The Dallas Post Friday, August 15, 2003 3 FOR THE DALLAS POST/S. JOHN WILKIN Navy reservist Christopher Ross embraced his oldest son Christopher on arriving at the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton airport Wednesday night. His wife Judi hugged the Trucksville couple’s other son, Jacob, as Ann Galanda, Judi’s mother, held back tears. Ross (continued from page 1) never thought something like this would happen,” she said re- cently. “I never thought for one day he would be injured and maybe not come back.” Judi and Chris Ross live in Trucksville with their two sons. Chris, an employee of Com- monwealth Telephone, was called up and went off to war in the Middle East in February. While in Iraq in June, he was the victim of an electrical ex- plosion that burned 60 percent of his body. Judi said although it was in the back of her mind that Chris could sustain injury while on duty, it certainly wasn’t her fo- cus. She said when the officers came to her door that night to tell her the news, it was a com- plete shock. “The first thing that went through my mind was that he was dead,” she said, recalling that night. “I didn’t know they came for accidents, dressed in full uniforms and holding a folder.” One day later she was at Fort Sam Houston, Texas, at Brooke Army Medical Center, where Chris had been transported af- ter the accident. A Navy construction electri- cian, Chris had been working on an electrical panel with a fel- low seabee, when a freak acci- dent occurred. The seabee working with Chris told Judi “he heard a wrench drop (on a transformer) and that he knew something terrible had happened. He heard the explosion and then saw that he (Chris) was on fire. He immediately tried to put Chris out,” she said. The next call she received was from Germany where Chris had been taken. She said from here, a burn team was flown in irom San Antonio to move Chris to the burn unit at Brooke Army Medical Center. “He was morbidly ill,” said Judi. “There were times when he (the doctor) said he would not make it.” Chris sustained burns on 60 percent of his body and that his physician told Judi with burns that extensive, there were a va- riety of things that could go wrong. Judi said the support of their friends and family has been tremendous throughout the or- deal. Chris’s brother has been in Texas since the beginning and Judi’s mother and father have also spent a great deal of time there. Judi said her family has been overwhelmed with cards and offers of financial help, so much [Frostsay. CH so that the family has set up the Chris Ross Burn Fund at Cross Valley Federal Credit Union. Once he was moved out of the intensive care unit, Chris began to comprehend his in- juries. “When you're in 1.C.U. you're not really aware. He's been through multiple surgeries and is coming to grips with what happened and how -extensive I A display ads. you call or stop and easy. ARGE IT! The Dallas Post now accepts the burn was.” The hardest thing for both of them was being away from their children. “To just be re- united with the kids — that’s the main focus.” Even now, there is a long road to recovery ahead. “With a burn it’s a very long process, there’s good days and bad days,” Judi said. “It’s defi- nitely an up and down roller coaster ride.” RE RE NT Wi ST I as American Express cards as well as Visa & Mastercard for subscriptions, classified ads, and Just have your card ready when in, and we'll make your transaction fast The Dallas Post © 675-5211 Friction surfaces over Ag Security Area land By TARA BENNINGER Post Correspondent JACKSON TWP. — When questioned about the Agricul- ture Security Act, at the August 13 Jackson Township Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervi- sor and Chairman of the Agri- culture Security Council An- drew Kasko didn’t have many answers. The document has yet to be submitted correctly, even though it was passed, with a few changes, a month ago. Supervisor Al Fox questioned wither or not names had been removed from the list, as voted on last meeting. Kasko said he “didn’t know nothing about re- moving names.” Later in the meeting Fox commented to Kasko, “its a shame that we have to tell you what’s going on after 12 years.” Fox requested that the Agri- culture Security Act be submit- ted properly to solicitor Jeffrey Malak