Following are summaries of local news stories from the pages of the Lancaster New Era. They are researched and compiled by New Era staffer Tim Buckwalter. This column appears in the New Era each Monday. Full versions of the articles are available on microfilm at the Lancaster County Library, 125 N. Duke St.

25 years ago

“CHEAP TRICK”: Republican U.S. Rep. Bob Walker (left) of Lancaster County accused Democratic House Speaker Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill (right) of playing a “cheap political trick” after O’Neill ordered that TV cameras on the House floor pan the empty chamber while Walker was giving a speech critical of Democratic House policy. Until then, the C-span cameras had focused only on the lawmaker making the speech, leaving it unknown to viewers whether the chamber was full, empty or something in between. O’Neill defended his new policy — dubbed “Cam-scam” by some — but said it only applied during the “special orders” speeches delivered at the end of the legislative day. Walker said Americans should also get to see how many lawmakers were, or weren’t, on hand for official business sessions. “We have no problem with the TV cameras panning the chamber, but let’s do it gavel-to-gavel,” Walker said. (May 15, 1984)

HEALTH COSTS: With health-care costs racing ahead of any other business expense, more than 75 people gathered for the first meeting of the Lancaster County Business Group on Health. The group’s goal was to explore ways to reduce company health-care costs by redesigning insurance plans and launching work-place “wellness” programs to educated employees on the benefits of nutrition and exercise, and the dangers of smoking. (May 17, 1984)

50 years ago

BYPASS PLAN: The west section of Lancaster’s highway bypass would be built in sections in an effort to speed up the project, State Highways Secretary Park H. Martin said after a meeting with local officials. Work was to begin in two to three years. The first section was expected to run from the Route 230 bypass at Roseville Road to the Rohrerstown Road. (May 16, 1959)

75 years ago

HEAVY HAZE: Dust storms from the Ohio Valley and farther west were borne eastward on a strong west wind. As a result, the sun was partially obscured by an eerie haze, and local visibility was limited to less than a mile. At Columbia, it was impossible to see the western shore of the Susquehanna River. (May 11, 1934)

BELL TROUBLE: The opening of Lancaster County Court was delayed several minutes by a disconnected rope on the bell that was used to call court to order. When Tipstaff Howard Griel went to the top floor to pull on the rope and ring the bell, the rope became disconnected and fell at his feet. After a mad scurry to have janitors fix the rope, the bell was rung and court got under way. (May 11, 1934)

TAX GRAB: Fulton Township’s tax collector seized chickens, corn, furniture and automobiles in an effort to collect unpaid taxes. He threatened to sell the items if the bills were not paid. “We are after old offenders,” he explained. “In no cases have we levied upon the possessions of a family where the head of the household is unemployed.” (May 17, 1934)

LIBRARY PLEA: The head of the A. Herr Smith Memorial Library called on patrons to appeal to the Lancaster County Commissioners for funding to continue extension service to rural areas of the county. The county had budgeted $1,500 for the library in 1933, but provided only $1,000. It had made no provision for the library in the 1934 budget. (May 17, 1934)

100 years ago

ROAD DRAGGING: The Good Roads Committee of the Lancaster Automobile Club was exploring the merits of the “King split log drag” as an effective tool for keeping dirt roads in good condition. The club had 10 of the drags manufactured, at $5 each, and was experimenting with them around the county. To build a drag, a log was sawed in half length-wise. The halves were separated, then joined a short distance from each other by four supports. With the cut surface to the front, the drag was pulled at an angle, using a chain. When dragged over a road after a rain, the device evened the surface by spreading a thin layer of mud that filled in ruts, then baked to a hard and smooth finish. The state of Illinois had purchased 10,000 King split log drags, the club noted, and assigned farmers the responsibility of maintaining the roads bordering their properties. (May 12, 1909)