Families in need receive free school supplies

Ballard Community Center gave out free school supplies Friday to about 250 grade school students who qualified for free and reduced lunch at least 75 to 100 more than last year, said Chip Blaser, executive director.

He attributed the increase to higher supply prices and school fees.

Above, Carrie Silmon, left, and her son Anthony, 12, get help from Ballard Center director Dianne Ensminger in gathering a list of school supplies at the center, 708 Elm St.

Clinton Parkway Assembly of God Church, 3200 Clinton Parkway, will hand out free school supplies beginning at 8 a.m. today. The women’s ministry group at the church has collected enough supplies and backpacks for about 120 grade school students, said Rick Burwick, pastor at the church. The packs will be handed out first come, first served.

The group aims to help needy families that don’t receive government assistance, Burwick said. The church will not ask for any financial documentation.

Area: Vinland Fair wraps up

Today is the last day of this year’s Vinland Fair, one of the state’s oldest and most traditional community celebrations.

Twelve hours of old-time fun and simple pleasures begin at 9 a.m. with a horseshoe pitching contest.

Other activities today:

11 a.m.: Beef, dairy, sheep, swine and goat livestock display begins.

11 a.m.: Box turtle race and pet parade.

1 p.m.: Pedal tractor pull.

5 p.m. Lawn and garden tractor driving-skills competition.

7 p.m.: Judging and serving of homemade ice cream.

7:30 p.m.: Calhoun Country Band.

Beef brisket is the daily homemade meal. There is no admission charge, but the meal costs $4.50 for adults and $3.50 for children. The Vinland Fairgrounds are just east of Vinland on County Road 460.

Voting: County board certifies primary election results

Voter turnout for Tuesday’s elections improved slightly Friday morning, once the Douglas County Board of Canvassers agreed to count 151 provisional ballots cast at polling places during the primary.

The additions boosted the total number of voters in Tuesday’s primary election to 10,226, or nearly 20 percent of 51,414 registered voters. The turnout still lagged the 26 percent who voted during the last gubernatorial primary in 1998.

Counting the additional votes did not change the outcomes of any races for spots on the Nov. 5 general election ballot, nor for posts as precinct committeemen or committeewomen.

A total of 185 provisional ballots were cast Tuesday, for reasons ranging from voters showing up at the wrong polling place to people failing to register on time.

Board members were Jere McElhaney, chairman of the Douglas County Commission; Marion Johnson, county appraiser; and Kay Pesnell, register of deeds.