Shamokin News-Dispatch from Shamokin, Pennsylvania • Page 1

PENNA. STATE LIBRARY GENERAL LIBRARY DIVISION NEWSPAPER ROOM BOX 1601 Survey Shows 1152 Open Strip Mine Pits in Shamokin Mount Carmel Area Mount Carmel Shamokin area, from Zerbe Township eastward to Conyngham, has 1,152 open strip mine pits which would be eligible for backfilling under the $500 million bond issue approved by comonwealth voters at the May primary election. A comprehensive survey on cpen pits in this area was completed by Harold Shomper, Shamokin, retired state mine inspector. Shomper volunteered to conduct the project for LAREDO (Lower Anthracite Region Economic Development Organi- ration). He is a member of LAREDO'S planning commission.

The survey is first taken on the number of open pits in this area. The State Department of Mines and Minerals Industry is now engaged in a similiar project. Shomper's survey, which took two solid weeks of work to complete, shows 195 linear miles involved in the 1,152 open pits. Mines vary in length from 1nn feet to two miles; width, 20 feet to 1.000 feet, and depth, 20 feet to 220. Area surveyed includes 2,360 acres of open pits, and with spill banks include the acreage mounts -o 4,720 or double.

Mr. Shomper said it would require 137,500,000 cubic yards of fill to close the pits. "In most the fill is available," he said. Cost of filling the 1,152 pits would be approximately Shomper estimated. LAREDO, realizing the cost for just this one section of the Anthracite field might be prohibitive, has suggested that backfills be confined to pits located within 1,000 feet of highways, municipalities or "buildup" areas.

The LAREDQ suggestion would reduce the acreage to 1.560, covering 63 linear miles. The cost would be approximately $15,000,000. In line with its suggestion, LAREDO officials this week presented the map and its recommendations at the offices of U. S. Senators Joseph Clark and Hugh Scott, Congressman Herman Schneebeli, the U.

S. Department of Interior and the Small Business Administration in Washington, D.C. LAREDO'S purpose was to make federal officials aware of the number of open pits in the area and the cost involved in backfilling and contouring the land. Dr. G.

R. Varano, LAREDO president, said: "We are aware that backfills must be done over a period to time, but in order to attract industry and promote tourism, an early start must be made." Shomper's map covers 62 per cent of the western-middle An- thracite field. "Actually," he said, "it is a sizeable portion of the entire hard coal region." The retired mine inspector pointed out backfilling would reduce two eyesores in the coal field open pits and unsightly spill banks. He pointed out the Reading Railroad Company's garbage proposal plan would only fill open pits. The banks would remain.

LAREDO hopes early completion of the survey and map preparation by Shomper will enhance this area's chances of securing a fair share of monies available for the backfilling projects. Two hundred million dollars of the $500 million bond Issue is earmarked for the Anthracite field. "We probably are far in advance of other areas in the coal region as far as pinpointing tiie exact location of the open pits are concerned," Shomper said. Shomper, in making his survey visited many pit sites personally. He supplemented his visits with maps made by the United States Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Geological Survey and land maps he had irom his 18 years as a state min inspector.

Mr. Shomper has spent 44 years in the mining industry. Most of his experience is in engineering, but he served in various other capacities at regional collieries. "Garbage is not the answer to the backfill problem," Shomper said. Shomper's map is believed to be highly accurate.

The number of pits he pinpointed for backfill probably will conform to the state project now underway. Navy Pilots Blast MIGs From North Vietnamese Skies Diplomats Surprised By Soviet Blunders in Middle East Situation SHAMOKIN, FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1967 VOL. 34, NO. 259 rr SSW 4rv''' 1 caused by the MIGs' 20mm cannon, but none of the American pilots was hit. The Navy fliers credited with kills were Cmdr.

Marion "Red" Isaacks of Redding and San Diego, Lt. Cmdr. Robert Kirkwood, Fall River, and Lt. Cmdr. Ray Hubbard Jr.

of Poway, Calif. Lt. (J.G.) Philip W. Dempewolf of Bellevue, Iowa, was credited with the probable. It was the first such credit for all the pilots except Hubbard who now has one confirmed kill and two MIGs damaged.

Despite the battle overhead, Turn to Page 3 As the permanent representative of the Soviet U.iion at U.N. headquarters, Fedorenko was the man in the middle during most of the debate, and he was responsible for carrying out the Kremlin's decisions. It is generally agreed that his bitter attacks on Israel and his sniping at various individuals, including Secretary-General Thant and t.i ee Security Council presidents, contributed to an unfavorable image presented by the Russians. When the war broke out June 5, most council members were ready to vote un immediate cease-fire appeal. Fedorenko insisted that the appeal be linked with a demand for Israeli troops to pull back to their June 4 positions.

The Soviet position apparently was based on intelligence reports which failed to show the extent of Egyptian military losses. Eventually the Russians and the Arabs accepted the cease-Turn to Pogs 3 School Board A wards Contracts for Band Uniforms, Boilers Mount Carmel-Shamokin area. Shomper's survey, conducted on behalf of LAREDO, is believed to be the first completed on the open pit problem. SHOMPER AND MAP Retired State Mine Inspector Harold Shomper, Shamokin, is shown with a comprehensive map he made pinpointing 1,152 open strip mine pits in the Rock Strata Tested Plans Advance for Addition to Hospital UNITED NATIONS, N.Y. (AP) Western diplomats are not as surprised by the Sovbt Union's failure to win the diplomatic ba tie at the United Nations over the Middle East as by the string of blunders that caused the Russians to lose the skirmishes as well as the war itself.

No one can recall a time when the Kremlin got into so many untenable positions and suffered so many rebuffs in any similar two-month period. This raises some questions whether Soviet diplomats suddenly lost their touch, and if who was to blame for the step-by-step lapses. There has been widespread speculation that Nikolai T. Fed-orenko was the central figure and that he may be replaced, but it would be an oversimplification to pin the whole thing on Moscow's delegate to the U.N. At least part of the trouble can be traced to top-level officials in Moscow.

Some of it stemmed from faulty intelligence and some from diplomatic necessity which required the Soviet Union to take losing positions. Most U.N. officials don't think Fedorenko initiated the idea yi the emergency session of the General Assembly, overriding the long-held Soviet doctrine that peacekeeping matters should be handled by the Security Council. Since 1950 the Soviet Union had insisted that the "uniting for peace" procedure for calling emergency assembly sessions was illegal, but that is the way the current session was convened This procedure was first proposed by the United States to get around persistent Soviet vetoes in the Security Council. The decision on this seemed to be one for the highest level.

This is true also on the personal panicipation of Premier Alexei N. Kosygin in the assembly session. That is one reason why the failure of the Soviet Union to get a clear-cut assembly demand for the withdrawal of Israeli troops from Arab territory is a blow to the Russians and helps explain vhy they have kent Foreign Minister Andrei A. Gromy-ko in New York for more than four weeks trying to find a face-saving formula. Former Of Area Injured In Plane Accident A former Shamokin area man escaped injury yesterday afternoon when a twin-engine aircraft which he was piloting crashed and burned one hour after takeoff near the rural community of Delta, York County.

Pilot of the plane was identified as Michael Kuntz, a resident of Bailey's Crossroads, Va. State police said Kuntz fled from the pilot's cabin only moments before it burst into flames after crashing in a field. Kuntz left Spaatz Airport in Reading at 4:00 p.m. in the twin-engine craft. The crash occurred about 5:00 p.m.

near Delta, close to the Pennsylvania-Maryland border. According to police, Kuntz reported that one of his engines conked out and he was unable to control the craft. He crash landed in the field and fled the plane before it became enveloped in flames. Officials said Kuntz was flying the Beechcraft plane from Reading on the first leg of a flight to Tuscaloosa, Ala. Following the crash, Kuntz was taken to Aldino, where If! boarded a plane for Washington, D.C.

Reading sources said Kuntz is a former resident of Shamokin. The pilot is employed by a firm which markets used SAIGON (AP) American Navy pilots blasted three MIGs from North Vietnam skies today and probably got a fourth while the South Vietnamese claimed killing 240 Communist soldiers in a furious battle in Quang Tri Province, at the northern end of the country. South Vietnamese headquarters airborne troopers overwhelmed what was evidently a Communist battalion of about 500 men. Initial reports said the Communists left 89 weapons on the field. South Vietnamese losses were not given.

The battle ended this afternoon, headquarters said, but further details had not been reported from the troops in the field. U.S. Command announced two American coastal amphibious assaults to seek out Communist units which have avoided battle for 11 days. The landings were in the Mekong delta and just below the demilitarized zone. Two American Crusader jets were shot up in the air battle 20 miles north of Haiphong but made it safely back to the carrier Bon Homme Richard in the Tonkin Gulf 130 miles off the North Vietnamese coast.

It was the first big air battle since the North Vietnamese virtually grounded their air force six weeks ago after losing five jets within three days. Eight MIGs came out last Wednesday 'but fled when fired on by Air Force pilots. The Navy Crusader pilots were flying cover ahead of other jets coming in to attack a fuel dump when about eight MIG17s "popped up out of the clouds." For the next seven minutes the opposing fliers each group numbered about eight planes-criss-crossed the skies with rockets and cannon fire. The American pilots reported tha't they saw three of the MIG pilots eject from stricken planes. They believed a fourth pilot also ejected but this claim remained a "probable" pending evaluation of gun films aboard the Bon Homme Richard.

The MIGs were felled by heat-seeking Sidewinder missiles and 20mm cannon fire from the Crusaders. Two of the Crusaders flew back to the carrier with gaping holes evidently Injured by SIlOl William Enders, 14-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. William Enders, Dalmatia, was injured in a shooting accident this morning at the Northumberland Gun Club near Urban. Young Enders was treated at the Dai-Hern Medical Center, Mandata, for pellet wounds of the back of the neck and skull.

He was allowed to return home after treatment. Enders was working in the trap house on the range when a gun was accidentally discharged into the building. Identity of the person who fired the shotgun has not been determined at the present time. State Police trooper Andrew Kapral of the Shamokin Sub-Station has been assigned to the investigation. Shamokin Area School Board last night awarded contracts for band uniforms, classroom furniture, and new boilers in two school buildings.

Directors accepted bids for band instruments and equipment and authorized solicitation of bids for paving at school premises. A new professional employe was elected. Shamokin Area School Board Score Shamokin Area School Board last night: Awarded contracts for classroom furniture, band uniforms and new boilers in the Ferndale and Uniontown schools. Accepted the resignation of a professional employe. Hired a new professional employe and head track coach.

Accepted bids for band Instruments and equipment. Named an architect for renovations to the former post office building. Authorized solicitation of bids for paving at schools and for aluminum risers for use in the high school. Robert Swank, acting president, conducted the meeting. Attending were Robert McClain, Walter E.

Fidler George Troxell, John E. Moore, John M. Phillips, Albert Weller and having joined the Cub Scout pack at St. John's in 1960. After three years in cubbing, he joined the church's Scout troop.

Both boys are members of Wapsu Achtu Lodge, Order of Arrow, at Camp Karoondinha. They also earned a "Mile Swim Award" at camp. Bickert holds a God and Country award in Scouting, also. James Blessing. Elmer Shuey was absent.

Contract for uniforms for the band, majorettes, band major and band director was awarded to Ostwald, Staten Island, N.Y., which quoted a total cost of $11,228.80. Although the Ost-wald bid was not low, the uniform offered was fully in accord with specifications, directors said. Shamokin Sports Supply entered a bid of $10,799.50, but the type of uniform offered was not in line with specifications, directors said. Directors awarded a contract for 205 pupils' desks for use in elementary classrooms to American Seating Company, Norris-town, at a total cost of $6,765. Another contract for nine teachers' desks and chairs was awarded to R.

A. Wagner, Quakertown, at a cost of Purchase of the furniture was recommended by Frank M. VanDevender, assistant to the new superintendent. On recommendation of Andrew Mihalik, West Junior High principal, directors awarded a contract to Williamsport Paper Company for 50 folding chairs at a cost of $4.50 each. A con-Turn to Poge 3 17 Seized in Raid On Show at Fair Six troopers from the Selins-grove detail of state police conducted a raid at the Selinsgrove Fairgrounds at 10:30 last night and arrested 17 persons in a charge of rurticipating in obscene entertainment.

Among those arrpsted were 14 women and three men, all personnel of a trave'ing carnival which is showing this week in connection with the annual Selinsgrove Night Fair. Police said they gave homes addresses in various states throughout the south. They were members of four differont side shows that were raided. The 17 were taken before Justice of the Peace Celia Walters, SeHnsgrove R.D. 1, and each posted S250 bail for a hearing at a later date.

"-rir if Robert M. Thomas, trator of Shamokin State General Hospital, reported to the board of trustees last night that plans for construction of a two-story addition to the hospital are progressing into the final stages. Reporting to the board during a monthly meeting at the hospital, the administrator noted that test borings into the rock strata beneath the proposed building site have been completed and, pending approval in Harrisburg of the bore samplings, final approval will leave the project ready for bidding. The two-story wing is to be built on the south side of the hospital, the upper floor designed as a maternity depart- ment and the lower floor as a clinic. The board was advised that the institution will be provided with a different type of equipment to expedite snow removal next winter.

Difficulty has been Ziegier, supervising the 400,000 project for J. Robert Bazley, Pottsville contractor, explained that in the dry batch process actual wet-mixing is done by a unit that moves along the path of operation, pouring as it progresses. The superintendent said paving of the 1.81 miles of limited access highway will require several weeks, mainly becalise half the width will have to be completed first and sufficient time allowed for curing and the Turn to Page 8 Rapid Progress Noted Paving of New Highway to Begin Soon at Tharptown Camp Ceremony 2 Shamokin Scouts Attain Rank of Eagle Elwood Fryberger Named President 01 Optimist Club Elwood J. Fryberger, 415 Main Street, Ranshaw, was elected president of Shamokin Optimist Club during a recent meeting. Other officers elected include Elwood J.

Fryberger William Nairns, vice president; Irvin Liachowitz, secretary; William F. McCall, treasurer, and Dr. E. R. Bruskey, sergeant-at-arms.

In addition to officers, Antoon Van Maanen was elected chairman of the board of directors, and Bernard Frank and Joel Freidman were elected members of the board. Fryberger, an ardent sportsman, holds membership in the Uniontown Rod and Gun Club, Keystone Fish and Game Club and Ranshaw Civic Association. He is active in the Boy Scout field and a member of the board of trustees of Ranshaw Methodist Church. He served four years aboard a U.S. destroyer in the Navy and was commissioned a petty officer.

The new president is a member and past vice president of the Tri-County Underwriters Association. He is employed by Herr Gas and Oil Company, representing the Sun Oil Company in a seven-county area. Mr. Fryberger announced that the Optimist Club will continue its annual youth projects in the form of bowling tournaments, Big Brother Night, oratorical contests, free Saturday movies, and the annual Swim Derby which will be held at the Edge-wood pool August 23. erate enthusiasm and support from other civic and fraternal clubs to formulate plans for construction of a youth center and an indoor swimming pool for use by children and adults of the community, Fryberger announced.

Installation of officers will take place July 25 as a meeting in the James Madison Hotel. Lieutenant Governor Stanley Heinbach, of the Reading Optimist Club, will officiate during installation ceremonies. Weather Soma cloudiness again Low in the Ms. Chance of a few showers or thunder-showers in afternoons or evening. Partly sunny warm and humid Saturday.

High in the Us. J1 "1 i Pouring of concrete for the new stretch of four-lane highway between Weigh Scales and Tharptown is scheduled to begin during the second week of August, Elam Ziegier, project superintendent, said today. In preparation for the paving, a proportioning plant is being set up at Wreigh Scales project headquarters. Bins are being built to receive various materials, including stone, sand and cement, which will be mixed in proper proportion for the dry batch method of cementing. experienced with the large plow and truck used in the past to clear driveways, ambulance entrances and parking lots.

It is anticipated that the new equipment will enable, maintenance crews to do a better job of snow removal. Some of the equipment ordered by the Auxiliary for use in the female medical ward has been received and it was reported that delivery of the remainder is expected in about two weeks. This equipment, officials said, will not only improve the ap-pparance of the ward but will add much to patient comfort. The board was told that institution employes have been attending various instructional seminars and training courses in Harrisburg. Some of the courses relate to advanced accounting systems and purchasing procedures.

A defensive driving program was recently completed by two staff members who, in turn, will instruct approximately 20 of the institution personnel. The medical records department reported the following statistics for the month: Admissions, 276; births, 36, including 19 male and 17 female; averaee number of patients per day, 79; average length of stay, adults eight days, newborn six davs. The laboratory department reported 4.970 house tests, including 905 on house patients; 558 out tests, including 189 on out Turn to Poge 3 Kreisl Comnany Closes City Plant A major change in packing company operations in the Shamokin area became effective today with the closing of Kreisl Packing Company on West Walnut Street, Shamokin, and changes in operations of Shamokin Packing Company, Stevens Street, Tharptown. Harry Brest, local business man and former packing company operator, has sold the building, land and equipment utilized by Shamokin Packing Company to that firm. While he no longer holds financial interest in been retained to supervise purchasing and as management consultant.

Under the plan effective today, Shamokin Packing Comnany will service present customers of the Kreisl Packing Comnany. Man-aeement of Shamokin Packing announced that it will absorb as many of the Kreisl employes as business will permit. Today's changes in the local meat packing business brings to an end litigation in which the Kreisl firm brought suit aeainst Harry Brest for the alleged violation of an agreement not to engage in the meat packing business within a two-mile radius of Shamokin for a period of five years. The aereement was made at the time Brest sold his packing company at Fourth and Walnut Streets to the Kreisl interests October 20, 1959. riff Two members of a Boy Scout troop sponsored by a Shamokin church, this week reached a high level in Scouting ranks by being named Eagle Scouts during a Court of Honor at Camp Karoon-dinha.

Receiving the coveted honor in recoginition of completing required merit badge work were Rudolph Rosen, 211 East Dewart Street, and John Bickert. 49 South Seventh Street, both of Shamokin. The two Scouts are members of Troop 254, sponsored by St. John's United Church of Christ. Their scoutmaster is Salathiel O.

Derk. Roen, son of Mr. and Mrs. Furlo'ph Rosen, and Bickert, son of Mr. and Mrs.

John Bickert, appeared before the Court pf Henor at the Boy Scout Camp nrar Glen Iron on Wednesday night preceding the Order of the arrow ceremony They had pre- viously qualified for Eagle awards during a Board of Review held at Sunbury early in June. Notification was sent to the two bovs several weeks that they had qualified for the Eagle rank. Rosen, a sonhomore in Shamokin Area High School, has been in Scouting seven years. He had been a member of a Cub Scout nack snonsored by St. John's Church prior to becoming affiliated with the church's Scout troop.

As a student at Shamokin Area Hish School, he is affiliated with the band and is a member of the National Junior Honor Society. He also is a member of the Our Shamokin Band and the Hegins Valley Community Band. Bickert is a junior in Shamokin Area High School. He has been in Scouting seven years, lm begin during the second week of August This picture, taken from a spot near the top of the Cameron culm bank, shows a portion of the new roadbed which bypasses Tharptown to the south. NEW HIGHWAY PROGRESSING Work on the four-lane, limited access stretch of Route 61, under construction between Weigh Scales and Tharptown, has progressed to the point where pouring of concrete is scheduled to EAGLE SCOUTS The two Boy Scouts shown here were elevated to the rank of Eagle Scouts during a ceremony this week at Camp Karoondinha.

Both residents of Shamokin, they are Rudolph Rosen, left, of 211 East Dewart Street, and John Bickert, right, of 49 South Seventh Street.