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Leslie S. Richards: Technology takes some guesswork out of winter travel in Pennsylvania

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Letter to the Editor: White Haven library appreciates support of fundraisers to finish engine house restoration

SWOYERSVILLE &#8212; The borough council chose committee heads for 2016 at its meeting Monday.Joseph Olejnick will head the finance committee, Joseph Onzik will head the street department committee, William Keating will report on the police department, Pete Cwalina will report on the fire department and Patti O&#8217;Donnell will fill the position of liaison officer.Ronald Alunni will serve as the council president.The council also chose O&#8217;Donnell to serve as Emergency Management Director to fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Gary VanScoy.O&#8217;Donnell said she is current on all certifications necessary to fill that position.Mayor Chris Concert said he has filed paperwork requesting volunteers during the upcoming United Way Day of Caring for all three borough parks to be cleaned.Concert lauded the road department for its work during the recent snow storm, saying he received 27 messages from residents impressed by the quick clearing of snow from roadways.Concert also said he received a letter from a resident expressing gratitude for police assistance when his daughter had a flat tire.&#8220;They stopped and changed the tire, even putting the damaged tire in the trunk,&#8221; the letter said. &#8220;He didn&#8217;t have to do that, but as a father I am so grateful that he did.&#8221;Cwalina reported he recently attended the Council of Governments reorganization meeting at which Rick Kamus, of Forty Fort, was named president.Cwalina said he will keep council updated on the progress of the COG&#8217;s grant application for 2016.Zoning officer Joe Ruscavage said he had been in contact with Matt Kocharn, Panther Valley power company, who said the company is in negotiations with Pagnotti Enterprises to move a culm bank out of the area.&#8220;Because of prevailing southerly winds, you can see coal dust blowing across town,&#8221; said Ruscavage. &#8220;Removal of the bank is a good thing.&#8221;Ed Connor, civil service commission, said five applicants for the police department had passed a written test administered in December.&#8220;Of the five, three have participated in oral interviews and the two others will do so tomorrow,&#8221; said Connor. &#8220;From there, we will finalize our list of available candidates.&#8221;The next meeting of the Swoyersville Borough Council is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 7.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Geri Gibbonsggibbons@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</shirttailMeta></div>

Swoyersville Borough Council chooses committee heads