= 7 YR ra Lipid Li a et es re gy ge gg oe gs ge Traffic lights needed; ‘ but how will they be paid for? ee oe SS i J 4 BR XK C FC Ny 3 EO SR 4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, September 26, 1990 Tie DALLASS0ST Citizen demand for more traffic signals on Back Mountain highways has risen again, this time with a group of Dallas - Borough residents petitioning for a light at the intersection of Route 415 and Center Hill Road, near Pickett’s Charge Restau- rant. That is but one of the locations that merit a traffic light, others being the intersection of Route 309 and Main Street, near Mark II; the intersection of routes 118 and 415 on the way to Harveys Lake; and the intersection of Route 309 and Franklin Street in Shavertown. It's not easy in Pennsylvania to have a new traffic light installed. No matter how badly a municipality may want one, the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has the final say, based on their studies of traffic volume and hazards. In the case of the light near Pickett's Charge, approval was granted several years ago, but the application was never sent on, most likely because the borough felt it couldn't afford the $60,000 tab. That seems an absurd situation; if PennDOT has the author- | ity to approve or disapprove lights, it should also bear some of ~ the responsibility to pay for them. But that’s the way it is, and if Back Mountain residents want better traffic control, they'll have to resolve themselves to paying for it. Each of the intersections mentioned above has been the site of numerous serious accidents, several of them fatal. That fact alone should stimulate a serious investigation into the benefits and costs of installing lights at them. In the past, the need has been acknowledged, but the borough has been reluctant to come up with the needed funds, saying that taxpayers couldn't afford to bear the expense. Maybe times have changed. There is no doubt of the need for more signals, particularly at the intersections near Pickett’s Charge and Mark II. The real question is how to pay for them, and that’s where some creativity may be required. The funds could probably be raised if a serious effort were made to enlist the public, taxpayers and businesses. Most people who drive on the local highways know th danger and inconvenience they ~ face and would be willing to ante up for more safety. But, again, Pennsylvania's arcane regulations stymie local I municipalities’ ability to meet the needs of residents. Under SS peu : . f | A Pum a existing tax law, most boroughs and townships are limited in the rate of wage tax they can charge — in most cases to one percent. Therefore, the burden of raising more revenue rests on already-pressed property taxes, on which school districts and the county also rely. The solution to this dilemma, then, rests with Back Moun- tain municipalities’ ability to marshal support for a needed expenditure. It can be done, and it should be done. 'Ugly' guardrails better than none Traffic control of a different type is causing a mini-contro- versy at Harveys Lake, where some residents are upset about ‘guardrails that are being installed, calling them ugly and more suited to a turnpike ramp than the shore of the lake. But ugly or not, guardrails are clearly needed around much of the lake, where it’s far too easy for motorists who lose control of their vehicles to wind up in the drink or worse. Perhaps the borough can put a coat of paint on the offending rails after installation. That might be a quick, cost-effective measure. Tie SDALLASC0ST Published Weekly by Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 Telephone: 717-675-5211 Ronald A. Bartizek Charlotte E. Bartizek Editor and Publisher Associate Publisher Charlot M. Denmon Reporter Peggy Young Advertising Acct. Exec. Rich Johnson ~ Paul Rismiller Reporter Olga Kostrobala iti re Composition Jean Hillard Classified/typesetting Office Manager MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION EL Autumn reflections (Photo by Charlotte Bartizek) Library news Book Club buys three novels for collection The Back Mountain Memorial Library Book Club held its first meeting of the new season last Monday in the reference room at the library. There were fourteen members present at the meeting and a warm welcome was extended to new member, Mary Panaway. Our recording secretary, Jo Bonham, who has done an excel- lent job for many years announced she would have ta resign her posi- tion due to her health. We appre- ciate all the years she has given to the Book Club and we will sin- cerely miss her and all that she has added to the monthly meeting. Bennie Matchet has accepted the secretary postion on an interim basis. The Book Club contingency fund donated money to the library to buy three novels for the library. The books are: Victoria Holts *Snarte of Serpants:; Len Deighton’s “Spy Sinker”; and Kelsey Kirkland's “Shape Of Love”. An interesting letter was read form a former regular book club member, Peggy Love, who is now visiting in New York. Originally from England, she always had very interesting stories to tell at Book Club meetings. The program was presented by John and Diane Youells, owners of the Back Mountain Books in the Country Club Shopping Center. They brought many of their books for the members to browse through and gave us and insight into what stock they carried in reading ma- terial. They also showed us a 30 second video about the book store. As part of the refreshment por- tion of the meeting, our party girl, Jane, brought in a birthday cake to celebrate my birthday a few days in advance. The thought was greatly appreciated; it is still nice to hear a group of people sing ‘Happy Birthday to You”, and the cake was delicious and enjoyed by all. Pouring at the tea table were Martha Parker and Elizabeth Stoehr. Book Club will meet in October on Monday, the 15th, in the reference room. Members and guests are invited to attend. Speaking of birthdays, it is twenty