Latest news with #Munley
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Remembering end of Vietnam War 50 years later
JESSUP, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Wednesday marked 50 years since the final day of the Vietnam War: A conflict that claimed the lives of more than 58,000 Americans over a nine-year period. While US Involvement in Vietnam ended in 1973, the war as a whole went on until 1975. For many of those who served, the experiences they had in Vietnam live on forever. For Judge Thomas Munley, it's no different. 'I think about it every single day. I think about the soldiers that I lost, my friends, that never came back alive,' Judge Munley explained. Judge Munley was a 23-year-old school teacher when he was drafted for the Vietnam War. As a young man with a college degree, he says he never imagined he'd be sent to Vietnam, let alone as an infantryman. But sure enough, after four months of training, he arrived in Vietnam in 1969, and it wasn't long before he had his first encounter with the enemy. 'I lasted about two weeks before my first firefight, with the enemy, and I'm thinking, 'I have to stay here a whole year, I'm never going to make it home,'' Judge Munley continued. But for 11 months and five days, this was his home. He used his helmet as a pillow and the jungle floor as a bed. Dunmore PSP holds annual memorial service He says the wet, swampy conditions often led to sores and infection, but at the time, these things were the least of his worries. 'You're worried about rats every day, you're worried about sniper rounds every day, you're worried about artillery, you're worried about booby-traps,' Judge Munley added. Upon returning from the war, Judge Munley used the GI Bill to enroll in law school, starting what would become a 31-year career as an attorney and eventually, a judge. Now, he uses his experience to help vets like himself through veteran outreach and hosting the segment Veterans Views. 'I want to make veterans feel that I care about them, and that's been my whole life,' Judge Munley explained. While so many others lost their lives in Vietnam, Judge Munley made it through. Something he credits to taking things one day at a time and never giving up on his dream. 'I had that dream every single day, that I'm going to be a lawyer someday. So I kept that dream with me for a whole year,' Judge Munley said. On behalf of everyone at 28/22 News, we would like to say, 'thank you for your service.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
AOH lays wreath ahead of Saint Patrick's Parade
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Late Tuesday afternoon in Scranton, the Ancient Order of Hibernians Paul 'Hook' O'Malley Division Four held a memorial service in Courthouse Square. The members laid a wreath at the Congressional Medal of Honor Recipients' Memorial. Retired judge and Veterans Views host Tom Munley served as the speaker. What to know about the Scranton St. Patrick's Parade Judge Munley was honored as Man of the Year by the group over the weekend. 'There is nobody who could be a better Man of the Year, and he is a veteran's veteran because even though he did his combat in 1969. He has never not been helping, whether retired or not, not only veterans, his fellow human beings. He is a great man,' Pat O'Malley with the Ancient Order of Hibernation Paul 'Hook' O`Malley Division Four explained. They will be part of Saturday's parade. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Retired Judge Tom Munley named AOH Man of the Year
DUNMORE, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A man known for his decades as a lawyer, judge, and veterans advocate can now add something else to his resume. On Saturday, Retired Judge Tom Munley was honored as this year's Ancient Order of Hibernians Paul 'Hook' O'Malley Fivision Four Man of the Year. Munley received a plaque and sash at the awards dinner held at La Buona Vita Banquet Hall in Dunmore. The Scranton native is a Vietnam veteran and former teacher who is well-known for helping others. Runners hit the pavement for Leprechaun Loop in Luzerne County 'I was very surprised. I didn't think I'd get it, but I got it, and I'm enjoying every second of it,' Munley said. 'His whole life has been about service, and what he does for vets to this day is really remarkable. So, he's my hero, he's America's hero, and we're all very proud of him today,' said Lackawanna County Judge Mark Powell. Munley will appear with the ancient order of Hibernians in next weekend's Scranton Saint Patrick's parade. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Senate approves Powell's nomination to vacant Lackawanna County judgeship
Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell will be the next judge on the county Court of Common Pleas. The state Senate voted 44-4 on Tuesday to approve Powell's nomination and those of several other judicial nominees Gov. Josh Shapiro tabbed to fill court vacancies elsewhere in the state. The full Senate vote came a day after the state Senate Judiciary Committee advanced the nominations with favorable recommendations. When sworn in, Powell will fill the seat on the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas that Judge Julia Munley vacated in 2023 to assume a position on the federal bench. He'll serve as county judge until at least January, but will also run for a full 10-year judicial term this year. 'My professional experience is an accumulation of many years of hard work, a commitment of justice and the rule of law,' Powell told the judiciary committee Monday. 'I will bring those same qualities to the bench and be a fair and impartial jurist, and I'll be committed to the integrity of our courts, protecting individual rights and the due process of law.' The vacancy Powell is now set to fill was created in 2023, when former President Joe Biden nominated and the U.S. Senate confirmed Munley to serve as a federal judge of the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Munley filled the federal court vacancy created when District Judge Robert Mariani assumed senior status. When Powell becomes a county judge, First Assistant District Attorney Brian Gallagher will become district attorney until at least January. Gallagher confirmed Monday that he'll run for a full four-year term as district attorney this year, when the office and the county judgeship are on the ballot. Powell will be sworn in as a county judge Friday during a ceremony scheduled for 2 p.m. at the Lackawanna County Courthouse. Gallagher will be sworn in there as district attorney shortly thereafter, officials said. Powell became the first Democrat elected district attorney in Lackawanna County since President Richard Nixon's administration when he won that office in 2017. He was reelected in 2021. Among other prosecutorial accomplishments during his tenure, Powell 'revitalized the stagnant investigation into the disappearance of Robert Baron Sr., which occurred a year before he assumed office and is arguably the most notorious murder case of the 21st century in Lackawanna County,' per a news release from the DA's office. Powell charged Justin Schuback with first-degree murder after investigators found buried remains of the missing Old Forge restaurateur, and secured a guilty verdict last year after trying the case before a jury in Lackawanna County Court. The news release also credits Powell with reviving the 2013 cold case of the shooting death of Melissa Rocuba in Simpson. Prosecutors charged her husband, Bruno Rocuba, with her murder in 2022. Rocuba ultimately pleaded guilty to third-degree murder and was sentenced last month to 12-to-40 years in state prison. Powell will preside over civil cases as a county judge, the news release notes. 'I truly loved serving the people of Lackawanna County as District Attorney, and I look forward to continuing my service on the Court of Common Pleas,' he said in a statement Monday. 'I will treat all litigants and attorneys with respect, give all parties a fair opportunity to be heard, and render prompt decisions in a simple, straightforward manner in accordance with the law and established facts.' Efforts to reach Powell on Tuesday were not immediately successful.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Yahoo
Clarks Summit man faces gun, child endangerment charges
A Clarks Summit man prohibited from possessing a firearm faces charges after attempting to sell a ghost gun, investigators said. On Friday morning, Detective John Munley from the Lackawanna County district attorney's office received information about Paul Michael Pasco trying to illegally sell a ghost gun, according to a criminal complaint. Ghost guns are untraceable and put together using components purchased as a kit or as separate pieces, police said. During his investigation, Munley learned Pasco sought to sell the gun to someone in South Scranton, per the criminal complaint. Munley was also told Pasco had other guns inside his Chevrolet Equinox, police said. Pasco is not permitted to carry a concealed gun stemming from a prior drug conviction, per the criminal complaint. Additionally, Pasco can't legally purchase a gun because he has a medical marijuana card, investigators said. Detectives from the Lackawanna County Detectives Drug Unit, Gun and Gang Reduction Task Force and officers from the Scranton Police Street Crimes Unit established surveillance at the meet location and saw Pasco sitting in his vehicle before he began to drive away, per the criminal complaint. Officers also noticed Pasco's vehicle had a front window tint and conducted a traffic stop where he was detained, police said. Pasco told Munley he had three guns and marijuana inside his vehicle, per the criminal complaint. Pasco (Courtesy Lackawanna County Processing Center) After receiving permission to search the vehicle, investigators found the ghost gun — a black handgun that was loaded, a rifle with a scope and a shotgun, police said. The rifle and shotgun were located directly next to his 4-year-old daughter, who was in her car seat, investigators said. Detectives also confiscated smoked marijuana roaches and a marijuana grinder, police said. Pasco admitted to investigators that he was going to sell the gun and was upset that he got set up, per the criminal complaint. Police charged Pasco, 1118 South Abington Road, with criminal attempt to illegally transfer a firearm, firearms not to be carried without a license, endangering the welfare of children and related counts. As of Monday, Pasco, 27, remained at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 4 at 10:45 a.m.
