COVINGTON TWP. - The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a loan of up to $80,000 for Moffat Estate playground equipment.

The three-year loan through First National Community Bank has an interest rate varying between 2.8 and 5.25 percent. The township will pay $25,000 annually for the first two years, with the remainder of the balance to be paid in the third year.

Funding for the project is being provided by four $25,000 grants provided annually from the Robert Y. Moffat Charitable Trust. The first grant payment was provided to the township during Tuesday's meeting.

ROARING BROOK TWP. - Police are looking for a suspect in a case of arson or criminal mischief.

They are seeking the person who set fire to a lawn tractor stored atop a travel trailer in the township. There were no injuries in the fire, but the reported damage was estimated at $7,000.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Roaring Brook Twp. police or state police at Dunmore.

ROARING BROOK TWP. - State police at Dunmore are investigating a fire intentionally set late Friday to a lawn tractor atop a travel trailer.

The state police fire marshal unit declared the fire on Nova Drive an arson on Saturday. There were no injuries, and damage was estimated at $7,000, state police said. The incident occurred between 10 and 10:30 p.m.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Roaring Brook Twp. police at 842-6080 or state police at 963-4323.

RLE Enterprises, of Rear 457 N. Main St., is seeking $27,250, as well as more than $600 in court fees and fines. The company filed the lawsuit, which alleges a breach of contract and unjust enrichment, in Lackawanna County on Thursday.

The lawsuit states the city and Office of Economic and Community Development executed a construction service agreement with RLE Enterprises on Dec. 31, 2008, for the demolition of hazardous structures, including 518 Oak St., 926-928 Cedar Ave., 1712 Luzerne St., 146 S. Sherman Ave., 144 S. Sherman Ave., 2819 Marvin Ave. and 1717 Price St.

The company completed the work and provided the city with an invoice for payment.

The lawsuit states the company received a $19,000 payment, leaving an unpaid balance of $27,250.

Attempts to reach RLE Enterprises and its attorney, Jeffrey Nepa, as well as city solicitor Paul Kelly Jr., were unsuccessful on Friday.

Contact the writer: jmrozinski@timesshamrock.com

Archbald

Wednesday, Sept. 1

n Alarm: 200 block of South Main Street, 11:28 a.m.

n Traffic stop: South Main and Winton streets, 2:14 p.m.

n Investigation: 800 Henry Street, 4:38 p.m.

n Traffic stop: Scranton-Carbondale Highway and Rushbrook Street, 5:39 p.m.

n Traffic stop: Columbus and Peggy drives, 6:40 p.m.

n Traffic stop: Columbus and Kennedy drives, 6:53 p.m.

n Welfare check: 200 block of Summit Lane, 6:53 p.m.

n Crash: Wildcat Road, 10:19 p.m.

Mayfield

Monday, Aug. 30

n Nuisance complaint: First block of Henry Drive, assisted Jermyn Police, 1:06 a.m.

n Disorderly conduct: First block of Henry Drive, assisted Jermyn police, 3:50 a.m.

n Animal complaint: 800 block of Hudson Street, 11:23 a.m.

n Criminal mischief: 700 block of Madison Avenue, assisted Jermyn police, 2:02 p.m.

n Crash: 800 block of Scranton-Carbondale Highway, assisted Archbald police, 2:38 p.m.

TUESDAY, AUG. 31

n Alarm: 300 block of Bacon Street, 3:20 a.m.

n Burglary: 500 block of Lincoln Avenue, 5:11 a.m.

n School traffic: Lackawanna Avenue and Linden Street, 8:10 a.m.

n Police assistance: 800 block of Poplar Street, 9:43 a.m.

n Warrant: 400 block of Jefferson Avenue, 10:32 a.m.

n Traffic control device: 500 block of Cemetery Street, 12:18 p.m.

n Traffic stop: 800 block of Lackawanna Avenue, 2:33 p.m.

n Driving under the influence: Fifth Street and Scranton-Carbondale Highway, 4:36 p.m.

n Traffic stop: Chestnut and Hill streets, 5:31 p.m.

n Traffic stop: Gorden Avenue and Erie Street, 5:40 p.m.

n Traffic stop: Lackawanna Avenue and Chestnut Street, 5:58 p.m.

n Traffic stop: Scranton-Carbondale Highway and Plank Road, 6:25 p.m.

n Traffic stop: Plank Road and Route 6, 6:40 p.m.

Moscow

Saturday, Aug. 28

n Abandoned vehicle: North Main Street, 12:05 a.m.

n Traffic stop: South Main Street, 12:45 p.m.

n Special duty: Lehigh Twp., 7 p.m.

n Assist Covington police: O'Hara Road, 8:38 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 29

n Assist state police, 3:48 p.m.

Monday, Aug. 30

n Police assistance: I-380 bridges, 8:30 a.m.

n Parking violations: Church Street, 8:40 a.m.

n Assist Covington police: Route 307, 2:53 p.m.

n Traffic stop: Citation, N. Main Street, 8:24 p.m.

Tuesday, Aug. 31

n Traffic stop: Warning, 15-mph school zone, 9:15 a.m.

n Motor vehicle violation: North Main Street and Hideaway Drive, 1:35 p.m.

n Truancy: Centennial Park, 1:55 p.m.

n Traffic stop: Citation, 15-mph school zone, 3:51 p.m.

n Vehicle repossession: Church Street, 9:14 p.m.

Scranton

MONDAY, AUG. 30

n Burglary: 600 block Back Street, 3:22 a.m.

n Burglary: 1100 block Philo Street, 7:53 a.m.

n Theft from auto: 600 block Luzerne Street, 10 a.m.

n Narcotics investigation: 1600 block Nay Aug Avenue, 12:33 p.m.

n Motor vehicle theft: J.A.C. Auto Sales, 500 block Keyser Avenue, 1:26 p.m.

n Criminal mischief to auto: 700 block Marion Street, 2:05 p.m.

n Crash: Luzerne Street, 3:10 p.m.

n Domestic disturbance: 400 block Harrison Avenue, 9:15 p.m.

TUESDAY, AUG. 31

n Burglary: North Scranton Little League, 700 block Theodore Street, 9:07 a.m.

n Narcotics investigation: 1100 block South Washington Avenue, 1:35 p.m.

n Theft: 400 block Morgan Highway, 3:40 p.m.

n Domestic disturbance with arrest: 1000 block Remington Avenue, 3:01 p.m.

n Theft: 1000 block Quincy Avenue, 3:40 p.m.

n Theft from auto: 100 block Anthony Street, 5:30 p.m.

n Domestic disturbance: 1700 block Academy Street, 5:52 p.m

n Harassment: 1000 block Quincy Avenue, 6:50 p.m.

n Simple assault: 100 block Wyoming Avenue, 6:56 p.m.

n Animal complaint: 1100 block Eynon Street, 7:20 p.m.

n Fire: 300 block Meridian Avenue, 7:23 p.m.

n Attempted forcible entry: 500 block Colfax Avenue, 9:27 p.m.

n Drug violations: 800 block Prescott Avenue, 9:41 p.m

n Burglary: 900 block Sanderson Avenue, 10:22 p.m.

n Retail theft: 1400 block Mulberry Street, 10:51 p.m.

n Theft: 800 block Hemlock Street, 11:46 p.m.

South Abington Twp.

MONDAY, AUG. 30

n Unregistered solicitation: 400 block Edella Road, 10:20 a.m.

n Abandoned vehicle: 100 block North Abington Road, owner located, vehicle removed, 11:35 a.m.

n Alarm: 100 block Stone Crest Circle, building secure, 11:55 a.m.

n Burglar alarm: 300 block Clark Street, Clarks Green, property secure, 12:40 p.m.

n Road rage: 100 block Edella Road, incident unfounded, 6:15 p.m.

TUESDAY, AUG. 31

n Suspicious persons: 300 block Edella Road, unfounded, 5 a.m.

n Alarm: 1000 block Fairfield Circle, home secure, 7:45 a.m.

n Criminal mischief: 100 block Racquel's Way, 7:50 a.m.

n Crash: Route 6 at Starbucks, no injury, 10:30 a.m.

n Traffic stop: 300 block Northern Boulevard, speeding citation, 1 p.m.

n Crash:: Edella Road and Fox Run Circle, no injuries, 1:20 p.m.

n Traffic stop: 400 block North Abington Road, Clarks Green, speeding citation, 3 p.m.

n Crash: Morgan Highway and Country Club Road, injury, 3 p.m.

n Crash: Morgan Highway at Lahey Fun Park, no injuries, 6:30 p.m.

n Fireworks complaint: Sunnyside Avenue, 7 p.m.

n Traffic stop: Morgan Highway, speeding citation, 11 p.m.

WILKES-BARRE - About 300 people gathered at the Raymond D. Evans Memorial Football Field to mourn the incoming Coughlin High School junior who drowned Saturday night while swimming with friends at Mountain Lake in Bear Creek Twp.

Friends of Robert "Robbie" Jones slid into their chairs, heads resting in their palms. His brother, David Jones, stepped to the podium, tears sliding 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, fighting through sobs with brother, Shawn, at his side. "You guys are my little brothers now."

For the second time in three months, the Coughlin Crusaders assembled 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.

Troopers probe N. Pocono thefts

MOSCOW - State police at Dunmore are investigating the theft of tools from two North Pocono homes.

One theft happened Monday between 6 and 8 a.m. outside a home on Jubilee Road in Madison Twp., state police said. The other occurred between Friday night and Monday at 11 a.m. at a residence in Mount Laurel Village.

Investigators are still trying to determine whether the thefts are related.

State police asked anyone with information about the thefts to contact the Dunmore barracks at 963-3156.

Marino challenges Carney to debates

WILKES-BARRE - Republican Congressional candidate Tom Marino has challenged Democratic incumbent Chris Carney to nine one-hour debates.

Mr. Marino issued a statement Tuesday declaring himself ready to debate at "any time, any place," and said it was "shameful" Mr. Carney, D-10, Dimock, would not agree to a series of debates other than a scheduled Oct. 27 session on WVIA-TV.

Josh Drobnyk, a spokesman for Mr. Carney's campaign, said Mr. Carney is "weighing many invitations for forums and roundtables" in October, during a congressional recess.