East Liverpool school aid

East Liverpool school aid
COLUMBUS -- East Liverpool schools are getting more than $2.5 million from the state to stay solvent this school year.
Without comment, the State Controlling Board approved Monday the release of $2.606 million to the school district. The money will be paid back to the state in the next two years, state officials said.
Ohio Auditor Betty D. Montgomery has certified a $2.6 million deficit in the school system and has declared the district in a state of fiscal emergency.
A local financial planning and supervision commission will handle the school system's fiscal matters.
Made up of six state lawmakers and a representative of the governor's office, the controlling board has the final say over some of the state's larger spending requests.
Discussing contract talks
NEW SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield Township trustees will meet with their counsel in executive session to discuss ongoing contract negotiations with township workers at 8 a.m. Wednesday at the township administration building.
Fire cause undetermined
COITSVILLE -- The cause of a fire that destroyed a township home this weekend is undetermined.
Fire broke out in a bedroom of a single-family house at 4720 McGuffey Road just before 8 a.m. Saturday, said Fire Chief Nick Pope Jr.
Two residents were asleep in the room and one suffered minor injuries but refused treatment, Pope added.
The couple was unable to call for help from home because the fire had destroyed phone service in the house by the time they awakened. They had to drive to a neighbor's house to call, Pope said, delaying the arrival of firefighters from Coitsville, Poland, Lowellville and Pulaski.
Woman reports robbery
YOUNGSTOWN -- A Gaither Street woman told police she was robbed in her home around 8:15 p.m. Monday.
The victim said the gunman forced his way in when she answered a knock at her door. The second robber stayed near the door and didn't enter the house.
Taken were the victim's wallet, car keys, ATM card and $10, reports show. She said she was threatened at gunpoint to give one of the two robbers her ATM card's personal identification number.
Facing multiple counts
STRUTHERS -- A city man charged with seven counts of forgery and eight counts of receiving stolen property will appear in municipal court Wednesday for his preliminary hearing.
Richard Lightner, 20, who lists two addresses -- one on Lincoln Street and one on Frank Street -- is accused of cashing a forged check at the Frattaroli Sparkle Market on Jan. 26.
The $225 check, written to Lightner, belonged to All Type Roofing and had been reported stolen along with several other business checks last month in Youngstown.
Adding signs at truck stop
HUBBARD -- The Ohio Department Of Transportation has agreed to add "reduced speed ahead" signs and bigger speed limit signs near the Flying J truck stop on state Route 7 and U.S. Route 62 in Hubbard.
Trustees said Monday night that the changes are due to happen sometime this month, but they still aren't completely satisfied. Trustees were disappointed that a request to increase the span of the reduced speed limit on 62 and 7 went unfulfilled.
Trustees and the Hubbard Township police chief have gotten several calls regarding "near misses" that happened as a result of the congested traffic in the area. Trustees hoped that ODOT would extend the reduced speed limit span so drivers are better able to slow down when they meet with congested traffic.
In other business Monday, trustees eliminated the need for transient venders to acquire notarized letters of permission before they can do business on the property of private landowners.
Speaker at TCTC
CHAMPION -- William Phillis, who leads the Coalition for Equity and Adequacy in School Funding, will speak to community members at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Trumbull Career and Technical Center. The meeting will be in lecture hall A at the center.
Phillis, whose group filed the lawsuit that resulted in an Ohio Supreme Court decision declaring the state's school funding system unconstitutional, will listen to attendees' concerns and discuss new strategies for changing the funding system.