Howland rejects zoning change

Howland rejectszoning change
HOWLAND -- Township trustees have rejected a proposed zone change that would have allowed True2Form body shop on Youngstown Road to use a 100-by-90-foot parcel behind the shop to store cars.
While blocking the zone change from residential to commercial, the trustees encouraged the landowner, R & amp;T Land Co., to request a use variance to allow the land to be used for vehicle storage, said Gordon McLean, the township zoning inspector.
The variance would prevent any future owners of the property from using the land for other commercial purposes, McLean said. This is not the case with a zone change.
T & amp;T Land Co. owns the plaza and several other True2Form body shops in the area, he said.
Liberty schools deal
LIBERTY -- The board of education approved Tuesday a three-year contract with Ohio Governmental Financial Management Inc. of Columbus to go after uncollected revenues. The school board and township trustees jointly hired the company, paying a $5,000 retainer fee and 15 percent of money obtained.
Warren school plansspeech competition
WARREN -- Warren Christian School will sponsor the annual ACSI Regional Speech Competition for the Ohio River Valley District of the Association of Christian Schools International.
Competition is from 9:30 a.m. to noon Friday at the Parkman Road school. More than 250 pupils from eight Northeast Ohio school districts will participate.
Grades one to six will be represented in several categories, including patriotic oratory, poetry, prose, Bible memorization and original oration.
A panel judges the competition, and ribbons will be awarded to pupils that day.
Niles on DUI alert
NILES -- The police department will use funds from the Trumbull County DUI Task Force to conduct a strict traffic safety enforcement program St. Patrick's Day weekend. The task force is sponsored by the Ohio Department of Public Safety. The holiday weekend has shown an increase in drunken driving crashes in the state. All city roads will be patrolled, with an increased number of patrol units' targeting impaired drivers.
Studios aid 911 fund
WARREN -- A group of area dance studios has raised $7,000 for the New York 911 Firefighters Fund.
The money will be delivered April 12 to three New York fire companies to assist the widows and children of firefighters, said Donna Crean, organizer and owner of D.C. Dancers in Warren.
More than 380 dancers from nine studios participated in a three-hour show at Liberty High School. Also, several businesses donated money.
T-shirts that read "Dancers Stand United" are available for $12 each by calling (330) 369-8344.
Accused in assault
SHARON, Pa. -- Harry Kennedy, 33, of Wallis Avenue, Farrell, was freed on a $20,000 bond after his arraignment on assault and other charges.
Police said Kennedy is accused of attacking a man in the 200 block of Mesabi Street. Police said the victim worked for Kennedy and called him asking for the return of an electrical extension cord. Witnesses said Kennedy was carrying a handgun when he arrived on Mesabi Street around 2:40 p.m. Sunday and struck the victim in the back and then hit him in the face with the gun. Kennedy drove away but was stopped in Farrell by Southwest Mercer County Regional Police who said they found a loaded .380 caliber handgun in his possession. He was charged with simple and aggravated assault, making terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and illegal possession of a firearm.
Work on turnpike
HARRISBURG -- The westbound lanes of the Pennsylvania Turnpike near the Allegheny Tunnel and Somerset are limited to one lane from mileposts 114 to 122 through 8 a.m. Friday. Because this single-lane pattern stretches through the tunnel, motorists should be aware of the possibility of long delays.
The lane closure is in preparation for the reconstruction of the turnpike between mileposts 109 and 122 in Somerset County. The $94-million project involves rebuilding the road.