Township vote recount set for next week

Township vote recountset for next week
LISBON -- A vote recount is set for 1 p.m. Thursday at the Columbiana County elections board to determine the final outcome of a tied race for Madison Township trustee between incumbent Lawrence Mick and challenger Darwin Underwood. On Tuesday, the two met at the elections board for a coin flip, which Mick won. That means he'll maintain his seat as long as next week's vote recount continues to show a tie or places him ahead in voting. If the recount has Underwood with more votes, he'll be trustee, explained John Payne, elections board director.
Grant applicationto help the homeless
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County Social Services has plans for a new program that will help homeless families break the cycle of poverty. Lawrence County commissioners are expected to vote Tuesday to send an application for a $100,000 grant to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development's Emergency Shelter Program. Deborah Hennon, director of supportive housing programs for the county, said the money will help increase staff in her office to provide more services for homeless people. Additional staff will help social workers spend more time with each family and address the problems that keep them homeless. Most face issues of domestic violence, drug abuse or underemployment, she said. Hennon noted that since July 1 her office has assisted 500 homeless families in Lawrence County.
2 are indicted
LISBON -- A Columbiana County grand jury recently handed up indictments for Kenneth Campanelli, 41, of Avella, Pa., who is charged with theft; and for Shawn Myers, 25, of Belmont Avenue, East Liverpool, also charged with theft.
Rape charge
LORDSTOWN -- A village man is in the Trumbull County jail, accusing of raping a 9-year-old girl. No bond has been set. Lloyd Allen Grate, 53, of Hallock-Young Road, is charged with one count of rape and three counts of gross sexual imposition. Capt. Brent B. Milhoan said the episodes have continued since September in Grate's home and vehicle. They were reported by the girl's mother. The Trumbull County grand jury secretly indicted Grate this month. Police arrested him Thursday afternoon during a traffic stop.
Open house at museum
NILES -- The Niles Historical Society's annual Christmas open house is from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday in the Ward-Thomas House. Displays include Anne Townley's collection of Santas in the dining room, Carol Leventis' Nutcracker collection in the library and Lynn Gombos' collection of snowmen on the piano in the library. A collection of old-fashioned paper dolls and Christmas cards also will be featured. The display also will be open from 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 6 for those who can't make the December open house. Ward-Thomas House is on Brown Street, off state Route 46.
River cleanup
WARREN -- Trumbull County companies and organizations have donated $25,100 toward paying the county's share for the next phase of the Mahoning River cleanup. Thus far, donations include $18,000 from Trumbull 100, $6,500 from Home Savings and Loan, $500 from McDonald Steel, and $100 from Brainard Rivet in Girard, said Gary Newbrough, director of the Trumbull County Planning Commission. The deadline to raise the $10,900 still needed from Trumbull County sources has been extended to the end of January, he said. The money from Trumbull County will be combined with $39,000 from Mahoning County sources to allow the Mahoning River Consortium access to a total of $3 million in state and federal funds for a study on how to clean the river in both counties.
Lions Christmas party
YOUNGSTOWN -- Youngstown Lions Club is having its 81st annual Christmas party for about 185 visually impaired and special-needs students and clients of Goodwill Industries at noon Tuesday at the Saxon Club, 710 S. Meridian Road. Included in the activities will be presentation of the $4,200 Pauline Powers Scholarship to Kimberly Grace Wright of New Waterford, a student majoring in special education and social studies at Youngstown State University. There also will be an appearance by Santa Claus who will give presents to the children.
Bullet holes found
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 24-year-old Griffith Street woman said she left her apartment for one day, only to return Thursday to find three bullet holes in her living room window. No injuries were reported. The woman told police she didn't know who would have shot her home.