The Marion Star from Marion, Ohio • 3

LocalOhio TUESDAY, January 9, 2007 3A Page nrion Memories "Democrat takes he IT Mil (Chests of Bush-backing Ohio 'I i i a 'V ry i J- AP COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Democrat Ted Strickland was sworn in as governor of scandal- scarred Ohio on Monday, ending 16 years of Republican control in the state that tipped the election for President Bush in 2004. In a midnight ceremony at the Statehouse, Strickland replaced term-limited Bob Taft, who saw himself swept up in a state investment scandal that included the governor's own no contest plea to ethics violations. Strickland, 65, now holds political control of a state that both parties view as critical to a White House victory in 2008. Lt. Gov.

Lee Fisher took his oath before Strickland, with new 'first lady Frances Strickland and other family members by his side, was sworn in by Ohio Supreme Court Justice Thomas Moyer. Strickland then signed his oath and an executive order limiting the gifts he and other members of his administration can accept. "When those who want contracts or or other benefits from the state give gifts or meals or tickets or trips to state officials or employees, the people of Ohio have every right to be suspicious that official government decisions arent being based on the merits," the order said. Strickland and members of his staff and cabinet will be allowed to accept gifts only from family members and close friends who donl lobby or do business with the state, except for inexpensive token gifts and meals under $20. Strickland was sworn in on the 1763 Huntington Bible, the oldest in the collection of the Ohio Historical Society.

The book was owned by Samuel Huntington, who served as the first acting president of the United States, signed the Declaration of Independence and presided over the Continental Congress. He handed it down to his nephew, Samuel, Ohio's third governor. The Bible is reported nominee win the governor's office in 1986, when voters reelected Richard Celeste. Strickland's win over GOP nominee Ken Blackwell came amid a Democratic surge both in the state and nationally and followed high-profile scandals involving Republican Congressman Bob Ney of Ohio, who pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges, and an unorthodox $50 million investehent in rare coins by the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation. The investigations into that investment led to the departure of the bureau's longtime director and numerous criminal charges against bureau employees and members of Taft's administration.

After the state's probe began, Taft disclosed that he failed to report golf outings and other gifts. He then pleaded no contest to ethics charges in August 2005. He was the first Ohio governor to be charged with a crime while in office. He ended his tenure as one of the most unpopular governors in America. Strickland made no comments elaborating on the executive order, but in a statement released earlier in the evening said, "Recent scandals in Columbus have created the perception that decisions are made to reward political friends instead of making decisions that are best for Ohio." About a third of Ohio voters who had backed Bush in 2004 supported Strickland, who sent a pro-Christian, pro-gun message that appealed to many swing voters.

Strickland has pledged to work with Republicans in the Legislature and against the divisiveness that consumed the state amid scandal and one-party rule. As both an ordained Methodist minister and a psychologist who has taught college, Strickland also joins only a few Ohio governors who have been in either the clergy or aca-demia, according to research by the Ohio Historical Society. unit near the blast was shut down. AEP officials said they were investigating the cause. Federal safety officials also were at the plant, which is near the West Virginia border and about 100 miles southeast of Columbus.

Nine workers were treated at three hospitals in Mari- Ohio's new Gov. Ted Strickland talks to members of the media upon his first-day arrival at his office in the State-house Monday in Columbus. Strickland was sworn in as governor of scandal-scarred Ohio shortly after midnight on Monday, ending 16 years of Republican control in the state that tipped the election for President Bush in 2004. At a glance Sunday accident injures Marion man MARION A twovehicle accident Sunday morning caused minor injuries to a Marion man. The accident occurred at 9:40 am on Smeltzer Road at Marion Cardington Road.

Rickey Bosh, 50, Marion, was taken to Marion General Hospital by a family member. The hospital had no record of his treatment Bosh was driving a 1993 Ford Aerostar northbound on Smeltzer Road and James Bittinger, 68, Butler, was driving a 2003 Chevy Impaia westbound on Marion Cardington Road when the accident happened. According to the Marion Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol, Bittinger failed to stop for the stop sign and was struck by the Bosh vehicle. Both were wearing seat belts. Bittinger was cited for failure to yield from a stop sign.

Wccdstsck man in Union Co. crash S0MERSV1LE A two vehicle crash which resulted in fatal injuries to a Woodstock man and injury to a Richwood woman is. being investigated by the Marysville Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. James R. Dunn, 62, Woodstock, was pronounced dead at the scene by the Union County Coroner.

Megan Gillespie, 23, Richwood, was transported to Memorial Hospital of Union County by Richwood Medic 315. She was treated and released. The patrol reported that the 7:20 a.m. Monday accident happened on Ohio 31 north of County Road 214 in York Township. Gillespie was driving a 2001 Dodge 2500 pickup south on Ohio 31 and Dunn was driving a 1999 Toyota Tacoma northbound on Ohio 31 when his vehicle spun into the southbound lane and was struck in the passenger side by the Gillespie vehicle.

Gillespie's vehicle came to rest off the east side of Ohio 31. Dunn's" vehicle came to rest off the west side of the roadway. The Union County Sheriff's Office assisted at tiie scene. The crash remains under investigation. Noistes soisgli! fop Ming Hall GfFftns MARION Marion City Schools is seeking nominations for its Harding High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.

The hall of fame is a program designed to recognize outstanding graduates. The hall of fame committee is seeking worthy individuals who have distinguished themselves through one or more of the following criteria: exemplary accomplishment, national or international distinction, professional impact or career achievement service to the community and humanity and philanthropic involvement Nominations must include the nominee's name, maiden name if applicable, address, phone number, graduation year, present occupation and employer. It should also include information about the person making the nomination. Nominations must be sent by Feb. 1 to: Harding High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame Committee, co Academic Boosters, 1500 Harding Highway East Marion, OH 43302.

Nominations must include any pertinent information including any related articles and details of experiences related to the nominee that could assist the committee in making a decision. Corcctloiis msstifi rested for ita. 22 MARION The regular meeting of the Corrections Commission for the MulfrCounty Correctional Center scheduled for Wednesday morning has been changed. The meeting has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. Monday, Jan.

22, at the Hardin County Courthouse. avoid competing with college football's national championship game, in which top-ranked Ohio State plays No. 2 Florida. Strickland's sisters beamed as their brother signed the oath of office, one saying under her breath, 'This is so great." Democrats last saw their Apply by Jan. 24 for FEMA funds Explosion at southeast Ohio electric plant kills 1, injures 9 fei LI xLiJijiL 25 years ago A series of postural screenings (body posture irregularities) would be conducted for all sixth, seventh and eight grade students in the Marion City Schools.

School nurses, assisted by physical education instructors, would conduct the initial screenings. Previously, in Marion and other communities where problems had been detected in school children, it had been found that 10 out of 100 children had some type of spinal variation. 50 years ago Marion Municipal Airport earned $3,149 more than it cost to operate during 1956, H. W. Cobb, operator-manager, noted in an annual report issued today.

The report stated that total income for the year was $11,966 plus $2,038 in accounts receivable and that costs of operation was $10,854. 75 years ago Country-wide notice had been given the announcement of Dr. Theodore Zuck, endocrinologist at the Brush Foundation in Cleveland that human bodies which had been stunted by accidents or disease could be stimulated toward normal development. Dr. Zuck was the son of and Mrs.

Frank Zuck, 373 Windsor St. Zuck was an instructor of applied anatomy and biology at Western Reserve University. you would tik to contribute a photo or ftory to Marion Memories, call Brenda Donegan at 740-375-5150. Historical Highlights Today is Tuesday, Jan. 9, the ninth day of 2007.

There are 356 days left in the year. Today's Highlight in History: On Jan. 9, 1913, Richard Milhous Nixon, the 37th president of the United States, was born in Yorba Linda, Calif. On this date: In 1788, Connecticut became the fifth state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.

In 1793, Frenchman Jean Pierre Blanchard, using a hot-air balloon, flew between Philadelphia and Woodbury, NJ. In 1861, Mississippi seceded from the Union. In 1861, the Star of the West, a merchant vessel bringing reinforcements to Federal troops at Fort Sumter, S.C., retreated after being fired on by a battery in the harbor. In 1945, during World War II, American forces began landing at Lingayen Gulf in the Philippines. In 1957, Anthony Eden resigned as British prime minister; he was succeeded by Harold Macmillan.

In 1964, rioting broke out in the Panama Canal Zone, resulting in the deaths of 21 Panamanians and three U.S. soldiers. In 1968, the Surveyor 7 space probe made a soft landing on the moon, marking the end of the American series of unmanned explorations of the lunar surface. In 1972, reclusive billionaire Howard Hughes, speaking by telephone from the Bahamas to reporters in Hollywood, said a purported biography of him by Clifford Irving was a fake. In 1987, the White House released a memorandum prepared for President Reagan in January 1986 that showed a definite link between U.S.

arms sales to Iran and the release of American hostages in Lebanon. Thought for Today: "One's lifework, I have learned, grows with the working and the living. Do it as if your life depended on it, and first thing you know, you'll have made a life out of it. A good life, too." Theresa Helburn, American theatrical producer (1887-1959). Compiled from staff and wlro report BEVERLY (AP) A powerful explosion Monday at a coal-burning power plant in southeast Ohio killed a worker delivering liquid hydrogen and injured nine others, authori ties said.

The delivery driver was unloading hydrogen into cylinders just outside the plant when something triggered the explosion. Plant officials weren't sure whether I felt loader, and and saw then fire, after that Minerals It Inside my I looked up smoke and and then steam." to have been used in the swearing in of Ohio's second governor, Thomas Kirker, in 1807. A public celebration, in which Strickland and Fisher will repeat their inauguration on the State-house lawn, is scheduled for Saturday. Having the festivities Monday was ruled out, in part to For FEMA assistance For an application or additional information, con-, tact United Way of Marion County at 740-383-3108. The office is located at 125 Executive Drive, Suite 100 in Marion, Ohio.

need areas" throughout the U.S. and divides up funds appropriated by Congress to help those areas increase the capacity of their local food and shelter programs. The Marion County FEMA Board is made up of volunteers including: Kerr Murray chairperson, retired; Andy Appelfeller, Marion County Board of Commissioners; Hazel Blankenship, Ohio Heartland Community Action Commission; Mike Bowe, Catholic Charities; Jody Demo-Hodgins, Marion-Crawford ADAMH Services Board; Joe Devaney, Ohio. Heartland Community Action Commission; Mark Lovett, Marion Shelter Program; Tarina Rose, Marion County Chapter of the American Red Cross; Kristinne Seibel, Marion County Job and Family Services; Maj. Felipe Tamayo, The Salvation Army; Mike Zaler, Foundations Recovery Center; Mike Zucker, Jewish Foundation; and Pam Stone, United Way of Marion County.

Local organizations receiving funds under this program in 2006 included: The Marion Shelter Program, Salvation Army and Ohio Heartland Community Action Doug Burke" etta and employee, about a ersburg, W. from electric plant and bruises, au- thorities said. the truck or hydrogen tubes ex- ploded or what fn tho Mat caused it, said Vikki Michalski, a VII HIV libit http:www.aep.com halfmile None of the in- juries were life threatening, Michalski said. One worker at the Parkers-burg hospital had head trauma, a spokesman said. Washington County Sheriff Larry Mincks said the delivery truck caught fire but was still in tact, and there was not major damage to the plant, where 210 people work.

Across the river from the plant, bystanders gathered at a park to look but all that was visible was a fire truck pouring water outside the plant walls. Columbus-based AEP, one of the nation's largest power generators, has more than 5 million customers in 11 states. Local board will decide distribution to food, shelter programs Marion Star Staff Report MARION The United Way of Marion County, the local administrative agent for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), announced Monday that Marion County will receive $39,413 in federal funding this year to supplement emergency food and shelter programs. Local agencies that provide such services are urged to apply for funding from Marion County's FEMA Board on or before Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007.

To be eligible, an agency must be a private voluntary non-profit or a unit of government; have an accounting system; practice non-discrimination; have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food andor shelter programs, and if a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board. The local FEMA Board will review the applications it receives, determine where the funds would make the most impact, and recommend that the money be distributed accordingly. A National Board, chaired by FEMA and with members from prominent non-profit organizations, identifies "high- MARION Pleasant Township Park Committee will meet 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23.

The meeting will be held at the Pleasant Township Trustee Office, 1035 Owens Road West (behind the fire department). The public is invited. spokeswoman for American Electric Power. The blast blew out the windows of a nearby building. "It was real strong," said Doug Burke, who was operating a front-end loader at Reed Minerals, about a half-mile from the plant.

"I felt it inside my loader, and I looked up and saw smoke and then fire, and then after that steam. "If you blinked your eyes you would have missed it," he said. Although hydrogen gas is highly explosive, it is used to cool steam generators at the plant because it has a high capacity for heat and it is more efficient than using air. Hydrogen is delivered to the plant about once a week, Michalski said. The Muskingum River Plant continued to produce electricity after the explosion although the Specializing in Bathroom Remodeling Kitchen Remodeling Plumbing Carpentry BCI Acrylic Tub Liners Interior Painting Electrical General Repairs Blown In Cellulose Insulation 'Insured Bonded 25 Years Experience "The Same Service You Can Trust" Dan's Maintenance is changing it's name to better reflect the services we offer our valued customers.

i i Jenny Glockner, Certified Nurse Practitioner, is offering additional appointments. Times available until 8 PM on Tuesday and during 241 Executive Drive, Marion, Ohio jenny Glockner, Family Nurse Practitioner U'U; gAJU-MJ 26 Copland Ave. Marion, OH 740.383.2835 43302.