SCRANTON — Records provided by the city’s Department of Public Works director may explain more than $1,300 in diesel fuel charged to a single employee’s taxpayer-funded gas card on two days exactly one year apart.

At a Monday caucus, DPW Director Dennis Gallagher furnished city council with a pair of invoices for 7,500 gallons of diesel fuel delivered to the DPW on Jan. 22, 2018, and Jan. 22, 2019, respectively. Those are the same days DPW Foreman Pat McMullen’s gas card was used to buy more than $1,316 worth of diesel fuel, which Gallagher said was to fuel city garbage trucks.

The Times-Tribune discovered the diesel charges during a broader review of billing records that revealed errors, discrepancies and a lack of city oversight of gas card usage. The newspaper’s reporting prompted new written policy and provoked scrutiny by city council, which asked Gallagher to address questions at the caucus session.

Gallagher said the department didn’t immediately have access to the diesel on the days it was delivered. Unable to tap its own supply, the DPW used the gas card to fuel the garbage trucks, he said.

The director could not account for a $25.48 non-fuel purchase charged to McMullen’s card Jan. 22, 2018, and said he has no way to track which employees had access to McMullen’s personal identification number.

Gallagher maintains that, to the best of his knowledge, no DPW employee purchased personal gas with a taxpayer-funded card.

“I’m just taking people at their word,” Gallagher said, noting he didn’t independently analyze past gas card bills before signing off on them and sending them to the city controller’s office.

Gallagher also denied having a handshake agreement

with former Mayor Bill Courtright allowing him to use his gas card as he saw fit.

“I wouldn’t do that,” he said.

In a September statement to Mayor Wayne Evans, city Fire Chief Patrick DeSarno said he had an inferred agreement of that nature with Courtright’s administration. DeSarno acknowledged that was a “wrong-headed assumption” made without “malice or deceit,” and recently determined via a self-audit that he owes the city $559.19 for gas used for personal travel over the past 5½ years.

Council members thanked Gallagher for attending the caucus and said they appreciated his answers, though the city will pursue an outside audit of gas card use.

With a 3-1 vote, council introduced legislation Monday to award a contract for that audit to Moretti CPA of Old Forge, one of three firms that submitted proposals. Moretti’s proposal includes a $9,675 estimate for the audit.

Council President Pat Rogan voted no, arguing the audit should be conducted internally by the city controller’s office. Councilman Tim Perry was absent.

“I definitively feel better after speaking to (Gallagher), but I’m still anxious to review the results of the audit,” Councilwoman Mary Walsh Dempsey said.

City budget

Council also introduced an ordinance appropriating funds for Mayor Wayne Evans’ proposed 2020 city budget. Monday’s introduction constitutes the first of three votes needed to adopt the $116 million spending plan.

The budget Evans proposed Friday would drop Scranton’s annual $300 trash fee to $250 and collect it through property tax bills. Property taxes and underlying millages will remain the same next year, but officials believe levying the trash fee in the property tax bill will boost collection. Vacant buildings will not be charged the trash fee.

Property tax bills have a higher rate of collection, 90%, than the collection rate of prior garbage bills, about 65%, Evans said last week.

The new garbage fee would have to be authorized under separate legislation that the administration expects to present to council for enactment before the end of the year.

Acknowledging he had yet to thoroughly review the proposed budget, Councilman Bill Gaughan expressed concern Monday with apparent one-time revenue sources, salary hikes and other elements of the fiscal blueprint.

Councilman Kyle Donahue voted against introducing the budget ordinance, arguing council should wait until it receives the city’s most recent audit.

Council will hold a caucus on the proposed budget Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. at City Hall.

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

In other business, council:

Advanced an ordinance updating the city’s list of historic properties by creating a local downtown historic district. If approved, the ordinance would expand the list of historic properties to include all buildings located within the city’s central business district. It would also amend the process for the legislative review of recommendations made by the city’s historical architecture review board. Council President Pat Rogan voted no, reiterating concerns the legislation would require owners of any downtown property to go before the review board if they want to improve or alter their buildings.

Advanced an ordinance regulating city clubs that allow patrons to carry in and consume their own alcohol, often allowing the businesses to avoid the state’s 2 a.m. closing time for typical bars. Among other restrictions, the legislation would bar these clubs from operating between 2-8 a.m. and prohibit anyone under 21 from entering without a parent or legal guardian. It would also prohibit the clubs from conducting business without displaying hours of operation and a valid city occupancy permit.

Approved legislation to use about $127,000 in unspent federal funding to build a two-unit rental house or to acquire and rehabilitate two vacant houses in the city for low-income housing. The money was awarded through the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development. Council tabled the legislation last month.

Approved legislation to contract with Allentown-based Barry Isett & Associates to review the city’s embattled Licensing, Inspections and Permits Department for efficiency and best practices. Council announced the term of the contract changed from two years to one before approving the legislation with a 3-1 vote. Donahue voted no, arguing that some form of a LIP review should happen but the city should leave its options open for the time being. The review should cost around $91,000, Councilman Bill Gaughan said.

— JEFF HORVATH

Dickson City

Lighting ceremony: Dickson City Christmas Light and Banner Association sixth annual town lighting ceremony, Sunday, 2-6 p.m., Municipal Building, Enter­prise Street, featuring two horse-drawn sleigh and carriage rides, Damian the Magician, arts and crafts for the children, holiday movies, caroling, a lighting ceremony for the 14-foot outdoor holiday tree, announcement of the coloring contest winners, a visit by Gretchen the Elf, Tux and Santa Claus, gifts for the children and refreshments for all, free.

Lackawanna County

Thanksgiving meal: Veterans free Thanksgiving meal, Satur­day, 9 a.m.-8 p.m., United Bap­tist Church, 213 S. Main Ave., free meal, hygiene packages, clothing items, haircuts, takeout food containers, canned goods.

Book sale: Scranton Public Library used book sale, Dec. 3-6, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and Dec. 8, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Marketplace at Steamtown, second floor outside Crunch Fitness, fiction and nonfiction books, children’s books, DVDs, CDs and audio books, Dec. 7-8, guests can fill a friend’s bag for $5, handicap accessible; Tina Thomas, 570-348-3000.

Retirees meet: AARP Chapter 3731 Northeast Pennsylvania meeting, Dec. 2, 1:30 p.m., Asbury Methodist Church, 720 Delaware St., Scranton, winners for November raffle will be announced, entertainment and refreshments, reservations close Dec. 3 for the Christmas party, to be held Dec. 7, noon-3 p.m., at Fiorelli’s, 1501 Main St., Peckville, nonmembers welcome, collecting unwrapped toys for Toys for Tots, new officers and directors will be installed and entertainment will be provided along with a surprise guest.

Mayfield

Bookmobile visit: Lackawanna County Bookmobile, Dec. 2, 1:15-1:45 p.m., Municipal Build­ing, 739 Penn Ave.

Firefighters meet: Whitmore/Mayfield hose companies meetings, Dec. 10, 7:30 and 8 p.m., respectively, company buildings.

Legion meeting: American Legion Post 610 meeting, Dec. 2, 7 p.m.

Olyphant

Neighborhood Watch: Olyphant Neighborhood Watch meeting, Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Borough Building, Willow Avenue.

Fund drive: Liberty Fire Depart­ment 26-6 annual fund drive running through November, mail or drop off donations at light office, donations support the fire company operating expenses throughout the year.

Pittston

Craft sale: Handmade holiday craft sale, Dec. 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Pittston Memorial Library, 47 Broad St., handmade crafts, bake sale, wooden sign painting with cup of paint, light refreshments.

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.

Lackawanna County marked the beginning of the holiday season Monday with the arrival of the county’s Christmas tree.

Crews erected the 30-foot concolor fir, grown by Chambers’ Christmas Trees in Carbondale, on Courthouse Square in Scranton about 10:30 a.m.

The tree will remain at Flag Plaza on the North Washington Avenue side of the square through the holidays.

Scranton police charged three people with felonies for severely beating a man in West Side.

One of them — Kyler Kenyatta Marshall, 22, 329 14th Ave. — remained at large Monday. The others —Nicholette Minich, 24, 229 Hollister Ave., and Marshall’s younger brother, Corey Marshall, 19, 154 Lawrence St., Wilkes-Barre — were jailed on $10,000 bail.

The three are charged with beating Adam Clark early Nov. 4 in the 1000 block of West Elm Street, according to a series of criminal complaints.

Authorities arrived to find Kyler Marshall had been slashed across his abdomen as. Clark appeared to have been knocked out and suffered a number of facial injuries.

Police received conflicting reports of what happened.

The three who were ultimately charged described Clark as the aggressor they needed to subdue.

Footage from a nearby home security camera told a different story.

The footage showed that Kyler Marshall appeared to start the fight after Clark used a racial slur.

Police later interviewed Clark. His mother explained to investigators that her son is autistic and is diagnosed with Asperger’s syndrome. Clark’s mother told investigators that her son does not understand the racial slur is degrading, instead thinking he is befriending people, according to police.

