Home → Columnists ( December 11, 2024 )
Montrose – The Robinove Department Store was the "hanging out place" of all the youngsters in town, when Santa Claus made an official visit to the store. Hundreds of children thronged the streets waiting for his appearance and when he arrived they were formed in line and met "Old Nick" in the toy department. Here each visiting child was presented with a toy and box of candy. Children wrote letters to St. Nicholas telling their desired gifts, and many of these trusting missives were a revelation to older folk, who have come to believe that the youth of this generation know more than the grandparents of the present. The children's kindly patron saint kept them in good humor, making it a real gala occasion.
Brooklyn – C.E. and Robert Gere were in Scranton, Friday, with a load of Christmas greens and berries for market. ALSO There will be Community Christmas exercises in the Universalist church on Sunday evening, Dec. 21. A pageant representing the Christmas story will be presented, and an offering taken for the Near East Relief.
Forest City – Dominick Puchnick, son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Puchnick, of Railroad Street, has enlisted in the army. He has served an enlistment so is no stranger to the manual. He expects to be stationed in the Canal Zone.
Hallstead – Monday afternoon while W.H. Palmer was driving his Lexington car the occupants of the car, comprising Mr. and Mrs. Palmer, Mrs. Ray Palmer, Mrs. Grace Howell and Mrs. Wm. Evans, all of Dimock, had a narrow escape from death or serious injury. The party had started for Binghamton and as they took the curve near the viaduct, between Hallstead and New Milford, Mr. Palmer applied the brakes quickly, which threw the car bottom side up in the road, striking a culvert, which nearly demolished the car. None of the occupants were seriously injured, yet a few cuts and bruises were sustained by all. Mrs. Evans was injured about the head and the doctor advised her to stay with relatives in Hallstead, a few days, before returning home.
New Milford – Constable Charles H. Culver was in Montrose and when asked about the number of bootleggers he had captured on the trail this week, he reported none bagged, but stated that a car, evidently well loaded with spirits fermeti, had struck a guard post near the Summit bridge and bottles were strewed along the creek bank in great variety and profusion. The driver never stopped to pick 'em up. ALSO Dr. J. Murrell Hardy informs us that he has just installed an X-ray machine in his chiropractic office. The nature of his profession, requiring adjustments to the spinal column and the fact that bones are dislocated frequently, making the discovery of the displacement difficult, adds to the value of this expensive apparatus. Dr. Hardy is also a nerve specialist.
Uniondale – Raymond and Manley Tuttle have returned from Cincinnati where they had been attending an auto school. They each have a diploma, which attests to their efficiency.
Ararat – The Brooks school closed its 1924 term on the 3rd, with a tree and good dinner. The parents of many children attended and a good time was enjoyed by all.
Springville – Hallstead high school lost to our basketball team, Dec. 5, by a score of 30 - 14. Lee was the main point getter of the evening, scoring eleven points on five fouls and three field goals.
Choconut – Matthew M. McInerney, a well-known resident of this place, died Dec. 7, 1924, at his home, after an illness of one week. He is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Frances Guiton, of Middletown and Miss Bridget McInerney, of Choconut; two sons, John and James, both of Choconut; a brother, Michael, of Friendsville. Funeral was from his home and St. Joseph's church. Burial in St. Joseph's cemetery.
Fairdale – Rose Horton, a missionary from British East Africa, who is home on a visit, spoke to a large audience in the M.E. church of this place, on Sunday.
Susquehanna – O.H. Simpson reached his 90th birthday on Sunday last. Mr. Simpson, despite his four score and ten years, is a good vocalist. In recognition of his natal day he sang a solo in the Presbyterian church, at the morning session.
Thompson – About two weeks ago, our School Directors hired a man to fill the position as Assistant Principal. The new teacher is lost! Mr. H.M. Benson, of Jackson, may be responsible for this, in persistently reminding us that the name of this place is "Eho." The teacher in question first wired us from Thompsontown, PA, that he couldn't locate Thompson. We told him to come ahead that there wasn't any town attached to it and then he goes to Thompsonville, PA, and wires that no one expects him. Thursday we had a telegram from Thompsonfalls, Montana, that he was broke having been riding on trains since December the 2nd. On Saturday he phoned from Thompsondale, Wayne County, PA, and asked if we would mind hanging out a lantern as he had been through here twice already; we heard recently that he got as far as Carbondale and asked the Agent for a ticket to Eho, the Agent having never heard of Eho and not being "up" on these Cross World puzzles, gave him a ticket to Danville. We may find him there.
News Briefs: Christmas Suggestions for the Automobile: Motometer, windshield wiper – hand and automatic; cigar lighters, stop lights, hood covers, tire or tube, chains, five-gallon can of oil, Pyrene extinguisher, bumpers, horns, rubber steering wheel covers, from L.H. Sprout & Sons. ALSO Perhaps some of our readers will be glad to be reminded that a copy of Miss Blackman's History of Susquehanna County, will make a very acceptable present for Christmas. [Copies are available at the County Historical Society, in Montrose, $40 + tax. Check out the website for other sale items].
WANTED IMMEDIATELY, A first-rate DISTILLER – none need apply whose knowledge of the business is not a sufficient recommendation. HENRY CLARK, Montrose.
A STRAY, came into the enclosure of the Subscriber, a few days since, two, two year old Heifers. The owner is requested to prove property, pay charges and take them away. HIRAM THATCHER, Middletown.
FOR SALE, 17,000 Handsome, well burnt BRICKS; The property of Ebenezer Whitney, deceased – Apply to ORANGE WHITNEY, Ex'r, SARAH WHITNEY, Exec'x., Hopbottom.
John Blackstone was romantically involved with Lasheira Johnson, who had two children from a prior relationship with Christopher King. In September 2015, King and Blackstone had a physical altercation which resulted in King being blinded on one of his eyes. Although Blackstone was charged, the criminal case was dismissed after King refused to testify.
Thereafter, on August 7, 2020, King and a friend were sitting in his car when King observed Blackstone approaching in a vehicle from the opposite direction. Blackstone stopped his vehicle, pulled out a gun and opened fire on King's vehicle. King's friend was killed and King suffered serious injuries. Blackstone was charged and convicted of first-degree murder, attempted first degree murder, aggravated assault, and two firearm offenses. Blackstone appealed his convictions contending that the trial court had erred when it had now allowed Blackstone to question King about a prior criminal conviction while King was testifying at the trial.
King had a prior conviction relating to a sexual assault offense which required him to register with the Pennsylvania State Police. King failed to register as required and was convicted for a felony offense based upon the failure to register. When a witness is testifying at trial, prior convictions are generally not admissible unless those prior convictions are related to dishonest conduct, i.e., what the law refers to as crimen falsi convictions. To determine whether an offense involves a crimen falsi conviction, the trial court must review the elements of the crime itself to determine whether dishonesty or making a false statement are part of the elements of the offense. If there is no dishonesty or falsity within the elements of the crime, the trial court must also look to the underlying facts leading to the conviction to determine whether the conduct itself involved dishonesty.
In this case, the trial court would not allow Blackstone to question King about his failure to register conviction because the trial court concluded that the elements of the offense did not involve dishonesty and there was nothing to suggest that King engaged in any dishonest behavior. King did not provide a false address when he was registering; rather, he simply failed to register as required under the law as it pertains to sex offenders. Upon reviewing the record, the Superior Court concluded: "We agree with the trial court's reasoning that failing to register is not inherently a crime of dishonesty; further, Mr. King's failure to register his new address with the Pennsylvania State Police did not involve an act of dishonesty or false statement to facilitate that offense."
Do you think that Blackstone sought to admit the failure to register conviction to demonstrate that King was dishonest? Or did Blackstone seek to utilize the failure to register conviction to make the jury aware that King was a sex offender? While a defendant can attack the credibility of a testifying witness, such attacks must focus on the veracity or believability of the witness – not that the witness has a prior criminal history that suggests the witness is a bad person. If a prior conviction demonstrates that the witness has been dishonest, then a party may use that conviction to show the jury that the defendant has been dishonest in the past. If a prior conviction has nothing to do with dishonesty, then the conviction is not admissible.
Building a snow shelter is a great winter survival skill for families to learn, especially for those who enjoy hiking during the colder months. It's also a fun and educational activity to try in your own backyard! Learning how to make a basic snow shelter can give kids and parents alike an appreciation for the wonders of winter, as well as a few extra safety skills for outdoor adventures.
The first step to building a snow shelter is choosing the right spot. If you're out on a hike, look for an area with deep, soft snow on flat ground. It's important to avoid steep slopes where there might be an avalanche risk. Ideally, you'll want to find a place somewhat sheltered from the wind. Once you have a good spot, you can get started.
If the snow isn't very deep, the easiest method is to make a pile shelter. To do this, simply pile up snow into a mound that's at least 3-4 feet high and wide enough for your family members to sit or lay down inside. After piling up the snow, wait 30-60 minutes for it to settle and harden slightly, which will help it hold its shape when you start digging out the inside. If you're fortunate enough to have a snowbank nearby, you can make a tunnel shelter instead. With this method, you'll dig a tunnel horizontally into the snow, creating an entrance large enough to enter comfortably.
Once your snow pile or tunnel is ready, it's time to hollow out the inside. Keep the walls and roof at least a foot thick for insulation, which helps retain heat and protects the structure from caving in. To make the shelter a bit cozier, dome the ceiling slightly so it traps warmth more effectively, since warm air rises.
An essential part of snow shelter safety is ventilation. Always create a small hole near the top of the shelter for airflow, which prevents carbon dioxide buildup inside. To make sure the vent stays open, keep a small stick handy to poke it clear if snow or frost builds up. If your shelter has a tightly enclosed entrance, leave it slightly open or create a second small vent for more airflow. You don't want to seal yourselves up inside, although it would be tempting if you're weathering a storm.
Adding insulation to the floor also helps make your snow shelter more comfortable. You can use pine branches, leaves, or a tarp if you have one. This layer prevents heat from escaping to the ground and gives you a dry place to sit or lie down.
Practicing snow shelter building at home is a fantastic way to learn without braving extreme conditions. Set up in your backyard on a snowy day and try building a small shelter together. Kids will love the idea of creating their own "mini igloo" while learning about survival and winter safety. It's a fun project for families to do together, whether as a backyard activity or a skill for outdoor adventures.
Good day dear hearts, I love you. Last week I started by telling you of the Christmas Story, which began with Old Testament prophecies speaking of Jesus coming from the line of David, which spoke of the coming of the Messiah and included the prophecy of John the Baptist. I mentioned last week the Christian Church is in the Season of Advent, which is the four Sundays before Christmas. What I didn't mention is that Advent is not Biblical, it's Liturgical. What I mean by that is Advent is a church custom which goes back to the early days of the church.
Last week I ended with the Angel Gabriel making the announcement that Mary would conceive and give birth to the Messiah. Mary was humbled but very excited, along with other thoughts and emotions that swirled around her mind. Mary was 15 or 16 years old when she became pregnant with Jesus. In our culture that's young, but back in those days, marriage and pregnancy for 15 and 16 year olds was common. Life expectancy was much shorter.
During Mary's time women were considered possessions and were not exposed to very much education. It appears Mary had some understanding of the Old Testament laws. She began to realize, as beautiful and majestic as this message from Gabriel was, there were certain realities she had to face, and some were not so pleasant. To begin with, Jewish Law stated that if an unwed woman became pregnant, they could be stoned to death. How was she going to explain this to the Jewish Elders? There may be a mom or two reading this who became pregnant and were unwed. Considering our culture, it was hard initially, but you didn't face the threat of death.
Another dilemma she had to deal with was her engagement to a man named Joseph, who as far as he knew, she was a virgin. Ladies, as a young kid, can you imagine what you would or could do? What state of emotion would you be in? Mary goes to Joseph and tells him of Gabriel's visit. Needless to say, doubts circled his brain. Gentlemen, what do you think? If your fiancé came to you and said she was pregnant but didn't have relations with anyone other than God, what direction would you head in? Most of us would say thanks but no thanks and move on. Joseph was heading in the direction of breaking up with Mary, but he did love her and he knew the Jewish law could take her life. And so, he pondered. Was Mary telling the truth?
Joseph's answer came when the Angel Gabriel appeared to Him. When you have time, read Matthew 1:18-25 and here Gabriel explains to Joseph all that's about to take place. Joseph, who was a carpenter, was a man of integrity, a descendant of King David which fulfills Old Testament prophecies, but this way? Joseph was faced with a difficult choice after discovering that Mary was pregnant. Perhaps he thought he had only two options; divorce (break up) Mary quietly or have her stoned. God had a third option. It's in the verses I suggested you read. In view of the circumstance, the thought of marrying Mary never crossed his mind. Would it cross yours? But God often shows us that there are more options available than we think. Although Joseph seemed to be doing the right thing by breaking the engagement, only God's guidance helped him make the best decision. But that did not make it an easy decision. Consenting not to marry Mary surely cast doubt on his own innocence regarding the pregnancy, as well as leaving them both with a social stigma they would carry for the rest of their lives. Not only was Joseph on board with Mary, but they also had several other children together and he was faithful to Mary, took Jesus as his own and loved him as a father would. He taught Jesus his trade and God took Him home before Jesus went out into the world.
Within a very short period of time Mary sees how God is working things out. You may recall last week, in the Angel Gabriel's announcement Mary was told her elderly cousin, Elizabeth was pregnant and so Mary went to visit Elizabeth. When you have time read Luke 1:39-45. Here we read of Elizabeth's baby leaping in her womb when Mary arrives. During her visit with Elizabeth, Mary bursts into a song of praise which you could read in Luke 1:46-56. Mary expresses joy and humility and speaks of how God scattered the proud, brought down the rulers from their thrones and lifted up the humble. God choose the poor to bring Jesus into the world. He could have easily selected a king or a rich and powerful ruler. No, the son of a carpenter was sufficient. Next week, a birth! Merry Christmas. God Bless.
Father, we ask your blessing upon our little town. Send your Spirit and touch the broken-hearted, give peace to the sick, bless the poor. Join us Saturday, December 21 for our free Christmas Community Dinner.
Contact me anytime. Pastor Vince Chiaramonte, 570-853-3988, Susquehanna Christian Community Church, 1361 Main Street, clearmountain2158@gmail.