Notes From Last Week

Last week was a killer for this "wannabe". As Jo Bob remarked, not long ago, you wouldn't believe all that goes on in this little river village. Trying to follow what's happening with the School District, the Water District, the Historical Society, a car cruise and throw in a football game keeps you running. It's Tuesday and I'm just getting caught up with last week. Thankfully, there wasn't any Council Meeting last week!

Last month I wrote about Wellsville's Immaculate Conception Parish Picnic. This past Saturday there was a couple of pictures of that picnic in the ER. Guess that affair was a joint parish picnic for both ICC and East Liverpool's St. Als. You think someone would have told me when I was taking all those pictures. At least that explains why I was seeing all those folks from up the river!

J.C. Amato's trials have both been rescheduled again. His murder trial is now scheduled for January 19 and the additional weapons trial rescheduled for February 9 according to a Mary Ann Greier piece in the MJ last week. It all started July, 2007, when J.C. shot his wife. J.C. was first arrested in February, 2008 for that and also for having weapons under disability. He was released on bond and was arrested a second time in September, 2008, for another weapons charge & an alleged bomb making offense. Since the second arrest he has been in the County Jail and they are still trying to dot all the Is etc...

In the Pittsburgh Trib-Review last Wednesday there was a report the Federal Reserve Chairman said that recession that started back in 2007 is "very likely over at this point". Then the next day there was an article about Steve Forbes, of Forbes Magazine, saying he's not so sure about that. In reality only time will tell who is correct but at least they both agree all the problems started in the last President's time in office. All that federal money diverted to the Middle East wars on terrorism is proving more costly in more ways than one.

In the Review last Thursday there was a notice from the WPD about a check scam making its rounds. Some folks are getting checks for hefty amounts from strangers asking to cash them and buy money orders for a portion of that cash. As a reward the person getting the checks get to keep the rest of the cash. It's an old scheme that's been making the rounds and it is all fake. Don't get suckered in. When they say it's too good to be true it usually is.

Nice story about the STAG funds finally going to get released in yesterday's papers but I think it is a bit premature from what I've been told. That grant goes back to 1992 and there was over $600,000 remaining that is being held up by the EPA for verification on other expenditures. Village officials have ear marked the portion held up for the Highland Ave. project and some much needed sewage work. All the documentation required by the EPA has been submitted but no final official determination has been issued yet. The Village Fiscal Officer told me a few months ago when a similar announcement was made that he will not be authorizing any expenditures for this fund until he has official EPA notification in hand.

Speaking of waiting for funds...WFD Chief Bill Smith told me today he is still waiting to get word from the County about proceeding with the derelict housing demolitions. I have a feeling the money for that program is being held up on the State, or possibly Federal level. The County was told they would get the money and they, in turn, have split it up with the different applicants such as Wellsville. I can't think of any earthly reason why the folks over in Lisbon would hold on to the funds. The money can't be used for anything else.

The Mayor told me we should be getting word on a grant from OMEGA for nearly $134,000 in the very near future. On a list of nine priority applications for OMEGA funds the Village is number four. That money is intended to be used for finishing up the Sewage Treatment Plant's digestors.

Also out of Village Hall is word on the mound of dirt that goes from just about 12th Street to 17th along Main, on the Wellsville Terminal property, is that it's going to be cleaned up. In discussions with owner Chip Muse the Mayor & Village Administrator Jim Saracco have been told it will be cleaned up with weed killer, new top soil and reseeding. They wanted to plant trees along there but have been told that dirt won't sustain the growth after having the soil tested.

The folks on the Alumni Activities Committee are going to have a concert toward the end of October with Irish tenor Cahal Dunne. It's to raise money for next year's 5 Year All Class Reunion. We'll have more on it later but it's scheduled for Oct. 28 starting at 7 P.M. at the Alumni Center on 3rd St. It's $20 for a ticket and they expect them to go fast. Reservations can be made by calling Carmela Boyce at 330-532-1932, or Carrie McMahon at 330-843-6338 or Toni at 330-532-1517. Carm says the doors open at 6:30 and there will be refreshments during the intermission.

The folks from the St. Francis Animal Shelter are seeking a zoning variance to use an 18th St. Heights building for a kennel. That area is zoned residential and the Village Zoning Office is busy checking all the regulations before holding a hearing. The building was offered to be used by the St. Francis group by the owner.

A week from Saturday, October 3rd, is going to be entertaining for two good causes. The "angels" from the Alley Cat Aid Brigade along with the Chamber-of-Commerce will be having the Howlin' Harvest Moon Festival starting at 11 A.M. down on Commerce. Then at 6 P.M. the Dash for Mat's Bash begins at Village Hall. Both events are going to be a lot of fun. The ladies on the ACABrigade do the trap-neuter-release humane cat program and the "dash" is a fund raiser for the Mathugh Johnson Scholarship Fund. We'll have more on both later on.

My football teams were 2 & 1 again this week-end. Wellsville had an impressive win on Friday. The Buckeyes walked all over Toledo on Saturday. Only the Steelers let me down at their game in Chicago on Sunday. Jeff "Gerella" Reed missed two field goal attempts that would have been six points. More than that Big Ben pumped faked so much he hurt the gold & black in my opinion. The Bear's won the game by three points late in the 4th Quarter.

We're hoping for 3 for 3 this coming week-end...

ole nib