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Hunting banned, tourism down in manhunt zone

By WTOP Staff

MICHAEL RUBINKAM
Associated Press

CANADENSIS, Pa. (AP) — For a region so dependent on tourism, the headline could scarcely be worse: A survivalist charged with ambushing a Pennsylvania State Police barracks eludes hundreds of law enforcement officials pursuing him in the woods.

Yet tourism officials in the Pocono Mountains say that while visitors are calling to ask about the manhunt for Eric Frein — now in its third week — very few of them are canceling their hotel and outing reservations during one of the busiest times of the year.

“They think it’s off limits, it’s shut down,” said Elizabeth Richardson at the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. “But it’s not. All of the hotels are open. All of the resorts are open.”

That’s because, while police are narrowly concentrating their search on a heavily wooded, 5-square-mile area around the village of Canadensis, the Poconos region of northeastern Pennsylvania encompasses 2,400 square miles.

For most of the resorts, restaurants and attractions that rely on day-trippers and overnight guests from New Jersey, New York and the Philadelphia area, it’s largely business as usual, Richardson said.

Brilliant foliage and temperate weather are primary attractions this time of year in the Poconos, where tourism is the No. 1 industry at $3 billion annually.

While most businesses that cater to tourists seem to be unaffected by the lengthy manhunt, it’s a different story in the tiny villages that make up Barrett Township, where Frein is believed to be hiding in the woods around his parents’ house. From the 10-room Brookview Manor Inn to Capri Pizza, business is down as tourists avoid the area and locals stay home.

The last busy night at Capri was Friday, Sept. 12 — the night that police say Frein, 31, opened fire outside the Blooming Grove state police barracks, killing Cpl. Bryon Dickson and wounding a second trooper.

“This has been catastrophic,” said Joe Kastrati, surveying his empty pizza shop at dinnertime.

He hastened to add his loss doesn’t compare to the loss suffered by Dickson’s family. The Capri is “collateral damage,” he said.

At Brookview, a Victorian inn less than a mile from the search zone, October is typically one of the two busiest months of the year. But room reservations have dropped by perhaps 50 percent, with many guests calling to cancel because they’re afraid, said co-owner Martin Horowitz.

Nearby, Camp Canadensis lost a booking as Lehigh University decided to move a retreat for student leaders out of the area.

“I think it was the right call,” said grad student Leah Paulson, 22, saying her parents would have “freaked out” if she were near the manhunt.

Meanwhile, deer hunters gearing up for this weekend’s opening of archery season will find some areas off limits. The Pennsylvania Game Commission on Wednesday banned hunting and trapping in seven townships after police announced they had found two pipe bombs they say were left by Frein.

“While we realize this temporary closure might disappoint some of the hunters and trappers it affects, we’re certain, too, they understand the gravity of the situation,” said R. Matthew Hough, the game commission’s executive director.

Several miles north of the search zone, regular visitors Tom and Lori Makalusky are undeterred.

The couple rent a cabin at Promised Land State Park every fall. They’ve been coming to these woods for decades and didn’t even think about staying away this year — even with Frein, whom police call armed and dangerous, still at large.

“He’s not going to ruin my life,” declared Lori Makalusky, a 64-year-old school nurse from Drums.

Yet the manhunt does weigh on them. Makalusky said she won’t walk in the woods — at least not alone — and idly wonders if Frein might be hiding in the waist-high ferns or crouched on a tree limb. Her 67-year-old husband said he’s been “hyper-vigilant.”

“We’ve come up here in a (fall) snowstorm,” said Tom Makalusky, a career counselor. “This is the first time for a manhunt.”

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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