Scranton officials return to court next month for permission to continue imposing a tripled, annual local services tax of $156 on most who work in the city.

The city filed a petition in Lackawanna County Court on Tuesday for the tripled local services tax, of the action published Wednesday in The Times-Tribune.

As expected, the petition seeks approval to maintain this year a local services tax of $156, or $104 higher than the city’s prior LST of $52 a year imposed before 2015.

A tripled LST — allowed under a 2014 revision to state Act 47 law under which Scranton has been labeled as financially distressed since 1992 — remains a plank of the city’s recovery plan but requires annual approval from court.

The city received court approvals for an LST of $156 for each of 2015, 2016 and 2017.

If the 2018 petition is approved, the tax would continue to be $3 a week, or $156 a year per worker. The Local Services Tax previously was $1 per week, or $52 a year per worker. Under law, LSTs above $52 a year contain exemptions for those earning less than $15,600 a year.

The city’s 2018 budget anticipates a tripled Local Services Tax of $156 to generate $4.8 million in revenue for the city.

The completion of various recovery measures, including monetizations of the parking and sewer systems, does not preclude the city from continuing to seek the tripled LST. The recovery plan anticipates the city levying an LST at $156 a year annually through 2020, the petition says.

“The Local Services Tax being levied at $156 represents a vital aspect of the plan as well as a key role in bringing about meaningful change to Scranton’s economic status,” the petition says.

While the city’s LST petitions for 2015-16 had no opposition, the 2017 petition was opposed by eight residents and their attorney, John McGovern. They contended the city violates a cap on a certain group of taxes allowed under state Act 511, including the wage tax, business privilege/mercantile taxes and the Local Services Tax, among others.

However, visiting Senior Judge John Braxton of Philadelphia dismissed the opposition as misplaced when he approved the city’s 2017 LST petition in February. His order noted the objectors could pursue a different legal avenue. They did just that, by filing a lawsuit in March against the city claiming it violates the Act 511 tax cap. That lawsuit remains pending.

McGovern said Wednesday that he expects the city’s 2018 LST petition to generate opposition. He thinks objectors now would hold a stronger hand, because the tax cap lawsuit survived with some preliminary, favorable rulings that did not dismiss the case, as the city wanted.

“Here we go again,” McGovern said. “The difference, is we do have those rulings, which changes this a little bit.”

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

What’s next?

Scranton seeks permission from Lackawanna County Court to continue imposing a tripled local services tax of $156 a year, up from the typical LST of $52 a year, on anyone who works in the city and earns above a certain low-income threshold.

Anyone wishing to file a response to the city’s LST petition must do so by 4 p.m. Feb. 6, at the clerk of judicial records office, civil division, North Washington Avenue and Spruce Street.

A copy also must be served by the deadline at the city’s Law Department at City Hall at 340 N. Washington Ave.

The court scheduled a hearing on the city petition for 9:30 a.m., Feb. 13 in Courtroom 2C at the Lackawanna County Administration Building, 200 Adams Ave. in downtown Scranton.

Carbondale

Alzheimer’s support: The Northeast Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association offers a free Alzheimer’s caregivers support group the second Wednesday of each month, 6:30 p.m., Carbondale Library, 5 N. Main St.; for more information, 570-561-3009.

Dickson City

Charity night: sweetFrog will host a charity night to benefit Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, Jan. 26, 5-9 p.m., 1152 Commerce Blvd.; Griffin Pond will receive 50 percent of all sales that take place during the benefit.

Dog licenses: A representative from the Lackawanna County Treasurer’s Office will issue dog licenses, Friday, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Dickson City Borough Administration Building, 901 Enterprise St.; all dogs three months or older must be licensed by Jan. 1 of each year.

Jessup

Group meeting: The Knights of Columbus Cardinal O’Connor Assemble 2659 will meet Wednesday, 8 p.m., St. James Center, Church Street; important information will be discussed.

Lackawanna County

Grant funding: Charitable organizations in Lackawanna County are invited to apply for grant funding from the Scranton Area Community Foundation; the SAF has unrestricted funding available for community needs grants (up to $25,000 awards); applications for projects should be well-defined and address a need in the community, define a population to be served how it will impact the population’s quality of life and provide measurable outcomes in a certain timeframe; letters of intent must be sent by Feb. 1 and Sept. 1 to cathyf@safdn.org.

Strength training: Penn State Extension in collaboration with the University of Scranton will offer strength training and nutrition classes to help men and women improve muscle strength and bone density, Monday and Wednesdays beginning Feb. 7, 10:30-11:30 a.m., West Side Active Older Adult Community Center, 1004 Jackson St., Scranton; register by Jan. 25, cost is $115; questions or to register, 1-877- 345-0691 or extension.psu.edu/lackawanna/events.

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

Chairwoman named

Mary Erwine was named chairwoman for the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute’s 15th Annual CASUAL (Colon Cancer Awareness Saves Unlimited Adult Lives) Day.

Erwine, RN, MSN, is the founder and president of Erwine Home Health and Hospice in Kingston.

During CASUAL Day in March, participants across Northeast Pennsylvania dress casual or dress down to raise awareness for colorectal cancer. Participants will wear specially designed pins and/or T-shirts.

Erwine has a Master of Science degree in nursing from Misericordia University and received the university’s Distinguished Career in Nursing Administration Award.

She supports many local agencies, including the Association for the Blind, Leadership Wilkes-Barre, F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, Misericordia University, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Arthritis Foundation, St. Vincent DePaul Kitchen, Osterhout Library, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Luzerne Foundation, the Salvation Army and the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute.

Erwine, along with her husband, Allen, received the Community Partnership Award from the Association for the Blind in 2010 and receivedd the “Others Award” from the Salvation Army in 2012.

CASUAL Day is set for Thursday, March 29. For details, contact the Cancer Institute at 570-941-7984 or visit www.cancernepa.org.

High notes

In other Northeast Regional Cancer Institute news ... Scranton High School varsity football cheerleaders, including Chrissy Houser, Krystal Schipp, Natalie Marichak, Courtney Peart, Paola Santa, Yulissa Escarraman, Isabelle Jarrow, Anna Kmiec, Brigid Kennedy and Julia Georgetti, held a T-shirt fundraiser for the institute.

The students donated $500 to help the organization further its mission of easing the burden of cancer in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Super students (and faculty)

First-year medical student Dipam Shah co-authored a paper accepted for publication in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Shah, of Scranton, is a student at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.

Faculty members Brian J. Piper, Ph.D., M.S., assistant professor of neuroscience; and Olapeju M. Simoyan, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of family medicine and epidemiology, also authored the article titled, “Trends in Medical Use of Opioids in the United States: 2006-2016.”

Shah, Piper and Simoyan concluded that “with the exception of buprenorphine (used to treat an opioid use disorder) prescription opioid use has been decreasing over the past five years in the U.S.”

Before executives at the behemoth online pet product retailer Chewy.com signed a lease for a distribution center in Hanover Twp., they wanted to know one thing.

Could employees get to work on time?

The property owner, Missouri-based NorthPoint Development, was on the hook to guarantee that workers who use public transit would have a ride.

As business parks in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties swell, community planners are grappling with how to deliver a reliable labor force to the front door.

Most people have a bus stop within walking distance from their home or workplace.

However, the median neighborhood in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties can access only 12 percent of opportunity employment via public transit during the morning commute window, between 6 and 9 a.m., according to a report released Wednesday by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia.

Report author and Fed analyst Kyle DeMaria describes opportunity employment as work that doesn’t require a four-year degree, but pays above the median wage.

Hanover Industrial Park, where Chewy is located, is a good example of how public transit is supposed to work, said the man who runs the buses.

“Chewy basically made their determination on going to the Hanover Industrial Park, I think, in large part because there were already buses running there,” said Norm Gavlick, executive director of the Luzerne County Transit Authority. “NorthPoint told me this: Chewy was not going to sign their lease until they were assured.”

Last year, the Philadelphia Fed began an undertaking with the Greater Scranton Area Community Foundation, local chambers of commerce and transit agencies in both counties to form the Northeastern Pennsylvania Equitable Transit Planning Council.

The group has grown to more than 50 representatives from private industry, philanthropy and health care groups, among other segments.

