MILAN - Edison High School will host its annual All-Music Talent Show at 7 p.m. March 23 in the high school auditorium. This event is being sponsored by the Edison Music Boosters and organized by the Edison band council and directors. In order to participate in this years show, more than 80 acts were pre-auditioned on March 13. Much like "American Idol," the field of acts was trimmed to approximately 10 per level of adjudicating. There are four levels elementary, grades K to 3; intermediate, grades 4 to 6; middle school, grades 7 to 9; and high school, grades 10 to 12. All acts will be judged by professional faculty and musicians. Awards will be given to the top five acts in each level.

Toast Norwalk's Main Street School for being recognized by the Ohio Middle School Association for its use of teaming as a teaching technique. One of only eight schools to receive the award, Main Street divides each grade into teams and two or three teachers focus on that team. The teachers then meet and plan lessons, events and ways teams can compete against each other. While the school is clearly on the right path, the best part of the award might be that the school continues to amass ideas, receiving a good suggestion from a pair of principals who visited the school as part of the award process. Roast Gov. Ted Strickland's plan to build the school construction budget around a $5 billion lump sum payment from the tobacco industry. Ohio, which is due $18 billion over the next 40 years, would be the 19th state to take the lump sum payment. The money is needed to replace a projected $40 million decline in tax revenues and pay for school construction projects the state already has agreed to fund. While the lump sum option might be tempting in the short term, state officials need to think about what's best for Ohio in the long term. Because selling Ohio $13 billion short and using the money not for its intended purposes public health and anti-smoking programs is certainly short-sighted.

A few years ago, the cover of Newsweek proclaimed our country "The United States of eBay." You are familiar with eBay.com, I suppose: the amazing Internet auction site. You can buy or sell anything via eBay.

Police arrested a New London man in connection with selling heroin Sunday night near the St. Paul social hall. Pelmer Owens, 47, of 57 W. Washburn St., was arrested about 6:30 p.m. after the Milan Avenue incident, Norwalk Police Detective Sgt. Todd Temple said. The suspect currently is in custody at the Huron County Jail on one count of trafficking in heroin, a fourth-degree felony.

HIGHWAY PATROL Troopers are investigating an incident Saturday after the unknown driver of a tan pickup truck heading north on Ohio 60 stopped for the Ohio 18 stop sign and failed to yield to the vehicle driven byTerrance F. Mazzone, 51, of Wellington. Mazzonne hit his brakes and swerved off the right side of Ohio 18 to avoid a collision and hit a traffic sign, becoming stuck in a ditch. The other driver left the scene.

Project Leadership of Huron County had its annual alumni breakfast seminar and mixer March 13 at the Norwalk High School Ernsthausen Performing Arts Center art gallery. Prospective class members for next year were invited to experience an organized Project Leadership event and meet with board members and active alumni.

A new Norwalk law director is expected to be named in the near future. Mayor Sue Lesch said she has talked with four candidates about the position. Two submitted rsums, Douglas Clifford of the Huron County Public Defender's office and Assistant Law Director Stuart O'Hara. Lesch said two other candidates have expressed interest in the job but did not submit rsums because they had not yet informed their current bosses they were applying for the position.

More than 200 people watched 16 bands battle for the top spot Saturday in the Norwalk Theatre's Country Music Showcase. The 3 1/2-hour show featured bands from all over the state. But it was a local competitor who won the prize as Alaina West of Berlin Heights took home the $100 cash prize.

CLEVELAND - A tradition now in its 18th season, the I-X Indoor Amusement Park opens March 23 and runs through April 15. Among the new attractions at this 20-acre playground is Wacky Worm, a kiddie coaster that reaches heights of two stories as it travels over 100 feet of track.

"Beef it's what's for dinner" is the cattlemen's slogan and of course it's what they ate at the 55th annual meeting. The banquet was recently held at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church hall in Norwalk, with more than 200 members and supporters in attendance. The banquet was dedicated in memory of Craig Lepley of Bellevue, longtime cattleman, producer and supporter who died last fall.