Louise Westawski 
Nov. 24, 1992 
Louise T. Westawski, 55, Of Aleeda Boulevard, Bear Creek Township, Died 
Tuesday Morning In Community Medical Center, Scranton.

Elderly Driver Dies After Plowing Into Rig 
87-year-old Nanticoke Man's Car Ran Into Side Of Tractor-trailer As It Was 
Backing Into A Loading Dock On East 
Market Street

By MITCH MORRISON; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Wednesday, November 25, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A QUICK WORDS: WILKE-BARRE CITY
COUNCIL CURFEW 





WILKES-BARRE -- The parents wanted it. The students didn't mind it. And the
police will enforce it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The city council on Tuesday night unanimously approved first reading of a
new curfew ordinance that requires 16- and 17-years-olds to be home by
midnight and those 15 and under by 11 p.m. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Unlike past curfew ordinances that typically received scant enforcement,
the five-page proposal places stringent enforcement measures on parents and
establishments. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The proposed ordinance contains a punitive clause against both parents and
establishments. It comes up for approval at next month's council meeting. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A parent who knowingly permits his or her children to violate the curfew
ordinance could be cited for a maximum $300 fine. The same stringency applies
to establishments that allow minors on premises after curfew. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This curfew will work, because it will make the parents enforce the law,"
said councilman Thomas Leighton, who spearheaded the proposal. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This offers a reasonable hour for the good kids. It's not going to be a
reasonable hour for the kid who commits vandalism." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Leighton and colleague Bernard Mengeringhausen chaired a special committee
to examine the city's curfew ordinance. The ad-hoc committee, created last
month and consisting of a police officer and four students, reviewed similar
curfew ordinances nationwide and interviewed scores of parents and students
before issuing their proposal. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We feel this meets the needs of the teenagers in the city,"
Mengeringhausen said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The compromise represents a political victory for Leighton. The freshman
councilman vehemently opposed the majority of council's action in September to
trim the curfew from midnight to 11 p.m. The curfew change was precipitated by
a rash of vandalism by youths. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Leighton, who said the curfew change unfairly punished law-abiding minors,
took his argument to the teenagers, stirring a number of youths to urge
council to return the curfew to midnight. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Several councilmen responded that they were open to a compromise,
permitting teenagers old enough to carry a junior driver's license to remain
out until midnight. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The latest proposal contains several exemptions to the curfew: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Attendance at an activity sponsored by a school, religious or civic
organization that runs after midnight. Students, however, must immediately
return to their residence from the activity. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Written permission from a parent or guardian allowing that minor to attend
an engagement which begins before curfew. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Accompaniment by a parent or guardian. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Travel to or return from a place of employment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Police, under the proposed ordinance, would issue a warning first, then a
citation for subsequent violations. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The council body praised Leighton and Mengeringhausen for their work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ************************* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 FILE PHOTOS &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This curfew will work because it will make the parents enforce the law." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Thomas Leighton &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 City councilman &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ----------- &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We feel this meets the needs of the teenagers in the city." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bernard Mengeringhausen &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 City council

W-b Nears New Curfew For Kids Parents Of Violators Would Face Fines Under A Curfew Expected To Become Law Next Month