The Catherine McAuley Center is working to ensure all students will be able to give their classmates a Valentine’s Day card.

The center aims to help make the holiday — which may get overlooked compared to other ones — a little easier for mothers and a little more special for children, caseworker Eileen King said.

“It seems like every school has a Valentine’s Day party,” she said. “For kids to not be able to partake would be a shame.”

The center is asking for donations of card sets of 25 to 30 for boys and girls. Donations will be given to kids in the Head Start Program, and other programs as materials allow.

“I think we got the idea because sometimes people would drop off valentines,” King said. “It’s the time of year when it’s on everybody’s mind. We’re trying to get them ahead of time so moms can breathe a little better.”

King said there are about 50 children in the center’s program and every donation will help alleviate the worries of families in need.

“Most of our families are working on such tight budgets ... between food, rent and utilities,” King said. “They never ask for help, but at the end of January they are looking at where they are going to get the money, which is usually budgeted for something else.”

The valentines might not seem that expensive, but without the assistance of others, some children might be left out of the fun, King said.

“Families need to plan for it and decide what will take a hit to buy them,” she said. “We’ve seen parents scrape the money together so kids can experience the holiday, so we thought maybe we could do some outreach to ease the situation for them.”

In addition to the cost of the cards, Jennifer Telesco, a first grade teacher at John Adams Elementary School in Scranton, noted it’s becoming more challenging to carry on the tradition because of the diversity of children in the district.

“We have students from Nepal and the Congo, and their school system is entirely different,” she said. “It’s not something they necessarily do.”

The English as a Second Language teachers work with the international students to write the cards, Telesco said.

“They really enjoy passing the cards out to their friends,” she said. “It makes them feel proud and I think they like to give more than receive.”

Administrators at West Scranton Intermediate School are also looking for creative ways to ensure all students are included in the holiday.

Instead of the traditional exchanging of valentines, the school is planning to have students create and distribute “nice notes” with motivational messages to their classmates toward the end of February, Assistant Principal Shannon Rucker said.

“Some kids wouldn’t get any (valentines) and we want to make sure everyone gets something,” she said.

Contact the writer:

rtomkavage@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5365;

@rtomkavage on Twitter

HOW TO DONATE

WHERE: Catherine McAuley Center, 430 Pittston Ave., Scranton.

WHEN: Mondays through Fridays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHAT: Valentine’s Day card sets of 25 to 30 for school-age children.

CONTACT: 570-342-1342.

DUNMORE

HIGH SCHOOL

GRADE 12

Distinguished honors: Paris Alunni, Grace Amico. Timothy Andrews, Spencer Asman, Angelina Bellucci, Alvin Binu, Steven Borgia, Elizabeth Brace, Ian Brislin-Cowder, Erica Brown, James Cadden, Briana Catanzaro, Mia Chiaro, Madilyn Cianci, Caroline Coar, Jonah Cogliette, Mary Katherine Connor, Gene Cooper, Ross Cordaro, Brianna Cormier, Madison Cruser, Ryan Davey, Alec DeSando, Jillian DeSando, Thomas Dougherty, America Fox, Meghan Fritz, Heavyn Gin, Anthony Golden, Frank Golden, Ian Gratkowski, Lauren Grippi, Nora Haggerty, Owen Haggerty, Michael Hannah, Catherine Hilson, Jessica Hook, Katherine Hopkins, Anna Hubshman, Haris Imran, Jacob Kalinowski, Emma Lalli, Mariana Leo, Thomas Lewis, Rebecca Lucas, Jordyn Marichak, William McHale, John McNeff, Maria Micciche, Madison Mychayliw, Travis Navarro, Caroline Nolen, Najuk Patel, Rushi Patel, Agusta Bell Pendon, Suleiman Qarmout, Abigail Reese, Madelynn Senatore, Hannah Sheehan, Molly Sheets, Kailyn Shelly, Haylee Sileo, Troyann Simon, Matthew Sirotnak, Nicholas Stanco, Julianna Symons, Danyelle Tech, Ethan Thomas, Charles Valvano and Daniel Walsh.

Honors: Russell Bedford, Gaia Caporale, Rayshaun Dawkins, Nicholas Ferraro, Paige Flynn, Zachary Gierulski, Mia Grant, Thomas Hart, Michael Holmes, Elijah Hunt, Olivia Lynwood, Joseph Mandarano, Patrick McLaine, Dylan Morris, Shane Murphy, Abagail Naro, Alexander Reese, Aleah Schulte, Austin Waters, Kassandra Wearing and Alec Yanisko.

GRADE 11

Distinguished honors: Christian Buckley, Emily Carey, Alexis Chapman, Nicholas Chiaro, David Day, Elisa Delfino, Calista DiPrima, Celia Eagen, Adam Edwards, Raj Gandhi, Victoria Griffiths, Samuel Hannah, Madeline Healey, Joseph Iglesias, Anna Jimmie, Karl Kincel, Olivia Leo, Gia Levis, Sophia Lucas, Tyler Maciejewski, Paige Martin, Elizabeth Massaro, Lilly McDonald, Katie McKitish, Alexis Overholtz, Deep Patel, Prisha Patel, William Portanova, Hannah Ptasinski, Steven Qarmout, Patrick Ruane, Hadassah Schork, Anna Talutto, Gabrielle Weidow, Kiley Yanochik and Calvin Zhang.

Honors: Benjamin Amaya, Richard Ames, Dylan Aquino, Eric Arduino, Melanie Berardelli, Connor Blume, Hannah Bonin, Julian Buckas, Michael Burke, Stephanie Cohen, Brian Comparetta, Jacob Earley, Emma Eynon, Carlie Finan, Jeremiah Frace-Kittrell, Louis Hanni, Tyler Hill, Connor Holt, Alieza Khan, David Legg, Cassandra Lucas, Mason Maciejewski, Marie Martin, Gabriella Mecca, Alexis Mercado, Jillian Mooney, Sophia Pacewicz, Jacob Paranich, Danitza Pula Acosta, Richard Riccardo, Hunter Robinson, Frank Ruggiero, Luke Sabia, Peter Sabia, Alexandra Santarsiero, Sierra Sherman, Rayne Sinkaus, Nicholas Sinkevich, Abigail Springer, Dominic Temperino and Jadyn Terkoski.

GRADE 10

Distinguished honors: Liam Ahern, Katherine Alunni, Isabella Aydin, Abigail Barone, Matthew Behler, Kaidyn Biko, Hope Blasko, Mia Blume, Luca Boles, McKenna Brazil, Katie Capooci, Joseph Cardillo, Madison Christiano, Mikhail Fabi, Anna Gabello, Joanna Iglesias, Kylee Jezorwski, Eliana King, Jahniah Laborde, Abigail Luongo, Micah Madrazo, Jaclyn Marichak, Allison McNeff, Colby Murray, Chloe Ondek, Emma Pasko, Angelo Ramos, Naomi Springer, Giovanni Stivala, Antonia Summa, Jessica Trauger, Jeffrey Walsh, Kevin Walsh, Rylee Walsh, Isabella Waters and Molly Zimmer.

Honors: Olivia Amico, Ethan Art, Thomas Ciccotti, Emma Conte, Danielle Decker, Gregory Harrington, Mia Kochis, Leah Leppo, Aidan McCarthy, Kaylie McGregor, Caleb Milliron, Alexis Santarsiero, Isabella Stanco and Carissa Tallo.

GRADE 9

Distinguished honors: Anna Acculto, Hannah Albano, Jacquelyn Bitter, Colleen Blockberger, Faith Bravo, Chevelle Carroll, John Costanzi, Nicholas Creed, Grace Czankner, Nathan DeSando, Zachary Eynon, Kristine Fagioli, Sanliya George, Jacob Grande, Abigail Kopacz, Cadence Lewis, Ayman Mounota, Angelo Naro, Adriana Pacewicz, Eva Patel, Thomas Pavlowski, Kaylee Pinto, Maura Sheets, Kaylee Smith, Ashley Stefanac, Cataldo Talutto, Adeline Toole, Ciera Toomey, Madolyn Valvano and Madison Waltz.

Honors: Cheyanne Antoniotti, Carl Boone, Anthony Cantafio, Cole Capooci, Julia Cirba, Samantha Cortazar, John Crespo Clark, Nicola Hart, Gregory Hunt, Sonny Mattern, Patrick Pucilowski, Breanna Ramos, Nico Ruggiero and Michelle Sanders.

DUNMORE

MIDDLE SCHOOL

GRADE 8

Distinguished honors: Julianna Argust, Elsa Avila, Alexander Blasi, Collin Blasi, Thomas Bowen, Mia Capooci, Domenic DeSando, Sienna Delfino, Allison Dempsey, Nicholas DonVito, Noah Dougherty, Giulietta Escobar, Chloe Ezzell, Catherine Gilhooley, Megan Gilhooley, Andrew Haser, Quinn Healey, Nathan Howey-Reuther, Alishba Islam, Safwan Joiya, Geanna Kirchner, Brynn Kochis, Savannah Lockwood, Alexa Marone, Camden McCarthy, Nathan McMynne, Maura Michalczyk, Brett Monelli, Gia Petty, Nataly Portanova, Emma Renard, Kaitlyn Scherbenco, Bryce Talutto, Anthony Tunis, Joshua Wanick, Cailey Waters, Mia Waters and Kaylie Zimmer.

Honors: Cecelia Amico, Abiline Antoniotti, Logan Baum, Anna Belko, Grace Burrell, Rogan Dougherty, Abigail Earley, Serenity Fox, Molly Gatto, Li-Na Herron, Jacqueline Kelly, Caden Kirby, Ashley Lo, John Madafferi, Evan McHale, Sophia Mills, Mia Novak, Miguel Ramos, Shawn Rowell, Nicholas Tullio, Mackenzie Witkowski and Kamran Zia.

GRADE 7

Distinguished honors: Thomas Clark, MaryEllen Conway, Jack DiCindio, Cory Damiano, Cole Fangio, Max Forgione, Julianna Grow, Lauren Henry, Shamus Hinton, Matthew Iezzi, Antonio Ingargiola, Christopher Jaffe, Margaret Jimmie, Abigail Kocher-Vinton, Chloe Lynch, Cullen McCarthy, Jack McNeff, Tyara Mislan, Clinton Muir, Michael O’Hara, Christopher Padula, Aviana Rivera, Isabelle Rought, Mason Rucker, Lucy Seibert, Savanna Sherman, Loren Spudic, Conor Toole, Anna Trauger, Lucas Urban and Aidan Walsh.

Honors: Anthony Anelli, Kyle Cortazar, Scott Czankner, Madden D’Angelo, Athen DeNaples, Michael Dingle, Gabriel Franek, Angelo Gambo, Anthony Gambo, Andrew Gatto, Micaela Guardia, Ethan Gyetvai, Skye Madrazo, Jack Maloney, Madeline Mislinski, Connor Mullaney, Mya Orr, Chahat Patel, Timothy Redding, Zachary Riggall, Olivia Santarsiero, Brennen Smith and Sophia Talutto.

HONESDALE

HIGH SCHOOL

GRADE 12

Distinguished honor roll: Dominic Amato, Lilah Carmody, Ezekiel Conley-Vaverchak, Eva Cooley, Christian Dury, Sierra Friscia, Miranda Fritz, Tyler Gries, Jack Hopkins, Leonidas Kehagias, Dominic Maglione Jr., Alexis Mathews, Katherine Matlaga, Taylor Maxson, Margaret Murphy, Rachel Olver, Dana Pratt, Alexandria Reed, Libby Stephens, Jacob VanDeLinde, Kelly Varcoe, Isabella Watson, Maya Wehrmann, Leigha Welsh, Katherine Williams and Victoria Wormuth.

Honor roll: Arthur Ames, Dalen Banicky, Daniel Becker, Emily Bialecki, Hannah Blaine, Adam Blake, Elizabeth Blum, Jared Bochnovich, Gracie Box, Anna Branning, Keagan Bucksbee, Andrew Buckwalter, Walker Carney, Kyle Castellano, Johnathan Chrisler, Trinity Costa, Samantha Crum, Nathan Davies, Daniel DeCrotie, Jason Demers, Grady DeReamer, Dustin Edsall, Danielle Eifert, Rose Marie Eldred, John Firmstone, Ryan Forelli, Chloe Fox, Mathieu Frost, Arjun Fulp, Evan Gelatt, Zakari Goerndt, Sophia Goyette, Maddison Grasse, Lydia Grossman, Kyler Gunuskey, Tedra Harrison, Gavin Hedgelon, John Hiller, Julia Hopkins, Matthew Kinzinger, Tyler Kromko, Dayle Kulikowski, Taylor Kuta, Alexander Landers, Ethan Lehutsky, Alicia Lloyd, Lindsey Lloyd, William Long, Ally Maraza, Christopher McDevitt, Tara McLaughlin, Navarah Meyer, Thea Miller, Benjamin Miner, Jenna Mohn, Alyssa Mohrmann, Krystal Muller, Leah Neu, Chloe Nicolini, Ryan O’Neill, Sean O’Neill, Jordan Palmer, Cindy Perricone, Adriana Phillips, Kayleigh Pugh, Emily Quinn, Joseph Randisi, Madison Randolph, Nicole Roberts, Macey Rutledge, Joseph Scarfalloto, Luke Schwab, Jasmin Selimovic, Seth Senss, Nicholas Sherman, Taylor Slish, Riellie Tiernan, Alyssa Urban, Bennett Velazquez, Natalee West, Katherine Wilson and Alyssa Ziegler.

GRADE 11

Distinguished honor roll: Jakob Burlein, Jacob Egan, Drew Hazen, Samantha Howey, Gavin Kopesky, Robert Kretschmer, Leah Krol, Suzanna Kuta, Brooke Landers, Grace Maxson, Abigail Meagher, Emily Roberts, Alexandra Skidmore, Sarah Snow, Kemper Van Houten, Taylor Warring and Mia Yatwa.

Honor roll: Megan Bidwell, Rece Borsdam, Brady Carmody, John Christiansen, Mahlon Clark, Rachel Daub, Gina Dell’Aquila, Emma Diliberti, Katilee Dunn, Zachary Eisele-Bockelkamp, Azlyn Fritz, Johnathan Gilson, Gibsen Goodenough, Braydon Hanson, Bryce Haviland, Jared Hodorawis, Trinity Jachens, Emily Johannes, Geoffrey Johnson, Bryce Klinger, Elizabeth Kowalczyk, Ryan Kretschmer, Mia Land, Kylie Laude, Kallie Lazaro, Skyler Leclere. Rebecca Lohmann, Eric Lukan, Sara Lukic, Jacob Lyle, Lucas McElroy, Brynn McGinnis, Sarah Meyer, Emily Mitchell, Shannon O’Day, Cody Perry, James Potucek, Abigail Robson, Kane Rogers, Nikolas Romano, Maya Sampson, Frank Scarpa, Ella Sherman, Abby Skelton, Riley Skelton, Nadia Slish, Kyle Soden, Alyssa Stumpo, Kayla Walsh and Alexander Warshaw.

GRADE 10

Distinguished honor roll: Darcy Banicky, Joshua Clark, Caroline Cooley, Jocelyn Denoie, Sam Hopkins, Andrew Howell, Maria Kannebecker, Kayla Kuta, George Legg, Chloe Lyle, Emma Modrovsky, Tara Myers, John Rodriguez, Griffin Rogers, Emily Ruggles and Soren Schachter.

Honor roll: James Ahern III, Julia Armetta, Harrison Balthaser, Jocelyn Barnes, Alexis Barone, Erin Bass, Allison Billard, Hailey Boehmer, Olivia Canfield, Emily Chorba, Dominick Consiglio, Kathryn Corcoran, Anna Dunsinger, Jenna Eldred, Emma Faithful, Anthony Farina, Evan Fritz, Olivia Gries, Martin Hedgelon, Abbie Hessling, Andrew Ihlefeldt, Delilah Lohmann, Jeb McCormick, Hannah Merritt, Joseph Morea, Natalie Mozga, Deanna Privett, Geraint Riffle, Alexis Sinova, Ava Slish, Christina Stein, Brianna Taninies, Sidnie Taninies, Noah Theobald, Taylor Wendell and Zachary Wilken.

GRADE 9

Distinguished honor roll: Jessieca Moira Aguasin, Joseph Curreri, Nolan Duffy, Nathan Hugaboom, Aidan Latourette, Jonah Legg, Madison Meagher, Alaina Neu, Andrew Rhyne, Hannah Rybak, Davalyn Ursich, Tommi Vizcaino, Hailey Weigelt, Chloe Wolfe and Amaya Yarrish.

Honor roll: Veronica Baker, Hannah Batzel, Jacob Becker, Madison Breidenstein, Ivy Brinkerhoff, Kaitlyn Brown, Albert Clark Jr., Brodie Cole, Rachael Collins, Aidan Davidson, Trent Decker, Carly DeGrazia, Zachary DeReamer, Kate Dowling, Kira Fox, Lindsey Gannon, Chloe Habig, Joseph Harcum, Jack Higgins, Alexander Hiller, Brooke Hopkins, Rochelle Keast, Caroline Klinkiewicz, Karter Kromko, Lakelen Leclere, James Manoy, Emma Matlaga, Braden McLaughlin, Ella Miller, Jacob Millon, Jake Mundy, Sommare Myers, Gabriella Passaro, Gopi Patel, Kalin Pietraszewski, Alexandra Pinto, Madison Roberts, Chloe Rogers, Bradley Rotundo, Edward Skies, Triniti Sullivan, Madison Swendsen, Claragail Wheeler, Madeline Wilishefski and Sage Yorn.

LA SALLE ACADEMY

GRADE 8

Principal’s list: Jennifer Huang, Gillian Idhaw, Jack Krowiak, Sean McDonough, Mackenzie Muha and Benjamin Mulvey.

High honors: Anna Bebla, Brooke Bilski, Giga Baldan, Eva Carachilo, Gracie Ealo and Riley Nealon.

Honors: Grazia Cerminaro, Thomas Moran and Olivia Nepa

GRADE 7

Principal’s list: Zachary Kovaleski and Anthony Piestrak.

High honors: Christopher Bonacci, Katilyn Havran, Sydney Justice, Adriyanna Kushner, Sophia Moffitt, Rockne O’Connor, Hanna Pisarcik and Olivia Strazzeri.

Honors: Olivia DePrato, Conor Farrell, Robert Gentile, Grace Gregorowicz, Rocco Sansone, Juleann Walsh and Nico Warhola.

GRADE 6

Principal’s list: Katheryn Apolinario

High honors: Joey Connolly, Matthew Liuzzo, Jennifer Sweeny and Annabella Tayoun.

Honors: Ryder Clark, Emelia Franceski, Cole Lipinski, Zachary Scoblick, Arianna Tennyson and Elizabeth Tsang.

RIVERSIDE EAST

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

GRADE 6

Honors with distinction: Madelyn Battaglia, Nathan Beecham, William Byrne, John Chilleri, McKenzie Chimock, Thomas Collins, Michael Connor, Kyle Connor, Santino D’Amcio, Leah Diegnan, Steven Fuentes-Perez, Ivy Gao, Christopher Graff, Adrianna Hoover, Gabrielle Jordan, Brooke Kalteski, David Keiper, Benjamin Kulikowski, Claire Ledoux, Matthew McKeefery, Grace Munley, Kathryn O’Hara, Payton Oustrich, Brady Pica and Abigail Wilce.

