Citizens' Voice from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania • 88

CI Citizens' Voice, Wilkes-Borre, Po. Sundoy, August 1 1993 A v- 1 is el v. Bir Wayne and friends are now chasing the rainbow ii i -L JiL The Baron Making the Rounds 1 v. WJ Wayne and Friends. Folks, there's a ring to it -Wayne and Mark Ring, that is.

The Brothers Ring along with Wayne Arnold and Jerry Shypuleski, you see, are the Good Ole Mountaintop boys who after winning local honors in the True ValueCola Country Showdown are headed to Hershey, hopefully on their way to Branson, Mo. "Wouldn't that be great," bubbled Wayne Ring at the thought of leading his music-makers to Branson. His face lit up. "We're going to make it," he added with a burst of confidence. Their next stop in the world's largest talent show" is state competition in Hershey in September.

The winner advances to regionals, then Branson. It's shooting for the moon, of course but the fact remains he's come along way with Friends in a short time. "We've only formed our group last summer to play at the July Fourth festival at Crestwood High School," Wayne points out. "We've stayed together; bookings are going well." Winning the area competition sponsored by Radio WDLS, which dispenses country listening fare from atop Larksville Mountain, has been the troupe's high point, although Wayne himself has earned individual accolades for his song-writing in Nashville. He appeared in the Nashville Review Show placing 10th among more than 100 entrants in the Starbound Jamboree Contest.

Songwriting is his forte. Actually, he's no Wayne-corae-lately in the country field. He says "it all begun" when he was a kid and his mother bought him a guitar and took him for lessons. "I guess I was seven or eight when I started. I remember when I was fifteen playing at local functions; renting the Fairview Township Hall for ten dollars (for gigs).

My mothcr'd haul us around in the car. She'd have to make several trips because of all the instruments," recalled Wayne, breaking into a broad grin. For three years, Wayne and Larry Mellas of Dorrance performed as a duo (Two for You) but disbanded in 1990. In the twelve months since their debut, Wayne and Friends have gained many admirers throughout Winners of True YaiueCoca Cola County Showdown awarded check Angelo Benedetti presented a $100 check to Wayne From left, Jerry Shypuleski, drums; Mark Ring, Ring, whose group, Wayne and Friends, were bass; Wayne Ring, Angelo Benedetti, Carl Krupa, selected winners of the True ValueCoca Cola County WDLS operations manager; Wayne Arnold, lead Showdown competition. guitar.

Barre being one in York. Krackow, who has been with Ruby Tuesday for seven years, describes the restaurants as "upscale with a casual theme." The local restaurant will seat 180. Money makes fools of great people and it makes great people fools. The New York Yankees look like the Yankees of old and that has Lee Dominick (Dominick's Cafe) riding Cloud Nine. Quick now, what do Bob Eddowes, Leo McTigue and Hank Hannabal have in common? All three were bartenders at Pocono Downs when the track opened in 1965 and will pull a short shift at the upcoming reunion of track personnel on Aug.

15 at the Western Corral. Doc O'Connell will be the guest bartender, also. These are tough tiems for many small businessmen but as Jack Knelly sees it, Main Street or Downtown U.S.A. is simply going that way that is, experiencing the changes that swept neighborhoods decades ago. "Heck, I remember when there were sixteen grocery stores in this three-block radius," volunteered Knelly, naming all 16 in rapid order.

Today, Knelly, who operates his stand (Knelly's Market) at East Jackson and North Washington Streets, is the lone survivor. We were jawing with Knelly, who, for the uninformed, is to sausage-making what Oscar Meyer is to wienie-making, about the good old days. When Jack was eight years old he began delivering groceries to Sam Roth. "I pulled my wagon around the neighborhood, delivering for Roth," Knelly reminisced. That was his "career start." In later years, he bought the store from Roth.

"Back in those days when I was a kid, this was a friendly neighborhood. There were no locked tv 'if O'Neill, treasurer of the Irish Open, during dinner. He was telling us that his son, Jim, who is a member of the United Nations Development Fund in Sarajevo, was recently on leave in Prague. "He read about a marathon race and decided to enter," informed O'Neil, pointing out that his son used to run on the Central Catholic (Kingston) track team. That was almost 25 years ago.

He's now 39. Anyway, Jim finished the 26-mile jaunt in three hours, 15 minutes. (P.S. Jim is currently on leave at his Forty Fort home.) Spent a half hour or more reminiscing with Irish Open guest, Walt Michaels, who, among other things, was recalling his testimonial banquet at Genetti's 12 years ago. That struck a chord with us, because we chauffeured the zany Prof.

Irwin Corey from the airport to Genetti's where he Batman the. Ride, a new technology in fun at Six Flags the area. Both Carl Krupa, operations manager at WDLS, and ANgelo Benedetti, owner of the Western Corral Lounge in Plains, see Wayne and Friends as real comers. "I'm impressed how they've come along in only one year," offered Benedetti, who himself has impacted on the country western field through his entrepreneurship in the three years he has operated the lounge. "I must have had fifty or more groups here.

I'd say Wayne and Friends are progressing to the forefront," observed Benedetti, who provided a $100 prize for the local country showdown competition. Now Wayne and Friends are chasing the rainbow. Why not! The payoff in the state competition is $1,000 while the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow is $50,000 and a recording contract. That's big time for the Good Ole' Mountaintop boys. Sympathy: What one woman offers to another for all the details.

Rambling with the Baron and Barmaid Debbie sez: Overindulgence in drink gives a man a hangover and overindulgence in food gives a woman an Nothing to the rumor that the Redick Braeakfast Club is purchasing The Super (as in assistant building superintendent at Voc-Tcch) a helicopter. The boys thought a chopper would come in handy for Redick to fly from Voc-Tech to City Council meetings on his coffee break. Look for Ruby Tuesday to open Sept. 1 at the Triangle Plaza in Wilkes-Barre's East End. Jeff Krackow, native of the Reading area and Perm State grad, will serve as general manager of the eatery the chain's first venture into northeastern Pennsylvania.

Owned by Morrison Restaurants, Knoxville, Ruby Tuesday numbers 190 stores, the closest to Wilkcs- Batman center of the park is a small sculptured fountain surrounded by flower beds of colorful annnuals. All the details of an urban park are evident here, from the decorative light poles thatline the walks, to the wwden part benches and I I 4,. had the Michaels crowd in stitches. We were telling Walt that heading downtown we found the Professor an engaging conversationalist and became so engrossed in his glibbering we ran a redlight (actually, an amber-turning-red redlight). This caught the watchful eye of city policeman Bernard Kenney, a no-nonsense gendarme who waved us over.

Prof. Corey quickly rolled down the window and handled the delicate situation about as gracefully as Bob Kadlubosky hosting a ladies tea at the Westmoreland Club. We'd figured we'd be headed for the city lockup. The tirade was enough to get Kenney's Irish up but we quickly interceded by introducing the renowned Corey to the policeman. Kenney didn't appear awestruck but meeting the master of doubletalk was willing to let the matter ride.

large, wall mounted, industrial warehouse fan slowly churning the air with its giant blades. Any remaining hope of escape is lost when visitors overhear the distant voices of sinister villains plotting their crimes, scheming with their goons. Luckily, the tunnel docs not end, but leads to another, allowing visitors to proceed upward along a corridor of stairs. As they reach the top of the landing, they emerge into the dark and mysterious confines of an eerie cave. But this is no ordinary cave, for the illuminated insignia, high above in the ceiling, reveals that this is the Batcave! Large panels of concret and steel merge with solid rock to form the perfect super hero hideaway.

Along one wall, a console of screens, switches, and unusual gadgetry rests on an elevated platform. On another wall, an interior-lit vault built into rock, displays one of the Caped Crusader's famous costumes. Reassurance of safety returns to the hearts of visitors as they bear the conforming voice of Batman's personal assistant Alfred. "Emergency sensors indicate that You have entered the Batcave from the Storm Drain Accedd tunneL Apparently you are in danger. The activation of this pie-recorded message will automatically send assistance to transport you to sal e-ty.

Please queue in a single line at each of the numbered gates, while waiting for your escape vehicles to come to a complete stop. Fasten your seat belt and keep arms close to the body at all times. Your shoulder harness will automatically lower and lock in place. Good luck and -Enjoy the Ride." With the deafening swoosh, a group of suspended vehicles rush into the cave. Ride operators will assist Guests they aretoaded.

Visitors are then wisked to safety abroad the Dark newest gadget through the outskirts of Gotham City. Breathless riders exit Batman the Ride wondering, "Where does he get these ivf doors. You could walk way into any house, say you were hungry and they'd sit you down at the kitchen table and feed you." Ah, the good old days. The only female who knows everything the has in her bag without looking Is a kangaroo. Tablecloth scribblings from the Irish Open's post-tourney bash at the Carriage Stop and Tim Connolly insists that because he is a humble and meek individual, he opted not to be photographed when his team received their plaques for winning the First Flight.

Ilmm! What actually happened was that Connolly was out at the bar when thge awards were passed out. Jim Burns (a.k.a Foxhill Fox) renamed Irish Open Chairman for 1994. Enjoyed chatting with Joe park, shielding Gotham City's latest construction from view. Jackhammen and otfier sounds of construction can be beard coming from behind this grey wall tha proudly displays the Gotham City Public Works logo and the slogan, I VY "Gotham City Building a Better Tomorrow." As visitors turn the corner, they realize the peacefulness of Gotham City Park has suddenly been replaced by the grim reality of Gotham City sleets. Now, beneath a highway overpass, visitors are surrounded by a gloomy jungle of exposed beams, pipes and conduit Periodically, the low rumble of cars and trucks can be heard passing overhead.

Dimly lit industrial lights shine on the backside of the construction wall, revealing it to have been hastily made of cheap plywood, now covered with graffiti and soot The crime of Gotham City becomes very apparent when vis tors see an abandoned police car that has recently jemped the curb. With its tires flat doors punctured with bullet holes, and rooftop emergency light still flashing, the patrol car rests behind a teetering fire hydrant that is spraying water high into the air. Passersby overhear police reports coming from the squad car radio: "Calling all cars. Calling all cars. Suspects are still at large.

Last seen at Broad Avenue and Gotham City Park. They are considered to be armed and dangerous. Proceed with extreme caution." Police reports continue with equally iinnerving news as visitors proceed along their path. Suddenly, the sounds of an intense manhunt echo through the overpass. Gunshots, ricocheting bullets, and shouts of warning ring with unsettling frequency.

Amidst the chaos, visitors arrive at the Broad Avenue Drain Access. They quickly move into the sewer tunnel opening to escape the gunfire. Within the corrogated steel culvert, visitors proceed toward an unsure destination, aided by the glow of small cage lights overhead. Fog rolls dom the dingy walls which echo the sounds of dripping water, squeaking rats, and distant gunfire. Toward the end of the tunnel, visitors see a chain link fence blocking their path.

Behind it is a Six Flags Theme Parks has introduced a new technology in fun, the "Inverted track" thrill ride. Riders "fly like Batman beneath the track at speeds up to 50 mph, navigating loops and rolls in a sitting position with their feet dangling. The ride opened to the public on May 1. The track length is 2,693 feet, the height is 105 feet, and the tallest loop is 77 feet. The maximum speed is approximately 50 mph with approximatlcy 2 minutes cycle time.

Batman the Ride includes two trains of eight coaches containing four passengers each. Each train has a capacity of 32 passengers. Vehicles are a new concept; riders sit our-across, secured by shoulder and belt harnesses. The floor drops from beneath their feet and the train leaves the station, ski lift style. It includes five head-ovcr-hccls experiences, including two vertical outside loops, two outside helices and a zero gravity roll.

Trains ride on the outside, not the inside of each of the loops! Batman the Ride is the most hcavily-themed moving attraction at Six Flags Great Adventure. Visitors to Batman the Ride begin their adventure at the main entrance of Gotham City Park. Elongated, hooded figures caned in stone flank each side of the formidable gateway, with an ornate arched header of wrought iron displaying the name "Gotham City Part-Once inside the park, visiting citizens will experience a pleasant haven away from the crime-ridden oppressive city. A stone monument just inside the gate reads: Gotham City Pari dedicated to the citizens of Gotham City through the generosity Bruce Wayne," Concrete sidewalks, punctuated by decorative brick inlays, meander through the landscaped grounds dominated by the Gotham City Public Works Power Station looming on the horizon. Mature maple trees and evergreen shrubs dot the many grassy areas.

In the the Ride at Six Flags Great Adventure medal-mesh trash cans. Speakers bidden in the landscape treat do-xens to an ongoing concert of dy-namk music, and even the sounds of the sirring birds may be heard. An attractive, painted barrier wall stands along the rear of the.