Board approves raises

Board approves raises
SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- The superintendent and assistant superintendent of the Sharpsville Area School District will be getting raises for this year. The board failed in 4-1 votes at its September meeting to approve $2,800 increases for both Dr. Derry Stufft, superintendent, and his assistant, Dr. Douglas Hazlett. State law requires that at least five members of a nine-member school board approve all expenditures of public funds. The issue came up again at a special board meeting Tuesday, and both administrators got their raises in 7-0 votes, increasing Hazlett's salary to $82,550 and Stufft's to $87,733. School Director Chris Ruffo, who voted against the raises last month, voted with the majority this time.
Breast cancer screening
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The Womancare Center of UPMC Horizon and the Life Care Cancer Center will offer free breast cancer screenings from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday at the Womancare Center on North Hermitage Road. Women over 40 who don't have health insurance and who haven't had a mammogram in the past year are eligible for the free screening. For an appointment, call (888) 447-1122.
Columbiana school
COLUMBIANA -- Columbiana school board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Monday in the high school commons area. The meeting scheduled Wednesday has been canceled.
Hearings postponed
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Preliminary hearings for three New York men accused of stealing vitamins and bodybuilding supplements in a multicounty theft ring were postponed. Victor M. Garcia, 22, Frederick D. Hornendo, 24, and Gilbert Delgado, 22, were to appear before District Justice J.V. Lamb on Tuesday on charges of retail theft, theft, criminal conspiracy and receiving stolen property, but the state police trooper who arrested the men was called away on a family emergency. The men were arrested Sept. 20 on Interstate 80 by Pennsylvania State Police in Mercer County. Police pulled them over for a traffic violation and found stolen items in their car from the Prime Outlets at Grove City and the General Nutrition Center store in Union Township. Lamb reduced their bond from $20,000 to $10,000 because of the hearing delay. Police said the men face similar charges in Mercer, Crawford and Clarion counties. Police said the men were shoplifting from GNC stores and clothing outlets and apparently intended to sell the stolen items on New York City streets. A new hearing date has not been set.
Charged with assault
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Butler man was in Lawrence County Jail this morning accused of trying to hit a district justice and a constable with his car. Pennsylvania State Police charged Willie Henry Smith, 62, of 114 Stein Road with aggravated assault. Police said Smith had driven another man to District Justice J.V. Lamb's court for a hearing at 3:50 p.m. Tuesday. Authorities realized that there was a warrant for the man's arrest on another charge and attempted to take him into custody. Smith and the man tried to pull out of the parking lot as Lamb and the constable stood behind their car, police said. Lamb and the constable were not hit. Smith was arraigned before Lamb and his bond was set at $100,000. Reports of the event don't list the other man's name or the charges against him. Officials on duty this morning couldn't supply the information either.
Trash-can explosion
FARRELL, Pa. -- Southwest Regional Police say a quarter-stick of dynamite detonated in a trash can outside the cafeteria at Farrell High School damaged the ceiling and area near the cafeteria. Two juveniles, age 16 and 17, are being petitioned to juvenile court in the matter, police said. The specific charges were not available from police. No one was injured by the explosion, police said. The Farrell Fire Department, Pennsylvania State Police fire marshal and Southwest Regional Police investigated the matter.
New library doors
BOARDMAN -- Boardman Library will be closed for installation of new front doors Oct. 19. The library reopens for regular hours Oct. 20.
It was determined that new doors were needed on the building when repairs were made to the front walkway in June, library officials said. Frontier Woodworking of Youngstown will install the doors for $2,653.