| |
| MAIN NEWS |
|
Please visit our kind sponsors |
|
||||||
|
HEADLINES: Two recent initiatives in Susquehanna County and the U.S. 11 corridor seem to be languishing for lack of enthusiasm, if not outright resistance. The Great Bend Borough Council, at its September meeting on the 1st heard reports about multi-municipal planning and beautification campaigns that seem to be going nowhere fast. Multi-municipal planning, promoted by county planning director Bob Templeton, seeks to bring neighboring communities together to plan for future development on a larger scale than can be supported by individual townships and boroughs alone. Mr. Templeton has tried to spur interest in the idea in Great Bend Borough, Great Bend Township, Hallstead Borough, New Milford Township, New Milford Borough, and Harford Township. Some of the municipalities have so far rejected the notion outright. Others are wavering. None are enthusiastically backing the proposal. Several members of the Great Bend Borough Council have expressed support and attended meetings. Another program that would hope to upgrade the appearance of the U.S. 11 corridor through Great Bend and Hallstead has been struggling to get traction for a long time. One original proposal was to improve the thoroughfare all the way from the new welcome center to the south end of Hallstead. That has since been scaled way back. The communities involved don't want to spend their own tax dollars on the project, and a recent study showed that even a much shorter stretch would cost nearly half a million dollars to completely renovate. Grants available for about $172,000 would severely limit what could be accomplished, and the more limited goals have attracted little enthusiasm. Recent meetings of the Bridging Communities committee have been poorly attended. With slim resources, communities like Great Bend Borough are stretched to provide the services they are already committed to. Council is still pursuing the possibility of purchasing time from the Susquehanna Borough police department, but there is no money to pay for it. Council has been invited to an informational meeting on September 12 to hear more about "Contracting services" from Susquehanna. Borough Secretary Sheila Guinan has warned Council that the current budget could not sustain that kind of expenditure. She reminded members that an additional one mill of real-estate taxes in the small town would bring in only about $5,000. In the meantime, Ms. Guinan requested the installation of a second telephone line so that callers can still reach the office when she is connected to the Internet. Councilman Mike Wasko energetically recommended subscribing to a local DSL service for Internet access, claiming that the cost would be lower than the combined cost of two telephone lines. Council is also considering the reinstallation of flags along Main Street. Councilman Joe Collins said that a suitable number of flags could be purchased for between $300 and $400 (at $25 per flag), plus the cost of new poles and hardware. The VFW will be asked for a donation of flags. American Legion member and Councilman Jerry MacConnell suggested that the Hallstead Legion might also help out. Ms. Guinan estimated that installing a single flag, with pole and hardware, etc., could be expected to cost about $80. Two places on Borough streets that seem to be subsiding due to some kind of underground water problem will be excavated to determine the cause. It is suspected that water is coming from either a water main or the sewer system. Since the problem has to be fixed anyway, the Borough will bear the cost of excavation, but may expect reimbursement from the water company or the sewer authority, depending on what is found. Last month Council postponed formally accepting the resignation of Ray Holtzman from its membership. Vice Chair Bea Alesky did a masterful job leading the September meeting, and was persuaded to accept the President's chair for the duration. No one volunteered to replace her as Council Vice President, but Rick Franks reluctantly agreed to fill the role until next January. Mr. Holtzman's seat is still open and Mr. MacConnell said that he would approach Patricia Thatcher to fill the vacancy, at least until the November election. Attorney Frank O'Connor said that a candidate would have to be found soon in order to be on the ballot this year. Council can appoint a replacement – or even go without one – but that since Mr. Holtzman's term still has two years to run, it would be best to fill the open seat as soon as possible. Mr. O'Connor also objected to Council's decision last month to give formal, written support to its tax collector, Laura Conarton, in her battle with the Blue Ridge School Board. The school board has offered to pay tax collectors only 60 cents per bill beginning next year, a cut of some 80% from what they're paid now. Ms. Conarton, an elected official, has indicated that she will refuse to collect school taxes for that amount, and wanted the Great Bend Borough Council, nominally her employer, to back her up. Ms. Conarton's term ends this year. Mr. O'Connor advised Council not to get in the middle of this dispute, which could end up in costly litigation. He said that, as an elected official in her own right, Ms. Conarton may choose to run again for the position or not, but that her obligations as tax collector are governed by law. He suggested that Council consult with state election authorities, and also advise Ms. Conarton to do the same. If you have any interest at all in how your tax dollars are put to work, consider a visit to the Great Bend Borough Council. They meet on the first Thursday of each month, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at the Borough building.
