4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, August 23, 1989 Tie SDALLASCPoST Water concerns wash away with record rain Whatever the source of the contamination, the recent report of tainted water in private wells at Harveys Lake should be a reminder that the Back Mountain's precious water resources need more monitoring and protection. At this time last year we were in the midst of a severe drought. That circumstance brought concern about water resources to the forefront of our attention, as many residents were without water for several weeks. The situation spawned the Back Mountain Water Commission, and was instrumental in the for- mation of a citizens’ council. What a difference a year makes. This year a record amount of rain may fall on our region, and it seems to have washed away last year’s concerns. The water commission, which seemed such a necessity, has not drawn a quorum of members for the ‘past two meetings and usually attracts only the barest atten- tion from residents. But the problems and their causes have not disappeared. The Dallas-Shavertown Water Company has a new manager and a new policy of talking as little as possible with residents and the press - or even the water commission. Developers still want to build more homes, and in one case, plan to drill 31 new wells that will tax an already overburdened supply. And we suspect many residents still don’t see conservation of water - especially this year - as much of a priority. Will it take another record drought to focus our attention on this most valuable resource and the need to plan for its use? We expect and encourage responsible growth in the Back ~ Mountain, but think it should be accompanied by realistic appraisals of the available resources along with the responsible development of new supplies. Let's hope we can move in that direction before it is too late. Underage sellers set the worst example If last week's testimony by youths against “digger” Jones is true, it illustrates the worst possible attitude toward consump- tion of alcohol that an adult could offer to'a youngster. The youths said that Jones urged them to live it up and have a good time - partly by drinking the liquor he was selling - since they had just graduated from high school and should make the : most of it. The concept that getting drunk is a meaningful part of any celebration is left over from a former, meaner, time. Some people may believe that when men in this part of the country earned theirmeager livings by going into the bowels of the earth to dig coal, the release offered by alcohol had a place in their lives. But for most of us, that day never was, or is long past. More likely, the men and women who broke away and went on to improve their lives didn’t overindulge then, as they don’t NOW. We doubt that anyone who sells liquor to young people has Lots of water now, but? Huntsville Dam Reservoir is full, but can we keep it full of clean unpolluted water? (Photo by Charlotte Bartizek) Only yesterday 50 Years Ago - Aug. 25, 1939 "THE LADY'S SHOP’ OPENS IN DALLAS The Lady's Shop, a new store for women, opens for business in the Sullivan Building, 40 Main St., Dallas, under the ownership of Miss Grace Cave. Burgess Herbert Smith urged all men of Dallas to attend an open forum meeting of the Dr. Henry Laing Fire Company Monday night to lend support to the company. The Legion's rededication cere- mony last Sunday at Rice Ceme- tery spurred interest in the ceme- tery among residents of the com- munity. Wed - Arletta Gray and Howard Hallock. Lewis A. Furneaux of Dallas will enter some of his poultry again this year in the Allentown Fair where last year he won a number of prizes for his fine poultry. 40 ‘/ears Ago - Aug. 26, 1949 DALLAS TOPS TRUCKSVILLE TWICE Dallas Township issued a state- ment on the Natona Mills contro- versy saying that the textile plant is still within the township despite ordinances and legal proceedings. Dallas Borough School Board appointed Mrs. Murray Scureman as teacher of French, English and Latin, and Mrs. Ruth Him Folsam as teacher of business subjects. The Kiwanis League's Dallas boys team took two straight games from the Trucksville team to win the pennant. Library news Library Book Club tops membership goal By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The Book Club of the Back Mountain Memorial Library has exceeded its membership goal for 1989 by 6 members. The budgeted goal wassetat215and the present membership stands at 223. This membership represents exactly $2,000, which is used for the purchase of new books exclusively for the Book Club shelf in the library. The Book Club selection committee meets once a month to study the new book library reviews and select their choices for the Book Club. The Book Club dues are $10.00 for a single and $15.00 for a double membership, and entitle the member to borrow two Book Club books each time they are in the library. We will gladly aceept any new Book Club mem- bers. An interesting library story! A mother of a ten-year-old boy was experiencing a bad time with the boy's allergies. She had reached a point where the doctors said they could not help her. She borrowed a book from the library about aller- gies and took it home and studied it. It seems one of the boy's prob- lems had something to do with colored dyes. After studying the book, the mother put to use some of the suggestions and helps that she discovered and the last time she was in, she said the boy was doing fantastic. He is doing so much better. I understand the boy's doctor was also thrilled with the progress the boy has made. This incident proves a well-known the- ory; there is a wealth of informa- tion to be found in books. Your library has 56,440 books in its collection. The doll house in the reading room borrowed from Brighid O'Neil is receiving a lot of attention by interested persons, adult and chil- dren alike. It will be at the library until September 5. Another busy place these days in the library is the munchkin display set up in the library office area. Jessie, Katie and Rebecca Finch have allowed us to set up their favorite cartoon miniatures for our patrons to en- joy. They are receiving a lot of attention and will be here until September 5. We are very grateful to Cather- ine Grieshaber of Dallas who do- nated a beautiful book to the li- bary. “The Splendour of Norway” by Prakftulle Norge is a book filled with the most lovely colored pic- tures of one of the most beautiful countries in Europe. Norway is a kingdom of the sea. There are just over four million inhabitants in Norway, but travelers are never out of sight of some form of settle- ment. The text is written in Norwe- gian and English. A very timely new book at the Ibirary is “Woodstock” by Joel Makower. This is the oral history, a comprehensive, colorful tapestry of vibrant stories and voices of a weekend in August, 1969. Wed - Marjorie Elkins and Vic- tor McCarty; Barbara Biery and Arthur D. Lodtge. 30 years Ago - Aug. 27, 1959 BOY SCOUT RESCUES THREE FROM WATER Shavertown Methodist Church's new addition will open September 6. Harry Misson, Jr., 10-year-old Boy Scout from Trucksville, aided inrescuing three young people from the water this year, two from Bowman's Creek at the State Road- side Rest and the latest, an 11- year-old girl from the lake at Mel- ody Park. Supervising Principal James Martin announced that Dallas Borough Schools will begin term on Wednesday, September 2. Engaged - Irene Sickler and Glenn Seward; Emily Marshall and Walter E. SteltzJr.; Sarah Meredith Kear and Dr. SamuelJames Braun. 20 Years Ago - Aug. 28, 1969 JUNIOR HIGH OPENS DESPITE PROBLEMS Despite some areas unfinished due to labor disputes, bad weather | and a shortage of building materi- * als, Dallas Junior High Building will open Sept. 3 and work will continue on sections of the build- ing removed from the classrooms, while school is in session. A new shopping center has been proposed by the First National Bank tobe located between Routes 309 and 415 and facing the Sub- urban Restaurant. Children of Mexican migrants are receiving elementary instruc- tion at the Sutliff Farm in Sweet Valley. Engaged - Gail Rumbaugh and John D. O'Brien. Wed - Beverly Ann King and J. Michael Allen Lieb; Shirley Wyrsch ov and R.W. Stout. 10 Years Ago - Aug. 23, 1979 NEW LAKE-NOXEN SCHOOL PLANNED Groundbreaking for the new Lake-Noxen Elementary building has been set for early in October of this year with scheduled occupa- tion set for 1981. Carmen Ambrosino, executive director of Wyoming Valley Drug | i and Alcohol Services Inc. will pres- ent a program to Back Mountain Service Clubs on “How Not To” and then on “How to Handle It” when confronting a son and daughter on the drug abuse program. Dallas Township Zoning Hear- ing Board approved Pheasant Run, a 35-home housing development on Country Club Road. Wed - Pamela Lynn Walter and Larry Bruce Snyder; Patricia Kaminski and Joseph Kennedy. Back Mountain Soccer Associa- tion will hold a late sign-up Sept. 4 from 6 to 9 p.m. at a place to be announced. q | any interest in their customers’ enjoyment of a moment in their “lives. They're just out tomake a buck in a most despicable way. We hope the authorities pursue cases like this to their strictest end. Then let's begin teaching our children a mature State board approves more | Letters invited aH . -_ does come back bad?" 8 ‘attitude about the use of alcoholic beverages. Clean-ups help us all Last weekend, the Harveys Lake Environmental Action Council collected old appliances and scrap metal for recycling. ~ Two weekends before, a group of volunteers cleaned up the Arboretum on the Penn State campus in Lehman. These worthwhile projects and many others like them, such as annual clean-up days in many communities, are examples of what a little concern and action can accomplish. Many residents take advantage of them to properly dispose of mate- ~ rialthat might otherwise spoil the appearance and safety of our environment. Unfortunately, not everyone seems to care, so a drive around the region reveals too many littered roadsides and yards. We hope the message that a clean community reflects well on all of us will reach some of the property owners who haven't yet taken the time to tidy up. It really does matter. funds for land preservaiotn The State Agricultural Land Preservation Board recently ap- proved an additional $5 million in grants so local governments can purchase agricultural conservation easements. Agriculture Secretary Boyd E. Wolff, who chairs the board, said the state has approved a total of $25 million for grants to preserve agricultural land. He said that counties have contributed $3.4 million in local funds to the pro- gram, and the state grant alloca- tion was increased by $5 million on order to meet matching fund formulas in the Farmland Preser- vation Act. “We have been very pleasantly surprised by the support and en- thusiasm of our counties,” said Wolff. “The amount of local fund- ing support tells us that county officials have taken a look at our program and they like what they see.” Pennsylvania's farmland protec- tion program is funded by a $100 million bond issue approved by voters in a statewide referedum in 1987. Funds are allocated according to a formula based on pressure of development, agricultural produc- tion and county appropriations. Nine southeastern and southcentral counties will receive 66 percent of the $25 million in matching funds allocated by the board. Each of those counties and nine others contributed local fund- ing. may be included in that week's issue. Ronald A. Bartizek Editor and Publisher Edward Kraynak Advertising Acct. Exec. Rob Zapotoski Composition The Dallas Post Published Weekly by Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 Telephone: 717-675-5211 Jean Hillard Office Manager MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION Charlotte E. Bartizek Associate Publisher Charlot M. Denmon Reporter Olga Kostrobala Classified/typesetting Joe Hudak Dallas James Davis Dallas i? No. No. “What could I do anout it if it mountain water.” “We don't drink it anyway. I feel the water is good, but we prefer us to.” Denis Dunham Dallas No. “Idon’t know. No one ever asked Lou Bobeck Dallas No. “I have no problems with it. I get my own water jugs from springs.” Janet Tracy Dallas No “l trust our water company. There are laws protecting us.” The Post asks: Have you ever had your drinking water tested? James Davis, Jr. Shavertown No. “I am confident about our wa- ter. I live high on a mountain.” aay The Dallas Post encourages readers to share their opinions with the community by writing a letter to the editor. All letters for publication must be signed and include a telephone number so that we may verify authen- ticity. We will not publish anonymous letters. Send letters to: The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612. Letters received by Noon on Monday SC