COLUMBIANA CORNER CDs help shoo birds, keep building clean

Lynn Hively, a longtime Columbiana County Courthouse maintenance employee, often finds himself in precarious positions maintaining the upper reaches of the courthouse, including changing the bulbs that light the clock atop the three-story building.
Last week, Hively was out on the ledges again, tying fishing line to the railings. At the other end of the fishing line are computer compact disks.
The spinning disks catching the glare of the sun by day and the clock tower lights by night are keeping the pigeons off the railings and ledges, and subsequently, the pigeon dung from splattering all over the courthouse and the front steps below.
Discussing the operation with reporters, Commissioner Jim Hoppel said there also were plans for Hively to put an electronic black box at the highest point possible.
The box to be placed at the feet of the Lady Justice statue emits a high-pitched tone the birds can't tolerate.
Hoppel said he and Hively were still discussing the logistics of getting Hively and the box to that highest perch above the above the top railing.
"I guess we could hook him to a helicopter and lower him down," Hoppel offered.
'One man's junk ...'
Salem City Council last week put the annual fall cleanup day on hold until spring due to lack of funds. The city annually allows residents to put out to the curb junk items that waste disposal companies won't pick up.
Councilwoman Nancy Cope noted that the old adage "One man's junk is another man's treasure" holds true on cleanup day.
She said it's amazing to watch as people drive around town -- many with pickup trucks -- and sort through the various piles before the stuff is hauled away.
"We should call it the citywide yard sale," Cope joked.
XCONTRIBUTOR: Nancy Tullis, Vindicator Salem Bureau.