Newspaper Page Text
Page 4A - The Lee County Ledger, Thursday, July 5, 2001
Pine Beetles
Some Southwest Georgia resi
dents are experiencing an out
break of pine bark beetles this
summer. Pine bark beetles are
small insects that kill pines by
boring beneath the bark. Blue-
stain fungi are often times intro
duced when the beetles attack the
tree. It is visible in the sapwood
and will hasten the death of the
trees. The Southern pine beetle,
Ips Engraver beetle, and Black
Turpentine beetle are the three
most common pine bark beetles
in Georgia. Southern pine and Ips
Engraver beetles are the most de
structive while Black Turpentine
beetles are the least destructive.
These beetles are most active be
tween March and September with
limited activity on warm winter
days. The Ips Engraver beetle is
causing the majority of the mor
tality in Lee County and sur
rounding counties.
The first sign to look for is tree
foliage discoloration. Needles
have a fainter green, yellow or
red/brown color when there is
something wrong with the tree. In
conjunction with foliage discol
oration reddish-brown boring
dust may be present in the bark
crevices. A pine tree stressed by
drought or disease is more sus
ceptible to bark beetle attack than
a healthy tree.
Another sign of pine bark beetle
attack is the presence of resin
pitch tubes on the bark. Pitch
tubes vary in size, color and lo
cation on the tree depending on
which pine bark beetle attacked
the tree. Pitch tubes are normally
pinkish-white in color.
The most definite signs of pine
bark beetles will be tunnels made
under the bark by the adult
beetles. Each beetle species
makes a characteristic tunnel. The
female beetle bores into the tree
and creates a mating chamber in
which eggs are laid. After the
eggs are laid, the larvae do most
of the damage. The larvae feed in
the cambium layer. By feeding on
this layer, the larvae are cutting
off the nutrient and water supply
to the whole tree. When signifi
cant population of bark beetles is
present within the tree, it is likely
the tree will die. Trees may be
killed singly or in-groups.
Control methods depend upon
the species of pine bark beetles
present. It is important to iden
tify beetle specie prior to pre
scribing management techniques.
Since Black Turpentine beetles
usually attack the lower 10 feet
of the tree, chemical control is
fairly simple. Caution, care
should be taken whenever apply
ing pesticides.
Savage is the most desirable
treatment to control bark beetles
as long as it is economical. Most
Ips' spots die out within 3 to 6
months of onset and are best left
as is unless a short-wood opera
tor can be located to cut the trees.
Landowners should not panic.
The use of chemical control is not
recommended for Ips control un
less you are dealing with high
value trees and salvage is imprac
tical due to accessibility. The
damage in young plantations ap
pears to be severe but these
beetles are opportunistic and take
advantage of crowded trees dur
ing droughts. The big 6-spined
Ips is the one most often associ
ated with these outbreaks. It can
develop from egg to adult in
By J.M. Rhodes
Member of Chehaw Lodge 701
Leesburg, Ga
’’SECRECY”
This is continued from last week
An old Greek Philosopher,
when asked what he regarded as
the most valuable quality to win
and the most difficult to keep,
replied, "To be secret and silent."
If secrecy was difficult in the
olden times, it is doubly difficult
today, in the loud and noisy world
in which we live, where privacy
is almost unknown.
Secrecy is. indeed a priceless
but rare virtue, so little is made
to teach and practice it. The world
of today is a whispering gallery
where everything is heard, a hall
of mirrors where nothing is hid.
If the ancient worshiped a god of
silence, we seem about to set up
an altar to the god of gossip. No
mason needs to be told the value
of secrecy. Without it, Masonry
would cease to exist, or else be
come something so different from
what it is as to be unrecognizable.
For that reason, if no other, the
very first lesson taught a candi
date, and impressed upon him at
every turn is unforgettable ways,
in the duty of secrecy.
Masonry is not a secret society,
if by that we mean a society
whose very existence is hidden.
Everybody knows that the Ma
sonic Fraternity exists, and no
effort is made to hide it. Its orga
nization is known, its temples
stand in our cities, its members
are proud to be known as Masons.
Anybody may obtain from the
The Lee County Ledger
‘EstabCisfecC August 24,1978
P.O. Box 715 (124 4th Street) Leesburg, Georgia 31763
(912)759-2413 USPS 470-310
Official Organ of Lee County
SUBSCRIPTION RATES
Lee and surrounding counties
Elsewhere
$14. 95 year
$19. 95 year
Publisher Derryl Quinn
Editor Jim Quinn
Layout and Design Tricia Quinn
(USPS 470-310), is published weekly for $14. 95 per year in
Lee and surrounding counties, and $19. 95 per year else
where by at its offices at the May Office Building, 124 - 4th
Street, Leesburg, Georgia 31763. Periodicals postage paid
at Leesburg, GA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes
on Form 3579 to, P.O. 715, Leesburg, GA 31763.
