] ‘ : Ron Bartizek 3 The great caterpillar war nearly took a disastrous turn last 4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, June 14, 1995 ys The Dallas Post Parents are bulwark against youth crime Police and school officials are doing a commendable service in their continuing effort to alert Back Mountain parents to what they see as growing and troublesome criminal activity by youths. Three recent incidents, two of which were the theft of guns from private homes and the other a spending spree with stolen credit cards, are enough to throw a scare into the police and the public. It is also disheartening to see the spread of grafitti — considered by some experts a precursor to more serious crime — into this area. ~ Does all this mean there's a problem with kids today? In the vast majority of cases, no. As this week's Top of the Class section and graduation coverage show, the troublemakers are few and far between, and their distorted view of life hasn't much affected their classmates. Serious as some crimes have been, we have thankfully not seen evidence of the actual use of weapons against other people. Still, the mix of youthful emo- tion and deadly weapons is a volatile one, and it may only be amatter of time and circumstance before the two come together and ignite. School officials and the police are trying to stay ahead of the situation, and meetings like the one June 2 in Dallas help inform the public of problems and potential solutions. But outside authority figures have limited influence on children. Parents and other family members are the important people in young lives, and it is at home that values are taught, or not. Even when parents are derelict, it is surprising how many children grow up to throw off the perversions to which they were exposed to become better citizens than we would expect. The best way to keep kids on the right path is also the oldest: Pay attention to your children, in a positive way. Know what they're up to, who their friends are, what their attitudes are. Show them by your own actions that responsible behavior offers a surer path to happiness and success. Teach respect for ‘themselves, others and their property. We hope police are overreacting to a few incidents that “together don’t add up to much. But we're also grateful they are paying attention, and telling us what to look for. We also know that bad behavior is conquered and good instilled one person at a time, most often by the people closest to it. Publisher's notebook week when a crop-dusting helicopter ran out of fuel and landed in a Franklin Township field. A combination of good luck and pilot skill saved Ted Ohlmer and Dallas Township supervisor from injury. At our house, the “inchworms,” which are really elm spanworms, are worse than last year, which I didn’t think was possible. The only good thing about this bug season is that we don’t have a parallel infestation of caterpillars. Last spring we had both, and it was awful. Scientists should study the mechanism by which the worms cling to anything in sight, including the flesh of a passing human. They might discover a replacement for super glue or at least a new method for window washers to reach their target on tall buildings. I oe ~ Plans for the 49th annual Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction are in full swing, and you can help. The auction provides one-fourth of the library's annual operating funds, and has become more important as state funding has de- creased. The $40-50,000 generated by the auction is more than the state and county funding combined. If you have a new item to donate, call the library at 675-1182 and someone will take the information, and arrange for pickup if it's needed. Cash helps too; any money donated in the name of the auction counts, and may be used to purchase sale items. \ o00 I look at Newt Gingrich, the triumphant new Speaker of the House, and see someone with a brazen desire to turn govern- ment service to his own private benefit. First, the aborted $4.5 million book advance, now a cross-country tour touting his novel, excerpts of which sound like a poorly-written parody of a paperback sizzler. But Newt knows his name on the cover will guarantee big sales, especially if he spends plenty of time “Bacatise what" promoting the book. I can’t remember anyone in high federal office so clearly intent on using his position to improve his own finances. Can you? Do you agree? Disagree? Editorials are the opinion of the management of The Dallas Post, and are written by the editor unless otherwise indicated. 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 do not publish anonymous letters, but will consider withholding the name in exceptional circumstances. We reserve the right to edit for length and grammar. FET aT Mark Van Loon enjoyed a cool moment with his son, Paul, at Newberry Country Club's children's pool. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. WJ. John W. Johnson One of the items in small print of the so-called GOP “Contract With America” is an idea that the ban on assault weapons ought to be repealed, along with other modifications to current gun laws. There is less of a case to be made for easily concealed hand- guns; nevertheless, the easy availability of handguns makes this nation the murder capital of the world. And the last time, The Break- fast Club discussed” this ques- tion, it went something like this: “You know,” Silas McMarner says, [think I have a solution to the whole thing.” That morning's ‘whole thing’ turned out to be two things. McMarner continued, saying he had a solution to both health care reform and unnecessary deaths caused by guns. The Breakfast Club paused, leaned forward...because this is going to be a good one: two ideas with one argument. McMarner waits for the undi- vided attention of Roscoe Bismark who uses the brief pause to taunt another Breakfast Club member about a need for another (subway gunman) “Bernie Goetz in Flor- ida.” “Uh, I think I have a solution to the whole thing,” McMarner re- peats, adding quickly: “instead of eliminating the guns, let's tax the bullets.” He waits five seconds for effect. “And then let's use the money from that tax to help pay for health carereform, because...” He smiles that clever smile of his, pausing even longer now for the rhetorical coup de grace. “Well,” Roscoe asks finally? “Well...guns kill people, and A novel alternative to ‘gun control killing is a sin, so we can make a tax on bullets another sin tax.” McMarner is serious. Perhaps he's right. Without bullets, guns are sim- ply clubs from which even slow people can run. “Yeah,” Roscoe says, finally warming to the argument (you can tell he's done so because his newspaper is now put away). “Yeah,” he repeats, “and then let's sell those bullets only in towns with populations of 5,000 or less.” Only 5,000 or less? “Right...look, he says in his best parent to child voice, “the prob- lems with people using guns to kill other people is primarily in the big cities. Let's first tax them, and then sell only the bullets in small towns...(persons in the cit- ies) couldn't find their way here to buy themiao vii Should reloaders be fee? “Nos7:Roseoe replies, Let those guys alone.” Silas looks around, pleased with himself as the argument goes on for more than 20 minuts about the pros and cons of death control through bullet taxation. Whether something should be done is obvious. The United States is, by far, the world leader in citizen deaths by gun. And, ac- cording to a 1993 study in the New England Journal of Medicine, someone other than an intruder is three times more likely to die by gun in a home which has a gun it it. But to repeat the case for, at least, handgun control, let's look at the facts: And let's dispense with the Second Amendment argument right away. The Amend- ment says: “A well regulated milita, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed.” That amendment insures a collective right (the rights of more than one) rather than an individ- ual right. During the 1789 debate in Congress over the Bills of Rights, Elbridge Gerry argued that astate legislation militia was necessary..."to pre- vent the establishment of a stand- ing army, the bane of liberty...whenever governments mean to invade the rights and liberties of the people, they al- ways attempt to destroy the mili- tia in order to raise an army upon the ruins.” In short, the amendment was to prevent fears about a federal army usurping state authority...the amendment had nothing to do with guaranteeing an individual's right to gun ownership. Today, the state militia hasbeen taken over by law enforcement, with the idea of collective security now resting in a huge national defense establishment. Pro-gun supporters have de- liberately misinterpreted the Sec- ond Amendment. to, exploit . those old concerns about a federal army...and. they. -have confused and blurred the issues to now where automatic weapons and easily concealed handguns are thought to be a constitutional right. Putting it another way...the fact that we have been overregu- lated in some areas of modern life hasn't prevented us from the obviously necessary regulation of automobiles, airplanes, motor- boats, even knives and other weapons. In short, the issue is easily available handguns and auto- matic weapons, both having only one purpose: human death. And we must stop the mind- less, homicidal actions of those who obtain, use and otherwise cause this nation’s constitutional assertion of the pursuit of happi- ness to be the cruelest of jokes to the loved ones who must pick up the dead bodies of those sense- lessly murdered by easily con- cealed handguns and automatic weapons. There are no absolute rights in a society which truly values its freedoms; there are only abso- lutes in a society which has given its freedoms toa dictator, orto the deepest of emotional fads. The Dallas Post Published Weekly By Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 717-675-5211 Ronald A. Bartizek Charlotte E. Bartizek PUBLISHER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Peggy Young Grace R. Dove ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC REPORTER Paul Rismiller Olga Kostrobala PRODUCTION MANAGER CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Jill Urbanas OFFICE MANAGER 2) PRINTED WITH NIN 4 SOYIN Pb de PER Library news Ham 'n’ Yeggers give auction seed money By NANCY KOZEMCHAK The Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction is now just a few weeks away, taking place on July 6th through the 9th on the library grounds on Huntsville Road in Dallas. One of the unique money making feature of the auction has been the Ham ‘n Yegg Club. This club started in 1960's when Mrs. T.M.B. Hicks and William Moss came up with the idea of inviting all professional men to contribute a ham to be auctioned off over the block. This became impractical through the years, because of the problem of storing the hams. The committee has now been asking for a contribution of $25 or more in lieu of the hams, but the Ham ‘n Yegg Club idea remains the same. This money is usually the seed money for the beginning of the auction. This special idea serves as an on-going memorial to Mrs. Hicks and William Moss. Checks may be marked Ham ‘n Yeggs and mailed to the library. The final Book Club meeting for the season will be held on Monday, June 19 at 1:30 in the community room at the library. Special discussions and book reviews will be part of the pro- gram. Members and interested friends are invited to attend. The club will not meet during the summer and will resume meetings in Sep- tember. New books at the library: “Rainbow's End" by Martha Grimes is a new Book Club book and begins when an elderly tapis- ter keels over in Exeter Cathedral while viewing the famous embroi- dered rondels. Awoman'’s body is found in Salisbury, and in Lon- don yet another woman dies from supposed ‘natural causes’. There are no natural causes in the world inhabited by Scotland Yard Chief Superintendent Richard Jury. The story includes clever plotting and delicious rendering of atmos- pheres and wonderfully eccentric characters. A delightfully devel- ish novel. “Acquired Taste” by T. Sarah Peterson is a book in memory of Edmund P. Davis presented by Marino and Linda Santaretti. European-American cuisine was invented under fascinating cir- cumstances in the mid-seven- teenth century. Salt and pepper, salad and dessert—we take for granted the taste of our food and the sequence of the courses. This book is redolent with fresh lore about the history of cooking, and the links between cooking, al- chemy and astrology. “They Will Be Done" by Gerard Colby with Charlotte Dennett is ‘The conquest of the Amazon; Nelson Rockefeller and Evangel- ism in the Age of Oil." The book is in memory of George Messersmith presented by Mr. and Mrs. Her- bert D. Yoder. At the heart of the story are two intensely ambitious and ultimately tragic figures. Although leaders of opposing camps, both found common cause in the struggle against fascism and then communism, with ironic, fateful results. Only ii] yes terda y 60 Years Ago - June 21, 1935. BUSINESS SPACE IS SCARCE IN THE AREA With every available business’ property in Dallas occupied and improvements and additionsbeing made to a number of others, the business outlook in the commu~ nity is the best in years. At thé same time there is also a shortage: of suitable homes for families desiring to move here. A number of new homes are being built in the region and practically all houses of a rentable nature have been rented. From all parts of Luzerne County, members of The Good Morning Club, including a large delegation from the Back Moun tain, converged upon Hotel Maly low-Sterling Tuesday evening to honor the club's founder and president, George Gwilliam of Plymouth and Harveys Lake. | The Dallas Post has a limited number of the new official Penn: sylvania Road Maps, which it ne give free as long as they last to anyone who requests one and calls for it. ws Tk f 50 Years Ago - June 22, 1945 WREATH COMPANY - BRINGS 25 JOBS HERE" Mountain Evergeen Company this week opened its new plant in the Garinger Building on Chtirch Street. The company will employ between 20-25 men and worhen in the manufacture of ornamen- tal wreaths for the florist trade. “Jive Junction,” Dallas Teen- Age Center, has been pronounced highly successful by adults and young folks alike. Between 75 and 100 teenagers attended the opening Saturday night and r Te ceived official responsibility for the youth center from now on. You could get - Acme bread, 26 1/20z.loaf11¢; Apple Butter, 28- oz. jar 16¢; Georgia Freestone peaches, 2 lbs., 25¢; red beets, 2 bchs. 17¢; Octogan toilet soap, 2 bars, 14¢. 40 Years Ago - June 17, =. BRONSON DONATES CALF TO AUCTION," By her will sprobated; some weeks ago, Mrs. William G, LEY ers, formerly of the ‘Maples, munds Road, Dallas tie distributed a $200,000 estate almost entirely to faithful employ- ees and charitable institutions. Mrs. Meyers leaves $50, 000 to Wilkes-Barre General Hospital for a private patient room in the pri- vate pavilion in memory of Wil- liam G. and Florence G. Meyers. Albert Bronson, owner of Hill Top Farms, North Lake, will sup- ply another Holstein calf for the Library Auction, a match for the heifer calf bought last year by. Mrs. Joseph Schooley. Anthony Marchakitus was appointed high school principal at the Tuesday evening Lehman- Jackson-Ross joint school board meeting, a step in line with re- quirements for jointures as out- lined by Harrisburg. 30 Years Ago - June 17, 1965: MRS. MASON RETIRES: : FROM DALLAS SCHOOL: Mrs. Antoinette Mason, teacher’ of second grade at Dallas Elérhéni- tary for the past 25 years," will retire this year. She submitted her resignation to Dallas School Board prior to its Tuesday night meeting. A total of 198 students gradu- ated Dallas High School at its commencement June 8. Lake- Lehman High School held com- mencement exercises for 130, seniors on June 11. . On Friday and Saturday, the Library Auction grounds will begin to take on their accustomed July aspect with tents and various stands taking shape. Stefan Hell- ersperk, chairman of grounds reports 18 Key Club boys will assist on Friday, 12 more on ‘Sat~ urday, both Dallas and 'Lake- Lehman students joining the ef- fort. You could get - Round roast, 85¢ 1b.; chicken breasts, 53¢ 1b.; Tetley Tea bags, pkg. 48, 55¢; honeydew melons 39¢ ea.; new green cabbage, 6¢ Ib. blew ee al 20 Years Ago - June 19, 1975 LEHMAN HORSE SHOW PLANNED FOR JULY 4 The 31stannual Lehman Horse { Show will be held July 3, 4 and 5. ; The show, sponsored by the ) Lehman Fire Co., will feature} mixed classes of English and ¢ Western competition. Special | ¥ i EE mara ai ob oo ae events of pony classes, races and | ' youth equitation are planned for the younger generation horsemen. ; a tal. ¥ A I. (\ y J Nr & ut
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers