restaurant and Save-A-Lot food stores.

- Mike Foster, a Maine native and 30-year Navy veteran who lives in West Side and is active in revitalization efforts there.

- Rich Howells, an avid blogger and editor of The Weekender newspaper.

- Maureen Welby McNichols, a West Scranton native, one of 13 children in a family of Irish descent, an administrative assistant for CPR in Dunmore and president of the Betty Welby Foundation, dedicated to her late mother, which helps feed and clothe the needy.

The story slam began a year ago as a school project for Ms. McNichol's daughter, Zoe, who is a senior at Abington Heights High School. It was an instant hit, with about 160 people packing the Vintage Theater for the first slam. Other slams followed in summer at the Banshee Irish Pub and in the fall at the Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel. The goal is to have four slams this year leading up to a grand-slam story slam, Ms. McNichols said.

Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter