| | ! i ] | { i | | i Vol. 108 No. 46 [) By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Post Staff DALLAS - Steve Kopcho believes if United Water of Pennsylvania wants to increase his rates, it should be required to at least provide adequate water pres- sure. Kopcho, who lives on Westminster Dr. in Dallas, has filed a formal complaint with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Com- mission (PUC). In the complaint, Kopcho says he has experienced low and inad- equate water pressure for the entire four not think United Water should be granted the 15.6 percent rate increase it seeks. “I've complained to United Water. Their response is that nothing can be done. They told me if I wanted better water pressure that [ should buy a pump. The pump costs $500,” said Kopcho, who requests in his complaint that United Water install a pump and decrease his water rates. In a written response to Kopcho, Kirby N. Pack, United Water manager in Dallas, explained that United Water provided adequate pressure as required by the Dallas, Pennsylvania stances, that we maintain pressure at the distribution main in the range of 25 psi to 125 psi, excepting that it may range down to 20 psi and up to 150 psi depen- ‘The Dallas Post SIS EAN [CRE g =H] \V LVS IRR =ISHO] =i Bw | =8 BVA MWA S WAY = lM =p [VANES 0s [00] 8 DISTRICTS / November 12 thru November 18, 1997 Pack stated in the letter. United Water determined the water pressure at Kopcho’s home was between 24 psi and 30 psi during a check in May. In his letter, Pack states, “I have noted from reviewing your charts that actual usage in your home has little impact on the available pressure... The pressures recorded...are within PUC guidelines, however, if you desire higher pressure you might consider installing a small hydro-pneumatic system in your home.” In an interview Monday with The Dal- las Post, Pack said the PUC looks down i pumps for customers. “The PUC wouldn't support us spending S500 on a pump just for Kopcho. Every rate payer in Dallas has to share that cost. Why should someone on Rt. 309 pay for something on Westminster?” asked Pack. : The proposed rate increase would add approximately $30 to $45 per year to customers’ bills, which currently average $290 a year. Kopcho wants United Water to provide him with better service before they raise rates. Eighteen other United Water cus- years he has lived on the street and does Drug policy protesters silent, plan passes 9-0 By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Post Staff DALLAS - Although it was ru- mored a large group of parents would show up to voice their opin- ions against two new anti-drug ‘policies, the Dallas School Board meeting was quiet Monday night. Both policies passed unani- mously. Dogs will be used to randomly check lockers, cars, classrooms and storage areas for illegal substances in both the high school and middle school. Also, all PIAA athletes from grade seven to 12 must submit to a mandatory random drug test in order to play organized sports. Tom Dombroski of Trucksville told: the board they were going overboard by testing the athletes. “What led to the overkill? Why don’t we start out small?” he asked the board. Dombroski also asked if there was a constitutional ques- tion to these policies. Ernest Ashbridge, board presi- dent, said the district is well within its rights to have both the canines and drug testing. Karen Kyle, who was recently voted onto the school board, lauded the board’s efforts to main- tain secure and safe schools. “I alse thought the security cam- See DRUG POLICY, pg 8 PUC. “The PUC requires, in most in- dent on certain operating conditions,” on water companies buying individual See WATER, pg 8 ! Food bank serves the truly needy By KYLIE SHAFFER KOETTER : Post Staff BACK MOUNTAIN - The Back Mountain Food Bank is busy col- lecting food to help families get through the tough winter months. The food bank is set up as an emergency service for families in need to fall back on. Run through the Trucksville United Methodist Church for the past 18 years, the food bank col- lects food all year round. Kathy Barlow, church secretary, said winter is usually the time people need the most help. “Generally, I think it's because heating bills go up. It's very steady in the winter,” she said. Barlow said the food bank is always in need of canned meat. Cereals, pasta, soup and drink mix also are good items to donate, she said. i once every three months because oftheamount of supplies. “It’s set up for emergency help. Some people only use it once and others are there every three months,” said Barlow. The food bank pro- vides families with enough food to last a week. People need the extra help for a Do-=SiI-DO WITH DAD Bethany Sidorek showed her dad, Len, the fine points of square dancing during the annual Back Mountain Girl Scout dance event last OT | week, held at the old Dallas Twp. school. More photos on page 8. By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Post Staff HARVEYS LAKE - Walking into the Rigez home is like walking into an olfactory para- dise. The scents of lavender and rose petal dance in the air. Faint whiffs of peppermint and tangerine remind you that you haven't eaten since breakfast. . But, it is not because of a de- lectable dessert or freshly cut flowers, as it may seem. It's because of soap. Dan Rigez makes handmade soap. Stacks of varied soaps sit in rows on an antique stove .+ inthe corner of his family room, *. ready for customers. There * ‘are glycerine soaps with jewel colored flecks, round soaps .made of cocoa butter with pep- *. > permint scent and rectangular «bars made of goats’ milk and honey with calenular petals and lavender. Rigez sells his soaps under the name, Country Meadows . .Soaps and Sundries. His slo- *. ‘gan is, “Yesterday's Solutions for Today’s Skin.” Rigez and Helen, his wife, believe strongly in using natural materials to make their products. “Corporate soaps are de- signed to get the dirt away, but they also take the natural oils away,” said Rigez, who started See SOAP, pg 5 ‘Hoping for the sweet smell of success Helen Rigez Harveys Lake POST PHOTO/KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Dan Rigez, of Harveys Lake, slices a fresh bar of his homemade soap. Rigez and his wife, Helen, make soaps using natural oils and aromas, sold under the name Country Meadows Soaps and Sundries. Bands turn in big shows at competition championship By MICHAEL TWICHELL Post Correspondent MOOSIC - The Lake-Lehman and Dallas high school marching bands ended their competition seasons on a high note in Sunday’s Tournament of Bands (T.O.B.) Atlantic Coast Championships held at Lackawanna County Sta- dium. The Lake-Lehman band fin- ished second in Group II with an overall score of 97.9. The band also finished third in percussion and won top awards for best mu- sic, best auxiliary (color guard), and best woodwinds, with junior Allison Piatt winning best drum major. “In my opinion, this is the best performance we've ever done at A.C.C.’s,” said band director Ed- ward A. Richards. “And the fact that we earned our highest score ever reflects that.” Dallas capped their 1997 com- petition season with a stellar per- formance in the Group I finals. Dallas finished in seventh place overall with a score of 90.65. The band also finished seventh in auxiliary, fifth in percussion, and fourth in woodwinds. “I'm very happy for the kids,” said band director Jerry Baldauff. “Every- one worked very hard for this.” Senior Jason Vodzak brought See BANDS, pg 3 variety of reasons. “Everyone thinks the Back Mountain is well- * See FOOD BANK, pg 8 POST PHOTO/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK United Water customers want pressure up before prices 3 Families may receive food only < 4 | INDEX ; : 16 Pages, 2 Sections I Calendar.................5. 16 Classified........... ..14-15 CroSSWOId........ sevens 16 Editorials..................ut 4 Obituaries................. 14 SCHOOL ei 12-13 SPOS. ooh 9-10 CALL 675-5211 FOR HOME DELIVERY, NEWS OR ADVERTISING / The Dallas Post MAILING LABEL- Please enclose this label with any address changes, POST PHOTO/MIKE TWICHELL Allison Piatt, Lake-Lehman drum major, won first place in the Atlantic Coast Championships, held last weekend at Lackawanna and mail to The Dallas Post, P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612-0366 County Stadium. %
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