Heavy vote anticipated

If advance interest is an indicator, local voters will flock to the polls Tuesday.
Allen County Clerk Sherrie Riebel told commissioners Tuesday 683 ballots had been requested at her office. Of those almost 500 have been completed.
“That’s the most since the November 2008 election,” when Barack Obama won his first term as president, Riebel said.
With about 8,500 registered voters in Allen County, advance voting to date represents about 6 percent.
High-profile statewide races and the school issues in USD 257 — a general obligation bond for all of the district and half-cent sales tax increase in Iola — have quickened voter interest, Riebel said.
Advance ballots may be requested through noon Monday and must be returned to the clerk’s office by 7 p.m. Tuesday, when General Election polls close.
Computer-assisted count of votes will start immediately after polls close. All local results should be available within three hours.
People eager to see election results may gather at the clerk’s office or in the hall outside Tuesday evening. Results also will be posted on the county’s website, www.allencounty.org.
Riebel reminded voters they must have a photo identification, such as a driver’s license, with them to obtain a ballot, either in her office or at polls on Tuesday.
Polling places are Iola’s Bass Community Hall on North Buckeye Street; Humboldt First Baptist Church; Gas City Hall; LaHarpe Senior Center; Moran Community/Senior Center. Polls will be open on Tuesday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

IN OTHER NEWS, commissioners:
— Approved a bid of $1,776.75 from Custom Borders, LaHarpe, to place decorative concrete borders around flower-topped berms on the courthouse lawn.
— Chose National Sign Company, Ottawa, to provide about 200 street and stop signs for $17,598.38, the lower of two bids. The signs will replace those stolen or damaged along county roads.
— Asked County Counselor Alan Weber to research how the county might provide old serving trays from Allen County Hospital for Iola’s First Presbyterian Church’s Sunday evening soup suppers. Church members contacted Commissioner Jim Talkington and asked if trays might be donated for the community benefit. Commissioners balked initially, saying they probably should be sold through bids, but then asked for Weber’s opinion.