The Morning Herald from Hagerstown, Maryland • Page 17

The Morning Tri-State News Mondoy, June 10,1974 Hogerstown, At 30-year-old project State to visit borough on housing flOBERT VUCIC CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. A state Department of Community Affairs official is scheduled to meet with borough council here Wednesday to discuss whether funding is available for improvement of the three- decade-old Buchanan Homes. The project, located in the southwest section of the borough, was originally designed as temporary housing for employes of Letterkenny Army Depot during World War II. Instead, the army barracks style structures became permanent when the federal government sold them to the public. According to Dr.

Robert Cur- tis, chairman of Operation Concern Homes approximately 120 low-income families rent or own units at Buchanan Homes. Operation Concern Homes is a non-profit group involving concerned citizens, who attempt to provide hou'sing for low and middle income families in the area. It does not own any of the homes in the project. But a a Wednesday's meeting between council and the state official. "Federal funds are dried out, but we are hoping that state i a a available," Curtis said Sunday.

Curtis indicated if state funds are available it would probably be based on a 75-25 per cent funding ratio, with the borough kicking in the smaller share. He did not detail what type improvements are sought. Mayor J. William Stover agreed this is an area where something has to be done." But he added "there is no money in the budget to do anything." Three years ago. at the request of the cpuncil and the planning and zoning commission, the borough's planning consultant prepared a report on Buchanan Homes.

In that report. Buchanan Homes was described as a "mixture of reasonably well kept building exteriors and deteriorating interiors." "The open undersides of many of the units are a harbor for junk and rodents and the rotting of the wooden steps and railings in addition to the unsightliness is a serioius safety Hazard. There are no rainwater gutters to the roofing, adding to the general inconvenience in rainy and freezing periods and providing wet-rot conditions to woodwork. Painting upkeep is very poor in much of the area." the 1971 report continued. The 34-page report noted that "the better appearance and up- keep of those units which are i owner-occupied or rented from adjacent owner- occupiers, compared to the declining nature of those owned by absent landlords." At the time the report was conducted, three per cent of the borough's 17.000 population waS non-white.

But according to the report. 45 per cent of those a a -Homes residents were non-white, "indicating a container type of situation." This container syndrome derives perhaps also from the predominance of white and nonwhite laborer and service type workers unemployed and transients." the report continued. School board may hike taxes CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. The school board here Wednesday is scheduled to formally adopt a proposed $11.3 million budget for 1974 to 1975 that could boost the current real estate tax rate by $6.50. The budget was only tentatively approved at the board's May meeting so that the budget could be available for public inspection for 30 days.

Final adoption must be approved by June 30. The tudget, an increase above the current $10.4 million, originally called for an $8.50 tax hike. The board trimmed that figure down calling it an overestimation. They said in May that $6.50 tax increase is sufficient to support next year's budget. Residents are presently taxed $40 per $1,000 valuation.

But, said Raymond Hellman on Sunday the only board member, to vote no on the tentative budget, "I wouldrlike' to see it (tax increase) come down as much as possible." Hellman said he would like to see the board further trim the proposed tax bike down to $1 Cops say Pennsy men die in crash HILLSBOROtfGH, Va. Two Pennsylvania men were named Sunday as those killed in an airplane crash here late Friday night. Virginia State Police said James Wright, 46, of Verone. and Vernon Bostic, 23. of Turtle Creek, died when their single engine piper plane crashed atop Short Hill Mountain about 10:30 p.m.

Officers said the plane, piloted by Wright, apparently clipped a guidewire attached to a Western Union tower on the mountain. Five-year-old Tracey Anne Yurkovitch of Sterling-Park. was injured in the crash. The granddaughter, was a passenger ui the plane. Authorities said the plane was flying from Monroeville, to Leesburg, Va.

The crash site is about six miles southeast of Harpers Ferry, W. Va. A wise move As Pennsylvania temperatures soared into the high 80's Sunday, these youngsters made a wise move. They took off for a creek near Shippensburg for a swim and a lot of cool water "There is evidence of a basic community force endeavouring to better their conditions and environment. This community spirit is partly reinforced by the somewhat hostile feelings and experiences which appears to occur to residents from the 'outside This condition unfortunately is not helped by the use of the term 'cardboard city', especially to long-term residents who have clean and tidy homes in the area." The report revealed that 35 per cent of the resident swere 65 years of age and older that the" average yearly income per person was $1.103.

Family injured in wreck CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. Three members of a rural a i a i remained hospitalized Sunday evening following a Sunday morning collision in which they and two other family members were injured. Galen E. Burkholder, 33, of Rt. 3.

the driver of one car involved, was listed in serious condition in the intensive care unit of Chambersburg Hospital. His wife, Ruth. 31, was listed in guarded condition. The couple's 11-year-old son, i a was reported in satisfactory condition. children, Luke, 4, and Joel, 1, were released after treatment.

State Police said the 8:55 a.m. eras!) occurred when the Burkholder vehicle, westbound on the Cheesetown Road, was struck head-on a narrow one- lane bridge by a truck, driven by a a a of McConnellsburg. Carbaugh and a passenger, Roger Carbaugh. escaped injury. According to State Police, the eastbound truck lost its brakes on a grade before striking the car.

No charges had been filed by Sunday night. Six other persons suffered minor i i during the weekend in five county one- vehicle crashes. All were released after treatment at area hospitals. Total damages in the crashes were estimated at over $2,000. Minister blames DA on movie rule By ROBERT VUC1C CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.

One local minister charged here Sunday that the Franklin County District Attorney "didn't fight hard enough" during the recent "Deep Throat" hearing. The Rev. Paul Cunningham, one of five area ministers who filed criminal and civil complaints in December against two theater managers here, charged that county DA John R. Walker, "was not prepared and didn't do his homework" during the May hearing. In the hearing County Court Judge John W.

Keller lifted the December preliminary injuction against the Southgate Theater. The court originally issued the injunction at Walker's request But in last week's opinion, Judge Keller wrote that the subsection of tlie state's Crimes Code "authorizing the issuance of preliminary injunctions in obscenity cases was declared unconstitutional" in two earlier State Supreme Court rulings. According to Rev. Cunningham, minister of the Antrim Faith Baptist Church in Waynesboro, Walker didn't press hard enough in attempting to prove that "Deep Throat" was in violation of "contemporary community standards." Prosecutor Walker was being treated at Chambersburg Hospital Sunday night and could not be reached for comment. Rev.

Cunningham's fight against showing of the controversial, X-rated film is predicated upon the contention that the movie does violate community standards. The minister said that Walker failed to define "the community (moral) standards of Franklin County." Walker has 20 days to file an amended complaint. And in his opinion, Judge Keller stated that the DA will be "required to plead with specificity those community standards he alleges exists in the community of Franklin Cunningham said he and other area ministers "will press the DA to define the community standards so that we can settle this once and for all." He said that he will attempt to get legal assistance from the Citizens for Decency through Law (CDL), an anti-pornography group. Rev. Cunningham said he will speak with a CDL lawyer on the matter today.

"They (CDL) have experts. They can prove that these tures have an effect upon the minds" of those who view the films, he claimed. After speaking with the four other ministers involved in the case, Rev. Cunningham saw 'ne lounfl tnat tne'ir reaction was unfavorable to the court's lifting of the preliminary injunction. "This thing will not be left go," the minister vowed.

Southgate Theater manages Brownie Pogue and Gary Geiman still face criminal charges for the showing of the film. No trial date has been scheduled. Although the injunction against the film has been lifted, the managers said last week there are no immediate plan to begin showing the film again. DA hospitalized CHAMBERSBURG. Pa.

Franklin District Attorney John R. Walker was listed in satisfactory condition at Chambersburg Hospital Sunday and, according to his wife, is scheduled to be released today. Mrs. Martha Walker said her husband was admitted to the hospital last Monday after he became ill at his office. She said he was being treated for a stomach disorder.

According to Mrs. Walker, it may be another week before her. husband will be able to return to work. Warden lauds prison bill Hubert C. Holland CHAMBERSBURG.

Pa. A Pennsylvania Senate bill aimed at creating a new state agency with control over all county prison institutions has been termed a "good idea" by Franklin County Prison Warden Robert C. Holland. The bill was discussed at the recent conference of the Pennsylvania Warden's Association, a a Cumberland, at which Holland was named its president. The association consists of the wardens from the state's 67 county prisons.

The bill would establish a new cabinet post, with the creation of a Secretary of the Department of Corrections. The new agency would be a consolidation of the present state Bureau of Corrections and the state Parole Board. All county prisons in the state would then come under the Department of Corrections. Despite his personal endorsement of the bill. Holland said Sunday that the association has not taken an official stand on it.

"And for all practical pur- poses." Holland said, "that bill is dead." According to the warden, because of the political controversy surrounding the bill, it will never be reported out of the committee'where he. claimed it has been bottled up. Holland said the bill would standardize and make uniform the operations and salaries at all institutions within the state. Although Holland said he a a stipulated that local officials should still have a voice in the operations of local prison facilities. As Frederick intern Bobby Baker done with city politics By JOHN BARKER FREDERICK.

Md Bobby Baker's political career has come to an end. Robert Baker, a Linganore High School student says he has heard almost every remark possible linking his name and that of the 1960's secretary of the Senate Democrats, completed a four- month internship at City Hall on Friday. "It's a pleasant day when somebody doesn't make some kind of remark," says Bobby. But the 17-year-old junior says he wouldn't have missed his participation in'local government for anything. Bobby was one of 22 county students who was chosen to be a high school executive intern in an area government or business under a new school program initiated here last fall.

Instead of attending classes, the high school participants, have worked at their "jobs" for four full a a i February Mayor Ronald Young and the mayor's administrative assistant took turns tutoring Bobby on the intricacies of city government. But Bobby played an active role of his own on two projects important to the city. The city needed a study done of the nighttime parking situation Some streets weren't being swept regularly because some ears were illegally parked on garbage collection nights Bobby rode around in police cars and took down license plate numbers and with the mayor's assistant, sent out a survey form to find out about the problem from those involved The city is now reviewing its nighttime parking policy The young intern and the mayor's assistant also went from store to store to encourage downtown merchants to participate in the city's recycling program. A week later, the city had its biggest paper collection ever. Bobby makes it no secret that he admires Mayor Young, "lie's very, very honest and you never see him trying to hustle somebody." says Bobby.

"It's none of that closed-door stuff It's all out in the open." the (ppnager says "His enthusiasm is (shown i a lot of i done." Bobby, lie adds he'd really like to be around alter a few years when the mayor has more experience in his job. "I came here the month alter he did and he's still learning things just like me." The young Libertytown area native says seeing polities actually working is far different than from reading about it in a textbook "A lot more factors po into each decision than 1 Bobby "There's just so much to what goes on thst isn't in the textbooks." He has oeen active in student government. He gave up the junior class presidency to lake the internship. Bobby is also a member of thp Model Youth Legislature and served as its Speaker of the House in the session last year So politics would seem to be the likely choice for his future career, but the Linganore student says he's torn between music and politics. He sings and a a a a a a a a Western Maryland Chorus.

He's also been aciive in high school drama productions. The young intern says he's been doing a lot of thinking about how the real world works outside the classroom since his stint at City Hall. "You know this billion dollar Trident submarine they're talking about? Well, if they took out ten bunks or something in one of those submarines we. rould have a housing project in Ihp ritv Rnbrrl I', linker Government community Frederick County MONDAY Council of Governments, Betty's Restaurant, 12 noon, County Commissioners, Winchester Hall, 10 a.m. TUESDAY County Planning Commission, Winchester Hall, 10 a.m.

Metropolitan Commission, Winchester Hall, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY Walkersville Town Meeting, Town Building, 7:30 p.m. Eastern Panhandle MONDAY Harpers Ferry Town Council, Town Hall, 7 p.m. Morgan County Board of Education, Administration building, 7 p.m. Jefferson County Board of Education, Jefferson High School 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY Martinsburg city offices closed Election Day Shepherds Town Council, Town Hall, 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY Jefferson County Court, courthouse, 10 a.m. Morgan County Court, courthouse, 10 a.m. Martinsburg City Council City Hall, 7:30 p.m. Franklin and Fulton Counties MONDAY Mont Alto Borough Council, fire hall, 8 p.m.

Greene Township Planning Commission, township office, 7:30 p.m. Tuscarora School Board, administrative building, 7:30 p.m. TUESDAY Franklin County Commissioners, courthouse, 9 a.m. Fannett-Metal School Board, high school, 7:30 p.m. WEDNESDAY Chambersburg Area Board of School Directors, high school, 7:30 p.m.

Grecncastle-Antrim Board of School Directors, junior high school. 7 p.m. Southern Fulton School Board, high school, 8 p.m. Chambersburg Borough Council, borough hall, 7:30 p.m. THURSDAY Franklin County Prison Board, courthouse annex, 2 p.m.

Franklin County Planning Commission, courthouse annex, 7:30 p.m. FRIDAY Franklin County rnnrthouse. 9 a.m. Fulton county Commissioners, courthouse, 9 a.m..