. The question raised by Dallas
School Board Director Joseph
O'Donnell at the Jan. 10 meeting of
. the school board was certainly a
‘legitimate one. O’Donnell requested
information concerning the status
of director Harry Lefko.
O'Donnell expressed his concern
‘at the number of meetings missed
‘by his fellow director during the
«past year. Several other board
‘members have expressed their con-
cern with Lefko’s frequent absence,
reported to be nine out of the past 12
regular meetings.
Their primary concern is that on
‘several occasions during the past
year, many major issues could have
‘been settled with less delay and
‘argument, if all members had been
present.
Despite Board President William
.Camp’s statement that he had dis-
cussed the absence with Lefko and
that Lefko indicated he was inter-
Of course I'm a law-abiding
citizen and more, I make a living at
reporting the law--or incidents of its
being broken. Ironically, it is
seldom news when we abide by the
law. But break it, and the whole
world knows.
Exaggeration or not, the abuse of
criminal law is a very serious thing.
Working for a hometown news-
paper, however, I am rarely in a
position to report what might be
termed heavy crime. Rather I am
privy to large doses of minor of-
fenses--primarily traffic type.
Our society is strongly dependent
upon its automobiles. In an area
our vehicles almost indispensable.
We drive to the store, because the
nearest one is nearly a mile away.
We drive to church for the same
reason. We drive to work, to play, to
the theatre, and to visit friends.
lane paved roads, some in very
good condition and others,
deplorable.
I believe I am like many drivers
in the community in my attitudes
ountain. I have so often reported
Only Yesterday
work prohibited his attendance, this
did not satisfy some of the directors
nor did it satisfy most members in
the audience.
Director Ernest Ashbridge’s
remarks that it was too bad Lefko
could not attend more regularly
because his long tenure and ex-
pertise would be helpful with so
many new members on the board
did nothing to appease the troubled
directors nor taxpayers.
We believe that, when elected to a
municipal office such as school
board director, councilman or
supervisor, it is assumed that the
elected officials recognizes he or
she has a responsibility to attend all
meetings (or at least the majority
of meetings) and take an active
part in resolving problems, evalua-
ting and deciding major issues.
It should also be the role of an
experienced official to assist the
newer elected official in the
on the hazards of Route 309 that I
have become quite attuned to its
several speed changes. As a
reporter, I championed the lowered
speed limits through Dallas and
Kingston Township, and after a
time became accustomed to
obeying them.
While my Chevrolet is quite
capable of traveling at 35 mph from
Center Street in Shavertown to
center of Dallas, it takes on a differ-
ent personality when it hits Hunts-
ville Road or Pioneer Avenue.
Remember, I am a law-abiding
citizen. I believe in courtesy of the
road. I know we must do our part to
maintain the laws which are there
for our protection. To add to my
guilt, I have often snickered while
typing an accident story in which a
driver is cited for driving too fast,
or going through a stop sign. My
inclination is to think '‘‘How silly!
Someone could have been Killed.
What was his hurry?’
Well, my cockiness was brought
home to haunt me very sharply last
week as I left the Dallas Post
building and started home. I had
tarried too long at the office (loving
my job as I do), and knew I would
responsibilities of his position and
encourage him to learn all phases of
a school district or municipal
operation, not discourage him.
Personalities should play no part
in fulfilling the office to which a
person is elected. An elected of-
ficial’s obligation is to serve the
taxpayers of the community-those
electors who put him or her in office
as their representative.
We realize that a person’s work is
important to him as is his family.
After all, the family is the heart of
democracy. We also believe that if a
person cannot fulfill his obligation
and responsibility to the electors
because his work, illness or other
personal reasons prohibit him from
attending meetings and work
sessions, that person should resign
his position so that it can be filled by
someone who has the time and,
perhaps, the interest in serving the
electorate in the manner which is
expected.
have to make tracks to arrive home
before the school bus deposited my
children. How many of us are
familiar with that scene?
I didn’t think twice as I slid
through the stop sign at the top of
Center Hill Road and turned onto
Sterling Avenue. But it’s only four.
months since I wrote for the Post,
that residents in the area were con- +
cerned about speeders there. Dallas
police said the problem stemmed
from drivers failing to observe that
very stop sign.
In my concentration to get home,
I also recall giving Pinecrest’
Avenue an extra shot of fuel. Pine-
crest Avenue , where youngsters of
all ages can be seen playing or
hanging around regularly.
It occurred to me no sooner than
the five corners at Huntsville. I was
worrying more about making it
home quickly than I was about how
I was driving. At this rate, I'd be
lucky to make it home at all.
Considering I am not the only
person who has taken advantage of
the familiarity of my surroundings,
supposing I should come head on
against another harried, hurried
driver? As we all know, there are
many of us, law-abiding citizens, so
50 Years Ago - Feb. 3, 1933
Gene Gabriel, former manager of
Hotel Redington, leased the Castle
Inn. Gabriel, who had also served
as manager of the Hazel Inn at
Bear Creek, planned to serve all
types of sea food, chicken and steak
dinners. A four piece orchestra
would play every night for dancing.
Deaths--Rev. Joseph Sullivan,
flying priest; Wilhelmenia Krause,
CE
VER ee eee
You could get--Eggs 23c carton:
THE
DALLAS POST
(USPS 147-720)
Advertising, Editorial,
Circulation and Production
Office
61 Gerald Ave.,
Dallas, Pa. 18612
(inthe Jean Shop building)
To Subscribe
orPlacea
Classified Ad,
Call
675-5211 or 825-6868
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
25‘ on newsstand;
*12peryearinPa.,
$14 out of state
paid in advance
J. Stephen Buckley, Publisher
Rick Shannon,
Associate Publisher & Editor
Mary Ann Kelly, Assoc. Editor
Charlot Denmon, News Editor
Mike Danowski, Advertising Rep.
Sheila Hodges, Circulation Mgr.
Rod Kaye & Mark Moran,
Photographers
An independent newspaper
published each Wednesday by Pen-
naprint, Inc., from 61 Gerald Ave.,
P.O. Box 366, Dallas, Pa. 18612. En-
tered as second class matter at the
post office in Dallas, Pa. under the act
of March 3, 1889.
POSTMASTER: If undeliverable, send
form 3579 to P.O. Box 366, Dallas, Pa.
18612. -
grape nuts 17¢ pkg.; rice 3 1b. 10c;
peaches 10c 1b.
40 Years Ago - Feb. 5, 1943
Mr. and Mrs. Gustave Adler,
Shavertown received word that
their son, Private First Class
Melvin Adler of the United States
Marine Corps had been wounded in
action and was a patient in a Pacific
hospital. Corporal Clarence H.
Morgan, son of Heddie Morgan,
Demunds Road was reported a
prisoner of war of the Japanese
government in the Philippines.
Married--Elva B. Knecht to
Gomer Elston.
Deaths--Catherine Mattern
Miller, Trucksville; Harry
Rhoades, Dallas.
You could get--Chickens 33c 1b.;
sausage 35c lb.; liver pudding 25c
1b.; halibut steak 35¢ lb.; Ivory
soap, 4 med. bars 25¢; rolled oats 20
oz. box 8c.
30 Years Ago - Feb. 6, 1953
Dr. Sherman Schooley Blood
Donor Day at Dallas Borough
School broke the record for Back
Mountain donations with 141
registered.
H.W. Risley was elected presi-
dent of the Back Mountain
Memorial Library Association
succeeding Frances Dorrance.
Engaged--Christa Marie Anderes
to Francis Beline; Doris Marion
Grey to Richard Schooley;
Kathleen Anne Guyette to William ~
Nelson.
Married--Mary Ellen Humphreys
to Thomas Franklin; Romaine
Latimer to Paul Kunkle.
Anniversaries--Mr. and Mrs.
William F. Myers, 56 years.
Deaths--Maude Keller, Shaver-
town.
You could get--Mince meat pies
+39c ea.; cauliflower 25¢ hd.; 3 cans
dog food 29¢; oleo 2 1b. 47c.
20 Years Ago - Feb. 7, 1963
Dallas Women’s Club, senior and
junior divisions, spearheaded a
proposal for a community building
to serve all organizations in the
Back Mountain. Chairman of the
community project, Mrs. Francis
Ambrose, suggested that all area
organizations adopt this common
goal. Delegates from Dallas
Rotary, Dallas Lions, Dallas
Kiwanis, American Legion, PTA
Council, Architects Association,
YMCA, were among those
organizations interested in the idea.
Married--Janice M. Thompson to
James L. Wertman; Doris
The electorate of a community or
district owes no elected official
another term of office because of
tenure or past interest but elects
based on whom is best able to serve
the needs of a community or dis-
trict.
In today’s society, electors
throughout the country are inter-
ested only in what is being done for
them now, by whom and how
responsibly. Attendance at 25 per-
cent of the meetings is not con-
sidered a responsible action by
those taxpayers who elected a man
to office. An oath of office to serve a
trust is taken by an elected official.
That oath cannot be fulfilled by
continuous absenteeism. The
electorate of the Dallas School
District wants directors who are
able to attend and actively partici-
pate. Absentee interest does not
fairly represent the concerns of
teachers, administration, tax-
payers or students.
often in a hurry, traveling the back
roads with boring regularity.
I would not consider burglary,
theft, premeditated murder,
assault, embezzlement, vandalism
or even littering. The litter bag in
my car is usually the size of a
shopping bag.
Why can I thoughtlessly and
foolishly, and yes, dangerously,
drive 3,000 pounds of steel (and
plastic--it’s a new car) over road-
ways fraught with sharp curves,
eroding shoulders and other rushing
autos. Should a stranger to the area
travel in such a manner I'd be
appalled.
As law-abiding goes, so many
other instances which appear in-
significant individually cause
confusion and hazard when
thoughtlessly repeated by us locals,
one-way signs; as those directing
traffic on Dallas school property;
no parking restrictions; handi-
capped parking zones and fire
lanes; and yellow dividing lines in
the center of the road, to name a
few. :
I am not admitting guilt to each of
the above offenses. Remember, like
you, I am a law-abiding citizen.
of war
Casterline to Drew Fitch; Elizabeth
Newman Keefer to Bernard Corby.
Deaths--James Steinruck, Sor-
bertown; Marion S. Weidner,
Dallas; Kenneth Cuddy, Noxen;
Alvah Wilson, Shavertown.
You could get--Forty Fort Dairy
Ice Cream 88c 2 gal.; fresh green
beans 19c¢ lb.; bananas 10c lb.; Fab
detergent 19 oz., pkg. 30c.
10 Years Ago - Feb. 1, 1973
Act 372, providing for state reim-
bursement to school districts which
bus children who live within 1%
miles of the school and who must
walk along hazardous roadways,
was passed by the state legislature.
Dallas business manager Thomas
Jenkins, said that the act would
have far-reaching effects, since the
district had a great number of
students who walked to school along
roads without sidewalks.
Married--Karen Jane Vaughn to
Brent A. Smith.
Deaths--Edgar Hall, Tunk-
hannock; G. Wayne King, Meeker;
Arminda Woolbert, Shavertown;
Catherine Coleman, Dallas.
You could get--Smoked hams 59¢
1b.; chicken leg quarters 39c 1b.;
Bounty paper towels 3 jumbo rolls
$1; eggs 59c¢ doz.; oranges 69c doz.
Driving the back streets of the
area has been a real treat since last
week’s snow storm. Without a
doubt, living in the Back Mountain
is a true test of one’s winter driving
ability. After the major portion of
snow is cleared from the highways
it quickly becomes apparent that
caution must remain the key word
behind the wheel. Icy patches,
strips of snowy roadway and ex-
ceedingly small clearances are the
rule rather than the exception. Just
as a word of warning, don’t let the
fact that it hasn’t snowed in several
days encourage your foot on the gas
pedal. The roads in many areas of
the community remain treacher-
ous.
-0-
And to our neighbor who recently
returned to Burger King to have an
order correction made--we under-
stand. It appears the woman had
purchased an order of food from
McDonald’s to take home to her
family. Upon arrival at her domain,
she noted the order was short one
double cheeseburger and an order
of fries. In her frustration at the slip
up, she jumped back into her car,
drove to Burger King and con-
fronted the manager with the
problem. He obligingly provided the
missing items and offered them at
no charge to the disgruntled
customer. It was not until she
arrived at her home once again that
one of her offspring pointed out she
had complained to the wrong
burger palace.
