The Times Leader from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • 3

ine limes ueaaet, mmee-Barre, CA, weaneaauy, Muyuat to. 1000 Local Nanticoke native's giant flag one for the books m- -r rz 1 ft. 0 1 bles. About 65 volunteers and dam workers provided the manpower. Demski said he shelled out $45,000 to Humphry's Flag Co.

of Pottstown in 1992 for his monstrous Old Glory. He said so far he has spent about another $50,000 in repairs. The mend job for the Hoover Dam rip cost Demski about $5,000. The work, performed by Fryer Canvas Products, was done inside a blimp hangar In Huntington Beach. Calif.

"I don't think TVL ever attempt to raise it again," he said. For now, the flag sits In his garage and the record sits in the book. Demski doubts anyone could top the feat "With the problems we had." he said. "I don't see how they could." But the hour "flight" was long enough. Demski's feat was approved by The Guinness Book of World Records and will be listed in the 1997 United States edition to be released in October, according to John Hansen, research manager of Guinness Media.

The previous record was a 229-foot-8-inch by 328-foot-l-inch Brazilian national flag unfurled from a flagpole in Brasilia. "It's nearly impossible to put on a flagpole," Demski said of his flag. "I once thought of using seven air balloons." Demski. who rides a motorcycle with hl3 pet macaw "Peppy" on his shoulder, said the dam offered the best venue for the event He said the Bureau of Reclamation provided the hoisting machines and ca featured In the Guinness book in 1994 and 1995 as the world's largest flag, climbed to new heights. Until this year, the Long Beach, resident's flag had never "flown." It was Just the world's largest flag.

But a brief flight at the Hoover Dam this spring put the flag in a different category: the largest flag flown. On May 1, Demski's 1.36-ton flag, with stripes nearly 20 feet wide and stars measuring 16 feet point-to-point, was raised up the side of the dam on the Nevada-Arizona border. The Olympic torch relay was ing through and Demski wanted to pay tribute to the flame bound for Atlanta. The banner was pulled up with three air tuggers (winches) with three half-inch steel cables. Seven other cables were used to guide the flag up.

Slowly and methodically the stars and stripes rose from atop a six-story building beneath the dam and unfurled in patriotic splendor. Then the -winds took their best shot. Snap. "It was Just like a rifle shot," Demski said. One cable snapped and the flag had to be lowered.

"It was awful. As we were bringing it down three more cables snapped," said Demski, who operates a mall order bumper sticker business. The powerful gusts tore the double double-stitched nylon flag in three places. Including a gash nearly 100 feet long. Demski's flag was down before the relay team ever saw it.

Already in Guinness Book of World Records as owner of the largest flag, Thomas Ski' Demski now holds the record for having the largest flag flown. By CAL BUTCRA Times Leader Staff Writer Thomas "Ski" Demski made It Into the Guinness Book of World Records with flying colors red, white and blue, to be exact. But making it into the pages of the annual book is nothing new for the 66-year-old Santa Claus look-alike who was bom and raised in Nanticoke. Demski's 505-fcot-by-255-foot American flag, which was Thomas Demski Two-time Guinness record holder flf ijiyn Christmas gift thieves sentenced Trio found guilty of beatings, theft of Christmas presents intended for needy children sentenced to five to -10 years. By RICK ROGERS Times Leader Staff Writer WILKES-BARRE Three mei were sentenced to five to.

10 years' each in state prison Tuesday for a crime spree that left two people-beaten and Christmas presents intended for the poor stolen. Luzerne fly v'''' f' w4''4' 1 M-tnl County Court of If A Common Pleas Senior Judge Bernard Bro- minska sen W-B still grapples with flood Removal of a bridge, disposal of flood-related debris and the restoration of a golf course occupy City Council's attention. By KATIE WILLIAMS Special to The Times Loader WILKES-BARRE Problems from January's flooding still hover over City Council as It continues to work on restoring areas of devastation. At Tuesday night's meeting. Mayor Thomas McGroarty said flood damages total $2 million and until Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association money comes in.

the city will pay $500,000 or 25 percent of the costs. The Federal Emergency Management Association will cover 75 percent of the costs based on its estimate, and PEMA will pay for 22 percent of the costs. Wilkes-Barre is left to make -up for the other 3 percent, totaling $60,000. McGroarty said PEMA will reimburse the city 22 percent of the original total when the money comes in, which could be as late as 1997. Chairman Phillip Latinski said council will combine leftover funds from past projects and amend the Office of Community Development to cover the entire cost Hollenback Golf Course Is one such piece of city property still in need of repairs from flood damage.

Two holes, along with baseball fields, were devastated, said Latinski. According to Latinski and other council members, Hollenback members are annoyed that the damages have not been restored. McGroarty said a memo was posted at the golf course stating that council's hands are tied until It receives approval from PEMA and FEMA. "IH make some changes. I would love to fix the golf course, we just don't have the money yet" said McGroarty.

"We care about Hollenback very much," added Latinski. Council also discussed where it is going to dump debris from flood cleanups. Councilman Thomas Leighton said the cost for dumping at the Keystone Landfill is $66 per tenced Erin Mc- Corristan, 21, Roy Herman, McCwitatM- rte TIMES LEADER PHOTOSAWIS GEYER double-block en Tuesday left tlx people homeless and oira woman Injured. AflreataWertPrttston Six left homeless, 1 injured in fire 20. and Daniel Holtslander.

20, following statements by the de fendants and the two beating vie Urns. Assistant. District Attorney David Lupas had asked for harsh sentences. The three co-defendants tried to avoid blame for the beatings, each contending he was not the one who participated in the violence. But Lupas said it did not matter who did what because they were all equally guilty before the law.

William Allabaugh. a 54-yeari old clerk at the Perm Comers convenience store on the Sans Souci Parkway, Hanover Township, was beaten with a baseball bat during a robbery Dec. 4, 1995. He was admitted to the Intensive care1 unit of an area hospital. Allabaugh.

bearing the scars of his injuries, spoke In little more than a whisper about the assault "I don't even remember what happened. I saw the men and then I don't remember Allabaugh said he is still being treated for the attack. "They hit me with a crowbar and I was all black and blue," said Agnes Savage, 71, of Scott Street Wilkes-Barre, who awoke to find Intruders in her bedroom Jan. 15. According to police, the suspects put a pillow case over her head and struck her with a crowbar.

In addition to the beatings, the three were sentenced for stealing nearly $8,000 In Christmas gifts from St Stephen's Episcopal Church on South Franklin Street in Wilkes-Barre on Dec. 2 1 The stolen gifts were gathered by the Hands of Hope and Reach Inc. both charity organizations and intended for needy families in the area, including Herman's own children. Tm real sorry said Hermahl of Stillwater, to the court "I never knew this was going to happen." McCorristan, of Lockhart Street, Wilkes-Barre. said he had changed his ways since finding the Muslim religion.

"I made bad choices not think ing about the consequences," said McCorristan, who along with Herj aschi, 11, was upstairs and had to crawl on her hands and knees through thick smoke to safety. thank God that no one was hurt. Things can be replaced, but people can't" Puckett said. West Pittston Fire Chief John Janc-zewskl said firefighters received the call at 1 1: 10 a.m. Tuesday.

By the time firefighters arrived at the blue, two-story house on the quiet street, the windows on one side of the home had been blown out by the heat Janczewski said. There was heavy damage to the kitchen and back bedroom," Janczewski said. "The woman who called said the fire started In the kitchen." The fire chief said both sides of the double-block are currently uninhabitable because the kitchens are connected. Leonard Charney who lives next to the Sompels, said he saw the fire when he was returning from his mother's house. "I could not believe what I saw.

The smoke was really dense. The firemen did Just a terrific job of not letting the fire spread to the other side of the house," Charney said. Janczewski said the fire marshal will be looking into the cause, Including the suspicion that a gas explosion started the blaze. One side of a double-block was destroyed in the fire, the cause of which is undetermined By RICK ROGERS Times Leader Staff Writer WEST PITTSTON Six people were left homeless and one woman was Injured when a fire gutted one side of a double-block home Tuesday morning In the 200 block of Franklin Street. Dara Bowen, 46, a resident of the burned-out home at 231 Franklin St, was treated and released from Gelslnger Wyoming Valley Medical Center for burns to her arms and face.

She was burned as she tried to put out the Are, said a West Pittston fire official. Andy Sompel, 63, who owns the dwelling and recently had heart surgery, also was treated at Gelslnger and released. v. The double-block at 231 and 233 Franklin St is shared by brothers Robert and Andy Sompel. Andy lives at 231 and Robert resides at 233.

The fire apparently started on the side of the double-block shared by Bowen. Andy Sompel and two other family members, said firefighters. Janet Puckett, Andy Sompel's daughter, said her niece, Stephanie Fl- ton. FEMA has agreed to reimburse the city $1.50 for every 966 spent on clumping nooa debris. Council is trying to find suitable dumping places throughout the area to save the taxpayers money.

"If we don't have to take it to the landfill and can distribute It on site, the cost will be substantially lower," Leighton said. Plans are in the works for the tearing down of the Govier Street Bridge. After sustaining flood damage several years ago the bridge became a natural dam. Latinski said removal of the bridge won't affect traffic patterns and that after the bridge Is torn down a fhain Hnk fence will be installed for safety. 'wmmw Pittston CKy flretlghter Rob Lombardo cools off Tuesday after battling a blaze on Franklin Street In West Pittston.

Officials are uncertain If the homes are Insured. Latinski said an access channel will be created for bringing equipment In and out for future cleanups of Laurel Run Creek. Law would binld defense against rundown properties he said. "But It would be nice to have the option to take stronger action if you really have to." If enacted, the bills would allow all municipalities: To make it a second-degree misdemeanor for fourth or subsequent convictions of a housing code violation and a first-degree misdemeanor when the offense Is a fifth conviction. To block the transfer of any deed exposed to a tax claim sale if the prospective buyer has a record of code violations.

To prohibit owners from buying their own property from the tax claim bureau's repository for unsold property in order to reap profits and avoid delinquent taxes. Require buyers with known code violations to bring the property into compliance or demolish it within one year of the purchase. plan to Introduce the bills In the Senate next month, said Larry Portzline of the Senate Republican Communications Of- flee. "We cannot continue to allow our citizens to be put in danger because of slumlords who neglect their properties to the point where they literally collapse on their foundations," Plccola said in a prepared statement released Tuesday. "Nor can we permit absentee landlords to buy properties and then walk away from them, leaving them to rot in neighborhoods where more responsible citizens are struggling to make their streets a better place to live," Plccola said.

Nanticoke Mayor Wasll Kobela said his city has few problems with nuisance properties and absentee landlords. "About 98 percent of our property owners keep their homes and yards In order," trator Anne Bradbury says that not all code violations are cut and dry. "There are times when people have financial difficulties and can't fix up their properties," Bradbury said. "I don't know if criminal action would be prudent or fair. If It's optional, that would be all right" Two of the proposals would allow third-class cities including Wilkes-Barre, Pittston.

Nanticoke and Hazleton to impose penalties of up to $1,000 for violations of building, housing, maintenance, fire, electrical and plumbing codes. Some four-time violators could be penalized up to $10,000. Wilkes-Barre Mayor Tom McGroarty, who has launched an all-out attack on nuisance properties and "slumlords" since taking office last January, could not be reached for comment Tuesday. Prime sponsors Jeffrey Plccola, R-Dau-phin, and David Brightblll, R-Lebanon, Proposals by Republican state senators are designed to combat slumlords and irresponsible absentee owners. By RENITA FEMNICK Time Leader Staff Writer A legislative package unveiled Tuesday in Harrisburg would give Pennsylvania municipalities more ammunition in the fight against owners of rundown properties.

The six Housing Code Reform proposals seek to close loopholes in state housing code laws while increasing fines against owners of blighted properties. One bill would make It a criminal offense for property owners cited four or more times for the same housing code violation. But Pittston code enforcement adminis man was arrested in Philadelphia in February for the beating of Savi age and was later charged with beating Allabaugh and stealing the Christmas gifts. "The longer Tm incarcerated the longer it will take for me to repay what I've done. I can't get on with my life until these people know that I am sorry," McCor ristansaid.

Anna Blackwefl, who said she was McCorristan's fiance, wept upon hearing the sentence. I.