BOX 336, TN rr Gawd by Larry Burnham “Nice batch of holes,” comments the road supervisor. Into the blacktop they go. : “We like to keep our blacktop light and airy,”’ he continues. ‘So the roads ride as if you were on “No, silly man. So it’s easier to make the potholes,” he says. thought you were paving the roads.” ‘Oh, no,’ the supervisor replies, his brows knitted, his lips pursed. “We're seeding this year’s potholes. Looks like a good crop too. Why, we had roads we barely had to touch, just add a fertile patch here and there. It should be a good year for potholes. You can quote me.” “I/just can’t believe this,” I say, “Aren’t you people paid by the tax payer’s hard-earned dollars? Don’t you realize...” ‘‘Hold it, hold it,”’ he interrupts. “You may be good looking, but you're not very bright. Haven’t you ever interviewed a PADOHLE official before?’ “PADOHLE? What's PADOHLE ?”’ I asked. I thought you guys were known as something else for all these years.” ‘“That’s what we like the public to see. PR, you know. On the inside we're known as PADOHLE, Penn- sylvania Department of Holes Literally Everywhere.” “And they know about this in Harrisburg?”’ “Oh, that’s our home base. We have our warehouse there.” He pauses as the molten blacktop rises, and he gently stirs the mixture with his massive ladle. “Now back to the tax funding,’ I say. “Oh, we don’t really get that money, it gets wasted elsewhere,’ he says as he examines a ladleful. “We're subsidized.” ‘Subsidized? By whom? I inquire. “Well naturally, cinder brain, by G.M., Chrysler, Goodyear--there’s a lot of money in potholes.” “But it’s wrong,” I exclaim. “You should fix the roads not pock them.” ‘You some kind of Communist?’ he asks. “Do you realize how many jobs are dependent on the pothole in- dustry? Don’t you know how many autos and tires are bought just because of us? Where would this country be with all that money missing from the economy? Why, we'd be in big trouble without potholes. What you ought to do is learn something about the pothole before you go around condemning it.” I feel guilty. His argument is persuasive. Maybe my judgement was too hasty. ‘“What’s to know about a pothole?” I inquire. “Lots, fella, lots. This is a tough business. We have a great deal of territory to cover in this state. And we have to provide potholes of all kinds for everyone. “There are different kinds?”’ I ask. “Oh sure,” he says, “we classify them by width, depth, and AP.” “AP? 1 ask. ‘““‘Avoidence Probability. An avoidable pothole isn’t worth its asphalt. Those little cars make it tough.” “I guess every job has problems,” I say. “Yeah, but I think we solved that one,” he says. “Really?” I say. “Camouflage,” He nods. ‘“We paint lines over the potholes. Then we publicize that we’ve fixed the roads. It works well. Those little foreign cars come zipping down the road and...Wham! Right up to the axles!” its “You guys are efficient.” “Thanks, Well, have to go. I have a second job to get to,” he says putting on his coat. Vol 88 No. 37 “What do you do?” I ask. “I have a little hubcap business down by the highway. Lot of money in hubcaps these days.” “I believe that Dallas Borough should have an ordinance prohibiting the possession or consumption of alcoholic beverages in public places,” said Harold Brobst, chairmen of Dallas Borough Council, ‘‘but I think the ordinance proposed by Mayor James B. Davies, II, is too general. Brobst was referring to the proposed ordinance first submitted by Davies to council in June. Intent of the ordinance, according to Davies. was to promote the general health, safety and welfare of Dallas Borough residents by enacting this local law, since he believes that the con- sumption or possession of alcoholic beverages in - open containers by persons on public property is detrimental to health, safety and welfare of borough residents. “I agree that it is detrimental to the borough to allow the possession of consumption of alcoholic beverages in our recreation areas, parks, or along our main streets and thoroughfares but I think we have to be careful how it is worded,” Brobst said. At the June meeting, however, council members indicated that they needed time to read and evaluate the Mayor’s proposal. At the following meeting of the council, members of the council recommended that the ordinance be revised as there were certain clauses to which members objected. Davies followed the recom- mendation of council and submitted the revised copies of the ordinance to the members at the August meeting for their study and evaluation. At the regular meeting of the borough council in September, Davies asked council to consider adoption of the revised ordinance. Council moved to table the ordinance until an ad- time they would take it under con- sideration. Davies again brought up the or- diance on that date but council in- dicated they were reluctant to act on it until it had been discussed with Charles Lemmond, Jr., Dallas Borough solicitor. At the same meeting, Brobst stated that he was in favor of an ordinance but not the ‘ordinance as written. That section of the ordiance which Brobst believes should be more specific reads as follows: “No person shall have, possess, carry any liquor, wine, beer, or other alcoholic beverage in an open bottle or other open container in or upon any public sidewalk, street, lane, high way, building, parking lot, park or recreation. area or other public property within the Borough of Dallas. No person shall drink or otherwise consume any liquor, wine, beer or other alcoholic beverage in or upon any of the aforesaid public areas or property within the Borough of “There was no riot,” said Ron Post, co-owner of the Hearthstone Pub in Dallas this week in regard to statements made in a Wilkes-Barre paper Sunday about the extent of a Sept. 21 incident at the Main St. tavern. A party for the senior class of College Misericordia came to an early end shortly after midnight on the 21st, a Thursday, when, following an outburst of violence, police from several Back Mountain municipalities arrived. Two people were reported injured. The incident was not previously reported by local police. College Misericordia publicity director Tom Pugh agreed with Post, calling the Sunday newspaper’s ac- count of the incident ‘‘very over- stated’’” and ‘‘blown out of propor- tion.” According to Dallas Borough Chief of Police Edward Lyons, police received a call about a disturbance at the Hearthstone shortly before one a.m. on the 21st. The police found the bar “in disorder,” said Chief Lyons, and ordered it closed. He said that police could see no fighting inside and ad- vised co-owners Richard Chaney and Post to contact a magistrate about any civil actions they might wish to initiate. ; Chief Lyons added that one table received minor damage and that, because the police saw no fighting, no arrests were made. However, one person was injured and was transported to the Nesbitt Hospital, Kingston, in the Dallas ambulance. Dallas Borough Ptlm. Severn Newberry is investigating officer. Police from Dallas Township, Kingston Township, and Lehman Township as well as Dallas Borough fire and ambulance personnel ap- peared on the scene. Post said that charges against one individual have been filed. He described the incident as a fist fight between two Wilkes College students, leading to ‘a lot of pushing.” He added that the violence had been quelled by the time police arrived, which was why they did not see any fighting, and that the owners asked police to close the tavern for the evening. According to Post, nothing was broken, although one of the fighters, who had been knocked out, was taken to the hospital where, Post said, he was treated and dismissed. He said that he did not know of any girls in- jured. Post also took issue with statements about the number of people present. “There might have been close to 300 people in and out over the course of the evening,’” he suggested. ‘But we never had that many here together.” He continued that the original fight began in the center of the room, in front of the stage. “This was no frontier town shootout,”” said Pugh, also denigrating the story that he said he found a surprise. Pugh said also that a fight began between two students from another college, adding, ‘‘The people involved Dallas.” The ordinance also includes an ‘exceptions’ sections for issuace of a permit to individuals or organizations who meet certain conditions. It also provides that no person shall discard alcoholic or other beverge containers upon any public sidewalk, street, lane, highway, parking lot, park or recreation area, or other public property within the borough. Violation of any of the provisions of the ordiance would be punishable by a muximum fine of $250, or by im- prisonment for 15 days, or by both if convicted before a magistrate. Each day any violation shall continue shall constitute a separate vviolation. The ordinance will: be brought before council again at its next meeting. Disposition of the or- dianance at that time will depend upon advice from the solicitor and specific recommendations by members of the council. fight had not been invited to the party.” The Misericordia students, mostly girls, left immediately upon the outbreak of violence, at the direction of their moderator, he continued, returning to the college. Pugh added that one girl was slightly injured. He said that it is his understanding that a table was overturned, glasses were broken, and bottles were thrown. He emphasized, though, that the Misericordia people were not in- volved, saying, “I'm very pleased that our girls acted responsibly.” Pugh called the incident ‘‘un- fortunate’ and said that the seniors have held their annual party at the Hearthstone for years now. Wilkes College Director of Public Relations George Pawlush said that he had not heard of the particular incident and that, in any case, the college does not comment officially on actions by its students on their own and apart from college functions. spring from the board. The Jackson Township Planning Commission sent a letter informing the Jackson Twp. board of Super- visors that after due consideration it was decided to retain the proposed zoning ordinance as written instead of making six changes recommended by the County Planning Commission. According to. a member of the Jackson Township Planning Board, the changes requested seemed in- significant since in most cases it was ‘unimportant terminology’’ that was designated for change. Solicitor Blythe Evans, Jr. in- formed the Jackson board of super- visors that a tentative date may be chosen for the public hearing con- cerning the proposed ordinances. Date of the hearing will appear in the legal advertising section of a local newspaper. The General Municipal ‘Authority wishes to remind residents of Jackson Township that their meetings are held on the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. in the Jackson Fire Hall in Chase. A recording secretary is needed for this group. Information can be obtained from any member of the General Municipal Authority. A letter from the Luzerne County Constable’s Association read at Monday night's meeting requested aid from Jackson Township Super- | State legislature. Bill 2538 would greatly reduce the number of con- stables in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The board decided to table this issue until information can be obtained concerning the content of the bill. co-op light At the Dallas Township meeting Monday night, Dallas Township supervisors requested that Township Solicitor Frank Towned write a letter to the Dallas Borough solicitor requesting that a stop light be pur- chased through a cooperative effort of the two municipalities for the in- tersection of Route 309 and Main Road, near the Offset Paperback plant, Fernbrook. Both the borough and township roads enter onto the highway at that point. Patrolman James Kelly, Dallas Township Police Department, sub- mitted his resignation to the super- visors. He requested that his office terminate Oct. 15. Patrolman Kelly stated that he was resigning due to accepting another position. He requested that he be kept on the force as a part-time patrolman. The board accepted Kelly's resignation and advised those present that a letter would be sent to former Patrolman James Gruver. Gruver was furloughed in January, 1975, for reasons of economy along with Patrolman Russell Banta. Banta with boro but Gruver maintained his position as part-time policeman on the Dallas force. Towned noted that Gruver is next in board will await his decision. There is another candidate available should Gruver refuse. If Gruver accepts, he will be reinstated as a full-time of- ficer. Tad Townend told the board that he thought it would be advantageous to purchase some of the sewer rental delinquent accounts and process them for payment by placing liens against matter to court and force payment of township liens would be purchased. No accounts with counter claims would be purchased. said Townend. A transcript of testimony hearing will be held at the Dallas Township Planning Commission meeting, Oct. 16, 7:30 p.m., by order of Judge Podcasy. Clarence Yeagley obtained a permit to construct a home at the intersection of Overbrook Avenue and William Street and it was appealed by Atty. John Aponick. The house has already been built. a |
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers