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Issue Home October 29, 2008 Site Home

COLUMNS:
100 Years Ago
From the Desk of the D.A.
The Healthy Geezer
Straight From Starrucca
Veterans’ Corner
What’s Bugging You?
Food For Thought
Earth Talk
Barnes-Kasson Corner


100 Years Ago

FOREST LAKE: Lewis M. Fessenden, a former Forest Lake boy, but now a successful ranchman in Montana, has been visiting in this vicinity during the past week. “Lew” is hale, hearty and happy, and confident that Taft will carry his state by a good big majority.

BIRCHARDVILLE: Frank Bolles, who makes the postcard views, has sold 30,000 since last spring.

THOMPSON: A. L. Craft, a well-known farmer residing in Thompson township, was instantly killed Saturday night when his team accidentally backed off an embankment on the road between Susquehanna and Thompson. He had been in Susquehanna at the Bryan Rally, and started home early in the evening. A few miles above Lanesboro he saw another team on the road and tried to get by. The road at this point is not very wide, and the driver of the other team pulled up in order to allow Mr. Craft’s team to pass. The team is somewhat spirited and they began to back up, and before they could be stopped they backed over the embankment. In the fall Mr. Craft was instantly killed, his neck being broken. He was a Sergeant in Co. K., 16th New York Infantry, during the Civil War. He is survived by his wife, four daughters and three sons. The funeral was held from the Baptist Church at Thompson on Wednesday.

MONTROSE: The Montrose Juvenile Band is to make its debut in the parade to be held in connection with the county rally today. It has 18 members and is progressing under the leadership of Dr. F. S. Birchard. The band furnished music for a Prohibition meeting at Auburn on Thursday of last week and is doing remarkably well for a recently organized band, composed largely of youngsters.

FOREST CITY: J. S. Courtright was here last week, where he was engaged in conferring with interested parties in this county and Wayne regarding the proposed bridge to be built jointly by the two counties across the river at that place. The structure will probably cost in the neighborhood of $7000. It is expected, however, that some of the expense will be borne by the D & H railway company, which promises to build across their tracks, and the Hillside Coal company will make a long fill that will assist in decreasing the cost of construction, both companies being anxious to have the bridge built, as it will be of benefit to them as well as to residents at this point.

FAIR HILL, Jessup Twp.: Dogs are making sad havoc upon the sheep in this vicinity. C. M. Brande and Reed Raub had five killed and several hurt last Monday night and after being frightened away, the dogs went in R. L. Bush’s flock in Forest Lake township, killing one and injuring several others.

AUBURN FOUR CORNERS: The Ladies’ Aid will serve a chicken dinner at the parsonage election day. Come to vote early and get a good dinner.

ALFORD: Hauling apples is the chief business here. Eggs are 32 cents per dozen.

GELATT: Fred Williams made quite a large sale of stock last week to a Scranton man. He sold three heifers and a span of mules. He got $300 for the mules.

LAWTON: A pleasant social event was the annual banquet of the I.O.O.F., which was held at Millard’s Hotel, Saturday evening, Oct. 17. Mrs. Fry, our skilled pianist, Mrs. Lelah Newton, an expert violinist, with Prof. Alger, who has had considerable experience with the trombone, furnished excellent music throughout the evening. The Odd Fellows, with their wives, numbering about 55, did justice to the elaborate menu consisting of every thing from oysters, chicken pie, and turkey to ice cream.

SOUTH GIBSON: George Pritchard, one of our young and reliable merchants, and Miss Beth Estabrook, of Gibson, were married at the recent Binghamton fair.

JACKSON: The North Eastern Telephone Co. is putting the long distance line through this place. AND: The farmers are carrying off apples and potatoes to town.

SUSQUEHANNA: Some time ago the Erie Railroad put a ban on the use of intoxicants by its employees in the shops here. It has now posted notices at its various terminals that any employee detected drinking during working hours or reporting while showing the effects of intoxicants will be discharged. Detectives are watching the men and two of the oldest conductors on the system have been discharged by Superintendent Elston, of the New York division, for disobeying this order.

BROOKLYN: Fred Miller is attending a Veterinary College at Toronto where he intends to take a full course. This is his second year. During his vacation he has had considerable practice.

UNIONDALE: Two retail butcher wagons pass through the town every week and D. B. Gibson sends meat from here to his own meat market in Forest City and others in Carbondale. AND: People are rejoicing over the rain. Many wells are entirely dry and those that have water are very low. The streams below Lewis Lake are well patronized.

HALLSTEAD: Jerry Haney, who lives near the bridge, met with a severe accident on Wednesday afternoon, which may result fatally. He was engaged in shingling an addition, which he recently built to his barn and lost his balance and fell to the ground, perhaps 12 feet. He struck on his back and one side and was rendered unconscious. Dr. Merrill was summoned, made him as comfortable as the nature of his injuries would permit, but could not determine whether he is injured internally. Mr. Haney is a veteran of the Civil war, an honest and industrious citizen, but has been particularly unfortunate. Only a few months ago two of his valuable cows were poisoned and early in the spring his barn was struck by lightning and burned to the ground entailing a loss of $1000. Mr. Haney’s many friends sympathize with him in his trouble now and hope he may recover.

HERRICK CENTER: The Literary Society of the Herrick High School was held and called to order Friday 2 p.m. in the auditorium of the high school. The program was of a literary character, based on Arbor Day themed and also ended in exercises on the campus and tree planting.

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From the Desk of the D.A.
By District Attorney Jason J. Legg

In the United States, we have a presidential election every four years. This provides citizens with a relatively frequent ability to influence and, to some degree, control the executive branch of our government through the voting process. Moreover, with the amendment of the Constitution, no president can serve more than two consecutive full terms. But even a one-term president can have a powerful and lasting impact on the direction of the country that is immutable. How? By the president’s appointments to the United States Supreme Court, as the justices serve for life.

This year’s presidential election will have a substantial impact on the composition of the United States Supreme Court. Most commentators believe that the next president will surely appoint at least one justice because John Paul Stevens is now 88 years of age. There is the possibility that additional appointments could occur in the next four years, but this largely depends upon the health and the inclinations of the individual justices. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 75, Antonin Scalia and Anthony Kennedy are both 72, Stephen Breyer is 70, and David Souter is 69. But even if only one justice steps down over the next four years, that one justice can have a powerful effect on the direction of the court.

During the last Supreme Court term, nearly one-third of the cases were decided by a 5-4 vote. When the court is so closely divided, a change in one justice can mean that the court goes in a different direction. So, what types of issues are dividing the court so closely? Oftentimes, they are the very issues that everyday citizens are most passionate about and interested in.

By a 5-4 vote in the Heller decision, the sharply divided court struck down a Washington D.C. ban that prohibited citizens from possessing a handgun in their home. By a 5-4 in the Gonzales decision, the court upheld the constitutionality of a ban on partial birth abortion. By a 5-4 vote in the Boumediene decision, the court struck down the Military Commissions Act and granted non-citizen detainees at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba the right to pursue habeas corpus challenges to their detention in federal court. By a 5-4 vote in the Kennedy decision, the court struck down a Louisiana statute that authorized the death penalty where an adult raped a child under 13. These are a handful of the close decisions that could go a different direction with the change of the vote of a single justice.

As we approach the presidential election, what do we know about the candidate’s positions on Supreme Court justices? Well, both Senator McCain and Senator Obama had the chance to vote on the confirmation of the last two appointments: Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito. And the candidates were diametrically opposed to each other on these issues: McCain voted for both Roberts and Alito, while Obama voted against both of them. At the Saddleback Forum this past summer, the candidates were asked which Supreme Court justices they would not have nominated. McCain stated that he would not have nominated Ginsburg, Breyer, Souter, and Stevens. Obama stated that he would not have nominated Thomas and Scalia. In essence, the candidate’s views on Supreme Court justices are polar opposites.

Obama strongly opposes the “conservative” block on the court: Roberts, Alito, Scalia and Thomas. McCain laid out his opposition to the “liberal” block: Ginsburg, Breyer, Souter and Stevens. Based upon the candidate’s representations and record, the direction of the Supreme Court will be changed by the nominees of either candidate.

If Obama is elected, his judicial nominees will likely (1) support the gun ban that was overturned in Heller; (2) overturn the ban on partial birth abortion that was upheld in Gonzales; (3) support the granting of federal habeas rights to military detainees as was done in the Boumediene decision; and (4) support the prohibition against the use of the death penalty against adults who rape young children as was done in the Kennedy decision.

If McCain is elected, his judicial nominees will likely (1) prohibit the government from uniformly banning the private ownership of handguns; (2) uphold the ban on partial birth abortion; (3) oppose the expansion of federal rights to non-citizen military detainees; and (4) uphold the rights of individual states to determine the appropriate punishment for adults who rape small children.

These are just a few examples. There is no dispute that the next president will have the ability to “change” the Supreme Court. The question for you is simple – what type of judge do I want making these decisions. The candidates have been surprisingly honest about the character of the judges they will be looking for – and the selection of these justices will last far beyond the term of the next president. While we have another chance to elect a president four years from now – we cannot change the Supreme Court.

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/.

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The Healthy Geezer
By Fred Cicetti

Q. I have this ringing in my ears almost all the time. My doctor says it is age-related tinnitus. I tried some of his recommendations to deal with it, but haven’t been successful. Any suggestions?

Most tinnitus – a symptom, not a disease – comes from damage to the microscopic endings of the hearing nerve in the inner ear. People who suffer from tinnitus hear phantom noises that include not just ringing but whistling, hissing, buzzing, roaring and clicking. There is no cure yet for tinnitus.

The noises may vary in pitch and volume, and they can affect one or both ears. Tinnitus can be intermittent or continuous.

Hearing loss can cause tinnitus. For many, the ability to hear diminishes with age. Tinnitus is most common in people over 65.

Tinnitus may also be caused by more than 200 medicines, head injuries, ear-wax blockage, allergies, abnormal blood pressure, tumors , diabetes and thyroid problems.

Here are some treatments for reducing tinnitus.

Hearing aids: if you can hear more clearly, you will experience less tinnitus.

Maskers: these are small, electronic devices that use sound to make tinnitus less noticeable. Tinnitus is usually more bothersome in quiet surroundings. White-noise machines are helpful for getting to sleep.

Medicine: some drugs may ease tinnitus. These include medicines prescribed for depression, anxiety and alcoholism.

Therapy: a combination of counseling and maskers can help people to avoid thinking about their tinnitus.

There are also techniques for dealing with tinnitus.

Music: many people find focusing on music helps them ignore their tinnitus.

Noise: avoid noise, which can make your tinnitus worse. If you can’t escape a noisy environment, wear ear plugs.

Salt: cut your salt intake, which impedes blood circulation. Good circulation can help relieve tinnitus.

Blood pressure: high blood pressure can affect tinnitus. Get your pressure checked.

Stimulants: stay away from coffee, tea, colas and nicotine.

Exercise: this improves circulation.

Fatigue: get enough rest.

Stress: stress can intensify tinnitus. Try relaxation techniques.

There are commercial products that claim success in treating tinnitus. You can find many of them by running an internet search for “tinnitus treatment.” Two products I found have been cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. You can read more about them at www.neuromonics.com/ and www.tinnitusphase-out.com.

I can’t endorse either of these products, because I have no experience with them. If I had tinnitus, I would research them fully.

If you have a question, please write to fred@healthygeezer.com.

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Straight From Starrucca
By Danielle Williams

No Straight From Starrucca This Week

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Veterans’ Corner

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What’s Bugging You?
By Stuart W. Slocum

Earwigs: unwelcome guests

Although I am unhappy with the volume of junk mail and unsolicited political propaganda delivered daily, I am even more aggravated at the pile of scurrying, bizarre-looking bugs that fall out every time I open the mailbox. These unwelcome couriers come with the curious name of “earwig,” but some people call them “pincher bugs” or “wetbugs.” The earwig name originates from the old wives’ tale that the insects crawl into the ears of sleeping folks for the purpose of burrowing into the brain and laying their eggs. Fortunately, there is no truth to this allegation.

The female earwig (straight tail).

The male earwig (caliper-like tail).

Earwigs are one of the most distinctive and recognizable insects. They are reddish-brown, flattened and up to nearly one inch in length. The presence of pincher-like hooks on the tip of the abdomen is their most prominent feature. Although they rarely fly, they do possess wings. Usually, when disturbed, they try to escape by rapidly scurrying away. If handled, they will try to pinch. The pinchers on the female are relatively straight, while those of the male are curved and caliper-like. Although primarily used for defense, some earwigs use the pinchers to capture living prey.

There are twenty-two species of earwigs in the United States. Twelve have been introduced from other countries, but only about four of them are common pests of the home. The most prevalent species in Pennsylvania is the European earwig, which was first introduced to North America in the early 1900’s. This species, Forficula auricularia, rarely flies and is often accidentally transported from place to place as it hides in newspapers, cardboard boxes, plants and even automobiles. These European earwigs are omnivorous, feeding on most organic material, both dead and alive. This diet includes plants, lichens, pollen, insects and such foodstuffs as bread, flour, cookies and cake. When disturbed, earwigs are capable of producing a very foul odor.

Earwigs generally hide under stones, boards and in cracks or crevices during the day. They become active at night and are sometimes attracted to outside lights. While earwigs are primarily scavengers of dead insects and decaying plant material, they can become major nuisances in flower and vegetable gardens.

The adult earwigs mate in late summer or early fall, whereupon the pair retreat to a subterranean nest, located in a small chamber beneath a log or rock. The males emerge in late winter or early spring, after which the female deposits a clutch of 30 to 50 eggs. She periodically “licks” the eggs to remove any fungal spores that might infect them, while guarding them from predators, remaining with them until they hatch in about 70 days. Sometimes a second clutch of eggs is laid. After the hatching, the female continues to stay and guard the young. In some cases she will provide them with suitable food. This continues for two molts, after which the young leave the nest to feed but return during the day. In the third and fourth instars, the earwigs are on their own, living on the soil surface. At this point the female may actually eat any young that remain in the nest. Earwigs pass through four molts before maturing. They reach maturity in one season, overwintering as adults deep down in the soil. Some may tunnel as deep as six feet into the ground to elude freezing. Warm, damp weather is especially conducive to large earwig populations.

Earwigs can become a major nuisance in and around the home, especially in hot humid weather. They can invade every room in the house, hiding in clothing, bedding, cookie jars and tissues. Because of their small, flattened profile, they are very difficult to keep out. The most effective technique is elimination of breeding and nesting places near the house. Hiding/breeding sites such as piles of leaves, grass clippings, old boards and rocks should be removed from near the foundation, doorways and windows. Grooved boards can be effectively placed around the home to serve as traps for the earwigs. The traps need to be checked and emptied daily until the population is noticeably decreased.

In extreme cases, an exterior chemical barrier of a registered pesticide such as cypermethrin can be applied according to label directions. This should be done in early summer. Application should be made along a perimeter outside the home in the areas that provide cover and that are most frequented by the earwigs.

Although they are not really a significant pest, earwigs are a commonly encountered insect that frequently “bug us.” They would certainly never win either a popularity or a beauty contest.

Questions, comments and suggestions regarding this article, identifications or any other insect-related matters are welcome. Please email them to bugman95@gmail.com.

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Food For Thought
By Lauretta L. Clowes DC

No Food For Thought This Week

EARTH TALK
From the Editors of E/The Environmental Magazine

No Earth Talk This Week

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Barnes-Kasson Corner
By Cara Sepcoski

Barnes-Kasson Hospital is celebrating National Spina Bifida Awareness Week during October 26 – November 1. Spina bifida is a birth defect that involves the incomplete development of the spinal cord or its coverings. It literally means “Split Spine.”Spina bifida occurs during pregnancy, if the two sides of the baby’s spine fail to join together. This leaves an open area, creating spina bifida. This defect occurs in every 7 out of 10,000 births in the US. There has been an indicated drop in spina bifida, but this is most likely due to a lack of reporting the disorder on birth certificates. In addition to this, statistics show that the majority of spina bifida pregnancies are terminated, so scientists are not sure of the exact amount of spina bifida pregnancies that occur.

No one is quite sure what causes spina bifida. Some say it’s in the genetic makeup of those affected. Yet, 95% of all spina bifida births occur with out any family history of the disorder. Others suggest it’s the surroundings of the mother.

Currently, there is no way to stop a baby from having a birth defect. But it has become possible to try and prevent it by reducing the risk. Studies conducted by scientists show that the risk can be reduced up to 70% when the mother takes folic acid before and during the first three months of pregnancy. It is because of this that it is suggested for all women who could possibly become pregnant to take 400 mcg of folic acid each day.

Despite this, folic acid does not stop all cases of spina bifida. Just like when taking any other medication, there will still be a chance that some children will be affected, even when their mothers take the suggested amount of folic acid every day.

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