4 The Dallas Post Dallas, PA Thursday, March 27, 2003 EDITORIAL School trip cancellation is, regrettably, necessary Cancelling school trips to major cities that could be targets of terrorist attacks is prudent, but it also is tinged by an un- welcome awareness that we in the United States no longer enjoy the privilege of feeling separated from the cares and fears that afflict most of the world’s population. An accident of geography that gave us huge oceans on each side is no longer sufficient to protect us from those who would do us harm. Now the risk posed by those enemies has become one step in the calculus of our daily activities. With Washington and New York City off the agenda, school officials have the opportunity to schedule trips to oth- er locations that have much to teach about our history and mankind’s strengths and failings. Harpers Ferry, West Vir- ginia is one such site, and it's easier to reach than the na- tion's capital. Another alternative is the Iroquois Museum near Howe Caverns in upstate New York. Each of these des- tinations presents an important vision of the forces that built America, both good and ill. There are many more to choose from. It's not a pleasant prospect on which to speculate, but chances are that a few years from now we will have accom- modated ourselves to the danger of an attack from within, or else we will have given up one of our great freedoms — to move about our nation at will — to those who would impose a society based on intimidation. But for now, school officials are right to take the more conservative path, while not sur- rendering entirely to fear. Saving the land in Jackson Township, one farm at a time Individuals and government have cooperated to assure that Jackson Township retains its essential rural character, an example that many communities would do well to emu- late. The township has been home to an agricultural security area for more than 25 years, and 1,853 acres of land are in- cluded in the most recent seven-year renewal of the designa- tion. Thirty-two land owners are participating in this com- mitment to maintaining a landscape that has changed little over recent centuries, and preserving working farms that nurture livestock, plants and trees. This arrangement is not permanent; it depends on the will- ingness of the participants to renew their land’s status each seven years. We hope they continue to do so. Publisher’s Notebook Ron Bartizek One remarkable aspect of the conflict in Iraq has been the virtual flood of news and commentary to be found on radio and television and in print. Thanks to the Pentagon’s policy of “embedding” reporters with military units, the news re- porting has been fresher and more timely than in any other war. It also has been less objective than in some past in- stances, in part because a reporter whose survival depends on the skill and dedication of the guy with a gun in the next foxhole tends to see his protector in his best light. I know I would. And that’s a good thing — too often the media has ig- nored the everyday lives of the men and women who fight, believing in the morality of their cause, but required to use the most inhumane methods to achieve the desired end. Commentary is an entirely different matter, and much of it has been ignorant, obnoxious and even dangerous. What do I mean? Well, when America’s self-described king of talk ra- dio says we don’t have to worry about drilling for oil in the Arctic, because we'll be poking holes in Iraq in a few days, he is providing copy for terrorist recruiters to use in their quest to intensify hatred of America and Americans. And he’s not alone — the boneheaded opinions have been flowing faster than the oil from a blown-up well, as armchair generals and would-be statesmen spout line after line of aggressive opin- ion from the comfort of their armchairs. Like most of the people who are prosecuting this war in Washington, they haven't served in the armed forces, many escaping the Viet- name-era draft the same way one of their favorite targets, Bill Clinton, did, with education deferments. This freedom of expression, I suppose, is one of the bene- fits we hope to confirm upon Iraq when the bombs and bul- lets stop flying. I just wish sometimes that it was handled with more care and less bombast. e000 I'm glad that the Oscars and NCAA basketball tournaments stuck to their schedules despite the fighting in Iraq. These activities act as diversions for civilians and soldiers alike, and postponing them would have implied that they are to be taken more seriously than they merit. I suspect there's a cer- tain comfort for our men and women stationed in the Mideast to have a distraction from the real dangers they face, just as there is for us at home. The Dallas Post TIMESeLEADER unity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DAL A 18612 570-675-5211 Ronald Bartizek GENERAL MANAGER Kari L. Wachtel ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. Darlene E. Sorber OFFICE MANAGER Erin Youngman REPORTER Claudia Blank AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Terry Quinn PAGE DESIGN Snow geese by the thousands gathered recently at the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area near Reading. Local bird watchers traveled there to see the geese, Tundra Swans and other varieties that make a stop there on their trips north. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. | LETTERS | Public must wake up, seek action, at Harveys Lake Editor; Harveys Lake Borough Coun- cil's current state of denial over the issues raised recently re- garding the police force is not serving the best interest of the residents that chose to elect them. Instead of pointing fingers and blaming the media for bringing the shortcomings to light, decisive action is called for that will insure that this prob- lem is corrected and nothing like it will embarrass or put the bor- ough at risk ever again. At last week's meeting it was announced that the borough was seeking more civil service applicants for the position of part-time police officers. Why not go one step further and have all current officers take the civil - service exam and be done with it. This would protect the em- ployees as well as the employer, whom if I might remind council, are all the residents of Harveys Lake and not just the vocal mi- nority we have seen at the last couple of dog and pony shows they have passed off as council meetings. I'll be the first to admit I was thoroughly entertained by last month’s meeting that was com- mandeered by the Mayor and Councilwoman Eaton in order to air the borough's shortcomings and to deny personal responsi- bility. As they say, “You can’t buy this. kind of entertainment,” although there is a price to be paid and the real shame is the residents of the lake are footing the bill . Does the current council have the resolve and integrity to do what is best for the borough or is business as usual going to be continued and the self interest x ; of a few be allowed to take precedence over the well being of the many? The only way to in- sure our elected officials take the proper steps is to voice our opinions publicly and I urge all, citizens of the lake, whether they agree with me or not, to atten council meetings and become ® formed and involved. Knowle is power folks, and being kept in‘ the dark is nothing to brag about. Robert “Hot Dog Bob” Prescott’ Harveys Lake New books added at Back Mountain Memorial Library The Back Mountain Memorial Library, 96 Huntsville Road, Dal- las, announces the addition of the following books to their col- lection: FICTION “The Vanished Man” by Jeffrey Deaver “Ties That Bind” by Phillip Mar- golin “Small Town” by Lawrence Block “Back Story” by Parker “Full Tilt” by Janet Evanovich Robert B. “Seek My Face” by John Up- dike “Somersault” by Kenzaburo Oe “Keeping Watch” by Laurie R. King “Tropic of Night” by Michael Gruber “What I Loved” by Siri Hustvedt “The Young Wan” by Brendan O’Carroll “Shroud” by John Banville “The Pleasure of Eliza Lynch” by Anne Enright “Property” by Valerie Martin “Drop City” by T. Coraghessan Boyle “The Clarinet Polka” by Keith Maillard : NON-FICTION “The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life” by Suze Orman “Imperfect Justice” by Stuart Eizenstat SCIENCE FICTION “Crossroads of Twilight” by Robert Jordan “The Risen Empire” by Scott Westerfield “Acorna’s Rebels” by Anne Mc- | Caffrey BIOGRAPHY “Use What You've Got” by Bar|" bara Corcoran AUDIOTAPES “Prey” by Michael Crichton “Resurrection Men” by Ian Rankin BOOKS ON CD “Report from Ground Zero” by | Dennis Smith ONLY YESTERDAY 70 Years Ago - March 31,1933 CONTAGION GROWS IN THIS SECTION Care on the part of parents in watching carefuly for any symp- toms of scarlet fever was stressed as nine new cases were reported through this section. The new cases include five of the ten children in one family, Har- ris Hill. Additional arguments for the formation of a Shavertown or= ough were cited in a statement issued by W.H. Stang, in behalf of the Shavertown Borough com- mittee, protesting against sever- al alleged nuisances and calling for action, with reference to the extreme danger caused by nar- row thoroughfares. Some of the items you could get at the American Stores Co. were:peaches, 10¢; sardines, 2 cans 9¢; pancake g;pit. [lh 5¢; butter, 1b. 19¢; sliced bacon, 2 1/2 1b pkg, 17¢. Only Yesterday is compiled from the back-issue files of The Dallas Post 60 Years Ago - March 26, 1943 IDETOWN CHURCH FOLK DEDICATE ROLL The large maple Honor Roll in the Idetown Church was dedi- cated ath the church. The con- gregation made up of parents, wives and children of the ser- vicemen, took part in the ser- vice, repeating in unison that they dedicated the honor roll to the boys who are fighting for their homes. Cadet Warren Hicks, former reporter for The Dallas Post and later acted as news editor,re- ceived his Silver Wings in the United States Army Air Corps. Some movies that played at the Shaver Theatre: “Heart of Rio Grnade” with Gene Autry; “Yokel Boy”, with Joan Davis’ “My Heart Belongs To Daddy” star- ring Richard Carlson and Molly O'Driscoll 50 Years Ago - March 27, 1953 SEWAGE TROUBLE CLOSES SCHOOLS There were no classes at Dal- las-Franklin . schools. Students were dismissed as soon as they arrived because of overflowing septic tanks in the school’s elab- orate sewage system. The heavy rains and subsurface drainage had filled the nine septic tanks beyond their capacity with ground water. Owners of used car lots had been plagued with a series of petty thefts recently. Hubcaps were stolen from cars on L.L. Richardson's used car lot. Thieves also stole hub caps, a spare tire and other accessories from a Cadillac car on Russell Parson used car lot. Members of Lehman, Jackson and Ross Township school boards passed a resolution form- ing three way jointure at a meet- ing in Lehman-Jackson library. Action was the culmination of several months of planning and negotiation. 40 Years Ago - March 28, 1963 DALLAS TO GET NEW FIRE SIREN Dallas central fire alarm will be retired after thirty-five years honorable and devoted service and replaced with a new one, it was decided at a meeting of Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Company. The vintage warning system had a tendancy to sound at will due to short circuiting. A six-week course in protec- tion for the family unit, pro- teciton at school and safeguards for the community incase of dis- aster, natural or nuclear, will be presented at the Dallas Senior High School. Some of the Easter items you could get at Evans Drug Store: filled baskets, 49¢ to $2.98; Easter nests $1 to $1.98; jelly eggs, 508; chocolate Easter bun- nies, 10% to $5.69. 30 Years Ago - March 29, 1973 BANKS BROTHERS HEAR GRIPES ABOUT POLLUTION Almost 100 residents of Jack- son Township gathered at the fire hall for a face-to-face con- | fronation with the Banks broth- | ers, Jack and Bernard, owners | and operators of the American Asphalt Paving Company. For | several years complaints have | been growing about excessive blasting and air and water pollu- tion occurring at the company’s | plant in Jackson Township. : Dr. Werkheiser, superinten- dent of the Dallas School dsitrict, reported to the school" board at a meeting, thet the school cafeteria had a loss of $1,180.53during February. Dr. Werkheiser attributed the loss to | the increased cost of food, “® ~ ceially meat, and the decrease foods distributed by the Bureau of Government Donated Foods. Marine Lance Cpl. John R. Whitlock, Dallls, reported for | duty at the Marine corps Base, Camp Lejeune, N.C. 20 Years Ago - March 30, 1983 EXIT FINALLY APPROVED Construction of a separate exit | from the Dallas Post Office on to | Foster Street has been approved by the federal government. The | entrance to the Post Office will | remain as it is on Church Street, but traffic within the post office | lot will be routed one Way i through to the exit. Eugene Hudak announced to | the citizens and taxpayers of! Luxerne County that he will seek reeleciton to the office of Clerk of Courts. The Dallas Senior Varsity Cheerleaders placed first in the 3rd Annual Pennsylvania Invi, tional Cheerleading CompettilP) (Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news each week? A: Only in The Dallas Post
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers