Fire destroys home

Fire destroys home
WARREN -- Fire officials are investigating the cause of a blaze that destroyed a Tod Avenue home Thursday afternoon. Firefighters were called to the home, owned by James Patrick, at 3560 Tod Ave. N.W. at 3:11 p.m. When firefighters arrived, the single-story wood-frame building was fully engulfed, fire department officials. No one was in the house at the time.
Display on steel mills
WARREN -- A local artist's works, which depict steel mills from around the world, are on display at the Trumbull Art Gallery, 196 E. Market St., until Jan. 27. Howard Worner painted 250 scenes of steel mills while he traveled around the world for Wean Industries Inc. of Youngstown.
Worner's works were commissioned by Wean executives, who used the paintings to depict Wean installations in steel-industry magazines.
William A. Brown, a former advertising manager for Wean, will talk about Worner and his works from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
The Worner pieces are being made available to TAG by the Butler Institute of American Art, which has archived the entire collection since it was donated in December 1994 by the Danieli Corp., which bought Wean's assets.
Audit finding in Fowler
FOWLER -- The Ohio auditor's office found Fowler Township's fiscal officer did not follow regulations requiring her to certify available funds before incurring obligations or spending money. The audit, for 2004 and 2005, did not indicate any money was missing.
A fiscal officer certificate indicates that the amount of the purchase has been lawfully appropriated and is in the treasury or in the process of collection and is free from any previous encumbrances. Of 40 expenditures examined in 2004 and 2005, there were 34 instances where proper certification was not obtained; the same problem was noticed in a 2003 audit. Lynn M. Michalec has been clerk and fiscal officer of the township since April 2004. Township officials told the state they would implement procedures to comply in the future. Trustee James Haun said Michalec would take care of the problem.
Streetlights approved
NEW CASTLE, Pa. -- Union Township supervisors approved placement of two streetlights on Winter Road. Supervisors said Thursday residents on the road had requested lights because the thoroughfare is heavily used because of business development on U.S. Route 224. The lights already have been installed and are located at Dagres Lane and at the top of the hill. Residents near the light will be assessed 44 cents per foot for the first 250 feet of improved frontage and 11 cents per foot for unimproved. The charge will appear on their tax bills.
Supervisors named secretary-treasurer Sally Byler the township's fair housing officer. The township is required by law to have a fair housing officer to take complaints from anyone who believes they experienced discrimination in obtaining housing in the township.
Free radon test kits
AUSTINTOWN -- Free radon home test kits are available from the Mahoning County Board of Health in recognition of National Radon Action Month, which is this month. The Mahoning County PACE Environmental Health Workgroup is urging everyone to test their homes for radon gas, a colorless, odorless and tasteless radioactive gas that occurs naturally in soil and can enter homes through cracks and holes in the foundation. Once inside the home, it can build up to high levels that can increase the risk for developing lung cancer. For more information, call (330) 270-2855 ext. 131 or ext. 141, or visit the county health board at 50 Westchester Drive.
Wilson on steel board
U.S. Rep. Charlie Wilson of St. Clairsville, D-6th, accepted an appointment to the Congressional Steel Caucus' executive board.
The bipartisan caucus with about 100 U.S. House members focuses on the needs of the steel industry and what is needed to preserve American steel jobs.
"Our trade policies are seriously out of balance," Wilson said. "So-called 'free trade' is not fair to our workers. By taking on this leadership role, I will add a strong voice for fairness that sends a clear message that Ohio workers and their families deserve better."
Wilson's 12-county district includes all of Columbiana and a portion of Mahoning. U.S. Reps. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th, and Phil English of Erie, Pa., R-3rd, also are caucus members.