“It’s cold. I just asked the kids if it was going to be the Halloween parade or the Christmas parade this year, we were bringng them to,” said William Bowers of Shamokin.

There were blankets and hot drinks, hats and scarves for people in the crowd, who shivered in 40 degree temperatures, drizzle and gusty winds.

It may have been cold, but the band played on and many people said they cannot imagine anything, even the weather, putting a stop to this event.

“This is a great tradition for this town, it brings so many people back to this town to celebrate the heritage of this town, it really is a great weekend,” said Joe Haddock of Shamokin.

“We always come down, so it doesn’t matter to us if it’s nice or rainy or whatever,” said Bonnie Rowe sho said no matter what the weather, she and here family would not miss the weekend festival in their hometown.

The festival in Shamokin continues this weekend with historial tours, artisans and vendors.

As storms began to roll through Wayne County, those who live and work near Town and County Energy Corp. say what came their way late Thursday night was like nothing they’ve ever heard.

“We heard this awful noise, and wind like I`ve never seen before,” said Owner of Town and Country Corp. Corky Rutledge.

“You hear that it sounds like a freight train, well that`s pretty much what it sounded like,” said Sharon Dressler of Damascus Township.

Dressler lives right near the oil and propane business north of Honesdale and says she saw this tin roof come swirling off and land right near her home. Now this is what remains.

Owner Corky Rutledge says he and many workers rushed to this garage right after the strong winds hit.

“Just making sure everybody was OK is the main thing, this other stuff, yeah it`s bad but that can be replaced,” said Rutledge.

This wooden beam is holding the roof in place until owners have time to find a permanent solution – which could cost more than $100,000 dollars.

Workers are busy installing other stabilizing structures.

Joe Pasquini lives about three miles away and says he was shocked to see the damage here – walls pulled away and parts of the roof shifted.

“I kind of couldn`t believe it. It`s pretty severe for how the rain was at our place,” said Pasquini.

“The more I look, the more damage you see and I don`t know what has to be done, it probably has to be completely torn down and rebuilt,” said Rutledge.

No one knows quite what hit this part of Damascus Township, but many think it could have been a tornado.

“Kind of looks like it to me, it`s a lot of destruction,” said Pasquini.

Emergency Management Officials in Wayne County say there were no reports of cyclonic activity in the area last night.

They believe a straight line of wind may be responsible for that damage.

A hearing for the chief on charges already filed against him was suddenly put on hold in Lackawanna County court when the state attorney general’s office filed more charges.

Scott Township Police Chief James Romano was arrested and jailed about a month ago. He’s since been freed on bail and showed up to the Lackawanna County Courthouse for a preliminary hearing but prosecutors from the attorney general’s office surprised him with more criminal charges stemming from the same accusation that he had sex with a witness in one of his cases.

Suspended Scott Township Police Chief James Romano left downtown Scranton much earlier than he expected. Romano, and about 10 witnesses set to testify in his case, showed up for a preliminary hearing but that was called off when prosecutors from the attorney general’s office showed up with more charges.

Chief Romano was and investigator in a case against Lakeland High School teacher Matthew Stevens.

Stevens is accused of having sex with one of his underage students. It’s actions Romano allegedly made after that day that now have him in trouble.

Romano was accused of having a sexual relationship with a 20-year-old woman set to testify in the teacher’s case. Romano was charged with intimidation of a witness because prosecutors said it could affect the case. Now, Romano is being charged with tampering with evidence and solicitation to bribe. According to court papers just filed, after Romano had sex with the witness, he asked her to delete text messages the two shared and promised her that if she didn’t tell anyone about their relationship, they could go public as a couple as soon as the teacher’s trial was over.

Romano’s next appearance in court is scheduled for next week. Defense attorneys want to ask a judge to reduce Romano’s $150,000 bail. Defense attorneys argue that prosecutors were overzealous in arresting Romano last month they called a SWAT team to his house.

