The Tribune from Scranton, Pennsylvania • 3

Local THE TRIBUNE, SCRANTON, PA TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2003 A3 4 High school cwsiliry goes top fair Pnlipp linkimr I 1 be that stupid," Dr. Arnold said. would be disciplined by the A UHUU 'J Abington Heights was pre- school in addition to any legal is Police linking be that stupid," Dr. Arnold said. Abington Heights was would be disciplined by the school in addition to any legal prepared for trouble last week by having security guards on duty until midnight later than their normal shift to supplement police patrols by South Abington Township and Clarks Summit.

The press box at the football field, the field house and the exterior wall of the new band annex at the high school and the bleachers and end zone at the football field on East Grove Street in Clarks Summit were all defaced. "Its very unfortunate and totally unnecessary. There are other ways to show support for your school (than vandalism), Dr. Arnold said. "Stuff like that doesnt need to take place." issues.

"Its unfortunate and we deplore it. We tell our kids before big games to support their team and we warn them about incidents like this," Mr. Marx said. Abington Heights defeated Scranton Prep 26-23 in triple overtime Friday. Last year, vandals poured gasoline in the shape of the letters "SP" in one end zone at the Abington Heights Football stadium.

They also defaced the score-board, visitor bleachers and the 25-second clock with purple spray paint. That damage cost $3,000. An Abington Heights student also got into the act last year when he broke through the paper banner Scranton Prep cheerleaders were holding for their players to charge through. The student ran to midfield, bent over and dropped his pants and mooned the Scranton Prep bleachers before being taken away by police. Contact the writer asedertimesshamrock.com vandalism to football game By Andrew M.

Seder TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. -Township police and officials at the Abington Heights School District are investigating $1,200 worth of vandalism to district buildings, a school bus and the football field. The latest round of vandalism is apparently a continuation of problems from last year between the district and the Scranton Preparatory School and related to their football rivalry, officials said. Abington Heights Superintendent David Arnold said he believes at least five people participated in the vandalism. He said security cameras videotaped some vandals wearing Scranton Prep jackets early Thursday morning.

LINDA MORGAN TRIBUNE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER Abington Heights football players walk past a gate spray-painted "SP" an apparent reference to Scranton Prep. This morning CTC union gives strike authorization SCRANTON The teachers union at Career Technology Center In North Scranton has voted to authorize its leadership to declare a strike, a CTC negotiator said Monday night. Dunmore School Director Mary Ann Taffera said the teachers held the vote at a general membership meeting Friday, but have not yet declared a walkout. The union would give at least five days notice before any strike, she said. Mrs.

Taffera is on the negotiating team representing the nine school districts that send students to the vocational-technical school. Union representatives did not return calls Monday seeking comment. Contract talks have stalled as the two sides sought an agreement to succeed the last teachers contract, which expired at the end of August. Court may open affidavits to public WILKES-BARRE A court order that extended the sealing of six affidavits of probable cause, related to the investigation of five buried bodies, expires Sunday. The Luzerne County district attorney's office does not expect to request another extension, spokeswoman Carol Crane said.

Before the affidavits are opened, Luzerne County Judge Patrick J. Toole must send an order to the county clerk of courts to that effect, Ms. Crane said. The original affidavit justified the search of 479 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township, on June 5. The bodies of Michael Jason Kerkowski and his girlfriend Tammy Lynn Fassett, both 37, were found in a shallow grave behind the home.

The bodies of three other people were also found. Two have been identified, but their names have not been released. No arrests have been made in the case. Two-week cleanup Dr. Arnold said he hoped the remnants would be removed by the next home game Oct.

11 against Wallenpaupack. Scranton Prep High School Principal Patrick Marx said his school is cooperating with investigators and said if Scranton Prep students were involved they also the work of vandals. The bus made it to Lackawanna County Stadium for the Friday night game, but was unable to transport the band back to the high school. "1 would hope nobody would Much of the vandalism was in the form of spray painting SP or Scranton Prep on school property, but police are also looking into whether a damaged radiator hose on the Abington Heights Marching Band bus was Diocese ready for new head il if i Eteri if- ernsjwBi EDWARD PIKULSKI TRIBUNE STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER building. The demolition is to make way for the headquarters of Southern Union.

By Chris Birk TRIBUNE REGIONAL STAFF Banners suspended above the street convey the simple message, but the Diocese of Scranton will make it official this afternoon, welcoming Bishop Joseph F. Martino to town with a brief ceremony and evening prayer. Yellow ribbons dot the 300 block of Wyoming Avenue, home to St. Peters Cathedral, the Chancery building and the cathedral rectory. Anchored to lamp posts, the white banners welcoming Bishop Martino feature his coat of arms.

Todays welcoming ceremony is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. at the cathedral. The event is by invitation only. 1 St. Peters, which holds about 1,000 people, is expected to be near capacity, with a large contingent of local clergy in attendance.

Bishop James C. Timlin will begin the ceremony, offering his successor words of greeting. Bishop Timlin, 76, was required to submit his retirement letter last year to Pope John Paul H. The letter is mandatory once a Catholic bishop turns 75. After his introduction, Bishop Martino will deliver his first homily as head of the diocese.

It will be the first time he has preached in the cathedral. Weather wont be an issue for the welcoming ceremony, as no outdoor procession is planned, said Maria Orzel, director of communications for the diocese. On Wednesday, the day of his installation, Bishop Martino will lead a group of Catholic school students in a rosary recitation at 10:30 a.m. The installation ceremony starts at 2:30 p.m. The 300 block of Wyoming Avenue will be blocked off from about 9 a.m.

to 5 p.m. Contact tho writer: cbirktimesshamrock.com The face of downtown Scranton changed Monday when demolition crews began tearing down the KresgeWYOU City making room for progress Demolition starts downtown at future site of Southern Union HQ State hands out flood checks HARRISBURG Twenty-four grants totaling $38,000 in disaster 1 housing assistance have gone out to families in Lackawanna County, state emergency management officials said. This comes within three days of the county's designation as eligible for aid to replace damage from storms earlier this month, according to disaster recovery officials. Residents of Lackawanna County who sustained losses from the Labor Day week storms are urged to call the FEMA toll-free registration line at 1-800-621-3362 to register for assistance. Hours of operation are 7 a.m.

to midnight seven days a week until further notice. Also, people affected recent floods and who are elderly or physically challenged and need to get to the Heritage Valley Center to process paperwork for flood claims may contact the Lackawanna County Area Agency on Aging to have transportation provided. Call 963-6740 to set up transportation. Dunmore company nets $6M contract DUNMORE Airsave Defense Systems of Dunmore has been awarded a nearly $6 million contract for its Airsave Body Armor system. The Airsave Body Armor system is worn by U.S.

military aviators and crews of both fixed and rotary winged aircraft. The company, founded in 1969, employs 90 people at its Dunmore location and manufactures body armor, helmets and individual tactical gear for the military, police and security marketplaces. By Stephen Daily TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER The demolition will take three to five weeks, said Jennifer K. Cawley, vice president of corporate communications. During that time, a metal fence will surround the building, restricting traffic in the left lane of Lackawanna Avenue for the length of the buildings.

Following the demolition, construction on the foundation will begin and will continue into January. Total construction is expected be finished in November 2004 and the company will open for business shortly after, Ms. Cawley said. The company is spending $8 million to $10 million to build its corporate headquarters downtown. Company officials cited the location, quality of the work force, quality of life and cost in making their decision to relocate.

The building will house Southern Unions executive offices and most major corporate functions, including accounting, treasury, tax, investor relations, human resources, corporate communications, information technology, purchasing, fleet management and legal. Southern Union, the parent company of PG Energy, will move about 30 corporate em ployees from its Wilkes-Barre offices and expects to add another 50 to 75 positions by the time the Scranton office opens. Gallucci Music Studios recently moved into the Grange Bank Buildings ground floor addition, at 503 Lackawanna Ave. The Steamtown Trading Post, a merchandiser that offers a variety of financial services, moved to 115 Wyoming the former site of a McDonalds. Southern Union financed the moving expenses for both businesses.

Contact the writ or sdailytimesshamrock.com Demolition has begun on two downtown Scranton buildings to make way for the headquarters of energy giant Southern Union. Crews started knocking down the former WYOU building, at 415 Lackawanna and the neighboring Gallucci Music StudiosSteamtown Trading Post building on Saturday. The demolition is on schedule following Southern Unions announcement in early August about moving its corporate headquarters from Wilkes-Barre to Scranton. District justice waives hearing on marijuana charges JOSEPH TOCZYDLOWSKI Could be facing trial first-time offenders. ARD allows a defendant to clear his record once the terms of acceptance into the program are completed.

The state attorney generals office, which is prosecuting Mr. Toczydlowski, has the option of recommending ARD. Kevin Harley, a spokesman for the attorney generals office, declined to comment on whether the office will recommend Mr. Toczydlowski for ARD. We dont discuss plea agreements, Mr.

Harley said. Hes got to be formally arraigned first. The hearing was scheduled for Wednesday but was moved up at the request of Mr. Toczydlow-skis lawyer, attorney Sal Cog-netti Mr. Harley said.

Deputy Attorney General Robert OHara was not present for the proceeding because a prosecutors presence is not required when a defendant waives a hearing. 1 The waiving of the hearing took place before Senior District Justice Gerald A. McGee of Lycoming County. Mr. McGee was assigned to the case by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts because of potential conflicts of interest with local district justices.

Possession case against Toczydlowski heads to county court. By Borya Krawczenluk TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER District Justice Joseph Toczydlowski Jr. waived his right to a preliminary hearing on marijuana possession charges Monday in Lackawanna County Central Court. Waiving his preliminary hearing means the charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use against Mr. Cognetti and Mr.

Toczydlowski could not be reached for comment. Mr. Toczydlowski, 33, of Scott Township, who was elected district justice in 1999, is charged with two counts of possession of a small amount of marijuana for personal use between August 2001 and December 2002. The charges against Mr. Toczydlowski are unclassified misdemeanors, each punishable by up to 30 days in jail and a maxi-mum fine of $500.

Contact tho writ or bkrawczeniuktimesshamrock.com River cleanup needs local volunteers SCRANTON Lackawanna River Watershed Beatification Day, originally scheduled for Sept. 20, has been moved to Saturday, and volunteers are still needed at certain locations. Volunteers still are needed in 12 different areas of Scranton, Carbondale, Dickson City, Throop, Forest City, the North Pocono area, Blakely, Archbald and South Abington Township. For more information on sites and times, call 961-1592, Ext. 106.

Mr. Toczydlowski will move into county court for a formal arraignment and perhaps a trial. Mr. Toczydlowski, who has taken a leave of absence from his post, could also apply for the countys Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for.