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Hazleton man drowns
A Hazleton man drowned while swimming at Beltzville State Park, state police in Lehighton said. Police said Juan Rosa, 20, was reported missing and last seen on Sunday afternoon swimming in the Wild Creek area of the park, which is not a portion of the lake in which swimming is authorized, police said. Members of the Lehighton Fire Co. Dive Team found Rosa’s body in the lake Sunday night. The death was determined to be an accidental drowning, police said. WILKES-BARRE
Mr. Peanut will visit area
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TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012 PAGE 3A
LOCAL Guilty plea made in hit-and-run Karen McCann was charged with homicide by motor vehicle and DUI. By SHEENA DELAZIO sdelazio@timesleader.com
WILKES-BARRE – A city woman charged with running into and killing a man and then driving away pleaded guilty Monday to a dozen charges relating to the case, including homicide by motor vehicle
On July10, Mr. Peanut and his new vehicle, the Nutmobile, will be making an appearance at the 33rd National Convention of Peanut Pals being held at the Genetti Hotel & Conference Center, July 8-12. Mr. Peanut will arrive around 3:30 pm on July 10. Mr. Peanut and his new vehicle will visit the Peanut Pals Swap Meet, open to the public from 2 to 4 p.m. that day, and admission is free. Planters got its start in WilkesBarre in 1906 when Amedeo Obici and Mario Peruzzi founded Planters Nut and Chocolate Co. Mr. Peanut arrived in 1916 as a result of a contest the company sponsored.
while driving under the influence. Karen McCann, 34, of Blackman Street, also with an adMcCann dress of Kingston, entered the plea before county Judge William Amesbury to charges relating to the June 2011 hit-and-run that left 64-year-old Aloysius McLaughlin dead.
McCann, who was scheduled to stand trial on the charges Monday, faces a minimum of three years in prison on the homicide charge when she is sentenced on Sept. 27. Amesbury said she may face additional prison time on two other felony counts of accident involving death or injury and two misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, her second offense. Amesbury said that while McCann awaits sentencing she
must continue to participate in the county’s Day Reporting Center and undergo random drug testing. “If you test hot (for drugs or alcohol) I will remand you to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility,” Amesbury warned. Nearly two dozen members of McLaughlin’s family were present in court Monday and will likely speak at McCann’s sentencing hearing. According to police,
WILKES PRESIDENT BEGINS DUTIES
WILKES-BARRE
Pocono Raceway and the American Red Cross Northeastern Pennsylvania Region have partnered for their seventh annual blood drive series to ensure a sufficient blood supply for patients in need this summer. Donors will be offered a chance at some spectacular prizes. The main blood drive will be at Pocono Raceway on July 12 from 1 to 7 p.m., with satellite drives occurring on July 11 and 12 for people who cannot be at the track location. Each presenting donor will receive a ticket to Pocono Raceway’s Aug. 4 race events including NASCAR Sprint Cup Series qualifying, NASCAR Camping World Truck Series qualifying, the Pennsylvania 125 (ARCA race), and the Pocono Mountains 125 (NASCAR Camping World Truck Series race). Presenting donors also will be entered for a chance to win several prizes, including four terrace seats to the 2012 Pocono 400, gas cards, and an opportunity to meet all of the NASCAR drivers on-stage during the opening ceremony. Donors are asked to call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or visit redcrossblood.org/nepa/poconoraceway to make an appointment; for platelet donation appointments, call 1-800-432-8045 ext. 2232.
4 creeks will be improved By JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES jandes@timesleader.com
CLARK VAN ORDEN/THE TIMES LEADER
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ew Wilkes University President Patrick Leahy talks with faculty and staff at a meet-and-greet event Monday morning at Weckesser Hall as he begins his first week as president. Leahy, of Bear Creek Village, replaces Tim Gilmour, who retired June 30 after 11 years as president of the school. Leahy previously was employed as executive vice president of The University of Scranton. When his appointment was announced in March, he said he will be a hands-on administrator who will be seen on campus and approachable to faculty, staff and students alike. He set a personal goal of visiting all of the school’s academic departments within his first 60 days and promised that ‘in my early days, I’ll listen more than I’ll talk. I’ll be seen more than I’ll be heard.’
Biden will speak at Scranton event
A Scranton native, VP making first visit since touring flood areas.
LONG POND
Raceway sets blood drive
See MCCANN, Page 7A
The waterways in Plymouth and Plymouth Township pose danger.
Gun safety talk planned
The Wilkes-Barre Crime Watch Coalition invites the public to learn about gun safety and laws at a free seminar July 11 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Emergency Management Building, 185 Water St. Speakers will be state Trooper Christopher Wilson, a firearms instructor for 16 years and the head FI for Troop P for the past five years. He has qualified thousands of troopers and hundreds of civilians. His primary duty assignment is supervising the Forensic Services Unit, Megan’s Law and Criminal Investigations at the State Correctional Institution at Dallas. Also speaking will be Randy Shaw, former police officer in Fairfax County, Va., detective of the Organized Crime Division/Street Crimes Unit, member of a SWAT team for seven years, and a law enforcement and firearms instructor at Luzerne County Community College. Topics will include weapons safety, mechanical operation of the handgun, proper ammunition, nomenclature, disassembly/assembly, cleaning, controlling access, addressing injuries, personal protection equipment and the state laws on guns. This free seminar is open to any Luzerne County resident 18 years of age and older who either owns a gun or is interested in purchasing one. Do not bring any guns or weapons to the seminar. Call 208-8900 for reservations.
McLaughlin was working as a landscaper in front of a home at 173 Third Ave., Kingston, at the time of the incident. Police said McCann was driving a Chevrolet Trailblazer that struck McLaughlin. He later died at a local hospital of multiple traumatic injuries, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors said McCann had cocaine and prescription medications in her system at
By BILL O’BOYLE boboyle@timesleader.com
Vice President Joe Biden will be in Scranton today to meet with campaign supporters, visit friends and family, and give remarks at Scranton’s Courthouse Square fireworks celebration. U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, is expected to attend the event and appear with Biden. They are scheduled to make a public appearance together at 7:30 p.m. today. It was not known if Biden would
make additional stops during his visit. Biden was most recently in the region Sept. 16 when he toured flood-damaged areas in DuBiden ryea. Biden assured flood victims that the government “wasn’t stepping away” and help was on its way. Biden, a native of Scranton, toured the flood-ravaged homes in Duryea for two hours with elected officials and flood-relief personnel. Biden and President Barack Obama are seeking re-election in the Nov. 6
SCRANTASTIC SPECTACULAR SCHEDULE 4 p.m.: Gates open 4:30-6:50 p.m.: Local bands perform 7 p.m.: Declaration of Independence recited 7:20 p.m.: Opening remarks (mayor, county commissioners, others) 7:30 p.m.: U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, Vice President Joe Biden 7:45-9:40 p.m.: NEPA Philharmonic 9:45 p.m.: Fireworks
General Election. Republican Mitt Romney is the presumed Republican candidate. He has not yet selected his running mate.
Four waterways in Plymouth and Plymouth Township damaged by flash flooding one year ago today will be scooped out and reinforced in a few weeks. Nearly 6 inches of rain that fell in less than an hour on July 3, 2011, caused massive runoff from Plymouth Mountain into tributaries that drain into the Susquehanna River -- Coal Creek, Brown Creek, Wadham Creek and Duffy Run. The powerful torrents ripped up the creek banks and dumped sediment that could cause additional property loss and flooding if it rains hard again, officials said. Sediment removal and creek bank restoration of the upper portion of Coal Creek should start by late summer, said Josh Longmore, Luzerne Conservation District manager. A water company and government agencies have completed restoration and debris removal in the lower section of Coal Creek, Longmore said. The Conservation District agreed to oversee the project and obtained grants to fund the work, which is estimated to cost between $450,000 and $500,000. The creek runs through Plymouth borough and township. “We’ll protect the rest of the stream bank and restore the channel to its original capacity,” Longmore said. The Conservation District obtained a $674,790 state Department of Environmental Protection grant in February to fund the work. The U.S. Department of Agriculture subsequently agreed to fund 75 percent of most of the work, he said. The state grant will pay the 25 percent local match and any expenses not covered by the agriculture department, Longmore said. If grant money remains, it will fund stream bank restoration requests in other areas stemming from September 2011 See PLYMOUTH, Page 7A
You’ll have a new place to take furry friends in need of care New West Side Veterinary Hospital in Kingston will be a larger facility. By EILEEN GODIN Times Leader Correspondent
KINGSTON – Pet owners and furry patients will have a new veterinary hospital facility on the West Side, but will continue to see the familiar faces of Dr. William Rubin, Dr. Donald Sankey and staff. West Side Veterinary Hospital, 576 Market St., will be mov-
ing to a larger facility at 401 Third Ave., near the corner with Pierce Street. Due to the extensive renovations needed, Rubin said, the new hospital will not open until late winter or early spring of 2013. The 6500-square-foot building’s design caught Rubin’s eye years ago, and when the time was right, he purchased it in October. Pulling out a colorful floor plan, the two doctors show how different the new facility will be from their current one. Plans show six exam rooms, one of
which will double as a comfort room. “That is double what we currently have,” Sankey said. Set in a park-like area, the building will provide additional space and expanded hours to meet the needs of the doctors’ approximately 4,000 patients. Their current practice on Market Street covers 2,900 square feet. When the renovations are completed, including a partial second floor, they will have 7,000 square feet of work See VET, Page 7A
AIMEE DILGER/THE TIMES LEADER
The future Third Avenue site of West Side Veterinary Hospital. The new facility will be larger than the current one.