| & UN ¢C © Vol. 109 No. 9 The Quick and the Dead Cemetery association, Scout work to preserve history By MEIRA ZUCKER Post Correspondent TRUCKSVILLE - It has been ‘said that to care for the dead is an act of truthful and pure loving kindness, because there cannot . possibly be any ulterior motive — the dead person can never repay the debt. A group of dedicated people in Trucksville know that to be true. Most people driving by the “Little White Church on the Hill,” the Trucksville United Methodist Church, believe the cemeteries on either side and behind it are part of the church. But they are not. They are selflessly maintained and survive thanks to the work of a group of dedicated volunteers. “My father’s grandfather, Jacob Rice, donated the land for the church and the cemetery,” re- counts Margaret Goodwin, presi- dent of the Cedar-Crest Trucks- ville Cemetery Association. He, and many of her family, are bur- ied there. “I have a personal stake,” she adds. But time and poor manage- ment had left the cemetery ne- glected. The 150-year-old maples and oaks became hollow and started falling. Headstones, sunk so that only the uppermost names can be seen, had weathered smooth. Noble monuments had broken. Vandals tore down street R.J. Barna stood among the grave markers at the Cedar-Crest Trucksville Cemetery. He is working to complete a map of all the grave sites and clean up the cemetery, which is located around the Trucksville United Methodist Church, but is not owned or maintained by the church. He is standing by a grave marker for signs. “In 1972, 1 got a group going," reports Goodwin. “We've bought new equipment and really cleaned it up.” The cem- etery has a trust that provides a small income for the committee, but that is not enough to cover all of the expenses to maintain the site. That's why the work of volunteers is needed. “The cemetery started in 1844. On the right is the old Trucksville Cem- etery;” says Nancy McDonald, secretary of the committee. “On the left and behind is the William Perrego, who died Sept. 2, 1864 at the Andersonville prison. The marker is ceremonial, Perrego's body is not buried in the cemetery and is probably at Andersonville. Below, grave markers for one of the church's early pastors, J.P. Rice, and his wife Sally Ann. 9, Cedar-Crest Cemetery.’ Many long-standing fam- ily names — Rices, Schooleys, Howells — are represented. “Over 750 people are buried here,” reports McDonald. Interest in family trees and the Back Mountain's history have been strong incentives for maintain- ing the cemetery. “We got a call last week from Wis- consin from people look- ing for their relatives. We get a lot of calls from people when they're do- ing their family trees,” says Goodwin. But the old stones can’'tberead clearly. Sev- POST PHOTO/RON BARTIZEK eral have long epitaphs and detailed information that would interest many today. Multiple fires have destroyed old church records. That's where the work of R.J. (Robert Jason) Barna, of Dallas, comes in. R.J., who is 15 and a stu- dent at Bishop O'Reilly High School, is working towards Eagle Scout and has under- taken the daunting task of or- ganizing the cemetery’s records. Barna is creating a detailed map and catalog of all of the burial sites in the cem- etery. “It’s a lot of work, but I feel See CEMETERY, pg 8 By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Post Staff DALLAS - The Dallas School District may be positioning itself into a stronger purchasing posi- tion in'the health care insurance market. The district is beginning pre- liminary talks that could lead to formation of a Health Care Trust. The trust is essentially a self- insured medical plan, in which the 12 districts in the Intermedi- Zoning board will rule on park construction By KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER Post Staff ate Unit 19, West Side Vocational Technical and Wilkes-Barre Tech- nical would have control of a hefty joint premium. Al Malone, acting business manager of the district, shared his knowledge of the trust with the board at Monday's school board meeting. Malone said such a large group would have pur- chasing power when buying in- surance from Blue Cross/Blue Shield or other insurers. “Hope- fully, therein lie the savings,” he said. Malone said area superinten- dents, including Dallas’s Gil Griffiths, met and put the idea together based on the movements by unions. “The unions are will- ing to explore this idea with the district,” said