Omar Samuel is accused of allowing his dog to die from heat exhaustion.

Police were called to the home on Farr Street earlier this week where they say they found the animal tied to a short chain and exposed to the hot sun.

Ingredients Yield: 8 Serving
10 medium potatoes, (Russet or Idaho, something starchy)
4 oz. Italian dressing
4 eggs, hard boiled and large chopped
4 celery stalks, large dice
1/4 sweet onion, medium dice
3/4 c. mayonnaise
2 tbs. prepared yellow mustard
1 tbs. sweet relish
t.t. salt
t.t. black pepper

Preparation Instructions:
1. Peel potatoes and cut into bit size cubes.  Place in pot of cold water and boil until fork tender, but not mushy.

2. Drain and toss with Italian dressing and allow to cool under refrigeration.  When cool, toss with eggs, celery, and onion.

3. In a separate bowl, mix mayonnaise, mustard and relish, then combine with potato mixture. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

Note: If desired you may garnish with olives, pickles, cherry tomatoes or paprika

Southwestern Bean Salad

Ingredients Yield: 8 Serving

1 15 oz. can black beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz. can kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz. can Pinto beans, drained and rinsed
1 15 oz. can cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
1 red bell pepper, seeded, medium dice
1 jalapeno pepper, seeded, fine dice
2 fresh corn, husked, cut from cob and blanched
1 medium red onion, small dice
1/2 c. olive oil, extra virgin
1/4 c. rice vinegar
1/4 c. fresh squeezed lime juice
1 tsp. salt
2 garlic clove, peeled, minced
1/4 c. cilantro, chopped
1 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1/2 tsp. dark chili powder
1/2 oz. hot pepper sauce (Franks)

Preparation Instructions:
In a mixing bowl combine all ingredients, cover and refrigerate overnight.  Serve chilled.

Roasted Mushroom and Spinach Salad

Ingredients Yield: 8 Serving

Roasted Mushrooms
2 lb assorted Mushrooms
5 shallots, peeled, sliced thin
2 sweet onions, (Vidalia) peeled, medium dice
1 tsp. garlic, chopped
1/2 tsp. dried mustard
t.t.  salt
t.t.  black pepper
1/3 c. olive oil, extra virgin

Balsamic Vinaigrette
1/2 c. white balsamic vinegar
1 shallot, peeled, minced
1 garlic clove, peeled, minced
1 tbs. lemon juice
t.t. salt
t.t. black pepper
1 1/2 c. olive oil, extra virgin

Spinach Salad
1 to 1/2 handfuls, baby spinach leaves
3 tbs. chopped parsley
3 tbs. snipped chives
1 red bell pepper, seeded, medium dice
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded, medium dice
1 green bell pepper, seeded, medium dice

Preparation Instructions:
Roasted Mushrooms
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees
2. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper or spray with food release
3. Combine mushrooms, shallots, onions, garlic, mustard, salt, pepper and olive oil in a large mixing bowl. Place on the sheet pan and roast until golden brown, approximately 10-15 minutes.
4. Remove to cool and reserve.

Balsamic Vinaigrette
1. In a blender or food processor, add the balsamic vinegar, shallots, garlic, lemon juice, salt and pepper and blend until incorporated.
2. With the blender or food processor running, slowly pour in the oil constantly until fully incorporated.
3. Remove and refrigerate for service.

Spinach Salad
1. In a large mixing bowl combine the reserved mushroom mixture with the spinach, parsley, chives, red, yellow, and green peppers.  Then toss with balsamic vinaigrette and serve immediately.

With temperatures in the 40s, no one was swimming at Tuscarora State Park near Mahanoy City.  At nearby Locust Lake State Park there were a lot of people camping.  The campfires are a bit bigger, too. Teshia Wilson said that’s because of the unseasonably cool weather.

