4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, January 12, 2000 EDITORIALS | There's nothing to fear in standing up for our rights Some people in Jackson Township are very concerned about expansion of the quarry being mined by American Asphalt ‘Paving Co. They're concerned about the noise and possible damage to their homes from blasting. They're concerned about property values should the company mine closer to their ‘homes. They're concerned about the safety of kids who might play in the woods around the mining areas, and — being children — perhaps get hurt in a thoughtless moment. All their concerns are valid, but along with them, they have developed an irrational fear of unnamed retribution should they actually stand up and express their opinions. That misguided fear, and not their concerns, may be the deciding factor in how the township handles a dispute over American Asphalt’s mining operation, which by all logic has spilled beyond its proper boundaries. Up to this point, the township has offered half-hearted resistance to a zoning appeal filed nearly 20 years ago by American Asphalt, in which the com- pany contends a 1976 meeting was not properly advertised, and therefore a zoning change from mining to agriculture never took place. If Jackson Township is suddenly to grow some real backbone in this matter, it must be prodded by a substantial number of taxpayers who are willing to step out of the shadows and not only express their views, but make certain the super- visors know they will pursue their interests as vigorously as American Asphalt has pursued its own. So far, the jury is out on whether that will happen Thursday, when the supervisors hold a public hearing on the issue. While activists say more than 400 people have signed petitions against the mining, few of them have been willing to speak publicly about their opposition. Some even declined to talk to a Post reporter for the article in this week's issue, citing fear of retribution. : We can’t imagine what anyone would think could happen to them because they exercised their democratic rights. But we know exactly what will happen if they don’t — more powerful forces will always prevail when they know the opposition is weak and frightened. And all for no good reason. Publisher's notebook ' Here we go again; I'm thoroughly confused by the furor over - 6-year-old Elian Gonzalez. It's not that I don’t know in my own mind what is the best resolution when a child's mother drowns while trying to float from Cuba to the U.S. That's something I've thought long and hard about for years. What's baffling is the reaction of many people in the States. You see, I thought conservative Republicans were all for “family values;” you know, moms who stay at home and dads who police racy television shows. They've been telling us for years the govern- ment should let people, not Congress, make decisions about their lives, and for the most part I would agree. Then this little kid washes up on a Florida beach, and suddenly they're spouting off about his “rights.” Even my own 13-year-old daughter, after years of brainwashing by her parents, says, “He doesn’t have any rights, he’s only 6.” Senator and presidential candidate John McCain has been : as vocal as anyone in claiming we should rescue this child from ~ the evil Castro so he can grow up free to make campaign contributions. But then the question becomes, should we encourage, or even aid children who want to run away from ~ other nations to make their way to America? If the answer is yes, I think we can go a step further, and urge children in poor Democrat families to run away to rich Republican households, where they can be adopted and not be forced to grow up in modest homes, making do with 20-inch televisions and used Ford Taurus wagons. After all, those kids have as much right to be well-off as the fortunate ones who were born into affluence. I can see it now, children running willy-nilly from family to family in search of a better life, their quest sanctioned by the party that promised to “get government off our backs.” I guess this is an example of what often happens when “principles” meet politics. Bureaucrats, in this case the immi- gration folks, come out looking better than on-the-make poli- ~ ticians, who never dreamed they'd be backed in to staking out a position against the legitimate rights of a parent simply because he lives in a nation some rabid supporters love to hate. Your news is welcome The Dallas Post welcomes submissions about Back Mountain people and events. In order to plan each issue, we must adhere to self- imposed deadlines, as well as those of our printer. To have the greatest