|
§
Va
Nerd
4
Newspaper Since 1889
"The Dallas Post
50 cents
EINE Ils | =NO{G1\V VISIR =H OI =i Eo = BY HN Ato A WEEN SCHOOL DISTRICTS
December 13 thru December 19, 2000
Vol. 111 No. 50
Sheetz plan
takes first
step forward
By ELIZABETH SKRAPITS
Post staff
KINGSTON TWP. - The preliminary
subdivision application for the proposed
Sheetz gas station/convenience store in
the Pendragon Center at 163 S. Memorial
Hwy., Trucksville, was approved by the
Kingston Twp. Planning Commission,
despite the mislabeling of the application
as a minor subdivision when it is actually
a major subdivision. The subdivision
application would divide George Isaacs’s
Pendragon development into three lots,
one leased by Grange Bank, one leased
by Sheetz, and one by Verizon.
Only a scattering of residents and con-
cerned parties showed up at the planning
commission meeting on Dec. 5, and they
were surprisingly quiet. Residents have
been voicing concerns that a Sheetz will
cause an increase in traffic along Rt. 309;
that the area is becoming too built-up
and some sort of check needs to be put on
growth; and the noise and lighting will
create annoyances.
Seven Sheetz representatives were
present, including Mike LaCesa, Director
See SHEETZ, pg 12
Dallas School
District seeks
input online
By ELIZABETH SKRAPITS
Post staff
DALLAS - Dallas School District would
like district residents to take a minute to
fill out its Community Survey — but don’t
wait for it to arrive in the mail.
All school districts in Pennsylvania are
required to submit a strategic plan, which
is an overall plan to assess its needs and
determine whether changes or improve-
ments need to be made. The Dallas School
District has opted to use an online survey
service to gather feedback from parents
and the community to assist in putting
together its strategic plan.
The district will use four main surveys:
the first was the Parent Survey, which
was also online; the Community Survey
is the second. There will also be surveys
for students and teachers, but these are
going to be internal and not posted on the
Internet.
Why do a survey online? “It allows us
See SURVEY, pg 7
Middle school
renovations
priced at
$18 million
By ELIZABETH SKRAPITS
Post Staff
DALLAS - Plans for renovations to the
Dallas Middle School are starting to take
shape. The architectural firm of Fore-
man, Burcavage will be submitting its
preliminary land-development plan to the
Dallas School Board on Dec. 22 for the
January meeting.
According to Walter Tack, Pre-Con-
struction Manager for Reynolds Construc-
tion, the new estimates of total construc-
tion costs for the Middle School project
are $14,381,712; total project costs will
be $18,079,712. “The new construction
is a little more than you'd normally see
because of the natatorium,” Tack said,
but in general he believes the costs are
fairly typical and not excessive.
Tack said the middle school will in-
clude five new classrooms and a televi
See MIDDLE SCHOOL, pg 3
Dallas, Pennsylvania
Who let that dog out?
Christopher Colacito, left, kept a wary eye on his fellow puppy, played by Jimmy Caffrey, as the two prepared for the annual
kindergarten and first grade Christmas play at Gate of Heaven School. More photos on page 8.
PTO plans new playground for Dallas Elementary
By M.B. GILLIGAN
Post Correspondent
school district maintenance department
spent a lot of time sanding, repairing and
DALLAS - Plans are underway to re-
place the wooden Playsyound § structure
at the Dallas El-
ementary School
with a new modular
system according to
Dr. Gilbert Griffiths,
Superintendent of
the Dallas School
District.
"The wooden
structure was
erected in 1988 and
has had a very good
run," Griffiths told
members of the Dal-
las Elementary PTO
at a recent meeting.
"However, the struc-
ture is deteriorating
and there are a lot of
reports of splinters,
bumps and bruises
due to this. The
refinishing the structure over the sum-
mer for use this year but it is more
feasible to spend the money to replace
POST PHOTO/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK
the whole structure."
The Dallas PTO was approached last
year by Dr. Griffiths to help in a fund-
: See PLAYGROUND, pg 3
An illustration provided by George Ely Associates shows a playground
like the one being considered for Dallas Elementary School.
2 hurt in 4-car crash
A four-car accident Monday afternoon
sent two people to the hospital and tied
up the intersection of Routes 309 and
415. According to a press release from
the Dallas Borough Police Dept.,
George Laczko, Shavertown, was
approaching the intesection on Rt. 309
South when he drove over the median
and struck a car driven by Leo
Russavage of Tunkhannock. Laczko's
car then hit a back corner of a Dodge
Aries station wagon driven by Stanley
Kabara of Swoyersville, causing
Kabara's car to overturn into the path of
a 2001 Toyota Celica driven by Jesse
Wasserman of Tunkhannock.
Laczko was taken to Geisinger
Wyoming Valley Hospital and Kabara
was taken to Wilkes-Barre General
Hospital. All the other people were not
injured.
POST PHOTO/RON BARTIZEK
Chief Miers
will step down
after 31 years
A Career law enforcement
officer to retire in March
By SANDY PEOPLES
Post Correspondent
DALLAS TWP. - Carl Miers, Chief of
the Dallas Township Police Department,
has notified the Board of Supervisors
that he will retire in March 2001 after 31
years of service to law enforcement in the
township.
A third generation peace officer, Miers
began his career as a patrolman in 1969.
He became the Chiefin 1974 at the age of
29. He also served in the Pennsylvania
National Guard for 26 years, retiring in
1991. He has two
brothers who are in
law enforcement. One
is with the Pennsylva-
nia State Police and
the other is a patrol-
man with Dallas Town-
ship.
Asked why he is re-
tiring now, Chief Miers
said, “I have been here
for a long time. Be-
cause we are a small
department, the Chief is involved in daily
operations. I have come to believe that it
is a younger man’s job.”
Chief Miers has provided leadership
for many improvements over the years.
“When I first came on duty,” he said, “we
had no computers or typewriters. Re-
ports were done by hand. We used CB
radios. There was no mandatory train-
ing. Now we have computers, portable
radios, and six cars. The department
consists of nine full-time people, seven
part-time and three school-crossing
guards.”
Under Act 120, the federally funded
Safe Streets Act, all of the officers now
attend basic training and are prepared to
meet the demands of the job and the
needs of the public they serve. The next
phase of automation will include laptop
computers in the cars so that officers can
access state and national records when
making road stops or working on an
investigation.
“The supervisors have been very sup-
portive of the need to upgrade the depart-
ment which is well respected inside and
outside of the county,” Chief Miers said.
CARL MIERS
Dallas Township
Police Chief
See CHIEF MIERS, pg 8.
16 Pages, 2 Sections
Calendar...............i.s 16
Classified............. 14-15
Crossword........c....... 16
Editorials.................... 4
Obituaries........c.ireeess 2
School.....cc.ocivre- 11-13
SPOS .L...icio iin 9-10
CALL 675-5211
FOR HOME DELIVERY,
NEWS OR ADVERTISING
E-mail: dalpost@epix.net
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