“I’ve been very impressed by the collaboration of the council and the diverse group of leaders saying how do we come together and solve this together,” said Erin Mierzwa, who led the Fed’s collaboration with the foundation.

Wilkes-Barre think tank Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development, also a partner in the endeavor, ran focus groups to zero-in on areas of greatest need.

“This collaboration will help improve workforce opportunities, access to health care, food, education and child care,” said institute Executive Director Teri Ooms, who noted the Fed’s conclusions on transportation needs confirm their own.

“We are now moving into the phase where we’re going to be setting strategic priorities,” said Scranton Area Foundation President Laura Ducceschi. “I think the content of this report kind of reiterated some of the things that we already learned somewhere through the process, but I think it provided a level of depth where I think we could start to understand where we can focus.”

Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce President Wico van Genderen pointed to public and private transportation agencies that don’t necessarily coordinate well with work schedules, health care facilities and residential neighborhoods.

Considering ongoing and planned new development, he estimates 2,500 to 3,000 jobs coming to the area in the next year to 18 months.

“To make the economic growth sustaining, we must build out the key infrastructure fundamentals to include the right mix of skilled workforce, family housing, quality health care and a comprehensive transportation grid,” he said.

In addition to its banking functions, community and economic development falls under the central bank’s objectives.

After conversations with the Scranton Area Foundation, the Fed saw a chance to study a problem accentuated in, but not unique to Northeast Pennsylvania.

“One of the things that emerged in those conversations was getting to work was one of the most difficult destinations to reach,” DeMaria said. “That sparked our interest in understanding the issues there.”

It’s up to the regional transit council now to use the findings to devise solutions to shortcomings.

Plans already are in motion to quench one growing need — getting people to doctors appointments — borne out the transit council’s collaboration.

A pilot ride share program with York-based Rabbittransit and Geisinger Health System will connect patients with transportation at Geisinger’s hospitals and outpatient centers throughout the region.

“We’re working out all the kinks of how that’s going to work now,” Gavlick with LCTA said. “There are concrete, actionable things that are happening.”

Contact the writer:

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

@jon_oc on Twitter

The operator of Scranton’s parking system put “no parking” bags on a slew of inoperable meters Wednesday, after The Times-Tribune pressed for an explanation of the large number of partially dismantled meter heads.

The bagging came after a Times-Tribune reporter on Tuesday counted no less than 50 disassembled meters in about 18 blocks of Spruce and Linden streets and Adams, North Washington, Lackawanna and Penn avenues.

The newspaper made inquiries Monday and Tuesday about the meters to ABM Parking and its overseer, the nonprofit National Development Council, which leased the city’s meters and garages in mid-2016 and brought on ABM as the parking system operator.

ABM spokeswoman Alex Varjan emailed a statement Tuesday referencing improvement efforts, but she did not specifically address the numerous dismantled meters.

“Since NDC and ABM assumed operational responsibility for the Scranton parking system in 2016, we’ve repaired approximately 300 parking meters across the city, replaced approximately 40 parking meter poles, and focused improvement efforts in the areas where they will have the greatest positive impact on Scranton residents. We will continue to make improvements and are actively working with the city of Scranton and the Scranton Parking Authority on operationally and financially sound plans for the future,” Varjan’s email read.

The reporter again pressed for specifics, but did not receive a reply. On Wednesday, the firm covered inoperable, hollowed-out meters with orange, plastic ‘no parking’ bags.

Councilman Wayne Evans, the council’s newly designated parking liaison, last year expressed concern about a “disconnect” between ABM and the public regarding the parking system. After the bagging of meters Wednesday, he contacted ABM to confirm it was their doing and to inquire about the overall situation.

“We’ll get to the bottom of it to find out what’s going on and what their longterm plan is,” Evans said. “Maybe they’re being repaired; maybe they’re not being repaired. What’s the plan here?”

Meters with the mechanisms removed have no way for parkers to pay with coins or credit cards and provided daylong, free parking in those spaces. Typically, a metered parking space costs $1.50 per hour, or 25 cents per 10 minutes, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Enforcement personnel also had not ticketed vehicles for overtime parking longer than two hours in spaces with gutted meters. Ordinarily, a vehicle parked at an expired meter runs the risk of a $25 violation ticket.

The city’s unloading of city garages and meters to NDC/ABM under a longterm lease deal completed September 2016 got the city out of the parking business. Since then, improvements have been a work in progress, NDC officials had said last year.

For example, last year ABM removed meters from some outskirts of the downtown and designated these locations as “Pango Parking Only” spots with payments made via Pango’s smartphone app. In November, NDC officials said they went to Pango only in the outskirts because they were considering installing kiosk payment stations in those areas, and didn’t want to spend money on new meters only to have them replaced by kiosks.

The operators also recently upgraded their website, , which contains information on rates, an online portal to pay parking tickets and other information. The website makes no mention of any plans to replace or repair hollowed-out meters.

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

SCRANTON — Times-Tribune Staff Writer Joseph Kohut will appear Friday on an episode of “Mysteries & Scandals,” a true-crime documentary series on the Oxygen Network.

Airing at 9 p.m., the episode explores the case of Randy Stair, who fatally shot three coworkers in June, at the Weis Market in Eaton Twp., Wyoming County, before taking his own life.

NBC Universal flew Kohut — who wrote about the Stair killings and the massive online cache of materials he left behind — to Los Angeles last year to be interviewed for the program, which is hosted by Soledad O’Brien.

— JEFF HORVATH

SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — Township police arrested a 70-year-old township man Tuesday for selling and possessing illegal painkillers and marijuana.

Police found 90 Hydrocodone pills, 26 Oxycodone pills and a single Percocet pill in a lunch bag in Anthony J. Graziano’s Jeep, according to an arrest affidavit.

Police said he sold marijuana and a five Oxycodone pills to an undercover informant outside a township convenience store.

Graziano, who faces three counts of delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and related charges, remains in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is slated for Jan. 25.

— BORYS KRAWCZENIUK

SCRANTON — A Wayne County man who helped his wife steal thousands of dollars from his mother-in-law’s bank accounts was sentenced Wednesday in Lackawanna County Court to four years of intermediate punishment, with the first three months on house arrest.

Jonathan M. Miller, 20, Equinunk, was charged by Archbald police in July with conspiring with his wife, Kyra, to obtain funds from Carolyn Matala by forging checks on her accounts. He pleaded guilty Oct. 18 to receiving stolen property.

Miller’s attorney, Thomas Farley, told President Judge Michael J. Barrasse it was “pretty obvious” his client was manipulated by Kyra Miller.

As part of his sentence, Jonathan Miller will be required to make still undetermined restitution, the judge said.

Kyra Miller, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to receive stolen property, is awaiting sentencing.

— DAVID SINGLETON

SCRANTON — Ambulances were temporarily rerouted to other hospitals after city fire crews responded to Regional Hospital of Scranton on Wednesday afternoon to evaluate a water leak that affected electrical panels there.

There was no fire at the hospital, though hospital officials diverted ambulances and parts of the hospital ran on generator power as fire officials investigated, hospital spokeswoman Renita Fennick said.

Crews left the scene at about 5:40 p.m. and the facility started accepting ambulances and emergency room patients shortly thereafter.

— CLAYTON OVER

The largest snowfall so far this winter dumped up to nine inches across the region, closed schools and clogged roads Tuesday evening into Wednesday.

Police reported scattered fender-benders but no crashes with serious injuries. By Wednesday afternoon, the sun peeked out.

That is it for snow the next few days at least, with consistently warmer weather finally on the way, AccuWeather meteorologist Jordan Root said.

Expect sunshine today through Sunday with highs of 28 today, 33 on Friday, 44 on Saturday and 45 on Sunday, Root said.

The snowfall substantially beefed up the winter total. Only 14 inches has fallen since Dec. 1, at the Wilkes-Barre/International Airport, according to the National Weather Service.

Weather service spotters measured 5.8 inches in Beach Lake in Wayne County, New Milford in Susquehanna County and Duryea in Luzerne County; six inches in Moscow; seven inches in Wilkes-Barre and Milford in Pike County; and nine inches in Exeter.

Much of the snow arrived Tuesday. Originally, the National Weather Service in Binghamton, New York, said the official 3.5 inches Tuesday broke the Jan. 16 record of 3.3 inches in 2013.

The service corrected that when a reporter pointed out the service’s website says the record is 4.1 inches in 1954.

Either way, 4.1 inches seems a pretty modest record for a January day, but five other daily records had less snow — 2 inches on Jan. 5, 1912; 3 inches on Jan. 6, 1962; 3.8 inches on Jan. 21, 2012; and 4 inches on Jan. 10, 1974 and Jan. 31, 1949.

Nothing promotes skiing like snow, with local resorts reporting brisk business.

“No doubt the best advertising for skiing is a good snowbase and certainly natural snow makes it great,” said Gregg Confer, general manager of Elk Mountain in Susquehanna County.

Elk’s season started slowly because the ski resort couldn’t make snow for two or three days last month as the resort complied with Pennsylvania America Water. Co.’s request to voluntarily conserve water after months of below-normal rains.

At the Montage Mountain Ski Resort, retired high school teacher Patrick Joyce, 65, skied in “the best conditions of the season.”

Two snow days this week has Abington Heights School District Superintendent Michael Mahon worried they might have to delay the June 15 high school graduation. Because of an eight-school day strike in September and four snow days, the district already delayed graduation two days and used up snow days built into its school calendar, Mahon said. Only Good Friday remains for making up further lost days, he said. Another teachers strike could really shake things up. Teachers plan to strike March 1, if they don’t get a new contract.

The Scranton School District has lost only two days to snow so far, not enough to require extending the school year, Superintendent Alexis Kirijan said.

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9147;

@BorysBlogTT on Twitter

A Clarks Summit man responsible for monitoring, testing and reporting on water and sewage systems at facilities in six Northeast Pennsylvania counties will surrender his water treatment operator certifications after he admitted to submitting false water treatment reports to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection.

In 2015, J. Robert DeSandis knowingly submitted 27 false test results for chlorine levels in samples he took from the drinking water systems at the Village of Four Seasons in Herrick Twp., Susquehanna County, and the Dallas Mobile Home Park in Dallas Twp., Luzerne County, according to the DEP. At least one of the samples would have resulted in a boil-water notice for residents.

DeSandis also operated eight wastewater facilities: Edgewood Mobile Home Park in Glenburn Twp., Outhouse Springs LLC in Benton Twp., St. Gabriel’s Monastery in South Abington Twp., Tall Timbers Village in LaPlume Twp., Lackawanna County; Deer Haven in Palmyra Twp., Pike County; Village of Four Seasons in Herrick Twp., Susquehanna County; Stillwater Sewer Corporation in Coolbaugh Twp., Monroe County; and Stone Hedge Sewer Company in Tunkhannock Twp., Wyoming County.

DeSandis also admitted to filing false discharge monitoring reports that indicate the volume of sewage being discharged from treatment facilities and the level of contaminants, according to the DEP.

The false reports constituted violations of the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Clean Streams Law and DeSandis’ certificate. The DEP entered into an agreement with DeSandis requiring him to surrender his water and wastewater systems operator certificate and not to seek reinstatement or a new permit.

DEP spokeswoman Colleen Connolly declined to comment on whether the agency had referred the case to any law enforcement agencies.

DeSandis could not be reached Wednesday.

Contact the writer:

cover@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5363;

@ClaytonOver on Twitter

ROARING BROOK TWP. — Someone broke into Gardecki Masonry’s garage Tuesday evening in the township and stole the company’s 2014 Ford box truck.

The theft happened about 9 p.m. The thief kicked in a side garage door to get to the truck and drove away along Route 435, police said. The company’s name is painted on the truck’s sides.

— BORYS KRAWCZENIUK

The structural steel that will reinforce the floor of the Marketplace at Steamtown to accommodate the weight of water tanks at the Electric City Aquarium are being delivered today.

Marketplace management expects the process involving a crane and fork lifts to take most of the day.

Installation is expected to start soon after and will take over a week to complete.

The aquarium will span through the former Express, Verizon and Hollister units and will include fresh- and saltwater tanks and terrariums for reptiles, such as alligators and crocodiles.

The aquarium is expected to be open sometime this spring.

