It may be months away, but Lawrence County's Bicentennial Committee is getting down to business on plans for the making of the county's Bicentennial bell this summer at the Lawrence County Fair. The committee met yesterday morning at the Lawrence County Courthouse to discuss the details for the ceremonies that will take place as the bell is made.

"It's such a beautiful event," said Nicola Moretti, Bicentennial coordinator for the South East region."It's one of the best legacies we could leave for our children."

Moretti reminded the local committee that Lawrence County had the largest crowd of any Ohio county for its Bicentennial Barn painting last summer, and she hopes Lawrence Countians will come out once more and celebrate the state's birthday and this new piece of local treasure.

The bronze bell will be made on site at the fair by the Verdin Bell Company of Cincinnati, in a process that will take two days and a specially designed furnace hauled on the back of a tractor trailer truck. All of the activities will be open to the public and committee members are hoping that people will get involved in the planning process and then show up to see the bell made.

"If you know of anyone else that wants to help out, we need everyone in Lawrence County to get involved," committee member Dave Milem said. "We'd like to see as many groups as we can get involved."

The process begins when the furnace is heated to 2,000 degrees. Area children will take part by passing some 500 bronze ingots to Verdin employees, who will put them into a specially prepared mold that includes the seal of the State of Ohio, the county name and the seal of the Ohio Bicentennial. The mold will be allowed to cool overnight. The next day, the mold will be cracked and the bell exposed. Verdin employees will then sand and polish the bell. Area dignitaries will be on hand as the bell is rung for the first time.

Bell committee members are planning three ceremonies around the making of the bell: one ceremony when the ingots are passed and the mold is filled; one on the second day when the mold is cracked and the bell is exposed for the first time.

The third ceremony will be when the bell is rung for the first time, and county officials formally accept the bell from Verdin members. Moretti promised that there won't be a dry eye at the fairgrounds for that grand finale.