O
Printed On
Recycled Paper
MEMBER OF GEORGIA
PRESS ASSOCIATION
about 21 days during hot (>90 de
gree) weather. But it also declines
rapidly just due to its pro
grammed nature.
Any landowners or home own
ers needing assistance in identi
fying and controlling pine bark
beetles may contact the Georgia
Forestry Commission in Lee
County at 759-3011 or 759-2622
All this inspires me to rush to the beach and roast a hot dog!
The Elder Advocate
News For Senior Citizens and Those Who Care About Them
Vo. 6
Facts About Masonry
records of Grand Lodge, if not
from the printed report of lodges,
the names of the members of the
Craft.
What is the secret in Masonry?
The method of its teaching, the
atmosphere it creates, the spirit
it breathes into our hearts, and the
tie it spins and weaves between
man and man, in other words, the
lodge and ceremonies and obli
gations. its signs, tokens, and
words-its power to evoke what
is most secret and hidden in the
hearts of man. No one can explain
how this is done. We only know
that it is done, and guard as a
priceless treasure the method by
which it is wrought.
The secret of Masonry, like the
secret of life, can be known only
by those who seek it, serve it, live
it. It cannot be uttered, it can only
be felt and acted. It is, in fact, an
open secret, and each man knows
it according to his quest and ca
pacity. Like all things most worth
knowing, no one can know it for
another and no one can know it
alone. It is known only in fellow
ship, by the touch of life upon life
and spirit upon spirit.
If a man knows God and man
to the uttermost, even Masonry
has nothing to teach him. As a
fact the wisest man knows very
little, the way is dim and no one
can see very far. We are seekers
after truth, and God has so made
us that we cannot find the truth
alone, but only in the love and
service of our fellow men. Here
is the real secret, and to learn it is
to have the key to the meaning
and joy of life.
What to do when
someone steals your
identity.
The Social Security Adminis
tration suggests that if you sus
pect someone is using your So
cial Security Number, you need
to check your earnings record.
Anyone, 25 years old or older and
not already receiving Social Se
curity benefits, should also be re
ceiving a Social Security State
ment each year about three
months prior to your birth month.
If you do not receive a statement,
you can request one by submit
ting a "Request for Social Secu
rity Statement," form 7004. You
can call 1-800-772-1213 or visit
your local Social Security office
for more information.
Always check your statement
for errors or incorrect earnings.
If you suspect that someone is
using your Social Security Num
ber based on incorrect informa
tion on the statement, or from
other sources, call the fraud
hotline at 1-800-269-0271.
File a police report.
Contact the fraud departments
of Equifax and other major credit
reporting bureaus. Ask that your
file be flagged requiring creditors
to contact you before approving
additional credit using your name
and number. Ask for a credit re
port and check for signs of
fraudulent activities, i.e,, unau
thorized request for credit, in
creases in credit limits, unusual
requests for credit information
from sources unknown to you.
etc. Add a statement to your credit
report, state your name, the prob
lem and provide a telephone num
ber where you can be reached.
If you have been denied credit,
you may be entitled to a free re
port, otherwise they may charge
you up to $8.00 for a report.
Equifax can be contacted at 1-
800-525-6285
To file a complaint with the
Federal Trade Commission call:
202-FTC-HELP (382-4357).
WEB SITES TO CHECK OUT
Senior Support Network:
www.anglefire.com/fl2/
SeniorSupportNetwork.
Want to know what your Sena
tor is doing, check out:
www.senate.gov.
FRAUDS AND SCAMS
The National Fraud Information
Center (NFIC) was established in
1992 by the National Consumers
League. They have a toll free
The University of Georgia • Cooperative Extension Service
■j Irrigator Pro
Doug Collins. CEA
| Putting K nowledge toWork^l
Aft
^9
A rain gauge and a minimum/maximum temperature
thermometer are the only field equipment needed to
run Irrigator Pro.
Irrigator Pro
I will again be running the Irri
gator Pro computer program for
farmers who want to use it. The
Irrigator Pro program is a com
puter irrigation scheduling pro
gram for peanuts.
Planting date, variety, soil type,
growing region, irrigation capac
ity , yield goal, and fruiting date
are all entered into the computer.
The computer will then ask for
the minimum and maximum soil
temperatures at specified inter
vals, as well as the amount of rain
or irrigation water received by the
crop since the last data entry.
The program works on the fol
lowing principle. When soil
moisture is adequate, the leaves
of the peanut plants are main
tained at a position perpendicu
lar to the rays of the sun. So long
as the leaves are perpendicular to
the sun's rays, the soil is shaded
and there is minimal variance
between the minimum and maxi
mum soil temperatures.
When peanuts are under soil
moisture stress, the leaves turn
parallel to the sun's rays as a wa
ter conservation measure. This
allows the sun's rays to reach the
soil surface and warm it during
the day. This results in a greater
variance between the maximum
and minimum soil temperature.
Irrigator Pro seeks to optimize
fruiting, disease control, matura
tion time, vine growth, disease
control, harvest loss reduction,
yield, and profit. All that is
needed in the field is a soil ther
mometer that records maximum
and minimum soil temperatures
placed in the peanut canopy and
a rain gauge.
The farmers who used the pro
gram last year have asked to par
ticipate in it again this year. For
more information, call the Lee
County Extension Office at 759-
6025.
number that you can call to get
advice and report telemarketing
fraud. 1-800-876-7060. Trained
counselors help you identify dan
ger signs of possible fraud and
will direct you to the right source
for more information.
Here are some helpful tips.
If you receive a lot of junk mail
for contests, free anything, prizes,
or sweepstakes this should alert
you that "they have your num
ber." Contact your Post Office for
information on how to stop this
junk mail.
If you receive frequent calls that
promise valuable awards, prizes,
money making opportunities
write to:
Telephone Preference Service /
Direct Marketing Association /
P.O. Box 9041 /Farmingdale. NY
11735
Or call 1-877-426-6227 and re
quest to be placed on the no call
list.
Georgia Public Service Com-
mission/PO. Box 10559/Atlanta,
GA 30348
This information is also in your
local telephone book.
Some other signs that your
loved one( s) may have fallen prey
to scams are as follows:
* Too many cheap things lying
around that are obviously not gifts
such as rings, watches, knick-
knacks, pen sets, you name it.
* The types of things he or she
has not normally purchased in the
past.
* Too many checks to unknown
companies, or checks to a com
pany in increasing amounts, with
drawals from savings in increas
ing amounts, or secrecy about
money use.
* He or she suddenly begins to
have problems paying house hold
bills, buying food. etc.
What to do if your loved one(s)
is a victim of telemarketing or
mail fraud:
* Sit down with them and talk
about it.
* Never blame them or call
them names, belittle them or
scold them. They are probably
embarrassed as it is.
* Tell them you want to help
them "get this straightened out."
* Get information about
telemarketing and mail fraud, and
share it with them.
* Always, always, always, treat
your elderly loved one with dig
nity.
The Drug Bust
By Hugh Morris
Saturday night, 11:59 o’clock
p.m., seven people hang out at
Bobby’s house. Bobby is on
house arrest. He rents the home
and lives with his girlfriend.
Bobby was released on bond
from jail one-month ago and
awaits trial for a pending sell of
cocaine charge.
Despite the pending charge
and a previous drug conviction,
Bobby has drugs all through the
house. Cocaine residue sits on
top of his bedroom dresser.
Money is under his mattress.
Marijuana and cocaine are
hidden in his bathroom.
Police receive confidential
information from a reliable
informant that drugs are being
sold from Bobby’s house. The
narcotics unit bust through the
front door. Most people were
watching television and playing
PlayStation. The police find
everything.
Can the police charge all
seven people with possession of
drugs? Answer: No. Equal
Access Rule. “Equal access” is
a defense to possession of
illegal drugs. Equal access
prevents a drug conviction
where contraband is found in
common areas to which many
people have "equal access."
Narcotics agents are smart.
They are familiar with the
defense of “equal access.”
Bobby is arrested due to the
location of the drugs, money
and his ownership of the house.
Bobby is charged with posses
sion of marijuana and posses
sion of cocaine with intent to
distribute. This will be Bobby’s
third drug conviction. “Three
strikes and your out.” Bobby
will go to prison for life.
Interestingly enough, Bobby’s
brother. Chuck yells out “the
drugs are mine!” “Everything
is mine!” Based on this
state
ment
alone,
the
narcotics
agents
arrest
Bobby
and
Chuck.
Each are charged with posses
sion of marijuana and posses
sion of cocaine with intent to
distribute.
Chuck is clearly trying to take
the fall for his brother. Chuck
did not live at the house.
Chuck claimed all of the drugs
and money, even the small
amount of cocaine residue
located on his brother’s
bedroom dresser. Bobby would
be sentenced to life in prison if
found guilty because in
Georgia; “Three Strikes and
Your Out.” On the other hand,
Chuck’s has no criminal record.
He is confident that he will only
spend one or two years in
prison.
After sitting in jail for five
months, Chuck decides his
scheme is not worth the effort.
Jail is too tough. Chuck wants
out. Can Chuck win at trial?
Yes. The Official Code of
Georgia Annotated Section 24-
3-53 states, “ confessions of
guilt shall be received with
great caution. A confession
alone, uncorroborated by any
other evidence, shall not justify
a conviction.”
Chuck could win because a
confession alone is not sufficient
evidence to convict. A person
could not be convicted of mur
der simply because he claims he
killed another. There must be
proof.
Hugh Morris is loacted at 506 N.
Jefferson St. in Albany. His phone
number is (229) 420-4104 or
email:
hughmorrisattomey@hotmail.com