i Members of the Back Mountain Council on Drug and Alcohol Abuse met with area police officials last Wednesday night and heard that not much has changed regarding the area’s problems with youth and drug and alcohol. The premier police spokesman during the meeting, Chief Carl Miers of Dallas Township, used the “no progress” and ‘no alleviation’ to describe the local situation as he saw it. He said that, if anything, “There has been an increase in (teenage) alcohol use in the community.” - Miers was most concerned about parental and community apathy toward the problem, stating he was not optimistic about a reduction in area problems ‘‘unless courts, families and community take a stronger look at it.” He said 85 percent of all burglaries and thefts in the area are thought to be drug-related. Most of the drug activity seems to come “‘out of Wilkes-Barre’’ and the more rural the setting, the more the youth abuse problems become one of alcohol rather than street drugs. Miers said that a new state law within the family and pledge not to arrest the youth involved if he has a chance to counsel with the youngster. “People don’t want to get in- volved.” Police officials praised the. handling of drug-related problems effective Jan. 1, 1980, bars police officials from notifying parents unless an actual arrest or charge is filed. He repeated his offer to meet with parents who think they may have a drug or alcohol problem Dallas Christian School an- nounced recently that it intends to make a major curriculum shift in favor of conventional classroom techniques from the Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) format previously used for its 125-student private school. According to the Rev. Wayne Brooks, pastor of Dallas Com- munity Church and acting principal of the school, the change will take place beginning with the next school year. The school will eliminate grades nine through twelve, also effective at the beginning of the next school year, to enable re- sources to be concentrated on the new curriculum. Brooks and members of the Community Church board which functions as school board met with parents last week to explain the changes and answer questions referring to the new concept. Board educational, financial, personnel and facility status, noting that of the more than 120 students presently enrolled, only 23 percent are from families in the Community Chur- ch’s membership of 135 persons. Board member David Leapline, an administrator for an inter- mediate school in the Wyoming Valley West School District, ex-. plained the Christian school’s plan to shift to conventional format. Board member Earl Samuels said three experienced faculty Safety is the first concern of the organizers of the Ride For Cancer on June 1. Committee chairmen Ian Richardson and Pat Rosenthal have enlisted the help’of Police Chief Ed Lyons of Dallas Borough and his staff to review the proposed 25 mile route and plan the safety strategy. The ride will begin at Dallas Senior High School. “We've been very fortunate’ said Richardson, ‘‘to have received such a supportive response from civic groups we’ve asked to help us in this effort.” Jack Dodson, Kunkle Fire Chief will be in charge of a volunteer force stationed at the intersection. Dr. Charles Krivenko, member of the Wyoming Valley Bike Club will head a bike patrol of experienced riders who will travel the route. Volunters from the Fire Depart- ments of Shavertown, Trucksville, Kunkle and Dallas will be Larry McDonald. Bob Besecker of the Dallas Volunteer Ambulance Service will be on hand to provide First Aid. Riders in the Bike-A-Thon are urged to gather as many sponsors as possible. Sponsors will pledge 10 cents or more for each mile the rider completes. Vans will patrol the route, pick up riders who don’t complete the route and return them to the starting point. ‘The Ride For Cancer will truly be a community effort,” says Richardson. ‘It’s a rewarding experience to see everyone rally behind a good cause.” The money pledged by sponsors will fund the research, education, service and rehabilitation efforts of American Cancer Society. Bike-A-Thon buttons will be given to each participant. Patches and certificates will be awarded to everyone who completes the route. The youth and adults who sign up the most sponsors and those who collect the most pledges will receive Sp etc:i al a w:ar dst Sponsor sheets can be picked up at Franklin Restaurants, Mark II Restaurants, public, private and parochial schools and at the American Cancer Society at the Kirby Health Center in Wilkes- Barre. For further information call 825-7763. the “A police department is only as good as the community wants it,” Miers stated, noting that it is im- portant for citizens to be willing witnesses and reliable informants. members will return for the new school year with teaching openings presently available for grades three and four and grades seven and eight. Mrs. Zita Patton, who has served the local school since its founding three years ago, will continue to teach kindergarten and a first grade unit. Present enrollment projections indicate that the kinder- garten class will be relatively small. Mrs. Brenda Edwards, who will begin her second year at Dallas Christian and her third year of teaching, will continue with the remainder of the first grade (the school’s largest pupil group) and second grade. second year at Dallas Christian and his second year of teaching, will continue with fifth and sixth graders. He previously supervised grades three through six. Board member Bob Yetter ex- by the local judiciary, during their remarks, singling Judge Charles Lemmond and Arthur Dallesandro out for specific praise. A question from the council plained the school’s financial structure, noting that the average charge per student was about $500 per student, thanks to subsidies provided by the Community Church toward the Christian education. The school has a combination rate plan with a base charge for one student from a family and reduced charges for subsequent students up to a total of three. After three students per family, there has been no additional per-student tuition. Yetter said it appeared likely that tuition rates would increase by an average of 10 percent during the coming school year. The Rev. Brooks, discussing the spiritual goals of the school, said its intent was ‘‘to help you raise your children to love and serve Christ.” He also quoted Leviticus 23:10, ob- serving that ‘‘God expects what- ever we do for Him to be our very best.” A number of parents questioned the elimination of high school : Edwards, faculty members. PAGE THREE meeting to advise of drug-related problems growing out of area ‘‘rock concerts.” Miers noted that “it’s not the concert that’s bad but what they draw!’ and cited examples of drunkenness and drug abuse at such events. Police spokesmen indicated that concerts are often the gathering place for dealers and abusers and one police official noted that of- ficials find it difficult to go onto the grounds of such events because of ? the vast numbers of persons par- ticipating. grades. Brooks pledged that the faculty and staff of Dallas Christian would do everything possible to placement of high school age students. He suggested other are continuing with the ACE program and also noted that other students had completed the tran- sifion back to public high schools. Dallas Christian School was founded in 1977 and grew rapidly from approximately 30 students to more than 120 last year. The school is presently developing plans for a new structure which were recently approved by state officials. The school has also offered extra- curricular and sports options in addition to physical education programs. School officials have emphasized that all faculty members are certified and qualified teachers with appropriate Student ap- plications are presently being in- vited for the coming school year. Jay Patton teaches Kkin- Dallas Borough Council again discussed the proposed acquisition of two lots at the corner of Luzerne and Susquehanna Avenues for the purpose of recreation for youngsters in the community. One party from Wilkes-Barre owns a lot measuring 100 ft. front by 150 length on Susquehanna adjacent to a borough plot. The asking price for the parcel is $5,000 which council member Nancy Eckert, a former realtor, feels is ‘‘quite reasonable.” Council's recreation committee also wants to acquire an adjoining lot 25 ft. in width by 150 ft. in length. Secretary Garris is in touch with the owner’s mother who resides in Nanticoke. Ken Young, chairman of the recreation committee, is very enthused about the land being borough-owned and used for recreation as ‘it would be very good for the kids”. Recreation and finance committees will handle details. The borough could very well find itself acquiring the two lots, the parcel at the post office at Agway; and the mini park. All the holdings require upkeep and the borough length the best equipment for upkeep. Councilwoman Nancy Eckert moved to empower the road committee to make a decision on equipment. Ken Young seconded the motion which will probably entail purchasing a 16 horsepower rider mower with a four foot sickle bar and other attachments, which according to Dr. Craig Aicher who owns one, costs about $2,000. A regular tractor will also be con- sidered. The council members, also land- lords, did what landlords usually do best. Rents were raised on the borough’s two income producing holdings, with the Dallas Water Company's rent raised from $190 to $240 and the apartment of Henry Linker will cost him $25 more monthly to $125. Each tenant will receive a 60-day notice of the hikes. Primary reason for the action A new master plan for the borough of Dallas, prepared by Chester Engineering of Harrisburg, will be unveiled to the public on July 22. reported she recently spent three hours with the firms’ represen- tative reviewing the plan, which is On July 22, residents will have a chance to voice their opinions as to the plan which could suggest other traffic patterns and may change zoning laws. After the July 22 public hearing on the matter, council will take suggestions back with them for study. Solicitor John Morris offered the ‘plan is flexible but does guide and control.” Mrs. Eckert said that when ap- plying for government funding, the Chester plan is what the govern- ment ‘‘wants to see.’ She said the owners of the two shopping centers that” should be notified not only through the newspaper but per- sonally as they will be interested and “people who should be at the public hearing” must be notified along with all involved. She said she feels businesses in- volved along the highway are essential to acceptance of the plan as it will not work without their cooperation. Contingency plans will be made to move the unveiling to another The Susquehanna Environmental Advocates (SEA) stated today that Pennsylvania, according to a study done by Common Cause entitled, “The Path Not Taken”, is tied for last among all states in terms of energy conservation efforts--and is the only state among the nation’s largest states to have an un- satisfactory rating. “We thing this is disgraceful”, location in case of a large turnout which the compact council chambers could not accommodate. Councilman Machell stated the public hearing is important. Mrs. Eckert feels it should be held in the summer as not to lose ‘‘momen- tum’. A beautification and revitaliz- ation project is underway with boreholes drilled at Machell Avenue and the surveyors will be in soon to check boundaries. stated SEA spokesperson Gerald R. Schultz, a Dallas attorney. ‘We think it is time for Pennsylvania to be a leader in the field of energy conservation--and in other areas, such as toxic waste disposal, solar energy incentives, and a nuclear power phase-out. The results of this study demonstrate again how Pennsylvania is firmly in the stranglehold of special interests. ’ was the cost of gas for heating the units. Council was quick to call attention to the rate hike the water company is seeking. Machell and Garris complimented Linker on the and the help he provides around the borough building, but raised the rent anyway, with council stating “$125 is reasonable.” The summer recreation program will begin June 9 at the Burndale Recreation Center and the following have been chosen from among 13 applicants for the position of aides: Laurie Saba, Sterling Ave.; Cindy Lefko, Luzerne Ave.; Jackie Bergevan, Joseph Street; and Donna Shafer of Center Hill Road. Jay Pope will continue as director for the summer program. Other business brought before the meeting ran the gamut from tractors to electronic speeding detection devices. Council mem- bers listened as Willard Newberry presented the police report, part of which dealt with obtaining a ‘’speed check,” to eliminate the speeding problem in the borough. According to Newberry, Dallas and Kingston . Townships utilize the speed check and ‘Dallas Township made a lot of money with it”. He continued ‘‘the borough will not anticipate buying one for making money, as the police department will not abuse it.”’ New- berry tried to borrow the one owned by Dallas Township on sort of a trial basis, but the supervisors said no’). According to Newberry, a Dallas Township police officials sells the devices, which cost between $900 to $1,000. Councilman Young said Dallas Township caught speeders with the speed check and then got publicity for ‘‘abuse of it.” Newberry said he wants it “to eliminate a problem” and “it will ay ~ not be abused’’ as ‘‘abuse is up to the men who use it.” This last comment was made after Machell said that while the borough has residents who speed, he doesn’t like to see people in town harassed. He also asked council to consider being more careful financially this year terming the speed check a ‘big investment.” Finally, council compromised, deciding to obtain one on a 30-day trial basis and ar- range for council to try iyt first- hand. The police report for April proved most enlightening, with six criminal arrests for such offenses as underage drinking; retail theft; and scattering of rubbish. Also, the police investigated five thefts and three bomb threats, according to Newberry’s report. (Most of the police activity was not acknowledged in weekly replies to press inquiries.) Many Dallas Borough residents are following the lead of the borough in it’s beautification ef- forts, according to the written report of Drew Fitch, zoning of- ficer. Ralph Garris, borough secretary, read the list of building permits issued at last Tuesday's council meeting. They were as follows: Ernest Gay, $2,000, new aluminum siding; Ronald Post, Main Street, $3,000 for reroofing; William Berti, remodel porch at 44 Franklin St. $200; John Rothschild, Lake Street, new roof, $4,500; August Walters, Memorial Highway, repair roof, $200; Jack Kratz, Elizabeth St., remodel porch ‘at $900; Robert Brown, Hickory St., new eaves, $1,000; Thomas Cease, Franklin Street, new concrete steps, $900; Anthony Rende, 8 Hickory St., $1,400 for new eaves and Wayne Koch of Huntsville Road, $10,000 for a new swimming pool. 8
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