Funding for airport

Funding for airport
VIENNA -- A bill that would let the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport keep its federal funds has passed through the U.S. House and now is in a Senate committee.
This morning, William H. Barley, regional vice president of R.W. Armstrong, the airport's engineering firm, told the board that runs the airport about the bill's progress. The bill would allow airports that lost all commercial passenger service since 2001 to continue receiving the same level of federal support for capital projects, he said.
The airport now receives about $1 million a year from the federal government for capital projects. The bill would also reduce the local contribution to projects from 10 percent to 5 percent, he said.
Sentenced for child rapes
WARREN -- A 19-year-old Masury man who pleaded guilty to four rape charges has been sentenced to nine years in prison.
During a brief hearing Tuesday, Judge Andrew Logan of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court sentenced Mark Hearn to the prison term. Hearn told the judge that he was innocent of the crime even though he did not wish to withdraw his guilty plea.
"He is just asking for leniency in his sentence," said Anthony Consoldane of the Ohio Public Defender Commission, who represents Hearn.
The indictment says Hearn is accused of raping two girls whom he knew, ages 3 and 6, in September and November 2002.
2 educators reinstated
NILES -- Two educators laid off because of budget cuts are working once again.
The board of education agreed Tuesday to reinstate special education assistants Lisa K. Scheidegger and Sharon Joyce because of the transfer of another teacher and an increase in special education enrollment.
The women will each be paid $14,809 through the rest of the year. Scheidegger's salary will be paid from the district's general fund, and Joyce's will be covered by federal funding.
The board also agreed to award a $515,407 contract to Ohio Penal Industries of Columbus for asbestos removal at the old Edison Junior High School building.
The structure, which is more than 100 years old, was closed this year because of the opening of the new Niles Middle School.
Grant money was awarded to the district to demolish the old building, but that work was halted after the Environmental Protection Agency questioned the amount of asbestos in the structure.
McGuffey school honored
WARREN -- The school board recognized teachers and staff at McGuffey Elementary, which received an effective school rating on the most recent state report card.
Superintendent Betty J. English presented certificates to each of the school's employees at a board meeting Tuesday.
"It takes a whole staff to be an effective school," said Lynn Gibson, board president.
Candlelight vigil
WARREN -- Two groups, Loving Outreach Surviving Suicide and Survivors of Suicide, will have their fifth annual candlelight vigil in remembrance of loved ones at 6 p.m. Saturday at St. Pius X Church, 1401 Moncrest N.W.
Participants are encouraged to bring a photo of their loved one.
4-H fund-raiser planned
WARREN -- The Trumbull County 4-H Endowment Committee will have its annual fund-raiser from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 6 in the Book Nook in the Elm Road Plaza.
Book buyers that day should tell Book Nook employees they wish to support 4-H youth, and a percentage of the sale will go to the endowment committee.
Seventh-grader suspended
BRISTOLVILLE -- A seventh-grade boy was suspended from the middle school this week, accused of making threats to harm other pupils.
Superintendent Rocco Nero said other pupils reported the boy to the principal, who followed the district's code for investigating matters. "I don't believe the kid is a threat, but with today's society, you never know," he said.
As part of his suspension, the boy must undergo counseling before he may return to school, the superintendent said.