`something For Everybawdy' Is Daring, Funny

2 Robbery Suspects Waive Hearing

By MIKE RUBINKAM; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Friday, January 10, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





WILKES-BARRE -- Luzerne County says it needs Angela Ambosie to tell people
how and when to use 911. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But six other counties with 911 service don't employ a full-time Public
Awareness Specialist, or any other full-timer who exclusively does public
education. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Although officials in Lackawanna, Monroe, Lancaster, Berks, Montgomery, and
York counties say public education is an important part of any 911 system,
they use existing employees to do the work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Luzerne County commissioners Wednesday created the Public Awareness
Specialist position and appointed Ambosie, who already was employed in the
Emergency Services Department, to fill it. She'll be paid $24,400 per year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The department's executive director, Al Gervenack, said Thursday there are
no plans to fill Ambosie's old job as administrative assistant, a position
that paid $18,750 last year. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "No matter what people think about the general knowledge of the public
there always seems to be people who don't get the paper. There's always new
residents moving into the area, there's new legions of kids in school every
year," Gervenack said. "There's a continual requirement for public education." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 911 officials elsewhere agree. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "But we can't afford the luxury of having someone do that full time," said
Ida Madison, chief supervisor of York County's 911 center. "When we have a
request for that or a school has public safety week, we just get a volunteer
from our supervisor ranks." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In Montgomery County, which has more than twice the population of Luzerne
County, an administrative assistant who works with the phone company on
address changes also handles public education chores. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In Berks County, 911 director Bill Rehr and an assistant give presentations
to schools and civic groups. Rehr says a 12-minute video makes the information
easily learned. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In Lancaster County, off-duty dispatchers teach people about 911. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 So do dispatchers in Lackawanna County. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "He doesn't get paid any more for doing it," said deputy director Rich
Barbolish. "It's not a special position." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For her part, Ambosie, who has an education degree, said she was attracted
to the position because "I like teaching and I enjoy working with children." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 When she was hired as an administrative assistant in 1994, Ambosie said she
was told there eventually would be a position in education. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Gervenack said he interviewed Ambosie for the spot only because she has an
education degree. And because her administrative assistant's position was to
be phased out, "I certainly didn't want to hire someone else and lay her off." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ambosie's job description includes giving presentations on 911 to schools,
senior citizen groups and the general public. She'll also help develop a mass
media campaign as the date when the system becomes operational draws near. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/DON CAREY &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Angela Ambosie of Wilkes-Barre is Luzerne County's Emergency Services
Department's new Public Awareness Specialist. She will be responsible for
teaching people how and when to use the county's new 911 system. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Full-time 911 Educator Exception, Not Rule 
Unlike Luzerne County, 
Six Of Its Counterparts Use 
Existing Employees To 
Familiarize Public With 
Emergency System

Full-time 911 Educator Exception, Not Rule Unlike Luzerne County, Six Of Its Counterparts Use Existing Employees To Familiarize Public With Emergency System