POCONO TOWNSHIP -- More than 100 Boy Scouts came together in Monroe County Saturday to earn an important merit badge.

The scouts took a CPR certification class at Northampton Community College's Monroe Campus near Tannersville.

The boys, from all levels of scouting, earned a merit badge for participating, but they know they earn a lot more for learning CPR.

"I feel more prepared for any situation that would require something as useful as CPR," said Owen Christian of Stroudsburg

About 125 Boy Scouts took part in the training class.

POCONO TOWNSHIP -- People in the Poconos are hoping to ring in the New Year as millionaires.

Plenty of people stopped at the Mobile Station in Pocono Township to buy Powerball and Mega Millions tickets. Both have high jackpots.

"Oh wow, humongous! They have been pretty big these last few months. I hope, I hope it's a winner this time," said Demetrius Holder, Pocono Summit.

While most of us are used to buying tickets inside of the gas station, certain places are now allowing you to do it outside, right at the gas pump.

"It's cool, awesome, yes. It's much easier for the people. It's good technology to pump and also play," said Zack Lee, New Jersey.

The "pump and play" option not only prints our your numbers on a receipt, but it will also text your numbers right to your smartphone.

Some people say the technology takes a little getting used to, but believe it will save people time by doing two things at once.

"It's convenient. It's very convenient, you don't have to wait in line. From what I understand the numbers go right to my phone so I won't have to lug any paper around," said Holder.

While some people think it's convenient to be able to get your gas and hopefully win the lottery, some others thinks it's keeping people too long at the pump.

Nell Cadue from Reeders says gas station lines are long enough already and says she'll stick to buying her tickets inside.

"Well it's warmer in there for one thing. You're holding people up if you're out here so it's better to go inside," said Nell Cadue, Reeders.

You still must be 18 years or older to play at the pump.

Lottery drawings air on WNEP.

POCONO TOWNSHIP -- The shelves inside the Fireworks Outlet in Pocono Township are stacked with tons of fireworks to light up the sky.

Now that Pennsylvanians can legally buy aerial fireworks, Michael Pakuris from Philadelphia stopped by to pick up a few different kinds.

"It's amazing. Earlier you were restricted to just the little ones but now, now you can get the big booms," said Michael Pakuris, Philadelphia.

The new state law passed in October.

It allows Pennsylvania residents to buy these bigger batches of fireworks.

Adam Maggio from Philadelphia says it will make his parties more entertaining and maybe even a little safer.

"I had to make it fun by jumping over giant fountain crackers or setting myself on fire but now we get to set the sky on fire," said Adam Maggio, Philadelphia.

More and more Pennsylvanians have been coming in to buy aerial fireworks now that the new law has been passed, and a big holiday weekend is coming up, they are ready to light up the sky.

Ken Schuchman is the owner of Fireworks Outlet.

He also owns two other fireworks stores in Monroe County.

He says plenty of Pennsylvania residents have been coming in to buy fireworks for this upcoming weekend.

"Business has been great. People are coming in, looking at all the different products we have here and they are excited to buy," said Ken Schuchman, Fireworks Outlet owner.

"You used to be jealous of everyone else. Like why can't I be from Jersey, Maryland, Delaware but now everyone gets a piece of everything so why not? It's a great thing that they passed it," said Maggio.

Before you buy these aerial fireworks, check with your municipality to see if you're allowed to set them off there.

POCONO TOWNSHIP -- Crews were back on the scene of a house fire in the Poconos on Sunday.

A fire originally broke out at a home in Pocono Township Saturday but rekindled on Sunday.

The fire spread to another structure on Sylvan Cascade Road, and officials ruled the home a total loss.

The Pocono Township fire chief told Newswatch 16 one woman was home at the time of the fire on Saturday but made it out okay.

No word on what caused the fire in Monroe County.

POCONO TOWNSHIP -- The American Red Cross is assisting victims of a fire in Monroe County.

The alarm on Pine Tree Drive in Pocono Township came in just before 11 Saturday night.

