Dallas native sings around the world 16 (28) OX ZN LLAS OST Vol. 101 No. 11 Dallas, PA Wednesday, March 21, 1990 35 Cents HL sewer authority still in hot water i t i : t i) By RICH JOHNSON Staff Writer Testimony by the former secre- tary of the Harveys Lake Municipal Authority that authority members told her to write off their charges has rekindled concerns about the group's operation. Gloria Ann Marie Evans was acquitted last Friday of charges that she embezzled $37,000 from the authority from 1984 to 1986. Last year, the authority came under fire for not having records that would show who was and was not connected to the community's sewer system. During the three day trial, the defense criticized some of the ways the sewer authority was run, in- cluding Mrs. Evans’ testimony that some sewer authority members asked the secretary to credit their .accounts without payment, a state- ment that the authority members deny. The trial began on Wednesday when the prosecution tried to show that while Evans was the Sewer Authority secretary from 1984- 1986, she embezzled $37,442. The defense said that Evans did . not take the money, and said that i A some of the missing funds could be attributed to the poor operations of the sewer authority. Evans testified that she was an @ integral part of the authority, as foie N Former secretary acquitted of stealing funds says board members told her to write off their debts she collected the fees. When she took the stand on her own behalf, she stated that two authority members, John McManus and Terry Jones, told her to credit their accounts without being paid. Both authority members deny the accusation and say that Evans’ acquital is “shocking.” Jones said he was stunned when he heard the jury’s decision. “I was shocked,” he said Monday. “There was no question it was a tough case because the jury wasn't sure how much money was missing." He then added that he never asked Evans to credit his account without payment. “That is totally, totally untrue.” It has also been reported that McManus has denied the state- ment that he asked Evans to credit his account without payment. The district attorney contended that Evans took sewer fees from customers, gave them receipts and then threw away the authority's copy of the bill and kept the money. See HOT WATER, pg 3 Konigus wins Wrestling his best all season J.J. Konigus reaches deep to defeat his opponent and take third place in the PIAA state finals at Hershey last weekend. Story, more photos on page 12. (Photo by Dave Kozemchak) Teen gets reform school for Hillman shooting By RICH JOHNSON Staff writer Reliable sources have told The Postthat the president of the Lake- Lehman senior class, who was convicted in the shooting death of another Lake -Lehman student last summer, was sentenced to spend three years in a reform school. Chris Smith was sentenced last Friday in Luzerne County Court before Judge Donald O'Malley. Court officials, family members, and others dealing directly with the case have declined comment on the sentencing because Judge O'Malley imposed a gag order on them. A gag order prohibits anyone dealing with the case from publicly discussing its details. The gag order was imposed because Smith was tried as a juvenile. However, information obtained from within the Lake-Lehman School District says that Smith was sentenced to three years at a reform school outside of Philadel- See REFORM, pg 5 ARR BOND OWNER DONATES - Dallas Fall Fair Association Presi- dent Hugh Woodward displays the Fall Fair Bond purchased by the Dallas Federated Woman's Club which was purchased by the club and donated to the Fair Association. (Photo by Charlot M. Denmon) Fall Fair bonds reach their By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer Loyal supporters of what is now known as the Luzerne County Fair are about to get their reward. But most of them probably won't take it, Fall Fair bonds sold in 1980 to raise $25,000 for the purchase of an additional 25 acres of land adjacent to the Back Mountain Medical Center have now reached their 10-year maturity for pay- ment. In January, 1980, with Alan Landis as chairman of the Dallas Area Fall Fair Community Devel- opment Bond Drive, the Fall Fair Association started the sale of the bonds in amounts of $10, $25, $50 and $100 to meet a goal of $25,000, the amount needed to purchase the 25 acres of land. The goal was to raise the money by Feb. 1, 1980. By January 15, the Association had reached more than half of its goal. The far-sighted members of the Fair Association Board knew that buying the additional land would be an investment in the future growth of the Back Mountain area's medical care and recrea- tional facilities. At the time they did not look at it as a money- making investment, for little did they realize the price of property would be what it is today. “The fair had been happening for 17 years in 1980,” Ray Hillman said. “I was president in 1980. I was involved with the Fair for 20 years, four of those years as presi- dent. “I'm not as involved now as I used to be but I still help when I can. I'm just going to return my bond and tell the association to keep the money as a donation. My mother and dad also purchased - bonds and they are going to do the same thing. We've gone without the money for 10years soI'd rather let the board keep it for capital projects,” Hillman said. The 10-year bonds raised