The Daily Globe from Ironwood, Michigan • Page 7

Tidbits THE DAILY GLOBE. Ironwood, Ml May 13, 1997 Hage13 You could be a hummingbird Compiled by The Globe Staff we human beings have it tough during spring storms like that which happened Monday, consider others. Today's Tidbits Bob Michaels, of Montreal, points to the plight of the ruby throated hummingbirds. "I just wanted you to know that the hummingbirds arrived yesterday (Sunday). They were frozen, so they're not doing too well," Bob said.

"I've feeders out for a couple of days," he said. "I figured they would be coming. "I figure people ought to get their feeders out right now so they can get some food. We're thawing our hummingbird feeders now, and putting fresh stuff out." Pelican watch Dorothy Hendrickson, of White Pine, called to say she and her husband, Tom, and friends spotted six white pelicans on Lake Gogebic last weekend. "The birds were on the east shore, oh the bay, near Bergland," she said.

"We saw them in the water, and also flying. "We looked in the.bird book. Actually, they're migrating up toward Canada at this time." National mention Grace Erickson of Ironwood was excited to hear Ironwood on today's Today Show. "They showed Ironwood, they specifically mentioned Ironwood, the snow we had yesterday," she said. "I think it's fantastic, because we did have terrific snow.

Al Roker showed Ironwood, and the other places, too." "When it's springtime in Wisconsin and the gentle breezes blow About 70 miles an hour and if 52-below, You can tell you're in Wisconsin "cause the snow's up to your butt, And you take a breath of springtime air and your nose holes both freeze shut. The weather here is wonderful so I guess Til hang around. I could never leave Wisconsin; my feet are frozen to the. ground. adds that she received the poem from Pam Cira, Oneida County's family development agent, and that she (Lucia) thinks we should change it to read "the U.P." instead of "Wisconsin." Tuckerinns "I did my radio show from the Jong-term care facility Monday, and something very nice happened," said our Jan Tucker this morning.

"I was interviewing Edith Kauss, formerly of Ewen. Edith is a tremendous Green Bay Packers fan and watches all the games, and cheers for the Pack. "She has been a resident of long-term care since suffering a stroke several years ago." "After broadcast, one of Ontonagon's premier Packer backers, Ed Tousignant, arrived at the long-term care facility asking for 'that Packer backer-' "Ed gave Edith a Packers Super Bowl championship sweatshirt and other Packers memorabilia." Edith was delighted and, according to activity director Judy Cunningham, of Mass City, Edith wore her shirt proudly today. In the wakc.I. the storm, we find six inches of snow fell at Michigan Tech.

WLUC-TV also reported that 36 inches of snow fell on Summit Peak in the Porcupine Mountains State Park in Ontonagon County. The problem was a Canadian low pressure system that settled over the Great Lakes, said Gene Derner of the National Weather Service office in Marquette. "Every 10, 12 years we get a fairly decent snowfall in May" in the Upper Peninsula, Derner said. Marquette County's record May snow total was 22.6 inches, set in 1990. The snow in Marquette County added to a season's record.

Typically, the county gets 165.3 inches of snow per season. So far this season, snowfall reached 264.7 inches as of Monday, Derner said. We poem via fax from Lucia Patritto, family development agent for the Iron County Extension of the University of Wisconsin: Declaration Congress has declared May 11-17 as National Police Week, and May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day. according to 1st Lt. William Hall of the Wakefield Post of the Michigan State Police.

Hall says, you will see police officers wearing a black mourning band on their badges on May 15. This is a reminder that every two days, somewhere in the this nation, an officer will be killed in the line of duty, and that police are asked to work under "combat conditions" night and day. Detroit minor leaguer extends streak to 27 COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (AP) The name's Fick, as in stick. And, boy, is he swinging a hot one.

