4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Wednesday, June 20, 2001
EDITORIALS
School district is asking a lot
There are some good reasons why the property tax rate in
the projected Dallas School District budget is 9 percent high-
er, increasing to 190 mills from 174. Benefit costs, over
which the district has little control, are again rising rapidly,
for one thing, and there hasn't been a year when teacher
salaries have gone in any direction but upward. But that
doesn’t mean there haven't been missed opportunities where
the school board could have tightened up spending, but for
which taxpayers now bear the burden.
Dallas has been on a construction and renovation binge in
recent years, and most of the projects have been both neces-
sary and desirable. The new Wycallis Elementary School, and
renovations and repairs to Dallas Elementary and the middle
school clearly fall into this category. There are plans for work
at the high school next, and many of them should be adopt-
ed, if we can afford it. But it seems at times that the board
and administration have a hard time saying “No,” to additions
and upgrades that pile on higher costs, and lead to higher
taxes.
The district also has a habit of hoarding funds above and
beyond a reasonable amount that would cover unexpected,
emergency expenses. That is rectified somewhat in the 2001-
02 budget, which projects drawing down the surplus funds
by nearly $1 million, to $3.6 million, within striking distance
of the 15 percent of annual expenditures deemed prudent by
the state board of education.
In recent years, Dallas has made few if any changes to its
tentative budgets before final adoption. That should change
this year; it's time for the board and administration to look
carefully at expenses before settling on final figures. With an
economy that appears to grow more shaky by the day, pru-
dence should be the rule of the day.
Lower age for hunting is dumb idea
State Rep. Bruce Smith, a Republican from Dillsburg,
thinks he has a brilliant idea. He wants to allow young chil-
dren to participate in "the best bonding activity that a child
and parent can experience." How would he do that? By
putting high-powered weapons in the hands of 10-year-olds.
The suggestion by itself is ridiculous, and Smith's assertion
that hunting with Dad (Moms don't seem to spend all that
much time slogging through the woods) is the very best par-
ent/child activity would be laughable if it wasn't made by the
chairman of the state House Game and Fisheries Committee.
Fortunately, it appears that most hunters don't share Smith's
enthusiasm for arming fourth graders. While some of the ar-
guments against childhood hunting focus on physical limita-
tions, such as that a small, young body can't take the "kick"
of a deer rifle, others rightly point out that 10-year-old minds
simply haven't developed safeguards that show up in later
years, such as the ability to foresee the outcome of actions.
If Rep. Smith is concerned that Pennsylvania children and
parents aren't bonded closely enough, he might try encourag-
ing them to spend more time together over meals, or at the li-
brary. Even watching television as a family - perhaps the Dis-
covery channel or PBS - would make more sense than send-
ing young children out lugging oversized, deadly weapons
through the woods.
Publisher’s Notebook
¢
We may not have a missile shield yet, but I'm comforted in
the knowledge that we have a president who can, in very
short order, discern the most innermost thoughts and mo-
tives of other world leaders. I'm speaking of George W.
Bush's comment - after spending just a couple of hours with
Russian president Vladimir Putin - that "I was able to get a
sense of his soul." And what did he see? That Mr. Putin was
"a man deeply committed to his country and the best inter-
ests of his country." That comment may raise eyebrows
among the millions of Russians who are mired in poverty
and corruption, but perhaps they can now take heart in the
knowledge that the former KGB official who can't stand the
scrutiny of a semi-independent press has only good things in
mind for them.
George W. wouldn't be the first U.S. president to overesti-
mate his soulmates across the sea, and he surely won't be
the last. Like a child who gobbles down a triple scoop sun-
dae, then spends hours groaning from the resulting stomach
ache, our leaders have a habit of seeing what they want
when they first meet old adversaries, only to be disappointed
in future developments. This seems to be a particular fault
when Russia is involved, judging by Bill Clinton's relentless
support for Putin's predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, who did noth-
ing as well as uphold his countrymen’s reputation as huge
consumers of vodka while stuffing American aid dollars in
his pockets as quickly as we could ship them across the At-
lantic. Even the great Franklin Delano Roosevelt thought
Joseph Stalin was a decent fellow at first glance.
Perhaps wily George W. was simply trying to gain the confi-
dence of an impotent superpower, who might have been
frightened into selling old nukes to Saddam Hussein by an
American brushoff of opposition to a Star Wars missile de-
fense. Or maybe he’s too clever by half, and Putin knows a
worthless money pit when he sees it, and is happy to watch
us sink billions into a system that either won't work or will
be obsOlete by the time it passes muster.
The Dallas Post
TIMESeLEADER
unity Newspaper Group
P.O. BOX 366, DALLAGPA 18612 » 570-675-5211
Ronald Bartizek
GENERAL MANAGER
Ruth Proietto
Produciton Manager
Ron and Charlotte Bartizek
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PRESIDENT & CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER
1-800-427-8649
Heather B. Jones
REPORTER
Ready for the pickin’. Photo by Heather B. Jones
ONLY
YESTERDAY
70 Years Ago - June 19, 1931
BANK BUILDING TO BE WORK
OF BEAUTY AND UTILITY
Work on the demolition of the
Reese building on Main Street is
moving along rapidly to make
way for The First National Bank.
It is their intention to erect a
thorough modern stone struc-
ture on what is now known as
the J. M. Reese town’s business
district.
Jack McHenry and his Melody
Makers, who are well known
throughout the back mountain
region and Wyoming Valley, will
furnish music every Thursday
night throughout the summer
season at Lakewood Pavilion,
Lake Silkworth. Harold Crew
with his banjo and Charles
Pickett with his piano accordion
will be playing with the Melody
Makers.
Dallas borough council at its
meeting purchased 6,000 gal-
lons of road oil from the Barrett
Co., at a price of 13¢ per gallon.
The oil will be placed on the
streets sometime after the
Fourth of July.
Only Yesterday is taken from
the files of The Dallas Post,
which reach back as far as
1929.
60 Years Ago - June 29, 1941
CONTRACTORS START WORK
ON NEW LAKE ROAD
Central Pennsylvania Quarry,
Stripping and Construction
Company of Hazleton has leased
the Adleman property on Lake
St., for its headquarters, storage
facilities and bulk plant during
construction of the new Harvey's
Lake highway which got under
way recently. John Brunes will
be superintendent will be in
charge of the construction.
Lawrence Smith and Robert
Patrick members of the An-
thracite Chapter, Future Farm-
ers of America of Dallas Town-
ship ‘High School placed high
among 1.000 boys participating
in annual F.F.A. judging con-
tests. Lawrence came in second
and Robert placed sixth.
Carl Brandon and Loren
Keller, Lehman School District
bus drivers, have returned from
Richmond, Indiana, where they
obtained two new Chevrolet all-
steel school buses. The 560
mile trip was made at a speed of
30 miles an hour in order to
break the new vehicles in gradu-
ally.
50 Years Ago - June 22, 1951
PLAN TO OPEN NEW SCHOOL
Brick exterior walls are pro-
gressing rapidly so that the lime-
stone trim is being installed on
the from of the new Gate of
Heaven Parochial School on
Machell Avenue. Work is mov-
ing ahead on schedule, accord-
ing to Rev. Francis Kane, admin-
istrator of the parish.
The Dallas Post as a public
service will publish a Voter's
Guide for the Back Mountain
area, using material gathered by
Back Mountain members of the
League of Women Voters. Those
Back Mountain members of the
League who are cooperating in
publication are: Mrs. Leroy
Bugbee, Mrs. C.A. Eberle, Mrs.
Williams Evans, Jr., Mrs. Stefan
Hellersperk, Mrs. Mitchell Jenk-
ins, Mrs. Arthur Ross, Mrs. Ger-
ald Stout, Mrs. Robert Walsh.
James F. Besecker, Jr., son of
Mr." and Mrs. James Besecker,
Dallas, was awarded a degree in
Bachelor of Science at University
of Pennsylvania. James D.
Shepherd, son of Mr. and Mrs.
R.D. Shepherd, Trucksville, re-
ceived a degree of Doctor of
Laws.
40 Years Ago - June 22, 1961
COMMUNITY WELCOMES
NEW A&P
Opening of the new A&P in
this area is a milestone. A num-
ber of years ago, there was a
small A&P in Dallas, but it
closed its doors when supermar-
kets arrived. Some of the local
people who will help run the
store are: Garry Mauger, Randy
Propos, Donald McGill, Lynn Di-
etz, Russ Parsons, Joe Houlette,
Floyd Root, Ray Rondanella, and
Chuck Weiss.
Louise Suggs Day at Irem
Temple Country Club was a
great success, seventy-seven
guests attended the brunch.
Following was a fashion who of
Louise Suggs Fashions. These
action outfits were designed by
Louise Suggs, American Golf
Champion.
Army Pvt. Robert G. Spudis,
whose wife, Carolyn lives in Dal-
las, recently was assigned to the
McGregor Guided Missile Range,
N.M. Pvt. Spudis, a radar spe-
cialist in the range’s Headquar-
ters Battery, completed basic
training at Fort Jackson, S.C.
30 Years Ago - June 24, 1971
ROTARIANS PLEDGE $12,000
FOR LIBRARY AUCTION
The decision to utilize the ser-
vice club’s funds was made after
an extensive survey of the com-
munity’s needs by a committee
established by Rotary president
Hanford Eckman. The club re-
turned its report to the entire
club; the $12,000 would best
serve the citizenry of the Back ™
Mountain Community if it were
earmarked for the continuation
of that unique community event,
the Library Auction. Mr. Eck-
man, noted that the Dallas Ro-
tary Club “has more than a com-
munity-minded interest in want-
ing the annual auction contin-
ued.” :
Candice Lynn Mohr and Carol ¢
Dee Mohr. 1967 graduates of
Dallas Senior High School, have
been awarded the degree of
Bachelor of Arts, mathematics
major, by Ithaca College at the
school's 76th commencement
exercises. The sisters are the
twin daughters of Mr. and Mrs.
Archer E. Mohr, formerly of Dal-
las, now of Liege, Belgium.
The formal opening in the
Back Mountain area of a new @
dairy products store of Louden
Hill Farm Inc. was held with rib-
bon-cutting ceremonies. The
store occupies the building for-
merly known as Gavy’'s Market
on Route 309, in Dallas Town-
ship. Stephen R. Balut, Plains,
has been appointed manager.
Memorial and honor books donated to BMT library :
Back Mountain Memorial Li-
brary announces the addition of
new memorial books.
May 2001
In memory of John Scoble,
“Seabiscuit” by Laura Hillen-
brand, presented by The Wilt
Family
In memory of Elizabeth Saun-
ders, “Plays 1937-1955” by Ten- .
nessee Williams, presented by
Ladies’ Tea Group
In memory of Anna Tetschner,
“Decorating with Family Pho-
tographs” by Ryne Hazen, pre-
sented by Rita Ryan Mundy
In memory of Virginia Nahas,
“The Big Book of Baby Animals,”
presented by Bruce and Jan Go-
eringer
In memory of Phillip Baker,
“The Eye in the Door” by Pat
Barker, presented by John and
Elizabeth Lloyd
In memory of Mildred Salan-
sky. The Tent of Orange Mist”
by Paul West, presented by Mr.
and Mrs. Salansky
In memory of Marcella Sedor,
“Greenland Expedition: where
ice is born” by Lonnie Dupre,
presented by The Independent
Insurance Agents of Wyoming
Valley
In memory of Georgia Phillips,
“From a House to a Home; by
Jemima Mills, presented by J.
David Roskos
In memory of Anna Tetschner,
“Traditional Style for Today's
Home” by Ellen M. Plante, pre-
sented by The Staff and Faculty
of Wycallis Elementary School
In memory of Anna Testschn-
er, “Garden Lighting: contempo-
rary exterior lighting” by James
Davidson, presented by John
and Grace Reishus
In memory of Mrs. Mary
Brown, “America’s Queen” by
Are you opinionated?
Sarah Bradford, presented by
Sordoni Construction Services
In memory of Jane McMichael,
“The Climbing Garden” by Cathy
Wilkinson Barash, presented by
William and Ethelda Bergstrass-
er
In memory of Hilda Frey, “The
Quotable Birder” edited by Bill
Adler, Jr., presented by Mr. and
Mrs. Chester Taroli
In memory of Jane McMichael,
“Uncommon Traveler” by Don
Brown, presented by Sterling W.
McMichael
In memory of Jane McMichael,
“Laura Ingalls Wilder” by
Alexandra Wallner, presented by
Sterling W. McMichael
In memory of Jane McMichael,
“My Dog” by Heidi Goennel, pre-
sented by Sterling W. McMichael
In memory of Jane McMichael,
“If You give a Mouse a Cookie”
by Laura Joffe Numeroff, pre-
sented by Sterling W. McMichael
In memory of Philip Baker,
“Founding Brothers: the Revo-
lutionary generation” by Joseph
J. Ellis, presented by John and
Elizabeth Lloyd
In memory of Mr. Omar Hallis- ®
son, “In the Heart of the Sea:
the tragedy of the Whaleship Es-
sex’ by Nathaniel Philbrick, pre-
sented by Dallas Rotary Club
In memory of Mrs. Mary
Bown, “Fence Style” by James &
Margie Roe Harper, presented by
Sordoni Construction Services ®
In memory of Irene Bieniek,
“Thank You, Mr. Falker” by Pa-
tricia Polacco, presented by Nor-
bert Swithers
HONOR BOOKS
In honor of Paul and Jean
Rodda, “Collected Essays and
Poems” by Henry David Thore-
au, presented by Kay and Dun-
can Whitehead.
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