MASON, Ohio — The clock is ticking on the window for Mason residents to submit the necessary signatures to initiate a referendum on the city’s controversial abortion ban.

The ordinance, which was passed by the Mason City Council Oct. 25, is set to go in effect next week. The 30-day window after passage and before the law takes effect also serves as the deadline for signatures to be gathered and submitted in the referendum process.

“I can’t believe this is happening in Mason,” said Joy Bennett, a Mason resident leading the committee for a referendum. “I can’t believe that we are fighting this kind of thing in 2021.”

Bennett said she has already gathered more than 1,800 signatures in support of a referendum, which would place the ordinance on a future ballot for voters to decide whether they want to keep it in place or overturn the law. Only 1,460 signatures from registered Mason voters are required to prompt a referendum, according to Bennett. The committee wants to be sure they have enough extra signatures in case of any issues in the validation process and also serve as a message to council about the wishes of voters.

“We would really like for this law and this precedent to be reversed and for city council to focus on what city council is meant to do and not to try to legislate such a divisive issue,” Bennett said.

The “sanctuary city for the unborn” ordinance passed amid controversy in October. Some members of Mason’s council wanted to pass the law as an emergency measure, although the 4-3 vote prevented that from being the case. Had five members voted in favor, the emergency provision would have prevented any possible referendum by voters.

The law bans abortions within city limits and makes it illegal for people to assist someone in getting an abortion. It also criminalizes certain prescription drugs.

RELATED: Mason votes to criminalize abortions within city limits

In November’s election, all four city council members who won election were openly opposed to the anti-abortion ordinance. Two of those, council members Diana Nelson and Ashley Chance, voted against the ordinance when it came before council. Two other incumbent candidates, Vice Mayor Mike Gilb and Council Member T.J. Honerlaw, lost their bids for reelection after voting in favor of the law.

Bennett said she believes the election results also indicated public sentiment toward the ordinance.

“It’s attacking a fundamental right to access health care that I believe we need to keep,” Bennet said. “We felt like the city voters should get a chance to weigh in, if it should stand. Now our city council could choose to reverse it.”

If the newly-elected council, whose term begin in December, chooses to overturn the ordinance themselves, Bennett says that would end the referendum process. But the committee still plans to collect signatures all weekend long in case that doesn’t end up happening.

The committee plans to submit signatures to city hall early next week, after which they will be validated by the Warren County Board of Elections.

You can find a list of locations where the committee plans to gather signatures here.

RELATED: Anti-abortion law opponents win in Mason, lose in Lebanon

MASON, Ohio — Cindy Bell wanted her Christian bookstore, Belong, to provide her customers with comfort and hope. They returned the favor when the COVID-19 pandemic forced it to close its doors for three months.

Bell and her husband, David, were squeezed on both sides by the pandemic and the accompanying business shutdowns.

“I kind of felt like the lone man on the boat trying to figure out, ‘Oh my God, what do we do, how do we do this?’” Bell said said.

Belong, one of only a few remaining Christian bookstores in the Cincinnati area, was judged non-essential and temporarily closed. David’s business, the Tavern Restaurant Group, was forced to lay off hundreds of employees as new health and safety restrictions gutted the restaurant industry.

Bell initially thought the closure would last about two weeks, she said — unpleasant but survivable. It lasted nine. Somewhere in the middle, she began to lose hope.

“All of a sudden it was ‘OK wait a minute, we don’t have sales coming in,’” she said. “We still owe all of our vendors. We are now not having Easter, were not going to celebrate the things that this store brings to the community.’”

Her husband and the store’s community of customers helped her through. Some placed online orders during the closure; others donated money outright.

Bell is grateful, even as the future remains uncertain. Belong is open again and offering curbside pickup for customers who don’t want to step inside.

“There are people that understand the value of what we do here, that are trying to make sure we stay here,” Bell said.

MASON, Ohio — Six people, including five juveniles, are facing charges related to the fights that shut down Kings Island early on Saturday night.

One 18-year-old and five juveniles -- one 17, two 16 and two 14 -- will face charges of assault, obstructing official business, disorderly conduct and inducing panic. While the teens have not yet been arrested, Warren County Prosecutor David Fornshell said their charges should serve as a warning to teens who enter the park.

“In 10 years, we haven’t seen anything like what we saw last Saturday," Fornshell said at a press conference Friday.

Fornshell said arrests were not made on Saturday in order for park security to focus on breaking up the fights and protecting patrons.

Kings Island announced Tuesday it is increasing its security presence in response to the Saturday incident. There will be increased security and police inside the park, where they will implement new security protocols. The park will also continue to utilize the Protect Our Park program, where guests can report safety or security concerns via a mobile device.

While security will be up, other staffing remains down across the park. Kings Island announced Thursday they will close the park early due to a staffing shortage starting Friday through June 10. The park will open at 11:00 a.m. and close at 8:00 p.m. -- three hours earlier than normal, meaning no fireworks after dark. The Season Pass Early Ride Time will begin at 10:30 a.m. each day.

“We want to be sure we are delivering a fun and memorable experience, but like a wide range of industries, the availability of labor continues to be a challenge, and our park is not immune,” Kings Island said in a letter to season passholders.

Kings Island's Soak City Water Park opens this weekend on a reservation basis -- currently there are no reservations available.