Crispell Election Junket by Dave

WB_VOICE/PAGES [A01] | 02/20/19

voice

the citizens’

21:50 | DONLINKEVI

SOngS OF FAiTh

Christian musician Matthew West set for arena stop. Inside

www.citizensvoice.com

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA’S LARGEST NEWS TEAM

Newsstand 50¢

Family matter

ViOlEnCE in ThE CiTY

Authorities accuse victim’s stepdaughter of arranging a hired hit in W-B cold case.

CITY ON EDGE

BY JAMES hAlpin And BOB KAlinOwSKi STAFF WRITERS

WILKES-BARRE — The stepdaughter of cold-case slaying victim Donald Bachman Jr. was charged Wednesday with orchestrating a hitfor-hire because she was concerned about him reporting neighborhood crime. Kendra L. Dias, 24, of 114 Hemlock St., Sugar Notch, is charged with conspiracy to commit criminal homicide and solicitation to commit dAvE SChERBENCo / STAFF PhoToGRAPhER criminal homicide after prosFrom left, Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tony George, police Chief Joseph Coffay, and Councilman Tony Brooks listen to ecutors say she paid someone $1,500 to kill Bachman. questions from the media during Wednesday’s press conference at city hall. “We have a hired hit,” Assistant District Attorney Jarrett Ferentino said in court during Dias’ arraignment. “This was an execution slaying arranged by Ms. BY STEVE MOCARSKY Dias.” Wilkes-Barre shootings STAFF WRITER Dias told the judge she has 309 WILKES-BARRE — A day two children and is pregnant ve. 11 A ia after the latest in a series of with a third. She also mainvan syl n shooting incidents in the city tained that she works and n e P N. over the past few weeks, Mayhas no criminal history. . 309 d . t Blv rS or Tony George and police “I’m ready to stand up for e e r . v r Ri St. -Ba Rd S. Chief Joe Coffay sought to what I did and explain why,” er ain kes l i v i M W . S. dR reassure residents that everyy Ave she said. Ol Care thing possible is being done to Bachman, 49, was shot to catch the culprits, and asked death outside his home at 62 1. Feb. 12: Sullivan St. near Sambourne St. for their patience. Willow St., Wilkes-Barre, as 2. Saturday, 5:30 p.m.: 253 Bowman St. “Wilkes-Barre’s on edge, he returned from work early 3. Monday, 11:15 a.m.: 56-58 Lockhart St. and rightfully so,” George the morning of May 1, 2015. 4. Tuesday, 4:40 p.m.: dana and high streets said at a news conference His wife reported hearing an 5. Tuesday, 8:45 p.m.: 42 dagobert St. Wednesday while flanked by argument followed by gunKEVIN O’NEILL / STAFF ARTIST shots, and when police six members of his administration and three council arrived they found Bachman members. on the ground, bleeding from ‘I can assure you that our detective George said he won’t tolerthe right side of his head ‘pERSOnS ate “those who don’t have with six spent .22-caliber division and patrol division have been OF inTEREST’ respect or regard for us and shell casings in the area. Runaway, wounded man our neighbors. … As the val- working tirelessly to identify and arrest While Dias was charged among 3 police want to ley with a heart, we have comwith orchestrating the hit, those involved in these cowardly acts.’ talk to about Feb. 12 passion for all walks of life. authorities have not charged shooting. Page A6 JOSEph COFFAY But we will not have our anyone with being the actual Wilkes-Barre police chief hearts broken. We will not be shooter. OnlinE EXTRA made to feel like prisoners in For video from the may11:15 a.m. Monday. our own homes.” federal Bureau of Alcohol, or’s press conference, ■ A man was shot outside Tobacco and Firearms, the Shots were fired at people, visit citizensvoice.com. into homes and/or into vehi- 253 Bowman St., where the Luzerne County District cles in the city over an eight- man reportedly went to visit Attorney’s Office and the state day period this month in the his girlfriend, at about 5:30 Attorney General’s Office “to working because you’re not following incidents: p.m. Saturday. He was still take all possible actions to hearing anything. This isn’t ■ Multiple shots were fired hospitalized as of Wednesday. stop the shootings and to stop a TV show or a reality game. into a home at 42 Dagobert St. ■ Two Scranton women the drugs throughout the This is reality: it takes time at about 8:45 p.m. Tuesday. were shot in a vehicle on Sulli- city.” to solve crime. Crimes aren’t ■ A woman’s vehicle was van Street at about 6:30 p.m. George said police have reg- solved overnight. … These struck at least once during a Feb. 12. Both remained hospi- ularly been conducting patrol guys are working their tails Survivors of clergy rain of bullets fired in the talized as of Wednesday, and sweeps and saturation patrols off and they keep working. abuse call for more area of Dana and High streets one is paralyzed from the for several years, but have not Joe (Coffay) canceled three at about 4:40 p.m. Tuesday. waist down. publicized those for which or four vacations to stay here accountability. BY niCOlE winFiEld ■ Several shots were fired George said Coffay and city doing so could hamper inves- to work on this,” George said. ASSoCIATEd PRESS into a Lockhart Street home police have been working tigations. VATICAN CITY — Surviin a drive-by shooting around “non-stop” with the FBI, the “Don’t think they’re not Please see ShOOTingS, Page A6 vors of clergy sex abuse on Wednesday demanded transparency, zero tolerance for abuse and accountability for camo issued Wednesday conCrispell in 2017 served on When that was revealed religious superiors who cover County’s solicitor tained few specifics about the advisory board of Elec- in December, the county up for rapists, setting a consays corrective any actions tion Systems & Software, hired the Harrisburg law frontational tone on the eve of actions were taken. taken. which provided the voting fir m McNees Wallace & Pope Francis’ high-stakes BY ERiC MARK Crispell is machines the county has Nurick, LLC to determine if abuse prevention summit. STAFF WRITER still working used for more than 10 years. any violations of the counThe victims also demanded Luzerne County adminisfor the coun- The company, known as ty’s charter or ethics code to meet with Francis himself, tration received the report it ty, Crocamo ES&S, also supplied the took place. but had to settle instead for a commissioned about county said, when electronic poll book system C r o c a m o r e c e ive d a two-hour round-table with elections director Marisa CRiSpEll reached by the county purchased last report from the firm on Feb. members of the organizing Crispell’s ties to a county phone. She declined to com- year. 7, she said. County council committee for the four-day vendor two weeks ago and ment on any disciplinary Crispell traveled to two members received copies of summit, which starts Thurshas taken corrective actions, measures Crispell or other advisory board meetings, the report during an execu- day. The gathering of church according to county chief county employees might including one in Las Vegas, tive session on Tuesday. leaders from around the globe solicitor Romilda Crocamo. face, based on the report’s for which ES&S paid her is taking place amid intense However, a statement Cro- findings. Please see CRiSpEll, Page A7 scrutiny of the Catholic travel expenses.

W-B mayor reassures residents all actions are being taken to capture suspects in shootings r No

. St

ar M

t ke

St .

. St

Ha zle

diAS

BAChMAn

‘We have a hired hit. This was an execution slaying arranged by Ms. Dias.’ JARRETT FEREnTinO

Luzerne County assistant district attorney

During a news conference announcing the arrest, Luzer ne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said the investigation is ongoing and that additional arrests were possible. “We will not back down,” Salavantis said. “This is a case that took nearly 3½ years to get to the point where we’re charging an individual for the murder of Donald Bachman, and I want the community to know that we will remain relentless in the pursuit of justice.” According to the charges, Dias initially contacted two people identified only as confidential informants to ask if they would help kill her stepfather. One of those people later told police Dias was concerned that Bachman routinely called the police to report criminal activity in the neighborhood. Please see hiT, Page A5

Abuse survivors demand Vatican transparency

Crispell report complete; few details revealed

WEDDINGS

TODAY’S WEATHER BIRTHDAYS. . . . . . A2 CROSSWORD . . . C2 LOCAL . . . . . . . . . . . A3

High 47º Low 28º Breezy

BUSINESS. . . . . . . C1 EDITORIAL. . . . . . . A9 LOTTERY . . . . . . . . A2 CLASSIFIED . .C4-12 HEALTH . . . . . . . . . B7 OBITUARIES A10-11

COURT NOTES . . A4 HOROSCOPE. . . . C3 WORLD/NATION A8

Subscribe to The Voice 570-821-2010

Special section gets you ready for the big day. INSIDE

GREGoRIA BoRGIA / ASSoCIATEd PRESS

Survivors Denise Buchanan, left, and Peter Isely, founding members of Ending Clergy Abuse, make their way through a crowd of journalists Wednesday at the Vatican. Church’s record after new allegations of abuse and cover-up last year sparked a credibility crisis for the hierarchy. Please see SuRViVORS, Page A5

WB_VOICE/PAGES [A07] | 02/20/19

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2019

20:19 | DONLINKEVI

news

THE CITIZENS' VOICE A7

Crispell: Report’s findings are ‘internal personnel issues’ FROM PAGE A1

Council members reached Wednesday declined to comment, saying Crocamo had advised them it is a personnel issue and other investigations into the matter are ongoing. “We were advised by legal counsel not to talk about it because there are investigations going on,” said Councilwoman Linda McClosky Houck. “I think when the investigations are complete there should be something discussed in open session.” The findings of the report “are inter nal personnel issues, and it has been the county’s practice not to comment on such matters,” Crocamo said in her statement. In that statement, Crocamo said the county administration “has taken swift corrective action with respect to violations of any county codes and human resources policies involving this incident.”

Corrective measures

act and the county ethics code. ■ The participation of county employees in conferences that require travel must be approved by division heads and county Manager David Pedri. Approved trips will be included in Pedri’s monthly report, posted to the county website. ■ An attorney in the solicitor’s office will be assigned to provide advice on whether proposed trips or other actions pose ethics concerns. Crispell said she cleared her trips to ES&S advisory board meetings with county director of administrative services David Parsnik and election board solicitor Michael Butera. Parsnik and Butera are both still employed by the county, Crocamo said. Butera has not attended the last two election board meetings. Crocamo served as solicitor at both those meetings. Crispell received a 1 percent raise this year, while Parsnik received a 2.5 percent raise. County employees not represented by unions received raises of zero to 3 percent based on performance reviews.

ties to ES&S is ongoing — but it could end soon. State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is conducting a review of how counties obtain voting equipment. At a news conference in December, DePasquale said the Crispell controversy inspired that investigation. He described her trip to the ES&S meeting in Las Vegas as a “junket.” The county is cooperating fully with the auditor general’s office, Crocamo said. DePasquale will announce the results of his review on Friday. County council is not done discussing the matter. Crystal Clark, the lead investigator for McNees Wallace & Nurick, is expected to meet with council members in executive session on Feb. 26. The county paid a $20,000 retainer to the law firm, which billed at $285 per hour. According to the contract, if billable hours totaled less than $20,000, the firm will refund the difference to the county. Crocamo on Wednesday said she could not immediately provide the exact amount the county paid the firm, but said she believed it was less than $20,000.

The county has also taken corrective actions to minimize the possibility of future violations, Crocamo said. They include: ■ County administration what’s next? will institute mandatory Contact the writer: training for all county At least one other investi- emark@citizensvoice.com employees on the state ethics gation related to Crispell’s 570-821-2117

Flu has claimed 47 lives in Pa. this season By Kayla Dwyer THE MORNING CALL

Sixteen adult deaths associated with influenza have been reported to the state Health Department in the last two weeks, rounding out what in the previous two years has been peak flu season. This brings the total death count to 46 adults — and one child — in Pennsylvania as the flu season passes its approximate halfway point, according to the latest report from the state. At this point, by the week

ending Feb. 16, 37,808 laboratory-confirmed influenza cases have been reported, which is an increase of nearly 13,000 cases in two weeks. The state is still considering recent activity “widespread” and above epidemic levels, with the most severe in the southeast and northwest regions. How are counties in the region doing midway through the season? ■ Northampton: 628 cases per 100,000 people (1,871 total cases).

