[News]

EXTERMITAL TECHNICIAN HELPS NAB HIT-AND-RUN DRIVER

DAYTON, OHIO — For Mark Cleghorn, a service technician from Dayton, Ohio-based Extermital Termite & Pest Control, customer service means more than safeguarding a structure from termites, ants, roaches and other outside invaders. It means looking out for his customers’ interests at all times.

On July 21, while making one of his regular stops — an inspection of a baiting system at a Kettering, Ohio, home — Cleghorn witnessed a crime. While parked in his cus-tomer’s driveway in preparation for the service, Cleghorn watched as a car approached from a side street and crashed into a car parked on the street belonging to the homeowner’s daughter. (The homeowner was not at home when this happened.)

"The driver took a quick look at the damage, put (his car) in reverse and then peeled out of there," Cleghorn said.

Cleghorn, an eight-year industry veteran, pulled his service vehicle out of the customer’s driveway and began tailing the suspect. While in pursuit of the suspect he grabbed his cell phone and called Kettering police. Cleghorn followed the suspect all the way back to his apartment complex until police arrived. The sus-pect’s vehicle was then towed back to the scene of the crime where paint and other damages matched, thus providing the evidence necessary to charge the suspect. At the crime scene, Cleghorn provided police with additional eyewitness accounts.

In helping to bring justice to a fleeing suspect, Cleghorn’s actions will more than likely keep his customer’s insurance premium from rising.

"I just did what I hope others would do for me if my car were to get hit like that," Cleghorn said.

U.S. HEALTH OFFICIALS CONCERNED BY QUICK SPREAD OF WEST NILE VIRUS

ATLANTA — Federal health officials say West Nile virus (WNV) has spread more quickly since resurfacing in the United States this summer, prompting fears of another record outbreak of the deadly mosquito-borne disease.

The virus, which killed 284 people and infected about 4,000 others in the United States and Canada in 2002, as of press time had been detected in mosquitoes, birds, horses and humans in 32 states in 2003, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Only about 20 states had reported similar activity at this time during last year’s outbreak, which was the worst since West Nile first surfaced in the Western Hemisphere in 1999.

"It’s too soon to predict the shape of the epidemic, but the signs all indicate that there is reason to anticipate a problem," said the CDC’s Dr. Julie Gerberding.

As of press time, here’s a look at recent WNV activity from various news sources:

• Iowa and Ohio. Officials said a northeast Iowa man in his 70s, who became ill in July was hospitalized in serious but stable condition with the virus. The Ohio Health Department said a 43-year-old northwest Ohio man has the state’s first confirmed case of West Nile virus this year. Health Department spokesman Kristopher Weiss says the Fulton County man is fully recovered.

• Connecticut. The state Department of Public Health announced that five infected crows were found between May 30 and July 10. Infected wild birds, particularly crows, are a sensitive initial indicator of the presence of West Nile virus in the northeastern United States.

• Tennessee. Dead birds in three different East Tennessee counties have tested positive for West Nile virus, the Tennessee Department of Health said. Crows were found in Anderson and Sevier counties and a blue jay in Morgan County, officials said. All were confirmed to have the virus.

• Colorado. A 10th Bonfils Blood Center donor has tested positive for West Nile virus with an experimental genetic test that officials warned could provide incorrect results. Bonfils is one of 24 U.S. blood centers that on July 1 began screening donated blood for the mosquito-borne virus.

• United Kingdom. Traces of exposure to West Nile virus have been documented in native United Kingdom birds for the first time. Antibodies to the potentially deadly virus were found in the blood of a "significant proportion" of UK-resident birds by scientists.

COMPANY FIRST TO INSTALL IMPASSE TERMITE BLOCKERS

BEAUMONT, TEXAS — Bill Clark Pest Control is the first pest management business to offer Impasse Termite Blockers, Syngenta Professional Products reports. Bill Clark Pest Control worked with Trend-setter Homes to install Impasse Termite Blockers at a residential subdivision near Beaumont, Texas.

"This is a new termite product category that provides maximum protection for minimal long-term investment," Bill Clark said. "We’re giving builders a termite treatment that’s both state-of-the art and easy to install. And, we’re giving homeowners greater peace of mind that their new home investment will remain protected long-term against costly termite damage."

Used during the pre-construction phase, Impasse Termite Blockers protect new homes at plumbing and electrical penetrations, where termites typically enter through foundation cracks. The Blockers are available in various sizes.

Impasse Termite Blockers are made by "locking in" termiticide between two layers of construction-grade plastic. According to the company, there is virtually no release of termiti-cide into the environment, which prevents exposure to pest management professionals and homeowners and maintains product effectiveness over the life of the product. The Blockers complement all existing termite pre-construction treatments such as liquid termiti-cides, baits and borates, Syngenta says.

For more information about the product, visit www.impasse.com.

AUTHOR E.O. WILSON  TO SPEAK AT PCT ANT MANAGEMENT SUMMIT\

CLEVELAND, OHIO — E.O. Wilson, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Ants, will be the keynote speaker of the PCT Ant Management Summit scheduled March 10-12, 2004, at the Sheraton Buckhead Hotel in Atlanta, Ga.

E.O. Wilson is professor of biology at Harvard University and a pioneer in the field of sociobiology, ecology and entomology. Wilson has been honored with the highest scientific award in the field of ecology — The Crafoord Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, and received the National Medal of Science. He has also twice received the Pulitzer Prize for his books The Ants and On Human Nature.

E.O. Wilson was hailed as one of "America’s 25 Most Influential People" by Time magazine and his lecture will be a highlight of the PCT Ant Management Summit.

For further information on the PCT Ant Management Summit, call Michelle Fitz-patrick at 216/961-4130 or e-mail her at mfitzpatrick@pctonline.com.

FLORIDA ASSOCIATION OFFERS NEW CEU TRAINING PACKAGE

ORLANDO, FLA. — Pest control operators and technicians in the state of Florida now have an all-in-one educational package to earn their continuing education units (CEUs) and prepare for certification exams. This new Florida Pest Management Association (FPMA) program made its debut at the association’s June convention at The Registry Resort, Naples, Fla.

The Complete Educational Package, produced for FPMA by Central Florida Duplicating, Leesburg, Fla., offers three sets for one price, covering "CEUs for Certified Operators," "CEUs for Technician," and "Study Guide Certification Training Program." FPMA members receive a discount on pricing.

The CEUs for certified operators or "Evolution Training Programs" includes all categories — GHP, WDO, L&O, Fumigation and CORE — on a CD-Rom. There is an annual automatic renewal update and the program is self-paced. It covers all certified operators employed at the same company at one location.

The CEUs for technicians and ID cardholders or "FPMA Technician CEUs" complies with the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (DACS) technician CEU requirements and includes IPM training programs, CORE programs, chapter 482FS and DACS rules. It includes all necessary forms for CEU validation. Presentations and exams are updated annually with a new CD-Rom. The training can be used for current and newly hired employees.

FPMA also offers seminars, workshops and conferences throughout the state. For more information on membership and educational opportunities, contact FPMA at 800/426-4829 or visit www.flpma.org.

INDUSTRY MOURNS PASSING OF JOHN KIELP

WAUKEGAN, ILL. — John Kielp, an industry consultant known by many in the structural pest control industry, died Aug. 1. He was 80.

Steve Sklare of Superior Pest Elimination, Chicago, said, "The most unique thing about John is he had the unique ability to reduce complicated concepts to their most basic form and impart knowledge to people in a form that they could use and apply. He was a gifted educator."

Kielp was a consultant and a speaker at many pest management meetings. He specialized in the food-service area of the business.

Kielp started a food sanitation consulting company, Personnel Training Programs, and an audio-visual production company, Plaid Productions, in 1972. In 1988, he established a new company, Food Protection Systems, which certified food handlers in the state of Illinois. An expert in his field of food sanitation, Kielp was asked to speak at numerous conferences, conventions and seminars around the country. He was instrumental in developing the food handlers’ state certification exam for the state of Illinois.

"He was very active right up until the day he passed away," said Sklare, a longtime friend and colleague who had known Kielp for 25 years.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Mary Alyce; six children; 10 grandchildren; and one sister.

BASF FINALIZES INTEGRATION OF TOPPRO SPECIALTIES PRODUCTS

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — BASF Professional Pest Control in June announced the final integration of TopPro Specialties into its existing product line. This latest strategic move reinforces BASF’s commitment to delivering a solutions-based portfolio to focus on customer needs, it said.

The integration includes a number of TopPro products, in particular Bifenthrin Pro Termiticide-Insecticide and Permethrin Pro Termiticide-Insecticide. Along with Termidor, Phantom termiticide-insecticide and Subterfuge termite bait, Bifenthrin Pro and Permethrin Pro are being sold and serviced by the BASF sales and market development team.

"We’re pleased to offer our customers even more solutions for their pest control needs," said Bill Baxter, business manager for BASF Professional Pest Control. "This action extends the momentum the BASF Professional Pest Control business has established and our customers can continue to expect even more advances in the future." Since plans for this integration were first announced in late 2002, BASF has been examining the strategic advantages that each TopPro product would offer.

"One area of major focus has been how these recent endeavors will affect our customers," Baxter said. "On one hand, we considered the benefits customers would reap from a more versatile product line and on the other, we wanted to be sure the expansion was as seamless as possible. Whether it’s in areas of sales and marketing or technical support, each member of our team is well-versed on the details of the integration and the specific implications for all customers in all regions."

For more information visit www.pestcontrolfacts.com.

EPA EXEMPTS METHOPRENE FROM RESIDUE TOLERANCES IN FOOD COMMODITIES

SCHAUMBURG, ILL. — Effective June 11, the Environmental Protection Agency announced that methoprene is exempt from the requirement of a tolerance in or on all food commodities when used to control insect larvae. The EPA granted the exemption because a thorough risk analysis showed residue tolerances are not necessary to protect human health or the environment, reports say.

Methoprene has been granted a tolerance exemption for use as an insect larvicide on all food commodities based on the agency’s safety finding. The EPA concluded there is a reasonable certainty that aggregate exposure to residues of methoprene will not result in harm to the general population, infants and children and that methoprene can be used on all crop commodities.

Methoprene is an insect growth regulator that has been used for more than 20 years. Earlier this year, Wellmark International introduced Pre-Strike, a new methoprene-based formulation to help stop the spread of West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne illnesses, the company says. Pre-Strike larvicide kills mosquito larvae before they can develop into breeding, biting adults.

For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.zoecon.com or call 800/248-7763.

SPECKOZ NEWS UPDATE

ALPHARETTA, GA. — At a recent board of directors meeting, Speckoz Inc. presented The Ambassador Award to three of its stockholder members. Receiving this honor were Rhodes Chemical, Kansas City, Kansas; Target Specialty Products, Santa Fe Springs, Calif.; and Veatch Chemical, St. Louis, Mo.

Speaking on behalf of the other honorees, Roland Rhodes stated, "Becoming a stockholder member of Speckoz has been one of the best investments for Rhodes Chemical. Speckoz has provided a platform for the renewed growth of our company."

Superior-Angran, San Juan, Puerto Rico, was honored by Speckoz as the first recipient of the Pioneer Award. "My philosophy is similar to my father’s in that everything is possible if you work hard and as a team. Speckoz reflects that same idea," said Superior-Angran President Juan Angulo, Jr.

The Board of Directors of Speckoz also honored Tom Wright, president of B&G Chemical & Equipment Co., with the Pentathlon Award for growing his business consistently over the past five years.

In other news, Superior Angran recently announced the formation of Superior-Angran Dominicana.

COPENHAGEN 2003 SHARING THROUGH EDUCATION

COPENHAGEN — About 175 people from 30 countries visited Copenhagen to attend the 6th Fumigants & Pheromones Conference & Workshop June 3-5.

Copenhagen 2003 offered new and innovative fumigation techniques for stored food, wood, tobacco, museums and grain. The phaseout of the fumigant methyl bromide was a featured topic on the program in a country that has eliminated all uses of the ozone-depleting fumigant since 1998.

The stored product protection conference was organized by Insects Limited Inc. of Westfield, Ind., and Tanaco Danmark A/S of Esjberg, Denmark. The conference program included two days of presentations.

"It is fitting that we talk about the final phaseout of the fumigant methyl bromide in Copenhagen where the Copenhagen Amendment to the Montreal Protocol was signed to include methyl bromide on the international controlled substance list back in 1993," said Dave Mueller, program organizer. "Now, 10 years later, we can say that countries like Sweden, Denmark and Russia have achieved their goal of total phaseout of methyl bromide ahead of schedule."

The third day of the conference was devoted to museum pest management, which was held at the National Museum in Copenhagen. The workshop focused on least-toxic approaches to preventing and controlling pests in the museum environment. Topics included pheromones, timber protection, use of inert atmospheres, case studies and pest management in museums.

The next Fumigants & Pheromones Conference & Workshop will be held in Indianapolis in 2005.

MILTON THOMAS, LONGTIME GEORGIA PCO, PASSES AWAY

DALTON, GA. — Milton Thomas, 80, passed away in late June at Hamilton Medical Center. Thomas was a long-time member of the GPCA and served as a region director representing pest control companies in northwest Georgia. Thomas, a WWII veteran, was the owner of Thomas Exterminating Co. for 33 years.

Letters of condolence may be sent to: Thomas Exterminating, 407 Mosedale Dr., Dalton, GA 30722.