The LuLac Edition #4,196, December 29th, 2019

TOP 10 LOCAL STORIES OF 2019

1. Mayor Bill Courtwright in Scranton resigns his seat and pleads guilty to corruption counts.
2. Senator John Yudichak, a lomng time Democratic office holder changes his party registration to Independent. The move stunned the local political community. Yudichak is in his third term as Senator from the 14th District and cited the inability of both parties to work together in Harrisburg.
3. In The Lac, two incumbent County Commissioners, one a Democrat Patrick O’Malley, the other a Republican lose their primary bids. In the General election Democrats Jerry Notarranni and Attorney Debi Dominick squared off against Mike Giannetta and Chris Chermak. Natarrianni and Dominick won as the Dems and Chermak prevailed as the Minority Commissioner.
4. History was made in the city of Scranton Tuesday night as the first woman was elected to the mayor’s office. She won the special election to serve the remainder of former mayor Bill Courtright’s term after he pleaded guilty to corruption charges in July. She won 40 percent of the votes.
5. Residents and municipal officials who likely will be hit with a new stormwater management fee expressed their concerns at a public comment session at the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Authority armed with plenty of questions. The state Department of Environmental Protection is requiring municipalities that drain water into the Susquehanna River to submit stormwater permit plans by September showing how they will reduce sediment by 10 percent.
6. In Wilkes-Barre incumbent Mayor Tony George and former Councilman George Brown have a rematch of their 2015 battle. This time Brown wins in a walk capturing the nomination on both tickets.
7. In Hazleton, Mayor Jeff Cusat wins re-election as he embarks on his second term.
8. The start of the year in Wilkes Barre is marred by 5 shootings in the course of a few days in February The shooters are apprehended within short time.
9. It was a good night for the Republicans in Luzerne County , who took four of the available seats on the council, which serves as the legislative body of county government. The GOP wasn’t even fielding a full ticket but Republicans LeeAnn McDermott, Walter L. Griffith Jr., Stephen J. Urban and Kendra Radle. Won to form a new majority on County Council.
10. Activist Gene Stilp arrested defacing KKK brick on Wilkes-Barre monument. Wilkes-Barre police arrested activist Gene Stilp after he tried to deface a Ku Klux Klan brick that was placed on a city-owned monument.
Police and City Administrator Rick Gazenski repeatedly warned Stilp against taking his hammer and chisel to the East Coast Knights of the True Invisible Empire brick that was prominently placed on the monument, but Stilp persisted with his plan despite the threat of arrest.