Vol. 96, No. 34 By JOHN F. KILDUFF Staff writer Construction of a new public restroom facility and additional parking space at the Pennsylvania Fish Commission’s Public Access Area next to Old Sandy Bottom on Harveys Lake is underway. PFC officials say completion of the project should be within six weeks. Current construction plans include a modern public restroom facility capable of servicing five people at a time with running water and a new layer of pavement extending from the end of the old parking lot outward to the edge of Lake Side Drive, directly across from the Gulf service station. The construction, said Eugene Smith, chief of con- struction and maintenance at the PFC’s headquarters for engineering and construction in Pleasant Gap, Pennsylvania, is right on schedule and area fishermen and boaters should be able to launch in mid October. “The work is right on schedule and everything looks good for October launching,” Smith said. “If we do not run into any major problems with equipment or weather we should finish up within six weeks.” The new restroom facility will rest on a 14x25 foot concrete foundation and will include three stalls and two sinks in both the women and men’s sides. The facilty will also have a small porch attached. According to Smith, the restroom facility will be connected to the Harveys Lake sewer system and will be maintained by Harveys Lake borough. Construction of the new parking area includes a new surface coating of one inch of black-top over the entire launch area. The new parking space, said Smith, has been in demand for over ten years. “The PFC and even Harveys Lake borough officials new we needed additional parking at this launch for over ten years,” said Smith. “This launch is one of only three public boat launch areas on the entire lake. It definitly needed to be expanded,” Smith said. Smith said the construction of additional parking space was also warrented by the ever increasing growth of Harveys Lake recreation crowds. “The number of people who fish, swim or boat on Harveys Lake has been increasing dramatically over the years,” Smith said. “You have more year-round residents than you ever did before and many more summer visitors.” During construction the launch will be open sporadi- cally and will be closed primarly on the days the new blacktop is applied. During the days the launch is closed, fishermen and boaters can launch their boats through the Harveys Lake borough access road located along side the Lakeview Inn, accros from Old Noxen road. Boaters using the borough’s access road, are asked not to park along side the road but rather to park in Hanson’s parking lot. A $1 parking fee will be assessed. Sunset Marina will also boat launching for a $3 charge during the week and $5 on weekends. iil ga iy J el TRE HARVEYS LAKE AHR RE EL LR Dallas Post/John F. Kilduff expand the parking lot. some leads,” Shaver said. Shaver also said Philade clphia Medical Examiner Dr. Reber Catherman, discovered nothing which would indicate the man’s a was suspicious. Catherman was called in last week by Luzerne County Coroner Dr. George Hudock to examine the “severly decomposed body.” Catherman determined the body was a male, ately 50 to 60 years old, weighing between 130 and 160 pounds. Shaver said the only thing unique about the body was a single “cap” on one of only four teeth in the man’s lower jaw. The body had no upper teeth and had grayish-brown hair. The body was first discovered shortly before noon on Aug. 19 by two Pennsylvania Department of Transportation bridge inspectors who were conducting a routine inspection of the bridge. Anyone with information can contact state police at 287-2185. Although boating fatalities are down consider- ably over this same ‘period last year, Pémsyh vania Fish Commission (PFC) boating safety specialists say many of this year’s fatalities could have been prevented if the proper personal flotation devices (PFDs) were worn. In analyzing the 1985 boating fatality list, which logged 12 killed as opposed to 20 at this same time last year, commission officials deter- mined that those killed were either not wearing a PFD or did not have one readily available aboard their boat. “Generally speaking,” said PFC boating spe- cialist Joe Green, ‘85 to 90 percent of the people killed probably could have survived if they were wearing a PFD.” “Our studies indicate that those killed did not have them (PFDs) on or readily available as required by law,” said Greene from his Harris- burg office Friday. Greene said Pennsylvania law does not require a boater to be wearing a PFD, but that one must be available onboard the boat. PFDs strapped to boat seats are considered illegal because they are not ‘readily available’ in the event of an emergency. “The law says you do not have to be wearing a PFD,” Greene said, “but we found that smaller boats, which are less stable, are the ones which usually run into problems.” In addition to the problem of people not using PFDs, Greene said many of the fatalities occur quring what is considered the “non-traditional bo ing Seas »” A “We see a oi of poating Sotto happening out of the traditional boating season,’’ Greene said. “Prior to May and after September when the water temperature drops, that is when the cold water takes its toll on accident victims,” said Greene. “If a person falls or is knocked from his boat,” said Greene, “the cold water during the so-called non-traditional boating season causes people to pass-out quicker.” “That is exactly why,” said Greene, “when conditions warrent it, people should be wearing their PFD. It could save their life.” By JOHN F. KILDUFF Staff writer The Harveys Lake Environmental Advis- _ory Council (EVAC) held its first official .. public meeting last Thursday night and it 9 became apparent after the meeting that public awareness of water quality problems and sufficient funding for clean-up work are the main barriers it confronts. The meeting introduced the new EVAC { members and opened with a statement of i purpose read by EVAC secretary Georgine Petroskas. He said ‘‘the Harveys Lake Environmental Advisory Council was formed on July 24 by the borough council for the purpose of advising the local government (Harveys Lake) on the preser- vation, protection and conservation of the territories within Harveys Lake.” EVAC had met on six previous occas- sions in special work sessions to organize the 11-man council. Out of those work sessions spawned an Education Committee, relations committee and an ecological study group. The education committee, chaired by advisor Joseph Moran, Harveys Lake, has already . mailed more than 2,300 fund- raising pamphlets to Harveys Lake prop- erty owners. EVAC treasurer Rachael Dziak reported that the EVAC has $673.13 in its coffers. Recent cost estimates of needed year- round water quality testing at Harveys Lake suggest funding levels between $40,- 000 to $60,000 a year are required. The EVAC has looked into federal fund- ing from the Clean Lakes Program (CLP), administered by the Environmental Protec- tion Agency. The application process for CLP money is broken into two phases. Phase one of the CLP, which was started in 1981, requires the lake community to institute a study of the suspected water quality problem and to place the problem lake on the CLP’s priority list. Phase two then utilizes the CLP funds to implement whatever water quality solution plans which have been determined to clean- up the lake water. Harveys Lake is on the CLP priority list, Scott said, but 1985 funding for the CLP phase one stage is no longer available. There are current legislative plans, accord- ing to Scott, to possibly shift excess funds available in the phase two stage to phase one. Scott said when the EVAC does apply for the CLP phase one funding they (EVAC) will already have completed the water testing requirements based on EVAC advi- sor Dr. Charles Reif’s academic studies on Harveys Lake over the past decade. Once the EVAC has properly applied for the CLP funding through phase one, fund- ing will be determined on a 70-30 percent level, with the EVAC contributing 30 per- cent. CLP phase two funding is a 50 -50 percent distribution. Currently the federal goverment has allocated $5 million for lake clean-up work. Four years ago over $15 million was available for clean-up of problem water- ways. “The problem today is the federal gov- ernment,” said Dziak. ‘‘The environment is not at the top of the list in Washington at this time.” The EVAC was created on July 24 of this year following the cyano-bacteria bloom, better known as the ‘‘anabaena bloom.” DER issued a swimming advisory on July 2 due to high levels of the anabaena bacteria which if swallowed could cause nausea and was also reported to cause skin rashes. According to the Harveys Lake question and answer packet, mailed out last week to property owners, Harveys Lake is not polluted. The lake is showing signs of aging facilitated by high levels of nitrates and phosphates and a lower water level. The excess nutrients enter the lake from natural and man-made sources. Natural nutrients come from atmospheric rainfall, rainwater and ground water run-off. Man- made nutrients come from agricultural run-off, seepage. Another factor, according to the pam- phlet, is the sewer system installed around the lake. It is estimated that hundreds of thousands of gallons of water are pumped through the sewer system and into the Dallas Area Municipal Authority for treat- ment each day. This water source is actually taken from the water supply of the lake. The older septic tank systems (which are not advocated now because of more people living around the lake) would allow the thousands of gallons of water to be filtered out through the ground and eventu- ally would supply Harveys Lake with a fresh supply of water. i lawn fertilizers and septic tank This bypassing of sewer water, woe with less rain-fall results in a lower Har- veys lake water level. This allows the suns rays to warm-up the lake water and provides an ideal spawning condition for cyano-bacteria like the ‘“anabaena bloom” last month. The 1985 Luzerne County Fall Fair featuring singer Jeannie C. Riley of “Harper Valley PTA” fame kicks off tonight at 5 p.m. at the fair grounds located along Route 118, Lehman. General Chairman Ray Hillman anticipates a record crowd this year as the fair gears up for five days of fun and excitement beginning tonight and ending with a spectacu- lar fireworks display on Sunday, Sept. 8. The Luzerne County Transporta- tion Authority has scheduled five special departure locations from Wilkes-Barre’s Public Square to the Luzerne County Fall Fair Grounds for Sept. 6, 7 and 8. The special shuttle buses will leave the Sheraton Crossgates and will make four other boarding stops between W-B and the fair grounds. The fare will be 70¢ one-way. Senior Citizen Cards, Fare Deal Singer Jeannie C. Riley will per- form two special shows tonight scheduled for 7 and 9 p.m. In addition, there will be hundreds of commercial exhibitors, food conces- sion stands and many exciting amusement rides provided by S&S Amusement company. During the five fair days, which officials anticipate a crowd of over 40,000 attending, there will also be arts and crafts shows as well as live entertainment from local rock Tickets, Twenty Saver Tickets, Half Fare Cards and Transfers will not be accepted. The schedule is as follows: Departures: Public Square 1:30, 3:30, 5:30, 6:30 p.m. Kingston Corners 1:35, 3:35, 5:35, 6:45 p.m. Main and Bennett Luzerne 1:45, 3:45, 5:45, 6:45p.m. Lo bands. The main feature at this year’s fall fair is the new livestock and horse show ring. During the five- day event, Chairman Hillman said over 100 heads of livestock will be presented in special award winning contests. A number of horse shows are also scheduled. Entertainment chairman Monty Evans of Dallas has secured five days of live entertainment for those planning to attend. On Sept. 7 the Carverton Road 1:50, 3:50, 5:50, 6:50 p.m. Shavertown Shopping Center 2,4,6,7p.m. Dallas Shopping Center 2:10, 4:10, 6:10, 7:10 p.m. Fair Ground 2:30, 4:30, 6:30, 7:30 p.m. Departures times from the Fair Grounds are scheduled for 2:30, 4:30, 7:00, 7:30, 8:30 and 9:30 p.m. 5 group ‘“Davis Street” will perform and the well-known local rock group the “Great Rock Scare” will per- form three shows on fair’s last day, Sept. 8. Inside the Post Calendar .............. 11 Classified ... 13, 14, 15 Commentary ......... 6 Cookbook ............ . 10] Crossword ............. 3 Dear Aunt Patty .... 6 People ....... viiainnens 4 School .......... oe? Sports...
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers