BOX
Vol. 95, No. zo
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Welcome home!
Dallas Post/Ed Campbell
coop in the yard.
Not muc
free’
By WALLY By WALLY KOCHER
~ Staff Correspondent
. It’s true that during a tornado
one’s main concerns should be for
the safety of others and then for the
protection of home and property.
But, after it’s all over, and everyone
is ‘safe, it's time. to realize yet
another ‘result comes from such
devastation — BILLS!
Harveys Lake Borough and its
residents are faced with the prob-
lem of where they are going to
obtain all the necessary funds to
pay all those bills. Several meetings
have been held to discuss this, and
John Yenason, Borough Council
President, has explained to The
Dallas Post just what options are
available.
“Right now, we're getting abso-
lutely no funding outside of county
assistance,’ he said. ‘All state pro-
grasms are out of the question.
We're not classified as a state of
emergency.”
One state program originally con-
sidered was a plan that would allow
affected residents to apply for a low
@ interest rate loan. However, there
“Twas a condition to the plan. Among
the more than 60 homes that were
damaged, 25 of them had to have
damage equaling at least 40 percent
of the home's value.
“We didn’t have that kind of
damage, which is a blessing,” said
Yenason. “Most of the damage was
At prison
done "to trees and we won't be
getting free funds for that, either.
We are, however, getting a lot of
cooperation from the Bridge and
Road Department and other county
agencies for clean up. They have
given us their machines and men to
aid with the clean up at no cost.’
According to Yenason, the bor-
ough contracted tree surgeons to
remove eight trees which were clas-
sified as being either life-threaten-
ing or threatening to someone’s
home.
“We're also looking into other
agencies for help,” commented the
council president. ‘For example,
we've inquired to see if the Agency
for Aging will help out those elderly
residents on social security and
those who are retired. We've also
called an agency in Wilkes-Barre
called Interfaith. We understand
they help disaster victims."
A spokeswoman from Interfaith,
however, reported it is doubtful that
organization will be able to help
lake residents.”
“We used to do that kind of
work,” she said, ‘but now we would
have to be subcontracted by the
county and I doubt very much if we
would be able to do anything for
them.”
“As of this moment, we aren’t
getting any free money," said Yena-
son. “Only low interest rate loans
provided by the County Community
Development are now available.”
By WALLY KOCHER
Staff Correspondent
Too often, a group of citizens will
go to its area representatives with a
complaint, only to be buried in red
tape or to be told flat out that
nothing can be done to help them
di their problem. Discouraged,
they give up, and retreat. This was
not the case, however, with the
Citizens’ Committe for the State
Correctional Institution at Dallas.
Mrs. Pat Rusiloski, president of
the citizen's committee, explained
how the group was formed.
“The committee began in Novem-
ber of 1982,” Mrs. Rusiloski said.
“At that time, there had already
been three escapes from the prison
that year. It was ridiculous. Prison-
ers were transported in open trucks
right past my house with no guards
in the back with them. My little girl
was frightened to go out to the mail
box because the prisoners would
yell at her as they rode by.
“1 went to the local officials and
asked if it would be possible to
arrange a meeting so that the citi-
J rn tA wb
what was going on,” she continued.
“I was told that nothing could be
done. I didn’t believe that, so I
made up a petition iod got 1,000
signatures on it. I sent it to Senator
Frank O’Connell, and he arranged a
meeting for us. He asked us to set
up a committee of seven people for
the meetings."
Rusiloski isn’t in the least bit
afraid to list the young groups’
accomplishments.
‘“‘Before our committee was
formed, lifers (those in prison on a
life sentence) were allowed to work
outside of the prison,” she said.
“This is no longer the case. The
trucks that transported the prison-
ers for the various reasons are now
covered, also. And most impor-
tantly, there hasn't been one escape
from. the prison since we've
formed."
Joseph Ryan, superintendent at
the prison, is one of the committee’s
biggest supporters.
“The committee has been very
helpful to us,” he said. “They help a
great deal by just bringing their
concerns to the legislators. I think
the legislators are more inclined to
listen to their constituents than us.”
Queen contestants
By WALLY KOCHER
Staff Correspondent
property?
fire,
owners’ policy?
Slocum,
contestants for the contest.
Citizens group
Kathryn Drapiewski,
Ginger Spencer.
Proof of the committee's import-
ance was shown at their most
recent meeting. Randall Kuzminski,
from Senator O’Connell’s office,
reported on the passage of State Bill
985 in which Senator O'Connell
included lump sum funding for a
security fence, a new siren, a guard
tower, increased outside lighting,
and a modification to the main gate
at the prison. It was also understood
by the committee that Representa-
tive Hasay is working toward addi-
tional funds for siren improvement
through the state budget.
Also, during the meeting, the
results from the siren test con-
ducted in April were discussed. The
“siren’” which is actually a steam
whistle could only be heard in one
direction for approximately one
mile.
“I live right behind the prison,”
said Rusiloski, “and I could only
hear the siren when I was outside,
not when I was inside.”
Both Ryan and Kuzminski agreed
that the siren test and the test
report which followed were of great
value in Jusiying funds Tecassary
for such a project. Ryan will be
initiating procedures to implement
the above projects immediately but
reminded the committee the proce-
dures are time-consuming and could
not predict completion dates.
Another important issue brought
up at the meeting was that of the
rising prison population.
“There's no question about it,"
said Ryan, ‘the prison is over-
crowded. It was designed to accom-
modate 960 inmates, not 1,545 like
we have now."
According to Ryan, a few projects
are underway to help ease the
pressure of the new maximum
capacity. Cells built to hold one
prisoner now hold two. Two new cell
blocks are being constucted, and the
state is leasing modules at $10,000
per module a month to hold the
extra inmates.
If you would like to learn more
about the Citizen's Committee for
the State Correctional Institute at
Dallas, or would like to become an
Alternate Committee Member, con-
However,
“In general,
done.”
fallen tree.”
’ said
eliminated it,”
100 percent."
he said.
he continued,
“Right now, there is a
ver Area; Karen Evans,
Wyoming Area; Lisa Gian-
GAR; Jenifer Baran,
and Jolene Andrejewski,
By ANN DEVLIN
Staff Correspondent
The annual Elderhostel program
held recently at College Misericor-
dia means a great deal to older
citizens, as it offers them intellec-
tual stimulation and physical adven-
ture.
‘However, the program holds a
Carrier honored
ipants Helen and David Welsh, as
anniversary at this year’s event.
The Welshes have attended the
Elderhostel program at Misericor-
dia for the past three years. Each
sary here. The first year, Mrs.
(See HOSTEL, page 8)
the son of Mr. and Mrs.
the presentation are, from
Dallas Post.
Bs
Jean Brutko, circulation