The Western Wayne School District may have acted improperly in 2017 when it approved a contract amendment for former Superintendent Joseph Adams to add health benefits for his wife, state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale said Monday.

Auditors found the post-employment amendment to the contract, under which Adams agreed to stay on as a consultant in exchange for health insurance for his wife, will cost the district at least $86,000 over eight years.

The audit concluded the arrangement was not negotiated in the “best fiscal interests” of the district.

“The estimated cost of the health benefits assumes that the cost of health care won’t go up, and that is just incredibly wishful thinking,” DePasquale said in a statement.

Adams, who is now a Wayne County commissioner, said Monday the costs of the additional benefits for his wife have been minimal while the work he has done to date as a consultant have resulted in a direct savings to the district of more than $179,000.

“Once all the information is provided to them, I think they might reconsider some of the things they said,” Adams said of the auditor general’s office.

Adams was hired as the Western Wayne superintendent in 2015 and served until he retired on Feb. 1, 2017.

Five days later, on Feb. 6, 2017, the school board voted unanimously to amend his contract to authorize the spousal health benefits in exchange for consulting services to be provided by the former superintendent.

However, the board never authorized a separate written contract for the consulting services, nor did the amendment reference the appointment of Adams as a consultant, the audit report said.

“Having a former superintendent act as a consultant in exchange for under-the-table health benefits without a legitimate contract is not the proper way a school district should conduct business,” DePasquale said.

Adams took exception to DePasquale’s characterization of the benefits, saying the school board acted in “good faith” on a formal motion at a public meeting.

“It was not ‘under the table,’” he said. “Nothing was hidden. It was absolutely out in the open, in the public.”

Although the state school code does not prohibit amendments to retirement clauses in superintendent employment contracts, DePasquale’s office said it believed the Adams amendment was flawed for two reasons.

First, the audit report said, it was approved five days after Adams’ retirement had taken effect, meaning the underlying contract “was arguably already nullified.” Second, even if the contract were considered valid, the added benefits may have constituted a severance or buyout option that is prohibited under the school code.

In its formal response to the audit, the district said it disagreed with DePasquale’s finding that the arrangement was not in Western Wayne’s best interests.

However, based on a recommendation in the audit report, the school board on May 7 finalized a formal consulting contract with Adams, Superintendent Matthew Barrett said.

The district also put together a reporting system to better track the former superintendent’s consulting activities, including the hours worked, the duties performed and any potential savings resulting from his work, Barrett said.

Contact the writer:

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9132

Rippon wins ‘Dancing’ title

Move over, bronze medal, and make room for the Mirrorball trophy.

Adam Rippon, Olympic bronze medalist figure skater and Clarks Summit native, and his professional dance partner Jenna Johnson won ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars: Athletes” competition Monday.

The pair, known as “Team Just Friends” despite their sizzling dance-floor chemistry, beat former figure skater Tonya Harding, who partnered with pro Sasha Farber, and Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman, partnered with pro Sharna Burgess. Their final performances aired at 8 p.m. on ABC.

The show pitted 10 athletes from all corners of the sports world against each other during an abbreviated, four-week run.

Competitors were ranked based on scores they received from a panel of judges and votes from the public.

— STAFF REPORT

The developer of a defunct project to renovate a downtown building will not have to repay more than $250,000 to Honesdale after a Wayne County jury found the borough was responsible for the project’s failure.

The verdict Friday frees developers Michael C. Morris and Stephen G. Smith of any personal liability. It also clears the way for the men to take legal action against the borough to collect damages they contend they suffered because the project was never completed, said their attorney, Ronald Bugaj of Honesdale.

The borough sued Morris and Smith in 2016, seeking to recoup $255,076 in proceeds from a state Department of Community and Economic Development grant. The borough used the grant to loan their company, Smith & Morris Holdings LLC (SMH), money to renovate the former Sullums building on Main Street into a high-speed internet hub that was expected to attract businesses. The company began renovations but never completed them.

The lawsuit centered on guarantees Morris and Smith signed that obligated them to personally repay the grant-to-loan funds should their company fail to do so.

Morris and Smith argued they were not obligated to repay the money because the project failed only because the borough delayed paying invoices they submitted. That dramatically increased their costs and left them unable to pay subcontractors, Bugaj said.

Evidence showed SMH first submitted invoices seeking payment in April 2013. The borough did not seek disbursement from the DCED grant for months. The company was not paid until October 2013. By then, it was too late because subcontractors already had walked off the job and the company was unable to find replacements, Bugaj said.

“My clients tried to get new contractors, but they all wanted money upfront and wanted an extraordinary amount of money because they did not feel secure,” Bugaj said.

A jury heard testimony over three days before finding in favor of Morris and Smith late Friday.

The borough’s attorney, Anthony Sherr of Norristown, said the jury found the delayed payment was a valid defense against the personal guarantees, therefore the borough cannot collect on the debt.

