SE 3 — - 8 ,ciconer of war,” oy a Ri 3 UN Vol 102 No. 5 Dallas, PA Wednesday, Poonam e: 1991 ~ Dallas Twp. landowner charges ‘obstruction of j jus tice’ By RICH JOHNSON Staff Writer Dissapointed with the perfor- mance of the local criminal justice system, a Dallas family has asked county officials for advice about a an obstruction of justice suit © against a Dallas Township police ~ officer. Joan Byron and her husband Tom, who own 257 acres of land on 42nd Street in Dallas Township, have notified the Luzerne County District Attorney's office and a county judge that they are not satisfied with the performance of Balash knows POW's pain .By CHARLOT M. DENMON (a Staff Writer Michael Balash of Franklin Township hasa closer understand- ing of what it’s like to be a prisoner of war than most Americans. While the Vietnam War Veteran was never taken prisoner he has become close to many former POW's of the Viet- nam conflict since becoming in- volved with the Veterans of Viet- nam War. “I have talked with many of the Balash said, “Most of them are veterans of Korea or Vietnam but also some are from World War II. Their stories are much the same.” Balash says no amount of train- ing can prepare a soldier for the shock of being a prisoner. “When first captured they go into shock; they become frightened because they don't know what the future holds until they become acclimated as a POW. They have had training as to what they should do and how to react but it is different because in training they walk away but when it becomes reality it is differ- “ent,” explained Balash. . “Two of the POW's I know were in the Hanoi Hilton, one for seven years, one for six years. In the, beginning when they were tortured, they hated the tormentors but as time went on they began to feel sorry for them and they said then the torture subsided. They kept ‘their thoughts on their country and their families and turned to God and prayed,” he said. Balash said one of the POW’s was so badly tortured in Vietnam that he couldn't take it any longer so he asked God to let him die. The nextday he said the torture stopped and the enemy brought medica- |. See POW's, pg 5 Calendar................ 16 Classified.......... 13-15 Editorials.................. 4 Obituaries................ 2 Police report............ 2 Property transfers....8 School...........0...5... 12 SPOHS. eee eres tres: 13 Community Events Donkey Basketball Fri., Feb. 8, 7:30 PM, Lake- Lehman High School gym. Tickets $3.00 at the door or from senior class members. HAM SUPPER - Sat, Feb. 9, 4 PM, Jackson United Methodist Church, Smith Pond Road. Adults $5.50, children $4.00. PANCAKE SUPPER - Tues., Feb. 12, 5 PM, Noxen United Methodist Church. Adults $4.00, + children $2.00. NEW MUSIC - Feb. 12, 8 PM, Walsh Auditorium, College isericordia; Rob Kruse and officer Wayman Miers, the police chiefand two area magistrates and have asked for action on a case involving hunters trespassing on their property. The controversy surrounds an incident that occurred on Novem- ber 28 of last year when Byron noticed two hunters on her prop- erty, which is posted against hunting. In a letter to Luzerne County District Attorney Correale Stevens, dated Dec. 11, 1990, Byron says that after hearing two gunshots, she approached the hunters who were approximatley 50 yards from “Now we have no one to turn to when this happens again. Dallas police, the We cannot go to the magistrates or the Game Commission.” Joan Byron In a letter to Luzerne County Judge Patrick Toole her house. She said one hunter told her they had shot a deer and his companion was tracking it. Byron said that the first hunter was cooperative and allowed her to take his picture. Byron then contacted the Dal- las Township police and asked that an officer be sent to the area. That afternoon, patrolman Miers re- sponded to the Byron residence to investigate the incident. When he arrived the two hunters were no longer in the area. TALKING ABOUT WAR - Kristen Insalaco, a fourth grade student at Gate of Heaven School in Dallas, was one of the children eager to ask a question during an assembly on the - Persian Gulf war last week. (Post Photo/Ron Bartizek)- sion revealing some of their | his thoughts about the conflict. Kids express their feelings about the war By CHARLOT M. 'DENMON Staff Writer. After making Valentine cards that were sent to soldiers serv- ing with Operation Desert Storm, one of the kindergarten classes at Little People Day Care School in Dallas and their teacher Miss Lorraine Pribula held a discus- concerns about the war. Tommy Dougal, who has an uncle in Saudi Arabia expressed “Saddam Hussein is too pow- erful so he has to be stopped, but it's not pleasant that he is there. He got married just before he went over there and now his wife is sad. My dad was in an- other war and he almost got killed,” Tommy said. Michelle Pribula said that over there children have to take their gas masks to school because Saddam Hussein fires missiles at them. “I saw on television ° where people were taping their windows. The United States tries not to hit the houses where people live. hope our people get home soon because some are going to get killed.” Loni Piekanski, who had a yellow bow in her hand, ex- pressed the feelings of many people young and old. “The war is sad and that Saddam Hussein is mean and killed many people in Iraqand Kuwait. He uses gases that make people die. I wish all of the people could come home now and I would tell them I love them and glad you got home safe soyour parents can be with you.” See KIDS, pg 5 ———— Local vets predict coalition victory By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer The war in the Mideast is a common topic at the Daddow- Isaacs American Legion Post in: Dallas, and the members there are convinced the United States and its allies will prevail. “Most of our members support servicemen and women over there,” said the Post Commander David Hontz, “I was a Vietnam Veteran and I don't want to see another Vietnam. I don’t believe we will have another Vietnam conflict. This war is different in many ways. It's uncalled for but our men and women are over there so now they have to do the job and get it over with so our children can live in peace.” Harold Brunges who is also a Vietnam veteran said this is an entirely different war. “It's a high-tech war. They have everything planned in advance and they are in the right place at the right time. Their strategy is differ- ent and they proceed cautiously in everything they do. This won't be another Vietnam,” Brunges said. “This is a whole new ball game,” JERRY MACHELL a veteran of Korea. “This is an electronic war just like the Nin- tendo games and the science fic- tion only this time it's for real. We have good leaders and the best of equipment and men over there. We will win in the end,” declared Glasser. Stanley Tomchak of Dallas was Airborne. He said the President was doing the right thing by let- ting the military men make the decisions instead of letting the politicians interfere. “If he continues to let them do the same as they're doing now, the coalition will win. It won't be another Vietnam,” Tomchak said. Tom Reese of Dallas is a World War Il veteran, serving in the Navy in the South Pacific. “There's no comparison,” said Reese. “We had no communica- tions like they have now. We wouldn't know what was going on for days. Now it’s so sophisticated, you can watch television and see it almost as soon as it happens. I'm very supportive of the efforts of our president and very proud of the leaders,” Reese stated. “At the end of this war, they better settle it immediately, not like they did at the end of World War II when they let Hitler go.” World War II veteran Leonard Groboski said, “We didn’t have the kind of weapons they have today,’ nothing electronic nor nuclear but we had good fighting men and they still do today. We have the best men fighting for the United States. Byron says she told the officer about the incident and the two drove to properties that abut the Byrons' land in hopes of finding the hunters, but they did not. Byron said she gave the officer the name of one of the hunters, James Faulls. The other hunter was later identified as Dave Hend- ershott. According to Byron, Miers responded by saying that he knew Faulls and that the two were friends. That statement is disputed by the police department. During an interview February 4, Police Chief Carl Miers (Whose brother is Way- Sunset Beach sale may be decided in court By RICH JOHNSON - Staff Writer It appears that a Luzerne County Judge will decide whether the proposed sale of Sunset Beach at Harveys Lake will be allowed to go through now that two groups bat- tling over the controversial sale have notreached an agreementon the issue. The beach, currently owned by the Harveys Lake Beach Associa- tion, has been closed for the past two years because it does not meet requirements from the state De- “partment of Environmental Re- sources and there is no liability insurance on the property. In July of last year the Beach Association voted to sell thebeach to Joe Paglianite, owner of Grotto Pizza, located across from the beach. At a special meeting held by the association, 27 members voted to sell the beach to Paglianite for $13,422, which is the price the association paid for the property. Since that time, however, 14 dissident members have filed a suit to have the sale stopped and the decision of the association help with Route 309 By. CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer State Senator Charles Lemmond said recently that the state De- partment of Transportation (PennDOT) is not ignoring prob- lems on Route 309. And both Lemmond and State Representa- tive Phyllis Mundy volunteered to help local officials gain an audi- ence with PennDOT to discuss problems with the highway. “PennDOT officials are aware that there are problems with Route 309 due to the increased traffic on the highway. They also are aware that the traffic will be even heavier when the Cross Valley is completed. I will attend a hearing April 4 in the Poconos to get an overview on the traffic with the completion of the Cross Valley,” Lemmond said. Lemmond also invited local offi- cials to join in finding a solution to dangerous conditions on the high- way. Cancer Society to gn daffodil sales campaign By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer The flowers won't be distributed in the Back Mountain for six weeks, but the Daffodil Days sale of the American Cancer Society has be- gun and local volunteers are start- ing their huge undertaking. More than 2,000 bunches of daffodils - were sold in the Back Mountain last year. > The daffodil is recognized by the Cancer Society as not only the first flower of spring but also the sym- bol of hope - hope that cancer can be cured in our lifetime. The goal of the American Can- SsNAOIATIY andl Ne ark VIO nN. man Miers, the investigating offi cer) said that the officer did know Faulls but that is about the exte of their relationship. “She is givin, the impression that these two good friends, but they have nev socialized together,” said the chi In the letter to Stevens, Byron | said that she asked Miers to pure sue the issue and was contacted by the officer later in the evening and was told that he talked Faulls and the hunter admitted being on the property. Byron believed that the offi See CHARGES, pg ¢ The association vote to sell the beach to Joe Paglianite for $1 3.422 - rescinded. : These 14 members dhaith the association's resolutio make the sale was beyond board's authority and that the s price was far below fair mz: value. The suit also claims th notice of the meeting to the sale was not provided membership and that the / of Incorporation for the HLE not provide for the sale ofthe pr e rty. No date has been set for thes st to be settled in court, however representatives of both sides h met in hopes of coming toana, ment over the issue. So far agreement has been reached. Joseph Burke, the attorney the dissident members, said I week that he and some of his clie; See BEACH, p solutions I would be ae to up a meeting with the municip: ties and the state to try to come with a coordinated effort,” said Se Lemmond. Lemmond confirmed that whil the state has final say on pla ment of traffic lights and oth controls, it does not contribi funds for their purchase. “Pennsylvania never did pay traffic lights on the highways. least never that I remember,” Senator Charles Lemmond s: do a survey if requested to det mine whether a certain intersec tion or turnoff merits a light. The it is up to the borough or towns whose area the intersection is in tain volunteers is to piel “D dils in Every Window Fope! in eve five or more bunches will be deliv- | ered to any single location. The purchases are tax deductible. Order taking for the yellow daf- fodils will begin this week and the |§ forms will be available from volun- | teers Sam Roberts Hair Fashions, | Shavertown; Blue Ribbon Dog and | Cat Coiffures, Shavertown; local schools and churches; Com wealth Telephone Company; Col. lege Misericordia; Dallas Senior ||
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers