Thursday, September 20, 2001
GM-Lordstown donates
LORDSTOWN -- A collection taken at the gates of General Motors' Lordstown Assembly Plant on Monday amounted to $13,100, which will be donated to the victims and families of the recent terrorist attacks. The money will be matched by the GM Foundation.
FBI visits flight schools
FBI agents visited local flight training schools, such as M Air Flight Centre at the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport, after terrorists hijacked commercial airliners and flew them into the World Trade Center and Pentagon on Sept. 11. Another jet crashed in a field near Somerset, Pa. After learning that some of the terrorists received their flight instruction in America, FBI agents nationwide began collecting customer lists from the flight schools.
Carwash to aid families
WARREN -- This city's police department will conduct a carwash from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the municipal building, 141 South St. Proceeds will be sent to the survivors of police officers who died in the terrorism attacks.
Rally at Jewish center
YOUNGSTOWN -- A wide variety of groups are sponsoring a red, white and blue rally at 4 p.m. Sunday at the Jewish Community Center on Gypsy Lane. The theme is "United we stand for America."
Giant Eagle collections
PITTSBURGH -- Giant Eagle said customers have donated $400,000 in support of the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund since last Thursday. More than 200 stores have been serving as donation collection points.
Relief fund at banks
BOWLING GREEN -- Sky Financial Group, the parent company of Sky Bank, has started Sky Relief Fund to help relief efforts in New York and Washington, D.C. The company has donated $25,000 to start the fund and will donate $25 for each employee who gives blood through the end of the year. Donations may be made to the fund at bank branches.
Firefighters collection
SHARON, Pa. -- Firefighters from three Shenango Valley communities have raised more than $40,000 to aid the families of New York City firefighters killed or injured in the collapse of the World Trade Center.
Sharon, Farrell and Clark firefighters have been out on the street, collecting money from motorists at various intersections to be sent to the New York Firefighters 911 Disaster Relief Fund.
Crews from Sharon gathered more than $20,000 in three days of collections.
Farrell firefighters collected more than $10,000 in one day's effort Tuesday, and crews in Clark netted more than $14,000 in weekend collections.
Assurances from FBI
YOUNGSTOWN -- John Kane, head of the local FBI in Boardman, visited the Islamic mosque at Homewood and Harmon avenues this week and met with Ahmed Hussein, a Muslim who lives at the center. Kane said he wanted to open the lines of communication and let Hussein know that the FBI is available should the mosque experience any intimidation. Such intimidation could be considered a federal hate crime, Kane said. Police Chief Richard Lewis stepped up patrols at the mosque last week.
Pupils thank officials
YOUNGSTOWN -- Pupils at St. Edward School have written thank-you letters relating to last week's terrorist attacks. Fourth- and fifth-graders wrote to Mayor George McKelvey to thank him for keeping their city safe during the crisis. Sixth-graders wrote to volunteers, firefighters and medical personnel who have responded to attack scenes in the New York City and Washington, D.C., areas.
Seventh- and eighth-graders wrote to President Bush thanking him for acting quickly to end the tragic events and for continuing to keep the nation safe. All pupils also used the letters to express how they feel about the events. Also, eighth-graders have received e-mail messages from pupils at St. Bernard School in Melbourne, Australia. The Youngstown pupils will send messages back, to convey their feelings about the attacks and to ask for prayers.
Service for area native
ALEXANDRIA, Va. -- Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Friday in Christ Episcopal Church, 118 N. Washington St., for Terry Lynch, 49, of Mount Vernon, Va., a Youngstown native, who was killed in the Sept. 11 terrorist plane attack on the Pentagon. Lynch, a 1970 Ursuline High School graduate who received bachelor's and master's degrees in history from Youngstown State University, was working as a consultant at the Pentagon when the plane hit the building.