Clark told police he went to Walmart to buy Pokemon cards, coffee and energy drinks and believed three people were following him.

Once Clark made the slur, Kyler Marshall came after him, and Clark drew a knife.

Fighting ensued. Corey Marshall and Minich, who were walking with Kyler Marshall, joined in, police said.

The three are charged with aggravated assault, simple assault, conspiracy and recklessly endangering another person. Kyler Marshall is also charged with making a false report for telling police that Clark attacked him.

Preliminary hearings are scheduled Monday for Corey Marshall and Minich.

Anyone has information on the whereabouts of Kyler Marshall should call either 911 or Detective Sgt. David Mitchell at 570-558-8415.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9144;

@jkohutTT on Twitter

Sometimes, there is victory even in defeat. Dupont’s Brandon Matthews proved that Sunday when he finished runner-up at a PGA Tour Latinoamérica event in Buenos Aires and made national headlines in doing so.

Facing off against Ricardo Celia in the third playoff hole of the Argentine Open, Matthews watched Celia drain a 30-foot putt for birdie before attempting his own 8-foot putt.

At stake, in addition to the trophy, was a spot in the 2020 British Open at Royal St. George’s, one of the PGA’s four majors.

The silence was so loud, Matthews said, it was deafening.

“When there’s any sound ... the extent of it is much greater than everyone realizes except if you’re in that position,” Matthews said.

A fan yelled during Matthews’ backstroke, causing the 25-year-old to flinch and miss his shot.

“At the time when I missed the putt, I was initially frustrated because I thought it was an intentional yell from a man in the gallery,” Matthews said.

Matthews went to the locker room in disbelief, where an apologetic tournament director approached him and explained the interruption had come from a middle-aged man with Down syndrome.

“I was actually upset at myself for getting

upset at the situation and not realizing what happened sooner,” Matthews said.

As someone who grew up around people with special needs and has a “very soft spot” for them in his heart, Matthews said, he immediately sought to make some good come out of a bad situation.

“I went out, found the guy, gave him a big hug, signed a ball and a glove for him and wanted to make sure he didn’t feel bad about the situation,” Matthews said. “I wanted to make sure he left with a smile on his face.

“That was as good, if not better, than a win for me.”

The PGA Tour Latinoamérica Media Team captured the encounter in photographs that soon appeared on USA Today, Yahoo!, Golf Digest, Golf Channel, “Today Show” and other news sources.

There were plenty of reactions across social media, too, with various Twitter and Facebook users saying they are now “pulling for Brandon Matthews,” who is “winning at life” and shows that “just a little kindness goes a long way.”

Brandon’s father, Ted Matthews, said he “couldn’t be prouder” of how his son handled the incident.

“That’s the way he was brought up,” Ted Matthews said.

Brandon was also raised to work hard and to adjust when things don’t go your way on the golf course, according to Ted.

“He gets frustrated, obviously, it’s a golf thing,” Ted said. “Adversity-wise, he’s learned to have a very short memory. ‘OK, this is what happened, how do I correct it?’ He doesn’t dwell on things very much.”

Brandon Matthews on Monday had nothing but good things to say about Celia, who tied Matthews with a four-day score of 11-under-par 269 and made four birdies in his last five holes to force the playoff.

“He played fantastic golf,” Matthews said. “Props to him. He went out there and won the golf tournament. He wasn’t anything short of fantastic with the way he played.”

While he would have preferred to win Sunday’s championship, there is a silver lining in that Matthews’ two most recent finishes — tied for fifth at the Neuquen Argentina Classic, second at the Argentine Open — earned him full status on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica next season.

After winning a PIAA state championship in 2010 for Pittston Area, Matthews had a standout career at Temple before turning pro in 2016.

Contact the writer:

mbufano@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2060;

@CVBufano on Twitter

HONESDALE, Pa. (AP) — A bagel shop manager in New York drove to Pennsylvania to return a key fob that a customer had left in his shop on Long Island.

Diana Chong drove off from Bagels 101 on Saturday with her family for a pre-Thanksgiving celebration in Honesdale. After parking in Pennsylvania, she realized she had left the fob, needed to restart her car, at the store 185 miles (298 kilometers) away.

Manager Vinny Proscia offered to ship the fob, but they couldn’t find a service. So Proscia decided to deliver it.

Chong tells Newsday she insisted he accept $200 for gas and tolls and a gift card.

Proscia says he got stopped for speeding on the return trip, but the officer let him go after he showed a thank-you card from Chong.

WILKES-BARRE — A city woman was scheduled to be arraigned Tuesday on charges alleging she beat and verbally abused two adopted children for years.

