@°" 116 No. 40 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 October 2 - October 8, 2005 50¢ SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS AND LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS } Lemmond saying goodbye to state Senate, not to community By DAVE KONOPKI Post Editor He started his political career as naive sixth grade student. Al- t six decades later, he will end it as one of the most highly-re- spected members of the Pennsyl- vania state legislature. State Sen. Charles Lemmond announced earlier this week that he will not seek election for a sixth term. The Dallas resident has been serving in the state capital since winning a special election to fill the remainder of former state Sen- ator Frank O'Connell's term in 1985. The following year, Lem- mond was elected to the first of five terms in the 20th Senatorial District. “I think if you told me back in 1985 that I would have served for 20 years, I would have been sur- prised,” said Lemmond, a Repub- lican who will serve the remaining 14 months of his current term. “The average length of stay in the Pennsylvania senate is 11 years. As you stay longer, you learn more and gain knowledge. I tried to do everything I could to properly serve the people in my district.” Lemmond, who earned an un- dergraduate degree from Harvard University and a law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, won his first election as a sixth- grade while attending school in Forty Fort. And he’s been fascinat- ed with history and government since that time. “I enjoy the process of govern- ment,” said the former District Magistrate, Judge of Common Pleas and Luzerne County assist- ant district attorney. “And I like the people. It’s a great combina- tion. I've enjoyed public service. You're dealing with people all of the time.” At 78 years old, Lemmond says the timing was right to step out of the public spotlight. “I think that when you've done something for two decades, you've done a lot,” he said. “I have ad- vanced six years beyond the man- datory retirement age for judges and United Methodist ministers. If I would run for another term, would be older than (late Supreme Court Justice William) Rehn- quist.” Lemmond has been able to ac- complish a lot during his two dec- ades in Harrisburg. Among the many bills he has sponsored is one that mandates hearing testing for infants. “When I took office, there were only four states that had testing for newborns,” said Lemmond, who wears. hearing devices in both years after suffering hearing loss while serving in the Army. “Tm ve- ry proud of that bill. I believe it re- ally benefits our children.” Lemmond and his wife, the for- mer Barbara Northrup, moved to the Back Mountain area more than 45 years ago, raising three sons — Charles, John and David — and a daughter, Judy. Soon after taking office, he opened an office in Dal- las. “The people of the Back Moun- tain have been superb,” said the 1946 graduate of the former Forty Fort High School. “The first re- turns (on election night) I look at is how my hometown voted. I've been delighted year after year. I think the majority of people in this community think the same (politi- cally) as I do. I've also been sur- rounded by very intelligent people — people like Shawn Murphy, Joyce Jobson and Tom Reese — who have been great.” State Sen. Charles Lemmond announced earlier this week that he will not seek election for a sixth term. Lemmond says the day he walks out of his office for the final time won't be the last time he’ll serve the people of the Back Mountain. ing in the legislature.” “I plan to remain active in the community,” he said. “I look for- ward to it. I can do that without be- “We feel this is a great place to live and raise a family. The people have been great.” Joey Mushinski Shavertown resident By JACQUELINE BOUCHER For The Post SCRANTON - Injuries re- ceived during the War on Ter- rorism exacted a high price from one 9-year Army veteran — inju- ries that cost him his military ca- reer and almost his future. In 2003, Joey Mushinski en- dured 67 combat days in Iraq, re- turning home with damage to his spinal cord, and 90 percent Shavertown resident Joey Mushinski was injured by an Iraqi mortar round. He now works at the Tobyhanna Army Depot. Shavertown man battles injuries to help soldiers hearing loss in his left ear. Doc- @ told the 29-year-old Army sergeant he might never walk again. Today, the Shavertown resi- dent wears a hearing aid and walks purposefully around a To- byhanna Army Depot ware- house performing duties as quality assurance specialist. Mushinski was deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 4th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colo. Two months into the deployment, an Iraqi mortar round exploded as it struck the MB88A2 Hercules armored vehi- cle he commanded. The force and roar of the blast caused ir- reparable damage to his ear- drum and buried shrapnel in his back. “(After the accident), it was really tough,” he said. “My wife (Natasha) and I were dating at rp ———— TS” the time. I called her to tell her the doctors said I'd never be able to walk again. She told me that she loved me and it didn’t mat- ter. Things got a lot easier after that.” Mushinski and his wife moved to the Back Mountain af- ter he was hired at Tobyhanna. In less than five months, the couple has grown fond of the ar- ea — and its people. “My wife and I love the area,” said Mushinski, who attends the Dallas Baptist Church with Na- tasha. “We feel this is a great place to live and raise a family. The people have been great. I probably gained five pounds from all of the pastries our neighbors brought to our house.” Following the accident, Mushinski returned home from war on a stretcher for the sec- ond time, having been shot in the foot during a 1998 tour of du- ty in Bosnia. At the time of the attack in Iraq, he was traveling with the commander, medics and support vehicles along what looked like a river bottom, he ex- plained. Three others in the Hercules were hurt and treated. The former tank mechanic woke up in Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany, un- See BATTLES, Page 10 FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK The Rev. Charles Grube of St. Paul Lutheran Church talks to members of the emergency services community. Honoring those who serve The church service was sponsored by the Back Mountain Ministerium By GENELLE HOBAN For The Post ) i a i iH DALLAS - In the time of any, crisis, disaster or catas- trophe, most people look to emergency service workers for help. Fire company, emergency medical, paramedic, police, Civil Air Patrol and 911 Call Center employees and vol- unteers lend their helping hands to those in need in just about every circumstance on a daily basis. Those workers were hon- ored last weekend during the inaugural Emergency Ser- vices Recognition Service for the Back Mountain Com- munity at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church on Route 118. The service honored those who serve the Back Moun- tain community’s safety, se- curity and health. It was sponsored by the Back Mountain Ministerium. W. Paul and Mary Lou Mehl of Shavertown prepare to enter the processional into the church service for emergency services workers. During the hour-long ser- vice, pastors from various churches talked about the courage, selfless service and security these individuals provide. They also honored the memory of emergency workers who have died. “I'm delighted to be here today, and thanks to all of you for the emergency man- agement services you pro- vide to us,” said the Rew. Nancy Russell of the Leh- man-Idetown United Metho- dist Church. - At the end of her sermon - which acknowledged the selfless service given by the workers - Russell an- £ nounced the various organi- zations and members in at- tendance, who rose to their feet as the crowd applauded them for their efforts. “All of the people who aren’t here are probably out (in the community) provid- ing services,” Russell said. The Rev. Charles Grube, pastor of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, says the service was the brainchild of a former ar- ea resident who attended a similar one in New Jersey. “The idea was first brought up to me by David Scheff, an EMT at University Hospital in Newark, who ex- perienced a service like this one out there,” Grube said. “He told me about it and I brought it to the Back Moun- tain Ministerium in the spring and we agreed to do it. Grube said the goal of the service was to honor and thank all of the people who care for others in their time of need. A reception for those in at- See SERVICE, Page 10 ¥ Inside The Post 10 Pages, 1 Section Kmlendar 10 Church 2&9 Civic briefs 5 Only Yesterday .....cccuuvririnnnend Sports oh 7 on College Misericordia stu- dents sail the streets of Dallas during inaugural Homecoming parade. Transfers hurt Dallas hoop program. Dallas, L-L compete in band tourney. ¥ How To Reach Us News: 675-5211 thepost@leader.net 15 N. 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