.O:
For those of you who may
question the phone caller claiming
to be soliciting subscriptions from
the Dallas Post, that person is,
indeed, legitimate. The Post has
callers reminding residents that it
is far better to subscribe to the
newspaper then to try and
remember to buy it on the news-
stand every week. Think about it. It
is less expensive to subscribe than
to pay weekly and a subscription
guarantees you will not be disap-
pointed by finding the Post sold out,
or in the event, you forget to stop for
it.
: <0:
Oh, the power of the press! If you
don’t believe it, just ask Jackson
Township’s Pat Rusiloski. Pat
found it very difficult to get the ear
of township officials or state law-
makers when she originally at-
tempted to get the State Corrections
Institute Citizen Committee un-
derway. However, once the media
took an interest in her activities,
state and local officials came
around very quickly. It is presently
at a point where the committee and
its recommendations are taken
very seriously by everyone.
For example, Sen. Frank
O’Connell recently sent information
on funding for a township-wide
siren system for use during prison
escapes. The system was suggested
by the committee as a more effect-
ive means of notifying citizens when
a prisoner breaks out of the Chase
Institute. While the prison itself
does not have funds for such an
investment, and it is costly, the
Federal Emergency Management
Agency provides 50 percent
financing for eligible
municipalities. O’Connell recom-
mended Jackson Township contact
the Luzerne County Commissioners
from Mak |
and work through the County
Emergency Management Office if a
decision is made to purchase a
three-signal warning siren.
O’Connell is also keeping a close
eye on state budget funding to in-
sure sufficient monies are made
available for further staff additions
at the prison. He does not anticipate:
budget adoption until July, how-.
ever. !
-0-
Bob Bayer, as Dallas Post
readers now know, was re-elected
president of the Fall Fair Associa-
tion for 1983. For his second year in
office, Bob anticipates even greater
growth within the organization and
in its benefits to the community.
£Y
ing local ambulance units which
purchase antennas for their
vehicles. The antenna will allow for
direct vehicle-to-vehicle com-
munication between the Back
Mountain Mobile Intensive Care
ambulance and the local unit. It-will
also facilitate use of the local ambu-
lances by the paramedics.
Fall Fair will continue its work on
improving the Medical Center
facility and is in touch with Nesbitt
Hospital for that purpose. Nesbitt is
still assessing the need for radio-
logy and physical therapy services
at the Route 118 location. As Bob ex-
plained, Nesbitt makes the deter-
mination based on the number of
patients living in the general
vacinity.
Fall Fair is also talking to other
people in the medical profession
about locating offices in the Center.
Dr. Maria McGrane set up her
practice there and Bob said others
have expressed interest.
But, on the big question, he
refused comment. Who will chair
year’s chairman, Bob Kelley, is not
going to do it again. Bob figures
decision will be made by the end of
the month. As soon as I know, I'll
note it in this column.
-0-
If you are plagued by boredom,
chances are you haven't discovered
the excitement awaiting you in the
wonderful world of books at the
Back Mountain Memorial Library.
You can’t be bored when you're
learning new hobbies, reading
about far-away places, or studying
to complete your education.
New books at the library: ‘‘Fire-
places And Wood Stoves” by the
editors of Time-Life books offers
homeowners detailed instructions
on repairs, construction and im-
provements they can undertake
themselves. From repairing stoves,
flues and dampers to building a
brick fireplace.
“Life Sentences’ by Elizabeth
woman in aliberted time acknow-
ledging her interdependence. The
results are at once poignant and
devastating, comforting and provo-
cative, but above all unforgettable.
Three women renew their loyalties.
“Saigon” by Anthony Grey, is an
epic story of an American named
Joseph Sherman and his lifelong
obsession with the fighting, the
women, and the oriental mysteries
in Vietnam. The story makes us feel
we have fought and loved and lived
a dozen lives and finally under-
stood.
& Tellin’
Ei
RRR
Karen Washicosky,
Trucksville: ‘‘I
prefer to sit inside
and stay warm.”’
Richard Lewis, Mt.
Zion: ‘Give me hun- ~~ Lehman-Jackson third veys Lake: ‘‘My Shavertown: ‘‘I’1l
ting.”’ grader: ‘‘I love favorite is take sitting by the
sleighriding.”’ snowmobiling.”’ fire, watching the,
flames dance.’’
Chris Mazur,
Chase: ‘‘I’ll stay in
the house, until it’s
time to start training
for track. Then I
“have to be outside
whether I like it or
not.”’ =
6
kj
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3