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The Times Leader timesleader.com
WILKES-BARRE, PA
TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2011
Kids left in a car 11 hours, UConn wins dogfight cops say NCAA BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP UCONN
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Melissa M. DeMarco, 33, faces charges in the Newport Township incident.
Meter site near schools stirs debate Dallas Township Zoning Hearing Board hears more discussion of natural gas.
By EDWARD LEWIS elewis@timesleader.com
NEWPORT TWP. – Two boys ages 2 years and 10 months were left alone in the woods for nearly 11 hours after, township police allege, their mother abandoned them in a vehicle that got stuck in mud on an isolated dirt road Sunday night. The boys were found unharmed by a passer-by Monday morning as search crews canvassed a large section of woods along Main and Lee roads. The search was DeMarco called off when it beFirst reported came known at 10:23 the children were safe at a.m. the township Timesleader police sta.com tion. Police charged Melissa Michelle DeMarco, 33, of Lewis Road, Hunlock Township, with two counts each of child endangerment, recklessly endangering another person and leaving a child unattended, and a single count of trespass by vehicle. She was arraigned by District Judge Donald Whittaker in Nanticoke and jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $50,000 bail. According to the criminal complaint: The search began after 8 a.m. when Jason Tarnowski told police he was stopped by a woman, identified as DeMarco, covered in mud and wearing no shoes near St. Michael’s Cemetery in Glen Lyon. DeMarco told Tarnowski she and her children were in a car that got stuck in mud and she needed a ride to her house. When DeMarco could not find her house on Lewis Road, Tarnowski gave her a ride to a house on McDonald Road in West Nanticoke.
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By STEVE MOCARSKY smocarsky@timesleader.com
DALLAS TWP. – About a half hour after a representative of ChiefGatheringtestifiedthecompany will not build a natural gas compressor station within three miles of the Dallas School District campus, attorneys for the district and a nearby property owner grilledhimfor90minutesonathe proposed construction of a metering station one-third of a mile from the campus. The Dallas Township Zoning Hearing Board reconvened a hearing on Chief’s application for special zoning exceptions to construct two metering facilities, two flow-control buildings, a communication tower, a 10-foot combustion device, an 8,000-gallon mercaptan tank and a 2,000-gallon surge tank on an approximately 3-
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emba Walker, who finished with 16 points for victorious UConn, reacts Monday during the second half of the NCAA championship game against Butler in Houston. The Huskies (32-9) won their 11th straight game since closing the regular season with a 9-9 Big East record. For coverage, see Page 1B.
Pa. House OKs bath salts chemicals ban Lawmakers voted 195-0 in favor of the measure that dealt with several substances. By BILL O’BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com
See LEFT, Page 12A
WILKES-BARRE – The state House of Representatives on Monday voted unanimously for a bill that would ban chemicals in bath salts, salvia divinorum and synthetic marijuana. Concentrated bath salts contain
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a chemical known as MDPV, which can mimic the effects of cocaine and methamphetamine. Police throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania have said in recent weeks that crime by users high on the now-legal substance is on the increase. MDPV has been banned in Louisiana and Florida. Common bath salts sold in retail stores do not contain MDPV, and would not be affected if House Bill 365 became law. The bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
The bill would ban salvia divinorum, a psychoactive drug that can produce hallucinations, and prohibit the sale of synthetic marijuana. Lawmakers voted 195-0 in favor of the measure. “I’m hopeful the (state) Senate will take up the legislation very quickly,”saidRep.MikeCarroll,DAvoca after the vote. Rep. Karen Boback, R-Harveys Lake, noted the types of bath salts See BATH SALTS, Page 12A
acre site. Ted Wurfel, vice president for environmental, safety and regulatory affairs for Chief, testified on the application at a Feb. 9 zoning hearing, which was continued because of time restraints. Monday night’s hearing, See METERING, Page 12A
Greco suit targets W-B city, King’s
Businessman says nightclub singled out because many patrons are black and Latino. By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER tmorgan@timesleader.com
citations were given a free ride because their patrons were mostly Caucasians. The harassment seriousGreco ly harmed the South Main Street business, forcing Greco to all but close the nightclub, the suit said, adding it is now opens once every 10 days to for private parties. Greco also alleges that an FBI agent leaked information about a criminal investigation of Greco to city officials, thwarting business dealings he had with the city. The suit is the latest in a list of disputes that have developed between Greco and Mayor Tom Leighton, whom Greco has ac-
WILKES-BARRE – Local businessman Thom Greco has filed a federal lawsuit against King’s College and city and county officials, alleging they conspired to shut down The Mines nightclub because its patrons were predominantly blacks and Latinos. The suit, filed in federal court in Scranton, claims the nightclub and its patrons were subjected to extraordinary scrutiny and harassment by law enforcement officials, despite the fact the establishment was never cited for liquor law violations, while other bars with numerous See GRECO, Page 12A
Aciukewicz cites his wide range of experience He’s worked as an assistant district attorney, civil litigator and in his own private practice since 1992. By SHEENA DELAZIO sdelazio@timesleader.com
jerk” reaction to the ongoing corruption probe in Luzerne County by running for judge in 2009. Two years later, Aciukewicz said the corruption is only part of why he’s running and he feels it’s the right time in his life and career to take the next step. Aciukewicz said his wide-range of experience in the law is what qualifies him to serve in one of six open seats on the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. He has worked as an assistant district attorney, civil litigator and in his own private practice since 1992, prosecuting between 30 and 35 jury trials, arguing five
WILKES-BARRE – Attorney John Aciukewicz already plays a judicial role of sorts as a PIAA basketball official. He makes decisions for everyone to see and scrutinize while refereeing between two opposing teams, he told The Times Leader endorsement board Wednesday. “(Being a PIAA official) is a great analogy for being a judge,” Aciukewicz, 52, of Shavertown, said. He said he did not want to make a “knee- See ACIUKEWICZ, Page 12A
CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER
John Aciukewicz is a candidate for Luzerne County judge.