Man charged in drunken rampage
HONESDALE - A borough man was arrested and charged with criminal mischief, institutional vandalism and public drunkenness Tuesday morning.
Robert Vessecchia, 30, knocked over 25 trash cans and 11 U.S. Postal Service mailboxes throughout downtown Honesdale, with his drunken rampage ending around 4 a.m. at the Turkey Hill Minit Market on Main Street, police said. After police took him into custody, he kicked a door in the booking area, causing damage, police said.
Mr. Vessecchia is being held in Wayne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $2,500 bail, police said.
Feds indict 10 on drug charges
WILKES-BARRE - A federal grand jury on Tuesday indicted 10 people in a drug conspiracy responsible for distributing bulk heroin and cocaine across Luzerne County, according to court records.
Court records show most of the defendants were taken into custody last week.
The grand jury indicted the defendants on allegations they possessed with intent to distribute more than 100 grams of heroin, more than 500 grams of cocaine and more than 28 grams of crack, as well as undisclosed amounts of Ecstasy - which goes by the street name Molly - and marijuana. The indictment says the alleged conspirators operated from June until last week.
Charged are: Teresa Bradigan; Alejandro Delrosario; Christopher "Hov" Gayton; Zacharae "S.P." Lowe; Justin "Bracks" Murphy; Richard "Mega" Murphy, aka Rich and Christian; Damon Murray; Michael "Danger" Murray; William "Pretty" Patterson; and Ashlee Taylor.
The U.S. attorney's office was unable to immediately provide ages and addresses for the defendants.
Farmers market vouchers available
SCRANTON - Maternal and Family Health Services will distribute farmers market vouchers through its Women, Infant and Children Nutrition Centers to help families buy fresh produce from Pennsylvania farmers.
Qualifying WIC participants can receive $20 in vouchers for produce between June 1 and Nov. 30, according to a news release from Maternal and Family Health Services.
Women who are pregnant, breast-feeding or postpartum, along with children between 2 and 5 years old, are eligible. For more information, visit www.mfhs.org or call 800-367-6347.
Conservation group gets grant
SCRANTON - A $4,116 Coldwater Conservation Planning Grant will help the Lackawanna County Conservation District monitor six tributaries of the Lackawanna River, the group announced Tuesday.
Cheryl Nolan, the group's watershed specialist, said the money will pay for meters, testing kits and chemicals to analyze river water, as well as expenses for two college interns who aid in the project.
The group is trying to find out if tributaries are degrading the river from Wildcat Creek in Archbald to Leggets Creek in Scranton, or if urbanization is causing the section to be more unhealthy than other sections of river, she said.
The grant was offered through a partnership of Trout Unlimited, DCNR and PA Fish and Boat Commission.