Vol. 102 Dallas, PA Wednesday, May 29, 1991 35 Cents | LE ik \ By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer Taxpayers in the Dallas School District should expect at least a 15-mill increase in taxes from the 1991-1992 ten- tative budget which was to be presented for the board's ap- roval last night (May 28). And Superintendent of School Ger- ald Wycallis-said reaching that ‘level may require curtailing some classes. The present millage for prop- erty taxes is 141 mills. The original budget, which _ included all departmental re- quests, would have meant an increase of 30 mills, but by cutting certain items the finance committee brought the prelimi- nary budget down to a 22-mill increase. At a public work ses- sion May 22, board members instructed Superintendent Gerald Wycallis and his entire staff to look at all areas in the district's program to determine what can be curtailed to de- crease the millage before ap- proval of a tentative budget at the May 28 meeting. “We selected May 28 for the adoption of a tentative budget,” said Wycallis, “Because the 1991-92 156" 1990-91 141 1989-90 132.5 1988-89 128.5 1987-88 116 1986-87 116 *Estimated state has not yet passed a budget. It’s difficult to come up with a final budget by June 30 - when the district is not certain Daiias school tax expected to jump 11% the amount of money we will receive from the state.” : “Let's be explicit with the district taxpayers,” said board member Jack Cleary. “The Governor has declared our district as an affluent district which means we will get only one percent, or $38,000, more than last year while other schools around us are receiv- ing higher allocations.” Charlotte Williams, the dis- trict’'s business manager, said, “If the governor's budget is not passed the district's net pickup See TAX, pg. 2 po membering our fallen heroes Ie Poppy Girls helped out at the annual Dallas Memorial Day observance sponsored by the Daddow-Isaacs Post of the American Dallas men chosen to lead new diving team By RICH JOHNSON Staff Writer Wo Back Mountain residents have been chosen to head a spe- cialunderwater diving team which will assist law enforcement agen- cies that investigate water related crimes. Lt. Rich Zeglin and Sgt. Jim Johnson, both of Dallas Town- ship, were chosen to lead the div- ing team which operates out of the Luzerne County Sheriff's Office. “Because there is so much water in Luzerne County and there is a lack of diving teams, the sheriff asked that Jim and I put together a team strictly to help law enforce- ment agencies on things other than searching for or rescuing a body,” said Zeglin. “There are a number of scenar- ios where a team like this is needed s6 the sheriff's department wanted to put together this team,” he added. ‘The diving team consists of about a dozen members who were selected based upon diving quali- fications, experience and special- ized training. The divers will be called in to help local or state authorities with investigations, according to Johnson. “There are just so many areas where this team could be used,” he said. “One scenario might be a guy who robs a business in Dallas and while fleeing from the scene he throws a gun into the pond by the Meadows Nursing Home. We can come in and find the weapon, bring it out with some of the dirt thatwas around itand use all that to help convict the guy.” The team may also be called upon to take underwater photo- graphs or to search a vehicle that went into the water. The team, which was formally introduced only two weeks ago, has already been put to one test when the state police in Hazleton needed divers to search a car that was spotted in a strip mining pit by police in a helicopter. Because of the location it was impossible for emergency vehicles to drive into the pit, so the tactical teams rigged up some all terrain vehicles and traveled as far into the pit as possible. Then divers rapelled down a 75 foot cliff and entered the water. “Two squads of divers went in,” said Johnson. “One squad went immediately to the vehicle to con- duct a search while the second did a search of the area to make sure everything was safe for the first squad.” Zeglin said it was determined that the car had been in the water for some time but no bodies were found. Police are now searching for suspects in the case with evidence obtained from the diving team. Both Zeglin and Johnson are excited about the team. “We work well together and I think that will help with the success of any calls we have,” said Zeglin, who is a former criminal investigator and See DIVING, pg. 2 Legion. Speakers this year included Thomas Landon, a reservist just back from the Persian Gulf. More photos on page 6. HEADING NEW DIVING TEAM -Sgt. Jim Johnson and Lt. Rich Zeglin, both of Dallas Twp., have been chosen to lead a new county diving team which will specialize in underwater investiga- tions. (Post Photo/Rich Johnson) Jigger Jones gets jail term for selling alcohol to minors By RICH JOHNSON Staff Writer The owner of a Lake Silkworth bar will spend at least one month in jail following his 1990 convic- tion of selling alcohol to minors. David “Jigger” Jones, 65, was sentenced to one month to 23 months in jail and $2,000 in fines by Luzerne County Judge Joseph Augello, on May 23. The sentence comes more than one year after Jones was found guilty of selling, furnishing or giv- ing beer and alcohol to minors, and corruption of minors. Jones’ wife, Eleanor who holds the liquor license for the bar, was also charged in the incident but was acquitted on all counts. During the sentencing, Assis- tant District Attorney Jim Phillips asked that Jones be incarcerated because of his reputation of pro- viding alcohol to minors. “This may be his first conviction for this but this was not the first time alcohol was sold to minors,” Phillips told Judge Augello. He added that in the Back Mountain, “...it was general knowl- edge that you could get alcohol from Mr. Jones.” Jones’ attorney, Joseph Albert, asked that Jones not be incarcer- ated because of his failing health. The attorney claimed that if Jones were jailed it could adversely affect his health. Albert also said that incarcera- tion would not be beneficial since Jones currently “...is not a risk to the community.” After Judge Augello handed down the sentence the two attor- neys argued about when Jones should report to jail. Phillips asked that Jones be taken immediately to jail but Al- bert believed that was not neces- sary ‘ome on Jim,” Albert said to Phillips. “What kind of threat does he pose. He has been at all the hearings and hasn't left the area which goes along with the condi- tions of his bail.” See JONES, pg. 2 Teeners say they bought from Jones after 1990 conviction By RICH JOHNSON Staff Writer Local teenages say that they were able to purchase alcoholic. beverages from Jigger Jones's bar long after he was convicted of selling to minors. Jones, 65, will spend at least 30 days in jail and will pay $2,000 in fines for furnishing beer and alcohol to minors more than a year age. ) : However, there has been some discussion’ about the system where an establishment is repeatedly found to be in violation of alcohol laws but stiffer penalties are not handed out. In court last week, Assistant District Attorney Jim Phillips said that Jones is known for furnishing alcohol to minors. “This is his first conviction but it is not the first time alcohol was sold to minors,” he said. See TEENERS, pg. 2 Fred Templin to retire after 33 years in education By CHARLOT M. DENMON Staff Writer Fred Templin, supervisor of curriculum and instruction in the Dallas School District, looks back on hisyears of teaching with pleas- ure as he prepares to retire at the end of this school year. “I enjoyed teaching and had a good rapport with the kids in their classrooms and it was a rewarding experience when former graduates from Dallas would come back and visit and tell you how what they learned at Dallas helped them in college. But I am looking forward to having time to travel and to do numerous things around the house that need to be done. I'm also looking forward to spending more time with my grandchildren and also visiting my children. I have a son, Fred, in California and my wife and I plan to visit him some- time in the near future. I'm also planning a fishing trip to Canada this summer with some friends,” Templin said. Templin is retiring from the district after 33 years in educa- tion. After graduating from Bloomsburg University in 1958, he taught in Belvedere, N.J., for six months when the minimum salary was $3600 annually and they of- fered him $3800. The following year he acccepted | a contract with Forty Fort School District where he taught sopho- more algebra II and seventh grade math and also coached junior and senior high school football. “In 1964 I came to Dallas and during that year taught higher mathematics. Dr. Mellman hired me to take the place ofa teacher on sabbatical, then after theyear teach at junior high. At the end of the year, however, Mr. Trimble called me in and told me to stay at the senior high and teach physics and . chemistry which I did until March 25, 1985 when I assumed the position as Supervisor of Curricu- lum and Instruction at the Ad- ministration Office,” Templin ex- plained. He received his Masters degree See TEMPLIN, pg. 2 Calendar........... 14 Police report. .... acct cessssess 2 Classified.....12-13 Religious Services.......... 8 Editorials............. 4 SCHOOL... 00 rainiss 9-10 Obituaries........... 6 SPOS... ....ocviiiiiivsnsdipnnes 11 Community Events FLEA MARKET - Sat., June 1, starting at 9 AM, Sweet Valley Fire Co. Ladies Auxiliary, Main Rd. Refreshmen!s available. LUZERNE COUNTY WOMENS' CONFERENCE - Sat., June 1, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM, Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus, Lehman. Child care and transportation available, call 675-9124. : CALL 675-5211 FOR HOME DELIVERY, NEWS OR ADVERTISING
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers