DICKSON CITY — A woman stole an ambulance and led police on a chase through two Midvalley communities Thursday night.

The woman stole the Pennsylvania Ambulance vehicle at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, borough police said. Authorities were able to use a GPS in the ambulance to locate it in Olyphant. Police there tried to stop it on Lackawanna Avenue, but the woman wouldn’t stop and struck an Olyphant police cruiser during a chase, police said.

The woman then drove the ambulance into Dickson City and ended up in the Westwood Manor development before crashing into a tree behind some homes at Amhurst and Templeton drives.

The ambulance is demolished, police said. The woman suffered injuries and crews took her to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. No other injuries were reported.

Further details were not available late Thursday night.

— CLAYTON OVER

President Judge Michael Bar­rasse sentenced the following defendants recently in Lacka­wanna County Court:

Dequin Boyce, 31, 2115 Adams Ave., Scranton, to one to two years in state prison, followed by four years of probation, and a $225 fine for criminal trespass and criminal use of a communication facility.

James Forgione, 37, 810 Brenda Lane, Dunmore, to two to four years in state prison, followed by one year of probation, for DUI — third offense and DUI — second offense.

Toure Parker, 36, 442 N. Irving Ave., Apt. B, Scranton, to five to 12 years in state prison for possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communication facility.

Kirt Grover, 38, 393 Justus Blvd., Scott Twp., to two years of court supervision, followed by six years of probation, for burglary, theft by unlawful taking, possession of drug paraphernalia and access device fraud.

Jorraine Anderson, 43, 505 Linden St., Scranton, to 32 to 72 months in state prison followed by four years of probation for delivery of a controlled substance and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.

William Kilvitis, 39, 306½ 12th Ave., Scranton, to two years of court supervision followed by three years of probation for delivery of a controlled substance.

Gustavo Rodriguez, 34, 913 Madison Ave., Scranton, to two years of court supervision, including five years of probation, for delivery of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility.

Judge Trish Corbett sentenced:

David Malewich, 23, 517 Meridian Ave., Scranton, to one to 3½ years in state prison, followed by four years of probation, for conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking, possession of a controlled substance, criminal trespass and providing false identification to law enforcement.

Judge Vito Geruolo sentenced:

Wilson Trinidad, 21, Scranton, to three to seven years in state prison followed by two years of probation for simple assault, flight to avoid apprehension, escape and receiving stolen property.

Judge Andy Jarbola sentenced:

Lisa Miller, 35, 746 River St., Scranton, to five to 17½ months in county prison, followed by one year of probation, and $1,050 in fines for accidents involving damage, simple assault, disorderly conduct and DUI — tier two, second offense.

Judge Margaret Bisignani Moyle sentenced:

Ronald Gieski, 33, 604D Rocky Glen Road, Moosic, to 53 to 106 months in state prison for operating a meth lab and recklessly endangering another person.

With the Mega Millions jackpot skyrocketing to $970 million, and the next drawing set for tonight at 11, here are some things to know if you’re hoping to head into the weekend as a multimillionaire.

What are the odds?

Players have a one in 302,575,350 chance of winning the jackpot with the Mega Ball, one in 12,607,306 chance of winning

$1 million and a one in 931,001 chance of winning $10,000 with the Mega Ball, according to the Mega Millions website.

Your numbers match! What should you do first?

Find a qualified estate lawyer, suggests Mark Henry, certified estate planner and founder/CEO of Alloy Wealth Management in Charlotte, North Carolina.

“Don’t sign anything with anyone until you speak to a few” attorneys, he said. “Find a lawyer you’re confident in.”

Is it better to take a lump sum or an annuity?

“You never want to speak in complete generalities, but lump sum tends to work better,” Henry said. “A dollar today is worth more to you and me because of inflation in 10 years. On paper, it may seem like you’re getting more with the annuity option, but because you’re waiting, the purchasing power is less.”

What about taxes?

For winners of $5,000 or more, all states automatically deduct 24 percent in federal taxes. Some states, including California, don’t withhold taxes from lottery winnings, according to the Associated Press.

Can the winner remain anonymous?

Anyone who wins big in Pennsylvania should expect to hear from old friends and long-lost family members. Winners can remain anonymous in only six states — Delaware, Kansas, Maryland, North Dakota, Ohio and South Carolina, according to the Associated Press.

Contact the writer: drosler@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5365; @droslerTT on Twitter

MARRIAGE LICENSE

Jason William Depew and Mary Christine Kilker, both of Scranton.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

John P. Mayer, Scranton, and Samantha Bucari, Kent, Wash., to Nuno Tavares Assuncao, Scranton; a property at 2129 Dorothy St., Scranton, for $66,300.

Edward James Jr. and Kimberly Weidow, Scranton, to Charles Richard and Mary Frances Ann Keller, Scranton; a property at 544 Leggett St., Scranton, for $138,000.

Patrick and Stacy L. Tierney and Stefanie L. Curyk, Lackawanna County, to Raymond Jr. and Valerie Martinez, Lackawanna County; three parcels in Fell Twp. for $179,000.

Jennifer Travagline, Scott Twp., and Tony Lynn and James M. Travagline, Northfield, N.J., to Copa Properties LLC, Fort Collins, Colo.; a property at 825 827 N. Bromley Ave., Scranton, for $107,200.

LA Investments LLC, Scranton, to Martier Realty LLC, Scranton; a property at 1028 Crown Ave., Scranton, for $25,000.

Rachael Pabis, executrix of the estate of Louisa Bronson, Blakely, to B&W H LLC, Dickson City; a property at 403 Third St., Blakely, for $50,000.

Christopher Beppler and Cherilee Murray, co-executors of the estate of Carole E. Beppler, Scranton, to Rodrigo Palomares, Scranton; two parcels in Scranton for $90,000.

Andrew A. Sr. and Ann Marie Fazio, Dunmore, to Yohannes Worku and Esther Good, Dunmore; a property at 1740-1742 Madison Ave., Dunmore, for $190,000.

Marissa Zang, executrix of the estate of Jean M. DeSantis, Scranton, to Sharon Ware, Scranton; a property at 306 N. Cabrini Ave., Scranton, for $37,000.

Yvonne Acosta, Fort Myers, Fla., to Stephen E. Page, Scranton; a property at 1303-1305 Schlager St., Scranton, for $127,660.

MarKoz Realty Inc., Throop, to Damski Builders and Design LLC, Archbald; a property in Throop for $110,000.

John Danella to Jordan and Adrienne Thomas; a property at 33 Steinbeck Drive, Moosic, for $415,000.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

John V. Ronchi, Olyphant, v. Amanda J. Ronchi, Lake Ariel; married Oct. 2, 2011, in Lackawanna County; George E. Gretz, attorney.

Tabatha Smith, Scranton, v. Nicole Smith, Kingsport, Tenn.; married May 8, 2015, in Scranton; pro se.

David J. Visoski, Scranton, v. Suzanne Gail Visoski, Scranton; married Oct. 28, 2006, in Scranton; David J. Ratchford, attorney.

BENCH WARRANTS

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

Antonio Lamont Wright, 636 Harrison Ave., Scranton; $1,056.

Leniea Burgina, 182 Charles St., Wilkes-Barre; $415.

Johnny Brown, 1408 Ash St., Scranton; $1,877.

James Robert Brown, 288 Hillside St., Edwardsville; $1,728.50.

Adonys Cabrera, 918 Myrtle St., Scranton; $395.

Martea Shanel Calderon, 64 W. Maple St., Wilkes-Barre; $891.50.

Roger Canfield, 1624 Lafayette St., Scranton; $909.

Vincent R. Chandler, 533 Harrison Ave., Apt. 1, Scranton; $1,563.50.

Catherine Cole, 801 Eighth St., Moosic Heights, Avoca; $759.

Connie Juanita Crosby, 45 S. Fulton St., Wilkes-Barre; $1,274.

Ashley Yodlosky, 513 N. Irving Ave., Scranton; $891.

ESTATES FILED

Catherine R. Caines, 534 First Ave., Jessup, letters testamentary to Timothy Borick, 102 Valley View Drive, Peckville, and Jean Marie Cuthbertson, 20709 Rainsboro Drive, Ashburn, Va.

Peter Godwin Loftus Jr., also known as Peter G. Loftus Jr., 104 Academy St., Waverly Twp., letters of administration to Mary Elizabeth Perron, 7 Maplewood Circle, Fulmouth, Maine.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

WILKES-BARRE

Rates will increase for Luzerne County Transportation Authority’s Shared Ride program as of Nov. 1.

The increase is needed to keep up with continuous service demands and increased operating costs such as fuel, payroll and insurance, according to an LCTA news release.

The new fare structure has been approved by the state Department of Transportation, according to LCTA. For information, visit www.lctabus.com/sharedrideprogram.html.

— ERIC MARK

Frank Scavo will vote to end school property taxes if elected to represent the 22nd State Senate District in Harrisburg.

The Republican Old Forge school director looking to unseat incumbent Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, is a solid “yes” on Senate Bill 76, a legislative proposal to eliminate school property taxes and fund education by hiking the personal income and state sales taxes. Despite state Independent Fiscal Office data suggesting SB 76 would produce significant education shortfalls within a matter of years, Scavo told the editorial board of The Times-Tribune on Thursday that the proposal will adequately fund schools and bring jobs to the state.

If passed, the bill will make Pennsylvania more business friendly by abolishing the school property taxes businesses pay, Scavo said. More businesses will move to the state and bring jobs, which will increase sales and income tax revenues to sufficiently fund schools, he argued.

“We can’t fund education correctly with the current property tax (system),” Scavo said, arguing the efficiency of the new system alone would produce $350 million in annual savings for school districts statewide. “I’m looking at a better way, a different way, 22nd-century thinking, to spread this tax burden out amongst everyone.”

The state Legislature also should consider reforms to relieve school districts of the rising costs of employee pensions, Scavo said, noting pensions are driving up the cost of education and forcing districts to raise property taxes. Shifting the pension burden from school districts to the state would allow districts to better fund school security and devote more money to the classroom, he said.

As proposed, SB 76 would raise the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent while also expanding the levy to dozens of exempt goods. To alleviate the pension burden, Scavo suggested raising it further, to 8 percent, and devoting the extra revenue to pensions.

“You know that I’m not the guy who wants to raise your taxes, except for demonstrated needs,” Scavo said. “So when they’re telling me ... 8 percent, I don’t think there’s any resistance to a sales tax because it’s consumption-based.”

He also suggested raising taxes on alcohol sales as a possible revenue stream for pensions, and said educators will have to increase their individual pension contributions.

The 22nd District includes all of Lackawanna County, as well as Pittston Twp. and Avoca, Dupont and Duryea boroughs in Luzerne County, and Barrett, Coolbaugh and Price townships in Monroe County. State legislators earn $87,180.27 annually. Election Day is Nov. 6.

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock;

570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — Johnson College received a $76,974 Appalachian Regional Commission grant to help update the technical training systems at the college.

The college will provide a $76,974 match to the grant.

The funds will be used to purchase 12 different training systems that guarantee the students practical experience with high-technology tools and resources that employers expect them to use proficiently, the school said. The systems also reflect the latest developments in materials, tools, machinery, equipment, methods and techniques, according to the college.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

Oct. 19, 1943

Blood credit denied

to State Hospital

Attorney M.J. Martin, chairman of the Lackawanna County Civilian Defense Council, informed Sister Mary Martina, superintendent of Mercy Hospital, that she was no longer to extend blood credit to Scranton State General Hospital.

Martin said for months that the state hospital has been withdrawing blood from the bank at Mercy Hospital but not paying for the blood. The state hospital would be allowed to withdraw blood once the bill was paid in full and a guarantee made that future bills would be paid promptly.

‘La Traviata’ scheduled at Masonic Temple

The American Civic Opera Company presented Verdi’s opera “La Traviata” to a sold-out crowd at the Masonic Temple in Scranton. Starring in the production were Era Tognoli as Violetta, Ralph Sassan as Alfredo and Reed Lawton, company director, as Germont. The opera was conducted by Tord Benner.

Earlier in the day, the opera company presented a shortened version of the opera for area schoolchildren.

Local arrangements for the show were organized by the Scranton Opera Guild.

Sale at Scranton Talk

Diamond rings were $52.50, men’s suits priced between $24.75 and $34.75, men’s topcoats between $19.75 and $29.75, boys’ suits were $11.95, barrister hat was $3.95, a 14-piece coffee service was $3.94, a box of Gillette razor blades was 29 cents, a 72-by-90-inch blanket was $4.88 and a glass butter dish was 8 cents.

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.

Fifty years from now, the Keystone College community will get a look at a slice of 2018.

In memory of the institution’s 150th anniversary this year, a time capsule will be placed in the cornerstone of the soon-to-be-built Keystone Commons. The capsule will be opened in 2068, the institution’s bicentennial.

Items being placed in the time capsule have been collected from the college over the past few months to provide a snapshot of what’s currently being offered at Keystone.

The capsule will hold memorabilia such as a T-shirt and a hat with the college’s 150th anniversary logo, an academic catalog for 2018-19, a list of presidents of Keystone College, Keystone Academy and Keystone Junior College, the college’s 2018-to-2025 strategic plan, the spring 2018 edition of the Keystonian and letters from various faculty members.

Keystone College trustee Richard Krebs, co-chairman of the 150th anniversary committee, put the matter into perspective by asking what it would be like to open a time capsule rather than create one.

“I try to imagine 50 years ago, 1968,” he said. “What would the students of 1968 — a world in the midst of global upheaval, with no cellphones and no personal computers — think of our world here today in 2018? Would the students of 1968 be impressed or repulsed by our lives as they are today?

“When 2068 comes, it is very possible some of the people standing here today will be in that crowd when the capsule in unsealed,” Krebs said. “I wonder what their thoughts will be?”

Head women’s basketball coach Kristina Danella wrote a letter to be included in the time capsule.

“Although I just started in August of 2018, I already know what a special place Keystone is,” she wrote. “I have been all over the country coaching, and can honestly say that KC is my favorite for so many reasons. First of all, the campus is simply beautiful. If you haven’t ventured into the Trolley Trail behind the turf field, it is a must. I spend countless mornings walking there to clear my head before I start my day.”

Contact the writer:

cjmarshall@wcexaminer.com;

570-836-2123 x36

PHILADELPHIA — Federal prosecutors have opened an investigation of child sexual abuse by Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania, using subpoenas to demand secret files and testimony from high-ranking leaders in what victims’ advocates say is the first such probe ever launched by the U.S. Justice Department.

The Diocese of Scranton received a subpoena and will cooperate completely, said Diocese spokesman Bill Genello. He did not comment further.

The subpoenas, served last week, follow a scathing state grand jury report over the summer that found that 301 “predator priests” in Pennsylvania had molested more than 1,000 children over seven decades and that church leaders had covered up for the offenders. The 301 priests included 59 from the Scranton diocese with the names of six redacted in the grand jury report because of state Supreme Court challenges to the release of their names.

The intervention by the federal government opens a new front of legal peril for the Catholic church, given that investigations into sexual abuse by clergy members have historically been handled exclusively by state and local authorities.

“It’s groundbreaking if we’re going to see one of the U.S. attorneys pursuing the Catholic cases,” said Marci Hamilton, a University of Pennsylvania professor and chief executive of Child USA, a nonprofit think tank focused on preventing child abuse. “The federal government has so far been utterly silent on the Catholic cases.”

At least seven of the state’s eight Roman Catholic dioceses — Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Scranton, Erie, Greensburg, Allentown and Harrisburg — acknowledged receiving subpoenas and said they would cooperate or were working with Justice Department officials.

“This subpoena is no surprise considering the horrific misconduct detailed in the statewide grand jury report,” the Greensburg Diocese said in a statement. “Survivors, parishioners and the public want to see proof that every diocese has taken sweeping, decisive and impactful action to make children safer. We see this as another opportunity for the Diocese of Greensburg to be transparent.”

There was no indication the Justice Department is planning a more ambitious and expensive investigation of clergy abuse nationwide.

U.S. Attorney William McSwain of Philadelphia, who issued the subpoenas, wants to know if priests, bishops, seminarians or others committed any federal crimes.

McSwain, appointed by President Donald Trump earlier this year, asked for certain church leaders to testify before a federal grand jury in Philadelphia, though it could be months before that happens because of the time it takes to review the requested documents.

McSwain also demanded bishops turn over any evidence that anyone in their ranks took children across state lines for illicit purposes; sent sexual images or messages via phone or computer; instructed anyone not to contact police; reassigned suspected predators; or used money or other assets as part of the scandal.

The subpoenas seek documents stored in “Secret Archives,” ‘’Historical Archives” or “Confidential Files,” and records related to the dioceses’ organizational charts, finances, insurance coverage, clergy assignments and treatment of priests, according to the people who spoke to the AP.

A representative for McSwain declined to comment, as did a Justice Department spokeswoman.

“This is the first time I have ever heard of a federal investigation into child sexual abuse in a Catholic diocese or church. This is a monumental moment for clergy sexual victims everywhere,” Mitchell Garabedian, the Boston-based plaintiffs’ lawyer who played a major role in uncovering the scandal in the Boston Archdiocese over a decade ago.

Two Eastern Catholic dioceses in Pennsylvania — the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia and the Byzantine Archeparchy of Pittsburgh — also acknowledged they are under investigation.

“I’m thrilled at hearing this information. We have the full weight and attention of the United States federal government investigating the Roman Catholic Church,” said Shaun Dougherty, 48, of Johnstown, who told authorities he was molested by a priest as a boy in the Altoona-Johnstown Diocese.

Separate from the Pennsylvania investigation, the Diocese of Buffalo said in a statement Thursday night that it was contacted months ago by prosecutors there with a request to review documents.

“A subpoena was provided and after some discussion, an agreement was reached to produce documents,” the diocese said, adding that it had not heard anything since June.

While the subpoenas hint as possible charges of sexual exploitation of minors and fraud, legal experts said that if federal prosecutors can show that church leaders systematically covered up for child-molesting priests in the past five years, dioceses could also be charged under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, the law originally passed to bring down the Mafia.

The nearly 900-page Pennsylvania grand jury report found that church leaders had engaged in a systematic cover-up by shuffling accused priests around to different parishes and in some cases working to prevent police investigations. Because of the statute of limitations, however, only two priests were charged as a result of the investigation. Many other priests are dead.

Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who oversaw the state probe, declined to comment on the federal investigation.

In the wake of the report’s release, Shapiro said at least a dozen states opened investigations of their own and more than 1,300 accusers contacted his office on a victims’ hot line.

The report also led to the resignation last week of Cardinal Donald Wuerl as archbishop of Washington. He was accused of helping to protect some child-molesting priests when he was bishop of Pittsburgh from 1988 to 2006.

This week, the report triggered a showdown in the state Legislature, where Shapiro pushed to give child-abuse victims a two-year window to sue the church in cases otherwise too old to pursue. Church leaders opposed the change, warning it would cripple their ability to fund Catholic charities and enrich lawyers. Lawmakers ended the session Wednesday without taking action.

The difficulty of making charges stick against higher-ups in the church was illustrated when the Philadelphia district attorney’s office brought a landmark cover-up case in 2011 against Monsignor William Lynn, a longtime aide to two Philadelphia cardinals.

Lynn, first U.S. church official ever prosecuted for the alleged cover-up of child molestation by priests, was arrested on child-endangerment charges. At trial, he said he had merely followed orders from above. A jury convicted him in 2012. He spent three years in and out of prison as his conviction was twice overturned by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He is awaiting a third trial.

State House candidate Ernest Lemoncelli said he will recruit companies to move here from elsewhere to create jobs if he’s elected.

Lemoncelli told The Times-Tribune editorial board that representatives from Philadelphia, Lancaster County and elsewhere have traveled abroad to recruit companies.

“We didn’t even get a sniff of that. Why not?” he asked. “There’s over 6,000 foreign companies here with 330,000 employees. So I’m going to go talk to these people that are doing the liaisons with trade representatives overseas and see what we can do to bring some of that over here instead of somewhere else.”

Food manufacturers on the West Coast should be ripe for recruitment because of access to East Coast markets, he said.

“Technical support is something we can do here,” Lemoncelli said. “Now, it’s being done in Ireland. That’s the biggest spot for technical support.”

Lemoncelli, 63, a Republican from Archbald, faces Democrat Kyle Mullins for the 112th State House District seat. The 112th District includes all or parts of central city, the Hill Section and South Scranton in Scranton, and Archbald, Blakely, Dunmore, Jessup, Olyphant and Throop boroughs.

The salary is $87,180.27 this year.

Lemoncelli said he still favors increasing sales and income taxes and using the revenue to eliminate school property taxes, but said he opposes taxing food and clothing as the main property tax elimination proposal suggests.

“The more people I talk to, the more I think it’s a good idea because a lot of people on fixed incomes can’t afford what’s happening,” he said. “The average property tax since 1993 has gone up 146 percent and weekly average wage has gone up 80 percent. It’s not sustainable. ... Nobody should lose their home for a tax.”

Lemoncelli said he opposes imposing a natural gas extraction tax to replace the existing impact fee. He fears a tax would chase existing natural gas companies to other states.

“I think they’re already paying enough tax now,” he said.

He favors reducing the size of the state House to about 150 representatives, lengthening members’ individual terms from two to four years and limiting legislators to 12 years in office.

He favors shifting to a 401(k) pension plan for new employees, but not altering existing employees’ pension plans.

He also favors requiring metal detectors in schools with armed security officers to reduce the chances of school shootings.

“Just like they do in the capital, just like they do at the courthouse,” Lemoncelli said. “We know how to protect the politicians and I think the kids ought to have the same security.”

However, he opposes additional gun-control laws, including limiting purchases to one gun a month.

“No, can you buy one car a month?” he asked, pointing out some terrorists use cars as weapons. “It doesn’t matter how many guns I need. Why should I be restricted because you’re a crook?”

He favors background checks if there’s a sound database that tracks criminal convictions and mental health issues.

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9147;

@BorysBlogTT on Twitter

Archbald

Turkey dinner: Hricak McAndrew American Legion Post 869 annual turkey dinner and basket raffle, Nov. 4, noon-4 p.m., post home, 161 S. Main St.; $10, takeouts available; post, 570-876-1616, or Jerry Heid, 570-489-5423.

Jessup

Rigatoni dinner: Queen of Angels Parish, Jessup, annual rigatoni and meatball dinner, Saturday, Oct. 27, 3:30-5:30 p.m., takeout only, and Sunday, Oct. 28, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., takeout or eat-in, noon-2 p.m.; $10/adults, $5/children under 12; Madonna Hall, 605 Church St., Jessup. Contact: 570-489-2252.

Keyser Valley

Halloween party: Keyser Valley Senior Citizens Halloween party, Monday, 12:30 p.m., community center, games and refreshments follow.

Citizens meet: Keyser Valley Citizen’s Association meeting, Monday, 7 p.m., Keyser Valley Community Center, 101 N. Keyser Ave.

Ledgedale

Turkey party: Turkey party, Nov. 3, Ledgedale Volunteer Fire Company, first spin, 7 p.m., prizes, free refreshments.

Riverside School

District

Early dismissal: Riverside School District Act 80 Day early dismissal for elementary schools, Oct. 31; East, 11 a.m., and West, 11:30; parents urged to make necessary arrangements.

Scranton

Scholarship luncheon: Century Club 75th annual Nurses Scholarship Luncheon, Oct. 29, noon, $25; 570-342-0204 by Oct. 25.

Basketball registration: Holy Rosary basketball registration, Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon, and Sunday, noon-3 p.m., Holy Rosary Center, boys and girls grades K-8.

Haunted school: Kennedy Elementary haunted school, today and Saturday, 6-9 p.m., scary tour through the school, $2/students and $3/adults; proceeds support student fund.

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

Local nurses awarded

Michael Bach, from Tunkhannock, received the Outstanding Penn State World Campus Alumnus Award.

Bach specializes in hospice care and is a registered nurse, according to the university. He earned his associate degree in nursing from Penn State Scranton and his Bachelor of Science in nursing from Penn State World Campus. Bach holds a Ph.D. from Binghamton University and is a Tunno Family Scholarship recipient at Penn State.

Bach worked in an intensive care unit after receiving his associate degree and did not have time for traditional classes to complete his bachelor’s degree. So he enrolled in Penn State’s online program.

During that time, he was hospitalized with a bone infection but his advisers helped him see he could still meet his class objectives.

He ended up only missing a week and a half of classes, never missed an assignment and graduated on time.

Bach said that through this experience he found a love for teaching and sharing his excitement for nursing, according to the university. He has educated other nurses in New York, Florida and Pennsylvania. He also completed a post-doctoral fellowship, which took him to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Pittsburgh.

“Through all of these opportunities, I have found that I am a lifelong learner and truly appreciate education and how it can change a life,” Bach said.

Bach received the award during the Penn State Outreach and Online Education Appreciation Dinner on Oct. 11 at the Nittany Lion Inn on the Penn State University Park campus.

High notes

Jennifer White, Carlos Figueroa and Daniel Mozeleski were recently honored by the Old Forge School District and board members for decisive action and outstanding lifesaving effort after a student employee suffered a brain aneurysm on the district’s campus this summer.

Also during the Oct. 4 ceremony, Old Forge police officers, including Jason Dubernas, Nicholas Lugin, Kimberly Davies and David Kimble, were honored for outstanding and dedicated service in ensuring safety of the students.

Robert Gillette Jr. was honored for his generous support in helping honor students and their parents during the 2017-18 school year.

Locals abroad

Rescue & Restore Church Rev. Jack Munley was joined by mission team members, including Anita McCoy, Brenda Carle, Lyle and Miriam Turner and Linda Munley, on a trip to Kenya, Africa.

There, the team from the Olyphant church spread the good news of the gospel and visited schools and orphanages to distribute stuffed animals, flip-flops, school supplies, candy, toys and food.

The team also organized a soccer and volleyball tournament in the poor and crime-ridden village of Njathini.

PLAINS TWP. — A Scranton man is facing a fraud charge alleging he engaged in bet capping while playing blackjack at Mohegan Sun Pocono.

Jaime Rosario Rivera, 49, 1710 Cedar Drive, is accused of increasing his winnings by $100 by surreptitiously adding to his wager three times after betting had closed.

According to the complaint, a review of surveillance footage showed that at 1:45 a.m. Oct. 7, Rivera capped his winning bet by $25 and was paid out for the increased wager.

Seven minutes later, Rivera again capped his winning bet by $25 and was again paid for the illegal bet, police said.

After another six minutes, Rivera added $50 to his wager after winning another hand of cards, according to police.

The complaint said Rivera was paid out a total of $100 for the illegal bets.

State police gaming enforcement officers charged Rivera with a misdemeanor count of knowingly winning by a trick or sleight of hand. A preliminary hearing date was not immediately set.

Contact the writer:

jhalpin@citizensvoice.com;

570-821-2058

­­­­­Welcome to this week’s edition of Friday Playlist where members of the Times-Tribune staff submit their music picks base on a theme.

With Halloween right around the corner this week's theme of Spooky Songs seemed like a nsupenatural fit.

Enjoy:

Backstreet Boys - Everybody (Backstreet's Back)
Caitlin Heaney West

Yes, I KNOW I picked the Backstreet Boys a few weeks ago, but tough. While the song isn't spooky at all, the video has serious Halloween vibes. I was obsessed with this video as a teenager and desperately tried to record it on my VCR in the wee hours of the morning when MTV still played music videos. It didn't work, but at least now all I have to do is YouTube it.



Pigeons Playing Ping Pong  - Theme to Ghostbusters
Chad Sebring

So not the original artist but PPPP is a great funk band and there cover is awesome!



The Nightmare Before Christmas - This is Halloween
Chrissy Kelly

"Everyone hail to the pumpkin king, this is Halloween!



Screamin' Jay Hawkins - I Put A Spell On You
Clayton Over

Besides the eerie vocals and horns, I picked this song because Screamin' Jay was the first real shock rocker. His theatrical performances incorporated a macabre element and sometimes included him emerging from a coffin or holding a skull.



Dead Kennedys - Holiday in Cambodia
Ed Pikulski

Spooky? More like terrifying! The songs takes aim at better-off Americans who may have forgotten how horrible life can be elsewhere--in this case life under the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia during the 1970's. The guitar is haunting, the imagery is disturbing, the historic references are nightmarish. Scared yet? Wait, what? This was a Halloween topic?



Shakey Graves (feat. Esme Patterson) - Dearly Departed
Erin Nissley

While this song is really about a doomed romantic relationship, the lyrics bring to mind a haunted house. It's clever and sadly funny.



Talking Heads - Swamp
Jim Haggerty

Now let me tell you a story
The devil he has a plan



Jim Stafford - Swamp Witch
Jim Haggerty

Sure, it's hokey and dated, but has very clever lyrics and a spooky vibe. From the creator of the monster single, "Spiders and Snakes," which is considerably more annoying than this.



Classics IV - Spooky
Jim Lockwood

Guy wondering if he has a ghost of a chance with spooky girl fittingly plans to propose on Halloween. A classic late 60s tune from Classics IV, and a bookend to the group's equally groovy song Stormy



The Munsters
Jim Lockwood

The strained strains of the theme song of television's first family of fright sets the lighthearted mood for over-the-top spoofs of horror genre archetypes Frankenstein's monster, Bride of Frankensein, Dracula and the Wolfman (boy)



The Jam - Down in the Tube Station at Midnight
Joe Butkiewicz

A description of very real urban violence and fear the thugs will find invade the victim's home ("I glanced back on my life, and thought about my wife
'Cause they took the keys, and she'll think it's me ..."). Sort of the droogs of "A Clockwork Orange" in song.



David Lynch - Walkin' on the Sky
Joe Healey

The song and video are what nightmares are made of ... if they included the über-talented actress Laura Dern. The song/video is taken from the David Lynch's nearly 4-hour epic noir masterpiece, "Inland Empire." So dark. So evil. So good.



Burzum - Dunkelheit
Joe Kohut

Norwegian black metal is as spooky as it gets



Southern Culture on the Skids - Zombified
John Cole

Great mix of swamp rock, camp and horror. (Or campy horror, at least).



Bobbie Gentry - Ode to Billy Joe
Pat McKenna

The mystery continues: Why? Why did Billy Joe McAllister jump off the Tallahatchie Bridge?



Sugarloaf - Green-Eyed Lady
Patrice Wilding

This song really scared me as a kid; that bass line that sounds like it's hunting you down and creeping up from behind. Scary, but in a way that I liked.



Santana - Black Magic Woman
Patrice Wilding

I love the entire "Abraxas" album, but this is such a standout because of how perfectly it showcases Carlo Santana's ability to meld a variety of styles: salsa, Calypso, jazz, rock and pop. Close your eyes: can't you see the Black Magic Woman dancing as the band plays?



Jefferson Starship - White Rabbit
Patrice Wilding

I want to point out that while "White Rabbit" was made famous by Jefferson Airplane in the 1960s, this particular live version performed in 1975 is from the later permutation Jefferson Starship. Now that that's out of the way, I can share that my mom used to read a chapter a night from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland' and "Through the Looking Glass" to my brother and me, and while I loved the stories, they also spooked me. So set to military drum rolls and echoing guitars, and sung by a CRAZED-looking Grace Slick, it makes it onto the Spooky Song playlist.



The Cramps - TV Set
Ted Baird

I was considering songs from the Misfits or the Cure... but come on, these lyrics are terrifying and the song is fun.

The correct Match 6 Lotto numbers from the October 18, 2018 drawing are:
05-07-15-16-24-30
(five, seven, fifteen, sixteen, twenty-four, thirty)
 

TEXAS TWP. —Robbers in Wayne County made a store clerk get on the ground and bound his hands as they robbed a tobacco store shortly after it opened Friday morning, authorities said.

The men, one wearing a blue PITT hooded sweatshirt and orange pants and the other wearing a blue sweatshirt and black pants, broke into Tri-State Tobacco’s safe and stole an undetermined amount of cash at 6:40 a.m., state police at Honesdale said. They fled the Texas Twp. store on foot.

Cpl. Brian Rickard and Trooper Michael Collins are investigating.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Honesdale barracks at 570-253-7126.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

SCRANTON — Bancroft Elementary School is dismissing immediately from Weston Field because of a power outage, Scranton School District officials said this afternoon.

PPL workers are working to restore power by 3 p.m., according to the utility.

More than 750 people are without power in that part of Scranton.

Check back for updates.

DICKSON CITY — A woman stole an ambulance and led police on a chase through two Midvalley communities Thursday night.

The woman stole the Pennsylvania Ambulance vehicle at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, borough police said. Authorities were able to use a GPS in the ambulance to locate it in Olyphant. Police there tried to stop it on Lackawanna Avenue, but the woman wouldn’t stop and struck an Olyphant police cruiser during a chase, police said.

The woman then drove the ambulance into Dickson City and ended up in the Westwood Manor development before crashing into a tree behind some homes at Amhurst and Templeton drives.

The ambulance is demolished, police said. The woman suffered injuries and crews took her to the hospital for a mental health evaluation. No other injuries were reported.

Further details were not available late Thursday night.

— CLAYTON OVER

President Judge Michael Bar­rasse sentenced the following defendants recently in Lacka­wanna County Court:

Dequin Boyce, 31, 2115 Adams Ave., Scranton, to one to two years in state prison, followed by four years of probation, and a $225 fine for criminal trespass and criminal use of a communication facility.

James Forgione, 37, 810 Brenda Lane, Dunmore, to two to four years in state prison, followed by one year of probation, for DUI — third offense and DUI — second offense.

Toure Parker, 36, 442 N. Irving Ave., Apt. B, Scranton, to five to 12 years in state prison for possession with intent to deliver and criminal use of a communication facility.

Kirt Grover, 38, 393 Justus Blvd., Scott Twp., to two years of court supervision, followed by six years of probation, for burglary, theft by unlawful taking, possession of drug paraphernalia and access device fraud.

Jorraine Anderson, 43, 505 Linden St., Scranton, to 32 to 72 months in state prison followed by four years of probation for delivery of a controlled substance and conspiracy to deliver a controlled substance.

William Kilvitis, 39, 306½ 12th Ave., Scranton, to two years of court supervision followed by three years of probation for delivery of a controlled substance.

Gustavo Rodriguez, 34, 913 Madison Ave., Scranton, to two years of court supervision, including five years of probation, for delivery of a controlled substance and criminal use of a communication facility.

Judge Trish Corbett sentenced:

David Malewich, 23, 517 Meridian Ave., Scranton, to one to 3½ years in state prison, followed by four years of probation, for conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking, possession of a controlled substance, criminal trespass and providing false identification to law enforcement.

Judge Vito Geruolo sentenced:

Wilson Trinidad, 21, Scranton, to three to seven years in state prison followed by two years of probation for simple assault, flight to avoid apprehension, escape and receiving stolen property.

Judge Andy Jarbola sentenced:

Lisa Miller, 35, 746 River St., Scranton, to five to 17½ months in county prison, followed by one year of probation, and $1,050 in fines for accidents involving damage, simple assault, disorderly conduct and DUI — tier two, second offense.

Judge Margaret Bisignani Moyle sentenced:

Ronald Gieski, 33, 604D Rocky Glen Road, Moosic, to 53 to 106 months in state prison for operating a meth lab and recklessly endangering another person.