Ohio town frets its huge, old flagpole is a hazard

[August 25, 2011]  RAVENNA, Ohio (AP) -- A northeast Ohio community wants to wash its hands of a towering flagpole well over 100 years old that officials fear is a tempting hazard.

Within the last year, two people thought to be under the influence of alcohol or drugs climbed up the 150-foot flagpole in front of the Portage County Courthouse in Ravenna (rih-VEHN'-uh). Ravenna Township Trustee Patsy Artz says both were lucky to survive and calls the flagpole "an accident waiting to happen."

The Record-Courier newspaper reports (http://bit.ly/r2M1DD) the township is asking that either the city of Ravenna or the county take responsibility for the steel flagpole, which resembles a broadcast antenna.

Artz said Tuesday the township should tear it down if no one else wants the responsibility. So far, city officials say they're not interested.

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Information from: Record-Courier, http://www.recordpub.com/

[Associated Press]

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