Editorial

Positives from negatives

by Ruth Isenberg

This has been a disjointed week, with some unsettling events. The standoff in Weatherly affected just about everyone, bringing home the realization that hostage situations don’t always happen somewhere else, to people we don’t know. We are as vulnerable as anywhere else.

The positive? Local and state police departments, fire police and emergency personnel worked together for hours, and averted a tragedy. We are fortunate to have committed paid and volunteer protection.

Bears are reportedly becoming brazen in the area, not just sneaking in at night for a snack of garbage, but turning up in the middle of the day, in the middle of town. Deer are roaming the streets.

The positive? People are thinking about how their actions encourage wild animals to lose their protective fears. Parents are teaching their children to stay away from wildlife. We’re becoming more conscious about the way development is pushing the boundaries and displacing the animals who live here too.

Word that White Haven is once more going to bear the brunt of actions by the state has businesses concerned. After losses from COVID shutdowns, construction that closed the two state park access points, and the shuttering of the White Haven Center, business owners are worried that heavy equipment travelling through the town over the next four years while the Interstate 80 bridge is replaced will wipe out the gains made since the park access points have reopened.

The positive? It’s early enough to plan for ways to combat both the reality and the perception of disruption. There’s probably no other way to get the needed equipment in to place. But if lines of communication with the state stay open, and enough warning of heavy equipment movement is provided, working together the situation can be managed.

Writer Linda Migneco penned a story about the run-down information trailer that the Pocono Mountains Vacation Bureau uses as its info center. The White Haven Business Improvement Committee has offered landscaping services. The PMVB accepted the offer and promised a sign pointing the way to White Haven’s Business District.

911 service is soon to start in Carbon County, and townships are getting ready to have new addresses.

An article in this issue featured a ‘Meet the Superintendent’ interview with newly appointed Super. Pete McMonigle.

Pearle Vision at the Laurel Mall advertised a variety of coupons and specials.

The United Methodist Churches in White Haven and Weatherly are offering special music at services in August.

Foster Supervisors were told that the DER will start to fill in the Sandy Run stripping pits. Installing a proposed fire hydrant at Washington and Wyoming Streets was put off as the site has low water pressure.

Weatherly’s famous missing monitor lizard has been found in the basement of a nearby home.

Hazleton National Bank’s Little League team is tops of the league, winning the second playoff game 14-13 in a last-inning victory versus the Legion.

Phil Jeffries offered runners tips in his column, which included a story of buying a cassette tape player so he had music to enjoy on his runs.

Phil Engman Rambled On about trades after the AllStar Game, the Phillies, and that NFL exhibition games had the Eagles playing the Saints in Tokyo. The Steelers have a game scheduled in Barcelona.

Charlie Weavers opens for lunch Wed. thru Sat.

The Crystal Inn offers either ham or turkey with stuffing, salad bar and homemade bread for $6.95 this Saturday.

From The Journal Issue of August 5, 1943

Publisher W. C. Taylor

White Haven’s baseball boys played the Tannery team in a game of hard ball on August 1, won by the score of 4 to 2. The White Haven players at Lehigh Ball Park that day were J. (Jack?) Quigg, Mal? Schafer, Herman Kreis Jr., J. Masvero, Leroy? Carter, Charles? Zehner, John? Rabe, Art Gower and J. John? Prebula.

The Study Club of St. Patrick’s R. C. Church were guests of Mr. and Mrs. William Howley of Penn Lake on Sunday. The Rev. Charles O’Donnell acted as chaperone.

“Four young lads of town, Louis Schafer Jr., Marshall Clymer, Burton Schafer and Clayton Raudenbush enjoyed the past week camping out in a tent at Lake Penn. Each took a turnabout in preparing the eats…Rody says they were always on deck when eats time came.”

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