Saturday, April 08, 2000
Peace Bell soon to be rung daily
BY TERRY FLYNN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
NEWPORT — There's good news for all those who have wondered why the World Peace Bell is just hanging there, untouched, at Fourth and York:
Next week, it will start ringing every day.
The 33-ton bell, the largest swinging bell in the world, hasn't been rung with its 7,000-pound steel clapper since the New Year's celebration. But that will change Friday.
“We're conducting a ceremony dedicated to those killed at Columbine High School last year,” Southbank Partners president Wally Pagan said Friday. “The ceremony also will give us the opportunity to declare our theme for the year, "Peace In Our Schools.'”
A parade of 1,000 schoolchildren, led by the Newport High School Marching Band, will move from Fourth Street Elementary School at Fourth and Saratoga to the bell pavilion shortly after 1 p.m. At the conclusion of the ceremony, the bell will swing and ring with the clapper.
“Actually, the bell will probably swing and ring several times that afternoon,” Mr. Pagan said. “After that, it will be rung with the motorized striker at noon each day.”
He said the word from some focus groups indicated that people who visited the bell were somewhat disappointed that they didn't hear it ring.
“We'll put together a six-month evaluation period where we ring the bell at noon every day and see what the response is,” he said.
The exhibit center, connected to the bell pavilion by a second-story bridge, will officially open April 14. Artifacts connected to the bell, including the log books that came with the bell and numerous photos, will be on display.
Holiday tradition goes on auction block
Winter returns for a day
Teachers must have lots of heart
City's policy on OT questioned
Consultant owed city back taxes
Council barred from meeting in secret
Bengals' ticket guarantee fought
Mooney will head state teachers union
Murder suspect ends standoff
Quints' sleep-deprived parents still smiling
Sculptures in sand made at aquarium
New warning sirens cover most of Kenton County
No tolerance for zero tolerance
Peace Bell soon to be rung daily
Inmate's aunt held in scheme
Student council money missing
UC-Ohio State cooperation stressed at board meeting
GET TO IT
Passionate conductor inspires CSO players
Reserve time for Cincinnati Flower Show lectures, teas
Queen City's moments to shine reflected in book
Another sad chapter in Hamilton
Community march scheduled for Easter
Denied phone call, county inmate sues
FBI to check killers' history
Governor's home in need of repairs
Mallory wants charter school data released
Monroe board to be decided
Parents rally fight over board
Police to look into blank tape
Purple Heart chapter started
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