EEE EAR a ADEE i A Ft SOROS LA LC A Ree The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, August 8, 1990 3 By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer Many residents of the Back Mountain are familiar with his voice, but just as many would probably not recognize him if they met him in public. For the past 10 years his is the voice that has answered callers to the Back Mountain Communications Cen- ter. Bernie Pecukonis accepted a position as dispatcher at the Comm Center 10 years ago after resigning as supply clerk with the Dallas School District where he had been employed for about 10 years. ) Having worked part time as a policeman, when he left the school district, Bernie hoped to become a fulltime officer but his age was against him, so he con- tinued working part-time as well as working as a dispatcher. Four years ago he was named chief dispatcher, a position he still holds and hopes to continue to do so. Bernie enjoys his work at the Comm Center but he has a few words of advice for people who call in with an emergency. “They should give their name, address, phone number and a landmark so the units can get to their call as promptly as pos- sible,” Bernie said. “The dispatch- ers do a great job, but they can't do it all. They need help from the Bernie Pecukonis - the voice to call in emergency person who calls in to give the location and the emergency. “Sometimes we get a call from someone who will say ‘There's an accident down on the highway’, but they don't say where or who they are so we have no way of knowing.” Bernie, a native of Pringle, has been a resident of the Back Mountain for about 28 years when he moved back here with his wife and family. Originally, he was a butcher with the Sun- shine Market, following the trade which has been in his family for many generations. He began to have a problem with his hip so he accepted a position as supply clerk with the Dallas School District and also worked as a part-time officer, a position he held for 17 years. When Bernie moved to the Back Mountain, he and his wife opened a diner on Route 309 which he leased from Mort Mosier. Later he purchased the property from Mosier and kept the diner open for another five years until he went to work for the Blue Ribbon Bakery. In addition to his regular work, two years later Bernie opened a sporting goods store. Later he closed the business and in his leisure time he did fly-tying and now does sign painting and wood crafts. CHIEF DISPATCHER - Bernie Pecukonis, chief dispatcher of the Back Mountain Communications Center, says helping those in need is his greatest satisfaction. {Post Photo/Charlot M. Denmon) ~ Despite his many talents, Bernie still enjoys dispatching. “It's not the easiest job but it's rewarding to know that you are able to do something for your neighbors when they are in trouble.” He also enjoys being chief dispatcher but admits it takes patience, understanding, dedication and knowing when to say the right things. “The satisfaction you get from helping others is the greatest reward,” Bernie said. a. lke o v Kingston Township Class Reunion The 1940 graduating class of Kingston Township High School held its 50th Reunion, Saturday, Aug. 4, at The Castle, Dallas. Thirty six former class members attended with their wives and husbands. Master of Ceremonies William Johnson introduced classmate Rev. William Sweezy, who gave the invocation. Class president J. Warren Meacham greated the class and Johnson introduced their former teacher, Miss Dorothy S. Weaver as guest of honor. Seven- teen deceased classmates were remembered and the evening was ended with the singing of the school’s Alma Mater. Members of the class above are, first row, Thomas M. Beline, Eleanor Belford Beveridge, Frank H. Borkowski, Edmond J. Boyes, Arja E. Brown, Bear sightings increase By RICH JOHNSON Staff Writer One person thought it was a dog. Another wasn't quite sure what was wandering around the neighborhood. Other people knew exactly what was looking through the garbage. It was a bear and they are being seen more often lately, according to ‘a member of the Pennsylvania Game Commission. Game Commission officer Don Burchell said Tuesday that the Dallas office has been receiving a lot of phone calls from people who have seen a bear wandering through their neighborhood. Calls have come in from Har- veys Lake, Kingston Township and Jackson Township within the past two weeks. According to Burchell, the bears are working their way out of area woods in search of food. “The availa- bility of food in the woods is dimin- ishing for now,” said Burchell. “So the bears are looking for food else- where.” He said that it is common for bears to wander around this time of year, but said that he has re- ceived more calls this year than in the past. He also said that there is no immediate danger if people leave the bears alone. “The best thing to do is to leave them alone,” said Burchell. “We. run into problems because a large group usually gathers when a bear is seen and sometimes people try to chase the bears back to the woods. They should just leave them alone.” He said that the bears are tend- ing to wander into populated areas because of the trash that is left out. “The best way to avoid having bears come down is not to leave garbage out for long periods of time. This not only attracts bears but raccoons and skunks also,” said Burchell. He expects that there will be fewer bear sightings in the future. “Hopefully the berries and other foliage will be back in the woods soon and the bears will stay there,” said Burchell. Lehman-Jackson slates fundraiser The Lehman-Jackson PTA will hold its first fundraiser of the 1990- 91 school year by holding a back to school sale at the Antique Car Show on August 19. Items available for sale will in- clude imprinted t-shirts, baseball caps and pencils with the Lehman Knight, notebooks, paper, folders and many other items needed for school. Come enjoy the car show and support the PTA by purchasing your school supplies. FERNBROOK SELF STORAGE (formerly Shelco) 10' x 10 Unit - $50 / mo. 10' x 20' Unit - $70 / mo. 1 1/2 Miles from Dallas Memorial Hwy. In Fernbrook Industrial Park, near corner of Lower Demonds Rd. & Trout Brook Rd. Call 675-8169, Paulette Wolanski Vos 1 Donald E. Davis, Michael J. Chersin, Beatrice C. Atherholt Porter, Alberta G. Cyphers Jones; second row, Barbara C. Ringstrom Dingle, Erma B. Hoover Eicke, Lewis G. Evans, Paul J. Gallagher, Audrey M. Schmitt Ide, Shirley Swan Ide, Ruth J. Anthony Jackson, William A. Johnson; third row, Herbert W. Jones, Lorna Gordon Laskowski, Elsie J. Ayre Lewis, Eleanor M. Bartells May, J. Warren Meacham, Thomas F. Metz, Lawrence E. Newhart, Sarah Burnett Pechel; fourth row, Robert A. Dierolf, Anne D. Phillips Ray, Robert A. Ray, Louis J. Spaciano, Rev. Marvin W. Sweezy, Dorothy A. Cook Tomson, Emily J. Dover VanTuyle, Elfriede R. Vrhel and Frances M. Shappelle Walker. (Post photo/Charlot M. Denmon) Summer Sale Continues 20 - 50% Off orig. price (Selected Items) (A\Ca ie > Hepat | oUSS Summer Hours: T-W-F-S 10-5 - Th 10 - 8 Closed Sun. & Monthru Labor Day New Sweet Valley Post Office will open August 13 Postmaster Marian T. Mattey announces the new Sweet Valley Post Office will be open for retail sales and services on Monday, August 13, 1990. The new facility is located 1/4 mile south of the current facility on Main Road in the Major Professional Building. Post Office boxes are available and there will be ample customer parking. Sweet Valley is open for retail services weekdays 8:30- 11:30 and 1:30-5:00, and closed for lunch 11:30-1:30. A stamp vending machine is available for customer convenience in the lobby. Saturday retail hours are 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. The lobby is open to box customers weekdays 7a.m.-5 p.m. and Saturdays 7 am.-11:15. Postmaster Mattey has an- nounced there will be a combina- tion open house/customer appre- ciation day, Thursday, Sept. 6, from 2-4 p.m. A ribbon-cutting cere- mony will begin promptly at 2 p.m. followed by a tour of the new facil- ity. Refreshments will be served. Marian expresses her gratitude to the Sweet Valley patrons for their patience and cooperation daring this transition. : Iraq (continued from page 1) They are envious of the royalty but in Iraq, people in the streets idolize Saddam because he has shown his power by invading Kuwait.” Fahmy said Saddam Hussein is "a ruthless and shrewd politician and that in the 18-year war in the Mid-East he became very tough. “Saddam has one million army troops which he recruited from among the Iraqis and he wants to display his power. Nassar of Egypt was the leader of the Arab coun- tries but since his death there has been a vacuum. No one has been strong enough to take over leader- ship of the countries. “Hussein can't be trusted. Just two days before the invasion he promised the Egyptian leader Mubaruk that he would not invade Kuwait,” Dr. Fahmy said. Dr. Fahmy likened the Mid-East to a large family oil company, each company with a flag and a feif in the United Nations. He also em- phasized that Hussein is a radical man and will follow through on what he threatens. “I have been following the situ- ation on short wave radio and Kuwait never mentioned until Monday that it was invaded. Kuwait's situation is very crucial to the Western World and Japan is in bad shape since they purchase most of their oil from Kuwait. “I am delighted that there is unity in the world in this crisis. Japan, the Soviet Union, China, the United States, Great Britain, France and many other countries have united in their protest. Uni- laterally, this is good and now the United Nations has unanimously condemned Iraq's actions,” Dr. Fahmy said. Dr. Fahmy feels that sanctions alone will not end the standoff. “Sanctions are all right but they can't be enforced 100 percent,” Dr. Fahmy explained. “I believe that Iraq can be blockaded. There are two large oil pipes, one in Turkey ‘and one in Saudi Arabia. I would like to see some kind of Delta force blow up these oil lines, then Tur- key and Saudi Arabia can declare it an accident.” | Fahmy believes that if troops approach Iraq, Saddam Hussein will use rockets to blow up Saudi Arabia. He also said that last week the Arab countries met to pass a condemnation of Saddam and that Egypt was very vocal. One-third of he countries abstained because they believed it was an Arab affair so they wanted romierfrence fiom he the outside. : “This is not an Arab affair,” explained Dr. Fahmy. “Saddam executed 100 Iraqi officers who refused to invade Kuwait. He is a | very cruel man. If Saudi Arabia | gives the United States permission to establish bases, he will blow up the Saudis. If Kuwait is discarded, in a year it will be Saudi Arabia who will be invaded by Saddam. Dr. Fahmy is disappointed mn the American oil companies and their reaction. He said the compa- nies acted just like Saddam to Americans by increasing the prices on oil which is still stored in tanks in this country. He is afraid this will lead to a recession as well as inflation. “Oil is an important product ir in American economy. The solution is to think seriously about declar- ing American independence. "Consumers should conserve en- ergy and use it wisely," he said. "I also believe that the United States and Russia should get together and work out a long range plan to resolve the situation. "The former British colony Kuwait which gained its independ- ence in 1961 must receive the world’s backing. Itisavery wealthy country, its money made from oil and must be saved from the Iraqis,” Dr. Fahmy concluded. Men a Mary Ellen Moomey ” dint? 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