Observations...

Looking for a way to cool off this weekend? The Monkey Island Fire Fighters and Auxiliary are holding an ice cream social Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at the firehouse, featuring lots of homemade ice cream. The entire family is invited, fire department officials said…The MIFD Auxiliary is also looking for people to set up and sell from their booths at the Craft Fair and Bake Sale Nov. 4…call 257-5614 for info. A booth costs only $20…Remember the Bassmasters Elite Top 100 fishing tournament the first week of June? It was hoped that the event would bring lots of business to the area and apparently it did, judging by sales tax reports for that period. Grove had an increase of 9.5% over the previous year; Bernice a 33.1% increase; Fairland a 34% increase; Ketchum a 12% increase, and Langley a 12% increase. Delaware County was up 12%...The state jail inspector visited the Ottawa County jail this week and guess what, found the place understaffed and over occupied, just like almost every county jail in the state. The problem is that there is a waiting list of more than 1400 prisoners for the Big House in Lexington, which backs up into every county. All this is caused by the state legislature's failure to deal with the prison problem at the state level, foisting the fix on the counties which can't deal with it except to build more huge jails and tax the residents to do it…With marina gas now over $3.50 a gallon, how long will it be before the boat makers come up with a fuel efficient engine…otherwise we are liable to see more sailboats on Grand Lake. Last Saturday we took a trip to the dam, used $87 worth of gas and saw less than two dozen boats out on the lake…If you think the controversy for the Grove city manager issue is over, think again. Judging by the emails and posts to our blog, one side is not giving up...What's up with the lake level going down...nearly three feet in the past two weeks, down to 741.46 Thursday afternoon. GRDA says the reason is the drawdown for the annual Japanese Millet seeding now going on in the upper reaches of the lake. We thought this ridiculous program had been cancelled since it doesn't work. It illustrates the retarded mindset of FERC employees in Washington who insist the lake be drawn down at the hottest, dryest period of the year. Your tax dollars at work...If you are traveling by air soon, remember that you may not put any liquids or jels of any kind in your carry on luggage. This includes toothpaste, lotions, sun tan creams or oils, baby oil, perfume, cologne, mouthwash, contact lens solution, eye wash, etc. Pack these items in a clear plastic bag and put in your checked luggage. This is a result of the heightened security alert Thursday after a terrorist bomb plot to blow up 10 airliners was uncovered in London...
Grove's water consumption is holding at 3.5 to 3.8 million gallons a day and the tanks are holding their own, according to John Gibe, City Water Dept. head; there has been compliance with the voluntary ban on lawn watering, he reports...