Former candidate for council cites conflict

Former candidate for council cites conflict
POLAND -- J. Michael Thompson, a candidate for Poland Village Council, withdrew from the race Thursday. Thompson's withdrawal means there are four candidates for the four council seats available in the Nov. 8 election.
Thompson of South Main Street was the only person to run for a Poland council seat during the May Democratic primary. The four other candidates filed as independents. Thompson withdrew because he was hired as an assistant Mahoning County prosecutor, and for him to run for council would be a conflict of interest, he wrote in a withdrawal letter to the elections board.
Concert, fireworks show among night's events
YOUNGSTOWN -- A free fireworks display at the B & amp;O Station riverfront is set for 11 tonight.
The event is co-sponsored by B.J. Alan Co. and Friends of ACTION. ACTION, a coalition of churches, is also sponsoring Sweet Honey in the Rock, a female vocal group, at 8 tonight at Edward W. Powers Auditorium. The concert ends about 10:30 p.m. The Drum Circle of Lisbon will have a free performance outside the auditorium at 7 p.m. Also, several bars and restaurants will remain open late today.
City information online
YOUNGSTOWN -- There is now a Web site for the city of Youngstown. The Web site -- cityofyoungstownoh.org -- was designed by the company LightGov in cooperation with the city's finance department. The Web site features a directory of city departments, city history, a calendar of events, news and frequently asked questions, city job openings and projects available through competitive bidding.
Officials file appeal over fire district agenda
SALEM -- City officials are appealing a Columbiana County Common Pleas Court order that temporarily stops their plans to replace the city fire department with a new fire district. The appeal was filed Wednesday with the 7th District Court of Appeals in Youngstown.
The firefighters' union had argued that a pending contract grievance and an unfair labor practice complaint over the formation of the district made to the State Employment Relations Board should be heard first.
The city also has filed a motion in common pleas court that asks the judge to approve funding to begin planning for the district that would also serve Perry Township and eliminate the current township fire department.
All sirens to be tested
WARREN -- Trumbull County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management and Trumbull County 911 will conduct a siren test at noon Saturday. The test is to ensure that new sirens are operating properly. All county sirens will be tested. Normal siren testing will continue to be the first Saturday of the month at noon.
Cruise-in set for Sunday
HARTFORD -- The eighth annual Hartford Apple Festival Cruise-in will be from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at Hartford United Methodist Church on state Route 305, about a quarter-mile west of Hartford Square. Trophies will be awarded for best original and best street cars. Food and drinks will be available, and disc jockey Goody will provide the music.
Man wins motorcycle
BAZETTA -- Buddy Moffit, of Durst-Clagg Road, has won a $26,545 Harley-Davidson motorcycle in the Ohio Lottery's Harley-Davidson instant ticket game. Moffit, 54, is retired from Delphi Packard Electric Systems. Moffit said he has wanted a motorcycle since he was 12, but raising a family got in the way. He sent in a nonwinning instant ticket that was pulled during the Sept. 9 second-chance drawing.
Actor to portray artist
COLUMBIANA -- Local actor John Dunlap of Columbiana will portray artist Charles Burchfield during a program at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Columbiana Public Library, 332 N. Middle St. Burchfield, of Salem, was a watercolor artist who lived from 1893-1967. He is considered one of America's most original artists. The program is sponsored by Friends of the Columbiana Public Library. Call (330) 482-5509 to register for the program.