“We figured a lot of people might not want to do it, especially that a storm was coming, but figured we’re going to rough it. It was a great trip from Wilmington. It wasn’t that far and I encourage people to take advantage of state parks.”

Zuzana Miller explained when she and her friends arrived and began to set up camp the weather was threatening.

“It was rough last night, definitely. We set up the tent before it started pouring but it was fun.”

Robert Devall is getting ready to leave his campsite but not because of the cool weather. Devall said he rarely camps on Memorial Day.

“There is too many campers for the holiday weekend, it’s all right but I didn’t care for it myself on holidays.”

Locust Lake State Park has nearly 300 campsites, but there were only a handful of cancellations.

Park manager Lew Williams said has been on the job 19 years and the cool weather caught him by surprise.

“I can’t call to mind where it’s been this bad but it happens occasionally and we have bad weather on all our holidays every now and then.”

Things should be better by Memorial Day when you won’t need a heavy coat or even gloves.

Cemetery crews were busy putting them back up as they did their routine cleanup before the weekend.

This cemetery also received a special gift just in time for Memorial Day.

It was a simple ceremony to start a weekend that will be full of them.

American Legion Post 121 presented the flag of a World War II veteran to Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton to fly on this Memorial Day weekend. The last time the flag was unfolded, was likely when it was draped over that vet’s casket.  His widow Ethel Harris gave it to the legion.  Now it’s hoisted high above the cemetery on a very important weekend.

“She wanted it to be remembered.  She didn’t know what to do with it so she came to us and asked if we would like it.  We, of course, accepted,” said LTC Joe Albert.

The flag represents the thousands of veterans buried at the cemetery. Ethel Harris didn’t want recognition; she didn’t even give her husband’s name. She just wanted him to be part of this solemn weekend.

“I certainly believe it sets the tone for the weekend because Memorial Day is not just tire sales and barbeques.  It’s a time of remembrance,” LTC Albert said.

There weren’t many people there for the flag raising ceremony but Andy Polansky and his kids were.

“The kids had the day off from school and had the day off because of Memorial Day.  They were learning about Memorial Day and the flag.  I saw this in the newspaper and said ‘Do you guys want to go and see what it’s all about?’ So here we are.”

“Why is it important to raise the flag?”

“Because all the veterans came and they fought for us and died for us.”

Surrounded by thousands of veteran flags, this was an easy place for that dad to teach his kids about sacrifice and the reason for Memorial Day.

“I think it’s lost on a lot of people. My father served, my grandfather served, various uncles cousins, friends. It’s something that needs to be remembered.  It’s not just a day for barbeques.”

And that flag is a reminder of that.

He was working on his car in the garage and thought he was safe form the storm but Michael Heller was injured when lightning struck just a few feet away in his yard.

Paramedics were called to Heller’s home on Saint Mary’s Road near Nuangola around 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

Heller says on the advice of his doctor, he’s not doing interviews on camera to keep his blood pressure down. He told us that he was working on the brakes of his Pontiac Grand Prix inside the garage when the lightning bolt hit outside.

Desiree Lynn Wersinger lives a few hundred yards away on Saint Mary’s road.  She says the lightning sounded like an explosion shaking her home.

“I saw a couple of flashes in the sky. It looked like pretty awesome. But when that first strike went down, I saw a big line between the trees over there and it made a big sound and woke up my whole family,” Wersinger said. “It’s very scary. I hope he’s safe and I hope everything is fine and I hope his family is fine and everything, because I can just imagine what they’re going through right now after that.”

Heller was released from the hospital Friday morning. He says he’s still has several follow up visits with doctors but he is expected to recover.

Ryan Harding from Scranton had turned 18 two days before the shooting in the city’s hill section and now it’s possible he’ll spend the rest of his adulthood behind bars.

Harding was arraigned Friday afternoon on murder charges for the killing of Lackawanna College student Rahsan Crowder.

Just 48 hours after he turned 18, Ryan Harding of Scranton was on the run. He hid from police for about two weeks but a cell phone call located him in Syracuse, New York and he was brought back to Scranton to answer to murder charges.

Police say Harding was the shooter in the incident that led to the city’s first homicide in almost two years.  It started as an argument between four young men and ended with Harding allegedly shooting Rahsan Crowder, 22, from Harrisburg.

Police identified Ryan Harding as the shooter just days later, but Harding the youngest man involved, was already on the run.

“A 15 year old today is not the same as one 15 years ago. They’re progressed, they believe they’re progressed and they’re doing things today they didn’t do 15 or 20 years ago.” said Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano.

Chief Graziano says Harding could now face life in prison. He was charged with first and third degree murder.

According to investigators, Harding had never met Rahsan Crowder before and witnesses said the argument started when Crowder looked at Harding the wrong way. Crowder was found shot and dying only feet away from his dorm.

Many of Rahsan Crowder’s classmates at Lackawanna College are learning of this news while they’re home on summer break. Crowder received his diploma posthumously at the school’s graduation last week.

When officers were bringing Harding back to Scranton, Chief Graziano called Crowder’s family in Harrisburg.

“There are no condolences you can give to someone who’s lost a son, a brother, a loved one. The next best thing you can do is apprehend the person responsible and we have done that.”

Another young man is facing murder charges related to this shooting.  Ryan Harding’s friend Marlon Clotter, 19, was arrested two weeks ago and charged with being an accomplice to murder. Police say Clotter told Harding to pull the trigger.

Some people in Luzerne County paid their respects to fallen troops on Friday.

The V.A. Medical Center near Wilkes-Barre held its annual Memorial Day service, raising the flags that will stay up through Monday night.  For the veterans there, it was a service that they say took them back to another time.

It was a day to remember, a day to honor the fallen, and  a tough day for veterans like Frank Vols.

“Tears came to my eyes because I started remembering the people that i knew there.”

Vols was just one of many vets at this year’s Memorial Day ceremony at the V.A. Medical Center in Plains Township.

“I had a lot of friends there. Today was good to pay respect to them. I had a lot of friends that died and were sent home in body bags,” Vols said.

“All of us who enjoy American freedoms, who enjoy American liberties, who enjoy American civil rights, we owe them to the people who died in service to our nation,” said Rep. Matt Cartwright/ (D) 17th district

As veterans set up the wreath and raised the flag outside, those who served, like World War II veteran John Mc Keown, say the ceremony brought back some tough memories.

“You can’t forget it. It’s so real. It’s implanted indefinitely in your mind.”

Those flags at the V.A. center near Wilkes-Barre will stay raised through Monday night.

The D.A.’s office cites a potential conflict of interest.

A driver hit Jen Darsky, 65, at her mailbox in Jenkins Township on Mother’s Day.

In a release, D.A. Stefanie Salavantis said that she has “a close personal relationship with one of the witnesses who came forward in the case.”

Authorities have not made any arrests.

Troopers said a car driven by Max Schaefer, 85, from Ralston hit another car head-on on Fairfield Road near Montoursville before 1 p.m. Thursday.

Schaefer died Thursday night in a hospital.

The driver of the oncoming car was not hurt.

Carey Lutz of Danville was on national TV Friday morning and won $9,050.

Family and friends gathered here the Washington Fire and Hose Company in Danville to watch their hometown girl Carey Lutz take a chance on lady luck on national TV.

Lutz was a contestant on the show Who Wants to be a Millionaire?

“I was nervous and excited and scared and then not nervous and then nervous again and I don’t know, I have never done anything like this before,” said Lutz.

Lutz says she used to watch the show every day when babysitting for her boss’s children, Luke, 12, and Anna, 8. She said it was the kids who put her up to it.

“I know they’re going to watch it today so I’m excited to see that and see their reaction but they dared me to do it because they think I’m good at trivia,” said Lutz.

For her family they threw this watch party at the fire house to share this moment with the community.

“It’s Danville pride, Danville proud, Ironmen, go Ironmen,” said Carey’s mother, Patti.

On the show, Carey decided to walk away, taking a winning of $9,050. She wishes she could have won more but says it’s tough when you’re the one in the hot seat.

“It’s completely different. Like it’s easy when you’re playing at home to guess the answers, you know that it would be the answer but when there’s money riding on it, it makes you think.”

It will be the second time in two years Carter has visited Luzerne County.

Carter is expected to speak at the Wyoming Monument Tuesday around 3 p.m.

Shuttle bus service from the Midway Shopping Center and Flack Field will be offered to the Wyoming Monument. Visitors may park in these areas and obtain free transportation to the monument. Shuttle bus service will begin at approximately 2 p.m.

The event is free and open to the public.

Carter and his wife were in our area for a charity auction to benefit his hometown of plains, Georgia in April of 2011.

Support the kids and young adults of St. Joseph’s Center!!

This year’s week-long ride hits the road on Monday, July 22 and finishes at the St. Joseph’s Festival in Scranton.

This year’s festival takes place on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, July 26 – 28 on the grounds of Marywood University.

Your support of St. Joseph’s Center means providing much-needed programs and living services to these children and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, many of whom are also medically fragile.

These special people receive around the clock care in a variety of living environments: apartment-type living at the Center, residential community homes, and even early intervention programs in families’ homes.

When school’s out, summer programs allow for enjoyment everyone looks forward to.  When residents are past public school age programs, the opportunity for learning and growing does not; St. Joseph’s Adult program kicks in.

Every effort of therapy and education is employed to allow every individual the opportunity to be the best and most they can be.  Everyone has a personality and is respected for their likes and dislikes.

The care and compassion of the St. Joseph’s staff and volunteers are like no other.  To say it’s like a family is an understatement.

You can help. You can support Joe Snedeker and St. Joe’s through the Go Joe Bike Ride by sending in your donation to:

Go Joe 16
WNEP-TV
16 Montage Mountain Road
Moosic, PA  18507

All checks should be made payable to St. Joseph’s Center.

Corporate sponsors should contact:  Mary Claire Kelly at maryclaire.kelly@wnep.com for the complete list of sponsor levels available.

You may not be able to pedal the miles of this year’s bike ride, but you can make a huge difference with your donation.  Every dollar counts!

You can check back here as details of the route for Go Joe 16 are announced.

Thank you and GO JOE!!!

But this isn’t the first time Brian Fazio has been in trouble with the law.

Fazio, 33, of Lackawaxen turned himself in Friday at the Wayne County courthouse and was arraigned on felony theft charges.

He allegedly stole more than $71,000 from Leeward Construction while he was working there as an assistant controller.

Fazio didn’t have anything to say as he was escorted out of the Wayne County Courthouse in Honesdale in handcuffs.

According to court papers, Fazio was in charge of writing checks at Leeward Construction beginning in 2011, but was forging signatures.

Troopers believe Fazio forged a check earlier this week, and asked another employee at Leeward to deposit it in his account.  That employee realized the check didn’t seem right and reported it to management.

But Fazio has been in trouble with the law in the past.

According to federal court papers, Fazio is under orders to pay more than $102,000 to the Department of Education. In 2009 he pleaded guilty to federal mail fraud. Fazio was taking out more loan money than he needed to attend an online college in Colorado.

He also applied for and received loans by using the names of other people, forging their signatures.

We do not know what Fazio did with the more than $71,000 he allegedly stole from Leeward Construction.

He faces 34 counts related to theft and forgery.

Fazio is locked up in Wayne County with bail set at $750,000.

Newswatch 16`s Ryan Leckey was in Monroe County to tell us in on the buzz.

Click here for the information.

Newswatch 16`s Ryan Leckey was near Mount Pocono to tell us more.

Click here for the details!