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THURSDAY, AUGUST 18, 2011
Nanticoke road upgrades to begin The city is waiting on the state. Construction should begin in two to three weeks.
By SUSAN DENNEY Times Leader Correspondent
NANTICOKE – City Administrator Holly Circo on Wednesday night reported progress in the K-Route road reconstruction project. The K-route is a federally funded program because the roads, Alden, Union and Prospect streets, are federal emergency routes out of town. Circo said the city has approved a contract with Pennsy Supply Inc. for the first phase on Alden Road. The city is now waiting on a response from the PennDOT legal department and construction should begin in two to three weeks. The council passed a resolution to transfer three parcels of land on Main Street to the General Municipal Authority. City Solicitor William Finnigan said the resolution will allow him to prepare the deed and transfer the property to the GMA. The lots are presently vacant. Hank Marks, authority chairman, told the council Luzerne County Community College had asked that the parcels just deeded to the authority be cleaned up before the dedica-
tion of the school’s Health Science Center in the former Kanjorski Building on Main Street. He said the lots had tall weeds and materials left by a contractor. Councilman James Litchkofski said he would contact LCCC to find out the date of the dedication so the lots could be cleaned in time. A resident complained about potholes on Alden Road. He said he had just paid $400 for suspension damage his mechanic said was due to the condition of the road. He got into a brief shouting match with Mayor Joseph Doughtery. The mayor said, “We’re doing what we can with what we have.” City Clerk Betsy Chesinski stated copies of the Home Rule Charter, which will be up for approval on the Nov. 8 ballot, were available in the municipal building. Jerry Hudak, chairman of the Nanticoke Government Study Commission, said a series of informational meetings would be held to educate the public on the charter. The dates of the meeting are Sept. 13, Sept. 27 and a third date in October.
Wash.; three step-daughters, Jennifer Jennings O’Brien of Meshoppen, Melissa Jennings of France, and Leigh Ann Jennings of Meshoppen; and nine grandchildren, McKenzie Krewson, Kendal Krewson, Spencer Krewson, McKenzie Sheppard, Corey Podminick, Emily Podminick, Kim Diarra, Christopher O’Brien and Aaron O’Brien; three sisters, Judith Tully of Tunkhannock, Lucinda Francis of Falls, and Maureen Farrell of Dalton; two half-brothers, Michael Krewson and Kitt Krewson; as well as several nieces and nephews. Instead of a funeral, there will be a celebration for family and friends from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday at the Triton Hose Co., 116 West Tioga Street, Tunkhannock. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society. Condolences may be sent at www.aplitwinfuneralhomes.com.
James Joseph Slusser August 15, 2011
Plains Township, Monday, August 15, 2011. Born on October 14, 1949, James “Jim” was a son of the late Joseph and Eleanor (Rogers) Slusser of Kingston. He resided in Kingston all his life and graduated from Wyoming Valley West High School, class of 1968. Upon graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam and in the Military Police. Prior to becoming disabled, he was employed by Slusser Construction and Berwick Forge and Fabricating. James was a member of the six County Firemen’s Associations, American Legion, life member of the Disabled American Veterans, and a life member of the Kingston Fire Department. Jim is survived by his loving wife of 35 years of marriage, the former
Ultralight crash kills 1
City council will next meet on Sept. 7 at 7 p.m.
August 14, 2011
ames Joseph Slusser, of Kingston, passed away at Geisinger JWyoming Valley Medical Center,
Nancy Jones of Forty Fort; brothers, Richard and his wife, Denise, of Maryland, and Robert and his wife, Toni, of Texas; nephews, Richard Jr., Joseph and Jonathan; sister-in-law, Shirley Jones of Kingston; as well as his beloved pets, Earl, Chance and Angel. Funeral Services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at the Corcoran Funeral Home Inc., 20 S. Main St., Plains Township. Interment with Military Honors will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery, Wilkes-Barre. Friends may call from 9 to 11 a.m. Friday morning. Memorial donations may be made to the SPCA of Luzerne County, 524 E. Main St., Fox Hill Road, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702; or Blue Chip Farms Animal Refuge, 974 Lockville Road, Dallas, PA 186129465. Online condolences may be made at www.corcoranfuneralhome.com.
PETE G. WILCOX/THE TIMES LEADER
A section of Creek Road in Ransom Township, Lackawanna County, was closed Wednesday night by state police investigating a plane crash that killed the 67-year-old pilot.
Craft goes down in Ransom Twp.
By JERRY LYNOTT jlynott@timesleader.com
RANSOM TWP. – A 67-yearold pilot died Wednesday night from injuries suffered when his ultralight aircraft crashed in a wooded area off Creek Road. The crash occurred around 6:10 p.m. and the pilot died approximately an hour later in the emergency department at Community Medical Center, Scranton, according to Lackawanna County Coroner Tim Rowland. Rowland did not release the name of the pilot from the Ransom Township area, saying he
COURT BRIEFS WILKES-BARRE – A city man seen with a pistol in downtown Wilkes-Barre pleaded guilty Wednesday to two related charges. Demitrius Parham, 18, of
had not yet spoken to the wife of the victim. An autopsy will be scheduled on the victim, said Rowland. State police on the scene said the plane went down in woods approximately 300 yards from the roadway. The National Transportation Safety Board and the Federal Aviation Administration were notified and were expected at the crash site today. A section of the road between Bald Mountain and Milwaukee roads was closed to traffic and state police were protecting the accident scene for the arrival of
federal investigators. Arlene Salac, an FAA spokeswoman, said there was only one person on board the aircraft. The FAA will have investigators on the scene, she said, adding, “The NTSB is the ultimate agency that is going to determine the cause.” The FAA registry listed the aircraft as registered to William Spear of Ransom Road. It was a Challenger II manufactured in1992 by the Quad City Ultralight Corp. The fixed-wing, single-engine plane was classified as an experimental aircraft and amateur built.
Parrish Street, entered the plea to two firearms charges before Luzerne County Judge Joseph Van Jura. Parham, who is incarcerated at the county prison, will be sentenced on the charges on Oct. 14, Van Jura said. Parham was also ordered to write a
letter of apology to two city officers. According to court papers, on April 28, two people were seen removing pistols from a backpack and placing them in their waistbands near East Northampton Street and Wilkes-Barre Boulevard. When approached by police, one of the men, Parham, was seen moving his hands to his waistband and appeared to be chambering a round into a pistol, police said.
Charles M. Thomas August 17, 2011 harles M. Thomas, 81, of Pomona Street, Forty Fort, died C Wednesday morning, August 17,
2011, surrounded by his family at Hospice Community Care, WilkesBarre. Born in Forty Fort, he was a son of the late Raymond and Mary Hann Thomas. He graduated from Forty Fort High School, class of 1948. He was an accomplished wrestler having gone to the State Championships three times. Charlie served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. Charlie had resided in Forty Fort for his entire life. Prior to his retirement, he was employed as a finan- daughter, Susan Hoyes, Trucksville; cial analyst for the Luzerne County granddaughter, Corinne M. Hoyes, Redevelopment Authority. He was Forty Fort; as well as his grandson, an active and lifelong member of the Charles T. Hoyes, Mount Holly Forty Fort United Methodist Springs. Church, serving as a trustee for 12 Funeral service will be held years, a counter, and served on at 11 a.m. Saturday from the many committees. Forty Fort United Methodist He was a member of the United Church, Wyoming and Yeager AveMethodist Men Club, the Couples nues, Forty Fort, with his pastor, the Club and the Bowling League. Char- Rev. Donald A. Roberts, officiating. lie was active and a member of The interment will be in Maple Wyoming Lodge No. 468 F. & A.M., Grove Cemetery, Pikes Creek. Caldwell Consistory and Irem Tem- Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friple. He was also a member of V.F.W. day at the Hugh B. Hughes & Son Anthracite Post No. 283, Kingston; Inc. Funeral Home, 1044 Wyoming American Legion, Post No. 672, Ave., Forty Fort. A Masonic service Dallas; the Forty Fort Fire Co.; and a will be conducted at 7 p.m. member of the NRA. He was an avid In lieu of flowers, memorial conPhiladelphia Phillies fan and Pitts- tributions, if desired, can be made burgh Steelers fan. to the Forty Fort United Methodist Preceding him in death were his Church, Wyoming and Yeager Avesister, Melba Grose, 2009; and a nues, Forty Fort, PA 18704; or to the brother, George Thomas. American Diabetes Association, 71 Surviving are his wife of 57 years, N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA Theresa Wojciechowski Thomas; 18702.
Sarah E. Keithline August 17, 2011
Wanda Baseski August 17, 2011 Baseski, 96, of Wyoming, W anda died Wednesday, August 17,
2011, at the Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Her husband of 75 years is Walter Baseski. Born in Swoyersville, a daughter of the late Joseph and Mary Ostrowski Harzinski, she was a very spiritual woman who made religion and church an important part of her life. She was a loving wife and very generous person who enjoyed spending time with family. Her and her husband looked forward to spending their winters in Florida and enjoyed those annual trips there. In earlier years, she and her husband owned and operated the Christmas Wafer Bakery. She was preceded in death by several sisters and brothers. Surviving are two sons, Barry and his wife, Theresa, Carverton, and Lance and his wife, Marianne, Carverton; six grandchildren; 12 greatgrandchildren; two great-great-
THE TIMES LEADER
W H AT ’ S N E X T
John B. Krewson John B. Krewson, 61, died Sunday, August 14, 2011, at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. Born in Meshoppen on March 11, 1950, a son to the late Mary Britton Krewson and Cecil Krewson Jr., John was a 1968 graduate of Tunkhannock Area High School and attended Mansfield State College. A resident of Meshoppen, he was a devoted partner to the love of his life, Diana Krewson, and a beloved father, friend and brother. John was known for his warm smile, sharp wit, enduring humor and compassionate heart. Surviving are a son, Paul Krewson of Wyalusing; a daughter, Angelyn Sheppard of Leavenworth,
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grandchildren; and nieces and nephews. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at10 a.m. Friday at St. Frances Cabrini Church, Carverton. Family and friends are invited to attend the Mass. Interment in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Swoyersville. Arrangements by the Wroblewski Funeral Home, 1442 Wyoming Ave., Forty Fort.
E. Keithline, of McMullian S arah Hill Road, Tunkhannock, died
Wednesday, August 17, 2011, at the Golden Living Center, Tunkhannock. She was born on Golden Hill, Wyoming County, on April 21, 1924, a daughter of the late Benjamin and Minnie Mullinex Farr. She was a 1942 graduate of Laceyville High School and was a member of the Eatonville United Methodist Church. Sarah was preceded in death by her husband, Woodrow Keithline; a daughter, Linda L. Sims; sisters, Dorothy Holly, Jennie Cole, Blanche Hann, Minnie Hollister and Ella Cole; and a brother, Miner Farr. Surviving are sons, Carl Keithline of Sebastian, Fla., and Roger and wife, Cheryl Keithline, of Tunkhannock; daughter, Arlene Osborn of Fayette, Tenn.; as well as numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday from the SheldonMore Obituaries, Page 8A
Kukuchka Funeral Home, 73 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, with the Rev. Lori Robinson, pastor of the Eatonville United Methodist Church, officiating. Interment will be in Sunnyside Cemetery, Tunkhannock. Friends may call from 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the funeral home. Online condolences may be sent to www.sheldonkukuchkafuneralhome.com.
WILKES-BARRE – A city woman pleaded guilty Wednesday to charges relating to withdrawing thousands of dollars from two local banks and wiring the money to Spain. Crystal Ramirez, 34, of Blackman Street, entered the plea to one count each of theft by unlawful taking and attempted theft by unlawful taking before Luzerne County Judge Joseph Van Jura. Ramirez was ordered to pay $4,850 in restitution and will be sentenced on Oct. 14, Van Jura said. According to court papers, on Jan. 18, Ramirez told police she was ordered to open up a bank account with $50, and that money was transferred into it by a male. She said she withdrew $4,850 from the Luzerne Bank in Wilkes-Barre and that she was told more money would be deposited later that day. Ramirez said she went to the Luzerne Bank in Wyoming and tried to withdraw $7,500 after $12,950 was transferred into the account. A clerk at the bank alerted police to the activity. WILKES-BARRE – A Kingston man sentenced last July to two years house arrest and 10 years probation filed court papers Wednesday asking to be released from house arrest. Leo Yerashunas, 69, was sentenced on an arson charge for setting fire to the former Glass Bar in Edwardsville in 2008 for insurance money. Luzerne County Senior Judge Joseph Augello sentenced Yerashunas in July 2010 after he pleaded guilty to the charge a month earlier. In court papers filed Wednesday, Yerashunas’ attorney, Thomas Cometa, said his client has completed a required 100 hours of community service and is gainfully employed to “meet his financial obligations.” Cometa said Yerashunas has served more than 12 months of house arrest and without violating any rules or regulations made by the probation department. Augello set a hearing for Sept. 8 when he will decide if Yerashunas’ house arrest can be terminated. Prosecutors say Yerashunas set the fire on Oct. 30, 2008, just two weeks before more than $500,000 in insurance coverage was about to expire.
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OBITUARIES Arzente, George Jr. Baseski, Wanda Berley, Abraham Durkin, James Jr. Hughes, Joy Kaspuscinski, Violet Keithline, Sarah Koury, Cecilia Krewson, John Landmesser, William Marchlinski, Theodosia Matusek, Anne Montante, Lorraine Race, Lawrence Slusser, James Spencer, Mary Anne Sworen, Mary Thomas, Charles Vitali, Viola Willis, Michael Page 2A, 8A
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BUILDING TRUST The Times Leader strives to correct errors, clarify stories and update them promptly. Corrections will appear in this spot. If you have information to help us correct an inaccuracy or cover an issue more thoroughly, call the newsroom at 829-7242. A POLICE BLOTTER item on Page 2A in Wednesday’s paper transposed the alleged actions of two women involved in a fight on Tuesday. Police said Rochelle Hubbert, of New Alexander Street, Wilkes-Barre, told them that Latisha Aiken, of Beekman Street, Wilkes-Barre, came to her house, yelled at her and struck her in the face. Aiken told city police that Hubbert pulled a pistol on her and bit the arm of Aiken’s daughter, according to police. Police noted that both women were charged with disorderly conduct and harassment.
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