WASHINGTON — An Ohio importer recalled nearly 250,000 SpongeBob SquarePants address books and journals manufactured in China because the bindings might contain hazardous levels of lead paint, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday.
Martin Designs Inc. notified the agency that tests of the metal spiral bindings turned up lead content above the level considered safe for children, the CPSC said. Under regulations, children’s products found to have more than .06 percent lead accessible to users are subject to a recall.
The recall involves address books and journals sold in retail stores nationwide from June 2006 through July 2007. They have a black metal spiral binding and depict the SpongeBob SquarePants character in various outfits on the front cover.
The recalled address books’ UPC code, printed on the back cover, is 80773007505; the recalled journals have the UPC codes 80773002260, 80773075501 and 80773007551.
Consumers should dispose of the product and return the UPC code for a full refund to Martin Designs, Attention: Product Recall, 605 Westlake Drive, Ashland OH 44805.
For more information, consumers can call the company at 866-898-0261 or go to its Web site at http://www.martindesigns-ltd.com.
@3. Headline News Briefs 14 no bold lede-in:Post-Sept. 11 progress report
The leaders of the 9/11 Commission are preparing a progress report on their recommendations for improving the nation’s anti-terror defenses, with plans to release it around the sixth anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Former 9/11 Commission Chairman Thomas Kean and Vice Chairman Lee Hamilton have been working in recent weeks with some former aides to assess the status of the recommendations they made in their initial report three years ago.
Michigan: Primary moves up
The Michigan Senate voted Wednesday to move the state’s presidential nomination contests to Jan. 15, further roiling an already turbulent nomination schedule that has raised the possibility of voting before New Year’s. The Michigan House must still pass the measure.
Arizona: Teen’s gun sketch
School officials in Mesa suspended a 13-year-old boy for sketching what looked like a gun, saying the action posed a threat to his classmates. The boy’s parents said the drawing was a harmless doodle and school officials overreacted. The drawing did not show blood, bullets, injuries or target any human, the parents said.
Colorado: Shot dog sneaked food
A man has been charged with aggravated animal cruelty after he allegedly shot the family dog for stealing food from his plate. The dog, named Lucky, is expected to make a full recovery. Devin Shane Calhoun, 35, of Conifer was arrested Aug. 12 and released on $2,000 bail on Aug. 16. If convicted, he could face up to 18 months in prison on the animal-cruelty charge. A deputy reported asking Calhoun why he shot his dog, and his reply was “because he ate my food.”
California: Dozens of sick cats
Long Beach authorities euthanized dozens of sickly cats found in a cockroach-infested apartment shared by an elderly woman and her adult daughter, officials said. Police found 76 unhealthy cats and four dead ones in the women’s apartment when they arrived to mediate a dispute with a downstairs neighbor, Officer Jackie Bezart said Tuesday. She said the two women were being held for psychiatric evaluation. All but two of the cats had to be euthanized.
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