See where the Playboy isn’t in sidewalk surf’s up the Armynow? THE GUIDE, INSIDE BUSINESS, 8B WILKES-BARRE, PA timesleader.com FRIdAy,AuguSt 2, 2013 50¢ 16 bridges getweight limits CityVest still owner of State cites scarce funds in decision to impose restrictions on county spans Sterling site, JERRY LYNOTT on the Pennsylvania Department of [email protected] Transportation’s list are open. mayor warns Five of them are posted with Already listed as structurally weight restrictions: deficient by the state, 16 bridges in • A bridge on state Route 118 Nothing is going right to seek possession Luzerne County will see new weight over Fades Creek in Lake Township; of the real estate because restrictions due to scarce funding • A bridge on state Route 415 to be happening it paid for traffic barriers for improvements. over the Harveys Lake inlet at and demolition. The city The bridges are among those Harveys Lake; until city ownership staked its claim by filing throughout Pennsylvania that state • A bridge on state Route 437 a municipal lien against Transportation Secretary Barry over a tributary to Creasy Creek in Pete g. Wilcox | the times Leader is established CityVest in January Schoch said could be posted begin- Dennison Township; PennDOTposted a weight limit for the bridge on state Route 415 over the seeking $76,148 for its ning this month. Harveys Lake inlet and will do so for other bridges in Luzerne County and JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES expenses over two years, All of the 16 bridges in the county See BRIDGES |12A throughout the state due to lack of funding for repairs. [email protected] and Leighton said the $419,000 demolition and Wilkes-Barre officials other city costs will be won’t have legal stand- added. ing to negotiate A legal action A heart that longs for home and finalize new similar to a development foreclosure on at the Hotel defaulted mort- Sterling site until gages will proba- the city owns the bly be the chosen property, and path to city own- the process to ership, Leighton secure ownership said. will take months, Leighton Local attorney city Mayor Tom David Schwager, Leighton cautioned Wed- who has no involvement nesday. in the matter, agreed to “It’s not going to hap- explain how the legal pen overnight,” Leighton process works because said. he regularly handles real He said he has had no estate executions. communication with the The lien holder — the property owner, the non- city — must file a writ profit CityVest, through- with the county and pro- out the city’s demolition vide the sheriff’s office of the condemned former with $2,500 and various hotel at the corner of documents required to River and Market streets. The city has the legal See STERLING |12A Theft charges avendetta, suspect’swife says Harveys Lake council as son Jason Boice, 38, president says case an authority foreman, and authority secretary has no impact on Denise Sult, 61, were each borough finances charged Wednesday with two counts of theft and Clark Van Orden |the times Leader two counts of receiving George Gera, a lifelong resident of Eckley Miners’ Village, was displaced by a June 4 fire and is eager to return to his family home. For now, he’s staying at a senior living ROGER DUPUIS stolen property in connec- community in Butler Township. [email protected] tion with household and automotive items they HARVEYS LAKE — allegedly purchased in Charges against three 2007 and 2008 using bor- sewer authority employees ough accounts. Fire displaced Eckley man from lifelong residence who allegedly used agency “We are sympathetic accounts for a combined to the fact that many of $800 worth of personal our residents will have JENNIFER LEARN-ANDES Township. patch town, and Gera is — or They particularly worried about purchases will have no questions regarding these [email protected] “All I’ve got left is this,” the was — the last Eckley native liv- the impact of post-fire stress on impact on borough financ- charges,” Williams wrote 86-year-old said, waving his ing in the village. his high blood pressure. es, Council President Amy in a statement to the George Gera misses his gun walking cane. “I’m in a state of Gera stayed with loved ones Eckley officials offered Gera Williams said Thursday. media. “Please know that cabinet, record player and trusty limbo.” after the blaze and two weeks ago another rental unit at the his- Meanwhile, the council- any information that is encyclopedias he consulted when A June 4 fire cast Gera out of moved — very temporarily, he toric mining village because they woman whose family is received by council will be questions popped into his mind. the home where he was born and emphasizes — to the Providence are still assessing options for at the center of the case shared with the residents He looks smart in his crisp new raised with 10 siblings, but the Place retirement community in the fire-damaged structure, said spoke out against what she of Harveys Lake Borough.” shirts and pants but wishes he retired Wilkes University profes- Butler Township. Bode J. Morin, the museum’s site sees as a political vendetta “We will cooperate fully still had the familiar worn clothes sor holds out hope he will return administrator. advanced by a former rival. with authorities,” wrote he donned to putter in his garden to that spot to live out the rest of Family’s concerns Gera saw flaws with the other General Municipal Williams. or relax on his front porch. his days. Family members said they unit but primarily declined Authority of Harveys The alleged wrongdo- Most of all, he aches for his The home is among several encouraged the placement so because he has his heart set on Lake Executive Director ing was brought to police lifelong family homestead at rented to private individuals at he could receive some physical Richard Boice, 66 — a Eckley Miners’ Village in Foster the historic state-owned coal therapy and medical monitoring. See HOME |12A former mayor — as well See VENDETTA |12A Man sentenced in bar shooting allowed towithdrawguilty plea Claude Johnston, 38, had been sentenced by then-Judge Ciavarella Johnston’s guilty plea — Luzerne understood the guilty plea. prison. Judge Fred Pierantoni ruled in Johnston formally withdrew Johnston and a co-defendant, Rasha SHEENA DELAZIO guilty plea. July that Johnston would be per- his plea Thursday at a hearing Wimms, 35, were charged after the [email protected] Claude Johnston, 38, had sought to mitted to withdraw it. before Pierantoni. March 2005 shooting. Police said the two withdraw his December 2005 guilty plea Pierantoni ruled that at the In February 2011, a federal jury men, their faces covered by bandanas, WILKES-BARRE — A man sentenced based on claims that his sentence was time Johnson entered the plea, convicted Ciavarella of 12 counts stormed into the Hazle Avenue bar and eight years ago by then-Judge Mark excessive and errors were made at the there was no discussion of pos- related to his acceptance of $1 opened fire. Ciavarella to a 24- to 72-year prison sen- time. sible sentences and fines, no million from Robert Mericle, Police said Crystal Crawford and tence on charges he injured people in a After appeals and other post-convic- basis was put on the record and Johnston who built two juvenile detention Steven McClean, of Wilkes-Barre, and shooting at the now-closed White House tion hearings — including a ruling by Johnston’s attorney failed to centers used by Luzerne County. Cafe has been permitted to withdraw his Ciavarella denying a request to withdraw raise an issue to challenge that Johnston Ciavarella was sentenced to 28 years in See PLEA |12A INSIDE NEWS Birthdays 10A BUSINESS 8B THE GUIDE Local 3A Editorials 11A Stocks 8B Movies Nation & World 4A Weather 12A CLASSIFIED: 1C television 6 0 9 8 1 5 1 0 0 1 1 Obituaries 8A SPORTS: 1B Comics 10C Puzzles PAGE 2A Friday, August 2, 2013 NEWS THE TIMES LEADER www.timesleader.com Concert among Independents filing candidacies DETAILS Times Leader Staff Candidates must collect council. Williams, Christopher LOTTERY a number of signatures, the first Independent Concert hands WILKES-BARRE — depending on what elected to a county over his informa- MIDDAY DRAWING Christopher Concert, office they are seeking, office, is completing tion to Marissa DAILY NUMBER - 1-0-6 a Swoyersville borough to appear on the ballot. his second year on the Crispell at the BIG 4 - 6-3-3-1 council member, handed Election Bureau 11-member council. Luzerne County in his nomination papers Director Marisa The next election Bureau of QUINTO - 5-9-4-5-7 Thursday to appear as a Crispell-Barber said a deadline is Aug. 8, Elections Office TREASURE HUNT candidate for mayor. total of five people filed which is the deadline for so he can appear 06-14-18-24-30 Thursday was the last nomination papers, with candidates nominated on the ballot for Swoyersville EVENING DRAWING day to circulate and file one person, Concert, by nomination papers DAILY NUMBER - 5-8-2 nomination papers for filing on the deadline to withdraw from the mayor. Thursday was the final day BIG 4 - 4-6-4-7 Independent and third- day. race and Aug. 13, which for Independent party candidates in the Crispell said is the deadline for candidates to get QUINTO - 0-8-6-8-9 county. only one candidate, candidates nominated onto the ballot. CASH 5 Concert said he has Rick Williams, in the primary to 02-09-11-29-34 been contemplating a is a county-wide withdraw.