Robert Fick of the West Michigan Whitecaps singled to right field Monday night to extend his hitting streak to 27 games, six shy of the Midwest League record set in 1977. His .426 average is the best in the Class A league. So are his extra-base hits (29) and doubles (21). For the Record ACCIDENTS Ontonagon County Matthew Pelkey, of Mequori, was southbound on Summit Peak Road, near South Boundary Road, about 8 p.m. Sunday when two deer ran onto the road.

Pelkey was unable to stop because of the slush on the roadway and lost control of the vehicle, going off on the right side. Damage to the vehicle was considerable, but it was driveable. way. There was moderate damage to the vehicle. Mary Claire Lahti, White Pine, was traveling south on M-64, 3.3 miles north of M-28, Monday about 7:15 a.m.

and lost control of her vehicle in slushy rond conditions. The vehicle left the highway on the west side, and landed in the ditch between some trees and rocks. Damage was extensive. Lahti was not injured. Nancy Pence, of Rockland, lost control of her vehicle in the slush as she was traveling north on U.S.

45, just north of Dahl Road, Monday about 9 a.m. As she crossed the railroad tracks, the vehicle spun, then slid into the right side of the high- Reeve regains some feeling NEW YORK (AP) Two years after a horseback riding accident left him paralyzed, Christopher Reeve says he's regained some sensation in his spine. The actor best known for the "Superman" movies said he has feeling "all the way down to the base of my spine. About six months ago, I couldn't feel down there." People Places Reeve, 45, also admits he cries to fend off the despair of being in a wheelchair. "In the morning, I need 20 minutes to cry," the actor said.

"To wake up and make that shift, you know, and to say, This really The interview is part of a report set to air on CBS' "48 Hours" on growing hopes that researchers are close to a cure for paralysis. Reeve said his biggest desire is to hug his son, Will. "That's what he's entitled to," Reeve said. "And I believe that day is coming." ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Margaret Thatcher says one of the real William Tislar, of Moundsview, was traveling two miles south of the Houghton County line on M-26 when he lost control of his vehicle on a slushy spot and ended up in a ditch on the left side of the highway.

His vehicle sustained moderate damage. City of Ironwood Public safety officers received reports of two minor accidents in the past 24 hours. POLICE REPORTS City of Ironwood A break-in was reported to public safety officers Sunday. Dean' Carli said someone broke into the Carriage House, 303 S. Lowell and stole coins, proof seta and medallions.

Entry was gained by forcing a garage door open. Iron County, Wis. John White, of. Mercer, told the sheriffs department Monday youngsters went through cars in his lot Sunday. Some keys were taken out and thrown in the woods, he said.

White got names of the juveniles who were involved. problems with Great Britain's last election was that she converted her opponents. The former prime minister said the Labor Party won two weeks ago partly by adopting policies of the Conservative Party she led to power in 1979, including privatization and lower taxes. "We'll have to watch and make sure it's not just a conversion of convenience but a conversion of reality," she told 1,000 people during address Monday to two British-American business groups. Thatcher also repeated her stance against the European Union, a position that led to her resignation from office in 1990.

"You can't make a people out of 14 different languages, 14 different histories," she said, "It's all right to cooperate together, but to dissolve our nations will not work." LAS VEGAS (AP) The man behind The King may soon grace book covers. An authorized biography of Colonel Tom Parker, the former car- ography approved by the estate and will include access to her husband's massive collection of photos, memorabilia and records. Parker, who was born Thomas Andrew Parker, was bestowed the honorary title of "colonel" in 1948 by Gov. Jimmie Davis of Louisiana. Parker became Presley's manager in 1955 and stayed in the job until the death of The King in 1977.

After that, he all but retired. He died here in January. MARGARET THATCHER nival barker who helped guide Elvis Presley to stardom, is in the works by his widow, Loanne Parker. "We plan to detail the true story behind the incredible relationship between the colonel and Elvis," she said Monday. Mrs.

Parker said the book would be the only authorized bi- LONDON (AP) Princess Anne's former husband is expecting his first child with his second wife, according to news reports. Mark Phillips and U.S. Olympic equestrian Sandy Pflueger were married in Hawaii on Feb. 1. The London nesspaper Daily Mail said today that the couple are expecting the baby in October.

The paper quoted Phillips, '49, as saying it was "jolly good news" and his wife as saying, "I am thrilled to bits." The child will be the half- brother or half-sister of 19-year- old Peter Phillips and IS-year-old Zara Phillips, the children of his marriage to the princess. Swimmer swoons after arriving on beach at Florida Monday KEY Fla. (AP) More than four hours after her record- setting swim from Cuba to Florida, events finally caught up to Susie Maroney: During a live television interview, the 22- year-old Australian fainted. About 150 people cheered Maroney as she emerged from the surf Monday at Fort Zachary Taylor State Park on Key West just 24 hours and 34 minutes after she plunged into the surf off of Havana, about 118 miles away. She became the first woman to swim between the two countries.

"It was the best feeling in the world. I was so glad to touch sand," the 5-foot-6, 127-pound Maroney said. "Definitely, dreams can come true." She was badly sunburned and covered with welts from the jellyfish stings on her hands and feet and had to be helped from the water. About 4Va hours later, she faintd as she was being interviewed by CNN. Dr.

Michael Stein, the physician who checked Maroney's vital signs when she emerged from the surf, said she quickly regained consciousness and returned to her hotel room to rest. "She should have been sleeping," Stein said. "She was already dehydrated from 24 hours of swimming and then went down to ihe beach and got even more completes her record swim from Havartana to Florida dehydrated in the hot sun." Said Maroney: Tin exhausted, I just fainted" 1 I think (it was) a mixture of all the salt in my mouth and also the sun." To keep up her spirits during the long swim, Maroney replayed her favorite pop songs and episodes of "Seinfeld" in her head. "I thought I saw monkeys hanging on the cage," said the Australian swimmer. "I sang songs, happy ones, you know, like Madonna's." Her team said she was the first person to complete the swim from Cuba to the Keys.

That claim was disputed before she even reached shore. Walter Poenisch made the crossing in 1978 at age 64, but critics said no independent observers watched the trip to verify he was unassisted all the way. Unlike Maroney, he used flippers on his His time was 34 hours and 15 minutes. Poenisch settled a $1.5 million libel suit in 1983 against the International Swimming Hall of Fame and others who had accused him of faking the feat. Maroney sajd her team worked with the Guinness Book of World Deaths Alton L.

Blakeslee PORT WASHINGTON, N.Y. (AP) Alton L. Blakeslee, chief science writer for The Associated Press and one of the nation's most honored and widely read science and medical reporters, died Sunday after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was 83. From microbiology to moon landings and acupuncture to astrophysics, Blakeslee covered major science events for three de- Comedian suspect cades, starting out when the science beat was a bit more adventurous.

His first major assignment was as APs correspondent for the 4Mz-month Antarctic expedition of Adm. Richard E. Byrd in 1946. Blakeslee's Pulitzer Prize-winning father, Howard, was the APs first science editor; his daughter, Sandra Blakeslee, is a regular contributor to The New York Times. Blakeslee joined the AP in 1939 and took over the science desk in New York when his father died in 1952.

He formally received the title of science editor in 1969 to coordinate an expanded science staff. Around that time he began producing a weekly March of Science column for Sunday newspapers. The column received a George Polk Memorial Award in 1951. In later years he served on tho usage panels of the American Heritage Dictionary and the Harper Dictionary of Contemporary Usage. He was the author of three books.

One of them, 'Tour Heart has Nine Lives," written with Dr. Jeremiah Stamler in 1963, was awarded one of the'three prestigious Lasker prizes Blakeslee received during his career. Records to make sure she met all requirements, including having an independent observer aboard an escort boat. That wasn't enough for Skip Storch, who tried to swim the Straits in 1993 but quit after he became fatigued. He said her time is just too good to be true, and the shark cage she used around her 'was not positioned properly.

"There has to be some kind of honor, here," said Storch, of Mountainville, N.Y. This is like taking an escalator up to Mount Everest." The swimmer dismissed such criticism, saying the shark cage can be located anywhere. "It definitely offered no protection at all (from the current)," she. said. "There was a strong current behind us." has been swimming long-distance since she was 14, and has crossed the English Channel twice.

She set the women's record for longest distance covered in 24 hours without the aid of ocean currents 58Via miles set in a swimming pool in Brisbane, Australia on July 2-3, 1993. Her next long distance attempt, she says, will be to cross between Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba. In her failed attempt to make the Havana-Florida swim last June, Maroney covered 107 miles in 38Va hours. She gave up 12 miles short of her goal because of seasickness and dehydration. The swimmer said the improvement in time was due to the current and weather conditions.

"I'm pretty much in the same pain as last year. My body is aching all over," she said. "We didn't have a storm like we did last time." Maroney was lathered in petroleum jelly to fend off jellyfish sflngg and the sun and keep her body warm. She vomited twice because of swallowing so much sea water. in campus rapes When JS 3 COld COntaQJOUS? OMAHA, Neb.

(AP) A former "Star Search" comedian who worked the college and cruise ship circuit is in a string of campus the Midwest, including one in Wisconsin. Vinson Horace Champ, 35, of Los Angeles was charged with after he allegedly attacked a student May 6 in a piano room at Pasadena City College. His arrest prompted a flurry of inquiries from police departments in the Midwest, where a rapist targeted women in college computer labs and music rooms in February and March. The attacker liked to 'spit on his victims, quiz them about their sex lives and ask them to pray for him. In a Wisconsin case, an assailant entered a soundproof music room at Kenosha's Carthage College Feb.

10 and raped a woman who was singing and playing piano, police said. By Peter H. Qott. M.D. DEAR DR.

GOTT: When is a cold or the flu most contagious, at the onset or the peak of the disease? DEAR READER: Virus infections of the types you mention are most contagious a day or two BEFORE symptoms begin'and during the time that symptoms worsen, usually three or four days. It is during this crucial period when a patient is shedding the most virus particles into nasal and lung secretions. Once the disease has peaked, the ievei of infectivity progressively falls. Thus, once a person begins to feel bet- Ler even though he may still have aches, pains, a runny nose, and cough he is no longer particularly contagious. The beginning of the illness, when a person suspects he is getting believed by many authorities to be the most contagious phase; it is at this lime that we must be most careful to avoid spreading the viruses through sneezing, coughing or direct contact.

DEAR DR. GOTT: What can I do for post-herpetic neuralgia? Ever since I had shingles six months ago, I've DR. GOTT PETER GOTT, M.D experienced severe, shock-like pains thai I cannot control with non-prescription pain relievers. DEAR READER: This dreaded complication of shingles affects about 10 percent of people who have had the infection. The pain is chronic and.

to say the least, difficult to control. Many authorities advise prescription pain pills (codeine, Darvon. Ultram and others). In some instances, palients can be helped by acupuncture, biofeedback, electrical nerve stimulation, hypnosis, and antidepressant medication. Consult your doctor about these options.

If they are ineffective, ask your family physician to refer you to a pain clinic. Such facilities are usually available in large, teaching hospitals. To give you more information, I am sending you a copy of my Health Report "Managing Chronic Pain." Other readers who would like a copy should send $2 plus a long, self- addressed, stamped envelope to P.O. Box 2017, Murray Hill Station, New York, NY 10156. Be sure to mention the title.

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have an 89- year-old friend who is bothered by painless, hard lumps, like cysts, that have appeared around the opening of her vagina. Should she see a doctor? DEAR READER: Bumps of any sort are usually a red flag for doctors and should be examined. Albeit unlikely, your friend could have malignant growths in the vaginal labia. More probably, she has simply developed harmless, but annoying, cysts in the labial examining her, a physician should be able to reassure her that these cysts, which are common, need no treatment unless they become red, painful and infected.

IW7NEWSPATEH ENTERPRISE ASSN..