CHILLICOTHE -- Second District U.S. Rep. Jean Schmidt and Dr. Larry Olson, director of graduate studies and chair of the psychology department at Ohio Christian University, will be featured speakers at the 209th Ohio Statehood Day breakfast in Chillicothe.

The breakfast, which will be at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at Trinity United Methodist Church on East Main Street, is conducted annually to kick off local Statehood Day activities commemorating the founding and beginning of the State of Ohio in 1803 in Chillicothe.

Besides the guest speakers, other highlights of the breakfast include the announcement of the Ohio Statehood Day Achievement Award by the local Kiwanis Club and musical selections performed by Roselyn Cross of Zion Baptist Church.

Tickets to the breakfast cost $8 and can be bought in advance at Trinity United Methodist Church or by calling (740) 773-6640.

Throughout the Statehood Day celebration March 3, several activities are planned at the Lucy Webb Hayes Heritage Center, Ross County Heritage Center, David Nickens Heritage Center, Adena Mansion and Gardens and Pump House Center for the Arts.

For more on what is planned at those locations, see Thursday's Let's Go page in the Chillicothe Gazette.

The Constitution of Ohio was drafted in Chillicothe in 1802. Once Ohio statehood was approved, its new governing officials assembled in Chillicothe and were sworn into office, beginning government operations March 1, 1803, after an opening session that was started with a prayer by the Rev. James Finley asking for divine guidance in the deliberations and judgments of the new government.