Aviation director is Rotary speaker

Expects a bright future: Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport opened more than 50 years ago to serve the Mahoning and Shenango valleys and the Penn-Ohio area. It is operated by the Western Reserve Port Authority, which is made up of members appointed by Mahoning and Trumbull county commissioners. All major airlines had service to the airport until they left in 2003. In 2006, Allegiant Air began scheduled service to Orlando, and beginning Wednesday will offer flights to St. Petersburg, Fla., with potential routes to Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas. If the terminal is upgraded, it can possibly attract major airlines again. This was the crux of a message delivered by Dan Dickten, director of aviation for the Western Reserve Port Authority, when he spoke recently at a meeting of Austintown Rotary Club. After his talk, Dickten accepted a certificate for a book donation to Woodside Reads, presented by Susan Leetch, club president.