{ » a = 2 ‘4 The Dallas Post turnout at most public meetings. ~ persons attend consistently and voice the only concern or HHI HI a 1 ticity. We will not publish anonymous letters. Send letters to: The Dallas The Post asks: A Dallas, PA Wednesday, November 1, 1989 Tie SDALLASCP0ST A lack of candidates and election issues As local elections approach, newspapers - whether they make endorsements or not - usually exhort their readers to be sure to exercise the precious right to vote. Unfortunately, in most municipalities this year, that exhortation would be an empty one, since so few offices are contested. While it may never have been easy to attract enough candi- dates for local office, recently it seems fewer residents want to make the sacrifices necessary to win and hold public positions. In many cases, that leaves governing as a private little game, played by a few people, many of whom have been reelected time ~ after time with no opposition. Perhaps the lack of participation at the candidate level is a reflection of the same apathy that is revealed in the meager There again, the same support for the bodies’ actions. And while we hear so many complaints about the lack of voter participation, seldom is it suggested that a lack of choices may be the primary cause for it. ~ Whatever one may feel about the competence of any individ- | ual official, there is little question that this situation cannot lead to the kind of healthy public debate that characterizes the most well-governed communities. Without open discussion of issues and the attendant spotlight that falls on candidates’ and officials’ positions, government is often reduced to the “buddy ~ system” whereby the few in power do pretty much as they please, since no one seems to be watching. And who can blame them? Politicians are not different from the rest of us; they often feel that winning election is an endorsement of themselves, and a license to do as they see fit. This thought is reinforced by the public's lack of interest in municipal proceedings. We have been told that media attention is one reason people don’t run for public office - that sensationalized coverage leads many candidates to shy away from government service. If that ~ isthe case, we simply are a generation that lacks the backbone of prior ones. ~ One of our greatest presidents, and perhaps the man who contributed more to the formation of our Government than any ~ other, Thomas Jeflerson, was the target of merciless attacks by ~ the press of his day. Much of what was written about Jefferson ~ would be actionable today. ~~ Yet, Jeflerson and many of our leaders have been strong enough to withstand the mudslinging. At least part of their strength came from their commitment to public service as a ~ noble undertaking worthy of the sacrifices they had to make. Please vote this Tuesday, especially if there is a choice to be made. But then do a little more. Attend public meetings; make your desires and needs known; urge your fellow citizens to do the same. Only by participating can we make our governments . as good as it is possible for them to be. Deer killer might have caused more harm Two weeks ago, a killer shot a deer on protected land and then left it to die. Like so many similar incidents, his crime would have gone undetected had it not been for the watchful concern of nearby residents who took down the license number and description of his vehicle. Poaching, jack lighting and other forms of illegal hunting give the sport a bad name. Real hunters know the rules and obey them because they also know the reasons behind them. ~ In the recent case, the deer was shot at night. Game Commission officials point out that the shooter could easily have injured or killed someone because he could not see what was beyond his target. With the rifle season fast approaching, it's up to all of us to see that needless damage - to humans or animals - doesn't occur. Letters invited 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- Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612. Letters received by Noon on Monday ‘may be included in that week's issue. % Indian summer A barn on Hillside Road reflected the warm autumn sun one recent afternoon. (Photo by Charlotte Bartizek) Library news Halloween party drew a scary crowd of goblins By Nancy Kozemchak The Back Mountain Memorial Library was crowded with all kinds of scary, funny, pretty and unusu- | ally costumed little people last . Wednesday. The three hour story sessions held in the children’s room had Halloween parties with fun and games, stories, refreshments and a parade on the grounds of the library. There were children dressed as angels, a skeleton, 3 clowns, Dracula, Raggedy Ann and Andy, a star witch, tiger, knight in shining armor, a cow girl, a robot, bunny, red riding hood, a unique snowman, 2 dinosaurs, 3 witches, an army fighter and Bat Man. There were many cameras and camcor- ders on the premises as the chil- dren delighted all of us with their costumes and lively actions. Cub Scout Pack 155 of Trucksville United Methodist Church arrived at the library with eight cubs. They were accompa- nied by their den leaders, Mrs. Janet Shaskas and Mrs. Katyl These Cub Scouts were working on achievement No. 8 on the bear badge, which is a look back in time. They used The Dallas Post bound volumes, which are stored at the library, to find out what happened on the day and year they were born and what also happened five years before that time. They also had to find out something that happened in their community. The Book Club of the library held its October meeting in the reference room. The speaker was Charlot Denmon of The Dallas Post. Frances Linskill had won first prize of a painted pumpkin in some contest she entered and was gra- cious enough to donate the pump- kin to the library, which adds to our Halloween decor. Dorothy Sanders donated a book to the library; ‘Kitty Carlisle’ which she had read and thoroughly en- joyed. Grace Martin read the poem, “October's Bright Blue Weather”; Peggy Love told about the author, Barbara Pymm, her writings and her life; Helen Graham told of her tour of Gettysburg and the tour of Eisenhower's home. Frances Linskill told about the ultimate biography of Norman Rockwell and will donate the book to the library. Refreshments were served with Elizabeth Stoehr and Helen Gra- ham pouring at the tea table. Next meeting, Monday, November 20th. Philip Oh arrived at the library this evening with a special gift for “Jane, our front desk attendant, and the library. It is a unique paperweight filled with cactus of different kinds and a special stone man inside, similar to the totem pole of the Indians. Philip is 6 years old in Dallas first grade and has two sisters, Jane, 16 and Jeana, 15. Mrs. Oh was with Philip and tells us they came to America from Korea 13 years ago and have lived in Dallas the past seven years. Philip has become quite attached to the li- brary and especiallyJane, and they shared a hug and kiss before he left. They brought this paperweight back from Korea on a recent visit and had it inscribed ‘To the Back Mountain Library from Philip Oh 8-25-89.’ This is a very thoughtful and unexpected gift from the Oh's. Thank you! Only yesterday 50 Years Ago - Nov. 3, 1939 OLD HIGH SCHOOL CLASSES MEET : The Class of 1909 was the old- est class represented when the alumni of Dallas Borough High School met Wednesday night. Paul Redman of Shavertown is in Nesbitt Hospital recovering from a broken collar bone he suffered when he grabbed for the ball in a football skirmish last Saturday. The Dallas Post will award $1000 worth of cash prizes and daily commissions including $400 grand prize during a seven-week circula- tion-building contest which will begin today. Rev. Guy Leinthall left the Laketon Charge last Sunday to assume his new pastorate at Pittston Methodist Church on Wednesday. 40 Years Ago - Nov. 4, 1949 POST OFFICE ADDS A RURAL ROUTE Sixhundred people attended the annual Halloween Party at the Lake Township School. Dallas Postmaster Joseph Pol- acky announced that another rural route has been extended to service 65 additional families on RD 3. General contractors began lay- ing the second lane of eoncrete on the relocation of Route 115 be- tween Harveys Lake and Lehman. Bands on the little wooly bears (caterpillars) forecast another mild winter. Lehman Scotties copped the Back Mountain football title Sat- urday downing Dallas Township Redskins 7-0 before a large crowd. 30 Years Ago - Nov. 5, 1959 REPUBLICANS CARRY LOCAL ELECTIONS Republicans carry the Back Mountain area but Democrats make heavy inroads. Former Baptist Youth camp is sold to Hills of Hoe for drug ad- dicts. The camp is located in Sweet Valley. Dallas Junior Women light candles in ‘Count Our Blessings’ program for Thanksgiving. The steel strike has caused Linear to lay off 32 employees. Wed - Margaret T. Belles and Pvt. John F. Edwards; Irma Sickler and Charles Seward. Lake-Lehman gridders defeat Nescopeck 27-20. -20 Years Ago - Nov. 6, 1969 THE POST ADDS MORE PHONE LINES The Dallas Post announced that it had a new telephone number, 675-5211, occasioned by an in- crease in classified-ad taking demand. No change is expected in the Shavertown Post Office. A Philadelphia inmate in the State Correctional Institution was critical after being stabbed by a fellow inmate last Saturday at 2 p.m. - : Dallas Borough Patrolman Wil- liam Tregaskis resigned from the department Saturday afternoon. Wed - ErmalL. Sutton and Erwin Stark; Marilyn Travert Swire and Claude M. Neifert, Jr.; Mary Lynn Richards and Robert Charles White, Jr. Engaged - Barbara Jean Hojnowski and Paul R. Muskauski. Dallas Mountaineers trounce Hawkeyes for fourth win of the season. 10 Years Ago - Nov. 8, 1979 \ HARVEYS LAKE GOP SCORES VICTORY Back Mt. residents inconven- ienced last week by the eight-foot link fence across the southern access road into the Dallas Area Municipal Authority will now find the gate open from 9a.m. to 5 p.m. during business hours. Harveys Lake GOP wins a big ~ victory in the election. Dallas School Board votes to renew lights in the gymnasium. Franklin Township Zoning Hearing Board will hear four zon- ing requests at a special meeting Nov. 19, 7 p.m., in the basement of the Orange United Methodist Church. Wed - Phyllis O. Tondora and Don Clemow; Marianne Dennis and Fred Mahle; Karen Fedak and Nelson Nelson II; Ellen Vivian and , Thomas Millington. 3. Report from Harrisburg Here is a summary of important events that occurred on Capitol Hill recently from Rep. Scott Dietterick, 120th Legislative District. CAT FUND SURCHARGE RE- MAINS - By a 1939-59 vote, the House this week rejected a pro- posal to abolish the surcharge on traffic violations in Pennsylvnaia. The surcharge is used to retire the debt of the state's defunct CAT Fund. Introduced as an amend- ment by Rep. Jeffrey E. Piccola (R- Dauphin), the legislation would have killed the surcharges ranging from $30 to $300 on each moving violation and certain other traffic offenses. The state-run CAT Fund was established in 1985 to assist motorists injured in traffic acci- dents with catastrophic medical bills. The controversial program was discontinued last year but remains $365 million in debt. PIGEON SHOOTS SUPPORTED - Legislation to outlaw pigeon shoots in Pennsylvania was de- feated in the House this week by a 126-66 margin. Offered by Rep. George E. Saurman (R-Montgom- ery), the bill would have banned the events in which pigeons are used as targets by participants using shotguns. The most famous of the shoots occurs each year in the Schuylkill County community of Hegins in which some 6,000 birds are destroyed. Saurman contended the shoots were actu- ally “massacres”. Supporters of the events counter that banning the shoots would lead to increased restriction of gun use in the state. Ronald A. Bartizek Editor and Publisher Edward Kraynak Advertising Acct. Exec. Paul Rismiller Composition Te DALLASCP0ST 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 Qlga Kostrobala Classified/typesetting Adam Lowe Daniel Nichol Student Student Dallas Dallas “Yes, the computer tells you “Yes, they are ‘good for tests where to find the correct answers because their information can help when you get stuck.” bring you up.” Laura Poynton Student Dallas “They help by explaining prob- “Does using computers help in your Faith Odell Student Dallas “Yes, they are fun but they also ji sy Ellen Smaka Student Dallas “They save time and they make school work?” Jennifer Howe Student Dallas “In math and reading it helps lems. You can gobackand gethelp help with comprehension, math work easier by explaining how to you with the correct way to do it.” from the program.” ~ and reading.” do programs.” Knights dominate Hanover 13- i
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers