theJournal-herald

What have we here? Pg. 6

I-80 Bridge Replacement Heavy equipment could impact WH

There is concern in the White Haven business community about a PennDOT plan that would bring large equipment into town for the I-80 bridge replacement project, spanning four years. Several trucks could be run in and out of Main Street, and down through the White Haven Market parking lot, according to information received by borough manager Linda Szoke. Council members, the police chief, manager and state government officials are investigating and working on a meeting with the state.

Potential issues include parking and traffic in town. “We are having the best summer in a long time and we don’t want to lose that momentum,” Szoke noted, after COVID and closed park accesses.

More information will be forthcoing.

Standoff Saturday in Weatherly

Detective Chaz Balough and K9 Spike visited the kids at the YMCA food and fun program at the White Haven Area Community Library last week. ESD K9 Spike works for the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office - Detective Division, ICAC/SVU. He is trained in finding electronic equipment and is one of 107 dogs in the United States that does this job. The handsome black Labrador retriever is a rescue dog from Ohio. He can find things like cell phones, iPads, tablets, thumb drives, hidden cameras and other electronic devices. He is a member of the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, and the Pennsylvania State Police Computer Crimes Unit. He even has his own Facebook page, K9 Detective Spike. For more pictures of Detective Spike at work, turn to page 6. Photos courtesy Linda Szoke.

Saturday, July 29, James Roof of Weatherly became agitated with his family, and with police who came by for a welfare check. At about 12:30, he was threatening to shoot family members and his girlfriend. He locked himself inside his East Main Street, Weatherly home. Weatherly police set up a perimeter, and with assistance from area Fire police were able to get traffic detours in place while blocking traffic near the standoff.

After talking with Roof for “hours,” Weatherly Police brought in a State Police negotiator and PSP’s Special Response Team. About 4 p.m., Roof came out of the house unarmed. State Police conducted the arrest, Roof surrendered peacefully to everyone’s satisfaction. PSP turned him over to Weatherly Police for processing, and to be arraigned.

A search of the home was executed after a search warrant was obtained. Police found a 9mm handgun and a 12-guage pistol-grip shotgun, as well as thousands of rounds of ammunition.

(JAY

THE JOURNAL-HERALD

(USPS