Auburn 4 Corner – A deplorable happening that, only by the merest chance, was prevented from resulting in a dreadful tragedy, occurred at the home of Mrs. George Hibbard when the life of her little granddaughter was saved through circumstances that seemed little sort of the marvelous.  She had been playing just outside the door, and had been out of sight of Mrs. Hibbard but a very few minutes, when her uncle, Floyd Hibbard, on passing the barn, noticed the door open and the wagon box tilted in an unusual position.  He stepped into the barn and returned the box to its normal position, when to his horror the little girl fell to the floor shocked into utter insensibility.  She had climbed onto the box in her search for eggs and so overbalanced it that she was caught by the throat between it and the wheel and had she not been released in a few brief moments, life would have been extinct.  A physician was summoned and the child revived and now seems on the road to recovery.  “Was it a special providence that prompted Floyd to go to her rescue when wholly unaware that she was anywhere in the vicinity?”

Hallstead – One of the saddest accidents that has ever happened in this place was the one reported in last week’s newspaper when four young people were drowned.  Kenneth and Mildred Sheek were taken to their former residence in Scranton for burial and the funeral of Della Preston from her home at Geo. Hatfield’s with burial at Rose Hill Cemetery.  The funeral of Herman Gatheney was held from the Baptist church with burial at Mountain Valley.  A large number of people were present at all the funerals to pay their last, sad respect for the departed, while the floral tributes were numerous and beautiful.  The flags in this place were at half-mast and sorrow was felt in the homes of their many friends, as they all took prominent parts in the business and social life of the town

Hop Bottom – An up-to-date, well-equipped, automobile garage is one of the latest acquisitions for the wide-awake town of Hop Bottom.  The proprietors are L. F. and M. E. Rynearson, the latter having recently returned from two years spent in the service department of the Ford Motor Co., of Detroit, Mich. The former is agent for the Ford Tractor.  Both are well equipped for the business upon which they are embarking.  The Hop Bottom Garage should be of great service and convenience for a wide circle of which Hop Bottom is the center.  They will sell accessories, oils, etc., and dispensate “Free Air.”

Glenwood – Another veteran of the Civil War has answered the last roll call.  Death has removed William Medler, of Capt. Lyons Post No. 85, of Glenwood.  Mr. Medler passed away May 31, aged 72 years.  He has been a great sufferer for the past 5 years.  The funeral was largely attended at his late home.  Interment was at the Tower cemetery at West Lenox, June 3.

Montrose – The Montrose Suffrage Party will have a meeting at the Library, Wednesday evening, June 13, at 8 o’clock. The regular meeting of the Women’s Christian Temperance Union will be held in the Library on Thursday, June 14, at 3 o’clock.  Flower Mission Day will be observed as usual.

Springville – Glenn Billings purchased the small building erected by James Price, on Bridge Street, Tunkhannock, as a vulcanizing shop and on Saturday brought G. S. Haldeman down with his motor truck and loaded the building on and carted it home bodily.  It looked like a bulky load to carry in that fashion.

Fair Hill, Forest Lake Twp. – Who rides in a new Maxwell car?  Gus Raub and family.

Birchardville – Selden C. Birchard was in Montrose on Tuesday.  Mr. Birchard is one of the best breeders of Jersey cattle in the state and in today’s paper offers some attractive breeding stock to those desiring to improve their herds.

New Milford – J. C. Jackson, who recently received an appointment as engineer for the United States government, is now at Tobyhanna in charge of a gang of engineers building the big military camp at that place.

Rush – Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Gary arrived home after a delightful visit in the West and Canada of about 9 months’ duration.  Victoria, B. C., Rifle and Denver, Col., and Cedar Rapids were among the places where they visited their children and other relatives and friends.  Mr. Gary says that one of the most encouraging signs he noticed in this present war crisis is the effort being made by the population of the West to produce larger crops by more intensive farming methods.

Jackson – A memorial service was held at the graveside of Rev. James Harvey Cargill, in the East Jackson cemetery, on June 4th.  Rev. Cargill was a brother of the late Hon. John W. Cargill, and was a prominent member of the Wyoming Methodist Conference, and was killed on July 4, 1854, at Susquehanna, by the discharge of a cannon while attending a celebration in that place.  At the time he was pastor of the Providence church, Scranton.

Forest City – The Sheet Iron Gang has shown its patriotism by many of its members joining the colors.  Hallie L. Conrad, Stephen Stats, Louis Puchnick, Michael Madden and Bonnie Yanchitis.  All members left late Thursday for Fort Slocum.  They will enter the cavalry branch. ALSO The baseball management complains that the collections taken on the ball grounds during the Sunday games are far from enough to defray expenses, and if fans wish to see games in the future they must contribute more liberally.  At present the players are called on to make up the deficit.

News Brief: Nearly every town in the country is organizing a Red Cross unit.  Every town should have its organization.  If there is not one in your town, organize one.  The times demand it. ALSO Citizens of the U. S. were pleased to learn from a Washington report, plans for issuing $4000 free government insurance on the life of every American soldier and sailor to continue during the period of the war.  The plan is to be taken up this week and it is expected that insurance will be provided by legislation before American troops are sent to France

200 Years Ago from the Montrose Centinel, June 7, 1817.

*A school master gave the following definition of a money lender. “A money lender serves you in the present tense; he binds you in the conditional mode; keeps you in the subjunctive, & ruins you in the future.

The subscriber informs all who shall have owed him six months preceding the 15th day of June next, that unless they settle with him by that time they will have cost to pay immediately thereafter.  Singing School subscriptions must be paid.

*NEIGHBORS, Take care of your SHEEP or you will certainly have damages to pay; for I cannot afford them my field of grain as neighbor Foster did his last year.  If not taken care of, I shall make use of the most energetic measures without respect of persons. D. DIMOCK.  Montrose, June 7, 1817.

Elizabeth Young, a 69-year old widow, owned a home in west Philadelphia valued at $54,000. Ms. Young also owned 1997 Chevrolet Venture minivan, which obviously had little monetary value. Ms. Young was also had some health issues that caused her some physical limitations. Unfortunately for her, Ms. Young also had a son who was a drug dealer – and he was using her home and her minivan in his drug dealing activities. The police notified Ms. Young that her son was up to no good – using her house and car for selling marijuana – and Ms. Young allegedly did not curtail or stop her adult son’s illegal behavior. When her son was arrested, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office moved to forfeit Ms. Young’s house and minivan – and the lower court granted the request. Ms. Young lost her house and car because of her son’s illegal conduct – and her failure to take any steps to disassociate her assets from the drug activities. 

Ms. Young appealed and the Commonwealth Court reversed the lower court’s forfeiture order. First, the Commonwealth Court rejected the concept that the elderly mother had not done enough to stop the drug trafficking. In particular, the Commonwealth Court opined: “Parents cannot choose their children. It was not realistic for the trial court to hold that the only way [the mother] could show a lack of consent [to the drug dealing] was to evict her son. This is particularly so where [the mother], who had serious physical problems, relied upon [her son’s] assistance and where there were grandchildren living there.” In other words, the Commonwealth argued that Young’s failure to intervene and prevent her adult son from dealing drugs in her house (or minivan) supported the determination that she was allowing her property to be used for drug sales. For the appellate court, the mere failure to throw her son out of the house – given her individual circumstances – was not enough to legal impute her consent to the use of her home (and car) to sell controlled substances.  Moreover, the Commonwealth Court likewise expressed some reservation regarding a potential Eighth Amendment violation. In addition to protecting against “cruel and unusual punishment,” the Eighth Amendment also prohibits the imposing of “excessive fines,” which has been interpreted to limit the ability to forfeit property where the forfeiture would be grossly disproportionate to the crime committed. The Court considered the nature of the criminal offense, the illegal sale of small amounts of marijuana on three occasions, against the loss of the mother’s personal residence – and it was difficult to find that the loss of Ms. Young’s home was “proportionate” to the criminal activity that had been committed by her son inside the residence.

The Commonwealth appealed to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.  On May 25, 2017, the Supreme Court affirmed the Commonwealth Court’s decision.  In particular, the Supreme Court found that a rigorous review of the record was necessary where a person’s home was subject to forfeiture as the “loss of one’s home, regardless of its monetary value, not only impacts the owner, but may impact other family members, and one’s livelihood.  Indeed, the home is where one expects the greatest freedom from governmental intrusion; it not only occupies a special place in our law, but the most exacting process is demanded before the government may seize it.”

In this regard, the Supreme Court provided detailed guidance as to how a trial court must consider a forfeiture request in a two-pronged approach.  First, the trial court must determine whether the property was an instrumental in the illegal activity, i.e., essential to the illegal activities or simply inadvertently involved.  Only if the property was instrumental in the illegal activity would the proportionality of the forfeiture then be considered.  In reviewing the record, the Supreme Court remanded the case to the trial court for further consideration of whether Ms. Young’s property had been instrumental in her son’s drug dealing activities and, if so, whether the loss of essentially everything that she owned was proportionate to the criminal conduct committed by her son.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea com“I will not follow where the path may lead, but I will go where there is no path, and I will leave a trail.” -Muriel Strode (1875–1964), "Wind-Wafted Wild Flowers," in The Open Court, August 1903.

There is so much excitement in the month of June. Class Nights, Graduations, parties, preparing to move into your dorm and a whole new world opens up before you. It has seemed like it has taken an eternity to reach this point yet, these coming days will be fleeting and will be replaced with wonderful lifetime memories. Cherish those moments when the going gets rough. Be proud of your accomplishments, however so large or small. Never forget the community you ventured from, for every person has had an impact on your life, in one way or another to help mold you into the person you are today. Hold your head high and reach for the moon, even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars! We salute all area Graduates and wish you the best life has to offer.

Within the past month, I have had the privilege to read and review a local author’s book. “Tell Them For Me” is Mary Pat Kelly Upright’s heart-wrenching autobiography. She has poured her heart and soul into it. You will understand when she says we are not just a physical being, but a spiritual being as well. This volume explodes with a life, not unlike a handmade quilt, pieced together with snippets of love, friendship, abuse, struggle, heartache, survival and triumph. Its randomly placed blocks may not resemble a well-known pattern, or make sense to you until you realize the “Base Material” of everything in our lives is our Lord. Many in our small rural corner of Northeastern Pennsylvania may recognize described locations around the Susquehanna and Starrucca areas, as well as some of the people characterized within the pages. If you missed her book signing at Susquehanna in early May, you may still contact her to obtain an autographed copy by sending her an email: kellyangel53@aol.com Here’s hoping a copy will be waiting on your local Library location’s shelves in the near future.

With the school year coming to a close, it is time to register your child for your local Library Location’s Summer Reading program. The 2017 theme is “Build a Better World” and focuses on improving your surroundings in your community and environment. Registration begins the week of June 12th. Please mark this date on your calendar. The programs will begin on the dates listed here at the following locations:

Susquehanna Branch Library Story Time starts at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, June 20th, and 27th, July 11th, and 18th, with the closing program on Thursday, July 27th, where we will welcome the Zoomobile at 10:30 AM. There will be a book giveaway within the week of July 17th.

If you are registering in the Hallstead/Great Bend Library, your Story Time adventures also start on Tuesday, June 20th, but at 10:00 AM, and will continue on June 27th, July 11th, with Tuesday, July 18th as book giveaway day. On Thursday, July 27th, you will join the Susquehanna Branch Library and enjoy meeting the animals of the Zoomobile. A lunch program will be included for all participants at the Hallstead/Great Bend Library Location’s Summer Reading Program.

The Main Montrose Library Location has an extensive schedule for the months of July and August for all ages, from infants and toddlers to teens, with Baby Lap Time on September 21st. It is suggested that you go to the Library Website, http://www.susqcolibrary.org/summer-reading-calendar-m, for a complete listing of dates and times. These programs will be held at our new location of 458 High School Road. A book giveaway will be held on July 17th through and including July 20th, from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Summer Reading programs help your children continue learning throughout the summer with interactive and fun program and is a sure cure for the “Summertime Blues”. If your child enjoyed last year’s Summer Reading Program, don’t delay, stop by your local Library and sign them up today.

As I wait impatiently for the Cardinals’ eggs to hatch, I leave you with this thought:

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~Quoted in P.S. I Love You, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Mortar boards-Diplomas-Parents’ Pride

Congratulations Class of 2017!

Enjoy!!

Lower cancer rates are better - true or false?

Cancer rates have fallen over the last 20 years because of early screenings, better diagnostics, and improved therapies. This is good. However, between the years 2008 and 2012, cancer rates fell more quickly. Why? The 2008-2012 Great Recession. A 2017 study, published by the Cancer Prevention Institute of California, revealed that people who lost their incomes or health insurance during that time were less likely to get routine screenings or visit the doctor. Hence, any cancer cases may have gone unchecked because people decided to buy food and shelter during this time. This is bad. According to this study, which analyzed data from California's 30 largest counties, cancer diagnosis rates during the recession and subsequent recovery fell by 3.3% annually for males and 1.4% for females - more quickly than the decline of 0.7% for males and 0.5% for females over the previous decade.

A 2015 study published in the journal Cancer analyzed the years between 1973 and 2008 and found that the incidence and treatment of cancer in the US dropped during recessions and with increased unemployment rates. During such periods, patients were more likely to do without tests for early detection or ignore symptoms due to financial considerations. The largest drops were seen in the rates for prostate, lung and colorectal cancers, malignancies that can be detected and treated early on.

However, as early as 2014, doctors started seeing an uptick in patients with advanced cancers. The reason? Previously uninsured people had obtained coverage under the Affordable Care Act (aka ACA or Obamacare) and began seeking medical interventions. The ACA has a number of provisions designed to benefit people with cancer-such as the inability of insurers to deny coverage because of a pre-existing diagnosis or to drop a person because of a costly illness or clinical trial participation. Since this law's inception, tens of millions of Americans have been able to get health insurance. The ACA represents the US healthcare system's most significant regulatory overhaul and expansion of coverage since the passage of Medicare and Medicaid in 1965.

In May 2017 the US House of Representatives voted to repeal the ACA. The replacement, called the American Health Care Act (aka AHCA or Trumpcare), would, if signed into law by Congress, repeal the individual mandate, which imposes tax penalties on those who do not acquire health insurance. Penalties on large employers who do not provide health insurance would also have been eliminated. Great for the big bosses; not so great for the worker bees.

Without a tax penalty, young and healthy people could sidestep insurance, a trend that could cause a "death spiral" should the worst-case scenario occur: That would be when young, healthy customers leave the insurance pool. Then, the remaining pool would be older, sicker and, therefore, more costly to cover. The result would be higher premiums, which would drive still more patients to forgo insurance, and so on until the market ceases to function.

Older, lower-income Americans would be the victims under this bill, according to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO): A 64-year-old making $68,200 per year could see healthcare premiums fall by 5%, while someone of the same age making $26,500 could see them rise massively - by 759%. The CBO predicted the House Republican health care plan will cause 14 million people to lose their healthcare coverage by 2018. That number skyrockets to 24 million uninsured by 2026. In other words, by 2026, the number of uninsured Americans would rise to 52 million up from 28 million who currently lack insurance under the ACA, breaking President Trump's pledge to provide coverage to all Americans. If Trumpcare passes, expect to see cancer rates drop again - and not for the better.

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