U.S. 23 south is open

Following an emergency repair project on U.S. 23 south in Scioto County, the route opened to traffic Friday evening.

The route has been closed to southbound traffic in order for contractors to repair the shoulder and pavement along the west side (driving lane) of the route’s southbound lanes.

The project became necessary after the shoulder collapsed Thursday, June 9, within the construction zone for a culvert replacement project just north of County Road 25 (Cockrell’s Run Road) and two miles south of the Scioto-Pike County line.

Traffic will be maintained in one, 10-foot lane in each direction in the southbound lanes of U.S. 23 as part of the ongoing construction project.’

Legion Post collects items

William A. Baker Post 363 American Legion will be gathering items to be sent to Joplin, Mo., from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, June 15, at the Legion Hall, 23 West St., Lucasville. The list of items needed are non-perishables, personal care items, paper products, baby goods, cleaning supplies, flashlights with batteries, work gloves and medical supplies. For more information call (740) 259-3985 or (740) 357-0124.

Participants may win college savings account

Eight Kentucky children will win $1,000 toward college this year by participating in a summer reading program at their local public library. The Kentucky Department for Libraries and Archives (KDLA) and the Kentucky Education Savings Plan Trust (KESPT) will sponsor the Destination College Savings Sweepstakes as part of the 2011 Summer Reading Program at participating libraries across the Commonwealth.

The sweepstakes, which runs through Aug. 19, will award eight $1,000 college savings accounts to children 18 years or younger. In addition, each winner’s local public library will receive $500 toward future reading programs. Parents can enter for their children by filling out an entry form at their library when their children sign up for the Summer Reading Program.

KESPT is the Commonwealth’s official Section 529 College Savings Plan, which helps parents, grandparents, family and friends save for a loved one’s future college education. It is administered by the Kentucky Higher Education Assistance Authority (KHEAA) and managed by TIAA-CREF Tuition Financing, Inc., a leader in managing Section 529 plans.

For more information on KESPT or the Destination College Savings Sweepstakes, visit www.kysaves.com or call toll-free 1 (877) 598-7878.

Red Cross announces class

The Ohio River Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold a Shelter Operations Class from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 25, at the chapter office.

Shelter Operations will train volunteers to work in Red Cross Shelter both locally and on National Disasters.

Since March 31 the Red Cross has opened 260 Shelters and served 60,000 meals and deployed over 11,000 trained disaster volunteers.

To register go to the Red Cross web site at Ohiorivervalley.redcross.org and click on take a class. You can register at this site or call the office at (740) 354-3293 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday Registration closes at 4 p.m. Wednesday June 22, and class size is limited.

With the spring storms and hurricane season just starting, they look for a large demand for trained workers to be deployed across the nation. The Red Cross always has a great need for disaster health and mental health workers, so join them.

Summer food program is announced

The Wheelersburg Local Schools announces the sponsorship of the Summer Food Service Program for Children. Free meals will be made available to all children 18 years of age and under or persons over 18 who are determined by a state or local public educational agency to be mentally or physically disabled.

Any person who believes he or she has been discriminated against in any USDA –related activity should write or call immediately to the U. S. Department of Agriculture, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Ave. S. W., Washington, DC 20250-9410; (202) 720-5964 (voice or TDD).

Meals will be provided at the Porter Township Park and Pool through July 29 at 12:45 p.m. to 1:15 p.m.