October 20, 2021 Issue, Page 4 of 10

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Agriculture October 20, 2021 Homeowners should gear up for fall maintenance projects By Trisha Gedon will help protect the integrity A few other quick and easy fall and change the filters. regularly, birds, squirrels and “It doesn’t take much time to of your home.” other critters may be callingclean the leaves out of your maintenance tips include: Inspect home siding for holes STILLWATER - Many Oklaho- Check roofs for loose or miss- your chimney home, which can gutters,” Peek said. “If the Remove window air condition- and cracks and replace caulk if mans have a big list of to-dos ing shingles. This is especially make it unsafe to use without leaves are dry, homeowners ers or put weatherproof covers necessary. for spring cleaning, but the fall important with the high winds dearing out the accumulated can use a leaf blower to speed on them. If a home has storm windows season is a great time for some that accompany many of Okla- debris from nesting activity.” Check for leaky faucets and re- up the removal process. Other- and screens, take down the home maintenance projects. homa’s severe thunderstorms. wise, take the time to remove place washers as necessary. The fall season also means “Now that the triple-digit Also check around vents, sky- leaves are falling. While most leaves by hand.” Make sure refrigerator door screens and replace with the heat is on the back burner, lights and chimneys for leaks do end up on the ground, it’s a Ensure all smoke detectors, seals are airtight. Test them by storm windows. these home maintenance and make necessary repairs. sure bet a home's rain gutters carbon monoxide detectors closing the door over a sheet of “These routine chores will help projects will help protect your Look for loose or missing mor- and downspouts get clogged and fire extinguishers are in paper. If you can easily pull the ensure your home is ready for home during the cold, winter tar around the fireplace. with leaves. This results in rain- good working order. Replace paper out, the door may need the cold weather a little later months,” said Gina Peek, Okla- “It's a good idea to have your water spilling over the edge or batteries as needed. An easy to be adjusted or the seals re- in the year,” Peek said. “They'll homa State University Exten- fireplace professionally in- remaining in the gutters be- tip to remember to check those placed. also help conserve energy, sion housing and consumer spected and cleaned to remove cause they can’t drain. When batteries is to do so when Day- Seal drafty doors and windows. which is money in your pock- specialist and interim associ- soot, blockages and built-up the temperature falls below light Saving Time begins and Heat can easily escape even ate dean. “Tasks such as check- creosote from the chimney freezing, this water will freeze ends. It ends Nov. 7 this year, small cracks of space, which ul- et.” ing the roof for leaks, having liner, firebox, smoke chamberand can cause an ice dam, so set clocks back one hour and timately will cost more in heat- OSU Extension offers addi- the chimney professionally and damper,” she said. “Even which could damage shingles change batteries in all safety ing bills. tional home care and safety dleaned and changing air filters if you don’t use your fireplace and possibly cause roof leaks. equipment. Have the heating unit serviced information online. Prepare farm and ranch equipment for winter storage By Trisha Gedon ‘This allows light in and makes the engine compartment less at- Mice are nibblers, so putting a little bait in several bait sta- tractive. However, this may not be appropriate for outside stor- tions will help increase consumption. Use several kinds of bait STILLWATER - With colder weather just around the corner, age due rain, wind and snow. until a preference is detected, then use that one until feeding many farmers and ranchers are preparing to store machinery for Baits and traps also are options in developing a control pro- stops. Always use an enclosed bait station, and never place them the winter. Rodents will be eyeing that same machinery for an- gram, Tips include: where children or pets can have access. other reason - as a cozy place to shelter for a few months. Snap traps are one of the oldest types of traps and usually “While application of toxic baits is a viable method of rodent “There are dozens of nooks and crannies under the hood of a provide a quick death to the rodent. Mice typically have small control, it’s important for people to be aware of where they are piece of farm machinery that are attractive to many rodent spe- territories, so traps must be placed within their range to be ef- baiting and with what,” Shelton said. “Avoid placing baits where cies,” said Kevin Shelton, Oklahoma State University Extension fective. They can be placed under a vehicle hood and inside the non-target animals are likely to come in contact.” associate specialist and coordinator of OSU's Pesticide Safety cab and glove box. Be sure to place snap traps where pets don’t Natural predators are playing their own part in pest control Education Program. “However, the last thing you want to do is have access. as well. Snakes, both venomous and non-venomous, house and provide an efficiency apartment to these rodents for the winter. Live-catch traps are rodent stations that can be baited with a barn