McDonald schools kick off projects

McDonald schoolskick off projects
McDONALD -- A groundbreaking ceremony for construction of a $7.6 million elementary school behind McDonald High School and $8 million in high school renovations will be at 11 a.m. June 20 behind the stadium.
The two projects, coupled with $1.1 million needed to demolish Roosevelt Elementary School, will put the total cost at around $16.7 The Ohio School Facilities Commission will cover $14.7 million and the remaining $2 million comes from a 23-year local bond issue.
Superintendent Robert Bloniarz said Tuesday that those to be invited are Gov. Bob Taft and state Reps. Anthony Latella and Tim Ryan.
Work has already begun on the high school.
Warren redistricting
WARREN -- City council will begin work to redraw boundaries of the city's wards. A meeting at noon Thursday will address redistricting. It will be in the council caucus room in the Municipal Justice Building, South Street S.E.
Warren has lost some population, and officials say the U.S. Census Bureau miscalculated figures by counting 1,400 inmates at Trumbull Correctional Institute as Warren Township residents.
The city is appealing the 2000 figures.
Legislators have until January to decide whether to eliminate a ward seat or an at-large seat, or keep all wards but reduce the population for each one.
A population drop in the 1990s prompted the city to eliminate the 8th Ward.
There are now seven ward seats and three at-large seats.
Interim fire chief
WARREN -- The city has an interim fire chief in the absence of Chief Jay Mulligan, who is on disability leave.
Fred Harris, safety-service director, appointed assistant Fire Chief Gary Shaffer to fill the post Tuesday.
Shaffer is scheduled to have two weeks' vacation beginning today, and senior officers will take turns filling the post.
His appointment was affirmed this week by the Warren Civil Service Commission.
The commission approved the appointment of Capt. Tony Bostardi as interim assistant chief to fill a spot left open in May because of the firing of former assistant chief Terry Brannon.
Mulligan announced recently he would be on disability leave. He has not said why and officials do not know when he will return.
DUI checkpoint arrests
NILES -- Officers from four law enforcement agencies arrested several people during a DUI checkpoint last weekend.
Niles and Weathersfield police and the Ohio State Highway Patrol were assisted by Girard police at the checkpoint, which was conducted for four hours June 8 through June 9 on U.S. Route 422. Officers checked 885 vehicles; 50 of those were diverted for more thorough checking.
Of those more thoroughly checked, officers arrested 11 people for DUI. Eight people were arrested for license violations including no driver's license and driving under suspension. There were also three drug-related arrests, a misdemeanor summons for an open container, a traffic citation for making a U-turn and an arrest on a misdemeanor warrant.
The checkpoint was conducted through the Ohio Department of Public Safety's STEP grant.
Girard block watch
GIRARD -- Residents in the 4th Ward are invited to attend a block-watch meeting at 6 p.m. today at Girard Community Center.
During the hourlong meeting, discussions will focus on what a block watch is, how it can benefit the community, its structure, how residents can qualify to participate and what is involved in participation.
The meeting is sponsored by the police department and Councilman Thomas Grumley, D-4th.