BOOKSTORE APPEARANCE

Bookstore appearance
BOARDMAN -- John Ferguson, a children's book illustrator who grew up in the Valley and is a Youngstown State University graduate, will be at Barnes & amp; Noble bookstore, 381 Boardman-Poland Road, from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Ferguson will read his two books, "The Things a String Can Be" and "Something Shiny, Something Round," and lead children in creative activities.
Ferguson is an Austintown Fitch High School graduate and an art director at a Cleveland advertising agency.
Robbery charges
WARREN -- A city man is indicted on charges of aggravated robbery with a gun specification, and robbery in connection with purse snatchings at Forum Health Northside Medical Center in early March.
Vernon Lamont Reed, 33, of Ivanhoe Avenue, was indicted by a Trumbull County grand jury. He is to appear for arraignment before Judge Peter Kontos on Thursday.
At least three women were the victims of purse snatchings outside the hospital in early March, Youngstown police said; two of the robberies possibly took place in the hospital parking deck, which is in Liberty Township.
Reed is in the Mahoning County jail in lieu of a $250,000 bond.
Conviction appealed
WARREN -- David Jenkins, the former Harding High School girls basketball coach convicted of killing his wife, Deana, has appealed his murder conviction to the 11th District Court of Appeals.
She was killed in the couple's Clearwater Street Northwest home in May 2004.
Atty. Michael A. Partlow of Cleveland filed the appeal Thursday. The filing says the appeal is based on the sufficiency of evidence and rulings on the evidence.
School dedication
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- New Castle Area School District will dedicate its new junior-senior high school Sunday.
Activities will begin at 3 p.m. with an open house. Guided tours will be offered until 5:30 p.m. The dedication ceremony will begin at 6 p.m. Lawrence County President Judge Dominick Motto will be the keynote speaker, and comments will also be made by schools Superintendent George J. Gabriel.
The New Castle Junior/Senior High School Band, directed by Dr. Thomas Zumpella, and the New Castle Junior/Senior High School Choir and Rosanne Palladino will perform. The program will also feature numerous New Castle graduates. The Joe Argiro Orchestra, featuring Frank Sinatra impersonator Bo Wagner, will perform at 8 p.m.
Bids to be accepted
BROOKFIELD -- The Brookfield Board of Education will accept sealed bids for the purchase of Stevenson Elementary School, 1144 Broadway Ave. S.E., through May 12.
Bids for the property can be mailed to Superintendent Michael Notar, Brookfield School District, 7003 Grove St., Brookfield 44403.
Tire recycling event
YOUNGSTOWN -- The Green Team is having a tire recycling event for Springfield Township residents from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday at 1165 Brittain St., Youngstown.
Only passenger tires will be accepted. Two tires will be accepted at no charge, with any additional tires $1.50 each. Limit is 10 tires per vehicle. No rims, no water and no debris in the tires.
Bikeway to be closed
AUSTINTOWN -- A section of Mill Creek MetroParks Bikeway between Ohltown Road and Webb Road will be closed beginning May 8 for Ohio Department of Transportation's Interstate 80 Project.
ODOT's I-80 reconstruction project includes removal of the highway bridge over the MetroParks Bikeway. The bridge will be replaced with a large concrete culvert, thus creating a tunnel for bikeway users. The project is anticipated to take five months.
Girl Scout yard sale
BOARDMAN -- Girl Scout Brownie Troop 651 is sponsoring a yard sale from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at 7705 Huntington Drive. The rain date is Sunday with the same hours.
The troop is raising money to buy a greenhouse for Boardman schools' West Boulevard Elementary.
The troop will also be selling snacks and drinks.