The LuLac Edition #2423, May 16th, 2013

Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith (Photo:TopNewsToday.org) 

GRIFFITH TO BE ARRAIGNED 

The Times Leader is reporting that Luzerne County Controller Walter Griffith will be arraigned on wire tapping charges before Distinct Justice Martin Kane in Wilkes Barre. The State filed felony wire tapping charges against Griffith. Coming before the GOP primary on Tuesday, this will have obvious ramifications that we cannot foresee at this time.

KELLEHER TALKS ABOUT THE VOTE 

I had a conversation with Luzerne County Council member Gene Kelleher about the way he voted the other night regarding the confirmation of Linda Coxen of Colorado. Kelleher was one of the five no votes and said that he was very impressed with Coxen and felt that she was knowledgeable and made a good presentation. But he also talked about the appointment that County Manager Bob Lawton recommended the next day after Coxen was voted down. Kelleher said that Joan Hogarth has done everything the Council has asked of her. He advised that she is a hard worker who along with Art Bobbouine has dispatched and expunged more than 3,000 juvenile records that are the sad legacy of the Judicial scandal. Kelleher said he felt his no vote went a bad message to employees under the dome who are busting their butts and being passed over by someone from out of the area.  
Kelleher said that the problem in Luzerne County has been the politicians and not the people who work trying to fix things behind the scenes. Kelleher said he and most of the Council has been supportive of Lawton’s choices but in his (Kelleher’s case) he wanted to take a stand on this issue. He lauded Coxen as a classy person and pointed out she sent thank you e mails to the Council members. 
Maybe this controversial vote had its upside. From some of the people I’m talking to, Lawton’s quick reversal might mean he got the person for the job that he subconsciously intended all along.

Vote logo. 

WILKES BARRE AREA SCHOOL BOARD RACE

This coming Tuesday, the Wilkes Barre Area School Board has four seats up for election. This is a crucial time for the District because it is coming out of an era where politics was the norm and education was secondary. If you doubt that, all you need do is look at the convictions of some of its members. Criminal conviction. Thought I’d clarify that. 
There are 10 candidates running for four seats. Here’s a rundown of some of the people running: 
Joe Bernardo might not have ingratiated himself with voters at the Wilkes Barre Price Chopper Tuesday when his cards were found on cars in the lot and a rainstorm ensued. The cards I’m told got stuck. But you can blame Tom Clark not a candidate willing to get his name out there. 
Anthony Thomas is an earnest young man who has been involved with local politics at Wilkes working on the Tina Gartley effort. He is an energetic and personable young man who would breath some fresh air and new ideas. 
Three candidates running really bother me and I’m not going to be voting for them under any circumstances. The three are affiliated with the School District and while I value education, the election of these three will only cement the ties to the old network. Two former administrators, Joe Caffrey (who will get a good vote out of South Wilkes Barre) and Ned Evans are retired employees of the Education system. Caffrey most likely is the favorite in this race due to his aggressive sign campaign, especially in South Wilkes Barre. And he has been hoofing it door to door in the neighborhoods. You have to respect that. No problem with their careers but I have to question why after all those years in education in administration, they all of a sudden want to be on this school board. As a Wilkes Barre taxpayer who has seen the performance of retired school personal like Phil Latinski, Kathy Kane and Joe Moran as public servants,  these two could be the second coming of the founders of Yale and Harvard and I still wouldn’t buy their candidacies. 
Another connected person is Denise Thomas, Attendance Officer in the Wilkes Barre Area School District. Would her current employment cause a conflict of interest? Is she going to recuse herself on key votes? Is she going to keep her job if elected? Even if she were retired like the other two, it just smacks of the old board. 
A team has been formed with Christine Katsock, Kathy Grinaway and Barry Matthews. While people weren’t crazy about the way Katsock got on the board, once there she was the only person standing up to the ridiculous money grab by the District Solicitors. Anyone remember Tony Lupas and how all that stuff got by the board? 
Her lone voice (at times joined by Dr. Jim Susek) needs help. Grinaway who ran a strong race the last time, would be a great addition to the board. Grinaway has two grown children, a full time career and is concerned about the way money is spent in the District. She doesn't need the aggravation but has stepped up as a citizen concerned about this area. In the primary I’ll vote for their team mate Matthews to make sure the others I’m not crazy about don't get another vote. My fourth vote will go to Len Cornish, a quality professional who will lend some serious credentials to the board and some depth. 
Those are my four Democrats but in the General, I’ll only be voting for three. I’m committed to Jim O’Meara who has chosen not to cross file and will run on the GOP line in the fall. This is going to be an extremely important race and I’d urge voters to pick people who will bring another perspective to this recovering board of education.

Congressman Lou Barletta. (Photo: LuLac archives) 

BARLETTA ON KEYSTONE PIPELINE 

Congressman Lou Barletta's office  issued the following statement regarding Transportation and Infrastructure Committee approval of the Northern Route Approval Act, which would clear the way for construction of the Keystone XL pipeline. Rep. Barletta is a member of the Committee. 
“This debate has gone on for more than four years now, and the Administration has used all of its powers to stall and delay. The fact is that this is one of the most studied pipeline projects in history, and an environmental review completed nearly two years ago determined that the environmental impact would be minimal. “The benefits of the construction would be many. According to the State Department, the construction of the pipeline will create more than 42,000 American jobs and result in nearly a million barrels of oil per day to U.S. refineries. TransCanada estimates that it will spend $7 billion in the U.S. to build the pipeline. $585 million in state and local taxes will be paid along the construction route. “This should be part of an ‘all of the above’ energy policy and it would prevent nations like China from stepping in to gain access to Canada’s oil rather than the United States. 
It would be better for the U.S. to trade with Canada than to continue to send $1 billion a day for oil to countries that hate us. After all, these nations will hate us for free. “In Pennsylvania, we are sitting on vast amounts of natural resources that would make our state a leader in the world – not just in the United States. That fact, coupled with the president’s refusal to act on Keystone, is further evidence of this Administration’s failed energy policy. 
Let’s remember that this is the same president, who as a candidate promised to bankrupt the coal industry, an industry of such vital importance to the Commonwealth. “As a co-sponsor of this bill, I am pleased that it has moved along in the process and look forward to its final passage in the House. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take similar action.” 

MEDIA MATTERS 

THE PARTY ZONE 

Catch the new extended 70s, 80s, 90s oldies show "The Party Zone" with Shadoe Steele beginning this Saturday from 6 - midnight on 50,000 watt powerhouse WAVT-FM - T-102. ... and on line at www.t102radio.com 

ECTV LIVE 

ECTV Live hosts Tom Munley and David DeCosmo will be looking forward to some very special, and free, Memorial Day services on their program during the week of May 20th. John Hart, representing the Sons of Union Veterans,will outline plans for his unit's tribute to all veterans including local soldiers who served during the Civil War. ECTV Live is carried on Comcast Ch19 and can be seen every day at Noon and Midnight with selective additional showings at 6pm on various days. The complete ECTV schedule can be found via Goggle at ECTV schedule. 

SUNDAY MAGAZINE  

GETZ RETURNS

Gerald Getz who was the manager of KRZ properties in the 80s and 90s returns as General Manager of Cumulus Broadcasting, the old Citadel, the old Tele Media, the old Susquehanna. Look for Getz to shake things up. Just hope he puts WARM on an FM frequency and upgrades that transmitter. I'm sure some of his odd and old  broadcast cronies will be thrilled to see him. 

Our 1976 logo. 

1976 

In a reaction to Watergate, U.S. President Gerald Ford signs the Federal Election Campaign Act. o An accident involving a tanker truck carrying anhydrous ammonia takes place in Houston, Texas, resulting in the deaths of 7 people.........Yuba City bus disaster, the worst bus crash in U.S. history with 28 students and one teacher killed…….in Pennsylvania, the Senate race is set with two Congressman, Bill Green from the East and John Heinz from the western part of the state. An epic battle between two of the state’s largest cities seems to be shaping up in the election to succeed Hugh Scott…in Luzerne County, the Fine Arts Fiesta has a Bicentennial bent with displays of patriotic fervor as well as tours of various historical sites through the County….and 37 years ago the number 1 song in America and Lulacland was “Silly Love Songs” by Paul McCartney and Wings.

 

TUESDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT AT 8PM TOP TEN TWEETS!