Russell J. Flanagan

I covered Northampton County Court for eight years and have always paid particularly close attention when someone new took over the beat. Russ was an excellent courthouse reporter. His stories were accurate, interesting and among the most read in the pages of The Express-Times. Court reporters spend more time in the courthouse than they do in the newsroom. Every time Russ showed up here in the office, he lit up the place. I've been told it was the same at the courthouse. We will miss him terribly. I will say a prayer every morning at 5:30 a.m. for Russ, his family and his friends. I am honored to light this candle in celebration of his life.