Future of band shelter unclear

Police say the four teens suspected have not been in trouble with the law before.
By LAURE CIOFFI
VINDICATOR NEW CASTLE BUREAU
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- New Castle school officials won't know until later this week if the band shelter at Taggart Stadium can be salvaged or rebuilt.
The two-story partly wooden structure was heavily damaged in a fire Monday night.
Four youths, ages 13 to 15, face charges in Lawrence County Juvenile Court of arson and conspiracy to commit arson. Authorities say the four were playing with lighters and papers and set the floor on fire.
It's not clear if the teens intended to burn down the building or if the fire was accidental.
Schools Superintendent Joseph Martin said the district's insurance company can't check out the damage until at least Wednesday or Thursday. Nothing will be done to the building until then, he said.
Firefighters estimate the loss at $100,000.
Wait and see: "If its financially possible, our intent would be to rebuild it. If it's beyond our financial ability, we would have to look at our [charitable] foundation or band boosters doing something" to raise the money, Martin said.
The 125-member high school band used the top part of the building for shelter during football games. The bottom part, made mainly of cement block, stored equipment for the football and track teams.
The building was constructed in 1932. The cement block work was done by men in the Works Progress Administration, a program started during the Depression to provide work for the unemployed. Martin said the building was remodeled in 1980 and a new roof was put on last summer.
"It's like an icon. It's been around here for years," he said.
About charges: Police say juvenile petitions against the four teens should be filed sometime today. Authorities had planned to file the petitions Tuesday but could not because of a bomb scare at the Lawrence County Government Center.
A 13-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl face charges of arson, conspiracy to commit arson, institutional vandalism and recklessly endangering.
Another 13-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl face charges of conspiracy to commit arson.
Police Chief Victor Cubellis said he didn't think the four youths had ever been in trouble with the law before.
Martin said the police department did not identify them to school officials and could not say if they had been in trouble there before.