Firefighters believe the fire started in the chimney and the flames spread to the rest of the home.

Everyone made it out of the home and no one was hurt in that overnight fire.

POCONO TOWNSHIP -- Masked faces and bundled-up bodies were all you could see gliding and sliding down the slopes at Camelback Mountain Ski Resort near Tannersville.

Bob Stone lives near New York City and decided to escape that snowy mess, for a more relaxed winter atmosphere.

"I prefer to be warmer but I can deal with the temperatures as long as we don't go down to minus 20," said Bob Stone, Tarrytown, New York.

The National Weather Service has put a wind chill warning in effect for this weekend. But for some skiers and snowboarders, the cold won't stop them from layering up and enjoying the slopes.

"Wear long johns, tight stuff, hand warmers for sure. Just keeping moving. You get cold on the lift but as long as you keep moving, you're fine," said Joe Bobrowski, Westchester.

There's more to do than just skiing and snowboarding. Believe it or not, the zip line and mountain coaster will even be open this weekend in these freezing cold temperatures.

"Yeah, this weekend we have other activities open. We have the mountain coaster open and our zip lines. Come on out if you're not a skier or snowboarder, it will give you something else to do," said Dru Brooks, Camelback Mountain Ski Resort.

Dru Brooks is the marketing manager at Camelback. He says all 37 of the mountain trails will be open.

Some resorts are canceling night skiing during this extreme cold, but not Camelback. They are encouraging guests to dress appropriately.

"Yeah, it's all about layers. Make sure you have a good base layer, a mid-layer, and a shell on the outside. With the technologies out right now, there are so many options of what you can wear," said Brooks.

Officials say the indoor lodge area will be nice and warm for people who want to take a break and escape the cold before getting back out on the slopes.

POCONO TOWNSHIP -- A nephew is accused of killing his aunt and step-uncle in the Poconos.

The bodies of a man and a woman were found inside a home near Tannersville on Monday, but police believe they were killed last week.

Lancelot Fortune, 31, of Stroudsburg, is locked up in connection with those murders. Police say Fortune stabbed his aunt, Isadora Fortune, 56, and his step-uncle Richard Fells, 54, at the couple's home in Pocono Township last week.

"I was totally surprised when I drove by yesterday and there were coroner vans and state trooper vans. I mean this is a really quiet street. It's not anything that I thought would happen here," Ryan Lohman said.

Police believe the stabbings happened on Friday, but the bodies were not discovered until Monday.

According to court papers, the victims' daughter asked police to do a welfare check because she had not heard from her parents in a few days.

The daughter later told police that Lancelot Fortune lived on and off with the victims at the home near Tannersville and would still visit from time to time.

According to court paperwork, the victims paid for Fortune to live at an apartment building on Sarah Street in Stroudsburg. It's where police arrested fortune on Monday. They even found blood on the apartment door.

"Yeah, that's pretty scary. Yeah, I had no idea. We just moved and here and don't know anyone around here, so that's pretty scary," said Joelle Boye.

Police say both Isadora Fortune and Richard Fells had multiple stab wounds.

Authorities say Fortune admits to the stabbings and also admits to taking his aunt's car and driving it to the Philadelphia area. He told police he ditched the murder weapon and clothing in the river at Penn's Landing then drove to King of Prussia where he saw the movie "Jumanji."

Police are not saying what the motive may have been, but arrest papers indicate Fortune was institutionalized for mental health issues in the past.

Fortune is currently locked up in Monroe County Prison. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for next Tuesday.

POCONO TOWNSHIP -- A tractor-trailer jackknifed off the road on Interstate 80 Westbound near Tannersville Thursday morning.

The tractor-trailer was dangling over Sullivan Trail near the Scotrun exit and 380 near Tannersville.

According to police, the crash happened after one tractor-trailer hit another tractor-trailer around 10 a.m. when one of the drivers lost control.

No one was injured but traffic was delayed while crews worked to clean up the mess.

TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP -- A stretch of Interstate 380 near Mount Pocono was down to one lane Thursday as PennDOT crews patched a big problem in Monroe County: potholes.

The giant holes are frustrating to drivers like Iris Figueroa from Pocono Summit.

"I wish that they would fill them more permanently. I mean it costs taxpayer dollars, you know? If they have to fix them all the time, why can't they come up with something that will be more permanent?" asked Figueroa.

PennDOT officials in Allentown say the presence of potholes isn't directly linked to the quality of materials that are used and because of the state's aggressive freeze-thaw cycle, we will always see potholes.

During these chilly months, crews use an oil and stone mix called "cold patch" to help fill the holes until blacktop plants reopen in the spring.

"It's appliable at much lower temperatures. We put it in a hotbox which we can bring the temperatures up to 130, 140 degrees. It makes it a little more pliable. It works a little better in the pothole itself and it gives it more of a chance to stay in the hole," said Jay Borger, PennDOT Monroe County manager.

While many of the crews are out on the interstates patching potholes, there are some crews working on local roads, too.

Jay Borger is the PennDOT manager in Monroe County. He says when the weather cooperates in the winter months, patching potholes becomes the priority.

"We are not out in the rain or snow patching potholes, and typically, you want your pothole dry because if you have any type of water or moisture in that pothole, you're not giving it really a fair chance for it to stay in the product or material," said Borger.

While drivers are happy to see the holes getting filled, some have one small complaint.

"Well, I mean, they've got to get done but it definitely jams up traffic and I am not happy about that," said Roy Beauchamp, Pocono Summit.

PennDOT will continue patching potholes next week on the interstates and local roads.

Then, when blacktop plants open in the spring, crews in the Poconos will start making more permanent repairs.

EAST STROUDSBURG -- Tim Smedley is the executive chef at Trackside Station in East Stroudsburg and Garlic on Main Street in Stroudsburg. This week, he's got a lot of cooking to do and says it's not just on Valentine's Day.

"We have tons of Tuesday and Thursday reservations, but Wednesday is still a heavy hitter. The beauty of the community is that you have to cater to everybody," said Smedley.

Because Valentine's Day falls on Ash Wednesday this year, a lot of Catholics are opting to celebrate the day of love earlier or later in the week.

To mark the start of the Lenten season on Ash Wednesday, Catholics do not eat meat and typically only have one full meal.

"This is just another opportunity to bring some beautiful fish in, fresh, always fresh, and it's just a good opportunity," said Smedley.

While some business owners say they have a lot of people coming in on Tuesday and Thursday, places like The Beer House Cafe say they are booking fast for Wednesday and because of it, they are offering a special menu for those who might be fasting.

"We are dedicating that day to doing a vegan menu. We will have options available for those who want the burger or not, but we will have plenty of food for vegans and for our Ash Wednesday celebrators," said Chahrazed Chadli, The Beer House Cafe.

Smuggler's Cove is a steak and seafood restaurant near Tannersville. Managers say they expect to be very busy this Valentine's Day because it falls on Ash Wednesday.

"We want everyone to be happy. We do have fish every day. This is like a regular day for us, but it will be a little bit busier," said Kim Kinney, Smuggler's Cove assistant manager.

Trackside Station, Garlic, The Beer House Cafe, and Smuggler's Cove are all still accepting reservations and encourage customers to call ahead.

POCONO TOWNSHIP -- Ava McEntire, 12, from West Chester doesn't let her physical disabilities get the best of her. In fact, she says it helps her learn.

This week, she learned how to ski at an Adaptive Ski Camp at Camelback Mountain Ski Resort near Tannersville.

"It was weird at first for me. Lots of these coaches wanted me to do it and I was nervous at first but when I actually did it, I fit in perfectly. I tried and now I am here," said Ava McEntire, West Chester.

Ava, along with dozens of other children at the camp, had some professional coaching this week by Paralympic Alpine Skiing Team members.

