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State Funding Freeze Lifted for W-B Twp. Fire Department

WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP — The Wilkes-Barre Township volunteer fire chief promises it is moving forward after the state lifted a five-year freeze on state fu...
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WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP -- The Wilkes-Barre Township volunteer fire chief promises it is moving forward after the state lifted a five-year freeze on state funding after the former chief stole tens of thousands of dollars.

The state announced on Monday the release of $250,000 to the Wilkes-Barre Township fire department after the auditor general's office worked with the township to "clean up long-standing issues."

Pennsylvania Auditor General Eugene DePasquale announced at a news conference that for the first time in a decade, the Wilkes-Barre Township Volunteer Fire Department's finances are on the right track.

"They've done a tremendous job to fix what was a pretty big mess," said DePasquale.

Part of the mess involves the former Wilkes-Barre Township Fire Chief John Yuknavich. He was sentenced to six months in federal prison last year for stealing $45,000 from the department.

The department also had unpaid loans while Yuknavich was chief, all of which resulted in the state withholding money from the fire department.

Now, the state released $252,000 to the department after it cleaned up its books.

"It's not a one-man show no more like it used to be. It's everybody's chipping in, everybody," said Fire Chief Richard Hart.

Hart hopes the money will boost morale in the department. He plans to use it for more training and better equipment with a goal of lowering response times.

"We'll get more tools for the truck, anything we need."

But the good news comes just weeks after the new fire chief's own son was charged with arson.

"I can't comment on that right now," said Hart.

Phil Olivera from White Haven often shops for groceries in Wilkes-Barre Township. He's also a former volunteer firefighter.

"It's unfortunate that they've had so many problems," he said. "I mean I feel bad for the people who actually live in Wilkes-Barre Township because where I'm from, we have a great fire department."

The township has a meeting Monday night where the mayor says he's going to propose something about the fire department in addition to Monday's announcement. The mayor wouldn't mention any specifics, saying people have to attend the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

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