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Carpenter Bees are good pollinators, but… Male and female carpenter bees are becoming active after spending winter in last year’s tunnels. These large yellow and black bees have shiny, bare abdomens in contrast to the ‘hairy’ ones of bumblebees. Female carpenter bees can sting if handled roughly, but they do not aggressively defend their nests or otherwise pose a threat. They focus on developing nesting tunnels and collecting pollen. Males, recognizable by the yellow spot on their face, stay near nesting sites and often investigate intruders who enter ‘their’ space. While an intimidating sight, they do not have stingers. Carpenter bees are important wild pollinators. However, their nesting habits can cause unacceptable damage...

Be an aware buyer We have all heard the old saying, “If something is too good to be true, it probably is.” This saying continues to hold true for consumers who are constantly bombarded with products claiming to be cure-alls in areas ranging from germ protection to quick and extreme weight loss. Recently, the Federal Trade Commission sent partial refund checks to more than 2,000 Americans who purchased Zadro’s Nano-UV devices, as a result of the commission’s settlement with the company. According to the FTC, Zadro falsely claimed that its Nano-UV devices safely killed 99.99 percent of targeted bacteria including E. coli, Salmonella and the H1N1 swine flu virus in 10...

Protect your home from termites Springtime brings warmer temperatures and more abundant rainfall, and it is typically when many winged termites emerge inside homes and other structures. Termites swarm from their colony to disburse, fall to the ground, find mates and start new colonies in the soil. Through May, you might see swarms of winged termites, called swarmers, inside your home, signaling an infestation that can cause extensive and costly damage. Since swarmers are attracted to light, you often see them or their shed wings around windows, doors and light fixtures. You may also see winged ants in the springtime. By examining the insect you can determine whether it is a termite...

How important is sleep? Do you feel like you are always tired? Perhaps you tell yourself that you will catch up on sleep when it gets to the weekend or when things “settle down.” Sleep is a very important part of staying healthy. And just like food, water and oxygen that are needed to survive, people need sleep. Sleep can also be a critical component to overall health and well-being. It would not be a stretch to think that you probably already know that sleep is important. But did you know that the average American reports getting approximately 7.5 hours of sleep a night. If you think this is an adequate amount,...

Is the Whitley County Health Department’s proposed needle exchange a good thing or a bad thing? There were some mixed opinions offered up during a Whitley County UNITE Coalition meeting Monday afternoon to discuss the issue. Personally, I think that it is a good idea for multiple reasons. Whitley County Health Department Public Health Director Martha Steele told me of a statistic recently that illustrates the problem pretty well. When someone is shooting up drugs, there are typically five other people at that same location sharing the same needle. Besides sharing drugs, this also means that they are likely sharing the same diseases, such as Hepatitis C and HIV. An outbreak of...

Storing and feeding hay and commercial grains and feeds Storing Hay You can store hay indefinitely if the stack is managed correctly; although, in humid climates, using hay within three years of harvest is ideal. Hay growers need to bale it at correct moisture levels because if it is baled too damp the hay will generate heat, which leads to molding. Barn storage, especially long term, is best as it will prevent damage from weather. Rodents and other animals should be kept out, and hay should be stored off the floor. Bales placed directly on concrete could sweat and, if placed on the ground, might wick up moisture, which could result is...

Spring clean your refrigerator As you tackle spring cleaning, do not forget your refrigerator! Keeping your refrigerator clean is an important part of keeping your food safe. Start by throwing out perishable foods that should no longer be eaten. As a general rule, the safe storage time for cooked leftovers is four days; raw poultry and ground meats is one to two days. Contact the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service office or refer to a cold storage chart like the one at http://www.foodsafety.gov/keep/charts/storagetimes.html to find safe storage times for specific foods. Do not taste items to see whether they are still good. The bacteria that cause food poisoning cannot be smelled or...

I hate emotional, knee-jerk reactions. I think opposition to amendments proposed to legislation in the current session of General Assembly, which would allow cities like Corbin to annex into another county, is just that. Emotional. Irrational. Selfish. These amendments were proposed by Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers and they appear, to me, to be a common sense solution that would allow for more economic development in places like the north Corbin area. I was dismayed to read that Sen. Albert Robinson opposed such a measure. It would be good for the county he represents. Actually reading the law and not just blasting it would be helpful. No annexation could take place without an interlocal agreement, ratified by...

As those of you, who have read our front page this week know already, Williamsburg Mayor Roddy Harrison is headed back to the drawing board in his effort to place a measure on the ballot that would allow for packaged alcohol sales in stores and by the drink sales at smaller restaurants. The measure is identical to what Corbin has had for several years and what Barbourville and London voters recently approved. Harrison's alcohol petition came up six valid signatures shy Monday of the total he needed to get the petition certified and on the ballot, so he went back to work Tuesday on a new petition that he hopes to...

How much fertilizer do you really need to use on your lawn and garden? If you are just making a guess, you could be using too much. But how can you know for sure? A simple and inexpensive soil test can tell you all you need to know to make your lawn and garden look great and to protect the environment from runoff of excess nutrients. Soil fertility testing is a program designed to provide homeowners, landscape contractors, turfgrass managers, greenhouse managers as well as others with a soil management tool to determine fertilizer requirements of their lawn, garden, trees and shrubs. The University of Kentucky Division of Regulatory Services...