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Peeking into the past

Locals escaped fire in Puerto Rico in 1987

With Jack Smiles

Question: A company called First American Energy Corporation wanted to build a controversial $140 million plant in Inkerman, Jenkins Township in 1987. State Senator Ray Musto and local residents were opposed to the project, which they eventually did stop. What did First American Energy Corporation want to build that was so controversial?

21 years ago – 1987

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The 1998 Wyoming Area Homecoming Queen Deanna Hoskins is crowned by last year’s queen, Kristy Hughes. Deanna’s escort is David Mizenko.

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Local residents were among the survivors of a fire that killed over 100 people at the Dupont Plaza Hotel in Puerto Rico on New Year’s Day in 1987. John Lolli of Dupont was in the hotel casino when the fire spread. He smashed a window and dropped two floors to get out breaking his ankle. He got separated from his wife. It took him eight hours to find her. She was not hurt.

Dominick Pannuzio of Dupont also escaped the fire.

In Harrisburg State Rep. Corry Stevens was working on a bill to end nepotism in school board hiring. He sent a letter to boards asking them to outline their hiring practices.

Pittston Area director Joe Joyce accused Stevens of grandstanding in order to gin up votes for a run at Luzerne County District Atty. Wyoming Area director Mike Butera agreed, saying, “I’ve never heard from Stevens regarding any bill related to education. Now that he’s running for office he sends this letter out. It’s a blatant political maneuver.”

Pittston native Charles Attardo, a retired U.S. Army Colonel, was in the Spotlight. He talked about his experiences in WWII as a member of the 51st Engineer Combat Battalion on the 42nd anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. Attardo participated in the battle as well as in other notable WWII campaigns in Europe. The 51st blew up two key bridges to strand German forces while outnumbered and under heavy fire.

In high school wrestling Pittston Area and Wyoming Area won their EVC openers. WA beat Bishop Hoban 51-11. Dylan LaPorte, Jeff Randazzo, John Coolbaugh, Mike Karcutskie and Ed Gashi had pins for WA.

PA heavyweight Joe McMillian won the match for PA 34-30 over Nanticoke with a pin ion the final bout.

In basketball Seton Catholic lost to Lake Lehman 56-54 on a last-second shot. Paul Orzel scored 24 for Seton.

The Wyoming Area girls lost 48-47 to Valley West in the consolation game of the Munley Tournament. Cathy Kopcza scored 19 for WA.

At the Casa Mia Restaurant and Lounge in Dupont baked manicotti was $7.95.

31 years ago – 1977

The post-New Year’s day issue fell on January 2 in 1977. On the front page were Sheila and Brian Appel of Pittston with their new born son Scott Appel who was the first person born in the area in 1977. He was born at 12:17 a.m. at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital.

The Pittston Bureau of Employment Security released figures for 1976 in the January 2 issue in 1977. The Bureau said unemployment rate was 9.6%, which was slight better than the county rate of 10.2.

The Staircase Lounge line up for the week had country rock band Dead Branch on Thursday, Something Else on Friday, and Museum on Saturday.

At Biscotto’s at 48 Luzerne Ave ion West Pittston tripe was $1.50 and two foot long hotdogs were $1. “Across the Great Divide” was playing in the Wyoming Theater.

This week in 1977 artist Joe Borini complete a massive mural of historical downtown Pittston. The 52 by 8 foot mural covered a wall at the Pittston Orioles Hall. The mural depicted, among other landmarks, the Howell King Brewery, the First Baptist Church (the city’s oldest), the Lehigh Valley Station with the Black Diamond train arriving.

Robert Wysokinski of Dupont won the most outstanding award for his custom Harley-Davidson street chopper at motorcycle shows in Kingston, Lancaster and Allentown. Bob customized the bike himself.

Their were two photos in the sports section from the aftermath of the Notre Dame-Penn State game in the Gator Bowl earlier that week.

One photo was Penn State’s Jimmy Cefalo and Notre Dame’s Al Hunter. The other was of the Notre Dame and Penn State mascots. The Notre Dame mascot was Pittston’s Joe Cosgrove.

The Gator Bowl was the first game between the team since 1928. ND won 20-9. Cefalo caught five passes for 60 yards and ran three times for 18. He was given the Miller award as outstanding offensive player for the losing team.

Potatoes were $5 for a 60-pound bushel at Stanley Dymond’s Farm on Lockville Road.

41 years ago – 1967

Avoca Mayor James McClane went to Florida after New Year’s Day in 1967. We knew because he was pictured boarding a plane at Avoca on the front page of the January 8 issue.

A West Pittston woman was treated to a dinner party at the Grace Presbyterian Church in West Pittston. Nancy Smiles was feted for her service after returning from Ghana, West Africa where she worked as a missionary for four years.

Wyoming Area, in its first year of basketball, opened in the North League with a 11-53 win over Plains. Six Warriors – Jerry Misewich, Bill Langan, Jim Snyder, Joe Monka, Jim Devers, and Steve Williams - scored in double figures. Pittston Area was in the Lackawanna League and they opened with a 81-63 win over Scranton Tech. Rich Rava and Paul Tylawsky had 19 each.

Realtor Joseph Quinn had a four bedroom, bi-level home with a family room on the lower level, a garage and large lot in West Wyoming for $19,900.

51 years ago - 1957

Kids were pictured ice skating in Yatesville on the front page of the January 6 issue in 1957. They skated on a frozen pond on a vacant lot. The pond had improved for skating by Frank Bonomo who bulldozed the area and created a dam to hold water or let it run off when it got to high.

Two Browntown buddies who grew up together, played football and basketball together at Pittston Township high school joined the Army together the first week of January in 1957. Joe Gilroy and Larry Pocceschi were pictured together before leaving for Fort Dix.

The Pittston High basketball team nearly pulled of an upset before falling to powerhouse Northwest 44-39 in Pittston on January 4. Eddie Knowles scored 14 for Pittston.

Answer: A cogeneration plant that would burn culm to produce electricity.