REI Nem, Vag, Editor's notes THE CASE OF THE MISSING NAVY MAN has been resvoled - finally! A few weeks ago, in our ‘“‘People in the News’ column, we reported that Navy Seaman Recruit Hugh R. Boyes, son of Ralph and Peggy L. Anthony of Country Club Road, Dallas, had completed recruit train- ing at the Naval Recruit Training Command at San Diego. The informa- tion came from the Fleet Home Town News Center, a depart- § .ment of the Navy, that always sends us press releases about area resi- dents who have undergone basic | training. And the Navy was never wrong - until DOTTY MARTIN now! .Just a few days after the announcement of Hugh’s training appeared in our newspaper, the seaman’s mother called to tell me that Hugh was not, is not, and never was in San Diego and that he had completed his recruit training at Great Lakes, Illinois. To compound the situation, Mrs. Anthony had seen Hugh off at the Wilkes-Barre-Scranton Airport to his next place of duty approxi- mately two weeks before his basic training announcement’ - and she had not heard a word from him since. As would any other mother, Mrs. Anthony worried because she said Hugh always wrote during basic training and she just couldn’t understand why she hadn’t heard from him. Anyway, to make a long story short, it took us a few weeks but we finally got the Navy to figure out that their typesetter had made an error and typed all of the informa- tion on the press release about Hugh’s basic training correctly - except the location of the training command. The Navy has issued not only a retraction, but also a very nice letter of apology to us and has also asked us to extend their apologies to Hugh’s parents for any mixup the whole mess may have caused them. Needless to say, the Navy is full of human beings subject to error just like any other organization in today’s world. The gentlemen with whom I spoke at the Navy, however, seemed to have a much bigger problem than we did. We can correct the situation by simply running the correct press release sent to us by the Navy. The Navy news center, on the other hand, was forced to issue over 70 retractions since the typesetter made the same error on that many news releases. -0- CHIEF MCKANE, the Navy offi- cer who handled my complaint to the Navy news center, was the nicest guy, though. He was very sympathetic to our situation and did everything he could to rectify the problem as quickly as possible. post martin add one The chief had called my office during the week I was on vacation and left word for me to return his call. When I called him back the following week, he wanted to know if I had a good time because he understood I was ‘on leave’ the week before. I explained to him that I had a wonderful time while I was away, but that in the real world, we call it “vacation.” -0- HAPPY BIRTHDAY GREET- INGS are extended to our own Debbey Wysocki, who writes our entertainment column every week. Debbey, who is also a teacher at Gate of Heaven School in Dallas, celebrated her special day yester- day, February 25. -0- IN AN EFFORT to appeal to all of our readers, Debbey is asking anyone who would like to, to submit ideas for her entertainment column to her. Debbey will do whatever research and investigating is necessary to write the story, but she would like to know what kinds of things our readers want to read about. Anyone with an idea or a sugges- tion for a topic for the entertain- ment column may submit it in writing to Debbey Wysocki, Enter- tainment Writer, The Dallas Post, PO Box 366, Dallas, Pa. 18612. Or, if it’s easier, you can call in your ideas to our office at 675-5211. -0- SPEAKING OF BIRTHDAYS, George Brutko of Park Street in Dallas, celebrated the big 4-0 yes- terday. Happy birthday to you, George. I sure hope you don’t have as much trouble accepting 40 as I did accepting 30. By the way, George, what did you do to your foot? I heard a rumor that you got mad and kicked a computer, but that just doesn’t sound like something you’d do. What really happened, George? -0- BIRTHDAY GREETINGS also go out to: Jean Innamorati of Tunkhan- nock, an employee of Rachel’s Cen- tury 21 Real Estate in the 309-415 Plaza in Dallas. Jean celebrated her big day this week and we want to wish her the best birthday ever. We also want you to know, Jean, that we do recognize the fact that you have two nice kids, that you have a new car, and that you, too, have a nice smile. It just took us a little while to mention it! -0- CONGRATULATIONS TO June Supey of Highland ' Avenue in Trucksville on her newly-acquired status. And, yes, Supey, you can count me in on your celebrating plans this weekend. ; -0- CONGRATULATIONS are also extended to Brenda and Jim Kenny of Dallas on the beautiful addition to their family. Mrs. Kenny, the former Brenda Scully, gave birth to the couple’s first child, a daughter, recently at Nesbitt Memorial Hospital, Kings- ton. And, something tells me that Amber Elizabeth is going to be spoiled not only by Mom and Dad, but by grandmother Rose, also. Anyway, congratulations to all of you! -0- DAFFODIL DAYS are some of the best ways to welcome an early Spring. The Wyoming Valley Unit of the American Cancer Society will conduct its annual Daffodil Days between March 10 and March 15 and will sell bunches of daffodils for just $3. The flowers, which are a sign of Spring, will be available at local banks and businesses and are a major fund-raising effort by volun- teers of the local ACS unit. Don’t forget - brighten up your home, your office, or someone else’s day by purchasing daffodils during Daffodil Days. Not only will the daffodils brighten your day, they’ll help beat that dreaded disease. yr | | . {hy 1 i i i i 3 REMEMBERING Weber Farm Only yesterday 50 YEARS AGO - FEB. 28, 1936 An increasing number of industrial employees in Luzerne County had turned to farming during the years from 1930-1935 bringing about an increase of 384 farms in the county in that period. This was according to a census compiled by the U.S. Department of Commerce. The area’s last Civil War veteran, Peter Culp, who served as a private in Company F 53rd Pennsylvania Volunteers, died. Culp was in his twenties and a corporal when he stood at Appomattox and saw General Robert E. Lee surrender his sword to General Grant. Engaged - Ruth Finney to Captain Corey Patton. Married - adge A. Oliver to Calvin McHose. You could get - Halibut steak 23c 1b.; stewing oysters 27c pt. ; salmon 10c can; cheese 19¢ lb.; coffee 2 Ib. 29c; navel oranges 19c doz.; apples 7 lb. 25c; 24 oz. loaf bread 10c; egg noodles 2 pkgs. llc; 3 pkg. Jello 20c. 40 YEARS AGO - MARCH 1, 1946 Reviving a former tradition, area basketball players from various schools were asked to vote for an All- Back Mountain Basketball Team composed of best players in the league. This league was sponsored by The Dallas Post. Dallas Borough Police conducted a campaign to clamp. down on reckless drivers. A recent hit and run accident caused concern. Anniversaries - Mr. and Mrs. Edward H. Kocher, Lehman, 43 years. i a a aried - Betty Marie Anderson and Pfc. Harry A. TOSS. Deaths - Joseph Manzoni, Jackson Twp.; Manuel Santayana, Trucksville; G.H. Parsell, Dallas; Adda Garinger, Alderson. You could get - Standing rib roast 30c 1b.; chickens 37c 1b.; leg lamb 39c lb.; Palmolive soap 7c bar; yams 3 Ib. 29¢; broccoli 19c bunch; lemons 29¢ doz.; potatoes 4 Ib. 29¢; 2 1b. spinach 19¢; graham crackers 19c Ib. 30 YEARS AGO - MARCH 2, 1956 Delegates from 10Back Mountain school districts met to discuss the possibilities of a five-district, seven district or 10 district jointure. Schools involved were Lake-Noxen; Dallas-Franklin-Monroe; Dallas Bor- ough-KingstonTownship; Lehman-Jackson-Ross. The Red Cross set a goal of $3,700 to be collected in the Back Mountain during a two week period. The annual drive was chaired by Mrs. Thomas Robinson and Mrs. Paul Monahan. Engaged - Jean J. Kushner and Joseph Chukinas; Barbara Frear and Melvin Race; Pauline Trumbower and Harold Hackling. Married - Betty Smith and Joseph Serratore; Vir- ginia Dykes to William G. Hart; Jean Mead and David Shaver. Deaths - homas Carle, Trucksville; Estella Major, Shavertown; Charles M. Edwards, native Ross Twp. You could get - Chuck roast 19¢ lb.; spare ribs 39c Ib.; oysters 89c pt.; flour 25 lb. $1.89; 1g. eggs 54c doz.; Maxwell House Coffee 99c lb.; pt. bottle Wesson Oil 35¢; 3 bars Camay soap 36¢; raisin bread 17c¢ loaf. 20 YEARS AGO - MARCH 3, 1966 Arthur G. Engler, Ruggles Hollow, Lake Township, was notified of his appointment to the office of Justice of the Peace. He filled the remainder of the term of Mrs. Helen Sgarlat. Dallas Community Ambulance Association officers and directors approved purchase of a 1965 Superior- body cadillac ambulance with only 8,500 miles on the odometer. The Junior Class of Dallas High School presented the play, “Cheaper By the Dozen’. Bob Blair and Sharon Savage had starring roles. Engaged - Linda Parsons and Arthur John Ondish. Anniversaries - Mr. and Mrs. Merle Jay Pope, 25 years; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Sorber, 26 years. Deaths - Edna Hefft, Carverton; A.P. Cope, Trucks- ville; Norman Ringstrom, Harris Hill Rd. You could get - turkeys 39c Ib.; sea scallops 69c Ib.; crab legs 89c lb.; potatoes 20 lb. bag 89c; granulated sugar 5 lb. 57c; jelly eggs 29c lb. pkg.; Pillsbury cake mixes 39c; Chicken of the Sea tuna 2 cans 75c¢. 10 YEARS AGO - MARCH 4, 1976 Back Mountain Taxpayers Association filed a protest with the Public Utility Commission on the proposed rate increase by the United Gas Improvement Com- pany. Gate of Heaven Parish celebrated its 25th anniver- sary with a Mass, an open house, and a dinner dance at Gus Genetti’s. A heated discussion ensued at the Jackson Township supervisors meeting when residents of Bonko Road Drovght up the subject of the township taking over the road. Engaged - Gwen Arnaud and Frederick 4. Neuman. Anniversaries - Mr. and Mrs. Richard Tattersall, 25 years; Mr. and Mrs. T.A. Williammee, 50 years. Deaths - Robert Jones, Shavertown; Samuel Poad, Dallas; Mrs. John Kuchta, Harveys Lake; Mrs. George E. Gwilliam, Sr., Harveys Lake; Elmer Hoover, Idetown; Irene Horbach, Dallas; Edward Gablick, Sweet Valley; John Kennan, Trucksville. You could get - Fresh fryers 39c Ib.; ground chuck 99c Ib.; skinless franks 89c lb.; margarine 69c Ib.; fruit cocktail 2-79¢; celery 33c bunch; oranges 10-99¢; eggs tae doz.; Macintosh apples 3 Ib. bag 59¢; carrots 6 lbs. A OPINION By RICHARD H. FINK DEAR EDITOR: The Girl Scouts of Penn’s Woods Council have finished taking the orders for this year’s Cookie Sale — and it has surpassed all our hopes. Cookie orders are up 19 Percent! As sales have been reported to us, everyone has said that the local response was terrific because you helped. The girls thank you for your cooperation, encouragement and support. They couldn’t have done it without you. The extra funds from these increased sales will be used for special troop activities, camping, field trips, all’ the fun things that are part of Girl Scouting today. We all thank you for helping the girls to learn that when people work together, they can accomplish great things. ELLIE KANDLER RODDA COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR PENN'’S WOODS GIRL SCOUT COUNCIL, INC. DAVID F. CONNER General Manager DOTTY MARTIN Executive Editor When former Interior Secretary James Watt made his off-the-cuff remark about the kind of rock- music fans who like the Beach Boys, members of the White House staff presented him with a plaster- cast foot with a hole in the middle. Today, I would like to propose an annual Jim Watt award, to be presented to the politician most adept at shooting himself (or her- self) in the foot. And the winner is: the Congress of the United States for all the noise it makes about America’s balance- of-trade deficit while the Congress — not the Japanese, not the South Koreans, not the Taiwanese — is one of the main causes for it. For example, Congress especially likes to beat up on Japan for its $37 billion trade imbalance with the U.S. But what does the Congress do when it has an opportunity to cut the U.S.-Japan trade deficit in half? It shoots itself in the foot. The fact is that if it chose to do so, Congress could chop some $20 billion a year from the U.S.-Japan trade deficit simply by dropping its outdated prohibition on the export of oil and natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope. The Japanese are a ready and willing customer. Japa- nese Prime Minister Yasuhiro Nakasone has repeatedly said the Japanese would jum= at the oppor- tunity to buy 4° 'l and gas. This one sma wld increase U.S. sales to Japan by more than $8 acted today — ore in future years. The hungry U.S. Treasury, mor- ever, would take in more in taxes- an estimated $1.5 billion a year or more. But Congress would rather complain about the problem than do something about it. Export of Alaskan oil and natural gas poses no threat to U.S. security. And in the long run it would cut U.S. energy costs. So why won’t Con- gress act? That’s a question that Texas Congressman Dick Armey, Chairman of the Trade Expansion Caucus, has been asking his col- leagues. President Reagan has announced plans to permit export of an esti- mated 5000 to 6000 barrels of oil per day produced in southern Alaska’s Cook Inlet, but this barely scratches the surface of Alaska’s 1.8 million barrel-per-day production total. The bulk of Alaska’s oil must be processed in American refineries located almost exclusively in the lower 48 states. West Coast refin- eries handle one million barrels per- day, and the balance is shipped through Panama to the Gulf and East Coasts at a cost of $4 to $5 per barrel. This cost compares with a transportation fee of $1.60 per barrel for oil shipped from Saudi Arabia. : A by-product of Alaskan oil dis- coveries was the discovery of huge natural gas reserves. The American Gas Association claims that 26-tril- lion cubic feet (tcf) of proven gas reserves are available in the North Slope area. Presently there is no way to transport this valuable resource to the lower 48 states. Building a Trans-Canada pipeline-as has been suggested-would force pro- ducers to charge six times the current price to make a profit. Consequently, this gas is either pumped back into the wells, a process that consumers and loses about one-third of thegas, or is burned off. Natural gas is another product the Japanese would buy if American firms were free to sell it. Gas exports of one tcf would earn about $5 billion per year and would provide Japan with an alternative to oil, putting additional downward pressure on world oil prices. There is no reason to ban sales of this natural gas to the Japanese, since the gas is not being consumed by anyone, and indeed is often wasted. America’s large trade deficit is not altogether the fault of overseas producers who are flooding U.s. markets-to the delight of U.S. con- sumers — ith inexpensive imports. It’s at least party Congress’ fault. Instead of shooting us in the foot again by erecting new trade bar- riers that keep imports out of our country, Congress should be looking for ways to encourage exports. It might start by doing away with the prohibition on exporting North Slope oil and gas. (Richard H. Fink is President of Citizens For A Sound Economy, a 250,000 member Washington-based citizens’ organization.) LIBRARY NEWS Library Correspondent National Library Week for 1986 will be held from April 6 through the 12th. The theme for this year is “Get a Head Start at the Library.” Special activities and programs will be held at the Back Mountain Memorial Library during this week. An interesting idea is being planned and will be sponsored in conjunction with other libraries in the district. Bookmarks will be available for children and adults at the library. ~The library is involved in a serv- ice to the public called Interlibrary Loan. If a patron requires a specific book which we do not have, we can request it through the Osterhout Library in Wilkes-Barre. They, in turn, will track down the book at the nearest location and deliver it to us. During the past year, we have received books for our patrons from Florida, New Jersey and Texas along with many from college libraries out of our district. The Osterhout van delivers and picks up from Back Mountain on Monday, Wednesday and Friday each week. Recently one of our patrons from the children’s depart- ment, Dawn Hondo, requested a specific book, which we did not have in our collection. She had read some by the author, Serraillier, and wanted to read his book, ‘Silver Sword.” We requested it on ILL and the Osterhout put the request on the OCLC, which is the Online Com- puter Library Center. We received this book for Dawn from the Califor- nia State College Library in Rohnert Park, California. The library welcomes book dona- tions at any time during the year. The books are sorted and. either added to the library inventory or stored for the book booth at the annual library auction. During 1985, 891 books were added to the library book stock, donated by members of the community. Each of these books was a first copy tc the library. A tax receipt is available for anyone who wishes to use their book dona- tion to a non-profit organization as a tax deduction. How many amendments are there to the Constitution of the United States? I wasn’t exactly sure when a patron asked me the other day. He was interested in the amend- ment for the 18 year olds. We looked it up in the World Book Encyclope- dia and found that the Suffrage for 18 year “olds was amendment number 26, which was ratified on July 1, 1971 and to date is the newest amendment. Now we know there are 26 amendments to our Constitution, something we should know without having to look it up. Some history information! Why not stop at your library soon to find out what other information is available. librarian at the Back Mountain Memorial Library. Her column appears weekly in The Dallas Post.) STATE CAPITOL ROUNDUP Here is a summary of important events that occurred on Capitol Hill last week from Rep. Frank Coslett, 120th Legislative District. CURBING DOMESTIC VIO- LENCE and protecting its victims is the intent of a bill signed into law by Gov. Dick Thornburgh. Devel oped by Rep. Lois S. Hagarty (R- Montgomery), the law grants police broader arrest powers in cases of domestic violence by allowing offi- cers to make an arrest based on probable cause without a warrant. The act also clarifies the power of a district justice to order a defendant . to stay away from a victim’s home and workplace. ‘Previously, the law put too much pressure on the victim by requiring the victim to file a complaint before police action could be taken,” Hagarty said. INDIVIDUAL SCHOOL DIS- TRICTS would be spared the finan- cial burden of increased social security and pension payments con- nected with legislation mandating minimum starting teacher salaries. sure which would mandate a mini- mum starting salary of $18,500 for public school teachers. Before the bill received final approval, how- ever, Rep. Stephen F. Freind (R- Delaware) succeed in inserting two amendments to relieve the poten- tially disastrous financial impact on school districts. Freind’s amend- ments would mandate that the state pay the cost to bring starting sala- ries up to the new level, pay social security and pension benefits con- nected with the new salaries and pick up the tab for the first year cost of adjusting existing teacher salaries. “If the state is going to mandate a starting salary, it should be prepared to pay the price for its mandate,’”’ Freind said. The bill was sent to the Senate for consideration. LEGISLATION AIMED at retir- workers passed the House this week despite charges by House Republi- cans that the measures amount to a duplication of existing programs and the creation of more bureauc- racy. The eight bills are part of a January by Democratic leaders.