Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Firefighter semiconscious
WARREN — Doug Hipple, the Warren police officer who rushed in to a burning group home for mentally disabled people April 27 on Bonnie Brae Avenue Northeast to try to save the three women inside, is semiconscious but still not “out of the woods,” his brother said.
Hipple, who received burns to his body and lungs when he and the three women inside the house became trapped, is in the Akron Children’s Hospital Burn Center.
Hipple’s brother, Dave, said doctors are hopeful that Hipple will recover from his injuries but said, “it’s still up in the air.”
No information was available Tuesday night on the three women, who were also taken to the hospital. They are Sheree Egry, 53, Donna Cassidy, 52, and Melissa Watson, 44.
Police have made no arrests in the case. The fire was ruled an arson.
Play equipment donated
MINERAL RIDGE — The Weathersfield school board accepted a donation from the Seaborn Home and School Association of the X Wave II Playground equipment, valued at $7,605, for Seaborn Elementary. The board also approved two-year classified employee contracts for 2009 through 2011 for two cooks, Darla Williams at a salary $14,084 and Sandra Macali at a salary of $15,932 annually. The board also approved hiring five teachers for the “Summer Success: Reading” program at Seaborn Elementary School at $22 an hour from July 1-15, and $23 an hour from July 16-30. Teachers hired are Kim Bubon, Lori Reigle, Amanda Hoover, Cathy Guerra and Marianne Knight. Summer Intervention teachers hired at $23 an hour for Seaborn Elementary and the Middle School for August are Sara Bindas, Cathy Guerra, Mollie Keevey, Amanda Hoover, Patti Plascak, Kelly Hontula and Lori Reigle.
Fire damages house
YOUNGSTOWN — City firefighters responded to a house fire at 1034 Wilson Ave just before 1 a.m. Monday. They found the two-story home engulfed in flames, a report said. The cause and origin of the fire are undetermined and are under investigation. Damage was set at $5,000.
Wee Care Day Care Center receives recognition
YOUNGSTOWN — Wee Care Day Care and Learning Centre, 1101 Ford Ave., has received a One-Star Step Up to Quality Award from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services Bureau of Child Care and Development, the state agency responsible for licensing and promoting high standards among Ohio’s child care programs.
“Wee Care Day Care and Learning Centre provides a higher standard of care that exceeds Ohio’s licensing standards. This translates to more teachers, a greater commitment to in-service training and a more nurturing environment for children to grow and develop,” said Terrie Hare, chief, Ohio Bureau of Child Care and Development.
Step Up To Quality is a voluntary rating system for early care and education programs. Participating programs can earn a one-, two- or three-star rating by meeting an extensive list of quality benchmarks. Experts say these benchmarks improve the growth and development potential of children. The rating system also gives parents a useful tool for selecting quality early childhood programs.
Sentenced for drug offense
LISBON — A man was sentenced Monday to 18 months in prison on a drug offense.
Columbiana County Common Pleas Court Judge C. Ashley Pike imposed the maximum sentence on a charge of attempted illegal assembly of drugs on Douglas Howell, 45, of East Liverpool.
Authorities found methamphetamine and the materials to make the drug in Howell’s car on Feb. 2 in East Liverpool.