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

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

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

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

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

Kizis submitted his resignation to borough officials earlier this week, and council will formally announce the move Tuesday, Council President Richard Murawski said. The reason for Kizis' abrupt exit has not been disclosed.

"I really don't know, to be honest with you," Murawski said. He described the resignation letter as "just a brief paragraph saying (Kizis) is resigning due to whatever."

Kizis' seat at the far end of council chambers often remained empty during meetings. He missed perhaps the most controversial meeting of this year when council approved two ordinances that opened the door for a heavily debated 151,000-square-foot Walmart Supercenter along Wyoming Avenue.

During that April 6 meeting, borough officials limited attendance to the room's 65-person capacity. That amounted to a breach of Pennsylvania's open-meetings law, according to nine locked-out residents who filed a lawsuit against the borough in April.

Borough officials have said the residents have no basis to sue because the borough cured any potential Sunshine Act violation when it held another meeting April 30 to address Walmart a second time. The borough also said council members have legislative immunity.

During a rare appearance at a June meeting, Kizis joined the entire council in refusing to sign an ethics pledge as part of the Ethics Awareness Initiative. The pledge asks those who sign it to adhere to ethical behavior and has drawn more than 400 signatures.

During the same meeting, the council also lifted a building moratorium in the Hicks Creek watershed, where Kizis wants to construct a 24-house development, Foxwood Estates. The moratorium, enacted because of past storm-water problems, has been at the center of a lawsuit Kizis filed against the borough last September.

Kizis, who abstained during the vote to lift the moratorium, questioned the legality of an indefinite moratorium and said it should be lifted. Kizis also argued borough officials failed to act on his proposal in a timely fashion. The lawsuit requests $50,000 in costs and damages.

Kizis has refused to comment on the still-pending lawsuit. Councilwoman Denise Adams said Thursday, though, that the lawsuit had not caused consternation in the council. She also said Kizis' resignation did not pertain to his repeated absences and that he kept in contact with council while missing meetings.

"I know he's busy. He's got a lot going on in his business," Adams said. "And I just think there's a conflict of interest from what I understand."

Kizis, a Democrat, won a four-year term to the seven-member council in the 2007. The borough issued a notice Thursday seeking candidates to finish his term. Kizis could not be reached for comment.

Mary Pat Coleman, a member of community group Exeter First, said the organization "would love to sponsor somebody" to fill the void. The group desires a candidate with strong community-planning skills, she said.

"We have definitely talked about running somebody," she said. "We didn't realize it'd come up this soon."

astaub@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2052

Michael T. Stevens, Apt. 2, 507 Lyon Court, Hazleton, jailed for 90 days for failure to pay $3,994 in support of one child.

David Folweiler, 134 Tomkins St., Pittston, jailed for 90 days for failure to pay $610 in support of two children.

Warrants were issued for the following who failed to appear in court:

Ryamond Motel, R 1027 Locust St., Hazleton, for failure to pay $7,480 in support of one child.

Joseph Kane, 141 S. Meade St., Wilkes-Barre, for failure to pay $1,433 in support of one child.

Kareem Shabazz, 246 W. Church St., Nanticoke, for failure to pay $1,425 in support of one child.

Charles Jones, 139 E. Carey St., Plains Township, for failure to pay $8,244 in support of one child.

Rebecca G. Levourhis, 132 Jalapa Drive, Kissimee, Fla., for failure to pay $10,294 in support of one child.

Anyone with information is asked to call the DRS tipline at 822-0600.

Emanuel William Mihalos II and Jeanna Marie Bau.

Jacob McSurdy and Jennifer Lentini.

Jerry Rodney Durling and Melissa G. Dalton.

Andrew S. Taylor and Erica A. Leo.

Shaun M. Love and Jaime Organek.

Tommy James Patton, 32, pleaded guilty this afternoon to homicide by vehicle while DUI and accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed.

According to prosecutors, Patton was drunk and speeding when he ran a red light on April 1, 2009 along Wilkes-Barre Boulevard and crashed his vehicle into a vehicle driven by Robert Kubicki, 60, a veteran Plains Township firefighter.

Kubicki was traveling to work to pick up a shift for a fellow fireman.

Patton's blood-alcohol concentration was 0.226 percent.

Police say Marisa Ann Harlen blew the cash on lavish shopping sprees, extravagant dinners, vacations and repeated trips to casinos.

"I am devastated. Words cannot express how I feel," the 77-year-old victim, Louise Olenik, said Wednesday night at her Larksville home.

Olenik said she trusted and loved her niece so much she told Harlen she would will her the $250,000 house on Sondra Drive if she helped her in her final years.

"The house, a $250,000 house, was hers," Olenik said. "She couldn't wait. I didn't die fast enough for her."

Arrest papers say Harlen ignored an agreement that stipulated money from the accounts must only be used to care for her aunt and uncle, only with her aunt's permission, unless the couple was incapacitated. Instead, in less than two years, Harlen illegally spent much of their life savings on herself, police say.

Harlen, of 645 Tioga Ave., is charged with 18 counts each of theft, receiving stolen property, access device fraud and forgery.

According to arrest papers:

Harlen was given power of attorney for Olenik in February 2008. An agreement was reached with Olenik's attorney that money could only be used for the care of Olenik and her husband, Edward, 81, both of whom were suffering from serious health problems.

Olenik said her niece seemed like a perfect fit. She had a college degree in finance and worked as an assistant manager at an area bank.

"She was the person I trusted. She was young. She was college-educated. I figured she was the best, but she was the worst," Olenik said.

Within several months of the power of attorney agreement being signed, Harlen began making unauthorized purchases, writing forged checks and making unauthorized withdrawals from four of Olenik's bank accounts, arrest papers say.

Harlen even redeemed 16 of Olenik's $1,000 U.S. savings bonds, police said.

Along the way, Harlen tried to convince Olenik to enter into a reverse mortgage, but Olenik declined because she had planned on giving the home to Harlen anyway, Olenik said.

Arrest papers note Harlen made hundreds of unauthorized transactions, amounting to $107,429.02.

Most transactions listed in arrest papers only document the amount withdrawn or spent and what date, but all debit card transactions document how much was spent, what day and where.

Debit card records show Harlen withdrew at least $10,000 in 25 ATM withdrawals from her aunt's account at Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs in Plains Township between December 2009 and April. She also withdrew cash from her aunt's account at Mount Airy casino in Monroe County and a casino in Atlantic City, records show.

Other purchases included airline tickets to Atlanta, dinner at Ruth's Chris Steak House, veterinarian bills, and various other shopping sprees at local retail outlets and online.

Family said Harlen was known to call Olenik after her casino junkets to tell her about her lobster dinners. Little did Olenik know that she was paying the tab.

Police said the scheme was stopped in April after Olenik was dealing with bank officials for another matter. While doing some work for her husband's veteran's benefits, she casually inquired about her account balance. She was told all she had left was $12,000.

"I decided to let the world know that people my age must protect their money and themselves," Olenik said. "It's very sad when your brother's only daughter would do this. I never thought she would do this to me."

Olenik admitted she was a bit naïve in the whole situation. She was never really close to her niece, but they reconnected in a beautiful way at Harlen's wedding two years ago. Because of her generous nature, she wanted to help Harlen out.

Another family member will be given power of attorney.

Harlen was arraigned Wednesday morning by Magisterial District Judge David Barilla in Swoyersville and released on $50,000 unsecured bail. Harlen covered her face while walking away from her arraignment and did not comment.

Robbie McIntyre, another of Olenik's nieces, said Harlen was granted power of attorney when Olenik and her husband were seriously ill and it was not known if they would survive.

"She probably was thinking they were going to die and nobody would know anything," McIntyre said.

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2055

Jonathan Harrison, 25, then fled again before being pulled over by police on River Street, police said.

As soon as police approached, Harrison raised his hands in the air, saying, "you got me. I (expletive) up," and "I took money from Curry Donuts and I have a (marijuana) bowl on my front seat."

Harrison, of Sand Street, Plains Township, is charged with theft, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to arrest papers:

Harrison walked into the Curry Donuts in the Tuff Text Plaza and ordered five doughnuts. When he was paying, he reached into the cash register and stole a stack of $20 bills. Police said Harrison fled and ran into the Extremities massage parlor 50 yards away, where he told a female worker he just robbed the Curry Donuts.

Harrison then ran to his vehicle and tried to flee on River Street before being pulled over.

After his initial, impromptu confession to police, officers took Harrison to the police station, where Harrison told them, "Yeah, I (expletive) up and took the money because I needed it."

According to arrest papers, Dewain Spencer began inappropriately touching the woman after picking her up at her home.

The woman told police she repeatedly told Spencer, 46, to stop, but he continued. She said she knew Spencer for 18 months and has previously told him she does not want to have sexual contact with him.

The woman told police that Spencer continued to touch her for about 20 minutes, touching a different body part each time she pushed his hand away.

Spencer, of 201 Sweitzer Lane, was charged with two counts of indecent assault and jailed in the Luzerne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $5,000 cash bail.

Police said a man reported he was walking through the alley when he was approached by an armed man who demanded money. The victim handed over his wallet and the suspect fled.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call Hanover Township police at 825-1254.

On a warm Wednesday, David Jones helped ferry Robert "Robbie" Jones' casket from a hearse to a tent where roughly 300 people mourned the incoming Coughlin High School junior who drowned Saturday night while swimming with friends at Mountain Lake in Bear Creek Township.

Jones obituary and guest book

In the front row, four of the Robbie's friends and teammates slid into their chairs, heads resting in their palms. David Jones stepped to the podium, his hands gripping its sides, tears slipping down his hollow cheeks as he looked at a group clad in white jerseys.

"I'd like to thank his friends for helping me carry my brother out," said David Jones, fighting through sobs with brother, Shawn, at his side. "You guys are my little brothers now."

During the 45-minute service, eulogies for Jones, who was a linebacker for the Crusaders, tried to turn the 16 year old's sudden death into a bolt further tightening the close-knit clan. And they recalled Jones as a boy, hard-nosed in pursuing a challenge, but steadfastly loyal to his family.

Those bonds will have to help Kelly and Robert Jones, Robbie's parents, as they move forward without their youngest son.

"They will get through this," said Jackie Beaver, one of Robbie's aunts. "I will have some peace because I know my family. They will be there holding each other up and holding each other together."

For the second time in three months, the Coughlin Crusaders assembled on Raymond D. Evans Memorial Football Field to grieve the loss of a teammate. In May, Joel Wallen, then a sophomore, was struck and killed by a vehicle while he crossed Route 309.

Scattered throughout the crowd, pockets of Crusaders returned to the field where Wallen and Robbie Jones first slipped on pads and cut down ball carriers as kids playing for the Wilkes-Barre Bears. Gloria Williams, Robbie's aunt, said it was the only setting fitting for her nephew.

"This is where the service needed to be, " said Williams, surrounded by her weeping family. "This was Robbie's home."

Coughlin coach Ciro Cinti declined to comment, saying it was time to help his team focus on sifting through the grief as it prepares to open its season Saturday at Dallas. For their part, players also took a pass at sharing their grief.

Lynn Evans, former president of the Bears, a member of the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board and a school bus driver, remembered Jones and his rambunctious "crew" of friends hanging out at her house for Fruit Roll-Ups and barbecue. On her school bus, he was the ringleader for small-time hijinks and innocent catcalls at college girls walking to class.

"Robbie was the king of that front seat," said Evans, who would call Jones forward from the back of the bus after a plan went awry. "I feel like I need to put his name there."

In the quiet moments after eulogies, the Jones family met at the head of the coffin to bid farewell. David Jones and Shawn Jones draped a jersey on the lid and placed a battered football at its head.

Before the hearse rolled away, the Crusaders huddled and sang the Coughlin alma mater, turning to see the slate gray Lincoln creep along the hashmarks and up the gentle slope. Meanwhile, David Jones gathered with his adopted family, sharing laughs before somberly retrieving a wreath and striding to his car.

"Now, all my mom and dad have left is me and Shawn," he said, sobbing. "I know Robbie is half of me and half of him, and together we're stronger."

mharris@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2110

Victoria K. Shanks, 21, was taken into custody for allegedly stabbing Jeffrey Boston in his arm with a butcher knife. She faces aggravated assault and simple assault charges.

Boston, 25, told police he and Shanks, his girlfriend, were arguing all day. Police were called to the residence earlier that day when police found no signs of domestic violence. Boston told police soon after, Shanks threatened him, saying she was going to throw a knife at him if he did not leave the apartment.

Boston left, but later began to walk up the stairwell to the apartment when Shanks threw a knife down the stairwell at him and struck him in the left arm, police said.Police said when they arrived, the knife was embedded in Boston's arm and he was bleeding profusely.

Boston went downstairs to a neighbor's apartment to call for help, police said.

An emergency services medic unit from Nanticoke responded. Emergency services personnel removed the knife from Boston's arm and he was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township.

Shanks told police she didn't stab Boston and claimed she was in a bedroom with her two children, one of whom was sick all day. She claimed she heard Boston yell from the kitchen, "I can't believe you (expletive) stabbed me" and then she heard him run down the steps of the apartment.

Shanks told police Boston is upset that she ended the relationship. She said he continued to threaten her that if she left the home, he was going to "leave their children there by themselves and whatever happens to them, happens," according to the police criminal complaint.

According to police, Shanks said Boston had been pushing her around physically and harassing her all day. She said after police left the apartment, he pushed her around the apartment, bruised her arm and threw a plastic pitcher of iced tea at her that broke. The plastic struck her left hand and the right side of her face in the temple area causing injuries and small cuts, police said. Boston faces simple assault and harassment charges.

dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2115

Eric Scott McCullough and Nancy Jean Fine.

John Charles Orluk Jr. and Christine Laura Webb.

Scott E. Lawson and Babara C. Mannick.

Bassem Hanna and Therese Guirguis Yaacoub.

Jason Robert Slavoski and Kelly Ann Walsh.

Claudio Nicoletti and Angela Wolfe.

Timothy Jared Puz and Nicole R. Magyar.

Ralph D. Yeager and Jennifer Lynn Selner.

Seth Nye and Janie Hershberger.

Michael Jason Balakier and Maria Anne Carchilla.

Zachary Tyler Evans and Kathryn Anne Kondracki.

John Thomas Waschek and Michelle Nicole Mancke.

Anthony Arthur Donad and Christine Marie Kanick.

Jeffrey Tomashunas and Julie Ann Winters.

Price: $6 ages 12 and older; free for children under 12

Where: 302 N. 17th St., Allentown

Contact: 610-433-7541, www.allentownfair.org

Tickets: ticketmaster.com,

800-745-3000

Big acts this weekend include Keith Urban, with American Idol finalist Kris Allen, on Friday at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $55 and reserved seats cost $65 or $75.

Comedian/ ventriloquist Jeff Dunham will perform Sunday at 8 p.m. General admission tickets are $39 and reserved seats are $49.

Justin Bieber's 7 p.m. Saturday show, with reggae fusion singer/ rapper Sean Kingston, is sold out.

The arrests were the result of an investigation headed by the state Attorney General's office into the distribution of heroin, cocaine, marijuana, Ecstasy, and prescription narcotics in and around Avoca, authorities said.

Those arrested were considered street-level dealers, police said.

"Today’s arrests are part of an ongoing effort to target local, street-level drug dealers, drug suppliers and users, who are bringing heroin, cocaine, prescription drugs and other narcotics to the streets of Luzerne County," Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett said in a news release. "Street-level sweeps, such as this, take local dealers and users off the street and eventually lead to arrests of upper-level suppliers and complex drug organizations."

Agents believe the suspects had no organizational or structural ties to one another, and despite being aware of each other’s activities, operated individually instead of as a network. The cases will be prosecuted by the Luzerne County District Attorney’s Office.

The suspects are:

--Richard Arnsperger, 28, Harriet Street, Plains, is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, and one count each of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana, possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of a child and criminal use of a communication facility.

--Joshua Bobeck, 31, 89 Atlantic Ave., Edwardsville, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin.

--Cindy "Blue Eyes" Conden, 24, REACH South Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, is charged with two counts of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and one count of criminal conspiracy.

--Jaladel Fishley, 25, currently incarcerated in the State Correctional Institute at Camp Hill, is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

--Zachary Breck, 19, 816 Coon Road, Wyoming, Luzerne County, is charged with one count each of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and criminal conspiracy.

--Corey "Little Corey" Camasso, 24, 29 Ramblewood Drive, White Haven, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin.

--Lamar "B" Brown, 24, 318 Wyoming Ave., Apt. 2, Wyoming, is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count each of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, and possession with the intent to deliver marijuana.

--Brian Cupano, 31, 390 Parsonage St., Hughestown, is charged with one count each of possession with the intent to deliver Xanax, possession of a controlled substance, and distribution non-controlled substance as a controlled substance.

--James Patrick Flannelly, 29, 416 Main St., Avoca, is charged with two counts each of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine and possession of cocaine.

--Jason "Jay" Fowler, 33, currently incarcerated in the State Correctional Institute at Huntingdon, is charged with one count each of criminal conspiracy to deliver heroin and possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

--Brian Goble, 28, 229 Oak St., Dickson City, is charged with two counts each of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine and possession of a controlled substance.

--John Hull, 36, 409 George St., Throop, is charged with one count of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine.

--Mark Pepper, 36, 859 Terrace St., Honesdale, is charged with one count each of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine, possession with the intent to deliver cocaine and possession of a controlled substance.

--Terry Kvalkauskas, 35, 35 Heather Highlands, Jenkins Township, charged with two counts of criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana, and one count each of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana and criminal use of a communication facility.

--Brenda Zimmerman, 46, 35 Heather Highlands, Jenkins Township, is charged with two counts each of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana and criminal conspiracy to deliver marijuana.

--John Leschinski, 36, 125 Center St., Hughestown, is charged with three counts of possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession with the intent to deliver Xanax, and one count of possession with the intent to deliver heroin.

--Aaron Morris, 30, 481 Hoyt St., Pringle, is charged with two counts each of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana and possession of a controlled substance.

--Christopher Lee Praefke, 30, currently incarcerated in the State Correctional Institute at Camp Hill, is charged with one count each of possession with the intent to deliver Ecstasy and possession of a controlled substance.

--Jason "Jay" Roberts, 21, currently incarcerated in the State Correctional Facility Forrest, is charged with two counts of possession with the intent to deliver Ecstasy.

--Joaquin "Jack" Rodrigues Jr., 63, 630 Detty St., Scranton, Is charged with one count of possession with the intent to deliver Vicodin.

--Victor "Chino" Rivera-Santiago, 35, 308 N. Empire Court, Apt. 421, Wilkes-Barre, is charged with three counts each of possession with the intent to deliver heroin and possession of a controlled substance.

--Carolyn Turner, 39, 416 Grove St., Avoca, is charged with two counts of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, and one count each of criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine and possession of a controlled substance.

--Leroy Vanwert, 41, 416 Grove St., Avoca, is charged with two counts of criminal use of a communication facility, and one count each of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine, criminal conspiracy to deliver cocaine and possession of a controlled substance.

--Brandon Wilson, 24, 726 Hamlin Court, Moosic, is charged with two counts of possession with the intent to deliver marijuana.

--David Zablotney, 44, 25 West Pettibone St., Forty Fort, is charged with one count each of possession with the intent to deliver OxyContin and possession of a controlled substance.

--"Prince", age and address unknown, is charged with three counts each of possession with the intent to deliver cocaine and possession of a controlled substance.