PLAN Continued from Page 1 cuss emergencies related to natural gas activities. “It’s a floating plan,” he said. Tolomello said the board has been pressed on this issue for the last six months and a plan should be in place now as nat- ural gas is flowing through the pipeline. “You all can live with the lives of 3,000 children on your heads, but now it’s 2,999 - my daughter is no longer your re- sponsibility,” said Tolomello. “I will decide when she evac- uates and how she evacuates.” Humphreys said Williams will provide assistance with education on the facilities, pol- icies and regulations for the pipeline, but the district will be in charge of developing an evacuation plan on its own. While Galicki told residents input will be needed from the township emergency manage- ment officials, Dodson said the school district must also come up with a plan of its own before emergency responders can in- tervene. ; “We'll give guidelines, but we can’t write your emergency plan,” he said. “It starts at the bottom. The faculty here has to be trained.” Parry also said the emergen- cy plan involving gas issues needs time to be researched. “You can’t even think about buses, because buses will be emitting sparks,” he said. Resident Wendy Cominski suggested the board ask for a moratorium on all activities on the pipeline until the district can implement and practice an emergency evacuation plan. “Everyone here is dumping the responsibility on you,” she told the board. Another resident, Kerry Anne Daley, asked what the board will do when it can no longer depend on the informa- tion provided by Williams. Board President Catherine Wega said the board can only contact higher governing agencies on the local and state levels to address the issue. “I don’t know how far it goes,” she said. “I know you're frustrated and we are, too.” Dodson said Dallas Town- ship plans to develop an up-to- date website that will notify residents about routine work on the pipeline, and the dis- trict will also be part of that notification process. Galicki said once the district is aware of routine work, parents will also be notified. Galicki also said if parents choose to pick up their chil- dren while work on the gas line is performed, those absences will be excused. Football coach Parents also addressed the board about its decision to open the position of head foot- ball coach, a position former coach Ted Jackson Sr. had held for 27 years. Resident Wendy Cominski suggested the board ask for a morato- rium on all activities on the pipeline until the district can imple- ment and practice an emergency evacuation plan. Deb Roccograndi questioned why the board has not opened the in-school fitness facility for students to work out during off season. Galicki said the situation was brought to the board’s at- tention last week and the facil- ity will be opened next Mon- day from 3 to 6 p.m. for all stu- dents. He said the field house weight room will not be open until a weightlifting coach could be hired. The board wouldn’t offer any details relating to Jackson’s de- parture from the position, as personnel issues are usually kept confidential. Jim Roccograndi said he felt the hiring panel would be bi- ased, as it is comprised of a group of people who chose to open Jackson’s position. The hiring panel includes board members, Galicki, High School Principal Jeff Shaffer and Athletic Director Nancy Roberts. Don Artsma questioned Gal- icki about how much was spent on the advertising cam- paign for Jackson’s position. Business Manager Grant Pal- fey said about $6,500 was spent on legal advertising for the head football position. Gal- icki siad the position pays about $7,500. “And that’s at the taxpayers’ expense?” said Artsma. Galicki added that inter- views will be held on Thursday and Saturday for the positions of head football coach and weightlifting coach. Student beaten Another parent, Karen Cooper, told the board about a situation involving her 14-year- old son, Sean. She said he was beaten by another student and was unconscious for 12 min- utes at the high school before anyone noticed or called 911. Galicki confirmed the inci- dent, but couldn’t provide any details because he wasn’t at the scene when it happened. Cooper said her son now has frequent migraines and emo- tional problems because of the incident. She said he heard the student who attacked him planned to bring a knife to school “and kill him,” and pleaded with the board to start using the brand-new metal de- tectors at the school and hire extra staff to man the area in which her son was assaulted. She said students stood idly by as her son was attacked, with some students even vid- eotaping the incident. Galicki said the detectors will be in use by the second se- mester. He also said adjust- ments have been made to in- crease the number of hall mon- itors in that area. In other news, the board... e Accepted the resignation of Paula Alu, personal care as- sistant at Dallas Elementary, effective Nov. 14, 2011 and Jo- dy Kiwak, Wycallis classroom aide, effective Jan. 13, 2012. e Approved a resolution to not raise taxes above the state determined Act 1 index of 2.1 percent for the 2012-13 school year. e Approved the following appointments: Ashley Baker as Wycallis classroom aide, Laura Marriggi as Wycallis class- room aide, Kimberly McGuire as Wycallis personal care as- sistant, Deborah Limongelli as Dallas Elementary personal care assistant, Zachary Tarbox as Wycallis instructional aide, Megan Martin as Dallas Ele- mentary personal care assist- ant and Ericka Chung as Wy- callis classroom aide. e Approved an endorsement for the Luzerne Intermediate Unit No. 18 to work with local municipalities for its gaming grant application to build the Plains Veteran Memorial Edu- cational Opportunity Center. e Approved extensions of leaves of absence for the fol- lowing teachers: Crystal Seidel until April 12 and Nicole Mill- er until June 15. e Appointed Diana Burns- Snyder as a long-term substi- tute teacher, replacing Seidel through April 12 with a salary of $45,189 and Kim Karavitch Leary as a long-term substitute teacher, replacing = Miller through June 15 with a salary of $35,000. e Appointed the following high school coaches: Ken Kashatus as head boys baseball coach with a stipend of $3,695; Jim Casey as assistant baseball coach with a stipend of $2,373; Matthew Samuel as head track coach with a stipend of $3,695; Ed Radzinski and George La- zur as assistant track coaches with stipend of $2,373 each; Michael Labagh as head boys’ volleyball coach with a stipend of $2,045; Nick Diaco as assist- ant volleyball coach with a sti- pend of $664; Joe Pugliese as head tennis coach with a sti- pend of $2,217; Chris Scharff and Abe Lewis as girls’ soccer co-coaches with stipends of $3,033 each; Joyce Tinner as head softball coach with a sti- pend of $3,605; and John McNeil as assistant softball coach with a stipend of $2,373. e Appointed the following middle school coaches: Amy Rome as assistant-in-charge of track with a stipend of $2,373; Marjorie Adams as assistant track coach with a stipend of $1,989; Tony Chiarucci as as- sistant-in-charge of softball with a stipend of $2,373; Re- gan Palfey as assistant softball coach with a stipend of $1,989; Fred Weaver as assistant-in- charge of baseball with a sti- pend of $1,989; and Chris Pla- viak as assistant baseball coach with a stipend of $1,989. e The next Dallas School Board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 13 in the administration building. DRIVING Continued from Page 1 Eighteen-year-old Chelsea En- glish of Dallas said she’s usually tame in the car anyway, “unless there’s a good song on the radio.” Both women said they have be- come more aware of their driving habits since the early December crash involving Damon Szatkow- ski, a Dallas student, who was critically injured. “Every single time I leave the house, my mom says ‘Drive safe- ly,” said English. “Even if I'm just going a mile down the road, she says it.” Robert Jolley said the changes to the laws laws will be most ef- fective when there is a crash, as young drivers will most likely be fined more once an investigation is conducted. He said the most important as- pect of these new laws is preven- tion, and the Dallas Township Police Department plans to speak with new drivers within schools in order to spread aware- ness. Dallas student Jeremy Stair, 17, believes the new driving laws only put further restrictions on teens, which he feels isn’t fair. i oT dont think it’s right, but it’s not going to prevent kids from driving with more than one pas- McCOACH senger,” said Stair. “They're still going to do it.” Stair has been more aware of his driving habits ever since he got a speeding ticket shortly af- ter getting his driver’s license. “It’s always in the back of my mind now,” he said. “I don’t speed.” Michael McCoach, 17, of Har- veys Lake, also knows the impor- tance of driving safely — he got into a wreck in Lehman Town- ship going 110 miles per hour not long after receiving his driver’s li- cense. “I should have been dead,” he said. “I didn’t have any injuries at all.” McCoach thinks young drivers need those safeguards so they don’t have to learn from experi- ence like he did. “Now I know better,” he said. “Now I always wear my seatbelt.” Lake-Lehman alum Dean Krei- dler, 21, said he believes young drivers like to “show off” by driv- ing unsafely, and he thinks the new laws are a good idea to keep distrac- tions at a mini- mum. - “My girl- friend goes to Lake-Lehman and I wouldn’t want her to be in 4 car with some guy who's just trying to impress everyone,” said Kreidler, of Hunlock Creek. Texting while driving will be- come illegal in March, and stu- dents admit they believe that is a major factor when it comes to distracted driving. Allie Jayne, 18, of Hunlock Creek, said she’s always safe in the car, and knows when to put down her cell phone. “I figure it’s more important to pay attention to where I'm go- ing,” she said. Dana Jolley said she’ll have her friends text people for her when she’s behind the wheel —- a prac- tice she thinks is much safer while still responding to those who try to contact her. English tries to eliminate the temptation altogether. “I force myself to put my phone in the backseat,” she said. “Someone could be walking across the street while I'm text- ing and that’s it.” KREIDLER CIVIC BRIEFS Christmas trees picked up in KT The Kingston Township Board of Supervisors reminds residents the Annual Christ- mas Tree Pick-up continues this week from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Residents are asked to place Christmas trees at curbside with lights and ornaments removed. Breakfast buffet set for Jan. Ib The Noxen Volunteer Fire Company will hold a breakfast buffet from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m." today, Jan. 15 at the fire hall on Stull Road. Price is $7.50 for adults and $4 for children under 12 years of age. Volunteer program set at Meadows The volunteer department at the Meadows Nursing & Reha- bilitation Center, Dallas, is holding orientations for anyone 13 and older at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18 and at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 20 in the multi-purpose room on the first floor of the nursing center. Volunteers at the center assist with activities such as Bingo, crafts, baking and games. Volunteers are also needed to assist in the beauty shop, therapy department, and reception desk. Various days and times are available. Registration deadline is Monday, Jan. 16. Call 675-8600, ext. 195 or 675-8600, ext. 115. Mobile veterans center to visit Dallas The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Mobile Veterans Center will be at the Dallas Shopping Center on Memorial Highway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fri- day, Jan. 20. Some of the services provid- ed at the center include indi- vidual, group, family and be- reavement counseling, medical referrals, assistance in applying for VA benefits, employment counseling, guidance and re- ferrals, alcohol and drug as- sessments. Appointments for mobile veterans center services are not required. Supply drive will benefit Blue Chip A group of Leadership Wilkes-Barre participants as- sisting the Blue Chip Farms Animal Refuge in Dallas will conduct a supply drive for the organization from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21 and Saturday, Jan. 28 at Pet Suppli- es Plus, 555 Scott St., Wilkes- Barre. Items the group will collect include cat litter, canned cat and dog food, trash bags, holi- stic cleaners, paper towels, vinegar, latex gloves, precise holistic dry dog food, mops, pails, puppy pads, dish de- tergent, sponges, fuel cards, baking soda, Greenie cat treats, dog leashes, dry kitten chow, Revolution flea control, 6” paper plates, Soft Scrub with bleach, small dustpans, brooms, throw rugs, hand sanitizer, Neosporin and laun- dry cleaning solution. For more information about Blue Chip Farms Animal Ref- uge, call 333-5265. Storyteller visits Dietrich Theater Stories from Around the World with Fiona Powell will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Dietrich Theater, downtown Tunkhannock. Storyteller Fiona Powell sits at her spinning wheel and spins folk tales from around the world for us to enjoy. Wherever your ancestors are from, Fiona probably knows a tale from that land. The program is free. For more information, call 996- 1500. Bingo set for Noxen School A 50/50 Bingo will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 21 at the Noxen School, School Street, Noxen. Food and beverages will be available and participants will pay per card. All proceeds benefit the Noxen-Monroe Sportsmen’s Club. For more information, call 298-2052. Dallas workers will collect trees The Dallas Borough Road Department will commence curbside collection of Christ- mas trees until January 27. Christmas trees must have all decorations removed prior to being placed curbside. Resi- dents are to refrain from plac- ing their trees curbside prior to weather predictions for snow and/or freezing rain events. Any questions or comments may be directed to the road department at 674-5362. Legion sponsors essay contest - Daddow-Isaacs Dallas Amer- ican Legion Postwill again sponsor the Pennsylvania American Legion Essay Con- test. This year’s topic is “Should America’s Presidential Electo- ral Process Be Changed?” Mon- etary prizes are available at the various levels. | Applications can be picked "up in the schools or by calling Clarence J. Michael at 675- 0488. Essays should be sub- mitted by January 28. Auditions at Dietrich The Dietrich Theater in downtown Tunkhannock will hold auditions for “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 28 and 29. The show will be presented March 21-25. Actors needed are four women ages 18-50 and 12 men, ages 18-70. Call 996-1511 for an appoint- ment. Mobile vets center visits area on Feb. 17 The Department of Veterans Affairs’ Mobile Veterans Center will be at the Dallas Shopping * Center, Memorial Highway from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Fri- day, Feb. 17. Some of the services provid- ed at the center include indi- vidual, group, family and be- reavement counseling, medical referrals, assistance in applyin for VA benefits, employment counseling, guidance and re- ferrals, alcohol and drug as- sessments. Appointments for mobile veterans center services are not required. Winter parking ordinance in effect The Kingston Township Public Works and Police De- partment reminds residents the Winter Parking Ordinance is currently in affect until March : @ The ordinance prohibits parking on the street between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 am., during any snow or ice storm and for eight hours following the commencement of a snow or ice storm. PEOPLE BRIEFS Albrecht named to dean's list Nathan Albrecht, of Shaver- town, has been named to the dean’s list at the University of New Haven for the fall 2011 semester. Full-time undergraduate students must earn a 3.50 or better cumulative GPA for the semester to be eligible for the dean’s list. Albrecht is a freshman at the university. Misericordia chair presents paper Stanley J. Dudrick, M.D., medical director of the Physi- cian Assistant program and recipient of the first endowed chair at Misericordia Uni- versity, recently was an hon- ored invited lecturer and panelist .of the Congress of the Polish Surgical Society in E6dY, Poland. Dr. Dudrick presented the paper, “Management of Fistu- las of the Upper Gastrointes- tinal Tract,” and served on a panel of surgeons discussing complex abdominal surgical problems. Dr. Dudrick has been a consultant and member of the Polish Journal of Sur- gery’s editorial board for almost 10 years and has con- tributed several scientific papers for publication in the Journal which has recently achieved official recognition by the National Library of Medicine and Pubmed. Dr. Stanley Dudrick receives award Stanley J. Dudrick, M.D., medical director of the Physi- cian Assistant program and recipient of the first endowed chair at Misericordia Uni- versity, recently was present- ed the Nathan Smith, M.D., Distinguished Service Award by the New England Surgical Society at its 92nd Annual Meeting in Bretton Woods, N.H. The Nathan Smith Award was first presented by the New England Surgical Socie- ty in 1985. It recognizes exceptional scientific and clinical contributions to sur- gery, as well as for being committed to providing com- munity service and care to those most in need in socie- ty. Dr. Dudrick received his Bachelor of Science degree in biology with honors from Franklin and Marshall Col- lege, graduating cum laude. His medical degree was con- ferred by the University Pennsylvania School of Med- icine. Lipski on dean's list Elizabeth Lipski, of Shaver- town, has been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2011 semester at Clarion Uni- versity of Pennsylvania. Students must earn a grade point average of 3.5 for placement on the dean’s list. APPEAL Continued from Page 1 because I'm going to be impact- ed; my family’s going to be im- pacted,” said Dottor. “I still don’t feel comfortable.” Resident Norm Tomchak questioned whether Chief has ever conducted a study on what a “catastrophic incident” would entail, such as recent gas pipe- line explosions in Appamattox, Va.; Cleburne, Texas; Carlsbad, N.M.; and San Bruno, Calif. “Did you ever recall (Reza) talking about a catastrophic rup- ture of a 24-inch line at 1,000 (pounds per square inch)?” Tomchak asked Scott, who re- sponded no. “Yet, when I look at live video available to everyone who is an oxygen-breathing biped on the planet Earth, and sentient, ... I see total destruc- tion in a diameter of 1,000 feet.” Resident Kim Jacobs asked why the board was depending on the testimony of Reza, who was paid by Chief to conduct the study. She said he was biased due to this fact, and demanded another study be done by an in- dependent party. & Scott said Reza is affiliated with governmental agencies, and if he were to be biased under oath, it could ruin his work repu- tation.