Police responded to 135 Westminster St. at about 9:30 p.m. on the report of a man who was stabbed.

Next-door neighbor Eddie Rivera said he called the police after the girlfriend of the victim came over, hysterical, saying the brothers had been arguing about money for marijuana. Rivera said he had seen the brothers drinking beer on the front porch earlier that evening.

At about 9:45 p.m., police brought a young man out of the residence in handcuffs and put him in the back of a police cruiser.

Rivera said he had seen the victim walking around, and he appeared to have wounds on his arm and torso. The victim was taken by ambulance to Gesinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center for treatment.

Police said the victim's condition was unknown, but by 11 p.m. he was expected to be in surgery.

Rivera's wife, Juana, said she works with the brothers at Nardone Bros. Pizza and they are usually loving. This was the first time she'd seen them fight, she said.

"I just don't understand what happened. I see them joking around, playing around with each other. Today, I just don't know what happened," she said.

The family moved into one of the four units at 135 Westminster St. a few months ago, the Riveras said, and have been good neighbors.

Debbie Widman lives next door to the Riveras and said overall, the family has been quiet, but she has contacted police previously because of an increase in traffic during the last few months.

"It's always been something going on there," Widman said. "Between the drugs and the gangs, you get tired of it."

Police said the investigation is continuing and a translator was needed. As of press time, police did not release the motive or the names of the victim or suspect due to the ongoing investigation.

Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, told about 20 senior citizens at their downtown Scranton center that the increase in taxes on the wealthy is necessary to help reduce a federal budget deficit that Bush worsened dramatically. The debt was $5.7 trillion four months before Bush took office and about $10 trillion four months before he left office, according to United States Treasury Department figures.

"Now, what that meant is we … borrowed the money to reduce the taxes," he said. "Now I'm in favor of keeping the tax reduction that we made then on the middle-class" because middle-class Americans spend the money rather than save it, helping the economy.

Kanjorski said many wealthy Americans pay a lower taxation rate because their income mostly comes from increases in the value of their investments. The top tax rate on those investments - known as the capital gains tax - is 15 percent; the top income tax bracket for people earning up to $171,000 is 28 percent.

"There are people in New York City that had hedge funds (investments) that all they earn a year is $2.5 billion," he said.

"Is that all?" one man asked.

"Yeah, that's all. Twenty-five hundred million dollars. It's tough (for them)," Kanjorski said with a note of sarcasm.

Kanjorski also criticized Republicans for backing the privatization of Social Security.

The visit to a senior center was the second in two days for Kanjorski. His Wednesday visit to one in Plains Township prompted his Republican opponent, Hazleton Mayor Lou Barletta, to accuse him of lying about the future of Medicare.

Kanjorski told his Plains audience the new health care reform law does not cut Medicare benefits "in any way."

Barletta's campaign pointed out that Rep. Tim Holden, D-St. Clair, said he voted against the bill because it "makes significant cuts to Medicare and Medicaid."

"There are two options here - either Kanjorski is lying or Kanjorski is calling Rep. Holden a liar," Barletta spokesman Shawn Kelly said.

In response, Kanjorski's campaign pointed to an AARP fact sheet that says the "new law extends the financial soundness of the program by 12 years, to 2029" and "No one will lose Medicare coverage."

bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com

Neil E. Turner of Harveys Lake, Joan P. Schooley of Dallas Township, John Nowak Sr. of Lake Township, and Nicole H. Karr of Fairmount Township filed the appeal in Luzerne County court Thursday. Its basis is that the board exceeded its powers and scope of authority by granting Encana permission for uses for which the company didn't specifically ask.

The appellants' attorney, P. Timothy Kelly, could not be reached after office hours for comment.

"Since I have not yet seen the details of the appeal to which you refer, I am unable to provide any comment other than to note that individuals certainly have the right to appeal the decisions of a Zoning Hearing Board to the Court of Common Pleas," zoning hearing board Chairman Larry Newman stated in an e-mail.

Encana applied to the county's zoning hearing board on June 25 for a special exception to drill two natural gas wells and place hydraulic fracturing water storage tanks and six personnel trailers on a property owned by William Kent off Route 118 in Fairmount Township, then place two permanent wellheads at the site.

