School demolition set in Lowellville

School demolitionset in Lowellville
LOWELLVILLE -- Demolition of the old school, which housed kindergarten through grade 12 before the new school opened earlier this year, will begin June 1. Most salvageable architectural items have been removed, and a fence to seal the demolition site will be erected this week, said Richard J. Buchenic, superintendent. Boilers and science labs from the building were sold to the Hubbard school system, Buchenic said; some office furnishings were sold to the village for city offices and the police departments. Students were given the opportunity to buy their desks for $1 each. Antique desks, the gymnasium floor, shop equipment, fire alarm system and miscellaneous furnishings were sold at auction in April.
Teachers hurt
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two female teachers at Volney Rogers Junior High School told police they were injured when they stepped in to break up a fight between two 13-year-old girls Tuesday.
One teacher said she was struck repeatedly and ended up with a sore left arm. The other teacher was hit in the hand, had a toe stepped on and pulled a muscle in her back. The girls were taken to the juvenile justice center to face assault charges.
Girl faces charges
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 16-year-old girl accused of attacking three female workers at the Mahoning County Children Services group home on Glenwood Avenue was taken to the juvenile justice center Tuesday evening to face assault charges. The workers said they were punched, slapped and kicked. Police said the girl lunged at them when they handcuffed her.
Facing theft charge
YOUNGSTOWN -- Eugene L. Harris placed a pepperoni stick in his pants at Sav-A-Lot Tuesday night and tried to leave the South Avenue store without paying, according to police reports. Harris, 37, of Rowland Street, was arrested on a theft charge and served with an old warrant for his failure to appear in municipal court on a theft charge. When arrested, Harris told police: "I've been through this before, just take me to the county jail. I have not eaten or taken a shower for days; this will give me a break."
New agency
YOUNGSTOWN -- Creating a second downtown community improvement corporation will undergo more talk before coming to a vote. City lawyers will meet soon with downtown's redevelopment agency, the Youngstown Central Area Community Improvement Corp., to answer questions about creating a new agency. The city wants to create a second community improvement corporation that it would control as part of the proposed downtown civic center project. On Tuesday, Mayor George M. McKelvey told the current CIC board, which questioned the move last week, that it should fully understand the city's reasoning before deciding whether to embrace a new agency.
Bids rejected
YOUNGSTOWN -- The city board of education rejected all bids for general trades and for heating, ventilating and air conditioning for the new Harding Elementary School and decided Tuesday to readvertise for bids because they exceeded the project budget.
The cost was estimated at $4.1 million for general trades, for which the lowest bid was $4,212,000. The HVAC cost was estimated at $684,733, but the lowest bid for that was $777,400. The Harding project is part of the city schools' $182.5 million, six-year construction and renovation effort.
School window damaged
STRUTHERS -- Police are investigating damage to a window at the middle school, 800 Fifth St., that was apparently caused by vandals during the holiday weekend. About 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, workers discovered that an upper-floor window on the west side of the building had been shot out, apparently by a pellet gun.
This is the third time in recent months that vandals have broken windows at the school. In April, vandals caused $1,200 damage to windows on the west side of the building over two days.
Promoted to sergeant
AUSTINTOWN -- Township trustees have approved the promotion of Tom Collins from police patrolman to sergeant. Collins, who has served full time with the police for eight years, will start work as a sergeant Sunday.
He will replace Sgt. Norm Gallagher, who retires Saturday after 26 years with the department.