W-b Twp. Mulls Options After Judge Returns Tax Case 
Municipality Sought To Have The Arena Board's Suit Over The Amusement Tax
Moved To Federal Court.

Anne Molitoris 
December 23, 1999

By DAVID WEISS Times Leader Correspondent
 Tuesday, December 28, 1999 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE - A gas valve suspected of triggering a Christmas Day
explosion and fire in Kingston will be disassembled and examined to determine
if the valve failed, a PG Energy spokeswoman said Monday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The valve, on Lathrop Street, was removed from the ground and examined by
the Public Utility Commission, spokeswoman Jennifer Cawley said Monday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; She also said the valve will be sent to Delaware-based Micron Labs for
further examination. Sending it to Micron Labs will allow for a more
``technical examination,'' she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Cawley expects it will be at least several weeks before Micron has any
results. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Max and Maria Hladylowycz were injured in the Saturday afternoon blast at
their home at 112 Lathrop St. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The 71-year-old woman remained in critical condition Monday at Lehigh
Valley Hospital in Allentown. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Max Hladylowycz, 86, remains in Wilkes-Barre General Hospital, where he is
listed in stable condition. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The explosion that destroyed the home was fueled by a gas leak under the
sidewalk in front of the home, officials have said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fire officials said they were able to pinpoint the leak but were unable to
determine what ignited the gas and caused the explosion. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Cawley acknowledged Monday that it will be difficult to determine exactly
what sparked the explosion. ``It could be anything.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 PG Energy has examined the valve and will continue working with other
officials throughout the investigation, Cawley said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``We'd like to thank all of the emergency (personnel),'' Cawley said.
``They did a remarkable job.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 PG Energy officials were in the neighborhood Saturday investigating a
possible gas leak at 120 Lathrop St. when the gas line next door erupted. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Gas Valve To Be Examined Following Blast 
Investigators Suspect That The Possibly Faulty Valve Led To Saturday's
Explosion In Kingston That Left Two People Hospitalized.

Gas Valve To Be Examined Following Blast Investigators Suspect That The Possibly Faulty Valve Led To Saturday's Explosion In Kingston That Left Two People Hospitalized.