Citizens' Voice from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • 4

GERI ANNE KAIKOWSKI 9661 'S August Tube Talk It's anchors away at WYOU Thursday, How do you spell staff members? Nexstar Broadcasting may spell it $taff members, since it plans to ax five key staffers, whose jobs are not necessary due to economics. Effective this Friday, you will no longer see 5:30 p.m. anchor Debbie Dunleavy; 6 and 11 p.m. anchor Rich Everitt; 5:30 and 11 p.m. anchor and health reporter Jennifer Watson; reporter Andy Palumbo and photographer Jack Juka.

Perry Sook, general manager of WYOU and CEO of Nexstar, said that the reason for not renewing the contracts of these persons "was for economic reasons only, not performance reasons." 'aDIOA He WYOU said from that the Diversified official license Communications transfer to changing Nexstar ownership will take of place at the end of this month. He said he was forwarding the notification that Nexstar would not be hiring these persons to 5 These Diversified. five Nexstar remain purchased WYOU in of June 1996 Diversified for $23 until million. the persons employees license transfer takes place. "It was a tough call," said Sook, "but a necessary one.

In reviewing WYOU's staffing patterns, we found that we still had more people than necessary to do the job." Sook said that these five posiWYOU will not renew tions won't be replaced, but that the vacancies will be filled from the contracts of five staffers currently working at staffers due to WYOU. He said the decision of who to cut was based at looking economic reasons. at the job position and the salary it paid. One source at the station says that the 6 and 11 p.m. replacement anchors will be husband and wife team Kevin Daniels and Valerie Amsterdam, who are the weekend co-anchors.

Amsterdam is on maternity leave and is expected to return in September. Sources at the station say that it is in bad financial shape. It purchased the station for $23 million from Diversified Communications. The asking price for the station had been $28 million, although it was valued at $15 1 million by the company. This is another round in a series of station dismissals in a move to save money.

Shortly after the sale was announced, Nexstar dismissed general manager Bill Christian and owner Perry Sook officially took helm at the station. Several weeks later, the station gave walking papers to news director Bob Yuna, programming manager Harry McClintock and chief engineer Joe Balkan. Dunleavy, who was "demoted" last year from her 6 and 11 p.m. anchor position, had been at the station almost 20 years. Everitt and Watson had been at the station about four years.

Everitt recently scored a "coup" in the TV market with a one-on-one interview with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton. It is possible that staffers like Dunleavy and Everitt will be allowed to say on-air farewells to their viewers. Sook said this was up to the discretion of Kathy Cusanelli, acting news director. A source says that WYOU is also watching economics in other ways, curtailing expenditures, such as free parking to its staffers, and watching the budget when it comes to covering news events. Sook noted that WYOU offers more local news than its competitors.

He said that the station just increased its coverage by hours with the expansion of "News 22 This Morning" from 6 to 8 a.m. this week. Other sources say the mood at WYOU has been somber all month in anticipation of the cuts. Many staffers are unsure of their fate with the company. WYOU's move could be a risky one for viewers.

Dunleavy and Everitt had been familiar faces to viewers. Watson had recently been promoted to the main anchor desk and was just becoming known as a regular face to the news viewers. Her health reports had also been popular and competitive with those by WBRE's Diana Penna and WNEP's Dr. Anna Marie Chwastiak. AG steps up probe of county probation office By CAROL CRANE Citizens' Voice Staff Writer The state attorney general's office has intensified its probe into the Luzerne County Adult Probation Office.

According to sources, agents were in Luzerne County Monday and Wednesday gathering additional evidence in their bid to determine whether defense Attorney Gifford Cappellini received preferential treatment from the probation office because of family and political connections. The well-known defense attorney had been on probation as the result of drug charges. Cappellini is the son of Luzerne County Senior Judge Gifford Cappellini and the sister of Dodie Cappellini, an adult officer. There already has been one arrest in the high profile case. Cappellini's probation officer, Eugene Duffy Jr.

of Hazleton, was arrested and charged with four misdemeanor counts after he admitted to state agents that he falsified information which he placed into Capellini's official probation file. The charges against Duffy have been bound over for court, but before a hearing on the charges can be scheduled, the court has to act on a motion filed by Duffy's attorney to dismiss the charges. That hearing is scheduled for Sept. 3 at 10 a.m. Yesterday, Luzerne County President Judge Patrick J.

Toole Jr. said he had been notified by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts that his request for an outside judge to hear the case will be granted. Toole said he has not yet been informed who the judge will be. Originally, the hearing on the her brother was made to undergo a drug screen, he would come up "hot." Assistant Chief Probation Officer James Marinello has told investigators that Duffy made the same representation to him. However, Duffy later denied he ever made such statements.

Currently, Duffy remains on paid administrative leave from his $33,000 a year job with the county. Agents for the attorney general's office also are investigating a complaint from Marinello that as a witness in the state's case against Duffy, he was being subjected to intimidation at the hands of Chief Probation Officer Steve Wolinsky. Shortly after he filed the comEugene Duffy Jr. plaint, Wolinsky, along with Court Administrator Jack Mulroy, motion to dismiss the charges suspended Marinello for five days against Duffy had been assigned without pay after he allegedly to Luzerne County Judge Mark sneered and refused to sit upon Ciavarella. However, Ciavarella command.

Marinello, through notified Toole that given Duffy's Scranton Attorney Ben Josielevpast association with the court ski, has repeatedly asked the system, an outside judge should president judge for a hearing to hear the case. air the May 8 suspension. Duffy is the son of Hazleton At- On Wednesday, Toole acknowltorney Eugene Duffy the Lu- edged he has not yet responded to zerne County prothonotary and Marinello's request for a hearing. well-known Democratic Marinello has indicated through powerhouse. his attorney that he plans to file a Kevin Harley, spokesman for civil suit against Wolinsky for vioAttorney General Tom Corbett, lating the Whistleblower Act.

confirmed that a Sept. 3 hearing Special agents Barry Moran and date has been set for Duffy's mo- Kevin Cogan are spearheading the tion to dismiss the charges against state probe. Assistant Attorney him. Regarding the investigation General Bob O'Hara, who is into the probation office, Harley heading up the prosecution against would only comment that it was Duffy, would neither confirm nor ongoing. deny that additional charges According cause to the affidavit of would be forthcoming.

probable drafted upon Duffy's arrest, Duffy purposely did Currently, Attorney Cappellini is not have Cappellini submit to free on bail pending an appeal of court-ordered drug testing at the his probation revocation. His drug behest of Dodie Cappellini who al- testing is being supervised by legedly told Duffy that she knew if Catholic Social Services. Volume Eighteen Issue 312 CITIZENS VOICE Thursday (ISSN 1070-8626) (USPS 450-590) August 15, 1996 75 N. Washington Wilkes-Barre, PA. 18711 TO All Delivery 821-2010 Mon.

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