Windsor to host its fall cleanup event

Windsor Township will have its fall cleanup day 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the town hall.

Dumpsters will be available at 12063 State Route 217, for Windsor Township residents only.

Items that cannot be accepted are tires, batteries, fuel tanks, liquid paint or anything containing Freon.

For more information contact Timmy Hayes, fiscal officer at 643-2930, Mark Johnson, trustee, at 867-4045, Robert Burcham, trustee, at 867-8475 or Brian Williams, trustee, 867-8248.

Deering Grange hosts monthly meeting

Mary Rose, Master, conducted the Sept. 9 meeting of Deering Grange.

Clarice Sparling, secretary, read minutes of the last meeting and communications.

The Families Activities program for the coming Grange year was gone over and discussed.

The annual contribution to the Oho State Grange Activities Fund was sent for classroom items.

An announcement was made of a spaghetti dinner at Windsor Grange on Oct. 2.

Lecturer Herbert Rose presented a short program on the topic of old and new things.

A convalescent card was signed for Mabel Jeter and a birthday card for Laura Rose.

Members enjoyed a fellowship hour at the close of the meeting with refreshments served by Helen Webb.

The October meeting was Oct. 14.

Wilds family reunion

The family of the late Joe and Florida (Ferguson) Wilds held a reunion at the home of Ron and Sue Wilds of Richwood, Saturday, Sept. 18, 2010. Those traveling the farthest were Gail Colley, Joe and Andy Colley, Louella Crabtree and Kara Rudman from Coal Grove; and Dena, Rudy, Taylor, and Paige Klosterman from Beavercreek. Others attending were from Richwood and surrounding area as follows: Jon Colley and Toni Smith; Justin Calley and Shayla Kipker; Lindsey Colley; Mike Wilds; Deena Fleegher,; Brittany and Jackson; Carl, Ronda, Caitlin and Carlee Conrad; Mark Wilds; Karen Miller; Tony Wilds; Vanessa Taylor; Kennedy and Carmon Jordan; Trisha Wilds; Dan Bell; Ed and Glenna Wilds; Bill, Jean and B.J. Wilds; Jamie Hemp; Steve Matt; Donny, Edra; Shandra and Shane Ridgeway; Dawn and Nolan Draper; Cindy and Tiffany Minter, Scott Dye; Mike, Mary Beth, Luke and Ty Botkins; Bambi and Scott Chopin; Will Welch; Jason, Lisa, Riley and Jaxon Heminger. Good food and fun was enjoyed by all.

Hackworth family reunion

The Hackworth family reunion was held on Sept. 4 at the Winters Picnic Area.

Family and friends who attended were: John Winters; Ralph, Judy, and Phyllis Winters; Patty Webb; Michael and Chris Webb, James and Hannah; Henry “Butch” Hackworth; Dale Hackworth; Jay and Jerri Hankins; Roger and Debbie Hankins; Jeremy and Gina Hankins, Tristan, Ethan and Isaac; Chris and Becki Hieneman, Landen and Madi; Ron and Vicki Hankins; Jordan and MaKenna Palmer; Heather Johnson, Hannah, Bradley and Hailey; Calvin and Gina Hankins and Braden; Brian Hankins and Chase; Bob and Brenda Carpenter and Erin; Wilma Webb; Gail Smith; Beverly Clark; Hornette Haynes; Johnny Ray; Kathi McFarland, Brittany and Ian; Lesley Bryant; Rick Lawless; and Carolyn Sheridan.

Teen Read Week is set for Oct. 17-23

ASHLAND, Ky. —During Teen Read Week (Oct. 17-23), Boyd County Public Library is encouraging teens to read for pleasure and visit the library for tons of free reading, listening and viewing material.

This year’s theme is “Books with Beat,” which specifically encourages teens to read poetry, books about music and more. Book lists featuring titles relating to the theme are available at any BCPL branch, or at www.thebookplace.org

The BCPL Teen Library Council made a “Books with Beat” entry in this year’s Scarecrow Spectacular, now going on at the Main Branch – a guitar player named Jim Bob.

Also, during Teen Read Week, BCPL wants to connect with more teens via the library’s teen pages on Facebook and MySpace. Any teen who does gets a mousepad.

The third week of October is traditionally the time when libraries nationwide, including BCPL, celebrate their teen readers. It began in 1998 as a way to convince teens to develop a reading habit.

Research shows that teens who read for fun have better test scores and are more likely to succeed in the work force.

More than 5,000 libraries and educators nationwide are taking part this year.

W.Va. engineering corps awards record contracts

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — The Army Corps of Engineers says its Huntington district broke its record for contract awards to small businesses.

Officials say the district awarded $90 million in contracts in the small business category in fiscal year 2010. That breaks its record of $69 million awarded in fiscal year 2008.

About $48.5 million of the small business dollars went to a construction firm for the Bluestone Dam rehab work to begin this fall. Another $5.8 million went to Heeter Construction of Spencer for the channel widening job at Island Creek in Logan.

The total amount of contract dollars awarded by the district in fiscal year 2010 was $151.9 million.

Tickets to OSU vs. Michigan game set to be raffled

Ironton In Bloom and the Tiger Clan, a high school athletic support group, have two tickets to the Ohio State vs. Michigan football game and are selling 500 $10 chances on them in a raffle that will be a combined fundraiser.

Ironton In Bloom will use its share of the profit to help pay for this summer’s downtown floral display and newly planted pansies.

The Tiger Clan plans to put theirs toward efforts to raise $7,500 worth of scholarships for Ironton High School student athletes this school year.

Tickets will be sold at Ironton High Football games or you may contact Jan Wolfe at 532-1030 or Jay Zornes at 533-7000.

The drawing will be held Nov. 17 at the city center. You do not have to be present to win.

W.Va. Sen hopefuls criticize fed health overhaul system

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) — The federal health care overhaul got solid opposition from the three U.S. Senate candidates who participated Thursday at a Marshall University forum, and the absent candidate sent a statement saying he would seek to repeal part of the law.

Republican John Raese and the Constitution Party’s Jeff Becker told the audience they would seek its outright repeal if elected. Becker appeared by live video link. Both touted unregulated capitalism and free market competition as the best alternative.

Jesse Johnson, the Mountain Party nominee, called the overhaul a giveaway to the insurance and drug industries that was hatched behind closed doors. But he also said it did not go far enough, instead touting the government-operated, universal coverage found in other industrialized nations.

The Democratic candidate, Gov. Joe Manchin, did not attend; his campaign cited a scheduling conflict. But in written responses he provided to the forum’s questions, he called for the repeal of the provision that would eventually mandate that Americans acquire insurance.

That portion of the overhaul appeared to attract the most scorn among the other candidates. While Raese called it “unadulterated socialism,” Becker derided it as “approaching fascism” and Johnson said it was “capitalism on steroids” for delivering new customers to insurers.

Manchin’s statement also faulted the law’s language applying to small business coverage, and said the overhaul did not do enough to forbid abortion funding. But he praised its provisions allowing children to remain on their parents’ policies until age 26, and its phased-in ban on insurers denying coverage for people with pre-existing conditions.

Johnson called such insurance practices unconscionable. Raese and Becker both singled out that latter provision for attack. They argued it forces insurers to accept people they don’t want to cover.

Raese stood his ground when a woman in the audience said the overhaul would allow her policy to cover her two college-graduate sons, one of whom has a pre-existing condition. Raese likened mandating that insurers sign up people with pre-existing conditions to requiring an insurer to cover a car after it’s been wrecked.

“That is something that will break all of these companies,” Raese told her. “What I am saying is that there is no free ride. Somebody has to pay for that, and that is the insurance companies… Don’t they have families, too?”

While Johnson called insurers part of the problem, Raese and Becker said the federal government should stop regulating the health insurance industry. But both also said insurers must honor the policies they sell. They decried the dropping of people who seek treatment for conditions covered under their policies. The overhaul contains a provision meant to end that practice.

Holzer Center for Cancer Care displays quilts

GALLIPOLIS — Holzer Center for Cancer Care is hosting a Quilt Show throughout the month of October 2010, in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The quilts will be displayed in the Cancer Center, and will be available for viewing by the public, who will be able to choose a favorite for the “People’s Choice.”

“We want to showcase the local talent, as well as bring people in to see our beautiful facility,” said Beth Robinson, marketing representative for Holzer Center for Cancer Care.

“This area is known for its quilts, and we want to exhibit those pieces of art for all to see.”

For more information, contact Robinson at 740.441.3573 or brobinson@holzerclinic.com.