LOCAL

LOCAL
Kara Koppel namedto academic team
CONWAY, S.C. -- Kara Koppel, a graduating senior at Coastal Carolina University from McDonald High, has been selected Verizon/CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American for track and field and cross country.
Koppel has a 4.0 grade-point average in psychology in the Honors Program, and is a three-time All-Big South selection in cross country, and a two-time All-Big South pick in indoor and outdoor track and field.
This past spring, she was awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship worth $6,900, and was honored as Coastal Carolina's top graduating senior and accorded the CCU Faculty's Academic Excellence Award.
Koppel also was named the 2002 Big South Conference Cross Country and 2003 Big South Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year -- capturing the three awards for the second straight year.
Columbiana BOEvotes down wrestling
COLUMBIANA -- There won't be a varsity wrestling program at Columbiana High School anytime soon. The board of education voted down a proposal by Just for Kids Sports, a non-profit group from the Leetonia area, to fund a varsity wrestling program at Columbiana High School for three years. The group offered to fund all up-front costs, with the district paying the transportation.
Board President James Bosela said the board members don't want a varsity sport funded by an outside group. Transportation would be expensive, and board members worry that unexpected or hidden costs would surface once the program was launched.
"We'd like to see wrestling here, but we can't even consider adding any more programs for at least 18 months," he said. "We need to see what the income tax revenue is going to be, and some people won't pay until they file their 2003 returns," he said.
Scott Jones Jr.wins invitational
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. -- Scott Jones Jr. of East Palestine recently won the Oak Tree Country Club Junior Invitational.
Jones shot 1-under-par 70 to win by four shots over the second place finisher.
Later this month, he will be competing in both The Ohio Public Links Junior and Ohio Publinx State Amateur.
SpongeBob comesto Mercer Raceway
MERCER, Pa. -- SpongeBob SquarePants will make a visit Saturday night at Mercer Raceway Park.
From 4:45 to 7:35 p.m., kids will have the chance to meet SpongeBob and get their pictures taken with him. From 6 to 6:30 p.m., the stock car drivers will bring their cars behind the grandstands for the second Grove City Auto Mall "Meet Your Heroes" Autograph Night. The first 300 kids will receive a color autograph card when they enter the gates.
Gates open at 4:30 p.m. Adult admission is $10, students 6-15 are $5 and children five and under are free.
Protopapa to appearat benefit polo game
EAST PALESTINE -- East Palestine High football coach John Protopapa and his staff will be on hand to meet Bulldog fans at the Football Mother's benefit polo game Sunday at 1 p.m. Powers Polo Field.
Proceeds benefit the football mothers' organization.
For details call Roxanne Hornung at (330) 457-2878.
Katie Dick plays wellin junior tournament
MARION -- Katie Dick of New Middletown finished the Ohio Junior Girls golf championship Wednesday by shooting a two-round score of 157 (74-83).
Dick was four strokes behind champion Holly Niederkohr of Marysville.
WORLD
Muju seeks 2014Winter games
SEOUL, South Korea -- Officials in the South Korea resort village of Muju said they will seek to host the 2014 Winter Games.
Rangers' Lyashenko left suicide note
ISTANBUL, Turkey -- New York Rangers forward Roman Lyashenko wrote a suicide note, then apparently tried to cut his wrists before hanging himself.
Staff/wire reports