The LuLac Edition #739, Feb. 24th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: EVIE REFALKO McNULTY
AND THE LUZERNE COUNTY COURTHOUSE.

EVIE BACK IN

Evie Refalko McNulty is announcing for another term as Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds. She will have a party on April 3rd, Frriday night from 7PM to 9PM. It will be held at the Radisson at Lackawanna Station in the Ballroom. The tickets are $40.00 per person which includes beverages, munchies, and EJ the DJ. Evie says, "It’s almost hard to believe that another four years have passed. We’ve made tremendous advances in the office by digitizing all of our recordsand now offering those records free on the web to the public. You know that saying “I have miles to go before I sleep”, well that’s how I feel about the work and projects I have planned for the future of the office. With your support and friendship and of course your vote I hope to make it another four years in this year’s election".

SHARKEY FIRED

William, Sharkey was relieveed of his duties officially today. Sharkey was suspended without pay after charges were filed against him on Feb. 3. He pleaded guilty on Feb. 17 to stealing $70,000 in illegal gambling proceeds that were supposed to be turned over to the county treasurer.

NOT OUT OF WOODS

Jill Moran, who resigned as Prothonotary is by no means out of the legal crossfire woods. Moran could potentially face criminal charges if she violates an agreement to cooperate with federal prosecutors investigating corruption in the county courthouse. according an agreement she and her attorney signed. The pact required Moran to resign as prothonotary and to provide complete and full cooperation in the investigation into the alleged fraud. According to a civil complaint Moran voluntarily informed prosecutors that persons known to her attempted, without her full knowledge to use her to facilitate frauds that deprived residents of Luzerne County to their right to honest services by those persons named and other individuals.

A BLAST FROM THE PAST

Former Luzerne County Prothonotary Carolee Medico Olenginski has announced she intends to run for the seat being vacated by current Prothonotary Jill Moran. Medico Olenginski, a Republican, confirmed her interest in the seat on Monday, the same day it was revealed that Moran had submitted a letter of resignation to Gov. Ed Rendell. She said Moran’s resignation, which is effective March 13, played no role in her decision to run. According to the Times Leader, she began considering running after learning that judges Michael Conahan and Mark Ciavarella – who shared a financial interest with Moran in a real estate development firm -- had pleaded guilty to accepting kickbacks. “I knew Conahan had actively campaigned against me. He was a hard person to go up against because he had a lot of people beholden to him. When I found out he was out of the picture, I began contemplating running,” she said. Medico Olenginski served as prothonotary from 1998 to 2002 before losing the seat to Moran. She said that experience will prove invaluable in helping to restore public confidence, which has been shaken amid the ongoing probe into corruption within the judiciary. Medico's political career was launched when she became a cause célèbre on the Ted Williams radio program broadcast over WILK Radio in the 90s. During her tenure she did battle with Courthouse insiders and administrators about how she ran her office.