Well, it is that time again for one of the events of the year for

the younger kids of Preston. The annual Easter Egg Hunt is scheduled for

Saturday, April 22, at the county park across the road from the Lake

Alice Trail parking lot off of 87th Place. This has been a really fun event for

years, and the youngsters have a ball. Lots of fun goodies to find, and plenty

to go around. Might be an idea to get there a little early, both for parking

and the arrival of the Easter Bunny who brings with him treats of his own

for the kids. Please watch the wee ones closely, as outside folks that use

the trail parking lot for recreation in the area may not be watching as

closely as they need be. If my hours permit, I will try to be there as well.

PPP

We had a very mild winter, which is the good news. But, it has and

will create some problems. Allergy sufferers already know the much more

serious impact on their allergy reactions, and many new victims of

allergies have joined the ranks. I have a nasty hunch that the increased crud in

the air known as smog does not help either. If you have never had this

problem in the past, but a sore throat, runny nose and other cold symptoms

just don’t go away, you might get checked for allergy problems. I have

several friends that now have a much better understanding of what I go

through every year in the spring.

The other problem will be an increase in insects of all varieties,

such as bees, wasps and other sorts of small critters that will be around this year

in much greater numbers. Keep a close eye for wasp nests, concentrations

of spiders and ants. Those with strong reactions to stings and bug bites

will need to be on the alert and need to check with their doctors to see

what they can carry with them in the event they are stung or bitten.

If you travel to Eastern Washington, the tick population will be

much higher than usual. These small insects can cause infection and disease, so

if out hiking in the open lands, check for ticks frequently. One area in

particular to be careful around is high thick grass close to or within areas

where cattle graze.

The mosquito will be a major problem, so find a really good bug

repellant. Major areas of high concentration are marsh areas around

lakes and streams, especially in the thick brush close to the water.

Spiders to watch for in Eastern Washington are the black widow

spider and the brown recluse. I know of no black widow problems on the

west side, but they carry a very nasty bite and make you quite ill. Some

brown recluses have made it to Western Washington, and milder weather

and warmer days may allow them to increase in number this year.

Become familiar with both of these in appearance, and always use gloves

when working in thick brush, woodpiles and the like.

If bit and any major discoloration or swelling occurs, see your

doctor right away. The brown recluse bite will kill tissue in the infected area, and

untreated, can grow in size of tissue damage quite quickly. If it turns out not

to be a bite from either, it is still worth the trip to the doctor. Pay attention

to anything unusual and get it checked out.

PPP

Thought for the week: Without going into the political aspect of

the highly publicized Elain controversy, the American legal system has

been exposed to the world. It is slow, fragmented, and overlapping laws and

jurisdictions can drag legal battles for months, if not years. Massive

improvements are needed, and soon.

Preston News Notes author,

Bill Hebert, can be reached at

P.O. Box 918, Preston, WA 98050.