KINGSTON — A borough woman is facing drug-trafficking charges after a 10-year-old boy who was in her care brought home a large bag of marijuana and a hydrocodone pill he found in a pink Batman bag, according to police.

Robyn Elian Oelke, 34, of 23 Newitt Place, was arraigned Wednesday on drug and child endangerment charges alleging she travels to Philadelphia to purchase bulk quantities of marijuana to sell.

According to a police affidavit, the boy’s mother went to the police station the afternoon of Jan. 6 after she picked up her son from Oelke’s home and he revealed he had a bag of marijuana and the opioid pill. The mother said she didn’t want to see the drugs and drove directly to the police station, investigators said.

The boy told police he got the drugs from the pink Batman bag, which was under Oelke’s bed, police said. Investigators seized the drugs, and the boy informed them there were “a bunch more” still inside the bag, police said.

Police contacted Oelke at her home later that afternoon and got her permission to search the place, according to the complaint. Under her bed, police found the pink bag containing three plastic bags of marijuana, a digital scale, drug packaging materials and $1,264 in cash, police said.

Also in her bedroom, officers also found a tin box containing Suboxone strips, which are used to treat opiate addiction, police said.

Oelke told police she travels to Philadelphia to buy as much as four pounds of marijuana at a time, according to police. Oelke said she buys in bulk because it is cheaper and it reduces the number of trips she has to make, but also admitted to selling the drugs to friends, police said.

Investigators charged Oelke with felony counts of child endangerment and drug trafficking, as well as misdemeanor counts of drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Magisterial District Judge Joseph A. Halesey arraigned Oelke on the charges Wednesday afternoon and released her on $10,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing was set for 1:30 p.m. Feb. 7.

Contact the writer:

jhalpin@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2058

State police arrested a Scranton man for stealing a large sum of money from local Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Legion posts.

Brian William Spangenberg, 32, address unavailable, is accused of burglarizing the VFW Post 5207 on the Daleville Highway in Covington Twp. on Nov. 26, 28 and 29. Police said he also stole from the American Legion on Lackawanna Avenue in Mayfield on Nov. 29.

State police did not reveal how much money they say he took.

Dunmore and Mayfield police assisted state police at Dunmore in Spangenberg’s arrest on Wednesday.

Spangenberg is charged with burglary, criminal trespass and theft as well as other charges.

He was unable to post bail and is in Lackawanna County Prison.

Contact the writer: kbolus@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5114; @kbolusTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — Funding for quality pre-kindergarten programs matters to more than students and families. Additional funding is vital for the state’s economy, said business and civic leaders Thursday.

“Supporting early learners means a bright future for Pennsylvania and is an essential element to ensuring our region’s strong economic development,” said Peter Danchak, regional president for PNC Bank.

The comments came as Harrisburg organization Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children released its study, “Pre-K Works, So Why Not PA?” The report calls for the state to increase access to pre-k programs for the children who would benefit most.

Only 36 percent of the state’s eligible children benefit from the public funds, and the organization and business leaders are calling for the state to invest an additional $85 million in 2018-19 — with a goal of an additional $225 million by 2020-21 — to serve all at-risk children. The state budgeted $172.3 million for the Pre-K Counts program this year.

Research shows that investing in pre-k saves taxpayer dollars by reducing the need for special education and remedial instruction, and children who attend pre-k are less likely to commit a crime later in life. Every dollar invested in high-quality pre-k returns the state $4 in savings and benefits in the form of reduced crime and increased earning power, according to the organization.

Of the 30 states that make public investments in pre-k, Pennsylvania ranks 18th.

“We know that pre-k works and the widespread, bipartisan support it enjoys is undeniable,” Joan Benso, president and CEO of Pennsylvania Partnerships for Children, said at the news conference at the offices of the United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. “The 2018 elections present an opportunity for those seeking public office to commit to making Pennsylvania a top state for pre-k investments.”

Ann L. Pipinski, Ed.D., president of Johnson College, said she has seen the impact pre-k programs can have on the workforce and that policy makers should support programs that help children in the most formative years of their lives.

“High quality pre-k is good for kids, businesses, and it’s good for Pennsylvania,” she said.

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133; @hofiushallTT on Twitter

A woman gave birth in the parking lot of a South Abington Twp. gas station this morning.

