These pages are often filled with doom and gloom — stories about crime, budget woes and political bickering. From murder and mayhem to fatal car crashes and fires, bad news often dominates the headlines.
Not today.
Throughout the year, we report a lot of good stories as well.
As we celebrate the holiday season, let’s reflect on some of the positive news delivered this year — a Christmas-day tradition started several years ago.
Cheers and tears at Little League World Series
Players with the Wyoming Valley Challenger Little League team claimed the spotlight this summer, getting to play a game at the Little League World Series in South Williamsport.
Only two Challenger Little League teams out of thousands nationwide get the invite each year.
This was Wyoming Valley’s year. And they made the most out of it, playing in front of a packed crowd at Volunteer Stadium, prompting cheers and tears.
“We are just crying, crying and crying,” said Denise Garney, grandmother of one of the players. “We told them about it, and now, they see how amazing it is. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience and our pictures and videos are going to last forever. We will never, ever forget this. This is the only way he would be able to play baseball, so for him to be out there, it’s a dream. It’s surreal. It’s like ‘Oh my God, we are here.”
The Wyoming Valley Challenger Baseball team waves to the crowd during the Challenger Baseball championship game in Williamsport on Saturday, Aug. 23, 2024. (JASON ARDAN / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
An Aldi Birthday
Liliana Orth, a 7-year-old Pittston girl, celebrated the birthday of a lifetime when her favorite place — her local Aldi grocery store in Pittston Twp. — hosted her surprise party.
The Aldi supermarket in Pittston Twp. opened an hour early on March 1 to host Liliana Orth, a non-verbal girl with autism who loyally shops at the store every Wednesday night with her mother.
“She absolutely loved it. I don’t think I am going to be able to plan a birthday that is going to beat that one. Aldi set the bar,” Liliana’s mother, Heather Orth, said. “We had a pizza-themed party last year. She loves pizza. I couldn’t think of anything this year. One day, I was at Aldi, so I was like, ‘I’m going to make it an Aldi theme.’”
Aldi promoted the party afterward on its national Facebook page, writing, “Over the weekend, we hosted and celebrated a very special birthday party right in the birthday girl’s favorite place — her local ALDI store. Happy 7th Birthday, Liliana! It was a pleasure to witness your #ALDILove and join you to celebrate your big day!”
The Aldi store in Pittston Twp. recently played host to the 7th birthday party for Liliana Orth of Pittston.
Hazleton Area spirit on display at mall
A retail store dedicated to Hazleton Area pride opened earlier this year in the Laurel Mall in Hazle Twp.
The store features Hazleton Area Cougar merchandise such as T-shirts, hats, hoodies, jackets and more.
Reproductions of vintage T-shirts and letter jackets from Hazleton Mountaineers, West Hazleton Wildcats and Freeland Whippets, the three high schools that served the district until the central high school opened in 1992, are also for sale.
Senior students at Hazleton Area work shifts at the store to get a taste of retail work.
They scan merchandise, steam out wrinkles, and keep track of inventory and orders with an iPad. The store only accepts bank and credit cards so students don’t have to handle cash.
“Students need to know ‘What I can and can’t do for the rest of my life,’ ” said Assistant Superintendent Robert Mehalick, who asks students: “Is this something that will make you happy?”
The Hazleton Area School District (HASD) -new HASD Spirit Store at The Hazleton Area Cyber Academy, in the Laurel Mall on Thursday March 6, 2025. 2025 (John Haeger / Staff Photographer)
$210K raffle win at NFC Championship game
The Thompson family of Kingston was all smiles in February after winning the 50/50 drawing at the NFC Championship game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders.
“When I looked down at that ticket, I thought there was no way this was real,” Jason Thompson recalled. “It was a blessing.”
The Thompsons were supporting the “Philadelphia Eagles Autism Foundation” because their son, A.J., is “on the autism spectrum.”
“I’m usually not lucky when it comes to winning, but my wife is my lucky charm,” Thompson said.
The day they traveled back to Philadelphia to collect their winnings they were greeted by Eagles legend Jason Kelce, who brought the family a box of Lucky Charms cereal.
The Thompson family — Jason, Melissa and J.J. — won the 50/50 drawing at a Philadelphia Eagles game and got to meet former star player Jason Kelce. (Courtesy of the Thompson family)
KRZ host signs off after 35 years
Longtime 98.5 KRZ radio host Rocky Rhodes signed off the air in April after 45 years in the industry and 35 years at KRZ.
Rhodes said he’s proud to be leaving on his own terms with his show still strong in the ratings.
“I’m still healthy. It’s nice to be leaving on top,” Rhodes said. “I still know I could do my job.”
Rhodes always worked in the Top 40 and contemporary hit radio format except for a brief stint at an Orlando station that abruptly switched formats to oldies. He soon returned to KRZ and stayed for the rest of his career.
“We win not by playing music, but by what we do between the songs and keep it as local as possible,” Rhodes said.
WKRZ morning host Rocky Rhodes gives his introduction into the microphone in the station’s studio in Pittston Twp. Wednesday, April 30, 2025. (SEAN MCKEAG / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER)
Hazleton cheerleaders get own charter bus
Hazleton Area cheerleaders started riding in style this year after getting their own charter bus.
A cheerleader’s father purchased the bus for the squad ahead of its trip to the cheerleading national championships.
The white bus with red, silver and black trim has the HA logo for Hazleton Area and a picture of a cougar, the school’s mascot.
For previous cheerleading competitions this year, parent Tommy Wanick had rented buses before deciding to buy one.
“It’s more about a comfort zone so they’re ready to roll,” said Wanick, adding, “The cheerleaders don’t get that much recognition for … how hard they work.
The squad leaves Wednesday for the National High School Cheerleading Championship at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. (Frank Barr / Standard-Speaker)
Viral book store video tops 77 million views
Taylor Dinelli’s 10-second video from a visit to the Wilkes-Barre Twp. Barnes & Noble store amassed more than 77 million views on the social media platform TikTok.
The viral video of an author sitting alone at his book signing prompted the book to surge to the top of Amazon’s best seller lists.
The clip also transformed the author Jonathan Stanley of Duryea into an internet sensation in his own right. Prior, he had one follower on TikTok — his wife. Now he has more than 750,000.
In the video, customer after customer passed Stanley by, paying little attention to him or his book, “Purposeful Performance: The Secret Mix of Connecting, Leading, and Succeeding.”
“I am baffled. It’s a little bit crazy,” Dinelli, 29, of Berwick, said of her viral video.
Taylor Dinelli’s 10-second video from a recent visit to the Wilkes-Barre Twp. Barnes and Noble store has amassed more than 77 million views on the social media platform Tik Tok.