Sunday, May 2, 2010 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 3 Youth sports rep is removed from two organizations George F. Gracely lll is charged with possession f child pornography. A Back Mountain man has been removed from the boards of youth athletic organizations after being charged with 70 counts of possession of child pornography. George F. Gracely III was re- moved as president of the Dallas Youth Basketball Association Board of Directors after a unani- mous vote was taken at a special- ly called meeting on April 23. Vice president Scott Jenkins was unanimously appointed as presi- dent of the association. Gracely has also been removed as vice president of minor leagues for Back Mountain Base- ball. Gracely, 51, of Grandview Ave- nue, Harveys Lake, is accused of possessing several videos and nu- merous still photos of children engaging in sexual activity. He was released from the Lu- zerne County Correctional Facil- ity after posting a $75,000 bond and was scheduled to appear at a preliminary hearing before Dis- trict Magistrate James Tupper o April 29. : Gracely has been involved with youth sports for more than 15 years and served as president of the Dallas Youth Basketball Asso- ciation and vice president of mi- nor leagues for the Back Moun- tain Baseball Association. He has also served as a Pennsylvania In- terscholastic Athletic Associ- ation official for football, baseball and basketball and as an umpire for the American Softball Associ- ation, according to an arrest affi- davit. ; The resolution passed by the Dallas Youth Basketball Associ- ation board further resolved that, after taking into account the na- ture of the allegations filed against Gracely, the best interests of the association and that Grace- ly is presumed innocent of the charges, he is suspended from any further involvement in the Dallas Youth Basketball Associ- ation in any capacity, pending the outcome of the criminal investi- gation. According to attorney John B. Pike, a member of the associ- ation, Dallas Youth Basketball al- lows parents to serve as volun- teer coaches or assistant coaches. Parents chosen to be coaches must complete a criminal back- ground check and child abuse check. Those background checks are then forwarded to the respec- tive agencies in Harrisburg. Pike said the organization had the required clearance forms from Gracely on file. Dallas Youth Basketball Asso- ciation is a separate non profit or- ganization not affiliated with the Dallas School District. It oper- ates as a feeder program for boys and girls starting in third grade and progressing through eighth grade. Steve Skammer, president of Back Mountain Little League, said that group is governed by rules and regulations set forth by Little League Baseball Inc. in Wil- liamsport which requires all vol- unteers, including coaches, regu- lar concession stand workers and maintenance personnel, to un- dergo background checks. A statement issued by Back Mountain Baseball said, “Back Mountain Baseball is saddened to hear about the charges against George Gracely. Back Mountain Baseball has removed Mr. Grace- ly from all positions he has held within the organization and he will not be allowed to have any fu- ture affiliations within the organi- zation.” - Compiled by Dotty Martin Dallas Post Editor Making crafts at the church There was plenty to do, lots to look at and much to buy at the an- nual craft fair held at the Trucksville United @/cthodist Church on April 17. CHURCH BRIEFS Rummage and bake sale scheduled The Dorcas Society of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Dal- las will hold a rummage and bake sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 30, and Sat- urday, May 1, in the church social hall, located off Route 118. Bag day will be held on Sat: urday from noon to 2 p.m. There will be clothes, toys, books, dishes and tools. TUMC Trustees plan chicken barbecue The Trustees of the Trucks- ville United Methodist Church will hold their spring chicken barbeque from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, May 7 and 8, at the Dickson Educational Facility, Church Road, Trucks- lle. AH Take-out orders will be avail- able from 4:30 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults and $4 for children and must be reserved in advance. Tickets may be purchased by calling the church office at 696-3897 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday or by faxing orders to 696-3898. Rummage sale set The annual spring rummage of the Lehman-Idetown United Methodist Church will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, May 7, and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 8. Lunch will be served and there will be a bake sale and homemade soup sale. Saturday will also be bag day. Roast beef dinner set The Lutheran Brotherhood of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church of Dallas will hold its second roast beef supper on Saturday, May 15, at the church on Route 118, Dallas. The family-style dinner will be served from 4 to 6:30 p.m. @. takeouts beginning at 3:30 .m. Cost is $8.50 for adults and $3.50 for children. Reservations are encouraged by calling 675- 3859, although tickets will also be available at the door. Pastie sale The regular monthly pastie sale of the Lehman-Idetown United Methodist Church will be held on Thursday, May 22. Orders are due Monday, May 19, by calling 477-5219. Molly Motosky, of Noxen, happily works on her jewelry during the craft fair. PE RT AMATA TA PEARY, dint \ Seven-yearold Lucas Tomko helps sell jewelry made by his mother, Teresa. | Mi £ While his wife travels, Angelo Concert, of Harveys Lake, takes charge of her Avon booth at the craft fair. Library auction plans are In full swing Plans for the annual Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction are in full swing. For four nights in July, the grounds of the library will open to a flurry of shop- ping, bidding, eating and mingling with old friends and neighbors and making lasting memories for chil- dren and grandchildren. Many volunteers are re- turning to help set up for the 2010 auction and to sample the delicious food prepared and served by the people who donate their cooking expertise to feed hungry volunteers at lunch. Anyone may volunteer to help set up for the auction and bringing along a crock pot full of one’s special bles, cooking would be greatly these days appreciated. Donations are now being ac- cepted from yard sales, estate sales and rummage sales. Call the library to make ar- rangements or take small items to the library front desk. Nearly Old, Attic Treasures and Cottage Keepers are in need of glassware, crystal, art, framed pictures, lanterns, lamps, jewelry, baskets, prim- itive items in any condition, Christmas items and collecti- baseball and football cards, barware, ice buckets, small furniture, Plasticville buildings and railroad items. Please label donations as Nearly Olde. Of course, an- tiques for the block are always welcome. All items are tax deductible LIBRARY AUCTION KICK-OFF DINNER SLATED FOR JUNE 7 Back Mountain Memorial Library Auction Kick-off Dinner Committee members met recently to plan for the annual event which will be held at 6 p.m. on Monday, June 7, at Apple Tree Terrace at Newberry Estates. Anyone wishing to attend is asked to make a reservation by calling the library at 675-2281 by May 24. From left, are Carol Warholak Sweeney, Cynthia Das and Neela Patel. This year's auction is slated for July 8-1 on the library grounds in Dallas.
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