Control board action

Control board action
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city's board of control agreed today to pay $6,200 for improvements to the Youngstown Convocation Center Development Board's office space at the Wick Building.
Also today, the board agreed to pay $2,291 as severance to Marleah Stanish-Wilson, who resigned last month from the municipal court's department of bailiffs.
Talk on phone service
AUSTINTOWN -- Telephone service issues will be the topic of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel at noon Tuesday at Eagles Aerie 3298, 1655 S. Raccoon Road.
Topics will include recent changes in Ohio's telephone industry and how to interpret a telephone bill, shop for a long-distance service and guard against scams such as "slamming" and "cramming.''
Safety picnic planned
NORTH JACKSON -- Jackson Township Police Department's second annual safety forces picnic in the park will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in Liberty Park. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources will begin the day's events with a canine unit demonstration at 11:30 a.m.
Also featured will be the ODNR water safety boat patrol, the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department Dive Team, a Lifeflight helicopter unit, and many other law enforcement and public safety services.
Recycling grant given
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Solid Waste Department received a $74,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's rural development program. The funds will be used to implement a rural recycling program and pay for workshops on solid waste and environmental issues.
Democrats to meet
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Democrats of the 17th District, an area political organization, will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Open Hearth Grill on Steel Street. The meeting is open to the public.
Power outage
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. -- Penn Power says it's likely a raccoon caused a power outage that affected 2,345 customers in the Shenango Valley early today.
Randy Coleman, Penn Power area manager, said the animal got into a substation and disrupted electrical service. Power was restored by 6:25 a.m., he said.
Meeting scheduled
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- The first township crime watch meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the activity center of Deer Meadow Estates, 12921 Springfield Road. Springfield Township EMTs will share information on responding to emergency medical calls.
"We are trying to make our community a safer place to live," said patrol Officer Leona Compton.
Man shot on Ohio Ave.
YOUNGSTOWN -- Gregory Merchant, 36, of Willis Avenue, was in critical condition today in St. Elizabeth Health Center after a shooting around 4:15 a.m. on Ohio Avenue. Residents told police they heard arguing and then at least two shots.
Police learned that a car had sped off from the scene, south on Ohio and west onto Crandall Avenue.
Records show that Merchant has been free on bond, charged with driving under suspension, and is due back in municipal court Wednesday.
Greenhouse vandalized
LAKE MILTON -- Someone did about $4,000 in damage to the Nemenz Foodland greenhouse at 1428 Grandview Road. The manager told a Mahoning County deputy sheriff that the aluminum door and frame to the greenhouse had been bent and broken and plastic panels cut out. Inside, all contents had been overturned.
The vandalism happened between 10 p.m. Tuesday and 7 a.m. Wednesday.
New zoning ordinance
HOWLAND -- Township trustees have approved a zoning ordinance that will allow companies to use large, empty retail buildings for light assembly and manufacturing.
The ordinance is intended to allow redevelopment of buildings left vacant by stores, said John Emanuel, township administrator.
Trustees also approved a plan permitting Shepherd of the Valley nursing home to build a 40-bed addition for skilled-nursing patients.