Bun and Jan McCole have a manicured lawn on a large corner lot in a serene setting in the Penn Forest Streams Development in Penn Forest Township. It's 5 p.m. on Monday evening and the temperature is hovering at 90 degrees. Bun stops his lawn mower and introduces himself. A friendly man who radiates hard work and pride in his home and in himself which is obvious by the condition of his surroundings in addition to The ARMY logo stenciled on his T-shirt which is wet with sweat. His wife Jan emerges from the house quickly welcoming a stranger into her yard.

Bun said he knows just about everyone living in the area. He said it was in January when the neighbors at 64 Wild Creek Drive just up and left. He said it was not until the snow started to melt when things started to turn up.Approaching the front of the property behind some ever greens and shrubs, old bags of diapers fumigated the area and hygiene products lay sweltering in the heat and the stench was still and toxic."We have called practically everyone, and no one was willing to come out and do anything." Jan said. Young families and small children ride bikes on the quiet road. Rodents and gnats filtered in the area. Thankfully the McColes have some buffer of trees between both properties that they own which offered reprieve both from the sights, sounds and the odors. But it wasn't possible to ignore for long."One of the occupants was trying to cut down a tree that was on my property. I yelled over for him to stop," Bun said.Bun and Jan both explained that Penn Forest Streams has security but that they are ill equipped to deal with renters gone awry or absent homeowners. They called the county, they said, to no avail. They said that the State Police are called for crimes but are not equipped to handle complaints like this.Behind the house more debris and bags of trash, food and litter spewed across the area.Jan pointed inside the house where she said a light has been lit since January. "Someone has to be paying the electric. If it's in foreclosure, then isn't the bank holding the note responsible?" She asked.She said, "We didn't know the extent until the snow melted."Other residents in Penn Forest Township pleaded for assistance in getting help for the unhealthy condition of the house in the well kept community.Bun went to the Township Supervisors asking for assistance in the clean up, but no one was quite sure who was responsible for the payment or for a dumpster. Finally the township pulled together and they contacted Youth Services Agency of Pa. in Jim Thorpe, formerly called Camp Adams and six young men, ages 13 to 20, working to prove themselves in the community, came forward under the Supervision of Behavioral Manager Joe Kistler. Supervising the entire project on the premises with the township truck was Penn Forest Township Transfer Station Manager Keith Knappenberger, and Township Zoning Officer, Darlene DeCurtis. Frosty Mountain Beverage donated drinks and Gatorade for the workers.When Bun and Jan were told that the township was planning a clean up early the next morning they were both surprised and relieved something would be done not only for themselves but for the health and safety of the community. Both were elated. The next day, husband and wife greeted the workers and said their hard work paid off. The couple came over again at lunch thanking the crew of young men, Knappenberger and DeCurtis. According to the Carbon County tax records the property is not delinquent so far although the year is not over. The property according to the office states it is owned by Lisa Boestler since 2005, all tax notices are sent to the Wild Creek Drive address.