Deficit to force cuts

Deficit to force cuts
SALEM -- City officials have some tough fiscal decisions to make in coming months.
Preliminary estimates of the city's 2003 general fund revenue and expenses show a deficit of about $600,000, Councilwoman Nancy Cope, R-at large, told council members Tuesday.
The city expects expenses to be about $4.7 million next year.
Revenues probably will be about $4.1 million. They'll be less than expenses largely because revenue from the city's 1 percent income tax is on a downward trend, Cope said.
Among the options city officials have in dealing with the deficit will be to reduce spending, trim purchases and cut back on capital improvements.
Road repair funds
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County commissioners agreed to give $40,000 to Ellport borough and Hickory Township for road repairs.
The municipalities will split the money, which comes from the county's liquid fuels allocation, something derived from gasoline taxes. The money must be used for transportation related projects.
Ellport will use it to resurface State and Grim avenues, and Hickory will put the money toward road repairs and guard rails.
War re-enactment
SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. -- A French and Indian War re-enactment will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Slippery Rock University's Old Stone House in Brady Township.
Participants will skirmish, set up camp and cook. The Old Stone House, at routes 173 and 8, will be open for tours as well.
The free event also will include equipment demonstrations, vendors and concessions. The university's history department is the sponsor.
"Western Pennsylvania was of strategic importance to both the French and English in regard to their colonial empires in America," Dr. David Dixon, SRU history professor, says of the war.
During the French and Indian War (1754-1763), French and British troops passed by the Old Stone House site on the Venango Trail, which stretched from Lake Erie to the Ohio River. Armies used it to transport supplies.
Pet parade
SALEM -- The Salem Parks Department's annual pet parade is set for 10 a.m. Friday at Centennial Park.
The event is free. Registration will be from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. The parade will stay within the park, off East Pershing Avenue.
Hormone therapy
FARRELL, Pa. -- UPMC Horizon will offer a video teleconference on hormone replacement therapy for women from 6 to 8 p.m. today and Thursday.
The program is being presented at Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh but is being offered free by UPMC. The conference, dealing with estrogen and progestin therapy, will be presented in Conference Room A/B at UPMC's Greenville hospital and Conference Room 2 at its Farrell facility. Pre-registration isn't required.
Break-in at home
SHARON, Pa. -- Police said someone cut a window screen on a first-floor window to break into a home in the 300 block of East Silver Street.
An air compressor, some fishing rods and some prescription medications were taken.
Police said the burglary occurred between Friday and Monday.
Road worker's trial
YOUNGSTOWN -- Jurors deliberated all day Tuesday without reaching a decision on whether former Poland Township road worker Robert Swesey owes -- or is owed -- money over his marital status.
The township fired him in 1998 and is seeking more than $22,000 in spousal medical benefits he obtained from 1988 to 1996 after saying he was married to Ida Lewis.
He and Lewis were formally married in 1996, but contend they had earlier had a common-law marriage.
Swesey is countersuing for $110,000 in lost wages.
The jury deliberated for about two hours Monday after hearing evidence in Mahoning County Common Pleas Court.