REGION Schools, agencies take precautions

Some area schoolchildren went home early.
VINDICATOR STAFF REPORT
Tuesday's terrorist attacks in New York and Washington may be a harbinger of a reign of terror to come, Lawrence County Sheriff Robert Clark said.
"This, I believe, is just the start of what we're going to see in the future. You know, they've been threatening this for many, many years," Clark said.
Clark's 48-year law enforcement career has included 20 years with the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department. There, he was assigned for six months to guard President Johnson after the assassination of President Kennedy.
Clark has been sheriff here since 1990.
"When President Clinton left office, he said in the near future, the United States is going to come under attack of the terrorists, and it has happened," Clark observed.
"It's so easy, with the lax atmosphere in the United States, to be able to accomplish this. We don't have enough security," he added. "It's going to take a lot of cooperation between the law enforcement agencies to solve this."
Experience: While many Mahoning Valley residents experienced the fear and anger of a terrorist attack for the first time Tuesday, for at least one Columbiana County resident, it's nothing new.
Joyce Norris, a legal secretary for Williams & amp; Apple attorneys in Salem, hails from southern England. She said the fear of terrorism Americans are feeling are similar to those felt by her countrymen because of English-Irish, Catholic-Protestant hostilities there.
"You never know what the person walking beside you might be carrying in their briefcase," she said. "The most frightening enemy is the one you don't know," she said.
The only news: In Sharon, Pa., television stations in downtown bars and restaurants, normally tuned to sports channels at noon, only broadcast continuing coverage of the carnage in New York and Washington.
Central Perk & amp; Deli on Chestnut Avenue and The Penn-Ohio Cigar Co. on East State Street normally play music over the speakers attached to the outside of their buildings, but those also carried only coverage of the terrorist attacks Tuesday afternoon.
Patrols: Lisbon, sheriff's and adult probation officers were posted around the county courthouse starting about 10 a.m. Tuesday as a security measure. County officials also limited access to the building to one entrance.
County Commissioner Dave Cranmer said the increased security was recommended by sheriff's officials as a precaution, even though there were no threats.
Some county offices sent employees home early.
Lawrence County Commissioner Brian Burick said the three commissioners, representatives of State Police, local police, fire, ambulance and amateur radio officials gathered in the county's emergency management center at the courthouse to monitor events and state emergency directives.
Of the decision to close the courthouse, Colleen Mojock, courthouse law librarian, said, "I think it was wise because we have had problems in the past," recalling a bomb scare earlier this year.
"Looking at it shortsightedly, we would probably think, 'Why would anybody do anything to the courthouse in Lawrence County?' But I bet the people in Oklahoma City thought the same thing. So it's a wise decision, better to be safe than sorry," observed Joanne Weber, an assistant district attorney in Lawrence County. "Delaying justice for a day or two in the long term is not going to mean very much, and it could be that they've saved lives," she said.
Back to business: Mahoning County offices will resume normal operations today, the board of county commissioners announced.
The terrorist attacks in New York and Washington D.C. caused several area activities to be postponed and extracurricular school activities to be canceled.
The kickoff for the United Way of Trumbull County's 2001 campaign, which had been scheduled for this morning, has been postponed for a week. Thomas J. Krysiek, president and chief professional officer, said the event will be at 8 a.m. Sept. 19 at Leo's Ristorante, Howland.
The Youngstown/Mahoning Valley United Way's campaign kickoff scheduled for today was canceled because of the terrorist attacks and rescheduled for Sept. 20.
Command center: Humility of Mary Health Partners established a 24-hour command center at St. Elizabeth Health Center to facilitate the organization's support of local government officials and emergency preparedness agencies. HMHP also has 21 employees who are members of the Northeast Ohio Disaster Medical Assistance Team, which is on alert status. Also, because of the national emergency, general security at all HMHP locations has been strengthened.
Schools and organizations throughout Mercer County canceled evening activities and numerous churches scheduled evening prayer services to pray for those killed or injured in the attack.
Schools: Extracurricular events at Howland, Niles and Lordstown schools were canceled Tuesday afternoon.
"We were going to have an open house at Garfield Elementary, and that, of course, was canceled," said Pat Guliano, Niles superintendent.
John Rubesich, Howland superintendent, said an open house at North Road Elementary will also be set for another date.
Rubesich, Guliano and Ray Getz, Lordstown superintendent, said small groups of parents picked their children up from school after learning of the attacks. Rubesich said the district allowed the children to go home if their parents called.
"I think the schools are the safe place to be but if the parents want their children home we are not going to argue with them during a time like this," Rubesich said.
Getz, who is also working as Lordstown elementary principal in addition to his superintendent duties, said he made an announcement over the school's loud speaker about the attacks.
"I've made announcements to reassure students that everything possible is being done to ensure their safety," Getz said.
Throughout the county, school districts remained open, though in many cases, concerned adults took children home early.
"It's just kind of scary," Chastity Jennings of Lisbon said as she emerged from McKinley Elementary School in Lisbon after taking her first-grade cousin out before noon.
"Everybody says it can't happen here, but you never know," Jennings added.
Jim Brown, Wellsville superintendent, said Tuesday that officials there decided to keep pupils in class because it's "the safest place for children to be right now."
Valley police work: Area police chiefs said the attacks also caused some local problems.
Howland Police Chief Steve Lamantia said that shortly after news of the attacks, a man at Trumbull Business College, 3200 Ridge Road, was arrested on a charge of inducing panic.
Lamantia said the man was yelling and was telling people he was going to shoot and kill people. The chief did not know if the man was a student at the college. The man is in police custody and charges are expected to be filed later today, Lamantia said.
Police Chief Robert Jacola, of Bazetta, said that around 11 a.m. he was called to the Mosquito Lake Dam because of a possible bomb. He said some citizens were concerned about a package near the dam.
"I told everyone to get back, and I kicked it," Jacola said. "It was just some fishing tackle that someone left."