Vol. 120 No. 21 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 May 24 - 30, 2009 The DALLAS Pos 50¢ Serving the communities of the Dallas and Lake-Lehman School Districts | www.mydallaspost.com Rotary Club honors first responders for heroism Second annual event held at Appletree Terrace recognizes police officers, firefighters and emergency medical techs. By REBECCA BRIA Staff Writer The second annual Dallas Ro- tary Club First Responders of the Year Awards was held on Thurs- day, May 14, at Appletree Terrace at Newberry Estates in Dallas. The event honors the police of- ficer, firefighter and emergency medical technician of the year, as well as the first responder of the year. In addition, a lifetime achievement award is given to recognize someone who has served an extended period of time as a police officer, firefight- er or emergency medical techni- cian. Joseph W. Schmider, director of the Bureau of Emergency Medical Services for the Penn- sylvania Department of Health, was the guest speaker. Close to 200 people attended the awards dinner which was held . during National Police Week 2009, which was May 10 through May 16. Rotary Club members first came up with the idea for the awards two years ago as a way to recognize associates of the 14 fire departments, 13 emergency medical services departments and six police departments of the Back Mountain. Sen. Lisa Baker (R-Lehman Township) and Rep. Karen Bo- back (R-Harveys Lake) are co- sponsors of the Rotary’s First Re- sponder of the Year Awards. The awards are self-supporting through funds solicited from Back Mountain businesses and individuals. First Responder of the Year Officer Carl Puskar, Jackson Township Police Department Officer Carl Puskar was off du- ty on October 28, 2008 when he observed a vehicle that matched the description of one belonging to an alleged burglar who robbed several residential homes and homes under construction in the Back Mountain. Puskar called for backup by cell phone because he was concerned the suspects had a police scanner. Assistance was provided by Sgt. Scott Davis, also of the Jackson Township Po- lice Department. Puskar followed the vehicle in- to a Jackson Township housing development and observed three suspects stealing property. One suspect surrendered and the oth- er two fled on foot. Puskar appre- hended a second suspect in the woods. Police Officer of the Year Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Investigation Section, Troop P, Wyoming Barracks: Lt. Richard L. Krawetz, Trooper First Class Charles Prula, Troop- er First Class Michael Boone, Trooper First Class Joseph Plant This unit citation was awarded for the dedication, professional- ism and commitment to the Back Mountain community and work- ing with investigators from Back Mountain law enforcement agen- cies. Lt. Richard L. Krawetz serves as the unit commander of the Pennsylvania State Police Crimi- nal Investigation Section, Troop P, Wyoming Barracks. The Crim- inal Investigation Section pro- vides police departments with the services of a criminal intelli- gence officer, a fire marshal, a po- lygraph examiner and forensic science personnel. Krawetz’s ex- cellent supervision of his section resulted in the prompt and pro- fessional utilization of his man- power, which has supported crime prevention efforts of the Back Mountain: In February of 2008, informa- tion about a white-collar theft at the Dallas School District was re- ported to the Dallas Township Police Department. Trooper First Class Charles Prula was as- signed to assist the investigative team. As a team effort, numerous search warrants were executed and bank records were obtained, resulting in interview admission obtained by the investigators. The subject of the investigation pleaded guilty to the felony theft charges. The Forensics Services Unit, an important part of the Crimi- nal Investigation Section of the PA State Police, was requested to process a crime scene on Lower Demunds Road in Dallas in June 2008. Trooper First Class Mi- chael Boone was assigned to the investigation and collected blood droplets from the crime scene that led to identification of DNA. The DNA was searched in ) oy CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Shavertown Fire Chief Gary Beisel looks over his award for being named Fireman of the Year. the national database ad a sus- pect was identified. A search warrant for the suspect’s blood was executed and an arrest is pending. The Dallas Township Police Department was involved in the investigation of a number of bur- glaries in September 2008. Trooper First Class Joseph Plant was assigned to the investigation to provide the services of the Fo- rensic Services Unit. Plant pho- tographed and casted tire tracks at the crime scene. The castings were similar to other cases in the Back Mountain area. The vehicle was located and numerous bur- glaries were solved. Firefighter of the Year Chief Gary E. Beisel, Shaver- town Fire Department Fire Chief Gary E. Beisel re- sponded to 60 percent of all emergency calls received by the Shavertown Fire Department in 2008. His service to the depart- ment requires the commitment of almost 1,100 hours per year. In addition, Beisel has been respon- sible for obtaining federal and state grants that have saved the community approximately $1.5 million. Beisel has been a mem- ber of the department for 39 years and has served as fire chief, which he was elected for at age 25, for 30 years. EMT of the Year Robert G. Smith Sr., Franklin- , Northmoreland Township Am- BA _¢ SE poise 7 ; bulance Association, Franklin Bob Besecker, of Dallas, was awarded a lifetime award for over 50 years of service to the community with the Dallas Fire and Ambu- lance Company. fo: hal See RESPONDERS, Page 6 Relay 1s heading back to WB By REBECCA BRIA rbria@timesleader.com An annual Back Mountain event to raise money in the fight against cancer has been absorbed into its parent fun- draiser. According to Carol Mari- no, community income de- velopment specialist for the Wyoming Valley Unit of the American Cancer Society, the Back Mountain Relay for Life has been disintegrated and will merge with the Wyoming Valley Relay for Life beginning this year. Relay for Life of the Amer- ican Cancer Society is a fun- draiser held throughout the year in locations across the country. Teams of eight to 15 people pay a $100 fee and walk around a track or path 200709ulq HEN d ¢ "8509815 cu HR JONATHAN J. JUKA/ DALLAS POST FILE PHOTO See RELAY Carolyn Leja plays frisbee at the 2008 Back Mountain Relay for Life. for a 24-hour period. Formed in 2003, the Back Mountain Relay branched off of the Wyoming Valley Relay and was held each year on the campus of Misericordia University. Marino says Common- wealth Telephone Enterpris- es, formerly located in Dallas Township, provided a strong age 6 Cl ¥ Back Mountain Primary Election results posted DALLAS BOROUGH Mayor —- Timothy J. Carroll (R) Council - Robert Edgerton Jr., Jack Appel, Brian Stevens (R) Tax collector — Mark W. Van Etten (R) Judge of elections, Ward 01 - Linda McDermott (R) Judge of elections, Ward 02 - Hazel L. Garris (R) Inspector of elections, Ward 01 - Marie Belasco (R) Inspector of elections, Ward 02 - Timothy F. Herbert Sr. (D); Norma Crispell (R) DALLAS SCHOOL DISTRICT School director - Karen Z. Kyle, Maureen Banks Matis- ka, Richard G. Coslett and Charles Preece (D); Richard G. Coslett, Karen Z. Kyle, Charles Preece and Maureen Banks Matiska (R) DALLAS TOWNSHIP Supervisor — Elizabeth Mar- tin (D); Philip L. Walter (R) See ELECTION, Page 6 AE xy CEA RH CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Susan Roese casts her vote at the Lehman Township Fire Hall in the Primary Election on Tuesday.
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