r ig | i f | | | “| Over 40 photos of people and events inside 1 _LAS®PosT Wy, { | 3 GHT ON i EE le HE ( ally BINDER Y L.0 BRIGHT ERT Gk TON, Ia Vol. 99, No. 25 Wednesday, June 29, 1988 25 Cents Buying, boiling now routine for many [Dallas school Quality is of most importance budget keeps most positions Bottlers and filter salesmen see Increases By SARA J LUNDBERG Managing Editor ” ——— water 39 cents a gallon’. The Acme grocery store in the Back Mountain Shopping Center, Shaverton put up that sign last Tuesday, right over a display of case upon case of bottled spring water. Over 100 cases have been sold in the past week, an amount which usually takes three or four weeks to sell. The Acme in Shaverfon is selling their /'water below cost to help residents who need it, but overall the current poor quality of the water supply in the Back Mountain area means big business for bottled water companies and water filtra- ion equipment suppliers. Mottled water companies and fil- tration and purification equipment suppliers report that sales have steadily increased in the past year or so. Many area residents do not feel safe drinking tap water from their own faucets, and choose instead to buy bottled water or use another source such as a residen- tial well or a public water pump. Sutton Springs on Sutton Road in Shaverton has experienced a pick- up in sales, according to Owner Jert Karmiel. Sutton Springs draws @ water from a artesian spring on Sutton Road. The Monroe Bot- tling Company, N. Main Street, ittson, is also doing well; sales . &J#e..on.. a. steady. increase. The... lonroe Bottling Company takes their product from an artesian well located in Beaumont, Pa. “People. don’t ftrust..tap water because of chlorine and other con- taminants caused by seepage and ground pollution. Bottled water has calcium and other minerals and is good for you.” says Monroe bot- tling company owner Jack Rosen- tel. Rosentel said that bottlers falls under stringent Department of Environmental Resources (DER) regulations, but that some compa- nies may be using water sources that are not approved or tested by DER. Clifford Troup, General Manager of Glen Summit Springs Water Company in Forty Fort, also notes a steady increase in Back Mountain sales. “The residents in the Dallas area seem to have Bad water or no water at all.”’Troup said. The sales of water filters has also gone up, but are not as common in your average Back Mountain household.as a. jug-of bottled water. Filters range from a simple paper filter to screen out basic impurities to the reverse osmosis filter which removes 99 percent of all contami- nants. Donald Conyngham of Eastern Pennsylvania Supply Company said, “The main goal in water treatment is to make it safe to consume. In times of trouble, people realize that the water they take for granted is a limited resource.” By SARA J. LUNDBERG Managing Editor Does anyone in the Back Moun- tain feel safe drinking their own tap water? Not very many do; it seems that most of those who enjoy BOTTLES—Many Back Moun- tain residents rely on bottled water now drinking water prefer to find other sources than their own Kitchen faucet. A random sampling of Back Mountain residents yielded various comments about water rates, pres- sure, and service; but the one complaint heard from a majority of those interviewed concerned the safety of the water for drinking. The water companies. may claim it’s safe .to consume, but most people would rather not take the chance. ~Karen Rose of Dallas Township gets her drinking water from the lake. She claims her water smells like chlorine and at times there is a skunk-like scent to it. “New lines were put in last year, and the water pressure isn’t as bad, but the water doesn’t taste good’’ said Rose. Megan Gilroy lives in Stone- hedge. She boils the water she uses for basic purposes, but even the boiled water is not used for drink- ing. If she wants water to drink, Megan uses the bottled water she buys from South Mountain bottling company. She has been boiling her water since chemical contaminants were found in the water supply two months ago. - “I had quality water 14 years ago’ when I first moved in, but now its only good for watering the lawns. The water rates have gone up, but the quality is terrible. I have pract- ically given up on the situa- tion”’said a Dallas resident who asked not to be identified. Marilyn Walko, of College Manor in Dallas, claims she found out through the media, and not the Dallas Water Company, about the carcinogens in the water supply. She buys bottled water from the store, and sometimes uses the water company’s pump. “I don’t know how to describe it, but the water has a strange smell. Its very confusing as to what usage is okay and what isn’t’’said Walko. She ‘added that she has been living in her home in College Manor since 1973, and hasn’t had a problem with her water until this past year. Many residents inter- viewed expressed concern about the effect of uncontrolled develop- ment on the water supply, and wonder if it will increase rates and affect water quality. Clarence and Janet Givens have been residents of Fox Hollow in Dallas for 13 years. They don’t ha ve a.major problem with their waar ‘service, but it-is expensive. It ranges from $110 to $115 a quarter for a three person house- ‘hold. Clarence Givens doesn’t mind drinking water straight from the tap, but Janet would rather drink bottled water. Janet Givens said, ‘It wasn’t our well that was affected by the chem- ical contaminants. But if one well could be contaminated, who’s to say they all couldn’t be? I'd rather not take the chance.” She is not alone. Borough seeks $750,000 for sidewalks BY CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer At last. week’s Dallas borough meeting, borough secretary Robert Brown’s recommendation to apply for a $750,000 Block ‘Grant from Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority to resurface, install side- walks and restore residences on Yfpmorial Highway, Main Street, ill Street, Franklin, Rice, Ridge, Huntsville Road and Orchard Street was approved. If the grant is awarded, the borough will have to contribute only $25,000 to the project in addi- tion to the $1,000 approved at Tues- day’s council meeting to have the Authority prepare the grant appli- cation. Borough manager Brown will also seek an Office of Community Development grant to renovate commercial and private buildings on Main Street. Also at the meeting, Dallas Bor- ough Police Chief Jack Fowler presented a badge to the Rev. Michael “J. Sullivan, who was named chaplain of the Borough BOROUGH CHAPLAIN—The Rev. Michael named chaplain of the Dallas Borough Police Department at last week's Dallas Borough Council meeting. Above, from left, Chief of Police Jack Fowler presents Rev. Sullivan with a badge while Mayor Paul LaBar Songratuinies the new chaplain. LC M. Denmon Photo) ; 5s Te J. Sullivan was Police Department at last week’s- meeting of the Dallas Borough Council. ; The Rev. Michael Sullivan will act as a consultant and therapist to those officers, who indicate a need to talk with them when they become too involved in a case or with personal problems. The mandatory water rationing . which went into effect, June 14, when Mayor Paul LaBar issued the official proclamation will continue until June 28 by approval of the council. The order prohibits the use of water for washing cars, hosing down driveways, filling pools, watering lawns or gardens. Joseph Gilroy, president of the Stonehedge Homeowners Associa- See Borough, pg 2 Post joins the National Newspaper Association The Dallas Post has become a member of the National Newspaper Association, which is based in Washington, D.C. and serves more than 5,000 newspapers nationwide. The Association provides support and training for its members, and publications for the newspaper industry. As a member, The Post will have access to information about new developments in newspaper publish- ing from around the country. It will also have be able to draw on the Association’s legal and business consultants and will be eligible to enter its work in contests that honor the best work of member newspapers. The National Newspaper Associa- tion has served newspapers since 1885. Among its most important work is its representation of the newspaper industry before govern- ment bodies in the interest of fur- thering freedom of the press and preserving community journalism. ET a A ye EE A a Ee A a A CS Rationing off, residents wait for weekend BY CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer \ Stonehedge residents are ready to celebrate but cautiously; they have had the luxury of running water since Friday, June 17, at 5 a.m. “It’s difficult to believe that we have had water for nearly two weeks,’”” Andrea Molski said Monday afternoon. ‘‘Today, the water company turned on the new 15 horsepower interconnecting pump with Shavertown, and Dallas Water Company manager Joe Salla says we should continue to have water.” Andrea Molski is not convinced, however, for with the water ration- ing ban lifted, she is fearful that wasteful usage of the water will create the same situation as before when Stonehedge residents had no water. “The tanks are full according to Salla,” Andrea caid. ‘‘I just hope he doesn’t get too optimistic and turn off the inter-connecting pump, especially with the four day week- end coming up. Talk to me on the weekend and I'll tell you whether we have water.” Stonehedge residents are thankful that they have water but after going weeks without it, they are fearful that any day they will get up in the morning and find they're without it. In fact, some have jokingly suggested they take bets on it. The announcement that both Dallas Borough and the PUC had lifted the water usage bans worried them, then the announcement that the pump was working between Dallas and Shavertown cheered them up until one resident said they understood Salla was going to turn the pump off for the weekend. This report has put a damper on the residents plans to enjoy the July 4 weekend. Their primary concern is “Will we continue to have water?” It’s still a wait and see situation as far as Andrea See Ration, Pg 3 BY CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer Following a presentation by Dallas business manager Charlotte Williams on additional revenues received by the Dallas School Dis- trict enabling the board to retain the in-school suspension program, part time art and music teachers, social studies teacher and three- quarter time nurse but laying off one custodian, board member Ernest Ashbridge suggested that in order to maintain the custodian and enhance the computer program, the board consider a 12.5 mill increase in the 1988-1989 budget. Ashbridge recommended that a resolution be adopted to approve the budget in the total amount of $11,768,996, calling for a tax millage of 128.5 mills, or a 12.5 increase over the 1987-1988 budget of 116 mills for a total of $11,143,521. The resolution, seconded by director John George, was approved by a 7- 0 vote with directors Al Pisaneschi and Tex Wilson absent. The only cuts made in the new budget are the elimination of two part time teaching positions in the business and science departments. Superintendent Gerald Wyecallis assured taxpayers that no courses would be dropped as a result of the two positions being cut. A mill is a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value and the homeowner with a property assessed at $5,000 will pay $642.50 in property tax next year. A per capita tax of $10, an earned income tax of one percent, shared 50-50 with the municipal governments, and an occupational privilege tax of $10, shared 50-50 with the municipal government which have enacted such taxes were also approved 7-0. A resolution by Ashbridge, sec- onded by George, to increase the fee charged for driver education training behind the wheel from $35 to $100, to be paid by the student effective June 8, 1988, also passed by a 7-0 vote. A resolution by Dr. William Camp to permit the Board of School Directors of Dallas School District was established under Act BY SARA J. LUNDBERG Managing Editor Ralph Sands is ready to get back to the work he left off six months ago when his barn and livestock were destroyed in an arson fire. Today when he looks out his window, he sees a new structure in the place of what used to be a pile Early deadlines for July 6 issue So that its employees may enjoy the Holiday weekend, the offices of The Dallas Post will be closed on Monday, July 4. Early deadlines will be in effect for the July 6 issue. All routine news and display advertising copy must be received by Friday, July 1 at 12:00 Noon. Classified advertising will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. Friday. The Post will be published on its regular schedule and will be availa- 6. .ican Corp and were turned over to FRIENDS—OId and new friends built a barn last week Helping hands raise a barn : ble on newsstands S Holo. July 195, to maintain the status quo by extending all of the terms and conditions of employment which presently exist in the contract between the Dallas School District and the Dallas School District Serv- ice Personnel Association expiring as of June 30, 1988, with such extension continuing until agree- ment upon a new contract is reached or until the Association gives the district notice that it will not work under the extension wag, approved 7-0. The board also approved motions 7-0 to continue paying the month administrative employees to include their 1987-88 salary rates and benefits until such time other agreements are adopted, and to continue paying confidential employees to include their 1987-1988 salary rates and benefits until such time as other agreements are adopted. Sa The hourly rate for substitute housekeepers and secretarial-cleri- cal employees was approved ig ‘ $5.00 per hour for -the 1988-1989 school year, and at $5.50 per hour for substitute custodial-mainte- = nance employees. The board also approved by a 7-0 vote, additional compensation for the following coaches as per agree- ment: M. Jay Pope, $180; Yvonne = Mould, $120, softball; Thomas Kild- uff, $120, tennis; William Straitiff, $60; Steven Kaschenbach, $40, track. i Bids for cafeteria services for the, i Dallas District for the 1988-1989 school year were received from A.R.A., Customs and Service Amer- the cafeteria committee for consid- eration. Gerald Wyecallis, district superintendent, advised the boat to make a decision by the July meeting. Prior to the adoption of the 1988- 1989 budget, Citizens Advisory Committee chairman Ron Moran recommended that the board begin working on the 1989-1990 budget in the Fall so it is not in the same position as it was this year. = The budget will be available in the district administration office for review by any interested person or persons. of debris. Sands hopes to have. some livestock in his new barn within a month. .In December of 1987 Sand’s barn in Kingston Township was destroyed by an arson fire. He lost 10 livestock in the fire, and his financial losses were not covered by fire insurance. Sands is one of 20 farmers in the Back Mountain See Barn, pg 3
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