Supplies At Emergency Level, Bloodmobile Offered
A special bloodmobile has been scheduled for Friday, June 28, by the American Red Cross in Crawford County. Chapter Manager Randy Garrett said she was contacted last week by the Central Ohio Blood Services Region with word that the area blood supply has reached "Emergency" level. According to the regional office, that means elective surgeries have been cancelled and some medical treatments have been postponed. Blood is being used for emergencies only.

Fairway School and Waycraft Industries is hosting the special bloodmobile which will run from 11 am to 5 pm. Donors can call the Crawford County Chapter of the American Red Cross at 419-562-HELP to schedule an appointment. Walk-ins are welcome. The next regularly scheduled bloodmobile is scheduled for Saturday, July 6, from 9 am to 3 pm at Chatfield Grocery.

Third Person Pleads Guilty In Kirby Tire Fire
A third person has pleaded guilty to starting a fire in 1999 at the state's largest tire dump.

Scott Harer, 22, of Bloomville, pleaded guilty Tuesday to charges of arson and attempted aggravated arson. He will be sentenced on Aug. 1.

Brent Young, 22, formerly of Bloomville, and Michael Schindewolf, 22, of Bucyrus, also have pleaded guilty and are awaiting sentencing.

Sending "Snail Mail" Getting A Little More Expensive
The price of mailing a First-Class Mail letter will increase 3 cents on June 30, 2002, from 34 to 37 cents - about 45 cents a month for the average household. New 37-cent First-Class Mail stamps are available now. A new 3-cent "Star" stamp is also available, to add to 34-cent stamps customers may still have on hand.

If you don't want to leave your home or office, you can go online to The Postal Store at usps.com to order stamps. The Postal Store is selling special rate-change combo packs containing both 37-cent and 3-cent stamps and a handy rate card. You can also order stamps by phone by calling 1-800-STAMP24.

Customers depositing mail in collection boxes should be careful to note the next scheduled pickup posted on the box. If no more pickups are scheduled before Sunday, June 30, the new postage rate should be affixed. Complete rate information is available by clicking here.

Humane Society Offers Rabies Clinic
The Crawford County Humane Society and Dad's Products Company are sponsoring a Rabies Clinic Saturday, June 29th at the Crawford County Humane Society on State Route 98.

A story in the AP says, state wildlife officers used chicken McNuggets, fish sandwiches, hamburgers, cinnamon rolls and honey to lure the bear from a tree in Audrey Manning's yard about a quarter-mile from West Jefferson. A cage was set up in the yard, and the bear took the bait about 1:30 a.m. Thursday.

Manning said finding a bear in her back yard was definitely a surprise. "I just saw a bear in the tree and called my son-in-law," the 77-year-old woman said. "He thought I was joking. And I said, 'I have a B-E-A-R out in the tree.'" Click here to read more of this story from the AP.

Crawford County Commissioner Named Chair Of Governor Re-Election Bid
Governor Bob Taft announced that he has appointed Barbara Blackford as the Crawford County Chairman for the 2002 Taft-Bradley re-election campaign, according to Anchor Broadcasting.

Slam-n-Jam Set To Take Center Court In Galion
With more than 10,000 visitors expected, organizers hope the Slam-n-Jam in Galion will give a big boost to the city's visibility.

All the barns were vacant and no one was injured in any of the fires, Barrick said. "They were all pretty much burned down by the time we got there,'' he said. Fire departments from Iberia and Lexington also battled the blazes.

The fires likely are connected, Barrick said, but declined to elaborate. "We have some leads,'' the chief said. "People do stupid things.'' The Morrow County barn fires are unrelated, he said, to a series of barn arsons in nearby Delaware and Union counties. Click here to read more of this story from the Columbus Dispatch.

State Reverses, Will Make Payments To Schools
Governor Bob Taft said Wednesday, June 26, that schools, including some in Wyandot County, will receive all property tax relief payments that budget officials had considered delaying to ensure the state budget was balanced. However, Taft said the Office of Budget and Management still could decide to delay payments to local governments that do not operate on the same fiscal year, which ends Sunday.

A story in the AP says, Taft said delaying the payments even a few days could impose undue hardships on the school districts. Local school officials had said that the state told them it was withholding the payments so it could end the year on Sunday in the black, as required by law.

But school districts operate on the same fiscal year and the law also requires their budgets to be balanced at the end of it. On Tuesday, the Ohio Association of School Business Officials sent Taft a letter saying it was concerned that districts would have to borrow money to make sure their budgets were balanced if the state withheld the payments. Click here to read more of this story from the AP.

Two Ohio Congressmen "Shocked" By Pledge Of Allegiance Decision
On Wednesday, June 26, the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit ruled that the Pledge of Allegiance is an unconstitutional endorsement of religion and cannot be recited in schools and two Ohio congressmen expressed their disagreement.

U.S. Senator George Voinovich (R-OH) issued the following statement in reaction: “This ruling on the Pledge is just beyond comprehension. I am shocked, saddened and exasperated by liberal efforts to eliminate any and all references to God in our country. I fought this fight with liberal interest groups as governor of Ohio when our motto “With God All Things Are Possible” was challenged. We eventually prevailed when the motto was ruled constitutional by the Sixth Circuit.”

U.S. Representative Michael G. Oxley (R-Findlay), who was the lead sponsor of a 2000 congressional resolution that expressed support for the Ohio state motto of "With God All Things Are Possible" when it was ruled unconstitutional, issued the following statement:

"This is an absurd decision. But it's something we have already been through in Ohio, when our state motto 'With God All Things Are Possible' was challenged and ultimately upheld. The Pledge of Allegiance is as much a part of America as our flag. To insinuate in any way that it's harmful or oppressive flies in the face of common sense." Click here to read more of this story on our sister site Marion Online.

Bucyrus Church To Hold Freedom Celebration
On July 6th, the First Alliance Church on Hopley Avenue will be celebrating freedom at 6:30 pm on the church lawn.

Mosquito Spraying Has Begun In Bucyrus
Spraying for mosquitoes began on Wednesday, June 19, in Bucyrus. Because of the need to only spray on evenings that are dry and with little breeze, a set schedule for spraying cannot be set.

"Hello Dolly"
The Galion Community Theater will have the production of "Hello Dolly" on Friday, June 28th, Saturday, June 29th at 8pm and Sunday, June 30th at 2pm.  To order your tickets or for more information, call 419-468-2662.

Annual Crawford County Pet Festival Scheduled
The annual Crawford County Humane Society Pet Festival will be held Saturday, June 29th at the society's shelter on State Route 98.

According to Anchor Broadcasting, a variety of events are scheduled from 11 am until 4 pm, including agility shows, pet contests, exhibits and raffles. A Paws Walk will be held from 9 am to 11 am and county veterinarians will be on hand for the rabies clinic.

Galion Historical Society To Hold Summer Social
The Galion Historical Society will hold a Summer Social at Brownella Cottage on June 29.