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Work underway to retrofit flood gate on Waller Street bridge in Wilkes-Barre

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3A wrestling: Dallas duo, Hazleton Area’s Noonan start strong at states

<p>PLAINS TWP. &#8212; Retired Army Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski spoke to a roomful of Scouts on Thursday about the qualities that make a leader.</p><p>He identified many of them in the ethics of Scout law, which says Scouts need to be &#8220;trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;What a template for anyone and a foundation to start,&#8221; said Wiercinski.</p><p>The former officer was the keynote speaker at the 36th annual Distinguished Citizens Award program put on by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council of the Boy Scouts of America.</p><p>The citizens honored were Tom Donohue, vice president and general manager of Lamar Advertising, along with the entire McCarthy family of McCarthy Tire.</p><p>The Mohegan Sun Pocono ballroom was packed for the event. Master of ceremonies Andy Mehalshick of WBRE said the evening&#8217;s festivities raised over $150,000 for the Boy Scouts.</p><p>The McCarthy family was represented by Katie McCarthy Lambert, who said her family embraces a philosophy of giving back. She said the Boy Scouts organization teaches youngsters to give back.</p><p>&#8220;The Boy Scouts blossom young people into moral citizens,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Donahue also praised the Scouts during his acceptance speech.</p><p>&#8220;The Boy Scouts exemplify everything in our country that&#8217;s good,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This means more to me than any award I&#8217;ve ever been given.&#8221;</p><p>Retired Lt. Gen. Wiercinski, who saw deployment throughout the War on Terror, encouraged Scouts to stick with the program, saying it will give them the foundation they need to be successful throughout their lives.</p><p>&#8220;To all you Scouts out there who didn&#8217;t get your Eagle yet, don&#8217;t you quit,&#8221; he advised.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Boy Scout Jason Phillips of Troop 316 and Venture Crew 3701, Avoca, salutes the flag with other Scouts during the Pledge of Allegiance at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council&#8217;s 36th annual Distinguished Citizens Award Dinner at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Thursday evening. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL030819scouts_1-1-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Boy Scout Jason Phillips of Troop 316 and Venture Crew 3701, Avoca, salutes the flag with other Scouts during the Pledge of Allegiance at the Northeastern Pennsylvania Council&#8217;s 36th annual Distinguished Citizens Award Dinner at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Thursday evening. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL030819scouts_4-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Frank Wiercinski, senior vice president and managing director of Indo-Pacific Region Cubic Global Defense, delivers the keynote address at the 36th annual Northeastern Pennsylvania Boy Scouts Council Distinguished Citizens Award dinner at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL030819scouts_4-1-.jpg</photo1><caption1>Retired U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Frank Wiercinski, senior vice president and managing director of Indo-Pacific Region Cubic Global Defense, delivers the keynote address at the 36th annual Northeastern Pennsylvania Boy Scouts Council Distinguished Citizens Award dinner at Mohegan Sun Pocono on Thursday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL030819scouts_3-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">PNC Bank Regional President Peter Danchak, left, presents the Distinguished Citizen Award to Lamar Advertising vice president/general manager Tom Donohue at the 36th annual Northeastern Pennsylvania Boy Scouts Council dinner Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL030819scouts_3-1-.jpg</photo2><caption2>PNC Bank Regional President Peter Danchak, left, presents the Distinguished Citizen Award to Lamar Advertising vice president/general manager Tom Donohue at the 36th annual Northeastern Pennsylvania Boy Scouts Council dinner Thursday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL030819scouts_2-1-.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Attorney Marianne Gilmartin of Stevens &amp; Lee, left, presents the Distinguished Citizen Award to McCarthy family members John McCarthy, Cece McCarthy, and Katie McCarthy Lambert at the 36th annual Northeastern Pennsylvania Boy Scouts Council dinner at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Plains Township on Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/web1_TTL030819scouts_2-1-.jpg</photo3><caption3>Attorney Marianne Gilmartin of Stevens &amp; Lee, left, presents the Distinguished Citizen Award to McCarthy family members John McCarthy, Cece McCarthy, and Katie McCarthy Lambert at the 36th annual Northeastern Pennsylvania Boy Scouts Council dinner at Mohegan Sun Pocono in Plains Township on Thursday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6386 or on Twitter @PatKernan</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Local Scouts honor ‘Distinguished Citizens’ at annual dinner