Home → Columnists ( July 25, 2018 )
Uniondale – Fourteen of our prosperous society, known as "The Jolly Old Maids," journeyed to Elkdale Friday evening to attend the Baptist Church supper at the home of James McAlla. They returned home minus mishaps and all united in saying they will go it alone henceforth. Bad on the young man. ALSO Burt McPherson has bought a Ford runabout and H. C. Taylor is doing likewise, while Dan Cole speeds along in a Ford touring car. Irving Tinker is running what he terms as the Universal, but competent judges declare without any evasion that the said car is nothing more or less than a Ford…Let's ride.
Forest City – To the co-operation of the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children of New York with the Associated Charity and Humane Society of Scranton, may be attributed the knowledge of the whereabouts of William Sinkisky, aged 13, of Hudson street of this place, who has been missing from home several weeks. He was apprehended in New York City and according to the report from that city, the lad was picked up there by the police on July 16. He gave his name as John Germenarich and stated that his home was in Boston, Mass. Burgess Franko left Monday to bring the boy to his home.
Montrose – DeWitt C. Titman died at his home after an illness of several months. He was 74 years old and widely known through our northeastern Pennsylvania. He was a veteran of the Civil War, a member of Co. C, 202nd PA Volunteers, was wounded in the battle of Fort Fisher and after his discharge he came to Auburn Four Corners and established a large market for farm produce and live stock. He served two terms in the State Legislature. After selling his business at Auburn in 1894, he came to Montrose to live. He was an official of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Titman was born in Warren county, NJ and came with his parents when a youth. ALSO Owing to the Red Cross having filled their quota for July there will be no more gauze dressings made until the first Monday in August. There is other work in plenty to be done and workers will please bring thimbles and needles. After August 5th, the gauze work will again be taken up and the August quota gotten out.
Kingsley – Murray Palmer has purchased a tractor for farm use, being among the first farmers in the county to give this coming substitute for the horse a try-out.
Bridgewater Township – Ruel D. Warriner, of Fernheim Farm, with a score of 205, has been awarded the Marksman medal and diploma offered by the Winchester Junior Rifle Corps, a recently formed national organization to promote shooting among the boys and girls in America. His sister, Eloise, made a score of 203.
Forest Lake Township – Atty. Safford wears a smile, which will not come off because of the decision of Judge Quigley in the case of E. H. Sivers vs. Forest Lake Twp. The decision holds that the township was negligent for not erecting guardrails at a point in a narrow road opposite a steep bank where the plaintiff's wagon went off the road and caused him to fall from his wagon some 20 ft. down the bank.
Harford – It is a self-evident fact that some of our young men are not acquainted very well with the cigarette law. They had better look it up and beware, for there is a penalty for giving those poisonous, vile things to children and minors. ALSO Three Fresh Air girls, from New York City, are being entertained by Mrs. Sophia, Mrs. Shannon and Mrs. Mack.
Hallstead – Mrs. S. S. Craft has been notified that her son, Private Sherman Craft, was severely wounded in France on May 28. He was a comrade of Private Mark O'Neill, who was killed in action a short time ago. Other Hallstead men who arrived overseas are Sergeant A. Lynn Merrell, Privates William J. Kirby, Archie Tanner and musician, Jack Connors.
Silver Lake – There was an exciting time in St Joseph, Sunday afternoon, when our Laurel Lake ball team defeated the Middletown boys by a high score.
Parkville, Dimock Twp. – It looks fine to see Jay Tingley, of Dimock, out with his meat wagon, selling meat again to his many customers.
News Brief: The government is about to assume control of the entire medical profession in the United States to obtain sufficient number of doctors for the fast growing army and at the same time distribute those remaining to the localities for service where they are most needed for civilian work. ALSO A large cargo of relief supplies, principally food stuffs, clothing and medicine, is to be dispatched to Russia by the American Red Cross at the earliest possible moment. A special ship will be used for the purpose and the cargo will be accompanied and distributed by a group of Red Cross representatives who will work under the direction of the American Red Cross Commission now in Russia. ALSO The death of Quentin Roosevelt, son of former President Roosevelt, has been confirmed by the Germans. He was buried where he fell with military honors. The German report said he died fighting, his dash and daring causing him to be cut-off by enemy aviators and surrounded by greater numbers he was brought down. Major Theodore Roosevelt was also wounded in the leg while leading a charge at Chateau Thierry.
*HAIL STORM. On Sunday afternoon last, we were visited by a hail storm, more severe than is in the recollection of the oldest inhabitants. The cloud approached from the northwest, and seemed to hang over the adjacent country for some time before it burst. The hail was generally about the size of cherries, though some were much larger. On the Plains one was measured which was five inches in circumference—in Kingston many fell the size of a hen's egg, & in Exeter, one measured eight inches in circumference, and another ten inches. The hail was generally, in the centre, white like snow, and on the outside as clear as ice. There was no wind of any consequence, while the hail was falling, but notwithstanding, there were a number of window glass broken and the grain somewhat injured, though much less than could be expected, from the size and quantity of the hail that fell. The lightning was incessant, and the flashes very vivid descending from the clouds to the earth in one continued stream of fire. From the Susquehanna Democrat, July 17, 1818. (Possibly Wilkes-Barre, PA)
Latasha Reed rented a car from a New Jersey rental facility. The rental agreement prohibited her from allowing any other person to operate the rental car. Latasha Reed then gave the rental car to Terrence Byrd who then began a solo trip to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Along the way, Byrd was stopped for a traffic violation by a Pennsylvania State Trooper.
After the Trooper had run Byrd's name through the system and discovered that he had prior drug and weapon convictions, coupled with the fact that Byrd was not listed on the rental agreement, the trooper searched the motor vehicle and found 49 bricks of heroin in the trunk. Byrd was charged with federal drug trafficking offenses. Byrd attempted to challenge the Trooper's search of the motor vehicle but the federal district court determined that Byrd lacked legal standing to do so because he was not the owner of the motor vehicle nor was he listed as an authorized operator of the motor vehicle under the rental agreement. The Third Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the district court's determination that Byrd lacked standing to challenge the search of the motor vehicle.
The United States Supreme Court took the matter up on appeal. By a 9-0 vote, the Supreme Court reversed and determined that lower courts had erred in determining that Byrd lacked standing based solely upon his failure to appear as an authorized operator on the rental agreement. In order to have standing to challenge a search, the Supreme Court noted that a person must have an objectively reasonable expectation of privacy in the area searched by law enforcement. Justice Kennedy, writing for the unanimous court, noted that the mere fact that Byrd was not listed on the rental agreement was not sufficient, standing alone, to demonstrated that he did not have a reasonable expectation in the privacy of the rental car. On the other hand, Justice Kennedy also cautioned that sole possession of a motor vehicle would not always confer a reasonable expectation of privacy as a thief who possessed a stolen car would have no such reasonable expectation of privacy and would lack standing to contest a search of the stolen car.
As to Byrd, however, the record demonstrated that the person who rented the car gave him full dominion and control over it. Byrd was the driver of the motor vehicle and its sole occupant. While he may not have been on the rental agreement, Byrd had the ability – as the sole possessor and operator of the car – to exclude other people from entering it or using it. As he was traveling, Byrd had complete dominion and control over the rental car and that such dominion and control over an area would normally confer a reasonable expectation of privacy.
As to the violation of the terms of the rental agreement, Justice Kennedy noted that the rental agreement did not prohibit Byrd from operating the rental car it simply provided that if Reed allowed an unauthorized driver to operate the rental car then there would be no insurance coverage from the rental company and Reed would be personally responsible for any damages caused by the unauthorized operator. The Supreme Court rejected the contention that the breach of a rental car agreement, standing alone, would eliminate any reasonable expectation of privacy to the rental car by the unauthorized driver.
Finally, the government argued that the rental agreement was fraudulent, i.e., the Byrd used Reed to rent the motor vehicle in order to cover his tracks in connection with his drug trafficking. As such, the government argued that Byrd was similar to a car thief in that the rental was procured in order to further a criminal act and that Byrd's fraudulent intent should obviate any reasonable expectation of privacy to the rental car. The Supreme Court did not address this argument but remanded it back to the Third Circuit for further consideration as to whether Byrd's criminal use of the rental car negated any reasonable expectation of privacy in it.
Mary, 71, came into the pharmacy with some new prescriptions. They were for pain, swelling, and insomnia. "What happened to you, Mary? the pharmacist asked. "Two days ago, I fell going up the stairs. Tripped on the fifth step and whacked my head," Mary explained. "These old feet don't always do what I tell them to do!"
Gravity can be quite helpful. Gravity keeps our cars on the road and our knickknacks on the end table. Without gravity, our coffee would float out the window and the cat would be climbing the walls. Without gravity, Mary would not have fallen. Babies are flexible when it comes to gravity. When a baby falls, he A) does not have far to fall, and B) usually gets right back up again. For older people, falling can literally be their downfall.
Slips, trips, stumbles, and tumbles in and around the home are frequently the cause of injuries to older adults. Each year, over 3 million older adults received medical treatment for injuries related to falls, with many of these injuries resulting in decreased independence, a need for long-term care support, and increased risk for early death. To wit, there are approximately 25,000 fatal falls in the US each year, states the American Occupational Therapy Association. Given Mary's age and medical history, which includes her treatment for high blood pressure with medications that may cause dizziness, she was lucky to get away with a few bruises even though they have kept her up all night.
Older adult falls are increasing and, sadly, often herald the end of independence. Healthcare providers can make fall prevention a routine part of care in their practice, and older adults can take steps to protect themselves. With more than 10,000 Americans turning 65 each day, the number of fall-related injuries and deaths is expected to surge, resulting in healthcare cost increases unless preventive measures are taken, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Reduced muscle strength, increased inactivity, more severe chronic health conditions, and increased use of prescription medications are risk factors for falls among older Americans. Even worse, fall injury rates are almost 7 times higher for older adults with poor health than for those with excellent health, the CDC reports.
Older adults also can take simple steps to prevent a fall. For example, talk to your healthcare provider about falls and fall prevention. Tell your provider if you have had a recent fall. Although 1 out of 4 older Americans fall each year, less than half tell their doctor. Talk to your provider or pharmacist about medications that may make you more likely to fall. Have your vision checked by an eye doctor once a year. Update eyeglasses as needed. Participate in evidence-based programs – like tai chi or yoga – that can improve your balance and strengthen your legs. Contact your local Council on Aging for information about what is available in your community. Make your home safer by getting rid of fall hazards, such as throw rugs and other clutter. Wrap Tabby and Fido in Christmas lights so you can see them in the dark.
Mary lives alone and now intends to get a medical alert system in case she falls again. She is interested in taking yoga to keep herself active and steady on her feet. She realizes that she was lucky – this time. The pharmacist also cautioned her about taking the sleep medication for which her doctor wrote. Sleep medications and other controlled substances may result in loss of coordination, increasing the risk of falling. "I refuse to take this falling business lying down," she laughed.
Ron Gasbarro, PharmD, is a registered pharmacist, medical writer, and principal at Rx-Press.com. Read more at www.rx-press.com