Ballots challenged

Ballots challenged
WARREN -- Hourly employees of RDR, LLC, 2809 Mahoning Ave. N.W., an electronic components business, voted 36-29 in favor of representation by the IUE-CWA in a Friday election supervised by the National Labor Relations Board. In addition, there were 17 challenged ballots, which will be evaluated next week by the NLRB, which will decide which of them to count. Of the challenged ballots, 10 were challenged by the union, five by management and two by the NLRB. To win, the union needs to get a majority of the votes cast and counted. Based on what he said was the likely outcome of the challenged ballots, Harold E. Nichols, lead organizer for the IUE-CWA, said he was confident his union won the election.
Democrats to meet
POLAND -- Democrats of the 17th District, a local political organization, is holding its monthly meeting at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Poland Community Baseball Association hall on Sheridan Road. A number of Democratic candidates who ran in the recent general election are scheduled to speak.
Injured child dies
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. -- A 3-year-old injured in a one-car accident in the 100 block of Wansack Road died in Children's Hospital, Pittsburgh. Ronald Ziglear, Shenango Township's assistant police chief, said Friday that Chloe Gelesky was a passenger in a car driven by her mother, Tara Gelesky, 20, which went off the road and rolled onto its roof in a ditch around 7:20 a.m. Wednesday. Chloe died at 4 p.m. Her mother remained hospitalized Friday in UPMC Horizon, Farrell. The Geleskys had been living in Masury but recently moved in with a family member in Shenango Township, police said.
Railroad club event
SEBRING -- The Sebring Model Railroad Club will hold its annual open house from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and Sunday and again Nov. 23 and 24 at 216 E. Pennsylvania Ave. The Sebring Model Railroad Club has one of the largest and most complete model railroads in Northeast Ohio. The club has been in existence since 1948. Its home was originally the Pennsylvania Railroad freight station. Admission is $2 for adults, but children under 12 are admitted free. Refreshments will be available. For more information, call Dave "Doc" Bertolini at (330) 938-6520.
First-time home buyers
YOUNGSTOWN -- Family Financial Education Services, a program of the Family Service Agency, will sponsor a first-time home buyer workshop from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday at the agency office, 535 Marmion Ave. The free session will offer basic information such as affordability, budgeting, credit and the loan-application process. Participants will receive a certificate of attendance that will satisfy the education requirements for some mortgage programs. Call (330) 782-5664 to register in advance. No registration will be accepted the day of the program.
Property assessments
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County municipalities should see their new land values in the mail next week. The county board of assessment appeals officially certified the newly assigned property values at a special meeting Friday. Mary Bullano, chief county assessor, said the total property value of the county is now $3,391,063,300. That is up from $27.4 million. The new values were assigned after Lawrence County's first reassessment in nearly 40 years. Bullano said municipalities will now adjust their millage rates to reflect the new values. When reassessment occurs, they can take in only up to 5 percent more than they did before reassessment. School districts can take in up to 10 percent more.
Double honors
YOUNGSTOWN -- Mahoning County received two awards from the International Association of Emergency Managers. The county commissioners and emergency management agency were honored for The Warning, the EMA's newsletter. The county also was honored for its cooperative approach to planning and preparedness with private-sector agencies such as the Home Builders Association of Mahoning Valley.
Food for needy vets
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- The deadline to collect food for needy veterans in Lawrence County has been extended to Thursday. Nonperishable food items can be dropped off at the front entrance of the Lawrence County Government Center from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The food is being collected by Community Outreach, a church-based nonprofit program, and the Lawrence County Veterans Affairs Office. Anyone wanting to make a financial contribution can send it to Community Outreach, 4133 Ellwood Road, New Castle, Pa. 16101. In the past more than 100 food baskets have been given to veterans at Thanksgiving time.