OL Ta HN. Agisd J Pa, | Aa] ) ® » @ ¢ ® « © Vol. 110 No. 18 Officials: Middle school's a firetrap By KASIA McDONOUGH Post Staff LAKE-LEHMAN - Visitors who crowded into a stuffy modular classroom before touring the Middle Level Building were pre- sented a grim picture of decaying school that has become a poten- tial fire trap, has unsafe water running through corroding pipes and poor ventilation leading to substandard air quality. Convinced at the onset that his words would fall on deaf ears, the district architect, Douglas Trumbower led the group in-a discussion about state and fed- eral regulations which govern the structural condition of educa- tional facilities. “I'm sure about 80 percent of you will leave here saying ‘this is a bunch of bologna’ but the world we live in requires us to live by these rules and regu- lations,” said Trumbower. A feasibility study conducted by the Quad III Group, an engi- See MIDDLE SCHOOL, pg 8 Dallas, Pennsylvania The Dallas Post SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS & LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS Puppy love They're cute and cuddly, and the puppies are pretty nice too. From left, Kylie Donelly, Anna Haas, Emily Haas and Abigal Haas held four of a litter of 10 labrador retrievers owned by Deb Miller of Trucksville. The litter included seven black pups, two chocolate and one yellow. Sorry, only one black female was left when this issue went to press. POST PHOTOS/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Late to the ice, teen 1s cutting a striking figure When Kirby Richards skated on wood, Tara Lipinski was an opponent By MEIRA ZUCKER Post Correspondent DALLAS - It's never to late to try something new. Just ask Kirby Richards. This Dallas High School sopho- more was not fazed by the popular image’ of preadolescent ice skat- ers, practicing their childhoods away in the quest for an elusive Olympic medal. Supported by her parents and coach, she has al- ready begun her climb in the ice skating community, despite hav- ing only begunskating 11 months ago. Kirby won two silver medals at the Keystone Games in Mechanicsburg in February. As a result, she has been invited to the State Games of America, in St. Louis, in August. When Kirby was two years old her mother, Linda, took her roller skating at Rollaway. Her skates were stuffed with toilet paper to bulk up her tiny feet. By the time Kirby was three, however, she was flying around the rink by herself. Kirby initially became a com- petitive roller skater. She placed first at the Junior Olympics, and then sixth at Standard Nationals, another competition. One of her competitors was Tara Lipinski, wholater turned to Olym- picice skating. Kirby subsequently began gymnastics, and is cur- rently a cheerleader at Dallas High School. But something was missing. Kirby longed for individual com- medal.” Kirby Richards Dallas figure skater petition. She saw an advertise- ment for skating clinics at The Ice Box, and after one visit, was hooked. She begged her parents for private lessons. “She had a very natural ability on theice,” says her coach, Wendi Kelley, "Everything clicked.” Kelley, a coach for 19 years, be- lieves that Kirby's skill and disci- pline result from her years of roller skating. After just five months of prac- tice, Kirby entered the Chesapeake Open in Baltimore. There, she won a silver medal. Skaters are grouped by both age and ability in skating competitions. Classmates complain that Kirby is unavailable for other projects, because so much of her time is spent skating, but they have been very supportive. Kirby practices three days a week, and in the weeks before an event, may go every day. “She gives up a lot for this,” says Kelley. The Richards family recently returned from Buffalo, where Kirby competed in the Niagara Invitational. She earned three sec- ond places, after skating against skaters from Canada, North Caro- lina, and New York State. - Kirby Richards was captured in action on the ice at the Chesapeake Open in Baltimore. “It’s worth it,” says Kirby. “You come home with a medal.” The Richards family makes vacations out of each event. They spend free time sightseeing, and enjoy the time traveling together. “It’s prob- ably our only quality time,” says her mother, Linda, with a hearty laugh. At the State Games of America, See SKATER, pg 8 50 Cents May 5 thru May 11, 1999 Candidates invite more input from citizens By KASIA MCDONOUGH Post Staff LAKE-LEHMAN - Sometimes it's as simple as a handshake. That was the message delivered by Lake-Lehman School Board hopefuls last week. The candidates expressed a commitment to common courtesy and seemed united by the feeling that the current board has al- lowed animosity among members to distort the vision of what needs to be accomplished. “I think there is a lack of respect displayed at school board meetings. It's okay to disagree, that’s healthy, but we need to be able to work coopera- tively to improve our schools,” said Region 1 candidate Michelle Coombs. Several of the candidates sug- gested the board should extend the same courtesy to audience members who convene for monthly meetings, saying every- one would benefit from increased community involvement in dis- trict activities. “We have to be open-minded. There are a lot of good ideas out there that don’t get heard,” said Angelo DeCesaris; a Region 2 candidate. Lois Kopcha, an incumbent in Region 1 and Jeffrey Pauley, also a Region 1 candidate, were not present at the “Meet the Candi- dates Night” sponsored by the Lehman-Jackson PTO. Joseph Kapitula, who is the lone candi- date for the one seat available in Region 3, also did not attend the forum. None of the candidates who were present are members of the Lake-Lehman Taxpayer's Associa- tion but all expressed a willing- See CANDIDATES, pg 8 Cooper appointed Mayor By KASIA McDONOUGH Post Staff DALLAS - A new mayor has been named to fill the spot left vacant by the death of Paul LaBar. Following a moment -of silence in honor of the former leader, borough council members ac- cepted the nomination of Donald S. Cooper Jr. for mayor. The 61- year-old, who works full time as a sales representative at a medical supplies company, was promptly sworn into the new post upon his resignation from council. The new mayor moved to Dal- las with his wife, the former Yoko Nishi, in 1977. Their son, Daniel, who teaches in the Philadelphia School District, is a graduate of Dallas High School. Cooper credits his son’s par- ticipation on area sports teams with inspiring him to become an active member of the community. “My interest in local government grew out of my association with Little League and wrestling,” he See MAYOR, pg 2 BH Madeline pays a visit to the Back Mountain Library. Pg 3. HB Even-steven For the second time this season, the Dallas and Lehman girls soccer teams played to a scoreless tie. Sports page. 14 Pages, 2 Sections Calendar..............i... 14 Classified............ 12-13 Crossword................ 14 Editorials.........c.cqesines 4 Obituarias........ivi... 12 School. .....iiaiidn. 11 SPOS... a. 40 9-10 CALL 675-5211 FOR HOME DELIVERY, NEWS OR ADVERTISING E-mail: dalpost@aol.com 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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