The Mercury from Pottstown, Pennsylvania • Page 9

Friday 4 jrdav 11 i to 19 Saturdav il A.M. to 11 P.M. GILBERTSVILLE munity with the patrol division and on foot. The team patrols along High Street, right. (Mercury Staff Photos).

Mercury Feature i Page Saturday, August 7, 1971 Page Nine SHANE AND MASTER BEGIN PATROLS-Pottstown Patrolman Stephen Mizic and Shane, a 75-pound, 2-year-old German Shepherd police dog leave borough hall, at left, Friday for the start of the evening shift. Working as a team for the past four months at the Philadelphia Police Academy, Shane learned to obey each command of his handler as shown, second from left, where the dog jumps a high fence at command. Mizic is shown talking with Mrs. Joe L. Bowen, 1021 Elmwood Drive, while his dog sits at ease.

The first members of the new K-9 unit will be scheduled as needed, working throughout the com- KITCHENS RT. 61, LEESPORT MON. thru SAT. 8 A.M. to 5 P.M.

Mon. thru Fri. Eves. 7 to 9 P.M. CLOSED SUNDAYS Senior Citizen VanBuskirk 5hme MeeH Wl'5 pdlic Plan Proposed senior citizens undoubtedly will take a more active part in local school activities if a plan proposed by the school board is approved at meeting in the school administration building.

Members discussed the possibility of establishing a Pottstown Gold Card Club at the July meeting and Ray E. Feick. superintendent of schools, will recommend that the club be established. The club would entitle all members of the community who are 65 years of age or older to attend all musical, dramatic and home athletic events without admission charge. ADULT CLASSES The membership card would non-transferable and also would entitle the senior citizens to enroll in the adult evening schools without paying the registration fee.

Cards would be renewed on a yearly basis at the request of the senior citizen. Directors also are expected to approve the plan for reorganization of grades. All children attending sixth and seventh grades would be housed at Central Junior High and in the Washington Elementary School. Students in grades eight and nine would attend Northern Junior High. If the plan is approved, it wil become effective September, 19 Members will be asked to act on the resignations of four teachers and an assistant principal, Mrs.

Flora S. Burdan, Franklin School; Dennis bl- dred, and Carl W. Landis, Northern Junior High; John J. Roman 3rd, senior high, and George M. McLain assistant principal at Central.

hire teachers Five teachers will be hired. They are Stephen T. Lloyd, Pottstown RD 2, special education in the senior high school. Peter K. Reigner, 151 Penn St.

Pennsburg, science at Cent. ai. Charles S. Saponsky bos- well, science at Northern. Also Mrs.

Dona G. Zidar, Emporium, reading at Northern, and James J. Zidar, Em- Firemen Respond To False Alarm Philadelphia Steam, Empire Hook and Ladder and North End Fire Co. volunteers responded to a box alarm at Hale and Jefferson streets shortly before 7:30 p.m. Friday.

The alarm was false according to fire officials, who received reports oi several youths playing the area prior to the alarm. ON THE Main Drag RICHARD FAMOUS friends to a clambake. WAYNE JONES new friends RICHARD DOUGHERTY for a new hobby. MARGARET EDDINGER for her mail on the front porch. MARTIN KESSLER for more sun and less rain.

EMIL FAZZINI for boots, a saddle and one big spur. porium, mathematics at Northern. Lloyd, a graduate of Millersville State College with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education, did graduate work at West Chester State College and Pennsylvania State University. vania State University. He taught special education four years in the Norristown Area School District.

BUCKNELL GRADUATE A graduate of Bucknell University this year, Reigner majored in chemistry and completed student teaching at Lewisburg High School. Saponsky, a graduate of Clarion State College with a major in earth and space science, did student teaching at East Brady High School. Mrs. Zidar is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University with a major in English and taught two years at Bald Eagle Area High School. Her husband, who graduated from Lock Haven State College this year with a major in mathematics, did student teaching Jersey Shore and Bald Eagle High Schools.

SUBSTITUTES Substitute teachers who are expected to be named include Mrs. Linda R. Barbour, Briarwood Lane, Lower Pottsgrove; Mrs. Carolyn S. Batttberg, Coventry Garden Apartments, North Coventry; Mrs.

Linda S. Breunig, West Chester; Mrs. Edeltraude H. Chesney, Virmay Drive, Gilbertsville. Also, Mrs.

Diana B. Derix, West Bridge Street, Spring City RD Cornelius R. 398 Highland Road; Glenn F. Hale, Pottstown Star Route; Mrs. Carol G.

Miller, 782 Worth Boulevard, Kenilworth: Mrs. Bridget L. Strunk, 566 High St. The following school dentists will be named for the new school terms; Dr. Jerrold Axler, Dr.

Marvin J. Cohen, Dr. Earl W. Tietsworth, Dr. Dennis Segnere and Dr.

August DeNicco. Two Boyertown residents will be among three census enumer- ptors named. Thev are Mr. and Mrs. William R.

Weaver 70 Hemlock Drive, Boyertown, and Linda Burston, 961 S. Hills Blvd. A discussion on spectator control at extra-curricular activities will include a suggestion for a new refreshment stand at the northeast corner of Grigg Memorial Field. REMOVE STAND School officials will suggest the stand at the northeast corner of the field be removed and a new one be constructed at the southeast corner. The officials also feel that a railing in front of the stands will improve the control of spectators waiting to be served and to limit confusion, it will be suggested that the menu consist only of hot dogs, soda and in cold weather, hot chocolate.

This, they feel, will enable the workers to serve the people in less time. Playground paving also will be considered. Bids for work at Lincoln and Washington Schools were received from Stern Nester and R. L. Rosendale, both local firms.

Because of the high bids for Lincoln, members are expected to consider that the paved surface be repaired for the time being. The directors also will elect recreational personnel, coaches and extracurricular activities sponsors and adopt a new policy for maternity leave and for substitute teachers. To Give Up Command A Change of Command, one of the oldest military will be 4 p.m. Tuesday at Valley Forge General Hospital, Phoenixville, when C.o\ E. VanBuskirk, Pottstown native, passes his to Philip A.

Deffer. Col. Van Buskirk became commande" at Valley Forge Hospital July 16, 1969, reporiing Weeks of Training End, Police-Dog Patrol Starts PHILIP A. DEFFER after a five-year assignment as chief of urology at Walter Reed General Hospital. A patient at Walter Reed, he is on convalescent leave and will return next month for additional observation and treatment.

He joined in the Army in September, 1941, and served in the South Pacific, Philippines and Japan in the South Pacific before returning to civilian life in 1946. After two years of private practice in Poltstown, Col. Van Buskirk re-entered the Army in June, 1948, and served two years as chief of urology service at the Valley Forge hospital before going to Korea where he commanded the 807th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital. Col. Deffer was assigned to Valley Forge in April, 1968, as chief of orthopedic service.

He was chief, department of surgery; chief, professional services, deputy commander and acting commanding officer prior to accepting the new post. Pottstown View By CHARLES PITCHFORD Mercury Staff Writer For the past four months, during hours when most of the community was sleeping, Pottstown Patrolman Stephen Mizic was busy training the newest member of the local police force. Each weekday for 16 weeks, Mizic was up by 4 a.m. and within half an hour enroute to the Philadelphia Police Academy where the intensive training program was conducted. After more than 600 hours of training, the first team of the newly created K-9 unit was ready for service.

Mizic and Shane, a 75-pound, 2-year-old German Shepherd police dog went on duty this week. Officials discussed the possibility of a K-9 unit for sometime and at the April meeting of borough council, Mayor Brower Yerger was authorized to create the special unit. BEGIN TRAINING Details of the K-9 unit were worked out by Yerger and Borough Manager Joseph Banta and on April 26 Mizic began his training. The local law enforcement agency received many offers of dogs to be donated to the program but none met the strict qualifications. Shane was donated to the Philadelphia Police Department by a Hatboro family and then given to Mizic for training.

According to Mizic, the qualifications are rigid. Some of the dogs offered were either too young or too old, some had gentle dispositions and others were rejected because of weight requirements. He said most dogs qualifying for the program are between 1 and 3 years of age. Older dogs are not trained because age cuts down their service ability. 3-YEAR VETERAN Mizic, a three-year veteran of the Pottstown department, said he had an interest in dogs and police work ever since he began working with the third platoon, patrol division.

He talked in favor of dogs and police work and when learning of the opportunity volunteered for the K-9 patrol. first three days in Philadelphia were spent with our assigned dogs, not in training, but just getting Mizic said. Following the orientation and familiarization period, Mizic and the dog began a week of obedience training, then two weeks of command and attack drills. Training then moved into the search phase in which the dog learned how to search buildings and fields for suspects and evidence. progressed to a point where the dog began to know me and what to expect from me and too, knew what to expect of he said.

