Hermitage plan OK'd

Hermitage plan OK'd
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The city planning commission has approved a land development plan for a 5,000-square-foot warehouse on Broadway Road. The development plan was presented to the commission Monday by Hermitage Vinyl Products, a company that is new to the city. It will go before city commissioners for final approval. The planning commission also approved a preliminary subdivision for additional land for the Eagle Point single-family residential development off Sample Road. The plan calls for 45 building lots to be known as Eagle Point North. Daniel Leali of West Middlesex is the developer. City commissioners must also approve the subdivision.
Sebring water award
SEBRING -- The village's water system will be one of five statewide to be recognized for maintaining 100 percent compliance with the safe drinking water standards, the Safe Drinking Water Act and requirements of Ohio drinking water laws. Ohio EPA will present the awards for the state's outstanding public water systems Friday at Ohio EPA offices in Columbus. The other four honorees are Ironton, Middletown (Butler County), Ohio American Water Company (Tiffin), and Portsmouth.
Meeting rescheduled
HANOVERTON -- Village council did not meet last night as scheduled due to a lack of quorum. Council members Ray Fortune and Jack Barrett were working, and Jane Wilson had requested to be excused. Mayor Dan Kibler announced the meeting has been rescheduled for 7:30 p.m. Monday.
Bond refinancing
MERCER, Pa. -- Refinancing a 1997 bond issue that was borrowed to help pay for renovation of Mercer High School will save the school district $250,000 next year. Superintendent Dr. Larry Connelly said the refinancing of the $6.95 million bond issue at a lower interest rate is structured so the district will realize the savings in the first year. The school board approved the plan Monday, and the new bond issue totals $7.4 million. The board also agreed to restructure some of the payments on a $5 million bond issue borrowed in 1998 for the same project. The original bond issues were to be paid off in 20 years, but the restructuring will add a year to the payment schedule.
Ohio fire conference
WARREN -- Local firefighters have begun preparations for the 2002 Ohio State Fire Conference in Trumbull County. At 7:30 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month, a committee composed of members of the county fire chiefs and police chiefs associations and fire auxiliary meet to discuss plans.
Next Tuesday's meeting is in Warren Township Station 47 on West Market Street. For more information, call Liberty Fire Chief Bob Catchpole at (330) 759-0363.
Facing more charges
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- State police filed more sex charges against a night watchman at a home for troubled boys alleging he sexually assaulted a teen-age resident for 1 1/2 months instead of one night.
State police charged Craig Tyrone Ward, 39, a night watchman at Harborcreek Youth Services, with 17 more counts Monday, including rape.
State police said Ward assaulted a 14-year-old boy at the suburban Erie home from Feb. 16 to April 1.
Ward has remained in the Erie County Prison since surrendering to police last week on charges he and the boy had oral sex May 1. Police said they found out about the encounter after another worker walked into the boy's bedroom, saw the sex acts and reported them to a supervisor and authorities.
Ward has been charged with rape, sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, indecent assault, institutional sexual assault, corrupting the morals of a minor, and indecent exposure.
Girl dragged by bus
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- An 8-year-old Philadelphia girl was seriously injured Monday after she was dragged and run over by a school bus near her home, police said.
Authorities said Orley Gubay got off the Abrams Hebrew Academy bus with two friends a few blocks from her home. The girl somehow became wedged in the door and was dragged along Sarota Place, then got free but her leg was run over by the bus, police said.
She was listed in serious condition at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia with what police said was a "pretty badly crushed" left leg.
"She was caught in the door and we're looking for something her clothing could have attached on to whatever, her arm, whatever the case may be," police Lt. Tom Galeski said.