Commission hires firm to redesign clocktower

Commission hires firmto redesign clocktower
NEW CASTLE -- Lawrence County commissioners hired Glance & amp; Associates of Pittsburgh to redesign the courthouse clocktower.
Glance will be paid $13,500 to oversee drawings, bids and construction of the clocktower. Commissioners say the redesign should bring the cost to build it down to about $150,000. Bids on the previous clocktower design were higher than expected, about $250,000.
Commissioner Ed Fosnaught said the new clocktower should be in place by summer 2002. In other business Tuesday, commisisoners announced that a state grant will provide $300,000 to rehabilitate the homes of low-income people in the county, freeing up $342,000 in federal a Community Development Block Grant previously earmarked for that function. Public hearings will be held to help determine what will be funded with the grant.
School board hiresassistant principal
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The school board has hired a new assistant high school principal. Robert Kwiat Jr. of New Castle, a former sixth-grade teacher at Neshannock Township School District, will be paid a starting annual salary of $57,000.
Superintendent Karen Ionta said about a dozen people applied. Also, the school board agreed Monday to pay Knotts Interior Inc. of Hermitage $17,900 to install new carpeting at Delahunty Middle School.
Fire department grant
COLUMBUS -- The New Waterford Fire Department has received an $8,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Commerce for equipment.
New Waterford was among 107 volunteer fire departments to receive the state grants of $10,000 and less.
Motorist hits tree
MERCER, Pa. -- An area man was treated at a local hospital after he lost control of the vehicle he was driving early Tuesday morning in Delaware Township.
Pennsylvania State Police said Christopher Lee Glaister, 23, of Mercer, was traveling east on State Route 58 near Pew Road when his vehicle crossed the westbound lane and hit a tree. Police said Glaister was found to be intoxicated and charges against him are pending.
Scooters stolen
SALEM -- A Perry Township resident of the 300 block of West 14th Street told township police that two motorized scooters were taken from his garage. The theft occurred over the weekend. The vehicles had a value of more than $800.
School board meeting
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- Springfield Board of Education will meet at 8 p.m. Thursday to review student handbooks and discuss personnel issues.
Another man chargedin township break-ins
LAKE MILTON -- Police have made another arrest in a series of Milton Township break-ins in February.
Matthew Simon, 21, of North River Road, Warren, was arrested Tuesday and charged with three counts of breaking and entering, two counts of theft and one misdemeanor count of theft. Police also arrested Juan Rosario, 18, of North Jackson, on July 10 in the break-ins.
Police said Simon and Rosario participated in February break-ins at a barbershop, a home and a car dealership in Milton Township. Simon was arrested in Trumbull County Common Pleas Court, just before he was scheduled to appear in a hearing on another case.
DUI checkpoint
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Mahoning County Sheriff's Department will set up a DUI checkpoint from 10 p.m. Friday to 4 a.m. Saturday on Market Street near Judson Avenue.
Twenty deputies will take part in the effort, which will include speed enforcement using new laser-guided radar guns.