Schools tax levy will be on Nov. ballot

September 26, 2008 at 12:00a.m.

YOUNGSTOWN — The director of the Mahoning County Board of Elections said issues with the city school district tax levy have been resolved and it will appear before voters on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The district is seeking voter approval of a four-year, 9.5-mill tax levy that it says is needed to help eliminate a general-fund deficit.

The bid for a five-year, 9.5-mill levy has been rejected three times by voters. The city school board opted to go for a shorter-term tax this time. The levy would generate $5.3 million a year in new revenue.

The original wording for the ballot contained a conflict in terms, according to the Ohio secretary of state’s office, which last week rejected the levy from inclusion on the ballot. The language referred to the tax as both a four-year and a five-year levy.

School district officials said it was only a typographical error that could be easily corrected.

A revised form of the language was submitted to the county elections board, and the state approved the new version calling for a four-year tax, said Thomas McCabe, elections board director.

Run/walk event planned

WARREN — The Trumbull Memorial Hospital Foundation Pink Ribbon Run/Walk for breast cancer awareness is at 9:15 a.m. Saturday at Forum Health Trumbull Memorial Hospital. October is breast cancer awareness month. This year’s event features a 5K run and 1-mile walk.

Proceeds benefit University Hospitals Ireland Cancer Center at TMH. The run/walk begins at the bridge of TMH on East Market Street, and the route is through residential areas near the hospital. Entry fees for the run/walk are $10, or $12 the day of the race.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. followed by opening ceremonies at 9 a.m. and the run/walk at 9:15 a.m. Awards will be given to the top finishers by age groups in the 5K and 1-mile races. For more information or to register, call (330) 841-1900.

Fires deliberately set

YOUNGSTOWN — A resident of 705 Pasadena Ave. told firefighters he arrived home around 4:30 a.m. Thursday and found the place filled with smoke.

Firefighters found areas on the first floor and in the basement where fires had been deliberately set. Police were called to the fire scene to check out a report that the occupant had been robbed. Damage to the South Side house was set at $15,000.

Emergency food help

YOUNGSTOWN — Food-stamp customers whose food spoiled in their refrigerators and freezers due to an electric power outage lasting at least four hours after the high winds from Hurricane Ike on Sept. 14 received food stamps to replace their lost food.

Through the close of business Wednesday, Mahoning County Department of Job and Family Services provided the emergency assistance to 2,550 food stamp customers, said Judee Genetin, acting JFS director.

Drug raid arrests

NILES — Two city residents were arrested during a drug raid Thursday: Melenie Fogle, 23, and Ian C. Price, 28, both living at 125 Morse St. Members of the Niles Police Department and Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigations conducted the search at the pair’s home.

Officers found two suspected marijuana plants inside the home, along with large quantities of suspected processed marijuana, hallucinogenic mushrooms, some LSD, large amounts of prescription drugs and about $10,000 in cash. The warrant was the result of an eight-month investigation.