Take a bite Harness out of this! your qi Apple to unveil new iPhone BUSINESS, 7A You’re never too old for a tai chi class HEALTH, 1D WILKES-BARRE, PA timesleader.com TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2013 50¢ W-BArea RESPONDING TO SYRIA teachers’ Obama pactOK’d admits to NAACP official pitches for more minority teachers problem ROGER DUPUIS and MARK GUYDISH [email protected] Syrian proposal to turn over [email protected] chemical stockpile adds to debate WILKES-BARRE — The Wilkes-Barre Area School DAVID ESPO and JULIE PACE Board on Monday night Associated Press voted 5-1 in favor of a new four-year teachers contract WASHINGTON — Battling stiff resistance that is expected to save the in Congress, President Barack Obama con- district $1 million per year ceded Monday night he might lose his fight through increased insurance for congressional support of a co-pays for participants, military strike against Syria, officials said. and declined to say what he Monday’s meeting also would do if lawmakers reject featured an address to the his call to back retaliation for board by local NAACP lead- a chemical weapons attack er Ron Felton on the need last month. for more minority teachers Clark Van Orden photos | The Times Leader The president made his Obama in the increasingly diverse Some of the crew members who were working to take down St Mary’s Church on Shoemaker Street in Swoyersville on Monday morning comment as a glimmer of a district. when it collapsed onto the operator of an excavator talk with Swoyersville’s assistant fire chief shortly after the accident. possible diplomatic solution The new contract also will appeared after months of defiance from the see teachers receive a pay Russian-backed government of President increase of $1,000 per step, Bashar Assad in Syria. In a rapid response, or pay grade, although offi- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid cited cials could not immediately “international discussions” in unexpect- say how much that will cost Demo firm owner edly postponing a test vote originally set for the district. Wednesday on Obama’s call for legislation “I thought it was abso- backing a military strike. lutely wonderful, I’m very In a series of six network interviews happy,” union president Jeff planned as part of a furious lobbying cam- Ney said, praising the board paign in Congress, Obama said statements for its openness during the suggesting that Syria might agree to surren- negotiating process. killed in collapse der control of its chemical weapons stockpile Ney said union members viewed increased co-pays as See SYRIA | 10A “an even trade” for the sala- John P. Brdaric Jr. operating ry increase, and a move that excavator crushed by steeple would help save the district Officials: Group better money. EDWARD LEWIS While $1,000 per step [email protected] sounds like a lot, Wilkes- prepared for disasters Barre Area is unusual in SWOYERSVILLE — The owner of that it has “banded steps,” the demolition company that razed meaning the salary stays the Hotel Sterling in four days was STEVE MOCARSKY the same for several years killed Monday when the steeple of [email protected] before the next raise. Most St. Mary’s of Czestochowa Church districts give smaller raises toppled onto an excavator he was WILKES-BARRE — A coalition of organi- each year. Wilkes-Barre operating to demolish the former zations that coordinated local disaster recov- Area’s contract has 15 church on Shoemaker Street. ery in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene and steps, but raises only occur The collapse happened at about Tropical Storm Lee two years ago accom- on steps two, five, 10 and 11:40 a.m. when most of the church plished some major feats and is now better 15. In between those years, had been brought down and only the prepared to address local disasters in the salaries are unchanged steeple was left standing. future, according to officials. unless the teacher advances John P. Brdaric Jr., 60, owner The Disaster Recovery Coalition of in the “column” part of the of Brdaric Excavating and Buck Luzerne County hosted a reception and pre- pay matrix, which increases Mountain Quarry in Swoyersville, sentation Monday at the county Emergency salary based on education was in an excavator on top of what Management Agency building to recap what beyond a bachelor’s degree remained of the church when the the organization has done since the record up to a doctorate. steeple fell. flooding that devastated several communities Solicitor Ray Witnesses said the steeple along the Susquehanna River in September Wendolowski said the pay “swayed” and “wiggled” before it fell 2011, and explain how it has prepared for the raise coupled with the onto the excavator. future. health insurance savings About 12 to 15 crew members Mike Zimmerman, chief executive officer add up to a substantial net from Brdaric’s companies rushed to Workers from Brdaric Excavating wait to hear the condition of John P. Brdaric Jr., 60, owner of Family Service Association of NEPA, said of the company, after the demolition accident at St Mary’s Church on Monday. savings for the district. the mangled excavator that was cov- volunteers with the coalition’s approximately The contract also clarified ered with bricks and stone. 30 member organizations donated 15,882 vol- language regarding health “They were cursing, yelling Center in Plains Township, where crane removed the cross and dome unteer hours valued at more than $336,000 care coverage for retirees, ‘Hurry up, hurry up,’ ” said Ted he was pronounced dead, according from the top of the steeple before (based on a rate of $20.51 per hour) to assist making it clearer that the Klem of Swoyersville. “They were to the Luzerne County Coroner’s the job was turned over to two exca- flood survivors on their road to recovery. district will not cover insur- cutting metal, using a gas cutter to Office. vators to finish the job. Agencies such as the American Red Cross, ance once a retiree is eligi- get at him.” No problems early on Klem, who was baptized and Salvation Army, United Way of Wyoming ble for Medicare at age 65. Emergency crews from Demolition of the church began served as an altar boy at the church, Valley, Commission on Economic Opportunity And the new contract Swoyersville and Forty Fort just after 7 a.m. Monday. and Glen Galion, of Jim Thorpe, and the Luzerne Foundation some of the local added language that makes removed Brdaric from the excava- A large crane did most of the said it appeared Brdaric was using organizations involved that took a quick lead. tor’s crushed cab. He was rushed to work, turning the church built in See NAACP | 10A Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical 1911 into a large pile of rubble. The See COLLAPSE | 10A See COALITION | 10A INSIDE A NEWS: Local 3A Editorial 9A CLASSIFIED: 1C TV/Movies 4D Nation & World 4A Weather 10A HEALTH: 1D Puzzles 5D Business 7A SPORTS: 1B Birthdays 3D Comics 6D Obituaries 8A 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 2A Tuesday, September 10, 2013 NEWS www.timesleader.com THE TIMES LEADER PennDOT discusses Route 115 safety changes DETAILS JANINE UNGVARSKY made in response to safety con- dents involving a vehicle hitting Supervisor Jim Smith, who stopped traffic and illegal pass- LOTTERY Times Leader Correspondent cerns after the highway was the a fixed object like a pole haven’t lives along the state highway, ing resulting from the slow- scene of multiple fatal accidents decreased since the changes said he approves of the changes moving traffic. He called the MIDDAY DRAWING BEAR CREEK TWP. — in a short time several years ago were completed in July 2010, and feels they make the road changes “regressive” in light DAILY NUMBER - 9-0-0 Opinions on the situation on went too far. the number of crashes involv- much safer. But while others of the increased traffic volume BIG 4 - 5-3-2-8 state Route 115 were all over In particular, residents have ing two or more vehicles have agreed the changes improved because of the casino and com- the board when representatives complained that the elimination decreased, something they the safety concerns they were merce. QUINTO - 0-8-3-2-2 from the state fielded questions of the passing lane along most attributed to the addition of intended to address, some said Popple and others called for TREASURE HUNT and comments at the town- of the highway has resulted in left-turn lanes and the increased they were “overkill” while oth- PennDOT to rethink the high- 08-09-20-27-28 ship supervisor’s meeting on traffic tie ups and illegal pass- distance between opposing traf- ers sought a middle ground way situation and consider EVENING DRAWING Monday. ing when large trucks and other fic. between the way things were other options. DAILY NUMBER -9-0-3 The two traffic engineers from slow-moving vehicles are trav- Resident Rosemary Mulligan and the way they are now. The PennDOT representa- the Pennsylvania Department elling below the 45 mph speed agreed, and said that even when “I think you created some tives asked the supervisors BIG 4 - 6-0-7-1 of Transportation were at the limit. she’s stuck behind a slow-mov- unintended consequences with to make a written request for QUINTO - 4-0-0-1-8 meeting at the request of resi- The PennDOT representa- ing truck, her main thought is, the changes,” said Supervisor review of the Route 115 situa- CASH 5 dents who feel that changes tives said that while the acci- “At least I’m safe.” Jeff Popple, referring to the tion.