web1_Christopher-A.-Peters-2c-M.D..jpg

Dunmore-based cancer center earns prestigious accreditation

web1_TTL010517Crash1CMYK.jpg

Laflin crash sends motorist to hospital

<p>NANTICOKE &#8212; A discussion about illegally parked commercial vehicles during Wednesday&#8217;s city council meeting caused police Chief Tom Wall to question if some city residents have negative attitudes.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s been brought to my attention that nothing happens in Nanticoke.&#8221; Wall said during the meeting. &#8220;Have you read the papers lately?&#8221;</p><p>Wall said some of the complaints aired at council meetings are &#8220;very minuscule&#8221; on the police scale and pointed to the number of heroin deaths in the county &#8212; 140 in 2016 &#8212; as an example of one of the problems his department is forced to face.</p><p>Wall did reassure citizens that anything called in to him or the police department will be addressed, but, in some instances, it may be low on the police&#8217;s radar.</p><p>He was answering complaints from John Telencho and Lou Gianuzzi about illegally parked commercial vehicles.</p><p>&#8220;I know this isn&#8217;t the most important thing in the world,&#8221; Gianuzzi said. &#8220;But there has to be something flowing.&#8221;</p><p>Gianuzzi is upset that tractor-trailers park on conservation land near the bridge connecting Nanticoke with Plymouth Township. It wasn&#8217;t the first time Gianuzzi has complained about the trucks. Minutes from as early as June show him questioning interim City Manager Donna Wall about them.</p><p>&#8220;You don&#8217;t know what they&#8217;re hauling,&#8221; Gianuzzi said, claiming they could be hauling explosives or dirty soil.</p><p>Solicitor William Finnegan said he had tried to make contact with the owners of the land to buy the parcel because it sits next to a larger property the city owns. Finnegan said he&#8217;s reached out &#8220;twice in writing and once by phone&#8221; to the owner, who has yet to respond.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a grey area,&#8221; the police chief said about citing the owner of the property.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s private property. We don&#8217;t own it,&#8221; Donna said. </p><p>Gianuzzi was also concerned with the loss of a $40,000 contract between the police department and Warrior Run to patrol the borough. Finance Director Jennifer Polito said the appropriate revisions to the department&#8217;s budget have been made.</p><p>&#8220;We did pull the $40,000 from the budget. &#8230; We&#8217;re going to hopefully try to increase revenue in the police department,&#8221; Polito said.</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Nanticoke-Council-Mtg-1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke council President William Brown, left, sits next to City Solicitor William T. Finnegan during Wednesday&#8217;s meeting. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Nanticoke-Council-Mtg-1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Nanticoke council President William Brown, left, sits next to City Solicitor William T. Finnegan during Wednesday&#8217;s meeting. </caption0><photoCredit0>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Nanticoke-Council-Mtg-2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke Finance Director Jennifer Polito, far right, fields questions from a resident. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Nanticoke-Council-Mtg-2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Nanticoke Finance Director Jennifer Polito, far right, fields questions from a resident. </caption1><photoCredit1>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Nanticoke-Council-Mtg-3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke Police Chief Tom Wall addresses city residents at Wednesday&#8217;s council meeting. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Nanticoke-Council-Mtg-3-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Nanticoke Police Chief Tom Wall addresses city residents at Wednesday&#8217;s council meeting. </caption2><photoCredit2>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Nanticoke-Council-Mtg-4-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke resident John Telencho addresses council. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Nanticoke-Council-Mtg-4-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Nanticoke resident John Telencho addresses council. </caption3><photoCredit3>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Nanticoke-Council-Mtg-5-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Nanticoke residents read over the agenda prior to the council meeting on Wednesday evening. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/web1_Nanticoke-Council-Mtg-5-1.jpg</photo4><caption4>Nanticoke residents read over the agenda prior to the council meeting on Wednesday evening. </caption4><photoCredit4>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Melanie Mizenko</p><p>mmizenko@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p>The next council meeting will be held 7 p.m. Jan. 18 in council chambers, 15 E. Ridge St.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Melanie Mizenko at 570-991-6116 or on Twitter @TL_MMizenko</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Nanticoke police chief responds to criticism of department