Montrose – Those who read The Country Gentleman, in Montrose, were conscious of a strangely familiar face on its front cover last week. It puzzled some for several minutes, while the haunting smile of the youthful maid held their eyes. By her side stood a Shetland pony—and then—“Why it’s Zelda Conklin.” Sure enough it was! The photograph was taken some years ago by Photographer L. G. Titman, and by him sent to the Curtis Publishing Company. They recognized it as good enough to reproduce on the cover of one of their leading publications. The local agent, W. G. Benedict, when it was noised about who the young lady was, had to order another copy.
Forest Lake – The residence of George B. Sauter—located on his farm in this township, was burned to the ground on Monday morning. The fire was discovered at about 3 o’clock, the roof being ablaze. Mr. Sauter was alone in the house and the neighborhood was aroused by telephone. Only a few chairs and light furniture on the first floor could be removed, and it was too far gone when neighbors arrived to save much of the household effects. ALSO Joshua P. Miller, a veteran of the Civil War and member of Capt. Morris’ Co. H, 143rd Regt. Pennsylvania Volunteers, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Orla McCabe, in Montrose, Colorado, on Sept. 24, 1916. He is survived by his wife and daughter. Deceased was formerly of this place.
Elk Lake – Dr. Bennetts, of Wilkes-Barre, superintendent of the Anti-Saloon League, gave a very instructive discourse at the church last Sunday evening. One of the facts he stated was that 24 states, or half the U. S., was dry.
New Milford – F. W. Dean has a wagon with an interesting history. When his father decided to leave Connecticut in 1835 he bought a wagon. He came by canal from Rondout, N.Y. (near Kingston) to Honesdale, bringing his personal effects, the wagon included. The vehicle is of the lynch pin variety with long hubs and heavy spokes. It was the second wagon of its kind brought into the county and is in an excellent state of preservation. A few years ago an axle was broken, and aside from the replaced axle no repairs have been made on it. It was made in the good old days when quality was considered a factor in the manufacture of articles rather than prettiness. ALSO Dean Brothers have shipped 22 cars of cider apples from this station and they are still loading them.
Tunkhannock – On Monday night last week, Game Warden Shoemaker found 5 foreigners fishing with gill nets in Lake Carey, and in attempting to put them under arrest had a terrific fight during which he threw one of them into the lake, and also many fish which they had caught. He fought two of them single-handed in the middle of the lake and finally subdued them by using harsh measures. Four of the offenders were arraigned before Esquire Bossard, at Laceyville, and each was fined $20 for using the nets, and $30 each for the fish which they caught illegally, making a total of $200 in fines and $12 costs, which they paid and were allowed to depart.
Birchardville – Born to Mr. and Mrs. Marshall Ball, Nov. 10th, an 8 lb. son—Marshall Wellington.
Hopbottom – A Thanksgiving dinner, with chicken pie and all things good, will be served in Loomis Hall by the Hopbottom W. C. T. U. There will be a sale of useful and fancy articles, and an evening entertainment, which will be given in the Universalist church. Every person who is in sympathy with the temperance movement is invited to contribute in any way possible. Price of dinner, 35 cents.
Forest City – A freak election bet was made last evening between Jos. Bucanell and William Kilonsky. If Wilson wins, Joseph will have to push a peanut with a tooth pick from Center St., to Dundaff St. If Hughes wins Kilonsky has got to do the trick on Friday evening, Nov. 17. The band will play through the act. [By the way, Wilson won.]
Flynn – James Conboy expects to send President Wilson his Thanksgiving turkey.
Fowler Hill, Auburn Twp. – While Lewis Barber was plowing for J. W. Devine, he plowed out two fine skunks with his furrow, one fine black one and one half-stripe.
Thompson – Our community was very much excited last Tuesday morning upon hearing that Luther Hubbard was found dead in his bed that morning. He was on the streets Monday and about his work in the morning, but came home before noon because of not feeling well, and remarked that he had done his last work. He seemed to feel that he had not long to live, but was resigned to God’s will. He is survived by his wife, a daughter-in-law, five grandchildren and two sisters. Crosier and Gelatt were funeral directors.
