Capt. Darrell Wright, a 25-year veteran of the Department of Emergency Services, has been named interim director. The action was taken during the Chillicothe City Council’s executive session Monday night at City Hall and was made following Director Joe Rinehart’s announcement to retire.
Wright has been with the department since April 1983. He has held several  positions, with the most recent being captain. Prior to his service with Chillicothe, Wright served five years with the Carrollton Fire Department as assistant chief.

The 2008 Constitution-Tribune’s 25th annual Food for the Needy share drive got its official start today (Thursday) with the hope that $12,000 in cash and food items will be raised to help brighten the holiday season for people in and around Chillicothe.

Large red food collection boxes have been placed at the Constitution-Tribune business office, Hy-Vee Food Store and Piggly Wiggly and will remain in place until Monday, Dec. 22.

Chillicothe financial expert Ed Douglas, who has shared advice with thousands of young adults through his book “Making a Million with only $2,000: Every Young Person Can Do It,” has published yet another book, “The Money Marathon: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom.”

While his first book focuses on the impact of compound interest and the million-dollar result that can accumulate through the years by steadily investing $2,000 annually when starting at a young age, his latest book is more geared toward young adults on up and provides a step-by-step guide to achieving financial goals.

After several years of topping the district’s facility needs “to do” list, the razing of the old Chillicothe High School will take place next summer.

Chillicothe R-2 school board members approved the sale and demolition of the deteriorating 84-year-old structure Tuesday night during the executive session which followed the regular November board meeting at district headquarters.

The candidate filing period for Chillicothe municipal offices closed Tuesday with an additional six individuals declaring their candidacies — three more for the 1st Ward Council seat and one each for the offices of clerk, treasurer and auditor.

The last one to file for the 1st Ward Council seat was Jerry L. Nibarger, 52, who filed at 2:15 p.m. Nibarger, 2300 Fair Street, filed as a Republican. Earlier in the day, Bobby Zimmer and Carol Sloan had filed for the office.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded a $36,006 Assistance to Firefighters Grant to the Chillicothe Emergency Services. This will be for the purchase and use of fire protection gear.