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Sentinel Morning Update: Carlisle residents worry over state of deer herd
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Two years ago, Barb Kruger counted at least 19 deer — at one time — grazing in the wooded area behind her Carlisle home.
The deer were often a presence there and Kruger enjoyed seeing them, she said.
Today, the Carlisle native is only lucky enough to spot small groups of deer, on occasion, in a neighboring cornfield at the western edge of the borough.
“I don’t think there are quite as many,” she said earlier this week, walking through the tree-covered area in back of Meals Mobile Home Sales on Ritner Highway.
She suspected that an approved borough operation to have the deer herd eliminated had already begun, but Carlisle officials have said no activity has taken place in the area.
The herd, which wildlife biologists said totaled about 40 deer in the spring, lives near homes and warehouses between Interstate 81, Ritner Highway and Allen Road.
Complaints from residents about the deer becoming invasive in residential areas, including several incidents of damaged landscape and concerns about Lyme disease, prompted the borough to contract with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to study the deer.
In May, the decision was made to cull the herd and by June the borough received a permit from the state Game Commission to have USDA conduct the operation — the only option wildlife officials said they will allow.
The plan is to have well-trained USDA sharpshooters come in at night and shoot the deer using bait piles and silenced firearms.
Many opposed to the plan, including the “Save the Deer” group led by local jeweler Henry Line, have lobbied for relocation, and continue to threaten lawsuits against the borough and its permit to allow more time for public input.
“I wish they would try to trap a few and see how it goes,” Kruger said.
The deer continue to frustrate and concern Jon Fuller.
His home off Baird Court in the Dickinson Green development overlooks the remaining habitat the deer live in between other residential in the borough and the commercial development in South Middleton Township.
Along with the rest of this story from Sentinel reporter Jason Scott, here's what else to look for in today’s print and on-line editions:
Swimmers take the ‘plunge’ in Harrisburg
Standing out among the crowd, Geir Magnusson looked the part of an ancient berserker.
“It’s customary for us Vikings to take a bath once a year,” explained the 75-year-old Lower Allen Township man.
“Since I was hung over New Year’s Eve, I chose to do it New Year’s Day.”
A native of Iceland, he was unimpressed by the frigid temperatures and sub-freezing windchill blowing across Harrisburg’s City Island Thursday.
“This is room temperature in my country,” Magnusson said. “Yes, family and friends think I’m crazy and they have justification for it.”
True to his ancestry, Magnusson was dressed in a horned helmet and fur-lined vest, but the old bath robe and sweetpants were a bit of a stretch.
Five minutes before the Penguin Plunge, Magnusson got himself ready bringing out a pair of wooden shoes to wear in the icy Susquehanna River.
A quick check confirmed he had brought along an old bar of soap and worn-out scrub brush. He was all set to conquer the elements for the sake of homeless pets.
About 225 people from all across the region jumped, splashed and dashed into the river to raise money for the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area, Inc.
“This is one of our most enjoyable events each year. It allows the community to show its support in a really fun way,” said Kelly Hitz, director of public relations for HSHA.
“We had an excellent turn-out...maybe our best,” Hitz said. She was confident HSHA would raise this year’s goal of $20,000 for general operations of its Grayson Road shelter.
“We raised $12,000 on-line before the event,” Hitz said.
At 34 degrees, the water temperature was actually warmer than the air temperature which was nine degrees with windchill factored in.
Many chose to ring in the New Year by taking the plunge in colorful outfits. Magnusson the Viking was joined by the Easter Bunny, a blonde starlet and Fred Flintstone.
Carlisle woman gives birth to first 2009 baby in midstate
Nicole Tinson did not mind being upstaged by her daughter on a special birthday they both share.
The Carlisle woman turned 26 years old Thursday within minutes of giving birth to the first baby born in Cumberland County in 2009.
Alani Meeks came into the world at about 12:16 a.m. She weighed in at seven pounds, seven ounces and was about 19 inches long.
A new mother, Tinson was the second baby born in Chester County on Jan. 1, 1983. While she does not know exactly when, Tinson has been told it was before 12:30 a.m.
“That just makes it a better story...a special bond between them,” Nolan Meeks, 24, said of Tinson and his newborn daughter. “It’s a great thing.”
The couple had only moved to Cumberland County last week to be closer to family in their hometown of Coatesville while Meeks attends the Carlisle campus of Penn State Dickinson School of Law.
Tinson was not due to give birth to Alani until next Thursday, Jan. 7. Early this week, the couple was sent home from Holy Spirit Hospital after Tinson had false labor.
Contractions started up again on Tuesday at about 8 p.m. and by 1:30 a.m. New Years Eve, Tinson had been admitted to Holy Spirit Hospital.
“Her contractions had slowed up,” Meeks recalled. “We thought they were going to send us home again like they did the first time.”
At first, the couple thought Tinson would just be monitored a few hours and then discharged at about 5 a.m., but her water broke at 4:30 a.m. and labor would continue until just after midnight New Years Day.
“It was not too bad,” Tinson said. “There was not much pain until towards the end. Someone told me it was time to push and before I knew it Alani was here.
“From what we are hearing, she is the first baby born in the Harrisburg area,” Tinson said. “It is amazing... a little overwhelming for all of us. But this would be a good memory for her to look on when she is old enough.”
Carlisle prepares for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
This will be the 20th year that the Carlisle community has held a formal commemoration of the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Committee Publicity Chairperson Linda Manning says preparations are going “extremely well.”
The commemoration will begin at 3 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 18, in the ceremonial courtroom of the Old Courthouse located at the Square in downtown Carlisle, with brief opening remarks followed by a march to St. Patrick Shrine Church, 146 E. Pomfret St., Carlisle. The 2009 theme is “A Vision of Unity.”
“Our choir is coming along nicely,” Manning said of the community singers who have been practicing for the event. The choir, led by Theresa Maag, director of the Contemporary Choir at St. Patrick’s, includes ministers, young people and voices from all around the greater Carlisle area, Manning said.
This year’s featured speaker is Major General Robert C. Gaskill of the U.S. Army, retired former Deputy Commandant of the U.S. Army War College. His most recent post before his retirement in 1981 was as Deputy Commander of the Defense Logistics Agency in Alexandria, Va.
Earlier in his career, Gaskill personally directed the development of the Quartermaster-Commissary Procurement part of the “Vietnamization program” during 1969-70. The program worked to make the Vietnamese people more self-sufficient by means including the aerial delivery of supplies to remote sites.
“It’s just good to have him come back to Carlisle,” Manning said of Gaskill.
After the service, a reception will be held at the Bethel AME Church directly across the street from St. Patrick’s.
“The committee is excited about the participation, the involvement,” Manning said. Other parts of the local celebration, including a student essay contest and sponsorship of the program, are coming together nicely too, Manning said.
Morning Update
The Sentinel Morning Update runs every weekday by 8 a.m. to take a look at what we have planned for our newspaper and Web site. Feel free to offer any suggestions, questions or feedback to jpratt@cumberlink.com