WORK PAYS OFF Half way through the training course the long hours and hard work began paying off and the two began working as a team. There were many hardships to overcome. Besides the long hours of training, each patrolman had to show a great deal of patience. The classes began with 13 trainees but only six completed the program. was some risk of injury while training, especially during attack Mizic said.

the risk was held to a minimum because of the safety precautions taken by the academy. Pottstown Police Chief Richard Tracy said the K-9 unit will be used whenever needed, but primarily will work the night shift because officials feel that is when the need for the dog is the greatest. dogs have proven to be an effective deterrent against street crimes such as purse snatching, street assaults and Tracy said. survey of other police departments using dogs in police work indicates they are successful. Hopefully they will cut down on the increase in crimes in the borough during the past he added.

MORE PATROLS Tracy said as training is completed, additional K-9 patrols will be added to the department. Mizic and Shane are on duty but the patrolman said it will be a while before the dog becomes familiar with the community. is highly trained but know the area and that will be our main concern during the next few days. Mizic stressed that Shane not only is used for attack work and apprehending criminals, but can play an important role in searching for missing persons or working with the narcotics unit in drug investigations. we are a new unit, 1 know if there is any Mizic said.

in talking with policemen from other communties using dogs, the only opposition is from people who have reason to fear the Youth Paralyzed Two Years Given Hope for Recovery William Hart, a 19-year-old North Coventry youth, fought for his life following an automobile accident two years ago. Miraculously he survived, but the accident left him paralyzed and unable to speak. An emergency traecheotomy was required to save the life and he remained in a coma for weeks before showing any response to treatment. But the paralysis and lack of speech remained. Now a Pittsburgh doctor and a team of neurosurgeons have given some hope for recovery for the son of Mr.

and Mrs. William Hart, Coventry East Apartments. Dr. Robert Hershey, who examined the boy in Johnstown, asked the parents last week to take their son to Mercy Hospital. LITTLE CHANCE Previously he received treatment at Johnstown and Morgantown Rehabilitation Center but was given little chance of recovery until examined by Dr.

Hershey. The boy has been undergoing tests and after neurosurgeons analyze the results, treatment will begin. Mrs. Daniel Hayes, 128 N. York a close friend of the Hart family for many years, said treatment for the paralysis will be similar to that for Disease, where a portion of the brain is frozen.

This is designed to relieve the stress on the part of the brain responsible for the paralysis. WITH COMBO Mrs. Hayes said the accident occurred Aug. 25, 1969, when Hart was returning to Pottstown from Eagleville where the combo he played with completed an engagement. She said details of the accident still are sketchy but police believe when auto Area Servicemen Given 'a Lift' By Bundles Fund, Chaplain Says was struck on the passenger side, a guitar amplifier in the back seat flew forward and struck the boy in the head.

was taken to a Norristown hospital where the emergency traecheotomy was Mrs. Hayes said. surgery he was in a coma for many She said Hart still cannot speak or walk but managed to regain use of his hands and arms and can feed himself. FAMILY HOPEFUL family and doctors are hopeful of a recovery of at least his voice and use of his she said. made noticeable progress since the accident.

Hart graduated from Pottsgrove High School in 1969. lost Mrs. Hayes said. always was cheerful and I know if some of his friends would send him cards or letters, it really would make him happy and aid the Judge Continues fewer Hearing An Army chaplain sent a letter of appreciation for The bundles for buddies program Friday. Spec.

4 Robert A. Everingham, associated with the 23rd Support Group, Camp Humphreys, Korea, said he wanted to share his letter with all the great Pottstown people. would like to thank and express my deep appreciation for the great job the people of Pottstown are doing by sending papers to us men his letter said. gives me a lift to know that we are not forgotten, and something to look forward to each month by receiving a bundle of Box collections received Friday totaled $24.58, while patrons of Industrial Valley Bank, North End Branch, donated $6.25. The bundles for buddies program sends copies of The Mercury to area servicemen stationed in South Korea and South Vietnam.

Contributions may be brought or sent to the offices of The Mercury, King and Hanover streets, or dropped in collection boxes in the area. Received Friday: Box collections $24.58 IVB patrons, North End 6.25 Total $30.83 A hearing on an equity action asking the Montgomery County Courts to issue an injunction against Lower Pottsgrove Township by 92 residents was continued to a later date by Judge Robert W. Honeyman. The residents, owners of 48 properties, are asking the court to prevent the township from forcing them to leave the Pottstown sewage treatment system and use the newly- installed set-up. In their petition, the property owners contend that hooking up to the township mains would prove more costly and that they are protected by an agreement to use the borough system.

No date was set by the court for the further hearing..