4 The Post EDITORIAL Sunday, July 11, 2004 OUR OPINION Ordinance update should not get the brushoff omplaints about excessive noise emanating from a fac- { tory on Lower Demunds Road have prompted calls for revisions to the noise ordinance in Dallas Township. Other residents have suggested that all the township’s ordi- nances, written four decades ago and updated on a case-by- case basis since, need a thorough going over. Given unabated development pressure, that sounds like a wise idea. But at a re- cent meeting, Supervisors Chairman Phil Walter resisted, cit- ing a desire to “get by on 9 mils” of property tax while “every- body’s crying they want a road paved, they want this done, they want that done.” Perhaps those cries should be taken more seriously. It may be that they reflect the changing nature of the township's pop- ulation, one that would not mind paying a little more to sup- port prudent spending for services that would help guide growth in housing and business that seems as inevitable as the next sunrise. The fact is, after paying their school and county taxes, most property owners hardly notice the much smaller amount levied by their township or borough. Yet, their local government has the greatest impact on day-to-day quality of life in their home- town. In this particular case — bringing the township’s rules and regulations into the 21st century — it would make sense to consider the long-term benefits that would accrue from a one-time expense. OTHER OPINION Law enforcement needs help fo police gambling operations By State Sen. Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15) The newly passed law which brings slots to Pennsylvania will make our Commonwealth second only to Nevada in the number of gaming establishments for slot machines. Obvious- ly, Pennsylvania will be at a competitive advantage due to the large number of slot parlors which will be in operation throughout the Commonwealth. However, Pennsylvania Law Enforcement — the Pennsylvania State Police, district attor- neys and the Attorney General — will be at a serious disadvan- tage when it comes to investigating and prosecuting criminal activity arising out of gaming. I have consulted our Commonwealth’s law enforcement community about the legalization of slots at racetracks and other establishments. They speak with one voice as to their greatest concern of the infiltration of organized crime into the operation of slots facilities as well as the communities which house them. The 14 licenses which are created under the new law will authorize slots at racetracks and stand-alone parlors in the four corners of our Commonwealth and points in between. Pennsylvania’s police and prosecutors are not armed with the tools they need to prevent and prosecute organized crime’s in- fluence in the newly established gaming industry. During the late hours of the Senate debate on the new law, I attempted to amend the gaming bill to include a “Racketeer- ing and Corrupt Organizations” (commonly referred to as RICO) component. It would have given our law enforcement “community a critical tool which is used to prosecute and shut down organized crime operations. Its criminal sanctions are the toughest Pennsylvania has to offer — felonies of the first de- gree. Its civil sanctions empower a judge to wipe out a busi- ness enterprise which is operated by the proceeds of criminal racketeering activity. : States which have had casinos and slots operations for years have RICO as a crucial element of their state statutory schemes. New Jersey’s law, upon which much of Pennsylva- nia’s new law is based, contains a RICO provision. New Jersey and other states with casinos and slots also ban felons from ever obtaining a license to operate a gaming establishment. But not Pennsylvania! The new law allows felons to get gam- ing licenses, as long as their crime was committed at least 15 years ago. Felonies are serious crimes. Preventing the infiltration of or- ganized crime into the gaming industry is serious business. The Pennsylvania State Police and district attorneys will be at an extreme disadvantage as a result of the weakness of the law enforcement provisions of the new law. Consequently, I am prepared to fight for these and other tough law enforcement measures pertaining to gaming. Included in these provisions, will be the creation of a Division of Gaming Enforcement with- in the Office of Attorney General. Our district attorneys do not have the staff resources to prosecute the criminal offenses which will arise out of gaming activity. The Attorney General's office must be enhanced in order to develop the expertise to assist our counties in these prosecutions. I am hopeful these will be enacted when the General Assembly returns in the fall. Letters invited Letters to the editor are welcome and will be published, subject to guidelines regarding relevance and suitability. Please keep letters to 500 words or less. Letters must be signed and include the writer's home town and a telephone number for verification. Names will be withheld only if there exists a clear threat to the writer. Send letters to: The Post, 15 N. Main St., Wilkes-Barre PA 18711. : ag 7 iE Ageless beauty in wood. Photo by Charlotte Bartizek. J LIBRARY NEWS Update on summer library activ On Monday, July 12, the Donuts and Discussion group will meet to discuss “My : Side of the Mountain,” Craighead George. All members are encouraged to at- tend because a group picture will be taken on that day. The book was chosen from the “We the People Bookshelf,” by Jean } ities for young people cludes 15 hardcover books with the theme of Courage, geared to help young people learn more about American history and im- portant ideas in American culture. oee Wednesday, July 14, is the date of the next program in the Discover New Trails at Your Library summer reading game se- ries. Judy Adamic from Ricketts Glen State Park will talk about “Nature Fun and Safe- ty” from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. in the Children’s wrap-up will be on July 30. Young Adults, ages 12 to 18, are accept- ing the challenge of reading books and writing reviews about them. Sign up at the library if you haven't already done so. The reviews are posted on the bulletin board near the main desk in the library. A draw- ing will decide who receives the award of $50 offered by Target, so the more books you read, the greater the chance that one CAROL awarded by the Nation- Room. If your child hasn’t yet signed up for of your slips might be drawn. Pepsi-Colgee: KING al Endowment for the the summer reading game, it’s still not too Wilkes-Barre will award prizes for unl Humanities to only late to come in and fish in the “pond” in up. Everyone is invited to read the reviews, 1,000 libraries in the country. The Book- the children’s room for instructions about which may help you decide on a book that shelf, located in the children’s room, in- reading eight books this summer. The final you'd like to read. a% 70 Years Ago Board. Members of the panel 40 Years Ago Gi July 13, 1934 are Allan Sanford, chairman; July 9, 1964 ~ The house being constructed X Leslie Warhola and Harry by Joseph Schroeders for his Ohlman. family, 65 Holcomb Ave., WATER SHORTAGE | HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER tlt OC ition DRAWS CRITICISM Missing in action since May ESCAPES, LIGHTS OFF that may seem unusual - a tree Complaints of an inadequate and unstaisfactory water sup- ply were directed at Dallas- Shavertown Water Co. this week by residents of the two communi- ties served and it was apparent ONLY YESTERDAY WR Tre POST TIMESeLEADER Community Newspaper Group 15 N. MAIN ST., WILKES-BARRE PA 18711 « 570-675-5211 thepost@leader.net Patrick McHugh PUBLISHER Ronald Bartizek EDITOR Justin Wisnosk ADVERTISIN Greg Stauffer AD PRODUCTION MANAGER this sum- mer a repetition of the action taken last year by local resi- dents. Local residents indicat- ed this week that unless the present unsatisfactory condi- tion is elimnated and the water supply improved, official action will be taken again. A number of local men will be among the khaki-clad guardsmen who will entrain at Lehigh Valley Station, Wilkes- Barre, at 6:40 tomorrow morn- ing for Indiantown Gap and two weeks of warlike manuev- ers. Included in the group from Dallas and vicinity are Al Milliner Camp, Trucksville; J. Young and P. Young, Shaver- town; George Lewis, Harold Rood, and Edward Kotchi of Dallas. Attractive, steel signs direct- ing motorists to Harveys Lake or Tunkhannock are to be erected at the junction of the highway on Main Street, Dal- las, by Wyoming Valley Motor Club, Norman Johnstone, sec- retary of the club, announced this week. | 60 Years Ago July 14, 1944 PANEL APPOINTED, WILL SUPERVISE USED CAR PRICES Three members of the auto- mobile price panel, who will supervise the new price ceil- ings which go into effect on July 10 on used automobiles, have been appointed by Dallas War Price and Rationing that there . 