20 YEARS AGO — 1997
Two senior students from Bishop O’Reilly High School, Kingston, have been named Commended Students in the 1998 National Merit Scholarship Program. They have placed among the top five percent of more than a million students who entered the 1998 Merit Program by taking the 1996 Preliminary SAT/ National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. The O’Reilly winners are Alma DeRojas, daughter of Dr. Juan and Alma DeRojas of Dallas, and Matthew Koch, son of John and Madelyn Koch of Shavertown.
The Haunted Barn on Lehman is celebrating its 15th year of haunting innocent patrons. People who visit the barn each year can expect to see some major changes and those who have not dared to enter should relish the opportunity to see what so many people talk about every year. Your five dollars benefits the Lehman UMYF, the Lehman Volunteer Fire Co., Lake-Lehman Chorus and The Wyoming Valley Children’s Aid Fund. Some of the workers on this year’s barn include Heather Isaac, John Dawe, Diane Alters, Chris Frederick, Charles Heacock, Ron Wenrich, Brian Simms, Matt Isaac, Jon Chipego and Phillip Pineno.
Cub Scouts from Pack 232 took a tour of the Shavertown fire hall during Fire Safety Week. Participating in the tour, which included the opportunity to sit in the cab of the fire truck, were Joseph Balavage, Tom McGrath, Ryan Regan, Carl Bartizek, Dan Taroli, Casey Baldwin and Matthew Ruck.
30 YEARS AGO — 1987
Four members of the Riding Ho Four-H Club are competing in the Four-H State Horse Show this weekend at the Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg. Competing are Christy Campbell, Melanie Raspen and Brian Taylor of Sweet Valley and Joanne Tregaskis of Dallas.
Juliana Koo, a senior at Wyoming Seminary and daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Wook Hun Koo of Dallas, has been named a semi-finalist in the National Merit Scholarship Competition, according to Carmen Marnell, Dean of the Upper School at Wyoming Seminary. Miss Koo is a member of the Wyoming Seminary yearbook staff, a performer in the Chorale and Dance Ensemble, and participates in the school’s instrumental music program.
40 YEARS AGO — 1977
Dallas Fire and Ambulance volunteers were on hand to greet the new American La France when it arrived in Dallas on Tuesday. The big truck is the first one made with a 200-inch wheel base. Tom Marvin, factory representative, drove it from Elmira, N.Y., accompanied by Don Shaffer, Dallas Fire Chief. On hand to inspect the truck were Dave Carey, committee member; Ted Wright, truck committee chairman; Bob Besecker, assistant fire chief; and Don Purvin, fire chief.
The Rev. Donald Watson will present a program of magic with a message at the East Dallas U.M. Church next weekend. The Rev. Watson is an ordained minister of the United Methodist Church and uses magic tricks and illusions to present the age old truths of the Bible. He is a member of the Fellowship of Christian Magicians which is an international organization of magicians who use their magic in presenting the gospel.
50 YEARS AGO — 1967
James Malkemes, Shavertown, and his bride, the former Janice Shaffer, Dallas, were caught up in the Olde Dallas Sesquicentennial celebration on their wedding day when they were kidnapped by the Keystone Cops who followed their entourage following the ceremony. The young couple were good sports about the whole doings and were locked up for a time in the Dallas stockade. Jimmie even agreed to be fastened in the stocks much to the delight of all present. Jim and Janice were married Saturday at 2 p.m. at Dallas Methodist Church.
The Olde Dallas Sesquicentennial Varieties are ready for presentation on Friday and Saturday evenings. Preparing to sing the Keystone Cops Song are Don Anthony, Clifford Foss, Bill Berti, Chief Frank Lange, Dallas Township, Ron Hrubowchak and Teddy Wright.
A nine-year-old from Orange won the Pass, Punt and Kick Contest in his age group down in Kirby Park last Saturday, in competition with 55 others. Brian Sickler, son of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Sickler, and a fourth grade student at Westmoreland Elementary School, will now represent the Back Mountain in the area contest next Saturday at Kirby Park.
60 YEARS AGO — 1957
“A bomb will go off in ten minutes” was what Bob Hanson, owner of Crown Imperial Bowling Lanes, heard when he picked up an extension telephone Monday evening at 7:45. The fake bomb message, apparently placed by some teen-age youth from a pay station, touched off an intensive ten minute search of the premises. None of the 140 players and guests were alerted, and there was none of the wholesale exodus which the prankster expected to enjoy.
The prize-winning Dallas Borough PTA Procedure Book compiled by Mrs. Antoinette Mason, second grade teacher at Dallas Borough, is on display at Back Mountain Memorial Library for the next two weeks. The book includes a variety of publicity clipped from local papers, pictures published throughout the year, official matter and other materials germane to the PTA, such as children’s crayon pictures and invitations. Exhibited at the spring Northeast District Conference of PTA held at Abington, it was awarded first prize.
70 YEARS AGO — 1947
Kingston Township Football Mothers Club met Wednesday night at Trucksville Fire Hall to make plans for the annual Football Dinner to be held at the close of the football season. Chairman of the dinner committee is Mrs. James Martin who will be assisted by Mesdames Hons, Gelsleicher, Long, Richards, Dilcer, Handley and Cleasby.
Arrangements are being made for Dallas Borough and Township’s Eighth Annual Halloween Parade to be held Friday night, October 31. Members of the general committee are Henry Peterson, chairman, with the following representing community organizations: Charles James, Dallas Borough Parent-teachers; Joseph Delet-Kanic and Raymond Kuhnert, Dallas Township Parent-teachers; David Joseph, Dallas Kiwanis Club; Charles Lee, Harold Titman and Daniel Richards, Dallas Rotary Club; Mrs. Fred Eck, Dallas Woman’s Club; James Besecker, Dr. Henry M. Laing Fire Company.
Thomas E. Hontz, organist at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Shavertown, was honored at a surprise birthday party held in the church social rooms Thursday evening by members of the congregation. Mr. Hontz has been the organist at St. Paul’s for about twenty years.
