Special
Issue
“[HE
ALLAS
“Complete Back Mountain News”
VOL. 82 NO. 33
WEDNESDAY,
AUGUST 25, 1971
DALLAS, PA.
PHONE 675-5211
FIFTEEN CENTS
7,000 Students
Expected in Area
Schools this Fall
More than 7,000 students will pass
through the portals of the many buildings
of the twa schools districts and colleges in
the Back Mountain area when the fall
term begins next month. Although
figures are subject to change before
opening day, school administrators
report that expected enrollment is higher
this ear than usual. According to
available figures from Robert Belles,
superintendent of Lake-Lehman District,
and the office of Dr. Linford Werkheiser,
superintendent of Dallas District, a total
of 5,620 students are expected in the two
public schools.
At present, 450 day students are en-
rolled at Pennsylvania State University’s
Wilkes-Barre Campus in Lehman. almost
as many are expected to attend evening
classes.
Thy total registration to date at College
Misericordia is 845, with 225 enrolled as
freshmen; 205 due to arrive on campus as
Sopa anes; 210 as juniors; and 205
seniors.
Lake-Lehman total enrollment of 2,200
includes elementary, kindergarten and
secondary school. Dallas has 3,420
registered to attend including 1,330 in the
elementary schools, 716 in the senior high
school; 860 in the junior high; and inter-
mediate 514. :
Coroner's Report
Given Defense
Ine Wilson Case
In a surprise development Aug. 18, the
Luzgane County District attorney made
available:to defense counsel a coroner’s
report and accompanying photographs in
connection with a murder case involving
a Back Mountain man.
Dist. Atty. Blythe H. Evans Jr., and
Asst. Dist. Atty. Hopkin T. Rowlands Jr.,
notified Judge Albert H. Aston that the
report could be obtained by Atty. Theo-
dore L. Krohn, who is defending John
Terry Wilson of Noxen on a charge of
murder in the shooting death of George
Wesley, Kingston, at Lake Silkworth.
"The court had been petitioned earlier
for ®Tn examination of the report by Atty.
Krohn ‘in order to prepare properly for
defense of Wilson.”
Wednesday’s court session, Mr.
Kri®n said he would like to have the
materials within five days, as the time of
the trial is approaching. The case has
been set for court Oct. 4.
The report will be available to defense
counsel upon payment of the customary
fee of $5, according to Atty. Evans.
Dr. Geofrey Mann, a pathologist and
medical examiner for Virginia, and Dr.
Carlos Rodriguez, pathologist at Wilkes-
Barre General Hospital, will examine the
coroner’s report, done by Dr. George
Hudock. The two pathologists will be
expt witnesses for the defense.
An order granting submittal of the
report to defense counsel was signed by
Judge Aston.
The defendant, who is an inmate at
State Correctional Institution, Dallas,
was in court. After the 12-minute session,
he was returned to the institution.
Council Told
om rea
Roads,
x
Representatives of Roy Weston
Engineers and Marona Construction
Company, at a meeting with Dallas
Borough Council members Thursday
night to discuss complaints, assured
council that roads and other sewage con-
struction areas will be improved.
Robert Wagner and Gene Sturgeon
were spokesmen for Marona Construc-
tion, while Don Packer and Charles
Barby represented Roy Weston.
Prior to the meeting Jerry Machell,
chairman of the borough road com-
mission, and Ralph Garris, borough road
superintendent, with Mr. Packer and Mr.
Barby, toured the municipality to point
Dallas Real Estate:"
In 1964, the S. B. Lucas family was just
‘getting comfortable and settled in the
house at 258 Church Street, Dallas. They
‘bought the house and moved in that year.
~ Now, seven years later they are pre-
paring to move again. Their home is for
‘sale.
Is there a large turnover in Back Moun-
tain real estate sales? Why are owners
selling their homes in Dallas, Shaver-
town, Trucksville? What is the future
likely to hold for the area?
Two Area Men Arrested
By W-B Narcotics Squad
Two Back Mountain young men, along
with five Wyoming Valley men, were
arrested Saturday afternoon by the
Wilkes-Barre Police Narcotics Squad.
The local residents were Michael Lee
Popson, 18, of 189 Highland Ave.,
Trucksville, and ‘Alan J. Schilling, 18, of
RD 2, Overbrook Road, Dallas. Arrested.
also were Mike R. Baran, 19, of 227 N.
River St.; Ralph Evans, 21, of 135 S.
Sherman‘St.; Gordon Coates, 21, of 59 W.
Hollenback Ave.; Patrick M. Ranich, 20,
of 227 N. River St.; all of Wilkes-Barre,
and Paul Hoffman, 20, of 11 Rose Ave.,
Plains.
The squad raided a third-floor apart-
ment at 227-229 N. River St., Wilkes-
Barre, on the suspicion of drugs
possession. A large quantity of drugs,
reportedly with a street value in excess of
$5,000, was confiscated. Found in the
apartment were drugs thought to be
marijuana, hashish, LSD, and others. A
chemical analysis will be made at
Pennsylvania State Police crime
laboratory at Wyoming Barracks.
(continued on PAGE 3A)
=
School Days . .
Leollage Uv gary I a fg
ewer Construction
Areas to be Improved
out a number of spots which need atten-
tion.
In a point-by-point discussion, it was
agreed Sterling Avenue and West Center
Hill Road and other streets in the immed-
iate area will be blacktopped starting this
week.
Machell Avenue will receive a base
topping when all laterals are installed.
Pinecrest Avenue will be resurfaced also
when pipe work is completed.
Special grading will be done around
manholes; dust areas will be watered
down frequently; calcium will be spread.
Marona’s representatives promised
that some changes in conditions will be
“I really believe we’re sitting on a gold
mine’’ was Bob Besecker’s prognosis. In
business with his father, the junior part-
ner of Besecker Realty waxed enthus-
iastic about the area’s potential.
Mrs. Lucas explained the family home
is for sale because ‘““‘we had to go where
my husband could get work.” Admitting
that the family would have liked to stay in
Dallas, the former school teacher re-
vealed that Dr. Lucas has accepted an
assistant professorship in elementary
science methods at Edinboro State
College, which is about 20 miles south of
Erie. The head of the Lucas family taught
at College Misericordia until two years
ago when he received a fellowship at
Penn State University to complete his
doctorate.
Dave Stevens, with the Robert W. Laux
Agency, believed there is usually a defin-
ite reason for selling—the husband has
been transferred or has a new job else-
where, a family wants a larger home or
perhaps a smaller one.
A couple, who has resided on Pioneer
Avenue, Shavertown, since 1924 is seek-
ing smaller quarters.
‘My husband feels that this house is too
much for me to clean, and wants us to
move into an apartment,”’ Mrs. Walter
Fletcher revealed. (continued on j
PAGE 34)
effective immediately, and that consider-
ation of residents property will be stress-
ed.
Fill will be supplied to the Dallas
Borough Recreation area. It was noted
that a number of Back Mountain re-
sidents have taken advantage of free fill
supplied by the construction company.
One spokesman said some free fill is still
available.
Road Superintendent Garris was in-
structed to order road signs to replace
those destroyed during sewer construc-
tion. Costs are to be paid by Marona Con-
struction.
o
Revision Seen
In Zoning Laws
In order to conform with certain
‘provisions of State Planning Act 247,
Dallas Borough Council members will re-
view and revise municipal zoning laws.
The matter was brought to the council's
attention at an Aug. 17 meeting.
Edward Heiselberg, planning and
zoning consultant, notified the municipal
body by letter that ordinances must be
updated by the end of this year. Mr.
Heiselberg offered to meet with the group
to help with any changes.
Councilman Jerry Machell, expressing
a collective opinion, stated, ‘Our or-
dinances need to be updated. We are a
little more familiar now with the needs of
the borough.”
An initial consultation between Mr.
Heiselberg and borough planning com-
mission will be set up by Solicitor Charles
Lemmond, who also serves on the plan-
ning commission.
A Back Mountain youngster, Spencer
Slocum, submitted a detailed plan
for a project to beautify the triangular
piece of property at the intersection of
Routes 118 and 309. Spencer, who must
spend eight hours on a community pro-
ject to earn an Eagle Scout badge, re-
ceived permission and financial support
from the council to work on the project.
However, the State must approve the
work, which will cost $88.50 before the
Boy Scout can begin.
A meeting will be arr: aged with the
Furough police commissicn and Dallas
“ownship to discuss a teleph: ue and
radic answering service offered by the
township police department.
Also, a special meeting will be held
Aug. 31 between the commission and all
borough patrolmen, according to William
Berti, commission chairman. Mr. Berti
said all council members are invited to
attend. ?
Rep. Frank O’Connell informed the
council by letter that it may exempt from
paying local taxes all persons earning
under $2,000.
Philip VanBlarcum, secretary of
Dallas Area Municipal Authority, sent
notice that a special public meeting of the
authority will be held Aug. 26 at 7: 30 p.m.
in Dallas Senior High School.
Raymond Titus was named acting chief
of police, effective Sept. 1, which is the
date the current chief, Russell Honey-
well, will retire.
An additional fulltime patrolman will
be needed at that time also. Borough
Secretary Ralph . Garris is accepting
applications for the position.
We're a Gold Mine"
Toni and Michelle Rocco make sure the “For Sale’’
sign at their Knob Hill home. Trucksville. is prom-
inently displayed. Terrence and the family’s
French poodle, Fifi, act as overseers.