LOCAL

LOCAL
Girard Chamber to meet
GIRARD --The Greater Girard Area Chamber of Commerce meets at 6 p.m. today at the Girard Free Library, 105 E. Prospect St.
New officers named
SALEM -- Officers of the Salem Chamber of Commerce board for 2005 are: Mike Bird, Salem News, president; Gary Abrams, Tennille's, first vice president; Nancy McCoy, Young & amp; Merrill, second vice president; Dan Moore, The Moore Agency, treasurer.
Tsunami funds raised
LORDSTOWN -- Henn Workshop's "Cherish the Children" basket raised $50,120 last month for the child victims of the recent tsunami in Southeast Asia.
Henn conceived the basket as part of its Legacy of Giving effort, which seeks to make a difference by through charitable donations and fund-raisers for those in need.
The company had a corporate goal of raising $20,000 (572 baskets) through the campaign, which sold the baskets $35 each from Jan. 1-31. The proceeds were to be divided equally between the American Red Cross and UNICEF. However, 1,432 baskets were sold, so Red Cross and UNICEF have each received $25,060.
Henn Workshops was established in 1982 on the Henn family homestead here and makes fine quality handmade baskets, pottery, wrought iron and candles. For more information, call (330) 824-2575 or visit www.hennworkshops.com.
OHIO
Medical claims down
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation announced that paid medical costs for workers' compensation claims were 6.1 percent lower than expected medical costs for the first half of fiscal year 2005.
The BWC said the reduced costs continue a positive trend to implement measures designed to control skyrocketing medical costs.
From July 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004, the bureau paid nearly $428 million in medical costs, which is more than $27 million less than expected. This real savings occurred despite medical inflation rising 4.4 percent over the past year, the BWC said.
AUTOMOTIVE
Toyota recalls Tacomas
DETROIT -- Toyota Motor Co. is recalling 22,228 Tacoma pickups because the parking brake may not work, the automaker and federal safety regulators said Tuesday.
Tacomas from the 2005 model year with automatic transmissions are involved in the recall.
Toyota spokesman John Hanson said the company recalled the vehicles after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration received eight complaints. No injuries have been reported from the defect, Hanson said.
Toyota said the lock nut on the parking brake cable may not have been properly tightened and can loosen and come off. If that happens, the vehicle could roll if it's stopped on a slope and the transmission isn't in park.
Toyota will notify owners of the recall next month. Dealers will tighten the lock nut for free.
From Vindicator staff, wire reports