Friday, October 24, 2003
Niles school union vote
NILES -- Members of the union representing the classified staff of the city's school district were to vote at 6 p.m. today at McKinley High School on whether to strike.
Some 120 members of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 365 have been working without a contract since this summer. Union officials announced earlier this month that contract negotiations with Niles City Schools and the board of education are at an impasse.
The union represents bus drivers, custodians, secretaries, cafeteria workers and others.
School officials and the union representing teachers, whose contract also expired this summer, were able to reach an agreement for a one-year pact in early August.
Questioned in death
WARREN -- A Vernon man is being held in the Trumbull County jail on $100,000 bond on a charge of tampering with evidence and is being questioned in connection with the death of a man found in the Shenango Wildlife area of Vernon Township.
Bruce Coxson, 46, was arraigned Monday in Eastern District Court in Brookfield on the tampering charge. He surrendered to Ohio State Highway Patrol investigators Friday morning at his state Route 88 home.
He was considered a person of interest to police in the death of Charles Palm, 26, of Greenville, Pa., whose body was found by a hunter Oct. 10 in the Shenango Wildlife Area.
Palm was shot three times, the patrol has said.
The patrol investigates criminal activity on state-owned or leased property.
Pumpkin-carving contest
HUBBARD -- Hubbard Community Pool is sponsoring an underwater pumpkin-carving contest from 7 to 8 p.m. Oct. 29, at the Hall Avenue facility. Treasure Cove Scuba is providing the prizes and supervision.
Entry fee is $5 with awards in two scuba diver divisions. Carvers must bring a pumpkin, pumpkin carving safety knife, weights and lights.
Call (330) 534-1992 Ext. 1301.
Candidates' forum
McDONALD -- McDonald High School Student Council will sponsor a "Meet the Candidates Night" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Oct. 29 in the high school auditorium.
Village candidates in the Nov. 4 election are invited to attend and give a three-to-five-minute presentation of their platform and position.
A question-and-answer period will be conducted in the time remaining. Moderator is Jerry Gamertsfelder, a high school teacher.
Mayoral candidates are Mayor James Border and Jack Dugan. Candidates for council are B.J. Farr, Peter Sudol, Kevin O'Connell, Glen Holmes and Joseph Sansone.
Southington schools
SOUTHINGTON -- The school board meeting scheduled for tonight has been rescheduled for 6 p.m. Oct. 28 in the high school multipurpose room.
The board normally meets the third Tuesday of the month.
Boy, 16, hospitalized
SHARON, Pa. -- A 16-year-old Spearman Avenue boy was in stable condition in UPMC Horizon today, and police were looking for his assailant in a stabbing at Budd Street and New Castle Avenue.
Witnesses told police Christopher Cordero got into an argument with an 18-year-old that escalated into a shoving match shortly after 4 p.m.
The assailant pulled out a knife or box cutter and slashed Cordero on the left side of the abdomen just below the rib cage.
Police said the man fled, but they know his identity and expected to make an arrest today.
Group joins in food drive
CANFIELD -- The Family, Career and Community Leaders of America chapter at Mahoning County Career & amp; Technical Center has joined in The Mission of Love Foundation food drive. The local FCCLA chapter welcomes community participation in the drive, which will last until Nov. 15.
The foundation is a nonprofit organization that provides humanitarian aid worldwide, especially for children. Backed by individuals, local businesses and the military's Denton Program, Mission of Love airlifts clothing, medicine, food and building supplies to Third World countries and poverty-stricken U.S. communities.
Collection boxes are set up in the MCCTC Common Area for donations from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. each school day.