■ Lehigh: 541 per 100,000 people (1,891 total cases). ■ Luzerne: 530 per 100,000 people (1,701 total cases). ■ Berks: 459 cases per 100,000 people (1,890 total cases). ■ Lackawanna: 448 per 100,000 people (960 total cases). ■ Monroe: 374 per 100,000 people (635 total cases). ■ Montgomery: 371 per 100,000 people (2,967 total cases). ■ Schuylkill: 301 per 100,000 people (446 total cases). ■ Bucks: 210 cases per 100,000 people (1316 total cases).

FREE COMMUNITY SEMINAR

TOP 10 TIPS

TO PROTECT YOUR ASSETS FROM NURSING HOME COSTS Long Term Care Planning can be complicated and stressful. Let your LOCAL Elder Law experts Brenda D. Colbert and Kevin R. Grebas make it easy for you with our top 10 proven strategies to protect your home and life savings from current or future nursing home and other long term care expenses.

Saturday, February 23, 2019 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM Enjoy a Complimentary Hot Breakfast at

#1 in heart care for NEPA A world-class cardiac team providing breakthrough treatments. And a future model for the nation, too. It’s all right here.

1120 Highway 315 Plains Township

Call 570-299-7909 to reserve your seat. Offices in Kingston and Moosic 570-299-7909 ElderLawNEPA.com *Certified Elder Law Attorneys by the National Elder law Foundation as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.

geisinger.org

WB_VOICE/PAGES [A01] | 02/21/19

voice

the citizens’

22:50 | DONLINKEVI

REST IN PEACE Peter Tork, Monkees’ lovable bass-guitar player, dead at 77. Page A11

www.citizensvoice.com

LET’S GET MOVING Light exercise might stave off development of depression. B7

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA’S LARGEST NEWS TEAM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 22, 2019

Newsstand 50¢

Lawsuit pending against former W-B cop

VIOLENCE IN THE CITY

Robert Collins is accused of sexually assaulting 4 women while on duty.

ANGRY & SCARED

BY JAMES HALPIN STAFF WRITER

WILKES-BARRE — A city law firm on Thursday filed a legal notice of an impending civil-rights lawsuit against the City of Wilkes-Barre and former community policing officer Robert Collins. CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Collins, 53, of Wright T w p. , w a s Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Joseph Coffay looks on as he sits behind Councilman Tony Brooks and Councilwoman Beth Gilbert during charged last Thursday’s Wilkes-Barre council meeting. month with sexually assaulting BY STEVE MOCARSKY four women Shots have been fired at people, STAFF WRITER while on into homes and/or into vehicles in COLLINS WILKES-BARRE — Several res- the city in five incidents over an d u t y. H e idents expressed their fears and eight-day period, with the latest retired from the force last week. concerns about the spate of recent two on Tuesday. Three gunshot In a one-page notice filed shootings in the city and asked for victims from two of the incidents in cour t Thursday, the more action during a council meet- remain hospitalized, according to Dyller Law Firm initiated a ing Thursday. police. lawsuit, identifying the “I am angry and I am scared,” In one incident at Dana and plaintiffs as “J. Doe, H. Doe, Linda Joseph, president of the High streets on Tuesday, a womD. Doe and L. Doe.” The filRolling Mill Hill Residents Associ- an’s vehicle was struck by a bullet ing indicates the lawsuit ation, told council.” being fired at another intended will relate to civil-rights “I have never felt fear before target as she was driving home violations, but does not con(when) getting in my car and driv- through the neighborhood. tain specific allegations. ing anywhere in the city. This Heights resident Jim Burden Attorney Theron J. Soloweek, that changed for me. Will I described an incident in which he mon said the firm is targetbe caught in a crossfire of gunfire was recently shot in the back with ing the city because some on the streets in Wilkes-Barre? a pellet while out walking his dog. of the complaints date to Never in a million years did I “Now when I take my dog out at 2014 but Collins was never think this would go though my night, I don’t go alone. I take my taken off the streets until mind,” Joseph said. friend. Besides my daughter, I’m he was charged last month. Joseph said the city has been in afraid for my wife, for my grandchild. CHRISTOPHER DOLAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER “We believe that the city “a crisis situation” for a long time, This is ridiculous,” Burden said. Wilkes-Barre Council Chairman Mike Belusko addresses the and “the escalation of violence was well aware of this probrecent shootings in the city during Thursday’s meeting. lem, and they really failed Please see SHOOTINGS, Page A6 this week is beyond alarming.” these girls,” Solomon said. “It was widely known that he was doing this, and obviously nothing was done about it.” Filing the notice Thursday allows the firm to stop BY ERIC MARK the clock on the statute of State Auditor General on the advisory board of STAFF WRITER Eug ene DePasquale in Election Systems & Softlimitations and to gather A state investigation discovery documents that D e c e m b e r ware — which supplied the inspired by Luzerne County s a i d h e voting machines the county will aid in the case, he said. election director Marisa would con- has used for more than 10 City Administrator Rick Crispell’s ties to a county d u c t a years, as well as an elecGazenski declined comvendor will end today, three r e v i e w o f tronic poll book system the THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE ment as per city policy days after county council h ow c o u n - county purchased last year members received copies of ties obtain — as the impetus for his Luzerne County election director Marisa Crispell’s ser- regarding pending litigaDePASQUALE vice as a member of Election Systems & Software’s tion. a report about a separate v o t i n g review. advisory board was cited as the impetus for the review investigation commissioned equipment. He cited Crispof how counties obtain voting equipment. Please see COLLINS, Page A5 Please see REVIEW, Page A5 by the county. ell’s service two years ago

W-B council hears from residents on spate of shootings

DePasquale to discuss review based on Crispell controversy

Searing testimony heard at Vatican summit

Pope: Faithful want concrete action on clergy sex abuse. BY NICOLE WINFIELD ASSOCIATED PRESS

VATICAN CITY — The day began with an African woman telling an extraordinary gathering of Catholic leaders that her priestly rapist forced her to have three abortions over a dozen years after he started violating her at age 15. It ended with a Colombian cardinal warning them they could all face prison if they let such crimes go unpunished. In between, Pope Francis began charting a new course for the Catholic Church to con-

GREGORIO BORGIA / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Survivor Alessandro Battaglia, right, is hugged by Denise Buchanan, survivor and founding member of Ending Clergy Abuse, as he speaks during a twilight vigil prayer in Rome on Thursday. front clergy sexual abuse and cover-up, a scandal that has consumed his papacy and threatens the credibility of the Catholic hierarchy at large.

Opening a first-ever Vatican summit on preventing abuse, Francis warned 190 bishops and religious superiors on Thursday that

their flocks were demanding concrete action, not just words, to punish predator priests and keep children safe. He offered them 21 proposals to consider going forward, some of them obvious and easy to adopt, others requiring new laws. But his main point in summoning the Catholic hierarchy to the Vatican for a fourday tutorial was to impress upon them that clergy sex abuse is not confined to the United States or Ireland, but is a global scourge that requires a concerted, global response. Please see VATICAN, Page A5

TODAY’S WEATHER BIRTHDAYS. . . . . . A2 CROSSWORD . . . C2 LOCAL . . . . . . . . . . . A3

High 40º Low 24º

Mostly sunny B8

BUSINESS. . . . . . . C1 EDITORIAL. . . . . . . A9 LOTTERY . . . . . . . . A2 CLASSIFIED . .C4-16 HEALTH . . . . . . . . . B7 OBITUARIES . . . . A10 COURT NOTES . . A4 HOROSCOPE. . . . C3 WORLD/NATION A8

Subscribe to The Voice 570-821-2010

The Area’s Top Political Talk Show!

Volpe Report SUNDAY MORNINGS 11:30AM

As the United States faces a potential Constitutional Crisis over the president’s declaration of an emergency at our southern border, U.S. Democratic Congressman Matt Cartwright says it will be a defining moment on “how we handle certain things.” Congressman Cartwright is the featured guest this week on The Volpe Report, Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on FOX56. It’s an historic time in the nation’s Capitol, not only for our nation but also for Congressman Cartwright, who is the first Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania elected to a leadership position in the U.S. House in 78 years. Even more historic for the fourth term Congressman from the 8th District is the distinction he recently earned from Gov. Track, having been named the #1 Democrat whose bills had received bi-partisan support from Republicans in the 115th Congress. On Tuesday, between 10 and 10:30 p.m., tune into FOX56 News at 10 for Volpe’s Views as Chuck offers a comment on the State of the Union Address and the opposition party’s Congressman response. Matt Cartwright

WB_VOICE/PAGES [A01] | 04/10/19

voice

the citizens’

22:55 | DONLINKEVI

BLACK HOLE SUN

Astronomers release first-ever photograph of a black hole. B7

Country legend Charlie Daniels ready to connect with fans at arena. INSIDE

www.citizensvoice.com

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA’S LARGEST NEWS TEAM

THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2019

Newsstand 50¢

LUZERNE COUNTY

Report: Crispell probe cost $47,000

GaininG tRaCtion

County paid law firm to investigate election director’s ties to vendor. BY ERIC MARK Staff Writer

Luzerne County paid a Harrisburg law firm $47,396 to conduct an investigation into county election director Marisa Crispell’s service on the advisory board of county vendor Election Systems & Software, and trips she took to advisory board meetings at the company’s expense. County chief solicitor Romilda SeaN McKeag / Staff PhotograPher Crocamo on Mountain bikers prepare to ride the trails at the Moon Lake State Forest Recreation Area in Hunlock Creek on Wednesday. Wednesday released the final cost of the investigation cond u c t e d by CRISPELL McNees Wallace & Nurick BY JIM LOCKWOOD LLC. his Facebook reply, adding three Friends with many more biking ‘At 3,000 (signatures), I Staff Writer The county commissioned emojis of a smiley sun face wear- miles and years under their helwould be a fool to not ing sunglasses. SCRANTON — An online petithe firm to conduct the invesmets spoke of mountain biking tion urging Montage Mountain tigation in December, after Montage marketing director elsewhere on ski slopes in the offconsider it and try to media reports detailed CrispResorts to open its ski slopes to Jeff Slivinski upped the ante and winter seasons. figure something out.’ replied: “Petition???” mountain biking in offseasons is ell’s ties to Election Systems For example, Blue Mountain & Software, which provided gaining traction with more than Derenick accepted the chal- Resort in Palmerton and MounCHARLES JEFFERSON 3,000 supporters in two weeks. t h e e l e c t r o n i c vo t i n g lenge, replying “Ask and you shall tain Creek Resort in Vernon, New on possibility of allowing mountain machines the county has Resort officials noticed the receive,” with a winking sun face Jersey, offer mountain biking with biking at Montage Mountain growing push for mountain biking used for more than a decade emoji. season passes or day tickets. as well as an electronic poll and are taking a closer look at the book of overnight snowmaking His petition hosted on change. With 24 bike trails open from book system the county purprospect. with the message, “Sooo, about org and called, “Create Mountain May through October, Blue Mounchased last year. “At 3,000 (signatures), I would be last night. #makingallthesnow.” Bike Trails at Montage Mountain, tain’s website says: “There’s The investigation culmia fool to not consider it and try to That prompted Peter Derenick, Pennsylvania” seeks 5,000 signa- always a new challenge whether nated in an 80-page report figure something out,” said a longtime snowboarder at the tures. By Wednesday afternoon, it you’re a hardcore mountain bikthe firm submitted to the Charles Jefferson, whose invest- resort and a newer fan of moun- garnered at least 3,062 signatures. ing expert looking to improve county in February. The ment group owns the resort. tain biking, to post a reply referDerenick, 27, a software analyst your skills, or are just starting out report has only been distribOnly two weeks ago, the resort encing the upcoming warmer from Spring Brook Twp, has been with imaginary downhill training uted to county council memwas still basking in wrapping up a months. snowboarding at the resort since wheels.” bers, county Manager David banner ski season. On March 27, “You guys should make moun- boyhood and has taken up mounPlease see MONTAGE, Page A5 Pedri and employees of the the resort posted photos on Face- tain bike trails,” Derenick said in tain biking in the past few years. county solicitor’s office, Crocamo has said. “While the cost has been substantial, given the nature of the allegations, the individuals involved, and the county’s pre-Home Rule hissylvania Pioneers, of the motional efforts in preparaNational Gridiron fledgling National Gridiron tion of the league’s 2020 tory involving abuse, this was League postpones a matter that required an outLeague, lists the arena as season.” first planned season. the team’s home venue. side, independent investigaThe news release cites tor,” Crocamo wrote in an However, no deal has the recent folding of the BY ERIC MARK email to county council. been finalized between the Alliance of American FootStaff Writer “Such an investigation simPioneers and the arena, and ball as one reason for the ply cannot be done in an inexWILKES-BARRE TWP. — the league has postponed delay in the league’s “kickThere will be no profession- its first planned season off season,” which had pensive manner. Council, as al football at Mohegan Sun until 2020, officials said been planned for this year. well as residents, should also Arena until next year at the Wednesday. bear in mind that the state is Also on Wednesday, the earliest, officials investigating this matter, A news release posted to authority board announced which evidences the necessiannounced at Wednesday’s the National Gridiron t h a t B r i a n S i p e h a s the citizeNS’ Voice file ty and importance of a thormeeting of the Luzer ne League website states that resigned as general managCounty Convention Center the league, “with the rec- er of Mohegan Sun Arena. Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Twp. is listed as ough internal investigation.” Authority. ommendation of industry the home venue for the National Gridiron League’s Please see PROBE, Page A5 The website of the Penn- experts will continue proPlease see ARENA, Page A5 Pennsylvania Pioneers.

Petition hopes to convince Montage Mountain to open slopes to mountain bikers in offseason

No football at arena until at least 2020

Barr thinks ‘spying did occur’ against Trump campaign Attorney general suggests origins of Russia investigation were mishandled. BY ERIC TUCKER AND MARY CLARE JALONICK aSSociated PreSS

WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr declared Wednesday he

the Russia investigation may have been mishand l e d i n r e m a rk s t h a t aligned him with the president at a time when Bar r’s independence is under scrutiny. BARR TRUMP Barr, appearing before a thinks “spying did occur” Senate panel, did not say against Donald Trump’s what “spying” may have takpresidential campaign, en place but seemed to be suggesting the origins of alluding to a surveillance

warrant the FBI obtained on a Trump aide. He later said he wasn’t sure there had been improper surveillance but wanted to make sure proper procedures were followed. Still, his remarks give a boost to Trump and his supporters who insist his 2016 campaign was unfairly targeted by the FBI.

nation

TODAY’S WEATHER BIRTHDAYS. . . . . . A2 CROSSWORD . . . C2 LOCAL . . . . . . . . . . . A3

High 55º Low 42º Cloudy

BUSINESS. . . . . . . C1 EDITORIAL. . . . . . A11 LOTTERY . . . . . . . . A2 CLASSIFIED . .C4-12 HEALTH . . . . . . . . . B7 OBITUARIES A12-13

COURT NOTES . . A4 HOROSCOPE. . . . C3 WORLD/NATION A10

Barr was testifying for a second day at congressional budget hearings that were dominated by questions about special counsel Robert Mueller’s Trump-Russia investigation. The attorney general said he expects to release a redacted version of Mueller’s report on Russian interference in the campaign next week.

Subscribe to The Voice 570-821-2010

Mnuchin puts off ruling on Trump tax returns. Page a10

Democrats have expressed concern that his version will conceal wrongdoing by the president and are frustrated by the four-page summary letter he released last month that they say paints Mueller’s findings in an overly favorable way for the president. Please see BARR, Page A5

WB_VOICE/PAGES [A05] | 04/10/19

22:16 | DONLINKEVI

FROM PAGE A1

THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2019

THE CITIZENS' VOICE A5

BARR: Pelosi says she does not trust attorney general from page a1

Sean mcKeag / STaff phoTographer

Mark Fenner of Forty Fort checks the tire pressure on his mountain bike before riding on the trails through the Moon Lake State Forest Recreation Area in Hunlock Creek on Wednesday.

MONTAGE: Feasibility of plan examined from page a1

Mountain Creek boasts a network of 52 mountain bike trails, encompassing rocky and rugged technical trails, rolling flow zones and more than 60 jumps and features that “will challenge everyone from the beginner mountain biker all the way up to World Cup downhill racers.” While Derenick has not yet biked down a ski slope, he wants to do so and lobbed the idea at Montage Mountain, the resort in his backyard. Montage Mountain Resort actually began looking at whether offering mountain biking would be feasible and financially worthwhile about a year and a half ago, Jefferson and Slivinski said. It would involve ski lifts, which raises the question of wheth-

‘We’ve been considering it for some time and to see if it’s feasible for the mountain and something the community would support. The petition definitely puts the right foot forward and we’ll see where it takes us.’ JEFF SLIVINSKI

montage mountain resorts marketing director

er to modify at least one, the main lift in front of the lodge, to better accommodate riders and their bicycles, Jefferson said. “Our lift chairs are old school,” Jefferson said. “Ideally, I’d like to have the right lift mechanism to get people to the top in an efficient way. Ideally, I’d like to upgrade the lift.” For example, Blue Moun-

tain says it has a high-speed lift “to get you back to the top so you can crush the mountain over and over.” Montage possibly could proceed without any changes to lifts, Jefferson said. “That’s not to say we can’t figure out a different way around it, or slow the lift chairs down” to load and unload bikes, Jefferson said, adding they are looking into

it now because of the petition. Another consideration for Montage is the creation of mountain biking trails with certain surfaces or features amenable to the sport, Jefferson and Slivinski said. The resort had a course designer access the mountain for that. It takes a lot to make an actual course, including dirt sculpting, Jefferson said. “We’ve been considering it for some time and to see if it’s feasible for the mountain and something the community would support,” Slivinski said. “The petition definitely puts the right foot forward and we’ll see where it takes us.”

Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock. com, 570-348-9100 x5185 @jlockwoodTT

ARENA: General manager leaving his post from page a1

Sipe, who was named the arena’s general manager in October 2014, will start a new position as director of booking at Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky. Carrie Grantuskas, who was appointed assistant general manager of the arena last year, will serve as acting general manager until a new general manager is appointed, said Gary Zingaretti, chairman

of the authority board. Sipe, who attended Wednesday’s board meeting, praised the arena staff and said he and his wife had a great experience during their time in the WilkesBarre area. In other business: ■ The arena received a $127,000 Local Share Account grant, funded by state gaming revenue, for its planned upgrade to Wi-Fi service at the arena, said Donna Cupinski, board vice chairwoman.

Improved Wi-Fi service will benefit arena patrons and will allow the arena to be used as a shelter or command center in the event of an emergency, board members have said. ■ The authority and SMG Management, which oversees the arena’s day-to-day operations, are close to an agreement on a new contract, according to Zingaretti. He described the negotiations as “at the one-yard

line.” The current contract with SMG expires at the end of this year, Zingaretti said. ■ There is no update on the authority’s negotiations with the Wilkes-Barre/ Scranton Penguins, according to Zingaretti. The authority’s contract with the American Hockey League team, which plays its home games at the arena, expires June 30. Contact the writer: emark@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2117

PROBE: Case prompted statewide investigation from page a1

State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale cited the Crispell controversy when he launched an investigation into how counties obtain voting equipment in December. DePasqaule referred the

findings of his office’s investigation to the state Ethics Commission, according to a spokesman for the auditor general’s office. Election Systems & Software is one of five prospective vendors for a new electronic voting system the county plans to purchase lat-

er this year, to comply with a state directive. All five vendors demonstrated voting systems that provide a voterverifiable paper trail for added security at an expo at the county courthouse in February. Crispell will not serve on a nine-member committee that

will review proposals from vendors and recommend one of them to county council, Pedri said Tuesday. Contact the writer: emark@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2117

Junior Chopka ALL JUNK CARS & TRANSMISSION Construction Family owned and operated TRUCKS WANTED

Highest Prices Paid In Cash!

570-574-1275 FREE Local Pickup!

SLOT FREE PLAY BUS SCHEDULE

SELECT THURSDAYS

THURSDAY SERVICE

Servicing Scranton, Wilkes-Barre & Mount Pocono

Servicing Hazleton,

Provided by Martz martzgroup.com Call for Dates 570-821-3800

Provided by Motor Transportation motortransportation.net 800-292-6224

Visit PaSands.com for motorcoach information and details on our many exciting promotions.

SHOWTIMES FOR THURSDAY, APRIL 11

570-714-1295

CC AD ALD;GENERAL SEATING HELLBOY (R) - 2 HR. 1 MINS. 7:00PM, 9:40PM CC;AD;ALD;D-BOX;DBOX;RESERVED SEATING HELLBOY (R) - 2 HR. 1 MINS. 7:00PM, 8:00PM, 9:40PM CC;AD;ALD;GENERAL SEATING LITTLE (PG-13) - 1 HR. 49 MINS. 7:00PM, 9:30PM CC AD ALD;GENERAL SEATING MISSING LINK (PG) - 1 HR. 35 MINS. 4:00PM, 6:30PM, 8:45PM CC AD ALD;GENERAL SEATING THE BEST OF ENEMIES (PG-13) - 2 HR. 13 MINS. 1:00PM, 4:00PM, 7:00PM, 9:55PM CC AD ALD;GENERAL SEATING PET SEMATARY (R) - 1 HR. 40 MINS. 1:30PM, 3:55PM, 7:30PM, 9:55PM CC AD ALD; GENERAL SEATING SHAZAM! (PG-13) - 2 HR. 12 MINS. 1:00PM, 2:00PM, 4:00PM, 4:55PM, 7:00PM, 8:00PM CC AD ALD; GENERAL SEATING SHAZAM! 3D (PG-13) - 2 HR. 12 MINS. 9:55PM GENERAL SEATING DUMBO (PG) - 1 HR. 55 MINS. 1:15PM, 1:55PM, 3:50PM, 6:30PM, 9:05PM CC AD ALD; GENERAL SEATING DUMBO 3D (PG) - 1 HR. 55 MINS. 4:30PM GENERAL SEATING UNPLANNED (R) - 1 HR. 50 MINS. 1:40PM, 4:15PM, 6:45PM, 9:15PM CC;AD;ALD; GENERAL SEATING HOTEL MUMBAI (R) - 2 HR. 5 MINS. 1:00PM CC AD ALD;GENERAL SEATING US (R) - 2 HR. 0 MINS. 1:20PM, 4:05PM, 6:50PM, 9:35PM CC AD ALD;GENERAL SEATING FIVE FEET APART (PG-13) - 1 HR. 56 MINS. 1:40PM, 4:15PM CC;AD;ALD;GENERAL SEATING WONDER PARK (PG) - 1 HR. 25 MINS. 1:30PM, 3:40PM CC AD ALD;GENERAL SEATING CAPTAIN MARVEL (PG-13) - 2 HR. 4 MINS. 1:00PM, 1:45PM, 3:45PM, 4:30PM, 7:20PM, 10:05PM CC AD ALD;GENERAL SEATING

HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON: THE HIDDEN WORLD (PG) - 1 HR. 44 MINS. 1:40PM, 4:05PM CC AD ALD;

GAMBLINGPROBLEM?CALL1-800-GAMBLER. Must be 21. Drivers license, passport or military ID required. Offer is complimentary and is issued one (1) per person. Slot Free Play is valid on date of issuance only; will expire at the end of the day at 5:59am. Offers are non-transferable. Offer and schedules are subject to change without notice. Anyone either voluntarily or involuntarily prohibited from gaming by the PGCB is ineligible for this offer. Must arrive via line run bus to receive offer.

