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The Civilian Military Combine was held Saturday at the Camelback Mountain Resort in Tannersville.

The Combine includes obstacles such as a kettle bell swing, a five-mile mountain run, and a huge wave pool. It is known as one of the toughest strength and conditioning races in the country.

Founders of the C.M.C. said the competition is designed to find some of the best conditioned athletes out there.

It was also created to honor our troops.

“We decided to start this company and said let’s do it based around the military and raise as much awareness as possible, and we both have many friends, that we’ve lost, and that are still serving,” said Sean Rogers, co-founder of the program.

For some, putting in the blood, sweat, and tears, the competition means a lot.

“One of my best friends is getting married this summer and he was a green beret and came back from Afghanistan so I’m running it for him,” said Kevin Lenox, a competitor in the Combine.

His courageous battle against cancer earned him national attention. The young man who had thousand of people chanting, Keep Fighting Gary, has died.

Keep Fighting Gary has been the mantra for weeks in several Lackawanna County communities, all in support of Gary Lukasiewicz, 18, who has been battling cancer.

Words of encouragement have been pouring in on Facebook and Twitter, even celebrities have been tweeting their support.

Newswatch 16 learned Saturday Gary lost his battle with cancer, but not before a memorable evening that inspired those who knew him.

“He`s just so inspirational. He`s one of the strongest people I have ever met. He`s one of my heroes,” said friend and classmate Kyra Leasure of Taylor.

That is how thousands will remember 18-year-old Gary Lukasiewicz, who lost his battle with cancer just a day after being crowned prom king.

Kyra Leasure went to last year’s prom with Gary. She said the Riverside high school student made a surprise visit Friday night to his senior prom at the Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel in Scranton.

“When I saw him turn that corner, my heart just dropped. He made my senior prom. There`s no other way to describe it, he made my senior prom. It was awesome to see him there,” said Leasure. “He was so happy. That`s all he wanted to do was go to his senior prom, and that`s what he did.”

Gary had been in hospice care, fighting cancer and inspiring those who knew him until the end.

“We got a call from his mother. It was really hard,” added an emotional Leasure.

His friends started the Keep Fighting Gary movement, rallying the whole school in support of the senior class president.

“Everyone`s been helping out, buying t-shirts, wearing wrist bands and ribbons, supporting him with the colors and letting him know that we`re always backing him up ever since the beginning,” said freshman Nathan Dommes. “He`s been a great friend to everyone, even the kids that didn`t know him. He`s been an inspiration to everyone.”

The Keep Fighting Gary movement spread quickly. Signs went up in Gary’s hometown of Taylor and surrounding areas.

Soon thousands of messages were pouring in on Facebook and Twitter, even celebrities tweeted their support.

Friends said the prayers for Gary have meant so much.

“It`s been helping us get through what our struggles have been over these past couple weeks. It`s just been amazing to see everything that`s on Twitter and Facebook, just to see the community coming together as one. That`s what he did, he brought the community together and that`s what we`ll remember him as,” added Leasure.

Many students have been gathering at Divine Mercy parish on Davis Street in Scranton for prayer services for Gary. They will be there again at 9 p.m. to continue to show their support for Gary and his family.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been set.

A woman was treated at a hospital after being robbed blocks from her home in Luzerne County.

Police said Maria Rivera, 67, was walking on Laurel Street toward her Hazleton home when a man wearing a black hooded sweatshirt confronted her. The man proceeded to steal Rivera’s purse.

Rivera was transported to Hazleton General Hospital for treatment of minor injuries sustained during the robbery.

An investigation is underway.  Anyone with information is asked to contact the Hazleton City Police.

A water main break in Scranton left a few families without water Saturday.

Crews said the six-inch main pipe broke early in the morning. Homes in the 800 block of Orchard Street were without water throughout the hot afternoon.

Officials said the pipe is planned to be fixed by Saturday evening and homes effected should have running water by the end of the day.

Visit the Maid’s Quarters Bed and Breakfast in Pottsville.  This lovely Bed and Breakfast and Tearoom is perfect for a cozy getaway or tea with friends.  Inn keeper and owner Allyson Chryst prepares a fabulous Vegetable Frittata recipe.

Vegetable Frittata Recipe
Ingredients:
4 large eggs
1 over-flowing cup of cottage cheese
1 cup sliced mushrooms
4 cups baby spinach
½ cup chopped onions
1/2 cup diced tomatoes
¼-1/2 cup feta cheese
Dry cooking sherry
Olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
Parsley and paprika for sprinkling

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees
In a large sauté pan, heat enough olive oil to coat the pan. Add the mushrooms and onions. Add a dash each of salt and pepper. Drizzle some dry cooking sherry on top vegetable mixture to add flavor. Sauté for about 5 minutes. Add the spinach and sauté just until spinach is wilted. Remove pan from the heat and add the tomatoes and feta cheese and stir to combine.