Clothes for kids

Clothes for kids
COLUMBIANA -- The Way Station staff is collecting new and good summer children's clothing to be distributed June 23 to the Children of Chernobyl. A group of children living in the area of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Russia will spend several weeks in Columbiana County this summer.
Dresses and boys dress pants and shirts sizes 6 to 14 are especially needed. Items may be dropped off at The Way Station, 202 E. Park Ave, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays.
Tax abatement
LISBON -- Columbiana County commissioners signed an agreement Wednesday that would grant 10-year, 100 percent property tax abatements for a proposed $600 million power plant. The agreement affects Center and Salem townships, the two potential sites being eyed for the plant by Cogentrix Energy Inc. of Charlotte, N.C. Both townships already have approved the abatements.
Cogentrix has said it hopes to begin construction of the plant late this year. It could be ready to operate in 2004. Before construction can begin, the project must by approved by the Ohio Power Siting Board, which will have a public hearing.
Counterfeit money
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Police said another bogus bill has turned up in the city -- this one a bad reproduction of a $50 bill. It turned up in the night depository of First National Bank Tuesday, police said, noting the bill was smaller than normal and not of good quality.
A very good replica of a $100 bill turned up at a store in Hermitage Towne Plaza in the city Thursday. No arrests have been made, police said.
Road work to start
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Work on Hazelcraft Avenue in Neshannock Township is tentatively scheduled to start Monday, township officials said.
During a township meeting Wednesday, Supervisor John DiCola said the project will include repaving a portion of the road and replacing a large pipe crossing. He said workers will try to keep one lane open but might need to close both lanes periodically. He said the project is expected to take several weeks.
Recycling grants
HARRISBURG -- State Rep. Frank LaGrotta of Ellwood City, D-10th, said Lawrence and Butler counties will receive grants through the Department of Environmental Protection's Recycling Grant Program.
More than 232 grants will be given under the Recycling Development and Implementation Grant Program and 366 grants under the Recycling Performance Grant Program.
Lawrence County will receive more than $1 million to develop a countywide drop-off recycling and education program. Part of that funding will be used to improve the Westfield composting site.
Butler County has been selected to receive a $35,278 grant to conduct a recycling education program throughout the county. A portion of the funding will be used to augment recycling programs already in place at Slippery Rock University.
Gift to school
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (AP) -- A Penn State University alumnus has given $1 million to the university to endow a library in honor of his mentor, the university announced.
The gift from George Middlemas will create an endowment for acquisitions and programming at the Earth and Mineral Sciences Library. The endowment will be used to buy books, journals, electronic databases, software and other materials.
The endowment will be named for Fletcher L. Byrom, and the university's trustees will be asked to name the library for Byrom, as well. Byrom graduated from Penn State in 1940 and was a trustee from 1970 to 1973.
Middlemas, a 1968 Penn State graduate, is a managing partner of Apex Investment Partners, a venture capital firm, and is volunteer chairman of a committee raising money for Penn State libraries.
Focus on Youngstown
YOUNGSTOWN -- Crews from the Arts & amp; Entertainment cable television network are in the area filming a profile of Youngstown for the network's "City Confidential" series. Mahoning County Prosecutor Paul J. Gains was interviewed Wednesday.
A network spokesman said the segment will examine how Youngstown has been affected by organized crime. The segment will air later this year, but a date has not been set.
Nature hike
COITSVILLE -- A nature hike at McGuffey Wildlife Preserve will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday at the boyhood home of William Holmes McGuffey. Participants are instructed to watch for a Mill Creek Metro Park sign to locate the home on McGuffey Road. For more information, call Coitsville Historical Society at (330) 536-8331.