to be submitted for pub- lic review. In other news, the township has never seen revenues as high as they have been since Andrew Sholtis became the zoning offi- cer, Fox said. He requested that the board advertise for a part- time zoning officer to work with Sholtis, when needed. Kasko objected, saying that if Sholtis needed help he would have requested it. Fox said the part-time help would be on a as needed basis. In a 2-1 vote, the board decided to advertise for one month for an assistant zon- ing officer. Richard Malak of Salansky Rd., requested that the board review his road, and send a let- ter to the Lake-Lehman School District. The district has decid- ed to not send a school bus down Salansky Rd. since Jack- son Township sent a letter say- ing the road was unsafe for a school bus. Malak asked the board to investigate that fur- ther, suggesting that if the road is unsafe for a school bus, then is it possible that it is also un- safe for emergency vehicles. Ed Chesnovitch asked that the board look into getting Jackson Township its own zip code. The confusion of having multiple town names and zip codes could lead to serious problems for 911 dispatchers, which has already been a prob- lem in the past, added Chair- man Wilkes. The next Board of Supervi- sors meeting will be Sept. 2 at 6:30 p.m. Dallas Harvest Festival scheduled Dallas Borough and the Dallas Community Harvest Festival Task Force announce the Dallas Community Harvest Festival, scheduled for Sunday, September 14 from 1 to 6 p.m. The event will take place, rain or shine, on Main St., Dallas, between the Route 415 intersection and Huntsville Road. The festival will showcase the Back Mountain’s agricultural her- itage with a farmer’s market. An apple-pie baking contest, Master Gardener consultations and 4-H activities and displays. In addi- tion, entertainment, crafts and food vendors are scheduled, and a trolley route will be designated to facilitate parking. Participation by area merchants is anticipated to feature special sale events and sidewalk sales, and a judging will take place for the Main Street Flower Box Contest. The contest is open to all Main Street businesses. For more information about the festival or vendor participation, contact the Dallas Borough Municipal Building office at 675-1389. Farmer’s market inquiries should be directed to Mike McDavid, Penn State Cooperative Extension at 675-9274. Work out for free this summer. Curves is 30-minute fitness, commonsense weight loss, Curves and all of the support you need to achieve your goals. www.curvesinternational.com The power to amaze yourself. LEHMAN 570-674-5588 8 (Route 118) i 8 Join Now o HANOVER Rest of Summer J 570-270-5588 3 (Across from AirProducts) Zz PLAINS " 570-270-4554 LO) mation (Across from McDonald's) *Offer based on first visit enrollment, minimum 12 mo. c. d. program. Service fee paid at time of enrollment Not valid with any other offer. Offer valid 7/14-8/31 If you would like to con- tribute to the Chris Ross Burn Fund, you can send a dona- tion to: Chris Ross Burn Fund c/o Cross Valley Federal Credit Union P.O. Box 597 Wilkes-Barre, PA 18703-0597 Noxen Historical 'Ass’n open house . The Noxen Historical Com- unity Association will hold an ®- house Sunday, August 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Noxen School House on School Street. Refreshments will be provided. COMING TO THE HANG WITH RONALD & FRIENDS FROM 6 -7 PM JAM FROM 6-8 PM WITH \, A DJ FROM OLDIES JOIN US FOR 92 & 100 SHAVERTOWN MCDONALD'S” THURSDAY, AUGUST 2157 FROM 5 - 8 PM LEARN ABOUT THE D.A.R.E. PROGRAM FROM § - 7 PM A NIGHT TH Ne Ike +N FOR CHILDREN BY THE | PERFORM LIVE KINGSTON TOWNSHIP $1 00 OFF ; POLICE DEPARTMENT Wil DOUR STAR PAVILION” CD PRIZES ALL 2 NIGHT! ATALL i PW - JOE NARDONE'’'S MeDonaiys GALLERY OF OF FUN! FREE FACE PAINTING! s FINGERPRINTING FROM § - 7 PM © 2003 McDonald’s Corporation HAPPY MEAL® WITH PURCHASE OF ANY NEW PREMIUM SALAD WITH CHICKEN VALID AFTER 4PM ON AUGUST 21, 2003 ONLY AT SHAVERTOWN McDONALD'S® Cash value 1/20 of $.01. Limit one coupon per person per visit. One free item per coupon. Not valid with any other offer, discount or combination. Plus tax if applicable. © 2003 McDonald's corporation ARE | I | | I I | I I I I L PIXIE CHICKS “LIVE AT HERSHEY PARK SOUND STORES WW — WW WW W— Ww wo —" ww