City can take some cheer in magazine’s yearly ratings

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page 1 It may not have the ring of “We’re No. 1!,” but “We’re not No. 274!” isn’t bad, either. Money magazine has published its annual survey of which of America’s 300 largest cities are the “Best Places To Live,” and Toledo does not appear in its usual position […]

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Beyond belief: The remarkable life and mysterious disappearance of Madalyn Murray O’Hair

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page A1 Madalyn Murray O’Hair, America’s most famous atheist, was ready to retire. Back in 1964, Life magazine had called the former Rossford resident “The Most Hated Woman In America” after she had won a Supreme Court case stopping prayer in public schools. For two decades, her brash, abrasive […]

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The myth of the broadcasting ban; O’Hair not responsible for the petition that shocked millions

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page A11 Some might say the true legacy of Madalyn Murray O’Hair is her Supreme Court battle that ended mandatory school prayer. But for employees of the Federal Communications Commission, it’s Petition 2493. It’s one of the great urban legends of our time: that Ms. O’Hair was petitioning the […]

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Valentine fund-raisers reach $6.5 million goal; Theater will not need more county money

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page 1 After three years of effort – and thousands of checks big and small – the Valentine Theatre’s capital campaign has reached its $6.5 million fund-raising goal. “We’re absolutely thrilled,” said Jim White, Jr., a lawyer with Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, who chaired the fund-raising effort. “We’ve gotten […]

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Port questions legal firm over airport noise case

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page A3 A Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority board member is questioning whether the agency should continue to have its legal work done by the Spengler Nathanson law firm, after it made a judgment he says could have cost the agency millions. “I just want to make sure that taxpayers […]

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Dulcimers add musical charm to Roche de Boeuf festival

By Joshua Benton Blade Staff Writer Page 12 Not far from the carnival music at yesterday’s Roche de Boeuf festival in Waterville was a quieter sound – one that might have been heard 150 years ago. The Black Swamp Dulcimer Gathering brought their sweet stringed music from the 19th century to the modern day. “We […]

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PITCAIRN: Even today, a visit to Pitcairn is not plain sailing

Sunday, August 22, 1999 Page 1A Even today, a visit to Pitcairn is not plain sailing BY JOSHUA BENTON BLADE STAFF WRITER Getting to Pitcairn today isn’t much easier than it was for Fletcher Christian. There’s no airstrip for planes. There’s no regular passenger service of any kind, air or sea. And if you do […]

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PITCAIRN: The islanders have their own word for it — in plain Pitkern

Sunday, August 22, 1999 Page A1 The islanders have their own word for it – in plain Pitkern BY JOSHUA BENTON BLADE STAFF WRITER “Aboot yawly gwen?” “I se gwen ah big shep.” “Humuch shep corl ya?” “I kawa.” As bizarre as it may look, it’s a pretty basic conversation: “Where are you going?” “I’m […]

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PITCAIRN: An expedition, a clash of wills — then mutiny

Sunday, August 22, 1999 Page 1A An expedition, a clash of wills – then mutiny BY JOSHUA BENTON BLADE STAFF WRITER More than 20,000 islands dot the vastness of the Pacific Ocean. Most are uninhabited. Many support a few hundred or thousand people, but manage to go unnoticed by the outside world. It’s an accident […]

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