After so many months of cool weather Mother Nature is finally providing the heat. Along with the heat there is humidity of course, but that's part of the summer scene. Rainfall has in most cases been sufficient. There are some isolated areas that have received way beyond the normal. It seems as though there are areas that have a particular variance in weather. It has been pointed out that over a period of more than thirty years, rainfall is the greatest in northeastern Marion County and the least in southwestern Marion County.
Roadsides have been mowed in some parts of the county, but still there are intersections that are blind unless you pull out into a lane of traffic. This creates a dangerous driving condition. The city of Marion has its share of blind intersections such as Kensington Place and East Center. Those shrubs could be cut back in a matter of minutes allowing better visibility at that busy intersection.
Mosquitoes are a problem again this year just as in most summers. There are some more or less abandoned swimming pools in backyards that still contain enough water for mosquitoes to hatch by the millions. Swimming pools as some people find out, take constant care to function properly. Apparently some find it just to expensive to keep up with the right chemicals and just call it quits.
No shortage of Bicentennial celebrations in Ohio. I recently was involved with the Crawford County event and soon will be in the Huron and Richland County areas for the same thing. This fall I will be at the Soakum Festival in Caldwell where their bell will be cast. The Soakum Festival is one of my favorites and takes place on a beautiful hillside called Heritage Park on the Noble County fairgrounds. It is the last weekend in September.
Recently the Morton One Room School House celebrated its completed restoration. It is located just outside Shelby on State Route 96. A two-day celebration involved afternoon demonstrations of teaching in a one-room school and displays of early crafts. The Rowlands of Marion, makers of handmade brooms along with Ron Auck, blacksmith and myself entertained the crowds that came to the celebration. A Huber Super 4 and a restored Huber threshing machine were on display along with many other antique tractors and farm equipment. The original Morton family was closely related to Warren G. Harding.
The Lowe-Volk Nature Center at Leesville on the original Route 30, hosted the Crawford County Bicentennial celebration. Colonel Crawford's capture was re-enacted many times throughout the day. He was captured in 1782 on the very spot of the re-enactment. The nature center and administration building on the grounds were funded through a Timken $330,000 matching grant. I recently taught the children at the center during their weeklong nature camp about early American life.
It is great to see the completion nearing of River Valley High School and Middle School. At the same time two new elementary schools are completed replacing Caledonia, Claridon and Waldo Elementary Schools. Marion Harding High School is also nearly complete on Harding Highway East. Will this road become East Center Street when annexed or will it remain Harding Highway East. Never has education in Marion County sported so many new schools considering of course the new elementary schools within the City of Marion. The last burst of new schools came under the guidance of the late Robert S. Brown, Marion City School Superintendent and his pay as you go system.
