Portsmouth Mayor Jim Kalb will be sworn in to office again on New Year's Day.

U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland will visit the city on Sunday to officiate the ceremony which will take place at the Portsmouth City Building at 2 p.m.

Kalb said agreed it was unusual for a public official to be sworn in on a Sunday.

“Ted Strickland had said he would do it but he couldn't on Monday and he was going to be in town on Sunday,” Kalb said. “He said we could do it then and I thought that would be great.”

“I just thought it would be kind of special to be sworn in by our next governor,” Kalb said with a laugh.

The public is invited although the exact location for the swearing in hasn't been decided yet.

“It may be on the front steps if its nice, or in the lobby or in the courtroom if it isn't,” Kalb said.

New Year's Eve dance is tonight

A New Year's Eve Dance will be from 7 p.m. to midnight today at the Stockdale Community and Youth Center, Ohio 335, Stockdale. Bring a covered dish.

Girl Scouts prep for cookie sale

Girl Scouts-Seal of Ohio Council Inc. announces the kick-off of the 2006 Cookie Sale under the theme “Be Brilliant.” This year's sale will feature the new “Cafe Cookie,” a cinnamon and brown sugar treat. Girl Scouts will take orders from Jan. 6 to 22.

Through this annual activity, Girl Scouts learn how to set goals, develop action plans to reach those goals, work together as a team and build strong business ethics.

Proceeds from the Girl Scout Cookie Sale will stay in the local community and directly benefit the 26,000 girls in the Seal of Ohio Council. A portion of the proceeds will go to the troops where girls will decide how to spend it, further encouraging goal-setting and leadership abilities.

Girl Scouts-Seal of Ohio Council Inc. includes Adams, Jackson, Pike and Scioto counties.

For more information, call (614) 487-8101 or (800) 621-7042 or visit www.sealofohio.org.

Board of realtors meet Jan. 10

The Greater Portsmouth Area Board of Realtors will have a luncheon meeting at noon Jan. 10 at Scioto County Joint Vocational School, 951 Vern Riffe Drive, Lucasville. A directors' meeting will be at 11 a.m.

If you want a copy of the agenda(s) make sure Pam Blume has your e-mail address.

Call or e-mail Pam Blume at the board office at (740) 574-2974 to make reservations by Jan. 5.

From PDT staff reports