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WYOMING — National and international media have been focusing on Luzerne County for the past few weeks, and on Monday, it was ABC-TV’s turn.

Diane Sawyer, of ABC-TV, was in town Monday, stopping at the Avenue Diner in Wyoming and later at the Wilkes-Barre City Fire Headquarters on Ross Street to conduct interviews for an ABC-TV news special that will air sometime in December.

According to sources close to the project, Sawyer and her crew are finishing up the project that has been in the works for more than a year. The sources said the focus of the show will be the U.S. economy and the need for jobs and income equality.

Dave Krappa has owned the Avenue Diner for 13 years. He said Sawyer and her crew arrived around 9 a.m. Monday and interviewed several customers. Krappa said he wasn’t sure how his diner was selected for Sawyer’s project.

“They were looking to talk to working class people and how they are struggling in today’s economy,” Krappa said. “(Sawyer) interviewed several customers, and she sat at the counter for a bit.”

One of the people Sawyer interviewed was Kevin McGee, a driver for the Luzerne County Transportation Authority and president of the drivers’ local union local No. 164 of Amalgamated Transit Union. Norm Gavlick, LCTA executive director, said Sawyer was looking to talk to “blue collar, working class people” and McGee fit the bill.

Krappa said Sawyer also talked to a woman who works three jobs.

Gavlick said ABC-TV first contacted him shortly after the election, looking for people to interview for the upcoming special. He said an ABC-TV producer rode on McGee’s bus last week and interviewed him for the story and Monday’s interview with Sawyer was scheduled.

“Diane Sawyer told McGee that she would check back with him next year to see if his feelings have changed,” Gavlick said. “I know she did ask him about the election and who he supported for president and why.”

McGee, 50, lives in Shavertown and he has been with LCTA nearly six years. He said the ABC-TV producer rode with him on his bus on Nov. 17. McGee was driving the “Shopper’s Delight” route for LCTA, which goes to Price Chopper, Wegman’s, Walmart, Target and the Arena Hub.

McGee said Sawyer asked him what he thought was the American dream, and what he feels it takes to get by in the world today.

“I told her that if President-elect Trump wants to make America great again, he has to invest in the American people,” McGee said of his interview at the Avenue Diner counter. “I told her I did not support Trump. I just don’t believe one political party should control all branches of government. Besides, I don’t think the Republican Party will ever be for the working class people.”

McGee said Local 164 has 80 members. He said Sawyer told him she would do a follow-up interview “about one year from now” to see if his feelings about Trump and the direction of the country have changed.

Wilkes-Barre Deputy Fire Chief Alan Klapat said Sawyer was in the Ross Street Station and interviewed two city firefighters — Chris Smith and James Zaremba. The two firefighters were called out to an emergency later Monday and unavailable for comment.

Klapat said he did not participate in the interviews.

Krappa said Sawyer was at the diner for about an hour. He said Sawyer had a cup of coffee and interviewed several customers before taking a seat at at the counter to “swap stories” with patrons.

“She was enjoyable,” Krappa said. “She joked around with the customers and staff.”

Krappa said he posted the news about ABC-TV coming to the diner on his Facebook page. He said it reminded him of the time in 2008 when then-Sen. Barack Obama stopped at the diner with U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. The two politicians sat at the counter and had banana cream pie, Krappa said.

“For a little diner, we get our share of big names coming in,” Krappa said.

Diane Sawyer of ABC-TV sits at the counter at Avenue Diner Monday morning. At left is Kevin McGee, a driver for Luzerne County Transportation Authority, who was interviewed by Sawyer for an upcoming ABC-TV news special.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Diane-Sawyer-2.jpg.optimal.jpgDiane Sawyer of ABC-TV sits at the counter at Avenue Diner Monday morning. At left is Kevin McGee, a driver for Luzerne County Transportation Authority, who was interviewed by Sawyer for an upcoming ABC-TV news special. Photo courtesy of Dave Krappa/Avenue Diner

ABC-TV’s Diane Sawyer talks to customers at the counter at Avenue Diner in Wyoming Monday morning.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Diane-Sawyer-1.jpg.optimal.jpgABC-TV’s Diane Sawyer talks to customers at the counter at Avenue Diner in Wyoming Monday morning. Photo courtesy of Dave Krappa/Avenue Diner

Kevin McGee, right, a driver with Luzerne County Transportation Authority, is interviewed by ABC-TV’s Diane Sawyer at the counter at Avenue Diner in Wyoming on Monday morning.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Diane-Sawyer-3.jpg.optimal.jpgKevin McGee, right, a driver with Luzerne County Transportation Authority, is interviewed by ABC-TV’s Diane Sawyer at the counter at Avenue Diner in Wyoming on Monday morning. Photo courtesy of Dave Krappa/Avenue Diner

ABC-TV’s Diane Sawyer chats with Trish Lako at the check-out counter at Avenue Diner in Wyoming on Monday morning.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Diane-Sawyer-4.jpg.optimal.jpgABC-TV’s Diane Sawyer chats with Trish Lako at the check-out counter at Avenue Diner in Wyoming on Monday morning. Photo courtesy of Dave Krappa/Avenue Diner

Diane Sawyer of ABC-TV is shown with Dave Krappa, owner of the Avenue Diner in Wyoming, and member of his staff. From left: Ashley Ostrander, Trish Lako, Diane Sawyer, Dave Krappa, Deb Roberts, and Cindy Mattie.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_Avenue-Diner-5.jpg.optimal.jpgDiane Sawyer of ABC-TV is shown with Dave Krappa, owner of the Avenue Diner in Wyoming, and member of his staff. From left: Ashley Ostrander, Trish Lako, Diane Sawyer, Dave Krappa, Deb Roberts, and Cindy Mattie. Photo courtesy of Dave Krappa/Avenue Diner

Diane Sawyer
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_DIANE-SAWYER-MUG.jpg.optimal.jpgDiane Sawyer Photo courtesy ABC-TV

By Bill O’Boyle

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Reach Bill O’Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.