Latest Doping Scandal: 4H Steer Tests Positive for Steroids

As if all the major league baseball players weren't enough, now we have a drug scandal in the 4H!!! Reported in this week's Plain Dealer:

Three years of judging market steers at the Great Geauga County Fair. Three straight champions off one family farm. But put an asterisk next to that last title. The grand champion steer from this year's fair faces disqualification because it tested positive for a steroid, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. The state issued its finding Friday, nearly three months after launching an investigation.

The Huntsburg Township teen who raised and exhibited the animal has been asked to forfeit the auction winnings - reported at $7,743 - and other first-place prizes, including the champion's banner and blue ribbon claimed over Labor Day weekend.
The 1,335-pound steer shown by Clark Adams tested positive for an anti-inflammatory medication known as Dexamethasone. The drug was administered "without the direction of a veterinarian" and made the animal appear more sound, the state reported. The presence of the steroid made the animal unacceptable for immediate slaughter, officials said. The animal was processed for meat after the drug cleared its system.

Clark, 17, and his mother, Dona, signed a form during the fair claiming the steer had not been administered drugs. The boy's father, John Adams, called the omission an oversight. He said on Friday a groomer clipping the steer two days before the fair recommended the drug - which he equated to ibuprofen - to combat swelling in the animal's right rear hock. Nobody thought that it would be an issue, the father said.
Rumors of the positive test started circulating around rural Geauga soon after the fair. John Adams bristled at the notion that his son has been labeled a cheater. .....more

Go Buckeyes!

I was in Columbus earlier this week - actually had my flight to Columbus from Newark cancelled, and could only re-book on a flight to Cleveland so I rented a car and drove to Columbus. Its been a while since I made the drive, but I knew I was getting close when I saw a billboard advertising car insurance that you can see here. Sorry Phyllis and Tadd! Those Ohioans sure take football seriously!

Old Chardon Post Office named Historic

From this week's News Herald:

"It's official.The former Chardon Post Office was nominated Friday to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building, just south of Chardon Square, was unanimously approved for nomination by the Ohio Historic Site Preservation Advisory Board.The recommendation now will go to the keeper of the National Register of Historic Places, where it is expected to be in process for about three months before a final verdict is rendered."At this point, it's been through enough hoops that it would be pretty unusual if it doesn't get listed," said Tom Wolf, public education manager for the Ohio Historical Society's Ohio Historic Preservation Office.The building - a Depression-era Public Works Administration project - served as a post office from 1940 through 1984. Occupants changed a few times during the next 22 years. Then Chardon-based Neece & Malec CPAs acquired and renovated the building."We're really pleased," said managing partner Shawn Neece of the nomination. "It's nice to have the building appreciated. It's good for our firm, but it's good for the city, too."The National Register listing would make the firm eligible for tax breaks on any future renovations.Neece said most of the remodeling already is complete, with newly refurbished terrazzo floors, marble and wood-paneled walls. The postmaster's office is now a conference room, and the stamp vault is used for
storage of supplies. Original hardwood floors, cornice molding and skylight windows were restored.Also remaining are the original "secret corridors" that were installed to allow the postmaster and postal inspectors to covertly watch postal employees."