Chinchilla Hose Co. Emergency Medical Technicians Missy Hemmler and Mike Owens were dispatched at 6:05 a.m. to the Exxon Mobil at 801 Northern Blvd. in the township. But by the time they got there and the gurney out of their ambulance, the woman was already crowning in the back seat of her vehicle, Hemmler said.

The baby’s mother and father were driving to the hospital with their doula, or child birth coach, following them, she said.

“They realized they weren’t going to make it far and called 9-11 and good thing they did,” said Hemmler, who due to medical privacy laws, could not release the name of the baby, mother or father.

EMTs help delivered the baby, bundled mother and baby up — the temperature was minus 4 degrees, Hemmler said — and got them on the cot and to the hospital where the baby weighed in at 6 pounds and 9 ounces, she added.

“This was the first delivery for myself and fourth for my partner, he’s been doing this a lot longer,” Hemmler said.

Contact the writer: kbolus@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5114; @kbolusTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — Police are looking for suspects in a reported break in and theft at two homes in the Green Ridge section of Scranton.

Mary Ann O’Boyle came home to 119 Columbia St. on Jan. 8, and noticed paperwork was scattered, said Scranton Police Captain Dennis Lukasewicz.

She also discovered a man in a black hooded sweatshirt in her bedroom. She screamed and ran towards the door, Lukasewicz said. She then noticed a second man in a gray hooded sweatshirt in her house who told O’Boyle, “we’re not going to hurt you,” the captain added.

O’Boyle is still conducting inventory on her home to identify if anything was stolen, he said.

Police are also investigating a reported theft of jewelry from a home at 929 Sunset St. on Jan. 12 in the city.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

The Lakeland and Abington Heights school districts are welcoming new leaders this year.

Abington Heights Middle School Principal Marc Wyandt was appointed assistant superintendent during a board meeting Wednesday night.

Wydant, whose salary as assistant superintendent is $106,000, will begin in the new position once the district hires a replacement for him at the middle school.

“I’m extremely excited for the opportunity to work on behalf of the students and the families in a new leadership role,” said Wydant.

Susquehanna Community Junior Senior High School high school principal Carmella Bullick was hired as Lakeland High School principal during the Scott Twp. district’s board meeting, also Wednesday. Bullick’s salary at Lakeland will be $88,500.

Her anticipated start date at Lakeland is Feb. 19, said Superintendent William King, who started at the district on Jan. 2.

Bullick “couldn’t be happier” about the position and is excited to get back to Lakeland, where she student taught while studying for her bachelors degree at Marywood University.

As assistant superintendent, Wydant will oversee all aspects of operations of the district’s schools and he will be in charge of curriculum for grades kindergarten to 12th, said Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D.

He replaces Thomas Quinn, Ph.D., who left the district in 2016 to serve as superintendent of the Valley View School District. Quinn died in May.

During his time at Abington Heights, Wyandt has served as an elementary and middle school principal and assistant high school principal. He has a bachelors degree from Mansfield University and masters in educational leadership from Wilkes University. Wyandt is working on his doctorate degree through Immaculata University where he also received his superintendent certification.

Bullick’s masters degree is from Marywood University. She also holds a degree in literacy and learning from Walden University. She was an English teacher at Hancock Central High School in New York from 2002 to 2014 before becoming principal at Susquehanna.

With Bullick taking over as high school principal, other changes are afoot at Lakeland. Andrew Falonk, who was previous acting superintendent after R. Scott Jeffrey died in July, will serve as acting high school principal until Bullick takes over.

James Pivirotto, who was the high school principal, moved to the Lakeland Elementary Scott Twp. campus as principal to replace Alan King, who is retiring on June 30. The board also voted Wednesday to accept King’s sabbatical leave for the second half of the school year and retirement.

Contact the writer: kbolus@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5114; @kbolusTT on Twitter

Route 11 in New Milford, Susquehanna County, is closed in both directions from the intersection of Summit Street to Route 848, or Harford Road , for the removal of a fuel truck over an embankment. Estimated time of reopening is 5 p.m., according to a news release from PennDOT. Motorist should use alternate routes when traveling in the area.