RACINE — Racine Grange members, discussing the planned construction of a new high school building in the Southern Local School District and its cost to the community, came to the consensus that there is a “need to terminate the building program since money is lacking.”

It was brought out during a recent meeting that the architects’ building cost estimate of $2.5 million fell far short of the lowest bid for the project. Just how the Southern Local Board of Education will cover the shortfall in view of the district’s lack of funding was discussed at length after which Grange members came to the consensus that the project should be disbanded.

The Grange’s agriculture chairman told of recent attempts by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prevent land owners from building homes on property the EPA has deemed to be wetland despite lack of evidence. According to the chairman, one homeowner sued the EPA, which contended to the courts that the agency was invulnerable to law suits. The court disagreed, it was reported. The chairman also noted a controversy about the use of antibiotics in farm animals and the long-term effect on the meat. He said tests have shown that the meat is totally safe to eat after a few weeks of the antibiotic use. He also announced that one fast food chain has reported use of nothing but meat from free range cattle.

The legislative agent discussed of H.B. 347. He said the law was signed by Pres. Obama on March 9 and provides that any person disagreeing with or protesting the President or any government official guarded by the Secret Service, may be charged with a felony. As for the reaction of the Grange members to that information, a report of the meeting given by Keith Ashley, noted that “Grange members were shocked to know that only three members of Congress voted against this assault on free speech.” In the discussion some members contended that to silence opposition would benefit members of Congress in that they would be given additional protection. In response to the action, the legislative chairman will prepare a resolution on the action for consideration at the next meeting.

It was reported that the Ohio State Grange Junior Camp fees, will be half price until June 10. Judging of the sewing, craft, art, and photography contests will be at the August meeting. Charles and Nita Yost were named to represent Meigs County at the Ohio State Grange convention in October.

Under Deaf Activities, the committee is collecting Campbell’s soup labels, ink cartridges, pop tabs, used eye glasses, and any batteries except car batteries.

Keith Ashley, Emma Ashley, Charles Yost, Hannah Yost and Olivia Yost reported attending the recent Meigs County Grange banquet. The Grange voted to seek anon-profit status re-instated by the Internal Revenue Service after the I.R.S. incorrectly removed this status for hundreds of organizations in Ohio.

It was announced that a special exemplification of the original eight ritualistic degrees will be performed of the farm of Oliver Hudson Kelley in Elk River, Minn. next year. Applications for Grange youth around the U.S. are being taken to choose participants in the degrees. Kelley was the founder of the National Grange.

June Ashley and Mary Kay Yost were reported as ill. Members were urged to get T.B. tests for working the Meigs Grange Youth booth at the county fair. The lecturer presented an educational program on May Day celebrations and their meanings.