Shelter receives donation
Myron Hill is a member of the Pairs and Spares Sunday school class of Northwest Christian Church.
On behalf of his class, he recently delivered supplies donated by the class members to Jasper Mewborn.
Mewborn, director of the Friends of the Homeless Shelter at 112 N. Independence St., accepted the items to be used by residents at the shelter.
Home Solutions: Pest proof your home
A single cockroach, cricket or spider can prompt the use of bug spray or a call to the exterminator. Despite high-profile inside presence, most pests have either flown or crawled in from outside.
One of the best ways to limit unwanted pest intrusions is to deny them entry — a procedure called pest proofing. Many pests seek refuge in response to weather changes, such as extended periods of rain or drought, or the onset of cooler temperatures. Taking advance steps to block their entry can greatly reduce future sightings.
These useful tips for pest proofing also include some energy conservation and increased indoor comfort. Equipment and materials can be purchased at most home improvement or hardware stores.
Install door sweeps or thresholds at the base of all exterior entry doors. A sixteenth-inch gap or less will admit insects and spiders; a fourth-inch gap will allow mice; a half-inch can bring in rats. Bottom corners often are where rodents and insects enter.
Apply caulk along bottom outside edge and sides of door thresholds. Fit garage doors with a bottom seal of rubber (vinyl seals poorly in cold weather). Seal sliding glass door bottom tracks with half- to three-fourths-inch wide foam weatherstripping.
Seal utility openings where pipes and wires enter the foundation, and siding faucets and receptacles — common entry points for pests. Plug holes with caulk, cement, urethane expandable foam, steel wool, copper mesh or other sealant.
Caulk cracks around windows, doors and fascia boards.
Repairing gaps and tears in window and door screens will help reduce entry of flies, gnats, mosquitoes and midges during summer.
Install one-fourth inch wire mesh (hardware cloth) over attic, roof and crawl space vents, and invest in a chimney cap, to prevent entry of birds, bats, squirrels, rodents, raccoons and other wildlife.
Supplement pest proofing with an exterior insecticide treatment.
Homeowners who don’t tackle these activities might consider hiring a professional pest control firm, which offers pest proofing and other services. When all else fails, a vacuum cleaner or broom can be the best response to that occasional bug.
Source: University of Kentucky Entomology
Trudy W. Pickett is extension family and consumer agent at the Lenoir County Cooperative Extension Office, 1791 N.C. 11/55. Reach her at 252-527-2191 or trudy_pickett@ncsu.edu.