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COLUMNS: FISHING: Fishing has taken a big jump the last week. “Bullheads are biting great at Williams’ pond,” one enthusiastic Waltonite said, and judging by the procession of men and boys carrying bamboo rods (not of the “split” variety), the waters must be yielding up their finny denizens. “North and South ponds (in Brooklyn) have the big bass in” another said, “they are biting good too.” Brewster’s pond is also adding its quota to the grand total, and Lake Mont Rose is making a good showing with fine catches of pike. R. M. Bostwick, with six big ones to his credit for Saturday afternoon’s fishing, having been the most successful that has come to our notice. LYNN, Springville Twp.: R. W. Greenwood was the guest of his parents over Sunday. Ray made things lively at the social over at the Corners. HARFORD: The following letter is from a former Harford boy, a son of Dr. Loomis, who has been in the Islands since Dewey’s debut there in 1898. He has seen some sharp fighting and for several years it was supposed he was dead, nothing being heard of him. “Bert” was in the undertaking business in Scranton at the opening of the Spanish-American war, and being ever ready for a “fight or frolic,” enlisted. The letter is to his cousin J. W. Gavitt. Camp Keithley, Mindanao, Manila, June 7, 1908. Dear Cousin: Well, John, I guess you think that I have forgotten you, but such is not the case. I am in the Moro country defending Uncle Sam’s rights. This is the darndest country you ever looked at. The mountains are so high that it makes a man dizzy to look at them; the grass grows 15’ high and there are no roads to speak of. Lots of mosquitoes, bugs and centipedes here. Plenty of deer and wild hog. The Moros do not wear clothes, nothing but breech cloth. The Moros are wicked fighters with bolos; they will sneak up on you and cut your head off before you know it. All you can see here is the same old thing--mountains and grass. I suppose everything looks natural around Montrose. I will be back one year from November, if nothing happens. Tell all the people that I am in good health and I wish them the same. I think I will come East this time when the regiment returns. Bert Loomis, Corp. Co. B, 18th Inf. SHANNON HILL, Auburn Twp.: Our creamery is running again in fine shape and the patrons are pleased because they do not have to haul their milk so far. NEW MILFORD: Miss Nina Taft, who won a scholarship in the Binghamton Republican contest, has gone to Elmira where she will take a course in vocal music at the Weigester School of Music. MIDDLETOWN TWP.: Silas Baxter died on July 29 at the age of 75. He was born in Middletown, Sept. 17, 1833 and on Feb. 22, 1866 he married Miss Hester Rutan. Their children were D. Earle, of New York City; Lewis J., Jennie A. (Mrs. H. M. Melhuish); Mary A. (Mrs. A. H. Mead, not living); and D. Oscar of Montrose. Mr. Baxter did loyal service in the war of 1861, a member of Co. C, 11th N.Y. Cavalry and served three years. He was an esteemed comrade of Four Brothers’ Post in Montrose. GELATT: There was a hard rain here Friday night, which did a great deal of damage. The rain poured down for four hours. Within a mile and a fourth it washed out three roads on the left side of the creek so they are entirely impassable and took out two bridges in the same distance. People who suffered the most damage were Elbert Whitney, Irving Witter, Alonzo Lamb, W. W. Pope, George Bowell and Walter Lewis. There was a bee this week at Elbert Whitney’s to make an effort to get the creek back in its regular channel and clear up the wreckage around Mr. Whitney’s house. I. J. Witter was at Pleasant Mount station to meet a lady and her child, and got as far as C. J. Gelatt’s where he had to leave them and go home horseback. Arthur Winnie was after his cows, but could not get them across the creek, and when he started for the house he found that the bridge had been swept away. He had to go down around by the bridge to get home. The rain removed a part of W. W. Pope’s mill and took out the basement of the mill and a large amount of lumber NIVEN: Frank Walch, while on his way from Kingsley in company with a lady of that place, had a runaway accident. Some part of the harness gave way, letting the whiffle trees strike the horses legs; the tongue fell to the ground, and the horses ran in that condition until it was broken in three or four pieces, when the buggy turned a half somersault and threw them over the dash board and top, with the wheels in the air. Just at this moment the horses cleared themselves from the buggy and continued to run towards home. The young people were not hurt, only covered with dust. The wagon was bent and twisted; the horses went nearly home, a distance of 7 or 8 miles, when Clyde Miller found them in the road near his brother Stark’s barn and took them home with him. UNIONDALE: All the old soldiers of the Civil War, their wives and widows, are invited to take their dinner to Mr. Carpenter’s grove, Aug. 29th, and help make an enjoyable time. AND: A shelf in John Smith’s cellar, that held 22 qts. of canned fruit and a pan of huckleberries, came down with a crash last Friday p.m. and converted the whole mass into an astonishing quantity of jam, quality untested. HALLSTEAD: Owing to the drouth the reservoir in Steam Hollow, built at great expense by the Hallstead Water Co., has proved inadequate for the wants of the town and it has been abandoned for the present. The water supply for both towns is all taken from the lake. The railroad company has been pumping water from the river for the use of their engines here. MONTROSE: A couple of lively Montrose young fellows were out driving with a good-looking team of horses over Brooklyn way the other evening. Just as they were about to descend a long and particularly steep hill they saw a touring car with several gentlemen coming up. An idea struck them simultaneously. Jumping out, each took hold of a horse’s bridle, at the same time holding up a hand and yelling to the motorists to stop. The car came to a standstill. Anxiously the occupants waited while the boys led the horses carefully by. Once seated in the wagon they gave the auto party the “merry ha, ha,” and jollied them by shouting back that their horses were only frightened when shown a bushel of oats. “The joke came pretty near being on us,” said one of the boys in recounting the experience. “The machine had stopped on the steepest part of the hill and we thought we might have to tow them to the top, as they had a hard time getting a start.”
From the Desk of the D.A. There have been several columns here dedicated to a pending case involving the Louisiana statute that imposes the death penalty for an adult who rapes a child under 12 years of age. As you may recall, the United States Supreme Court, in a close 5-4 decision, declared that the law was unconstitutional concluding that the use of the death penalty for the crime of raping a child was cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the 8th Amendment. The majority essentially made two points: (1) the “evolving standard of decency” in our society required the conclusion that the death penalty for a man who rapes a child now constitutes cruel and unusual punishment; and (2) the “independent” judgment of the majority justices determined that the use of the death penalty for any crime except homicide constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. The dissenting justices took issue with the suggestion that there was a national consensus that the use of execution for the rape of a child constitutes cruel and unusual punishment. To the contrary, the dissenting justices noted that several states had recently enacted such legislation, and several others were considering enacting such legislation, even in the face of the assumption that the Supreme Court would declare it unconstitutional. Thus, the dissenting justices contended there was a national movement that directly contradicted the bald assertions by the majority that there was an “evolving standard of decency” that weighed against the execution of a grown man who brutally rapes a young girl. Amazingly, the United States Supreme Court, with its nine judges and countless law clerks, actually failed to recognize a significant statute that may have changed the outcome of the case. In 2006, the United States Congress passed a law that authorized the execution for the rape of a child under military law, i.e., the laws that apply to those people serving in the military. The United States Congress has no authority over state laws governing sexual offenses of children or the punishments to be imposed for such crimes. The United States Congress, however, does have control over the laws and punishments applicable to our military personnel. And in this case, the only nationally elected body of representatives determined that execution for the rape of a child was an appropriate punishment, and our nationally elected President agreed. The majority contended that not only was there no consensus to support executions for the rape of children, but that an opposite consensus existed, i.e., that execution was not appropriate in any case except for homicides. In making this assumption, the majority never considered the existence of a recent piece of federal legislation that directly contradicted the consensus upon which the majority relied. After all, if there is a national consensus against such punishment, how could such a statute not only be considered by the United States Congress, but actually be enacted by the Congress and signed by the President a scant two years prior to the majority’s recent pronouncement? Is it significant that the only nationally elected representative body and the nationally elected president both agreed that execution for the rape of a child is an appropriate punishment? Should the majority have considered this 2006 law in making its assessment on the “evolving standard of decency?” Does the 2006 statute actually support the position of the dissenting justices that there is growing consensus that such punishment is appropriate? Ironically, not only did the Court fail to identify the 2006 statute – but so did the parties. The United States Solicitor’s Office, which was not a party to the case, has now provided written notification to the Supreme Court that it should have notified the Supreme Court about the existence of this statute. After the decision was published, a military law expert noted the omission – and several media outlets ran with the story – and the proverbially cat was out of the bag. Now, the State of Louisiana has petitioned the Supreme Court to re-argue the case with the 2006 federal statute as part of the “consensus” equation. In order for the petition to be granted, one of the majority justices would have to agree to allow the new argument to consider the new information. My gut feeling is that the majority will not admit their mistake – and that is only my independent judgment, not a consensus! Please submit any questions, concerns, or comments to Susquehanna County District Attorney’s Office, P.O. Box 218, Montrose, Pennsylvania 18801 or at our website www.SusquehannaCounty-DA.org or discuss this and all articles at http://dadesk.blogspot.com/.
The Healthy Geezer Q. What’s the best way to treat epistaxis? Well, that one made me go to the dictionary. Turns out epistaxis is the fancy word for nosebleed. The best way to treat a nosebleed is to resist every instinct in your body to tilt your head back or to lie down. You have to keep your head higher than your heart to cut down on bleeding. And, if you lean back, you can swallow blood, which can produce vomiting and diarrhea. The best technique is to sit down and lean slightly forward so the blood will drain out of your nose. Then, using your thumb and index finger, squeeze the soft portion of your nose together. Hold your nose until the bleeding stops. Don’t let go for at least five minutes. Repeat as necessary. You can also place an ice pack across the bridge of your nose. Self-treatment can stop almost all nosebleeds. If bleeding persists, get immediate medical attention. To prevent a recurrence of a nosebleed, follow these tips: avoid bending over or blowing your nose for several hours; rest with head elevated to about 45 degrees; don’t lift anything heavy; don’t smoke; don’t drink hot liquids for at least 24 hours; blood-thinners are not advisable if you’re suffering from a nosebleed. Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen for normal aches and pains. However, if you are on a prescribed blood-thinner such as Coumadin, consult your physician. Nosebleeds usually start just inside the nose at the septum that separates the nostrils. The septum contains many fragile, easily damaged blood vessels. In older adults, a nosebleed may also begin deeper inside the nose, where there are larger blood vessels. This type of nosebleed may be caused by hardened arteries or high blood pressure. These nosebleeds begin spontaneously and often require medical treatment. The most common causes of bleeds are dryness and picking your nose. Other causes include injuries, colds, allergies, blowing your nose, an object stuck in the nose, repeated sneezing, nasal sprays and cocaine use. Frequent nosebleeds can be an indicator of serious illness. For example, nosebleeds and bruising can be early signs of leukemia. Nosebleeds can also be a sign of blood clotting disorders and nasal tumors. A cooler house and a humidifier help many people with frequent nosebleeds. Nasal saline spray and petroleum jelly ointment can help prevent nosebleeds, especially during the winter months. If you are prone to recurrent nosebleeds, it is helpful to lubricate the nose with an ointment. This can be applied gently with a Q-tip inside the nose. Make sure the ointment is applied generously to the septum. Many patients use A & D ointment, Mentholatum, Polysporin/Neosporin ointment, or Vaseline. Saline nasal spray helps, too. If you have a question, please write to fred@healthygeezer.com.
Straight From Starrucca No Straight From Starrucca This Week
What’s Bugging You? Japanese beetles: the destructive jewels Just when summer is progressing nicely and gardens are starting to show some promise, the scourge of rosebushes and raspberry briers strikes. This colorful menace is the Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica, easily recognized by its metallic green body, copper-colored wing covers and small white tufts along its sides. A member of the scarab family, it was accidentally introduced into New Jersey on imported Iris roots in 1916. Since then, these pests have spread to nearly all states east of the Mississippi River. While it is of little consequence in its native Japanese habitat, this beetle is a serious pest in North America. Unfortunately, its range is still expanding.
A “C”-shaped Japanese beetle larva (grub). Although the adults and their damage are obvious, the destructive larvae are much more obscure. Living in the soil, these “C”-shaped grubs feed on the roots of many plants. They can be especially destructive to important grasses in pastures, lawns, golf courses and parks. While the grass will yellow and not grow under low infestations, high infestations will actually brown the turf and cause the grass to die.
An adult Japanese beetle. The adults congregate and feed on the leaves, flowers and fruits of more than 275 species of plants. They are most active on warm, sunny days. Odor and location are important factors in the location of their feeding. Preferring to feed in groups and in direct sunlight, these beetles usually start working at the top of a plant and continue downward. They feed on the upper surfaces of foliage, consuming the tissue between the veins. This results in skeletonized leaves. Aggregation pheromones (attractant chemicals) produced by the beetles, in conjunction with the volatile odors emanating from the damaged plants, attract even more beetles. Japanese beetles especially relish ripening fruit. They injure corn by eating the silks, which inhibits kernel formation. Upon mating, the female beetle deposits 40 to 60 small, white, spherical eggs 2 to 3 inches deep in cavities that they excavate in the damp soil of grassy areas. Most eggs are usually laid by early August. Extremely dry weather kills many eggs and young larvae. Conversely, a wet summer (such as this year) enhances the egg and larval survival, resulting in a marked increase in the following year’s population. The newly hatched larvae are cream colored with brown heads. They burrow throughout the ground, feeding on tender roots of grass and other plants. As the temperature drops in late October, the larvae burrow below the frost line and begin to “hibernate.” With the advent of spring’s warmer temperatures, the grubs migrate closer to the surface and resume feeding. They soon pupate and begin to emerge in late June. The adult beetles live from 30 to 40 days. Most of their feeding activity lasts for about five weeks. There is one generation per year. The beetle spends about 10 months of the year in the ground as a curled “C”-shaped white grub. Although their numbers are greatly diminished, adults can still be found through September. When the adults are actively feeding, the application of an insecticide labeled for Japanese beetle control on landscape plants can be effective. Numerous brands including Sevin50WP, Orthene, and Spectracide Bug Stop are usually effective. A dusting of Diazinon 25EC or Pyrellin EC are also recommended for ornamental foliage. The grubs are best controlled when they are actively feeding near the soil surface. Although this activity occurs both in the spring and fall, it is more advantageous to apply the insecticide in August and September when the larvae are smaller and creating less root damage. Application of Diazinon 25EC, Diazinon 2G, Diazinon 5G, Oftanol 1.5G or Sevin 50W are useful in controlling the grubs. All of these (except for the Sevin) are more effective if thoroughly watered into the ground. Some birds (especially starlings) as well as moles, skunks, and raccoons will seek out and eat Japanese beetle larva. Perhaps the best control is the naturally occurring bacteria, Bacillus popilliae, commonly referred to as “milky spore.” It gets that name from the fact that it causes the larva’s blood to change from clear to cloudy. This is commercially available as a biological control for the grubs. It should be spread over the area to be protected on a cloudy day in late September or early October. This control works best where the soil has a pH between 6 and 7. It is less effective on wet, heavy soils. Although it may not work as fast as the chemical controls, the effects last much longer. Although the bacteria may take three years to reach maximum effectiveness, it will last for ten years or more and will naturally spread to adjacent areas for greater control. This bacterium is totally harmless to people, pets, plants and other insects. Other natural controls, which parasitize the larvae, include tachnid flies, nematodes and tiphid wasps. Those brightly colored, aromatic traps for the adult beetles have minimal impact on the local population, since they will draw in beetles from as much as a quarter mile away. Although they only fly in the daytime, Japanese beetles are capable of flying several miles. Often there is greater vegetative damage in close proximity to the traps. They are more effective when everyone in the neighborhood uses them. For limited protection of a few favored plants, handpicking is very effective. If started early enough it will prevent the congregational effect of these beetles. Roses in particular are hard to protect since they open so quickly and are especially attractive to the beetles. Elimination of favored weeds, such as nettles and wild raspberry briers, can help reduce a reoccurring population. Despite their wretched gluttony habits, these scarabs are truly one of nature’s colorful jewels. As we silently curse the culprit who naively brought them here, we can also understand why the Egyptians admired this beetle’s scarab relatives and created jewelry from them. In the Japanese beetle’s case, it certainly would be a fitting demise. Questions, comments and suggestions regarding this article, identifications or any other insect-related matters are welcome. Please email them to bugman95@gmail.com.
Food For Thought No Food For Thought This Week EARTH TALK No Earth Talk This Week
Barnes-Kasson Corner July 27 - August 2 is Group B Strep Awareness Week and Barnes-Kasson Hospital wants to help spread the word. Group B Strep (GBS) is a bacteria naturally found in the birth canal of one in four pregnant women. These women that contain the bacteria pass it onto their child if it comes into contact with their baby. Babies can be infected by GBS before birth and up to six months of age because of their underdeveloped immune systems. GBS most commonly causes infection in the lungs, blood, and fluid and lining of the brain. GBS has been known to cause babies to be miscarried, stillborn, or die after being born. Some GBS survivors have permanent handicaps such as blindness, deafness, mental retardation, and cerebral palsy. It is now the standard of care in the USA for all pregnant women to be tested for GBS at 35 to 37 weeks of pregnancy. The test is very simple, and you can obtain the test results in 2-3 days. If the test result is positive, you are a carrier of GBS. Your friends at Barnes-Kasson would like to remind you to be tested during each pregnancy. Don’t risk the life of your baby.
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