Selenski heads back to Luzerne
WILKES-BARRE — Homicide suspect Hugo Selenski should soon return to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, the scene of his infamous 2003 prison escape.
A judge on Monday ordered Mr. Selenski to be transported from state prison to the county lockup so he and his attorney can start preparing for his Nov. 12 double-murder trial.
The 40-year-old is charged in the 2002 killings of pharmacist Michael Kerkowski and Mr. Kerkowski’s girlfriend, Tammy Fassett, whose bodies were found buried in the yard of Mr. Selenski’s Kingston Twp. home in June 2003.
— BOB KALINOWSKI
Power plant off watch list
SALEM TWP. — The PPL Susquehanna Steam nuclear power plant is off the list of the six most watched plants.
PPL took sufficient action to correct issues with the Unit 2 reactor, which will no longer need additional scrutiny by the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, according to a report released Monday by the federal agency.
Unit 2 had four unplanned shutdowns between Nov. 9, 2012, and Sept. 14, 2013. As a result, PPL was under increased oversight by the NRC, which tasked the company with preparing a plan to correct the problems.
— ELIZABETH SKRAPITS
Police: Drunk offered a bribe
WILKES-BARRE — A Pittston man is facing bribery charges after getting pulled over on suspicion of driving drunk and offering to perform oral sex on a police officer to get out of jail, according to Wilkes-Barre police.
Brian McFarland, 26, of Market Street, is also charged with driving under the influence in addition to the felony bribery charge after his arrest early Sunday.
Mr. McFarland refused a blood-alcohol test and was held until sober, police said.
Magisterial District Judge James Tupper arraigned Mr. McFarland on Sunday morning and released him on his own recognizance. A preliminary hearing was set for 9 a.m. Sept. 25.
— JAMES HALPIN
Dupont to celebrate 100
DUPONT — If the new Dupont Centennial Committee has its way, a town clock will be installed somewhere in the area of the Municipal Building to celebrate the municipality’s 100th anniversary, said Bob Price, committee chairman.
The group estimates that a town clock would cost about $40,000.
The centennial is tentatively scheduled for June 2017 and will include a parade. A centennial book on the history of the borough will be published in early 2017 and will feature many photos.
The committee meets today at 6 p.m. at the Municipal Building.
Dupont, once part of Pittston Twp., was incorporated in 1917.
— PAUL GOLIAS