Civil War re-enactment set for this weekend

Civil War re-enactmentset for this weekend
LISBON -- Columbiana County Park District's fifth annual Civil War re-enactment will be Saturday and Sunday at Scenic Vista Park. The event opens to the public at 10 a.m. each day, with battle demonstrations at 2 p.m. both days. On Saturday there will be a period style show and ladies' tea at 12:30 p.m., a North-South tug of war at 6:30 p.m., and an open-air concert and dress ball at 7 p.m. On Sunday there will be church services at 10 a.m. and a rolling-pin toss at 11:30 a.m. Visitors may also watch soap-making and blacksmith demonstrations both days and visit Union and Confederate camps. Admission is $5, with children 10 and younger free.
State grant to fundbaseball field upgrades
LEETONIA -- An Ohio Department of Natural Resources NatureWorks grant of $11,629 will fund the bulk of a $15,500 project to install playground equipment at the village's youth baseball field and make field improvements. Village Administrator Gary Phillips said a new backstop will be installed at the baseball field and grounds-keeping work done to increase elevations and improve drainage.
Meeting reset
EAST PALESTINE -- The city planning commission will meet at 7:30 p.m. Monday at city hall. The commission did not have a quorum at Wednesday's meeting.
Plane reports
SHARON, Pa. -- The Mercer County 911 Center had numerous reports of a low-flying, twin-engine airplane buzzing parts of the county Wednesday morning. A check on the airplane showed it was being used to drop rabies vaccine bait for raccoons across the county, part of a state effort to control the spread of the disease, a 911 dispatcher said.
West Nile tracking
SHARON, Pa. -- A third dead bird has been found to have the West Nile virus in Mercer County. The state Department of Health said a blue jay found in East Lackawannock Township near Mercer tested positive for the virus Wednesday. The other two birds were crows found in the Greenville area last week. In Lawrence County, three blue jays and two crows have tested positive so far. The virus has been found in 37 of Pennsylvania's 67 counties. That's up 16 from Friday.
Suspicious fire
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Fire officials are investigating a suspicious fire at 704 Neshannock Boulevard. Fire Chief James Donston said Wednesday that firefighters were called to the vacant house about 8 p.m. Tuesday. The blaze was contained to the second-floor hallway and there was about $5,000 damage. The home is owned by James Carson, he said.
Warehouse blaze
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- Fire of suspicious origin damaged a warehouse at Langner Enterprises Inc., 4142 Diamond Road, Pine Township. Fire Chief Jim Thompson said the blaze was discovered around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 160-by-60-foot metal building used to store Army surplus materials, such as typewriters, television sets and electric motors. The business has been closed for several years and it appeared that someone was trying to take scrap from the building, Thompson said. One firefighter suffered a minor injury at the scene. A state police fire marshal is investigating the blaze.
Street closing
SHARON, Pa. -- North Water Avenue will be closed through Friday between Bridge Place and Silver Street for replacement of a railroad crossing. Police said a detour route has been posted.
Fund endorsement
SALEM -- The National Taxpayers Union Campaign Fund, the political action arm of the 335,000-member National Taxpayers Union, is endorsing Mike Halleck of Salem, the Republican candidate in the 6th Congressional District race. The association tends to support Republican candidates. U.S. Rep. Ted Strickland of Lucasville is the Democratic candidate in the 6th District race. The 12-county 6th District will include, beginning next year, Columbiana County and a portion of Mahoning County.