cats, foxes and bobcats are effective rodent killers. So are ‘The wiring harness is appealing and is a readily available chew food attractant or rodenticide, Some may have snap traps or glue birds such as hawks, owls and even roadrunners. toy, which will cause lots of problems next spring” boards inside. “It won't be long until rodents are looking for a new home Shelton said the easiest thing to do to deter rodents is to sim- Because rodents are naturally inquisitive, sticky traps or glue for the winter. Keeping these tips in mind will help ensure your ply raise the hood while machinery is stored in a barn or shed. boards work well. equipment is in good shape when spring rolls around,” he said. It pays to be cautious when living online By Gail Ellis password discovery, Wallace promised via a stolen pass- recommended using a pass- word or the account password STILLWATER, Okla. - word manager that can store has been reset through one of Much of the public lives on- all passwords in a safe and the security questions, the ac- line today from shopping and secure space online and even count holder needs to reset banking to communicating generate new passwords when their password or contact Face- suspicious account activity is book to lock down the account with friends and family. While detected. Apple products of- as soon as possible. Hackers convenient, sharing informa- fer the Keychain password might also try to mimic a Face- tion online is risky. October manager, and both Google and book user by setting up an is Cyber Security Awareness Firefox have options built into account that looks like some- Big Elks wallop Weatherford Month, and there's no better their systems, such as Google one’s original profile. time for a reminder on how to Password Manager and Lock- “In that case, changing play it safe in the digital land- wise. Bitwarden, password your password isn’t going to scape. and LastPass are also com- fix anything because it’s a com- Password power monly used. Jason Crouse. Staff photo by Rose Cummings. A password is the gateway “Password managers are a pletely different account,” Ar- to any account, and the routine high-priority target for hack nold said. “Contact Facebook By Kerry Hookstra ter forcing a punt and setting gal block but the Big Elks had practice of changing it is criti- ers,” Wallace said. “The pass- immediately and explain that up shop on their 31, Elk City possession at the Weatherford cal to protecting private in- word manager programs will second account is not you and Elk City hosed District foe put together a sustained drive 17. Crouse hammered for 15 formation, said Isaac Wallace, encrypt the data for security, the profile needs to be deleted and -40 rival Weatherford, Oct. of 12 plays that was highlight- yards on first down and Culver a computer support specialist but you still need to create a immediately.” 14. Ina contest that was close ed by a Cloud field goal from kept up the gut for a two yard in the information technol- good, strong password.” Unfortunately, when a through the first quarter and the six yard line.With 14.2 on scoring plunge. Cloud hit his ogy department for Oklahoma OSU Agriculture IT recom- breach in social media affects seven minutes, the Big Elks the fist half clock Elk City had eighth PAT for a 59-12 margin State University Agriculture. mends choosing a password of finances, bank accounts should put together a scoring explo- a 24-12 advantage. with just over 10 minutes in “Your bank accounts, creditrandom phrases, rather than be frozen. Afterward, the pain- sion that saw 42 unanswered Receiving the second half the contest. cards, Amazon account, infor- individual words, along with a ful and long process of start- points from the 7:05 mark of kickoff, Big Elk Marino Rivera Another Eagle turnover mation on your credit score capital letter, some numbers and a few symbols. Password ing over begins — disputing the second quarter to win by a Noblitt returned the ball 90 on the next possession gave and more are all accessible charges, changing passwords margin of 66-18. yards for a TD as he started up the ball to Elk City at 27. Cale with a password, so if someone safety practices also can in- Elk City got on the board the middle but cut to the right were to get into your account, clude multi-factor authentica- and obtaining new account first after forcing an Eagle sideline to out distance the de- Poole pounced on a loose pig- it could be devastating,” Wal- tion that requires confirming numbers. skin and five plays later Austin punt with a five yard dive off fenders. The extra point kick lace said. an account login on a second Arnold said some employ- left tackle from Jason Crouse. was good and Elk City had a Jones ran a quarterback keep- It is tempting to choose device. One other simple but ees at OSU’s county Exten- Nike Cloud booted the extra 31-12 lead just 14 seconds into er a yard for sixt. Cloud came a password for multiple ac- smart way to boost account sion offices fell victim to social point for a 7-0 lead at 8:09 of the second half. on to kick his ninth extra point counts that’s easy to remem- security is to pay attention to media scamming when some- the first. Another six came at 8:24 for a 66-12 bulgeat 7:33 of the ber, but selecting the name of breaches in the news. one pretending to represent After the kickoff Weather- of the third on a 13 yard run fourth. a family member, friend or pet “If you don’t realize that a Facebook called and requested ford faced third and eight from by Daylan “Day Day ° Thomp- In the ongoing battle of is strongly discouraged. company where you have an credit card information. their 22 when Alex Cherry son as he started wide left but the reserves the Eagles put “T can look at a social me- account was hacked and you “Bacebook is never going stepped in for a pick six in- cut back right to the end zone. together an 11 play drive that dia profile and find a person’s don’t change your password, it to call and ask for a credit card terception. Cloud again made Cloud booted another PAT for covered 80 yards following a birthday, family and friends sits exposed online for a week, the kick and the Big Elks were a 38-12 margin at 8:24 of the touchback on the Cloud kick- just by doing a little sleuth- two weeks, a year or however number or password,” Arnold up 14-0 with 6:55 on the first third. off. Nicklas Hansen carried ing,” Wallace said. “Instead of long until you change it,” Wal- said. “The best tip to remember quarter clock. Elk City then held on nine times including a two words that are easily guess- lace said. when on Facebook and social The Eagles struck for six downs at their 41 and on the yard scoring charge off right able, choose a unique, long and Social media savvy media is to be a little cautious. ona three yard run up the gut seventh play of the drive tackle. The two point conver- random password. It is expo- A password unlocks pri- Ifyou see a weird post or some- to cap their next possession. Thompson went off left guard sion was stuffed leaving the nentially more difficult for a vate information online, but one sends you a questionable Drake Hughes came off the and broke tackles in the sec- final 66-18 score on the board hacker to crack a 24-character what happens when a person link, take a moment to ask right edge to block the extra ondary to rumble 29 yards for with 2:13 remaining. password with each additional willingly gives out the details yourself, ‘Why am I receiving point try leaving the score at the TD. Another Cloud extra Unofficially the Big Elks had character that increases safe- through social media? In a blog this?” 14-6 3:58 from the end of the point was good for a 45-15 ad- 346 yards on the ground with post earlier this month, Levi Never respond to online first period of play. They would vantage just 39.9 seconds from Thompson gaining 183 yards ‘A password hacker can de- Amold, OSU Agriculture IT score again in the second stan- the end of the third. ploy several tricks to break a computer specialist, discussed quizzes that ask for details on za following a fumble recovery On the first play of the next on 26 carries. Crouse rushed for 69 in seven attempts while code including, one method how to safely use social media birthdays, friends, family and Eagle possession Saxon Pooole Price had one carry for 31 to end the first frame. The TD called the dictionary attack. channels. Although there are other life events, and never came on third and 15 with a stepped in and stepped up to Words commonly found in several social media platforms, publicly share schedules or 36 yard scoring strike over intercept a pass. The Big Elks yards and Poole picked up 37 in two rushes. Alonzo Geno many passwords are collected Facebook is often the biggest addresses. Arnold’s blog post the middle. A two point con- took just three plays to score carried four times to gain 24 into a dictionary that hacking offender for hacking because it in honor of Cyber Security version try was stopped by an following a delay of game pen- programs use first when trying is such a commonly used me- Awareness Month covers more incomplete pass. Weatherford alty to start the drive and place yards with Coulter and Alex to identify a password. dium. details on how social media us- the ball on their 43.. On third Cupp picking up a yard apiece. trailed 14-12 at the 7:56 point Passwords are compro- “Facebook doesn’t delete ers can protect their identities. of the second quarter. and four from the 32 Corey ‘Through the air four com- mised by both automated bots information, so if security set- “It's easy to take preventa- After Elk City covered an Culver hooked up with Hughes pletions gained 70 unofficial and humans and vary from tings aren’t enabled, it’s easy to onside kick attempt at their for a dazzling catch in the end yards. Hushes caught two for major companywide breaches scroll back years and see a lot tive steps, but once your infor- 48, they took advantage of the zone for a TD. Again Cloud 43 and Price grabbed two for to one-off security attacks. about a person's life,” Arnold mation is out there, it’s almost short field to score in four plays split the uprights and Elk City 12 yards. Total offense stood at Often, the private data that said, impossible to retrieve,” he said. as Mason Price took a reverse had a 52-12 lead at 11:52 of 416 yards. Price led the defen- is stolen is sold and scattered Hacking on Facebook, for Several cyber security safe- wide left for a 31 yard trip to the fourth. sive attack with 12 tackles and across the internet. example, can involve multiple ty blog posts are available from paydirt. Another Cloud PAT An interception for a TD Sammy Leal caused the fumble To reduce the potential for stages. If an account is com- OSU Agriculture IT. put the Big Elks up 21-12. Af was called back due to an ille- recovered by Jerome Laik.