. —a 4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, October 1, 1997 Fe Sig A IEDITORIALS | “Back Mountain has no ~room for hateful messages There is no room in our community for the cowardly acts of ~. ‘hate that have been visited on the Byron family of Dallas Br - v= 4 Sa a ak BO A A A A A TP LC A RT| A “Township. For unfathomable reasons, someone with a twisted ‘mind has painted obscenities and Nazi swastikas on the Byrons'’ ' ‘barn. In their haste to trash another's property, this individual _ or individuals have shown themselves to be without character or compassion. By attacking the Byrons, who donate use of their i : Publisher's notebook Vg * i % - .land to youth soccer and serve the community in other ways, they also are displaying contempt for those who do good works. ___ But this act would be equally reprehensible no matter who it attacked, wealthy or poor, professional or tradesman. There is ‘simply no excuse for such hateful behavior and there can be no acceptance of it in the Back Mountain. Whoever has done this must be shown clearly that their actions are incompatible with _ the values of our community, and will not be tolerated. Lo Co > One of the reasons I like newspapers is that readers have full ‘control over what they will or will not read. This is unlike radio oy End television, where you could be watching a favorite show or listening to good music and be rudely interrupted by a commer- “This can happen about every other minute, it sometimes seems. Case in point: The nauseating ad for a credit card that invites us to charge away at the supermarket as an exercise in charitable giving. If you've had a radio turned on for more than 10 minutes in the past couple of weeks you've probably heard this imbecilic ad more than once. In case you've been lucky enough to miss it, the copy goes something like this: Whiny wife: “something for other people.” “Were so selfish. I feel like we should do Condescending husband: “Then buy a jar of pickles.” After a couple of equally enlightening exchanges, an authori- tative voice tells us all you have to do is buy more stuff at the ~ supermarket to earn the right to pin a medal on your chest, because the credit card company guarantees to give at least ~.8200,000 to food banks, or something similar. Whoopee. A "couple of hundred grand to this outfit is like the pennies you and ~~ I'leave at the checkout counter. f "groceries with a charge card, you won't have any of those “annoying copper coins to get rid of anyway. If you're really "inspired by the commercial, you may not have any money left for anything after you get the bill. So here's the question; does Come to think of it, if you buy VISA think we're so insecure and/or stupid as to think buying an extra bag of chips is a charitable act? Or do they believe we're lame enough to think well of them because they use hungry people as a hook to get us to use their card more? I think I know the answer to both questions, and it won't please VISA. We may not be the great society some think we should be, but most of us know that we help others with visible or anonymous acts of kindness, not by running up credit card bills. If you want to help feed hungry people, donate some food, time or money to a local food bank, and keep your VISA card in your wallet. And feel good about it. LEGISLATORS DIRECTORY Federal Officials Representative Paul E. Kanjorski (PA 11th District) (Democrat) Wilkes-Barre: 825-2200 Washington: (202) 225-6511 10 E. South St., Wilkes-Barre PA 18701-2397 or 2429 Rayburn Building Washington, DC 20515 Senator Arlen Specter (Republican) Wilkes-Barre: 826-6265 Washington: (202) 224-4254 116S. Main S., Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 Senator Rick Santorum (Republican) 120 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington: (202) 224-6324 Fax: (202) 228-4991 State Officials State Sen. Charles D. Lemmond (Republican) (717) 675-3931 22 Dallas Shopping Ctr., Memorial Hwy., Dallas PA 18612-1231 Lemmond’s district includes the Back Mountain. State Rep. George Hasay (Republican) 287-7505 0r 542-7345 0r 474-2276 or 477-3752 144 North Mountain Boulevard, Mountaintop PA 18707 Hasay’s district encompasses: Harveys Lake, Lehman Township, Jackson Township, Lake Town- ship, Franklin Township, Ross Township, and Dallas Township's north voting district. State Rep. Phyllis Mundy (Democrat) 283-9622 or 655-3375 Suite 107, 400 Third Avenue, Kingston PA 18704 Dallas Borough, Dallas Township except for the north voting district, and Kingston Township. 