Citizens' Voice from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • 7

LocalNews Teen faces multiple counts of arson, related charges He's charged with setting fires in Warrior Run people that have a fascination with fire, there's no better place than to work as a volunteer firefighter," he said. The fascination is often combined with mental depression and substance abuse. Aside from the opportunity to be around fires, Griffin said the fascination develops during childhood. "They have this unhealthy interest in fires, low impulse control and poor judgment all combined," he said. "They start the fire, report it and save the situation.

Playing the hero role is a motive to them. "It's like having an alcoholic work at a bar." tyeneskycitizensvojccjMn an unoccupied home in Sugar Notch on July 11 remains under investigation. Monday's arrest isn't the first time a person associated with a local fire department has been charged with arson. Last September Michael Boyle of Wilkes-Barre was charged with setting three arson fires in the city. He previously served with the Hanover Township Fire Department for one year.

In 2001, Raymond Cooper of Nanticoke was one of three people charged with arson for a fire on West Poplar Street He was a probationary member of a volunteer fire department in Plymouth Township. Also in 2001, Jamie Joe Krochta of Hunlock Creek and Eric Peters of Hunlock Township pleaded guilty to arson in connection to a storage building fire in 2000 in Jackson Township. At the time of the fire, Krochta was a member of the Lake Silk worth Volunteer Fire Department and Peters was a member of the Tilbury Volunteer Fire Co. in Plymouth Township. According to local psychologist Robert Griffin, individuals who have a mentally unhealthy fascination with fire tend to gravitate toward working with volunteer fire departments.

"Obviously, most firefighters are very responsible, but for By Tom Venesky Staff Writer A former junior member of the Sugar Notch Fire Department has been arrested and charged with arson in connection with several fires in Warrior Run Borough. State police at Wyoming arrested a 16-year-old male Monday following an investigation by.state police, the Luzerne County district attorney's office and the Warrior Run Police Department. The juvenile, whose name and address were not released, was charged with seven counts WWII, Korean veterans honored at VA ceremony of arson and related offenses, and two felony counts of criminal mischief, police said. The juvenile was sent to the Juvenile Detention Center pending a hearing. Sugar Notch Fire Chief William Hagan declined to comment on the matter and said the department might release a statement later this week.

The arson arrest stems from a fire July 12 that destroyed a vacant residence at 321 Slope St in Warrior Run. The fire also damaged another vacant house next door at 323 Slope St and rear 319 Slope St Another fire that destroyed sented the Silver Star to Cpl. Joseph Hart, 73, of Nanticoke. Hart Has been waiting 54 years for the Silver Star, which was awarded for his heroism in combat during the Korean War. He kept firing at the enemy, even as mortar fire was being dropped on him, until he was wounded by a grenade.

He said "red tape" prevented him from receiving the military award. Hart is a past recipient of the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Good Conduct MedaL the National Defense Service MedaL the Korean Service Medal with seven campaign stars and the United Nations Service MedaL which Santorum presented to him in 2004. "It is very important to highlight acts of heroism," Santorum said. "There are acts of heroism going on every day." Santorum and Nicholson also spoke about the importance for increased funding for veterans' health care facilities throughout the state. About 250,000 patients are projected to come into the VA system this year, Nicholson said.

"We didn't have a war in Iraq when the 2005 budget was put together," Nicholson said. "We got a surge in demand from people returning from the war as well as other veterans." Santorum sent Nicholson a letter inviting him to the De-partment of Veterans Affairs Medical Center to show him the health care needs of veterans. The senator recently sponsored an amendment to provide emergency supplemental funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs through the Interior Appropriations Bill. UARK MORANCmZENS VOICE Veterans Eugene Mulreaney, left, and Joseph Hart share stories before the start of the program at the VA Medical Center. Army recruiters having hard time meeting goals By Denise Allabaugh Staff Writer World War veteran Eugene Mulreaney accepted the Bronze Star Medal on Monday in honor of his older brother who died saving his life.

Pfc. Robert Mulreaney died at age 26 after he threw his body over Eugene to protect him when the enemy dropped bombs on the 95th Evacuation Hospital on Feb. 7, 1944, during the. Italian campaign of World War JL "Eugene Mulreaney, a West Hazleton resident who is now 81 years old, said he had "mixed emotions" about accepting the award Monday at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Plains Township. "To me, this is a bad memory," Mulreaney said.

Jean Mulreaney Kibler, daughter of Eugene Mulreaney, said her father did not talk about the incident until former President Bill Clinton mentioned the Mulreaney brothers in a 1994 speech. "He kept it inside for 50 years," Kibler said. "When he heard Bill Clinton spoke about it, he began talking. It was a very emotional time for the family because it was a story we never, ever talked about that his brother died laying on top of him trying to protect his baby brother." Another brother, John, was killed in Italy in 1943, three months earlier than Robert. Pfc.

Mulreaney was nominated for the award by his other brother, Bernard. Secretary of Veterans Affairs R. James Nicholson presented Mulreaney the award. U.S. Sen.

Rick Santorum pre- CO help local recruiting, while also benefiting the local economy Cardinal Logistics, a national shipping and delivery company with a plant in Wright Township, will give priority hiring status to those who express interest in the company at the time of their Army enlistment. Recruiters say they will highlight the opportunity when enticing young people to enlist. "We (Army and Cardinal) are both looking for the great young American who wants to serve the country and society," said Lt. Col. Kevin Miller, battalion commander for the Harrisburg recruiting office.

"We're after the same thing." SEE GOALS, PAGE 20 Trio tells why they signed up. Pake 20. By Robert Kalinowski ind Elizabeth Skrapfts. Staff Writers After a four-month slump, the U.S. Army met its recruiting goals in June.

But, June wasn't as positive for local recruiters. They missed their monthly goal by 40 percent, Army officers confirmed Monday in Wilkes-Barre. The Wilkes-Barre Army recruiting office which oversees six offices in nine Northeastern Pennsylvania counties had hoped for 48 June recruits. They didn't even get 30, recruiters said. The ongoing conflict in Iraq has young people, nationally and locally, thinking twice about committing to the Army, said Bill Irwin, spokesman for the Army recruiting office in Harrisburg.

"The war is a concern for what we call 'centers of influence': adults who have influence on young people and their pathways in life," said Irwin. "While everyone's patriotic, parents and influencers tend to be very protective." Recruiting is like any competitive business: talented young men and women the Army wants to enlist are also being lured by private sector companies, Irwin said. On Monday the Army and a Luzerne County business signed a deal they believe will CO cb 73 5 rn CO i to I ln.