CMYK
15
30$
$
ONLY @
Open season for umbrellas
Let the games begin
Photographers illustrate recent rainy weather
Yankees get big league season started
NEPA
TODAY’S
LIFE, 1C
SPORTS, 1B
Sign up now at nepadailydeals.com
DEAL
FOR
273927
DEAL! DAILY
The Times Leader timesleader.com
WILKES-BARRE, PA
THURSDAY, MARCH 31, 2011
50¢
LACKAWANNA COUNTY
Luzerne County has been trying to sell Hazleton property since ’09
Banking on new home for police
Judges ban bath salts in Scranton Officials file injunction against six city businesses as a “stopgap” measure. By CHRISTOPHER J. HUGHES chughes@golackawanna.com
SCRANTON – Three Lackawanna County judges approved an injunction against six city businesses Wednesday morning banning the sale of synthetic drugs disguised as bath salts. The court order comes after weeks of incidents surrounding the synthetic For the full drugs and a day text of the after Scranton injunction, City Council first visit announced a fuwww.times ture ordinance inleader.com tended to ban the sale and possession of the product. WilkesBarre also is working on a similar ordinance. Lackawanna County District Attorney Andy Jarbola, the plaintiff in the order, called the injunction a “stopgap measure” until proposed statutes
By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES jandes@timesleader.com
A
fter years of unsuccessfully trying to sell a downtown Hazleton building, Luzerne County commissioners are planning to put the property in the city’s hands for a police station. County Commissioner Stephen A. Urban revealed First reported at the surprise plan to Ha10:42 zleton area a.m. business timesleader.com leaders during a Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce breakfast Wednesday. Hazleton Mayor Joe Yannuzzi, who was in the audience, said he was waiting to announce the plan until he secured necessary approvals. The current county administration has been trying to sell the former bank building at an appraised asking price of $625,000
See BUILDING, Page 14A
By TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER tmorgan@timesleader.com
See SALTS, Page 14A
DUI arrest may be a first; case seen as legal challenge By EDWARD LEWIS elewis@timesleader.com
WILKES-BARRE – The arrest of a Throop woman on evidence of driving under the influence of bath salts is believed to be the first in the region and possibly the state. As the case against Michele Pace, 39, begins a slow process through the court system, a
defense lawyer believes there is a good chance it may end sooner than later. City police charged Pace as the driver of a Chevrolet that was pursued from the busy intersection of Kidder and Scott streets to George Avenue on Monday. Police alleged Pace See CASE, Page 14A
PHOTOS BY STEVE MOCARSKY FOR THE TIMES LEADER, MAP BY GARY VISGAITIS THE TIMES LEADER
Kulick gets time served; he aided case-fixing probe Area businessman’s original 37-month sentence on gun charge had been overturned.
move through the state Legislature. “This is the first step in a process in which we want to prevent these products from
federal appellate court, which ruled Munley had improperly considered other conduct when imposing the Kulick sentence. The case stemmed from an incident in December 2005 in which Kulick brandished a handgun and threatened an employee he suspected of stealing. Kulick was forbidden from possessing any firearms due to a previously conviction on federal tax charge. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Munley had improperly considered Kulick’s extortion of the employee when calculating the sentencing guideline range on the gun charge. It sent the case back to Munley for resentencing. The U.S. Attorney’s Office had asked Munley to sentence Kulick within the new guideline range, which was 24 to 30
SCRANTON – An area businessman who played a role in exposing alleged case-fixing in Luzerne County Court was released from federal prison 20 months early on Wednesday, based, in part, on an appellate court ruling that negated his original sentence. Robert Kulick, 62, of Bear Creek Township, was released after U.S. District Judge James Munley reduced his sentence to match the 17 months Kulick had already served on a charge of illegally possessing firearms. Kulick was originally sentenced to 37 months in prison in September 2009. The sentence was overturned in December by a See KULICK, Page 14A
INSIDE A NEWS: Local 3A Obituaries 2A, 8A Editorial 13A B SPORTS: Scoreboard 2B Business 8B C LIFE: Birthdays 4C TV/Movies 6C Crossword 7C Funnies 8C D CLASSIFIED
WEATHER Olivia Astolfi Light rain, snow. High 42. Low 32. Details, Page 10B
6
09815 10011
Rogers’ watchword is service The Harveys Lake lawyer is looking for a spot on the Luzerne County bench.
By SHEENA DELAZIO sdelazio@timesleader.com
WILKES-BARRE – Jennifer Rogers says part of her would miss being an attorney if she is elected to serve as a Luzerne County judge. But being a judge would allow the Kingston attorney to serve the residents of the county in a fair and honest manner, Rogers told The Times Leader’s endorsement board. Rogers, 43, of Harveys Lake, is one of 16 candidates vying for one of six open seats on the Court of Common Pleas. She said her experience qualified her for the position in 2009 when she ran for judge, and that experience has only increased in the past two years, as well as her personal characteristics.
JENNIFER ROGERS Age: 44 Education: University of Delaware, bachelor or arts in English/ journalism; Widener University School of Law Law experience: Has spent several years as a part-time solicitor for Luzerne County Children and Youth; and previously as a senior associate attorney at Hourigan, Kluger and Quinn. Community affiliations: Board of directors, Music Box Repertory Company; past board member of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Boy Scouts of America; Northeastern Pennsylvania Junior Achievement and Big Brothers Big Sisters. She is also a graduate of the 2002 class of Leadership Wilkes-Barre. Family: Single; daughter of Ronald and Madge; brother, Douglas, Boston; nephew Dylan and niece Kaitlyn
CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER
Jennifer Rogers is running for Luzerne County judge.
law, recently resigned her position as a part-time solicitor for Luzerne County Children and Youth Services that she held for three years. “It was too much to juggle,” Rogers said of a job she said she loved and continued to do for some time after her stepping down in September 2010. Rogers obtained a bachelor of
“In 2009 I knew I was going to run again,” Rogers said. “I don’t think things (in Luzerne County) have changed much since (then).” Rogers, who has worked as a private attorney since 2006, primarily concentrating on family See ROGERS, Page 14A