Please don't drink and drive this year If all the messages cautioning people not to drink and drive this holiday season save just one injury or death, it will have been worth the effort. Many of us will consume alcoholic beverages this week, some to excess. But you need not be blind drunk to become a menace on the road. Legal limits for intoxication generally find those who have had more than one glass of beer or wine or a single mixed drink to be operating in an impaired state. The penalties for driving under the influence have become much harsher in recent years, but by the time they are enforced, it may be too late for the victim of a drunk driver. Don’t become a statistic this year. If you want to drink, don’t drive. Ifyou are hosting a party, keep an eye onyour guests and keep the car keys away from anyone who wants to drive home “while intoxicated. If you are going out, make plans ahead of time either by staying where you go, or by appointing a designated driver. We don’t want to see your name in the paper next week. Confusion ends the '80's, but hope reigns As the 1980's come to a close, it seems almost as if events have conspired to spoil what was, if otherwise undistin- guished, a decade of relative peace in the world. Future students of American history may find parallels between the 1980's and the 1950's, not least because the nation’s leader in most of the decade was a man seemingly plucked from that earlier time. One major difference in the two eras, though, was that formerly we paid our own way; in the ‘80's we charged it. Another, hopefully, is that our current foray into Central America will not become like the Vietnam . War, which we entered as the 1950's ended. Ronald Reagan and his team surely changed America in their eight year tenure. But the price that will be paid for much of the prosperity we enjoyed will eventually come due. Some of the bills may arrive soon, others will fall to our children and ‘grandchildren. ; It was a good time for most of us - those who had good white collar jobs and good credit. We spent and borrowed with abandon, and why not? Didn't the President tell us we led a charmed life, that we were the chosen people? And didn’t many of our leading business figures do the same thing, granting themselves multi-million dollar salaries and burying their companies in debt, ever confident that aggressive economic growth was sustainable indefinitely? (Or not caring as long as they got paid) But at the same time, the rest of our citizens - the ones who didn’t start the decade with a leg up - fell deeper into poverty and despair as the number and severity of poverty in our nation grew. And our government did its best to tell those in bad circumstances that it was their own fault and not to look to it for help. Just as individual citizens embarked on an orgy of debt to fund a binge of conspicuous consumption, corporations bor- rowed rather than invested and the nation’s treasury was sacked to pay for an era of good feelings and careless spending. With startling speed the United States went from being the world’s largest lender to a debtor, the consequences of which we have yet to feel in full force. Of course, it wasn’t really that simple, or consistent. The 1980's began with a severe recession induced to short circuit the high inflation that had arisen in 1979 and 1980. Northeast- ern Pennsylvania was mired in double digit unemployment until well into 1984, and really began to enjoy its present prosperity only in the past three years. Our region’s conservatism, which has held us back so many times, may prove a blessing when the inevitable economic slowdown arrives. But certainly it has been a pleasure to see the growth and prosperity that have overtaken the Abingtons in recent years. Now the pundits say that the decade that spawned the Yuppie will close with a shift toward the lifestyle that has characterized this area for so long; an emphasis on family and perhaps even (dare we think it) on saving rather than spending money. ~The good news is that as the 1980's close, our worst enemy seems incapable of resisting the tide of democratic change that is sweeping its empire. The bad news is that an American president has once again chosen to send troops to Central America in a continuation of wrongheaded policies that have lasted for nearly a century. But the best news is that America is still a great country and the only one that offers so much freedom and opportunity to its citizens. Our system and our people have corrected the excesses of previous decades, and there is no reason to believe that we won't do the same again. : Happy New Year. A Main Street Christmas Dallas Borough was all decked out for the holiday. (Photo by Charlotte Bartizek) Here isa sum- f mary of impor- tant events that occured at the State Capitol recently, sup- plied by Rep. Scott Dietterick, R-120th Legisla- tive District. {felt Harrisburg INSURANCE REFORM ALIVE - Although the House adjourned final auto insurance reform package, legislation to address the problem was passed by the Senate. It will likely be considered when the Legislative returns .to session in January. Following a week of legis- lative and political maneuvering over how best to reduce auto in- surance costs for Pennsylvanians, the Senate finally agreed to aHouse proposal. Before approving the House bill, however, the Senate added an amendment which would require all insurance companies to reduce rates by 25 percent. Other provisions of the measure would allow drivers to give up their right to sue in most situations in return for reduced insurance premiums. A Ee Only yesterday 50 Years Ago - Dec. 29, 1939 DROUGHT, GROWTH ARE TOP STORIES Record breaking drought and consistent growth top list of the year's best new stories for the Dallas area. Roger W. Babson predicts first six months of 1940 to bring good times, second half may see a sick- ening crash. JosephE. Elicker of Dallas, who has been associated with the Comerford Theatres, resigned last week and is to begin his new duties with the Nassau Development Board today. The mercury tumbled to the zero - mark to give Dallas and vicinity its first sub-zero weather of the sea- son. A petition is being circulated to seek mail delivery service for Dal- las Borough. Wed - Dorothy Karschner and Russell Steele. Engaged - Erna Eyet and Dr. Eugene J. Luippold. 40 Years Ago - Dec. 30, 1949 RICHARDSON TRAVELS TO VIEW NEW CARS L.L. Richardson visits New York to see the new Dodge on display Jan. 4. Dallas Township Alumni Asso- ciation plans its second annual reunion dinner. Wed - Margaret L. Mericle and Arthur B. Kitchen. A holiday dance will be held tonight (Friday) at the Shavertown Teen-age Center. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Hontz will celebrate their 30th anniversary. Christmas lighting decorations on homes and business places will be judged tonight by a committee of local judges. Engaged - Mary Ellen Hill and James S. Waters. 30 Years Ago - Dec. 30, 1959 BIG START TO NEW YEARS IN KINGSTON TOWNSHIP Kingston Township starts the New Year with a new township building and a new police cruiser and a new dump truck. Dallas Junior High School stu- dents held the biggest Christmas dance they have ever had, Dec. 18, in the junior high gym. NE ...Engaged: + Hazel Louise Smith and Wayne E. Weaver, Jr. Wed - Beverly Rzonca and Wil- liam Schmidle; Thelma Dougal and Dale Leache, Jr. College Misericordia Theatre 3 will sponsor the Deutschmeister Band at Irem Temple, Jan. 11. Sweet Valley Church unveils its new bulletin board which was donated by Mr. and Mrs. William Birth in memory of their daughter Retta. 20 Years Ago - Dec. 30, 1969. BIG SNOW STORM HITS Mid-winter storm sweeps the Back Mountain region leaving deep drifts. Robert Parker, Chamber of Commerce public relations direc- tor, urges the unification of Lacka- wanna and Luzerne County to break down barriers and improve employment by bringing in more companies and save costs by hav- ing joint municipal facilities and services. Wed - Marian Gould Ruggles and Charles Simonton Moffett Jr.; Evelyn Kuniegel and Frank Zarychta. Engaged - Nancy Louise Agonis and Edward Thomas Schrama. The Black Knights of Lake- Lehman evened their score at 1-1 as they trounced-the Benton Ti- gers by the score of 83-47. Heavyweight Ron Dukinas of Dallas pinned his Wyalusing op- ponent in an exhibition match held Saturday. Boy 10 Years Ago - Dec. 30, 1979 THOMPSON NAMED DALLAS SNOW QUEEN Karen Thompson was chosen Snow Queen at the Dallas Senior High School Christmas dance last week. ix Seaman Bill Wendell, son of Mrod and Mrs. Al Wendell was selected, for the Navy's Recruiting Assis- tance Program. Students in Mrs. Jane Cornell's art class designed ornaments and plaques last week to decorate the Dallas Intermediate School. Dallas JV's surprised fans by defeating Bishop Hannon 67-53 in the opening game of the Tunkhan- ment last week. #& nock Kiwanis JV Holiday bigciin Westmoreland PTO will sponsor a roller skating party at Bonomo's skating rink. The 19th bomb scare in the 4 school year chased Dallas Schoel District student out of the building last week while Dallas Township police searched the building to make certain whether or not a “bomb was planted inside. Braille version of the Constitution now available By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The Back Mountain Memorial Library received a letter from Warren E. Burger, Chairman of the Commission on the Bicenten- nial of the United States Constitution. Enclosed in the package was a braille edition of the United States Constitution. The Commission would like every American to have ready access to our Constitution in order to encourage that knowledge and understanding of our nation's charter which are essential to its survival. In order to meet the needs of our fellow Americans who are visually handicapped, the Com- mission has undertaken the proj- ect to place a braille Constitution in every library in the country. The Commission has asked our library staff to inform our con- stituency of the availability of this edition. In the coming year, our nation will be celebrating the Bicentennial of the Judiciary, and in 1991 the Bicentennial of the Bill of Rights. There will be avail- able many educational opportu- nities to celebrate these com- memorations. This copy of the braille edition of the Constitution will be placed in our reference room. New books at the library: “Abra- cadaver” by Ralph Mclnerny is a Father Dowling mystery and it is an elegant and ingenious puzzle that Dowling'’s flock will enjoy. The story begins with a magic show at St. Hilary's parish center on a peaceful winter's night. A ring with an inscription used in a trick sets off a complex web of connections. “Toxic Parents” is the story of parents overcoming their hurtful legacy and reclaiming their lives. Toxic parents are parents who cause emotional or physical pain, who ignored needs or overbur- dened with guilt; parents that cause damage to their children. Millions of adults suffer from the legacy without knowing it. Dr. Susan Forward is the author. “The Dark Half" by Stephen King is a tale of terror so real and fasci- nating that King's fans will find themselves squiriming in the master's heart-stopping, blood- curdling grip and loving every minute of it. At the center of the nightmare is the devastating fig- ure of George Stark, Thad Bea- mont’s dark half—impossibly alive and on the loose. “Win, Lose or Die” by John Gardner is a suspense novel filled with intrigure, explosive action, and technological wizardry. it is the return of Britain's greatest spy, James Bond, and his assignment is not a casual baby-sitting assign- ment, laden with deadly possibili- ties. The library will be closed Janu- ary 1 and 2 for the New Year's holiday and will reopen January 3, ready for the 1990's. The staff of the Back Mountain Memorial Li- brary wish everyone peace, joy, — love and prosperity for the new year. MEMORIAL BOOK LIST Book in memory of John Blase was donated by the class of 1942 Kingston Township High School, not Kate Newhart as stated. Ronald A. Bartizek Editor and Publisher Peggy Young Advertising Acct. Exec. Paul Rismiller Composition Tie SDALLASCP0ST Published Weekly by Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 Telephone: 717-675-5211 Jean Hillard Office Manager J 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 The Post asks: “What is your New Year’s Resolution this year?” CORRECTION TO LAST wEEK's # | William Baran Angie Cheskiewitz Michael Shevock Forty Fort Orange Plymouth Teacher Student Counselor “I'm going to start walking daily “I'm going to lose weight and “I'm going to exercise to be in to lose weight.” (487 also do more studying.” 1 good shape for golf season.” Sally Kennard Harveys Lake Phys Ed teacher “I don’t make resolutions any more because I never keep them.” ; Tammy Dickson : Trucksville : Student } “I'm going to stop eating jun foods and go to aerobics class.” Ed PE ath
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers