Vol. 117 No. 21 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF THE DALLAS AND LAKE-LEHMAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS Baker, Boback roll to Republican nominations By DAVE KONOPKI Post Editor Somewhere, Gerry Stinson is smiling. After all, it was the late Dallas High School civics teacher who sparked Lisa Baker’s interest in poli- tics and government when she was a student in the late 1970s. Baker captured the Republican nomination for state Senator in the 20th District earlier this week with a convincing win against four opponents. The Lehman Township resident will face Democratic nominee Robert McNamara, superintendent of the Blue Ridge School District, in the November gen- eral election. “He’s crossed my mind through the whole proc- ess,” said Baker, referring to Stinson, who passed away in December 1999. “I feel very fortunate to have known someone like Gerry Stinson who in- spired me to serve.” The 1979 Dallas High School graduate wasn’t the only Back Mountain resident to win an election for a state office. Harveys Lake resident Karen Bo- back earned the Republican nomination for state Representative of the 117th Legislative District with a close win against Dallas mayor Tim Carroll and six other opponents. “I'm still on cloud nine,” said Boback, who de- feated second-place Carroll by 214 votes in unoffi- cial results. She will face Democrat Fred Nichols Jr. in the general election. “I love this community. Get- ting the chance to possibly represent the communi- ty and the entire district is a wonderful opportuni- ty.” Carroll's name was taken off the ballot for six weeks when a Commonwealth Court ruled he failed to disclose pertinent information on his fi- nancial disclosure statement. The state Supreme Court overturned the decision May 1. “I think being off the ballot for six weeks is the reason we're No. 2,” said a gracious Carroll, who took a bouquet of congratulatory flowers to Bo- back’s campaign office Wednesday afternoon. “We were led to believe it would be a quick (Supreme Court) decision. The layoff took us out of the race. Lehman Township resident Lisa Baker gets a hug from state Senator Charles Lemmond at her celebration party at the Irem Temple Coun- try Club. We lost the ability to raise campaign funds. “On the other hand, it’s a great decision for Penn- sylvania. Unfortunately, I had to pay the price.” Baker won her election with 12,290 votes and she handily won all six counties in the district, which includes parts of Luzerne, Monroe and Sus- TIMES LEADER STAFF PHOTO/AIMEE DILGER quehanna counties and all of Pike, Wayne and Wyoming counties. Dallas chiropractor David Madeiera finished sec- ond with 5,902 votes, followed by Kingston mayor Jim Haggerty’s 4,572 votes. Dallas School Board member Russ Bigus was fourth with 3,539 votes, while psychotherapist Carl Sutton of Dallas Town- ship finished with 535 votes. “I was overwhelmed with the show of support from family members, friends and people I never met before,” Baker said. “People wanted to put signs in their yards or make phone calls. Others wrote letters and sent e-mails. We had 400 volun- teers who were part of campaign. It was very hum- bling.” . Despite the loss, Bigus says a fire to serve the community still burns inside of him. “I really feel that down deep I'm meant to be in- volvement in politics and public service,” said the 35-year-old. “Lots of people called me after the election and encouraged me to continue. Will I run again? That’s hard to answer today. But I know it’s in my blood.” @ competition Annual season begins with event in Dallas Twp. FOR THE Brooke Evans, Dallas, gives her horse Heartbreaker a kiss before riding him in the Dallas Horse and Pony show. POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK NO horsin’ around By CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Post Correspondent q A determined Julianna Davis jumps Lovita Loca over an obstacle. FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK DALLAS TWP. — It’s surprising how a little horsing around can be fun — and a how lot of it can help kids grow up, give adults purpose, and benefit the commu- nity. “People are mesmerized looking at the horses and we love to have people come to just watch the show,” said Bren- da Pugh, manager of the Dallas Horse and Pony Show that took place last weekend at the Luzerne County Fair- grounds. The show was one of 30 held by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Horsemen's Association during the spring, summer and fall in Luzerne, Wyoming and Lack- awanna counties. The participants com- peted for cash, prizes and year-end points. The children in- volved in the shows have a real special con- nection to their four footed friends. “Well, we just love them. I'm so lucky to have him,” said 11-year- old Brooke Evans, who planted a kiss on the nose of her horse “Heartbreaker” before the show. “There is a special bond between kids and horses,” added Jane Morris, a veteran horse show an- nouncer at the fairgrounds and former teacher in the Lake-Lehman School Dis- trict. She is also the treasurer of the NPHA. The competitors do more than ad- mire and love their animals. Most often them are responsible for the care of the horses, including grooming, cleaning the barn floors, and all the extra care re- quired to show them off in the arena. Curtis, Kyle and Brooke Evans care for their three horses every day, except in the mornings when they're getting ready to go to school in the Dallas School District. The Evans children seem confident and relaxed going into “There is a special bond be- tween kids and horses.” Jane Morris Veteran horse show announcer See HORSE, Page 9 A real class act FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Gate of Heaven semifinalists Morgan Gilhooley, left, and Alyssa Joan Lanne perform their skit in the Scranton Diocese forensics competition. By GENELLE HOBAN Post Correspondent DALLAS - There were plenty of dramatic voices at the annual Diocesan Forensics Competition recently held at the Gate of Heaven School on Machell Avenue. Students in fifth through eighth grade acted out various dramatic presentations during the contest. “Forensics is judged on both facial and vocal expression with only a few gestures,” said Anne Marie Lohin, the foren- sics coach at Gate of Heaven. “The judges look for eye con- tact, annunciation and pronunciation. The students don’t even use props.” More than 14 schools competed from the four regional di- visions — north, central, south and west. The students acted out various plays in teams of two and three. “My team acted out ‘May I Help You’ by Joanne Miller,” Allie Banks, a Dallas resident said. “It was about a lady who went to renew her driver’s license and the clerk gives her a hard time. Memorizing the lines took me a couple of weeks. It was the most challenging part of it.” The 12-year-old Banks and her teammate Devin Phillips, also a sixth grade student, placed fourth in the junior varsity division. Phillips, 12, said she had no trouble memorizing her lines, but she was nervous before she went on stage. She said once she got up there she was fine and actually had a lot of fun. “I thought we did pretty well over all,” Banks said. “I will probably do drama when I get to high school.” One of the varsity teams from Gate of Heaven also took fourth place at the competition. Seventh-graders Nathan Albrecht, Stephen Ruch and Kyle Wesley acted out “Eat a Can” by Leon Kaye. “It was about a dog food commercial, except a person who was trying to act like a dog was eating the dog food,” said Wesley, 13. “It was pretty funny, actually.” Albrecht said he likes to test his limits and see the best he can do. “I joined the Forensics Club in fourth grade and my team See FORENSICS, Page 9 12 Pages, 1 Section How To Reach Us News: 829-7248 thepost@leader.net 15 N. Main St. Wilkes-Barre, Pa. 18711 Advertising: 829-7101 Subscriptions and Delivery: 829-5000
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