These two coaches were former campers at Camelback and they also represented Team U.S.A. at Sochi Paralympic Games in 2014.

"I really hope these kids get inspired and take on the challenge to be the best they can be," said Stephanie Jallen, Paralympic Alpine Skiing Team.

"I had so many role models and mentors that pushed me into this and really helped me succeed and gave me opportunities that I could only dream of and for me to be in that role and help these kids, campers, and to give them something fun to do and give them a break from normal day life life," said Tyler Carter, Paralympic Alpine Skiing Team.

This camp is important to people with physical disabilities for a number of reasons. First, it shows them that they can do it, they just have to put on the skis and snowboards. The second, it shows them that they can one day be in the Paralympics.

"This camp has shown a lot of kids who didn't know what they were capable of that there was a whole world of possibilities open to them," said Kelly McAllister, Lancaster.

Both Stephanie Jallen and Tyler Carter are hoping to be named for this year's Paralympic Games in South Korea.

The final team roster is expected to be announced this weekend.

POCONO TOWNSHIP -- Inside The Shops at American Candle on Route 611 near Bartonsville, you'll find a little bit of everything.

In the coming months, customers will find a little more.

Wine and beer will soon be sold at this shop in Pocono Township.

"I'm sure the adult visitors will love to experience it and have a new place to come," said Venetta Smith, East Stroudsburg.

Kirill Lukov says he started looking at this new business opportunity after Pennsylvania changed its liquor laws.

After buying a liquor license at an auction and gaining approval from Pocono Township Commissioners, he began reaching out to local wine and craft beer shops.

"There are a lot of wineries around that people have been raving about and craft beer is really exploding out there so that is our focus," said Kirill Lukov, The Shops at American Candle.

Owners tell Newswatch 16 they sell a variety of different items in this store. Everything from candles to candy, so they figured why not wine and beer.

"We have everything else, I mean why not? Why not promote the local Pocono wineries," said Lukov.

The plan is to build a Bistro-style wine and beer display in the back of the store near the candy section.

Venetta Smith from East Stroudsburg says it's always nice to see a business continue to grow.

"I've only been here a few years and I just see everyone merging and growing. Different business are popping up so it's really becoming a place to come now," says Smith.

Owners say they hope to have the new wine and beer display in place by sometime this summer.

POCONO TOWNSHIP -- The CITGO Gas Station near Tannersville was slow on this snowy March day.

But last Friday, that wasn't the case during the nor'easter that left hundreds stranded and some places without gas in this part of the Poconos.

"It was crazy. No one could show up to relieve me. It was nuts," said employee Dina Krasny.

Owners at the station in Pocono Township say they actually did run out of gas over the weekend and getting tanks refilled before another snow storm is no easy task.

"It's Mother Nature, and it's hitting us pretty hard, but it is what it is, and we can't really do much. The only thing we can do is work together and fight the storm," said Shehzad Chohan, business owner.

Some gas station owners tell Newswatch 16, with a travel ban in place on interstates, their fear is running out of gas. At a gas station near Tannersville, they are coming pretty close to it.

"I'll be good for a few hours, but I have a feeling I might be out soon. I am calling my company and trying to get gas, but I have a feeling I won't be getting any until tomorrow," said Chohan.

A few miles down Route 611 in Pocono Township is Fill and Fly. This station not only ran out of gas, but pumps also broke during last week's blizzard.

Owners say business at the pump is quieter this time around.

"Last week, I was selling a lot of gas and a lot of stuff. Now it's slow," said Surinder Sindh, Fill and Fly.

The owner of this CITGO says he should be able to get through the rest of the storm with the fuel he has left and hopes he can get more delivered on Thursday, if not later tonight.

POCONO TOWNSHIP -- Pocono Ski Rentals near Tannersville is celebrating 40 years of business this year. Workers at the shop say they are also celebrating something else -- an extended season.

"It's awesome. February was a little bit slower for us so it's nice for the snow to pick up in March. It was amazing. We had a whole bunch of people come in, even though we got the snowstorm. It's crazy how people aren't afraid to travel just to go skiing," said Anna De Vivo, Pocono Ski Rentals.

Seasonal business owners in Pocono Township say they are cashing in at a time when business usually slows down.

At The Loft, some ski and snowboard apparel have already been marked with spring sale prices.

Manager Brad Sweeney says it doesn't seem like winter is slowing down.

"It's fantastic. Everyone comes in smiling, ready to get out there and enjoy themselves. Snow conditions are fantastic right now for this time of year when it might usually be slush, there is actual packed powder," said Brad Sweeney, The Loft manager.

Of course, those seasonal business owners are very excited about the extended winter weather but so are the guys and gals that come out and ski and snowboard.

At Camelback Mountain Ski Resort, the slopes are still covered with snow.

Skiers say they are taking advantage of the time they have left.

"This is pretty wild. We tried to get out earlier and the snow wasn't really right but all of a sudden in the last month, it's been great," said Chuck Schafer, New Jersey.

"Love it, I love it. I just love winter, you know. I am not so great with summer," said Cintra Fricke, New Jersey.

Managers at Camelback Mountain Ski Resort say they are monitoring the possibility of more snow next week and expect to stay open through the first week of April.

POCONO TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- State police were out fully enforcing truck bans on the interstates on Wednesday. We found plenty of drivers who parked it and some others who got pulled over.

"They put a ban on Interstate 80 for no empty trailers and they pulled me over," said driver Curtis Gardner.

Curtis Gardner from Easton was driving his empty tractor-trailer on Interstate 80 when he was pulled over and cited by troopers at the rest stop near Pocono Township.

This stretch of Interstate 80 has restrictions on certain commercial vehicles during the winter storm and Gardner was driving one of the vehicles on the list.

"The law is the law. You pay the ticket and you move on," said Gardner.

On Interstate 380, there is a full ban of commercial vehicles, so once again, a lot of these tractor-trailer drivers are finding themselves parked.

This is the second time this month PennDOT has put commercial vehicle bans and restrictions on interstates because of winter weather.

Driver Dave Maxwell says it's frustrating but he understands and is ready for better weather.

"I can't wait for spring. I'm over it, over it," said Maxwell.

McAndrew Manhart is from Texas and parked himself at the truck stop in Gouldsboro until the ban is lifted.

"I have been doing this for 26 years and it's just a matter of being safe. If you can't do the job without sliding off the road and putting the public in danger, you stop," said  Manhart.

Manhart says he hopes this is the last winter storm he has to drive in.

"I'm going to find that groundhog and him and I are going to have a talk," said Manhart.

PennDOT officials say restrictions will remain in place as long as conditions warrant. As conditions develop, speed restrictions will be considered on these routes. If the forecast changes, PennDOT will quickly review and possibly adjust or lift the restrictions.

POCONO TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- Two people were taken to the hospital after a head-on crash in the Poconos.

Police say a woman driving a pickup truck was driving in the wrong lane heading north out of a tunnel on Route 191 in Pocono Township, near Tannersville. It happened around 9:30 a.m. Thursday.

A lumber truck driver driving south swerved to avoid a collision but the woman veered back into the right lane hitting the lumber truck driver head-on.

The woman and man in the pickup truck were taken to a hospital with serious injuries, according to Pocono Township police.

The driver of the lumber truck was uninjured.

POCONO TOWNSHIP, Pa. -- The giant ice cream cone above Gabel's on Route 611 near Tannersville will soon be lit up for all to see.

The once-popular ice cream and food drive-in is set to reopen with an updated look and new management in about two weeks.

"Yeah, I like the old-fashioned stuff. The food and the way they make it, the quality is better, you know? Bring back the old days," said Sheila Blaine, Effort.

Jim Ferraro is the new owner of the shop and is no stranger to the ice cream business. He owns four other shops throughout the Poconos.

Ferraro says while this business will open under its old name, his signature "Jimmy's Ice Cream" will be served.