Heart Lake – Angus Richardson, the market gardener, recently shipped a car load of cabbage, sixteen tons, for which he received $30 a ton. He was very much pleased with the price, as the best market to be found in previous years was $14 dollars a ton. It is said this cabbage is manufactured into sauerkraut and shipped abroad.
Franklin Forks – Looks very much like winter this morning. First snow of the season. No cause to complain, as we have had a beautiful fall.
Dundaff – Harold Stevens, son of Mr. and Mrs. John Stevens, is a member of the Second Virginia regiment now stationed at Brownsville, Texas. Mr. Stevens is a member of the regimental band and an accomplished musician, being a beautiful baritone singer and is a general favorite in musical circles. Many articles have appeared in the Brownsville papers, extolling his musical efforts.
Glenwood – Dedication services will be conducted by Bishop Joseph F. Berry at the Addie Tingley Memorial Methodist Episcopal church in this place, Sunday Nov. 19. District Superintendent Hartsock will preach the dedicatory sermon. ALSO Quite a crowd assembled at the G. A. R. Hall Saturday last and ate dinner with the old veterans of Captain Lyons Post.
200 Years Ago from the Centinel, Montrose, PA, Nov. 19, 1816.
*NOTICE TO HEIRS. WHEREAS Stephen Paine (late Stephen Paine Junior,) of Lebanon in Windham County, State of Connecticut, has appealed from the Judgment of Hezekiah Ripley, Esquire, Judge of Probate in and for Windham District in said state, (in disallowing the accounts of said Stephen Jr. against the estate of Stephen the Elder, and also for disavowing his private account against said estate, and also his administration account against said estate,) to the Superior Court in and for the state of Connecticut, to be holden at Windham in and for said Windham county on the first Tuesday of January 1817—NOTICE of the pendency of said appeal is given to Olive Paine and Huldah Chandler, wife of James Chandler, children and heirs at law of said Stephen the elder, deceased, (said heirs residing in Harford in Susquehanna county in the state of Pennsylvania) that they may appear and defend said suit if they seek cause.
On June 28, 1998, John Manning was operating his motor vehicle on a local state highway in Montour County. After three deer jumped out in front of him, Manning braked and had to swerve to avoid striking the deer. Manning’s evasive action took him off the paved highway surface and his motor vehicle struck a drainage culvert, went airborne and struck a tree. Manning was ejected from his motor vehicle and sustained serious injuries.
Manning then filed a civil lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) contending that PennDOT was negligent in its construction and maintenance of the highway area around the drainage culvert. Manning contended that the location of the drainage culvert was not safe or reasonable, that PennDOT should have erected barriers, guards or reflectors to protect motorists from the drainage culvert, and that PennDOT should have posted warning signs prior to the area of the drainage culvert so that motorists would be aware of its location and the dangerous condition that it purportedly created.
Generally speaking, it is difficult to sue a state (or its agencies such as PennDOT) because of the doctrine of sovereign immunity, i.e., the common law rule that you cannot sue the Crown. The Pennsylvania Legislature, however, has waived sovereign immunity in certain enumerated areas. Under the Sovereign Immunity Act, the Commonwealth (or its agencies) may be sued if the litigant can demonstrate that one of the nine legislative exceptions to sovereign immunity is implicated by the litigation. One of the enumerated exceptions to sovereign immunity involves damages caused by “Commonwealth real estate, highways or sidewalks.” In order for this exception to apply, a litigant must demonstrate that a dangerous condition derived from or originated in Commonwealth realty.
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has explained that “the duty of care a Commonwealth agency owes to those using its real estate is such as to require that the condition of the property is safe for the activities for which it is regularly used, intended to be used, or reasonably foreseen to be used.” In connection with this standard of care, PennDOT has a duty to motorists to design and construct its highways in a manner that makes them safe for motorists. Manning was contending that PennDOT had violated this duty of care in the placement of the drainage culvert and its failure to protect motorist from it.
PennDOT’s duty to make a highway safe is limited to road surface itself. PennDOT has no duty to properly construct and maintain the shoulder area of a highway because it is not intended for vehicular traffic. Likewise, PennDOT does not have a duty to install guardrails or other safety features along the boundaries of the highway itself. PennDOT’s duty to make the highway safe only extends to the areas that may reasonably be traveled by a motorist in the normal operation of a motor vehicle, i.e., the paved roadway surface. PennDOT does not have any duty to maintain a “clear area” around the highway that would permit motorists who lose control of their motor vehicles to safely leave the roadway, regain control of their errant motor vehicle, and then re-enter the highway safely.
In applying this standard to Manning’s accident, the Commonwealth Court determined that the trial court properly dismissed Manning’s litigation as the drainage culvert was outside the paved roadway that PennDOT had a duty to make safe for motorists. The accident resulted from Manning losing control of his motor vehicle and leaving the highway and entering an area clearly not intended for any motor vehicle travel. Because Manning’s injuries were not caused by the paved roadway itself, Manning could not demonstrate that PennDOT owed him any duty of care relative to the location of the drainage culvert and his lawsuit was dismissed.
Can a suicide be predicted?
Helen went up to the pharmacist and whispered, "Isn't it a shame about Mike? No one had a clue." Yes, the pharmacist remembered Mike, father of 3, happily married, and a home with a white picket fence. On the outside, Mike's life seemed ideal. But on the inside, Mike had been troubled. Mike's wife had caught him several times over the summer staring out over the lake, just standing there for sometimes several hours. Then, as the pharmacist was told, Mike's mood seemed to perk up. He seemed more relaxed and even more generous than in the past, giving away mementos to his kids and nieces. Then, there was the day his wife found him hanging in the closet.
To the pharmacist, there appeared to be clues that might have signaled Mike's final intentions. Some activities are associated with suicidal potential, such as: drafting a will, getting the house and affairs together, giving away prized possessions, unexpectedly visiting friends and family members and/or purchasing a gun, hose, or rope. Suicidal individuals have a number of characteristics, including: a preoccupation with death, a sense of isolation and withdrawal, an emotional distance from others, distraction and lack of humor; they, like Mike, often seem to be "in their own world" and lack a sense of humor. The pharmacist saw these characteristics first-hand before his dad shot himself over failed business dealings and a diagnosis of liver cancer. The pharmacist's mother, angry and devastated over the event just shook her head and said, "Everyone cares when it's too late."
Are there ways to predict a suicide and, therefore, prevent it? To assess suicide risk, a clear and complete evaluation and clinical interview with regard to the following are used to determine the need for suicide intervention: Suicidal ideation - Determine whether the person has any thoughts of hurting himself or herself. Suicide plans - If suicidal ideation is present, the next question must be about any plans for suicidal acts; the general formula is that more specific plans indicate greater danger. Purpose of suicide - Determine what the patient believes his or her suicide would achieve; this suggests how seriously the person has been considering suicide and the reason for death. Potential for homicide - Any question of suicide also must be coupled with an inquiry into the person's potential for murdering others. Protective factors - Work with the patient to identify "reasons for living." Ask about personal relationships, future events, long-term goals. "What would you do if you feel suicidal?" A physician may refer the patient to a psychologist for a more targeted assessment.
What can the family and loved ones do for the patient? Intervention for a suicidal patient should consist of multiple steps, as follows: the individual must not be left alone. Anything that the patient may use to hurt or kill himself must be removed, including guns and pills. The suicidal patient should be treated initially in a secure, safe, and highly supervised place; inpatient care at a hospital offers one of the best settings. After the initial intervention, which usually includes hospitalization, it is critical that there be in place an ongoing management treatment plan. As for medications, treatment of a patient's underlying psychiatric illness consistently appears to be the most effective use of drug therapy in suicidal persons. For instance, if the patient is depressed, an antidepressant may be used under supervision. Speaking with the family's clergyman may also give support and guidance. As Helen left the pharmacy, she said to the pharmacist, "You really don't know, do you?" The pharmacist wondered if that was entirely true.
Ron Gasbarro, PharmD is a registered pharmacist, medical writer, and principal at Rx-Press.com. Visit him at www.rx-press.com.
