Aa HRT GHTON » 1H Wrestlers capture firsts at district playofts ———————— Vol. 99, No. 9 25 Cents frson attempt foiled at Dallas Rec Center BY BONNIE DOMBROSKI Staff Writer 4 According to Acting Police Chief Jack Fowler, an attempt- ed arson was discovered in Dallas Borough Monday eve- nig about 8:30 p.m. An officer hte patrol noticed a la- vatory door was open in the Dallas Recreation Center build- ing. Officer James Martin discov- ered the boys room door had been kicked in when he went closer to investigate. Inside Martin found a plastic bucket on the floor filled with an acce- lerant, possibly kerosene. There were accelerant-soaked paper towels tossed all over the floor. In the sink was a plastic con- tainer used for tennis balls. which held more of the acceler- * On the side of the sink was an empty Marlboro cigarette box. It appeared one cigarette had been lit and left to ignite the accelerant as it burned down. But, luckily, the ciga- rette went out. Chief Fowler credits the alertness of Officer Martin in heading off a potentially dan- gerous and destructive situa- tion. The police have no. suspects at this time, but the investiga- tion is continuing. Chief Fowler has, contacted the State Police and the State Police ire Mar- shall will be joining in the investigation. When asked if this attempted arson was related to the many barn fires that have occurred in the Back Mountain, Fowler said, “It is too early in the investigation to comment on that.” The Recreation Center is lo- cated at Burndale and Luzerne Streets in the Dallas Village area. The park closes at 6 p.m. and anyone found there after closing is subject to arrest. If any of the neighbors saw any- thing suspicious on Monday evening, Chief Fowler asked that they call the Dallas Police Department at 675-0161. Icy roads cause fatality A fatal accident occurred in Monroe Township, Wyoming County, early Tuesday. Killed in the one car crash was Donna Marie R. McClary, 37, of RD 5, Copper Kettle, Tunkhannock. McClary was traveling south on Route 309 near the village of Beaumont when her car slid on the icy roadway. The 1986 Isuzu Trooper II overturned after striking a wooden fence, became airborne and landed on its roof at the bottom of a 30 foot embankment. The victim was transported by Kunkle Ambulance to Nesbitt Memorial Hospital, Kingston where she was pronounced dead on arrival. Officials maintain conflicts no problem School closing not certain The Mercy Center Parents Group was successful in obtain- ing a promise from the Mercy Sisters to reconsider the closing of the kindergarten. A meeting attended by ap- proximately 35 families last week, culminated in very posi- tive reactions from the admin- istrative board. Group spokes- person, Sharon Mayernick, said she is confident the Sisters will reconsider the school’s closing in light of the strength of the community’s support for keep- ing the facility open. She said several new enrollments have increased the number of stu- dents to 19. The parents group pledged its support and all out efforts to do whatever is necessary to keep the school as an integral part of local, educational opportuni- ties. Mayernick said an open house is scheduled for Sunday, March 19, at which time, she hopes more students will be enrolled. * Altercation percentages remaining constant el CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer Recent reports of two stu- dents assaulting one another outside of a local school build- ing resulted in some Back Mountain residents questioning whether fighting among stu- dents was on the increase. When police and school offi- cials were confronted with the question, their answers were ‘no’. They were in agreement, 4 the most part, that due to n increase in Back Mountain population, it might seem to be an increase in confrontations among students but their re- ports show the percentage re- mains the same as in past years. Indeed, some officials do not believe there are as many fights among students as there were 10 or 20 years ago, proba- bly due to better control within the schools. One member of the faculty in W Dallas School District said t he thought there was a subtle change in the the way students view television. His was opinion was. based on the numberof violent shows on tele- vision and in the theatres. He also attributed some of it from students home life be- cause parents do not adminis- ter proper discipline. ‘ ‘Kids will be Kids is a copout,”’ he said. “Faculty members 'clon’t get any support from the parents.” According to several faculty members, students priorities are greed and selfishness and there is a general lack of re- spect. One school teacher said many of the kids think only of money and go to work until late, then come to school and sleep. He also said students no longer try to stop when they see trouble but follow in the footsteps of adults and don’t get ‘involved’. An administrator in one of the two Back Mountain schools said - he doesn’t see any in- crease in confrontations. “They are about the same as in past years,” he said. ‘‘There has always been certain students who are trouble makers.” He explained that a fight out- side of school usually draws a“ large number of viewers but if the fight is a complete mis- match, one of the better stu- dents usually step in and break it up. The administrator believes there are more confrontations among students from both schools outside of class time. He pointed out that students have more mobility. They have cars to get out of their own neighborhood and travel to oth- er areas where there is nobody there to prevent such fights. It has been his philosophy to tell students, ‘Don’t allow any- one to put you in a position where you have to defend your- self. Let me defend you.” In Lake-Lehman, some adult members of the district believe that a smaller enrollment than most schools helps them keep control. They do, however, see an increase in incidents among young girls. “Larger schools have had some bad situations,” said one faculty member, ‘Fortunately, we have not had that prob- Playground project on target BY CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer “We're going to build a play- ground and you can help!” said Playground Chairperson, Eliza- beth Lloyd and Publicity Chair- person Peg Harvey last week- end. It was more than a year ago, that Elizabeth Lloyd visited a children’s playground outside of @nilton, New York, and was o impressed she came back with the idea to members of the Dallas Elementary Parent Teachers Organization. “Let’s build a creativE play- ground,” suggested Mrs. Lloyd. “A playground for our children - one that they will enjoy and one that is safe. We'll include the students in the design by asking them to submit their ideas.” Members of the P.T.O. recog- nized the need for a child-safe, creative play area and immedi- ately set their plans into action. Children submitted ideas and it was amazing that in a majority of the drawings they submitted, a blue whale was included. So, in the new Eallas P.T.O. Playground, there will not be one but at least four ‘Blue Whales’. Mrs. Lloyd and members of the Dallas Elementary Play- ground Committee realized that their first priority ws to have a creative design so they en- gaged an architect, Richard Williams, for a very nominal. fee gave the committee thou- sands of hours, much of the time spent in doing other than architectural. After coming up with an orig- inal, creative, chidl-safe design, the committee set out to raise the $30,000 necessary to build a unique, safe, creative play area...a community playground available to all children in the area regardless of the school they attend. In the period from January 1, 1987 to January, 1988, the P.T.O. members and volunteers were successful in reaching the goal of $30,000 and before they’re finished hope to surpass that amount. The money was raised through conceZsts, sales of tee shirts, community programs, selling refreshments, soliciting and just ‘pleading’. Many busi- nesses and private citizens do- nated money, material and per- sonal talents in reaching the P.T.O.’s goal. The challenge confronting the committee in raising the money was successfully accomplished by the volunteers filling them with gratification. Now that the fundraising is nearly completed, the next step is about to begin - ‘Building the Playground.” The Dallas Elementary P.T.0. needs everyone's help. The major construction week- end is scheduled for May 12 trhough May 15. Larry Dauksis is construction manager. He will be assisted by Richard Williams, architect, and Eliza- beth Lloyd, playground chair- person. Assistance of community resi- dents will be greatly appreciat- ed. Shifts will be scheduled during morning, afternoon and evening, so persons can pick a time that fits their schedules. Childcare will be available, and there will be jobs for ele- mentary and older school stu- dents. Meals or snacks will be served after each of the shifts and when the construction is finished there will be a gala ribbon-cutting. The playground will have a special logo, one which was submitted by Drew Bishop, 1987 fifth grade student. Shift hours are 8 a.m. - noon; 12:30 - 5 p.m.; 5:30 - dark, Thursday, Friday, Saturday lei.” Kingston Township Police Chief Paul Sabol, member of the department for more than 30 years and chief for 25 years, said there is no increase in the township area but they have only elementary students in the one remaining school in Kings- ton Township. According to him, the older students go out of the township area for leisure time activities. Dallas Township Police Chief Carl Miers said that confronta- tions among students in the schools are about the same from year to year. “We live in a violent society today and this reflects an in- crease but the percentage is about the same as past years, comparable to the increase in population.” Miers, like Sabol, indicated that there were more incidents outside of school hours than during or immediately after dismissal of school. Acting Dallas Borough Chief Jack Fowler of Dallas Borough said he believed peer pressure was a major factor in-ingidents among young people but he also is of the opinion that school conflicts are about the same. Fowler also said the number of incidents at the Dallas skat- ing rink and the bowling lanes had decreased in the last few months. “The young man managing the skating rink is doing a great job. I'd hate to see the owner lose him because he is getting rid of the undesirables. We get less calls from the bowling lanes as well, the new owners have really cleaned it up,” said Fowler. “There’s just a small group, who respect nothing. We have always had and always will have them.” At a busy session at the skating rink, several parents who had their children there skating said that they had stopped coming to the rink be- cause there was so many unde- sirable but in the past few months they had returned be- cause they had heard that most Eh BUILDING A PLAYGROUND — Dallas Elementary P.T.0. members Peg Harvey and Liz Lloyd of these young adults were no longer hanging around. “It’s a pleasure to bring our children here now,” said one couple. “We no longer hear foul language and our children are safe on the floor.” We asked the same question of adults bowling in a league one evening when there were a number of young children in- side the lanes. Their answer was very similar to those we received at the skating rink. post school add 2 ‘““The new owners have cleaned up the place and they have done something to keep out the undesirables. It is a pleasure to come and bowl and know that our childrEn are able to be here with us,” said one mother. Confrontations and violence may be on the increase in large cities or in schools with huge enrollments but in the Back Mountain, it seems that school and police officials have been successful in keeping control over such incidents. discuss recruiting volunteers to assist in building the children’s community playground during the weekend of May 12-15. The two women headed the P.T.0.’s committee in raising $30,000 needs for the project. (C.M. Denmon Photo) and Sunday. Everyone includ- ing groups or clubs are wel- come. Call 675-5021 for more information and for pre-regis- tration forms. It will make it easier for the construction com- mittee to schedule work time if persons willing to help pre- register. For those who will donate their time we ask them to bring tools such as hammer, tape measure, nail apron, No. 2 pencil, shovel, garden rakes and work gloves. Fooddonations of casserole dishes, salads, etc. or snacks such as cookies, fruit, candy, nuts, etc. are welcome. “Come help us build our com- munity playground! Your child or grandchild may enjoy it some day in the future,” says Mrs. Lloyd and Mrs. Harvey.
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