*TUESDAYS ARE BARGAIN DAY! FEATURES ONLY $5.00 ALL DAY!* AFTER (PG-13) - 1 HR. 46 MINS. 7:00PM, 9:30PM

Ride the bus to Sands Bethlehem

GENERAL SEATING

Policy Parents and/or Guardians (Age 21 and older) must accompany all children ages 17 and under to ALL R Rated feature.

WBCV

PROBLEM?

From A Leak To A Rebuild! All Makes & Models Foreign & Domestic Differential/Transfer Case All Work Guaranteed Family Owned & Operated For Over 48 Years

SHAWNEE TRANSMISSIONS

*Restrictions May Apply

YOUR TICKET TO WINNING BIG!

Bar r’s testimony on Wednesday further inflamed the Democrats. In an interview with The Associated Press, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said she didn’t trust Barr and suggested his statements undermined his credibility as America’s chief law enforcement officer. House Judiciary Committ e e C h a i r m a n Je r ro l d Nadler of New York tweeted t h at B a r r ’s c o m m e n t s “directly contradict” what the Justice Department previously has said. And intelligence committee Chairman Adam Schiff of California said Barr’s comments were sure to please Trump, but strike “another destructive blow to our democratic institutions.” Republicans, meanwhile, praised Barr’s testimony. North Carolina Rep. Mark Meadows, a Trump confidant who has raised concerns about Justice Department conduct investigating Trump, tweeted that Barr’s willingness to step in is “massive.” At the Capitol hearing, senators appeared taken aback by his use of the word “spying.” Asked by Democratic Sen. Brian Schatz if he wanted to rephrase his language, Barr said, “I’m not sure of all the connotations of that word that you’re referring to, but you know, unauthorized surveillance.” Barr is an experienced public figure who chooses his words carefully, and it’s not clear if he realized what a political storm he’d create in using the word “spying.” While it could be used to describe lawful and necessary intelligence collection activities, for Trump and his supporters in this case it has an inherently negative meaning. Trump has repeatedly said the investigation of his campaign is an illegal “witch hunt.” On Wednesday he said, “It was started illegally. Everything about it was crooked. Every single thing about it. There were dirty cops.” Though Barr said at his January confirmation hearing that he didn’t believe Mueller would be involved in a witch hunt, he struck a different tone Wednesday and said it “depends on where you’re sitting.” The spying discussion started when Barr was asked by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat, about his plans to review his department’s actions in investigating Trump. A separate investigation is being conducted by the department’s inspector general. Barr explained that he considered spying on a politi-

cal campaign to be a “big deal,” invoking the surveillance of civil rights protesters and then of anti-war protesters during the Vietnam War. Asked by Shaheen if he was suggesting “spying” had occurred, Barr replied “spying did occur. Yes, I think spying did occur. The question is whether it was predicated, adequately predicated,” meaning whether it was legally justified. Bar r later said that although he did not have specific evidence of wrongdoing, “I do have questions about it.” Asked again about spying at the end of the hearing, Barr tempered his tone. “I am not saying improper surveillance occurred. I am saying I am concerned about it, and I am looking into it,” he said. Barr may have been referring to a secret surveillance warrant that the FBI obtained in the fall of 2016 to monitor the communications of former Trump campaign aide Carter Page, who has not been charged with any wrongdoing. That warrant application included a reference to research by an ex-British spy that was funded by Democrats to examine Trump’s ties to Russia. Critics of the Russia investigation say the warrant was unjustified and have also seized on anti-Trump text messages sent and received by one of the lead agents involved in investigating whether the Trump campaign was colluding with Russia. Barr’s statement Wednesday that he expected to release a redacted version of Mueller’s nearly 400-page report next week marked a slight change from the estimate he gave Tuesday, when he said the release would be within a week. Though he said the document will be redacted to withhold negative information about peripheral figures in the investigation, he said that would not apply to Trump, an officeholder and someone central to the probe. Meanwhile, Trump falsely claimed again Wednesday that the Mueller report had found “no obstruction.” While Barr’s letter said the special counsel did not find a criminal conspiracy between Russia and Trump associates during the 2016 election, it also said Mueller had presented evidence on both sides of the obstruction question and ultimately did not reach a conclusion on it.

Online ticketing at: www.movietickets.com

570.825.4444/rctheatres.com

511 Market St., Kingston

For All Your Residential & Commercial Property Needs. Parking Lot Maintenance & Snow Removal

Call today for a

FREE ESTIMATE on Your Next Project

570-472-1304 Andy Chopka, Sr.

Kim Talks Real Estate Presented by

Kim Reilly, Broker/Owner A COMMITMENT TO FULL SERVICE

The real estate listing known as “the exclusive right to sell” is the most common type of listing because it is likely to be the most effective. It entitles the listing agent to a commission regardless of who sells the property. If another agent comes up with a buyer, he or she splits the commission with the listing broker. For the seller, this type of agreement ensures that the agent (who is guaranteed a commission) will make a diligent effort on his or her behalf to find a buyer. Full service of this type involves analysis/research, advertising/marketing, displaying, counseling, and negotiating. The reward for both seller and agent is

a sale within a reasonable period at the best possible price.

Before you find the right property, you need to find the right real estate agent. REILLY & ASSOCIATES REALTY, INC. can help you unlock the door to your new home. You can count on us to be on your side and by your side every step of the way through your real estate transaction. There’s no reason to go it alone when we’re so close by. Call us at (570) 693-2232 or (570) 466-3338 (cell) to set up an appointment at 73 E. 8th St., Wyoming to begin the process of putting our training, expertise, and experience to good use for you.

www.reillyhouses.com

Reilly & Associates Realty, Inc.

Office: (570) 693-2232 • Cell: (570) 466-3338

WB_VOICE/PAGES [A03] | 07/15/19

20:21 | GAYDOSKRIS

tHE CItIzEns’ VOICE

Local TUESDAY, JULY 16, 2019

Election board member seeks Crispell report Report on election director should be released, vice chairman says. BY ERIC MARK STAFF WRITER

not to comment on such matters.” Ouellette said Crocamo cited the need for confidentiality in personnel matters wh e n s h e re f u s e d h i s request to see a copy of the report earlier this year. After mulling over the matter for months, Ouellette on Monday said he does not agree. The public’s right to know what happens when public money is spent to investigate public officials takes precedence, he said. “This kind of thing is what undermines the public’s faith in government,” Ouellette said. The report should be released even if portions of it need to be redacted, he said. The county in late February denied a Right to Know request from The Citizens’ Voice to release the McNees report. The county cited a provision of the state Right to Know Law which exempts “A record of an agency relating to a noncriminal investigation, including: (ii) Investigative materials, notes, correspondence and reports; and (vi) A record that, if disclosed, would ... reveal the institution, progress or result of an agency investigation.” Ouellette said he hopes to raise public awareness of the need for transparency in government, whether or not t h e c o u n ty g ra n t s h is request. “I am hoping that more people would put pressure on the county to release it,” he said. The Crispell controversy has inspired multiple investigations. State Auditor General Eugene DePasquale cited the matter as the basis for his investigation into how counties obtain voting equipment. When that investigation concluded in February, DePasquale said he referred his findings to the state ethics commission. According to multiple county sources, the county ethics commission is also reviewing ethics complaints involving Crispell and ES&S. Members of that commission have declined to confirm or deny the existence of the alleged complaints, citing the county ethics code. A committee that includes Ouellette is reviewing proposals from three vendors, including ES&S, for voting systems that provide a verifiable “paper-trail” for added security. The county plans to purchase one of the systems this year, to comply with a directive from state officials.

Peter Ouellette, vice chairman of the Luzerne County Board of Elections, says a report the county commissioned from a Harrisburg law firm regarding county election director Marisa Crispell’s ties to a county vendor should be made public. Ouellette said Monday he plans to file a Right to Know request to obtain a copy of the report compiled by M c N e e s Wa l l a c e & Nurick, which investigated whether any county codes were violated by Crispell’s service on the advisory board of Election Systems & Software, which supplied the voting machines the county has used for more than a decade. The county also purchased an electronic poll book system from ES&S last year. The county paid McNees $47,396 for the investigation and report, which county officials have refused to release to the public. “It was a publicly funded investigation,” Ouellette said. “I think the public has the right to know.” Releasing the McNees report would also clear up rumors and speculation about what information it might contain, Ouellette said. T h e c ou n t y co m m i s sioned the report in December, after news reports revealed that Crispell in 2017 attended two ES&S advisory board meetings, including one in Las Vegas, for which the company paid her travel expenses. Crispell did not disclose her ties to ES&S to county council members before council voted to purchase the poll book system, in April 2018. She said she cleared her service on the advisory board with county administrators and an assistant c o u n t y s o l i c i t o r, a n d resigned from the board in late 2017, before the county sought proposals from prospective vendors of the poll books. The county received the 80-page McNees report in February. It was released only to county council members, the county office of law and county Manager David Pedri, according to c o u nt y chi e f s o l i ci t o r Romilda Crocamo. At the time, Crocamo said the report could not be released to the public since its findings “are internal Contact the writer: personnel issues, and it has emark@citizensvoice.com been the county’s practice 570-821-2117

MARK MORAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

MARKET MONDAYS

Mondays at the Market continued with a summer safety-themed day on Public Square in downtown Wilkes-Barre. The event featured a bike helmet and beach ball giveaway, the Wilkes-Barre Fire Department safety trailer and a boating demonstration by the state Fish and Boat Commission. Next Monday’s theme is International Day and will feature music and food representing various cultures from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Above, Nicole Amos, left, of the Wilkes-Barre Health Department, fits a bicycle helmet on Connor McGivney. At right, Tyler Matreselva of Harveys Lake tries to guess the weight of a replica of a piece of fat at the Nutrition Links booth.

MARK MORAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Hanover Twp. man sentenced for bank robbery Derek Lee Spaide to serve 14 years for 2018 incident. BY JAMES HALPIN STAFF WRITER

A man who admitted robbing a Plains Twp. bank during a brazen gunpoint holdup was sentenced Monday to 14 years in prison. Derek Lee Spaide, 27, of Hanover Twp., and codefendant Gerald Paul Pambianco, 30, of Plains Twp., previously pleaded guilty to SPAIDE one count each of armed bank robbery and using a firearm during the commission of a violent crime. U.S. District Court Judge Malachy E. Mannion sentenced Spaide on Monday to

WARREN RUDA / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Derek Lee Spaide of Hanover Twp. and Gerald Paul Pambianco of Plains Twp. were apprehended after leading police on a chase after robbing Luzerne National Bank in Plains Twp. Both men pleased guilty. 14 years in prison for the crime. Pambianco is set to be sentenced today. According to prosecutors, the men robbed the Luzerne National Bank at 1077 state Route 315 the afternoon of May 16, 2018, while armed with two Ruger 10/22 rifles and a Savage Arms .22-caliber rifle. Spaide entered the bank

with a T-shirt covering his face and pointed one of the rifles at an employee before getting into the get-away car Pambianco was driving with $8,204 in cash from the bank, prosecutors said. They were captured following a police chase along Interstate 81. Both men are also await-

ing trial on state burglary charges connected to two burglaries that took place the same day as the bank robbery. Spaide was remanded to the federal Bureau of Prisons to serve his sentence. Contact the writer: jhalpin@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2058

JOIN US FOR KC FRIDAYS! JULY 19 & 26

Call 888-KINGS-PA or register online at kings.edu/visit Learn all about King’s academics, ﬁnancial aid, campus life, career/internship opportunities and much more! Don’t miss the campus tour, and lunch is on us!

