POLITICAL BEAT BOB KALINOWSKI by Dave

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County election bureau inquiry sought Councilwoman’s request comes in wake of errors that led to discarded ballots. BY STEVE MOCARSKY STAFF WRITER

A Luzerne County councilwoman is calling for an inquiry into the county election bureau as a federal investigation into the discarding of some overseas military ballots by a county contractor continues. Linda McClosky Houck on Saturday emailed a request to council Chair man Tim McGinley to add a resolution to the agenda for the next

EDITORIAL

OUR OPINION: In odd move, feds disclose investigation. A13 council meeting on Oct. 13 that would initiate an inquiry into “the policies, practices and procedures of the Luzerne County Bureau of Elections and Voter Registration.” The resolution also would

establish an ad hoc committee of three council members of McGinley’s choosing to oversee the inquiry. The move comes after Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis and federal authorities last week initiated an investigation into the discarding of nine overseas military ballots by a temporary independent contractor hired to assist with election bureau operations. “Given this week’s news, as well as ongoing questions about the operation of the Bureau in the recent primary,

it is time for an open and transparent discussion about these matters,” Houck said in the email. The contractor began work sorting mail Sept. 14 and “incorrectly” threw away the ballots, county Manager David Pedri said Friday, adding that the contractor has been removed from service and informed not to return. Pedri said the reason the contractor threw away the THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE ballots is an issue for federal Luzerne County Councilwoman Linda McClosky Houck investigators to determine. Please see INQUIRY, Page A10

would like the inquiry to examine the county election bureau’s ‘policies, practices and procedures.’

BATTLEGROUND COUNTY Trump vs. Biden 2020: The race for Luzerne County intensifies as first debate looms BY BOB KALINOWSKI STAFF WRITER

elly Clisham’s house on East Ridge Street in Nanticoke is plastered with Biden campaign signs and a pair of BidenHarris flags fly from the porch. Immediately next door, James Perry Sr. has four Trump flags hanging from his porch and other proTrump signs dot the property. “We started with one sign and then a flag was stolen. When the neighbors escalated, we added a little flair,” Clisham, 49, said. “Obviously, both of our views are clear and we keep to ourselves. But there’s no harassment. We mutually ignore each other.” The two were never close neighbors, but they admitted the heated campaign between Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee, former Vice President Joe Biden, has escalated their political rivalry and fractured any neighborliness that existed. “I don’t care. I back Trump no doubt about it — 100%,” Perry, 74, said. The campaign heats up this week when Trump and Biden meet for their first debate of the general election cycle. The debate, mod-

erated by Fox News host Chris Wallace, starts at 9 p.m. Tuesday from Cleveland, Ohio, a key battleground state just like Pennsylvania. Many national pundits say the race to win the Keystone State runs through Luzerne County. Luzerne County proved key to Trump’s election in 2016 and some analysts credit the county with single-handedly delivering the presidency to the billionaire businessman. Trump defeated Democratic former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton 57.9% to 38.6% — 78,688 votes to 52,451 votes — in Luzerne County, which voted for Barack Obama in the previous two presidential elections and has a long history of backing Democrats. The latest voter registration figures show the county’s electorate is trending even more Republican than in 2016. Since 2016, Republicans added 9,081 registered voters in Luzerne County, bringing their current total to 83,197, according to the latest Pennsylvania Department of State figures. Please see COUNTY, Page A4

MARK MORAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Kelly Clisham, a Joe Biden supporter, stands between her and her neighbor’s properties on East Ridge Street in Nanticoke.

Trump taps Barrett for Supreme Court

In nominating her, president says he studied Barrett’s record closely.

BY ZEKE MILLER, LISA MASCARO AND MARY CLARE JALONICK ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump nominated Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court on Saturday, capping a dramatic reshaping of the federal judiciary that will resonate for a generation and that he hopes will provide a needed boost to his reelection effort. Barrett, a former clerk to the late Justice Antonin Sca-

ALEX BRANDON / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Judge Amy Coney Barrett speaks after President Donald Trump announced Barrett as his nominee to the Supreme Court on Saturday in Washington. lia, said she was “truly humbled” by the nomination and quickly aligned herself with S c a l i a ’ s c o n s e r v a t iv e approach to the law, saying

his “judicial philosophy is mine, too.” Barrett, 48, was joined in the Rose Garden by her husband and seven children. If

confirmed by the Senate, she would fill the seat vacated by liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg. It would be the sharpest ideological swing since Clarence Thomas replaced Justice Thurgood Marshall nearly three decades ago. She would be the sixth justice on the nine-member court to be appointed by a Republican president, and the third of Trump’s first term in office. Trump hailed Barrett as “a woman of remarkable intellect and character,” saying he had studied her record closely before making the pick. Please see BARRETT, Page A16

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COURT NOTES

marK mOraN / STaFF pHOTOGrapHEr

Signs adorn the front windows of the Luzerne County Republican Headquarters in Kingston.

COUNTY: Both sides very enthusiastic FrOm paGE a1

Meanwhile, during that same time period, Democrats have shed 3,097 voters, bringing their total to 104,958. Regardless of registration figures, both sides say enthusiasm is high this year — and on their side. Justin Behrens, chairman of the Luzerne County Republican Party, said the party handed out 5,800 Trump-Pence campaign signs and did so by limiting requests to one sign per family. More are on the way, he said. “They are not going in corners of roads or on telephone poles, because they don’t vote. They are going in people’s yards, showing their support for the President of the United States,” Behrens said. Behrens predicts Trump will do even better in Luzerne County this year than in 2016. “You’re going to see recordbreaking numbers in Luzerne County. Luzerne County did it for him in 2016 and he recognizes that. You’re going to see more visits from the Trump campaign. That energizes people,” Behrens said. “We are going to win larger than we did before.” It’s clear the campaigns are focusing on winning this region. Trump held rallies at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Twp. twice as a candidate and once as president. His most recent regional stop came on Aug. 20 in Old Forge when he held a rally at Mariotti Building Products. Vice President Pence has visited Luzerne County three times while in office, mostly recently at Kuharchik Construction in Exeter on Sept. 1 Biden hosted a private fundraiser at Fox Hill Country Club in Exeter on Oct. 22, 2019. The day after that, Biden visited Scranton, where he was born and raised. Biden visited a manufacturing facility in Dunmore and his boyhood home in Scranton in July. Most recently, he conducted a town hall with CNN earlier this month at PNC Field in Moosic.

marK mOraN / STaFF pHOTOGrapHEr

Biden-Harris signs can be seen in the front window of Luzerne County Democratic Headquarters on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre. Kathy Bozinski, chairwoman of the Luzerne County Democratic Party, said she’s been inundated with interview requests from media across the world. She also has a busy campaign office to run. “We are so busy, it’s unbelievable. People are coming in for signs, volunteering. Donations are through the roof. People in the party are saying this never happened before,” Bozinski said. Bozinski estimated the party has handed out more than 9,000 Biden signs with more on the way. “We are overwhelmed with enthusiasm here in Luzerne County for Joe Biden,” Bozinski said.In 2016, Trump won 2,970,733 votes in Pennsylvania, compared to 2,926,441 for Clinton, or a margin of just 44,292. He became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Pennsylvania since 1988. Bozinski thinks there is e n ou g h m o m e nt u m i n Luzerne County to flip the county back to the Democrats, something that would likely swing Pennsylvania into Biden’s corner. “If you would have asked me in March if we would have had this level of response, I wouldn’t have been able to

Nominate Top 20 Under 40 is the Business Journal’s annual salute to Northeast Pennsylvania’s best and brightest young stars in business. We'll feature 20 of these professionals in a special publication in our December edition.

predict it. We feel there is a possibility we will at least break even or flip the county,” Bozinski said. “Looking at Pennsylvania, just doing the math, even if we reduce the margin in Luzerne County from 2016, and the other parts of the state maintain what they did, by the numbers we win, Biden wins.” Dr. Benjamin Toll, a political scientist at Wilkes University, said it’s clear there is enthusiasm for both sides on the ground in Luzerne County. “All the party leaders are really excited. They think their candidate is going to win the county,” Toll said. Toll still thinks Trump will win the county, based on the 2016 results. “There’s not a lot of evidence that Donald Trump is losing popularity in Luzerne County. He’s likely to still win here. Whether it will translate to him winning Pennsylvania is a different story,” Toll said. Toll said there are more campaign signs out this year because of Trump’s lightning rod presidency and candidacy. “Whether you like him or not, President Trump invokes strong opinions. That’s why you do see the increase in signs,” Toll said. “Strong emo-

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Send your nomination to the Business Journal with your nominee’s contact information and a detailed description as to why he or she is deserving of this honor. Be sure to include your business/cell phone number and email address. Send to: biz570@timesshamrock.com

Nomination Deadline: October 12th

tions come out and people want to make everyone know what they believe.” Back in Nanticoke, Clisham said she can’t understand how her blue collar neighbors support a super rich person like Trump who doesn’t relate to them. “I can’t see how they think someone like Trump, who literally lives in a golden tower, cares about them,” Clisham said. Clisham, a communications worker whose top issues are health care and the environment, said her and her husband’s visible support of Biden is their contribution to the campaign. She knows it doesn’t make them popular with Trump supporters. “You have to stand by what you believe in. That’s the least you can do. We can’t write a $1 million check, but we could vote and show our support,” Clisham said. Next door, Perry said he didn’t want to state his case for Trump in depth because he’s already been harassed for his support. He said he’s part of what’s been called the silent majority. “A lot more people are going to vote for Trump than you think. Trust me. People are just afraid of saying anything,” Perry said. While politics is driving a wedge between these neighbors in Nanticoke, Republican Trump supporter Jennie Ruckle said she gets along just fine with the Biden supporters who are her neighbors in the Mocanaqua section of Conyngham Twp. “They are Democrats, but they are very nice people. They mow my grass. They make me cookies,” Ruckle, 58, said. “You’re better off that way. Everybody has a right to their own views.” Contact the writer: bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2055; @cvbobkal

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Trump ‘not yet out of the Some houses of worship struggling through COVID-19 woods’ UNCOVERING COVID-19 & CHURCHES

TEST OF FAITH

President said to be improving amid conflicting reports on his COVID-19 battle.

BY JONATHAN LEMIRE, JILL COLVIN AND ZEKE MILLER ASSOCIATED PRESS

DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

The Rev. Tim Walker stands inside an empty Restored Church in the Heights section of Wilkes-Barre. The church has not reopened its doors since pandemic gathering restrictions went into place in March, as parishioners gather in ‘micro groups’ in each others’ homes and other locations to worship online.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

BY STEVE MOCARSKY STAFF WRITER

In the latest in a series of investigative reports by The Citizens' Voice and the Times-Tribune of Scranton, we examine the effects of COVID-19 on houses of worship in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties.

READ MORE COVID-19 has impacted churches around the country. Page A9

ONLINE EXTRA Read about how COVID-19 has impacted churches in Lackawanna County at citizensvoice.com.

