Monday, September 30, 2002
Fourth fire at housewas set, authorities say
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- A Cleveland Street house was leveled this morning in what authorities say was the fourth fire set at the house this year. Fire Chief James Donston said the blaze started at 1 a.m. today at 714 Cleveland St. at the house owned by Paris Crowley. Crowley's address was not available from firefighters.
The fire chief did not know the dates of the other fires at the home, but said they occurred earlier this year and were arsons. Donston said today's fire caused about $3,000 damage to a neighboring house. No one was injured, he added.
Adult education classes
EAST PALESTINE -- The East Palestine schools adult and community education program fall session begins Oct. 8. Classes offered include introduction to computers using Windows 95; notary public preparation sessions, including taking the notary exam; parenting classes (no charge); and adult basic education and adult literacy classes (no charge).
Most classes meet weekly for six weeks, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays or Thursdays. Fees are $25 for district residents and $50 for nonresidents. Registration is Tuesday through Oct. 9 at the high school.
Chamber awards
COLUMBIANA -- Tickets are available at the Columbiana Area Chamber of Commerce for the Chamber's annual community awards dinner to be Oct. 27 at Heck's Restaurant. The evening begins at 6 p.m. with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Music will be provided by the Shanower Trio.
Tickets are $15. For more information, call the Chamber at (330) 482-3822.
Group to discuss tax
COLUMBIANA -- The Concerned Citizens Committee will meet at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at Columbiana High School to discuss the upcoming 1-percent income tax on the November ballot.
Free speakers available
SALEM -- The Columbiana County Bar Association says it will provide free speakers to discuss legal topics with civic organizations, clubs, churches and other groups. Programs being offered include those on wills and estates, real estate, zoning issues, parental responsibility and family law.
Call bar association President Daniel Blasdell at (330) 426-9491 or Atty. Shawna Erb at (330) 424-7626.
Handling complaints
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The court-appointed auditor of Pittsburgh's police investigations agency says the most important part of the job will be to get rid of the backlog of complaints against the city's police.
Auditor James Ginger was assigned to conduct comprehensive audits of the city's Office of Municipal Investigations as part of an agreement that lifts the police department out of five years of federal oversight.
Officials said that while the police department had complied with most of the terms for the past two years, the office assigned to investigate police complaints remained understaffed and undertrained.
Focusing on economy
ERIE, Pa. (AP) -- Beginning Monday, officials in Erie will hold a series of public meetings to outline their plan to revive the county's economy. The plan by the civic coordinating committee -- dubbed "C-cubed" -- will guide the county's effort to create 15,000 new jobs and attract 50 companies to the county in the next eight years.
The committee's mission, which was developed by a Boston-based consultant, is to think of ways to reverse Erie's slide.