Backyard War: Mosquitoes Are Taking Over!

 

     If you're planning on going outside anytime soon, you just as well bathe in bug repellent first. After the warmer than usual winter of 2011, experts and pest controllers everywhere predicted a very "buggy" summer. Anyone that's been outside this year will know they were right. According to the American Mosquito Control Association,  there are over 3,000 different species of these pesky insects, and at least 200 of them can be found in the United States. Mosquitoes are annoying, nasty, and very dangerous insects.

     To start with, mosquitoes, in my opinion, are the most annoying insects known to man. But hey, if you enjoy blood sucking, miniature flies buzzing around your head while you're trying to enjoy the great outdoors, that's completely your decision. I'm not judging the mosquito lovers out there, I'm just saying I'd rather be able to mow the lawn in peace, instead of running the lawn mower into the creek while trying to scratch all those little irritating bites. To be such a small creature, mosquitoes are great at ruining afternoon leisure time. You may even go as far as saying they're professionals at it. Wouldn't it be great to have a nice family cookout without those uninvited, bloodthirsty guests?

     These things are downright nasty. Worst of all: They often like to travel in groups. Hundreds of filthy mosquitoes, buzzing around every inch of your body, just waiting to strike. For those of you that live on farms, you may have noticed they love to hang around ponds and livestock. Have you ever looked out the back door, to find that your pond has disappeared into a swarm of thick blackness? Not only do they make themselves at home on your cows' backs, they feed off them as well. Do you really want to drink the milk of an innocent cow that's been sucked of it's blood by these disgusting pests?

     Sure, they're annoying. They're gross. As if this isn't bad enough, they're also lethal. Mosquitoes carry tons of diseases, the most common one known as the West Nile Virus. This virus can be transmitted to both humans and farm animals. If you happen to cross paths with one of these disease ridden bugs, I wish you luck. You can expect to break out into a painful rash, followed by severe headaches, vomiting, and diarrhea. In extreme cases, one tiny, itchy bump can even result in death. Now, I'm not trying to scare you. I'm simply trying to encourage you to drench yourself in bug spray before you leave the safety of your home. Although bug spray is sticky and smelly, I think we can all agree that it's better than laying in a hospital bed. Right?

     There are simple ways to protect yourself and your livestock from the latest mosquito outbreak. There are many different types of spray you can apply directly to your body. Don't want to feel sticky? Repellent can be bought in a spray that is to be used in the air around you, rather than on you. As far as livestock and pet protection, minimize the amount of time they are exposed to mosquito infested areas, and reduce the amount of standing water near your home. With these few, easy precautions, you can win the war against mosquitoes! 

Nicholas County Football

Captains getting ready for the coin toss.

      The Nicholas County Bluejackets opened their season on Saturday August 18th against the Lewis County Lions. The game was played at Montgomery County in the 65th Recreation Bowl. The Recreation Bowl is the longest bowl game in the state of Kentucky. The Bluejackets jumped out to an early lead and held onto it the whole game. At halftime, they were winning 20-0. After the break, the Jackets had a turnover and Lewis County scored on that pocession. The Lions converted the two point conversion to make it 20-8. The Jackets scored two more times in the game, as the Lions could only score one more time. The final score was 32-16. Austin Allison got player of the game.

Jackets taking the field.

     The Bluejackets traveled to neighboring rivals Fleming County this past Friday. The Panthers scored a touchdown midway through the 1st quarter. The following kickoff was returned by Carl Hurd to the Panthers' 8 yard line. After the Jackets scored, the Panthers never looked back. They scored four more touchdowns before halftime. The score at halftime was 34-6. The Jackets were looking to turn it around to start the second half. That did not happen. The opening kickoff of the second half, being returned by Nicholas, was fumbled and recovered by the Panthers. The final scoe of the game was 53-14.

     The Jackets will host the West Carter Comet's Friday night at 7:30.

Nichols High School Marching Band

                                            The band practicing.

                            

After many trials and tribulations, the Nicholas County High School Marching Band has started a new show for the new year. This year’s show is called, Final Departure, under the direction of the new band director Brandon Dittgen. As all of the high school know the band is very small. They are not like the size of Lafayette or Paul Lawrence Dunbar, but the band has 33 members this year.

The Nicholas County High School Marching Band is going to their first competition September 8, 2012. The band would appreciate any support at our competitions.  The competition will be at Beechwood High School. The staff of The Bluejacket Buzz would like to wish the band good luck at Beechwood.

                                         The Woodwinds going to their next set.

                              The Guard was working hard.

                                          The Pit was focusing on their music.

                                      Caleb Lewis standing in attention.                                                 

" Where'd you go, Bernadette " Review

Where'd you go Bernadette is a novel by Maria Semple. It is about a woman who is having trouble at home with her husband. She is also having trouble with other mothers in her neighborhood. To the other mothers she is a disappointment. She has a fifteen year old daughter, Bee. Bernadette decides that life at home is too difficult and she disappears before Christmas. Bee decides to look for her mother and along the way writes a book with the clues to finding her mother.


Reviews
-"The characters in Where'd You Go, Bernadette may be in real emotional pain, but Semple has the wit and perspective and imagination to make their story hilarious. I tore through this book with heedless pleasure." (- Jonathan Franzen, author of Freedom )

Brilliant, hilarious, endlessly inventive, and compulsively readable, Where'd You Go, Bernadette grabs you by the collar and never lets go. Semple is not only a masterful juggler, and an astute social critic, she is a magician!" (Jonathan Evison, author of West of Here )

A delightfully funny book, that constantly catches one by surprise, Where'd You Go, Bernadette combines a shrewdly observed portrait of Seattle-life with, of all things, a mysterious disappearance in Antarctica. A pleasure." (Matthew Kneale, author of When We Were Romans )

"Where'd You Go, Bernadette is fresh and funny and accomplished, but the best thing about it was that I never had any idea what was going to happen next. It was a wild ride..." (Kate Atkinson, author of Case Histories and Started Early, Took My Dog )