New nature center at ONWR - There was a ground-breaking ceromony last Friday morning. Here's the Blade article. "$1.95-million Visitor Center that will provide a gateway for the public to education and information about Ohio’s remarkable, internationally recognized wetlands refuge complex. This year work will focus on planning and design, with construction set for fiscal 2004 and occupation and use in fiscal 2005. The new center is to be built near State Rt. 2, just west of the current entrance to the main refuge. The present entrance-road off Route 2, straight but unappealing, will be relocated to the west, passing the new center and gracefully winding its way into the refuge. The Ottawa center is to have an educational and multi-purpose community focus."

And in other ONWR news, "In addition to funding the visitor center, Congress also allocated $600,000 to Ottawa for additional land acquisition under a long-range plan. It allows for expansion of the nearly 9,000-acre complex by up to 5,000 more acres. Acquisitions would come only from donations or willing sellers. The land-purchase money comes from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund, which derives revenues from offshore oil leasing."