Vol.122 No. 12 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 May 20 - 26, 2012 ® The DALLAS POST. WILKES-BARRE, PA. www.mydallaspost.com AN EDITION OF THE TIMES LEADER Chief officials grilled after drilling mud is spilled in township. By CAMILLE FIOTI Dallas Post Correspondent Concerned about the effects that drill- ing mud spills may have on several wells near natural gas sites, residents and township officials said Tuesday that they want the water tested. Representatives from the state Depart- ment of Environmental Protection and Chief Gathering/PVR Partners fielded questions regarding the recent incidents during which water, containing bento- nite clay, erupted through the ground. Both DEP and Chief maintain that the incidents did harm the environment and that the mud, which isn’t toxic, was con- tained and removed by a vacuum truck. The locations of the incidents, which occurred on May 1 and 2, are in the wet- lands area off Kunkle-Alderson and Up- per Demunds roads. The leaks, referred to as “inadvertent returns” are not uncommon, and can hap- pen when the pressure from the drill Residents demand water testing pushes mud through up from fractures in the earth’s upper crust, said Marc B. Coo- ley, DEP Environmental Group Manager for the Scranton district office. He added that Chief is “addressing the incidents adequately.” “Shouldn’t the municipality have been alerted?” supervisor Liz Martin asked Cooley, pointing out that she was told of the incidents two days after the fact by a resident. Cooley said the responsibility of reporting incidents falls on the shoul- ders of the operator, but that he'd see what he can do about notifying the town- ship directly in the future. Borough engineer Tom Doughton said there are several different kinds of bento- nite, but the one he’s most familiar with is commonly used to seal the bottoms of landfills, reservoirs and along house foundations. “Anyone who has had a home well drilled in the last 20 years, you probably had it sealed with bentonite,” he said. “I don’t want people to leave here tonight thinking they’re going to die from bento- nite in their water. That’s not the case.” Martin said she’s concerned about the See WATER, Page 9 § # ig | A Mi 4 \ EP BU ~ De MUVL B Board opts to stay In rust until une 2013 Board will keep dental and vision benefits, but will seek health care elsewhere. By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com The Lake-Lehman School Board has found a way to remain in the Northeastern Pennsylva- a School Health Trust while al- @ $1 million per year. The trict voted 8-1 Monday to keep dental and vision benefits but seek health care services else- where. Solicitor John Audi said that as a health trust member, the dis- trict has the right to only utilize the organization’s dental and vi- sion insurance. Board member Walter Glogowski was the lone opponent of the measure. The health trust is a consorti- um of school districts formed to collectively purchase insurance at lower rates. The board also voted 8-1 to sub- mit a letter of intent to withdraw from the health trust by June 30, 2013. Glogowski also voted against this measure. Superintendent James McGov- ern told residents at a town hall meeting earlier this month that he asked the heath trust to change its bylaws that require at least a year’s notice for withdraw- al from the organization, but the motion was voted down. The board approved its pro- posed final budget 6-3 at the meeting, which revealed a $1.8 million shortfall. Business Man- ager Tom Melone said the dis- trict’s fund balance, akin to a sav- ings account, will total about $2 million at the end of this year and will help keep the district afloat for the 2012-13 school year. Board members Karen Mas- Madison Crawn, of Exeter, can hardly believe she caught this very large brown trout at the Sixth Annual Kids Fishing Day sponsored by the Back Mountain Police Association at Frances Slocum State Park. Hooked on fun By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com Damp weather and a few dark clouds couldn’t keep about 135 youths and their families from participating in the Sixth Annual Kids Fishing Day hosted by the Back Mountain Police Association on May 5 at Frances Slo- cum State Park in Kingston Town- ship. Ross Piazza, Back Mountain Police Association vice president, said the event is sponsored by local businesses and residents to provide a day of fish- ing and activity for children at no cost. Dennis Bonvie, of Swoyersville, and his 7-year-old son Rhys chatted with Joe Shiskowki, of Shavertown, and his 7-year-old son Joe Jr. near the lake just before the fishing began. It was Bonvie’s third time attending the event with his son, who loves fish- Kids Fishing Day reels in large turnout Cameron Boyko, of Dallas, holds ] ing, even though Bonvie wasn’t al- b| ways a fisherman himself. “I did some fishing,” he said. “But for him, it’s all about the thrill of the catch.” Shiskowski enjoys watching his son fish because of the excitement he sees in his son’s eyes. “To a kid, every fish is a big fish,” said Shiskowski. Piazza said the police association wanted to start the event to help chil- dren find an inexpensive hobby that would allow them to spend more time with their families. “We do a bike giveaway, and one of the things you have to do to be en- tered is bring a grandparent,” said Piazza, an officer of the state Fish and Boat Commission. The kids also received fishing in- struction from certified teachers, CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST his corn and pole as he pre- pares to fish. See HOOKED, Page 10 ters, David Paulauskas and Bo Kreller voted against the budget. The budget, which features $25.7 million in revenue and $27.5 million in expenditures, will include a 4.26 percent in- Grange gets help crease in property taxes for Lu- zerne County residents, resulting in an additional $53 for an as- sessed property value of $140,000. Those living in Wyoming County will actually see a reduc- See TRUST, Page 10 § | ¢'"M09815 hl 9 The state Grange revitalizes Mountain Grange Post 567 with a little local help. By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com Mountain Grange No. 567 on West Eighth Street in Kingston Township is going back to its roots. The Grange post’s member- ship has been dwindling for the last 50 years, said recently- elected president Carol Swan- son, and she hopes the restruc- turing of the Grange will renew interest in the organization while maintaining the values and traditions upon which the Grange started. The Grange is a family fra- ternal organization that pro- motes the betterment of rural America through community service, education, legislation and fellowship, according to the state Grange website. Post No. 567 was originally Started. fvithe ate 4300s sand though the building burned down in 1987, it was rebuilt in 1988, thanks to donations from the community. Swanson, of Trucksville, has been a member of the Grange since as far back as she can remember. Her parents and grandparents were Grangers, too. See GRANGE, Page 13 BILL TARUTIS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Scamp, who was found eating garbage in Nanticoke, waits for a new owner at the kennel at Blue Chip Farms Animal Refuge in Franklin Township. Volunteers work to benefit Blue Chip Leadership Wilkes-Barre group chooses the local animal refuge as focus for project. By SARAH HITE shite@mydallaspost.com Thanks to a supply drive and oth- er projects sponsored by Leader- ship Wilkes-Barre participants, Blue Chip Farms Animal Refuge owner Marge Bart won't have to worry about visitors going to the no-kill shelter at all hours of the day, or whether there will be enough cat food for the coming weeks. After all, it can be tough to keep track of everything as the only em- ployee of a shelter that houses hun- dreds of animals throughout the year. “I think they gave us a three to six-month supply of cleaning prod- ucts,” said Bart, who lives at the shelter in Franklin Township. Bart was presented with the sup- plies at a picnic to honor volunteers at the Lockville Road shelter on April 29. Rachel Rybicki, of Dallas, said the Leadership Wilkes-Barre group chose Blue Chip Farms Animal Ref- uge as its focus because most of the group’s members are animal lovers. “Many people don’t realize the stories that go along with the ani- mals,” said Rybicki, who represents Penn State Wilkes-Barre in the lead- ership group. Rybicki said a dog named Marcos has come to the shelter not once, but two times. Both times, Marcos had been poisoned by his previous owners. “Now he needs to be on a special diet,” said Rybicki. “Stories like that that make you want to help.” The group installed signs on the property that outline the shelter’s visiting hours. Bart said the shelter has grown so drastically since its creation more than 10 years ago and keeping up with the shelter’s needs can be a difficult task for one person to manage. “The sign we desperately need- ed,” she said. “We’ve grown so very See VOLUNTEERS, Page 13 BILL TARUTIS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Mountain Grange 567 President Carol Swanson describes the resurgence of Grange interest the hall in Kingston Township.
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