ic nis Win A -. TT HE ret ire trary 5 iy {XH 3. i HAA EAA An BE a amr aR Bh Sg a SIE SE ETN i al i Sk FRENTE The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, May 11, 1994 Local Comm Center ‘is worth fighting for The Back Mountain Communication Center has served notice that it is serious about protecting this region’s citizens . from a hostile takeover of emergency service dispatching. The center's joint operating commission has filed suit asking that _ it be allowed to continue to operate independently rather than be forced to join any proposed Luzerne County 911 system. . There appear to be two main sticking points in the opposition ~ tofolding the local center into a county-wide system. One is the added financial burden that would be placed on people who live in the Back Mountain and on the emergency services that operate here. That burden is real and substantial, and would “be felt in a couple of ways: B The county could assess each telephone line $1.25 per month to support its system. That would produce an esti- ‘mated $212,160 from the Back Mountain, $60,000 more than the present Comm Center budget of $152,000. - lM Perhaps even worse, a switch to a high-tech county system would force police, fire and ambulance systems to replace '. their radio equipment, at an unknown but surely high cost. Particularly for the volunteer fire and ambulance compa- nies, that could be an impossible task, potentially leading to their replacement with paid or contracted services. The other concern is quality of service. The Back Mountain Comm Center has operated successfully for nearly 10 years, “and has offered 911 service since 1991. Its staff has become intimately familiar with the region, learning over time how to . overcome the confusion that can be caused by similar street names in five largely rural municipalities. There is no question that a dispatcher sitting in an office somewhere in Wilkes- - Barre will find it far more difficult to determine the difference between an address on Roushey Street in Shavertown and on “the street of the same name in Dallas Township. ~The Back Mountain Communication Center has served its communities well. If anything, the county should be consider- ~ ing how to bring more of this region's municipalities into the . local system rather than how to take them out. Publisher's ‘notebook Ron Bartizek ~~We received a couple of calls from angry readers last week, taking us to task because we had no coverage of a string of recent burglaries. I explained to one caller that we hadn't - known about the incidents until someone told us they had seen _ a story on the television news Monday night. By then we have “the paper nearly completely planned out, and that was espe- cially true last week when we published a large package of articles on proposals for local tax reform. ~ With 20-20 hindsight, we know we should have put together at least a short story Tuesday morning. The Post goes to press at 3 p.m. Tuesdays, and we can get late-breaking news in until about 1 p.m. Of course, had we known about the burglaries even a few hours earlier, we wouldn't have thought twice about getting a story. Unfortunately, the police are like the rest of us in that they often go about their daily business without thinking of its impact on the larger community. We, and many others, wish they would alert us as soon as an unusual pattern seems to develop. Ba A BE WS CT (XX J] If you care about how you are taxed and how much you pay, don’t miss tonight's community forum on proposals for local tax reform. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the Fortinsky Au- ditorium on the Penn State campus in Lehman. The audito- rium is next to the astronomy dome, off old Route 115. There's a great lineup of speakers, including David Atkinson, one of the chief writers of a State Senate bill that is now under considera- tion. Also on hand will be State Representatives Phyllis Mundy and George Hasay; a spokesperson from State Senator Char- les Lemmond’s office, and a variety of other officials. Equally important, there will time for members of the * audience to direct questions to the officials on hand. A short + reception and refreshment period will follow the meeting, which is sponsored by the Back Mountain Citizens’ Council, The Dallas Post and Penn State Wilkes-Barre. Tame Re eR Re Ee eT waa Pa a > » a a Lon oa Sa SE -—e Et he “RE WEN 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 a daytime phone number so that we may verify authenticity. We donot publish anonymous letters, but will consider withholding the name in exceptional circumstances. We reserve the right to edit for length and grammar. The 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 Grace R. Dove Advertising Acct. Exec. Reporter mT a ae Eb ove EE SE LR EL Bae TR ETE SW GPR ue ee au sn SR ob RS Sh La AE a 4 Ed Td Ta Paul Rismiller Production Manager Olga Kostrobala ] Classified/t tti Jill Urbanas Ypeseliing Office Manager MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION > > AND THE PENNSYLVANIA NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER'S ASSOCIATION “ONLY WHEN You HAVE BEEN IN THE DEEPEST VALLEY, CAN YOU KNOW WHAT IT 1570 BE ON THE HIGHEST MOUNTAIN. RICHARD NIXON \ | MANDELLA A) EAS a afi Letters Tax reform isn't all that it's reputed to be Editor: Property owners may cheer current “tax reform” proposals which would reduce that ever- increasing, onerous levy upon real estate. But I suggest it's time to hang on to your wallet, because there's always a “joker in the deck”. In the present instance, public school teachers have found a growing and more militant tax- payer resistance to their union's demands for higher salaries and expanded benefits. Property owners have apparently been milked for about all they’ll stand for. To circumvent this growing resistance, a less painful revenue sourse needs to be cultivated. It is therefore proposed to tap the income tax and the sales tax as substitute revenue sources. It is reasoned that substantial amounts of money can thereby be raised with only very minor nomi- nal levies upon income and at consumer point-of sale. It is anticipated, therefore, that tax- payer resistance to expanded spending for “education” would be mitigated. I suggest that “tax reform” is nothing but a “grab for money” by the teachers’ union. If success- ful, we'll still have the failing educational system that produces ever declining S.A.T. scores and a “dumbed-down” curriculum, but it'll all cost a lot more money! Hugh P. King Dallas As | was saying... Computer hater loves new word processer By JACK HILSHER This is the guy who would never have a computer. He hates an- swering machines and no auto- matic’ camera with digitalized vocal chords is ever going to tell him it needs film. He barely tolerates a VCR and won't travel the superin- fohiway. So what is he doing with a word processor? Well, I'll tell you...having a helluva lot of fun. Before I ex- plain, some history: In the pre- teens my parents bought me my first typewriter, an upright Remington with a frame any black- smith would have been proud of. Large round keys, an inked cloth ribbon which, when it reached the end, could be reversed and typed on again, and again, until it was threadbare. Weight? Half a ton. Sound? Deafening. But boy could it ever process words! I loved it. All my stuff for the school paper was typed out with glee. So were long letters to distant relatives who must have wondered, “What ever got into him?" Then short stories, all dutifully rejected. No poetry though, because I stilldon't understand that stuffeven though I know what imabic pentameter means. No great American novel either...at least I knew my limita- tions. That old Remington became lost somewhere but eventually was replaced with a portable LC Smith in a neat black case. Not as loud and you didn't have to pound as hard. It followed me everywhere except into the Army, but it was waiting for me on V-Day. I loved it. Eventually the portable became ill and had to be replaced by an IBM Selectric with that ingenious bouncing ball. When I bought it used I lucked out...that year’s model was still all-metal before they ruined a good design with lots of plastic. It was quiet, effi- cient and probably will last for- ever. I loved it. However a Christmas present bumped it to last in line, replaced by a Sears electronic typewriter which I suspect was an L C Smith with the Roebuck logo. Definitely a step up because I could quit buying erasable paper for my mistakes and correct them with a neat little white tape in a neat little cassette. It erased whatever I wanted whenever I wanted, changed pitch, changed typeface, changed linespacing with only a key touch, was light and very quiet. I loved it! Then Bill Zinsser got