4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, January 31, 1990 Tie SI ALLASC0ST Proposed project illustrates need for better planning ~ Problems with a proposal to build houses and townhouses on property in three municipalities - Lehman and Dallas townships, and Harveys Lake - illustrate the need to reform how the Back Mountain handles development requests. The plan calls for a construction of a road that crosses municipal boundaries. Each community has its own rules governing roadbuilding specifications and in this case they don’t match. Sothe developer has shown a roadway going from 50 to 30 foot width at the boundary line. That is perhaps the most graphic example of the need for coordinated zoning ordinances in Back Mountain communities. .More than that, a combined approach to planning and zoning would make the best use of the land that is available for development, benefiting residents and developers alike. Now, if a project crosses a boundary line, each side must be considered as a separate entity. And finally, the number of meetings and personnel that are needed to screen proposed projects could be lowered dramati- cally if a regional group first passed judgement on proposals. Developing and implementing a regional plan will no doubt come at some expense, but it needn't all be placed on the shoulders of taxpayers. Those who wish to profit by develop- ing the Back Mountain should be asked to contribute more to footing the bill. There are costs involved in each step of the approval process, and the applicants can be charged enough to pay them. A good starting point would be to raise the {filing fee to a level that will cover the costs inherent in reviewing proposals. Higher fees would also be a deterrent to would-be developers who submit plans in the hope they will gain preliminary approval with little commitment on their part. A filing fee of several hundred dollars would discourage that kind of fishing expedition, while the money raised could be used to pay for any special investigation that must be done. The Back Mountain is one of the most attractive areas in Northeastern Pennsylvania to builders of residential and commercial property. There’s no reason why we shouldn't take measures to see that it is developed properly. Cop shooter should not be given furlough If it weren't so serious, the idea of furloughing a man who tried less than four years ago to kill two police officers would be laughable. But there is no humor in the prospect of an early release in this case. There is a serious weakness in a judicial system that allows plea bargaining for so serious a charge, and then considers allowing the criminal to enjoy some benefits of freedom before his sentence is up. : Donald Kelly may have reformed his behavior - we certainly hope so. Even if corrections officials believe he has, he should not be allowed out of prison, even on furlough, until his term is served. Kelly was sentenced to two concurrent terms of 5-10 years for shooting officers Wayman Miers and James Tupper inJune of 1986. For all we know, only the officers quick action prevented an even greater tragedy. Given the circumstances and the fact that Kelly had been known to attack policemen before, a minimum of five years in jail seems a light enough sen- tence. Perhaps even worse, the only person outside the corrections department who has any real say in whether or not Kelly receives a furlough is the sentencing judge. Police and victims just have to accept the department's decision. ~~ We hope that whenever Donald Kelly is released from jail it will be as a better person. But allowing him out even one day ahead of schedule will be a travesty of justice and an insult to the police officers who were his victims. 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 their authenticity. 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 may be included in that week's issue. Slow ice-covered turn in Lehman (Photo by Charlotte Bartizek) Library news Volunteers fill in until new librarian found By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The Back Mountain Memorial Library has been without a head librarian for the past two months at avery busy time of the year. The present staff members have been working extra long hours and ex- tra hard to keep ahead of the many daily duties along with completing some of the ongoing special proj- ects. The library circulated 4,642 books during the month of Decem- ber, added 137 new books to the collection and had 69 new borrow- ers join the library. The library is again busy with ~ students working on special school papers and children borrowing their books from the children’s room. We have a super group of volunteers who help the staff with shelving, alphabetizing and slip- ping books at the front desk. A very sincere thank you to our dedicated staff members and also our volunteers who have kept the library going during a busy time with a short staff. Our volunteers are a very important part of our every day existence. The personnel search commit- tee is continuing interviews for the position of head librarian for the library and it is hoped that it will not be too long before a decision will be reached and we will have a new librarian. Our Book Store in the basement of the library is an on-going sale area for books donated to the li- brary through the year, over and above the books donated for the library auction, and this Book Store room will be open any time the library is open with books for sale at the prices marked in the indi- vidual books. A special bargain basement room has been set up with other books which are selling for $1.00 per bag. This special room will be open for this sale until February 10. There are many bargains to be found in this room. As one of our new book store browsers told us, “You could build a small library of your own at a small cost with the books pur- chased at the library book store”. Come in and look for treasures. Two new books were recently donated to the Children’s Room by the Tau Chapter of Delta Kapipa Gamma, of which Mrs. Priscilla Allison is President. The books are Lois Lowry’'s “Number The Stars”, the 1989 Newberry Award Winner and Bruce McMillan's “Super, Super, Super Words". These books were given in memory of the chap- ter's deceased members. New books at the library: “Black Cherry Blues” by James Lee Burke is a masterful novel and a first- class adventure. It combines muscular, dynamic prose, top- notch plotting, and a mastery of dialogue and characterization. A tough and suspenseful detective adventure. “Lair of the Fox” by Daniel Pol- lock is the story of KGB officer Felix Ilyinski and his job of recov- ering stolen canisters of poison gas before they fall into the hands of western intelligence. A story of terrorist squads and Turkish po- lice and an American frigate. Property tax/rent rebate applications now available Rep. Scott Dietterick said re- cently that 1989 property tax/rent rebate applications are available at his district office. The forms apply to total income received and property taxes or rent paid in 1989. Eligible for the rebate program are persons age 65 or older, wid- ows and widowers age 50 or older and permanently disabled persons age 18 and older. A participant's annual income from all sources cannot exceed $15,000. Only one person per household is eligible for the program, which is funded by proceeds from the state lottery. Dietterick’s office is at 1265 Wyoming Avenue, Forty Fort, PA 18704. The telephone is 288-3990. yesterday 60 Years Ago - Jan. 31, 1930 ICE HARVEST DELAYED BY MILD WEATHER State inspector visits local schools this Friday, finds condi- tions much improved over previ- _ ous years. Ice harvest is delayed by mild winter weather. Jack Roberts All Stars win one, lose one, defeating Gulf Refining Company and losing to Keystone A.C Open House observed at Shav- ertown Methodist Church last Thursday. Wed - Rose Allabaugh Hart and Alex Silic. 50 Years Ago - Feb. 2, 1940 'SKIP DAY' STUDENTS ROUNDED UP State Rep. Don Wilkinson an- nounces he will seek reelection as : representative. A plot to hold a ‘Senior Skip Day’ Monday afternoon at Dallas Borough High School crumbled by Supervising Principal T. A. Williamee who detected the un- | usual number of absences and with the help of the truant officer brought the students back to school. Zero weather is stubborn en-. emy of local water company caus- ing sleepless nights for manager. Leslie Warhola. Richard Disque becomes mor-* tician here. Engaged - Jean Weaver and Russell Johnson. 40 Years Ago - Feb. 3, 1950 DALLAS TOWNSHIP LOWERS TAX RATE Harry Ohlman, Red Cross Back Mountain blood chairman appeals for 900 more blood donors. Dallas Township supervisors cut tax millage from 7 1/2 to 7 mills and retains the two mill levy for sinking fund making a total of nine mills instead of 9 1/2 mills. Engaged - Elda Jean Murray and Milton R. Lomax; Goldie Gray and George S. Switras; Elizabeth Jane Smith and Clinton Smith. Wed - Doris Mae Kemmerer and) William Laity. Harveys Lake United Sporiomen meet at Herman Kern's Inn. 30 Years Ago - Feb. 4, 1960 LUIGI'S PIZZA OPENS AT 4 Be George E. Taylor, once super-- vising principal of Lake-Noxen. 309-415 INTERSECTION Schools has accepted appointment. as superintendent of Council Rocks in Bucks County. Harveys Lake Lions Club pre- sented a $500 check to the Jon-- athan R. Davis Fire Company. Back Mountain Memorial Li- brary elects Robert Bachman as: president. Luigi's Pizzeria holds grand opening at its new location at the. “Y”, Routes 309 and 415. Wed - Judith Roberts and John Roushey, Jr. 20 Years Ago - Feb. 5, 1970 NATONA MILLS UNION FIGHT GOING STRONG A union dispute remains active at Natona Mills as a petition is introduced seeking the ouster of one union in favor of another. WVIA-TV,; Channel 44 faces a | slim, bleak future of program and | staff cutbacks if funds are not: provided to the station or its con- necting network. Dallas Mountaineers took the: first half title of the B Division in. WyomingValley basketball by. downing the Lake-Lehman Knights, 79-70 in overtime. Engaged - Noreen E. Becker and Carl J. Gladey; Sharon Strzelczyk: why e A : and George Robinson, Jr.; Rebecca’ Mendozza and Edward E. Edwards. The Post asks: Should more languages be taught in high school? Rose Ragnacci Math teacher Pittston “Yes, Latin because it is the Lonny Stella Aide Shavertown “I believe German, French and Candy Fyke Teacher Dallas John Chapple Teacher Shavertown basis for English, Spanish because of the large population of Hispan- ics in the U.S.A. and Russian.” Spanish for today's society al- though Latin could he added for students interested in certain ca- reer fields.” “Yes, I believe more languages should be offered as it becomes obvious students need them for entering the business world.” “I believe Latin should definitely be in the curriculum. It is the basis for English grammar.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers