Home → Columnists ( September 11, 2024 )
When the Old Milford and Owego Turnpike was New: (The following was written by Edgar A. Turrell, his memories of the old turnpike and the meeting of his mother and father.) My grandfather, Leman Turrell, was a surveyor and built a mile and quarter of the turnpike through his farm in Forest Lake and he took stock for his work and he was a director and, I think, treasurer for a time. This was opened in 1824, just the date he built his home there – just 100 years ago and before that he lived in a log cabin built by him in 1809. [The Turrell home still stands in Forest Lake Twp.]. My father was 12 years old in 1824 and when the first coach came down the road he ran into the house to his mother and said something was coming down the road, he did not know what, he never saw anything like it before and it made a big noise and he imitated it with motions and said it went "bang," "bing," "bing." When about 19, he helped drive cattle as far as Dundaff and stayed all night at a hotel on Crystal Lake, right at the county corner line, afterwards known as Campbell's Hotel. It was burned 20 years ago and the old cellar marks the site. At that time it was owned with the farm of 170 acres and kept by my mother's father, Erastus Catlin, who removed from Butterfield's Hill, below Montrose, where he settled in 1810, when he came from Litchfield Co., Conn., where my mother was born and lived her early childhood. On my fathers stay at the hotel she was about 12 years old and her younger sister was afraid of him and she told her that he would not hurt her. That was the first meeting of my father and mother. Her mother shortly after died and the family was broken up and she came back to Montrose, where she ever after resided."
Harrisburg – One jail sentence, of less than two months, in 18 convictions is the record of the Susquehanna County Courts in disposing of alleged liquor violators arrested by the State Police. Reports compiled by the State Police heads at Harrisburg, for the period covering Jan. 1, 1923 to July 31, 1924, show that 33 persons were arrested in liquor raids in the county. Eighteen of these were convicted, five were discharged, while 10 are still awaiting trial. In addition to the one man sent to jail, the remaining 17 persons convicted were freed after paying fines and the costs of prosecution.
Thompson – Thompson and vicinity will be privileged during the two weeks, starting with Sept. 7th, by having the famous evangelist and singer, Gipsy Simon Smith, in the Methodist Episcopal Church. Gipsy Simon is a member of the original Gipsy Smith Tribe and has many interesting and helpful stories to tell from his book of experience. Besides being born and raised in a gipsy camp he has traveled far as a wandering horseman. He has spent six years in London's slums as a city missionary. For the past ten years he has been doing evangelistic work in the United States and Canada. Rev. Smith is a beautiful singer as well as interesting speaker. He preaches and sings his way into the hearts of his hearers. It is doubtful if the church will be anywhere near large enough to accommodate the throng of eager listeners.
Bennett Corners, Auburn Twp. – The school children from here are being hauled again this year to Auburn Four Corners. James McAvoy is the driver of the route.
Montrose – The Ideal Theatre is playing the following next week: The "Pied Piper Malone" a romance with some kiddies, a girl and a new screen idea. Written by Booth Tarkington; "Monsieur Beaucaire" with Rudolph Valentino, the dashing, dueling hero. "The Call of the Wild." Buck, the canine hero of the story, is a giant St. Bernard of almost human intelligence.
Forest City – The borough council awarded the contract to build a bridge near the Hillside Coal and Iron Company's breaker. The contract price is $6,685. Work on the bridge is expected to commence next week and completed by Nov. 1. ALSO Midshipman James Walker, of the Naval Academy, is the guest of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J.J. Walker.
Elk Lake – The 5th annual reunion of the Arnold family was held at the Grange Hall, Labor Day. It was represented by members from Binghamton, Scranton, Clark's Summit, Wilkes-Barre and New York City. The entertainment consisted of music by the Misses Kelly, of Scranton. Members took their exercise in boat riding and bathing and others in popular games and foot racing.
Susquehanna – A meeting of Susquehanna Camp, United Sportsmen, was held here and plans were made for four big days for the sportsmen of this section. Field days will be held Oct. 4 and 5th, at Hallstead, and Oct. 17 and 18 dog trial days will be held in Montrose. All of these events are open to any contestants and many entries are expected.
Kingsley – Coe H. Stearns, our progressive miller, is known the county over as a dealer in feeds at reasonable prices, and as a result has built up a steadily growing business. He announces that he will have an exhibit of DeLaval milking machines at the Harford Fair next week.
Franklin Hill – John Wood sustained a fracture of his arm while cranking his Ford car one day last week.
Heart Lake – The Get-To-Gether class enjoyed a wonderful time at the picnic at the home of the teacher, Mrs. Ray Smith.
Dimock –Some of the Dimock folks went to Springville to take treatments of Dr. Downer, chiropractor, of Montrose, who is at the Springville hotel every Monday night. ALSO Twenty-five of the residents of this place enjoyed a motor trip to Elk Mountain, carrying a basket lunch with them. After going as far as possible with their cars, they walked over a mile up to the tower, where they could look at the surrounding country for miles.
South Gibson – Misses Margaret Pritchard and Sarah Michael left on Monday last for Mansfield where they will attend school.
Brooklyn – The Montrose Fair, as usual, brought quite a little frost in the valley. If the fair always has to bring the first frost, let us hope next year the fair will be in October.
Birchardville – There was a slight frost here Saturday morning, and snow was seen on the hill northwest of us during the day.
News Brief: The bobbed hair craze has already ruined the hairnet industry, which sales used to amount to $20,000,000 a year.
Have you ever heard of the Big Box Store defense? Big box stores are famous for providing discount prices in return for retailers purchasing merchandise in bulk. While you could buy toilet paper by the roll, or perhaps a few rolls packaged together at your local grocery store, why not simply run to your nearest big box store and purchase a bale of toilet paper and save fifteen dollars in the process. When you get home, there is always the problem of finding a place to put your massive supply of toilet paper but buying bulk meant money saved.
Every consumer faces similar economic questions whenever purchasing a particular item or product. If a retailer is willing to sell me a larger quantity at a discount, does it make economic sense to purchase the larger quantity? Basic economic theory applies not only to everyday decisions by law-abiding citizens but likewise to those involved in criminal activity. Drug users frequently make purchasing decisions based upon how much money they have coupled with the drug dealer's available supply. While drug users often make poor decisions as they struggle to feed their addiction, their primary motivator remains the need to acquire the drug itself.
With that backdrop, here is the story of Cleotis Russell who was arrested in Washington County after police discovered that he had 54.09 grams of methamphetamine hidden in a compartment under the steering wheel of his motor vehicle. Russell was charged and convicted of a felony count of possessing the methamphetamine with the intent to deliver it to third parties. Russell filed an appeal contending that there was insufficient evidence to find that he possessed the methamphetamine with the intent to deal it to other people; rather, Russell argued that the evidence equally supported the conclusion that the methamphetamine was possessed for personal use, i.e., he purchased it in bulk to save some money. If it was possessed only for personal use, then it was only a misdemeanor offense – not a felony offense.
The Superior Court noted that the possession of a large amount of a controlled substance is sufficient evidence from which a jury may reasonably infer that the defendant intended to deliver it to third parties. Where the quantity is not large but not necessarily so small as to be clearly for personal use, the Superior Court noted that other factors are considered such as "the manner in which the controlled substance was packaged, the behavior of the defendant, the presence of drug paraphernalia and the sums of cash found in the possession of the defendant."
The Superior Court noted that the investigating police officer testified that methamphetamine possessed for personal use would normally be broken down into smaller increments, i.e., the single roll of toilet paper. The street value of Russell's methamphetamine, if broken down for individual sale, would have been between $6,000 to $8,000, i.e., an awful lot of toilet paper. Further, the Superior Court noted that there was no drug paraphernalia in Russell's car that would have suggested that Russell was a drug user, i.e., no straws, spoons, needles, or other paraphernalia utilized by drug addicts. While no large amounts of cash or other equipment used to weigh and package drugs for individual sale were found in Russell's care, the Superior Court concluded: "The court could have reasonably inferred that [Russell] did not have cash or paraphernalia related to dealing drugs in his car because he had just acquired the current supply to either prepare for sale after he reached his destination, or to sell it to a lower-level dealer who would package the methamphetamine for street sale." The Superior Court affirmed Russell's conviction – and the Big Box Store defense was unsuccessful.
As the leaves begin to change and the air turns crisp, there's no better way to experience the beauty of fall than with a family bike ride. This region offers some of the most stunning fall foliage in the country, and with the right planning, you can make it an unforgettable experience for kids of all ages.
The peak time to see fall foliage in northeast Pennsylvania typically ranges from late September to mid-October. This window can vary slightly each year based on weather conditions, so it's a good idea to monitor local foliage reports to plan your trip for optimal viewing.
Lehigh Gorge State Park: This park offers a picturesque bike trail along the Lehigh River, with plenty of vibrant fall colors. The trail is relatively flat and ideal for families, making it a perfect destination for a leisurely ride.
D&L Trail: Stretching 165 miles, it passes through scenic areas perfect for fall foliage. The section between Jim Thorpe and White Haven is known to be particularly beautiful, offering a mix of history and natural beauty.
Pine Creek Gorge (PA Grand Canyon): For a more adventurous ride, the Pine Creek Rail Trail provides breathtaking views of the "Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania" with its colorful fall backdrop. This trail offers a more challenging terrain, better for families with older kids.
Lackawanna River Heritage Trail: Running along the Lackawanna River, this trail offers a mix of urban and natural scenery, with beautiful fall foliage along the way. It's an excellent choice for families looking for a moderate ride.
Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area: The McDade Recreational Trail in this area is perfect for family biking, offering spectacular views of the Delaware River and surrounding fall foliage.
There are several steps you can take to ensure everyone has an enjoyable leaf-peeping ride. Ensure all bikes are in good working condition, with properly inflated tires and functioning brakes. Bring along a basic repair kit to handle any minor issues that may arise. Layered clothing works best for fall weather, as temperatures can fluctuate throughout the day. Don't forget helmets for safety, and consider gloves and scarves for added warmth. Bring water, snacks, a first aid kit, and a map of the trail. Having a small backpack for each child can make them feel involved and responsible for their own supplies.
Plan for plenty of stops to rest, enjoy the scenery, and take photos. This keeps the ride enjoyable and helps prevent fatigue. Teach kids basic biking safety rules, like staying to the right of the path, signaling turns, and being aware of other trail users.
The ride is a perfect opportunity to talk about the changing leaves, local wildlife, and the importance of preserving nature. Incorporate games like a scavenger hunt or plan a picnic stop at a scenic spot. This adds an element of adventure and fun to the ride.
Whether you're exploring the vibrant trails of the Lehigh Gorge or the scenic vistas of Pine Creek Gorge, northeast Pennsylvania offers endless opportunities for a fantastic family adventure.
Good day dear hearts, I love you. As you read this column today, we remember this day September 11, 2001. America said we will never forget that day, and for a short period of time we came together as a nation and had a sense of decency with each other. How quickly we forget and how quickly our nation traveled further down the road of unfaithfulness. God's response to our unfaithfulness has been warning signs to our nation to turn to Him and we spend most of our time positioning ourselves with political parties and argue over our direction and in this battle not one word is mentioned of turning to God. Yeah, I know here's another Christian guy putting God in the mix of things. I wish there were more of us who will speak out as I'm speaking out.
In the year 1620, a group of people crossed the Atlantic Ocean and landed on the shore of what we today call Plymouth, Massachusetts and one of the main reasons why they risked their lives to come here was to have the freedom to worship God, to create a nation based on the principles and attributes of God. 155 years later, in 1775 the vision of the people from 1620 became a free independent nation. Free of the tyranny of a government who considered us their servants and free of government-run, and corrupt churches. Our ancestors made the claim this new nation would stand on the things of God, and we turned and recognized it was God and His ways who would guide this new nation. For the next 190 years we did pretty good as a nation. Through God's blessings our nation developed economically, socially, faithfully and we grew into the most powerful nation on the planet. And then, somewhere in the 1960s we became a nation of me, do your thing, my personal freedom. We wiped out the 10 Commandments, we threw prayer out of our school, we banned the pledge of allegiance from most of our schools. We changed the role of man and woman, husband and wife. It wasn't God who made woman subservient to man, it was man who did that. We have challenged the very essence of God's creation of man and woman when we somehow justify it's okay for a boy to be a girl and a girl to be a boy, to carry sexually explicit reading materials in school libraries and the admittance of Satan clubs as part of our after-school programs. And we call ourselves a Christian nation!
The evil act committed on 9/11 was truly an act of evil against us and it was a warning from God to change our ways, to bring ourselves back to Him. Let me be clear, God did not cause the evil. He allowed the evil. Please don't turn from this. We know history repeats itself. We are not the first nation who has morally declined. When you read the Bible, we find there are many nations who were destroyed from within. God allowed calamities to occur throughout history which brought down nations. God brought down Israel and allowed it to be conquered by many countries, the last by Rome because of their unfaithfulness. They turned from God. Rome who was always immoral and Godless was destroyed through their laziness and complacency. They allowed tribes to enter their country illegally and became too weak to keep them out. The results, those tribes destroyed and burned Rome to the ground. Today, we have one or two million people illegally in America and we don't know who or where they are in our country, and we read of rapes, murders and other crimes committed by some of them. Do any of these instances related to these two nations resemble anything going on in our own nation? We turn to the political leaders. We have become hateful and spiteful to each other over who our political leaders should be. While we diligently do our duty and vote, the winner has already been decided. "Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God." Romans 13:1. God is in control and has His way as to who our leaders are. Many of the leaders He has allowed to rule were evil because the people, the culture was evil. So, let's stop beating each other up and turn to God and repent, to ask God to give us a leader who will bring us back to Him.
Do not let those who died on 9/11 and the years subsequent from that disaster die in vain. The words of the prophet Ezekial are just as true today as they were the first day he said them. "Therefore, say to the people of Israel, This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Repent! Turn from your idols and renounce all your detestable practices." Don't get crazy over the word repent. It means to change, to transform, that's what you need to get crazy about. God Bless.
Lord, watch over our community. Bless our children. Heal the sick and broken-hearted. Let your Spirit hover over our community. Amen.
Join us on Saturday, September 21 between 12:00 and 1:00pm for our free community dinner. We will be serving salmon loaf with sides and desserts.
Contact me anytime. Pastor Vince Chiaramonte, 570-853-3988, Susquehanna Christian Community Church, 1361 Main Street, clearmountain2158@gmail.