`rocket' Zooms Into Panther Territory

3 Suspicious Death Cases Keeping Authorities Busy 
Da Says He `can't Remember 
A Time When We've Had Three At 
One Time Like This.'

By KATIE WILLIAMS; Special to The Times Leader
 Wednesday, August 28, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Problems from January's flooding still hover over City
Council as it continues to work on restoring areas of devastation. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At Tuesday night's meeting. Mayor Thomas McGroarty said flood damages total
$2 million and until Pennsylvania Emergency Management Association money comes
in, the city will pay $500,000 or 25 percent of the costs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; The Federal Emergency Management Association will cover 75 percent of the
costs based on its estimate, and PEMA will pay for 22 percent of the costs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Wilkes-Barre is left to make up for the other 3 percent, totaling $60,000. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McGroarty said PEMA will reimburse the city 22 percent of the original
total when the money comes in, which could be as late as 1997. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Chairman Phillip Latinski said council will combine leftover funds from
past projects and amend the Office of Community Development to cover the
entire cost. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hollenback Golf Course is one such piece of city property still in need of
repairs from flood damage. Two holes, along with baseball fields, were
devastated, said Latinski. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 According to Latinski and other council members, Hollenback members are
annoyed that the damages have not been restored. McGroarty said a memo was
posted at the golf course stating that council's hands are tied until it
receives approval from PEMA and FEMA. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'll make some changes. I would love to fix the golf course, we just don't
have the money yet," said McGroarty. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We care about Hollenback very much," added Latinski. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Council also discussed where it is going to dump debris from flood
cleanups. Councilman Thomas Leighton said the cost for dumping at the Keystone
Landfill is $66 per ton. FEMA has agreed to reimburse the city $1.50 for every
$66 spent on dumping flood debris. Council is trying to find suitable dumping
places throughout the area to save the taxpayers money. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If we don't have to take it to the landfill and can distribute it on site,
the cost will be substantially lower," Leighton said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Plans are in the works for the tearing down of the Govier Street Bridge.
After sustaining flood damage several years ago the bridge became a natural
dam. Latinski said removal of the bridge won't affect traffic patterns and
that after the bridge is torn down a chain link fence will be installed for
safety. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Latinski said an access channel will be created for bringing equipment in
and out for future cleanups of Laurel Run Creek. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

W-b Still Grapples With Flood 
Removal Of A Bridge, Disposal 
Of Flood-related Debris And The 
Restoration Of A Golf Course Occupy 
City Council's Attention

W-b Still Grapples With Flood Removal Of A Bridge, Disposal Of Flood-related Debris And The Restoration Of A Golf Course Occupy City Council's Attention