The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday,October10, 2002 EDITORIAL Back Mountain loses a direct connection to history We were saddened to learn this week of the passing of Quentin “Cap” Walters of Dallas. Mr. Walters led a life dis- tinguished by business success and community service, and had been honored through the years by his church and the organizations to which he dedicated time and talent. But he will be perhaps best-remembered because fate placed him squarely in one of our nation’s most significant historical events. When the Japanese attacked on December 7, 1941, Cap Walters was on board the cruiser U.S.S. Raleigh, an- chored in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Mr. Walters was our own direct connection to that “date which will live in infamy,” and on many occasions he spoke about the attack and its aftermath to school classes and oth- er groups. “It was like a panorama,” he said in a Dallas Post article on the 50th anniversary of the attack. “Bursting shells, Japanese planes and thick smoke filled the sky.” Like his shipmates, Mr. Walters quickly recovered his bearings and they began to defend themselves, but his ship was se- verely damaged and the captain decided to run it aground rather than risk having it sink in the channel where it would block the exit of other vessels. Once things settled down, Mr. Walters went on to serve in the balance of World War II and the Korean Conflict. Mr. Walters and his “greatest generation” contemporaries understood far better than most of us around today ever could the horror or war. Remarkably, he did not hold any grudges against his one-time enemy. “I don’t have any bitter- ness left toward the Japanese people,” he said in 1991, par- ticularly after being stationed in Japan during the Korean Conflict and finding the inhabitants hard-working and dedi- cated. That sort of reconciliation is a remarkable trait of the hu- man psyche, and one we would all do well to imitate. We also might benefit from reflection on the costs or war before engaging in it, so that another generation of American boys — and now gals — isn’t put in harm’s way prematurely or unnecessarily. Publisher’s Notebook Ron Bartizek “It’s the most wonderful time of the year.” That lyric is from a Chirstmas song, but for a pre-teen boy growing up in the 1950s, early October was the best time, at least if, like me, he was a baseball fan. Nothing could beat coming home from school in time to catch the last half of a World Series game between the Yan- kees and Dodgers, or the Yankees and Pirates, or the Yan- kees and Cardinals. Yes, it was then as it has been too many years lately — it seemed the boys in pinstripes were always part of the October classic. And why not; they had. Mantle and Maris, Berra and Richardson, Ford and Larson. 1 was a Yankee fan then, or so I thought. But when Mickey's legs got the best of him and he retired, I lost interest, so I guess that made me a Mantle fan. Luckily, my dad had a job that allowed him to head home early during the Series, so we often watched together, al- though I was never sure who he was rooting for. There weren't any wild card or divisional playoffs then — your team either made the Series or went home, and he didn't seem to have a preference between the American and National leagues. I think maybe he just appreciated top-notch play. Many people think going straight to the Series made it more special. I know it made the playoff season shorter and more tolerable, but the present system has a lot to offer as well, not least of which is that three teams have a chance to knock the Yankees off their pedestal, as Anaheim did last weekend. But the teams aren't really that important to me any more, unless by some strange twist of fate the Red Sox should ever make it to the end. Short of that, I'd like to see Barry Bonds get a shot at a ring, which is about the only item missing from his incredible baseball resume. But I'll be there for the last game no matter who's playing, and if I get to watch it with my kids, that will make it more special than if any particular team is on the field. Letters, columns and editorials The Dallas Post attempts to publish opinions on a variety of topics in many forms. Editorials, which are the opinion of the managment of The Post, appear on the editorial page and are written by the editor unless otherwise indicated. Any artwork represents the opinion of the car- toonist, and columns are the opinion of the author. Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, subject to the following guidelines: * Letters should not exceed 500 words, * No writer may have more than one letter published during a 30- day period, except as a reply to another letter. * Letters must be signed and include the writer's home town and a telephone number for verification. * Names will be withheld only if there exists a clear threat to the writer. * The Post retains the right to accept or reject any letter, and to edit letters for grammar and spelling, as well as to eliminate any li- bel, slander or objectionable wording. The Dallas Post TIMESeLEADER (g unity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DALLAGPA 18612 « 570-675-5211 Ronald Bartizek GENERAL MANAGER Kari L. Wachtel ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. Erin Youngman REPORTER Claudia Blank AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Terry Quinn PAGE DESIGN Darlene E. Sorber OFFICE MANAGER A downy woodpecker captured on film. Photo by Monica Marzani. GUEST COLUMN ; Finding shared values across the American continent By Matthew Lloyd I clutch the steering wheel, stare into the open road and daydream of being back again. The anticipation of seeing fami- ly, feeling the late summer/ear- ly autumn air, tasting cider from Brace’s Orchard, hearing squawks of Canadian geese flapping from the nearby Huntsville Reservoir, inhaling wafting scents of potato pan- cakes and cotton candy at the Luzerne County Fair... I just cannot wait. I push on the gas. I am going home. I packed the car last week and headed east on interstate 80. I work in the western state of Wyoming where I am an in- structor for the National out- door Leadership School (NOLS). For 30 days at a time I lug 80- 1b. backpacks hundreds of miles over rugged mountains. Fun? You bet! I lead people deep into pristine wilderness areas and educate folks about the advan- tages of open land. I challenge anyone to claim a better office with a more beautiful view. With its vast open spaces and self-reliant mentality, Wyoming is in the thick of the Wild West. Wyoming residents pride them- selves on hard work, strong moral character and a love of Wyoming's raw and rugged places. Ranchers in dusty cow- boy boots and Wranglers still ONLY YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - Oct. 7, 1932 DALLAS BOROUTH COUNCIL DROPS TAX PENALTY Dallas Borough Council fol- lowing a plan being adopted by many communities throughout the State has passed a resolu- tion that all persons paying bor- ough taxes on December 1, shall be exempt from penalty as pro- vided under existing laws. Kingston Township's new $100,000 high school was com- pleted by the General contracror Herman Mallander. To date the building has cost the township $97,438.15. Some of the items you could get at the American Stores Co. were: Glenwood Jelly, 15¢; Bread Supreme, 15¢; pineapple, 1 cal 15¢; peanut butter, pt. jar 12 1/2 oz., $15; Jolly Time Pop Corn, tin, 12 1/2 c, 15¢. 60 Years Ago - October 2, 1942 ARMY GENERAL COMMENDS BOY FROM TOWNSHIP A Dallas Township boy, former star player on the high school roam the streets of Wyoming's small towns. Hunters and fish- ermen still explore secluded and wild places like the mountain men of the 1800s. Families and communities still stick close to- gether. Now I'm headed home to a dif- ferent world... or am I? I enter Pennsylvania after two and a half days of driving through 2,000 miles of flat and aesthetically lacking country- side. Nebraska. Iowa. Illinois. Ohio. This uniquely Pennsyl- vanian landscape is the most refreshing sight for my road weary eyes since I watched the Rocky Mountains fade into the sinking sun of my rearview mir- ror. Thick and lush stands of deciduous trees carpet rolling hills. This place is different from Wyoming, but it is just as mag- nificent. e000 I whiz by blurry trees at high rates of speed, and upon closer inspection, I notice patches of brown - subtle at first, then more noticeable until it is all I can see. | also watch a thin red- dish-brown haze appear on the distant horizon. These unnatur- al shades are undoubtedly products of smog and acid rain from the smokestacks of Chica- go I passed the day before. I think there is nothing that I can do about this pollution from midwestern factories. Or is football team, was honored when he was selected for pilot training in the United States Army Air Corps. He is Frank Matukitis, son of Joseph Matukitis. Philip Cheney sold his Tally Ho Grille, popular main street restaurant, to Robert Hislop, proprietor of Dallas Inn, and has applied for officers’ training through Draft Board No. 1 at Wyoming. Three local concerns have dis- continued manufacturing their regular products and are now engaged on defense items for the army signal corps. They are Post-O-Graf manufacturing of Trucksville, Coal-O-Matic Stoker Co. of Hillside and Paul Laux Maching Shop, Shavertown. 50 Years Ago -October 17, 1952 HARVEYS LAKE LIONS GIVE ANOTHER AUDIOMETER TO TWO LOCAL SCHOOLS Harveys Lake Lions Club will give a $320 audiometer to Lehman-Jackson and Lake-Nox- en schools, as one of the club’s activities in promotion of better sight and hearing among Back Mountain children. Two Back Mountain boys are among the sixty draftees induct- ed into The United States Army. They are Wayne E. Harrison, Trucksville and Joseph P. Youngblood, Shavertown. They travelled by bus to Fort Meade, Md.- Trucksville Grade School won the Gold Star For Their Green there something I can do? I wondered this as I found my way into the Dallas Borough Building one night. I sat around a table with Borough Mayor Timmy Caroll, Council President Kathryn Kupstas, Anthony L. Liuzzo, JD, Ph.D and a small handful of other volunteers making up a committee titled Our Dallas: Today and Tomor- TOW. The purpose of this committee and these meetings is to create a vision for the future of the Back Mountain. A large chal- lenge for Our Dallas: Today and Tomorrow is to have a high level of citizen awareness and partici- pation — I can count the num- ber of people at this meeting on one hand. The citizens of the Back Mountain control the vi- sion and. the destiny of this area. Where are all the people? Don’t get me wrong, there are people working to make the Back Mountain a better place. Judy Rimple is converting Rails to Trails — creating walking and biking trails on the old railway beds that run through our area. Volunteers under the guidance of the North Branch Land Trust and Defend Our Watershed! are working to preserve natural lands. This community planning is safeguarding our future. I think more of us can get involved. o0e Pennant, signifying .one school year without traffice accidents. 40 Years Ago - Octoberl1, 1962 BLOOD DONATION IN EXCESS OF USUAL AMOUNT In spite of torrential rains and mud on the Shavertown school grounds, in front of the YMCA, 136 prospective blood donors presented themselves ready to give blood. Some donors were refused, but the collection was well over the usual amount. A curfew for youngsters under eighteen in Dallas Township was rejected by the Board of Supervi- sors. Reason for rejection, there is apparently no juvenile prob- lem in the townshp to warrant a curfew. Lake Silkworth and North Lake, Sweet Valley, were stocked with big brown trout . The load of fish was the last of the “Huntereon 10,000”, trout which were too big to maintain eco- nomically at the State Hatch- eries in bellefonte over the win- ter. 30 Years Ago - October 5, 1972 PHONE BOOKS DELAYED BY HURRICANE AGNES Flood waters from Hurricane Agnes severely damaged the Bell office on North Franklin St in Wilkes-Barre where the tele- phone directory records were housed, which will cause a delay in the delivery of telephone books. : On my last day at home, my family and I decide to brave the inclement weather and hike around the Huntsville Reservoir in the rain. We reach the far point in time to witness wispy patches of mist lift from distant ridges. The Huntsville Reservoir is only a mile from the center of downtown Dallas, but from this point we cannot see a hint of civilization. I am reminded of ¢ how Pennsylvania must have looked 100 years ago. I cannot think of a more pleasing way to spend a rainy afternoon. Along my drive back to Wyoming, I pass small commu- nities like Sweet Valley and Red Rock. 1 eat Brace’s apples. 1 stop at a rustic general store for fresh maple syrup. Head-high farm fields of corn drink up the needed moisture from a steady rain. A father and son withifishs ing poles hunker below a maple tree near Loyalsock Creek. Wyoming and Pennsylvania are worlds apart but their peo- ple and values are not. I want to do my part in shaping the fu- ture of Pennsylvania. I want to share my love of Pennsylvania with other people who love Pennsylvania. But for now please excuse me, I have some pancakes and maple syrup to eat. Matthew Lloyd is a native of Dallas The “town council” of Frances Slocum State Park, at a recent meeting, proposed to draw up a petition to boycott sending their children to schools in the Dallas District. A small group of resi- dents, protesting an alleged “bad bus sutuation” at the park de- cided that a boycott would reme- dy the “poorly set up schedule.” Bids were opened for tempo- rary elementary school facilities necessary as a result of the flood emergency. 20 Years Ago - October 6, 1982 PARENTS REQUEST SALARY RECONSIDERATION Linda Mazur speaking for a goup of ocncerned parents, pre- sented a bid for reconsideration of the proposed salary increase offered principal Charles James. The request, in the form of a let- ter, signed by the parents, all members of the Executive Board of the Lehman-Jackson Elemen- tary PTA, wore unhappy over the token increase offered the ele- mentary principal, James was offered $500 or a 1.9 percent in- crease for 1982-83J John L. Krogulski, Shaver- town, was elected presdient fo the Keystonme State Chapter Trlephone Pioneers at the group’s 8th Annual Convention. Lake-Lehman Band Sponsors Association will sponsor the First annual “March of Champi- ons” Tournament of Bands at the Edward H. edwards Stadium in Lehman. Host director is John Miliauskas. A
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers