Briefs: Ohio EPA awards grants to install water bottle filling stations

Marion Star
·3 min read

Marion City Schools, Tri-Rivers to receive Ohio EPA grant

COLUMBUS — The Ohio EPA has awarded Recycle Ohio grants to 94 schools, school districts, and diocese in 70 communities to install or retrofit water fountains with water bottle filling stations in 206 school buildings. Among the recipients are the Marion City Schools, which will receive $9,823, and Tri-Rivers Career Center, which was awarded $455.

The grants will help cover the costs of equipment and benefit the state by reducing plastic bottle waste by encouraging students and school staff to carry reusable water bottles.

Oho EPA’s Recycling and Litter Prevention grant program made $500,000 available to public and private K-12 schools statewide to promote the “Three Rs” – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. The grants help reduce the use of single-use plastic bottles and keep more plastic waste out of landfills. The communities are receiving grants up to $5,000 per school and $10,000 per school district or diocese.Ohio EPA will offer the grants again in 2023. The next grant cycle begins on Nov. 7 with the application deadline on Feb. 3, 2023.

For more information, visit recycleohio.gov or contact program staff at recycle@epa.ohio.gov.

OctoBARKfest fundraiser Sept. 30 to benefit Kaufman Dog Park

The Kaufman Dog Park Rescue Pack presents OktoBARKfest at 4 p.m. on Sept. 30 at Marion Brewing Company, 151 S. Main St. in Marion. The family-friendly event is a fundraiser to help fund a beautification project at the Kaufman Dog Park located at Kennedy Park, 2375 Harding Highway East. Activities for children and families include paw print painting and a photo booth. Retired Marion Police Department K9 Lt. Six will be in attendance. Schmidt’s Sausage Truck will be on site. A raffle, 50/50 drawing, and other giveaways will be conducted. All dogs are welcome. For information, go to the Kaufman Dog Park Rescue Pack - Marion, OH page on Facebook.

Local Farm Bureau leaders visit lawmakers in Washington, D.C.

In mid-September, more than 100 Ohio Farm Bureau members, including Marion County Farm Bureau President Darryl Ralph, and Young Ag Professionals representatives Jonathan and Alyssa Zucker, traveled to Washington, D.C. to visit face-to-face with lawmakers about issues that could have major implications to Farm Bureau members across Ohio.

This year’s trip to the nation’s capital included county Farm Bureau presidents and vice presidents along with Ohio Farm Bureau Young Ag Professionals and members of the AgriPOWER Class XIII leadership institute.

Topics covered during Ralph and Zuckers’ visit with U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan’s staff on Capitol Hill included the 2023 Farm Bill, operational costs associated with inflation and supply chain breakdowns, climate change, and impacts of EPA limiting agriculture technology approvals.

Ohio Farm Bureau leaders also heard from Ohio Senators Rob Portman and Sherrod Brown as well as many members of Congress during a Farm Forum, hosted by Rep. Bob Gibbs (OH-07) and Rep. Troy Balderson (OH-12).

Free church breakfast on Saturday

Prospect Street United Methodist Church at 185 S. Prospect St. in Marion will hold a free community breakfast from 8:30 - 10:30 a.m. Saturday.

Upcoming meetings:

● Marion County Park Board, noon, Thursday, first floor conference room, Marion Public Library, 445 E. Church St., Marion

● Scioto Conservancy District, 4:30 p.m., Monday, AgCredit conference room, 1100 E. Center St., Marion

This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Marion City Schools, Tri-Rivers awarded Ohio EPA grants