CRESCO, Pa. — Enrollment at Monsignor McHugh School is down more than 50 percent over the last five years.

The Diocese of Scranton announced this week it will be closing the elementary school.

Myriah O'Brien has a daughter at the school.  She was upset to hear the news.

"I think she's in shock just because of the way we left with the COVID crisis. I think all the kids are confused. It's just really, you go from having a strict schedule to being home now to not having a school to come back to. It's definitely a lot," said Myriah O'Brien, Bartonsville.

Bishop Joseph Bambera made the announcement through a video, apologizing to parents that there could be no face to face meetings.

"As a long time supporter of Catholic education, I know this news is heartbreaking. It is heartbreaking for you, our cherished students and families who have been working so hard at home during these challenging days. It's also heartbreaking for our dedicated faculty and staff," said Bishop Joseph Bambera, Diocese of Scranton.

Adrianna Torres has two children at the school.

"Monsignor McHugh is an incredible school. It's going to be a real loss. The kids are like brothers and sisters. They have been with each other since Pre-K. My son started Pre-K there. They are really like brothers and sisters," said Adrianna Torres, Tannersville.

The diocese will offer Monsignor McHugh parents a grant toward tuition at another catholic school next year. The nearest one is Notre Dame in East Stroudsburg, 15 miles away.

RELATED: Catholic School in Berwick Set to Close Will Remain Open

MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — The Monroe County District Attorney has launched an investigation after the board of elections said it identified suspicious voter registrations and mail-in ballot forms.

Election workers say about 30 forms were fraudulent as the people on the applications did not authorize them.

On at least one form, the applicant was deceased.

Several of the applications were traced to a company, "Field and Media Corps," a subsidiary of Fieldcorps, an Arizona-based organization working out of Lancaster County.

EAST STROUDSBURG, Pa. — It's a Halloween lovers' dream inside Frazetta's Costumes in East Stroudsburg.

7-year-old Tyree Brockman from Virginia is set on dressing up as Freddy Krueger this year, "I just love the claws and stuff." 

"It is by far our favorite holiday, he has always since he was a baby loved the spooky stuff," said Jonathan Brockman. 

But on the eve of the spookiest day of the year, some people are undecided. Newswatch 16 found plenty of last-minute shoppers browsing the racks and walls filled with costumes and accessories. 

"I'm in between; I think I might want to be Willy Wonka because I love the Wonka movies," said Pieper Sivo from Dingmans Ferry. 

Matthew Padelski drove an hour from Scranton to get the finishing touches for his vampire costume.  He's looking for specialty lenses. 

"You can dress up to a certain extent, but if you're still kind of humanized in the face, makeup and lenses really make your costume," said Padelski. 

Owner Bill Frazetta says Art the Clown is the number one seller this year. Followed by some other popular movie characters. 

"Scream as well, very big with scream beetle juice too," said Frazetta. 

Shoppers say part of the thrill of Halloween is finding the perfect costume, so the last minute shopping doesn't freak them out. 

"I always forget to do the shopping I am last minute with every shopping. There's a lot of choices so it's really easy to be last minute," said Sivo. 

Bill Frazetta says despite a new $10 admission fee that was put in place last month, business has remained steady. 

"It's been a nice time really getting to enjoy my customers this year and not have to deal with the riff-raff that was going on in here with the people tearing up the place," explained Frazetta. 

MONROE COUNTY, Pa. — The service bays at Advanced Collision on Route 611 in Pocono Township near Bartonsville are full, and staff are fixing up cars for drivers who hit a deer.

"Typically it is front end damage there are side impacts from deer running into cars," said Owner Steve Jurasits. 

Jurasits says this is just the start of a busy time with people coming in after hitting a deer. One SUV brought in still has deer hairs stuck to the bumper. 

"The last two or three weeks, we've seen three to four cars come in a week unexpectedly. That doesn't take into consideration the cars that are scheduled," said Jurasits. 

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, now is the time of year when the whitetail deer are on the move.

"That is driven by the white trails breeding season known as the rut. During that time, deer and bucks in particular, will cover a lot more ground," said Travis Lau, the communications director for the Game Commission,

Lau says drivers should stay alert while behind the wheel, especially at night.

"Keep an eye on the shoulder for those glowing green eyes of the whitetail deer. If a deer does cross the road in front of you, don't assume the danger has also passed because deer often travel in groups," said Lau. 

As far as the price tag after hitting a deer, Jurasits say the damage done to a car can turn into thousands of dollars. 

"With the amount of safety components that are build into it there are sensors, cameras and radars, they need to be replaced it they are damaged. After they are replaced they need to be recalibrated," explained Jurasits. 

The Game Commission says the rut season lasts through November.

PIKE COUNTY, Pa. — It has been ten years since cop killer Eric Frein was found after a 48-day manhunt.  

On September 12, 2014, Frein shot and killed Corporal Bryan Dickson and severely injured fellow trooper Alex Douglass outside of the State Police Barracks at Blooming Grove in Pike County.

The ambush led to an almost seven-week search for the gunman.

It brought law enforcement from around the state to the Poconos and left the community worried as weeks passed.

The search ended in Monroe County on October 30, 2014, after authorities found Frein hiding at the old Birchwood Resort in Pocono Township.

Relief, the long search was finally over, community members reflected on the weeks of uncertainty back in 2014. 

"I actually felt like I was in a war zone a couple of weeks ago. It was hard to sleep for a few nights, worrying about where's he at and where his whereabouts are. It is a good thing now that he is caught, and now we can finally rest again," said Mark Denny of Swiftwater after the capture of Frein was announced. 

Trooper Alex Douglas has since recovered. He married in 2019 and participated in the New York City Marathon.

In 2017, Eric Frein was found guilty of first-degree murder and other crimes. He was sentenced to death. Pennsylvania had a death penalty moratorium at the time, and that hold on executions still stands today.