a _—_., PE is CE ima A AR 4 The Dallas Post | Dallas, PA Wednesday, January 23, 1991 T_T mt ——/, “Tie DarLasPost ‘Thoughts on a war that has just begun After years of watching horror films, Americans saw the real face of fear when on-air reporters were jarred by the sound of air raid sirens. How many of us felt sympathetic terror along 1 with them? Western and Arab cultures are clearly very different, but chances are individual Iraqi soldiers feel the same as we do under attack. The prospect of imminent death is a great equal- American high-technology weapons have performed incredi- bly well thus far. When this conflict is over, let’s be sure that a substantial portion of the money and intelligence that have been used to make the means of war will be turned to the necessities of our people and planet. Commentators say Saddam Hussein underestimated the resolve of a democratic society. They're right, and it would be ‘mice if the TV networks would stop trying to imply that the support for our soldiers will wither when the going gets tough. Air strikes with few casualties make war look almost antisep- tic, almost like a live version of the video games we've played. But it's not a game, and it's not going to stay neat and clean indefinitely. Saddam certainly didn’t realize the ferocity of American | fighting personnel. Perhaps he doesn’t understand the differ- ence between those who fight for a principle and those who fight from fear of punishment by their superiors. Courage comes ~ from within, not without. Television may bring images of the war to our living rooms, but that's not the same as having the war fought outside our doors. Americans have not known a modern war on their own soil, and the difference in perspective such an experience creates can't be replaced by pictures on a flickering screen. It may be that those who fight only when necessary, and who ~ want to see a war end quickly and permanently, are far more ~ highly motivated than those for whom war has become a way of life. We need to hope and pray for a quick end to the conflict, but to prepare for a long and costly ground battle. There's no ‘question the coalition forces would win, but the grisly nature of such campaigns tests the will of soldier and civilian alike. ~~ The American and coalition forces have performed magnifi- cently. There's no doubt that we now have in action the finest fighting men and women ever committed to battle by this nation. They exhibit both professional pride and an under- standing of the underlying principles for which they're asked to risk their lives. i i | i | Can you explain war to a four-year-old? | What do we tell our children now that war has invaded our lives? How do you explain men killing each other in the desert toa four-year-old? Many of us have tried and failed, perhaps ‘because the innocent minds of children haven't yet learned how to hate someone because they're different, or their hearts haven't been hardened enough to accept killing another living thing as necessary for their own happiness. Helping children to understand or accept the war in the Persian Gulf is a ticklish enterprise and one that will test the skills of most parents. If you aren't sure how to calm your youngster’ s fears, or whether to try to explain the war or to | ignore it, don't feel alone. Find resources that can help; many may be available at local schools and colleges. Most important, be sensitive to your children’s emotions. Don’t wait to act if you think a child is troubled, but don’t be overbearing or too detailed in your explanations. And don't sion. |e { belittle their feelings, they need you to help them sort out new ‘and conflicting information. Find out how children feel first, ‘then respond to their needs with understanding and compas- f Ronald A. Bartizek Editor and Publisher Peggy Young Advertising Acct. Exec. ~ Paul Rismiller ~ Composition Tie SP ALLASCPoST Published Weekly by Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 Telephone: 717-675-5211 : Rich Johnson Reporter Jean Hillard Office Manager A 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 Harveys Lake from Troxell Switch Road (Photo by Charlotte Bartizek) Guest column: Youth suicide; a tragedy that 1s claiming our most important resources Youth, those precious years of the teens and twenties when life is golden, every challenge is an op- portunity, health and vigor and zest for life are at their peak. Why then are increasing numbers of young people killing themselves? My heart is heavy, after attend- ing the funeral service ofa healthy, beautiful, intelligent, honor stu- dent and sweet 15-year-old girl. A young person who never fully knew life, but had the opportunity to enjoy it at its fullest. Why then, why did she choose to take her life? The General Federation of Womens Clubs reports that in this country and around the world, the suicide rate among young people has tripled in the past two dec- ades. When suicide becomes the second leading cause of death among our youth, something must be done right away. Prevention centers, local agen- cies and other resources are avail- able, but my opinion is our kids need us — they need to know they have a friend, a shoulder to cry on, someone to listen to them. When you deal with someone's emotions, you're dealing with the most ten- der part of their soul; it is all that matters. Nothing else is important to them, at that moment we need to hear them, really hear them, and let them know they are impor- tant. Is there anything dearer to any of us than our children? Let's all begin today, to watch for signs of help, cries, a state of hopelessness. It's up to us, the friends, relatives. Parents are too close to the problems, it's our re- sponsibility to offer a shoulder. Won't you join me today; let's take a step together for youth - be a friend - for life. How do we begin? Listen, be honest, share feel- ings, get help. Remember, if you keep their secret you may lose your friend. If they give you signs of suicide, don't take a chance, take a friend; stay close and get help. Jean Hillard President, Dallas Area Feder- ated Womens Club Meagan Wega competing for Century lll Leader Scholarship Meagan Wega, a senior, hasbeen selected as the Dallas Senior High School winner for the 1990-91 Century III Leader Scholarship. The scholarship was developed by the Association of Secondary School Principals, with funding from Shell Oil. Meagan, a school winner, will now compete at the state level for a $1,500 scholar- ship. ~ Meagan is the dates of Mr. and Mrs. John Wega of Church Street, Dallas. Meagan is a mem- ber of the National Honor Society. Her other activities include Editor- in-Chief of Yearbook, Co-Captain of Strutters, a participant in the Junior Leadership of Wilkes-Barre, Library Aide, member of the news- paper staff, and former member of the chorus. Meagan has been accepted to King's College for the fall of 1991 pursuing a degree in ‘Biology /Pre-med. Library news Back Mountain Library circulated 4,802 books in December ‘By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The Back Mountain Memorial Library circulated 4,802 books during the month of December; 12,955 adult and 1,847 juvenile titles. Book Club members bor- rowed 219 books from their shelf and there were 290 reference ques- tions. New books added to the inventory were 181 and 12 books were withdrawn. There were 70 new borrowers joining and 266 patrons re-registered. Interlibrary loan transactions numbered 23. ~The Friends of the Library are | busy getting the material together for the first ever Back Mountain Memorial Library Cookbook, which we hope will be published in June ‘and ready for sale at the 1991 library auction. Maryan Daily, chairman of the cookbook project, | has announced she will be accept- i 7 ingrecipes from residents for a few more days. The book should be ready to go to the printer by March 1 In conjunction with the cook- book, the committee is offering a contest for young people which includes an essay on the various age levels on different subjects. Grades 1 through 5 will write about “Surprising foods I would like to find in my lunchbox”; Grades 6 through 8: An ant view of my favor- ite picnic food”; and Grades 9 through 12: “IfI could invent a new holiday it would be and 1 would serve . Further infor- mation on the essay cotnest may be obtained in the children’s room at the library. National Library Week will be held in the spring of this year and one of the library supply houses has chosen a rather unique theme; “The more you read, the more you know. The more you know, the smarter you grow. The smarter you grow, the stronger your voice, when speaking your mind or making your choice.” Very appro- priate from a library standpoint. New books at the library: “Tucker's Last Stand” by William F. Buckley, Jr., isa new Book Club purchase and is the story of Blackford Oakes, the engaging figure from the Central Intelligence Agency, who has been given a special mission; where he is con- fronted by challenges technologi- cal and physical, mentaland moral. In the end, Oakes must face a supreme dilemma, and make a decisive move. An illuminating, novel. “To Speak For The Dead” by | Paul Levine is an electrifying novel of courtroom suspense, featuring obsession, betrayal and murder. Jake Lassiter has an uncanny knack for digging up the truth— and the trouble that usually comes with it. What appears to be a rou- tine case takes a sinister turn when Susan, the dead man's daughter insists a conspiracy killed her fa- ther. A quote that Thomas Paine wrote many years ago; and President George Bush quoted in his speech last week: “These are the times that try men’s souls.” And, how very true that is. 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. Only yesterday 60 Years Ago - Jan. 30, 1931 PILOTS GIVE RIDES AT HARVEYS LAKE The Hon. C. M. Turpin offers a West Point Cadetship to any boy 17 years of age and not 22 when he enters West Point Academy the first week in July if he takes an examination on January 24 at 9 a.m. promptly at the Wilkes-Barre post office. The Farmers Institute tobe held Feb. 5 and 6 at the Kunkle Com- munity Hall promises to draw a large crowd. Wyoming Valley owners of two planes made use of Harveys Lake thick ice by landing on the lake and carrying passengers on flights, taking off at Sandy Beach. Irem Temple Country Club closed from Feb. 1 to April 1, while the interior of the clubhouse is thoroughly renovated. Wed - Emest Montross and Bethel Shook. The Meridian cagers defeated Lare’s team of Luzerne, Wednes- day, 41-27. 50 Years Ago - Jan. 30, 1941 REV. FRICK TO SERVE AS CHAPLAIN OF 109TH The Rev. C.H. Frick, pastor of Huntsville Christian Church, is § 5 = 5 . “7 granted a leave for U.S. Army duty as chaplain of the 109th. Dr. Henry Laing firemen close the year with a balance of $1203.46. No definite time has been set for construction of the new highway from Dallas to Harveys Lake as engineers of the Department of | Highways were non-committal. Kingston Township school board : appointed Harry Harter to fill the position on the board left vacant by the death of W.E. Bennett. Dallas Borough cagers defeat : Lehman 38-32 to remain in first place. Engaged - Gertrude Berlinski and Theodore Levitski. Wed - Lois Rogers and Sgt. Wil- liam Maynard Bermy; Fannie Somerville Maitland and John Vennema. 40 Years Ago - Jan. 26, 1951 KINGSTON TWP. HIGH HOLDS ADULT CLASSES Franklin Fire Co.'s new John b Bean Hi-Pressure Fog Equipment © will be delivered tomorrow morn- ing. Adult education classes to start - Feb. 8 at Kingston Township High © School. St. Paul's Lutheran Church lets contract for Arthur G. Calkins of Dallas. Wed - Hazel M. Bogart and Stanley P. Shacochius. "Colt 45" starring Randolph Scott is appearing at Himmler Theatre. January lightning bolts darken 3) © improvements to Dallas, denude chickens and dig | holes. : Dr. Roger Owens, Spring Street, Dallas, will leave February 3 for | San Antonio, Texas, where he will spend a month at Brooks Field for indoctrination. 30 Years Ago - Jan. 26, 1961 ~ GIRVAN IN FRONT ROW AT JFK INAUGURATION 7h i ¢ Presbyterians plan to build a church in the Back Mountain but have not yet decided on a site. New housing may be bright spot of 1961 in the Back Mountain with Herbert Hill named president of the Rural Buildingand Loan Asso- ciation at its 28th meeting. Robert Girvan of Dallas, archi- tectural student at Catholic Uni- versily, Washington, D.C., has a front row seat selling programs at the inauguration of John F. Ken- nedy. A blizzard Thursday night did not discourage the crowd from attending St. John's dinner of the George M. Dallas Masonic Lodge at Irem Temple Country Club. Engaged - Loretta Ann Shonk and John S. Monka; Josephine Radonavich and Thomas R. Bun- neydJr.; Carolyn Elizabeth Dickson and Pvt. Robert George Spudis; Sheila Joan Shaffer and Joseph Abate. Evans a standout at Westmore- land upsets favored Swoyersville 55-50. 20 Years Ago - Jan. 28, 1971 SHAFFER, RICHARDSON NAMED FIRE OFFICERS Dallas firemen elect Donald : Shaffer as fire chief and Robert Richardson as president of the - company. $s Dallas wrestlers trounce Wyo- ming Warriors Saturday bya score of 32-12. Dallas Woman's Club set din- ner dance date. Dallas Area Municipal Author- ity has authorized Roy F. Weston, firm of environment scientists and engineers, to issue formal notices to contractors to proceed with the construction of the proposed sew- age plant and interceptors for the Back Mountain.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers