8 BRIGHTON BINDERY C0 BOX B34 BRIGHTOM, Ia Vol. 9. No. 18 25 Cents Shelves destroyed By JUDIE MATHERS Staff Writer When the Back Mountain’ Memorial Library opened the doer, fo its new home just a few months ago, the community rejoiced and was proud. The long-term efforts of the many residents who had joined together and worked for a common goal had paid off. But, now the beautiful facility (which is still not even completed) has become the target of vandalism. Over the past month and a half, what may amount to thousands of dollars of damage has been done to the former elementary school build and the library property stored next to it. “It’s so disheartening,” says Ernest Ashbridge, Jr., President of the Library Board. “We’ve all worked so hard to get the new library. It isn’t even finished yet, but now we're having to spend the precious dollars we need for completion on repairs and clean-up. Even the most ardent supporters are losing heart!” According to Bill Frederick, head librarian, prob- lems began about 12 months ago when someone smashed in a basement door. “Nothing was taken and there was no further damage,” Frederick said, “so we bricked up that entrance.” ~ That was just the start of things to come, however. Since then, several units of shelving that were stored against the rear of the building have been reduced to useless rubble. “We didn't i building but they were functional @nd attractive units” stated Fredericks. “We stored them behind the building with plans to sell many of them at our next auction and use the rest for auction displays. Not only have we lost the money we planned on getting from selling the shelves,” he continued, “but we have to waste many man-hours out there daily cleaning up the mess.” the boards to make forts and stuff,” said Ed Lyons, Jr., who is in charge of library maintenance. “When this first started, there were a few boards scattered around, but it’s gotten progressively worse.” At this point, the damage to the library has gone well beyond the ruined shelving. A white ticket booth on wheels that has traditionally been part of the library auction is completely ruined. All that remains of the familiar sight is two large wheels and an axle. The paved area on the far side and rear of the building is covered with broken fragments of glass Cleaning up Dallas Post/Ed Campbell Program to rid his property of unsightly trash. Dallas Post/Judie Mathers bottles that the vandals began smashing last month. Now the damage has spread to include graffiti that is beginning to cover the blind side and rear of the building: : " “There isn’t much sense in cleaning up the mess every day just to find it there again in the morning,” Rin ket Frederick “We want it stopped. We're not only: concerned about the damage and loss to the library, we’re concerned over the safety of the kids, too. ‘We had wanted to let neighborhood children continue to use the playground area that’s here, but we've been forced into a position where we’re going to have to post ‘no trespassing’ signs and enforce them. It’s just a shame.” “Reports of the vandalism have been made to Borough police,” said Ed Lyons, Jr., “and they've been very helpful. They’ve increased patrols of the area and made several recommendations which include installing dusk to dawn lighting. Of course, that’s another considerable expense that the library just doesn’t need right now. It would seem that if the community pitched in, reported any trespassers and if parents would cooperate in keeping an eye on their children, we might not need to take this kind of The Dallas Post slates Crime Watch meeting The Dallas Post, in a continuing effort fo respond to the needs and concerns of the Back Mountain pmunity, is sponsoring a Neighborhood Crime neeting tomorrow evening, May 16, at 7 3. at the Dallas Senior High School Auditorium. © Urge any residents who have an interest in the security and well-being of themselves and their | neighbors to take advantage of this opportunity to find out what is involved in a neighborhood crime _ watch and how to get a crime watch organized, Luzerne County District Attorney Robert Gilles- pie and Elmer Bradshaw, chairman of the Luzerne County Crime Watch Association, will present a brief program and will be available to answer any questions. They will also gladly lend their assist ance to any persons wishing to organize a crime watch in their neighborhood. a Local police departments of the boroughs and townships in the Back Mountain area have endorsed this program and will provide their full action.” Claims trucks cause cooperation. damage By JUDIE MATHERS Staff Writer The recently formed Citizen’s Committee of Kingston Township Area, at the regular meeting of the Township supervisors last Wednes- day, again voiced objections to operations they claim are being conducted by John Brdaric, owned of Brdaric Excavating Company. This time the complaints were aimed at Brdaric’s dump trucks and the alleged destruction resulting to township and state roads from the heavy equipment. The committee, formed in opposi- tion to Brdaric’s dumping activities, is comprised of about 40 families in the Township who fear their drink- ing water may eventually be con- taminated through the dumping. “Most of us have wells,” says Jim Keller, vice president of the group. “We get our water through the ground and we see things in the news every day about how dumping can eventually ruin the water. We want to protect ours. We don’t want to deprive any individual of his liviihood, but we want to protect one of our valuable resources.” At the supervisor’s meeting, the group requested that weight limits be put on Dug Rd., Atherholt Rd., and Bunker Hill Road. Bill Ringenbach, president of CCKTA, presented the supervisors with a chunk of macadam that he claims flew up out of the road and struck him on the leg. “The trucks are creating some dangerous situations” Ringenbach said. ‘“The Township has already spent $2,000 for an initial survey of those roads. Let’s put it to use and post the roads with weight limit limitations.” According to Mark Kunkle, man- ager of Kingston Township, it isn’t that simple. He explained to The Dallas Post that the weight limits suggested in the initial survey are just one engineer’s opinion. They wouldn’t necessarily stand up in court. “The CCKTA suggested, then, continued. ‘‘That is extremely costly, because it involves a scien- tific survey of core samples taken at various intervals from the roads. PennDOT is in the process of con- ducting a weight restriction study on Bunker Hill road, which is a state road now at the request of the LE out that those roads can’t accomo- prevent Brdaric from using them, we have to provide alternate routes. You can’t block a man’s access to his property.” According to Kunkle, there may be an alternative worth considering. It is known as road-bonding. A relatively new concept, road- bonding is a process whereby roads are brought up to a certain stan- dard. Once that standard is reached, companies that use the roads with equipment that exceed a recommended weight limit put up an insurance bond. If the roads deteriorate too quickly, the insur- ance must pay for the damage. Kingston Township Spring Clean- up is now almost over, and most residents seem to like the way it was conducted this year. Instead of residents laying out their trash beside the road and having the township pick it up, several large dumpsters were placed at the town- ship maintenance building. Resi- dents who had trash could take it to the dumpsters for disposal. According to the township super- visors, the clean-up was conducted in this manner for several reasons. “First of all,’’said township man- ager Mark Kunkle, “last year when people laid their trash along the mess going through it. One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure, I guess. It took a lot of man-hours to clean it up. rv “Secondly, last year we sorted the. trash, burning what we could then taking the tin and aluminum to be recycled,”” Kunkle added. ‘‘This year D.E.R. said we couldn’t do the burning and that we couldn’t store debris without a permit. That forced the township to look for some other alternatives.” Some criticism was voiced to the supervisors from the Citizen’s Com- mittee of Kingston Township area, but rather than being aimed at what is being done, the objection was geared to what they feel is not being done. Jim Keller, vice-president of the group explained, ‘‘We appreciate the effort the township is making to help keep our neighborhoods clean, but we’re looking for additional help from somewhere. The clean-up pro- gram does not allow people to rid themselves of large appliances and we have a problem with that. “Many people dispose of this kind of garbage over banks along our roadsides,’”’ he added. “It creates a terrible eyesore. The township has helped in the past when we have gotten together to conduct our own clean-up by lending us their trucks, but the removal of these large appliances is dangerous and we would like to have their help with that too. Since they won’t allow this type of refuse to be put in the dumpsters, it may encourage even more people to use the roadside for a dump.” — JUDIE MATHERS charges of simple assault and criminal trespassing. forehead. furniture in the apartment. cause of the argument. each. Inside The Post Calendar .......... 19,20 Classified ..... 21,22,23 Commentary ......... 6 Cookbook ............... Crossword ............. Dear Aunt Patty .... District Court ........ Obituaries ............. People ........ 8,9,10,11 Police Blotter ........3 School .............. 17,18 Sports ...... 13,14,15,16 BO OW =~] A » 4 of
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