ARCHBALD - Borough police charged a man Saturday after police said he slapped and choked his girlfriend.

Colin Rumford, 26, 19 Circle Drive, argued with Heidi Young in Mr. Rumford's car in the parking lot of Quinn's Market on Saturday afternoon, and the argument turned physical.

There were some faint red marks on the side of her neck, police said. Mr. Rumford told police he argued with his girlfriend but never hit her.

He was charged with simple assault and harassment. He was taken to Lacakwanna County Prison in lieu of $10,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9.

A fund has been established at a local bank so residents can contribute to a reward being offered for information regarding the Thanksgiving night beating death of a 97-year-old Nanticoke woman.

The reward stands at $3,000 for anyone who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer of Gertrude Price, according to the organizer of the reward fund, retired Nanticoke police officer Kevin Grevera.

Grevera offered the first $1,000 hours after news broke Friday of Price's killing and others pledged contributions in the following days, he said.

The reward fund, set up at PNC Bank, is being administered by the Nanticoke nonprofit group, Fraternal Order of Eagles, Aerie 834.

Donations can be sent to: FOE Just Rewards Fund, c/o Gertrude Price, PNC Bank, 600 S. Market St., Nanticoke, PA 18634.

Any PNC Bank branch can accept cash or checks for the reward fund, Grevera said.

Grevera, who now runs a firearms and precious metals business called The Hunting Depot, said the community has rallied around the idea of a reward.

"I think we all have a sense of pride in the fact Mrs. Price was able to live in Nanticoke all those years and work hard and contribute as a taxpaying resident. She should have been able to enjoy that liberty and peace until God chose to call her home," Grevera said. "Nanticoke is a community that cares about its residents and doesn't tolerate this type of behavior."

Price's great-grandson, Jason Piper, said the family was appreciative of the reward effort.

"The family heard about it. We were surprised," Piper said. "It's good that people are pulling together."

A viewing for Price will be held tonight at Davis-Dinelli Funeral Home at 170 E. Broad St. in Nanticoke. Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at the funeral home, then she will be laid to rest at Edge Hill Cemetery in West Nanticoke.

Investigators say an intruder beat Price to death at 23 E. Grand St. in what investigators are calling a random home invasion robbery. It appears the killer entered the house through a basement window that had been broken out, police said.

Family members found Price dead inside her home just before 10 a.m. Friday, about 12 hours after they last knew she was alive. Investigators believe the killing occurred around 11 p.m. Thanksgiving night - because lights were on in the house at a time she would be sleeping.

"The purpose of this fund is to honor her memory, organize a community effort to show a zero tolerance for violent crimes perpetrated against our residents, and primarily is an effort to help provide information to investigating law enforcement officials concerning this crime," Grevera said.

Anyone with information - especially anyone who saw something between 10 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. Friday - is asked to call state police at Wyoming at 570-697-2000.

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2055, @cvbobkal

Standard & Poor's Rating Services upgraded its credit rating for Wilkes-Barre.

The credit agency changed its ratings for the city's general obligation bonds from A-negative to A-positive in November. The improvement comes about a year after the agency downgraded the city's rating to A-negative because of liquidity problems.

Improved liquidity contributed to the upgrade and an analyst said the city's rating could be raised should Wilkes-Barre not run into the same cash flow problems it saw in 2012.

During the past year, Wilkes-Barre left a negative watch list and improved ratings on its bonds, according to a press release from the city.

"Wilkes-Barre's budgetary flexibility remains very strong, with reserves above 19% of expenditures for the past several years and no plans to significantly spend them down," according to the press release's account of the report.

"We have made our Minimum Municipal Obligation payment every year since 2004, our pension funds are better funded than most municipalities overall, and we are servicing our debt at lower cost because of the improved credit rating," said Mayor Tom Leighton in the press release. "We still face significant hurdles especially a struggling economy. The vast majority of governmental revenues are tied to the overall health of the local economy. With a stubbornly high unemployment rate, it makes it difficult to balance the escalating cost of services with the existing tax base."

City council will vote this week on a $3 million tax and revenue anticipation note, which the city will pay back at an interest rate of 1.68 percent, the release said.

SCRANTON - The annual Christmas dinner organized by Scranton businessman Bob Bolus will change venues this year, said event coordinator Doug Miller.

Usually the dinner, now in its 19th year, is held on Christmas Day at St. Lucy's Church on Scranton Street in West Scranton.

The day is the same, but residents can feast on a turkey dinner with all the trimmings at St. Patrick's Rectory on Jackson Street beginning at noon.

Mr. Miller also said that they need help cooking 75 turkeys.

He said anyone interested in helping should call 570-346-7659.

A federal grand jury indicted two of the four men accused of operating an underage prostitution ring in Pittston.

Gregory "C-Lo" Boone, 29, and Randy "Holliday" Coleman Jr., 33, both of Pittston, are charged with federal counts of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of children, sex trafficking of children and multiple counts of producing child pornography, according to the U.S. attorney's office.

Prosecutors say the pair conspired with others to prostitute out underage girls in August and September, using cellphones to take suggestive pictures of the girls to post as advertisements on Backpage.com.

They are accused of recruiting at least three girls and possibly a fourth into their ring, which operated in Luzerne, Lackawanna and Dauphin counties, prosecutors said.

Gregory Boone and Mr. Coleman were previously charged in state court along with two alleged accomplices - Pittston resident Anthony Lamont "D-Lo" Boone, 30, who is Gregory Boone's brother, and Jose Alvelo, 19, of Nanticoke. They are facing counts of promoting the prostitution of a minor and related offenses.

The federal charges could mean significantly stiffer sentences for Gregory Boone and Mr. Coleman. Prosecutors say they face up to life in prison if convicted.

Contact the writer: jhalpin@citizensvoice.com

What if the Mall at Steamtown turned "inside out?"

What if Scranton Iron Furnaces heated up again, with a restaurant rather than iron coke?

Those are some of the ideas put down on paper and on the Internet by architects and designers at Scranton-based DxDempsey Architects in a project they are calling "Scranton What If?"

Largely on their own time, they are turning their creative vision on neglected or struggling places in the city and rethinking what they can be, stimulating a flurry of discussion in social media platforms, such as Facebook and on the website, www.ScrantonWhatIf.com.

Firm owner Michele Dempsey called the project an expression of the affinity she and her employees have for the Electric City. Also, they want to get citizens thinking about issues that rarely occur to laypeople, such as land use and design.

"We want to empower and inspire others and show them a vision of what could be," she said. "Architects are supposed to have this gift of vision and we have an obligation to share it."

The work is more than pretty drawings. The team has done research to find out the original construction of the structures and made engineering considerations to make sure their proposals would be executable.

Adding fire

Ms. Dempsey did not like that the Iron Furnaces - in some ways the crucible in which the city of Scranton was born - went unnoticed for years and only recently became a more visible venue for events.

DxDempsey's treatment featured a restaurant and gallery, part of which would be inside the massive furnace towers. The platform that currently tops the furnace would be replaced by ersatz smoke stacks with red lights or curved metal faux flames that would draw attention from the expressway and Interstate 81.

The idea went viral, with one commentor saying the idea was so cool, she would "come home" if it happened.

"People are drawn to the Iron Furnaces," Ms. Dempsey said. "It's really where Scranton began."

Mauling the mall

Ms. Dempsey always viewed a walk past the Mall at Steamtown as forbidding.

The mall has entrances from the street, but they hardly look inviting. One on the Bon-Ton side has not been used as an entrance for more than a decade. Nothing about the wall of glass and brick made her want to walk in, even though she is a mall customer.

Malls, she said, were created for the suburbs. With the revival of downtown living and more people shopping and dining downtown in recent years, the mall seems even more out of place to her. Taking a cue from the revival of other malls in other parts of the country, her drawings would remove the roof and make a common areas she calls, The Steamtown Promenade. Some of the retail space would be converted to offices or apartments, making it a "mixed use development" in planning parlance.

Local architect Joe Descipio has seen DxDempsey's imaginative work and applauds the creativity. However, he said it takes more than vision and enthusiasm to make things a reality. It takes a lot of money, usually from a developer who shares the architect's vision. That often means a client dedicated to saving existing buildings, which is often more expensive than razing and building new. Grant money and public dollars - which are in short supply - are often needed for such high-minded projects.

"Even more than money, you need a team of like-minded people behind ideas like these," he said. "Zoning laws aren't tailored to these unconventional solutions. Work in a city is never as easy as going into the 'burbs, clearing land and building on a level lot."

Ms. Dempsey admitted she would like Scranton What If? to work and catch the eye of a client who would hire the firm and collaborate on the project. The drawing of an institutional building for the vacant lot on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and Mulberry Street seems particularly directed at the city's largest architectural patron: the University of Scranton.

Scranton What If? is stimulating discussion, if not yet commissions.

Scranton What If? played a part in prompting Adam Ceresko to feature his idea on his blog of positive Northeast Pennsylvania news, RootedNow.com.

With Bon-Ton closing its downtown store, he proposed putting a Whole Foods market on the first floor following his research into the chain's siting strategies. The Nov. 14 post went viral - shared or liked more than 3,700 times on Facebook.

The success of the drawing board ideas suggests a deeper longing held by current and former Scrantonians, Mr. Ceresko said.

"The power of marketing is selling hope," he said. "A population here wants Scranton to take the next step closer to becoming a major urban space. A lot of things have been moving us toward that, but there is a mentality that is holding us back that we need to break through."

Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

Here are some examples:

In this DX Dempsey rendering, the Scranton Iron Furnaces are shown transformed to allow the user to explore the site’s many interesting spaces. 

MOSCOW - The new North Pocono School Board agreed to postpone a final vote on a new anti-nepotism policy at Tuesday's work session.

The school board in September agreed to ban hiring spouses, children, nieces and nephews of sitting board members in a 5-3 vote, starting a 30-day period for advertising the new policy.

School directors then last month agreed to put the final decision on today's agenda. School Director Scott Keating said postponing the vote will give new board members time to research the policy and address concerns.

School Director William Burke agreed, but said he wants the board to make a final decision by March.

Since last month's vote, the policy lost supporters when Paul Kowalski's and Jerry Maglio's terms expired. Nicholas Butler, whose term also ended, voted against advancing the policy last month.

New directors Carl Scartelli, Mark Powell and Howard McIntosh attended their first work session as school board members on Tuesday.

In other business, Henry Sallusti of RBC Capital Markets reported the district can save $395,000 by refinancing $10 million of debt from 2005 related to the high school project if market conditions do not change next month.

Earlier this year, the district refinanced the other half of the bond with approximately $20 million in remaining debt, which Mr. Sallusti said will save about $1 million.

The district is scheduled to finish repaying the debt in 2028, Business Manager Dennis Cawley said.

The new board also discussed a series of proposed new policies and procedures for how the school board operates, ranging from narrowing topics for discussion in closed-door executive sessions to developing a new mission statement.

The board last month heard a presentation about a proposed video board for the high school gymnasium in executive session. Solicitor Joseph O'Brien argued it did not violate the Sunshine Act because the board did not deliberate.

Contact the writer: kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

On paper, women in the United States and Afghanistan have a constitutionally guaranteed right to vote.

In the United States, no one questions that right any more, but it's on shakier ground in Afghanistan.

With American troops steadily withdrawing and the election of a new president on the horizon, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey is hoping to ensure Afghan women get to vote during the election there in April.

He and Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., are sponsoring an amendment to the defense appropriations bill that would ensure polling stations include staffing by female military officers. The bill is expected to come up for a vote later this month.

The amendment would authorize spending up to $5 million to recruit and train women to act as polling station officers.

It would also require the Defense Department to work with Afghan security forces - police and army - to promote the safety of women during the transition to a new president. President Hamid Karzai is leaving office next year.

The department would have to evaluate whether existing training properly sensitizes Afghan National Security Forces to the issue of women voting; come up with a plan to recruit more female security officers; and come up with ways of holding accountable Afghan troops who violate codes of conduct related to the rights of women.

The issue is critical to Afghan women because leaders of the Taliban believe women have no place in society outside the home and should not be allowed to vote, hold jobs or go to school. The Taliban ruled the country before the United States ousted them during the current war, but they remain a force in parts of the country.

"What we're trying to do there is both short-term and long-term. Short-term is the election, to make sure women who are trying to vote in the April election, they can actually vote," Mr. Casey said.

The long-term goal is to get more women in security forces. Fewer than 1 percent of security force members are women.

"If you allow the kind of Taliban and Sharia law to be reimposed as part of a peace agreement, and women are not just discriminated against, but even become the subject of violence and real hostility, you not only will drive down their participation in government and voting and all that. You increase the likelihood that extremism will develop even more," Mr. Casey said.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@ timesshamrock.com

ALBRECHT, PATRICIA A., Scranton, today, 9:30 a.m., Miller Bean Funeral Home Inc., 436 Cedar Ave., Scranton. Mass, 10, Immaculate Conception Church, 801 Taylor Ave., Scranton. Interment, St. Mary's No. 5 Cemetery, South Scranton, private. Contributions: Arc of Lackawanna County, 115 Meadow Ave., Scranton, PA 18505.

BENSLEY, CHRISTOPHER T., Frederick, Md., formerly of Gouldsboro, Friday, 11 a.m., Gouldsboro United Methodist Church, Main Street, Gouldsboro, by the Rev. Eric Luczak, pastor of Daleville/Maple Lake United Methodist Churches. Interment, Lehigh Cemetery, Gouldsboro. Calling hours, Thursday, 5 to 8 p.m., Brian Arthur Strauch Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 3 First St., Spring Brook Twp. Contributions: Chris's children, c/o Penn Security Bank, 534 Main St., Gouldsboro, PA 18424.

BONACCI, PHILIP J., Archbald, Mass, Saturday, 10 a.m., St. Mary of Czestochowa Church, 417 Main St., Eynon. Calling hours, 30 minutes before Mass. Arrangements: Louis J. Rapoch Funeral Home, Archbald.

BOROWSKI, GENEVIEVE, South Canaan, today, 8:50 a.m., James Wilson Funeral Home, 143 Gravity Road, Lake Ariel. Mass, 9:30, St. Thomas More Church, 105 Gravity Road, Lake Ariel. Interment, St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Contributions: St. Thomas More Church, P.O. Box 188, Lake Ariel, PA 18436.

CORRELL, SHARON A., Scranton, Tuesday. Mass, St. Ann's Basilica, Scranton, by the Rev. Fran Landry, C.P. Pallbearers: Ken Levandowski, Paul and Michael Ludovici; Michael Clark, Tim Dudley, Chris Bosack, Rob Czaja, and Mat Quirk. Interment, Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton.

DECKER, DOROTHY, Taylor, today, 11 a.m., Jacob Davis Funeral Home, 422 S. Main St., Taylor, by the Rev. Paul Fields, pastor, United Baptist Church, Taylor. Interment, Memorial Cemetery, Taylor. Contributions: United Baptist Church Memorial Fund, Church Street, Taylor, PA 18517.

DeLUCY, VINCENT, Scranton, today, 6 p.m., Kiesinger Funeral Services Inc., 255 McAlpine St., Duryea, by the Rev. Arthur Davis.

GILPIN, RUTH MILLER, Saturday, 1 p.m., Corbin & Palmer Funeral Home, 71 S. Union St., Burlington, Vt. Calling hours, 11 a.m. to service. Private interment, Dunmore. Contributions: First Baptist Church of Burlington, 81 St. Paul St., Burlington, VT 05401; or Champlain College Building Reserve Fund, 163 South Willard St., P.O. Box 670, Burlington, VT 05402.

HENRY, MICHAEL R. "MICKEY," Wallenpaupack Lake Estates, Thursday, 11 a.m., James Wilson Funeral Home, 143 Gravity Road, Lake Ariel, by Pastor Mark Fitch. Calling hours, today, 5 to 8 p.m. and Thursday, 10 to service. No flowers. Contributions: Celtic Home Health & Hospice Community Care, 100 William St., Dunmore, PA; or the Ronald McDonald House, 322 Wheeler Ave., Scranton 18510.

JAMES, JUDY A., Taylor, today, 10 a.m., Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home Inc., 517 N. Main St., Old Forge, by the Rev. Thomas Sica, pastor of Open Door Baptist Church, Scranton. Interment, Chapel Lawn Memorial Park, Dallas.

JANIK, DOROTHY W., Moosic, Mass, today, 10:30 a.m., Divine Mercy Parish, 312 Davis St., Scranton, by the Rev. Francis Pauselli, pastor. Go directly to church. Interment, private, Holy Trinity Cemetery, Lewiston, N.Y. Arrangements: Semian Funeral Home, Taylor. Donations: Passionist Nuns Retreat House and Monastery, 631 Griffin Pond Road, Clarks Summit, 18411; Scranton Health Care Center Activities Fund, 2933 McCarthy St., 18505; or to Hospice of the Sacred Heart, 600 Baltimore Drive, Wilkes-Barre, 18702.

JONES, JOAN M. SWOYER, Mountain View Care Center, private. Interment, Kizer Cemetery. Contributions: Marywood University, c/o Development Office, "the Florence Swoyer Music Scholarship Fund," 2300 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509. Arrangements: James Wilson Funeral Home, Lake Ariel.

KALOWSKY, MARY KATHRYN BRENNAN, Peckville, Tuesday, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Peckville, by Monsignor Peter P. Madus, pastor. Pallbearers: Jamie Kalowsky, son; John Sutton, son-in-law; James N. Kalowsky, grandson; William Kalowsky, grandson; Matthew and Michaal Zeto, nephews. Interment, St. Mary's Cemetery, Hanover Twp. Committal by the Rev. Thomas Brennan, cousin.

KAVULICH, IRENE GERA, Taylor, Thursday, 10 a.m., Semian Funeral Home, 704 Union St., Taylor. Mass, 10:30, Divine Mercy Parish, 312 Davis St., Scranton. Interment, St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Calling hours, today, 4-8 p.m. Contributions: Catholic Social Services, 516 Fig St., 18505.

MASKO, JOHN, Carbondale, Monday. Pallbearers: John Masko Jr., Justin Cunningham, Sean Cunningham, Michael Durso, Anthony and John Tomaine. Funeral Liturgy by the Rev. Paul Schellbach, All Saints Orthodox Church, Olyphant. Interment, parish cemetery, Peckville.

MINDAS, EDWARD A., Richmondale, private. Arrangements: Jones and Brennan Funeral Home, 430 Main St., Forest City.

MURDOCK, REGINA "GINA," Throop, Mass, Monday, 10 a.m., Immaculate Conception Church, 801 Taylor Ave., Scranton. Interment, Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. Go directly to church. Calling hours, Sunday, 1 to 3 p.m., Vanston and James Funeral Home, 1401 Ash St., Scranton. Contributions: donor's favorite charity.

MURO, CLARA, Glenburn, today, 10 a.m., Our Lady of the Snows Church, 301 S. State St., Clarks Summit. Go directly to church. Interment, Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. Contributions: St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, 500 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18509, or Susan G. Komen Foundation, 125 N. Washington Ave., Suite 260, Scranton, PA 18503. Arrangements: Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home.

NOLAN, GRACE LUCILLE BIANCO, Avoca, Mass, today, 10 a.m., Queen of the Apostles Church, 715 Hawthorne St., Avoca, by the Rev. Phillip Sladicka. Interment, St. Mary's Cemetery, Avoca. Contributions: Italian-American Association of Luzerne County Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 842, Pittston, PA 18640. Arrangements: Kiesinger Funeral Services Inc., 255 McAlpine St., Duryea.

POLIZZI, MARY A., Dunmore, Thursday, Carlucci-Golden-DeSantis Funeral Home Inc., 318 E. Drinker St., Dunmore. Mass, 11 a.m., St. Mary's Church, Chestnut Street, Dunmore. Interment, private. Calling hours, Thursday, 9 to 10:30, funeral home.

QUINNAN, ROBERT, Anderson, S.C., formerly of Scranton, Mass, today, 11 a.m., Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, 322 Chestnut St., Dunmore. Contributions: Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, 967 Griffin Pond Road, Clarks Summit, PA 18411.

TARAMELLI, PAUL D., Peckville, Mass, Monday, Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Peckville, by Monsignor Peter P. Madus and the Rev. Joseph Adonizio. Pallbearers: Michael Taramelli, grandson; Eugene Sr. and Larry Taramelli, brothers; Skip Motacki, brother-in-law; Eugene Jr. and Joe Taramelli, nephews; Louis Cicci and Ernest Colosimo. Honorary pallbearers: Ray Alberigi, Phil Cappellini, Gene "Jeep" Fanucci, Bob Giombetti, Joe Lorenzetti, Al Santarelli and Joe Sebastianelli. Interment, St. John's Cemetery, Jessup.

VILLELLA, ROSE, Green Ridge Health Care Center, formerly of Peckville, Thursday, James M. Margotta Funeral Home, 1019 Main St., Peckville. Mass, 9:30 a.m., Sacred Heart of Jesus Church, Peckville. Interment, Union Cemetery, Peckville. Calling hours, today, 3 to 7 p.m.

VITOCK, CARMELLA J., formerly of West Scranton, Tuesday. Mass, SS. Peter and Paul Church, Scranton, by the Rev. Sam J. Ferretti, pastor; and Deacon Carmine Mendicino. Pallbearers: Stephen and David Klem; Edward Vitock and Brian Lynch, grandsons; Frank and Anthony Bartalotta, nephews. Interment, parish cemetery, Taylor.

HARRISBURG - Lawmakers should consider ways to boost casino revenue as they work on the state budget next spring, a top Senate Republican leader said Tuesday.

President Pro Tempore Joseph Scarnati, R-25, Jefferson County, wants a formal study of the future viability of Pennsylvania's 12 casinos with recommendations completed by early spring. That way lawmakers will have the information in time to consider a rewrite of the 2004 state law legalizing slots casinos by the June 30 budget passage deadline, Mr. Scarnati said.

The study will look at online gambling as well as state taxes and regulations on casinos.

The Senate Community Economic and Recreational Development Committee unanimously approved his resolution Tuesday, authorizing the study by the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee. A chamber floor vote is planned next week. Senate approval is sufficient to launch the study.

Pennsylvania casinos are at a crossroads, with gambling revenue flat or in decline while neighboring states up the competition for the gambling dollar, Mr. Scarnati said.

"We can just stay with the status quo, which is ultimately declining revenue, or be innovative and more aggressive in making sure our gaming industry stays on top," he said.

New Jersey's move to offer online gambling in Atlantic City casinos is a wake-up call for Pennsylvania, he said.

New York State voters approved a ballot question last month authorizing the opening of as many as seven new casinos, including some potentially in the Catskill Mountains.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

Corbett to visit Sallie Mae

HANOVER TWP. - Republican Gov. Tom Corbett will be in Luzerne County Friday to announce an "expansion project" at the Sallie Mae call center in the Hanover Twp. Industrial Park.

Sallie Mae spokeswoman Nikki Lavoie refused to reveal any further details, such as if the project included additional hires at the call center. It employs nearly 1,000 in Hanover Twp.

The company provides private loans and serves as a third party-administrator for federal government loans for more than 30 million students.

Marriage licenses

n Mark Joseph Przypek and Lisa Ann Young, both of Duryea.

n David Arthur Algar and Donna May Wentovich, both of Peckville.

n Charles T. Shoemaker, Simp­son, and Kelly L. Sokoloski, Nanticoke.

n David John Wildling, Scran­ton, and Christine Ann Steele, Greenfield Twp.

n Louis Armezzani and Kath­ryn M. Rink, both of Moon Twp.

n Joseph Marsala Jr., Dickson City, and Michele Erica Shafer, Dunmore.

Property transactions

n Joseph A. Jr. and Cristina M. Agolino, Old Forge, to Louis J. Galetto, Old Forge; a property at 138 Corcoran St., Old Forge, for $167,500.

n Newton Twp. to Suzanne L. Girio; a property at Columbus Circle, Newton Twp., for $50,000.

n James and Mary Pat O'Malley, Throop, to Thomas G. and Cynthia O'Malley, Throop; a property at 419 Champion Circle, Throop, for $315,000.

n Stephen J. Kohut, Moosic, to Salvatore J. Jr. and Tammi Lynn Cherra, Scranton; a property at 3717 Laurel Ave., Moosic, for $134,000.

n Karen Sweder, Plains, and Denise Sweder Johnson, Penns­burg, individually and co-executrix of the estate of Peter Swe­der Jr., to Michael Thomas and Lori A. Pfahl, Carbondale; properties at 187 and 189 Gordon Ave., Carbondale, for $78,000.

n Michele A. Mannion Czyzyk, Jermyn, to Christopher T. and Stacey A. Cook, Scranton; a property at 119 Moon Road, Jermyn, for $190,000.

n Pennstar Bank to Phillip Hodges, Forest City; a property at 102 Powell Ave., Jessup, for $37,555.

n Thomas J. and Heather A. Kopetskie to Sean James and Glenda Kouns Grady; a property at 406 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit, for $245,000.

n Andrea May, executrix of the estate of Albert P. Chiappini, Old Forge, to Ralph Scartelli, Scran­ton; properties at 425 and 427 S. Main Ave., Scranton, for $70,000.

estates filed

n Leonard E. Hosie, 434 Church St., Archbald, letters of administration to Eric G. Hosie, 439 Front St., Jessup.

n Elizabeth Vilchock, 142 Corcoran St., Old Forge, letters testamentary to Valerie E. Weller, 505 Milwaukee Ave., Old Forge.

DivorceS sought

n Joanne Spegar, Jessup, v. Patrick A. Spegar, Jessup; married July 7, 1985; Christopher J. Osborne, attorney.

n Pedro Luis Guzman, Clarks Summit, v. Margarita Torres, Puer­to Rico; married April 26, 1981 in Cayey, Puerto Rico; pro se.

n Laurie D. Pasmeg, Clarks Summit, v. Harold P. Pasmeg, Clarks Summit; married July 17, 1982, in Clarks Summit; pro se.

n Nina M. Fairfield, Clarks Summit, v. Kent D. Fairfield, Falls; married March 15, 2004, in Clarks Summit; Arthur J. Rinaldi, attorney.

n Ann Vacchiano, Scranton, v. Michael Arthur Vacciano Jr., Scranton; married Sept. 27, 1980; James T. Mulligan, attorney.

State tax liens

n Annette and Frank Chic­key, individually and as partners trading as "Chickey's," 116 Spring St., Moosic; $787.70.

n Headquarters Salon Services Inc., 7 Oakwood Drive, Scranton; $14,348.51.

n Summit Cleaning Ser­vices Inc., RR 1, Box 232, Dalton; $5,843.23.

n Garden Path Inc., 1635 Nay Aug Ave., Scranton; $4,805.49.

n Michael Runco, trading as Runco Transportation, 414 Susquehanna Ave., Olyphant; $10,216.42.

n Northeast Martial Arts Inc., 201 Main St., Old Forge; $577.04.

n John and Arthur Jr. Alt, individually and as partners trading as Alt Excavating, 1200 Aberdeen Road, Moscow; $22,004.69.

n Stacie Powers, 528 Sec­ond Ave., Jessup; $1,068.49.

n Slingin Ink Inc., 1201 Mulberry St., Scranton; $2,401.32.

n X-Pert Plumbing and Air Conditioning by Mike Trapper, 2212 Winfield Ave., Scranton; $9,132.36.

federal tax liens

n Charles Mills, 1501 N. Main Ave., Scranton; $6,591.98.

n Robert A. Caramanno, 1105 S. Main Ave., Scranton; $8,913.25.

n Robert A. Caramanno, doing business as Cara­manno's Deli, 1105 S. Main Ave., Scranton; $18,889.92.

n Donna M. Laniewski, 212 William St., Scranton; $10,610.83.

n Fafj Corp., 841 Hickory St., Scranton; $4,919.86.

ONLINE: For court notes from around the region, visit thetimes-tribune.com/courts

SCRANTON - A Scranton man accused of burglarizing more than a dozen city homes waived his right to a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.

Christopher Stone, 41, whose last known address was 1312 N. Washington Ave., was charged in October after his alleged partner, John Jennings, gave detectives a statement and pointed to homes he helped Mr. Stone burglarize. Mr. Jennings was arrested in September for burglarizing a Blakely home. He waived his hearing last month.

Mr. Stone was charged with several counts of burglary and related charges. He is free on bail from Lackawanna County Prison. A formal arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 10.

WILKES-BARRE - As more than 450 registered nurses at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital hit the picket lines Tuesday, hospital owner Community Health Systems announced it is locking them out until Friday.

Nurses represented by the Wyoming Valley Nurses Association/Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses and Allied Professionals union planned to strike for one day Tuesday until today at 7 a.m.

Tennessee-based Community Health Systems, however, hired temporary replacement nurses from the staffing agency U.S. Nursing for a 72-hour period.

While PASNAP'S strike notice offered that unionized nurses would return to work beginning at 6:59 a.m. today, hospital officials said they "must fulfill a commitment made to temporary, replacement registered nurses for a 72-hour period, which was required in order to secure competent, qualified nurses," according to a statement hospital spokesman Jim McGuire released Tuesday. "Nurses who did not report to duty during the strike period are expected to return beginning at 7 a.m. on Dec. 6."

Jerry Silberman, senior staffer for PASNAP, criticized Community Health Systems for its decision to lock out unionized nurses and hire replacement nurses.

Key issues that led to the strike Tuesday included staffing levels at the hospital, mandatory overtime use and the level of coverage and cost of a proposed health insurance plan, nurses said.

Nurses said they participated in the strike after months of "bad faith negotiations." Nurses have been without a contract since April.

"CHS drags things out as long as they can and they hope to wear us down, but they're dealing with PASNAP and we don't wear down very easily," said Elaine Weale, president of the local union. "We're tired of waiting. We've been at the negotiating table since late winter and it's time for them to get serious, really address the issues and really start to negotiate."

Ms. Weale, a registered nurse in the emergency room, said nurses are short-staffed and the hospital mandates them to work overtime, which she said is a violation of state law, Act 102.

Community Health Systems officials have previously denied nurses' claims that they broke the law. They said in a statement they have processes in place to ensure overtime is managed in accordance with Pennsylvania's Act 102.

Mr. McGuire denied nurses' claims that CHS is negotiating in bad faith.

The nurses' strike in Wilkes-Barre was part of a national day of action against Community Health Systems' hospitals throughout the country. Nurses also participated in strikes, pickets and events in California, Ohio and West Virginia. Community Health Systems operates or leases more than 135 hospitals in 29 states.

Contact the writer: dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com

SCRANTON - Amid construction of its $80 million expansion project, Geisinger Community Medical Center is offering free valet parking services for Emergency Department patients.

Valet attendants will be at the Arthur Avenue Emergency Department entrance every day from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., running in conjunction with the valet parking offered on Colfax Avenue.

The project, which should be completed by the summer of 2015, includes a 14-room operating suite and an enhanced lobby that will extend to Mulberry Street.

Clarks Summit fixture Bunnell Hardware has abruptly closed its doors after 103 years, citing competitive pressure as the main reason.

On Tuesday, the hardware store was locked with a note from store proprietors and an auction notice sharing space in the window with community event announcements.

The store opened in 1910.

The note from proprietors Susan Bunnell and Julie Jenkins thanked customers and said they would move on to their "next endeavor."

"It got harder and harder to compete with the big stores," Ms. Jenkins said in the note. "We have 4,000 square feet so we didn't even have the space to store the inventory we would need to compete."

The store faced profound challenges in its last 20 years with tectonic shifts in the retail sector and a plunge in the construction market. Bunnell confronted the rise of home improvement giants Lowe's and Home Depot. In more recent years, longtime proprietor George "Chip" Nichols Bunnell Jr. died at the age of 55 in 2010.

Even as the economy recovered, a new competitor popped up just a mile away, Northeast Ace Hardware, a franchise, opened in South Abington Twp. in 2011.

Ms. Jenkins said family members are not sure whether they will sell or lease the building. The auction is scheduled for Dec. 28 starting at 9 a.m.

Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

Cops say man firebombed car

NANTICOKE - Police accused a city man of firebombing a former co-worker's car, destroying the vehicle.

Douglas Arthur Johnson, 51, of 262 E. Noble St., is charged with arson, reckless burning, criminal mischief, possessing an incendiary device and reckless endangerment.

The car's owner, Dominick Toback, told police he saw Mr. Johnson smash the driver's side window and throw a lit object inside, causing a fire.

Magisterial District Judge Donald Whittaker arraigned Mr. Johnson on Tuesday morning and set his bail at $100,000. Mr. Johnson was booked into the Luzerne County Correctional Facility with a preliminary hearing set for 1:30 p.m. Dec. 11.

Borough needs representative

DURYEA - Borough council needs to fill the seat of a borough representative to the Lower Lackawanna Valley Sewer Authority.

Any Duryea resident can be considered for the position. After appointment, the representative's term would expire Dec. 31, 2014.

Residents interested may contact Borough Manager Lois Morreale at the Duryea Borough Building, 315 Main St., Duryea, or call 570-655-2829.

Luzerne County late on payments

WILKES-BARRE - Weeks late, payments to two important Luzerne County constituencies went out Monday.

Nearly a month after the Nov. 5 municipal election in Luzerne County, election workers should receive their checks this week, said Donna Magni, the county's top money manager as interim head of the county's Budget and Finance Division.

The same goes for the foster parents who only received partial payments last month.

County officials denied the delays were due to the government's dire financial situation. Luzerne County is more than $400 million in debt.

Police analyze video around city

NANTICOKE - As family members prepare to bid farewell to 97-year-old homicide victim Gertrude Price, state police are analyzing surveillance video from throughout Nanticoke in an attempt to identify her killer.

"I hope they catch this culprit," Ms. Price's daughter, Carol Belmont, 76, of Jackson Twp., said Tuesday. "You didn't have to kill her."

Saddened area residents streamed through the Davis-Dinelli Funeral Home on Tuesday during a viewing for Ms. Price, the great-great-grandmother beaten to death on Thanksgiving night inside her 23 E. Grand St. home.

More than $3,000 has already been pledged to the person who provides information leading to the arrest and conviction of the killer. Anyone with information is asked to call state police at Wyoming at 570-697-2000.

KINGSTON - Police on Tuesday filed drug conspiracy charges against a man who claimed to be a deputized sheriff in Lackawanna County.

Police say they found Mark D. Broody, 49, in possession of a gun and a special deputy badge from Lackawanna County when he was picked up in October during a drug raid. He claimed he had been deputized and could be summoned if the sheriff needed to form a posse, police said.

Investigators on Tuesday charged Mr. Broody, of 56 Sutton Farm Road, Shavertown, with conspiring to deliver heroin, illegally possessing a drug and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police arrived at 380 Wright Ave. on Oct. 15 to search the home of Barry Gately, but found no one there. Mr. Gately soon returned, however, in the company of Mr. Broody, police said.

Mr. Gately was in possession of $52 in cash and 20 packets of heroin. Mr. Broody was in possession of a syringe and cotton swabs, as well as $70 in cash. A search of his vehicle turned up a gun and the badge, according to police.

Mr. Broody claimed he was a deputized sheriff, although he acknowledge he didn't have police powers, Kingston police Detective Edward Palka said.

Officers inquired to the Lackawanna County sheriff's office and learned the sheriff had handed out the special deputy badges years ago. But the recipients were not deputized sheriffs.

"He had a ceremony, but it doesn't give him arrest powers," Detective Rich Kotchik said.

During questioning, Mr. Gately told police he was a heroin dealer who had caught a ride with Mr. Broody to Prospect Street in Wilkes-Barre to buy heroin, which he planned to sell to Mr. Broody. Mr. Broody told police he had bought heroin from Mr. Gately more than 20 times in the past and that he was supposed to be getting two bags for his role in driving Mr. Gately to the buy.

Mr. Gately, 44, was previously charged with five drug distribution counts and other drug-related offenses. He is awaiting a formal arraignment on Feb. 7.

Magisterial District Judge Paul Roberts arraigned Mr. Broody on Tuesday morning and released him on $50,000 unsecured bail. Mr. Broody is due back in court for a preliminary hearing at 1:30 p.m. Dec. 18.

Contact the writer: jhalpin@citizensvoice.com

A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a part-time Duryea police officer who claimed she was denied a position as a full-time officer because she was pregnant.

Officer Sheri Salvo filed suit in February 2012, alleging borough officials in August 2010 hired a fellow male officer who was less qualified after learning she was five months pregnant.

Borough officials asked a judge to dismiss the suit, arguing Mrs. Salvo had not provided sufficient evidence to support her claims that officials knew she was pregnant, or that if they did, it was the motivating factor in denying the position.

Senior U.S. District Judge Richard P. Conaboy ruled in favor of the borough, noting Mrs. Salvo testified at a pre-trial deposition that the issue of her pregnancy was never mentioned during the interviewing process.

Judge Conaboy's ruling was issued in May. His opinion detailing his reasoning did not become public until Tuesday, however, as it had been filed under seal based on an agreement between the borough and Mrs. Salvo's attorney, Bruce Phillips.

Attorneys for The Times-Tribune filed a challenge to the sealing order in September. Attorneys for the borough on Tuesday agreed to release the judge's opinion and other documents the newspaper sought.

Contact the writer: tbesecker@ timesshamrock.com