Construction update

Construction update
YOUNGSTOWN -- The board of education approved the construction documents and authorized bidding for construction of Taft Elementary School on the city's South Side.
The new $7.8 million school, designed to house 485 pupils, will be on the same Gibson Street site where the old Taft school was demolished last fall. The new building is expected to be ready to use in fall 2004, Anthony DeNiro Jr., executive director of school business affairs, said Monday night. It is part of the district's $182.5 million, six-year schools construction and renovation project.
Sentence put on hold
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 30-day jail sentence for Jerald A. Gordon, park department supervisor, has been put on hold pending appeal of his sexual imposition conviction.
Gordon, 49, of Scioto Street, was sentenced Monday in municipal court. Last month, a jury found him guilty of improperly touching a female part-time park employee. Judge Elizabeth A. Kobly sentenced Gordon to 60 days in jail, suspended 30, fined him $100 and placed him on one year's probation. He also must pay $600 to cover the cost of the jury.
Shots into apartments
YOUNGSTOWN -- Gunfire in the 100 block of Hilton Avenue late Monday night resulted in one bullet penetrating the front door of an upstairs apartment and lodging in a living room wall. Another bullet hit the siding of a second apartment, also ending up in a living room wall. No one was injured. A man dressed all in black was seen running from the area about 10:15 p.m., police said.
Released on bond
LOWELLVILLE -- Joshua Michael Middleton, 20, of Struthers, was released on $5,000 bond after being arraigned Monday on charges of carrying concealed weapons. Judge James R. Lanzo set Middleton's preliminary hearing for June 4.
Reports say police arrested Middleton at 6:50 p.m. Sunday after officers found a loaded .22 caliber handgun, a throwing knife, a loaded 9mm assault rifle and ammunition in the car he was driving.
Police stopped Middleton on a service road for Norfolk & amp; Southern Railroad to find out why he was on the property. While questioning Middleton, the officer spotted the butt of the handgun sticking out from under the driver's seat.
Coitsville appointee
COITSVILLE -- Township trustees appointed Phyllis Johnson to complete the unexpired term of Trustee Frank Sergi. Sergi resigned April 16 because of health reasons.
Johnson has served as a member of the township zoning board, audit committee and is a member of the township's Concerned Citizens for a Better Education committee.
Waste plant open house
NEW MIDDLETOWN -- An open house will be from 1 to 3 and 5 to 7 p.m. May 14 at the New Middletown waste treatment plant on Unity Road.
The Mahoning County Sanitary Engineer's office is sponsoring the open house in conjunction with Earth Day. Equipment will be on display, as will information about upcoming sewer projects in Springfield Township. The New Middletown treatment plant is designed to treat 550,000 gallons of waste per day, and serves about 1,375 households.
Man to be cited
BAZETTA -- Police say a 36-year-old Youngstown man will be cited for traveling left of center after a crash Monday morning with a tractor-trailer.
He was traveling north in a pickup truck on Bazetta Road about 7:15 a.m. when his vehicle struck a tractor-trailer driven by Donald Campbell, 42, of Atlantic Street Northwest, Warren. Campbell was driving south on Bazetta Road. Campbell wasn't injured. The other driver was treated at St. Joseph Health Center.
Road to be closed
HOWLAND -- Squires Lane will be closed about 1/4 mile west of Howland-Wilson Road Monday and May 13 as workers from the Trumbull County Engineer's Office replace a culvert.
Bridge replacement
BRACEVILLE -- Newton Falls Braceville Robinson Road will be closed one mile north of state Route 82 from Monday to June 6 as workers from the Trumbull County Engineer's office replace a bridge.
KSU commencement
CHAMPION -- Carolyn Pizzuto, vice president for human resources at Kent State University, will deliver the commencement address at 7 p.m. Friday in Lecture Hall A of the Classroom/Administration Building at KSU Trumbull Campus.