Standard-Speaker from Hazleton, Pennsylvania • Page 2

THIS PAGfc MAUP nvco SEE FNn re nfti 2 Hazleton Standard-Speaker, Wednesday, February 15, 1995 Ex-FBI agent gets 25-year sentence PHILADELPHIA (AP) A former FBI agent who pleaded guilty to stealing heroin and cocaine from the bureau's evidence room and selling it by mail was sentenced Tuesday to 25 years in prison without parole. Kenneth R. Withers showed no emotion when Judge Clarence Newcomer read the sentence, federal prosecutor Ronald H. Levine said. Withers, 33, of Med-ford, N.J., also was fined $2,500.

"The sentence was one that reflected the severity of the offense," said Tom Suddath, an assistant U.S. attorney and one of the prosecutors in the case. Withers pleaded guilty Oct. 21 to theft of government property, possession with intent to distribute heroin and cocaine, distribution of cocaine and distribution of heroin. He had been accused of stealing 100 pounds of high quality heroin and 10 pounds of cocaine.

His potential prison term ranged from 10 years to life with a fine of up to 12.3 million. Withers has been in federal custody since his arrest last June at FBI headquarters in Philadelphia. Defense attorneys had asked for leniency in sentencing, citing Withers' cooperation with investigators after being confronted with the thefts. He told investigators where the stolen drugs were kept, including the narcotics he distributed, concealed in Kentucky or burned. But prosecutors pushed for a longer sentence.

"The defendant had breached the highest trust in committing the crime," said Suddath. 1 A House Ways and Means subcommittee drafted welfare-reform legislation' giving states almost complete control over their troubled foster care programs. It rejected Democratic efforts to strengthen federal oversight of those programs and increase funding for homes for the growing numbers of abused and neglected children. Republican and Democratic senators eager to end the baseball strike introduced legislation that would partially repeal professional baseball's antitrust exemption. House Speaker Newt Gingrich said he does not support it because he doesn't want Congress involved in the labor-management dispute.

The crime package faces a precarious future. "We can't do it in six parts" because of Senate filibuster rules that could draw out debate indefinitely, Hatch said. "We're going to have to come up with our own Senate bill," he said, predicting it would take at least a month before it emerges from his committee. Senate Republican Whip Trent Lott, said non-controversial items in the package might be combined and separated from the measure concerning 100,000 new police. "I'm not interested in trying to give the president a challenge to veto a bill.

It's more important that we get major crime revision passed," he said. White House chief of staff Leon Panetta said the administration believed it had enough votes to sustain a veto of a crime bill that gutted the cops-on-the-beat program. "We would not be disappointed if that was one of the first vetoes we cast" In response, Gingrich, said, "We're a long way from deciding how we would deal with a veto." Chris Sullivan of the International Brotherhood of Police. Officers told a Justice Department news conference, "We're angry about what happened and we urge the Senate to reject what the House chose today Last year's anti-crime law was "the toughest crime bill that ever passed this country," said Bob Scully of the National Association of Police Organizations. "In one and a half months, the new majority in the House of Repre- sentatives has destroyed and gutted what took us six years to put together.

The vote, he said, is a signal that the new Congress "just doesn't care and doesn't want to listen to law enforcement." The block grant bill would give local governments $2 billion a year over the next five years for crime-fighting, replacing the $7.5 billion for community police and $3.9 billion for prevention programs that last year's law authorized for 1996-2000. Republicans argued that local governments are better able than Congress to decide how best to fight local crime. "There is incredible arrogance in the position that Washington knows best," said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Henry But Rep. Bill Richardson, said he was concerned that the GOP plan makes "no guarantees that even one police officer is going to be hired. We already have a plan under way.

Let's not mess with it" A chief architect of last year's bill, Sen. Joseph Biden, angrily dismissed the notion that prevention efforts such as after-school programs and midnight basketball were of little use in fighting crime. "I'm so sick and tired of this pap," Biden said. "Where is the logic of dismantling this crime bill other than to say it has the name Clinton on it so it must be bad?" The House rejected two amendments, one by Rep. Pat Schroeder, and a broader version by Rep.

Martin Hoke, R-Ohio, saying block grant money could go to improving security at family planning clinics. "Anti-choice violence is on a rampage in this country," Schroeder said. Republicans said the bill already contained language protecting all facilities with security risks and that Schroeder was simply trying to raise the abortion issue. Gloria Petruska Gloria M. (Kostick) Petruska, of 808 Chandler Philadelphia, died Sunday at her residence.

Surviving in addition to her mother, Margaret Kostick, are her husband, John; sons, John, Donald and Paul; sisters, Emily Mope and Jeannie Hischar, both of Hazleton; a brother, Joseph Kostick, Hazleton; and eight grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated today at 10:30 a.m. in St. Cecilia Church, Fox Chase, Philadelphia. Friends may call today from 9 a.m.

until time of service at the Wackerman Funeral Home, 8060 Verree Road, Fox Chase. Memorial donations may be made to the Holy Redeemer Hospice, 12265 Townsend Road, Philadelphia 19154. Celia Snarponis Celia Snarponis, Boothwyn, Delaware County, died Monday at the Crozier Chester Medical Center. Born in Hazleton, she was the daughter of the late Dominic and Susan (Roman) Spina, and lived in the Chester area for many years. She was a member of the Upper Chichester Senior Citizens.

Before retiring, she was employed at the Barbara Garment Chester. Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents, were her husband, Charles Minneci, and brothers and sisters, Viola Ramavaglia, Erma Doro, James, Vincent, and Alfred. Surviving are a daughter, Mrs. Kermit (Gloria) Witmer, Boothwyn; sisters, Anna Bettin, Boothwyn; Jean Heckman, Arizona; Dorothy Ziedako, Hazleton; and Julia Bruno, Hazleton; a brother, Anthony, Hazleton; three grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Several nieces and nephews also survive.

Funeral services will be held Thursday at 9:30 a.m. from the Fierro Funeral Home, 26 W. Second followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Most Precious Blood Church, Hazleton, at 10 a.m. Interment will be in Most Precious Blood Cemetery. Friends may call Thursday from 8 to 9:30 a.m.

Jane E. Brown Jane E. Brown, 74, of 1021 W. 19th Hazleton, died Tuesday morning at Hazleton General Hospital following a prolonged il-, Iness. Born in Hazleton, Jan.

26, 1921, she was the daughter of the late Frederick and Ruth (Mann) Brown, and lived in Hazleton most of her life. She was a graduate of Hazleton High School. She was a member of Christ's Memorial United Church of Christ, West Hazleton. Brown had been employed for 33 years at the former W.T. Grant Department Store, Hazleton.

She was last employed at Hazleton General Hospital in the central supply department. She was preceded in death, in addition to her parents, by an infant brother. Surviving are a sister, Nancy E. Leitfert, Hazleton, one niece and two nephews. The funeral will be held Saturday at 2 p.m.

from the Krapf Hughes Funeral Home 426 W. Broad Hazleton, with the Rev. Robert Brown, interim pastor of Christ's Memorial U.C.C. officiating. Interment will be in St.

John's Cemetery, St. Johns. Memorial donations to Christ's Memorial U.C.C., Allen Street and Madison Avenue, West Hazleton, are appreciated. Philly (Continued from page 1) a Common Pleas courtroom. Judge Bernard J.

Goodheart, wearing black socks with red hearts beneath his robe, married 30 couples Tuesday. He estimates he has married more than 500 pairs of holiday sweethearts since 1976. It all began when the judge saw a couple being escorted from his courtroom. "I was in the middle of trying a case and the bailiff told them they'd have to leave. When he told me they wanted to get married, I told him to go and bring them back," he said.

"I mean, how could a judge named Goodheart turn someone away on Valentine's Day?" louse (Continued from page 1) grant that local governments can use as they see fit to fight crime. Overriding a presidential veto would require a two-thirds vote by each house. "We are very much in the comfort zone," said White House spokesman Mike McCurry. "if a bill came here in the form the House has passed it, it will be veto bait." The vote was immediately criticized by police groups. Passage gave the new Republican majority their fifth major legislative triumph less than halfway through the 100 days in which their "Contract With America" promised votes on a number of issues.

The House GOP previously won passage of a balanced-budget amendment, a measure giving the president a line-item veto on spending bills, a bill to end unfunded mandates on state and local governments and a bill, already signed into law, making lawmakers abide by the same employment laws private employers must obey. Elsewhere in Congress on Tuesday: The Senate rejected a Democratic bid to exempt Social Security from a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole said that in spite of the mostly party-line 57-41 vote, "For the moment, everybody is willing to protect Social Security." Funerals Funeral services were held Monday from the Joseph E. Lehman Funeral Home for Florence Carr of White Haven, who died Friday at Hazleton General Hospital. The Rev.

Connell McHugh celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial in St. Patrick's Church and interment was in St. Patrick's Cemetery, White Haven. Honorary pallbearers were John L. Sullivan and Joe McCoy.

Pallbearers were Joe Kovack, Danny McCoy, Ron Feissner, Danny Tanner, Larry Stepansky and Jack Gallagher. The funeral of Clarence D. Des, 94, of 617 Grant Hazleton, who died early Saturday morning at Hazleton General Hospital, was held Tuesday morning from the Rosenstock Funeral Home, 229 W. Broad Hazleton. The Rev.

Russell Atkinson, pastor of St. Paul's United Methodist Church, conducted the services. Interment was in Mountain View Cemetery, West Hazleton. Pallbearers were John Watkins, Roy Watkins, James Lundy, Michael Diana, Joseph Kesselr-ing, and Jay Rosenstock. The funeral of Donald E.

Con-lin, formerly of House 12, Milnesville, who died Saturday evening at the Hazleton Nursing and Geriatric Center, was held Tuesday from the Turnbach Funeral Home Hazleton. The Rev. Girard F. Angelo celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial in the Church of the Sacred Heart, Harleigh. Interment was in St.

Gabriel's Cemetery, Hazleton. Pallbearers were Stan Anilosky, Robert Burns, Richard Vieteck and James Turnbach. The funeral of Ruth E. Campbell, formerly of Freeland, who died Friday afternoon at St. Luke Manor, Hazleton, was held Tuesday from the McHugh-Wilczek Funeral Home, Freeland.

The Very Rev. John Doris was celebrant of the Mass of Christian Burial in St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church, Freeland. Interment was in Calvary Cemetery, Drums. Pallbearers were Hugh Maloney, nephew, and John F.

Davis, Lou Brill, John Uhrin, John Kost, and Robert Gavinsky. Death notice CORBY At St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington, Feb. 11, 1995, Mr. John C.

Corby of 15 Hilton Road, Hilton, Wilmington, Del. Funeral services will be at Hillcrest Bellefonte United Methodist Church, 400 Hillcrest Bellefonte, Wilmington, Wed. 2 p.m., the committal in Gracelawn Memorial Park. Visiting will be at Hillcrest -Bellefonte United Methodist Church 1:30 to 2 p.m. Services are under the direction of Beeson Memorial Services of North Wilmington.

MONUMENTS MARKERS BRONZE MEMORIALS Hours: APPOINTMENTS ANYTIME Transportation and House Calls Can Be Arranged. 4 Largest Monument Manufacturer In NEPa. Stanley Bohenek, owner Obituaries Dallas Katrishin Dallas Katrishin of 889 N. James Hazleton, died Monday at Lehigh Valley Medical Center. Born in Middleport, she was the daughter of the late William and Mary Broskey and lived in the Hazleton area most of her life.