The company asked for the same permissions for three more gas wells to be located on land on Route 487 in Fairmount Township owned by Kent and Jeffrey Hynick.

On June 30, Encana submitted an application to the zoning hearing board for temporary use to drill five gas wells and place frac water storage tanks and six personnel trailers on the 4-P Realty property on Loyalville Road in Lake Township.

Encana also asked to permanently establish at the site five natural gas wellheads and a gas processing facility with equipment, including a meter station, radio tower and compressor building.

The zoning hearing board, which consists of Newman, Anthony Palischak and William Harris, granted Encana all the conditional uses after a hearing on Aug. 3.

According to the appeal:

n Although extraction and underground storage of gas and oil are permitted as special exceptions in agricultural districts, natural gas facilities are not designated for permitted use or special exception.

n Because Encana asked for natural gas wellhead facilities and the zoning hearing board gave permission for natural gas wellheads, the board exceeded its powers and the scope of its authority by granting a special exception for a use the company didn't request.

n Since Encana leases the land in question but does not own it, and the owners of the properties were not the ones to petition for the hearing, the county's zoning ordinance was violated.

n The public notices were "misleading and incorrect" because they stated the petitions were for permanent natural gas wellheads, but in reality they were for wellhead facilities that included equipment such as metering units, separators and tanks.

n The public notices also failed to mention that, for the Lake Township property, Encana was applying for the natural gas facility, "which is described in Encana's accompanying literature as a massive industrial facility requiring five acres of land."

The appellants are asking the court to deny the permits issued by the zoning hearing board.

In June, residents Dr. Thomas Jiunta, Brian and Jennifer Doran and Joseph Rutchauskas appealed the Lehman Township supervisors' April 13 ruling allowing Encana conditional use to drill a natural gas well on Peaceful Valley Road.

They claimed Encana didn't meet the use requirements, and that the supervisors failed to ensure the gas company "provided additional conditions and safeguards deemed necessary to protect the public health, safety and general welfare." However, in July Encana withdrew plans for the Lehman Township well, essentially making the appeal moot.

eskrapits@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2072

Patton, of Noxen, pleaded guilty Thursday to charges he killed a Plains Township firefighter in a drunk driving crash in Wilkes-Barre in April 2009.

The 32-year-old signed a plea agreement admitting to charges of vehicular homicide while driving under the influence and accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed.

Patton was drunk and speeding when he ran a red traffic light and slammed into Robert Kubicki's vehicle on Wilkes-Barre Boulevard around 10:30 p.m. on April 1, 2009, police said.

Prosecutors had several witnesses to the crash, which made it a strong case and likely prompted Patton's guilty plea, Assistant District Attorney Michael Vough said.

"Cases plea because they're strong," Vough said. "It really was an indefensible case."

Before the crash, Kubicki had just volunteered to work an overtime assignment after getting a call the department was short a man for the midnight shift. Kubicki was on his way to work when he was killed.

"Then this guy runs a red light at a high rate of speed," Vough said.

Kubicki, 60, was the most senior firefighter in Plains Township with 35 years on the job.

Testing later determined Patton's blood-alcohol concentration was 0.226 percent, nearly three times the legal limit, police said.

Witnesses said Patton was speeding southbound on Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, weaving through lanes of traffic and then ran through a red light without braking before hitting Kubicki's vehicle near Butler Street.

A state police accident reconstructionist determined Patton was driving between 47 and 56 mph at the time of the crash. Wilkes-Barre Boulevard, in this section, has a posted maximum speed limit of 35 mph.

A witness said she saw Patton emerge from his vehicle after the wreck and tell his passenger he was thinking about fleeing on foot.

"Dude, I am so (expletive) if I get a DUI," Patton allegedly said.

The passenger, Roy Hart, replied, "You think you're (expletive). You may have killed the guy. You better stay."

Patton faces a mandatory minimum of four to eight years in state prison when he is sentenced at 9:30 a.m. Oct. 14.

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2055

Joblessness for the metro area has increased to a seasonally adjusted 10.4 percent - far higher than the seasonally adjusted 7.6 percent unemployment rate in Bradford County, a hotbed of Marcellus Shale drilling where unemployment dropped nearly 1 percentage point since last July.

Teri Ooms, executive director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development, said the industry did not improve the region's unemployment numbers because much of the drilling activity is not happening in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties.

She expects that active drilling in Wyoming County - the third county in the metropolitan statistical area - will spur some improvement in future unemployment numbers.

"I consider Lackawanna to be adjacent to the core drilling counties at this point," she said. "There will be some residual employment improvement" because of that proximity, she said, but "we're not going to see an immediate impact."

She added that as the closest urban centers to drilling in more rural counties, Scranton and Wilkes-Barre will benefit from the influx of drilling nearby.

"People don't do all of their living and working and procuring of goods and services within a single jurisdiction," she said.

One factor that will improve the employment picture for local workers looking for jobs connected to the industry is the expansion of area training centers and programs for Marcellus Shale jobs.

Lackawanna, Johnson and Keystone colleges have all begun offering courses, programs and other training for industry-related jobs, while Pathstone, a human services agency, is coordinating training for more than 200 people in welding and diesel mechanics for jobs in the industry.

llegere@timesshamrock.com

On Friday, though, fans got a reminder of just how great a 2010 Laird had.

The 22-year-old third baseman was named the Most Valuable Player and Rookie of the Year in the Eastern League, rewarding the staggering numbers he posted in his first season at Double-A Trenton.

He hit .291 with 23 homers, 90 RBIs and 71 runs scored before being promoted to Triple-A on Aug. 2. At that point, he was leading the Eastern League in both RBIs and total bases (214).

The award is a fitting cap to what was a dynamic debut season in Double-A.

Twice in 2010, Laird tied Trenton's franchise record for RBIs in a game, piling up seven on May 16 and June 24. On May 26, he became just the second Trenton player to hit for the cycle, finishing it off with a two-run, walk-off home run to beat Erie, 7-6.

In July, he was named to the Eastern League All-Star team as the starting third baseman for the Eastern Division.

In 26 games with the AAA Yankees, Laird is hitting .218 with two HRs and nine RBIs.

In Thursday's game, the Yankees continued to steam ahead to the playoffs while dashing any hopes the Bisons had for a postseason run.

With the Yankees' 9-2 victory, Buffalo was officially eliminated from wild card contention.

Yankees starter Kei Igawa earned the victory, his first decision since a loss Aug. 28 against the Bisons in Moosic.

The left-hander, the franchise leader with 32 wins, threw 6⅓ innings during which he allowed just three hits.

However, the Yankees gave Dillon Gee a hard time on the mound. After two scoreless innings, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's bats let loose.

In the third, Brandon Laird and Eric Bruntlett led off with back-to-back singles. Gee hit Kevin Russo with a pitch to load the bases, and Jesus Montero cleared them with a three-run double that put the Yankees on the board.

Jorge Vazquez doubled with two outs to score Montero, who reached third on a passed ball.

Bruntlett went deep in the fourth inning to score Chad Huffman and Brandon Laird - who started the inning with back-to-back singles - to put the Yankees up 7-0. Bruntlett and Laird finished 3 for 4 and Colin Curtis added two more hits. The right-fielder, who has a hitting streak of 15 games, surpasses the previous long streaks of the season - 12 games by both Russo, from April 28-May 16, and Vazquez, June 19-July 1.

The surge of offense chased Gee, and with Adam Pettyjohn on the mound in the fifth, Juan Miranda had a solo shot of his own, his 15th of the season, to extend the Yankees' lead to eight.

With one out in the seventh inning, Igawa's night ended and George Kontos came in to pitch for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre for the first time since he went on the DL for Tommy John surgery last July.

In 17 games with Double-A Trenton, he allowed 30 hits in 32 innings, posting a 3.38 ERA.

Against Buffalo on Thursday, Kontos recorded his first four outs on just nine pitches before giving up a single to Russ Adams.

Kontos surrendered a leadoff walk in the ninth to Valentino Pascucci, who scored on Mike Cervenak's groundout to make it 9-1.

Another run scored when J.R. House singled with two outs to plate Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who doubled.

