The Dallas Post
Dallas, PA
Thursday, January 23, 2003 3
By KASIA KOPEC
Special to The Dallas Post
Hikers and bikers take heart:
expansion of the Back Mountain
Trail is on again.
Last spring, plans to extend
‘the popular trail appeared to be
in peril after it was announced
20 property owners had not
agreed to provide easements al-
lowing the trail to cross private
land.
Now, with many of the ease-
ments acquired and verbal or
written commitments for all but
a handful of those remaining,
Judy Rimple, past president of
the Anthracite Scenic Trails As-
sociation and the driving force
behind the trail’s creation, said
the group is optimistic it will
complete its work by 2005.
That's the deadline for wrapping
work paid for with a
u
@ federal trail construc-
n grant.
The grant was given on the
condition the trail association
come up with matching funds
equaling 20 percent, or
$96,000.
That goal was achieved last
month when the Maslow Family
Foundation donated $20,000.
“What an amazing and gener-
ous gift,” said Rimple, whose
husband, David, also made a
significant financial contribu-
tion to the effort when he pur-
chased a third-mile stretch of
rail bed between Franklin Street
to Lower Demunds Road.
On top of these and an anoth-
er $13,000 in private donations,
the association received two
state grants in December total-
ing $52,000.
Significant progress also has
been made in the drive to get
easements needed to continue
building north toward College
Misericordia.
Another mile-long stretch
king the Trucksville and
wntown Shavertown sections
of Kingston Township could be
completed as early as this sum-
mer, said Mark Albrecht, presi-
dent of the Back Mountain Trail
Association.
Back Mountain t
rail gets a financial boost
POST PHOTO/RON BARTIZEK
This old stone culvert along Toby’s Creek is one sight that walkers of a completed Back Mountain Trail could see. Do you know where it
is?
Other projects on tap for the
warm weather months include
the construction of a quarter-
mile path, known as the
Luzerne Creek Walk, which will
extend the trail at its southern-
most end. A new trailhead at
Carverton Road in Trucksville
will also be built.
The trailhead will be a costly
project because it will require
steps and railing to be installed
said Albrecht.
“But I'm really looking forward
to having it in place, because it
will open up the trail to a lot
people, who until now had to
risk climbing a pretty steep in-
cline to access the trail or drive
to Luzerne,” said Albrecht, who
added he used to think a trail
could be built with $1.98 and a
bunch of rakes.
“It's a long process and it's
costing a lot more than I ever
imagined it could, but I think
we're at a stage where the trail
is going to be a lot more visible
and just because of that in-
creased visibility more people
will be taking an interest in it,
which hopefully will make our
work easier going forward,” Al-
brecht said.
At February's meeting, the as-
sociation will discuss design
ideas for the second phase of
the trail, linking Shavertown
and College Misericordia.
Many easements needed for
that part of the path have al-
ready been secured, but Rimple
said surveying still needs to be
done to identify boundaries in a
few areas. It might also be nec-
essary to design detours in ar-
eas where easements cannot be
granted because the land is al-
ready publicly owned. Areas
where utility lines or under-
ground pipelines intersect the
trail are examples of land on
which second easements cannot
be be granted.
“We will have to go off trail in
‘a few spots,” said Rimple. “For
example, there will probably be
a stretch along Main Street in
Shavertown that we’ll be utiliz-
ing, but we won't be going out to
the highway at all.”
This article appeared in origi-
nal form in the Times Leader.
Taxes same
in Franklin
Township
budget
FRANKLIN TWP. — By a 2-
1 vote, supervisors passed a
$450,506 budget December
30, with no tax increase for
township residents.
Supervisor Michael
Prokopchak voted against the
budget, saying a 90-cent per
hour salary increase for town-
ship employees was too
much. The employees have
not had a raise in two years.
In other business, the
board passed a resolution
naming Berkheimer Associ-
ates the collector of earned
income taxes and occupation
privilege taxes for five years.
Berkheimer is charging the
township 1.75 percent of tax-
es collected, which is less
than the 2.75 percent previ-
ously charged.
An open records policy also
was passed by the board, ef-
fective immediately.
“This policy will provide and
formalize the request of
copies of public records,” said
Solicitor Benjamin Jones.
Also during the meeting,
Donald Boyko of Culver Hill
Road asked the board for per-
mission to have the property
where resides be surveyed by
a telecommunications outfit.
“I'd like them to do a survey
and see if it's feasible fo erect
a tower on my property,”
Boyko said.
Supervisors said they could
not stop Boyko from having
his property surveyed.
Jones plans to draw up an
ordinance regarding the town-
ship’s stance on telecommu-
nication towers. The first
reading of the ordinance will
be during the supervisors’
next meeting on Jan. 6.
— Kimberly James
The second Friday of each month the Huntsville United Methodist Church will be selling”pizza” as a
church fund raiser”. You may call any church member or the church office phone 675-3375 and leave
a message if you wish to contact the church, and your call will be returned to you. This fundraiser
will go on each month until the Lenten season . The cost of the pizza is $6 for 12-large cuts.
WED Rl Nos led ee 0
| Cub Scout Pack 281 events
| Cub Scout Pack 281 has scheduled the following events:
Pinewood Derby truck races, Dallas High School Gym, Sun., Jan. .
26 2 pm. HE ‘ ei re Am
“Countries of the World” window display, Besecker’s Realty, Main
| St., Sat. Feb. 1.
Scout Sunday Service, Dallas United Methodist Church, Sun. Feb. a4 bd ; «& GO
" 10:30 a.m. 710O0/7¢ |
a SALE - Up to 75% Off 0
Huntsville U.M. Church
pizza fundraiser
——
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SUNDAY - Jan. 26th 12-5
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Come in today and place a bid
at our silent auction!
{Final bids 4:00 PM January 26th}
Publishing:
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