PAGE FOUR TE TS ¥ mr Ray Carlsen, Editor & Publisher Mrs. T.M.B. Hicks, Editor Emeritus Sandie Forgue, Advertising Charlot Denmon, News & Advertising Virginia Hoover, Circulation Bea LaBar, Circulation Asst. Blaze Carlsen, Asst. to Publisher Susan Heller, Office & Production Olga Kostrobala, Office & Production Eleanor Rende, Office & Production Jane Lutz, Office & Production Patricia Rogers, Office & Production Sally Riegel, Office & Production Cheryl Casner Gula, Graphics Holly Parrish, Special Sales . Betty Meeker, Graphics NATIONAL NEWSPAPER | ASSOCIATION Founded 1983 fests NNA SUSTAINING a= MEMBER—1977 March 3, 1889. Subscriptions--$7 per year. Telephone 675-5211 or 825-6868. POSTMASTER: Box 366, Dallas, Pa. 18612. ONLY YESTERDAY Fire C ire uo. 40 years ago-April 16, 1937 Although other members of the family" were reported to be out of danger, the six year old son of Rev. and Mrs. Harry Rundell of Noxen was still in a critical condition as a result of injuries suffered when their automobile overturned down a 10-foot embankment near = Noxen on Wednesday. Members of Henry M. Laing Fire Company named four men to a committee to secure prices of several lots in the borough to construct a new building. Men were Warden Kunkle, Peter Clark, Arthur Culver and Arthur Newman. A year old hen of Clifford Ide’s Rhode Island Red flock, celebrated its birthday by laying an egg which weighed five ounces. The: Very Rev. L. S. Birgmanas, C.C.J., launched a drive for $50,000 to rebuild Sacred Heart Monastery at Harveys Lake, destroyed by fire in 1932 and 1933. Hillside herds finished the year with some fine records with eight daughters of one bull averaging 498.8 Ibs. of butter fat. ‘Dorothy Jean Smith of Shavertown won the highest rating in a piano ~ contest held in Lancaster last Saturday. Miss Smith competed against young pianists of 12 and 13 years of age. Dallas Rotary Club celebrated its ninth birthday at a dinner dance at Irem Temple Country Club last Thursday night. Dallas Junior Women’s Club will sponsor a Colonial Minstrel, Friday, April 23, at the Dallas Borough High ‘School auditorium. Engaged-Antoinette Coolbaugh to Francis G. Mason. You could get-Stewing chickens 25 cents 1b. ; fresh shad 19 cents 1b. ; pork loins 23 cents 1b.; flour 24’4 1b. bag 95 cents; Crisco 21 cents Ib.; corn flakes 2 pkgs. 11 cents; Fresh Asparagus 2 Ibs. 25 cents; yellow onions 3 lbs. 10 cents; iceberg lettuce 2 heads 15 cents; Florida oranges, jumbo size 39 cents doz. . 30 years ago-April 11, 1947 Construction of Natona Mills on Veterans Memorial Highway nears - completion and if all goes according to Sordoni Construction done by the middle of May. Myra Reese of Fernbrook was the lucky little girl who won the fluffy the Children’s Story Hour at the ~ more are under construction and the cellars of three more are being excavated on the plot of land on ~ Veterans Memorial Highway beyond Natona Mills which is being developed by Bernard Banks and Alton Steele Company. Before the end of the year as many as 50 new houses may be built on the plot if the demand the developers. YPE by the Rev. Charles H. Gilbert Last evening before going to bed I went out into the noisy night to listen to the spring peepers peep. There was one which seemed close to my ears, and hesaid “YEP in a loud voice any time I asked him any question beyond his own intelligence. Just “YEP”’! I got to thinking about that little blowhard telling everybody ‘“Yep’’ to every question. Said I to him, “Hey!” And he politely turned and said to me, ‘Yep?” So I hopped over to a tree limb that I thought would hold me, but it bent way down; I pretended I had sticky toes and no gout and so hung on. “Boy! I really am a big boom-boom frog!’’ And I heard a few inches from my big toe, “YEP.” loud and clear. Well then, here goes: “What do you expect me to ask, just whatever comes into my head?’” And obligingly he answered, ‘“‘Yep”. “Do you want me to tell you how old I am?” I asked. “Yep,” he said, and I felt him turn around an look up from.my big toe joint. Sol added, ‘‘Are you listening?”’ “Yep.” “Can you understand higher mathematics?” “E-e-e-e-yep,”’ he answered with a little hesitant squeak. “Can you-guys count up to a thousand ?’’ I asked with some doubt myself, for I haven’t got around to answering this one for myself. “Well, I have lived for more than thirty thousand days!” No answer. Perhaps he has gone to having trouble adding in the Leap Years. I haven't gone through that complicated bit of mathematics myself, so I'll give him a little time to calculate that. After a little sort-of cackle came the confident answer, “Yep!” So I went on wondering just what greater achievement I had done to brag about to him. I said, ‘“You know, I am quite a big shot around here. I own this whole acre of land and water. Lt. Peter Skopic of Lehman, stationed in Panama with the Air Corps, was recently a member of the crew of a B-17 which sighted and saved three men who had been adrift in an open boat in the Gulf of Panama for four days. August Walters opens new welding business with headquarters at Jack Hazeltine’s Auto Service. Dallas Legionaires have signed up as members of the Susquehanna Baseball League, south division, and will hold their first spring practice, Sunday at 2:30 p.m. on the Dallas Township diamond. Now playing at local theatre- “The Big Sleep’’, Humphrey Bogart, Lauren Bacall, Martha Vickers, Shaver Theatre. Engaged-Margaret Brace to Ralph C. Garris; Elizabeth Enright to Frank Kocher; Betty Layou to Russell Ockenhouse. Anniversary-Mr. and Mrs. Edward Trumbower, 40 years. Deaths-Douglas Spencer, Idetown; Miss Ella Wardan, formerly of Trucksville; Mrs. Martha Berlwe, Dallas. You could get-Chuck roast 39 cents lb.; hamburg 35 cents 1b.; bread 11 cents loaf; evaporated milk 4 cans 47 cents; coffee 2 1-1b. bags 81 cents; California peas 2 lbs. 25 cents; sno- white mushrooms 49 cents 1b.; Lifebouy soap 10 cents bar; Lux flakes 2 small pkgs. 31 cents. 20 years ago-April 12, 1957 Trout season opens Monday, April 15, One month after fishing for smelts through the ice on Harveys Lake came to a close. Alderson Methodist Church women will service breakfast for early anglers, beginning at 4 a.m. in the church basement. Luzerne County Homebuilders Association elected Howard Whitesell of Whitesell Brothers, Dallas, president of the newly formed group. Agreement to effect the rice school districts appeared to be more remote than ever as they all jockey for position on the topic of separation of junior and senior high schools. Seabee S-3C is home after building bases within the Antarctic bases. W.T. Davis, production manager for Linear Inc. tells the Harveys Lake Lions that the corporation is pleased with its location here. Kingston Township police plan an Easter party for the children of the township this year instead of the usual egg hunt. Dallas Borough and Kingston Township school administrators honored Mrs. John R. Hughes, retiring teacher. Dallas-Franklin-Monroe PTA held a turkey dinner honoring the athletes and the band. Toby’s Creek floods basements following nine-inch snow storm. Engaged-Marilyn Hope Marshall to James Alexander Martin, 3rd. Anniversaries-Mr. and Mrs. George A. Crockett, 60 years; Mr. and Mrs. John Eck, 50 years; Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Swan, 50 years. Now playing at local theatres- ‘“‘Oklahoma’’, Gordon MacRae; “Everything But The Truth’, Maureen O’Hara, Moonlite Drive-In; “Friendly Persuasion’’, Gary Cooper, Dorothy McGuire, Starlite Drive-In; “Giant”, Tock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, Forty Fort Theatre; “Rock Pretty Baby”, John Saxon, Sal Mineo, Luzerne Theatre; “Naked Hills’, Dallas Outdoor Theater. You could get-Steak 79 cents lb.; legs of lamb 53 cents) Ivory soap, personal size 4 cakes 25 cents; Kraft oil 37 cents pt.; sharp cheese 59 cents Ib.; bread 19 cents lg. loaf; frozen sweet peas 2 10-oz. pkgs. 29 cents; Dole’s frozen pineapple juice 2 6-0z. cans 37 cents; cucumbers 2 for 15 cents; fresh cut tossed salad 19 cents pkg. 10 years ago-April 13, 1967 Frank Burnside seeks beach authority authenticity at Lehman Township supervisors meeting. At press time; the report was that work stoppage at Linear Plant was gasping its last and that an agreement has been reached which only had to be ratified at a meeting of the union on Wednesday. : Police Chief Walbridge Leinthal of the Lake receive a new raise in pay on Friday to give him an annual salary of $4,000. Lake-Lehman parents express their faith in the school board and the administration on the presence of Ernest Hemingway book on the library shelf. Lake-Lehman band concert will be held April 14 and 15. Now playing at local theatres- ‘The Swinger’’, Ann Margaret, Tony Franciosa, Dallas Drive-In. Mrs. Joseph Marsh is retained as president of the Shavertown Branch auxiliary. Final night of Dallas Kiwanis Music Festival to be held Friday. Married-Ruthanne Macri William L. Porter; Mrs. Louise O. Brown and John L. Kreider. Anniversaries-Rev. Frederick Eidam, 39 years; Mr. and years. Deaths- Patricia Kane, Huntsville; native; Frank G. Mathers, Carverton Road; Emma Van Tuyl, former Back Mountain teacher; Mrs. Bertha Wolfe, Rd 3, Wyoming; Ross Kimball, Beaumont. You could get-Round steak 79 cents Ib.; Beef liver 39 cents Ib. ; bread 2 lvs. 53 cents; frozen orange juice, 6 cans 77 cents; frozen sweet peas 2 10-0z. pkgs. 29 cents; cottage cheese 29 cents Ib. pkg.; butter 81 cents lb.; Sunshine vanilla wafers 38 cents 12-oz. pkg.; Gold Medal flour 63 cents 5-1b. bag; coffee 89 cents Ib. I haven’t the time to bother much with you tiny tots.” He knew I was stalling. “YYYEP!” This exchange of viewpoints can get somewhat confusing. I hadn’t put that as a question, I was merely thinking aloud, making a statement of fact. But my tiny friend down on my boot-level answered boldly, ‘“Yep!. Maybe there was even a bit of a question in his voice concerning the matter of ownership. After all, his ancestors had occupied the place long before I bought it, or the people I bought it from, or the people they bought it from, or the people they bought it from, or... “YEP!” A positive opinion, not an answer; I hadn't even spoken my thought aloud! GROSSMAN by Howard J. Grossman The elimination of the property tax is a long sought dream of many students of government and indeed, the average tax payer of the United States. The support for such a movement is coming from several state legislatures as a result of landmark State Supreme Court decisions such as that which occurred in California recently. A respected national organization, The Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations has issued many documents in the past on the impact of the tax structure in the United States. Its findings and recommendations should be seriously viewed whenever consideration is given to tax reform, including the abolition of the property tax. Such a move in Pennsylvania would not be a panacea for the average tax payer. Bills which have been introduced in the 1976 legislative session called for the abolishment of the school property tax and the substitution of a higher state income tax in order to meet the needs of the school districts. The bills would not have touched the ‘municipal property tax structure. These bills would have phased over a five year period the removal of the school district He -was quiet for a while, and I looked up and down, wondering where the chirper had gone. When 1 think of how loud the whole chorus can sing, and what a sound they all make on magnetic tape, I thought how much fun it would be to try singing with them in their big chorus. But I remembered that I never had a balloon-full of air under by chin and so had to quit. And when I had one of coughing spells of asthma, bronchitis, etc., I almost laughed at the idea of me having such a bag of wind under my collar button. I soon got tired of trying to impress my greatness on these little chirpers and said, “Do you want to get back on the branch and let me out of this Property tax property tax and the substitution of the state income tax. Recently, great controversy arose over the formula used by the state of Pennsylvania for school subsidies in so far as developing a more equitable basis for distributing state funds to financially support school districts in the Commonwealth. The entire subject of tax reform has been studied by each state administration without any serious overhaul which would radically change the existing structure. Recently, the Economic Development Council of Northeastern Pennsylvania has given serious consideration to developing a regional policy on tax reform as it applies to the property tax. A concept which has developed over the years is the need to reform the tax base because the system