to me. You may have read him without realizing...he wrote for Life maga- zine five years, the Herald Trib- une for 13 years, contributed to the New Yorker and most leading magazines, and was editor of the Book-of-the-Month Club. His “On Writing Well” in its fourth edition said that there are “no writers more evangelistic than writers who use a word processor.” Like all evangelistic than writers who use a word processor.” Like all evan- gelists Zinsser says, “they have been given the good news, which is that a word processor frees writers from the drudgery of writ- before.” ing and rewriting and typing and retyping. Not since the typewriter replaced the pen has such a liber- ating tool come along. I've never met a writer with a word proces- sor who can even imagine going back to the way he or she wrote OK, good enough for Bill Z., good enough for me. After studying back issues of Consumer Reports I bought a model made by Brother, a completely unknown name to me but it ranked highest in every category. It even has a “floppy disk” which I found aren't really floppy at all. [ stick one in and tell my built- in Thesaurus I want some alter- nates for “STILL.” It hums and in seconds shows me: SILENCE, QUIET, SHUT UP, HUSH AND SHUSH. Imagine..... 45,000 words on that little 3 1 /2" disk, and I can command every one. Well, I don't really command it to do anything. I ask it. Brother can also, on request, check my grammar so I don't get too redundant, and ditto with my punctuation. For pruning and revising - which they say is the soul of good writing - it's a real delight. Light and quiet too, ex- cept when that “daisy wheel" prints and there is a little clatter but I don't mind. I love it. So for all you wanna-be writers out there - and I know you're there - try it. You'll like it! Incidentally, there is supposed to be one which will respond to voice commands...you never touch a keyboard. Does anyone know where I can pick one up? Library news Exciting new kids' series debuts at library By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The Back Mountain Memorial Library has the five books in the brand new “Redwall Series” writ- ten by BrianJacques. These books are in the children’s room at the library. Word has it that young boys, in particular, can't put these books down. Libraries have wait- ing lists for them which are months long. The 11-year old son of one library employee stayed up all night reading REDWALL. The story which spans the five books revolves around a community of mice in an abbey. Their arch rivals are rats, and the feeling is one ofa medieval Knights-in-shin- ing-armour tale. Titles are Red- wall, Mossflower, Mattimeo, Mar- iel of Redwall and Salamandas- tron. There is some violence leav- ing little to imagination . The ‘Money for Maintenance’ campaign collected $117 for the library to help with the heating and snow removal cost of last winter. The new campaign in the ‘green jar' is ‘Cash for CD's’ which money will be used to purchase CDs for the library collection. The Book Club met on April 18 with an interesting program of show and tell items from the members. A decison was made to buy a memorial book for Dorothy Sweitzer from the contingency fund. The next meeting will be held Monday, May 16 in the refer- ence room at the library. The program will be a special book review given by Book Club mem- ber Audrey Farr. Book Club dues is being accepted for the year, $10 for a single and $15 for a double membership. Members and guests are invited to attend the May meeting. The summer story hours will hold registration from June 6th through the 11th. The toddler story time for 2 year olds will be Tuesay evening 7 to 7:30, June 28 to Aug. 2; 3-5 year olds story hour Wednesday, 9:30-10:30; 10:45- 11:45; and 1:00-2:00, from June 29 through August 3. The sum- mer reading game will be con- ducted from June 20 through August 12. These activities are held in the children’s room at the library. The committees of the 48th annual library auction are ac- cepting items for Odds and Ends; and Book Booth, such as cook- books, children's books and music books, fiction and paperbacks. These items may be brought to the library any time during li- brary hours. Recent appearances in our ‘lost and found’ box are a black nike backpack and a man's gray felt hat. Hopefully, the owners of these items will claim them. New book at the library “Train Go Sorry” by Leah Hager Cohen is the American Sign Language expression for ‘missing the boat’. Missed connections characterize many interactions between the deaf and hearing worlds. This book brings this culture to life and captures a pivotal moment in deaf history. A story of human will and a need to make connec- tions. Only yesterday .. 60 Years Ago - May 18, 1934 . LANDSLIDE ELECTION DEFEAT FOR FINE Voters in the Back Mountain Section, long restless under the domination of the Pinchot State Organization, rebelled by ballot Tuesday and besides contribut- ing generously to Sen. David Reed's victory over the ambitious governor, elected three anti-Fine candidates to the Luzerne County Republican Committee to replace State Organization incumbents. The Junior Class of Dallas Borough High School will sponsor the Prom, to be held May 25 at the high school auditorium. Dancing will be to the music of Donlitt's Pennsylvanians. You could get - Round seal 27¢ 1b.; leg of lamb, 12 1/2¢ Ib.; soup beans, small white, 3 Ibs., 10¢; Lucky Strike cigarettes, car- ton of 10 pkgs. $1.17. 50 Years Ago - May 12, os RESSIGULE, BLIZZARD MISSING IN ACTION Wilkes-Barre newspaper print- ers, members of Local 187, I.T.U. were still on strike yesterday af- ternoon with little prospect that a settlement will be reached for some time. The strike has tied up publication of The Times Leader Evening News and Wilkes-Barre Record. Two Back Mountain boys Plc. Robert Ressiguie and Pvt. Elwood Blizzard ,have been reported miss- ing in action in the Mediteranian Theater. Robert was a passenger on a troop ship torpedoed in the Mediterranean. Elwood had been 0 O ¢ missing in action in Italy since ® March 1. Now playing - “Jane Eyre™ with Joan Fontaine and Orson Welles at the Shaver Theatre. 40 Years Ago - May 14, 1954 FIVE AREA SCHOOLS. DISCUSS JOINTURE Complete school board mem- bership from Noxen, Lake, Fran- klin-Dallas and Monroe Town- ships, with supervising principals Raymond Kuhnert, Robert Belles and Arch Austin met Tuesday night with Luzerne County Super- intendent E. S. Teter and mem- bers of the County School Board to discuss jointure between “the schools named. Three Back Mountain High School Bands and the prize win- ning Boys and Girls Drum & Bugle Corps of Kingston Post 283, Vet- erans of Foreign Wars will lead the parade when Back Mountain Little League opens its season. The Junior Class, Dallas-Fran- klin High School will sponsor. a one-act play contest in the audi- torium tonight. Plays are being produced by the Powder & Wig Dramatic Club, under direction of club advisor Daniel Williams. 30 Years Ago - May 14, 1964 : LEHMAN TWP. SETS UP BEACH AT LAKE Lehman Township formally acquired a strip of shoreline at Harveys Lake for use as a Town- ship Beach. The land varying in depth from 21 to 35 feet; “and running about 190 feet from Sunset bridge to the notion stand across from the Casino was leased by two owners at a nominal ¢on- sideration yearly to Lehman Town- ship. 1at Trucksville Post Office was’ ‘the last of the three occupants to yield to the wrecker's hammer when the landmark building which also housed Gavy's Market, Trucksville Pharmacy fell in the wake of the new highway. Modernization of equipment. expanding facilities at Natona Mills by $200,000 in the next year will have no effect on employment of the Dallas plant at the present time, according to Jack Stanley, plant manager. He said, however, that it shows that Natona has a good relationship with the parent company, Indian Head Mills. 20 Years Ago - 1974 SOAP BOX DERBY SET FOR LATE JULY k Rebecca Greschuk, a graduat- ing senior at College Misericordia, has been awarded a Fulbright- Hays Scholarship for the academic year 1974-75. She is the first student in the 50 year history: of the college to receive the prestig- ious award. The Soap Box Derby has been set for July 27. The course willbe the same as last year's on Mt. Olivet Road, Carverton Heights. Time and trial races will be held a week before the main event to give contestants a chance to become familiar with the course. Beys and girls ages 10-15 are eligible to enter. You could get - Rump roast, $1.68 lb.; ground beef, 3 Ibs. or more 88¢ lb.; sage, 98¢ lb.; sweet corn, six ears, 69¢; Maxwell House Instant Cof- fee, 10 oz. jar, $1.49. Morton Pot Italian style: sau- 4 © Le
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers