Fire damages home

Fire damages home
SHARPSVILLE, Pa. -- An electrical fire caused about $10,000 worth of damage to a garage-apartment building in South Pymatuning Township Wednesday.
The fire broke out around 10:30 p.m. at the home of M.L. Penniman, 730 Buckeye Drive.
Fire Chief Jerry Zahniser said the fire appeared to start in an electrical panel in the garage and it damaged an apartment above the garage. Family members were home and called 911. There were no injuries.
Rezoning in Hermitage
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- City commissioners approved the rezoning of 1.19 acres at the corner of Morefield Road and Lexington Drive despite the objections of some neighbors.
Owners Frank and Sondra Schwartz want to build a two-family duplex estimated at between $250,000 and $300,000 on the lot, but it was zoned for single-family dwellings only. The rezoning to multifamily use allows dwellings such as duplexes or apartments. Some neighbors opposed the change, arguing at the meeting Wednesday that it would devalue their properties and have a dramatic impact on the neighborhood.
$50,000 stolen
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Pennsylvania State Police said the owner of a Pine Grove Square business in Pine Township reported the theft of $50,000 cash from his vehicle while it was parked in the plaza. The theft occurred last Wednesday or Thursday, police said. They didn't release the name of the victim or the business.
Meet the candidates
POLAND -- The Poland PTA Council is sponsoring a Meet the Candidates night for board of education candidates at 7 p.m. today at Poland High School auditorium. Four candidates are vying for two seats.
Down on the farm
CANFIELD -- A compost contest, sponsored by the Recycling Division of Mahoning County, will be from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday in the barn at Mill Creek Park Experimental Farm on state Route 46.
Participants, who will be competing for prizes, should bring a zip-lock bag of their compost to be judged on smell, color and chemical composition.
The event, which is free and open to the public, will also offer other activities, such as a skit, pumpkin decorating and a wagon ride around the farm.
Resource council
YOUNGSTOWN -- New members of the District 6 Natural Resource Assistance Council are Charles Tieche, Richard A. Houk, Walter Avdey, Darlene M. St. George, Brian K. Banbury, Heather M. Moser, Susan E. Dicken, Peter L. Morabito, Thomas F. Halloway, Gary E. Newbrough and John P. Pierko. They were appointed earlier this month.
The 11-member council was formed by Eastgate Regional Council of Governments to prioritize and fund projects under the Green Space Conservation portion of the Clean Ohio Fund. Mahoning and Trumbull Counties were allocated about $1.4 million by the Ohio Public Works Commission to fund the projects.
Traffic safety awards
The officials from the city of Canfield and McDonald Village recently received traffic safety awards from the Ohio Motorists Safety Foundation.
Canfield officials received the award for a record of no pedestrian fatalities for 24 consecutive years. McDonald officials received the award for no pedestrian fatalities last year.
The officials received the awards earlier this month at an American Automobile Association Community Safety Award luncheon in Independence, Ohio.