Lititz Record Express

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THE RESS
S E R U M THE WARWICK AREA FOR MORE TH A S A CENTURY
104th Yoar ESTABLISHED APRIL 1877 AS THE SUNBEAM
CONSOLIDATED WITH THE LITITZ RECORD 1937 Lititz, Lancaster County, PA. 17543, Thursday, February 19,1981 20CENTS A COPY: S6.00PER YEAR BY MAIL
WITHIN LANCASTER COUNTY 22 Pages-No. 47
Crew Members Save
Paratrooper's Life
John Gerhard, son of
Marian Gerhard, 110 Oxford
Drive, will receive the Air
Medal for his part in the
successful rescue of an
Army paratrooper during a
mission which involved the
airdrop of 18 paratroopers
and the airlanding of
equipment at Hunter Army
Air Field, Ga. la st
December.
SSgt. Gerhard was the
senior loadmaster on the
flight which took off from
Little Rock AFB in a C-130E
Hercules. It is the job of the
loadmaster to act as coor­dinator
for the men and
materials carried on a flight,
to make sure that everyone
and everything is in its
appropriate place and
properly fastened down.
The aircraft commander
briefed the Army jump-master
and paratroopers on
the flight, the airdrop and on
the procedures to be used in
case of any emergency.
Fortunately the briefing
included information on
what to do in the case of a
fouled paratrooper.
For the uninitiated, a
fouled paratrooper is one
who for some reason does
not separate from the air­craft
and is towed after
jumping. It seems to be a bit
like falling on waterskies,
and not letting go of the rope,
only faster, in a higher
place, and a less controlled
situation for the "victim.”
During the course of the
airdrop, once the green light
signal was given, the first of
nine paratroopers jumped
from the right side of the
plane. Unknown to the crew
of the Air Force Hercules,
the second paratrooper to
exit was fouled and was
being dragged by the plane
at about 144 mph., 1000 feet
above the ground at the end
of his static line. He was
struck by three of the
paratroopers who jumped
after him.
As soon as the crew of the
flight was advised of the
plight of the jumper, the co­pilot
terminated the airdrop
exercise and SSgt. Gerhard
started directing the suc­cessful
rescue.
As senior loadmaster,
Gerhard took complete
control of the situation and
within seconds the rescue
team had installed a 5,000
pound tie down strap across
the top of the right side
paratrooper door and had
folded in the jump platform
at the base of the door - two
steps which aided in the
retrieval of the tangled
paratrooper.
They n e x t b egan
“reeling” him in by using
the right static line retriever
motor.
As the paratrooper ap­proached
the door, Gerhard
grabbed him under the
arms, the other loadmaster
was able to grasp the
paratrooper’s legs and
between them they hauled
him onto the aircraft.
Throughout the rescue, the
conversations and com­mands
had to be shouted
over the heavy wind con­ditions
at the open door of
the plane, since Gerhard’s
microphone chose at that
time to malfunction, tran­smitting
all the cargo
compartment sounds over
the aircraft’s interphone
system, into the cockpit.
Once the unconscious
paratrooper was securely in
the plane, the aircrew
prepared for an immediate
landing and within minutes,
Gerhard and his fellow
lo a dm a s te r h ad the
remaining paratrooper and
all loose equipment secured
for landing.
Gerhard and the crew of
the Hercules learned the
following day that the
paratrooper had been ad­mitted
to tbe hospital and
discharged the following
morning with only a bruised
shoulder.
It was the feeling of other
Air Force personnel that
although no member of the
aircrew had ever ex­perienced
this emergency
before, the thorough
knowledge of emergency
procedures and excellent
crew coordination probably
saved the paratrooper from
serious injury or death.
Gerhard is a graduate of
Warwick High School and is
stationed at Little Rock
AFB, Arkansas, with the
62nd Tac tic al Airlift
Squadron.
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SSgt. John Gerhard will receive the Air Medal
for his part as the coordinator of the successful
rescue of a tangled army paratrooper.
