Cortland levies on ballot

Cortland levies on ballot
CORTLAND -- Voters will be asked to approve a renewal levy and update a police levy in the Nov. 5 general election.
Council approved resolutions Monday to place a 1.9-mill general fund levy on the ballot for renewal and to ask voters to upgrade the 3-mill continuing levy to today's values.
The general fund levy generates $200,600 a year and is used to help pay for the service department, storm sewers, parks, buildings and grounds and administration costs, city officials said.
The police levy is one of three that supports the department's $852,000 annual budget, Police Chief Gary Mink said.
The 3-mill continuing police levy was passed in 1982 and now generates $224,000 a year.
Mink said that, if the levy is upgraded, it would bring in $354,000 a year.
If it's not upgraded, the department will have to borrow money from other funds next year.
Unlawful sexual conduct
GIRARD -- A 25-year-old Girard woman was arrested Monday after being accused of having sex with a teenage girl.
Jennifer M. Wilson of Howard Street was in the Trumbull County jail today on a charge of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor. She was scheduled for arraignment in common pleas court.
Girard police Capt. Frank Bigowsky said a 15-year-old girl in foster care was going to Wilson's residence to have sex in late June and early July.
Wilson was secretly indicted last week by a Trumbull County grand jury.
Property rezoned
LORDSTOWN -- Council passed a resolution Monday night to reclassify a piece of property from residential to highway business.
The property at 6236 Tod Avenue SW is owned by Dennis L. Wilson Jr and covers about 1.89 acres.
Resurfacing contracts
BROOKFIELD -- Township trustees have awarded two contracts for this year's road resurfacing program.
Butch & amp; McCree Paving Co. of Hillsville, Pa., received a $145,928 contract to resurface Golf, Wintergreen, Valley View and Richard drives, Spring Street, Lee Road and David Lane with hot asphalt.
Grove City Paving Co. was awarded a $66,000 contract to resurface North Collar-Price Road, Sunset Drive and Lincoln Street with cold patch.
Web site controversy
COLUMBUS -- The Ohio Republican Party is threatening to file a federal elections complaint over Democratic congressional candidate Tim Ryan's Web site.
The Republican Party wants the Ryan campaign to remove the official seal of the U.S. House of Representatives from the candidate's site.
The party said it will file the complaint if the item isn't removed.
Republicans call the display of the seal illegal and misleading to voters.
Safe driving for seniors
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The AAA Seniors For Safe Driving classroom-only course will be offered over two days at Mel Grata Chevrolet, 2757 E. State St. on Aug. 13-14. The fee is $12.
The course will run from 6 to 9:30 p.m. both days and is open to Ohio and Pennsylvania residents.
Call (800) 559-4880.
Federal court getslawsuit by 2 ex-cops
YOUNGSTOWN -- A lawsuit filed against the city by two former city police officers has been moved to federal court.
Mark Rakocy and Christopher Lombard filed the suit in June in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court against the city and former Police Chief Richard Lewis, who has retired.
It says they were defamed and targeted for selective prosecution in a criminal case last year.
The officers were accused of robbing Thomas Cole of Struthers in the restroom of The Pulse bar on Market Street in March 2001.
A common pleas court jury acquitted them earlier this year. They were recently fired after an internal investigation.
At the city's request, the lawsuit was moved to U.S. District Court here.
Railroad crossing closed
LOWELLVILLE -- The Third Street railroad crossing remains closed for repairs. It is expected to reopen Friday.
Construction began July 29. Work was to be done last Friday, but the extent and the number of hours railroad employees are permitted to work prohibited that from happening, said Phil Alfano, village administrator.