News

SCRANTON — Jane Widenor flips through the tattered black book filled with the names of hundreds of First Christian Church parishioners spanning eight decades. The book is bittersweet for the 85-year-old Clarks Summit woman because it is one of the few mem

HANOVER TWP. — For the third straight year, local history buffs and re-enactors refused to let rain ruin the annual Hanover Green Cemetery Heritage Day celebration on Sunday. Sunday’s ceremony honored veterans of World War I, since that war ended 100 year

The state Department of Transportation announced the following upcoming road work projects: Interstate 80 n Patching will take place from Exit 263 Mountain Top to Exit 256 Conyngham from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday. n May 1 to June 30 there

You are never too old to suffer from addiction, especially addiction to opioids. That is the message from treatment specialists and professionals at all levels. The oldest person to die of an overdose in Luzerne County in 2017 was Paul Sorokas, who was 75

IN A CRISIS Local caseworkers for Helpline are available 24 hours a day to refer callers to resources available for those with drug and alcohol problems. Call 570-829-1341 or visit www.helpline-nepa.info. The state has a similar program, “PA Get Help Now.

Find more stories, resources, video, interactive features, a podcast and comments from our readers at citizensvoiceblogs.com/opioid/.

Camelback getting new restaurants The Poconos resort announced the opening of three new restaurants on the property in the coming months. They are: Graffiti Pizza, Kartrite Summit House and Berrelli’s Italian Kitchen. Local law firm relocates office Sweet

The fifth annual Edwardsville Pierogi Festival wrapped up Saturday at Johns Hopkins Memorial Park. Saturday’s events featured a pierogi cookoff. Winners were: n Best vendor pierogi: Joe’s Homemade, first place; EJK Concessions, second place; and The Polis

NEWPORT TWP. — Frank Slapikas came from Alabama to mourn an uncle he never met and greet a cousin he never knew existed. Frank Slapikas was 3-years-old when his dad’s brother, Edward F. Slapikas, was killed during the Japanese sneak attack on Pearl Harbor

Addiction can ruin or end a life at any age. Paul Sorokas was 75 when he died on April 1, 2017, the oldest person to die from a drug overdose in Luzerne County last year. Sorokas, a fun-loving but hard-working man known as “Bobo” who lived in Wilkes-Barre

Peter Butera plans to return to the scene of the crime for the upcoming Wyoming Area High School graduation ceremony. His so-called crime: The valedictorian went off script delivering a speech at last year’s ceremony, and Wyoming Area Secondary School Pri

Twelve people died of drug overdoses in Luzerne County in April 2017, according to the county coroner’s office. The Citizens’ Voice is naming only those whose families agreed to be interviewed. n April 1: Paul Sorokas, 76, from Wilkes-Barre. n April 1: Ma

MORTGAGES n Robert Watson et al. to American Advisors Group, $186,000; Central Avenue, Salem Twp. n Robert Watson et al. to Commissioner of Housing and Urban Development, $186,000; Central Avenue, Salem Twp. n Gary J. Casale et al. to Mortgage Electronic

King’s College Six faculty members were recently granted tenure by the college’s board of directors. Granted tenure and promoted to associate professor were Deborah Carr, Ed.D., education; Chad Hogg, Ph.D., computer science; Janine Janoski, Ph.D., mathema

WILKES-BARRE — A city woman fraudulently collected more than $8,200 in welfare benefits by hiding income she earned as a hairstylist, according to charges filed in court. Asiana C. Williams, 24, of 74 Wyoming St., was arraigned Thursday on a single felony

The owner of a company that lost its contract to provide security for the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority said the authority cut ties because she questioned Republican gubernatorial candidate Scott Wagner’s use of authority property to land his helicopt

NANTICOKE — The Quality Hill Playground, a staple in the Nanticoke community, is in need of repairs. The park was severely damaged when a May 15 storm decimated several trees, ripped the roofing off the park’s two buildings and destroyed parts of the chai

PITTSTON — A woman caught stealing a battery charger from a drug store is facing robbery charges after pulling a knife in what she described as a “social experiment that went horribly wrong,” according to police. Rosaria Helyn DeAngelo, 33, is accused of

WILKES-BARRE — The female student at the center of a sex scandal involving a former Pittston Area High School teacher is seeking the court’s permission to contact the woman convicted of sexually abusing her. Through an attorney, the now 20-year-old colleg

DALLAS — A high school football star who was severely injured in a shooting years ago died this week — five years to the day after the mysterious home invasion. Paul Brace Jr., 24, died Tuesday afternoon after being found in a bathtub at the family home,