Many people who keep plants during the winter are troubled with lice covering the leaves. A few days ago a Sun reporter happened into a Mechanic Falls lady’s kitchen just as she was giving her plants a bath. The odor was unpleasant to say the least, and by way of experience of explanation this lady said, “I am giving these plants a thorough scrubbing with whale oil soap. It’s the only thing I know of to kill the lice, and it freshens the plant up wonderfully.” Others having this same trouble with plants may be glad to know a remedy.

50 Years Ago, 1955

Lewiston Marines were hard at work yesterday fixing up the landing barge which will bring Santa Claus across the Androscoggin River from Auburn for Saturday morning’s annual parade to celebrate his pre-Christmas visit to the Twin Cities.

According to the latest word from north of the Arctic Circle, Santa is thinking about flying here into a helicopter and then changing to the boat a couple of miles up the river in Auburn. The idea is to give Santa a boat ride to put him in a jolly mood to hear all the Christmas requests from the boys and girls.

The landing barge, donated by the Union Water Power Co., is being decorated for the river-crossing operation by members of the 23rd Rifle Co., Marine Corps Reserves. Santa will be escorted on his river journey by the Marines and will be carried in the parade in a Marine vehicle.

25 Years Ago, 1980

•One day after the Lewiston-Auburn area experienced an unexpected, record breaking snowstorm, residents are still pushing, shoveling and cursing their way out from under about one foot of snow.

The record snowfall for a Nov. 18 was set in 1956 with a 5.6-inch snowfall, according to the National Weather Service in Portland. The record was broken Tuesday when nearly 10 inches fell in Lewiston-Auburn.

•Most American banks raised their prime lending rate Monday to 16.25 percent.