Elk Lake’s Jason Vermeulen leaps in the long jump to a 21-1 finish at the Robert Spagna Championships on Wednesday night. STAFF PHOTO/ED KING

The Montrose Area girls’ track and field team finished third overall at the Robert Spagna Championships at Scranton Memorial Stadium on Wednesday night.

Montrose’s 1600 relay team took third, Allison Lewis took fourth in the 400 and Sam Bennici placed fifth in the 800 to pace the Lady Meteors.

On the boys’ side, Montrose Area took sixth to top the locals in the team standings.

Jeremy Dibble led the way with a second place finish in the pole vault while Kurt Kimsey took seventh in the discus.

Susquehanna’s Melissa Kukowski took fifth in the 100 hurdles to pace the Sabers on Wednesday. STAFF PHOTO/ED KING

Elk Lake’s Jason Vermeulen took first place overall in the long jump while Jeremy Schwartztrauber placed fourth in pole vault. Taylor Watkins took third for Elk Lake’s girls in the javelin and Meghan Bush placed third in shot put.

Blue Ridgewas led by Sean Stanley with a fourth in the triple jump and a fourth in the 100, Zack Edwards with a fifth in pole vault and Lauren Whitney with a seventh in the 800.

Mountain View’s Brett Crowley placed fifth in the 800 to pace the Eagles.

Montrose’s Allison Lewis races to a fourth place finish in the 400 at the Spagna Championships on Wednesday. STAFF PHOTO/ED KING

Susquehanna’s Melissa Kukowski took fifth in the 100 hurdles to pace the Sabers.

GIRLS AA

Team standings: Holy Cross (HC) 152; Lakeland (LAK) 152; Montrose (MON) 94½; Mid Valley (MV) 53; Dunmore (DUN) 49; Blue Ridge (BR) 30; Susquehanna (SUS) 28; Riverside (RIV) 26½; Elk Lake (EL) 26; Mountain View (MtV) 17; Carbondale (CAR) 15; Lackawanna Trail (LT) 9.

3200 Relay: 1-Wallenpaupack (Hannah Stack, Stephanie Halas, Emily Martone, Chelsea Mann) 9:41.25 (meet record). 3-Montrose

Meteor Samantha Bennici finished fifth in the 800 at the Spagna meet on Wednesday. STAFF PHOTO/ED KING

10:19.43.

100 Hurdles: 1-Cassidy Jenkins (LAK) 15.46 (meet record). 5-Melissa Kukowski (SUS) 16.71.

100: 1-Sarah Larkin (LAK) 12.78.

Javelin: 1-Emily Hughes (HC) 123-10; 3-Taylor Watkins (EL) 105-4.

1600: 1-Summer Hill (HON) 5:03.14 (meet record). 8-Casey Purdum (BR) 5:51.17.

Triple: 1-Hope Decker (WAL) 34-7; 7-Kristi Krishak (EL) 31-10¼; 8-Myra Lattimore (MON) 31-9½.

Jeremy Dibble took a second place finish in the pole vault at the Spagna Championships at Scranton Memorial Stadium on Wednesday. STAFF PHOTO/ED KING

400: 1-Janna Wilson (HON) 58.36 (meet record; old mark, 58.63, Lauren Ellsworth (LT), 2011). 4-Allison Lewis (MON) 1:00.35.

Pole: 1-Devan Kerecman (HC) 11-7 (meet record; old mark, 11-6, Amber Gaffey, Susquehanna, 2007).

400 Relay: 1-Western Wayne (Hannah Robinson, Carly Thorpe, Carly Swingle, Acacia Urian) 50.95; 6-Montrose 53.81.

300 Hurdles: 1-Cassidy Jenkins (LAK) 45.45 (meet record). 7-Rebecca Timm (MON) 50.72.

800: 1-Kaitlyn Lewis (NP) 2:18.80 (meet record). 5-Samantha Bennici (MON) 2:28.41; 7-Lauren Whitney (BR) 2:31.01.

200: 1-Janna Wilson (HON) 26.15.

Discus: 1-Jenn Slagus (NP) 137-1 (meet record). 8-Sarah Serfilippi (SUS) 96-6.

3200: 1-Payton Padgett (DV) 11:53.09.

Long: 1-Kira Graziano (HC) 16-4¾; Devan 8-Allison Lewis (MON) 15-3½.

High: 1-Tori Doyle (LAK) 5-0.

Shot: 1-Jillian Korgeski (DUN) 34-3½; 3-Meagan Bush (EL) 34-1½.

1600 Relay: 1-Honesdale (Mary Martin, Katie Miller, Summer Hill, Janna Wilson) 4:00.68 (meet record). 3-Montrose 4:08.58.

BOYS AA

Team standings: Holy Cross (HC) 113½; Dunmore (DUN) 88; Lakeland (LAK) 76; Mid Valley (MV) 71½; Riverside (RIV) 60; Montrose (MON) 57; Blue Ridge (BR) 53; Lackawanna Trail (LT) 52; Elk Lake (EL) 33; Carbondale (CAR) 23; Mountain View (MtV) 19; Susquehanna (SUS) 3.

3200 Relay: 1-Scranton Prep (T.J. O’Hearn, Pat Feeney, Ryan Rigau, Norm Frederick) 8:27.97; North Pocono 8:33.32; Scranton 8:36.45; Valley View 8:41.

110 Hurdles: 1-Mike Kolcharno (DUN) 15.71; 7-Jeremy Dibble (MON) 16.41.

100: 1-Dave Sweetman (RIV) 11.27; 5-Sean Stanley (BR) 11.74.

Discus: 1-Anthony Bouselli (WAL) 59-0; 7-Kurt Kimsey (MON) 128-6.

1600: 1-Rico Galassi (HC) 4:19.19 (meet record). 8-Brandon Russell (MON) 4:44.58.

Long: 1-Jason Vermeulen (EL) 21-1.

400: 1-Rian Fowler (DV) 49.73.

400 Relay: 1-Valley View (Robert Castellani, Tyler Phillips, Nyeem Wartman, Garrett Rupe) 43.95 (meet record).

High: 1-Devon Strubert (NP) 6-6¼ (meet record).

300 Hurdles: 1-Brandon Jackson (VV) 40.27.

800: 1-Cory Capooci (VV) 2:03.38; 5-BrettCrowley(MtV) 2:08.72.

200: 1-Maleik Torres (HON) 22.66.

Javelin: 1-Robert Castellani (VV) 182-4; 4-Kurt Kimsey (MON) 162-2.

3200: 1-Rico Galassi (HC) 9:39.28 (meet record).

Shot: 1-Marc Ranauldo (DV) 47-7.

Pole: 1-Ryan Wilkes (VV) 13-0. 2-Jeremy Dibble (MON) 12-6; 4-Jeremy Schwartzstrauber (EL) 12-0; 5-Zack Edwards (BR) 11-6.

Triple: 1-Maleik Torres (HON) 43-10¼ (meet record).Devon4-Sean Stanley (BR) 41-8 ¾.

1600 Relay: 1-Scranton Prep (Pat Fricke, Pat Perih, Norm Frederick, Tyler Shotto) 3:30.35. 5-Blue Ridge 3:38.12.

Montrose’s Lacy Neely delivers a pitch to a Lackawanna Trail batter on Thursday. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALICE STUFFLE

BY MICHAEL IORFINO

Times-Shamrock Writer

Every time she sensed a lull in their pregame warmups, Montrose’s Katie Groover shouted the same phrase: early and often.

With the memories of Montrose’s loss to Lackawanna Trail – its only loss on the season – still fresh in her mind, Groover challenged her teammates to jump out to an early lead and capture the momentum against the Lady Lions.

Her teammates delivered.

Montrose’s Nos. 2, 4 and 5 hitters – Sam Dixon, Sara Krupinski and Katie Trecoske – combined for six hits, five RBIs and three runs scored, and freshman pitcher Lacy Neely tossed a gem as No. 5 Montrose beat fourth-ranked Lackawanna Trail, 6-1, to take sole possession of first place in Lackawanna DivisionIIIsoftball Thursday at Lackawanna Trail.

With two outs in the first and Groover on third following a

Meteor Brooke Malloy lines up for a hit during a 6-1 victory over Lackawanna Trail at Tunnel Hill on Thursday. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALICE STUFFLE

passed ball and stolen base, Krupinski ran the count full, and then stroked a single between first and second for a 1-0 lead.

“We really wanted to come out and prove that were a good offensive team,” Krupinski said. “We had seen this pitcher (Brianna Smarkusky) before and knew she had the ability to strike out a lot of batters. We just wanted to work good at-bats against her and see a lot of pitches.”

After an infield single by Dallas Ely to start the third, and Dixon’s short blooper that fell in front of the right fielder, Krupinski roped a two-run single up the middle, extending

Montrose’s Sara Krupinski makes the tag at first during a victory over Lackawanna Trail on Thursday. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALICE STUFFLE

Montrose’s lead to 3-0.

That’s all the run support Neely needed.

Commanding her fastball and screwball, Neely kept the Lackawanna Trail hitters off balance, yielding just four hits and striking out five in a complete game masterpiece.

Shelby Croasdale stroked two hits for the Lady Lions, and Clarissa Eggleston scored Lackawanna Trail’s lone run.

The Lady Meteors, winners of six straight, added one more in the sixth when Anna Churco’s RBI single scored Trecoske, and two more in the seventh on a two-run single by Trecoske, which scored Dixon and Groover.

Meteor Dallas Ely makes her way to steal second base during Montrose’s win over Trail’s Lions on Thursday. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALICE STUFFLE

“This is a tremendous win,” Montrose coach Mel Lasher said. “Our motto is to work as team and I think we’re slowly becoming one.”

Elk Lake

TheElkLakesoftball team used a two-run double from McKenzi Moon in the top of the seventh to lift the Warriors to a victory overBlue Ridgeon Wednesday.

The Warriors got off to a hot start with three runs in the top of the first, but Blue Ridge came back to take a 4-3 lead after a run in the fourth and three in the fifth.

However, a three run seventh inning saw the Warriors regain a 6-4 lead and hold on for the win.

Elk Lake’s Laura Gacha slides into home safely as Blue Ridge catcher Allison Coller tries to apply the tag in a 6-4 Elk Lake victory. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN WOODRUFF

Moon finished with a pair of hits, two runs scored and two RBIs. Laura Gacha had a hit, a run scored and an RBI.

Debbie Harvey took the pitching victory giving up eight hits, four earned runs and a walk while striking out four in seven innings.

Jenna Rupakus went three-for-three with a triple, double and two RBIs forBlue Ridgewhile Jacki Furch added a single and an RBI and Decker had two hits.

Furch took the pitching loss giving up six hits, four earned runs and three walks while striking out six in seven innings.

Warrior Debbie Harvey was the winning pitcher for Elk Lake on Wednesday. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN WOODRUFF

The MOUNTAIN VIEW

Mountain View softball team grabbed a 5-3 win at Forest City on Friday and picked up a 5-3 victory over Susquehanna on the road on Thursday.

AgainstForestCity, the Eagles scored a run in the first inning beforeForestCitywould come back to take a 3-1 lead with runs in the third.

However,Mountain Viewscored four in the fourth inning and held the Foresters scoreless to take the win.

Caitlyn Tague had two hits and drove in two runs and Jenny Molenko added two hits to lead the Eagles.

Tague was the winning pitcher giving up six hits, three earned runs and four walks while striking out one in seven innings.

Katie O’Neill doubled to lead the Foresters while Katherine Pecko had a hit and drove in a pair of runs.

On Thursday, Makenna Whitaker and Megan Stenzhorn each had a pair of hits and drove in a run for the Eagles.

The Eagles upended an early 2-0 Saber lead as they scored three runs in the fifth and two in the sixth to take a 5-2 lead.

Susquehanna added a run in the seventh, butMountain Viewheld on to win.

Nicole Barnes, Mashawna Hargett and Danielle Barnes each had two hits for Susquehanna.

Tague took the pitching victory forMountain Viewgiving up six hits, one earned run, and six walks while striking out four in seven innings.

Mikaela Rhone took the loss on the mound giving up seven hits, four runs and one walk while striking out seven.

Susquehanna

The Susquehanna Lady Saber softball team picked up a 9-2 victory overForestCityon the road on Wednesday evening.

The Sabers scored two runs in the first and four in the second to hold a 6-0 lead. However,ForestCityscored a pair of runs in the third to close the gap at 6-2.

Susquehanna then went on to score one run in the fifth and a pair in the sixth to take the victory.

Saber Emily Conroy had three hits, including a double, and two RBis to lead Susquehanna. Ashley Sweeney, Mikayla Hargett, Nicole Barnes and Nicole Shay all added doubles for the winners.

Mikaela Rhone took the pitching win giving up six hits, one earned run and three walks while striking out 12 in seven innings.

Solana Stratford had a double and a single forForestCitywhile Katie Zerby had a hit and two RBIs.

Yates took the pitching loss for the Foresters giving up 12 hits, six earned runs and six walks while striking out three in seven innings.

Forest City

TheForestCitysoftball team traveled toWestern Wayneon Thursday where they took a 5-4 victory over the Wildcats.

The Foresters scored a run in the first and another in the third to hold a 2-1 lead going into the fourth.

Forest City then knocked three runs in the fourth inning to make it a 5-1 lead.Western Waynescored a run in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings but were unable to overtake the Foresters.

Emily Zerby had two hits and Katherine Pecko added two hits to lead the Foresters.

Yates took the pitching victory giving up six hits, four earned runs and three walks while striking out three in seven innings.

Montrose’s Michael Rapisardi deals a pitch to Lackawanna Trail during a 12-1 victory on Thursday. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALICE STUFFLE

The Montrose Area baseball team took a 9-0 victory over Susquehanna at home on Friday after a 12-1 victory over Lackawanna Trail on the road on Thursday.

Against Susquehanna, the Meteors made quick work of getting on the scoreboard with five runs in the first.

Montrose then added a run in the third and three more in the fourth while holding the Sabers scoreless.

Mike Rapisardi hit a three-run homer in the fourth inning and added a single to finish with four RBIs.

Kory Stimmel took the pitching win giving up here hits, no runs and one walk while striking out five in four innings.

Michael Hackett and Justin Hartman each added doubles while Matt Sobiech had a single and a pair of RBIs.

Susquehanna was paced by a double from Jared Lawson while Austin Cowperthwait took the pitching loss giving up 11 hits, seven earned runs and a walk while striking out three.

On Thursday, Winning pitcher Rapisardi went four-for-four and drove in three runs to lead Montrose of the Lions.

Montrose first baseman Mike Hackett makes the tag on a Trail runner at Tunnel Hill on Thursday. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALICE STUFFLE

Rapisardi doubled and homered, while Matt Lewis had two hits, including a triple and Hackett drove in two runs for Montrose.

Rapisardi gave up just three hits, one earned run and two walks while striking out three in five innings.

Zach Loomis had a hit, a run scored and an RBI while Dale Harder, Casey O’Reilly and Hartman each added singles.

Montrose Area improved to 12-0 on the year with the win.

Elk Lake’s Nick Dudock slides into third underneath Blue Ridge second baseman Joey Zawiski during a 6-2 win over the Raiders in New Milford on Wednesday. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN WOODRUFF

Elk Lake

The Elk Lake baseball team picked up a 6-2 victory over Blue Ridge on the road on Wednesday afternoon.

The Warriors scored a pair of runs in the top of the first before Blue Ridge made it 2-1 in the bottom of the first.

ElkLakethen scored a pair of runs in the third and one in the fourth to bring the tally to 5-1.Blue Ridgeadded a run in the fourth, butElkLakegrabbed an insurance run in the sixth and held on to take the win.

Rick Guiton and Damian Dailey combined for five hits, four RBIs and two runs to lead Elk Lake while Nick Dudock and Adam Phillips each added a hit. Pete McGee also knocked a single and drove in a run.