Carmen Inocente, 54, of 245 Madison St., is accused of beating a 14-year-old boy with a stick and a horse whip and cutting off the hair of his 16-year-old sister because she was angered the girl was in possession of a cellphone.

According to the complaint, the children told investigators in August that Inocente, their aunt, adopted them when they were young children, around 5 and 6 years old. The abuse was ongoing from that time, police said.

The boy told police Inocente had beat him on multiple occasions, and that he had to wear long-sleeved shirts to school to cover his bruises, according to the complaint.

One time when Inocente badly scratched him — causing a two-inch scar that remains on the right side of his face — the boy stayed home from school for a week, police said.

The children reported that in addition to the physical abuse, Inocente cursed at them in Spanish and said she “never should have adopted them,” the complaint alleges.

The abuse came to light after Inocente went “crazy” on the girl one night in late March, police said.

After finding the girl in possession of a cellphone a friend had given her, Inocente began beating the girl because she did not want her socializing, the complaint alleges.

The next morning, Inocente continued assaulting the girl, forcing her onto a bed and cutting her hair as punishment, police said. When the children’s uncle came home and saw what was happening, he called 911, but Inocente told the children to hide in the attic so they couldn’t talk to police, the complaint alleges.

Seeking to get the friend suspended for providing the girl a cellphone, Inocente then brought the girl to school, despite her being embarrassed because her hair was a “mess,” police said.

Court documents show the children were removed from the home after that incident.

Police charged Inocente with aggravated assault and two counts each of child endangerment and simple assault. Magisterial District Judge Thomas F. Malloy Sr. was scheduled to arraign her on the charges Tuesday morning.

A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 5.

EXETER — Two Wright Twp. parents who were so drunk they could barely stand are facing child endangerment charges after allegedly taking their two children in a ride in a tractor trailer that was reported to be “hitting a bunch of stuff,” according to police.

Police say they first contacted Franklin Pitts, 55, and Ariel Dorris, 27, both of 307 Mary St., around 4:20 p.m. Monday, when they were observed to be so drunk they could not stand up straight.

Officers were then dispatched to a report that a tractor-trailer was heading down Penn Avenue, a narrow side street, and nearly hitting parked vehicles around 5:30 p.m., the complaint says.

Police saw the truck attempting to turn onto Mundy Court, hitting a parked car and a utility police, according to the complaint. 

Officers briefly followed the truck until Dorris got out carrying two young children, ages 1 and 2, police said.

Pitts refused orders to get out of the truck and had to be pulled out and handcuffed, according to the complaint. Pitts struggled with officers as they tried to place him into custody, at which point Dorris — who was carrying two bags containing open alcohol containers in addition to her children — approached and began screaming for them to let Pitts go, police said.

Dorris later fell off a porch while holding her son, causing the boy to hit the ground, the complaint says.

While police were taking Pitts for a blood-alcohol test, Pitts began saying, “I’m fitting have you dead, all you (expletives),” according to the complaint. Pitts then began spitting on the driver, police said.

Pitts refused to submit to blood-alcohol testing at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, police said.

Police charged Pitts with making terroristic threats, driving under the influence, child endangerment, resisting arrest, institutional vandalism, reckless endangerment, public drunkenness, disorderly conduct and possessing an open alcohol container in a vehicle.

Dorris was charged with child endangerment, disorderly conduct and obstructing justice.

Magisterial District Judge Donald L. Whittaker arraigned the pair Monday night and set bail at $100,000 for Pitts and $75,000 for Dorris. They were being held at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility with a preliminary hearing set for Dec. 19.

State Sen. John Yudichak announced Tuesday he is leaving the Democrat party to become a registered independent.

“Registering as an independent is the only way I can faithfully and fully serve the people of Northeastern Pennsylvania who have blessed me with the opportunity to serve them,” Yudichak said in a statement.

Yudichak was first elected to the state House of Representatives in 1998 and served five terms. In 2010, he was elected to the state Senate to fill the seat of longtime Sen. Ralph Musto.

In recent years, Yudichak has sparred with Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf over the governor’s plans to close State Correctional Institution at Retreat in Newport Twp. and the White Haven Center in White Haven.

SCRANTON — Shawn Christy became a “one man crime wave” who stole several vehicles and broke into homes and businesses to avoid capture on charges he threatened President Donald Trump and others, a federal prosecutor said in opening statement today.

Christy’s “odyssey” of crime began on May 30, 2018, when he failed to show for trial on assault charges in Schulykill County, Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Sempa said. Over the next three months, he travelled from Pennsylvania, to New York, Kentucky and Maryland as he eluded a massive manhunt. He was captured in Ohio on Sept. 21, 2018.

Sempa said evidence against Christy will include surveillance videos of him stealing vehicles as well as notes Christy left at several places he broke into. Prosecutors also have recorded phone conversations from a prison in Ohio in which Chirsty “bragged” of his escapades to two admirer who came to visit, Sempa said.

Christy is representing himself against 11 charges filed in connection with his flight from prosecution after he allegedly posted online threats against Trump, Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli and other law enforcement officials.

In a five-minute opening statement, Christy said he intends to “question possible illegal acts” committed by law enforcement. He said he does not know if he will call any witnesses, but will show the government destroyed or lost evidence and will question the credibility of witnesses.

Check back for updates.

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

SCRANTON

The Lackawanna County commissioners and prison board meetings originally scheduled for Wednesday have been rescheduled to Nov. 27, the day before Thanksgiving.

The new meeting date likely will be the commissioners’ last opportunity to vote on the county’s 2020 budget, which must be adopted by Dec. 1. The county is closed Nov. 28 and 29 for the holiday. Next year’s budget does not raise property taxes.

Both meetings will be held in the fifth-floor conference room of the county government center at the former Globe store, 123 Wyoming Ave. The commissioners meeting begins at 10 a.m. and the prison board meeting starts at 1:30 p.m.

— JEFF HORVATH

CARBONDALE

Carbondale Police found the man wanted for raping a city woman in September as he was walking up Main Street late this morning, Chief Brian Bognatz said.

Justin Brown, 24, will be arraigned on charges of rape, sexual assault and other related counts.

Police said Brown sneaked into a woman’s apartment early Sept. 13 and raped her once she discovered him hiding in her living room.

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

Brown threatened to kill her family if she made any noise.

Brown, who police have said is homeless, went on the run. He was found today at about 11 a.m.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

Ending bullying will take education, advocacy and deterrents, local legislators said Tuesday.

The lawmakers announced a bipartisan effort to define bullying in the state crimes code, which could then lead to upgraded offenses and steeper penalties — and hopefully, fewer bullies.

“To the victims of bullying, we hear you, we stand with you,” said Rep. Kyle Mullins, D-112, Blakely, who is leading efforts in the House. “To the bullies, enough is enough.”

Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, who introduced a bill in the Senate, said the lawmakers met with anti-bullying advocates and prosecutors to look for solutions.

The Pennsylvania Crimes Code does not define bullying, which leaves authorities no option other than to categorize the behavior under four different offenses: disorderly conduct, harassment, simple assault or terroristic threats.

Under the companion bills in the House and Senate, the crime of chronic bullying would be clearly defined as “the intent to place an individual or group in fear of personal injury or property damage; or the intent to harass, annoy, or alarm an individual or group.” It also would provide for offenses to be upgraded to one degree higher than if bullying had not been a factor.

“Our law and crime code are antiquated,” said Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell, who attended Tuesday’s announcement in Harrisburg. “Bullying has been around... forever. But, with cellphones and social media, it’s been taken to a whole new level.”

The bills still must make it out of committees and face votes from the House and Senate before needing a signature from the governor. Bullying sometimes drives people to suicide, and educators, law enforcement and legislators must work together, they said.

“This is a critical and fundamental first step in deterrence,” Mullins said of his bill.

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

The Gin Blossoms are coming to Scranton.

Montage Mountain Resorts, 1000 Montage Mountain Road, announced today that it will host the band for Mountainfest 2020, set for Saturday, March 7. Mountainfest activities, including pond skimming registration, start at 11 a.m., and the Gin Blossoms will perform at 5 p.m.

In addition to the all-ages show, the event also will include costume pond skimming, indoor and outdoor bars, giveaways, skiing, snowtubing and more. It will take place outdoors on the snow and will be held no matter the weather, so guests are advised to dress appropriately.

Mountainfest lift tickets and snowtubing tickets include entry to the concert, and lift tickets are valid for specific times.

2020 winter season members get in to Mountainfest for free. Several ticket options are available: $30 for general admission concert entry, $30 for a three-hour snowtubing session with general admission concert entry, $35 for youth (ages 5 to 17) night lift ticket (valid from 4 to 10 p.m.) with general admission concert entry, $39 for adult (ages 18 and older) night lift ticket (valid from 4 to 10 p.m.) with general admission concert entry, $54 for youth (ages 5 to 17) all-day lift ticket (valid from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.) with general admission concert entry, $67 for adult (ages 18 and older) all-day lift ticket (valid from 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.) with general admission concert entry, and $149 for the VIP premium access package with all-day (8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.).lift ticket or snowtubing ticket, complimentary equipment rental, a drink ticket, covered viewing area, VIP bar access, heat lamps, and a Mountainfest T-shirt, poster, and laminate. A limited amount of VIP tickets are available.

Ski or snowboard equipment rental costs $35.

Founded in Arizona, the Gin Blossoms rose to national prominence in the 1990s, releasing such hits as “Hey Jealousy,” “Follow You Down” and “Til I Hear It From You.” The band recently released the album “Mixed Reality.”

For tickets, visit momtn.com/mountainfest. Head to the Facebook event page for more information.

An armed security team contracted by a Pike County woman to take over a community association and reclaim the land as her own raided the association’s clubhouse Monday and took a security officer hostage, state police at Blooming Grove charged.

In total, troopers arrested and charged seven people for felonies which include terrorism, aggravated assault, kidnapping, robbery, burglary, theft and terroristic threats. Authorities said they tried to take over Pine Ridge, according to a criminal complaint filed by Trooper Edward Theodore.

They are:

- Tonia Scott, 49, 4110 Winchester Way, Bushkill.

- Sekou Rashid-Abdullah, age unavailable, 4800 Lamonte Lane, Apt. 1105, Houston, Texas.

- Keeba Harris, 43, 4110 Winchester Way, Bushkill.

- Sushane Adams-Heylinger, 26, 158 Hawley St., Binghamton, New York.

- Musa Abdur-Rahim, 27, 8 Munsell St., Binghamton, New York.

- Adam Abdur-Rahim, 31, 303 Rosamond St., Apartment 6-46, Houston, Texas.

- Troy Sutton, 50, 55 Goodwin Place, Brooklyn, New York.

Scott has waged an unsuccessful campaign in courtrooms over the last several years claiming her Native American heritage makes her the rightful owner of the land where the Pine Ridge and Saw Creek communities are located in Pike County.

“She was hoping that she was going to claim her property,” Trooper Bob Urban, a spokesman for the Dunmore-based Troop R, said.

Scott claimed in federal court in 2016 that Pennsylvania American Water could not shut off her service for non-payment. Instead, they must pay her for using the land since it is a sub-corporation of the United States and as “an heir to the North American continent,” no law can exist that effects her right to self-determination, according to court paperwork.

The case was dismissed less than two weeks after she filed her complaint.

In 2017, she sought in federal court to have residents in Pine Ridge ejected and collect damages. That complaint also failed.

As recently as Sept. 6, Scott and Harris tried to present paperwork at the community office showing claim but were “intimidated” by a security guard and forced to leave.

Scott decided to make another attempt, but this time she would bring armed back up.

Several weeks ago, she approached Sutton, a man who worked corporate security at a McDonald’s in Brooklyn. She needed a security force to occupy land she owned, she told him. They exchanged numbers.

Sutton forwarded the information to his cousin, Adam Abdur-Rahim, who was a security specialist in Houston.

Scott and Abdur-Rahim discussed terms. Scott promised him a job as the chief of the tribal police that pays $1,000 a week and a free house of his choosing. Her security force would be paid $500 a week on a 5-year contract and be given housing for $1 a year.

Abdur-Rahim went to work putting together a team — Sutton; his brother, Musa Abdur-Rahim; and his friends Rashid-Abdullah and Adams-Heylinger.

On Monday morning, the day of the raid, the seven people police charged met in Harlem, armed themselves and journeyed to Pike County.

At about 1 p.m., they entered the building and took a security officer, Sgt. John Derbyshire, hostage. Other staff members in the building barricaded themselves in other rooms.

Sutton later told state police that their only intention was to remove people from the property.

State police said they smashed windows and doors and caused extensive damage.

Chief Anthony Benito came to Derbyshire’s aid and found himself in a standoff with the gunmen. Fearing a gunfight would erupt, Benito retreated and contacted the state police for help.

The gunmen handcuffed Derbyshire, 66, and put him in the back of his own vehicle.

The seven then tried to escape.

The two women were nearby in a getaway vehicle and tried to drive away, state police said.

Two of the gunmen tried to speed away with Derbyshire. Their purported plan was to drop Derbyshire off at the gate and then move on to raid Saw Creek.

Sutton stole the keys for a Pine Ridge security vehicle and tried to make his getaway.

However, troopers arrived and took everyone into custody.

The only injury reported came as Derbyshire hurt his wrist from the handcuffs.

The accused are held at the Pike County Correctional Facility without bail. Preliminary hearings are scheduled 11 a.m. Tuesday.

