APPOINTMENTS

APPOINTMENTS
Deputy chief of staff
Gov. Bob Taft appointed Jon Allison, born and reared in East Palestine, as his deputy chief of staff for intergovernmental affairs.
Allison, who lives in Franklin County, will manage the administration's legislative agenda and staff. Allison had previously worked for Taft as an assistant director at the Ohio Department of Commerce, was the transition office director and legal counsel immediately after the governor's 1998 election, and served as Taft's legislative and communications director during most of Taft's second term as Ohio secretary of state.
Allison had served as president of the Allison Group, a government and public-affairs consulting firm, before taking this new position.
Athletic trainers board
Gov. Bob Taft reappointed Janet Howels of Youngstown to the Ohio Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy and Athletic Trainers Board for a term ending Aug. 27, 2004.
Howels is director of rehabilitation at Heartland Management Services Health Care and Retirement Corp. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees from Ohio State University.
The board oversees the examination, licensing and suspension or revocation of applications for each section of the board. Members are compensated $18.98 an hour plus expenses.
SCOUTS
Eagle awards
Four area boys have earned their Eagle Scout awards, the highest award in Scouting. They are Stephen Cox, Gianni DiNello, Kyle Beca and Sam Henderson.
Cox, 16, a son of Michael and Lecia Cox of Vienna, is a member of Boy Scout Troop 81 of Vienna with Greg Booty, scoutmaster.
His Eagle service project was to landscape the area around the township sign at Vienna Center.
He started Scouting as a Cub Scout in 1992. He has earned 21 badges and has held the troop positions of patrol leader, assistant patrol leader, scribe, historian and den chief.
He attended the 2001 National Boy Scout Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in Virginia and served as troop quartermaster.
A junior at Mathews High School, he is a member of the football and baseball teams. He also is a member of Second Christian Church, Warren, where he serves as a deacon.
DiNello, 16, a son of John and Virginia DiNello of Appleridge Drive in Boardman, will receive his Eagle Scout award Monday in a ceremony in Boardman United Methodist Church. He is a member of Troop 46, with Eric Grabman as scoutmaster.
His Eagle service project was at Homeless Solutions, creating a flower bed in the parking lot and adding a weight room for the residents at a vacant area in the building.
He has earned 27 badges and served as senior patrol leader, assistant senior patrol leader and quartermaster. He is also a member of the Order of the Arrow. DiNello is a junior at Boardman High School.
Beca, a son of Mr. and Mrs. David J. Beca of Howland, is a member of Troop 101, with Jim Potjunas serving as scoutmaster.
He joined the troop in 1999 after earning his Arrow of Light with Cub Pack 6. He has had leadership positions of instructor and assistant senior patrol leader, and has earned 29 merit badges.
For his Eagle service project, Beca planned and directed the construction of the Howland Central Park Boccie Ball courts, with the assistance of Howland Township trustees.
He is a graduate of Howland High School and is studying engineering at Youngstown State University.
Henderson, a son of Brad and Sue Henderson of Calla Road, Canfield, will receive his Eagle Award on Wednesday. He is a member of Troop 25, chartered to Canfield United Methodist Church, with Kevin Prus Sr. as Scoutmaster.
Henderson joined the troop in 1996 and has had leadership positions of junior assistant scoutmaster, assistant senior patrol leader, patrol leader, assistant patrol leader, historian, scribe, quartermaster and troop guide.
His Eagle service project was to reorganize and secure the lock system for the church, including changing locks, cutting new keys and establishing signout sheets for the keys.
He has earned 31 badges and is a member of Wapashuwi Lodge 56 Order of the Arrow. His Scouting awards include the God and Country Religious Award, Seven Ranges Summer Camp, five-year pipestone and recruiter. He also received the Bob Roberts Memorial Back Patch with four points, Sourdough Third Year, and Order of the Ant.
Henderson attended the 2001 National Boy Scout Jamboree.
He is a junior at Canfield High School, where he is a member and treasurer of National Honor Society, a Drama Club technician, and a member of Key Club, Junior Engineering Technical Society and Interact.
He is a member of the church and attended Youth Jam in 1998 and 1999.
PH.D.
Education doctorate
Richard G. Welsch, a son of Donald and Regina Welsch of Poland, received his Ph.D. in education from Ohio State University.
He is a 1983 graduate of Cardinal Mooney High School and a 1987 graduate of Youngstown State University, and received his master's degree from OSU in 1994. He has accepted a position of assistant professor at the University of Toledo.
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