Honors: Anthony Battaglia, Alexandra Battaglia, Gabriella Blasi, Nicholas Bohenek, Logan Borent, Cooper Borowski, Josue Cruz, Angelo D’Amico, Odayla Gomes-Cardoso, Mackenzie Keller, Eduardo Ortiz, Bella Peters, Jason Posluszny, Tierra Schiavo, McKenzie Schifano-Nichols, Ethan Slocum, Kaysha Vasquez, Kiley Williams and Kylie Zabriski.

WALLENPAUPACK AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL

GRADE 8

High honor roll: Avia Arbenny, Erica Badner, Kyle Carrubba, Carly Cerciello, Angelo Cresta ,Aidan Davy, Ciara Dennis, Tiffani Dixon, Jack Duggan, Breanna Elkind, Jordyn Fontano, Wren Frederick, Callie Gelderman, Amelia Gordon, Autumn Gordon, Ayla Healey, Taryn Hensel, Jake Holbert, Zachary Jantzi, Elizabeth Karpiak, Abigail Kimler, Hailey Koch, Daniel Marcus, Ty Mazzga, Lauren Mercereau, Caitlyn Mulcahy, Gunnar Myers, Hunter Myers, Katie O’Brien, Benjamin Ostroski, Kimberlee Peet, Evan Peppiatt, Aiden Pierson, Alexander Seretis, Michael Soskil, Mackenzie Tufaro, Molly Vennie and Karleigh Weist.

Honor roll: Nicholas Bajadek, Peter Bauza, Benjamin Bergensten, Mackenzie Billbe, Keegan Boehm, Hailey Brower, Paige Brush, Derek Burckes, Landon Calabrese, Hailey Compton, Daniella Cottone, Isabella Coyle, Luke Cuomo, Emma Cykosky, Sydnie Day, Gannon Decker, Raedyn Drasler, Madison Gentes, Nathan Glauner, Alexander Glicas, Kody Goldman, Teagan Goring, Olivia Gregorski, Madison Haberstumpf, Leah Haney, Grady Hearn, Kelly Hotaling, Alexa Kapschull, Leila Katz, Angelina Krug, Joshua Lake, Sophia Letki, Meghan Lim, Steven Maack, Sophia Mandara, Kristen McClintock, Kevin McCue, Payton McCue, Carly McElroy, Jada Morris, Garett Olsen, Juliana Olver, Kaiya Pagan, Summer Paugh, Elijah Peifer, Dylan Podrazil, Dakota Preziosi, Ryan Radzikowski, Ellyannah Ryner, Daniel Salvati, Jordan Santiago, Daniel Sarro, John Sasscer, Sara Shook, Emily Sterner, Lily Struble, Sydney Sura, Jillian Tait, Nicholas Tighe, Olivia Tighe, Dylan Trailovic, Owen Tussel, Faith VanHousen, Christian Vargo, Jake Vecchio, Holly Walton, Akira Wood, Tyler Yakaboski and Sadie Zagwoski.

GRADE 7

High honor roll: Morgan Augustine, Clara Babyak, Aaron Berninger, Justin Blanding, Darby Brennan, Emily Brown, Immanual Caulfied, Julia Ciuba, Mei Darnell, Zachary Dittus, Brayden Dix, Brooke Duggan, Brian Evichin, Ofri Ezra, Ashton Fabri, Aubrey Folk, Rahiem Fraser, Jacob Gardner, Andrew Geesey, Joshua Griffiths, Lia Gulumoglu, Annie Guo, Kaci Hackett, Paige Haney, Emily Hapke, Dakota Harkey, Jewelianna Ivosevic, Leah Jensen, Kayla Jones, Savannah Khoo, Elyssa Lin, Julianna Lofberg, Daniel Matyjaszek, Shin-Kook Moon, Sarah Niemiec, Madison Palencik, Giovanni Patire, Leo Reichman, Ella Smith, Allison Sterner, Hannah Stratton, Rachel VanLouvender and Jeffrey Zelosko.

Honor roll: Layan Abdallah, Mohammed Abdallah, Scarlett Ayres, Aidan Beheran, Nathaniel Black, Nicoholas Borer, Michelle Bronstein, Sophia Burbridge, Giuliana Cavezza-Cannata, Crystal Christianson, Breanna Conklin, Violet DeCarlo, Alyssa DeEsch, Dafina Demiri, Evan Downey, Jillian Dunaway, Ayla Dunning, Isabella Earl, Anthony Emilio, Gracie Faldetta, Zavier Fernandez, Stephen Frey, Justin Guinard, Casandra Hnatko, Hannah Hopkins, Jason Hosier, Ayden Hull, Michael Ivans, Jayson Johnson, Olivia Karp, Abigail Kaufman, Ehren Keller, Kailyn Kielbasa, Conan Kier, Drew Kiesendahl, Addison Kilpatrick, Katherine Kleintop, Dayla Knapp, Todd Kooistra, Charles Lang, Daniel Lauersen, Josephine Leighton, Daniel Lodini, Savanna Lomonaco, Corbin Martin, Michael McCloskey, Faith Merop, Gavin Michiels Timothy Neece, Brody Nelson, Chase Niles, Mark Nilsen, Jordan Palumbo, Derek Patten, Breanna Peirano, Hailey Polega, Robert Quinn, Mackenzie Razny, Joshua Rupp, Xaiden Schock, Nikolas Sentinella, Samuel Sherman, Christopher Simon, Eric Staskowski, Miranda Steuhl, Haven Strickland, Keenan Struck, Peyton Toth, Jacob Witten and Owen Wolf.

SCRANTON

The Lackawanna County commissioners will meet again this morning to discuss the 2020 budget.

The commissioners introduced a new 2020 budget Jan. 15, with an 11.3% property tax hike. Last week, commissioners unanimously tabled a proposed budget ordinance hiking 2020 county taxes by 6.5 mills.

Today’s meeting will begin at 10 a.m. in the fifth-floor conference room at the Lackawanna County Government Center on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

SCRANTON

Fire broke out early Tuesday morning in a garage attached to a Scranton home.

Crews rushed to 305 Park Edge Lane at 2:36 a.m. after a vehicle in the garage caught fire, interim Fire Chief Al Lucas said.

Why the vehicle caught fire is under investigation and will take “some time to pinpoint the cause,” Lucas said. However, the fire does not appear to be suspicious and was contained to the garage, he said.

No injuries were reported.

“Their (the firefighters) quick response and actions were key to keeping the damage to a minimum,” Lucas said.

The home is owned by Ron Koriniskie, according to Lackawanna County assessment records.

Attempts to reach Koriniskie were unsuccessful. Koriniskie wrote on his Facebook page that his fire alarm went off early in the morning and praised the fire department’s quick response.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

High notes

Jan. 30, 1895

Scranton teen

to receive help

A Scranton teen applied for assistance from the Luzerne County Humane Association following an ordeal in Wilkes-Barre.

According to the teen, she left home in Scranton on Jan. 22, following a fight with her mother. She boarded a train for Wilkes-Barre to look for work. While walking around downtown Wilkes-Barre, she found herself at Wonderland, a museum and theater on South Main Street. There she met a woman who offered her a place to stay.

On Jan. 28, she had been locked out from her temporary lodging. The teen began walking the streets again.

She was approached by two men who both made improper proposals. A third man witnessed the interactions and interrupted, getting the teen away from the men. The third man took her to Bristol Hotel and gave her 50 cents to pay for a night’s stay.

In the morning of Jan. 29, she reached out to the Humane Association for help.

The Luzerne County Humane Association aimed to fight against the ill treatment of children and animals.

Debate roundup

The Hyde Park Literary and Debating society held a debate on the following topic: “Resolved, that Longfellow was the greatest American poet.”

After much debate, it was decided that yes, Longfellow was the greatest American poet.

The Epworth League of Providence announced the topic of its next debate at the Providence M.E. Church on Main Avenue. The topic would be “whether or not intemperance is more destructive than war.”

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.

A Lackawanna County judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a rental property owner who alleged a Scranton housing inspector’s negligence caused him to file a false insurance report that led to charges being filed against him.

Vsevolod “Steve” Garanin filed suit last year, alleging the inspector’s faulty report led him to unknowingly file a false insurance claim in October 2016.

Garanin was charged in June 2017 with insurance fraud, theft by deception and attempted theft by deception relating to a property at 436-438 Ripple St. Police said he sought $35,800 from Erie Insurance Group to replace several boilers that had frozen water damage, knowing the damage occurred before he purchased the policy.

He pleaded guilty in June 2018 to attempted theft by deception and was later sentenced to three to 42 months in jail.

The suit said Garanin believed the boilers were operational because the inspector did not note any damage. By law, government bodies are immune from liability for employees’ actions except in limited circumstances. Judge Terrence Nealon dismissed the suit, finding Garanin’s claims did not fall within any of the exceptions.

Garanin has a separate federal lawsuit against the city, alleging inspectors improperly condemned several of his properties. A judge recently denied the city’s motion to dismiss that case, which remains pending.

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

HONESDALE

Wayne Bank’s earnings up 9%

A drop in uncollected loans and jump in net interest income drove a fourth-quarter earnings boost for Wayne Bank’s parent company, Norwood Financial Corp.

The financial company posted a 9% earnings increase for a total $3.6 million for the last quarter of 2019. Net income for the year was $14.2 million, a 4% increase compared to 2018.

Total assets were $1.2 billion; loans receivable totaled $924.6 million; total deposits were at $957.5 million.

Earnings per share were up 4 cents on a fully diluted basis at 57 cents for the quarter.

— JON O’CONNELL

SCRANTON — New York investors bought the former Mellon Bank building at Spruce Street and Wyoming Avenue.

Partners Isack D. Weisz, Joseph K. Weisz and Yisruel Duvid Braun of Mellon Building Apartments LLC paid $1.35 million for the five-story, 40,000-square-foot office building, currently the Republican Party of Lackawanna County headquarters and lawyers’ offices, from Wyoming and Spruce Associates.

Robert Pettinato, partner with Wyoming and Spruce, said the 130-year-old building is about half occupied.

“They bought it to reposition it because it needed a little TLC,” said Craig Dunkle of the real estate firm Marcus and Millichap, who represented both buyer and seller.

The partners are looking into the “highest and best use,” he said, with the possibility for retail, office

and apartments.

“It’s a very attractive building,” Dunkle said, noting the spot’s good visibility got even better when Lackawanna County government consolidated its offices across Wyoming Avenue in the former Globe store.

“I honestly think there’s a regional, maybe national, retail play for the first floor,” he said.

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131; @jon_oc

Dunmore

Society meets: SS. Anthony and Rocco Altar and Rosary Society meeting, Feb. 5, 7 p.m., parish hall at St. Rocco’s, Luke Avenue and Kurtz Street, plans for Ash Wednesday pizza fritta sale and Palm Sunday bake sale will be discussed.

Riverside

School District

Seeking memorabilia: Seeking old memorabilia from the former Taylor, Moosic, Taylor-Moosic and Riverside school districts for an ongoing student project funded by the Lackawanna Heritage Valley; call Shawn Murphy, 570-239-5720, to donate.

Throop

Paper recycling: Paper recycling has been changed to the Monday prior to normal Tuesday recycling collection; paper is to be placed in a bin to be collected, no bags are allowed; 570-489-8311.

West Scranton

Casino trip: West Side Active Older Adult Community Center bus trip to the Tioga Downs Casino near Binghamton, N.Y., on Feb. 27, bus leaves the center, 1004 Jackson St., at 9 a.m. and leaves the casino at 4:30 p.m., $25/members and $28/non-members, $40 rebate ($30/free play and $10/food voucher), optional brown bag breakfast is offered for the trip, 21 and older; reservations, 570-961-1592, ext 101.

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.

MOOSIC

A West Wyoming man faces charges after police said he stole parts from vehicles on two dates.

David Stuart Hooke Jr. , 50, 1601 W. 8th St. , was charged Tuesday with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and criminal conspiracy.

Hooke stole a starter, car batteries, floor jacks and other items, totaling $1,740, from a property at the rear of 4118 Birney Ave. on Jan. 3 and Jan. 10, police said.

The items were found at Ben Weitsman of Scranton , a scrap metal recycler, police said.

Bail information was not available Wednesday night.

A preliminary hearing is set for March 6.

— ROBERT TOMKAVAGE

Pennsylvania voters view Republican President Donald Trump more favorably lately and either better or about the same as the top Democratic contenders for the White House, according to a new poll released Wednesday.

More than two in five voters, about 41%, see Trump either strongly or somewhat favorably with almost three in five, about 55%, seeing him strongly or somewhat unfavorably, according to the Franklin & Marshall College poll.

In October, almost two in five voters found Trump favorable and three in five voters found him unfavorable with the strongly unfavorable significantly higher.

The president doesn’t come off too badly when compared to former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders.

■ More than two in five voters, 43%, view Biden strongly or somewhat favorably with almost half, 47%, viewing him strongly or somewhat unfavorably.

■ Almost two in five voters, 39%, see Sanders favorably compared to more than half, 54%, who see him unfavorably.

■ Even fewer than Sanders view Warren favorably — 37% — with what approaches half — 46% — viewing her unfavorably.

“I think what you’re seeing here is kind of a negative feeling about the nature of the campaign and how bitter and vituperative all of this is right now,” said G. Terry Madonna, the longtime political analyst who directs the poll. “That’s really, really a sign of the times, if you will.”

Only former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg is viewed more favorably than unfavorably with more than two in five voters, 41%, saying they don’t know enough or are undecided about him.

More good news

More good news for the president: His job approval rating (good or excellent job) rose from about a third in October to almost two in five in the latest poll. That’s his best rating since August 2018.

More than three in five think he’s doing a fair or poor job. The poor rating dropped below 50% for the first time in almost three years.

“I’m not ruling out (and saying) that Trump can’t win Pennsylvania,” Madonna said. “I’m not saying he will. I’m just saying at this point, you can’t rule it (Trump winning) out.”

Several poll results also bode poorly for Trump.

Only slightly more than two in five voters, 41%, think the president deserves re-election with almost three in five saying it’s time for a change, though that’s up from October, too. Fewer than two in five say the country is headed in the right direction with almost three in five saying it’s on the wrong track.

Neither result makes Trump’s re-election impossible.

In February 2012, about the same time in his re-election bid, the F&M poll found fewer voters, 47%, thought President Barack Obama deserved reelection than desired change, 49%.

Obama compares

Obama’s job approval was about the same — 37% good or excellent and 64% fair or poor.

At that time, fewer than a third of voters thought the country was on the right track and more than half thought it was headed on the wrong track.

The latest poll also looked worse for Biden against his Democratic challengers.

In October, Biden had the support of 30% of Pennsylvania Democrats with Warren running second at 18%, Sanders, 12%, Buttigieg, 8%, and everyone else at 2% or less.

In the latest poll, Biden is at 22%, Sanders, 15%, Warren, 14%, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, 7%, Buttigieg, 6%, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and enterpreneur Andrew Yang, 5% and everyone else at 1% or less.

The poll surveyed 628 registered voters and has a margin of error plus or minus 6.2 percentage points. The sample error is larger for questions focused solely on the 292 Democratic voters, plus or minus 9 percentage points.

Contact the writer:

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

@BorysBlogTT on Twitter

MARRIAGE LICENSE

• Nicholas Carl Checko and Kimberly Allison Turner, both of South Abington Twp.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

• Jeanne Arli-Hammer, executrix of the estate of Catherine Harrington, also known as Catherine A. Harrington, Bronx, N.Y., to Maggie Boland and John Hance, Washington, D.C.; a property at Moosic Lakes, Jefferson Twp., for $260,000.

• Ann Maureen McLaughlin to Dylan Austin Quinn and Douglas Oliver Quinn, Scranton; a property at 2426-2428 N. Wash­ington Ave., Scranton, for $190,000.

• Jennifer Feldra to Robert C. and Erin L. Moore; a property in Olyphant for $275,000.

• Sharon A. Rupe, trustee of the Novak Real Estate Irrevoc­able Trust, Dunmore, to Eugenio Rodriguez, Waymart; a property at 147 E. Pine St., Dunmore, for $68,000.

• Joanne Getz, Scranton, to Tracy and Timothy J. Brennan, Forest City; a property at 3019 Colliery Ave., Scranton, for $221,000.

• Janice P. Rockmore, executrix of the estate of Robert Charles Pritchard, also known as Robert Charles Pritchard Jr., Ewing, N.J., to Jeffrey Haung Kit and Susan H. Ekerling Koon, Brooklyn, N.Y.; a property at 3961 Jubilee Road, Madison Twp., for $72,000.

• Dalton Dickson Properties LLC, Dalton, to Charles J. Farrell, Scranton; a property at 402 S. Webster Ave., Scranton, for $112,000.

• Northern Tier Properties LLC, Throop, to Eric and Erin Reekie, Warwick, N.Y.; a property at 1406-1408 Capouse Ave., Scranton, for $150,000.

• Mara McGinnis, Long Island City, N.Y., Tammi Dean, Fairport, N.Y., Shannon Linn, Honeoye Falls, N.Y., and Molly Gathercole, now known as Molly McGinnis, Henrietta, N.Y., to Pamela Seales, Allentown; a property at 431 Seymour Ave., Scranton, for $124,500.

• Grange Manor LLC, Waverly, to Timothy Stott, Scott Twp.; a property at 1704 Elizabeth St., Scranton, for $136,000.

• MJC Realty LLC, Pittston, to Sway Auto LLC, Scranton; parcels in Scranton for $25,000.

DIVORCE DECREES

• Kevin Gilbride v. Kathryn Gilbride

• Shawn Jennings v. Jamie Constantine

• Abby Holland v. Amy Holland

• Rosemary Rezak v. William Rezak

• Charles O’Dell v. Bridget O’Dell

ESTATES FILED

• Carol Thomas, also known as Carol Ann Thomas, 510 Grier St., Dickson City, letters testamentary to Mark Brojack, P.O. Box 215, South Canaan.

• Margaret Sohns, 942 Lincoln St., Dickson City, letters testamentary to Robert Sohns, 513 Storrs St., Dickson City.

• Carmen Pellegrino, 317 Lauer Ave., Scranton, letters of administration to Carmen Pellegrino Jr., 131 Windsor Way, Roaring Brook Twp.

BENCH WARRANTS

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

• Jocelyn Rodgers, 82½ Elizabeth St., Pittston; $712.25.

• Christopher A. Montafia, 137 W. Market St., Room 4, Scranton; $6,792.25.

• Eric Martin, 116 S. Main St., Carbondale; $1,269.

• Anthony Jerome Mays, 29 Al Kaz Lane, Clifford Twp.; $443.25.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/court

As environmental engineers evaluate lead and asbestos problems, students from three Scranton schools will stay home today. Students will only return to Northeast Intermediate School and Robert Morris and Frances Willard elementary schools after experts deem the buildings safe.

“We are trying to mitigate any unnecessary risk, but we’re also trying to do that with the least disruption to students and to education,” Scranton School Board President Katie Gilmartin said soon after the district announced the closings Wednesday night.

Robert Morris will be closed today and Friday for remediation and removal of pipe fittings. Willard also will be closed through the end of the week so crews can stabilize wall and ceiling deterioration. Both schools will reopen only after air quality tests report safe conditions. As crews test for asbestos at Northeast Intermediate, the school will be closed for at least today.

Meanwhile, concerns about asbestos kept the heavy wood doors to John Adams Elementary School’s gym closed on Wednesday.

About 120 miles away, Gov. Tom Wolf announced plans to help it reopen.

With Superintendent Melissa McTiernan near his side, Wolf proposed up to $1 billion in grants from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, known as RACP, be used for lead and asbestos remediation in schools statewide. The issue plagues many districts with older buildings.

“Pennsylvania should be a place free of lead and asbestos,” he said during the news conference. “It’s what every Pennsylvania family deserves. It’s what every Pennsylvania child deserves.”

Scranton officials continue to assess the asbestos and lead problem, which they say the previous administration knew about and largely ignored.

“It’s very disappointing to me. I think the health, safety and welfare of children and staff always have to be of primary concern,” Chief Recovery Officer Candis Finan, Ed.D., said Wednesday. “I really do not understand why it wasn’t addressed. But here it is. We just have to deal with it.”

This month, the district turned off or placed warnings at 38 sinks and fountains across the district, including at West Scranton and Northeast intermediate schools, Memorial Stadium and Prescott, McNichols Plaza, Armstrong, Bancroft and Whittier elementary schools. Asbestos exists in all buildings except the newest: Scranton High School and Whittier, Tripp and Kennedy elementary schools, according to documents reviewed by The Times-Tribune this week.

Through a Right to Know law request, the newspaper’s review of environmental reports found a lack of action by district personnel after 2018 water tests. The environmental testing firm urged the district to shut off more than two dozen faucets and sinks in January 2019, but many of those fixtures remained in operation until this month, when the tests again revealed unsafe lead levels. The lack of action from past leaders is now part of the ongoing criminal probe of the school district.

Administration decided to close the gym at Adams Elementary this week because of asbestos in the ceiling. Staff moved furniture in the school’s library, where students will now have gym class. This week, gym class consists of yoga and mindfulness.

In Harrisburg on Wednesday, officials used Scranton as an example for a district that needs help.

The governor’s plan, which requires legislative approval, also includes $1.7 million to develop and implement a lead testing program in schools and child care facilities throughout the state.

Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, attended the press conference with McTiernan, and said Wolf’s plan would help Scranton and other districts in need of remediation.

“Obviously, it’s a very dangerous situation for students and teachers,” Blake said. “The governor’s announcement is timely. At least we have a way to move forward, and the state can be a partner.”

Efforts to reach McTiernan after the news conference were unsuccessful.

Contact the writer:

shofius@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9133;

@hofiushallTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — Lackawanna County property owners will see an 11.3% tax hike this year.

A split Board of Commissioners begrudgingly approved an amended 2020 budget Wednesday that hikes county taxes by 6.5 mills. A mill is a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value. The owner of a typical county home assessed at $12,000 will see their county tax bill rise by about $78 this year.

Commissioner Debi Domenick voted against the budget and tax hike. Commissioners Jerry Notarianni and Chris Chermak voted yes.

Both Notarianni and Chermak described the hike as an unpleasant but necessary step to bolster a diminishing general fund surplus and begin replenishing a pension fund largely neglected by recent administrations. Officials will use the new revenue to mostly close a roughly $5.8 million 2020 operating deficit and make a $3.87 million pension contribution this year.

The county’s 2020 annual required pension fund contribution will exceed $4 million. Several administrations of commissioners contributed a total of just about $3.27 million to the pension fund since 2007, including six years where no contribution was made at all.

“I’ve been doing everything but stand on my head to figure out we could not do this,” Chermak, the board’s lone Republican, said of the hike. “So far, unfortunately, I have not found a way. And I’m not a financial expert, but we’ve met with all of them.”

Notarianni, who proposed the hike about two weeks ago, has long accused former commissioners Patrick O’Malley and Laureen Cummings of insufficiently funding pensions and misrepresenting the county’s financial health while downplaying cost overruns associated with the Globe store conversion project. The county will draw $5 million from its general fund to cover those overruns, which will further shrink the surplus.

“The (budget) ordinance is one that no one is particularly comfortable with,” Notarianni said. “It’s something that is absolutely necessary due to the circumstances we were left. ... I didn’t wake up one morning and decide that I think I’ll go raise taxes.”

Commissioners tabled a vote on the budget last week to give officials more time to research the matter. County Chief Financial Officer Tom Durkin warned during that meeting that failure to fund pensions and bolster the surplus could imperil the county’s investment-grade bond rating. A downgraded bond rating would likely mean higher interest rates on future debt refinancing and more expensive bond insurance, he said.

Domenick expressed fear the 11.3% hike will be prohibitively expensive for some property owners, especially vulnerable Scranton taxpayers who also face rising school and city property taxes this year.

That past administrations underfunded pensions and contributed to the current predicament is “completely unacceptable,” said Domenick, who would have preferred a smaller 2020 tax hike or none at all coupled with significant cost-cutting efforts.

The county could conceivably forego a full pension contribution this year, close operating deficits with the existing surplus and avoid the 6.5-mill hike without necessarily losing its “A-stable” bond rating, she said prior to the vote.

If commissioners rejected the 11.3% hike this year, they’d likely have to raise taxes by even more in 2021, possibly by 8.5 mills or 14.8%, Durkin said.

“I just think it’s irresponsible to kick this down the road any farther,” Chermak said. “I’ve lost sleep over it. I mean I’m not supposed to be the guy up here voting for a tax increase, but this has gone on too long.”

In addition to exploring ways to cut costs, Chermak vowed not to vote to initiate a property tax reassessment during his term.

Several residents, including Cummings, criticized the tax hike at the meeting.

“I’m one of the people that can lose my home because Scranton taxes are going up, county taxes are going up and school taxes are going up,” said city resident Fay Franus, who attacked all three commissioners in the course of her remarks.

Not everyone was critical.

Scranton resident Joan Hodowanitz acknowledged the burden of rising taxes, but noted the cost of government increases year after year.

“You’re very naive if you think costs are not going up and eventually taxes are not going to go up, too,” she said, suggesting the last administration held taxes steady for political purposes. “I’m just surprised that they got away with it for so long.”

Hodowanitz closed by complimenting Chermak and Notarianni.

“I know it took a lot of intestinal fortitude to take these slings and arrows,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that you got stuck with having to do it.”

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

SCRANTON

Two people fought briefly on a downtown street after a minor collision between two vehicles about 12:30 p.m. today.

Police said an SUV and car headed west in adjacent lanes collided in front of the Spruce Street entrance to the Electric City Parking garage when one vehicle tried to change lanes.

Amazed witnesses said a person from each car fought in the street. Police said they’re unsure if they will charge anyone.

No one was injured, and the damage to the vehicles appeared minor.

The crash blocked traffic on the block for about 15 minutes.

— BORYS KRAWCZENIUK

SCRANTON

A city man faces charges after police said he sold drugs to a confidential informant Monday.

Kenneth Marc Garber, 52, 722 Prescott Ave., was charged with possession with intent to deliver and related counts.

The informant bought approximately two grams of suspected heroin from Garber, police said.

Police searched Garber and found suspected heroin in a pill bottle, $20 and a cell phone.

Garber was released on $20,000 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 6.

— ROBERT TOMKAVAGE

NOTRE DAME, Ind. -  According to a report from WDNU TV, former WNEP reporter Jim Renick was arrested again, this time at a University of Notre Dame swim meet.

He was arrested at the Rolfs Aquatic Center at Notre Dame simply for being there.

As a registered sex offender for life, it is a felony for Renick to  set foot on the property of any school.

Notre Dame police took Renick into custody after a report that a suspicious individual was taking pictures of participants at a swim meet Friday.

Police questioned Renick and learned he pleaded guilty to molesting two boys under the age of 10 in 1996. A search of his home turned up thousands of photographs of young boys naked and in bathing suits.

Renick’s arrest at Notre Dame marks his second in less then two years. In August of 2018, Renick was arrested after taking pictures of juveniles participating in a swim meet in Geneva, Ohio.

His bond has been set at $2,000 cash.

SHICKSHINNY — The father of an 11-week-old baby who was crushed to death told state police he has a history of rage-induced “blackouts” and that he repeatedly bear-hugged the child because the crying kept him awake at night, according to troopers.

Jeffery Blake Hutcheson, 22, will stand trial on aggravated assault charges alleging he repeatedly squeezed Terran Jayce Hutcheson at the family home on West 3rd Street, Nescopeck, a magistrate ordered Thursday after hearing the testimony.

“The defendant admitted to squeezing the victim on at least three occasions,” Trooper Steven Scoble testified. “He insinuated it was a bear hug. ... He related that it was too much force.”

According to police, officers were dispatched to Berwick Hospital the morning of Sept. 28 to a report of an 11-week-old boy who had died. Police say every one of the baby’s ribs was broken and that he had suffered multiple subdural hematomas — a collection of blood outside the brain, usually caused by severe head injuries.

Trooper Lisa Brogan testified that a doctor described Terran as having both old and new rib fractures, indicating a period of abuse that spanned the 52-day period from when the baby left the hospital to when he died.

When troopers initially interviewed Hutcheson about what happened, he said Terran had been with his maternal grandparents the day before he died because he and the mother were car shopping, Brogan said. They got home around 10:30 p.m. Sept. 27 and went to sleep, but the baby woke Hutcheson up around 1 a.m. Sept. 28, she said.

He went to sleep on the couch with the baby and claimed he awoke the next morning to find the child unresponsive, she said.

But Brogan also testified that Hutcheson indicated he had a darker side.

“He told us at certain points — times in his life — that he had rage blackouts,” Brogan said.

During further questioning at the state police barracks at Shickshinny, Hutcheson admitted squeezing the baby on several occasions when he couldn’t sleep, Scoble said. Hutcheson worked a 5 a.m. shift at McDonald’s, and told troopers he got frustrated when the baby kept him awake at night, he said.

He also told investigators that he was “the only person responsible” for what happened, Scoble said.

During cross-examination of the troopers, defense attorney Demetrius Fannick noted that during the 52 days the child was at home he had gone to a pediatrician three times — on Aug. 7, Sept. 3 and Sept. 17 — and was never once observed to have bruising or trouble breathing.

In arguing for dismissal of the charges, Fannick said police don’t know exactly when Terran sustained his injuries and that multiple people — including his mother and grandparents — also cared for him.

“There’s no way that my client would be able to tell whether he hugged the child too tightly ... that would have caused the injuries,” Fannick said. “It’s a guess.”

Assistant District Attorney Angela Sperrazza countered that the judge needn’t take Hutcheson’s word for it — the baby’s injuries backed up his confession.

“It’s not a guess. There’s broken ribs. There’s old fractures and new fractures,” Sperrazza said. “All the way down the left side and all the way down the right side.”

After hearing the arguments, Magisterial District Judge Matthew C. Christopher forwarded charges of aggravated assault and child endangerment to county court for trial.

Hutcheson has not yet been charged with causing his son’s death, but authorities say criminal homicide charges are pending.

Because Hutcheson has not yet been charged with homicide, Fannick requested Christopher set bail for his client, who has been held without bail at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility since his arrest the day his son died.

Sperrazza argued that Hutcheson is from Mississippi and has no family ties in the area, calling him a flight risk.

Christopher agreed to set bail but heeded Sperrazza’s request for a high amount, and set bail at $250,000.

Hutcheson declined to comment as troopers escorted him out of the courtroom.

Former local newscaster and convicted child molester Jim Renick was again arrested for photographing children at a swim meet, this time at the University of Notre Dame.

Renick, 70, of Beach Grove, Indiana, was charged Friday with a felony count of unlawful entry by a serious sex offender after he was caught shooting photos at the university’s Rolf’s Aquatic Center.

The arrest marks the second time in about 1 1/2 years Renick was charged in connection with photographing children. In August 2018 authorities in Ashtabula County, Ohio charged him with obstruction of justice after spectators reported he took photos at a swim meet at the Spire Sports Center Complex in Harpersfield, Twp. He pleaded guilty on Oct. 24, 2018, and was sentenced to 90 days in jail and two years probation, court records shows.

In the latest case, authorities in St. Joseph County, Indiana, were called after spectators became suspicious of Renick’s activity. Questioned by police, Renick told officers he drove from his home, which is about three hours away, because he “likes to take pictures.”

Officers asked him if he had ever been convicted of anything and he replied there was “some issue in Ohio several year ago about confusion with him taking photos.”

Police did a record check and discovered Renick had been convicted of multiple sexual offenses against children in Pennsylvania and was subject to lifetime registration in Indiana as a sex offender.

Renick worked as a newscaster for WNEP-TV for years before his 1995 arrest for molesting a 12-year-old Luzerne County boy and taking sexually suggestive photos of other boys at area swim meets in Lackawanna County. He pleaded guilty in 1995 to molesting the boy and taking the photographs and was sentenced to three to six years in prison. He served the maximum sentence and was released in 2002.

Shortly after his 2002 release he was charged with violating parole after he had a chance encounter with the teenage victim he molested at an area store. A judge ruled the incident was not a violation, however.

In 2015 Renick was again accused of violating his parole after he was found outside his Indiana home with a camera. He was sentenced to an additional two years of probation for that offense.

In the Indiana case, Renick is incarcerated at the St. Joseph County Jail for lack of $2,000 cash bail. He faces a hearing on Feb. 4 at 9 a.m. in the Superior Court of Indiana.

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