Oldest Business
Institution In
The Back Mountain
VOL. 66, No. 40, FRIDAY,
Lake-Lehman
Jointure Still
Up In The Air
| Ownership Of New
Building Poses
Knotty Question
A show of hands at Thursday
night's meeting of Lehman-Jackson-
Ross and Lake-Noxen school direc-
tors, indicated that Lehman, Ross
and Noxen are in favor of a larger
jointure, Lake and Jackson unde-
cided.
Who would own the proposed
new high school, was one of the
sticking points.
Another was that Lake and
Noxen would necessarily bear the
expense of erecting the building, as
Lehman is currently paying off a
building authority bond issue by
rentals which will still be in effect
for thirty-five years, and Ross is
heavily obligated by its recent
building program .at Sweet Valley.
“Let’s Have a Dinner.”
If the proposed building is erect-
ed in the center of population,
Charles Williams of Lake pointed
out, construction would take place
in Lehman Township. That, he
said, would be very much like the
classic, ‘Let's have a duck dinner,
you bring the duck.” The duck
payers.
Article TI of the proposed agree-
ment, he said, leaves the kind of
school to be erected, in consideranle
doubt. What we want, he contin-
ued, is a senior high school. With
neither of the jointures meeting
standards set by Harrisburg, the
accent should be on senior high
school. Later, he said that the less
spent on buildings, the more would
remain for education.
Attorney [Charles Miner, clarifying
a question raised by Noxen school
directors, said that the district was
worried because it feared the ele-
mentary school might be eliminat-
ed, and Noxen children sent by bus
to Lake or Lehman.
All five boards agreed that exist-
ing elementary schools should re-
main where they are unless popula-
tion should take such a drop that
it proves ‘mpossible financially to
operate suc a school. :
‘Wesley Davies, Luzerne County
office, said 180 is minimum enroll-
ment required for building of a new
elementary school, and that exist-
ing schools could drop below this
figure considerably before any ac-
tion would be considered.
Robert Belles, supervising princi-
pal of Lake-Noxen, said that even
if enrollment dropped to 10C at
Noxen, and there were no other
place for the children to be housed,
there’d be a school in Noxen.
Mr. Davies urged board members
not to tie their hands for the future
by being too specific, but to state
the goal of jointure in general terms
to allow latitude for the unforseen.
Thirty-five or forty years, he said,
is a long time. The entire picture
might ‘well change unbelievably. in
that period.
The survey team from Harris-
burg, he said, would have the last
word in estimating the need.
The State would not permit a
district to take on more obligation
than it could swing.
Attorney William Valentinue, an-
alyzing the financial picture and
probing into the proportion of
the Lehman-Jackson-Ross jointure
borne by each of its component
parts, said that it would be difficult
to arrive at an equitable adjust=
ment. To a suggestion from MNoxen
that everything might be thrown
into one pot for all five districts,
he agreed with Mr. Davies that the
only way this could be done was by
forming a Union District, probably
not feasible at this time.
Laing Coolbaugh, speaking for
Jackson, said that his board would
need more time for discussion be-
fore voting the jointure. Charles
Williams said his board felt the
same way.
The meeting broke up at 11:30
for ham sandwiches and coffee, with
the bleak feeling on the part of all
members that everybody was being
pushed around,. but that jointure
was probably inevitable. ;
Attorneys went into a huddle to
jron out the wording of articles II
and IV, dealing with school build-
ings and capital outlay, to whip
them into a form in line with the
evening’s discussion.
Mimeographed copies of the re-
vised agreement will be sent to in-
dividual boards for signature or re-
fusal.
Goss Manor Association
Erects Entrance Planter
New Goss Manor Homeowners’
Association has erected an attrac-
tive entrance planter at the inter-
section of Grandview Avenue and
Hillcrest Avenue and Route 309.
Eventually a rustic sign: will be
located there.
The attractive brick planter on
concrete base was laid by Donald
Hughes and Henry Ward
OCTOBER 5, 1956
Conyngham and Mrs. Robinson,
George Guthrie
ville.
area chairmen;
in the effort.
Conyngham, UF campaign chair-
Lenthall Buys
Maine Theatre
Franklyn Lenthall, a graduate of
Lake-Township High School and
formerly a resident of Harveys
Lake, and two associates have pur-
chased the Boothbay Playhouse at
Boothbay, Maine. Mr. Lenthall is
the brother of Walbridge Leinthall
of the Harveys Lake Police Force
and when he lived at Harveys Lake
made his home with the Rev. Guy
A. Leinthall, who was pastor of the
Alderson Methodist Church. Rev.
Lientihall is now pastor of the Wyo-
ming Methodist Church.
Boothbay Playhouse was built in
1937 and has operated for nineteen
seasons. It is a beautifully equipped
theatre seating 314 people. In:lud-
ed in the property are 56 acres, a
200-year-old sea captain’s house, a
large cottage, three-car garage and
apartment.
Associates of Mr. Lenthall are
James Wilmot and Miss Jill Mec-
Anney. Mr. Lenthall will direct,
Miss McAnney will be general man-
ager, and Mr. Wilmot will be scenic
designer.
Mr. Wilmot appeared with the
Lenthall Players when they did en
evening of one-act plays for the
Women's Auxiliary of the Daniel C.
Roberts Fire Company at Harveys
Lake several seasons ago. He is a
graduate of the Rhode Island School
of Design and for eight years has
worked as scenic designer and actor
in off-Broadway theatres and in
summer stock.
Miss McAnney is the daughter of
an editor of the New York World-
Telegram. She is a graduate of
Bryn Mawr and has appeared in
Broadway shows with Helen Hayes
and Jose Ferrer as well as in sum-
mer theatres.
Mr. Lenthall has appeared in Hol-
lywood movies and well as in many
summer theatres and in the past
year has made several television ap-
pearances. For five years he was
a member of the faculty of the
American Academy of Dramatic
Arts and a teacher in the Katherine
Long School sponsored by the Met-
ropolitan Opera Association. For
six years he has been director’ of
one of New York’s best off-Broad-
way groups, the Lenthall Players.
He also has a studio at Steinway
Hall in New York City where he
teaches private classes in acting.
Many of his students are in current
Broadway shows.
Mr. Lenthall plans to open his
season at Boothbay on July 4, 1957
and will produce nine plays in all.
extensive.
The car, owned by his mother,
skidded several hundred feet, broke
off a directional sign, and service
pole and demolished a pump house
and pump owned by Dallas Water
Company before rolling over and
coming to rest on its top with
wheels revolving in the air.
Radziak’s companions were Arn-
thony Krechko, 21, 150 Pine Street,
Nanticoke; Albert Franks, 19, 169
Pine Street, Nanticoke; and DBetty
Kratz, 20, 246 Vine Street, Ply-
mouth.
Pete Ambrose who lives at Circle
Inn directly opposite the island,
says there have been ‘innumerable
accidents at the same spot because
of improper illumination. Sunday
morning was foggy and the driver
who ‘he estimated was driving a+
about 45 miles an hour could not
see the dividing strip.
Another neighbor, however, said
that his wife heard the car roar
over the hill and down toward the
lake at speed which she estimated
at about 80 miles an hour.
The car was towed to Dewey
Hoover's garage while its young oc-
cupants hitch-hiked home.
Later in the week Radziak came
to Dallas to settle the damage with
Leslie Warhola, manager of the
Water Company. He said he car-
ried no insurance and when told
the amount he would have to pay
said that he didn’t know how he
could do it unless some arrange-
ment could be made for monthly
payments. Warhola refused to go
along or to release the car.
Radziak left the office and .some
time later told Lehman Township
Police Chief Joseph Ide that he had
permission to take the car. When
‘Warhola learned this he swore out
a warrant before Squire Alan Major
for Radziak’s arrest on a reckless
driving charge.
Back Mountain Police did not
operate their road block last Satur-
day night.
Twenty-four days after he was
stung by yellow jackets and par-
alyzed, “Butch,” a forlorn German
Shepherd puppy, is making good
progress at Dr. R. C.. Post's small
animal hospital in Shavertown
where he is a favorite patient.
Able to lift himself on his front
“barks quite a little!” His hind
legs are still paralyzed, but the
puncture wounds where he was fed
for so long intravenously are heal-
ing nicely. And, Oh, . .. that tail,
it never wagged more joyfully then
it did last Friday when “Butch”
first lifted himself painfully on his
front legs.
The first seventeen days were the
worst of the ordeal. Most of that
time “Butch” lay prone and im-
mobile (except for the tail) on the
floor of his pen. Now the world is
much brighter—maybe another
week before he can use his hind
In the meantime Doc. Post is
giving special attention to the tail.
There's some danger, he thinks, it
may completely wag off especially
on those days when “Butch’s” mas-
ter, Bernard Grishaber, comes to
stroke the muzzle of his brave
little dog.
Borough Council
Commends Police
For Road Blocks
Of Boycott Or Any
Qutside Influence
A resolution commending its po-
lice committee for the enforcement
of traffic laws and instructing the
police to continue road blocks in
their current campaign to remove
drunken drivers from the highways
was approved Monday night by Dal-
las Borough Council over the ob-
jections of Councilmen Sterling
Williams and Harold Brobst.
Council and all others attending
the meeting were not awed by the
prospect of a tavern keepers’ boy-
cott of Back Mountain business
places, and Dallas merchants in par-
ticular.
The subject of the boycott was
first presented by Mr. Brobst who
said that he did not think that
roadblocks were the proper method
for apprehending offenders. Mr.
Williams expressed a similar opin-
ion. While both men said they be-
lieved something should be done,
neither had any suggestions when
asked by Borough President Joseph
MacVeigh for alternative sugges-
tions.
Councilman Raymon Hedden ask-
ed for a report from the police
committee and at its completion
offered the resolution approving its
action and continued operation of
road blocks in cooperation with the
police of other Back Mountain
townships.
Among the spectators who spoke
in favor of the current campaign
were Robert Laux, Back Mountain
realtor, who said it would be folly
to discontinue the campaign.
Chief of Police Russell Honeywell
said: “You have only to.rap on the
door of a family home early in the
morning and tell a mother that her
son is dead in a highway accident
to know. that parents are for this
campaign.”
Others who spoke for the con-
tinuance of the drive were: John
Jeter, Borough engineer; Nelson
Shaver, Justice of the Peace; Norti
Berti, fire chief; Atty. Roscoe B.
Smith, solicitor; Howard Risley,
editor of The Dallas Post; Robert
Brown, secretary; police committee
members Joseph Jewell and Fred
Welsh, and many others.
While the subject of police acti-
vity came late in the meeting it was
by far the most important matter
on the agenda.
Other Business
The treasurer's report showed a
balance of $10,982.18 on September
4 with income as follows: taxes, A.
R. Dungey $479.11; taxes, Luzerne
County treasurer $76.31; fines,
Leonard Harvey $5.; Nelson Shaver
$40.; rent for State Liquor Store
$100; rent Wertman for garage and
apartment- $56.50, giving a balance
of $11,739.10, less 25 checks paid,
leaving a balance on October 1 of
$6,849.01. Balance in the Motor
Tax fund on September 4 was $1,-
510.51 less seven checks paid leav-
ing a balance of $910.33 on October
4,
Secretary Robert Brown present-
ed copies of the Budget showing
that Council is staying well within
it for the first three-quarters of the
year. |
Building permits amounting to
$24,940 were approved as follows:
Charles Brobst, dwelling Pinecrest
Avenue, $9,000; Bernard Buckman,
Parrish Street, $600; Robert Post,
Center Hill Road, garage, $3,000;
James Lacy, Terrace Drive, improve-
ments, $10,600; Frank Michael,
Michael Street, $1,400; Arthur Mil-
ler, Huntsville Road, new roof, $300.
Secretary Brown read a letter
from Kathleen Evans Brooks of
Wyoming Valley Visiting Nurse As-
sociation thanking Council for its
recent contribution.
Two letters, one from Mr. and
Mrs. Arthur Dennis and one from
Frank Goodlavage saying that they
were not satisfied with the service
of Dallas Water Company were re-
ferred to the Borough Solicitor.
An insurance binder placed on
new street equipment for $99.33 by
Harry Ohlman was approved. A
letter from Mr. Ohlman relative to
compensation insurance on borough
police was also read.
To a question from Borough
President MacVeigh asking if all
Borough insurance is placed with
agents living in the Borough, Mr.
Williams replied that he had placed
a policy, on his own authority, with
the George Montgomery Company.
Council approved the action.
Raymond Titus, Dean Ide and
William Berti were hired as auxil-
iary police at $1.10 per hour on
motion of Councilman Fred Welsh,
their services are to be used only
when none of the regular police offi-
cers are available.
continues.
Police Commissioner
Issues Statement On
Police Cooperation
Police Commissioner Arthur
Smith, said yesterday that he is
completely behind the police
effort to take drunken drivers
off the highways and that
Kingston Township police have
always done a good job along
this line. A week ago Satur-
day night during the police
blockade, Officer Herbert Up-
dyke got three at Hillside. A
number of others have received
jail sentences during the pres-
ent terms of court.
Mr. Smith said it is unfortu-
nate that Xingston Township
has received unfavorable pub-
licity during the last few weeks
because of misunderstanding
and bungling circumstances.
The fines turned in last month
were $165, more than all fines
turned in by other Back Moun-
tain Townships.
Crowds Throng
Bowling Alleys
Official Opening
Set For Tomorrow
Although the official opening is
not until Saturday night, Back
Mountain and Wyoming Valley
bowlers enthusiastically welcomed
the informal opening of Crown Im-
perial Bowling Alleys on three
nights this week. Crowds were so
great that the vast parking lot was
filled to capacity and the restaurant
and soda fountain were unable to
handle the thronging customers.
“This is one of the finest things
that has happened in the Back
Mountain region for local and Wyo-
ming Valley youth,” exclaimed
David Schooley, executive of the
Boston Store and member of the
advisory committee of Dallas Branch
of Miners National Bank.
Robert Hanson, owner of the
Back Mountain Region’s newest rec-
reational facility, said that he was
delighted with the number of
leagues signed up and especially
pleased that girl's leagues from
College Misericordia are considering
signing up for afternoon periods
throughout the season.
He said that he will keep all eight
alleys open all day Saturday and
Sunday for open play by the public
and that he hopes that youth will
take advantage of the opportunity
for good clean sport.
Get New Compressors
John McShane Construction Com-
pany has received two new 600-
foot-capacity air compressors for
use in drilling for blasting at the
site of the new Jackson State In-
stitution for Mental Delinquents.
Wednesday night's meeting.
with the Back Mountain in the
movement to make our highway
more safe”. The motion was second-
ed by Supervisor Arthur Smith.
However, no specific instructions
were issued to police chief, Jesse
Coslett or police officer, Herbert Up-
dyke as to-the amount of time or
the extent of cooperation they were
to extend other townships in the
drunken driving campaign.
Coslett stated he felt it would be
unjustified for the supervisors to
order the present small police force
to put in more hours because he
and officer Updyke are now putting
in an average of twelve to fourteen
work hours a day.
Thomas Andrew suggested that
special officers could be utilized
during the blockade as they are by
other police forces concerned.
Supervisor Smith mentioned that
more drunken drivers could be ap-
prehended at Hillside, near Harter’s
Dairy, than at any other location
and that the Kingston Township
police were already doing a good
job in arresting drunken drivers.
Company, Caddie LaBar, Hislop’s
Market, and Kuehn’s Drug Store.
There were others who also felt the
economic squeeze,
At Hislop’s Market, six Harveys
Lake customers cancelled their or-
ders on Saturday explaining that
since Dallas merchants are appar-
ently indifferent to or actively sup-
porting the safe driving campaign
they cannot expect any business
from the taverns.
At Caddie LaBar’s, Jack Nothoff,
proprietor of Nothoff’s Cafe can-
celled an order for a pair of rubber
boots, while at Whitesell Brothers
a Harveys Lake customer asked for
his bill, paid it, and requested that
his name be taken from the ledger
explaining that he would take his
business elsewhere so long as the
safe driving campaign continues.
Crux of the matter, according to
one Harveys Lake tavern keeper
who has not yet joined the boycott,
is that business has been poor all
summer and now that police have
started their campaign against
drunken driving it is even worse.
“We did not have a single Wilkes-
Barre customer last Saturday night”
he said. “Others telephoned me and
said ‘now that you've got police
road blocks out there, we'll see you
next summer.’ ”’
He said that while he believes
educational value, it prevents the
the lake for an evening’s recreation
and food. “These folks just don’t
want to be stopped by the police
even though they have taken only
one or two drinks and are in no
danger of being arrested.”
He said he realized that the inno-
cent suffer for the indiscretions of
others, but “it hurts.”
Another Harveys Lake re ident
wie did nel wor to be quoted
blamed the predicament of the tav-
ern keepers on the past policy of
Luzerne County Courts in granting
liquor licenses to all who apply for
them. “We have some thirty li-
censed places here,” he said. “That's
too many for all of them to make
a living without some of them
keeping open after hours and on
Sundays. "In the past the courts
have held that it is impossible to
determine the summer time popula-
tion at the lake and so licenses have
been granted indiscriminately.” He
added “The Liquor Control Board
could remedy this situation if it
really wanted to.”
Reports from outlying sections of
the Back Mountain Region indicate
that the Harveys Lake tavern own-
ers are making efforts to have Dal-
las Township, Franklin Township,
Lehman and Kingston Townships
join them in the boycott.
With but few exceptions, mer-
chants did not appear to be awed
by the threat. In the words of one
of them, “common sense dictates
that something has to be done
about drinking drivers. A boycott
can work two ways and in this in-
stance it will crystalize public opin-
ion for even sterner measures to
keep the drunks off the road.”
However, he stated he would appear
at any future meetings of citizens
and police of the Back Mountain
regarding the campaign and Super-
visor Bogart stated he was in full
support of the campaign also.
Supervisor Ralph Sands was ab-
sent: due to illness.
Home Repair Permits
Russell Lahr, Lehigh Street, Shav-
ertown, appeared before the super-
visors to ask if the code stated that
1t was necessary to pay for a permit
when making home repairs. When
assured that it was a law in King-
ston Township, Lahr objected to the
fact that such ordinances were only
published in a weekly paper, The
Dallas Post. 2
Lahr stated that, in his opinion,
The Dallas Post could not be classi-
fied as a “newspaper of general cir-
culation” because it didn’t have as
many readers as the daily papers.
Solicitor Don Coughlin told Lahr
that the supervisors were within
the law in publishing such ordin-
(Continued on Page 4)