ne TE I MS ir gis Tn ———— - ARON SS ee ALLASS0ST | A PENNAPRINT INC. NEWSPAPER “Editor & Publisher Asst. Publisher Editor Emeritus Ray Carlsen Blaze Carlsen Mrs. T.M.B. Hicks Charlot Denmon Tom Mooney Editorial Department James Smith Advertising Jane Maturi Advertising Be Virginia Hoover Circulation Manager Bea LaBar Circulation Assistant Ruth Holthaus Circulation Ble Estella Parker Production Manager ES UN TATION < ' Olga Kostrobala Production Betty Meeker {Production Joe Wright Production 1979-1980 "Kay Whitehead Production Jill Lyons Production Carol Budziak Production Debbie Zurinski Production Paul Strasser Production Marianne Trynoski . Production Jane Opalicki Production Peggy Poynton Office Mark Moran Photographer An independent newspaper published each Thursday by Pennaprint, Inc. from 44 Main Street, Dallas, Pa. 18612. Entered as second class matter at the post office at Dallas, Pa. under the act of March 3, 1889.Subscriptions *7.00 per year. Telephone 675-5211 or 825-6868 POSTMASTER: If undeliverable, Dleose send Form 3579 to PO Box 366, Dallas, Pa. 18612 Ayatollah who? An open letter to the President Since everyone seems at a loss regarding a potentially effective approach to the Iranian crisis, herewith is submitted our “Dallas Barbershop’’ plan as contrived and created in the revolving chair of one Jim Finn... 1. U.S. spokesmen should forcefully and broadly characterize the adventures of the Ayatollah Khomeini for what they appear to be: the presentments of an Islamic zealot heavily influenced by radical and leftist advisors. His backers may pay lip service to Islam but their sentiments are more likely Marxian and the Ayatollah is likely being “used.” 2. The spokesmen should also note who stands to gain the most from trouble in Iran...a petroleum customer dependent upon the product of the nation but thousands of miles away ...or a. neighboring nation with a history of exported “revolution” and a record of dominating and attempting to dominate adjoining territories, completely disregar- ding moral restraints. Is it more likely that Iran is threatened by a God-fearing Western Hemisphere nation where Allah is respected or an ovowed athiestic country where the mosque is only tolerated as a fading symbol of past religiousity? 3. These points must be raised consistently and forcefully throughout hips world? The whereabouts of the Shah ais not fa question ‘to atkhowledgs until “civilized” international welertionships have been returned to normal and hostages release. The questions Iranians should be forced to consider is ‘who stands to gain the most long term from‘ Iranian unrest and instability?’ 4. Instead of prompt legal deportation of anti-Shah and pro-Khomeini demonstrators from the United States..such.individuals should be reflisedl exit Visas pending the normaliza tiéd Bi%elatigns “to proteets possible future negotiations. The Iranians inthe U.S. who are of most value in future negotiations may not be the pro-Shah refugees but those who identify with the Khomeini. 5. At the same time, every effort should be made to identify the radicals holding positions of authority in the present Iranian anarchy. Their contacts should be reviewed along with their backgrounds to develop the best book possible on how to influence them as in- dividuals. It’s clear that government authority in Iran is minimal and we must recognize that we are dealing with an assortment of in- dividuals with varying vulnerabilities to reason and persuasion. 6. Avoid “saber rattling” in the public media but mount a series of formidable feints, “war games’ or exercises in the vicinity of the Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf, anyone of which might successfully screen military action would we sometime choose to initiate it. Keep Iranian forces preoccupied with continual alerts and alarms which distract the nation. This should serve to emphasize the disarray there. 7. Continue the freeze on Iranian transactions and sustain United Nations dialog when possible. The overall attitude of rosiraint is still beneficial. And if the cross-cultural rift is resolved, we’ll arrange for Jim Finn to provide a FREE trim for Ted Kennedy. or State News BY AN overwhelming margin, the House approved a proposed amendment to the Pennsylvania constitution that would set spending limits for state and local govern- ments and for school districts. The amendment, which must be approved again by the 1981-82 legislature and then by voters, would hold state spending hikes to 80 per- cent of the percentage increase in Pennsylvanians’ personal income. Spending limits for each of the state’s 3,100 local government units would be set by the General Assembly. A HOUSE committee approved a measure that would remove an estimated 80,000 persons from the state’s welfare rolls, at a savings of up to $90 million annually. If the legislation is ultimately signed into law, physically , continue to collect their assistance checks. However, "healthy persons of working age who are classified as employable would be limited to a single, 30-day cash grant in any one-year period. A BILL to give the state’s elderly $15 to $95 a year in «‘inflation dividends” passed the Senate and was sent to Gov. Dick