Local school wins fight for amphibian

GEAUGA COUNTY, Ohio - Juniors next year at West Geauga High School in Geauga County are finally seeing the fruits of their labor pay off from a 7th grade project.

Ohio lawmakers have finally designated the spotted salamander as the state's official amphibian.

It was five years ago that the students at West Geauga Middle School, with the help of State Senator Tim Grendell of Chester Township, began their push to get the spotted salamander designated as the official amphibian of Ohio. But, they had some competition from a junior high school in Columbus, which also launched a bid to get the bullfrog listed as the state amphibian.

Lawmakers went back and forth on the issue and in the end they compromised and decided to name the bullfrog the state frog and the salamander the state amphibian. But then the salamander bill got stuck in committee year-after-year with no sign of movement.

That's when State Senator Grendell stepped back in and in a flurry of legislation this month, the bullfrog-salamander legislation got hooked onto another bill and finally passed. Governor Ted Strickland is expected to sign the bill later this month and West Geauga students are expected to be invited to the big event.