Committee reports are a usual and customary part of the agenda at New Milford Borough meetings, and sometimes there’s not much or nothing at all to report about the doings of the various committees, including one focused on news about the county Rail Authority. This wasn’t the case, however, at borough council’s September 1 meeting, at which all members and Mayor Joe Taylor were present. When the Rail Authority report came up, Council member Rick Ainey told the group, as well as a few members of the public, that he was informed by a Summersville resident (an area in New Milford Township that sits next to Route 11) that the Rail Authority is proposing a county-owned rail yard in an area adjacent to the tracks that run parallel to Route 11 and in the shadow of the Blue Ridge schools. Earlier reports were that the Authority was considering a railway transfer station, where containers would be transferred to or from rail cars to waiting tractor-trailers. A transfer station and a rail yard, however, are two different things. Ainey understood that a rail yard is basically a kind of storage of loaded or unloaded rail cars that could be, well, sitting around for a while. Said Ainey, “This is totally against anything we’ve heard. What economic development is a rail yard? The county would own a rail yard with who-knows-what stored in the cars, including chlorine-based or other toxic materials. If the Rail Authority did that without telling anyone, it’s underhanded,” he said, asking, “Do we want that in our community? Was it in the Authority’s application for a grant that they were going to put a rail yard there?” County commissioner and New Milford resident MaryAnn Warren was at the meeting, and she reported that while she was not able to attend the Rail Authority’s last meeting, she was at the one before it and noted that Authority members weren’t really saying anything about rail yards until she piped up and passed along the talk she heard that the group was looking at a rail yard. “They told me, ‘As a matter of fact, we are.’” Warren said her response was along the lines of “Wait a minute. We were talking about a manufacturing facility, with jobs and a transfer station for loading materials out of the area.” She pointed out that county economic development and the Rail Authority were not working on the same page. She asked the Authority if they had a comprehensive plan so that the residents of the area could know what was going on, and what input the public could have. Warren said an Authority member replied that the Authority has no funds to do that because the county won’t give it money. To which Warren replied that something like a rail yard, for example, was why some municipalities were trying to form a multi-municipal coalition along Route 11 so that people could get together and have some input on what kind of development it preferred to see in their communities. An Authority member noted that a rail yard would not be county property, but the county Rail Authority’s property. (Warren explained to borough Council that the Authority is now a separate entity from County government.) Ainey asked Warren if the county’s economic development people were aware that, with a rail yard, there was a possibility that toxic chemicals and other hazardous materials could be close by. Warren replied she didn’t think they were – “not if economic development and our Rail Authority are not on the same page.” She also said it was her understanding that “some people at the (Blue Ridge) school have been involved in what’s going on.” She added that the county economic development department also has to be kept apprised by the Rail Authority of its plans. “It has to advise you (municipalities) about what’s going on, and I think it has to alert and educate the public and get its opinion.” Ainey thought the public needed to be concerned and, moreover, to find out what was fact and what rumor. Even though a New Milford area resident is an Authority member, he has not attended council meetings except for one about emergency planning in the aftermath of last fall’s Hurricane Ivan flooding. Ainey suggested that the borough send a letter to the Authority, requesting clarification about the rail yard “to calm our concerns or confirm the rumors.” Warren will deliver the message. She noted that the next meeting of the Rail Authority is scheduled for Friday, September 9, at 10 a.m. in the county office building. Warren also reported that an out-of-state business continues to work with the county’s economic development people about purchasing a large piece of property along the Route 11 corridor for a manufacturing, and was optimistic that it might happen. The remainder was business as usual, except with an uncommon amount of correspondence. One included a complaint from a residence about blacktop on her car, and Council will forward the letter onto the sewer contractor who laid the asphalt for the contractor’s response, with a note from Council and a copy to the resident. Chris Allen will also talk to a contractor about a branch that was taken off a tree by equipment. Another was a “For Your Information” kind of letter from the county conservation district, noting that residents could not add debris (say, from debris left behind because of the sewer hook-ups) to debris that was left behind along creeks in the wake of the Ivan flooding. The attorney from the Donley estate wrote to say the estate has been settled. The borough was a beneficiary, with a generous $20,000 from it. The town’s “inheritance” will be placed in a Donley Estate Fund, and Council will set a date and announce a date for a public meeting sometime in November to get residents’ suggestions on how to best use the Donley gift for the town. A letter was received from county economic development director Bob Templeton, following up after a meeting in New Milford Township about a multi-municipal coalition to develop a comprehensive plan. New Milford, Great Bend and Hallstead boroughs, and Great Bend and Harford townships support such a coalition not only because of the comprehensive plan, but also because there is grant and other money in numbers, with those providing the dollars favoring those who belong to coalitions of municipalities rather than standing alone. The coalition must comprise contiguous municipalities; thus, the meeting in New Milford Township. Templeton’s correspondence basically said that a multi-municipal coalition was not received too well by New Milford Township. Perhaps an anecdote passed along by Ainey, who attended the Templeton meeting in the township, sums up the reception the proposed coalition received. A representative from Harrisburg was also at this meeting, and a township resident basically told this rep that the township didn’t want to do any planning, and for the fellow from Harrisburg to take his suit and go back where he belongs. So, the proposed coalition appears to be stymied right now. Another “for your information” letter expressed a strong desire by residents of Paige’s Lake in the township to hook up to New Milford’s new sewer system. Mayor Taylor recalled an earlier survey of what he thought was the 64 houses between the borough and Paige’s Lake, and 62 of them didn’t want the sewer line up there. The expense to hook up is huge, and Taylor didn’t see how the Lake’s residents could get the wherewithal to do it. A representative of Suburban Energy responded to a letter from the borough about a safety ditch on its in-town facility, noting that the organization was willing to meet with the borough to talk about it. Borough secretary Amy Hine reported that she spoke with representatives from the DEP, who told her that a safety ditch is one method of containment, and that Suburban should have a spill plan. Hine spoke with Suburban, they do have a spill plan and they will be sending a copy of it to council for its review. A copy of the plan will also be sent to residents who live close by the facility. Taylor reported that the New Milford Men’s Club put up a stone on Route 492 just downhill from the Interstate exit and entrance ramps – identifying both the borough and township and welcoming visitors to the borough and the township. The result is simply splendid, and folks have been spotted posing next to it for a photograph. He suggested the council write a letter of thanks to area business people who donated material or services, valued at $2,800, to attain an impressive stone. They are Don Kilmer of Glenwood Stone (for the stone), Butch Coleman of Endless Mountains Stone (for the engraving) and engineer Ron Kowaleski (who put the stone up). Taylor also reminded Council that it earlier agreed to contribute up to $1,500 towards the project that now wasn’t needed. However, he suggested that council hire Cooper Van Cott to install tasteful landscaping befitting the stone (and Taylor had some suggestions about what might be planted). Van Cott, he thought, would probably do it for free, too. But Taylor also reminded the group that Van Cott has already contributed a lot of his services and materials to enhance the town’s parks with landscaping, and thought council should insist on paying him for his work on the monument. Council agreed to both writing the letters of thanks and to giving Taylor authorization to obtain landscaping around the stone, which the borough will reimburse. About the county readdressing plan and the borough, Hine read a letter from county EMS asking for a status by September 15 as to where the borough stood on the plan. A motion was made and passed to advertise an ordinance about opting into the plan, for public comment after the ad runs. And that’s the status. Chris Allen reported about the paving plan, in particular Broad Street – the, well, broadest street in town and next to Midtown Park. Allen wanted to know if council wanted to pave up to the curbing (where parking lanes are angled, and over a swath that wasn’t included in specs that went out to bid) and do the whole street in one sweep. The contractor who’s paving the street noted that, to date, it’s running a little under paving tonnage and thought it wouldn’t cost any extra to extend the Broad Street paving to its curb along the park. If that’s the case, council liked the idea, but wanted to be notified if it turns out extra cost would be involved. Allen also reported a snag with manhole covers in the project. The PENNDOT representative who provided the specs didn’t think that risers – lifts for manhole covers to make them level with the street instead of depressed into the street – were needed. It seems they are, at least for some manholes. Installed, the risers cost $150 each, and Hine reported that three or four have already been installed because they needed to be. Council agreed to purchase risers where they are needed because there didn’t seem to be any choice in the matter. In other business: Council noted the 7 p.m., September 7, meeting of the Zoning Hearing Board to hear a request for an exception for 131 Main Street by Barnes-Kasson Hospital, which wants to use the property for a new New Milford medical office. Hine reported that Great Bend borough’s solicitor had not yet responded to a request by New Milford borough solicitor Jason Legg to obtain a copy of the now-defunct police department pension plan. Council president Scott Smith reported on a meeting that he, council member Jane Zick and Taylor attended about forming a Salt Lick Creek/Dubois Creek Watershed Association. An association has been formed, officers chosen, and that the public – residents, businesses, community organizations, schools, and so forth in the Hallstead, Great Bend, New Milford boroughs and the townships of Great Bend and New Milford – are invited to join and lend their support. The Association, reported Scott, will endeavor to work towards obtaining the funding to fix the problems with area creeks and tributaries that caused major problems throughout the area last year. Scott added that the association has the full support of Rep. Sandy Majors and Sen. Bill Madigan. Council heard from a representative of the Municipal Authority who noted that the Authority has grant money left from the sewer project and if it isn’t used by a certain date, it needs to be sent back. The Authority is considering building an equipment shed and wants to know if the borough wants to store its equipment there. Council will schedule a meeting with the Authority to discuss. The Fire Department’s parade of lights is schedule for October 29. The next regular meeting of the New Milford Borough council is scheduled for October 6 at 7 p.m. in the Borough Building on Main Street.
BURGLARY James Merit Welch died on August 26. Sometime between August 28 and 29, someone removed the following from his Harmony Township home: a 2944 Harley Davidson motorcycle; two floor safes; two Winchester rifles; and one Remington rifle.* POLICE PURSUIT, WARRANT SERVICE At approximately 3 p.m. on August 26, Gibson State Police received information from the US Marshall service that Kimberly Yager, 35, Collinsville, Va., and Peter Jennings, 40, Rock Tavern, NY, were traveling south on Interstate 81 and that there was a current warrant for Jennings out of New Jersey for attempted homicide. Their vehicle was located by members of the Gibson barracks who initiated a traffic stop, but the vehicle fled. A State Police pursuit continued for about 20 miles into Wyoming County where the vehicle was eventually stopped and both Jennings and Yager were arrested. During the pursuit, many items were thrown from their vehicle, including a handgun. Most were later recovered and linked to burglaries that happened earlier in the day in New York State. Yager was arrested for numerous counts of aggravated assault and recklessly endangering. Jennings was arrested based on a warrant from Mahwah, NJ, for attempted homicide. Both are currently incarcerated at the County correctional facility in Montrose. CRIMINAL ATTEMPT TO COMMIT CRIMINAL MISCHIEF On three separate occasions between June 5 and August 29, someone has been leaving nails at the foot of a driveway of Deborah Buck, Lenox Township. None ended with the victim’s tires being flattened as the nails were seen before any vehicle drover over them.* SCATTERING RUBBISH Between noon on August 13 and 9 a.m. on August 17, someone dumped about 50 used tires and rims on the Shuta property in Franklin Township.* RETAIL THEFT On August 30 at 1 p.m., an unknown person pumped $49.22 of gas into a vehicle at the Great Bend Pump N Pantry and left without paying. CRASH This accident happened on the evening of August 27 when a Chevrolet Corsica driven by Robert McMahon, Friendsville, was traveling north on State Road 4003 about two miles north of State Route 706. McMahon lost control of the car while going around a corner and struck a stone embankment. Both McMahon and his passenger were wearing seatbelts; McMahon was not injured; his passenger received minor injuries, as did the car. Montrose Fire and EMS responded and Vogels towed the car. CRASH This accident happened on the evening of August 27 when a Subaru Outback driven by Sean McMahon, Brackney, was traveling south on State Route 167 about one-quarter mile north of State Road 4003. McMahon lost control of the vehicle, left the road and hit a tree. McMahon was wearing a seatbelt and was not injured; his passenger was not wearing a seatbelt and received minor injuries, as did the Subaru. Montrose Fire and EMS responded and Vogels towed the car. RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING William Thurston, 31, Kingsley, was shooting his revolver within very close proximity of other residences on Tannery and Mill Streets in Kingsley, and did strike a dog that was tied to his pen. Charges were filed in District Court for this incident that happened on the night of August 21. THEFT FROM MOTOR VEHICLE Sometime between the evening of August 8 and 9 the following morning, someone entered vehicles belonging to Shawna Brown, 18, Joan Brown, 38, Thomas W. Cacace, 70, Thomas M. Cacace, 48 – all of Hop Bottom – and took money and a cell phone for a total value of $127.* CRIMINAL MISCHIEF Sometime between 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on August 6, someone entered the residence of Lisa Kwiatkowski, 40, Springville Township, and vandalized clothes, drapes, bedding and carpeting.* HARASSMENT, TRESPASSING On the morning of August 9, troopers responded to the residence of Travy Traver and Susan Rank in Lathrop Township where Ruth Dougherty, Nicholson, entered the residence without permission. Dougherty – who is the owner of the residence rented by Traver and Rank -- then slapped and pushed Traver. Both Traver and Rank did not want to prosecute. COLLISION, FATALITY Shortly after 7 p.m. on the morning of August 26, Brian Bost, 21, Endicott, was traveling south on State Route 29 in a 2004 Hyundai. For unknown reasons, he lost control of the car and went off the road, striking a guiderail and then a tree. He was extricated from his vehicle by EMS personnel. State police were assisted by Snake Creek Fire Co., Montrose Fire and Ambulance and the Susquehanna County coroner’s office. HIT AND RUN A vehicle described as a dark-colored, two-door sports car traveled off State Route 267 in Choconut Township on the night of August 19 and hit garage doors at a residence and then fled the scene. The driver is described as a white female, age 30-40, with black hair.* CRASH Erin Hasten, Hallstead, was wearing a seatbelt and was not hurt when, at about 2 on the morning of August 25, her 1997 Ford, which received moderate damage, hit a 1995 Ford that was parked on a street in Great Bend. The Ford received moderate damage. ACCESS DEVICE FRAUD Sometime between August 4 and 15, someone charged $288.23 in unauthorized purchases on a credit card belonging to James Olecka, Hop Bottom. BURGLARY An AK-47 semi-automatic rifle, serial number IL065878, was reported stolen from the residence of Dennis Latwinski, 21, Lenox Township, sometime between August 5 and 18. Also stolen were two Rambo-style collectable knives still in a box.* LOST OR STOLEN REGISTRATION PLATE A Pennsylvania registration plate number FSE1789 was stolen from a Mitsubishi Eclipse owned by James Wagner, Clifford Township, while it was parked in his yard. TWO-CAR CRASH This accident happened as a 2005 Chevy Cavalier driven by Dale McConnell, New Milford, stopped at the stop sign at the intersection of State Road 492 and State Route 11 in New Milford. A 1989 Olds 88 driven by John Miller, New Milford, was traveling north on Route 11. McConnell pulled out from the stop sign but was unable to do so safely. Miller’s car hit the Chevy in the driver-side door with its front end. Both McConnell and his passenger were transported to the hospital with unknown injuries. Miller and his passenger were not injured. All were wearing seatbelts. Montrose, Harford and New Milford EMS responded to the scene and Vogels towed the Chevy. CRIMINAL MISCHIEF Sometime between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. on August 22, someone went to the rear yard of the home of Tara Taylor, Hallstead, and slashed a seat and tire on her Honda FourTrax ATV with an unknown type of cutting tool.* CRIMINAL MISCHIEF Sometime between August 19 and 22, someone broke a left rear window and a windshield on a 1995 Pontiac Grand Am belonging to Tracey Ann Decker, South Gibson, while it was parked at her home.* LOST AND FOUND PROPERTY An orange, 1984 Suzuki LT 185 ATV was discovered along State Route 167 in Brooklyn Township.* TRAFFIC COLLISION A 1996 Pontiac Grand Am driven by Kristen Smith, 16, Harford, was severely damaged when, on the evening of July 16, it crested a knoll on Potter Road in Brooklyn Township and Smith lost control. The Pontiac went into a ditch, crossed both lanes of travel and continued off the road and flipped over. Smith was not injured. Hop Bottom Fire and Rescue assisted at the scene. HIT AND RUN At about 1:30 a.m. on the morning of August 19, an unknown make or model vehicle thought to be green in color went off of Dubois Street in Hallstead and struck a large stump with its undercarriage in the front yard of Ernest Benjamin. The unknown operator drove the vehicle from the scene without notifying the owner of the property.* RECKLESS ENDANGERMENT This crime happened late on the afternoon of August 15 when Dan Mayes, Brackney, went onto the property of Augustino Bozzo, also of Brackney, via the gas line property, with an off-road motorcycle with May’s daughter on the rear. Bozzo tried to tell them to stay off his property by yelling but there was no response. Bozzo fired a shot in the air to scare Mayes of the property. CRASH Thomas R. Rindock, Uniondale, was driving his 1989 Dodge Ram 50 at about 2:30 a.m. on State Route 374 in Clifford Township when the truck left the road and hit a tree head on. The extent of Rindock’s injuries were unknown. *Anyone with information about the incident are requested to call the State Police at (570) 465-3154.
DEEDS Jeremy D. Harris to Richard L. Warner, in New Milford Borough for $63,000. Sharon Lubaszewski to Sharon Lubaszewski, Jill M. Kershaw, in Union Dale Borough for one dollar. Jean Bennett, Edgar Bennett to Bernard Zembrzycki, Linda Zembrzycki, in Herrick Township for one dollar. Rachel Frisbie to Sherry Upright, in Great Bend Township for one dollar. Dale A. Gaylord, Susan M. Gaylord to Thomas J. Murphy, Kimberly Murphy, in New Milford Township for $89,900. Raymond Janesky, Helen Janesky to Robert J. Janesky, Jamie A. Janesky, in Lathrop Township for one dollar. EMC Mortgage Corp to United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in Auburn Township for one dollar. Roland G. Conklin, Linda J. Conklin to Mark Kanna, Bernadette Kanna, in Silver Lake, Franklin and Liberty townships for ten dollars. Charles F. Restaino, Priscilla Restaino to Lisa A. Payne, in Springville Township for $50,000. Robert C. Wert, Grace E. Wert to David F. Biffen Jr., in New Milford Township for $185,000. Daniel Burke, Tracey A. Burke to Daniel Burke, in Auburn Township for one dollar. Diane Elaine Carroll, Gregory T. Carroll to Linda K. Henry, in Jackson Township for $160,000. Jason S. Colwell, Heather L. Colwell to Harry E. Cramer, Celeste T. Cramer, in Great Bend Borough for $54,000. William E. Shager, Rowena J. Shager to Robert L. Bishop, Sharon M. Bishop, in Brooklyn Township for $18,500. Mary F. Donnelly, Edward D. Donnelly to Edward D. Donnelly, in Forest Lake Township for one dollar. Cheyenne Stone Inc. to Geo Schofield Co. Inc., in Jackson Township for $225,000. Mary Carlisle Hess (estate) aka Mary C. Hess (estate) to Leslie J. Robert, in Montrose for $65,000. Marion Gaccione to Daniel P. Carlucci, Virginia D. Carlucci, in Montrose for $145,000. Aaron Landreth Mayhew, Margaret Bernadette Mayhew to James McCarthy, Susan McCarthy, in Silver Lake Township for $29,000. Jean Olivea, Arnold Olivea to Douglas W. Brown, in Rush Township for $130,000. Phillip Schnarr, Terry Schnarr to Brian L. Schnarr, Emily A. Schnarr, in Gibson Township for one dollar. Sandra D. Alexander-Geiger, Theolious H. Alexander (by attorney) to Michael J. Brulla, Amy S. Brulla, in New Milford Township for $91,000. Willard G. Conroe to Paul J. Knotek, Susan E. Knotek, in Hop Bottom Borough for $105,000. Donald D. Rowlands to Joseph Pleva, Virginia M. Pleva, in Jessup Township for $60,000. Lawrence T. O’Reilly, Christine M. O’Reilly to David Nevin, Kara Hopkins, in Silver Lake Township for $26,000. Lawrence T. O’Reilly, Christine M. O’Reilly to David Nevin, Kara Hopkins, in Silver Lake Township for $14,000. Lawrence T. O’Reilly, Christine M. O’Reilly to Lee Brensinger, Charlotte Smetzer, in Silver Lake Township for $24,000. Lawrence T. O’Reilly, Christine M. O’Reilly to Lee Brensinger, Charlotte Smetzer, in Silver Lake Township for $16,000. Manzek Land Co. Inc. Pension Plan (by trustee) to Peter F. Alles, Debbie J. Alles, in Apolacon Township for $159,000. Esther Kveragas (aka) Esther Kveragus to Charles Kveragas, Ann Kveragas, in Forest Lake Township for one dollar. Esther Kveragas (aka) Esther Kveragus to Ryan Kveragas, in Forest Lake Township for one dollar. Paul J. Knotek, Susan E. Knotek to Thomas S. Flanagan, in Rush Township for $139,000. Dennis L. Colgan (estate) to Carlton Hawley, Matthew C. Hawley, in Forest Lake Township for $139,000. Wachovia Bank (fka) First Union National Bank, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (by trustee) to United Staes Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, in Forest City for one dollar. Sandra Cordner, Russell Cordner (by attorney), Esther Cobb to James A. Norton, G. Kay Norton, in Ararat Township for $32,000. Edward Florey to Lawrence M. Grasso (revoc living trust), in Bridgewater Township for $28,000. Alexander Koshinski (estate) to Edward Rudock, in Brooklyn Township for one dollar. Wayne Slocum, Kareem Slocum (fka) Kareem Bartkus to Danielle Hook, in Ararat Township for $4,600. John C. Macin (estate) aka John Macinski to Zechary Grant, in Little Meadows Borough for $22,500. Nancy Sutton, Raymond Sutton, Nadine Decavage, John Joseph Decavage (by attorney), Jerry MacConnell, Joanne MacConnell to Alan W. Gibbs, in Harford Township for $135,000. Ivan W. Conley to Gerald B. Franceski (dba) Matthew Ferrel (dba) Skylar Investments, in Ararat Township for $60,000. MARRIAGES Jesse J. Carey, Meshoppen and Rachael Lorraine Frisbie, Montrose. Donald Earl Labombard and Rhonda D. Winters, both of Monterey, MD. Christopher Dana Hall and Ashlee Leigh Litchfield, both of Reston, VA. Robert T. Bibbins and Kelly L. Terpstra, both of Susquehanna. Jack Lloyd Fox and Lynn Mario Lubinski, both of Kingsley. Ronald Lee Conklin, Clarks Summit and Robin Baldwin, Falls. John Christopher Creps and Jamaie Lyn Masters, both of South Montrose. Karl M. Eschbach, RR3, Montrose and Suzanne M. Alligier, Montrose. James J. Hanson Sr. and Darlene Dolores Levai, both of Thompson. Nathaniel James Perrington and Sonya Lynn Lewis, both of Great Bend. Ronald P. Kavetski Jr. and Deanne Nicole Piersen, both of Kingsley. Sean David Shea and Sunshine Nicole Strelecki, both of Nicholson. Patrick Gerard Allen, Brackney, and Cassandra Anne Carlin, New Orleans, LA. Benjamin K. Martin and Norma Rebecca Hornish, both of Susquehanna. John Joseph Donnini Jr. and Wendy Jean Portonova, both of Lenoxville. Joshua Allen Towner and Candy Louise Cassidy, both of Union Dale. Trevor Lynn Houser of Jefferson City, TN, and Jessica Mae Sager, of Talbott, TN. Gregory J. Steingraber and Barbara Lorraine Lindstrom, both of Montrose. Kyle Preston Wolf and Ashley Lyn Stone, both of Susquehanna. Willliam Keith Doney and Lori M. Arnold, both of Hallstead. Bruce N. Garnsey and Audrey A. McCord, both of Sebring, FL. Roberto Amador Parrager and Melissa Jeane Katz, both of Clifford. DIVORCES Arthur Roberts, RR1, Forest City vs. Robin Roberts, Greenfield Township. Lynne M. Bollinger, Montrose vs. Patrick D. Bollinger, Montrose. Ferdinand M. Weiss, New Milford vs. Joyce M. Weiss, Dalton.
Attorney General Issues Warning HARRISBURG – Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that he has joined with Attorneys General from several other states to investigate the underlying cause for sudden and dramatic increases in gasoline prices throughout Pennsylvania, and across the country. Corbett said Attorneys General from Florida, Alabama and several other states have joined in the review. The multi-state probe will focus on the factors that generated the rapid escalation in gasoline prices in days following Hurricane Katrina. “Hurricane Katrina was an event totally outside human control,” Corbett said. “We want to determine if storm-related factors were the only things responsible for this sudden and dramatic jump of prices at the gas pump.” Corbett also encouraged Pennsylvania consumers to report instances of possible price gouging to the Attorney General’s Bureau of Consumer Protection. “My office has received a wave of calls and complaints this week from consumers who feel that some gasoline sellers may be taking advantage of this situation,” Corbett said. “We will review each and every complaint that is filed with the Bureau of Consumer Protection, and, if we find cases of price gouging, we will not hesitate to prosecute those responsible.” Corbett said consumers can call the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline, at 1-800-441-2555 to report possible price gouging, or they can file a complaint online. Links to a special gasoline price complaint form are included with the Hurricane Katrina information located on the home page of the Attorney General’s website - www.attorneygeneral.gov. In addition, Corbett also cautioned Pennsylvania residents to be alert for possible disaster-related scams or fraud. “Many hard-working and legitimate relief agencies are doing their best to direct aid to the victims of Hurricane Katrina,” Corbett said, “and it is important that we support those efforts. Unfortunately, scam artists are more than willing to take advantage of situations such as this with authentic-looking emails or other solicitations.” Corbett encouraged Pennsylvania residents who wish to support disaster relief efforts to directly contact the relief agency they wish to support, to be certain that their contribution will be used to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Information about charitable giving and relief efforts is included with the Hurricane Katrina information on the Attorney General’s website.
HARRISBURG -- Rep. Sandra Major (R-Susquehanna/Wayne/Wyoming) said that cash donations to reputable organizations and directed volunteer efforts are the best ways to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina in the Gulf Coast. "Disaster relief officials stress that individuals who want to help should not go to an affected areas unless directed by a voluntary agency," Major said. Officials note that self-dispatched volunteers and especially sightseers can put themselves and others in harm's way and hamper rescue efforts. Cash donations allow volunteer agencies to issue cash vouchers to victims so they can meet their needs, and help agencies to avoid the labor-intensive need to store, sort, and pack, and distribute donated goods. Volunteer agencies provide a wide variety of services after disasters, such as clean up, childcare, housing repair, crisis counseling, sheltering and food. "Knowing how willing residents of northeastern Pennsylvania are to help those in need especially in light of recent natural disasters in our region, I believe this is useful information," Major said. "Relief efforts will have a better chance to work if the response is coordinated by professionals." For further information: visit the website for the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) at: www.nvoad.org/.
News
|
Living
|
Sports
|
Schools
|
Churches
|
Ads
|
Events
Military | Columns | Ed/Op | Obits | Archive | Subscribe
|
