Snowstorm disrupts Hermitage bargaining

Snowstorm disruptsHermitage bargaining
HERMITAGE, Pa. -- The snowstorm that dropped about 6 inches on the Shenango Valley Monday caused cancellation of a negotiating session between the Hermitage School Board and its teachers.
The teachers have been on strike since Thursday, and a Monday night bargaining session would have been their first meeting with the school board since the strike began. The meeting was moved to 7 tonight.
The size of raises is the stumbling block to a settlement. The teachers are seeking an average of $2,700 a year, and the board is offering $1,600.
The strike will last only through Friday, because the state has intervened and will require the resumption of classes April 1 to ensure the district completes 180 days of classroom instruction by June 15.
South Range schedule
NORTH LIMA -- South Range Board of Education approved the 2002-2003 school year schedule that has the pupils returning to class Sept. 4 and seniors graduating June 7.
In other business at its meeting Monday, the board set the dedication of the new strength-training facility at the high school for 7 p.m. May 14.
One-man show set
SHARON, Pa. -- Actor Gregory Gibson Kenney will bring his free one-man show to Penn State Shenango on Wednesday in honor of Women's History Month.
Kenney portrays Just'n Truth, a young man on the bus the day Rosa Parks, Congressional Medal of Freedom recipient, refused to give up her seat. The program is set for 7:30 p.m. in Forker Laboratory Forum.
Equipment is stolen
CANFIELD -- Construction equipment worth about $5,300 was stolen during the weekend from a trailer on Montereale Drive. Bolt cutters were used to remove locks from the trailer either Saturday night or Sunday morning. Mahoning County deputy sheriffs are investigating.
Canfield school board
CANFIELD -- The Canfield school board will have a special meeting at 8 tonight to renew administrative contracts and to adopt a resolution that will allow the district to avoid a budget deficit in 2003. The meeting will be in the board meeting room at 100 Wadsworth St.
Widow sues driver
YOUNGSTOWN -- A widow is suing the driver of the tractor that collided with her husband's motorcycle.
Tammy Ginnicks, of Warner Road N.E., Brookfield, is seeking in excess of $75,000 on behalf of all next of kin of her husband, Scott, who died July 20, 2001, as a result of the accident.
The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court here says Ginnicks was attempting to pass the tractor on state Route 193 in Ashtabula County when it turned left in front of him.
The suit contends the tractor driver, Raymond L. Richards, of Brandon, Fla., was negligent in making the turn.
Easter celebration
GIRARD -- First United Methodist Church at 22 N. Market St. will have a free breakfast and Easter egg hunt Sunday.
Breakfast begins at 9:15 a.m. with the egg hunt to follow.
The community is invited for those activities and for the worship service at 10:45. The church is across from the post office.
Wife charged in death
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- A 65-year-old woman who allegedly admitted beating her husband with a board an hour before he died of a heart attack has been charged in the death.
Janice Ballew, 65, of North East Township, was charged with homicide in the Feb. 27 death of her 65-year-old husband Leslie Ballew.
McKinley library work
NILES -- The McKinley Memorial Library board has awarded a $653,000 contract to a Howland company for construction of the McKinley Home and Research Center.
The center, planned for the South Main Street site where McKinley was born, is to be a replica of the 25th U.S. President's birth home.
Patrick Finan, library director, said DSV Builders Inc. of Howland was the low bidder. It will probably take a few weeks to get the contract signed, after which the company has 13 months to complete the project.