Dailey took the pitching win giving up five hits, one earned runs and a walk while striking out two in seven innings.

Blue Ridgewas led on offense by Riley Fekette with a double, a run scored and an RBI while Devin Hawk added a double and a run scored.

Roberts was the losing pitcher giving up four runs, four hits and six walks while striking out three in two-and-two-thirds innings.

Susquehanna

The Susquehanna baseball team handedMountain Viewan 8-1 loss at home on Thursday afternoon.

The Sabers got a 3-0 lead after two runs in the first and another in the second, beforeMountain Viewscored its only run of the game in the top of the fourth to make it 3-1.

Susquehanna then brought home two runners in the fourth, one in the fifth and a pair in the sixth to take the victory.

Austin Cowperthwait had a two-run homer in the first inning and plated two more runs in the sixth to lead the Sabers.

Jared Lawson had a pair of hits and two RBIs while Tom Maby had a hit and took the pitching victory giving up five hits, one earned run and five walks while striking out seven in a complete game outing.

Nate Goodenough led the Eagles with a single and an RBI while Colby Thomas took the pitching loss giving up nine hits, six earned runs and five walks while striking out six in seven innings on the mound.

Mountain View

TheMountain Viewbaseball team took a pair of wins overForestCityon the road in a doubleheader on Friday.

In the first game, the Eagles grabbed a 15-0 victory as Colby Thomas had three hits, including two doubles and scored four runs while Dylan Thomas had two hits, including a home run and four RBIs.

Mike Wakalowski was the winning pitcher giving up one hit, no runs and two walks while striking out six batters.

The Eagles defeatedForestCity11-0 in the second game as Dylan Thomas had two hits, including a home run, and three RBI to lead the Eagles. Colby Thomas had three hits, including a triple.

Owen Flannery took the pitching win giving up two hits, no runs and no walks while striking out five in four innings.

Forest City

TheForestCitybaseball team was handed a 12-1 loss at home against Lackawanna Trail on Sunday, and a 12-1 loss fromWestern Wayneon the road on Saturday.

Against Trail, Jake Fedak plated Alex Kresock in the third inning for the Foresters’ only run as Matt Hardman-Zimmerman took the pitching loss giving up three hits, two earned runs and three walks while striking out two in three innings.

On Saturday, the Wildcats scored five runs by the third inning where the Foresters scored their only run of the game.

After a seven-run fourth from the Wildcats, the game was called by the 10-run rule.

Matt Hardman-Zimmerman and Bryan Nebzydoski each doubled to lead the Foresters in the losing effort.

Donna Howell, 11, of New Milford, took the first place all-around title at the U.S.A.I.G.C. State Championships held in Medford, N.Y., on May 5.

Donna Howell won the United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs (U.S.A.I.G.C.) Platinum Level State Title at Medford, N.Y. on May 5.

Howell, 11, of New Milford, the daughter of Vic and Maureen Howell, took first place in Beam, Bars and Vault and second place on Floor to finish with the first place all-around title.

Platinum Level is scored using college rules.

She will be heading to the National/ International Meet in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., to compete on June 26.

This is Howell’s second all-around state title in her gymnastics career in addition to individual placements.

Howell’s all-around titles include: Bronze Level 2009 and Platinum Level 2012.

She also placed second at nationals on Gold Level Beam in 2010.

Howell trains at Techniques Gymnastics in Windsor, N.Y.

Montrose’s Michael Roman battles with Scranton Prep’s Walker Temperton at Wilkes University on Thursday. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN WOODRUFF

A pair of Montrose Area tennis players advanced to the second round of the PIAA District II Class AA singles championships atWilkesUniversityon Thursday.

Michael Roman, a senior at Montrose, stormed through the first round with 6-2 and 7-5 wins over Griffin Gerchman onDunmore.

Roman then faced fourth-seeded Walker Temperton of Scranton Prep and was eliminated from contention.

Temperton defeated Roman 6-1, 6-1 and moved on to the semifinals.

Meteor Bryan Shultz returns a serve on his way to taking a first round victory over Meyers’ Branden Ott at Wilkes University on Thursday. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN WOODRUFF

Another Montrose tennis player, sophomore Bryan Shultz took a first round victory as he defeatedMeyersHigh School’s Branden Ott with 6-2 and 6-1 victories.

However, Shultz was also defeated in the second round as he fell to Holy Cross’ Rob Azzarelli, 6-2, 6-3.

Next up for the Meteors are the PIAA District II Class AA doubles championships being held on Wednesday, May 16, at Wilkes University starting at9 a.m.

On Thursday,Mountain Viewtook wins in the first two sets 25-13 and 25-19 before facing a 25-22 loss in the third to make it a 2-1 match. However,Mountain Viewcapped the win with a 25-10 win in the fourth set.

Nathan Moyer recorded two aces, one block and 23 assists as he reached the 1,000 assist plateau for the Eagles.

Gary Smith added five kills, six digs and one ace, Michael Lamberson added nine kills, six digs and three aces and Bradley Owens had nine kills, 14 digs and one ace.

Luke Valentine led Susquehanna with 10 kills and two blocks, Doug Bishop had six kills and Mike Frye had 12 assists.

Against Blue Ridge, the Eagles got an early 2-0 lead with wins in the first and second sets, 25-21 and 25-23.Blue Ridgethen won the third set 25-17 to make it 2-1, however,Mountain Viewtook the fourth set 28-25 to seal the win.

Owens made 14 kills and had 15 digs and Lamberson added 12 kills and 15 digs forMountain View.

Moyer had 32 assists, six digs and two kills for the Eagles.

Forest City

TheForestCityboys’ volleyball team faced a 3-0 loss to Lackawanna Trail at home on Thursday after the Foresters took a 3-2 victory over Susquehanna on the road on Tuesday.

Against Trail, the Foresters were defeated 25-12, 25-13 and 25-20 in three consecutive sets.

Dave Cavalieri ledForestCitywith seven kills and three blocks while Wayde Loomis had five kills and Dylan Walsh added eight blocks.

On Tuesday, the Sabers got ahead with a 25-23 win in the first set before the Foresters would even it up 1-1 with a 25-18 win in the second.

Susquehanna then won the third set, 25-18, andForestCityanswered back with a 25-20 win in the fourth to make it 2-2. The Foresters then capped the victory with a 16-14 triumph in the fifth set.

Dave Cavalieri had 10 kills and three aces, Logan McHale contributed 10 assists, Dylan Walsh had seven kills and five blocks forForestCity.

Zack Vaughn led Susquehanna with 15 kills and eight blocks.

Elk Lake’s Mason Maye tries to spike over Lackawanna Trail’s Nick Sujkowski during a 3-0 loss to the Lions on Tuesday. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALICE STUFFLE

Warrior Jared Berg sets the ball up for a teammate in a 3-0 loss to Lackawanna Trail at Tunnel Hill on Tuesday. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALICE STUFFLE

Elk Lake

The Elk Lake boys’ volleyball team was handed a 3-0 loss atAbingtonHeightson Thursday after it faced a 3-0 loss from Lackawanna Trail on the road on Tuesday night.

Facing Abington, The Comets defeated Elk Lake 25-16, 25-16 and 25-15 in three consecutive sets to hand the Warriors the loss.

Cody Fransen had 10 points, Jared Berg had four blocks and Mason Maye had three kills to pace Elk Lake.

Against Trail, the Lions took the first set 25-15, before posting a 25-7 win in the second. Trail then finished off the Warriors with a 25-18 victory in the final set.

Aric Curry pacedElkLakewith five kills and Maye had three kills.

Blue Ridge

Blue Ridge’s boys’ volleyball team faced a 3-1 loss toWestern Wayneon the road on Thursday.

The Raiders lost the first set 25-14 before taking a 25-21 win in the second. However,Western Wayneposted wins 25-14 and 25-12 in the next two sets to take the win.

Softball

ElkLake6,Blue Ridge4

Susquehanna 9,ForestCity2

Montrose 6, Trail 1

Mt.View5, Susquehanna 3

ForestCity5,Western Wayne4

Mt.View5,ForestCity3

ForestCity12,Mt.View11

Baseball

ElkLake6,Blue Ridge2

Montrose 12, Trail 1

Susquehanna 8,Mt.View1

Montrose 9, Susquehanna 0

Mt.View15,ForestCity0

Mt.View11,ForestCity0

Western Wayne12,ForestCity1

Boys’ Volleyball

Trail 3,ElkLake0

Mt.View3,Blue Ridge1

ForestCity3, Susquehanna 2

Trail 3,ForestCity0

AbingtonHeights3,ElkLake0

Western Wayne3,Blue Ridge1

Mt.View3, Susquehanna 1

]]> http://independentweekender.com/index.php/2012/05/17/scoreboard-57/feed/ 0 http://independentweekender.com/index.php/2012/05/17/around-the-schools-4/ http://independentweekender.com/index.php/2012/05/17/around-the-schools-4/#comments Thu, 17 May 2012 14:30:39 +0000 Independent Weekender Editor http://independentweekender.com/?p=7197 Forest City

After graduation, senior volleyball player Ben Komar hopes to turn one of his passions into a career.

“Me and my dad really enjoy working on cars, anything that’s motorized,” said Komar, who is also a member of Envirothon and ski club.

Komar explained that, because his family owns a farm, he has many opportunities to repair and tinker with engines. He plans to attend WyoTech to study automotive and deisel performance.

“I’d love to open up my own shop for performance and custom work,” he said.

Montrose

Sophomore and track athlete Myra Lattimore knows as well as anyone else how big an impact natural gas drilling has on this area. In fact she may know better than most because she has taken part in a month-long project exploring Marcellus Shale drilling.

“Basically what we do is we do a lot of research about Marcellus Shale drilling, especially in our area,” Lattimore said. “We had guest speakers and have gone on site to a drilling operation. We’re making a presentation about what we find, talking about our position on natural gas drilling and presenting other information.”

If it sounds like a lot of hard work and little fun, there are some enjoyable parts.

“I really like going on site; we got a guided tour,” Lattimore said.

The project proved very educational, especially on the various safety precautions taken.

“Finding out so much stuff I didn’t know swayed my standing,” Lattimore said.

Mountain View

Eighth-grader Kylie Jerauld had never hit for the cycle in a softball game until last week.

In a junior high game againstForestCity, she homered, tripled, singled and doubled twice. Although the Lady Eagles lost by two, Jerauld said it was an interesting experience.

“No, I had never done that before,” she said. “It was amazing, very exciting.”

Also a member of the basketball and soccer teams, Jerauld has been playing softball for the past six years.

“I love how I meet new friends and see how they play,” she said. “It’s my favorite sport.”

CliffordTownshipvoted this week to discontinue its police force.

Supervisor Dennis Knowlton said Friday the vote on Tuesday was unanimous, and even though Police Chief Donald A. Caroll and his officers were doing a great job, “We just couldn’t afford it.”

“I was hoping we wouldn’t have to go this route, but we got nailed with a lawsuit unrelated to the police force,” Knowlton said.

“With rising costs, we had to find ways to cut our expenses,” he added, noting that Clifford was a small township and had a lot of residents on fixed incomes to whom raising taxes too much is a big concern.

“Yes, public safety is a big concern that we remain committed to, as well,” Knowlton said, but the state police have assured us that they will be able to help us out with coverage at this time.”

Susquehanna County District Attorney Jason Legg said, “I recognize the budgetary difficulties that small municipalities have in maintaining a municipal police force.  I am gratified that some of our small municipalities are able to provide some police protection to their residents.”

But, Legg added, “I am disappointed that Clifford Township has made this decision-– not only for the residents but for the municipal police officers who have dedicated themselves to serving that small community for so many years.

Legg said he wished he had been contacted prior to the decision, “but I was told afterward that this might only be a temporary hiatus until the budget issues are straightened out, and I remain hopeful that this is truly only a temporary situation.”

Attempts to reach Carroll, who was chief for more than 10 years, were unsuccessful.

The Montrose Area School Board adopted the districts 2012-13 preliminary budget at the Monday, May 14 meeting.

The $23,531,602 budget still carries a $341,723 deficit, explained Superintendent Michael Ognosky.

But, he added, that deficit had been whittled down considerably from the $1.2 projected shortfall at the beginning of the budget process.

He also said the projected budget and deficit does not reflect any additional revenue as could be attained through a tax increase or borrowing from the district’s gas lease monies.

Professional and support staff positions have been eliminated once again this year in the district, Ognosky said.

One elementary librarian position was eliminated; and one long-term substitute social studies position will not be replaced. Of support staff positions, the superintendent reported that one position on the computer technical staff and one custodian position would not be replaced.

Ognosky said, “We’re examining staffing with every retirement and resignation.”

“In the past three years, over 20 positions have not been replaced,” he said.

In a late addition to the agenda, the board accepted, with regret, the resignation for purposes of retirement from Margaret Plauny, aLathrop St.learning support teacher.

Ognosky said Plauny does not have the years of service to collect district retirement incentives.

“She is a very good teacher and professional,” he said. “She has been an outstanding addition to theLathrop St.staff and will be missed.”

As with other vacancies created through retirements, the board will examine its staffing needs.

The superintendent said he had recently met separately with State Representatives Sandra Major and Tina Pickett.

He urged the House lawmakers to put the whole Accountability Block Grant money back into the state budget. The State Senate, he said, passed a bill to fund half of the block grant money. Accountability Block Grant funds can be used by school districts to fund full-day kindergarten and early kindergarten programs.

Taxpayers in the district will be offered the option of paying school real estate taxes in installments.

Act 1 provides for approved homestead/farmstead owners to pay in installments. Business manager Michelle Lusk explained that Act 25, passed by the state in 2011, also extends the installment option to small business owners.

The district opted by resolution Monday to extend the installment payment plan option to all district taxpayers.

The finance committee plans to meet Monday night at the Jr. Sr. High School Community Learning Center, following a Building and Grounds meeting at7 p.m.

Leatherstocking Gas will also present information regarding the potential of bringing natural gas service to the district on Monday evening. The meeting is open to the public.

Board member George Gow said the district could see an overwhelming amount of savings by converting the high school and Lathrop St. Elementary buildings to natural gas.

Gow said, “It’s an opportunity to bring savings to the district and to some of the people who supply tax money to the district. Numerous places could benefit if we did this. It’s a way for us to give back to a portion of the community.”

Leatherstocking is looking to act as a local distributor of natural gas in the Montrose,ForestLakeandBridgewaterareas in theMontroseSchool District.

The board accepted, with regret, the resignation of James Hinds as the head Boys and Girls Tennis Coach, effective at the end of the spring sports’ season.

Ognosky said, “This is a big loss for us. He’s done an outstanding job. He brought a lot of class to the program.”

The superintendent said that, in addition to his work with Montrose tennis, Hinds was recognized by the U.S. Tennis Association and worked “tirelessly” with not just Montrose players, but players from the surrounding area as well.

Sean Madden was appointed as the Varsity Boys Basketball Coach; and Domenick Lucenti was appointed as the Varsity Wrestling Coach. Both will start at the entry level salary of $4,270 in the positions.

The revised school calendar was adopted as follows: May 31, June 1 and 4 will be regular full days of school; school will dismiss at11:30 a.m.on June 5 and 6. June 6 is the last day of school for students. June 7 is an in-service day for teachers.

Ognosky noted there are only two half days of school at the end of the year.

Graduation will be held Saturday, June 9, at11 a.m.in the high school stadium. In case of inclement weather, graduation will be moved to the auditorium.

Prior to the start of the business meeting, the board paused for a moment of silence in recognition of the death of Mountain View Board President James Zick.

Junior High student Joni Host was recognized with the Ray Kroc Achievement Award, presented by McDonald’s. She is the daughter of Bill and Kathy Host.

The Lady Meteor basketball team and coaches were recognized for their accomplishments by Rep. Sandra Major and Commissioner Alan Hall. Major presented the team and the school with citations from the State House; and Hall presented citations on behalf of the Susquehanna County Commissioners.