Marino's Wyoming office shuts doors
TUNKHANNOCK - The regional office that Rep. Tom Marino, R-10, Lycoming Twp., opened in the borough two years ago closed its doors Friday.
Chief of Staff Bill Tighe said the move was "so that our staff can prepare to move to our new location in Hamlin, Wayne County."
Mr. Tighe noted that constituents could still reach Mr. Marino's staff at 836-8020 until their office in Hamlin opens on March 1.
The office was closing due to redistricting, which placed Wyoming County in the 11th Congressional District.
Man charged in school threat
WILKES-BARRE - A man was jailed on $1 million bail Friday after sending text messages about blowing up local high schools, Wilkes-Barre police said.
William Hoffman, 41, of Bennett Street, Luzerne, claimed he meant to send the message to his girlfriend's daughter as a joke, but inadvertently texted it to the wrong number Thursday night.
Police said Mr. Hoffman texted: "I am going to shoot up everyone I see on Watkins Street tomorrow. Initially I was going to blow up GAR and WVW but I changed my mind so you better go the hell to school tomorrow. Signed ⦠Random Mysterious Psychotic Killer."
Soon afterward, Mr. Hoffman again texted the number, "Sorry, that was a bad joke to the wrong number, oops."
The person who received the message was disturbed in light of the Connecticut school shooting last week and contacted police Friday morning, city spokesman Drew McLaughlin said.
"It's never anything to joke about. The public should know posting things online or texting statements like that are crimes in and of themselves," Mr. McLaughlin said.
Police interviewed Mr. Hoffman on Friday and he admitted to sending the messages, police said.
Mr. Hoffman was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Rick Cronauer, who ordered him jailed on $1 million cash bail.
No wrongdoing at Nanticoke school
NANTICOKE - Cameras placed in the wrestling room of the Greater Nanticoke Area High School did not constitute criminal wrongdoing, Nanticoke police and the Luzerne County district attorney's office said Friday.
The cameras in the room were not in a part of the school where students are allowed to change clothes and were placed there to monitor reported bullying, according to a press release from Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis.
After school officials learned that students sometimes change clothes in the area monitored by cameras, the school removed the cameras, according to the release. The cameras were highly visible and no footage from them now exists, the release said.
Police started investigating Dec. 4, the day after a school board meeting when the entire board, superintendent and solicitor learned about the cameras, which by then had already been taken down.
Police seize drugs, guns from home
MOUNT POCONO - One man was arrested and charges are pending against his wife after Pocono Mountain Regional Police served a warrant for narcotics trafficking Friday and found approximately $30,000 worth of drugs in the same home as the couple's 5- and 3-year-old daughters.
Police said they found five pounds of marijuana when they searched Edward and Donna Mason's 35 Knob Road home in Mount Pocono. Police also discovered hallucinogenic mushrooms, LSD, illegally possessed prescription medication, a handgun, large-caliber rifle and assorted drug paraphernalia, police said.
Mr. Mason was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of an instrument of crime, among other counts. He was taken to the Monroe County Correctional Facility and was awaiting arraignment Friday. Mrs. Mason will face similar charges, police said.