Category: Nanticoke

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A Nanticoke woman was arrested Monday on murder charges in connection with the death of a one-month-old girl.

According to the Pennsylvania State Police, Natalee Michele Rasmus, 19, was charged with murder of the third degree, involuntary manslaughter and endangering the welfare of a child following the death of her infant daughter, Avaya Jade Rasmus-Alberto, in October 2022.

She was arraigned before District Judge Donald Whittaker and bail was denied. She remains in custody at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility.

Police said they were dispatched to 167 West Green Street in Nanticoke on Oct. 24, 2022 for the reported death of an infant, who was at the time in the custody of her mother, Rasmus.

An autopsy report determined the cause of death was asphyxia due to mechanical compression.

It was previously reported by the Times Leader in April that the death was being investigated by Pennsylvania State Police at Wilkes-Barre and the Luzerne County district attorney’s office as a criminal homicide.

An autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Gary Ross initially ruled the manner of death as accidental, but investigators then said they uncovered suspicious online searches from the phone of the mother, who was 17 at the time.

A review of the mother’s phone uncovered online searches about Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, is it safe to give a newborn melatonin drops, pictures of shaken baby syndrome, why a newborn won’t stop crying, and can an infant sleep on their stomach, stated search warrant affidavits filed at the time.

After the autopsy, Ross gave a medical opinion that the infant did not have the strength to wiggle into a position to cause death, according to search…

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While many are checking off those shopping lists and getting those gifts wrapped, one business in Luzerne County is pinching their way into the holidays.

NANTICOKE, Pa. — Dough is stretching for miles, as pierogi pinching is in full force in Luzerne County. Tens of thousands of pierogi will take shape at NEPA’rogi in Nanticoke.

The Polish staple is a Christmas tradition on many tables across Northeast PA, which means it comes with quite the demand this holiday season.

“I also think it’s the nostalgia of the smell and taste of the food, reminding you of the happiest of holidays growing up in Northeast PA. Of course, you could go to the grocery store and buy pierogi, but I think the magic of what we’re doing here, that hand pinching, is what gives it that extra spark,” said Lauren Gorney, owner of NEPA’rogi.

This is the shop’s first Christmas in their new space on South Market Street, and with it, they’re able to take on more orders than ever: 1,000 dozen, or 12,000 pierogi to be exact.

“These ladies are working on 200 dozen a day. Of course, we’re trying to push past that. We could always automate and do more, but the magic of the hand-pinched pierogi can’t be matched,” said Gorney.

To meet the demand, they’re also accepting walk-ins this year, which means owner Lauren Gorney will be doubling that pre-order count—totaling more than 24,000 pierogi throughout the season.

“We stock up mainly on potato and cheese—that’s our best seller. Farmer’s cheese is more traditional, and we try to have cabbage available, but as you can see, even until the last minute, we’re cooking cabbage to finish the orders,” said Gorney.

And before they even get through Christmas, NEPA’rogi already has their sights set on…

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Nathan Schimelfenig had a shooter’s confidence to go for an emotional win.

West Scranton had a fourth-quarter comeback fueled by Schimelfenig’s outside shooting. A rally in the final minute included two of his eight 3-pointers, with the final one coming with 10 seconds left that lifted West Scranton to a 59-58 victory over Nanticoke Area to highlight last week’s nonleague boys basketball action.

He finished with a career-high 33 points as the Invaders snapped a four-game losing streak.

“We had some guys in foul trouble, and guys came off the bench and did a great job,” Schimelfenig said. “I felt like I couldn’t miss. My teammates supported me on the court and the bench. That gave me the confidence to shoot it if I was open.

“That was the loudest gym I think I played at. I fed off the energy that circulated through the team. Now we have some momentum heading into this week.”

Schimelfenig’s efforts helped the Invaders win a pair of games in coach Hasiin Dixon’s first season. He received honorable mention in voting by the Lackawanna League Division I coaches for the all-star team as a junior when he averaged 8.1 points and 1.5 3-pointers per game.

This year, he is one of three returning players with starting experience.

In the semifinals of the Jerry Finan Tournament, Schimelfenig scored 17 points and had two 3-pointers, but the Invaders lost to Honesdale. That pushed them into the consolation game, where he scored 20 points with three 3-pointers, which put him on the all-tournament team.

“In the Honesdale game, we didn’t come out like we wanted,” Schimelfenig said. “I felt like in the second game we got into a groove and started to build trust in each other. It was a good win, and it was the first win for our coach.”

After the 1-1 start, West…

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Luke Kopetchny scored 21 points and joined Lukas Burakiewicz and Mitchell Rusinchak in leading a late-game comeback that allowed Wyoming Area to rally past host Nanticoke 62-59 Tuesday night in a non-league boys basketball game.

The Warriors trailed by as many as 10 points in the fourth quarter and were still down seven in the last four minutes. Their last seven points in a game-ending, 9-2 run came at the foul line where they hit their last five attempts.

Kopetchny’s second three-point play in less than two minutes started that run.

Burakiewicz ended a second-half Wyoming Area drought and scored eight of his 14 points in the fourth quarter.

Rusinchak was a big part of the late-game defense that allowed Wyoming Area to limit Nanticoke to four points over the final 3:25 and force five fourth-quarter turnovers while not committing any.

Anthony DeLucca’s 3-pointer gave the Warriors a 36-32 lead with 6:04 left in the third quarter, but then they went cold and the Trojans used their control of the boards to move in front.

Nanticoke scored the next 13 points and grabbed the first six rebounds of the fourth quarter.

The lead grew to 46-38 after three quarters and the Trojans added the first basket of the fourth as the Warriors went 4:27 without scoring and 7:36 without a field before Burakiewicz hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key.

Kopetchny not only gave Wyoming Area its first rebound of the fourth quarter, but he took it the length of the floor, weaving between players in the lane for the three-point play with 3:40 left to cut the deficit to 53-49.

The remaining three Warriors field goals all came from within the paint, including Kopetchny’s next three-point play on a floater down the left side of the lane.

…

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Both Pittston Area teams came out on top when they opened the Wyoming Valley Conference swimming season with a home meet against Nanticoke Tuesday.

The Lady Patriots rolled 112-38 while the Patriots won 69-56.

Pittston Area girls 112, Nanticoke 38

Gabby Gorzkowski won three times and added a second-place finish to lead the rout.

Gorzkowski won the 50-yard freestyle and was part of wins by both the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.

Brooke Hintze, who took first in the 200 freestyle, and Ali Butcher, who won the 200 individual medley, were also part of both relay wins.

Hannah Garcia, the other member of the two relay wins, added a second in the 50 freestyle.

Ashlynn Selden won the 100 butterfly and added seconds in the 100 breaststroke and 200 medley relay.

Gianna Martinelli won he 500 freestyle and was on a second-place relay team.

Elinor Sahardian had three second-place finishes and a third.

Nina Albertelli contributed seconds in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly.

Margaret Gruber, Natalia Gonzalez and Elysia Conflitti were second in two events.

Bailey Staton, who also had a third, and Jemma Mead, were the others with second-place finishes in relays.

Jess Soroka was third in two events while Olivia Pantucci, Vivian Katchkus and Elizabeth Howells were third one time.

Pittston Area boys 69, Nanticoke 56

Tanner Osborn, Frank Garcia and Jake Grzech each had three wins and a second-place finish to lead the Patriots.

Osborn won the 200- and 500-yard freestyles along with the 200 medley relay. He was second in the 400 freestyle relay.

Garcia won the 50 freestyle and was second in the 100 freestyle. He was part of wins in the 200 medley and freestyle relays.

Grzech won the 200 individual medley and two relays.

Vincent Burgio won the 200 freestyle and…

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Delaware First Lady Tracy Quillen Carney reads to children at Selbyville Public Library.

Coastal Point • Susan Canfora

Delaware First Lady Tracey Quillen Carney will read “Books for Blue” the children’s book she wrote about a little blue hen who discovers the joys of the printed word — at the Nanticoke Indian Museum near Millsboro at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21.

“I hope we’ve made the experience of reading together reflect some of the messages in ‘Books for Blue,’” Quillen Carney told the Coastal Point this week.

“The book is for kids of all ages, and we’ve read with all ages, knowing and enjoying how some will move around, ask questions and let their wiggles out. Others will stay cautiously on familiar laps, and some kids will jump right in my lap. We want to recognize and respect each child for who they are and really interact with them, to build trust and to nurture their curiosity.

“I hope that’s what we’ve practiced during the reading tour, and I hope it’s been as fun for others as it has been for me. There’s nothing better than earning a child’s smile,” the first lady said.

In August this year, Quillen Carney read the book to children at the Selbyville Public Library, then the life-sized Baby Blue arrived, making children run to her and smile at her black eyes, orange beak and feet, and bright red comb.

“Meet Baby Blue Hen — nickname, just ‘Blue’ — the youngest one here and the smallest one, too,” Carney read, holding the book up so children could see illustrations by Emily Hershman, who is also a member of Gov. John Carney’s staff.

“The family gives lots of help, no doubt, and a few suggestions…

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  West Scranton’s Tiesean Garrison (11) drives the ball past Nanticoke Area’s Ethan Ball (11) on Thursday at Nanticoke Area High School.

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  Nanticoke Area’s Mathias Mitchell (45) block a shot on West Scranton’s Nat Schimelfenig (0) on Thursday at Nanticoke Area High School.

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  West Scranton’s Nate Schimelfenig (0) drives the ball between two Nanticoke Area defenders on Thursday at Nanticoke Area High School.

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  Nanticoke Area’s Ethan Ball (11) shoots a three pointer over West Scranton’s Max Snyder (41) on Thursday at Nanticoke Area High School.

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  West Scranton’s Tiesean Garrison (11) drives the ball between two Nanticoke Area defenders on Thursday at Nanticoke Area High School.

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  Nanticoke Area’s Mathias Mitchell (45) goes up for a shot over West Scranton’s Tisean Garrison(11) on Thursday at Nanticoke Area High School.

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  West Scranton’s Brian Fried (2) shoots a three pointer against Nanticoke Area on Thursday at Nanticoke Area High School.

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  West Scranton’s Nate Schimelfenig (0) shoots a three pointer over Nanticoke Area’s Mathias Mitchell (45) on Thursday at Nanticoke Area High School.

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  West Scranton’s Nate Schimelfenig (0) moves the ball past Nanticoke Area’s…

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Mathias Mitchell, Nanticoke Area

Nanticoke Area’s Mathias Mitchell had an MVP kind of weekend at Lackawanna Trail’s Cal King Tournament. He scored 47 points over the two day event on his way to being named the tournament MVP.

In the opener against Western Wayne, Mitchell scored 26 points. He followed that up in Saturday’s championship game against Lake-Lehman with 21 points in helping the Trojans get off to a 4-0 start to begin the season.

How important was it for the team to get off to a fast start: It was pretty important. We lost a lot of good seniors from last year. For us to get off to a 4-0 start is a good moral boost.

Moving up to Class 5A this season, what is the team’s approach: We just have to take care of the little stuff. Our coach always tells us to worry about what we do before we worry about what other teams are doing.

Is it different preparing for the season having to play teams you haven’t normally played before: The main difference is scouting. We don’t have much film on them and we don’t know much about them.

What are you looking forward to the most entering the conference schedule: Playing against some really good competition.

Can you see the confidence building within the team after getting off to the start you have: Yes. I think the more we win the more we grow as players. We just become more confident in what we can do.

Are you ready to take on the role of primary scorer for the team this season, if necessary: Yes. Definitely. I worked hard all offseason for it and I’m ready for it.

What are your hobbies outside of school: Just…

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  Nanticoke Area’s Nevaeh Baran, left, and Wyoming Valley West’s Anya Richet battle for a loose ball in Nanticoke on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. BILL TARUTIS / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

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  Nanticoke Area’s Nevaeh Baran, right, steals the ball as Wyoming Valley West’s Rebecca Staniecki defends in Nanticoke on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. BILL TARUTIS / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

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  Nanticoke Area’s Kate Reed, left, blocks the shot of Wyoming Valley West’s Thalia Irizarry in Nanticoke on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. BILL TARUTIS / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

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  Nanticoke Area’s Amiah Ceruti, left, drives the lane against Wyoming Valley West defenders Thalia Irizarry and Helen Lewis in Nanticoke on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. BILL TARUTIS / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

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  Wyoming Valley West’s Gabbi Novitski, right, looks to pass around Nanticoke Area defender Jordyn Johnson in Nanticoke on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. BILL TARUTIS / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

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  Nanticoke Area’s Natalee Atkins looks to pass against the Wyoming Valley West defense in Nanticoke on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. BILL TARUTIS / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

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  Nanticoke Area’s Caitlynn Majiros reaches for a loose ball against Wyoming Valley West in Nanticoke on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024. BILL TARUTIS / CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHER

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Nanticoke Area’s Nevaeh Baran, left, and Wyoming Valley West’s Anya Richet battle…

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