Birchardville – George Dayton, of this place, won second prize in the dairy butter contest conducted by State College, recently.  Of the 6 prizes offered, Susquehanna county buttermakers captured three—two prizes in the creamery class and one in the dairy.

Little Meadows – Mrs. Edward B. Beardslee, aged 80 years, died at her home here, Tuesday, after a long illness.  She is survived by her husband, one son, Esmond Beardslee, of Montgomery, N. Y., one daughter, Miss Verna Beardslee, of Little Meadows, and one sister, Mrs. Margaret Vail, of Montrose. 

Montrose – At the C-Nic Friday afternoon and evening, Charles Richman, in Booth Tarkington’s comedy, “The Man from Home.”  New Year’s matinee, and evening, Mary Pickford in “Mistress Nell.”  This is Mary in a role of days of the “Merry Monarchs” of England, Charles 11. See Charlie Chaplin at the C-Nic Saturday afternoon and evening.  Admission 5 and 10 cents. ALSO The merchants report an extraordinarily large holiday trade—several the best in their history.  The disagreeable storm of Friday brought business nearly to a standstill, but Saturday was a perfect day, and the sleighing was excellent, bringing a record-breaking crowd into town.  John J. Ryan proprietor of the Globe Hardware store, said he never before saw so many horses on Public Avenue at one time.

Jackson – At the Law steam mill, upon the Henderson farm at North Jackson, nearly 100,000 feet of fine hemlock and hard wood lumber has been cut out to date.

Auburn Center – M. J. Dean had a barn blown down by the high wind on Friday.

Clifford – The officers for the ensuing year of Clifford Grange will be installed nest Tuesday evening by the Master of the Welsh Hill Grange, John W. Davis.  Refreshments will be served and the Welsh Hill Grange is expected to be in attendance. ALSO The Baptist and Methodist churches celebrated Christmas with appropriate exercises.  The former, in Finn’s Hall, Saturday evening, with music, recitations, etc., by the little folks and with three fine tableaux representing the Shepherds, the birth of Christ and the visit of the wise men.

Susquehanna – It is reported that the Erie Railway has ordered 10 Pacific-type locomotives from the American Locomotive Co.  These big iron horses will have 25x25 inch cylinders, 69-inch driving wheels and will weigh, when in working order, a total of 287,000 pounds. They will be equipped with super heaters.

Scranton – Scranton has been designated by the general board of the navy as one of the 40 cities which would be free from attacks in the event of a hostile fleet moving on the United States. As a result of the announcement, Scranton will be considered as a suitable place for the establishment of the $11,000,000 armor plant to be constructed by the government.

Auburn Twp. – Evidently there are dogs abroad in the land that should be rigidly confined or, better still, shot and buried under some tree or vine that would make the most of the “remains.”  Several flocks of sheep in this vicinity have recently been raided and a considerable amount of damage done.  W. A. McAvoy, John Adams and A. L. Burke have lost several sheep each by their attacks.

Hop Bottom - The Boy Scout movement has revived in Foster and the boys of the town are apparently very much interested in the work.

Brooklyn - The chicken pie dinner to be held by the young men of the Methodist church will be held in the church parlors instead of the hall, as announced last week.  Ways will be provided for all who wish to be conveyed to the church.

North Harford – The Christmas exercises passed off usually well.  “Old Santa” was present, and amused the children with his “cute ways.” ALSO In South Harford, we are very sorry to say, we hear no more wild cats to sing us to sleep in the twilight.

Kingsley – Chesley & Deuel, the Montrose barbers, will have a barber here, Thursday nights and Fridays, until further notice.

Rushboro – V. F. Dean recently bagged four foxes—two reds and two grays in one day. Skins and bounty will net him around $28.

Uniondale – Grace and Lloyd Wademan, students at Wyoming Seminary, are spending the holidays with their parents.  Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wademan.  Lester Todd, who is also attending Wyoming Seminary, is spending the week with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Todd.

New Milford – A Farmers’ Institute will be held in the New Milford Opera house on Saturday, January 6, 1917.  Questions relating to soil building and cultivation, the dairy cow and other lines of animal breeding, fruit growing, market gardening and the poultry industry, will be discussed. There will be three sessions and at the evening session, at 7:30 p.m., home sanitation, domestic science, farm and country life and advancement of the rural schools will be topics discussed.  These institutes are held under the auspices of the Department of Agriculture.

News Brief: Mr. and Mrs. Vincent Astor, of New York city, had over 1,000 well-filled baskets that were distributed among the poor families on Christmas Day.  The baskets were accompanied by card greetings.

200 Years Ago from the Montrose Centinel, December 24 & 31, 1816. 

*Ebenezer Park & Sarah Cook, Administrators of Colwell Cook, deceased vs. Ozem Cook, in the Court of Common Pleas of Susquehanna County.  The subscribers will attend at the house of Samuel Fessenden in the township of Bridgewater on Friday the 27th of Dec., inst. at 11 o’clock A.M. at which time and place there will be sold at vendue one bed, one iron shovel and a number of other articles.  J. W. Raynsford. Stephen Wilson, Trustees.

*Fresh Winter Goods.  The subscriber, at his store, in Montrose, has just received from New York, and is now selling, a general assortment of Dry Goods, Groceries, Crockery & Iron & Steel, very cheap for Cash or Country Produce.  N. RAYNOR.    N. B. He will sell RUM by the barrel, if requested.

*NEW STORE AND NEW GOODS. The subscribers have commenced business at their New Store on the Public Avenue, a few rods from the Courthouse in the village of Montrose.  They have just received from New York and are now selling a general and well-chosen assortment.  They have also received a fresh supply of Goods suitable for the season—Also RUM AND BRANDY of the first quality. CASH paid for GRAIN.     SAYRE AND MUJLFORD.

*HERRICK & FORDHAM have received a fresh supply of Winter goods, from New York—among other things, Black, Blue, Snuff-colored and Gray Superfine BROADCLOTHS—Kerseymeres, Vestings, Pocket and Neck Handkerchiefs, silk and cotton—Red, Blue & White Flannels, (very cheap,) Bombazetts of different colors, Cotton & Worsted Hose, Cotton shirting of various kinds, Muslins of different kinds, Shawls, Umbrellas & c.  St. Croix & New England RUM by the barrel or smaller quantity.  Brandy, Wine Tobacco, Snuff, Tea, Coffee, Raisins, Pepper, Ginger Cinnamon, Spice, & c., etc.

On April 12, 2012, Danielle Packer and her fiancé, Julian Shutak, entered a Wal-Mart store outside of State College and purchased two cans of aerosol dust remover.  When they had returned to their motor vehicle in the parking lot, Packer and Shutak inhaled some of the gases from the aerosol dust remover cans – a process known as “huffing.”  The aerosol dust remover contains a chemical known as DFE which causes a very short and extremely dangerous high.  Packer was in the driver’s seat of her mother’s Chevrolet Trailblazer, while Shutak was in the passenger’s seat.  After “huffing” on two occasions, Packer then started the vehicle and asked Shutak if he trusted her.  Shutak responded by asking if he was going to die tonight.

Despite having inhaled this powerful and dangerous intoxicant, Packer drove the motor vehicle down a local highway.  While at a stop light, Packer “huffed” again before the light turned green and she resumed driving.  Shortly thereafter, Packer’s motor vehicle left her lane of traffic, entered into the opposite lane of traffic and collided head on with another motor vehicle being driven by Matthew Snyder, who was killed as a result of the violent collision.  Packer’s motor vehicle never slowed down or attempted to avoid the collision.

Upon being interviewed by the police, Packer contended that she had purchased the aerosol dust remover and but attempted to lie about its use contending that she used it inside of her motor vehicle to clean dust from the vents.  She contended that it must have caused her to pass out because she did not remember anything from the accident.  A blood test taken several hours later at the hospital revealed trace amounts of DFE in her blood.

In addition with being charged with homicide by motor vehicle while DUI, the Commonwealth also charged Packer with third degree murder on the theory that she had maliciously killed Snyder by operating her motor vehicle while under the influence of DFE.  Snyder argued that a third degree murder charge was not appropriate because she had not acted maliciously, but only recklessly, in her impaired operation of the motor vehicle.  The jury convicted her of the third degree murder count and she was sentenced to a period of incarceration of 10 to 20 years.

On appeal, the Superior Court likewise found sufficient evidence to support the third degree murder conviction.  The Court noted that the malice necessary for a third degree murder conviction exists where there is a “wickedness of disposition, hardness of heart, cruelty, recklessness of consequences, and a mind regardless of social duty.”  In terms of the level of recklessness necessary to demonstrate malice, the Court recognized that “mere recklessness” is not sufficient but that the evidence must demonstrate that a defendant “consciously disregarded an unjustified and extremely high risk that his actions might cause death or serious bodily injury.”  In other words, the Court noted that for recklessness to also constitute malice, the defendant’s conduct must “display a conscious disregard for almost certain death or injury such that it is tantamount to an actual desire to injure or kill.”

As to Packer’s conduct, the Court found that her decision to operate her motor vehicle after “huffing” was indeed malicious.  The Court noted that Shutak had testified that Packer was in a “zombielike” state after “huffing.”  Packer herself recognized her condition when she asked Shutak if he trusted her before she began operating the motor vehicle and Shutak responded by asking if he was going to die.  Packer continued to “huff” the motor vehicle while she was driving despite having knowledge that she could be rendered unconscious from the intoxicant.  Given her “zombielike” state, her statements to her fiancé that indicated a level of her own recognition of her impairment, and her decision to continue “huffing” while sitting a red light, the Superior Court determined that there was sufficient evidence of a sustained level of recklessness that demonstrated Packer was consciously aware that her conduct could result in someone’s death or serious bodily injury, and her third degree murder conviction was affirmed.

Treat a cold with C or zinc?

Cindy, 44, came to the pharmacy counter to pay for her purchases. She asked the pharmacist which of the 2 items was better for a cold: vitamin C (ascorbic acid) or zinc (Zn). “I always take both, just in case,” she said. The pharmacist had to admit that he sells a “ton” of vitamin C, especially during the winter months. But as profitable as this vitamin is, it has never been proven to knock off the rhinoviruses which cause the common cold.

In a 2013 review of 29 clinical trials which involved more than 11,300 people, the investigators found no consistent effect of vitamin C on the duration or severity of colds. According to the study authors, "The failure of vitamin C supplementation to reduce the incidence of colds in the general population indicates that routine vitamin C supplementation is not justified."

However, the same analysis looked at the benefits of zinc sulfate tablets in a study of 400 children, ages 5 to 8. The findings were that zinc sulfate was “likely beneficial” in preventing colds in this age range. This metal might have effects against viruses in older people as well. It appears to lessen symptoms of the common cold, but researchers cannot yet explain exactly how this works.

What about vitamin C as a possible treatment for an established cold? The authors found 7 trials (all in adults) that evaluated whether vitamin C taken when symptoms started would shorten the cold. When they looked at all 7 studies together, they found no benefit from taking the vitamin. But in one of the 7 trials, patients took a single very high dose of the vitamin (8,000 mg or 8 grams) on the day their symptoms started and experienced a shorter illness compared with people who took a placebo pill. The authors said that the results in this single trial are "tantalizing and deserve further assessment."

But the study authors did find evidence that the vitamin could help prevent colds in people exposed to extreme physical exertion or cold weather. They found 6 studies in which the vitamin or a placebo was given to marathon runners, skiers and soldiers exposed to significant cold and/or physical stress. Those taking the vitamin experienced, on average, a 50% reduction in common cold incidence. The authors urge "great caution.” though, in making generalizations from this finding in these 6 studies that are mainly based on marathon runners. Most of us can barely run a half mile.

What other factors did these investigators look at and how did they fare? Homeopathic remedies, exercise, gargling, ginseng, and garlic all got a “thumbs down.” Probiotics, such as those found in yogurt, as well as hand-washing, alcohol-based hand sanitizers, gloves, and masks were rated as “likely beneficial” or “probably beneficial.”

Vitamin C mega-doses of 2,000 milligrams (2 grams) or more may not improve your symptoms but can actually raise your risk of painful kidney stones, as well as nausea and diarrhea. Instead of chugging fizzy drinks loaded with vitamin C, or wasting money on useless combination products that may contain vitamin C as well as other substances that probably will not impact your cold, stick to getting the nutrient from food. Strawberries, citrus fruits and many other fruits and vegetables are a great source. And if you are not getting enough zinc in your diet, try a zinc supplement. Chickpeas, kidney beans, mushrooms, crab, and chicken are all rich in zinc, and zinc gluconate glycine lozenges like Cold-Eeze or the generic lozenges sold at many of the chains can also help boost your Zn intake and possibly shorten your cold.

Ron Gasbarro, PharmD is a registered pharmacist, medical writer, and principal at Rx-Press.com. Visit him at www.rx-press.com.