which exists today penalizes improvements to properties by increasing taxes as improvements are made, and providing incentives for deterioration of properties by allowing taxes to remain the same or even to be lowered when properties become run down and dilapidated. Some persons argue that this system should be completely reversed. With the sprialing cost of housing, and in economically depressed areas lecture course?” And right up on a level with my hearing aid I heard him bellow, “YEP! YEP! YEP!” How can I have lived these 86 years without knowing more about it than I do? There does come to me over and over again how much nearer I'm getting to the very edge of the Forever! Is that bad? But it is good to know that there is Someone greater and so old he has been called The Ancient of Days. I guess maybe I could get up nerve enough to say to all that above the blue, blue sky (and right here within) is a wonderful Father. I guess I should be thankful and sing ‘‘Allelujah.” “‘Shouldn’t 1?” “YEP!” reform such as portions of Northeastern Pennsylvania a ‘high elderly population on fixed incomes, the ability to pay property taxes for the equally spiraling costs of public education and other municipal services becomes impossible if not intolerable. The tax structure in Northeastern Pennsylvania needs to be totally examined and public hearings held on the means by which reform can take place. The property tax, while serving a useful purpose for many years and generations, should be overhauled and new methods found for providing a more equitable way of raising moneys for public purposes. While no system will satisfy everyone, additional efforts must be made to find a cure for the growing fiscal dilemma facing each unit of government in Northeastern Pennsylvania. . The Post Deadline is 5 P.M. Monday A few weeks ago, we read of the death of Gil Dodds, 58. Very few remember Dodds today but in the 1940's he was one of the greatest names in track. He held the world indoor mile record for a while and was a consistent winner indoors and out in meets throughout the United States. In my days as a college sports editor, I spent many a Friday af- ternoon with Dodds, back when he was track coach and physical education instructor at my alma mater, Wheaton College in Illinois. At that point in life, he was well beyond his competition years but as a coach and as a person, he was most memorable. It’s easy to recall how he guided the fortunes of the college track team to ten conference track titles in 12 years, and other statistical reference points. But the qualities I remember most were the warmth and intensity of the man. as aK 3 7 ) KI ASR He had time enough for anyone, even an underclass sports writer, and he had enthusiasm and drive enough for everyone. Although track was generally low in priority con- siderations for newspaper coverage, his approach to the sport demanded attention. His enthusiasm for his athletes and their accomplishments was tremendous. And Dodds was a man of great faith, producing a compassion of intensity which almost surpassed his general level of enthusiasm. His faith was evident in everything he did, so much so that the press of his day dubbed him ‘The Flying Par- son.” The story goes, after one par- ticularly intense mile run, a reporter was interviewing Dodds’ vanquished opponent as well as the winner. “What do you have to say about that race?’ the questioner reportedly asked. @ 2) 7 “2 Lh Yh, [24 2, ARTY QE a Oy > THQ % A ED 4 Na NW AR “The Lord ran with me tonight,” Dodds humbly replied. “What about you?” said the in- terviewer, turning to Dodds opponent. “What the heck do you think,” retorted the disgruntled loser, ‘I had to run alone.” * Dodds resigned from coaching a couple years later and the Wheaton College track teams never regained their tradition of power. We hadn’t heard much about him in the in- tervening years until we recently noticed an almost obscure item in a magazine. Even though the day and place were far removed from Northeastern Pennsylvania 1977, we couldn’t let the passing of this impressive man go without comment. His track records have fallen as the years passed--but his impact on others outlives him. --Ray Carlsen ie
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers