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PAGE 2A TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2012
June 17, 2012 M. Solomon, 95, of WilkesJ ule Barre, passed away on Sunday,
GOP candidate looks to make President Obama defend states he won in 2008. By THOMAS BEAUMONT and KASIE HUNT Associated Press
cious ethnic foods and sweets. Jule was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her. Her family would like to thank the nurses, staff and her new found friend, Ms. Faye, of the Westover Facility for their comforting care and affection. A very special thank you to Jule’s niece, Suzanne Vaishnani, her husband Rajul and children for their undivided love and devotion in caring and attending to Jule’s needs during her stay at Westover. Funeral services will be Thursday, June 21, at 10 a.m. from the Mamary-Durkin Funeral Home, 59 Parrish St, Wilkes-Barre, with services at 10:30 a.m. at St Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church, South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre. Friends may call between the hours of 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday, June 20. Interment will be at the parish cemetery. Contributions made be made in Jule’s memory to St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church.
Thomas P. Witkowski June 17, 2012 P. Witkowski, 74, of T homas Wilkes-Barre Township, passed
away on Sunday, June 17, 2012, in the Hospice Unit of the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Plains Township. Born on July 5, 1937, he was the son of the late Charles and Lottie Tomczak Witkowski. He attended Marymount High School in Wilkes-Barre and was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps. Tom was an electrician and was employed by Moravian College in Bethlehem for many years, retiring in 1990. He enjoyed trips to the Casino and winning the “sweet money” at Tuesday night cards with his family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Bernard, Charles and Edward Witkowski, and by his sisters, Charlotte Oley and Dorothy Jones. Surviving are his former wife, Yvonne Kratz Witkowski; children, Catherine Riccetti and her husband, Mark, Plains; Thomas P. Witkowski Jr., Wilkes-Barre; Stephen Witkowski and his wife, Donna, WilkesBarre; Peter Witkowski and his companion, Jennifer Handley, Wilkes-Barre; Edward Witkowski and his companion, Jessica Holden, Ashley; Yvonne Gordon, WilkesBarre Township; Ann Marie Brisk and her husband, Edwin, WilkesBarre; Paula Weihbrecht and her husband, John, Bear Creek Township; grandchildren, Joseph and El-
izabeth Gordon; Mark Riccetti; Sara and Stephanie Witkowski and Christine Weihbrecht; brother Stanley Witkowski, Wilkes-Barre. He also leaves behind his faithful companion, Duke. A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. in St. Benedict’s Parish, 155 Austin Avenue, WilkesBarre. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Hanover Township. Friends may call from 9:30 to10 a.m. at the church on Thursday. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the SPCA of Luzerne County, 524 East Main Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702. Funeral arrangements are by the Nat & Gawlas Funeral Home, 89 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. Online condolence may be sent by visiting Thomas’ obituary at www.natandgawlasfuneralhome.com.
L. Donald Linker June 17, 2012 Donald Linker, 86, of ShaverL .town, passed away unexpected-
ly Sunday, June 17, 2012 at WilkesBarre General Hospital Born in Wilkes-Barre, Donald was the son of the late Louis and Sue Hughes Linker. He was a graduate of GAR High School, Wilkes-Barre, and the Wilkes-Barre Business College. Donald enjoyed a long career as Campaign Director for the United Way of Wyoming Valley, retiring in 1989 after more than 40 years with the organization. He then embarked on a second career with the United Methodist Foundation, where he spent several years before returning to the United Way of Wyoming Valley. He was a 50-year member of Masonic Lodge #61 F. & A.M., WilkesBarre. Donald volunteered with Meals on Wheels of Wyoming Valley and the American Red Cross Blood Services Program. Donald touched so many lives and will be dearly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. He was a member of Shavertown United Methodist Church. Preceding him in death, in addi-
tion to his parents, was a sister, Doris Atherholt. Surviving are his wife of 63 years, the former Jean Gardner; daughters, Cinde, Forty Fort; Cathy, Shavertown; Carol, Lancaster; grandson, Donald, Lancaster; niece, Marlene Smith; nephews, William Bauer and Robert Atherholt. Funeral services will be held Thursday, June 21, 2012 at 11 a.m. in Shavertown United Methodist Church, 163 N. Pioneer Avenue, Shavertown. The Reverend M. Lynn Snyder will officiate. Interment will be made in Evergreen Cemetery, Shavertown. Friends may call Wednesday, June 20, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Harold C. Snowdon Funeral Home, Inc., 140 N. Main Street, Shavertown. Memorial donations, if desired, may be made to the United Way of Wyoming Valley, Eight West Market Street, Suite 450, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711; Meals on Wheels of Wyoming Valley, 190 N. Sprague Avenue, Kingston, PA 18704; or Shavertown United Methodist Church, 163 N. Pioneer Avenue, Shavertown, PA 18708.
More Obituaries, Page 8A
DUBUQUE, Iowa — Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney is pushing to win a band of Midwestern states that voted for President Barack Obama four years ago and that generally have a long history of backing Democrats in White House elections. Romney faces hurdles and advantages in each state but his approach will leave Obama no choice but to spend time and money defending states he carried in 2008. That Romney is even making a making a play for the arc of states from Pennsylva-
nia to Iowa also suggests his path to the 270 electoral votes he will need to win the White House may be widening. “It’s sending a pretty clear message that the places the Democrats have taken for granted, they can’t take for granted this time,” said Rich Beeson, Romney’s political director. Before arriving in Iowa on Monday, Romney stopped in Janesville, Wis., an economically struggling, one-time manufacturing hub in the southern part of the state. Unemployment there is 9 percent, well above the state average of 6.8 percent for May. The national average is 8.2 percent. He toured Monterey Mills, a unionized company that makes fabric for paint rollers and the stuffing for toys like Winnie the Pooh. “The people of this country are
Maybe we’re amazed Paul McCartney is 70 By GREGORY KATZ Associated Press
LONDON — Paul McCartney can still rock at 70. What more could a former Beatle want? He celebrated his birthday in private Monday, perhaps resting up between gigantic gigs this summer. But he shows no sign of slowing down as his music is passed on to generations too young to have seen him in Wings, much less the Beatles. Once a pot-smoking counterculture rebel, “Sir Paul” is very much part of the British establishment now, closing Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee concert earlier this month with a mix of favorites that included a raucous “All My Loving,” one of the Beatles’ first smash hits. He’s also preparing for a featured role as the final act at the July 27 opening ceremony of the London Olympics — just another global audience of a billion or more for one of the most popular performers in pop history. Even McCartney may be a bit nervous for that one, but he
AP PHOTO
Sir Paul McCartney still rocks at 70 years old.
won’t be short of material: Consider a back catalog that includes “Yesterday,” “Eleanor Rigby,” “Penny Lane” and a few dozen other classics, like “Let It Be” and “Hey Jude.” It’s been a strong year for McCartney, who in October married his third wife, darkhaired American heiress Nancy Shevell, closing the book on his failed union and messy divorce from second wife Heather Mills.
Nuangola Council accepts resignation of secretary/treasurer and fills post By TOM HUNTINGTON Times Leader Correspondent
NUANGOLA – Council acted Monday night to accept the resignation of Melissa Weber as secretary/treasurer and immediately thereafter voted 5-0 to appoint Sabine Thomas of Hanover Township as her successor. Weber’s decision followed on the heels of Councilman John Kochan becoming council president after the May 31 ouster of Regina Plodwick. Plodwick had served as president for more than six years. Part of the first order of business for Kochan was to propose the hiring of Thomas, who he said was a candidate two years
ago when Weber was retained. Thomas said some of her area affiliations have been with the Wilkes-Barre Art League and the Cultural Council of Luzerne County. Kochan said an annual audit done earlier this year by the accounting firm of Bonita & Rainey will be expanded to include financial work turned in by Weber and as such, Kochan said, he is putting a hold on fiscal affairs until the audit is complete. However, council, at the recommendation of Councilman Joe Tucker, approved a payment of $11,721 to M&J Excavating for work being conducted on Willow Grove Street.
John Joseph Gorski June 15, 2012 Joseph Gorski, 74, of PhilaJJuneohn delphia, passed away Friday, 15, 2012 at Lehigh Valley Hos-
pital, Allentown. He was born July 4, 1937, and grew up in Nanticoke, the son of the late John and Alexandria Gorski. John was a member of St. Mary of Czestochowa Parish, where he faithfully served as an altar server until his graduating from Marymount High School and continuing his education at King’s College. He proudly served in the U.S. Army, after which he was employed by the Federal Government as an Inventory Management Specialist at the Defense Industrial Supply Center in Philadelphia. During his 35 years of service he received numerous commendations and awards recognizing his excellent work ethic and sustained superior performance. John had an excellent sense of humor and truly enjoyed sharing time with his family. He was a gentle man
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having a hard time. These are challenging times for Americans, and because of his failed record his campaign is having a hard time deciding what to talk about,” Romney said, the excited crowd sitting amid packages of fabric the company uses to make its paint rollers. Wisconsin, which has not backed a Republican for president since Ronald Reagan in 1984, presents a new opportunity for Romney, almost exclusively due to Gov. Scott Walker’s triumph two weeks ago in a contentious recall election. But he still has his work cut out for him. Voters said in exit polls after the June 5 election that they trust Obama more to address the nation’s economic struggles — the chief argument for Romney, a former businessman — and the interests of the middle class.
