Ohio: Keep Your Whiskers

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Twentieth century bureaucracy stumbles when it comes to the Amish, who have stubbornly resisted the Social Security program and other government rules and regulations. The latest conflict has cropped up in Mesopotamia (pop. 2,000), Ohio, 40 miles east of Cleveland, where Amish Volunteer Fire Fighters Eli Miller and Noah Mullet go unshaven as a sign of personal simplicity. A new state law forbids fire fighters to wear beards in the line of duty. The reason: facial hair prevents a proper seal from forming between the skin and a breathing mask, which fire fighters are required to use near flames.

Choosing deference to his volunteers above the law, Fire Chief Keith Williams has decided to permit the men to don the breathing devices over their beards. "You can't afford to get rid of good fire fighters," he says. The two Amish make up half the fire company's day shift; Miller, who owns a harness shop across the street from the station, is usually the first fireman to answer a call.