Sherr said the borough does not have to repay the grant to DCED. The verdict means Honesdale won’t be able to replenish a revolving loan program that was meant to fund business redevelopment projects.

“The way it was supposed to work is when (SMH) paid back the loan, Honesdale would use the money to loan other people who wanted to do Main Street projects,” Sherr said.

Bugaj said the monetary loss to the borough could be much higher because Smith and Morris intend to seek more than $1 million for other damages they suffered because the project never came to fruition. That includes the loss of the Sullums building, which was foreclosed on by a bank after they were unable to repay a construction loan tied to the project.

“We are going to pursue and collect the money owed my clients,” he said.

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9137;

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

LENOX TWP.

Blaze claims one

in Susquehanna

One person is dead following a fire Monday morning at a mobile home in lower Susquehanna County, state police at Gibson said.

An autopsy is scheduled for today to identify the body recovered at 621 Route 2035, Trooper Jason F. Mills, the state police fire marshal who investigated, wrote in a statement.

Fire crews responded at 4:27 a.m. and discovered the mobile home was engulfed in flames.

Firefighters discovered the human remains during overhaul and then contacted the coroner.

The fire is under investigation by the state police but there is too much damage to determine the cause, Mills wrote.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

SCRANTON

Bridge implosion

set for May 31

The implosion of the old Harrison Avenue Bridge is now tentatively set for May 31.

State Department of Transportation officials were considering possibly completing the bridge’s demolition Thursday but decided to hold off because stream levels in Roaring Brook beneath the span remain high, spokesman James May said Monday.

The department also does not want demolition-related truck traffic to interfere with the weekend commencement activities on the University of Scranton campus, he said. Those are scheduled to begin Friday and last through Sunday.

May 31 is the date PennDOT is “looking at and hoping for at this point,” but it is all dependent on the creek levels, May said.

Because the bridge will be dropped onto a causeway over Roaring Brook, state regulations require a stream flow of less than 140 cubic feet per second.

— DAVID SINGLETON

PLAINS TWP.

Police need help

finding man

State police at Dunmore on Monday said they are looking for help to identify a man they say used a Lackawanna County woman’s banking information to withdraw money from an ATM in Luzerne County.

Surveillance pictures released Monday of the man they seek show a bearded, young man with glasses in khaki pants, a gray T-shirt and a hat.

On May 5, he used an unidentified woman’s information to make several withdrawals late in the afternoon from an ATM inside the Family Dollar store on North River Street in Plains Twp.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Dunmore barracks at 570-963-3156.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

SCOTT TWP.

One dead in blaze

in Susquehanna

A man is dead after a collision involving a motor vehicle and a riding lawn mower, township police said.

The incident happened about 3:30 p.m. , near the intersection of Green Grove Road and Rovinsky Road, when the vehicle struck the mower, police said. Lackawanna County Chief Deputy Coroner Jesse Van Deusen said Michael Russen, 57, of Scott Twp. , drove the mower south along Green Grove Road when an SUV hit it from behind.

Officials declared Russen dead at the scene, Van Deusen said. An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, he said.

The driver of the vehicle was taken to a hospital with injuries, police said but declined to comment further, citing an ongoing investigation into the crash.

—CLAYTON OVER

Three people from Indiana are charged with holding up a Scranton pharmacy at gunpoint early Monday then binding the clerk to make their getaway, police said.

Coreon House, 20, Rashad Coleman, 24, and Nicola Dunlap, 21, all of Indianapolis, were caught after the 2:37 a.m. robbery with guns and drugs in their car, Capt. Dennis Lukasewicz said. A confidential source helped police determine where they were going and, shortly after the robbery, state police pulled over their car on Interstate 81 near the Suscon Road overpass in Pittston Twp.

Police believe Coleman and Dunlap did reconnaissance then acted as lookouts at CVS on Moosic Street while House went in with a gun to rob the pharmacy.

House handed the pharmacist a note with a list of drugs he wanted then jumped over the counter to have the pharmacist fill a bag, police said. Lukasewicz said he believes he demanded opioids.

Drugs in hand, House bound the victim’s hands with zip ties and fled.

House will be charged with robbery, simple assault, terroristic threats and unlawful restraint; Coleman and Dunlap will be charged with conspiracy to commit those crimes, Lukasewicz said.

House is held in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $500,000 bail and Coleman and Dunlap on $300,000 bail each. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for June 1.

Contact the writer:

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

@jkohutTT on Twitter

Talk show host Sue Henry is out at WILK News Radio.

The circumstances behind Henry’s departure were not immediately clear, but she did confirm Monday was her last show with the station.

Henry has been a WILK broadcaster for 16 years, serving in the 9 a.m. to noon time slot as a lead-in to the nationally syndicated Rush Limbaugh Show.

Henry broke the news of her break-up with WILK on Facebook late Monday afternoon.

“I am no longer employed by WILK. I wish myself well in future endeavors,” the post said.

Reached afterward, Henry declined to be interviewed on Monday, saying she might be up to it today.

Asked to confirm the news of her post, Henry wrote, “I am no longer at WILK. My last show was today.”

A short biography about Henry was still on WILK’s website Monday evening.

The biography said Henry specializes “in witty banter, politics, oddball music and a little bit of baseball chatter.”

Henry is a graduate of King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, where she serves as an adjunct faculty member and moderator of the school’s radio station.

Prior to joining WILK, Henry worked at The Citizens’ Voice.

It’s unclear who will replace Henry, or if her departure will change the station’s lineup of shows.

Efforts to reach Ryan Flynn, general manager for the Entercom Communications stations in the region, were not immediately successful.

Contact the writer:

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2055;

@cvbobkal on Twitter

HARRISBURG — Bishops for six Catholic dioceses have agreed to “make public” the findings of a grand jury investigation into widespread sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said bishops in the Harrisburg and Greensburg dioceses reversed their positions Monday and agreed to the release of the grand jury’s findings.

Shapiro has met with several bishops of the six dioceses over the last week, announcing their cooperation as they have agreed not to block the release of the

findings likely in June. Announcements that the bishops from Erie, Allentown, Scranton and Pittsburgh had agreed were made throughout last week.

The investigation has already led to arrest of one priest accused of sexually abusing at least two boys and making one of them say confession after the alleged assaults.

The report from Shapiro’s office is expected to outline a grand jury investigation, started in 2016, into six of eight Catholic dioceses that serve communities in nearly every part of the state.

Since 1950, more than 25 priests from the Diocese of Scranton have been accused of having sexual contact with minors, according to Times-Shamrock archives.

The grand jury probed how the six Catholic dioceses handled allegations of clergy sex abuse. Meeting in Pittsburgh, the grand jury investigation included testimony and subpoenas involving alleged victims and officials and records in all six dioceses. Its term ended April 30, suggesting that the release of the report could be forthcoming.

The Altoona-Johnstown Diocese was not part of the investigation because the attorney general’s office had already released its grand jury report of that region. Likewise, the Philadelphia Archdiocese, the state’s largest Catholic division, is not part of the new probe.

Statement by Attorney General Josh Shapiro

“Today, in a reversal of their position, the bishops and dioceses of Greensburg and Harrisburg agreed to make public the results of a grand jury investigation of widespread sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. I commend Bishop Malesic and Bishop Gainer for doing the right thing,” Attorney General Josh Shapiro said.

“Now all of the dioceses support the release of the investigation’s findings and results.”

“Victims of this sexual abuse deserve the right to tell their stories to the people of Pennsylvania. That is why my legal team and I have worked tirelessly to have each diocese agree to give victims the opportunity to be heard.”

“I expect to speak publicly on this comprehensive investigation by the end of June. The only thing that could stop these findings from becoming public at that time is if one of the bishops or dioceses would seek to delay or prevent this public accounting.”

DICKSON CITY
Off-price retailer plans June debut

A new off-price clothing store plans to open in about a month.

Barring unforeseen delays, Gabe’s, a discount fashion retailer that has a store in Wilkes-Barre Twp., plans to open June 23 in the former Hhgregg appliance and furniture store in the Dickson City Crossings shopping plaza, according to a spokesman.

The company recently hung banners announcing a hiring spree, and is looking for about 100 employees. Job descriptions include entry-level and management positions.

Salary information was not available Monday.

— JON O’CONNELL

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Ryan Kevin Loughran, Greeley, and Kathleen Barbara Montella, Waverly.

■ Johnathan Henry Filippini and Christina Marie Cherra, both of Annapolis, Md.

■ Courtney Marie Wright and Andrew Ryan Holland, both of Gouldsboro.

■ Gregory Lee Parker and Joseph Matthew Comerford, both of Moscow.

■ William P. Carlin Jr., South Abington Twp., and Barbara J. Sylvester, Scranton.

■ Lindsay Sarah Cooper, Yatesville, and Philip James Ferrese Jr., Olyphant.

■ Tia Allysa Davailus, Covington Twp., and Ryan Michael Grassie, Spring Brook Twp.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Yeshivath Beth Moshe, Milton Eisner Yeshiva High School of Northeast Pa., Scranton, and Avrum and Rachel G. Karp, Scranton,

to Natan and Rebecca Fink, Scranton; a property in

Scranton for $165,000.

■ Corrine Guilford, also known as Corinne Guilford, executrix of the estate of Lucy Pace, also known as Lucy H. Pace, Old Forge, to MSA Inc., Dunmore; a property in Old Forge for $27,000.

■ Lance J. and Nancy D. Stange, Lackawanna County, to Kevin Farrell, Lackawanna County; a property at 37 Snook St., Scranton, for $67,000.

■ Larry and Debbie Ward, Salisbury, N.C., to Brooke E. Reynolds, Peckville; a property in Roaring Brook Twp. for $27,000.

■ Veronica Quinn, Carbondale, to Zachary R. Herr, Carbondale; a property at 12 Green St., Carbondale, for $90,000.

■ Duane Watkins, also known as Duane Kent Watkins Jr., and Susan Watkins, also known as Susan Jane Watkins, previously known as Susan J. Polombo, Ransom Twp., to Shawn Gorg, Ransom Twp.; three parcels in Ransom Twp. for $242,000.

■ Maria DiGiulio, administratrix of the estate of Frank Christaldi, also known as Frank J. Christaldi, to Jillian Conte; a property at 1127 Gasparini Drive, Blakely, for $121,000.

■ Brian Robert and Kris Boland, Ellington, Conn., to Tristi Marie Liene and Eric Michael Lenz, Dunmore, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property at 1306 Quincy Ave., Dunmore, for $164,700.

■ Kenneth and Linda Powell, Scott Twp., to Caitlin R. Pucilowski and Anthony M. Mattioli Jr., South Abington Twp.; a property at 519 Snapdragon Drive, Moosic, for $286,400.

■ Alexandru Vari and Christina McDonald to David R. Hollander; a property at 802 Poplar St., Clarks Summit, for $220,000.

■ Valerie D. Spence, agent for Janice M. Kveragas, Clarks Summit, to William Dubiak Jr., Kingston; a property at 1523 Froude Ave., Scranton, for $185,000.

■ Michael and Rita Novak, Dickson City, to Yun Chai Pan, Dickson City; a property at 302 River St., Olyphant, for $80,000.

■ Pamela J. Edwards, Moscow, to Kevin J. and Lisa M. Duffy, Moscow; two parcels in Moscow for $35,000.

■ Thomas Voloshen, executor of the estate of Anna Klemko, Peckville, to Matthew Harhut, Peckville; a property at 739 Crystal St., Blakely, for $74,000.

■ L.A. Investments LLC, Scranton, to Nareshkumar B. and Jyotikaben N. Patel, Scranton; a property at 622 Prescott Ave., Scranton, for $65,000.

FEDERAL TAX LIENS

■ Robert P. Lynch, 904 W. Market St., Scranton; $11,514.15.

■ Joseph D. Profera, 1710 Green Ridge St., Dunmore; $13,937.08.

■ Kildares Scranton Inc., Kildares Irish Pub, 119 Jefferson Ave., Scranton; $73,640.22.

■ French Girls LLC, 224 Wyoming Ave., Scranton; $11,912.56.

■ Sprink LLC, 364 N. Main St., Taylor; $10,198.56.

ESTATES FILED

■ William J. Evans, 1228 Hampton St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Rose T. Minelli Wilson, 129 Grzybowski Road, Scott Twp.

■ Gerald E. Trently, 244 Main St., Archbald, letters testamentary to Mark Trently, 331 Celli Drive, Eynon.

■ Eugene Cicco, also known as Giacinto Cicco and Gino Cicco, 1248 Blair Ave., Scranton, letters testamentary to Christina M. Cicco, same address.

■ Arlene F. Kohl, 931 Orchard St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Catherine Harrington, name as listed in will: Kathy Harrington, 1231 Clay Ave., Dunmore.

■ Phillip Jude Wells, 104 Pequest Drive, Clarks Summit, letters testamentary to Bobbi J. Wells, same address.

■ John W. Giblin, 18 Daleville Highway, Daleville, letters testamentary to John W. Giblin, 7302 Sunshine Circle, Tampa, Fla.

■ John H. Louis, also known as Monsignor John H. Louis, 2500 Adams Ave., Scranton, letters testamentary to Monsignor Joseph P. Kelly, St. Francis Kitchen, 500 Penn Ave., Scranton.

■ Marie Steele, also known as Marie E. Steele, 1014 Bennett St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Karen Ann Stine, 1715 Hawthorne St., Scranton.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

SCRANTON — Scranton School District officials outlined a timeline for furloughed teachers at a personnel committee meeting Monday night. Those who will be laid off will learn their fates by the middle of June.

The district posted all nontenured and new positions available to displaced tenured teachers. They were told they have to bid on the positions, district solicitor John Minora said at the meeting. Those bids are due today, he said.

Moving forward, the district will post all remaining positions not selected for all other teachers, both tenured and nontenured, to bid on Thursday. Bids for those positions will be due May 31 and awarded June 5, Minora said.

Those without available positions will be notified of their furlough June 5, he said. Between June 7 and June 12, there will be individual meetings with furloughed teachers and the ones who remain employed will be notified of change of assignment, he said.

A series of furlough hearings will begin after June 12, Minora said.

While the district’s 2018 budget only includes the loss of 51 teaching positions, every nontenured teacher — 98 in total — received furlough letters in January. The original plan called for the layoff of 28 tenured teachers and 23 nontenured teachers in the district, meaning those employed for fewer than three years. Layoffs included 12 librarians, 10 special education teachers, plus:

• At the intermediate school level: nine health/physical education, five music, two family and consumer sciences, one computer, one reading, one math and four sixth-grade teachers.
• At the high school level: two physical education, one chemistry, one English as a second language, one English and one art teacher
• 23 maintenance and clerical union members

However, in April, administrators told the board they reduced the layoffs by four full-time positions and one part-time position including a Scranton High School art teacher; a West Scranton Intermediate School sixth-grade teacher; a West Scranton High School English teacher; a special education teacher; and a part-time high school family and consumer science teacher who will instruct two classes.

The meetings Monday were sparsely attended, though a few teachers did show up, curious to know when those who end up furloughed will find out.

Christina Horne, an emotional support teacher at Monticello School, a special academy run by the school district, was among them. Horne addressed the board at its last regular meeting earlier this month, telling directors of the strain that the uncertainty of not knowing whether they’d be employed next school year is causing some teachers.

While she did not receive a furlough letter, more than half of the staff in her building did, among them friends, Horne said. Monday night was the first she saw or heard of the timeline, she said. While she said she didn’t know if it was accurate, Horne said she was glad to see the district put some information out for affected teachers.

Scranton Federation of Teachers President Rosemary Boland did not return a call for comment Monday night.

Also during the personnel committee meeting, school Director Mark McAndrew asked Superintendent Alexis Kirijan, Ed.D., if any district employees or the district itself received subpoenas related to the investigation of former fleet manager Daniel Sansky.

“I don’t have official word of that,” she replied.

The policy, public relations, buildings and grounds, labor relations and vocational education committees all also had meetings Monday night. Board members, Bob Lesh, Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and Carol Oleski were not present at the committee meetings.

Contact the writer: cover@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5363; @ClaytonOver on Twitter

Marywood University’s commencement also included August and January 2017/2018 graduates, who participated in Saturday’s ceremony.

From the College of Health and Human Services:

AUGUST 2017 GRADUATES

Doctoral degrees: Jennifer Misunas Buchwash, Moosic, and Brittany N. Lippert, Edwardsville.

Master’s degrees: Sierra Bellenzeni, Old Forge; Megan Marie Birk, Mountain Top; Jennifer R. Buckwash, Yatesville; Alexandria N. Carl, Scranton; Carlie Craven, Taylor; Jasmine Rose Davis, Scranton; Lindsey J. Davis, Shickshinny; Alicia Edwards, Greenfield Twp; Ebony E. Fenstermaker, Saylorsburg; Katrina Good, Lake Ariel; Renae A. Keiper, Scranton; Emily E. Ketz, Peckville; Alex Latham, Clarks Summit; Brittany N. Lippert, Edwardsville; Tyler Longstreet, Clarks Summit; Stephanie Ann Major, Clifford Twp.; Anthony Neak, Bushkill; Bianca M. Noel, Dunmore; Catherine A. Notchick, Scranton; Ashleigh Anne Ollila, Scranton; Kelsey L. Polachek, Hanover Twp.; Mathew Poorman, Mountain Top; George Ritz, Scranton; Sarah Elizabeth Schwartz, Scranton; James L. Spruill, Wilkes-Barre; Casey L. Van Fleet, Scranton; Kyle Viola, Scranton; Heather N. Wimmer, Brackney; and Adam Yngelmo, Scranton.

Bachelor’s degrees: Leea Bernadette Berrios, Carbondale; Ashleigh Lenore Gillet, Beach Lake; and Sierra A. Lieback, West Pittston.

JANUARY 2018 GRADUATES

Master’s degrees: Elaf Ahmedrufei Ateeq Alhowsawi, Scranton; Hessa Aljarboua, Scranton; Braden V. Beamer, Kingston; Jesse Borosky, Scott Twp.; Chelsea L. Graziano, Scranton; Amanda Elizabeth Grippo, Scranton; Alexis Sara Kolbeck, Falls Twp.; Brittany N. Lippert, Edwardsville; Michelle T. Martin, Avoca; Kaithlyn Ann Oravitz, Exeter; Mathew Poorman, Mountain Top; Megan Rogan, Nanticoke; Jessica Elizabeth Rutkowski, Scranton; Kirstin Renee Schafer, White Haven; and Christine Carmela Valente, Hazleton.

Bachelor’s degrees: Joanne Ardito, Scranton; Melissa R. Bello, Milford; Marissa E. Bolsar, Jessup.; Helen Irene Boyle, Scranton.; Courtney Capwell, Scranton; Kelly Christine Farrell, Scranton; Elizabeth Cecelia Greco, Waverly Twp.; Jeffrey Kelly, Throop; Christopher Kovaleski, Avoca; Halle Mara Krosskove, Scranton; Monique Lawson-Henry, Tobyhanna; Gina Marie LoRusso, Scranton; Julia Elizabeth Mariotti, Old Forge; Jessica Martin, West Pittston; Bhumika R. Patel, Dickson City; Brenna Nicole Roche, Moscow; Karen Ashley Saxon, Nicholson; Jillian Elizabeth Smith, Scranton; Trevor Neil Talbot, Pittston; Amanda Danielle Ward, Lake Ariel; Stacey Claire Watkins, Clarks Summit; Denna Elizabeth Wesley, Dunmore; and Jennie E. Wisdom-Falkenstein, Taylor.

From the College of Arts and Sciences:

AUGUST 2017 GRADUATES

Master’s degrees: Rajeen Afshin Amin, Clarks Summit; Thomas S. Christopher, Honesdale; Kaleb W. Davis, Lake Ariel; Nadine Kloss-Gannon, Greentown; Lindsey May Matylewicz, Tunkhannock; Margaret Mary McManus, Greentown; Carly Noelle Odynsky, Milford; Lisa E. Reynolds, West Pittston; and Deborah Lynne Telatovich, St. Johns.

Bachelor’s degrees: James Thomas Chickson Jr., West Pittston; Steven Christopher Coyne, Scranton; Martin Jerome Lambert, Greenfield Twp.; Taryn N. Tolerico, Carbondale; and Brittany K. Yzkanin, Jessup.

JANUARY 2018 GRADUATES

Master’s degrees: Gavin Blackburn, Nescopeck; Paul A. Capoccia, Dunmore; Eric J. Kuhn, Dickson City; Jennifer M. Peters, Nescopeck; David Henry Schulte III, Scranton; and David Henry Schulte III, Scranton.

Bachelor’s degrees: Alicia Louise Belch, South Gibson; Nikii Lei DiGaetano, Tannersville; Marybeth Henry, Montrose; Mollie Nora Host, Montrose; Laura Jones, Scranton; Santina Lewis, Luzerne; James V. McAndrew III, Scranton; Stephanie Poveromo, Scranton; Emily A. Roche, Dunmore; and Brian J. Seymour, Dunmore.

From the College of Professional Studies:

AUGUST 2017 GRADUATES

Doctoral degree: Tanya Carrelle, Hamlin.

Master’s degrees: Fahad Lafi M. Alatwi, Scranton; Camila Betancourt, Wilkes-Barre; Lyesha Fleming, Blakeslee; Joshua David Ide, Tunkhannock; Justin David Iezzi, Dunmore; Kristy B. Snyder, Fleetville; Whitney Vargas, Hawley; Michael Anthony Williams, Scranton; and Heather Yeager, Honesdale.

Bachelor’s degrees: Khairallah Altaleb, Scranton; Sulaiman Alwashel, Scranton; Tanya Davis, Scranton; Brandon Murray, Dunmore; Travis Ryan Murray, Dunmore; and Hali Autumn Somers, Scranton.

JANUARY 2018 GRADUATES

Doctoral degrees: Mark Lemoncelli, Roaring Brook Twp., and Maria Lucia Nascimento Vital, Scranton.

Master’s degrees: Khaled Abdullah Aloraini, Scranton; Saeed Mohammed Al-Shahrani, Dunmore; Omaymah Alangari, Scranton; Alhanoof Aljaeid, Scranton; Safiyah Ali S. Almarri, Scranton; Victor Saul Arenas, Scranton; Chris Gentilezza, Scranton; Joseph T. Glucksnis, Lake Ariel; Lauren Ashley Hales, Scranton; Francis Jones, Dunmore; Colleen Grace Loughney, Dunmore; Justin MacGregor, Dunmore; Aleni M. Mackarey, Dunmore; Shane Christopher Montross, Tunkhannock; Vrunda Patel, Scranton; Jennifer Frances Reynolds, Harding; Kristal L. Rojas, South Abington Twp.; Samantha Scott, Peckville; Joseph J. Sabia Jr., Archbald; Duanggamol Suratsombat, Scranton; and Lori Ann Zambarano, Milanville.

Bachelor’s degrees: Jordan T. Adcroft, Scranton; Mara Elizabeth Baxter, Moscow; Chloe Nichole Maloney, South Abington Twp.; Rebecca Jane Noll, Spring Brook Twp.; Katie Elizabeth Purcell, Scranton; Casey Rose Ruddy, Dunmore; and Nathan B. Terelmes, Dunmore.

Super students

Marywood University senior graphic design students Emmanuel Adjei, Samantha Costa, Niki DiGaetano and Dedra Congdon, won top awards at the annual Northeastern Pennsylvania American Advertising Awards ceremony.

Adjei of Philadelphia won the gold award for his poster, “Sounds of London.” As the gold award recipient, he advances to the student district competition, which includes New York, Delaware, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

Costa of Franklin Square, New York, and DiGaetano of Stroudsburg, won the silver award for their ad campaign team project. Also, Costa and DiGaetano, along with Dedra Congdon of Hop Bottom, won a silver award for their magazine team project.

The annual awards were held at the Radisson at Lackawanna Station Hotel.

High notes

Jane Oppenheim will be honored at the Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania’s third annual Community Matters Event.

Oppenheim has contributed not only to JFS but has also made a strong impact in the entire community.

The Community Matters event spotlights those who live those same values as the organization — enhancing and strengthening the quality of individual, family and community life — and have made an impact in the greater community.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple. Entertainment will be provided by the Doug Smith Jazz Trio; a silent auction will also be held.

Tickets for the event are $100 and can be purchased online at www.jfsnepa.org or by calling 570-344-1186.

Stars in stripes

Cadet Sean Salmon was awarded membership into Alpha Lambda Delta, National Honor Society, at the United States Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut.

The son of Patrick and Kristin Salmon of Clarks Summit, Sean is a mechanical engineering major and member of the graduating class of 2020.

Sean is a 2016 graduate of Abington Heights High School and one of three Salmon brothers currently serving in the Coast Guard.

Carbondale

Arts event: Arts Thrive free community arts event, Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., downtown Carbondale; interactive arts event with hands-on demonstrations including fine arts, visual arts, culinary arts, mixed media, healing arts, painting, photography and yoga.

Clifford

Church dinner: Clifford United Methodist Church chicken-n-biscuit or ham dinner, June 20, 4-6 p.m., Main Street; takeouts available, $9.95.

Dalton

Pancake/sausage breakfast: Dalton United Methodist Church pancake and sausage breakfast, June 9, 8-11 a.m., 125 S. Turnpike Road, $8/adults, $4/children; optional: eggs, $1.

Dickson City

Committee meeting: Dickson City Freight Station Committee public meeting, Thursday, 5:30 p.m., Borough Building, to discuss potential renovations to the freight station.

Equinunk

Spring sale: Equinunk United Methodist Church, annual spring rummage, bake and deli sale, June 2, church, Lordville Road, noon-3 p.m.; continues June 7, 7-8:30 p.m.; bag sale, June 9, 9 a.m.-noon; call 570-224-6361.

Peckville

Free lunch: Free community lunch, Saturday, noon, Peckville United Methodist Church, 732 Main St.; use ground-floor door to downstairs dining area.

Regional

Annual rally: Endless Mountains Pilot’s Young Eagle’s Rally, Saturday, rain date, Sunday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Seamans Airport, Seamans Road and Windsock Lane, Factoryville; free airplane rides for ages 8-17; parent or legal guardian must be present; preregistration available and recommended by going to https://www.flightsquid.com/event.cfm?id=3676 or day of the event; 570-840-0703.

Scranton

Social group: Tech ‘62 Social Group meeting, Thursday, 5 p.m., Sacco’s; Jan, 570-842-6034.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be sent to yesdesk@timessham

rock.com or Clipboard, c/o YES!Desk, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

ESTATE NOTICES

• Robert Squier, 85 Randolph Rd., Great Bend; letters testamentary to Beth McCormick, 1561 Singer Rd., Wyomissing.

• Michael Patrick, 3219 SR 2073, Gibson Twp.; letters testamentary to Suzanne Patrick, 48 Bickle Rd., Washington, N.J.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

• Mason O’ Donnell. of Glendora, N.J., and Elizabeth Benscoter, of Springville.

• David Mason Jr. and Heather Page, both of Susquehanna.

• Michael Feduchak, of Kingsley, and Shaya Davis, of Clifford.

• David Gebo Jr. and Brandy Lindsey, both of Lee Center, N.Y.

• Benjamin Smith and Kyra Ramirez Goodman, both of Johnson City, N.Y.

• Matthew Kemp and Amanda Cabisca, both of Montrose.

• Cody Vincent and Camille Visser, both of Jackson.

PROPERTY TRANSFERS

• David and Susan Eddleston to David Durko Jr. and Natalie Serafini, a property in Great Bend Twp. for $85,000.

• Connie Darrow to CBH Investments LLC, a property in New Milford Twp. for $112,000.

• Up 4 Sale Property LLC to Barefoot Holdings LLC, a property in Forest City for $67,500.

• Choconut Valley Developments LLC to Friendsville DG LLC, a property in Choconut Twp. for $185,000.

• Bucky Beaver and Christina Cook to Break Creek Properties Inc., Pro Ko Properties Inc., a property in Auburn Twp. for $67,100.

