REGIONAL BRIEFS
Man charged after domestic dispute
DUNMORE - A New Jersey man faces charges after Dunmore police said he bit, choked and hit his girlfriend at their Tall Trees apartment.
Daniel Snel, 24, was charged with simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment when police found his girlfriend bleeding from her lower lip with handprint marks around her neck and a contusion on the back of her head Saturday morning, according to the criminal complaint.
Mr. Snel was arraigned Saturday and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing Monday. He was in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail.
Two teens face drug charges
TOBYHANNA - Two teenagers face charges in an illegal prescription drug trafficking case in Pocono Summit.
On Friday night, Pocono Mountain Regional Police arrested Kyle Walsh, 18, of Pocono Summit, for selling prescription controlled substances in the parking lot of Joe's Kwik Mart on Route 940.
Mr. Walsh was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication device, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was taken to Monroe County Correctional Facility, but was later released on $25,000 bail.
Police determined Dylan Ranney, 19, of Canadensis, purchased Oxycodone from Mr. Walsh and will receive a summons for illegal possession of a controlled substance.
Carbondale passes towing ordinance
CARBONDALE - City council unanimously approved an ordinance instituting a towing and impound service fee at Monday night's meeting.
The city will now tow any illegally parked, wrecked or abandoned cars as authorized by the Carbondale Police Department, with towing fees to offset the costs of towing and impound services.
There will be a $25 towing fee for all cars, motorcycles, vans and ATVs; a $50 towing fee for commercial trucks, buses and RVs; and a $100 towing fee for all construction or large vehicles. The individual whose vehicle is being towed will also pay a storage fee which varies depending on how many days the vehicle is impounded.
Council members also announced they will voted on the 2013 budget at a meeting scheduled Dec. 27 at 6 p.m.
College might arm its officers
NANTICOKE - Luzerne County Community College security officers may soon be carrying guns on patrol.
In the wake of Friday's mass shooting at a Connecticut elementary school, the college is forging ahead with plans to arm its security guards, Director of Security Bill Barrett confirmed Monday. The college had been planning the move for more than a year, following other mass shootings around the country.
At previous meetings, LCCC's board of trustees approved arming the school's security force. Tonight, the board is expected to approve a use-of-force policy and tweak the school's weapons exemption policy to allow security officers to carry guns on the weapon-free campus, Mr. Barrett said.
No tax increase in Luzerne County
WILKES-BARRE - Next year's Luzerne County budget will allocate $260.1 million and maintain the current property tax rate.
County council adopted the 2013 budget with a 7-4 vote Tuesday. The spending plan keeps the county tax rate at 5.32 mills - $532 for $100,000 in assessed value.
Councilman Edward Brominski objected to conflicting and changing information on whether the budget will include a monetization loan that sells delinquent tax liens. Chief of Budget and Finance Vic Mazziotti confirmed Tuesday the budget is balanced with $4.3 million in revenue from a monetization loan.