METRO DIGEST || Duct-tape fundraiser

Duct-tape fundraiser

BOARDMAN

The Market Street Elementary School PTA will have a fundraiser during the school’s lunch periods Friday in the auditorium of the school, 5555 Market St. During the fundraiser, students will be able to purchase a piece of duct tape for $1, which they will use to tape Market Street Principal Jim Stitt to the auditorium wall.

Christine Terlesky, a former teacher at Boardman High School, recently was diagnosed with ALS and is a former student of Market Street Elementary School. All funds raised during Friday’s event will benefit the Terlesky family.

West Branch music

BELOIT

West Branch Schools is one of 24 Ohio school districts recognized by the National Association of Music Merchants, based in California, for their commitment to school music programs. The Best Communities for Music Education program applauds efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students and community leaders who have made music education part of the core curriculum.

Liberty Senior Watch

LIBERTY

The Liberty Township Senior Watch program invites any township resident 60 and older to contact the township to sign up for the program.

Services offered include wellness checks and daily phone calls. Participants may have a lock box installed on their home for township safety forces to use in case of an emergency. Firefighters also can install carbon monoxide or smoke detectors in homes.

Those enrolled will be invited to an annual breakfast conference in June, where personnel and agencies for the elderly will be available.

For information about the senior watch program, call police secretary Marcy Orlando at 330-759-1315 or fire secretary Roberta Martin at 330-759-2023, ext. 102.

Harlem Wizards

BELOIT

Tickets are available for the Harlem Wizards charity basketball game. Staff members of the West Branch School District will be competing against the Wizards in a family fun night event at 6:30 p.m. April 7 in the high school gym.

Tickets are on sale at the high-school athletic office, 4277 S. Main St. Prices are $10 for adults; $8 for students; and children under 5 are admitted free until April 4. Tickets can also be purchased online at www.harlemwizards.com/BELOIT.

One fan will have the opportunity to be a member of the West Branch team to play against the Wizards. For additional information, contact Marsha Coffee, parent volunteer, by email at mcofeetime@hotmail.com, or by phone at 330-222-1212.

Foundation donation

LISBON

The Home Savings Charitable Foundation will present a $2,000 check to Community Action Agency of Columbiana Inc. today at the Community Action Agency, 7880 Lincole Place.

The Community Action Agency works to assist county residents who are low-income, elderly and disabled achieve self-sufficiency and enjoy a better quality of life. Representatives from both Home Savings and Community Action Agency will be on hand during the ceremony.

For information, contact Martina Grimm of Community Action Agency by calling 330-424-4013 or email grimm@caaofca.org.

Cemetery cleanup

NILES

The caretaker at St. Stephen Cemetery, 129 W. Park Ave., has asked that all Christmas decorations be removed from graves before April 5. Any that remain after that date will be discarded. New spring arrangements will not be removed.

Ross decision expected

SOUTHINGTON

The Ohio State Highway Patrol turned over its investigation into the death of Antoinette Ross to the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office three weeks ago and expects the prosecutor to decide soon whether any charges will be filed.

Ross was found dead Dec. 9 in a ditch along King-Graves Road in Howland. Patrick Niess, 20, of Warren drove his car into that ditch at 9:52 p.m. the night before.

Investigators believe Niess fell asleep at the wheel and hit Ross, 55, of Hunt Club Trail, but didn’t realize he had hit her. Howland police did not realize there was a pedestrian victim about 600 feet away the night of Niess’ accident, investigators said.

Niess was not under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs when the crash occurred, said Lt. Brian Holt, commander of the Southington Post.

Tentative Poland pact

poland

Poland School District and Poland Education Association, the teachers’ union, reached a tentative agreement during negotiations Tuesday night, Superintendent David Janofa said Wednesday. Janofa said he would comment more on the matter once the agreement is approved by both the union and the school board. The teachers’ former two-year contract ended in August 2013.

Tie vote on contract

VIENNA

Ratification of a new contract with Mathews School District by nonteaching employees is on hold as a result of a deadlocked union vote Wednesday. According to Ron Blatt, field representative of the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, the vote ended in a 12-12 tie. The two sides had announced a tentative agreement last week. OAPSE Local 611 represents 30 custodial workers, cafeteria employees and bus drivers, but Blatt said six members did not attend the ratification meeting. Blatt said he has informed Superintendent Lewis Lowery about the deadlocked vote. “I don’t know what we’re going to do now, but I expect I’ll meet with the superintendent,” Blatt said. The union has been working under its previous contract, which expired last summer.