O © hid Vol. 108 No. 33 Zoning board turns back challenge to tower permit By JENNIFER JUDGE Post Correspondent DALLAS TWP. - The Dallas Township Zoning Hearing board has given Cellular One approval to begin building a 280- foot tower on Dallas Township property. At Monday night's meeting, the board voted unanimously to deny Roger Landry's appeal of a building permit granted by zoning officer Leonard Kozick, eliminating the last obstacle between Cellular One and tower building. The permit was issued June 10 after Kozick interpreted Dallas Township Zon- ing Ordinances in regard to height and public utilities. Although building height in the township is restricted to 35 foot, public utilities are exempted. Kozick de- cided the cellular company is a public utility. Landry argues it is not. Attorney Mark McNealis, representing Landry, argued that cellular services should not be considered public utilities. Catherine Naughton, attorney for Cellu- lar One, argued that although they are not a public utility, they are “a utility facility necessary to serve the area,” Dallas, Pennsylvania which, by Dallas Township Zoning Law, would also make them exempt from the height limitation. McNealis argued, “Cel- lular phone services are not necessary or essential.” SERVING THE COMMUNITIES (© 1 Sil I | = BD AN BR EVANCIP A SVAN of = Bl i 1\V/ PAN A SCHOOL BIICHE ui (OF BS A disappointed Landry said he will appeal the board’s decision. “We've come this far and the principle hasn't changed,” he said after the decision was announced. Landry and McNealis have 30 days to file an appeal. Although Cellular One can begin the building process, Landry ex- plained that if he wins a future appeal, any ‘work done will have to be taken down. : : Board members did not explain their decision. Landry told the board he felt the tower was “not a good idea.” Landry and his August 13 thru August 19, 1997 wife started renting their property in June of 1995 and purchased that prop- erty in October 1996. The Landry house is less than 200 yards from the proposed site, Landry said. “My wife and I settled in Dallas for a number of reasons, primarily the unspoiled nature of Dallas,” he said. Landry feels a tower would damage the “character of Dallas and have a negative affect on nearby property values. Pointing out the tower's proximity to Dallas schools, Landry also expressed See TOWER, pg 8 50¢ | Triathletes headed out into Harveys Lake on the first leg of Sunday's Wilkes-Barre Triathlon. About 400 competitors took part in professional, amateur and team 3 POST PHOTO/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK competition. The event combined swim, bicycling and running segments, concluding at the Penn State campus in Lehman. More photos, local results on page 9. Back Mountain triathletes take pride in finishing home course By JILL GRUVER Post Staff BACK MOUNTAIN - Dozens of local athletes were able to claim a personal triumph last weekend after enduring the local terrain and completing the 16th annual Wilkes-Barre Triathlon. The com- petition, which includes a 1500- meter swim, 40-K bike ride and 10-K run is one of the most chal- lenging of all sports. This year's event drew 13 pro- fessionals and also showcased a field of nearly 50 residents from the Back Mountain. Chris Hackett of Shavertown capitalized on months of training to finish 31st overall with a time of 2:22:32 and finish second in the 30-34 male division. This was Hackett's eighth Back Mt. triathlon in 12 years and he feels the weather played a big role this year. “The course was tough, it was hot and humid and that slowed everyone's time by a couple of minutes. Also, there were strong head winds on the bike leg to slow the pack.” Hackett's training partner, Kevin Augustine of Carverton Road agreed adding, “Its hard to improve on the previous year's time due to changes in weather. I was good going into the run but the heat got to me and I lost time.” Despite his troubles in the run, Augustine finished 41st overall and first in the 40-44 male divi- sion. Both participate in five to six triathlons a year, including events in Maryland, Virginia, New Jer- sey and others in Pennsylvania, but feel this is the best. “This is the most difficult course. All other races lead up to this event,” Au- gustine said. He feels the hills are unequalled on any other course and added, “The down grades on dirt and gravel roads provide the biggest challenge. It's hard to get good footing. A natural runner can make up time on the run.” Augustine rated their. perfor- mances by adding, “Considering the amount of professionals en- tered this year we did pretty good.” Hackett summed up the event By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Post Staff DALLAS - On their first trip to the United States, Emma Rowe and Lee Williams rejoiced over something we take for granted. Free refills... But, they also discovered a family of friends and took home many lifelong memories. Rowe, 16, and Williams, 18, of Milton Keynes, England met Eric Pimm, an Eagle Scout from Dallas, two years ago in London. They kept in touch via mail and as a result, de- cided to visit the states and attend the Boy Scouts of America National Jamboree in Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia with the Pimms. This was their first trip to the states and Emma's first “In England scouting is entirely volunteer.” Emma Rowe _ British scout time on an airplane. “Lee kept telling me the wing was on fire and I believed him. I'm gull- ible,” she said with a laugh. The two are good friends and high ranking scouts called Ventures. England does not separate boy and girl scouts like in the U.S.. They have been scouting for about 10 years each and consider it a way of life. : During their two-week stay with the Pimms, who include See SCOUTS, pg 8 British Scouts get view of U.S. their counterparts Eric Pimm, center, is flanked by British scouts Lee Williams and Emma Rowe. by saying, “All of the directors and volunteers do an outstanding job with coordinating, logistics, traf- fic control and road markings. These are the people that make this a world-class event. If it weren't for them we wouldn't even have a race.” Wayne Devine of Harveys Lake was happy with his 145th place finish and a time of 2:50:03. Devine noted his best finish after 14 years of triathlons was around 2:28, but was quick to add, “That was when I was younger. Age has a lot to do with it.” See TRIATHLON, pg 9 Lawsuit is last best hope for Comm Ctr. ‘ny KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Post Staff BACK MOUNTAIN - With a pending lawsuit as their last de- fense, the Back Mountain Com- munication Center (BMCC), area police, fire and ambulance offi- cials are not slowing down for a second as they fight a countywide 911 system. this system would automatically shut down the center that has offered a 911 system in the Back Mountain since 1986. Implementation of “We want to see if we can be ‘grandfathered’ in,” said Frank Wagner, chairman of the center’s board. “We don't want to go back- wards. We have the best service in the county. The county should be giving the control center some money (so they can become ° ‘en- hanced’).” Michael Melnick, the tions attorney, said legislation passed in 1993 concerning 911 systems legally gives the BMCC the right to exist. “The actual law says regional or county areas are per- See COMM CENTER, pg 12 : of Goodman Road In : gust meeting of the town supervisors, the board nounced plans to take ov care and maintenan Goodman Road once imp See ROAD p H Fields official Dallas school board votes to build three sports fields. Pg 3. ® Tigers on the tee Youth golf league gives teens a good look at the sport. Pg 9. 16 Pages 2 Sections Calendar... 16 Classified.............. 14-15 Crossword:.........0... 14 Editorials. .......cccxen ene: 4 Obituaries.................. 14 SCHOOL. i... ihe 11 SPOS... ier: 9-10 CALL 675-5211 FOR HOME DELIVERY, NEWS OR ADVERTISING The Dallas Post MAILING LABEL- Please enclose this label with any address changes, and mail to The Dallas Post, P.O. 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