Standard-Speaker from Hazleton, Pennsylvania • Page 2

Standard-Speaker, Thursday, March 27, 1997 Dorm collapse kills 20 in China BEIJING (AP) Rescuers combed the ruins of a collapsed factory dormitory in southeastern China on Wednesday, finding at least 20 bodies and searching for 30 more people believed to be trapped. The dormitory for workers at a Hong Kong-funded electronics factory collapsed Tuesday night in Putian, a city in Fujian province. The cause was not known, a city official said. Rescue workers found one survivor. Liu Jingshan, the city official, said 20 to 30 bodies had been found and as many people were believed buried.

He did not have an estimate of the number of injured, nor did he know how many people lived in the dormi- tory. If You Need To CALL US! Standard Speaker 455-3636 OR OUT OF THE AREA TOLL FREE 800-843-6680 FAX 455-4244 CIRCULATION TO START THE PAPER EXT. 263 REPORT DELIVERY ERROR EXT. 271 Between 7 am Noon ADVERTISING CLASSIFIED ADVERTISING MON-FRIDAY PM ASK FOR EXT. 267 DISPLAY ADVERTISING MON-FRIDAY PM ASK FOR EXT.

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Centre Shenandoah, I PA 462-4440 or 462-4442 FAX 462-4446 PLEASE NOTE For Your Convenience We Accept Both MasterCard and Visa for All Transactions! Master Card VISA Published Everyday by Hazleton Standard-Speaker, Inc. 21. North Wyoming Street Hazleton, Pa. 18201 Telephone 455-3636 Periodicals Postage Paid at Hazleton, Pa. Publication No.

238140 TM TM 7 DAY DELIVERY The Hazleton Standard-Speaker is delivered by carrier for $2.65 a week. Paid in Office in advance Three months $34.45 Six months 66.90 One 132.80 Sunday Only Delivery Paid in office in advance Three months $9.75 TM TM BY MAIL Monday through Saturday One month $15.00 Six Three months months 70.00 36.00 0 One 135.00 Sunday Additional $1.50 per week by mail John B. Kuchera, of 231 Main Haddock, died Wednesday at the Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre. Born in McAdoo, he was the son of the late John J. and Ana (Derbis) Kuchera.

Kuchera was a member of St. Mary's Church of the Assumption, McAdoo. He was a coach for McAdoo Little League and Babe Ruth baseball teams. Kuchera was an Army veteran and served during the Korea War. Surviving are his wife of 41 years, the former Mary Alice Gavinski; daughters, Mrs.

Charles (Linda) Proyanzo, Pardeesville; Carol, Hazle Village; Roberta Robbins, Drums; son, John, Haddock; a brother, Leonard Yardley; sisters, Mrs. Andrew (Marcella) Petuch, New Coxeville; Mrs. Leon (Monica) Sobolewski, McAdoo; and Mrs. Edward (Elaine) Evans, New Cumberland; three grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Monday at 9 a.m.

from the Stanley E. Anilosky and Son Funeral Home, McAdoo, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Mary's Church of the Assumption at 9:30. Interment will be in the parish cemetery. Friends may call Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Edward H. Levy John B. Kuchera Edward H. Levy of 416 E. Railroad Mahanoy City, died Wednesday evening at his home.

The David D. Jarrett Funeral Home, Second and Pine streets, Mahanoy City, is in charge of the arrangements. SCHOCH SERVICES A memorial service for Franklin D. Schoch, White Haven, who died at his home Sunday, will be held Friday at 11 a.m. in St.

Paul's Lutheran Church, White Haven. The Rev. Michele Kaufman, pastor, will officiate. Friends may call at the church from 10:30 a.m. until the service.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the Joseph E. Lehman Funeral Home Inc, 403 Berwick White Haven. BOLINSKY SERVICES Funeral services for Anthony R. Bolinsky, of Muir Avenue, Hazleton, who died Tuesday evening at Hazleton General Hospital after a lengthy illness, will be held Monday at 8:45 a.m. from the Mark S.

Harman Funeral Home, (east), Butler Road Drums. Msgr. Francis Beeda will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Hazleton.

Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Drums. Friends may call Sunday from 6 to 9 p.m. A Christian wake service will be conducted Sunday evening. Theft (Continued from page 1) "All equipment was accounted for," Zola said. "A full inventory will be done next week." School officials at the scene said the damage and the moved equipment totaled several thousand dollars.

Zola thanked the state police for their quick response. State police are investigating the break-in. Broad St. sweeping in West Hazleton Pennsylvania Department of Transportation crews will sweep Broad Street in West Hazleton, from Washington Avenue to Diamond Avenue, on Friday morning. Borough police said parking is prohibited on the street Friday until the work is done.

Card of Thanks The family of RALPH KAPES M. wishes to express its gratitude to all who in any way assisted and supported them in their recent sorrow. Teresa 0'Karnic Teresa M. O'Larnic, 87, of South Popular Street, Hazelton, died Wednesday morning at Hazelton-St. Joseph Medical Center.

She was born in Hazleton and lived there her entire life. She was the daughter of the late Frank and Mary (Gladnick) Ferry. She was a member of Holy Trinity Roman Catholic (German) Church, North Laurel Street. Preceding her in death, in addition to her parents, were her husband, John R. in 1992, and a brother, Edward Ferry.

Surviving are a son, Robert Levitown; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; four step-grandchildren; brothers, Francis, Texas; William, West Hazleton; and Harry, Fairborn, Ohio; sister Clair Stafhefski, Hazleton; nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Monday at 9:30 a.m. in the John J. Pusti Funeral Home, 480 W. Broad Hazleton, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial in Holy Trinity R.C.

(German) Church at 10. Interment will be in St Gabriel R.C. Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.

A prayer service will be conducted Sunday evening. The family would appreciate Mass cards. George Popick George Popick, of 703 Front Freeland, died Wednesday morning at Hazleton-St. Joseph Medical Center. He was a member of St.

Mary's Byzantine Catholic Church, Freeland, and is survived by his wife, the former Mildred Sofranko. Arrangements will be announced by the McHugh-Wilczek Funeral Home, Freeland. MEMORIAL MASS FRI. A memorial Mass for Louis Thomas 76, of Cleveland, Ohio, who died March 12, will be held Friday at 12:05 p.m. at Our Lady of Grace Church, Vine Funerals The funeral of Margaret "Peggy" Matz, of 681 Garfield Hazleton, who died Monday morning at Hazleton-St.

Joseph Medical Center, was held Wednesday from the Joseph A. Moran Funeral Home, Hazleton. Rev. Neil Gugliemelli celebrated a Mass of Christian Burial in Our Lady of Grace Church, and gave the blessing in the chapel at Calvary Cemetery. Entombment was in Calvary Cemetery.

Pallbearers were John, Michael and Christopher Kipilia, nephews, and Joseph Kopashy, John Ford and Scott Combellack. The funeral of Elizabeth Pellock of 16 N. Lincoln McAdoo, who died Sunday at Hazleton-St. Joseph Medical Center, was held Wednesday from Damiano Funeral Home, McAdoo. The Rev.

Leonard Hollick gave a blessing at the funeral home, and celebrated the Divine Liturgy with Office of Christian Burial in St. Michael's Byzantine Catholic Church. Concelebrating was Msgr. John Opalenick. Hollick gave a blessing at the grave in the parish cemetery.

Pallbearers were grandsons, John Pellock, Gene Lucadamo and Michael Lucadamo, and nephews, Andy, Gerald, Joseph and John DeBalko and George Madochick. The funeral of Emily Hawk of R.R. 2, Weatherly, who died Sunday at Hazleton-St. Joseph Medical Center, was held Wednesday from the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, Weatherly.

The Rev. Salvatore Bentivegna celebrated a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Patrick's Church. Burial was in Union Cemetery, Weatherly. Pallbearers were Joseph Stepansky, Robert and Larry Stemko, and Larry Petrosky, nephews, and Carroll Nagle and Sherman Richie.

In Loving Memory of NICK "Prop" PETRUZZI, SR. who died March 26, 1962 Love Miss You Daddy Daughter, Rose Joseph DeFrancesco Joseph DeFrancesco, of 17 Ramsey Bridgewater, N.J., died Wednesday morning at his home. Born in Hazleton, he was the son of the late Michael and Giovannina (Crona) DeFrancesco. He was a member of St. Ann's Roman Catholic Church, Raritan, N.J.

Before retiring, he was employed at Calco Chemical Division of American Cyanamid Bound Brook, N.J. Preceding him in death, in addition to his parents, was a brother, Dominic. Surviving are his wife, the former Margaret Tarapchak, formerly of Cranberry; daughters, Norman Kelly, White House Station, N.J.; and Joann Townsend, Clermont, sisters, Dana Montone and Mildred Grayoski, both of Bridgewater; and Rose Guido, Bound Brook; a brother, Anthony, Hazleton; six grandchildren; nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 10:30 a.m. from the Bridgewater Funeral Home, Main Street, Bridgewater.

Interment will be in St. Ann's Cemetery, Raritan. Friends may call Friday at the funeral home from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. A memorial Mass will be held April 3 at 9 a.m. in St.

Ann's Church, Raritan. BOBAL SERVICES Funeral services for Michael T. Bobal, 79, of Buck Mountain, Barnesville, who died Tuesday his home, will be held April 1 at 9:30 a.m. from the David D. Jarrett Funeral Home, Second and Pine streets, Mahanoy City, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 i in Assumption B.V.M Church, Mahanoy City.

The Rev. William J. Maslar, pastor, will officiate. Friends may call at the funeral home Monday from 6 to 8 p.m. Interment will be in St.

Michael's Cemetery, Shenandoah. The David D. Jarrett Funeral Home, Mahanoy City, is in charge of arrangements. The funeral of Elizabeth "Bessie" (Pompigli) Pompella, White Haven, who died Sunday at Davis Nursing Home, Mountaintop, was held Wednesday morning from the Joseph E. Lehman Funeral Home White Haven.

The Rev. Salvatore A. Bentivegna, pastor, was the celebrant of the Mass of Christian Burial in St. Patrick's Church, White Haven. Interment followed in the parish cemetery.

Pallbearers were Walter and Matthew Pollakusky, Sean and James Taylor, Ryan Lindbuckler and Clinton Kunkle. The funeral of Sarah H. Davies, of Fritzingertown Senior Living Community, Drums, who died Sunday at the Mountain City Convalescent and Rehabilitation Center, was held Wednesday from the Krapf Hughes Funeral Home, Hazleton. The Rev. Neal E.

Smith, pastor, conducted the service. Interment was in Mount Laurel Memorial Park, Hazleton. Pallbearers were David Slack David Slack Samuel Marchetti, Christopher Olian, James Davis, George Potcner, Scott Slack. The funeral of Fred Janosky of North Wyoming Street, Hazleton, who died Sunday at Veterans Affairs Medical Center, was held Wednesday from the Frank J. Bonin Funeral Home Inc.

The Rev. Louis Garbacik gave the blessing at the funeral home, celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial in St. Stanislaus Roman Catholic Church and gave the final blessing in Calvary Cemetery. Pallbearers were Kurt Nensteil, Lou Chupak, Fred Janosky, Jeff Kalsa, Cosmo Piccione, and Tony Liscuski. The funeral of Joseph P.

Schalles, 17 Maple Tresckow, who died Monday morning at Hazleton General Hospital, was held Wednesday from the Boyle Funeral Home, Hazleton. The Rev. Edward Zemanik was the celebrant of the Mass of Christian Burial in St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, McAdoo, and offered the blessing at the grave in the parish cemetery. Pallbearers were Jerry Hircolla, James Grohol, Daniel Mears, Paul Gibson, and Mark and Gene O'Donnell Jr.

(Continued from page 1) in the meeting said. Leon Levy of New York, president of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, Albright "told us Arafat 'should show a red light against terrorism." And David A. Harris, executive chairman of the American Jewish Committee, said Arafat was "very largely" responsible for recent Palestinian violence "whether he gave a direct signal or not." James J. Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute, called with other ArabAmericans on Albright to insist the United States takes a more aggressive role in peacemaking. "If there is no new infusion the process will not survive," he said in an interview.

Specifically, Zogby said the United States should insist Israel halt construction of a new housing project for Jews in east Jerusalem, which the Arabs claim is their territory. Otherwise, Zogby said, it will be difficult to reopen peace talks. Ross arrived in Rabat, Morocco, Wednesday night and scheduled a meeting today with Arafat, who was flying in later. Ross, who made no statement at the airport, was leaving later today for Israel to talk to Netanyahu. Ross is seeking, first of all, a clear statement from Arafat to Palestinian militants to halt attacks on Israel and its civilian population.

A suicide bomber Friday killed three women in a Tel Aviv cafe and injured scores of other patrons. Then, in Jerusalem, Ross will urge Netanyahu to ease tensions, as well. He also will try to persuade Arafat and Netanyahu to open negotiations over the future of the West Bank and Jerusalem. "His marching orders are to encourage dialogue between the parties and to resume direct discussions of issues that are important to preserving the peace process at a moment in which the peace process is frayed at the White House spokesman Mike McCurry said. Critical to the outcome could be the housing project that Israel calls Har Homa and the Arabs call Jabal Abu Ghnaim.

Israel ended 17 years of Jordanian occupation of east Jerusalem in the 1967 Middle East war and combined east Jerusalem with the rest of the city as Israel's undivided capital. Arafat and other Arabs contest Israel's claims to sovereignty and propose setting up a state on the West Bank and Gaza and placing its capital in east Jerusalem. The two sides have agreed to discuss the city's future and other knotty issues in negotiations, though Netanyahu has repeatedly told the Palestinians he will never yield any part of Jerusalem. Mass (Continued from page 1) troduced herself to one man when they moved in, and he said he was in a religious group. "I made some kind of joke.

It didn't go too well, he didn't seem to have a good sense of humor," she said. There was no indication whether the deaths were related to Saturday's fiery mass suicide in Quebec of five members of the Order of the Solar Temple, a doomsday cult that believes suicide transports them to a new life on a planet called Sirius. Over the past three years, murder-suicides by Temple followers have resulted in 74 deaths in Europe and Canada. Koutchesfahani has an unlisted number and his lawyer didn't immediately return a phone call. A glance inside the rambling, cream-colored mansion with a red-tiled roof showed a full pantry, expensive furniture and a southwestern motif.

The estate, lined with palm trees, also has a swimming pool and a tennis court. Rancho Santa Fe is an exclusive community in northern San Diego County noted for its gated estates, polo fields and million-dollar homes. It's been described as the Beverly Hills of San Diego. "It sounds pretty damn bizarre," said San Diego Padres owner John Moores, a Rancho Santa Fe resident who describes his community as "incredibly quiet." "The reason we bought there is it's very, very peaceful. I'm unaware of any place like it in anywhere in America.

Every once in a while I can hear a neighbor," he said. The housing project decision tightens Israel's grip, but was criticized by Clinton as undermining Palestinian confidence in peace talks and by the Arabs and much of the world as a violation of Israeli-Palestinian agreements to make joint decisions about the city's future. The Tel Aviv attack followed ground-breaking for the housing project. Until the attack Albright and other State Department officials had praised Arafat as being totally opposed to terrorism. Responding to a telephone call Tuesday night from Albright, Arafat agreed to end his travels in Asia and meet with Ross.

For days, the Palestinian leader had been out of touch with senior U.S. officials eager to talk to him. Girl (Continued from page 1) of their lives in prison. I know that's a heck of a lot to say about an 18-or 19-year-old," he said. Ronald Stafford said the three men planned the sisters' abduction for two weeks because they thought the girls' father was mistreating them, Dougal testified.

A federal magistrate denied bail Wednesday to Ronald Stafford and Geer. Lee Stafford's records were sealed because he is a juvenile. The girls were abducted Friday as they got off a school bus. Vacationing college students saw pictures of the children on television hours after they had dinner Monday with three men and two girls. The students called authorities.

Police rescued the girls Tuesday morning at a Daytona Beach gift shop and returned them by plane to Kalamazoo, Mich. "I'm free!" the 6-year-old girl said outside her home Wednesday. She arrived Tuesday night. The 9-year-old had a message for Ronald Stafford: "The next time I see him, I'm going to kick him in the rear end." Teresa Hainer, the girls' mother, is talking about challenging her ex-husband's custodial rights in court. "This was half his fault," she told The Detroit News.

"He was told to stay away from the Staffords a while Flock (Continued from page 1) Monroe County, just south of Pike, grew by nearly 25 percent, the second-highest growth spurt in the state. Gordon DeJong, director of the Penn State University graduate program in population studies, said the picturesque Pocono Mountain region draws retirees and out-of-state residents, particularly from the New York metropolitan area. "What's drawing them from New York are quality-of-life issues, such as beautiful mountains, small lakes, neighborhoods," he said. Overall, Pennsylvania grew slower than other states by 1.5 percent for the entire six-year period, compared to the national average of nearly 1 percent per year, DeJong said. The government estimated the state's population at 12 million residents, up from 11.9 million residents in 1990.

Hazleton area counties had these changes: Carbon, 56,846 to 58,783, up 3.4 percent; Columbia, 63,202 to 64,079, up 1.4 percent; Luzerne, 328,149 to 321,309, down Monroe, 95,709 to 119,581, up 24.9; and Schuylkill, 152,585 to 152,630, 0.0. The state is losing a key portion of its inhabitants to states that offer better job prospects, according to DeJong. Between 1990 and 1995, the state saw an 8 percent drop in residents between the ages 20 and 29. "We losing college-educated people," DeJong said. "We're losing our best and brightest." Another trend that troubles experts is the exodus of residents from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

The populations of Philadelphia and Allegheny County, which includes Pittsburgh, decreased 6.8 percent and 4 percent respectively since the 1990 census. Large metropolitan cities could face a fiscal crisis if the trend continues, because they are losing their taxpayers, according to Ralph Bangs, research associate at the University Center for Social and Urban Research at University of Pittsburgh. "If this continues and it appears to be continuing this will lead to a serious problem," he said..