This just in from the 250th anniversary logo beat: Thetford has started its own logo contest.

Open to students in grades 7-12, the contest offers young Thetford residents (or Thetford Academy students) an opportunity to be “an important part of a once-in-a-lifetime celebration,” Martha Howard, director of the Thetford Historical Society, said in an e-mail announcing the contest.

“We have some creative artists in that age bracket,” Howard said in a telephone interview on Tuesday, “and I’m sure they’ll do a great job.”

Howard also said she hopes the logo contest will inspire Thetford residents to get involved in the planning for the town’s anniversary celebration.

“This is kind of a kick-off for that,” she said.

Howard wouldn’t tip her hand as to what kind of logo design historical society officials were looking for, other than to say it should include something that is immediately recognizable as “Thetford.”

“Let students do a little digging on their own,” she said.

The deadline is Feb. 24, at 5 p.m. The winner will be announced at Town Meeting on Feb. 26.

Complete guidelines and submission instructions can be found at www.thetfordhistoricalsociety.org.

-- Ernie Kohlsaat