Editorial

Local loss or regional gain

by Ruth Isenberg

Weatherly Borough’s decision to select Lehigh Valley Health EMS (formerly APTS) as its primary ambulance responder is a big change for a community that housed its own volunteer squad for many years. Even recently, after the demise of the Weatherly Ambulance, a deal was made with Mahoning Valley Ambulance to house a vehicle in the community.

That plan didn’t work out. Mahoning Valley over-extended itself, and couldn’t cover the community on a consistent basis. This year, they notified the borough that they would no longer be able to be primary ambulance.

That prompted the borough to seek other options, which included Lehighton, White Haven and Lehigh Valley. Any of the three services would have represented a step toward regionalization. Lehigh Township last year decided to name neighboring White Haven as its primary responder; that ambulance also serves East Side, Dennison Township and Penn Lake. Lehighton was favored by some of the Weatherly council, but concerns about response time over the Broad Mountain in bad weather led to the eventual choice of Lehigh Valley, stationed in nearby Hazleton.

The days of a volunteer ambulance serving a single small community are numbered. Training and equipment requirements by the state are tough to meet, and volunteers are hard to find, especially in communities where the majority of young men and women work out of town. But small communities really can’t justify the expense of paying EMTs and purchasing expensive equipment. Low call volumes make it difficult for a company to break even, let alone show a profit. And paperwork requirements consume a great deal of volunteer time.

Consolidation and regionalization can feel like a loss of local identity and pride. But it can also be a gain of service, of stability, and of efficiency all values to be proud of.

The front page features a Roger Schoch photo of a Crestwood school bus that went off Bear Creek Road in Dennison Township in slushy conditions on Friday morning. Nineteen Fairview Elementary School students, ages 6 to 12, (all from the Penn Lake and Dennison Township area) and their driver suffered bumps, bruises, and minor cuts. The accident occurred at 10:45 a.m. following a two-hour delay in school opening.

First on the scene were George Wood, and Jerry & Patricia Fisher. Jerry joined the bus driver to help get the students out of the bus through the windows the emergency door was wedged against a tree, and the entry door was on the side the bus was laying. Wood assisted the men, while Patricia took charge of the children once they were out and on the ground.

The White Haven Fire Co. #1 and White Haven Rescue Squad were on the scene shortly, then Dennison Township VFC, and ambulances from all over. Fairview principal Bernard Okuniewski and Crestwood superintendent Dr. Gordon Snow arrived to help comfort the students and parents.

Students were taken to Wilkes-Barre General, Mercy Hospital WilkesBarre, Geisinger WVMC, Hazleton St. Joseph and Hazleton General all were treated and released. The driver, Edward Shelhamer, declined treatment.

On Monday, principal Okuniewski and teacher Judy Gallagher rode the bus on Monday to allay any fears the children may have…

Hazleton-Saint Joseph Medical Center will hold an open house at the Weatherly Satellite on March 14. The open house will introduce the community to Dr. Emilia Secheresciu, who began her duties last week.

The issue included a photo of the chaplaincy staff of the White Haven Center. In the photo are Lois Hueholt, Annette Peluso, the Rev. David Harvey, Ann Breznitsky, Linda Kistler, Father Edward Barrett, the Rev. Glenn Hueholt, Ellie and Rabbi Bernard Perelmuter, and the Rev. Michael Kloton.

There will be a breakfast fundraiser to benefit S.O.L.E. II at the L&L Fire House on March 14.

The Weatherly Hill Climb June 12 and 13 will feature a parade and a block party at Eurana Park, sponsored by the Weatherly Area Merchants Association.

Weatherly council approved forming a Tree Commission, to encourage the planting of shade trees throughout the borough. Borough manager Jay Willard thanked the borough’s electric department for their work and dedication during our recent snow storms. Council gave Willard to go-ahead to apply for a grant to build a new pool at Eurana Park on a portion of the ballfield.

Patsy Shelhamer of White Haven council is seeking election to the office of mayor. Raymond Ward seeks re-election to White Haven council. Linda Migneco is seeking to be re-elected as tax collector in East Side borough.

Carbon County has moved its search for a new prison site to a 180-acre tract of land at the bottom of Broad Mountain where Route 93 meets Route 209. There are no neighbors.

The Lady Wreckers season came to an end in Martz Hall in the District 11 Class A quarterfinals. The Marian Fillies boxed out Amy Sandt and beat the locals 53-39. Marian’s Colt defeated Minersville 59-43 to advance to the semifinals.

Pam Stump has earned a third-place national amateur ranking in horsemanship.

Phil Engman wrote a full column on NBA basketball and the coming men’s March basketball tournaments.

Pete Chapla reviewed Sommersby.

Ruth wrote a glowing review of a Saturday night meal at Richie’s.

CJ’s Mountain Spring Water placed an ad shaped like an upside down water cooler bottle.

See ARCHIVES, page 4