Malone. The trust would hire and con- tract Blue Cross/Blue Shield, but would maintain control of the pre- mium. “Blue Cross/Blue Shield is ac- tively participating. They are will- ing to administer the plan and allow the trust the same fee sched- ule,” said Malone. Griffiths told the board the trust would be one of the largest in northeastern Pennsylvania. He said a January startup date is possible. Also at the meeting, Mark Kraynak, superintendent of build- ings and grounds, received board approval to dump dirt from up- coming construction projects on school property. The estimated LEHMAN TWP. - The Lehman Town- ship zoning board must decide whether or not the zoning officer made a mistake when issuing a building permit to Dan Cornell, owner of Pikes Creek Park. Atty. Mark McNealis says a mistake was made because setback and screening requirements set by the township zoning ordinance were not met on the final build- ing plan. McNealis and Janet Bacceria, his client, ultimately want the entertain- ment park torn down. Cornell and Atty. Bill Higgs claim the ordinance is written in an unclear manner that misdirected Cornell, his developers | See PARK, pg 8 POST PHOTO/KYLIE SHAFFERKOETTER A new amusement park at the corner of Rt. 118 and Cornell Road may have been built with improper setbacks. The Lehman Twp. Zoning Board will decide at a meeting March 26 if the zoning officer improperly granted a permit for the park. School district could save money with joint insurance purchases 900 tri-axle truckloads of dirt will be dumped in front of the existing soccer field near the Dallas El- ementary School. Kraynak said the fill would be leveled out as it was dumped. Other areas he designated for dumping are behind the middle school, behind the tennis courts and alongside the football field. He said the decision will save the district money by not having to haul the dirt somewhere else. 50¢ . March 4 thru March 10, 1998 Woman begs for help ridding yard of noisy cats By JESSICA APPOLO Post Staff JACKSON TWP. - Emotions were running high at Monday night's Jackson Township meet- ing, which seemed to attract many complaints stemming from the usual business of American As- phalt to the very “unusual” busi- ness of cats. (Not the record run- ning Broadway hit.) Gloria Repotski of 252 Briarwood Drive, Shavertown, captured all eyes and ears when she broke down in tears and begged for help in ridding her yard of pesty neighborhood cats. “I can’t'take it anymore,” Repotski said. “All I want is peace at night.” Besides the constant meowing beneath her windows, “the cats are killing rabbits from the yard and digging holes in the land- scaping,” said Repotski. : I can’t take it an more. All 1 want i An ongoing problem since April of last year, Repotski begged po- lice to again warn pet owners neighboring her. ChiefJones and supervisors suggested Repotski try contacting her neighbors, and the S.P.C.A. Repotski agreed to try the sug- gestions but warned that an unli- censed animal should not be al- lowed roam. freely. Ironically, Repotski said she owns four dogs and takes great pride in the fact that they are not anuisance to her neighbors. Chief Donald Jones issued an- other seemingly simple request for one of his officers. Part-time officer Stabeda was overlooked last year when winter police jack- ets were ordered for new and offic- ers. Stabeda has been requesting a winter jacket ever since and still has yet to receive one. Stabeda even came to the Jackson Town- ship meeting several months ago to appear before board members on his own behalf to request a jacket. It seems the money alotted for uniforms was used and the bud- get doesn’t have funds for a winter jacket for Stabeda, who averages about 32 hours a week working for the Jackson Township Police Department. “We always give him one of our coats when he responds to our calls,” said Bernice Manzoni, an E.M.T. for the Jackson Township Ambulance crew. HB ‘The Cat' visits ‘The Cat in the Hat' paid a visit to Dallas Elementary School for Read Across America day. Pg 3. HM Senior lifestyle New Post feature, on page 7. 14 Pages, 2 Sections Calendar... ovis, 14 Classified............. 12-13 Crossword................ 14 Editorials. .......... ....... 4 Obituaries. ..........c.e. 10 SCHOOL... is.iibivaniint 11 S0orS. oii. 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. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612-0366
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