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timesleader.comWILKES-BARRE, PA SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2013 50
6 0 9 8 1 5 1 0 0 1 1
Gas guzzlersrejoice!You wont be paying so much BUSINESS, 10B AT HOME, 1C
Is your home looking
fabulous for fall?
NEWSObituaries2A, 8ALocal 3ANation& World 4A
INSIDEEditorials9AWeather10ASPORTS: 1BBUSINESS: 10B
ATHOME: 1CBirthdays3CMovies 4CTelevision 4C
Puzzles 5CCLASSIFIED: 1DComics 28D
Quality Cars, Low Prices!
JENNIFER [email protected]
The 14,200 WyomingValley property ownerscharged a levee fee willlikely pay more if LuzerneCounty officials proceedwith suggestions to makethe countys flood author-ity more independent, acounty official warns.
Theres no way I wouldagree to this, county
Councilman Stephen A.Urban said of the pro-posed change.
The county Flood
Protection Authorityrelies heavily on countyemployees and equip-ment to car ry out i tsresponsibility managingthe 15-mile flood con-trol system along theSusquehanna River, saidUrban, the authoritychairman.
If the authority muststr ike out on i ts ownas proposed by countyManager Robert Lawtonduring last weeks coun-cil meeting, its expenseswould increase and even-tually lead to a rise in thelevee fee, Urban main-tains.
The $1.29 million gen-
erated by the levee fee isthe authoritys lifeblood
Urban worried aboutlevee fee increaseCouncilman concerned
about proposal to makeood authority more
independent
EDWARD [email protected]
WILKES-BARRE Confined to a w heel -chair after seven gunshotwounds, William Uggianotestified Friday he waitedin the area of Wayne andSouth Grant streets for awoman who invited himto smoke weed on Aug.3.
Uggiano, 19, waited 10minutes before he real-ized she wasnt going toshow. As he began walk-ing home, something toldhim to turn around. Whenhe did, Uggiano said therewas a man with a gun.
Something told me toturn around and whenI did, I saw Dre and hestarted firing, Uggianotestified at the prelimi-nary hearing for AndreFuller, 22, of John Street,Kingston. I was hit inthe head and I fell.
Uggiano said he suf-fered gunshot wounds tohis head, shoulder, arm,hip, waist and buttocks.He is bound to a wheel-chair because he has lim-ited use of his legs due tothe gunshot wounds, hesaid.
After nearly an hour oftestimony, District JudgeMartin Kane determinedLuzerne County AssistantDistrict Attorney JarrettFerentino established acase against Fuller. Henow faces charges of
Gunshot victimtesties againstalleged shooterAndre Fuller will face
trial on charges of
attempted homicide in
the shooting of
William Uggiano
SHEENA [email protected]
Attorney Vito DeLuca begannoticing an increase in Spanish-
speaking clients over the pastfew years.Conversing with clients was
difficult some would bring
a family member or friend totranslate or DeLuca wouldhave to use a third-party inter-preter, turning the attorney-client relationship down a roadDeLuca did not want to go.
Luzerne County employs oneSpanish-speaking interpreterand uses contracting servicesof the Administrative Office
of Pennsylvania Courts to hireinterpreters for court purposes.
ttorney goes south of borderso he can say, Hablo EspaolWith an increase in Spanish-speakingclients,Vito DeLuca traveled to Mexicoto become more uent in the language
VitoDeLucastandswithPuebla,Mexico inthe back-ground.DeLucatravelledto Pueblafor atwo-weekcourse onspeakingSpanish.
Submitted photo
Friday night frenzy!
Wifekilledindomesticdispute,policesay
EDWARD [email protected]
WILKES-BARRE Residents liv-ing on Andover Street said they knewVito Joseph Aiello was capable ofharming his wife, Jane.
Their concern s became real lateThursday night when he allegedlykilled her in a shooting before turn-ing the gun on himself. He surviveda self-inflicted gunshot wound to his
face, police said. The couple wouldhave celebrated their 22nd weddinganniversary today.
Authorities are treating the case asa murder/attempted suicide.
An autopsy is scheduled today atWilkes-Barre General Hospital.
Neighbors, who said they werewary of Aiello, described a chaoticscene as the couples 15-year-old son,Salvatore, screamed for help. In a fewminutes the small dead-end street
became congested with police cruis-ers and ambulances.
Last night was a nightmare, aneighbor said across the street fromthe Aiello home at 389 Andover St.on Friday. It shouldnt have hap-pened and to do it in front of theirson. No child should see that.
The couples eldest son, VitoThomas Aiello, 19, was away at col-lege.
A neighbor said he was lying in bed
and startled by gunfire and the boysscreams just after 11 p.m.
All you heard was boom, boom,boom and then boom and a minutelater, their son comes running outscreaming, Help, help my dad shotmy mom, the neighbor said.
The boy ran to a house across thestreet and banged on the door yellingHelp, call 911.
Police found Jane Aiello, 47, insidethe house. She was transported toGeisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Vito Aiello and his wife, Jane, in Facebook
photo. Police say Vito Aiello killed his wifeand then shot himself Thursday night.
See ATTORNEY | 10A
See SHOOTER | 10A
See LEVEE FEE | 10A
FredAdams | For the Times Leader
Bill Tarutis | For theTimes Leader
When the areas high school football teams take the eld, theyre not alone.Backing them up are a legion of football-crazed fans and studentswilling toexplore new decibel levels to push their team to victory.At top, the Meyersstudent section gives up a big olvictory yell.And at left, Crestwood stu-dents showwhat they learned in cheering class. Did either teams fans helpthem on to a win? Find out in the sports section, with high school actionstarting on Page 1B.
Husband allegedly turns gun on self after killing spouse
See DOMESTIC | 10A
7/28/2019 Times Leader 09-28-2013
2/56
PAGE 2A Saturday, September 28,2013 NEWS www.timesleader.com THE TIMES LEADER
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OBITUARIES
Aiello, JaneBeil,Dolores
Bradbry,WilliamConlan, Eileen
Homschek,Cheryl
Knorr,FosterKoons, Robert Jr.Leo, William
Lindbchler, DorothyPerkins, MadelineRichards,SandraSands,Annabelle
Stratford,AmandaWeisbrod, Egene
Westeld, Rev. HenryWilliams, Daniel IV
Pages 2A, 8A
WHOMTOCONTACT
MissedPaper .......... (570)829-5000
Obitaries................. (570)970-7224
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BUILDINGTRUST
The Times Leader strives tocorrect errors,clarify storiesand update them promptly.Corrections will appear in thisspot. If you have information tohelp us correct an inaccuracy orcover an issue more thoroughly,call the newsroom at 829-7242.
THE TIMES LEADER A CIVITAS MEDIAcompany
SHEENA [email protected]
WILKES-BARRE A elderlyouple from Nanticoke wereriving home from a senioritizens center in August 2011hen they were killed in a vehi-
le crash in Hanover Township.Since then, their grandson
onathan Skwirut said Friday,Its been hell for our family.
Remorse, sadness and fam-ly issues revolve around theeaths of Edward Skwirut,
89, and his wife, Dorothy,86, who died after their 2006Chevrolet Impala was struck bya truck, driven by Kevin Allenof Hanover Township, that washauling 960 pounds of concretemix.
Its torn us apart as a fam-ily, Jonathan Skwirut said.
Allen, 36, of Martin Street,was sentenced Friday to 10 to
23 months in county prisonand was incarcerated on twocounts of homicide by motorvehicle and related drivingoffenses Friday.
Allen pleaded guilty to thecharges in July.
Im s or ry, A ll en s ai dthrough sobs to the Skwirutfamily Friday.
Police allege Allen was trav-eling 73 mph in a 45-mph zone
on the Sans Souci Parkway onAug. 4, 2011, when he veeredinto oncoming traffic. Allenwas driving a 2002 ChevroletXtreme truck transporting adozen 80-pound bags of con-crete mix at the time of thecrash.
Deputy District AttorneyAlexis Falvello said Allen hashad a driving record involving
speeding and driving too close-ly and requested some sort ofprison sentence for Allen.
Allens attorney, Basil Russin,said Friday that his client wasin the process of construct-ing a patio for his wife andfour children when the crashoccurred, and that Allen hasbeen remorseful since he firstmet Russin.
Russin said his client was
injured in the crash and nowwalks with a cane due to inju-ries he sustained.
Russin said Allen has under-gone surgeries repairing brokenbones but will need to undergoadditional surgery for a prob-lem with his heel.
Russin requested that Allenbe s ente nced to a ter m of house arrest, but Judge Fred
Pierantoni said he felt a prisonterm was appropriate.
Your suffering fails in com-parison to the Skwirut family,Pierantoni said. This was atragic incident.
Pierantoni said Allen mustcomplete 40 hours of communi-ty service, where hed like Allento go to school to tell studentsabout how their lives couldchange in a matter of seconds.
Pierantoni said Allen mustalso undergo mental health anddrug and alcohol evaluationsand comply with any recom-mended treatment.
Man gets 10 months in double-fatal wreckElderly couple waskilled in Hanover
Township crash
2013-271
Wilkes-Barre Publishing, LLL
WALT LAFFERTYRegionalBusiness Development
Director & GeneralManager(570)970-7158
GEORGE SPOHRExecutive Editor(570)970-7249
ANTHONY SPINAAdvertising Sales Manager
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PuBLIC RECORD
EILEEN M. CONLANSept.21,2013
Eil een M . Conlan diedSaturday, Sept. 21, 2013, inClearwater, Fla.
Bornin West Pittston,she wasa daughter of the late Dr. FrancisJ. and Mary Allan Conlan.
Eileen was a graduate of theUniversity of Pennsylvania andreceived her masters degree inlibrary science from CatholicUniversity in Washington, D.C.
She served at the U.S. embas-sies in Mexico City, Manila andVienna, finishing her career atthe school system in the U.S.Virgin Islands. She had a greatlove for classical music, theatre,movies, The Business Channeland good food.
Eileens sympathy and honestcompassion was felt by all who
knew and loved her. She was apresence wherever she went andwas truly drawn to people andpeople were drawn to her.
She touched so many and willbe missed by all who knew her.
She was preceded in deathby a brother, Monsignor AllanConlan, Scranton; and two sis-ters, Mary Katherine and Ann,Clearwater.
Eileen is survived by a sister,Betty Floro, Clearwater; her dearfriend, Cathy Spoor, Oldsmar,Fla.; and her beloved dogs,Muffin and Duffy.
The funeralwill be Wednesdaywitha Massof ChristianBurial at10 a.m. in Corpus Christi Parish,Immaculate Conception Church,605 Luzerne Ave., West Pittston.Monsignor John J. Sempa, pas-
tor, will celebrate the Mass.Interment will be in MountOlivet Cemetery, 612 MountOlivet Road, Wyoming. Viewingwill be 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesdayat the Neil W. Regan FuneralHome Inc., 1900 Pittston Ave.,Scranton. The family requeststhose attending the funeral pro-ceed directly to the church.
For directions or to sendonline condolences, visit www.neilreganfuneralhome.com.
Memorial contributions maybe made to the charity of thedonors choice.
AMANDA FREY STRATFORDSept.23, 2013
Amanda Frey Stratford, 28, ofNanticoke, died Monday morn-ing in Easton.
She was born in Kingston,a daughter of Terry and ElaineSherrill Smith, and had attend-ed the West Side Vocational
Technical School.Amanda was a member of All
Saints Church, Plymouth.She had been employed as a
waitress by Classic Pizza andmany other restaurants in thevalley. She always seemed tohave a smile on her face andenjoyed spending time with herfamily and friends, especiallyaround the Christmas holidayswhen she would spend time withher mom making pierogies fromscratch for their Christmas Eve
dinner.She was preceded in death
by her maternal grandmother,Antoinette Sherrill, and herpaternal grandparents, Malcomand Nanna Frey.
In addition to her parents, sheis survived by a brother, RobertFrey, Sweet Valley; a sister SarahSmith, Plymouth; maternalgrandfather Edward Sherrill,Plymouth; paternal grandmoth-
er, Rebecca Smith, Dallas; sev-eral aunts, uncles and cousins,and her two nephews, CalebMarcy and Raylen Frey, whomshe loved dearly.
A funeral service will be at
9 a.m. Monday at the WilliamA. Reese Funeral Chapel, rear56 Gaylord Ave., Plymouth, fol-lowed by a Mass of ChristianB urial at 9:30 a.m. in AllSaints Church, Willow Street,Plymouth.
Intermentwill bein St. MarysCemetery, Plymouth Township.Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m.Sunday. Memorial contributionsmay be made to the family.
More OBITUARIES | 8A
WILKES-BARRE
A man serving a lifesentence in the 1983killing of another manfiled court papers askingthat his appeal rights inthe case be reinstatedbecause his attorney atthe time made errors.
James Strong, 61,was found guilty of first-degree murder for a sec-ond time in May 2011,and sentenced to life inprison without parole fol-lowed by 16 to 40 yearsin prison on other relatedcharges.
Strong was foundguilty of the 1983 mur-der of John Strock whohad picked up Strongand another man who
were hitchhiking alongInterstate 81. A LuzerneCounty jury could notdecide whether Strongshould be sentenced tolife in prison or the deathpenalty in the DorranceTownship killing. St atelaw required a countyjudge t o senten ce Strongto life.
Strong said throughhis attorney, John Hakim,in court papers filedFriday that Strongs for-mer attorneys didnt filecourt papers with thestate Superior Court in atimely fashion, resultingin the high court throw-
ing out Strongs appeal inOctober 2012.WILKES-BARRE
A Hazleton man whopleaded guilty in June to
possession of child por-nography was sentencedFriday to three to sixmonths in county prison.
Jhow W. Calderon,27, of Alter Street, wassentenced on five countsof child pornography byJudge Michael Vough.
Vough also sentencedCalderon to four yearsprobation and ruledCalderon does not meetthe criteria to be classi-fied as a sexually violentpredator. Calderon can-not have access to theInternet or have unsu-pervised contact withminors.
Calderon must reg-ister his address underMegans Law for the rest
of his life.According to courtpapers, on June 20, 2012,investigators becameaware that Calderon wasdownloading videos ofchildren engaged in sexacts. When interviewedby police, Calderonsaid he was curious andadmitted to watching thevideos.
Vough orderedCalderon to have nounsupervised contactwith minors and toundergo an evaluationby the state SexualOffenders AssessmentBoard. Calderon faces
a lifetime registrationunder Megans Law anddeportation after sen-tencing, according tocourt papers.
COuRT BRIEFS
Sheena Delazio | The Times LeaderKevin Allen leaves the Luzerne CountyCourthouse Friday after being sen-tenced for killing an elderly couple inan August 2011 crash.
Divorces sought andledin theLuzerneCounty ProthonotarysOcefromSept.23 through27,2013: Lauren Smith,Lake Winola,andRichard Smith Jr.,Old Forge TraceyGorham, Kingston,andJohn GorhamJr., Kingston Susan Zaborney, Nanticoke,and JasonZaborney Sr.,Gridley,Kan. MichaelChippi,Weatherly, andJudy Chippi,Weatherly
GeorgeannDrust,Wilkes-Barre, and RobertDrust,Wilkes-Barre RyanFlynn,Plains Township,and LauraFlynn, Edwardsville Catherine Holtsmaster,FortyFort,and WalterHoltsmasterJr.,Forkston Township Thomas Levitsky,Scottsdale,Ariz.,and Sandra Levitsky,MountainTop MiaZeiler, MountainTop,andJason Lyman,WhiteHaven William Mislivets, HanoverTownship,and Theresa Royer-Mislivets, Hanover Township Thomas Lanning,SweetValley,and StasiaLanning, Scranton Kevin Murphy,Wilkes-Barre,and Lydia Murphy, MountainTop SharonNiles-Alexis,Wilkes-Barre,and PeterAlexis,Wilkes-Barre MbathioHolloway,Wilkes-Barre, and ChristopherHolloway, Wilkes-BarreMarriagelicense applicationsledin theLuzerneCountyRegisterof Wills OcefromSept.23 through27,2013: RaymondEdwardSearfossJr.,McAdoo,and TianyAnnHagans, McAdoo StephenEdwardRowles,Pittston, and SarahColleenSwiderski,Pittston Daniel Angel Rodriguez, MountPocono, and CandaceMarie Fox,Exeter HectorJulio NunezJimenez,
Hazleton, and GloriaIsabelMendez,Hazleton PaulThomasHillerJr.,Wilkes-Barre, and LaurelleRene Serota,Wilkes-Barre JohnJoseph Haczewski,PlainsTownship,and Bettylou RuthKoncewicz, PlainsTownship SterlingTheodoreSprau III,MountainTop, andJill ElizabethUrban,MountainTop JereyEugene Capps,
Nanticoke,and JanetMarieNadolny, Nanticoke RobertHarry Booth III,SweetValley, andKorenAlynGabel,SweetValleyPeterM. Treible,Bear Creek,and CharlenePatriciaMaxwell,Wilkes-BarreAddressesunavailablefor thefollowing: David JosephHoussock andShawnaSpencer StevenAnthony Spinosa andSarahJean Scouton MarkJamesSearfossandHeatherLee Mumie JameyFrancisBulford andSarahElizabethGibblets MichaelErnestMunzingandDesiree MoriahHooper JamesRichard SheridanIIIandKerryAnn Hummer
Paul EugeneThomasJr.andKristenZiomek Christian Albert Barsh andKristinGelsleichter JenningsBrent CoburnJr.andStacyAnn Hall JonathanMontalvo and CierraBrown ShaneVincentNovakandStephanie LynnJacobs BrianFrancisScottand KatyLynnMcClay BrendanAdam CunninghamandKelseyLynnGower RobertJamesBrislinandMistyLea McWilliams
PAGE 12A STORY in Fridayspaper may not have been clearon the raise dispute between theteachers union and the LuzerneIntermediate Unit.Rulings haveupheld the union claim to a raisefor the first year after the cur-rent contract expired (2010-11)but denied any other retroactiveraises for succeeding years.A POLICE BLOTTER ITEMpublished Sept. 22 on The TimesLeader website should have saidHeather Graham crashed her carinto the rear of Austin Falenskyswhile driving on South ChurchStreet, Hazleton.
MEYERS HIGH SCHOOL wasmisspelled in a headline on Page1B of Fridays Times Leader.
CORRECTIONS
STEVE [email protected]
PITTSTON As the Novemberelection fast approaches, regionalbloggers and some of the politicosmany of them write about hob-nobbed over drinks and pizza Fridaynight at the eighth semiannualBlogfest at The Red Mill tavern.
And it was no surprise that candi-dates in the most talked-about racesin Luzerne County were some of theguests at the shindig, those racesbeing for Luzerne County controller,Luzerne County council and magis-terial district judge for Pittston.
Blogfest co-founder Ben Hoon,
who writes under Gort42 onblogspot.com, said the event isntmeant to be political in nature -although scores of politicians areinvited - but rather an opportunityto socialize. And not all blogs havepolitical themes.
Still, local candidates dont thinkits wise to miss the event.
Jerry Mecadon and AlexandraKokura, candidates for district judgein Pittston, were among the happyminglers.
Mecadon said hes attendedBlogfest before, but Friday was washis first time there as a candidate.I get to get together with peoplerunning for office, talk about theirraces. Its a good time, he said.
Kokura began attending last
spring. Its another form of com-municating and getting messagesout there. And were excited to par-ticipate in events that get membersof the community together, shesaid.
Michelle Bednar, the Democratnominee for controller, calledBlogfest a great event. I like to seethe friendly faces. Its just a happygathering.
Bednar, who hasnt missed aBlogfest in two years, denied havinga favorite blog, saying she likes themall. They keep you up on all thegoings-on you might have missed.
On the other hand, CaroleeMedico Olenginski, BednarsRepublican opponent, was a first-time attendee. But she didnt feel
the least bit out of place.I neve r blogge d, I neve rTwittered, but I know all of them Joe Valenti and Ben (Hoon) andall these guys, Medico Olenginskisaid.
Valentiwrites the popular PittstonPolitics blog.
Other newbies to the bloggerscene who arrived in the first hourwere county council candidates PaulDeFabo, Richard Heffron and ReneeCiaruffoli-Taffera.
Im not a techie guy, but I fig-ured I better come because every-body else is going to be here. Iwanted to see what its all about,DeFabo said.
Its interesting, but its the waypeople communicate now, Heffron
said.Im just trying to get a feel ofexactly what they do, Ciaruffolisaid of the bloggers, adding thatBlogfest itself is a lot more com-fortable atmosphere for candidatesthan our usual meet-and-greets. Itsa more easy-going atmosphere.
County council candidates EileenSorokas and Mike Giamber havebeen to Blogfest before.
I come every year. I love it here, Inever miss it, said Sorokas. SinceMay 22, Ive been to 114 differentevents, and this is an importantone. Its good press for you, its
very good for a candidate to be heretonight.
Statewide candidates have attend-ed the twice-a-year gathering aswell.
Bill Goldsworthy, the DeputyDirector of Gov. Tom CorbettsNortheast Regional Office as wellas a former West Pittston mayorand councilman, said Blogfest is a
great idea that allows one to seethe faces behind the (computer)screen.
Goldsworthy said he thinks blog-gers have been treating Corbettfairly. Its the people who go ontothe blogs (and post comments whomight not be as fair) .
Still, blog posts give the staffersof elected officials an opportunityto get a different feel for peoplesopinions of actions or initiatives,Goldsworthy said, citing bloggersand their readers reactions toCorbetts Healthy Pennsylvania ini-tiative released last week.
Politicians, bloggers gather
Pete G.Wilcox | The Times Leader
Carolee Medico Olenginski, left, EileenSorokas and Tom Bindus chat Friday atthe Red Mill Tavern in Pittston during thesemiannual Blogfest.
Plenty of candidates make appearances at Blogfest
WHATS A BLOG?Blogis short forweb logorweblog basicallya collectionorlog ofa personspostings onthe Internet through the WorldWideWeb aboutanything theyreinterested in,from local ornational politics to social issues tosportsto cooking.Find a listingoflocal blogs at nepablogs.org.
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THE TIMES LEADER www.timesleader.com Saturday, September 28, 2013 PAGE 3A
SHEENA DELAZIO
WILKES-BARRE A JenkinsTownship man who was con-victed of sexual assault chargesafter a jury deliberated for only10 minutes at a trial he failed toattend was sentenced Friday to18 to 36 years in state prison.
Clyde Tonkin, 30, of MainStreet, was sentenced on sevencharges stemming from thesexual assault in 2011 of a now-14-year-old girl, who later gavebirth to their child and six otherunrelated incidents.
Tonkin was convicted of theassault charges in April after aone-day jury trial and pleadedguilty to the other charges,includingtheft and trespassing.
Im sorry, Tonkin told JudgeJoseph SklaroskyJr. on Friday. Iwish Icould take it all back.
Sklarosky deemed Tonkina sexually violent predatorafter hearing testimony from
a member of the state SexualOffenders Assessment Board,which requires him to registerhis address under Megans Lawfor life.
Tonkin was scheduled tostand trial in April after a failedplea agreement, but he did notappear at the Luzerne CountyCourthouse. Investigators saidTonkin cut off an ankle bracelethe was required to wear as partof his bail conditions and fledthe area.
Assistant District AttorneyNancy Violi asked that the trialbe held in Tonkins absence, arequest Judge Joseph SklaroskyJr. granted.
Violi said Friday Tonkinthumbed hisnose atthe author-ity of the court and justice sys-
tem when he failed to showup for his trial, and that Tonkinviolated the trust and innocenceof the girl.
He has shown no remorse,thegirls mother saidFriday. He
will do itagainto another child.The 14-year-old testified at
the trial she trusted Tonkin andeven regarded him as a father-figure in her life. Until, she said,he began sexually assaulting her even to the point where shebecame pregnant and gave birthto a girl.
He raped me, the girl testi-fied in the first day of Tonkinstrial whileholdinga stuffed bear.Eventually, I stopped fightinghim.I thought I was inlove withhim,but I was alsostill scaredofhim.
Thegirl saidthatin November2011,she discovered she was 28weekspregnant. She toldTonkinof the pregnancy, she testified,and Tonkin said the two wouldgo away.
Tonkin instructed the teen inFebruary 2012 to write a letterthat shewas goingto herfathershome in Louisiana. She tookher mothers bank card and thetwo drove to Ohio, where a car
Tonkin had purchased had bro-ken down.
The girl said the two checkedinto a hotel and she began tohave stomach pains. Thinkingshe was in labor or that therewas a problem with the baby,Tonkin drove her to an Ohiohospital.
After she was released fromthe hospital a short time later,police arrived at the hotel roomwhere the couple was stay-ing, and the girl was eventu-ally returned to her mother inPennsylvania. The teen gavebirth to her daughter a few dayslater.
After his April trial, Tonkinwas located by authorities threedays later and taken into cus-tody.
Tonkinreceived16 to 32 yearsin prison on the sexual assaultcharges andan additional two tofouryears on burglaryand crimi-nal trespassing charges. Tonkinwasalso sentenced on chargesof
theft of a motor vehicle,resistingarrest and escape, all of whichwere concurrent sentences.
The incidents occurred in2012 in Jenkins Township andPittston.
HAZLETON
Chief DeAndreaback aer crash
City police Chief Frank DeAndrea issore but back at work after a crash senthim to the hospital on Wednesday.
Mayor Joe Yannuzzisaid DeAndrea has asore knee, chest andhand, but hes back onthe job and hes fine.He said DeAndreafiled a workerscompensation claimbecause of the hospitalvisit while on duty.
DeAndrea was involved in a two-vehicle crash on Cedar Street whileresponding to an incident and driving anunmarked police vehicle with emergencylights activated but without a siren acti-vated.
The driver of a pickup truck hadpulled over to allow marked police
vehicles with activated lights and sirensto pass but apparently did not seeDeAndreas vehicle approaching andbegan to turn into a doughnut shop,causing DeAndrea to veer off the streetand crash into a pole.
It was DeAndreas second crash onthe job in 16 months. State police hadcharged him with running a red light andcausing a three-vehicle crash in which aman was thrown from a motor scooterand suffered severe injuries. A districtjudge found DeAndrea not guilty.
WASHINGTON
Airport receives
$575,000 grantWilkes-Barre/Scranton International
Airport has been awarded a $575,000grant from the Federal AviationAdministration that is designed to allowthe airport to expand service and lowercosts, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton,announced Friday.
The funds could help attract addi-tional flights to Florida, Pittsburgh orWashington, Casey said.
ASHLEY
County Dems
to hold fall picnicThe Luzerne County Democratic
Committees annual fall picnic will startat noon Sundayat the Catholic War Vets
Grove. State Democratic Party ChairmanJim Burn will offer remarks, and candi-dates for state governor also are sched-uled to attend. The event is free.
WASHINGTON
Red Cross holidaymail drive begins
The American Red Cross will start itsannual Holiday Mail for Heroes programon Monday and invites Americans toshow their gratitude and best wishes forthose who serve our country and theirfamilies by sending holiday cards.
Americans can create and send cardsto service members, veterans and theirfamilies who will receive cards across the
country and around the world. Messagesof thanks and holiday cheer should bemailed to: Holiday Mail for Heroes, P.O.Box 5456, Capitol Heights, Md. 20791-5456. They must be postmarked no laterthan Dec. 6.
Participants are asked not to send let-ters, monetary donations or any otherkinds of inserts with the cards and notuse glitter. More information and cardrequirements can be found at redcross.org/holidaymail. Red Cross volunteerssort and deliver the cards throughout theholiday season.
The public can share photos andvideos of their card signing efforts ortheir holiday greeting for troops byusing the hashtag #HolidayMail on theirFacebook, Twitter, Instagram and Vineaccounts. The Red Cross will use the
material on its social sites throughoutthe holiday season. The public alsocan connect with fellow card sendersthrough Facebook.com/redcross andTwitter.com/redcross.
LAPLUME
Keystone Collegehosting visitation
Keystone College will host a visitationday Oct. 7 to give prospective studentsthe opportunity to learn more and meetwith personal enrollment advisers.
There are morning and afternoonsessions, and campus tours will beat 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Registrationbegins one-half hour before eachtour. Students interested in attendingmay call Keystone College toll-free,877-4-COLLEGE or email [email protected]. For more information,visit www.keystone.edu.
Mansentencedinsexassault
BILL OBOYLE
PLAINS TWP. Some 24international trade adviserscompleted their two-week tourof Pennsylvania in the WyomingValleyand cameaway impressedby the statesdiversity in compa-
nies and quality of products.Two Bhavna Tahilramaniof Dubai and Martin Lewisof the United Kingdom said Pennsylvania businessesand particularly those inNortheastern Pennsylvaniaoffer the best variety of prod-ucts.
Tahilramani and Lewis wereatThe Woodlands Friday forthe15thannualBringingthe Worldto Northeastern Pennsylvaniaconference. State Sen. LisaBaker, R-Lehman Township,and Greg Driscoll, President/
CEOof Blaschak Coal Co., werefeatured speakers.
The 24 trade advisers metwith existing and former clientsand others to assess their inter-national business developmentplans and opportunities andprovide firsthandmarketexperi-ence.
Michael Horvath, interna-tional business developmentmanager for conference spon-sor Northeastern PennsylvaniaAlliance, and Jeff Box, Alliancepresident and CEO, said busi-nesses benefit from the knowl-edge, market intelligence andexperienceof the trade advisers.They said the advisers assistand work directly with the busi-nesses to help locate tradingpartners.
Bu t i t wa s L ew is a ndTahilramani that had themost to say about the region
and its businesses.Lewis said he was surprised
to see the high level of interestlocal companies have in utiliz-ing his services. He said theannual visit offers the advisersand the companies the oppor-tunity to meet face to face andget a thorough understanding of
products and services.By doing so, we save thema huge amount of time, moneyand legwork, he said. And byincreasing export sales, thattranslates into jobs.
Tahilramani said she madeconnections with local compa-nies that export products forskin care, food, technical items,advanced health care and more.
We have dealings with 80companies so far and we getnew targets every year, shesaid. Pennsylvania is the bestamong all the states. They have
an exemplary program.Baker said the image of
Northeastern Pennsylvania iskey in attracting business.
Ask someone from outsidethe area to name an industry,and chances are the first answeris coal, she said. Probablytakes a lot of guesses for some-
one to come up with papermanufacturing at Procter &Gamble maker of Bountyand Pampers.
Gas drilling spotlightBaker said the spotlight that
natural gas drilling has put onthe region lets people knowthere is more to NEPA than skislopes, golf courses and heart-shaped tubs.
We are an evolving leader inthe energy sector,and MarcellusShale is changing our state andregion, she said. We have theessential pieces here entre-
preneurial spirit, work ethic,research capacity, top-shelfeducational institutions andtraining facilities, robust healthcare.
Baker said exporting successrequires that state legislatorstake care of important businessin their backyards.
We must attend to the trans-portation network, the pipe-lines, and the port facilities nec-essaryto movegoods overseas,she said.
Box and Horvath said some250,000 local jobs rely on theexporting business. Driscollsaid one area that has grown inrecent years and continues togrow is anthracite coal mining.
Estimates of the anthracitereserve have varied to as muchas 14 billion tons,Driscoll said.Let me just say that there isplenty of it.
Bill Tarutis | ForThe Times Leader
Blaschak Coal Chairman and CEO Greg Driscoll speaks during the 15th annual Bringing the World to Northeastern Pennsylvania trade conference at the Woodlands Inn & Resort in PlainsTownship on Friday.Among t hose in attendance were 24 trade advisers from around the world as well as state and local economic and political leaders.
Pa. impresses international trade advisers
Mother says victims life was on an upswingJON OCONNELL
The mother of a woman slainSundayin Northampton Countyremembered the time herdaughter helped deliver a babygoat about two years ago on thefamily farm in Hunlock Creek.
The goat needed help, andas gross as it was, she reachedin saved that animal, saidElaine Smith, who lives inNanticoke.
Amanda Stratford, 28, ofWilkes-Barre and Nanticoke,was found dead around 11:30Sunday night in a pickup truckin Easton. The NorthamptonCounty coroner ruled her deatha homicide after she was shotmultiple times.
Smith and her husband did
not get word of her death untilWednesday, when the coronercalled. Unanswered questionsswirl around the womansdeath. Run-ins with thecounty judi-cial systemspeckled herpast, andEaston policesay her deathwas drug-related. Smithknows her daughter had trou-ble with the law years ago, butshesaid things seemedto be onthe upswing.
About a year ago, whenSmiths husband wasin thehos-pital for about a month, Smithstayed by his side. Stratfordchecked in every day, always
bringing something along.She would bring me food to
make sure I ate. She broughtme clothes to hospital becauseshe knew I was staying there,Smith said.
When the family fell on hardtimes, they sold the farm inHunlock Creek and bought afixer-upper in Nanticoke. Smithsaid everyone got togetherto restore the old home andStratford was there often,despite her small stature,swinging a sledgehammer tohelp clear out crumbling walls.
When shewasin high school,Stratford spent a few months ina juvenile detention center inWind Gap following a domes-tic dispute with her sister, asentence she served by order ofthen-Judge Mark A. Ciavarella,
Smith said. The grieving moth-er said she started runningwith the wrong crowd whenshe got home.
That place was a nightmare Shewas a littledifferentafterthat, Smith said.
Courtrecordsshow Stratford,whose maiden name was Frey,pleaded guilty to drug traffick-ing charges in 2003. She hadbeen separated from her hus-band and she had worked mostrecently as a waitress.
She droppedout of West SideVocational-Technical Schoolin Pringle, her mother said,because other girls treated herpoorly. Stratford was before thejudge again in 2007 for moredrug charges. But Smith wascertain she had left those daysbehind.
The last time she got introuble, I would not go see her.I told her, The only thing youcando is get yourselfcleaned upand Ill come and see you, Andshe did, Smith said. She neverwanted to go back to that.
When she heard last, herdaughter was helping a friendmove in Easton. They spokelast Wednesday, she said.
Smith and her husband hadbeen planning a trip to Maine,where they often go and rent ahome for a week. Stratford hadnever been there, she said.
She always wanted to gowith us in the fall, Smith said.So we were thinking we wereall going to get our moneytogether. Now were nevergoing to have a chance to dothat.
IN BRIEF
LOCAL
ClarkVan Orden | TheTimes Leader
Clyde Tonkin was sentenced Fridaymorning in Luzerne County Court.
Stratford
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www.timesleader.com THETIMES LEADER NatioN &World Saturday, September28, 2013 PAGE 4A
ALANFRAM
AssociatedPress
WASHINGTON A poten-tial federal shutdown hurtlingever closer, the Senate dealtan emphatic defeat to a core ofrebellious young conservativesFriday and approved legislationpreventing government agen-cies from closing next week.
The 54-44 vote, however,hardly spelled an end toWashingtons latest down-to-the-wire budget drama.
It remains unclear whetherthe Democratic-led Senateand the Republican-runHouse will be able to craft acompromise and rush it toPresident Barack Obama forhis signature before the gov-ernment has to tell hundreds
of thousands of federal work-
ers to stay home on Tuesday.The fight, which restive
conservatives want to use asleverage to dismantle Obamasprized health care law, was cer-tain to spill into the weekend atleast. House GOP leaders arestrugglingto concoct a newver-sion ofthe shutdown bill able towin approval in their chamberand clear the Senate, too.
The high-stakes showdownwas playing out in a climateof chaos, unpredictabilityand GOP infighting that wasextraordinary even by congres-sional standards. Reflectingthe building tension, SenateChaplain Barry Black openedFridays session with a prayerthat included, Lord, deliver usfrom governing by crisis.
Before final approval, the
Senate voted 79-19 to reject an
effort by some Senate conserva-tives to block final passage ofthe legislation.
Led by first-term GOP Sens.Ted Cruz of Texas and MikeLee of Utah, the band of con-servatives has wanted to derailthe shutdown bill.
They argued such a movewould have preventedDemocrats from removing aprovision blocking money forObamas health care law andforced Democrats to negotiateon reining in that 2010 over-haul, which conservatives andmany Republicans despise.
Yet many Republican law-makers opposed the conserva-tives tactics, worried that itwas doomed to fail and wouldonly enhance the chances ofa government shutdown forwhich the GOP would beblamed by voters.
The lopsided roll call againstthe conservatives underscored
the opposition they stirred in
their own party.Twenty-five GOP sena-
tors voted against them,including Senate MinorityLeader Mitch McConnell ofKentucky and the Senatesother two top Republicans,John Cornyn of Texas and
John Thune of S outh Dakota.
It is not easy to disagreewith your political party, saidCruz. But at the end of theday, what were doing hereis bigger than partisan poli-tics. What were doing hereis fighting for 300 millionAmericans,who, he asserted,
widely oppose Obamacare.
TRENTON,N.J.
Judge rules forgay marriage
New Jersey is unconstitutionally deny-ing federal benefits to same-sex couplesand must allow gay couples to marrystarting Oct. 21, a judge ruled Friday.
Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobsonsided almost entirely with a group ofsame-sex couples and gay rights groupswho sued the state in July, days after theU.S. Supreme Court struck down keyparts of a law that blocked the federalgovernment from granting benefits to
gay couples.New Jersey allows same-sex couples
to enter into civil unions that give themsome of the same legal protections asmarried couples, but Jacobson said thetwo labels marriage for opposite-sexcouples and civil unions for same-sexcouples means gay couples areexcluded from certain federal benefitsthat legally married same-sex couples areable to enjoy.
BOISE,IdahO
Captain dies aerplane is diverted
The captain of a United Airlines flightdied hours after his apparent heart attack
in midair forced the craft he was pilotingto make an emergency landing in Boise,Idaho, officials said Friday.
The pilot, 63-year-old Henry Skillernof Humble, Texas, was alive when hetaken from the plane, but died overnightat St. Alphonsus Regional MedicalCenter in Boise, spokeswoman JenniferKrajnik said.
The Boeing 737-900 had 161 pas-sengers and a crew of six on board. Noinjuries were reported.
dETROIT
Feds oer $300Mto broke Detroit
Obama administration officials said
Friday that they are sending someoneto Detroit to oversee a federal effortthat includes millions of dollars ingrants to help fix the beleaguered city a situation one adviser described asan exceptional circumstance.
Don Graves will coordinate thepublic and private money going to hiremore police and firefighters and clearout blighted neighborhoods, amongother things, officials said. Graves, aTreasury Department official, servesas executive director of the PresidentsCouncil on Jobs and Competitiveness.
But critics said the combined $300million in federal and private fundsfalls well short of a wider bailoutsought by some in the city facing $18billion in long-term debt.
NaIROBI, KENyaTroops blamed forcollapse at mall
Kenyas military caused the collapse ofthree floors of the Westgate Mall in thedeadly terrorist siege, a top-ranking offi-cial disclosed Friday, while the govern-ment urged patience with the pace of aninvestigation that has left key questionsunanswered.
Seven days after 67 people were killedin the attack on the upscale shoppingcenter, there is still no clear word on thefate of dozens who have been reportedmissing and no details on the terroristswho carried it out.
The account of the roof collapse raisesthe possibility that the military may havecaused the death of hostages in its rescueattempt.
An undisclosed number of people arefeared to be buried in the rubble.
AP photo
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, center, accompanied by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla.,left, and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, right, expresses his frustration Fridayafter the Senate passed a bill to fund the government but stripped it ofthe defundObamacare language crafted by House Republicans.
AP photo
Small survivor found amid the rubbleRescuerspulled a smallgirl alive from acollapsed apartment building in Indiasfinancial capital nearly12 hoursafter thestructurecaved in Friday, killing at leasteightpeopleand leaving dozens trapped underthe rubble. A cheererupted fromhundredsofonlookerswhenrescuers working inadrizzling rain pluckedthe younggirlout of
a tunneldug through therubble.At least 32peoplewere rescued.
Senate vote averts shutdown
Syriavisittaking
shapeMIKECORDERAssociatedPressTHE HAGUE, Netherlands
The worlds chemical weaponswatchdog was preparing Fridayto launch a risky United Nations-backed mission into the heart ofSyrias deadly civil war to verifyand destroy the countrys chemi-cal arsenal in a matter of months.
The risks inspectors will facewere underscored when a carbomb exploded outside a mosquenorth of Damascus, killing at least30 people, the latest victims of acivil war which has claimed morethan 100,000 lives and driven
another 7 million around athird of the countrys pre-war pop-ulation from their homes sinceMarch 2011.
Law experts, meanwhile, saiddiscussions were underway to setup a war crimes tribunal for Syriato punish perpetrators from allsides of atrocities.
A late-night meeting at theHague-based Organization for theProhibition of Chemical Weaponswas expected to approve a plan torid Syrias regime of its estimated1,000-tonchemicalarsenal by mid-2014, significantly accelerating adestruction timetable that oftentakes years to complete.
The United Nations SecurityCouncil also was meeting Friday
night in New York to discuss Syriaandvoteon a resolutionto destroySyrias chemical weapons that willunderpin the OPCW plan.
Thedraft agreedupon Thursdayby Russia, China, the UnitedStates, Franceand Britainincludestwo legally binding demands: thatSyria abandon its chemical stock-pile and allow unfettered access tothe chemical-weapons experts.
If Syria fails to comply, the draftsays, the Security Council wouldneed to adopt a second resolutionto impose possible military andother actions on Damascus underChapter 7 of the U.N. charter.
President Barack Obama calledthe Security Council deal poten-tially a huge victory for the inter-
national community.The agreement representsa breakthrough after 2 yearsof paralysis in a deeply dividedSecurity Council. Diplomaticefforts to find some agreement onSyria gathered momentum in theaftermath of anAug.21 poisongasattack that killed hundredsof civil-ians in a Damascus suburb andObamas subsequent threat to usemilitary force.
The U.S. and Russia agree thatSyria has roughly 1,000 metrictons of chemical weapons agentsand precursors, including blisteragentssuch as sulfur andmustardgas and nerve agents like sarin.
Russian Foreign MinisterSergey Lavrov said Friday thatprogress should give an impetustomoves to establish a zone freeof weapons of mass destructionand means of their delivery in theMiddle East.
Battle far from over, as compromisewith GOP-controlled House necessary
New Irnin presient expresses ope for goo reltionsip wit Unite Sttes
EDITH M. LEDERER
AssociatedPress
UNITED NATIONS IranianPresident Hassan Rouhani called theUnited States a great nation Fridayin a sharp reversal from his predeces-sors and expressed hope that at the veryleast the two governments can stop theescalation of tensions.
Wrapping up his first trip to the
United States as Irans new leader,Rouhani said President Barack Obamastruck a new tone in his U.N. speechthis week, which he welcomed.
He said he believes the first step toa meeting between the two leaders wastaken Thursday at a meeting on Iransnuclear program, where the foreignministers of both nations talked for thefirst time in six years.
I want it to be the case that this tripwill be a first step, and a beginning forbetter and constructive relations withcountries of the world as well as a firststep for a better relationship betweenthe two great nations of Iran and the
United States of America, Rouhanitold a press conference at a hotel nearU.N. headquarters.
He expressed hope that the views ofour people, the understanding of eachother, will grow, and at the level of thetwo governments that at the very leastwe can as a first step stop further escala-tion of tensions and then reduce tensionas a next step and then pave the way forachieving of mutual interests.
Iran and the United States have trad-ed harsh rhetoric for years.During the 1979 Iranian revolution,
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini returnedfrom exile, seized power and declaredthe U.S., which was a strong supporterof the ousted Shah of Iran, the GreatSatan. He set the tone for Iranian offi-cials who came after him.
Rouhani was upbeat about his four-day visit to New York to attend the U.N.General Assemblys ministerial session,reeling off a long list of leaders he metand saying I believe that our successwas greater than our expectation, espe-cially with the European countries
and I think that the path really has beenpaved to expand relations in variouscenters, key world economies.
Irans economy has been hit hard byfour rounds of U.N. sanctions for its fail-ure to suspend uranium enrichment, aprocess that can be used to make fuelfor both nuclear weapons and nuclearenergy. The U.S. and its allies havetaken even more devastating measurestargeting Irans ability to conduct inter-
national bank transfers and to exportoil.Rouhani said he has a mandate
from the Iranian people, who opposedextremism and voted for modera-tion. He said this has created a newenvironment that could pave the wayfor better relations with the West.
He saidIranwouldput forth a proposalattalks in Geneva on Oct. 15-16 aimedatresolving the standoff over his countrysnuclear program and easing internation-al sanctions, and he expressed hope thatwithin a very short time the nuclearissue will be resolved and relations withthe West will improve.
AP photo
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani speaks Friday during a news conference at the Mill ennium Hotel in New York.
FromGreat Satan to great nation
Useof drug for executionmight cut supplyJIM SALTER
Associated Press
ST. LOUIS The planneduse of a common anestheticin a Missouri execution israising concerns that the anti-death-penalty European Unioncould limit export of the drug,endangering the supply of avital medication used everyday in thousands of Americanhospitals and clinics.
The execution scheduledfor Oct. 23 would be the firstto use propofol, which is byfar the nations most popularanesthetic.
About 50 million vials areadministered annually insome 15,000 locations. Thatsabout four-fifths of all anes-thetic procedures, accordingto the American Society ofAnesthesiologists.
Propofol is popular becauseit works quickly and patientswake up faster with fewer sideeffects such as post-operativenausea.
Roughly 85 percent of theU.S. supplyof propofolis madein Europe, where capital pun-ishment is outlawed, by theGerman company FreseniusKabi.
Export is controlled bythe European Union, whichprohibits trade in goods thatcould be used for executions.The EU is reviewing whetherto subject propofol tothatrule.
If it is added to the regula-tion,propofol wouldbe subjectto export controls, not a com-plete ban, EU spokeswomanMaja Kocijancic said.
Still, any change in exportpractices could have a drasticeffect on propofols availability
in the U.S., said Matt Kuhn, aspokesman for Fresenius KabiUSA.
The Food and DrugAdministration is worriedabout any move that could
affect access to propofol. FDAspokeswoman Erica Jeffersonsaid the agency is weighinghow to reach out to Europeanofficials to ensure the drugremains readily available.
Propofol is thenations mostpopular anesthetic.The plan to useit in a Missouriexecutionscheduled forOctober is raisingconcerns that theEuropean Unioncould limit itsexport, endangeringthe supply ofthe vital drug tothousands of U.S.hospitals.
AP photo
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PAGE 8A Saturday, September28, 2013 OBITUARIES www.timesleader.com THETIMES LEADER
In Loving MemoryKaren Groshek
It has been 3 years ourhearts still ache in
sadness and secrettears still flow. What itmeant to lose you, no
one will ever know.
Love, Always & ForeverAlways Remembered
Never Forgotten
Your Husband RickSon Ricky &
Daughter Holly80126740
80127784
In Loving MemoryJuanita Marie Todd
12-16-49 to 9-28-72
Unsolved Murder Victim whowas brutally murdered 41 years ago
today, September 28, 1972
in Wilkes-Barre City.
Gone but not forgotten:Sadly missed by Odetta,
Tamu and FamilyEstate&MedicaidPlanning;Wills;RevocableandIrrevocableTrusts:Estate
Probateand Administration;Guardianships; andSpecial NeedsTrusts.
Attorney DAviD r. LipkACertifed As an Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation
50 East Main Street, Plymouth, PA (570) 779-5353
IF NURSING HOME PLACEMENT BECOMES
NECESSARY DONT PRESUME ALL IS LOST!Even under current law, there ARE still ways to legally protect your homeand other hard-earned assets from being spent down on long term carewhen you, your spouse or a loved one are either in or about to enter anursing home. Can you save your residence?
Can you transfer assets within the ve year look-back period?
How can annuities help? Can more income be protected for the spouse at home?
STRAIGHTFORWARDANSWERSTO COMPLEXQUESTIONS!THESOONERYOUACT,THEMOREYOUREABLETOSAVE!
Funerals
Obituary
pOlicy
TheTimes Leaderpublishes freeobituaries, whichhavea 27-linelimit,and paidobituaries, whichcanrun with a photograph.A funeral homerepresentative can calltheobituarydeskat570-829-7224, send afaxto 570-829-5537or email to [email protected]. If youfaxor email, please callto conrm. Obituaries
mustbe submittedby7:30p.m.forpublication in the nextedition. Obituariesmustbe sent bya funeralhomeor crematory,ormust namewhoishandling arrangements,with addressand phonenumber.
More OBITUARIES | 2A
cheryl l. hOmschekSept.25,2013
Cheryl L. Homschek, 53,died unexpectedly at home onWednesday, Sept. 25, 2013, aftera courageous battle with cancer.
Born on Nov. 16, 1959, inPittston, she was a daughter ofRita Redmond Hensley and thelate Russell Hensley. She was a1977 graduate of Pittston AreaHigh School.
She was a member of St.Peters Lutheran Church,Hughestown.
Cheryl was employed by Bankof America as a manager in thecall center in Moosic. Cherylwill always be remembered forher generosity and thoughtful-ness to all that knew her.
She was preceded in deathby her father, Russell Hensley;grandparents, Clarence andHenrietta Hensley and Harryand Leona Redmond; brother-in-law, Buddy Cramer.
Surviving are her loving anddevoted husband, George; moth-er, Rita Hensley, Hughestown;her beloved collie, Pal; sister,Rita Pahl and her husband,David, Pittston; brother, Dr.
Thomas Hensley and his wife,Deborah, Maryland; sister,Debbie Cramer, Old Forge;sister-in-law, Rita Wall and herhusband, Tom, Harding; severalnieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will beheld at 8 p.m. Monday at theHowell-Lussi Funeral Home,509Wyoming Ave. West Pittston.
The Rev. Robert Sauers and theRev. Dr. Denise Brown will offi-ciate. Relatives and friends maycall from 4 to 8 p.m. at the funer-al home. Interment will be heldat the convenience of the family.
Annabelle Sands, 84, ofTunkhannock, passed away atthe Geisinger Medical Center,Danville, on Friday morning.
She was born in Stillwateron Nov. 28, 1928, a daughterof the late Furman A. and Mary(Edwards) Lunger. She was agraduate of the TunkhannockHigh School and soon after mar-ried Gerald Sands on Dec. 31,1948.
Annabelle, along with herhusband, founded AJ Taxi andsheworkedfor theShadowbrookDairy Bar and Perkins restau-rant for more than 50 years,
where she was well known forher cookies and deserts.For her most of her life,
she was a babysitter formany families throughout the
Tunkhannock area.Annabelle enjoyed canning,
jigsaw puzzles and loved herdogs.
In addition to her husbandand parents, Annabelle was pre-ceded in death by son DennisSands; sisters, Margaret PegRoberts and Dorothy Heinrich;brothers, Vernon, James,Atwood and Donald Lunger.
She is survived by daughter,Susan and her husband, BillStephens; grandchildren, JasonStephens, Jeremy and his wife,Stephanie Stephens, Josh andhis wife, Julie Stephens, Seanandhis wife, PatriciaSands,Ericand his wife, Tracy Sands; broth-ers,Robert andJaneLunger, Leoand his wife, Evelyn Lunger, andFurman and Dolores Lunger;daughter-in-law Cheryl Sands;eight great-grandchildren; manynieces and nephews.
Funeral serviceswillbe held at11 a.m. Monday at the Harding-Litwin Funeral Home, 123 W.
Tioga St., Tunkhannock, withthe Rev. Peter F. Geschwindnerof the Tunkhannock UnitedMethodist Church officiating.Friends may call from 4 to 7 p.m.Sunday at the funeral home.Interment will be at SunnysideCemetery.
For directions or online con-dolences, visit www.aplitwinfu-neralhomes.com.
William F. leOSept.26,2013
William F. Leo passed awayThursday, Sept. 26, 2013, atMercy Center Nursing Unit,Dallas.
Born in Wilkes-Barre on Dec.6, 1929, he was a son of the lateElisabeth (Finarelli) and AugustLeo. He graduated from GARMemorial High School in 1947and proudly served in the U.S.Navy.
He was employed by SuperiorCombustion and was a boiler-maker and blacksmith for Local13 Union.
He was a member of SacredHeart Church, Wilkes-Barre.
Willie enjoyed playing cardsand was an avid fan of the NewYork Yankees and the New YorkGiants.
His children and grandchil-dren were the center of his life.
He was preceded in death byhis wife, Veronica (Ungvarsky)Leo; and his brother, JosephLeo.
Surviving are his sons,William and his wife, LauraLeo, New Tripoli, and RobertLeo, Mountain Top; daughter,Marilyn Leo, Plains Township;brother, Vincent Leo; sister,Mary S. Graziano; grandson,Michael Leo, Denver, Colo.;granddaughters, Emily Leo,Mountain Top, Melanie Leo,Mountain Top, Jillian Leo andher fiance, Joseph San Philip,Bayonne, N.J., and Patriciaand her husband, Ty Shreve,Washington Township; great-grandchildren, Caleb Shreveand John Shreve.
The family thanks the st aff atSt. Therese Residence, Wilkes-Barre, Mercy Center, Dallas,
and Hospice of the SacredHeart for their compassionate
care and support.In lieu of flowers, donationsmay be made to the charity ofthe donors choice.
Funeral serviceshave been entrustedto Graziano FuneralHome Inc., Pittston
Township.Viewing hours will be held
from 4 to 7 p.m. Sunday and8:30 to 9:30 a.m. Monday at thefuneral home. Funeral serviceswill begin at 9:30 a.m. Mondayat the funeral home. A Mass ofChristian Burial will be held at10 a.m. Monday in St. MariaGoretti Parish, Laflin. The St.Maria Goretti Bereavementgroup will recite the divinemercy chaplet and the rosaryin the church at 9:30 a.m. priorto the funeral Mass. Intermentservices will take place in St.Marys Cemetery, Hanover
Township.For directions to the funeral
home or to express condolencesto Williams family, please visitwww.grazianofuneralhome.
WilliamJ. bradburySept.26,2013
William J. Bradbury, 91, for-merly of Trucksville, passedaway Thursday, Sept. 26, 2013,at the UPMC Altoona. Heresided at The Winds at MatternOrchard, an assisted living facil-ity, in Hollidaysburg.
Born in Luzerne on Oct. 17,1921, he was a son of Williamand Elizabeth Bradbury.
He graduated from LuzerneHigh School. He worked atKingston Provision in highschool and continued work-ing there in between activeduty military assignments andattending various colleges until1947. He was a member of theAmalgamated Meat Cuttersand Butcher Workmen of NorthAmerica.
He enlisted in the U.S. ArmyReserve Corps in 1942. The fol-lowing year, he received orderstotheU.S. ArmyAir Forcesas anaviation cadet. While stationedin El Reno, Okla., flying hisfavorite aircraft, the Stearman,he married his sweetheart,Martha, a U.S. Army nurse fromLuzerne.
He earned his flight officer(warrant) designation in May1945, training B-25 pilots andbombardiers at Carlsbad, N.M.,until his honorable discharge inNovember.
He graduated from LincolnChiropractic Col lege inIndianapolis in 1949. Returningto the area, he joined the prac-tice of Dr. Van Loon and subse-quently started his own practicein Trucksville.
He worked as a correctionsofficer/infirmary supervi-sor at the State CorrectionalInstitution at Dallas from 1960until he retired in 1982. Heenjoyed his retirement, workingpart-time for several years for his
friend, Bill Wentz, at his printand die shop in Dallas.
He attended TrucksvilleUnited Methodist church. Hewas also a 50-year memberof George M. Dallas Masonic
Lodge, Caldwell ConsistoryA.A.S.R., Irem Temple and theVFW. He volunteered with theKingston Township AmbulanceAssociation.
He was preceded in deathby his wife, Martha RevaleneHendershot Bradbury, on April21, 1991; brothers, Joseph andLewis; sister, Edith; and specialfriend, Layiah Martin.
He is survived by his son,William and his wife, Cynthia,Boise, Idaho; daughter, KarenAllen and her husband, Barry,Hollidaysburg; grandchildren,Rachel Allen and her husband,Jeff Dickson, Burlington, Vt.,and Erin Allen, Richmond, Va.;sister, Rowena Jones, Hazleton;closerelatives,Jean Scovill,York,Lois and Shirley VanBuskirk,York; and nieces and nephews.
A memorial servicewill be held, at the fam-ilys convenience, forfamily and friends.
Arrangements are by E.Merrill Smith Funeral Home,Altoona.
danielrOsserWilliams iVSept.24,2013
Daniel Rosser Williams IV,39, of Harding, passed away
Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2013, inWilkes-Barre.
Born in Kingston on Oct. 30,1973, he was the beloved andonly son of Arlene and the lateDaniel R. Williams.
Dan was a 1993 graduate ofVo-Tech, Pringle.
In addition to his mother,Arlene, he is survived by a sis-ter, Jennifer Williams, Harding;aunt, Linda Weathers, Pittston;grandmother, Jeanne WilliamsDow, Wyoming; and niece,Ashley Donovan.
The funeral will be held at9 a.m. Tuesday from the Kizis-Lokuta Funeral Home, 134Church St., Pittston. A Massof Christian Burial will becelebrated at 9:30 a.m. in St.
John the Evangelist Church,William Street, Pittston, withFather Peter Tomczak as offici-ant. Interment will be in MountOlivet Cemetery, Carverton.Family and friends may callfrom 6 to 9 p.m. Monday at thefuneral home.
reV. henry edWardWestFieldSept. 25,2013
The Rev. Henry EdwardWestfield passed into HeavenlyLife on September 25, 2013.He was born on July 5, 1938.He died at home, Dallas, Pa.
He was preceded in deathby his Mother and Father Fredand Esther Mitchell Westfieldof Kingston, Pa.
A man of great strength,he endured the death of sonsHenry Westfield, age 39, andChief Petty Officer Medical
Corpsman, John-Mark, age38, one year apart to the exactdate.
He is survived by his wife,Alice Shrey Westfield, whowill deeply miss him; sons PaulWestfield and Wayne and wife,Margo, and children David andKatie, who loved and caredand supported him; his dearestdaughter-in-law, Renee, widowof John-Mark who gave unend-ing support, and daughtersKrystal and Bianca; Krystalshusband, Demetrius, and chil-dren; Henrys children Erik,Mark and sweet hearts Leviand Noah; Beverly S obocinski,sister who cheered him withoutings, and her four sons;Mitch Morgan, who is a sonborn of the heart and a gift
from God who eased the loss ofhis sons, and wife, Holly, andHannah; and nieces and neph-ews.
His dear friends Joe andCarol Wideman, who gave himthe pleasure of special events.
His family feels deep grati-tude to Dr. Pernikoff, Dr.Saidman, and Dr. Killduff,PAS; nurses; to the DallasUnited Methodist Church, whoare true Christians, and theirdedicated Pastor Rev. RobertWood, and the loving care ofthe nurses of Hospice of theSacred Heart who ministeredunto him like Angels.
The Rev. Westfieldwas a manof many gifts, and abilities. Heproudly served in the Navy onthe USS FORESTAL for most
of his eight years of service.
He studied theology at WeslySeminary, Washington, D.C.,was ordained into the UnitedMethodist Church as a minis-ter in 1969, and served activelyat Huntsville United MethodistChu rch, the Hop B ottomCharge, UMC, the McClure, N.Y., UMC, and AldersonUMC, Harveys Lake. He gradu-ated from Luzerne CountyCommunity College with anAssociate Degree in Science.He was the volleyball coach atLCCC when it gained PRIZEWINNING CHAMPIONSHIP,for volleyball. He coached vol-leyball at Dallas High School.He worked at Clearbrook Drugand Alcohol Lodge as direc-
tor of education for 10 years,and his final job was as direc-tor of the Family Drug AndAlcohol Program at Choice ofthe former Nesbitt MemorialHospital, before becoming dis-abled.
Funeral will be heldSunday, S eptember 29,2013 at 7:30 p.m. atthe Richard H. Disque
Funeral Home, 2940 MemorialHighway, Dallas with the Rev.Robert Wood, pastor, DallasUnited Methodist Church, offi-ciating. Friends may call Sundayfrom 6 p.m. until time of service.Interment will be at a privatetime with family.
In lieu of flowers, if desiredplease consider WoundedWarriors and/or The Hospice of
the Sacred Heart. Thank you.
dOlOresbeilSept.22, 2013
Dolores Beil, 84, a lifetimeresident of Mountain Top,passed away Sunday evening atMountain Top Senior Care.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, shewas a daughter of the lateJoseph and Cassie (Viscitis)Samolis. She was educatedin Fairview schools and wasa graduate of Fairview High
School.She was last employed atDana Perfume, CrestwoodIndustrial Park, retiring after30 years of service.
She was a founder and mem-ber of Mountain Post 781,American Legion Auxiliary, for68 years.
In addition to her husband,Henry, she was preceded in
death by a brother, Casmir; anda sister, Catherine.
Surviving are h er son,Leonard; a brother, Raymondand his wife, Marie Samolis, allof Mountain Top.
A viewing willbe heldSundayat the Desiderio Funeral HomeInc., 436 S. Mountain Blvd.,Mountain Top. Friends may call
2 to 4 p.m. Private intermentwill be at Calvary Cemetery,Drums.
The family requests floralarrangements be omitted andmemorial donations be madeto the Veterans Affairs MedicalCenter, Plains Township.
