July 13, 2010 The Press Page 5
Then There Are The
Geriatric Drivers
by: Dean Meyer
With nearly a quarter of the
fatal traffic accidents involving
teenagers, .the state's liberal
licensing laws have come under
attack by safety and enforcement
organizations. Under present law,
children as young as 14 can end
up spreading mayhem on the
public streets and highways.
Insurance Commissioner
Adam Hamm started the debate in
2008 by proposing new
restrictions and a graduated
licensing scheme for teenage
drivers.
He was joined in the last
session of the Legislature by Rep.
Ed Gmchalla, a former highway
patrolman, who proposed
tightening teenage driving.
The issue of teenage driving
has been kept alive since the 2009
session. It is very likely that bills
will appear in the Legislature to
deal with the issue and it is also
highly likely that very little will be
done. It runs against our
traditional streak against
regulating anything, even danger.
While focusing on teenage
driving, we have failed to look
seriously at the other end of the
spectrum - the elderly.
Since I am now in that
category, I have license to discuss
the serious problem we have with
older people who no longer
possess the skill or
comprehension to drive anything
faster than a lawnmower.
Meting out justice for seniors is
no easy matter. Just a few weeks
ago, a 92-year-old North Dakota
driver crossed the center line and
piled into two motorcycles. One
cyclist was killed and the other
was sere to the hospital.
The driver was fined $20. An
insightful citizen wrote a letter to
a newspaper, pointing out that if
the driver had been a teenager,
he/she would probably be sitting
in jail for vehicular manslaughter.
While it is great t9 see older
people able to function
independently, the time comes
when they are a threat to
themselves and everyone else on
the highway.
It's okay if some old people
want to go out in a blaze of
destruction as long as they are the
only ones who go. Unfortunately,
they end up killing innocent
people who would prefer to stay
around a little longer.
Taking the keys away from
older people is difficult, too
difficult for most family
members. With so many
dangerous older drivers on the
loose, it is obvious that relatives
aren't doing it. And doctors find
it difficult to weigh in on the
decision. Some have enough
good sense to restrict their
driving.
If relatives and doctors can't
make the hard decisions, the only
remaining solution is retestmg.
Every one over the age of 70
should be required to take driver
competence examinations
whenever their licenses come up
for renewal. As long as they can
pass the exams, they should be
able to drive until they are
centenarians.
If we can't stomach the
brutality of an examination
system, we should at least require
drivers over 80 to have one of
their vehicle plates state their age
so other drivers can be
forewarned.
If we are unwilling to pass laws
to curb geriatric manslaughter,
then we ought to charge the
elderly with the same crimes and
render the same punishment as we
do with teenagers.
Spending the later years in
prison can't be any worse than
spending early years in prison.
One year is as dear as another.
By Extension Agent-In-Training Marty Fear
Extension Exchange
Walsh County Nutrition, Food
Safety and Health Agent
Julie Zikmund, MPH, RD, LRD
Summer Sun Safety!- Part One
Often times we head out for
the afternoon, but not until we
slather on the sunscreen. My
boys sometimes complain about
this rituat, but 'after my dad has
had many "hot" spots removed
since they were skin cancer, I am
diligent about sunscreefl.
Sun safety is never out of
season. Summer's arrival means
it's time for picnics, trips to the
pool and beach--and a spike in
the number of sunburns. But
winter skiers and fall hikers need
to be as wary of the sun's rays as
swimmers do. People who work
outdoors need to take precautions
as well.
The need for sun safety has
become clear over the past 30
years, with studies showing that
exposure to the sun can cause
skin cancer. Harmful rays from
the sun--and from sunlamps and
tanning beds--may also cause
eye problems, weaken your
immune system, and give you
unsightly skin spots, wrinkles,
and/or "leathery" skin.
Sun damage to the body is
caused by invisible ultraviolet
(UV) radiation. People recognize
sunburn as a type of skin damage
caused by the sun Tanning is also
a sign of the skin reacting to
potentially damaging UV
radiation by producing additional
pigmentation that provides it with
some--but often not enough--
protection against sunburn.
No matter what our skin color,
we're all potentially susceptible to
sunburn and the other detrimental
effects of exposure to UV
radiation. Although we all need to
take precautions to protect our
skin, people who need to be
especially careful in the sun are
ttlose who have pale skin
blond, red, light brown hair
been treated for skin cancer
a family member who's had
skin cancer
Reduce Time in the Sun
It is important to limit sun
exposure between 10 a.m. and 4
p.m., when the sun's rays are
strongest. Even on an overcast
day, up to 80 percent of the sun's
UV rays can get through the
clouds. Stay in the shade as much
as possible throughout the day.
Dress with Care
Wear clothes that protect your
body. Cover as much of your
body as possible ify0u plan to be
outside on a sunny day. Wear a
wide-brimmed hat, long sleeves,
and long pants. Sun-protective
clothing is now available.
Consider using an umbrella for
shade.
All my best to you and your
family - Julie
Hello,
Well, we survived another
Fourth of July celebration! Family,
rodeos, and fireworks. Cowboys
and cowgirls coming and going
and burning that diesel fuel. You
often hear the Fourth referred to as
the "cowboy's Christmas". And it
can be. Or it can be an expensive
ten days.
I suppose they are getting older,
but our steer wrestlers slowed
down a little this year too. They
only went to Dickinson, Belle
Fouche, Mandan, Killdeer, Red
Lodge, Cody, Mobridge, Faulkton,
and Fort Pierre. I think.
Shirley and I had to babysit.
That was all right! Gave Shirley a
little break from the hay field. But
I tell you what, as soon as that dew
on the grass is dry this morning,
she had better be looking over her
shoulderat the hay-cutting
machin6.
Seems like we have celebrated a
lot of Fourths from a rodeo arena.
Last night, I took our
Granddaughter up on a hill in the
hay field to watch the fireworks
over the.Dickinson rodeo arena. I
wanted to sit on the hood, but
Gracy informed me her dad did not
like people sitting on their hood.
We sat on blankets. For about ten
seconds. Then a jillion mosquitoes
decided to watch the fireworks
from the same spot.
But it reminded me of a Fourth
long ago in Mandan. We had
produced the big Mandan Rodeo
Days celebration. And it was a
great one! Thousands of people.
Great rodeo! AweSome fireworks!
I suppose Carmen (our
daughter) was about three or four.
And I had a red heeler dog named
Tyke. Now Tyke liked rodeos and
he could "handle those bucking
bulls. Carm liked rodeos and
parades. We were country folks; so
[]
neither one had seen many
fireworks. Just a little once in
awhile when I came home late
from a poker or pinochle game.
Which by the way, was not as
often as Shirley remembers it to
be.
Thousands of people showed up
for the fireworks. You couldn't
leave if you had wanted to. Those
big old cannons started spouting
their fireworks and both Tyke and
Carm started whining and crying.
They spent the next hour huddled
together in the pickup with the
windows up, holding on to each
other and knowing the world was
ending.
Another great Fourth was about
thirty years ago at the Killdeer
Rodeo arena. Oh, that was one of
the best. People crowded in on that
side hill to watch several thousand
dollars worth the fireworks. The
fire department was on hand. The
Lions Club was in charge. The
first shell went straigt!t up in the
air, then straight down. Right into
the stockpile of fireworks that was
supposed to last two hours! It
didn'd
She was blasting and banging.
The arena was lit up in a
kaleidoscope of colors. Rockets
were shooting every direction. I
have no idea how to spell that
word. People were running for
their lives. Some were covenng
their kids. Others were trying to
protect their beer.. It was awesome!
In a few seconds it was over.
The Fourth had been celebrated
cowboy way. Kids looked at their
mothers and asked if it was over
already? And it was.
Oh, there was disappointment.
But I'm willing to make a little
wager. I'll bet there isn't a person
that was at the "big blast" that has
forgotten that display!
Later, Dean
Walsh County Extension Office Park River - 284-6624
Expect Disease Problems on
Potatoes and Tomatoes
There needs to be a
susceptible host, the presence of
the pathogen in the immediate
environment and sustained
conditions favorable for the
pathogen to develop.
The cool and wet conditions
our region has been going
through may be doing a good job
of keeping the grass green and
the water bill in check, but be
prepared for a possible outbreak
of potato-tomato late blight
fungus.
Late blight has been observed
on tomatoes in home gardens in
Michigan and Manitoba and in
commercial potato fields in
southeastern North Dakota, as
well as western and central
Manitoba.
"Keep in mind that for any
disease to develop, three factors
need to exist," says Ron Smith,
North Dakota State University
Extension Service horticulturist.
"There needs to be a susceptible
host, the presence of the
pathogen in the immediate
environment and sustained
conditions favorable for the
pathogen to develop."
Even though the term late
blight implies arrival later in the
season, the beginning symptoms
can be traced back to early July if
the right conditions are present.
Generally, the symptoms are
seen on the older foliage, but it
can develop on any part of the
tomato plant. The most obvious
symptom is a powdery white
growth that shows up on the
bottom of the leaves and contains
the spores that can be spread by
wind, water splash or human
activity.
Potato tubers with the problem
turn a reddish brown and become
dry and granular. Secondary
pathogens, such as bacteria, then
move in and quickly cause the
tuber to turn soft and rot.
Home gardeners can help
control this disease using the
following approaches:
Use excellent sanitation
practices such as keeping weeds
out of the garden and cleaning up
the previous year's crop residue.
Plan a good crop rotation.
Growing potatoes followed by
another member of the
nightshade family, such as
eggplant, peppers or tomatoes, is
not a valid cycle. Move out of the
potato family for a period of three
years. For example, plant
potatoes followed by peas, beans
and cabbage and then go back to
potatoes. This will help break the
disease cycle.
Avoid water splash when
irrigating the garden. Drip
systems can be installed easily
and also conserve water. If
overhead watering must be used,
do it in the morning hours to give
the foliage a chance to dry.
If a history of disease
problems exists with tomato or
potato plantings in the garden,
use fungicides that contain the
active ingredient chlorothalonil.
It is a preventative fungicide, so it
must be applied before the
disease appears. It cannot cure
any visible symptoms that have
begun to show up. Chlorothalonil
is not a systemic fungicide, so
complete coverage of the plants
is necessary to be effective.
If a plant becomes severely
infected, remove it completely
and carefully. Place a plastic
garbage bag over the infected
plant and pull the plant out of the
ground. Tie the bag immediately
to keep the spores from
spreading.
When selecting plants for the
garden, try to fend those that are
noted for their resistance to this
pathogen. Tomatoes are bred to
be resistant to many of the
common diseases, such as
verticillium and fusarium wilts,
but not to late blight fungus.
"North Dakota is a primary
potato-producing state in the
country," says Nick David,
NDSU Extension potato
pathologist. "Late blight in the
garden can escape to commercial
fields nearby and cause severe
economic losses. Remember that
this pathogen caused thousands
of deaths during the Irish potato
famine of 1845 and 1846.
For more information about
Late Blight contact the Extension
Office at 701.284.6624. Till next
week - Marty
Information adapted from
NDSU Agriculture
Communications.
PROJECTS
Prevent. Promote. Protect,
FOR ASSISTANCE
IN TRANSITION FROM
HOMELESSNESS (PATH)
Walsh County Health District
Short Shots
In 2"0o8 a point in time survey showed that on the day of the
survey there were 832 persons statewide who were homeless.
Of these nearly 17 percent were people with a history of
mental illness and 19 percent reported a history of substance
abuse.
PATH is a program in North Dakota that provides services to
persons who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
and have a mental illness or co-occurring disorder.
What services are available?
Assistance with meeting immediate needs such as
obtaining food, shelter, clothing, transportation, financial
assistance, benefits and services.
Assistance in obtaining employment
Case management, including therapy, skill building training,
supportive services in residential settings, and daily living skills
training/supervision.
Assistance with applying for and obtaining housing.
Mental health assessments and referrals to psychological
or psychiatric evaluations
Referral to addiction treatment related services.
Where are Services from PATH available?
Services are available statewide through the Department of
Human Services regional human service centers. Northeast
Human Service Center (NEHSC) in Grand Forks provides PATH
services to our county residents. To reach a PATH Coordinator
contact N EH SC @ 7Ol-795-3o59
sa.mantan
Happenings at Our Good
Samaritan
Monica Simon ADC
The parade was the highlight of our 4th of July at the PRGSC.
Thank you to everyone who took the time to come by the center.
Residents, family members and staff enjoyed it very much.
We look forward to other special events in July:
July 18 3:00 Music with Hilma Strike and Dale Gemmill
July 22 3:00 Auxiliary Program and lunch
July 27 3:00 monthly Birthday Party hosted by Grace Free
Lutheran of Edinburg
July 29 3:30 Card Making with Julie Bandt
August 12 5-7 Garden Party
We would like to thank our devotional leaders for the week, Revl
Jeff Johnson, Monica Simon, Jan Novak, Dorothy Novak, Mary Obie
and Marlys Baier. Accompanists were Monica Simon, Susan Johnson
and Jan Novak. The Senior band also performed on Tuesday.
We have enjoyed being outside during these lovely summer days
and have also enjoyed many other activities such as making pudding
pops, bingo, devotions, story time, nail's time, men's time, exercises,
current events Rosary and Mass.
Remember we are preparing for our Fall Used Book Sale used
books can be dropped off at the center anytime.
Richard Wakefield*
Gary Chwialkowski
ND. MN Licensed
Board Certified H.I.S.*
For appt.
1-800-658-3442
"29 years serving the area
2514 S. Washington Medicaid Approved
Grand Forks, ND 0% FINANCING AVAILABLE
"'Dedicated to Your Hearing'"
Advanced Digital Technology
45 Day Digital Hearing Aid Trial
Hearing Test & Eyaluations
First Care Health Center
Park River, ND
Tuesday, July 20
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Grafton Family Clinic
Grafton, ND
Wednesday, July 21
9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
t
