Keep the Skeeters Down in Your Neighborhood Finally….. it appears that the winter of 2013-2014 has come to an end. The snow has melted, the skies have opened, and now what used to be snow and ice, is melted and alive with little wrigglers, also known as mosquito larvae. The recent rains and increasing temperatures have the mosquito habitat producing those pesky skeeters again. It generally takes 10-14 days for mosquitoes to go from egg to adult. However, this time line can occur faster as conditions become warmer. The Grand Forks Health Department maintains a comprehensive larvicide program. Crews have identified and mapped more than 1,000 sites around our community. These sites are inspected and treated with public health pesticides on a regular schedule. But we still need help from homeowners to identify and eliminate breeding sites on private property. We do not have the resources to inspect all private property in the city. You can help by inspecting your property and getting rid of any standing water. If you have a large site that cannot be drained or a swimming pool that is not being used or may not be used until later this summer, contact the Health Dept. at 701-787-8110 and we’ll inspect and treat the water with a product designed to prevent mosquitoes from hatch. This service is free for citizens with property located within the City of Grand Forks.
Common Mosquito Breeding Habitat: • Drainage Ditches • Old Tires • Swimming Pools not being used • Wading pools • Boats or a saggy tarp on a boat • Leaky garden hose or outside faucet • Plugged rain gutters
• Rain water collecting barrels • Cans, bottles, plastic jugs, jars • Any open container that has water – i.e. recycle bins, garbage cans and lids, wheel barrow, flower pots, even something as small as a pop bottle cap.
• Any standing water is a potential breeding site for mosquitoes. • Thank you for helping us reduce mosquitoes in our community!
For information about mosquito control visit our website at www.gfmsoquito.com or call the Information Line at 701-787-8144
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JOHN McLAUGHLIN (continued): • In 1914, John McLaughlin died at the age of 48. His brothers took over the corporation in spite of the fact that John had wanted his eldest son to take over. John’s brothers also cut Maud out of the company, leaving her penniless and dependent upon the charity of her in-laws. Had she been able to retain the 25,000 shares in the company she was entitled to, she would have become one of Canada’s richest citizens. • In 1922, the two brothers opened a manufacturing plant in New York which turned out 25,000 bottles of ginger ale per day. However, by 1923, demand far exceeded supply. The McLaughlin brothers needed to either expand or sell out. They elected to sell out. Ontario-born Parry Saylor and his partner James Mathes bought the company for $1 million U.S. dollars. • Because the U.S. had recently increased import tariffs on ginger ale by 50%, Saylor and Mathes saved a lot of money by moving the company to the U.S. Because they were spending a fortune on railroad freight fees, they instigated licensing agreements so others could manufacture the product locally. They opened factories in Chicago and L.A. But they really hit pay dirt when Prohibition was enacted: Canada Dry was the perfect mixer for harsh homemade hooch. • Profits for Canada Dry in 1923 were $98,000 and for 1925 they were $1,240,000, enough to pay for the million dollar purchase price. Within three years, it was the bestselling ginger ale in the world. By 1930, the corporation was worth $30 million. Prohibition Officers were so impressed by its sudden popularity that they analyzed it for alcoholic content. • Today Canada Dry retains a firm hold in a niche market. In 2008 it was acquired by the Texasbased Dr Pepper Snapple Group.
Tidbits of Grand Forks/ East Grand Forks is Locally Owned and Operated.