"It's part of the community, so as nostalgic as we can keep the community, the better off we are," said owner Jim Ferraro.

The outside of the building will pretty much stay the same with a few updates. The owner says he is very excited to be able to reopen this Tannersville icon.

"We are renovating everything on the outside, all new lights--neons--and bringing it up to speed, but we are keeping it all nostalgic," said Ferraro.

Sheila Blaine from Effort says this is exactly what the shop needed, a little sprucing up and a new owner.

"I think it will be great. Everyone likes good food and good ice cream. I know I do," said Blaine.

In addition to ice cream, Gabel's will also have a small food menu: old-fashioned fun for the whole family to enjoy.

POCONO TOWNSHIP, P.a. -- A fire is under investigation in Monroe County.

The alarm came in just before 11 p.m. on Sunday near Tannersville.

A home along Sylvan Lane in Pocono Township burned.

Firefighters couldn't tell us if anyone was inside at the time, but we do know no one was hurt.

So far, there is no word how that late night fire in Monroe County started.

POCONO TOWNSHIP --  Driving down Route 611 near Mount Pocono is no easy task with a maze of barriers lined up in the middle lane.

PennDOT officials say it's even harder to work in between these barriers like some workers do every day.

That work took a scary turn earlier this week on Interstate 80 near Blakeslee.  Three PennDOT workers were hit and injured while patching potholes.

"This week we saw what happens when you're distracted, when you're driving aggressively, or just not being safe in work zones, there are real consequences," said Sean Brown, PennDOT District 5 Spokesman.

This week is National Work Zone Safety Awareness Week.

The annual spring campaign is held at the start of construction season to encourage safe driving through highway work zones.

"We average approximately three work zones intrusions a month within our district alone. Unfortunately this week, it was more than a work zone intrusion, we had injuries," said Dennis McArdle, PennDOT District 5 Safety Coordinator.

Officials say one of the biggest problems they see in work zone areas is impatience, especially when drivers go above the posted speed limit.

State police say the tractor-trailer driver who caused this week's crash on Interstate 80 was following another car too closely and rear-ended it into the workers.

Tracy Fox is the traffic safety coordinator for the Highway Safety Network and says people need to practice safer driving in work zones.

"You have to remember too, sometimes they only have these little barriers or traffic cones protecting them. They don't always have the big concrete walls that they put out for major projects so just like you and I have families that we want to get home to, so do they," said Tracy Fox, Traffic Safety Coordinator.

For more information about Work Zone Safety Awareness Week, click here.

POCONO TOWNSHIP, Pa.  -- "It could have gone bad so many different ways. She has a good level head on her shoulders so she knew, keep walking, call," said a mother of a teenage girl.

It's every parent's nightmare, a call from their child saying they might be in danger.

It's a call the parents of a 13-year-old girl from Pocono Township received Monday night when she was getting off her school bus on the corner of Cherry Lane and Bull Pine Road.

The family wants to keep their names and faces private but spoke to Newswatch 16 about the incident.

"After the bus pulled away, there was a white car behind the bus and there were three guys inside the car. They were yelling profanities at her. They told her they had candy for her. They told her to get into the car. She kept walking," said her mother.

Pocono Township police are investigating the incident.

The teen's father says while his daughter was walking, one of the men got out of the car, but the girl was already on her cellphone calling for help.

The father says another of the men then yelled, "Don't do it."

"When the guy in the car said, 'Don't do it.' It is a huge word. It is a huge word. It could be anywhere from don't steal her phone. Don't smack her. Don't kidnap. Don't kill her. Don't rape her. Don't do it. I mean, the things that go through your head," said the girl's father.

Both the girl's mother and father say this should be a lesson for all parents to educate your children to be aware of their surroundings.

"Look around when you get off the bus. If you don't feel safe getting off the bus, stay on the bus. The bus will take you back to the school or wherever your parents can come and get you," said the mother.

Anyone with information on this attempted child luring situation is asked to contact Pocono Township police.