Standard-Speaker from Hazleton, Pennsylvania • Page 16

M.M m3VO fcvr, 'JMt ''2 1 6 Hazleton Standard-Speaker, Thursday, August 2, 1990 Fistfight suggested to pigeon shoot i Lh vs'' decide 0 Quite the contrary, it is considerably more difficult to turn the tide of cruel and outdated attitudes in favor of a kinder and more gentle society. "However, if you will not teach the lessons of peace and humanity, then I trust that you now will accept this opportunity to show your people that you are as much of a sportsman when the odds are even as you are when you stand behind a gun and shoot a trapped and defenseless bird. "In fact, to do otherwise would be an extreme show of cowardice." Hindi urged that 1990 be remembered as the year that the people of Hegins buried the shoot. He termed the shoot a relic of a sj'Tj -Cat By CHUCK GLOMAN Standard-Speaker Asst. Editor An animal rights activist said Wednesday he is awaiting a response on his challenge to the organizer of the annual Hegins live pigeon shoot to a fistfight to determine whether the controversial Labor Day shoots will be stopped.

Calling the shoots "cruel and pitiless," Steve Hindi, of Carol Stream, 111., has offered to put up $10,000 of his own money on the outcome of the physical confrontation with organizer Bob Tobash of Hegins. Under Hindi's plan, Tobash also would put up $10,000. If Tobash wins, Hindi's $10,000 would be donated to the Hegins Community Park. If Hindi wins, Tobash's $10,000 would be donated to the park and the live pigeon shoot would be cancelled. Hindi noted Wednesday he has received no response from Tobash.

When contacted by the Standard-Speaker, Tobash said he is ignoring the fistfight proposal. "I didn't respond to Hindi's letter because his challenge is crazy in the first place," said Tobash. "He can't call the shoot off and neither can because neither one of us has control of it." According to Tobash, the shoot is run by the Hegins Labor Day Committee of approximately 200 people. Hindi said his challenge is "dead serious." To prove its authenticity, he said, he has deposited $5,000 in the Meridian Bank, which has a Hegins branch. Under Hindi's challenge, the fistfight "without time limit, rules, officiating, or any protective gear whatsoever" would take place "in a public place in the Hegins area" before the scheduled date of the shoot.

The confrontation, Hindi said, 'would end only when one of the parties submits, or is unable to continue beyond any shadow of a doubt." Each combatant, he told Tobash, would have one person designated who could also stop the fight "if you or I were unable to submit on our own." "Violence is generally against my personal beliefs," said Hindi, a mild-mannered, 35-year-old father of two, who is president of an Illi- 't WWV: Steve Hindi (right, foreground) becomes embroiled in a heated argument with spectators at last year's Hegins pigeon shoot. was among more than 400 people who protested the shooting of live pigeons. (Photo by David C. Haupt) '-Mm He termed the pigeon shoots as an "un-American, un-Christian display of bloodletting." "Are all the other communities in this country who have wholesome entertainment on Labor Day that much smarter than the community of Hegins?" Hindi asked Tobash. "Last year (at the Hegins shoot), your people were calling the animal rights people 'wimps' because we were non-violent.

And this year one 'wimp' has the 'macho men' running scared. "Let this offer be a lesson to those in your community, especially the young, that feeling pity for others is not a sign of weakness. Schuylkill Co. emergency coordinator is certified of any truth whatsoever," said Hindi, who contends that many pigeons are raised especially for the shoot. "And the vast majority of the rest are transported to the event from other areas," he said.

"And to make matters worse, the percentage of birds which manage to escape the pitiless fate planned for them escape into the local environment. One shoot participant recently put the number at 10 per-; cent." With 7,000 birds used in last year's shoot, Hindi reasoned, approximately 700 escaped. "Therefore," he said, "the (shoot) does nothing to decrease the area's pigeon population, and in fact, it drastically increases it." He accused Casey's office with answering inquiries with "totally false information." Hindi said the governor's office told him its personnel are taking comments and opinions from callers about the shoot and passing them on to Casey. Noting that the shoot has been held every year for 56 years, Hindi told Casey he questions his truthfulness and leadership. "I would submit that these vital qualities appear to be lacking in the Pennsylvania governor's office," he said.

Hindi said he was told by a number of people at last year's shoot that pigeons are "diseased pests." "If they are diseased," asked Hindi, "why do they allow boys to handle them, wringing the necks of birds who fall to the ground, wounded? "If they are pests, why did they release about 700 into the environment last year?" If this year's Hegins shoot goes on as scheduled, said Hindi, efforts to ban the "wholesale slaughter" will not stop. "The pressure will continue," he said, "because we'll have to assume that they intend to hold another shoot next year. "I think one of the mistakes that animal rights groups have made is that they come and protest on the day of the shoot, and write a few letters or make a few phone calls. "But they haven't treated this like the fight for life it is. When you're involved in a fight for life, you don't stop." Firefighters Association and the Schuylkill County Fire School Committee, the National Coordinating Committee on Emergency Management and the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

He serves as regional vice president for the Keystone Emergency Management Association and is a Pennsylvania State Certified Emergency Medical Technician. Kaplan was appointed to the county position following the retirement of Charles "Chick" Guy. Guy served for more than a decade in the position of EMA cordinator. Commissioners Franklin L. Shollenberger and Richard Higgins joined in congradulating Kalpan for his achievement and his work with the county emergency management program.

Newspaper staff not making calls A person telephoning area residents during night hours, as late as 10:30 p.m., claiming to be doing a survey for the Standard-Speaker, is an imposter, Ramon S. Saul, managing editor, said last night. The person, indentifying herself as "Cathy," has made a number of calls at late hours. Recipients are advised to hang up. If the practice continues, both the telephone company and police departments will be notified, Saul said.

Any telemarketing or other business done by Standard-Speaker circulation and advertising employees is done during regular business (weekday) hours, Saul said. The news department, he added, is the only one that makes telephone contacts relatively late at night. Men of Sacred Heart set 1st Friday service The Men of the Sacred Heart of Harleigh will observe First Friday by receiving Holy Communion in a body at the 7 p.m. service at the Shrine. The men are required to wear their Head of Christ Medals as announced by Tom Kassock, president The rosary will be recited before the mass.

Rev. Girard Angelo, founder of the Shrine, will recite the Mass. There will be Confession before the Mass. Tgr less-evolved society. "In truth," Hindi wrote Tobash, "There is no desire on my part to do harm to you, or to risk possible injury to myself.

But if necessary, I am prepared to risk the welfare of both of us to stop the bloodshed of the helpless victims of your shoot." Hindi blasted Gov. Robert Casey Wednesday, charging the office of Pennsylvania's leader with disseminating false information about the Hegins shoot. Hindi said that when he asked a woman on Casey's staff how Pennsylvania tolerates the shooting of live pigeons at Hegins, he was told that the Hegins area has a "pigeon overpopulation problem." "This is a total falsehood, devoid tified, Kaplan was required to complete a total of 25 training requirements and successfully complete a course at the Federal Emergency Management Institute, National Emergency Training Center, Emmitsburg, Md. Kaplan became certified as Schuylkill County Emergency Management Coordinator in 1987 and received the second level of certification on June 3, 1988, less than one year from accepting the county post. A resident of Frackville, Kaplan graduated from North Schuylkill High School and Perm State University, he served as local EMA coordinator in the Borough of Frackville for five years previous.

He is a former president of the Frackville Community Ambulance, a former assistant fire chief for the Englewood Fire Company in Butler Township and a member of the Goodwill Fire Company of Frackville. Kaplan is also a member of the Schuylkill County Volunteer landfill board appointed Barbara Ann Hess of Orwigsburg as a secretary in the count administrator's office effective August 13. Hess is being transferred from District Justice Assistant I and will receive a salary of $7.38 per hour as set by the county Salary Board. The board was informed the court appointed Marianne Struck of Schuylkill Haven as a District Justice Assistant I. She will receive a hourly wage of $6.71.

UGI coporation declares dividend Directors of UGI Corporation declared a quarterly dividend of 29 Vi cents a share on the common stock of the company to holders of record Aug. 31 1990. It will be payable by Oct. 1, 1990. The dividend rate reflects the recent two-for -one stock split.

UGI's Board said quarterly dividends of 45 cents, $2.12 Vi and $2.25 a share, respectively, on the company's $1.80 series, $8.50 series and $9.00 series perferred stock. The preferred dividends also are payable Oct. 1, 1990 to holders of record Aug. 31, 1990. CHEF'S GUIDE BOOKLET NEW YORK (AP) The Sugar Association is offering a free booklet, "A Chef's Guide to Low-Fat, High Pleasure Eating." 0 to (W.

fM). Vv y. nois corporation that manufactures industrial fasteners. Attacking the annual Fred Coleman Memorial Shoot as "a perverse concept of entertainment," he suggests it be replaced this year by "a fair confrontation between two consenting sportsmen." Tobash has been quoted as saying that, although he has organized the shoots as a community fund-raising project, he should not be challenged because he personally does not shoot the pigeons. "How can an individual who has planned the terrorizing, suffering and death of over 100,000 innocent lives make such an absurd claim?" Hindi responded.

as the interest of county residents, to stop the landfill. He requested the commissioners consider doing three things: Oppose the landfill. Change local zoning regulations which would make a landfill "illegal" in the area. Notify him if PLD submits a variance request to begin construction of the pit and access road. Noting the reasons the board should oppose the landfill, Mislitsky said the dumping "pit" itself would be less than 1,000 feet from an area of the township zoned residential.

Also, the proposed access road would cut through a residential zone; at one point it would be less than 300 feet from a residence. Testimony by a PLD engineer at an earlier county zoning hearing said the nearest home would be no closer than 1,500 feet. Another concern that should be Make an ordinary sandwich extraordinary with Senape's oven fresh breads! Rye Italian Homestyle 222 W. 17th Street Dally 'til 6, Sat. A Sun.

'til 4454-0839 Schuylkill County Emergency Management Coordinator Arthur Kaplan, second from right, received his professional certification in emergency management Taking part in the presentation Wednesday at the county courthouse were, from left Commissioner Richard Higgins, Commissioner chairman Paul Sheers, Commissioner Franklin Shollenberger, Kaplan and Tom Nervine, operations officers for the Eastern Area of PEMA. (Photo by Frank Andruscavage) Schuylkill asked to deny Sheppton By FRANK ANDRUSCAVAGE Standard-Speaker Staff Writer POTTSVILLE Arthur D. Kaplan, Schuylkill County Emergency Management Coordinator, has been awarded professional certification by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. The official presentation of the certification was made at Wednesday's meeting of the Schuylkill County board of commissioners. Tom Nervine, operations officer for the Eastern Area of the Pennsylvania Emnergency Management Agency, presented Kaplan with the certification.

Commissioner chairman Paul Sheers commended Kaplan on receiving the certification noting his hard work and dedication to Schuylkill County emergency management unit. Kaplan is one of only 16 out of 67 county coordinators in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to achieve professional certification. In order to be professionally cer In closing, Mislistky request that should any variance request be made by PLD, the board notify him prior to making any decision. "This area is home to a lot of people and vacation home sites (as well)," he said. "All we ask is that if there is a zoning change, we would like to be part of it." The commissioners did not take action on Mislitsky's request but agreed to take the opinions of local citizens into account before making any decision on the matter.

"We thank you for your concern," said chairman Paul Sheers. "We will indeed take into the consideration the concerns of the people of East Union Township." On other action, the resignations of four county employees were accepted. They were: Lisa Scales of Pottsville, a full-time nurses' aide at Rest Haven, the Schuylkill County Home for the Aging, effective July 18. Janet Welsh of Cressona, a part-time dietary aide at Rest Haven, effective July 26. Sheila Smith of Auburn, a full-time nurses' aide at Rest Haven, effective July 23.

Patricia A. Sage of Land-ingville, a clerical supervisor for the county Mental HealthMental Retardation Agency, effective August 24. On the recommendation of county Judge Joseph McCloskey, the addressed, according to Mislitsky, is that the proposed site may be undermined by abandoned shafts. "They (PLD) cannot prove the mines are not there without further testing," he said. Even though the landfill will have a heavy "double liner," Mislitsky said the liner would break if a subsidence occurred releasing leachate into the groundwater.

Citing landfills in Pine Grove and Tremont, Mislitsky said Schuylkill County is a prime target by developers to construct such sites. "This area is ripe for exploitation for landfills," he said. "It's attractive for operators simply because the costs are lower." He also petitioned the commissioners to tighten county zoning ordinances, making the installation of landfills very difficult, if not impossible, within Schuylkill County. ROSARY St. Ladislaui Roman Catholic Church 5th ft McKinley Hazleton EVERY SUNDAY NIGHT 7:00 P.M.

Recited By Peter Deeb Infant Of Prague Novena and St. Joseph Novena Before the Rosary. By FRANK ANDRUSCAVAGE Standard-Speaker Staff Writer POTTSVILLE The Concerned Citizens of East Union Township have petitioned the Schuylkill County Board of Commissioners to stop the construction of a landfill near Sheppton. At a meeting Wednesday, attorney Richard P. Mislitsky asked the commissioners to oppose the constructiondemolition landfill proposed by Pennsylvania Land Developers.

Mislitsky was hired by the concerned citizens as their legal adviser in the case. Referring to the site as the "Paddy Brown Landfill," Mislitsky said it would be in the best interest of the commissioners, as well 7 Finest In Italian-American Cuisine 109 Winters West Hazleton Phone 454-2361 Tony Zola, prop. Thursday Dinner Features CHICKEN Parm. with Spaghetti $5.95 VEAL PICATTA (lemon butter sauce) $9.95 Take-outs Welcome! Reservations Suggested.