`west Side Story' Still A Winner 
Musical Classic Hits All The Right Notes At The Scranton Cultural Center

3 Borough Employees To Get Safety Equipment

By JEAN LACOE; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Saturday, February 07, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE- If a popular radio station plans to drop a diamond on Public
Square, it had better make sure the gem is obtained from a downtown merchant,
the mayor said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Jumpin' Jeff Walker show on 98.5 WKRZ plans to conduct its third annual
Diamond Drop at 6:10 p.m. Thursday and asked for the city's permission on Jan.
26. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; But Mayor Tom McGroarty announced Friday he would not grant a permit unless
the show buys the diamond from a downtown jeweler, said Shannon McNulty, the
mayor's spokeswoman. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The mayor can't support something that doesn't support Wilkes-Barre,"
McNulty said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Several merchants told the mayor they were upset when they learned that
WKRZ intended to give away a diamond from a Dallas jeweler, McNulty said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The station wants to distribute marshmallows stuffed with prizes. The top
prize is a diamond. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Events on Public Square must be approved by the mayor. Promoters must
acquire insurance and sign an agreement releasing the city from liability in
the event of an accident. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After reviewing the request, the mayor said he probably will approve the
event, as long as WKRZ cleans up. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But the diamond must come from a Wilkes-Barre jeweler. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If something is downtown, we should accommodate our residents," McGroarty
said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He also criticized WKRZ for advertising the event.

Out-of-town Diamond Not Mayor's Best Friend 
Local Radio Station's Promotion 
On Wilkes-barre's Public Square 
Will Be Tuned Out Unless It Follows 
Mayor Mcgroarty's Rules

Out-of-town Diamond Not Mayor's Best Friend Local Radio Station's Promotion On Wilkes-barre's Public Square Will Be Tuned Out Unless It Follows Mayor Mcgroarty's Rules