Vol. 121 No. 26 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 July 25 - 31, 2010 The DALL 50¢ Serving the communities of the Dallas and Lake-Lehman School Districts | www.mydallaspost.com ONE DAY AT A TIME Lack Shoemaker 's family presses on despite his many challenges By KIM ROLLMAN Dallas Post Correspondent For the Shoemaker family, of Trucksville, Memorial Day 2008 was much more than a holiday to look forward to with picnics and parties with family and friends. It was a day that would change their lives forever. Traci and Jason Shoemaker were a young couple, in their early 20s, raising a precocious 3- year-old son, Zachary. Little Zack was a smart one. He could give you his address, count to 12, rec- ognize letters and was learning his ABCs. He was also able to ive directions to his Nana's @. a couple of minutes away from his house on Lower De- munds Road in Dallas. Zack amazed his family with his ability to recognize the mod- els of the cars driven by family members. “That car’s like Aunt Stef’s car,” Zack would declare proudly. After Jason went off to work on Memorial Day 2008, Traci loaded Zack and the family’s two dogs in- to the car for the short trip down Lower Demunds Road to Nana’s house for a cookout, a trip that normally took only a few min- utes. During the trip, one of the dogs jumped into the front seat and somehow got his fur caught in Traci’s bracelet. Instinctively, the dog tried to free himself, jerking and hitting Traci’s hand on the steering wheel. The next few sec- onds were a blur. Traci remembers skidding off the road and into a telephone pole. After the front of the car “I don’t remember doing anything but praying for eight hours straight.” Jason Shoemaker Zack Shoemaker's father struck the pole, it somehow got turned around and the back end then smashed into the same pole. From there, the car barreled into a tree and careened into Toby's - Creek, finally coming to a halt. After catching her breath, Tra- ci looked to the back seat where Zack was secured in his booster seat. The only visible signs of in- jury on Zack were some scrapes and cuts, but the young mother knew her son needed help fast. She got out of the car and ran up the embankment to wave down another car for help. In the blink of an eye, there were at least 10 people from the neighborhood running to help. “It’s bad, it’s bad,” Traci repeat- ed to the helpers arriving on the scene. Two of the women who came to help went straight to the car to sit with Zack. The water in the creek came up to Zack’s chest in the back seat of the car. With no fear of the water rising, the two women remained in the car and supported Zack’s head, careful not to move him. Ambulances arrived from both Kunkle and Dallas. The Kunkle crew went immediately to Zack. Traci remembers being in a pan- ic. “My baby, is he ok?” she repeat- See ZACK, Page 10 BILL TARUTIS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Six-year-old Zachary Shoemaker of Trucksville, shares a moment with his great-grandmother Priscilla Coolbaugh, of Larksville. THIS ONE’S FOR ME Theo Barr, of Dallas, picks a tomato for himself at the farmers’ summer market which began this week at the Back Mountain Memorial Library. The market will continue from 9 a.m. to 2p.m. every Saturday until September 25 on the library grounds. CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST (as drilling moratorium eyed By EILEEN GODIN Dallas Post Correspondent A one-year moratorium may be the answer to slowing gas | drilling interests in Harveys Lake Borough. The idea came from news that it was the will of the council of the City of Pittsburgh to im- A = 1 WN if { 5°20079% pose a moratorium against gas drilling to allow state regula- tions on the industry to catch up with progress. State Representa- tive Karen Boback (R-Harveys Lake) backed the idea. Boback said, since the De- partment of Environmental Pro- tection has placed a three-year moratorium on issuing new sewer hook-up permits due to storm water leakage and will not allow docks to be built at certain points along the lake so as not to destroy a microorgan- isms’ habitat, a moratorium against gas drilling might be possible. “They are strict in order to preserve the lake,” Boback said. “This is a greater problem for all area residents. “We do not have all the information. This could create a terrible problem. Fish and people could die.” Guy Giordano Harveys Lake resident could easily contaminate the “This is the largest spring-fed lake in the state.” Resident Guy Giordano said some of Harveys Lake water feeds into the Ceasetown Reser- voir which provides drinking water for half of Wyoming Val- ley. He said he is aware of the water table within the area and how easily a spill of frack water drinking water. “This is a greater problem for all area residents,” he said. “We do not have all the information. This could create a terrible problem. Fish and people could die.” Pointing out the facts, Mi- chelle Boice said, with technol- See GAS, Page 10 Redeemer students pitch in at auction By CHRISTIE JONES For The Dallas Post This year’s 64th Annual Back Mountain Library Auction turned out to be more than well staffed with volunteers, thanks to an addi- tional 11 smiling faces. Seniors from Holy Redeemer High School. in Wilkes-Bare shared their A-game and delivered leadership, energy and a com- mendable work ethic to the an- nual event According to Karen Shuster, li- brary auction chairperson, there was a tremendous need for volun- teers due to illnesses of regulars. The students covered all bases with very little directive. “I can’t thank the students enough,” Shuster said. “They were just fantastic. From set up to execution to tear down, they were wonderful. They worked tirelessly and we couldn’t have done it with- out them.” Wayne Williams, an 18-year Dio- cese member and Holy Redeemer substitute religion teacher, has volunteered at the auction since 2003. This year, the Trucksville resident coordinated the senior volunteers as part of the school’s graduation project requirements. Students and other volunteers, including Boy Scouts, began working the Monday before the auction at 8 a.m. and worked a ro- tating schedule that didn’t end un- til midnight on the auction’s last day. According to Williams, any- thing that was needed, they were there. “I can't thank the stu- dents enough. They were just fantastic. From set up to execution to tear down, they were won- derful.” Karen Shuster Auction chairman “The seniors are required to complete 40 hours of community service with a single organization before graduating,” he said. “These students all completed well over the required hours dur- ing this auction” Each student brought his or her own special “something” to the event. If it wasn’t unloading boxes or serving up goodies at a food stand, it was a display of true team work operating the Christmas stand. “The three girls did a remarka- ble job taking over the Christmas booth,” Shuster said. “The regular volunteer couldn't show up and these girls did everything all by themselves. ” Holy Redeemer student volun- teers were Nate Albrecht, Shaver- town; Andrew Dorak, Hanover Twp.; Matt Frommel, Dallas; Tim Mike, Shavertown; Nick Morri- son, Dallas; Mike Napkori, Nanti- coke; Louis Oley, Harvey’s Lake; Nicole Riley, Swoyersville; Jessica Szczechowicz, Dallas; Ann Marie Wempa, Trucksville; and Adhem Zagloul, Mountain Top. CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST ~ Nate Albrecht, a volunteer from Holy Redeemer High School, cheerfully helps all aspects of the library auction, including Gloria Bronson's jewelry reclamation efforts.
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