Lehman Township waits for tax money Treasurer says municipality has received only a fraction of cash expected for 1st quarter. By JON O’CONNELL Times Leader Correspondent
and had a big heart filled with love, kindness and generosity. Because of his selfless spirit, as an organ donor, he will continue to live on by giving the “Gift of Life.” Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, were a brother, Benedict, and his beloved, longtime companion, Ursula Reeter. Presently surviving are sisters, Bernadine Gorski, Elaine Litchkofski and Liberta Weiss. He was “Uncle Jack” to several nieces and nephews and great-nieces and great-nephews. A Memorial Mass is scheduled for Wednesday, June 20, 2012 at 10 a.m. in St. Faustina Church (the alternate site/ St. Mary’s Church), Hanover Street, Nanticoke, with the Rev. James Nash officiating. Interment will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Wanamie. Arrangements are by the Grontkowski Funeral Home P.C., 51-53 W. Green Street, Nanticoke.
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Romney woos Midwest middle class
Jule M. Solomon
June 17, 2012, at the Westover Hills Rehab and Nursing Facility, San Antonio, Texas. Born in Detroit, Michigan, on November 6, 1916, she was the daughter of the late Issor and Rumza (Amuni) Simon. In addition to her parents, Jule was predeceased by her husband, Samuel, sister Pauline Abraham, and brothers, Raymond and Samuel. Jule is survived by her son, Samuel of Dallas, Texas, grandchildren, Samuel (Cristina) Solomon III, Michael Louis Solomon, Hannah of Dallas, Texas, brother Ted (Shirley) Simon, Binghamton, New York, sisters-in-law Clara, WilkesBarre, and several loving nieces and nephews. Jule was a lifetime member of St Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church in Wilkes-Barre. She was an excellent cook and throughout the years actively participated in many fundraisers for the church. She enjoyed quilting, crossword puzzles, gardening and was the housewife extraordinaire. Jule was always willing to give expecting nothing in return. Her warmth and kind personality made her a special person with whomever she had contact. During the post-depression years and following the flood era of the ’70s, she and her husband Sam ran Sam’s Coffee Shop on South Main Street, renowned for its steak sandwich. Jule was an exceptional cook and baker, preparing the most deli-
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LEHMAN TWP. -- Nearly two months into this year’s second fiscal quarter, supervisors have yet to see many tax dollars from the first. Treasurer Alvin Cragle said on Monday that of what should be between $90,000 and $100,000, only about $14,000 has been made available through the Pennsylvania Local Government Investment Trust, a holding account for tax money run WHAT’S NEXT The next meeting will be by Pennsylvania Monday, July 16. municipalities. The board members all seemed to be in agreement that the Centax-Don Wilkinson Tax Agency has inefficiently handled the funds it began collecting in April as Luzerne County’s tax agency. “They had three years to prepare for this and they didn’t do it,” Cragle said. Chairman David Sutton said the township budget will hold for now but could not sustain such delays much longer. “Our numbers sound OK, but they won’t be because, before you know it, you have to start robbing Peter to pay Paul,” he said. A representative of Centax has stated that several issues have contributed to the delays, including problems with employers who have provided incorrect information. Centax said it is working aggressively to resolve those issues. Centax began collecting the tax in January as part of changes in tax collection procedures mandated by Act. 32. The act requires most of the state’s 67 counties to have one tax collector for earned income taxes. Previously the tax was collected by tax collectors in each community. In another matter, Roadmaster Douglas Ide brought the supervisors up to speed on the Meeker Road bridge replacement. The bridge took heavy damage in last year’s Tropical Storm Lee and PennDOT may or may not have intentions of repairing the state-route bridge because Federal Emergency Management Agency funds may or may not be available. Ide said he had made contact with a PennDOT official but has not received the agency’s final word. He said its plans for the bridge will determine how he lays new pavement. Delay threatens between $40,000 and $50,000 in grant money secured for repaving. “I’ve got to use those funds and I’ve got a certain amount of time to do it,” Ide said. Of paving projects currently in progress, Ide announced the township is making great progress. Sutton credited the partnership with Dallas Borough that shares workers and equipment.
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DETAILS LOTTERY MIDDAY DRAWING DAILY NUMBER – 1-6-3 BIG 4 – 8-9-3-0 QUINTO – 2-3-2-5-3 TREASURE HUNT 02-10-16-25-26 NIGHTLY DRAWING DAILY NUMBER – 2-8-9 BIG 4 – 6-3-5-7 QUINTO – 1-5-7-9-5 CASH 5 02-05-19-22-43 MATCH 6 06-14-22-26-31-33 HARRISBURG – No player matched all five winning numbers drawn in Monday’s “Pennsylvania Cash 5” game, so the jackpot will be worth $325,000. Lottery officials said 77 players matched four numbers and won $218.50 each; 2,750 players matched three numbers and won $10 each; and 32,899 players matched two numbers and won $1 each. • Thursday’s “Pennsylvania Match 6 Lotto” jackpot will be worth at least $1.320 million because no player holds a ticket with one row that matches all six winning numbers drawn in Monday’s game.
OBITUARIES Breiseth, Jane Cantor, Mildred Goham, Emma Gordon, Robert Gorski, John Jurish, Ruth King, Jean Linker, L. Donald Meier, Carl Mierzwa, Leonard Sr. Nocek, Helen Rolands, Alice Solomon, Jule Stavish, Raymond Witkowski, Thomas Zielinski, Elizabeth Page 2A, 8A
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BUILDING TRUST • In Friday’s sports section, a player was misidentified in the story pertaining to the Wyoming Valley Conference baseball all-star game. Matthew Klimas, a Wyoming Area senior, went 1-for-2 with a run scored in the game in the West team’s 15-4 victory. • A photograph from 1972 published Sunday on page 1A of volunteers abandoning sandbagging at the Susquehanna River levee should have been credited to The Associated Press.
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PAGE 2A MONDAY, JULY 2, 2012
POLICE BLOTTER WILKES-BARRE – A man wanted in a reported stabbing on Old River Road early Sunday morning later turned himself to police in Philadelphia. Michael Joesy, 32, no address available, will be returned to Luzerne County, police said. Details of the alleged assault were not available at press time. WILKES-BARRE – Police said a woman was taken into custody Saturday night after suspected heroin and prescription medication were found in a camera case in her purse. Amity M. Potichko, 38, no address available, was sitting in a truck with a child parked in the Sherman Hills apartment complex when police approached around 10:35 p.m., police said. Potichko had glossy eyes and slurred speech and allowed an officer to search her purse after she said she did not have anything illegal in the vehicle, police said. The officer found eight suspected packets of heroin and two types of suspected Adderall pills, police said. When confronted about the drugs, Potichko said they belonged to her and admitted snorting two packets of heroin before police arrived. She was transported to police headquarters, police said. WILKES-BARRE – Police reported two handguns, a video game system and games were stolen in a burglary at residence on Elizabeth Street. The break-in occurred between 6:30 p.m. Friday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, police said. NEWTON TWP. – State police on Sunday said the outside of a house on Richard Road was set on fire around 5 a.m. while Brian Peters and his family were inside. The residents escaped the fire and were not injured, said state Trooper John Chervanka. The arson caused moderate damage to the front of the house and attic, he said. Anyone with information about the fire in Lackawanna County is asked to contact South Abington Police Department at 570 342-9111 or the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Unit in Dunmore at 570 963-4292. NUANGOLA – The state police Bureau of Liquor Control Enforcement said a citation was issued to Dale A. Fey Enterprises Inc., doing business as Wheels Bar on Nuangola Road for allegedly selling, furnishing or giving liquor for consumption off premises. The alleged violation occurred on April 22, state police said. The charge will be brought before an administrative law judge who can impose monetary penalties, suspend or revoke a license and also mandate training to educate a license holder on the requirement of being a licensee.
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THE TIMES LEADER
JCC campers meet to recollect Reunion brings attendees together for events. By STEVEN FONDO Times Leader Correspondent
LEHMAN TWP. -- Nostalgic campers from throughout the region descended on the Jewish Community Center’s Holiday House and summer camp reunion on Sunday to reminisce about “the good old days” as part of the summer retreat’s reunion celebration. The summer camp near Harveys Lake has been a favorite destination for area children and features a number of INSIDE: For summer ac- Clicks from the tivities, in- event, see 1C. cluding hiking, swimming, camping, boating and various outdoor skills instruction. The day-long celebration included a number of organized activities, guided tours, nostalgic presentations and plenty of “free time” to allow the 200 returning campers to get reacquainted with the site of many childhood memories. “I spent so many happy summers here,” said Josh Bender, of Washington, D.C., who was part of the event’s organizing committee. “This place is liter-
AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER
Jessie Schneider, 8, Jemmi Seeherman, 5, and Nathan Schneider, 6, make crafts Sunday at the Jewish Community Center Day Camp reunion and practice writing their names in Hebrew.
ally alive with happy memories for me. So a few years ago, my brothers and I decided it would be a good thing to organize a summer camp reunion. They shared a lot of the same memories.” Bender said the event was originally scheduled for last summer but was canceled and
rescheduled because of the storms caused by Hurricane Irene that caused moderate damage to the seasonal facility in August. The reunion was held as part of memorial service for longtime camp travel director and counselor Norm Sisle, who passed away recently. A scholarship in Sisle’s honor has been
established by the JCC to defray the cost of post-secondary education. “I haven’t been back here for years,” said Bender, who was a camper and a counselor at the summer facility. “I brought my children with me so they can experience a bit of what this camp has meant to me in my life.”
Judge blocks Miss. abortion law
Shutting down of only abortion clinic in state temporarily halted.
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS Associated Press
JACKSON, Miss. — A federal judge on Sunday temporarily blocked enforcement of a Mississippi law that could shut down the only abortion clinic in the state. U.S. District Judge Daniel P. Jordan in Jackson issued a temporary restraining order the day the new law took effect. He set a July 11 hearing to determine whether to block the law for a longer time. “Though the debate over abortion continues, there exists legal precedent the court must follow,” Jordan wrote.
The law requires anyone performing abortions at the state’s only clinic to be an OB-GYN with privileges to admit patients to a local hospital. Such privileges can be difficult to obtain, and the clinic contends the mandate is designed to put it out of business. A clinic spokeswoman, Betty Thompson, has said the two physicians who do abortions there are OBGYNs who travel from other states. The clinic, Jackson Women’s Health Organization, filed a lawsuit seeking to block the law. The suit says the admitting privileges requirement is not medically necessary and is designed to put the clinic out of business. If Jackson Women’s Health Organization closes, Mississippi would be the only state without an abortion clinic.
When Republican Gov. Phil Bryant signed the law, House Bill 1390, he said he wants Mississippi to be “abortion-free.” “Gov. Bryant believes HB 1390 is an important step in strengthening abortion regulations and protecting the health and safety of women,” Bryant spokesman Mick Bullock said in a statement Sunday night. “The federal judge’s decision is disappointing, and Gov. Bryant plans to work with state leaders to ensure this legislation properly takes effect as soon as possible.” In the order, Jordan wrote: “Plaintiffs have offered evidence — including quotes from significant legislative and executive officers — that the Act’s purpose is to eliminate abortions in Mississippi. They likewise submitted evidence that no safety or health con-
cerns motivated its passage. This evidence has not yet been rebutted.” Jordan also wrote that Jackson Women’s Health Organization is “the only regular provider of abortions in Mississippi, and as of the Act’s effective date, JWHO cannot comply with its requirements.” The Center for Reproductive Rights, based in New York, helped file the lawsuit for the Mississippi clinic. The center’s president and CEO, Nancy Northup, said in statement Sunday: “Today’s decision reaffirms the fundamental constitutional rights of women in Mississippi and ensures the Jackson Women’s Health Organization can continue providing the critical reproductive health care that they have offered to women for the last 17 years.
Drilling delay bill is passed ‘Ted’ wins over ‘Mike’ in bear vs. bare battle BOX OFFICE
Pa. legislation would put moratorium on South Newark Basin. The Associated Press
HARRSBURG — The state House and Senate have approved a bill that would slap a moratorium on drilling into the untapped South Newark Basin natural gas reservoir below portions of southeastern Pennsylvania. The provision approved Saturday was in a key piece of budget-related legislation, and was expected to get Gov. Tom Corbett’s signature. The United States Geological Survey estimates the South Newark Basin has 876 billion cubic feet of gas. That’s a fraction of the 141 trillion cubic feet thought to be in the Marcellus Shale formation below much of Pennsylvania. The provision would bar state regulators from issuing drilling permits in the basin until a state agency evaluates the impact of drilling there and the host counties are legally allowed to impose a drilling fee. The moratorium would last until 2018.
By DAVID GERMAIN AP Movie Writer
LOS ANGELES — It’s both a bear and bull market for Hollywood. The bear is “Ted,” Mark Wahlberg and Seth MacFarlane’s comedy for Universal Pictures about a talking teddy bear, which opened as the No. 1 movie with $54.1 million, according to studio estimates Sunday. And the bulls are baring it in the Warner Bros. release “Magic Mike,” Channing Tatum and Steven Soderbergh’s malestripper tale that debuted a strong No. 2 with $39.2 million. The two new movies were backed by a deep bench, with Pixar Animation’s Disney fairy tale “Brave” holding up well at No. 3 with $34 million in its second weekend. “Tyler Perry’s Madea’s Witness Protection,” the latest from the dependable breadwinner for Lionsgate Films, opened solidly at No. 4 with $26.4 million. The four movies combined
AP PHOTO
A Universal Pictures image from the film shows Mark Wahlberg with Ted, the stuffed bear, voiced by Seth MacFarlane in a scene from ‘Ted.’
to keep Hollywood in the money compared to the same weekend last year, when “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” launched with $97.9 million. “Ted’s” opening was the third-highest R-rated comedy debut, behind last year’s “Hangover 2” ($85.9 million) and 2010’s “Sex and the City 2” ($57 million), but it was the biggest ever R-rated non-sequel comedy opening.
The only one that didn’t work among new wide releases was the sibling drama “People Like Us,” which tanked at No. 10 with $4.3 million. “Ted” stars Wahlberg as a guy whose stuffed bear magically came to life when he was a boy, the two growing up together to become slacker, party-boy roommates. Writer-director MacFarlane, the creator of TV’s “Family Guy,” provides the voice of
the bear, while “Family Guy” voice co-star Mila Kunis plays Wahlberg’s girlfriend. The idea of a cuddly teddy bear combined with a foul mouth and MacFarlane’s wicked sense of humor caught fire with audiences, who lifted “Ted” far beyond the opening of $35 million or less that Hollywood generally expected. “In my heart of hearts, I just felt that everybody was starting to talk about this talking bear, and everyone loves Seth MacFarlane, people love his show,” said Nikki Rocco, head of distribution for Universal. “And the marketing campaign did a great job of telling people how fabulous this picture is for an R-rated audience.” “Magic Mike” also far outstripped industry expectations. The weekend was a rare instance where two R-rated movies opened at Nos. 1 and 2, and it followed another unusual weekend where two PGrated movies ("Brave” and “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted”) led the box office.
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DETAILS LOTTERY MIDDAY DRAWING DAILY NUMBER – 8-8-1 BIG 4 – 6-3-2-9 QUINTO – 6-3-8-2-2 TREASURE HUNT 01-03-04-11-25 NIGHTLY DRAWING DAILY NUMBER – 6-0-7 BIG 4 – 2-9-1-5 QUINTO – 4-4-1-5-4 CASH 5 04-15-19-20-30 HARRISBURG – Two players matched all five winning numbers drawn in Sunday’s “Pennsylvania Cash 5” game, so the jackpot will be worth $125,000. They won $62,500 each. Lottery officials said 39 players matched four numbers and won $305 each; 2,196 players matched three numbers and won $9 each; and 24,031 players matched two numbers and won $1 each. • Wednesday’s Powerball jackpot will be worth at least $60 million because no player holds a ticket with one row that matches all five winning numbers drawn in Saturday’s game. The winning numbers drawn were: 07-15-20-41-44 Powerball: 22
OBITUARIES Besecker, Cecilia DiAndriola, Catherine Evans, Jane Myers, Regina Polipny, Mildred Poplawski, Henrietta Robak, Charlotte Salmon, James Smith, Audrey Wambold, Kylee Waskiewicz, Margaret Weiss, SSG Joseph Zedolik, Anna Page 6A
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User: rstouch Time: 10-06-2012 22:36 Product: Times_Leader PubDate: 10-07-2012 Zone: Main Edition: Main_Run PageName: local_01 PageNo: 3 A
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Officer out of hospital
The Wilkes-Barre police officer wounded in a gunfight that killed a man wanted for attempted homicide in Philadelphia was released from Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center Saturday. Sgt. Matthew Stash, 43, was shot in the leg while he and five other members of a fugitive task force made up of federal, state and local law enforcement officers served a warrant Friday morning for Robert Montgomery at his father’s apartment in the Sherman Hills high-rise building. Montgomery, 29, was killed in the shootout and his father, 61-year-old Robert J. Montgomery, was wounded. The elder Montgomery was listed in serious condition at the medical center Saturday night. Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said based on a preliminary investigation by state police, Stash and the other task force members involved in the shooting were cleared of charges. However, she did not rule out filing a charge of harboring a fugitive against the elder Montgomery and said the investigation is ongoing. SHICKSHINNY
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SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2012 PAGE 3A
LOCAL
Can I buy a vowel and the wheel?
Auction organizer TV game show items and other celebrity fare up for bid at Salvation Dee Polinski of Wilkes-Barre donatArmy auction in Wilkes-Barre. ed more than 40 autographed items By CAMILLE FIOTI from her own celebTimes Leader Correspondent WILKES-BARRE – Part of the actual rity memorabilia wheel from the television game show collection.
Kathy Silvi of Kingston puts a bid in on an autographed photo of Tom Selleck at the Salvation Army Fall Flea Market and Celebrity Silent Auction Saturday.
organizer Dee Polinski, of Wilkes-Barre, who donated more than 40 autographed items from her own celebrity memorabilia collection, such as an autographed poster and T-shirt from the rock band “Heart.” Much of the collection came from the celebrities themselves, or their
“Wheel of Fortune” was just one of the nearly 200 items up for bid during the Salvation Army’s Fall Flea Market and Celebrity Silent Auction Saturday. The piece was part of a raffle basket that included four VIP tickets to see a live taping of the show in California. The event was a first, said auction See SALVATION, Page 6A
FRED ADAMS/FOR THE TIMES LEADER
Z U M B AT H O N
Moving steps to help ALS
Mayor’s husband fined
A district judge last month found Gary Moore, the husband of Shickshinny mayor Beverly Moore, of North Canal Street guilty of two summary offenses related to building in a flood plain and imposed fines and costs totaling $208. District Justice John E. Hasay held a hearing on Sept. 25 on the charges of building/alterations in a flood plain without a permit and accessory structures in a flood plain to be anchored. The charges were filed on July 31 by borough zoning and code enforcement officer Rick Harmon. A message left Saturday with the mayor was not returned.
By MATT HUGHES mhughes@timesleader.com
ChalkFest is rescheduled
ChalkFest, originally scheduled for Saturday at the Wilkes-Barre River Common, will be held this Saturday, Oct. 13, 11 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Democrats to hold picnic
The Luzerne County Democratic Committee will hold its Fall Picnic today beginning at noon in the Catholic War Vets Grove on Old Ashley Road. EXETER
Suicide programs planned
The Wyoming Area School District in conjunction with Children’s Service Center of Wyoming Valley will conduct 30-minute informational sessions geared for parents on suicide prevention. The sessions will be held at district buildings and be conducted by mental health workers/counselors. The locations, times and dates are: • Montgomery Avenue and Sarah J. Dymond schools’ parents - 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Sarah J. Dymond School, 635 Sutton Creek Road, Harding • Seventh- and eighth-grade parents – 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Secondary Center, 20 Memorial St., Exeter • Ninth- and 10th-grade parents - 6 p.m. Thursday at the Secondary Center • 11th- and 12th-grade parents - 6 p.m. Oct. 17 at the Secondary Center
WILKES-BARRE – Candidates in the 11th and 17th Congressional Districts will outline their positions and debate face-to-face for the first time this election year at two community forums hosted this week by The Times Leader and Wilkes University. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta and Gene ELECTION Stilp, the candidates for the 11th Congressional District, will take part Monday at 7 p.m., while Matt Cartwright and Laureen Cummings, candidates for the 17th Congressional District, will square off on Barletta Wednesday at 7 p.m. The forums will be open to the public and will be held at Wilkes University in Room 101 of the Stark Learning Center, 150-180 S. River St. Seating in Stilp the auditorium-style room will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. Each forum is expected to last one and a half to two hours. “The Times Leader is glad to work with Wilkes University and take the lead to organize forums,” Times Leader Vice President and Executive Editor Joe Butkiewicz said. “We want people of this region to have the opportunity to hear the
2012
AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER
Alex Seasock instructs the zumbathon participants at Hanover Area High School for a senior class project by Justus Wanyo. All of the money raised will go to fight ALS.
Dance event honors great-grandmother By RALPH NARDONE Times Leader Correspondent
HANOVER TWP. – A creative, fun and healthy way to raise money and awareness to fight Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS, is to conduct a zumbathon, according to Justus Wanyo, a 17-year-old senior at Hanover Area High School. It is also a way to honor a family member who lost the battle against the disease. On Saturday morning, zumba enthusiasts danced, sweated, exercised to Latin music and generally had a good time inHanoverArea’sgymatthethree-hour zumbathon Wanyo organized as part of her senior project. Overall, an estimated 100 people visited the event, some to move and groove, some just to offer their support or bid on an array of generous gift baskets provided by supportive local businesses, Wanyo said. Money raised will
“I’m so proud of her and how she worked. She’s been planning this since June. I’m very touched.”
Joan Blaum Justus Wanyo’s grandmother
INSIDE: Click Photos, Page 12A
ALS caused muscles to shut down, she said. The zumba participants “danced for those who can’t,” she said. Overall, she was pleased with how her project went. “It was a success,” Wanyo said. “It was really fun.” Getting the zumbathon event going required petitioning local business sponsors, preparing gift baskets, canvassing for donations, making posters and essentially ensuring everything ran smoothly, Wanyo said. William Kane, assistant principal at the high school and senior project coordinator, was impressed with the initiative shown by the young girl. “It takes a lot of work to put some-
be sent to the ALS Association. After discussing some options with her teachers about her senior project, Wanyorealizedtheideaofthezumbathon to fight ALS seemed a perfect opportunity. It gave her a chance to honor her great-grandmother, Ann Kosloski, who passed away due to ALS, as well to fulfill her curricular requirements. Plus, it allowed her to sponsor an activity that she felt was the direct opposite of ALS. Zumba gets people moving, while See ZUMBATHON, Page 7A
See FORUM, Page 7A
Going once, going twice, sold at W-B city auction
HAZLETON
Man faces more charges
A man who was wanted by police now faces additional charges after he allegedly fought with and injured a police officer. City police responded to the area of 135 E. Noble St. at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday for a report of a suspicious male, who possibly had a warrant out on him, standing outside. Upon arriving, police came into contact with Bryant Peguero, who, after giving police a false name, struck an officer and tried to flee, police said. Peguero remained combative while officers tried to take him into custody, police said. One officer was injured and later treated at Hazleton general Hospital. Peguero faces additional charges of aggravated assault, simple assault, resisting arrest, providing false identification to law enforcement, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of small amounts of marijuana, possession of synthetic drugs, harassment and disorderly conduct, police said.
U.S. House candidates will meet for forum
Barletta and Stilp in the 11th and Cartwright and Cummings in the 17th will air their views on issues.
WILKES-BARRE
ASHLEY
CMYK
Mini racer once driven by former Mayor McGroarty among vehicles, equipment under the hammer. By MATT HUGHES mhughes@timesleader.com
BILL TARUTIS/FOR THE TIMES LEADER
Joe Sherrill of Larksville, left, and Walter Sims of Shickshinny look over police vehicles to be auctioned at the Wilkes-Barre Department of Public Works on Saturday morning.
City Purchasing Director Ron Trimble said that even a decade later after its last checkered flag, the racer has muscle. “The mayor of Kingston won once,” TrimMcGroarty ble said. “That was it; the guys from the city souped it up. That car runs and it runs fast.” The racer was sold for $375 at auction to a telephone bidder whose identity was not Haggerty revealed. It fetched about the same amount as most of the fullsize Jeep Cherokees and police cruisers that also crossed the auction block, probably due to its superior condition.
WILKES-BARRE – Once it was a fast machine, steeped in local racing glory. Powered by a lawnmower engine and shaped like a pint-size F1 car, the mini racer once carted former Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom McGroarty around the corners of Public Square in a head-to-head and kneeto-knee race with Kingston Mayor Jim Haggerty, part of the Arthritis Foundation Mini Grand Prix held throughout the late ’90s in Wilkes-Barre and Kingston. Saturday, the go-kart was pulled down from a shelf at the city Department of Public Works garage and put up for auction with about 20 other vehicles at the DPW. See AUCTION, Page 6A
User: rstouch Time: 10-06-2012 22:00 Product: Times_Leader PubDate: 10-07-2012 Zone: Main Edition: Main_Run PageName: news_01 PageNo: 6 A
PAGE 6A SUNDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2012
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A NEW LOOK FOR THE LION IS BREWING
BILL TARUTIS/FOR THE TIMES LEADER
Members of L.A.G. Auction Services take bids on surplus equipment at the Wilkes-Barre DPW on Saturday morning.
UPCOMING AUCTION
AUCTION Continued from Page 3A
AIMEE DILGER PHOTOS/THE TIMES LEADER
S AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER
SALVATION Continued from Page 3A
managers, said Polinski. When she sent letters to the various NASCAR drivers, musicians, actors and reality show stars, the response was overwhelming. “I wrote to them and told
them that the economy was bad in this area and it would be a blessing if they could help the people in the community,” she said. Polinski, 43, said funds raised during the event would help the church continue to provide community outreach programs. Helping out at the busy concession stand, Lieutenants Ted and Sharon Tressler, who serve
as the church’s corps commanding officers, said the need for donations is great this year. In addition to hosting a number of community groups at its facility on Pennsylvania Avenue, including a senior citizen social group and a children’s character-building group, the facility is also home to a food pantry, which serves hundreds throughout the year.
tephen Corazzi of SPC Painting of Peckville has been working on the outside of the Lion Brewery in Wilkes-Barre, painting the walls, lettering and lion. The Lion has not been painted in a year and was quite a task with re-pointing of the brick needed after scraping the paint. Corazzi used his cellphone quite a bit to take photos along the way and rematch the lion.
“Between the community’s generosity and God’s blessings, we have been able to meet the needs of our families,” said Lt. Ted Tressler.
Trimble said most of the other vehicles, which dated from the mid ’90s to early 2000s and came from the police, parking enforcement and Public Works departments, had “worn out their shelf life” and would have cost more than their value to repair. Most were purchased by Harry’s U-PullIt, a Hazleton scrap yard. An auction is held every two Trimble years by the Public Works Department to liquidate vehicles that have broken down or been replaced by newer models. In addition to the go-kart, a uniloader sold for $3,200, an emergency management trailer sold for $1,150 and various pieces of grounds keeping equipment – riding mowers, snow blowers and seeders – sold for between $10 and $160 Saturday. In total, Trimble said, the city grossed about $14,000 from the sale, 10 percent of which will go to auctioneer Leo A. Glodzik Jr. It was a bigger take than at the department’s last auction in 2010, when the city raised $8,500. “We got something other than what we would have got walking it over to the junkyard and selling it for scrap,” Trimble said. “This, as far as I’m concerned, was a good auction, a big success.” Bits and pieces of retired city in-
If you missed Wilkes-Barre’s public works auction Saturday but are interested in used vehicles or construction and grounds keeping equipment, check out Kingston’s municipal surplus equipment auction Saturday at 10 a.m. at 455 Church St. Items for sale include two dump trucks with plows and spreaders, police vehicles and a bucket truck. For more information and pictures, visit www.lagauctions.com.
frastructure also went up for sale at the auction. Jay Gilbert of Bloomsburg bought more than 20 traffic signals for between $3 and $7 each. He planned to sell them at a consignment auction he hosts, where he said they can fetch $100 each. “In my area I’ll usually buy a truckload of them,” Gilbert said. “Usually I pay a lot more for them.” Dave Grunza, owner of DJ’s Landscaping in Olyphant, bought four light-up tinsel holiday decorations that once hung from city light posts and utility poles for Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter and the Fourth of July. Price: $1 each. “I’m just putting them in my yard,” Grunza said. “I do landscaping, so I’ll probably be putting them in other people’s yards too.” While nearly all of the more than 50 different items for sale sold out, one big-ticket item remained unsold. The city hoped to pocket $1,500 for a street sweeper, but no bids were received at that level. Glodzik said he was negotiating with a potential buyer, but that the sweeper would not be sold Saturday.
Monday, October 8 at 7 p.m.
Wednesday, October 10 at 7 p.m.
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta and Gene Stilp, 11th Congressional District Candidates
Matt Cartwright and Laureen Cummings, 17th Congressional District Candidates