Firemen Treated
For Smoke Inhalation
Three Lititz firefighters,
injured while fighting a
small blaze that broke out in
an electrical light fixture in
the kitchen at the home of
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S.
Martzall, 130 Owl Hill Rd.,
were treated at Lancaster
General Hospital for smoke
inhalation Friday night.
Firemen were able to
confine the 7:45 p.m. fire to
an area above a kitchen
cabinet, according to
Assistant Fire Chief James
Wiegand who also said the
damage would total about
$2,000.
The three firemen were
taken to the hospital for
treatment. They were
Joseph V. Mangel, 28, of 30
W. Main St.; Kenneth Reed,
39, of 14 Middle Lane; and
Joe P. Texter, 31, of 219
’ No Actual Conflict Found’
Ethics Commission
Concludes Investigation
The State Ethics Com­mission
has notified James
Witmyer and Lloyd Rohrer,
current members of the
Warwick Township Board of
Supervisors, and Richard
Hoffer, past secretary-treasurer
of the board, that a
decision has been reached
regarding complaints filed
on Nov. 4 alleging that
Witmyer and Rohrer had
accepted gifts of (750 each
from 1976 through 1979 from
Richard Hoffer and failed to
report this on their financial
interest statements.
The commission’s findings
were that Witmyer and
Rohrer did receive gifts of
$750 each from Hoffer’s
personal funds in recognition
of their assistance to Hoffer
involving township business.
It was stated too that Hoffer
also provided these amounts
to other township super­visors
without distinction as
to political party or any
understanding that any vote
to appoint Hoffer as
secretary-treasurer or other
official action was to be
influenced thereby.
“Our investigation has
failed to reveal any actual
violation of the Ethics Act in
relation to the gifts given by
Hoffer to Witmyer and
Rohrer. There is in par­ticular
no evidence that this
was given with the un­derstanding
that the vote,
official action or judgment of
either Witmyer or Rohrer
was to be influenced
thereby. Thus, no violation
of the Ethics Act, per se,
exists,” the letter stated.
Witmyer and Rohrer have
been asked by the Ethics
Commission to amend their
financial statements to
disclose receipt of this
amount as a gift and identify
the source and c ir ­cumstances.
The notification is the
conclusion of an in­vestigation
instigated last
November by the Warwick
Township Citizens Com­mittee
for an Equitable
Sewer Sytem (WTCCESS),
alleging financial disclosure
violations.
Sandra Christianson,
counselor for the Ethics
Commission, stated that the
investigation disclosed no
actual conflict, “no problem
per se,” but that the
shifting of monies should not
recur,” Ms. Christianson
explained, “but there was no
actual violation.”
The Ethics Commission
must, according to Act 170 of
1978 which created the in­dependent
investigative
group, investigate any sworn
s ta tem e n t and th e
November complaint from
th e WTCCESS was
notorized.
According to Edward
Seladones, in an earlier
statement, charges such as
those brought by WTCCESS
are considered “minor” , but
must be followed up since
they are sworn statements.
Seladones is the Executive
Director of the Commission.
The investigation was
carried out in total con­fidentiality.
If the Com­mission
had decided to issue
an order, then it would
become a matter of public
record. There is a further
policy that the letters
regarding the information
are to be held in confidence
for 15 days.
The letter received by the
three supervisors was dated
January 29.
Weaver Drive. All were
released after treatment.
Chief Wiegand said
Martzall told him the family
had just returned home from
shopping. When he flipped on
the kitchen light, it started to
smokef*The fire chief said
the family would be able to
remain in the home.
Tapping
Fee Cost
The Warwick
Township ’ Municipal
Authority wishes to
advise that the amount
of the TAPPING FEE
for connection of each
improved property to
the sewer system shall
be $700 in accordance
with a resolution
ad o p te d by the
Authority on May 27,
1980.
There will NOT be a
$700 CONNECTION
FEE imposed by the
authority in addition to
the tapping fee. Ap­parently
some township
citizens have been
erroneously informed
that it will cost $1400 to
hook up to the sewer
system.
Of course, the cost of
constructing a service
connection, which is
sometimes referred to
as the building sewer,
from an improved
property to the sewer
lateral is the respon­sibility
of the property
owner, according to the
Authority.
In this issue
Editorial 4
Sports Section 6,7,8,9
Social 10,11
Church 16
Business Directory 18
Classified 19,20,21
Host Families Needed For County
Host families are needed
to provide dinner for
students participating in
County Orchestra being held
at Warwick High School on
Saturday, Feb. 28.
Two orchestras will be
performing in the concert. A
Chamber Orchestra will be
conducted by Miss Susan
Jacobs, a music teacher at
Cumberland Valley High
School and currently a
candidate for a master’s
degree in Theory/Com-position
at Penn State; and a
Symphonic Orchestra will be
conducted by Ralph Leh­man,
instrumental music
teacher at Warwick Middle
School.
Two complimentary
tickets to the concert will be
provided to families hosting
the students participating.
Host families are asked to
Warwick Twp. Supervisors HDC Request Denied The Warwick Township
Supervisors unanimously
voted down a request from
the Housing Development
Corporation (HDC) of
Lancaster County to sub­divide
the property at the
Rothsville School following
discussion at their regular
bi-monthly meeting Thur­sday
night.
In his motion to disap­prove
the final sub-division
plan submitted by HDC,
supervior William Hazlett
listed the following reasons
for disapproval:
* Any plans for the con­version
of the brick struc­ture
on Lot No. 1 into
apartment units should
receive land development
plan approval under the
townships sub-division and
land development or­dinance,
and the applicant
has not filed either a
p re lim in a ry or final
development plan with the
township.
* The lot size and/or in­tensity
cannot be deter­mined
as required in the
township ordinance until the
applicant’s special exception
request pending before the
Warwick Township Zoning
Hearing Board is deter-mined.
Until the decision is
rendered, it is not possible to
determine the permissable
lot areas which will be
required for this two lot
subdivision.
* The proposed water
supply for the plan does not
meet requirements of the
township ordinance. The
ordinance does not permit an
on-site water supply system
for one lot to be located on
another lot as was proposed
by HDC.
* The depth-width ratio of
the lots does not meet
township requirements.
* The plan shows a utility
easement around the
existing fire storage cistern
and hydrants which should
be further defined. The
ordinance states that
“nothing shall be placed,
planted, set or put within the
area of an easement or
conflict with the easement
agreement.”
* Notice of approval of a
planning module for land
development is required
from the Pennsylvania
D e p a rtm e n t of E n ­vironmental
Resources
according to the township
ordinance.
F o llow in g in th e ir
unanimous denial of HDC’s
sub-division application
Thursday night, the
supervisors informed Jim
Eby, Project Director for
HDC, th a t w ritte n
notification of the board’s
decision would be given
early this week.
Aid To Elderly
Richard I. Hoffer,
Regional II Council of
Community Development,
reported that $30,000 was
voted for Warwick Township
to assist the elderly in
paying the costs of sewer
hook-up.
Warwick’s project was
among five projects in
Region II to be funded
th ro u g h Community
Development monies, and
was voted number three on
the list, according to Hoffer.
Two more stages of ap­proval
must be met before
the allotment is finalized. If
the money is approved,
applications will be taken in
June. Interviews will be
conducted at the Township
Building by a Community
Development representative
and funds wil be dispersed
on a first come, first serve
basis, Hoffer said.
Citizens of the township
who may be eligible for the
Community Development
funds were urged not to
incur any project costs prior
to receiving written ap­proval.
No reimbursement
money will be available.
Residents of the township
will be n o tifie d by
newspaper and telephone if
and when the CD funds are
available.
Other Funds
In other business, the
supervisors:
* Agreed to apply for fifty
percent reimbursement
from the state Department
of Community Affairs for
costs incurred in enacting
the Flood Plain Ordinance.
* Agreed to advertise for
bids, to be accepted March
12 at 8 p.m., for a new police
car.
* Approved sending the
township clerk to a
Department of Community
Affairs workshop in Reading
on March 5.
* Signed mylars for
Samuel E. High, Richard D.
and Patricia A. Claffey,
Jacob G. and Katie Reiff and
Salem Evangelical Lutheran
Church.
The Feb. 19 continuation of the hearing con- 7;3Q p m A)| interested parties who wish to be
cerning the HDC proposals for the Rothsville heard are requested to be present at that time.
School has been moved to the Rothsville Firehall at ______________ v___________ _________________
Warwick Board Approves
WHS Press Box 'Building Bee’
The Warwick School
Board voted approval to a
motion by the Building and
Property Committee, to
spend $3,200 to expand and
renovate the existing press
box at the WHS athletic field.
The committee had
originally asked for $1,700 to
renovate the structure, but
after investigation decided
to “do the job right” and add
four to five feet on each end
and an enclosed second
story. There will be no more
standing on the upper level,
according to the plan.
The actual construction is
to be completed by the end of
May, and Will be done by
interested citizens in a
“building bee”, under the
direction of John King.
Monies for the expansion
will come from the deferred
maintenance budget.
The Board also approved
putting out bids for con­version
units for the boilers
Orchestra
pick the students up at 4:30
p.m. at the high school
provide dinner for them, and
return them to the high
school at 6:30 p.m. on
Saturday, Feb. 28.
Anyone interested in
becoming a host should call
Melissa Secott at 626-2061.
at Lititz Elementary School
and Warwick High School so
that the boilers can operate
on gas or oil.
Other Business
The Warwick School
Board unanimously ap­proved
the renewing of Dr.
John Bonfield’s contract
with the district, through
June of 1986, at their meeting
Tuesday night.
Ten Census En-mumerators
were hired by
the Board, Tuesday with the
rate of pay at 20 cents per
name in Lititz Borough; 25
cents per name in Warwick
and Elizabeth Townships,
and an additional 5 cents per
name for new residents.
The Board accepted the
resignation of Elaine Enck
as Instructional Aide for
Special Education in the
Middle School, effective
January 30; and approved
the hiring of Georgene
Hamsher, 610 Third Ave., as
a Guidance Counselor in the
elementary schools.
Mrs. Hamsher has been a
s u b s titu te G u id an c e
Counselor in the Warwick
School district and will
replace Rich Weikel who
resigned to enter the
ministry.
Approval was given for the
election of Hank Rush as
head baseball coach, Mark
Hoover as assistant baseball
coach and Barry Sipe as
assistant baseball coach.
Superintendent’s
Information
Dr. Bonfield reported to
the Board that the ap­plication
for a Title IIA Math
Grant had been successful
and would be implemented
in the Lititz Elementary
School.
A Measles Clinic will be
held April 30 to, provide
James Witmyer, Chair­man
of the Warwick
Township Supervisors, has
chosen not to run for re-election
on the spring ballott,
for personal reasons, he
said.
“I have had five plus good
years and have enjoyed the
time I’ve served,” Witmyer
remarked, “ but I have
plenty of things to keep me
busy and I need to spend
some time with them. This is
for personal reasons.”
The Republican Com­mittee
Members of Warwick
Township announced that
Wednesday, Feb. 25 is the
date of their meeting to
interview interested can­d
id ates for the 1981
vaccination for the more
than 950 students in Warwick
school district who are not
immunized. In the case of a
measles epidemic, those
children would be required
to leave school, Dr. Bonfield
explained.
Dr. Bonfield recognized
the work of the safety
patrols, patrol advisors and
crossing guards and ex-
(TurntoPage 19)
Municipal Primary.
Township offices on this
spring’s ballot, in addition to
the vacancy left by Witmyer,
include one auditor and one
tax collector.
Incumbents Anetta T.
Keith, tax collector; and
Albert Garner, auditor, have
both expressed their desire
to run for another term.
The Committee Members
want to stress that they are
interested in talking to
anyone who is interested in
being a candidate. Please
contact Lowell Forney, 626-
7759; or Ruth Tennis, 626-
2725, for an appointment.
The meeting will be held in
the Municipal Building on
Clay Road.
Witmyer Will Not Run
For Re-Election