Auditor praises district

Auditor praises district
LEAVITTSBURG -- Labrae Local School District's finances are in good condition, according to the state auditor's office, which recently released an annual audit.
"The Labrae Local School District has a track record of trustworthy fiscal management, and [this] report serves to assure taxpayers that the school district is handling tax dollars with professionalism and accountability," Auditor Betty Montgomery said.
The state auditor's office is required to prepare audits of public schools and express an opinion of the financial situation based on the audits. The audit reviewed the school district's federal revenue compliance, accounting policies, internal controls, budgetary activity, contracts and expenditures and cash management and debt structure for the July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002, fiscal period.
West Hill survey
BROOKFIELD -- Residents in the West Hill section of the township are urged to attend a township trustees meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the township administration building.
Trustees and the Trumbull County Planning Commission are surveying residents to determine if it can be designated a low- and moderate-income area to qualify for a $600,000 sanitary-sewer grant through the Ohio Department of Development.
Trustee Gary Lees said West Hill residents were surveyed May 1, but many were not home. Construction of the sewer project is expected to cost more than $2 million. If the project receives the grant, it will lower the cost to homeowners.
Relay raises $123,000
NILES -- The Niles Relay for Life made $123,000 to benefit the American Cancer Society during the weekend.
This is the largest amount collected during the four years of the event here. There were 2,000 participants at McKinley High School on Friday and Saturday.
Events included a cancer survivors' lap, music, fireworks, luminary ceremony, dunking booth, boccie tournament and raffles.
Lifeguard classes
WARREN -- Evening lifeguard classes are being offered at the YWCA, 375 N. Park Ave., to people 15 years old and older.
Orientation and a swim test are scheduled for 5 p.m. Friday. Students must be able to swim 500 yards and be able to retrieve a 10-pound brick from the bottom of the deep end of the pool.
The remainder of the classes will be from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays starting Monday and going through May 30.
The $95 class fee includes a CPR mask and manuals. Call Michael Smith, aquatics coordinator, at (330) 373-1010, ext. 21 for more information.
Mosquito spraying
LIBERTY -- Alexander's Pest Control, under contract with the township, will spray for mosquitoes Monday and Tuesday, from dusk to about 2 a.m. In the event of adverse weather, the township-wide spraying will take place the following evening.
Rape charges
WARREN -- A 21-year-old Jefferson S.W. man has pleaded innocent to two counts of rape. Michael Harrington entered the pleas Monday in the courtroom of Judge Peter Kontos of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court. Harrington was secretly indicted on the charges last week and was brought to court Monday. He is being held in the county jail in lieu of $50,000 bond. Court officials said he is accused of having sexual contact with a 12-year-old victim he knew.
Man is sentenced
WARREN -- A 34-year-old Kinsman man, convicted of two counts of forgery, has been sentenced to eight months in prison. Judge Peter Kontos sentenced Timothy Grimes during a hearing Monday. Hubbard Township police say Grimes sold two Amish families from Middlefield in Geauga County fraudulent agreements giving them logging rights to two properties. One family paid $17,500 and the other $13,000 for the rights.
Bridge work postponed
BRACEVILLE -- Because of scheduling difficulties, the Trumbull County Engineer's Office has postponed the planned replacement of a bridge on Newton Falls-Braceville Robinson Road until later this summer. The road was to have been closed through June 6.