On June 26, Nesquehoning police Officer Brian White assisted state police and other local law enforcement in the apprehension of four suspects believed responsible for an armed car-jacking along Interstate 81 in Luzerne County. On that day, four men approached a female motorist along I-81, wielded a handgun and abducted her and her vehicle.

During last night's borough council meeting, Mayor Tony Walck read a letter from Lieutenant Brian Tobin of the Pennsylvania State Police Troop N, expressing gratitude for White's assistance.In the letter, Tobin recalled the events and noted that assisting law enforcement spent five hours searching for the suspects in a wooded area with much of the search being conducted in darkness.Regarding the assisting officers which included Officer White, Tobin said, "The response and assistance provided to the PSP during this incident by members of your agency was invaluable and the capture of these four individuals is a direct result of their involvement. In addition, it reminded us that the special fraternity that is law enforcement is not bound by county or township lines or other artificial barriers. It is an unbreakable bond that has been forged through the dedication and sacrifice of men and women who believe that virtues such as honor, integrity, service and character are more than just words on a page. They are standards that guide us professionally and personally."The citizens of your borough are fortunate to have officers of such caliber in their service," he added.In other matters, fire chief John McArdle gave an update on the narrowband communications conversion project, stating that the Carbon County infrastructure was in place and that equipment was being tested.He also noted that Nesquehoning's equipment will be installed in the near future and any radios not purchased from the grant will need to be reprogrammed. That reprogramming process should begin now. All municipalities will need to be narrowband compliant by Jan. 1, 2013 or face fines of $1,000 per day.The borough received a communication from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, stating their intent to remove the borough's option of choosing a bridge inspector.In the letter, PennDOT would be performing all of the inspections at an anticipated much higher rate.Council president Frank Jacobs stated that what concerned him in addition to the increase in inspection fees was that the removal of the option to choose an inspector was not a statewide mandate, but only for municipalities in District Five, which Nesquehoning falls under.He felt that this was discriminatory and has reached out to state Rep. Doyle Heffley for assistance. Heffley will look into the matter.The adoption of the brake retarder ordinance and the vehicle and traffic ordinance that had been recently advertised was approved by council members.Althea Higgins was voted as an alternate to represent Nesquehoning on the Carbon County Tax Collection Committee and Joe Guardiani was reappointed to the Civil Service Commission.The next Recreation Committee meeting will be held on Aug. 6 at 7 p.m. and the next Crime Watch meeting will be held on Aug. 20 at 7 p.m.