Melanie Mizenko
Times Leader
Pennsylvania, United States
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Past articles by Melanie:
Media personality L.A. Tarone remembered as ‘true gentleman’
Sue Henry and Louis Alfred “L.A.” Tarone had a “unique friendship.” So it comes as no surprised she was “stunned” at his passing Sunday, at age 58, after a battle with lung cancer. Henry said she had known Tarone for 30 years, dating back to her days as a student at King’s College. Tarone graduated … → Read More
Police seize 110 bags of heroin and fentanyl in Hazleton raid
HAZLETON — Police seized 110 bags of heroin and fentanyl Friday while serving a search warrant on South Pine Street. Marcos Gomez Jr. was arrested during the raid at 136 South Pine, police report. The raid came on the heels of a recent shooting in the area, authorities say. Officers seized $2,644 in cash, 54 … → Read More
Wilkes names graduate creative writing program in family’s honor
WILKES-BARRE — The graduate creative writing program at Wilkes University has a new name courtesy of a Dallas businessman. The school renamed it the Maslow Family Graduate Program in Creative Writing during a ceremony attended by dozens of faculty and students in the Henry Student Center on Friday. Richard Maslow, former CEO of InterMetro of … → Read More
Twin brothers in ‘Operation Gym Candy’ get 23 months in prison
WILKES-BARRE — Two brothers who helped run a nationwide steroids ring were sentenced to prison Friday after pleading guilty to drug charges last summer. Brian Laubach, and his twin brother, Marc Laubach, both 39, of Fifth Avenue, Berwick, were each sentenced to up to 23 months in prison. They must also serve two years on … → Read More
Police identify suspect in killing of Ramon Torres
WILKES-BARRE —City police have identified a suspect wanted for stabbing a 23-year-old man whose body was found in an abandoned building in Wilkes-Barre. Police are looking for Sean “Juice” Talmadge in connection with the homicide of Ramon Torres, 23. Authorities found Torres on Tuesday at the rear of 440-442 S. Franklin St. Kingston and Wilkes-Barre … → Read More
Wilkes-Barre police investigating Thursday night stabbing incident
WILKES-BARRE — City police are investigating a stabbing that occurred late Thursday on Virginia Drive. Police said a 60-year-old driver told police he was driving his vehicle near Quamaine Rakim Hudson shortly after 10 p.m. when he heard a noise as if he struck Hudson with his vehicle. The unnamed victim exited his vehicle to … → Read More
Cloudy skies and rain expected for the weekend weather forecast
A chance of rain will linger throughout the weekend thanks to remnants from Tropical Depression Cindy. The National Weather Service indicated it was 69 degrees as of 7 a.m. at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport. Cloudy skies are expected today with a high of 83. A chance of showers and thunderstorms likely after 11 a.m. Light … → Read More
Sunshine, rain expected as the week comes to a close
Sunshine will lead to rain and thunderstorms as the week comes to an end, the National Weather Service indicates. According to the NWS, the temperature was 66 degrees as of 7 a.m. at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport, with fair skies reported. Mostly sunny skies are expected today with a high of 84. A chance of … → Read More
Avoca police arrest suspects in PNC Bank robbery
AVOCA —Two men who allegedly robbed a borough bank at gunpoint Wednesday have been arrested, according to police. Douglas A. Sicker Jr., 36, of Hanover Township, and Shawn James Cavanaugh, 35, of Wilkes-Barre, were arrested early Thursday on charges in connection to the robbery, police said in an email. According to police: Sicker and Cavanaugh … → Read More
White Haven residents OK with medical-pot site if no ‘riff-raff’
WHITE HAVEN — Standard Farms LLC is bringing a medical marijuana operation to lower Luzerne County next year, and some residents have no problem with it — as long as it doesn’t attract “riff-raff.” The business was one of 12 statewide to be awarded permits this week for growing and processing the drug. “If it … → Read More
Businessman gets prison for failing to send taxes to IRS
SCRANTON — A Florida businessman with Hazleton ties was sentenced to six months in prison and two years on supervised released for failing to send employee payroll taxes to the IRS. Joel Fuller, 46, will now have to pay more than $300,000, which includes restitution for his own personal income taxes that he did not … → Read More
Police: Man who provided officers with false name caught with heroin
WILKES-BARRE TWP. — A man who allegedly provided officers with a fake name was found with suspected heroin, according to police. According to a police report: Corey McLaurin, 45, of Dana Street, was pulled over by police on Casey Avenue, in the township at 4:05 p.m. Sunday for having an unlawful registration plate on the … → Read More
Northeast Fair opens with plenty to offer
PITTSTON TWP. — Where can you find a petting zoo, a midway teeming with food options, and a hypnotist who used to work for Disney? The answer: the Northeast Fair, which opened Tuesday. Hundreds of people walked the roughly 18-acre fair in the Grimes Industrial Park on opening night. Heather Rowley and friend Shannon Hillard, … → Read More
Mistrial declared in Melissa Ann Scholl case
WILKES-BARRE — Was it a desperate cry for help or a carefully crafted plan to have someone find a gruesome scene the next morning? The jury in charge of deciding the fate of Melissa Ann Scholl was hopelessly deadlocked after about seven hours of deliberations Friday. At 7:30 p.m., county Judge David Lupas declared a … → Read More
Employees conduct informational picket outside First Hospital in Kingston
KINGSTON — Chants of “2, 4, 6, 8, CHS, negotiate” and “What do we we want? Contracts. When do we want them? Now!” were heard in front of First Hospital on Thursday as workers staged an informational picket and some passing drivers honked their horns in support. A handful of First Hospital workers and other … → Read More
Police: Honduran woman found on I-80 with fentanyl
SCRANTON — A woman found sleeping at an interstate rest area near White Haven was charged Thursday with intent to distribute fentanyl, authorities say. Osiris Ninet Bonilla-Mejia, a citizen of Honduras, was found June 13 sleeping in the backseat of a vehicle at the rest area along Interstate 80, according to U.S. Attorney Bruce D. … → Read More
Edwardsville festival makes pierogies the star
EDWARDSVILLE — The fourth annual Edwardsville Pierogi Festival kicked off in grand style Friday — the sun was shining, the smell of Northeastern Pennsylvania food staples filled the air, and, of course, Pierogi Joe was there too. “I love it,” said Joe “Pierogi Joe” Stanavage. His stand — Joe’s Homemade Pierogi’s — has won awards … → Read More
Superior Court ruling: Helen Galli to get new trial
WILKES-BARRE — A state appeals court upheld a ruling Friday that will allow an 85-year-old woman to get a new trial for allegedly trying to poison her son’s girlfriend. Helen Lucy Galli, of Wyoming, was found guilty in October 2013 of aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment. But her conviction was later vacated. Friday’s … → Read More
Pittston man sentenced to 18 months in prison for drug conspiracy
SCRANTON — A Pittston man was sentenced Friday for his role in a drug conspiracy, officials say. Landy Then , 25, must serve 18 months in prison for conspiring to distribute approximately 200 grams of cocaine throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania, according to a press release. Then was indicted by a grand jury on Oct. 25, 2016, … → Read More
Professor, politicians sound off on Comey testimony
Dr. Brian Carso was one of millions who watched former FBI Director James Comey testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Thursday. Carso, a former lawyer and current history professor at Misericordia University, said he found Comey’s testimony “credible” namely because “he raises additional questions … about (General Michael) Flynn, (Paul) Manafort and (Attorney General … → Read More