Citizens' Voice from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • A3

Local THE SUNDAY VOICE SUNDAY, JUNE 8, 2008 A3 www.citizensvoice.com W-B soldier severely injured while serving in Afghanistan Same humvee explosion killed DePrimo By Bob Kalinowski Staff Writer A Wilkes-Barre soldier was one of the men wounded in the roadside bombing in Afghanistan last month that It's one of the scariest times of my life, but at the same time, very encouraging You feel blessed to have that second chance MOLLY ROSENCRANS Wife of Cpl. James Rosencrans said she wanted to clarify any rumors circulating about his injuries. He has undergone two major surgeries with skin grafts and will be hospitalized for at least two more months, she said. "I wanted to set it straight. It's going to be a long road, but he's recovering," she said.

Rosencrans is a correctional officer at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility. Previously, he worked as a security guard at King's College for five years. He and Molly have a 15-year-old son and two daughters, 13 and 11. He is the son of Robert Rosencrans of Plymouth and Regina and Mike Smith of Wilkes-Barre. The Rosencrans family is well known for their involvement in youth sports in North Wilkes-Barre.

Rosencrans was previously deployed to Iraq between 2005 and 2006 with the U.S. Army Reserves, 828th Quartermasters. After the Plains Township unit disbanded, he joined the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. He often expresses concern for his men in Afghanistan, his wife said. "The only thing he talks about with the military right now is how much he's worried about the guys who are still there," she said.

Molly Rosencrans said she will remain by her husband's side in Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio for as long as it takes. "It's the best thing for the soldier to have the love and support of their family by their side," she said. blcalinowsldcitizensvoice.com, 570-821-2055 killed 1st Lt. Jeffrey DePrimo of Pittston. Cpl.

James Rosen-crans remains in the burn unit of an Army hospital in Texas being treated for severe burns to his arms, legs and abdomen, according to his wife, Molly Delaware survived. "It's one of the scariest times of my life, but at the same time, very encouraging. When you sit here and watch your husband, you get that whole don't know what I did to deserve this second chance You feel blessed to have that second chance," Molly Rosencrans said. Rosencrans, DePrimo and the soldier from Delaware all were members of the local 109th Infantry Pennsylvania Army National Guard. Molly Rosencrans said her husband doesn't remember the roadside bombing.

He hasn't yet been told the fate of his comrades. "They told me flat out, he's not to know yet. Once they start asking and they won't let it go, that's when they can know. He has a feeling in his gut and heart. He knows it's bad," she said.

The family has been quiet about Rosencrans' injury to date, but his wife Rosencrans Rosencrans, 38, was the gunner aboard DePrimo's humvee, when it struck an improvised explosive device while traveling in Ghazni, Afghanistan. In addition to DePrimo, a Navy officer and an interpreter were killed in the blast. Rosencrans and a soldier from A WAY TO BEAT THE HEAT Three teens die hours after Tunk Area commencement -J '1 Man arrested for firing gun near baseball field When coaches at a Little League game in Hanover Township heard gunshots from nearby woods Thursday, they became concerned about the safety of their baseball players and called police. Police checked the area between the Lee Park Little League fields and Lee Park Towers, and arrested Pasquale Al-labaugh, 19, of Wilkes-Barre after finding two stolen handguns and several bags containing a "substantial" amount of marijuana, police said. The guns, a Smith and Wesson 9mm pistol and a 357 Colt revolver, had been taken from a home in Fairview Township, but the owner was not aware of the theft until notified by police that the guns had been recovered.

Allabaugh was charged with two counts of receiving stolen property two counts of firearms not to be carried without a license, one count of possession of a controlled substance, one count of possession with the intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, according to police reports. He was placed under $10,000 straight bail and his preliminary hearing will be June 12. An investigation is ongoing. Police nab suspect connected to burglaries Police are investigating several burglaries and have a suspect in custody after searching a house on Spruce Street in Archibald in connection to a burglary in Kingston Township and a computer crime investigation, according to police. A search warrant was issued after two investigations, one by Kingston Township police concerning the burglary in March and the other the computer crime investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police, established probable cause to search the residence.

Suspect Brian Rush jumped out of a second story window but was captured by police. He was taken to Community Medical Center for injuries sustained during the escape attempt. Rush was wanted by the Luzerne County Sheriff's Department on a February 2008 bench warrant, and was taken to the Luzerne County Correctional Facility. During the search, police discovered evidence of multiple burglaries committed in several counties, according to police reports. Police will continue to investigate.

Direct flights to Myrtle Beach now available Travelers in the area can now reach Myrtle Beach, S.C., in a matter of hours, as direct flights to and from the Wilkes-BarreScranton International Airport are now available. The first flights by Myrtle Beach Direct Air in and out of the airport were celebrated with a ribbon cutting on Saturday morning, according to a press release. New broadcast lineup announced for WYOU WYOU will launch new 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. newscasts beginning Monday In addition to anchoring WYOU News at Noon, Mark Hiller will lead "WYOU News First at Four." It will be the area's first look into the day's news and weather.

After "WYOU First at Four," "The Insider" will slide from its 7 p.m. slot to 4:30 p.m. followed by "Judge Judy" from 5 to 6 p.m. At 6 p.m., Lyndall Stout will join Eric Scheiner for a half-hour WYOU News featuring WYOU Interactive. WYOU will also launch a new early evening newscast, WYOU News at 7 p.m.

COMPILED FROM STAFF REPORTS DAVE SCHERBENCO THE SUNDAY VOICE Christian Rosa, 1, and his father, Ray- advantage of the early afternoon sunshine mond, cool off by the fountain on Public on Saturday before a quick storm hit Wil-Square on Saturday. Many residents took kes-Barre. By Megan Reiter and Josh Mrozinski Staff Writers TUNKHANNOCK A Friday night car crash blamed on speeding killed two teens who graduated from Tunkhannock Area High School only hours earlier and an Elk Lake High School junior. Another teen was critically injured. Graduates Brandon Murray, 19, of Stark Road, Tunkhannock; and Brittany Giberson, 17, of Avery Station Road, Factory ville; along with Elk Lake junior Brooke Hunsinger, 17, of RR 4, Meshoppen, all died in the crash.

They were pronounced dead at the scene by the Wyoming County Coroner's office, borough police said. Autopsies showed they died of multiple traumatic injuries, District Attorney George Sku-manick said. Former Tunkhannock Area High School student Robert Sands, 17, of RR 2, Mehoopany was flown to Community Medical Center, where he was in critical but stable condition, police said. A hospital spokeswoman said she had no information on Sands. None of the four were wearing seat belts, Skumanick said.

"It's just a tragedy," he said. The crash happened just before 11:30 on Lemon Creek Road. The car, a 2003 Hyundai Tibu-ron GT driven by Murray, was traveling west and skidded out of control on a curve, skidded off the highway, struck a tree and overturned on the downside of a slight embankment, according to police. Police said speeding might have played a major role in the crash. "That's what it appears at this point, that speed is a primary contributor," Skumanick said.

"We had no evidence at the scene that alcohol was involved at all." "Blood was taken (during the autopsies) and it will be tested," he said. The results of blood tests usually take several weeks, he said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families," said Joseph Moffitt, Tunkhannock Area High School assistant principal. Stunned by the news, Moffitt spent Saturday fielding calls from graduates' parents and setting up counseling for the Work on Route 309 bridge starts Monday ROBERT BAKER TIMES-SHAMROCK NEWSPAPERS On Saturday morning, Sara Strohl peers into an area of woods off Keiserville Road, in Washington Township, Wyoming County, where an accident Friday night claimed two of her fellow Tunkhannock Area High School grads within three hours of receiving their diplomas. An Elk Lake junior was also killed.

community. While seniors are finished with school, the last day for underclassmen is Wednesday. "They were both good students," he said of Brittany and Brandon. During study hall, Brittany worked in the school office, helping the secretaries, Moffitt said. She was friends with many underclassmen.

William Bush, Elk Lake School District superintendant, said Brittany participated in the cosmetology program at Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center, which is part of the Elk Lake district. "It just breaks your heart," he said. Courtney Johnston, who graduated from Tunkhannock Area on Friday, grieved the loss of her classmates. "Brittany and I were friends, we had classes together," Johnston said. "It's tragic," she said, observing that Friday was supposed to be the most exciting night of the lives of Brittany and other graduates.

Tunkhannock Area School Board member William Swilley echoed that sentiment. See CRASH, page Al 3 JAMES HALETHE SUNDAY VOICE A Route 309 bridge that crosses over Mercer Street in Kingston crumbles and deteriorates. Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is planning construction on the bridge starting Monday, and says there will be no traffic delays. By James Hale Staff Writer Commuters can stop biting their nails over upcoming construction on a bridge on Route 309. Karen Dussinger, a public information officer for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, said despite significant work on the joints and deck of the bridge, there are no anticipated traffic problems for the approximately 20,000 cars that travel the road each day The bridge, which is between the Kingston and Luzerne exits on the highway just west of Route 11, has very visible damage.

Concrete supports are crumbling and steel beams are rusted and deteriorating. Although the bridge received a rating of four for its supports, classifying it as "structurally deficient," Dussinger said it's safe for travel. "Bridges are built to be redundant," she said. "When one part fails, the whole thing is not going to fail." PennDOT plans to begin work on the bridge June 9, working on the deck of the bridge and replacing and strengthening old joints. The work is planned to go through summer 2009.

Dussinger assured, however, traffic jams would not be an issue. She said both lanes of traffic each way will be open during construction, and any lane closures would occur at night. The only difference will be concrete barriers set up on the shoulders, and stop signs on ramps. Dussinger said this and other bridges were never built for the amount of traffic they endure today. The wear and tear coupled with winter weather slowly breaks apart roads and bridges until their condition becomes unacceptable.

Part of the problem is the chemical salt compound put on the roads during winter storms. Dussinger said the chemicals get inside the cracks and deteriorate the steel underneath. Other methods have been tried around the state, but salt works the best, she said. Once the construction is finished, the bridge will be in top shape, said Dussinger. People naturally get nervous when barriers are put up, said Dussinger.

"But the lanes will be acceptable approved width and there will be no restrictions we can see at this point." Exclusively at Eye Exams Complete Family Eyecare Contacts Insurance Accepted Prescriptions Filled On-site Lab Route 315Plaza 315, Wilkes-Barre Across Irom The Woodlands Open Fri. Sal. 208-1111.