Hands-on history lesson teaches Ohio kids about steel
Children across Ohio have been learning how to make steel at the 10th annual Ohio Chautauqua Historic Festival.
Okay, the kids aren't producing any actual steel, but they are learning all about the American history and how much labor goes into the steelmaking, in a free group lesson, with learning tools like iron ore rocks and play-anvils.
This hands-on history lesson is led by George Dauler, who is traveling with the Chautauqua Festival across Ohio this summer, impersonating 19th century steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, and teaching kids about steel. Other historical figures that make appearances to teach kids about history at the Festival include Alexander Graham Bell and Thomas Edison - or rather, their impersonators.
In the steel-themed lesson, youths are encouraged to chop, shovel, stir and scoop "iron" as well as hear about the American industry's history. It is as much a team working lesson as it is a history lesson. "It's a big job to make steel. You can't do it by yourself," Mr. Dauler told the children at the lesson in Port Clinton, Ohio.
A total of five Ohio cities host the free festival, which is presented by the Ohio Humanities Council, beginning June 17 in Lebanon, and ending in Gallipolis July 19.
Christmas in July at Bethlehem Steel site?
Many people who saw the Christmas tree next to an American flag perched on top of the new casino being built at the former Bethlehem Steel site expressed some confusion at the sight, especially with it being the middle of summer. However, it was actually a sign of good news, not of an early Christmas celebration.
The placement of the pine tree and flag comes from the tradition of "topping off" a construction job, completed safely and on time. In this case, the tree and flag signified the last steel beam being secured in the frame of the Sands casino and shopping mall.
''For us, the topping off is a sign of another job in which no one has been hurt,'' said Dan Schaffer, vice president of Lehigh Valley Erectors of Bath, which is building the steel framework. ''It's a tradition that goes back a hundred years. It's a sign of good news.''
These symbolic items were placed on June 27, after the 8,000 net tons of steel had finally been placed for the casino and mall structure. The project's next phase is to lay the steel frame for the hotel that will be attached to the casino, which will require 6,000 net tons of steel. The completed project is slated to open July 1, 2009.
Women of Steel show help house orphaned animals
The Goodyear Women of Steel (a division of the United Steel Workers) are helping to house orphaned pets in Topeka, Kansas.
The group this week provided a $2,000 donation to the Helping Hands Humane Society to go towards building a new shelter for homeless animals.
"We felt the need. Everybody has seen the shelter and the poor conditions. Out of love and respect for the animals and what the workers are doing here, we appreciate what they're doing and we want to support them," said Eva Lorson of the Goodyear Women of Steel.
If you're interested in following the Women of Steel's lead and donating to the Helping Hands Humane Society to help them reach their goal of building a new shelter, please visit http://www.hhhstopeka.org/, or, to donate to the national Humane Society of the United States, visit http://www.hsus.org/.
For more information on the Women of Steel, please visit http://www.usw.org.
Essar Algoma explains cause of mysterious black cloud
Essar Steel Algoma Inc. in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario has explained why a nebulous cloud of smoke was seen coming from the mill's direction on Wednesday afternoon.
A company spokesperson said that a small fire atop the plant's No. 7 blast furnace was the culprit behind the black smoke, which could be seen from afar.
Brenda Stenta, the company's corporate communications manager, told local news media SooToday.com that a water leak triggering a chemical reaction was the root cause of the fire, which started in a gear box.
Fortunately, no one was hurt, plant workers were able to handle the situation in a number of minutes, and because the blast furnace had been shut down Wednesday morning for scheduled routine maintenance, the incident did not impact operations.