But Kontos ended the threat when he got Justin Turner to line out to Reid Gorecki on the first pitch he saw.

Treasurer Delores Seitz brought up continued concerns about parking ticket accounting for the police department during Wednesday's council meeting. She had previously raised concerns about receipts and tickets not being kept as long as the state requires when Swoyersville provided protection in Luzerne.

To receive copies of tickets, with confidential information redacted, Seitz filed a Right to Know request. Wednesday night, she asked if she would need to continue filing requests so she could see the new parking tickets written each month. Council President Mike Jancuska said she would need to do that.

Based on the results of her Right to Know requests, Seitz expressed concerns over potential violations of state regulations, including the creation and retention of parking tickets and receipts for those that are paid. For example, she said one ticket had been marked paid, but no receipt was available.

Councilwoman Judy Gober said they are following procedure suggested by the borough's accountant, and a receipt was not needed because the ticket was paid via check.

When questioned about her decision to continually ask about parking ticket issues during public meetings, Seitz said she is the borough employee who tracks money spent and received and feels her concerns should be discussed in front of the public. Councilman Bill Turean called her comments "showboating" and Solicitor Jonathan Spohrer said the proper channel for an employee should be to go the employer.

This segued into a theme that was continuously revived throughout the meeting, about how people should approach borough officials about concerns.

"Delores shouldn't have to put in Right to Know requests of any kind because she is an employee. She's doing it because in the past she's been treated like a citizen," resident Kathleen Pajor said.

"Delores should have acted as the employee and taken it to the police committee. … The way she addresses the council is the way the council will respond," Council President Mike Jancuska said.

Continuing a conversation from recent meetings, residents asked whether police officers would use punch cards to track hours worked, instead of the current system where officers write time sheets, Councilwoman Judy Gober said she spoke with police Chief Paul Bowman and he advised they continue using the time sheets.

"If the officers punch a clock, there is a very good chance there will be more overtime," she said.

If an officer works hours outside of his or her shift, that is on their own time and their decision, she said. They could choose to leave at the end of their shift.

After a series of heated, passionate meetings, Turean said he wants meetings to be more orderly, such as when people can speak and for how long. He plans to propose at next week's meeting that council session are moved back to the borough building, where they were held until last spring when attendance swelled in response to concerns about the cost of starting a police department.

Meetings have since been held at the Luzerne Borough Fire Hall. The idea of moving back to a smaller space upset residents like Beverly Kascsak.

"So you're saying you don't want us here? You're saying you want to discourage us from attending?" she said.

Gober said if they meet in the borough building, council members will have easier access to paperwork and other information when questions are asked. The next council meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday at the fire hall.

emoody@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2051

The 35th annual edition of La Festa Italiana opens Saturday at Lackawanna County Courthouse Square, and organizers anticipate as many as 50,000 people will visit each day through Monday to immerse themselves in Italian culture, enjoy the continuous live entertainment and sample the tasty offerings.

Although visitors will find a few new wrinkles - including a greater variety of foods from the 70-plus vendors - the La Festa committee has not tinkered too much with a formula that has kept people thronging to the event year after year, board president Chris DiMattio said.

"Why mess with success?" he asked rhetorically.

The organization tries to make improvements every year, including making it easier for visitors to find parking and increasing the number of chairs and tables available, DiMattio said.

"But truly there is only so much you can do in preparation," he said.

La Festa will run from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday and from noon to 9 p.m. on Monday. Around Courthouse Square, Linden and Spruce streets and Adams and North Washington avenues will be closed to vehicular traffic during festival hours.

The Labor Day weekend weather is expected to be almost ideal, without even a hint of rain in the forecast.

Partly sunny skies Saturday will give way to mostly sunny skies Sunday, with a high each day in the high 60s, according to the National Weather Service. Monday will be sunny and warmer, with a high around 73. The evenings will be relatively cool, with lows in the upper 40s.

DiMattio said one new feature at this year's La Festa will be bocce instruction, with experts teaching the basics of the traditional Italian game on the courthouse lawn. Festival-goers will also have a chance to learn "morra," a traditional finger game, he said.

La Festa is again partnering with Lackawanna Railfest, being held this weekend at Steamtown National Historic Site. DiMattio said there will be a shuttle to take visitors back and forth between the two events.

On Sunday, the annual Mass in Italian will be celebrated at 10 a.m. at St. Peter's Cathedral on Wyoming Avenue.

The Rev. David P. Cappelloni, pastor of SS. Anthony and Rocco Parish in Dunmore and La Festa chaplain, will be the principal celebrant. Bishop Joseph C. Bambera, bishop of Scranton, will deliver the homily.

The Mass will be broadcast live by CTV: Catholic Television, with rebroadcasts scheduled Tuesday at 8 p.m. and Wednesday at 10 a.m.

Fireworks will light up the sky over the square Sunday at 10 p.m.

City police have assigned a detail of officers to La Festa, although patrol Capt. Carl Graziano said the festival has been a "generally well-behaved event" over the years.

"For the amount of people we have there - knock on wood - it has been uneventful from a law enforcement perspective," Graziano said.

More information about La Festa Italiana, including the full entertainment schedule, is available at the festival website, www.lafestaitaliana.org.

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com

A son Aug. 26 to Christine and Phillip Schoener of West Pittston.

A son Aug. 26 to Leslie and Doug Iracki of Kingston.

A son Aug. 26 to Melissa and Paul Novak of Shickshinny.

A son Aug. 27 to Casandra Casaldi and Michael Holena of Glen Lyon.

GEISINGER WYOMING VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER

A son Aug. 15 to Barbara and Joe Ranieli, Pittston Township.

Twin daughters Aug. 16 to Veronica and Michael Bouldin, Moosic.

A son Aug. 16 to Kelly and Michael Belanchik, Dorrance.

A son Aug. 16 to Amber DeLuca and Brandon Murray, Wilkes-Barre.

A daughter Aug. 17 to Rose Martin and Stephen Roberts, Wilkes-Barre.

A son Aug. 17 to Heily Cedano and Nelson Melo, Hazleton.

A son Aug. 17 to Christine and Charles Duddek, Pittston.

A son Aug. 17 to Shirley Reim and Chris Stec, Montrose.

A daughter Aug. 17 to Samantha Pacewicz and William Deininger, Tunkhannock.

A son Aug. 17 to Dana and Richard Smith Jr., Laceyville.

A daughter Aug. 18 to Kelly Kenny and Stephen Hunter, Hanover Township.

A son Aug. 18 to Sherri and Daniel Langan, Wilkes-Barre.

A son Aug. 19 to Deborah and Gary Harris, Hunlock Creek.

A son Aug. 19 to Danyelle Hornick and Adam Dailey, Hanover Township.

A daughter Aug. 19 to Becky and Eric Dotzel, Wilkes-Barre Township.

A daughter Aug. 19 to Lisa Kolesar and William Shook III, Swoyersville.

A son Aug. 19 to Akeizhia Copp and Pete Lieback Jr., Hughestown.

A daughter Aug. 20 to Erika Riscart and Joseph Coolbaugh, Plymouth.

A daughter Aug. 20 to Tina Pleskach and T.J. Sons, Wilkes-Barre.

A son Aug. 23 to Rakia May and Darrell Booker, Scranton.

A son Aug. 23 to Renee and Mark Schneider, Wilkes-Barre.

A daughter Aug. 23 to Elizabeth and Jayson Brown, Mountain Top.

A son Aug. 23 to Jennifer Ramirez and Carl Roth, Nanticoke.

A daughter Aug. 24 to Kathleen and Kevin Piwowarski, Mayfield.

A daughter Aug. 24 to Erin Gudman and Sean McMenamy, Tunkhannock.

A daughter Aug. 24 to Nancy Kerpovich and Jay Pius, Swoyersville.

A daughter Aug. 24 to Nicole and Jon White, Shavertown.

A daughter Aug. 25 to Sabrina Serniak and Casey Shea, South Gibson.

A son Aug. 25 to Melissa and Bruce Whetstone, Mountain Top.

A son Aug. 25 to Kayla and John Truett, West Pittston.

A son Aug. 25 to Kristen Schintz-Herbert and Matthew Herbert, Pittston.

A son Aug. 26 to Gretchen Bucholtz and Shawn Yelland, Wilkes-Barre.

A daughter Aug. 26 to Kimberly and Scott Dienno, Jim Thorpe.

A daughter Aug. 26 to Jeanine and Matthew Jeckell, Mountain Top.

A son Aug. 27 to Marjorie and Joseph Powers, Mountain Top.

A daughter Aug. 27 to Jennifer Kennedy, Wilkes-Barre.

A daughter Aug. 27 to Melissa and Freddy Santamaria, Tamaqua.

A son Aug. 28 to Julie Loyack and Juan Hernandez, Wilkes-Barre.

Four people were arrested in Monroe County after a dispute between two men escalated into a road-rage incident that led to gunshots and left one person seriously injured, police said.

Officers found Sean Ivey, 26, of Tobyhanna, naked and lying on the ground when they arrived Wednesday around 7 p.m. at Winding Way and Starlight Terrace in Tobyhanna, Pocono Mountain Regional police said. He was taken from the scene by ambulance with what police described as multiple traumatic wounds.

Police arrested Anthony Molyneaux, 28; Brady Lightfoot, 21, and Dennison Herbert, 21, on aggravated assault and related charges, and Michelle Winfrey, 20, for hindering apprehension, police said. Lightfoot is from New York City; the other three suspects live in Tobyhanna.

According to police:

Molyneaux and Herbert, who were involved in an ongoing dispute, came across each other while driving through a Pocono Country Place development and words were exchanged. Molyneaux, who was operating a Ford Explorer with Lightfoot as a passenger, started pursuing Herbert, who along with Winfrey was riding in a Saturn Ion driven by Ivey.

During the chase, Herbert leaned out the window of the Saturn and fired several rounds from an assault pistol at the Ford. The Saturn crashed while rounding a bend, and the Ford slammed into the rear of the vehicle.

Herbert and Winfrey ran. Ivey, who was injured in the crash, was caught by Molyneaux and Lightfoot, who stripped him of his clothing and assaulted him. Witnesses told police Molyneaux was armed with a knife during the assault.

Police said the pistol allegedly wielded by Herbert was reported stolen in Steubenville, Ohio.

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com

Derrick M. Donchak and Brandon J. Piekarsky will be tried in October in Courtroom 1 of the William J. Nealon Federal Building and United States Courthouse, Senior U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo ruled in a one-sentence order. Caputo, who is presiding over the trial, did not explain the reason for the change.

Caputo did not change the scheduled start of the trial, which is 9:30 a.m. Oct. 4.

Donchak, 20, of Shenandoah, and Piekarsky, 18, of Shenandoah Heights, are both charged as a result of their alleged participation in the July 12, 2008, beating of Luis Eduardo Ramirez Zavala on West Lloyd Street, Shenandoah. Donchak also is charged with obstruction of justice.

Ramirez, 25, of Shenandoah, died two days after the beating of head injuries at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.

pbortner@republicanherald.com

Griffith said he attended the meeting, which included all three county commissioners. The Sunshine Act requires a meeting be open to the public when at least two commissioners meet for official action and deliberations, but the act allows closed meetings for a few exceptions, such as discussing personnel matters that involve a specific prospective or current employee or discussing collective bargaining issues.

"It had noting to do with personnel," Griffith said Thursday. "Why were there three commissioners there and no press?"

Commissioner Chairwoman Maryanne Petrilla responded, "Walter needs to read the Sunshine Act. We are well within our right to be in the same room at the same time. What we cannot do is deliberate. There was no deliberation. There was discussion."

The act says deliberation is "the discussion of agency business held for the purpose of making a decision."

Officials said they discussed at the meeting Sheriff John Gilligan's concerns about rising expenses associated with paying sheriff deputies for driving personal vehicles. Last month, commissioners, Griffith and Gilligan ended a legal dispute over bonus pay for personal-vehicle use.

According to the agreement, deputies were able to get bonus pay for personal-vehicle use from Jan. 1 to Aug. 16 and now receive mileage reimbursement - 50 cents per mile, as established by the Internal Revenue Service - when they drive their own vehicles. The bonus pay was based on fees charge to lawyers, and Gilligan is concerned that mileage reimbursement is costing more.

The dispute began in January when Griffith took office and refused to pay bonus compensation to sheriff deputies. Griffith said the bonus pay to six deputies from Jan. 1 to Aug. 16 cost about $108,000.

The county is opening bids to buy five new vehicles for the sheriff's department on Tuesday, which could result in fewer trips in personal vehicles. In an e-mail to the sheriff on Thursday, County Manager/Chief Doug Pape said the county road and bridge department has two vehicles that sheriff deputies can use until the county buys new cars for the sheriff.

mbuffer@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2073

Riccardi and Michael Simonson are accused of kidnapping Donnie Skiff, 34, on April 27, 2009 in Shickshinny, luring him around to extract cash from area ATMs and beating him to death in a wooded area of Jenkins Township. Simonson pleaded guilty on Aug. 25 to a single count of second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. Riccardi faces the death penalty and was scheduled to stand trial Sept. 10.

According to the request for continuance filed by Riccardi's lawyers, additional time was necessary to prepare for trial.

Luzerne County Judge Joseph M. Augello granted the continuance, with pre-trial motions to be completed on or before Sept. 24 and the trial scheduled to begin Jan. 19.

Upon arresting Marisa Ann Harlen, 29, on Wednesday for allegedly depleting her aunt's life savings, police searched the 645 Tioga Ave. home where she lives with her husband, Jason, and her 2010 Lincoln MKZ, records show.

Police said Harlen blew the cash on lavish shopping sprees, extravagant dinners, home improvement expenses, vacations and repeated trips to casinos.

Among the items seized were:

n Harlen's 2008 income tax returns.

n Casino-related items, such as player's club cards to Mount Airy, Harrah's, the Atlantic City Hilton, Tropicana Casino, Las Vegas Casino Royale, the Trump Taj Mahal, Club Riviera, the MGM Mirage, the Las Vegas Hilton, Club Palms and nine other casino cards.

n Receipts for a $2,438 purchase from EFO Furniture, a $4,229 purchase from Aqua Leisure Pools, a $2,050 purchase from Rutkowski Fencing, a $3,640 purchase from Wyoming Valley Landscaping, a $2,252 purchase from Home Depot, a $4,265 purchase from Trosko Construction, and thousands in veterinary bills.

n Receipt for the lease of a 2010 Lincoln MKZ and receipt from Ford Credit.

Arrest papers also note that Harlen withdrew at least $10,000 in 25 ATM withdrawals at the Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs casino.

Police accused Harlen of looting her aunt's bank accounts "at will" after being given power of attorney in 2008, writing forged checks and making unauthorized withdrawals.

Harlen was charged with 18 counts each of theft, receiving stolen property, access device fraud and forgery. She is free on $50,000 bail.

William Benjamin Wolfe was charged with one count of indecent assault with a person younger than 13, and was remanded to the State Correctional Institution at Mercer.

According to the affidavit, Wolfe inappropriately touched a 7-year-old in June 2009 and the child told an employee at school. Larksville police investigated and arrested Wolfe.

In addition to the prison time, Wolfe must register as a Megan's Law offender for the rest of his life and can have no contact with the victim or children under 18.

Prosecutors say Michael D. Rentko's alleged actions in the Park Street shooting violated previous bail conditions after he robbed a Nanticoke convenience store April 16. Rentko, 26, was released on his own recognizance after the 2:15 a.m. robbery at Uni-Mart on Main Street, where he assaulted two employees who caught him shoving beef jerky and candy bars in his pants.

On Thursday, prosecutors asked Luzerne County Judge William Amesbury to revoke and reset Rentko's bail in the robbery case. Amesbury revoked Rentko's bail and reset it at $50,000 cash. Rentko had been jailed since the day after the shooting on $25,000 cash bail.

He now remains in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in lieu of a total $75,000 cash bail.

According to police, Rentko shot his 16-year-old heroin dealer last Friday at 149 Park St. Rentko is charged with felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor reckless endangerment.

Judge A. Richard Caputo denied the probation department's motion to quash a subpoena seeking the daily case lists for the county's Juvenile Court from Jan. 1, 2003 to June 3, 2008. The former juvenile court defendants have filed civil-rights actions seeking damages from two former county judges who allegedly accepted $2.8 million in kickbacks for lodging juveniles in for-profit detention centers and other individuals and entities implicated in the scandal.

The probation department argued the case lists were confidential under state law. Caputo denied its motion without comment.

In a related case, Caputo ruled Tuesday that local developer Robert K. Mericle, who built the centers and has admitted to paying the judges, is not entitled to insurance coverage in his defense against the civil-rights claims.

Travelers Property Casualty Co. of America, which insured Mericle's development companies, balked at paying for Mericle's defense or for any damages, arguing that the policies in question do not apply in cases involving alleged criminal activity.

Mericle is awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to failing to report a felony in connection with the payments to the two former judges, Mark A. Ciavarella Jr. and Michael T. Conahan.

Mericle is expected to testify against Ciavarella in a criminal trial next year. Conahan has pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy and faces up to 20 years in prison.

Mericle faces up to three years in prison, but could receive less than one year or merely probation under federal sentencing guidelines and his plea agreement.

djanoski@citizensvoice.com, 570-301-2178

In the morning, up to 400 runners will take part in the Wendy's Wonderful Kids Half Marathon and 10K race. During the afternoon, the Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania USAC State Championship Bike Races and Pennsylvania Senior State Championships will roll along the city's streets.

"We're unbelievably excited," said Rich Pais, an organizer for the half-marathon and 10-kilometer races. "There's so much that's come together for this weekend."

And Wyoming Valley children up for adoption and receiving foster care will be the victors.

Pais said a portion of proceeds from the half marathon will go toward the Wendy's Wonderful Kids program and Children's Service Center, which helps place older children and teens with adoptive families.

The road races start at 7:30 a.m. Saturday at the River Common on a looped course winding along the Susquehanna River, Pais said. Roughly 300 people have registered so far, including runners from 10 states, and up to 100 more are expected to sign up Friday evening, he said.

"If you're a runner, it is flat, it is fast, it is shaded and it is two loops," Pais said. "Not only are you going to have a closed street to explore, you're going to see the competition."

Meanwhile, the cycling races will take place between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., along with the Jack Williams Youth Bike Race and the Candy's Place 10-Mile Benefit Ride.

After the cycling races wrap up, Pais said high school students can enter the Wet Paint T-Shirts Main Street Mile, where they can win up to $500 for their school's athletic department. The school with the largest number of kids taking part wins the challenge, he said.

"You don't have to race this mile," Pais said. "All you have to do is show up and walk (or) run it."

The health-oriented weekend starts today on Public Square, where the Wilkes-Barre Health and Fitness Expo, featuring up to 40 vendors, will run from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. On Saturday, the expo will also run 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. and feature booths for Catholic Social Services, Bethany Christian Services and Children's Service Center of Wyoming Valley.

For spectators, Pais said there will be a free pancake breakfast Saturday and a kids activity zone at the finish line near the amphitheater at the River Common.

"You've got a formula for success," he said. "Everything we've told our sponsors and race volunteers is that this year is about turning out a fun time so cyclists and runners will come back."

mharris@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2110

If You Go

Today

n 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Wilkes-Barre Fitness Expo on Public Square.

Saturday

n 7 to 8 a.m.: Opening ceremonies at River Street start/finish line for runners.

n 7:30 to 11 a.m.: Wendy's Wonderful Kids Half Marathon/10 K races.

n 8:30 to 11 a.m.: Registration for the Main Street Mile.

n 8:30 a.m. to noon: Sundance Vacations Activity Center at River Common.

n 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.: Rafting on the Susquehanna River.

n 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.: Fitness Expo on Public Square.

n 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.: Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania USA Cycling State Championships and Pennsylvania Senior State Championships.

n 4:30 p.m.: Candy's Place 10-Mile Ride/Race.

n 5 p.m.: Jack Williams Tire Youth Races.

n 5:30 p.m. Pro/Elite State Championship Title Race.

n 7 p.m.: The Main Street Mile.