Traficant stresses education
Ex-Congressman appears at Lordstown HighBy MARLY KOSINSKI Tribune Chronicle
LORDSTOWN - Former U.S. Rep. Jim Traficant stressed the importance of education Friday during a fund-raiser at Lordstown High School.
Traficant, who was released from federal prison in September after serving seven years for bribery and racketeering, also talked about the importance of General Motors, the state of the economy and the current political climate, and took time to reflect on the importance of teachers and their impact on the students they encounter.
The fund-raiser was used as a kickoff to a series of events planned to raise money for a new playground at Lordstown Elementary School. It was organized by third-grade teacher Beth Haring and featured performances by the high school band, choir and cheerleaders, as well as a basket raffle and a chili contest between the police and fire departments. The police department won the contest.
Elementary School Principal Laura Parise said the former elementary school at the corner of Salt Springs Road and state Route 45 has a playground, but the students were moved to the former Gordon D. James Career Center last year when the elementary building was closed because of costly repairs and high utility bills.
The buildings are only a block apart, but Parise said the district wants the playground moved closer to the school, which houses grades kindergarten through six and a special-needs preschool. She said the district was given an estimate of $10,000 to $30,000 just to relocate the playground equipment.
"But we don't just want to move it. We want to upgrade the playground and make it handicap-accessible," Parise said.
The project needs fencing, handicapped accessible play units, tables, a drinking fountain and landscaping. There are also plans to install a rock wall for climbing, a teeter-totter, a gazebo, stadium style benches, a storage unit for playground equipment, and safe ground cover.
Parise said the fund-raising committee, headed by Haring, would like to raise $154,000.
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Beveridge
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11-23-09 9:31 AM
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DrSpank...Maybe JT was not a good choice, but that comment about how low parents will stoop was really uncalled for. Lordstown Village has given a lot of tax concessions to keep GM from leaving and really putting an economic crunch on the area. So how many school, systems or groups like Boy Scouts, Girls Scout, marching bands, athletic teams etc..have fund raisers? I guess that is stooping low also... There are many families in the valley that can't monetarily provide all that their children need. Get off your soap box and fix the valley's problems instead of negatively commenting on them.
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franky
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11-21-09 8:14 PM
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His new name is Jim "the Phoenix" Traficant! He is not the only one ever to raise himself up on the backs of edu
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AFRET1
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11-21-09 10:38 AM
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warrenguy & JWILL - you're wasting your time...people in this area are in love with this skunk and will never stop looking up to him.
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JWILL2
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11-21-09 10:03 AM
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Grump- You are a moron!!!! Jimbo can't do nothing for you. He can not step foot in the house again. So tell us how he can save the valley? You people kill me you want the biggest joke in congress to run and WIN again.
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zipcityboy
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11-21-09 9:30 AM
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What if schools had all the money they need and the Pentagon had to hold a bake sale to raise funds instead of the other way around? Or is pursuit of war without end more important than pursuit of knowledge without worry?
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warrenguy17
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11-21-09 7:55 AM
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Only the educational system in the Mahoning Valley would bring in an ex-con to be the guest speaker. Who else is on the events speakers list...Charlie Manson?
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OldManGrump2
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11-21-09 7:17 AM
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Jimbo is back anmd better then ever. Please Jimbo run for Timmy Ryan's seat in congress. We need a strong leader in the valley if we are ever to come out of the valley depression. Jimbo has learned his lesson and now it's time for his action. We need you now more then ever as the Democrooks have all failed us. Just look around the valley and you will see what I mean.
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DrSpankit
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11-21-09 6:57 AM
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just have JT give back some of what he stole from the valley.'Playground problem solved'...Great lesson for the kids..How low will parents stoop,to have others cover the expense of providing for their own?
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