416-Sunday News, August 31, 1980 A cloud HARRISBURG, Pa. (UPI) - When a summer drought strikes the cornfields and fruit orchards of south- central Pennsylvania, far- mers blame it on a cloud- seeding conspiracy they say may include the Russians, the U.S. government and the State. Officials deny there are any cloud seeders at work, but that hasn't placated the farmers who have been known to take down their hunting rifles and fire at low- flying planes. Who's behind the alleged cloud seeders? “One theory had the Russians using powerful atomic generators, pur- chased from the United States, operating on giant flying platforms used to seed -seeding conspira clouds over Pannsylvania. When we had a lot of sonic booms a year or so ago, some farmers said that was the flying platforms explo- ding,” said one official. Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Penrose Hallowell has asked the state police and state Bureau of Aviation to again investigate the cloud-seeding story some other | officials have dis- missed as a 20-year-old myth. “The social phenomenon of cloud seeders preventing rain is in the same category as Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster,” said Dr. Charles Hosler, a dean at Penn- sylvania State University and member of the state Weather Modification Board. In 20 years of looking into the cloud-seeding allega- tions, prevalent in Adams, Franklin and Fulton counties, south of Harris- _ burg, authorities have never found any culprits. Hosler says he thinks the cloud-seeding theory came into being as a meazis of explaining away the frustrating, and sometimes financially disastrous, dry spells. No matter how it originated, it has caused Hosler nothing but grief. He said he has been shot at, been the target of souted obscenities at meetings or irate farmers, received late- nigh telephone threats and even blamed for causing the © 1977 killer flood in John- stown. Hallowell’s latest investi- gation was prompted by this summer's brief dry period and a meeting in Gettysburg of some 125 farmers called by another Weather Modification Board member, Stanley Wolf of Orrtanna. “Three weeks ago, we had cloud formations over Adams County and a fore- cast of 80 per cent chance of thundershowers,” Wolf said. “We're not discounting the possibility that the Army Corps of Engineers wants (to prevent rainfall) to discourage farmers from protesting a planned dam that would flood parts of northern Maryland and southern Adams County,” he said. Invasion of the dreaded ‘super termite’ unstoppable GAINESVILLE, Fla. (UPI) - The dreaded Formosan “super termite” can eat a bouse in six months, and scientists say it can't be stopped. The termite, which gnaws through plaster, mortar and wood preservatives to get to edible wood, has been dis- covered in south Florida, a University of Florida ento- mologist said recently. “There’s no way to stop the spread,” said Dr. Philip Koehler. “They've given up on trying to eradicate it. The only thing you can do is just IN SPATSIZI PARK wait for it to come.” The termite species, which belongs to the genus coptotermes, has been identified by a Smithsonian Institution as the Formosan termite, one of the most des- tructive in the world. “It's been a great problem,” said Rose Weck. a resident of a condominium complex at Hallandale near Miami, where the clubhouse roof was destroyed by the wood-eating insects. “These are termites with a vengeance.” Unlike U.S. subterranean termites, the termites through plaster, mortar, creosote and other non- edible materials to get at the wood it hungers for. Koehler said it is a little bigger than U.S. subter- ranean termites, but about the same size as the drywood termite. Its wing span is about three-quarters of an inch and its body about a quarter of aninch. The Formosan termite has been sighted in South Carolina, Louisiana and Texas, but this is their first appearance in Florida. The Formosan termite is resistant to most pesticides and even after double con- centrations somehow manages to survive, Koehler said. While Florida’s subter- ranean termites usually take several years to destroy the wood in a building, the Formosan termite can do the job in six months because of its high rate of reproduction, Koehler said. Koehler said he doesn't believe they actually attack humans, but because-of their large numbers it could become “unbearable when a human is subjected to all those fluttering wings.” Greenpeace finally spots its prey VANCOUVER (UPC) - The Greenpeace Foundation Says it has finally spotted its prey two big game hunters and 15 making plans to disrupt the hunters’ quest to shoot big-horn sheep in Spatsizi Plateau provincial park. Greenpeace _ president Patrick Moore said Thur- sday the two hunters are the first that the environmenta- lists have spotted since the annual hunt in the northwest B.C. park began two weeks ago. Greenpeace was there for the second consecutive year trying to disrupt the hunt. Moore said three protesters were ecnroule to the park (to join) another three who have been monitoring the hunt He said the protesters would cauher try to stop the hunters from leaving thei camp of would pursue them Woon Lee Inn Chinese IFood Mountioya, Open tor Dinner every night —-_— Oelbrook trom 4pm Plaza 986-7922 2°" Upper Levets 3751 Delbrook Ave. at Delbrook Plaza Fd Cl O AK : al i La iY AY & ~z~ to — MEMORIAL AND TRADITIONAL SERVICES — NO MEMBERSHIP FEES REQUIRED — AMPLE OFF STREET PARKING — 24-HOUR PERSONAL SERVICE — AIR CONDITIONED CHAPEL DIRECTORS OF FUNERAL SERVICE FOR OVER 50 VEARS ne per TN Ac antl ‘‘Our Location Means ser, BELL FUNERAL CHAPEL 2746 E. Hastings St. (1 bik. West of PNE) 253-1343 Convenience the North Shore’’ WE OFFER: CHAR EL 4 rN aA SAN ANTONIO, Texas (UPD) - Beer thieves crushed by the discovery a stolen Schlitz trailer contained only empty, flattened cans abandoned the whole rig — although the truck and its load had a combined value of $11,000. The stolen 45-foot truck was found Thursday with its +y ? Beer theft went flat lock snapped, doors wide open and the contents — 15,000 pounds of crushed beer cans intended for a recycling plant - untouched. Had the thieves been envi- ronmentally aware, they might have known the aluminum cans were worth about $4,000. The trailer was valued at $7,000. Somalia repulses Ethiopian troops Report denied NAIROBI, Kenya (UPI) - Somalia Thursday said its forces had repulsed invading Ethiopean troops in a day- long battle in the north- western part of the country. inflicting heavy losses on the Ethiopians. The Somali Defense Ministry, in a communique issued in the Somali capital of Mogadishu and reported by the Somali news agency. said the Ethiopians suffered “heavy losses in men and equipment.” The Somalis said the Ethiopians launched a land and aif invasion against the northwestern region of Somalia along a 30-mile front early Wednesday. Somali and Ethiopia have fought a _ protracted war centering on the Ogaden desert. The Ethiopian Embassy in Nairobi today denied as “without foundation” the Somali reports of an invasion by Ethiopian forces. The statement said the reports are “merely designed {o cover aggression recently mitted against territory.” up Somalia's com- Ethiopian ALUMINUM COMPANY OF CANADA, LTD APPOINTS SENIOR EXECUTIVE FOR BRITISH COLUMBIA William J. Rich Patrick J.J Rich, Presi- dent, Aluminum Company of Canada, Ltd, has an- nounced the appointment of William J Rich as Vice President for British Columbia, reporting di- rectly to the President The appointment follows a recent announcement by Alcan that it will review its proposal to butld add: tional hydro-electric and smelting capacity in British Columbia The development of a pro posal that will take into ac count the interests of governmental agencies and of residents in the area that could be affected will be a prime responsi bility of the new executive Bill Rich ts a graduate en gineer and joined Alcan at Kittmat in 1961) He has held a oumber of man agement postions and was until this appoint meat manager of the Kitemal smelter The Aluminum Company of Canada Lids tacthttes nn British Columbia are managed by Alcan Smet ters and Chemicals ltd which operates the smelt ter oat Kitimat and the bydro electac fachhes at Kemano and by Alcan Canada Products Limited which is responsible for six fabocatoag plants and seven sates Offtees an the provinn «