i SDALLASSP0ST VOL. 81 NO. 33 ® local official takes opposite view point § by J. R. Freeman The problem of sewage in the Back Mountain area, and particularly in Dallas continues to plague health and happiness, at least in terms of a planned borough park facility, The Dallas Post has learned, with Pennsylvania Department of Health officials keeping a close watch. The problem is an open sewage flow running across the middle of the phase two hark property across the street from where construction has already begun on the park. The solution to the problem is obviously a municipal sewd¥ facility. With neighbors to the property, located at the corner of Luzerne Avenue and Burndale Road, complaining about the stench, and doctors of the area concerned that disease might break out, any solution short of a full-fledged sewer problem on the proposed park property, which the Dallas Park Board hopes to begin developing next year. Another Back Mountain newspaper a few weeks ago quoted Dallas Borough councilman George Thomas, a representative of council on the park board, as saying that he had recently visited the phase two property and found that the stream of water there was ‘‘not septic tank water, but natural water in a stream coming down from higher ground.” Officials of the Pennsylvania Health Department, however, strongly disagree. In a report from the Philadelphia laboratory of the health department dated Aug. 5, the lab report said®hat the sample of water taken from the phase two property showed ‘high fecal coliform con- tent.” The report continued, ‘the presence of coliform organisms indicate recent pollution from human or animal origin.” even question whether the water on the park prop¥erty is an open sewer appeared ridiculous to DALLAS PA. THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1970 sewage hazard watc FIFTEEN CENTS hed by state ied Raw sewage runs across phase two of the proposed Dallas park land near the corner of Burndale Road and Luzerne Avenue, which a state health department lab report shows contains a - Paul J. Koval, one of three water pollution control specialists from the Kingston office of the Pennsyl- The Dallas Post(WILLIAM W. SCRANTON III vania Department of Health. “The guys at the lab will think I’m crazy to send them this sample,” Mr. Koval ‘said as he bottled up the specimin for the analysis last July 10. Louis Berchini, regional sanitation engineer for the State Health Department explained: “The sample indicates recent high count con- tamination,” he told The Post Monday. The lab report indicated, he said, a reading of 16,090 plus particles per millimeter, coming from recent human or animal excrement. Mr. Thomas, however, saw the matter quite differently. In a telephone conversation with a Dallag Post staff writer more than a month ago, he called a June 18 Post story on sewage ‘‘an in- dignance” the Post ‘put on the borough.” In the same conversation Mr. Thomas accused the Post of trying to hold up recreation, despite the fact tigat Doris Mallin, managing editor of the Post, is alsh secretary to the park board, and despite editorials endorsing the park development. “I think you should push something rather than be derrogatory,” he said. ‘Do good for the community instead of bad for it.” Mr. Thomas appeared to be particularly upset over a picture published in the June 18 issue of the Post, indicating water standing in truck tracks on the phase two property that the newspaper called sewage. Mr. Thomas maintained that the picture (continued on PAGE ELEVEN) beer drinking party raid nets 30 youthful subjects Approximately 30 persons between the ages of 15 and 25 were apprehended Friday at a “beer- drinking party’ in the Stull section of Noxen Town- _ ship. The “party,” held in a picnic area on private property which was posted against trespassers, was broken up at approximately 10 p.m. by Noxen Township police. When questioned, District Magistrate Herbert Downs, said those apprehended will receive sum- monses for violations of the penal code of the Com- monwealth. Charges for those under 21 years of age will include consumption, possession and transpor- tation of alcoholic beverages. Charges of contribut- ing to delinquency of minors will be made upon those over 21 years of age. When asked who the violators were, Magistrate Downs answered that most of the persons appre- hended were from Wyoming Valley communities school calendar receives protests Action by the Dallas School Board in changing the calendar for the 1970-71 school term was con- demned by the Dallas Education Association at the regular meeting of the Dallas board last week. Wil- liam Helgemo, faculty member of the Dallas Dis- trict, read a letter written by Walter Glogowski as president of the teachers’ association in which he stated the change was unacceptable since it was not negotiated by both parties and no consideration had been given to the teachers and their point of view. ; The change .in the calendar increased teaching days by two and brought about an additional in- ~ crease for the junior and senior high schools of ap- proximately 15 minutes a day or total of 6% days a school year. : rely Mr. Glogowski further stated, ‘‘your actions have removed any confidence the teachers may have had in our administration and our school board.” He also stated that such action by the ~ board “will not be permitted in the future with the passage of Senate Bill 1333.” Mr. Glogowski said in his letter that teachers should be given consideration and allowed to ex- press their points of view when they are directly affected by any change in policy. He also suggested that a “negotiations meeting between both parties should take place prior to the first day of school.” John LaBerge, school board president, took issue with the letter, stating that it was in poor taste and that he felt it was not truly representative of the majority of the teachers. (continued on PAGE TWELVE) by which he meant to include anywhere from Nan- ticoke to Pittston. Some of the persons attending the “party” fled the scene and escaped arrest. A quantity of beer was confiscated by the police. Although some rumors were circulated that mari- juana had been confiscated, when questioned, the Magistrate answered that no such charges had been made. 1st park phase almost finished About the time school opens in the Back Moun: tain area, Dallas Borough's long-awaited recre- ation area should be ready. The Recreation Ad- visory Board and members of Dallas Borough Council met Aug. 13 to discuss the progress of Phase I which is presently under construction. Grading is finished and the contractors have started paving; fences around the tennis courts will then be installed, said George McCutcheon, chairman of the board. There was some discussion as to whether both levels, basketball and tennis courts, should be flooded for ice skating in the winter. During the early stages of planning, it was believed by mem- bers of the board and council that the entire area would be flooded, but plans now provide for the basketball court only. Jerry Machell, councilman, said he felt the area was too small and that both areas should be flooded. Donald Smith, borough en- gineer, said the change in plans “ can easily be done now before the job is completed,” if the board and council should decide to do so. The question of parking facilities arose. Ac- cording to Mr. Machell, there is no room available (continued on PAGE TWELVE) high pollution content of human or animal excrement. 4-H to highlight Dallas Fall Fair The finals of the Luzerne County 4-H Club shows will be held at the Dallas Fall Fair at the Lehman Fair Grounds Aug. 28 and Aug. 29. Ralph Beard, Dallas, advises that 4-H exhibits will include the ‘Best of the Project” work for the past year, and a fashion show, Friday at 3 p.m., featuring clothing made by the youngsters. Various “show and tell” demonstrations randomly spaced throughout the two days will include “Busy Bees” dealing with bee-keeping and the social order of the bee-hive; “Give your Appliance a Square Meal,” an informative demonstration of what can happen to the homemaker who misuses electricity; “A Special Nutritional Punch,” using a most unusual punch bowl; nutritionally balanced meals, and much more. The Luzerne County 4-H organizations includes 26 clubs with more than 450 members. Contrary to popular belief, 4-H work is not limited to farm and. rural families—4-H is a true community-wide func- tion. In addition, the Luzerne County 4-H program includes a program for the under privileged youth of the urban areas with a membership of approx- imately 190. The youngsters have been learning the basics of proper nutrition, diets, how to prepare their own meals, the four basic food groups, etc. In most cases, this has been the first opportunity for these youngsters to participate as part of an organized group. The judging for the 4-H competition will be based on the State Fair Premium Book System. Selection of judges has not been completed to date but will include knowledgeable home econom- ists, soil and conservationists specialists, fish and game commission members among others. The Dallas Fall Fair is sponsored by the joint service clubs of the Back Mountain area Lions, - Kiwanis, and Rotary. ; HY
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers