Officials seek input with cable TV surveys

Officials seek inputwith cable TV surveys
COLUMBIANA -- City residents will receive cable television surveys in the mail over the next several days, City Manager Keith Chamberlin said. The surveys will assist city officials in planning for franchise negotiations, he said. Surveys may be mailed to city hall or dropped off in collection boxes at city hall, Columbiana Public Library, South Side Middle School, National City Bank or Sparkle Market by April 19.
Repairing school roof
COLUMBIANA -- School officials will meet Monday with representatives of Roth Bros. Inc. of Youngstown to discuss when roof repairs at Joshua Dixon Elementary will begin. Superintendent Patricia Hura said the company has the $19,950 contract to use a rubberized material to repair water-damaged portions of the roof. Hura said Alex Roofing of Erie, Pa., has the $140,500 contract for partial roof replacement at both the South Side Middle School building and Joshua Dixon Elementary. The steel roof replacement won't begin until the summer recess, she said.
Considering plant site
SALEM -- The Ohio Power Siting Board soon will consider a request by a Charlotte, N.C., company to install a $600 million power plant in either Center or Salem townships. The matter is on the panel's Monday agenda. Cogentrix Energy Inc.'s first site choice is off St. Jacob-Logtown Road in Center Township. The alternative site is along state Route 45 in Salem Township. The company wants to start the two-year construction period this summer. Once finished, the gas-fired plant would employ about 30 people full time.
Accident kills woman
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- A Missouri woman was killed when her car crashed into a parking lot retaining wall. Pennsylvania State Police said Carolyn Geer, 57, of Caruthersville, Mo., was traveling north on Pa. Route 18 when her car veered across the road and into a barbed wire fence. The car continued through a pasture and crashed into the wall at the southern end of the Farmers Cheese Market parking lot in Wilmington Township about 9 p.m. Thursday. She was taken to Jameson Hospital, where she was pronounced dead by Lawrence County Coroner Russell S. Noga. Police said they don't know why Geer's car left the road.
Superintendent search
NEW CASTLE -- Neshannock School District will begin a search for a new superintendent.
The board unanimously accepted the resignation of Ronald Mento on Thursday night.
Mento has accepted a similar position in the Montour School District in Beaver County.
The district will use the services of Intermediate Unit IV and Joseph Werlinich, a professor from the University of Pittsburgh, in its search.
Board member Frank Rondinelli said Werlinich sought out superintendents for the Pittsburgh City Schools and for schools in San Francisco. The board will pay Werlinich up to $2,500.
Board member Walter Kustra suggested that the board consider a three-year contract.
Joseph Scungio, retired Neshannock superintendent, will serve as acting superintendent at a rate of $400 per day through July 31.
Equipment stolen
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- Police said thieves took more than $5,600 worth of equipment from a Lindy Paving Co. construction trailer parked on Dutch Lane. A laptop computer, nine portable radios, a cordless drill and a cellular telephone were taken between 5 p.m. Tuesday and 6 a.m. Wednesday. A window was broken to gain access to the trailer. Lindy Paving of New Castle is the contractor on the Pa. Route 18 widening project in the city.
Officials to hire Klink
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City officials agreed to hire former U.S. Rep. Ron Klink and his company Bucephalus LLC to help the city obtain state and federal grants. He will be paid $20,000 to work through the end of the year. City officials also agreed Thursday to allow the city parking authority to give special parking rates in certain areas during downtown revitalization work. Parking Director Ted Saad said they want to offer lower rates in areas affected by the work, which includes closed streets and detours. That work is expected to last through November. City officials also agreed to be part of a regionalized enterprise zone with Taylor, Shenango, Union, Neshannock and North Beaver townships. The state designation will allow those communities to go after state grants that can be passed on as low-interest loans to new or expanding businesses.