Ifa
Vol. 97, No. 2
25 Cents
Investigations into an alleged
child abuse incident at a Back
Mountain Day Care center are still
under investigation, according to
Luzerne County District Attorney
Bernard Podcasy.
“We are still into the early stages
of the investigation,” Podcasy said
Monday. ‘‘Right now, the State
Police and county detectives are
checking out leads, but we probably
won't’ know anything more until
sometime later this week.”
The probe stemmed from an
alleged occurrence at the Kiddie
City Child Care Center when the
parents of a child who attended the
center alleged that some form of
abuse had taken place there.
The building, which was located
on the campus of College Misericor-
dia, is currently out of operation
because of problems of obtaining
insurance — problems that college
officials say occurred before the
alleged incident.
According to reports, the college
had been advised in November, 1985
that an alleged child abuse incident
had taken place at the center. But
the charges were later dropped,
however, because of a lack of evi-
dence.
Then on January 6, the school was
advised that new allegations had
cropped up. As had been their
policy with the prior report, officials
at the college said they would coop-
erate to the fullest with authorities.
College Misericordia president
Joseph Fink said that at the time of
the first allegation a student aide
who had been accused was dis:
missed even though the allegations
were not substantiated.
It is believed that a former staff
member may be involved. But
because very little has been uncov-
ered thus far, no charges have yet
been filed.
— JOHN HOINSKI
By JOHN HOINSKI
Statf Writer
Senior citizens of the Back Moun-
tain area who voiced their displea-
sures last week about the lack of
busing they have been receiving to
the Mercy Center on the campus of
get any additional help in the near
Last week concerned citizens met
with Congressman Paul Kanjorski
at the center to discuss some of the
problems they have been experienc-
ing, particularly with regard to
busing. The group said they would
like more than the one van they are
currently allocated. But according
to officials, that isn’t likely to
happen anytime soon.
“The county fiscal budget for 1985-
86 doesn’t expire until June 30,”
said Charles Adams, director of the
Bureau of the Aging. “I’ve met with
Commissioner Jim Phillips, but
there isn’t much we can do right
now, at least not until the summer.”
Even then it is doubtful the sen-
iors will get additional service. The
bureau is already experiencing a
financial crunch because of federal
Ski, it isn’t going to get amy better.
In his conversation with the elderly
last week, he warned them of a new
piece of legislation called the
Gramm-Rudman bill that is about
to be passed.
“When President Reagan was re-
elected, he told the people ‘You ain’t
seen nothin’ yet’, Kanjorski said.
Well, he was right. If this bill
passes, you ain’t seen nothin’ yet.”
The bill, which has since been
passed; will initiate even more cut-
(See SENIORS, page 2)
In case anyone was wondering
why. there were giant blue paw
prints posted on various billboards
around the Wyoming Valley
recently, the answer can be traced
back to College Misericordia.
It was all part of a well developed
ad campaign to help the school
introduce its new logo and nick-
name — the Cougars.
For years the school had gone by
the name ‘‘Highlanders.” But in an
effort to change its image, school
officials: opted for a more aggres-
sive and powerful symbol, and it not
only reflected in the new symbol but
also in its promotional drive that
had national overtones to it.
On separate billboards near the
Wyoming Valley Mall, on River
Street near Antonio’s and at Rt. 11
near the Narrow’s Shopping Center,
huge blue paw prints were depicted
with the words ‘Paw Power Is
Coming’. The same ad without
wording also appeared in local
newspapers and at the campus
itself, including the road inside the
school grounds.
“That was part of the campaign
called the Teaser Approach,” said
Judy Daley, Public Relations Direc-
tor for the school. “We contacted
the Hal Berg Agency from Wilkes-
Barre and we used them as consul-
tants. We had a limited budget to
work with and they helped us max-
imize our dollars. We discussed
different ways of promotion and
they helped us place the billboard
ad in high traffic spots.”
That was part of the external
phase of the campaign to arouse the
curiosity of the general public. But
there was also an internal phase
that took place on campus and that,
(See CAMPAIGN, page 2)
Sign erected
a +
Dallas Post/Ed Campbell
By JOHN HOINSKI
Staff Writer
The case of a Forty Fort woman
accused of the fatal New Year’s
Day stabbing of her father has been
forwarded to Luzerne County Court
for further action.
At a preliminary hearing last
Friday, Caroline Ross Rittinger, 48,
of 37 Walnut St., was ordered to
stand trial for the death of her 67-
year-old father, Robert August Ship-
koski, who had been a resident of
the Hillside Personal Care Home,
RT. 309, Dallas Township. She is
charged with one count of criminal
homicide.
Testimony at the hearing was
given by two employees of the care
hime who said Mrs. Rittinger told
them she had Killed her father. A
third individual, James Estabrook,
Shipkoski’s roommate who suppos-
edly witnessed the murder, also
testified. However, Eastabrook’s
MacMullen,
and Chester Daniels,
By JOHN HDINS#
Staff Writer
Kingston Township officials gath-
ered last Thursday to mark the
dedication of a newly developed
Neighborhood Crime Watch pro-
gram at the Sunrise Estates,
Trucksville.
The program is the first-ever
that exist in Kingston Township, the
others being Brown Manor, Bunker
Hill, Midway, Carverton Heights
and Trucksville Gardens.
Under the direction of crime-
watch coordinator Harold Shelly
and sector coordinator Chet Mac-
Mullen, residents of the committee
meet once a month to obtain -infor-
mation and discuss problems they
may be experiencing. Officials say
the program has been a success so
far and they hope the other sub-
divisions will follow soon.
“The main objective is to keep
their interest,” township manager
Fred Potzer said. ‘“That’s our main
goal in ’86. If we can get all the sub-
divisions involved, that would be a
real accomplishment.”
The project began last year when
then District Attorney Robert J.
Gillespie spoke to a group of con-
cerned citizens at the Dallas High
School, including Kingston Town-
ship Police Chief Paul Sabol and
Shelly. The initial crime watch
meeting was sponsored by The
Dallas Post. The two then gave a
report to the township supervisors
who were so impressed that they
not only appointed Shelly as crime-
watch coordinator but also kicked in
$500 from revenue sharing towards
the program.
With the help of MacMullen and
Chester Daniels, President of the
Trooper injured
Dallas Post/Fay Broody
Homeowners “Association, the .pro-
gram was introduced to the rest of
the community and has since
become a big success.
“We started out by getting three
or four people interested, but now
we have about 40 people at our
meetings every month and we're
expanding,’ Shelly said. ‘Right
now, we are getting speakers lined
up for every month. We're just
trying to make people aware. We
know there isn’t much crime around
here, but we just want to let people
know that it can happen.”
Those = participating in the pro-
gram don’t actually get involved if
there is a crime in progress. Their
job is simply to report what they
see and let the local police handle it.
The members receive instructions
on just what procedures to take and
officials say that because of the new
methods of crime prevention being
taught, they will be better prepared
than ever.
Kingston Township policemen
Gary Beisel and Jim Balavage are
currently enrolled in the program,
which has been completely revised,
and Estate residents will be the first
ones to benefit from the newest *
methods of crime prevention.
And aside from the crime watch,
Shelly hopes there will be other
benefits, too. ’
“We want to make the people
aware of just who their neighbors
are,”’Shelly said. ‘Maybe someday
we can even have a block party,
like they used to in the old days. It
wouldn’t cost anything and it would
give everyone that neighborhood
spirit.”
Members of the Sunrise Estates
hold their meetings every month
and anyone interested in the com-
munity is invited to attend.
Whenever mention is made of the
State Correctional Institute at
Dallas, most people think of prison-
ers serving time for -crimes for
which they have been convicted.
But not this time. This time, the
prisoners are spending time doing
something for the good of the com-
munity. :
This past week prison inmates
made positive news by participating
in two worthwhile projects on both
the local and national level.
For the first time ever, inmates of
the ‘Lifers’’ Association (all of
which are serving life sentences), in
conjunction with local group 706 of
the Penn’s Woods Girl Scout Coun-
cil, actively participated in the
buying and selling of Girl Scout
cookies to inmates throughout the
Chase facility in an effort to help
the Lehman chapter raise funds for
various activities and for a one
week summer vacation in Savan-
nah, Georgia.
Then on the national front,
inmates representing several clubs
within the institution were
presented with a certificate of
ty
!
confusion.
District Magistrate Carmen
Maffei ruled that a prima facia case
had been established and that Rit-
tinger, who did not take the stand
during the hearing, would have to
stand trial. She is currently being
held in the Luzerne County
Women’s Detention Center in lieu of
$50,000 bail.
Estabrook, a 70-year old patient
at the home, was the first to take
the stand, but appeared confused
and disoriented. He had trouble
remembering his name as well as
Shipkoski’s name and he could not
identify Mrs. Rittinger.
Eastabrook said that Shipkoski hit
his daughter with a cane, then said
that Mrs. Rittinger struck Mr. Ship-
changed his story again, saying that
Shipkoski struck himself with the
cane.
Barbara Buchman, a nurses aid
at the home, followed Estabrook’s
testimony and said that Mrs. Rittin-
a
Taking orders
ger told her she had killed her
father.
Buchman said she had encoun-
tered Mrs. Rittinger in the dining
room where staffers had just fin-
ished eating at around 1:30 in the
afternoon and said she could see
something was wrong.
“I met her in the doorway,’”’Buch-
man said. “I could see she was
worried. She kept turning her head
to the side. She could barely talk
and I thought she was going to pass
out. Then she said, ‘I’, she said it
several times, ‘I I killed my father,
I murdered him.”
Buchman said that Shipkoski was
lying on his right side facing the
window and that she could see blood
on the sheets.
“I called to him, but there was no
answer,” Buchman said. “Then I
turned to Jim (Estabrook) and said
‘Are you all right?’ He knew some-
thing was wrong, but I don’t think
he realized exactly what hap-
pened.”
Upon cross-examination by
defense attorney Basil Russin,
Buchman said that Estabrook told
her that his (Shipkoski’s) daughter
“had gone crazy.”
Nancy Kriedler, also an employee
at the care home, testified next and
said that Mrs. Rittinger told her
that she killed her father.
“I didn’t know that she meant it
literally,” Kriedler said. ‘I thought
she said something upsetting to
him. I said ‘Don’t worry, everything
will be all right.’ She said ‘no it
won’t be OK.””
Chief Deputy Coroner Joseph
Shaver also testified at Friday's
hearing and said that Shipkoski died
of blood loss due to a stab wound of
the chest. "
The“ hearing had originally been
scheduled for Jan. 10, but at the
request of Rittinger’s attorneys the
trial was delayed until she could
undergo a psychiatric evaluation.
The results of that test have not yet
been made public.
appreciation for their contributions
to the ‘“‘Save the Children” Founda-
tion in an effort to help the grief-
stricken victims of Ethiopia.
The projects are just two of many
they are dealing with, but the Girl
Scout involvement is of special
interest because it is the first time
inmates anywhere in the state of
Pennsylvania ‘have participated in
such a happening, and it’s one they
are extremely proud of.
“We decided to get involved in
this venture for basically three rea-
sons,” said Frank Metzger, presi-
dent of the ‘Lifers.” “First, many
of the inmates have daughters that
are directly associated with the Girl
Scout. Secondly, the inmates do
have a soft spot for children, and
any time we can help a wholesome
organization, such as the Girl
Scouts, we will. If it will help them
develop and stay out of a place like
this, it’s worth it. And thirdly, the
product itself. If you've ever tasted
the cookies you know what I mean.”
The drive, which has already
produced a sale of close to 1,000
boxes, came to fruition nearly a
year ago when Charlene Cook,
leader of troop 706, Metzger and
affairs coordinator Scott Morris,
also of ‘“Lifers”’, met fo discuss the
details.
(See COOKIES, page 2)
Inside The Post
Births .................... 4
Calendar ............ .. 16
Classified ......... 14,15
Commentary ......... 6
Cookbook .......... vie 7
Entertainment ....... 4
Obituaries ............. 2
People ............ verens 8
School .................. 12
Sports ............ 9,10,11