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The Times Leader timesleader.com
WILKES-BARRE, PA
GAS PRICES
THURSDAY, APRIL 7, 2011
Synthetic drugs are taking toll nationwide
In speech at Pa. wind turbine plant, president says America needs to move toward independence from foreign oil
Obama: Pump pain will continue By DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press
FAIRLESS HILLS — Pitching the promise of energy independence, President Barack Obama cautioned Wednesday that it’s going to be tough to transition from America’s oil-dependent economy and acknowledged there’s little he can do to lower gas prices over the short term. “I’m just going to be honest with you. There’s not much we can do Obama next week or two weeks from now,” the president told workers at a wind turbine plant. It’s a theme Obama’s struck before as he tries to show voters he’s attuned to a top economic concern with gas prices pushing toward $4 a gallon. Obama said he wants to move toward “a future where America is less dependent on foreign oil, more reliant on clean energy produced by workers like you.” That will happen by reducing oil imports, tapping domestic energy sources and shifting the nation to renewable and less polluting sources of energy, such as wind, the president says. He has set a goal of reducing oil imports by See GAS, Page 12A
Use of substances including bath salts is sending thousands to the ER. By JIM SALTER and JIM SUHR Associated Press
INDIANOLA, Iowa — Synthetic substances that mimic marijuana, cocaine and other illegal drugs are making users across the nation seriously ill, causing seizures and hallucinations and even killing some people. The products are often packaged as incense or bath salts and can be obtained for as little as $10 at many head shops. As more people experiment with them, the results are becoming evi- INdent at hospitals: SIDE: West a sharp spike in Pittston the number of us- joins effort to ban bath ers who show up salts, page with problems 2A. ranging from labored breathing and rapid heartbeats to extreme paranoia and delusions. The symptoms can persist for days. At the request of The Associated Press, the American Association of Poison Control Centers analyzed nationwide figures on calls related to synthetic drugs. The findings showed an alarming increase in the number of people seeking medical attention. At least 2,700 people have fallen ill since January, compared with fewer than 3,200 cases in all of 2010. At that pace, medical emergencies related to synthetic drugs could go up nearly fivefold by the end of the year.
AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER
Gas prices hit $3.75 for a gallon of regular, topping the national average of $3.70, Wednesday at this gas station in Wilkes-Barre. President Obama said Wednesday there’s not much than can be done about the high prices in the short run.
Inspired to help the poor Brothers, W-B natives, are successes, humanitarians By BILL O’BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com
S. JOHN WILKIN/THE TIMES LEADER
Kathleen McLaughlin Coslett, left, and Ellen Franco stand at a display of ‘Brothers & Fathers’ in Barnes & Noble Bookstore.
Planned Back Mtn. pipeline, metering station explained By SARAH HITE shite@timesleader.com
50¢
WILKES-BARRE -- Two brothers now in their 80s – one a selfmade millionaire and the other a respected priest who has devoted most of his life to ministering to the poor – have authored a memoir detailing their humanitarian efforts to inspire others to take on similar projects. George and John Esseff, na-
WEATHER Terin Conklin Cloudy, showers. High 54, Low 37. Details, Page 12B
is planned. The gathering line will tap into the Williams-owned Transco pipeline, which provides “100 percent of Back Mountain residents’ gas” if their provider is UGI, said Ryan Savage, general manager of Midstream Operations in the Appalachian Basin. Savage said the natural gas coming from several wells will meet at the Springville Gathering Line, which will also pass through the Lathrop Compressor Station in Tunkhannock Township. He said the facility was cen-
WILKES-BARRE – Representatives from Williams Midstream Operations, a subsidiary of Williams Gas Co., unveiled detailed plans Wednesday to construct a pipeline and metering station in Dallas Township. At a conference with Times Leader staffers, the Tulsa, Okla.-based company said applications have been filed in the township to construct a 33mile pipeline from Springville Township in Susquehanna County to a site off Hildebrandt Road in Dallas Township, where a metering station See STATION, Page 12A
tives of Wilkes-Barre’s Rolling Mill Hill section, also will bring their story to King’s College next week in a special program – “Charting Our Future by Recalling Our Past.” George Esseff, a successful entrepreneur, and John Esseff are 18 months apart. They grew up in Wilkes-Barre and went on to lead distinguished lives. George is a retired business-
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See SYNTHETICS, Page 10A
See ESSEFF, Page 7A
Pierantoni cites experience, work ethic By SHEENA DELAZIO sdelazio@timesleader.com
WILKES-BARRE – If Fred Pierantoni had to describe himself, he’d say he’s a workhorse with invaluable experience as a magisterial district judge. Pierantoni, 52, of Dupont, told The Times Leader endorsement board he has handled at least 70,000 cases as a district judge in Pittston for nearly two decades, and 28 years of civil matters in his private practice. “(Becoming a county judge) is a natural transition,” Pierantoni said. “I feel I have the legal and judicial experience … and given the opportunity, I could serve all resi6
man who made millions in titanium. He is married with children and lives in California. Monsignor John Esseff said his spouse is the Church and his children are all around the world. He worked with the late Mother Teresa. George has divested himself of most of his wealth – his airplane,
See PIERANTONI, Page 12A
FRED PIERANTONI Age: 52 Education: Wilkes University, degree in political science; Temple University School of Law Law experience: Former Luzerne County assistant district attorney; former civil litigator at Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald; private attorney since 1984; district judge since 1992. Community affiliations: District 14-W Lions International, Hughestown Lions Club, Holy Mother of Sorrows Church, Irem Temple Shriner, UNICO, Dupont Polish American Citizens Club, St. John’s Lodge 233, advisory board member NEPA Veterans Multicare Alliance, Wyoming Valley Drug and Alcohol, Greater Pittston AntiDrug Coalition, Greater Wyoming Valley Crime Clinic Family: Wife, the former Donna McLarney; sons, Freddie and Matt; parents, Fred and Betty (Wozniak) Pierantoni.
CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER
Fred Pierantoni is a candidate for judge in Luzerne County. He said he supports individual calendars for county judges to handle cases from the beginning to end.
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