Prior to her retirement, she was employed in area dress factories. She was a member of Ss. Peter and Paul's Lithuanian Church. Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents, were her husband, Joseph, and brothers, George, Raymond, Fritz, Blaise, and Vince. Surviving are brothers and sister, John Alex, Bricktown, N.J.; Alfie Nevares, Bristol; Isabel Schaffer, Silverbrook; and John, Oceanville, N.J.; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. from the Fierro Funeral Home, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:30 a.m. in Ss. Peter and Paul's Lithuanian Church. Interment will follow in St.

Michael's Ukrainian Cemetery, Hazleton. Friends may call today from 7 to 9 p.m. Donations to the American Heart Association would be appreciated by the family. Julia Semuta Julia Semuta of 943 E. Diamond Hazleton, died at her residence Tuesday morning.

The Krapf and Hughes Funeral Home Hazleton, is in charge of the arrangements. StandardSpeaker Phone List 455-3636 OR OUT OF THE AREA TOLL FREE 800-843-6680 FAX 455-4244 CIRCULATION TO START THE PAPER EXT. 263 REPORT DELIVERY ERROR EXT. 271 ADVERTISING CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MON-FRIDAY PM ASK FOR EXT. 267 DISPLAY ADVERTISING MON-FRIDAY PM ASK FOR EXT.

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Standard-Speaker Published Daily Except Sundays and Holidays by Hazleton Standard-Speaker, Inc. 21 North Wyoming Street Hazleton, Pa. 18201 Telephone 455-3636 1-800843-6680 Second Class Postage Paid at Hazleton, Pa. Publication No. 238140 DELIVERED BY CARRIER The Hazleton Standard-Speaker is delivered by carrier for $1.80 a week.

SUBSCRIPTION BY MAIL Paid In Advance One year $114.00 Six months 68.00 Three months 30.00 One Month 12.00 One week 3.00 1 IfY0U jfilf Need To fMllk CALL John C. Corby Jr. John C. Corby 74, of 15 Hilton Road, Hilton, Wilmington, died Saturday in St. Francis Hospital, Wilmington.

Born in Nesquehoning, he moved to the Wilmington area in 1958. He was a graduate of Lafayette College in Easton and served in the Army during World War II. A retired mechanical engineer with the DuPont he helped work on parts for the atomic bomb during World War II at the Clinton Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tenn. He was a member of Hillcrest-Bellefonte United Methodist Church in Bellefonte, Wilmington, where he served as the Sunday School superintendent for four years. Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Martha sons, A.

David Corby, M.ED., Middletown, and James Clewell Corby, M.D., Santa Cruz, sisters, Elizabeth Berger, Cherry Hill, N.J.; and Margaret Grove, Chambersburg; three granddaughters, and two step grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at Hillcrest-Bellefonte United Methodist Church, 400 Hillcrest Bellefonte, Wilmington, today at 2 p.m., with committal in Gracelawn Memorial Park. Visiting will be at Hillcrest-Bellefonte United Methodist Church from 1:30 to 2 p.m. Contributions may be made to Hillcrest-Bellefonte United Methodist Church, co Beeson Memorial Services of North Wilmington, 412 Philadelphia Pike, Wilmington, Del. 19809, or the American Lung Association, 1021 Gilpin WUmington, Del.

19806. Services are under the direction of Beeson Memorial Services of North Wilmington. Mary Ferdinand Mary R. Ferdinand, 89, of Dunellen, N.J., died Tuesday at Greenbrook Manor Nursing, Greenbrook, J. She was born in Freeland and lived in Hazleton before moving to Dunellen four years ago.

Ferdinand was a member of St. John's Church, Dunellen. She was a homemaker. She was preceded in death, in addition to her parents, by her husband, Joseph in 1968. Surviving are daughters, Ann North, Dunellen; and Margaret Passon, Waverly; sons, Joseph, Hazleton; and John, Leesburg, 19 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. from the Joseph B. Conahan Funeral Home, 532 N. Vine Hazleton. A Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m.

in St. Gabriel's Church, Hazleton. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery. Friends may call Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Joseph B.

Conahan Funeral Home. The Sheenan Funeral Home in Dunellen is in charge of the arrangements. George Kyte Jr. George Kyte of rear 333 W. Green West Hazleton, died early Tuesday morning at Hazleton General Hospital.

Born in Tomhicken, he was the son of the late George and Rachel (Kishbaugh) Kyte, and was a life-time area resident. Before retiring in 1992, he was employed at J.B.C. Trucking for 20 years. Surviving are his wife, the former Ruth Coleman; daughters, Carol Ann Richardson, West Hazleton; and Jean Marie and Susan, both at home; two grandchildren; sisters and a brother, Charlotte Kuehn, Drums; Joan McAfee, Mountaintop; Doris Price, Norristown; and John Kyte, Weston. A memorial service will be held Thursday morning at 11 a.m.

in Trinity Lutheran Church, West Hazleton. Memorial donations may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church Endowment Fund. The Joseph B. Conahan Funeral Home, Hazleton, is in charge of the arrangements. In Loving Memory MARK BUNCHALK HAPPY 2 1st BIRTHDAY Happy Valentine's Day How happy we were 21 years ago, and how sad we are this day.

We thank God for the happy memories and the 1 8 years we shared with you. We love and miss you today and always. Mom, Dad, Michael, Tara, Kim Family r. Lai Mn Withers stole the drugs while he was assigned to office duties after being diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, a form of cancer, investigators said. Investigators said he peddled the drugs through the mail at cut- rate prices.

Charity (Continued from page 1) "This is very much a new trend," said Christopher Arterton, dean of the Graduate School of 5 Political Management. "These guys are grappling with the ethics of handling money, and also with citizen skepticism about politicians and politics. You might say this is a beneficial con- sequence of that," he said. For years, members of Con- gress who left office could take their leftover campaign funds -with them sums that sometimes reached into the high six -figures. According to a 1994 study by the Center for Public Integrity, a Washington-based ethics wat- chdog agency, retiring members of Congress had pocketed about $6 million in leftover campaign cash since 1979.

Former Rep. Larry Hopkins, was the highest at $665,000. The practice that enriched Hopkins was eliminated with a campaign finance reform measure passed in 1992 and which took effect with this election cycle. The impact was immediate, ac-1 cording to reports recently filed at the FEC by retired members of Congress. Last July, shortly after an-5 nouncing he wouldn't seek re- election, Senate Majority Leader; George Mitchell was sitting on a campaign war chest worth more than $1 million.

I On July 8, he sent $1 million to the Maine Community Founda-J tion, a public organization that, manages and administers funds that benefit colleges, universities and charitable groups in Maine. "Senator Mitchell has had this sort of presence in Maine, in terms of caring about people," said Marion Kane, the founda- tion's president. "This was an act-of generosity, not an act of politi-i cal patronage." Since then, Mitchell has raised $1 million more at a pair of; fund-raising dinners to be used for a series of $2,500 annual scholar- ships for needy Maine high school students who want to go on to; college. According to Kane's calculations, interest income will make it possible for the foundation to award roughly 40 scholarships a year. "With this sense of public; spirit he has always had, this is a fitting way for him to end his career," Kane said.

In Missouri, a consortium of churches that provides a variety of services to inner-city youth re-; ceived $650,000 in leftover campaign money from former John Danforth. Since then, Danforth has held a fund-raiser for the group, In-; terACT-St. Louis, that raised an additional $1 million. Danforth, a Republican and ordained clergyman, also gave nearly $1,000 to the Episcopal Church. PA.

MONUMENT CO. 454-2621 HAZLETON-SHEPPTON 924-HUMBOLDT FUNERAL BREAKFASTS LUNCHEONS In The Librafy Lounge (Seating available for up to 90 people) Ctitered By DUBATTO'S Family Restaurant 615 E. Broad St PHONE 454-7676.