• Raymond Swingle to Michael and Jennifer Mancuso, a property in Herrick Twp. for $650,000.

• Tracy Bennett to James and Ashley Ayotte, a property in Rush Twp. for $250,000.

• David Schaffer (estate) to Francis and Kimberly Hoehle, Jennifer Chapman, a property in Harford Twp. for $129,101.

• Jane Warriner (estate) to John Warriner Jr., a property in Dimock Twp. for $365,000.

May 22, 1918

Six loafers deemed unfit for work

Six of the 10 men rounded up in Scranton Mayor Alex Connell’s war on loafers were found to be unfit for work by Department of Public Works Superintendent Dick James and foreman Sam Knapp.

James and Knapp agreed that the six should be deemed “down-and-out” and it would be cruel to force them to work.

One of the men who was deemed fit for work was allowed to enlist with the Polish army at their recruiting station on Adams Avenue.

Red Cross campaign gets $15K donation

At a Red Cross campaign luncheon, J. Benjamin Dimick announced that Mrs. Henry Belin donated $15,000, bringing the total for the campaign to $112,804.93. Diminick also announced that the First National Bank of Scranton promised to donate $5,000 when President Woodrow Wilson signs a bill allowing banks to contribute directly to the Red Cross.

$5,000 automobile

and salesman missing

Scranton police and detectives from the Rafter Detective Agency were looking for a salesman who worked at E.W. Connell Automobile Salesroom on Adams Avenue and a seven-passenger touring car.

According to the investigators, the salesman was believed to have taken the $5,000 automobile, $30 dollars from the sales-room register and six tires in the early morning of May 21.

They believe the man took the car to drive to New York to get married to his girlfriend and then go on a honeymoon using the luxury vehicle.

BRIAN FULTON, library manager, oversees The Times-Tribune’s expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history. Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamrock.com or 570-348-9140.

An armed robbery and assault in Scranton that began with the seemingly charitable act of getting a broken-down car running ended with three people in custody once that car broke down again a few miles away.

The incident began Sunday night when Officer Brian Lynady responded to Turkey Hill, 1429 Mulberry St., and met a bloodied Eathan Houck, who said he’d just been beaten and robbed in the parking lot across the street, according to a criminal complaint.

Houck had trouble getting his Subaru hatchback out of his driveway in the 400 block of Prescott Avenue until two men, later identified as Michael Salax, 32, and Roberto Roman, 19, showed up and helped him get it going.

Once the car was running, Salax and Roman, both of Scranton, asked if Houck would like to party with them. Houck said he would. First, though, Houck agreed to buy the two men cigarettes to thank them for their help. As they arrived in the empty parking lot, Salax cracked Houck over the head with a revolver, which police later learned shoots only pellets.

Roman told Houck to follow Salax’s instructions or he would die. Houck handed over his wallet, containing $200, and his cellphone. Salax and Roman stole the Subaru too, police said.

The Lackawanna County Communications Center put out a report at 11 p.m. for officers to be on the lookout for the Subaru, police said.

Then, shortly after 1 a.m. on Monday, Dickson City police Officer Brandon Walters found the hatchback when he responded to the 800 block of Main Street for a report of men pushing a vehicle off the sidewalk.

The vehicle matched the description from the lookout, so police held Salax and another man with him, Oscar Soto, 40, at gunpoint and gave orders to get on the ground. Soto, of Scranton, complied. Salax did not and started walking toward the officer with his hands in his pocket. Walters put away his weapon and took out his stun gun, gave Salax another command to stop and then shot Salax in the chest with it.

Police searched them and found 16 bags of heroin and a glass pipe with residue in it. They also found the pellet gun used in the robbery.

Salax is charged with robbery, theft by unlawful taking, simple assault, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy for the Scranton incident. He is also charged with receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and disorderly conduct in Dickson City.

Roman is charged with conspiracy to commit robbery and theft by unlawful taking. He was arrested in Scranton without incident, police said.

Soto is charged with receiving stolen property, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.

Salax is in Lackawanna County Prison on a combined total of $100,000 bail pending preliminary hearings scheduled for May 30.

Soto and Roman are also in the county jail in lieu of $35,000 bail each. Their hearings are also scheduled May 30.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9144;

@jkohutTT on Twitter

A Mass for for Sister Angela Miller, I.H.M., and her sister, Rosemary Smith, was celebrated Monday at the IHM Center in Scranton, behind the Marywood University campus.

Police say Smith’s 49-year-old son, Alan Smith, shot her before burning down the Scranton home the three of them shared April 28. Miller remains missing, and police believe Alan Smith killed her in the hours before officers arrived to deliver an emergency protection-from-abuse order. He died from smoke inhalation and burns as flames destroyed their home, officials said.

Rosemary Smith worked for 17 years as a housekeeper for the Immaculate Heart of Mary congregation.