TOWER CITY - A proclamation recognizing an anniversary of a local mine accident, as well as the people who are planning and coordinating the remembrance of it, was officially adopted by Tower City Borough Council on July 8.
The proclamation, signed by Mayor Dan Daub and borough council President Bruce Schneck, states that the East Brookside Colliery outside Tower City, one of the largest in the United States employing hundreds of workers, had suffered a tragic mine accident Aug. 2, 1913, in which at least 20 individuals were killed.
A small group from Valley View, Pitman, Klingerstown and Tremont, all with ties to the mining industry, began planning the remembrance this spring to be held in the Ss. Peter and Paul Chapel, 840 E. Grand Ave., Tower City, at 11 a.m. Aug. 3. The Rev. Paul Rothermel, pastor of Most Blessed Trinity Church, Tremont, will participate in the service, along with Daub. Other participating include The Breaker Boys, Stu Richards, Orwigsburg, and Tom Symons, Heckscherville, a duo known for their mining songs and skits.
The public is invited to attend and relatives of the miners wanting to participate in the memorial service should call Rothermel at 570-695-3648, Susan Graver at 570-695-0370 or David Williams at 570-682-8576. Anyone with a miner's hat is asked to bring it along to the service and dress in mining clothing if available.
In other business, the council opened three bids for this year's road project that includes repaving of sections of South Fifth, Joseph, Elm and South Sixth streets, plus Henry and Maple avenues. The lowest bid of $48,988 from Eastern Industries, Winfield, was accepted pending review and approval of state Department of Transportation engineer John Davis and solicitor Richard Thornburg.
Two other bids were submitted from Meckley's Limestone, Herndon, for $58,600 and Reading Materials, Skippack, for $73,167.50.
Two letters of interest were received for the council seat vacated last month by Ronald Masarik. Although the members did not discuss the choices, several noted their difficulty in making a selection since both were good candidates. A motion by Harold Reiner, however, was seconded by Bob Shuey, and Yvonne Adams received a unanimous vote of approval for the appointment. Schneck encouraged the other applicant, Todd Houtz, who has served the borough as a fire company and ambulance volunteer, to continue his interest in serving the borough.
The council also approved the hiring of two short-term, part-time workers to assist the streets crew repair pot holes. Two applications were received and several others were noted as expressing interest in the jobs and will be notified of the council's decision. Whoever is selected by Reiner, who is also Streets Committee chairman, will have to fulfill several requirements before being officially hired.
Also, the council discussed a $94 quarterly sewage bill from the Porter-Tower Joint Treatment Authority for the police station, which is located in borough hall. It was noted that the building houses the borough office and the police station, but it only has one bathroom facility and should not be subject to a second charge. Schneck agreed he would talk with the authority concerning the bill.