The LuLac Edition #833, May 30th, 2009

PHOTO INDEX: STATE REPRESENTATIVE ED STABACK AND LACKAWANNA COUNTY SHERIFF JOHN SYZMANSKI.

DUAL LAWMEN

Seems like the two top lawmen in Lackawanna County politics earned dual nomination for the fall. Therefore the two are virtually assured of election come November. Sheriff John Syzmanski won both the Democratic and Republican nominations. The long time lawman trounced Deputy Chester Cipilewski by almost 7,000 votes to win the Democratic nod and defeated him by 900 votes on the GOP side. One must wonder the future relationship, if any between the winning incumbent and his vanquished deputy. Meanwhile, incumbent DA Andy Jarbola gets another free electoral ride. The GOP top cop won his party’s nomination running unopposed and garnered 2900 votes on the Democratic side. Unlike Luzerne County, the Lackawanna County GOP seems to have a pretty good hold on this office. Past GOP DA’s were Ernie Preate and Paul Mazzoni.

POTHOLE PARK SAFE

State representative Ed Staback says not to worry, the Archbald Pothole State Park will most likely remain open. “The state spends little to keep the park up and running, and almost all of the maintenance is done by Archbald borough."There's no actual park personnel there, and no campground, no facilities for swimming” Staback told the Scranton Times. So unlike a few of the women I’ve known from the Mid Valley, the park is pretty low maintenance and according to the venerable state lawmaker will remain open for all pothole fans to enjoy.

THE SHOE DROPS

Jim Height, former President of the Wilkes Barre Area School Board and Ross Scarantinto, former superintendant of the Pittston Area School district entered guilty pleas in federal court yesterday for taking bribes from unnamed contractors. Their appearances were perfunctory and went quickly. More of these procedures are sure to be repeated in the coming months as the scandal unfolds.

NEWARK BEARS?

A caller to the WILK Saturday morning sports program hosted by Rob Nyehard and Joe Thomas brought up an intriguing possibility. The caller talked about the Yankee farm team in Newark and how there might be a possibility that in a few years they may be the Yankees Triple A team instead of the Scranton Wilkes Barre Yankees. The logic being that all three minor league teams would be within 25 minutes of the big ball park in the Bronx. Realistically, attendance at PNC Park has declined the last few years. Plus ticket prices are now $14.00 a person if you want to sit downstairs. So a family of four is already spending $56.00 just to get in the door. Compare that to the Red Barons when the ticket prices were less than $10.00 and you see where in this tough economy fan support might be waning. The political ramifications of a Yankee move are nil because the main architect of the Yankee move here, Bob Cordaro was defeated in his bid for reelection as Lackawanna County Commissioner.