4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, November 12, 1997 IEDITORIALS Keep BMT Comm Center for! non-emergencies' - Advocates for the Back Mountain Communications Center Have fought the good fight, but have lost their bid to remain a primary 911 site. Now it’s time to make the best of the situation, and find a way to keep the center gpen to take non-emergency calls. - The dispute over who will take 911 calls - the BMCC or the new county center - may have been seen as a useless exercise meant “toretain power for a small group of people. That is, unless you've - had reason to call for an ambulance or even to report a barking dog. The local center has been there since 1986 to handle those “ceils and more with precision and patience, and the excellent service is why police, fire and ambulance officials, and volun- -. teers - and The Dallas Post - have so strongly supported the notion of retaining a local center. But the fat lady has broken out in song, and now we must work to see that none of the superb service we're used to is lost in the transition. The best option is for the local Comm Center to be staffed 24 hours daily to take “non-emergency” calls, if that can be done affordably. What are those? The definition, and the scope of the Back Mountain site’s responsibility, will have to be worked out between local and county officials, but it should be more than handling requests for accident reports. There are any number of incidents - barking dogs among them - that are best referred immediately to the Back Mountain center than logged into a + queue in Hanover Township. There are other good reasons to keep the BMCC open, among them its availability if the county center goes out of service, and i to assist if a disaster of major proportions occurs. But the best reason to keep it is the same one that brought it into existence; to provide superior service to the men and women who risk their lives to save others. Publisher's notebook In all the hoo-hah about the Boston nanny (au pair for purists), one important point seems to have been missed; © there's an element of risk when parents entrust care of infants ‘ toa 19-year-old stranger. That fact doesn’t absolve the babysitter from responsibility, of course, but it surely should lead to a . more reasonable verdict than the initial conviction on a charge . of second-degree murder. You can decide for yourself whether ~ the judge was out of line to reduce the charge and sentence as . he did Monday. I think there are other lessons to be learned from this local tragedy that was turned into a worldwide media event. First, parents always bear responsibility for their young offspring. - Attempting to convince the public of their complete innocence, . the child’s parents went on Larry King Live for no other reason 3 I could fathom hut to paint Louise Woodward as a heartless - killer, and themselves as hapless observers. They said on ~ television, and the prosecutor implied at the trial, that the girl ~ showed signs of recklessness in the months before little - Matthew Eappen died. If they sensed the person caring for their . child was a danger, why didn’t they dismiss her? They have a eh “burden to give as much attention to-their child's care as to their careers. * There is an ominous movement in the U.S. to treat young pene charged with crimes as adults. I remember a few years ago when the Monroe County DA considered charging a young “boy — only nine or 10 years old, I think — as an adult in the hooting death of another youngster. The crimes may be -.heinous, but I think we need to step back and ask ourselves if -“children, and I consider a 19 year old 3,000 miles away from “her family still somewhat a child, can logically be held to the same standards as adults. ~The baby killer case, like so many events of late, was blown - way out of proportion for its importance to most Americans. LN SS ". When a trial takes center ring in the media circus, it seems each “side competes to persuade the viewing and reading public they “are 100 percent virtuous, which of course makes the other "- entirely evil. The truth is often in between, but is lost in the oe battle to appear superior to the cretin across the table. ~. There was also an implication that this incident illustrated . the difficulty parents have finding affordable, reliable child . care. Give me a break. This couple appears to have more than “enough means to pay for trained, professional caregivers, and their situation has nothing in common with the families who + truly need help in this area, such as single mothers struggling to get off welfare or subsist on a minimum-wage job. ~ These distortions combine to give the impression of a society that lacks the confidence to examine issues dispassionately, instead reacting defensively to every perceived individual or collective weakness. I think we're a lot better than that, but you have tolook deeper than yesterday's headlines to find the proof. 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 fr Sontmsiing point of view. Send or bring letters to: The Dallas Post, ‘607 Main Rd., Dallas PA 18612. Please include your name, address Yoarid 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. The Dallas Post Published Weekly By Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 717-675-5211 3 Charlotte E. Bartizek ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER 1 Ronald A. Bartizek PUBLISHER Jessica Appolo ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC Kylie Shafferkoetter REPORTER Ruth Proietto PRODUCTION MANAGER Olga Kostrobala CLASSIFIED/TYPESETTING Jill Gruver OFFICE MANAGER MEMOER rd i PRINTED WITH INTINIP2¢ PENNSYLVANIA SOY INK NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION PUBLISHERS ASSOCIATION BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE Construction is rolling ahead on the new children's wing at the Back Mountain Memorial Library. The wing was closed in last week and windows were installed, so work can continue in comfort in coming months. In photo above, Melanie Evans, a library employee, pointed out the “air conditioning ducts. She'll probably appreciate them more next summer. Above right, an employee of Nulton Construction was silhoutted through a plastic window covering as he applied finishing touches to the brickwork. Rachel and Corey Hohol, Hunlock Creek, didn't let the construction noise distract them from reading. Library news Nancy Kozemchak The Back Mountain Memorial Library circulated 6,129 books and materials during the month of October; adult fiction 2,597, juvenile fiction 1,536, adult non- fiction 1,739 and juvenile non fic- tion 257. Reference questions answered 311, Book Club books circulated 177, Interlibrary loan (0 J YESTERDAY 60 Years Ago - Nov. 19, 1937 POSTMASTER RESIGNS AFTER FOUR YEARS George T. Kirkendall, postmas- ter at Dallas since 1933, has submitted his resignation to be- come effective as soon as the post office department names his suc- cessor. Kirkendall, it is under- stood has acquired an interest in H.A. Whiteman Co., Inc. of Wilkes- Barre and is to be office executive for that firm. He will assume his new duties as soon as a new post- master can be selected. The State Inheritiance Tax Dept. this week promoted Harold Wagner, burgess of Dallas to a higher position as special ap- praiser to work throughout the State. Wagner has been engaged in advising appraisers in Luzerne County in inheritance tax mat- ters. ; 50 Years Ago - Nov. 21, 1947 KINGSTON TOWNSHIP STUDENTS TESTING WELL Information has reached Shav- ertown Parent-Teacher Associa- POST PHOTOS/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Library has healthy circulation transactions 41, CDs 72. Met y tapes 444, and videos 216. New books added to the colléction 155: + adult 125 and juvenile 30; books withdrawn, juvenile 5. New bor- rowers joined the library; adult 34, juvenile 38; re-registrations adult 104, juvenile 84. Total ac- tive borrowers at the library as of October 31, 11,395. The library staff is pleased with ‘the number of borrowers using the library during this constant upheaval with the construction of the new library area. The Friends of the Library is sponsoring the sixth annual fresh citrus fruit sale. Orders will be taken until November 20. Qrder tion that the State Department of Highways will approve’ a traffic light at the Center Street and Vet- erans Memorial Highway inter- section. Information comes as a result of a traffie survey made recently at that point by opera- tives of the State Department of Highways. The light or lights will probably be of the pedal control type for autos and push button control for pedestrians. Scholastic standing of Kingston Township School students is showing continued improvement according to a report of annual tests given to students last May. The report was made public at an open meeting of Kignston Town- ship School Board last Friday. Similar tests have been given an- nually since 1944 when a group of University of Pennsylvania experts made exhaustive tests to evaluate the scholastic standing of the schools. Tests last May were made in 4th, 5th and 6th grades and in the high school. 40 Years Ago - Nov. 22, 1957 DALLAS BOARD MEETS LATE INTO THE NIGHT Off to a late start again, Dallas Area school directors transacted business Monday night, adjourn- ing at 1 a.m. Monroe Township directors were absent. The board decided a name for the new Union District, approved a motion of ac- ceptance of the building site and decided to go ahead with plans for building a new high school. forms are available at the front desk. Two/fifths bushel grape- fruit for S11 or two /fifth bushel of naval oranges for $11. The fruit orders will be ready for pickup at the library on December 12 or 13. A very special thanks to our volunteers who are willing to work the front desk chores during this time of construction. Most of the adult books are available for cir- culation and there are a few shelves ‘with children’ s books for borrow- ing. New books: “The River Where Blood is Born” by Sandra Jack- son-Opoku, is a delicate tapestry which unfolds within the pages a story stitched together with the Directors of Lehman-Jackson- Ross Joint School will honor retir- ing members of the board, Jesse Hann and Laing Coolbaugh at a testimonial dinner Mon. evening. Hann is retiring after 36 years on the Ross Township Board; Coolbaugh, Jackson Township, was president of the triple join- ture board at the time the new Ross Township Elementary School was built. You could get - Turkeys 10-17 Ibs., 43¢ 1lb.; chuck steaks, 49¢ lb.; Ideal peaches, 4 #303 cans, S1; Fruit Cake, -1 Ib. size 99¢; Beech-Nut baby foods strained 6/ 59¢; Mazola Oil pint bot. 37¢. 30 Years Ago - Nov. 16, 1967 DALLAS BOARD WILL HAVE NO FEMALE MEMBERS Dallas School Board will have no women members after the re- organization meeting early next month. President Mrs. Ann Vernon is pursuing graduate study at University of Pennsylvania in the field of sociology has been unable to attend the last several public meetings and her place was taken by Mrs. Louise Steinhauer, vice chairman. At the conclusion of the meeting, Mrs. Steinhauer thanked members for their coop- eration and said her teunure had proven a source of enlightment. Another first has been intro- duced in the Back Mountain. Wilbur Hauck, Ashley and Boyd White, Dallas, who have built and are now operating an Automatic threads of AnahSe, the Spat of African myth, and the wisdom of the ancestors. It takes us on a journey along the river of one family’s history, from ancient Af rica into today’s America. . - - “The Cobra Event” by Richard Preston is the story of a secret counter-terror operation. It is a dramatic, heart-stopping account of a very real threat, told with skill and authority. The story begins one spring morning in New York City when a 17-year old studént wakes up feeling vaguely ill. She seems to be coming down with a cold. ] Hours later, after violent tei- zures, she is soon dead. Car Wash on Main Street, Dallas, located next to White's Furniture and Appliance. The new estab- lishment, which offers speedy ser- vice in a matter of minutes, will wash and rinse your car while you sitat the wheel. Completely auto- 0 pe matic and coin operated, the Dal- las Whirley Car Wash is low priced. 20 Years Ago - Nov. 17, 1977 LAKE-LEHMAN DISTRICT | APPROVES CONTRACTS With the unanimous approval of a four year contract for its nen- professional employees, Lake- Lehman's school directors com- pleted bargaining efforts that cen- ) » tinued for nearly nine months. Dr. Gilbert Tough announced that the new package contains provi- sions for a $1.15 per hour in- crease over a four year period.; In addition to wage increase the new contract provides for a major medi- cal coverage increase form $50,000 to $100,000, life instir- ance increase from $15,000: to 0 $17,000 and the additional of one emergency day off with pay. | Customers of Commonwealth Telephone Co. will have at least a 6-month reprieve before they find an increase in the cost of their basic local telephone service. Pe- titions was filed with the Public Utilities Commission by Commn- wealth seeking approval of the rate increase was suspended by the PUC pending a 6-month jin- vestigation of the company’ 8 Fate ) request. Ll] Federal Officials Representative Paul E. Kanjorski (PA 11th District) (D) Wilkes-Barre: 825-2200 Washington: (202) 225-6511 10 E. South St., Wilkes-Barre PA 18701-2397 : or 2429 Rayburn Building Washington, DC 20515 LEGISLATORS DIRECTORY Senator Arlen Specter (R) Wilkes-Barre: 826-6265 Washington: (202) 224-4254 116 S. Main S., Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 oe Senator Rick Santorum (R) 120 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 | Washington: (202) 224-6324 0 Fax: (202) 228-4991 { 1 POET |
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers