EXETER — A team of engineers who have been studying flood-control options for West Pittston to avert another flooding disaster like the one that hit in 2011 recommends building a levee to protect the borough.

The recommendation, revealed Wednesday night at a public meeting at Wyoming Area High School in Exeter, calls for a 1.6-mile flood-control barrier along Susquehanna Avenue — a combination of an earthen levee and a flood wall.

Costs estimates range between $47.7 million and $49.9 million.

A proposed earthen levee would begin near the River Shores housing development near the border of Exeter and be about 14 feet tall. The levee, which could include a walking trail atop like in Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre, would run to about halfway between the Water Street and Fort Jenkins bridges.

Because there wouldn’t be enough room to continue with an earthen level, the barrier would become a flood wall for a third of a mile before becoming an earth levee again near the intersection with York Avenue. The earth levee would continue to Clyde Street near where the Lackawanna River enters the Susquehanna River.

— BOB KALINOWSKI

Oct. 10, 1959

Fire destroys

popular night spot

Flames claimed Truesdale’s Silver Moon in the morning hours of Oct. 10, 1959.

According to police, Floyd Truesdale, owner of the popular night spot just off Oakford Road in Waverly, along with his wife and employees, were at work in the morning to make doughnuts. The oil from the doughnut fryer become overheated and ignited.

The flames spread and within minutes, the entire front of the building was engulfed.

Truesdale suffered burns to his face, hands and feet when the oil ignited. He was taken to the home of Dr. M.A. Kline of Dalton for treatment.

Once the blaze was put down by fire companies from Clarks Summit, Dalton and Justus, all that remained of the structure were two stone chimneys and a portion of a wall.

The Silver Moon was once the horse barn for the Belin Estate.

Boys find 68 bags of candy on tracks

Three boys, Joseph and Dennis Morgan and Patrick Wylan, made the discovery of a lifetime on Oct. 9, 1959. They found 68 bags filled with hard candy along the railroad tracks near Arthur Avenue.

The Lackawanna Railroad Police, the FBI and Scranton police are investigating how the candy came to be on the tracks. The working theory is that the candy was part of shipment from the A&P Food Store.

Mrs. William Morgan, a mother to Joseph and Dennis, told Scranton police “there’s eight children in my family and five in the Wylan family, and they sure would like that candy if the owners aren’t found.”

At the movies

“The FBI Story” at the Comerford, “Embezzled Heaven” at the Strand, “The Blue Angel” at the West Side, “Blue Denim” at the Roosevelt, “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” at the Globe and “South Pacific” at the Riviera.

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.

TUNKHANNOCK — The Tunkhannock Area School Board is still looking for buyers for a pair of elementary schools that were closed in the wake of consolidation following the 2017-18 school year.

Board President Phil Farr said the building and grounds committee opened a single bid Tuesday night for the former Evans Falls Elementary School near Beaumont. No bids were submitted for the former Mill City Elementary School near Lake Winola.

Both schools had been advertised for sale over the previous six weeks with an Oct. 4 bid submission deadline, and the district reserving the right to accept or reject any or all bids.

Brian and Steve Traver made an offer on the Evans Falls campus for $50,000, Farr announced at Wednesday night’s board meeting.

“We appreciate the bid, but the feeling is that there is more value there than what the bid represented,” Farr said.

Board member William Prebola made a motion to reject the bid, which passed 5-3.

“This was the first step in a process, and our responsibility to taxpayers is very important,” Prebola said. “I believe we should cast the net wider.”

The board’s building and grounds committee will next meet Oct. 21 at 6:30 p.m. in the district’s Administration Building to look at its options.

Contact the writer:

bbaker@wcexaminer.com, 570-836-2123 x33

Luzerne County Councilman Harry Haas will seek the Republican nomination for the 8th District U.S. Congressional seat next year.

If he wins a contested Republican primary, Haas will challenge incumbent Democrat Matt Cartwright.

Haas will formally announce his candidacy today at Leggio’s Italian Restaurant in Dallas. Doors open at 5 p.m. and the program starts at 5:30 p.m.

Haas, 44, lives in Kingston and teaches history at Dallas Middle School. He is married with two children.

Haas has served on county council since 2012, when the county’s home rule form of government took effect.

In a phone interview Wednesday, Haas said he plans to keep his council seat as he campaigns for Congress.

Serving at the county level hammered home the importance of government at the federal level, Haas said.

“In my time on council I’ve learned that a lot of what happens locally starts at the highest level of government,” he said.

Haas said he would explain his reasons for running and outline his plans in detail at today’s campaign announcement.

Haas will face at least one other candidate in the Republican primary.

Teddy Daniels, 44, a retired police officer and businessman from Wyoming, will also seek the Republican nomination. Daniels described himself as a pro-Trump conservative Republican when he announced his candidacy last week.

Cartwright, 58, lives in Moosic. He defeated Republican challenger John Chrin last year in the re-formed 8th District, which includes much of the former 17th District that Cartwright represented since 2013.

The 8th Congressional District includes Pike, Wayne and Lackawanna counties and portions of Luzerne and Monroe counties.

Contact the writer:

emark@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2117

MARRIAGE LICENSE

• Kelly Marie Doyle and Eugene Marion Szezorak Jr., both of Scranton.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

• Joseph A. and Mary Cuchara, Olyphant, to Angelo J. DePrimo and Danielle M. Weber-DePrimo, Old Forge; a property at 221 Dale Ave., Scranton, for $92,000.

• Henry Etienne, Asbury Park, N.J., to Devang and Rita D. Patel, Scranton; a property at 924 Taylor Ave., Scranton, for $33,000.

• William R. and Lois R. Kilmer to Sarahjean Seymour; a property in Elmhurst Twp. for $247,000.

• B & D Realty Inc., Jefferson Twp., to Brandon Evans, Moscow; a property at 209 Wilcrest Road, Roaring Brook Twp., for $154,000.

• Pamela DiGregorio, Arch­bald, to Kathryn Ann Kitcho, Scranton; a property at 110 Wisteria Lane, Archbald, for $190,000.

• Pamela Elaine Widzon, now by marriage Pamela Elaine Nolan, and Mark Nolan, Carbon­dale, to Gregory Antonio Harring­ton, Dunmore; a property at 14 Fern Ave., Carbondale, for $78,500.

• Salvatore Lomino, Barefoot Bay, Fla., to Desire and Alan Harry, Baldwin, N.Y.; a property at 82 Fallbrook St., Carbondale, for $92,900.

• Max Lubin and Kaitlyn R. Nothdurft, now by marriage Kaitlyn R. Lubin, Kingston, to Matthew James Batyko and Olena Y. Shemchuk, Lacka­wanna County, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property at 1319 Jefferson Ave., Dunmore, for $165,000.

• Christina Burrell, now known as Christina Lang, and David Colarusso, to Charles and Andrea Jackson; a property at 9 Havana St., Carbondale, for $100,000.

• William J. Villella, Jermyn, to Paul and Karen Konosky, Scott Twp.; a property at 152 Washington Ave., Jermyn, for $35,000.

• John and Kristin Meyers to Donald C. Baptiste; a property at 1418-1420 Academy St., Scranton, for $70,000.

• Karen A. Popovich O’Connor and William O’Connor, Scott Twp., to Barbara C. Kugler, Scott Twp.; a property in Scott Twp. for $145,000.

• Mona R. Griffer, South Abington Twp., to Joseph and Maureen Scolere, Clarks Sum­mit; a property at 35 Wyndham Road, South Abington Twp., for $270,000.

DIVORCE SOUGHT

• Richard Surridge, Taylor, v. Lydia Surridge, Scranton; married May 14, 2013, in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; John F. Kulick, attorney.

LAWSUIT

• Amie Burns, 504 Nichols St., Suite A, Clarks Summit, v. Abington Heights School District, 200 E. Grove St., Clarks Summit, seeking in excess of $50,000, together with interest thereon, costs, counsel fees, punitive damages and any other relief deemed just, for injuries suffered Jan. 11, in a fall on the defendant’s premises at 222 Noble Road, Clarks Summit; Dominic J. Mastri, attorney.

FEDERAL TAX LIENS

• Patrick J. McLaine, 704 Shirley Lane, Dunmore; $83,778.98.

• Jesse R. Swisher and Aimee E. Marcello, 1058 Green Holly Road, South Abington Twp.; $45,885.56.

BENCH WARRANTS

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

• Peter Lesavage, 805 E. Fourth St., Bethlehem; $6,459.

• Ronald Jacquet, 5928 Haverford Ave., Philadelphia; $1,332.

• Sabrina Helring, 118 E. Elm St., Dunmore; $6,182.58.

• Michael Young, 1097 Carmalt St., Apt. 2, Dickson City; $11,180.96.

• Christopher Pinko, 608 W. Locust St., Apt. 2, Scranton; $3,385.31.

• Steve Gray, 200 S. Main St., Archbald; $389.

• Luke Andrewlavage, 6 Oakwood Place, Scranton; $1,057.50.

• Jamont Henry, 425 Depot St., first floor, Scranton; $7,674.

• William Lunny, 300 Park Ave., Apt. 610, Wilkes-Barre; $988.24.

• Sabrina Lozano, 311 Elm St., Apt. 3, Reading; $1,316.57.

• Brian A. Loch, 240 N. Main Ave., Scranton; $1,255.

• Michael Laboranti, 1213 Capouse Ave., Scranton; $6,681.

• Catherine Kilanowski, 1191 Griffin Road, Roaring Brook Twp.; $4,261.50.

• Cheryl Kasper, 613 Green Ridge St., Apt. 3, Scranton; $535.

• John Hunt, 51 N. Fulton St. Rear, Wilkes-Barre; $10,433.87.

• Steven Allen Hunsinger Jr., 127 River St., Olyphant; $6,546.50.

• Edward Daniel Hudak, 420 Lackawanna Ave., Olyphant; $3,006.45.

• Trekwan Horton, 902 Sanderson Ave., Scranton; $1,486.

• Yasin Holmes, 317 E. Elm St., Scranton; $5,569.69.

• Courtney Hill, 1026 Poplar St., Scranton; $1,082.50.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/court

Dalton

Pasta dinner: Dalton United Methodist Church Youth Group all-you-can-eat pasta dinner, Oct. 19, 4-6 p.m., 125 S. Turnpike Road, $10/adults, $5/4-10 and free/4 and under; Chandra, 570-591-8259.

Honesdale

Women meet: Women’s Club of Honesdale meeting, Oct. 24, 7 p.m., Chamber of Commerce Visitor’s Center on Commercial Street, presentation: “The Delaware Hudson Gravity Railroad: Five Configurations” by S. Robert Powell, president of the Carbondale Historical Society and Museum. There will also be the annual holiday collection of hats and mittens for the Children’s Bureau.

Old Forge

School District

Shelter benefit: Old Forge High School Life Skills class “Fill the Truck” to support Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., high school, donations needed: dog food, cat food, cat litter and litter pans, food bowls, treats, towels, blankets, collars, leashes, grooming supplies, toys, paper and cleaning supplies; Anne McDonnell, 570-885-0475 or arbronyx@comcast.net.

Peckville

Benefit event: S’more Party to benefit Bread Basket of NEPA, Sunday, 5-6:30 p.m., lawn of Peckville United Methodist Church, 732 Main St., music and fellowship around the fire pit.

Scranton

Parkinson’s program: The Jewish Home of Eastern Pa. Dance for Parkinson’s with certified teacher Linn McDonald, Thursdays at 1:30 p.m., JCC, 601 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, classes are free to those with Parkinson’s Disease; Nicole Lipinski, RN, MS, ADC-MC,CDP, director of healthy aging, 570-344-6177, x1113.

