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The Times Leader timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE, PA

W I L K E S - B A R R E S T. P AT R I C K ’ S D AY P A R A D E

MONDAY, MARCH 14, 2011

Death count in Japan still on increase Explosion occurs at nuclear plant. Concerns raised about possible second tsunami. By ERIC TALMADGE Associated Press

AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER

Girl Scouts marched in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in WilkesBarre. Below, John Maday of the Wilkes-Barre Business Association dances onto the square.

Wee bit o’ Fun for everyone

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SOMA, Japan — Soldiers and officials along a stretch of Japan’s northeastern coast warned residents that the area could be hit by another tsunami Monday and ordered them to higher ground. But the Meteorological Agency said there was no risk of another deadly wave. The warning came as an explosion rocked the nearby Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant. The blast was felt 30 miles away

by Associated Press journalists in the coastal town of Soma, where residents fled the town for safety after being herded quickly through muddy, debris-strewn streets. The estimated death toll from Japan’s disasters climbed past 10,000 Sunday as authorities raced to combat the threat of multiple nuclear reactor meltdowns and hundreds of thousands of people struggled to find food and water. The prime minister said it was the nation’s worst crisis since World War II. The death toll surged because of a report from Miyagi, one of the three hardest-hit states. The police chief told disaster relief officials more than 10,000 peoSee JAPAN, Page 14A

By JERRY LYNOTT jlynott@timesleader.com

WILKES-BARRE – Spectators liked the spectacle of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade Sunday afternoon and Mike Worden was glad to contribute. The Drum Major of the Ladies from Hell Pipe Band traveled with the Athens-based group to march in the 31st annual parade. “This is a nice short parade,” said Worden after he dismissed the bagpipers and drummers clad in red plaid kilts just past Public Square on North Main

Street. Thousands of people lined the route along South Main Street into the downtown and halfway around the square where the reviewing stand was stationed. Unlike a week ago, there was no threat of rain, snow or flooding from the Susquehanna River to keep people from turning out on the overcast afternoon with temperatures in the mid 40s. “Entertainment brings warmth to evSee PARADE, Page 7A

DA: Missing woman may be linked to crime scene The district attorney identi- W H E R E T O C A L L W I T H coat, said Musto Carroll. Lillian Calabro, who had been Police converged on an area of fied the woman as 48-year-old I N F O R M A T I O N staying at Pittston facility, has the park near the Water Street Lillian Calabro, who was staying not been seen since Friday. Bridge after a passer-by called at Gabriel House, which pro- Anyone with information about By JERRY LYNOTT jlynott@timesleader.com

PITTSTON – Investigators are looking into a possible connection between a missing woman and a bloody crime scene in a park along the Susquehanna River, said Luzerne County District Attorney Jackie Musto Carroll.

WEATHER Brandon Wiernusz Partly sunny. High 42. Low 27. Details, Page 6B

vides transitional housing to women in a converted school and convent on William Street, a few blocks from Riverfront Park. “She has not been seen since late Friday evening,” said Musto Carroll on Sunday. “Investigators believe her disappearance may be related to the crime scene which was discovered at the river front in Pittston early Saturday morning.”

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the disappearance of Lillian Calabro is asked to contact Pittston police at 570 654-2424.

Calabro is described as white, 5 foot 2 inches tall, approximately 110 pounds, with hazel eyes, brownish blonde hair that is short in the back and spiked on top. She has numerous tattoos and wears eyeglasses. She was last seen wearing a black trench See WOMAN, Page 2A

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW THIS WEEK

>> IT’S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD MARCH: Ladies

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county 911 Saturday to report blood stains on a section of the concrete sidewalk that runs along the river. The blood left a 6-inch-wide strip that led across the walkway toward the grass at the riverbank. A woman’s high-heeled boot was found at the scene and members of the Germania Hose

and gentlemen, rev up your office pools, it’s NCAA Tournament time again. Because of a change in the rules, the action starts a little earlier this year with two play-in games on Tuesday night and two on Wednesday. It’s Thursday and Friday when the real “madness” begins with 16 games on tap each day. All told, 68 teams will enter, one will leave – with a championship, that is. The rest will leave too, but in shame.

AP PHOTO

A woman searches through the rubble of her home destroyed in Friday’s powerful earthquake-triggered tsunami in Ofunato, Iwate prefecture, northern Japan, Sunday.

Japan races to prevent nuclear reactor meltdowns By ERIC TALMADGE and MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press

KORIYAMA, Japan — Japanese officials warned of a possible second explosion at a nuclear plant crippled by the earthquake and tsunami as they raced to stave off multiple reactor meltdowns, but they provided few details about whether they were making progress. More than 180,000 people have evacuated the area, and up to 160 may have been exposed to radiation. Four nuclear plants in northeastern Japan have reported

>> THE LEADER OF THE PLAQUE: Volunteers in

Medicine will be holding a grand opening of their new free dental clinic this Wednesday. If you’d like to go, or are just a fan of quality dental work, it will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at 190 N. Pennsylvania Ave. in Wilkes-Barre.

>> TOP O’ TH’ MORNIN’:

Most of us should be sufficiently recovered from the pair of Paddy’s parades over the weekend to jump back on the horse that bit us (to mix some metaphors) and celebrate the ACTUAL St. Patrick’s Day this Thursday. The parties will be hopping, the green beer will be flowing, the bagpipes will be playing and somewhere, St. Patrick will be looking down on it all saying, “Green beer? ReallyHow did I inspire THAT?”

damage, but the danger Monday appeared to be greatest at the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear complex, where one explosion occurred over the weekend and a second was feared. Operators have lost the ability to cool three reactors at Dai-ichi and three more at another nearby complex using usual procedures, after the quake knocked out power and the tsunami swamped backup generators. Chief Cabinet Secretary Yukio Edano said Sunday that a hydrogen explosion could ocSee NUCLEAR, Page 14A

>> WE’RE BAAAACCCKK!: If you are a Cliff Swallow at this time of year there is only one thing you can be doing. That would be packing for your annual trip back to San Juan Capistrano in sunny California. Tradition has it the birds return to the mission at San Juan Capistrano every year on March 19. Although in recent years, the swallows have been no-shows, when they DO find time to visit, it means the janitorial staff also makes its legendary return to the mission on March 20 to clean up. >> STAIRING CONTEST:

You can help save lives and join the battle for healthy lungs when you take part in the “Fight for Air Climb” this Saturday at the Mohegan Sun Arena. There are 1,224 steps awaiting your challenge. It’s healthy exercise and helps out the American Lung Association, so you know it’s for a good cause.


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