NEAT NUMERALS

8,000

Pennsylvania SPCA leaders report that there were 8,000 animal abuse complaints across the state last year, up from just over 6,000 in 2006. SPCA last week started a toll-free animal abuse "hotline" that will likely boost reports even more this year. It's 1-866-601-7722.

49

Anti-abortion activists in St. Marys recruit teenagers to advance their cause.

A group of 49 teens and adults from St. Marys Life Teen recently traveled to Washington D.C. to demonstrate during the annual March for Life, held on the anniversary date of the 1973 Supreme Court decision, Roe vs. Wade, which legalized abortion.

The group also toured several historic sites in Washington.

1,440

A $1,440 allotment from the Emporium Foundation helped the Emporium Shade Tree Commission keep the downtown area beautiful in 2007.

The grant was used for tree purchases, tools, stump removal and a membership fee to the National Arbor Day Foundation.

350

A Penn State survey, "Pennsylvania Snowmobilers and Their Needs," found that snowmobile owners typically spend $350 per trip when riding trails in the state. Majority is spent on food, lodging, fuel, maintenance and other transportation. The survey concluded that snowmobile owners spend about $4,400 per year while riding in the state.

56.4

U.S. Department of Education reports that the average teacher's salary in Pennsylvania was $46,400 for the 2006- 07 school year. The national average was $47,602.

California has the highest average teacher's salary at $55,693, followed by Michigan at $54,020. South Dakota had the lowest at $32,414.

21

The woman who admitted to allowing 21 Great Danes to die at her kennel near Bradford last year was sent to prison by McKean County Judge John Yoder.

Sentencing of 59-year-old Cheryl Magnotta followed a detailed summary of her crimes by McKean County SPCA humane officer Tony Danias. The dogs starved to death after Magnotta moved away from her Bradford Township home. She was sentenced to six to 24 months in prison on six charges of animal cruelty.

Judge Yoder acknowledged that Magnotta had mental health, physical and financial problems which may have impaired her judgment at the time of the crimes.

11

For all of the concern expressed about political apathy among young people, there were some hopeful statistics emerging from the 2004 presidential election. Youth voting surged by 11 percentage points over the 2000 figure.

In presidential election years between 1972 and 2000, the turnout rate had declined by 16 percentage points. It remains to be seen if the increase in youth turnout in 2004 is part of a new trend or is instead a spike in youth electoral participation, such as the spike for the 1992 election.

In 2004, 47 percent of 18- 24 year old citizens voted; 66 percent of citizens 25 and older voted. Young women voted at higher rates than young men: 50 percent of 18-24 year old women and 44 percent of young men voted in 2004.