HarperCollins closing in Dunmore
SCRANTON - HarperCollins Publishers has announced plans to close its last two U.S. warehouses in Dunmore and Nashville, according to published reports.
The company said it will hand over U.S. distribution duties to R.R. Donnelley & Sons Co. and will centralize warehousing for all its titles in a new facility to open next year in the Midwest. It is not known when the Dunmore facility will stop operations or what will happen to the employees.
Accused burglar waives hearing
SCRANTON - One of the two men accused of breaking into stores last week in the hope that Superstorm Sandy would divert the attention of law enforcement waived his preliminary hearing Monday.
Arraignment in Lackawanna County Court for Gregory Mitchell, 32, of Scranton, was scheduled for Dec. 21 after he waived his preliminary hearing on Monday. He was released on his own recognizance.
Mr. Mitchell and Gilbert Ortiz, 44, of the Bronx, N.Y., are accused of breaking into stores in the Viewmont Drive area on Oct. 30 as the storm bore down on the area.
A preliminary hearing for Mr. Ortiz was continued to Nov. 28. Mr. Ortiz remains in the Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Three charged in Scranton assault
SCRANTON - Two juveniles and a Theodore Street man will face charges of assaulting a man and woman Tuesday on Ralph Avenue, police said.
Acting Scranton police Capt. Glen Thomas said Jeffrey Azarovich, 20, answered a knock at the door of 1625 Ralph Ave. and A.J. Fox, 20, of Theodore Street, and a 17-year-old boy attacked him.
The resident, Gabrielle Norkaitis, 19, came outside and was also assaulted by a 16-year-old girl, Capt. Thomas said. The two victims called police after the three assailants fled. Charges will be filed by summons against all three, Capt. Thomas said.
Man arrested for assaulting sister
SCRANTON - City police arrested a West Side man Monday after he assaulted his sister over a $20 debt he owed her.
Michael Smith, 28, 1019 Lafayette St., punched his sister, Shannon Smith, of 1017 Lafayette St., and kicked her after she went to his home to ask about the $20 she believed he took from her purse, police said.
Mr. Smith admitted to pushing his sister off his porch when she refused to leave but denied assaulting her when questioned by city police. He was charged with simple assault and harassment. He was later released on unsecured bail.
PennDOT holding kids' art contest
SCRANTON - The state Department of Transportation Bureau of Aviation is looking for submissions for its annual art contest.
The contest, "50 years of American Space Flight," encourages students to learn more about aviation, and will be judged in two divisions: first through third grades and fourth- and fifth- grades.
The handmade artwork should be submitted on 8½-by-11-inch or 9-by-12-inch paper, unframed, unmatted and unlaminated. The back of each submission should include the student's name, teacher's name, grade level, county and school address and phone number.
Send entries to Bureau of Aviation, c/o William Sieg, 400 North St., Harrisburg, PA 17120. All entries must be postmarked by Nov. 29.
Philly man faces city drug charges
SCRANTON - A Philadelphia man is facing charges after he sold drugs during a controlled buy, Scranton police said.
Tyrone Girdy, 51, sold heroin at the Red Carpet Inn, 320 Franklin Ave., Tuesday night, leading police to search his hotel room, where they found 29 bags of heroin, police said. Mr. Girdy was charged with felony delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and resisting arrest.
Bail and arraignment information were unavailable Tuesday night.