Summersville, New Milford Twp. – William H. Harvey was arrested in Binghamton on the charge of stealing a yellow cow from the farm of Joseph Avery, at Summersville. The report of the theft was received at the Sheriff’s office in Binghamton and a description of the missing cow was furnished. Officers traced the tracks of the cow to Conklin and later found that the animal had been taken across the river where it was sold to a blacksmith at Kirkwood. A description of the man who had sold the cow was secured and Sheriff Hover went to Kirkwood in pursuit of the man who was reported to be on his way to Binghamton. Deputy Sheriff Hartley recognized Harvey from the description furnished and arrested him on Susquehanna street. After arrest Harvey admitted that he took the cow and also admitted that he had sold it in Kirkwood.

Hop Bottom – Clara Rose, who was convicted Nov. 11, 1913, of the crime of attempting to dynamite her husband, Jerome Rose, on the place where they were residing, near Alford, has been released from the Eastern penitentiary, a pardon having been secured by her attorney, F. A. Davies. Leon Granger, who confessed at the time of the trial that he threw the dynamite, but said Mrs. Rose was a party who ordered him to do it, [now says] that Mrs. Rose had nothing to do with the crime and that he testified to an absolute falsehood when he gave his testimony at the trial.

Uniondale – A warm sugar social was held at the home of Mrs. Nelson Crandall. A large number of people attended and were all very much pleased with the sugar. Cake and pickles were served with the sugar. Also Uniondale has a grade crossing. She does not like it. A correspondent in an exchange says: Evan Williams drove his horse on the railroad track at Westgate’s crossing Sunday morning. He saw an approaching train and tried to back the horse off the track. The animal became frightened and quickly turning threw Mr. Williams violently to the ground, dragging him some distance. He came out of the mix-up without injury, strange as it may seem. It is nearing two years since the railroad company promised to place bells at the crossing, one of the most dangerous on the line, and nothing has been done. Trains whiz by at a rapid rate without warning, not even the ringing of bells.

Herrick Centre - All the pupils of the high school, except six, skipped school Wednesday afternoon to go to the [commencement] exercises at Herrick Centre. The exercises were held Thursday evening. The graduates were Misses Helen Miller and Catherine Joyce, both of Herrick Centre. Miss Joyce, valedictory, spoke on “Women’s Education” and Miss Miller spoke on “Mexican Situation.” Their motto is “Finished—Yet Beginning.”

Harford – N. C. Adams is running his saws and planers with an 8 horse power Olds gasoline engine recently purchased from A. H. Mead. It is doing the work splendidly.

New Stations: Contracts for the construction of nine passenger stations on the new cut-off of the Lackawanna RR, between Hallstead and Clarks Summit, have been awarded to contractor A. E. Badgley, of Binghamton. Work will begin at once and it is expected that the stations will be ready for use by the first of November. The stations at Hallstead, Dalton, Alford and Kingsley are to be combination passenger and freight stations. They are to be constructed of brick with artificial stone trimmings. The roofs of the stations will be of green tile. The floors of the waiting rooms will be of terrazzo with a wainscoting of tile. The interiors will be constructed with marble partitions and fittings. The stations at Glenburn, LA Plume, Factoryville, Foster and Nicholson are to be constructed of concrete. The exterior of the buildings will have bush hammer treatment and the interiors will be of construction similar to the four other stations. The smaller stations will be constructed with provision for waiting rooms, ticket and express offices.

South Auburn – Frank Love, who recently purchased a new Ford auto, met with an accident Sunday afternoon while out riding with some friends. The auto turned over and Chas. Love, who was one of the parties, had his arm broken and fortunately none of the others were injured. The car will need some repairs. Also In West Auburn a large concourse of relatives and friends attended the funeral of the old soldier, Daniel Younker, on Saturday. Comrades J. O. Fuller, J. J. Culver, Frank Angell, Philip Rifenbury, J. W. Devine and E. D. Campbell acted as honorary pallbearers. Rev. Arthur Williams, of Trucksville, a former pastor, preached the funeral sermon. For seven years Comrade Younker had been a helpless paralytic, death coming as a final relief.

[Daniel Younker was a Corporal in Co. C, 203rd Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers.]

Clifford – E. E. Finn, who owns the store building where L. H. Rivenburg has conducted a mercantile business several years, has purchased the stock of goods and will hereafter run the store on his old stamping ground, where he conducted business several years ago. Fred Stevens, formerly of Royal, is his clerk and has rented Will Lott’s residence.

Susquehanna – Principal A. A. Killian has introduced an interesting and commendable feature in connection with the courses of study in the Susquehanna schools. It is the devotion of time to the study of birds. Last week portions of two days were given to instruction in literature and music having references to birds. It is a very engrossing pursuit, this knowledge of bird ways, and it is calculated to soften the heart and strengthen the character of anyone who interests himself in the little feathered friends of man. This newspaper would like to see Bird Day observed in every school in the county.

Lynn, Springville Twp. – F. S. Greenwood will open his ice cream parlor, on the corner, for next Saturday night, May 1.

Wilkes-Barre – I. N. Austin, a former county resident, but now of Wilkes-Barre, writes us that the farm on which he lived for eight years was at one time the camp occupied by the Indians and English, previous to the Wyoming massacre, and from the house in which he now resides can be seen the fine monument erected to the memory of those who lost their lives in that awful historical event, the Wyoming Massacre.

Dimock – Rev. I. D. Mallery was here surveying for an artificial lake to be built on the Dr. Norris farm [Woodbourne]. The lake will contain about 25 acres and is intended as a resort.

Montrose – Miss Elisa J. Brewster, private secretary to Mrs. .Charles M. Schwab, of New York city, is expected here tomorrow for a visit with friends. [Mr. Schwab was the president of U. S. Steel. Their house was an extravagant 75 room mansion located on Riverside Drive. It was considered the grandest house ever built in Manhattan.]

Forest City - Paul Revere’s ride was no comparison to that taken by Otto Halford, Friday evening. The holdback on the harness broke, frightening the horse, who ran at break-neck speed down Main street. Halford was thrown from the cart near Joseph’s store, but held to the lines, being dragged to Jones’ store, where the steed was stopped by W. H. Jones. Halford escaped injury.

News Brief: The automobile fever is ranging this spring worse than ever. It is to be feared that some will buy who cannot afford to own one.

After a news report of a South Carolina police officer being arrested for homicide for shooting a fleeing motorist in the back, I received some inquiries as to whether police were permitted to use lethal force to stop a fleeing suspect.  The United States Supreme Court decided this issue back in 1985 in the case of Tennessee v. Garner.  In that case, a young male suspect of slight build had been caught in the act of burglarizing a residence when the police arrived on the scene.  One of the officers spotted the suspect and chased him to the point where the suspect was blocked by a 6-foot high chain link fence.  The officer was utilizing a flashlight and could see that the suspect was not armed.

The police officer then identified himself as a police officer and directed the suspect to stop.  At that point, the young man turned and began to climb the chain link fence.  The police officer determined that the suspect would escape and elude capture if he was able to get over the fence.  The officer then shot the suspect in the back of the head – the suspect died on the operating table.  On his person, the police found a purse and ten dollars that had been taken from the residence that he had burglarized.

At that time, Tennessee had a statute that allowed police officers to use lethal force, which provided that: “if, after notice of the intention to arrest the defendant, he either flee or forcibly resist, the officer may use all the necessary means to effect the arrest.”  Given that the suspect would have escaped but for the use of lethal force, the officer contended that he used the only means necessary to effectuate the arrest, i.e., taking custody of the defendant.

The Tennessee statute mirrored the English common law rule – which allowed the use of lethal force to apprehend a fleeing felon, but not a fleeing misdemeanant.  Initially, the colonies and then the individual states followed the common law rule.  As such, Tennessee argued that the 4th Amendment had to be considered in light of the common law rule in place at the time of its adoption – which allowed the seizure of a fleeing felon through the use of lethal force if necessary.

Justice White, writing for the majority, rejected a broad application of the common law rule – noting that felonies under the common law were less prevalent than in the modern statutory framework.  Justice White noted that many misdemeanors under the common law were now considered felonies – and that the line between a felony and a misdemeanor in modern criminal justice was “often arbitrary.”  Justice White also noted that the common law provided for a death sentence for most felonies – while modern criminal justice allowed it for only one – murder.  Thus, the Supreme Court found that the 4th Amendment seizure doctrine did not follow the common law rule. 

Justice White then provided the following analysis: “The use of deadly force to prevent the escape of all felony suspects, whatever the circumstances, is constitutionally unreasonable.  It is not better that all felony suspects die rather than escape.  Where the suspect poses no immediate threat to the officer and no threat to others, the harm resulting from failing to apprehend him does not justify the use of deadly force to do so.  It is no doubt unfortunate when a suspect who is in sight escapes, but the fact that the police arrive a little late or are a little slower afoot does not always justify killing the suspect.  A police officer may not seize an unarmed, nondangerous suspect by shooting him dead.”

Justice White, however, noted that there were circumstances that shooting a fleeing suspect may be constitutionally permissible: “Where the officer has probable cause to believe that the suspect poses a threat of serious physical harm, either to the officer or others, it is not constitutionally unreasonable to prevent escape by using deadly force.”  In other words, the officer needs to believe that the lethal force is necessary to defend himself (or herself) or some other members of the general public from death or serious bodily injury.

It has been 30 years since the Garner decision – and most people generally understand it and accept it.  Many people are not even aware of the old common law rule – or some of the statutory versions of the common law rule that existed prior to Garner.  If you look at the comments to some of the news stories regarding the arrest of the South Carolina police officer, you will see that numerous people believed that police had the authority to use lethal force against a fleeing suspect.  Hopefully, this column has provided a little more clarity on that issue.

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/.

“Long stormy spring-time, wet contentious April, winter chilling the lap of very May; but at length the season of summer does come.”~ Thomas Carlyle

Instead of April Showers, we’re getting a trick played on us, for as I write this column, we’re in the midst of snow showers! I’ve kept watch for crocus buds and any tiny green tendril from the daffodil row—I guess it will be a little longer before we can feel those warm, caressing breezes and smell that renewed earth scent that only April and May can bring. But I, like many others will take heart and figure it has granted us a bit more time indoors for reading and crafts before the endless outdoor chores beckon. It’s time to check out newly released books and the plethora of programs and services your local Library Location has to offer.

The Susquehanna Library location has not only been busy with their Springtime Story Hour, but the months of April and May also mark the start of computer classes. The swiftly upcoming classes are already full to capacity, but don’t despair, as there are plans in the works for another class in the fall. If you are interested in brushing up on or learning some new computer technology, please stop in and add your name to the waiting list.

Earlier this year, the Kensington Publishing Co. generously donated a Gift Basket chocked full of goodies that coincided with the February release of Author Joanne Fluke’s 18th Hannah Swensen Cozy Mystery, “Double Fudge Brownie Murder”. The Gift Basket has been raffled off, with all of the proceeds going to help purchase needed items for the Susquehanna Library Branch. The lucky recipient is Sue Rowe. Congratulations! Knowing how enjoyable this series is, we can only hope she will join the countless number of “Hannah-ites” too! Many thanks to all who purchased chances, we couldn’t provide the goods, services and programs without Y-O-U!

In other Susquehanna Branch Library news, I’m told the first bake sale of the year will be held on Saturday, May 9th. The time and location will be forthcoming, so keep a watchful eye on this column. I believe that is Mother’s Day weekend, so what better time to keep Mom from a hot oven and also help your local Library Location.

Over the river and through the woods to the Hallstead/Great Bend Branch found Library Aide Valerie Burdick visiting the Blue Ridge Kindergarten classes. She read to the children, spoke about the Library and all of the treasures it holds. She also gave them their first Library cards, along with bookmarks and stickers. Whole new worlds of learning await them inside book covers.

Pictured (l-r) are Valerie Burdick with members of Mrs. April Caruso’s class: top row - Logan Barber, Kaylee Evans, Braelyn Palmer, Rose Birtch and Gage Morris; bottom row  - Brianna O’Dell, Kayden Connolly, Colton Thomas, Tyler Stratton, Damien Pratt and Hospicio Martinez-Garcia.

The Susquehanna County Historical Society and Free Library Association have announced that the guest for this year’s “Author’s Tea” will be Scranton Author Barbara J. Taylor. The tea, sponsored by the “Library Friends to Benefit the Association”, will be held on Wednesday, May 20th, at the VFW, located on Route 706 in Montrose. A “Hospitality” meet and greet will begin at 3pm, with the Tea starting at 3:30pm, followed by Author Taylor speaking at 4:30pm. Light refreshments will be served. There is a cost and all proceeds benefit the Association. Tickets go quickly, so, don’t delay, stop by your local library location and make a reservation at any of the four Library Locations. Local Author, Barbara J. Taylor was born and raised in Scranton, PA, and, presently teaches English in the Pocono Mountain School District. ”Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night” is her first novel and, hopefully, will not be her last. This heart-tugging tale is set in Scranton during the height of the coal mining industry. “Sing in the Morning, Cry at Night” is a bittersweet tale which follows one family through unthinkable loss and was inspired by a haunting, true family story including a Fourth of July accident which causes the death of a young girl and is blamed on her Sister. Don’t miss this wonderful opportunity to learn more about one of our local Authors and her work, plus a chance to enjoy a delicious Tea. Hope to see you there!

As I arrange some Forsythia branches in a vase for the forcing of blossoms, I leave you with this thought:

"When the time is ripe for certain things,
these things appear in different places in the manner of violets coming to light in the early spring." ~ Farkas Bolyai

Robins – Crocuses—Birdhouses

ENJOY!!

Why Do My Dog’s Lyme Disease Pills Cost So Much?

Carol came into the pharmacy with a prescription for her beloved dog Mandy, a border collie. “The vet said she has Lyme disease caused by a tick bite,” said Carol. “Do you think she will be better with these pills?” The prescription was for doxycycline, an antibiotic used to treat infections like Lyme disease, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever – bacterial diseases that domesticated animals – and well as humans – pick up in fields, woods, and even lawns from ticks that are infected with the causative bacterium. The bad news for Carol was that, because her dog does not have health insurance, the medication would cost a bundle. “What happens if I do not treat her for this condition?” she asked the pharmacist.

The pharmacist explained that many dogs with Lyme disease have recurrent lameness of the limbs due to joint inflammation. Others may develop sporadic lameness, hobbling on one leg for a few days and then favoring either the same leg or the other leg a week or so later. One or more joints may be swollen and warm; a pain response is elicited by gently feeling the joint. These symptoms usually respond favorably to antibiotic treatment.

In time, some dogs may also develop kidney problems. If left untreated, these kidney problems may lead to an inflammation of the parts of the kidney that filter the blood, a condition called glomuleronephritis. Eventually, total kidney failure sets in and the dog begins to show signs like vomiting, diarrhea, lack of appetite, weight loss, increased urination and thirst, fluid buildup in both the abdomen and in the tissues, especially the legs and under the skin. At this point, the prognosis is poor. The pharmacist added, “Compared to the cost of an antibiotic while the dog is still healthy, when the organs begin to fail because the pet was not treated, the costs of saving the animal can increase 10 to 50 times more.”

Why does doxycycline – or any other previously cheap, old-time generic – cost so much now? The world of drug pricing is shadowy. Manufacturers can charge outrageous prices based on supply and demand. As the incidence of Ly me disease rises, so does the cost of the drug that will treat it. In turn, pharmacies can rake in tremendous profits by passing along marked-up meds to patients without the slightest explanation. It’s called the “take it or leave it” philosophy.

The pharmacist gave Carol a reasonable price on the doxycycline for Mandy. She was lucky because the pharmacy she uses is an independent store which has some wiggle room when it comes to setting prices. Chain pharmacies can charge many times more for the same medication. Advice: look around online for more affordable doxycycline. Google “Lyme disease dogs doxycycline.” From whichever company you decide to purchase the drug, you will be asked for a prescription from your veterinarian or they can call your vet directly and receive a verbal order.

As for a vaccine for this heartbreaking disease, you and your vet will have to decide whether your dog warrants a shot, since there are side effects associated with the vaccine as well. The recombinant type of Lyme disease vaccine appears to be the safest at this time. However, having your dog vaccinated for Lyme disease should not be reflexive. The dog’s age, home environment, other medical conditions, and other animals in the vicinity should also be considered. Be an advocate for your pets’ health.

Ron Gasbarro, PharmD is a registered pharmacist, medical writer, and principal at Rx-Press.com. Write him with any ideas or comments at ron@rx-press.com.

(Part 1 in a Series)

A deficit of trust exists today. Mistrust of authority in all its manifestations grows ever larger as complexity increases. My focus is the deficit of trust in a government determined to exert and extend its political power to ever greater commanding heights. Centralization of political power has been ongoing at the federal level for years. Concurrently, weaponization of information by methods of control and manipulation fashion the matrix of information broadly available. Those who question the “narrative” have observed contradictions, be it by first-hand experience and/or internet knowledge.

The deficit of trust I comment upon today concerns government closer to home: Susquehanna County. Here are the facts. On Tuesday, April 14th, I submitted three Right-To-Know (RTK) requests for information at the County Commissioners’ Office in the Courthouse. The county made prompt reply. On Saturday, April 18th, I received three letters, each signed by R.S. Stoud, Open-Records Officer.

Each respective letter regurgitated description of the respective records I had requested. Each continued with the following phraseology, “Your request is being reviewed. Documents responsive to your request, if any, as well as any further response to your request, shall be provided within thirty (30) days, 65 P.S. Sections 67.902(b)(2). It is not known at this time if a fee shall be required. Pursuant to 65 P.S. Section 67.902(b)(2), you are hereby notified that: a legal review is necessary to determine whether the records sought are subject to access under the RTKL; and whether the extent and/or nature of your request precludes a response within the required time period.”

Now I know you have to be wondering what I could have asked for. No, it wasn’t personal or confidential information. No, I didn’t ask for classified or proprietary information. My first RTK request was for a correct copy of the election officials of the various local election districts in Susquehanna County. In case you didn’t get the punch line, my first request was for a CORRECT copy . . .

Susquehanna County’s official website does have a listing of election officials of the various local election districts, but the listing I observed on April 14th wasn’t entirely correct. Because of first-hand knowledge and an observable paradox I knew that the county’s internet available document was not correct.

It seems fantastical that it would take the county up to 30 days to produce the list I requested. A two-page document already exists; it merely needs updating and corrections. Constitutionally-elected election officials were last elected in November 2013 and took office in January 2014.

Secondly, the county’s imposition of a legal review being triggered by my request for documents MAY be routine practice, but if that is so, is it not strange that the County‘s RTK officer is not sufficiently familiar with statutes so as to make routine determination? The public availability of information on the county’s website should have been instructive.

Fortuitously, the County did not take the full 30 days to conduct a legal review and respond to my request. On Thursday, April 23, I received an email response from Deputy Chief Clerk Maggie McNamara. Her email included a letter attachment signed by Open-Records Officer Stoud, which read in part, “Your request has been reviewed and has been denied. The reason for said denial is that the document requested is electronically available on the County’s website (www.susqco.com).”

That’s a rather cheeky answer isn’t it, gentle readers? So I surfed over to the County’s website and had a look for myself. Between April 15 and April 22 the county employees responsible did indeed update their listing and make corrections as necessary. For readers with internet access and wishing to have a look for themselves, here is the specific page on the County’s website to save you time in looking for where it’s not so obvious: http://susqco.com/county-government/voter-registration/election-officials/.

The whole point of this exercise may seem moot now, but bear with me and I’ll bring the point of this article home. For the record, here are the offices currently vacant as the Municipal Primary (May 19) approaches, by office, election district, and controlling party are as follows: MINORITY Inspector: Ararat-R, Hallstead-D, Lenox-D; MAJORITY Inspector: Friendsville-D, Hallstead-R, Little Meadows-R, Montrose 1st Ward-R; JUDGE OF ELECTION: Forest Lake-R.

The aforementioned elective offices are normally filled by voters in their respective election district. Where vacancies exist there is a precise procedure laid out under State Election Law, by which the President Judge of the Court of Common Pleas may review a petition from voters in the respective election district and make appointments up until the fifth day prior to the election. As one would expect the political parties have a clearly defined role (and interest) in filling vacancies to ensure board functionality on Election Day. Judicial appointments fill the vacancies for the entirety of the term remaining. Nevertheless, vacancies still exist at least occasionally within the five days preceding the election, and even after poll opening on Election Day. State Election Law dictates the precedence of actions to be taken in those cases. The office being filled dictates the sequence and steps to take.

I won’t go into detail on the law as I am aware this may be dry reading to many. Suffice it to say, a transparent and highly detailed plan is provided by the state for each contingency. If followed, the law is a wonderful tool to bring clarity, hence trust, to the political process. Apparently the general process aforementioned is not what was followed in filling Forest Lake Judge position most recently.

At the Susquehanna County Commissioners’ meeting on April 22, candidate for County Commissioner Edna Paskoff asked sitting commissioners to explain the process by which the Judge of Election position was filled for last election on November 4, 2014, and who, and by what authority the action was taken. Sitting Commissioners Alan Hall, Michael Giangrieco, and MaryAnn Warren had a choice of silence, proclamation of ignorance, or feeble supposition. Mrs. Paskoff, a resident of and Republican Committeewoman for Forest Lake has thoroughly investigated the matter and possesses documentary evidence of “irregularity” in the filling of the vacancy. None of the sitting County Commissioners (who were all serving as the County Board of Election in 2014) now “knows” who made the appointment or by what authority. (Readers may access video of the meeting here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asmNBaMCOnk Public comment begins at the 13.25 minute mark, with questioning about Forest Lake a little over a minute later.)

Election Director Laura Watts resigned her position with the County the first week of March; her assistant departed the Courthouse the first week of April. Commissioners Hall and Warren are ineligible to serve on this year’s County Board of Election since they are both seeking reelection. Commissioner Giangrieco, the only person theoretically eligible to maintain a semblance of continuity in the election process, “recused” himself from serving on the Board of Election, though he has advanced no good reason and PA Election Law makes no provision for such recusal.

The Republican Party’s Chair since May 25, 2014 is deeply involved in the Forest Lake Affair. She played a key role in the filling of the Judgeship. The role of a party chair in filling a vacancy is necessarily circumscribed by law and party rules (party rules being subordinate to state law). From information now available it appears transparency may well have been traded for expediency.

Deficits of trust are deep. But they can neither recede, nor permit healing to begin until Truth takes her place in the Seat of Honor. The election process cannot be placed in a position of compromised trust; integrity of the elections is too important. Investigations are ongoing. More hard questions must be answered before trust is restored.

The County replied to my two other RTK requests. They are even more illuminating for what they can’t say as what they do. Exposed facts speak for themselves, but oft-times the right questions must be asked to bring the facts to daylight.