High school students cited for selling, buying cigarettes

Two Stewartville High School students have been charged with selling and possessing tobacco. 
Olmsted County Sheriff Detective Lee Rossman said a 15-year-old has been cited with a misdemeanor for selling cigarettes on campus. The 17-year-old, who allegedly purchased the cigarettes, has been cited with a petty misdemeanor for possession. 
Rossman said it happened on Sept. 24. He said the 17-year-old was caught with a cigarette in his possession and said he bought it from the younger teen. 
Rossman said that when deputies checked the younger teen's locker, they found more cigarettes inside, which were seized.

NC Legislators Join Growing Opposition to Canadian Bill Banning Manufacture and Sale of 'American Blend' Cigarettes

North Carolina State Representatives Jerry Dockham and David Lewis, along with State Senator David Rouzer are expressing their concerns that the passage of Bill C-32 by the Canadian Parliament could impose irreversible damage upon the North Carolina agriculture industry by banning the manufacture and sale of American blend cigarettes in Canada. 
The bill aims to address concerns regarding candy-flavored tobacco products that target minors, however, it imposes an overly-broad ban on all cigarettes manufactured with flavor additives, thus including "American blend" cigarettes that do not target minors and are not "fruity" or "candy" flavored.
The three legislators call on North Carolina's Congressional delegation to defend the jobs of many hard-working American tobacco farmers and manufacturers by encouraging the Canadian Parliament to consider the very negative effects of Bill C-32 and oppose it as currently written with such a broad and arbitrary ban. Additionally they are urging the state's federal lawmakers to weigh in with the appropriate U.S. trade officials. 
Recently, U.S. Rep. Howard Coble of the North Carolina's sixth Congressional district wrote to U.S. Trade Representative Mark Kirk on the issue, which Dockham said "shows that the Congressman is willing to stand up for our state's economy and for the many hard working people employed in our agricultural industry." Coble's letter, dated September 4th, 2009, cited concerns that the Canadian bill could "create repercussions for burley tobacco farmers", and that it would "negatively affect the tobacco manufacturing industry, as American blend cigarettes are often comprised of flue cured, oriental, and burley tobacco."
With the Canadian Parliament set for a September 30th hearing on C-32, Dockham said that "needlessly removing legitimate tobacco products that do not target youths would put many jobs at risk for American tobacco industry workers. I feel very strongly that C-32 would cause more problems than it solves, with the American tobacco industry receiving a blow from which it may be hard to recover."
While Lewis indicated his support for Canada's effort to curb youth tobacco use, he said he does not feel that placing a sweeping ban on all flavorings, such as those produced with American burley tobacco, is the answer. "I ask Canadian lawmakers to re-examine their objectives before placing trust in an across-the-board ban, and I encourage our two U.S. Senators and the rest of our Congressional delegation to ask the same of their Canadian colleagues," said Lewis.
Rouzer echoed the concerns of his two legislative colleagues. "Our tobacco farmers are once again under assault, this time by the Canadian government. If Canada is really serious about youth smoking, I've got a solution for them, and that's to get focused on tobacco contraband and enact stronger penalties for violators," said Rouzer. "That is where the real problem lies, and they know this. What they are really up to is a back door ban of tobacco products that include American tobacco, and North Carolina's Congressional delegation should stand up and call their hand on it."

Discarded cigarette causes 24-hour forest fire in Carrog

A DISCARDED cigarette sparked a 24-hour woodland blaze.
Fifty-five firefighters battled raging flames that engulfed 10 acres of cleared forestry in Carrog near Corwen.
The fire broke out just after 1pm on Monday and crews were still damping down the area last night.At the height of the fire, they had to shuttle water from the River Dee two miles away in their bid to bring the flames under control.
Yesterday, fire investigators said they believe a cigarette caused the inferno, which was tackled by teams from Corwen, Llangollen, Ruthin, Bala, Cerrigydrudion, Chirk, Prestatyn and Conwy, as well as a water carrier from Wrexham, and the Incident Command Unit from Rhyl.
The area affected was described as 10 acres of cleared forestry and brushwood.
A North Wales Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: The fire appears to have been caused by careless disposal of smoking materials.
“Two four-wheeled vehicles and two appliances ferried water and damped down deep-seated hotspots.
“In total, approximately 55 firefighters attended the incident.”
An eye witness, who did not want to be named said: “Orange flames were peaking quite high causing really dense smoke. Everywhere looked like it was covered with thick black fog that started to sting my eyes after just a short while.
“The firefighters were frantically trying to bring the blaze under control.”
Gareth Griffiths, senior operations manager said: “The fire appears to have been caused by careless disposal of a cigarette. Fires like this place tremendous pressure on resources, with firefighters tied up for a considerable length of time trying to bring them under control.
“These fires put the lives of the public and fire crews at risk and blight the countryside.”
He added: “We urge people to think again about the consequences of their actions – carelessly discarded cigarette ends and smoking materials can easily start fires which spread quickly and ferociously.”

Cigarette sales to youngsters 'unacceptably high'

CIGARETTES remain easily available to people under 18 according to Devon Trading Standards. They say undercover operations found retailers selling cigarettes to underage youngsters. 
A spokesperson said: “Despite the increase from 16 to 18-years-old for the minimum age for buying cigarettes in 2007, the operations found that youngsters were not asked their age and on occasions were even helped to buy cigarettes from vending machines, even though they were underage. “Operation Reality Check involved a series of test purchases across the South-West, using two female volunteers of a similar age. “One volunteer did not ‘dress-up’, or wear make up or lie about their age. The other dressed in more fashionable clothes and was able to wear make up, but was still not allowed to use any false identification. 
“However, in both cases cigarette sales to the youngsters were unacceptably high -- 52 outlets out of 298 (17%) sold cigarettes to the first volunteer and 67 outlets from 298 (22%) to the second volunteer. 
“Although there was a slight rise in sales with the more realistic scenario, the overall conclusion was that it appeared to make little difference as to whether a shop sold or not. “Far more important was the general attitude of the business towards underage sales in general. 
“Neither of our volunteers were asked their age and on a few occasions where identification was requested a sale still took place even though none was shown.”

Man faces charges after police say contraband found in vehicle

A 37-year-old man is facing several charges after Halifax RCMP say they found 7,400 packages of illegal cigarettes in his vehicle yesterday.
Police say they stopped the driver of a blue Pontiac Vibe on Beaver Bank Road at 2:30 a.m. after he showed signs of impairment. Police say the driver was then arrested for impaired driving.
Police then searched the vehicle and say they found the illegal cigarettes along with two bottles of liquor.
The man has been released with a notice to appear in provincial court Oct. 28 on charges of impaired operation of a motor vehicle, operating a motor vehicle over 80 mgs and possession of illegal cigarettes. 
Two other men in the car, aged 35 and 28, were also arrested and charged with breach of recognizance.

Fire And Smoke Damages From Cigarettes That You Could Learn To Live Without

It is not wise to smoke in the house. A cigarette can cause a fire at almost anytime. It can burn things, stain things, harm lives, and much more. You can fall asleep smoking and cause a house fire in the bedroom or in the living room. You can knock or drop the burning tip off the cigarette and cause it to land on the carpet. Cigarettes are one of the reasons people have house fires because they are being careless and not watching what they are doing. 

Cigarettes are dangerous and people can lose everything they have including their health because of it. Not only can it do damage to yourself and your house, but it can also do damage outside as well by starting a fire there. If you do smoke in the house, you must make sure that the cigarette is put out all the way. Make sure that there is no smoke coming from the ash tray and the cigarette is not still burning. Do not throw away the cigarette butts until you are certain they are out. Placing them in a metal container with nothing else in it is the safest way to dispose of them.

Make sure the containers have metal lids on them and some sand in it just in case there is still an ember burning. Also, if you smoke outside, have a container with sand on the cement path walk or on the porch for the cigarette butts, so if it gets knock over it will not start something on fire. Nothing looks nastier in your yard than to have it covered with discarded cigarette butts. Never throw your cigarette butts out the window when you are driving. Other people certainly do not want them in their yard either and starting a wildfire or burning down the home of someone is always a possibility.

Smoking is not only bad for you, but for your family, and your homes. You really do not want to even smoke in your home because of second hand smoke you subject others to, but also cause it makes your home dingy looking and smell really bad. If you are a smoker and would really like to quit, talk with your family doctor about all of the many quitting options there are available today. You might find one way or a combination of several that will help you kick this habit once and for all.

Stings target cigarette sales

Stores risk heavy fines if they’re caught selling tobacco to any customers under the age of 18.

A teenager walked into a Snohomish County store and asked to buy a pack of smokes.While the teen shopped, health officials and tobacco regulators secretly monitored the transaction.The buy was a sting, part of an annual compliance check to ensure that retailers are abiding by state tobacco rules, which prohibit their sale to anyone under 18.

Had the clerk sold the pack of cigarettes without first checking a valid identification card, the clerk and the business owner both could face fines. 
The cost to a teen who takes up a cigarette-smoking habit could be a lifelong addiction to nicotine, Snohomish County health officials said.
“Addiction to tobacco products often starts during adolescence. People pay a steep price for this addiction, with long-term illness and shortened lives,” said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, the head of the Snohomish Health District.
Officials checked 52 retail stores and found 84 percent were in compliance, about the same as the year before, said Suzanne Pate, a spokeswoman for the health district. Seven stores were found allegedly selling tobacco to minors.
Local health officials have for the past 15 years worked with agents from the Washington State Liquor Control Board, Pate said. Teen volunteers, both girls and boys, participate with their parents’ consent. 
Retail clerks who sell tobacco to minors can be individually fined $50 for a first offense. In addition, the business owner is fined $100 for a first sale to a minor, $300 for a second offense and $1,000 for a third offense plus a six-month suspension of the store’s tobacco license.
A fourth illegal sale within two years could cost the retailer $1,500 and a one-year license suspension. Further violations can result in the permanent cancellation of the store’s tobacco license.