Teresa, The link "word wrapped" and it doesn't work that way. You can go to www.morningjournal.com and in the top right of the screen there is a search box. Put in "In Huron County" and click go. You will see the article on the list. It is called "In Huron County, a battle for the record books". I've inserted the text of that article below. I also could not find the second article referenced, but I did find another document regarding the change in Ohio laws and the impacts statewide by the Ohio Genealogical Society at this address: http://www.ogs.org/PDF/vitalrecordsarticle.pdf This document discusses the Huron County problem as well as problems seen in other counties. It also does some discussion/interpretation of the law. ===== In Huron County, a battle for the record books By HEATHER CHAPIN , Norwalk Bureau Chief 09/12/2003 NORWALK -- The Huron County Genealogical Society may pursue legal action against the Huron County General Health District for confiscating about 20 rolls of microfilm containing vital statistics from the Norwalk Public Library, according to local historian Henry Timman. The microfilm taken from the library was bought by the genealogy society for genealogical research, according to Timman. Timman spoke at the board of health's meeting yesterday as a member of the Genealogical Society, along with Mary Carabin, another member who was appointed to a committee to track down the missing microfilm for the local chapter. ''You're retaining our property without our consent. We'd like to have our records back, that's what we'd like,'' Timman told the board. Tim Hollinger, a board member, argued with Timman about the availability of the records because they could fall into the hands of ''terrorists, number one, or criminals and (he) wouldn't want (his) birth certificate given out.'' Timman crisply told Hollinger that ''Ohio law supercedes personal opinion'' and that the genealogy group will consider going to the police or court to get back the records. After Timman and Carabin left the meeting room, the board unanimously agreed to void the payment it had previously told the genealogy society it would pay for the microfilm. Timman said the society was offered about $600 for the records. The problem between the local genealogists and the board of health began June 30 when the health board received notice from the Ohio Department of Health that the cost of obtaining a certified copy of such records was rising, said Timman. The new law went into effect on July 1, and Timman believes the board of health misinterpreted the state's intent and subsequently ''stormed'' the library and took the microfilm, believing that the film was no longer for public use, he said. Timman stands firm that the records are public and the board of health maintains that they are not. Timman told the board of health members that he's ''no stranger to the Ohio Revised Code'' after retiring last year after 25 years of service at the Huron County Probate Court. The new law made the price of a certified birth certificate $15, Mary LoParo, spokeswoman for the state board, said yesterday. LoParo stated that she was unaware of any laws that changed the public availability to the birth or death certificates. About six years ago, the health district wanted to preserve the county's birth and death certificates on microfilm, so the records were sent to the Center for Archival Collections, in Bowling Green, and they were transferred to film at the cost of about $600 that was paid for by the Church of Latter Day Saints, said Timman. The church offers to pay for such expenses in exchange for receiving a copy of the records to use in its genealogical research center and the originating agency retains its own copy and originals, said Timman. The local chapter of genealogists bought a full copy of the records in 1999 or 2000 from the Church of Latter Day Saints and kept the collection at the Norwalk Public Library for easy public access, said Timman. Hope that helps! LuAnne -----Original Message----- From: teresa farrow-welker [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2003 5:26 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [OHSCIOTO] Fw: [OHGW] Loss of microfilmed public records I can not locate either article. Do you have more recent info? Teresa