Friday, June 28, 2002
On ramp reopens
CHAMPION -- The state Route 45 on ramp to state Route 5-82 east is open. The work was part of a $9.8 million project to repair and resurface Route 5 beginning from the bridges west of the West Market Street interchange and ending at the railroad bridges west of the Elm Road interchange. The whole project is scheduled for completion by late fall 2003.
MVSD workers
MINERAL RIDGE -- The Mahoning Valley Sanitary District board voted to begin adding three water purification workers to the district's payroll.
The district now has eight workers in the purification department, not enough to staff the department 24 hours a day without using overtime, said David Tabak, chief engineer. Increasing the number of workers in that department was one of the recommendations in a state audit of the district released last month.
Tabak said the district needs to add a total of seven or eight workers to keep up with routine maintenance and operations.
New MRI facility
NILES -- Patients who need an MRI will have a new facility to choose from beginning in August.
A large magnet required for the MRI procedure was delivered Wednesday to Warren Radiologists Inc. Physicians MRI Institute will open in the facility Aug. 1
The facility is connected to the Cleveland Clinic Foundation's Division of Radiology. When an MRI exam is completed, the image is transmitted via a secure Internet connection to Cleveland, where radiologists read the results. A report then is faxed to the Niles office.
Warren Radiologists, Youngstown-Warren Road, provides general radiology, CT scans, general X-rays and nuclear medical procedures.
Recycling and literacy
WARREN -- Residents and businesses can help reduce adult illiteracy and help the environment. Sprint Yellow Pages and the Alliance Community Outreach Program have teamed up for the second annual Sprint Yellow Pages Recycle for Literacy Day on July 27.
From 8 a.m. to noon, volunteers will be at Wal-Mart on Elm Road to collect and count old telephone directories. For each directory recycled, Sprint Yellow Pages will donate $1 (up to $3,000) to the outreach program.
Last year, Trumbull County residents recycled more than three tons of directories in one day, resulting in a $3,000 donation to the ACOP.
Rapist faces hearing
WARREN -- The Ohio Parole Board, at the request of the Trumbull County prosecutor, will conduct a full hearing before allowing a convicted rapist to go free, court officials said. A date for the hearing has yet been set.
Dennis Watkins, county prosecutor, asked for the hearing last week after he found out that David Lockney, 46, formerly of Lordstown, was scheduled to be released from prison July 8.
Lockney was sentenced in 1987 to four life sentences, with parole eligibility after 10 years. He pleaded guilty July 23, 1987, to four counts of rape and one count of attempted rape. He is housed at Grafton Correctional Facility.
Mathews renewal levy
VIENNA -- The Mathews Local Board of Education passed a resolution Wednesday to place a five-year renewal levy on the ballot in November. The 2-mill levy will be for permanent improvements. Superintendent Lee Seiple said the renovations must be ones that will last at least five years, such as replacing a roof or a heating system.
Holiday police patrols
WARREN -- City police will participate in a statewide enforcement blitz over the July 4 holiday. Officers will conduct intensive traffic enforcement throughout the city beginning Wednesday through July 7. The extra patrol will target aggressive, unsafe drivers, impaired drivers, speeders and seat-belt and child-restraint violations.
Officers also will work with liquor establishments through the Cops in Shops program to stop alcohol from being sold to people younger than 21. The extra patrol officers are being funded through a state grant.
Constituents Day
WARREN -- State Sen. Timothy J. Ryan will host a Constituents Day 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday at Plaza Donuts, 233 Main Ave. S.W.