29, when he engaged in a rou- ‘tine bombing mission over Germany, Raymond Sutton, 26, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ziba Sut- ton, Sutton Road, Trucksville, is now a prisoner of war, ac- cording to a war department message forwarded to his par- ents this week. A 1933 Nash, driven by James George, employee of Mrs. Theodore Frantz of Stone- hurst, nearly toppled into Har- veys Lake last Tuesday when, out of control, it went through the guard rail. Mr. George was driving from Warden Place to Stonehurst when the brake rod became disconnected. It smashed through the guard rail but caught before going into the lake. 20 Years Ago July 9, 1954 DIRIGIBLE FLIES LOW OVER DALLAS Back Mountain residents were thrilled Tuesday after- noon with the sight of a big sil- ver dirigible coming in from the west and flying so low over Dallas that they could see members of the crew. Some ex- pressed the opinion that it might be a Navy craft. There was no doubt in anybody's mind that it was NOT a flying saucer. * Hanford Eckman was in- stalled as president and William Valentine as vice presi- dent at the dinner meeting of Dallas Rotary Club held at the country club last Thursday. Other officers installed were, treasurer, Harold Titman; and secretary, Leslie Warhola. A motorist recently parked his car in the middle of a rail- road track, walked 100 feet away from the crossing and watched a freight car smash his car to smithereens. When po- lice charged the motorist with failing to observe a railroad stop sign, he cheerfully replied, “That’s the last time I'll have to drive my wife to work.” A car driven by Judith Wright, 18, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. William Wright, Or- chard View Terrace, was victim of a hit-and-run accident at Pole 136, Harveys Lake, at 11:20 p.m. Saturday. Three wit- nesses ran out into the road to get the car’s license number, but the driver put out his lights and drove off at a high rate of speed. The car was identified as possibly a white Pontiac or Chrysler. Ralph M. Sands, prominent Holstein breeder and owner and operator of Sandsdale Farms at Carverton, has been hired by the Pennsylvania Hol- stein Association to select the cattle for the Pennsylvania State Sale to be held in Harris- burg on Sept. 14. Mr. Sands has captured many honors with his prize herd. Quick thinking and knowl- edge of first aid measures saved the life of Allan “Torchy” Wilson, 62, Noxen, when he was bitten by a rattlesnake on the Fourth of July at 1 p.m. The injured man immediately sucked the venom from his fin- ger and applied a tourniquet with a handkerchief. Rat- tlesnake serum was adminis- tered and intravenous injec- tions applied. Wilson was re- leased from the General Hospi- tal on Tuesday. 30 Years Ago July 11, 1974 FORD FOUNDATION GRANTS $120,000 TO MISERICORDIA College Misericordia had re- ceived a Ford Foundation Grant of $120,000, it was an- nounced today by Sister Miri- am Teresa RSM. college presi- dent. Misericordia was among 177 colleges and universities in the Northeast and Puerto Rico to be considered for the Ford Foundation award and is one of the 12 institutions that actually received grants this year. Total money awarded is $2,000,000. on the rooftop. Mr. and Mrs. Schroeders, who moved from Holland 18 years ago, observed this Dutch custom while build- ing their home. On completion of the roof, a tree is placed upon it for three days to cg brate that the house is half" finished. The workers join in'a beer drinking festivity for their accomplishment. ih John J. Carey, executive di- rector of the Alcoholism coun- cil of Luzerne County, an- nounced today that Thomas R. Robinson, Kingswood Drive, Dallas, was elected president of ACLC at its annual meeting. 20 Years Ago July 11, 1984 TORNADO DAMAGE MAY REACH MILLIONS Richard Boice simply shook his head in near disbelief and recalled the almost unbelieve- able events that took place in the Harveys Lake area last Fri- day evening. The disaster Boice spoke of was a tornado which ripped through parts, Sweet Valley and the | section of Harveys Lake Friday evening at approximately 6:10 p.m. The twister left over 60 area homes damaged in its. wake. Friends and relatives galore gathered Friday evening to wel- come home Gina Major, the new Miss Pennsylvania, at a homecoming reception held in her honor at Gus Genetti’s Mo- tor Inn, Wilkes-Barre. Miss Ma- jor, a native of the Back Moun- tain area and a graduate of Lake-Lehman High School, won the Miss Pennsylvania crown about three weeks ago. JR. Fagan, director of the Northeast Region of the Penn- sylvania Game Commission is pleased to announce the instal‘ lation of a “Toll-Free Law En- forcement” telephone in the Dallas Headquarters. To report a game thief, just pick up telephone and dial 1 GAME-LAW. Deadline for submitted news is Wednesday at noon. E-mail is the best method - thepost@leader.net 4 VSI A] ROY gral nic fiona ws 5 fda eo aan eR He i =x CPR re
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers