A25 U.S. NEWS Monday 10 August 2020 U.S. tops 5 million confirmed virus cases, to Europe’s alarm

Continued from Front

Much of the incredulity in Europe stems from the fact that America had the benefit of time, European experience and medical know-how to treat the vi- rus that the continent itself didn’t have when the first COVID-19 patients started filling intensive care units. M ore than four months into a sustained outbreak, the U.S. reached the 5 million mark, according to the run- ning count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Health officials believe the actual number is perhaps 10 times higher, or closer to 50 million, given testing li- mitations and the fact that as many as 40% of all those In this July 6, 2020, file photo, Dr. Joseph Varon, right, leads a team as they try to save the life of a patient unsuccessfully inside the who are infected have no Coronavirus Unit at United Memorial Medical Center in Houston. symptoms. Associated Press “We Italians always saw America as a model,” said beloved pubs might have a “hoax” or a scourge that want people just drop- gave an upbeat picture Massimo Franco, a colum- to close again if schools are would quickly disappear ping like flies.” Sunday on CBS’ “Face the nist with daily Corriere del- to reopen in September. once warmer weather ar- And health officials wat- Nation.” la Sera. “But with this virus Europe as a whole has rived. At one point, Trump ched with alarm as thou- “We’re going to fight like we’ve discovered a coun- seen over 207,000 confir- suggested that ultraviolet sands of bikers gathered heck. We’re working hard try that is very fragile, with med virus deaths, by Johns light or injecting disinfec- Friday in the small South on vaccines. We’re wor- bad infrastructure and a Hopkins’ count. tants would eradicate the Dakota city of Sturgis for an king hard on testing machi- public health system that is In the U.S., new cases are virus. (He later said he was annual 10-day motorcycle nes that are portable and nonexistent.” running at about 54,000 a being facetious). rally. The state has no mask fast. ... We’re working on With America’s world’s- day — an immensely high Trump’s frequent com- mandates, and many bi- therapeutics,” he said. “I’m highest death toll of more number even when taking plaints about Dr. Anthony kers expressed defiance so impressed with our sci- than 160,000, its politicized into account the country’s Fauci have regularly made of measures meant to pre- entists and our doctors and resistance to masks and its large population. headlines in Europe, where vent the virus’s spread. our first responders and the rising caseload, European And while that’s down the U.S. infectious-disease Dr. David Ho, director of folks who are attacking this nations have barred Ame- from a peak of well over expert is a respected figu- the Aaron Diamond AIDS disease, and God bless rican tourists and visitors 70,000 last month, cases re. Italy’s leading COVID-19 Research Center at Colum- them all.” from other countries with are rising in nearly 20 states, hospital offered Fauci a job bia University Irving Medi- Many Europeans point growing cases from freely and deaths are climbing in if Trump fired him. cal Center, who is leading proudly to their national traveling to the bloc. most. Trump has defended the a team seeking treatments health care systems that France and Germany are In contrast, at least for now U.S. response, blaming Chi- for COVID-19, decried such not only test but treat CO- now imposing tests on ar- Europe appears to have na, where the virus was first behavior, as well as the VID-19 for free, unlike the rival for travelers from “at the virus somewhat under detected, for America’s country’s handling of the American system, where risk” countries, the U.S. in- control. problems and saying the virus. the virus crisis has only cluded. “I am very well “Had the medical profes- U.S. numbers are so high “There’s no national strate- exacerbated income and aware that this impinges sionals been allowed to because there is so much gy, no national leadership, racial inequalities in obtai- on individual freedoms, but operate in the States, you testing. Trump supporters and there’s no urging for ning health care. I believe that this is a justifi- would have belatedly got- and Americans who have the public to act in unison “The coronavirus has bru- able intervention,” German ten to a point of getting refused to wear masks and carry out the measures tally stripped bare the vul- Health Minister Jens Spahn to grips with this back in against all medical advice together,” he said. “That’s nerability of a country that said last week. March,” said Scott Lucas, back that line. what it takes, and we have has been sliding for years,” Mistakes were made in Eu- professor of international • ”There’s no reason to completely abandoned wrote Italian author Mas- rope, too, from delayed studies at the University of fear any sickness that’s that as a nation.” simo Gaggi in his new book lockdowns to insufficient Birmingham, England. “But out there,” said Julia When he gets on Zoom “Crack America” (Broken protections for nursing of course, the medical Ferjo, a mother of three calls with counterparts from America), about U.S. pro- home elderly and critical and public health profes- in Alpine, Texas, who is around the globe, “every- blems that long predated shortages of tests and pro- sionals were not allowed to “vehemently” against one cannot believe what COVID-19. tective equipment for me- proceed unchecked,” he wearing a mask. they’re seeing in the U.S. Gaggi said he started wri- dical personnel. said, referring to President • Ferjo, 35, teaches fit- and they cannot believe ting the book last year and Hard-hit Spain, France, Bri- Donald Trump ‘s frequent ness classes in a large the words coming out of thought then that the title tain and Germany have undercutting of his own ex- gym with open doors. the leadership,’’ he said. would be taken as a provo- seen infection rebounds perts. She doesn’t allow parti- Amid the scorn from other cative wake-up call. Then with new cases topping When the virus first ap- cipants to wear masks. countries, Trump national the virus hit. 1,000 a day, and Italy’s ca- peared in the United States, • ”When you’re breathing security adviser Robert “By March the title wasn’t ses went over 500 on Friday. Trump and his supporters that hard, I would pass O’Brien, newly recovered a provocation any longer,” Some scientists say Britain’s quickly dismissed it as either out,” she said. “I do not from a bout with the virus, he said. “It was obvious.”q A26 Monday 10 August 2020 U.S. NEWS FAA employees who oversee airplane makers report pressure

By DAVID KOENIG ployees in the FAA's avia- AP Airlines Writer tion safety group and 25% Federal employees over- responded. FAA employ- seeing Boeing and other ees and managers in the aircraft makers say they survey and focus groups, face pressure from the who were not identified companies and fear retri- by name, reported strong bution from their own boss- pressure from industry "to es if they raise too many find win-win solutions that safety concerns, accord- benefit industry." They said ing to a survey of the work- companies will complain ers that was delivered to to FAA senior leaders or Congress on Friday. Congress if they think that Many of the Federal Avia- agency safety employees tion Administration employ- are getting in their way, ac- ees surveyed said they be- cording to the report. lieve that agency manag- The report portrays a situ- ers are too concerned with ation in which FAA head- the industry's objectives quarters staff believes that and aren't held account- it has a strong commit- able for decisions about ment to safety. However, safety. One FAA employee the report said, many em- said companies will say ployees in the field believe they will lose money if the This June 19, 2015, file photo, shows the Department of Transportation Federal Aviation their top leaders "are overly FAA doesn't certify its plane Administration building in Washington. concerned with achieving Associated Press fast enough. Another said the business-oriented out- the message to FAA work- rolling over for industry," the agency's aviation safe- survey. The report said em- comes of industry stake- ers is, "'Don't rock the boat' said Rep. Peter DeFazio, ty organization. "It is com- ployees perceive him to holders and are not held with Boeing." D-Ore., chairman of the pletely unacceptable that be demonstrating a com- accountable for safety-re- The summary and com- House Transportation Com- there are employees who mitment to safety. It cited lated decisions." ments were contained in a mittee. "That's especially lack confidence that their a video in which Dickson Employees also said that private company's report, disturbing to see when it safety concerns are taken pushed back against com- management of the avia- dated in February, on the comes to Boeing, which, seriously." ments by Boeing officials tion safety organization safety culture at the FAA. as we know now, pushed Dickson promised changes that were seen as pressur- within the FAA doesn't back The FAA faces scrutiny from a plane through a broken including creating a pro- ing the FAA to let the Max up front-line safety employ- Congress over its approval regulatory process that re- gram to encourage FAA resume flying. ees strongly enough. of the Boeing 737 Max, sulted in the deaths of 346 employees to report safety The FAA asked Mitre Corp. "There is a fallout of us not which remains grounded innocent people." concerns. to conduct the survey and being able to do our job," after two deadly crashes FAA Administrator Stephen Dickson, a former Delta Air report last year after the one employee said. "Acci- less than five months apart. Dickson said the report Lines pilot and executive agency promised to im- dents happen and people The report reflects "a dis- shows "that we have work who became FAA chief a prove its safety culture. get killed." The Mitre survey turbing pattern of senior of- to do to address problems" year ago, was spared from Mitre said it sent surveys was reported earlier by ficials at a Federal agency in the safety culture within the sharpest criticism in the to more than 7,000 em- Reuters.q 5.1-magnitude quake hits North Carolina, causes minor damage

SPARTA, N.C. (AP) — The a group of deer running. hurricane and an earth- most powerful earthquake "Not even a minute passed quake in the same week to hit North Carolina in and the side-to-side mo- is crazy." It was the largest more than 100 years shook tion started," Hull said. "It earthquake to hit the state much of the state early takes you a minute to re- since 1916, when a magni- Sunday, rattling homes, alize what's happening, tude 5.5 quake occurred businesses and residents. and you just can't believe near Skyland, the weather The National Weather Ser- it. Then it was over. It was service said. vice in Greenville said the loud, like God was shaking The U.S. Geological Ser- 5.1-magnitude temblor a mountain at you, liter- vice said the quake's epi- struck at 8:07 a.m., follow- ally." center was about 2.5 miles ing a much smaller quake Karen Backer was in her (four kilometers) southeast several hours earlier. Greensboro apartment of Sparta, just south of the There were no reports of when she heard initially Virginia-North Carolina injuries, but some minor mistook banging in her border. The USGS said the structural damage was re- kitchen for her roommate. population in the affected ported in Sparta, as well as "Nope, it was the cabinet region resides in structures cracks in roads. Images on doors 'clinking' open and "that are resistant to earth- social media also showed closed! My neighbors on quake shaking, though items knocked off of gro- the other hand said they vulnerable structures exist." cery store shelves. felt our apartment build- The quake was felt in near- Various items litter the floor of the 4 Brothers Store in Sparta, N.C. after an earthquake shook much of North Carolina early Michael Hull was standing ing shaking," Backer said. by states including Vir- Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020. in his driveway at his home "Well, sadly, nothing sur- ginia, South Carolina and Associated Press in Sparta when he noticed prises me in 2020, but a Tennessee.q A27 WORLD NEWS Monday 10 August 2020 Nagasaki urges nuke ban on 75th anniversary of US A-bombing

By MARI YAMAGUCHI a wide gap between the Associated Press two sides on nuclear dis- TOKYO (AP) — The Japa- armament." He also noted nese city of Nagasaki on Japan faces threats of de- Sunday marked its 75th an- velopment and moderniza- niversary of the U.S. atomic tion of nuclear weapons bombing, with the mayor from "neighboring coun- and dwindling survivors urg- tries in the region." ing world leaders including Taue, who spoke before their own to do more for a Abe, disagreed, saying: nuclear weapons ban. "Among the nuclear-weap- At 11:02 a.m., the moment on states and countries un- the B-29 bomber Bocks- der the nuclear umbrella, car dropped a 4.5-ton there have been voices (10,000-pound) plutonium stating that it is too early bomb dubbed "Fat Man," for such a treaty. That is not Nagasaki survivors and oth- so. Nuclear arms reductions er participants stood in a are far too late in coming." minute of silence to honor While Tokyo renounces its more than 70,000 dead. own possession, produc- The Aug. 9, 1945, bombing tion or hosting of nuclear came three days after the weapons, as a U.S. ally Ja- United States dropped its pan hosts 50,000 American first atomic bomb on Hiro- Doves fly over the Statue of Peace during a ceremony at Nagasaki Peace Park in Nagasaki, troops and is protected by southern Japan Sunday, Aug. 9, 2020, to mark the 75th anniversary of the world's second atomic shima, the world's first ever bomb attack. the U.S. nuclear umbrella. nuclear attack that killed Associated Press The post-WWII security ar- 140,000. On Aug. 15, Japan rangement complicates surrendered, ending World nuclear weapons being He also urged Japan's gov- "I must say the treaty is dif- the push to get Japan to War II. used is increasingly becom- ernment and lawmakers to ferent from Japan's posi- sign the treaty as it beefs At the event at Nagasaki ing real," Taue said. Noting quickly sign the 2017 Treaty tion and approach" even up its own military to deal Peace Park, scaled down that the Nuclear Prolifera- on the Prohibition of Nucle- though they share the with threats from North Ko- because of the coronavirus tion Treaty entered into ar Weapons. same goal of abolishing rea and China, among oth- pandemic, Mayor Tomihisa force 50 years ago, Taue After taking part in the nuclear weapons, he said. ers. Taue read a peace dec- urged the U.S. and Russia ceremony, Prime Minister Abe has repeatedly re- An aging group of survivors laration in which he raised to show a (asterisk)work- Shinzo Abe criticized the fused to sign the treaty. He have expressed a growing concern that nuclear able way(asterisk) towards treaty for not being real- reiterated that Japan's ap- sense of urgency to tell their states had in recent years their nuclear disarmament istic. None of the nuclear proach is not to take sides stories, in hopes of reach- retreated from disarma- at the NPT review process states has joined, and it is but to serve as a bridge ing younger generations to ment efforts. next year. not widely supported even between nuclear and non- continue their effort toward Instead, they are upgrad- He said that "the true hor- by non-nuclear states, he nuclear states to encour- establishing a nuclear-free ing and miniaturizing nucle- ror of nuclear weapons has said. age dialogue to achieve a world. ar weapons for easier use, not yet been adequately "The Treaty on the Prohibi- total nuclear ban. "There is not much time left he said. Taue singled out conveyed to the world at tion of Nuclear Weapons Survivors and pacifist for us survivors," said Shi- the U.S. and Russia for in- large" despite struggle and was adopted without tak- groups say Japan is virtu- gemi Fukabori, 89. He was creasing risks by scrapping efforts by hibakusha, or ing into consideration the ally siding with the U.S. and a 14-year-old student mo- the Intermediate-Range atomic bombing survivors, reality of the harsh national other nuclear states. bilized to work at a ship- Nuclear Forces Treaty. to make Nagasaki the last security environment," Abe Abe cited "severe national yard when Nagasaki was "As a result, the threat of place of the tragedy. said at a news conference. security environment and bombed. q U.K. names ‘Channel threat commander’ as boat crossings surge

LONDON (AP) — The British make this route unviable." impractical and potentially government has appoint- Britain's Conservative gov- dangerous. ed a former Royal Marine ernment has talked tough On Saturday the Ministry commando to try to stop amid a surge in the num- of Defense said it had re- people crossing the Eng- ber of migrants crossing ceived a government re- lish Channel from France in the Channel during recent quest to "support U.K. Bor- small boats. warm summer weather. On der Force operations" and The government said Sun- Thursday, 235 people were was looking into how it day that Dan O'Mahoney, brought ashore, a record could best help. who currently heads the number for a single day. Migrants have long used U.K.'s Joint Maritime Se- More than 650 have arrived northern France as a curity Center, has been so far in August, including launching point to reach A Border Force vessel brings a group of people thought to be named "clandestine Chan- babies and unaccompa- Britain, either in trucks migrants into the port city of Dover, England, from small boats, Saturday Aug. 8, 2020. nel threat commander." nied children. through the Channel tun- Associated Press Home Secretary Priti Pa- Patel has said the Royal nel or on ferries. tel said O'Mahoney would Navy could be called in Some have turned to small on ferries and trucks. Fine busiest shipping lanes — work with French authorities to prevent boats reaching boats organized by smug- summer weather is also about 20 miles (32 kilome- on stronger enforcement U.K. waters, though other glers because coronavirus prompting more people ters) at its narrowest point measures, including inter- senior officials and politi- lockdowns have reduced to make the risky journey — in vessels as small as din- cepting boats at sea, "to cians say that would be opportunities to stow away across one of the world's ghies and kayaks q A28 Monday 10 August 2020 WORLD NEWS Azar leads highest-level US delegation to Taiwan in decades

By JOHNSON LAI its remaining diplomatic al- Associated Press lies and excluding it from TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — U.S. international gatherings Health and Human Servic- including the World Health es Secretary Alex Azar ar- Assembly. That, in turn, has rived in Taiwan on Sunday increased already consid- in the highest-level visit by erable bipartisan sympa- an American Cabinet offi- thy for Taipei in Washington cial since the break in for- and prompted new mea- mal diplomatic relations sures to strengthen govern- between Washington and mental and military ties. Taipei in 1979. Also Sunday, Taiwanese Beijing has already protest- Foreign Minister Joseph Wu ed Azar's visit as a betrayal met with the first represen- of U.S. commitments not to tative of Somaliland to the have official contact with island ahead of the territo- the island. China claims ry's opening of a represen- Taiwan as its own territory, tative office in Taipei. to be brought under its Wu earlier tweeted that control by military force if Mohamed Omar Hagi Mo- necessary. Azar is due to hamoud had "braved Chi- meet with the island's inde- nese pressure" — a refer- pendence-leaning Presi- ence to reports that China dent Tsai Ing-wen along U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, center, talks with Taiwanese Deputy Foreign had sought to block rela- with health officials during Minister Tien Chung-kwang as he arrives at Taipei Songshan Airport in Taipei, Taiwan, Sunday, tions between Taiwan and Aug. 9, 2020. a three-day visit aimed the region on the Horn of Associated Press at highlighting coopera- Africa that broke from the tion in the fight against the over trade, technology, then-Environmental Protec- to send higher-level officials rest of Somalia but is not coronavirus. Taiwan's gov- the South China Sea and tion Agency administrator to Taiwan after decades recognized by the United ernment-run health care China's response to the vi- Gina McCarthy visited Tai- during which such contacts Nations as an independent system has been credited rus pandemic. wan, sparking protests from were rare and freighted country. with keeping the number of The U.S. maintains only un- Beijing. Azar's office said with safeguards to avoid "The fact 'sovereignty & coronavirus cases to under official ties with Taiwan in he will hold discussions on roiling ties with Beijing. friendship aren't for sale' 500 with just seven deaths, deference to Beijing, but is COVID-19, global health China has cut contacts deserves international rec- despite its close proximity the island's most important and Taiwan's role as a sup- with Tsai over her refusal to ognition," Wu tweeted. to China where the virus ally and provider of de- plier of medical equipment recognize China's claim to On his arrival, Maham- originated. fense equipment. and technology. the island and has brought oud tweeted that "We are China sees Taiwan as a key Azar is the first health sec- Azar's visit was facilitated increasing diplomatic, eco- ready to establish good irritant in its troubled rela- retary to visit Taiwan and by the 2018 passage of the nomic and military pressure relations with all countries tionship with Washington, the first Cabinet member Taiwan Travel Act, which against her, including by - those we share values of with whom it is also at odds to visit in six years. In 2014, encouraged Washington poaching away several of democracy are special."q 6 Gulf Arab countries back extending U.N. arms embargo on Iran

kept Iran from purchasing to lift the restrictions on con- Iran's 2015 nuclear deal foreign-made weapons like ventional weapons' move- saw the U.N. agree to sun- fighter jets, tanks and war- ment to and from Iran until set the arms embargo this ships. it abandons its destabilizing October. President Donald The GCC — comprised of activities in the region and Trump unilaterally withdrew Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, ceases to provide weap- America from the deal in Qatar, Saudi Arabia and ons to terrorist and sectari- 2018, part of a maximum the United Arab Emirates an organizations," the GCC pressure campaign that's — alleged Iran had "not said. Iran's foreign ministry hurt Iran's already-ailing ceased or desisted from spokesman Abbas Mousavi economy and led to a se- armed interventions in condemned the GCC let- ries of escalating incidents neighboring countries, di- ter and called it an "irre- in the Mideast. rectly and through orga- sponsible" statement that That the GCC offered a nizations and movements serves U.S. interests, Iranian unified statement on Iran armed and trained by Iran." state TV reported. comes as it remains torn In this Dec. 5, 2017 file photo, a man looks at his mobile phone in A Saudi-led coalition con- The U.N. banned Iran from by the ongoing Qatar cri- front of the flag of the Gulf Cooperation Council, GCC, in Kuwait tinues to battle Yemen's buying major foreign weap- sis, which saw Bahrain, City. Houthi rebels, whom the on systems in 2010 amid Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Associated Press U.N., the U.S. and arma- tensions over its nuclear the Emirates cut diplomatic By JON GAMBRELL arms embargo on Iran, just ment experts have ac- program. That blocked Iran ties and launch a boycott Associated Press two months before it is set cused of receiving arms from replacing its aging of the nation beginning in DUBAI, United Arab Emir- to expire. from Iran. Tehran denies equipment, much of which 2017. Kuwait has sought to ates (AP) — A six-nation The Gulf Cooperation arming the Houthis, even had been purchased by mediate the crisis, though bloc of Gulf Arab nations Council said it sent a letter as Iranian armaments and the shah before the 1979 Is- its 91-year-old emir now is torn apart by internal strife to the U.N. Security Coun- components have repeat- lamic Revolution. An earlier hospitalized in the U.S. suf- endorsed on Sunday an ex- cil backing an extension edly turned up in Yemen. embargo targeted Iranian fering from an undisclosed tension of a United Nations of an arms embargo that's "As such, it is inappropriate arms exports. ailment.q A29 SCIENCE Monday 10 August 2020 Bison, wild horses bring biodiversity to ex-army base

first time since 1967. "If we give nature a chance, if we give it time and space, it can take care of many things," said Miloslav Jirku, a biologist with the Czech Academy of Sciences who has been involved in the project from the start. "At the very beginning, I thought that lots of species that used to be here in the 1990s would have to be returned artificially. Today, a number of them are al- ready here without us do- ing anything about it," he said.q

A bison rubs against a bush at a wildlife sanctuary in Milovice, Czech Republic, Friday, July 17, 2020. Associated Press By KAREL JANICEK this year. The animals' task sheep were ruled out be- tional Park, while European Associated Press is to improve biodiversity cause they would feed bisons came from several MILOVICE, Czech Republic among local plants by eat- on endangered plants as reserves in Poland. (AP) — Wild horses, bison ing invasive ones while sav- well. Mechanical cutting The project now has herds and other big-hoofed ani- ing endangered species, of the invasive plants was of 27 European bisons, 25 mals once roamed freely in said Dalibor Dostal, the di- deemed too costly. tauros and some 70 wild much of Europe. Now they rector of European Wildlife, While invasive grasses are a horses. are transforming a former an organization behind the delicacy for wild horses, Eu- The animals move freely on military base outside the project. ropean bisons and tauros the pastures on the former Czech capital in an ambi- "It's a miraculous change," prefer bushes, creating an military base year-round. tious project to improve Dostal said. "Nobody ex- ideal partnership. With water sources avail- biodiversity. pected that the whole The invasive plants began able, they are able to care Where occupying Soviet process would go ahead to grow after Soviet troops, for themselves, even in win- troops once held exercises, so fast and the area would who stayed on after the ter. massive bovines called tau- change so much in just a 1968 Soviet-led invasion of The landscape quickly saw ros and other heavy beasts few years." then-Czechoslovakia, final- signs of transformation. now munch on the invasive He said the large animals ly withdrew from the base Flowers started to dot the plants that took over the are as key to preserving the in 1991. area as early as the sec- base years ago. ecosystem "as trees are for Former military bases are ond year of the project The animals are turning forests." considered places with as the large herbivores re- the former Milovice mili- David Storch, an environ- great biodiversity, the con- duced the tall, dense in- tary base 35 kilometers (22 ment professor at Prague's servationists said, because vasive grasses. Today, the miles) northeast of Prague Charles University who was soldiers' activities simulated whole area changes colors into a miniature version of not involved in the project, the impacts of hoofed ani- over the course of the year, the steppe that once rolled agreed. He said the project mals. depending on what flowers across the European conti- is "absolutely unique" be- The Czech project includes are in bloom. nent. cause it shows that nature tauros that were transferred The most precious is the With some species wiped can be preserved not only from the Netherlands, star gentian, also known as out in the wild, the animals by protecting it from hu- where a cross-breeding a cross gentian. The blue now have the chance to man activities but also by program aimed at coming flower is now flourishing at live together again in rela- actively shaping it with big- close to the original spe- Milovice more than any- tive freedom. Conserva- hoofed animals. cies, the aurochs, started where else in the country. tionists deployed them at The selection of the animals in 2008. That wild ancestor The former base also has Milovice five years ago. was based on the experi- of today's cattle became become abundant in other Now they hope to enlarge ences of conservationists in extinct in the 17th century. animals and insects. The the sanctuary by one third various countries. Wild horses were transport- Adonis blue, a butterfly, has to 360 hectares (890 acres) Domestic animals such as ed from Britain's Exmoor Na- been spotted there for the A30 Monday 10 August 2020 feature Virus resistant: World’s Longest Yard Sale still lines roads

By JAY REEVES tips for vendors, maps and, Associated Press for 2020, pandemic health GADSDEN, Ala. (AP) — For guidelines. decades, thousands of Also known as the 127 Yard vendors have fanned out Sale, the event follows U.S. along roadsides from Ala- 127 from near Addison, bama to Michigan each Michigan, to Chattanoo- summer to haggle over the ga, Tennessee, through prices of old Coca-Cola Ohio and Kentucky. From bottles, clothes, toys, knives there, it meanders through and more at The World's northwest Georgia to Noc- Longest Yard Sale. calula Falls, a 250-acre And though the coronavirus (100-hectare) public park pandemic has canceled in Gadsden. events around the globe, Patricia Gurley piled into the six-state yard sale is a car with two friends and happening this weekend drove about 170 miles (275 for the 34th straight year. kilometers) miles to the Beginning Thursday and Gadsden end of the sale ending Sunday, thousands from her home in Corinth, of people will mingle, Mississippi. With a yellow chat and bargain across mask pulled down under a 690-mile-long (1,110 ki- her chin, she was excited lometer) stretch of Middle about visiting the sale for America. Organizers say the first time and wasn't A crowd looks through items at the World's Longest Yard Sale, which stretches from Alabama to they might not get the Michigan, at its southernmost point in Gadsden, Ala., on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. concerned about the pan- usual crowd, estimated at Associated Press demic. 200,000 people, but they "I don't worry about that. If could. "We feel like there's you're gonna get it, you're a lot of pent-up demand," gonna get it," she said. said Hugh Stump III, execu- Nicole Gerle came even tive director of tourism in further: She drove 2,075 Gadsden, at the southern- miles (3,340 kilometers) most end of the sale. from her home in San Di- The crowd was predomi- ego and planned to travel nantly older on the first day the route at least to Ohio, in Gadsden, and many maybe even all the way to people wore face masks Michigan. and visibly tried to keep Wearing a mask, Gerle said away from others. CO- she wasn't fretting over the VID-19, the illness caused coronavirus: "If other peo- by the coronavirus, can be ple aren't going to be smart, particularly dangerous for I'm going to be smart on my the elderly and people with side." But Gerle was worried other health problems. about getting good deals But many others didn't on items including a metal wear facial coverings, and basket she planned to take it wasn't uncommon to see home, repurpose into other people standing shoulder- goods and sell. to-shoulder as they looked "The purchasing is liveli- through racks of clothes or hood for me and the selling tables full of shoes set up A crowd looks through items at the World's Longest Yard Sale, which stretches from Alabama to is livelihood for them," she outside. Promoters consid- Michigan, at its southernmost point in Gadsden, Ala., on Thursday, Aug. 6, 2020. said, pointing toward sales Associated Press ered canceling the event tables. "People make their because of the pandemic, people's livelihood it's very Ansonia, Ohio, decided farm machines, but mem- income; they count on this." which has killed more than important," sale spokes- against allowing vendors bers didn't want to be put Vendor Ann Sullins has set 160,000 Americans and man Josh Randall said in on its 30 acres (12 hectares) in the position of dealing up shop at the past five infected nearly 5 million an email. of land, President Jo Stuck with people who willfully sales and was thankful this more, but they decided to Vendors set up days early said. "To keep up with all defy Ohio's mandatory year's wasn't called off. But go ahead with precautions at Cumberland Moun- the health mandates … we mask rule, Stuck said. realistically, she said, the including reminders about tain General Store in just do not have the vol- "There are a lot of people yard sale is just too big to masks, social distancing Clarkrange, Tennessee, unteers to do it this year," around here that have an cancel. "People are going and hand-washing. where as many as 100 she said. "The two of us issue with it and don't want to do just like they do," said "The fact that it's a mostly booths will be open though who can be there all the to follow it," she said. "It's a Sullins, who wasn't wearing outdoor event was a large the weekend. time have compromised big problem." a mask but tried to keep determining factor in going "It's usually packed here," immune systems, and that The yard sale began in her distance from others forward. There's plenty of store clerk June Walker puts our health at risk plus 1987 as a way to lure visitors and had hand sanitizer. space for social distancing said. the health of our visitors off interstate highways to a "When something like this and the other guidelines Other places opted out this and our vendors." small town in Tennessee. No comes up, they're going can be followed as well. year because of the virus. The loss of rental income one owns the event, Ran- to go out and do it just be- In addition, because this The Darke County Steam will hurt the group, which dall said, but it's promoted cause it gives them a break event is critical to many Threshers Association in stages events featuring old on a website that includes from home."q A31 local Monday 10 August 2020

“Every time that we come it’s always exactly the same and amazing”

ORANJESTAD —James Taylor and his fiancé Laura Smith from To- ronto, Canada frequent the island a minimum of three times per year and have become very close with people that live on the is- land over the past seven years of travelling to Aruba. They have so many stories to share from the island and would like to tell you about some of their experiences on ‘Dushi Aruba’.

Turtle encounter James: “One day Laura and I were swimming at Baby Beach and when we were out into the ocean I noticed a giant turtle swimming around us and close to Laura. You know we we're having a swim and we had a great lunch and a few drinks so Laura wasn't taking it too seriously when I said there was a turtle beside her.” She thought James was just joking but then when they got out of the ocean and walked to their chairs to sit down with their radio and have a cold beverage the turtle climbed up on to the shore right in front of them and began to dig a hole. “Once the turtle was up onto the shore Laura started to feel bad for her as the turtles eyes were cry- ing and Laura wanted to pour water on her eyes but we didn't and the authorities showed up shortly after because the locals called them and we're all saying that it's a very rare occasion to see what we witnessed.”

Key case Laura and James have been from one side of the island to the other numerous times and always rent a Jeep so they can stop and visit their friends that live there at their houses and move along the island at their own leisure. “We participated in the party bus, Jolly Pirates, ATV rentals, you name it we've done it and we love support- ing any tourist attraction that is on the island as we know it helps make the world go round. Last time we were down we actually looked at a couple properties to purchase while we were there but we are waiting for our Canadian currency to come a little closer to par with the American currency.” He remembers one time they were in the natural pool and there was an ATV tour where the tour guide had lost his key. The entire tour was trying to help him find the key and Laura and James had stayed back late. “We were the only people in the natural pool and when we got out the gentle- man asked us if we had seen his key. I said that we hadn't and in return I asked him to take a picture of us and believe it or not my sandal was standing on top of his key when he took the picture. When I look down it was under my foot.” Their favorite places to eat on the island would be the LG Smith Steakhouse above the Renaissance Mall and Salt and Peppers in the high-rise area and also the Italian Restaurant out on the tip near the lighthouse, James says. “The night we went on the tour bus I had to get up on the bar and be the cowboy from the village peo- ple singing YMCA. Over the seven years of us travelling to the island I have brought probably over 30 different friends to Aruba.” They have also rented Harley's and even went on the massive bike ride for the Camacuri Bike day. “We also love Baby Beach and eat at the restaurant there where we have made good friends with the employees over the years who we speak to on Facebook all the time.” q

James: “Aruba is our home away from home and we have been all over the world as far as north Iceland, Europe and so on. We have never felt so welcome and safe at any other place we have been and are very proud to be a part of your happy island.” A32 Monday 10 August 2020 local

911 Sea Turtle Rescue

ORANJESTAD — Thursday morn- earlier, in 1993, a Sea Turtle Re- still complied with today. the loss of nesting beaches due to ing Turtugaruba volunteer Miguel covery Action Plan (STRAP) was coastal development on behalf of encountered a green turtle lost introduced in Aruba and the rest There are 4 different sea turtle spe- tourism. Because coastal devel- on land, wandering over painful of the Caribbean as an initiative cies that visit Aruba to lay their opment comes with artificial light rocks. It was not possible to guide of the United Nations Environment eggs, each with their own specific and artificial light is a mayor issue her back to the sea. Foundation Program (UNEP). Tom Barmes, who season: for sea turtles, mother turtle usually Turtugaruba called for assistance was working at DLVV (Deptart- – Leatherback Sea Turtle – Leder- comes on shore at night looking and the Aruba Fire Department ment of Agriculture, Husbandry schildpad – Driekiel (March – Sep- for a dark beach to make her nest. responded. Together they man- and Fishery) was one of the writers tember) However… a dark beach is hard to aged to help the turtle return into of the STRAP for Aruba, together – Loggerhead Sea Turtle – Dikkop- find here nowadays. Light causes the ocean. with Karen Eckert, director of WIDE- schildpad – Cawama (May – Sep- stress and can result in her returning CAST (Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle tember) to the sea without laying her eggs. Turtugaruba was founded on Sep- Conservation Network). This is how – Hawksbill Sea Turtle – Karetschil- Artificial light causes disorientation tember 3rd, 2003 by a group of sea turtle conservation started on dpad – Caret (June – December) for the baby sea turtles (hatch- enthusiastic volunteers. Ten years the island following a plan that is – Green Turtle – Soepschildpad – lings). Despite the threats that exist Turtuga Blanco (July-November) on Aruba, the turtles still keep com- ing. That’s why today Turtugaruba There also came a better under- is especially proud of the volun- standing and overview of the big- teers and the many people and or- gest threats to the sea turtles ex- ganizations of our community that istence in Aruba and how these carry a warm place in their hearts problems should be tackled. De- for the sea turtles. All four species spite hard work, all those years, are active now, which means all most problems have not really hands on deck in the field for us, gone away, but luckily and thanks the volunteers. We strive to keep to the enormous efforts from the the sea turtles, our oldest ‘repeat volunteers, the sea turtles are still guests’, always coming back to here. On Aruba the sea turtles Aruba and get the chance to re- are threatened with extinction by produce here. For more informa- pollution, driving on dunes and tion have a look at the Facebook beaches with quads and 4×4’s and page Turtugaruba. q