te) NES = Play win $750 Details on page 12 Si= VAIN [CEs] = COMMUNITIES (© 1S No | =H B VANE BVANS IY WAN 4 = LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS ® Dy, 105 No. 49 Dallas, Pennsylvania Dec. 7 thru Dec. 13, 1994 Loophole lets towns tax above allowed limits ® O + oD Jackson Township has voted to tax By GRACE R. DOVE Post Staff : Facing financial needs that exceed al- lowable tax levels, two area second-class townships have taken advantage of a provision in the law which allows them to impose additional taxes while keeping the basic property tax millage the same. Lehman Township expects to enact a two-mill tax for road equipment in 1995, which will generate approximately $13,000. residents an additional three mills for debt service and one mill for road repairs. According to Lehman Township treas- urer Al Cragle, the township is already charging the maximum property tax (14 mills) allowed by law for second-class townships. : “We can't go over 14 mills without a court order showing that we have already used up all other possible sources of money,” he said. Special purpose taxes for road machin- ery, debt service and road repairs are legal said. “We may use the monies generated by these special taxes only for their specific purposes,” he said. “We can’t use our road machinery tax money to pave roads or buy office equipment, for example.” Jackson Township's three-mill debt service tax, enacted to pay offthe $197,118 balance of a loan incurred when the town- ship had to clean up contaminated soil at the municipal building, will last only until April, 1999, when the loan is satisfied, according to supervisor Walter Glogowski. other purpose,” he said. Glogowski expects Jackson Township's one-mill road repair tax to bring in an additional $40,000. “Our predecessors didn't maintain the roads the way they were supposed to,” he said. “Now we're paying for it. Many town- ship roads need lots of attention to make them safe for the people to travel.” Townships may impose several other special purpose taxes: for recreation, per- manent improvements to municipal prop- erty, fire companies, ambulance service, specific section of the township, construc- tion of a inc ipal building or libraries, Cragle said. In some cases, either the length of time the tax may be collected or the maximum millage are limited. “As municipalities grow, they need more money for more services,” Cragle said. “Collecting a road machinery tax, for ex- ample, will save money in the long run because it is deposited into an interest- bearing account until it's used. We'll also ways to raise additional revenues, Cragle “We legally can’t use this money for any street lights. or police protection for a avoid paying interest on a loan.” FISHERMAN’S FRIEND - Harveys Lake resident Andrew West puts the finishing touches on his seven-foot Christmas tree Deck the halls with. fishing lures? ? By GRACE R. DOVE Post Staff A Harveys Lake man has added a new twist to an old holiday custom. . . Arnold West's Christmas tree is deco- .».rated with more than 400 colorful orna- D * “ments, which may not seem unusual until .you notice the decorations all are fishing large metal spoons and flashers strung on the large artificial tree's branches. Even the garland is made of lures - long strings of silver metallic lures and small red beads on spider wire known as “Christmas trees.” “It isn't hard to accumulate lures,” he said. “I've been fishing for 40 years and : POST PHOTO/GRACE R. DOVE trimmed with more than 400 trout, bass and walleye lures. West got the idea from a photo in a magazine. “Arnold West brings a new look to tree “That jackalope gave me a tough time,” West wisecracked. “They're fast.” Like all fishermen, West has his share of fish stories. “I missed a state record rainbow trout two years ago,” he said. “I was fishing off Hanson's at the time. He was actually in the net three times, but the third time he DALLAS TOWNSHIP 1995 PROPOSED BUDGET Item 1994 1995 % Chg. Total budget $1,447,500 $1,396,000 -3.5% Property tax income $115,000 $120,000 4.0% Number of taxables 4,100 4,101 Millage rate 6 6 Average cost per property $28 $29 3.6% Dallas Twp. taxes will stay at 6 mills By GRACE R. DOVE Post Staff When the Dallas Township supervisors approve the final 1995 budget, property taxes will again be held at six mills. Continued growth and sound financial management have helped the six-mill tax continue, said township secretary-treasurer Glenn Howell. Although total income has decreased, largely due to de- creases in intergovernmental reve- nues, tax revenues have basically held the line over the past several years, Howell said. According to the preliminary budget, total income has de- creased by $46,500 or four per- cent, to $1,081,000, while inter- governmental revenue has de- creased by $52,000 or 19 percent to $218,000. Total tax revenues have in- creased only $5,000 or .06 per- cent, to $804,000. Total income and expenditures have decreased by $51,500 or 3.5 percent to $1,396,000. Cuts in health and welfare and highways will be offset by more money spent for public safety. The police budget will increase by $66,600 or 19 percent to $416,600, mostly due to police officers’ raises. “As the younger officers ad- vance in rank, their salaries in- crease accordingly,” Howell said. See DALLAS, pg 2 Financial aid available to pay heating bills By GRACE R. DOVE Post Staff Families living on low or fixed Customers using electric heat may contact UGI at 1-800-844- 9276 or their rural electric coop- erative for an application. Penn- sylvania Gas & Water customers lures. “I saw a small one in a picture in a magazine several years ago,” West said. “I decided that when I retired, I'd make one. I've been retired for two years, so this was probably have enough lures to do another tree.” himself and got away.” West's love of the outdoors extends to the walls of his home, where a monster seven-lb. catfish he caught at the lake, five huge largemouth bass from Lake Wal- for the Christmas tree, he said. bumped against the net, unhooked His family didn't believe him when he first told them about his planned design the year.” Colored mini-lights complement the lures’ bright colors and are reflected in the lenpaupack and the head of a large four- point jackalope are proudly displayed. “They didn't think I had the patience to do it,” he said. “Now they rave about it.” a @ *Mossback's search for Santa A lesson from a lizard By T.T. CRATCHIT Special to The Post Mossback hopped until he couldn't hop anymore. Then he walked, mile after mile after mile, until he felt his little webbed feet would fall off. And still he hadn't reached the North Pole. Now, to top off Mossback's problems, it was getting dark. “I'd better stop for the night,” Mossback said, exhausted but pleased by the prospect of bed- ding down for the night and hav- ing a bite to eat. He set up his sleeping bag shaped like a lily pad and reached into his green bag, bringing out a big, fat, juicy freeze- dried fly. Mossback, chewing thought- fully, considered his next step. “By tomorrow, I'll probably reach the North Pole,” he decided. With that, he ate another freeze- dried fly. “Then I'll let Mr. Santa Claus have a nice piece of my mind! I'll find out just why he hates frogs so much!” His stomach full, Mossback climbed into his sleeping bag and closed his eyes. He fell asleep almost immediately. When he opened his eyes again, the sun was high in the sky. Mossback felt like a new frog, well-rested and ready to travel. He packed his gear and was just setting out when he heard a tiny muffled sob. Mossback looked behind a tree and saw a tiny lizard, crying his eyes out. “What's wrong?” Mossback asked, cradling the baby lizard in his arms and patting him. “You act as if you've lost your best friend.” “Worse,” sobbed the little liz- ard. “l haven't had anything to eat in days. I don't know how to hunt and I'm just a baby lizard. But lizards don't teach their children anything, so I don't know any- thing.” Mossback thought back to the difficult days when he was first on his own, learning how to fend for himself. Frogs don't teach their children anything, either. incomes may now apply for assis- tance with their winter heating bills through a government pro- gram administered by the Luzerne County Public Assistance Office. The office is now accepting applications for the federal pro- gram Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP. Coordinated through the Com- mission on Economic Opportu- nity, the program makes direct payments to vendors for a maxi- mum of $250 for heating fuel, kerosene, coal, wood or wood pellets for qualifying families. may call 829-3461. “Customers should apply as soon as possible,” said Mike Petruska, UGI residential cus- tomer account supervisor. “Money is allocated on a first-come, first- served basis.” A crisis assistance program also helps people whose furnaces or pipes have broken or who owe more than $200 on their heating bill and have a current payment See HEAT ASSITANCE, pg 10 fin ANTS 71 WX il iv, TiN) bi \ a ETA (1 i gr Wy W p (A i ih, £ ) iil | Mohs, =~. He reached into his green bag and pulled out three huge freeze- dried flies. “Here, have these,” he said, patting the little lizard on the head. The baby ate the first one with gusto, then slowed down and savored the remaining pair. “And now, you must learn to hunt,” Mossback said. He spent two days teaching the little lizard to hunt flies on his own. Then he showed him how to float on a lily pad and how to make a little home for himself. By the end of the second day, the little lizard was a mighty hunter and a skilled builder. See MOSSBACK, pg 10 HB Forney on business. Page 3. Page 11. 18 Pages 2 Sections banking. Glenn Forney reflects on 40 years in the Hl Tough puffs. Lake- Lehman held its first Powder Puff football game, but the cheerleaders didn't bare their legs, and it's a good thing. INDEX The Dallas Post Calendar................. 18 Classified........... 16-17 Crossword.............. 18 Ediforials.................. 4 Obituaries............... 16 SCHOOL.....ocesdiinitess 8 SPOS. ...covinissie 11-12 CALL 675-5211 FOR HOME DELIVERY, NEWS OR ADVERTISING MAILING LABEL- Please enclose this label with any address changes, and mail to The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612-0366
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