John Bucci, a longtime coach and fixture of the Northeast Pennsylvania high school and youth basketball scene, had died.

Bucci, 57, was pronounced dead at his home today shortly after 1:30 p.m. from what appears to be natural causes, according to Lackawanna County Coroner Tim Rowland.

Bucci, owner of Backcourt Hoops, is best known for coaching Bishop Hannan to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 2A boys basketball championship in 2002 with future Syracuse University star Gerry McNamara as the state’s top player.

Under Bucci, the Golden Lancers also advanced to Class 1A state championship games in 1999 and 2000 and a Final Four in 2001.

Bucci, also a radio and television commentator, grew Backcourt Hoops into a premier program for the development of youth basketball players.

Check back for updates.

TUNKHANNOCK — The Lehigh Valley caboose in Tunkhannock’s Riverside Park is officially on its way to its new home in Wayne County.

In October, Tunkhannock Borough Council and the Wyoming County Historical Society transferred ownership of the caboose to Myles Group, owner of the Delaware, Lackawaxen & Stourbridge Railroad Company, which operates the Stourbridge Line in Honesdale.

A crew spent Monday morning loading the caboose onto a truck, then transporting it to its new home.

“The obvious question is why don’t they just move it by rail?,” asked Tom Nemeth, owner and editor of Railpace Newsmagazine, who is associated with DL&S. “The answer is that the wheels aren’t really in good shape to roll.”

Tunkhannock Borough Council member Dan Gay said there were insufficient resources available to take care of the caboose, which also experienced vandalism while sitting in the park. Ultimately, council decided that giving it up was in the best interest of preserving its history.

Gay’s grandfather, the late George “Papa” Gay, purchased the caboose years ago and eventually donated it for public use.

His grandson said it’s fantastic that the railroad company has taken ownership of the caboose.

“I’m excited to see what they actually do with the caboose in the long run,” Gay said.

The caboose is in fairly good shape but needs some mechanical work, said Nemeth, adding it will serve as a nice addition to the Stourbridge Line.

Passengers can board the Stourbridge Line from Honesdale or Hawley and take a scenic ride along the Lackawaxen River. Stourbridge has six cabooses already, but the Lehigh Valley caboose will be the first of its kind to enter the collection.

“By bringing this to Honesdale, they’ll have a caboose that represents northeastern Pennsylvania,” Nemeth said.

The caboose was built in 1944, and weighs 22 tons, which Richard Jahn, first vice president of the Anthracite Railroads Historical Society, said is actually pretty light as far as railroad equipment goes.

“This caboose probably ran through this town many, many times on the tracks right next door, here,” Jahn said at Riverside Park.

Contact the writer: bwilliams@wcexaminer.com, 570-836-2123 x36

Scranton police are searching for a city man accused of raping a 12-year-old girl for at least 18 months.

Officers issued a warrant for Jorge Dob Aguilar, 34, 1317 Vine St., after the victim told relatives that Aguilar had sexually assaulted and raped her, police said.

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

Police responded to a residence in the city at 12:56 a.m. Saturday for a report of a juvenile sexual assault victim, Detective Jeffery Gilroy wrote in a criminal complaint. A family member had confronted Aguilar, and he fled moments before police arrived, according to the complaint.

The victim told a family member that, earlier in the day, Aguilar kissed her and rubbed his body against hers while they were alone, Gilroy wrote. He stopped when the relative knocked on the door.

The victim said Aguilar had been touching her inappropriately for “a long time” and had most recently raped her about a month prior, according to the complaint.

The child later told authorities that Aguilar raped her in the back of a truck in a garage and at two homes in the city, Gilroy wrote. She said it happened “many times,” according to the complaint.

Aguilar is charged with statutory sexual assault, rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault, endangering the welfare of children and related charges.

He is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighs 155 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes. Anyone who know his whereabouts, should call 911, police said.

Contact the writer: flesnefsky@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5181; @flesnefskyTT on Twitter

SCRANTON -- A wanted city man is in custody after an off-duty officer noticed him walking downtown today, police said.

Officer Jason Hyler of the city police Street Crimes Unit spotted Michael Mata, 18, 328 Prescott Ave., walking north on Penn Avenue at about 2 p.m., according to a complaint. Hyler, who knew he was wanted for robbery, and followed Mata and contacted the U.S. Marshals. Mata was arrested after a short chase through the crowded University of Scranton campus, police said.

Officers found about two ounces of marijuana when they arrested Mata.

Mata is charged with felony flight to avoid apprehension, possession with intent to deliver and related counts. Bail and preliminary hearing information were not available today.

— FRANK WILKES LESNEFSKY

SCRANTON — The annual John Adams Harvest Fest gave the elementary school’s community a chance to remember why they’re thankful.

It also offered students a chance to eat dinner with their friends and parents the opportunity to socialize with other families from different backgrounds, said Tim Schwartz, school PTA president.

Schwartz joined a group of volunteers tonight who placed turkey on trays next to a scoop of mashed potatoes smothered with gravy, cranberry sauce and corn in the gym of the Scranton School District elementary school on Capouse Avenue. Around 100 family members sat together around long tables for the school’s third Thanksgiving feast as Christmas music played in the background.

“Eating dinner with friends, it’s a beautiful thing,” said Schwartz.

The traditional holiday meal and desserts were donated and served by volunteers, including students from West Scranton Intermediate School and Scranton High School and principal Mario Emiliani’s family.

“It’s a time to sit down and enjoy each other’s company,” said Emiliani.

While the meal was free for families, Emiliani asked that they bring a nonperishable donation for United Neighborhood Center’s Angel’s Attic. He said they wanted to encourage the students to give back to their community.

The Ponces, including John Adams fourth grader Mia Ponce and first grader Miyah Ortiz, chowed down with their family and friends Monday.

Mia said the meal was good. Miyah enjoys “being with your family” around the holiday.

“We wanted to share the joy of Thanksgiving,” said George Ponce.

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

SCRANTON — After a week of testimony, a jury in Scranton is expected to begin deliberating on Shawn Christy’s guilt or innocence today.

Christy, 28, who acted as his own attorney in his trial in federal court, tried to make the argument to jurors that there were many “interesting” ins and outs to his case. He hoped to draw doubt in their minds to render verdicts of not guilty to charges stemming from a three-month crime spree across six states.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Sean Camoni argued that what Christy finds interesting is also not relevant to the question at the center of the trial — Did he commit the crimes?

Christy himself — in the form of recordings played last week at court — was the prosecution’s “star witness,” Camoni said. In them, Christy admitted to everything.

“The only just verdict, the only reasonable verdict, is guilty on all counts,” Camoni said.

Authorities charged Christy in July 2018 with making threats against President Donald Trump and with three counts of transmitting threats against Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli and other law enforcement officials.

In June 2018, Christy wrote that he would “put a bullet” in the heads of Trump and Morganelli and threatened “lethal force” against police, authorities charged.

Officials also said he fled in a stolen vehicle to New York, near the border with Canada, and broke into several homes and businesses and stole other vehicles as he traveled through West Virginia, Kentucky, Maryland and Ohio. Authorities finally found him in Ohio in Sept. 21, 2018.

Christy, who has a history of courtroom outbursts, took the stand to defend himself Monday.

On direct questioning from his standby counsel, David Cherundolo, Christy calmly recounted how certain Facebook posts made him feel threatened. That included posts from prosecution witness Dakota Meyer, the former son-in-law of former vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin. Christy is accused of stealing a vehicle from him. Meyer, of Kentucky, wrote that it was too bad Christy did not come out in a “body bag.”

“I viewed this as a threat to me,” Christy said.

However, Christy’s temper flared once Assistant U.S. Attorney Francis Sempa started to question him.

Challenged with his own Facebook posts containing threats, Christy said he did not write them.

Sempa sounded incredulous.

“Everyone’s conspiring against you,” he said.

Eventually, Christy snapped at Camoni, who was seated at the prosecution table. In front of the jury, Christy snarled, “don’t you smile at me you ... punk.”

Some jurors appeared shocked at the outburst.

After, Christy refused to answer many of Sempa’s questions by invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

U.S. District Judge Robert D. Mariani put his head in his hand. He excused the jury and explained to Christy how he had waived Fifth Amendment right when he took the stand.

He also stressed how important it is to Christy’s case that jurors find him credible.

“I would suggest you think long and hard about the impact you’re having on the jurors,” Mariani said.

Christy decided to stick by his decision not to testify further.

Since Christy would not answer questions from Sempa, Mariani told the jury to disregard everything the defendant said while Cherundolo questioned him.

Beginning this morning, jurors will deliberate on a verdict.

Contact the writer:

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

@jkohutTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — The Scranton School District must complete extensive repairs to the fire sprinkler system at Scranton High School.

Leaking pipes in the school office earlier this year led the district to begin a full review of the system, installed during construction 20 years ago. The review by K&K Fire Protection Enterprises found close to 400 deficiencies — 90 which needed immediate repair.

The district has already spent $38,000 on repairs, Paul Dougherty, director of secondary education/technology/operations, told members of the school board during their work session tonight.

Insurance will not cover the repairs, and the company which installed the system is out of business. Dougherty said he would try to find the original plans for the school to see if contractors used the correct materials.

Fixing all of the deficiencies could cost as much as $250,000, and replacing the entire system could cost $2.5 million, he said. The district, in financial recovery, has little money for repairs.

“No matter what we do, this will be a very high number,” Dougherty said.

Most of the corrosion and leaks happened at joints. Before making any decisions, the district must determine what caused the problems, he said. Officials said the district will likely test the pipes and the water contained in the system.

In other business tonight, the district announced report cards sent home earlier this month were free of errors. The statement drew applause from the audience. Numerous errors last year included Scranton High’s valedictorian receiving a GPA of 0.0 on her report card.

District staff cleaned data in the system, gave access to specific people in each school for grade input and started professional development for the student information software. Dougherty said he even hand-calculated 1,000 GPAs to ensure accuracy.

“We’re just thrilled they’re correct,” Superintendent Melissa McTiernan said.

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

DUNMORE — Borough council introduced its 2020 budget tonight, which will keep taxes the same for the year with a small surplus in revenue.

Councilman Michael McHale presented the $12,790,917 budget, explaining that it’s at least the 10th straight year that the borough presented a balanced budget with no tax increases. Residents will continue to pay 44 mills in municipal property taxes. A mill is a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value.

“We scrutinize every single dollar that goes out of the borough’s taxpayer’s pockets,” McHale said.

McHale, who was not reelected to council earlier this month, said the borough is in “pretty good shape.”

“We have a lot of watching to do in the upcoming years, but the people here are definitely are capable of doing so,” he said.

The first draft of the budget projects an $18,757 surplus, with $2,995,712, or 23.4% of borough revenue, coming from Dunmore’s host agreement with the Keystone Sanitary Landfill.

However, last month landfill consultant Al Magnotta contended that Keystone could rescind millions of dollars in host fees if council did not override Mayor Timothy Burke’s veto of a landfill zoning amendment. The zoning amendment, which Burke vetoed in October, said sanitary landfills are not structures and therefore would not be subjected to the 50-foot height restriction in Keystone’s zoning district. Council did not override the veto.

Landfill opponents contend that the mayor’s veto does not violate the host agreements.

As part of the 2014 host agreement between the landfill and Dunmore, the borough will receive $1.52 per ton of waste brought into the landfill in 2020 rather than the state minimum of $0.41 per ton.

Council President Michael Dempsey said the borough has not heard from landfill attorneys about the host agreement, and council did not discuss the landfill’s contentions while creating the budget.

“It did not come up in the budget discussions,” he said. “None of that was discussed with the regular budget for this year.”

Before tonight’s meeting, McHale, who prepared the budget, said he would not be answering any questions.

During the meeting, the Dunmore School District awarded the borough with $100,000 in state funds for providing the district with a second school resource officer last year, Superintendent John Marichak said. The district applied for the grant through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, and the funds are earmarked to be used for resource officers, he said.

The district already had a school resource officer in its junior/senior high school. But following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, last year that left 17 dead, the district asked the borough to add a resource officer to its elementary school, Marichak said.

The borough agreed and foots the bill for both resource officers, he said. Resources officers’ salaries were not available today.

“It’s the best thing that could’ve happened to our students,” Marichak said before the meeting. “We’re giving it to the borough because of what they’ve done for us.”

Contact the writer: flesnefsky@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5181; @flesnefskyTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — City council wants Mayor Wayne Evans’ administration to provide a Plan B in case elements of his proposed 2020 budget fail or fall short of expectations.

Among other features, the $116 million spending plan Evans proposed earlier this month would drop the city’s annual $300 trash fee to $250 and collect it through residents’ property tax bills. That major — and relatively controversial — proposal is one of several components of the budget council fears may not pan out, potentially leaving the city with a revenue shortfall or other issues.

Councilman Bill Gaughan noted several “speculative elements” of the proposed spending plan, including the sale of trash-fee delinquencies as receivables, the reduction of the trash fee itself, the addition of the trash fee to property tax bills and the city’s expected switch from the business privilege and mercantile taxes to a payroll tax.

“(Were) one of these moving parts to stall out, we would be in a difficult position next year,” Gaughan said. “There are so many moving parts here that I think it would be malfeasance on our part not to look at an alternative, a Plan B, just in case.”

Council voted 4-0, with council President Pat Rogan absent, to ask the administration for an alternative analysis in the event specific budget initiatives prove unviable.

Councilman Tim Perry described the analysis as a simple if/then projection.

For example, if the sale of delinquent refuse receivables doesn’t bring in the $2.2 million projected in the budget — or if including the trash fee in property tax bills is challenged in court — how will that impact Scranton’s financial situation next year?

Several residents and council members voiced concern tonight about the proposed change to trash fee billing, questioning its fairness.

Under the proposal, owners of commercial and large rental properties would likely be charged the $250 garbage fee despite paying a private hauler to collect their trash. At the same time, the owners of a single-family home and a three-unit rental property could face the same garbage fee.

Proponents of the change say the reduced fee is achievable because including it in real estate tax bills will broaden the base of payers. Skeptics fear the proposed billing system may provoke legal challenges.

Reached after the meeting, Evans said his administration will address council’s concerns at a public budget work session scheduled for 4 p.m. on Dec. 4. That session will take place at City Hall.

The administration is confident in its budget analysis and confident the proposed initiatives are “sound and forward-thinking,” Evans said.

Council advanced an ordinance appropriating funds for the 2020 budget tonight, but then tabled the legislation until after the Dec. 4 work session. Council is likely to vote on the ordinance at its regular meeting Dec. 9.

Also tonight, city ethics board Chairwoman Joan Hodowanitz announced her resignation while blasting council and the administration for not providing the board sufficient resources.

A lack of resources, from office space and supplies to personnel, renders the board little more than a “paper tiger,” she said. Hodowanitz noted she devoted much of her free time and her own resources to help the board get up and running, but that’s not enough.

“I doubt you can provide the support we need to perform our duties with the $25,000 allocated to us in the 2020 budget,” Hodowanitz said. “Your efforts to resurrect the ethics board may be well intentioned, but you and the administration have done little or nothing to support it.”

While disappointed to see Hodowanitz resign, Gaughan, Evans and Councilwoman Mary Walsh Dempsey rejected the notion the city isn’t committed to the ethics board’s success.

While government sometimes moves slowly, Evans said his administration remains 100% committed to making sure the board has the tools needed to be effective.

“This is not a sprint,” he said. “This is a marathon.”

Given the timing of the resignation, Evans said he’ll likely let Mayor-elect Paige Cognetti appoint Hodowanitz’s successor.

Contact the writer:
jhorvath@timesshamrock.com;
570-348-9141;
@jhorvathTT on Twitter

In other business, council:

n Introduced legislation authorizing the city to obtain a short-term loan called a tax anticipation note, which would provide cash flow early in the year before tax revenues come in. The 2020 TAN would be for up to $12.75 million.

n Introduced a resolution accepting a $1,000 donation from Briden American to the Scranton Police Department Special Operations Group.

n Introduced legislation accepting the recommendation of the city’s Historical Architecture Review Board and approving a certificate of appropriateness for developer Charles Jefferson, who plans alterations and renovations to the former Stoehr & Fister Building at 200 Adams Ave. The building served as the Lackawanna County Administration Building until the county relocated to the former Globe store. Jefferson’s firm and the county expect to close on the roughly $1.6 million sale of the building early next month.

n Approved legislation regulating city BYOB 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 BYOB 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 BYOB clubs from conducting business without displaying the club’s hours of operation and a valid city occupancy permit.

n Approved an ordinance updating the city’s list of historic properties by creating a local downtown historic district. The legislation expands the list of historic properties to include all buildings located within the city’s central business district. It also amends the process for the legislative review of recommendations made by the city’s historical architecture review board.

n Approved legislation authorizing a contract with Moretti CPA of Old Forge to audit city gas card activity between April 2016 and March 2019. Moretti’s proposal for the audit includes a $9,675 cost estimate.

SCRANTON

Council to hold budget hearings

City council will hold a pair of upcoming hearings related to Mayor Wayne Evans’ proposed 2020 city budget, according to recent public notices in The Times-Tribune.

The $116 million budget would drop the annual $300 trash fee to $250 and collect it through property tax bills. Council introduced a budget appropriation ordinance on Nov. 18.

Council will hold a public hearing at City Hall on the budget ordinance today at 5:15 p.m. Afterward, the ordinance will go before council during its regular 6 p.m. meeting for a vote on advancement on second reading.

Council will hold a public caucus with administration officials on the budget on Dec. 4 at 4 p.m. at City Hall.

— JIM LOCKWOOD

The proposed Scranton Beltway for bypassing Interstate 81 between Dupont and South Abington Twp. will happen a year later than expected, but officials plan to host a public hearing next fall on the chosen alignment.

Pennsylvania Turnpike officials could not say exactly why the estimated $170 million project was pushed back a year, but the officials previously said the turnpike’s ongoing financial problems could delay six projects, including the beltway. Construction now is expected to begin in early 2023 and end in late 2026, according to a schedule mailed to potentially affected landowners.

The beltway would connect I-81 to the turnpike’s Northeast Extension in Dupont and South Abington Twp., where the turnpike ends.

Turnpike project manager Mark Raup insisted engineers haven’t settled on an alignment and don’t know precisely whose land the turnpike will need. Preliminary engineering, which will answer both questions, is about halfway done and should finish up in the middle of next year, Raup said. After that, the turnpike will seek approvals from environmental and other agencies. Approval delays could delay the hearing. Final design will begin after the hearing, which could produce adjustments to plans, he said.

“By law, we can’t take property that we don’t need,” turnpike spokesman Carl DeFebo said. “I’ve been around here for a couple of decades and I know that the engineers are very conscientious about that.”

Once engineers determine the alignment and land needs, the turnpike will officially notify homeowners who face relocation well before the public hearing.

“We haven’t sent out any letters to anybody saying they’re going to be affected because we don’t know that,” Raup said. “We’re still at the stage where we’re trying to figure it (the alignment) out. We haven’t submitted anything or got any official reviews from other agencies that have to buy into what we end up thinking it’s going to look like.”

Proponents want the beltway to relieve increasing traffic congestion on I-81, which passes over the turnpike in Moosic. The highways roughly parallel each other north and south of there. About 10,000 vehicles travel the turnpike daily between the two points compared to up to 70,000 on I-81. Estimates project removing 2,500 vehicles from I-81 northbound and 2,200 from I-81 southbound with 2,100 in each direction being trucks.

“This is really all about providing options to travelers,” DeFebo said.

Opponents expressed doubts that trucks would use the beltway much. Vehicles will be able to enter the beltway at highway speeds.

Last year, the turnpike sent letters to dozens of home and landowners notifying them engineers would enter their land to conduct surveys. The letters alarmed landowners like Wally and Ann Tompkins, who live on Willow Lane in South Abington Twp. and worry they might have to move to make room for the beltway.

“Our neighborhood and our neighbors are so frantic about the future and what’s going to happen,” Ann Tompkins said. “(Interstate) 81 is in our backyard.”

They have heard little since the letters, and are trying to arrange a meeting with turnpike and township officials to get an update. Raup said the turnpike does its best to keep the public up to date through email newsletters and its website, which lists the present schedule, but for now there’s little to report.

The turnpike paid Urban Engineers Inc. of Philadelphia about $2 million for the preliminary engineering work, Raup said. The company will do the final design on either the Dupont or South Abington Twp. connecting road with another still unchosen firm designing whichever Urban Engineers doesn’t.

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147;

@BorysBlogTT on Twitter

MONDAY UPDATE brings

Times-Tribune readers up to date on past or pending stories of interest. To offer a suggestion for a Monday Update, please email metrodesk@timesshamrock.com with

“Monday Update” in the

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HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania state lawmakers, judges and top executive branch officials will collect another annual salary increase in 2020, with the governor’s salary passing $200,000 and rank-and-file lawmakers’ base salaries passing $90,000.

The salary increases come as lawmakers consider increasing Pennsylvania’s minimum wage for the first time since 2009 and a citizen activist presses Gov. Tom Wolf and lawmakers to increase Pennsylvania’s tax forgiveness threshold for adults for the first time in two decades.

Their salary increase for the year ahead will be 1.9%, a figure tied by state law to the year-over-year change in the consumer price index published by the U.S. Department of Labor for urban consumers in the mid-Atlantic region.

The boost takes effect Dec. 1 for lawmakers and Jan. 1 for judicial and executive branch officials.

The increase is about one-third larger than last year’s increase comes at a time of steady growth in wages for private sector workers.

Federal data from the three-month period ending in June showed average weekly wages for private-sector workers in Pennsylvania increased 3.8% year-over-year, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. However, hourly wage data shows that wages have grown more slowly for workers at the bottom of the income ladder.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Tom Saylor is highest-paid, pulling down a $4,000 raise to just above $221,000. The rest of the Supreme Court’s seven members will be paid $215,000. Wolf’s salary will rise about $3,800 to almost $201,700, although he donates it to charity. Both are among the nation’s highest.

Most lawmakers, the nation’s third-highest paid, will see increases of $1,725 to about $90,300 in base pay. They also receive per diems, pensions and health benefits.

Lawmakers in leadership posts will top out at $141,000 for House Speaker Mike Turzai, R-Allegheny, and Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Jefferson. The four caucus floor leaders in the House and Senate will each make almost 130,900 while the four caucus whips and the four Appropriations Committee chairs will receive $121,100.

County court judges will see increases to about $186,700, while judges in larger districts, such as Philadelphia and Allegheny County, will get slightly more.

The salary for Lt. Gov. John Fetterman will surpass $169,400, while the three statewide elected row officers — Attorney General Josh Shapiro, Treasurer Joe Torsella and Auditor General Eugene DePasquale — each will make a little more than $167,800.

The salaries for the heads of Wolf’s 18 cabinet agencies will rise by law, topping out at almost $161,400 for leaders of the largest departments.

Students of the month

JAKE DANNA STEVENS / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

A man and woman were taken to a hospital Monday afternoon following a crash at Marion Street and Wyoming Avenue in Scranton, police said. The crash occurred at 3:07 p.m. when Samantha Bitto, 23, of Swoyersville, drove west on Marion Street across Wyoming Avenue, Lt. Marty Crofton said. She collided with Robert Mifka, 29, of Blakely, who was driving north on Wyoming Avenue. Bitto’s Chevrolet Equinox ended up on its side, and both drivers were taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center with nonlife-threatening injuries, Crofton said. Because Mifka was traveling north on Wyoming Avenue, he did not have a stop sign, but Bitto did, Crofton said. Neither driver was charged as of Monday night, he said.

A former Archbald man is facing charges he sexually abused teenage girls for more than a decade, authorities said.

Lamont Boone, 47, whose current address is the Lackawanna County Prison, raped and impregnated several girls, one just 14 years old at an address in Archbald, according to two criminal complaints filed last week.

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

In 2005, when Boone was 33, he started sexually abusing a 15-year-old girl who would regularly sleep over at the house.

Sometimes, he came into the room where she slept to wake her up and escort her to his bedroom.

He told her not to say anything. Other people, he explained, would not understand their relationship and it would get him in trouble. Several years later, after she turned 18, she became pregnant with his child.

Police said Boone abused more than one girl.

Other girls came forward. One told police that Boone raped her when she was 10 years old. He put his hand over her mouth so she could not scream.

The abuse between the young girl and Boone became routine. When she started to get her period, Boone told her that they would need to be more careful.

By the time she was 14, she was pregnant. He had her get an abortion.

In two years, she became pregnant again and he took her for another abortion.

A third teenage girl carried Boone’s child when she was 17.

Police filed three separate criminal complaints charging Boone with numerous sex offenses including rape, rape of a child, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child and statutory sexual assault. In addition to the two filed last week, Archbald police charged him in February 2017. He finally went before a judge for a preliminary arraignment on those charges last month.

Boone is in the county jail without bail. A preliminary hearing on each case is scheduled Dec. 9.

Contact the writer:

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

@jkohutTT on Twitter

MARRIAGE LICENSES

• Carolyn Graham and Dennis Robert Cook, both of Scranton.

• Harley Joseph Kurtz, Simpson, and Shana Joan Berrios, Scranton.

• Katelynn Mariah Capron and Tonya Ann Creasy, both of Scranton.

• Renea Lynn Hallock, Clarks Summit, and Brian J. Chapman, Carbondale.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

• Shirley Polito, Lackawanna County, to Joseph and Barbara Mecca, Lackawanna County; a property in Scott Twp. for $55,000.

• Elaine Kuban, formerly known as Elaine Daniels, and Richard Kuban, to Jerry and Amy Iungerman; a property at 314 McKinley Ave. Rear, Jermyn, for $96,500.

• Chris Eshelman, Dunmore, to Beth A. and James J. Allegrino, Scranton; a property at 1205 Snyder Ave., Scranton, for $143,100.

• John S. and Josette M. Pappadakis, Lackawanna County, to Robert A., Suzanne D. and Robert V. Ritterbeck, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property at 210 Glenmaura Drive, Moosic, for $350,000.

• Philip and Stefanie Sinkaus, Scranton, to Craig D. and Alicia J. Pfaff, Scranton; a property at 823 Woodlawn St., Scranton, for $169,900.

• Gregory S. and Heidi B. Matthews, Waverly, to Jon C. Sr. and Tiona A. Beckley, Pennsylvania; a property at 203 Beech St., Waverly Twp., for $318,750.

• Michelle Dutko, Dunmore, to Mitchell M. Bertha, Scranton; a property at 1024 Wheeler Ave., Scranton, for $67,000.

• Scranton Neighborhood Housing Services Inc., a Pa. nonprofit corporation, Scranton, to Lauren Minora, Dunmore; a property at 1716 Lafayette St., Scranton, for $90,400.

• William M. and Janice M. Hitchko, Greenfield Twp., to Kasey J. Riddell and John Penzone, Carbondale, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property at 222 Pleasant View Drive, Greenfield Twp., for $232,000.

• Dilwyn Edward Symes to Geoffrey Joseph and Kelly A. Musti; a property at 302 Stone Ave., Clarks Summit, for $315,000.

• Pa. Housing Finance Agency, Harrisburg, to Brinson LLC, Brooklyn, N.Y.; a property at 852 N. Bromley Ave., Scranton, for $37,000.

• James J. and Victoria C. Scanlon, Dunmore, to ELA Properties LLC, Clarks Summit; two parcels at 929 Richmont St., Scranton, for $135,000.

• Vicky L. Moser, Carbondale, to Jason and Kimberly Vandermark, Waynesboro, Va.; a property at 17 Garfield Ave., Carbondale, for $30,000.

• Rock Property Holdings LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 1208-1210 Philo St., Scranton, for $105,000.

• Rock Property Holdings LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a proeprty at 724 Maple St., Scranton, for $95,000.

• Darrell A. and Kathleen Drake, Miramar, Fla., to Robert and Dana Keiper, Scranton; a property at 723 Hosfeld St., Clarks Summit, for $160,000.

• Susan C. Walter and Carol A. Walter, New York, to Kyle Kilmer, Nicholson; a property in Dalton for $85,000.

DIVORCE DECREES

• Dana Petrunich v. Ronald Petrunich

• Lisa Harrington v. Gregory Harrington

• Holly Morgan v. James Armillay

STATE TAX LIEN

• Central Pa. Support LLP, 315 S. Main Ave., Suite 400, Scranton; $4,355.96.

ESTATES FILED

• Pearl Piernik, also known as Pearl C. Piernik, Green Ridge Health Care Center, Scranton, letters testamentary to Theresa Chelak, 902 Miles Ave., Dickson City.

• Robert W. Phillips, 218 Church St., Dunmore, letters testamentary to Kristen Phillips, 12311 Washington Place, Apt. C, Los Angeles.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/court

Abingtons

Potluck dinner: Abington Heights Civic League Christmas potluck dinner, Monday, 6 p.m., clubhouse, 115 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit, new members will be installed and there will be an ornament exchange for those wishing to participate; 570-587-3101.

Dickson City

Craft/vendor fair: Dickson City Civic Center craft and vendor fair, Dec. 7, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 935 Albert St., items include jewelry, pet supplies, health and wellness, makeup and beauty products, local food vendors, and multiple handmade crafts, decor and clothing, free admission, basket raffle will be held to benefit the DCCC programs; 570-383-1813.

Jermyn

Garbage collection: Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, garbage and recycling collection will be on Saturday.

Riverside School

District

Early dismissal: Students will be dismissed as follows on Wednesday to begin Thanksgiving vacation: high school, 11:06 a.m., East Elementary, 11:40, and West Elementary, 12:10 p.m.; classes will resume Tuesday.

Taylor

Bake sale: St. George’s annual Christmas bake sale, bread: $6/large plain, $6.50/large with raisin, $3/small bread, $3.25/small with raisin; kolachi: $10/nut or poppyseed; specialty braided kolachi: raspberry and cream cheese, blueberry and cream cheese, pineapple and cream cheese, or apple crumb, $12 each; and pierogi: potato and cheese, or potato and cheese with Jalapeño, $6/dozen; orders will be accepted until Dec. 1, or until unmanageable by calling 570-562-1170 or 570-562-2090 or emailing Stgethnicfoods@gmail.com.

Throop

Garbage collection: Thursday’s garbage collection will be collected on Friday and Friday’s garbage collection will be on Monday.

West Scranton

Thanksgiving Mass: St. Lucy’s Church Mass of Thanksgiving, Thursday, 9 a.m., 949 Scranton St., bread will be blessed and distributed so you can share with your family at your Thanksgiving table.

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

Nov. 26, 1954

Shoppers hit

downtown stores

Downtown Scranton was filled with shoppers taking advantage of all the holiday deals.

Merchants were predicting an increase of 3 to 4 percent in holiday sales as compared to the year before. A few felt the mild weather on this day was helping sales.

Many of the downtown Scranton merchants also switched over to their holiday hours. On certain nights, the stores would be open until 9 p.m.

Parking and driving in the downtown was congested due the shoppers.

The downtown’s two large department stores, the Globe and Scranton Dry Goods, were having sales on men’s and women’s coats and shoes and women’s dresses. The Globe was also offering a 21-inch television set for $189.95 and radio-phonograph console for $129.95.

Mine hole opens near city church

A mine void opened up at 511 Broadway near Holy Cross Church. Numerous people gathered to inspect the hole that measured between 15 and 18 feet deep and 13 to 15 feet in diameter.

There was no word on why the ground opened up but Scranton city engineer Ben Watrous said the hole opened into a surface vein of the old workings of the Baker Colliery.

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.

SCRANTON — The annual John Adams Harvest Fest gave the elementary school’s community a chance to remember why they’re thankful.

It also offered students a chance to eat dinner with their friends, and parents the opportunity to socialize with other families from different backgrounds, said Tim Schwartz, school PTA president.

Schwartz joined a group of volunteers Monday who placed turkey on trays next to a scoop of mashed potatoes smothered with gravy, cranberry sauce and corn in the gym of the Scranton School District elementary school on Capouse Avenue. Around 100 family members sat together around long tables for the school’s third Thanksgiving feast as Christmas music played in the background.

“Eating dinner with friends, it’s a beautiful thing,” said Schwartz.

The traditional holiday meal and desserts were donated and served by volunteers, including students from West Scranton Intermediate School and Scranton High School and Principal Mario Emiliani’s family.

“It’s a time to sit down and enjoy each other’s company,” said Emiliani.

While the meal was free for families, Emiliani asked that they bring a nonperishable donation for United Neighborhood Centers Angel’s Attic.

The Ponces, including John Adams fourth grader Mia Ponce and first grader Miyah Ortiz, chowed down with their family and friends Monday.

Mia said the meal was good. Miyah enjoys “being with your family” around the holiday.

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5114;

@kbolusTT on Twitter

SCRANTON

Police capture

wanted city man

A wanted city man is in custody after an off-duty officer noticed him walking downtown Monday, police said.

Officer Jason Hyler of the city police Street Crimes Unit spotted Michael Mata, 18, 328 Prescott Ave., walking north on Penn Avenue at about 2 p.m., according to a complaint. Hyler, who knew he was wanted for robbery, and followed Mata and contacted the U.S. Marshals. Mata was arrested after a short chase through the crowded University of Scranton campus, police said.

Officers found about two ounces of marijuana when they arrested Mata.

Mata is charged with felony flight to avoid apprehension, possession with intent to deliver and related counts. Bail and preliminary hearing information were not available Monday.

— FRANK WILKES LESNEFSKY