By Dan Dauw
Geneseo Current
Oh, he won’t Bite!
How many times I heard that in all my 17 years of carrying mail and dealing with “friendly” dogs. Now I like dogs, but they could be a problem for we letter carriers. I had a few dog bites while some had more and some had less.
Last month was “USPS National Dog Bite Awareness.” Sometimes I had to “bite my lip” when a dog owner would come out of their house and assure me that “Fido” was harmless. “Yeah, right, and the liquid flowing from my calf is ketchup!” One time a big dog jumped its fence and caused a bad bite on a Moline carrier’s face.
Although most bites were on the leg or ankle. It was sometime in the ‘60s when the USPS issued each carrier a small spray bottle called “Halt.” It kind of worked if you aimed it at the dog’s face and there were no strong winds to redirect the spray.
Of course, some dog owners complained. Sometimes mail was held at the Post Office until the dog was tied or was no longer a threat. That probably still holds true today. Illinois was ranked 4th for USPS dog attacks in 2024.
Books
Last month we flew out to Boston and Cape Cod for a week. On the last day we visited the USS Constitution and Museum in Boston. It was really nice. While there I bought a book entitled, The Book of Old Ships.” I thought it would be a good read, but for me, I was glad to finish the book. The author was way too confusing plus one had to have a knowledge on the nomenclature of ships from about the 14th to 19th century.
For Father’s Day our son, Lance, sent me a really good book entitled, “The Forgotten 500” by Gregory A. Freeman. It’s about one of the greatest rescue missions of WW2. One of those books you just cannot set down.
Fourth of July
Just a reminder the Maple City Band will present some really good patriotic music in the Geneseo’s Band Shell starting at 1 p.m. Of course, you have to stop at the Kiwanis building for “Pork in the Park.” After which you must stop at the Maple City Band Dessert Tent for great desserts. All donations are welcome. I wish we could be there, but we have a family reunion to go to in Iowa.
Aircraft carrier in Kewanee
Ha! Well, not physically, but on Monday, July 28, I will present a program to members of the Henry County Genealogical Society. It starts at 1:30 p.m. at the Kewanee Library, 102 S. Tremont, Kewanee, IL. I think you will find it interesting.
Keep away Garden Raiders
It’s not just deer who raid our vegetable and flower gardens. Lately I’ve heard a lot of grumbling about other opportunists who have a late dinner under cover of darkness. Trouble is, besides us and deer, rabbits, chipmunks, racoons and daytime squirrels enjoy lettuce, beans, tomatoes, flowers, etc. Even electric fences can sometimes not work. Some raiders can find a way to get their stomachs full at our expense. Maybe land mines and machine gun nests is an option, but that might be a bit overboard.
Fishing
We’ve been having some nice bluegill meals lately. One fish related to the sunfish is the pumpkinseed. The few I’ve caught so far have been bigger than any bluegill, sunfish or red-ear. They are really a beautiful fish and good eating, too!
The crappies and channel cats are now in deeper and cooler water. So far, I’ve been catching the ‘gills in the shallows. Red worms do the trick.
Humor
Lorna is threatening to throw me out of the house because of my obsession with acting like a news anchor. More on this after the break.
Quote
In order for a war to be just, three things are necessary. First: The authority of the sovereign. Secondly: A just cause. Thirdly: A rightful intention. - St. Thomas Aquinas