News
Moscow man patents redesigned pill-bottle cap
SCRANTON — A desire to make his arthritic grandmother’s pill bottles easier to open inspired a Moscow man to patent a new bottle cap design with scores of potential applications. Zachery “Rocky” Batzel came up with the idea for SnapSlide — the name of bot
Life after trash day: What happens to your recyclables after they get hauled away
HANOVER TWP. — Chances are you don’t think much about your recyclables after you put them curbside for pickup. Al Gulitus thinks about them all day long. Recycling things like paper, plastics and metal cans is his life as director of Northeast Cartage, a
Dallas officials testify in Harrisburg about teachers strikes
Dallas School Board member Patrick Musto and Dallas School District Solicitor Vito DeLuca went to Harrisburg on Wednesday to testify before the state Senate Education Committee about teacher strikes and union bargaining. Also on Wednesday, negotiators for
Arson suspect posted lewd photos at house
LAFLIN — Less than two weeks before setting a deadly blaze that killed three boys, arson suspect Preston Bonnett posted pornographic images of their mother on the family home’s windows — facing inward so the kids could see, according to a search warrant f
Top students honored as Scholastic Superstars
They help their neighbors and inspire younger students. One grows super-hot peppers, while others compete on the national level both athletically and academically. These are just a few of the accomplishments of The Times-Tribune’s 24th class of Scholastic
County election director calls for reform in light of state mandate
As counties across Pennsylvania seek more funding to meet a state mandate to purchase secure voting machines, Luzerne County’s elections director is calling for election reform to reduce costs and improve the voting experience on election day. Last week,
Corrections
A listing published in JumpStart! on Thursday, April 19, requires a correction. The Kingston High School Commemoration ceremony takes place at the Wyoming Valley West Middle School, 201 Chester St., Kingston. The Wilkes-Barre Twp. 18th annual “Kids Fishin
A zoo in the classroom
Members of the Lehigh Valley Zoo Education Department visited the Wyoming Valley Montessori School in Kingston on Thursday. Representatives from the zoo brought many different animals for the kids to see including a penguin, an armadillo and a tegu.
Yankees go to bat for bullied Scranton girl
The New York Yankees stepped up to the plate Wednesday for a bullied Scranton girl. A 2½-minute video posted Wednesday morning to the baseball team’s Twitter features an assortment of silent team members holding up messages to fourth-grader Cassidy Warner
Trooper who beat charges he fondled girl remains suspended
WILKES-BARRE — The suspended state trooper who beat criminal charges alleging he fondled a young girl remains suspended pending an internal review, a Pennsylvania State Police spokesman said Thursday. Patrick J. Finn, 47, was cleared Wednesday of charges
Medicine, research lagging for transgender children
SCRANTON — If transgender adults struggle to feel at home in their own skin, the task is magnified for children. Though it’s not perfect, health providers, insurers and scientists now have a body of research on how to help adults affirm their gender ident
Court upholds ruling that barred rape defendant from personally questioning victim
The state Superior Court upheld a Lackawanna County judge’s ruling that prevented a man who represented himself at a rape trial from questioning his accuser. Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell said the ruling in the case of Patrick Tighe is i
With Sears closing, mall loses second anchor tenant
WILKES-BARRE TWP. — It’s the end of an era. The Sears store and Sears Auto Center at the Wyoming Valley Mall will close. It is the last Sears store in Northeast Pennsylvania. Sears spokesman Howard Riefs confirmed that Sears officials announced to store a
Indoor skate park set to open in Plains Twp.
PLAINS TWP. — An indoor skatepark soon will open in the Wyoming Valley for the first time in about a decade. Mikki St. Pierre and Jeff Mushell, founders of Keystone Rampworks, said an 11,000-square-foot park where skateboarders, in-line skaters and BMX bi
Jackpot-winning Cash 5 ticket sold in Kingston
A Pennsylvania Lottery Cash 5 ticket that won the $400,000 jackpot was sold in Luzerne County. The ticket matched all five balls drawn, 5-12, 14, 21 and 38 and was sold at Sunoco at 581 Market St., Kingston. Sunoco will earn a $500 bonus for selling the w
Outgoing W-B police chief defends communication
WILKES-BARRE — Police Chief Marcella Lendacky met with two members of the press Thursday to discuss a Monday night shooting incident and defend her record of trying to facilitate the timely release of information to the news media. Representatives of The
W-B reaches $2M deal to sell parkade
WILKES-BARRE — Mayor Tony George’s administration has negotiated a deal to sell the Park & Lock East parkade for $2 million. A resolution authorizing city officials to enter into a sales agreement with Washington & Market Street Properties LLC is on the c
Plymouth man sentenced for illegal firearm possession
SCRANTON — A Plymouth man was sentenced this week to serve more than three years in federal prison for illegally possessing a firearm as a convicted felon. Donald Korus, 40, was sentenced to 45 months imprisonment Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Ro
Crestwood mulls teacher layoffs at marathon session
WRIGHT TWP. — A technology program and home economics could get the ax, as might a Spanish teacher, through the layoffs of four high school teachers that the Crestwood School Board considered Thursday. The meeting, in a packed high school auditorium, exce
Wilkes-Barre woman sentenced for role in heroin ring
SCRANTON — A Wilkes-Barre woman was sentenced Wednesday to serve one year in prison for her role in a heroin ring, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Brianna Rattigan, 25, previously pleaded guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute
