"3 ‘ granted,”’ she said. Back Mountain communities start toward water commission BY CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer Representatives from six of the eight Back Mountain municipali- ties, who were invited to last Thursday night’s town meeting at Dallas Senior High School joined the ad hoc committee formed to evaluate the organization of a Back Mountain Water Commission. Craig Tupper of Dallas Borough; Frank Townend, Dallas Township; Ed Price of Kingston Township; Alan Major, Lehman Township; Joy Daubert, Franklin Township and Dave Abod, Harveys Lake Bor-. ough agreed to sign the resolution to address any water problems facing the Back Mountain area and to serve on the committee. } Ellie Rodda, a member of the ~ Kingston Township Water Commis- sion, addressed the more than 200 people who attended the meeting, explaining that about 18. months ago she attended a township plan- ning commission meeting where new developments were being dis- cussed and before she knew it she was appointed to the township’s water commission. ‘““Most people take water for “But who knows how many companies there are, who owns them, how many lls there are, how deep and what the water quality?” “I have lived in the Back Moun- tain for 36 years and know what it is to be without water. For more than 30 of those years there were few schools, and no sewers. How many people will come to this area if we have no water. If we don’t update our water resources and do long range planning how long will it last? Each municipality must cooperate if we are to have good management,” Rodda told the audi- ence. Rodda compared the Back Moun- tain watershed to a large ice cream soda with all the municipalities’ roc putting a straw into the a me soda. “How many straws are in that soda, how long will it last, think about it,”’ Rodda said. The community officials and rep- resentatives of state agencies, who served on the panel agreed that it is time a regional commission was formed for the purpose of gathering information about the quantity and quality of water available to supply the Back Mountain area. Local governments should then be able to use this information to do long range planning for development. Following the signing of the reso- lution and the committee deciding to meet sometime before August 1, Bigler opened the meeting for ques- tions and answers. State Senator Charles Lemmond, Rep. George Hasay and Rep. Scott Dietterick, DER officials, PUC rep- resentatives and other state agency officials and local municipal offi- cials, as well as Dallas-Shavertown Water Company owner Robert Has- sold and manager Joseph Salla, took turns answering questions posed by residents about quality of water, contamination and over- development in some areas. An official of the state Depart- ment of Environmental Resources explained that there are laws per- taining to the quality of water but no laws relative to the quantity. He said that in many areas of the state, water problems are the result of insufficient planning on the part of small companies and municipalities. State director of Water Resources told the people that the state has virtually no authority to force small companies to drill more wells or find back up water resources. “These small companies seldom have the money to do the planning and development necessary. In New Jersey there is a law that allows the state to assign one com- pany to another company even if the company is losing money. ; In answer to how many wells in the area, Dallas Water Company manager Joseph Salla said that their company had one in Dallas and one in Shavertown and the third well closed due to contamina- tion was owned by PG&W. The P.U.C. attorney on the panel explained that the commission has no authority to require adequate water supply but must deal case by case; when in doubt the PUC can use provisions in an act to have certificates returned to the com- mission but unfortunately the com- mission does not have sufficient manpower. Rep. George Hasay who resides in Shickshinny said he has seen green go to brown to no water at all. “If we are not careful we will not have water,”” Hasay said. “Water tables change and some- times become lower.” Sen. Charles Lemmond said the cooperation of the municipalities is needed. “If we find there is not enough legislation on the books, then it is time we do something about it,”” Lemmond said. A hydrogeologist on the panel said that a water commission is responsible for gathering informa- tion about water for zoning and development. “A local group with local data of ‘an area can anticipate a problem before it happens. Before it becomes a problem, perhaps the commission can do something about it. In an area of intense development, a water commission can step in and stop individual septic systems and individual wells. Water company owner Robert Hassold told the people his com- pany would support any efforts made to form a Back Mountain Water Commission. ‘We are just as interested in providing good service as the people are in having it. The development is exploding to the point the commission is neces- sary to look at the entire problem. We will do what we can to help.” Salla enumerated the improve- ment the company is involved in at the present time such as the new interconnecting pump between Dallas and Shavertown, a new well which will pump 200 gallons per minute which will be started this week and ready in two months and construction of a larger tank. There were no answers given to those persons who asked why cus- tomers were not notified by private communication instead of having to read about it in the media. Rep. Hasay told the people that because of the explosive develop- ment in some areas the counties are calling a halt to new building. His comment received a loud applause of approval from the people. Don’t miss the special section for the Back Mountain Library auction They do it like you'd do it Michael Jordan, left, and Jeff Hockenberry were busy cooking for the crowds at the Trucksville Firemen’s Block Party Friday and Saturday | | Only yesterday 50 Years Ago July 1,1938 Dallas Borough will have first July 4 without fireworks under ordinance adopted last year. State Department offers to help if local communities take steps to end sewage problems. Camp Wildwood Girl Scout Camp opens for seasson at Harveys Lake. Dan Richards to open new Econ- omy Market on Main Street, Dallas. Married - Leona Kocher to Clar-. ence Oberst. Deaths - Fred Rineman, Dallas. You could buy - coffee 17¢c 1b.; bananas 5c 1b. 40 Years Ago July 2, 1948 Harold G. Payne succeeds R.W. Kintzer as vice president and gen- eral manager of Commonwealth, Bradford and Luzerne T% q9e Companies. Trucksville Volunteer Firemen to sponsor soap box derby at annual fair. Married - Arlene V. Crispell and Claire Steven- Dorothy Jean Considine and Robert Grif- Daisy Jane Bellas and Conrad Swinehart; son and Glenn Nissley; fiths; Butter 2 lbs. 55¢; celery 2 bchs. 15¢; Robert Lee Williams. You could buy - Hams 65¢ lb.; rye bread 15c¢ loaf; Swan uoap 10c . med. bar; cantaloupes 25c ea. 30 Years Ago July 4, 1958 Esther Williams swimming pool will be sold at Library Auction. Dallas Union School District slated for election Tuesday night. Dallas Kiwanis Club is making final plans for its variety show and dance July 25 at Irem Temple Country Club. Back Mountain Little League team defeated Daddow Isaacs team 9-1 last week. Married - Lola ERis Jeannette Birth and Lee Carr Lamoreaux; Clara Walton and Samuel Alvin Kittle, Jr.; Thais J. Roselle and Carl Gries, Jr.; Shirleylouise Shutz - and Peter Tonte. You could buy - Fryers 37c Ib.: plums 19c lb.; ice cream 79c 1 gal; American cheese 75¢ 2 1b. loaf. 20 Years Ago July 2, 1968 Miss Frances Dorrance and Mrs. Fred Howell named life members of the Library Auction Committee. Suburban Restaurant undergoes facelifting, enlarges diningroom. One-man Show by R.G. Kalashef- ski at College Misericordia, July 3 10. Married - Sandra - Slimak and Robert All Barber. Deaths - Mrs. Dallas; Adam Conser, Hunlock Creek; ‘Mrs. Daisy Waltman, Beau mont. : You could buy - Chuck roasts s9c lb.; corn 6 ears 49c; Bing cherries 59¢ 1b.; butter 59¢ Ib, 10 Years Ago June 20,1978. ¢ Charlot Richards of Dallas was chosen as this year’s Miss Schaefer 500 at the beauty pageant, June 21, at Gus Genetti’s Hotel. Bobby Baird, well-known Back Mountain trumpet player and his band will play at this year’s Library Auction Friday night, July 7, during the dinner break. Back Mountain residents pag: Battle bicentennial. Kingston Township police recover stolen car reported by William Li Richards, Trucksville. Centermoreland Little League team takes the league title in the Horlacher League. You could buy - Franks 99¢ pk; 5 tomatoes 3 pkgs. $1; coke 8 16-0z. bots. 99c; frozen fordhook limas 2 10-0z. pkgs. 89c. ~ THURS. une 30 bargains galore in Dallas e |[nsalaco’s e Thrift Drug e Malcolm's Haircutters annual sidewalk sale days e E-Z FRI. July 1 e Mrs. ‘A e La Fiore Trim RAE RE TR RNA SAT. July 2 e Kimberly's e Le Lingerie National Video Movie Center Eleanor Davis, a
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers