Sunday, October 6, 2013 THE DALLAS POST PAGE 3 DALLAS TOWNSHIP Residents respond to gas release incident SUSAN DENNEY Dallas Post Correspondent Supervisor Liz Martin led a discussion on the vent gas release near as schools at the super- visors’ work meeting on Oct. 1 She told the assembled residents that the town- ship was not contacted in advance. “We were not notified,” she said of the incident. “Nobody left a number or a name.” The gas was released by Williams Companies Inc., owners of the Transco pipe- line which runs through the township. Emergency Management Coordinator Alan Pugh also said that he had not received notification from The Williams Companies Inc. until “three minutes after the gas was released.” The company said it had not notified him earlier because their schedule had accelerated. Pugh pointed out that gas companies are only required to contact the county when work is being done on gas lines. They contact other groups as a courtesy. He explained that the public was never in dan- ger during the release since methane floats up. Emergency responders with meters proved quickly that there was no gas at ground level. But the strong smell of the natural gas odor- ant mercaptan stayed at ground level and created panic among students. Many parents went to school district’ buildings to pick up their children. According to Pugh, the gas smell outside led school officials to shut down the air conditioning system and to put students in the auditorium. He admitted that a natural impulse is to go outside when gas is smelled, but the threat was external and the school dis- trict acted properly. Pugh also said that Williams agreed to move its next purge of the gas line to a time when school would not be in session. The company was sched- uled to purge lines at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 2. During citizen com- ments, resident Jane Tolomello expressed anger over the situation. Tolomello lives near the gas gathering line and was not notified by Williams. “I shouldn't have to call Liz (Martin) and Alan (Pugh).” She was also dis- tressed by the events at the school. “I've counted on an evacuation plan,” she said. Martin replied, “We can only ask the gas company to notify us.” Gas Drilling Awareness Coalition member Mary Rodriguez said, “I don’t think anyone should be placing blame.” She added, “There was panic up at the school.” Rodriguez said the situ- ation showed the need for an improved emergency plan. She added that the incident was “a godsend, a little test” which showed that the emergency plan at the school needs to be bet- ter. Several residents men- tioned the fact that some of the children were outside with their math teachers. They felt that emergency procedures were not ade- quate. Police Chief Robert Jolley said that parents who picked up children at the schools did not help the situation. He pointed out that the mercaptan smell was outside and that every time the door was opened to let out a child, the threat was let inside. Martin responded to this by saying, “Had the district USINESS SPOTLIGHT: BACK V AIN VETEI SPITAL Moving forward with technology and care pmeister@theabingtonjournal.com ® BAUMEISTER Back Mountain Veterinary Hospital, 105 West Center Hill Road, Dallas, accumulated decades of growth and experi- ence since it opened in the early 1960s but, according to the cur- rent owner and staff members, the business is not about to start maintaining status quo. Always learning new things, imple- menting new technologies and building relationships with new clients, the business is far from static. That’s one reason Dr. Brock Phillips, owner and chief veteri- narian, enjoys his career, which, although it began over 25 years ago, is just getting started. He said it may be easy to become bored at some jobs, but not this one. “New technology really keeps you on your toes,” Phillips said, adding the nature of medicine is always moving forward. For example, the practice is almost entirely paperless and even x-rays, ultrasounds, echocardio- grams and both still and motion pictures can be quickly trans- ferred to specialists via e-mail and other electronic means. He also appreciates the diver- sity of the practice. “In this business,” he said, “it’s almost like a pawn shop—you never know what’s going to walk in the doors...there’s an incred- ible variety.” Likewise, the business offers a vast variety of services, includ- ing ultrasound and echocar- diograms, specialty surgery, advanced diagnostics, laser sur- gery, cold laser therapy, care of exotic and “pocket” pets, spay- ratory testing, pharmacy (its W-line pharmacy currently offers 872 products), allergy testing, electrocardiograms (EKG), digi- tal radiography, geriatric medi- cine, glaucoma screening, dental care, microchip implantation and blood pressure monitoring. “Basically, we're a day prac- tice,” Phillips said, “but we do offer advanced diagnostics and ] and neutering, vaccinations, surgery.” Phillips purchased the busi- ness in 1992 from his uncle, Richard C. Post, VMD, who first introduced him to the practice of medicine and provided inspira- tion to follow in his footsteps. “He just enjoyed what he did,” Phillips said. One aspect of the business which makes it unique today is its number of employees - 20, including Phillips and office per- sonnel - and the fact that each brings his or her own skill sets and interests to the mix. “The nice thing about having multiple people here,” said Joy Mueller, hospital administrator, “is each has their own niche.” Phillips agreed, adding the staff members make successful attempts to be a team and seek input from each other. “You never know what you may learn from someone else,” he said. One of those team members is Dr. Devinne Bennett, asso- ciate veterinarian, who offers her knowledge of and interest in avian, “exotic” and “pocket” pets. According to the business’ website, backmountainvet.com, Bennett “is a Category II USDA Certified Veterinarian, who also holds a certificate of Veterinary Dentistry Education from the University of Illinois. Besides her interest in exotics and birds, Dr. Bennett leans towards Clinical Nutrition, Small Animal and Equine Internal Medicine, and Theriogenology.” Another is Dr. Andrew Hardisky, associate veterinar- ian, who, according to the web- site, “is an active member of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Hardisky has a background in Emergency Medicine/Critical Care and holds a special interest in Endocrine Disease.” Dr. Kelly Brooks, associate veterinarian, brings “a fresh per- spective and a lot of energy” to the team, according to the web- site. “Dr. Brooks is an active mem- NAL CARE BE SKIL pp ye Providing Compassionate Care To SING | You and Your Family ¢ Call Today For A Tour At Mercy Center 675-2131 _ Sponsored by t the Sisters of Mercy W.MmCnu. org &) Ee iimam®d Am 09m Km OC Eo 0 Sunii2pmito}iopm) [el Li RECIRE Tp ems puna Comprising the team of veterinarians at the Back Mountain Veterinary Hospital are, DALLAS POST FILE PHOTO from left, Dr. Devinne Bennett, associate veterinarian; Dr. Brock Phillips, owner and chief veterinarian; Dr. Andrew Hardisky, Associate Veterinarian; and Dr. Kelly Brooks, Associate Veterinarian. ber of the American Veterinary Medical Association and the Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association. She has a great love for Cardiology and a special interest in Internal Medicine. These interests make her very pleased to be a part of a facil- ity with a long-standing his- tory as a Referral Center for Advanced Diagnostics, offer- ing Echocardiograms and Ultrasounds with consults from Cardiology and Internal Medicine Specialists.” Although each member con- tributes something to the team, Phillips said one thing they all have in common is a sincere con- MEET THE VETERINARIAN cern for the animals, something not easily faked. “The reviews we get are excep- tionally positive,” he said, “and I think it’s because of a genuine feeling of care on the part of the staff.” Back Mountain Veterinary Hospital is open 7 days a week, with evening hours Monday through Friday and urgent care available Sundays. Financing is offered through Care Credit and iCare Financing. The Sunday Urgent Care option began this past April as an alternative to the Emergency Clinic for problems that are not considered true emergencies. oats: Beriys biking and skiing. He has a great love Bora. chool for music prior 0 pursuing a career in tie between dogs and colons, Sutptisingly AW fordable _ Kitchens by NTERSTATE Building Materials, Inc. Pittston KitchensBylnterstate.com 570-655-2811 WW ELLBORN . TH apr in uth known that this was going on, the amount of parents would have been substan- tially less.” Dawn Giacometti said her parents, residents of Dallas Township, live on the pipeline and were not notified of any work by Williams. “They didn’t get a letter,” she said. Martin said that Williams is working on getting a bet- ter list of those who should be notified by letter. After the meeting, Martin told The Times Leader that the incident had a plus side. “Many debriefings and many hours were spent with the township, Williams, Transco, and the school district,” she said, “and I believe now we understand each other better and we can move forward.” In other business ... Supervisors discussed the possibility of a joint grant with Dallas School District to hire a school resource officer. Jolley estimated that the town- ship would have the use of the resource office about 25 percent of the time. Supervisors will advertise a public meeting with rep- resentatives of the Dallas School District to discuss the matter. Supervisors announced that there will be a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Oct. 15 before the regular super- visors’ meeting to gather comments on changing the township’s SALDO amend- ment. Bus ‘stuffed’ at Misericordia The bus got “stuffed” with donated food, clothes and school supplies for children at Muisericordia University on Sept. 26. The university’s Staff Council conducts the annual event. The items will be delivered to the McGlynn and Mineral Springs educational centers in Wilkes-Barre and to the Noxen Tutoring Program at the Lake-Noxen Elementary School. Left: Emma Mulhern, a housekkeeper at Misericordia University, donates diapers to the Stuff the Bus campaign on campus. Below: Vanessa Botzman, of Dallas, contributes a few items to the Stuff the Bus campaign at Misericordia University. Far below: Satff and community members stand in line to Stuff the Bus with contributions for local charities. 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