The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, December 19, 2002 EDITORIAL Traffic enforcement help would be welcome Safety on Back Mountain highways, or the too-frequent lack of it, has been a prime topic of discussion since the first roads were laid here. Too many people have been injured or have died, too many lives have been ruined, too much prop- erty has been damaged because the roadways weren't prop- erly built or maintained or because drivers were too careless or reckless with their own and others’ lives. Try as we might, we will never completely overcome the obstacles to safety, but we can’t give up the attempt. Concerns reached a fever pitch in November, 1945, when The Dallas Post began to publish a running tally of deaths and serious injuries on our highways. The initial count of three deaths and three injuries mounted to 26 dead and 76 injured when the weekly listing was discontinued nearly sev- en years later. Things have changed a lot since 1952, and mostly for the better. Cars are more nimble and are equipped with safety devices unheard of 50 years ago. The highways are wider, smoother and better designed, with traffic signals that are meant to both assist and control traffic flow. Not everything is positive, though. Most of us still drive too fast, and lately it seems more of us are challenging stop lights rather than observing them. And a whole lot more of us are squeezed onto the roads, a result both of greater pop- ulation and more travelers using our highways as a conduit to other places. One constant has been the challenge facing police depart- ments charged with protecting public safety. While the state has overseen the expansion of capacity that has led to high- er speeds and volume, it participates only minimally in en- forcing traffic laws. That is left to local departments that struggle to balance response to emergencies with routine en- forcement activity. They could use more help. Certain stretches of highway, such as the notch between Trucksville and Luzerne, get plenty of attention, while other equally dangerous locations seem neglected. The area on Route 309 near Rave’s Nursery, for example, has been the scene of nu- merous serious accidents including a recent double fatality, but it's rare to see a patrol car parked in that area. It's all too common to witness drivers running red lights all along the highways, but there is no evident attempt to ticket them and perhaps avert a future accident. Some added surveillance and enforcement may be ob- tained by juggling schedules and priorities, but in the long run it will require more manpower. Since the state has an interest in moving traffic smoothly and safely, some funding for more police activity should come from the same source as highway improvements that created the conditions we're all concerned about. Publisher’s Notebook European leaders seem to have very different ideas than do our own about how to reduce dependence on foreign oil. The Danes, for example, are building dozens of gigantic windmills that take advantage of consistent Atlantic breezes. The U.S. appears ready to take a more direct approach — we'll just in- vade a nation with huge petroleum reserves, plunk a couple of hundred thousand troops there and pretend we've solved the problem. A reading of Middle Eastern history should con- vince anyone with a standard ration of common sense that this is folly, but that doesn’t appear to be slowing down the preparations. In Denmark, 18 percent of electricity is generated by wind power. The governments in the European Union are aiming to get 22 percent of electricity from renewable resources by 2010. Meanwhile, in the U.S. power generated by renewables fell in 2001 to the lowest level in 12 years, accounting for only 6 percent of the total. There is no apparent commitment to increasing the percentage, unless you count taking over a succession of oil-producing nations as renewability. Jimmy Carter, the president who wore a cardigan sweater in the White House, just received the Nobel Peace Prize for a lifetime commitment to getting people to get along. He may have convinced enemies to shake hands, but he had less luck persuading Americans to roll back thermostats and dri- ve cars that are smaller than vacation homes. No significant American political figure except Al Gore has since made a se- rious attempt to talk about real energy independence, and all that got him was ridicule from “conservative” politicians whose campaign