Wet wipe woes! Workin’ hard The comfy cloths are causing quite the clogging commotion for the money NEWS, 7A Wal-Mart ramps up holiday hiring BUSINESS, 8B WILKES-BARRE, PA timesleader.com TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2013 50¢ Trust will preserve site as bird sanctuary that will be open to the public. establish a land-use plan over time that will be The Wyckoffs purchased 177 acres and 48 Back Mountain spot Members of the North Branch Land Trust sympathetic to wildlife on the property and the perches of land from Johnson and Almira Reed and representatives of Wyoming Seminary surrounding community, officials said. of Dallas in the early 1900s for use as a bird will be open to public gathered outside the stone gates Monday to One of the first goals is the creation of a sanctuary and summer retreat. celebrate the trust’s acquisition of the wooded “towpath” along the road for visitors, Executive It remained in the family’s hands until ROGER DUPUIS parcel, which will continue to be known as the Director Paul Lumia said. The trust also will Rachel’s death in 1946, when it was bequeathed [email protected] Forest Echo Bird Sanctuary in memory of a look at creation of hiking trails for “passive rec- to Wyoming Seminary with instructions to long-lost cottage that was a summer getaway reation” within the sanctuary, he added. “maintain the 17 acres of wooded lands around DALLAS — Once the sylvan retreat of two spot for Rachel S. Wyckoff and her daughter, The trust’s chief aims, Lumia explained, are her cottage known as Forest Echo as a sanctu- remarkable women, a 17-acre property off West Dr. Sarah D. Wyckoff, who had been residents to provide protection of the nearby Huntsville ary for birds and to that end to preserve and Center Hill Road will be maintained by an area of Kingston. Reservoir watershed and to conserve the land conservation group as a natural haven for birds The trust will maintain the property and in keeping with the Wyckoff family’s wishes. See SANCTUARY | 10A An apple for each of the days ahead Owner fights to hold on to her properties Facing tax sales, Sharon Wildoner is in a wheelchair and struggling with health issues JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES [email protected] Wheelchair-bound Sharon Wildoner worries she’ll lose the Hunlock Township home built by her grandparents because she’s struggling to keep up with her property taxes. “If I didn’t have to pay so much property tax, it wouldn’t be so hard on me,” the 53-year-old said Monday between bouts of sobbing. She said her financial struggles started mounting after she stopped working in 2003 due to a back injury she attributes to the lifting of heavy patients as a personal care aide. She said she also has other health issues. Wildoner owns her grandparent’s home on Cragle Hill Road, which sits on about 12 acres, and an adjacent undevel- oped 17-acre tract also inherited from her family. In addition, Wildoner and her brother, Andrew Burns, co- own a single home on West Main Street in Plymouth that also had belonged to Wildoner’s deceased mother. That prop- erty is rented out, she said. She had pleaded with county Judge Michael T. Vough to See TAX | 10A Birthday celebration ends in arrests Police say on Sunday they were called to drunken party where a handgun was pulled Aimee Dilger | The Times Leader EDWARD LEWIS Ron Kross of Dallas leaves Brace’s Orchard in Franklin Township with a large bag of Macoun Sweet apples on Monday afternoon. Brace’s has plenty of apples, [email protected] pumpkins and other goodies as people get into the activities of the fall season that got under way Sunday. There are wagon rides at Brace’s on the weekends and guests get to pick their own apples. NANTICOKE — City police officers were unexpected guests at a Nanticoke man’s birthday celebration. Charles Jonathan Halchak, 28, was celebrating his birthday in an alcohol-fueled party and was arrested Sunday on charg- es he threatened another man with a gun, police alleged. A Kenya V.P: Siege in final stage woman was also arrested after police alleged she kept inter- fering with officers when they were questioning witnesses. Police allege Halchak called Luzerne County 911 just At least 68 are killed in attack It is unlikely that any more hostages not here to feed the attackers with pas- before 5:30 a.m. and said a person was refusing to leave an remained inside Westgate Mall, said anoth- tries but to finish and punish them,” Police apartment at Apollo Circle where the party was being held. on upscale mall in Kenya er official. Inspector General David Kimaiyo said on As it turned out, several drunken witnesses told police But similar claims of a quick resolution Twitter. Halchak aimed a handgun at Michael Hummel, who refused ASON STRAZIUSO were made by Kenyan officials on Sunday Kenya’s interior minister said the evacu- to leave the party, according to the criminal complaint. and TOM ODULA and the siege has continued for another ation of hostages “has gone very, very well” Hummel told police he was in the apartment with sever- Associated Press day. It is not possible to independently and that Kenyan officials are “very certain” al people and all had been drinking since 1 p.m. Saturday. verify their assertions. that there are few if any hostages left in the Hummel stated Halchak began arguing with Kimberly A. NAIROBI, Kenya — Kenyan security Three attackers were killed in the fight- building. Mascelli, 27, during the party. Hummel said he “stood up forces were in the final stages of flush- ing Monday, officials said, and more than Vice President William Ruto landed in for her” knowing Halchak was “in the wrong” with regard to ing out Islamic extremist terrorists from 10 suspects arrested. Eleven Kenyan sol- Kenya late Monday after International their argument, the complaint says. a besieged shopping mall, the vice presi- diers were wounded in the running gun Criminal Court officials in The Hague gave Halchak told Hummel to leave the apartment. When dent said late Monday, two days after the battles. By evening, Kenyan security offi- him permission to return to Kenya. Ruto is Hummel refused, he said Halchak grabbed a handgun from upscale mall was seized by members of a cials claimed the upper hand. Somali group linked to al-Qaida. “Taken control of all the floors. We’re See KENYA | 10A See ARRESTS | 10A INSIDE A NEWS: Local 3A Editorial 9A Business 8B Birthdays 3D Nation & World 4A Weather 10A CLASSIFIED: 1C TV/Movies 4D Obituaries 8A SPORTS: 1B HEALTH: 1D Puzzles 5D Comics 6D 6 0 9 8 1 5 1 0 0 1 1 Exclusively on LUZERNELUZERNECOUNTYCOUNTY COUNCILCOUNCILMEETINGMEETING Live! Tonight at 6:30 pm Channel 19 Replay Sunday at 8:00 pm 570-825-8508 • www.sectv.com PAGE A2 Tuesday, September 24, 2013 NEWS www.timesleader.com THE TIMES LEADER Pa. GOPleader:Transportation bill may getvote DETAILS MARC LEvY three months after it overwhelmingly in June the request of Gov. Tom House Democrats A spokeswoman for LOTTERY and MARK SCoLFoRo stalled during lawmak- to approve a $2.5 billion- Corbett, even though largely support the the Republican governor Associated Press ers’ budget negotiations. a-year transportation Turzai himself oppos- Senate’s bill, and any said later that Corbett MIDDAY DRAWING House Majority funding plan that later es the Senate bill and vote in the House likely had not specifically asked Daily Number - HARRISBURG — A Leader Mike Turzai, met opposition from Corbett has never voiced would require Democrats Turzai for a vote on the $2.5 billion proposal to R-Allegheny, said at a the House’s Republican support for it, either. to supply the lion’s Senate bill. Rather, 4-6-5 raise taxes and fees to Pennsylvania Press Club majority, many of whom “Look, he’s the gover- share of votes, since Corbett asked for action Big Four - 1-3-1-3 fund improvements to appearance on Monday oppose the new taxes nor,” Turzai told report- Republicans control the on a transportation fund- Quinto - 8-1-7-6-8 Pennsylvania’s highways, that he was working and fees that it would ers. “He’s the governor House by a 111-92 mar- ing bill, without saying bridges and mass transit toward scheduling some require. from our party. This is gin. The Senate’s bill also what exactly he would Treasure Hunt systems may soon get a type of vote in the near Turzai said the vote what he’s advocating is supported by business support, spokeswoman 03-07-20-24-26 vote in the state House, future. The Senate voted was being planned at for.” groups and labor unions. Lynn Lawson said. EvENING Philly mayor brings schools message to Corbett DRAWING Daily Number - MARC LEvY “We cannot continue conditions under which “It is nowhere near an distribute the money to teachers to accept deep 4-6-7 Associated Press to go year after year after the administration would ideal situation,” Nutter 500 school districts. wage cuts. A pledge by Big Four - 6-5-4-6 year with literally hat release an extra $45 mil- said. “It’s nowhere near Layoff notices that Nutter to borrow $50 mil- Quinto - 2-3-0-2-3 HARRISBURG — in hand to — whether lion that the Legislature even an adequate situa- went out in June in lion against future sales Inadequate funding for its City Council and the had approved for the tion.” Philadelphia claimed 20 tax receipts has prompted Cash 5 Pennsylvania’s largest mayor or the General city’s schools.