Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Officials investigate cause of deadly South Grant Street house fire.
Also check out Ray LaMontagne on the Wilkes-Barre Patch calendar
Greetings Wilkes-Barre! We're your go-to source for what's happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Officials investigate cause of deadly South Grant Street house fire.
- What the Luzerne rail sale could mean for Wilkes-Barre riders and taxpayers
- What could replace a long-condemned Wilkes-Barre factory on New Grove Street?
Today's riddle: What do evil hens lay? 🤔 (Answer below!)
- Wednesday: Sun followed by some clouds, with a high of 86 and low of 64 degrees. 🌶 Hot!
- Thursday: Some sun, a t-shower in spots, temps: high: 80, low: 58.
- Friday: Partly sunny, with a high of 85 and low of 57 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Boy dead in an 'extremely complex structure fire' in Wilkes-Barre (wvia.org) — A pre-teen boy died and a woman was hospitalized after a Monday night house fire on South Grant Street in Wilkes-Barre, where firefighters faced intense heat and smoke in a condemned structure. City fire crews, police, state fire marshals, county detectives, and the Red Cross all responded, and the cause of the blaze remains under investigation. 
2. Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority meeting closed for rail settlement discussion (citizensvoice.com) — Luzerne County's Redevelopment Authority met privately to advance a legal settlement and sale of its 60-mile rail line serving Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, and Hanover Township, with bids due Aug. 28. The deal could clear $3.3 million in county debt and potentially enable future excursion rail service from Wilkes-Barre to Jim Thorpe, depending on which buyer is chosen.
3. Nonprofit pursues LSA grant to demolish condemned Wilkes-Barre factory (timesleader.com) — A nonprofit that owns a condemned former factory on New Grove Street in Wilkes-Barre is seeking casino-funded LSA grant backing to demolish the building and eventually build affordable senior housing. Luzerne County's redevelopment authority wants a detailed application before sponsoring the request, while county officials also move ahead with plans to sell a regional rail line and possibly convert inactive stretches to trails.
4. Community Spotlight: Wilkes-Barre area – Aug. 19, 2026 (citizensvoice.com) — Wilkes-Barre residents have a full slate of late-summer events, from Friday's shrimp boil in Miners Mills and rummage sale on South Main Street to the Osterhout Library gala and a free concert at First Presbyterian. You'll also find details on a women's club fashion show, St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen's sponsorship campaign, and local Catholic fraternal meetings.
5. HS GOLF: Richard, Clark lead Wolfpack (citizensvoice.com) — Wilkes-Barre Area's golf team edged Crestwood by two strokes, 174–176, behind strong rounds from Brayden Richards, Matt Clark, and Tyler Daugherty in Wyoming Valley Conference play. The roundup also highlights Dallas' Kilduff Cup win over Lake-Lehman and Wyoming Area's victory over Valley West at Irem Country Club.
📸 Around Wilkes-Barre
Show off your photography skills and the sights around town! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day to Patch AM!
🗓 Upcoming Events in Wilkes-Barre
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Ray LaMontagne →
F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, 71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre
7:00 pm
Wednesday September 9
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
📣 Wilkes-Barre Shout Outs!
Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM! It's free!
🗓 Events Nearby
- Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back →
F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, 71 Public Square, Wilkes-Barre
7:00 pm - Luzerne County Correctional Services Committee Meeting →
Luzerne County, PA Calendar, 200 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre
4:00 pm - A Tribute to "Old & In The Way" →
River Street Jazz Cafe, 667 N River St, Plains
8:00 pm - Hazleton Area Residential Electronics Recycling Event →
Luzerne County, PA Calendar
9:00 am - Exeter Borough Residential Paper Shredding Event →
Luzerne County, PA Calendar
9:00 am - BAZAAR AT THE BAR 6 →
Murphy's Pub, 347 Slocum St, Swoyersville
4:00 pm - Senior Sunrise Class of 2027
Hanover Area SD 1600 Sans Souci Pkwy, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18706, USA
6:00 am - Teacher In-Service
Pittston Area SD Pittston, PA 18640 - Luzerne County Council Voting and Work Sessions →
Luzerne County, PA Calendar, 200 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre
6:01 pm - First Day of School 26-27
Pittston Area SD Pittston, PA 18640 - Luzerne County Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Commission Meeting →
Luzerne County, PA Calendar, 200 N River Street, Wilkes-Barre
10:00 am
Wednesday August 19
Thursday August 20
Friday August 21
Saturday August 22
Sunday August 23
Monday August 24
Tuesday August 25
Wednesday August 26
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.
Ok Wilkes-Barre! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Deviled eggs (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
👉 Help make Patch AM better
- Help us grow by suggesting local news sources.
- Shape this newsletter with your feedback.
- List items for sale or services offered
We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what's happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.