Thompson – Nine veterans of the G. A. R. helped in the service of decorating the graves of their departed comrades, being assisted by the children and a goodly number of citizens. The singing by the male quartette and remarks of the Rev. Mr. Webster, were very appropriate for the occasion.
Lenoxville – J. A. Hortman, collector of school taxes, was in town last week, relieving some of our people of their available cash which he pockets with a genial smile and passes on to find the next “victim.” Come again, John.
South Harford – We are very proud of our Harford tax payers who attended the road bee in Lenox.
South Ararat – The centennial of the Ararat Presbyterian church will be celebrated on June 18. All old residents of the township are invited to attend. Please bring well filled baskets and a cup. Ladies will furnish tea and coffee.
Jackson – There will be a meeting June 12, at 2 p.m., to decide on some plan to better the condition of the Jackson cemetery. Any one who is interested is requested to attend.
Dimock – I. F. Wanick is a grower of huckleberries, the quality of which is vastly superior to anything that comes to Montrose markets. He thinks that the recent frosts did not injure this year’s crop.
Montrose – Montrose has every appearance of being a superior trading place if one may judge from the number of [horse and wagon] teams from the surrounding townships and villages. It is really amazing on some days to see how full the streets are of teams that have brought in products of various kinds or that are here to take out lime, lumber, wire fencing, boxes of dry goods for the country stores, and a thousand and one things, all combined to make up a volume of trade and traffic in and out that is astonishing in extent. Also The street committee has directed that the Tarbell drinking fountain at the foot of Public avenue be placed at the head of the avenue, near the Court house and auto danger signs be placed at every approach into the borough, limiting speed at 12 miles an hour. Also Wm. M. Post has presented the Rescue Hook and Ladder Fire Co. with the old bell which was first used on the original County court house, way back in the early part of last century. [The first court house was built in 1813.]
Liberty – A. R. Stanford, of Lestershire [now Johnson City], has returned to his place where he will spend the summer farming it. Mr. Stanford is better off than some of the town people; he can get part of his living from the farm.
Lake View – Miss Josie Stevens and Miss Lulla Warren, of Scranton, are spending a few days at the home of C. G. Corse. They left Scranton Thursday morning and walked through, arriving here Saturday night. They claim to have enjoyed their walk very much.
Flynn – It is claimed by some that fishing is good. I should remark there is fishing going on in streams that never were known to have fish in before.
Hop Bottom – The boys of this village have again rented the base ball grounds from Mr. Zimmerman for another year, and soon the game will be in progress. It is contemplated erecting a handball court on the grounds if a sufficient number of our citizens can be interested in the project. Many of the boys have already learned the game under the tuition of Prof. Tiffany and the Rev. J. L. Dowson and they are very desirous of having the court built at once.
Forest City – The new pipe organ for Sacred Heart church has arrived and is now being installed by W. B. King, of New York. It comes from the W. W. Kimble company and will be one of the finest instruments in this section. It is probable that the public will have a chance to hear the work of the organ under competent hands in the near future when a recital will be given. It will probably require a week or ten days yet to complete the erection of the instrument. Also Harry Goodrich intercepted a trio of men near the Stillwater dam last evening to inquire if they had nets when Tony Waskey pulled out a revolver, it is alleged, and fired, the ball passing across Goodrich’s chin. Goodrich grappled with the man that fired the shot, obtained the revolver and placed him under arrest. He was placed in the borough lockup and will be taken to Montrose today. The other men escaped.
Clifford – Two of our esteemed townsmen have decided that it is not good for man to live alone, so have taken to themselves helpmates. The wise ones are John Tinklepaugh, who took for his bride, Mrs. Emma Doyle and J. F. Kenyon, who led Mrs. Ella Gammel to the altar. We are wishing them the comforts of life for the rest of the journey.
Rush – C. D. Williams and his force of men and teams have just completed the grading of the State road the entire distance from Rush to Montrose. A reporter, in conversation with Levi P. Light, who with his brother has driven the Rush stage for eight years, was told that their term as stage drivers would expire July 1st. They refused to bid this spring when the government asked for bids. Mr. Light stated, however, that had they realized what good roads were to be constructed between Rush and Montrose, as had been done by the State highway caretakers, they might have considered it. He says the road between these two points is now the best he has ever known it. He believes that if the contractor can secure a good road figure for the stage service it would pay to use an automobile truck for carrying passengers, freight, etc.
Great Bend – Burglars entered A. L. Reckhow’s store Friday night by crawling through a very small window in a shop back of the store, and then breaking the glass in the rear door. Only a few pairs of shoes were taken.
Kingsley – Mrs. B. M. Jeffers’ 77th birthday, on May 31, was cheered by the presence of her sister, Mrs. Almira Browning, of Scranton; her sister-in-law, Mrs. Lucy Oakley, and nieces, Mrs. W. O. Finn, of Montrose, and Mrs. Nancy Webster, of Franklin. The arrival in the evening of her son, H. W. Jeffers and granddaughter, Louise, of Plainsboro, N.J., completed an enjoyable birthday, of which we trust she may have many more. Mr. Jeffers will sail the 19th of this month for Europe in the interest of the Walker-Gordon Laboratory Co., of which he is manager. Landing at Copenhagen he will visit Holland, France, Germany and England, making a scientific investigation of the best methods of farming and dairying.
News Brief: Two Sayre youths, both under 21 years of age, were arrested last week for smoking cigarettes.
I had a reader send me several correspondences regarding the interstate commerce clause – and his perception that I was not interpreting the interstate commerce clause in a manner consistent with the views of the Founding Fathers. The comments came in response to a brief dialogue that we had concerning federal enforcement and regulation of controlled substances such as marijuana. My point was a simple one – large scale drug trafficking generally involves interstate commerce – the drugs being transported from state A to state B for sale and distribution. Moreover, there is an obvious international component involved in drug enforcement as large quantities of controlled substances cross international borders to get into the United States.
The reader was taking issue with my suggestion that federal drug laws were constitutional under the interstate commerce clause – but the argument seemed to focus more on the “local” component of drug activity not the international and interstate nature of drug commerce. When I commented that the United States Supreme Court has determined that the federal drug laws were constitutional, the reader argued that the Supreme Court was wrong. It was an interesting discussion – the kind that I thoroughly enjoy from both a legal and historic perspective – but I sensed that the reader was more frustrated than interested in our conversation.
Let me stop there – you all know that I am conservative – some people would tell you that I am a right-wing nut while others might suggest to you that I am a RINO (Republican In Name Only), and perhaps even a few people might actually think that I am “just right.” Politics is a little bit like Goldilocks – it is oftentimes hard to find the perfect match for your personal ideology – and just when you think you do, you find yourself suddenly in bed with a bear. People often tell me that they like the column, but they do not always agree with what I say. I often laugh and tell these kind folks that there are times when I read a column a week later and wonder what I was thinking in that particular moment in time.
In any event, my personal philosophies and ideology do not change the law – I can complain, cry, moan and vent all I want, but I have to follow the law. As to the interstate commerce clause, I have made clear that I believe it has been loosed from its intended constitutional moorings – but I cannot change the precedential decisions that have interpreted that commerce clause broadly. So, when I tell someone that the constitution provides the federal government with the ability to regulate controlled substance, even those seemingly at a local level, I am not stating my personal belief. I am simply telling you the state of constitutional law at this moment in time. This may frustrate some readers, but I cannot change the law unilaterally nor would I knowingly misrepresent the state of the law to the readers of this column. I will simply tell it like it is and hope that you do not shoot the messenger.
A reader also sent me an article about attempts in Oklahoma to pass a nullification bill that would prohibit the enforcement of the Affordable Care Act in that state. Another reader sent me an article about a Colorado bill that would have empowered the secret service agents to arrest local sheriffs if they refused to enforce federal gun laws. For students of history, these are not necessarily new arguments – they are likely a necessary component of a federal system of government where there is an inherent struggle between the sovereign states and the centralized federal government that they created. The idea of nullification was popular in the South prior to the Civil War – and the arguments regarding nullification lead down the same path as the arguments for voluntary secession of states from the Union. Likewise, local officials refusing to enforce federal laws is nothing new – most recently the desegregation of the school systems in Alabama required federal troops as the local and state officials refused to follow and respect the law.
These are not new arguments nor are they arguments that are likely capable of resolution in a federal system of government. There is an inherent and healthy struggle for power between the federal and state governments that was intended to limit them so as to protect our individual rights. In the end, however, we are still a nation that believes in the rule of law – and the Founding Fathers believed that an independent judiciary was a vital piece of our constitutional puzzle. From the very earliest decisions, it was the judiciary that was empowered with the ability to arbitrate the constitutional power boundaries. As you all know, I do not always agree with the holdings – and I am critical of some of the decisions. But they are still the law – we cannot change it by simply saying that the Supreme Court is wrong, or that we nullify it, or that we simply will not enforce it.
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/.
“Graduation is only a concept. In real life every day you graduate. Graduation is a process that goes on until the last day of your life. If you can grasp that, you'll make a difference.” ~Arie Pencovici
Ahhh… Class Night—A night for recognition of your accomplishments in the academic and sports fields. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the world around us that we think no one notices, but they do! When I graduated, we dressed in prom or chorus gowns, the boys, handsome in their suits. We didn’t have the wealth of opportunities for scholarships and monetary awards as is the norm for the students of today. We received a few, along with our “Letters” for participation in band and sports, and pins for being in the chorus. There was always a bit of levity as the “Class Will” was read aloud (one clever fellow tried to will his sister to an underclassman) as well as the predictions of what we would be doing in 10 years, finishing with our “Class Song”.
Mortar boards, diplomas, lots of smiles, hugs and tears, promises to keep in touch—no matter what, no matter where. Looking ahead with butterflies in our stomachs and stars in our eyes. How could 12 years have passed so quickly? It’s hard to believe it will be 43 years since we (the Class of ‘70) marched down the aisle of the auditorium—hopes and dreams filled our pockets and our minds. My best advice, never be satisfied with what is in your grasp—keep reaching out for something more, for something you feel is unattainable might not be so far away! Never forget your roots! A bird needs wings—but, also a nest to call home. It is written that our best export around our area is our graduates. We need you to consider coming back to our beloved Endless Mountains, bringing with you, your knowledge and expertise to help make a difference for those just starting on their paths down life’s highway. In the meantime, we wish you hope, love, faith and every abundance that life has to offer. Congratulations!! The tassel’s worth the hassle!
It’s been a super busy time in the Susquehanna Branch, as the Kindergarten Classes of the Susquehanna Community Elementary School dropped in for a visit on Friday, May 31st, during their “Downtown Walk”. Besides touring the Library and visiting with the staff, they received their first Library Card! How exciting! Oh the worlds of adventure, unlimited imagination and learning that are waiting for you!
Be sure you sign the kids up for the “Summer Reading Program” which will be held on Tues. Mornings at 10:30am for six weeks, starting with the kick-off on June 18th and ending with our final program on July 23rd. Also, Book giveaway week will be the week of July 15th.
I have designated the month of June, “Patron Appreciation Month” here in the column. This week, the Susquehanna Branch would like to thank all of their wonderful patrons. ” Thank-you for making our jobs fun.” They would also like to recognize a few “Special Patrons” who always go the extra mile for the Library. First, Thank-you to Louise Bagnall. Louise is a long-time member and the Secretary of our Library Committee. Louise has given countless hours, donations and organizes the plant and bake sales. If you notice how beautiful the Library Planters are during the summer, that’s Louise’s green thumb at work. A special tip of the hat to two special ladies we enjoy seeing, chatting with and serving on a regular basis—Anna Salvato and Mary Ainey. The Library Branch thanks you both for your unceasing support of our programs and services. A mountain of gratitude goes to Carol Carpenter who does so much for our Library Branch. She wears many hats--Library Board Secretary. Susquehanna Branch Representative, heads our Library Committee and organizes the Reader's Group. Thank-you to all!
The Susquehanna Branch Library Book Club is reading “Shanghai Girls” by Lisa See and discussing same at their June 20th meeting, commencing at 4:00 pm. This is a powerful story set in Shanghai (the “Paris” of Asia”) in 1937. Pearl Chin and younger Sister, May haven’t a care in the world until their Father gambles away all of their wealth and he decides to sell his Daughters as wives to suitors who have traveled from Los Angeles to find Chinese brides. You will follow Pearl and May on their journey from the Chinese countryside to American shores. If you want to join the reading group, please stop in and speak with any member of the Staff and they will be happy to sign you up. As a reminder, there will be no meeting for the month of July. July’s book, “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand will be discussed at the August meeting.
Don’t forget to find us on “Facebook”: (Susquehanna County Library) and look us up on “Pinterest” for lots of interesting nooks and crannies to explore and now, if you “Tweet”, follow us on Twitter (@susqcolib) to check out event information, local scoops and much more.
As I listen to the Baltimore Oriole’s raucous call, a frosty glass of iced tea in hand, I leave you with this thought:
“I hope your dreams take you to the corners of your smiles, to the highest of your hopes, to the windows of your opportunities, and to the most special places your heart has ever known.” ~Author Unknown
Long-stemmed roses—Diplomas—Memories
ENJOY!!