Online condolences may beexpressed at www.desideriofh.com.
atWell - Linda,Mass ofChristian Burial 11 a.m.today inSacred Heart of Jesus Church,Lackawanna Avenue,Dupont.Friends may call 9:30 a.m.until
Mass.belinsky - Albert, Mass ofChristian Burial 11 a.m. todayat Holy Name of Mary Catholic
Church.bOmber - Alexander, militaryfuneral services 11:30 a.m.today at George A. Strish Inc.Funeral Home, 105 N.Main St.,
Ashley.Mass of Christian Burialnoon in St.Robert BellarmineParish,West Division Street,Hanover Township.
brennan - ThomasJr., funeralservices 11 a.m.today in FirstBaptist Church, 48 S.River St.,Wilkes-Barre.Friends may call10 a.m.to services.
bytheWay - Lori,friendsmay call 4 to 6 p.m.Thursdayat Sheldon-Kukuchka FuneralHome Inc., 73W. Tioga St.,Tunkhannock.charnetski - Irene,funeralservices 1 p.m.today at KopickiFuneral Home, 263 Zerbey Ave.,
Kingston. Friends may call 11a.m.to services.deFine - David Sr., funeral 9a.m.today at E. Blake CollinsFuneral Home, 159 George Ave.,
Wilkes-Barre. Mass of ChristianBurial 9:30 a.m.in St. MariaGoretti Church,with 9 a.m.recitation of the rosary by theParish Bereavement Group.eVans - Evelyn,visitation 5to 7 p.m. Sunday at ConnellFuneral Home,245 E. Broad
St.,Bethlehem,and 9 to 9:45a.m.Monday at Our Lady ofPerpetual Help Catholic Church3219 Santee Road, Bethlehem.Mass of Christian Burial 10
a.m.at the church.Burial 1:30p.m.in St.Marys Cemetery,Hanover Township.Fuller - Richard Sr.,reception in his honor noon to2 p.m. today at Leggios ItalianRestaurant,1 E. Center HillRoad,Dallas.GadOmski - Daniel, funeralMass 9:30 a.m.today in St.Monicas Parish in Our Lady ofSorrows Church,West Wyoming.GnaZZO - Helen,gravesideservice noon Monday in OldForge Cemetery.hOFFman - Donald Sr., funeralservices 11:30 a.m.Monday atMetcalfe-Shaver-Kopcza FuneralHome Inc., 504WyomingAve.,Wyoming.Friends may call 5 to8 p.m.Sunday.labarr - Iris,funeral 11 a.m.today at Richard H.Disque
Funeral Home, 2940 MemorialHighway,Dallas. Friends maycall 10 a.m.to service.lescaVaGe - Edith,friendsmay call 6 p.m.Sunday atDutcavich Funeral Home 200
Sunbury St.,Minersville.Massof Christian Burial 8 a.m.Monday in St.Matthew Church,139 Spruce St., Minersville.lispi - Gene,funeral services
9:30 a.m.Saturday at Peter J.Adonizio Funeral Home, 251William St., Pittston.Ma ss ofChristian Burial 10 a.m. in St.Joseph Morello Parish in OurLady of Mt. Carmel Church,Pittston.matheWs - Patricia,celebration of life 10 a.m.today in Queen of the ApostlesChurch,Hawthorne Street,Avoca.nareski - Joseph, funeral 9:30a.m today at S.J.GrontkowskiFuneral Home, Plymouth. Mass10 a.m.in All Saints Parish,Plymouth. Friends may call 8:30a.m. to service.OWens - Jane,memorialfuneral Mass 10 a.m.today in St.Robert Bellarmine Parish at St.Aloysius Church, Division andBarney streets,Wilkes-Barre.piccOlOtti
- Samuel,visitation 4 to 7 p.m.Sunday atGubbiotti Funeral Home, 1030WyomingAve., Exeter. Funeralservices 10 a.m.Monday.rhOads - Dorene memorial
services 11:15 a.m.today inTrucksville United MethodistChurch.Friends may call 10 a.m.to services.ryan - Leo,funeral 11:30 a.m.
today at Hugh B.Hughes &Son Inc.Funeral Home, 1044WyomingAve., Forty Fort.Mass of Christian Burial noonin St. ElizabethAnn Seton,Swoyersville.shampack - Marie, funeral9:30 a.m. today at WroblewskiFuneral Home Inc., 1442WyomingAve.,Forty Fort. Massof Christian Burial 10 a.m.in St.ElizabethAnn Seton Parish, 116Hughes St.,Swoyersville.traVer - Hiram, memorialservice 11 a.m. Sunday in St.Lukes Reformation LutheranChurch,Noxen.WarnaGiris - Paul,Mass ofChristian Burial 10 a.m.todayin St. John Evangelist ChurchCommunity,the former St.Casimirs Parish,William Street,Pittston.ZikOWski - Daniel Sr.,memorial service noon todayat Andrew Strish Funeral Home,11 Wilson St.,Larksville.Friendsmay call 10 a m to service
MADELINE PERKINS,80, of Budd Lake, N.J., and for-merly of Murrells Inlet, S.C.,passed away Thursday, Sept.19, 2013, in Budd Lake. Bornin Glen Lyon on April 7, 1933,she was a daughter of the lateCharles and Stella Yurek.
She was buried Friday inSt. Michaels Cemetery, GlenLyon. Local arrangementsby the George A. Strish Inc.Funeral Home, 211 W. MainSt., Glen Lyon.
JANE HELFRICHAIELLO, 47, of Wilkes-Barre,died Thursday evening athome.
Funeral arrangements arebeing finalized by the LehmanFamily Funeral Service Inc.,689 Hazle Ave., Wilkes-Barre.For more information, visitthe funeral homes websiteat www.lehmanfuneralhome.com.
FOSTER KNORR,81, of Wilkes-Barre, passedaway Friday in the GeisingerWyoming Valley MedicalCenter, Plains Township.
Arrangements are pend-ing from the Metcalfe-Shaver-Kopcza Funeral Home Inc.,504 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming.
DOROTHY MAEH I L D E B R A N DLINDBUCHLER, 90, formerlyof Wilkes-Barre, died Thursdayin Hampton House. Dorothywas preceded by husband,Fred Lindbuchler; daughter,Susan Rhodes; sisters, BlancheMyers, Evelyn Heller, brothers,Kenneth and Ernest Heller;granddaughter, Lynn AnnHildebrand; great-grandson,Dylan Hildebrand. Survivingare children, Raymond andHenry Hildebrand, DuaneLindbuchler, Norma Albert,
Lois Thomas; grandchildren;great-grandchildren; brother,Clyde Heller; nieces and neph-ews.
Funeral service 10 a.m.Monday at Lehman FamilyFuneral Service Inc., 689 HazleAve., Wilkes-Barre. Intermentin St . Marys Cemetery. Friendsmay call 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday or9:30 a.m. to service Monday.For information, visit www.lehmanfuneralhome.com.
EUGENE W. WEISBROD,75, of Dutch Mountain Road,Lopez, passed away on Friday,surrounded by love and family.
To send condolences or signthe e-guestbook, please visitwww.homerfuneralhome.com.
annabelle
sandsSept. 27, 2013
sandra richardsSept.25,2013
Sandra Richards, of Luzerne,passed away Wednesday, Sept.25, 2013, at her home.
Born in Kingston, a daugh-ter of the late Harry and LillianHopple Turner, Sandy wasa member of the TrucksvilleUnited Methodist Church. Sheattended the Dallas schools andgraduated from Dallas HighSchool.
Prior to retirement, Sandyworked at the State CorrectionalInstitution, Dallas, and wasalso employed by Leslie Fay inWilkes-Barre and Stul Brothersin Kingston.
She was preceded in death byher husband, John Richards; ason, Jay Richards; and a sisterDebbie Steele.
Surviving are son, Bruce andhis wife, Catherine Richards;daughter, Nadine and her
husband, James SantewanSr.; grandchildren, ChristineAtcavage, James SantewanJr., Scott Richards and MattRichards; great-grandchilren,Brendan Richards, LoganAtcavage, Matthew Richards II,Bailee Atcavage, Tyler Richardsand Maci Lynn Richards; sis-ters, Doris Vosburg and MarianWilliams.
Funeral for Sandra will beheld at 11 a.m. Monday fromthe Lehman-Gregory FuneralHome Inc., 281 Chapel St.,Swoyersville. Interment willbe in Chapel Lawn Cemetery,Dallas. Family and friends maycall 9 a.m. to service.
The family requests noflowers and that donations bemade to the Trucksville UnitedMethodist Church, 40 Knob HillRoad, Shavertown.
rObertkOOnsJr.Sept. 23,2013
Robert Koons Jr., 36, ofSuscon, passed away Mondayat Geisinger Wyoming ValleyMedical Center, Plains
Township.HewasborninSuscon,June4,
1977, and was the son of RobertJ. Koons (Carol Koons) andRenee Renfer (Chris Renfer).Robert was a member of SacredHeart Of Jesus Parish Church,Dupont. He was a resident at St.Josephs Center, S cranton, forthe last 27 years. Robert enjoyedthe outdoors, especially fishing.He also loved being with hisfamily and friends, and enjoyed
taking part in the many activi-ties that St. Joseph Center hadto offer.He willbe deeplymissedby all.
In addition to his parents,Robert is survived by his sister
ReneeGiambra,and herhusbandBrian, of Pittston Township; hisnephews Michael Kishel andBrian Giambra Jr. and severalaunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death byhis paternal grandparentsRobertand Mary Claire (McHale)Koons and maternal grand-parents Edward KolankiewiczSr. and Shirley (Renfer)Kolankiewicz.
A Mass of Christian Burialwas held at 10 a.m. Thursdayin Sacred Heart of Jesu sChurch Chapel, Dupont, withFr. Joseph Verespy officiating.
Arrangementswere by KiesingerFuneral Services Inc., 255McAlpine St., Duryea. Onlinecondolences may be made towww.kiesingerfuneralservices.com.
7/28/2019 Times Leader 09-28-2013
9/56
Most people know what it meanswhen a school bus comes to halt, redlights flash and a stop sign swings outfrom the drivers side.
Cars behind the bus and approach-ing it must stop until the sign retractsafter all students either climb aboardor disembark.
At a four-way intersection, cross traf-fic also has to wait.
Its about childrens safety; mosteveryone understands this and obeysPennsylvanias School Bus StoppingLaw.
Yet about 1,000 people a year arein too much of a hurry and ignore thestop signs.
Theyre not only reckless, but bold,considering a conviction carries a60-day drivers license suspension, fivepoints on their driving record, and a$250 fine
Perhaps they see there are no policeofficers around and figure the bus driv-er is too busy to jot down their licenseplate numbers.
What are the odds of getting caught?If a new bill becomes law, the odds
will be pretty high.State Rep. Seth Grove, R-Dover
Township, wants to give school dis-tricts the option of installing camerason the school bus stop signs. Theywould sense when a car is passing and
snap images ofthe license plates, allow-ing police to track down the offenderand cite him or her.
We support the bill because itsoptional, and unlike YorkCity PoliceDepartments license plate scannersthat are constantly recording imagesof every license plate in the vicinity the cameras would only capture driversin the process of breaking the law.
The bill already has the backing ofmuch of York Countys delegation,including House Majority Whip StanSaylor, R-Windsor Township.
I agree with the big brother argu-ment on some things, but in this casetheres no way a bus driver can catcha license plate number, Saylor said.The bottom line is theyre putting ayoung child in danger and breaking thelaw, and I dont know how youre sup-posed to catch these people.
If somebody has a better idea thanSeth has, let us have it, he said.
Dont look at us.Short of stationing police officers at
every bus stop, twice a day, we dontknow what else will stop the scofflaws.
That, of course, is just not feasible.Cameras on school buses seem to be
a good option for catching these driv-ers and, hopefully, deterring othersfrom such behavior.
York Dispatch
Other OpiniOn: schOOl bus safety
Camerascouldnab
dangerous drivers
MallarD fillMOre DOOnesbury
Pennsylvania is missing out on agolden opportunity to recover millionsof dollars in taxpayer money from peo-ple who cheat state programs.
We needa Pennsylvania False ClaimsAct.
A false claims act would allow thestate to recover taxpayer money fromthose who cheat government pro-grams. It would also provide protec-tion for citizen whistleblowers whorisk their careers, and many times thewell-being of their families, by expos-ing this fraud.
My bill, H.B. 1493, would enact aPennsylvania FalseClaims Act and pro-vide the necessary tools for the state torecover the maximum amount possiblefrom those who cheat or attempt tocheat the state government.
This legislation would also providean incentive for whistleblowers tocome forward with vital informationabout government fraud by allowing
them to share in the proceeds from therecovery and provide protection forthem from employer retaliation.
If enacted, this law would helpPennsylvania recover millions of dol-lars in taxpayer money, while simul-taneously deterring future fraudulentactivity.
Its not a new concept.In all, 29 states and the federal gov-
ernment have enacted false claimsacts. Even local governments includ-ing Philadelphiaand Allegheny County have enacted this common-sense law.
Pennsylvania remains the largeststate in the nation without a falseclaims law. With bipartisan supportalready growing for my bill, it is myhope that we can finally pass this com-mon-sense legislation.
We all have a stake in this, becausewhen government funds are the targetof fraud, every taxpayer is a victim.
Since 2005, the federal government
has provided an extra financial incen-tive for states to prosecute their owncases of fraud whenthose cases involve
joint state and fed-eral programs, such asMedicaid.
Without a state falseclaims law in place,Pennsylvania cant pros-ecute government fraudunder its own law andmust instead rely onthe federal governmentto prosecute under thefederal law. As a result,Pennsylvania is poten-tially missing out onrecovering millions of dollars.
Other states, such as Texas, are real-izing the benefits of having a state falseclaims law.
From 2006 through 2012, casesbrought under the federal and Texas
false claims laws resulted in the recov-ery of more than $820 million for stateand federal taxpayers. Nearly halfof those recoveries $394 million resulted from fraud cases in whichTexas led the investigation and pros-ecution of the case under Texas law.
The federal False Claims Act wasfirst signed into law by PresidentAbraham Lincoln during the Civil Warto combat fraud that was being per-petrated by unscrupulous companiessupplying the Union Army. The fed-eral law was strengthened in the 1980sand the results have been remarkable.Between 1986 and 2011, federal falseclaims settlements and judgmentstotaled $31 billion.
There is no shortage of potentialtargets for fraud. Any business or pro-
gram that benefits from state fundingcould be the subject of a whistleblowerlawsuit if there are suspicions of cheat-ing or misuse of taxpayer money.
Critics of enacting a state falseclaims law say the federal laws are ade-quate, but thats just not true.
The federal False Claims Act does
not protect Pennsylvania tax dollars;it is limited only to federal govern-ment spending. Without our own falseclaims law in place, Pennsylvania hasno way to adequately protect the bil-lions of hard-earned Pennsylvaniataxpayer dollars that are spent everyyear on education, public safety, jobcreation, road construction, and manyother critical programs.
Detractors also say frivolous claimsby unhappy employees looking for apayday will clog the courts, but thatsnot been the experience of states thathave enacted their own laws.
Under my bill, any person whobrings a case that is found to befrivolous must pay the other sidesattorneys fees and legal costs.Additionally, the bill would give the
state Attorney General the authorityto review claims of wrongdoing anddecide, based on the merits of theaccusations, whether to proceed withcharges. Most cases will not proceedwithout the involvement of govern-ment prosecutors.
Pennsylvania Attorney GeneralKathleen Kane supports my bill andagrees it could help to encourage whis-tleblowers to expose fraudulent activ-ity.
Taxpayers are the victims of falseclaims. My bill gives the power back tothe taxpayers and protects those whowant to do the right thing by exposingfraud.
Now is the ti me to enact aPennsylvania False Claims Act. Letspass H.B. 1493.
Rep. BrandonP.Neumanis Democraticstaterepresentativefor the48th Legislative DistrictinWashingtonCounty.
cOMMentary: branDOn neuMan
THE TIMES LEADER www.timesleader.com Saturday, September 28, 2013 PAGE 9A
Editorial
It wasnt the longest speech on theSenate floor, and not quite a filibuster,but Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, made hispoints during his talkathon about theAffordable Care Act: Socialism! A jobs
killer! Americans dont want it! A redherring to impose a single-payer sys-tem!
By noon Wednesday, after 21 hoursand 19 minutes on his feet, and assist-ed once in a while by Floridas juniorSen. Marco Rubio and other tea partyconservatives, Sen. Cruz sat down.
Then he voted, along with Sen.Rubio, for the procedural measure tohave Congress vote on a spending billthat would raise the debt ceiling.
Sen. Cruz, a freshman who, like Mr.Rubio, has his eye on the White Housefor 2016, wants to defund Obamacareor hold the budget hostage and sparkan unpopular government shutdown.
Many Republican senators who werearound during the Clinton-Gingrichbudget battles of the 1990s know bet-
ter.As Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, noted:I just dont believe anybody benefitsfrom shutting the government down,and certainly Republicans dont. Welearned that in 1995.
Sure, Mr. Cruzs political act wasentertaining.
There was a reading of GreenEggs and Ham, directed at his youngdaughters who watched on TV beforethey went to bed.
There was even a Star Wars imper-sonation and a reference to the DuckDynasty reality TV show.
All that was missing during themarathon in which Mr. Cruz was notallowed to go to the bathroom was acommercial for adult diapers.
Laughs aside, the threat of this latest
tactic against the presidents health-care law remains if the Senate cantreach agreement by midnight Mondayon the spending plan and debt ceiling.
Heres the reality check: Obamacarepassed muster in the conservative-leaning U.S. Supreme Court.
It is not a socialist plot just askinsurance companies that will be sell-ing policies.
It is not a jobs killer just askhospitals and healthcare professionals
who are poised to hire more workers asinsurance options expand this year formillions of Americans.
And it wont usher in a single-payersystem like those in European coun-tries because Americans dont wantthat.
Is the law perfect? Hardly. There aremany untested factors.
No program of this size can be per-fect. Certainly Medicare, healthcarecoverage for retirees who paid intothe system through their paychecksfor decades, has had to be tweakedover the years since its inception.Are Republicans willing to repealMedicare?
Its not just tactics in Washingtonthat play havoc with the U.S. econo-my and American lives. Republican
obstruction in Tallahassee onlymakes it harder to implement thehealthcare law and save money.Incredibly, legislators continue torefuse to expand the Medicaid por-tion of the law to 1 million poor,uninsured Floridians, which wouldhelp save money. Instead, the unin-sured poor will keep using costly hos-pital emergency-room care.
Such obstruction against Medicaidgoes against the advice of conserva-tive business groups like AssociatedIndustries.
So whats the point of these tactics?If its short-term political gain, thats aniffy proposition. Republicans have yetto offer a viable alternative.
All the misinformation thatsbeing created by those who oppose
Obamacare does not help the economy it raises unsubstantiated fears anddelays the economic recovery. Insteadof stubbornly fighting the law of theland, conservatives should start work-ing on how to improve it.
The Miami Herald
Other OpiniOn: capitOl hill
Conservative tactics
playhavoconcountry
Obamacare gives
costs, not savingsThe fools rush in to sign up for
Obamacare while Congress andfederal employees adhere to theirlucrative health care. Unions soughtexemption from this disaster untilthey found out that companies canopt out if they dont meet the 30hours-a-week requirement.
Young people will not buy insur-ance and if an emergency arises theyare still covered by existing laws. Thisleaves the schlep to pay for this badlegislation while cronies and other mis-fits will have free health care. Cowardsalways lose and the bully survives to
cause havoc another day.Joe Souder
Berwick
Nothing phony
about scandalsPresident Obama recently made a
remark on TV about his administra-tions phony scandals being a distrac-tion for things that needed to be done
in Washington. Really? Phony scan-dals?Then why has his administrationsactions since Jan. 2009 created the sixscandals theyve had so far in the firstplace? Where is the accountability andtransparency now? Obviously there isntany.
Three of the six scandals so far werebigger scandals than the other three:Fast & Furious, Benghazi and the IRSscandals. More than likely those threescandals will probably just go awaylike the other three have, and the endresult will no likely be that nobody inthe administration will be held account-able and prosecuted for the wrong doingbefore this administrationleaves officein2016.
Its truly amazing isnt it? Its reallygoing to be interesting to see how
the Benghazi and IRS scandals turnsout. Be cautious and careful about thepoliticians you vote for in the future your future and the future of every-body else will depend on it.
John HollenbackGreenfield Twp
yOur OpiniOn: letters tO the eDitOr
Pennsylvania needs false claims law
bdo
nm
ContributingColumnist
7/28/2019 Times Leader 09-28-2013
10/56
PAGE 10A Saturday, September28, 2013 NEWS www.timesleader.com THETIMES LEADER
Monterrey88/73
Chihuahua82/57
LosAngeles90/61
Washington76/59
New York72/56
Miami86/76
Atlanta78/57
Detroit76/59
Houston90/75
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Minneapolis68/49
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Denver70/43
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SEVEN-DAY FORECAST
HIGH
LOW
TEMPERATURES
ALMANAC NATIONAL FORECAST
PRECIPITATION
Lehigh
Delaware
Sunrise Sunset
Moonrise Moonset
To da y To da y
To da y To da y
Susquehanna Stage Chg Fld Stg
RIVER LEVELS
ACROSS THE REGION TODAY
Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation today. Temperature bands are highs for the day.
Shown istodays weather.
Temperatures aretodays highs andtonights lows.
SUN & MOON
Key: s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy,c-cloudy, sh-showers, t-thunderstorms,r-rain, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow, i-ice.
Wilkes-Barre
Scranton
PhiladelphiaReading
Pottsville
Allentown
Harrisburg
State College
Williamsport
Towanda
Binghamton
SyracuseAlbany
Poughkeepsie
New York
PHILADELPHIA
