The North Baltimore area has been experiencing some booms and blasts the past week or so. Many of them were blamed on the awesome fireworks for the recent Summer Fest. But of late, it isn't fireworks that residents are hearing!

So the explanations that we have come up with so far are these:

One, according to the 180^th Fighter Wing stationed at Toledo, one aircraft recently underwent major maintenance.

In order to get the jet combat ready, it had to practice hitting supersonic speeds. The 180^th was doing those supersonic tests Tuesday and Wednesday.

Residents may hear "booms" throughout Northwest Ohio. It is just a test and should wrap up today.

And , two, I am told that blasting at the Hanson Quarry (former France Stone Co.) on the northwest side of North Baltimore has resumed after a substantial mothballing of quarry operations at the rather large limestone pit.

The NB Village office said that they were notified by Hanson that there would be some blasting at the quarry. Hanson recently drained a huge quantity of water, by pumping it out, so that they could do bore testing of the rock. Evidently the rock must be good, as activity around the quarry, at the end of West Cherry Street, at Mitchell Road, has increase dramatically of late.

Prior to a blast Hanson will sound a siren two minutes prior to the blast. Following the blast, an "all clear: siren is then sounded.