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