Schools will reach out into the community

Schools will reach outinto the community
YOUNGSTOWN -- Several Youngstown city school administrators will take to the streets Saturday to welcome the community to a new school year. M. Mike McNair, director of community relations, said about two hundred administrators from schools, the central office, security and community relations will disperse throughout all sides of the city. Administrators will discuss school issues with families of pupils and others. The event, McNair said, is spearheaded by Assistant Superintendent Wendy Webb.
Dress code violations
YOUNGSTOWN -- Some 100 pupils were sent home from school on Thursday for failing to adhere to new dress code policies. Thursday was the first day of school in the district. Most pupils sent home were juniors and seniors in the high schools, said M. Mike McNair, director of community relations. The district's dress code policy was revised this year to require all pupils in middle school, junior high and high school to wear solid blue or white polo shirts; previously they could wear various styles in those colors. McNair said some pupils complained that they could not find polo shirts in local stores. "They were challenging the system," McNair said. "They were sent home, [most] changed their clothes and came back." Still, administrators who called various stores discovered that polo shirts were out of stock. "The district is searching to purchase shirts to make them available," McNair said.
Waterline break at school
BOARDMAN -- Market Street Elementary School was closed today because of a main waterline break. The break in the line feeding the school, at 5555 Market St., was discovered about 9:30 p.m. Thursday by a custodian. The break is outside the building, and no flooding or damage was reported. The line was expected to be repaired today, officials said. The day off from classes is considered one of the five calamity days permitted during the school year that do not have to be made up, officials said.
Mahoning Valley housingto receive state grants
COLUMBUS -- The Mahoning Valley is set to receive $2.61 million in state grants to maintain, improve and expand housing for low- and moderate-income residents. Girard and Columbiana County will each receive $555,000, and East Palestine, Campbell and Mahoning County will each receive $500,000. The grants are from the Ohio Department of Development. A total of $35.6 million was awarded to 70 communities across the state.
Historical markers
CANFIELD -- Historical markers are set to be installed at the Old North Cemetery and the site of the first courthouse in Mahoning County. Canfield was the Mahoning County seat from 1846-1876. Some of the tombstones date to the early 1800s. The markers, which are privately funded, will be dedicated by the Canfield Historical Society on Oct. 11.
Drug arrests in raid
YOUNGSTOWN -- Two arrests were made Thursday night at 596 Cohasset Drive when members of the vice squad entered the house with a search warrant. Allan L. Underwood, 23, of West Lucius Avenue was arrested on charges of possession of cocaine and possession of drug abuse paraphernalia (scale). Coretta Burch, 30, of West Avondale Avenue was charged with possession of suspected marijuana. Police said they found a plastic bag of suspected crack cocaine near Underwood and a bag of suspected marijuana on Burch's lap.
Stop leads to charges
YOUNGSTOWN -- A traffic stop at 12:20 a.m. today resulted in the arrest of Shaun Davis, 20, of New Road, Austintown, on charges of aggravated trafficking in cocaine and possession of marijuana. Police pursued Davis over several streets on the South Side after he failed to signal a turn onto Hudson Avenue. Police confiscated a bag with packaged-for-sale suspected powdered cocaine, a large bag of suspected marijuana and $1,008, reports show.
Toddler turns up at school
AUSTINTOWN -- Police say a 2-year-old Compass West boy was found in the hallway of Woodside Elementary on Elmwood Avenue Thursday wearing nothing but a pair of shorts. A school nurse noticed the boy in the hallway at about 1:30 p.m. and called police. School officials recognized the boy and also called his mother. Woodside Elementary is about a quarter of a mile from Compass West. The boy's mother said the boy unlocked a screen door and walked out of her house. She said she and a neighbor looked for the boy until she received the message from the school. Police are investigating.