In regards to the stories on the Human Society Pet Contest, I think I have some more front page news. I know where Kathleen Olak was on the Saturday before the voting ended. She was at the Humane Society, not stuffing ballot boxes, though. (And, for the record, I don't anyone has even accused Mrs. Olak of stuffing ballot boxes, but rather there was a disagreement in the way the votes were counted. Not any hint of dishonesty, but a question of whether votes should be totaled for each picture or for each pet.)

This is for the Willard city manager and the city council: I see the Willard residents get to vote on a tax hike. The way I see it, if the city has the money to furnish a cruiser for an officer to drive home every day, all the way out on Ohio 598 almost to the Richland County line, why should we have to pay more taxes.

NORWALK FIRE Assisted North Central EMS with a seizure patient at 6:41 a.m. today at 50 Glover Ave. Returned to station at 6:47.

Gaymont Nursing Center Resident council elected a new president for the coming year. Receiving the most votes was Ileta Malcolm. The dietary manager and licensed social worker were invited to attend and answer any questions posed by residents. Residents made suggestions and voiced concerns as each department within the facility was discussed. Menus for upcoming holiday meals were chosen as well as outing destinations for the coming months.

MANSFIELD A Richland County grand jury indicted six relatives last week in connection with the mysterious death of a 4-month-old girl during a four-day drive home to Mansfield from Florida. Prosecutors have accused the baby's uncle, Mansfield resident Scott A. Ritchie, 26, of causing Mary Ann Ritchie's death because she was crying, but they did not say in local reports how she died. Scott Ritchie is charged with one count each of aggravated murder, felonious assault and obstructing justice, plus two counts of child endangerment.

Gotham City has its newest district attorney. Aaron Eckhart, who earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in "Thank You for Smoking," will play Harvey Dent in "Batman Begins" sequel, "The Dark Knight."

NORWALK The following people were recently convicted of crimes in Norwalk Municipal Court, Judge John Ridge presiding: David E. Windborne, 37, 3315 Derussey Road, Collins; no dog license; conviction date: Feb. 20; fine, $75; costs, $45; defendant shall pay fine and cost within 30 days.

Politics and economics the subject of this column every Monday. Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

SANDUSKY The former U. S. Post Office Building in downtown Sandusky opened quietly on March 12, 1927 after undergoing nearly one year of construction at a cost of $200,000. After eighty years, the old Post Office is still serving as a destination. It's just that now the only rounded-faade post office in the United States serves as a carousel museum and it isn't possible to send a package from there anymore.

Toast South Central custodian Tim Hall, who administered the Heimlich maneuver on second-grader Noah Ratcliffe, saving the boy's life. When Hall saw Ratcliffe struggling to breath, he leapt to action. South Central also is to be commended for assuring all the district's custodial staff, administrators and some teachers are trained to use the Heimlich maneuver, CPR and defibrillators. Roast Shaker Heights officials for proposing a law that would penalize landlords if their tenants commit crimes within 1,000 feet of the rental property where they live. It is completely outrageous to expect landlords to be able to control the behavior of their tenants. In addition, such a law discriminates against potential tenant with criminal records. They would face yet another hurdle to putting their lives back together, because the proposed law discourages already wary property owners from selecting tenets with a checkered past.