4 Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, February 14, 2001 Hearts are in right place, should money go there too? While local pastors agree their churches have the potential to do much good in the fight against poverty, homelessness and social dysfunction, they also cast a wary eye at President George Bush's “faith-based initiatives,” under which public money would be given to private - often religious - organiza- tions. The President feels that local churches can make gov- ernment programs more effective because they understand the people they're dealing with and enjoy freedom from the seemingly inevitable bureaucracy that comes attached to fed- eral checks. This makes sense in principle, at least at first glance. But even most potential recipients recognize that taxpayers will demand accountability for their money, no matter who it's going to, and paperwork will be part of the bargain. Others caution that funding provided to local groups should repre- sent an increase in the effort to combat our nation’s ills, not simply a redistribution from Washington to Hometown, USA in the hope of stretching precious dollars. Concerns about more nefarious obstacles, such as sham churches and organizations set up just to pick the public pocket are not at issue here, although there's no doubt some operators are already laying plans to profit from others’ good will. The President should be given a chance to fill in the outline he has presented. He must also describe clearly how his pro- gram will keep church and state apart, so that neither is tainted by the other’s doctrine. Publisher’s Notebook It seems every time you turn around lately, there's an all- star game of one sort or another going on. Football's Pro Bowl and the National Hockey League game were played just a couple of weeks ago, and last weekend was the National Basketball Association’s overhyped slam dunk contest. Oh, there was one of those too. If you want to be real picky - and I do - the first round of the Davis Cup in tennis was played last week as well, and the U.S. lost to . . . Switzerland? I suppose there's a place for these annual celebrations of overpaid bubbleheads, criminals and miscreants who hap- pen to be able to dribble, shoot or hit a ball better than most folks. (Tennis is the exception, since the best American play- ers can't be bothered to show up when nothing more impor- tant than their country’s honor is at stake, and most players have neither a police record nor more than four visible tat- toos.) As long as tickets and ads can be sold, I have no doubt these meaningless extravaganzas will continue. Meanwhile, real heros and heroines must struggle in anonymity, know- ing that good works are their own reward. Until now. I'm go- ing to hand out some real all-star nominations so deserving individuals and organizations don’t go unnoticed. They may not be the biggest names, but they're important nonetheless. Let's start with a generality, and congratulate all the vol- unteer firemen (and firewomen) and ambulance personnel who tirelessly serve our communities in virtual anonymity. Sure, the chief gets his name in the paper now and then, but other than that, I'll bet most of us couldn't name two of the people who may show up at our door one day to save our home or our life. There are plenty more local stars, such as Christine Kop- cho, advisor to the JETS science and math team at Lake- Lehman High School. The team recently place first in its divi- sion, adding luster to the school’s reputation. Sharon and Rudy Kranys would be on anybody's all-star list if the voters had any idea how much they added to the beauty the area near their Lakeside Drive property at Har- veys Lake. They're not alone in applying high standards to the place they live, which encourages others to do the same. These people and many more could fill an arena, and well they should, but not as spectators. If they had any sense of how the world really works, those overprivileged, underdevel- oped professional athletes and their hangers on would cheer this kind of audience, and not the other way around. The Dallas Post TIMESeLEADER unity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DALL A 18612 » 570-675-5211 Julie Imel Elizabeth Skrapits EDITOR REPORTER Ken Brocious Ruth Proietto ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. Produciton Manager Ron and Charlotte Bartizek PUBLISHERS EMERITUS Stephen Peterson PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER 1-800-427-8649 Snowy shadows. Photo by Jim Phillips. LETTERS Fond recollections of Back Mountain boyhood Editor, I have just now received a copy of the Dallas Post dated August 18 thru August 24, 1999. On the front page you have done an article on the Back Mountain Little League of which I was part. The memories of growing up on the farm and playng ball with all of these guys were vividly brought to the sur- face after not thinking about them for many, many years. Our farm was approximately five minutes from the three Stein- hauers, Bobby Phillips and Roger Bellas. My mom and dad JETS Hilsher From Webster's Unabridged: “Pin’-up” designates a person whose sexual attractiveness makes her or him a suitable subject for the kind of picture often pinned to walls. In the early forties when America was gearing up to fight World War II, pin-ups were all the rage. One of the foremost pin-up producers was George Petty, whose leggy air-brushed beauties were found in ES- QUIRE magazines 1 gatefold, where they became known as “Petty Girls.” During my basic training in Virginia our barracks dayroom wall featured an original Petty drawing signed by George and dedicated to our battalion and its first sergeant, whose name was also Petty! But little did I know that Petty’s stuff was small potatoes compared to the most famous and popular pin- up of all time - Miss Betty Grable, Hollywood star in her white bathing suit and high heels, back to the camera, peer- ing saucily over her right shoul- der, and oh my, those gams! (Webster again: “Gam,” a wom- an’s shapely leg.) Hundreds of millions of copies of that photo were circulated throughout the world. Many used to pick up all five of them and head off to the park two or three times a week. I guess sports and a strong desire to be a winner was in- stilled in me by Frank Heming- way, Paul Steinhauer, Bucky Clemow and of course my par- ents. I joined . the. Professional Bowlers Association in 1964 and have had a very long and re- warding carreer, traveling the world several times. Meeting kings, queens, ambassadors, emperors, presidents (I bowled in the White House with Nixon) and just about anyone that was important at the time. But, no memories are charished as much as the years of growing up on the farm and baseball in the Back Mountain Little League. I still have the same photos in my old scrapbook as Roger has sit- ting on his table in the front page photo. Once again, my heartfelt thank you for dredging up some terrific memories of some terrific boyhood times. Dave Davis The lowdown about the world’s most-famous pin-up were found even with Jap and German soldiers. It became a symbol of home, of patriotism. One private said, “This is what we are fighting for!” Grable was a refreshing change from female stars of that day, Bette Davis, for example, who could never have been the idol of a million servicemen. The Grable peaches and cream even won out over that LIFE maga- zine spread of Rita Hayworth in a black negligee. Now with her pin-up so fondly remembered by seniors I hate to bust their bubble. But bust I must or there would be no col- umn. First, the reason our Betty had her back to the camera was because she was preggie. Wait! There’s more. This icon of chastity and sweet wholesome- ness who was pushed into be- coming the highest paid star in Hollywood was dating actor George Raft when she was only 15! Raft, at 36, was that suave and menacing portrayer of gang- sters who had an unsavory rep- utation; he was attracted to Gable but soon gave up, saying, “I'm giving her back until she grows up.” Grow up she did. At 18, with 20 films behind her, she mar- ried former child star Jackie Coogan. Big mistake. Coogan drank and was unfaithful. Betty then showed up in divorce court escorted by bandleader Artie Shaw, who then eloped to Las Vegas with Lana Turner. Grable sobbed, “Who does that S.O.B. think he is?” A mazing? And we aren't even up to Tyrone Power or Howard Hughes! But as we Hollywood gossip reporters say, “Let's cut to the chase.” Next came Harry James, jazz trumpeter and bandleader and her final answer. James left Benny Goodman to form his own band and was immensely successful.But he also drank, gambled and strayed. What else was new? The marriage ended. Is there a moral here some- where? Could it be that things are seldom what they seem? Certainly America’s Sweetheart was far from what she seemed. Placed on a two-drink per day maximum by her doctor she soon exceeded that level by mid- morning. The book I am indebt- ed to for these insights is titled “The Tragedy of Betty Grable” and it was surely that. However there are some things which were exactly what they seemed to be, like these statistics released by the Fox studio publicity department: Miss Grable’s legs, “one of the most treasured assets of Ameri- ca” were insured by Lloyd's of London for $1 million. They measured 7 inches at the ankles 12 1/2 inches at the calf, with 18 1/2-inch thighs, and a size 5 shoe. Her figure measured 34- 23-35. Betty Grable left her fans in 1973 at age 56, her 70-pound frame riddled with cancer. She left a note reading, “Sorry, there’s nothing more.” A subscription to The Dallas Post makes a great gift. ONLY YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - Feb. 13. 1931 AMERICAN STORES CHOOSE THE POST 9 The Dallas Post welcomes the @ | L appearance of American Stores Co. advertising as a regular weekly feature of its columns. The American Stores Company is one of the leaders in the movement to pass savings made in lowering commodity prices on directly to its customers. Re- cently this organization celebrat- ed its 40th anniversary as a val- ue giving food establishment of the East. Starting in a small way, as So many great American institutions have started, the American Stores Co., has grown to a place where it is now an in- dispensable factor in the lives of millions of families throughout the Eastern United States. Mr. and Mrs. Fred Kunkle, residents of Kunkle, received a package of the famous Columbia River smelts from relatives at Kelso, Washington. Kelso, which is the chief shipping point for this delicious little fish, is on the Cowlitz River. The smelt is a salt water fish coming up the Colum- bia River 50 miles from the ocean and entering the Cowlitz, their main spawning ground and other smaller rivers that empty into the Columbia. More than 400 people attend- ed dedication exercises in the Beaumont high school auditori- um. The seating space was all filled and many had to stand. An especially impressive sight was when the 220 pupils of Monroe township occupied the platform, saluted the flag and sang “Amer- ica.” The principal brought out the point that the educational future of Monroe township is very promising . Supt. John E. Morgan in his dedicatory ad- dress, said that at one time the best crops in Monroe township were potatoes and buckwheat, but at the present time the township’s best crop is its boys and girls. 60 Years Ago - Feb. 14, 1941 ST. VALENTINE HAS BEEN GOOD TO THIS COUPLE A chubby pink Valentine, their first great-grandchild, arrived to extend greetings and wish Mr. and Mrs. John Crispell of Lawn Street, Shavertown a happy 57th wedding anniversary today. Mr. and Mrs. Crispell were married at Outlet, Lake Township on a stormy St. Valentines Day in ® 1884. The young couple built » their first home in a clearing made by the husband in his own 23 acres of forest land, which he was later to farm for the greater part of his life. They have two children, Ray of Lehman and Mrs Kenneth Stevens of Broad- way and five grandchildren. Next to that wedding day 57 years ago one of their happiest Valen- ® tines came last night when their grandson Russell Holmes tele- phoned that a great grandson had arrived at Mercy Hospital to wish them many more. Dallas High School Band made $230 at its winter concert to help the young musicians raise funds for uniforms, instru- ments and music. While the amount cleared was greater than anticipated it is not suffi- cient to meet the needs of a . young and growing organization, so parents voted to appoint a committee to investigate costs of materials for vests, which they may cut out and make them- selves for the band. Vests for the twirlers were made and received with much favorable comment. Eddie Wallo, Dallas amateur boxer, lost the decision in his third encounter with Donald Setzer, Mildred, this week at the CYO boxing tourney at St. Stephens Hall, Plymouth. Three weeks ago Setzer defeated Wallo. Last week Wallo came back in a second encounter and won. This week Setzer asked for a return bout. 50 Years Ago - Feb. 16, 1951 CHURCH LEAGUE PLANS BENEFIT FOR LIBRARY Bill Erickson and Jack Shel- ton, pivotman of the Wilkes- Barre Barons, will be among the attractions at the benefit game to be held by the Church League for the Back Mountain Memorial Library, at Dallas Township gymnasium. Another feature will be a foul shooting competition of See ONLY YESTERDAY, pg 5 Ld ® I [| |
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers