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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2022 • Volume 41 – No. 24 ©2022, THE JOURNAL-HERALD. All Rights Reserved
CONTINUING: THE WHITE HAVEN JOURNAL ESTABLISHED 1879–143rd YEAR, NO. 11
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CONTINUING: THE WEATHERLY HERALD ESTABLISHED 1880–142nd YEAR, NO. 37
Students and staff at WASD will continue to wear COVID-19 masks by Jim Vincent
BILL LESTER at the Presbyterian Church of White Haven.
Presbyterian lay pastor brings energy to WH church by Ruth Isenberg “There’s a lot to be done,” says Bill Lester, the (relatively) new lay pastor of the Presbyterian Church of White Haven. Lester was installed late last year to serve the church on Berwick Street. Born and raised a Roman Catholic, Lester said the urge to preach has been nagging at him since he was a little boy, a desire that was encourage when he attended a retreat in Vermont as an 8th grader. He moved away from church as a young man, but neer lost his belief in God,
his trust in God. He met the woman who would become his wife, and she wanted to get married—in a church. He and Gayriel have been married for 45 years now. That led him to First Presbyterian in Lehighton, and he soon became an active part of the congregation, becoming a trustee and then an elder. When the long-time pastor died, he and another member took on preaching duties. “It was pretty scary, but I liked it,” he admits. Deciding to take the next step, Lester enrolled in the See PASTOR, page 6
McFadden said students’ classroom seats are kept three Folks in the Weatherly Area feet apart, and students are monitored for symptoms. School District will continue If they show symptoms, to wear COVID-19 masks for their parents get a courtesy the time being. Weatherly telephone call. “In order to go Area School Board president without masks, they’d have to April Walters said at February 2’s board meeting that the be six feet apart,” McFadden said. “We don’t have the board will discuss the issue space.” once a month to see if the McFadden said KN-95 and policy should be changed. “We N-95 masks are better, but want to get input from the “other masks do serve a purpublic and the nurses,” referring to the two school nurses, pose.” She also pointed out 19 million children are not eligiBecky McFadden and Tracy ble to receive the COVID-19 Blackwell. vaccine. “People who’ve had “We need to continue with the vaccine are getting it (the the mask order,” McFadden said. “The situation improved, virus), but they are not getting as sick,” McFadden said. “At but then the number of cases some point, scientists will went back up again. To keep safe in school and on the field, determine people are not we need to continue masking.” dying from it.”
School Director Matt vonFrisch agreed. “I work for a health care provider,” he said. “The projections for the end of the month are the same as the start of the school year. The quarantine is down to five days. People are not getting as sick.” Some board members want to see masks be optional. “I think it should be up to the parents,” said School Director Tom Connors, Jr. “A lot of people want it to be optional,” said School Director Bill Knepper. “I hate it,” said School Director Nancy Mulvaney. “But if my wearing a mask helps, I will be inconvenienced. It’s the least I can do as a human being.”
Penn Lake reorganization includes committees Penn Lake Borough council’s reorganization meeting was held January 3. During that meeting, council nominated Paul Rogan for council president and Shaun Kuter for v.p. Committee chairs were named: John Burden for Right to Know and also ShortTerm Rental, David Longmore for Engineering and Roads, Dam – Rogan and also Sewer, Recreation – Kuter and also
Goose Abatement, and Lake Management – Dan Eustice. Council made quick work of reorganizing business, setting the tax collector salary at $800 per year, borough secretary Karen Burden’s salary at $1,700 per year, and appointing Teresa Wojchiechowski as borough treasurer at $1,700 per year. Council and mayor are paid $120 per year. Council president gets a salary
of $240. Barry Jacob was appointed as Zoning Officer at $350 per month plus 54 cents per mile. Jack Dean and his law firm continue as borough solicitor at $350 per month. Donald Beckerman will be auditor for
See PENN LAKE, page 5