Renovating stadium

Renovating stadium
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- City school board members agreed to move forward with a $1.2 million renovation of Taggart Stadium.
Superintendent George Gabriel said they will replace the natural turf field with an artificial surface, repaint stands and light posts, renovate the press box and upgrade electrical services. A new score board will also be built, he said.
Gabriel said they have not decided whether to pay for the project from the district's $3.2 million reserve fund or take out a loan.
Gabriel said financial advisers are telling the district to take out the loan because they expect interest rates to rise and will earn more money on the reserve fund than they will pay in loan interest.
Board member Andrea Przybylski voted against the proposal.
Gabriel said Przybylski wanted renovation, but also wanted to include a clause in the motion that the project would be paid from the reserve fund and no debt incurred.
Drug raid nets 1 arrest
SALEM -- William Howard, 22, was arrested during a drug raid Wednesday at 755 1/2 Fifth St. that netted about seven grams of crack cocaine and a small amount of marijuana and cash.
Howard was charged with trafficking in crack cocaine and possession of crack cocaine. He is in the Columbiana County jail. Workers at the jail said today they could not provide Howard's address or bond.
The Columbiana County Drug Task Force said the raid followed a four-month investigation into drug sales at the apartment and throughout Salem. The apartment is rented to a woman.
The Columbiana County Special Response Team and Salem police also took part in the raid.
Man dies of injuries
GROVE CITY, Pa. -- A Pine Township man injured in a one-car crash that killed his wife Oct. 16, has died of his injuries. Samuel B. Winger, 81, of Barkeyville Road, died Tuesday in St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown. The Mahoning County coroner's office is handling the case. Winger's wife, Betty, 84, died at the scene. Winger was driving west on Pa. Route 208 when his vehicle ran off the road and rolled over.
Applying for assistance
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Lawrence County residents who suffered damage or loss because of September's flooding have one week left to apply for federal disaster assistance.
Nov. 18 will be the last day to call the Federal Emergency Management Agency's toll-free registration number.
Homeowners, renters and business owners may qualify for a number of federal and state programs to meet their needs.
The hot line is open from 6 a.m. to midnight daily at (800) 621-3362.
Probing church burglary
WEST MIDDLESEX, Pa. -- Police are investigating another church burglary in the area, this one at the West Middlesex Presbyterian Church, 3082 Main St. Police said someone forced open a side door Monday night and then forced open several interior locked doors. Two gallon-size plastic bags of pennies were taken. Communities on both sides of the Pennsylvania-Ohio border have reported a rash of church burglaries over the past week. Authorities said the intruders appear to be looking for cash and haven't taken office equipment or other items.
Man dies in collision
AUSTINTOWN -- Leonard Richard Jr., 54, of Youngstown died in a head-on collision when his car was struck by a wrong-way driver about 8:40 p.m. Wednesday on the Interstate 680 ramp to state Route 11, according to the Ohio State Highway Patrol in Canfield.
Harry Caughanauer, 54, of Pittsburgh drove north in the southbound lane on the ramp, the patrol said. He was in stable condition today in St. Elizabeth Health Center with a leg fracture. The accident remains under investigation.
Boy charged in assault
YOUNGSTOWN -- A 13-year-old East Middle School boy was arrested Wednesday afternoon at the school and charged with assault of a teacher. The teacher told police that she was punched and kicked by the Choice Court boy. Reports don't say what provoked the attack.
Firearm citation issued
YOUNGSTOWN -- Russell Cappitte, 41, of Cameron Avenue was issued a citation Wednesday that charges him with illegal discharge of a firearm.
Cappitte told police that he has ongoing problems with pit bulls in his neighborhood and shot at one that had charged at his father. A deputy dog warden arrived and took the dog, reports show.