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

SCRANTON

A Scranton church is opening a bakery to help former inmates gain professional and marketable skills.

For her birthday, Rev. Rebecca Barnes of St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on Wyoming Avenue aims to raise $10,000 to help launch Cypress House Bakery through a Facebook fundraiser campaign.

The nonprofit will serve as a prison reentry program based on the Homeboy Bakery program in Los Angeles. Former inmates will make gourmet sandwiches using bread baked on site daily.

The $10,000 goal will seed a total $300,000 goal needed to start the bakery.

Donations can be made directly to Cypress House at St. Luke’s, 232 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, PA 18503, Attn: Mother Barnes’ Birthday Fundraiser

— STAFF REPORT

SCRANTON -- U.S. Marshals today found a woman wanted for assault in Scranton in northern New Jersey.

Balir Hart, 31, of Scranton, was found this morning at a home in East Orange, marshals said.

Police have a warrant against Hart charging her with aggravated assault and robbery, among other counts, for reportedly attacking another woman with a Snapple bottle in January 2018.

Police said the altercation broke out because both women visited the same ex-girlfriend at the Lackawanna County Prison.

Hart is held at the Essex County Jail awaiting extradition back to Scranton.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

SCRANTON — People with disabilities and their advocates seem to agree one thing: The County of Lackawanna Transit System and other transportation agencies provide great service — except when they don’t.

Transportation concerns came up early and often at a public hearing today to receive input for Pennsylvania’s next three-year State Plan for Independent Living.

The forum, hosted by My Center for Independent Living on Sanderson Avenue, was the fourth of five scheduled across the commonwealth to solicit testimony about the human services needed to support independent living by individuals with disabilities. The statewide plan receives about $300,000 annually.

Mary Claire Boylan, social work coordinator for the Lackawanna Blind Association, told hearing moderator Matt Seeley that her agency quizzed clients about the primary barrier to their independence “and everybody came up with the same topic — transportation.”

“Huge,” she said. “It’s the biggest problem.”

Although she described the shared-ride service COLTS provides to low-income, elderly and disabled people as “wonderful,” Boylan cited a series of scenarios where both the shared ride and the regular COLTS bus service don’t meet the needs of visually impaired residents, including veterans.

She pointed out it is more convenient for a disabled veteran to get a bus to the Mohegan Sun Pocono casino than to the Wilkes-Barre VA Medical Center, both of which are in Plains Twp.

“So what’s more important? Gambling or the veterans?” Boylan asked.

Ron Biglin, a visually impaired veteran from Newton Twp., also praised the shared ride system but said there needs to be more coordination between COLTS and the Luzerne County Transportation Authority to make it easier for people who have to travel to medical appointments in the Wilkes-Barre area.

Tim Moran, chief executive officer of MyCIL, said he reviewed every State Plan for Independent Living for the past 25 to 30 years and found the key areas of focus are virtually the same in all of them. Transportation is the number one concern, followed by housing, employment and socialization, he said.

“I’m sick and tired of seeing the same things in the state plan every single time it comes out because there is no resolution to any of it,” Moran said.

Seeley, executive director of the Pennsylvania Statewide Independent Living Council, who opened the forum with a reminder that suggestions should be realistic, reiterated there is only about $300,000 available statewide each year to implement whatever is contained in the plan. Not many big issues can be solved with $300,000, he said.

“The last three or four plans are almost identical because we hear the same things,” Seeley said. “But we can’t fix county-to-county transportation. We can’t fix employment.”

When Moran asked if there has ever been a study to determine what can be fixed, Seeley asked whether the $300,000 should be spent on that.

“It’s better than nothing every three years,” Moran said. “At least it’s progress.”

Keith Williams, MyCIL advocacy and outreach coordinator, suggested using a portion of the $300,000 to develop a pilot program for providing post-graduation transitioning services for young people with disabilities.

While in school, most of those young people have individualized education programs and are eligible for a variety of services that end abruptly once they graduate at age 18 or 21, he said.

“It’s like walking off a cliff,” Williams said.

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

SCRANTON — Parking at downtown city garages and on streets — and parking tickets — will cost more in 2020.

Most increases were authorized under a rate schedule approved as part of the city’s 2016 monetization of the parking system that unloaded operations to an outside firm, the nonprofit National Development Council.

Two changes that deviated from the 2016 schedule were approved today by the Scranton Parking Authority.

The monthly parking rate in a city-affiliated garage downtown will increase $2, or from $90 to $92.

That’s a smaller increase than had been pre-approved under the city’s 2016 parking monetization, which called for the $90 monthly rate to rise to $100 in 2019.

But NDC and its subcontractor, ABM Parking Services, have been able to keep the $90 rate this year, NDC Directors David Trevisani and Robert “Bud” Sweet told SPA Tuesday. NDC/ABM can hold the monthly parking increase to $92 because of various efficiencies and because “the system is performing well,” Trevisani said. The city-affiliated garages are Casey, Connell, Linden, Medallion, Electric City and the Marketplace at Steamtown, all operated by NDC/ABM.

In addition, downtown residents will be offered a discounted monthly parking garage rate of $74, applicable only in the Linden, Casey or Electric City garages on any floors other than the ground and top level.

The other garage fees approved in the 2016 lease deal between the city and NDC include:

n The parking rate will increase from $3.50 to $4 for the first hour; from $6 to $7 for up to two hours; from $8 to $9 for up to eight hours; from $9 to $10 for up to 12 hours; and from $12 to $13 for up to 24 hours.

n Weekend/special event parking will increase from $5 to $6.

n The lost parking ticket charge will rise from $20 to $22.

n Reserved monthly parking will rise from $120 to $122.

The on-street parking rates will include:

n A metered rate paid at kiosks replacing old street meters will rise from $1.50 to $2 per hour.

n A new, all-day rate in certain downtown periphery areas, but payable only through the Pango mobile app, will be $3.25 per day, under a pilot program.

n There will be a new pay-by-mobile convenience fee of 25 cents per transaction.

Citation fine increases will include:

n Overtime parking citations will increase from $25 to $35.

n A violation of the no-parking zone will increase from $35 to $45.

n A violation for fire hydrant/disabled space will rise from $55 to $75.

All of the new parking rates and fines will take effect Jan. 1.

The Scranton Parking Authority today — with SPA Chairman Joseph Matyjevich, James Wintermantel and Michael Salerno all in favor, and the other two board seats vacant — approved the $92 monthly garage rate and the downtown resident discount, both requested by NDC.

The SPA had to vote on these two rates because they were not pre-approved under the 2016 monetization that had NDC taking over the parking system under a longterm lease.

Meanwhile, ABM crews have been removing old parking meters downtown and replacing them with modern payment kiosks.

As of Tuesday, 84 kiosks were put into operation with more expected to come online in the near future, AMB Operations Manager Chris Emerick said.

Motorists should expect parking hours to be enforced in areas where meters have been removed and kiosks put into operation, Trevisani said.

Jeff Horvath, staff writer, contributed to this report.

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

More than $2 million was wagered in sports bets at Mohegan Sun Pocono in October, according to numbers released Monday by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board.

The Plains Twp. casino, which opened its sports betting lounge in September, brought in $305,697 in sports wagering revenue in October. The revenue is the amount a sportsbook retains after paying out winners.

According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, more than $10 million was wagered in sports bets at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Monroe County in October.

The numbers showed the total sports betting revenue at Mount Airy Casino Resort in October totaled $509,253. Mount Airy also opened its sportsbook in September and partnered with the Stars Group and FOX Bet to launch online sports betting. Mount Airy brought in $422,453 in online sports wagering revenue in October.

Mohegan Sun spokesman Cody Chapman said the executive team at Mohegan Sun Pocono is encouraged by performance in October and more information would be available soon about “exciting enhancements underway” in addition to just launching an online version of the sportsbook that can be found at pa.unibet.com.

Pennsylvania’s total online and retail sportsbooks’ handle surpassed $240 million in bets in October as the state’s bettors increasingly turned online, according to analysts for PlayPennsylvania.com.

Overall, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board’s numbers showed total gaming and fantasy contests revenue statewide was up 11% in October from October last year.

The board regulates slot machines, table games, internet gaming, retail and internet sports wagering, fantasy contests and video gaming terminals. Total revenue statewide from all gaming revenue sources totaled more than $283.7 million in October.

That included the more than $19.1 million in total revenue that Mohegan Sun Pocono brought in, a 5.5% increase from last October, and more than $16 million in total revenue at Mount Airy, a 5.9% increase from last October.

According to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, October’s sports wagering taxable revenue from both retail and online outlets was more than $14.9 million.

The 1,130-square-foot Unibet Sportsbook that opened across from Molly O’Sheas Irish Pub & Eatery in Mohegan Sun Pocono in September features a 28-foot-wide video wall with three additional displays near the sportsbook tables for additional viewing.

Officials at Mount Airy Casino Resort recently cut a ribbon to officially open a sportsbook in the former Gypsies Lounge.

Contact the writer:

dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2115;

@CVAllabaugh on Twitter