over $33,000 in 1980 He said the Fair is just begin- ning to get on its feet and that it is growing rapidly, but there is still ‘need for more parking and for recreation areas. “Two years ago, the Fair lost $120,000 because of five days of rain. We took a beating. The bond sale was a good idea and Alan Landis did a great job heading it,” Hillman stated. : Francis “Red” Ambrose and Dr. Lester Jordan, the two men every- body credits with the idea of the Fall Fair and the purchasing of property to hold it, were too mod- est to say any more than they appreciated being recognized. Mrs. Ambrose said last week they were not taking back their money but leaving it with the Asso- maturity ciation for adonation. She said she wasn't sure but she believed that Jack Stanley, now living away from here would probably do the same :. Dr. Jordan also said that he did not intend to cash in his bond but will give it to the association as a donation. : “Why take back money you gave because you knew it was needed?” Dr. Jordan asked. The bond drive was an over- whelming success in 1980. At that time Landis reported at the end of April that the drive had raised $33,543.73, and that the money would be used to purchase the additional land for the Fall Fair, and in the future, if necessary, to construct additional buildings. He also announced at that time that the Association would con- tinue to accept contributions or to sell bonds to interested residents because there would be a lot of expense in the future. See BONDS, pg 2 DAMA to connect with Wyoming Valley System By RICH JOHNSON Staff Writer Plans are currently underway to have the Dallas Area Municipal Authority become a customer of the Wyoming Valley Sanitary Au- thority. This decision came after DAMA was given an option by the Depart- ment of Environmental Resources to either connect with Wyoming Valley or update the plant in King- ston Township, according to Plant Manager, Thomas Bagley. Bagley said that DER gave the option after a facilities plan showed that DAMA could not properly remove ammonia nitrogen that was flowing into Tobys Creek. “DER told us that we would have to update from a secondary plant toa primary plant in order to handle the ammonia nitrogen,” said Ba- gley. “We originally came up plans to upgrade the plant and submit- ted them to DER when it was then suggested that we look into the possibility of connecting with See DAMA, pg 2 By RICH JOHNSON Staff writer One week after hookup could begin, a handful of Jackson Township residents have con- nected with the community's new sewer system, and many more are expected to make the Jackson Twp. sewer permits going fast connection soon. ; The newly completed, 3.75 million dollar sewer project was ready to go last week and per- mits for hookup to the connec- tion went on sale last Thursday evening. After two days of selling Roberts to head L-L Junior High By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer “It will be a great challenge, the junior high ages are the tran- sition years for the students,” Lake-Lehman's Senior High School assistant principal Robert Roberts said last week following his appointment as principal of the district's junior high school. “I'm looking forward to next year, it will be a drastic change after 19 years at senior high. The enthusiasm and thinking of the teenagers will be comparable to being recharged,” Roberts said. “Ihave enrolled at Lehigh Uni- versity for further graduate study and I am planning to get into their doctorate program. I hope to get as much knowledge about the middle grades as possible. My philosophy is that the junior high students should receive 50 percent academic instruction and 50 percent social academic - not only teach them the three ‘R's’ but also help them become young adults. See SEWER, pg 2 See ROBERTS, pg 3 ROBERT ROBERTS “I'm grateful for the condition in which John Oliver has left the junior high. He has done such a great job, it will be just a differ- ent person sitting in the princi- pal’s chair.” Robert (Bob) Roberts resides with his wife, the former Debo- rah Shonk of Plymouth, in King- ston. They have two children, Robert, Jr., 13, and Sarah Eliza- Harvey's Lake looking into state development grant By RICH JOHNSON Staff writer Some state money may soon be coming to Harvey's Lake to help fund land development projects in that area. The borough is in the process of submitting an applica- tion for funding from the Depart- ment of Community affairs in the form of a grant. Classified.14-15 Editorials........ 4 Obituaries......2 The money is part of the State Planning Assistant Grant in which communities with land develop- ment projects apply to DCA for funds to help with projects. Any community interested in funds must submit an application and other information to DCA, which See GRANT, pg 2 Police Report............. 2 Property Transfers..... 8 SCHOOL. .c.ccvioninineas 10-11 Spons......... iba 12-13 Coming up: RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE - Wed., March 28, 10AM- 3PM, Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Lehman HARVEYS LAKE ZONING BOARD - Tues., March 27, 7 PM, Harveys Lake Municipal Bldg., Route 415 LEHMAN TOWNSHIP PLANNING COMMISSION - Mon., March 26, 7PM, Lehman Twp. Municipal Bldg. LEHMAN TOWNSHIP ZONING BOARD - Mon., March 26, 8PM, Lehman Twp. Municipal Bldg.
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