Shenango Campground closed until Aug. 22

Shenango Campground closed until Aug. 22
CLARK, Pa. -- The Army Corps of Engineers said it will probably be Aug. 22 before the Shenango Recreation Area Campground can be reopened after flooding at Shenango River Lake. The water level is dropping and is down to 9 feet above normal summer pool level. Recreation areas will be reopened to the public as the pool recedes and cleanup can be done. Only the Shenango Recreation Area boat launch, the Pa. Route 846 Access Area and the Mahaney picnic and playground area remain open.
Disaster center to helpvictims of floods
HANOVERTON -- A disaster recovery center will open next week to aid Columbiana County residents and businesses affected by the July floods.
Workers at the center, which will be operated by federal and state emergency management agencies, will help people apply for disaster assistance.
The center will be at United High School, 8143 state Route 9, in Hanover Township.
Hours will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday. It's unclear how many days the center will be open.
Before attending, people are encouraged to call (800) 621-FEMA to register. Before calling that number, they should have their Social Security number, damage and loss estimates, insurance policy number and bank account number.
Leetonia festival space
LEETONIA -- The Leetonia Parks/Artisan's Committee has spaces available for the 21st annual Artisan's Festival Sept. 21. The cost is $50 for a 15-foot-by-15-foot space. For information on the festival, contact Jenn Valentine at (330) 427-0808 or Danielle Valentine at (330) 427-6823.
EP jump-start program
EAST PALESTINE -- East Palestine City Schools will offer a jump-start summer school program 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday next week and Aug. 18-22 for pupils in grades 2 through 6 who are having difficulty with their school work. The focus will be on reading and math skills. Parents may enroll their child in the middle school office on the first day of classes.
Free Joe Negri concert
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Internationally known jazz guitarist Joe Negri will perform a free concert at 7 p.m. Sunday at the Scottish Rite Cathedral on East Lincoln Avenue. The concert is part of a series offered by the Lawrence County Historical Society and is underwritten by corporate sponsors. Negri will perform as a trio with Dave Pello on acoustic bass, a director of jazz studies at Carnegie-Mellon University, and Lou Ferrante, an area business man, on drums. Negri was part of the "Mr. Rogers Neighborhood" cast for 30 years and has been the musical director for many television shows and other events in Pittsburgh. Corporate sponsors for the show are McElwain Motors, Ferrante Upholstering & amp; Carpeting and Tuscany Square Ristorante.
Seeking flood donations
YOUNGSTOWN -- Catholic Charities is seeking donations to help with short- and long-term relief for people affected by the recent storms and floods in the six-county diocese of Youngstown.
Catholic Charities is also seeking emergency disaster funds from Catholic Charities USA.
Donations may be made to Catholic Charities Flood Relief Collection, c/o Office of Social Action, Catholic Diocese of Youngstown, 144 W. Wood St., Youngstown, 44503.
For more information, call (330) 744-8451 ext. 320.
Officials argue over tax
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Tourism officials are squabbling with county officials and the agency that owns the Pittsburgh's convention center over $359,000 in hotel taxes used to pay the debt on the center rather than help market it.
The Greater Pittsburgh Convention & amp; Visitors Bureau maintains that it is owed the money to advertise the city's new $365 million David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
The Allegheny County Controller's office and the Sports and Exhibition Authority, which also receives part of the hotel tax, counter that the money was properly used to pay down debt.
Without the money, visitors bureau officials say they've had to cut some advertising out of the agency's $9.2 million budget, potentially hampering efforts to find people to visit the convention center.
Ali Detar, a spokeswoman for the county controller, said the disagreement stems from how groups receive their portion of the county's hotel tax. Authority chief financial officer Linda Kusner said there is a clear "pecking order," and the visitors bureau gets its money after the convention center debt payments have been met.