likelihood of publication, items should be received at our office by 4 p.m. the Friday prior to each issue. Items will be accepted until 4 p.m. Mondays, although much of the paper is already assembled by that time. Send or bring items to: The Dallas Post, 607 Main Road, P.O. Box 366, Dallas, PA 18612. Our normal business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. A deposit box is located at the front of the building for after-hours submissions. The Dallas Post Published Weekly By Bartsen Media, Inc. P.O. Box 366, Dallas PA 18612 570-675-5211 Ronald A. Bartizek Charlotte E. Bartizek PUBLISHER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER OFFICE MANAGER Gregory Culver ~ ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC Kasia McDonough < REPORTER Ruth Proietto PRODUCTION MANAGER Joanna Cease OFFICE/TYPIST/CLASSIFIEDS PRINTED WITH PENNSYLVANIA | SOY INK = Member NEWSPAPER Te Cacti, close up and personal. Ouch! Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. LETTERS Death penalty inconsistent with justice Dear Editor, They say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” During the Viet- nam War a photograph was taken of a soldier holding a gun to the head of a prisoner with hands tied behind his back and shooting him. The picture made international news. That picture caused many to pause and reflect. Last year before Easter, Presi- dent Clinton said, “It is wrong to kill a defenseless human being,” and was willing to commit our troops to defend this belief in Kosovo. Our nation is a leader in most areas of human rights with the exception of capital punishment. The United Nations and most of the world is now pointing the fin- ger at the United States saying we do not practice what we preach. Was it necessary to kill Karla Fay Tucker? Was she not a changed, rehabilitated, defense- less human being? Some people quote the Bible and say, “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.” The Jubilee of our Lord's birth calls us “to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives, recovery of sight to the blind and release to prisoners.” (Luke 4:18) 1 believe we must protect our society and incarcer- ate criminals, but do we have to kill in the name of justice? Karla Fay Tucker was making a differ- ence where she lived. Her incar- ceration story was one of conver- sion where she was helping to make a better world in prison for herself and others. Prison was her home and her workplace. Here she recognized her mistake, re- pented, and developed an ethic of charity and service. The new millennium is a call to jubilee justice. Itis a clear call to give people an opportunity to start anew. The Jubilee year is an invitation for people of all nations to view themselves with the eyes of God their creator. God de- clared that all created “was good”. All that we are and all that we do must reflect this goodness inher- ent in all of humanity. With that spirit of goodness we must believe we can work together for justice, mercy, love and peace. We must believe that we as a nation can change our minds and our hearts! Let us stop the violence and eradi- cate the death penalty! God is counting on us! We can make a difference! Simon Borys Hunlock Creek If SPCA goofed, you get free pet photo Editor, For many the Y2K bug never became visible as we all celebrated the beginning of a new millen- nium. However, for the the sev- eral thousand households who anticipated receiving this years Christmas appeal card from the SPCA of Luzerne County, some felt the Y2K bug had struck. An undetermined number of SPCA members received a Valen- tine card instead of a Christmas card this holiday season. Imag- ine their surprise! Well, for all those who received a Valentine card for Christmas if you bring that Valentine to the SPCA of Luzerne County, 524 E. Main Street, Plains Twp., by January 31, you will receive a certificate for a FREE pet portrait courtesy of Dominique’s Rygiel Studio of Wyoming. This millennium thank you is for support of the services pro- vided by the SPCA and to those who not only opened their hearts, but their homes, by adopting a homeless pet. To find out more about adoptable pets you can log onto the SPCA website PETS ON BOARD.COM or our newly estab- lished information website http: / /znap.to/SPCA. Edward Gross Director of Development SPCA of Luzerne County LEGISLATORS DIRECTORY Federal Officials Representative Paul E. Kanjorski (Democrat) Wilkes-Barre: 825-2200 Washington: (202) 225-6511 e-mail: paul.kanjorski@hr.house.gov # 400M, 7 N. Wilkes-Barre Blvd., Wilkes- Barre PA 18702 or 2353 Rayburn Building, Washington, DC 20515 Senator Arlen Specter (Republican) Wilkes-Barre: 826-6265 Washington: (202) 224-4254 e-mail: senator_specter @ specter.senate.gov 116 South Main Street, Wilkes-Barre PA 18701 or 711 Hart Senate Office Bldg., Washington, DC 20510 A Senator Rick Santorum (Republican) Scranton: 344-8799 Washington: (202) 224-6324 Fax: (202) 228-4991 e-mail: senator @ santorum.senate.gov 527 Linden St., Scranton, PA 18503 120 Russell Senate Office Bldg. Washington, DC 20510 State Officials State Senator Charles D. Lemmond (Republican) (717) 675-3931 e-mail: smurphy @pasen.gov 22 Dallas Shopping Ctr., Memorial Hwy., Dallas PA 18612-1231 State Representative George Hasay (Republican) 287-7505 or 542-7345 or 474-2276 or 477-3752 144 North Mountain Boulevard, Mountaintop PA 18707 Hasay'’s district encompasses: Harveys Lake, Lehman Township, Jackson Township, Lake Township, Franklin Township, Ross Township, and Dallas Township's north voting district. State Representative Phyllis Mundy (Democrat) 283-9622 or 655-3375 Suite 113, 400 Third Avenue, Kingston PA 18704 Mundy’s district encompasses: Dallas Borough, Dallas Township except for the north voting district, and Kingston Township. ONLY | q YESTERDAY a 70 Years Ago - Jan. 10, 1930 NEW FEED COMPANIES MOVING TO BACK MOUNTAIN@® § Definite arrangements have been made for the establishment | of two large flour and feed compa- nies in Dallas and its vicinity. It was announced this week that A.C. Devens, progressive flour and feed dealer of Kunkle, has pur- chased the Dallas Lumber Com- pany buildings and will establish a modern flour and feed basher a 4 here: Brown & Fassett of Tunkhannock, for years one of the oldest and most reliable feed companies in northeastern Penn- sylvania, have already started \ operations on their new plant to be located opposite the GlenView Coal Company yards in Fernbrook. 60 Years Ago - Jan. 12, 1940 @ | § LEHMAN DOC RECEIVES SERVICE CERTIFICATE The Distinguished Service Cer- tificate of the State Department of the American Legion, the highest honor conferred upon non-Legion- naires, was awarded to Dr. Harry A. Brown of Lehman, last night. ! The certificate was presented by 9 4 Senator Robert M. Miller of Kingston, a member of Black Dia- mond Post 395, American Legion. The unique certificate he received is owned by only a few. The award is made only after careful study and must be approved by the State Department. Dr. Brown was cho- sen for the award because during 34 years of practice in Lehman, he has quietly personified the highest ideals of his profession. 2) Most of his countless kind deeds and sympathetic gestures have been cloaked in his own modesty, but the files of the committee which nominated him above other candidates for the award, are filled with the evidence of his humanity and generosity. 50 Years Ago - Jan. 13, 1950 LEHMAN STUDENTS WINS PRIZE AT STATE FARM SHOW “Tips for Shoppers”, a radio script written and recorded by Future Homemakers, under the direction of Miss Ruth Shallhamer, Home Economics Instructor, won second place in State competition for Lehman High School at the State Farm Show this week. You could get: Palmolive soap, 2 bars for 21¢; Ajax. 2 can for 23; Peter Pan peanut butter, 120zjar, 34¢; Beach Nut baby food, 6 jars for 57¢. 40 Years Ago - Jan. 14, 1960 BMT HOMEMAKERS TO HOLD COOKING CLASSES Women who want tolearn about party sandwiches, hors d'oevres, canapes, cake decoration, flam- ing desserts and other fine points of the ancient art of cooking, will find exactly what they are looking for at the next session of Back Mountain Home Makers Holiday, which starts at the ShavertownY. on Center Street, Tuesday morn- ing at 10. 30 Years Ago - Jan. 14, 1970 CARELESSNESS CAUSES MOST BLAZES SAYS FIRE CO. Carelessness headed the list of fire calls answered by the Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Company, Dallas, in 1969, according to a spokesman for the organization. According to the volunteer fire company's annual report, there were 98 calls in 1969, of which 55 were grass and brush fires, most of them caused by carelessness. Of the 571 man hours put in on fire calls, 219 went to battling grass and brush fires. 20 Years Ago - Jan. 10, 1980 MISERICORDIA OFFERING WINE AND CHEESE COURSE College Misericordia’s Depart- ment of Continuing Education has announced a Spring Semester course that everyone can pass with honors. On Jan. 30, for one evening only, the college will offer a class in wine and cheese tast- ing. Billed as "an evening of wine and cheese,” the class will enable its participants to taste some of the world’s most popular and ex- otic cheeses. Complimentary wine will be served. : 9 @ vg 2 x
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers