Lawsville – Yeggmen [a criminal, esp. a safecracker] made a second attempt to rob the store of Postmaster Geo. W. Meeker and this time were more successful, securing $300 in cash and stamps. It is believed to be the same trio that made an attempt previously, but evidently scared away. Mr. Meeker was awakened by an explosion in his store about 2 o’clock in the morning and investigation showed that the safe had been blown open, nitro glycerin being used. The yeggmen were tracked as far as Hallstead, but here the trail was lost. In tracking the yeggmen to Hallstead, portions of iron work from the wrecked safe were picked up along the road, indicating that the robbers must have horridly snatched up the contents of the safe after the explosion and beat a hasty retreat. In their hurry to get away a derby was left behind, also a bottle containing nitro glycerin, a fuse and a detonating cap. Mr. Meeker took the nitro glycerin out into the fields, as far as possible from any buildings, and placed a box over it. He says it’s the first article ever presented to him that he really didn’t know what to do with.

Montrose/Springville – The death of Will Turrell (colored) aged 28 years, occurred at the Montrose poor farm on Monday, Nov. 11. Death was due to tuberculosis, he having been taken to the farm a number of weeks previous, suffering from the disease. He was, for a number of years, porter at the Montrose House, but the greater part of his life was spent at his native home in Springville. Funeral services were conducted by Rev. S. S. V. Holland from the undertaking parlors of F. W. Hart. Interment in Montrose Cemetery.

Choconut – Anyone who has lately visited the Choconut Valley Hotel, at Choconut, formerly the Mooney Hotel, which is now being conducted by the McCahill Bros., are surprised at the transformation which has been and is being made. Steam heat, acetylene lights, plumbing throughout the house and a metal shingle roof have been among the main improvements. A porch, running the length of the building, is another innovation and glass partitions and sides turn it into a sun parlor, which is similar to those seen at the most up-to-date pleasure resorts. The McCahill Bros. are paying especial attention to auto parties, many of whom have already learned of this delightful resort, coming from Binghamton and Owego on the north and from Hallstead, Montrose, Towanda and other places on the south.

Alford – Clarence Rickard, of Honesdale, was run down and killed on the Lackawanna tracks, Sunday afternoon. He lost his life in saving his companions, Miss Lou Simpson and Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Davey from a similar fate. They had started to view the work on the new cut-off and were walking the tracks. In order to avoid a fast train they stepped from one track to another, directly in front of a pusher engine traveling in the opposite direction. Rickard saw the danger and pushed his companions down the embankment. In trying to follow them he tripped over the rail, fell directly beneath the wheels of the locomotive, being cut in two.

Lenoxville – Two uniformed [state] troopers, on horseback, passed through our village Sunday and announced their intention of repeating the performance every ten days.

Howard Hill, Liberty Twp. – While working for M. D. Reynolds on Saturday, Elmer Vandermark got bit in the face by a horse.

Fowler Hill, Auburn Twp. – The surprise party for Miss Mildred Wootton, Friday night, was complete, it being her eleventh birthday. Refreshments served were coffee and cake. Also in Auburn - While doing chores at the barn on Wednesday morning of last week the house of Thomas Keough and son, Charles, located one mile north of Auburn Corners, took fire presumably from the chimney and burned to the ground with its entire contents.

Lake View, Jackson Twp. – A masquerade social was held at the home of A. G. Savory for the benefit of the Lake View graded school. About 90 attended and a good many were in costumes, some very pretty and some very funny. Coffee, cake and pumpkin pie were served. All departed at a late hour declaring a fine time.

Conklin, N.Y. – Several from Lawsville attended the entertainment here last Saturday evening, given by the Tennessean Jubilee Singers. They say the rendition of the old plantation melodies was fine.

Hallstead – On Thursday evening some chicken thieves stole fifteen very choice barred rock fowls from the home of Michael Kelly. There is no clue. Also Thieves entered the hen house of Ira Tinklepaugh, at East Ararat, recently. Thirty fowls were taken.

Carbondale – Carbondale is laying claim to the first suffragette vote at the recent election, to their great pleasure. Of course the ballots were pink.

Rush – Dr. Hickock, who for some years has been located here, has removed to Meshoppen, where he will practice his profession. Dr. Hickock has rented the Sterling homestead in that place, in which he will have his home office. Susquehanna county friends greatly regret the removal of the doctor and his wife from the county.

Montrose – Owing to the fact that there are a few light cases of diphtheria in Montrose the library was closed as a precaution on Monday and no books are being sent out. The circulation of books affords an easy means of spreading contagion, and while there is little likelihood of an epidemic of the disease, it was considered wise to avoid any possible chance of aiding it.

New Milford - Quite a serious accident occurred Monday morning last when Lyman Gardner and Blanche Grinnell were on their way to school. As they were descending Shay Hill a thill broke and let the wagon run against the horse, which became frightened and threw both out; the horse then proceeded toward New Milford and near A. C. Barrett’s collided with Merle and Glenn Tingley, who were driving to New Milford. The collision smashed both vehicles and injured Gardner’s horse, but fortunately no one was seriously hurt.

News Briefs: In spite of the theory that all’s well that ends well, it is just as well to begin right. Also The automobile license tags for next year will have white letters and figures on olive green background.

In the midst of my utter disappointment on election night, I missed the reporting on the popular referendums on legalizing recreational marijuana in the states of Colorado and Washington. The use of the term “recreational” is interesting marketing. When did sitting around getting high become a recreational activity? I think of recreation as being something that you do – not smoke – and there is something terribly sorrowful about a person who considers drug use to be a recreation. But then again, the criminal justice system is filled with “recreational” drug users – I see them, and the effects of recreational drug use, every single day as the vast majority of criminal activity has some drug or alcohol abuse driving it. But I digress a bit as I wanted to discuss the more interesting federalism question that arises from these voter referendums.

Can a state legalize “recreational” marijuana in contravention of federal law? For me, this is the most interesting point in the entire debate. Personally, I think that the voters made a terrible decision – but then again as I outlined a few weeks back, it seems that the way I vote runs against the wisdom of the majority of the electorate. You have to live with the results of elections – and comfort yourself that the next election is never that far away. The attempt to legalize “recreational” marijuana at the state level uncovers the concept of federalism – and the same legal arguments that conservatives made in opposition to ObamaCare will now be advanced by the potheads who want their nationalized healthcare to go along with their joint.

The proponents of “recreational” marijuana have only one argument to avoid federal prosecution – that the federal government has no authority to regulate intrastate marijuana activities. In other words, if I grow my marijuana in my tin-foiled closet in my house, I am not engaged in interstate activity and the federal government cannot arrest me for the production of my personal marijuana. If I am the convenience store, and I only sell marijuana to Colorado residents, then I am not impacting interstate commerce and the federal government cannot regulate that activity.

Of course, these were the same arguments that farmers made to avoid the first attempts at federal regulation of farms during the New Deal. In Wickard v. Filburn, a farmer, Roscoe Filburn, challenged the federal government’s ability to regulate his decision to grow his own wheat for personal consumption on his farm in Ohio back in 1940. In other words, Roscoe simply grew some wheat for his own personal use on his farm, but because he produced too much wheat, he had to pay a fine for overproduction. He went to the Supreme Court arguing that the interstate commerce clause did not give the federal government the authority to tell him what he could plant in his own garden for personal consumption. Roscoe argued that he was not engaged in any interstate commerce – he was simply using his property for his personal use.

The Supreme Court disagreed and Roscoe had to pay the fine for growing more wheat than FDR told him he could! The rational was strained – but helped set the stage for the acceptance of widespread federal regulation of seemingly everything. The rationale for the decision was that Roscoe’s decision to grow his own wheat meant that he would not have to buy wheat from the market – and thus he was impacting interstate commerce and was subject to federal regulation. In other words, Roscoe’s attempts to be self-sufficient were subject to federal regulations that prohibited such industry. He could grow his extra wheat and pay the fines associated with his overproduction, or he could grow only that amount the government told him he could grow and buy the rest at market. Isn’t freedom great?

Where does this leave the “recreational” marijuana users? It would be ironic indeed if the Supreme Court had determined that Congress can regulate the production of wheat on Roscoe’s farm, but not the cultivation of marijuana in a hippie’s closet. You might want to take another hit off your bong if you think there is any chance such an intrastate argument would succeed. Of course, the recent Supreme Court decision regarding the Affordable Care Act actually breathed some life back into the commerce clause, so there is a chance I suppose that the Supreme Court may decide to further uproot decades of commerce clause precedent. It would be something that most conservatives would likely welcome – even if they might personally oppose legalized marijuana.

The potheads will have to wait to see whether the Department of Justice will actually enforce the laws that they have taken an oath to defend and uphold. If the Department of Justice decides to actually do its job, then these state referendums are likely to go up in smoke. On the other hand, if the state laws survive, it would require a finding that Congress had exceeded its constitutional authority under the interstate commerce clause – but I think that is a conservative pipe dream.

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/.

“Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us, and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips, and shows itself in deeds” ~Theodore Roosevelt

The dictionary tells us that one meaning of Thanksgiving is: “A public acknowledgment or celebration of divine goodness”. Along with the bountiful blessings for family, home, health, and a full table, may we be thankful for our library and all of the services it provides.

Did you know that if you visit either the main library or any of its branches before your baby’s first birthday, that you will receive a “welcome package” that contains a sturdy board book? What a wonderful start to your child’s first personal library and a lifetime of enjoying books!

Many already take advantage of the “Lapsits”, “Toddler-Time” and “Story Hour” programs the library provides. Parents and children have a chance to enjoy and share stories, crafts, etc.

Your library also offers Outreach Services. “Books-by-Mail” removes the difficulty of making a trip, perhaps in bad weather or ill health. All you have to do is fill out a registration form and pay the annual fee. Due to the decrease in state funding, it was necessary to institute the fee to defray mailing costs, which, as we all know, just keep rising. You’ll receive your reading selection (books, audio books, dvds/videos, music or game cds) right in your mailbox.

This is available to anyone in the county who has a current library card. Just in case you were not aware, the library maintains several small book collections at public buildings across the county. Check out the available titles at any of the following: the Dimock, Jackson, South Gibson, Starrucca and Thompson Post Offices, the Rush Boro General Store, the Springville Checkered Express and the Lenox Pharmacy.

I personally think one of the most exciting offerings is having access to your family history through “Ancestry.com”. How wonderful to follow the paths of those who have gone before us! Who knows who may be out on a branch of your family tree? You could be related to someone famous and not be aware of it.

There are so many services offered by your local library, that it is impossible to list them all in this column, however, I must add two more.

Remember that if you do not find a desired book on the shelf, it may be acquired from another library within our Commonwealth through “Inter-Library Loan”. Also, computer accessibility with high-speed internet capabilities is available as well.

A reminder from the Susquehanna Branch Library: Their” Readers Group”, which meets the third Thursday of each month, (with the exception of August and December), is reading the book; “O Pioneers” by Willa Cather. If interested in joining, please contact the Susquehanna Branch at 570-853-4106.

Angie and Valerie over at the Hallstead/Great Bend Branch wish to say a “big thank-you” to the Hallstead/Great Bend Civic Club for their kindness, as they cleaned the library’s carpets a couple of weekends ago.

Last, but certainly, not least, you have probably received your 2013 Support Drive request. We could not offer all that we do without you--the Library Patron. We thank-you for your past generosity and hope you will remember us in our future fund-raising endeavors and presently consider helping us with a donation that will allow us to keep providing all of the services you have come to enjoy. Also, a memorial donation is a lovely way to remember someone special who loved books.

I will leave you with this thought. “Lord! When you give a man a book you don't give just twelve ounces of paper and ink and glue - you give him a whole new life. Love and friendship and humour and ships at sea by night - there's all heaven and earth in a book, a real book. ~Christopher Morley.