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 or bring letters to: The Dallas Post, 607 Main Rd., Dallas PA 18612. Please include your name, address and a daytime phone number so that we may verify authenticity. Ronald A. Bartizek PUBLISHER Jessica Appolo ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC Ruth Proietto PRODUCTION MANAGER The Dallas Post Published Weekly By Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 717-675-5211 Jill Gruver OFFICE MANAGER MEMBER 7 PRINTED WITH NINE PENNSYLVANIA SOYINK| NEL INAL NE WSOAPER NEWSPAPER Charlotte E. Bartizek ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Kylie Shafferkoetter REPORTER Olga Kostrobala CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Fading sun on an icon of summer. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. Michael vows to be watchdog of public purse Editor: : I thought your editorial con- cerning campaign finance reform mirrored a great deal of my own philosophy and is quite appropri- ate at this time in the midst of congressional hearings. My fer- vent hope is that you are wrong in your assumption that responsible campaign reform is unattainable at the present time. A columnist recently stated, “This intent to influence the can- didate and the party rather than the public should be of greatest concern to the citizen in looking for campaign financial reform. The indication is that what the con- tributors are buying isn’t cam- paign advertising, it is the candi- date. This is a corruption that this nation cannot afford.” A European proverb proclaims, “When money speaks, the truth keeps silent.” In November the voting popu- lace of Luzerne County will be voting for the office of controller. Do not vote for the office of con- trolled. Per chance, why would I surmise such a pernicious thought? Methinks, doubts arise when the primary election is pe- rused. The endorsed Democratic Party Candidate had expenditures of $103,847.58 of which $88,007 went to the boiling cauldron of Ed Mitchell, consultant, who gath- ered his cohorts around the hecate to concoct his venom to spew upon the other candidates. A tad of doubt creeps into my mind that the Democratic candidate as Bill Brace (Democrat) appropriately designated “the financial watch dog” of the public monies. My chagrin is due to the fact the Luzerne County Democratic Com- mittee donated $32,500 to his campaign. Methinks, they might desire a little something in return for that donation. Blind, unswerv- ing obedience to the skewed Demo- cratic leadership which, little rep- resents their own constituents. Shylock demanded his pound of flesh. The controller is an indepen- dently elected official, not ap- pointed. Why? The controller should have knowledge of the fis- cal policies of the county and serve as a “bully pulpit” for the taxpay- ers. » Clarence “Mike” Michael will be that independent controller. I shall be a voice for the people and I already have been. My primary war chest was $980.35 of my own money. : I shall continue my grassroots campaign to inform the voters. I shall not flag or fail. I shall go on to the end...I shall march in the streets of Dallas, Hazleton, Pittston, Wilkes-Barre, Conyng- ham and I even found Inkerman. I shall be heard. Clarence J. “Mike” Michael Dallas Executive clemency should be maintained Editor: Paparazzi press abuses is only one media issue. Another is the press’ responsiblity to identify and address truly significant issues. In about one month, our No- vember election, we will be asked to amend Article IV, Section 9 of the Pennsylvania Constitution having to do with our Board of Pardons. The ballot question will be: Shall the Pennsylvania Consti- tution be amended to require a unamimous recommendation of the Board of Pardons before the Governor can pardon or commute the sentence of an individual sen- tenced in a criminal case to death or life imprisonment, to require only a majority vote of the Senate toapprove the Governor's appoint- ments to the Board, and to sub- stitute a crime victim for an attor- ney and a corrections expert for a penologist as Board members? On this Constitutional issue there has been essentially no pub- lic discussion. The General Assembly, reflect- ing society's current “tough on crime” mood, proposes to virtu- ally eliminate executive clemency by future Governors for persons. sentenced to death or life in prison. Executive clemency, a centu- ries old device for grace and hu- mane treat of deserving inmates, has been used sparingly. Indeed, over thelast 12 years (1985-1997) only 23 lifers have been released. While mistakes will be made, ex- ecutive clemency is needed. I can in this letter, only intro- duce this issue. It is most signifi- cant that both the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Pennsyl- vania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, a victim's rights organi- zation, are OPPOSED to amend- ing the Board of Pardons provi- sion of the Pennsylvania Constitituion. Atty. Gerald C. Grimaud Tunkhannock Q. Where do you find the most Back Mountain news and photos each week? A. Only in The Dallas Post (ON \N I ¢ YESTERDAY 60 Years Ago - Oct. 8, 1937 KU KLUX KLAN GAINING MEMBERS IN AREA Fiery crosses may blaze again on the hills above Dallas if the Ku Klux Klan which has been spot- lighted by Klansman Hugo Black’s appointment to the Supreme Court, succeeds in its efforts to regain its one time power here. Far from being dead, the Klan today numbers many local men as its members. Reliable sources informed The Post this week that the Ku Klux Klan is gaining new strength in this section. The Klan had tremendous power in theru- ral sections surrounding Dallas a decade ago. State Senator Leo C. Mundy informed directors of Wyoming Valley Motor club this week that the contract for the long-awaited. Luzerne by-pass will be awarded before the end of this year but construction probably will not start before spring. 50 Years Ago - Oct. 10, 1947 CONSOLIDATION OF SCHOOLS ENCOURAGED Taking the first step to encour- age consolidation of highs schools in the Back Moutnain Area, Dal- las Township School Board at its meeting Tuesday unanimously instructed its secretary Floyd Chamberlain to draw up a resolu- tion inviting all members and so- licitors of Back Mountain school boards to a general meeting to discuss community school prob- lems. Prime purpose of the meet- ing is to discuss the possibility of establishing a consolidated high school in a centrally located area. This week marks the 75th anninverary of the organization and incorporation of Maple Grove Methodist Church. The present church building was erected in 1872 on a piece of land deeded to the trustees by Simon and Sarah Lewis for $1. The church was dedicated January 1873. The pastor was Francis Assbury King. You could get - Steak, 69¢ Ib.; Tokay grapes, 21bs., 19¢; oranges, 2 doz., 49¢; Supreme Bread, lg. loaf, 11¢. ge © 40 Years Ago - Oct. 11, 1957 THIRD NAME ADDED TO NOXEN CLINIC LIST A third bronze name plate has been added to those of Dr. Lester Saidman and Dr. Irvin Jacobs at the Noxen Clinic. Dr. Walter Molychik joined the clinic Sept. 15. He reports that he has seen more patients in the last two week than most beginning practitioners see in three months. A, Mrs. Leon Race, Kunkle is still a patient at Nesbitt Memorial Hospital where she was taken Saturday morning in the Dallas Community ambulance after be- ing stricken ill while assisting her husband to fill silo. 30 Years Ago - Oct. 5, 1967 RESIDENTS DISTURBED BY DUMPING IN NEW GOSS Old Goss Manor residents who + prefer to keep their surroundings attractive have been disturbed over the dumping of brush, gar- bage, mattresses and other refuse on Sago Street. Several women appeared Tueday evening at the Dallas Township Supervisors meeting to ask that something be done concerning the collection mounting daily. Back Mountain residents will now be able to subscribe to qual- ity cable television service as the result of new ownership of the local cable system, Back Moun- tain Tele-Cable, Shavertown. 20 Years Ago - Oct. 6, 1977. L-L VOTES IN THREE YEAR TEACHER'S CONTRACT At Lake-Lehman’s special school board meeting Friday, the district's directors voted 6-2.in favor of a new three year contract. The vote which followed by one day ratification of the contract by 64 of Lake-Lehman Education Association’s 108 voting members, came a scant four hours before the teachers’ 1977 contract was to have expired. Commonwealth Telephone Company this week announced that it has filed for state approval of a rate increase which would raise the annual basic local tele- phone service to the average fam- ily user by 37.5%. In the Back Mountain exchange, the average one phone private line residential customer would find his base rate increased by 44% from a present base of $6.25 per month to a $9 per month. I~ et 0 ( 9 S) oo A ¢ ¢
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers