Authorities: Gas heater likely caused house fire

Authorities: Gas heaterlikely caused house fire
LIBERTY -- Fire officials believe a gas heater is to blame for a house fire Thursday night that caused an estimated $185,000 damage.
Fire Chief Michael Durkin said his department was called shortly before 10 p.m. to the home of Delores Westover at 675 Underwood Ave.
The chief said Westover and her son smelled smoke and found the garage ablaze. The heater was hanging from the garage ceiling.
Firefighters were at the scene for six hours. Durkin said that because of the way the house was built and the neighborhood does not have waterlines it was difficult to extinguish. Firefighters had to lay 1,000 to 1,500 feet of hose to a hydrant.
Fowler, Girard, Vienna and Weathersfield fire departments helped.
Durkin estimated the damage at $65,000 to the older two-story frame house and $120,000 to the contents. The garage contained antique cars and there were antique firearms in the house.
Support staff's unionhas yet to vote on offer
LORDSTOWN -- Members of the union representing the school district's classified workers still have not voted on the board of education's latest contract offer of about three weeks ago.
James Rabbits, field representative for Ohio Association of Public School Employees Local 744, confirmed this morning that the 24 union members didn't vote at a meeting Thursday evening. He declined to elaborate.
Rabbits also confirmed that Debbie Richter, president of Local 744, resigned her post. The vice president moved up to the president's slot.
The union represents cafeteria workers, bus drivers, secretaries and other support staff.
Backing bond issue
WARREN -- The Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber is supporting a 6.53-mill Warren City Schools bond issue that will be on the ballot Nov. 4.
Money from the bond issue would provide the local share of a $178 million project to build all new city schools.
The business group has also announced its support for the half-percent piggyback Trumbull County sales tax, on the condition that commissioners promise to move forward on a slate of recommendations within six months.
Commissioners say they support the recommendations, which include hiring a full-time financial administrator, creating a two-tier wage and benefit system for employees and out-sourcing jobs where possible.
Meeting canceled
LIBERTY -- A special meeting of township trustees scheduled for Monday has been canceled.
The next meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 10, in the township administration building.
Roosevelt's new gym floorto be sealed on weekends
McDONALD -- The new gym floor in Roosevelt Elementary School will be sealed during weekends.
Superintendent Michael Wasser said Cincinnati Floors, which installed the $100,000 floor, will paint the floor during the week and apply the sealant during the weekends.
The floor was replaced after July flooding destroyed it.
Sealing during the weekdays was suspended after a parent removed her 7-year-old son with asthma from the school because he had trouble breathing.
Bell ringers neededfor Red Kettle Drive
NEWTON FALLS -- The Salvation Army's Red Kettle Drive will make its way to Newton Falls and needs a few good bell ringers.
This year, the Newton Falls campaign will run Nov. 21-23, 26 and 28-30 and Dec. 5-7, 13-14 and 19-24 at Giant Eagle and IGA grocery stores and Pamida department store.
Ringers will be out from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. daily except Sundays, when they will finish at 6 p.m.
Volunteers are needed for two-hour shifts. Call Doug or Clara at (330) 872-5574.
Seminar for parents
YOUNGSTOWN -- A free seminar for parents of special-education children will be offered at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Masonic Temple, 223 Wick Ave. Guest speaker is Gabrielle Spangler of the Ohio Coalition for the Education of Children with Learning Disabilities.
Topics include individual education plans, available services and special-education pupils' rights. Sponsor is the Masonic Children's Learning Center for Dyslexic Children. Parking is free.