First Posted: 1/26/2015
Selenski’s ex-girlfriend Christina Strom testifies
They’re together in the same room once again.
Luzerne County prosecutors this morning called Christina Strom to testify against her ex-boyfriend Hugo Selenski. It is likely Strom will be on the witness stand for most of Monday as prosecutors allege her purchase of nearly seven acres of land in Kingston Township in 2002 was the motive to the killings of Michael Jason Kerkowski and Tammy Lynn Fassett.
Selenski and Strom were in a relationship that began in September 2001, shortly after his release from federal prison after serving seven years for a bank robbery in Plains Township.
Selenski and Strom resided together in a house on Miller Street in Luzerne, until Strom purchased 479 Mount Olivet Road, Kingston Township, on April 30, 2002.
Kingston man charged after bar fight
Nearly four months after police responded to a report of bar fight, assault charges were filed against a Kingston man.
John Breha, 40, of North Loveland Avenue, faces charges of aggravated and simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment.
His preliminary hearing is scheduled before District Judge David Barilla, Swoyersville.
Officer Scott Kocher filed the criminal complaint against Breha on Dec. 23 for the alleged assault on Aug. 13, 2014.
According to the affidavit of probable cause to support the charges:
Kocher responded to Hops and Barleys on Main Street shortly after 2:30 a.m. for a fight with injuries. He arrived and met Mahmoud Elbatta, Breha and Sam Blaski, who said he was a sergeant with the Kingston Police Department, outside the bar. Kocher said the three men were intoxicated and involved in a heated argument. Officer Peter Lakkis of Forty Fort assisted Kocher to break up the argument and separate the men. A marked police cruiser from Kingston arrived and Officer Jason Zoshak got out. That’s when Blaski identified himself as a member of the Kingston Police Department.
Juvenile shot romantic rival with bullet that had victim’s name on it
A juvenile was charged with attempted homicide after he allegedly shot his romantic rival with a bullet that had the victim’s name on it.
State police on Friday arrested Daniel Stephen Steadele Jr., 17, of South Mountain Boulevard, Fairview Township, and charged him with attempted criminal homicide, two counts of aggravated assault and one count of recklessly endangering another person in the Christmas Eve 2014 shooting of Dillon Gommer.
State police in Wyoming responded to a reported shooting at 1175 Blue Ridge Trail in Slocum Township and found Gommer, age unavailable, lying on the ground outside his grandmother’s house with gunshot wounds to his neck, torso and wrists.
Medical personnel at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center later told police an apparent bullet fragment remained in the Gommer’s neck area and was not immediately removed.
At the shooting scene, the state police Troop P Forensic Services Unit recovered a .30-.30 caliber bullet casing that had the word “Dillon” written in black ink on the outside of the casing, and also recovered a .22 caliber pistol. The handle of the pistol had apparently been struck by a bullet fired by the shooter from another gun, police said.
Baby loses nose, part of cheek in pet ferret attack
Authorities near Philadelphia say a one-month-old baby is in intensive care after pet ferrets chewed off her nose and part of her cheek.
Police say four other young children have been placed with relatives amid concerns about their parents’ ability to care for them.
Darby Borough Police Chief Robert Smythe says investigators found more food for the family’s ferrets and cats than for the children.
Smythe says police have asked prosecutors to approve charges against both parents.
Officials say the baby girl was left in a car seat on the floor Thursday while the mother went upstairs. They say she was attacked by three ferrets that escaped a cloth cage.
Authorities say the infant is in stable condition Friday after emergency surgery at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Hottle’s Restaurant in Wilkes-Barre holds soft opening
After being closed for nearly five years, the new owners of Hottle’s Restaurant on South Main Street in Wilkes-Barre will hold a soft opening this weekend.
After refurbishing the Wilkes-Barre landmark, Hottle’s will hold a soft opening today and Saturday from 4:30 to 10 p.m. at 243 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre.
According to a letter received from Michael Burns, the new owner, refurbishing the mainstay restaurant was done carefully to preserve the original atmosphere of the establishment, including the “original sports artwork of our local legends.”
Burn wrote his family added new Italian marble to the exterior, “a one of a kind hand woven luxury carpet and hand carved mahogany paneled ceilings in the dining room.
Texas Roadhouse slated to come to Wilkes-Barre
A western-style steakhouse will be coming to Wilkes-Barre in March 2016.
Texas Roadhouse spokesperson Travis Doster confirmed the restaurant, which allows customers to select their steak from a fresh meat case, will be coming to 805 Kidder Street, the current site of Lone Star Steakhouse, next year.
The Lone Star Steakhouse announced this week it will shutter its doors this weekend.
Doster said the restaurant’s founder, Kent Taylor, was in the Wyoming Valley region about three to four weeks ago and liked the high-traffic location.
