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Parks and playgrounds in Wilkes-Barre to undergo safety improvements

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Away From the Game podcast: Holy Redeemer grad Alexis Lewis

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; A Luzerne County-owned building, which was allegedly fire bombed Monday, was open for business a day later.</p><p>The Human Services Division building on Pennsylvania Avenue was closed after someone reportedly threw something into Children and Youth Executive Director Joanne Van Saun&#8217;s office. The office caught fire approximately 5:37 a.m. and was extinguished by the sprinkler system.</p><p>In an email, county council Chairwoman Linda McClosky Houck told fellow council members she was informed someone &#8220;fire bombed&#8221; Saun&#8217;s office.</p><p>The building contains the offices for the county&#8217;s Human Services Division, including Children and Youth, drug and alcohol programs, and Mental Health and Developmental Services. The Area Agency on Aging for Luzerne and Wyoming counties is also located there.</p><p>&#8220;Workers in the effected areas were diverted to other offices,&#8221; County Manager C. David Pedri said.</p><p>Luzerne County District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis said she it was still an active investigation and she had noting new to report.</p><p>In light of the attack, Pedri said <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/local/640336/luzerne-county-security-stepped-up-in-light-of-mondays-fire" target="_blank">there were &#8220;enhanced measures&#8221; for</a> security at all county-owned facilities.</p><p>Coincidentally, but unrelated to the attack, a new policy was put in place requiring all county employees to show their security badges when entering county buildings, County Court Administrator Michael Shucosky said.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The rear of the Children and Youth building is roped off as a crime scene after an incident which shut the building on Monday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/web1_TTL030617CandY1CMYK.jpg</photo0><caption0>The rear of the Children and Youth building is roped off as a crime scene after an incident which shut the building on Monday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>Times Leader staff</p></bylineMeta></div>

Luzerne County human services building reopens after fire incident