Your Award-Winning News Source for the Upper Delaware River Valley Region Since 1975
Vol. 41 No. 35
Q
AUGUST 27 - SEPTEMBER 2, 2015
Q
www.riverreporter.com
Q
$1.50
Putting an electric vehicle to the test By FRITZ MAYER
C
ALLICOON CENTER, NY — Bryan Kent is a show-me kind of guy. Now, having been won over by the performance of his electric vehicle, a 2013 Nisson Leaf, he is driving it on an epic road trip covering more than 26,000 miles in about 100 days. Along the way, he plans to visit the capitals of the 48 contiguous U.S. states and plant 100 trees. On the morning of August 25 Kent, who had started his trip the previous day, stopped at Apple Pond Farm in Callicoon Center after hooking up to the charging station at the Catskill Brewery. His vehicle is projected to go about 84 miles per charge by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; therefore a cross-country trip takes a bit of planning, calculating expected mileage based on the terrain of the land, and
plotting out charging stops in advance. While coming to Sullivan County, several factors conspired to throw a temporary roadblock in the way of Kent’s progress. He was pushing the expected distance of the vehicle, driving into an area with very few charging stations, and the cell service was non-existent. With the cell phone no longer feeding him directions, he made a wrong turn heading toward Jeffersonville, and wound up in Hankins. After driving his vehicle more than 25,000 miles, he ran out of power for the first time since he’s owned the Leaf. But, what he called a “learning opportunity” did not dampen his enthusiasm for the project. The incident also points to the notion that Sullivan County and the Upper Delaware Valley could do with a few more charging stations. One Continued on page 3
TRR photo by Fritz Mayer
Bryan Kent, of Batavaia, NY, is taking his electric car on a road trip around the country visiting the 48 contiguous states in 100 days.
Deadly Delaware flooding recalled By DAVID HULSE
PA, largely in the Poconos and along the Delaware River. The state National Guard was activated and some 1,600 camp kids were evacuated by helicopters. She recounted the worst single disaster at Camp Davis on Brodhead Creek, where 37 died. Rushing waters demolished about 150 road and rail bridges and breached or destroyed 30 dams. Throughout Pennsylvania, the disaster killed 101 people and caused an estimated $70 million 1955-dollars in damage locally. “The rain was unbelievable, over 17 inches in three days,” she said. Phones and electric were out. Places with sewage systems found them backed up into water supplies, as did private homes with wells. Varcoe said there was widespread concern about typhoid infection. Varcoe said an Erie Railroad repair crew was nearby as the waters rose and watched helplessly as the lights blinked
H
TRR photo by David Hulse
Period newspaper accounts of the region’s 1955 flooding are pictured in the foreground as Waymart historian Jane Varcoe spoke about the disaster with Wayne County Commissioners’ Chair Brian Smith prior to the commissioners’ August 20 meeting.
SPANNING 2 STATES, 4 COUNTIES, AND A RIVER THAT UNITES US
Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire talk to Jonathan Fox
22
INSERT
CURRENTS
ONESDALE, PA— Almost 60 years to the day, historian Jane Varcoe brought the story of the region’s deadly flooding of 1955 before the Wayne County Commissioners. Varcoe said she has been making a round of presentations after a friend, Dr. Ken Phillips of Waymart, gave her his collection of the Scranton Times and the Scranton Tribune’s accounts of the flooding. “I thought people should have a chance to see them,” she said. August of 1955 had been hot and dry. A week earlier, Hurricane Connie had brought eight inches of rain to the drought-stricken area. But it was the remains of Hurricane Diane, which followed, that created the flood of record in the Delaware River Valley. On August 18 to 20, Diane produced some 16 to 17 inches of additional rainfall in eastern
out amid the diminishing screams of those at the doomed camp. She said her older brother was among high school boys enlisted to help search the debris for people missing in Newfoundland, where 10 had died in the waters of Wallenpaupack Creek. Chief clerk Vicky Botjer recalled former Commissioner Don Olsommer’s story of spending a night in a tree during the flooding. Commissioners Chair Brian Smith said the story highlights the things that have since been done and are continuing to be done to respond to disasters. Commissioner Wendell Kay called her presentation an eye-opener. “It’s why we do planning and make preparations for natural events.” Varcoe said she planned to contribute the newspaper accounts to the Wayne County Historical Society.
The River Reporter