COLUMBIANA CORNER Unbearable situation in Leetonia schools

Leetonia school officials are dealing with some unusual situations in trying to purchase a 7-foot stuffed bear from the former Lodge restaurant in Austintown.
The school district's mascot is a bear and schools superintendent Tom Inchak and others thought the bear would be a good addition to the lobby of the new school complex. However, no one is sure what kind of bear it is.
Because there's not a line item in the school district's budget for a stuffed bear, Inchak said the bear must be purchased with donated funds.
"I don't think us buying it would go over too well with the state auditors," Inchak joked.
Leetonia Councilman Dan Valentine also is working on the project.
"We have a bear fund, and it's pretty bare right now," Valentine cracked.
Good memory
Salem City Councilman Fred Vogel, R-at-large, is known for using the cable television broadcast of council meetings to wish relatives and friends congratulations for such occasions as birthdays and anniversaries. During one of Vogel's recent recitations of congratulatory messages, Council President Dave Ventresco ribbed his colleague about the practice.
"Do you have a little book at home so you can remember these?" Ventresco asked.
XCONTRIBUTORS: Nancy Tullis and Norman Leigh of the Salem Bureau.