Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport Applies For Grant To Expand Service

Locator map of the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Metropolitan Statistical Area in the northeastern part of the of . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

AVOCA, PA — The Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport has applied for a $575,000 grant from the Federal Aviation Administration to help expand service and market the airport.

The application was filed this week with the FAA’s Small Community Air Service Development Grant program.

The grant would be used toward a nearly $1.2 million initiative that includes enticing airlines to add flights to leisure and business destinations not currently offered out of Northeastern Pennsylvania including Tampa, Boston, Pittsburgh, Washington and Las Vegas, said Barry J. Centini, the airport’s director.

Money would be used to help subsidize the airlines, could go toward landing fees and other offers making flying in to and out of the area more attractive, Centini said.  Additional money would be used to amplify marketing efforts for those airlines and existing airlines.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/792704/Avoca-airport-applies-for-grant-to-expand-service

Penn President Gutmann’s Pay Tops $2 Million

English: Author: Stuart Watson (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The University of Pennsylvania sharply increased the compensation package for its president, Amy Gutmann, from $1.46 million in 2010-11 to more than $2 million in 2011-12 – a pay boost of 43 percent, according to the university’s latest tax filing.

David L. Cohen, executive vice president of Comcast and chairman of Penn’s board of trustees, said in a statement that Gutmann’s compensation “is very much performance driven, and speaks to the extraordinary success that she has had in recent years.”

Cohen said the trustees “feel that we have the best university president in the country in Amy Gutmann and we believe her compensation should reflect that reality.”

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20130831_Penn_president_Gutmann_s_pay_tops__2_million.html#r8Dc31lcog2pkSVw.99

UPDATED: Pottstown Police Seek Bank Robbery Suspect

Location of Pottstown in Montgomery County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

POTTSTOWN — A man reportedly attempted to rob the National Penn Bank branch at the intersection of High and Franklin streets Friday afternoon.

Approximately 10 police officers responded to the bank around 3:45 p.m. after the suspect fled down South Franklin Street.

Some officers were interviewing bank employees and any witnesses inside the bank, while others walked around the block talking to residents who were standing near the scene.

According to Montgomery County Emergency Dispatch, the suspect was a white male in his 30s wearing a brown, hooded sweatshirt.  The sweatshirt may have had some kind of a logo on its back, police believe.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130830/NEWS01/130839914/updated-pottstown-police-seek-bank-robbery-suspect

Schuylkill County Police Chief’s Suspension Extended

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Schuylkill County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

GILBERTON, PA – The suspension of a Schuylkill County police chief was extended indefinitely Friday.  Gilberton Chief Mark Kessler is accused of posting online videos in which he fired borough-owned automatic weapons while shouting obscenities.

The Gilberton Borough Council had been scheduled to hold a disciplinary hearing but had to postpone it because of a scheduling conflict, Kessler’s attorney said.

Attorney Joseph Nahas said Kessler’s disciplinary hearing will most likely be held next week.  The indefinite suspension is expected to remain in place until both sides can meet.

Nahas and Kessler himself have both said they expect the chief to be fired.

Read more: http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=505474