Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/59128
Wednesday, March 21, 2012 – Daily News FEATURES Coddled companion's creepy cohort Dear Annie: My friend ''Jodi'' is 27 and very shel- tered. Her parents still pay her rent and bills. I'm wor- ried because Jodi has been acting out of character. She cheated on her husband with a 59-year-old man. He's now her new boyfriend and ''soul mate.'' He's creepy. He talks down to her and gropes her in public. She gives him her paycheck and the use of her parents' credit cards. Annie's Mailbox by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar Jodi has a daughter from her marriage, and the little girl lives with her father. I work for Child Protective Services and know this ''dream boyfriend'' is a sex offend- er. When we go out as friends, she brings him along, and he says crude, disgusting things to us about our clothes and our bodies. He even tried to take money out of my purse. Jodi thinks this is funny and says I should lighten up. I told her about his history and that she should be cautious with him around her daughter. She became angry and said she never wanted to speak to me again. I'm OK with that. She's not the person I once knew. My job obligates me to report that this man is spending time with a young child, and I have informed his parole officer. But I also think I should advise the little girl's father, who has primary custody, and Jodi's parents, who have secondary cus- tody. My boss says I've done my duty by alerting the parole board, and that speak- ing to the family is a person- al choice. My husband says I don't need to crusade to pro- tect every child. Finding out that the creep stays overnight when her daughter is in the house made my skin crawl. Should I tell the fam- ily? — Not a Crusader Dear Crusader. Yes. We doubt Jodi's parents will do anything since they already enable their daughter to be irrespon- sible. But the little girl's father will want to do everything he can to pro- tect his child. You can't prevent Jodi from being an idiot about this man, but please don't turn your back on her daughter. Dear Annie: My brief romance with ''Marie'' ended many years ago when I left California to attend law school in Michigan. She mar- ried someone else and had a family, and so did I. We each divorced years later and, by chance, met up and rekindled our romance. Marie is a wonderful, dynamic woman, and every moment is filled with laughter and love. Our children have accept- ed us, and Marie encourages me to remain civil with my ex in order to co-parent effectively. Here's my dilemma: When visit- ing my home, she saw a framed col- lage of pictures in my entrance hall- way, some of which include my ex- wife and me. She calls it a ''shrine.'' I see it as pictures on the wall. My youngest son, now 14, likes this pic- ture. Marie gave me an ultimatum, adding, ''If he likes it so much, put it in his room.'' I feel she is being unreasonable. I truly love Marie, but now I wonder whether I am trading one controlling partner for a new one. We have nearly broken up over this. — Perplexed Dear Perplexed: It's quite pre- sumptuous for a girlfriend to dictate what pictures you can have in your hallway, especially when your son still lives with you and removing the collage would bother him. Unless you have a large portrait of your ex hanging in the living room, it's not Marie's business. Tread cau- tiously. Dear Annie: This is for ''Fed Up,'' whose brother-in-law helps himself to their food and wine. My mother also does this at everyone's home because she thinks it's cute. I was fed up, so I removed the tag from a jar of dog treats, and one day Mom walked into my house and ate one without asking. Rest assured, she no longer takes food from my kitchen without permission. — Texas Annie's Mailbox is written by Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar, longtime editors of the Ann Landers column. Please email your questions to anniesmailboxcomcast.net, or write to: Annie's Mailbox, c/o Creators Syndicate, 737 3rd Street, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254. Public input requested for a plant eradication The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking public comment on a pro- posal to eradicate arundo (Arundo donax), saltcedar (Tamarix sp.), tree-of-heav- en (Ailanthus altissima), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), pampas grass (Cortaderia sellanoa), and scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius) from South Fork Cottonwood Creek. The treatment area will be from water's edge out into the riparian vegetation a maximum of 200 feet from approximately Pettijohn crossing to the confluence with mainstem Cottonwood Creek. Treatment will only occur on those lands where landowners have given per- mission. Due to the persis- tence of these species, there remains a small window of opportunity to control incip- ient occurrences before they become unmanageable. Use of aquatic approved herbicides glyphosate and triclopyr are being proposed due to their efficacy in con- trolling the target species, low toxicity to non-target organisms, and chemical properties that limit poten- tial impacts to the environ- ment. In addition, a surfactant that is commonly used in aquatic/riparian environ- ments will be added to the herbicide mixtures to increase their effectiveness. Weed-wrenching is also being proposed as a treat- New director of local food systems hired The Northern California Regional Land Trust recently hired a new Director of Local Food Systems, Noelle Ferdon, to manage its Buy Fresh Buy Local, North Valley and Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development programs. The new position was made possible by a grant from the California Department of Food and Agricul- ture's 2011 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The purpose of the grant is to expand the Land Trust's Buy Fresh Buy Local, North Valley program to provide marketing opportunities, assistance, and training to specialty crop producers in Butte, Glenn, and Tehama counties. With the grant, the Land Trust hopes to increase the scope of the program in order to create more opportunities to connect specialty croppers to consumers in ways that increase profitability and build stronger, more secure, and sustainable local economies. "Local and regional food systems are a very viable entry point for new and beginning farmers, as well as small and mid-sized growers," Ferdon said. "Through the CDFA grant, we hope that BFBL, North Valley will help grow new and innovative market opportuni- ties in our region while building the visibility needed to connect growers and consumers to locally grown food." Initiated in 2009, the Buy Fresh Buy Local, North Valley program educates consumers and provides sup- ply-side technical assistance and resource sharing in the areas of marketing and promotion. The Land Trust has been working with retailers, farmers' markets asso- ciations and restaurants to use the Buy Fresh Buy Local logo on their grocery shelves, menus and in their advertising to identify the origin of the North Valley agricultural products they sell. The Land Trust will be hosting a Barn Dance April 14 on its newest farmland easement in southern Tehama County to celebrate this newest grant, and kick off the New Year. Live music, local food and dance lessons will be provided. For more information call 894-7738 or visit www.landconsrevation.org. $ 15 Off regular price With this ad! • Same Day Service • Free E-File • Check Our Price • Over 45 Years Experience P. Ralph Campbell, EA Enrolled Agent Daniele Jackson 530-529-9540 855 Walnut St. #2, Red Bluff COMPLETE AUTO REPAIR All makes and models. We perform dealer recommened 30K, 60K, 90K SERVICES AT LOWER PRICES Smog Check starting at $ (most cars and pick-ups) 2595 + cert. Pass or FREE retest 527-9841 • 195 S. Main St. Daily and affordable classes: AHA/HCP or Pro-CPR Daycare EMS Approved Pediatric CPR/First Aid Industrial OSHA Approved CPR/First Aid Public Adult CPR & First Aid Wilderness First Aid Babysitting Safety Youth Water Safety 530-527-4997 80 Gurnsey Ave. - Red Bluff, CA 96080 (Behind Guy Rents) margescpr@juno.com ment option for smaller plants. These strategies are being considered in order to curtail the environmental degradation caused by arun- do, saltcedar, tree-of-heav- en, black locust, pampas grass, and scotch broom. Herbicide application will be done by a licensed applicator. Techniques will include foliar hand spray- ing, cut and paint stump, and slash cut and paint at least 80% of the cambium circumference. Timing of herbicide application is an important factor in its effectiveness. Application in the late sum- mer/early fall when plants, especially Arundo, are pushing reserve energy into Bath, clean clothes can nix body lice DEAR DOC- TOR K: My 19- year-old daughter is in college, and she recently told me there had been an outbreak of body lice in her dorm. She didn't get them herself, but I'm still afraid she'll bring them with her when she comes to visit. What can you tell me to calm my fears? ding, and close, prolonged contact with an infested person. Dr. K by Anthony L. Komaroff, M.D. DEAR READER: Your chances of getting body lice are slim. I'll discuss why, but first let's talk about what body lice are and how to deal with them if you get them. their roots, is most effective. The proposed treatment window will be late August through September for a period of five years. It is anticipated that the initial treatment will be effective on the majority of plants, but research has shown that a five year follow-up plan is most effective in eradicating the nuisance species. For the environmental analysis we are seeking public input to assist us m identifying issues regarding the proposed project. Submit written com- ments by April 6 to Brenda Olson, USFWS, 10950 Tyler Road, Red Bluff, 96080. For more information, call 527-3043 ext. 227. Tehama County Cham- ber of Commerce has extended the registra- tion deadline for spon- sors of local events planned during the 11 Days of Round-Up — April 12-22. Registra- tions will be accepted through today. Approved events will be promoted at no cost in the official 11 Days of Round-Up magazine and program produced by the Daily News. The program will be inserted in the full run of the Daily News on Satur- day, April 7, and direct- mailed to 6,000 non- subscribing Tehama County households to arrive on Wednesday, April 11. Additional copies will be distrib- uted locally at restau- rants, hotels and infor- mation centers. Community Clip? e-mail: clerk@red- bluffdailynews.com or Fax: 527-9251 Albertson Training Center To be considered for inclusion in the pro- gram, event registration must be made on the official Event Registra- tion form, available at the Chamber Office at 100 Main St. in Red Bluff, or may be down- loaded and printed out from www.red- bluffchamber.com. Completed forms should be returned by 5 p.m. today to the cham- ber office, faxed to the office at 527-2908 or Body lice are small, parasitic insects. They live mostly in a person's cloth- ing or bedding. One or more times a day, they crawl onto the skin to feed on a person's blood. Slightly different types of lice live on the head, the body, and the pubic areas (the male and female sex organs), where they're called "crabs." Body lice live and breed in the seams of clothing worn close to the body. Because of this, most infestations affect adults who rarely change their clothes. Thus home- less and destitute people are disproportionately affected. An infestation of body lice often causes intense itching, which is an aller- gic reaction to their saliva. When they bite the skin to feed on a person's blood, their saliva gets into the bite, and the immune sys- tem reacts against the for- eign saliva. This reaction may appear as small, welt- like marks and, possibly, redness and swelling, par- ticularly around the neck and on the torso. Body lice are spread by direct contact with infest- ed people and their bed- ding or clothing. To pre- vent infestation, avoid sharing clothes and bed- scanned and emailed to carlie@redbluffcham- ber.com. For further informa- tion, call 527-6220. Standard criteria for no-cost promotion are that the event be non- commercial in nature and, except for approved local fundrais- ing events, allow free admission or participa- tion. The 11 Days of Round-Up program is a project of the Red Bluff- Body lice can be eliminated immediately by bathing and changing into clean clothing. Occasionally, treatment of the affected person's skin with an insecticide is required. The one most commonly used is called permethrin. Many "natur- al" creams are advocated as remedies; I'd avoid them. If you get lice on your head or in your hair, combing the hair to remove the lice eggs (called "nits") is impor- tant. The eggs attach themselves to the hairs. Body lice and their eggs can be killed by washing clothing in hot water, drying these items in a clothes dryer set on high heat (more than 122 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 30 minutes). Once body lice are eliminated, skin irritation and other symptoms go away quick- ly. You can speed the relief by rubbing some over-the-counter (1 per- cent) hydrocortisone cream on the irritated areas for a few days (it's best to avoid the face). Now to your question. If your daughter was not infested herself, and if she has been washing and dry- ing her clothing and bed- ding fairly regularly, it's highly unlikely she could bring body lice into your home. And she would know if she had been infested, since the symp- toms cause such itching. So you probably have nothing to worry about. Dr. Komaroff is a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School. Go to his website to send questions and get additional information: www.AskDoctorK.com. 11 Days of Round-Up event registration extended The Red Bluff- 3B Tehama County Cham- ber of Commerce. Financial support is received from the Red Bluff Round-Up Associ- ation, Foothill Distribut- ing and local businesses and entities that sponsor page-bottom sponsor strips in the program. These sponsorships allow for the production of the program and the promotion of local events preceding the Round-Up, at no cost to event organizers.