Trustees approve raises

Trustees approve raises
HOWLAND -- Township trustees approved raises Wednesday for 17 nonunion employees and bonuses for three top officials. The raises covered secretaries and post office clerks, as well as top administrators. Eight hourly employees got pay increases from 36 cents to $1.05 an hour.
After the pay raise, the road foreman's pay will increase from $20.98 an hour to $22.03 an hour. The police secretary's pay will go from $12.38 to $12.88.
Eight managers, who are paid on salary, got raises of 3 percent, the same as offered police captains and sergeants in a recently approved contract. Administrator Darnel St. George got a 4 percent raise.
After the raise, Fire Chief George Brown earn $68,953 a year, making him the highest-paid township employee.
Police Chief Paul Monroe, Assistant Fire Chief Tim Thomas and Administrator Darlene St. George also received additional $1,250 raises for completing probationary periods.
St. George will earn $64,807 a year, Monroe $57,937 a year, and Thomas $50,727 a year.
Group to split $125,125
HUBBARD -- A group of nine friends and employees of Shell Food Mart at Truck World will split $125,125 after taxes after hitting five numbers in the Feb. 20 Mega Millions drawing.
The winners are Kim Fusco, John F. Hudash, Vickie P. Humphries, Michelle L. Penn and Kristine M. Sandberg, all of Hubbard; Frank Spanja of Girard; Beverly J. Leventry of Lowellville; and Kimberly S. Brannan and Ronald E. Matters, both of Greenville, Pa.
Each contributed $5 and the computer selected the numbers. True North on Market Street in Boardman will receive $1,000 for selling the ticket.
Busing motion ignored
MINERAL RIDGE -- The Weathersfield school board refused to reconsider busing students to school this year.
At the board's meeting Wednesday, member Fred McCandless moved that the board restore busing, but the motion died for lack of a second. Busing was eliminated earlier this year as a cost-cutting measure.
In other business, schools treasurer Angela Lewis told the board that the Trumbull County auditor has certified the millage for the five-year levy the board wants to put on the ballot in August. The 5.5-mill levy would raise $538,000 annually.
If the levy isn't approved by voters, the treasurer said financial balances are expected as follows: 2004, $424,916; 2005, $58,513; 2006, assuming that a current emergency operating levy is not renewed, deficit of $678,956; 2007, $1.9 million deficit; and 2008, a $3.6 million deficit.
Dems campaign in Valley
Democratic presidential campaigns are coming to the Mahoning Valley just days before Tuesday's primary election. At 2:30 p.m. Sunday, U.S. Rep. Dick Gephardt will be at the Operating Engineers Hall, 291 McClurg Road, Boardman, on behalf of U.S. Sen. John Kerry.
At 7 p.m. Monday, U.S. Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio, who also is running for the nomination, will be at Youngstown State University's Kilcawley Center. He will speak in the center's Chestnut Room.
Liberty school labor talks
LIBERTY -- The board of education will meet in special session at 8 a.m. Friday at the board offices in Guy Middle School to discuss labor negotiations.
Rally for levy support
LIBERTY -- Liberty schools Build-A-Future Committee will sponsor a "Pep Rally for Educational Excellence" at 2 p.m. Sunday in the high school gymnasium. The purpose is to promote a 7.9-mill emergency levy that will appear on Tuesday's primary ballot. State Sen. Marc Dann of Liberty, D-32nd, will be keynote speaker.
Income tax charges
CLEVELAND -- A one-count information was filed Wednesday against Michael G. Malvasi of Timber Run Drive, Canfield, that charges him with filing a false tax return for 1998. He is accused of underreporting income he received from two companies, Mill-It Company and Champion Excavation. The case was investigated by the IRS criminal investigation division and is being prosecuted by Richard H. Blake, an assistant U.S. attorney.
AWOL arrest
CAMPBELL -- Police arrested a city woman charged with military desertion after the U.S. Army issued a warrant for her arrest. Rebecca L. Gigax, 24, of Coitsville Road, was taken into custody Tuesday at her home.