2 The Post NEWS Sunday, February 1, 2004 Volunteers (continued from page 1) “I have to be honest, it took me by total surprise,” he said about finding out screening is not required. “As a principal and a board member, I feel that the process has to be in place —mandatory for people working with chil- dren.” Bigus, who is principal at Regis Elementary, said his school has required the checks for all school volunteers since 1999. The checks are repeated every five years on long-term volunteers. He said he realizes back- ground checks can’t prevent every potential abuse, but said they provide some assurance. The two reviews, Act 151, the Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance and Act 34, the Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Records, have been in use since the 1980s. Bigus said they have tradi- tionally been used as a way to screen employment applicants, but over time that has begun to change. More and more, he said, they are used to screen volunteers. “I don’t think it’s anybody’s fault (that Dallas doesn’t re- quire them). I think it was just an oversight — it’s been an evolution,” he said. The cost to complete the two checks is $20 per volunteer. “I just think it’s proactive, not reactive. We have to be very careful who comes in our schools anymore.” Deborah Morgantini School director The district would have to de- cide whether to cover the cost, or pass it on to prospective vol- unteers. Bigus said Regis covers the cost of getting clearances for those seeking employment, but not for those interested in vol- unteering. He admitted the plan could alienate prospective volunteers, but said that hasn’t happened at his school. “Anyone I've ever asked to complete the forms, they're signed sealed and delivered in a couple of days.” Griffiths said it would cost the district about $3,000 annu- ally to check all of its 150-200 volunteers. Griffiths said he plans to sur- vey the Parent Teacher Organi- zation about whether they would like to start utilizing background checks. He expects to report his findings at the March 9 meeting. Post drop box in Dallas The building that housed The Post until October has been sold, and the drop off box there has been closed. A box at the Uni-Mart in Dallas, across from the Dallas Shopping Center, remains open. News items, photos and other correspondence can be deposited there at any time. Please do not place cash or checks in the box. The deadline for submissions is Tuesdays at 5 p.m. POLICE BLOTTER Crime watch chairman found guilty, fined for disorderly conduct POST PHOTO/ERIN YOUNGMAN Mrs. Christiana Baron instructs second grade students during the afterschool remedial math program at Wycallis Elementary School. Dallas Middle School started a similar program in January. Math (continued from page 1) to the district's elementary students. The grade school pro- gram has been in place for the past three years. Through a new computer tracking program, teachers and members of the adminis- tration have identified stu- dents who are not meeting “proficient” status. NCLB will eventually require all children be at proficient or advanced levels. The tracking program pro- vides a detailed summary of the mathematical areas each student lags in and then groups the students together accordingly. Approximately 135 children in grades 6-8 have been identi- “Surveys indicate that across the country there is a progressive decline. We recognize that.” Dr. Michael Speziale Assistant Superintendent JACKSON TWP. — Crime Watch Chairman Edward Ches- novitch on Tuesday was found guilty of two summary charges of disorderly conduct after an incident at the township building in- volving the legality of campaign signs, according to a clerk in the office of District Justice James Tupper. Jackson Township Zoning Secretary Joann Wright said she filed the charges on Nov. 3 after Chesnovitch “yelled because he had to pay 50 cents” for ‘a Tist of people who'paid $30 for ‘periiits to post political campaign signs. . She said he was upset because the list was not updated and commissioner candidate Todd Vonderheid’s sign was in a yard not on the list. - “He told me to go to the yard and personally remove the sign,” she said. “Then he was screaming at me and told me I would be out of a job.” The fines total $400 plus costs. Chesnovitch has the option of appealing Tupper’s ruling within 30 days at Luzerne County court. Man arrested for assault on woman LAKE TWP. — Ray Edmond Hoopengardner, 42, of Wesley Road, was arrested Sunday night on charges of striking a woman in the face and pointing a gun at her, according to court papers. © State police said Hoopengardner assaulted Joan Marie Cham- berlain, also of Wesley Road, after she entered the home Sunday night. Chamberlain told police Hoopengardner threw her to the floor, struck her in the face, then pointed a shotgun at her, according to “court papers. ; : Hoopengardner later threw her out of the residence and down the outside stairs, according to court papers. Hoopengardner was arrested on charges of simple assault, reck- lessly endangering another person and harassment and stalking, according to court papers. Curves The Power To Amaze Yourself!™ e A PROVEN THIRTY MINUTE WORKOUT e COMMON SENSE WEIGHT LOSS e ALL THE SUPPORT YOU NEED Y fied as being at tiers below “proficient.” The school sent home no- tices to those students before the winter break. To date, 25 percent have responded. Speziale said the downward trend in standardized test scores from elementary to middle school is not uncom- mon. “Surveys indicate that across the country there is a progres- sive decline. We recognize that,” he said. It’s estimated the program will cost the district between $2,800 and $3,000, which will be paid for out of the general fund. District teachers will be utilized. The program will be offered after school from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Mondays and Tuesdays. Parents will be responsible for transportation home. The program will run until April and if it is successful, will be brought back in the fall for a full year, said Martinelli. into the system later in the year. The action plan approved last month outlines three main tasks the authority and engi- neering firm will work on si- multaneously. Much of the plan is being implemented now. The tasks are: ¢ Continued identification of sources, locations and severity of groundwater infiltration. SE e Evaluation of the sewer system’s capacity. — e Implementation of bor- ough and authority procedures, obligations, regulations, ordi- nances and corrective meas- ures. Smith said the authority and his firm are about halfway through the investigative por- tion of the plan. They still can- not estimate how much it wi cost to make all the necess repairs. “By the end of summer, or toward the end of the year, we hope to have all the an- swers we need,” he said. Smith said the authority has continued checking homes for illegal sump pump and down spout connections. The con- nections are thought to be adding to the excess amount of groundwater in the sewer lines. Hundreds of homes have been checked, but to date, only about 15 illegal connections have been found. Smith stressed it is impor- tant for homeowners who have corrected their illegally con- nected sump pumps and down- spouts to report the correction to the authority, for record- keeping purposes. While homes being checked now are mostly those whose homeowners mailed in written consent, that could change come spring when the author) ty begins door-to door inspec- tions. Sewer (continued from page 1) Ice golf (continued from page 1) completing the nine-hole course consisting of one par five, two par fours and the re- maining par threes, takes about an hour. “One of the reasons it’s fun is there are canals through the weeds that serve as fairways,” he said. The group is also keep- ing the area plowed so putting will go smoothly. The event will be played in a “captain and crew” format, opening the competition to everyone, including those with- out golfing experience. Those less interested in the nine-hole competition, but who still want to participate, can pay $5 a ball in a long drive contest. Sobeck said money raised will go toward the association’s ongoing projects and others that are still to be determined. He is currently soliciting ideas for new projects from associa- tion members and the general public. Some of the ongoing pro- grams that will benefit from the day’s proceeds are the buoy safety and trash can projects. The money will also go toward maintenance of the associa- tion’s website. Over the last year, the group has donated funds to the Lake- Noxen playground fund and the Harveys Lake Ambulance Asso- ciation. An awards banquet at Grot- to’s, including food and drink, will follow the day’s events. Participants can bring guests for a $25 each fee. Prizes have not yet been de- termined. For more information call Jim Sperling at 639-2078 655-5507 ext. 320. Experience Spotlights... LEHMAN 674-5588 MN NewVesn Dallas The Difference! NowVeat Kelly Galaida, Amber Silveri and Diane Galley. If you're searching for a hair stylist who, is upon all the latest trends call Kelly or Amber. If you want to indulge yourself with a massage call Diane for an appointment on Thursday, Friday and Saturday for full body and chair massage. She is new to the area and is also licensed in New York State. Salon www.salonnouveauaccessories.com Twin Stacks Complex 1148 Memorial Hwy - Q: Where do you find the most Back Mountain news each week? A: Only in The Post LUNCH AND LEARN SEMINAR YANIK LAW OFFICE PRESENTS: ASSET PROTECTION PLANNING STRATEGIES FOR “BOOMERS” The Olde House Gafe Dallas, SLennsyloania 18672 TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10,2004 12:00 P.M. - 1:00 PM. Pre Registration Required Call Marianne Yanik at 288-6050 or 675-8286 Complimentary Lunch Provided To Registrants THE POST TIMESeLEADER (Cg nity Newspaper Group Cal the Coverage Area: The Post covers the “Back Mountain” area of Luzerne County, including Dallas, Kingston, Lehman and Jackson townships, Dallas Borough, Harveys Lake and the Dallas and Lake-Lehman school districts. We try to get to as many events as possible, but staff and space limitations make it impossible to cover everthing. If you have news about your family, town or organization, please send it to us and we'll try to get it in. Photographs are welcome. any misunderstandings created by a story. Call 675-5211. Have a story idea? Please call, we'd like to hear about it. Letters: The Post prints letters of local interest. Send letters to: Editor, The Post, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre PA 18711. All letters must be signed and include a phone number at which we can reach the author. Deadline is Noon, Tuesday prior to publication: Want a photo that has appeared? We can provide color prints of pho- by to order. play Advertising Deadline: Mondays at 5 p.m.. 1(570) 970-7102 We have a variety of rates and programs to suit your advertising needs. The Post satisfies most co-op ad programs. Creative services at no 15 N. MAIN ST., WILKES-BARRE PA 18711 » 570-675-5211 charge. Combination rates with The Abington Journal, Clarks Summit, and Sunday Dispatch, Pittston available. We can produce your newsletter, flyer or newspaper. Call for quotes on typesetting, production and printing. Orders for subscription received by Friday at Noon will begin the following Corrections, clarifications: The Post will correct errors of fact or clarify Week. See box at right for subscription prices. Local subscriptions should arrive Mondays. Please inform us of damage or delay, call 829-5000. The Post (ISSN - 1090 - 1094) Published weekly by Cypress Media, LLC. $20 per year, in Luzeme and Wyoming counties (PA); $24 elsewhere in PA and additional offices. Periodicals postage paid at Dallas, PA 18612-9998 tos taken by our staff. Prices: 5x7 - $12; 8x10 - $15. Call, mail in, or stop POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Post, 15 N. Main St, Wilkes-Barre PA 18711 ©COPYRIGHT 2004: Entire contents copyrighted. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced by any means without the express written consent of the publisher. WE ES EES EEN SER NN SED GN ARN NN NOW NW GES WAY SRG NES NN GRE SEE NE SNE DN MUN GRE SEN SRN EN GOT SWE NG SN SEN ED GN RG WER SEE ay Complete and mail in this form, or call 829-5000 Please enter a subscription to The Post. 18711 Return completed form with payment to: The Post 15 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre, PA Name Mail Address City State Zip 3 Phone : : RATES: 1 Year 2 Years Luzerne & Wyoming counties $20 $35 Other PA, NY or NJ $24 $42 All Other States $27 $48 \ 3 ¥ jg YOO
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers