$468,616 Federal Grant Slated For Flood

Affidavit Lists Guns-for-drugs Scheme 
Authorities Claim William 
Jenkins Bartered Guns For Drugs 
As Part Of A Simple, Yet Very 
Effective Criminal Operation

By JENNIFER LEARN; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Friday, January 31, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





HAZLETON -- A pivotal seat on the nine-member Hazleton Area School Board
will be filled by a retired high school principal, Luzerne County Court of
Common Pleas judges decided Thursday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The seat, vacated by the death of board member Bill McCann, will taken by
Hazleton resident Rocco Mussoline. McCann's term expires in November. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Mussoline worked in the district 34 years, first as a teacher and most
recently as principal at Hazleton Area High School. He retired in June. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Board members say the seat is a crucial tie-breaker because the board is
divided into two separate four-member voting blocs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Political insiders expect Mussoline to side with board member Michael
DeCosmo's voting bloc because DeCosmo is Mussoline's friend. DeCosmo signed
Mussoline's vacancy petition. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mussoline declined comment on his appointment. DeCosmo could not be reached
for comment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hazle Elementary School Principal John Roman, who also signed Mussoline's
vacancy petition, said Mussoline won't compromise what's best for students to
be part of a voting bloc. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He's a very righteous individual," Roman said. "I've known him all my life
and nobody, but nobody, leads Rocco Mussoline by the nose. He is the type of
person who will do what he thinks will be in the best interest of the school
system." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But some district residents aren't so sure. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Vicki Mackin, president of the Concerned Citizens of Schuylkill County,
said Mussoline has a daughter-in-law and stepdaughter with teaching degrees
who want jobs in the district. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mackin asked the judges in writing not to appoint Mussoline because he
"would only add to the nepotism that is already rampant with this board." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sugarloaf Township resident Elizabeth Mount also sent the judges a
statement against Mussoline's appointment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He is running to get even with people he does not like. We do not need any
more fighters on the board," she wrote. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Gloria Pesock, vice president of Tri-County United Taxpayers and an
applicant for McCann's seat, wonders why the judges picked Mussoline. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pesock said the judges never interviewed her or checked her qualifications.
The majority of judges don't live in the Hazleton area either, she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The judges had to decide who filled the vacancy because the board couldn't
agree on someone. The judges voted by secret ballot and refused to say why
they chose Mussoline or if the vote was majority or unanimous. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Judge Correale Stevens, who is from Hazleton, would not say how he voted. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I took this appointment very seriously because I have heard loud and clear
the concerns of area residents," Stevens said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Judges Fill Hazleton Board Seat Crucial Swing Vote On School Board Goes To Retired Principal, Who May Be Allied With Decosmo Voting Bloc