Consolidation forum

Consolidation forum
SHARON, Pa. --The Mercer County League of Women Voters and Fox 17/62 will have a public forum on the ballot referendum to consolidate the municipalities of Sharon, Farrell, Hermitage, Sharpsville and Wheatland.
The forum, featuring presentations from both proponents and opponents of the consolidation, is set for 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at the Penn State Theatre at Penn State Shenango, 147 Shenango Ave. The discussion will be videotaped, and portions of it will be broadcast in a 30-minute special called "Communities at a Crossroad" at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 21 on Fox 17/62.
College Club of Sharon
SHARON, Pa. -- The College Club of Sharon opens its 78th year of programs promoting education and friendship with a noon luncheon Saturday at Sharon Country Club on Forker Boulevard. The speaker, Pamela Varkony, will discuss "Courage, Character and Commitment: How Women Change the World." Club membership is open to all women who are college graduates. For more information, call Pat Stanger at (724) 342-7839.
Weather siren testing
HERMITAGE, Pa. --The Hermitage Fire Department will be testing weather warning sirens in Hermitage, Clark, West Middlesex and Wheatland between 9 and 10 a.m. Thursday. Residents are asked to disregard the sirens during the test.
Biker appreciation run
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- A run to show appreciation to motorcyclists who support local charities and causes is planned for Saturday. Sign-ups for the Run for Fun by Bikers for Bikers will be at 9 a.m. at the Royal Cafe in Midland and The Ranch in Ellwood City. The final destination is Highland Veterans of Foreign Wars in Chippewa, Pa. For details, call the Royal Cafe at (724) 643-6508 or The Ranch (724) 752-9700.
Bridge demolition
ELLWOOD CITY, Pa. -- The Ewing Park Bridge will come down Oct. 22, but no one will be able to view it, said Lawrence County Commissioner Ed Fosnaught. Fosnaught said there is no safe area to watch the bridge explosion and workers will take extra precautions to secure the area so no one is near the blast site.
Traffic will be stopped about five minutes before the bridge is taken down, he added. The time of the blast has not been set yet. The bridge is being replaced and should be reopened in early 2006.
Fire closes Pa. turnpike
HARRISBURG (AP) -- A truck fire involving hazardous materials shut down the Pennsylvania Turnpike between Lancaster and Harrisburg this morning. Details of the accident weren't immediately available. The highway was expected to remain closed at least through the morning rush hour.
Help for flood victims
YOUNGSTOWN -- Gov. Bob Taft announced Tuesday that more than $1 million in Temporary Assistance to Needy Families funding will be made available to provide food boxes to families in 20 counties affected by recent flooding and severe weather. Columbiana, Mahoning and Trumbull counties are included.
The money will be made available to Second Harvest Foodbanks, which will use it to buy nonperishable food, soap, laundry detergent and personal hygiene items for distribution to eligible families. Eligibility is determined by county departments of job and family services. Distribution of food boxes is expected to begin in a few weeks.
Juvenile court funds
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Ohio Department of Youth Services has awarded $35,023 to Mahoning County Juvenile Court to fund case management for the court's mediation program. The court has four mediators who were trained by the Ohio Supreme Court, with funding provided by the high court, said Judge Theresa Dellick. She said the program is to assist offenders and victims in settling minor disputes without getting the court officially involved.