coffers were filled by oil companies and SUV makers. ode plato Melissa Snyder, a fourth grader at Dallas Elementary, drew this depiction of Santa, and elf and a reindeer. See next week's Dal- las Post for children’s letters to Santa Claus and more artwork. New books added to Back Mountain Library collection ¢ The Back Mountain Memorial Library, 96 Huntsville Road, Dal- las, announces the addition of the following books to their collec- tion: FICTION “Prey” by Michael Crichton *The October: Horse” by Colleen McCullough “Hornet Flight” by Ken Follett “Surface Tension” by Russell Celyn Jones “No Place Like Home” by Fern (0 Bf I 4 YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - December 16, 1932 HOLIDAY AID TO BE GIVEN NEEDY Members of the womens aux- iliary of Henry M. Laing Fire Co., will attempt to gather food and articles of clothing which will be given to unfortunate families in the area. A. N. Gar- ringer offered use of his building on Lake street as headquarters. A new serial, King of the Jun- gle was added to The Dallas Post newspaper. It was the first paper to release the story in the country. The story, was being made into a motion picture by paramount. Some of the items you could get at W.B. Risley Hardware in Dallas were: tree lights, 29¢; light set with connector plug, 33¢; light water proof out of doors set, 98¢; all glass decora- tions, box of a dozen 79¢. 60 Years Ago -December 11, 1942 KEIFER ELECTED TO HEAD Michaels “Domino” by Ross King NON-FICTION “When the Light Turns Green” by Tom Murphy “Zoya’'s Story: an afghan wom- an’s struggle for freedom” by Zoya with John Follain and Rita Cristofari MYSTERY “The Disappearance of Sher- lock Holmes BIOGRAPHY “Ralph Nader: man with a mis- sion” by Nancy Bowen LARGE PRINT FICTION “The Crush” by Sandra Brown “Unfit to Practice” by Perri O'Shaughnessy “The Remnant” by Tim F. La- Haye “The Best is Yet to Come” by Judith Gould “Absolute Certainty” by Rose Connors “Fire Ice” by Clive Cussler “Prisoner of My Desire” by Jo- hanna Lindsey “The Truth Hurts” by Nancy Pickard “Spirit Warrior” by Cassie Ed- wards LARGE PRINT NON-FICTION “Kitchen Privileges” by Mary) Higgins Clark The shame of it all is that a goal of attaining emancipation from foreign oil could be a rallying point for a whole host of other achievements. Just as the space program spun off thousands of products and processes that proved useful in private enterprise and home life, a government commitment to new sources of energy could spark a new era of scientific accomplishment. But that doesn’t seem to be of interest to our present leadership, largely creatures of an industrial DALLAS TOWNSHIP BOARD Fred M. Kiefer was elected president, and Fred Hughey was made vice president at the reor- ganization meeting of the Dallas Township Board. A military leave of absence was granted to Robert Hender- son, music superviror of Dallas Borough, who will take his sec- ond physical exam at Wilkes Barre Induction Center for in- duction into the Army of the United States. Clyde N. Lapp was elected president for his fourth term, and John drubin was elected vice president at the reorganiza- itn meeting of Dallas Bourough school Board. 50 Years Ago-December 26, 1952 DALLAS TOWNHIP PLANS TO TAKE OVER TWO ROADS Dallas Township supervisors prepared to enact an ordinance opening poritons fo Garbutt and Gerald Avenues as public roads, according to a reort submitted to the court in compliance with the Second Class Township Code. Barbara Jane Melkemes of Shavertown, was granted leave from National Art School in Washington to make her annual Christmas window pictures. Some of the windows she will be doing are at Duke Isaacs, Gosart’s store, Kingston Auto Parts, Guyette’s, Hall's Drug Store. Mrs. Ruth Turn, organist and choir leader at Dallas Methodist Church, was elected second vice-president of North East Re- gion Pennsylvania Federation of Music Clubs, in charge of music for hospitals, especially veter- ans, of the region. 40 Years Ago - December 20, 1962 ELEVEN VOTES NEEDED TO DO AWAY WITH TOLL With 2,842 out of 3.885 bal- lots already in, only eleven more affirmative votes were needed to give a clear majority to those fa- voring the elimintaion of tolls between Dallas Exchange of the Commonwealth Telephone Com- pany and Wilkes-Barre and Kingston.. The New York Harlem Satel- lites, led by Rookie Brown, ex- harlem Globetrotter played ‘in Dallas Senior High School They played the Dallas Faculty All-Stars in a game sponsored by Dallas High school Athletic Council. A large trailor truck carrying a variegated load including Christmas candles missed the curve opposite Harter’s Dairy on the Luzerne Dallas Highway up- rotted twelve posts and demol- ished a long section guard rail before plunging down the bank into Toby's Creek. 30 Years Ago - December 14, 1972 NOTICE OF BIAS IN GOV'T FUNDING FOR FLOOD President Richard M. Nixon, as well as all heads of state and federal agencies involved in flood relief efforts, will be served notice by the Wyoming Valley Heating grants available for low-income families UGI Utilities, Inc. is helping eligible gas and electric customers apply for federal energy assistance Flood ' Victims Action council that valley residents have been denied the fair share of urban renewal funds. Navy Fireman Recruit David) L. Spencer of Shavertown, re- cently completed basic Boiler Technician School at Great Lakes, Ill. Some of the items you ‘could get at A & P Markets were: pork family pack, 1 lb. 79¢, turkeys, 49¢ per lb.; tangerines, tange- los, or oranges 1 doz. 49¢; spare ribs, 1 1b. 89¢. 20 Years Ago - December 15, 1982 CAMP NAMED PRESIDENT AFTER DEADLOCK In a meeting that lasted three hours, Dallas School Board of Directors elected Dr. William Camp, president of the board fpr the year 1983. In a reorgani- zation meeting usually takin only 10 or 15 minutes, took 27 secret ballots before Camp, was elected president of the boa4rd by a 5-3 vote. Dr. Maria McGrane, doctor of general medicine, will open her office in the Back Mountain Medical Center, Route 118. David Lamereaux, Solid Waste Engineer, said he is not con- cerned that his job is on the line if he recommends approval of 2a DAMA permit to dump sludge’ on the 80-acre Manzoni farm. People from the area of Jackson past who prescribe cutting taxes and trees as the cure for every economic ill. The Dallas Post TIMESeLEADER unity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DALL A 18612 » 570-675-5211 Ronald Bartizek Erin Youngman GENERAL MANAGER REPORTER Kari L. Wachtel Claudia Blank ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Darlene E. Sorber Terry Quinn OFFICE MANAGER PAGE DESIGN dollars to keep their homes warm this winter. These grants, which do not need to be repaid, help customers with limited or fixed incomes pay their heating bills, repair or replace a heater and avoid utility service shut off. Last winter over 10,000 UGI customers received money from this fund. The average grant was $239. For more information on federal energy assistance, and how to apply, customers should call UGI’s toll-free phone number: 1-800-UGI-WARM (1-800-844-9276). New drop-off point for Back Mountain food pantry The Back Mountain Mountain Food Pantry sponsored by the Back Mountain Ministerium is in need of many food items. The client population grew over the past year creating a larger need than in years past. Due to the construction at Trucksville United Methodist Church Education Building, it is not possible to accept food items at the Education Building. Food collection points have been established at St. Paul's Lutheran Church and Shavertown United Methodist Church. They will deliver the food supplies to the Food Pantry at the former Kingston Township Municipal Building in Trucksville. The food items needed are: Canned meats and stews (chicken or beef) - no tuna fish please, the Food Pantry has an over supply. Vegetables - carrots, beets, tomatoes, peas. Fruit - peaches, pears, cherries, mixed fruit, pineapple, applesauce, cranberry sauce. Drinks - tea, coffee, hot chocolate, fruit juice, dried mild and canned milk. Cake mix, sugar, flour, salt, pasta, pasta sauce, macaroni & cheese, scalloped potato, jelly, ketchup, mustard, crackers, cookies, cereals. Anyone with questions about the Food Pantry may call 696-3897. I h Township expressed their fear and anger at public meetings. Letters welcome The Dallas Post attempts to “ publish opinions on a variety of topics in many forms. Letters to the editor are wel- come and will be published, sub- ject to the following guidelines: * Letters should not exceed 500 words. e No writer may have more than one letter published during a 30-day period, except as a re- ply to another letter. * Letters must be signed and (Y) include the writer's home town and a telephone number for veri- fication. * 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 libel, slander or objection- able wording.
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers