Tuesday, March 26, 2002
The county also will celebrate its 200th birthday next year.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
LISBON -- Columbiana County officials are enlisting the help of a state representative to persuade authorities to schedule an Ohio bicentennial event earlier.
The office of state Rep. Charles Blasdel of East Liverpool, R-3rd, is asking bicentennial officials if they could schedule a bell-casting event sooner so the finished bell can be used in parades and other public events, Commissioner Jim Hoppel said recently.
As part of Ohio's 200th anniversary next year, the state has contracted a Cincinnati company to use a portable foundry to visit each of Ohio's 88 counties and cast a bell for them.
Casting dates for some, but not all, of Ohio's counties have been set.
The state has scheduled Columbiana County's two-day bell-casting event for July 2003 to coincide with the county fair.
The casting could serve as yet another attraction at the fair, county officials have said.
Change wanted: Commissioners had wanted the event to be scheduled for this year's fair, however, not next year's. "That would be the ideal time," Hoppel said.
A July 2003 date "is a little late," Hoppel said.
Having the casting this year would give the county all of 2003 to feature the bell at parades and community events, county officials have said.
But if the state can't manage that, holding it earlier in 2003 than July would be helpful, he added.
Not only is 2003 the state's bicentennial, it's also the county's.
Hoppel emphasized that the county will adapt to whatever casting date is finally set.
On display: Although the state is paying for each bell to be cast, each county is responsible for the cost of hanging and displaying its bell.
One option being considered in Columbiana County is placing the bell just outside the courthouse's main entrance on Market Street.
leigh@vindy.com