The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1400710
By Hans Schmitz Purdue Extension Educator hschmitz@purdue.edu A new invasive pest has been found in Indiana, and Purdue Extension is sound- ing the alert to look for it anywhere in the state. Spot- ted Lanternfly, introduced to Pennsylvania in 2014, was pre- viously thought to only exist as far west as Eastern Ohio along a line extending to the Atlantic Coast, has been found in Switzerland County in far southeast Indiana. Be- cause this find is about a full state away from the previous- ly known distribution of this pest, all counties in Indiana could be harboring this pest. Below is text taken from a news release by Purdue spe- cialists Cliff Sadof and Eliza- beth Barnes, and Ohio Educa- tor Amy Stone. Right now, the Indiana DNR is asking for all citizens to keep an eye out for spotted lanternfly. The bright color of late stage immatures and adults are easily recognized at this time of the year. Anyone who spots signs of the spot- ted lanternfly should contact the Indiana Division of En- tomology and Plant Pathol- ogy (DEPP) by calling 866 - NO EXOTIC (866 -663-9684) or send an email (with a pho- to of the insect if possible) to DEPP@dnr.IN.gov. What is Spotted Lanternfly? Spotted lanternfly is a plan- thopper that originated in Asia. It was first discovered in the United States in Penn- sylvania in 2014. The Penn- sylvania De- partment of Agriculture was unable to limit the spread of this pest because it is an effec- tive hitchhik- er and is of- ten spread un- knowingly by humans. Adult spotted lanternfly has two sets of wings, and the un- derwing has a very distinct red color with spots on the outer wings. The fourth in- star of the insect is bright red with black and white mark- ings. The egg masses of this invasive insect look like mud and they can be spread by ve- hicle transport including rec- reational vehicles, cargo car- riers (truck transport) and freight trains. They can also be spread through trade ma- terials sold in infested areas that are shipped out of state including nursery stock, out- door furniture, lumber, etc. Anyone receiving goods from the east coast should inspect for signs of the insect, especially if the commodity is to be kept outdoors. The lanternfly feeds on sap of young plants and is a big potential disruptor of grapes, hops, apples, stone fruits, and other tree fruits. The lanternfly has a potential host range of more than 70 species of plants, which makes the insect very likely to thrive where it is found. Being an invasive, it has very few species that feed on it to assist in control. If you find a moth or larvae you sus- pect to be spotted lanternfly, you can also contact your local Purdue Extension office for in- sect identification and confir- mation. For more information, contact Hans Schmitz at 812- 838 -1331 or hschmitz@pur- due. edu. A-6 Wednesday, August 11, 2021 The Press-Dispatch Social Security Matters By Rusty Gloor I'm terminal; What are my wife's options as my survivor? Lookout for spotted lanternfly Down on the Farm By Hans Schmitz, Purdue Educator 8/11 serves as a reminder to always call 811 before digging August 11 serves as a re- minder to call the national "Call Before You Dig" number – 811 – prior to any digging project. One call to 811 before digging can prevent injuries, property damage, service disruption and possible costly fines for dam- aged infrastructure. "We always remind home- owners and professional con- tractors to call 811 before digging to reduce the risk of striking an underground util- ity line," Ashley Babcock, Di- rector of Damage Prevention and Meter Reading for Cen- terPoint Energy. "The cause of many underground utility damages is not digging prop- erly. The only physical way to know what's below is to call and have the buried utilities in your project area marked. By calling 811, homeowners and profes- sionals receive the free locat- ing service and also follow an important law designed to help keep them and their communi- ties safe." When homeowners or con- tractors call 811, the One Call Center automatically notifies local utilities. A fter the request is made, professional locators are sent to the requested dig- ging site to mark the approxi- mate locations of underground lines with flags and spray paint, enabling the homeowner to dig safely. The depth of utility lines var- ies and there may be multiple utility lines in a common area. Whether it is a small project like planting a tree, or a larg- er one such as hiring a pro- fessional to install a lawn irri- gation system, smart digging means calling 811 before each project. For more information, visit call811.com. CHARGER CHARGER ROOT 'EM ON ALL YEAR Say 'Good Luck' to all the Charger Teams Football, Boys' and Girls' Cross Country, Boys' and Girls' Soccer, Volleyball, Boys' and Girls' Tennis, Wrestling, Boys' and Girls' Swimming, Boys' and Girls' Basketball, Softball, Baseball, Boys' and Girls' Track and Boys' and Girls' Golf. A special offering of school-related sections available at special savings. SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR ORDERING INFORMATION $ 124 e Press-Dispatch will be producing the Fall, Winter and Spring Sports Previews again along with the Graduation Edition. You may select a discounted package or select each edition separately. Take advan- tage of these sections' high readership by advertising in the Charger special editions. e first edition is the Fall Sports Preview. Call 812-354-8500 today and reserve your space! Add 2 col. x 2" Regional thru State only $12/ad 18 Sports for only SIZE REGULAR PRICE DISCOUNTED PRICE Full Page $529/issue $388/issue 2/3 Page $382/issue $292/issue ird Page $250/issue $184/issue Sixth Page $130/issue $115/issue Twelfth Page $82/issue $69/issue SEASON PASS PRICING 2021 2022 CHARGER Spectacular Spectacular Spectacular Dear Rusty: I'm 60 and my wife is 62. I have termi- nal Stage IV prostate cancer, but my wife is in pretty good health. If I draw at 62 would that affect my wife's survi- vor benefits? When should she start to withdraw? Also, when I die what would she get? Would she get her SS and then something of mine? Or must she choose between keeping hers and taking my survivor benefit? Please as- sist—I don't have much en- ergy anymore. Signed: Run- ning on Empty. Dear Running on Emp- ty: Sorry to hear of your ill- ness and I commend you for planning ahead for your wife. As your surviving wid- ow, your wife's survivor ben- efit will be based upon the amount you were receiving at your death, but it will also be affected by her age when she claims it. So, yes, if you claim at age 62 it will mean a small- er widow's benefit than your wife might otherwise get if you waited longer. But there is also a special rule, known as the "widows limit" which will affect your wife's survi- vor benefit. The widow's limit stipulates that the minimum benefit your wife will receive as your survivor is 82.5 per- cent of the amount you would have been due at your full re- tirement age (67). So even if you claim at age 62 and take a 30 percent cut in your own bene- fit, your wife will still get 82.5 per- cent of what you were entitled to at your full re- tirement age (FR A). How- ever, as I said, your wife's survi- vor benefit amount will also be based upon her age when she claims it, and she isn't re- quired to claim it immediate- ly upon your death. Your wife's survivor bene- fit as your widow will reach maximum when she reaches her own full retirement age, and if she claims it prior to her FR A, it will be reduced 4.75 percent for each full year earlier than her FR A. But if her benefit as your widow will be more than her own SS retirement benefit, she can take (or continue to re- ceive) her own SS benefit and wait until her survivor bene- fit reaches maximum at her FR A. Or alternatively, if your wife is not yet collecting her own SS benefit, she could choose to let her own bene- fit grow and reach maximum at age 70 and take her small- er survivor benefit first. She will get which- ever benefit is more - her sur- vivor benefit or her own, and she will have a choice of which one to take and when to choose it. Finally, de- pending upon the extent of your disability, you may wish to consider applying for So- cial Security Disability Insur- ance (SSDI) benefits earlier than age 62. Advanced pros- tate cancer is on Social Secu- rity's Compassionate Allow- ance List, and this would ex- pedite processing of your SS - DI application, resulting in a decision within a few weeks instead of a few months. Do- ing so would not affect your wife's claiming options upon your death, and it may make her survivor benefit higher because your SSDI benefit would be based on your FR A benefit entitlement. To submit a question, vis- it website (amacfoundation. org/programs/social-secu- rity-advisory) or email ssad- visor@amacfoundation.org. Call 812-354-8500 by 5 p.m. August 11