three years ago this month that I began to work at the library; starting in the children's depart- ment and then moving up to the Assistant Librarian position. The library staff is given their birthday off as an extra holiday and this year is the first time that I actually stayed away from the library on my birthday. A real holiday! Those are two reasons why September is always important to me. A very dear couple who were ardent supporters and users of the library moved to Lancaster during the past summer. Before they left, they brought many items to the library to be used for our annual libraryauction. Amongthese items was a hand made wooden sail boat with full regalia, which we put up for bids over the auction block. In checking the auction bills ready- ing them for billing, I came across a bill which included the sail boat, which was sold for $260.00, a nice donation to the auction proceeds. Interesting, the person who bought the sail boat lives on Water Street and aslo bought a book about a sailing ship. Thanks, Harvey, for giving us your sailboat. We find all sorts of things left behind by our library patrons; in the returned books or at the tables where they study. However, a rare find last week was a child's sneaker. It was a small size and it is an Oshkosh brand. It is still here at the front desk waiting for its owner to pick it up. Then there was this person who had an overdue book and when asked where the book was, his answer was, “I took it to the tailor, it's jacket was torn”. John Alsup Trucksville i “I don't think we have much of a choice but being for Florida I ~ prefer the warmer weather.” Dave Koval Shavertown “Not really. I like summer bet- ter than winter, I guess I'm just not ready for the cold.” ~ Raul Lopez Shavertown “I guess so. I like both the warm and cold weather but when it snows | like to ski.” The Post asks: Are you ready for the cooler weather? Audrey Brighthaupt Dallas “No, I like the summer. It is better when it is hot outside.” yesterday 60 Years Ago - Sept. 26, 1930 COMMISSIONERS SENT TO JAIL FOR YEAR President Judge W.S. McLean sentenced Luzerne County com- missioners to serve one year in jail, $500 fine and removal from office as a result of two years investigat- ing county expenditures and waste on the recently constructed Luzerne/Trucksville Highway by the Taxpayers Association. Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Com- pany plans to burn notes tonight at a community program includ- ing a parade and dance. Lockhart A.C. Club will visit Dallas this weekend in an effort to add another game to its long list of wins this season. Wed-Marie LaBarr and Arnold Wright. 50 Years ago-Sept. 27, 1940 CALVIN McHOSE LUNCHES WITH MRS. ROOSEVELT Taking advantage of the mild weather contractors laying Dai- las’s new highway had pushed work about 50 percent ahead of sched- ule. The draft divisions for the Dal- las Area for peace-time military service were announced this week by the state. The Bloomsburg Fair was draw- ing record crowds and would con- clude Saturday night with an all- star racing program and the final presentation of the sensational night shoe “Echoes fo Broadway” Calvin McHose was among the 12 persons who had lunch with Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt on Monday when she visited Scran- ton. balloting for a new name for the local area this week, only one vote Suburban Hill took the lead in ¥ Lu ahead of the Back Mountain Re- gion. Former Dallas Burgess G. Ha- rold Wagner is Democratic nomi- nee for State Treasurer. : Lehman, Kingston Township and Dallas Township football teams will face their second opponents of + ~ the season this Sunday. Wed-Clara Smith and William Rifenbery. 40 Years Ago-Sept. 29, 1950 BANDS WILL PLAY IN BOOSTER DAY PARADE All five Back Mountain High School bands will march in the Booster Day Parade tomorrow, the first time in history that they have appearded together. The parade starts promptly at 1:30 p.m. with Lehman, Lake, Dallas, Dallas Township and Kingston Township taking part. Aleathea R. Jones, daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Raymond C. Jones, Fernbrook, won a scholarship in physical therapy under the na- tionwide professional training program of the Infantile Paralysis Foundation. Prince of Peace won the Back Mountain Church League playoffs last Wednesday by defeating St. Paul's Lutheran Church 1-Oinan -- extra inning game. ; Wed-Shirley N. Benscoter and Sterling Meade; Shirley Boston and. Sheldon Hoover; Marion Zinn and’ » Ralph Johnson. » # 30 Years ago - Sept. 29, 1960 FIRST HAYMARKET ANTIQUE SHOW HELD , 7 Soa od * The first annual Haymarket 4 * » * » Antique Show was staged in a field - * a mile beyond Evans Falls with :- mountains for a backdrop. Lake-Lehman Building Author- » ity will meet tomorrow night to -: study revised plans for the new - Junior-Senior High School build- - ing. Beaumont takes first game of semi-finals from Noxen 6-4. Engaged-LidaJeen Hughes and Richard Goode. Wed-Elma M. Morris and Char- les Nice; Johanna Laskowski and Joseph S. Yurck; Beverly Bloom and Howard Perrego. Farmers Night Market is a riot of color as harvest season reaches its peak. 20 Years Ago - October 1, 1970 KIWANIS BACKS TAX TO HELP LIBRARY Evidence shows that a car thief is active in Franklin Township. “Walk-a-way” which lasted only six days for an inmate of the State Correctional Instituion at Chase. was short term of freedom when: the inmate was found in the area of the institution's dairy barn. The incredible three-year win- ning streak of the Nittany Lions. ended Saturday with their 41-13. defeat by a perfection-honed Uni- versity of Colorado team. " Dallas Kiwanis Club backs the- tax for the Back Mountain Memo- rial Library. . Dallas Mountaineers toppled the: Plainsmen 33-6 in the local team’s" third game on the Dallas field. - Wed-Cheryl Lee Evans and Joseph A. Abruzzi; Beverly Mae Schoonover and John C. Orlando. ie »
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers