Refinancing saves cash

Refinancing saves cash

LISBON — Columbiana County will save $547,526 because it refinanced the construction bonds for the county jail, county Auditor Nancy Milliken said Monday.

She and the county commissioners had discussed the move in August in an effort to save money.

The county will be saving $32,325 a year for the next 17 years to repay the bonds, unless the county can get a lower rate later.

The county had been paying 5.2 percent interest. The county had hoped to refinance the bonds at a rate of about 4.7 percent. Milliken said the county wound up paying 4.8 percent. The jail bonds were issued in 1997. They are to be paid off in 2024.

Milliken said the county got an “A3” rating from Moody’s Investor’s Service, which means the county pays a lower interest. The county is only one of 12 in Ohio with the A3 rating, she said.

Fatal accident probed

SHARON, Pa. — Sharon police continue to investigate the cause of a crash that killed a South Oakland Avenue man. On Monday, police identified the driver as Robert Farkas, 57. Police said he was the sole occupant in a car that crashed into a concrete barrier at Prindle Street and Walnut Avenue at 9:42 a.m. Sunday. The preliminary investigation showed the car was speeding as it traveled westbound on Prindle Street before crashing into the barrier. Farkas was declared dead at the scene. Police said they have called in an accident reconstructionist and autopsy results on Farkas are pending.

Kettle Kick-off set

YOUNGSTOWN — The Salvation Army of Mahoning County will have its second annual Kettle Kick-off Breakfast from 7:30 to 9 a.m. Wednesday at Avion on the Water, 2177 Western Reserve Road, Boardman. The program will launch its holiday fund-raising drive. Recognition awards will be given to groups that have provided outstanding service to the Salvation Army over the past year.

The cost is $25 per person or $200 for a table of eight. For information or to make a reservation, call Majors Jim or Sue Foley at the Salvation Army, (330) 270-5999. Featured speakers will be Majors Larry and Janet Ashcraft of the Salvation Army Divisional Headquarters in Cleveland. Austintown Fitch High School band ensemble will provide seasonal music.

The Salvation Army of Mahoning County served about 123,000 people in 2006. Basic social services, meals, disaster assistance, Christmas aid, youth and senior citizen programs are offered.

Sobriety checkpoint

YOUNGSTOWN — A sobriety checkpoint will be held in Mahoning County from 11 p.m. Saturday until 3 a.m. Sunday. The Mahoning County Operating a Vehicle Impaired Task Force will target impaired drivers. The task force encourages responsible drinking and the use of designated sober drivers.

Breakfast for veterans

YOUNGSTOWN — Park Vista Retirement Community’s Breakfast Club is honoring veterans with a program at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the facility located at 1216 Fifth Ave. The main speaker is Air Force Reserve T/Sgt. Bob Barko Jr., a member of the public affairs office at the 910th Airlift Wing at the Youngstown Air Force Reserve Station in Vienna.

Veterans luncheon

BOARDMAN — The Regional Chamber is having an “Honoring Our Veterans” luncheon at 11:30 a.m. Thursday at Mr. Anthony’s, 7440 South Ave. Bill Sweeney, West Virginia National Guard chief warrant officer and Blackhawk helicopter pilot, is the main speaker. He will talk about his yearlong assignment in Iraq. The event is sponsored by the Employer Support of the Guard Reserve Ohio Committee.

Sweeney, a Boardman resident, was drafted into the Army in 1969 and in 1970 graduated from the Army Flight School program and was sent to Vietnam as a scout helicopter pilot. His unit in West Virginia was activated in January 2006, and he was deployed for 20 month. Sweeney owns the graphic design and advertising firm Sweeney & Associates in Boardman.

Retired Ohio National Guard Major General David Hartley of the employer support committee and National Commander of the AMVETS organization John Brown III will also speak.