Rendell will visit area

Rendell will visit area
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell will be in Lawrence County on Monday stumping for statewide candidates. Lawrence County Democratic Party Chairman Pete Vesella said there is a $1,000-per-couple fund-raiser at the home of former county commissioner Don DeCarbo at 6 p.m. A free rally at Westminster College will follow at 7 p.m. For tickets to the fund-raiser, call (724) 658-4711.
Board to rehire directorafter his retirement
COLUMBIANA -- A public hearing on the rehiring from retirement of Andris Baltputnis will be at the beginning of the Crestview Board of Education's next regular meeting at 7 p.m. May 12. Baltputnis has worked in the district 35 years and serves as athletic director and an assistant principal for the middle school and high school. He is to retire in June and be rehired to both positions. Superintendent John Dilling said the public hearing is required by law to allow anyone to voice objections, but he doesn't expect any.
He said whenever employees are rehired after retiring, they give up the school district's health care insurance and that of the State Teachers Retirement System goes into effect. The district will still have the benefit of Baltputnis' knowledge and experience, but at a lower cost, Dilling said.
Seeking grants for trail
LISBON -- Columbiana County Engineer Bert Dawson is seeking federal grants to help pay for two projects related to the county's 12-mile Greenway Trail.
Dawson said Wednesday he is applying for $579,000 to help pay for a $723,701 project to renovate a 19th-century train depot on South Market Street. The renovated building will provide parking and restrooms for Greenway users.
Dawson also is applying for $110,896 to aid a $138,112 project to provide parking close to the Greenway's midpoint near a historical covered bridge in Salem Township.
The remaining money needed for each project will be sought from other sources that have yet to be determined, Dawson said.
Appraising antiques
EAST PALESTINE -- An antiques appraisal program will be at 6 p.m. April 27 at the East Palestine Memorial Public Library, 309 N. Market St. Participants should bring items to the library at that time and limit requests for appraisal of antiques or collectibles to three items per person. For more information, call the library at (330) 426-3778.
Woman who fell from vansues bar's former owner
GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) -- A woman who said she fell out of a van and broke seven of her teeth after celebrating her 21st birthday at a now-closed bar has sued its former owner, alleging that employees continued to serve her when she was drunk.
In the lawsuit filed Monday in Westmoreland County, 22-year-old Tiffany Lucas of Greensburg said she was served at least a dozen drinks in 11/2 hours at the Loft Lounge on April 6, 2003.
"At one point, she asked for water, and they gave her another drink. I think that's terrible," said her attorney, Jon Lewis.
According to the lawsuit, Lucas was so drunk that her friends had to carry her out of the bar. While riding home in a van, she reportedly became ill and fell out of the vehicle, hitting her face and breaking seven of her teeth as well as sustaining other injuries.
Vincent DeFloria, who closed the bar after buying another last month, said he hadn't seen the lawsuit and couldn't comment until he talked with his lawyers.
Hot-dog sign wins out
ALLIANCE (AP) -- An entrepreneur has won his wiener war with city hall. A judge granted Walton "Wally" Armour permission to erect a 30-foot replica of a hot dog atop his new restaurant.
City officials had tried to halt the plans, saying it would lead to more and could make the city look like the Las Vegas strip.
The Alliance Board of Zoning Appeals granted Armour a variance allowing him to skirt an ordinance against rooftop advertising. Law Director Andrew Zumbar argued that the ordinance shouldn't be bypassed, but the judge said the city could not challenge its appeals board.
Zumbar said it would be up to the city council whether to appeal Sinclair's ruling.