School board OKs pacts

School board OKs pacts
NILES -- The city's board of education approved contracts with its teaching and support staff unions.
During Thursday's meeting, board members ratified a one-year contract extension with the Niles Classroom Teachers Association. The pact is similar to a one-year deal inked between the sides last year. It includes the creation of an insurance committee and a retirement incentive bonus deal. The extension is effective through Aug. 28, 2005.
Also during the meeting, the board and the Ohio Association of Classified School Employees Local 365 agreed on a memorandum of understanding regarding the two-year deal approved by both sides back in May. In the latest deal, the union agreed to allow the board not to fill certain positions if an employee is transferred or resigns.
Both deals are an effort between the unions and the board to cut expenditures in the financially-strapped district.
Vehicle break-ins
NILES -- Police are investigating a rash of break-ins into vehicles in a neighborhood on the city's northeast side.
Neighbors on Old Forge Road and Difford Drive filed reports early today stating sometime overnight someone entered their vehicles and ransacked them, though nothing of significance appeared to be missing. Two residents in the 1500 block of Old Forge Road and one in the 1600 block of Difford Drive said only loose change was taken.
Home invasion
WARREN -- A 28-year-old Fifth Street woman told police that three people forced their way into her home and held her and her children at gunpoint.
The woman told police that the robbers were at her home around 11:30 p.m. Thursday. They kicked the woman's 5-year-old daughter in the stomach, the woman said.
The robbers took an undetermined amount of money and fled.
No injuries were reported and no arrests have been made.
Outdoor concert
WARREN -- The Warren Junior Military Band will play a free outdoor concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at Packard Music Hall's outdoor band shell.
If it rains, the concert will be inside the music hall.
The band has been playing concerts in the city every summer since 1927, and this marks its fifth local performance of the summer.
Attendees should bring lawn chairs or blankets to watch the program of John Phillip Sousa-style music. Directors Paul Brizzi and Jonathan Willis will conduct.
Support for the concert is provided by the Ohio Arts Council, Giant Eagle Charities, local businesses and individuals and fund-raising by member families.
Information about the band is available on the Web site www.wjmb.org or by calling (330) 759-2551 or (330) 398-1643.
Food collection
WARREN -- Beginning Sept. 1, Satolli Carpet & amp; Floor Covering, 367 High St., will collect canned goods and nonperishable food items for Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday; 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday; and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
The barrels will be in the store year-round, said owner Eric Thompson.
Fight at jail
NILES -- A fight between two prisoners in the city jail sent one man to a hospital.
According to reports, Josh Thomas, no age available, of Baldwin Avenue, was taken to Trumbull Memorial Hospital by Lane LIFETrans at 3:18 p.m. Thursday for treatment of a broken right hand and a head injury.
Police say Thomas was assaulted by Terry Clay, no age or address immediately available, while the two were housed in the south cell block of the city jail.
No condition report was immediately available for Thomas, and the charges either man is being held on were also not immediately available.
Power outage
LIBERTY -- Thursday's storms knocked out power at the township administration building on Churchill Road, but it created only a minor disturbance in services.
Police officials said that after power went out around 10 a.m. Thursday, safety forces were able to switch to cell phones and a backup phone service. By that afternoon, power was not completely restored, but phones, radios and dispatch services were available, officials said.