DEMOCRATIC LEGISLATIVE RECAP--House Minority Leader Jack Ford, D-Toledo, gestures as he gives his perspective of the first six months of the 123rd General Assembly and Gov. Bob Taft's first term, at the Riffe Center, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, July 1, 1999. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

RAIN DRILL MARCH--Members of the Ohio National Guard Band scatter as a rain storm interupts its performance during an Ice Cream Social benefitting Operation Feed, at the Topiary Park, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, July 1, 1999. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)

REMEMBERING OCASEK--The U.S. flag flies at half staff in honor of former Senate Pres. Oliver Ocasek, at the Ohio Statehouse, in Columbus, Ohio, on Thursday, July 1, 1999. Ocasek died on June 25 at age 73. (JACK KUSTRON/photoj.com)