% VOL. 84 NO. 28 Photo by Alex Rebar DALLAS, PA. runner-up. sault Case J A prima facie case was established by Richard Tattersall against Waterways Patrolman Claude M. Neifert, according to the decision of Justice of the Peace Forma Jones, Harveys Lake. The decision come upon Mr. Tattersall’s com- ~plaint of simple assault. An additional complaint, of harassment, was dismissed by the justice. The case, one of several charges and countercharges existing between Mr. Tattersall, RD 1, Harveys Lake, and the Pennsylvania Fish Commission offices, may next go before the county grand Jury. uo Mr. T¥iitersall told the Post that he had 18 witnesses with him at the July 2 hearing. He also reported that there were many waterways patrolmen in atten- dance, armed and in uniform. He raised the question of the taxpayer cost amount involved, in sending so many officers to a hearing. Mr. Tattersall reported that he will have by now called Harrisburg in an effort to have Mr. Neifert removed from his job unti! after the case has been decided in court. The Harveys Lake man and his wife, Romayne, have also filed charges with Dallas magistrate Leonard Harvey as well. They charge waterways patrolman Paul L. Knecht with ‘negligent operation of a motorboat’’, and with two complaints of “simple assault’’. They claim that the patrolman negligently drove over their swimming son with his patrol boat, and the hair and threw him into the fish commission boat. A future hearing is also set for the com- plaint of patrolman Neifert of ‘‘aggrava- ted assault’, against Mr. Tattersall, before magistrate Harvey. Officer Neifert claims that Mr. Tattersall ‘‘did intentionally...cause bodily harm to officers Claude Neifert and Paul Knecht Jr. 7’ while they were ‘attempting to make a lawful arrest.” These charges and countercharges came after an earlier magistrate decision against Mr. Tattersall for threa- tening the life of Mr. Neifert, and following Mr. Tattersall’s self-pro- (continued on PAGE ELEVEN) by Russ Williams Ther $ something very wrong with property tax assessments of Back Moun- tain homes and businesses. Even the most - superficial gaze at public tax records in the Luzerne County Court House will show that this is true. Too many homes are assessed too low. A closer look seems to reveal that the older homes, particularly those which haven’t changed hands in many years are the ones escaping a fair tax assessment, while the owners of new homes or recent buyers of old homes are often being held responsible for more than their fair share. It appears that the assessors office is not doing the job of periodic re-assess- ment sufficiently or properly. The Mountain problem, but a county-wide one, and not just the fault of the assessor's office, but the system itself. The county assessor’s office is sup- posed to determine the value of each privately-owned parcel of land and every improvement on that land, usually a house, a store, a garage, a barn, a shed, or some combination of those. The assessors are then to list 35 percent of value. That final figure is what is used for determining the property-millage taxes. Area residents pay taxes, two times during the year, that are based on the assessed value of their property. Around February they are taxed once for funds that will be divided between the munici- pality, the county and the institutional (continued on PAGE ELEVEN)" A Greenstreet News Co. Publication by Barbara Evans The annual Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction opened for the 26th year last Friday afternoon, with sunny skies, after the Rev. John Prater, pastor of Prince of Peace Episcopal Church, Dallas, gave the invocation and asked for God’s blessing. The good weather pre- vailed during the three days of the auction. The evenings were warm and friendly. People came from far and near to join the auction crowd. Senior citizens remembered early years when the auction was a fledgling; middle-aged people came, looking back to the time they first attended the auction as teen- agers; young people looked forward to the event so that they could see old friends, former classmates, renew old acquaintances, and exchange current happenings; children dashed about, playing games and eager to help; and infants were wheeled about in ultra modern strollers or were carried on mother’s hip or dad’s shoulder, some blissfully unaware. The auction now seemed at home in its surroundings, new last year, unfamiliar territory for those who worked year after year to help make the event a success. Agnes’ wrath had added to the confusion of a new home. The big event had been postponed and was finally held in Oc- The big barn was the center of all activ- The Dr. Henry M. Laing Volunteer Fire Company of Dallas paid tribute recently to seven active members who have given 20 or more years service to the fire company and the community. A dinner was held at the Newberry Estate, June 29, to honor the men who received the special recognition. James Besecker holds the distinction of being the only active member who joined the company when it was chartered in 1927. A former fire chief, he has been a member for 46 years. Daniel Richards, also a former fire chief, has been an with 20 or more years of active member- ship are Donald Bulford, a former fire chief, now the unit’s assistant fire chief; Don Shaffer, now the fire chief; Alvin Shaffer, also a former fire chief; William Baker, currently the group’s secretary; and Howard Johns, a former assistant fire chief. Mr. Johns was unable to attend the dinner. Each of the long-time members was awarded a desk set by the volunteer Photo by James Kozemchak Sr. group’s president, Bob Richardson. The pen-desk sets feature a large, metallic centerpiece, a model of a fire engine. During the proceedings, Mr. Besecker, gave some of 11:2 history of the groun. He told of going to Allentown to uversee the building of the company’s first fire truck, a Mack pumper, a chain driven, 500 gallon per minute, rotary gear pump. The fire company still uses that old pumper, which remains in fine working order. It is often the winner of the “oldest engine’’ award at area firemen’s parades. Mr. Besecker said that when new, the engine was ‘‘the envy of every company in the area.” . Lynn Sheehan served as master of ceremonies for the dinner affair. James B. Davies was chairman, in charge of organizing the night’s events. He was assisted by a committee of Bob Richard- son, Lynn Sheehan and Don Shaffer. Sixty-eight persons attended, including wives of firemen. Dinner was followed by dancing to the music of Panky Stolarick and his group. FIFTEEN CENTS EA ities and workers scurried around. On the block the unmistakable voice of Bob Laux offers to tell a joke during a lull. He is voted down by fellow auctioneers, who recall some of his jokes over the years. “Do I hear 53?” and Dick Demmy gently persuades a lovely lady that she needs a walnut table. During the children’s auction there was wall-to-wall kids. They came, as in other years, with their quarters and dimes tucked safely in wallets and purses, eager to bid as they had seen their elders do so often. Parents were there, helping shy little ones to raise their hands. It was hard to be firm when a puppy or rabbit came on the block. A child can’t buy an animal without his parents’ permission. At the refreshment stand, the delec- table smells of hot dogs, French fries, pizza and cotton candy tempted the taste | buds. What could be better than a hot dog, ve french fries, coke and cotton candy for a | well-balanced lunch on a sunny auction afternoon? Afterwards, there was the baked goods booth for a tasty dessert. The homebaked (continued on PAGE FOURTEEN) I Recreation Center nus of Activities § The Dallas Borough Recreation Center is well into a busy summer season with Debbie Price, Dianne Masoner and Tim Bauman as instructors. Located at the corner of Burndale Road and Luzerne Avenue, Dallas, the center has facilities and activities available to all area children and adults. An arts and crafts program is held for children Tuesday and Thursday mor- nings. Paper bag masks, potato prints, leaf print stationary, clay work, etc. are a few of the projects undertaken at the, sessions, which run from 9 a.m. until 12 noon, and are open to all children. Also available to the children are wiffle ball, music activities, marbles, ping-pong,
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