State rep. plans lockdown bill
HARRISBURG - State Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich plans to introduce legislation requiring lockdown drills in schools around the state.
Thursday's announcement was prompted by the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in December.
Though fire drills and emergency management plans are currently mandated, lockdown drills are not required by law, according to the release. The drills would be held at elementary and secondary schools.
"In the event of an emergency where our students and teachers need to be secured on their campuses, we've got to make sure that everyone knows exactly what to do and is working together for the safety of all involved," Mr. Kavulich, D-114, Taylor, said. "Lockdown drills can better prepare students and faculty for such unthinkable occurrences. I believe these drills can be implemented quickly and bring an additional level of preparedness to our schools."
Work continuing at Taylor bridge
TAYLOR - It might take until the spring for the beams to rise at the closed bridge on North Main Street in the borough, but work is continuing at the site.
Workers from Minichi Contracting Group are installing storm drains after cold weather had stopped work for a few weeks, said Dan Zeleniak, chairman of the development authority for Taylor, during Thursday's authority meeting. The bridge closed in October 2011 after being deemed unsafe. The contracting group demolished the bridge and immediately began the $3.8 million project of building a new one, funded by state and federal money.
Mr. Zeleniak said there was still no official word on whether the $550,000 bypass road that takes drivers around the bridge will be kept in place or demolished.
Four arrested on fraud charges
OLYPHANT - Four people were arrested Wednesday when they tried to get prescription medication illegally at Family Pharmacy of Olyphant, borough police said.
Tisa Smith, 40, of Springfield, Va.; Kynesha Grant, 28, of Philadelphia; Hiawatha Thomas, 35, of Philadelphia; and James Dennis, 49, of Philadelphia, all were charged with criminal attempt to obtain a controlled substance by fraud or deception and criminal conspiracy to obtain a controlled substance by fraud or deception, police said.
Ms. Smith was wanted on a warrant from Reading Police Department for similar crimes and Ms. Grant was wanted by the Philadelphia Police Department on assault, terroristic threats and other charges, police said.
Ms. Smith, Ms. Thomas and Mr. Dennis were arraigned Wednesday, are scheduled for preliminary hearings Thursday and are in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $75,000 each. Arraignment and bail information for Ms. Grant was unavailable Thursday.
College site shuts after threat made
HAWLEY - Lackawanna College's Lake Region Center was closed Thursday after a threat was made by a student.
The threat, which was first made verbally and later posted on Facebook by a female student, is being investigated, according to a statement from the college.
The nature of the threat was not disclosed.
The college's other centers, including the Scranton campus, remained open. The Lake Region Center, in the Hawley Silk Mill, was expected to be open today. The student has been removed from class pending the outcome of the investigation.