126052498_web1_Column-head-2

Beyond the Byline: Keep the holiday glistening in your eyes and heart

126070339_web1_police-chase

Police: Ashley man arrested after disputes with brother

While mail voting was popular, most Luzerne County voters ended up casting their ballots in person at their polling places in the Nov. 3 general, final statistics show.
				In total, the county ended up with 154,134 ballots cast, for a turnout of 69.76%, said county Deputy Election Director Dino Ninotti.
				Of those ballots, 97,230 &mdash; 63.1% &mdash; were cast in person at polling places, Ninotti said. That includes 2,990 provisional paper ballots submitted at the polls.
				The remaining 56,904 votes &mdash; 36.9% &mdash; were through paper ballots mailed or dropped off at the county election bureau, he said. This number includes 5,276 &ldquo;absentee&rdquo; voters who provided a reason for wanting to vote by mail, even though an excuse is no longer required under bi-partisan state legislation passed last year.
				Courthouse tree
				A Christmas tree donated by county Manager C. David Pedri has arrived in the courthouse rotunda, but Pedri said there won&rsquo;t be group musical performances or an in-person tree lighting event due to the coronavirus pandemic.
				Instead, Pedri said a scaled-back lighting will be held virtually on Dec. 11, with details to be announced soon.
				He purchased the tree from Helen and Ed&rsquo;s Tree Farm in White Haven, and decorating is now underway.
				Coronavirus restrictions
				The county&rsquo;s limited operation schedule imposed to &ldquo;keep ahead&rdquo; of coronavirus spread ended Sunday, but Pedri encourages the public to continue using online and mail service options.
				Visitors accessing in-person services should expect waits because the county will continue to limit the number of people inside each office, he said.
				Information on online or mail-in options is posted on the home page at <a href="https://www.luzernecounty.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">luzernecounty.org</a>.
				Also, active adult centers in both Luzerne and Wyoming counties will remain closed through at least Jan. 4.
				Tuesday session
				County council is scheduled to meet virtually at 5 p.m. Tuesday to review the proposed 2021 budget for the administrative services division.
				This division includes human resources, voter services, mapping/GIS, purchasing, information technology, licensing and expenses for liability/property insurance.
				Directions on attending are posted on council&rsquo;s public meetings online link at<a href="https://www.luzernecounty.org/1279/Public-Meetings-Online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> luzernecounty.org</a>.
				Wednesday interviews
				Council&rsquo;s Authorities/Boards/Commissions Committee will meet virtually at 6 p.m. Wednesday to interview citizen applicants interested in unpaid seats on various outside boards filled by council.
				The county has publicly advertised openings to encourage citizens to apply.
				Vacancies exist or will open up before the end of the year on boards that oversee or provide advice on ethics, tourism, the Mohegan Sun Arena in Wilkes-Barre Township, farmland preservation, the Wyoming Valley Levee system, industrial development, the Luzerne Conservation District, the Luzerne County Community College, public transportation, workforce investment, planning, the Area Agency on Aging, Children and Youth, the county-owned Wyoming Valley Airport, Mental Health/Developmental Services and recreational facilities, an advertisement says.
				Applications are available under council&rsquo;s authorities/boards/commissions section at<a href="https://www.luzernecounty.org/1282/ABC-Meetings-Online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> luzernecounty.org</a>, which also contains a link to attend the online meeting.
				Thursday meeting
				Council&rsquo;s Election Inquiry Committee will hold a virtual session at 6 p.m. Thursday to continue its review of election procedures and practices.
				Council formed the committee largely due to the September discovery that a temporary seasonal worker had discarded nine overseas military ballots. Federal investigators found no issues beyond the nine that had been discarded during the three-day period the temporary worker was employed, and the matter remains under federal investigation, officials said. The county was ultimately able to count all nine votes.
				During the last inquiry committee meeting Nov. 19, county Election Director Shelby Watchilla said overseas military ballots don&rsquo;t arrive in uniform, standard envelopes like general mail ballots, which means staffers sometimes have no way of knowing a ballot is inside. Temporary workers are trained and assigned specific tasks based on their skill level, she said.
				A link to attend is posted under council&rsquo;s<a href="https://www.luzernecounty.org/1279/Public-Meetings-Online" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> public meetings online section</a>.

Most Luzerne County voters cast ballots in person