Single Copy Cost 50¢ Volume 147 No. 50
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Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Saving the pollinators You can help in your own backyard By Goldie Currie
news@putnamcountyrecord.com
Recently, many joined in to help spread awareness of Pollinator Week and all it represents.
While there is only one week dedicated to bringing awareness to the pollinator issues around the country, there are those whose efforts year-round are applauded who work to reverse and prevent pollinator declines caused by loss of habitat, disease, pesticides, parasites and other interconnected assaults on pollinator populations. Ellen Starr is an area biologist with the USDA Natural Resourc-
es Conservation Service (NRCS) and serves 38 counties in Northern Illinois. She confirmed populations of native pollinators are decreasing at an alarming pace. Pollinators include bees, bats, butterflies and hummingbirds. There are a number of factors behind the decline in population including lack of habitat and lack of awareness that pollinators are imperial.
Urbanization, expansion of population, the growing size of agricultural land and new farming practices including the use of insecticides have also been linked to the decline. “Insecticides are hard on the insects. Certain types of insecticides that have been developed lately are very toxic to the bees,” Starr said. “Crops have also eliminated weeds, especially the milkweeds, which are beneficial
Another brick in the wall
Burglaries remains a leading cause for concern
By Dave Cook
By Zita Henneberry
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Vol. 147 No. 50 One Section - 16 Pages
© The Putnam County Record
Pollinators Page 3
Protect yourself and be aware
A vacation souvenir turns into a passion
GRANVILLE — It all began last year during a trip to the Mall of America and the Lego store contained within. Paula Taylor wanted a souvenir of their summer trip, and a Lego kit seemed like the perfect item. She chose a small, 1-foot-model of Star Wars favorite R2-D2. The model of the little robot became the starting point for a brand new pastime for her. “I have two sons, and they build smaller models. I had always watched my boys build theirs, so I wanted to try it,” said Paula Taylor, a Granville resident, Hennepin librarian and Lego aficionado. Legos are one of the world’s most recognizable toys. According to its website, the Lego Group is a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. It’s still owned by the family who started it in 1932. “Lego” is an abbreviation of two Danish words, leg and godt, which means “play well.” The brick in its current form was launched in 1958 and has twice been named “Toy of the Century.” Legos aren’t just for children anymore, though. There is a thriving demand for complex sets aimed at the more advanced builders. These can cost hundreds of dollars and contain several thousand pieces. “My biggest challenge was to pick one. I picked R2 because I thought he was so cute. He’s only a foot tall, but he has prob-
for the insects, especially Monarchs and their larvae which feed strictly on milkweed.” Starr explained it’s important to recognize the issues because every one in three bites of food and drink consumed is a result of a flower being pollinated by insects. “That most important part of our diet is by pollination of
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him at the end of the day before bed. A lot of people read, but I work on my Lego kits. I was
Be aware and be ready. Area police officers are asking the public to take off the rose-colored glasses before they get stolen. The two most important rules for preventing burglaries and thefts: Lock your doors, and be aware. According to area police officers and departments, now is the time to be aware because burglaries tend to increase during the summer months. To help protect citizens, police officers across the country are working to inform and advise the public. The Columbus Division of Police out of Ohio are bringing information from the big house to your house in educational videos and interviews with convicted burglars. Through interviews with burglars, the police are educating the public on what burglars look for when choosing a target. That knowledge is then applied to any and all future relevant investigations. While the police utilize the investigative information to their benefit, most departments have not yet used the information from investigations or interviews to educate citizens in a public forum. Following are a few tips on what burglars tend to look for and how a person could act now to protect their home: Newspapers piling up, a home with the
Legos Page 3
Safety Page 3
PCR/photo Dave Cook
Paula Taylor of Granville constructed this Lego city. She said, for her, Legos are relaxing. ably more than 2,000 pieces in him. He took me two to three months to complete because I was new. The instructions are very clear on what you need to
do, but if you mess up at any point you’re going to have to tear it all apart and rebuild from that point. I found it very therapeutic and relaxing. I worked on