South Gibson – Henry Pickering, aged 68 years, died Oct. 5, 1916, at his home here.  He was a lifelong resident, well known and respected by all.  He was a veteran of the Civil War.  The funeral was largely attended at one o’clock on Tuesday afternoon, with interment in South Gibson Cemetery.

New Milford – On Saturday evening, between 9 o’clock and midnight, several cars in this place were tampered with and two taken; one owned by Harry Grinnell was abandoned just out of town and left in a cornfield.  The other car—owned by H. S. Clark, postal telegraph operator, was found in Owego.  Charles Woodward’s garage was entered and an inner tube and some patches were taken, and other garages entered were owned by Ogden Moss, Glenn Dean and Dewitt Vail.

Montrose – W. C. Gamble has just received an assortment of sea weed baskets [sweetgrass baskets] from the Penn Normal Industrial and Agricultural School of St. Helena Island, South Carolina.  These range in size from a small basket to the hamper and wood basket for fire place use, and are exceedingly well made.  Francis R. Cope, of Dimock, is a director of the school.  [Penn Center is the site of the former Penn School, one of the country's first schools for freed slaves. It is one of the most significant African American historical and cultural institutions in existence today, located in the heart of Gullah culture. It was supported by abolitionist Quakers from Philadelphia. Francis R. Cope, of Philadelphia, was the owner of Woodbourne, in Dimock, still owned by a Cope descendant.]  ALSO Rev. William R. Thomas, of Rochester, NY, has been assigned by Bishop Blackwell, to take up the labors at Zion A. M. E. church, on Berry street, so named in memory of the late Elder Berry, for many years an earnest worker in Zion’s cause. Rev. Thomas is comparatively a young man and not afraid to work; he was seen beating rugs, cleaning windows and cutting lawns. 

Alford – On Thursday night of last week the Lackawanna train pulled out of this place for Montrose without a conductor on board.  This important feature of train operation was overlooked until his absence was discovered when the train got a couple of miles up the mountain.  The engineer then backed the train back to Alford and took Conductor Flanagan aboard.  The passengers enjoyed the joke, but the genial taker of tickets was not so tickled over the joke as is customary with his natural bent of humor.

Forest City – Mrs. James McHale left Sunday evening for Philadelphia to assume her duties as instructor in pharmacognacy and botany in Temple University.

Laurel Lake – Miss Jennie Webster, of Franklin Hill, is teaching school here.

Jackson – Many of our young people are attending the Susquehanna high school, and Laurel Hill Academy, which is conducted by the Catholic Sisters in that place.

Springville – E. W Lott, Harry Turrell, Harry Palmer, Harry Lee and Lionel Meserole have been in New York the past week, taking in the world’s series of baseball.  The trip was made in Mr. Lott’s new Ford car.

Williams’ Pond, Bridgewater Twp. – Fred Lewis, wife and son, Ralph, of Protection, Kan., have returned east to spend the winter with their son, Guy Lewis and wife.

Lymanville – A. R. Lyman, one of our most progressive farmers, has nearly completed an up to the minute farm and dairy barn; when finished will be the finest in this section of the county.

Brooklyn – The Epworth League will hold their annual Hallowe’en social in the basement of the Methodist church, the evening of Oct. 31.  A cafeteria lunch will be served.  Prizes will be given for the best costumes.  Everyone is requested to mask.

Harford – George Richardson is again driving the “Kid Wagon” from the Very district to Harford High School. ALSO  W. A. Sophia attended a reception given for the teachers at the Aqua Inn, Kingsley.  Most enjoyable time had by all and the guests departed wishing all the teachers the best of success with their schools.  ALSO The Harford Congregational church is planning to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its Sunday school. The school met in a dance hall when it was first organized in 1816.

East Rush – While C. F. Chase was handling a heavy box a few weeks ago, he very slightly injured one of his fingers.  He treated it with peroxide and thought nothing more of it until a few days later, when it began to be painful.  He consulted a physician, who found it had become infected.  It grew worse so rapidly that he went to a Scranton hospital.  Blood poisoning had developed and the finger had to be amputated.  He was told that peroxide has small value in treating wounds, as after the foaming the wound becomes sealed, and therein lies the real danger.  He was told that iodine is splendid to use on all kinds of wounds where blood poisoning is feared.

Middletown – The gate at St. John’s church, at Flynn, when completed, will be a credit to the parish.  It is certainly one of the neatest appearing gates in this section of the county.

News Brief: Victory seems to be in sight for the dairymen of Susquehanna County, as approximately 100 of the milk dealers of New York City have come to the League’s price, which is approximately four and three-quarters cents a quart. These 100 dealers, known as small dealers, handle around 50% of the milk sold in New York City.  Four shipping stations are still holding out and the league men are holding solid. ALSO An examination of more than 2,000 school children in New York discloses a remarkable prevalence among them of the use of tobacco.  Not only boys but girls use tobacco in one form or another.  Only one boy used snuff, but many girls “dipped.”  The strangest discovery was the age at which some of the children acquired the habit.  A boy was found who began smoking at 4, and a girl who had used snuff since she was 3. 

200 Years Ago from the Centinel, Montrose, PA, October 15, 2016

*CUSTOMERS, I sincerely wish SUCH of you as have been indebted to me three months to call and look over your accounts whilst your memory is fresh, and rectify mistakes if any there be, and prevent hard thoughts, and you will much oblige me.  N.  RAYNOR.  Montrose,

Oct. 15, 1816.

*FAT CATTLE WANTED.  The subscriber wants to purchase a few fat HEIFERS & STEERS.  Amos A. Gibbs.  Montrose, Oct. 1, 1816.

*For Sale, or to be Let, On reasonable terms, 2 or 300 SHEEP – Also a number of OXEN and COWS.  Enquire of B. JONES, near Montrose. Oct. 15, 1816.

*REGIMENTAL ORDERS.  The Regimental Orders for the 76th Regt. Pennsylvania Militia bearing date the 18th instant are hereby Countermanded and the Commissioned and Staff Officers of said Regiment directed to meet at Maj. Isaac Slocum’s, Tunkhannock, on Monday the 21st day of October next at 10 o’clock A. M. armed and equipped for military discipline agreeable to law.  The reason why the place of meeting is altered is because Capt. Spencer has refused to receive us.  At our meeting at Tunkhannock some agreement will be made with regard to our future meetings, and it is wished every Officer might attend. 

FREDERICK BAILEY, Col.  76th Regt. P. M.

When a defendant is convicted of a DUI offense, one of the many sentencing requirements is that the defendant must attend and successfully complete an educational course relating to alcohol use and safe driving.  The law requires the completion of this course as part of the rehabilitative efforts to provide the defendant with knowledge as to the dangers of operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

In Commonwealth v. Diehl, the Pennsylvania Superior Court recently considered whether the Commonwealth could use the attendance in those classes to prosecute a repeat DUI offender.  In that case, the defendant hit an emergency responder who had been attempting to close a part of the interstate highway to allow for a life-flight helicopter to land.  When initially approached by witnesses after the accident, the defendant reported that he had hit a deer.  When confronted on whether he had hit a pedestrian, the defendant was nervous and continued to assert that he had hit a deer.  The state police investigated the accident and the defendant submitted a blood sample, which revealed a BAC level of .118%.

The defendant had two prior DUI convictions in 2005 and 2007.  As to the recent deadly motor vehicle accident, the defendant was charged with various offenses, including homicide by motor vehicle while DUI and a third degree murder.  The Commonwealth sought to admit the defendant’s prior DUI offenses and education classes at trial in order to demonstrate his mens rea, i.e., his intent and knowledge prior to the accident.  In particular, homicide by motor vehicle requires proof of recklessness, which means that the defendant knew or should have known of the risks created by his conduct but that he ignored those risks.  The third degree murder charge required proof of malice, i.e., a sustained level of recklessness to the point that the defendant knows that his or her conduct will likely result in death but continues to engage in the reckless conduct.

The defendant objected to the admission of his prior convictions contending that it would prejudice the jury, i.e., the jury would simply convict him regardless of the evidence once it learned that he was two-time DUI offender.  The trial court disagreed and allowed the Commonwealth to present the evidence of the prior convictions and educational classes.  The defendant was convicted of the homicide by motor vehicle while DUI, but acquitted of the third degree murder charge.

On appeal, the defendant contended that the trial court improperly allowed the Commonwealth to admit his prior DUI offenses.  The Superior Court reviewed a number of cases from across the country that allowed the admission of prior DUI convictions in a subsequent DUI homicide trial in order to demonstrate recklessness or malice.  The Superior Court agreed that the defendant’s prior DUI convictions were probative to the defendant’s intent.  In this regard, the Pennsylvania Superior Court stated: “His past experience with DUI . . . and the special instructions he received on the dangers of drinking and driving were, therefore, highly probative to the question of whether he, more than the typical driver, knew better than to drink and drive. . . .”

The Superior Court conceded that potential prejudicial impact of this evidence was substantial, but noted that the trial court had instructed the jury that the prior DUI convictions and education classes could only be considered for the “very limited purpose” of “tending to show what the Defendant’s knowledge was of the hazards of drinking and driving.”  The trial court further instructed the jury that they could not considered the prior DUI convictions for any other reason, i.e., they could not determine that the defendant was guilty solely because he had prior DUI convictions.  The Superior Court noted that the defendant was acquitted of the most serious charge of third degree murder, which further demonstrated that the DUI conviction evidence had not “instilled within the jury a fixed hostility and bias.”

As a result of this decision, the Commonwealth has joined other jurisdictions that allow the admission of prior DUI convictions in a subsequent DUI homicide case in order to demonstrate that the defendant had a greater knowledge of the consequences of intoxicated driving and to argue from that the defendant’s conscious decision to ignore that knowledge was reckless or malicious.

Is the high-dose flu vaccine worth it?

Earl, 67, came into the pharmacy and said to the pharmacist “What’s this I hear about a high-dose flu vaccine?” The pharmacist remembered that last year, even though Earl got a regular influenza vaccine, he got a moderately severe case than laid him up for 10 days. The pharmacist told Earl that there is a flu vaccine that is formulated for older adults which is 4 times more potent than the regular flu vaccine.

Influenza is a viral disease that is potentially deadly. According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), annual flu-associated deaths ranged from a low of about 3,000 to a high of about 49,000 people, depending on the severity of an epidemic. Deaths from flu-related conditions, such as pneumonia, are more likely to occur in the older person. Flu is linked to an average of 226,000 hospitalizations each year, from dehydration, pneumonia and other conditions.

The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months or older should be vaccinated annually. Those age 65 years or older are particularly vulnerable to flu and flu-related complications. Antibody response after vaccination is less robust in older versus younger adults. Compared with younger people, older individuals produce 50% to 75% fewer antibodies, which protect against the vaccine antigens.

A few years ago, a high-dose trivalent flu vaccine formulation was FDA approved. This high-dose product is an injected formulation designed for people age 65 years and older. Like other flu vaccines, it is made up of the 3 flu strains most likely to cause the flu during the upcoming season. The high-dose vaccine, however, contains 4 times as much flu virus antigen — the part of the vaccine that stimulates the immune system — than standard flu vaccines. A tiny-needle version rolled a year later injects the active ingredient just under the skin, an appealing alternative for people who dread shots.

Does it work? Research has demonstrated that higher post-vaccine antibody levels in older people who received high-dose flu vaccine than in those who received standard flu vaccine. One study found almost 25% fewer cases of proven influenza in adults age 65 and older who took the high-dose vaccine compared with those who took the standard-dose vaccine.

The price of the high-dose formulation can also be a consideration. Medicare Part B covers any flu vaccine appropriate for people 65 and older with no co-pay. Some private insurance plans also do not charge a co-pay for a flu shot. For the uninsured paying cash at the pharmacy, the high-dose version retails for nearly twice the price ($50-$60) of the standard dose ($25-$35). But it may be worth it if you are 65 and older and in a high risk category, such as those with heart disease, asthma, or diabetes.

The other factor to remember is that a flu shot that is given too early in the flu season may not cover the person for the entire time the virus is most prevalent – usually late winter and early spring. However, you will see ads shortly after Labor Day promoting influenza vaccination. The current rule of thumb is that a flu vaccination will cover you for the entire season if given between Halloween and Thanksgiving – although a shot given too early is better than no shot at all. Earl told the pharmacist that he will get his high-dose flu shot sometime in November.

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.

I used to think of America (metaphorically) as a sports car hurtling down the highway at break-neck speed. As an exemplar of liberty she indisputably led the world and was a beacon of hope. At some point it became apparent that America had left the highway and charted a course for parts unknown, but most definitely perilous. As the years proceeded, Democrats and Republicans alternatively switched places behind the helm of state. In the far distance, steep cliffs were sighted; yet it seemed to make no difference to the party driving. The affection of their passengers (voters) was all that seemingly mattered, and no heed could be paid as to the future's consequences.

Why does this metaphor matter? Perhaps because America is no longer approaching the cliffs at break-neck speed; America has already gone over the cliff! America has hydro-planed over the abyss and is now seemingly suspended in mid-air. It's a bit like cartoon character Wile E. Coyote thrashing his feet madly in open air after unexpectedly bypassing Roadrunner. What is left at this point is the voters' decision as to who will take the reins for a managed decline.

Of the two major-party candidates for president, one proclaims, "Stronger Together." The other, "Make America Great Again." Readers have likely formed strong opinions concerning each of these candidates. Pollsters suggest that most voters who plan to vote are doing so to stop the candidate viewed as most dangerous, detrimental, untrustworthy, or unlikeable. It's come to my attention that supporters of either candidate can see with crystal-clear clarity the flaws of the opposition candidate, but are mysteriously blind to the flaws of their own candidate.

No matter who gets elected president, a grim future may well lie dead ahead. All Americans will have to pull together on November 9, 2016. That said, "debate moderators" will never ask the questions that need answering now-before the election. That is why it is incumbent upon each voter to consider how the two major-party candidates might answer some real tough questions using their higher-order cognitive thinking skills. Is your candidate really worthy of your vote?

Candidate Questions

1, What is your vision for America for the next four years? What is your vision beyond the next four years? How does that vision comport with securing each person's inalienable rights-life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, among others-as God-given rights?

2. Given that the United States is perpetually in a state of annual deficit, has a national debt approaching $20 trillion, has unfunded liabilities in excess of $200 trillion, and has absolutely no hope of ever repaying any of the moneys borrowed from creditors, what is your plan to deal with the federal government's financial profligacy? How will the monetary reform mathematically and inevitably required be carried out? Will you work with Congress to repeal the Federal Reserve, to repeal Legal Tender Laws, and to institute a system of "Sound Money?"

3. Can you explain the difference between radical egalitarianism and equality before the law, and why one increases harmony, and the other disharmony? Given our country's obsession with categorizing people by race, sex, ethnicity, or other traits-whether visible or hidden, intrinsic or extrinsic-will you consider a policy of equality before the law? Would you consider working with Congress to return our government and society to a color-blind society where "a man is not judged by the color of his skin, but the content of his character?" Will you work to abolish so-called affirmative action programs, set-asides, and schemes to institutionally advantage some groups to the disadvantage of other groups?

4. Please explain the idea of American Exceptionalism. What makes America exceptional in the panoply of nations and the arc of history? What role do the cities Jerusalem and Athens play in the foundation of "Americanism" insofar as morality and jurisprudence are concerned?

5. Given that immigration-legal and illegal-has been a basis for increasing societal friction, criminality, and acts of terrorism, what is your plan to (a) secure our borders; (b) enforce current laws; (c) remove those who are here illegally by way of their invasion or visa-overstay; and (d) prohibit entry of so-called refugees and asylum-seekers who cannot be vetted as to the veracity of their identity and their intentions?

6. Given the Supreme Court's propensity to re-write laws and legislate from the bench, both parties now view the court as a supra-legislative body for which they need to hold a majority to impose their political philosophy. Are you willing to propose statutory and/or constitutional reforms-including an Article V Convention of the States-to term-limit justices and rein in the judicial oligarchy that has taken our government captive from time to time?

7. Congress has increasingly and unconstitutionally delegated its duties to the executive branch and its agencies over the last century. In the face of executive dominance the legislative branch now borders on irrelevancy in many respects. Would you, as the nation's Chief Executive, support abolition or sunsetting of hundreds, even thousands of executive agencies, boards, and commissions, and return their powers to the Congress?

8. President Obama famously noted that he he had a pen and a phone; if Congress wouldn't act, he would. Given his-and that of his predecessors'-propensity for Executive over-reach-would you be willing to revoke all Executive Orders, Memos, and Actions exceeding the President's constitutional authority, i.e., beyond routine housekeeping activities within the White House itself? Would you also "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed" regardless of whether or not you personally agree with them?

9. Would you be willing to work with Congress for the abolition-or minimally, the defunding-of the IRS, the EPA, the BLM, and the Departments of Labor, Commerce, Energy, Education, and Homeland Security, to restore individual rights and destroy the power of tyrannical bureaucrats for whom government exists as a self-perpetuating and expanding enterprise?

10. Given that the federal government owns the vast majority of the land west of the Mississippi, including as much as 85% of the land in Nevada, would you champion devolving land ownership to the respective Sovereign States and reinvigorate the original spirit of the Tenth Amendment?

11. ObamaCare has not provided rate-payers with a $2,500 per year decrease in premiums; it has not permitted patients who like their doctor to keep their doctor; it was declared a tax-not a mandate-by the Supreme Court; it resulted in less choice and less access for many people; it was unilaterally changed by President Obama over 50 times. Would you be in favor of repealing ObamaCare? If so, would you also be in favor of prohibiting the federal government from interfering in healthcare markets, healthcare insurance, and the healthcare decisions of private citizens? Would you support legislation to expand healthcare options by legalizing the purchase of healthcare insurance and health services across state lines? If you favor a government monopoly (single-controller) can you explain how government control would (a) increase access, (b) improve care, and (c) be cost-effective, without increasing government debt-load?

12. If you propose new social-welfare programs, given the insolvency of the federal government, how would you propose payment for such programs-other than by inflating the money supply (printing "money")? To support increasingly costly programs of the Nanny State do you propose to (a) increase taxes on the steadily shrinking productive sector, (b) burden the Sovereign States with increasing unfunded mandates, (c) redistribute wealth from makers to takers, or (d) use some combination of above schemes?

Conclusion

Obviously, many more serious questions could be asked, but you get the idea. The original idea of our government is embodied in the Declaration of Independence. The structure for implementation of that idea was the Constitution. By original design Natural Rights are God-given, not an arbitrary grant of Government officialdom which may extend or revoke rights by whim or fancy. Jerusalem provided America's moral foundation by way of Judeo-Christian monotheism. Athens provided the basis of Western ideas of logic, order, reason, design, and Natural Law.

America's Founders and Framers very consciously established America as a Republic, NOT a democracy. They did so because they understood that man's nature does not change. Every government then in existence was formed on the basis of the Divine Right of Kings or similar theory equivalent to "Might makes Right." Our Fore-bearers recognized that only "Limited Government" with a matrix of decentralized and separate power centers could provide the hope of liberty. Their over-riding concern was always to prevent the consolidation and concentration of political power so as to constrain tyranny. They further knew that our Constitution was meant only for a moral people and would last only so long as people were willing to submit themselves to the morality of a power greater than themselves.

Consider carefully the candidate you might support for President. Does he or she understand the basis of America's freedom? He or she will be taking the oath of office-to defend and protect the Constitution (so help me God)--on January 20, 2017.

America has already gone over the abyss. Will the landing be soft, hard, or catastrophic? Wake up America-and choose wisely. . . if you can.