Sterling

Rummage sale: Sterling United Methodist Church rummage sale, Friday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-noon, fellowship hall, 567 Sterling Road, $2 bag sale is Monday.

Taylor

Community event: St. Paul’s Independent Bible Church is hosting its Halloween alternative event with a Candy Land theme this year, Oct. 31, 5:30-9:30 p.m., 401 W. Grove St., indoor, Christ centered, family friendly event, open to all ages and free for everyone with special activities just for toddlers, walk the colored path and explore the Peppermint Forest, Lollipop Woods and Bubble Gum Lake, carnival style games at each stop and candy prizes, free refreshments; Amy, 570-689-5052.

Valley View School District

Murder mystery: Murder Mystery Event, Oct. 13, 5-9 p.m., the Highlands, enjoy a night of lite fare, glass of wine and local talent, $25/ticket, 50/50 and baskets, sponsored by the Valley View International Travel Club to support the Europe Student Trip 2020, costume optional; Facebook site: Save The Date-Murder Mystery Event.

Wayne County

Book sale: Manchester Community Library book sale, Oct. 19, 9 a.m.-noon, 3879 Hancock Highway (Route 191) in Equinunk; 570-224-8500.

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.

SCRANTON — The city zoning board gave a man trying to sell the unique, long-vacant “castle house” three months to produce a buyer before they decide whether it can be used as a three-unit apartment building.

Yury Abdurakhmanov — the brother of Russian artist Elena Flerova, who purchased the dilapidated house at 1021 Richmont St. in 2002 — appeared before the board Wednesday seeking a special exception to use the property as a multi-dwelling with three apartments. The Green Ridge house, known colloquially as “castle house” because of its turret, was a three-unit apartment building prior to Flerova’s ownership.

Abdurakhmanov told the board his relative would buy and complete repairs at the house, but only if the second and third floors could be rented as separate apartments. After hearing testimony from several residents concerned about the building housing three families, the board decided they needed more concrete assurance the house would sell before voting on the special exception.

The board then voted unanimously to give Abdurakhmanov until January to produce a buyer, or at least a written contract with a buyer, before voting on the special exception for three units.

A September city inspection of the Richmont Street house outlined numerous repairs needed to lift a condemnation notice there, including paint, electrical and plumbing work. Abdurakhmanov said after the meeting that his relative, who is currently in Russia, would complete necessary repairs after buying the building.

Scranton condemned the home in 2013 and issued a demolition order two years later, but the house has been spared the wrecking ball to this point.

Andrea Betress, a neighbor who opposes the house becoming a three-unit dwelling because of parking and other concerns, said she doesn’t want to see it demolished.

“It’s a beautiful building,” she said. “I would hate to see it torn down.”

The zoning board also:

n Granted Joseph Bonacci a variance to convert a dental office at 1344 N. Washington Ave. into a nanobrewery, a small-scale beer brewery and tasting room. Bonacci told the board he would not bottle beer on site, but instead sell beer via a tap system for patrons to enjoy in the tasting room or in growlers. The business will not be open later than 10 p.m., he said.

n Denied Girikrupa LLC a variance to convert a property at 305 Pittston Ave. into a two-unit apartment building, but granted the firm a separate variance to convert a different property at 424 S. Webster Ave. into a two-unit dwelling. The properties are owned by Rangesh Sha, who owns several properties in the neighborhood and addressed the board Wednesday.

n Announced a one-month continuance in the case of a convenience store/gas station project proposed at 1554 Sanderson Ave. in the city’s Green Ridge section.

Peter Spano’s pursuit of a variance to construct a 5,000-square-foot convenience store with six gas pumps there was likely to cause controversy, with members of the Green Ridge Neighborhood Association prepared to oppose the project. Several people left the meeting after learning the matter was continued.

In a Wednesday Facebook post, the neighborhood association said it is “opening a dialogue with (Spano) in an effort to come to an agreement on an acceptable use” of the property.

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

Timeline: ‘Castle house’ in Scranton

2002: Russian artist Elena Flerova bought the house at 1021 Richmont St. in Green Ridge. The house previously had been a multi-dwelling with three apartments. She never lived there, but continued to pay the mortgage. While it remained unoccupied for many years, it fell into disrepair. The city was unable to locate her and notices went unanswered.

2013: The city condemned the home and issued a demolition order two years later.

October 2016: The city scheduled the house for razing, but delayed after some neighbors advocated to spare it.

November 2016: The city tracked down the mortgage/lien holder of the property, JPMorgan Chase.

January 2017: An attorney for the bank said it hoped to obtain ownership and renovate the house.

June 2017: With no progress from the bank, the housing appeals board upheld the demolition order. Still, the city held off demolition, waiting for movement from the bank or owner.

2018: Flerova’s brother, Yury Abdurakhmanov, came forward, saying the bank had released the mortgage in September 2017 and Flerova granted him power of attorney to sell the house.

July 2018: The housing appeals board granted a six-month extension on a demolition order.

December 2018: Abdurakhmanov said he still intends to sell the house.

September: A city inspection of the house outlined numerous repairs needed to lift the condemnation notice.

Wednesday: The city zoning board grants Abdurakhmanov a three-month continuance to produce a buyer or contract before voting on a special exception to reuse the house as a three-unit apartment building.

CARBONDALE — Deb Nolan wants to change students’ uniforms in the Carbondale Area School District.

Reana Wasoski wants to help other parents raise money to provide after-school art classes to district elementary students and other educational initiatives.

Both district parents are able to express their frustrations and offer ideas to help the financially struggling district through informal board and parent meetings being held once a month at Carbondale Area.

Nolan and Wasoski met with board President Gary Smedley and assistant business manager Kimberly Michalek for more than an hour Wednesday. The group, which met for the third time this school year, is open to any parent.

“Most of the school board members don’t have kids in the schools,” said Nolan, who is also a district paraprofessional. “I work here and I have kids here. I get to share both sides.”

Michalek called the meet-up very informal. During the conversations, the board and the district can clear up any misconceptions, she said.

“We’re working together to find solutions,” said Nolan. “Without this communication, there’s a lot of back and forth on social media.”

Nolan joked that she’s told Smedley he’s wrong about issues.

“The community can tell them what’s realistic,” said Wasoski.

The district uses six building substitute teachers instead of outsourcing to a company like Kelly Services. With 12 teachers out recently, some elementary school students attended consolidated classes in the gym.

Smedley asked the parents if they were upset their children were in the gym and what the students reported back.

Wasoski’s child told her it was loud.

“Every school district should have a school board, community committee group,” said Nolan. “I really think this is going to benefit the parents, the school and the community.”

The group will meet again on Nov. 4, in the Carbondale Area High School student activities room.

For details, check the Carbondale Area School District’s Facebook page or the district website.

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

SCRANTON — A Taylor man who admitted sexually assaulting a 6-year-old girl will spend seven to 15 years in state prison.

Christopher Antoine Ray, 32, was sentenced Wednesday by Lackawanna County Judge Vito Geroulo for his May 31 guilty plea to involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child.

Taylor police arrested him March 19 and accused him of having sexual contact with the victim at a borough home between Feb. 1 and March 14. The investigation began after the girl disclosed the contact to a relative.

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

Ray, who addressed the court prior to sentencing, told Geroulo he was not much for talking but apologized to the victim and her family.

In handing down the sentence, Geroulo said Ray realizes the seriousness of his crime and recognizes his mental health issues are not an excuse for his behavior.

As he often does in sentencing defendants who have sexually assaulted children, the judge asked Ray to consider the impact his actions had on the victim.

“While we recognize contrition, we have to take steps to incapacitate you for some period of time,” Geroulo told him.

Under the sentence, Ray will be on probation for five years after he is released from prison. The judge also advised Ray that he faces lifetime registration as sex offender under the Adam Walsh Act.

Geroulo prohibited Ray from being in the presence of any individual under 18 without supervision and, at the request of Assistant District Attorney Bo Loughney, directed the defendant to have no contact with the victim.

Ray’s attorney, Doug Vanston, had asked the judge to consider a more lenient sentence of 44 to 66 months.

Contact the writer:

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9132

Scranton police arrested four teenagers Wednesday for making bomb threats that have plagued two city high schools for days, authorities said.

Two West Scranton High School boys, 14 and 15 years old, and two 15-year-old girls from Scranton High School each will be charged with felony counts of terroristic threats, Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell said. Since they are charged as juveniles, they will not be publicly identified by police. However, Powell and Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano said they hope that the arrests serve as a deterrent to others.

“These false reports will not be tolerated,” Powell said.

Several of the threats were made through the anonymous Safe2Say Something app — an anti-violence program run by the state attorney general’s office that was misused to anonymously report bomb threats over the last several days.

The charges cover two threats made at Scranton High and three threats made at West Scranton since last week.

The most recent threat, made Wednesday morning, delayed classes at West Scranton until 9 a.m.

No one has been charged in that case yet. Investigators are awaiting documents needed to help identify that individual, Graziano said.

“I want to thank the Scranton Police Department, the district attorney’s office, and the Office of the Attorney General for their efficient and professional investigation of the school threats,” Melissa McTiernan, Scranton School District acting assistant superintendent, said in a statement. “I also want to thank our students, staff, administration and school board for their cooperation and patience. I believe I can speak for the entire SSD community that we are all ready to get back to the business of educating our students.”

With cooperation from the state attorney general’s office, investigators were able to piece together who was making the calls using court orders and search warrants to discover IP addresses, Graziano said.

“Pennsylvania students deserve a safe place to learn, free from the threat of violence— whether legitimate or not — and we are proud this collaboration was able to restore that,” the attorney general’s office said in a statement.

Video surveillance played a crucial role in finding the two girls accused of scrawling threats on a wall at Scranton High School.

Investigators interviewed suspects at Scranton Police Headquarters on Wednesday afternoon.

Powell declined to say what, if anything, the teenagers said because it remains an ongoing case. Graziano also declined to comment. The teens did not have lawyers by late Wednesday afternoon.

Bomb threats made recently at schools in Scranton, Dunmore and Susquehanna County led to evacuations and, in some cases, daylong school closures. Searches turned up no evidence of explosives, officials said.

“These are serious offenses,” Graziano said. “They disrupt the lives of many people. We’re going to investigate every single one ... (It) may take a few days, may take a week, but they’re going to be held accountable.”

SARAH HOFIUS HALL, staff writer, contributed to this report.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com,

570-348-9144;

@jkohutTT on Twitter

A woman and her pets escaped injury in a fire that destroyed a Dunmore home early Wednesday.

Borough firefighters responded around 3:36 a.m. to 318 S. Blakely St. and encountered heavy flames on the first floor of the two-story single-family house when they arrived, Fire Chief Chris DeNaples said.

The tenant who lived in the home got out safely with her seven pets after she was alerted by a smoke detector, he said.

The American Red Cross is providing emergency assistance to the woman for lodging, food and clothing after the fire, regional communications director Dave Skutnik said.

Crews knocked the bulk of the fire down fairly quickly, DeNaples said, but firefighters remained on the scene until around 8:30 a.m.

“There were a lot of hot spots that needed a little more attention, so we were on the scene quite a while,” said DeNaples, who declared the building a total loss.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury while battling the flames, he said.

The fire closed South Blakely Street to traffic for several hours.

The cause was not immediately determined, DeNaples said. Dunmore Fire Marshal Capt. Jack Sohns was investigating.

The house is only a block from the fire department, meaning firefighters were there quickly, but DeNaples said the biggest thing working in the occupant’s favor was a functioning smoke detector.

“The smoke detector did its job,” he said. “She was alerted by it and able to evacuate the structure without sustaining any injuries.”

Contact the writer:

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9132

SCRANTON — Robert Morris Elementary School will be closed today after a piece of the ceiling fell in the library.

The school is having precautionary air quality tests done, according to school officials.

— STAFF REPORT

A Susquehanna County man is facing charges after state police said he raped a woman Monday at a co-worker’s home in Roaring Brook Twp. after a night of drinking and watching football.

Mico Lorenzo Reaves, 27, 2244 Highland Road, New Milford, confessed to sexually assaulting the 25-year-old woman after she passed out, police said.

“I did it,” Reaves told police. “I’m going to jail and I’m going for a long time.”

Around 1 a.m., the homeowner saw the victim lying on the couch with her knees on the ground, and her pants and underwear around her ankles. Reaves was sitting next to the woman, according to the criminal complaint.

The homeowner, who was not identified by police, confronted Reaves.

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

The victim sought treatment at the hospital, where police interviewed her. She said she spoke to Reaves about the NFL and another woman late Sunday night, and the conversation turned odd when he called her beautiful and touched her inappropriately, according to the criminal complaint.

The woman told Reaves no, police said. She didn’t remember anything that happened after she vomited and passed out, but was sore the next morning and had several bruises on her inner thighs, according to the complaint.

When the homeowner confronted Reaves again over the phone, he was apologetic.

“It’s not your fault,” Reaves said, according to the criminal complaint. “I’m sorry about the situation and I would be frustrated and stressed about it, too, if the shoe was on the other foot.”

Reaves was charged Wednesday with felony charges of rape and aggravated indecent assault, and a misdemeanor charge of indecent assault.

He remains at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Oct. 16.

Contact the writer:

rtomkavage@times-tribune.com; 570-348-9100 x5365;

@rtomkavage on Twitter

Editor's Note: The above article was changed to correct the mispelling of New Milford.

SCRANTON — City Hall and Lackawanna County’s offices and courts will be closed Monday for Columbus Day.

Scranton City Council will not meet Monday night. Council’s next meeting will be 6 p.m. Oct. 21 at City Hall. The County of Lackawanna Transit System’s administrative offices also will be closed Monday, though COLTS busses will operate on normal schedules. The customer service window at the Lackawanna Transit Center will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

All United States Postal Service offices will be closed.

— JEFF HORVATH

SCRANTON — A water main break disrupted service to about 20 Pennsylvania American Water customers in the Keyser Valley.

The break happened Thursday morning in a six-inch main at Frink Street and Keyser Avenue, Pennsylvania American spokesman Susan Turcmanovich said in an email.

The utility expected repairs to be completed by Thursday afternoon, she said.

— DAVID SINGLETON

Scranton police arrested another West Scranton High School student Thursday and charged the teenage boy with a felony for anonymously reporting a bomb threat at his high school this week, Police Chief Carl Graziano said.

The arrest of the 14-year-old high school student marks the fifth teenager charged in an ongoing investigation of bomb threats that plagued Scranton and West Scranton high schools for days.

On Wednesday, police charged two 15-year-old girls from Scranton High School and two West Scranton boys — 14 and 15 — with making threats at their respective schools. Police are not naming the juveniles.

Police believe that the teenager arrested Thursday is “connected” to the two West Scranton boys charged Wednesday, Graziano said.

“Over the course of the last day, we got more information on (his) involvement,” Graziano said.

Police said they believe he made one of the anonymous reports at West Scranton on Monday, when the high school had to evacuate as police searched for an explosive device that ultimately did not exist.

Many of the anonymous reports were made through the Safe2Say Something app — an anti-violence program run by the state attorney general’s office that was misused to disrupt school. The 14-year-old arrested Thursday used the Safe2Say Something app, police said.

Police may make more arrests as their investigation continues. Wednesday morning’s bomb threat at West Scranton remains under investigation. Investigators are still waiting on court order paperwork to identify who made that threat, Graziano said.

Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9144; @jkohutTT on Twitter

The Diocese of Scranton today placed two more clergymen on its list of individuals who have been accused of sexually abusing children.

With the addition of the Rev. Albert E. Oldfield and the Rev. James J. Gormley, S.J., both of whom are deceased, the number of names on the diocese’s list of “credibly accused individuals” now stands at 83.

The diocese said the additions are a fulfillment of a pledge by Bishop Joseph C. Bambera to be open and transparent in the way the diocese handles accusations of child sexual abuse following the release of the statewide investigating grand jury report in 2018.

“As a result, the diocese announces two names have to added to its list of clergy that have a credible claim of sexual abuse against a minor,” the diocese said in a statement.

They are the first new names on the list since last year.

Check back for updates.

Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com. 570-348-9132

SCRANTON — TecBRIDGE LLC received a $50,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission for a project aimed at bolstering the business incubation environment in Northeast Pennsylvania.

The initiative is among 10 projects across Pennsylvania that are sharing more than $8 million in ARC funding that targeted areas affected by the decline of coal economies, state officials said.

TecBRIDGE will use the grant to assess the incubator climate and assets in Lackawanna, Luzerne, Wayne, Monroe and Schuylkill counties and identify proven programs that can be replicated in communities to strengthen the regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Based in Scranton, tecBRIDGE is a regional consortium that promotes entrepreneurism.

— STAFF REPORT

WILKES-BARRE — A city man who carjacked a vehicle at knife point outside a drug treatment center earlier this week was captured after a high-speed chase early Thursday, according to police.

Kyle Robert Gontz, 20, of 366 S. River St., is accused of stealing the vehicle outside the CleanSlate Outpatient Addiction Medicine center at 100 Wilkes-Barre Blvd. on Tuesday afternoon.

The victim told police that while he was inside the facility he heard Gontz provide his name to the staff. When he left the facility, the victim got into his red Chevrolet Cobalt and Gontz came up to the door holding a knife, saying, “get the (expletive) out or move over.” 

Gontz — whose Facebook profile picture appears to depict him taking LSD while pointing a pistol at his own head — was “very agitated” and physically shaking, the victim told police.

The complaint says the victim was afraid for his life and complied by scooting over to the passenger seat. Gontz got behind the wheel and drove off, heading up Coal Street to Wilkes-Barre Twp. Boulevard, police said.

Fearing what would happen if he remained in the car, the victim jumped out of the vehicle at Spring and Kidder streets, according to police. He called 911 to report the theft and subsequently identified Gontz in a photo lineup, police said.

Wilkes-Barre police issued an alert for the stolen vehicle, and Kingston police spotted it at the Turkey Hill at 356 Pierce St. around 12:35 a.m. Thursday. When an officer tried to box in the car, Gontz drove over a curb and sped off down Pierce Street, according to police.

Officers were able to block the vehicle on Reynolds Street, prompted Gontz to jump out and run, according to the charges. As Gontz fled the area, he tripped over a plant cart and a decorative ceramic duck in one of the yards, police said.

Police captured Gontz and found him in possession of bandanas, gloves, 15 rounds of 9mm ammunition, a stolen, loaded 9mm Taurus pistol and five bags of methamphetamine, according to the complaint.

During questioning, Gontz told police he knew the weapon was stolen, police said.

“Yeah the gun is stolen, but I didn’t steal it,” the complaint quotes Gontz as saying. “I stole it from the person who stole it.”

Gontz also reported he injured his hand when he tripped over the ceramic duck, saying he had punched a wall three days earlier and thought he may have broken it then, police said.

Police charged Gontz with robbery, theft, receiving stolen property, illegal possession of a firearm, fleeing police, resisting arrest, flight to avoid apprehension, drug possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Magisterial District Judge James M. Dixon arraigned Gontz on the charges Thursday morning and ordered him held at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility without bail, citing the danger to society and Gontz being a flight risk.

A preliminary hearing was set for Oct. 23.