Where Bickering Is Herd 
Good Buffaloes Not Good Neighbors, Retiree To Tell 
Board

Charles Baird 
Dec.10, 1994 
Charles W. Baird Of Luzerne Towers, Bennett Street, Luzerne, Died Saturday In 
The Hospice St. John In-patient Unit At Wilkes-barre General Hospital.

By JERRY LYNOTT; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Monday, December 12, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Success won't go to Rich Kruk's head. He's got other things
to take care of, like putting out a newspaper. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The 1994 Times Leader Employee of the Year will be at work today, just as
he has been for the past 28 years. It's his job to find page space for
advertisements and news. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; On Sunday night, the 47-year-old Kingston resident won the 10th annual
award and received a $1,000 check at the holiday celebration of The Times
Leader and Sunday Dispatch, both owned by Capital Cities/ABC Inc. About 300
people, including employees of both newspapers and their guests, attended the
party at the Genetti Hotel and Convention Center in Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I would like to thank the company and everyone here for their applause and
all department managers and fellow co-workers who voted for me," Kruk said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I've always believed in doing my best ...," he said, adding he will not
change his work ethic. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm very honored about it and very proud," he said of the award. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kruk, the Employee of the Month for November, lives in Kingston with his
wife, Barbara. He has worked in a number of positions at the newspaper. He was
nominated for his performance handling the advertising layout, a job he's held
for the past 1 years. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He decides where the ads go and consequently where the news can go," Dale
Duncan, president and publisher of The Times Leader, said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Advertising Director Dennis Sheely, Kruk's supervisor, described him as "an
excellent employee, very dedicated and loyal to The Times Leader." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He's dedicated in the sense that he will make sure the job gets done,"
Sheely said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Department managers and employees selected seven finalists from the 12
nominees. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Each of the runners-up received a dinner for two at the restaurant of their
choice. For them, just being a finalist was a thrill. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mary Jo Finley, administrative assistant for the editorial department, said
she was happy to be recognized for her work. The Beaumont resident added, "My
job is very demanding, very stressful, very rewarding. And I wouldn't have it
any other way." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I feel very honored and very surprised," Community Relations Coordinator
Paula Reagan-Lalli said. She organizes all of the newspaper's contests and
involvement in community programs and events. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "That list is a tough list; everyone deserves it," said the 26-year-old
Berwick resident. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Will Jones of the Information Systems Department shared Reagan-Lalli's
sentiments. Jones, 34, a computer hardware engineer from Benton, is the person
people call when they're having problems with their computers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "What I basically do is support people," Jones said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This is really an honor for me, but it's a pleasure for me to do that," he
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Colleen Wateski, 28, of the business office said she believes she was
nominated because of the job she does handling everything from personnel
matters to health-care benefits to savings and stock plans. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think I work for the employees," said the Swoyersville resident. "I feel
they think they can come to me, and I'll answer questions for them." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Advertising department employee Norm Morris, 48, of Mocanaqua attributed
his nomination to his co-workers. "It's with the help of the people that you
work with. It's their effort that enables you to do the job you do," said
Morris, a 22-year employee. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Central circulation manager Christine Coombs of Lehman also lauded her
fellow workers. Coombs, 31, the employee

Advertising Employee Is Times Leader's '94 Best