A former Lackawanna County prosecutor who investigated sexual assault allegations against former prison guard John Shnipes Jr. in 2012 said he would not have agreed to a nonprosecution agreement that allowed him to escape charges, but he had no say in the matter.

The agreement, written by Shnipes’ defense attorney and signed by former District Attorney Andy Jarbola, now threatens to torpedo charges filed against Shnipes last year that accuse him of sexually abusing four women at the prison.

Bill Fisher, the assistant district attorney who investigated Shnipes in 2012, said Jarbola, now a county judge, did not consult him before agreeing to let Shnipes resign in lieu of facing possible charges. If asked, he would have nixed the agreement because it was so broadly worded it protects Shnipes from any type of criminal activity, including crimes that might have not been known at the time.

“If I were involved in the negotiations, I would not have signed that,” Fisher said in a phone interview from his Florida home. “It’s like giving away a surprise package. You have no idea what’s in it.”

The agreement’s broad language was a key issue at a hearing Thursday on a motion Shnipes’ attorney, Brian McMonagle, filed that seeks dismissal of the current charges against Shnipes, one of seven former prison guards charged in February 2018 with sexually abusing inmates based on a statewide grand jury probe.

Jeffrey Smith, a senior judge from Bradford County specially appointed to hear the case, took the matter under advisement and will issue a ruling at a later date.

Fisher did not testify at the hearing. Chief Deputy Attorney General Daniel Dye instead provided Smith a transcript of testimony Fisher gave regarding the matter before the current statewide grand jury that continues to investigate sexual abuse allegations at the prison.

The nonprosecution agreement, signed on Sept. 24, 2013, stemmed from a 2012 grand jury probe of former guard Joseph Black that also revealed allegations two women made against Shnipes. The agreement says that, if Shnipes resigned, prosecutors would not file charges against Shnipes related to “any and all allegations at the Lackawanna County prison.”

At the hearing, McMonagle argued the “any and all” clause clearly means Shnipes cannot be prosecuted for any alleged crimes he committed at the prison. That includes current charges related to the four women, one of whom was also identified as a victim in the 2012 case.

The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual abuse.

Dye argued the agreement is unenforceable because it is so broad that it theoretically could prevent prosecutors from charging Shnipes if it was later learned he murdered someone at the prison. To allow the agreement to stand would violate public policy — a legal premise that allows a court to consider injury to the public good in deciding a matter. In this case, the public would be harmed by allowing a person accused of sexual abuse to walk free, he said.

Testifying Thursday, Jarbola and Thomas W. Munley, Shnipes’ attorney at the time the agreement was signed, revealed the deal came about very quickly and that neither of them knew the full extent of allegations against Shnipes.

Munley testified he represented Shnipes in a civil matter, but had no involvement in the criminal investigation and did not know any details of the allegations against him. He got involved only after Jarbola called him to offer the deal. He said he drafted the agreement that same day and dropped it off at the district attorney’s office.

Jarbola testified he offered the deal because he thought there was only one victim.

“I knew about other victims related to Joe Black,” Jarbola said. “I was aware of one victim related to Shnipes.”

Speaking after the hearing, Jarbola said Fisher told him there were problems with the case that prevented it from going forward. Given the nature of the charges, he offered the agreement to ensure Shnipes did not continue working at the prison.

“I thought I had an obligation to get him out of the prison,” Jarbola said.

As for the wording of the agreement, Jarbola said he did not object to the “any and all” language because he believed there was only one victim and that the language would pertain only to potential crimes committed against her.

In the phone interview, Fisher said he’s distressed by the turn of events.

“I hope this guy does not walk away with this,” he said.

He wanted to prosecute Shnipes, but the one victim adamantly refused to testify.

“She felt it would just damage and destroy her life,” Fisher said. “She had started a new life already … and just wanted to put this behind her.”

The other woman repeatedly showed up at the grand jury intoxicated, he said, so he could not put her on the stand.

Fisher acknowledged he could have forced the reluctant witness to testify, but chose not to do so because of the impact it would have on her life.

“I was not going to destroy this kid’s life,” he said. “I’m not going to lose sleep over that because I believe I did the right thing.”

Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137; @tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Pedro Baez-Done and Yomari Cruz, both of Scranton.

■ David Wiktor Smith and Rebekah Lynn Kane, both of South Abington Twp.

■ Maria Elizabeth Massino and Ryan F. Ehnot, both of Dunmore.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Citizens Savings Bank, Clarks Summit, Scott Staniszewski, Waymart; a property at 1260 Reynolds Ave., Taylor, for $25,000.

■ Jerry J. and Kay L. Dugas to Eric J. Wallace; a property at 143 Carbondale Road, Waverly Twp., for $770,000.

■ James T. and Cindy A. Michel, Archbald, to Sarah E.R. Kreidler, Scranton; a property at 135 Pine St., Archbald, for $151,000.

■ E. Lorraine Daniels, Dalton, to Benjamin Kalmanowicz, Clarks Summit; a property at 214 Miles St., Dalton, for $115,000.

■ Tracy A. and Patrick J. Scanlon, Olyphant, to Albert and Barbara Peters, Old Forge; a property at 240 Maple St., Dickson City, for $160,000.

■ C-Store Development LLC to Propane Realty Holdings LLC; two parcels in Moosic for $370,000.

■ Stephen T. Stalter, South Abington Twp., to Daniel Chatsaz, South Abington Twp.; a property at 66 Abington Gardens Drive, South Abington Twp., for $147,000.

■ Carol E. Boonstra, by her attorney in fact, Elizabeth Biesinger, Thornhurst Twp., to Dorothy Victoria Humphreys, Yardville, N.J.; a property in Thornhurst Twp. for $38,000.

■ Robert T. and Joanne Griffiths, Scranton, to Jody and Michelle Viscomi, Scranton; a property at Eynon Street, Scranton, for $58,000.

■ Paul A. Kelly Jr. and Brenda Allegrucci, co-executors of the estate of Rose Marie Swinehart, to Philip J. and Jessie M. Kolatis, Scranton; a property on Wheeler Avenue, Scranton, for $45,000.

■ Properties Investment LLC, Scranton, to PACMNM LLC, Middletown, N.Y.; two parcels in Scranton for $31,000.

■ Nixon R. Ordonez, Scranton, to LEOJKD LLC, Scranton; a property at 903 Pittston Ave., Scranton, for $90,000.

■ Khonzoda Chzhaidze, Scranton, to Nara P. Adhikari, Scranton; a property at 711 Brook St., Scranton, for $99,000.

■ Victor and Sandra Cormier, Ashby, Mass., to Louis and Linda Torres, Saddle Brook Twp., N.J.; a property at 121 Burcher St., South Abington Twp., for $190,000.

■ David Bryant, Olyphant, to Timothy and Michele Pane, Lackawanna County; a property at 967 Lakeland Drive, Scott Twp., for $110,000.

■ Dennis Irl and Karyn Michele Langford, co-trustees of the Langford Living Trust, Spring Brook Twp., to Cartus Financial Corp.; a property at 72 Thomas Road, Spring Brook Twp., for $117,000.

■ Cartus Financial Corp. to Dyllinger P. Hines; a property at 72 Thomas Road, Spring Brook Twp., for $117,000.

■ Jimmy Garcia Tineo and Ana Garcia to Jhunior Jose Garcia Reinoso; a property at 1124 Price St., Scranton, for $97,110.

■ Albert R. Taylor, Scranton, to Angelo D. Paone, Old Forge; a property at 2707 Cedar Ave., Scranton, for $142,040.

■ Richard L. Pasqualichio and Mary Ann Orr, Dunmore; Susan Bonsick, Clarks Summit, to John Jr. and Linda Baldauff, Dunmore; a property at 411 Second St., Dunmore, for $93,000.

■ Elizabeth E. Gilhool, executrix of the estate of John W. Gilhool Jr., Kissimmee, Fla.; Dean G. Gilhool, Greenfield Twp., to Haley Properties LLC, Greenfield Twp.; a property in Greenfield Twp. for $285,000.

■ Roger F. Lloyd, South Abington Twp., to Thomas Chickey, Old Forge; a property at 405 Scott St., South Abington Twp., for $40,500.

■ Robert and Lauren Morgan and Cindy Holmes, now known as Cynthia Morgan, to Morgan R. Holmes, Dunmore; two parcels in Dunmore for $75,000.

■ Joseph Cerda, Dunmore, to Claire Farry, Scranton; a property at 1816 Green Ridge St., Dunmore, for $128,400.

■ Thomas E. and Catherine Hunter, Taylor, to John and Jessica Dutter, Old Forge; a property at 1238 Reynolds St., Taylor, for $137,500.

■ G&B Realty Co. LLC to Cynthia Servin and Geri Puckett, Old Forge; a property at Vine and Church streets, Old Forge, for $110,000.

■ Mary Lu Williams, Scranton, to Erik W. and Britney D. Bacon, Scranton; a property at 601 Loop Ave., Scranton, for $212,000.

■ Edmund J. and Darlene Carr, Clarks Summit, to Michael C. Lahey, Scranton; a property at 745 Newton Road, Scranton, for $90,000.

DIVORCE SOUGHT

■ Maryann Swingle, Falls Twp., v. Brad A. Swingle, Old Forge; married May 1, 2012, in Waymart; pro se.

ESTATES FILED

■ Stella Kowalski, 226 N. Horatio Ave., Scranton, letters testamentary to Barbara Joyce, same address; Frances Rozaieski, 3275 Cedar Ave., Scranton.

■ Michael S. Masich, 706 Lilac Lane, Clarks Summit, letters testamentary to Joan Masich, same address.

■ Pauline A. Kinderman, Rear 518 S. Irving Ave., Scranton, letters testamentary to Paulette Smith, 1005 Holcum Ave., Scranton.

■ Joseph J. Paone Jr., 408 Garfield Ave., Jermyn, letters testamentary to Ann Marie Paone, same address.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

Jermyn

Garbage collection: Garbage and recycling collection will be delayed until Saturday this week due to the Memorial Day holiday.

Peckville

Hoagie sale: Hoagies for mission at Peckville United Methodist Church, June 8, 9 a.m., 732 Main St., $5; orders, 570-489-6093 or 570-489-8042.

TAYLOR — When she’s caring for seven patients at a time, Tami Pease doesn’t take lunch breaks. She doesn’t have time.

Beyond that, nurses with too many patients have no choice but to prioritize which ones get care in any given moment and which ones wait, she said during a panel discussion Thursday on improving health care delivery.

“All the call bells are going off along the hallway, and there’s not enough staff to answer those call bells,” the registered nurse said. “It’s devastating the industry right now.”

About 65 people attended the talk hosted by SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania at Lucca Restaurant in Taylor.

SEIU, the union that represents health workers at First Hospital in Kingston, Moses Taylor and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, did not identify where Pease and another nurse who sat on the panel worked for fear of reprisal.

Staffing ratios, or the number of patients to nurses, was a prevailing topic.

Nancy Brown, manager for United Neighborhood Centers’ Active Older Adult Community Centers in Carbondale and West Scranton, said only a sliver of the region’s older adults tap into the community center services because they lack access.

She pointed out gaps in a shared ride program that helps older people reach doctor appointments. Carbondale residents have a small window in the morning to catch the bus, which makes scheduling doctor appointments difficult, she said.

The room grew tense for a moment when Wendy Jones, a member of Progressive Women of Northeastern Pennsylvania, challenged newly seated state Rep. Bridget Malloy Kosierowski, D-114, Waverly Twp., on her recent vote in favor of a bill that would restrict women’s access to abortion.

House Bill 321, which cleared the House this month, would ban abortions solely on the basis of a prenatal Down syndrome diagnosis. It comes as states across the country are passing laws that dramatically restrict access to abortion services.

“It was a bill that was really a struggle,” said Kosierowski, who is personally pro-life, but during her campaign said she would ban only late-term abortions.

“I’m sorry that you’re disappointed in that vote,” she said speaking directly to Jones. “I voted in the way that I felt was right for our district.”

Progressive Women donated to her campaign on the understanding that she would protect access to abortion services.

“Our group as a whole, we’re very disappointed,” Jones said after the meeting. “We were caught off guard because she had expressed to us that she would never vote like that.”

Elsewhere in the discussion, another nurse, Jesi Swoboda, said hospitals in Northeast Pennsylvania are dramatically behind in upgrading technology.

Marlee Stefanelli, a licensed professional counselor and health care activist, said addressing mental health issues is starting to become more mainstream, but providers aren’t paid enough and there are too few of them.

Teresa Osborne, former state secretary of aging and now a state civil service commissioner, pointed out that Lackawanna County ranks 50th among the state’s 67 counties in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s annual County Health Rankings report. She wants to see her home county do better.

“If you look back through my notes, there are more concerns than proposals,” said SEIU’s Aaron Troisi, who moderated the event. “Just like in health care, in order to address a problem, the first thing is to diagnose it, to identify it and make it real.”

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9131;

@jon_oc on Twitter

LUZERNE

Dave Bass was finishing up a bike ride Wednesday night on the Back Mountain Trail when he was suddenly thrown to the ground.

A heavy rope was strung across the trail, anchored on one side to a tree about 6 feet off the ground and on the other side to a big rock, he said.

“It was almost invisible as I was riding. I saw it as I hit it,” Bass said.

His bike was moving around 18 mph when it caught the rope on its handlebar. Bass’ shoes were clipped in to the bike’s pedals. He went down hard. His head and the right side of his body hit the ground. His ribs, shoulder and elbow scraped across the trail.

Luzerne police are getting camera footage from near the trail and have put the rope into evidence.

“Right now we’re hoping people reach out if they have more information on who might have done it,” said Officer Brandon Bradshaw.

— BILL WELLOCK

To contact Luzerne Borough Police with information, call 570-287-7633, extension 1.

May 31, 1889

Dam break leaves Johnstown in ruins

A morning of heavy rain had people concerned about the South Fork Dam in Cambria County. By midafternoon the dam broke, unleashing the waters of Lake Conemaugh into the valley below, destroying South Fork, Mineral Point, East Conemaugh, Franklin and Woodvale. The raging waters continued on to Johnstown.

The scene was utter devastation. Eyewitnesses reported houses floating down the river with the people clinging to the roof for safety. Most of Johnstown was underwater, with the towns of Caketown, Sang Hollow and Blairsville completely submerged.

Flooding also occurred along the western branch of the Susquehanna River. The high waters hit Renovo, Clearfield and Lock Haven. In Lock Haven a log dam burst, sending water and logs toward Williamsport.

The water and logs reached Williamsport in the early morning hours of June 1. It was estimated that 150 million feet of logs were in the floodwaters as they hit the city. In addition to the logs, the rushing water was filled with all sorts of materials from buildings and farms.

The floodwaters continued on to Milton and Sunbury.

The flooding also created disruptions with railroad traffic. Sections of the tracks were underwater, washed away or covered in mud and debris.

In the end, the flood caused the deaths 2,209 people, destroyed more than 1,500 homes and caused $17 million in damage in the Johnstown area.

Rain doesn’t keep crowds from track

Despite the rain and strong winds, some 800 people took in the afternoon horse races at the Scranton Driving Park on May 30.

Winning in the three-minute class was North Branch, owned by Harry Fox. Claiming first in the 2:40-minute class was Tommy J, who was owned by Ed Jifkins.

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.

High notes

During the Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees Wayne Pike Chapter’s spring luncheon, Educational Support Chairwoman Barbara Spinelli announced the winners of educational grants.

The winners include Katie Hunt, kindergarten teacher at Shohola Elementary School in the Delaware Valley School District, who received a $150 grant to purchase Wobble chairs to provide sensory stimulation for her classroom. Denise Genello, instructional interventionist at North Primary School in the Wallenpaupack School District, received a grant to purchase magnetic sound cards to use within the Wilson Reading System to help children who have problems with processing letters and sounds. Brandon Diefenbach, a counselor from Preston School in the Wayne Highlands School District, received a grant that will help purchase Project HAPPINESS, a kindergarten to fifth grade curriculum that helps students with focus, increasing emotional resilience, reducing stress, gaining impulse control and emotional management. Western Wayne’s Helene Tscheschlog, a high school science teacher, will be able to become a member of the International Science and Technology Educators Association with her grant and attend the national conference in Philadelphia.

Patricia Spoor received the Dillon Award for outstanding service to the chapter during the luncheon at the Central House Resort. Spoor volunteered many hours to PASR as community support chair, writing the newsletter for many years and serving as right-hand woman to past President Leroy Spoor.

Eloise Fasshauer remembered members who have died since the fall meeting, including Frank Smith, George Reed Sandercock, Robert Schaffer, Doris Millon, Charlie O’Neill, Catherine Williams, Richard Chamberlain and Jay Asper.

Also during the luncheon, President Ellen Keefer gave a report on recent activities of the chapter highlighting the Christmas support of a family with gifts, Christmas cards sent to service members and canned goods collected for the local food bank. Members also donated more than 100 books to the Wayne County Children’s Library and distributed hats and gloves to elementary students who needed them.

For details on the chapter or to join, contact Keefer at 570-226-2820.

Super students

Valley View High School Student Council senior members Abbey Halloran and Meghan Winters, co-presidents; and Emily Yontas, secretary, helped organize the high school’s annual spring blood drive with Vitalant.

More than 70 faculty and students signed up to donate, with 47 successful donors. The Cole Family chose to donate blood together to help save lives during the event.

The blood collected stays in the area to help the community. Since meeting their goal with Vitalant, Valley View students will be provided scholarship money.

Chiara Ruggiero loves to tell stories.

As editor-in-chief of Delaware Valley’s student newspaper, the Del.Aware, she gets to tell those stories regularly.

“I consider it a high honor to be able to lead a publication that is devoted to enlightening the school district with riveting worldwide and local content,” she said.

The daughter of Marcy Ruggiero and Francis Ruggiero, Chiara will attend Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications to major in broadcast and digital journalism and minor in meteorology and ceramic arts.

A religious education teacher and a camp volunteer, Chiara loves to paint post-modern, abstract-expressionism paintings and romantic nudes and enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, chakra cleansing, aura readings and making granola.

She has already received recognition for her work in journalism and is secretary of the National Honor Society, vice president of the National Art Honor Society, a senior dancer for pointe and advanced ballet and a member of the two-time district champion soccer team. She has owned her own jewelry business since the age of 9 and has competed in Scholastic Art competitions.

Chiara, who jokes that she can eat three cans of Betty Crocker frosting in one hour, hopes to work as an anchor or weather forecaster in Boston. She also hopes to pursue a career as a poet, novelist and artist and to one day become published, hopefully earning a place on the New York Times Best Sellers List.

She most admires her grandfather, Gipi, for his abundant intellect and jolly personality, and her grandmother, Gigi, for her tremendous wit and continuous compassion.

“You get what you give in life,” Chiara said. “Everything on this earth involves a transference of energies, so if you exude positive, passionate, happy energy into the world, then that is exactly what you will receive back.”

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL

ASHLEY

What should you do if thousands of bees swarm onto your property and decide to take up residence?

It depends on the specifics of the situation, according to a local beekeeper.

Harold Keiner, owner of Keiner’s Apiary in Slocum Twp., says to just let them be. If the bees have taken up residence inside a tree, chances are they just need a new home and aren’t going to bother you, as honeybees are normally docile. And they’re good pollinators for your garden.

Keiner recently gave that advice to Ashley resident John Soboleski, who contacted Keiner after thousands of honeybees swarmed at the edge of the woods across the street from his West Cemetery Street home on Memorial Day.

Keiner said it’s possible the bees might move on in a few days if they find a more suitable home. But if they don’t, he and other beekeepers often collect bees at no charge, under certain circumstances, when asked.

If you have a problem with honeybees swarming on your property or would like to see them maintained by a beekeeper, Keiner recommends calling him at 570-417-3262 or contacting the Luzerne County Beekeepers Association via Facebook.

— STEVE MOCARSKY

SCRANTON

The operator of the new Charl-Mont Restaurant in the Lackawanna County Government Center waived his preliminary hearing on DUI charges Thursday.

The case against Eugene E. “Gino” Majewski Jr., 47, Old Forge, who is accused of driving drunk March 1 in Old Forge, now moves to county court for possible trial.

Majewski could not maintain his balance during a field sobriety test and recorded a blood-alcohol level of 0.099 on a portable breath test after an officer stopped his vehicle about 11:40 p.m. on Oak Street for driving with the headlights off, police said.

The county commissioners awarded Majewski the lease for the Charl-Mont in January after he submitted the lone proposal to operate the restaurant. Originally expected to be ready in March, the restaurant is now scheduled to open June 10.

— DAVID SINGLETON

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

This week’s theme is Namedropper Songs… Songs that mention (mostly) famous people.

Enjoy:


The Clash - The Right Profile
Ted Baird

I let my 2 and a half year old son listen to our London Calling record and now it's been in heavy rotation.... Especially this song... He plays it relentlessly. Now I feel like I need to see every Montgomery Clift movie.



Miike Snow - Ghengis Khan
Jon O'Connell

Great beat, awesome music video. Just listen to it.



Mojo Nixon - Elvis is Everywhere
Ed Pikulski

It's fun, ridiculous, and it mentions a ton of people, in addition, to Elvis, including Michael J. Fox, Joan Rivers, Doctor [sic] Spock, Billy Idol, and Allah.



10,000 Maniacs - Hey, Jack Kerouac
Joe Healey

An ode to the Beat Generation. Besides Jack Kerouac, the song name drops fellow beats Allen Ginsberg and William S. Burroughs.



Neil Diamond - Sweet Caroline
Caitlin Heaney West

Now it's stuck in your head, isn't it?



Barenaked Ladies - Brian Wilson
Chad Sebring

Went through a stretch where I listened a lot to this band.



Madonna - Vogue
Patrice Wilding

With 16 stars of yesteryear named during bridge, not sure you get more bang for buck under this category than "Vogue." A highlight from the '90s, this gem still moves everyone onto a dance floor everywhere I play it.



Madness - (My Name is) Michael Caine
John Cole

Because it's a slice of great '80s pop, and this isn't the forum to post Jonathan Richman's "Pablo Picasso."



Carol Burnett - I Made a Fool of Myself Over John Foster Dulles
John Cole

The song that launched Carol Burnett's comedic career.



Garland Jeffreys - 35mm Dreams"
Joe Butkiewicz

From the ghostwriter.



Little Feat - Apolitical Blues
Jim Haggerty

"Well my telephone was ringing
and they told me it was Chairman Mao . . ."
Ex-Rolling Stone Mick Taylor adds to the live appeal of this blues rock tune.



Neil Young - From Hank to Hendrix
Jim Lockwood

First verse: from Hank (Williams) to (Jimi) Hendrix; second verse doubles down: from Marilyn (Monroe) to Madonna



Linda Rondstadt - Poor Poor Pitiful Me
Pat McKenna

... just like Jesse James



The Replacements - Alex Chilton
Joe Healey

Children by the million sing for Alex Chilton when he comes 'round. They sing 'I'm in love. What's that song? I'm in love with that song.'

SCRANTON — Lifelong West Sider Annette Palutis, 82, grew up in a neighborhood that blended various ethnicities.

“You hear people talk about America being the melting pot. Well, West Scranton was exactly that — the melting pot,” Palutis told a crowd of 50 people during an event Thursday kicking off a decadelong neighborhood revitalization initiative by NeighborWorks Northeastern Pennsylvania.

“All of this brought people together,” she said. “Gradually, those groups of people intermarried, moved around and it was no longer the Irish neighborhood or the Lithuanian neighborhood.”

The organization announced it received a $100,000 donation from Wells Fargo Regional Foundation for a first-year planning phase.

NeighborWorks planning activities will include hiring a consultant to help lead the process, conduct community surveys and map and observe every property throughout West Side, said NeighborWorks NEPA President/CEO Jesse Ergott.

The goal is to devise “the first comprehensive planning initiative” for West Scranton. Historically, neighborhood revitalization efforts in the city have focused on the downtown, Hill Section and South Side, but West Scranton needs the same type of financial and social investments, he said.

The initiative is “a really unique opportunity to help craft a new vision and generate new investment for this neighborhood that we love,” Ergott told a crowd of about 50 people attending the event held at NeighborWorks NEPA’s future headquarters at 815 Smith St. in West Scranton.

After the planning phase, NeighborWorks could become eligible for even more funding from the foundation — possibly up to $2 million over a decade — during an “implementation phase” of executing the revitalization plan, said foundation Senior Vice President/Executive Director Aishah Miller.

The implementation funds could come in the form of donations of $500,000 to $1 million for a first five-year period, and then the same for another five years, she said.

Wells Fargo has a bank branch in West Side at 101 N. Main Ave. The foundation made the initial $100,000 donation after NeighborWorks NEPA representatives attended a foundation neighborhood planning workshop in Philadelphia.

The foundation previously made similar contributions to revitalization efforts in South Side by United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, said foundation board member Bob Durkin. Likewise, the partnership in West Side will strive for crafting a revitalization there that can sustain itself, said Durkin, who also is president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

“It’s about making sure that people are empowered and that the word and the resources of the community are brought together in a sustainable fashion,” Durkin said.

Community input will be key toward determining what types of projects — potentially things like parks, renovations or other improvements — residents want, Ergott said.

“This summer, we’re going to be out in the neighborhoods, doing resident surveys, knocking on doors, talking with people,” Ergott said. “We want to hear from residents, hear what they want from their neighborhood, their vision. How do they want to feel about this place” in one, five and 10 years.

West Scranton ninth grader Izzy DeFlice also spoke and urged everyone to do their part toward revitalization.

“We need to be kind to our neighborhood ... by keeping it clean, buying products from our local stores and being nice and respectful to each other,” Izzy said.

Ergott echoed that point.

“Moving forward, it’s going to take a longterm commitment to do this work. We’re not in it for the short run. We’re in it for the long haul,” Ergott said. “It’s going to take a commitment from all of us, but I think our neighbors are worth it and our neighborhood is worth it.”

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5185;

@jlockwoodTT on Twitter

Dunmore Councilman Michael Hayes and Dickson City Councilman Paul Kwiec will have chances for reelection after all.

Hayes and Kwiec, who failed to win Democratic nominations for council in the May 21 primary election, won Republican council nominations through write-in votes, the official Lackawanna County vote count shows.

In Dunmore, three other previously known Democratic nomination winners — borough planning commission member Beth McDonald Zangardi, council President Michael Dempsey and Councilman Vince Amico — also picked up Republican nominations through write-ins.

Zangardi had 26 Republican write-ins, Hayes, 18, Dempsey, 14, and Amico, 13. The five will face each other in the Nov. 5 municipal election for four four-year council seats in what amounts to a rematch of the Democratic primary.

The same primary rematch scenario exists in Dickson City, where Kwiec finished fifth in the race for four Democratic council nominations, but write-in votes earned him a Republican nomination. The Republican write-in vote winners were Councilman John Horvath, 90 votes, Kwiec and council President Jeffrey Kovaleski, both 85, and Michael Fedorka, 83.

Horvath, Kovaleski, Fedorka and Councilwoman Georgia Adamitis won the Democratic nominations. Voters will choose four council members to serve four-year terms.

A county elections official released a spreadsheet Thursday showing the write-in nomination winners.

In Fell Twp., the count confirmed Supervisor Ann Marie Torch won the Democratic nomination to a single, six-year supervisor seat by six votes against Jerry Slick, but she and Slick will match up again in November. Slick, with 76 votes, earned a Republican nomination.

In Glenburn Twp., David Druck received 80 Republican write-in votes to create a matchup with the previously known Democratic winner, Jim Davis.

Below are candidates in other municipalities who won nominations through write-ins. Unless otherwise noted, the winners are unopposed in the November election. They will likely win seats in November, barring successful third-party or write-in challengers.

ARCHBALD: Four candidates who won Democratic nominations also won Republican nominations for four four-year council seats. They are Michael Ossont, 51 Republican votes, David Moran, 34, Councilwoman Erin Owen, 27, and Councilman Tom Mancuso, 20.

BENTON TWP.: Supervisor Bonnie Rosiak received 10 votes to add a Democratic nomination to the Republican nomination she already won for a single six-year supervisor seat.

BLAKELY: Councilmen who won two of the four Democratic nominations to four-year council seats added Republican nominations. They are Patrick S. Zwanch, 11 Republican votes, and Michael J. Henzes, 10. No other candidates received the minimum 10 write-ins required for a Republican nomination. The other Democratic winners are Councilmen Joseph F. Ercolani Jr. and Kevin Swift.

CLIFTON TWP.: Supervisor Ted Stout, with 31 votes, added a Democratic nomination to the Republican nomination he already won for a single six-year supervisor seat.

DALTON: Elizabeth Bonczar won a Democratic nomination to one of three four-year council seats with 31 votes, and a Republican nomination with 33 votes. James Michael Fitzpatrick already won a Democratic nomination, and Councilman Bill Brandt already won a Republican nomination. That leaves one nomination in each party vacant.

Bonczar also won a Democratic nomination to a single unexpired two-year council seat with 10 votes. Councilman Eric Johnson already won the Republican nomination, setting up a contest for the seat in November.

GREENFIELD TWP.: Supervisor Susanne Totsky, already a Democratic nomination winner, earned 75 write-in votes to add a Republican nomination for a single six-year supervisor seat.

JEFFERSON TWP.: John Peters Sr., already a Democratic nomination winner for a single six-year supervisor seat, added a Republican nomination with 40 write-in votes.

The township will also have a contested race for a two-year unexpired term for tax collector. Carol Kielar Wallace, with 17 write-in votes, earned a Republican nomination. She will face the previously known Democratic winner, Geraldine Karsnak.

JESSUP: Council President Gerald Crinella, Francis Craig Shander and Rella Scassellati added Republican nominations to their Democratic nominations for three four-year council seats. Shander had 40 Republican write-ins, Crinella, 39, and Scassellati, 38.

MAYFIELD: With four four-year seats available and no one on the ballot in the primary election, two people earned Republican and Democratic nominations through write-ins. Bridget Boettcher received 48 Democratic write-in votes and Thomas Gallagher 45. Boettcher received 21 Republican write-ins and Gallagher 19. No others earned enough write-ins to win nominations.

MOOSIC: Scott Flanagan, with 16 votes, added a Republican nomination to the Democratic one he already won for one of three four-year council seats. No others earned enough write-ins to win a Republican nomination. Councilman Robert Besecker and council President Stanley Kania won the other Democratic nominations.

OLD FORGE: Councilman Joseph Ferrett, who was not on the ballot for reelection, earned a chance to run anyway. With 132 write-in votes, Ferrett won a Republican nomination to one of four four-year council seats. Councilmen Louis Febbo, with 60 votes, and Rick Notari, with 58, also won Republican nominations through write-ins. Mike Lettieri already won the other Republican nomination. Notari, Febbo, Councilman Russ Rinaldi and Chuck Karam won the Democratic nominations.

With 160 write-ins, Ferrett also won the Republican nomination to a single two-year unexpired term. He will face Rinaldi, who already won the Democratic nomination.

OLYPHANT: Councilman Robert Hudak, with 54 votes, Councilman Michael Abda, 39, Beth Frushon, 33, and Councilwoman Dina Harrington, 26, added Republican nominations to their Democratic nominations for four four-year council seats.

RANSOM TWP.: Supervisor David Bird, with 26 votes, added a Democratic nomination to his Republican nomination for a single six-year supervisor seat.

ROARING BROOK TWP.: Supervisor Eric Schield, with 16 votes, added a Democratic nomination to his Republican nomination for a single six-year supervisor seat.

TAYLOR: Councilman Francis DeAngelo, with 24 votes, and Rob Naro, with 13, added Republican nominations to their Democratic nominations to three four-year council seats. Councilman Brian Fallon won the other Democratic nomination.

WAVERLY TWP.: Eric Parry, with 48 votes, added a Republican nomination to his Democratic nomination to a single six-year supervisor seat.

In the Lackawanna Trail School Board race that includes Benton Twp. in Lackawanna County and Factoryville in Wyoming County, School Director Michael Mould, alone on both parties’ ballots for two four-year seats, will face competition. Dane Bower earned a Democratic nomination with 23 votes. School Director Robert Minick earned a Republican nomination with 31 votes.

In the Mid Valley School Board race, Glenn Cashuric, with 35 votes, added a Republican nomination to his Democratic one. Directors Gerald Luchansky and Donna Dixon previously won both parties’ nominations.

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A Scranton man faces charges after city police said he fled the area last week with a 15-year-old girl.

Floyd Thurston, 45, 429 Colfax Ave., is charged with interfering with the custody of a child and concealing the whereabouts of a child after authorities found him in Venango County in western Pennsylvania.

City detectives said Thurston left Scranton with the girl May 24 and headed to the Oil City area. Police were already investigating Thurston on suspicion of having an inappropriate relationship with a minor.

Detectives learned Thurston left the area when a neighbor and friend of Thurston, Paul Smith, called police and said he thought Thurston was going to do “something dumb” and would try to leave with his “15-year-old girlfriend,” according to court documents. Police then reached out to the girl’s mother, who discovered the teen wasn’t at home but found three packed bags in her room, police said.

Later that day, police found texts between Thurston and the girl. The pair discussed how much they loved each other, how many bags she should pack and when she would be ready to be picked up, according to court documents.

On Wednesday, city police brought Thurston back to Scranton to answer the charges filed against him. Magisterial District Judge Laura Turlip arraigned him Wednesday night and set his bail at $50,000. Thurston is held in Lackawanna County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 5.

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Scranton police have identified a man they believe entered Neil Armstrong Elementary School late Wednesday night, undressed and spilled an oily substance on the gymnasium floor.

Maintenance crews found the mess early Thursday, leading the Scranton School District to close the North Scranton school for the day. At first, people assumed the mess was some sort of prank, but when the principal reviewed security footage, he saw the naked man, said Superintendent Alexis Kirijan, Ed.D. Police interviewed the suspect later Thursday and the man went for a mental health evaluation, city Police Chief Carl Graziano said.

Police are withholding the man’s identity and filing of charges pending the completion of the evaluation, he said.

To allow for time to make sure the man did not vandalize any other areas of the building, the district decided to keep the more than 600 Armstrong students home. Police and school crews searched for other vandalism throughout the building Thursday, but none was found, officials said. Investigators are also trying to determine how the man, believed to be in his 20s, entered the building. There were no signs of forced entry, Graziano said.

As students return to school today, they will be met with a police presence to help provide a sense of security, Kirijan said. The superintendent said maintenance workers locked the building before they ended their shift at 10:30 p.m. The school’s security alarms sounded shortly after that.

Kirijan said the district will review its safety and security procedures.

Kirijan credited the district with investing in security cameras in recent years.

“It actually worked to our advantage,” she said. “We were able to provide the correct picture to police.”

CLAYTON OVER, staff writer, contributed to this report.

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Dave Bass was finishing up a bike ride on the Back Mountain Trail Wednesday night when he was suddenly thrown to the ground.

He had just collided with a heavy rope strung across the trail. It was anchored on one side to a tree about six feet off the ground. It angled down diagonally across the trail to a big rock.

“It was almost invisible as I riding. I saw it as I hit it,” Bass said.

His bike was moving at around 18 miles per hour when it caught the rope on its handlebar. Bass’s shoes were clipped in to the bike’s pedals. He went down hard. His head and the right side of his body hit the ground. His ribs, shoulder and elbow scraped across the trail.

Bass was riding south, from Trucksville toward Luzerne, when he hit the rope around 7:50 p.m. He was near the Luzerne trailhead, between the 1/4-mile and 1/8 mile markers.

He couldn’t ride the bike after the fall. He contacted police and left the bike at a church.

“I went to the doctor because I thought my ribs were broken. Luckily, nothing was broken, but I was badly bruised, and it will take a while to heal,” he said.

Luzerne police are getting camera footage from near the trail and have put the rope into evidence.

“Right now we’re hoping people reach out if they have more information on who might have done it,” said Officer Brandon Bradshaw.

The department had been considering adding bicycles to its patrols before this incident to patrol the trail and around the town and had been looking into grants or donations that could help acquire a bike.

“We’re looking to get one in the future, but that takes time,” Bradshaw said.

Bass loves to bicycle and race in triathlons. He’s helped to promote and develop the trail and has even organized fundraisers to raise money for it.

“I was involved in a big way. So I love the trail, and I’m not going to stop using it,” he said.

WILKES-BARRE — The mother of the three boys killed in a 2017 arson fire in Laflin stared down the accused killer from the witness stand Thursday and shouted at him.

“You had no right to take my children!” Susan Major shouted, directing her ire at ex-lover Preston Bonnett seated at the defense table.

Bonnett, 28, is accused of setting fire to Major’s home on Oct. 25, 2017, killing her three sons.

Major said she met Bonnett at a shelter for battered woman and they developed a friendship that did turn sexual, but she denied he ever was her boyfriend.

A registered nurse who once made more than $100,000 per year, Major said major illnesses left her out of work and she was applying for disability.

Then, Bonnett offered her a way to make money — drive him from store to store for errands. However, she claimed she didn’t initially know Bonnett was running a credit card fraud scheme, but she soon figured it out. He later offered her more money to help him with the scheme and she reluctantly agreed, she said.

One day, they were arrested and they both went to jail.

At that point, she said she told Bonnett to leave her alone and stay out of her life.

“I felt he ruined my life. I went from being a RN making six figures to going to jail. But he wouldn’t leave me alone,” Major said. “Preston Bonnett ruined my life prior to killing my sons.”

Major said Bonnett later contacted her after he and his then girlfriend, Tyla Griffin, got evicted from a home in Scranton.

He called Major and asked if they could move in.

Because she was homeless at one point too, she agreed to let them temporarily stay.

But she asked them to leave after only two days because Bonnett brought two of the dogs he breeds.

After kicking him out, Major found the device Bonnett used to forge credit cards. She said she turned the devices over too police.

Prosecutors say that was one of the things that enraged Bonnett and prompted him to set the fire.

The blaze killed Erik Dupree, 16, Devon Major, 12, and Ezekiel Major, 7.

Bonnett had previously threatened to burn down Major’s home and said he didn’t care if her kids burned up, Tyla Griffin admitted Thursday on the witness stand.

“At the time, I thought it was a joke. I never in a million years thought that would happen,” Griffin said.

Griffin, 29, who has a baby with Bonnett, said she still loves him and doesn’t believe he is capable of what he was accused of.

But, during cross examination, she seemed to indicate even she believes the evidence is overwhelming against him, leading to an objection from one of Bonnett’s defense attorneys, Mary Deady.

Judge Michael Vough overruled the objection and let Griffin answer.

“I don’t want to believe this. But the evidence is the evidence and that facts are the facts. I’m not a stupid person. You can only look at things and put things together and know right from wrong,” Griffin said.

Still, she’s hoping she’s wrong and Bonnett will be released from jail to finally meet his baby.

“If what I believe isn’t true, God knows that and he won’t go to jail,” Griffin said.

Griffin admitted she did not initially tell investigators that Bonnett threatened to burn down Major’s house.

The defense insinuated she only later made the claim to get leniency on several criminal cases against her for punching out Major’s window, making fake credit cards with Bonnett and drug possession.

Griffin said she and Bonnett were dating for about 10 months prior to the fire.

They temporarily lived with Major at her home 60 Oakwood Drive after getting evicted from an apartment in Scranton, she said.

They only lived there with Major for several days before she kicked them out without allowing them to take their belongings, Griffin said.

Griffin said Major was upset that Bonnett wasn’t paying any attention to her while Griffin was at work.

In the months afterward, Griffin said there would be days that Bonnett was irate Major for keeping his belongings.

“He just couldn’t let go of the material things, I guess. There would be days, I just want my stuff, I (expletive) hate her. I was like, ‘Babe, it’s not that big of a deal, it’s just clothes, an xBox.”

Bonnett is facing three counts each of arson and criminal homicide. His trial continues today.

Contact the writer: bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com,

570-821-2055, @cvbobkal

PITTSTON TWP. — The local airport had the best month for passenger departures in its history in April, airport records show.

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport also registered its third straight month with more than a 20 percent increase in departures from the same month last year. April departures also broke a monthly record for the ninth straight month.

The number of passengers departing the airport rose to 26,546 from 21,826 in April 2018, a 21.6% increase. In March, departures rose 41.2% to 25,431 in February, 20.4% to 19,664.

It was the first time more than 26,000 passengers departed the airport in a single month. March and April marked only the second time in the airport’s 72-year history that departures topped 25,000 in consecutive months. That first happened last July and August.

Airport director Carl Beardsley Jr. attributed the increases to American Airlines’ and United Airlines’ new and expanded service to Chicago.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; @BorysBlogTT on Twitter.

Scranton police have charged a former Scranton High School Student who spread vegetable oil on the gymnasium floor at Neil Armstrong Elementary School, removed his clothing and slid across the slippery surface.

Scranton police this morning announced they have arrested and charged Nathan James Linder, of 1428 N. Main Ave., with burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief for the incident late Wednesday night, which led the district to cancel class there on Thursday.

Linder, 21, entered the North Scranton school by forcing open a maintenance door on the front side of the building, according to police.

A video surveillance system captured Linder’s actions, which also included walking naked in the school carrying what appeared to be a container of milk taken from the school cafeteria. The incident happened after the maintenance crew completed its 2:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. shift on Wednesday, according to the district.

Shortly after distributing portions of the video to local media, School Resource Officer Patrolman John Burgette identified the male as a former Scranton High student.

After police and school officials determined there was no other vandalism in the building, the more than 600 students who attend the school returned to class today. District leaders plan to review safety and security procedures.

Unable to post $5,000 bail this morning, Linder was sent to Lackawanna County Prison.

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

GREENFIELD TWP. — Wind, and not a tornado, caused damage near Newton Lake on Wednesday.

A team from the National Weather Service visited the neighborhood along Wagner Boulevard and Pierce Road on Thursday to observe the damage, which included toppled trees and roof damage.

The team determined “sporadic winds” caused the damage, David Hahn, Lackawanna County director of emergency services, said he learned today.

The damage came on the second day of strong storms hitting the region. An EF-1 tornado with wind speeds over 90 mph touched down in Newton Twp. on Tuesday, the weather service determined.

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL