| 4 The Dallas Post | Dallas, PA Wednesday, August 9, 1989 Our roads need more, better traffic control If you have spent too much time sitting in traffic stalled at the light in the center of Dallas, this week's story about lights in the Back Mountain may help explain why. It seems to us that the region's highways need more lights and more coordination of them for both smooth traffic flow and safety. While PennDOT has consistently underestimated the need for better traffic control here, the Back Mountain's growth in recent years is unmistakable. And that growth will acceler- ate when the Cross Valley Expressway is connected to Inter- state 81 in 1981. For years, at least some local municipalities have been willing to accept the financial burden of installing additional lights, but PennDOT has turned down their requests saying the lights weren't needed. But how many more people must die on Route 309 before more lights can be justified there. Along with more lights, installing a device to coordinate their . cycles and speeds would make our highways safer and more convenient to use. Presently, the lights in Kingston Township are green for about one minute for autos traveling on Route 309. When those same cars get to Dallas, the lights stay green for only 30 seconds. Motorists on their way to Harveys Lake know the result. We think it’s time for a complete series of lights at appropri- ate points on Routes 309 and 415. There should be lights at these locations: Route 309 and Franklin Street, Shavertown; Route 309 and Main Street, Dallas; and the intersection of Routes 415 and 118 in Dallas Township. In addition, all lights on these routes should be coordinated for speed and cycle, so that motorists driving at the speed limit can drive the entire distance from Luzerne to Harveys Lake without stopping. Once drivers accepted that driving at the speed limit moved them smoothly on their way, speeding would diminish drastically. Coordinated lights would also open more regular “gaps” so that drivers wishing to enter or cross traffic lanes would have safe opportunities to do so. Better traffic control on our highways is long overdue. Let’s not make it any more costly or disruptive than it must be, by addressing the problem now. Editor's note: This editorial was wrongly published two weeks ago, before the accompanying story was finished. We rerun it here to complement the story that appears this week. ‘We hope you enjoy “environmental column We welcome a new column to the pages of The Dallas Post this week. "Anderson Afield" will appear every other week and - will offer fresh perspectives on the environment from a writer ~ who combines experience and an entertaining, informative writing style. John M. "Frosty" Anderson managed a private duck club on i Lake Erie from 1946 to 1966. From 1966 until his retirement in 1987, he was Director of the Wildlife Department of the National Audobon Society. He now resides in Abbeville, Louisiana, from where he continues writing and lecturing, and does consultant work for the Audobon Society and other ~ organizations and private concerns. While Mr. Anderson does not live in this area, we feel that his background offers a uniquely valuable perspective on the environment and wildlife, topics of great interest to many residents here. And we know him as a writer who can make his points with wit and skill. We welcome your comments on "Anderson Afield," and hope to hear your reaction to it. The Dallas Post Published Weekly by Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 Telephone: 717-675-5211 Charlotte E. Bartizek Associate Publisher Charlot M. Denmon Reporter Ronald A. Bartizek Editor and Publisher Edward Kraynak Advertising Acct. Exec. Jean Hillard Office Manager Rob Zapotoski Composition Olga Kostrobala Classified/typesetting MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION Reserved for beauty Evening shadows cast reflections over the Huntsville Reservoir off of Huntsville Rd., Dallas. (Photo by Charlotte Bartizek) Letters Meadows blood drive success Editor: It is a pleasure to report the success of the recent Red Cross Blood Drive sponsored by the Meadows Nursing Center. We ex- ceeded our 50 unit goal by 20! We sincerely thank The Dallas Post for publicizing this event and all those caring community mem- bers who were donors. We are all so fortunate to live in such a special community. Marilyn A. Gregorski Blood Drive Coordinator Applauds legislators for their support of mental health funds Editor: Recently Governor Robert Casey and the members of the General Assembly adopted a budget for the Commonwealth for Fiscal Year 1989-90 which included a funding increase for Mental Health and Mental Retardation Service. Our area legislators were actively in- volved in securing that increase in funding and we owe them a sincere “Thank You” for their efforts. Residents of Luzerne and Wyo- ming Counties are fortunate to have the conscientious and caring legislators we have. These legisla- tors made time to visit our pro- grams, interview our staffs and attend our meetings to improve their understanding of our issues and support our cause. They joined togetherin the bestinterests of our residents with mental illness and/ or mental retardation and advo- cated on behalf of the special needs identified. We are grateful for their commitment, their sincereity and their actions. Thank you Senators Charles Lemmond, Edward Helfrick and Raphael Musto and Representa- tives Kevin Blaum, Scott Dietter- ick, George Hasay, Stanley Jaro- lin, Kenneth Lee, Thomas Stish, Thomas Tigue. Nicholas A. Martyak, M.D. Chairman, Advisory Board Luzerne-Wyoming Counties MH/MR Program Report from Harrisburg Here is a summary of important events that occurred on Capitol Hill recently from Rep. Scott Di- etterick, 120th Legislative District. Here is a summary of important events that occurred on Capitol Hill recently from Rep. Scott Di- etterick, 120th Legislative District. DEATH PENALTY PROPOSAL - Pennsylvania Attorney General Ernie Preate this week proposed restricting the death penalty to those 16 or older. Without an age limit the state's capital punish- ment law may be unconstitutional, Preate told a Senate committee. Pennsylvania's current death penalty statute was enacted in 1978 and does not include an age limit. Preate noted that the U.S. Supreme Court recently struck down the death penalty against a 15-year-old in Oklahoma. “A stat- ute setting the minimum at less than 16 might well be found un- constitutional,” he said. SUNDAY LOTTERY PROTEST - A bipartisan group of House and Senate legislators will attempt to stop Sunday lottery drawings in Pennsylvania when the Legislature returns to session, Rep. Paul I. Clymer (R-Bucks) said this week. Clymer is one of several lawmak- ers who have introduced legisla- tion to ban the Sunday drawings. The Lottery began drawings on July 2. Clymer said the Lottery encourages legalized gambling in the state and erodes the work ethic in Pennsylvania. Only yesterday 50 Years Ago - Aug. 11, 1939 DALLAS TWP. HIGH SCHOOL EXPANDS, GOSS SCHOOL CLOSED Dallas Township will build four new classrooms on the high school and abandon the Goss School. New wells in Shavertown and Dallas, Les Warhola manager of Dallas-Shavertown Water Com- pany is sure there will be sufficient water. Contractors expect to lay con- crete on Route 92 from Evans Falls to Lutes Corners within two weeks. Wed - Endora Gay and Malcolm Baird; Jeanne Templin and Wil- liam Maxwell. Errors cost the Dallas Arrows the first game of a semi-final series after 14 exciting innings. 40 Years Ago - Aug. 12, 1949 BEARS CAUSE PROBLEMS ON ROADS Rev. Ruth Underwood is wel- comed to the Alderson Charge of the Methodist Church. Displaced bears plague the high- ways of Pennsylvania this year. Oneida Lodge, Independent Order of the Oddfellows will cele- brate its 100th Anniversary this week. . Shipment of green wrapped tomatoes from this area to south- ern markets is now at its height. Mrs. Beatrice Billings was ap- pointed teacher of English and social studies at Kingston Town- ship High School. Engaged - Thelma Brown and Earl Lehr; Patricia Smith and Stanley Davies. Noxen is in first place in Bi- County League as season nears end. 30 Years Ago - Aug. 13, 1959 LIBRARY OPENS CHILDREN'S WING Back Mountain Library opens its new children’s wing. Fire destroys Sheldon Mosier’s barn. Client battling electric heat in- stalled at Dallas High School with- holds name. Back Mountain Lumber wins pennant in second half of Little League play. Engaged- Carol Hemenway and Robert Williamson. : Wed - Gail Jenkins and Edgar Lee Wilder. Free Methodist youth enjoy week at East Dallas Campgrounds. 20 Years Ago - Aug. 14, 1969 RESIDENTS’ PROTEST STOPS OBSCENE FILM Film with obscenity in it is stopped from being shown in Dal- las when residents file affidavits to prevent it. Centermoreland auction bre all records. i Linear Plant to open with 150 expected on payroll. First National sets Dallas Branch bank opening for late next spring. Wed - Cathy Eileen Lynch and Alan Ramsay Landis; Alice Marga- ret Reese and Edwin George Cole; Jeanne Drobnicki and Philip c. Balas. Mayor and Mrs. Herman Kern join in opening ceremonies of the; annual Harveys Lake Firemen's / Fair. 10 Years Ago - Aug. 9, 1979 MEETING SET ON 309 IMPROVEMENTS Officials are withholding infor- mation on the Route 309 situation until a meeting scheduled for August 8 at Kingston Township Municipal Building. Joseph Fink, College Misericor- dia's lay president, begins work. Dallas Christian School names principal James Richner and two teachers, Brenda Sue Edwards and Trudy Cook. | | Engaged - Susan Fiorini andy | Douglas F. Roberts; Cheryl Ann Wagner and Dennis West; Dorothy Jane Anthony and R.W. Kupstas. Wed - Cheryl Ebel and Donald B. Dahlberg. : Back Mountain Nationals pitcher Chris Michael led his team to 15-1 win over Athens. Library news By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The Back Mountain Memorial Library is pleased to have a very special doll house on display in the main reading room. This dollhouse belongs to Brighid O'Neil who is 5 1/2 years old and will be entering kindergarten at Lake Noxen Ele- mentary in the fall. Her grandfa- ther, Charles O'Neil, who lives in Ormand Beach, Florida since his retirment, made the dollhouse for Brighid last year. Grandmother, Patricia O'Neil bought the furni- ture and other furnishings for the inside of the house and decorated it with rugs, wallpaper and cur- tains. Grandfather designed and built the dollhouse himself, in- cluding putting the shingles on the roof. He had lived in Syracuse and retired to Florida and found the time to make the dollhouse. There are four rooms in the house plus an attic, which houses the bath- room. The first floor has living room with books to read and two of the occupants, sister and brother, lounging around. The kitchen, also on the first floor includes table and chairs, telephone on the wall, and a black coal stove. There is a stair- way to the second floor, where the parents bedroom is, which includes awash basin and knitting for spare craft time, and mother and father. The children’s bedroom is also on the second floor which includes white furniture with bunk beds. There are narrow stairs to the attic from the second floor. The entry- way includes fancy carpeting and the entire house is also carpeted. There are frilly white curtains. at the windows, dormer windows in the attic and a large front porch. The dollhouse was completely fur- nished this way when it was given to Brighid and she is thrilled with it. It will be at the library until September 5th. The 43rd library auction is now history. It was a very successful auction in every way, including financial. Because of the excellent, leadership of the chairman, Dr.” John Shaskas, the auction has met and exceeded the anticipated budget. : NEW SECURITY SYSTEM HAS BEEN INSTALLED A library materials security system has been installed at the Back Mountain Memorial Library. The security system will minimize the loss of library materials, -to make sure they are available when the patron wants them. The li- brary has chosen Checkpoint Systems for this security and their slogan is ‘Dedicated to improving library services through innova- tive technology’. A large part of the cost of this system is being funded through a grant from the Sordoni Foundation. The system protects our most valuable assets. The Post asks: How should the U. S. respond to the hostage situation in Ida Smith Falls Avoca “They should not act at all be- cause that is what they want us to do.” Luring Schultz “No concessions nor negotia- tions. Not to give in to terrorists.” Denis Shovlin Harveys Lake did in the past.” “They should retaliate like they Dick Kitchen Dallas “We are going to have to deal with Iran when it comes right down to it” IL.ebanon? Dan Swire Harveys Lake “Military police action.” — Brighid O'Neil's doll house on display in reading room * </ Aa \ pa———
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers