WILKES-BARRE TWP. — Anthony J. Lupas Jr. won’t have his name on a plaque inside the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Luzerne County Convention Center Authority board members voted 6-4 to bar Mr. Lupas’ name from the building during a meeting Wednesday.

Mr. Lupas was previously an authority board member. He died in April, four years after federal prosecutors accused him of running a multimillion-dollar Ponzi scheme. A federal judge ruled him incompetent to stand trial.

Three former board members who are now deceased have plaques near the east entrance. Donna Cupinski announced plans at a previous meeting to include a plaque for Mr. Lupas.

After board members heard from the public, she spoke with some of them. They didn’t agree on what to do, so Ms. Cupinski put the plans on hold.

SCRANTON — The founding executive director of the Employment Opportunity & Training Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania plans to retire next year.

Sharon McCrone, Ph.D., will step aside in January, marking her 30th anniversary with the agency, which traces its origin to formation of the Women’s Employment Program in 1986, the EOTC said.

EOTC board president Ida Castro said Dr. McCrone’s commitment to the agency’s mission to promote family and economic stability has inspired EOTC’s service, innovation and growth for three decades.

The search is underway for a successor. An executive search committee led by board member Donald Ryan will accept applications through July 3.

— STAFF REPORT

DIMOCK TWP. — A proud and energetic crowd filled the Elk Lake Elementary gymnasium on Thursday to celebrate the graduation of the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center’s class of 2015.

Lauding the 128 graduates for their fortitude and determination, the school’s executive director, Dr. Alice Davis, addressed the class by saying, “You all have so much to offer the world and I am sure you will all achieve great things.”

Dr. Davis concluded by giving the graduates some words of wisdom moving forward.

“Live in amazement,” “exceed expectations,” “ditch baggage,” and “laugh often,” she said.

Board Member Anne Teel also had some words of encouragement for the class.

“Hold on to not only the knowledge and skills you have gained here, but also the high level of determination and persistence that you have all exhibited,” she said.

Speaking from the perspective of someone with hiring experience in the business world, Ms. Teel said those traits are what will enable one to succeed in the post-graduate world.

Student remarks were given by Justine Wadlington and Kelly Severcool, who offered their own advice to their peers.

Justine advised the class to “go down the right path with the knowledge that you are equipped with the skills to succeed.” Kelly echoed that sentiment, telling her classmates to “draw your own map” and “never let anyone hold you back.”

The SCCTC class of 2015 plans to heed that advice, while embarking on futures in a variety of fields. Of the 128 graduates, 59 will pursue some form of post-secondary education, 64 will enter the workforce and five will join the military.

On their May 12 awards day, the school gave $24,000 in awards to graduating seniors.

Diplomas were conferred by Elk Lake Superintendent Kenneth Cuomo and members of the SCCTC Board of Education.

The graduates are:

Jessica Ackley, Garrett Adams, Austin Adams, Courtney Adomiak, Christopher Andzulis, William Archambault, Gage Arnold, Andreia Ballard, Randall Bazin, Chapin Birchard, Edward Bognatz, Hailey Bomboy, Brian Boyko, Tyler Brewer, Cory Brower, Kathleen Burke, Devin Byrnes, Rylee Carnright, Courtney Chew, Jesse Chidester, Haley Christianson, Dannel Cicon, Bradley Compton, Christopher Cook, Jocalynn Corby, Nikolas Corley, Ashley Coy, Tierani-Lyn Craft, Timothy Crego, Edward Cumens, Alyssa Daily, Cheyanne Daniels, Briana Deacon, Dakota Deininger, Joseph DeMichele, Haili Densmore, Nicholas Donero, Robert Douglas, Julia Doyle, Makenna Ellis, Renay Faux, Cody Faux, David Fox, Mary Jane Frable, Cody Franklin, Michael Geerts, Rebecca Giovino, Ryan Gorton, Zachary Hallisey, Neil Harvey, Jewel Hayward, Sarah Heath, Aubrey Heise, Anthony Heise, Jonathan Hilling, Malinda Holgate, Mari-Josephine Hollister, Alicia Hunter, Tyler Husted, Mykaela Kalinowski, Courtney Kashetta, Emily Kasson, Lukus Keener, Shane Kelder, Kyle Kelley, Brandy Kenia, Ryan Keough, Julie Klein, Lindsey Kwiatkowski, Colin LaRue, Shannon Lay, Megan Leamon, Abdessamii Lebdaoui, Carly Lewis, Leopoldo Martinez-Cases, Samuel Martino, Devin Mason, Kasandra Metcalf, Richard Miller, Sydney Miller, Tracy Miller, Summer Nolder, Jordan Noldy, Dustin Norton, Jordan O’Dell, Caleb Owens, Kaylee Parker, Jairus Parry, Jasmine Penny, Miranda Plavier, Emily Poirier, Russel Porth, Karen Rebello, Joseph Rodino, Gwendolyn Rowlands, Miranda Schmidt, Kelly Severcool, Dalton Sherman, Dylan Slater, Mark Smith, Jessica Smith, Kalob Smith, Mercedes Spickerman, Miryah Staff, Ashley Steele, Ryan Stetson, Brandon Swift, Katelynn Taylor, Travis Tucker, Michael Vaccaro, Parker VanGalder, Kody VanNorman, Zachery VanWinkle, Brittany Veina, Sheldon Vibbard, Justine Wadlington, Brittany Wallace, Christopher Warfle, Wyatt Warner, Brittany Webb, Justin Wells, Merrick Whitney, Kristi Wilbur, Brianna Williams and Amanda Wright.

EXETER — An Exeter business owner was slammed with dozens of criminal charges after he allegedly falsified car odometer entries on work orders to the Wyoming UFCW Federal Credit Union over a span of nearly two years, officials said.

Joseph Appel, 35, was charged with five counts of theft by deception, 16 counts of forgery and 16 counts of fraudulent business practices Thursday.

State police discovered that Mr. Appel, the owner of Avenue Auto Sales, had been falsifying entries for the purpose of vehicle loan approvals for his customers, according to police.

In October, a UFCW employee was in the process of executing a repossession order for a vehicle that was sold by Mr. Appel when it was discovered that the recorded mileage on the electronic copy presented to the credit union indicated a much higher mileage reading than was presented by Mr. Appel, police said.

After checking other work orders from Mr. Appel, an initial audit revealed that 16 vehicles, spanning back to January 2013, had falsified information, according to police.

The UFCW now is in possession of five vehicles that do not have the resale value presented by Mr. Appel due to incorrect odometer readings, police said.

Mr. Appel was released from custody on $5,000 unsecured bail awaiting a preliminary hearing scheduled for July 1.

— CHARLOTTE L. JACOBSON

SCOTT TWP. — Clear eyes, full heart, can’t lose.

Quoting the popular movie-turned-television show, “Friday Night Lights,” Lakeland High School’s class of 2015 salutatorian Nathan Morgan left his classmates with the show’s motto to take with them through the rest of their lives.

“It means knowing the legacy you want to leave but pushing through all the hardships to get there,” Nathan said. “If that’s how we live our lives, then, despite of the hard times that come, we will always come out winners.”

Before the ceremony got underway Thursday, the 112 graduating seniors filed into Lakeland High School’s auditorium two at a time, stopping to snap a photo on stage before taking their seats. Students heading into different branches of the armed forces were asked to stand and received applause from the audience of families, teachers and friends.

“The memories we made here at Lakeland will last a lifetime,” said valedictorian Alyssa Raciborski. “Now, it’s up to us to remember what we learned here at Lakeland ... to be successful in our future plans.”

Members of the senior class choose their guidance counselor, Larissa Valonis, to serve as commencement speaker. She said it gave her one last opportunity “to advise, to nag them, to stress to them about all these topics related to their futures.”

Referring to the group as “strong, intelligent, beautiful, diverse and resilient,” Ms. Valonis said, “It’s been a true blessing to get to know you.”

She encouraged the graduates to stray off course.

“Changing your mind, re-routing yourself and taking the scenic route verses the expressway makes you who you are,” she said.

As their guidance counselor, Ms. Volonis helped them through senior year and guided them into the next phase of their lives. She left them with a message.

“Don’t worry so much about the ending but (worry about) the next sentence,” she said. “If you put together enough sentences that you’re proud of, that makes one heck of chapter. Keep that going.”

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter.

The graduates are:

Mark Angelo Arzie Jr., Derek John Baigis, Michael James Ball, Christopher Barchak, Paul J. Beaudoin, Alyssa Ann Bednash, Haley Elizabeth Bednash, Alexis Jean Bertholf, Brian David Betley, Emily A. Bevilacqua, Alexander Michael Black, Jared Bomba, Bradley Michael Bortree, Kayla Ann Bosak, Alex Andrew Boyarsky, Christopher Lewis Brink, Daniel Khalil Brown, Tyler Nicholas Burns, Jeffery Joseph Burton, Annabelle Buselli, Marissa Anne Calachino, Alexandria Calzola, Annamaria Calzola, Amanda Rose Cavalier, David Allen Chesar, Gino Carlo Ciambriello, Patrick Clauss-Walton, Cody James Coleman, Sean Michael Cunningham, Thomas James Dastalfo, Austin Michael Davis, Sarah Nicole Demyan, Derek Depoti, Trevor Jon Dewaele, Michael Didato, Katlyn Elaine Dietz, Brandon Frank Domonoski, Brandon Alexander Donahue, David C. Drazdauskas Jr., Paul Francis Forbes III, Jake Fortuner, Joseph John Fuga Jr., Michael Frank Gavalis Jr., Kaycie Grace Gavin, Lucas John Granville, Hope Alexandria Grover, Benjamin Grzybowski, Paul Hallisky, Samantha Marie Harrison, Alyssa Marie Harvey, Takeitha Mon’ea Elizabeth Hogan, Lauren Taylor Holt, Jesse James Holzman, Haley Rebecca Houck, Brianna Houman, Cassidy Alex Jenkins, Skyler Owen Kapalski, Amy Lee Kishbaugh, Jordan Tyler Kleinbauer, Erinna Kondrat, Chistina Maria Kosch, Wesley James Kurtz, Joseph Samuel Lapiers, Lindsey Teresa Leschak, Lindsay Marie Lick, Samantha Renee Marsico, Gavin Paul McGovern, Grant Tyler Meserve, Maura Maria Meta, James Mickel, Molly Ann Mikulak, Leah Milewski, Johnathan Ryan Mills, Sydney Marie Mintz, Jordan Lee Misihowsky, Nathan Benjamin Morgan, Michael Adam Nally, Joshua Natale, Carissa Lyn Neary, Taylor Marie Novitsky, Daniel James O’Brien, Alexandar Donald Oestel, Jordan Osborne, Courtney Amanda Parchinski, Michael Thomas Perry Jr., Bryce Matthew Petrunich, Jacob Michael Phillips, Jeremy Alexander Polovitch, Alexandra Josephina Price, Mason Adam Price, Alyssa Marie Raciborski, Curtis Edward Reeves, Shane Allan Rivenburgh, Nicole Anne Robinson, Alexandra Rusnak, Christian Alexander Selvenis, Allan Smith, Joseph Snedeker, Jade Marie Staples, Jeremy Jason Staples, Hannah Marie Stracham, Mark Matthew Striefsky, Joshua Lawrence Strong, Brian Henry Swatt, Kourtney Thomas, James Patrick Timlin, Rachel Tochydlowski, Tyler Robert Tokarczyk, Michael Leo Tomcykoski, Zachary Thomas Torwich, Nicole Trojanowicz, Denzell Valanda, Barbara Giovanna Verrastro, Katrina Elizabeth Vitucci, Samantha Louise VonStorch, Jonathan Wade, David C. Weisel Jr., Taylor Ashlynne White, Emily Carol Whitelavich, Kristian Winn and Tyler Joseph Yantorn.

Top of the class

Valedictorian:

Alyssa Raciborski

Hometown: Jermyn

Parents: David and Leslie Raciborski

Activities: Treasurer of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, SADD club and assistant coach for the Valley View Barra Cougars swim team.

Plans: Attend St. John’s University to study actuarial science.

Salutatorian:

Nathan Morgan

Hometown: Scott Twp.

Parents: Errol and Dorcas Morgan

Activities: Lakeland’s 2015 scholar of the year, class officer, Scholastic Bowl Team, National Honor Society, student council, Mu Alpha Theta, SADD and FBLA; and multiple state medalist in cross country and track.

Plans: Attend Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tenn., on a Presidential Scholarship to study finance.

SCRANTON — Meals on Wheels Association of America picked the local chapter to receive a $1,750 grant to help in funding its meal-service program.

Meals on Wheels of NEPA is to receive a 2015 March for Meals grant made possible by donations from auto manufacturer Subaru during its annual Share the Love sales event.

Meals on Wheels of NEPA was founded in 1969 and has delivered more than 5 million meals to seniors and the disabled.

— STAFF REPORT

They’re creepy. They’re crawly. And in certain parts of the region, they’re everywhere.

Gypsy moth caterpillars have invaded the area in a manner not seen by residents in decades, plaguing those living in or near wooded areas.

“You could sweep and sweep. I swept them in the morning and they’re back again,” Hanover Twp. resident Mary Ann Panaway, 60, said Thursday while spraying the furry critters off her Pearson Street home with a garden hose. “Look at my poor tree. They devoured it.”

The birch tree in her front yard resembles thousands of trees visited by the gypsy moth caterpillars in recent weeks around the area: bare, due to the pesky leaf munchers that feed on trees.

But that’s only part of the headache: They cluster all over her house, car and sidewalks — and often leave a foul mess behind. It’s a lost cause trying to keep them out of her pool, she says.

“You could clean and clean, but they come back,” she said.

The good thing for people like Ms. Panaway is the bugs will soon die off, or transform into moths, which will then mate and create eggs.

The bad thing?

Next year, the nuisance insects could be an even bigger problem if preventative measures are not taken, according to one expert.

“That’s a prediction, based on seeing the number of caterpillars,” said Vincent Cotrone, urban forester for the northeast region of Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences. “Those caterpillars are not going to fly to Monroe County and lay their eggs. They are going to lay the egg masses here. We’re going to have tons of egg masses everywhere.”

Spraying the egg masses right after they hatch next May will be crucial to limiting the amount of insects that emerge next year, Mr. Cotrone said.

The explosion in the gypsy moth population this year was the result of hot, dry weather during the week in May when the insects were hatching. Cool, wet weather usually creates a fungus that kills them, Mr. Cotrone said.

After the cold, extended winter, the Morris family had been looking to enjoy their spacious property in Kingston Twp. this spring.

But the gypsy moths are preventing them from enjoying being outside of their home, they say.

“After what seemed like an endless winter, my husband and I were really looking forward to the warmer months to enjoy the outdoors with our two young daughters,” Ashley Morris said. “We are surrounded by trees. It is normally a great place to get outside and enjoy nature. Unfortunately, this year the gypsy moth problem is forcing us to stay inside.”

Contact the writer:

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, @cvbobkal on Twitter

Charting students’ education throughout each year takes more than just a talented navigator, it takes a group of dedicated teachers and administrators.

Scranton School District Supervisor of Secondary Education John Marichak, who is also the acting superintendent until July, and Supervisor of Elementary Education Erin Keating have begun curriculum mapping with teachers and other administrators for each of the district’s subjects. Curriculum mapping allows districts to outline the “scope and sequence of their curriculum,” according to the state Department of Education.

“It’s our road map ... to get from where we start and what we want our students to be able to do at the end of the course,” said Mr. Marichak.

The district began charting the curriculum — a practice it had not implemented since the 2000s — to shift teachers’ and students’ goals at the end of each grade with the changing landscape of education to Pennsylvania Core Standards, the state derivative of Common Core, a national curriculum standard for students to prepare high school graduates for college or the workforce.

Ms. Keating said she began by using the state Department of Education’s Standards Aligned System to match up curriculum with the standards. Mapping will not only help students improve scores on high-stakes testing but also improve their critical thinking skills.

With committees of more than 35 teachers and administrators, Mr. Marichak and Ms. Keating have been meeting and mapping this school year and will begin to implement some changes beginning in September. They are focusing first on the core subjects of math, science and English/language arts.

Every grade must have a curriculum; it is against state law not to, said Mr. Marichak.

Curriculum mapping provides instructors and their students with certain goals and standards, and plans on how to master them by the end of the school year, said Mr. Marichak. It also helps prepare students for not just standardized testing but the next grade.

It also gives instructors “something tangible” from which to create lessons. With the framework laid out, students transferring from one district school to another will not get left behind, since all grade levels will be on a similar page. Also, if a teacher has to leave midyear, the substitute can teach on the already charted road, said Mr. Marichak.

“We’re insisting it’s written in such a way that it’s not constricting,” he said.

Mapping does not ask teachers to change their style or even dictate what lessons must be taught. For example, Mr. Marichak said, by the end of a certain grade, students must master the literary technique called irony, but educators decide how to teach it.

Isaac Tripp Elementary School principals and teachers already are working on mapping English/language arts, Ms. Keating said. The district is also using administrators’ backgrounds and specialities to provide advice; George Bancroft Elementary School Principal Ann Grebeck, for instance, is a former reading specialist, Ms. Keating said.

Beginning in the 2015-16 school year, a curriculum map will be implemented for math throughout the district, said Mr. Marichak, and efforts are being made to get science standards set by September for third through 12th grades. English/language arts mapping and supplemental lessons for math will be done throughout 2015-16, followed by social studies, before the district begins moving into other areas, including foreign language and music.

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter

DUNMORE — Lawyers for Keystone Sanitary Landfill and the grass-roots group objecting to the operation’s nearly half-century expansion proposal can agree on one thing: the waste-disposal facility is not a building.

But that’s about it.

Attorneys representing Keystone and Friends of Lackawanna in the group’s zoning challenge on Thursday slugged it out in the final night of testimony about whether a 50-foot height restriction in Dunmore applies to the proposal

to pile garbage up to 165 feet higher than its currently permitted peak.

Keystone’s legal team rested its case after witness Joseph Zadlo, a planning and zoning expert based in Southeast Pennsylvania, testified under questioning from landfill attorney Marc Jonas and frequent objection from Friends of Lackawanna attorney Jordan Yeager the borough’s ordinance doesn’t apply.

“It does not regulate the height,” Mr. Zadlo said. “It is not a building, and the regulations in the zoning ordinance only regulate building height.”

Friends of Lackawanna contends Keystone fits the law’s definition of a structure as anything constructed or erected with a fixed point on the ground, and that the height restriction applies to structures as well as buildings. Mr. Zadlo disagreed on at least the latter point.

The witness cited seven sections of the ordinance detailing height restrictions between 6 feet and 175 feet for specific kinds of structures like fences, walls, telecommunications towers, signs and antennae — but said he could find no specific language about how high landfills can rise.

The ordinance defines “building height” and includes a method of measuring how tall buildings are from the roof to the ground, but it contains no definition for “structure height,” he noted.

Mr. Zadlo also referred to the title of a chart listing “basic regulations governing the size of lots, yards and buildings for nonresidential zones” — the page listing the 50-foot height restriction.

“If the title says apples, you wouldn’t expect to find regulations for oranges,” Mr. Zadlo said, setting up a critical exchange in how the zoning board will interpret the ordinance when Mr. Yeager cross-examined him.

The opposing attorney raised other regulations on the next page referring to the same chart.

“It continues to say that structures shall not exceed the number of feet permitted (in the chart), correct?” Mr. Yeager asked.

“It does,” Mr. Zadlo responded. “But (the chart) has no structure (height) limitation.”

Mr. Yeager also again contended the zoning board was not giving Friends of Lackawanna’s challenge a fair shake, this time because the board accepted Mr. Zadlo as an expert witness.

The zoning board in March rejected Mr. Yeager’s expert witness J. Lawrence Hosmer, a 43-year civil/geotechnical engineer specializing in waste management, because of his lack of specific knowledge about Dunmore and Keystone.

Mr. Yeager said at the time he sought general testimony about what goes into engineering and constructing landfills, and he argued on Thursday Mr. Zadlo should not have been allowed to testify about broader matters than Dunmore as a result.

“The double standard that this reflects and that this testimony is all aimed at supporting is a further reflection of our denial of a fair process,” Mr. Yeager said.

Mr. Jonas countered that his witness toured Keystone and carefully reviewed Dunmore’s zoning ordinance, giving him more relevant knowledge than his opposing counterpart had.

“There was a witness who was simply unqualified,” Mr. Jonas said. “That’s who Mr. Yeager teed up, and that’s who the board decided was simply not competent to testify. That’s a whole different scenario.”

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

What’s next: Both sides will submit additional legal filings to the zoning board. At the next meeting, they will spar over which exhibits should be accepted into the record and make closing arguments. The zoning board will then schedule another meeting to makes its ruling. The loser is likely to appeal the decision to Lackawanna County Court.

JERMYN — It’s been 12 years since Rushbrook Creek last flooded, and a massive, two-decades-long effort to protect the neighborhood is inching closer to the starting line.

Lackawanna County is scheduled this month to request funds from the state Department of Community and Economic Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Program to begin a $4.6 million flood protection project.

The request for funds is procedural, and must be done before the county spends any money that will be reimbursed by the state. A few significant hurdles remain between now and the start of any real work.

The project includes replacing or repairing five bridges and also constructing a concrete channel with debris walls to direct flow and prevent future flooding from the fast-moving Lackawanna River tributary.

State funds for the project were set aside in 1996, Lackawanna County economic development Director George Kelly said, but he explained getting the federal, state and local agencies lined up has been a daunting task.

“We were never able to ... put all the pieces together and connect all the dots and get all the funding to complete the project,” he said.

Project approvals from the Army Corps of Engineers and also from the state Department of Environmental Protection have yet to be finalized.

The Corps is “still in the process of reviewing the permit application,” spokeswoman Sarah Gross said in an email.

“It takes time to work through the comments to ensure substantial comments are addressed and that the potential negative impacts of any project to our waterways do not outweigh the project’s benefit,” she said.

DEP spokeswoman Colleen Connolly said the project is under review. Most recently, the department was corresponding with the state Fish and Boat Commission earlier this month on protecting wetlands’ fish and plant populations.

The DEP still needs a highway occupancy permit from PennDOT before work begins, Ms. Connolly said.

“It is possible the project will be ready to bid in 2018, but we are still early in the process, and this is only an estimate,” she said.

In November, the borough received a $385,000 Marcellus Legacy Funds grant to pay for its share of the project: relocating utility lines that must be moved during construction.

Jermyn also is responsible for securing easements of property that will be affected along the way, said borough engineer Dennis Kutch, president of KBA Engineering in Jermyn.

Borough officials were tasked with one of the project’s most cumbersome obstacles: identifying ownership for three “orphan lots” that make up the creek bed.

They had no readily obvious ownership, Mr. Kutch said, but to prevent any legal trouble down the road, the borough has to be absolutely certain no business or person holds rights to the properties.

Although local memory of the 2003 flood has grown dim for many along the creek, the drawn-out project is starting to affect other parts of daily life.

There are three county-maintained bridges spanning the creek, on Jefferson, Madison and Lincoln avenues, to be replaced as part of the project. The bridge on Johnson Court, a borough bridge, also will be replaced.

Due to structural problems, the Lincoln Avenue bridge was closed in April 2014, and it will not be reopened until it is replaced during the project, Lackawanna County spokesman Joseph D’Arienzo said.

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com, @jon_oc on Twitter

Project timeline

A Times-Tribune analysis of state budget archives reveals lawmakers had set aside money as early as 1996 for flood prevention work on Rushbrook Creek:

July 11, 1996: Initial $5.35 million in state funds allocated for Rushbrook Creek project.

Oct. 30, 2002: Total funds allocated for project in state capital projects budget at $4.5 million.

Sept. 4, 2003: Rushbrook Creek floods, causing $5.5 million in damage to infrastructure and millions more to personal property.

Nov. 13, 2003: Borough

council approves buyouts of homes severely damaged by floodwaters.

Feb. 12, 2004: Council withdraws as sponsor of buyout program.

Aug. 16, 2004: State Rep. Ed Staback announces release of $750,000 for project design.

July 7, 2006: Capital project budget includes additional $1.2 million for concrete channel to be installed.

November 2014: Jermyn receives $385,000 grant from Marcellus Legacy fund to pay for utility work associated with the project.

JESSUP — More than 100 friends and family of 15-year-old Austin Bumbarger gathered Thursday night to mourn together.

Those who knew him held candles and formed a circle behind Jessup Hose Company No. 2. They sang songs and shouted out what they remembered best about the teen who “loved to ride his longboard” and “knew how to make anyone happy.”

Austin’s grandmother, Peggy Holzman, gave a sobering message to the teenagers who gathered.

“Please, please, put that seat belt on,” she said, sobbing. “I don’t want anyone going through what we’re going through right now.”

— JON O’CONNELL

MOSCOW — North Pocono High School will soon have an artificial turf football field.

After spirited debate among board members and members of the public, the board voted 5-3 Thursday night to award a $1.7 million service agreement to Deluxe Athletics to upgrade the district’s athletic facilities, including installing a turf field at the football stadium and replacing the track and tennis courts.

The artificial turf issue split board members and visitors, some citing health concerns in opposing the move.

Board member Angela Cobb spoke against artificial turf, agreeing with some members of the public who claimed crumb rubber turf can contain harmful, cancer-causing chemicals.

“This is a disaster waiting to happen,” Ms. Cobb said.

Several residents advocated for a natural grass field rather than artificial turf, while others spoke favorably of turf and called it the best choice for the district’s athletes.

Ms. Cobb and board members Mark Powell and Diane Croom voted against artificial turf but voiced their approval of replacing the track and tennis courts.

Board President Howard McIntosh, who voted in favor of the motion, said the board’s decision to install turf “did not come without a lot of research.”

“The real science doesn’t show it,” he said of the alleged health risks.

Mr. McIntosh said the improvements will likely take two years, with work on the tennis courts and track starting this summer.

Also at the meeting, the board unanimously voted to adopt a $48 million budget for the 2015-2016 school year. The budget increased by about $1.9 million, or 4.3 percent, but taxes for district residents did not increase.

For district residents in Lackawanna County, real estate taxes will remain at 127.06 mills. For district residents in Wayne County, real estate taxes will remain at 19.83 mills.

Contact the writer:

sscinto@timesshamrock.com, @sscintoTT on Twitter

Lackawanna County commissioners have appealed a county judge’s ruling in favor of an insurance company that refused to pay a more than $1.6 million claim for the 2007 collapse of the amphitheater roof at the Pavilion at Montage Mountain.

Joseph O’Brien, attorney for the county, recently filed the appeal to Commonwealth Court of Judge Carmen D. Minora’s November ruling in favor of the Housing and Redevelopment Insurance Exchange.

The county filed suit against HARIE in 2008 after the company, owned by businessman Chuck Volpe, denied a claim for the roof collapse, which occurred after a heavy snowfall in February 2007.

The dispute centered on whether Joseph Durkin, the agent who handled Montage policies for the county, directed Dominic Verrastro, the county’s insurance coordinator, to cancel the policy about a month before the collapse. The county also claimed HARIE did not properly advise it that the policy had been canceled.

Mr. Durkin denied he ever gave that directive, but Judge Minora, who heard the case at a nonjury trial last June, sided with the county on that issue.

Mr. O’Brien said the county will not appeal that part of the decision. The appeal will instead focus on whether Mr. Durkin had the authority to issue the order. The county has maintained only the commissioners or the county’s chief of staff had the authority.

Mr. O’Brien said the county also contends HARIE’s cancellation notice was not valid because it was not mailed to the proper person and stated an incorrect reason for the cancellation. Judge Minora agreed, but said that was not a material breach of the contract since the county requested the cancellation.

“We respect the judge’s opinion. We’re just asking for further review of his legal conclusions,” Mr. O’Brien said.

Frank Ruggiero, attorney for HARIE, said he’s confident the judge’s ruling will be upheld. He questioned the county’s decision to appeal, as it already had spent more than $80,000 in legal fees on the matter as of November, according to county records.

“They are arguing nothing different than they attempted to argue from day one,” Mr. Ruggiero said. “The people who are losing most are the taxpayers of the county. They have to continue to fund what we believe to be a meritless action.”

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timeshamrock.com

SCRANTON — A 64-year-old woman tried to steal $280 worth of clothing from Boscov’s in Scranton on Wednesday but was caught by store security, city police said.

It was the third time Kathleen S. Coggins, 200 Colfax Ave., had been caught shoplifting, so Patrolman Mark Kosko charged her with felony retail theft, he wrote in a criminal complaint. Ms. Coggins was also not allowed in the store, so police charged her with criminal trespass, too.

Ms. Coggins admitted to the theft and said she has a problem and can’t help but shoplift, police said.

Ms. Coggins was released on $1,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

Super students,

reap U of S honors

The University of Scranton honored 59 outstanding members of its undergraduate class of 2015 at Class Night with awards for academic excellence, service or both.

Students with the highest GPA in each of the university’s three undergraduate colleges, as well as the undergraduate program for adults and part-time students, were presented Frank J. O’Hara Awards for General Academic Excellence, a memorial to the late administrator who served the university for 53 years.

This year’s O’Hara Award recipients included Karl R. Kretsch of Scranton for the undergraduate program for adults and part-time students; and Samantha Saylock of Moscow for the College of Arts and Sciences.

Also recognized were the university’s Fulbright scholarship recipients for the 2015-2016 academic year, including Brian Entler of Scranton, who was awarded a Fulbright Academic Award to Australia.

Laura A. Fay of Thornton, who was an intern in The Times-Tribune newsroom during the spring semester, received the J. Harold Brislin Memorial Award for Excellence in Journalism.

Local students honored, and the excellence awards they received, include Sarah E. Beckley of Moscow, Professor Bernard J. McGurl Award in Communication; Alannah S. Caisey of Scranton, women’s studies; Kelsey A. Carmody of Thompson, health administration; Vincent A. Castellani of Jessup, chemistry-business; Craig A. Fisher of Scranton, computer science; Stephen J. Gadomski of Laflin, exercise science and sport; Theresa B. Germano of Jermyn, Sigma Theta Tau, International Scholarship in Nursing; Anthony J. Jensen of South Abington Twp., management; Kathryn A. Kitcho of Avoca, media information technology; Michael R. Kranick of Dunmore, theater; Karl R. Kretsch of Scranton, liberal studies and Alumni Loyalty and Service (graduate); Rachel F. Mendez of Clarks Summit, Nursing Award, (LPN to BSN); Melanie J. Nasser of Scranton, criminal justice; Lindsey A. Pelucacci of Scranton, Professor Joseph B. Cullather Award in English and Theology and Religious Studies; Samantha Scott of Falls, biochemistry, cell and molecular biology; and Taliessin E. Wescott of Scranton, Dr. A.J. Cawley Award in Engineering.

Society inductee

Selena Rose Cerra of Crystal Lake, a junior in Niagara University Honors College, has been inducted into three honor societies: Phi Sigma Iota, the International Foreign Language Honor Society, Sigma Alpha Sigma Presidential Honor Society and Pi Lambda Theta, the International Honor Society and Professional Association in Education. Selena also was named to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference all academic team for women’s golf for 2015. A Spanish Education major with a minor in American Sign language and Deaf Studies, Selena is a 2013 Holy Cross High School graduate. ...

High notes

Joseph Palmitessa of West Scranton, a baking and pastry student at Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Academy of Culinary Arts, is completing studies at the academy with a professional externship at the Kiawah Island resort in South Carolina. Joseph, a dean’s list student, is the son of Joseph and Darlene Palmitessa, Scranton, and a 2006 graduate of West Scranton High School. ... Kristen Azzarelli of Peckville, a rising junior at Moore College of Art and Design in Philadelphia, has been chosen for a paid 10- week internship at Aeropostale headquarters in Manhattan. Kristen had two of

her East Coast Resort Wear designs presented in Moore’s end-of-the-year fashion show. In 2014, she received awards for her children’s clothing design.

Her dress design was inspired by Philadelphia’s Love Park and was featured in a window display at Century 21 in Philadelphia. Kristen, the daughter of Ruth Duffey and Joseph Azzarelli of Peckville, is a 2012 graduate of Valley View High School.

John Dowd No. 8

on Glassdoor list

WILKES-BARRE TWP. — John Dowd, co-founder and CEO of Sundance Vacations, claimed the No. 8 spot on Glassdoor’s recently released list of the 25 Highest Rated CEOs at Small and Medium Companies.

“I am honored to be named to this list and even more honored to be surrounded by the ones who make this company great each and every day, its employees,” Mr. Dowd said in a statement.

The list for companies with fewer than 1,000 employees was based entirely on employees’ reviews of the firms.

Mr. Dowd co-founded Sundance Vacations with his wife, Tina, in 1991. Both worked within the travel industry prior to starting the business. They took the Sundance Vacations from a single office in Pocono Lake to a nationally known corporation with 10 locations spread across four states, according to the firm’s website.

Washington, D.C.’s Frank Williams from Evolent Health claimed the No. 1 spot.

— DENISE ALLABAUGH

Power company slapped by AG

HARRISBURG — Attorney General Kathleen Kane filed a legal action to force an electricity generation supplier to avoid confusing language in marketing materials.

Ethical Electric Inc. agreed to an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, agreeing to clearly tell customers that they would be switching from their default utility service by signing with Ethical Electric. The company provides electricity distribution services to residential and commercial consumers throughout the state.

The action came after several complaints about the materials that were designed to appear as though they were coming from utilities, including PPL, and created a faux sense of urgency. Ethical Electric agreed to make a payment of $6,000 to the attorney general’s office.

— DAVID FALCHEK

SCRANTON — Two local establishments were cited for liquor law violations recently by the state Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement.

Kram Inc., 720 N. Main St., Fell Twp., was cited for failing to clean a malt or brewed beverage dispensing system at least once a week beginning on April 9, 2014, and continuing through April 1. Two Brothers Restaurant and Pizzeria, 211-215 E. Drinker St., Dunmore, was cited for providing alcoholic beverages to a 19-year-old on April 17.

Both citations were issued June 3, according to a bureau press release.

The citations will be brought before an administrative law judge, who can impose fines of up to $1,000 for minor offenses and $5,000 for more serious offenses. The judge can also suspend or revoke an establishment’s liquor license and mandate training for the licensee.

— STAFF REPORT

BLAKELY — Billy Joel once said, only fools are satisfied.

Valley View High School salutatorian Olivia Bartkowski called on Mr. Joel as she reminded the students that the end of high school is exciting, but it’s a small beginning to bigger things.

“You may think your days of schooling are over, but one never really stops learning,” she told them.

Valley View graduated 184 on Thursday during its 46th annual commencement ceremony, held in John F. Henzes/Veterans Memorial Football Stadium.

It was a musical celebration, with the concert band playing a medley of renditions of Paul Simon hits.

Graduate Jonathan Mengoni sang “The Impossible Dream,” from the musical “Man of La Mancha,” and graduate Zachary Swartout followed later with “Goodbye,” from the musical “Catch Me if You Can.”

Before the ceremony, as the sun hung hot and low behind the stadium, Emily Duffy of Blakely’s Peckville section stood in line with the others dressed in blue and white gowns.

“I’m sad to see everybody separate, but I’m excited to start my new journey,” she said.

With aspirations of one day becoming a psychologist, Ms. Duffy was accepted on a full-ride softball scholarship to Lackawanna College, where she will study human services, she said.

Waiting in line behind Ms. Duffy, Karly Kisel of Archbald said she’s a little nervous about striking out on her own.

“I have to get up by myself; I have to do my work by myself,” she said. “I won’t have that person right next to me doing it for me.”

After everyone was seated, there was a moment of silence for Austin Bumbarger, the Valley View freshman who died following a crash late Wednesday.

As he addressed the graduates, school board President Joseph Mondak urged them to face challenges vigorously, and said their education should have prepared them for any challenges they should meet.

“I hope you agree your work here was well worth it,” he said. “When you look back to connect the dots, you’re going to see that it was.”

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com, @jon_oc on Twitter

The graduates are:

Jesse J. Addley, Francesca Agostinelli, Thomas Tyler Aniska, Shane Otto Anuszewski, Christopher Aquillia, Donovan Jordan Ashton, Kirsty M. Avery, Douglas C. Babcock, Lauren Elizabeth Backus, James Russell Baker II, Albert Joseph Baldoni, Nicholas A. Barber, Olivia Rose Bartkowski, Brittany Lee Baronski, Nichole Jeane Bartoli, Kyle J. Bednash, Jeremy Robert Bell, Edward John Bellington, Christopher John Benedict, Gage Tyler Bennett, Justen J. Bizik, Jillian Theresa Bochnovich, Kera Bombar, Cole Gerald Bonacci, Dominic M. Bordo, Alyssa M. Boshman, Brianna Lynn Brown, Charley Christine Brown, Chloe Jillian Brown, Anthony Paul Bruno, Eric J. Burke, Anthony J. Calabro, Alexandria Caljean, Abigale Lynn Capwell, Kathryn Carone, Brennen Patrick Carroll, Ashley Nicole Carter, Tyler John Catapane, Joseph Thomas Cestone, Jason T. Ciesielski, Shania Ann Cirba, Carly Marie Clifford, Avianna Compierchio, Collin T. Comstock, Zachary J. Conaboy, Matthew T. Cornell, Ann Marie Crimi, Desidaria Milan Cruciani, Jaeden Alexander Cruz, Austin P. Culver, Erika Ann DeLeo, Staci Ann DeLeo, Robin Deming, Natalie DiGregorio, Michael Antonio Joseph DiMatteo, Brandon M. Doherty, Emily M. Duffy, Caitlin Marie Eakle, Shelby Nicole Erdos, Lauren Grace Esposito, Emily Christina Fabri, Nicole M. Fata, Brandon Richard Feldra, Mark Joseph Ferraro Jr., Alfred Fidler, Alysa Marie Fisher, Ian Franceschelli, Ryan Franchak, Ryan R. Frisbie, Bryan M. Gallagher, Ava Adelene Gambucci, Bryanna Faye Gill, Julia Nicole Gillow, Maia Xiu Giombetti, Austin Chase Glucksnis, Joshua M. Golaszweski, Kyle M. Glucksnis, Brandon Patrick Grandinetti, Tiffany Amber Gregori, Nicholas James Grunza, Thomas James Halloran Jr., Kelcie Linn Harvey, Tyler J. Harvey, Jason G. Heid, Alexsis Hermann, Megan M. Higgins, Evan David Homish, Olivia Hosie, Emily Elizabeth Hughes, Sean P. Hughes, Ronald Ryan Itterly, Ronneil Jerome Jones Jr., Matthew E. Judge, Sarah Elizabeth Kandel, Emily C. Kempa, Karly Ann Kisel, Kyle J. Kishel, Desiree Lynn Klingensmith, Savannah Mae Kocher, Summer Lynn Kovack, Bernadette C. Kozlowski, Jestin Krinsky, Carol Ann Lasky, Kyle T. Lucas, Keshawn Marsh, John Ryan Martin, Heather Ann Masko, John Robinson May IV, Brianna Mazzoni, Michael Thomas Mazzoni, Melanie M. McAndrew, Marc McCarthy, Emily Catherine McElroy, Kelly Madison Mecca, Jonathan Taylor Mengoni, Mark Cesare Merli, Richard Merritt, Shannon Miskell, Megan Sarah Mosher, Lauren Ann Munley, Leah Ann Natushko, Emma Theresa Nielsen, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Oliver, Kalie Marie Onukiavage, Zachary Osborne, Alexandra M. Pavuk, Robert F. Pazzaglia, Breanna Stephanie Pegula, Alexandra N. Perry, Brittney Ann Piwowarski, Elizabeth Pryal, Cody Ryan Puza, John L. Rebovich, Angelo R. Rescigno, Kelly Elizabeth Richter, James Angelo Rinaldi, James Thomas Ritko, Alec James, William Rodway, Mary Catherine Ross, Felicity Joy Rudden, Ashley Rzeszewski, Kenneth Lee Sanderson, Edward L. Santerangelo, Joshua Tyler Schack, Juliana Senyk, Jordan Lea Seprosky, Maura Elizabeth Serio, Zachary Shnipes, David Allan Shorten Jr., Tiffany Siemieniewicz, Dominique Maria Siracusa, Julia Elizabeth Sklareski, Megan Nicole Smith, Shelby Sophia Snigar, Paul Sova, Alexandra Sparks, Anthony Stambone, Nicolette Robyn Stine, Ryon Emile St. Louis, Tyler S. Suchy, Gina Lee Sumski, Evan Sutton, Zachary Thomas Swartout, Mackenzie Rose Swift, Corrie Ruth Tarby, Trevor M. Thomas, Gabriella Tolerico, Rose Anna Troiani, Christopher Michael Valenza, Zachary Ethan Venesky, Krista E. Walter, Ryan T. Wilkes, Rachel Marie Wilkinson, Brooke Shelby Williams, Alex Elyse Wiltz, Andrew D.Yarosh, Dakota S. Yoh, Peter P. Zadzura, Lauren Leigh Zavada, Oksana J. Zeoli, Jakob Michael Ziminskas, Zachary Thomas Zinck, Rose Lea Zini and Jules James Zotta.

Head of the class

Valedictorian: Paul Sova

Parents: Paul and Lisa Sova

High school activities: President of the National Honor Society; president of the Math Honor Society; captain of the varsity tennis team; STEM team; Scholastic Team; student council; Spanish club, SADD club, LEO club, bio club, table tennis club, yearbook committee, community service.

Plans after high school: University of Pennsylvania

Salutatorian: Olivia Bartkowski

Parents: Michael and Nadine

Bartkowski

High school activities: National Honor Society; Math Honor Society; treasurer of the Spanish club; SADD club; Scholastic team; Tomorrow’s Leaders Today program; captain of the varsity soccer team; captain of the varsity basketball team.

Plans after high school: Temple University

Salutatorian: Olivia Bartkowski

Parents: Michael and Nadine Bartkowski

High school activities: National Honor Society; Math Honor Society; treasurer of the Spanish Club; SADD Club; Scholastic Team; Tomorrow’s Leaders Today Program; captain of the varsity soccer team; captain of the varsity basketball team.

Plans after high school: Temple University

JESSUP — They embraced by the guardrail.

Travis and Lauren Bumbarger held each other Thursday where dark tire tracks on Valley View Drive ended at a bent metal railing.

The valley stretched for miles in front of them in a late spring haze. More than 200 feet below, down a steep and rocky slope, scorched dirt marked where a fire charred a sport utility vehicle. Mr. Bumbarger briefly pressed his hands against the rail.

“He was a great kid,” Mr. Bumbarger said softly. “He had a lot to give the world.”

Their 15-year-old son, Austin Bumbarger, died roughly 12 hours earlier in a Scranton operating room after the violent crash in Jessup that also injured two teenage girls. He was a freshman at Valley View High School.

Nicole Vollrath, 17, drove a 2000 Cadillac Escalade along Valley View Drive near the Valley View Business Park around 10 p.m., swerved and hit a guardrail. The car fell down a steep and rocky embankment, flipped several times, landed on its roof and caught fire.

Nicole and Victoria Hutchins, a 14-year-old passenger, were injured and managed to climb the embankment. They were taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center by ambulance.

Austin, a passenger in the backseat, was thrown from the Cadillac and was taken by helicopter to GCMC’s trauma unit, where he died at 1:14 a.m. Thursday, according to Lackawanna County Coroner Tim Rowland. Nicole and Victoria were released from the hospital Thursday afternoon, hospital spokeswoman Westyn Hinchey said.

Austin was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash, according to Jessup Police Chief Joseph Walsh. Nicole and Victoria were, he added.

The unrecognizable SUV was carried from the site on a flat-bed truck. Chief Walsh said an accident reconstruction will begin Monday to find out how the crash may have happened. Chief Walsh said it does not appear alcohol played a role.

Mr. Rowland said an autopsy is scheduled for today.

More than 100 people visited the site where the vehicle fell. Family members and friends embraced each other. Classmates swapped stories.

Someone placed flowers where the vehicle crashed. A small card among the flowers wasn’t signed.

“RIP bud ...” it read.

Mr. Bumbarger marveled at how many people came to the crash site. Austin had been a very popular teenager.

“He’s very outgoing, talkative, hilarious,” said 15-year-old Sarina Gillett, who had been one grade above Austin at the high school.

Austin made friends easily and loved talking about cars, both his father and stepmother, Lauren, said. He had just been accepted to The Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County and wanted to work in a NASCAR pit crew.

Austin liked to spend his free time with friends at local hangout spots, one of which was Valley View Drive. Before heading to the business park with Nicole and Victoria Wednesday night, Austin had been in at Pop Pop’s Mini Mart in Blakely, gas pump attendant and incoming Valley View senior Michael Trichilo said while visiting the crash site Thursday.

One of Austin’s last acts had been one of kindness.

A rowdy teenager upended a garbage can at the store while Michael worked and it fell to the 17-year-old attendant to clean it up. Several other teens were with Austin, but Austin was the only one who helped Michael pick up the garbage.

Austin left shortly after that. Michael remembered the time because the garbage spill happened a few minutes before the store closed. It was a little bit before 10 p.m.

“I was in shock,” Michael said about learning of the wreck. “I had literally just talked to him.”

The mood at the high school was somber Thursday, Michael said. Austin’s death was the main topic of conversation. Counselors were at the school Thursday and will return today and remain throughout next week, an announcement on the district’s web site said.

“It was a terrible car accident,” Valley View Superintendent Donald Kanavy said.

Austin’s death will be felt strongly at school and at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Bumbarger managed a faint smile as they spoke about Austin. He has a sister in her early 20s, Krystin Bumbarger, and a 17-month-old brother, Patrick. Patrick’s eyes would “light up” every time Austin walked into the room, Mr. Bumbarger said. Patrick had just become old enough to play with Matchbox cars. Austin, with his love of cars, was happy to join in.

The smile flickered and the pair shed tears, their grief laid bare.

“That’s my boy,” Mr. Bumbarger said.

Mr. Bumbarger turned from the embankment and moved steadily toward a throng of people.

He stuck his hand out behind his back. Mrs. Bumbarger clutched it and the couple walked.

Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, @jkohutTT on Twitter.