Herrick Center – John Opeka was drowned in Lowe Lake, Feb. 14.  Mr. Opeka bought the Davis farm, which borders the lake, about 3 years ago.  He was engaged in putting up ice, and went to the lake alone after dinner, leaving his sons busy at the ice-house.  When they finished they looked down to the lake and seeing nothing of their father went down and found his body near the shore, in about 7 ft. of water. He had broken through the thin ice, which had formed where the ice had been cut.  He leaves a wife and sons John, Anthony, Frank, Paul and William and two daughters, Mary and Fannie at home. John was born in Austria fifty-one years ago and located in Forest City, when a young man.

South Montrose – Fire completely destroyed the large general store of Frank E. Barron on Sunday morning. Flames were seen shooting from the basement by a neighbor.  An alarm brought out all the men of the vicinity, who formed a bucket brigade and succeeded in saving the nearby buildings, but the store and sheds attached were burned, together with practically all the contents. M. L. Lake & Son had an office in the building and were losers in the fire. Mr. Barron conducted the post-office and all the books, stamps, etc. were found in good condition in a safe.  The Lehigh Valley station, also located in the burned building, met with some loss.

Rush – O. L. Devine will have a sale of personal property and stock at his farm. Mr. Devine and family will move to Battle Creek, Iowa, next month, where he has secured employment with his brother, Charles Warner, formerly of Montrose.

Susquehanna – The building known as Gettie’s bakery and owned by Mrs. Ella Matthews of Grand street, caught fire about 11:30 Monday night and the resulting damage totals up to about $3000.  William Gettie conducted a bakery on the first floor, the second floor being occupied by James Brown and sister, Miss Kate Brown. Smoke and flames trapped Miss Brown until State Trooper Graves and Thomas A. Keefe reached a second story window and rescued her.  Firemen were greatly delayed by a frozen hydrant.

Friendsville – The ladies of the Red Cross Knitting Circle have, to date, completed 19 sweaters, 22 pairs of socks and 13 pairs of wristlets, and are calling for more yarn.  The financial condition of our organization is excellent and our list of members continues to grow slowly, but surely.

Gibson – Mr. and Mrs. Ward Craft are moving to Iowa this week and will be accompanied by Guy Craft.  We are sorry to lose these industrious people from our community, but hope to see Guy come back to us soon.

Forest City – Frank P. Flora appeared before the naturalization court at Scranton and renounced all allegiance to Victor Emanuel and all other kinds, princes and potentates of the Italian government.

Uniondale – The ice industry was a large asset to the community a few years ago but nothing has been done owning largely to the excessive freight rates on the railroad.

Clifford – This community needs a physician and a blacksmith.  A good location, in the midst of a prosperous farming community.

Hop Bottom – Our Boy Scouts have shoveled wide paths across the main street, in a good many places, and walks where people were unable to clean them off, thus improving the looks of the town.

Dimock – The large Winans stone quarry, it is said, will again re-open about March 1st, if the weather permits, after a long delay. ALSO D. V. Shaw, who is getting along in years and drives the kid wagon, seems to stand the extreme cold weather good, for a man of his age, not missing a single trip this winter.

Franklin Forks – There was no school today on account of the illness of our teacher, Miss Mae Smith.  We hope for her speedy recovery.

New Milford – The first of the week several residents on the north end of Main street noticed that teamsters, who were hauling ice from the creamery pond, were abusing their teams.  It is said they would put nearly four tons of ice on a load and then lash their teams across bare spots in the road.  They were reported to their employer who soon put a stop to such treatment.  The loads were made lighter and the teams were doubled over the bare spots.  There is a law against the abuse of dumb animals and it is everyone’s duty to report such cases.

East Lynn, Springville Twp. – The Valentine social held at Stark Miller’s was a financial success.  The proceeds, which were $46.25, are to be used for the benefit of the Red Cross.

Montrose – The death of Augustus Pettibone Bush occurred here on Feb. 1, 1918. He was born in Bridgewater Twp. 90 years ago.  His wife, Elizabeth Jackson Bush, died April 10, 1915.  Augustus became an almost helpless invalid by a stroke of paralysis in the summer of 1882.  He moved to Montrose and had resided here since. He was the son of Adrian and Amy Kellum Bush, the former being a son of Caleb Bush (1755-1821), a Revolutionary soldier, who came from Litchfield county, Connecticut in 1809 and purchased 500 acres of timber land in North Bridgewater.  The latter was a daughter of Luther Kellum (1760-1846) who came from Stonington, Conn., and when but 16 years old entered the Revolutionary army, serving three years.

200 Years Ago from the Montrose Centinel, February 21, 1818.

*MELANCHOLY CATASTROPHE. On Thursday last, the house of Wm. B. Welch, in Springville township, was consumed by fire, and dreadful to relate, two of his children were burnt in it one of whom was entirely consumed, and the other died in the course of the day.  The parents of the children were from home, and the house was set on fire by the children’s playing with that destructive element.  This should be a warning to all parents not to leave small children alone.  We understand Mr. Welch lost all his furniture and provisions.

*MARRIED.  On Thursday last by Joshua W. Raynsford, Esq., Mr. Jason Potter to Miss Carissa Tyler.

LOST. On Thursday last between the village of Montrose and Jonathan West’s on the Milford & Owego turnpike, an old fashioned English Watch, marked on the back J. D. Any person who may find said watch and will return it to the subscriber in Choconut township, or the Editor of this paper, shall be handsomely rewarded. JOHN LOCKE.

Choconut, Jan. 31st, 1818.  [John Locke was a Revolutionary War soldier who resided in Choconut Township.  The late Dayton Birchard, a number of years ago, restored his grave marker.]

In May 2016, N.M.C. was a 14-year old student at Dubois Middle School in Clearfield County.  While in the bathroom, N.M.C. observed a fight break out between two other students.  N.M.C. took out his cellphone and recorded a video of the fight.  The video depicted the two students engaged in the altercation, but also captured video of other students in the bathroom, including one student using a urinal and another student who “mooned” the camera by exposing his buttocks.  N.M.C. went home and sent the video to his girlfriend and to one other student, but also refused to show it to other people who requested to see it.

After learning of the fight the next day, the assistant principal began an investigation.  N.M.C.’s girlfriend turned over the video to the assistant principal.  N.M.C. was then interviewed and he eventually admitted to taking the video and sharing it with his girlfriend and one friend.  N.M.C. was then cited with a summary criminal offense of Disorderly Conduct wherein it was alleged that he caused public inconvenience, annoyance or alarm by creating a physically offensive or hazardous condition.  The Commonwealth argued that N.M.C.’s decision to share the video encouraged and promoted other students to engage violent and fighting behavior, i.e., the hazardous or physically offensive condition.  At the initial summary hearing, the magisterial district judge found N.M.C. guilty and he appealed to the Court of Common Pleas.  At the trial court level, N.M.C. was again found guilty and was sentenced to 90 days of probation, 35 hours of community service and a $100 fine.  N.M.C. then appealed to the Superior Court.

The Superior Court had to define what constitutes a “hazardous or physically offensive” condition under the Disorderly Conduct statute.  In providing guidance as to what constitutes “hazardous condition,” the Superior Court indicated that the condition must create “a significant risk of danger or injury” to other persons.  This does not require that a defendant’s act itself be violent, but the circumstances attendant to the conduct must be considered to determine whether the acts created an “emotionally charged atmosphere” in which a significant risk of danger or injury was created. 

While conceding that the term “physically offensive condition” was likewise difficult to define, the Superior Court determined that it requires some kind of “direct assault on the physical senses of members of the public.”  As example, the Superior Court suggested that a defendant creates a “physically offensive condition” if he “sets off a stink bomb, strews rotting garbage in public places, or shines blinding lights in the eyes of others.”

In reviewing N.M.C.’s conduct, the Superior Court concluded as follows: “Having viewed the video and considered its very limited dissemination, we conclude that the Commonwealth failed to show that N.M.C.’s dissemination of the video to two people created or risked creation of a ‘hazardous condition’ within the meaning of [the Disorderly Conduct criminal statute].”  As to whether N.M.C.’s conduct created a “physically offensive condition,” the Superior court likewise concluded: “The Commonwealth’s did not present the testimony of [the] recipients, let alone any evidence that they were personally offended by the video’s contents or that they even considered further dissemination.”

Interestingly, the Superior Court was very careful to make clear that the “limited dissemination” of the video was a significant factor in its determination.  What if N.M.C. had sent the video to more people?  How many more people would need to see the video for N.M.C.’s conduct to have risen to the level of creating a “hazardous or physically offensive condition?”  There are no easy ways to answer these questions as these kinds of cases are very fact specific.  The Superior Court’s decision does not foreclose the possibility that the dissemination of a “fight” video cannot constitute disorderly conduct; rather, the manner in which N.M.C. disseminated his video did not create a “hazardous or physically offensive condition.”

Winter indoor air pollution: What died in here?

Sarah went into the pharmacy to get a refill of the inhaler she needs to breathe. She said to the pharmacist, “It seems every winter, I have trouble breathing inside the house. Also, the house smells stale. By the way, where are the air fresheners?”

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, especially during the winter. Hence, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors. Such people include the very young, the elderly and the chronically ill, especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease. In addition, the house can just smell funky during the winter months. So what can you do until the fresh breezes of April blow away the stagnant stench? 

Carpeting and plants can harbor everything from dust mites to viruses. Dust mites and mold love moisture. So, keep indoor humidity lower, rather than higher – around 30% to 50% to help control allergens. A dehumidifier helps reduce moisture in indoor air and effectively controls allergens.

Enforce a strict “no smoking” rule. That includes Uncle Jack’s cigars, your neighbor Louise’s ultralights and whatever Junior is toking in his room. No vaping or juuling either. And what’s on your shoes? People track in all sorts of chemicals via the dirt on their shoes. A doormat reduces the amount of dirt, pesticides, and other pollutants from getting into your home. If the mat is big enough, even those who do not wipe their shoes will leave most pollutants on the mat – not the floors in your home.

Cooking can be another problem. Use the vent while cooking. Instead of frying food – especially fish – on the stove top, bake or broil it. It would be healthier in any event. Crack open a window while you cook. If the weather guy says it’s going to be in the 50s for a day or two, open some windows for cross-ventilation.

Do not rely on Febreze, Glade, Renuzit, cinnamon apple candles, or any other masking perfumes to clean your air. Not only do they contribute more chemicals to the already polluted atmosphere within your home, but they can be dangerous. Scented candles, aerosols, plug-ins, and incense sticks are all culprits. The fear lies in the chemicals in the fragrance and candle wax. While more research needs to be done to make a truly definitive statement, some researchers feel that extended, long-term use of certain scented items might lead to asthma, lung damage, or — in extreme cases — cancer. If you have the cash, and even if you don’t, a HEPA air filter can suck the pollutants out of your domain. Go to the EPA website (epa.gov) and search for the “guide to air cleaners in the home.”

Sarah vowed to get to the bottom of her “sick house” which may be exacerbating her lung problems. After all, her health was more important than whether her neighbors thought her home smelled stinky. 

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