Storms allow residents to receive a tax break

Storms allow residentsto receive a tax break
LISBON -- Property owners may claim a reduction in the taxable value of their property if it has been destroyed or damaged by a storm, Columbiana County Auditor Nancy Milliken said.
Milliken issued the reminder recently after the heavy storms that swept through the area earlier this week, downing trees and causing flooding in places.
To seek the reduction, it's necessary to file an application with the auditor's office, which can be reached at (330) 424-9515.
Police continue search forconvenience store robber
CLARK, Pa. -- Police are searching for a gunman who robbed a convenience store in Jefferson Township.
Police said a man with sunglasses and a cloth over his face entered Hoffman's, 1203 Greenville-Mercer Road, just after 2 p.m. Wednesday, showed the clerk a handgun stuffed into the waist of his pants and demanded cash from the register.
The female clerk was startled, police said, and did not respond until the gunman pulled the gun from his waist, pointed it at her and demanded money.
The clerk then pulled all the bills from the drawer and gave them to the gunman. Before the gunman left, police say he ordered the clerk to lie face-down on the floor.
Drivers who were traveling along that stretch of roadway Wednesday afternoon and may have seen the gunman are asked to contact the Jefferson-Clark Regional Police.
Officials consider creatinga 911 training position
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County commissioners are considering creating a training coordinator's position for the Lawrence County 911 Center.
Commissioner Brian Burick said the county 911 director and deputy director are busy with the countywide addressing project and are unable to train new dispatchers.
An experienced dispatcher has been doing the training, but not receiving any extra pay, he said.
Burick proposed they create the new position with pay at $1 an hour more than a dispatcher earns. The top pay for a county dispatcher is $11.30 per hour.
Burick said the training coordinator also would be responsible for reviewing tapes of 911 calls for quality assurance.
Township gets $815 grant
GREENVILLE, Pa. -- Hempfield Township has been awarded an $815 state grant to help cover its sewage treatment costs.
The money comes form the Sewage Facilities Enforcement Grants program run by the Department of Environmental Protection.
Children program grant
MERCER, Pa. -- The Mercer County Association for Children with Learning Disabilities will get a $49,675 grant from the federal Fund for the Improvement of Education.
U.S. Rep. Phil English of Erie, R-3rd, said the money will help pay for tutoring and other special services the association provides to county children.
State Route 172 reopened
WINONA -- State Route 172 near the unincorporated community of New Garden in Hanover Township has been reopened.
State officials closed that section of road earlier this week after heavy rains damaged a culvert.
Emergency repairs have been completed.
Cops in Shops
YOUNGSTOWN -- Signs that read "Cops in Shop, officer may be posing as an employee" are proving to be a great deterrent for those not old enough to buy alcohol at convenience stores, said Lt. Rod Foley, coordinator of the program for city police.
A three-month evaluation, April through June, shows that four citations were issued and eight arrests made, Foley said.
Officers who randomly work Cops in Shops at more than 45 convenience stores reported seeing more than 100 underage prospective alcohol buyers walk away after reading the signs, he said.
Part-time cops hired
LOWELLVILLE -- With approval of council, Mayor Joseph Rossi hired two part-time officers for the police department.
Michael J. Kawa is a full-time officer in Youngstown, and Andrew W. Rauzan is a full-time officer in Campbell.
They join six other part-time officers, three full-time officers and two reserve officers in Lowellville.
The part-time officers will be paid $9 an hour.