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King’s College dedicates new chapel

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Luzerne County hired four new deputy sheriffs in August but still has more openings, according to county Manager C. David Pedri.The new deputies, all hired at $15.36 per hour, according to Pedri&#8217;s new monthly personnel report: Autumn Atkinson, Paul Krehel, Christopher Smith and Anthony Vaillant.The county has 42 deputy sheriff positions. As of last week, there were three open positions, but Pedri said the total vacancies will increase to seven in two weeks due to other pending departures.During a budget presentation last year, county Sheriff Brian Szumski discussed challenges filling vacancies, in part because some leave to work as police officers.The latest posting seeking deputies is on the human resources page at <a href="https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/luzernecounty?page=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.luzernecounty.org</a>, with a Sept. 20 application deadline.Sheriff lieutenantA lieutenant sheriff opening also was posted Sept. 6 at a salary of $44,101, with resumes due Tuesday. Pedri said the position is open because Eric Aigeldinger has submitted his retirement paperwork.Aigeldinger was promoted to a lieutenant post in 2013 after working eight years in the sheriff&#8217;s office and 31 years as a municipal police officer, according to a past published report.Other hiringsIn addition to the four deputies, eight county workers were hired last month.The new employees, their position and hourly pay: Katrina Berish, domestic relations receptionist, $12.70; Danielle Bogan, district attorney&#8217;s office clerk, $14.17; Noel Ceglia, aging agency care manager, $17.38; Pearl Cwalina, prothonotary clerk, $15.36; Heather Jones, Children and Youth caseworker 2, $19.02; Jenna Kizis, district attorney adult victim witness coordinator, $14.17; Joshua Oliveri, information technology specialist, $21.43; and Alexandria Smith, Children and Youth caseworker 1, $15.82.DeparturesTwelve workers left county employment in August, Pedri&#8217;s monthly personnel report said.Eight resigned: Joseph Chairge, prothonotary clerk; Alyssa Clocker and Edilma Maylone, Children and Youth caseworker 2s; Jessica Crawford and Matthew David Cunniffe, 911 telecommunicators; Richard Machey, 911 quality assurance/training coordinator; David McDermott, prison corrections officer; and Jule Scott, aging agency agency food service worker.Two retired &#8212; chief deputy coroner Dennis Dobinick and sheriff clerk Janice Evanchick. Two 911 telecommunicators were terminated &#8212; Brittany Colson and Arianna WarnagirisPromotionsFour employees advanced to new positions last month.The workers, along with their new jobs and hourly pay: Wendy Kilburn, mental health/developmental services caseworker supervisor, $19.19; Jamie Koskulitz, district justice clerk, $15.82; James Youngkin, prison captain, $31.73; and Leighann Yukenavage, building/grounds executive secretary, $17.69.Parking soughtThe county is seeking proposals from parking lot owners interested in leasing spots to the county for employees who work in downtown Wilkes-Barre, primarily at the county-owned Penn Place building at the corner of Market Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.Proposals are due Sept. 17.The county pays a total $60,000 annually for parking spaces at the nearby Jewelcor property, which covers parking for both court and non-court employees, the administration said.The county is seeking a three-year contract with two optional one-year extensions starting Jan. 1, 2020, the proposal said. Selection factors will include price, the security and safety of staff and proximity to county office buildings, it said.Tax auctionCounty tax-claim operator Northeast Revenue Service LLC has released a list of 228 properties eligible for the Oct. 17 free-and-clear auction, which is set to begin at 10 a.m. at the King&#8217;s College Scandlon Physical Education Center, 150 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre.This list appears in Monday&#8217;s Times Leader classified section.All impacted properties were listed but not sold in past first-stage upset sales, when bidders would have been required to pay all back real estate taxes and accept responsibility for liens. Free-and-clear auction properties go to the highest bidder, and mortgages, liens, utility bills or other past claims are no longer attached.Updated lists and bidding information are available at <a href="https://www.luzernecountytaxclaim.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">www.luzernecountytaxclaim.com</a>.Drug initiativeCounty Councilman Matthew Vough has joined the Duryea Neighborhood Crime Watch to host a substance abuse awareness forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday in the borough building, 315 Main St.The program is part of Vough&#8217;s ongoing efforts to share recovery success stories and help those battling addiction. More information about event guest speakers and his other discoveries are posted through his social media Facebook and Instagram pages, which are both listed under Matt Vough.<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Luzerne County Courthouse </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_courthouse.jpeg-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Luzerne County Courthouse </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Jennifer Learn-Andesjandes@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</shirttailMeta></div>

Luzerne County working to fill sheriff deputy vacancies