Religious cong re g ations in Luzerne County are feeling the painful impacts of the coronavirus pandemic — spiritually, but also financially. Leaders of several local churches and synagogues said donations dropped significantly since state officials imposed restrictions on large gatherings in March to slow the spread of COVID-19. And while Gov. Tom Wolf loosened restrictions in June, some congregations lost significant collection plate revenue during the three months most churches had closed their doors and resorted to online services. Some leaders said they drew from previous years’ surpluses to compensate. But about one-third of congregations in the United States have no savings, according to Mark Chaves, a professor at Duke University who is

leading a National Congregations Study for the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago. This story explores how some local congregations have been affected and are dealing with the situation.

She gave him an update on how life was going. They prayed together before she continued on her way. “She just named six different family members and friends who have died from COVID,” Walker said softly after the woman was out of earshot. Fortunately, Walker said, no one in Navigating a pandemic his congregation died of COVID-19, The Rev. Tim Walker stood on the but many had relatives and friends lawn of Restored Church in the who did. A few members contracted Heights section of Wilkes-Barre on a the virus but recovered. recent day, chatting with a member of his congregation who happened by. Please see CHURCHES, Page A3

‘The lack of connection, the lack of continuity in life, the lack of control — it’s real hard for some to process just the indefinite nature of this — how long is this going to last, where is the light at the end of the tunnel?’ THE REV. TIM WALKER Pastor of Restored Church

BETHESDA, Md. — President Donald Trump went through a “very concerning” period Friday and faces a “critical” next two days in his fight against COVID-19 at a military hospital, his chief of staff said Saturday — in contrast to a rosier assessment moments earlier by Trump doctors, who took pains not to reveal the president had received supplemental oxygen at the White House before his hospital admission. Trump offered his own assessment Saturday evening in a video from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, saying he was beginning to feel better and hoped to “be back soon.” Hours earlier, chief of staff Mark Meadows told reporters outside the hospital, “We’re still not on a clear path yet to a full recovery.” In an update on the president Saturday night, his chief doctor expressed cautious optimism but added that the president was “not yet out of the woods.” The changing, and at times contradictory, accounts created a credibility crisis for the White House at a crucial moment, with the president’s health and the nation’s leadership on the line. With Trump expected to remain hospitalized several more days and the presidential election looming, his condition is being anxiously watched by Americans. Moreover, the president’s health represents a national security issue of paramount importance not only to the functions of the U.S. government but to countries around the world, friendly and otherwise. Please see TRUMP, Page A3

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County Dems hope to flip ‘Trump Country’ Experts say Biden’s NEPA roots could propel him past Hillary Clinton’s 2016 results. BY BOB KALINOWSKI STAFF WRITER

While Vice President Mike Pence labeled Luzerne County “Trump Country” in a THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE campaign speech in Exeter Kathy Bozinski, Luzerne County Democratic Party in September, former vice chairwoman, takes video of supporters of Joe Biden president and Democratic and Kamala Harris in front of Luzerne County Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden was born and raised Party Headquarters in Wilkes-Barre last month.

just a few miles away in Scranton, Lackawanna County. During the homestretch of the campaign against President Donald Trump, Biden has been saying the election is a contrast between his gritty Scranton values and those of exclusive Park Avenue in New York City, accusing Trump of aligning with the latter. So, will Biden’s roots in Scranton translate to votes in Luzerne County? Please see DEMS, Page A3

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tHe cItIZenS' VOIce A3

TRUMP: President was given oxygen FrOM PaGe a1

daVe ScHerbencO / StaFF PHOtOGraPHer

Staff member Ross Graham takes Tully Kaplan’s temperature prior to a service at Ohav Zedek Synagogue in Wilkes-Barre last month.

CHURCHES: Donations down for many FrOM PaGe a1

“In the midst of that, there was a lot of just agony and suffering — the isolation on top of just being so sick. For some, that isolation has definitely led to depression. The lack of connection, the lack of continuity in life, the lack of control — it’s real hard for some to process just the indefinite nature of this — how long is this going to last, where is the light at the end of the tunnel?” Walker said. In addition to counseling his flock as they navigate a deadly pandemic and the other challenges life is throwing at them, Walker and his congregation tried to help financially as well. He estimated 25 to 30 members of the church — about 10% of the congregation — dealt with either a loss of job or interruption of employment. “We established a line of communication where people could submit any needs, whether financial or material or anything else. I would estimate we’ve probably given away over $10,000 to various congregation members,” he said. Fortunately, congregants who were able continued to give, some spending much of their $1,200 stimulus checks to contribute to the church and to help others in need, Walker said. But the church still saw a significant loss in revenue. “We 100% rely on donations. This time last August, our average weekly income was $5,167 per week. At the end of this August, we were at $4,641. That’s about a $25,000 hit,” Walker said. “It’s definitely made things tighter. As I’ve talked to other pastors and church leaders around the area, I don’t think anyone has been unaffected. We initially froze spending on non-essential expenditures, and then kind of gradually loosened up, probably starting in May or June. So, we’ve taken a hit, but we’re nowhere near to the danger zone,” he said. Church staff is reevaluating finances with the help of an outside accounting firm that assists congregations across the nation with bookkeeping and financial planning.

Financial effects vary widely Staff at Simplify Church in O’Fallon, Illinois., the accounting firm Restored Church utilizes, were concerned when Illinois went on what Josh Henry, owner and founder of the firm, called “a hyper lockdown” in response to the pandemic. “I thought, if this goes the way it could go, churches will suffer and things could trickle down to us,” Henry said. But Henry said his staff has seen financial circumstances vary among church clients during the pandemic. “We have seen a lot of churches where giving is actually up though the pandemic. And in a lot of cases, churches that already were on a downward spiral or weren’t doing as good to begin with, this (pandemic) did not help them. We’ve had a few that unfortunately closed,” Henry said. Henry said about five of his firm’s more than 200 church clients closed their doors permanently after gathering restrictions went in place, and they were mostly “new church start-ups that didn’t get off the ground.”

To prevent that from happening, Henry recommended that church leaders “be open and honest and communicate the reality of what’s going on. Say to the congregation, ‘We’re struggling to make budget.’ The ones that have been open and honest are the ones that people are really responding to.” Churches with younger, larger congregations that were able to adapt technologically with online services and donations tended to fare better, he said.

Online giving and prayer The Rev. Joshua DeYoung, pastor at St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Hanover Twp., said technology helped many members of his congregation stay connected as well as donate online. “This is a small church and, really, I’m their only employee. Being a young guy, I have a lot of technological knowledge, so I’ve been able to reach out with a lot of things on the Internet. We started that right away. We were able to do that for the first Sunday (after restrictions began),” he said. Attendance at services averaged about 65 members per week prior to the pandemic. Now it’s around 50. Online attendance varied from about 28 to 60 people, DeYoung said. After in-person services resumed In June, DeYoung said, he experimented with having two services each Sunday instead of just the one to facilitate social distancing, but it proved to be unpopular, and he chose not to implement “a lottery system, like some churches. We didn’t want to open that can of worms.” “I’ve been very clear — if people are uncomfortable, I will set aside time to give them communion at another time. In some cases, I brought it to their homes,” he said. And while giving continued, St. Peter’s still suffered a sizeable financial hit. Mark Yeager, church treasurer, declined to provide the exact dollar amount of the revenue reduction, but he did say revenue is down 58% from last year. DeYoung said his church does not rely on fundraisers to meet budget, only on member contributions. He said the church has been able to draw from previous years’ surpluses and endowments to get through any rough patches, including this one. “It’s not as if our deficit is so bad we’re going in the hole. We’re not going to be closing down anytime soon,” DeYoung said. “It’s always a struggle. In general, the church is bringing in less (revenue) as attendance has been going down over the last 25 to 30 years.” As for financial struggles of congregants, DeYoung said church elders decided to set aside money for store gift cards in case the pandemic put any church members in dire financial straits, but no one ever asked for help.

Decisions to make At Dorranceton United Methodist in Kingston, the pandemic doesn’t seem to have affected finances one way or the other. “It’s been flat. It’s still a struggle, but it’s been flat,” said the Rev. Brian Wallace, pastor. “It’s not bad. I know some churches that are really having problems. But things

here have stayed steady compared to this time last year.” Wallace said membership at Dorranceton hovers around 300, but that includes former attendees who remain on the membership roll. Only about 70 congregants attended on a weekly basis pre-pandemic. Adding online services after gathering restrictions went in place in March actually helped attendance, with about 20 or so people attending in person, but 90 to 110 people viewing online. “Ironically, the ones that do come (in-person) are the older ones,” who health experts say are more at risk for becoming seriously ill if they contract the virus, Wallace said. “They’re the ones who want to come. That was their socializing, that’s where they see people,” he said. Wallace has been pastoring at Dorranceton for about 14 months. Until July, he had been pastoring there as well as at Luzerne United Methodist Church. One June 28, the day of his last service Luzerne UMC, Wallace posted a video to the church Facebook page discussing changes in his assignment and reflecting on the past year there. “It was a bittersweet moment in knowing what we’ve gone through this past year and then having the struggles that we’ve had over this time of the pandemic that’s been going on,” Wallace said in the video. “It was a time where I just reflected back of what occurred this past year — where have we gone, where could we be going and also praying for Luzerne and where they are going in their ministry.” A Sept. 26 post on the Luzerne UMC Facebook page invited members to attend “a special church conference” after last Sunday’s 10 a.m. service for “the final vote on the future of our Church.” Wallace declined to address church finances at Luzerne UMC while he was pastor there and referred comment to the new pastor, the Rev. Deborah Rose, who did not return several voicemail and email messages requesting comment for this story.

Synagogues weather storm

for weekday afternoon worship. “In general, having both our offices and services mostly closed has meant fewer donations, and since we couldn’t have some of our inperson programs, including our annual dinner, there was definitely a loss of revenue,” Kaplan said, also noting that the temple saw some savings tied to use of the building. Kaplan said the congregation has raised and distributed thousands of dollars to help those struggling during the pandemic. “But as businesses have been dormant and others are struggling, the usual donors aren’t able to provide the assistance they used to,” Kaplan said. Rabbi David Kaplan, of Congregation Ohav Zedek, said the temple closed in March and reopened in June with health precautions and changes to services in place. “Our synagogue is very large and very beautiful, with 75- to 100-foot ceilings and fits about 1,000 people. So, for us to social distance was not a problem at all,” said Kaplan, who is not related to Rabbi Larry Kaplan. At Ohav Zedek, seating for family groups was marked, and many families chose to leave their prayer shawls and b i bl e s i n t h e i r n ew ly assigned “prayer spaces” at the temple between weekly services, Kaplan said. “Everybody has their own little area,” he said, adding that signs were posted asking people not to congregate on their way in or out of the synagogue. Services were also truncated to limit the amount of time synagogue members spent in a group setting. Kaplan estimated 120 families attended weekly services at Ohav Zedek before the pandemic, and about 25% of them have not returned when the synagogue reopened because of COVID-19 fears or precautions.

Investments help cover expenses The Rev. Margaret Zeigler, commissioned pastor at Langcliffe Presbyterian Church in Avoca, said the pandemic “has made this small congregation” of about 60, with 25 to 30 who attend services regularly, “more deter mined to worship together and also more aware and more concerned about the needs of the community.” “We decided to hold a monthly “drive-in, walk-up take-out” on the last Sundays of September and October and will provide a soup and bread and dessert supper along with bags of school supplies for kids — all while observing our church’s pandemic policy, which calls for masks and social distancing,” Zeigler said. She said the church is “fortunate to have a stable endowment, but careful not to rely or plan to rely on that for future income.” “We are filling in any deficits with money from investments, and are using funds for community outreach. We are not more afraid of a church closure than we were before the pandemic,” Zeigler said.

Rabbis at the two Jewish synagogues in Wilkes-Barre discussed how they’ve adapted services and worship to help protect the health of their congregations during the pandemic and how their congregants have reacted, but neither addressed specifics about temple finances. “I don’t believe we are in dire straits, but we do operate at a deficit under normal circumstances and this year it will certainly be worse. However, we are making do,” said Rabbi Larry Kaplan, of Temple Israel. Kaplan said Temple Israel has about “350 member units (some families, others single) and that hasn’t changed” since the pandemic started, but online viewing of services and new online Bible studies has increased dramatically. “We are looking for ways that many of our non-member participants can help us financially with donations,” he said. Jewish congregations don’t pass a collection Plate Contact the writer: at services, although there is smocarsky@citizensvoice.com a charity box in the chapel 570-821-2110; @MocarskycV

Saturday’s briefing by Navy Commander Dr. Sean Conley and other doctors raised more questions than it answered. Conley repeatedly refused to say whether the president ever needed supplemental oxygen, despite repeated questioning, and declined to share key details including how high a fever Trump had been running before it came back down to a normal range. Conley also revealedthatTrumphadbegun exhibiting “clinical indications” of COVID-19 on Thursday afternoon, earlier than previouslyknown. Conley spent much of the briefing dodging reporters’ questions, as he was pressed for details. “Thursday no oxygen. None at this moment. And yesterday with the team, while we were all here, he was not on oxygen,” Conleysaid. But according to a person familiar with Trump’s condition, Trump was administered oxygen at the White House on Friday morning, well before he was transported to the military hospital by helicopter that evening.Thepersonwasnotauthorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press onlyonconditionof anonymity, Conley said that Trump’s symptoms, including a mild cough, nasal congestion and fatigue “are now resolving and improving,” and said the president had been fever-free for 24 hours.ButTrumpalsoistaking aspirin,whichlowersbodytemperature and could mask or mitigatethatsymptom. “He’s in exceptionally good spirits,” said another doctor, Sean Dooley, who said Trump’s heart, kidney, and liver functions were normal and that he was not having trouble breathingorwalkingaround. In an evening health update, Conley said Trump had been upandmovingaroundhismedical suite without difficulty and conducting business. “While not yet out of the woods, the team remains cautiously optimistic,”hesaid. In the hospital video, Trump defended his decision to continue campaigning and holding large events in the midst of a pandemic.

READ MORE Senate republicans vow confirmation hearings for trump’s Supreme court nominee will continue. Page A10 “I had no choice,” said Trump, who refused to abide by basic public health recommendations, including mask-wearing. “I had to be out front ... I can’t be locked up in a room upstairs and totally safe. ... As a leader, you have to confront problems.” The president was angry at Meadows’publicassessmentof his health and, in an effort to prove his vitality, Trump orderedupthevideoandauthorized longtime confidant Rudy Giuliani to release a statement on his behalf that he was feeling well, according to a Republican close to the White House not authorized to publicly discussprivateconversations. First lady Melania Trump remainedattheWhiteHouseto recoverfromherownboutwith the virus. She was “really handling it very nicely,” Trump saidinthevideo. The White House has been workingtotraceaflurryof new infections of close Trump aides and allies. Attention is focused in particular on last Saturday’s White House event introducing Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. That day, Trump gathered more than 150 people in the Rose Garden, where they mingled, hugged and shook hands — overwhelmingly without masks. There were also several indoor receptions, where Trump’s Supreme Court pick, Judge Amy Coney Barrett, her family, senators and others spent time in the White House, photographsshow. Among those who attended and have now tested positive: former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway, the president of the University of Notre Dame, and at least two Republican lawmakers — Utah Sen. Mike Lee and North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis. The president’s campaign manager, Bill Stepien, and the head of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel, have also tested positive, though they werenotattheevent.

DEMS: Party is more active than in 2016 FrOM PaGe a1

a private fundraiser at Fox Hill Country Club in Exeter. “The Scranton/WilkesBarre area, Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, is where I learned everything there is to learn about the basic values of this country,” Biden said during a 35-minute speech in front of more than 200 supporters. While Trump accuses Biden of abandoning Scranton and Northeast Pennsylvania since his parents moved to Delaware when he was age 10, Biden actually has remained close to his boyhood friends, Mitchell said. “He has kept his ties here. It’s not like he never came back. It’s remarkable how close he has been to friends he had here,” Mitchell said. In 2016, Trump received 2,970,733 votes in Pennsylvania, compared to 2,926,441 for Clinton, or a margin of just 44,292. He became the first Republican presidential candidate to win Pennsylvania since 1988. Mitchell said Biden doesn’t necessarily need to win, but just needs to lessen Trump’s margin in Luzerne County and places like Erie County, which also flipped for Trump, to win Pennsylvania back for the Democrats. “He just needs to improve,” Mitchell said. Dr. Benjamin Toll, a political science professor at Wilkes University, said it’s pretty much a given Biden will outperform Clinton’s results from 2016 in Luzerne County. “The Democratic party here is more active than they were in 2016 — and they seem more excited,” Toll said. “They are hoping him being a native of Northeast Pennsylvania will be an advantage for him.”

Trump flipped Luzerne County in 2016 in dominating fashion to help propel him to the presidency. “I think there is more support for Joe Biden in Luzerne County than there was for Hillary Clinton,” said Joni Neteler, 62, a retired nurse and Democrat who lives in Wright Twp. “In my neighborhood, we have more Biden signs, which is good. There are people who I don’t remember having signs last time that have Biden signs in their yard. I think it’s the fact Biden is from here and he’s not Hillary Clinton.” Party insiders privately acknowledge it might be an uphill climb to totally flip Luzerne County back to the Democratic column, being that Trump won in a 58.9%-to38.6% landslide in 2016. But they think Biden’s continued references to his upbringing in Scranton — even though the city is across the border in Lackawanna County — will make enough people consider him to be the hometown candidate they want to support. Ed Mitchell, a longtime political consultant from Kingston, thinks Luzerne County voters can relate to Biden’s Scranton upbringing and it will help him here. “The geography of being from Northeastern Pennsylvania won’t necessarily help Biden here, but the values Biden learned while growing up here will,” Mitchell said. “Wholehearted. Empathetic. Generous. Practicing Catholic upbringing. There is a hometown advantage to that. People can relate to his character because it’s a part of their own character.” Contact the writer: Biden said as much during a bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com speech in October 2019 during 570-821-2055; @cvbobkal

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Sunday, October 18, 2020

WILKES-BARRE CITY BUDGET

Mayor George Brown’s 2021 budget proposal includes doubling the sewage transmission and recycling fees. BY STEVE MOCARSKY STAFF WRITER

Wilkes-Barre Mayor George Brown’s proposal to double sewage transmission and recycling fees next year might be the simplest and fairest way to generate an addition-

al $2 million in revenue, but it’s not the only way. Another means to raise the cash Brown says he needs to pay the city’s bills next year would be a property tax increase, but that would mean property owners would see their real estate taxes go up about 21%, or 30 mills, according to Brown. So, instead of paying an extra $100 in fees next year, the owner of a median-valued property assessed by the city at $360 (and by Luzerne County at $76,600), the owner would

see the city real estate tax increase $10.68 – from $50.85 to $61.53 However, the owner of a much more expensive property, valued by the city at $2,500 (and by the county at $255,000) would see a city real estate tax increase of $223.13, raising the total payment from $1,062.54 to $1,342.46. Tax increases among property owners, however, would be nowhere close to fair because the city has not had a property tax reassessment in decades and the city’s assessed values vary widely com-

er than those in comparable municipalities, which he said vary between $150 and $400 for sewage Find a copy of transmission and between $250 to Mayor George $400 for recycling. Brown’s 2021 Brown has said that cutting serbudget proposal with this story at vices would be his only other www.citizensvoice.com. option if the city council doesn’t approve his fee increase proposal. “In my heart, I think this is the pared to county assessments. And, as Brown noted at his bud- fairest way to go,” Brown said on get presentation to the city council Friday. “We’ll even look at splitting on Thursday, the city’s annual $50 the payments to $25 per quarter.” sewage transmission and recycling Please see BUDGET, Page A4 fees are currently considerably low-

ONLINE EXTRA

W-B Area switches to virtual

FALL FOLIAGE AT ITS PEAK

BY JAMES HALPIN STAFF WRITER

The Wilkes-Barre Area School District announced Saturday it is suspending in-person education until next month as a result of several confirmed COVID-19 cases. In a message to parents, Superintendent Brian Costello said the district has confirmed two to four positive cases in “multiple school buildings” in a two-week period. “As a result of these positive cases, based on (Pennsylvania) Department of Education recommendations, close collaboration with the Department of Health, and out of an abundance of READ caution all option MORE one students (inWilkes-Barre person) will transiArea halts tion to option two sports (live virtual sesprograms. sions) beginning Page B3 Monday,” Costello wrote. “In-person classes will be scheduled to resume on Wednesday, November 4.” Costello said he anticipated the change will result in “minimal impact” to the students’ education. All teachers will follow their assigned schedules and live stream their classes, and students will be expected to attend class during the regularly scheduled times, he said. A football game against Berwick High School scheduled for Saturday night was also postponed.

DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Enjoying a bright fall day on the water

A fisherman makes his way through the lake at Frances Slocum State Park in Kingston Twp. on Saturday as bright fall foliage colors the water. According to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Luzerne County is experiencing its best color of the fall foliage season, meaning color is currently peaking.

Glen Lyon residents show support, opposition to Trump The area flipped to Republican in 2016. BY BOB KALINOWSKI STAFF WRITER

GLEN LYON — Driving aroundhisneighborhoodinthe Glen Lyon section of Newport Twp., township historian Tom Kashatus can’t believe all the houses with campaign signs and flags for President Donald Trump, including his son’s. The former Democratic commissioner can’t understand how so many of his neighbors in this blue collar

former coal mining town — ranked as the most distressed place in Pennsylvania in a 2016 economic report — support the billionaire businessman. “I don’t know how he got all the support. The way he acts, I’ve never seen another president say the things he says in all my life,” Kashatus, 80, said. “But some people adore him. Me and my kid, I can’t even talk to him about it.” Please see TRUMP, Page A4

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SuNday, OCTObEr 18, 2020

Wilkes University honors Davidowitz for support Esther B. Davidowitz was awarded the President’s Medal. BY JAMES HALPIN STaFF WrITEr

Wilkes University honored longtime supporter Esther B. Davidowitz on Saturday evening with the presentation of the President’s Medal. The medal was presented during the 2020 Founders Gala, an event in its seventh year that celebrates Wilkes’ legacy of educating first-generation college students. The event was conducted online this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The university awards the medal each year to a person whose life reflects “the highest aspirations of Wilkes University.” Davidowitz, 86, of Kingston, was selected this year because of her longtime service to the

university and the community. “Essy Davidowitz has been a tireless worker on behalf of the causes she believes in,” said Paul Adams, vice president for student affairs. “She’s been a champion of the academic enterprise.” In her acceptance speech, Davidowitz thanked the numerous people she has worked with during her time at the university. “I appreciate and shall treasure the Wilkes President’s Medal,” she said. Rabbi Larry Kaplan, of the Temple Israel synagogue in Wilkes-Barre, described Davidowitz as one of the “finest human beings” and said she is “imbued with goodness.” “She calmly and confidently reaches out to us to be the best people we can be,” Kaplan said. “Her message is a simple one: take hold of the opportunities we are given to make a difference.”

Davidowitz’s sons also addressed the virtual crowd, expressing their appreciation for the recognition. “She always held Wilkes very dear to her. She loved the students,” son Steve Davidowitz said. “She was so inspired by seeing how respectful and courteous these students were.” According to a biography prepared by the university, Davidowitz was a member of the board of trustees from 1973 through 2006, when she became an emerita. She serves as treasurer and secretary during her time on the board, and was the chair of the academic program committee and executive board. The university described her as “a close advisor and friend” to each of its presidents. In addition to her work at the university, Davidowitz helped establish the Muriel

THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE

Esther B. Davidowitz was honored with Wilkes University’s President’s Medal at the school’s annual Founders Gala celebration. Davidowitz has received many honors over the years for her work in the Wyoming Valley community, including the Fine Arts Fiesta Friendship Award, above, in 2017.

Contact the writer:

Bravman opera library collec- Dickson Darte Center for the jhalpin@citizensvoice.com tion housed in the Dorothy Performing Arts, and has 570-821-2058

TRUMP: Glen Lyon flipped to red in 2016 FrOM PaGE a1

Just months after the release of the 2016 report detailing Glen Lyon’s high rates of poverty, unemployment and home vacancy, many people here did something they never did before: vote Republican in a presidential election. After Democratic candidate Barack Obama twice carried the town in dominating fashion, Trump flipped Glen Lyon into the Republican column. Trump defeated Democratic former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton by a vote total of 359 to 304 in Glen Lyon, helping him win Newport Twp., a normally reliable Democratic stronghold, with an overall vote total of 1,026 to 741. Just four years earlier, Obama crushed Mitt Romney by a vote total of 422 to 174 in the Glen Lyon voting ward. Trump’s win here was a political reversal seen throughout much of the area as he won 146 of Luzerne County’s 180 poll locations, leading to a countywide victory of 78,688 votes to 52,451 votes. Trump became the first Republican to win Luzerne County since 1988. Local election experts expect former Vice President Joe Biden will fare better this year. They say he doesn’t necessarily need to win places Trump flipped in 2016, but just needs to lose by less considering how close the vote tally was statewide. In 2016, Trump received 2,970,733 votes in Pennsylvania, compared to 2,926,441 for Clinton, or a margin of

bOb KaLINOWSKI / STaFF PHOTO

Truck driver Mike Julius, standing outside his Orchard Street home in Glen Lyon, says he and his wife are voting to reelect President Donald Trump because ‘he’s more like us.’

GLEN LYON VOTE TOTALS 2008 2012 2016

Obama (D) 436 (62.64%) Obama (D) 422 (69.29%) Clinton (D) 304 (43.55%)

just 44,292. Many Glen Lyon voters who flipped for Trump in 2016 say they are sticking with him in 2020. Among them is Debbie Shaffer, 66, a teacher’s aide for the Greater Nanticoke Area school district. “I was a Democrat my whole life. I turned to Republican to vote for Trump,” Shaffer said from the front yard of her North Market Street home, which displays a Trump flag next to a U.S. flag. “He’s a businessman and knows how to run the country.” Her mother, Beverly Kishbaugh, an 82-year-old retiree who worked in nursing homes, said she’s voting for the Republican candidate this

McCain (R) 241 (34.63%) Romney (R) 174 (28.57%) Trump (R) 359 (51.43%)

better since he’s been president. I think there are better and more jobs and more opportunities available.” Hayes said she sometimes cringes at the things Trump says, but on the other hand she likes that “he’s not afraid to say what’s on his mind.” Across the street, Republican truck driver Mike Julius, 59, is quick to point out his lifelong Democrat wife, Sharon, is flipping for Trump. She walked onto the back porch and confirmed her flip. “We are Trump all the way. I even have a Trump sticker on my pickup truck,” Julius said. “He’s more like us — our kind of person.” Julius said his paycheck has increased and believed Trump had the economy on the right track “until this damn virus hit.” Down the street, there’s a cluster of homes with Biden signs in the front yard, including Eileen McMullen’s. She’s a retired computer software engineer and her husband, who has a doctoral degree, long worked advocating for Native American communities in Arizona, where they also have a home. McMullen, 65, is puzzled by Trump’s support in places like Glen Lyon. She thinks Trump’s tough talk on immigration probably was the biggest factor. “I’m surprised. It’s always been Democratic,” McMullen said. “It’s hard to say how the election is going to go. I have no idea why Trump is so popular. I think he’s a crook.”

time, a first for her. Shaffer said she thinks the support for Trump in Glen Lyon is about “half and half” and she expects the election to be close. Suellen Hayes, 31, of Orchard Street, said she and her husband, John, 30, are former Democrats who twice voted for Obama then switched parties to become Republicans in 2016 to vote for Trump. She’s a certified nurse’s assistant and he’s a warehouse worker. They have three children, ages 9, 6 and 4. “We still absolutely support him. We think he’s doing the best he can,” Hayes said from her front porch that displays a Trump flag surrounded by fall Contact the writer: decorations. “We are middle bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com class and feel like we are doing 570-821-2055, @cvbobkal

BUDGET: Layoffs don’t add up to big savings FrOM PaGE a1

Layoffs and furloughs City council members might consider the possibility of layoffs as a last resort rather than increase the fees, but Brown said the city is already at “barebones” staffing, and some council members agreed. Brown said he would need to pay public safety workers overtime if he laid off police officers or firefighters to kee p those departments fully staffed because “safety of our employees is our primary concern.” Plus, Brown said, the city would not see as much savings through layoffs as some people might think because the city is selfinsured for worker unemployment. So, if the city laid off an

IF YOU GO Members of the public can give their input on Wilkes-barre Mayor George brown's 2021 budget proposal at a hearing at 6 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Innovation center, 7 S. Main St., Wilkesbarre. employee with a $50,000 annual salary, the city would save only $25,000 for the first 26 weeks of statemandated unemployment compensation. Also, Brown said, the city hall workers union contract, which was negotiated during a previous administration, guarantees no layoffs for those employees. The city would have to continue to pay the cost of benefits for any furloughed workers in addition to

unemployment benefits.

Revenues and expenses

served in leadership positions for the Osterhout Free Library, the Northeastern Pennsylvania Ethics Institute, the Luzerne County Area Agency on Aging, Temple Israel of Wilkes-Barre, John Heinz Institute, the Jewish Community Center, WVIA, the Northeast Pennsylvania Philharmonic and the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts. Her previous awards include the Greater WilkesBar re Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith’s Distinguished Community Service Award and the National Council of Jewish Women’s Hannah G. Solomon Award. Davidowitz and her late husband, William — the founder of Penn Footwear in Nanticoke — were married for 62 years. They have four sons and nine grandchildren.

revenues to decline next year because of the coronavirus pandemic — some by as much as half. Brown budgeted only $300,000 in business taxes compared to $600,000 budgeted for this year, and $675,000 in mercantile taxes for 2021 compared to $1,350,000 in 2020. Many of the business taxes due next year will be based on sales and services from this year, according to city Finance Director Brett Kittrick. Brown also expects to take a $100,000 hit in property taxes. I n t o t a l , t h e m ayo r expects the city to take in about $1.6 million less in taxes next year than he expects the city to receive this year.

Brown last week cited mandatory 3% raises for city employees that are guaranteed in their union contracts, as well as an average 7% increase in health insurance premiums when providing some reasons why the budget increased from $52 million this year to $53.2 million for 2021. Total employee salaries will jump nearly half a million dollars for next year, costing the city nearly $19.7 million. Benefits, including pension contributions, will increase $829,651 to nearly $18 million. And, debt service payments will climb to $5.4 million — an approximate $230,000 hike, according to Contact the writer: Brown’s budget proposal. smocarsky@citizensvoice.com City officials also expect 570-821-2110; @MocarskyCV

COVID-19 in NEPA community health district Cases Fatalities

Susquehanna

Wayne

368 28

Wyoming

99 8

280 12

Lackawanna

Pike

3,244 217

609 23

Luzerne

4,655 190

Schuylkill

1,545 71

Monroe

1,913 134

Carbon

538 29

Northampton

Lehigh

6,109 361

5,022 309

61 COVID-19 cases added in Luzerne County BY JAMES HALPIN STaFF WrITEr

The Pennsylvania Department of Health reported another 61 cases of COVID-19 on Saturday in Luzerne County. The county has had a total of 4,655 cases to date with 190 deaths, according to data published to the department’s website. On Friday, Luzerne County Manager David Pedri said he learned of four deaths this week in the county from the county coroner’s office. Across the state, there were an additional 1,857 cases and nine new deaths, according to the data. That is the secondhighest daily case total since the pandemic began. The numbers announced Saturday by the state health department are exceeded only by the 1,989 cases reported April 9 and bring the statewide total to 180,943. The total number

of deaths statewide now stands at 8,466. On Wednesday, the state’s health secretary pronounced Pennsylvania “at the start of the fall resurgence” of COVID-19 but said there were no plans to reimpose a stay-athome order or shut down businesses again in response. Dr. Rachel Levine said Pennsylvania is more prepared for such an influx than it was in the spring, citing a contact tracing program in place, more personal protective equipment supplies and enough hospital beds available. During the past seven days, health care workers had administered 234,583 tests and received 9,778 positive results, according to the department. THE ASSOCIATED PRESS contributed to this report.

Contact the writer: jhalpin@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2058

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS a quick glance at the global spread of the coronavirus as of Oct. 17.

World cases

United States cases

39,580,502

8,100,662

(up from 39,186,810 on Oct. 16)

(up from 8,040,922 on Oct. 16)

World deaths

United States deaths

1,108,215

219,156

(up from 1,101,692 on Oct. 16)

(up from 218,455 on Oct. 16)

— NUMBERS REPORTED AS OF 7:24 P.M. SATURDAY FROM JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

EDITOR’S NOTE: The Johns Hopkins university website relies upon publicly available data from multiple sources that do not always agree. More frequent updates of the map often result in higher case numbers than may be available from other sources that are updated less frequently.

Truck filled with bees crashes on I-81 PSP investigating burglary, STaFF rEPOrT

A flatbed truck carrying approximately one million honeybees and their hives crashed around 5:30 Friday on I-81 southbound near the I-80 interchange. The truck’s driver apparently lost control of the vehicle and the cargo fell off the

trailer, according to Valley Regional Fire Rescue Lieutenant Karl Zemany. That cargo was crates filled with bees which, after breaking upon impact with the ground, sent hundreds of thousands of live bees into the surrounding sky. Valley Regional Fire Res-

cue responded to the call, as did local beekeepers, who attempted to reign in the swarm of bees. The crash resulted in I-81 being closed from the I-80 interchange to Exit 145, the West Hazleton exit. Zemany noted that while some of the bees were being

held at the firehouse as of Saturday afternoon, a large share of them did not survive the initial crash. No auto-related human injuries were reported at the scene of the crash, though some first responders reported being stung during the bee collection process.

ammo theft in Lake Twp. STaFF rEPOrT

State police are looking for information involving the theft of multiple AR-15 magazines and ammunition between Oct. 3-10 from a home at 496 N. Mountain Road in Lake Twp, according

to a news release. The burglar or burglars broke into the residence through a window and drank bottles of liquor inside. Anyone with information is asked to contact state police in Wyoming at 570-697-2000.

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Biden hits Trump on virus At Back Mountain rally, Biden says president is ‘doing nothing’ to stop spread of COVID-19. BY MICHAEL P. BUFFER STAFF WRITER

DALLAS — Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden savaged President Donald Trump for his response to the coronavirus pandemic during a 24-minute speech Saturday afternoon, and his warm-up act was New Jersey rock star Jon Bon Jovi. Bon Jovi performed three songs on a stage in the Dallas High School parking lot, and another guitarist and a violin player joined him during the drive-in rally for Biden. “I believe that Joe knows that masks are not a sign of weakness. They’re a sign of strength and respect, respect for your elders, for your neighbors, for your families, for your friends and for a stranger that you might not have met yet,” Bon Jovi said before performing “Do What You Can,” a new song about the pandemic. “After we get Joe into office, that’s when the healing starts because we all have to come together and remember that under the great stars and stripes, we are all one United States of America,” he added. Biden took the stage with his wife, Jill, and Crestwood High School teacher Bill Kane, who introduced the former vice president. “Hello Dallas! It’s good to be almost home,” Biden said, referring to his boyhood home of Scranton. More than 230 vehicles were parked at the rally, and many attendees stood by their cars on the chilly afternoon, wearing masks and shooting video with cell phones. Please see BIDEN, Page A4

ANDREW HARNIK / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks during Saturday’s campaign event at Dallas High School.

Trump supporters greet Biden’s arrival in NEPA BY BOB KALINOWSKI STAFF WRITER

DALLAS TWP. — For hours on Saturday afternoon, hundreds of President Donald Trump supporters rallied on a Route 309 intersection near Dallas High School waving flags and blaring music to await the arrival of former Vice President Joe Biden. Then, with Biden en route, they got word his motorcade was coming a different route and they marched a half mile up Hildebrandt Road toward the high school, where the Democratic presidential nominee was set to speak to supporters.

They beat the motorcade just in time to greet Biden with chants of “Four more years” and “Go home Joe” as the convoy turned onto the school’s Conyngham Avenue entrance. “They tried to sneak him in the back door,” said Joe Novackowski, 58, of Kingston, a deejay who served as rally emcee. “There was no way he didn’t know what was going on here.” Betsy Green, rally organizer and founder of Northeastern Pennsylvania Women and Men for Trump, said she was impressed with the turnout. Please see PROTEST, Page A4

SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Supporters of President Donald Trump march on state Route 309 near Dallas High School on Saturday.

GOP again asks high court to block Pa. ballot extension

ADVE RTISE M E NT

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Party wants to block counting of mailed-in ballots received up to 3 days after election. BY MARC LEVY ASSOCIATED PRESS

HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania Republican Party is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to speedily take up its case to block counties in the presidential battleground state from counting mailedin ballots received up to three days after the Nov. 3 election.

The Republican Party’s late Friday filing came four days after the justices divided 4-4 on putting a hold on the extension. That outcome left in place a state Supreme Court ruling that required county election officials to receive and count mailed-in ballots that arrive up until Nov. 6, even if they don’t have a clear postmark, as long as there is no proof it was mailed after the polls closed.

With Gold Club Membership

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Mail-in ballots for the 2020 election are seen before being sorted at the Chester County Voter Services office Friday in West Chester. The high court’s action left unresolved the legal issues Republicans raised, and the new request asks the court to take up the Republican Party’s case on an expedited basis.

Without an expedited consideration, the Republican Party’s right to appeal and the U.S. Supreme Court’s “power to resolve the Please see BALLOTS, Page A11

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BIDEN: Hosts campaign event in Dallas FrOM PaGE a1

“More than 220,000 people are dead in America because of COVID-19,” Biden said. “Yesterday was the highest number of new cases since it all began, 85,000 cases in one day. A thousand people a day dying.” Biden recalled Trump saying “it is what it is” when talking about COVID-19 deaths. “Well, it is what it is because he is who he is. That’s why it is what it is,” he said. Biden mocked Trump for continuing to say “we’re rounding the corner,” the virus “is going away” and “we’re learning to live with it.” “We’re not learning to live with it. We’re learning to die with it because he’s doing nothing,” Biden said, as attendees honked car horns. “Folks, there’s a dark winter ahead. Experts say we’re going to lose nearly 200,000 lives nationwide in the next few months if we don’t step up, because he cares more about the stock market than he does about you, because he refuses to follow science.” Biden blasted Trump for cutting taxes for the wealthy and for giving Wall Street investors a warning about the pandemic before warning the public. “He tried to claim he didn’t want to panic the American people,” the Democrat said of the Republican president. “The American people don’t panic. Donald Trump panicked. Folks, he still has no plan. All he can do is double down on his Park Avenue way of looking at the world.” Biden said he won’t shut down the economy, something Trump claims Biden will do. “I’m going to shut down the virus and build the economy. We can build back better than before,” he said. Biden responded to Trump’s repetitive assertion that Biden is against fracking, a drilling process to collect oil and natural gas. Biden has said he opposes fracking on federal land. “Let’s get something straight here in coal country. I will not ban fracking. Period,” Biden said at Saturday’s rally. “I’ll protect Pennsylvania jobs. Period. No matter how many times Donald Trump says it. Unlike Donald Trump, I don’t think big oil companies need a handout from the federal government. We’re going to get rid of the $40 billion fossil fuel subsidies, and we’re going to invest it in clean energy and carbon capture.” Biden ripped Trump for not releasing his tax returns and not disclosing to whom he owes more than $400 million. “What in the hell is he hiding?” Biden asked. Biden also joked that “it’s about time” that “a state school guy” who didn’t go to an Ivy League university becomes president. “Maybe it’s the Scranton in me. I got a little bit of chip on my shoulder,” he said. The event was Biden’s first

SuNday, OCTObEr 25, 2020

COVID-19 in NEPA community health district Cases Fatalities

Susquehanna

Wayne

393 28

Wyoming

111 8

283 12

Lackawanna

Pike

3,570 218

616 23

Luzerne

5,052 196

Schuylkill

Monroe

1,983 135

Carbon

567 29

1,847 86

Northampton

Lehigh

6,376 365

5,232 311

aNdrEW HarNIK / aSSOCIaTEd PrESS

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden hugs his wife, Jill, at Saturday’s campaign event outside Dallas High School.

COVID-19 BY THE NUMBERS a quick glance at the global spread of the coronavirus as of Oct. 24.

World cases

United States cases

42,525,834

8,571,711

(up from 42,114,524 on Oct. 23)

(up from 8,484,991 on Oct. 23)

World deaths

United States deaths

1,148,512

224,771

(up from 1,143,291 on Oct. 23)

(up from 223,914 on Oct. 23)

— NUMBERS REPORTED AS OF 8:24 P.M. SATURDAY FROM JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY

aNdrEW HarNIK / aSSOCIaTEd PrESS

Rock legend Jon Bon Jovi performs Saturday prior to Biden’s rally in Dallas.

State reports 41 new cases, 3 deaths in Luzerne County STaFF rEPOrT

aNdrEW HarNIK / aSSOCIaTEd PrESS

Biden supporters listen during Saturday’s campaign event in the Back Mountain.

Luzerne County has 41 new positive COVID-19 cases and three deaths, according to information released Saturday by the state’s department of health. The county has 5,052 positive cases and the death toll is 196. In Luzerne County, there are currently 44 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and five require the use of a ventilator. Statewide there are 2,043 additional cases, bringing the total to 192,662. There are 29 deaths reported in Pennsylvania and the death toll is now 8,654.

There are 1,087 patients currently hospitalized in the state and 126 require use of a ventilator. The department said the number of tests administered within the last seven days is 232,253 with 11,679 positive cases. Patients who think they have symptoms of COVID-19 should call their primary care physician or call the Geisinger COVID-19 hotline at 570-284-3657 to learn more about symptoms or how to get tested. In addition, patients can schedule a test at Rite Aid located at 20 S. River St., in Plains Twp.

Mich. sees record number of new cases aNdrEW HarNIK / aSSOCIaTEd PrESS

Jill Biden offers remarks Saturday’s campaign event. stop in Luzerne County this year. The county helped Trump win Pennsylvania four years ago, and it was the first time since 1988 that a Republican won Luzerne County and the state. “Trump ran around saying he represents the forgotten man and woman in this

FULL TIME ZONING/CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND FLOOD PLAIN MANAGER POSITION AVAILABLE THE BOROUGH OF WEST PITTSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY, PA is seeking applications for the position of a Full Time Zoning/Code Enforcement Officer and Flood Plain Manager. Qualified candidates shall meet the minimum requirements of having a strong background and a working knowledge of Zoning, Act 247, Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, Municipal Codes/ Ordinances, and Flood Plain Management Regulations. Qualified candidates shall also have prior work experience in serving in the positions of Zoning Officer/Code Enforcement Officer and also possess a strong background and experience in condemning properties and dealing with its laws and procedures, addressing blighted, overgrown, and nuisance properties, and the filing of non-traffic citations. Experiences in attending and providing testimony at courtroom hearings along with excellent written and oral communication skills are essential. This full time position pays a Salary of $43,045.56 plus benefits for qualified applicants. Detailed job descriptions can be requested and obtained by calling the West Pittston Borough Building at (570) 655-7782, Extension 223 or by email at manager@westpittstonborough.com. Qualified applicants must send a cover letter, a resume, and at least 3 references, on or before October 30, 2020 by email to manager@ westpittstonborough.com or by US mail to: West Pittston Borough Council C/O Borough Manager 555 Exeter Avenue West Pittston, PA 18643 The Municipality of West Pittston Borough is an Affirmative Action/Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age, disability or family status in employment or the provision of services.

during

aNdrEW HarNIK / aSSOCIaTEd PrESS

Supporters gather in the parking lot outside Dallas High School.

country. I get it. But then he got elected, and he immediately forgot the forgotten man,” Biden said at Saturday’s rally. Vice President Mike Pence campaigned in Luzer ne County in September when he had an event in Exeter. Biden had a fundraiser in

Exeter last year. Trump has not had a campaign rally in Luzerne County since 2018. Political pundits say Pennsylvania could decide the outcome of the Nov. 3 election. Contact the writer: mbuffer@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2073, @cvmikebuffer

LANSING, Mich. — Michigan on Saturday reported more than 3,000 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus — the highest yet during the pandemic — amid what a top health official called “alarming increases” in infections around the state. The 3,338 new COVID-19 cases reported by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services surpassed the state’s previous single-day record of 2,030 new cases set on Oct. 15. That

earlier record had topped the previous record of 1,953 from early April. The state agency also reported Saturday 35 more deaths from COVID-19, raising Michigan’s pandemic toll to 7,182 deaths. Dr. Joneigh Khaldun, Michigan’s chief medical executive, said in a statement the data shows that “we are continuing to see alarming increases in the incidence of COVID-19 infections in Michigan.” — ASSOCIATED PRESS

PROTEST: ‘People from all over came’ FrOM PaGE a1

“It’s electric and patriotic. This is a representation of America,” Green said. “Joe Biden has a lot of nerve coming to this area after his comments at the debate about the oil and natural gas industry.” Bob Bolus, who owns a trucking company in Scranton, had two of his “Trump trucks” parked along Route 309. Trucks with pro-Trump flags repeatedly passed through the intersection honking horns. A Trump impersonator walked the crowd, taking selfies. He joked his number one issue is ending the “rain tax,” a controversial new stormwa-

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Annie Howell, of Swoyersville, waves a flag in support of President Donald Trump at state Route 309 and Hildebrant Road in Dallas on Saturday. ter management fee imposed on area residents. U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-9, of Dallas, told the crowd he was proud of his hometown and planned to share videos of the rally with Trump.

giving contradictory positions during the campaign on whether he supports fracking for natural gas, a key industry for Pennsylvania’s economy. “That makes him a fracking liar,” Meuser said. M e u s e r, w e a r i n g a Trump 2020 “Keep America Great” hat, walked with the Trump supporters up Hildebrandt Road prior to Biden’s arrival. “This was a peaceful protest,” Gerard Barral, 54, of Dallas Twp., said. “You don’t see us burning down buildings like the radical left.” Ann Carite, 63, of Exeter, called the rally “awesome” as she was walking to her vehicle after Biden’s arrival. “People from all over came,” Carite said. “There was a lot of energy.”

“What a welcome this is going to be for Sleepy Joe Biden,” Meuser said. “We are standing for America. We are standing for Donald J. Trump. We are standing Contact the writer: for Dallas, Pennsylvania.” bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com Meuser accused Biden of 570-821-2055; @cvbobkal

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Daylight saving ends Sunday at 2 a.m. Set your clocks back one hour before bed on Saturday.

ONE OF THE BEST Justin Fields leads Buckeyes into Beaver Stadium tonight. B1

Everything you need to know about Daylight Saving Time in 2020. Page A8

Saturday, October 31, 2020

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CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

W-B Area suspends in-person learning for now District plans to resume only after virus transmission rate moderates. ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks at a cam- President Donald Trump acknowledges his supporters at a rally at paign event at Dallas High School on Oct. 24. the Altoona-Blair County Airport in Martinsburg on Oct. 26.

DESTINATION: NEPA Trump, Biden campaigns to visit region in final-hour blitz BY BOB KALINOWSKI STAFF WRITER

5 p.m. Saturday when First Lady Melania T r ump makes a visit to the WhiteSATURDAY: Melania Trump at 5 p.m. at the woods, a wedding and Whitewoods in Hollenreception venue in Hollenback Twp. back Twp., according to SUNDAY: Eric Trump at multiple Republican Party New Leaf Farm in sources. There was no indiWaymart at noon; GOP cation whether the event headquarters in Hazlewas open to the public. ton after 1 p.m. Eric Trump, the presiMONDAY: Donald dent’s son, is slated to bring Trump at 2 p.m. at the the “Team Trump Bus Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Tour” to New Leaf Farm in International Airport Waymart at noon Sunday MONDAY: Kamala Harand then GOP headquarters ris is set to arrive at in Hazleton after 1 p.m. Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Trump’s airport rally International Airport for begins at 2 p.m. Monday. a local campaign Doors open at 11 a.m. Those appearance. seeking tickets can visit the campaign’s website. to-be-announced location. Airport officials say they The last-minute cam- will have parking available paign barrage starts at for up to 1,000 cars at $10 per

CAMPAIGN BLITZ

Northeast Pennsylvania will be the epicenter of the political universe on the eve of the presidential election after both candidates announced plans for a finalhour campaign blitz here on Monday. President Donald Trump will host a “Make America Great Again” rally at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Avoca at 2 p.m. Monday, his campaign announced Friday. Meanwhile, the region will get its first up-close look at Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris. Sources say she is slated to arrive at the airport Monday as well for a local campaign stop at a yet-

car. The Trump campaign is seeking additional parking locations nearby, airport officials said. The Northeast Pennsylvania rally is one of five for Trump on the final day before the election. Afterward, he’s slated to host rallies in Traverse City, Michigan, then Kenosha, Wisconsin, and Grand Rapids, Michigan. On Saturday, Trump is criss-crossing Pennsylvania with stops in Bucks County, Reading, Butler and Montoursville. Some national political experts predict Pennsylvania will be the deciding factor in Tuesday’s election. Trump nar rowly won the state in 2016, becoming the first Repub-

lican to do so since 1988. “Just about everyone doing forecasting points to the importance Pennsylvania will play in the outcome. President Trump needs to hold onto the state to have a clear path to victory. It is not as important for Biden, but a victory in Pennsylvania makes it a lot easier for him to win,” said Wilkes University political scientist Benjamin Toll. “Northeastern Pennsylvania is an important area, especially for Trump. All polling indicates he is performing worse in Philly suburbs than he did four years ago, which means he needs to win places like Luzerne County by wider margins.” Please see CAMPAIGN, Page A7

Airport travelers urged to come early for flights BY BOB KALINOWSKI STAFF WRITER

The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport will operate like normal Monday despite being the venue for President Donald Trump’s campaign rally, but travelers should arrive earlier than usual because of the expected large crowds, according to airport Executive Director Carl Beardsley.

“We are still going to operate,” Beardsley said. “Flights are going to continue.” The airport will have up to 1,000 parking spaces available for the event and will charge $10 per car, he said. Beardsley said Trump’s campaign is also looking for alternative parking places nearby if necessary. In addition to money generated by parking, Trump’s

campaign will pay a landing fee and fuel fee to use the airport, but the exact amount was not immediately available, Beardsley said. The rally will be held near the cargo ramp area adjacent to the airport’s terminal, near where Trump has disembarked in previous visits to join his awaiting motorcade. Please see AIRPORT, Page A7

THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE

President Donald Trump greets supporters after arriving at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport in Pittston Twp. in March.

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

DES MOINES, Iowa — Even as a new surge of coronavirus infections sweeps the U.S., officials in many hard-hit states are resisting taking stronger action to slow the spread, with pleas from health experts running up against political calculation and public fatigue. Days before a presidential

Please see SCHOOL, Page A4

Open House Saturday Oct. 31st 9AM-3PM • Tours every half hour

Number of new infections reported daily on rise in 47 states; 9 million cases in U.S.

election that has spotlighted President Donald Trump’s scattershot response to the pandemic, the virus continued its resurgence Friday, with total confirmed cases in the U.S. surpassing 9 million. The number of new infections reported daily is on the rise in 47 states. They include Nebraska and South Dakota, where the number of new cases topped previous highs for each state.

Wilkes-Barre Area School District will suspend in-person learning for students until the COVID-19 transmission rate in Luzerne County is back in the moderate category for 14 days, according to a message posted online Friday. On Oct. 17, Superintendent Brian Costello announced the district was suspending in-person learning until this Wednesday due to multiple COVID-19 cases at multiple schools in the district. The district began the school year with a blended instruction model with in-person and live-streaming instruction. To get back to the moderate category, the COVID-19 incidence rate in Luzerne County must be less than 100 per 100,000 residents. The county moved into the substantial category last week when the rate was 118.4 per 100,000 residents. It is now is 132. Costello had a meeting Friday with Deputy Secretary of Education Matt Stem and members of the Department of Health. The departments recommend remaining in “a Full Remote Learning model,” Costello said. “We understand how important it is to have in-person classes resume and I specifically want to thank our students and our staff for always wearing appropriate face coverings, social distancing, and following our district guidelines,” Costello said in Friday’s message. “This allowed us and will continue to allow us to resume in person instruction when we resume back to the

ADVE RTISE M E NT

Officials in hard-hit states resist taking action to curb virus BY ADAM GELLER AND DAVID PITT ASSOCIATED PRESS

BY MICHAEL P. BUFFER STAFF WRITER

EVAN VUCCI / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Supporters cheer as President Donald Trump arrives for a campaign rally outside Raymond James Stadium on Thursday in Tampa. The record increases in new cases have eclipsed the spikes that set off national alarms last spring and summer. During those outbreaks, first in the Northeast and

NEPA’s premier adult daycare, serving individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias, will be holding two open houses during which tours of our facility and information on our services will be provided. You will also have the opportunity to meet and talk with our Director, Diane Cowman. In observance of proper pandemic protocol, we will be scheduling tours every half hour for groups of up to 5 persons, with masks being mandatory. Call or email us today with your name, contact number, and the number of persons in your party.

then in Sun Belt states, many governors closed schools and businesses and restricted public gatherings. Please see VIRUS, Page A4

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Phone: 570-285-4320 Email: info@2ndfamily.org 89 S. Washington St., Wilkes-Barre (parking available in lot across the street)

FROM PAGE A1

Saturday, OctOber 31, 2020

tHe cItIZeNS' VOIce A7

CAMPAIGN: NEPA in the limelight AIRPORT: Wolf issues warning with rock star Jon Bon Jovi. Trump last visited the region on Aug. 20 when he held a rally at Mariotti Building Products in Old Forge. Luzerne County is viewed as a key swing area in perhaps the biggest battleground state of the election. Despite voting twice for Democratic President Barack Obama, Luzerne County swung dramatically in Trump’s favor in 2016. Trump defeated Democratic former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in a 57.9% to 38.6% landslide — 78,688 votes to 52,451 votes. “Both the Trump and Biden campaigns are preparing to do some last-minute barnstorming across Pennsylvania before Election Day, including likely visits to our area,” said King’s College political scientist Beth Admiraal. “The Trump campaign must be thinking that it can gain some ground, as polls show Biden with a slight lead. The Biden campaign must be concerned that the lead in the polls might not hold. In Luzerne County, in par-

FrOM PaGe a1

The Trump announcement came hours after Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s campaign announced he and surrogates would hold events in “all four corners” of Pennsylvania on Monday. Biden, his wife Jill, Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, will visit the Commonwealth on the eve of the election, the campaign said. “Vice President Biden, Dr. Biden, Senator Harris, and Mr. Emhoff will hold events in the Keystone State to get out the vote while also discussing how to bring Americans together to address the crises facing the country and win the battle for the soul of the nation,” the Biden campaign said in a news release. Details about the Biden campaign visits were not immediately released. As part of his play to win Pennsylvania, Biden is slated to visit Philadelphia on Sunday. Biden, a native of Scranton, visited Dallas High School in Dallas Twp. last Saturday for a drive-in rally

ticular, Biden sees potential FrOM PaGe a1 for regaining some of the ground lost by Clinton in Gov. Tom Wolf has warned the 2016 election, particular- Trump against such rallies, ly with working-class vot- saying he’s endangering the ers.” lives of his own supporters amid the COVID-19 pandemic. BORYS KRAWCZENIUK, Department of Health staff writer, contributed to spokesman Nate Wardle reitthis report. erated that message on FriContact the writer: bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com day. 570-821-2055, @cvbobkal “We have asked, and con-

tinue to ask, Pennsylvanians to think of the health and safety of their families and their communities before attending events by the Trump campaign — or any large event,” Wardle said. Beardsley said airport administration talked the issue over with the Trump campaign. “They made it clear people

are going to get their temperature checked. They are also encouraging you to wear masks,” Beardsley said. The campaign’s request for tickets page online acknowledges the risk of COVID-19 and says those who register waive any liability against Trump and others associated with the event.

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TOGETHER WE CAN SOLVE HUNGER

ELECTION 2020

A4 THE CITIZENS' VOICE

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Loyal fans create ‘rock concert’ atmosphere at cold Trump rally BY BOB KALINOWSKI STAFF WRITER

DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

President Donald Trump throws Make America Great Again hats into the crowd at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport on Monday.

TRUMP: Predicts win in Pennsylvania FROM PAGE A1

“A vote for Biden is a vote to ban fracking, outlaw mining, explode energy costs and totally destroy Pennsylvania,” Trump said. “You know that right?” Thousands of cheering fans decked out in Trump merchandise braved blustery winds for hours before Air Force One touched down around 2:30 p.m. When Trump took the podium minutes later, he remarked on the crowd’s enthusiasm. “This does not look like a second-place finish,” he said. The crowd broke into a chant of “four more years,” prompting Trump to say how important Pennsylvania will be for his effort to win a second term in office. “Oh, Pennsylvania. We love Pennsylvania,” Trump said. “We are going to win the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and we are going to win four more years in the White House.” Earlier in the day, Pennsylvania Republicans kicked off the event with a prayer by state Rep. Tarah Toohil. “We pray that your will be done, and in these final hours

MORE ONLINE For more photos and video from President Donald Trump’s rally, visit citizensvoice.com. before the election, we pray for our nation, our military, our security, and for peace, law and order,” said Toohil, R-116, Butler Twp. “Remind us to love one another, to find love for those that disagree with us so we can seek unity and common ground.” After the crowd rose for the Pledge of Allegiance and the Star Spangled Banner, Jim Bognet took the microphone to urge Trump’s supporters to pick him over U.S Rep. Matt Cartwright for the 8th Congressional District. “We want people in Washington that will have Donald J. Trump’s back,” Bognet said. “I pledge to you that if you send me to Washington, I never forget who I am, a son of Pennsylvania.” Former U.S. Reps. Lou Barletta and Tom Marino then took the stage along to urge the crowd to vote to prevent Democrats from winning and

“packing the courts.” “We could lose our democracy,” Marino said. “We’re going to have socialists calling the shots.” Barletta told the crowd the election is not the most important of their lives, but rather it is the most important of their children’s and grandchildren’s. “This is an election about two Americas,” Barletta said. “Freedom is on the ballot tomorrow. The America we love and respect is on the ballot tomorrow.” Trump riffed on that message during a speech that lasted more than an hour, which was delivered only miles away from Biden’s birthplace in Scranton. He repeatedly attacked Biden while raising unfounded allegations about his son’s business dealings in Ukraine. “This guy is a stone-cold phony and honestly, he’s not equipped mentally to be your president,” Trump said. “He really isn’t. You know it. I know it. Everybody knows it. I have foreign leaders calling me saying ‘are they really serious?’ I said, one of them called saying ‘I see you’re down a little bit in a poll.’ I said, ‘can you

believe this could happen to me?’ I’d rather run against somebody that was good or even outstanding.” Trump touted his response to the COVID-19 pandemic — claiming a vaccine is coming soon — while alleging Biden would put a vaccine on the slow track. He also criticized Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf ’s response to the pandemic, which involved a lengthy shutdown last spring. “By the way, Pennsylvania, get your state open,” Trump said. “Your governor has to open your state, Pennsylvania.” The comment prompted the crowd to erupt into chanting, “Lock Wolf up!” Trump went on to tout his record building a wall at the Mexican border and vowed to put a woman on the moon and an astronaut on Mars with another term in office. “If I don’t sound like a typical Washington politician, it’s because I’m not a politician,” Trump said. “I was elected to fight for you harder than anyone has ever fought.” Contact the writer: jhalpin@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2058

PITTSTON TWP. — Dave Ragan said the atmosphere of President Donald Trump’s campaign rally on Monday afternoon was like a “rock concert.” And that was hours before the star of the show arrived on Air Force One. ‘“There is no more energy anywhere else in the world right now than right here,” Ragan, 41, of Jessup, said. “We’re in ‘Trump Country.’ This ain’t Joe Biden’s hometown anymore.” If Trump’s rallies are like rock concerts, then Edward Young, 61, of Brick Twp., New Jersey, is one of the chief groupies. Monday’s event at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, attended by thousands, was Young’s 47th Trump rally, the seventh in the past nine days. “He’s the only one with the courage to defy the tyranny of political correctness,” Young said. Young, who works for a debt relief company, said he and his boss, a conservative Republican, made a deal years ago: he could take an unpaid day off

DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Edward Young, of Brick Twp., New Jersey, gives a thumbs up as he waits for President Donald Trump’s rally Monday. This was Young’s 47th Trump event. work any time he wanted to attend a Trump rally. He has certainly taken advantage. Another unique feature to this political rally was that one corner of the venue was lined with food vendors, such as several taco trucks and a crabcake sandwich stand. Meghan Buselli, 35, of Beach Lake near Honesdale, said she liked the festival-like atmosphere at the Trump rally. Please see RALLY, Page A5

JAMES HALPIN / STAFF PHOTO

Supporters begin taking their seats for President Donald Trump’s rally at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport on Monday.

Dozens cheer on VP candidate at Jenkins Twp. campaign stop BY STEVE MOCARSKY STAFF WRITER

JENKINS TWP. — Alea Dorunda isn’t old enough to vote in Tuesday’s election, yet she braved cold, gusty winds Monday to see and support U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris at a campaign stop in Luzerne County. Dorunda, 16, of Clarks Summit, was one of about 75 people who attended a “canvass kickoff” event for the Democratic vice presidential candidate outside United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 on Highway 315. “I feel like as a young woman in politics, she’s a huge inspiration to me,” Dorunda said. Dorunda was glad Harris and former Vice President Joe Biden made campaign stops in Luzerne County and Northeastern Pennsylvania recently “because I know that this area might decide if Pennsylvania’s going red or blue in the election.” Luzerne County is one of three pivot counties in the state that voted for the ObamaBiden ticket in 2008 and 2012 but swung to Trump in 2016. Willie Smith, 60, of Scranton, said he thought it was “great to have the next vice

MARK MORAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Catie Collins, 19, of Scranton holds a face cutout of Sen. Kamala Harris MARK MORAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER while waiting for the Democratic vice presiden- Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., said during an event Monday in Jenkins tial candidate at an event Twp. that the election is about ‘what we need to do to recapture who we really are as Americans.’ Monday in Jenkins Twp. president come here to talk to the people” on the eve of Election Day to “make sure that those who haven’t voted know how important it is to get out and vote and support the Democratic party.” Catie Collins, 19, a New York University student from Scranton, said she attended the event because “it’s an amazing opportunity to meet who I hope will be the next vice president of the United States.”

HARRIS: Didn’t mention president by name FROM PAGE A1

In her approximately 16-minute, of f-the-cuf f speech, Harris never mentioned President Donald Trump by name. Hours later, Trump, the Republican n o m i n e e, a d d r e s s e d a much larger rally at the Wilkes-Bar re/Scranton International Airport. As the president spoke, Biden’s campaign announced the former vice Please see CAMPAIGN, Page A5 president would visit his native Scranton on Election Day at an unspecified time and location. Harris spoke outside the offices of United, Food & C o m m e r c i a l Wo r k e r s Union Local 1776 on Route 315. About 100 people, mostly party activists and leaders, attended. One of STEVE MOCARSKY / STAFF PHOTO California’s senators, HarAlea Dorunda, 16, of Clarks Summit, and her friend ris alluded to the cold Marion Sillner, of Scranton, wait for admission to begin weather, saying “we’ re at a ‘canvass kickoff’ event for vice presidential candi- going to get this done early.” date Sen. Kamala Harris in Jenkins Twp. on Monday.

MORE ONLINE For more photos and video from Sen. Kamala Harris’s visit, go to citizensvoice.com. She said the election is about “what we need to do to recapture who we really are as Americans.” “We know that the real measure of strength of any human being is not based on who you beat down,” Harris said. “It’s based on who you lift up. And, that’s how Joe thinks about us. That’s how he thinks about our country. And, that’s how he thinks about what a real leader looks like. And, we need that right now. We are so much better than what we’ve had to endure these last four years.” Biden, she said, understands the suffering many Americans went through

because of COVID-19 from his days in hospitals tending to ailing family members. She said Biden would expand the Patient and Protection and Affordable Care Act, boost the production of electric vehicles to produce jobs, raise taxes on people ear ning more than $400,000 and large corporations to improve the nation’s highways and other infrastructure, ensure no one pays more than 7% of their wages for child care, and provide education for free at publicly owned universities to people ear ning less than $125,000. “Joe knows that access to health care is a matter of respecting the dignity of people and wanting that people don’t suffer, wanting that people are not in pain,” she said. “Joe cares about working people. He comes from working peo-

‘We are so much better than what we’ve had to endure these last four years.’ SEN. KAMALA HARRIS Democratic vice presidential nominee

ple. He learned early in his life the dignity of hard work and the ethic of hard work. So Joe knows that we need to honor labor, organized labor on a collective bargaining.” Harris’ visit was part of a last-minute blitz across the state by the Trump and Biden campaigns with both and their family members visiting multiple locations across the state over the weekend. Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock. com; 570-348-9147 @BorysBlogTT

ELECTION 2020

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

THE CITIZENS' VOICE A5

Lawyers on standby if cloudy election outcome heads to court A court fight is already brewing in Pennsylvania over mail-in ballots. BY MARK SHERMAN ASSOCIATED PRESS DAVE SCHERBENCO / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Candice Chilek of West Pittston shows her support for President Donald Trump at Monday’s rally.

RALLY: Thousands braved the cold, wind FROM PAGE A4

shouted near the general admission entrance. The cold didn’t deter Mack Tasetano, 27, of Stroudsburg, from wearing patriotic shorts to match his other Trump “Make America Great Again” attire. “I’ve been to a lot of political rallies. There’s nothing like a Trump rally — the energy, the atmosphere,” Tasetano said. Airport officials reserved between 800 to 1,000 parking spaces at the airport for rally goers, but thousands of others had to take charter buses from Montage Mountain Resorts on Montage Mountain Road in Scranton. All the attendees had boarded buses within an hour of the rally’s end, preventing long waits in the cold that have occurred elsewhere. Anthony Mendez, 29, a firefighter from New York City, had the front row seat immediately in front of Trump’s stage. That was his reward for a donation to Trump’s campaign. “It’s amazing. It’s a oncein-a-lifetime experience,” Mendez said. “Anywhere he goes the atmosphere is amazing.”

“It makes people feel normal. That’s what President Trump is all about, bringing normal back,” Buselli said. “It makes me very hopeful to see this crowd.” Melanie Yozwiak, 56, of Pittston Twp., arrived with a friend around 4:45 a.m. when there were just about 10 others in line. She ended up with one of the best seats in the house. “Everyone is super excited. It’s cold, but we’re not letting that bother us,” Yozwiak said. The temperature hovered around 36 degrees with whipping winds in the hours leading up to the 2 p.m. rally. Trump mentioned the weather several times during the rally, including at one point when a giant U.S. flag flown by two cranes was blowing sideways. Trump said it “was windy as hell” and he was proud his supporters were still so “rowdy.” The elements proved to be good for business for vendors lined up selling winter g ear emblazoned with Trump’s name. “ B e a n i e s . G e t yo u r Contact the writer: Trump beanies here. Just bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com $15,” one of the vendors 570-821-2055; @cvbobkal

WASHINGTON — Signature matches. Late-arriving absentee votes. Drop boxes. Secrecy envelopes. Democratic and Republican lawyers already have gone to court over these issues in the run-up to Tuesday's election. But the legal fights could take on new urgency, not to mention added vitriol, if a narrow margin in a battleground state is the dif ference between another four years for President Donald Trump or a Joe Biden administration. Both sides say they're ready, with thousands of lawyers on standby to march into court to make sure ballots get counted, or excluded. Since the 2000 presidential election, which was ultimately decided by the Supreme Court, both parties have enlisted legal teams to prepare for the unlikely event that voting wouldn't settle the contest. But this year, there is a near presumption that legal fights will ensue and that only a

JOHN LOCHER / ASSOCIATED PRESS

People prepare to vote at a polling place on the final day of early voting in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Friday. definitive outcome is likely to forestall them. The candidates and parties have enlisted prominent lawyers with ties to Democratic and Re publican administrations. A Pennsylvania case at the Supreme Court pits Donald Verrilli, who was President Barack Obama's top Supreme Court lawyer, against John Gore, a onetime high-ranking Trump Justice Department official. It's impossible to know where, or even if, a problem affecting the ultimate result will arise. But existing lawsuits in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Minnesota and Nevada offer some hint of

STAFF REPORT

It’s Election Day and here’s everything you need to know:

Polling hours 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Pennsylvania law requires that everyone who is in line by 8 p.m. be allowed to vote.

Weather Mostly sunny, high 51 degrees Voters may drop off their mail-in ballots until 8 p.m. Tuesday. A drop box is located in the lobby of Penn Place Building, 20 N. Pennsylvania Ave., Wilkes-Barre. Another option is to take your entire mail-in ballot to the polls, including both the secrecy envelope and outer mailing envelope, and request to vote in person.

Find your polling place

THE RACES PRESIDENTIAL ELECTORS n Donald Trump and Mike Pence (Rep) n Joe Biden and Kamala Harris (Dem) n Jo Jorgensen and Jeremy Cohen (Lib) ATTORNEY GENERAL n Josh Shapiro (Dem) n Heather Heidelbaugh (Rep) n Daniel Wassmer (Lib) n Richard Weiss (Green) AUDITOR GENERAL n Nina Ahmad (Dem) n Timothy DeFoor (Rep) n Jennifer Moore (Lib) n Olivia Faison (Green) STATE TREASURER n Joe Torsella (Dem) n Stacy Garrity (Rep) n Joe Soloski (Lib) n Timothy Runkle (Green) U.S. 8th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT n Matt Cartwright (Dem) n James Bognet (Rep)

Visit citizensvoice.com for a list of polling places. ing device, then the printer issues a paper printout that Voting machines Virginia McGregor’s family owns Dunmore-based voters may check for accuraMcGregor Industries. She said ‘Joe Biden is going to Luzerne County will use a cy. Once voters are satisfied be a president that ... helps manufacturing come back new “paper-trail” electronic the printout is accurate, they in Northeastern Pennsylvania. voting system for the general place the printout into a election. The system includes scanner/tabulator to record a touchscreen ballot-marking their vote. device, a printer and a scanIssues or ner/tabulator. Voters make problems voting selections on the ballot-markMARK MORAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

CAMPAIGN: Harris ‘a symbol of hope’

ticket for trying to bring us together as Americans.” Virginia McGregor, whose family’s Dunmore-based McGregor Industries Biden visited in July to lay out his economic plans, said that visit “set the tone for the campaign for (Biden and Harris) reaching out to working-class voters,” and that Harris’ visit and speech would reinforce it. “Joe Biden is going to be a president that … helps manufacturing come back in Northeastern Pennsylvania,” McGregor said, adding that the biggest issues for employees are jobs and healthcare, “but also the fact that COVID is picking up again, and the fear that hospitals are going to be at capacity.” “I expect that Joe and Kamala want to reach out to as many voters as possible in the next 36 hours,” McGregor said. “They want to show Northeastern Pennsylvania that they’re asking for their vote and that they want their vote.”

“I think she’s a great example of female leadership,” Collins added. “She really represents all the people, and I think she’s a symbol of hope for young women and girls across the country. We’ve never had a chance to see a woman so high up in our government, so she’s a symbol of hope.” State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-121, WilkesBarre, said Harris is wellqualified for the vice presidency and was grateful for the opportunity to see her in person. Asked what he thought people attending the event wanted to hear from Harris, Pashinski said, “How about the truth?” “The message that Joe and Kamala are presenting, besides protecting our healthcare, providing jobs and giving people a shot, is bringing us together as Americans. I am extremely concerned about the division between Americans because of this presidential Contact the writer: election, and I am 100% in smocarsky@citizensvoice.com support of the Biden-Harris 570-821-2110; @MocarskyCV

ELECTION DAY COVERAGE Stay informed on the latest election news all day at www.citizensvoice.com.

tions officials won't start processing those ballots until Election Day, and some counties have said they won't begin counting those votes until the following day. Mailed ballots that don't come inside a secrecy envelope have to be discarded, under a state Supreme Court ruling. “I still can't figure how counting and verifying absentee ballots is going to go in some of the battleground states like Pennsylvania,” said Ohio State Unive r s i t y l aw p r o f e s s o r Edward Foley, an election law expert. Please see LEGAL, Page A12

What you need to know on Election Day

Mail-in options

FROM PAGE A4

the states most likely to be ground zero in a post-election battle and the kinds of issues that could tie the outcome in knots. Roughly 300 lawsuits already have been filed over the election in dozens of states across the country, many involving changes to normal procedures because of the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more than 230,000 people in the U.S. and sickened more than 9 million. Most of the potential legal challenges are likely to stem from the huge increase in absentee balloting brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. In Pennsylvania, elec-

U.S. 9th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT n Dan Meuser (Rep) n Gary Wegman (Dem) STATE REPRESENTATIVE 116th DISTRICT n Tarah Toohil (Rep) n Todd Eachus (Dem) STATE REPRESENTATIVE 117th DISTRICT n Karen Boback (Rep) STATE REPRESENTATIVE 118th DISTRICT n Mike Carroll (Dem) n Andrew Holter (Rep) STATE REPRESENTATIVE 119th DISTRICT n Gerald Mullery (Dem) n John Chura (Rep) STATE REPRESENTATIVE 120th DISTRICT n Aaron Kaufer (Rep) n Joanna Bryn Smith (Dem) STATE REPRESENTATIVE 121st DISTRICT n Eddie Day Pashinski (Dem) The Pennsylvania Department of State has a formal election complaint site on its website and if you have a more immediate need, you can call the voter hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-8683772). Interpreters are available. For problems voting or to report questionable practic-

es, voters can also call 570825-1715 in Luzerne County.

First-time voters Only first-time voters, or those voting for the first time in a new precinct, must show ID. Acceptable ID includes both photo and non-photo ID. Registered first-time voters who do not bring ID to the polls can return with identification or must be offered a provisional ballot. A provisional ballot records your vote, while the county election board determines whether it can be counted.

Safety at the polls Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar and Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine urge voters to wear face coverings and follow social distancing guidelines. Voters will not be turned away if they are not wearing a face covering. The Department of State is supplying counties with masks, face shields, hand sanitizer, floor marking tape for social distancing and supplies for polling places. Poll workers and county officials in polling places are required to wear face coverings in the polling place and when interacting with voters

GOP sees voter registration gains in county Democratic registration has fallen in Luzerne County since 2009. BY MICHAEL P. BUFFER STAFF WRITER

Nearly 62% of Luzerne County’s registered voters are at least 45 years old. Statewide it’s 58%. More than 9 million Pennsylvanians are registered to vote

in today’s election with 220,965 from Luzerne County. The age breakdown of Luzerne County registered voters is: ■ 18 to 24: 16,876, 7.6% ■ 25 to 34: 34,140, 15.5% ■ 35 to 44: 33,999, 15.4% ■ 45 to 54: 36,219, 16.4% ■ 55 to 64: 40,644, 18.4% ■ 65 to 74: 33,417, 15.1% ■ 75+: 25,670, 11.6% The political affiliation

breakdown in Luzerne County is: ■ Democratic: 106,405, 48% ■ Republican: 86,392, 39% ■ No Affiliation: 20,943, 9% ■ All other: 7,225,3% Statewide 47% are Democrats and 39% are Republicans, with 10% no affiliation and 4% all other. Democratic registration has been shrinking in

Luzerne County since 2009. It was 59% of county voters in 2008, and Republican registration in the county was 33% then. Since the general election a year ago, Democratic registration increased by 857 in Luzer ne County, while Republican registration in county shot up by 8,816. Contact the writer: mbuffer@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2073, @cvmikebuffer

ELECTION: 65% to 70% turnout predicted FROM PAGE A1

Here is what the numbers look like, as of early Monday evening: ■ Registered voters in Luzerne County: 220,965 ■ Mail-in ballots requested: 71,636 ■ Mail-in ballots received: 52,799, with more expected to be dropped off at the drop box until 8 p.m. Pedri predicted a 65% to 70% voter turnout, with about 60,000 mail-in ballots received. If that estimate turns out to be true, Luzerne County voters will cast about 150,000 votes, including about 90,000

votes at polling sites. It will take several days to open and count mail-in ballots, even with 40 county employees working on the task, aided by an automated envelope opener the county purchased for the election, Pedri said. The “pre-canvassing” of mail-in ballots will start at 7 a.m. Tuesday in Courtroom A on the third floor of Penn Place. During pre-canvassing, the outer envelopes of mail-in ballots are opened, as are the inner secrecy envelopes. Ballots that are not in a secrecy envelope, known as “naked ballots,” will be disqualified.

The ballots will be folded and prepared to be placed in a tabulator, though actual tabulation of ballots is not permitted before 8 p.m. One representative of each candidate and from each political party is permitted to witness pre-canvassing, though it is closed to the media and the public. At 8 p.m., the public will be allowed inside the courtroom and the “canvassing” of mail-in ballots will begin. The ballots will be placed in scanner/tabulators for votes to be counted. Pedri said he has received many requests from people who want to observe the can-

vassing of ballots. To maintain social distancing, sheriff’s deputies will allow a few people at a time to enter the courtroom, he said. The canvassing of mail-in ballots will stop at about 10 p.m. Tuesday and resume at 7 a.m. Wednesday, then continue until late Wednesday night, Pedri said. Vote totals will be updated at the county website every two hours starting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, he said. Polling places open at 7 a.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Contact the writer: emark@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2117