WB_VOICE/PAGES [A03] | 08/26/19

19:25 | DULSKYAPRI

tHE CItIzEns’ VOICE

Local TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2019

Police: Man pulls gun on former boss over pay dispute BY JAMES HALPIN STAFF WRITER

MARK MORAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Beautiful day to paint the city Artist Michael Weber paints the Wilkes-Barre cityscape from the Market Street Bridge on a beautiful Monday in the city. Today will be mostly cloudy and comfortable, with a high temperature of 74 degrees. For more weather information, see page B8.

WILKES-BARRE — A contractor shoved the muzzle of a sawed-off shotgun into his for mer boss’s mouth during a dispute about his final paycheck, according to police. Rodolfo Hermino Medina Ducos, 35, of 322 E. South St., threatened his former employer at a job site at 373 S. River St. around 8:40 p.m. Saturday, police said. According to the complaint, victim Jeffery Lowell told police he had fired Medina Ducos from his construction company a few days earlier. Lowell told police he owes Medina Ducos about $380 and Medina Ducos had been calling and texting in an effort to get his final paycheck. Lowell had told Medina Ducos he would get paid when the crew finished the remodeling job, but then

M e d i n a Ducos and an unidentified accomplice barged into the site Saturday DUCOS n i g h t , according to police. Police said Medina Ducos put the barrel of the shotgun in Lowell’s mouth while demanding the money. The second man, armed with what witnesses described as a TEC-9 semi-automatic pistol, was acting “in an irrational manner,” pointing the gun at members of the construction crew while speaking in Spanish, according to the complaint. Both men eventually fled the job site after Medina Ducos realized Lowell didn’t have the money, police said. Officers unsuccessfully tried to find Medina Ducos at his home, but then he showed up at police head-

quarters to discuss the incident. Medina Ducos claimed Lowell owes him more than $800 for work he performed and admitted taking a 12 gauge shotgun to the job site S at u rd ay, a l t h o u g h h e denied threatening anyone with it, according to the complaint. Police charged Medina Ducos with robbery, attempted robbery, burglary, criminal trespassing, reckless endangerment, making terroristic threats and simple assault. Magisterial District Judge James J. Haggerty arraigned Medina Ducos on the charges Sunday and ordered him jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility with bail set at $25,000. A preliminary hearing was set for Sept. 3. Contact the writer: jhalpin@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2058

County ethics commission Requested tax break among still weighing 2 complaints hot topics for county council BY ERIC MARK STAFF WRITER

BY ERIC MARK STAFF WRITER

WILKES-BARRE — A requested tax break for a longvacant industrial parcel in Wright Twp. is part of a busy agenda for Luzerne County council tonight. At tonight’s work session, council will discuss a requested extension of a Keystone Opportunity Zone tax exemption for the former Poseidon Pools property in the Crestwood Industrial Park. The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce plans to sell the parcel to Mericle Commercial Real Estate Services, which plans to build a large industrial building on the site, according to chamber President Wico van Genderen. The Greater Wilkes-Barre Industrial Fund, a subsidiary of the chamber, assumed control of the property after Poseidon Pools filed for bankruptcy in 1998 and closed. A tax exemption for the parcel expires at the end of this year. The chamber has requested that it be extended for 10 years, through the end of 2029. Wright Twp. supervisors and the Crestwood Area School Board have approved the extension. The chamber has worked on the cleanup and redevelopment of the parcel for many years, but needs more time to resolve regulatory issues, van Genderen wrote in a letter to council. The industrial building Mericle plans to develop at the site would result in 174 jobs and would generate about $150,000 in annual tax revenue for the township, the school district and the county once the KOZ exemption expires,

THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE

Luzerne County Council Chairman Tim McGinley listens during a Council meeting Aug. 14 at the Back Mountain Regional EMA Building in Dallas. Council will vote on county Manager David Pedri’s proposed capital plan for 2020-22 at tonight’s meeting. van Genderen wrote. Also on the agenda for tonight’s council meeting, which begins with a 6 p.m. voting session: ■ Council will vote on county Manager David Pedri’s proposed $1.96 million capital plan for 2020-22. The projects Pedri proposes include $700,000 in upgrades to the county-owned parking garage and parkade on Water Street in Wilkes-Barre. He also plans to replace older county-owned computers, pave county-owned parking lots and install security cameras in county-owned buildings. Council may approve all, some or none of the projects. Council Chair man Tim McGinley on Monday said he expects council to make some minor changes to the capital plan before approving it. ■ Council will vote on a proposed collective bargaining agreement with county courts employees represented by the American Federation of State, County and

Municipal Employees. ■ Pedri will update council on the status of a proposed $35.1 million borrowing plan, that would fund upgrades to the county 911 emergency communication system, pay part of the cost of new secure voting machines and refinance existing long-term debt. Tonight’s work session, which follows the voting session, could be lengthy. Work session agenda items include the requested tax break, the borrowing for the 911 upgrades and a discussion between council and members of the Luzerne County Transportation Authority board, regarding the authority’s recent re-branding to Northeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority, or NEPTA. Council members want to clarify if the authority board approved the rebranding at a public meeting, McGinley said. Contact the writer: emark@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2117

WILKES-BARRE — The Luzerne County Accountability, Conduct & Ethics Commission is still investigating at least two of five ethics complaints filed earlier this year against one or more county employees. Attorney Michael Sharkey on Monday told commission members he needs more time to investigate the two complaints he is handling, according to commission Chairman Marc Dixon. The commission will give Sharkey an additional two weeks, and will next meet on Sept. 11, Dixon said. Sharkey and Nanda Palissery are the two outside attorneys who investigate ethics complaints for the commission. Two of the five complaints filed this

year have been dismissed and Sharkey is working on two others. The status of the final complaint was unclear as of Monday’s commission meeting, which Palissery did not attend. The complaints concern county employees, though their names and the nature of the complaints have not been revealed publicly. The county ethics code forbids disclosing infor mation about ongoing complaints. Multiple county sources have said the complaints center on county election director Marisa Crispell’s ties to a county vendor of election equipment. Crispell in 2017 served on the advisory board of Election Systems & Software, which supplied the voting machines the county has used for more than 10 years,

as well as an electronic poll book system the county purchased last year. The commission is compiling its annual report, listing all complaints it considered this year and the amount of money spent on investigating those complaints, Dixon said. County council members should be aware of the considerable costs the county has incurred by paying outside attorneys to investigate ethics complaints, he said. The commission consists of three county officials: county Manager David Pedri, Controller Michelle Bednar and District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis, as well as county residents Karen Metta, a Democrat, and Dixon, a Republican. Contact the writer: emark@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2117

Water main upgrade set for W-B BY STEVE MOCARSKY STAFF WRITER

Pennsylvania American Water is upgrading nearly 7,000 feet of water main in Wilkes-Barre to improve reliability for customers, reduce service disruptions and increase water flows for fire fighting, the company announced Monday. The cost of the system i m p r o ve m e n t s , w h i c h replace water main dating as far back as 1885, is about $1.1 million. “To ensure that we continue to provide reliable water service to our customers, we need to reinvest in the local water infrastructure, particularly the areas where 100-year old pipeline needs to be replaced,” Traci Cross, senior manager, opera-

tions, Pennsylvania American Water, said in a news release. The company started earlier this month replacing existing four- and sixinch cast iron water mains with new eight-inch ductile iron pipe along several streets in the city, including Dougher Lane, Essex Lane, Hart Street, South Franklin Street, Regent Street, Hayes Lane and Lloyds Lane. Crews were working on Essex Lane and Hayes Lane on Monday. Also included in the project is 900 feet of new pipe along Center Street in Wilkes-Barre Twp. Crews will work 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and traffic restrictions will be in place during construction.

The company expects to complete the water main installation, including transfer of all customer services, final restoration, and paving by end of summer. During construction, customers might experience temporary service interruptions, discolored water and/or lower than normal water pressure. C r e w s w i l l wo rk a s quickly as possible to shorten the length of these temporary inconveniences, according to the news release. For more information, call Pennsylvania American Water’s customer service center at 1-800-565-7292. Contact the writer: smocarsky@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2110, @MocarskyCV

TIME FOR A NEW

KITCHEN?

NEW KITCHEN & BATHROOM REMODELING CERAMIC TILE • GRANITE COUNTERTOPS CUSTOM KITCHEN, BATHROOM, LAUNDRY & BAR CABINETS • HUGE LINE OF MOSAIC BACKSPLASHES • LVT LAMINATE FLOORING

500 OFF TOTAL REMODEL OF KITCHEN OR BATHROOM Expires 12-30-19

FINANCING AVAILABLE Licensed & Fully Insured

JK’S KITCHEN & DESIGN CENTER Call for Free Estimates

www.jkskitchenanddesigncenter.com • Call For Free Estimates (570)

793-5501

WB_VOICE/PAGES [A01] | 08/28/19

voice

22:57 | DULSKYAPRI

the citizens’ La Festa Italiana brings flavors of Old World to NEPA. Inside

WVC GiRLS SOCCER PREViEW PAGE B1

www.citizensvoice.com

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA’S LARGEST NEWS TEAM

Newsstand 50¢

Lawsuits filed against Diocese of Scranton

Four men are suing the diocese for sexual abuse. BY TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER staff writer

PRISON CUT? State planning to close SCI-Retreat

the CitizeNs’ VoiCe file

BY BOB KALINOWSKI staff writer

NEWPORT TWP. — State Correctional Institution at Retreat in Newport Twp. is once again in the crosshairs of Gov. Tom Wolf ’s budget-cutting plans as administration officials notified workers Wednesday they want to close the prison. Once again, local legislators and union officials vow to try to save the institution and its 400-plus jobs, as they did in 2017 when the governor targeted the prison for closure. They say Luzerne County is unfairly bearing the brunt of the state budget battle with Wednesday’s announcement coming less than two weeks since Wolf announced the White Haven Center for the intellectually and developmentally disabled will close in White Haven. Luzerne County state Sens. John Yudichak, D-14, Plymouth Twp., Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp. and John Gordner, R-27 Berwick, seaN MCKeag / staff PhotograPher released a joint statement opposing the closures. ABOVE: State Correctional Institution at Retreat in Newport Twp. on Wednesday. TOP: “The proposed closure of SCI-Retreat com- In 2017, Gov. Tom Wolf targeted five prisons for possible closure, including SCI-Retreat. bined with the proposed closure of White Haven State Center is a devastating and dra- we understand the con- fight the governor’s plans, matic blow to the families of Luzerne County. straints and challenges of the but acknowledged “the odds READ MORE The families and communities of Luzerne state budget, Luzerne County are not in our favor and hislocal official fighting County will be forced to deal with the loss of is being asked to shoulder an torical policy trends are for Newport twp., job nearly 900 family sustaining jobs and over unfair burden of responsibili- against us.” after sCi-rereat closure $100 million in direct, annual economic ty for balancing the budget.” proposal. Page A6 The group vowed to again impact,” the senators’ statement said. “While Please see RETREAT, Page A6

Labor dispute may halt school at Wyoming Area Wyoming Area School District students started the new school year Monday and could go back on summer vacation after just one week of school. District teachers don’t plan to work Tuesday, union President Melissa Dolman said Wednesday, accusing the district of “an illegal lockout causing a work stoppage.” Now if the district honors the union agreement that expires Saturday and increases salaries from step advancements on the union pay scale, teachers will be at work Tuesday, Dolman said, explaining teachers are not planning a strike.

School board members plan to meet sometime this week in a closed session to discuss the labor situation, solicitor Jarrett Ferentino said. “I have no comment on the nature of the work stoppage, and the board is continuing to review its options,” Ferentino said. The union gave the district notice Wednesday of the potential work stoppage on Tuesday, Ferentino said. Schools are closed Monday because it’s Labor Day, and that means Friday could be the last day of school for weeks in Wyoming Area. State law limits the length of a teachers strike or work stoppage. The state Department of Education deter-

Marisa Crispell’s resignation takes effect Sept. 6. BY ERIC MARK staff writer

the CitizeNs’ VoiCe file

Wyoming Area School District students started school Monday, but they may go back on break after the teachers union gave the district notice Wednesday of the potential work stoppage on Tuesday. mines the date teachers must 180 instruction days by return to work, and that June 15. date would be based on the district being able to have Please see WYOMING, Page A11

Pleasant

BUSINESS. . . . . . . C1 EDITORIAL. . . . . . . A9 LOTTERY . . . . . . . . A2 CLASSIFIED . .C4-14 HEALTH . . . . . . . . . B7 OBITUARIES A10-11

COURT NOTES . . A5 HOROSCOPE. . . . C3 WORLD/NATION A8

Luzerne County Election Director Marisa Crispell resigned Wednesday, following months of controversy over her ties to a county vendor of election equipment. Crispell’s resignation takes effect Sept. 6, county Manager David Pedri said in a news release. Crispell had been at the center of controversy over her service on the customer advisory board of Election Systems & Software, which supplied the voting machines Luzerne County has used since 2006 as well as an electronic poll book system the county purchased last year. Crispell served on the ES&S advisory board in 2017 and traveled to board meetings at the company’s

NEED A RiDE?

TODAY’S WEATHER BIRTHDAYS. . . . . . A2 CROSSWORD . . . C2 LOCAL . . . . . . . . . . . A3

High 79º Low 56º

Please see DIOCESE, Page A5

County election director resigns

The union gave the district notice of the potential work stoppage for Tuesday. BY MICHAEL P. BUFFER staff writer

SCRANTON — Four men suing the Diocese of Scranton for sexual abuse risk losing their chance for compensation should a court ruling that potentially extends the statute of limitations in clergy sex abuse cases be overturned, their attorney acknowledged Wednesday. It’s a chance they’re willing to take, attor ney Kevin Quinn said, to ensure they hold responsible those that conspired to perpetuate and hide the abuse committed by the Rev. Michael Pulicare. “These men thought they had been victimized by one person,” Quinn said during a press conference announcing the four separate lawsuits. “The results of the grand jury investigation that were released last August made clear that others ... helped create and foster an environment that not only allowed, but indeed encouraged predatory priests like Father Pulicare.” The suits, filed in Lackawanna County Court, name as defendants the Diocese; the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, bishop of Scranton; and retired Bishop James C. Timlin. Pulicare, who died in 1999, was not identified as an abuser in the statewide grand jury report. The Diocese added him to its list of credibly accused priests in December after learning of allegations from attorneys representing some of his alleged victims. In a prepared statement, Eric Deabill,spokesman for the Diocese, stressed church officials were never notified of any impropriety regarding Pulicare until 2018. They immediately reported the claims to police.

Subscribe to The Voice 570-821-2010

Why aren’t older people using Uber and Lyft? Page B7

expense, including a trip to Las Ve g a s i n March 2017. She did not disclose CRISPELL her ties to ES&S to county council before council voted to purchase the poll books from the company in April 2018. Crispell said she cleared her service on the advisory board with county election board solicitor Michael Butera and county director of administrative services David Parsnik. She said she resigned from the advisory board in fall 2017, before the county solicited proposals from prospective vendors of the poll books. Controversy escalated quickly after Crispell’s ties to ES&S were revealed in media reports in early December 2018. Please see CRISPELL, Page A5

WB_VOICE/PAGES [A05] | 08/28/19

21:14 | DULSKYAPRI

LocaL / REGIoN

THURSDAY, AUGUST 29, 2019

THE CITIZENS' VOICE A5

cRIspELL: Served on the ES&S advisory board in 2017 From Page a1

Ted Baird / STaFF PhoTo

Plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the Diocese of Scranton Michael C. Heil, James J. Pliska, and John Patchcoski, attend the press conference with lawyers Christopher C. Quinn and Kevin C. Quinn on Wednesday.

DIocEsE: Lawsuits were filed in Lackawanna County Court From Page a1

“The safety and security of children is a primary concern of the Diocese of Scranton. If allegations of child sexual abuse arise, the Diocese acts swiftly, transparently and appropriately,” he said. Three of the four plaintiffs — James J. Pliska,55, of Scranton; John Patchcoski,57, of Tampa Bay, Florida and Michael C. Heil, 56, of Gilbertsville, appeared at the press conference. The Citizens’ Voice typically does not identify victims of sexual abuse, but all three men chose to be identified. Quinn spoke of the horrific abuse they endured, including rape and other “perverse” acts, during Pulicare’s tenure as an assistant pastor at St. Joseph’s Church in the Minooka section of Scranton. The incidents happened between 1974 and 1975, when Heil was 11 and Pliska and Patchcoski were 12. They never reported it because Pulicare threatened to hurt them and their families. According to the suits, Pulicare lured Pliska, Patchcoski and Heil on separate trips with him, promising them a fun-filled day of fishing. At night, he took them to the Kingston home he shared with his parents and committed “monstrous” acts.

The lawsuit filed by the fourth victim, identified only by his initials, M.A., to protect his privacy, alleges he was sodomized and forced to endure other sexual acts dozens of times between the ages of 7 and 14. The lawsuits do not allege Bambera took any action to facilitate or conceal Pulicare’s actions, but notes he failed to report suspected abuse in another case. That helped perpetuate the culture of sexual abuse, the suit says. The lawsuit filed on behalf of M.A. makes more serious allegations against Timlin, saying he knew Pulicare often shared a bed with the boy and referred to him as his “personal altar boy” and a “priest in training.” The suit does not accuse Timlin of abusing the boy, but notes one occasion when Timlin met the boy and Pulicare. Timlin began massaging the boy’s shoulders and back in a “suggestive, creepy manner,” while commenting to Pulicare, “So this is our priest in training.” Each of the victims kept the abuse secret for decades. All of their claims were outside the statute of limitations. That meant their only hope for compensation rested with the Independent Survivors Compensation Program the Diocese created last year.

That changed in June. The state Superior Court, ruling in the case of Renee Rice vs. the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, said when a case involves accusations of concealment, a jury should decide if the delay in coming forward was reasonable. That opened the door for other cases. Quinn said the Altoona Diocese is expected to ask the state Supreme Court to hear an appeal of the ruling. If the court agrees to take the case, it opens up the potential that the ruling could be overturned. If so, his clients can no longer seek compensation from the victim’s fund because the deadline to file was July 31. Patchcoski, who appeared at the press conference with Pliska and Heil, felt it was important to push forward with the case, regardless of the risks. Patchcoski said he always felt he was victimized only by Pulicare. When he learned of allegations in the grand jury report, he realized culpability reached much deeper. “It hit me hard,” he said. “I want justice and I want to fight, not just for myself ... but everyone else that was victimized.” contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock. com 570-348-9137 @tmbeseckerTT

Crestwood sets meeting for Friday to address busing By MIchaEL p. BuffER STaFF WriTer

The Crestwood School Board has scheduled a special meeting for 8 a.m. Friday and is expected to address busing. Solicitor Jack Dean confirmed the meeting will address busing but would not elaborate. District officials on Sunday announced the first school day for students was going to be delayed a week to better address transpor tation issues. The first day now is this Tuesday. The district has been tinkering with its bus schedule and routes after receiving a barrage of complaints last week in response to an initial transportation schedule. The school board has hired a new company for

couRT NoTEs PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS ■ U.S. Bank et al. to Chimera red 2018-Nri LLC, $84,574; gardner Street, Plymouth. ■ PNC Bank to gFa holdings LLC, $300,000; avoca. ■ Sand Springs development Corporation to Thomas diJulia et al., $333,372; Butler Twp. ■ Valery Belikov et al. to ronald Carl Bronsburg, $309,200; Bear Creek Twp. ■ FBL LLC to mai enterprises LLC, $480,000; hazleton. ■ John F. Zola et al. to Lucila a. gonzalez, $130,000; North Laurel Street, hazleton. ■ ronghe Zhang er al. to Jason James Wood et al., $315,000; Wright Twp. ■ Lisa ann Natishan to dancarlos echavarria Constanza, $168,201; Swoyersville. ■ William m. Beekman iii et al. to Paul michael martin Jr. et al., $212,000; duryea. ■ adnan Konjo to oscar o. Valoy et al., $160,000; WilkesBarre. ■ Peter d. Shelp et al. to Jessica Jinhee Lee et al., $165,400; Forty Fort.

bus transportation. Davis Transportation is the new provider and has mailed fliers about hiring drivers in Crestwood and the Dallas School District. The district terminated a contract with Rinehimer Bus Lines Inc., which has since alleged improper termination and breach of c o n t r a c t i n a l aw s u i t against Crestwood. The termination came after state auditors in October found backg round clearances for some school bus drivers had expired and after the school board suspended and later terminated Superintendent Joseph

& Stamped Concrete

Voted #1 Masonry Contractor

• Decorative Stamped Concrete • Stamped Overlays • Driveways • Sidewalks • Brick • Block • Concrete • Stone • Chimney’s • Foundation Repair • Stucco • Retaining Walls • Patio’s • Pavers Certified Retaining Wall Installer Workmanship Guaranteed Fully Insured - PA #129072

570-550-6597 www.oldtimemasonry.com

Vito’s & Gino’s BUYING JUNK CARS & TRUCKS

570-288-8995 Used Tires $20 & Up!

Gorham and Director of Operations Christopher Ge garis. Bob Mehalick starts as the new Crestwood superintedent Sept. 9.

oNLINE EXTRa

For a timeline of the County council members controversy over marisa blasted Crispell for not disCrispell’s ties to eS&S, go closing her connection to to citizensvoice.com. ES&S before they voted to pay the company about $325,000 for the poll book syscounty council members but tem. County and state officials not the media or the public. The county denied Right launched several investigato Know requests from The tions. Citizens’ Voice and OuelInvestigations lette, seeking copies of the and secrecy McNees report. The county State Auditor General cited a provision of the Eugene DePasquale con- state Right to Know Law ducted an investigation into which exempts records how counties obtain voting related to a noncriminal equipment, after hearing of investigation. Multiple county sources Crispell’s trip to Las Vegas. He called that trip a “jun- have said the 80-page report does not make any specific ket” and a “disgrace.” DePasquale referred the recommendations regardfindings of his investiga- ing disciplinary action to be tion to the state Ethics Com- taken against Crispell or mission, according to a other county officials. spokesman for the auditor support and questions general’s office. While Crispell’s ties to State ethics commission ES&S generated much critiofficials have not confirmed cism, she also received supthey are investigating, sayport, especially from meming the state ethics code bers of the county board of prohibits them from conelections. firming the existence of At public meetings after ethics complaints prior to the controversy made headtheir resolution. lines, Ouellette and former County election board election board member member Peter Ouellette Michael Mey praised Crispsaid he was interviewed by ell’s dedication to the couna state ethics commission ty’s voters. investigator. County council At the March election members have said they board meeting, Ouellette also were interviewed. described Crispell’s job perThe county ethics comformance as “exemplary.” mission is investigating two At that meeting, former complaints related to the county Controller Walter Crispell controversy, and Griffith said he felt Crispell two or three related comviolated the county ethics plaints have been discode, but the greater responmissed, according to multisibility is borne by Crispple county sources. Ethics ell’s supervisors, if they commission members have approved her trips to advisonot confirmed that, citing ry board meetings. the county ethics code Ouellette on Wednesday which forbids them from said he would like to see furcommenting. ther investigation into The county paid Harriswhether county officials burg law firm McNees Walauthorized Crispell to join lace & Nurick $47,396 to the ES&S advisory board. investigate whether any Butera, the election board county regulations were viosolicitor, in December conlated. The firm issued a firmed that he told Crispell report that was released to

he did not see a conflict of interest in her service on the advisory board. Parsnik has not replied to emails, including one sent Wednesday, asking if he authorized Crispell to join the advisory board, as she claimed. Pedri also did not reply to an email sent Wednesday asking if he knew of or authorized Crispell’s advisory board role.

Going forward Crispell’s resignation will not impact how the county handles the November election, “due to veteran staff and leadership” in the election bureau and the administrative services division, Pedri said. The election director’s position is posted at the county website. The advertised salary range is $55,000 to $65,000. Crispell’s salary this year was $54,096. Minimum qualifications for the job are a high school diploma with some post-secondary education, four years of proven election management experience and two years of supervisory experience in an election bureau that includes direct work with electronic voting machines. Crispell was not part of a committee Pedri appointed earlier this year to review three proposals for voting systems that provide a voter-verifiable paper trail for added security. One of the prospective vendors is ES&S. The county plans to purchase one of the secure voting systems this fall, to comply with a directive from state officials. Crispell did not return messages seeking comment. Staff members in the election bureau said Crispell was on vacation and not in the office Wednesday. contact the writer: emark@citizensvoice.com 570-821-2117

United Way of Wyoming Valley

2019 Campaign Kick-Off Reception

contact the writer: mbuffer@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2073, @cvmikebuffer

*TUESDAYS ARE BARGAIN DAY! FEATURES ONLY $5.00 ALL DAY!* *Restrictions May Apply

SHOWTIMES FOR THURSDAY, AUGUST 29 ANGEL HAS FALLEN (R) - 2 HR. 1 MINS. 1:15PM, 4:15PM, 7:10PM, 10:00PM AD; ALD; CC; DBOX; RESERVED ANGEL HAS FALLEN (R) - 2 HR. 1 MINS. 1:15PM, 4:15PM, 7:10PM, 10:00PM AD; ALD; CC OVERCOMER (PG) - 1 HR. 59 MINS. 1:10PM, 4:05PM, 6:45PM, 9:25PM AD; ALD; CC READY OR NOT (R) - 1 HR. 35 MINS. 1:50PM, 4:15PM, 7:30PM, 10:00PM AD; ALD; CC 47 METERS DOWN: UNCAGED (PG-13) 1 HR. 29 MINS. 1:45PM, 4:00PM, 7:15PM, 9:40PM AD; ALD; CC BLINDED BY THE LIGHT (PG-13) - 1 HR. 58 MINS. 1:00PM, 3:50PM, 6:45PM, 9:35PM AD; ALD; CC GOOD BOYS (R) - 1 HR. 29 MINS. 2:00PM, 4:20PM, 7:15PM, 10:15PM AD; ALD; CC WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE (PG-13) 1 HR. 44 MINS. 7:00PM, 9:45PM AD; ALD; CC THE ANGRY BIRDS MOVIE 2 (PG) 1 HR. 31 MINS. 1:30PM, 4:00PM, 6:30PM, 9:00PM AD; ALD; CC THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN (PG) 1 HR. 49 MINS. 1:20PM, 4:15PM, 7:00PM, 9:40PM AD; ALD; CC DORA AND THE LOST CITY OF GOLD (PG) 1 HR. 42 MINS. 1:55PM, 4:25PM AD; ALD; CC THE PEANUT BUTTER FALCON (PG-13) 1 HR. 33 MINS. 1:30PM, 4:00PM, 7:20PM, 9:40PM SCARY STORIES TO TELL IN THE DARK (PG-13) 1 HR. 51 MINS. 1:45PM, 4:20PM, 7:05PM, 9:40PM AD; ALD; CC FAST & FURIOUS PRESENTS: HOBBS & SHAW (PG-13) 2 HR. 16 MINS. 1:00PM, 4:10PM, 7:10PM, 9:35PM AD; ALD; CC ONCE UPON A TIME...IN HOLLYWOOD (R) 2 HR. 41 MINS. 1:00PM, 4:30PM, 8:10PM AD; ALD; CC THE LION KING (PG) - 1 HR. 58 MINS. 1:00PM, 3:50PM, 6:45PM, 9:35PM AD; ALD; CC

Policy Parents and/or Guardians (Age 21 and older) must accompany all children ages 17 and under to ALL R Rated feature. Online ticketing at: www.movietickets.com

570.825.4444/rctheatres.com

STOP!!!

DON’T BUY ANY CARPET TIL SUNDAY, Sept. 1st Carpet Clearance Outlet of Wilkes-Barre Will Be Closed 9 Days

To Prepare For A Two Day Super Sale

Sunday, Sept. 1st and Mon. Sept. 2nd - 11:00am - 4:00pm Watch for our ad in Sunday’s paper

CARPET CLEARANCE OUTLET Wilkes-Barre Boulevard at Butler st., Wilkes-Barre

Thursday, September 12TH 5:30PM to 7:30PM Mohegan Sun Pocono Keystone Grand Ballroom

You can change a child’s future

Please RSVP by Friday, August 30TH To make your reservations, please call United Way at 570-829-6711 ext. 123 or e-mail mprice@unitedwaywb.org Please consider reserving a corporate or family table of 10. Cost is $50 per person

Keynote Speaker

Kenton Lee

Founder of Because International & creator of “The Shoe That Grows”

WB_VOICE/PAGES [A01] | 09/02/19

voice

the citizens’

22:17 | DULSKYAPRI

EMOTIONAL DAY

retherford wins team USa spot in his ‘backyard.’ Page B1

HOW TO GET YOUR BUSINESS EMAILS READ. PAGE C1

www.citizensvoice.com

NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA’S LARGEST NEWS TEAM

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019

Newsstand 50¢

Report: No action against Crispell The report’s findings do not recommend disciplinary action against Crispell for her ties to a county vendor. BY ERIC MARK Staff Writer

sHoWInG sUPPort

SeaN McKeaG / Staff PhotoGraPher

Union members and supporters walk through Kirby Park during the seventh annual NEPA Labor Day Celebration on Monday.

Union members walk for fair contracts during NEPA Labor Day Festival.

BY DENISE ALLABAUGH Staff Writer

WILKES-BARRE — A group marched through Kirby Park on Labor Day holding flags and signs supporting federal government employees. Barri Sue Bryant, president of the American Federation of Government Employees Local 2809, said people were asked to come out and walk to show support for federal employees who are having

trouble negotiating a new contract. Bryant, a customer service representative at the Social Security Administration building in Plains Twp., said they have been trying

to bargain for a contract since July of last year. “Federal unions are having a very hard time right now,” she said. “All the unions are facing some dark times.”

‘Federal unions are having a very hard time right now. All the unions are facing some dark times.’ BARRI SUE BRYANT

american federation of Government employees Local 2809 president

AFGE Local 2809 represents nearly 1,000 employees. Union members rejected the previous contract offer management proposed and they will go back to the collective bargaining table later this month, Bryant said. They were supposed to have eight more sessions but are only being allowed five days to negotiate, she said. Please see LABOR, Page A4

Dorian triggers massive flooding in Bahamas; at least 5 people dead The National Hurricane Center extended watches and warnings across the Florida and Georgia coasts. BY MICHAEL WEISSENSTEIN AND DANICA COTO aSSociated PreSS

NASSAU, Bahamas — Hurricane Dorian unleashed massive flooding across the Bahamas on Monday, pummeling the islands with so much wind and water that authorities urged people to find floatation devices and grab hammers to break out of their attics if necessary. At least five deaths

and extensive.” The fearsome Category 4 storm slowed almost to a standstill as it shredded roofs, hurled cars and forced even rescue crews to take shelter until the onslaught passed. Officials said they received a “tremendous” number of calls from people in flooded homes. A radio station received more than Joe BUrBaNK / orLaNdo SeNtiNeL Via aP 2,000 distress messages, including reports of a 5-month-old baby A resident clings to the railing as a wave generated by Hurricane stranded on a roof and a grandDorian crashes into the jetty at Lighthouse Point Park in Ponce mother with six grandchildren Inlet, Fla., on Monday. who cut a hole in a roof to escape were blamed on the storm. Hubert Minnis said in announc- rising floodwaters. “We are in the midst of a histor- ing the fatalities. He called the ic tragedy,” Prime Minister devastation “unprecedented Please see DORIAN, Page A13

A report from a Harrisburg law firm investigating whether former Luzerne County election director Marisa Crispell’s ties to a county vendor violated any county codes does not recommend disciplinary action against her or other county officials — but it does not exonerate them, either. Crispell resigned last week, f o l l ow i n g months of controversy over her service on the advisory board of Election Systems & Software, which supplied CRISPELL t h e v o t i n g machines the county has used since 2006 and an electronic poll book system the county purchased last year. Her resignation takes effect Friday. The county last December h i re d M c N e e s Wa l l a c e & Nurick to investigate after news reports revealed that Crispell in 2017 served on the ES&S advisory board and traveled to advisory board meetings in Las Vegas and Nebraska at the company’s expense. The county paid McNees $47,396 for its investigation and report, which county chief solicitor Romilda Crocamo refused to release to the public after county council reviewed it in February. A supplemental re p o r t w a s c o m p l e t e d i n March. The Citizens’ Voice obtained a copy of the report, which includes summaries of interviews with Crispell and county officials who she said authorized her advisory board service: county election board solicitor Michael Butera, director of administrative services David Parsnik and county Manager David Pedri. Findings of the report, compiled by McNees attorney Crystal Clark, include: ■ County employees lack training in and knowledge of the county ethics code. ■ Crispell’s story differs from those of Butera, Parsnik and Pedri on a few points. Please see CRISPELL, Page A13

8 killed Calif. dive boat fire; dozens missing

Five crew members escaped by jumping off the boat after the blaze broke out. BY STEFANIE DAZIO aSSociated PreSS

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A fire raged through a boat carrying recreational scuba divers anchored near an island off the Southern California coast early Monday, leaving at least eight peo-

ple dead and hope diminishing that any of the 26 people still missing would be found alive. F ive c r e w m e m b e r s escaped by jumping off the boat and taking refuge on an inflatable boat. Rescuers recovered four bodies from the waters just off Santa Cruz Island and spotted four others on the ocean near where fire-raged boat sank. They were continuing to search for survi-

vors, but Coast Guard Capt. Monica Rochester cautioned that it was unlikely anyone else would be found alive. “We will search all the way through the night into the morning, but I think we should all be prepared to move into the worst outcome,” she told an afternoon news conference. The four bodies plucked from the ocean about 90 miles northwest of Los Angeles all had injuries consistent with

drowning, said Coast Guard Lt. Cmdr. Matthew Kroll It wasn’t immediately clear when the bodies on the ocean floor might be retrieved or when divers could search the boat for others. “It’s upside down in relatively shallow water with receding tides that are moving it around,” Santa Barbara County Sheriff Bill Brown said. Please see FIRE, Page A4

Honor to tHe veterans

TODAY’S WEATHER ADVICE . . . . . . . . . . C2 CROSSWORD . . . C2 LOCAL . . . . . . . . . . . A3

High 81º Low 65º Sunny

BIRTHDAYS. . . . . . A2 EDITORIAL. . . . . . A11 LOTTERY . . . . . . . . A2 BUSINESS. . . . . . . C1 HEALTH . . . . . . . . . B7 OBITUARIES . . . . A12

CLASSIFIED . .C4-12 HOROSCOPE. . . . C3 WORLD/NATIONA10

VeNtUra coUNty fire dePartMeNt Via aP

Ventura County Fire Department firefighters respond to a boat fire off the coast of southern California on Monday.

Subscribe to The Voice 570-821-2010

The Wall That Heals arrives today in Plymouth. Page a3

WB_VOICE/PAGES [A13] | 09/02/19

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019

22:14 | DULSKYAPRI

FroM PaGE a1

THE CITIZENS' VOICE A13

CrisPEll: Analysis included with report lists potential violations FROM PAGE A1

close that her boyfriend accompanied her to Las Vegas, the report states. Subsequently, investigators found a photograph posted to social media that showed Crispell and a man on an airplane, apparently en route to Las Vegas. When asked directly at a s u b s e q u e n t i n t e r v i ew, Crispell said her boyfriend went with her to Las Vegas. She said she and/or her boyfriend, rather than ES&S, paid for his plane ticket. When asked why she did not disclose his presence, Crispell said she did not feel it was relevant. She did not feel it was inappropriate since county officials often bring spouses to conferences and did not see this case was different, the report states.

■ Butera and Parsnik confir med that Crispell asked for their approval to s e r ve o n t h e a dv i s o r y board. Butera said he saw no conflict, while Parsnik said he considered the move to be “questionable” but did not prevent it. ■ Crispell did not disclose until asked directly that her boyfriend accompanied her on the trip to Las Vegas in March 2017. ■ There is no evidence Crispell showed favoritism toward ES&S when she and a committee considered proposals for electronic poll books submitted by five vendors including ES&S, whose proposal was selected. ■ The only personal benefit Crispell received was a fleece throw blanket, which ES&S provided to all advisory board members. She and other board members also attended an acrobatics performance in Las Vegas.

Conclusion

interviews Crispell said an ES&S employee approached her in February 2017 about joining the advisory board, whose purpose was to gather customer feedback. Crispell said she called Butera and Parsnik to get their approval. She said Parsnik told her to discuss the matter with Butera. Butera was impressed by the list of election officials from across the country who sat on the advisory board, and said it would be an honor for her to serve, Crispell said. He told her it would not be a conflict to serve on the board since she was going in her official capacity, she said. Crispell said she asked Butera if she had to report the trip on her annual statement of financial interest. He told her she did not need to report it because the travel and lodging was not a gift, Crispell said. Crispell said ES&S coordinated her travel to Las Vegas. The only thing she had to pay for was travel from the airport to the hotel, she said. Following the advisory board meeting, board members attended a performance of an acrobatics troupe, paid for by an ES&S executive, she said. Crispell said she mostly listened to more experie n c e d b o a rd m e m b e r s share ideas during the Las Vegas meeting. She attended another advisory board meeting in August 2017, at the Omaha, Nebraska headquarters of ES&S, she said. She resigned from the advisory board in the fall of 2017, in case ES&S submit-

THE CITIZENS’ VOICE FILE

Marisa Crispell said an ES&S employee approached her in February 2017 about joining the advisory board. ted a proposal for the poll books the county planned to request, she said. In early 2018, Crispell and a committee selected the ES&S poll book proposal as the best of the five submitted. Even though it was not the least expensive option, ES&S offered the most comprehensive proposal, the committee decided. County council in April 2018 voted to purchase the poll books from ES&S for $324,802. Crispell did not disclose her ties to ES&S to county council, the election board or the poll book committee. She had limited interaction with county council and needed approval from her supervisors before responding to questions from council members, she said. It was the responsibility of Parsnik or Pedri to inform council of her advisory board role, if they wished to do so, Crispell said. She said she believed Butera had informed the election board. Crispell said she was not aware of the county code of ethics until shortly before her interview with investigators. Parsnik said Crispell told him about her potential service on an advisory board that would provide product feedback. He told her she needed to be careful not to violate the county charter, he said. Parsnik said he told Crispell her advisory board service would need to be

approved by Butera and the election board. He told her that if she got permission from Butera, she would have his per mission as well, he said. Parsnik said he was “very leery” of possible charter violations because of the county’s history. He said he did not review the county charter or county codes when approving Crispell’s service on the advisory board. He said he assumed Crispell would discuss the matter with Butera and the election board and obtain the needed approvals. Parsnik said that, upon reflection, county council should have been informed of Crispell’s ties to ES&S before it voted on the poll book contract. He said Butera did not do due diligence in approving Crispell’s advisory board service, but he also blamed himself for not following up with Butera and Crispell. Butera said Crispell told him she had been approached about serving on the advisory board, and asked if he had any concerns. Butera said he told her it was an honor to have been asked, and congratulated her. He said he never spoke with Parsnik, Pedri or the election board about Crispell’s advisory board role. Butera denied Crispell’s assertion that he said she did not need to disclose the

trips to advisory board meetings on her statement of financial interest. He did not tell her that, he said. Butera said he did not consult county codes or the county charter before he told Crispell he did not see a conflict of interest. Pedri said he did not become aware of Crispell’s advisory board service until a McClatchy Company article published in June 2018 named Crispell as a participant in the Las Vegas meeting. Pedri said the McClatchy reporter called him for comment. He then called Crispell to ask about the situation, he said. Crispell told him she ran it by Butera and Parsnik before she agreed to serve, Pedri said. She said she resigned from the advisory board before the county requested proposals for poll books from vendors, he said. Pedri said he felt Crispell’s service on the advisory board was not a problem, but that the county rather than ES&S should have paid her expenses. The issue was disclosure, Pedri said. Either Crispell or Butera should have disclosed her advisory board service to any “decisionmaker,” including county council and himself, Pedri said. The situation presented a “transparency issue” because of the county’s history of scandals, he said.

Discrepancies Crispell said she discussed the advisory board with Pedri prior to attending the Las Vegas meeting. She denied that Parsnik or Butera asked or directed her to disclose her advisory board role to the county election board. She also said Butera advised her she did not need to list her advisory board trips on her annual statement of financial interest, contrary to his account.

supplemental report

An analysis included with the report lists potential violations of the county ethics code that might have occurred, especially under a section titled “gifts, loans, benefits and considerations: accepting improper influence.” However, it does not state that such violations definitely happened. “There is a general lack of awareness and/or understanding of the ethical obligations of county employees as contained in the county’s home rule charter, codes, policies and procedures,” the report states. The analysis states that any violations that occurred were not motivated by “personal benefit or gain” on the part of Crispell. There is “no evidence whatsoever” that Crispell’s advisory board service factored into or affected the recommendation of ES&S as the chosen vendor for the poll books, the report states. It also states: “The evidence gathered in this matter indicated that no malicious intent, improper motive, or desire to gain a personal benefit was present on the part of Crispell, Butera or Parsnik.” Crispell did not return messages seeking comment Monday. Pedri declined to comment, citing ongoing investigations. Butera, reached by phone, said Crispell’s advisory board service constituted merely the appearance of a conflict, rather than an actual conflict. “I thought at the time it was an honor for her to be selected,” he said.

McNees compiled a supplement to its report for two reasons. First, county council members questioned whether Crispell’s advisory board service might have been the impetus for her to pursue electronic poll books for the county. Also, a social media post revealed that Crispell’s boyfriend accompanied her to Las Vegas — which she had not revealed. Crispell first said she began to consider electronic poll books in 2016, but later corrected herself, saying she was not sure when she first studied the option. She said she discussed electronic poll books — which can save time for voters and poll workers on election day — with election officials of other counties prior to 2017, when she joined the advisory board. Contact the writer: During her first inter- emark@citizensvoice.com view, Crispell did not dis- 570-821-2117

Dorian: Likely to begin pulling away from Bahamas early today FROM PAGE A1

Other reports involved a group of eight children and five adults stranded on a highway and two storm shelters that flooded. The deaths in the Bahamas came after a previous storm-related fatality in Puerto Rico. At least 21 people were hurt in the Bahamas and evacuated by helicopters, the prime minster said. Police Chief Samuel Butler urged people to remain calm and share their GPS coordinates, but he said rescue crews had to wait until weather conditions improved. “We simply cannot get to you,” he told Bahamas radio station ZNS. Forecasters warned that Dorian could generate a storm surge as high as 23 feet. Meanwhile in the United States, the National Hurricane Center extended watches and warnings across the Florida and Georgia coasts. Forecasters expected Dorian to stay off shore, but meteorologist Daniel Brown cautioned that “only a small deviation” could draw the stor m’s dangerous core

RAMON ESPINOSA / ASSOCIATED PRESS

Anastacia Makey, 43, far right, looks at her phone as she and her family sit on cots with other residents inside a church that was opened up as a shelter as they wait out Hurricane Dorian in Freeport on Grand Bahama, Bahamas, Sunday, toward land. By 8 p.m. EDT Monday, the storm’s top sustained winds had fallen to 140 mph, still within Category 4 range. It was virtually stationary, centered just 25 miles northeast of Freeport. Hurricane-force winds extended outward as far as 45 miles from the center The water reached roofs and the tops of palm trees. One woman filmed water lap-

ping at the stairs of her home’s second floor. In Freeport, Dave Mackey recorded video showing water and floating debris surging around his house as the wind shrieked outside. “Our house is 15 feet up, and right now where that water is is about 8 feet. So we’re pretty concerned right now because we’re not at high tide,” said Mackey, who shared the video with The

Associated Press. “Our garage door has already come off. ... Once we come out of it with our lives, we’re happy.” O n S u n d a y, D o r i a n churned over Abaco Island with battering winds and surf and heavy flooding. Parliament member Darren Henfield described the damage as “catastrophic” and said officials did not have information on what

happened on nearby cays. “We are in search-and-recovery mode. ... Continue to pray for us.” A spokesman for Bahamas Power and Light told ZNS that there was a blackout in New Providence, the archipelago’s most populous island. He said the company’s office in Abaco island was flattened. “The reports out of Abaco as everyone knows,” spokesman Quincy Parker said, pausing for a deep sigh, “were not good.” Most people went to shelters as the storm neared. Tourist hotels shut down, and residents boarded up their homes. Many people were expected to be left homeless. On Sunday, Dorian’s maximum sustained winds reached 185 mph, with gusts up to 220 mph, tying the record for the most powerful Atlantic hurricane ever to make landfall. That equaled the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, before storms were named. The only recorded storm that was more powerful was Hurricane Allen in 1980, with 190 mph winds, though it did not make landfall at that strength. The Bahamas archipelago is no stranger to hurricanes.

Homes are required to have metal reinforcements for roof beams to withstand winds into the upper limits of a Category 4 hurricane, and compliance is generally tight for those who can afford it. Risks are higher in poorer neighborhoods that have wooden homes in low-lying areas. Dorian was likely to begin pulling away from the Bahamas early today and curving to the northeast parallel to the southeastern coast of the U.S. The system is expected to spin 40 to 50 miles off Florida, with hurricane-force wind speeds extending about 35 miles to the west. An advisory from the hurricane center warned that Florida’s east-central coast could see a brief tornado sometime Monday afternoon or evening. A mandatory evacuation of the entire South Carolina coast took effect Monday covering about 830,000 people. Transportation officials reversed all lanes of Interstate 26 from Charleston to head inland earlier than planned after noticing traffic jams from evacuees and vacationers heading home on Labor Day, Gov. Henry McMaster said.