pS ——— L 6 The Dallas Post EDITORIAL Friday, June 13, 2003 J OUR OPINION Drugs are the common thread in tragedies The Back Mountain is again in the news for the wrong rea- sons, as the police and media investigate the discovery of sev- eral bodies in the back yard of a Kingston Township home. Two have been identified as Michael Kerkowski, a Tunkhannock pharmacist who had pled guilty to illegally selling prescription drugs, and his girlfriend. The home is that of Hugo Selenski, described as Kerkowski’s best friend and business partner. This horror follows by only seven months the murder of a Dallas High School student, allegedly by someone who entered his home seeking to steal money for drugs. That’s the common thread — illicit drugs, which hold the po- tential to be dangerously addicting or hugely profitable, de- pending which side of the trade in them one is on. A series of anti-drug television ads has tried to make a connection be- tween drug use and international terror. These miss the point; the greatest threat is right around the corner, even in a bucolic community like ours. The Back Mountain is not alone in the struggle to shield its citizens — particularly young people — from the very real dan- ger posed by drugs and the traffic in them. Parents, siblings, school officials and law enforcement are only too aware of the life-threatening impact a wrong turn can have on individuals, families and the community. While this tragedy may be more than a simple drug deal gone bad, there is no denying that the lure of easy money and chemical escape has a way of drawing both criminal minds and innocent victims into a hellhole, from which some people never escape. As long as drugs and money retain their power to addict peo- ple, we will not eradicate them. But we can pay heed to the cat- astrophic consequences that drugs bring on nearly everyone who is involved with them, and we can do our best to counsel others on the importance of staying clean. We can also not shrink from our responsibility to inform au- thorities when we suspect dangerous activity is taking place. There is too much at stake to bury our heads in the sand of de- nial and avoidance. PUBLISHER’S NOTEBOOK A certified incompetent when it comes to “gardening,” as grubbing around in the dirt trying to grow grass and flowers is known among the HGTV set, even I must say I'm disap- pointed in this spring’s weather. Not only has the near-constant deluge caused the lawn to grow like Barry Bonds on “sub- stances,” my latest foray into greenthum- bery has suffered mortal injury. That’s right, I actually planted some seeds this year, and little green things started grow- ing. Sure, some of them are sunflowers, which tend to spring up in the most unlike- ly places without human intervention, but RON BARTIZEK it’s a start. Actually, a couple of wildflowers also are popping up in the cleared spaces cut into the tall grass I euphemisti- cally call a butterfly bed and my neighbors call #&?{) *#. The flowers are supposed to add a little color to this otherwise drab patch of green, if they survive the 40 days of rain. Then there’s the lawn, or what passes for one. Actually, it looks pretty good from a distance, as long as you're not looking down on it, in which case the bare spots kind of ruin the effect. Other people take their lawns very seriously, but I always won- der what theirs look like up close. Is it grass, or do they sneak out at night and spread green paint around to get that perfect hue? I once had a boss who felt even more strongly about lawns, and vowed that he would someday have green-painted concrete in his front yard. I doubt that he ever did. Did you know that most of our communities have a “vegeta- tion ordinance?” No, it doesn’t pertain to squash or cucumbers, it limits the acceptable height of grass on lawns. This seems so anti-environmental — isn’t all-natural better? There’s a practi- cal side to free-range lawns, too; maybe the deer will leave our precious shrubs alone if there’s an abundance of tasty rye just waiting for them to nibble on. If the sun ever comes out, I'll let you know if my posies sur- vive. I hope they do — they're perennials, so I won’t have to plant again for a decade or two, which suits me just fine. Letters, columns and editorials The Dallas Post publishes 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 cartoonist, and columns are the opinion of the author. Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, subject to the following guidelines: e 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. e Names will be withheld only if there exists a clear threat to the writer. e 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. : In addition to letters, we welcome longer pieces that may run as columns. The author or subject's relevance to the Back Mountain will be the prime consideration when selecting material for publi- cation. Tie DALLAS POST TIMESeLEADER Cogpunity Newspaper Group P.O. BOX 366, DALLA 18612 » 570-675-5211 dallaspost@leader.net Ronald Bartizek EDITOR/GENERAL MANAGER Kari L. Wachtel ADVERTISING ACCT. EXEC. Enir Youngman REPORTER Claudia Blank AD PRODUCTION MANAGER Darlene E. Sorber OFFICE MANAGER Pry It’s a jungle out there. Main Street in Dallas Borough. 70 Years Ago - June 16, 1933 DALLAS FIREMEN VOTE TO IMPROVE PUMPER Plans to improve the fire truck at cost of $1,200 were ap- proved at the meet- ing of Dr. Henry M. Laing fire company. The truck will be taken to Allentown for re- modeling. Calvin McHose, former principal of Lake Township schools, was elected super- vising principal of Dallas borough schools. Mr. McHose was selected at a salary of $1,700 a year. Some items you could get at American Stores Co.: sar- dines 2 cans 15¢; cherries big can 19¢; layer cake each 23¢; cookies pkg. 17¢; soda crackers 2 lb. pkg. 25¢. 60 Years Ago - June 11, 1943 ONLY YESTERDAY EIGHT AREA HAS MOST FIRST AIDERS In proportion to its popula- tion there are more First Aid instructors and more per- sons who have received training in First Aid classes in the Eight Area, compris- ing the Back Mountain re- gion. Dave Deater, Lake Town- ship tax collector, has a little glass bank on the counter at his store in Alderson in which customer drop pen- nies, nickels and other change. When the amount reaches $50, Dave will send it fo the Reynolds Tobacco Company, makers of Camel cigarettes. The Company will sent 1,000 packages of ciga- rettes to any theatre of war Mr. Deater designates. Andrew Kozemchack,Over- brook Avenue was made a First Class Petty Officer and First Class Gunner's Mate in the United States Navy. 50 Years Ago - June 12, 1953 JOHN SHEEHAN JR. TO REPRESENT AREA AT CA SCOUT JAMBOREE John Sheehan Jr.of Huntsville Road, was select- ed by committee members of Prince of Peace Troop 200, to be sent to the California So- cut Jamboree. He is the only boy in the Back Mountain area to be sent to the Jam- boree. A.C. Devens purchased Himmler Theatre from Mr. and Mrs. Wesley Himmler in one of the largest real estate transactions in this area in some time.In discussing the transaction, Mr. Devens saod he expects to continue the same policies carried out by Mr. and Mrs. Himmler. Robert Richard Rice, Or- chard Farm, a member of the senior class at Dallas - Franklin High School, re- ceived the American Legion Award for outstanding citi- zenship at the Commence- ment Exercises. 40 Years Ago - June 13, 1963 100 GRADUATES RECEIVE DEGREES AT LAKE-LEHMAN HIGH Lake-Lehman High School was filled to capacity as one hundred graduates received their diplomas in the new building's first graduation ceremony. Lester b. Squier, supervising principal, called each graduate forward to re- ceive his diploma from willard Sutton, President of the school Board. Mary AE. Sigworth, teacher of English at Dallas senior High School, has been awarded a William Robertson Coe Fellowship for American Studies Program at Hartwick College, Onconta, N.Y. Pfc, Harold A. Coolbaugh was named Soldier of the Month for May of 1963 at Headquarters Company, 7th Army Stock Control Center in Zweibruecken, German. A three-day pass and a check of $10 accompanied the award. 30 Years Ago - June 14, 1973 DALLAS TOWNSHIP POLICE COMPLAIN OF NO BENEFITS Dallas Township police- men left the regular supervi- sors’ meeting stating they had little encouragement that their pleas for help would be answered soon. The policemen on the Dallas Township force have no po- lice pension fund and they are ineligible to collect Social security benefits. Officer Carl Miers, speaking for .the group pleaded with the su- pervisors to settle the situa- tion or they would be forced to hire legal counsel and bring action against the board. Preliminary plans and specifications for the new Lehman-Jackson Elementary School have been completed by the firm of Lacy, Atherton & Davis Architects and engi- neers. The new school will be constructed on a 17-acre site locatd in Lehman Township between the existing junior- senior high school and the Lehman-Huntsville Road. A 58 year-old inmate at the State Correctional Insti- tution at Dallas made a dar- ing daytime attempt at free- dom by climbing over the high-wire fence in palin sight of guards in two towers and the recreational yard. he was alter shot and recaptured by SCID personnel on prison property.. 20 Years Ago - June 15, 1983 NEW DALLAS BASEBALL FIELDS? Back Mountain baseball has outgrown its present fa- cilities. The present fields in Dallas Twp. are in use every night during the season. The Little League Acquisition Committee has found one suitable site in the Back Mountain and the land be- longs to the Dallas School District. The idea of converting the former Dallas Borough Ele- mentary School into new quarters for the Back Moun- tain Memorial Library is be- ing greeted with enthusi- asm.Relocating the library to the former school would pro- vide much needed space. Some items you could get at Daring’'s Market: smoked bologna 1b. $1.19; london broil 1b. $2.39; cube steak Ib. $2.19; chicken breasts whole 1b. $1.09; corn 8/$1; nectarines lb. 69¢; water- melon 1b. 17¢. Only Yesterday is compiled from the back-issue files of The Dallas Post. New books at BMT Library The Back Mountain Memori- al Library, 96 Huntsville Road, Dallas, announces the addition of the following books to their collection: FICTION Second Glance by Jodi Pi- coult Wild Orchids by Jude Dever- aux Engaging the Enemy by Nora Roberts About Face by Fern Michaels Naked Prey by John Sanford No Second Chance by Harlan Coben Money for Nothing by Don- ald E. Westlake Cerulean Sins by Laurell K. Hamilton Safe in Heaven Dead by Samuel Ligon Haunted Ground by Erin Hart The Wife by Meg Wolitzer Sweetwater by Roxana Robin- son NON-FICTION Confessions of a Hero-Wor- shipper by Stephen J. Dubner Publicize Your Book! by Jacqueline Deval Our heroes: present genera- tions honor the Past by Stu- dents at Wyoming Area High School The Way of a Ship by Derek Lundy - The Recipe Hall of Fame Cookbook II MYSTERY Moon Over Manhattan by Larry King and Thomas H. Cook The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell Cat in a Neon Nightmare by Carole Nelson Douglas LARGE PRINT FICTION " Tempting Fortune by Jo B erly Light in Shadow by Jayne Ann Krentz Someone to Watch Over Me by Judith McNaught The Last Detective by Robert Crais The Fellowship of the Ring by J.R.R. Tolkien Sheik by Connie Mason WESTERN 3 The Golden West by Louis LAmour, Zane Grey & Max Brand YOUNG ADULT Pool Boy by Michael Sim- mons Dead Girls Don Write Letters | by Gail Giles Historical Society to hold Annual Garden Party The Luzerne County Histori- cal Society will hold its annual Garden Party on Thursday, June 26 from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. The event will be held in the Hughes Memorial Garden be- hind the Society’s Bishop Memorial Library, 49 South Franklin Street, Wilkes-Barre. The afternoon reception will be held in the tranquil setting hidden in the heart of down- town Wilkes-Barre. Wander among the radiant display of an- nuals and perennials and enjoy the random assortment of ad- vertisements through the ages. Cost of Garden Party is $8 per person. : As part of the Garden Party, the Traditional Hat Contest will be held. Decorate your favorite hat. In the past, contestants in the “prettiest” category decorat- ed their hats with real, artificial or dried flowers. In the catego- ry of “most unique,” hats fea- tured a miniature golf course, tea bags, photographs, drinking glasses, and giraffes. Prizes will be awarded. Winners will be an- nounced at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at the Westmoreland Club from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Cost of dinner is $40 per person, which includes the Garden Party reception. Reservations required for din- ner. For more information, con- tact the Luzerne County Histor- ical Society at 823-6244. Poetry Society seeks members Anyone interested in forming a poetry group in the Back Mountain, should contact Steve at 639-2320 or e-mail BkMtnPo- etry@hotmail.com ) y ® eR i Rd
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers