On June 11, a thousand delegates came to Ashland University to participate in Buckeye Girls State 2000. When they arrived, they were greeted with hundreds of smiles, endless laughter, and a golden-haired, panting beauty. Meet Lorna, an 11 year-old lab/golden retriever mix and her trainer Sharon Dunning, secretary to the director of Buckeye Girls State. The inseparable pair are part of the Canine Companions for Independence, an organization dedicated to training dogs that will be placed with people with disabilities. Sharon has been walking Lorna around campus as the dog completes two years of training, culminating in November when she will go back to the training center for 6 more months of extensive training. In this exclusive interview, Lorna "talks" about her time at Girls State, the lessons that she has learned, and about the many people she has befriended.

How have you been treated by the girls here?

"Wow. I have met so many people and it’s wonderful because everyone wants to play with me and pet me. And I love all the pets and rub downs."

Why did you chose to train at Girls State?

"My training is to meet people and socialize. This is a perfect opportunity. I’ve had to lay under Sharon’s desk for hours and hours. And I have to be really quiet in the dining room. I am now training on my commands using positive reinforcement. I have to greet people calmly. If you come up to me, I will shake [paws]/hands with you."

What office would you have liked to run for at Girls State?

"I would run for deputy dog because it’s what I do best. I think I could run unopposed."

Are you a Federalist or a Nationalist?

"I consider myself to be a neutral party. I like everyone."

As a bystander at Girls State, how would you describe the atmosphere?

"I see 2,000 knees."

How would you describe the experience that you have had here?

"It’s been fantastic. I love meeting all the people and I love all the attention. I even got my picture taken with part of the staff … I got to sit in the front row. I feel like queen dog for a week. However, the toughest part is that I don’t get to go out and play with friends. I miss my dog friends."

What have you learned at Girls State that will prepare you for your future?

"The most grueling thing is learning how to be quiet hours during the day, which reinforces everything that I have ever learned."

What will you miss the most after you leave?

"All the hugs and all the love."

What have the girls taught you?

"How to meet and greet … how to live with everyone."

Any final words?

"I know that I am different than all of you, and that I sorta stand out. I sure love all the special attention and all the wonderful people that I got to meet."

by Melanie Mayhew, Gish

The City of Junge is booming with industry! Tarot readings, book shops, plumbers, and other businesses are drawing the attention of visitors from various cities in Riley County. The Junge’s parks and recreational areas are also in use now. Monkeys are climbing all over the place, and the mail center has been established. So come visit the exciting Junge City today!

- Jenny Tabatabaie, Junge City

Buckeye Girls State was honored to have Supreme Court Justice Alice Robie Resnick present to swear in our State Officials Wednesday night. Justice Resnick is active in programs to assist women in legal positions and prevent gender discrimination. She is only the second woman to serve on the Ohio Supreme Court and has held this position for 12 years.

Justice Resnick attributes her success to supportive parents, her education in a women’s college, and the sacrifices of the many women who came before her. She was able to overcome the long standing gender barrier in the court system by ignoring her disadvantages and overlooking discrimination.

As we return to our schools and communities, Justice Resnick urges us to spread our enthusiasm and understanding of the patriotism which is central to our country’s freedom. What we do is important and we can do anything, from voting and urging our communities to vote, to running for public office.

- Talya Havice, Mock City

What do you get when you combine enthusiasm, determination, fun-loving individuals,and incredible musical talent? Why the Buckeye Girls State Band and Chorus, of course!

The girls in the band and chorus have done the amazing. After two short rehearsals, each group performed before the entire population of Buckeye Girls State on Tuesday night and did a superb job. The band played selections that included patriotic, and pop numbers, and the chorus sang an inspiring song. Both musical groups were well received, as the BGS citizens were dancing in the aisles to the band, and the chorus received a standing ovation.

No band or choir is complete without a director, however, and the same is true at Buckeye Girls State. The band is directed by Brian Myers, a graduate of Bowling Green State University, and assistant direct at Eastwood. He has directed the BGS Band for five years. When asked why he returns every year, Brian says, "It’s fun, and a very positive environment. Music is my area of expertise, and this is how I can help out the Auxiliary."

The chorus is directed by Leslie Michels, who is in her third year at Bowling Green State University, and directs the children’s choir at her church. She was a delegate to Buckeye Girls Sate in 1996 and she has returned every year since then. Leslie says that what she likes best about the BGS Chorus is "the girls. It’s a rarity that I get to direct a choir of girls that want to sing, that really can sing, and that actually listen to me and do what I want them to do."

So when you hear a powerful and terrific melody coming from the Ashland University campus this week, you can be sure that the Buckeye Girls State Band and Chorus are hard at work, bringing music to the 2000 session of BGS.

- Jennifer Snyder, Hayes City

Yes it is true! The citizens of Zeller City spotted car loads of the opposite sex in the parking lot. Others have spied them driving through campus with the windows down and the systems up.

Is this a violation of the sacred Buckeye Girl’s State law? Stated on page A-6 of your Delegate Information Booklet is the policy, "Boys on campus during Buckeye Girl’s State are expressly prohibited. The Ohio State Highway Patrol Troopers will escort them off campus."

The males in question were driving in a personal vehicle on a public college campus. Should this be considered an offense or a public right? Do these boys apply to the "No Boys" policy we have here at Buckeye Girl’s State? Perhaps our courts should discuss this issue. Until then, you be the judge.

- Georgia McRoberts, Zeller City

The girls of Hayes City in Ray County have found a unique way to beat the heat. Like Atlantis, their city is "Under the Sea". Borrowing from Disney’s "Little Mermaid", they have spread the ocean theme throughout Clayton’s fifth and sixth floor hallways. Blue "waves"hang from the ceiling, sea weed on the floor, and brightly colored sea creatures swing along the walls.

The streets have such names as Aquarius Avenue, Barnacle Boulevard and Shark Street.

There is a surf shop, a tikki post, and The Anchor dance club, along with numerous other businesses. It’s obvious that Mayor Molly Thurman and her girls have been hard at work. So if you get the chance, be sure to check out Hayes City. After all, "it’s always better down where it’s wetter- Under the Sea!"

- Jennifer Snyder, Hayes City

Don’t forget that your City page for the Roster is due by 10:00 PM Thursday (tonight!!) if you want to get it in the Roster. Please make sure it is in black ink, blue ink won’t copy.

It was a chaotic 3 minutes in Janis City yesterday when Fire Chief Joy Stoller announced that room 318 was engulfed in flames. With remarkable composure, Stoller fastened her fire chief helmet, sounded the fire bell, and rounded up the Janis City residents. Despite Stoller’s overwhelming calm, arm flailing, screaming citizens poured out of their rooms. Residents, one of whom was yanked out of the shower, several others ripped from their businesses, and the majority shoeless, bounded down 3 flights of stairs. With the certainty that the crackle of roaring flames were at their heels, nervous Janisonians moved the fastest they have all week!

Once on the lawn, basking in a relieved safety, citizens turned painfully anxious eyes upward. An expectation of looming smoke clouds rolling out of a third story window was shared by all. Instead, the sky was clear and all was well. Confused residents turned to Chief Stoller who proceeded to shrug her shoulders and say "false alarm".

- Amanda Hall, Janis City

The Buckeye Girls State Congress has organized with commendable efficiency and is ready for functioning. The House of Representatives appointed its Speaker of the House, Bethany Root. The Speaker Pro Tempore (Nationalist) is Alisa Stone. The Majority Leader is Kara Kirkpartrick, and Lisa Lento has been chosen as Assistant Majority Leader. Lexis Marquet has been appointed Majority Whip. The House has already broken up into several committees and have begun discussion of possible bills.

The Senate, too, is hard at work. Amber Adams has been chosen as President of the BGS State Senate. The Majority Whip is Mandy Aquino, and the Minority Leader is Julia Mueller. The Assistant Minority Leader is Erin Corral, and the Minority Whip is Rose Bachtel. The Senate, too, is organizing into committees and planning potential bills.

The citizens of BGS are sure to benefit from the hard-working members of Congress.

- Emma Haas, Rice City; Contributors: Stacey Arnold, Megan Wise

Rice City has engaged in a bustle of activity since its city elections have taken place. The city engineer’s committee has already began construction of public roads and other facilities. Major Kacie Scherry made many appointments for Rice City, and the city council discussed several projects. The election board has steamed into its duties with extreme efficiency.

In addition, many Rice City citizens have begun their businesses. Among them are a YMCA/fitness center, a movie theater, a dance club, and a veterinarian’s office.

Several suggestions have been made for the city flower, such as poppy, and the city song, namely "Respect" by Aretha Franklin.

- Emma Haas, Rice City

Girls Staters and guests attending the State Inauguration ceremonies were welcomed Wednesday evening by a variety of patriotic excerpts, compliments of the 2000 BGS band. Following the invocation, pledge, and National Anthem, the 2000 BGS choir invited the congregation in a vocal tribute to BGS, "Here’s to Girls State." Each Girls Stater holding a state office was introduced during the energy-packed processional.

The oath of office was administered to the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the state level by the Honorable Alice Robie Resnick, Justice of the Ohio Supreme Court. She made an effort to introduce the need for our elected state officials to utilize their positions to push for higher education policies.

"This life is like a basket of fruit and Buckeye Girls State is one of the sweetest fruits I’ve ever tasted," began BGS governor, Jennifer Bittinger. Bittinger targeted the importance of humbleness in one’s life and how it plays such a vital role in personal being. "I want to be your friend before I want to be your governor," she continued. She quoted from the Bible, stating that each and everyone of us are different. She said that we have been given these gifts to share with others and that our experiences at BGS should be remembered as a priceless fruit in our lives.

- Michelle Gregg, Cary City

Don’t forget to close out your account with the BGS bank. It will be open until 7:00 PM Friday evening. All accounts must be closed by that time.

Things are being lost all over the campus and no one is coming in to claim them. If you are missing something, come by the Lost and Found to see if its here.

    -- Information Center

Ohio’s swallow-tailed flag, adopted by the state general assembly on May 9, 1902, was designed by a Cleveland, architech, John Eisenman.

The triangle in the flag represents the State’s hills and valleys. The stripes depict Ohio’s roads and waterways. Ohio, of course, is called the BUCKEYE SATE. The white circle stands for the initial letter of Ohio, and the red center signifies a BUCKEYE. The 13 stars nearest the circle represent the 13 original states. There are 17 stars in all because Ohio was the 17th state to join the Union.

Ohio is the only state to use this type of flag, or BURGEE as some people prefer to call it, as its symbol. All other state flags are rectangular.

To see this girl around the campus you would think that she had broke the off-switch to her tear ducts, but in all actuality of meeting her, you realize the truth behind her tears. These are tears not of pain or unhappiness, but instead tears of hard work, pride, and love for every girl here. She has made Greene City proud while her campaign was in full bloom, she has made us proud during the county and state elections, and now she will make us proud as Governor. Jen, cry as much as you want, you definitely deserve it.

- Abbey Dezee, Greene City