See the bee on Vindy.com

April 5, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — The Vindicator’s 75th annual Regional Spelling Bee is over, but our readers can relive the excitement and see how the young participants tackled their tough words. Go to vindy.com to see the hourlong video of the event, put together by WFMJ-TV 21. The bee was March 15 in Kilcawley Center at the Youngstown State University, and Hannah Stang Gerdes, 14, of Hubbard, is the grand champion.

Trustees to vote on pact

YOUNGSTOWN — Youngstown State University trustees will have a special meeting at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Tod Hall to vote on a new three-year contract with the university faculty. The 380-member faculty union ratified terms of the pact last week. Details won’t be released until after the trustees approve the agreement. The current contract doesn’t expire until August.

2 firefighters injured

YOUNGSTOWN — Two firefighters suffered minor injuries at the scene of an intentionally set fire at a duplex at 330-332 Williamson Ave. on the South Side on Thursday night. No one was home at the time.

Reports show the fire started around 8:45 p.m. in an entrance, and flames, spread by strong winds, moved the fire to the third floor. Damage was set at $13,000, a total loss.

Fundraiser for teen

SALEM — A fundraiser will be from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Italian American Club, 250 Penn St., to benefit Andrew’s Bathroom Fund.

Andrew Shasteen, 15, of Salem, who has cerebral palsy, needs a handicapped-accessible bathroom. So far, $6,282 has been raised toward the $11,800 cost.

In addition to the spaghetti dinner, there will be raffles for items and gifts, such as 10 East of Chicago pizzas, a Body Nature bath basket, an executive gift set, a Max Lucado devotional and “Veggie Tale” CD, and gift certificates from Chappell’s House of Pictures and Frames.

To order tickets, call (330) 207-0242, (330) 424-3945 or (330) 831-1485.

TCTC board grants raises

CHAMPION — The Board of Education of the Trumbull Career Technical Center has unanimously voted to approve new five-year contracts for Superintendent Wayne McClain and Treasurer Gary Ghizzoni. Both men will receive 3 percent pay increases each year of the contract. McClain will earn $106,516 in the first year, and Ghizzoni’s salary will rise to $81,915.

Robert Faulkner, board vice president, said McClain and Ghizzoni each had one more year on their current contract, but the board decided to void that agreement and grant the new pay packages. McClain joined TCTC as interim superintendent in February 2002 and was named superintendent the following July. Ghizzoni has been treasurer since November 1998.

Scrap tire collection funds

WARREN — The Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District has awarded nearly $70,000 to Trumbull County communities to implement local scrap tire collection programs.

Robert Villers, district director, said this eliminates travel to a centralized location to get rid of old tires. If residents are interested in establishing a local program, they should contact their local elected officials.

GOP breakfast meeting

WARREN — The Trumbull County Republican Party will have its monthly breakfast meeting at 9 a.m. next Saturday at the Mocha House, 467 High St.

Speakers will be state representative candidates. For more information, contact Robert Davis, party executive director, (330) 638-4747.

Town hall meeting planned

YOUNGSTOWN — Councilwoman Janet Tarpley, D-6th, is having a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday at the Martin Luther Lutheran Church, 420 Clearmont Drive. Residents are invited to attend. Tarpley and other city officials will be there to answer questions and discuss issues.

Milton road to close

LAKE MILTON — North East River Road, along the east shore of Lake Milton in Milton Township, will close April 14 between Milton Avenue and Mahoning-Trumbull County Line Road for a culvert replacement. It will reopen April 18, the Mahoning County Engineer’s Office said. During the closure, traffic will be detoured along Milton and Mahoning avenues, state Route 534 and Mahoning-Trumbull County Line Road.

Pupils’ art on display

YOUNGSTOWN — Nearly 60 pieces of art from elementary, middle and high school students across the Mahoning Valley will be unveiled during the Partners in Art celebration at 7 p.m. Monday at Youngstown State University. The event will be in the McKay Auditorium in Beeghly Hall.

Partners in Art dates to 1998, when Beeghly Hall was opened to house Beeghly College of Education, and the college asked school districts in Mahoning, Trumbull, Columbiana, Mercer and Lawrence counties to get pupils to produce artwork to hang in the building.

‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd is topic

SALEM — East Liverpool historian Atty. Timothy R. Brookes will discuss Depression-era criminal “Pretty Boy” Floyd at the 7 p.m. Monday meeting of the Salem Historical Society. Floyd was gunned down at an East Liverpool farm in Columbiana County on Oct. 22, 1934.

Floyd’s criminal career, including bank robbery, strayed into Ohio on several occasions. An East Liverpool native, Brookes also has had a lifelong interest in the Civil War.