West Hazleton No Longer In ‘Distressed Municipality’ Status

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WEST HAZLETON — The state has rescinded the borough’s status as a distressed municipality. But while the borough has significantly improved finances since 2003, it’s not out of the woods yet.

State Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Alan Walker determined that West Hazleton’s distressed status would be rescinded after a review of audits and financial data and the record from a public hearing on June 3, Gov. Tom Corbett’s office announced Thursday in a news release.

The hearing officer’s report revealed that in 2013, the borough had a $5,423 budget surplus, that finances were stable, and that the borough has the tools to make the decisions necessary to maintain responsible budgets, meet its obligations to vendors and creditors, and provide essential services to residents.

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Local Tax Hikes Add To Burden Around Luzerne County

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At least 11 of Luzerne County’s 76 municipalities are increasing real estate taxes this year, according to statistics compiled by the county treasurer’s office.

These increases are on top of an 8-percent tax hike for all county property owners, which amounts to $42 more on a $100,000 property.

White Haven has the highest percentage increase — 31.6.

The owner of a $100,000 property in the borough will pay $60 more, with a tax bill increasing from $190 last year to $250 in 2014.

Read more: http://timesleader.com/news/local-news/1138044/Local-tax-hikes-add-to-burden-around-county

Two Men Arrested In West Hazleton Shooting

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WEST HAZLETON, PA — Police have arrested two men and charged them in the shooting of one man and pistol whipping another man last week.

Rafael A. Comacho, 21, of Hazleton, was arrested at about 2:45 a.m. Monday when Hazleton police spotted him in the area of East Diamond Avenue and Ceder Street. Christopher Vega, 21, of Hazleton, was arrested Sunday night when found at 455 Samuels Ave. in Hazleton.

Police allege Comacho and Vega were involved in shooting Joshua L. Crutch, 20, inside 227 E. Broad St. and assaulting Leshawn Williams, 21, who was beaten and pistol whipped in a car.

Comacho was arraigned Monday by District Judge David Barilla in Swoyersville on charges of robbery, simple assault criminal conspiracy to commit robbery and unlawful restraint.  He was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility for lack of $100,000 bail.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/836513/Two-men-arrested-in-West-Hazleton-shooting

One Man Shot, Another Assaulted In West Hazleton

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WEST HAZLETON, PA — One man was shot and another assaulted early Monday morning at a home on East Broad Street.

Borough police were dispatched to the 200 block of East Broad Street for multiple reports of shots fired just before 12:30 a.m. and found Joshua L. Crutch, 20, of West Hazleton, on the second floor of 227 E. Broad St. with a gunshot wound to his leg.

Police also found Leshawn Williams, 21, of West Hazleton, in the residence.  Williams had suffered lacerations and contusions to his face, police said.

Crutch was transported to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Township for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.  Williams was taken to Hazleton General Hospital for evaluation and was treated and released, according to police Chief Brian Buglio.

Read more: http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/818653/One-man-shot-another-assaulted-in-West-Hazleton

‘Guardian Angel’ Gives New Car, Vests To West Hazleton Police

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The West Hazleton Police Department is getting a new police cruiser and four bulletproof vests thanks to a $42,180 check from a “guardian angel.”

West Hazleton Mayor Frank Schmidt said the kind gesture came after a complaint Friday morning.

“The thing the person was complaining about, I told them, I couldn’t do anything about,” Schmidt said. “As we were talking, the subject of senior citizens came up, and how afraid some of them are to leave their homes.”

Then the topic of police was mentioned, and the donor asked how the department was getting along.  Schmidt said council members will discuss during their next meeting whether to buy or lease a new cruiser, because the borough needs one.

Read more:  http://republicanherald.com/news/guardian-angel-gives-new-car-vests-to-west-hazleton-police-1.1463511