Thornburgh for his signature. Persons who already qualify for property tax and rent rebates will be eligible for the dividend program, which is to be funded by an excess $28 million in state lottery receipts. The first dividend payments will be made in January. KATHY Gross of Cambridge Springs, Pa., one of the first three hostages released by Iran, received a legislative citation from the House and later joined Gov. Thorn- burgh in a minute of silent prayer for the other Americans still held captive at the U.S. embassy in Tehran. Thornburgh said that the hostages were the “victims of a political vendetta, one that corrupts the very meaning of religious faith and brotherhood.” GROSSMAN fthe rail 3 vii by Howard J. Grossman A frightening prospect exists that slowly but surely Northeastern Pennsylvania is sliding into another railroad crisis. Since 1973 the region has experienced major fluctuations in dealing with the preservation of a railroad system crucial to the of Northeastern Pennsylvania. Having initially won the battle to preserve a main line rail system as well as the many rail branch lines serving communities throughout the region, Northeastern Pennsyl- vania now must contend with Conrail, which was created as a result of several railroad acts enacted by Congress since 1973. The importance of rail service to Northeastern Pennsylvania is still best typified by the fact that over 60 percent of all industrial develop- ment in the region is dependent in some part on continuation of rail service. The most recent example of the war to continue rail service at a level important to our economy is found in Monroe County with the commitment of the Monroe County Commissioners and others who fight to preserve the rail line which serves several industries in that county. In addition, the county is continuing to work towards restora- tion, on a demonstration basis, of rail passenger service. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation recently issued an update of the State Railroad Plan sidies for rail branch lines as well :asiother aspects of railroad service, There is a need, however, to renew a State-Regional partnership which will combat current trends which seemingly may cause a deteriora- tion of railroads service.do an. unacceptable devel mown a mf eH ALTE > i This has come about as a result of the monopoly which Conrail enjoys in this part of the nation as well as the deterioration of services which many shippers have identified as a result of Conrail’s operations. With the possible deregulation of railroads similar to the recent deregulation of airlines, many rail shippers feel threatened by the possibility of rail service being discontinued and more rail lines abandoned. The nation now has three recent rail legislative bills enacted in 1973, 1976, and 1978 which foster the image of extensive federal attention on railroad needs, particularly in the Northeast and Midwest. Cer- tainly this is true, and such at- tention has been badly needed. One of the problems, however, is the need to bring together the various federal grant and loan programs with state efforts to ensure a long term commitment to continuation of rail services to not only current levels, but to use such governmental programs to help expand a railroad network. Organizations such as the Northeastern fennsylvania, chambers of commerce, local in- dustrial development groups, the Railroad Task force for Northeast Region, and others must redouble their vigilance in coping with another rail crisis which threatens the economic vitality of North- eastern Pennsylvania as well as other sectors of the State and Nation. The Railroad Task Force for Northeast Region is a combination of 22 counties, consisting of three of the Commonwealth’s regional planning and development regions, united in the effort to promote an effective railroad system tied to economic development. The Task Force is currently enlisting the support of local organizations and individuals in a financial campaign to help support its goals. Those who are interested should write the Task Force at Box 777, Avoca, Pa. 18641 and express support for this key program, designed to help vitalize rail service at a time when the unemployment rate in our region is reaching double digit proportions once again. We need a renewed and active regional community united in its position to ensure that railroads remain with us now and in the long term. BURNHAM by L. D. Burnham Ifinally found why doctors thump chests during.a..chéckup.. They re checking for ripeness. That's treated like a watermelon, but I do want to live long enough to fit into the ROA' (Ripe Old Age) category, and TI guess’ that’s the accepted method : of checking for ripeness. out and sit in the sun another 20 years.” Before long people are going to take much more time to ripen, and there are going to be some problems. Our whole perspective of life will have to shift when people start living to be 150 and 200 years old. What in the world will people do with all those years? Longevity could change the standards of human development. Consider a bit of math. At present, when a person turns 16 years old he has lived approximately one- quarter of his life. When the time comes when life expectancy reaches say, 160, a person would not have lived a quarter of his life till he reached 40. In perspective then, a 40-year-old would be a teen-ager. Preposterous you say? Consider this: People living to be 160 years old certainly aren’t going to retire at 65. Heavens no. They’ll probably work at least until they r: H Now that the first ma given Northeastern Pen things to come, Sen. Fra need to have phone numb during the snow season. !” 140 or so. So how will anybody ‘young’ get a job? 21 could break into the job market. People just might have to wait till they reach 40 to start a career. What will they do till then? Who knows. Go to school for 30 years, drive around, go to dances, hang out, have a few kids? Whatever. Perhaps people won ’t have to be in such a hurry to grown up when longevity becomes a fact of life. Many people don’t ‘“‘grow up’’ till they reach 40 anyway. In the future, maybe they won't have to. Just listening to the numbers will be an adjustment. Consider listening to sports broadcasts. “Bruno was drafted when he was only 35, but he’s matured in his fullback position.” ‘You know, Blanda’s as good at 80 as he was at 40. Did you known his grandfather used to play foot- ball, Curt?” A seasoned boxer at 60, a veteran of 583 pro fights...” “‘Oldsalt said it himself, ‘I’ve only just turned 55 and I have a lot to learn about pitching.” Farfetched? Hardly. People won’t be living to be 160 by magic. It'll be due to improved physical health, improved diet, the elimination of terminal diseases "Connell said. e eligible, process. The 65-year-old of the future will not be the 65-year-old of today. (And I’m sure you know some pretty spry 65- “year: -olds anyway.) Guinness will have to do a et deal of rewriting. So many records will be broken simply because people will have longer. to break them. How many times could a guy like Mickey Rooney get married, for instance, if he could live to 160? Why he could probably marry every woman in the state of California. He'd probably try. And think of it, 100 year an- niversaries, 125 year anniversaries. So if the fiftieth is golden what will the 150th be called? One thing is definite. We’ll have to perfect birth control methods once and for all. When people start living 150 to 200 years we could get awfully crowded. Why, one good sized family reunion could fill the state of Rhode Island. : What would you do if you had all those years to live? No matter, regardless of how many years we get in life, we have to live them one ata time. Take some of those things you'd like to do if you could live to a many you can crowd into 1980. Happy New Year. “There have been al small changes in PennDOT personnel since last year, due to the change of adminis- trations,’”’ O’Connell added. ‘So I am providing a list of all offices for future reference, when needed.” PennDOT District offices in O’Connell’s Senatorial District include: --District 4-0: Tom Collins, O'Neill Highway, Dunmore, Pa. 18512 (717) 961-4061. --District 4-1: Robert T. Doble, P.O. Box 30, Towanda, Pa. 18848 (717) 265-2181. --District 4-3: David Skrocki, P.O. Box 311, Wilkes- Barre, Pa. 18703. (717) 826-2386. (Luzerne) --District 4-4: William A. Bosler, R.R. 2 Box 8, Milford, Pa. 18337. (717) 296-6961 (Pike) --District 4-5: Joseph D. Jagger, P.O. Box 188, Mon- trose, Pa. 18801. (717) 278-1171. (Susquehanna) --District 4-6: Thomas J. Farley, P.O. Box 671, Honesdale, Pa. 18431 (717) 253-3130 (Wayne) --District 4-7: Michael A. McLellan, P.O. Box 89, Tunkhannock, Pa. 18657 (717) 836-3141. (Wyoming) --District 5-0: Victor A. Cesare, P.O. Box 1379, 1713-41 Lehigh St., Allentown, Pa. 18105 (215) 821-6633. --District 5-4: Edward F'. Niedzwiecki, R.D. 7, Box 7460, Stroudsburg, Pa. 18360 (717) 424-3024 (Monroe) He said that Districts 4-0 and 5-0 are regional offices in charge of engineering and maintenance, and the other Districts are county districts for maintenance. “I hope this list will be useful,” O’Connell said. HEATING SUBSIDY EXTENSION--Deadline for applications in the $84 million home heating subsidy for levels below: $4,250 for one-person households, $5,625 for a household of two people, $7,000 for a family of three, $8,375 for a family of four, and $1,375 additional income for each person over four. “The amount of money available to each household will depend on the number of applicants and the type of fuel used to heat the dwelling,” O'Connell said, “Households heated with oil could potentially receive up to $350, with other fuels limited to lower maximum levels.” Applications are available at all county Board .of Assistance offices. “Even though this program is being operated out of the welfare office, it is not welfare,” O'Connell added. “The only reason the Board of Assistance offices are being used is to cut down administrative costs, so that more money goes where it belongs--to the people.” FARM SHOW AGAIN!--This year’s Farm Show will be January 6-11 in the Farm Show complex in Harrisburg: With the opening of the River Relief Route several years 81. Sunday, this year, will be Family Farm Day, and is governor will be yoveliing a new logo for agricultural promotion. =
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers