4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, September 11, 1991 Tie DALLAS 0ST Boaters should be required to prove their competence bv . What's wrong at Harveys Lake? That question is on the minds of many area residents following yet another boating accident. ~The latest incident, in which one boat ran over the rear of another, fortunately resulted in only minor injuries to the eight people who were on the two boats. But it stirred memories of a 1983 collision in which four passengers were killed when a speeding boat hurtled over another. And earlier this year, a water skier was killed as the boat towing him repeatedly veered close to the dock with which he eventually collided. Is Harveys Lake home to these incidents because a greater number of irresponsible people launch their boats onto it? Or is the ability to enforce safe boating laws overwhelmed by the size of the lake and the number of boats on it? No one seems to know the answer, but it’s about time someone tried to find out. - Just two days after the latest accident, a hearing on a matter that may help with enforcement was held before District Magistrate Earl Gregory. After hearing arguments, Gregory decided to send to trial charges against the driver of the boat that was towing water skier Richard Walter when he crashed into a dock, killing him. One of the primary issues in the case will be whether or not the driver of a boat has some responsi- bility for the safety of a skier. ~ The greatest consistency in these tragedies has been the intoxication of the boat driver. That has been established in the 1983 crash and in Walter's death. It cannot be determined in ‘the latest accident, since the operator of the offending boat fled ‘the scene, only to turn himself in the following day. But it’s no secret that more than a few boaters operate while under the influence. Pennsylvania law says that it is acceptable to drink alcoholic beverages while operating a boat, but not to be intoxicated. That is vastly different from motor vehicle laws, which do not allow open beverage containers in a moving vehicle, and punish the driver for violations. Given the rules as they stand, it's clear that better enforce- ‘ment of boating laws is needed to reduce the number of ‘accidents on Harveys Lake. Even better would be to require that boaters prove they are competent to operate a boat and knowledgeable in safe boating procedures. After all, the expe- rience on Harveys Lake proves that irresponsible boating can be just as dangerous as improper operation of an automobile. Have a jolly good time in England ~. Congratulations to three Dallas High School cheerleaders who have shown their skills by being selected for a performance tour of England later this year. Tami Landon, Wendy Vaughan and Ginger Williams will perform for the Lord Mayor of West- minster’'s New Year's celebration and will be reviewed by the British Royal Family during their stay in England from Decem- ber 26 to January 2. ~ While the trip across the ocean involves showing off their cheering skills, it will include visits to well-known historic sites, and the inevitable broadening of experience that such a sojurn adds to young lives. : The local young women were chosen from more than 700 contestants, so their good fortune was well-deserved. We wish them and their companions the best on their trip to Jolly Olde England. It should be an exciting and informative visit. \ County commissioners show little interest in area If you were to measure the Luzerne County commissioners’ interest in the Back Mountain by their attendance at the Luzerne County Fair, you might draw the conclusion that this area doesn't count for much at the Courthouse. «This year—an election year by the way—only one of the three ‘commissioners bothered even to show up for the opening . ceremonies, and his visit lasted as long as the speechmaking. - Of course, that’s the most attention we've gotten in the past year. ~ Seems like odd behavior given that the Back Mountain is - home to the people who own or manage many of the county's . most important institutions. Do you agree? Disagree? Editorials are the opinion of the management of The Dallas Post. . We welcome your opinion on contemporary issues in the form of letters to the editor. If you don't write, the community may never - hear a contrasting point of view. Send letters to: The Dallas Post, . P.O. Box 366, Dallas, PA 18612. Please include your name, address . and daytime phone number so that we may verify authenticity. We . reserve the right to edit for length and grammar. ie DALLAS Post 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 Peggy Young Charlot M. Denmon Advertising Acct. Exec. Reporter i Sh Eric Foster . <4 Paul Rismiller Reporter Olga Kostrobala . 4 “ Production Manager : Classified/typesettin 2 g Jean Hillard yp g Office Manager MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION At the County Fair. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek Letters Praise for DAMA recycling program Editor: As you know, I am the former Chairman of the Back Mountain Citizens’ Council Recycling Com- mittee, replaced by Rick Allan of Allan Industries since I was away on sabbatical last year. I am also a resident of Kingston Township. ~The Recycling Committee met regularly at Penn State in the two years I was chairman. Concerned citizens; municipal, county, and state officials; and recycling ex- perts attended our meetings. The last meeting I chaired was on July 24, 1990. In attendance were Jef- frey Box, Manager of Kingston Township; Frank Wagner, Dallas Township Supervisor; Frank Chad- wick, then Luzerne County Recy- cling Coordinator; Spencer Mar- tin, Chairman of the Board, DAMA; . and five members of the BMCC Recycling Committee, including myself and Rick Allan. The municipal officials and Spencer Martin described a pos- sible three-municipality agreement for DAMA to operate a curbside- collection program. This was then avery promising development, but with many details to be worked out. It is nice to have an outstanding recycling program developed in my absence! I deserve no credit. The recycling program is comprehen- sive, aiming at recycling all the items listed in the Pennsylvania recycling law (Act 101), and not just the minimum three items required; it is exceptional among municipal recycling programs. The program should have a sig- nificant, positive environmental impact, conserving natural re- sources, energy, and landfill space. Kingston and Dallas Townships, Dallas Borough, and DAMA, which administers it, are to be com- mended for this ambitious pro- gram. The hauler, Danella, is to be congratulated for turning in the lowest bid. Now, instead of bringing my family's recyclables and those of our neighbors to Penn State (where I supervise the recycling program), we can simply put them out at the curb. And for this recycling service not provided by our previous hauler, my family is paying less money. Thomas Winter, Ph.D. Professor of Physics Penn State University Library news Kate Hepburn's new book available By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The display case at the Back Mountain Memorial Library is fea- turing a collection of toys from McDonald's Happy Meals borrowed from Amanda and Lindsay Jen- kins of Shavertown. Amanda is 9 years old and in 4th grade and Lindsay is 6 years old and in 1st grade, both at Dallas Elementary School. The girls be- gan to collect these special toys during the Summer of 1990 and now have quite a large collection. There are a few miniature Barbie dolls; Raggedy Ann in a swing; Garfield on a motor bike with Odie; Charlie Brown pushing a lawn mower; Miss Piggy riding in a car; bride dolls and soccer, basketball and baseballs. J Amanda set the display up as she had it at home. The girls are saving them for the future as col- lectors’ items. The display will be at the library until October 2. . The library was proud to have the collection of Youth Salute photos and accomplishments of the students of the Greater Wyo- ming Valley on display in the li- brary. Committees of volunteers in communities around the nation sponsor Youth Salute programs to honor their outstanding youth leaders. The goal of the program is to recognize, encourage and applaud high school juniors who are good citizens, good students and who nave demonstrated leadership ability and to develop learning experiences in leadership and community. citizenship. Young people need applause...that is, the approval of their peers and the community in which they live. They need role models they can admire and emu- late. The recognition we give to our young men and women today serves as a powerful inspiration that can shape their behavior in tomorrow's world. Before the library auction be- gan for this year, we displayed an antique object and asked patrons and friends to tell us what they thought it was used for. Many people gave us their ideas and three of the guesses were exactly correct. The item was a noodle or Kingston Twp. taxes Kingston Township Tax Collec- tor, Janice Castellani, reminds residents that Rebate Value for 1991 School tax bills (mailed in July) will end Friday, Sept. 20, with Face Value being in effect after that date. Office hours at the Township Office, 11 Carverton Rd., Trucksville are 10 am. -2 p.m. Monday-Wednesday-Friday. If mailing your payment, it should be postmarked by September 20. pasta maker; the three winning entries were submitted by Rob Warner, Bonnie Ziegler and Martlia Derhammer. We will come up with some kind of a prize for these winners for their correct guesses when they come in the libarary. It was a fun contest! New book at the library: “Me” by Katherine Hepburn is a new biog-. raphy in that inimitable Hepburn voice—witty, intelligent, candid, immediate—as she tells the sto- ries of her life, which takes us back to her childhood, into her family life...to her early days in New York and Hollywood...through the up and downs of her career...into the sanctuaries of her private life and through her long friendship with Spencer Tracy. She reveals her person in a vivid, unforgettable self-portrait, as we have never seen her before. Road work schedule The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Luzerne County Maintenance Manager, Matthew R. Collura, has announced the following road work schedule for the week of September 9, 1991: MOWING - Various state routes throughout Luzerne County. SHOULDER REPAIR/UP- GRADE - TR 11 in Hunlock Twp.; Sprucetree Road in Lake Twp.; Country Club Road in Dallas Twp. Anderson afield Politics can be hazard to the | environment By JOHN M. ANDERSON Democrats and Republicans have long been known as the worst enemies ofour environment. When I was a child, they spake as chil- dren when discussing air, soil, water, plants and animals. Which party constituted the worst threat to birds and bees? Well - it was a toss-up. In recent years, however, the Republicans have pulled way ahead in the race to destroy the last remnant of wilderness, drain the last prairie pothole, wash or blow away the last acre of topsoil. Danny Quayle's latest quest is cutely called the “Council on Competitiveness”. It's apparently part of a shadow government that works behind tie, scenes. In the past 9 months it h#.» taken on a new role as overseer of the Office of Management and Budget, rewriting proposed regu- lations on recycling, pollution permits, Grand Canyon air qual- ity, redefining the definition of wetlands so that 10 million addi- tional acres can be drained. Says Danny, “There are still too many regulations in force that impose needless costs on American busi- nesses”. Pretty scary, eh what? His Council includes such well- known environmentalists as John Sununu, Dick Darman, Dick Thornburgh, Nicholas Brady, Robert Mosbacher and Michael Boskin. This team of unelected bureaucrats allows as how nui- sances such as the Clean Air Act, Environmental Protection Act, apd Clean Water Act have tied § | hands of everyone from au makers to pizza parlors. Whilst playing President of the World, George doesn't beat about the bush when it comes to produc- ing gas. He says he will veto any legislation that would stop drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Ref- uge. And when it comes to saving wetlands, he says “A pothole in somebody's, backyard is nota wetland". Let's face it. That bag: yard covers 10,000,000 acres that are recharging acquifers, prevent- ing floods, and producing millions of game and nongame birds whe, } the could be producing condomini¥- ums. The pity of it all! : Soyou can see, the Republicans are making points like crazy with + big oll, big three automakers, and defense contractors. Naturally, this state of affairs upsets various Democrats more than somewhat. Maybe that's why, in the State of Louisiana, we have a situation that is downright peculiar. | Some say Louisiana is a one- party state. Others say we hye two parties: The Long's and an Long's. Be that as it may, Repubifi- cans have been might scarce in these parts since the Civil War. You reckon that ‘s why Senator Bennett Johnston, a rare ole Democrat, has come up with an energy bill which has Big Oil and Detroit grinning from ear to ear? S.1220 is known as the Johnston- Wallop bill. Wallop happens tobe a Wyoming Republican who hates spotted owls, peregrine falcons, golden eagles and wolves. Senator Johnson says we can't lock up all that oil in ANWR be- cause of a few caribou calves. Caribou calves, love oil rigs nds) pipelines because they keep IW) mosquitoes down, says he. © + My Congressman, another rare ole Democrat, has come up with the “Hayes Bill” which would ex- tract the canines and molars fro the Clean Water Act. : But peculiar behavior in these parts is not limited to Democrats. The Republican candidate oppos- ing Jonnston was David Duke, whose credentials are said to in- clude membership in the Neo- Nazis, and Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Governor Buddy Ro- emer, another rare ole Democrat, became a Republican this year, got invited to the White House, but in his current race for reelection, the GOP wants no part of him. : But you ain't seen nothin’ yet. Comes now Johnston's son and namesake - Bennett III - who is Number One Good Lookee in the Sierra Club, publicly labeling his papa’s bill as “pollution promoting special interests” legislation, and the Senator's daughter is active in The Nature Conservancy. In the war against Saddam, Democrats and Republicans had their differences. In the war against our environment at least some of them lie cozily in the same bed; - or the same breath. John M. "Frosty" Anderson was director of the Wildlife Deparment of the National Audubon Society from 1966 until his retirement in 1987. :
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers